Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Newswatch in N362m debt before Ibrahim took over, Ray Ekpu tells court K AYODE KETEFE

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ne of the former directors of the Newswatch Communications Ltd, NCL,

Ekpu

Vol. 31 N0. 580 115

the publisher of Newswatch magazine, Mr. Ray Ekpu, yesterday admitted before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos that the company was indebted to the tune of N362m as at

the time it was offered for sale to the new investor, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim OFR in May 2011.

Ekpu gave an insight into the state of indebtedCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

Oduah

FG restores Dana’s licence, as Aero’s crisis deepens P.6

Tuesday, Tuesday,June March 7, 2011 19, 2013

AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST,

ROTIMI FADEYI, INUSA NDAHI AND JAMES ABRAHAM

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uspected terrorists yesterday hit the Central Motor Park in Kano, killing over 60 Lagosbound passengers as well as an unspecified number of workers and traders in a suicide bomb attack.

Terrorists also struck in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, where three government-owned schools CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

N150 N150

60 die as terrorists bomb luxury bus Gunmen attack schools, kill teachers, injure pupils in Borno Some foreign hostages still alive, says Jonathan

Convicted pension thief, Yusufu, gets N10m bail P.6 Bidders pay N24.2bn for five power companies Shattered windscreen of the luxury bus (left) and an injured victim of the bomb attack at New Road Motor Park, Kano, yesterday.

Court seals Salami’s fate ...dismisses suit seeking reinstatement

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2015: Atiku vows to resist attempt to favour Jonathan I remain loyal to PDP, Amaechi tells Tukur

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Afenifere berates Ali over remarks on Yoruba P.43

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News

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Court seals Salami’s fate EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

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ope of possible reinstatement of the former President of the Court of Appeal, PCA, Justice Ayo Isa Salami was dashed yesterday by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

The court, presided over

by Justice Adamu Bello, struck out a suit seeking an order of mandamus for the recall of Justice Salami, who has been on suspension since August 18, 2011, when the Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu-led National Judicial Council, NJC, axed him for “gross misconduct”.

Judgement in the suit was earlier slated for March 11, but was adjourned untill yesterday, following the strike by members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria who are seeking improved conditions of service.

In striking out the suit brought by 11 lawyers under the auspices of The Registered Trustees of the Centre for the Promotion of Arbitration, Justice Bello held that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to institute the action.

The plaintiffs had, in an originating summons brought pursuant to the inherent rules of the Federal High Court, prayed the court to hold that the NJC, by virtue of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, has the exclusive power to mete out sanctions against judicial officers, including the suspended PCA. They added that such powers exercisable by the Council included discipline and recall, hence their prayer.

Accordingly, the “public interest lawyers” sought an order of mandamus compelling the NJC to recall Justice Salami, without recourse to President Goodluck Jonathan.

In adopting plaintiffs’ argument, their counsel, Mr. Jitobo Akanike, had said that President Jonathan (1st Defendant) and the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, (2nd defendant), have no business in matters of discipline of a judicial officer.

He argued that the earli-

er pronouncement reinstating Justice Salami by the NJC did not need any approval or endorsement by the president for it to carry the force of law.

To that extent, plaintiffs asked the court for a declaration that NJC is the only body constitutionally empowered to exercise disciplinary control over Salami and all justices of the Court of Appeal.

Again, the court was asked to declare that the refusal of NJC to implement the decision of the threeman panel headed by Justice Aloma Mukhtar, who is now the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, was wrong.

The lawyers asked for a perpetual injunction restraining the NJC “from further recommending to the president for the reinstatement of Justice Salami.”

In a separate response, however, counsel to the president and the AGF, Mr. Matthew Echo, urged the trial judge to dismiss the plaintiffs’ originating summons on the ground that plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to institute the matter.

Echo told the court that 1st and 2nd defendants’ objections were brought pursuant to order 26, rules 1, 2 and 3 of the Federal High Court Rules.

He said that “the plaintiffs have not shown any sufficient interest above any other Nigerian in the matter” to warrant grant of their reliefs.

The court, was therefore, enjoined to “uphold our counter-affidavit and dismiss the suit as mere academic, indeterminable and a waste of time of the court.”

On his part, counsel to NJC (3rd defendant), Dr. A. A. Kanah, prayed the court to arrive at a decision that will best serve the interest of justice.

But, Salami’s counsel, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), aligned with the submission of the plaintiffs, when he persuaded the court to dismiss defendants’ preliminary objection “as not representing the current status of the law on locus standi.”

Akintola told the court that the NJC had “also admitted that it is they that have power of discipline of judicial officers.

“This court has the inherent jurisdiction to grant an order of mandamus compelling the 3rd defendant to perform its constitutional duty, to save the judiciary from ridicule.

“The failure of the 3rd defendant to reinstate the 4th defendant by wrongly and unlawfully referring it to the 1st defendant for approval when indeed the 1st defendant lacks such power under the constitution has diminished the status and influence of the 3rd defendant in the public domain.

“This honourable court has the unique opportunity to redeem and restore the dented image of the judiciary by granting the prayers

sought by the plaintiffs,” Akintola said.

In sustaining the defendants’ preliminary objection, Justice Bello held that the fact that the plaintiffs took an oath as public interest defenders does not confer superiority of interest over other persons.

Bello went further to state that a person can only have locus standi in a matter where his personal interest has been breached.

In the light of this, he was of the considered view that the plaintiffs did not successfully establish their legal right or interest in the matter, to necessitate the action.

The judge reasoned that the person qualified to bring

the suit was Salami, who is involved in the matter.

He said: “I am of the strong view that the matter pertains to the individual right of Justice Salami, and he is also the only one who has the aggregate right to bring the suit.

“It involves the private right of Salami and not that of any other person.

“The argument by plaintiffs that they have superior interest over the public because they are public interest lawyers is not supported by any law,” the judge said.

He asked: “If all oathtakers were to be activists, in whose shrine will they be protected?”

Bello added that, “if all

oath-takers were to do this, in my view, there will be anarchy and chaos. The mere fact that plaintiffs took oaths as public interest lawyers does not give them the locus standi; Salami is the only person with the requisite locus standi to institute this action.

“It is an irony that the plaintiffs, being public interest lawyers, will engage in this suit.

“Having held that the plaintiffs lack the locus standi to institute this suit, the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

“What is left for the court is for striking out of the suit and I, therefore, strike out the suit and I make no order as to cost,” Bello said.

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan; visiting President Michel Sleiman of Lebanon; his wife, Wafaa and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs 1, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, during the visit of the Lebanese President to Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

60 die as terrorists bomb luxury bus CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

were attacked, killing three teachers and injuring three female students.

This is coming at a time President Goodluck Jonathan said security information available to him indicated that some of the seven expatriates kidnapped by Ansaru, a splinter group of the Boko Haram Islamic sect, may still be alive contrary to the belief that they have been killed.

The Kano suicide attack, which occurred about 4.30p.m. was targeted at a Lagos-bound 59 seater bus as it was about departing the park located in Sabon Gari area, home to hundreds of thousands of southerners and nonmuslims.

About six explosions were heard in the busy

park that accommodates travellers bound for destinations in the SouthEast and South-West.

Sources said that the suicide bombers, about three in number, positioned their Volkwagen Golf car, primed with explosives between the luxury bus operated by Gobison Transport Company and other bus before detonating the explosives immediately the driver of the bus started the engine.

Apart from the 59 passengers seated onboard the ill-fated bus, it was gathered that there were no fewer than 20 extra passengers, when it was blown up and none, according to our sources, survived.

As at the time of filing this report, the tragic scene had been cordoned off by men of the Joint

Task Force, JTF, to pave way for the evacuation of both the dead and injured victims.

At the last count, apart from the wrecked Gobison bus, 10 other buses were torched.

There was stampede in Sabo Gari area, as residents scampered for safety following the multiple explosions.

The Central Business area was abruptly closed, as the Kano Central market and other places were shut in reaction to the development.

Neither the police command nor the JTF was forthcoming as they parried questions over the development.

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Magaji Majiya, when contacted on phone said he was in the classroom and

referred our correspondent to JTF. The JTF spokesman, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, said that it would be hasty to release casualty figures, adding that the major concern of the security agencies was to ensure that those injured were taken to the hospital for treatment, while efforts are being made by firefighters to extinguish the raging flames.

“We are also making efforts to prevent thieves from taking advantage of the situation to steal properties,” Iweha told National Mirror.

The Chairman of the Kano Chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Tobias Idika, said from records available to him, 60 persons died in the attack, while five luxury buses CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

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Photo News

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

President, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigema, (right) with Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, at the Presidential Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, yesterday before leaving to attend today’s inauguration of Pope Francis I in Rome.

L-R: Chairman of Heirs Holdings Limited and Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Mr. Tony Elumelu; Vice President Namadi Sambo and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, during the Nigeria Philanthropy Summit at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, yesterday.

L-R: Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Alfa Belgore; Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi; Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Odili and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Uwais, during the Nigerian Institute of Legal Studies 2013 Founders’ Day Lecture in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

L-R: Minister for Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga; Minister of State for Finance, Alhaji Yerima Ngama; Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr. Funsho Phillips and Minister of State for Power, Hajia Zainab Ibrahim, during NESG breakfast dialogue with ministers in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: OLUFEMI AJASA

National News

NNPC failed to remit $6trn revenue in 3 years –Reps TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

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he Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, generated N6trillion from 2009 to 2012, without remitting anything to the Federation Account, the House of Representatives disclosed yesterday.

The disclosure came at the resumption of investigation into the nonremittance of Internally Generated Revenue, IGR,

by Federal Government agencies.

The hearing is being conducted by the House Committee on Finance, headed

by Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin.

According to the committee, NNPC made N6 trillion between 2009 and 2012 as IGR, but failed to remit N142bn to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, CRF, as demanded by the Fiscal Responsibility Act, FRA, 2007.

The committee is also looking into the financial records of the 16 subsidiaries of the corporation. However, none of the subsidiaries that appeared at the

session briefed the committee on their financial state, claiming that the invitation got to them late.

But Hon. Jibrin said individual accounts of the subsidiaries would have to be scrutinised.

NNPC Group Executive Director (Finance), Mr. Bernard Otti, had earlier told the committee that the entire subsidiaries have no individual accounts of their own.

He said: “Accounts of the subsidiaries are consolidated with that of the NNPC. There is only one account; there is no different account for the subsidiaries.”

The Corporation’s Legal Adviser, Anthony Madichie also pointed out that the subsidiaries were set up by the NNPC and that the laws that set up the corporation only talked about one account.

The chairman, however, faulted that stand, reminding the organisation that the committee is constitutionally empowered to carry out oversight functions and in this case, the records of the NNPC were questionable.

“As a result, the committee wants to know how the accounts of the subsidiaries and their remittances to the main accounts are properly managed. We need to know if remittance figures reflected for each subsidiary are correct or not.

“While we were made to believe that the NNPC has not benefited from the

Petroleum Support Fund, PSF, we are inviting the Petroleum Product Pricing and Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, to come and substantiate that claim,” he said.

As a result of the nonappearance of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas company, NLNG, and 10 other subsidiaries, the committee

has given them till this today to appear or face being forced to.

They are expected to appear later today with the Group Managing Director, GMD, Andrew Yakubu.

The Committee also frowned at the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria’s, FAAN, disposition to spending all its IGR, without

remitting anything to the FRA. FAAN generated N112.3bn between 2009 and 2011 and N27.8 billion in 2012.

While the agency was expected to pay N6.9bn to government coffers from what it generated in 2012, this was not done as the organisation said it cannot afford to.

Bidders pay N24.2bn for five power companies AYO OLESIN

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ive bidders have so far paid a total of $156.5 million to the Federal Government, being the mandatory 25 per cent of the bid value of the electricity distribution companies in which they have indicated interest to acquire.

Details of the payments made available by the Bureau for Public Enterprises, BPE, shows that Amperion Power Company Limited, the preferred bidder for Geregu Power Plc has paid $33 million; Integrated Energy Distribution & Marketing Company paid $42.25 million and $14.75 million for

Ibadan and Yola Discos respectively.

Also NEDC/KEPCO, the preferred bidder for Ikeja Distribution Company, paid $32.75 million while West Power & Gas, the preferred bidder for Eko Distribution Company paid $33.75 million.

The payments are coming ahead of the March 21 deadline for all the bidders to make the mandatory 25 per cent payment in line with the Share Purchase Agreement for the transactions.

Other bidders for the PHCN successor companies are 4Power Consortium (Port-Harcourt Disco); Aura Energy Limited (Jos Disco); Interstate Electrics Limited (Enugu Disco);

KANN Consortium Utility Company Limited (Abuja Disco) and Sahelian Power SPV Limited (Kano Disco), According to the privatisation agency, Vigeo Consortium is the preferred bidder for Benin Disco; Transcorp Consortium (Ughelli Power Plc); CMEC/EUAFRIC Energy JV (Sapele Power Plc); Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited (Kainji Power Plc); and North-South Power Company (Shiroro Power Plc).

National Mirror had reported last week that the BPE had tacitly extended the deadline for the 25 per cent down payment following the slow response

of bidders in making payments.

BPE sources had disclosed that the agency had secured the consent of the National Council on Privatisation, NCP, for the 10-day grace offered the bidders to meet the payment requirements in order to avert a repeat of failures that had characterised the privatisation exercise over the past years.

The bidders had been in discussions with local and offshore banks to raise the cash to pay for the companies.

A source said: “The huge capital outlay involved has been a major problem to the companies.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

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Newswatch in N362m debt before Ibrahim took over, Ray Ekpu tells court CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ness of NCL while being cross-examined during the hearing of a suit filed by two minority shareholders of the company, Mr. NuhuWada Aruda and Prof. Jibril Aminu.

The two petitioners had filed the suit accusing the new management team led

by Dr. Ibrahim of assuming control of the company “illegally” even though they admitted that the majority of the shares had already been legally transferred to Ibrahim via a Share Purchase Agreement signed by all the parties.

The petitioners are praying the court to quash the powers of the current management of the company

elected by the majority of the shareholders.

In their petition No. FHC/L/CP/1367/2012 brought pursuant to sections 310 (a), (b) and (c) and 311 (1), (2) (a) and (b) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, the applicants are also praying the court to, among others, set aside the Share Purchase Agreement on the basis of which Dr. Ibrahim assumed majority shareholding in the company.

Joined as respondents in the matter are; Newswatch Communications Ltd and Global Media Mirror Ltd. At yesterday’s proceedings, while responding to the questions asked by the respondents’ lawyer, Chief

Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), on whether or not he knew that NCL was in heavy debt which was far above N300m, Ekpu answered in the affirmative.

Then Ayorinde further asked: “As a matter of fact, the actual indebtedness was N362m, are you aware of that?”

Ekpu did not contest the figure when he said: “Yes, but I am also aware that the NCL had assets. We had credits with a number of companies. We cannot look at the debt without looking at the assets. The two go together.”

When asked by Ayorinde whether or not he knew that the combined shareholding of all the four sur-

Participants at the Central Bank of Nigeria Global Money Week Road Show in Abuja, yesterday.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

were burnt.

“This is the worst experience of the lives of the Igbo in Kano; we have lost over 60 souls, while five buses were burnt to ashes, which showed that we have always been the target of the attack, moving without protection.”

President Jonathan has condemned in strong terms the bomb blasts in Kano.

In a statement issued last night by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President commiserated with the victims of the explosions, their families, friends, and assured the Kano State government of the Federal Government’s continued support.

Jonathan said the barbaric incident would not deter government

viving founding members of NCL (Ekpu, Dan Agbese, Yakubu Mohammed and Soji Akinrinade) were just 6.7 per cent of the total shares of the company, Ekpu claimed ignorance of this.

He said: “I cannot say what percentage the combined shareholding of the four of us is. All I know is my own shareholding and I know that I have 3.4 million shares. I don’t know of others.”

Ayorinde further asked Ekpu: “Do you know that 89. 18 per cent of the shares of Newswatch Communications Ltd were uninsured as at May 5, 2011?”

The reply of Ekpu was “I cannot say.”

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Ayorinde said: “But you were the chief executive officer of the company at the time, were you not?”

Ekpu said: “Yes I was, but it is the company secretary that can answer the question.”

In reply to some questions, Ekpu said he had only input as the CEO into the Offering Memorandum and the Share Purchase Agreement as the bulk of the work in the said vital documents were done by the company’s lawyers, accountants and financial experts who would be in possession of detailed information.

However, the admission

by Ekpu of the parlous state of the NCL’s finances before the company was acquired on May 5, 2011,

by Dr. Ibrahim completely tallied with the evidence earlier given by one of the petitioners, Aruda.

It will be recalled that on February 26, 2013, Aruda, while being cross examined by the respondents’ lawyer, Ayorinde, had initially insisted that the NCL was not under financial distress at the time it was acquired by the new investors in May 2011.

Aruda had further claimed that the invitation of new investors by Newswatch was dictated by the need for expansion.

However, Ayorinde ap-

60 die as terrorists bomb luxury bus

from its determination to overcome those who do not mean well for this nation.

According to him, the Federal Government would not be stampeded, for any reason whatsoever, into abandoning its unrelenting war against terrorists in the country.

The President reassured Nigerians and foreigners in the country that the government would continue to do all that is required to ensure the safety of lives and property, including continued collaboration with international partners and stakeholders to check the menace of terrorism.

Terrorists attack Borno schools The separate attacks in Maiduguri, which targeted both primary and secondary schools, took place in the early hours of

yesterday. Many schools were hurriedly shut down, while parents were seen rushing to various schools to take their children home for safety.

There were conflicting reports as to the number of casualties.

An unconfirmed report had it that three female teachers were killed in Shehu Sanda Kyarimi Secondary School around Ruwan Zafi ward of the metropolis, in addition to the killing of two teachers in Mafoni Primary and Secondary Schools.

Our correspondent gathered that about 9a.m. at Ruwan Zafi area of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, six suspected Boko Haram members laid ambush to Shehu Sanda Kyarimi Secondary School, and shot dead a yet to be identified teacher, while three female

students sustained injuries from stray bullets.

It was also gathered that at about 11:20a.m. at Mafoni area of the metropolis, another gang of terrorists stormed Ali Askiri Primary School and shot one Mallam Abdullahi, a teacher, before moving to Mafoni Day Secondary School and killed a female teacher identified as Hajja Yagumsu.

A top security source, who was not authorised to speak to journalists, confirmed the shootings.

Speaking to journalists, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Mr. Inuwa Bwala, described the attack as unfortunate.

He said that despite the fact that the state government placed priority on education, the security challenge is posing a great concern to the people of the state.

Bwala said since the emergence of the insurgency, many schools which were burnt by suspected terrorists had been rehabilitated, while others are still undergoing renovation with the scarce resources available to the government.

He added that the state government has reiterated its commitment to end the hostilities by opening its doors for dialogue with the sect. He wondered why killings and attacks still persist.

The commissioner said that the state government is willing and ready to dialogue with the sect in order to restore peace to the state.

As at the time of filing this report, no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

plied to the court that the accounting documents earlier filed in the case should be given to Aruda and that he should read out the portions summarising the financial position of the company at the end of the year 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Aruda then read out the information to the effect that Newswatch Communications Ltd had sustained losses for the said years.

Specifically, he said the company sustained losses of N36m in 2007, N20m in 2008 and N93m in 2009.

Ayorinde then put a poser to the witness: “Are you still saying that in spite of all these serial losses the company was not in financial trouble at that time?

Will you for instance say a loss of N93m in a year is not big?”

Aruda then said: “I think it is big.”

The presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, has however adjourned the matter till Tuesday (today).

It will also be recalled that on February 4, 2013, Justice Ibrahim Buba had dismissed the interlocutory application of Aruda and Aminu, seeking to stop the operations of Newswatch pending the determination of their substantive suit.

Justice Buba however dismissed the application for lacking in merit.

The Joint Task Force, JTF, in a statement last night confirmed the attacks.

The statement reads: “Information available to the Joint Task Force, “Operation Restore Order” indicated that a teacher at Sanda Kyarimi Secondary School, Ruwan Zafi, Customs General Area in Maiduguri metropolis one Mallam Kachalla was shot dead on Monday, March 18, 2013 between 8a.m. and 9a.m. inside the school’s premises

by Boko Haram terrorists.

“Three female students were also critically injured from bullet wounds and were rushed to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital by the JTF patrol attracted to the scene by hasty movement of people from Customs Market area.

“Similarly, another attack on a secondary CONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Convicted pension thief, Yusufu, gets N10m bail EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

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Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday granted the convicted pension thief, Mr. John Yakubu Yusufu, bail in the sum of N10 million with a surety in like sum.

Delivering ruling in Yusufu’s bail application, Justice Adamu Bello said he was not only conscious of the affidavit evidence by the accused/applicant where he admitted to a previous conviction, but also mindful of the criticisms and public condemnation that occasioned the “slap-on-

the-wrist” judgement that sentenced the pension thief to two years imprisonment with an option of N750, 000, for stealing over N23 billion police pension funds.

Justice Bello noted that the essence of remanding the convict in prison since January 30 was to allow public outcry and emotions to calm down.

And in order to assuage the fear that Yusufu may jump bail, the judge attached other bail conditions that will compel the convict to stand trial as follows: “The surety must be a public servant not below the rank of Director.

“The reliable surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

“The surety must have landed property in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to be verified by the Registrar of the court.

“The accused person must deposit his international passport with the Registrar of the court and must not travel abroad without the permission of the court.

“Until he meets these conditions, the accused is to remain in prison custody”.

In retrospect, the court witnessed a mild drama on March 4, when Yusufu,

slumped in the dock, shortly after commencement of his trial.

Yusufu, who was convicted on January 28 for illegal act of stealing about N23 billion pension funds meant for police retirees, was re-arraigned on January 30 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a fresh fourcount charge bordering on his failure to disclose his assets as they relate to his interest in a company called SY-A Global Services Limited.

At the last sitting, counsel to Yusufu, Mr. Theodore Maiyaki, urged the court

to admit the accused/applicant to bail on liberal terms.

But the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), raised objection to the accused person’s application “to be admitted to bail “on liberal terms”.

Jacobs predicated his objection to the convict’s bail bargain on the fact of “the criminal antecedent of the accused person,” saying: “The accused had been con-

Aviation Ministry clears Dana Air to resume operations he Ministry of Aviation said it had cleared Dana Air to resume operations immediately.

A statement signed by the Special Assistant, Media to the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Joe Obi, stated that the officials of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) met with the management team from Dana Airlines yesterday in Abuja and deliberated on some safety issues in connection with the operations of the airline.

After the meeting, Obi said

that the suspension of the operations of the airline, which took effect last Saturday, was lifted.

Obi, however, said that the particular aircraft with problems would remain grounded until the manufacturer, Boeing, recertifies it for operations.

The statement reads in part: “The airline is to resume normal operations immediately. However, the particular aircraft, which had a snag over the weekend, is to remain grounded until after its airworthiness has been recertified by Boeing, the manufacturer of the aircraft.”

they notice invasion they would not just turn round and kill the people. The place where they suspected to be holding them is quite a difficult area. Rocky terrain that you cannot easily access.

“Over the period, they released some information through the social media but analysis of that information does not really give us a conclusive position so we discussed it separately.

“We really suspect that some probably have died either from health or other related causes or direct killing but we still believe that not all the seven because even the release in the social media did not really show all the seven so we are still working on it.

“I briefed my colleague, President Sleiman that we are still working on it and will get to the root and if they have been killed, I insisted we must get their corpses.

So for now that is the best I can tell you and I cannot do more than that. My brother, President Sleiman cannot say much because I’m the one who briefed him about what we are doing back home here,” Jonathan stated.

Earlier, the Lebanese

President explained that his visit was an opportunity to review the major developments in African continent as well as between Nigeria and Lebanon.

He said: “I have thanked President Jonathan for the efforts exhibited by the Nigerian government in order to free the hostages and in particular the Lebanese affected.”

According to a communiqué issued at the end of the meetings, the two leaders held talks on promoting and further strengthening the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Lebanon.

They also noted the significant roles played by the two countries in their respective regional organisations, notably Lebanon in the Arab League and Nigeria in the ECOWAS and African Union.

Jonathan and Sleiman pledged to work through these institutions to support the United Nations in the discharge of its mandate and the visiting leader lauded Nigeria’s exemplary role in contributing to the peacekeeping efforts of the United Nations.

OLUSEGUN KOIKI

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Sacked Aero Contractors’ workers protesting at the Murtala Mohammed Airport In Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: ADEMOLA AKINLABI

60 die as terrorists bomb luxury bus CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

school in Mafoni and Galadima areas of Maiduguri by Boko Haram was averted by the intervention of JTF troops, leading to the death of three terrorists and recovery of two AK 47 rifles, 200 rounds of ammunition, two video recorders, one laptop and two tricycles.

“Efforts are on to apprehend the other culprits and be made to face the law.”

Eight die in Plateau Also in Plateau State, eight people have been confirmed dead in two separate attacks on Sunday.

In Torok-Rim village, Riyom Local Government Area, gunmen shot and killed two children and also injured four other villagers who were rushed to Vom Christian Hospital where they are being treated Our correspondent gathered that the children, who were between the ages of two and four had their bodies riddled with bullets.

A witness said the incident occurred about

8:30p.m. on Sunday.

The Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. Samuel Dido, who confirmed the death of the two, said four others are still unconscious at the hospital with severe gunshot injuries.

Also, four people were killed at Tapo village in Heipang District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State during an attack by yet to be identified gunmen.

Three members of a family were said to have been shot by the attackers, while the 80-year old village head Da Dung Bot Gwom was believed to have died from exhaustion while trying to escape from the gunmen.

The assailants, according to witnesses, stormed the village about 11p.m. breaking into the residence of one Rwang Davou (71) killing him, his 47-year old son, Pam Rwang Davou and his sixyear old grandson, Martins Pam Rwang.

Pam’s wife escaped with injuries and is now receiving treatment in the hospital, according to eyewitnesses.

The three family members were buried yesterday while the body of the village head has been deposited in the mortuary for proper burial arrangements because of his status, according to a villager, who spoke to National Mirror.

When contacted, Media Officer of the Special Task Force in the state, Captain Salisu Mustapha said he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

Not all hostages dead – Jonathan President Jonathan said yesterday that not all of the seven hostages abducted

by Boko Haram gunmen from a construction firm’s compound in Bauchi State last month had been killed.

The sect had last week released a video online saying that it had killed the foreigners who are nationals of Greece, Lebanon, Italy and Britain But speaking while hosting the Lebanese President, Michel Sleiman at the State House, Jonathan condemned the activities

of all violent sects, adding however that the video released by the group was suspect.

Jonathan, during a joint press conference after the closed-door session, said the Federal Government suspected that some of the foreign hostages may have died through illness or other causes, while some of them may still be alive.

“It is a sad moment in our history, the issue of the excesses of Boko Haram and related organisations getting involved in terrorist activities. It is quite sad. It a very ugly phase, which we would pass through.

“From the date of the kidnap, various nationals are involved and we have been working with our own friendly nations including the United Kingdom and others to see that these people are rescued.

“Because of the ugly experience we had when a similar situation happened and about the time we were to rescue the people they were shot, security services are being careful so that if

victed previously of criminal breach of trust”.

He added: “The criminal record of the accused/applicant will not encourage exercise of discretion of bail on his favour, and when this is considered with the proof of evidence and gravity of the offence, the court will conveniently allow this trial to go on, while the accused person remains in custody pending trial.”

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National News

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

7

NEMA spends N1.3bn on relief materials, logistics –DG OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

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he National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, yesterday said it spent about N1.3 billion on relief materials and other logistics in the aftermath of the 2012 flood disaster.

The NEMA DirectorGeneral, Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, disclosed this while telling journalists the content of the 2013 seasonal rainfall prediction released by NIMET and its implication on emergency preparedness.

The figure, it was gathered, did not include inter-

vention funds from states, donor agencies, multinationals and individuals.

The 2012 flooding, which engulfed some states, did not only lead to the destruction of lives and valuable property, but also displaced millions people.

Sanni-Sidi also dis-

closed that NEMA had compiled the list of communities vulnerable to flooding across the country for onward transmission to state governments for necessary action.

Already, some NorthWest states such as Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, and almost all the South-South

states have been designated as flood prone arrears.

The DG, who stressed the importance of heeding to the early warning signal, explained that the interaction with journalists was one of the series of stakeholders’ meetings geared toward sensitising the people to the need to stay off flood plain arrears.

He said: “As an agency, we have activated our advocacy strategies. One of these is visiting state governments to sensitise them to the need to really do something about communities that are living within the flood prone arrears.

“While it is the responsibility of state governments and local governments to find alternatives

for the people living in the flood prone arrears, we have gone as far as carrying out mapping of the vulnerable communities throughout the country.

“We are going to send the list of the communities under flood threat to the state governments so that they will take every action by providing safer ground to those communities within the flood prone arrears.”

Sani-Sidi noted that all hands must be on the desk if the country must avoid the kind of disaster that befell it last year, stressing that all first responders, including states and local governments, had critical roles to play in mitigating the effects of climate change.

In death, Esiri gets AMAA Best Actor nomination L-R: Director Administration, National Emergency Management Agency, Dr Zannah Mohammed; Director General, Dr Sani Sidi and Corps Public Education Officer, Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr. Jonas Agwu, during a press briefing on Disaster Management Implication of NIMET Seasonal Rainfall Prediction for 2013 in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Politicians steal too, says robbery suspect FRANCIS SUBERU

“Y

es, I am thief, I stole and what is the big deal about that? I did not even steal, I was there and I opened the gate for them so that they can take whatever they want.”

This was the confession of one of the 11 robbery suspects paraded by the police at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti Street, Yaba, Lagos.

The suspect, Garba

Sani Umar, who lambasted journalists, law enforcement agents and the country’s political leaders, said “every Nigerian is a thief.”

Umar, who was arrested for armed robbery which took place at Honda Place Company, Apapa - Oshodi Expressway, Lagos, said there was nothing strange about being a robber as most people in Nigeria, especially the politicians, were thieves.

The suspect, who initially kept mum and appeared not ready to respond to questions, suddenly burst

out, lambasting everyone, including his employer, Honda, which he accused of paying him peanuts and expecting his loyalty.

He said: “What about our politicians who are using their position and office to steal. You journalists, have you not done anything wrong before?

“We are all thieves in Nigeria and we should stop pretending or pointing accusing fingers at some people. How much is my salary, I am paid N12,000 every month and you expect that I will not

Adegbite, ex-Wema Bank boss, dies at 73

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ormer Managing Director of Wema Bank Plc, Chief Samuel Igbayilola Adegbite, has died at the age of 73.

Adegbite, a seasoned banker and lawyer was also one time Managing Director of NAL Merchant Bank.

He started his banking career at Standard Bank of West Africa (now First Bank Plc) in 1961, where he moved to National Bank and later NAL Merchant Bank.

His tenure at Wema saw the expansion of the board with the entry of new inves-

tors and lled the team that bought the Wema Towers from Chellrams Group in 1997.

Adegbite, who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1971, was a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Banker where he served as chairman of council and president; the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators and Nigerian Institute of Management.

Until his death, he was the Chairman of Oasis Insurance Plc and Oasis Capital Portfolio Limited.

Former National President of Nigeria Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Chief John Odeyemi described Late Adegbite as a thoroughbred strategist, “who surmounted obstacles to get to the pinnacle of his career in banking, law and business,”

Adegbite

steal. How do you think that is possible?”

Umar was one of the security men working at Hunda Place.

He confessed to have opened the gates for his accomplices, Goodwin Okwudili, Obinna Ilojeb, Ndubusi Ike and Anthony Etemah, on June 31, 2012 when the company was robbed.

On his part, Okwudili said the police should drop all charges levelled against them since the stolen goods had been recovered.

NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

T

he late Justus Esiri may be inches away from one of the ultimate movie honours in Africa.

The actor, who passed on at the age of 70 a few weeks ago, was nominated as the Best Actor in a Leading Role for this year’s African Movie Academy Awards.

The nomination was announced in Malawi at the weekend during the African Movie Academy Awards’ ‘Nominations’ Nite’.

The late Esiri got the nomination for his role in ‘Assassins Practice’ and would be fighting for the honour with fellow Nige-

rians like O. C. Ukeje, who got nominated for his role in ‘Alan Poza’ and Bimbo Manuel who got nominated in the same category for his role in ‘Heroes and Zeroes.’

If Esiri wins under this category, he would have gone into history as the first artiste to win AMAA in a competitive category as a dead person.

Meanwhile, the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, is planning to hold a series of activities in honour of the late actor.

The AGN National Secretary, Yakubu Abubakar, said an Artistes’ Nite would be held in Lagos for the late actor prior to the departure of his body to Abraka, his hometown in Delta State.

CAC can demand loan details from banks –Court K AYODE KETEFE

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Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday upheld the powers of the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, to demand details of loans transaction from commercial banks.

In a judgement delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris, the court held that banks in Nigeria are obligated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, CAMA, to

provide the CAC with information on charges and documentations in relation to loan transactions with their corporate customers.

This judgement was on a suit instituted by CAC against six banks – Wema Bank Plc, Citibank Nigeria Limited, First Monument Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, United Bank of Africa and Zenith Bank.

CAC had sued the banks for their failure to provide information on their loan transactions with companies.

Idris also held that in carrying out its diverse functions under CAMA, CAC could directly or through inspectors appointed by it, request from banks charges registered under Section 197 of CAMA, created between such banks and any company incorporated in the country under CAMA.

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South West

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

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Anxiety heightens over Ekiti deputy gov’s health ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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here was anxiety in Ekiti State yesterday over the state of health of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka.

Rumour had it that the deputy governor

was critically ill and would not be able to continue in office.

But the state government said Olayinka was on sick leave.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo, said in a statement that the deputy governor “has taken

leave to attend issues relating to her health.”

Ekundayo urged all “well-meaning citizens of the state to remember her in their prayers.”

However, a source close to the deputy governor told journalists that she applied for leave.

The source, who could not ascertain the duration of the leave, expressed surprise that the state government said she was on sick leave.

“The deputy governor is on leave and not sick leave. I do not know about that informa-

tion,” the source said.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP had, last week, raised the alarm over the whereabouts of the deputy governor, who it alleged was “down with some ailment prompting her absence from office for over eight weeks.”

Meet striking lecturers’ demands now, students tell govt ADEOLU ADEYEMO OSOGBO

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tudents of stateowned tertiary institutions yesterday called on the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola to immediately meet the demands of the striking lecturers.

The Chairman of the Osun State Students Union, Olaore Najeem, who addressed a press conference in Osogbo, the state capital, asked the government to act fast on the matter or face the wrath of the students.

He said: “Every student, worker and parent will agree with us that higher education in Osun State remains one of the most backward, and this must change.”

Najeem also called for the constitution of Governing Councils for all the state-owned tertiary institutions to act as the link between the government, management and students for easy governance and accountability.

The chairman advised the government to speedily meet the demands of the striking lecturers or face the wrath of the students.

He said: “We will practically bring the state to her kneels if the government fails to yield to the demands of the striking lecturers.”

Lecturers of the four state-owned tertiary institutions last week embarked on an indefinite strike over agitation for extension of retirement age of academic staff from 60 to 65, non-remittance of pension contributions, among others.

But in his response, Aregbesola described the agitation as unreasonable in an economy where there was over 65 per cent youth unemployment.

L-R: Special Adviser to Oyo State governor on Solid Minerals, Hon. Mathew Oyedokun; Chief of Staff to the governor, Dr. Adeolu Akande; Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Alake and Minister of Mines and Steel, Mr. Musa Muhammed Sada, during the minister’s visit to the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, yesterday.

Funsho Williams: Suspects decry witnesses’ absence in court WALE IGBINTADE

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he suspected killers of Engeer Funsho Williams, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 2003 gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State, have bemoaned the incessant failure of the prosecution to present their witnesses in court.

At the resumed hearing of the suit before a Lagos High Court yesterday, the defendants, through their lawyer, Mr. O. Agbara, told the trial judge, Justice Ebenezer Adebajo, that the inability of the prosecution to bring to court at least a wit-

ness was worrisome.

Expressing his displeasure, Agbara said: “There are more than seven listed witnesses and not just two.

They are not all commissioners of police. This will be the last time I will tolerate such.”

The defendants are Sergeant Okponwasa Imariable, 38; Corporal Tunani Sonani, 40, Corporal Mustapha Kayode, 37; Bulami Kolo; Musa Maina, 34 and David Cassidy, 34.

On March 1, 2013 they pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against them and were remanded in Ikoyi prison.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Mrs. Akin Adesomoju, told the court that the witness who was to appear in the matter was a commissioner of police serving in Abuja, while another witness was outside the country.

According to the charge, the defendants, on or about July 27, 2006, at 34A Corporation Drive, Ikoyi, in the Lagos Judicial Division murdered one Engr. Funsho Williams, an offence contrary to Section 316 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C.17, Vol. 2, Law of Lagos State 2003.

According to the prosecution, “the accused persons

had on July 27, 2006 conspired to murder Williams at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos, an offence contrary to Section 324 of the criminal code law, cap c.17, vol. 2 Law of Lagos State 2003.”

Adebajo held that he could not continue to keep the defendants (Kolo and Maina) in prison because it was against his oat-of-office, noting that the witness should have been in court yesterday.

The court subsequently adjourned the case to April 29, to vary the bail condition of the defendants and also for the witnesses to be available for trial.

Lottery: Court joins NCC in suit against Airtell K AYODE KETEFE

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Federal High Court in Lagos has joined the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, as a defendant in a suit seeking to revoke the operating licence of Airtel Nigeria Limited for allegedly operating an illegal lottery.

A Lagos-based lawyer, Benjamin Owiadolor, had filed the suit praying the court to compel Airtel to refund all sums expended by

subscribers who participated in the company’s competition known as: “Wake up a millionaire promo,” by way of credit, which should be done under the supervision of the NCC. Ruling on an interlocutory application filed by Owiadolor, Justice Saliu Saidu also joined the National Lottery Regulation Commission, NLRC, Consumer Protection Council, CPC, and Secure Electronic Technology Plc, as defendants to the suit.

The judge also ordered Airtel to provide the call logs of Owiadolor as evidence in the court.

The plaintiff is further asking the court to declare that the failure of Airtel to first obtain the requisite licence from the NLRC rendered the promo illegal since it was done in contravention of the provisions of the NLRC Act and Lotteries and Pools Betting Laws of Lagos State.

He also contended that the

Airtel’s promo was a breach of the conditions of the telecoms licence granted the company by the NCC in accordance with the NCC Act. Owidolor is asking for the award of N1 million as special and general damages against Airtel for the considerable harm, mental and physical disturbances and untold trauma he had suffered as a result of the invasion of his privacy through the sending of unwarranted text messages by Airtel.

Ibadan Poly Council chair, others face contempt charge KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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he Chairman, Governing Council of the Ibadan Polytechnic, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, and 12 other members of the council will on Thursday face contempt charge before an Ibadan High Court.

It was learnt that their alleged offence is disobeying a court order asking the polytechnic to calculate and pay the gratuity and pension due to a former employee of the institution, Moses Ademola Adesina, who won a case against the stoppage of same by the institution’s authorities in 2003.

Adesina, an engineer, voluntarily retired from the polytechnic’s service in 1999 after working for 12 years. He was paid no gratuity, although he received his calculated pension for the next three consecutive years, before it was stopped, ostensibly on the orders of two official circulars from the state government, which precluded appointment of anyone above 45 years into the public service.

Adesina was already 51 years when he joined the polytechnic as a lecturer in 1987.

It was gathered that one of the circulars directed that the appointment of any such over-aged officer already in the polytechnic’s employment be converted to contract, which would not entitle him or her to pension unlike under the original conditions of service.

The aggrieved retiree had sued his former employers, arguing that the stoppage of his pension entitlements was “arbitrary unlawful, null and void”.

Adesina maintained that the provisions of the circular were not contained in his terms of employment, or was he duly informed of the change in policy throughout his years of service, as one of the circulars was issued only in 2004, a year after he left service.

He then asked the court for an order directing the defendant to calculate and pay him his gratuity and accumulated pensions.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Four injured as supporters of LP, ACN, PDP clash HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

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t least four people were injured yesterday during a fracas involving supporters of the Labour Party, LP, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and those of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the premises of the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The fracas came on the heels of the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to close its case before the tribunal without calling any witness.

Counsel to INEC, Chief Gboyega Awomolo, SAN, has informed the Andovar Kaka’an-led tribunal that the commission would not be calling any witness to defend itself, pointing out that most of the aspect of the petition that concerned the commission had been struck out by the tribunal in its ruling of February 4, 2013.

His words: “The third respondent will not call any witness for some reasons. Number one, we have taken a critical review of the pleading of parties and we have come to the conclusion that the key allegation against the third respondent relays to allegations that has to do with tampering with the voters’ register used in the 2012 governors

election in the state.

“We have discovered that the tribunal had, by its ruling of February 4, 2013, struck out paragraphs 32 to 35 of the petitioner’s petition where he complained of manipulation of voters’ register.

“Evidence derived under cross examination of witnesses will be relied upon and we will not call addi-

tional witness as they are sufficient enough.”

However, there was no objection from the counsel to the other parties, Rickey Tafa, SAN, of the first defendant, Olusegun Mimiko, Yusuf Ali, SAN, of the LP and Wole Aina, of the petitioner, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

The tribunal, however, decided to rise for two

L-R: Former Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government, Prince Rotimi Agunsoye; Elegushi of Ikate land, Lagos State, Oba Saheed Ademola; Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora and Osun State Commissioner for Local Government, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, during the visit of the monarch to the governor, at the Government House, Osogbo, recently.

Police officer in detention over armed robbery police team from Ikere Division was on its way on a rescue mission.

According to our sources, the police officer’s cell phone, which dropped from his pocket while fleeing the scene, was picked up by the police team alongside other evidences on arrival at the scene.

But one of the armed robbers was said to have called the number to inquire of his safety and whether he escaped from the scene unhurt.

“When the police discovered the cell phone, they picked it up as part of their

exhibits. But shortly after that, one of the robbers was said to have called and enquired whether he escaped and he was said to have replied that he actually escaped.”

The police later discovered in the process of investigation that the cell phone belonged to the police officer.

An unconfirmed report has it that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sotonye Wakama, enraged by the conduct of the police officer, slapped him several times at the state Police Command Headquarters, before he ordered his detention.

n Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, (names withheld) has been detained at the Ekiti State Police Command over alleged complicity in a robbery attack along the Ikere-Ise Ekiti Road, last week.

A cell phone picked up alongside other evidences at the scene of the robbery, gave away the police officer.

Sources said the five-man robbery gang, led by the police officer, robbed commuters along the road, capitalis-

ing on the confusion in Ikere Ekiti that day, following the clash between Akure and Ikere branches of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, over a dead member.

The robbery gang, who were said to be in mufti, barricaded the road, brandishing AK 47 rifles and other weapons, beat and dispossessed commuters of their valuables including money, bags and cell phones in the more than 30 minutes operation.

However, the robbers were said to have fled the scene on learning that a

HAKEEM GBADAMOSI

Ondo govt sacks 6, 000 ghost workers

ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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AKURE

O

ndo State government yesterday said it has sacked 6, 000 ghost workers identified in the employment of the local governments in the state.

The ghost workers were detected following the outcome of a staff auditing exercise carried out by a committee set up by the state government.

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Rotimi Adelola, who said the sack of the ghost workers followed the discovery of mon-

hours to enable the defendants open their defence against the PDP candidate’s petition while supporters of the three political parties clashed.

The fracas which lasted for about 40 minutes happened in front of the state high court, venue of the sitting, where the supporters of the parties engaged in a free-for-all.

umental fraud in phantom recruitment exercise carried out at the local councils.

He said some unauthorised recruitment of unqualified workers or non-existing individuals whose names are being used to deduct salaries from the local government’s accounts on monthly basis were discovered by the committee.

The statement said that the probe committee, in the course of its investigation, detects the difference in nominal roles of the local councils between December 2008 and December 2012 saying over 10,

000 members of staff claimed to have been employed.

His words: “Also included in the committee’s interim report, is the discovery of over 6, 000 junior workers and about 4, 000 senior workers recruited within the same period without following due process.

“Before any recruitment could be done at the local government level, the express approval of the state governor should be sought and the local government chairmen should consider if they have the fund to pay the wages of such new recruits.”

Adelola, however, stated in the statement that nothing was done in the case of the affected workers, adding that most of the names of the workers claimed to have been recruited in the illegal recruitment exercise are non-existent.

“The names given as workers recruited at the time of the illegal recruitment are fictitious names being used by the council operators to dupe the state. And the few names that could be traced are those of school pupils and family friends who collect salaries for rendering no service.”

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Fayemi hails Pope Francis ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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kiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has congratulated the new Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis I, saying the fact that he is from Latin America is indicative of the universality of the Catholic Church.

Fayemi, who expressed satisfaction that his emergence had further united the church which he described as one, praised the Pope for his humility, which he said his first major request - asking his followers to pray for him - indicated.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, said he was not surprised at the Pope’s action shortly after being elected as he had built a reputation of humility in his native Argentina, where he served as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires.

‘Closure of Ikeja Federal High Court threatens justice administration’ KAYODE KETEFE

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he closure of the Federal High Court in Ikeja for the past four months is slowing down justice administration in the country, investigation has shown.

National Mirror gathered that the closure was due to the failure of the authorities to appoint a judge to man the court, following the elevation of Justice Stephen Adah, to the higher bench.

As a result, all the case files pending at the Ikeja division of the court were transferred to the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, with the hope of re-assigning them to other judges.

When National Mirror visited the Ikeja division of the court, the courtroom was under lock and key but the two court clerks in a small office told our correspondent that all cases in the courtroom had been transferred to the Federal High Court, Ikoyi.

Investigation showed that so far, most of the litigants who initiated the cases in Ikeja, have to bear the additional expenses of

going to Ikoyi to confirm the hearing dates of their matters or wait till when another judge is moved to the division. Some of the litigants expressed concern that the development might bring about denial of justice.

It will be recalled that the court, which consists of only one courtroom, became literally vacant when the Justice Adah, was elevated to the Court of Appeal. Justice Adah was sworn-in as a judge of the Court of Appeal, along with 10 others on October 5, 2012.

The expectation then was that another judge of the Federal High Court from any judicial division in the country would be posted to the court, this was, however, not forthcoming as the posting of a new judge was caught with administrative bottleneck.

National Mirror learnt that when the bureaucratic barrier was solved, the posting of a new judge was still stalled by a new proposal to improve on the existing physical structure of the court by pulling it down with a view to erecting a more grandiose one.

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South East

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

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Failure to serve Bianca court processes stalls trial WALE IGBINTADE

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he inability of the plaintiff to serve court processes on Bianca Ojukwu, the widow of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu, has temporarily stalled a suit filed by Chief Debe Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who claimed to be the first and eldest son of the late Biafran leader.

The claimant had in his suit file before a Lagos High

Court joined Ojukwu Transport Limited, Prof. Joseph Okwuabudike Ojukwu, Engineer Emmanuel Ndubueze Ojukwu, Mrs. Lotanna Ojukwu, Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Mr. Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Mr. Patricia Ojukwu and Mrs. Margret Nwagbo (Nee Ojukwu), as defendants in the suit.

When the suit came up yesterday, counsel to the claimant, Jeff Kadiri, informed the court of an order made by it which directed that a substituted service

be made on Bianca, who is currently serving as the Nigerian Ambassador to Spain.

Kadiri told the court that the order had been complied with, adding that court processes were pasted at Bianca’s residence located at 7, Forest Crescent, GRA, Enugu, Enugu State.

But, the trial judge, Justice Adebayo Oyebanji, expressed reservation that pasting of court processes at Bianca’s residence was not sufficient enough to draw her attention to the suit.

Justice Oyebanji said since Bianca is now an ambassador to Spain, it would be necessary to publish the Motion Papers in national dailies so as to draw her (Bianca’s) attention to it.

Responding, lawyer to the 1st to the 4th, 7th and 8th defendants, Ikechukwu Ubahakwue, told the court that his clients have an application for an extension of time to enable them file their counter affidavit to the said application for interlocutory injunction.

The claimant (Debe Ojukwu) alongside his company, Silver Convention Nigeria Limited had approached the court through an Originating Motion dated October 5, 2012, for a declaration that he, been the first and eldest son of the late Biafran warlord, is entitled to collect his military paraphernalia from the Federal Government of Nigeria, having been accorded full military honours during his burial ceremonies, and also to perform the dust-to-dust burial rites in

his honour as the Igbo law of succession, custom and tradition demands.

The claimant is also seeking a declaration that as the first and eldest son of Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu (deceased) is under the Nigerian law, entitled to manage or lead in the management and control of all the disposable assets and belongings (real and personal properties) owned and possessed by Ojukwu Transport Limited and Dim Odimegwu-Ojukwu (deceased).

Court throws out Assembly’s motion over Agbaso CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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L-R:Igwe Okey Ogbodo; Igwe Romanus Odo and Enugu State Commissioner for Commerce, Dr. Jude Akubuilo, at the Enugu State Day in the ongoing 24th Enugu International Trade Fair, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Army intercepts 453 drums of illegally refined oil NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

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t least two boats loaded with 453 drums of illegally refined petroleum products had been intercepted by soldiers from 14 Field Engineers Regiment, Onitsha deployed to River Niger Creeks for strategic duties.

The products, estimated to be about N16 million, was yesterday handed over to men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Anambra State Command, for thorough investigation and possible ar-

rest of the bunkerers who allegedly abandoned the boats and the products and fled on sighting the soldiers.

Performing the handing over ceremony of the products to the Assistant Commandant of the NSCDC in Anambra State and Head of Intelligence Unit, Eme Ugwuogo, at the bank of River Niger, in Onitsha, Brigadier-General Koko Essien, who represented the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, MajorGeneral Ashimiyu Olaniyi, said since the Federal Government has assigned the

NSCDC to investigate and handle cases of oil bunkering, the army has decided to hand over the matter to the NSCDC. Essien, who is also the Garrison Commander at the 82 Divisional Headquarters, Enugu, recalled that it was in compliance with the Federal Government’s directive that no efforts should be spared in eradicating bunkering in our waterways that the army arrested the boats with the illegal products on March 12, 2013 and guarded it till date when the handing over ceremony was performed.

Papacy not a continental affair –Archbishop NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

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he Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha Archdiocese, Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Valerian Maduka Okeke, has said that the election of a new Pope to replace the out-going one each time the Papacy stool

becomes vacant should not be seen as a continental or racial affair that must be allocated to a particular continent or race.

Archbishop Okeke, who stated this at the weekend in Onitsha while reacting to the rumours making the round that the African continent is disappointed over the emergence of non-African Pope in the

just concluded conclave at the Vatican which saw the emergence of Pope Francis I. He said since the Pope is the universal head of the church, the issue of a particular continent being disappointed does not arise, adding that the church does not belong to a particular continent.

“The church does not belong to Europe or any other

He said that the army formally handed over the products to members of NSCDC whose statutory duty is to arrest bunkerers in the presence of the police and an official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for further investigation and prosecution.

He noted that to avoid environmental pollution, all the relevant agencies like the police, the State Security Services, SSS, and the EFCC and the navy would meet later and decide how to destroy the illegal products.

continent, the church belongs to God and the fact that the Pope came from South America and not Europe shows that God can work with any of his servants and we are all brothers.

“So, neither I as an individual nor Africa as a continent is disappointed about that because the Pope is a Pope for the whole world,” the cleric declared.

high court in Owerri, the Imo State capital, yesterday struck out ex-parte motion brought by the Imo State House of Assembly to stop the court from entertaining the suit by the Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso, to stop the House and other respondents from removing him as the deputy governor of the state.

In the suit; HOW/174/2013, the deputy governor had sought the relief of the court for interim injunction against the chairman and members of Ad-hoc Committee that investigated the contract scam, Speaker, Benjamin Uwajuomugo, Imo State House of Assembly, Chief Judge of the state and Commissioner of Police, from proceeding with the impeachment process pend-

ing the determination of the substantive suit.

The deputy governor through his counsel, Patrick Ikwueto, (SAN), also prayed the court for leave to serve the respondents together with the originating motion through the Clerk of the House, secretary, legal department or advertisement in the national newspaper that circulates in the state.

He also asked the court to act fast to stop the state Chief Judge, Hon. Benjamin Njemanze, from setting up the panel to investigate the case.

Arguing his submission, counsel to the House of Assembly, Niyi Akintola, (SAN), informed the court that he had a motion dated March 18, 2013 filed on the same date on the preliminary objections touching on the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit.

Anambra 2014: Governorship seat not for sale –CPC aspirant TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

A

Lagos-based businessman and Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, governorship aspirant in Anambra State, Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Igwebuike, has said that the governorship position in the 2014 election in the state is not for sale.

Speaking to journalists in Lagos yesterday, Igwebuike said his interest in the gubernatorial race is targeted at repositioning the state.

He also noted that his Ebube Campaign Group is aiming to provide leadership of succour to the generality of Anambra people.

Igwebuike, who hails from Umuomaku in Orumba South Local Government Area of the state, said his

task is to make Anambra State the fastest growing and diversified economy through the creation of a conducive investment climate.

“Our aim is to strengthen and transform governance and values in Anambra State; we will steer all efforts towards ensuring that Anambra State sings a new song,” he said.

Igwebuike also noted that though the governorship election would be highly monetized, the highest bidder will not win.

“No amount of money by any contender will be enough to buy the votes this time in Anambra. The people are smarter now. The matter now in Anambra is collect, chop and vote for the man with integrity.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

LG polls: PDP sues EDSIEC over arbitrary fees SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

T

he Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has taken the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC, to court for charging arbitrary fees for the coming local government elections.

The party is asking an Edo State High Court to compel EDSIEC to refund N100,000 and N50,000 it collected from each of the chairmanship and councillorship candidates as payment for forms to participate in the polls.

The state PDP Chairman, Chief Dan Osi Orbih, disclosed this at Fugar, the

South South

Tuesday, March 19 , 2013

headquarters of Estako Central Local Government at the flag-off of the party’s campaign for the election holding on April 20.

Orbih also expressed reservation over what he called the poor funding of EDSIEC by the state government.

The PDP chairman disclosed that candidates at the last council polls in the state did not pay such money.

He said: “Wednesday last week, we went to the High Court in Benin to file an action demanding that EDSIEC should refund the N100,000 and N50,000 it collected from chairmanship and councillorship candi-

dates.

“We believe that EDSIEC action is unconstitutional and illegal. We are relying seriously on the constitution, Section 106 and 107, which gave no such powers to the commission to demand for such money.

“We are also not satisfied with the funding of EDSIEC by the state government. They should provide the commission enough money to conduct this election and not to be taking money from candidates. The positions are not for sale.”

Orbih expressed satisfaction with the process of PDP candidates’ nomination for the council elec-

tions.

He said contrary to the popular assumption that the party was finished in the state, PDP was firmly on ground.

This, according to him, is justified by the fielding of chairmanship candidates in the 18 councils and councillorship candidates in the 192 wards in the state.

Calling on aggrieved members to return to the party, Orbih said: “Our doors are open. When you are travelling on a road and you get to a junction where there are several roads and you are confused and do not know the way forward, what a reasonable man would do is to go back to the starting point.

“So, I am calling on PDP members who have now seen that they have reached the junction where there is no road to come back to the PDP.”

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Bayelsa plans amnesty for cult members EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

T

he administration of Governor Seriake Dickson said it was working out modalities to grant amnesty to cultists willing to renounce their membership of cult groups in Bayelsa State.

The government said cultists genuinely willing to shun cultism should register their names and offer other relevant information about themselves at the office of the Senior Special Assistant on Civil Society.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary, CPS, to the governor, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the proposed amnesty also applies to cultists in tertiary institutions.

The statement indicated that the registration exercise would last between March 20 and April 5, excluding weekends.

Cult-related activities have generated anxiety among residents of the state capital, Yenagoa, and the Niger Delta University, NDU, Amassoma, as no fewer than 20 youths have been killed in the last three months.

About three weeks ago, a first year student of Delta State University, Abraka, was butchered by

a rival group at AgudamaEpie, Yenagoa.

The victim simply identified as Sunny was said to have visited Yenagoa from school that weekend to collect his feeding allowance from his mother.

The statement issued by the CPS reads in part: “Government is therefore, calling on cult members to take advantage of this window of opportunity created to turn a new leaf and do something meaningful with their lives.

“To demonstrate government’s commitment to this project, His Excellency, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, Governor of Bayelsa State will meet with all repentant cultists at a later date to discuss and arrange for proper security of their lives as well as ways to engage and empower them.

“As part of a genuine plan to carry every dedicated and law-abiding youth along in its new youth empowerment strategy, through training and engagement programmes, the Bayelsa State Government, under the auspices of the office of the Special Adviser on Security and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Civil Society is proposing amnesty for prospective renounced cult members in the state.”

Oil spill: Rivers communities demand compensation CHRIS NEWMAN PORT HARCOURT

Nursing mothers at a polio eradication campaign in Ughelli, Delta State, yesterday.

Edo, UNIBEN square up over landed ‘gift’ SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

A

n Edo State High Court presided over by Justice Esohe Ikponmwen has adjourned hearing to March 22 in the suit filed by the University of Benin against the state government over eviction threat.

The adjournment is to enable counsel to both parties to appropriately exchange pleadings on the issues before the court.

The institution had filed the suit to stop the government from evicting its staff from some landed properties allegedly donated to the university as

a gift some years ago.

They included 18 landed properties located in different parts of the Government Reserved Area, GRA, in Benin, the state capital, which were allegedly given to the institution in 1974 by the military administration of the then BrigadierGeneral Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia after the establishment of the Mid-West Institute of Technology in 1970 before it transformed into the University of Benin and taken over by the Federal Government.

UNIBEN claimed in its affidavit that “since the inception of the current administration of Edo State Government under the

leadership of Comrade Aliyu Adams Oshiomhole, the university has been faced with numerous threats of dispossessing the institution off the properties earlier offered as a gift.”

When the matter came up for hearing in the court with a motion on notice, Ikponmwen rejected the injunction UNIBEN sought before advising both parties to maintain the status quo ante.

She added that the motion on notice by the claimants should be kept in abeyance even as the court would concentrate on accelerated hearing of the suit.

Chief Kolawole Okeaya-

Inneh (SAN) led UNIBEN argument while Mr. Omoruyi Omonuwa (SAN) represented Edo State Government.

“There is no need to dissipate energy on the motion of interlocutory injunction. Both parties should exchange pleadings within three days on the issues for determination,” the judge held.

It was learnt that the government’s threat of ejection was based on the discovery that some of the landed properties in question were being rented illegally to the public at high fees contrary to the claims by the university management.

C

ommunities in Rivers State have called on Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SDPC, to facilitate the immediate clean-up of all the oil spillages caused during its operations in several communities in Bukuma in Degema Local Government.

Mr. Godukoye Natebou and Mac Donald Theophilus, both from Okparanta satellite community in Bukuma, made the call in Port Harcourt during an interactive session with journalists.

The representatives of Okparanta accused SDPC of being responsible for oil spillages which erupted from its 10 oil wells in the area that consequently led to the pollution of their fish ponds and damage of their farm lands since last year.

They wondered why the company has remained silent on the spillage.

Natebou and Theophilus said the company’s refusal to clean up the spillages made them to channel their grievances through the Human Right Social Development and Environmental Foundation, HURSDEF, to demand for adequate compensation.

When contacted, the Managing Director of HURSDEF, Mr. Justine Ijeoma, admitted he was aware of the problem.

Ijeoma disclosed that he had already sent letters to Shell demanding immediate compensation of the people whose means of livelihood had been destroyed.

He also said HURSDEF had called on SPDC to immediate clean up the entire community.

Ijeoma, however, said Shell had refused to respond to the letters.

12

North

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Again, two people killed in Kwara communal crisis •Two policemen, others injured WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

F

ighting continued yesterday at Ganmo in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Two more people were confirmed dead in the violence by the police.

At the press time yesterday, the police said that six other people, including two policemen were critically injured in the violence.

The policemen were reported stabbed in the belly.

Seven houses were also razed and 15 people arrested in connection with the incident.

Many residents fled as sporadic shooting of local guns rented the air. Commuters and vehicles were diverted to the bush to avoid being hit by stray bullets.

The violence also paralysed commercial and social activities in the community.

Meanwhile, police said later in the afternoon that they had mobilised a special squad, led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, to re-

store normalcy to the troubled community.

It will be recalled violence broken out on Saturday in Ganmo following an age long dispute over the traditional rulership of the town.

The traditional rulership had become a bone of contention between Ilorin aborigines, who described themselves as the descendants of Laderin, the son of the legendary Afonja and the Igbomina settlers, who claimed the ownership of the town.

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Renovation of Ilorin General Hospital ends soon –Ahmed WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

T Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed

Two policemen were allegedly killed on Sunday when the fierce fight became bloody. Many people were also injured in the violence.

he Kwara State Government yesterday assured that the ongoing renovation of the former Teaching Hospital to accommodate Ilorin General Hospital would be completed soon.

The state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, gave the assurance while answering questions from journalists after inspecting the project.

Governor Ahmed said that the rehabilitation and the remodeling of the Ilorin General Hospital would be completed soon to boost access to robust healthcare services.

He also inspected the Mandate Water Booster Station, Michael ImouduOffa Garage-Ganmo Dual Carriage Way Street light in Ilorin and the Afon-Eiy-

enkorin Road in Asa Local Government Area.

Ahmed said the rehabilitation and the remodelling of Ilorin General Hospital was critical to his administration’s policy thrust of 500 metre accessibility to quality healthcare, adding that the hospital would also serve a cluster of primary health care centres in the area.

The governor assured that when completed, the General Hospital would metamorphose into the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital.

“When the Kwara State University requires to have a teaching hospital, we are going to set up a fresh teaching hospital. Don’t forget that we must have a General Hospital. By the time we end up converting the General Hospital to a teaching hospital, we will have to build another General Hospital.

Why Nigeria is underdeveloped –Minister PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

M L-R: Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, his Bauchi State counterpart, Mallam Isa Yuguda and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, at the North-East PDP reconciliation meeting held in Bauchi, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Tukur assures aggrieved PDP members of fairness EZEKIEL TITUS BAUCHI

T

he National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has assured aggrieved members in the North-East of fairness, equity and justice.

Alhaji Tukur appealed to the aggrieved members to reconcile their difference as a demonstration of collective effort to achieve success in the 2015 general elections.

He spoke yesterday at a reconciliation meeting attended by the PDP chieftains from Taraba, Gombe, Yobe and Borno states in Bauchi.

Tukur urged them to always shun decision to engage one another in open confrontation.

He said rancor among members would not do the

•Party impoverishes Nigerians –ACN party any good.

According the chairman, his decision to embark on tour of the country is to reconcile aggrieved members and assured them that the party leadership would meet their interests.

Tukur also urged the PDP members to support effort by President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to provide good governance for Nigerians.

The chairman added that PDP at all levels had been consolidating on democratic dividends to people across the country.

He said that the PDPled Federal Government had achieved remarkably in the provision of good governance for Nigerians.

Tukur said the party would continue to meet

the aspirations of the people irrespective of their tribes.

He then called on Nigerians to continue to support President Jonathan’s administration for the implementation of its people-oriented policies and the party’s manifestos.

In their separate remarks, Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda and his Gombe State counterpart, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo, advised PDP stakeholders to shun their difference and embrace peace as one of the measures to achieve success in the 2015 general elections.

According to them, Tukur had provided opportunity for the aggrieved members to express their views.

They described the op-

portunity as a demonstration to carry everybody along.

But the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Bauchi State described the Tukur visit as a ruse, saying the PDP-led Federal Government had robbed Nigerians of their mandate, hence it failure to provide governance for them.

ACN spokesman in Bauchi State, Alhaji NAsiru Darazo, told journalists that the Tukur visit was a ruse to deceive Nigerians.

Darazo said that the PDP-led Federal Government had succeeded in creating permanent poverty and insecurity in Nigeria with empty promises to protect lives and property of the citizens.

inister of National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, has blamed Nigerian underdevelopment on corruption and indiscipline among public officials.

Usman said the two problems weakened the nation’s economic and political foundation.

Presenting a paper entitled: “Tackling corruption and indiscipline and disregard for rules and regulations in Nigeria” in Minna, the Niger State capital, the minister said: “These key issues have prevented the country from translating its economic gains into social profit to the people.

“Corruption and indiscipline have stopped us from leaving a befitting economic and moral legacy for posterity and weaken the economic and political foundation on which this country was built. They are the Achellis heels of Nigeria’s developmental process."

He, however, investors’ confidence in Nigeria had improved as the World Investment Report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) ranked the country as the first destination for Foreign Direct

Investment (FDI) in Africa with $ 8.92 billion investments in 2011.

According to him, the UNCTAD report on FDI of 2012 showed that Nigeria outranked South Africa that attracted $5.81 billion, followed by Ghana at $ 3.22 billion worth of investments.

The minister added that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) report also revealed that Nigeria’s global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ranking had improved from number 44 in 2009 to 39 in 2011, saying that if the nation continues on this path, its aspiration of being among the 20 top economies in the world would be achieved by the year 2020.

Usman said: “We are one of the fastest growing economies in the world and the second largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the last five years, Nigeria has experienced impressive rapid GDP growth rates, with average of 7.5 per cent."

Usman

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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

SUPER TUESDAY

13

Politics I remain loyal to PDP, Amaechi tells Tukur

Nigerian governors are richer than their states –Bakare

14&15

43

Jonathan’s messy state pardon

I

n the last one week, President Goodluck Jonathan has been in the eye of the storm. His right to exercise prerogative of mercy has been called to question. Not that he had acted in breach of the constitution but his decision to grant state pardon to some high profile former convicts has put a taint on his administration, especially the commitment to the fight corruption.

The President had on Tuesday, last week, during the National Council of State (NCS) meeting granted state pardon to two categories of convicted Nigerians – those convicted for their role in coup d’état and others convicted for economic crimes.

The administration of Goodluck Jonathan has come under severe criticism over state pardon granted to some high profile former convicts. Of the 10 beneficiaries of the prerogative of mercy, that of former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, convicted for economic crimes, has been hotly contested.

AYODELE OJO reports on the action which the Presidency has rose stoutly to defend.

The beneficiaries As at now, the Presidency has not made official the list of beneficiaries of the state pardon. But 10 convicted Nigerians, who had served their terms, were said to have benefited from the action. They are: Former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; former Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, late Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua; former Chief of General Staff, Lt. General Oladipo Diya; late Major-General Abdulkareem Adisa; former Minister of Communications, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju; Major Segun Fadipe; Major Bello Magaji; Mohammed Lima Biu; former Managing Director of the defunct Bank of the North, Shettima Bulama; and Dr. Chiichii Ashwe.

Constitutional backing The prerogative of mercy as exercised by the President is backed by the nation’s constitution. This is why critics have not questioned the legality of the action.

President Jonathan in consonance with the NCS relied on Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution to grant the former convicted personalities state pardon.

Section 175 says: (1) “The President may(a) grant any person concerned with or convicted of any offence created by an Act of the National Assembly a pardon, either free or subject to lawful conditions; (b) grant to any person a respite, either for an indefinite or for a specified period, of the execution of any punishment imposed on that person for such an offence; (c) substitute a less severe form of punishment for any punishment imposed on that person for such an offence; or (d) remit the whole or any part of any punishment imposed on that person for such an offence or of any penalty or forfeiture otherwise due to the State on account of such an offence.

(2)The powers of the President under subsection (1) of this section shall be exercised by him after consultation with the Council of State.

(3) The President, acting in accordance

Jonathan

TOP STORY with the advice of the Council of State, may exercise his powers under subsection(1) of this section in relation to persons concerned with offences against the Army, Naval or Air Force law or convicted or sentenced by a court-martial.”

Pardon or clemency Already, there is confusion over the state pardon granted to some of the ex-convicts.

Some of those pardoned have been granted clemency by the government of General Abdulsalami Abubakar since March 1999.

Abdulsalami, the then military Head of State, had in the “Supplement To The Official Gazette Extraordinary No 33, Vol. 86” published on May 26, 1999, granted the late Yar’Adua, Diya, Adisa, Olanrewaju, Col. Lawan Gwadabe, Col. Y. Bako, Chris Anyanwu, Mr. Niran Malaolu and others clemency for their involvement in a phantom coup.

The proponents said there is a difference between pardon and clemency. They stated that what some of them got was mere clemency; an act of mercy or lenience.

Pardon is “a cancellation of legal consequences of an offence or conviction.”

By implication, Diya and other military officers are free to revert to their ranks.

Some of the beneficiaries of the pardon

Alamieyeseigha

THE DISINGENUOUS ATTEMPT TO LUMP THE PARDONING OF CROOKS WITH PHANTOM COUP CONVICTS IS A VENEER FOR OUR COLLAPSED MORAL WALLS UNDER AN UNETHICAL PRESIDENCY had been recommended for such in the past. It was learnt that the Federal Government had in a memo dated June 23, 2009 recommended to the Council of State amnesty for Adisa, Olarewaju, Col. Lawan Gwadabe and 41 other military officers.

Also recommended for pardon were Chris Anyanwu (now a senator), the late Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, the late Bagauda Kalto (a journalist), former special adviser to the Chief of General Staff, Prof. Femi Odekunle, an activist, Comrade Shehu Sani and two State Security Service (SSS) operatives, Anthony Awoloyi and Julius Badejo.

Alams’ sins Of all the eight ex-convicts granted the pardon, that of the former governor of Bayelsa State, Alamieyeseigha has generated so much controversy. Critics see his

pardon and that of Bulama as a death blow to the fight against corruption.

Alamieyeseigha was arrested at the Heathrow Airport in London on charges of money laundering in September 2005.

Upon his arrest, the Metropolitan Police found about £1 million cash in his London home. Subsequently, he was detained. At the end of investigation, £1.8 million was found in cash and bank accounts. He allegedly made so much investment in real estate worth over £10 million. He was granted bail, but he later jumped the bail in December 2005 and fled Britain to Nigeria. There were reports that he disguised as a woman to evade arrest in Britain.

Faced with international embarrassment, the Federal Government instigated his impeachment and Dr. Jonathan, then deputy governor and now president, became the governor. Alamieyeseigha was subsequently arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and charges of corruption were pressed against him. On July 26, 2007, he pleaded guilty to six-count charges. He was sentenced to two years in prison. But on July 27, 2007, few hours after he was taken to prison, he was released because he had spent a large part of the term in EFCC’s detention.

In 2009, the Federal Government disposed four properties acquired by Alamieyeseigha in London. Also, between 2011 and 2012, over $1 million asset was forfeited by the former governor to the United States (US) Department of Justice (DoJ).

Today, Alamieyeseigha is a free man, in Nigeria. If he is tempted to travel abroad, he stands the risk of being arrested to face his trial in Britain.

Bulama as the Managing Director of Bank of the North was docked for N683 million fraud. He spent some time in the EFCC custody.

The politics Analysts believe that the state pardon was political. They opined that the coupists were brought into the picture to give credibility to the process. It was learnt that the whole process was meant for the former governor, who was Jonathan’s principal as Bayelsa helmsman when the President was his deputy. Alamieyeseigha is planning to return to the political limelight. He is contesting for the Senate in 2015 elections and he needed the state pardon to achieve his goal.

Diplomatic row In the diplomatic circle, the state pardon granted the ex-convicts is already generating row.

The United States of America (USA) CONTINUED ON PAGE 41

14

Politics

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

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Nigerian governors are richer Says, ‘APC would succeed only if…’

Pastor Tunde Bakare was the vice presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 2011 elections. The presiding pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly and the convener of the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) speaks on the merger of opposition parties, the Goodluck Jonathan administration, corruption and other national issues in this interview with AYODELE OJO. Excerpts: I went through a book, Accidental Public Servant written by Nasir El-rufai which you wrote the foreword; what actually struck you in the book?

The reason why Nigeria has been in the woods up till now is what struck me; that we have so many quack doctors, trying to fix the nation’s health. They are only there for themselves; with very little regards for the rest of us. If your doctor is quack; you don’t get well. Because of your condition, he will take advantage of your trust in him to enrich himself at the expense of your health. So, whether you get well or not is not their business as far as they make their money. Nigeria’s leaders hate the people of this nation.

Are you not surprised with the conduct of the leaders going by the revelations in the book?

It doesn’t come as a surprise because we have to figure out who they are from the beginning; many of them have been like that from independence till now, only fewer exceptions could be called statesmen or those who truly set out for service and not for self.

But how do you see the denials; those who came out to say what El Rufai wrote were fictions?

If you want to do justice, attack the issues in the book; issues were raised and such issues were being highlighted. It is a good development. The denial means nothing; anybody can deny. When you put a hardened criminal in the duck and ask him if he is guilty or not guilty, the first thing he/she will tell you is not guilty because he/she is an accused person; according to our law until the contrary is proved.

If Atiku is not guilty, he will have the opportunity now to address the issue raised not what El Rufai said before the Senate or what he didn’t say before the Senate; that is not the issue. He listed areas that proved to him that the man is corrupt; let him now bring out facts and figures on what it is not.

The denial means nothing.

Former US President Bill Clinton was in the country recently, and he spoke about poverty fueling insecurity and that Nigeria lacks good leadership which was responsible for the frittering away of the nation’s resources. What is your take on this?

Clinton can fly in and fly out of Nigeria, but don’t we know these things ourselves.

And do we have to wait for the opinion of Clinton to know what to do with the deep poverty in the country. He cannot diagnose the problem of Nigeria more than us and he should not cry more than the bereaved. We know the situation ourselves

more than Clinton. The South is poor, the North is poor, all the geographical zones, you find extreme poverty with exception of Abuja, because Abuja doesn’t produce but consumes everything that comes into the country. It was not Clinton that told us to go out to street, to protest when the need arose or in January 2012 when we went out to protest against government’s bad policy. I respect Clinton as United States of America’s statesman. The truth is that the leadership of this country hates the people. That was the language of the Bible; that those who rule over you hate you.

Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, a former Education Minister, recently accused the government of spending the reserves…

Rather the present Federal Government is planning to use ICPC to harass her, to look at her records when she was the Minister of Education. I wish them well if they will find anything against the woman; they can’t. Rather than facing the issue, they are distracting in different area to deal with side issues.

Why is that when Nigerians come out with fact and figures about how the system is been run, government always send the anti- corruption agencies after them?

They continue to do that in order to silence those that they know have skeleton in their cupboards, as I am speaking; others are speaking, why have they not sent their agencies against us? I have never had anything to do with the government of this country, not even a contract. They only do that to harass them to keep quite. And indeed, those who live in glass houses do not throw stones, but if you have nothing to fear, you face them head on.

How do you see the stealing of the pension funds and the trial of the accused?

I don’t want to get angry over all these things. It is a betrayal, because the years of labour of others rather being rewarded and compensated in their time of need after their retirement, they are now being deprived of their rights and entitlements. In Nigeria, if you steal small you have yourself blamed, but if you steal big time, you join the league of big fish. That is what is happening in our country. There is no serious trial, but mockery and I don’t believe anything will come out of it.

What about a man accused of stealing

Bakare

billions of pension fund being given N750, 000 as fine?

What did they do to Mrs. Cecilia Ibru?

Her assets were saized.

And then, she has nothing to live on any more? Look, if I come to your public treasures, steal N40 billion and paid N20 billion back and you say I should go home, I will go and retire on the N20 billion balance. All of them that were sentenced for imprisonment term spent it in five-star hospitals. I say, there is no justice in this country.

Is this how it will continue?

Well, I am not sure; that depends on Nigerians, because it doesn’t look like Nigerians want to do something about it and those who are benefiting from it still want the show to continue. But there is a God who has purpose for this nation, a time is coming, when the oppressed cannot take it anymore; they will be able to stand up and say enough is enough.

At a time Nigerians are complaining about immunity clause for some public office holders, the House of Representatives is seeking immunity for its members. What do you think of this?

The immunity clause in our constitution is to enable public servants to serve without undue harassment but I remember during the election, we did say that one of the things we will look into is immunity clause.

IF THE MERGER IS BEING PUT TOGETHER FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NATION AND

OUR PEOPLE, MAY GOD LET IT SUCCEED, BUT IF IS TO CONTINUE THIS FOOLISH,

CRAZY, GREEDY

AGGRANDIZEMENT,

GOD WILL OVERTURN IT He who comes to equity must come with clear hands. The immunity clause should be expunged from the constitution because it is allowing rogues to steal for eight years, before we have opportunity to hold them accountable, although nobody is holding anybody accountable in Nigeria anyway.

The 2015 elections are two years away.

Are you contemplating participating in active politics again?

I don’t pray we continue like this till 2015. My prayer is that there should be deliverance before that time, because if we continue like this, then there will be self-

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Politics

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

than their states –Bakare fulfilling of the prophecy of disintegration.

Are you talking about change of government or revolution?

Whatever it is, this madness must not continue.

So, you are not sure if you will participate in the 2015 elections?

With who? The collection of rogues, right, left and central?

GOVERNORS ARE FAR RICHER THAN THEIR

STATES, BECAUSE THEY ARE LOOTING THEIR STATES DRY

Even with the progressives?

Who are the progressives in Nigeria; mention their names? Are you persuaded that they are progressives, progressive where, taking you where?

The progressives who formed the All Progressive Congress (APC).

If the devil becomes a pastor, Nigerians will attend his church, because they don’t know the true church and they cannot distinguish it from the synagogue of satan.

Some of these governors are far richer than their states, because they are looting their states dry. I read in the newspaper that former of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu do not own Oriental Hotel, Shoprite and others. Who is interested in this in a decent society? Something is wrong; do they say Obafemi Awolowo owns the Cocoa House in Ibadan? Has anybody alleged that? Do they say that his wife owns the Premier Hotel in Ibadan? The reason why you have to deny this is that your hands are not clean.

In the build up to the 2011 presidential election, there were reports that the leaders of the ACN gave a condition to back General Buhari; that you should write your resignation letter as vice president even before the election. Would you now be comfortable with the same group of people in the merger arrangement?

My dear friend, anybody can ask you to do anything they considered in their own best interest and it is left for you to see whether it is in your own interest. It is true they asked me to sign a letter resigning the post of vice presidential candidate of CPC and Vice President of Nigeria. And I prepared my own letter and I said to General Buhari and the CPC, if you don’t want me to be your candidate any more, you are free any time. But I am not going to resign as Vice President of Nigeria, because I have not occupied that office. And they said that is what they want. I said, look this man will not bend his rule; I don’t want to join the perjurers who are no longer electable in Nigeria but want to destroy the opportunity of other people.

Sitting on the table with these people means nothing to me. I am not part of the merger committee. If the merger is being put together for the development of our nation and our people, may God let it succeed, but if is to continue this foolish, crazy, greedy aggrandizement, God will overturn it. If merger has been put together by good people, it will deepen our democracy, at least we will develop a two-party system in Nigeria. But I don’t see the difference between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors and the so-called progressive governors. You can ask question how much is the kilometers of road awarded

as contract in Oyo State and who is doing the road. It is not Bayelsa where you will say there is too much water there. Where are the progressive governors? These ones who are fruitful and everyone wants to buy his own private jet once he is out of office, how much were they worth before they came into power? And how do they come by their massive wealth now that they are bragging all around?

I desire to see in my life time, a nation that works and I pray that God will give grace and opportunity to people who can make it work. I am not saying if a person like me is not there it won’t work. There are thousand others who are better than I am in this country, God will bring those ones into power.

Do you think Nigerians are prepared for a change?

It depends on what change we are thinking about. We can change for the worse. We are miles away. We are dancing into the lagoon and into the woods everyday. The blind is leading the seeing in Nigeria. But why will the seeing allow the blind to lead them? The moment they get there they change. Even you now interviewing me, the moment they make you a Commissioner for Information, it is an opportunity for enjoyment. All the things you have written against me you will change. Ask Reuben Abati. Men have lost their honour because of temporary power. Must you sell your birthright because of a pot of porridge?

General Buhari recently foreclosed INEC under Attahiru Jega, conducting free and fair elections in 2015. Do you share the same sentiment?

Has Jega conducted a credible election?

INEC had always been in the pocket of the sitting president.

But a time is coming when people will say enough is enough. Mubarak was in power for more than 30 years in Egypt. He did not envisage that one day they would

carry him on a stretcher to the court.

Muammar Gaddafi thought he had conquered Libya and the rest of Africa was his next agenda. They found him inside a water tunnel where they shot him. You have seen what happened to the Tunisian president when the citizens decided to say enough is enough. Anything will happen any moment from now that will let these people say it’s over. Unfortunately they cannot see the handwriting on the wall.

After the 2011 post-election violence, the Federal Government constituted a panel on the crisis. The panel had submitted its report, but nothing has been done on it.

Because they were targeting Buhari, Bakare and CPC, that was why the panel was constituted. They had to bury the report in shame because they didn’t find anything that indicted us. The people who reacted to the daylight robbery after the election were not CPC. They were poor people who were angry and that was the only way they could vehemently release their anger. It was not good, we didn’t support it but you don’t expect anything good to come out of that panel other than they have been truthful and the government cannot publish it because of shame. Let them publish it and take action. I have never sponsored violence in my life and I won’t because vengeance has no foresight. That was why we went to court to ensure that nobody takes the law into his own hand.

But you couldn’t get justice in the court.

The Nigerian judiciary is compromised.

Justice Ayo Salami tried to do what sounds like justice but was immediately removed.

His tribunal quickly packed up and the next panel said they were not bound by the order made by his court. And they didn’t allow us to bring the ballot papers to the court for forensic investigation because they said there would be breach of security. Those who did these things in the past, we knew where they ended up. So, let them keep on dancing to the same tune. They will end up the same way.

You once led Nigerians to protest in Abuja that Jonathan should be made the acting president. Are you satisfied with what his government is doing?

I didn’t go to Abuja to make Jonathan acting president or president. We went to Abuja collectively to uphold constitutionality and we will do it again if a goat is there. You are to blame yourself for allowing a goat to sit on the seat of the president not the constitutionality; what we went to Abuja to do was to uphold constitutionality, it does not matter who the president had been. And as for his government, at the appropriate time SNG went to meet him and we exposed, gave him a mirror-image of his government; what it was all about and we were saying goodbye and he thought we could be bought. He was trying to bribe us with $50,000. Shame!

The Sultan of Sokoto requested that amnesty should be granted Boko Haram but the President had turned down the request.

Now foreign hostages had been killed by another sect. What is the way forward?

15

It is unfortunate, the killing of anyone not just the foreigners, the killing of citizens of our country regardless of any their religion. What Boko Haram is doing is evil.

The environment is conducive to it, that is why it continued. Now that the seven expatriates have been killed, the nations where they came from; Greece, Britain etc, they have all spoken that they are going to track those people to their roots. But the Nigerian president has said nothing because he knows who and who are behind Boko Haram. I don’t know what he is afraid of.

He had publicly said Boko Haram is in his cabinet. We should hold Jonathan responsible for Boko Haram. He should expose them or deal with them. If Mr. President will be forthright since he said he knew them, we challenge him to mention their names. But he has not done that till now.

He couldn’t expose them because he who pays the piper dictates the tune. He should expose them. Boko Haram should not be allowed to harass us as citizens and to take laws into their hands.

Who is safe in this country with the killing of a police commissioner?

Nobody. When Dimka killed Gen. Muritala Muhammed, Chief Obafemi Awolowo made a statement few days after. He said the society where the dog can kill the lion, nobody is saved. That is where we have found ourselves.

During the deliberation of the PIB, there was a revelation that 83 per cent of the oil blocs were owned by Northerners.

How do you see the development?

I have not seen the document. I have learnt to take with a pinch of salt whatever this Senate says because they are supposed to be there to be making laws and when they see such inequalities are there laws to regulate that sector? Those 83 per cent who gave the allocation to the people? Did they go there to hijack it by themselves? Are they holding it for people in power? Is it for them? Those are the questions intelligent people should ask? How many things have they uncovered that nothing came out of it? Before you finish, there will be another sting operation and lives of millions of people wasted on daily basis. They know how to do sting operations. You can see the sting operation they are doing in respect of the merger now. They have gone to register APC and they could backdate because they are in power thinking that the rest of us cannot think. They tried to do that for us also. They registered SNG to say that they were registered before us or that the name should not be used by us. We are waiting for them in court. But remember, everyday is for the thief, one day is for the owner.”

The day they will be caught, they will vomit all.

So what is your advice for Nigerians?

Let Nigerians take their destiny in their hands and insist and demand on good governance and hold this government accountable or make the country ungovernable until they do so. They should take their destiny in their hands and demand for good governance once and for all, if CONTINUED ON PAGE 43

16

Politics

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

The fury of a governor in council chambers

ASO ROCK FILE with

Rotimi FADEYI

FG raises hope on FESTAC phase II project F or those who live in Lagos and even outside the city, FESTAC Town has become so popular than some other areas that even existed before it.

The place was named after the hosting of the Festival of Arts and Culture tagged “FESTAC 77”.

The decision to build FESTAC Town was taken soon after the festival in order to serve as a remembrance of the event, but that was only Phase 1 while the other phase of the project was put on hold.

But the Federal Government last week approved the concession of the FESTAC Estate phase II in Lagos State from which about N25.7 billion is expected to come into the coffers of government.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku disclosed that the project which would come under Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement would be concessioned to a new FESTAC property development company which would be working with four other companies.

According to him, the area involved is 1,126 hectares, which is the remaining area out of the 2000 hectares acquired by the Federal Government for the Phase I of FESTAC town.

He noted that because of paucity of funds, only a portion was developed and the remaining was abandoned, a situation which prompted the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development to take the initiative to develop the phase II

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through the PPP arrangement.

Maku also stated that when the 1,126 hectares of land is completely reclaimed and sand filled because of the swampy nature of the area, it would create at least 7,000 plots of land.

Speaking further on the project, Minister of Housing, Land and Urban Development, Ama Pepple, stated that the government expect that in addition to the N25.7 billion that would accrue over 30 year period, the government is also expecting about N150 million in ground rent within a year.

Presidential Villa’s visitors 1.

Former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon

2.

Former President Shehu Shagari

3.

Former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan

4.

President and CEO, Corporate Council on Africa, Mr Steve Hayes

5.

Executive Vice President of the overseas Private Investment Corporation, Ms Mimi Alemayehou

6.

US Ambassador to Nigeria, Terrence Mc Culley

7.

Nigeria Ambassador to US, Prof. Ade Adefuye

8.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole

9.

Governor Ibikunle Amosu

10.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko

11.

Governor Murtala Nyako

12.

President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor

B

efore he was elected as governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who is now serving his second term was a labour union activist while the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Muhammed Bello Adoke (SAN) is used to canvassing argument in court before a judge, so the two men understand the power of words.

By virtue of his office as the Attorney General, Adoke is the Chief Law Officer of the country and therefore constitutionally empowered to prosecute criminal cases on behalf of the government.

Since the murder of his Principal Private Secretary, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, on May 4 last year in the heat of his election campaign for a second term in office, Oshiomhole has found it difficult to believe that people could decide to kill Oyerinde because of differences in political beliefs.

He had therefore become passionate about finding the killers of his aide.

So, last week when Adoke mentioned the case involving the murder of Oyerinde in a manner that was considered not appropriate by Oshiomhole, tempers rose and the issue sparked disagreement and hot exchange of words which nearly degenerated into a fight.

This incident took place at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa where

the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the National Council of State (NCS) meet to take decisions for the country. In fact, it was shortly after the commencement of the NCS meeting which was presided over

by President Goodluck Jonathan.

While explaining the cause of the verbal exchange, the governor said that the issue was that Adoke said his Attorney General should have known what to do about the case of the murder of Oyerinde and that he (Adoke) had nothing to do with the matter.

Oshiomhole further said that it was the Deputy Inspector General of Police that referred the matter to Adoke and not the Attorney General of Edo State.

He stated that by virtue of his office as governor, the Attorney General need to give his office the respect it deserves.

The governor said that he was trying his best to unravel the mystery behind the murder of Oyerinde and would not want any person to trivialise the issue or joke about it.

But Adoke has said that he never trivialised Oshiomhole’s office and would not disregard the office of the governor.

“I will not disregard his office, he is my personal friend; I have the highest respect for him. He is a governor of this country but I will not join issues with him,” the Attorney General said.

Fresh assurance for foreign investors

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has assured the international community that his administration would continue to do everything possible to enhance the security of lives and investments in the country.

Speaking to an audience with a 45-member trade delegation from the United States, Jonathan reaffirmed that the Federal Government was working very hard to overcome Nigeria’s current security challenges, saying that an intensive effort was underway to curb terrorism and other criminal acts such as kidnapping and hostage taking.

The President also assured the delegation which was led by the President and CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa, Mr. Steve Hayes and the Executive Vice President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Ms. Mimi Alemayehou that his administration would continue to empower the private sector to serve as the main drivers of the Federal Government’s agenda for national economic growth and development.

Jonathan told the company executives on the delegation with interests in aviation, power, food processing, ICT, construction, housing, textiles, infrastructure and finance that they should be very confident of the safety of their present and future invest-

ments in Nigeria as the country has one of the most liberal legal regimes for the movement of capital and profits.

In his own remarks, Hayes commended Jonathan for his efforts to promote greater trade and economic cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.

He assured the President that the Corporate Council on Africa and its members recognise a Nigeria’s immense economic potential and would do their best to support his agenda for national transformation.

United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Terrence McCulley, and Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Prof. Ade Adefuye disclosed that the team is interested in investing in infrastructure, rail and other means of transportation, ICT, housing and water resources.

Specifically, McCulley noted that Nigeria need to diversify its economy from a mono product of oil and gas to other areas like agriculture.

“I think that there are opportunities in entertainment, ICT and that is why this delegation has come; that was why the energy delegations came last year. We are hoping to follow on later this year with a delegation in the health sector. I think there are enormous opportunities in this very important market,” McCulley said.

L-R: Attorney General of the Federation, Muhammed Bello Adoke; Senate President David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon and former President Shehu Shagari at the Council of State meeting at the State House.

Governors and religious discrimination

N

igeria is a secular nation where everyone is constitutionally free to practice his or her religious belief but this has now become a tool for discrimination in sponsorship of pilgrims to the holy land.

Discrimination based on the issue of religious beliefs has not been very pronounced until the report of the 2012 Christian Pilgrimage to President Goodluck Jonathan last week where it was discovered that seven state governments in the North declined last year to sponsor pilgrims to Israel because of their religious belief.

The states that did not sponsor Christian pilgrims, according to the report, are Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara and Gombe Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, who led the Federal Government Delegation to the 2012 Christian pilgrimage, said although 16,372 Nigerians participated, some state governments in the North did not sponsor any pilgrim for the yearly exercise.

But Jonathan has promised to engage

in discussion with the state governors who were mentioned in the report to have declined to sponsor Christian pilgrims as the Federal Government cannot force any state government to sponsor pilgrims if they do not want to do so.

“Government cannot force state governments to sponsor pilgrims if they don’t want to do so. If they decide to pull out from sponsoring pilgrims, there is nothing we can do. But if some state governments are sponsoring pilgrims of one religion and leaving out the other that is against the law. Nigeria is a secular state and so nobody should be discriminated against based on religious belief,” Jonathan said.

The president promised to participate in the 2013 pilgrimage, saying he would use the opportunity to ensure the signing of Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with the State of Israel.

MORE POLITICS STORIES ON PAGES 41-43

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Views

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

17

Nigerian professionals and national renewal THE CRITICAL ISSUE

J.K. RANDLE

IS NOT NECESSARILY

T

he topic you have chosen for me is quite a mouthful. Anyway, I have little reason to protest except that the topic is almost the same as the topic then Major General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, Chief of Army Staff, chose for me at the Chief of Army Staff Conference in 1985 in Minna, Niger State. I was somewhat surprised that only two other civilians had been invited – Professor Elaigu from the Military Academy and Chief M.K.O. Abiola. If my memory serves me right, the top brass of the army were in attendance as I delivered my address.

Subsequent events showed that the conference was a smokescreen for a deadly adventure: putting the finishing touches to a coup d’état! On 27th August, 1985 they struck. By 7 pm Brigadier Joshua Dogoyaro, who was at the Minna conference, announced General Babangida as the new Head of State.

Anyway, within two days of being in power, Major-General Babangida invited me to a one-on-one meeting at Dodan Barracks where he asked me to be part of his government. However, as I had no intention of aborting my professional career, I did not even bother to send him my CV. I did, however, serve on the “Economic Team” with Chief Ernest Shonekan as the chairman.

Our reports went through Major-General Aliyu Gusau (National Security Adviser) directly to the Head of State. In the early months of the administration the re-

WHETHER OR NOT WE JOIN THE

POLITICIANS. RATHER, IT IS WHETHER OUR POLITICAL ANTENNAE ARE PRIMED TO FACE THE RIGHT DIRECTION sponse of the Head of State to our reports was very prompt and demonstrated clearly that our advice was highly valued. However, as time went on, General Babangida began to rely less and less on our advice.

Inevitably, negative factors (perhaps out of envy or resentment) crept in to the detriment of our “independent professional advice” on a wide range of economic, financial and social matters.

One of the sticky issues we had to deal with was the proposed devaluation of the Naira. Both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had delivered a purely professional assessment and had concluded that the Naira was overvalued and should be adjusted from N3 to U.S.$1 or N5 to U.S.$1 otherwise Nigeria’s foreign exchange would hemorrhage . My recollection is that the World Bank and IMF did not seek to impose any decision on Nigeria. It was “a purely technical issue”. Hence, it was the prerogative of Ni-

geria to make whatever decision it considered appropriate.

Our committee felt that the merit of the World Bank /IMF assessment was technically unassailable, but would almost certainly incur the wrath of the Nigerian press, which was very powerful and remains vibrant and powerful. In any case, the power and relevance of our committee had declined considerably once the IBB government had found its feet. Unfortunately, Babangida tried to have it both ways by throwing the debate wide open.

Inevitably, what was a very sensitive and highly technical issue degenerated into political grandstanding and vicious politicking. I believe that the nationwide debate featured Alhaji Abdulmohammed, Managing Director of Nigerian Industrial Development Bank versus Dr. Ibrahim Ayagi, Managing Director of Chase Merchant Bank. It was clear that the government had shot itself in the foot and walked straight into an ambush. Eventually, General Babangida made a national broadcast to the effect that “the government had decided to seek home-grown solutions. It would accept the World Bank /IMF recommendations, but not the conditionalities.” This was to put matters politely, pure gobble speak.

Ironically, history repeated itself recently as we all witnessed the management (or mismanagement) of the fuel subsidy debate which caused huge controversy, anguish and nearly toppled the government of President Goodluck Jonathan last year.

The critical lesson for us as profes-

sionals is to be sufficiently humble to understand, appreciate and acknowledge that there is a huge world of difference between professional judgment and the shifting quicksand/volatility of the political minefield. Conversely, it could well be that we as professionals are miles ahead (or behind) the politicians. Either way, we need a reality check every now and again. The critical issue is not necessarily whether or not we join the politicians. Rather, it is whether our political antennae are primed to face the right direction. Worst of all is to surrender to the doctrine of if you cannot beat them, join them in the frenzy of looting of the treasury.

We also need to redefine the role of the professional (acting solely) or professionals (acting collectively) either within the same profession or along with other professional organizations. This was one of the issues with which I had to contend while I was president of ICAN (2003/2004).

The burning issue was Nigeria’s external debt which had ballooned over the years to about $34 billion. Here, I must give credit to Chief J.B. Falegan, the former Chief Economist of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Both of us had independently investigated and concluded that Nigeria was the victim of a massive documentary fraud.

To be continued Bashorun Randle (OFR, FCA) delivered this address during the Presidential Award of the Nigerian Institute of Surveyors held recently in Lagos

Okorocha’s world press conference: Matters arising ETHELBERT OKERE

O

n Wednesday February 27, 2013, Chief Rochas Okorocha, the Governor of Imo state, hosted a “world” press conference at the Government House, Owerri, the state capital which was covered live. It will be recalled that on January 14, 2013, he similarly made a live television broadcast on the same national station. Earlier, His Excellency had had his 50th birthday anniversary televised live for two days. Recently, he had both the traditional and white wedding of his daughter televised live also on a national channel.

This is aside other activities of the state government which are televised live on national television.

Put together, Imo state will probably be on record as the state with the most frequent live television coverage of the activities of its government and its functionaries. The implications are obvious: enormous financial costs to a state that is in dire need of funds to tackle myriads of problems facing the people. Meanwhile, it is estimated that the state spends over N23 million for each live television outing.

With respect to the most recent one of February 27, 2013, the question that easily comes to mind is: Did the Governor need to stage a live television show on national television in order to address Imo-based reporters? If the coverage must be live, ostensibly for more effect, the state television,

the Orient Television, would have been sufficient in addressing both the media men and the entire state. Either politically or media-wise, it is clearly superfluous to go live on a national television purportedly to address issues concerning just one state.

Agreed that there are Imo citizens residing outside the state, they could still be reached without such a stupendous spending.

Given the circumstances, the people of Imo state are left with no other conclusion than that the main purpose of the February 27, 2013 live television show was to afford the Governor an opportunity to address the entire nation on issues concerning the newly formed political organization, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

As is well known, Governor Okorocha is one of the self-appointed spokespersons of APC and he spares no time to boast of how he will lead the party into a landslide victory come 2015.

While nobody can deny the governor his constitutionally guaranteed rights to belong to any political group of his choice, the issue here is that it is unfair to the people of Imo state for him to use their resources that way, especially as not every Imo citizen believes in APC. It is on record that not even the inaugural meeting of the promoters of APC in Lagos, which Governor Okorocha attended, was broadcast live on television. And Lagos State is richer than Imo State. Again, the meeting of 10 pro-APC state governors in Maiduguri on Thursday February 28, 2013, was not cov-

THE OTHER TIME, GOVERNOR OKOROCHA WENT OUTSIDE

NIGERIA TO IMPORT SCHOOL UNIFORMS WHEN THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPETENT TAILORS IN THE STATE LOOKING FOR PATRONAGE ered live on television. Overall, we think that there is need for the governor to curtail his love for television talk-shows, especially as it has been discovered that he has the tendency of mixing Pentecostal oratory with the imperatives of gubernatorial openness.

In a sense, however, the February 27, 2013 outing had some benefits for the people of Imo state at least to the extent that it gave them an opportunity to finally hear their beloved governor admit publicly and for first time that his administration has failed in one crucial area that has direct impact on the health and lives of the people. It was during that press conference that they got to hear from their governor that plans have been concluded to bring in a foreign firm to handle waste disposal in the state

as, according to him, the indigenous firms handling it are not doing the job well! This is both curious and interesting.

It is unheard of that a state like Imo is exporting the mere disposal of refuge to foreigners at a time when the state is in dire need of opportunities to create jobs.

Even an elementary school boy knows that bringing in a foreign firm to handle waste disposal means exporting the resources of the state abroad and denying indigenous companies opportunities to grow. The other time, Governor Okorocha went outside Nigeria to import school uniforms when there are hundreds of competent tailors in the state looking for patronage. It is anybody’s guess the level of economic empowerment that would have taken place had the uniforms been made in the state. It is perhaps pertinent that Governor Okorocha be advised to reach out to his predecessor, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim, to learn, first hand, how the latter handled the issue of environmental cleanness to the extent that Owerri was adjudged the cleanest capital city in the entire country.

To be continued Okere wrote from Owerri, Imo State Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs.

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On prepayment meter and Manitoba contract relief

T

he Federal Government has finally conceded that it could not afford free distribution of prepayment meters to electricity consumers anymore contrary to the last year directive by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) that the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) should distribute free prepayment meters to at least 50 percent of electricity users nationwide to facilitate the implementation of the second phase of the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO II) which commenced on June 1, 2012. Prior to the issuance of the free prepayment meter directive by the NERC, it was widely reported that the PHCN had collected money from more than 60,000 subscribers for prepayment meters, but failed to supply the meters to them. In response, the PHCN claimed it was unable to supply and install the meters because the FG stopped it from importing prepayment meters, and that the government promised instead to undertake the importation by itself. Unfortunately, however, the FG failed to make good its promise, thus leading to a deadlock in meter administration. The result has been that most subscribers are currently harassed and exploited through outrageously high

coded or estimated billing system. The arbitrarily ‘crazy’ tariff has led to unending protests by electricity consumers nationwide.

However, the NERC, according to reports, recently secured the approval of the Presidential Action Committee on Power (PACP) to commence the immediate implementation of an alternative metering scheme (the Credit Advance Payment for Meter Installation, CAPMI), aimed at ensuring rapid deployment of prepayment meters nationwide.

Under the new arrangement, willing customers are to advance money to their distribution companies for speedy installation of the meters. The CAPMI is expected to boost meter procurement and installation and, hopefully, usher in a regime of efficient metering and effective collection of tariff, which would, in turn, guarantee attractive return on investment for new power sector core investors.

Nonetheless, the snag in the CAPMI arrangement is the non-definition of time-limit for the completion of the metering project. Considering the ineptitude of the public sector in the country, the PHCN being one example-in-chief, it might take eternity before the meters are supplied and installed, even when imported. Nigeri-

THE SNAG IN THE CAPMI ARRANGEMENT IS

THE NON-DEFINITION OF TIME-LIMIT FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE METERING PROJECT ans are no longer veiling their wrath and impatience with PHCN’s extortion now passed off as coded or estimated bills.

The NERC should, in unambiguous terms, publicly set the time frame for the completion of the new metering arrangement to enable electricity consumers know when best to ask questions if denied the facility after payment.

Coincidentally, too, the CAPMI plan is coming at a time when Manitoba Hydro International (MHI), a Canadian firm awarded a three-year contract to reorganize the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), has been issued a schedule of delegated authority by the FG to take full charge of the three-pronged affairs of the power transmission firm. The much awaited Manitoba Supervisory Board has also been slated for inau-

guration any moment from now, an indication that the deadlock in the reconstitution of the board, which stalled activities in the power sector for close to six months, has been broken.

A merger of the transmission and operations sections of the defunct National Electricity Power Authority (NEPA), the TCN was incorporated in 2005 and charged with marketing operations, systems operations and to act as a Transmission Service Provider. The schedule of delegated authority issued to Manitoba by the government suggests that the firm is now fully authorised to commence the execution of a three-year contract which principal objective is to make the TCN a truly privatized commercial company, by separating the portfolio of the transmission service provider from marketing and system operations; all with a view to making it both technically and financially efficient, among others. With all now set for the speeding up of the power sector reform process, we implore President Goodluck Jonathan and his team to remain focused and insist on the proper execution of the projects to ensure regular and uninterrupted power supply in the country in the shortest possible time.

ON THIS DAY March 19, 2011 Libyan civil war: After the failure of Muammar Gaddafi’s forces to take Benghazi, French Air Force launched Opération Harmattan, beginning foreign military intervention in Libya. The Libyan civil war, also referred to as the Libyan revolution was a 2011 armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government.

March 19, 2004 The ‘3-19 Shooting Incident’: Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian was shot just before the country’s presidential election on March 20. The 3-19 shooting incident was an assassination attempt on President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu while they were campaigning in Tainan, Taiwan on March 19, 2004, the day before Taiwan’s presidential election.

But their injuries were not life-threatening.

March 19, 2002 Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth on charges of human rights abuses and of electoral fraud, following a turbulent presidential election. The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of 54 independent member states. All members except Mozambique and Rwanda were part of the British Empire.

Demuren’s removal: Stakeholders question NCAA’s autonomy

Developing insurance sector through micro insurance 37

SUPER TUESDAY

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www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Multi billion naira domestic aluminium industry under siege

D

espite efforts by the Federal Government of Nigeria to provide an investment friendly environment for the manufacturing sector through plans to improve energy supply, taming the inflation rates stabilising the value of naira and improved infrastructure among others, there are still signs of distress in most local manufacturing companies.

The first major industry that went close to bust was the textile manufacturing sub-sector where number of factories have fallen from 175 in the mid 1990’s to about 25 in 2008 with an attendant drop in employment from 137,000 in the 1990’s to 60,000 in 2002 and further to 24,000 in 2008. Since then, other manufacturing companies have continued to thread water.

In the past five years, the manufacturing sector lost another key sub-group, the tyre industry as Dunlop and Michelin closed shop and began importation of finished products from their plants located abroad.

Indeed, Dunlop’s sprawling factory in Ikeja, Lagos has been taken over by a church and now the aluminium manufacturing sector appears to be going that sorry road with the big players closing their factories, according to National Mirror investigations.

Recently, the First Aluminium Nigeria, FAN, the oldest aluminium extrusion, suspended its Port-Harcourt operations as a result of what the managers

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As rising cost of operations, poor power supply, cheap imported substitutes and multiple taxation takes its toll on businesses, more manufacturing industries have been forced to suspend production and join league of importers, the latest being major multi-billion naira aluminium manufacturing and fabrication companies.

ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI looks at the problem.

Arik Air Lag-Abj:07.15, 09.15, 10.20, 13.05, 15.20, 16.20, 16.50,18.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun).

Abj-Lag: 07:15, 09.40,10.20, 12.15, 15.15, 16.15,17:10, (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun); 12.15, 15.15, 16.15 (Sun)Lag-PH: 07:15, 11.40, 14.00, 16.10, 17.15 (Mon-Fri) 07.30, 11.40, 15.50 (Sat) 11.50, 3.50, 17.05 Sun) Abj-PH: 07.15, 11.20, 15.30 (Mon-Fri) 07.15, 16.00 (Sat) 13.10, 16.00 Sun) PH-Abj: 08.45, 12.50, 17.00 (Mon-Fri) 08.45, 17.30 (Sat) 14.40, 17.30 (Sun) AbvBeni:08.00, 12.10 (Mon-Fri/ Sat)08.56, 12.10(Sun)

Aero Contractors Lag-Abj: 06.50, 13.30, 16.30, 19.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun), 12.30 (Sun) 16.45 (Sat) Abj-Los: 07.30, 13.00, 19.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat, 10.30, 14.30, 19.30 (Sun, 18.30 Sat) LagBenin: 07.45, 11.00, 15.30 (MonFri/Sat/Sun) 12.30 (Sun 15.30 (Sat) Ben-Lag: 09.15, 12.30, 17.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) 17.00 (Sat)

IRS

Aluminium rolling mill

of the company called “mounting operational cost and activities of importers.”

The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Ben Elfrink, while justifying the suspension, affirmed that the Nigerian circumstances have made it almost impossible to have profitable manufacturing in the country.

“We have decided to temporarily close down our Remelt and Rolling Mill operations,” he said.

National Mirror gathered that the company, which was incorporated on August 20, 1960, and quoted on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange

(NSE) on November 5, 1992, had earlier in 2002, suspended payment of dividends due to operational challenges while inability to pay back loans and staff salaries have led to mass layoffs.

At a time, it was the flagship firm in the aluminium sector, acting as technical partner to Multi Aluminium Company, MULMACO, the first indigenous aluminium company which brought about the relocation of FAN to Lagos from Port Harcourt to help improve MULMACO’s roofing manufacturing operations and compete more effectively with Alumaco, which then came from Switzer-

land and first established plant in Lagos, the major market.

But it is now a shell of itself, mired in debt. As Elfrink explained recently, the company was doing everything possible to settle its obligations with banks, adding that First Aluminum was doing “very well” until 15 years ago when it was confronted with the challenges of lack of adequate energy, coupled with cheap and substandard imports.

The decision to close down was first signalled in 2011 when the chairman of the company,

Lagos-Abuja 7.30 8.30 7.45 8.45 09.30 10.30 10.30 11.30 12.30 13.30 14.30 15.30 16.30 17.30 Lagos-Kano 08.00 09.15 10.30 11.45 14.30 15.40 18.15 19.30 Los-Maid&Yola (Mon-Thur) 09.30 11.30 Fri- Sun 10.30 12.30 Kano-Lagos 07.30 08.45 14.00 15.15 17.30 18.45 Kano-Abj 10.45 11.30 Abj-Lagos 09.00 10.30 11.00 12.00 12.00 13.00

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

FG to slash N6.35tn domestic debt

Unemployment: Why learning second trade is imperative

Residents, stakeholders laud concession of FESTAC Phase II

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Business & Finance

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Multi billion naira domestic aluminium industry under siege CONTINUED FROM 19 Alhaji Sulaiman Baffa, told shareholders that 2011 was a difficult year with huge loss recorded.

According to him,“2011 has been a difficult year, but a year of progress.

The Rolling Mill was closed throughout the first quarter of the year as essential upgrade works was undertaken on the two Hi Mill. Lack of contribution from our own manufactured products during those three months resulted in a consolidated loss of N210m.”

While the cost of imported aluminium rose from a budgeted cost of $2,350 per tonne to a peak of $2,739 in 2011, FAN’s profit margins came under severe pressure.

“As we order materials several months in advance, this high cost continued to affect us until the end of the year,” Baffa revealed.

While activities of importers have posed a threat to company, National Mirror, learnt that the company has taken the option of suspending local production and bringing coils for corrugation into Nigeria in other to remain in business.

According to Baffa, in certain coil, thicknesses, FAN, had been facing fierce price competition against imported coil which proved to be the case throughout the year.

But when in 2011, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) decreed that aluminium roofing sheets must have a minimum metal thickness (prior to painting and embossing) of 0.4mm the company thought it was a welcome policy.

“This development should eliminate the proliferation of under gauge imported material, and protect the consumer as well as the reputation of aluminium roofing in Nigeria. Packaging volumes were maintained, but products came under intense price pressure,” Baffa had noted.

While FAN struggles to stay in business, other major competitors are not faring any better.

From National Mirror investigation, Tower Aluminium Extrusion Industries Plc, Aluminium Smelting Company of Nigeria, Makeri Smelting Co Ltd, Nigerian Aluminium Extrusions Ltd, Steel Works Ltd, Tower Aluminium Nigeria Ltd and W A Aluminium Products Plc are also operating on thin line.

Tower Group, however, still has confidence in the market and recently raised N4.63billion bond from the nation’s capital market under a N9billion Medium Term Note (MTN) programme to finance its operations and enhance performance. The proceeds of the bond would be used for the funding of the member companies of the Tower Aluminium Group comprising Tower Aluminium (Nigeria)Plc; Queensway Aluminium Limited; Asaba Aluminium Limited; Tower Roofing Systems Limited; Borno Aluminium Limited and Kolorkote Nigeria Limited.

The Country Head, Tower Group, Dr. Jinesh Dugad had explained during a recent media tour of its factories, that the proceeds from the transaction would be used for the refinancing of ma-

Elfrink

Muda

MANUFACTURING BUSINESS IS PERHAPS THE

MOST CHALLENGING IN THE ECONOMY TODAY.

THE TREND HAS GRAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ECONOMY. AN ECONOMY DOMINATED

BY BUYING AND SELLING CANNOT BOAST OF A

BRIGHT FUTURE.

PRODUCTION IS CRITICAL TO

ECONOMIC PROGRESS turing bank debt obligations utilised by the group to build the multi-million-dollar aluminium factory at Otta in Ogun state.

The factory has been designed to convert scrap aluminium into new and usable aluminium hence reducing its reliance on imports and therefore significantly reducing cash flow vulnerability due to exchange rate fluctuations.

But before the move, the group had been losing majority of its customers as a result of the high cost of the company’s products.

A roofing sheets dealer and Managing Director of Diamond Golden Limited, Mr. Adetunji Razak, told National Mirror that Tower, one of the major suppliers of roofing sheets and general aluminium products in Nigeria, may be losing its market share to importers due to the continuous increase in the price of the products. But he warned that patronage of imported brands will continue until the local manufactures are ready to offer competitive price.

Industry operators blamed the development on poor government policies, which had affected the development of local industries adversely despite the reduction of import duty from 20 per cent to five per cent in 2010. One operator said the policies had done more harm than good to the extrusion and manufacturing industry.

“Import duty on raw materials (ingots and billets) is the same as semifinished and finished products. This is wrong. Local manufacturers cannot survive in this environment. This has thrown up traders who import coils to sell with no investments whatsoever in plants.

“Tower Aluminium is the only com-

pany that is still operating its rolling mill. But under the prevailing unfriendly environment for the aluminium industry, this would only take a short while before it is shut down,” an industry source said.

As expected, the number of job loss has been so alarming. Tower Aluminium laid off 450 workers in December 2012 and 70 per cent of the remaining on the Tower Aluminium’s payroll (1,570 people) face an uncertain future.

Also, in the same month, National Mirror learnt that First Aluminium Industry relieved 200 workers of their employment.

During National Mirror’s visit to the Aluminium village in Dopemu, Lagos, it was discovered that the local manufacturers have to contend with influx of aluminium products from China and other countries. While pricing remains a big challenge to contend with, dealers said imported brands have been able to offer quality roofing sheets and profiles at prices affordable to Nigerians.

Adetunji, who was a site supervisor at the comatose MULMACO told National Mirror that the importers have now studied the Nigerian market and have been able to offer aluminium profile windows and doors to Nigerians at affordable cost.

But in an interview with National Mirror, the Director-General of Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Muda Yusuf, said the story of the aluminium manufacturing sector further underscores experience of the tyre manufacturers, the textile industries, the assembly plants, the steel plants and many more.

“Manufacturing business is, perhaps, the most challenging in the economy to-

Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga

day. The trend has grave implications for the economy. An economy dominated by buying and selling cannot boast of a bright future. Production is critical to economic progress” he said.

The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) also recently said no fewer than 800 companies in Nigeria closed shop between 2009 and 2011 mainly due to harsh operating business environment.

NACCIMA president, Dr. Herbert Ajayi said, “More than half of the surviving firms had been classified as ailing, which poses a serious threat to the survival of the manufacturing industry in the country. Capacity utilisation in industries hovered around 30 per cent and 45 per cent on the average, with 100 per cent overhead costs.

“Political and economic factors contribute greatly to the decline in the manufacturing sector. For instance, poor infrastructure and epileptic power supply are also key impediments to the industry. The industry as a whole operates on more than 70 per cent of energy it generates, using generators and operating these generators greatly increases the cost of manufacturing goods in Nigeria”, he stated.

“Other factors include increase in the prices of petroleum products used by industries, multiple taxation, unabated smuggling and inadequate access to finance, both local and abroad”, he added.

Corroborating Ajayi’s views, National President, Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Mr. Chuku Wachuku, revealed that many companies operated below capacity in 2012 because of unstable power supply, inadequate funds and high labour costs.

Although, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), President, Dr. Kola Jamodu, in said there was an increased investment as well as improved turnover for the industrial sector of the economy within the last one year. But with the signs of distress in the sector, which have caused serious job loss, this might be far from the truth.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business & Finance

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

FG to slash N6.35tn domestic debt JOHNSON OKANLAWON

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he Federal Government has said that it will take action this year to slash its domestic debt from around N6.35trn, as debt service is eating up the fund for the capital investment.

Addressing delegates at a business conference in Lagos yesterday, the Minister of State for Finance, Alhaji Yerima Lawan Ngama complaint of the doubledigit interest rates, which according to him, makes the cost of servicing debt too high.

He said that the government is going to summon the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Chief Executives Officers of banks on how to lower interest rate because it costs the government N699bn to service the debt in 2012.

“The cost of domestic debt is still very high. We are discussing with the bankers’ committee on the high cost of interest rates.

There is no way we can continue this, we have to sit down and iron things out,” he said.

Ngama explained that the gov-

L-R: Airtel Regional Head, Corporate Sales & Enterprises, Mr. Victor Enyinna; President, Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors & Valuers, Mr. Emeka Eleh, and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Otunba Victor Ayeye, at the 42nd annual NIESV conference in Benin City recently.

ernment had set up a fund starting at N100bn that would begin retiring domestic debt from this year, adding that the overall debt to Gross Domestic Product ratio was 18.2 per cent at the end of 2012, up from 16 per cent in 2011.

According to him, the budget deficit was expected to fall to N585bn in 2013, from N744bn in

Aero, workers’ crisis deepens, as airline locks out workers OLUSEGUN KOIKI

I

n continuation of the imbroglio between the management of Aero Airlines and its protesting staff, the management yesterday locked out the sacked workers from gaining entrance to its office.

The management said that the move was necessary in order to prevent unlawful entry into its premises by those who are not its staff.

Most of the staff had came to the airline’s headquarters at the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, but were shocked that the management had shut its gate on them after issuing sack letters to over 600 members of staff over the weekend.

The workers were in the company of the leaderships of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and stood at the gate for hours.

The protesting workers said that the management had eventually drawn the battle line with the action and insisted there was no going back on the strike.

The workers brandished the sacked letters dropped in their residential addresses by the management, which were backdated to March 13, 2013, the day the airline staff commenced the industrial action.

Besides, the airline has advertised for vacant positions in the airline’s website despite, a decision, which the unions said forecloses the idea of resolving the industrial action peacefully.

The letters were signed by the Acting Managing Director, Aero, Mr. Obaro Ibru and reads in part, “Please handover all company’s documents, assets and other item in your possession to the Human Resources department while details of your outstanding indebtedness to the company as applicable will be communicated to you shortly. Also note that your pension contribution till date has been credited to your retirement savings account with your nominated Pension Fund Administrator.”

Commenting on the issue, the Acting General Secretary, NUATE, Comrade Abdulkareem Motajo, described the action of Aero management as criminal and against the law of the land.

He explained that the airline management had went to get a court injunction against the unions so that they would not disrupt their activities based on some parameters they put across.

He added, “You better allow the court to determine the case before sacking anybody, meanwhile we have remained peaceful. Since we have been placed on injunction we have only told our people to be law abiding because we are in court and we will get justice for them.

We will ensure that they rescind their decision.”

2012 and N852bn in 2011, adding, “Nigeria has a very strong balance sheet now, compared with a decade ago.”

He said that President Goodluck Jonathan administration inherited a budget where 28 per cent was left for capital projects and N1.3trn was spend on workers’ salaries.

“Much revenue is spent on a

bloated civil service, and 60 per cent of government spending was on salaries last year. We need to restructure the civil service without laying people off. We want to ensure that only genuine workers are paid,” Ngama said.

On the multiple taxation, he accused both Lagos and PortHarcourt state governments of

21

collecting multiple taxation, saying that the Federal Government has brought the issue of different taxes to their notice.

He said, “We have many taxes, but the ones being collected are low. Taxes being collected in Nigeria are seven per cent of GDP and 25 per cent of GDP in Ghana.

People in Nigeria are not paying taxes and this has been brought to the notice of the governors.”

On the strategy to improve competitiveness in the industries, the Minister of State for Power, Mrs Zainab Kuchi, hinted that privatisation of 10 distribution companies and five generation companies are at advance stage of final payments.

She stressed that the government is attracting private sector investments in power sector to improve delivery capacity to 10,000MW by Dec 2013 and make customer satisfaction the cardinal objective of service delivery.

Kuchi added that Inter-Ministerial Committee was set-up to identify nine industrial clusters to be provided with power from captive power generation, tariff policy and regulations to encourage small and medium scale industries.

FG to implement National Automobile Policy soon – Minister OLUSEGUN KOIKI

T

here are indications that the Federal Government may soon implement the interim National Automobile Policy, which will enable stakeholders in the transport sector to have an unhindered access to the products and services of local automobile manufacturers.

At present, the policy is about being passed to the Economic and Implementation team of the Federal Executive Council.

When the policy is eventually implemented, it would spell out how financial institutions in the country can help stakeholders access the products and services of

local plants.

This much was disclosed at the weekend in Lagos by the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom when he and his team visited the VON Automobiles Nigeria Limited, local manufacturers of Ashok Leyland buses, trucks and light commercial vehicles.

Ortom also expressed satisfaction with the proficiency and quality of work at the automobile company.

The minister further said that he was encouraged by the company’s move to expand its operations by looking at other lines that would produce various types of automobile vehicles.

He said, “I have inspected and

seen what VON Automobile Nigeria is doing and I am quite impressed with the quality of work here as well as the capacity of the plant. “What I found here is of international standard. We can now encourage people from other African countries to import from Nigeria. The products are of the best quality and can be used in any part of the world.

“I am satisfied with what I have seen and the truth is that you can supply us with the quality and quantity we need and I want to reassure you that I will take this back to the Committee and within a very short time, government should be in a position to allow you make offers to the body that requires your products.”

CBN tasks parents on financial skills for youth TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday urged parents and guardians of the Nigerian youth to provide them the necessary financial knowledge and skills as well as inculcate in them positive behavioural changes that would help them grow and become financially independent and prudent leaders of tomorrow.

Giving the advice at the ‘Global Walk for Money’ event organised by apex bank to commemorate the Child and Youth Finance Week in Abuja, the Acting Director, Consumer Protection Department, Hajiya Umma Dutse, said

the need for leaders to create financial awareness among the youth had become more imperative than ever since in them lies the fulfilment of the vision of an economically developed and prosperous nation.

Dutse, who recalled recent initiatives undertaken by the regulatory financial institution to promote financial inclusion amongst those who had hitherto been excluded within the economy, particularly the grassroots women and youth, said the ‘Global Walk for Money’ was part of the global Child and Youth Finance Week which was commemorated globally yesterday.

According to her, by the CBN initiative which involved hun-

dreds of school children in road show and other activities, the Bank has made Nigeria, for the first time, to join the comity of nations that have accepted and adopted the noble idea which is aimed at creating financial awareness and to engage children and youth on topics of finance.

She said: “The CBN has developed a Financial Literary Framework that articulates a strategic direction for a multi stakeholder approach to the delivery of financial education programmes across various target groups in the Nigerian population. Children and Youth have been recognised in the framework as a very important and critical target group for financial literary initiatives.

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Business & Finance

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

FAAN says no going back on ban of illegal currency operators at airports OLUSEGUN KOIKI

T

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has said that there is no going back on the last week’s evacuation of illegal currency operators otherwise known as Bureau De Change (BDC) at all the airports in the country.

This is just as the agency said that the exercise was carried out without any ethnic colouration as being speculated in some quarters.

The agency speaking through its General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr. Yakubu Dati said that the evacuation of the illegal BDC operators became necessary following the last week’s armed robbery attack at the general car park of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

He recalled that during the attack, no fewer than three people lost their lives while some users

of the car park also sustained various degrees of injuries, adding that safety of users of the airport was paramount to the agency.

Dati explained that the attack was apparently targeted at illegal currency exchange operators (black marketers) at the car park, some of whom he said lost huge sums of money to the armed robbers, adding that similar attacks had taken place at the airport few times in the past, leading to loss of lives.

He noted that FAAN has the statutory responsibility of ensuring safety and security at the airports and can no longer tolerate such breach of security at any of its airports nationwide, which he said are classified as national security zones, as a result of the activities of illegal currency operators.

He said, “We also wish to advise passengers and genuine airport users to make use of banking

facilities and licenced bureau de change operators, located within airport terminals, for all their currency exchange transactions.

“This is the standard practice at airports all over the world, aside from the fact that the focus of the transformation agenda in the aviation industry is to ensure that services at all our airports comply with acceptable international standards and best practices.

“This clarification is necessary to debunk mischievous insinuations already being made in some uninformed quarters that the authority’s recent ban on illegal currency transactions at our airports is calculated to marginalise some sections of the country. The authority’s action is a pre-emptive security measure designed to forestall more dangerous security breaches at the airports, in view of the current security situation in the country.”

Managing Director, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Reginald Ihejiah i(right) and winner of the Fidelity 25th anniversary Cars and Cash Savings Splash promo, Mr. Arinzechi Victus, at a prize presentation in Lagos, recently.

Executive Director in UBA appoints top management staff appointed 2008 and has held several senior level appointments since joining for Nigeria, Africa operations UBA Plc.

F

ollowing its recent restructuring and the spin-off of non-commercial banking operations in line with regulatory guidelines, United Bank for Africa has announced some key senior level appointments to strengthen some areas of its operations.

According to a company statement yesterday The Board of Directors has approved the appointment of Mr. Emeke Iweriebor as Executive Director in charge of Corporate Banking as well as the bank’s operations in Lagos and entire Western Region of Nigeria covering 9 states, including Lagos Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Kwara, Edo and Delta states.

Emeke, whose appointment is subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was before now Deputy CEO, UBA Africa and brings with him

about two decades of industry experience covering several areas of banking as he joins the strong and cohesive Board of UBA Plc. Iweriebor has also at different times been the pioneer MD/ CEO, UBA Cameroon and later the CEO, UBA Central, East and Southern Africa .

Apart from Emeke, UBA Plc also announced other appointments including Puri Ibrahim as Head, North Central Bank; Emmanuel Onokpasa as Group Treasurer and Emem Etuk as Deputy Directorate Head of Abuja & East Bank. Emem will double-hat Regional Bank Head Cross River and Akwa Ibom.

For the bank’s African operations, Mr. Emmanuel Nnorom, the group’s erstwhile Executive Director in charge of Risk Management, has been appointed CEO, UBA Africa. Nnorom was

Some of these include Group Chief Operating Officer with responsibility for Information technology, operations, corporate services, marketing and corporate communications, customer service, facility and real estate management, human resources and regulatory affairs.

In addition, a number of other senior level appointments were made in UBA Africa including five new country subsidiary CEOs, one country subsidiary Deputy Managing Director and three country subsidiary Executive Directors. These new appointees include Mamadou Sanon as MD/CEO of UBA Gabon; Amie Sow as MD/CEO of UBA Senegal; Marcel Bitang as MD/CEO of UBA Congo DRC; Martin Che as MD/CEO of UBA Congo Brazzaville; Stanley Ugwueze as MD/ CEO of UBA Zambia;

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

1, 000 property owners in Lagos get sub- lease DAYO AYEYEMI

A

nother batch of one thousand allottees who bought their properties from Lagos State Government’s housing agencies, before January 2000 will be presented sub- lease registered title documents this week.

In an official Statement issued by Lagos’s Lands Bureau, the home owners are expected to receive their registered title documents at Alausa’s Secretariat in Ikeja on Monday.

The title document qualifies as their Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O).

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola administration had initiated the Registered SubLease Title Documents process of allowing the house owners in government housing estates to get title documents, which would serve as their proof of ownership.

The title document will also enable property owner the opportunity to use their properties for business transactions, especially to secure mortgages and collaterals.

It would be recalled that about two batches of 500 and 1000 flat owners respectively in the state government owned estates have benefitted in the exercise.

2nd Niger Bridge: FG woos Anambra, Delta states OLUFEMI ADEOSUN

A

s Julius Berger perfects the details that would lead to the final design for the construction of the second Niger bridge, the Federal Government has solicited the support of governors of Anambra and Delta States.

It will be recalled that the Federal Government had two weeks ago announced that Julius/AIIM Consortium had emerged the preferred bidder after completion of procurement process.

Speaking during separate meetings with the Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi and his acounterpart in Delta State, Mr. Emmanuel Uduagha yesterday, the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, said cooperation from the communities in the benefiting states was very cru-

cial to the success of the bridge.

Apart from its impact to the national economy, the bridge upon completion, is expected to boost the economic activities of not only Anambra and Delta states, but also that of the entire south-eastern states.

While he promised that the issues of compensation would be speedily worked out for the communities that would be affected in the process of constructing the bridge, the minister sought for their cooperation of the governors, particularly in getting Right of Way. He told the people the primary aim for concessioning the bridge was to provide a second bridge over the River Niger with approach roads that by-pass the centre of Onitsha and Asaba and connecting Onitsha-Owerri expressway,Onitsha-Enugu expressway and Asaba-Benin expressway.

Nigerian businesses urged on BYOD IT investment KUNLE A ZEEZ

W

ith the number of mobile networked devices estimated to hit 15 billion globally in the next three years and the tendency of employees to want to connect their personal devices to the orgainsations’ network, Nigerian businesses have been urged to prepare for this trend by investing in necessary Information Technology that will evolve effective Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) system in their orgainsations.

Resourcery Plc, a leading systems Integrator in West Africa while making the appeal, also it was prepare to help businesses implement the IT practice which will lead to further reduction in overall IT investment for the orgainsations.

As part of the move to achieve this, Resourcery, , in partnership

with Cisco Systems, the worldwide leader in networking, said it has concluded plans to organise a one-day business session tagged: “Cisco BYOD,…Bringing Flexibility to the Work Place”, for technology executives and IT managers.

Speaking one the BYOD forum, the Business Solution Manager, Data Security, Resourcery, Mr. Adewale Oniyide, said it was expected that employees across the globe would advocate for the right to use their own devices on the company’s network.

He said this meant that organisations had to brace up for the development by making adequate IT investment so that they were not caught unprepared.

According to him, “Resourcery in partnership with Cisco is prepared to help business organizations in Nigeria successfully manage the BYOD transition so that they can effectively connect applications, resources and users.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Jobs & Career

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

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Unemployment: Why learning second trade is imperative The high rate of unemployment in Nigeria the imperative of opening up multiple streams of income for professionals and the need to further acquire knowledge and expertise by many have renewed calls by experts that learning a trade or vocation should be emphasised by government, as against emphasis on paper certifications. MESHACK IDEHEN, writes.

W

riting recently in his online column at www. cbc.ca/news, Career Development Expert, Mr. Hugh Gunz, made critical emphasis on why unemployment persist in most parts of the world, particularly in developing nations like Nigeria, and what can be done to address the situation.

According to Gunz, “graduate producing institutions in developing nations must ensure that their products imbibe the knowledge and belief in taking up hands on vacation, irrespective of their academic discipline, in order to stay ahead of the pack when the race to secure jobs begins after graduation”.

In that regards, what comes to mind, said Career Coach and Managing Director of Team Building Nigeria, Mr. Yinka Olugbodi, is the recent controversy about the suitability or otherwise of products from tertiary institutions in the country, considering in particular, that most Nigerian graduates have no hands on business, trade or vocational skills that can guarantee them jobs, or make them entrepreneurs after their graduation.

According to Gunz, “there are not enough jobs around, and rejection is few and tough for the few ones (jobs) that are available. That is where learning a second trade or vocational which can always come in as a safety net becomes imperative for both the fresh graduates of even established professionals”.

Insisting that the number of unemployed at graduate level is ever rising, and that the government cannot be guaranteed to provide employment for all, he explained that since the government alone cannot solve the problem of unemployment, that the way out of the situation lies in self-employment that can only come about from the vocational field.

Explaining how developed countries like Germany, Brazil and China emphasis on vocational jobs has created jobs for millions in those climes and also contributed to their Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Olugbodi told National Mirror that Nigerian graduates must toe the path of lasting success by embracing opportunities that establishing the National Directorate of Employment, the Industrial Training Fund and other agencies provide.

According to him, “the age and era of dependence on certification based on some paperwork is long gone. In its place is a newer economic system that is based on visible and productive hands on skill sets that can be or tangible benefits to any organisation”.

On his part, the Director-General of National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mr Abubakar

Muhammed

Olugbodi

GRADUATE PRODUCING INSTITUTIONS IN DEVELOPING NATIONS MUST ENSURE THAT THEIR PRODUCTS IMBIBE THE KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF IN

TAKING UP HANDS ON VACATION, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR

ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE, IN ORDER TO STAY AHEAD OF THE PACK WHEN THE RACE TO SECURE JOBS BEGINS AFTER GRADUATION Muhammed, while responding to enquiries on why graduates and professionals should learn a trade or vocation, said vocational job or trade is the way to go in Nigeria, considering the high rate of unemployment.

According to the DG, it is possible for millions of Nigerians at graduate and professional levels to acquire skills to create jobs and become employers of labour themselves. Such a move, said Muhammad, would increase productivity, and boost the country’s GDP. Insisting that the “so called white collar jobs” are hard to come by, and that employed and unemployed graduates and professionals should embrace self-employment.

Human Resource Practitioner, Mr. Kunle Rotimi, said the volatile and unpredictable economic situation around the world makes learning a trade or vocation

very important.

Rotimi said professionals in paid employment are particularly more vulnerable, since many organisations are facing turbulent times and economically unpredictable times, adding that there are always the possibilities that those in paid employment can become unemployed.

He explained that there is no limit to the number of jobs that can be created in the country when tertiary institutions commence producing graduates with bias for hands on skill set, saying further that the economy gets better when people are more productive and creating jobs through vocational means.

“Graduates and working professionals alike must discover their potential and have self-confidence. They must list their proposed occupations and choose the ones with high commercial values, then get the required skills, and start working,” he explained, adding academic qualification become necessary but immaterial when it comes to vocational jobs.

“People and not just graduates or professionals should create jobs for themselves in Nigeria”, explained America based Nigerian Vocational and Trade Expert, Mr. Dominic Okoji, “graduates also can veer into areas like furniture making, craft making, tailoring agriculture extension and manufacturing of light tools among others to earn a living and create jobs”.

According to him, Nigeria’s economic potential are huge because of its being one of the biggest markets in Africa and people stand a better chance of creating vocational jobs, adding that there are many organisations looking for people who can provide one form of vocational services or the other.

Shell skills programme graduates first Nigerian female abseiler, 19 others MESHACK IDEHEN

T

he Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO)sponsored Offshore Support Skills Acquisition Training Programme has graduated a batch of 20 trainees, including a female, Okwusa Anwulika, who be-

came Nigeria’s first rope abseiler, while the overall best trainee is Egre Prosper.

The graduates took part in the theoretical and practical courses offered in the fields of abseiling (rope access technician level 1), rigging, scaffolding, painting and blasting, and small hand tools usage.

A statement by the company said Okwuosa was not just the only female

among the 20 but also emerged the best graduating trainee in abseiling, which until now seemed a male-only field due to its technicalities and particular difficulty since it entails the use of ropes in the whole gamut of oil and gas maintenance sector.

Shell said the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA), has already

accessed the 11 persons in this group, and that they will get their certification soon.

However, the Manager, Nigerian Content Development, SNEPCO, Mr. Austin Uzoka, has urged the graduates to look beyond their certificates but work to get relevant experience by taking maximum advantage of the opportunity offered by the trainers to attain level 2.

24

Jobs & Career

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

How to handle frequently asked questions at job interviews

I

t is of utmost importance to prepare yourself as a job seeker for a job interview.

Knowing how to answer the most common questions you can expect while being interviewed is important. Knowing a good answer for the questions to come can enable you learn more about yourself and can even take the lead in any job interview. Here are some likely questions and how to answer them.

Tell us something about yourself- Be sure to highlight your interest and compatibility to work in, for example, a team by talking about your soccer/football experience. Give examples of your assertiveness by talking about your part in the activities you have been involved in.

What kind of job did you have before and why did you stop working there?-Try not to be negative and talk about (bad) working conditions that you had to endure; simply Explain that you were up for a new challenge and a job with more future perspective. A positive outlook on the future is always better than a negative outlook on the past.

Why did you apply for this job? Why are you interested in working for our company?Because it is an interesting company/business, it offers new opportunities, you have personal affection with the product/service, good reviews from media/ colleague. Be specific and say something about personal interests that relate to the job.

You want to work at this company. What do you have to offer? Can you give us an example of something you have achieved that can be beneficial for us?-Bring up something you achieved in your previous

Human Resource Expert, Mr. Kunle Rotimi

job, think of a successful project or an award your company won and your part in it.

Can you describe a good and a bad quality of yourself ?

Can you give us an example in which this has been shown?This is a tricky question. They are trying to filter out your best quality but they also want to know if you are self aware and can name a bad quality. Your ‘bad’ quality shouldn’t be really bad, but just something you can work on. For example, your perfectionism that sometimes delays other work. This is not per se a bad quality and it says something about yourself. Just be positive in the entire conversation.

Remember, they are lucky to be able to interview you, not the other way around.

Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?-They want to know how long you will be interested in working at their company. The company invests in your education and experience and they want to benefit from this as long as possible. Employ-

ers are not keen on ‘jobhoppers’, employees that are going from job to job within a small period of time. It is important to give an answer that will explain you are still looking to be working at their company by that time, and of course in a higher/better function, this will highlight your ambition.

Are you willing to work overtime?-Try to explain you do not have a 9 to 5 mentality.

They want to hear you are a flexible person that wants to work for their cause. You are the most productive if you have a job that suits you and you are ambitions. Affection for their product/service is also something you should consider before you go for the interview.

What do you know about our organisation?-First always check the company website! (that’s where we come in).

The jobs they offer on their website will show their plans for the future. More and more companies are showing their strategy, vision and mission.

Study these and repeat them in front of your interviewers.

Studying their company upfront always leaves a good impression. And you can figure out for yourself if you want to be a part of it.

At the end of the job interview it is a common question if you have any questions for them. Try to ask at least one or two questions that involves the company and you. Do not ask about the salary or any additional benefits. And make sure you couldn’t have found the answer on their website or any other simpler way.

Source: (www.jump2jobs. com/job-interview-tips)

NIPOST retirees bemoan death of members awaiting entitlements MESHACK IDEHEN

T

he Chairman of NIPOST branch of the National Union Pensioners, (NUP), Mr. Joseph Ogunyakin, said over 450 retirees of the Nigeria Postal Services have died for lack of money to meet their medical and other needs while waiting for the payment of their pensions and entitlements in the past five years.

The NUP chairman claimed that non-payment of pension arrears and gratuities to NIPOST pensioners has caused untold hardships which has resulted in the death of over 450 retirees within the same period.

According to him many NIPOST pensioners have died and

the pensioners don’t know whose turn it will be tomorrow, considering that many of them are on sick bed while things continue to remain difficult for them.

Oguinyakin who spoke during the inauguration of the newly elected chairman of the Lagos chapter of the union said the plight of NIPOST pensioners had become common knowledge and a shame to the nation, explaining “The whole world knows that pensioners of NIPOST are really suffering.

He said there is no doubt about that the huge suffering NIPOST pensioners are going through, saying also that the union is appealing to the Federal and states government to come to their aid.

“Two months ago, we embarked on a prolong protest, not

that we love protest but we have been pushed to the wall. Government should not wait until we all die before they help us.”

He added that the pensioners are being owed more than five years pension arrears, and vowed that the union would do everything within its power to make government pay the pensioners what is due them.

“Right now, we are having 69 months unpaid. We also have some gratuities unpaid. We are going to get the pension arrears paid and at the same time, we are going to ensure that they are paid as and when due. We don’t know why these monies are not paid and that is why we said instead of dying at home, let us shout for the whole world to hear us”, he said.

T

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Job vacancies

he position of Marketing officers (www. jobberman.com) in a financial institution branch based in Rivers and some other states opens job vacancies for this week.

Requiring a minimum qualification of HND, the financial institution whose headquarters is located in Lagos, said the job summary of the incoming marketers will amongst other functions, include marketing the company’s products and services, prospecting and managing clients to generate revenue.

Other responsibilities are, to prospects for new businesses by conducting sales calls, preparing proposals for new prospects and providing information regarding the terms and service delivery promises.

Some other responsibilities for the position are; obtaining relevant information from prospects and clients to facilitate underwriters’ inputs as deemed necessary, following-up on early preparation and dispatch of renewal notices and ensures the policies are renewed.

Needed as added advantage are an MBA, minimum of 5 years’ experience, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and good negotiation and persuasion skills.

From www.findjobafrica.com, the position of a General Manager and CEO is still available, with the position to be based in Lagos.

A retail outfit, the company said it is seeking to recruit an expatriate or indigenous expert for the Role, with some of the Duties and Responsibilities of the incoming, amongst others, reporting to the directors and Management of the retail business Some other responsibilities are to manage the everyday operations of the business and longterm operations and financial success, and managing employees. This means interviewing job applicants, hiring and training new employees and motivating current employees. In a customer-focused industry.

He/she is also to ensure outstanding customer care and effectively handle customer complaints and ill also also be responsible for coordinating the schedule and will supervise the handling of the retail outlet’s payroll.

For qualifications, a university degree in areas like communications or Business Administration is a must and an added advantage, while 10 -15 years retail work experience is also required.

The successful candidate must possess strong leadership skills and must be computer literate with strong database and

spreadsheet skills MS Excel and other relevant software utility package. Proficiency in written and verbal communication, and problem solving skills. Are also important, and the CEO expected should be able to demonstrate a respectful, professional, and courteous demeanour at all times. Other qualities include determination and attention to detail.

The position of a Territory Manager from www.findjobsafrica is available, with the job to be based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The organisations said part of the responsibilities of the incoming would be to sells the organization’s products and/ or services to all customers in a geographic territory, Expands existing customer relationships and execute account sales plans in support of business strategy across dealer and distribution channels.

Other function are to supports counterparts in strengthening their relations in customer partnerships, develops, manages, and maintains business relationships with distributors within an assigned territory and develops growth or new business opportunities and supports cost initiatives.

The qualifications and skills needed for the position are amongst others, a solid understanding of how to think strategically and how to encourages and empowers others to achieve; establish challenging performance standards; creates enthusiasm, a feeling of investment, and a desire to excel.

Also available this week is the position for Tunis – Abidjan based Principal and Senior Systems Engineers from www. findjobsafrica.com According to the recruiting company, the system engineers will ensure effective and efficient infrastructure system functionality, including all data centre, data closet, and desktop systems and peripherals.

He will also work proactively and reactively to resolve infrastructure system issues in an efficient, timely, and effective manner, to maximize business productivity and minimize business downtime. Work closely with portfolio and business teams to understand business needs to implement forward thinking business solutions.

Other responsibilities are to Research, evaluate, recommend, and implement tools, and solutions that help to improve the efficiency and reliability of the company’s operations, and Troubleshoot, assess, and coordinate equipment and systems repair as required.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

25

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Real Estate & Environment dayoayeyemi@yahoo.com 08033312578

Residents, stakeholders laud concession of FESTAC Phase II

Block of flats at FESTAC Phase I, Lagos.

I

t was good news for residents of FESTAC Phase I, in Lagos who have not stopped to ruminate over the poor condition and dilapidating infrastructural facilities in the estate, when the Federal Executive Council (FEC), last week announced the approval of the concession of FESTAC Estate Phase II in Lagos State from which about N25.7 billion is expected to accrue to the government.

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, had told State House correspondents that the project, which would come under the Public Private Partnership (PPP), arrangement, would be concessioned to a New FESTAC Property Development Company (NFPDC), which would be working with four other companies, including PW Nigeria Limited; SCC Nigeria Limited; Enacco Nigeria Limited and Funtaj Limited.

The area involved is 1, 126 hectares of land, which is the remaining portion of the 2, 000 hectares acquired by the Federal Government in 1976 for Phase I of FESTAC Town.

When the 1,126 hectares of land is reclaimed and sand filled, because of its swampy nature, it will create at least 7, 000 plots.

On completion, the FESTAC Phase II is expected be like a new city with houses, shopping malls, schools, police station, health centres, among others.

Expressing joy over the new development when contacted by National Mirror, Chairman, FESTAC Town Residents’ Association, Mr. Jola Ogunlusi, said, “It

Residents of FESTAC Town Phase I and other stakeholders have continued to laud the Federal Government’ s initiative on the concession of FESTAC Estate Phase II, saying the project will rob off on the former. DAYO AYEYEMI, writes.

IF A PRIVATE INVESTOR PUTS HIS MONEY IN THE PROJECT, HE

WILL MAKE SURE HE COMPLETES IT

Jonathan

is the beginning of good things to come and we are happy.”

He stated that there was no way government would start the project without affecting FESTAC Phase 1 positively.

According to him, there would be proper connection between old FESTAC and Phase II, adding that oil pipeline in the latter would be cleared to stop vandalisation and associated crimes in the areas.

,He said, “The network issue will no longer be the problem.”

Ogunlusi disclosed that residents have concluded arrangement to write a letter to the Presidency on the decadence of infrastructural facilities in the estate.

According to him, the water work is yet to be completed, the sewage system is in bad shape while the major sewage treatment plant of the estate has been damaged without repair for more than five years and “there is fear of epidemics.”

He expressed hope that if government developed the FESTAC Phase II, the issue of dilapidated infrastructure in phase I would be tackled.

Speaking on the concession of phase 11 of FESTAC, Ogunlusi said Public-Private Partnership remained the best way

to achieve the project, noting that the Federal Housing Authority, (FHA), has no money to start such project.

“If private investor put his money in the project, he will make sure he completes it,” he said, urging the Federal Government to be mindful of whom it gives the project, noting that past experiences on concession of public projects have not been encouraging.

Immediate past chairman, Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mr. Olatunde Jayesimi, lauded the initiative, saying “it is a good one.”

According to him, if properly managed, It would solve housing problem in Lagos since traffic situation in FESTAC corridor will improve after the completion of Lagos-Badagry Expressway.”

Jaiyesimi explained that the project would create jobs for those that need them, especially the artisans He said it would be necessary for government to state the categories of people the project is targeting. ”Are the houses meant for the low, medium or high income earners?, ” he said.

He wants government to cater for all income groups by making the houses affordable.

Shedding more light on the project, spokesperson of FHA, Mr. Tunde Ipinmosho, said the FESTAC Phase 11 project is a partnership arrangement between authority and private investors, CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

26

Real Estate & Environment

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Residents, stakeholders laud concession of FESTAC Phase II CONTINUED FROM 25 adding that the role of FHA would be to monitor the execution of the project.

On the PPP arrangement, he explained that FHA (government), being the owner of FESTAC is providing land as its contribution, while the investors are expected to bring in their fund and technical personnel to build the new town.

“FHA will monitor and provide technical advice where necessary,” he said, adding that the completion of the project would encourage linkage between phase 1 and 2.

Explaining the rationale behind the project last week, Maku noted that owing to paucity of funds, only a portion of FESTAC was developed in 1977 and the remaining was abandoned, a situation he said prompted the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development to take the initiative to develop the Phase II through the PPP arrangement.

He disclosed that council approved that the remaining portion of land be developed after reclamation is done by the NFPDC in order to fast track the project.

Minister of Housing, Lands and Urban Development, Ama Pepple, stated the benefit of the project to government, saying a lot of money would accrue to it.

She said the concession would be for over a 30-year period, but “they are going to have a three-year moratorium to enable them start the project and stabilise it.”

According to her, government expects that in addition to the N25.7 billion that would accrue over a 30-year period, it is also expecting about N150 million in ground rents within a year.

One of the delapidated roads in FESTAC Town.

The minister noted that the dilapidation of FESTAC Phase 1 was the refusal of its occupiers to pay the mandatory maintenance fee as stipulated in their letters of offer.

The estate, originally referred to as ‘Festival Town’, is a residential estate designed to house the participants of the Second World Festival of Black Arts and Culture of 1977. Consisting of 5,000 contemporary dwelling units and seven major avenues, the town was designed in an efficient grid in order to accommodate upwards of 45,000 visitors as well as Nigerian employees and officers working at the Festival.

The Nigerian government invested substantial sums of money and resources into building FESTAC Town,

which sported state of the art electrical generators, police and fire stations, access to public transportation, supermarkets, banks, health centres, public restrooms, and postal services.

After the festival, the Federal Government of Nigeria allocated the housing and landed properties to eventual winners who participated in a ballot. Initial regulations forbade such winners from renting and disposing-of the properties to third parties.

Today, FESTAC Town has lost the glamour due to collapse of infrastructure, uncontrolled population and neglect by the authorities.

Lamenting the degradation of FESTAC recently, the pioneered Managing Director of FHA, Mr S.P.O For-

Fashola specifies standard roofing sheet size for developers

Gbagada Housing Estate, Lagos.

DAYO AYEYEMI

I

t has now become an offence for building owners to use sub-standard roofing sheet size for housing in Lagos State.

As part of conscious efforts to prevent avoidable disasters, the Lagos State Government has recommended roofing sheet sizes for private, commercial and industrial houses in the metropolis.

Speaking at the 5th Climate Change Summit organised by Lagos Ministry

of the Environment, Governor Babatunde Fashola said the state government has recommend 0.55millimetres (mm) as roofing sheet size for private homes and 0.70mm for commercial and industrial concerns.

The theme of the summit is “Vulnerability and Adaptability to Climate Change in Nigeria: Lagos State Transportation, Housing and Infrastructure in Focus.”

The governor stated that his government has adopted aluminium and ceramic materials for roofing of houses to aid the natural cooling effects of

homes thereby eliminating artificial cooling through air conditioning units and conserve energy.

Besides, Fashola said design of houses in the state has incorporated the concept of natural lighting thus, reducing over dependence on electricity for lighting, most especially during the day.

In addition, he explained that housing schemes are now being developed in a manner to lower the burden on land use resulting in conservation of land mass While warning professionals in the built environment not to be a part of lowering the standard, the governor urged agencies like the Standard Organisation of Nigeria to ensure that substandard materials are not brought in to the country and the state.

He said the state Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development is already issuing notice of non compliance to professional associations and members “who we find as accomplices in the construction and built environment.”

He said, “This is the time when we cannot afford to build with substandard materials. Our professionals should not be a part of lowering the standard. We will act severely to pun-

tune Ebie, said the glory of the estate has gone, adding that he was sad seeing FESTAC turning to slum.

He said, “The glory of FESTAC which I pioneered is gone. Lagos State should do something about it just as it is carrying out beautification projects across the state.”

Recalling how the estate used to be a point of attraction to citizens and foreigners in terms of beauty, aesthetic and serenity at the inception, Ebie described FESTAC as the height of housing development in the country.

Based on plans, he explained that government was expected to replicate the estate in a continuous manner to solve housing problem in the country but due to instability in the polity, the programme was aborted. ish anyone who participates in it.”

The governor stated that year after year, the state holds the climate change summit as a demonstration of its commitment to make it better, adding that a look around today would show that no human conflict has claimed many lives as the disasters of nature have claimed.

“No war has devastated human property and assets as natural disasters have claimed. It is a war that if we work together to fight, human civilisation will win,” he said.

Fashola noted that this year’s climate change summit focused on transportation, housing and infrastructure, adding that it explained why the state is cleaning over 1000 of drainage network round the city spread across 24 local government areas and local council development areas.

He said since the stock of houses are not enough and more houses are needed, the emphasis should be about the people not allowing the houses to be taken over by flood.

As part of efforts to protect the environment, he urged people to change their construction methods by ensuring that half of the laterite, granite and sand that they use for construction is not dumped in front of the drains in the neighbourhoods because once it is obstructed, there would be problems.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Olowora eyes ICPC Marathon prize 30

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

We won’t take the game with Kenya lightly because the pressure in on us to maintain our African status - Super Eagles’ defender, Kenneth Omeruo

AYC: We must beat Gabon – Obuh

Confed Cup: Rochas lauds Heartland

C

oach of the Flying Eagles, John Obuh, said yesterday that his team had put behind the 1-0 loss it suffered at the hands of the Malian team on Sunday in the ongoing U-20 Africa Youth championship in Algeria.

Obuh’s remark was contained in a statement signed by the team’s Media Officer, Samm Audu. He added that they would now focus on tomorrow’s must-win match against Gabon.

“We can’t afford to dwell on the defeat by Mali. We just must be strong mentally for our next game against Gabon, so that we can win it and stay on in the competition.

“It was unfortunate that we lost as we did not plan to do so; we knew they will come out strongly against us, we must now look to our next game,” Obuh said.

The statement, however, said that Obuh bemoaned his team’s poor finishing in the game, which they dominated from start to finish.

Today’s Matches Benin

v

Ghana

Egypt

v

Algeria

Oboabona gets Euro leagues’ offers

A

frica Cup of Nations star, Godfrey Oboabona, has disclosed that clubs from five top leagues in Europe have made offers to him.

The Sunshine Stars of Akure defender in an exclusive interview with MTNFootball.com stated that he has had offers from Spain, England, Germany, Italy and France.

“I already have offers from the top five leagues in the world. But like you know the transfer window had closed by the time the Nations Cup ended,” he stated.

“If I want to make any move now then it would be to an African country. And I don’t want such a move when I have offers from Europe.”

27

G

Line-up of the Harambee Stars

W/Cup qualifier: Harambee Stars arrive Thursday EVEREST ONYEWUCHI SPORTS EDITOR

A

25-man delegation of the Harambee Stars will depart Nairobi on Thursday morning aboard a Kenyan Airways flight, to arrive in Lagos in the afternoon of same day.

Spokesman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ademola Olajire, informed National Mirror yesterday that Alhaji Omar Sey of The Gambia, Match Commissioner for the World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Kenya in

Calabar on Saturday, would arrive in Nigeria tomorrow, same day the referees from Botswana are expected in town.

World football governing body, FIFA, has already appointed Mr. Patrick Beckles from Barbados as Security Officer for the showdown at the U. J. Esuene Stadium.

FIFA had earlier appointed Joshua Bondo from Botswana as Referee, with his compatriots, Meshack Medupi and Moemedi Monakwane as Assistant Referees 1&2. Kutlwano Leso is the Fourth Official, while Cameroun’s Richard Mba-

ku-Fonjah will be the Referee Assessor.

Meanwhile, Francebased Dennis Oliech is the only professional who reported to the Harambee Stars’ training camp yesterday to join the homebased players as the team prepares to face the Super Eagles on Saturday.

Kenya’s coach, Adel Amrouche, was a happy man to see the experienced Oliech report, but added that he was not worried about the other professionals not turning up in time because he would deal with the players available.

“I am working with the players I have in the team currently. Whoever joins us along the way is welcome but I cannot certainly say when all the foreign-based players will be here,” said the former Burundi coach.

Amrouche maintained that facing Nigeria is like playing any other country, adding that playing the Eagles will even get them under some pressure since they have just won the African trophy.

“We need to prepare our minds to give the best. We can get a result in Nigeria,” he said.

overnor Rochas Okorocha has lauded Heartland FC of Owerri for its victory over US Bitam of Gabon on Sunday in the ongoing CAF Confederation Cup, saying it showed teamwork and dedication.

Heartland defeated the visiting Gabonese team 2-1 at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri. John Osaz and Achor Isa scored for Heartland, while Dyissikadie Alan scored for Bitam.

Okorocha said after the match that the state government would support the club to make its trip to Gabon next month for the second leg of the encounter.

He charged the club to also win in Libreville, saying he hoped the club would reach the final in the tournament.

The governor promised that all benefits meant for the players would be paid to them, to help to boost their morale.

Heartland’s Chief Coach, Ndubuisi Ndubueze, expressed worry over the goal which his side conceded, saying it could be technically dangerous to concede a goal at home in such a tournament.

The coach said they had expected to win with a big margin, to enable them play with a relaxed mind in Gabon and promised that the club would raise its game in their second leg.

Oduamadi, Onazi hit Calabar camp today IKENWA NNABUOGOR

I

taly-based duo of Ogenyi Onazi and Nnamdi Oduamadi are expected to hit Super Eagles’ Calabar camp today ahead of the World Cup qualifier against the Harambee Stars of Kenya holding on Saturday.

The Varese midfielder,

Oduamadi, who arrived the country on Sunday, told National Mirror that he would be departing Lagos for Calabar today, to join his mates who opened the Calabar camp on Monday evening.

The on-loan AC Milan youngster, who did not play in Varese’s last league game on Saturday, said he was upbeat about the game and promised he would do his

best to grab a shirt.

Onazi, who played for Lazio in their Seria A league loss to Torino on Sunday, also said that he would fly to Abuja this morning and depart for Calabar later in the afternoon.

Similarly, Heartland FC left back, Benjamin Francis, has rejoined the Eagles’ camp after helping his team beat Gabon’s US

Bitam 2-1 in the first leg, first round of the 2013 CAF Confederation Cup in Owerri on Sunday.

Francis, named by Coach Stephen Keshi in the nine-man home-based list, played the entire game in Owerri, flew back to Abuja yesterday morning, just on time to catch the Calabar flight with the rest of the home-based team.

Oduamadi

28

Sport Tit bits...

Y. Toure Latest reports said PSG is believed to be targeting Manchester City midfielder, Yaya Toure, who is looking for the last big contract of his career as the Eastlands club is not rushing into new contract talks.

Toure, 29, would be delighted to sign a new five-year deal but is unlikely to be offered a contract by City for as long as that, given his age.

City is also looking to recruit next generation of stars in a reshaped squad.

Diarra

Fulham Manager, Martin Jol, is not ready to shut the door on Mahamadou Diarra earning a new deal at the Cottage.

Jol fears the former Real Madrid midfielder may not appear again this season due to a knee injury.

“Mahamadou was the main man last season and it was a boost for us to get a player of his quality but you need him fit,” the Dutchman said.

“Hopefully in a couple of months we will sit down with him and make a decision.”

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Puyol

Barcelona captain, Carles Puyol, could play again this season after undergoing knee surgery.

The 34-year-old Spain international defender had arthroscopic surgery on the cartilage in his right knee and the surgeons, Ramon Cugat and Ricard Pruna, refused to name a date for his possible comeback.

“Carles will set his own recovery time and it could be a month-anda-half, two or three,” Cugat said yesterday.

Valdes Former Brazil goalkeeper, Claudio Taffarel, has supported Sao Paulo’s move for Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

Sao Paulo has launched a bid for Valdes in the coming summer market.

G lo

Hammers rattle Terry

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helsea was on Sunday embroiled in yet another police probe after defender John Terry was hit by a missile in the win over West Ham. Hammers’ fans launched coins and bottles at Blues players as they celebrated Frank Lampard’s 200th goal for the club.

A hot dog g was also launched in his direction

from

Terry

Chelsea captain, John Terry, is a target for cashed-up Middle Eastern clubs as latest reports said clubs are investigating the opportunity of signing the Blues’ centre back.

Terry’s former England manager Sven GoranEriksson is now Sporting Director at Al Nasr, while current UAE Pro-League champion Al-Ain and ambitious Al Jazira could also afford him.

“There are a few clubs who could afford John and his signing would be a massive coup over here,” a UAE source said yesterday.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

the away end.

Metropolitan Police chiefs confirmed they have opened an investigation after receiving an official complaint regarding the incident.

The FA was meeting at press time yesterday to consider whether to begin its own investigation into the ugly scenes.

Tensions between Terry and visiting supporters were already boiling point as West Ham fans directed abuse towards the Chelsea skipper as he warmed up early in the first-half.

In response, Terry mimicked lifting a number of trophiesa reference to the three Premier League titles, five FA C u p s, t w o League C u p s and European Cup he has won at Chelsea.

There were no arrests or ejections yesterday, but Chelsea security staff had met to study CCTV footage to identify the culprits.

The incident is the fourth police investigation Chelsea has been involved in this season.

R

Sp

tim ar du

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W/Cup qualifiers: Ferdinand withdraws from Three Lions M

an anchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand, has sensationally Fe pulled out of the England squad pu World Cup 2014 qualifiers preparing for f and Montenegro. with San Marino M After three thr days of delayed acceptance to call, Ferdinand met with his latest national na Roy Hodgson, in London England Manager, Ma on Sunday to t ask to be excused from the ties, saying they would jeopardise his season.

“It was iimportant for me to be able to speak with Roy face to face and explain the one thing I made clear was situation, and a and commitment to repthat my passion pa is as strong as ever,” the resent my country c big g defender de efend nde explained yesterday.

“It that I won’t be able to “I It is i disappointing disa play pl ay a part partt in i the upcoming games but I told want to continue to be available Roy Ro y that I w and I look forward to working for England g g with him in n the future.”

Meanwhile, Steven Caulker has been call up to the squad, even as Ferdinand’s decision is set to attract criticism after a somewhat ridiculous ‘will he/won’t he’ saga that has taken place ever since he was recalled

by Hodgson last Thursday.

After initially warning on Friday that Ferdinand may be withdrawn from the squad, United Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, said after Saturday’s win over Reading in the Barclays Premier League that the 34-year-old would join up.

It was thought at that point that Ferdinand would not feature against San Marino but would be selected for the tougher game in Montenegro, until Hodgson lost Tottenham’s Michael Dawson to injury on Sunday while Chelsea’s Gary Cahill also suffered a knock and is set to be assessed by mediy the England g cal team.

Toon coach faces FA ire

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ewcastle’s Coach, John Carver, could be charged by the FA after his ugly half time bust-up with Callum McManaman following the Wigan winger’s horror tackle on Massadio Haidara during the 2-1 defeat at the DW Stadium on Sunday.

Carver, whose initial career at Newcastle was wrecked by injury before he made a first team appearance for his boyhood club, joined Newcastle as a coach in 1999 as part of Sir Bobby Robson’s backroom team and remained with them until Graeme Souness took over in 2004.

He then joined Leeds as part of Kevin Blackwell’s back-room staff,

but then got the chance to be a manager in MLS with Toronto.

After a year Stateside, Carver returned to England as assistant head coach to Paul Mariner at Plymouth Argyle in December 2009.

But less than a year later, his friend Gary Speed convinced him to join him at Bramall Lane as a coach at Sheffield United, when Speed left for the Wales job, Carver stayed in South Yorkshire, but was overlooked for the job for Micky Adams.

In January 2011, Alan Pardew took Carver back to St James’ Park as his assistant, it was initially a short-term deal, but later signed a five-and-a-half year deal.

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AVB sure of CL spot

ottenham Hotspur Manager, Andre Villas-Boas, remains confident of guiding the club to Champions League qualification despite Sunday’s damaging 1-0 defeat by Fulham.

Spurs dropped to fourth in the Barclays Premier League thanks to a Dimitar Berbatov strike which rounded off a poor week for the north London club.

Tottenham, who lost to Liverpool last Sunday and Inter Milan on Thursday, lies four points ahead of Arsenal, who has a match in hand against Everton next month.

Spurs threw away Champions League qualification last term thanks to a woeful run in the final quarter of the campaign but Villas-Boas is adamant that will not be the

case this time around.

“We have the direct games against Arsenal and Chelsea which can enable us to get back to third hopefully, or bring Man City closer to us,” Villas-Boas said yesterday.

“We want to build a margin over Arsenal and we have to get the most amount of points from the next games. After the international break we have to get back to business and do our job against Swansea and try to collect the points there to put us in a more comfortable position by the time we play Man City.”

Meanwhile, the Portuguese gaffer has ruled Aaron Lennon (groin and hamstring) and Michael Dawson (hamstring) out of England’s double-header with San Marino and Montenegro.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Gunners set to ose Villa

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Platt eyes title defence

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anchester City’s First-team coach, David Platt, has vowed to fight to the end in he club’s title defence pursuit.

The champion has fallen a near-inurmountable 15 points behind rival Manchester United at the top of the Barclays Premier League with just ine games remaining, the latest blow oming at Goodison Park as City was nce again outplayed by its bogey side Everton, losing 2-0 on Saturday “It doesn’t change anything for us etween now and the end of the seaon. Every game we go into we have a ocus and a professionalism to try to win it,” Platt said.

City failed to compete with Everon’s enthusiasm and were fortunate Kevin Mirallas had already had a goal arshly disallowed before Osman truck his superb opener after 32 mintes.

“It is never an easy place to come s you are always under a certain mount of pressure,” Platt defended he Goodison loss.

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Racist slur: Inter nears UEFA hammer

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urope’s football governing body, UEFA, has opened up a disciplinary case against Inter Milan for fan racism and other charges stemming from last week’s Europa League match with Tottenham Hotspur.

The game was marred by apparent racist abuse from Inter fans directed at Emmanuel Adebayor, whose extra-time goal proved decisive.

Trailing 3-0 from the first leg, Inter won 4-1 but exited on the away-goals rule.

Besides racism, UEFA is also accusing Inter of “insufficient organisation” for the match at the San Siro, and “throwing of missiles and/or fireworks.”

Monkey chants were report-

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eports yesterday indicated that Arsenal could miss out on signing Barcearcelona’s forward David Villa afterr the panish club offered him a new contract. t.

Villa is due to be a free agent in 14 months nths ime, with several English clubs sniffing ffing round to see if they can get him for a reuced price.

However, Barcelona feels he still has as a ery important role at the club and staying ying n Spain may be his best chance of competmpetng for a place in the national side.

Arsenal’s striking problems have been well documented of late, with Arsene sene Wenger allowing Theo Walcott some time p front before switching back to Olivierr Gioud for the most recent games.

Forward Marouane Chamakh is currentrenty on-loan at West Ham after failing to onvince his manager that he has much f a future at the club.

Villa, who is Spain’s record goal corer, has been out of favour at the Nou Camp after returning at the tart of the season from eight months ut with a broken leg.

The 31-year-old joined Barcelona from Valencia in 2010 for a fee of £35million, and s reportedly on a deal worth £7m a year.

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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

ed during the tie while an inflatable banana was also seen in the crowd.

The disciplinary committee of UEFA will meet over the issue on April 19.

Inter has already been fined £43,000 (50,000 euros) by Serie A officials this season after the club’s fans were found guilty of racially abusing former Inter players Mario Balotelli and Sulley Muntari, who now play for AC Milan, in the Milan derby last month.

Earlier this season UEFA fined Lazio on two separate occasions for the behaviour of their fans, including racist chanting, during Europa League group matches against Spurs.

Villa

Berbatov gets Jol’s nod

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ulham Manager, Martin Jol, has hailed striker Dimitar Berbatov after the forward lived up to his promise to shoot down his former club Tottenham on Saturday.

Berbatov has now racked up 10 goals for Jol this season, and he was so confident that he would secure a shock victory for the west London club that he told his manager he would do before the match.

“Before the game you hope for a point but Berbatov came to me and told me ‘you have to trust me’,” Jol said yesterday.

“I thought he was joking. But it turns out as one of the best wins ever.

“The only thing he wants is a day off if he scores. I promised him a day off and he scores!”

Interestingly, Jol enjoyed three successful seasons in charge of Spurs before he was ruthlessly axed.

Berbatov

Cranes’ striker, Geoffrey Massa (l) during training in Kampala, recently

W/Cup 2014: Cranes a mbush Lone Star in Ghana

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he Cranes of Uganda will set up a training camp in Accra, Ghana ahead of a crucial 2014 World Cup qualifier with the Lone Star in Liberia on Sunday.

Uganda Football Association spokesman, Rogers Mulindwa, confirmed to MTNFootball.com the decision of the technical and executive com-

Platini

mittees for the team to train in the Ghanian capital city for three days before heading to Monrovia.

“The team will go into residential training at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole on Monday and fly out on Thursday aboard Kenya Airways,” Mulindwa said yesterday.

Liberia hosts Uganda at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex.

Uganda is currently second in the group behind Senegal after its two draws against Angola and Senegal.

The technical committee also disclosed that strikers Geoffrey Massa (Cyprus) and Emmanuel Okwi (Tunisia) will link up with the rest of the team in Accra.

Some of the Cranes pros like Geoffrey Walusimbi, who plies his trade with Don Bosco in DR Congo, Musa Mudde and Abbey Dhaira (Simba, Tanzania) and striker Robert Ssentongo St. George, Ethiopia) have already arrived in the country.

Joseph Oloya, Kizito Geoffrey and South Africa-based goalkeeper Denis Onyango are expected, while skipper Andy Mwesigwa, Isaac Isinde and TP Mazembe’s Mike Mutyaba arived in the camp early yesterday.

US-based Henry Kalungi will be the last arrival today, while Joseph Ochaya is already in Ghana, where he features for the Premier League giants Asante Kotoko.

L-R: Representative of Sports Minister, Mr. Yemi Idowu; Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Sola David-Borha; Marketing and TV Director, Confederation of African Football (CAF), Amr Shaheen and ex- striker, Victor Ikpeba, during the unveiling of the AFCON trophy by CAF and Stanbic IBTC in Lagos recently.

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

On the track with

YEMI OLUS danyella172003@yahoo.com

AYC: Ogba insists on ‘formidable team’

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ew days to the Confederation of Africa Athletics Youth Championship holding from March 27 to April 1 in Warri, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) President, Solomon Ogba, has stated that Nigeria’s contingent will be the one to beat.

About 31 countries are expected to participate in the championship which is expected to berth the next generation of athletes who will make the continent proud at the global stage.

“We assure you that we will present a formidable team because we are hosting and want to win,” Ogba said.

“We are focused on getting the right ages and putting them in camp. Athletics happens to be the flagship of sports in Africa. Africa is desirous of getting back to the basics and this is what the Caribbeans did some years ago by organising youth and junior competitions.

“The continent was sleeping at that time but I can tell you that it means we have done things by trial and error, although we want to have a sustainable programme.

“South Africa is com-

ing with a big contingent; likewsie Ethiopia and we cannot be left behind.”

Ogba harped on the organisers’ resolve to field athletes who are within the age bracket with a view to ensuring their longevity in the sport.

“We want to see the last results of the athletes whether they are in school or not and their Birth Certificates,” Ogba said.

“However, it will be acceptable if such athletes are still in secondary school.

“We want athletes that will be there for a long time so it will be in our best interest to get them young.”

Technical Director of the federation, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, however differed with Ogba in terms of prospects for the hosts.

“We are not interested in winning at all cost so that Nigerians don’t come forward to say that we hosted but didn’t win,” Nesiama explained.

“Rather, we are desirous to host and use the right category of athletes who must not exceed 17 years by the end of this year.”

…Onyali-Omagbemi seeks standards

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ormer queen of African tracks and one of Nigeria’s foremost athletes, Mary OnyaliOmagbemi, has called on the organisers of the maiden Confederation of Africa Athletics Youth Championship to ensure the elevation of standards that will be difficult to surpass.

“This competition is the first of its kind in Africa and we need to set standards for future hosts because that’s what competition is all about,” Onyali, who also serves as a member of the Local Organising Committee of the event, told National Mirror last weekend in Lagos.

“We cannot afford to lose on our own turf. So, we need all the support we can get to make the AYC an event that

our youths will remember,” she said.

The two Olympic bronze medalist, who also won several African titles, expressed hope that quality future generation athletes would be discovered at the Warri meet.

“Being a member of the LOC of this grand event is coming very natural to me as an ex-athlete who was discovered as a youth,” she said.

“I was called upon all the way from the USA to be a part of this event and I can only say I feel honoured to be here to serve Nigeria again.

“I believe this is a stepping stone to produce the next ‘Mary Onyali’ and I hope we will be thrilled by the talent on display at the end of the day.”

Aminat Olowora (in yellow trunk) during a recent competition

Olowora eyes ICPC Marathon prize

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riple gold medallist at last year’s National Sports Festival, Aminat Olowora, believes that she is in a good shape to win the Splash FM/ ICPC Integrity Marathon holding in Ibadan, Oyo State on March 24.

The 18-year-old won the 3,000m event with a time of 10:36;27 at the All-Nigeria Relays Challenge in Ijebu-Ode Ogun State last weekend, saying she participated in the event in order to determine her fit-

ness level.

“I’m very happy to have won the 3,000m even though my time was not impressive,” Olowora told National Mirror yesterday.

“But it was fair considering that this is my first race in 2013, although I think I would have put up a better performance if I had tougher opponents. The person who came second trailed far behind so it showed that I was way ahead of my co-competitors.

“My next target is the ICPC Marathon which I hope to win. I came second last year so I’m hoping to beat the defending champion (Genevieve Njoku) this year.”

Despite winning the 1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000m at the Eko 2012 Games, Olowora faces a tough fight in her bid to topple Njoku, a staff of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, who has won the ICPC Marathon for four consecutive times.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Real Estate & Environment

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‘Mainstream climate change for infrastructural development’

Bar Beach

STORIES: DAYO AYEYEMI

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or sustainability purposes, governments at all levels have been urged to properly mainstream climate change into its infrastructural development.

Besides, the Federal Government was also advised to provide an enabling environment for the private sector to aggressively pursue climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives in the interest of green development.

These were some of the recommendations made at the end of the 5th Lagos State Climate Change Summit held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos at the weekend.

With the theme:“Vulnerability and Adaptability to Climate Change in Nigeria- Lagos State Transport, Housing and Infrastructure in Focus,” the summit brought together about 1,000 stakeholders, including members of the National Assembly and Lagos State House of Assembly, traditional rulers, senior civil servants from federal, state, and local governments, political office holders, members of the academia, people from the private sector, national and international experts in climate change, NGOs and environmentalists.

The summit noted that although Africa

contributed only 3.8 per cent of the global greenhouse gas emissions, it would suffer most from the impact of climate change It also recognised the Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (NIAF), a DFID-assisted project with the Federal and State governments including Lagos, in the areas of energy, urban transport, roads and infrastructure delivery and finance to make the country’s infrastructure more climate resilient and sustainable.

The summit observed that there was need for Nigeria in general and Lagos State in particular to optimise the opportunity to transit to a low carbon pathway at lower incremental cost.

One of the high points of the opening ceremony was the signing by Governor Babatunde Fashola and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) Africa of the Local Action for Biodiversity (LAB) Declaration.

By this act, the Lagos State Government committed itself to the protection and conservation of its biodiversity for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The summit commended the state government for its laudable efforts in ensuring that issues of climate change mitigation and adaptation continues to be on the front burner of its development agenda.

The communiqué at the end of the summit urged Lagos State to ensure a

multi-disciplinary approach to the planning, design, construction and management of urban infrastructure.

To make urban infrastructure climateresilient, the summit wants Lagos State Government to continue to pursue the development and implementation of a long-term strategic and inclusive vision that is embedded into the current planning, especially land use allocations, and promotes infrastructure with integrated design solutions.

The communiqué reads, “Lagos State government should further strengthen the capacity of its Electricity Board to pursue its energy conservation initiative; a well-articulated state-level housing and urban policy, that mainstreams climate change mitigation and adaptation into the house building sector, should be developed and implemented for more environmentally-friendly and climate resilient homes that will meet the requirements of the rapidly expanding population in Lagos State.

“The urban development master plan needs to be reviewed and upgraded to include climate change and adaptation considerations; Lagos State Government should continue its efforts to utilise multi-modal mass transport system-BRT, water transport etc in promoting climateresilient transportation; sustainability

in transportation system should be improved by integrating telecommunication access to reduce demand for mobility or transportation.”

The summit also canvassed that governments at all levels should promote climate-smart agriculture and strengthen capacity of small-holder farmers to mainstream climate change impacts into their activities for the attainment of national food security.

It urged Lagos State government to integrate food security and sustainable agriculture into its policies to promote sustainable rural livelihoods in the face of climate change.

It said, “Lagos State should work closely with active and relevant environment/ biodiversity civil society organisations as well as translate its commitment to the Local Action for Biodiversity into the development and implementation of appropriate policies and plans for the protection and conservation of its biodiversity.

“Lagos State government should continue to pursue and re-intensify its current approach to making Lagos more resilient through a well documented and implementable strategy and action plan within the Hyogo Framework for Action (2005 – 2015) and establishment of disaster resistant coastal infrastructure.

Lead speaker, Professor Ogunlade Davidson, who was Sierra Leone’s former Minister for Energy and a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), elaborated on the consequences of climate change in Africa, with emphasis on the continent’s vulnerability to the impact of climate change in the areas of agriculture, biodiversity, energy, water resources, and infrastructure.

He stressed that unless appropriate mitigation and adaptation measures are put in place, Africa would continue to be vulnerable to climate-induced extreme events. His paper on “Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation in Africa: Need for Sustainable Development Strategies,” emphasised the need for Africa to properly identify and exploit opportunities for green economic growth and sustainable development that are increasingly becoming available in the global fight against climate change.

Ogun Bureau of Land to launch CORS network

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s part of measures to ensure efficient management and allocation, the Ogun State Bureau of Lands and Survey will launch its Continuity Operative System (CORS) network in August this year.

The Director-General of the bureau, Mrs Ronke Shokefun, who disclosed this to journalists, pointed out that four CORS stations would be launched to enable government determine where to locate its infrastructure and help to address boundary disputes, reduce loss of territory as well as generate more revenue.

She disclosed that the equipment has arrived at the port to allow surveyors, government agencies and the general public have access to data through radio satellite, GRPS and

the Internet.

She noted that the bureau has also embarked on the computerisation of its registry documents in a digital archive as well as developing a modern Geographical Information System (GIS).

Explaining, Shokefun said GIS would capture, store, analyse, share, manage and display all types of geographical data and automate the workflow processes within the bureau.

She said, “The goal of the GIS and Land Management System (LAMS), is to ensure that land administration in Ogun State meets the acceptable global standards and help government to enforce judicious use of its land as well ensure full compliance

with its various land policies and building regulations.”

According to her, other benefits of the new measures include eradication of double allocation of land, easy processing of the title documents and preventing loss of land to other states and the Benin Republic trough clear and unambiguous demarcations.

She stressed that accuracy of surveying measurements, faster search for property titles, online search facilities and increased revenue are other advantages derivable from the new innovations.

She advised corporate organisations and individuals to always patronise the bureau in order to get genuine allocation of land.

Gov Ibikunle Amosun

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Comfort and beauty of leather sofa Leather furniture comes in different varieties, styles, and qualities. Depending on your budget and lifestyle, you can determine what type of leather furniture is best for your home. Here are guides for buying the right leather furniture for your home.

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eather Types: Leather types refer to the dyeing or tanning process of hides. Full aniline leather dyeing is for the best fullgrain hides that have a small number of imperfections on the surface.

Semi-aniline leather is processed with a top coat that helps create fadeand soil-resistant pieces. Pigmented leather comes from hides that are not suitable for aniline or semi-aniline leathers. This type is durable and easier to maintain.

Understand leather qualities: Leather has natural imperfections, such as discoloration, veins and uneven surface pattern. When buying leather furniture keep this in mind that it is not a defect and rather a quality of the leather. When buying pieces of furniture, try to buy them all at one time. If you order at different times, they can have drastic co-

WHEN PURCHASING

LEATHER FURNITURE, ENSURE YOU ARE ON BOARD FOR THE REALITY OF CARING

FOR IT.

LEATHER IS A

GORGEOUS MATERIAL lour variations and won’t look good when paired together.

Know how to care for leather: Leather needs to have moisture and care on a routine basis. If leather isn’t cared for correctly, it can lead to cracking, peeling and lead to a breakdown of the leather. When buying leather furniture, moisturizer usually is given with it along with care and clean instructions are also given.

Courtesy: www.ehow.com/leather-sofa-buying-guide

Before purchasing, decide if you will be able to keep up with the care.

•Buy furniture from a reputable source: When purchasing leather furniture, ensure your source is a reputable furniture manufacturer. Often times the source can use a combination of vinyl and leather. Since vinyl is a man-made product it will most likely age faster than the leather causing your furniture to lose its appeal over time. When you buy leather, there should be paperwork or authenticity care for instructions along with the furniture.

When purchasing leather furniture, ensure you are on board for the reality of caring for it. Leather is a gorgeous material and when used in furniture, can bring your home years of comfort and beauty. Consider purchasing leather sofas that have zipper leather covers. This will ensure that you can replace the cushion at a later time, and

not the whole sofa! Ask your furniture store if they have leather guidelines and instructions before you buy to help make your decision an informed one.

Styles: The style of your leather sofa depends on the rest of home decor or desired look. Traditional style is functional and conventional, classic and timeless. Transitional style is a look between contemporary and traditional. Modern style is about clean lines and geometric patterns. Casual Style is considered laid back, relaxing and simple in details.

Support: When purchasing a leather sofa, ask about the type of support in suspensions and coil springs. While the interior of your leather sofa is invisible on the outside, it is what makes a sofa durable as well as provide years of comfort. For leather sofas that are soft, consider those supported by 8-way suspension. The elasticity in these sofa seats comes from single-coil springs attached to the webbing with link, which are then hand-tied to each other

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Real Estate & Environment

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System to track climate change adaptation in Africa, South Asia out soon DAYO AYEYEMI

WITH AGENCY REPORT

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f things go as planned, new system for tracking the social impact of efforts to adapt to climate change would soon be in place in Africa and South Asia.

Working with policy and research partners in these regions, the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), with partners Adaptify and Garama 3C Limited, has designed a framework and tools that will enable countries to ensure their efforts to adapt to climate change and efforts to development work in concert.

IIED is engaging with governments of Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nepal, and Pakistan to test the framework and tools as means to evaluate a range of climate adaptation activities.

Government representatives and researchers are expected to join IIED staff and other partners in Edinburgh on March 19 to 20 to review the design for the feasibility testing arrangements and next steps.

Representatives of the Scottish Government and their advisers will also attend the meeting to share their own experiences of planning climate adaptation and designing a monitoring and evaluating framework.

Head of IIED’s Climate Change Group, Dr. Simon Anderson, said, “While most frameworks for evaluating responses to climate change assume that adaptation will neutralise harm and allow development to continue as planned, but this underestimates the real change needed to keep development on track.

“As governments and development

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Honourable Wahab Alawiye-King; Governor Babatunde Fashola; and Marketing Director, Nigerite, Mr. Toyin Gbede, during the presentation of award for the construction of Nigerite Centre for Excellence in Building Component Solutions in Ikorodu and facilitating an industry backed competency development curriculum for LASTVEB, in Lagos recently.

partners begin to invest large sums of money in action to adapt to climate change, it is essential that they focus on adaptation’s contribution to long term development, and not just spend money on adaptation projects.

“Unless they can track adaptation and measure development outcomes, there is a risk that funds will be poorly spent,” he said.

The new framework and tools that IIED and partners have developed will enable governments and development agencies to assess whether adaptation projects enhance or compromise development. They will measure how fairly the costs and benefits of such projects are distributed. And they will help to identify where to spend future invest-

ments.

The framework and tools – known collectively as the Tracking Adaptation and Measuring Development (TAMD) Framework – can be tailored to suit individual country contexts, different sectors and at various scales. The framework is described in a new paper that IIED published this week.

“All countries need to adapt to climate change, but they need to be sure they do so in a way that does not harm their social and economic development,” said project leader Simon Anderson. “The tools we have developed will allow countries to ensure that adaptation and development work handin-hand. Ultimately this will mean better management and more account-

Fashola rewards Nigerite for CSR on education

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agos State Gover nment yesterday presented Corporate Social Responsibility Award to Nigerite Limited, a leading building component manufacturing and marketing company, in recognition of its unflinching support for the state’s Support our Schools Initiative.

Presenting the award at a well attended breakfast meeting held at Lagos City Hall, Governor Babatunde Fashola said the award was a way of showing appreciation to the company, as the result of its contributions to the state’s educational development are already being felt.

His words: “We are gathered here to reward and show appreciation to companies and individuals who have contributed to our initiative ‘Support our schools initiative’.

It is a wakeup call to corporate organizations and individuals who have not joined the initiative, everybody has a role to play in development of appropriate human capacity necessary for national development.

He stated that the state is creating a platform whereby private individuals, NGO’s and corporate organisa-

tions can actively participate in uplifting schools in Lagos State through donations, thereby participating in bringing up future leaders.

He added that with support from major organisations like Nigerite, the initiative has started yielding results as students are now having conducive environments to study compare to what it was in the past.

Speaking at the occasion, Marketing Director, Nigerite Limited, Mr. Toyin Gbede said his organisation is grateful to Lagos State government for recognising the little effort of Nigerite to moving education sector forward in the state.

He added that Nigerite as a socially responsible corporate entity, understands the fact that human capital development starts from education and training. “This is why we are partnering with the state agency LASTVEB, in the development of appropriate curriculum for vocational training and ‘skill up’, a PPP arrangement for the development of skillful manpower that can compete globally.

“Indeed, for us as major private

sector player involved in building appropriate future for the Nigerian youth throu g h o u r i n i t i a t ive ‘ t h e yo u t h o u r f u t u r e ’ w e p l e d g e o u r unflinching suppor t towards deve l o p m e n t o f e d u c a t i o n a n d c o n t i n u o u s t r a i n i n g o f yo u n g e r g e n erations, he said.

S u p p o r t o u r s c h o o l s i n i t i a t ive aims to revamp Lagos State educ a t i o n s y s t e m t h r o u g h t h e a c t ive p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f i n d iv i d u a l s, c iv i l s o c i e t y, a n d c o r p o r a t e b o d i e s who could suppor t one or more o f t h e 1 0 0 1 p u b l i c p r i m a r y, 3 2 9 junior secondary and 312 senior secondary schools and 5 technic a l c o l l e g e s i n L a g o s S t a t e.

N i g e r i t e h a s o ve r t h e ye a r s s u p p o r t e d e d u c a t i o n a l d e ve l o p ment in the state through reb u i l d i n g o f s c h o o l s, i n f r a s t r u c tural facility provisions and recently engaged in construction of a building component solutions and car pentry centre at G T C – I ko r o d u .

T h e c o m p a n y a l s o f a c i l i t a ted the development of an enhanced curriculum in carpentry for LASTVEB.

ability in how investments in adaptation are made.

IIED developed the TAMD framework with funding from the UK’s Department for International Development.

The project’s next steps will include tailoring TAMD to each of the five pilot countries and testing the framework in them at national and sub-national levels.

To offset the greenhouse gas emissions that arise from people travelling to the meeting in Edinburgh, IIED will invest in both a direct emissions offsetting scheme and in projects that help communities adapt to climate change.

IIED will publish a report from the meeting in April.

How to avoid pitfalls when paying rent in cash

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aying rent in cash can be a risky business. Unlike the case with a cheque or credit card, cash is not easily traceable. If your cash rental payment gets lost or falls into the wrong hands, you could face an uphill battle trying to convince your landlord that you paid the rent in full and on time.

Not only do you risk losing a substantial amount of money, but you could also face eviction through no fault of your own.

According to Ron Leshnower@ About.com guide, whether you pay rent in cash on a regular basis or just do it occasionally, it’s important to protect yourself by taking certain precautions.

Never send cash payments through the mail: Not sending cash in the mail is good advice in general, but it’s particularly important when it comes to rent. If you send hundreds of dollars, if not more, to your landlord, there’s a chance the mail will get lost or intercepted along the way. It’s also possible an unscrupulous staffer may pocket some or all of the cash. In all these cases, you’ll probably have no way to prove that you paid the full amount of the rent on time.

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Unethical business practices: CPC/ El-Salem bicker

A collaped building at Jakande Estate, Isolo, Lagos.

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s an Abuja based estate development firm, El-Salem instituted a N1 billion law suit at the High Court, Abuja challenging the propriety of the raid on its office by the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), the agency has justified its action, insisting that it acted in accordance with its enabling law.

This is even as the council maintained that the fact that El-Salem had rushed to court would not debar it from taking the estate development company to court on behalf of the consumers after the completion of its investigation.

CPC is a Federal Government agency charged with the statutory responsibility of protecting the rights of the Nigerian consumers against exploitation by unscrupulous manufacturers and service providers.

The battle line was drawn when the enforcement officials of the council led by the Deputy Director, Surveillance and Enforcement, Engr. Sham Kolo stormed the Abuja office of El-Salem Limited and carted away some operational materials and arrested an unnamed staff. Other valuable office equipment seized from the Abuja office of El-Salem included computers, photo-copy machine and various other useful items.

The council had based its action on multiplicity of complaints it received from the

“I AM TIRED OF THEIR ANTICS; ALL THAT I AM INTERESTED IN NOW IS GETTING BACK MY EQUITY CONTRIBUTION.

I HAVE WAITED FOR CLOSE TO THREE YEARS NOW FOR IT AND I CAN NO LONGER WAIT. consumers who alleged paying between N1million to N4million to the developer for various categories of houses, but were not delivered almost four years after.

Kolo had explained the reason for the raid thus, “We have issues with them where consumers come to patronise their services and the services not rendered.

The council intervened to make sure that whatever they have promised the customers, they go by it.

“After several mediation including serving them with the council’s order which is the apex directive to such agencies to comply with but they refused to respond and that is why we invaded the place.”

One of the victims of the alleged mortgage racketeering, Miss Vivian Uranta, told National Mirror that she paid N1 million equity contribution for a 3-bedroom semi- detached building in Bykassa Lugbe to EL-Salem through A.G Homes, a Primary Mortgage Institution (PMI) on September 11, 2011, but could not have her home

almost three years after the payment.

Narrating her ordeal, she explained that each time she made inquiries about the state of the mortgage, El-Salem usually came up with spurious explanation that while the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) had approved the funds, it was yet to be disbursed.

“I am tired of their antics; all that I am interested in now is getting back my equity contribution. I have waited for close to three years now for it and I can no longer wait. The idea of making the contribution in the first instance is to get a home over my head. If that cannot be achieved, I think I should be able to have my money back,” she said in an emotional laden voice.

However, launching a fight back, ElSalem on March 5, 2013, challenged the council’s decision to raid its premises at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, claiming N1 billion damages.

The Executive Director of the company,

Dr Michael Onyebuchi, had, in a statement punctured the power of CPC to invade its premises, stressing that it was illegal for the council to intimidate and harass its staff and customers at gun point without any previous notice or warning of the raid.

He said, “Having cooperated fully with the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), in its investigations, it was illegal for the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) to carry out a raid on the company without following due process.

“El-Salem also contends that CPC carried out the raid out of malice and that the raid was an abuse of office because the aggrieved customers whom the CPC pretended to be protecting are either staff or spouses of staff of the CPC”, Onyebuchi added.

While no date has been fixed for the hearing of the case, the Legal Adviser to the CPC, Mr Emmanuel Ataguba who responded to the court threat, insisted the council acted within its enabling law.

He explained that the mission of the council at the Abuja office of the developer was to obtain useful documents which would enable it prefer a case against the firm. According to him, once the Council concluded its investigation, it would charge El-Salem to court on behalf of the aggrieved consumers, whether or not it had taken a preemptive court against it.

“We don’t go to court for its own sake. We try to resolve cases between the consumers and the products and services providers first before recourse to court. In the case of El-Salem, we received a multiplicity of complaints from the consumers about Elsalem. As we speak we have not received notice of court processes.

“However, let us assume that they have taken us to court. They have taken us to court based on our enforcement action that we carried out in their office on the 25th of February. The whole idea of the enforcement action was to carry out an investigation into their activities.

“According to the consumers who have reported to us, they have continued to collect money and they do not give houses when they are supposed to. We have been to their premises to pick all the documents and all that we need to carry out an investigation to find out how many houses are on ground, how many consumers are likely to be duped, how many consumers are likely to have paid money and will not get houses.”

Rector advocates research into collapsed buildings ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

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he Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Mrs Theresa Taiwo Akande, has charged the academia to brace up for the challenges of collapse of buildings in the nation through the tradition of research and development.

He said cases of collapsed buildings “is of serious concern because of its frequency and the enormous loss of lives resulting from such tragic occurrence”.

Akande spoke at the yearly confer-

ence of the institution’s School of Environmental Studies tagged, “Mainstreaming Current Socio-economic/ Technological Issues and Transformational Agenda into the Built Environment”.

She said, “As academics, we should, in the tradition of research and development, keenly probe into possible solutions, alternatives and ways of bringing about a robust and long-lasting built environment.

“We, as professionals in the built environment should strive to adopt technologies that can cut costs while

remaining effective. There should be research into the increased use of local contents like clay in building,” she said.

The rector, who urged professionals to cooperate to add value to the field, canvassed for the enforcement of relevant rules and regulations to check the heinous role of charlatans in the field as she urged professional bodies to get government to enforce the extant policy on certification of buildings.

Speaking earlier, Dean of School of Environmental Studies, Mr Ola-

pade Olalusi, a builder, said apart from enhancing the aesthetic outlook and functional efficiency of city structures, “built environment has been identified as the key indicator and driver of economic activities and wealth creation” Olalusi said conferences of this nature to fashion out how the economic potentials of the built sector would be realisable was imperative if the country wanted to achieve its vision of becoming a developed nation capable of meeting its citizens’ basic needs by the year 2020.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Aviation

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

35

Demuren’s removal: Stakeholders question NCAA’s autonomy With the last week’s removal of Dr. Harold Demuren as the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), by the Presidency, stakeholders and professionals in the country’s aviation industry are questioning the autonomy granted the agency in November 2006. OLUSEGUN KOIKI writes.

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n November 2006, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), became autonomous, which is supposed to free it from political interference or the Ministry of Aviation. By the autonomy, the Director-General of NCAA and the agency is responsible to the Presidency.

But six years and four months after, stakeholders and professionals in the civil aviation industry doubt if the agency is truly autonomous. Although, as it is, the Minister of Aviation can not sack the Director-General of the agency, but the agency is still subjected to supervision and control of the ministry.

For instance, the activities of the agency is still being scrutinised by the minister, who can decide to either approve or disapprove of its budget before being forwarded to the Presidency. Those spoken to said that NCAA only achieved autonomy on paper while in reality; it is still subjected to the whims and caprices of the Ministry of Aviation.

In other climes, once an agency is autonomous, its performance is rated by the Presidency without interference in its running.

However, there are fears that if it becomes glaring that the agency is not truly autonomous as expected, Nigeria may lose its 2010 attained American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Category One Status.

With the status, Nigerian carriers are able to reciprocate direct flight operations to the US. The direct flight service was halted some years before the demise of the defunct national carrier, Nigeria Airways Limited.

Those spoken to by National Mirror decried that over six years after NCAA achieved autonomy, its implementation has been a major task.

Secretary-General of the Aviation Round Table (ART), Mr. Sam Akerele, noted that NCAA only achieved autonomy on paper, but in practice, it is still attached to the aviation ministry.

He explained that it would be difficult for NCAA to achieve autonomy inasmuch it still takes its annual budget to the ministry while its activities are subjected to the approval of the minister.

He said, “On paper, NCAA has autonomy, but in practice, some ministers have told us that as long as NCAA brings their budget to them to submit, it can not have autonomy and also, it must comply with the civil service rules. The autonomy can not be there.

Demuren

Oduah

EVEN THE PERMANENT SECRETARY CAN ORDER THE DG NOT TO TALK TO THE MEDIA AND IF THEY WANT TO GRANT MEDIA INTERVIEW, THEY HAVE TO GET CLEARANCE FROM THE MINISTER’S OFFICE. TO GET THE AUTONOMY, WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. ONCE PEOPLE HAVE POWER, THEY DON’T WANT TO SURRENDER IT “In some other countries, such agency has its own budget, its own environment and it doesn’t have to take proposals to the ministry. When you look at the removal of Demruen, you know when he was appointed, there was no Civil Aviation Act and when we eventually had one, the act said he would have a five-year term and renewable.

“Incidentally, the same National Assembly confirmed his appointment and when they started to raise eyebrows recently, I knew the executive will also act in order to please the NASS or some other interests in Nigeria. His sack is unfortunate and we received it as a shock, but we believe that he did his best, has the passion for his job, experience, but with all the politics going on if the government says he should move, then, he will have to move and operate in a better environment.”

For NCAA to attain full autonomy, he called for the change of the law, which says the agency must take its budget through the ministry for approval, saying that the budget ought

to go through NASS only for approval and scrutiny.

“The system as it is presently composed is not autonomous because the agency is under the minister of aviation and at the end of the day, it is what the minister wants that it must do because most people are afraid to be removed from their seats, they just fall in line.

“Even the Permanent Secretary can order the DG not to talk to the media and if they want to grant media interview, they will have to take clearance from the minister’s office.

To get the autonomy, we still have a long way to go. Once people have power, they don’t want to surrender it.

“Instead of Ministry of Aviation, Nigeria should go back to the Ministry of Transportation and aviation will just be a unit under the system.

With this, the unit will not be as powerful as we have it now; it can only advice on policy line, but today, all agencies are under the minister. So, where is the autonomy? he asked.

Also, a pilot with the defunct na-

tional carrier, Capt. Tito Omaghomi queried the autonomy of NCAA, saying that the agency’s head is subject to blackmail once he wants to practice to the letter his autonomous power.

Speaking on phone with our correspondent, Omaghomi warned that if political interference continues unabated, Nigeria may lose the FAA Category One Status.

He said, “NCAA by law is autonomous, but whether the Director-General adheres strictly to the autonomy is another question we are to ask. Are they not succumbing to the blackmail of the ministry? If the place is autonomy and you disregard everybody around you because of your autonomous power, then, you start running into problem. That is why people can succumb to blackmail.

“The removal of Demuren was unfortunate, but we shouldn’t worry about it. The government appointed him and renewed his contract and felt they needed to fire him. He is a man who has done a good job. When you see a good professional, you should commend him. You don’t say because a policeman killed somebody, you will now remove the Inspector General of Police. It is not done.

“When the Americans discovered that the agency is not autonomous as expected, then, we will lose the American FAA Category One Status and this will be to the advantages of foreign carriers operating into the country. That is the truth.

“Our airlines won’t be able to operate direct flight to the US. British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, Emirates and others will come here and go to their home countries first and take our citizens to US through indirect flight. Why are we running ourselves down? We have a lot of problems in this country.”

Also, President, Air Transport Staff Senior Services of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) branch, Comrade Ekanem Ekanem said NCAA is not autonomous.

“NCAA is not autonomous because it is under the Ministry of Aviation and the autonomous nature is not well-spelt out. That is the truth”, he said.

Besides, President, Aviation Round Table President, Capt. Dele Ore, expressed fear that Nigeria may lose its Category One Status if the current political interference in the running of the agency is not stopped, just as he said that the reasons given by the Presidency for the sack are not tenable and called on the government to come forward with more plausible reasons.

“We kill and bury our heroes in this country. This is a man that the whole world has acknowledged as an achiever, this is one of our heroes.”

“This man needs the support of every Nigerian because he has done a good job. I don’t know the offence he has committed. This is the greatest inhumanity of man to man,” Ore said.

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Aviation

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Benin Airport embarks on revenue drive

How not to treat passengers during protest

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L-R: Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr.Samuel Ortom, DirectorGeneral, National Automotive Council, Alhaji Aminu Jalal, and Managing Director, VON Automobiles Nigeria Limited, Mr. Tokunbo Aromolaran, when the minister and his team last week paid supervision visit to the plant in Lagos.

He disclosed that a new multistorey car park will be constructed at the airport to accommodate both the car hire service that were displaced and to provide parking space for visitors.

He explained that in line with the aerotropolis concept that a four-star hotel will be constructed and business complex will be erected at the airport to cater for people initially displaced while the remodeling work was going

on.

He assured that the airport will be a one stop shop where everything could be bought without going to the city.

The airport manager disclosed that a new airline has applied to commence flight operations into the airport and it will bring the number of operating airlines to four after the return of Associated Airlines that has gone for a C-check.

First British Airways’ Airbus 380 to debut mid - October

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ritish Airways’ management said its first Airbus A380 will fly on the “Red Carpet Route” from London to Los Angeles, with tickets already on sale since March 5.

The airline said this news should be a great one for Nigerians travelling to Los Angeles via the airline’s base in London.

An online statement signed by the airline’s media agent in the country, stated that the home of Hollywood will be the inaugural destination for the first A380 to be operated by a UK airline, adding that the double-decker superjumbo aircraft is due to be delivered to British Airways in July and seats are now on sale for flights from October 15, 2013.

In celebration, the airline said it’s launching with an offer from London to Los Angeles. Fares start at £499 return in World Traveller (economy) with a special £380 upgrade available for customers wanting to move up to World Traveller Plus. Club World return fares start from £3,800 for two people (£1,900 each).

London-based actress Gemma Arterton said, “Working in film means that I spend a lot of time travelling around the world, often to Hollywood. It’s essential to arrive feeling fresh and ready for the day ahead, as I often hit the ground running, and I prefer to travel in style with British Airways.

“It’s very exciting that the A380 will be flying to Los Angeles. I think the red carpet route will be very popular.”

Airside shegzzy4live2000@yahoo.co.uk 08186007273

STORIES: OLUSEGUN KOIKI ollowing the commissioning of the newly remodelled Benin Airport last week by the Federal Government, the Airport Manager, Mr. Sunday Ayodele has disclosed that the management will embark on revenue drive in nonaeronautical ventures to boost its revenue generation.

Speaking last week in Lagos, Ayodele explained that all over the world, 70 per cent of revenue generation at airports was generated from non-aeronautical sources and assured that the Benin Airport would not be different from others.

According to Ayodele, the airport management will step up its drive to ensure that the revenue base was improved in order to ensure that passengers get the best from the facilities provided through adequate maintenance.

“I want to basically pursue rigorously, the 70 per cent nonaeronautical service of revenue for this airport and I intend to achieve that,” he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Williams

The second A380 route will be to Hong Kong, and customers can book flights now for travel from November 15, 2013. Prices start from £559 return in economy or, for an additional £380, customers can upgrade to World Traveller Plus.

Club World tickets again start from £3,800 for two people (£1,900 each).

A380 enthusiasts eager to be on the very first commercial services should note that dates for these will be announced once plans for training flights are completed.

The airline’s website, www. ba.com will feature information on the new aircraft, including computer generated imagery (CGI) and a short film will be available via youtube: to give customers a feel for

the aircraft. Customers can book via the website or by calling 0844 493 0787.

The A380 will be the largest aircraft in the British Airways fleet, accommodating 469 customers across four cabins. Customers in First will be seated at the front of the main deck. The cabin will offer 14 seats and is evolved from the current First class.

Club World (business class) customers can choose from 44 seats on the main deck, or 53 seats on the upper deck. These upper deck seats will feature a new 2:3:2 configurations across the cabin.

The 55 World Traveller Plus (premier economy) seats will be located on the upper deck while World Traveller (economy) customers can choose seats on both the main and upper deck.

he protest of Aero Airlines workers last week against the management on their conditions of service is no longer news, but what is news is the sordid way that passengers who had hitherto booked flights with the airline were treated by the management.

The protest embarked upon by the workers was not abrupt. The airline was given a 21-day ultimatum by the unions and 48 hours before the protest, the airline’s management had sent a court injunction to the unions restraining them from going ahead with the planned protest, but the workers, through the unions, insisted there was no going back on their decision.

Sadly for the airline, it still went ahead to sell air tickets to unsuspecting passengers who had hoped to board plane to their various destinations for their appointments, but they

were disappointed when they could not fly as anticipated.

In other climes, once there is an anticipated industrial action, the airline’s management informs all its prospective customers of Plan B, but the reverse is always the case in Nigeria. In most cases, the passengers are left to lick their wounds with little hope for compensation.

Airside feels the regulatory authority; Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has a lot of work to do on its economic regulation of the carriers. Most Nigerian carriers care less about their clients, but pre-occupy themselves with profits at the expense of the passengers.

Aero management should ensure that the passengers are fully compensated or there will be torrents of legal actions against the airline soon as indicated by some of the passengers.

Demuren, the end of an era

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ast week’s removal of the DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren came to most stakeholders and professionals in the sector as a rude shock. The antagonists of Demuren might have had their ways, but one hopes the industry will not suf fer on the long run.

Although, there are tens of professionals who can do the job just as Demuren handled it in his seven years and two months in the saddle, Airside feels they may not be as audacious and fearless as the former helmsman.

Demuren came at a time when the industry was in need of a messiah to lift it up from its lowest ebb.

In fact, he was practically begged by the Presidency, Aviation Minister and even professionals to save the industry from its sorry state and he heeded the clarion call.

It is sad that some cabals who felt uncomfortable because of Demuren’s stand, in collaboration with some so called professionals in the sector, are having their way, but let’s pray they will not take us back to the 2005-2006 era. Airside and other interested parties are watching with keen interest.

Arik Air leases two Boeing 737-300 to Emirate Touch Aviation Services

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rik Air and Emirate Touch Aviation Services Limited last week signed a lease agreement for the airline two Boeing 737-300 aircraft.

The Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) agreement was signed in Lagos by the Chairman of Arik Air, Sir Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide and Director-General of Emirate Touch Aviation Services, Prince Isa Bayero.

An online statement signed by the media manager, Arik

Air, Mr. Banji Ola stated that under the terms of the agreement, Arik Air is leasing its two B737-300 aircraft (5N-MJA and 5N-MJB) to Emirate Aviation Services for cargo operations.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Arumemi-Ikhide said the event was significant because it marked the first time the airline was going into such an agreement with a Nigerian company.

He said, “We are pleased with this lease agreement

with Emirate Touch Aviation Services represented by our revered Kano Prince, Bayero.

As a world class airline, our mission is to build alliances and partnerships and thereby increase capacity in the industry.”

Bayero said he was elated to be going into this partnership with the leading indigenous carrier in Nigeria and hoped this will help increase capacity in the industry as envisioned by the founders of Arik Air.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Insurance

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

37

Developing insurance sector through micro insurance With over 112 million potential micro insurance clients lying fallow in the sector, the insurance industry, in harnessing that opportunity, can receive a jolt that will drive the sector forward only if the nation’s uninsured can be brought into the system, writes MESHACK IDEHEN.

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ast week, the insurance sector regulator, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), disclosed that there are at least, 112 million potential micro insurance customers in Nigeria who are yet to be brought under the umbrella of the sector.

Also, NAICOM explained that it has begun the process of fine-tuning a policy framework for micro-insurance services that is designed to cater for the low income earners and people in the rural areas.

Stakeholders have expressed various opinions, with many blaming the government that has neglected the micro insurance sector and the opportunities it portend for the economy in general, and the financial service system in particular.

While harping on the need to encourage the development of the micro insurance sub sector, a move which the Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of NAICOM, Mr. Fola Daniel has said it was specifically designed for the protection of lowincome earners against specific perils, in exchange for regular premium payments proportionate to the likelihood and cost of the risk involved, Insurance Expert and Chief Executive Officer of Conrad Clark and Associates, Mr. Joachim Adenusi, said the initiative on micro insurance policy by the regulators was long overdue.

Adenusi who is the United Kingdom Risk Manager the year 2009 and 2010, also explained that micro insurance, when fully adopted by stakeholders has the capacity to meet and surpass the activities of banks and some other financial institutions put together, due to its (micro insurance) capacity to generate revenue and stimulate the economy for growth through premium payment that is based on informal working group that can be ploughed back into real sector investments.

He explained that the evolvement of micro-insurance in Nigeria because of its huge market size should strive to deepen the insurance market, with a view towards moving insurance into its rightful place as the primary driver of any economic activities.

On their part, the President and General Secretary of the Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria, President, Mr. Michael Omonayin, and Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, said informal workers in Nigeria numbers well above 100 million, and that any insurance policy targeted at them is welcomed, so long as it will recognise the pride and place of informal workers to the

NLC President, Abdulwahed Omar

Adenusi

MICRO INSURANCE IS RECOGNISED AS A USEFUL TOOL

IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AS

MANY LOW-INCOME EARNERS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ADEQUATE RISK-MANAGEMENT TOOLS,

THEY ARE VULNERABLE TO FALL BACK INTO POVERTY IN TIMES OF HARDSHIP sustainable growth and development of the economy.

According to them, informal sector workers have contributed and still contributing in no small measure to the country’s economic growth, what with their investments and contributions to the economy, albeit in bits and peices. Getting an insurance policy that will target their businesses will be of advantage to both the insurance operators and to the country in general.

Explaining that micro-insurance is aimed at getting the people who cannot afford to take insurance at the commercial level to get insurance cover, General Manager of Business Development at Union Assurance Plc, Mr Okanlawon Adelagun, described micro insurance as providing covers without any paraphernalia, he said it is an insurance scheme with its own peculiarities that deals with people who live slightly

above poverty level.

Adelagun said compulsory insurance is aimed at providing cover for a third party that may suffer loss or injury as a result of one’s activity, while micro insurance on the other hand is a cover targeted at the person and not the third party.

According to him, “Micro insurance is recognised as a useful tool in economic development. As many low-income earners do not have access to adequate risk-management tools, they are vulnerable to fall back into poverty in times of hardship, for example when the breadwinner of the family dies, or when high hospital bills force families to take loans with high interest rates. Furthermore, micro insurance makes it possible for people to take more risks,” he explained.

On what may be responsible for the current drive in most parts of the world towards microinsurance, Adelagun explained that it was as a result of the increasing level of poverty worldwide and the need by world leaders to do something to assuage the sufferings of the poor.

“International organisations like the International Labour Organisation (ILO),UNESCO and others, felt that majority of the people in the world live below poverty level and they are unbanked, uninsured and un-catered for by the commercial insurance.”, he added.

He said other sectors of the economy should o consider formulating policies that will target the just like the insurance sector is trying to do, adding that it is only by doing so that growth already achieved in the sector and in the economy can be sustained.

Insurance sector moves to Suspicious Transactions Reporting MESHACK IDEHEN

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nsurance companies in the country are now transiting from Cash Transactions Reporting (CTR), to Suspicious Transactions Reporting (STR), in furtherance of their responsibilities under the Antimoney Laundering and Financial Terrorism Act. Director of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku, disclosed this to journalists recently during a sensitisation programme on Anti-Money Laundering and Combat of Financing of Terrorism Control Measures for Insurance

Companies in Lagos.

She said the migration became necessary to enable the fraud prevention unit to identify and stop transactions that may be injurious to the economy.

According to her, Suspicious Transactions Reporting as required by the law, when the compliance officer sees any potential crime being committed within his company, or that a person in the insurance sector may be used to commit the crime, he reports it to NFIU immediately.

“If they report STR, we can take actions immediately. This is different from CTR which reflects on a daily basis what they deal in as opposed to suspicious transactions

which shows that there is a possibility that a financial institution might be used to commit crime,” Ibekaku stated.

“There are two different reports. Here, we are trying to emphasise more on the suspicious reporting because NFIU has the powers to restrain transactions and to freeze transactions before they occur,” she added.

Also speaking on the unit’s experience with the industry in the area of money laundering and financing terrorism, the director gave the insurance industry a pass mark, saying the incidence is low when compared to other sectors including the banking sector.

“Compared to other sectors; I think it is not that bad, especially when you compare it

with the banking sector. The insurance sector, even though that we are yet to conduct a risk assessment of whether there is huge money laundering or financing of terrorism risks associated with the insurance sector, I will say that the risks is not as high as what we have in the banks. As such, you might not see the level of fraud as we see in the banking sector in the insurance sector.

“What we did at NFIU was first of all to get the banks to make sure that they are reporting and this we have been doing for the past five years. However, we have realised that there is need for the insurance companies also to come on board as required by the law,” she said.

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Insurance

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

NAICOM approves Old Mutual’s acquisition of Oceanic Life MESHACK IDEHEN

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he National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), said it has approved the acquisition of Oceanic Life Insurance Limited, (a former subsidiary of the defunct Oceanic Insurance Company Limited) by Old Mutual, South African insurer.

The new entity which is to be known as Old Mutual Nigeria Life Assurance Company Limited (OMNiLAC), under the new arrangement is owned 70 per cent owned by Old Mutual Nigeria Services Company Limited (OMNSC), while Cressida Nigeria Limited has 29 per cent stake in the company, with the remaining one per cent owned by individuals.

In a statement, NAICOM said its approval of the business combination is an indication that the company would retur n to the market as soon as it is convenient for the new owners.

However, Old Mutual Plc, on its part, said it has finalised its investment in Oceanic Life Insurance Limited by acquiring the majority shareholding of the company, leading to it been granted a certificate of registration to operate as an insurer in Nigeria by NAICOM under the new name Old Mutual Nigeria Life Assurance Company Limited (OMNiLAC).

Speaking on the transaction, the Managing Director of Old Mutual Africa, Mr. Johannes Gawaxab, said the move was in furtherance of its expansion in sub-Saharan Africa.

He stated also that with the capabil-

Gawaxab

Fola Daniel

ity that the business had collectively established over time, Old Mutual is well-positioned to leverage this competitive advantage, particularly in the mass market segments.

According to him, Old Mutual has been doing business in Africa for over 165 years, with long-term growth prospects across the continent, the company aims to provide a sustainable

growth platform for Old Mutual by expanding selectively in West Africa and East Africa, utilising business-ina-box model.

He said the transaction that the company has set in motion exemplifies the growth prospect of the firm, adding that the company looks forward to being fully operational in Nigeria in the near future.

Celebrities advised to take insurance cover

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he General Secretary of the Association of Registered Insurance Agents of Nigerian, Mr. Gbadebo Olamerun, has urged celebrities to take insurance cover for the benefit of their families.

According to him, it was necessary for celebrities to take insurance cover because of the number of celebrities who had died untimely.

He said anytime they announce the death of any of the nation’s celebrities, my thought usually goes to the children, spouse, parents and other dependants they left behind, wondering what will happen to them.

He explained that a life insurance plan would ensure that the family is financially secured when the breadwinner is no longer around to care for them, saying also that life insurance is designed to protect the family and others who may depend on the person for financial support.

He stated that the term assurance, is a life assurance arranged for a specific period, adding that assurance of-

ANYTIME THEY ANNOUNCE THE DEATH OF ANY OF THE NATION’S CELEBRITIES, MY THOUGHT USUALLY GOES TO THE CHILDREN, SPOUSE, PARENTS AND OTHER DEPENDANTS THEY LEFT BEHIND, WONDERING WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THEM fers a payout of the lump sum called sum assured only if death occurs within the period specified.

He said the specified period can vary in length from a few years to a

number of decades depending on the age at entry. This type of cover can be used as a backup for an investment plan and/or to make provision for loved ones in the event of death.

He said the criteria for this cover is age and the state of health of the proposer at the time of arranging the cover, adding however that lives are treated as average and priced accordingly.

The insurance agent said the proposer’s health state would determine the readiness of the life office to grant cover and at what price and in some cases for what sum assured.

He said life assurance has the same benefits and features as the term assurance, with the difference being that while life is for life, term assurance is for a specific period.

He said depending on the contract plan, that other events such as terminal illness or critical illness might trigger payment, while the policy holder would pay a premium, either regularly or as a lump sum.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tips for selecting small business liability insurance Every small business should have liability insurance. But which types do you need? Generally, there are four kinds of liability insurance. Here are a few tips to choose from when selecting small business liability insurance.

General liability insuranceGeneral liability insurance coverage is typically included in a business owner’s policy along with property insurance. Comprehensive general liability insurance coverage protects your business from injuries to people or property that occurs on your business premises or as a result of your operations.

General liability insurance may also protect your business in case of claims arising from injury caused by your products. Coverage may vary, so be sure to understand specifically what your general liability policy covers.

Product liability insurance-If your company manufactures or develops products, you will want product liability insurance, which protects you against claims arising from accidents or injuries caused by your product. As mentioned above, general liability insurance may cover this to some extent, but product liability goes further to cover more types of incidents and offer higher coverage limits. Product liability insurance cover claims arising from manufacturing flaws, design defects, and defective warnings or instructions.

Professional liability insurance- Sometimes called “errors and omissions” insurance, this type of insurance protects you if a client claims your business made errors or omissions or was otherwise negligent in providing services. For instance, an accountant or financial advisor would want professional liability insurance to guard against claims by clients arising from a calculation error. Professional liability lawsuits tend to be extremely expensive, so this type of insurance is crucial if your business provides professional services.

Employment practices liability insurance- As more and more employees bring lawsuits against their employers, this type of coverage has become much more popular. This insurance protects your business and its directors and officers against claims made by current, prospective, or former employees arising from discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, or other employment-related practices.

Insurance is complex- Work with an insurance agent familiar with your industry to determine your needs and the best combination of policies to protect your business.

Your insurance agent may recommend an umbrella policy to provide additional coverage amounts or protect against liability gaps in your existing coverage.

Source: (www.allbusiness.com)

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

39

Index rises 0.9% on earnings expectation JOHNSON OKANLAWON

T

he benchmark index of equities turned green on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as some investors took position on stocks with good corporate actions.

The All Share Index rose by 0.89 per cent to close at 33,243.54 points, as against the decline of 0.77 per cent recorded on Friday to close at 32,950.08 points.

Market capitalisation increased by N10bn to close at N10.6trn, in con-

trast to the depreciation of N9bn recorded on Friday to close at N10.5trn.

Lotus Islamic Index led the sectorial indices with 1.48 per cent to close at 1,588.68 points, followed by the Oil and Gas Index with 0.83 per cent to close at 200.24 points.

The NSE 30-Index appreciated by 0.65 per cent to close at 1,588.68 points, but the Insurance Index shed 0.47 per cent to close at 154.16 points.

The Banking Index gained 0.25 per cent to close at 412.38 points, but the Consumer Goods Index lost 0.32 per cent to

close at 970.58 points.

Unity Bank Plc led the gainers’ table with five kobo or 6.25 per cent to close at 85 kobo per share, followed by Oando Nigeria Plc with 75 kobo or 4.45 per cent to close at N17.60 per share.

Ashaka Cement Plc appreciated by N1.00 or 4.35 per cent to close at N24.00 per share, while Dangote Cement Plc rose

by N5.50 or 3.89 per cent to close at N147.00 per share. May and Baker Plc gained seven kobo or 3.83 per cent to close at N2.50 per share.

On the flip side, RT

Briscoe Plc lost 19 kobo or 8.37 per cent to close at N2.08 per share, while Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc shed 99 kobo or 7.62 per cent to close at N12.00 per share.

Fidson Healthcare Plc depreciated by 11 kobo or 6.55 per cent to close at N1.57 per share, while Livestock Plc fell by 11 kobo or 4.98 per cent to close at N2.10 per share.

Wapic Insurance Plc declined by seven kobo or 4.70 per cent to close at N1.42 per share.

A total of 230.6 million shares worth N2.56bn were traded in 4,791 deals.

Source: NSE

UBA listed on FTSE ASEA Pan African index DAMILOLA AJAYI

T

he United Bank for Africa has been selected as one of the few securities from 19 African Stock Exchanges included in the FTSE African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) Pan African Index.

The FTSE ASEA Pan African Index which was created in December 2012, is a free float market capitalisation weighted series constructed from securities

domiciled on African Securities Exchanges Association.

A statement from the bank yesterday quoted an Equity Research Analyst at UBA Capital Research, Mr. Abiola Rasaq, as saying the selection of the bank stems from the liquidity and tradability of its stock as demonstrated over the years.

He explained that the purpose of the index is to measure the performance of eligible securities for

African equity portfolios.

Rasaq said, “The FTSE ASEA index is a welcome development as it provides a good benchmark for African Focused Fund, which currently uses the Morgan Stanley Composite Index emerging/Frontier Market Index as proxy for benchmark return.

“Interestingly, the FTSE ASEA covers stocks on 19 of the 21 African bourses, thus can be seen to be truly representative of the African basket.”

Source: FMDA

He stressed that the Index is designed to ensure sufficient liquidity in their underlying stocks, to match the requirements of the users.

Rasaq pointed out that specific liquidity rules were applied in order to increase the tradability of the index by removing companies that are difficult to buy or sell, adding that reviews are carried out on an annual basis and the index is rebalanced twice a year in June and December.

European share slide as Cyprus bailout is delayed

E

uropean shares pared early losses yesterday, as policymakers raced to revise a radical bailout plan for Cyprus that threatened to spark a fresh leg to the euro zone’s crisis.

In a departure from previous EU practice that depositor’ savings are sacrosanct, Cyprus and international banks agreed at the weekend that savers in the island’s outsized banking system would take a hit in return for the offer of 10 billion euros ($13.07bn) in aid.

But Cyprus’s parliament delayed a vote on the measures and officials said the government was working to soften the blow to smaller savers.

Germany, believed to have pushed for the deal to make depositors pay, said it was open to a change in how the move was structured.

After falling more than one per cent in early

trades, the FTSEurofirst 300 was down 0.7 per cent at 1,194.68 points, led by a 2.2 per cent decline in banking stocks, some of the strongest performers in recent months.

While the news dealt a sharp blow to the index, some analysts took the falls in their stride since it is trading at lofty levels and is therefore seen as ripe for a pullback.

Efforts by policymakers to revise the plan as well as the view Cyprus is a one-off case, supported the market.

The FTSEurofirst 300 last week reached a four and half year peak, stepping into overbought territory on the 14-day Relative Strength Index, a momentum indicator.

Head of Market Analysis at Capital Spreads, Mr. Angus Campbell, said, “I think a lot of people were waiting for a pullback anyway. We got one on the open and that’s attracted

some buyers.

“Caution might be the order of the day for the next few sessions... It may be a little too early to go heavily long the market now in case things get a little bit cheaper.”

Head of Equity Strategy at Baader Bank, Mr. Gerhard Schwarz said, “It’s not a showstopper what we see in Cyprus for now. The critical point will be if we see some contagion into the bigger markets.”

“We could certainly see some further sell-off as the week progresses, but I think we are talking here... a 3-5 percent move on the downside and not a 10 percent correction.

I would wait a little bit... (before buying into the market).”

British retailer Marks and Spencer bucked the market trend, jumping 8.5 per cent in trading volume nearly four times its 90day daily average, after a report of Qatari bid inter-

est.

The Sunday Times newspaper said the Qatar Investment Authority wanted to assemble a consortium to mount an 8-billion-pound takeover of Britain’s biggest clothing retailer.

However, it emerged on Monday that Qatar Holding, the investment arm of the Gulf state’s sovereign wealth fund, was not considering a bid for the retailer, according to a source close to the fund.

Despite the denial from the source, some analysts think M&S, whose core women’s clothes business has been losing market share, could be vulnerable to a private equity bid.

“Trading and profits are under pressure, with nothing to show yet for the big investments made in online systems and warehousing and the changes in the clothing team,” said independent retail analyst Nick Bubb.

Market indicators All-Share Index 10,637.7 points Market capitalisation 33.3 trillion

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

UNITYBNK

0.80

0.85

0.05

6.25

OANDO

16.85

17.60

0.75

4.45

ASHAKACEM

23.00

24.00

1.00

4.35

DANGCEM

141.50

147.00

5.50

3.89

AFRIPRUD

1.83

1.90

0.07

3.83

MAYBAKER

2.41

2.50

0.09

3.73

OKOMUOIL

55.00

57.00

2.00

3.64

FTNCOCOA

0.58

0.60

0.02

3.45

SKYEBANK

6.20

6.37

0.17

2.74

UBA

8.29

8.50

0.21

2.53

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

RTBRISCOE

2.27

2.08

0.19

-8.37

CCNN

12.99

12.00

0.99

-7.62

FIDSON

1.68

1.57

0.11

-6.55

LIVESTOCK

2.21

2.10

0.11

-4.98

WAPIC

1.49

1.42

0.07

-4.70

IKEJAHOTEL

0.86

0.82

0.04

-4.65

PAINTCOM

1.76

1.68

0.08

-4.55

UBCAP

1.44

1.38

0.06

-4.17

JAPAULOIL

0.76

0.73

0.03

-3.95

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Days

33,266.32

11.67

21-Mar-13

182-Days

63,730.99

12.60

21-Mar-13

-

-

-

-

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

113-Days

111,903.43

13.60

21-Mar-13

101-Days

28,441.25

13.40

21-Mar-13

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$300m

N/A

$300m

11-Mar-13

$180m

N/A

$180m

6-Mar-13

40

Capital Market

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at March 18, 2013 1st Tier Securities

1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Jonathan’s messy state pardon CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

had on Friday criticised the Jonathan administration for this action, expressing disappointment in granting state pardon to those convicted for economic crimes.

“We see this as a setback in the fight against corruption,” US Embassy in Nigeria spokeswoman, Deb MacLean, said.

MacLean, said there would be no further comment.

In a swift reaction, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the US Deputy Chief of Mission, describing the US Embassy’s comment as undue meddlesomeness in the internal affairs of Nigeria.

“This was not the first time a government in Nigeria or elsewhere would grant state pardon to individuals who had committed one crime or the other. The ministry further stressed that the pardon granted is entirely consistent with the provisions of the Nigerian constitution.

“The ministry finally expressed the hope that the Embassy of the United States of America would henceforth desist from making unwarranted comments on Nigeria’s internal affairs which are capable of undermining the friendly relations that exist between them.”

Even at that the US has declared that she will cut off aid running into billions of naira to Nigeria over the state pardon granted.

“The United States government is deeply disappointed over the recent pardons of corrupt officials by the Nigerian government,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said. “We see this as a setback for the fight against corruption and also for our ability to play the strong role we’ve played in supporting rule of law and legal institution building in Nigeria, which is very important for the future of the country, obviously.”

Nuland didn’t rule out the possibility of cutting aid to Nigeria.

“We have made clear to the Nigerian government that this puts a question mark on the kinds of work that we’ve been trying to do with them,” she said. “We haven’t yet taken the kinds of steps that you’re suggesting, but we’re continuing to look at what’s appropriate.”

In 2012, Nigeria got about $226 million in development aid from US. This year, about $600 million is expected as aid from US to Nigeria.

Outrage Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, said he was disappointed by the action.

Speaking with BBC Hausa Service, Ribadu, who prosecuted Alamieyeseigha, said the development is a big setback for the country in the fight against corruption.

“I am highly disappointed by the president’s decision,” he said. “The decision to pardon those who were arrested and prosecuted by relevant anti-graft agencies sends a wrong signal to those agencies and will kill their morale.”

The decision to grant state pardon to the ex-convicts has received wide condemnation from Nigerian stakeholders and the international community.

Former governor of Edo State and National Chairman of the South South Peo-

41

and Chairman, Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, noted that with the development the war against corruption in Nigeria was dead under the Jonathan administration.

He said: “President Jonathan has joined the league of corrupt leaders in Nigeria.

He has created a platform to protect thieves in this country. To me, the war against corruption in this country is dead. No more anti-corruption campaign by the Federal Government under President Jonathan.

“In Nigeria now, no limit of stealing because there is ‘operation steal and go free’ under President Jonathan. It is unfortunate things will get worse in this country.

Former governor of Delta State, James Ibori will finish his jail term in UK and definitely he will receive his state pardon in Nigeria.”

Fight against corruption dead Yar’Adua

Diya

ALAMIEYEISEIGHA HAS BEEN TRIED AND PUNISHED FOR CORRUPTION AND

I BELIEVE THAT

THE TRAVAILS OF

ALAMIEYEISEIGHA IS NOT WHAT ANY NORMAL

NIGERIAN

WOULD WANT TO GO THROUGH ples Assembly (SSPA), Chief John OdigieOyegun, said the President’s action has demonstrated that people of questionable past can get away with their action.

“Well, there is no question about if the action is legal. The question is if the action is the right thing to do at a time the nation is fighting against corruption and indecent behaviour.

“It is a bad example. This has confirmed that you can get away with anything in this country. It is a pitiable development. I know some of the beneficiaries and wish them the best of luck. But this development is not good for the nation and it is tragic.”

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) also decried the development. The spokesman of the ACF, Anthony Sani, in an interview with National Mirror, said the president could be justified legally for his action but he is encouraging corruption through the process.

Sani said: “State pardon usually presupposes transgression against the state. And Mr. President has the prerogative of mercy to pardon any person on the advice of the Council of State. The constitution does not limit the President to certain offences that deserve state pardon. And so it would not be legally correct to attack Mr. President for granting an ex-convict a state pardon.

“But what seems to grate the nerves of many Nigerians is the trite that granting of state pardon to people convicted for corrupt practices can stoke corruption in the polity by those who would do so and use their connections in the government to seek state pardon. The action is condemnable. The president is using the letter of the law instead of the spirit.”

Adisa

The spokesman of Save Nigeria Group, SNG, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said that the pardon granted Alamieyeseigha and other ex-convicts was morally reprehensible.

“The disingenuous attempt to lump the pardoning of crooks with phantom coup convicts is a veneer for our collapsed moral walls under an unethical presidency.

“The pardon is a victory for corruption,” Odumakin said.

A Yoruba leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, also condemned the development, saying: “When you begin to pardon someone convicted for corruption, it is not a deterrent to others. I can understand Diya and other military officers who were tried on trumped-up charges of coup. But in the case of those convicted for corruption, there was no evidence that it was trumped-up.

“So granting state pardon to those convicted of corruption doesn’t show zero tolerance for corruption.”

The President of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Frederick Fasehun, said he was not surprised by the action. In an interview with National Mirror, Fasehun said: “I am not surprised by the development. It shows Nigerian leaders are insincere to Nigerians. When they promised to fight corruption, they used another hand to encourage corruption. They are fighting corruption with corruption.

“It is partisan politics. The children of the powers that be shall not suffer the consequences of their action. This action shows that Nigerians are stumbling from corruption to another until corruption destroys us.”

Former governor of old Kaduna State

Many Nigerians have said that the action of the President has made nonsense of the anti-graft war. Some of the stakeholders that spoke with National Mirror said the fight against anti-corruption in Nigeria is dead.

Former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Tsav, said that President Jonathan’s action had shown his insincerity in the fight against corruption.

Tsav said: “The President is just trying to take Nigerians for a ride. All the state pardon is aimed at pardoning only Alamieyeseigha. The other people were to justify his action. People who are already dead, what benefits would state pardon do for them?

If Jonathan is honest to himself, he should have pardoned people who have been convicted or being tried for over 10 years.

“Our major problems today in Nigeria are corruption and insecurity. And corruption gave birth to insecurity. And if he is now pardoning a man who is involved in massive corruption, it only shows that his government is not serious about fighting corruption.

“There are some culprits still serving jail terms. Major Al-Mustapha has been in jail for over 15 years, if the President is sincere he should have considered granting pardon to those soldiers in prison not just handpicking the executive convicts.

“As far as I am concerned, he is doing this for political gains. Somebody who escaped justice from Britain and putting Nigeria to shame is now being granted state pardon. So, the fight against corruption means nothing.”

The Executive Director, Access to Justice, Joseph Otteh, said President Jonathan is setting a wrong precedence with the development. He described the pardon granted the former governor of Bayelsa State as a tragic error and unfortunate.

He said: “The pardon granted to coup plotters is quite understandable going by what transpired during the military administration of the late Sani Abacha.

“But granting pardon to the former Bayelsa State governor is an affirmation that those looting the treasury have nothing to fear. This is extremely unacceptable.”

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) said the pardon granted Alamieyeseigha amounted to arbitrary exercise of power.

“This shows without doubt that this government lacks the necessary political will to tackle high-level official corruption and sends a wrong message that corCONTINUED ON PAGE 42

42

Politics

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Jonathan’s messy state pardon T CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41 ruption pays and those who loot and stash the country’s wealth and resources in foreign banks will enjoy absolute impunity,” SERAP Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said.

NLC wants reversal, queries NSC decision The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) also added its voice to the growing opposition against the decision. The workers’ union asked President Jonathan to withdraw the state pardon for those convicted for corrupt practices.

In a statement signed by the NLC President, Abdulwahed Omar, the congress noted that: “We are alarmed by the decision of the National Council of State to pardon Alamieyeseigha, who was impeached as governor of Bayelsa State and eventually convicted by a properly constituted court for stealing public funds; and Mr. Shetima Bulama, a former Managing Director of the Bank of the North, who was also convicted for misappropriating the bank’s funds.

“While we appreciate that the Council of State does have a constitutional responsibility to pardon citizens who have obviously been convicted or punished in the past for offences, it is totally unacceptable that those who committed economic crimes in such magnitude that affected public interest be granted state pardon.

“We still wonder what message the National Council of State is sending to Nigerians if at the height of unprecedented corruption in the country those who have been prosecuted and jailed for stealing public money are granted state pardon.

“The congress finds it incongruous the state pardon granted to Alamieyeseigha and Bulama.

“While like other citizens, they may be entitled to state pardon, congress believes that the crimes committed are too weighty for state pardon.

“It is our view that state pardon remains an act of mercy or reprieve dispassionately exercised or granted by the highest authority in the land for and on behalf of the government and people, and it should be a last act of mercy sparingly exercised for the good of the nation.

“State pardon is recognised across the world not for its own sake but for its potential and capacity for redressing judicial guilt, rewarding penitence or for initiating reconciliation and in some instances, for ensuring restoration, but never losing sight of national interest.

“In particular, the congress expressed grave concern that eminent members of the National Council of State could not have deeper reflections on the list brought before them by the Presidency before giving their endorsement.”

Protests coming A coalition of civil society groups, under the aegis of Civil Society Groups on Anti-Corruption and Good Governance, has threatened to embark on a nationwide protest against the state pardon granted to the ex-convicts.

Speaking on behalf of the group at a news briefing in Abuja, the Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Mr. Ibrahim Musa; the National Coordinator, United Action for

HE DECISION TO

PARDON THOSE WHO WERE ARRESTED AND PROSECUTED BY

RELEVANT ANTI-GRAFT AGENCIES SENDS A WRONG SIGNAL TO THOSE AGENCIES AND WILL KILL THEIR MORALE Democracy (UAD), Jaye Gaskia; and the Zero Corruption Coalition, faulted the President’s reprieve. They stated that the President had exhibited “the highest level of political indiscretion and demonstrated clearly that those who plunder the national resources and steal the people’s commonwealth can continue their parasitic despoliation with impunity.”

The civil society groups said they would create maximum awareness among the people and perfect strategies before embarking on the anti-corruption nationwide protests.

Musa said: “We in the civil society are convinced that the focus of the whole presidential pardon of President Jonathan was Alamieyeseigha, except that it was only deceitfully window-dressed by adding a few other names.

“The action has simply exposed his administration’s open support for corruption, instead of fighting it.

“While the civil society appreciates the constitutionality of prerogative of mercy as provided for in Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the decision by the Jonathan administration is immoral, as much as it puts a question mark on the sincerity of the administration in battling corruption.

“This is all more so because Alamieyeseigha’s case about corrupt enrichment and money laundering on which he skipped bail in the United Kingdom is still pending.”

The civil society groups described the action as a “politically obnoxious decision by the President.”

The group expressed grave concern as the development “portends grave implications for the myriad corruption cases as well as the potential to demotivate the anti-corruption agencies, particularly the EFCC and the ICPC, in their fight against corruption in the country.”

Presidency defends Alamieyeseigha Following the controversies that have trailed the state pardon, the Presidency in the last one week had come out twice to defend the action.

The Presidency stated that the pardon was not intended for nobility or saints, but meant for people who have actually committed crimes or breached the laws of the land.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, rose in defence of the former governor.

To him, Alamieyeseigha has done so much for the country, particularly working for the peace in the oil-rich region.

Omar

Ribadu

Okupe explained that Alamieyeiseigha had since his trial and conviction, not only served out his sentence, but has also forfeited the stolen property which led to his conviction.

The presidential aide cited several cases in advanced democracies, especially in the US to justify the decision. He compared the decision to what happened in the United States of America when former President Bill Clinton pardoned Fife Syminghton III, former Republican Governor of Arizona who was convicted of bank fraud.

Similarly, he stated that Marc Rich, who was charged in 1983 with cheating the US of nearly $50 million and doing business with Iran during the hostage crises, who was never tried having fled to Switzerland to avoid prosecution, was pardoned.

He noted that in the case of Alamieyesiegha, even after he had served out his sentence and has just two to three years to have naturally regained his constitutional rights as free citizen without inhibitions, accepted the state pardon as show of extreme humility.

He explained that even after he had served out his sentence, he played prominent role in restoring peace in the Niger Delta which led to increase crude oil production rise from an abysmal 700,000 bpd to over 2.4 million bpd.

Okupe also cited the instance of General Yakubu Gowon, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, who were granted state pardon and were not

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

insulted or molested even when they went into active partisan politics.

His words: “Many will not question the legality or lawfulness of the pardon granted by the National Council of Sate. Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution clearly empowers the President in consultation with the Council of State to do so.

“The major concern of many patriotic and reasonable Nigerians is whether the decision is morally right or if it will not send wrong signals on government anticorruption crusade.

“On the issue of morality, I want to state categorically here, that state or presidential pardon are not intended for nobility or saints. In general, a state pardon is for those who have committed crimes and breached the laws of the land and may or may not have been tried or convicted regardless of their social status.

“A pardon is the forgiveness of a crime and the cancellation of the relevant penalty; it is usually granted by the Head of State (such as a monarch or president) or by acts of parliament or a religious authority.

“Today, pardons are granted in many countries when individuals have demonstrated that they have fulfilled their debt to society, or are otherwise considered to be deserving.

“Also, a prerogative of mercy by definition is not a justiceable affair. It has to do with discretion and the necessity to redress bitterness and thereby offer healing and forgiveness especially in the presence of evidence of remorse and potential to add value to the country.

“Alamieyeiseigha has been tried and punished for corruption and I believe that the travails of Alamieyeiseigha is not what any normal Nigerian would want to go through. He is in a position to contribute positively to the political development of the nation.

“Pardon can only be granted to a criminal. Acceptance of pardon means that the person has accepted that he was a criminal and so, we should not belabour this issue at all,” Okupe stressed.

Constitutional lawyer and one-time Secretary of Education, Prof. Ben Nwabueze (SAN), has endorsed the pardon. Also, Second Republic AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN) applauded the decision.

Nwabueze said: “The pardon is quite in order. It is within the president’s powers to grant the pardon to anybody who has committed offence against the state.

In the case of Alamieyeseigha, there is nothing wrong in granting him pardon.

He saw me in London and engaged my services. I appeared for him in the London court.

“I felt bad the way Alamieyeseigha was treated. Alamieyeseigha was a state governor. Therefore, he represented part of the sovereignty of the country. For the Nigerian state to be party to the way Alamieyeseigha was arrested and handcuffed at Heathrow Airport in London was bad. He was a governor. You don’t disgrace him like that in the public in the view of passengers in the plane. You were disgracing Nigeria, not Alamieyeseigha alone. So, I felt very bad.”

As it is, the government is not ready to back down on the action in spite of the outrage.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

43

2015: Atiku vows to resist attempt to favour Jonathan AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

F

ormer Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has said that attempts to alter the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) constitution to exclude candidates other than President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2015 presidential poll would be resisted.

Atiku, who spoke against the speculation that the PDP is planning to amend its constitution to make the

President a sole candidate for the presidential poll in case he is willing to seek reelection, told journalists in Kano yesterday that such action is unconstitutional.

He said would not allow such alteration to the constitution to happen.

His words: “My position is that as far as PDP constitution is concern, any attempt to change the party’s rule to favour the President as a sole candidate in the event of his willingness to re-contest is unconstitu-

tional. The contest should be open to all who desire to pursue an ambition on the platform of the PDP. “I don’t see any such amendment being successful, we are looking forward to a successful transition in 2015.”

Atiku, however, faulted a statement credited to an In-

dependent Electoral Commission (INEC) Commissioner that there would be no election in the North in 2015 because of the security challenges confronting the region.

The former vice-president said: “Again, all these talks that there would be no election in the North on the

account of the Boko Haram insurgency is rubbish, I disagree with INEC on this issue.

“To me, that is a wrong statement to come from any such office because as far as I am concerned, the entire North is peaceful except for two states.

How can you now say there

may not be election in the North with 19 states, just because there is problem in two states.”

On the allegation that INEC and the PDP are working to thwart the All Progressives Congress (APC) registration, Atiku said the allegation was unsubstantiated.

Afenifere berates Ali over remarks on Yoruba FELIX NWANERI

P

an-Yoruba group, Afenifere has berated the former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Col. Ahmadu Ali (rtd) for his comments on the people of the SouthWest in a recent interview he granted a national daily.

The group, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin said the remark is totally unbecoming of Ali who should be a cultured man having come from Igala kingdom that has centuries of civilization behind it.

Afenifere noted that the grouse of Ali against the Yoruba is that they would not worship his god and as such demonised them as “…The Yoruba people who are totally ungrateful kind of people in this country… the Yoruba are another character.”

The group said it would have ignored the vituperations but given Ali’s profile as a former chairman of the ruling party and a failed aspirant to the chairmanship of its Board of Trustees, the unwary may be tempted to assume that the words he spoke came from a wise man who is highly informed.

It added: “Ali has touched on a deep cultural value of the Yoruba people appreciation. The Yoruba people value an appreciative spirit to the point of criminalising an ungrateful person in the saying: “eni ti a se lore ti ko dupe, bi olosa ko ni leru lo ni” (an ingrate person is not different from a thief). They also link continuous blessings to appreciation of past ones “bi omode ba dupe ore ana, a ri mi gba” (someone who

appreciates past blessings would attract new ones).”

Insisting that Ali has no lesson to teach the Yoruba in the art of gratitude, Afenifere said his uncouth remark only portrays him as ill-mannered and foulmouthed.

“For Ali and those who think like him, Yoruba don’t venerate mere positions but rather leadership through service to the community. This explains why the Yoruba adore Awolowo who contested the highest office in the land three times and lost and resent Ali’s hero who occupied the same office three times!

“The difference is that as Premier of Western Region, Awo used the resources of the region to banish ignorance through free education, eliminated diseases through free health, introduced television culture to the Yoruba even before France, made Yoruba to aim for the sky by building the 25-storey Cocoa House in Ibadan, among other imperishable.

“In contrast, the years Ali’s hero spent as leader of Nigeria institutionalized corruption which deepened poverty for all Nigerians including the Yoruba. The poverty index in Nigeria was 45% in 1999 and jumped to 67% in 2007 in spite of unprecedented oil earnings in the same period. The culture of begging that was alien in Yorubaland became pronounced under the leadership of the man Ali wants Yoruba to worship.

“In all the 11 years Ali’s god spent as Nigerian’s President, Yoruba can point to nothing in their region that rivals the least of Awo’s achievements.”

L-R: Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido when the Speaker paid a courtesy call to the governor in Dutse, yesterday.

I remain loyal to PDP, Amaechi tells Tukur Uduaghan denies walking out on party chairman

SAM OLUWALANA AND FELIX NWANERI

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ivers State governor and chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Rotimi Amaechi has assured the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of his loyalty and commitment to the party.

Amaechi spoke on Sunday when he played host to the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who led the NWC members on a courtesy visit to him in Port Harcourt.

The governor, who assured that he will continue to deliver accountable, developmental and peopleoriented leadership to the people of Rivers State, however urged the committee to fashion out workable mo-

dalities to rebuild and reconcile lingering differences in the party.

He said; “We will remain in PDP. We support the issue of reconciliation, reconstruction and rebuilding of the party. We are in PDP, I have told my cabinet members that if we want to win elections, we must work in such a way that the people are happy with us, currently we are popular in Rivers State, we have to maintain our popularity while in office and thereafter, and the only way to maintain that popularity is to continue to do what we are doing now, putting the people first.”

Earlier, Tukur expressed satisfaction with the level of people-oriented projects put in place by the Amaechi administration in the state, saying they are in line with the PDP manifesto.

He said: “You are execut-

CONTINUED FROM PAGE15 they continue, they will be worse of.

When the government has the machinery to crunch its citizens!

Well, so did Mubarak have all the machinery, so did the Tunisian president and so did the Gaddafi of Libya, but the will of the people prevailed in the end.

Are you also considering buying a private jet?

For me that will be death sentence because they are looking for me to

ing a responsible development and this has made me to be very happy and proud that our party is working.

So, what we can see today is a testimony of a responsible programme to the people of the state. I assure you that PDP will continue to cherish and appreciate this kind of support.”

In another development, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has denied walking out of the South-South Special Zonal Executive Committee meeting of the PDP held in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

Uduaghan was reported to have walked out of the meeting alongside the host governor, Amaechi.

But describing the story as untrue, the Delta State government, said: “On arrival in Port Harcourt, Dr. Uduaghan had informed Alhaji Tukur of his desire

to return to Asaba same day.

Given that Asaba Airport closes to air traffic by 5p.m., the governor had sought the permission of the chairman to exit the meeting whenever it gets to the threshold of arriving Asaba Airport ahead of its closure.

“Tukur had graciously agreed to let Governor Uduaghan leave to enable him return to Asaba on time.

When eventually it was time to leave for the return flight to Asaba, Uduaghan again notified the chairman who wished him a safe flight. Governor Amaechi, as the host governor, had to see him off.

“At no time was there any disagreement to elicit a walk out by anybody. Tukur had conducted the meeting in an atmosphere of candour and camaraderie and before Uduaghan left the meeting, all the parties present had addressed the meeting.”

‘Nigerian governors are richer than their states’ finish. So, I will not buy a private jet where they will put a bomb. It is wicked for me to remain lavishly rich in the midst of poor people. We should divert those resources to help others.

How many trips do I make in a year?

Even if I go every month, what I will spend in a year is not up to a quarter of what I will use as aviation fuel. I have done that business before. Let us run good airlines instead of having private jets, so that the lives of

our citizens will be protected. Let’s team up and have good airlines; let’s team up and have good transportation system and let the government think, for once have good roads, good train system, then Nigerians will put their energy in the right direction, then our nation will begin to recover and come out of the woods. I am not considering private jet even if I can afford it, I will not do so. I will see it as sheer flamboyant, unnecessary and uncalled for.

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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

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Community Mirror Some Nigerians are lawbreakers – AIG 46

“No political leader could successfully divert or misappropriate public funds without connivance and tacit approval of the civil servants. ” ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNOR, PETER OBI

Commissioner blames property owners for demolition MURITALA AYINLA

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s the Lagos State Government intensifies efforts at reclaiming more lands, the commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olutoyin Ayinde has blamed property owners for deliberately encroaching on government land.

He said 50 percent of buildings in the state do not have valid approval, while many property owners possess fake documents.

The state had, on March 5, de-

molished more than 100 buildings in Odoiragunshi community in Eredo Local Council Development Area, for standing on land proposed for Marcopollo LAGBUS factories, where fleet of buses are expected to be assembled.

But speaking on the development, the commissioner said many property owners are guilty of encroaching on government land, saying they are deceived by land grabbers and miscreants also known as ‘Omo Onile’ to build, on the belief that government will not take over the land once buildings

are erected.

He said rather than blaming the governor for the demolition, they should commend the administration for the courage to do what is right at this crucial time.

According to him, most of the acquired lands where demolition of obstructing buildings were carried out recently, had been planned as far back as 1980’s during Alhaji Lateef Jakande’s administration , insisting that lack of implementation is the bane of environmental challenges.

He said:”It is unfortunate that

banks tend to give loans to have owners without approval. People sometime deliberately build on land belonging to the government even when they had been informed.

The law stated clearly that you cannot build unless you get approval. If you are getting away with it, it is because we have not come. If we pull it down, nobody will blame us, because in law, it is deemed illegal to build without approval. But people do this on sentiment” Most people know but they want to dare the government, thinking,

their buildings will not be demolished. People have here come to say they are ready to pay penalty. I tell them we do not want penalty but compliance”, he added.

“It is matter of returning the property wrongly acquired to the rightful owner. It is not about paying the penalty, it’s unfortunate that Nigerians live on sentiment Ayinde urged residents and prospective land buyers to seek information and follow due process before embarking on building, saying it is safer than to erecting structures unlawfully.

20 escape death as fire razes businessman’s residence FRANCIS SUBERU

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duplex at No7, Chris Ali Crescent, Abacha Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos belonging to a popular businessman was, on Sunday, razed by fire.

The fire, which started at 2:30pm, torched the living room and another room.

Eyewitness account said the fire may have been caused by electric spark from one of the air conditioning units in the sitting room.

According to her, there were more than 20 people, including security personnel at time of the incident, saying it took the fire service more than an hour to put out the fire.

She said: “I was sleeping when my cousin woke me to inform of the fire. I had noticed there was smoke, but thought it was coming from a burning bush outside. I immediately rushed out and saw a burning curtain, so I ran inside. But people kept shouting that I come out as the fire could not easily be put out.

“When I got out, I started shouting for help. We contacted the fire service at Ikeja, but but considering the distance, I drove to Adeniji to inform them as they immediately came and were able to put out the fire after some minutes.”

Motorists engaging in fisticuff following a traffic gridlock on Airport Road Abuja.

Housemaid connives to rob employer FRANCIS SUBERU

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house maid, Mary Francis who allegedly connived with robbers to rob her employer has been paraded by the Lagos State Police Command.

While parading the suspect alongside two others, Igwu Ogana Mathew and Anayo Alayefule, the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Ngozi Braide, said on the day of the robbery, Francis intentionally left the door open to give the robbers easy access to the house.

According to her; “Francis, Ogana Igwe, John and Peter planned to carry out a robbery operation in the house of her employer. On January 4, 2013, at about 7:30pm, the entrance gate was intentionally left

… as man stabs brother to death open which gave easy access to the robbers.

“While her employer was in the bedroom, the two armed men ransacked the apartment, having tied her with ropes. The robbers took away a Honda Civic car, a laptop, N200, 000 and $3,000 (N480, 000), gold and jewellery valued at N2 million and five mobile phones.

“Through investigations, we traced Igwe, the prime suspect, to Cross River State, but he was later found in Ogun State where some of the stolen items, such as the mobile phones and jewellery were recovered.”

The housemaid, however, denied conniving with the robbers, but said her employer did not feed her often

enough which made her prone to temptation.

She said, “I didn’t know that the door was left open that day. Igwe had told me earlier that he planned to rob my boss, but I refused. Even on the day they came, I was begging him not to, but he said if I exposed him, he would kill me. I was also tied along with my madam which shows you that I knew nothing of the robbery.”

Igwe, however, insisted that the housemaid was the brain behind the operation. He said he only used toy guns during the robbery and pleaded with the police to show him mercy as he was ready to receive God into his life.

He said, “Mary and I are both

from Cross River and I knew her before coming to Lagos. One day, we met at Sagamu and she told me she wanted to steal her boss’s money and run away, but I told her I had a brighter idea.”

Another suspect paraded, was a deported Nigerian from the United States of America, who allegedly stabbed his elder brother to death during a fight, claiming self defence.

“The suspect claimed his brother attempted on his life with a cutlass.

He confessed using a knife to stab him to death,’’ Braide quoted the suspect.

Another house help, who connived with her boy friend to rob her mistress of valuables, including gold jewelleries, all valued about N10 million was also paraded with her boy friend.

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Community Mirror

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Some Nigerians are lawbreakers – AIG FRANCIS SUBERU

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he Assistant Inspector General of Police,AIG, in charge of Zone II, Mamman Tsafe has said, one reason why police officers carry arms is due to a penchant by some Nigerians to break the law.

He said this while receiving students of Swot Royal

Montessori School, Ajah, who paid him a courtesy visit at the police headquarters, Onikan Lagos.

According to him, the main instrument of policing is baton, as cops on duty are expected to use minimum force while maintaining law and order, as against the military that is mandated to use maximum force to protect the territorial integrity of the nation.

He said police personnel are being forced to carry arms because of the soaring crime rate and increasing number of people involved in criminal activities in the country.

Tsafe said: “In Nigeria, there are multifaceted crimes committed by lots of people.

The problem is not limited to Nigeria; every nation of the world has one security

challenge or the other. So, we have to deploy our manpower and logistic resources”.

The AIG who took time to educate the school children on the mode of operations of the police, said even when they carry arms, cops are not to use them without orders from superior officers, adding that even when an order is given, there must be specific target.

Flood victims to get compensation JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

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ore than 10, 536 victims affected by last year’s flood in Katsina State are to get N130 million in compensation.

The amount is part of the N300 million flood relief funds given to the state by the Federal Government.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Development, Abubakar Bindawa said the outstanding N170 million would be used on projects to forestall future flooding.

Bindawa said that the amount would be used for the construction of single and double set culverts and drainages in the council areas affected by flooding.

He said a total of 18 local government areas experienced flooding, leading to loss of human and animal lives, as well as destruction of houses and farmlands.

Some of the councils affected were Daura, Kankia, Mani, Bindawa, Maiadua, Dutsi, among others,even as the victims would get 20 percent of estimated items lost, destroyed or damaged, while efforts are being made to avert similar recurrence.

Pupil shot by irate cop HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

P Scavengers searching for metals on a road undergoing rehabilitation at Ladipo Market in Lagos.

PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

Houses shut for unsanitary environment Fire victims get N5m donation MURITALA AYINLA

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he Lagos State Government has shut 13 houses, a hotel and hall in different parts of the state.

Community Mirror gathered that the houses were shut for not having toilet facilities, thereby forcing occupants to defecate in gutters and drainages.

Three other houses were shut at Bariga Area for not having sanitary facilities.

According to an anonymous source, the hotel owner was served with notice, but refused to comply with the directives.

Also, nine houses were shut at Ilasamaja, as their occupants defecate in open drainage due to lack of toilet

facilities.

The source said, property owners will soon be arraigned at the Special Offences Court for failing to abate the nuisance in their environment.

The Coordinator, Lagos State Wastewater Management Office, Olalekan Shodeinde, who led the enforcement team, said the affected houses will not be re-opened until they meet the environmental standard of the state.

Shodeinde, stated that abatement notices had been served several times warning them against discharging of sewage into the environment and public drains.

He advised the property owners to abate the nuisance as it could lead to health hazards such as cholera, malaria, typhoid, among others.

JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

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ictims of a recent fire disaster whose shops were destroyed in Katsina metropolis have received a N5 million donation by the state government.

The fire, which occurred on February 23 2013, had affected several shops at the GRA roundabout.

Speaking on the issue, the chairman and patron of shop owners in the state, Lawal Bature, attributed the fire to an electricity surge from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN. Bature said, the victims lost everything and they were unable to salvage any property, as the fire started after traders had gone home for the day.

Making the donation, Governor Ibrahim Shema called on the victims not see the money as com-

pensation but relief provided by the government,even as he prayed that such incident would not happen again,as he urged recipients to make judicious use of the donation.

CRSG to rehabilitate water facilities

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he Cross River State Government is to partner with Repair Rehabilitation Maintenance Project, RRMP, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, RUWATTSSA, and Tulsi Chanrai Foundation, TCF, to provide water facilities in the state.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Engr. Elemi Etowa said, the project focuses on rehabilitation of 540 non-functional hand pumps and installation of new facilities.

andemonium broke out recently in Ijegwu community, Obi Local Government Area of Benue State, when a yet to be identified policeman allegedly shot a school pupil.

Community Mirror gathered that the victim, whose name was given as Ajom Idu Augustine, was going home after recharging his mobile phone and was shot by the irate cop with an Ak47.

A source said, no sooner had the news filtered into the community than the villagers went in search of the culprit, attacking and setting ablaze a Volkswagen car suspected of belonging to the cop.

When the Chairman of Obi Local Government Council, Mr Odeh Michael heard of the incident, he immediately intervened to restore order, while calling on the parties to amicably resolve the issue, rather than engaging in confrontation.

The information officer for the government, Mr. Jacob Okibe said the victim has been hospitalised at the General Hospital, Obarike-Ito and said to be responding to treatment.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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World News

“We will continue a dialogue and seek the signing of legally binding agreements that all elements of the U.S. missile-defence system are not aimed at Russian strategic nuclear forces.”

-Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov

Argentina requests Pope’s help on Falklands dispute

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‘Wanted Congolese warlord, Ntaganda, surrenders to US’ PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

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he government of Rwanda claims that warlord Bosco Ntaganda, who was indicted on war crimes more than six years ago by the International Criminal Court, turned himself in yesterday to the United States Embassy in Kigali, the capital. But two U.S. embassy officials contacted by telephone denied the report.

First in a Tweet and later in an official communique, Rwanda’s Foreign Minister and government spokeswoman Louise Mushikiwabo said, “We have just learned that Gen. Ntaganda presented himself at the U.S. Embassy early this morning.”

In the capital of the neighbouring nation of Congo, where Ntaganda has been on the run since last year, Congolese government spokesman Lambert Mende confirmed the information: “We have learned from non-official sources that Bosco Ntaganda is at the U.S. Embassy in Kigali. We are waiting for the United States to make the news official and we are confident they will hand him over to justice.”

But two U.S. embassy personnel in Kigali denied the report, when contacted by telephone. One official, who insisted on anonym-

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Ntaganda Photo: AP

ity because he is not authorized to speak to the press, called the news false. Embassy Public Affairs Officer Susan Falatko said, “I have no information on this.”

Nicknamed “The Terminator,” for his ruthless actions, Ntaganda was born in Rwanda in 1973, and moved to the neighbouring nation of Congo as a teenager. He was first indicted in 2006 by the International Criminal Court for conscripting

and using child soldiers during his time as a senior commander in a Congolese rebel group accused of terrorizing the Ituri region of eastern Congo between 2002 and 2003.

He later joined and rose through the ranks of a different rebel group, the National Congress for the Defence of the People, which signed a peace accord with the Congolese government on March 23, 2009.

The accord paved the way for

Ntaganda and his fellow rebels to join the ranks of the regular Congolese army. He soon became one of Africa’s symbols of impunity. Despite the outstanding warrant from the ICC and mounting evidence of continued abuse, he was awarded the rank of general in the Congolese army, living in an upscale villa in the eastern Congolese town of Goma, playing tennis in his spare time.

Then last spring, he and his men began defecting from the Congolese army by the hundreds, claiming that the government had failed to uphold their end of the 2009 deal. They started a new rebellion, dubbed the M23, in honour of the March 23 signing of the now-defunct 2009 accord. And in November last year, the rebel group marched into and seized control of Goma, one of the most important cities in eastern Congo.

Ntaganda’s role in the M23 rebellion remained murky, with human rights groups accusing him of leading it, while other M23 leaders attempted to distance themselves from the wanted general.

Earlier this month, M23 split into two different factions. While Ntaganda was believed to have enjoyed Rwanda’s support, Rwanda’s relationship with him ever since the split remains unclear.

ICC should drop Kenyatta’s case –Lawyer

defence lawyer for President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya told judges at the International Criminal Court yesterday that prosecutors should drop their case charging him with orchestrating post-election violence in Kenya in 2007 and 2008 for lack of evidence.

The legal battle in The Hague came as Kenya’s Supreme Court also is considering an appeal by Prime Minister Raila Odinga against the legitimacy of Kenyatta’s victory in March 4 elections in which he won his country’s presidency.

International Criminal Court prosecutors have charged Kenyatta with crimes against humanity, including murder, rape and deportation, for allegedly organizing attacks on supporters of

his political rivals in the 2007 election. He denies all charges.

Weeks of violence after the late 2007 vote left more than 1,000 people dead and thousands more were forced from their homes.

Kenyatta was not in court in The Hague on Monday, but his lawyer Steven Kay told judges that the charges should be dropped after prosecutors scrapped charges against Francis Muthaura, who had been charged as a co-conspirator along with Kenyatta.

Judges formally dropped the case against Muthaura in a written decision yesterday. Prosecutors withdrew the charges after a key witness, identified only as OTP 4, was discredited as a liar.

“What was withdrawn against Muthaura should have been withdrawn against Kenyatta,” Kay

Kenyatta

said.

Kay said that the evidence of OTP 4 was also a critical part of the case against Kenyatta and that without it the prosecution case was underpinned mainly by hearsay evidence from just two witnesses.

“I am saying that because the key evidence against Muthaura which caused the withdrawal of his case is exactly the same for Kenyatta,” Kay told judges.

He said he would further explain his arguments in written filings.

Prosecutors argue they have enough evidence for the case against Kenyatta to continue.

They also say it can continue, even though Kenyatta and Muthaura were charged as “indirect co-perpetrators” in the post-election violence.

Kenyatta’s trial is scheduled to start in July, but Kay has urged judges to send the case back to a preliminary assessment of the strength of prosecution evidence in light of the decision to drop the case against Muthaura.

WORLD BULLETIN

Military plane crashes in Mauritania A Mauritanian official says that a military plane which was on a training mission crashed near the desert town of Aoujeft, located roughly 500 kilometres (300 miles) northeast of the capital.

The official said Monday that there were at least two people on board the plane, including the pilot and a mechanic. The official said one of the two was found alive, while the second has not yet been found, though he could not identify either. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he did not have permission to speak to the press.

In July 2012, a military plane crashed on the tarmac of the airport in the capital, Nouakchott, killing eight people.

Central African Republic rebels threaten new fight A coalition of rebel groups that signed a peace accord with the Central African Republic government two months ago is now threatening to take up arms again if a list of demands is not met by Wednesday, a move that threatens to derail efforts to stabilize the country.

The ultimatum came as the rebels also decided to hold back their five government ministers from returning to the capital following weekend talks about the peace process in the town of Sibut.

The rebel coalition known as Seleka first began taking control of about a dozen towns across the country’s north back in December.

They later signed a peace accord in January following negotiations that were mediated by neighbouring nations.

Col. Sylvain Bordas, a spokesman for the rebel group, said late Sunday that it was stepping up the pressure on the government to fulfill the promises made under the peace accord.

Zimbabwe police ignore order to free top lawyer An independent Zimbabwean lawyers’ group said yesterday the continued detention of one of its top members, the country’s most prominent human rights attorney Beatrice Mtetwa, highlights the urgent need to reform of law enforcement, two days after a referendum on a new constitution to strengthen human rights.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human rights said that a High Court judge, in a special overnight hearing, ordered Mtetwa’s release before dawn yesterday, but police refused to comply. Mtetwa was arrested Sunday.

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World News

WORLD BULLETIN

Marathon cancelled after Israeli runner dies Tel Aviv has cancelled a marathon race set for Friday because of a forecast of hot weather. This comes after a runner died of heat stroke in a half-marathon during a heat wave last week.

A statement from city hall yesterday says the decision follows recommendations by health officials.

Michael Michalevitch, a 29-year-old soldier, died in last week’s race. Four others collapsed and dozens of runners needed medical treatment. The municipality said it held the race in accordance with the instructions of health officials.

On Friday, when the full marathon was scheduled, Tel Aviv temperatures are forecast to reach 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit). Last week’s race was run in heat reaching 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit).

The municipality says it plans to host a marathon next year.

Hunger strike grows to 21 at Guantanamo, says US A Guantanamo Bay prison spokesman says 21 men are on hunger strike in a widening protest at the U.S. base in Cuba.

Navy Capt. Robert Durand says eight men are being fed with a liquid nutrient mix to prevent dangerous weight loss. Two men are at the prison hospital being treated for dehydration. The military says none are in immediate danger from the strike.

Lawyers for prisoners say the men are protesting their indefinite confinement and what they consider intrusive searches of their Qurans.

Durand said previously that only a handful of prisoners met the military definition of hunger strike, which includes missing nine consecutive meals. The number grew to 14 on Friday and reached 21 on Monday. Lawyers say the strike is more widespread than the military acknowledges.

Pakistani Taliban withdraw peace talk offer The Pakistani Taliban yesterday withdrew their offer of holding peace talks with the government, saying that the authorities were not serious about following through with negotiations.

The Taliban statement came as a pair of suicide bombers attacked a court complex in the north-western city of Peshawar.

One of the attackers was shot to death, but the other detonated his explosives in a packed courtroom, killing four people and wounding over 40 in the attack.

The Taliban have been waging a bloody insurgency against the government for over five years that has killed thousands of people.

The group first said it was open to negotiations at the end of last year in a letter sent to a local newspaper and a video released

by Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

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rgentine President Cristina Fernandez says she has asked Pope Francis to help defuse the long-running dispute between Argentina and Britain over the Falkland Islands.

Fernandez told journalists after she met with the new, Argentine-born pope Monday at the Vatican that she has asked for his intercession to “facilitate dialogue” over the islands, which Argentina claims and calls the Malvinas.

Just last week, British Prime Minister David Cameron said he doesn’t agree with Francis’ views on the Falklands. When Francis was archbishop of Buenos Aires, he had been quoted as saying that Britain “usurped” the remote islands.

Argentina and Britain fought a 1982 war over the islands. Earlier this month, the islanders voted overwhelmingly to remain a British Overseas Territory.

It was not immediately known how Francis responded to Fernandez’ request.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis is mixing his Argentine past with his Roman present to create his new papal coat of arms, while harking back to a pope associated with the Second Vatican Council for the simple ring that he will receive during Tuesday’s installation Mass.

The Vatican on Monday released details of the symbols of Francis’ pontificate, which in its inaugural days has been marked by his preference for simplicity and aversion to Holy See splendor.

The new pope chose to keep the same coat of arms he had as archbishop of Buenos Aires, and picked the simplest ring out of several models offered him. It is fashioned in gold-plated silver and was once a gift to Pope Paul

Britain seals deal to regulate press

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ritain’s main political parties agreed yesterday to create a new system to regulate the news media, hoping to end an era when tabloid newspapers trawled through people’s mobile phone messages to dredge up salacious stories.

Public outrage over phone hacking, which went beyond celebrities to include victims of crime and abducted children, pushed the government to act, but it said it had done so in a way that still protected press freedom.

The compromise agreed by the three main parties and expected to pass through parliament later on Monday, will establish a new press regulator, introduce fines of up to 1 million pounds and oblige newspapers to print prominent apologies where appropriate.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Argentina requests Pope’s help on Falklands dispute

Pope Francis (right) shaking hands with Argentine President Cristina Fernandez at the Vatican, yesterday

VI, who presided over the second half of Vatican II, the meetings that modernized the church.

The coat of arms has a necessary addition — the papal symbols surrounding it: a gilded miter, and crossed gold and silver keys.

The shield itself, in very simple almost modern heraldry, depicts

a star, a grape-like plan, and a monogram of Christ at the center of a fiery sun. The symbols represent the three members of the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph. In religious writing, Mary is often referred to as a “star,” while St. Joseph is often depicted holding a nard, a Middle Eastern plant. The monogram is the sym-

bol of Francis’ Jesuit order.

His motto suggests even more about the root of Francis’ message: “Miserando atque eligendo,” Latin for “Having had mercy, he called him,” comes from an episode in the Gospel where Christ picks a seemingly unworthy person to follow him.

Syrian rebel official backs interim government

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he leader of the main Syrian rebel force yesterday threw his weight behind the formation of an interim government to administer rebel-held areas as heavy fighting broke out in the Syrian capital and several suburbs.

At least three mortar shells struck central Damascus, the seat of President Bashar Assad’s power. The pro-government’s AlIkhbariya TV said one of the shells fell in Muhajireen district near Tishreen Palace, one of three palaces that Assad uses in the capital.

Activists also reported that mortar shells struck near state security agencies in al-Barakmeh district and close to the Higher Education Ministry in Mazzeh district.

At least 26 people died in the fighting in Damascus and its suburbs, according to the Britainbased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Also on Monday, Assad’s fighter jets struck targets near the town of Arsal, Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency. The two countries share a porous border and it was unclear if the shelling occurred inside Lebanon.

The strikes came just days after Damascus warned Beirut to stop militants from crossing the border to fight alongside the rebels.

Khalid Saleh, the spokesman for the opposition Syrian National Coalition, speaking to reporters in Istanbul, Turkey, yesterday.

Photo: AP

Lebanon has been on edge since the uprising against Assad began in March 2011. Gunmen on opposing sides of Syrian civil war have frequently clashed in Lebanon, raising concerns of a spillover.

Syria’s conflict began with political protests in mid-March, 2011, and has since become a civil war, with hundreds of rebel groups fighting Assad’s forces. The U.N. says more than 70,000 people have been killed and millions have been pushed from their homes by the violence.

In Istanbul, Gen. Salim Idris told reporters that fighters affiliated with his Free Syrian Army, the main rebel group, will work under the umbrella of an interim government and protect its members.

“We recognize the coalition as

our political umbrella and we hope this government can be formed unanimously and that this government will exercise its powers in all of Syria,” said Idris, the chief of staff of the FSA. “We consider it the only legal government in the country.”

Idris’ comments sought to boost efforts by the opposition’s Syrian National Coalition to choose a prime minister who will form an interim government. The coalition has failed to take such a step twice before, but members say there now appears to be more agreement that such a step is necessary.

The coalition’s 73 members meeting in Istanbul are expected to elect an interim prime minister from 12 candidates. The vote is expected by Tuesday.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

49

St John’s Episcopal Church in Aberdeen is believed to be the first in the UK to share with Muslims

Rev Poobalan, right, said he would not be true to his faith if he did not offer to help his neighbours with their overcrowding problem.

Scottish worshippers share church with Muslims in need

A

Scottish church has become the first in the UK to share its premises with Muslim worshippers.

St John’s Episcopal Church in Aberdeen now welcomes hundreds of Muslims praying five times a day in their building as the nearby mosque was so small that they were forced to worship outside.

The minister of St John’s, Rev Isaac Poobalan, has handed over part of the church hall to Chief Imam Ahmed Megharbi and the imam has led prayers in the main chapel.

Rev Poobalan said today that he would not be true to his faith if he did not offer to help.

He said: ‘Praying is never wrong. My job is to encourage people to pray.

‘The mosque was so full at times, there would be people outside in the wind and rain praying.

‘I knew I couldn’t just let this happen - because I would be abandoning what the Bible teaches us about how we should treat our neighbours.

‘When I spoke to people at the church about the situation, someone actually said to me this was not our problem, but I had seen it with my own eyes, so it was a problem.

Rev Poobalan said: ‘They were out there praying and the snow came on for the first time in winter, it was really hard to watch.

‘When they were doing the prayer they had their hands and feet exposed and they were sitting on the pavement, which is very rough.

‘You could even see them breathing because it was so cold and I think when I saw that, the visual impact was such that I just couldn’t walk past.

‘It felt wrong, mainly because the church is next door, it’s a big building and it remains empty on a Friday lunchtime which is when they need the place most as that’s when they

are at their busiest.

‘We had something we could offer and they were just standing out in the cold and I said to my congregation “we need to do something”.’

Rev Poobalan said he wanted the move to help build bridges between Christians and Muslims after some initial resistance from his congregation about the move.

He said: ‘It’s a move that is so basic and fundamental. It has nothing to do with religion - it’s all based on human need.

‘The religious divide shouldn’t divide us as people.

‘But I anticipated there would be some opposition as it’s strange and new and there was some natural anxiety in the beginning.

‘But once people realised that there is more commonality between us.

‘I certainly hope, wish and pray that this will help relations between the two religions.

‘When I spoke to the imam there was some hesitation on their part too, because this has never been done before.

‘But they took us up on the offer and it has been a positive relationship.’ ev Poobalan, 50, said being surrounded

by Islam while growing up in India helped break down the divide for worshippers of two religions praying together in Aberdeen.

Sheikh Ahmed Megharbi of the Syed Shah Mustafa Jame Masjid mosque said: ‘What happens here is special and there should be no problem repeating this across the country.

‘The relationship is friendly and respectful.’

St John’s is part of the Scottish Episcopal Church, which is part of the Anglican Communion and distinct from the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

The Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney, the Right Rev Dr Robert Gillies said that this relationship could be the start of a change in

Sections of the church hall have been handed over to the mosque and the imam has led prayers Photos: SWNS in the chapel

dynamics between the two faiths.

Dr Gillies said: ‘It would be good to think we can change the world.

‘Most of us most of the time feel we can’t so don’t bother.

‘But sometimes, someone has a vision we can do something of global significance on a local scale.

‘This is what is happening between St John’s and the mosque in its grounds.

‘Everyone can do something locally and if more were to do so then something big might just begin to happen globally.’

Dr Gillies said that the ‘eyes of the world’ were now focused on the two faiths represented in the building on the city’s Crown Terrace.

Although the Christian church regards Jesus as the son of God, the Muslim faith views him as a key prophet.

Even with differences like these, there can be a mutual respect, said Dr Gillies.

The relationship between the mosque and St John’s has developed over the past few years.

On Christmas Eve 2010 both opened their doors for prayers, food and socialising.

In 2011, the church and mosque teamed up to mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the USA. Verses were read from both the Bible and the Koran to commemorate those who died.

There have been cases of Christians allowing Muslims to pray in their churches in parts of America.

In 2011, two Florida churches were criticised for opening their doors to Muslim groups.

But Church leaders believe the move in Aberdeen is a first for the United Kingdom.

•

Culled from Daily Mail

Cocktail

50

x

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

FOR YOUR SUCCESS

WITH DR. DEJI FOLUTILE

Today's Tonic (112)

“Success follows doing what you want to do. There is no other way to be successful.”

–Malcolm Forbes * * * The Road To Success Passion is the secret of secrets in making it in life.

It is a tragedy to go through life without discovering what you were born to do. I am told that when you do what you love to do, money will come to you. This is true in my experience.

How long are we going to live that we keep postponing moving into the visions of God for us? The secret of provision is in your vision. Get busy and pursue that vision. Keep acting on your dreams. Declare war on procrastination. Before you know, you will enter the success town!

TEL 08104942999 E-MAIL deji.folutile@gmail.com Follow me @TwitterOWOTIDE

Lover’s cheating leads to armed standoff

F

lorida police said a woman barricaded herself in a motel room, fired off 18 shots and threatened suicide because she was upset about her unfaithful boyfriend.

Daytona Beach police said officers were called to the Sun & Surf Motel at 5 p.m. EDT Wednesday when Heather Beaver, 21, barricaded herself in a motel room with a firearm after an argument with her boyfriend of three

years, Craig Garris, about his cheating, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported Friday.

Beaver fired off 18 rounds during the standoff, some of which went in the direction of police. No one was injured by the bullets.

Police said Beaver, who threatened to kill herself, surrendered shortly before 7:20 p.m. when tear gas was used in the room.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

Bus overcome by cockroaches, forced to stop

P

assengers on a Greyhound bus travelling to New York said they were disgusted when the bus became overrun with cockroaches.

The bus was travelling from Atlantic City, N.J., to New York Friday morning when passengers began to notice the bugs crawling about, CNN reported.

Passenger Dawn Alexander told ABC News the roaches were first spotted in the front of the bus.

“Then after a while, the panic got toward the back because we all started looking around and saw roaches crawling everywhere,” she said.

“We thought it was one (roach). It turned out to be a whole house full of roaches,” said another passenger.

“I sat down -- roaches started crawling up on our clothes, falling

down from the ceiling.

Everything,” said another.

G r e y h o u n d spokeswoman Maureen Richmond told CNN the bus driver acted quickly

when passengers alerted him to the problem.

“He immediately pulled the bus over and radioed our dispatch office for assistance,” she said. “A second bus was immediately

sent to continue the trip into New York. We have spoken with each passenger and provided full refunds.”

Greyhound said it was investigating how the roaches got onto the bus.

Bo, the Obama family dog, follows First Lady Michelle Obama as she walks across the South Lawn of the White House towards the Kitchen Garden, recently.

PHOTO: WHITE HOUSE

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

51

NSCDC parades 62 fake corps members in Nasarawa IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

T

Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero (left) and Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero during a visit to the Emir in Kano, yesterday.

10 houses burnt as community, police clash in Benue HENRY IYORKASE MAKURDI

O

ver 10 houses were burnt yesterday in a clash between commercial motorcyclists and mobile policemen at Adeke, a suburb of Makurdi in Benue State.

The incident occurred following a disagreement between a commercial motorcyclist and a policeman.

Many residents fled their homes as the violence raged. The residents alleged that the mobile policemen set their homes ablaze following a disagreement between one of them (policemen) and a commer-

cial motorcyclist.

One of the residents, who did not want her name mentioned, said: “Since the crisis started, the mobile policemen have been setting our houses ablaze.”

The resident said that trouble started when a mobile policeman beat a commercial motorcyclist to a pulp. She said that the policeman also attacked sympathisers who attempted to give the motorcyclist first aid.

According to her, the policeman’s action irked bystanders who warned him to stop the attack.

She said the development degenerated into a

full blown crisis in which many houses and other property worth several millions of naira were destroyed.

When contacted, the Benue State Command Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Daniel Ezeala, said policemen had been drafted to the troubled community to maintain law and order.

Ezeala said: “Frankly speaking, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Christopher Katso, has directed that normalcy should be instantly restored to the trouble area and insisted that the best way to resolve any crisis must be through

dialogue and not physical confrontation”.

Katso was quoted to have appealed to all parties to address their grievances through dialogue rather than embarking on violence, which might not be in the best interest of anyone.

It will be recalled that a clash erupted last weekend between Mbawuar and Mbanguur communities in Vandeikya Local Government Area of the state in which over 50 houses were burnt.

The crisis erupted following allegations and counter-allegations over encroachment on land.

Tension in Kogi over PDP chairmanship primaries WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

T

ension may have enveloped Kogi State over plan by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to conduct chairmanship primaries today in the 21 local government areas of the state.

This followed the pocket of crisis that characterised last Friday councillorships primaries.

The councillorship primaries were alleged to have been by characterised by irregularities.

National Mirror gathered that it was free for all between factions of the PDP in Ogori/Magongo, Yagba West and Ijumu local government areas during the councillorship primaries.

This led to the arrest of many councillorship and chairmanship aspirants for the alleged role play in the fracas.

Sources, however, said most aggrieved party members have travelled to Abuja to meet with their “political leaders” so as not to lose out completely before today’s chairmanship primaries.

At the PDP state secretariat in Lokoja yesterday, some aggrieved councillorship aspirants were seen lodging one complaint or the other over the weekend primaries.

The party’s Administrative Secretary, Mallam Isah Balarabe, said the party hierarchy had constituted an Appeal Committee to hear all the aggrieved parties.

Balarabe said that the committee had started sitting at a designated area in Lokoja, the state capital.

Meanwhile, the police

have vowed to arrest anyone found fomenting trouble during today’s chairmanship Primaries.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. A. Romanous Nwaneri, said that the command had strategies in palace to ensure that the PDP chairmanship primaries are conducted peacefully.

Nwaneri said: “Anyone that contravenes the law will definitely face the wrath of law. The command will not spare any erring politician no matter how highly placed.”

he Nasarawa State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) yesterday paraded 62 suspected fake corps members arrested at the Government Secondary School in Tammah, an outskirt of Nasarawa town.

Also arrested with the fake corps members by the NSCDC were five drivers and a photographer while their coordinator, one Mr. Chinedu, escaped.

Parading the suspected fake corps members at the Nasarawa command headquarters of the NSCDC in Lafia, the state capital, the commandant, Mr. Andekin Amos Musa, said that of the 62 suspects, 44 are females while 18 are males.

Musa said: “The arrest was done during a routine surveillance carried out by our officers. They came across a group of suspected corps members undergoing training in an outskirt of Nasarawa town, about 14 kilometres away.

“The fake corps members went there with

chartered coastal buses to take photographs and commence training.

They equally admitted committing the offence as they confessed paying money ranging from N50, 000 to N100, 000 to be enrolled into the scheme.

“This is the third time the command making such arrest as previous suspects were charged to court. These new suspects will equally be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.”

Musa said all the suspects claimed to be graduates of the University of Jos, who had completed their part time degree programmes in various disciplines of the institutions.

In an interview with National Mirror, one of the female suspects, Keziah Danjuma, said she was invited by a friend to participate in the illegal training after paying N50, 000 at Mararaba, an outskirt of Abuja.

A nursing mother from Oyo State, Maimuna Ganyat, who was also arrested, lamented that she had never known the exercise was illegal, saying: “If I had known it earlier, I wouldn’t have involved myself in it.”

20 died in auto crashes in Kogi last month –FRSClaws, among others.

WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

T

he Kogi State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Muhammed Garba, has said that no fewer than 20 persons died in auto crashes across state last month.

Garba told journalists yesterday in his office in Lokoja that a total of 184 casualties were recorded in the 44 accidents that occurred across the state last month.

“No fewer than 20 people died in the crashes and 164 injured,” he said.

The commander pointed out that the accidents were as a result of over speeding, dangerous driving and failure to observe traffic

He appealed to motorists and other road users to always obey traffic laws, blaming most of the accident on drivers’ bad attitude.

Garba, however, said that a total of 1,217 motorists and cyclists were arrested across the state for traffic violation, saying that the FRSC would not relents in its public enlightenment campaign to make the road safe.

FRSC Corps Marshal Osita Chidoka

52

News

Tuesday, March 19 , 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Okonjo-Iweala’s kinsmen set kidnap suspect’s house ablaze A

Presidency to hold public affairs forum

SOLA ADEBAYO WARRI

F

resh tension gripped Ogwashi-Uku, the hometown of the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Prof.

Ngonzi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday night as irate youths of the community razed a building belonging to a suspected kidnapper, one Chijile Onochie.

It was gathered that Onochie, now at large and some of his colleagues, who are now in police custody, were linked with the

abduction and killing of a septuagenarian, Madam Regina Obidainty.

The septuagenarian was reportedly killed after her family had paid N2million ransom to the hoodlums. Although, the hoodlums initially demanded for N6million ransom, it was gathered that the two parties eventually settled for N2million.

Reliable police sources told National Mirror that Obidainty was murdered at a hideout in Edo State, because she recognised Onochie, moment after

her abduction.

Findings further revealed that the septuagenarian, who was abducted on March 3, was living in the same neighbourhood with Onochie at Ogbe-Ofu area of the community.

Her decomposing body was recovered at Igbogiri Forest in Edo State.

Ogwashi-Uku, the headquarters of Aniocha Local Government Area of Delta State, was in the news recently following the abduction of the mother of the finance minister and wife of the traditional ruler of the

area, Prof. Kaneme Okonjo.

National Mirror gathered that Iweala’s kinsmen, who were irked by the fate of the septuagenarian, mobilised and stormed Onochie’s residence and razed it amidst jubilation by residents.

Police Public Relation Officer, PPRO, Delta State Command, Mr. Famous Ajieh, an assistant superintendent of police, who confirmed the report in a telephone interview with our correspondent, however, added that the details were sketchy.

s part of efforts by the Federal Government to connect more with Nigerians and make governance more accessible to the public, the Presidency has concluded plans to hold a bi-monthly interactive session with critical stakeholders in the country, including Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, opinion leaders and newspaper columnists in the country.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday. Okupe said these stakeholders represent a crucial bridge between government and the people and as such it was necessary for government to carry them along in its activities: “In view of the obvious gaps in communication as shown in apparent misunderstanding of issues in

the court of public opinion, this department will henceforth hold a bi-monthly interactive forum with registered members of the Civil Society Organisations and other critical stakeholders in the society.

“This programme will be coordinated by the Special Assistant to the President on Public Relations, Dr. Olusanya Awosan, and he will be assisted by the Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Alhaji Nasir Zaharadeen.

These men are both professionally and academically sound practitioners with many decades of experience in public relations and the media,” Okupe said in the statement.

The Presidential aide noted that he looked forward to the success of the initiative, which he said would facilitate efficient two-way information traffic between the public and the Presidency.

25, 000 Nigerians languish in foreign prisons

A

Former Governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, during his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja, yesterday.

bout 25, 000 Nigerians are currently languishing in foreign prisons, a brainstorming conference organised by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, yesterday revealed.

It was also disclosed that many Nigerians in these foreign prisons, especially, those in European countries shun any effort by the government to seek their release and

N10.9bn fraud: EFCC arraigns ex-Gov Abubakar Audu

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday arraigned the former governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, alongside a former Director-General of the Directorate of Rural Development in his administration, Alfa Ibn Mustapha, before Justice A. O. Adeniyi, of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The duo were arraigned on a 36-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N10.9billion.

Audu and his co-accused pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them, prompting the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, to request for a date for the commencement of trial.

One of the charges read:

“That you, Prince Abubakar Audu and Alfa Ibn Mustapha, between 2000 and 2002 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory while being the governor of Kogi State and Director-General of Kogi State Directorate of Rural Development respectively, and in such capacities entrusted with dominion over certain property,

to wit: an aggregated sum of N2,877, 487,690.88 meant for rural development in Kogi State committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said sum.

“This sum you falsely claim to be payment made to Aresanmi Technical Industries Limited in respect of the contract allegedly awarded Kogi State Directorate of Rural Development to the said Aresanmi

Technical Industries Limited and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code, CAP 532, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.”

However, counsel to the first accused, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, prayed the court to allow his client to return home on bail pending trial. He argued that the accused would make

himself available for trial and that he would not jump bail. Counsel to the second accused, Prince Orji Nwafor Orizu, also made the same plea for bail, saying the two accused have been on administrative bail. But prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, opposed the oral application, insisting that a formal application should be presented before the court.

it said required an annual need of at least US$1.6 billion (about N248bn) in international funding for treatment and prevention.

Of the US$1.6 billion gap in donor financing, almost 60 per cent is for WHO’s Africa region, the organisations said.

“Prompt and effective treatment for multidrugresistant TB requires an

estimated total of US$1.3 billion per year. This is where the greatest increase in funding is needed in the coming years,” the release said.

Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO, and Dr Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund, said that the only way to carry out the urgent work is to identify all new cases of tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis, a threat to world health – WHO MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

T

he World Health Organisation, WHO, and Global Fund have raised the alarm over the spate of tuberculosis pandemic across the globe, saying the disease is becoming a threat to the world.

The two bodies said in

a release yesterday that about 1.4 million people had died as a result of the scourge, with the greatest rate in Africa, while an estimated 630, 000 people are currently ill worldwide with the disease.

Also, the health agencies disclosed that strains of tuberculosis with resistance to multiple drugs could spread widely, which

sign their transfer to Nigeria, as a result of the not too conducive state of Nigerian prisons and the prevailing economic situation.

They tend to stay incarcerated for them to enjoy better infrastructure in these prisons than what we have in Nigeria.

The 13th brainstorming session, tagged; “The Plight of Nigerians in Foreign Prisons: The Challenge of Transformation,” was attended by major foreign and national diplomats, public servants, dons from universities, who all bemoan the increasing spate of incarceration of Nigerians, proffering recommendations for fashioning out solutions to them.

The Spanish Embassy in Nigeria said as at February 27, 2013 there are 585 Nigerians imprisoned in Spain. Also, last year the British High Commission revealed that 6, 000 Nigerians are in UK prisons.

Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in her paper delivered during the meeting said many Nigerians settle for illegal arrangements in obtaining required travel documents. “They employ all manners of pranks to beat immigration laws and ultimately regret their actions.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

53

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

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54

Features

Tuesday, March 19 , 2013

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Patience Ijeh: With both hands legs to make six credits in WAEC She is a personification of God’s miracles in modern times having been born with her two hands paralysed.

“God has done wonderful things for me since I was born. He opened doors for me and now I have faith that I can go to school and be a graduate,” Miss Patience Ijeh, joyfully testifies as LEONARD OKACHIE writes.

H

er story is like that of David A. Paterson, captivating and compelling. Patterson was New York’s first black Governor, from 2008 to 2010, the fourth black governor in America’s history, and second blind governor (after Bob C. Riley of Arkansas). Paterson has been legally blind since infancy, unable to see with his left eye and having extremely limited vision in the right eye.

But in his condition, he said:”I have had this desire my whole life to prove people wrong, to show them I could do things they didn’t think I could do.”Like Paterson, Miss Patience Ijeh has every cause to convince critics that disability is not courage in the face of adversity but an ingenious way to live.

Moments, her cell phone rang. Amazingly, she picked it up with her teeth and with little assistance with her hands began a conversation with the caller.

Shortly, she returned to her amazing story with infectious smiles.

“See my hands. Everybody thought it was all over for me. Due to the way I was born, I had said, I would never be successful in life, but God has proved otherwise. I have passed all my papers in the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), including English and Mathematics, even though I wrote them with my leg,” she spoke with an air of confidence.

She was born with both hands paralysed, a situation that forced her to use her right leg in writing. Now in her early 20s, Patience has developed her writing skills with the right leg since she was a child and surprisingly has been able to right faster and better than some of her classmates.

“I grew up to seeing and knowing that I have problem with my hands. I could not even know how it started. When I was in the primary school, I saw myself writing with the right leg. I then began to develop it. I usually place my book on the bare floor with handkerchief to prevent dust and would place my leg on it so it would not look rough,” she said.

After her primary education at Ikelike Primary School, Ogwuashi-Uku, Delta State, her zeal to acquire more knowledge took her to St. Roses’ Girls Grammar School also in Ogwuashi-

Writing with her right leg.

Uku. While there, she became the cynosure of the entire school community.

“Interestingly, they took me as one of them and treated me as a normal student. At school, all my friends would bring their notes and request that I help them write since I wrote faster than they did. I was doing well academically,” continued Patience, a native of Ubulu-Okiti in Aniocha Local Government Area of Delta State.

But what must have been responsible for the paralysis of her hands? She narrated her ordeal thus: “When I discovered my condition, I enquired from my mother the cause and she told me that it occurred during child delivery process.

She revealed that during her labour, I was pushing out with both hands rather than the head and since there was no facilities for Caesarean Section at the hospital, the medical team tried to push me back into the womb in order to make me stay in the right position for delivery”. She said her parents did not notice earlier that she had problems with her hands until when she was three months old. She said it was at that time that they noticed she could not properly move her hands.

With the rude shock, her parents took her to different hospitals, all to no avail.

In fact, the cause of her hands paralysis was diagnosed at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), where experts tried all they could to restore them to life.

She believed it was her condition that

I GREW UP SEEING AND KNOWING THAT

I

HAVE PROBLEM WITH MY HANDS.

I COULD

NOT EVEN KNOW HOW IT STARTED

At 3 months old.

led to her mother’s death in 2001 “because my mother suffered a lot while trying to make me live a normal life.

She was not happy seeing me in this condition. I have four siblings and I am the only girl among them.”

One year after her mother’s death,

she sat for the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) but was disappointed when the results were released and she did not pass all the subjects.

She said: “Initially, I did not know what was responsible for my failing those subjects but I later learnt that many candidates did not pass either. The following year, I registered and sat for the General Certificate of Education (GCE) examination and yet failed to pass all the subjects. So the three attempts made at passing the GCE failed.

I became worried and discovered that my name did not even appear on the exam board. Curiously, I never saw whether I passed or failed. So for three years, I just sat at home doing nothing.

But with time, it dawned on her that it was through the instrumentality of education that she could be liberated from her loneliness and physical condition.

“So I made up my mind to sit for another examination. When I enrolled for the 2012 examination, all my prayer was that God should touch the examiners. From this prayer, I came to the realisation that the untidy nature of my scripts was responsible for the exams failure, as they were always dusty since I placed them on bare floor when writing with my leg.

So I prayed over it. After that God did a marvellous thing for me. I went on to pass the examinations with six credits including English and Mathematics. I am now a happy person”.

However, little did Patience know that passing examinations was only a begin-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Features

Tuesday, March 19 , 2013

55

paralysed, she writes with her

Carrying out office duties Opening a bag with her legs.

ning of her success story. A company that heard of her travails offered her a job as well as scholarship for further studies at any institution of her choice.

Patience decided to attend the Lagos State University (LASU) but that was on condition that she writes and pass the examination.

Nonetheless, her dream is to become a lawyer because “when I was in the secondary school, my friends were always talking of their dream professions and I told them I would want to read law because I like the way lawyers dress. Again, people had always told me that from the way I speak and argue I would make a good lawyer.

But when I passed out of secondary school, I decided not to study law again due to my physical condition, as law would be very stressful. Rather, I decided to study Mass Communication because I can read the news. But when I went to my employer, they told me I can still go ahead with my dream of becoming a lawyer since the organisation has room for persons in that profession. Moreover, they would offer me a job in their legal department after graduation”.

Notwithstanding, Patience wished that her hands were normal like other people. “At times, I look at myself and I feel dejected. I look at others but in the end I take courage at what life has thrown at me. Sometimes, I feel shy because I will see people doing things on their own which I am incapable of do-

WHEN I DISCOVERED MY CONDITION, I ENQUIRED FROM MY MOTHER THE CAUSE AND SHE TOLD ME THAT IT OCCURRED DURING THE CHILD DELIVERY PROCESS

Patience in her office

ing due to my physical condition”.

How does she cope without the aid of normal hands? She smiled and said: “I do things by myself. The ones I cannot do I seek assistance. I brush my teeth,

wear clothes and so on but I cannot zip or wash the clothes by myself. I have someone hired to assist me. Sometimes, I will feel sad when I don’t have anyone around to help me. At such times, I am tempted to ask why I am in this state?”

In spite of these challenges, Patience admitted that God has been kind to her as she continued, “I just want to give God the glory for all His mercies and kindness towards me. I see my condition as a blessing. I have been receiving favours which have not been so since I was born. I have become more popular.”

Surprisingly, Patience has not experienced any pain on her right leg since she was born, a situation she described as abundant grace of God on her life.

You have just mentioned something. Do you know I have not experienced any injury or pain on that leg since I was born?”She asked rhetorically.

It is the dream of most girls to get a caring man as husband. Patience equally shares this dream and said, “If God wishes, I will get married. I don’t have any man right now. I feel love, but I cannot force myself on any man. Men come and go but I cannot force myself on any of them. But I want a God-fearing man as husband. I want a man that will marry me and not feel something happened to me.”

In spite of these, Patience said she had never thought of committing suicide, rather she has learnt to give God the glory. “My brothers have always advised me, especially my younger broth-

er. He says, I should know that I’m still better than some people,” she said.

Her elder brother Benjamin, whom she lives with at Egbeda, Lagos said the family tried all they could to revise her situation, but eventually surrendered everything to God for his miracle.

“I brought a younger person to help do certain things like washing her clothes.

She bathes by herself. At times, she folds clothes with her legs. Most times, it amazes me at what she does with her legs”, he said.

He said that his sister’s condition perhaps contributed to the untimely death of their mother, adding “Our mother was the only person taking care of her, and so on. She felt so sad to see her only daughter in that condition; that led to her death. After the death of our mother, she came to Lagos and started living with me. Our father is still in the village.

“It is sad, but there is nothing one can do, because we have taken her to several hospitals including UBTH, in her infancy, but we did not get any meaningful result. She enrolled for GCE and God did a miracle for her as she passed all the subjects.”

Meanwhile, Patience is still in need of help as she appealed, “Anyone willing to help me should do so. My major challenge now is how to get to work. Coming out of Egbeda to face the daily traffic while going to work at Oshodi, is a terrible experience. At times, people push me while rushing to board a bus. It has not been a bed of roses at all.”

WORLD RECORD

Widest human tooth extracted Vol. 03 No. 580

T

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Welcoming Pope Francis

he resignation of Pope Benedict, which initially started as a rumour before it was eventually confirmed, finally gave birth to the election of a new Pontiff for the Catholic Church. The inauguration of Pope Francis, the Argentine-born Cardinal Sergio Berglolio today after his emergence from the conclave which lasted for just two days marked the beginning of another era in Papacy. As he settles down to the affairs of the Church, there had been the outpouring of commendations and accolades just as his predecessors also enjoyed the same attention, even if not more, before facing the reali-

F

N150

The widest human tooth was extracted from nine-year-old Shane Russell (Canada) on 28 June 2000. The tooth measured 1.67 cm (0.6 in) wide. The average width of a natural maxillary central incisor is 0.892 cm (0.3 in).

ormer Technical Director of Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Dr. Kashimawo Laloko, has expressed regrets over the death of former Green Eagles’ goalkeeper, Emmanuel Ominu.

Ominu died in Lagos last Saturday after a brief illness, aged 78.

“It is a very sad loss not only to the family but to Nigeria in gen-

TALKINGPOINT Seyi Fasugba

seyifasugba@yahoo.com 08053069514 (sms only)

ty of the myriads of problems confronting the Church today.

But these are problems and issues that will not go in one day. They are bound to be discussed and solutions found. As long as the Church is about managing the affairs and issues affecting the saints of God, opportunities will always come to individual that will be ordained of God to think, consult and point the way to how best to serve God acceptably. Between the immediate past and the new one, the Church has come under intense focus by the western press on certain doctrines being abused and compromised by some elements within who should know better.

As expected, Pope Francis has enjoyed acceptance from across the multitudes of the faithful, not minding the process of his emergence, the details of which were not made public after the fourth round of polls among the conclave electors. The new Pope also alluded to this when he said in his first comment after his emergence that his fellow Cardinals decided to go to the end of the world to elect one, that is, himself. Commentators have equally acknowledged and attested to his humility, a quality highly needed for someone to lead the multitude.

It, must, however, be noted that his predecessor, Pope Benedict, was equally

APART FROM THIS, THE WORLD ALSO EXPECTS THE NEW

PONTIFF TO STAND FIRM AGAINST THE UNHOLY DOCTRINE OF SAME SEX MARRIAGE praised and adored on assumption of office. No sooner than he settled down that he was confronted with the enormous demands of the Papacy and the complex nature of human beings, particularly the saints he was going to lead.

As cardinals, each candidate must been groomed in ways to handle issues relating to the faithful and the role expected of the church in a world dominated by greed, avarice and threatened by modernization and science.

To posit that there are many issues now contending the place of the church among the saints is stating the obvious.

But, in spite of these challenges, the need to overcome them cannot be underestimated. These and many other issues,

for the time being, be the focus of the new Pope even as the church battles to regain its right place in world affairs.

There are, however, certain topical issues that the Pontiff must tackle and keep on the front burner to help the saints the world over. The church and Pope Francis must, as a matter of urgency, stand up against the dangerous trend of growing terrorists’ attack on the church and the saints. This is a disturbing phenomenon that must be condemned in its entirety and which calls for a common front to repel this unholy onslaught. As the world witnessed in the recent past, the attack had been vehement in sub-Saharan Africa with Nigeria recording some, if not the highest, of these. The Catholic Church has been on the receiving end in this regard with many innocent souls killed for daring to stand by their faith. The assault got to the peak with the bombing of the saints on Christmas day while celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ!

Helping the Church in Nigeria by galvanize international condemnation against these violent elements threatening the spread of the gospel is one task that Pope Francis owes this part of the world and to which he must be committed in order to terminate the threats of these deadly terrorist groups.

Apart from this, the world also expects the new Pontiff to stand firm against the unholy doctrine of same sex marriage gradually creeping into the church, a sacrilege that must be condemned in totality. This was much campaigned against by Pope Benedict before his resignation and the change of baton must not affect the momentum until the proponents of this strange doctrine are made to see reason and fall in line. Their argument notwithstanding, the Bible remains the standard for the saints.

Sport Extra

Laloko mourns ex-Eagles’ goalkeeper, Ominu eral,” Laloko told National Mirror in an emotion-laden voice yesterday.

“Personally, he was my mentor and he did so much for me while I was a student in the United Kingdom, as well as

well during my active coaching career and later as Director of the Pepsi Football Academy.

“At the juncture, I can only pray that God give the bereaved family the fortitude to bear this great loss.”

Family spokesman, Mr. Robert Ndabai, said on Sunday that the burial arrangement would be made public after a meeting before the end of this week.

“We will inform the public on developments,” Ndabai said.

Dr. Laloko

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