How Nigerian Ladies Prostitute In United Arab Emirates

Flashy cars. Blinking bank accounts. Good businesses. They have it all. The good things of all fall on their laps. Like the queens that many see them to be outside, they live large.

Welcome to the world of the Nigerian 'big babes' who call the shots as far as prostitution is concerned in Dubai, that artificial creation in the United Arab Emirates which has caught the world’s attention.

Dubai covers an area of 1500 square miles and sits 52 feet above sea level. It is the gateway to Asia and is described as the Las Vegas of the Middle East. On the streets of Dubai, these ladies are the centre of attraction and back home, especially in cities such as Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, they own big businesses and drive flashy cars, yet from time to time, they acquire two months visa to Dubai for no reason other than to indulge in commercial sex. With the help of syndicates, they secure accommodation in hotels and apartments.

It came as a shock to this reporter, whose first time it was in Dubai. Having booked her accommodation online at the Africana Hotel, Deira, she was hopeful to have some quiet time and arriving the Dubai International Airport and seeing the Arabs all covered, with warning prohibiting indecency, she thought: "At least, there is some decency here!"

But she was soon to realize that beneath the cleanliness and splendour of the city lies a dirty trade, which even Sheiks are said to patronise when no one is watching. The moment this reporter stepped into the hotel she had reserved online, she saw an army of half-naked women, parading the premises.
Shocked by the contrast, she had quickly asked: "What's going on here?" The reply from the smiling front desk person was: "They are from your country, Nigeria. They are our guests. See these ladies, they pair themselves in a room, some even stay three in a room. So, in case you want to save money, you can pair with any of them!"
But her response did not quench the reporter's curiosity. It did not answer why half-nude Nigerian women, as early as 9am, were flaunting their bodies in front of the hotel with some black guys giving them signals.
At that moment, she made up her mind she was not going to stay in that hotel but would definitely visit the place at night for a better understanding of the mystery.

Having successfully checked into another hotel, with the help of an agent whose number she got from her friend who frequents Dubai, the reporter revisited the Africana Hotel.
The time was 11pm and the environment well lit, with a beehive of skimpily-dressed trooping in and out of the hotel. Observing quietly, the reporter overheard some of the ladies, seated at the reception complaining how the business has gone sour.

One of the ladies said: "Things are not as easy as they used to be when I started this business. There were some weeks I made about $5,000 from these Arab and European men.
"But since more babes from Nigeria got into it, there are so many ‘runs girls’ in Dubai that for the past one month, I have not made up to $5,000.

"Worst still, some of my clients have suddenly changed and started demanding anal sex. I had a terrible experience recently with a European whom I met inside an elevator at a big hotel.
"We exchanged contacts after he paid $300 for a ‘blow job’ in the elevator. Then, subsequently, we met and had pizza and he offered $1,000 for sex in his apartment.

"I thought he was a decent guy until I got to his apartment. He threatened me with a knife to accept sex with me through the anus or he will kill me.
"I begged him to collect his money and let me go but the oyibo man refused and had his way. Imagine what I have denied most of my contacts, who would have even paid more for it, that stupid European got it by force and still he collected his money back.

"I am just tired of this business. Though I own a big boutique in Festac, it is through these 'runs' that I foot my bills because there is little profit in the boutique business."
Another one, whom they called Jane while sympathising with her friend, told the girls that Alhaja [her pimp] had earlier warned her not to carry money to her customer’s place.
"Alhaja warned me that these days, the men will sleep with you and still collect your money. So, since then, I usually drop any advance payment with her.

"I do not want a situation whereby one stupid man will collect the money I have laboured for. Any valuable thing I have, I usually drop them with Alhaja and she gives me back once I demand for them.
"So, my dear, learn from this experience and most times, it is better you tell the men ahead of time what you can do and what you cannot do," said Jane.
Jane, who claimed she resigned from her place of work in Lagos where she served as a marketer, attributed her resignation to meagre salary.

"I graduated from the university two years ago and got a job where I was paid N20, 000 per month. The hardship and frustration in Nigeria pushed me into prostitution and I have no regrets because I now have a better life. I own my own apartment, a car and a big saloon in Lagos," she said.
Baffled by the revelations of the ladies, the reporter asked a travel agent how the women were able to practise open prostitution in a Muslim country.

Hear him: "Is there anything Nigerians cannot do? Most of these girls I know them in Nigeria. Some are rich and own big businesses, while some are students.
"They apply and acquire two months' visa and with the help of travel agents and some big women, they get accommodation in hotels and even apartment. Then, those women who also have guys working for them usually link them up with men.

"Most of them register and submit their international passports to the women or their contact persons and every night; this is how they keep going about.
"It is very embarrassing that Nigerian ladies, including married women, come here for prostitution. That is how one of them saw me in Festac last year and she was hiding because she knows I know what she does in Dubai.

"Once a woman calls me that she wants two months' visa, I just know that is what she is coming for and I turn them down. Some will say there is no job in Nigeria and they want to come and hustle.
"What is paining me now is that this nonsense that they do has made it difficult for us to secure genuine visas for decent people. Also, most hotels have increased their rates, with some even refusing to give their rooms to single women coming to stay that long.

"If you go around this neighbourhood [Deira], you will see that these stupid girls even rent apartments, which they keep and pay for even while they are in Nigeria, yet they claim it is unemployment and poverty that led them into prostitution.

"It is a serious issue and I think the Federal Government needs to act on it urgently, if not, these girls will spread diseases in Nigeria, aside the bad image they are painting of the country already," said the travel agent.
Continuing, the agent narrated how one of the prostitutes approached a client of his who lodged in the hotel sometime in June.

"The girl just knocked on the door and when my client opened, she called her outside and was telling her to stop acting like a child. I just stood by the door and I was hearing their conversation. She told my client that most of the men who have seen her want her to play by the game.

"But my client refused and told the lady that she was in Dubai for business and not prostitution and the girl, while insisting, said most of them own businesses in Nigeria and that they prostitute to cover their expenses.
"She even said that my client can make the money she will use to buy her goods in one night, thereby she would not spend the money she came with or buying more things.
"I was so angry that I had to come out and warn the girl to mind her business and allow my client who has told her she was not interested in prostitution.

"That was why I came immediately you told me she gave you my number and that you want a decent place to stay," he said.

Yet in this city, there are strict religious laws against prostitution. A western women once got a month imprisonment for a peck on the cheek. The law in Dubai has clear rules that prostitution is illegal. If you are caught by the police, both you and the prostitute will be put into jail and wait for the sentence of the local court.

If you are not a national, apart from the punishment of being sentenced by the court, you will be asked to leave the UAE and will not be allowed back in again.

There are different categories of prostitutes in Dubai. There are the willing ones and the forced ones who are threatened into it by pimps. The bulk of the Nigerian ladies in the trade are the willing ones and if they are caught, unfortunately, they will go for it.

Source: The Nation –

FOI: Private Sector Company Obeys Court Order & Releases details of Revenue Generated from Parking Fees in Abuja

Following the order of a Federal High Court in Abuja, a private sector company, the Integrated Parking Services (IPS), has released details of all revenue generated from operating Parking services in the Abuja metropolis.

Through a letter  signed by the Managing Director of the company  signalling obedience to the court order, IPS provided the PPDC with certified bank statements from Fidelity Bank, Zenith bank and UBA.

According to the forwarding letter, the total amount of money realised from inception of the parking service until November 2013 (which is the period covered by the FOI request) is Two hundred and twenty two Million, One hundred and ninety three thousand and eight hundred and forty two thousand Naira thirty two kobo (222, 193, 842.32) while the total remittance to Federal Capital Territory Administration is Twenty two million, two hundred and nineteen thousand, three hundred and eighty four Naira, thirteen kobo (22, 219, 384.13)

The IPS also furnished PPDC with the contract agreement signed between IPS and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). According to the agreement, the scheme under which IPS controls parking and collects parking fees is being undertaken under a Public Private Partnership scheme and IPS emerged as one of the companies to carry out this scheme through a competitive process.

The agreement also states that the aim of embarking on the revenue generating scheme from parked vehicles is to provide resources to meet the infrastructure development needs of the FCTA.

This judgement favours private sector transparency and affirms the disclosure obligations of private institutions carrying out public functions as is statutorily required by  the Freedom of Information Act 2011.

Confab delegates and the unity of Nigeria

By Saleh Ashaka

Writer presses the argument of a united Nigeria.

It was not for nothing that President Goodluck Jonathan at the inauguration of the national conference this month, urged delegates at the conference not to venture into areas that would put the unity of the country in jeopardy, but focus on areas that would foster peaceful coexistence and mutual trust among its people.
The president’s speech hit the nail on the head as at the mention of a national conference, most people’s minds were agitated that the sovereignty of Nigeria is about to be renegotiated.

President Goodluck Jonathan definitely with this in mind, said while the country recognizes the fact that groups and communities are the building blocks of nationhood, Nigerians must also emphasise that we need one another to build the solid and prosperous country of our dreams.

Indeed as the president noted, our ability to stay together despite our acknowledged differences, when other countries are finding it difficult to meet that challenge, is a powerful statement by Nigeria to the world on the virtues of tolerance and unity.

From a historical perspective, those who speak in favour of the country breaking up merely react to spontaneous issues that crop up at certain times, and not due to a holistic appraisal of the benefits or otherwise of staying together.

That is why immediately such concerns are addressed, the issue dies down and the aggrieved forget their agitations only for another section of the country similarly affected, to raise the matter until it also attracts attention.

This could also explain why the demand for the breakup of the country keeps shifting from one side to the other proving further, that emotion, borne by anger and other such sentiments fuel such agitations.
At a time it was the Northern part of the country that made the demand for a breakup of the country in the well-known ‘Araba’ protests, which was closely followed by the Igbo with the Biafran secessionist bid. Later after the annulment of the June 12 1993 elections, the Yoruba in the South West pained by the action also demanded a Sovereign National conference to discuss terms for remaining within Nigeria.

Recent happenings at the conference however draws our attention to the fact that we must tread cautiously so as not to give in to the naysayers who do not see the larger picture that a one united country presents.
Indeed as somebody observed, the benefits of remaining as one indivisible nation, far outweighs the negative being peddled about.

We are witnesses to how the once united Sudan bowed down to such pressures and carved itself into two countries in a process it thought would assuage ethnic and religious agitations, but no sooner had they finished with that than they began to have problems even within the components that days before were jubilating over the breaking up of the old Sudan.

This should serve as a lesson to all that differences must occur at any level of human cohabitation and that the issue is not about succumbing to the easy prey of fragmentation but in making sacrifices that would lead to harnessing the bigger benefits.

One country which seemed to have realized this early enough was Germany which overcame the ideological divide and came together as one nation.

To say that Nigeria stands out today because of its human resources is to put it mildly, as many nations of the world have come to envy where we are and regard us due to the economic advantage derivable.
Nigeria as well know presents an economic advantage to investors due to its human potential and we cannot lose sight of that advantage.

That is why delegates at the national conference must not allow themselves to be carried away by emotion but must remain statesmanlike and true to their calling as elder statesmen.

The Lamido of Adamawa apparently irked by what has been termed the ‘blackmail of northerners’ at the National Conference recently had cause to say that he and his people are not afraid of Nigeria’s disintegration.
His words:
“If something happens and the country disintegrates, God forbids, many of those who are shouting their heads off will have nowhere to go. But I and the people of Adamawa and many others have got somewhere to go. I am the Lamido of Adamawa and my kingdom transcends Nigeria and Cameroon. The larger part of my kingdom is in the Republic of Cameroun and a part of that kingdom is in Chad Republic.”
He continued: “Mr Chairman, a part of that kingdom, in Cameroun there is a state called Adamawa presently in Cameroon. So, if I run to that place, I will easily assimilate”.

Predictably his comments provoked a lot of comments with many in support and many others against.
But while we struggle to comment, the bottom line should be that there is a need for us to have mutual respect for one another, build on the positive aspect of our togetherness and exploit areas that would harness the potentials that this blessing bestows on us.

It is sad that shortly after celebrating one hundred years of being together issues such as this should continue to taunt us in the face as we should by now have overcome them.

The efforts of our past leaders by creating uniting agencies like unity schools and National Youth service corps (NYSC) programme were meant to facilitate this togetherness so that as one on our leaders said, we can understand our differences and learn to live together. It was not meant for us to keep emphasizing on our differences.

One of the ways we can ensure this is if we begin to see ourselves as one whole instead of different people scattered all around.

Ideally, any threat to any part of the country, should be seen as a threat to the centre and not an isolated case that affects a different people. It is my sincere belief that if we develop n that attitude then we would have succeeded in eliminating one of the scourges that division bring to us.

Just as the President in his speech said, “We must begin to see ourselves as one community. We are joined together by similar hopes and dreams as well as similar problems and challenges. What affects one part of the community affects the other and urged the delegates to seize the opportunity of the conference to do more to further turn our diversity and plurality into unique national resources for strength and greatness.”

Saleh Ashaka is a journalist with the Voice of America.

"Jonathan’s government is behind Boko Haram – Northern Governors tell Obama"

  - By Political Editor

During a meeting between twelve Northern Governors, and key officials of President Obama’s cabinet, several governors belonging to the platform of the All Progressives Congress told U.S officials that the Jonathan administration was suspected by them to be aiding the insurgents causing terror in the North.

The startling accusation is said to have caused Prof Ade Adefuye, the Nigerian ambassador to the United States to come to the defense of the GEJ administration but not before the damage had already been done.

Guardian reports:

WITH top U.S. government officials, including President Barack Obama’s National Security Adviser, Ms. Susan Rice, who was presiding, the issue of Boko Haram, 2015 elections and corruption among the Nigerian political elite became a hot debate at the White House earlier last week.

A meeting of 12 Northern State governors (and a deputy governor) and the US government on Tuesday in Washington DC took a dramatic turn when some of the governors, especially Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, initiated a frontal attack on President Goodluck Jonathan, forcing the Nigeria’s Ambassador to the U.S., Ade Adefuye, who was also in attendance, to join the fray, objecting to some of the comments against the President and the Federal Government.

Although Nyako was said to be the most vocal, he was not alone in raising critical views about the president and his policies, as the Borno and Kano State Governors also knocked hard on the Jonathan presidency.

The meeting was organised by the US government, through the US Institute of Peace, with a view to exploring how the Americans can work together with state governments in the North to address the Boko Haram insurgency and the underlying problem of socio-economic under-development in the region.

Present at the meeting in the Washington DC were governors Nyako (Adamawa), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Kashim Shetima (Borno), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and Abdulfattah Ahmed (Kwara).

Others are Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Idris Wada (Kogi), Usman Dakingari (Kebbi) and Prof. Ade Adefuye.

In attendance on the US side (in addition to Rice) were: Ambassador Johnnie Carson, Adviser (United States Institute of Peace), Mr. Grant Harris, Special Adviser to President Obama on Africa, Mr. John Mohr – Senior Staff Member – National Security Council and Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Ms Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

Authoritative sources disclosed to The Guardian that Nyako, a former PDP governor, who switched camp to the APC, raised very sensitive issues, including allegations that the Federal Government failed to block importation of weapons into the country; weapons, which are being used to fuel the Boko Haram insurgency.

Nyako also alleged that federal security agencies were colluding with backers of Boko Haram to perpetuate the conflict in the North. He said such security agencies were the ones facilitating the clearance of arms and ammunitions through the border and transporting same to the terrorists.

The Adamawa State governor, who was said to have caused a grim silence by his allegations at the White House meeting, also claimed that the Jonathan presidency refused to identify Boko Haram sponsors despite arrest of some of the members.

He cited particular instances where the military JTF were withdrawn in some of the locations in the three states where the terrorists’ activities have been intense, just in time for the terrorists to attack those locations. According to Governor Nyako, he was convinced that information was being passed from the security agencies to help the terrorists.

But Nyako’s main allegation was the motive behind the alleged collusion, which he said is a way to reduce the voting power of the North East in 2015 and subsequent polls, and keep the region perpetually underdeveloped.

It took the spirited response of the Nigerian Ambassador to the USA, Adefuye, and some of the other governors to halt Nyako’s allegations. Sources said Adefuye challenged Nyako to provide evidence for his allegations, and tongue-lashed him for playing politics of 2015 at the meeting.

Adefuye “did not take kindly to the allegations,” and the fact that the meeting was used by Nyako in particular to attack President Jonathan and the Federal Government, sources disclosed.

The source said the Ambassador “had to call Nyako to order,” and even sought the intervention of the organisers and other participants to ensure that the meeting did not turn into a forum to “wash Nigeria’s linen in public.” Sources said hot heads cooled after the Ambassador’s intervention.

Besides the Ambassador, the Governor of Kogi also opposed Nyako, especially explaining that the examples the Adamawa governor gave regarding how JTF people retreated from a location just before Boko Haram attacked were just coincidental.

Other Governors, who were critical over the Boko Haram issue, included the Borno Governor, Shettima, who also criticised the President and the Federal Government’s handling of the Boko Haram insurgency. However, Shettima also hoped that the insurgency would soon abate, urging for accelerated developmental projects in the affected states.

All the while, the US officials, including Rice, the NSA, kept listening, according to sources. Only few weeks ago, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Ms Linda Thomas-Greenfield, publicly challenged the Nigerian government to expose the backers of Boko Haram.

Governors of Kano and Gombe, however, also had a “fight” over the issue of corruption in Nigeria at the White House meeting when the Gombe Governor said the issue of corruption among Nigeria’s political elite is thriving because if a politician is accused of corruption all he has to do is to join the opposition party. Taking this as a direct personal attack, the Kano State Governor responded in annoyance that he did not leave PDP for APC because of corruption charges.

$20bn NNPC unremitted funds still missing from the Federation Account. Mr. President, what are you doing about it?

El-Rufai wins again at the Court of Appeal

*No statute is capable of abridging fundamental rights

 By Muyiwa Adekeye

Abuja, 31 March 2014: Mallam Nasir el Rufai secured another victory in court today. The Court of Appeal set aside the judgment of a Federal High Court which had in 2010 thrown out his fundamental human rights enforcement case against the Senate. Ruling in El Rufai's favour, the Court of Appeal directed the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to appoint another judge to hear the case.

The original suit was filed in August 2008 to challenge the decisions and recommendations of the Senate committee established to hold investigative public hearings on the affairs of the FCT between 1999 and 2007, but which essentially targeted El Rufai.

That committee invited El Rufai as a witness and not as a defendant. But in its report, the committee went ahead to recommend punishment and other sanctions against El Rufai without making available to him the petitions against him, or placing before him any instances of violations of the law for his response.

By acting in this prejudicial manner, the Senate committee, and eventually the entire Senate in accepting the committee's recommendations, had violated El Rufai's constitutionally guaranteed rights. El Rufai therefore approached the courts to defend and uphold his rights. He sued the Senate and five other parties: the Senate president, Senator Sodangi, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Minister of the FCT and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The respondents did not dispute the substance of these rights violations but they resorted to legal technicalities. They told the trial court that El Rufai's legal action came too late because it was not filed within three months of "the commencement of the breach" as required by the Public Officers Protection Act. They further claimed that all the defendants are public officers, and are therefore protected by the Act against such actions.

Justice M. G. Umar agreed with their arguments. On 11 March 2010, he declined to hear the substantive case of the violation of El Rufai's fundamental rights, deciding that it was 'statute-barred'. Bamidele Aturu, counsel to El Rufai, disagreed and lodged an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, in April 2010.

After four years of legal arguments, the court of appeal decided the appeal today. The panel of three justices unanimously decided that the trial judge erred in ruling that any statute is capable of abridging fundamental rights. They therefore allowed the appeal and directed that the suit be remitted back to another judge of the Federal High Court to hear the substantive suit.

El Rufai welcomed the decision. "This judgment is another contribution to human rights jurisprudence in this country. We are gratified that the Court of Appeal saw through attempts by public officers to avoid responsibility for their abuse of the rights of citizens using various stratagems."


Signed
Muyiwa Adekeye
31 March 2014