SO MUCH FOR THE SUN'S MEDIA CAMPAIGN

The SUN is a tabloid owned by Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, a flamboyant, outspoken and maverick ex-governor that is currently being held by the EFCC. Recently, the paper has been trying to create the impression that the U.S and other Western nations were opposed to his arrest on charges of corruption. According to The Punch, the U.S has now officially shrugged off such insinuations. Read the story.


By Oluwole Josiah, Abuja
Thursday, 19 Jul 2007
The United States has denied that it is averse to the trial of the former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
In his valedictory press briefing on Wednesday, the outgoing US Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, said it was not the business of the US Government to dictate to its allies how to run their judicial systems.
He was reacting to media reports in the wake of the arrest of Kalu, that the US opposed the arrest and trial of the ex-governor.
Campbell said, “This is a Nigerian judicial process, it is altogether improper for the United States to comment on such a process and as far as I know, contrary to press reports, we have not done so.
“The United States Government has made no statement absolutely ever about an entire judicial process that is now underway.”
He also noted that although the US regretted the poor conduct of the April general elections, it welcomed the call for reforms of the electoral system.
He said, “The United States will continue to walk beside Nigeria on its pilgrimage to democracy. We share with Nigerians their disappointment over the conduct of the April 2007 elections.
“We welcome the call by Umar Yar’Adua for the reform of the electoral system; we will continue to support the government of Nigeria and the civil society in an effort to strive and improve the electoral law, the tribunal system and promote the independence of the judiciary and the legislature, both at the national and state levels.
According to Campbell, at the moment, the US had earmarked $15 million for a three-year period in support of the electoral reform process, adding that the US was prepared to provide expertise as might be needed by Nigeria.
He said while the US shared the aspirations of the people of the Niger Delta and was prepared to provide development, medical and other expertise for the area, the kidnapping of toddlers was unacceptable.
He said he would like to see more American companies investing in Nigeria as an improvement on the present trade relations between the two companies.
On the influx of arms from the United States to the Niger Delta region of Nigerian, the ambassador noted that he was yet to identify arms used by militants that were made in the United States.