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Bankole: Only president, deputy exempted from screening at airports – NCAA

SADE AYODELE

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said on Thursday that only the president, vice president, their wives and children are exempted from the new security screening at all international airports in the country. Harold Demuren, director general, NCAA, who spoke as the special guest at the Nigerian Academy of Engineering Fellows' forum in Lagos, said the 100 percent screening which was introduced shortly after the December 25, 2009 incident is administered on anybody no matter the status.

While delivering speech on 'Enhanced aviation security in Nigerian airports: aftermath of December 25 attack', Demuren said the security measures introduced in Nigerian airports are laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and that such must be followed to the letter since they are not Nigerian made laws.

"The terror war is global; we need to show to the world, especially the United States that we are embracing global security standards; the 100 percent pat down and screening is total, only the president, the vice president, their wives and children are to be exempted from the screening. If anybody refuses to be screened, he should be denied boarding and let heavens fall.

"It would be better for anybody concerned to obey our rules so that they are not embarrassed, else, they can travel by road but our security officers need to be courteous too", he said. Demuren, who was asked to react to a recent offloading of Dimeji Bankole, speaker, House of Representatives, from a British Airways London bound flight for refusing to surrender his two hand luggage for security check, said he would not comment on an individual issue, insisting that the president and his vice are exempted from the new security screening.

Also speaking, Ayo Obilana, a security expert, said many junior staff had been sacked for insisting on searching VIPs, adding however that Nigerian lawmakers and the general public need to be educated on basics and secondary security checks they need to go through.

"I think that in such cases where a personality refuses to obey security regulations, the officer should report to the commander of the flight who should take a decision whether to travel with that person or not. But these are the personalities who would queue up quietly for checks in other countries", he said. Another expert, Dele Ore, a former DC-10 pilot with Nigeria Airways, said: "The VIP syndrome is a big problem in Nigeria. It was a bad decision for the lawmakers to have threatened to retaliate the US decision at that time, but thank God, the NCAA was able to convince international authorities that Nigeria is not a terror state."

Earlier, Demuren disclosed that through the new relationship between Nigeria and the US via the Transport Security Administration (TSA), four terror related attempts had been nipped, saying security information sharing among countries was paramount to safety and security.

"We have been able to stop four similar attempts". He said proper information sharing could have prevented Umaru Abdulmutallab from even boarding a flight to Accra before getting to Nigeria.

He said an advanced technology in the form of Psychological Touch Screen Analyser that can detect whether a person is lying or not would soon be deployed at the airports apart from the explosive detection system that are already at the boarding gates.
Source: Business Day, 20^th August 2010.

Airport checks: No exemption for governors, ministers, senators

Biodun-Thomas Davids

GOVERNORS, senators, ministers and other high-ranking government officials are not exempted from 100 per cent security checks at airports, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said.

This is contrary to the impression in government circles that top public office holders are exempted from the check which began following the attempted Christmas Day bombing of an airline by Nigerian Farouk Abdul Mutallab.

NCAA Director General Harold Demuren, said Thursday in Lagos that airlines had been instructed not to exempt senior public office holders from security checks across the nation.

He said only the president and the vice president are exempted.

Demuren spoke at the Lagos Airport Hotel while delivering a lecture titled:"Enhanced Aviation Security in Nigeria Aiports: Aftermath of December 25, 2009 Attack."

He spoke against the backdrop of the recent refusal of House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole to undergo hand luggage check before boarding a British Airways flight last month.

He said the measures were in line with the new international laws targeted towards heightening security measures in the aviation industry.

Demuren, however, said security operatives mounting checks at airports had been instructed to "be cautious, polite and be very firm" while discharging their duties.

He said the agency had installed sophisticated surveillance gadgets and equipment which are at par with those in major airports in the U.S and the UK.

Prior to the December 25 attempted bombing of a US-bound plane by Abdulmutallab, Demuren said there were only body scanners that could detect metallic objects in airports across the nation.

He said the ones in place now were capable of detecting explosives and a number of hyper-sensitive psychoanalysis equipment with green, yellow and red lights.

He said the agency was working with the Police Anti-Bomb squad to provide adequate security in the nation's airports.
Source: The Nation, 20^th August 2010.

Only Presidents, Vice-Presidents are Exempted from Screening – NCAA Boss

By Oyetunji Abioye

The Director-General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren, has said that the new screening requirements for VIPs only exempts presidents, vice-presidents and their wives from being checked before departure.

Our correspondent learnt that the new rule was as a result of new security measures introduced by the United States. The measures were in response to global threats in the aviation industry, especially the alleged botched attempt of a Nigerian, Farourk AbdulMutallab, to bomb an American airlines on December 25, 2009.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, had cancelled his scheduled flight to the United Kingdom on August 6, 2010, when British Airways officials asked him to go through pat-down screening at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

In a statement on the issue, Bankole had explained that he refused to be screened because he fell under the category of people exempted by global aviation rules from being searched.

But in a speech he delivered on Thursday, titled, "Enhanced aviation security in Nigeria airports: Aftermath of December 25, 2009 attack," in Lagos, Demuren explained that in the past, passengers' bodies were not usually searched.

Speaking at the event, put together by the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, in Lagos, he said screening was limited to detection of metal objects carried by passengers. He said the situation had changed.

According to Demuren, "Nobody is exempted from security. It is better to go through security to avoid embarrassment.

"Only the President, the Vice-President and their wives are exempted. I don't want to speak further on it, but it is better to go through security at all airports."

Responding to questions from reporters after the lecture, Demuren said the terminal of the Lagos airport had to undergo urgent repairs.

He stressed that "airports are no longer built the way the Lagos airport terminal is. Airport terminals are built with modern architecture.

"London Heathrow and Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa and other modern airports were built with steel and glass, no longer bricks or blocks, bringing out their aesthetics."
Source: Punch, 20^th August 2010.

Bankole: Only President, Deputy Exempted from Screening at Airports – NCAA

SADE AYODELE

"We have been able to stop four similar attempts". He said proper information sharing could have prevented Umaru Abdulmutallab from even boarding a flight to Accra before getting to Nigeria.

NSE: Why Okereke-Onyiuke was removed , SEC DG

By Peter Egwuatu

The Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, says Professor Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke was dropped as

Dr Ndi Okereke, DG Nigeria Stock Exchange

Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in the interest of the common investors.

Director General of SEC, Ms. Arunma Oteh said on NTA Weekend that the Commission intervened as a result of the crisis going at the Exchange with a view to protecting the investors and preventing the market from further damage.

"The SEC has a responsibility to protect the investing public. We are really concerned with the ordinary investor who had no big money to invest and diversify their portfolios. So it is our duty to protect the market. We had watched the scenario going at the Exchange and did not want to interfere but when it became obvious and in order not to allow the market to fail we had to stepped in", she said.

" The Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2007 vests the unalloyed responsibility for safeguarding the interest of the public and protecting the investor on the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Commission has closely followed the developments in the NSE, particularly with respect to inadequate oversight of the Exchange, ongoing litigations, allegations of financial mismanagement, governance challenges, and the inordinate delays in the implementation of the succession plan for the Exchange.

In following the developments, the Commission has, at all times, carefully deliberated on the implications and ramifications of a direct intervention in the affairs of the Exchange. In this deliberation, the Commission weighed the consequences on the market of a direct intervention set against the broader goal of safeguarding the interest of the public and protecting the investor".

Asked why it took long for the Commission to act, Oteh said, " The Commission had previously asked the NSE to develop and implement a credible and transparent succession plan and while the NSE had made significant progress, it had unfortunately not completed the process by the deadline of 31st of July approved by the Commission despite an extension of the deadline. A key element of this succession plan was the selection and appointment of a New Chief Executive Officer (Director General) for the Exchange.

In the process prescribed by the Commission, the Exchange, through a credible and transparent process was to source candidates through open advertisement, conduct a screening process and assessment center, conduct panel interviews, and send the three topmost candidate to the Commission for screening. Only after they have been screened and cleared by the Commission, could the Exchange go ahead and extend an offer to the selected candidate.

We don't just interfere when we have no cause to do so. It was extremely exigent for us to come in at this point in time to protect the common investors and the market in general".

On the allegations of insolvency of the NSE by te former president of the Stock Exchange, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the NSE D-G said the Commission might not be able to determine the the veracity of the allegations because the NSE "has not yet, as statutorily required, submitted its audited financial statements for the year 2009. A formal investigation will therefore serve to shed some light on the situation".
Source: Vanguard, 15^th August 2010.

SEC Investigates NSE Over Alleged
Mismanagement of Funds

Okereke-Onyiuke sacked

By Babajide Komolafe & Peter Egwuatu

LAGOS—THE Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, yesterday, commenced full investigation over alleged mismanagement of funds by the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE.

The investigation has lead to the sacking of the Director-General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Ndidi Okereke-Onyuike.

Her sack was announced in a statement signed by the Assistant Director/Head Media of the Commission, Lanre Oloyi.

Also included the the sack is the removal of Aliko Dangote, embattled President of the NSE Council.

Before the sacks billionaire and business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, had insisted that the Director General of NSE, Professor Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, must apologise and retract all the statements she has made against him before he agreed to a cease fire in the ongoing messy war in the Exchange.

The Commission's spokesperson, Mr. Lanre Oloyi, told Vanguard that SEC had swung into action to investigate the petition by Alhaji Aliko Dangote over alleged mismanagement of funds by the NSE.

Oloyi said: "The Commission has a responsibility to protect the stock market. It will not fold its hands and watch the market go down the drain. The Commission has received the petition and is on top of the matter. After our investigation, we will disclose our findings and then come up with our position. This I can say about the matter for now."

Vanguard investigation revealed that Dangote told influential stakeholders who had appealed to him for cease fire, that in addition to apologizing to him, the NSE director general must leave the Exchange immediately.

Dangote had on Monday raised alarm over the financial state of the Exchange saying that "the NSE was on the verge of bankruptcy" as it "could no longer honour its obligations as and when due."

Dangote, who had earlier sent a petition to SEC on the precarious state of NSE's finances, affirmed that the Okereke_Onyiuke's management had solvency challenges.

He said in the petition that the NSE was currently dipping its hands in the Central Securities Clearing System, CSCS, accounts to borrow N900 million to support its cash deficit position.

Although his claim was refuted by the management of NSE, it nonetheless shook the Exchange causing the market to lose N51 billion on the first trading day of the week. This prompted the Senate to wade into the crisis on Tuesday with a view to safeguarding investors' interest and integrity of the market.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, told journalists after a closed door meeting with the management of the Exchange at the NSE headquarters in Lagos on Tuesday: "I am here because of the crisis.

The crisis has reached us in the Senate and we are definitely wading in. We hope it will not affect investors confidence."

He said that the Senate had begun to hold talks with the parties involved in order to end the crisis.

Sources close to Dangote's camp confirmed to Vanguard that there had, indeed, been appeals to him to sheathe his sword but he insisted that the NSE director general must apologise and retract all the statements she had falsely made against him.

It was learnt that Dangote had added that the director general must also leave immediately otherwise he would make more revelations about the fraudulent management of finances of the Exchange.

Vanguard investigation revealed that the billionaire businessman decided to go on the offensive when he recently discovered that the NSE director general was behind the barrage of opposition to his presidency at the Exchange because of his alleged refusal to be cowed or controlled like everybody on the board of the Exchange.
Source: Vanguard, 5^th August 2010.

SEC: Okereke-Onyiuke to Stand Down, Council Dissolved
Interim administrator to be named today

By Goddy Egene

The apex regulator of the nation's capital market, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), yesterday wielded the big stick by sacking the Director-General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Prof. Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke.

It also asked business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, to stop acting as the President of the NSE and directed council members "elected in defiance of the court order" to cease acting as members of the council "pending the outcome of the ongoing litigation".

The election into the council last year is still a subject of litigation and SEC is said to be determined to restore order to the exchange as the council is already tainted with the court pronouncement.

The commission also directed the conduct of an independent investigation into the allegations levelled against the management of the exchange.

The interim administrator, THISDAY learnt, is to oversee the election of a new council through a transparent and legal process.

In a statement issued last night by the Assistant Director/Head of Media, Mr. Lanre Oloyi, the commission said it took these decisions in the interest of the public because of the need to protect the investors in the market.

He said the Investment and Securities Act (ISA) 2007 vests the "unalloyed responsibility" for safeguarding the interest of the public and protecting the investor in the commission.

The statement said: "The Commission has closely followed the developments in the NSE, particularly with respect to inadequate oversight of the Exchange, ongoing litigation, allegations of financial mismanagement, governance challenges, and the inordinate delays in the implementation of the succession plan for the Exchange. In following the developments, the Commission has at all times carefully deliberated on the implications and ramifications of a direct intervention in the affairs of the Exchange. In this deliberation, the Commission weighed the consequences on the market of a direct intervention set against the broader goal of safeguarding the interest of the public and protecting the investor."

Consequently, SEC ordered that Okereke-Onyuike be removed from the office of DG/Chief Executive Officer of the NSE while the affairs of the Exchange are to be managed by an Interim Administrator to be appointed by the commission today.

The commission also said that the council member elected as President of the Exchange (Dangote) in defiance of the court order should cease acting as the President pending the outcome of the ongoing litigation.

"These actions by the Commission reinforce the integrity of our markets and demonstrate commitment to accountability, particularly given the importance of ensuring adequate oversight at all times and demonstrating that when there are shortcomings, as the apex regulator, the SEC will step in decisively to address these issues in the public interest and to protect the investors," Oloyi said.

Dangote had in a petition to SEC alleged that the NSE was insolvent and could not meet its financial obligations as and when due.

However, the NSE spokesman, Mr. Sola Oni, had swiftly denied the allegations, saying: "The staff are not owed salaries and allowances. The retirees receive their cheques promptly. The exchange does not owe any bank or individual. If there is any form of owing it could be that such a company is handling project that has not been completed. Even at that, the exchange must have made some pre-payment," he said.

Despite the denial, Dangote insisted that the NSE is broke and is currently dipping its hands into the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) accounts to borrow N900 million to support its cash deficit position.

Okereke-Onyiuke's troubles started when she announced last January that she would retire as DG in November but failed to name her former second-in-command, Mr. Lance Elakama, as her successor. Consequently, a succession crisis ensued culminating in the exit of Elakama last March.

The NSE has embarked on a recruitment exercise to appoint a new DG. The exercise was still ongoing before SEC's hammer fell yesterday.

Okereke-Onyiuke joined the NSE in 1983 from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as the Manager and Head of Research and Information Services Department. She was highly instrumental to the computerisation of the Exchange in 1985, a development, which included the creation of The Nigerian Stock Exchange All Shares Index - a barometer that gauges the mood of economy.

She became the DG in 2000, a position she occupied till yesterday.

She obtained her Master of Business Administration (MBA) specialising in Finance and Computer Science at City University of New York, Graduate School in 1977 and Doctor of Philosophy/Doctor of Administration in Finance and Securities Market at City University Post Graduate Centre, New York.
Source: This Day, 5^th August 2010.

SEC Removes Okereke-Onyiuke as
Stock Exchange DG

Akinola Ajibade

OUTCOME of court case to determine Dangote's fate Obaseki may act as DG

THE turbulent tenure of the Director-General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mrs Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke came to a controversial end last night, following a directive by its sole regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission to the council of NSE that she be removed.

Spokesperson of SEC Mr. Lanre Oloyi confirmed her removal. He said in statement last night: "The Investment and Securities Act 2007 vests the unalloyed responsibility for safeguarding the interest of the public and protecting the investor on the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Commission has closely followed the developments in the Nigeria Stock Exchange, particularly with respect to inadequate oversight of the Exchange, ongoing litigation, allegations of financial mismanagement, governance challenges, and the inordinate delays in the implementation of the succession plan for the Exchange.

In following the developments, the Commission has at all times carefully deliberated on the implications and ramifications of a direct intervention in the affairs of the Exchange. In this deliberation, the Commission weighed the consequences on the market of a direct intervention set against the broader goal of safeguarding the interest of the public and protecting the investor.

The Commission has decided that it is in the interest of the public and necessary to protect the investor to issue the following directives. That the: Council Member elected as President of the Exchange in defiance of the Court order cease acting as the President pending the outcome of the ongoing litigation;

Council Members elected in defiance of the Court order cease acting as members of the Council pending the outcome of the ongoing litigation;

· current Director-General of the Exchange, Professor Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, be removed from the office of Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the NSE;

· affairs of the Exchange are managed by an Interim Administrator appointed by the Commission pending the selection of a new Director General.

The Commission will announce the interim arrangements before the markets open tomorrow. Given the gravity of the allegations around financial mismanagement of the Exchange, the Commission has also directed the conduct of an independent investigation into the allegations.

These actions by the Commission reinforce the integrity of our markets and demonstrate commitment to accountability, particularly given the importance of ensuring adequate oversight at all times and demonstrating that when there are shortcomings, as the apex regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission will step in decisively to address these issues in the public interest and to protect the investors.

The 10-year journey at the top that started in January 2000 after the exit of Apostle Hayford Alile. But this time, the signs were ominous just as it was tell tale. Mrs Okereke-Onyiuke endured a bitter finale in the battle to install a protégé. She was meant to submit a three months notice of retirement last month but failed to do so. She promised to go in November when she would be 60.

But there was a groundswell of discontent over her plan as market players and other stakeholders felt the decision to tarry is causing unease in the sensitive stock market. And her cup filled eventually when she engaged market dragon Alhaji Aliko Dangote in a battle of wits recently.

Her other travail started with the listing of Transcorp Nigeria Plc on the floor of the NSE. She was fingered as having a hand in the controversial sales of N200million worth of Transcorp shares to the former President Obasanjo.

She was also involved in mobilising millions of naira for the famous US President Barack Obama's campaign, a development that irked many stakeholders.
Source: The Nation, 5^th August 2010.

SEC fires Okereke-Onyiuke, Dangote from
Stock Exchange

BY ADE OGIDAN, BUSINESS EDITOR

THE crisis rocking the nation's capital market took a new twist yesterday, as Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) removed in one fell swoop, Dr. Ndi Okereke- Onyiuke as Director-General of Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE).

Also, affected by the directive from SEC were Alhaji Aliko Dangote and other council members whose appointments were earlier voided by a Lagos court.

Okereke-Onyiuke, who has planned to retire from service this year, joined NSE in January, 1983, as Manager and Head of Research and Information Services Department (now Research and Infotech Department.

A statement from SEC explained that the action was prompted by assessed in adequate oversight function of the Exchange; ongoing litigations; allegations of financial mismanagement; governance challenges; and the inordinate delays in the implementation of the succession plan for the Exchange.

SEC's statement added that "in following the developments, the Commission has at all times carefully deliberated on the implications and ramifications of a direct intervention in the affairs of the Exchange.

" In this deliberation, the commission weighed the consequences on the market of a direct intervention set against the broader goal of safeguarding the interest of the public and protecting the investor."

The statement from the commission added that the "current Director-General of the Exchange, Professor Ndi Okereke-Onyuike, be removed from the office of Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the NSE."

Also, " council member elected as President of the Exchange in defiance of the court order cease acting as the President pending the outcome of the ongoing litigation.

"Council members elected in defiance of the court order cease acting as members of the council pending the outcome of the ongoing litigation."

Again, the affairs of the Exchange would be managed for now by an Interim Administrator to be named this morning by the commission, pending the selection of a new Director-General.

"Given the gravity of the allegations around financial mismanagement of the Exchange, the commission has also directed the conduct of an independent investigation into the allegations.

"These actions by the commission reinforce the integrity of our markets and demonstrate commitment to accountability, particularly given the importance of ensuring adequate oversight at all times and demonstrating that when there are shortcomings, as the apex regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission will step in decisively to address these issues in the public interest and to protect the investors," the statement added.

For the past few days, Dangote as President of the NSE had engaged the management of the Exchange led by Ndidi Okereke-Onyiuke in a public battle over the financial status of the NSE. The business magnate had written a petition in which he accused the management of running the Exchange's finances to the point of insolvency, a charge the management denied.
Source: The Guardian, 5^th August 2010.

Nigerian couple's white baby to undergo genetic tests

By Agency Reporter

A white baby born to a black couple will undergo genetic tests as the parents try to discover if they have any white ancestry.

Mystery as Nigerian couple gives birth to white baby in UK (Vanguard)

Nmachi Ihegboro was born in the United Kingdom on Sunday with a full head of blonde-hair and white skin, despite having no known Caucasian ancestry from her black, Nigerian-born parents, The Sun reported.

The devout Christian couple were astonished to discover they had given birth to a white baby, describing her as a "miracle".

So how can a white baby born to a black couple be explained?

Geneticist Dr Mark Thomas, of University College, London, said the odds of the baby's white colouring were "between many millions to one and a million to one".

He told The Sun: "I suspect there's been a mixture of a mutation, like albinism, combined with a dormant white gene."

Professor Bryan Sykes, head of Human Genetics at Oxford University and Britain's leading expert, said: "In mixed race humans, the lighter variant of skin tone may come out in a child – and this can sometimes be startlingly different to the skin of the parents. This might be the case where there is a lot of genetic mixing, as in Afro-Caribbean populations. But in Nigeria there is little mixing."

"The hair is extremely unusual. Even many blonde children don't have blonde hair like this at birth."

The baby's parents have agreed to let experts study Nmachi.
Source: Punch, 22^nd July 2010.

Scientists probe birth of blonde Nigerian baby

BY CHUKWUMA MUANYA

IT is said to be impossible, a miracle, a rare event. But it may not really be impossible after all.

Scientists are amazed that a Nigerian couple in London gave birth to a blue-eyed blonde baby. They say the event is only possible if the couple went through Assisted Reproductive Technique (ART) such as In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) or they had a white parent in their ancestry.

The scientists say the only way to explain such an outcome is due to some forms of genetic mutation. They insist that it is only when the full medical history is known that a clear direction can be made in trying to unfold the science of this medical development. They say natural cause is remote but could be explained if the family agrees to be subjected to thorough genetic tests.

The scientists are an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, United States and Chief Medical Director of Medical Art Centre (MART), Ikeja, Lagos, and Joint Pioneer of IVF/Test Tube Baby Technology in Nigeria, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru; a professor of genetics at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Prof. Peter Odeigah; a cytogenetist, professor of anatomy, and former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, Prof. Dayo Ejiwunmi; and head of human genetics at Oxford University, United Kingdom, Prof. Bryan Sykes.

The Daily Sun in the United Kingdom reported on Tuesday that Benjamin and Angela Ihegboro's daughter, Nmachi, was born at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup, Kent, to Igbo parents who have no history of mixed race which makes this case extremely rare. Doctors say the white-skinned newborn is not an albino.

The question is, does that mean Angela could have cheated? "If the wife cheated then there could be a possibility of a mixed race but not 100 per cent white colour," Ashiru said.

Ashiru said if the couple had a natural conception through intercourse, then it is a very unusual occurrence, particularly having seen the picture of the couple involved and they both have prominent black features.

He, however, said it could be explained in a black population that has white ancestral parents. "Then, if the two parents are of mixed race (termed half cast here in Nigeria), then they may end up with a baby that is either black or mixed or white, but this is very rare but it happens, and there are some examples but either one or both parents would have some of the manifestations of white genes," Ashiru explained.

He further stated: "A white baby being delivered by a black couple is a very rare event. The explanation can be made if one knows the medical history of the couple. However, the first possible explanation was similar to what happened in California, United States of America (USA) in 1992. Two couples, one black and the other white, went through IVF in the laboratory of Dr. Ricardo Asch, an IVF practitioner. They both got pregnant and at delivery the white couple gave birth to a black baby while the black couple gave birth to a white baby. That created a lot of roar, which led to the regulation of IVF in the United States of America.

"In the California case what happened was that the embryos got mixed up in such a way that the white embryo was given to the black lady while the black embryo was given to the white lady. The America Board of Bioanalysis was then mandated to issue several laboratory procedures for IVF and all IVF practitioners especially those who head the laboratory had to be certified through examination as High Complexity Clinical Laboratory Director (HCLD). Since then the practice of IVF in USA has been trouble free."

According to Ashiru, the determination of white or black pigmentation is by polygenetic factors and not one single gene. He therefore said if the couple had no ancestral parents as claimed in some reports, then this case was very unique and that deserved further evaluation for proper documentation in science.

"This will have to be looked along the line of a complex mutation. Were the parents exposed to any mutagenic agents or what was the source of the unusual gene change? Until the full medical history is known, a clear direction can't be made in trying to unfold the science of this medical development," Ashiru said.

Ejiwunmi said it could be a sensational mistaken switch at birth or IVF white embryo transfer or mixed ancestry is excluded by the history. "Natural cause is highly remote but could be explained if the family agrees to thorough genetic tests. The family may face social issues," he said.

Odegaih said the development raised a lot of questions. "This is a puzzle, if the paternity is certain there was no rape, then some sources of unexplained pregnancy can be accidental exposure to sperm in a swimming pool or unadmitted sperm insemination," he said. Odeigah added: "We do not know the family history of the couple. Without their family history it will be hard to explain this rare phenomenon."

Sykes said: "The birth is extraordinary. In mixed race humans, the lighter variant of skin tone may come out in a child and this can sometimes be startlingly different to the skin of the parents."

Sykes said both parents would have needed some form of white ancestry. "The hair is extremely unusual. Even many blonde children do not have blonde hair like this at birth. The rules of genetics are complex and we still do not understand what happens in many cases. This might be a case where there is a lot of genetic mixing, as in Afro-Caribbean populations. But in Nigeria there is little mixing."

Skyes said that both parents would have needed some form of white ancestry for a pale version of their genes to be passed on. The only way to explain such an outcome is due to some form of genetic mutation.
Source: The Guardian, 22^nd July 2010.

Mystery as Nigerian couple gives birth to white baby in UK

LONDON—A BLACKcouple, Ben and Angela Ihegboro, has amazed genetics experts, as their newly born baby, Nmanchi, is a white, blue-eyed blonde.

Mystery as Nigerian couple gives birth to white baby in UK (Vanguard)

The couple, of Woolwich, south London, have two other children: four-year-old, Chisom, and sister, Dumebi, 2.

According to a report in the Sun of London, Ben, 44, a railway customer services adviser, said: he and his wife just sat there after the birth staring at her for ages – not saying anything.

parents with newborn Nmachi with other children; Dumebi and Chisom

He said: "In

"The first thing I said was 'What the flip?', he recalled. Ben added later that: "Of course, she's mine. My wife is true to me. Even if she hadn't been, the baby still wouldn't look like that."

Nmachi, whose name means "Beauty of God" in Nigerian parlance, was born at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup, Kent, where doctors there told them she is not an albino.

Ben, who went to Britain with Angela five years ago and works with South Eastern trains said: "She doesn't look like an albino child anyway – not like the ones I've seen back in Nigeria or in books. She just looks like a healthy white baby."

He went on: "My mum is a black Nigerian although she has a bit fairer skin than mine."

Angela, 35, declared that Nmachi's colour doesn't matter. "She's a miracle baby. But still, what on earth happened here? However, the child has baffled the genetics experts because neither Ben nor wife Angela has any mixed-race family history.

We don't know of any white ancestry. We wondered if it was a genetic twist. But even then, what's with the long curly blonde hair?"

DNA test to verify paternity

Chisom, the couple's four-year-old son, was quoted as remarking: "We are a black family. Suddenly we have a white sister." Ben also noted "We are baffled too and want to know what happened, but we understand life is very strange."

It was not immediately made clear whether or not a DNA test was done to verify her paternity. Often described as a "fingerprint," DNA is more comparable to a "body print" inclusive of internal workings and future traits and is often almost 100 percent exact.

However, Prof. Bryan Sykes, Head of Human Genetics at Oxford University and Britain's leading expert, called the birth "extraordinary" He said: "In mixed race humans, the lighter variant of skin tone may come out in a child – and this can sometimes be startlingly different to the skin of the parents.

This might be the case where there is a lot of genetic mixing, as in Afro-Caribbean populations. But in Nigeria there is little mixing."

Sykes said both parents would have needed "some form of white ancestry" for a pale version of their genes to be passed on. He added: "The hair is extremely unusual.

Even many blonde children don't have blonde hair like this at birth." The expert said some unknown mutation was the most likely explanation. "The rules of genetics are complex and we still don't understand what happens in many cases."

Genetic mutation

Other experts, however, propose that some form of unknown racial or genetic mutation was the most likely explanation for Nmachi's colour. A genetic expert,

Dr. Rick Kittles who runs a genetic tracing company, African Ancestry Inc.,

described "race" as white or black, and more of a social concept than a real biological concept."

In his words: "Race is based on two things: skin colour and ancestry. You can't really (see) somebody's ancestry, but you can tell their skin colour." According to him, while physical features are determined by a small number of genes, genes do not determine race specifically.

Kittles feels strongly that race and ethnicity are separate. He argues that genes determining physical features do not determine internal makeup or predisposition to certain diseases.

Kittles who had always been interested in genetics in African populations started working on collecting data many years ago and his from studies determined that three out of 10 African men had European genetic heritages.

Up to 85 percent of Kittles' African Ancestry's clients are an exact match with ethnic groups in the database. The other 15 percent are closely related.
Source: Vanguard, 21^st July 2010.

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