The Fight Against Corruption is Continuous Commitment

The Fight Against Corruption is Continuous Commitment:

This week the U.S. Embassy, Abuja, is hosting an anti-corruption program with U.S. Speaker Peter Ainsworth.  Peter Ainsworth is Senior Deputy Chief for Litigation - Public Integrity Section, Criminal Division in the Department of Justice.  His section investigates and prosecutes public corruption, election law, and conflicts of interest offenses nationally and internationally.  In addition he personally serves as lead attorney on high-profile matters handled by the Section.  One such high profile case is that of Rickie Scruggs, a highly influential, highly connected and rich Attorney in the State of Mississippi who tried to bribe Judge Henry Lackey, which Mr. Ainsworth used as a case study in his interaction with civil society groups this morning at the National Center for Women Development in Abuja.  The program was put together in collaboration with the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG).

Mr. Ainsworth recalled Rickie Scruggs, a brother-in-law to former U.S. Senate Majority leader Trent Lott, made a fortune in the 1990’s in litigations against tobacco companies.  He had private jets, yachts and several luxury cars, and was friends with highly placed politicians.  Mr. Scruggs refused to honor an agreement with a lawyer, to share proceeds of a case if successful, and the lawyer sued him.  The case came before the court of Judge Henry Lackey, and in his attempt to win a favorable decision, Mr. Scruggs tried to bribe the Judge.  One of the first things Judge Lackey did was to report the matter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  After months of investigation, Mr. Scruggs was charged to court, tried, found guilty and is currently serving a seven-year jail term for bribery.

Drawing from this story, Mr. Ainsworth encouraged discussion on corruption in high places and what can be done to confront it.  The first question he posed to the audience was on the action of Judge Lackey in calling the FBI to report the bribe attempt.  In the Nigerian context “why shouldn’t Judge Lackey call the authorities to report?” asked Mr. Ainsworth.  The responses included lack of trust of the law enforcements agents in Nigeria, the safety of the judge and members of his family, possibility of his career being affected negatively and also his action could be viewed as an attempt to seek cheap publicity.  In addition, the suspects, especially if they are highly placed, might never be prosecuted or punished.  Interestingly the Speaker pointed out that every single reason mentioned in the Nigerian context is also applicable to the U.S.

Next Mr. Ainsworth wanted the audience to think and come up with ideas about how people like Judge Lackey can be protected.  The audience said first and foremost whistleblowers must be protected by law.  In addition cases should be successfully prosecuted, to encourage others to come forward.  Leaks must also be prevented from happening, and at some point, those charged with the responsibility of conducting investigations should be trusted to do so.  There were several suggestions, but the bottom line is that the fight against corruption is a continuous commitment and those fighting corruption must never give up.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

 “We’ve got to sit down and thoughtfully create these rules that will protect the guy, protect the Henry Lackey’s of this world, protect our investigations, but still allow us to get to the bottom of this.  And this is not impossible.  It took us (U.S.) a while to get there but it’s not impossible.”

This blog will keep you posted throughout the week about this important event.

What is Jazz?

What is Jazz?: Simply answered, jazz means different things to different people. To Thelonius Monk, jazz is a spontaneous musical conversation among the musicians performing it.  To the father of modern jazz, Charlie Parker, it is a blend of all different styles of music resulting in an intellectual endeavor and not just a form of popular entertainment.

For me, jazz is a complex language, one that communicates passion and coolness, emotion and common sense, intellect and simplicity and one you need to study to understand.  To me jazz is a musical language waiting to be recorded.
My early influences came from a variety of sources.  I listened to classical music, blues, country, soul, and R&B, but I was passionate about jazz greats like Thelonuis Monk, Ella Fitzgerald, Bill Evans, Wes Montgomery, Miles Davis and Billie Holiday just to name a few.  I learned how to play the piano at 18 and

played in my first band at age 19. I played with and recorded an album with an inspiring funk band named The Poison Band and Show from Richmond, VA in the mid 1970's.  I crossed over from funk to jazz shortly after that and played in my first jazz band, the Southern Energy Ensemble (S.E.E.) in 1976.  After many years of playing jazz songs on the piano I can credit recent influences to Bill McGee, a trumpeter from Richmond, VA with the soulful but mournful sound of Miles Davis. In Taipei, Taiwan, I was impressed by Yu Ying Hsu, an aspiring Jazz pianist with the rhythmical sound of McCoy Tyner who rekindled my interest in jazz training.

I play jazz because through it I can share my feelings and thoughts with friends and strangers without uttering a word.  Maya Angelou once said, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." For a jazz musician, this means using all of their training and studies to capture the audience and leave them with a finger popping, toe tapping and head-bopping unforgettable experience.

Have you ever heard a jazz song that immediately captivated your soul? If not, listen to these tunes, It Don't Mean a Thing by Duke Ellington, Fine and Mellow by Billie Holiday, Every Time We Say Goodbye by Ray Charles and Betty Carter and, I'm Just a Lucky So and So by Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.  After listening you should understand why jazz artists say "The true message of jazz goes beyond intellect but directly to the heart and soul itself".

For me jazz is an inspirational, recognizable sound that calms the beast in all of us.

Cossy - Why I show cleavages

What Is The Difference Between My Love To Show Cleavage & Pastors That Show Off Flashy Cars?’ – Cossy:
‘I’m a sinner and have come short of the glory of God. He that is without sin should cast the first stone. My problem is that I’m too real in the midst of lots of fake people. It is by the special grace of God that people, even pastors, will make heaven. What’s the difference [...]

South African Policemen Brutally Beat Nigerian Man To Death

South African Policemen Brutally Beat Nigerian Man To Death:
5 Limpopo, South Africa police officers beat a Nigerian man to fatality, the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court listened to on Thursday. “I put it to you that you beat him, he fainted and you resuscitated him. He woke up and… you beat him again,” prosecutor Jacky Mabasa to said to the jury in court “You also [...]

Buhari - Oritsejafor Is Working For Jonathan’s 2015 Agenda

Oritsejafor Is Working For Jonathan’s 2015 Agenda – Buhari:
One time Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), has actually accused the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, of helping the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan. Buhari claimed with many statements made by the man of God about him (Buhari), it appeared that he was desperate to help the [...]

Pat Utomi Speaks: PDP Crisis Is From The Fear Of APC

Pat Utomi Speaks: PDP Crisis Is From The Fear Of APC:
Among Nigeria’s erudite academicians and creator of the Centre for Value and Leadership, Prof. Pat Utomi, has pointed out that the crisis shaking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is as an outcome of the danger positioned by the All Progressives Congress, APC. Prof. Utomi claimed PDP members were bound together because they shared gains [...]

Ekiti State Govt To Recruit 1,600 Teachers

Ekiti State Govt To Recruit 1,600 Teachers:
No less than 1,600 will certainly be employed in Ekiti Teaching Service within the following couple of months. The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Kehinde Ojo, made this understood when he oriented newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Monday. The applicants have actually already besieged the state Ministry of Education and designated financial institutions [...]

What Tech Can Do For Your Health And Your Government

What Tech Can Do For Your Health And Your Government: Ashoka UK Communications Manager Felicity McLean (@flickmclean) caught up with three leading social entrepreneurs to chat about whether technology can and does open up governments, and if online communities can serve to transform societal interaction and cohesion for the better.
How can technology make your government more open?
“At its purest, technology can sponsor transparency and empower citizens,” said Emma Jane Cross, the founder BeatBullying and the online community powerhouse The BB Group. “It can fight corruption, strengthen governance, encourage democracy, and protect the voiceless, the disempowered and ignored.”