Solomon's Column

CHICAGO — A consultant pleaded guilty in federal court today to offering and providing bribes to public officials in an effort to benefit his clients. ROBERTO CALDERO, 69, of Chicago, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. The conviction is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger set sentencing for Dec. 15, 2022. The guilty plea was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Ashley T. Johnson, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Chicago Public Schools Office of Inspector General participated in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Kramer. Caldero admitted in a plea agreement that in 2016 he offered and arranged for bribes to be provided to a City of Chicago alderman and a Chicago Public Schools employee in exchange for them taking official actions to benefit Caldero’s clients, who were see

Members of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria in Oyo state have called on relevant authorities to look into the financial records of the association. The members made this call in a press statement. ''We have reported their conduct to the Inspector General of Police who has promptly directed investigations by FCID, Alagbon Lagos on the matter.The fact of the matter is that, Mr. Alade Bashir Lawal and his partners were reported to the police for suspected fraud of monumental proportion and mismanagement of the union’s finance and resources. On the basis of the complaint the Inspector General of Police directed the Force CID to investigate the criminal allegations and the petition by the union’s President, Comrade Innocent Bola-Audu.The Commissioner of Police Lagos was also directed by the IGP to provide security in the Secretariat to ensure no breakdown of law and order, and in order to prevent the suspects in the case from tampering with evidence materials tha

Nigerians have been advised to elect a leader that shall cater for the needs and expectations of poor Nigerians in the 2023 general elections. This advice was given on Wednesday by the General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church(CAC)Worldwide, Reformation land, Ile-Atunse, Ibadan, Prophet Timothy Abass Arabambi at an event tagged 2022 Mega International Summit in Ibadan, Nigeria. ''Nigerians should vote in a leader that would carry everyone along. A leader that would lead by example, a leader that would take good care of poor Nigerians. Mu advice to politicians, let them move closer to God for all to be well,'' Prophet Arabambi concluded.

A former ambassador to the Philippines, Dr.Yemi Farounbi has declared that Nigeria urgently needs a President that is conversant with the needs and expectations of Nigerians. Dr. Farounbi made this declaration on Wednesday at an even tagged 2022 Mega International Summit in Ibadan, Nigeria. ''A leader ought to prepare his country for the challenges ahead. The leader must be creative and visionary and must have his legs on ground. But when your leader travels by helicopter or aeroplane, he does not know hunger, he does not know poverty because his feet is not on ground, he does not also know the fate of the poor.'' ''What kind of President do we need in 2023? What re the problems the President must solve? We need a well educated and rounded person, it is not whether it is my turn or your turn, it is not whether it has been my life time ambition. Can you solve the problem of electricity? Can you solve the problem of education? Can you change the mentality of the

The trend in several states of Nigeria today are the threats to public peace with impunity, violence and the unlawful possession of firearms. Indeed, criminals sponsored by politically exposed persons have always been in and out of the custody of law enforcement and security agencies. Sadly, they are, most of the time, let off the hook without prosecution. The insinuation is that they are above the law. Interestingly, these criminals who have been involved in heinous and grievous crimes against humanity walk the streets freely. Of worry is the fact that an unspecified number of uniformed personnel have a longstanding relationship with criminals, while the production of stickers, emblems and souvenirs, uniforms and other accessories for law enforcement and security agencies continues as the count down to the 2023 general elections begin. ot surprisingly, most political office holders who seek to retain their positions and those aspiring to occupy political offices rely on threats, vi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other anti-graft agencies have been called upon to prosecute some labor leaders who have cases to answer. This call was made by an Ex-Officio of the Oyo state Council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), who is also a former chairman of the union in the state, Comrade Andrew Emelieze. ''The EFCC, ICPC and other anti-corruption agencies should prosecute some labor leaders, such as those of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria for corruption, since the cases have been reported to them. There is massive corruption in these unions; they deduct outrageous amounts as check off dues from workers' salaries and there is nothing to show for it. All those who were invited, detained and released should be charged in court. So many workers have promotion arrears of between 6 months and three years, they have not been paid and these unions are doing nothing about this. The EFCC AND others should make their findings public and

The decision of the Federal Government to implement the Stephen Oronsaye report would not reduce the costs of governance. This assertion was made by the chairman of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), Comrade Emmanuel Ogundiran. ''The bifurcation and the so-called proliferation of appointments gave rise to the Stephen Oronsaye report. Have those conditions changed? Are those issues no longer there? If they think that the implementation of the report would reduce the costs of governance, they are looking at the worn place.'' ''We have always asked, why are civil servants the first to be sacrificed in almost every situation? We are not against the implementation of the Oronsaye report or any reform, but the question is, will it have a meaningful impact on reducing the cost of governance? We also want to ask politicians what has happened to the retinue of aides of political office holders and the proliferation of political appointees. What have

Divine power is absolute and incorruptible, it is greater and more valuable than terrestrial and subterranean power, which usually are subject to the control of lesser forces from the created objects of beings. For man to succeed in life as a leader and in governance, he must seek the grace of God as bestowed on King Solomon in the Holy Bible. The substance of divine power are knowledge, wisdom and the power of a discerning mind, which makes man dispense with the power of authority with the fundamental respect-a follow up of due process in power dispensation. The Holy Quran 2 : 269 and the Holy Bible Proverbs 1 : 7 attest to this fact. ''He granteh wisdom to whom He pleaseth : and he to whom wisdom is granted receiveth indeed a benefit overflown ; but none will receive admonition except men of understanding.'' In the same vein, the Holy Bible Proverbs 1 : 7 emphasizes the need to rely on divine power only, most especially sourced through having respect for the dictates

Holding onto God's word is faith Matthew 14 : 22-32 22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afr