A jobless man applied for the position of "office boy" at Microsoft. The HR manager interviewed him then watched him cleaning the floor as a test.
"You are employed" he said."
Give me your e-mail address and I'll send you the application to fill in, as well as date when you may start". The man replied "But I don't have a computer, neither an email." "I'm sorry", said the HR Manager, "If you don't have an email, that means you do not exist. And who doesn't exist, cannot have the job."
The man left with no hope at all. He didn't know what to do, with only $10 in his pocket. He then decided to go to the Market and bought a 10Kg tomato crate. He then sold the tomatoes in a door to door round. In less than 2 hours, he succeeded to double his capital. He repeated the operation three times, and returned home with $60. The man realized that he can survive by this way, and started to go everyday earlier, and return late. Thus, his money doubled and tripled everyday. Shortly, he bought a cart, then a truck, then he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles. 5 years later, the man is one of the biggest food retailers in the Harare.
He started to plan his family's future, and decided to have a life insurance. He called an insurance broker, and chose a protection plan. Wen the
conversation was concluded, d broker asked him his email. The man replied, "I don't have an email ".
The broker answered curiously, "You don't have an email, and yet have succeeded to build an empire. Can you imagine what you could have been if you had an email? !!"
The man thought for a while and replied, " Yes, I'd be an office boy at Microsoft! ".
Moral of the story:
1.) No one qualification is the solution to your life.
2.) You may not have what they need, but you have all you need to succeed.
Saturday, 22 September 2012
Friday, 21 September 2012
Bye bye N5000 note • Jonathan orders Sanusi to stop controversial plan
President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday finally bowed to pressure as he directed the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, to suspend the planned introduction of N5,000 note.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media, Dr. Reuben Abati, disclosed the development to State House correspondents in Abuja.
Abati told journalists that Jonathan’s latest disposition to the issue was based on the need for more “enlightenment and consultation”.
He said, “The introduction of the new note is being suspended for now to enable the CBN do more enlightenment on the issue.Yes, President Jonathan has directed that the implementation of the new N5,000 note be suspended for now.
“This is to enable the apex bank to do more in terms of enabling Nigerians understand why it proposed it in the first place. So, for now, the full implementation is on hold.”
The CBN, in a statement on Thursday, also confirmed that it had received a presidential directive to stop action on the currency restructuring plan.
The statement by the apex bank’s spokesperson, Ugo Okoroafor, reads, “The CBN hereby informs the general public that the President, on Thursday, September 20, 2012, directed that further action on the approved restructuring exercise be stopped.
“It is important to stress that till date, no contract whatsoever has been awarded by the CBN in connection with the printing and minting of the new currency notes and coins. Consequently, no currency note or coin has been printed or minted under the proposed exercise.”
The planned introduction of the note had attracted a huge outcry in the public domain. Those against the move had hinged their position on the fact that it could worsen inflation in the country.
They also said it was contrary to the apex bank’s cash-less policy.
At resumption on Tuesday, both arms of the National Assembly passed resolutions asking the CBN not to go ahead with the plan. But the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, said that the resolutions are advisory.
Jonathan was said to have expressed his readiness to halt the process when he met with the President of the Senate, Mr. David Mark, and Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwwal, on Tuesday.
Watchers say that the suspension might be government’s way of cancelling the project without much fuss.
The controversial restructuring of the naira was to be headlined by the introduction of the N5,000 note and the conversion of lower denominations into coins.
Mixed reactions had followed the announcement. Some renowned economists faulted the move, saying the action was uncalled for.
Reacting to the latest development, an economist, Mr. Olujimi Boyo, said the President should have cancelled the project instead of suspending it.
He said, “This is an indication that it may still be revived. If the President has really considered people’s opinion on this action by the CBN, then it should be stopped and not suspended. Telling them to do more work on the project is not what the people are calling for.
“The CBN needs to do more research on what is really affecting the value of the naira, instead of introducing a higher currency or even redenomination. Both moves are not what we need to stabilise our currency. They should find out what can be done to address inflation because this is the main reason why they keep talking about redenomination or introduction of higher currency.
“If the CBN is claiming that the introduction of higher currency will complement the cash-less policy, then they are wrong because redenomination would have been better,” Boyo added.
Also speaking, the Managing Director, Lambeth Trust Investment Limited, Mr. David Adonri, said the suspension of the project was reasonable.
He said, “It is logical that they did not annul the project because the public debate on the issue has been more of politics. The introduction of the policy will be economically beneficial.
“Unfortunately, most of the commentators are not enlightened on the benefits of the policy, especially members of the National Assembly.”
According to some analysts, the introduction of the N5000 bill will defeat the cash-less policy initiative of the bank and increase the amount of currency in circulation.
The Chief Executive Officer, B. Adedipe Associates Limited, who is also a consultant economist, Dr. Biodun Adedipe, said the introduction of a bigger currency note would encourage people to carry more cash around.
He said, “One can easily argue that talking about a bigger note in terms of denomination is more like an endorsement of people carrying even more cash than what we have now. This means there will be more currency in circulation.
“So, if that is what the CBN has been trying to discourage before now, then it will be counter-productive to have a bigger denomination that will encourage people to carry more cash.”
The Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Muda Yusuf, had also said that the plan would defeat the cash-less policy initiative.
A former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, had at a roundtable advocacy forum organised by the Institute of Directors, Nigeria, in Lagos, submitted that the N5000 note would kill production and affect small businesses negatively.
He had added that the way Sanusi was fighting inflation by removing money from circulation was improper
Thursday, 20 September 2012
Jaguar F-Type unveiled ahead of Paris Motor Show
Jaguar F-Type unveiled in all its glory
Jaguar has unveiled the spiritual successor to its iconic E-Type sports car - 50 years after the original went on sale.
The stunning F-Type has been designed to be an uncompromising two-seat convertible which offers motorists an exhilarating driving experience.
It will see the British firm take the fight to the Germans - with the F-Type going into direct competition with thoroughbred sports cars like the Porsche 911.
Jaguar is yet to reveal the full details of its new sports car, but it will be available with a choice of 3-litre V6 or 5-litre V8 engines - offering blistering performance.
All models should be capable of accelerating from 0-62mph in less than five seconds and have top speeds of 155mph-plus.
The rear-wheel drive sports car will be fitted with an eight-speed gearbox and cost around £50,000 when it goes on sale next year.
There have been direct comparisons made between the F-Type and the legendary E-Type which was built between 1961 and 1974.
It will be the first two-seat Jaguar since the E-Type with the firm hailing its as their "return to the sports car market".
The stunning F-Type has been designed to be an uncompromising two-seat convertible which offers motorists an exhilarating driving experience.
It will see the British firm take the fight to the Germans - with the F-Type going into direct competition with thoroughbred sports cars like the Porsche 911.
Jaguar is yet to reveal the full details of its new sports car, but it will be available with a choice of 3-litre V6 or 5-litre V8 engines - offering blistering performance.
All models should be capable of accelerating from 0-62mph in less than five seconds and have top speeds of 155mph-plus.
The rear-wheel drive sports car will be fitted with an eight-speed gearbox and cost around £50,000 when it goes on sale next year.
There have been direct comparisons made between the F-Type and the legendary E-Type which was built between 1961 and 1974.
It will be the first two-seat Jaguar since the E-Type with the firm hailing its as their "return to the sports car market".
And the first impressions of the F-Type is that it will be a huge success with James Blackwell from the Jaguar Enthusiasts' Club describing it as "gorgeous".
He said: "Jaguar built its success on proper sports cars and, after the E-Type, all models had rear seats and were designed to be grand tourers.
"Now they're bringing it back and the F-Type is very exciting. It looks gorgeous and has a lovely presence with its aggressive styling.
"I'm sure it is going to be an amazing success, everything Jaguar seems to do at the moment turns to gold."
The F-Type will make its global debut at next week's Paris Motor Show after being previewed as a disguised prototype at various events.
He said: "Jaguar built its success on proper sports cars and, after the E-Type, all models had rear seats and were designed to be grand tourers.
"Now they're bringing it back and the F-Type is very exciting. It looks gorgeous and has a lovely presence with its aggressive styling.
"I'm sure it is going to be an amazing success, everything Jaguar seems to do at the moment turns to gold."
The F-Type will make its global debut at next week's Paris Motor Show after being previewed as a disguised prototype at various events.
The new Jaguar has been kept under wraps up until now
Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar global brand director, says the F-Type’s launch in France will be a "truly significant day" as the firm returns to the sports car market.
He said: "As its sporting forebears did in their era, the F-Type will break new ground by delivering stunning sports car performance while vividly demonstrating Jaguar’s cutting-edge engineering technologies and world-class design excellence."
Ian Callum, director of design, added: "A true sports car needs to be pure in both its purpose and its form; to have the opportunity to produce such a car for Jaguar has been a privilege both for myself and for my team.
"The C-Type, D-Type and E-Type Jaguars were all sports cars that held true to this principle in their era, and the F-Type will hold true to that same principle in its time, a time that is soon to arrive."
Tuesday, 18 September 2012
NEMA can tackle effects of flood disasters – DG
The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency, Muhammad Sani Sidi, has said that the agency is not overwhelmed by the devastating effects of the massive floods that hit many states this year.
Sidi made the remark in Jos on Tuesday during a visit by the presidential committee on flood disaster to Plateau State, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
The committee, headed by the Environment Minister, Mrs. Hadiza Mailafia, is in the state to assess the level of damage the flood caused in the seven local governments it occurred.
“We have the necessary manpower and resources to contain the effects of the flood recorded across the country.
“We are trying to take inventory of all the devastating effects at all the affected places including the number of people that died, or were displaced,” he said.
Sidi said that the Federal Government was so concerned about the number of people affected by the flood, which “hit us so hard and left us worried.”
He said that efforts were being been made to ensure that such misfortune did not befall the nation again.
“We are already taking proactive measures; we are putting in place, all the necessary steps to guard against any recurrence,” he stated.
According to the DG, NEMA is putting heads with all the governments of the affected states to explore ways to assist displaced persons currently in various camps, mostly schools and worship centres
Sidi made the remark in Jos on Tuesday during a visit by the presidential committee on flood disaster to Plateau State, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
The committee, headed by the Environment Minister, Mrs. Hadiza Mailafia, is in the state to assess the level of damage the flood caused in the seven local governments it occurred.
“We have the necessary manpower and resources to contain the effects of the flood recorded across the country.
“We are trying to take inventory of all the devastating effects at all the affected places including the number of people that died, or were displaced,” he said.
Sidi said that the Federal Government was so concerned about the number of people affected by the flood, which “hit us so hard and left us worried.”
He said that efforts were being been made to ensure that such misfortune did not befall the nation again.
“We are already taking proactive measures; we are putting in place, all the necessary steps to guard against any recurrence,” he stated.
According to the DG, NEMA is putting heads with all the governments of the affected states to explore ways to assist displaced persons currently in various camps, mostly schools and worship centres
Gunmen kill council chairman in Adamawa
Gunmen on Monday night shot dead the acting Chairman of Maiha Local Government Council of Adamawa State, Lawan Datti.
Some residents of Kochifa ward in Mubi town, where the incident took place, said the deceased was shot around 8p.m on Monday in his residence, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
“It is a very sad incident. We buried him this (Tuesday) afternoon,” said one of his neighbours, who preferred anonymity.
The Public Relations Officer, Adamawa Police Command, DSP Mohammed Ibrahim, confirmed the incident, but gave no details.
“All I can tell you for now is that the incident took place on Monday night,” he said on Tuesday.
Some residents of Kochifa ward in Mubi town, where the incident took place, said the deceased was shot around 8p.m on Monday in his residence, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
“It is a very sad incident. We buried him this (Tuesday) afternoon,” said one of his neighbours, who preferred anonymity.
The Public Relations Officer, Adamawa Police Command, DSP Mohammed Ibrahim, confirmed the incident, but gave no details.
“All I can tell you for now is that the incident took place on Monday night,” he said on Tuesday.
We killed, arrested Boko Haram leaders – JTF
Soldiers manning a checkpoint in Kano shot to death two suspected Boko Haram leaders, AP reports.
It is unclear what happened next, though the official said soldiers shot dead both the commander and the spokesman, while adding that the wife and children remained in military custody.
The wife told soldiers the men had accompanied her to Kano as she sought medical help, the official said.The official spoke on condition of anonymity as the information was not to be made immediately public on Monday.
However, spokesman for the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Ikedichi Iweha, confirmed the development.
According to him, the operation was carried out in Hotoro area in Kano metropolis.
He said, “During the early morning operation, one member of the terrorists group was killed and two other members arrested.”I cannot confirm to you the identity of the suspects arrested yet, because I don’t have the nominal role of the terrorists group.
“As soon as investigation is completed, the identity of the suspects will be made public. Investigation has to be completed before I can tell you the identity of the suspects.”
He said the operation lasted for over one hour before reports went round that very top members of the terrorist group were killed.
Government officials may be hesitating as they previously claimed to have arrested the sect’s spokesman, who uses the nom de guerre Abul Qaqa when speaking to journalists. Confusion over his death sparked threats by the sect against journalists who previously reported on the government claim.
Monday, 17 September 2012
Western embassies edgy as Muslim anger at film simmers
DUBAI (Reuters) - Western embassies across the Muslim world remained on high alert on Sunday and the United States urged vigilance after days of anti-American violence provoked by a video mocking the Prophet Mohammad.
The head of Libya's national assembly said an attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi that killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans last Tuesday looked like a planned assault by a "group with an agenda" rather than a spontaneous reaction to the video posted online.
With protests against the film continuing from London to Lahore on Sunday, Western diplomatic missions were on edge. Germany followed the U.S. lead and withdrew some staff from its embassy in Sudan, which was stormed on Friday.
Washington ordered non-essential staff and family members to leave its embassy on Saturday after the Khartoum government turned down a U.S. request to send Marines to bolster security.
Non-essential U.S. personnel have also been withdrawn from Tunisia, and Washington urged U.S. citizens to leave the capital Tunis after the embassy there was targeted on Friday.
The protests peaked on Friday and abated over the weekend. Around 350 people chanted slogans at a rally outside the U.S. embassy in London on Sunday. A small group of protesters burned a U.S. flag outside the embassy in the Turkish capital, and in Pakistan there were protests in more than a dozen cities.
One person was killed when unidentified people opened fire at a protest in the southern city of Hyderabad, and five people were injured in clashes with police in Karachi as around 1,000 protesters tried to reach the U.S. consulate, police said.
The head of Shi'ite militant group Hezbollah called for protests in Beirut on Sunday and nationwide later in the week.
"Those responsible for the film, starting with the U.S., must be held accountable," Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said.
"All these developments are being orchestrated by U.S. intelligence."
"AGENDA FOR REVENGE"
The violence is the most serious wave of anti-American protests in the Muslim world since the start of the Arab Spring revolts last year. At least nine people were killed in protests in several countries on Friday.
It was fanned by public anger over a video, posted on the Internet under several titles including "Innocence of Muslims", that mocked the Prophet Mohammad and portrayed him as a womaniser and a fool.
The crisis presents U.S. President Barack Obama with a foreign policy headache as November elections approach.
Some U.S. officials have suggested the Benghazi attack was planned by Islamist militants using the video as a pretext, a hypothesis endorsed by Mohammed Magarief, the president of Libya's national assembly.
"Call it whatever you want, al Qaeda or not, what happened was an act by a group with an agenda for revenge. They chose a specific time, technique and certain victims. This is what it was all about," Magarief told Reuters in an interview.
However, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, said on Sunday talk shows that preliminary information indicated that the attack was not pre-meditated.
"There's no question, as we've seen in the past with things like 'The Satanic Verses', with the cartoon of the Prophet Mohammad, there have been such things that have sparked outrage and anger and this has been the proximate cause of what we've seen," she said.
Magarief told CBS News that about 50 people had been arrested in connection with the attack. Some were from abroad.
U.S. FORCES DEPLOYED
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said he hoped the worst of the violence was over but U.S. missions must remain on guard.
"It would appear that there is some levelling off on the violence that we thought might take place," he told reporters on his plane en route to Asia on Saturday.
"Having said that, these demonstrations are likely to continue over the next few days, if not longer."
The United States has deployed a significant force in the Middle East to deal with any contingencies and rapid deployment teams were ready to respond to incidents, he said.
The foreign minister of Egypt, where hundreds of people were arrested in four days of clashes, assured Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that U.S. diplomatic grounds would be protected.
Mohamed Kamel Amr told Clinton in a telephone call that the film was designed to incite racial hatred and was therefore "contradictory with laws aimed at developing relationships of peace and mutual understanding between nations and states".
In Los Angeles on Saturday, a California man convicted of bank fraud was taken in for questioning by officers investigating possible probation violations stemming from the making of the video. He has denied involvement in the film.
The furore prompted an Iranian organisation to increase the reward for anyone killing Salman Rushdie, the British author condemned to death for blasphemy in 1989 by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic.
"Surely if the sentence of the Imam (Khomeini) had been carried out, the later insults in the form of caricatures, articles and the making of movies would not have occurred," said Hassan Sanei, head of the religious foundation offering $3.3 million for Rushdie's death.
In Lebanon, where one protester was killed in violence on Friday, Pope Benedict urged Arab leaders to work for peace.
"In a world where violence constantly leaves behind its grim trail of death and destruction, to serve justice and peace is urgently necessary," Benedict said at a mass on Beirut's Mediterranean seafront attended by 350,000 worshippers and leaders of Lebanon's Christian and Muslim communities.
(Reporting by David Alexander in Tokyo, Jonathon Burch in Ankara, Petra Jasper in Berlin, Tom Perry in Cairo, Dominic Evans in Beirut, Yeganeh Torbati in Dubai, Katharine Houreld in Islamabad and Tim Castle in London; Writing by Robin Pomeroy; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
Sunday, 16 September 2012
How To Stop Boko Haram, By Ex-Sultan, Dasuki .
THE current state of insecurity in the country seems to point to missed opportunities by successive governments to avert imminent upheaval.
One of such missed chances came when the solution proffered by the then supreme leader of Muslims in the country, and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, was ignored.
In 1991, Alhaji Dasuki, as Sultan, had chaired the “Peaceful Co-existence Committees” that reeled out a strategy — the “Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki 1993 Peaceful Co-existence Plan” — for lasting peace in the north and Nigeria in general.
The plan focused on eight cardinal areas of reforms, some of which were Administration of Justice, Civil Service, Security System, the Press, Education and Employment Opportunities that needed urgent attention for peace, progress and national unity.
Unfortunately, the findings and recommendations of the committee did not see the light of the day, even long after Alhaji Dasuki left the throne.
Given the increasing socio-political and religious upheaval in Nigeria, Alhaji Dasuki has, in the last two weeks, repeatedly drawn attention to his “1993 Peaceful Co-existence Plan,” as what the country needs to implement in these trying times.
He said justice and good governance are the bedrocks of national security and development, and a guarantee to Nigeria’s survival as a nation.
Alhaji Dasuki, who spoke in Kaduna, recalled that, “Last year, somebody asked me: ‘What are we going to do about this Boko Haram?’ I said, ‘Let the government, from the local level up to Aso Rock declare from today they will do justice, and we wait and see.’
“To me, in so doing, we shall live in peace and not in pieces. I may be wrong, but I think that is the correct thing because I am doing it according to our own scripture.”
The former Sultan listed three things that would allow Nigeria emerge as a united nation from the present morass. They included giving traditional rulers a role in the polity, appointing competent leadership and encouraging inter-faith dialogue.
Referring to his 1991 document on how to move Nigeria forward, Alhaji Dasuki said, “People have to talk now,” citing what motivated him into doing that.
“One… Muslims and Christians (have) to meet and discuss what is worrying them. Two, leadership (has) to emerge through the community to intra-state, state, regional and then national.
“So, I hope by this method, honest leadership will emerge; competent leadership, committed leadership from the intra-state, the community, to regional and even to national level,” he said.
Alhaji Dasuki spoke under the backdrop of worsening insecurity with the Boko Haram sect spreading fear and death across northern states, while armed robbery, kidnapping and other dastardly acts are commonplace in the southern section of the country.
Only at the weekend, an All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) chieftain, a tea vendor and a painter were gunned down in separate attacks at Abaganaram, Gambouru and Lamisula wards of Maiduguri, Borno State.
The killings came barely two days after the visits of the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Oluseyi Petinrin and Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar.
Petinrin had commissioned nine boreholes sunk by the military and distributed 50,000 exercise books in Gambouru, where the painter was shot yesterday by persons suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect.
In another attack, at about 8.40pm, an ANPP leader and aide to former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff was shot dead at his Lamusila residence.
An eyewitness said the gunmen arrived at the residence in an unmarked tricycle and shot the victim in the presence of his wife and children.
Officers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) subsequently rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area.
Some prominent leaders, including serving state governors, have blamed the dwindling fortunes of the North on low allocation from the federally collected revenue, which, they said, was responsible for the ravaging poverty and birth of insecurity being spread by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
Their response was to call for a review of the revenue allocation formula and the onshore-offshore dichotomy law that will give more money to the states.
However, respondents to The Guardian enquiry on the declining fortunes of the economy of the North say the leaders, particularly the governors, have not been prudent with the allocations they receive, and should take responsibility for the economic decline in the states.
The solution, they said, should include efforts by the governments to tackle insecurity, epileptic power supply and smuggling of foreign goods, while diversifying the economy away from reliance on federal allocation to agriculture and agro-allied industry, as well as generation of more internal revenue.
Senator Walid Jibrin, member, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party called for improved electricity supply.“The epileptic supply of electricity in the North,” he said, “is really affecting industries, typified by low current and poor patronage, which necessitates purchase of costly generators and diesel.”
Kwara State Commissioner for Information, Tunji Morounfoye, said the economic conditions of the 19 states of the North had been comatose for long, stressing, “we should not blame Boko Haram for the decline.”
“We need to (emphasise) areas of our advantage, like Adams Smith stated. We can develop our agriculture through the youth. We can emulate the example of China that brought out 300 million people out of poverty through agriculture in the spate of five years.”
To Dr. Wada Ademu, senior lecturer at the Department of Economics, University of Jos, “no matter how much we develop the oil sector, it has a maximum capacity it can absorb in terms of labour force.”
“If you diversify the base, develop agriculture, develop industry, every one of these sectors will definitely have to employ people, and we will have no problem of unemployment.”
Amnesty Office Raises Alarm On Mayhem Plot .
THE Presidential Amnesty Office has called the attention of security agencies to a plot by certain persons to cause mayhem in the Niger Delta.
The Office, in a statement issued yesterday, said it has been reliably informed that the amnesty programme is the target of a series of proposed politically motivated protests to begin from Uyo in Akwa Ibom State and spread to other oil producing states.
The Office, in a statement issued yesterday, said it has been reliably informed that the amnesty programme is the target of a series of proposed politically motivated protests to begin from Uyo in Akwa Ibom State and spread to other oil producing states.
“We deem it necessary to inform Nigerians and the unsuspecting public that some politicians have surreptitiously been funding ill-motivated campaigns, which have taken the form of protest marches, against the amnesty programme and the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, who oversees the programme, in order to score cheap political points,” the statement reads.
Head of Media and Communication, Daniel Alabrah, said the amnesty programme will not serve the interests of any political party and has been religiously executing its mandate of training and reintegrating beneficiaries regardless of their political leaning.
He called on those trying to drag the programme unnecessarily into politics to desist, while imploring security agencies, particularly in the Niger Delta, to be alert to their constitutional responsibility of ensuring safety and security of life and property.Authorities Question Anti-Islam Film Suspect Nakoula .
A MAN suspected of involvement in the making of an anti-Islamic film that has sparked violent protests across the Middle East and north Africa is being questioned by US probation officers.
Nakoula Basseley Nakoula was convicted of bank fraud in 2010 and later released on condition that he did not access the internet or use aliases.
He has denied involvement in the film, clips of which have been posted online.
At least seven people died in protests over the film on Friday.
The Egyptian Prime Minster, Hisham Qandil, has called on the US to ensure no further insults to Prophet Muhammad.
The US, he said, should “take the necessary measures to ensure insulting millions of people and their beliefs does not happen.
“It is unacceptable to insult our prophet and it’s also unjustifiable to have a peaceful demonstration turned violent,” he said in an interview with BBC Arabic.
On Tuesday, the US ambassador to Libya and three other Americans were killed after the US consulate was stormed in the city of Benghazi.Anger over the inflammatory film was cited as a spark for the attack, but there is suspicion that it was pre-planned.
The US victims were repatriated on Friday in a ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base attended by US President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
It is unclear who is behind the film –– Innocence of Muslims –– which has been widely circulated on the internet in English and Arabic.
Any portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad is considered blasphemous, and the film depicts him as a foolish, power-hungry man.
The character is also seen having sex with his wife and other women. In one scene he is seen sanctioning the sexual abuse of children, in another he says he is gay.
The original posting of a 14-minute trailer for the film on Youtube came from an account linked to the name ‘sambacile’.
No film-maker by the name of Sam Bacile has been traced, and the US authorities suspect Nakoula Basseley Nakoula of using the pseudonym.
Nakoula served 21 months in prison for using stolen identities to open numerous bank accounts that he later used to withdraw funds.
He was released in June 2011 with the proviso that he did not access the internet or use any aliases without permission.
Nakoula, who was also convicted of drugs offences in 1997, volunteered for questioning and was escorted from his home by officials early on Saturday, according to a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
He wore a scarf, hat and sunglasses to hide his identity as he left his home in the suburb of Cerritos.
Local media reported that a man later emerged from the police station wearing the same outfit.
Anger over the film erupted on Tuesday when, as well as the attack in Benghazi, the US consulate in Cairo was attacked.
There has since been violent unrest in Yemen, Sudan and Tunisia, with further protests in Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey.
An attack on a Nato base in Afghanistan yesterday that killed two US marines was also carried out in response to the video, the Taliban have said.
The US has stepped up security at its embassies across the region, and the EU has urged leaders in Arab and Muslim countries to call for peace.
Day Six: World Leaders React
President Barack Obama
I have made it clear that the United States has a profound respect for people of all faiths.
Yet there is never any justification for violence... There is no excuse for attacks on our embassies and consulates.
Anti-American protests have swept the Muslim world in response to the film, which insults the Prophet Muhammad.
President Mohammed Mursi
Egyptians reject any kind of assault or insult” against the Prophet Muhammad. I condemn and oppose all who... insult our prophet. [But] it is our duty to protect our guests and visitors from abroad.
I call on everyone to take that into consideration, to not violate Egyptian law... to not assault embassies.
Prime Minister Hisham Qandil
The US must do all it can to stop people insulting Islam. It is unacceptable to insult our Prophet. But also not right for peaceful protests to turn violent.
His comments come amid protests in the Middle East and north Africa over an anti-Islam film made in the US.
Egyptians, Arabs, Muslims - we need to reflect the true identity of Muslims, how peaceful they are, and talk to the Western media about the true heart of the Muslims, that they condemn violence.
At the same time we need to reach a balance between freedom of expression and to maintain respect for other peoples’ beliefs.
When asked whether he thought the US should change its laws governing freedom of speech laws, he replied: “I think we need to work out something around this (the US freedom of speech) because we cannot wait and see this happen again.
This is a small number of people doing irresponsible work and everybody’s paying the price.
The link between the US and Egypt was a relationship that we need to make stronger based on mutual interests and respect for sovereignty.
The US and other governments have to take the necessary measures to ensure insulting billions of people, one-and-a-half billion people and their beliefs, does not happen and people pay for what they do, and at the same time make sure that the reflections of the true Egyptian and Muslims is well in the Western media.
Leaders of Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance
This movie is the creation of some mentally insane people, whose ulterior motive might have been to create social anarchy in various societies. Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance leader feel that the American and Western nations should not become victim of such madness of a handpicked number of mentally insane people.
Islam preaches peace and the Muslims will surely not make innocent people victim of the madness of those masterminds of the controversial movie.
Muslims around the world has the fundamental right of bringing criminal charges against the producer and director of the film.This film which gave rise to these protests is disgusting and reprehensible. The US utterly rejected its contents and its message. But the film was no excuse for violence.
Ace Producer/Director Charles Novia opens up on Fight with Omotola
Mr. Charles Novia is one quite man to the core. He’s not one of those directors/producers that just talk anyhow so it’s suprising how he complains about Omotola’s attitude, despite his calmness and tolerance. Surely Omotla should have provoked him enough to instigate it. Or…?
“I am very dangerous when I am cross, Omotola. By the time I am through with you, you will be shocked what will happen to you and your career’ he intimated. But why such a vernomous statement in the book he recently released about his life as a producer/director?
Charles has poetically revealed the secret behind his fight with Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde. Titled “Nollywood Till November” it had further synoptic of the feud that enraged between them;
“I was taking everything in my stride and trying to calm frayed nerves when a couple of days to the end of the shoot, Omotola practically drove me crazy. I am very calm most of the time as a person and as a movie director but that day I blew my top!”
I remember screaming at her and she was shocked at first but made the mistake of putting up a defence. That was when I basically warned her in a very deadly tone to be mindful of me;
“ I am very dangerous when I am cross, Omotola. By the time I am through with you, you will be shocked what will happen to you and your career”.
Most of my crew members were shocked to see me in that mood. No one had ever seen me like that. I remember Norbert Young, Empress and Tari West calming me, while Ramsey sat coolly in a corner fiddling with his phone. Omotola seeing my mood, wisely went to her car and sulked
.
“I am very dangerous when I am cross, Omotola. By the time I am through with you, you will be shocked what will happen to you and your career’ he intimated. But why such a vernomous statement in the book he recently released about his life as a producer/director?
Charles has poetically revealed the secret behind his fight with Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde. Titled “Nollywood Till November” it had further synoptic of the feud that enraged between them;
“As the recording of the movie continued Omotola somehow started getting on a lot of the crew and cast nerves. Since this is a ‘tell-it-like-it-is’ book and since I am generally known to be outspoken, I believe I have to reveal a bit of this, not in any way to disparage her person but to be candid in my opinion. Little unnecessary skirmishes with one person or the other became rampant. It got to a head one day that my Production Manager, who is usually easy-going and friendly lost his temper and came to me. ‘Sir, please this will be the last time I will ever work with you if Omotola features in your movie after this one!’ he complained
I remember screaming at her and she was shocked at first but made the mistake of putting up a defence. That was when I basically warned her in a very deadly tone to be mindful of me;
“ I am very dangerous when I am cross, Omotola. By the time I am through with you, you will be shocked what will happen to you and your career”.
Most of my crew members were shocked to see me in that mood. No one had ever seen me like that. I remember Norbert Young, Empress and Tari West calming me, while Ramsey sat coolly in a corner fiddling with his phone. Omotola seeing my mood, wisely went to her car and sulked
.
FIRS Loses Bid For US$168million Halliburton Bribe Money
THE Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) yesterday lost a bid to get the sum of US$167,700,000 as income tax from Halliburton Energy Services Nigeria, being 30 percent of the US$559 million Halliburton money paid to United States authorities in lieu of bribes given to Nigerian Officials.
The loss by FIRS was sequel to a verdict by a Lagos Tax Appeal Tribunal, which described FIRS’ notice of Assessment dated February 24, 2009 to Halliburton Energy Services Nigeria, alleged to be a subsidiary of Halliburton Inc. USA as defective, being speculative contradiction and inconsistent with the relevant tax laws.
FIRS has by a notice of Assessment dated February 24, 2009 raised an assessment of US$167,700,000, which it described as disallowed expenses and profits, and asked Halliburton Energy Services Nigeria Limited to pay the said sum.
In the letter signed by D. D. Ogedengbe for the executive chairman of the service, FIRS argued that since the entire bribe would have formed part of the expenses that was charged in the tax returns to FIRS, an amount of US$559 million is disallowed for tax purposes by the appellant.
Also in a covering letter dated February 25, 2009, FIRS (the respondent in the appeal) noted that the fine of US$559 million payable to the US authorities in lieu of bribes given to Nigerian officials for operations in Nigeria fall within the group of disallowed expenses and profits.
Dissatisfied with the development, Halliburton Energy Services Nigeria filed an appeal at the Tax Appeal Tribunal in Lagos pursuant to section 59 and Article 13 of the Fifth schedule to the Federal Inland Revenue Services Establishment Act, N0.13 of 2007.
In the appeal, the appellant argued that it was not involved in the payment of any bribes and that it has never claimed any related revenue expenses or deductions in any of its tax returns to FIRS.
It also argued that it is not an agent or representative of Halliburton Inc. (USA) in Nigeria and does not represent the company in any manner whatsoever.
Libya Identifies 50 Involved In US Attack
U.S. ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three others died when gunmen attacked the consulate and a safe house refuge in the eastern city on Tuesday night. The attackers were part of a crowd blaming America for a film they said insulted the Prophet Mohammad.
So far four people have been arrested and are being questioned, Libyan officials have said.
"We know of 50 people who were involved in the attack, we have names and we know who they are, but there could be more," Abdel-Monem Al-Hurr, spokesman for Libya's Supreme Security Committee, said.
"Four have been arrested. Some of the others may have escaped via Benghazi airport, maybe to Egypt, but this not confirmed. We have given their names to all of the Libyan border entry points."
A spokesman for President Barack Obama said on Friday officials had no evidence the attack was pre-planned, an assertion which has added to confusion over the incident.
Immediately after the attack, U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, were quoted widely in the media saying they believed the attack was well-planned and organized.
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