What do you want from the bank?

Titus is a young rich bachelor who is known for being a very cheerful giver. He is at present courting three beautiful girls and he believes it's high time for him to settle down and get married. After listening to the song Eminado by Tiwa Savage and Don Jazzy he came up with a test that would help him determine which of his three prospects would be the best marriage material.  His favourite part of the song is when Don Jazzy asks “what do you want from the bank?”. An idea came to him that this will be a good criteria to help him in making a decision. He decides to put a phone call to each of the girls, telling them that he just arrived at the banking hall and asks them what they wanted from the bank. The answer to this question should tell Oga Titus a lot about the suitability of the girlfriend for marriage. Or would it?

Prospect number one called Charity did not even wait for him to finish the question before asking whether the amount is in Naira, Pounds or Dollars.  When he said Naira, she boldly replied she can manage anything from 50 million. From her reply he perceives this one is not here for the long term, she only wants to bleed him dry at the earliest opportunity and definitely not marriage material. She is not thinking of him as a partner and is only in the relationship for what she can get for herself. He believes she views this as her one opportunity to “hammer” and is grabbing it with both hands. Then again she has shown that she can be bold and aggressive and an ambitious go-getter, qualities a lot of people expect in the modern wife. He is also flattered that she thinks he is worth in excess of the amount she has quoted. On second thought, was she just joking or pulling his legs? which reasonable person would ask for such an amount even if it is Dangote that asked you?

Prospect number two called Faith is quite excited and feels over the moon at being asked. She requested for a very specific 1.5 million Naira. She is definitely a reasonable person who although wants the good things of life is not with him just for the money or material gains. She sees a future with him and would want something for herself now but also leave enough for them to share in the future. However, he is puzzled she gave him what he thought was a well rehearsed and specific amount. Does she have a pressing issue that this amount will solve?  If that is the case he wondered why she is not sharing her issues with him. On the other hand, if she was so good why did she even ask for any money? What she may deem as reasonable may be excessive after all she does not know the size of his bank account.

Prospect number three called Hope was totally non-committal. Though grateful for being asked, blatantly refused to give an amount and told him to use his "church mind". He tried to push her into saying an amount but the lady wasn’t one for pushing. This one sent his mind into overdrive. Is she for real? who in Nigeria does not like awoof?  This one looks like a keeper, she will do whatever he pleases and leaves the decision making to him. She is not extravagant or materialistic and will make do with whatever she is given. She also seems to be well brought up and not too forward. Then again, is it just a ploy? when someone tell you to use your “church mind” it's almost like saying “give me what you think I’m worth”. In most cases, people who leave you to your own discretion seem to get more. So is she playing a very tactical game? Is she showing him her good side while they are courting only for her to show the real her when he puts a ring on it? Maybe this shows she lacks ambition and would be docile and show too much deference in a marriage. If the going gets tough will she be able to hustle or will she always look to him to provide the daily bread whatever the weather.

A harmless question can tell you a lot about the thinking of people however what we make of their responses should tell us much more about ourselves.

New day, New week

It's a new day today and also the beginning of a new week. I am determined to make this week better than last week. Last week was a bit disappointing, received some setback but I will not let it demoralise me. I will rise above any disappointment and use it to my advantage. I am using it as the tonic and springboard to make this week a fruitful one. I Have started the week on a good note. Highly motivated to make a significant difference. In life the only person that can defeat you is yourself, within reason. I am inspired to excel myself and the bring out the exceptional qualities I believe I possess.

It's always good to start the day with prayers. Even if you are not religious or believe in the efficacy of prayers, it always works as a good motivational vehicle for us. You pray for what you wish and you put yourself in action to achieve this. It's almost like setting yourself objectives, you believe God will grant you your wishes but you also have to do your part. As they say heaven helps those who helps themselves. God will only assist you if you are willing to play a part in achieving what you pray for.

Procrastination is indeed the thief of time. It is also my greatest weakness. I have spent many a valuable time doing more pleasurable things at the expense of what is important and indeed less pleasurable. It is difficult to break the habit of a lifetime but I believe the way to tackle this is to set yourself small but achievable targets that you can meet relatively easy and boost your confidence.

Not an email: Ex-Nigerian dictator's assets frozen - MiamiHerald.com

BY KEVIN G. HALL

MCCLATCHY WASHINGTON BUREAU - MIAMI HERALD

Gen Sani Abacha

WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department said Wednesday it has frozen $458 million in corruption-derived assets from  accounts belonging to Nigerian dictator Gen. Sani Abacha and sought forfeiture of more than $550 million stashed across the globe.

The complaint in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia was based on an FBI investigation and also names the general’s son Mohammed Sani Abacha and associate Abubaker Atiku Bagudu. The three are accused of embezzling public funds amounting to billions of dollars from the oil-rich country, in three different criminal schemes.

Justice officials described Wednesday’s move as the “largest kleptocracy forfeiture action brought in the department’s history.” The action was part of a broader initiative to discourage corruption proceeds from being laundered in the United States. Why the complaint comes now wasn’t immediately clear.

U.S. bank operations listed in the complaint, all in New York but not the subject of the complaint, include: ANZ Banking Group; Bankers Trust Company; Barclays Bank; Citibank ; Chase Manhattan Bank; Chemical Bank;  AG; Marine Midland Bank; HSBC USA; and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company, which later became JP Morgan Chase.

Abacha is a controversial figure in Nigeria, where he led a military regime that ruled from his coup 1993 until his death in office in 1998. He presided during a time of low oil prices, so the country’s economic growth came from a wider opening to private investment and market forces. He also used Nigeria’s military to help quell unrest in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

But the dark side of the Abacha regime was revealed in the complaint for forfeiture of funds

Under one scheme, Gen. Abacha allegedly got Nigeria’s central bank to disperse what are called security votes, essentially funds to be used for purposes of national security. Instead, those funds were moved overseas to accounts in Switzerland, Great Britain and through banks in the United States.

Another alleged scheme involved the general and his finance minister, Anthony Ani, buying back distressed Nigerian government debt at inflated prices from a company controlled by Bagudu and Mohammed Abacha. The windfall was more than $282 million, the Justice Department said.

The third alleged criminal effort involved extortion of more than $11 million from a French company with a Nigerian affiliate involved in government contracting.

Proceeds from the alleged national security funds fraud were pooled into bank accounts in London, then used to purchase dollar-denominated Nigerian bonds, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in interest payments.

U.S. banking behemoth Citibank administered the interest rate payments, which amounted to lending stolen money to generate huge profits.

Most of the money sought by the Justice Department belongs to entities registered in the British Virgin Islands, Great Britain, France and the Bailiwick of Jersey. About $287 million is being held by Deutsche Bank International Ltd. in Jersey; another $12 million is accounts administered by HSBC Fund Administration in Jersey; and another $144 million is located at Banque SBA in Paris.

Some of the fictitious companies the group established outside Nigeria had accounts with Goldman Sachs in Zurich, Switzerland.