(Continued from page 5)“certificate <strong>of</strong> sound mental fitness” froma psychiatric clinic. (Source: ChicagoTribune, 6/20/003)Amina Lawal’s Stoning AppealAdjourned Until August 27Amina Lawal, a mother <strong>of</strong> four, hashad her appeal to overturn her convictionadjourned until August 27, two days afterthe date set for her execution. But, thecourt assured her that the execution willnot go ahead before the appeal has beenheard. A court in Katsina state convictedLawal <strong>of</strong> adultery in March 2002. Shehad borne a child out <strong>of</strong> wedlock.Although she had been divorced for someyears, the mandatory punishment underIslamic law is still death by stoning. Shehas already lost one appeal. After theIslamic court, Lawal will have one morechance to appeal—before <strong>Nigeria</strong>’sSupreme Court.President Obasanjo has promised thatthe sentence would not be carried out,but he has chosen his words carefully. Hewill not intervene directly, nor will hechallenge the right <strong>of</strong> Islamic courts toimpose such punishments. But, he saysthat he is confident that the courts willoverturn the conviction.Another case is also being appealed.A couple in the north-central state <strong>of</strong>Niger, Fatima Usman and AhmaduIbrahim, had originally been sentenced toterms <strong>of</strong> imprisonment. But, when thefather <strong>of</strong> the woman challenged theseverity <strong>of</strong> the prison terms, the sentencewas amended to impose the far harsherdeath sentences. The case highlights whatdefense lawyers dislike about thesystem—the arbitrary nature <strong>of</strong> theSharia legal system. (Source: BBC News,6/3/03; CNN, 6/3/03).U.S. Ambassador Says <strong>Nigeria</strong>is Vulnerable to Al QaedaU.S. Ambassador Howard Jeter hassaid that <strong>Nigeria</strong> faces a real threat <strong>of</strong>terror attack from the al Qaeda networkbecause <strong>of</strong> its close ties with Washington.It is guilt by association, which means that<strong>Nigeria</strong> is being looked at as a kind <strong>of</strong>86FON NEWSLETTERenemy. Jeter said that like other countries,<strong>Nigeria</strong> is not immune to attack and urgednations interested in global peace to jointhe international effort to combatterrorism. In February, al Jazeeratelevision broadcast a message allegedlyfrom bin Laden listing <strong>Nigeria</strong> as one <strong>of</strong>six countries that needed to be “liberated”from U.S. “enslavement.” The other sixstates, which he said Muslims mustliberate by waging jihad against them areJordan, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia,and Yemen. (Source: NY Times, 6/14/03).U.S. Ambassador AwardsScholarships to 50 GirlsU.S. Ambassador Howard Jeterpresented scholarships to 50 girl studentsfrom disadvantaged circumstances. Theyinclude girls who are orphaned, havephysical disabilities, and who are fromeconomically poor households in OgunState. The scholarships come under theAmbassador’s Girls Scholarship Program(AGSP) <strong>of</strong> the Education forDevelopment and Democracy Initiative.The AGSP has been underway in 36African countries since 1999, helpingmore than 10,000 girls throughout thecontinent. In <strong>Nigeria</strong>, the program willassist 600 girls in 12 states, representingthe six geo-political zones, with two statesselected in each zone. They are: Borno,Cross River, Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Imo,Kano, Lagos, Ogun, Niger, Sokoto andthe Federal Capital Territory. (Source:This Day [Lagos], 6/11/03).Oil Pipeline Fire Kills 125The death toll <strong>of</strong> a fire that engulfedpeople as they scooped petrol from aburst pipeline in southeast <strong>Nigeria</strong>reached 125, according to the Red Cross.The pipeline transporting fuel fromrefineries in Port Harcourt to Enugu andparts <strong>of</strong> central and northern <strong>Nigeria</strong> wasruptured by thieves at Onicha-Amaiyivillage, 40 km. south <strong>of</strong> Umuahia, theAbia state capital, in early May. Witnessessaid that authorities had continued topump fuel through the line, despite beinginformed <strong>of</strong> the breakage, but <strong>of</strong>ficials <strong>of</strong>the state-owned <strong>Nigeria</strong>n NationalPetroleum Corporation denied knowledge<strong>of</strong> the leakage. Witnesses also said thatpolice colluded with the vandals bycharging villagers 80 cents to scoop upbuckets and barrels <strong>of</strong> fuel for resale.The pipeline caught fire and exploded onThursday, June 19 when it was ignited bya spark from a passing motorcycle.Governor Orji Uzor Kalu <strong>of</strong> Abia Statewho visited the scene ruled out anypossibility <strong>of</strong> paying compensation to thevictims <strong>of</strong> the explosion who he saidwere sabotaging the government. Kalublamed traditional rulers who were aware<strong>of</strong> the vandalization <strong>of</strong> the pipeline butrefused to bring it to the attention <strong>of</strong> thestate government. Yet, he alsoacknowledged that poverty and hungermake people risk the danger <strong>of</strong> scooping.The <strong>Nigeria</strong>n Navy reported recently thatthe nation is losing about N10 billionmonthly in revenue through oil pipelinevandalization and illegal bunkering/scooping. (Source: BBC News, 6/22/03,6/23/03; NY Times,6/21/03, 6/22/03;UN Integrated Regional InformationNetwork (IRIN), 6/23/03; This Day[Lagos], 625/03; Vanguard [Lagos], 6/7/03).<strong>Nigeria</strong>n Customs ServiceConfronts SmugglersThe <strong>Nigeria</strong> Customs Service seizedand buried 287,500 cartons <strong>of</strong> frozenchicken and turkey worth N1.7 billion inthe past year. In response to the publicoutcry over the destruction, thegovernment explained that it was todiscourage importers from going “fowl”<strong>of</strong> the law. The government banned theimportation <strong>of</strong> frozen foods last year toencourage local production.The Customs Task Force onSmuggling has now acquired bullet pro<strong>of</strong>vests and enough vehicles to confrontsmugglers. In addition to frozen food,the largest seizure last year was <strong>of</strong> livecartridges and used vehicles valued atN246.5 million. (Source: This Day[Lagos], 6/24/03).
Welcome!New <strong>Friends</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Nigeria</strong> MembersSince January 1, 2003.Newly found members <strong>of</strong> the<strong>Nigeria</strong> Peace Corps community.Amrein, Polly, Teachers for West Africa, 63-68, KabbaBarnacle, Ann (Duning), (15), 65-67, WudilBesmer, Fremont & Frances (Rose), (07), 63-65,Kabba, Sokoto & KanoBlack, Thomas, (12), 64-66, SokotoBrinker, Linda, staff, 63-65, Enugu & IbadanDible, Craig, (25), 66-68, Kaduna, Azare & OkeneDoucet, Joesph, (17), 65-68, MbawsiGrummon, Mary, staff, 61-62, NsukkaJudge, Paul, (13), 64-66,McClure, John, ( 0)1, 61-63, UmuahiaMcDonald, David & Kathleen (Richardson), (26), 66-68, GbokoOsen, Maureen (McTigue), (08), 63-65, EkpomaSiebert, William J, (31), 68-70, AzareSmythe, Robert & Marianne, (13), (13), 64-66, AbeokutaSwann, Howard, (02), 61-63, NsukkaTufts, Thomas, (11) , 64-67, Iwollo OgheVonk, Kathleen (Rybicki), (26), 67-69, GombeYarbrough, Larry, (17), 65-67, KeffiAmrein, Polly, Teachers for West Africa, 63-68, KabbaBrinker, Linda, staff, 63-65, Enugu & Ibadan(widow <strong>of</strong> Jerry Brinker, PC physician in Enugu & Ibadan)Dible, Craig, (25), 66-68, Kaduna, Azare & OkeneHansen, Carol, (13), 64-67, AkureJackson, Brian, (00)2, 92-93Martin, Wesley, (15), 65-67, Awka EtitiMcConnell, Donald & Frances (Ruegsegger), (09), 63-65,Ete Opobo (D), Orlu (F)Mitchell, Jane, (31), 68-70, MaiduguriMoline, Donald, (11), 64, AbuduOsen, Maureen (McTigue), (08), 63-65, EkpomaPatton, Will, (31), 68-70, KanoPuckett, Douglas, (24), 66-67, DegemaSoloway, Irving, (25), 66-67, Funtua, Kaduna & Kano areaStevens, Gordon, (19), 65-67, Sokoto & IlorinTucker, Thomas, (003), 93-95Wallace, Robert, (12), 64-66, Benin CityPeace Corps Expansion WindingIts Way Through CongressLegislation which would expand the Peace Corps was set fora full House vote this summer after the House InternationalRelations Committee approved the measure 31 to 4 on June 12.Dave Hibbard, (01) 61–63, who has co-chaired an advisorycommittee to promote Peace Corps expansion legislation, hasurged all <strong>Friends</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Nigeria</strong> members to ask their representativesto vote for the measure, House Resolution 2441 (H.R.2441)The latest version <strong>of</strong> the Peace Corps Expansion Act wouldauthorize a doubling <strong>of</strong> the number <strong>of</strong> Peace Corps volunteersoverseas and proposes a $10 million Congressional fund tosupport global education projects performed by returned PeaceCorps volunteers. House leaders paired the measure withanother international development proposal, the MillenniumChallenge Account Authorization, which would expand U.S.economic assistance to approximately 10 high-performingcountries in the developing world with a proven track record <strong>of</strong>accomplishment in the areas <strong>of</strong> economic freedom, democracyand investments in health and education sectors. The MCAlegislation authorizes funding levels <strong>of</strong> $1.3 billion in financialyear 2004, $3 billion in financial year 2005, and $5 billion infinancial year 2006.David Arnold, communications director <strong>of</strong> the NationalPeace Corps Association, said H.R. 2441 is based on legislationdrafted by Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif., RPCV Columbia 64–66.Similar legislation— Senate Bill 925 authored by SenatorChristopher Dodd, RPCV Dominican Republic 66–68— isworking its way through the Senate. If both bills pass they willhave to be reconciled in a conference committee <strong>of</strong> bothhouses.The House measure authorizes a gradual expansion <strong>of</strong> theannual budget <strong>of</strong> the Peace Corps to $366 million in fiscal year2004, rising to $499 million in financial year 2007. The numbersreflect President Bush’s stated goal <strong>of</strong> fielding 14,000 volunteersby 2007. With a current budget <strong>of</strong> $295 million, the agency nowfields fewer than 7,000 volunteers.H.R. 2441 also would establish a $10 million program fundedby Congress that would provide grants up to $50,000 to RPCVgroups to perform community services, such as global educationat the elementary and secondary school levels, partnerships withcommunity libraries, and other education projects that utilizephotographs and materials gathered by volunteers during theirPeace Corps Service, Arnold said.•WINTER 2003 97