Abdul Mutallab appears in court for terrorism; pleads not guilty; father did not come….

Abdul Mutallab arraigned at Detroit court, pleads not guilty; 6 charges for terror plot; father did not come…. USAfrica: The News & Opinion Leader for Africans and Americans. Special to USAfrica multimedia networks, Houston. USAfricaonline.com,  CLASSmagazine, The Black Business Journal and Nigeria360@yahoogroups e-group A federal judge, U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Randon, in Detroit took all but 3 (three) [...]

Realities of Nigeria’s diminishing relevance to U.S., Africa. By Princeton Lyman

Nigeria is today NOT making a major impact, on its region, or on the African Union or on the big problems of Africa that it was making before. Now, of course, on the negative side, the collapse of Nigeria would be enormous, but is that a point to make Nigeria strategically important?… But I wonder if all this emphasis on Nigeria’s importance creates a tendency to inflate Nigeria’s opinion of its own invulnerability. Among much of the elite today, I have the feeling that there is a belief that Nigeria is too big to fail, too important to be ignored, and that Nigerians can go on ignoring some of the most fundamental challenges they have – many of which we have talked about: disgraceful lack of infrastructure, the growing problems of unemployment, the failure to deal with the underlying problems in the Niger Delta, the failure to consolidate democracy – and somehow will remain important to everybody because of all those reasons that are strategically important.

Nigeria, U.S. and Mutallab terrorism issues: Voice of America’s interview of USAfrica’s Chido Nwangwu.

“Egypt holds a significant number of radical Islamic zealots. (Ayman) Al-Zawahiri, one of the twin leaders of al-Qaida, is an Egyptian. There are radical elements in Egypt. They were not listed. So the Obama administration needs to look a little further. I know they are being sensitive to the fact that the young man was in a transition movement,” he explained.

To counter tighter restrictions, Nwangwu points out that what he calls “evil geniuses” will continue to devise creative, innovative ways to get around the regulations. The Houston journalist says he supports international efforts to plug the loopholes. But also recalling that the September, 2001 attacks all originated within the United States, he contends that there is no substitute for stepped-up vigilance on all possible front.

Father of Nigerian-born terrorist Mutallab unlikely to attend Jan 8 trial in Detroit

Houston-based USAfrica multimedia networks and USAfricaonline.com can report that based on information, at this time, deriving from multiple familiar sources we spoke to/contacted who are associated with the senior Mutallab: the father of the al-Qaeda-bred zealot and wealthy Nigerian secular and Islamic banking investor Alhaji Umaru Mutallab is not likely going to be at the opening trial; if any. This does not rule out the presence of any of the family members, including the alleged terrorist’s traumatized mother, Aisha. This well-connected person inside Nigeria noted the critical issue is that: “I believe the Alhaji knows it is a different matter he expressed concerns about his son’s religious views and trip to Yemen to the U.S embassy in Nigeria, privately; it is another thing to have him travel to another country (the U.S) to testify for or against his own son. He may well simply be an observer. We all will be watching to see what happens….”

Obama confirms Mutallab trained by al Qaeda; Republicans attack Obama for “slow response”

USAfricaonline.com research shows the network of radical Islam fighting under the recent, general banner of alQaeda have executed attacks, successfully across parts of Africa in 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Obama also noted that the Yemen-area group has been more problem for the U.S.

The Mutallabs: terror-bound son Farouk and business mogul father Umar.

While the older Mutallab sought and gained multiple millions in rewards for his core, long-standing interests and skills in business especially in financial services, the younger Mutallab sought to be a foot soldier for bin-Laden’s troops. Evidently, even the luxury and resources amassed by the older Mutallab could not dissuade his 23 years-old son Farouk from being a jihadist and fighter for Islamic fundamentalism through the violent, toxic mechanisms of terrorism, as alleged from his actions on Christmas day December 25, 2009… minutes of a flight into America’s famous Motor City of Detroit.

Nigerian soccer star sentenced to 40 lashes in Sudan

Khartoum – A Nigerian football star on Thursday said he had been sentenced to 40 lashes in Sudan after being wrongly convicted of drunk driving in Khartoum. Stephen Worgu, who signed a reported multi-million-dollar contact with Omdurman club Al Merreikh last year, said he was innocent and determined to win an appeal against the sentence. [...]

U.S govt seize 4 mosques linked to Iran govt

The Islamic Education Center is seen in Potomac, Md. on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009. The center rents this building from the Alavi Foundation, which owns the building but does not run the center. Federal prosecutors filed a complaint Thursday seeking to seize the assets of the foundation. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (Jacquelyn Martin, AP / November 12, [...]

Somalia’s president meets with members of Minnesota’s Somali community; warns radical recruiters here in U.S

Speaking through an interpreter, President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed said the problems in Somalia are not clans fighting each other, but rather a “foreign idea” trying to take hold. A group called al-Shabab, which the U.S. says has ties to al-Qaida, is leading much of the fighting in Somalia. As many as 20 young Somali men from Minnesota are believed to have traveled to Somalia to fight. Three have died. Ahmed plans to head to Chicago and Columbus, Ohio, after Minnesota.