March 7, 2016 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Labour minister, Ocholi, wife, son die in Kaduna-Abuja auto crash

…Buhari, APC others express shock

Ocholi’s car

Vol. 6 N0. 1320

Obiora Ifoh, Olufemi Adeosun, Rotimi Fadeyi, Aza Msue and Wale Ibrahim

inister of State for Labour and Productivity, Mr. James Ocholi, yesterday, died in a ghastly car crash along with his wife and

son. Ocholi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, was appointed minister by President Muhammadu Continued on Page 2>>

Gunmen behead APC chieftain, wife, son in Rivers P. 11

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Police rescue kidnapped Lagos schoolgirls …arrest three suspects •How we kidnapped the girls –Suspects

Francis Suberu and Patience Ogbo

hree female students of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary in Ikorodu Lagos State, kidnapped by gunmen on Monday, last week, have been rescued. The students, Timilehin Olusa, Tofunmi Popoolaniyan and Deborah Akinayo were kidnapped at about 8p.m. by gunmen, Continued on Page 2>>

L-R: Major suspect, Emmanuel Arigidi; accomplices, Akanji Segun and James Henry, during the parade of the suspected kidnappers of school children in Ikorodu, at Government House, Alausa, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: ADEMOLA AKINLABI

Buhari confirms Nigeria’s membership of Islamic coalition against terror P.5

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Monday, March 7, 2016

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Police rescue kidnapped Lagos schoolgirls CONTINUED FROM Page 1

who invaded their school, shooting sporadically to scare people away. Three members of the kidnapping gang were also arrested by the police in the course of recuing the girls. The suspects, who were paraded at Government House, Alausa, Ikeja yesterday, were tracked down by the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Intelligence Team from Force Headquarters, Abuja, with assistance from the Directorate of State Service, DSS, the military and Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Squad. The police gave the names of the arrested suspects as Emmanuel Arigidi, who is the prime suspect, James Henry and Akanji Oluwasegun. Briefing journalists on the development at the Lagos State House, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said men of the state Police Command, DSS and members of the armed forces worked tirelessly round the clock in the last six days to secure the release of the kidnapped girls. According to Ambode, Arigidi’s arrest led to the operation that secured the release of the abducted children. He said: “The three girls have been safely reunited with their families and the government wishes to assure Lagosians that their security is top priority and it will not relent in ensuring that Lagos remains safe and secure. “Let me warn that the state government will not tolerate kidnapping or any forms of crime in the state. Our position is clear and unambiguous; Lagos state has the capacity and the will to go after every form of crime and criminality in order to safeguard lives and property in the state. “As our daughters are re-united with their mothers and other members of their families, I would like to seize this opportunity to wish all mothers in Lagos State and Nigeria at large a happy Mothers’ Day.” State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni

said no ransom was paid to secure the release of the girls. Owoseni, who also spoke during the press conference, said the children were rescued using the application of modern technology. The commissioner urged members of the public not to encourage kidnappers to demand ransom as any ransom paid would encourage others to go into the business. The police commissioner said the girls are in stable condition and were never molested by their abductors. “The girls are stable, medical attention has been given to them and from what we gathered from the girls, they were not molested by the kidnappers,” he said. Revealing the role other suspects played in the kidnap saga, the police said Henry registered the sim card the gang used to call the girls’ parents, while Oluwasegun gave the gang the recharge cards they used. Mr. Owoseni added that the police are on the trail of other members of the gang and would soon be arrested. It was learnt that the police recovered AK47 rifles and canoes from the suspects. Meanwhile, the prime suspect, Arigidi, 37 has revealed how the gang kidnapped the girls. He said: “Twelve of us planned the operation to kidnap the girls from their school. We are twelve in number. It was one Lami Ami who brought the idea and Felix supported him. The names of the others are Geoffrey, Aboki, Ekpokemi and Owi. “I can’t remember the names of the other men but we met at Majidun area in Ikorodu to plan the operation. “We went to Maya bridge to enter canoe and went to the school around 8p.m. After we gained entrance into the school, we took away three girls to our hideout. But along the line, we had disagreement between ourselves and I was actually the one that started it. I told other members of the gang that

Wife of Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo (third left) with other mothers cutting the cake during the Mothers’ Day celebration at the Aso Villa Chapel in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: STATE HOUSE what we have done is not good and that I don’t like it. “I know that security in Lagos State is now tight and I was telling others that there was no way we would get away with

this kind of job considering the level of security in the state. When I told them that we should end the assignment, other members of the gang threatened to kill me and then I took canoe to run

away. “Three days after I ran away, operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, arrested me somewhere in Majidun and that was how I told them how we planned the

attack. “One thing I will like to say is that if not for the fact that I was arrested, they would not have seen the girls because I was the one that revealed everything to the police.”

Labour minister, Ocholi, wife, son die in Kaduna-Abuja auto crash CONTINUED FROM Page 1

Buhari last year. The accident reportedly occurred at Rigana village on the Kaduna-Abuja Highway when their car had a burst tyre and summersaulted several times. A reliable source from the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, told our correspondent that Ocholi and his son died on the spot, while his wife, who sustained injuries died at the Doka Government Hospital, Kaduna, where she and other aides were rushed to. A senior official of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, who did not want to be named, told our correspondent that the corpses were ordered by the Corps Marshal to be evacuated to Abuja immediately. “It is a sensitive issue and all our men who were involved in the rescue operations were officers from Kakau unit of Kaduna FRSC Sector Command. Our Corps Marshal ordered that the corpses should be evacuated to Abuja,” he said.

Ocholi, who hailed from Kogi State was said to be heading to Abuja after an official assignment in one of the northern states. Kaduna State FRSC Sector Commander, Francis Udoma, told journalists that the accident occurred 57 kilometres away from Kaduna. He said: “The rear tyre bursted and the vehicle summersaulted. The minister and his son died on the spot, the wife died in the government hospital in Doka, Kaduna. “The driver, the chief detail, the orderly and the P.A (Personal Assistant) were injured.” A graduate of law from the University of Jos, Ocholi was admitted into the inner chamber in 2007 and was chairman, Disciplinary Committee of the Abuja chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA. In 2011, he was governorship aspirant in Kogi State on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC. Between 2013 and 2014, he was Deputy National Legal Adviser of All Pro-

gressives Congress, APC. Last year, he sought the APC gubernatorial ticket at the party’s primary election, losing to the late Abubakar Audu. Meanwhile, President Buhari has expressed shock and sadness over the death of the Ocholis. Buhari has also sent the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, David Lawal Babachir to formally convey the news to members of the deceased family as well as parishioners in his place of worship. A statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu said Buhari described the late minister’s death as untimely, regretting that Nigeria has lost a key component of the change agenda. “Barrister Ocholi was an accomplished and patriotic Nigerian, who was keen to accept the call to service at a time his country needed him,” the President said. Buhari noted that in the few months he had been in

office, the late Minister of State had already begun to distinguish himself through his commitment and dedication to his portfolio. The late Ocholi has had a long record of political association with President Buhari. Buhari also consoled with the government and people of Kogi State, whom he described as having lost a distinguished and irreplaceable son. He prayed that God would comfort them and grant them the grace to bear the loss. “The entire country mourns the loss of this great man, who has sadly left us when we need him most,” he said. APC aslso expressed shock over the deaths. The party’s National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni in a condolence message described the deaths as monumental losses to the family of the victims and the nation at large. Buni said the late Ocholi will be remembered for his selfless service to the Continued on Page 5>>

Zika virus is changing! Franka Osakwe

“If actually, the Brazilian strain of Zika virus is a mutated strain, then this will pose a serious trouble to the country in the event of an outbreak, Dr. Greg Ohihoin, a NIMR researcher and Gynaecologist, warned, while calling for vigilant at the port. And even if unchanged, there is still need to be cautious since the study showed only 40 per cent Nigerians have immunity against the virus, NIMR experts said. “Going by the study, 60 per cent of the populace is still at risk. Moreover, even if it is one person, everyone’s life counts so control measures should be put in place to prevent outbreak”, NIMR Director General, Prof. Innocent Ujah, told National Mirror. Since the virus has been in Nigeria since 1954, it is believed that many citizens have developed strong immunity to the virus, what is unclear is whether

Good Health

•Mutated strain could hit Nigeria •More people will have small head, brain

an you imagine a future with large population of Nigerians having small heads and brain? This could happen if there is an outbreak of a genetically modified strain of Zika Virus, experts warn. Contrary to the assurance given by the Minister of Health, that several Nigerians are immune to the virus according to a study carried out in 1970, this reemerged virus causing havoc in Brazil, could be dangerous to Nigerians if it is a mutated strain as scientists implied, during a scientific symposium on Zika Virus at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR). Experts are of the opinion that there is something different about the virus in the current outbreak in Brazil, considering the dramatic rise in cases of microcephaly, a birth defect that result in babies born with unusually small heads. The increase in babies born with this condition has been more than 20-fold compared with previous years—from maybe 150 cases to more than 3,000 cases in a few months. Flaminia Catteruccia, associate professor of immunology and infectious diseases at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, says the virus may have adapted to the human environment and mutated. Recent studies also point to a possibility that the 2007 strain of Zika may be a mutation of the original virus found in Uganda during the 90’s. This new strain is apparently more deadly, has learnt to spread more quickly- with human to human transmission now possible, and has a possible correlation to an increase in microcephaly and possibly also GuillainBarré syndrome, an autoimmune disease of the nervous system now on the rise among adults in Brazil.

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Monday, March 7, 2016

their immunity can withstand a mutated strain, Dr. Ohihoin said. Already, about 4000 cases have been confirmed in Brazil, with 400 cases of microcephaly, since the outbreak in 2015. Although its main route of transmission is via mosquitoes, several new cases this year have been linked to sexual contact. An international Immunologist and Biologist from Australia, Professor Edward Steel, says this indicates the virus is evolving quickly, learning to spread through the human race without the need of an insect vector. “It points towards a future where the virus is able to insert information into the human genome in a similar way to HIV, allowing it to spread like wildfire through the global population”, he said. So rather than Nigerians turning deaf ears to the Zika threat, an Entomologist at NIMR, Dr. Sam Awolola, calls for vector

surveillance. “Through vector control, government can identify areas of high risk, changes in vector density and distribution. There is a need to be aware of possible local transmission in areas where Aedes mosquitoes are more active. “Disease surveillance should also include informing women of reproductive age about the risk of travelling to areas with outbreak, and evaluating those who travelled to such places while pregnant. It should also include evaluating foetus and infants of women infected while pregnant for possible congenital infections”, he said. Because the Aedes mosquitoes that cause Zika virus have developed resistance to insecticides, Dr. Awolola explained that it is difficult to completely eradicate them. “The eggs can hibernate for three months, it can withstand draught and desiccation. It can breed anywhereindoors and outdoors, and bites daytime and night time”, he added. However, vector control measures such as spraying insecticide, fumigation, and fogging can help reduce the mosquito and possible infection. Even though the virus has no cure and no vaccine, the main concern is for pregnant women because of the possible link between the virus and microcephaly, Dr. Ohihoin explained. Although this link has not been proved scientifically, it has been proven though that the virus can be transmitted through the placenta to the baby, and during delivery, he said. “Microcephaly on its own is not a problem if it affects menopausal women or men, because many do not develop symptoms at all. For those who fall ill, they have minor symptoms such as fever, rash, joint pains, red eyes, headache and muscle pain lasting up to a week. But no deaths had been reported”, he added. “This is a call for us to sanitize our environment and ensure reduction of mosquito breeding sites, by draining or discarding sources of standing water,” Prof. Ujah advised.

Did you Know?

Feeding infants peanut products could save them from allergies Drinking more water associated with dietary benefits, study finds

he early introduction of peanut to the diets of infants at high-risk of developing peanut allergy significantly reduces the risk of peanut allergy until 6 years of age, even if they stop eating peanut around the age of five, according to a new study led by King’s College London. Published two days ago in the New England Journal of Medicine, the LEAPOn study followed on from the LEAP (Learning Early About Peanut Allergy) study, both led by Professor Gideon Lack at King’s, which found that the majority of infants at high-risk of developing peanut allergy are protected from peanut allergy at age 5 years if they eat peanut frequently, starting within the first 11 months of life. LEAP-On asked whether those infants who had consumed peanut in the LEAP study would remain protected against peanut allergy if they then stopped eating

peanut for 12 months. The study findings conclude that the early introduction of peanut protects against the development of peanut allergy, and such protection is sustained even when peanut is no longer consumed for 12 months. Of the 550 LEAP-On participants, 280 had been randomized to peanut avoidance and 270 to peanut consumption on the LEAP Study; adherence to these interventions was high at 92%.

or people who want to control their weight or reduce their intakes of sugar, sodium and saturated fat, tap water may be what the doctor ordered. A new study that examined the dietary habits of more than 18,300 U.S. adults found the majority of people who increased their consumption of plain water -- tap water or from a cooler, drinking fountain or bottle -by 1 percent reduced their total daily calorie intake as well as their consumption of saturated fat, sugar, sodium and cholesterol. People who increased their consumption of water by one, two or three cups daily decreased their total energy intake by 68 to 205 calories daily and their sodium intake by 78 to 235 grams, according to a paper by University of Illinois kinesiology and community health professor Ruopeng An. They also consumed 5 grams to nearly 18 grams less sugar and decreased their cholesterol

consumption by 7 to 21 grams daily. “The impact of plain water intake on diet was similar across race/ethnicity, education and income levels and body weight status,” An said. “This finding indicates that it might be sufficient to design and deliver universal nutrition interventions and education campaigns that promote plain water consumption in replacement of beverages with calories in diverse population subgroups without profound concerns about message and strategy customization.”

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Monday, March 7, 2016

NEWS

L-R: Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo; Chairman 2016 Lisabi Festival Committee, Chief Rasheed Raji and Globacom Business Director, Ogun, Mr. Ayo Ogunranti, at the Lisabi Seminar on the theme “Creating Wealth through Small and Medium Enterprises” as part of the Glo sponsored 2016 Lisabi Festival at Abeokuta.

L-R: Managing Director, Financial Services, Accenture Nigeria; Mrs Toluleke Adenmosun; Executive Director, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Mrs Yewande Sadiku; Managing Director, SecureID Group, Mrs Kofo Akinkugbe; Chief Executive Officer, Imagepro Consulting, Mrs Evelyn FemiPaul and Managing Director, Natural Resources, Accenture Nigeria, Mrs. Abayomi Olarinmoye, at the 2016 Accenture International women’s day in Lagos at the weekend

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L-R: Regional Director, Africa Magic, West Africa, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu; Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. John Ugbe and CEO. Mnet, Yolisa Phahle, during the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award in Lagos at the weekend.

L-R: Chairman of the occasion, Chief Olu Akinkugbe; Managing Director, Academy Press Plc, Mr. Gbenga Ladipo; Chairman, Sir Simeon Oguntimehin and Vice Chairman, Mr. Tunde Dabiri, during the 50th anniversary dinner of the company in Lagos, at the weekend.

National News

NNPC pays N85bn into Federation Account

igerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, said it has paid N85.96bn into the Federation Account for January 2016. This was contained in its Monthly Operations and Financial Report for January, released yesterday in Abuja. The corporation said it made the payment in spite of recording a loss of N3.55bn in the same month. It also said it paid N1.05trn into the Federation Account within a 12-month period, from February 2015 to January 2016. Giving a breakdown of the amounts transferred in January, NNPC said N85.077bn was from the sale of crude oil, while N880.3m was receipts from gas sales. It noted that the corporation posted a loss of N3.55bn, compared to a loss of N11.86bn recorded in December 2015.

According to the report, NNPC’s loss-making performance was triggered by a drop in its revenue from N184.4bn recorded in December 2015 to N130.86bn in January 2016. The corporation said it

recorded expenditure of N134.41bn in the month under review compared to N196.26bn in December 2015. It also revealed that the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, recorded a profit

of N3.958bn. Nigerian Gas Company, NGC, NNPC Retail and the Pipeline Products Marketing Company, PPMC, recorded profits of N3.94bn, N477m and N2.25bn respectively. It listed Integrated

Data Services Limited, IDSL, National Engineering Technical Company, NETCO in loss category with losses of N557m and N215m respectively. “The Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries posted losses of N2.87bn,

Oyegun, Buni, others accused of promoting casualisation Obiora Ifoh Abuja

ll Progressives Congress, APC, National Secretariat staff have cried out against what they term casualisation of their employment. They are accusing National Chairman of the party, John Odegie-Oyegun, National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni among the brains behind the deal. The aggrieved staff said about 80 per cent of people working with the

ruling party were not given appointment letters to know their conditions of service, based on the instructions of some members of the National Working Committee, NWC. Some of the aggrieved staff, who spoke with a group of journalists yesterday in Abuja, expressed the hope that Oyegun would not return to his seat as national chairman as being speculated. They revealed that since Oyegun and Buni emerged chairman and

secretary of the party respectively, most of the benefits they ought to be getting were stopped. One of them said: “It has gotten to a stage where we can no longer keep quiet because 80 per cent of us working with APC don’t have appointment letters, that automatically interpret us as casual staff. “Before the merger came to reality, we have been following them. And all of us from various political parties (ACN, ANPP and CPC) were doing voluntary

work for about six months before Baba Bisi Akande, who was the acting chairman then, as we were preparing for convention that produced Oyegun, approved monthly salary for us but since Oyegun emerged as chairman, our welfare has gone from bad to worse. “Around November last year, we were asked to submit another application letters and they conducted interview for us but they have refused to act on it since them. We are working without appointment letters. We don’t even know our en-

N1.95bn and N900m respectively. “NNPC Group’s Corporate Headquarter and Corporate Services Unit recorded a deficit of N6.37bn and N1.32bn respectively,” the corporation was quoted as saying.

titlements. “But to our surprises, when they bring their own people, they give them appointment letter. Of recent, they employed one assistant director of media and he was given appointment letter. Why is our own different?” When contacted on phone, Buni, said that: “We are working on staffing, we have a committee working on that under Mr. Segun Oni. You know it is about their lives, it is not something you will do anyhow. There is a committee in place already to correct that.”

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Monday, March 7, 2016

Buhari confirms Nigeria’s membership of Islamic coalition against terror Rotimi Fadeyi Abuja

resident Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed Nigeria’s membership of the Islamic Coalition against terrorism spearheaded by Saudi Arabia. Speaking during an interview aired at the weekend on international satellite news channel, Aljareeza, Buhari confirmed that Nigeria was part of the coalition. “We are part of it because we’ve got terrorists in Nigeria that everybody knows which claim that they are Islamic. “So, if there’s an Islamic coalition to fight terrorism, Nigeria will be part of it because we are casualties of Islamic terrorism,” he said. Asked whether he had suggested Nigeria’s membership of the coalition during his meeting with King Salman Bin AbdulAziz in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Buhari replied in the affirmative. However, the President did not give details of how the coalition would work for Nigeria in the fight

against terrorism, saying he would not disclose it to the media. “Well, that we mentioned under Lake Chad Basin Commission, our regional grouping, compromising Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Benin and we dedicated a certain number of troops to be deployed in our own subregion and I don’t think we have to tell the press the details of that,” he said. When asked whether joining the Islamic coalition served Nigerian security interest, he said: “Certainly. I’ve just told you it is the Boko Haram itself that declared loyalty to ISIS. “ISIS is basically based in Islamic countries. Now, if there’s a coalition to fight Islamic terrorism, why can’t Nigeria be part of it, while those that are fighting in Nigeria as Boko Haram claim to be Muslims. But the way they are doing it is anti-Islam.” When it was pointed out that since Nigeria was roughly evenly divided among Christians and Muslims and that some Christians were complaining that he was giving Is-

Labour minister, Ocholi, wife, son die in Kaduna-Abuja auto crash CONTINUED FROM Page 2

country as minister, party, legal profession and his home state, Kogi. While extending his condolences to the people and government of Kogi State, Buni prayed to Almighty God to grant the immediate family of the Ocholis, the fortitude to bear the painful loss. Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello also expressed shock and devastation at the death of the minister. Bello described the late Ocholi as a pragmatic, dynamic, humane and brilliant law officer, who was known around the world for his dexterous approach to legal and political issues and one of the most unswerving constitutional lawyers Nigeria has ever produced. The governor recollected with nostalgia, how the late SAN joined other progressive minded individuals around the country to drive the intellectual pillars APC, describing him

as a complete gentleman, who was irrevocably committed to the advancement of Nigeria. He described the late minister as a detribalised Nigerian, who believed in the oneness of the nation, summing up his death as an irreparable loss to Kogi State, Nigeria, APC and the legal profession. In Kaduna State, Governor Nasir el-Rufai described the minister’s death as devastating. In a statement by his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, the governor said: “The state government extends its heartfelt condolences to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Ocholi family. “Our condolences go to members of the Federal Executive Council and the entire nation. The minister died at a critical time when his contributions in the ongoing national rebirth and realisation of the change mantra are needed. May the almighty God grant their souls eternal rest.”

lamic identity to Nigeria, the president wondered why such Christians had not gone to fight Boko Haram in the North or militants sabotaging installations in the South.

“Why can’t those Christians that complained go and fight terrorism in Nigeria or fight the militancy in the South. It’s Nigeria that matters, not the opinion of some religious big-

ots. “No religion advocates hurting the innocent and just because the Muslims are the ones that claim to be Boko Haram and they are killing innocent people

whether in the church, in the bus or in the market place, then I will just sit and look at them because I too am a Muslim? Islam is against injustice in any form,” he said.

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde; Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni and Commanding Officer, 9 Mechanized Brigade, Brigadier General Bulama Biu, at a press conference on the rescue of three female students of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary, Ikorodu, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday. PHOTO: ADEMOLA AKINLABI

CCT: Pressure heightens to dump Saraki …we’re behind him –Senators

George Oji Abuja

here is renewed pressure on Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to throw in the towel and step aside as the presiding officer of the senate, ahead of his resumed trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, on Friday, March 11, over alleged falsification of assets declaration forms while in office as governor of Kwara State. Many senators are insisting that Saraki should step aside, go and answer to his criminal allegations first, and if he is able to prove his innocence, he would then return as the Senate President. The anti Saraki senators are opposed to the idea of shutting down the senate each time he goes to the tribunal for trial. The Supreme Court last month dismissed the appeal filed by Saraki, seeking to stall his trial by CCT. Following the Supreme Court judgment on the matter, Saraki promised that he would go before the tribunal to prove his innocence, even as the Senate President has consistently maintained that his trial is political. The resumed trial was

originally fixed for Thursday, March 10, but was just last week moved forward to Friday. Those opposed to Saraki alleged that the shift in date is part of the grand plan by his group to ward off pressure on him to step down. The plan by the anti Saraki senators was to mount pressure and insist on getting a replacement once he leaves to the tribunal for his trial. Getting a Friday trial date, a day that the senate does not sit, according to the opposition group, is part of the design by the Saraki supporters to postpone the evil date. Aside from members of the Senate Unity Forum, SUF, who are stoutly opposed to Saraki, the Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, comprising about 200 civil society organisations, last month issued a statement calling on Saraki to step aside to clear his name over the criminal allegations. But some senators said they and an overwhelming majority of their colleagues remain solid in their support for Saraki. The senators, in a statement said there is no truth about claims that discus-

sions were ongoing about Saraki’s successor because there was no basis for that. They stated that they decided to issue the statement after consulting their colleagues who said they have been bombarded with calls from their constituents demanding to know the veracity of the claims contained in the news story. The statement was signed by senators Rafiu Ibrahim, Peter Nwaoboshi, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Isa Hamma Misau, Samuel Anyanwu and Lanre Tejuoso “Saraki would not have been Senate President if God Almighty did not wish it. He is the only Senate President who in less than one year had votes of confidence passed by 85 of the 109 Senators. If we have a motion for confidence vote today, we are sure that 90 Senators will endorse the Senate President. “Let us make it clear, our position remains the same. The case against Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal is not a case of corruption. It is a case of political persecution. Again, he remains innocent until the case has gone through the final floor of the judicial architecture. We have no

doubt that the mischief will fail and so we are solidly behind him. “In the mischievous report aimed at prejudicing the CCT trial, a method typical of detractors who are behind this persecution called prosecution, they sought to present a case of division in the rank of the supporters of the Senate President by mentioning a senator from Kwara North, without giving the name of the senator. “We have spoken with our colleague from Kwara North, Senator Shaaba Lafiagi and we can say it that he remains a loyal supporter of Dr. Saraki. “He also told us he has never heard of any discussion about having a replacement for the Senate President. He further described the news story as mere speculation. “We want to alert members of the public that this is the typical method that those detractors of the Senate President have employed since the beginning of the case last September. “They sponsor stories in some newspapers and online publications to blackmail and prejudice judges, and compel them to take decisions in a predetermined manner. “

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Monday, March 7, 2016

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Fuel scarcity: NNPC assures of 30,000m tons daily supply Chidi Ugwu Abuja

s fuel queues begin to fizzle out in the Federal Capital Territory, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has assured that a daily volume of 30,000 metric tons has been secured. The corporation at the weekend said the volume will keep the entire country wet with petrol for March, urging motorists across the country to desist from panic buying that often results to unnecessary clusters in filling stations.

The NNPC’s Group Executive Director for Investment and Commercials, Babatunde Adeniran, who disclosed this when he inspected some filling stations in Abuja, said: “As for the product, we have products. The minister gave an instruction that he wants to see the supply on a 30-day basis and as I am talking to you here we have the supply for March fully and out of the whole 31 days in March we have supply for each day. Nigeria’s consumption is one vessel cargo of 30,000MT per day. So, we have 31 vessels already lined up

for the month of March, this is aside nine that we have currently that are discharging in various ports and jetties in Lagos, Oghara, Warri, Port Harcourt and Calabar. “Part of the things NNPC has done is to make sure the refineries are back on stream, the reason some of the refineries are not working is because the pipelines that are supposed to supply crude to them are not working.” He was accompanied by the Managing Director of the Pipeline and Products Marketing Com-

pany, PPMA, Mrs. Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue during the inspection. “As much as we try we still have this hitch especially when a vessel is supposed to come in and the vessel doesn’t come in you have a drop and when you have the drop the problem starts,” Adeniran said. The Station Manager, Conoil, Opposite NNPC Towers, in Central Area said, “We have seen improvement since the last few days, we received eight trucks yesterday. Today we are still expecting six and the depot chief just called to say they are still working tomorrow.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi (left) with the United Nations’ Resident Coordinator, Ms. Fatma Samoura, during a meeting in Abuja, at the weekend.

Three soldiers wounded as troops kill insurgents in Borno Ubong Ukpong Abuja

igerian Army yesterday said its troops of 121 Task Force Battalion and 26 Task Force Brigade on Saturday killed scores of Boko Haram insurgents while clearing terrorists from Dure, Amdaga Makaranta and Amdaga Madachi in Borno State. In a statement through the Director of Army Public Relations, DAPR, Colonel Sani Usman, the Army said three of its soldiers were seriously wounded during the encounters. Usman said during the encounters, the troops met stiff resistance from the terrorists, but

however overcame and cleared Dure 1, Dure 2 and Jango, Dibiye and other suspected Boko Haram terrorists hideouts within the general area of the district. “Three soldiers however sustained injuries as a result of an Improvised Explosive Device, IED,” he said. The Army spokesman also said the wounded soldiers were immediately evacuated for medical treatment and were in stable condition. “During the operation, troops killed several terrorists and recovered 2 hand held Motorola radios one of which was boobytrapped, materials for Improvised Explosive

making Devices and destroyed several grains storage facilities. “Simultaneously, another combined team of units under 26 Task Force Brigade based in Gwoza same day cleared Amdaga Makaranta and Amdaga Madachi of remnants of Boko Haram terrorists. During the encounter 2 Boko Haram terrorists fighters were killed. “According to General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Brigadier General Victor Okwudili Ezugwu, prior to the clearance operation, Dure 1 and 2 were Boko Haram strong holds in the mainland of Sambisa forest. “The operation further revealed the new

and desperate strategy of Boko Haram terrorists; hiding their logistics especially grains for the rainy season in dugouts and the use of hand held radios primed with Improvised Explosive Devices as booby-traps.” He assured that the Nigerian military is confident that God that gives victory was helping the military to decode and frustrate all terrorists’ evil plans and machinations. General Ezugwu further noted that it was the military’s determined objective to ensure that the menace of Boko Haram is consigned to the dustbin of inglorious history in Nigeria’s corporate existence as a nation.

So, we expect more tomorrow and the queues have reduced drastically. We work 24 hours every day.” He urged motorists to patience and shun panic buying, stressing that in the next two days the queues would have disappeared completely. At Total, the Station

manager there, Francis Idihi said, “In Total, we believe we are trying despite the challenges. As you can see we have two trucks now waiting to discharge. As soon the one have in tank fishes more will discharge and we begin dispensing. We operate 24 hours every day.

Nigerians must unite against evil – Osinbajo Rotimi Fadeyi Abuja

ice President Yemi Osinbajo has called on Nigerians who believe in pursuing the good of the nation to support the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in order to fight evil and those who perpetrate it in the country. A statement issued yesterday by Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, said Osinbajo spoke during the weekend in Fadan Kagoma, Kaduna State at the 2016 Khituk Gwong Day where he was Special Guest of Honour. Restating his call for a new tribe of Nigerians drawn from all faiths, tribes and ethnicity to pull together, Osinbajo said there was need to “separate light from darkness.” He explained that in too many instances, leaders drawn from different areas of the nation’s life have tried to use religion and ethnicity to cause division in a bid to attain political and other selfish ends. “Sometimes political leaders use religion to divide, they use ethnicity to oppress the people,” Osinbajo said. He stated a new Nigeria was now emerging that would include Christians, Moslems, people of all faiths and those who confess no faith. According to him, those Nigerians of the new tribe are those who believe in truth, honesty and justice among other virtues that advance the right course for the country. “This new Nigeria must be based on love for each other, and must

value integrity,” Osinbajo said. He stressed that it was mandated in his own personal faith of Christianity to love everyone including ones enemy. He explained that Christians have to love those who hate them and even have to pray for their enemies. According to him, those who have been looting from the nation’s coffers were drawn from all ethnicity and faiths, but are united in their quest to steal, saying, “When they are stealing the nation’s money, they are completely united.” While commending Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai and the Kpop Gwong, Paul Zakka Wyom on the Khituk Gwong Day celebrations, as good examples of the new Nigeria, the Vice President said it was important that those who are doing good for the nation should also band together. “Those who are determined to do good, we must encourage them and we must not allow any kind of division to blur our determination,” he said. The Vice President also commended el-Rufai for completing road projects started by the former government of late Patrick Yakowa, which was abandoned by subsequent state government. Earlier, el-Rufai observed that the Vice President is indeed a true friend of Kaduna, adding that he has visited the state three times after the 2015 election. He noted that the security situation in southern Kaduna has since improved while promising that the state government would remain committed to the manifesto of All Progressives Party, APC.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, March 7, 2016

South West

Abiodun Nejo Ado Ekiti

ll Progressives Congress, APC, and Ekiti State House of Assembly have disagreed sharply over alleged invasion of the Assembly and arrest of some members. While Speaker of the Assembly, Kola Oluwawole, said on Saturday that the whereabouts of four lawmakers were unknown following alleged invasion of the House on Friday by some Directorate of Security Services operatives, the APC urged the Speaker to encourage his colleagues to submit themselves to the law over their alleged crimes against the nation’s constitution. The APC State Pub-

Monday, March 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ekiti Assembly, APC differ on House invasion, members’ arrest

licity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said it was better for the lawmakers to submit themselves to law “instead of embarking on blackmail to whip up sentiments for undeserved public sympathy.” The Speaker had said: “We got it on good authority that the script now being acted by the DSS is part of the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari’s clandestine plot to cripple Ekiti State Government by arresting and detaining top functionaries of government. “The plot is to harass, intimidate and embar-

rass top officials of the administration because of the governor’s critical stance on Buhari government,” the Speaker said. But Olatunbosun, in a statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, said the accusation against the President was not strange to the observers of Fayose’s politics. According to APC, instead of accusing Buhari of persecution, it was the

governor that was persecuting the opponents. Olatunbosun, who said Nigerians were not fooled by the game being played by the governor and his agents, stated that the Assembly members were not the first Nigerians to be invited by the DSS for investigation, citing the APGA National Chairman, Victor Umeh, and other eminent Nigerians who have

been invited to answer charges against them but were released after making their statements. He accused the Speaker of whipping “a dangerous ethnic sentiment in a clearly legal matter bordering on crime against the state.” He said it was irresponsible for the Speaker to see the current DSS Director-General, Lawal Daura, as a Katsina man poised to repeat

what another former DSS boss from Katsina, Lawal Rafindadi, allegedly did between 1984 and 1985 to terrorise Nigerians. This is as PDP in the state said invasion of the Assembly complex by DSS “is a return of military dictatorship the nation experienced during the rule of General Buhari from December 31, 1983 to August 27, 1984”.

Alake rates 2016 Lisabi Festival biggest ever, thanks Glo

s the curtains were drawn Saturday on the 2016 Lisabi Festival, the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, has commended telecom giant Globacom, sponsor of the festival, for making this year’s celebration the biggest ever. Gbadebo, who made the commendation at the grand-finale held at Ake palace, Abeokuta, appealed to Egba sons and daughters to create small businesses and vocations that would speedily create jobs and help revive the nation’s economy. This is as Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, called on its indigenes at home and in the diaspora to avail themselves of the recent infrastructural development in the state to site industries and businesses that would help reduce unemployment. The governor urged the unemployed to be productive by learning a trade or vocation to augment their educational qualifications in line with the theme of the festival, ‘Creating wealth through Small and Medium Enterprises.’ He also thanked Globacom for supporting Lisabi Festival robustly in the last six years and encouraged other multinational companies to support worthwhile initiatives

that abound in the state whilst charging politicians and civil servants to serve the people well with hard work and commitment. In his goodwill message, Globacom chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr.), noted that the festival has been a platform for the development of Egbaland and Ogun State, adding that “this year’s theme is germane as SMEs are the engine of economic growth in the society. As a company committed to the well-being of Nigerians, Globacom has been at the forefront of empowerment efforts through establishment of thousands of commercial telephone operation centers.” He explained that Globacom is irrevocably committed to the propagation and preservation of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage because of the belief that knowledge of the past will inspire the society to chart a roadmap for a glorious tomorrow. Adenuga congratulated Egba sons and daughters on the occasion of the 30th Lisabi Festival and 40th anniversary of the creation of Ogun State and promised to continue to support worthy initiatives as Globacom intensifies efforts to build the best global brand focused on making life more abundant for the people.

L-R: Director, office of Executive Secretary UBEC, Alhaji Aliyu Kardi; Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Suleiman Dikko and Executive Secretary, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB), Mrs. Lucy Eniola, during the Commission’s inspection of works at the newly built Federal Government Girl Secondary School, in Soka, Ibadan, Oyo State at the weekend.

Ogun doctors set to begin strike today

edical doctors in public hospitals in Ogun State will on Monday begin a week-long warning strike to press home their demands. The doctors, under the aegis of National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners, Ogun chapter, disclosed this yesterday in a communiqué it issued. The communiqué was on issues discussed at an emergency meeting of the association last Wednesday. The association said the industrial action had become imperative after exploring all avenues to get the attention of the state government on issues affecting the health system in the state. The communiqué, signed by its chairman

and secretary, Dr Oladunni Adetola and Dr Adetonwa Festus respectively, said that series of letters were written to Governor Ibikunle Amosun on their demands without positive response. According to the communiqué, the issues of concern raised in the letter included the need to restructure health facilities, shortage of staff and relativity in salary. The association explained that little or nothing had been achieved in the health sector due to lack of materials, equipment and good working environment. The body also identified shortage of staff across all cadres of the health sector, adding that there had been no new re-

cruitment in the last two to three years, despite the increasing demands on the sector. The group also noted with dismay, the refusal of the state government to respect a circular by the Federal Government since 2013 on the need for all states to effect the payment of corrected CONMESS of over 20 years on doctor’s salary. It added that the state government had been using the same circular to pay doctors in teaching hospitals in the last 10 months. “After series of letters to the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, both official and personal, as well as sensitisation of all other stakeholders, the government has not seen any reason to attend to any of the aforemen-

tioned issues ravaging the health sectors. “Having fulfilled all necessary steps needed to ensure dialogue with the government and at the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum given to the state government with no favourable response. “The members of the association have therefore mandated the executive members to declare a one-week warning strike starting from March 7 - 13. “We are not unmindful of the inconveniences this might cause the masses which we greatly regret. “We need to affirm our resolution to resolve these issues amicably through genuine dialogue so as to avert any prolonged industrial disharmony in the state,” the statement read in part.

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South West

Monday, March 7, 2016

Yabatech student’s death: FMC management combs Ibadan Poly for medical records Olusegun Koiki

anagement of the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Ebute-Metta has visited The Polytechnic, Ibadan, for medical records of Miss Charity Muatin Dazan, who died in the hospital about two weeks ago. Dazan, a Higher National Diploma II, HND, OTM Bilingual, student of the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, allegedly died at the hospital unattended to. The deceased, had finished her Ordinary National Diploma, OND, at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, before moving to Yabatech for her HND programme. Our correspondent gathered over the weekend from a source close to the hospital that the management had travelled to Ibadan in

search of the medical records it could use to nail the deceased, who died due to rejection by the hospital management. Our source claimed that FMC management had visited Ibadan Poly before the panel of enquiry set up by the Federal Government to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the death of the deceased commenced sitting last Tuesday. The source disclosed that the management of the hospital, led by Dr. (Mrs.) Yewande Jinadu as the medical director was looking at establishing the fact that the deceased was a sickle cell patient or engaged in abortion, which led to her losing much blood before being rushed to the hospital by her colleagues. But, when the enquiries

by the hospital management proved abortive, our correspondent learnt that the management now entered into her file that she died of an acute fever. Besides, the source insisted that the medical director should be blamed for the lady’s death, claiming that the policy that no patient should be admitted unless a mandatory pretreatment fee of N30,000 was paid, was a contributory factor. The source said the medical director’s policy of

‘no pay no treatment’, had caused many patients to leave the hospital and also affected its revenue drive. He also said several poor patients had died due to lack of attention when they could not pay the mandatory pre-treatment fee. The source said: “Go and ask some past patients, they will tell you what they have suffered in this hospital. Our policies are unfriendly to patients.” Attempts made to get the reaction of Mr. Harrison Etim, the admin manager

of the hospital, who also doubles as its spokesman proved abortive. Calls made to his phone were not responded to while a text message equally sent to him was not replied. But, Jinadu recently in a terse text message to our correspondent on the issue debunked the claim that she gave out the rules for rejection of patients brought to the hospital without money. She also said she was on leave when the incident happened.

It would be recalled that Miss Dazan died when the management of the medical centre refused to attend to her because she could not pay the initial deposit of N35,000 when her costudents rushed her to the hospital after falling ill. Federal Ministry of Health has since set up a panel of enquiry, chaired by the Senior Consultant Doctor, FMC, one Dr. (Mrs.) Okudiafor to find out the culpability of the hospital in the death of the 27-year old undergraduate.

Supremacy tussle: Laws recognise one monarch in Ekiti community –Govt Abiodun Nejo Ado Ekiti

kiti State Governor has barred the Olukere of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin, from wearing crown or royal apparels. The governor said all existing laws, documents and official gazettes in the state, starting from the old Western Region, recognised the Ogoga as the only traditional ruler of Ikere-Ekiti. It would be recalled that there has been tussle between the Olukere of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin and the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu, in recent times, over who is the authentic monarch in the town. While Ogoga said he is the traditional ruler and that Olukere is a Chief Priest and low-ranking chief, the Olukere claims his forebears were monarchs long before Ogoga came. The governor, who spoke during a visit of the Ogoga, said the supremacy battle between the two monarchs was unnecessary as the Olukere, not having gotten staff of of-

fice, a symbol of recognition from the government should stop parading himself as king. The governor said: “For me, the issue in Ikere about the Obaship tussle is very clear. There are no two Obas in Ikere, there is only one Oba and the Oba is Ogoga. I only recognise the Ogoga of Ikere. “Olukere has been trying to be a judge in his own matter. In a civilised society, if not that we are trying to be civil and allow peace to reign, we would have been in court now because that is anarchy. You don’t have certificate, no staff of office.” The governor, who said he was not against Olukere’s agitation for recognition, said: “If Olukere believes he wants to be Oba. Let him follow due process. With the way they have started, I think it is an uphill task. “That nonsense must stop. You cannot come here dressed like an Oba or go to the state Assembly dressed like an Oba. And these media people are backing him. How can you be referring to an ordinary Chief as an Oba?”

L-R: Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola; President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Engr Otis Anyaeji; Chairman Osogbo Branch of NSE, Engr Ibitoye Kilomodemo and former Chairman, Ibadan Branch, at Ibadan Airport yesterday.

Awujale endows N500m professorial chair Tunbosun Ogundare

wujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona has endowed a N500m professorial chair at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, Ago-iwoye, Ogun State. He announced this at a press briefing at the weekend in Ijebu-Ode, saying his utmost desire was to see Nigeria take giant strides in the area of good governance in both public and corporate world that would translate to quality of life for the citizenry. According to him, education plays a crucial role in the quality of governance of a nation, hence his decision to contribute to quality education, re-

search, mentorship and community engagement. “And I hope this endowment project which will outlive me will in no small measure boost the Olabisi Onabanjo University’s mandate to produce well-rounded graduates and leaders for good governance,” Oba Adetona said. The first-class Yoruba monarch, who has spent 56 years on the throne, disclosed that he would personally contribute half of the money, while the balance is expected to come from his kinsmen, friends, and other patriotic Nigerians, who believe in the course of turning Nigeria around for the better. He noted that there would be a board of trustees in charge of the fund, while beneficiaries, who

would be best brains in various fields could come from anywhere in the world. The idea, Oba Adetona stressed, was for these best brains in good governance, corporate and political leadership from across the world to fertilise the students, staff and indeed the entire OOU. The monarch however expressed disappointment on the high level of corruption in the country, especially among the political class from the period of military incursion in governance almost 50 years ago to the present, saying the development has really slowed down Nigeria’s progress. He also called for community policing for the country, saying such system would be more effec-

tive in service delivery than the current centralised policing. In a brief chat with journalists at the event, Vice Chancellor of OOU, Prof. Saburi Adejimi Adesanya thanked Awujale for the gesture, saying the endowment was in line with the university’s philosophy to “give useful learning to its students who will be encouraged to cultivate a worldview that facilitates not only the continuous pursuit of academic and moral excellence but also developing competence to solve societal problems.” He promised that the 34-year-old university would continue to strive for excellence in all areas of its tripartite mandates of learning, research and community service.

South South

Monday, March 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Gunmen behead APC chieftain, kill wife, son Dennis Naku,

Port Harcourt

he bloodbath in Omuku, headquarter of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers

accused her of things that never happened. He said the continuing effort to distract the Managing Director is counterproductive since the pressing issue is how to develop the region and not scoresettling. Onwu said, “We found it unthinkable that youths that should be championing national integration are whipping up sectional

sentiments simply because they think the position of NDDC MD should be zoned to their clan. “Mrs Semenitari has the support of Nigerians to continue with the change she is implementing at the commission. One must commend her efforts to refocus NDDC, for developing the Niger Delta while also exposing the corruption that took

place there before she took over. “This clarity of purpose since her assumption of office is an impetus for Mr. President to confirm her for a substantive appointment. This would in no doubt have sent clear signal to those who think they can hide under pseudo and clandestine platforms to tarnish her good image.

Some of the assailants were seen by indigenes of the community before they carried out the attack. The 16-year-old daughter of the deceased, Victoria, said she watched as the hoodlums cut off her father’s head and took it away. The weeping daughter revealed they hid in the room, and watched silently how the gunmen cut off her father’s head. According to Victoria, “Last night, I was inside when I heard my mum crying. We heard the sound of a gunshot and hid somewhere in the room. I opened the curtain of my room and saw the men cutting off my father’s head. “They (gunmen) then came to our room and ordered me and my brother to come out and as we were coming, my brother was moving slowly and they shot him. They then left with my father’s head.” However, Police commissioner Musa Kimo, who visited the residence of the deceased, expressed sadness that some of the people of the area, who had earlier sighted some of the masked gunmen, did not put a call across to the police. Kimo said he was at the home of the de-

Dennis Naku,

the interventionist agency. He said: “I can assure you that as soon as we get the budget, we will work on it expeditiously. We are already collating facts. In fact, with what we have seen on the ground, we are set to go. “As soon as Federal Government’s budget is passed, within one month, you can be sure that we will get the NDDC budget out,” he assured. The committee chairman explained that one of the reasons for the late approval of NDDC budgets in the past was because it had to wait for passage of Federal Government’s budget to know what had been allocated to it. The committee chairman added: “We will not

allow what happened in the general budget to happen to the NDDC budget. This time, we are going to go through the budget line-by-line to determine the relevance of the projects to people of the Niger Delta. “We will see whether that is what they deserve and what they demand before allocating funds for the projects. It is not going to be a budget for projects to be scattered everywhere and nothing is achieved at the end of the day. “People should understand that we are in the 8th Senate. We are not just going to allocate money for no particular purpose. We are going to look at the projects for which the money is being allocated.

“This time, if we identify a project and we think it is relevant to the people, we will make budgetary provision for it.” The committee had earlier inspected the 30-km Nsasak Junction-Okon Road, in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Senator Nwaoboshi commended the contractor for the quality of work on the road. “I am very impressed that a Nigerian contractor did this good job. “When you see this type of performance, you will be encouraged. We will recommend this company for more quality jobs. We assure the contractor that money will be appropriated for the project in the 2016 budget.”

State took a new twist at the weekend as gunmen beheaded a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, identified as Franklin Obi, even as two members of his family

were also killed.

Those killed alongside the politician were his 18-year-old son, Bestman, and the wife during the attack that started at about 9pm.

Our reporter gathered that the masked gunmen attacked the Obi residence along Ratachi Street, Omoku where they beheaded the politician and fled.

L-R : Akwa Ibom State Governor Mr Udom Emmanuel ; Hon. Lawrence Udofia; Commissioner for Housing and Urban Renewal, Mr Enoobong Uwa and Secretary to the State Government, Sir Ettekamba Umoren, during a Church Service at Winners Chapel, Ikot Ebido Oku, Uyo, yesterday.

Group wants Semenitari confirmed as NDDC Adeola Tukuru, Abuja

ew Initiative for Credible Leadership, NICL, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to commence the process of confirming Ibim Semenitari as the substantive Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. The group also urged the Rivers State indigene to focus on the work of repositioning the organisation to meet the target it was set up for. It also expressed confidence in Semenitari’s ability to mainstream the NDDC’s mandate with the Change Agenda of the Buhari administration. The group, at press briefing addressed by its Executive Director, Rev Stephen Onwu in Abuja, said it was unfortunate that sponsored groups were already issuing press statements on behalf of those desperate to succeed Semenitari when she is still striving hard to reposition the commission. Onwu lamented that the distractions of the acting NDDC Managing Director would not have been possible had politicians in Rivers not taken local politics to the extreme when they

Senate’ll pass NDDC budget promptly –Nwaoboshi

Port Harcourt

enate Committee on the Niger Delta has promised to treat the 2016 budget of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, with urgency. Chairman of the committee, Peter Nwaoboshi, disclosed this while fielding questions from newsmen in Port Harcourt at the weekend. He said the financial appropriations for the commission would be ready within one month after passage of the Federal Government’s budget. He disclosed these at the end of a two-day inspection tour of NDDC projects in Akwa Ibom State by the Senate committee and directors of

ceased on a condolence visit and to restrategise on how to improve security within the area. He, therefore, called on the people of Ogba/Ndoni/ Egbe Local Government Area to always inform the police when they notice any suspicious movement within their environment. “I am here in Omoku this time on a sad note. It is sad in the sense that we are all bereaved. The governor, I and other security officers were in Omoku two weeks ago in search of peace. Unfortunately, violence has continued to pervade, dovetailing into kidnappings and murders. “Last night, precisely 2100 hours, one Mr. Franklin Obi, APC Chairman, Ward 4, Omoku, the wife and son were gruesomely murdered in their house. This is bad, this is a sin and totally not acceptable. “I am here to commiserate with the deceased family and also to restrategise and put pungent security measures in place to forestall future occurrence,” the commissioner stated. He, however, said investigation into the killings in Omoku, including Saturday’s murder of Obi, the wife and son, were ongoing, adding that the police would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that those behind the dastardly act were arrested and brought to book. Also, the Oba of Ogbaland, Chukumela Nnam Obi II, during a visit on him in his palace by the state CP, expressed sadness over the killing in Omoku and expressed conviction that the killings would end one day soon. “Those who don’t want us to have peace will never know peace. We have done a peace march. With churches everywhere, it is shocking that we still have such killing in ONE LGA. An educated man cannot take pleasure in killing his fellow human beings no matter the level of disagreement,” he said.

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South East

Monday, March 7, 2016

Herdsmen now more deadly than Boko Haram –CAN Emmanuel Ezeh, Enugu

hristian Association of Nigeria, CAN, yesterday condemned incessant attacks on many Nigerian communities by Fulani herdsmen. In a resolution after a meeting by its South-East zone in Enugu, the Christian body said it was high time the government took decisive action towards curtailing the scourge of

the herdsmen. Referring to the recent killing of hundreds of villagers in Agatu, Benue State, CAN said it was surprised that the herdsmen were murderously attacking communities with AK47 riffles, while security agencies looked the other way. President of CAN in the zone, Most Rev. Prof. David Eberechukwu and National Chairman, Christian Enlightenment and Welfare

Organisation, CEWO, Dr. Ajujungwa Joseph, who signed the resolution, said the question in the lips of Nigerians had remained “where do herdsmen get AK47 guns they carry and does it mean that both the police and the Army are not seeing them?” “It has been a great burden on the church in the East with regards to the attack by Fulani herdsmen on every part of the six geo-political zones in

the country, with much emphasis on southern Nigeria and the North central zones. “The attacks of the Fulani herdsmen on the innocent citizens of this country have become a nightmare on their host communities. The incessant rapes and murder of peace loving Nigerians is highly condemnable,” CAN added. The group equally said it would vehemently resist

any attempt to allocate grazing reserves for the herdsmen, even as it condemned such move. “We condemn the idea of grazing fields and ask the sponsors of such bill to desist from it. This is clearly importation of terrorists into the nation and peace will elude the entire country,” it said. While urging the National Assembly never to pass such bill, the Christian body equally called on the Federal government “to come to the aid of the terrorised commu-

nities, where the herdsmen have created more problems than the Boko Haram. “We advocate the building of ranches, which will in turn provide schools, hospitals and employment to the teeming unemployed youths. This is what is obtainable in developed countries. “We also call on state governors to protect the communities under such threat and also strengthen community policing through the traditional rulers.”

We have been vindicated over arrest of Okorocha’s aides –NLC Olufemi Adeosun, Abuja

N L-R: Director of Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) in Awka, Rev. Fr. Simon Anigbogu; Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano; Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Awka, Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor; wife of the State Governor, Mrs Ebele Obiano; Chancellor of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka, Rev. Fr. Francis Chidume; National Chairman of APGA, Dr Victor Oye, and the former Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, at the JDPC Week and Installation of Patrons and Patronesses, at the Catholic Diocese in Awka yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

igeria Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday said the congress had been vindicated by the reported arrest of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s top aides by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The agency, according to media report, arrested the officials for allegedly diverting part of the N2bn bailout

Lawyers can no longer win cases with cultism –Chief Judge Emmanuel Ezeh-, Enugu

hief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezulike, over the weekend declared that members of the bar now required hard work to win their cases in court.

Umezulike, who spoke at an event organised for members of the Eastern Bar Forum, said: “The legal practice or court room adjudication and or practice had become more competitive and complex than ever before in the history of this country.” He stated that such devel-

opment had brought added responsibilities on judges and legal practitioners to exert themselves completely and devotedly to their legal and judicial functions. Umezulike said: “In the legal profession of the new world, success is solely predicated on extra-ordinary hard work, there is no

magic. There is no success based on secret cult cleavages or god-fatherism. “We can confidently say that for every successful member of the bench and the bar, life holds not much appeal outside a rigorous work ethic. “The days when some

Imo civil servants in pains over unpaid two months’ salary arrears Chris Njoku, Owerri

ncertainty still pervades payment of two months’ salary being owed civil servants in Imo State after showdown with the state government forced Governor Rochas Okorocha to recall 3,000 sacked workers of scrapped parastatals. The state work force is now at a loss as to how to demand for their salaries, which was last paid in December 2015. Investigation shows that the workers are in pains as they find it difficult to transport them-

selves to their various offices as high transport fares resulting from fuel scarcity has compounded their predicament. It was gathered that those hard hit were civil servants, working in the scrapped parastatals, following backlog of unpaid allowances and pension. When our correspondent visited the secretariat along Port Harcourt-Owerri road at the weekend, some civil servants including those working in the Government House, were seen wearing long faces as they discussed their predicament in hushed voices. The workers, who are

now more confused, said they don’t even know who to complain to about their unpaid salaries since the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, had running battle that led to the governor agreeing to hand over 70 per cent of the total allocation that comes into the state to a committee which decides how the payments would go. However, nobody in the committee has told the workers if the monthly allocation has arrived from Abuja since December. Contacted, Commissioner for Information, Chief Chidi Ibe, said the workers are owed two months only,

adding that the two months were all about negotiations and bottlenecks between government and labour. He said there was an agreement which was accepted by labour and government. “It is implementation (stage) they are now,” he said. According to him, the payment is no longer in the hands of government. “A committee was set up to handle 70 per cent of the state allocation for the payment of workers’ salaries. So it is now the responsibility of the committee. They must develop template on how to pay the salary,” he added.

lawyers come to court to display cult-signs and win their cases are over. Hard work and integrity are now determinative of success at the level of the bar and the bench.” He, therefore, advised both the members of the bench and the bar “to rise above pettiness, rise above common heads and like the British crown, be incapable of common human weakness.” According to him, such dedication on both parties was necessary because the failing and shortcoming of one might have a corresponding adverse effect on the other. Earlier, President of the Enugu Customary Court of Appeal, Justice George Nnamani, emphasised the need for the legal practitioners to rekindle the dying fire of bar-bench brotherhood and fraternity so as to strengthen the judiciary. Nnamani called on both the bar and the bench to keep away from corruption related activities that would paint the judiciary in bad

funds meant for Imo State. NLC, in a statement signed by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, regretted the lack of transparency in the handling of the funds wherein stakeholders were kept in the dark as to the availability of the money. According to Wabba, rather than apply the funds to cushion the hardship months of salary indebtedness had caused, the governor chose instead to summarily shut down government establishments and force workers out with backlog of unpaid salaries. He stated that it was because the congress felt that the governor was not coming up with the true financial situation in the state that compelled it to shut down business activities in the state few weeks ago. The NLC boss added that going by the sordid tales of financial recklessness across the state of the federation, some governors were yet to align with President Muhammadu Buhari’s passion to change the way public funds are cornered as personal resources of the executives. “The watery appetite for quickly channeling allocation from the centre, including loans, into personal accounts of the executives and their aides and cronies must be focused upon by the anti-graft agencies. “We call on ICPC and EFCC to monitor the disbursement of the bailout funds across the states. We further challenge the state governments in the spirit of the President’s gesture to publish how they have disbursed the funds.

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Monday, March 7, 2016

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American govt rates security high at MMIA Olusegun Koiki

merican Transportation Security Administration, TSA, has rated high the security procedures at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos. This is as Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, reiterated its readiness for the forthcoming International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, Certification Audit slated for later this month. The American security agency also said the airport complied with ICAO in terms of security and safety. Officials of TSA spoke over the weekend in Lagos when it concluded its Security Assessment, SA, of MMIA and expressed deep satisfaction at the level of compliance with ICAO’s Standard and Recommended Practices, SAR, in the airport. However, final report of the airport security assessment by TSA would be ready in the next 45 days. A statement issued in Lagos by spokesman of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, noted that the team was also impressed with the Corrective Action Plans put in place by FAAN in respect of the few opened items. Adurogboye declared that the team commended

FAAN’s consistency and methodology on the implementation of TSA applicable security procedures, which was of ICAO standards. It further noted that this accomplishment was a reflection of sufficient training provided for the staff and coupled with effective regulatory oversight of the industry by NCAA. He said other areas of the airport examined in the course of the assessment included Airports Operations and Standards, Quality Control, Access Control Point, Passengers and Baggage Screening, Screening Equipment, Airport Contingency Plan, ACP, and Airport Security Programme, ASP. He added, “The TSA team thanked the NCAA’s Director-General, Capt Muhtar Usman, for providing enabling environment towards successful accomplishment of the exercise and the observed effective regulatory oversight over the sector.” He also quoted Usman as lauding the team for a job well done and expressed the authority’s readiness to always partner and cooperate with the TSA on issues of aviation security and safety. The airport authority officials in attendance however gave explanations and the time line for closure of the few opened items that were identified by the team, re-

Nigeria’s active telecom users increase by 340,525 in January – NCC

igerian Communications Commission, NCC, has said the active subscribers in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry increased by 340,525 this January. The regulatory body disclosed this in its Monthly Subscriber Data, which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Sunday. According to NAN, active lines in Nigeria stood at 151,357,769 in January, against 151,017,244 for December 2015. According to the data, 149,022,919 of the 151,357,769 active numbers subscribe to the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network services. The GSM operators’ active customers increased by 341,557 from the 148,681,362 subscribers they recorded in December. The Code Division Multiple Access, CDMA, operators had 2,147,982 active us-

ers in January, indicating a decrease of 745 from the 2,148,727 customers they had in December. Also, the monthly subscriber data showed that the Fixed Wired/Wireless networks’ consumers decreased to 186,868 in January, as they lost 287 customers to their record of 187,155 in December. The chart revealed that the teledensity of the country’s telecommunications industry increased to 108.11 per cent in January, from 107.87 per cent in December. The teledensity statistics measure the percentage of a country’s population with access to telecommunications services as determined from the subscriber base. Nigeria’s teledensity is currently calculated by the NCC on a population of 140 million people. It is also reported that there was an increase of 0.24 per cent in the teledensity of Nigeria in January.

vealing that the final report would be ready in 45 days. Meanwhile, FAAN, in a statement by its General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr.Yakubu Dati, said the authority was set for the forthcoming ICAO

Certification Audit. Dati said its Managing Director, Engr. Saleh Dunoma, made this statement during his recent inspection tour of facilities at Lagos Airport in preparation for the exercise. He informed that Dunoma

inspected the newly acquired security patrol vehicles and also the Fire Service vans to ensure they meet required standards. He also inspected the new fully-equipped ambulance, resuscitation bay and obser-

vation towers, which had been given a face-lift. He commended the effort the workers have put in place so far in ensuring that all facilities are set and conform to best practices in line with ICAO standards.

L-R: Managing Director, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, Mrs Esther Nnamdi –Ogbue; Group Executive Director Commercial and Investment , Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr Babatunde Adeniran and Station Manager, Conoil Central Area, Mr Lawrence Ogbagha, during the monitoring of the fuel situation by the NNPC officials in Abuja, at the weekend. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Group warns Nigerians against secession Richard Ndoma Calabar

socio-political group operating under the aegis of Cross River South Progressives Forum, CRISPROF, at the weekend urged Nigerians to shun the call for disintegration of Nigeria by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. The group made the appeal during a thanksgiving dinner organised in honour of the three sons and a daughter of Cross River origin serving in the President Muhammadu Buhari`s cabinet. Those honoured by the Cross River based sociopolitical group include Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru, the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, the Chief of The Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas and the national vice president (South South) of the ruling All Progressive

Congress, Prince Hilliard Ettah. The pioneer chairman for the group, Barrister Eyo Nsa Ekpo said Cross River does not subscribe to or encourage the call for Nigeria’s disintegration either through what he described as “satanic enterprise of the IPOB or the Boko Haram.” Ekpo, who was an APC candidate for Calabar Municipality/Odupani House of Reps, commended Buhari for appointing Cross Riverians into sensitive positions. He however charged the honorees to prove their mettle and show to the nation that they were true ambassadors of Cross River who could contribute their quota to the uplift of the nation. The former council chairman for Odukpani local government area lamented that the state over the years had suffered humongous neglect, marginalisation and deprivation from the hands of

previous administration, urging the honorees to do all within their power to ensure indigenes walk tall at the end of their tenures. He also appealed that they have at the back of their minds, that Nigeria and Cross River State need them more now than ever before. Reacting, representative of the Head of Service, Mr. Gershom Davies, commended CRISPROF for the honour done her and promised to do everything within her powers to instill discipline into the civil service while upholding the change mantra of the President. The Chief of Naval Staff, who was represented by his wife, Mrs. Theresa Ibas, at the ceremony said, “It is great to my family and the Nigerian Navy. I pledge to continue to be a good ambassador of the state and Nigeria at large.” In his remarks, the south south national vice President of APC, Prince

Ettah, while paying his respects to the honorees, said APC is a party of men of integrity and honour. Ettah, however, chastised the leadership style of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which is currently ruling the state, stressing that the state leadership lacks focus. He said: “We have never had it this low. We now have a comedy in place of governance. We now have a comedian in the Government House but I can assure everybody that Cross River State will not belong to the Conservative in 2019.” The event attracted distinguished citizens such as the former lawmaker representing the Southern Senatorial District as the chairman, former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma Egba, former governor of the state, Mr. Clement Ebri amongst several other top-notch APC politicians.

Monday, March 7, 2016

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Politics

Ohuabunwa wins Abia North rerun election

he Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Sunday declared Chief Mao Ohuabunwa of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, winner of Saturday’s rerun election in Abia North Senatorial District. The Returning Officer of INEC, Dr Ojike Nwankpa, said Ohuabunwa polled 26,009 votes to defeat candidates of Progressive People’s Alliance, PPA and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Orji Kalu and Chief Bourdex Onuoha, who polled 25,814 votes and 13,633 votes respectively. The candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC and Labour Party, LP, Chief Nwanna Okoro, and Chief Oji Nwachukwu, polled 976 votes and 147 votes, respectively. Nwankpa, who announced the result on Sunday, declared Ohuabunwa, the winner for polling the highest number of lawful votes cast. Nwankpa had at the end of collation of results on Saturday night declared the election inconclusive. The Head, Education and Publicity of INEC in the state, Mr Edwin Enabor, said ``the returning officer erroneously declared the rerun election inconclusive. ``This was wrong. In a rerun election, a winner must emerge by simple majority. ``The margin of lead vis-a-vis the number of registered voters does not arise in a rerun election”, Enabor said. The National and House of Assembly Tribunal in Umuahia had affirmed Ohuabunwa’s election. But the Court of Appeal, sitting in Owerri, reversed the judgment and ordered a rerun election in Abia North Senatorial District. Meanwhile, the state Chairman of APGA, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, has described the result as a sham, saying that ``it`s all fraud and unacceptable to us.’’

Former Vice President and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) Atiku Abubakar (right)and Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State at the domestic wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on their arrival from different destinations in Abuja, over the weekend. Ehiemere said in a telephone interview with NAN that ``PDP is in control of the instrument of power and the local government councils where election results are manipulated.” The PDP state Chairman, Sen. Emma Nwaka, however, expressed delight over

the result of the re-run election. He said the result had affirmed Ohuabunwa’s victory in the March 28, 2015 general elections. Nwaka faulted the returning officer for initially declaring the election inconclusive, saying that one could not

Legislator urges youths to eschew violence. Olubunmi Omoogun

he fortunes of Akure youths in Ondo state have moved further up with the empowerment strides of the member representing them at the National Assembly. Hon. Afe Olowookere representing Akure North/Akure South federal con-

stituency of Ondo state in the National Assembly has urged the youths of the constituency to eschew violence in all ramifications. He said this while distributing empowerment items to the youths and women in the constituency. Among the items donated at the occasion include , texti les and fabric, washing machine, hair clippers, car

Osun Assembly probes state-owned broadcasting outfit. Boladale Bamigbola Osogbo.

sun State House of Assembly has disclosed the readiness to hire experts to investigate accounts of Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, OSBC. The parliament said it resolved to bring in external auditors to look into accounts of both the radio and television arms of the corporation because of the loopholes identified. Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye said this at the committee’s meeting with the management of the

have an inconclusive election in a rerun election. Results of rerun election for House of Assembly in Aba North, Arochukwu, Ikwuano, Isialangwa South, Osisioma, Umuahia South and Umunneochi state constituencies are being awaited.

state Ministry of Information, Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism and the OSBC. The lawmaker said, there is the need to look into the details of the Corporations especially its Internally Generated Revenue, IGR and expenditure to block all perceived loopholes. According to him, paucity of fund in the state and Nigeria as a whole demanded that all hands must be on deck to ensure that the government pooled resources to finance its programmes and policies. Oyintiloye who commended the station in the area of promoting government policies and programmes, said more efforts must be geared towards improving the level of IGR in the corporation.

He also assured that the assembly would do everything possible to assist the corporation in tackling whatever factors militating against its optimal performance. Addressing the management of the Ministry of Information, Oyintiloye challenged the officials to do more in the area of grassroot mobilisation. This, he said, would go a long way to allow the people at the grassroot know more about the activities of government to improve their lots. Also speaking, a member of the committee, Hon. Kamardeen Akanbi said the government need aggressive publicity at the grassroot to enlighten the people about the efforts of government, especially at this critical period.

washing equipment and monies ranging from N100,000 and N200,000 for small scale business owners numbering about 20 . Other items he distributed are 11 cars,50 motorcycles,10 tricycles popularly called keke NAPEP, five sowing industrial machines. Four elderly women also received deep freezers and generators. Addressing the youths, Olowookere said “I’m ready to assist whoever among you that is ready to live a responsible and fulfilling life. I have never encouraged thuggery, I abhor thuggery and violence. I cannot send my children to school and use other people’s children for political shenanigans, to open their chest for axes, guns, and cutlasses in the name of politics. They too can become responsible citizens if they are ready to turn over a new leaf and not see thuggery as an aberrant behaviour. And thank God today that many of them are beneficiaries of the empowerment programme “ He charged the youths to embrace peace saying people who are victims of violence in the wars between two political gladiators are always youths. The State APC chairman, Hon. Isaac Kekemeke expressed happiness that the party is breaking new grounds devoid of violence.

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Bauchi APC to operate parallel party secretariat Y

YGAS condemns DSS over Umeh’s harassment

Ezekiel Titus Bauchi

trong indication emerged in Bauchi at the weekend that All Progressive Congress, APC in Bauchi state may have polarized into two camps with each of them set to establish its own party secretariat . This according to sources followed alleged intra-party crisis due to perceived lack of internal democracy in the party under the leadership of the state governor, Mohammed Abubakar

It could be recalled that Abubakar had in a press statement signed by his spokesman Al-sadig Sufi recently described some APC members as disgruntle elements who were trying to sabotage his administration It was gathered that those angling for a separate APC secretariat other than the recognised one are people in the faction of those that contested APC gubernatorial primaries and failed to win at the primary, although this is still subject to confirma-

tion as at the time of filing this report. Source confided in National Mirror that BauchiAbuja APC politicians may be at the centre stage of the crisis apparently to forced the governor out of office come 2019 According to sources, both the party and the executive appears to have close their doors to those considered as machinery that brought them into offices. Reacting on the allegations, the APC Publicity Secretary, Auwal Aliyu Jalla debunked the plan

to establish a parallel party secretariat describing those behind the rumour as group of failures. Jalla added that the allegation is not true in its totality saying the party is not even aware that factions exist . He stressed that the state executive of the of the APC doors are open to all and sundry irrespective of their believe and their grudges . He cautioned mischief makers to be weary not to allow the opposition to use them against the APC

Voters checking their names from the voter registration list during the Benin Republic’s 2016 Presidential Election’s, in Lagos yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

outh for Greater Anambra State, YGAS yesterday condemned the perceived harassment of the immediate past National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and frontline Anambra Central Senatorial candidate, Chief Victor Umeh, over allegation of sponsoring a pro-Biafran group and insulting President Muhammadu Buhari by the Department of State Security (DSS). In a press statement signed by its Director of Publicity, Kingsley Elvis, YGAS explained that allegation that Umeh was sponsoring a pro-Biafran group, Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB is the figment of the fertile imagination of his political opponents who he had severally floored in court and who still seek their pound of flesh using security agents to scuttle his senatorial bid. “It is outrageous, obnoxious, barbaric and sadism of the worst order to assume Chief Umeh, a patriotic Nigerian who have served the fatherland in various capacities and given a national merit award of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) by former President Goodluck Jonathan, of sponsoring a pro-Biafran group, undermining the presidency and treason. We assumed the era of garrison and do-or-die politics had ended with President Muhammadu Buhari change mantra”, he said. YGAS warns security

agents and desperate politicians to desist from overheating the polity with wild and unsubstantiated allegations against law abiding Nigerians. He said Nigeria will become a great arsenal of democracy in Africa if politicians imbibe issuebased politics and the spirit of sportsmanship as demonstrated by President Jonathan when he conceded defeat to General Buhari and congratulated him while the results of the 2015 presidential election were being collated. “ Aggrieved candidates should approach the election petition tribunals and shun self-help. This is the only way we can deepen and strengthen our frail democracy. “We however, commends the Department of State Security for clearing Chief Umeh, who also won another Appeal Court judgment on review of its earlier judgment nullifying Anambra Central Senatorial poll. “We further urge security agencies to resist any attempt by desperate politicians to use them to harass, intimidate and detain their opponents so as to dent their public image and ruin their political ambition. “Umeh should be supported in the quest at building a strong democratic nation, and should not be harassed by security agents and political buccaneers masquerading as democrats,” he said.

Ekiti 2018: Artisans, professionals rally support for PDP Abiodun Nejo Ado Ekiti

rtisans, professional bodies and groups in Ekiti State have rallied support for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state to ensure wider reach and victory in the 2018 governorship election. The unions of various professional and vocational bodies have collapsed into a solidarity forum in the interest of the state development billed for inauguration

next month. They included chapters of associations such as the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Grassroot Development Movement, GDM, Theatre Arts Practitioners of Nigeria, TAPAN and Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT. Others are National Association of Tailors, National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Nigeria Automobile and Technicians Association, NATAN, Regent Council Of Ekiti, Ebira Community and

Association of Motorcycles Riders, among others. Convener of the forum and state House of Assembly member, Hon. Wale Ayeni, said the Fayose Support Forum, FSF was essentially to bring governance closer to Ekiti people and ensure that the governor’s achievement, programmes and intentions were adequately communicated to the people at the grassroots. Ayeni, who represents Ikere Ekiti 1 in the state assembly, said the Forum

would also bring to the notice of the Governor, the people’s yearning via adequate representation by heads of various unions in the state. He spoke at a meeting preparatory to the inauguration of the Forum, saying: “Although 2018 is still far somehow, what we are doing now is to give the people an accessible and grassroot platform on which they can make known their needs to the state government and also get feedback for their requests. “The FSF is not for

Peoples Democratic Party, ,PDP members in Ekiti but for all the people and residents in Ekiti. It will outlive the Governor’s tenure. Beyond 2018, we will still wax stronger because we believe that PDP will win the election in the state. We will carry on the legacy of the Governor’s love for Ekiti, “ he said. Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Mr Ayo Alabi, said “members of the various unions present at the inauguration are expected to go back to their do-

mains and local areas to communicate the intentions of the government to them”. Alabi said members were also to gather information about their needs for the government to take proper steps towards assisting them. Speaking on behalf of the unions, Mr. Ehinafe Eniola, Secretary of TAPAN, Ekiti State, said: : “I’m sure that this is done that Ekiti has to move forward irrespective of political affiliation of all the associations in the state.

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Amnesty International and its double mission in Nigeria DESITA TODOROVA

he authorities in Nigeria are possibly waking up to the reality of the true nature of the mission of Amnesty International (AI) in their country. Hopefully, the realization that the international ‘non-governmental organisation’ may not be all about safeguarding human rights may have finally dawned on the most populous African country, which has been in the grip of extremists themed terrorism of the Boko Haram sect (which refers to itself as Wilyat Gharb Ifrqyyah - Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP), particularly in the country’s north-east. This realization and the frustration that naturally follows was given vent at a meeting between Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai and AI’s Director Of Research Africa, Netsanet Belay, It is quite surprising that the Nigerian Army had erroneously expected AI or any of their franchises or affiliates will have anything positive to say about their country or the war they have been waging against terrorists, whose reign of terror in the enclave they earlier controlled was so barbaric that even al-Qaeda disowned them. The tide turned with the coming of General Buratai as he found the strategy to motivate the fighting forces coupled with the acquisition of the hardwares that were previously dismally lacking. The anger of the Nigerian side during the meeting with AI representatives and afterwards is then understandable: instead of receiving acknowledgement for rescuing civilian populations from bloodthirsty

terrorists the NGO came on a fault finding mission that could be potentially escalated to bring war crime charges against those who fought terrorists. The Nigerian side would have to do better than getting angry. Its best bet is to understand the entity it is dealing with. On the surface, AI markets itself as that infallible guardian of human right across the globe. But how well does this claim seat? A content analysis of the reports it has issued in recent years – going back over a decade reveals a glaring discrepancy between the wording of reports about western countries and the wording for developing countries. Its findings and report about western countries often betray a sort of timidity that suggests that the exercise as regards this set of nations was meant to fulfill all righteousness. For other nations, the indictment from AI is always harsh in its damning conclusions. An answer to this trend can be found in the funding of the NGO. AI brands itself as an entity that is funded through membership and public donations thereby hinting at insulation from governments and corporate behemoths. Nothing can be further from the truth. For example, page 11 of its 2011 Report and Financial Statement stated that “The Directors are pleased to acknowledge the support of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Oak Foundation, Open Society Georgia Foundation, the Vanguard Charitable Endowment Programme, Mauro Tunes and American Jewish World Service. The UK Department for International Development (Governance and Transparency Fund) continued to fund a four year human rights education project in Africa. The European

OFTENTIMES, REPORTS ARE WRITTEN FROM THE COMFORT OF FIVE STAR HOTELS WITHOUT SPEAKING TO THE ACTUAL PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE SUBJECT OF REVIEW Commission (EuropeAid) generously awarded a multi-year grant towards Amnesty International’s human rights education work in Europe.” How then can Amnesty International take donations from such entities and still pretend to be objectively holding all to accounts in human rights issues? Countries that are at the receiving end of AI destabilization campaign should learn to task this tool of Western propaganda as to its true intents in raising issues of abuse in their home countries. In addition to asking about intent, nation should also ask the Ngo about its methodology. Oftentimes, reports are written from the comfort of five star hotels without speaking to the actual people involved in the subject of review. An article by Rick Sterling titled ‘“Spreading False Information”: Eight Problems with Amnesty’s Report on Aleppo, Syria’ aptly captured the gimmick that is AI. The treatise raised fundamental issues about a report on carnage in Aleppo which the NGO twisted to fit into the narratives of the power blocs that are desperate for regime change in Syria. The article cannot be reproduced in

full here but its subheadings are as follows: Amnesty ignores external interference in Syria; Amnesty approves the violation of international customary law; Amnesty relies on witnesses who are biased and possibly paid and coached; Amnesty relies on dubious data from a biased source; Amnesty ignores important background information; Amnesty ignores important current information; Amnesty echoes allegations which are unverified and probably false; and Amnesty fails to recognize what keeps the conflict going. There is no record that AI has been able to explain away these glaring shortcomings and bias in its reporting on Syria. In Nigeria, there is proof that AI mostly based its reports on anecdotal evidence, hearsay and interview with subjects, whose identities and affiliations it has no way of verifying. This leaves the possibility that those it has access to are from the propaganda arm of the terrorist. If Amnesty claims it was able to visit territories under terrorists’ occupation to gather facts first hand then it must be able to elaborate the relationship it has with Boko Haram to get cover for its staff that are ordinarily targets for a group that abhors anything western. If the authorities in Nigeria look closely enough, they will see more similarities than dissimilarities in the way AI treated the Syrian report and how its tried to indict its Army. This observation fits into the concerns of those who had argued that AI lent itself as a propaganda tool for destabilizing countries whose leaders stood in the way of big businesses. Desita Todorova is a UK-based international commentator on diplomatic and military affairs.

Chinese ‘invasion’ on Oshiomhole’s roads NASAMU JACOBSON

he major function of government, especially in a democracy, is to provide for the welfare of the citizens, if not all but the majority. This the government can do through the provision of basic necessities like shelter, food, education, water, light, security, employment and roads. Often, government finds itself unable to adequately meet the high demand for its attention in the provision of these basic needs mainly due to insufficiency of available funds. This state of affair has necessitated the development and articulation of alternative sources of revenues to augment the dwindling oil revenue. Notwithstanding the pressure the paucity of funds has had on governance, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has displayed uncommon but commendable ingenuity in the management of lean state resources to create happiness for the greatest number of Edo people. From roads and electricity to health and education, from water and sanitation to urban renewal and beautification, from human capital development to commerce and industry, Comrade Oshiomhole has worked hard to transform Edo from the state of decay he met in 2008 to one that works. There is no doubt that most citizens of the state, critics and political opponents alike, are impressed with the high level of infrastructural development achieved by the Oshiomhole administration in the last seven years. The red roof revolution, the new 200-bed central hospital, the storm water master plan and erosion control projects, the con-

ONE AREA IN WHICH OSHIOMHOLE HAS DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF AS A VERITABLE GIFT TO

EDO IS HIS DRIVE TO INDUSTRIALISE THE STATE struction and reconstruction of roads across the state all represent legacies the present administration will bequeath to the state when it leaves office later this year. One area in which Oshiomhole has distinguished himself as a veritable gift to Edo is his drive to industrialise the state. At the start of his administration, he made it abundantly clear that he did not believe in government setting up industries which are usually run as parastatals of state ministries with attendant bureaucratic encumbrances. Indeed, Oshiomhole had examples to cite. By 2008 when he assumed office as Governor of Edo State, all industries established by previous administrations in the state had collapsed under the heavy weight of mismanagement and corruption. As has become a tradition, what belongs to government does not belong to anybody in particular, and therefore, belongs to no one. The Okpella cement company is the only industrial concern which was working, and is still working, at the inception of the Oshiom-

hole administration. The reason is because it had been sold to BUA Group, a private investor. Already, Dangote Cement is investing billions of naira on another cement factory in Okpella, thus quickly turning that axis to an industrial area. Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s industrialisation drive, anchored on his belief that government must leave business for businessmen, is yielding bountiful results with the establishment and take off of companies owned by Chinese investors in Benin City. These are Yongxing Steel Company Limited located in Ogua Community and Time Ceramics Nigeria Limited in Utesi Community. There is also a bamboo wood furniture company at Anegbette in Etsako Central Local Government Area. More Chinese investors are expected to establish businesses in the state in the near future. The present influx of foreign investors in Edo can rightly be described as an invasion. This is happening because Comrade Oshiomhole has provided a favourable investment climate in the state. Besides employing a work force of more than 1500 persons, these companies have also contributed to the development and expansion of their host communities through the due discharge of their corporate social responsibility. This is in accord with Oshiomhole’s belief that the surest way for government to address the issue of unemployment in the country is to provide the basic infrastructure which should in turn attract foreign investment. Oshiomhole also believes that government must provide the enabling environment for private businesses to thrive. Government intervention in this regards include the pro-

vision of access roads to link communities, electricity, water, easy access to land and title documents, peace and security. For instance, all communities around the area where these companies are located have been linked with a good road network. Some of these communities include Utesi, Egun, Azagba, Uwusan, Obagie and Uyimwendi. While visiting these companies recently, Oshiomhole restated the obvious when he noted that “this road is the major incentive they have because now it is easy to bring the raw materials they need to the factory and to carry their finished products to the market, and of course, it is also easy for the staff and other visitors to come in and go out without problems”. According to Oshiomhole, “government cannot create all the jobs. Government will create the environment that will bring in foreign investors, and when investors come in, they will create the jobs”. The Yongxing Steel Company commenced production in July 2013, one year after incorporation, to manufacture steel products. The strategic intent of the company is to be the leading steel manufacturer in the country. Nasamu Jacobson, Public Affairs Commentator, resides in Benin City. 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. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

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All the Facts, All the Sides A PUBLICATION OF GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LTD BARRISTER JIMOH IBRAHIM, CFR PUBLISHER

SUNDAY OLAJIDE MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO BEN MEMULETIWON ACTING DAILY EDITOR GBEMI OLUJOBI SATURDAY EDITOR AYO OLESIN SUNDAY EDITOR DOZIE OKEBALAMA COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD CALLISTUS OKE EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR OBIORA IFOH ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF

Buhari government and Ogoni clean-up

ugust 4 this year would mark the 5th anniversary of the release of the UN agency’s report on its independent assessment of the environmental and public health impacts of oil contamination in Ogoniland. UNEP undertook the job on the request of the Nigerian government in what appeared a preliminary step in the country’s search for remediation of the grave damages done to Ogoniland by decades of oil exploration. Former President Goodluck Jonathan was barely two months and some days in office as Nigeria’s elected president when the report was turned in to him on August 4, 2011. Sometime in 2014, reports said two reputable international firms had been contracted for the work. The necessary Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between representatives of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), the major oil multinational operating in Ogoniland; and Bodo community/other stake holders was said to have been signed, too. Financial support was expected from the

Embassy of Netherlands in Nigeria, Rivers State Ministry of Environment, Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) and UNEP, with the Nigerian Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) providing support and guidance. In truth, however, not much has been done to give concrete expression to the clean-up exercise; except that President Buhari, in August last year, took some commendable steps in that direction. They included the amendment of the Official Gazette establishing the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) to reflect a new governance framework comprising a Governing Council, a Board of Trustees and Project Management; a directive that stakeholders of the HYPREP Board of Trustees Trust Fund should raise at least $10 million within 30 days of appointment of members of the board; as well as approval of the membership of the HYPREP Governing Council and the Board of Trustees for its Trust Fund, among

IT WILL BE TO THE CREDIT OF THE BUHARI GOVERNMENT IF IT

MAKES THE CLEAN-UP A REALITY AND PUT A LIE TO THE CALCULATIONS OF PESSIMISTS

others. Public expectation had been that before now, the President would inaugurate the HYPREP Governing Council and the Board of Trustees (Bot) for the Trust Fund to herald full commencement of the clean-up project. It is not to public knowledge, however, that the HYPREP Governing Council and the BoT for the Trust Fund have been formally inaugurated as yet. But the current effort by the Federal Government to carry stakeholders along preparatory to the project’s take-off, indeed, the second in the past eight months, seems a strong indication of the Buhari administration’s commitment to commencing work on the clean-up. The report produced by UNEP was quite penetrating. It projects, for example, that restoring Ogoniland to

ON THIS DAY March 7, 1876 Alexander Graham Bell was granted a patent for an invention he called the telephone. Bell (1847 – 1922) was an eminent scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator credited with inventing the first practical telephone. Bell’s father, grandfather and brother had all been associated with work on elocution and speech; and both his mother and wife were deaf, profoundly influencing Bell’s life’s work.

Letters tothe theEditor Editor Letters to

March 7, 1989 Iran and the United Kingdom broke diplomatic relations after a row over Salman Rushdie and his controversial novel, ‘The Satanic Verses’ (1988). The novel, Rshidie’s 4th, sparked a major controversy, provoking protests from Muslims in several countries, some violent. Death threats were made against him, including a fatw issued by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Supreme Leader of Iran, on February 14, 1989.

its old environmental glory might take as much as 30 years because of over 50 years of oil spillage. Ibrahim Thiaw, the UNEP Director that presented the report to ex-President Jonathan in 2011, said the assessment jointly carried out by his agency and a ‘Presidential Implementation Committee’ for 14 months involved the examination of more than 200 locations, the survey of 122 kilometres of pipeline rights of way, review of more than 5,000 medical records and the engagement over 23,000 people at local community meetings. Thiaw said detailed investigation on soil and groundwater contamination in 69 sites spanning hectares of land across Local Government Areas in Ogoniland was equally undertaken. In all, over 4,000 samples were analysed, including water taken from 142 groundwater monitoring wells drilled specifically for the study; and soil extracted from 780 boreholes, among other material facts. It will be to the credit of the Buhari government if it makes the clean-up a reality and put a lie to the calculations of pessimists.

x March 7, 2014 The opening ceremony for the 2014 Winter Paralympics took place in Sochi, Russia. The opening ceremony was titled “Breaking the Ice” and centered on breaking down barriers and celebrating Russian culture. It opened with a rhythmic dance featuring 126 performers dressed in the colours of the Russian flag. Russian dance and music were featured throughout, while performances were interspersed with animated segments.

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Cover

Cocoa farmers at work

Appraising non-oil commodities’ foreign exchange potential for the nation’s economy The dwindling price of crude oil, a major revenue earner for Nigeria in the international market has adversely affected the nation’s economy in such a way that compelled the President Buhari-led administration to specifically unveiled policy measures targeted at bridging revenue gap occasioned by the slumping oil prices by exploring non-oil sector’s opportunities. In this analysis, Udo Onyeka, takes a critical look at what promises commodities such as cocoa, palm oil and solid minerals hold for the future of the economy in terms of their revenue generation potential, if their potential is fully explored.

any stakeholders and Nigerians in general have received the plan of the Federal Government to focus on non oil commodities with joy since it portends to be a step in the right direction in view of the crashing oil prices in the international oil market and the associated risks to Nigeria’s macroeconomic stability. Like many other commodity-

exporting countries faced with shrinking foreign exchange earnings over the months, Nigeria’s search for alternative investments and revenue generation opportunities to close the fiscal gap associated with the current crash of oil prices is well justified. To frontally tackle the fiscal challenges, the Nigerian government is adopting new policy measures aimed at developing key non-oil sector areas, particularly

agriculture and solid minerals, to mitigate the negative effects of the global oil market whirlwinds on the domestic economy. For instance, a report by a commission set up by the Federal Government to ascertain possible alternatives to oil and gas had listed agriculture, solid minerals and manufacturing as alternatives. President Buhari since assumption of office in 2015, has

consistently harped on the imperative of opening the non-oil sector for development by attracting more investments to the nation’s agricultural and mining sectors. According to him, the problem facing the country was due to the fact that the nation’s manufacturing, agricultural and mining sectors were abandoned by the past administrations. “We are doing our utmost best

to encourage diversification into these sectors of the economy, which can employ a lot of people” Business Courage gathered that government was already thinking of huge investments into agriculture, solid minerals, among other sectors. Noting that diversification is the only key to stem the tide of possible economic woes, many experts have said the early Nigeria goes back to agriculture as a major source of revenue generation the better for the country. According to an economic analyst, Dr Eugene Ekeh unless urgent steps are taken by the Continued on pg A4 UDO ONYEKA, EDITOR BUSINESS COURAGE udonyeka@gmail.com c

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Ogbeh

at hand,’’ the university don said. President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, said that diversifying the economy was the pathway to achieving economic stability and would help the nation to realise its longterm socio-economic development goals. He however said that an improved collaboration between the public and private sectors and government’s sincerity in facilitating a private sector-led economy, would enable the country to maximally utilise its abundant resources. “Government should provide a climate for a profitable and flourishing business enterprise. In this regard, the first and most critical area of attention is to intensify its transformation agenda on infrastructure. With this, cost of production will reduce, unit prices will reduce and our goods will be able to compete internationally,” he said. He added that in boosting non-oil export, the government needed to address other areas that have raise the cost of doing business. These, he said, included excessive tax, high cost of compliance with government regulations and extortion and harassment of companies by regulatory agencies. Business Courage gathered that the Federal Government has already commenced plans to export commodities to France, United Kingdom, Netherlands and a host of other countries in a bid to diversify the economy. The Director-General, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, who made the disclosure in an exclusive interview with our correspondent, said a number of products had

‘

Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Solid Minerals

been added to the nation’s export commodity list. He said some of the new products, which were added to the list last year, included soya meal, vegetable tanning extracts, brown beans, bill boards and slug catcher. Others are carbon dioxide gas, aluminum sulphate, palm juice, barite, Heineken beer and strawberry filling. Awolowo said that apart from France, Netherlands and the United Kingdom, other primary markets for the new products were Guinea, South Korea, Benin Republic, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo and Greece. The NEPC had in 2013 introduced new products including educational books, robusta coffee, double-folded dust sheets, ice making machines, mica muscovite, leather furniture, highdensity polyethylene, aluminium ingots, reduced iron and iron pellets, garments and yam to the export list. The NEPC director-general noted that the country’s exports were no longer limited to the traditional markets of Europe, especially the UK, adding that there was a steady growth in non-oil exports. He said, “Diversification through non-oil exports remains the new and only avenue for developing the economy and achieving prosperity as oil has become unreliable. It is in pursuit of this goal that the Federal Government has now marked out 13 National Strategic Export Products that are meant to replace oil and shore up the country’s foreign exchange earnings. “This is part of the spirited moves by the government towards reviving the dwindling national economy with emphasis on rapid growth of the nonoil sector for exports. In this

We have been depending on oil alone for too long. We must as a matter of urgency, veer into non-oil sectors of the economy. Solid mineral is there, the industrial sector. We must try to make those areas attractive while making oil sector unattractive

‘

Continued from pg A3 states and Federal Government to reverse the growing economic trend, Nigeria might be heading for serious recession, hence oil, the major foreign exchange earnings is gradually dwindling. Speaking on the growing need for diver¬sification of the economy as only viable option to achieving fiscal efficiency and macroeconomic stability in the country, a university don, Professor Chineyere Okunna, who spoke during a programme of the United Nations Development Pro¬gramme in Ibadan, Oyo state said unless Nigeria di¬versifies to other viable sectors, the “We have been depending on oil alone for too long. We must as a matter of urgency, veer into nonoil sectors of the economy. Solid mineral is there, the indus¬trial sector. We must try to make those ar¬eas attractive while making oil sector unat¬tractive. “Long before now, Nigeria was doing very well in agriculture, we had boom¬ing palm oil sector, we had cocoa, we had groundnut pyramid and they were servic¬ing the nation’s economy, but suddenly, we left those areas and concentrated on oil, which is presenting affecting us. We have no choice now, but to diversify to solid min¬erals as well as other sectors of the nation’s economy”, Okunna said. According to her, beyond that real estate also has the potential to increase the rev¬enue base of the country over time, saying return on investments is very encouraging. While urging the Federal Government to quickly diversify to other sectors, she noted that a country with fast growing population like Nigeria could earn extraordinary income from non-oil sector. Corroborating Okunna, another academic and Profes¬sor of Economics, Professor Sarah Anyanwu, supported the urgent move to diversify the Nation’s economy as a strategic option of tackling the current fiscal problems of the government. According to her, the nation’s economic activities have not been optimal due to the dwindling revenue accruals from crude oil export, pointing out that the need to diversify the economy is more imperative now than ever before. Anyanwu, who is the Head of Economics Department at University of Abuja, specifi¬cally listed agriculture, mining, functional tourist centres and manufacturing sectors as sources that can be explored to create job op¬portunities and reduce poverty. “We need to come back to reality and not cast all our eggs in one basket. This problem has multiplier effects, as the poverty level is rising, standard of living generally is falling and unemployment is on the increase. “The productivity of workers who have not been paid will fall. So we need to diversify our economy in order to solve the problem

Godwin Emefiele, CBN, Governor

regards, 13 National Strategic Export Products in three categories are now in focus. These include agro industrial products such as palm oil, cocoa, cashew, sugar and rice; mining related products such as cement, iron ore and metals, auto parts and cars, aluminium and oil and gas; and industrial products including petroleum products, fertilizer and urea, petrochemical and methanol.” According to Awolowo, the country needs to join the league of other successful nations but with investment in the development of the non-oil sector. “The upswing in the United Arab Emirates’ economy and its transformation has been made possible through the investment of revenues derived from oil to other sectors of the economy,” he said. He listed some of activities that were critical to the successful diversification of the economy as macro-economic stability, management of supply constraints, provision of adequate pre and post-export incentive, and the revitalisation of export processing zones which are already at various stages of implementation. According to experts while Nigeria is one of the world’s largest producers of palm oil, it still remains a net importer of palm oil owing to the inability to produce enough palm oil to meet local demand. This offers the opportunity for increasing productivity. They said there is a need to share information on the sector, to refocus attention on the potential for palm oil production and highlight the potential for boosting the Nigerian economy by concentrating on the enterprise dynamics. Improving the local capacity of palm oil production in Nigeria would not only impact positively on food security and local economy, it also portends huge prospects for future exports that will advance Nigeria’s economy. A special assistant on Media and Strategy to former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Olukayode Oyeleye said the prospects for job creation is high as palm oil production remains a major vocation

in many communities, involving hundreds of thousands of poor producers and tens of thousands of poor processors. “The oil palm industry represents one of the most effective avenues for poverty alleviation, food security, ensuring economic stability in Nigeria and providing income for many farmers and their dependants. It also has the prospects of providing employment for millions of unskilled and semi-skilled people. This means that an efficient and strong palm oil sector in Nigeria will enable the poor to be part of the solution to poverty challenge through provision of employment and means of livelihood. “The reference to oil palm as a crop of multiple value underscores its economic importance. There are numerous ways in which oil palm production could be deployed to boost employment opportunities for the people. Middle men (traders) appeared to have benefitted more from the palm oil business in Nigeria due to inefficiencies resulting from weak value chain coordination. As demonstrated in other economies, with proper focus on production of commodities of large scale commercial values, improvement in the production of oil palm can effectively mitigate the poverty level in Nigeria where there has been limited transformation and uses of the primary or secondary products from oil palm for either food or non-food applications.”, he said. According to him in developed economies, however, palm oil is used in the manufacturing of many foodstuffs including many industrial applications. Agriculturists trace cocoa’s origin to the Aztec civilization in South America in the 14th and 15th centuries, though over the ages, its cultivation had spread to many parts of the globe, including Africa. In West Africa, Nigeria had ranked amongst the leading cocoa producers in the sub-region. In the 1960s in particular, long before the oil boom years of the 1970s, cocoa was a major export crop for the nation as it fetched a sizeable percentage of the nation’s foreign exchange earnings. BC

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News No going back on truck standardisation fee – NPA

wanted to move ahead. “There’s been a bit of a pause, appropriately so, on the next wave of major multi-year projects,” he said.

he Nigerian Ports Authority NPA has foreclosed any waiver or reduction in the N10, 000 annual sticker fee for standardisaation of trucks entering the nation’s seaports, especially those in Lagos despite protests by truck drivers. The authority had as part of measure to check the frequent accidents and breaking down of trucks on port access roads with the attendant gridlock given all truckers and fleet owner to present their for inspection and certification. Under the process, only trucks that meet roadworthiness requirements would be certified and issued an annual sticker, which will be issued to trucks certified by the authority’s safety officers Meanwile, truck drivers who are vehemently opposed to the levy, had embarked on a peaceful protest at the nation’s seaports in Lagos following the expiration of a 10-day ultimatum to the authority to reverse the policy. But General Manager of the authority in charge of Western Zone, which controls the ports in Lagos, Chief Michael Ajayi, who spoke in an exclusive interview at the weekend, said the authority was not considering any reduction in the standardisation levy neither is the authority considering a review of the policy. According to him, NPA would go on with the policy because it does not want rickety vehicles at the port. Which partly contribute to the perennial gridlock on most of the port approaches. He also disclosed that the fleet owners such as Dangote Group, SIFAX and Total Logistics, among several others are not part of the protest, as many of them have complied with the standardisation and roadworthiness requirements. “Most of the truckers who participated in the protest are mainly those that own the rickety trucks and we will not continue to allow such rickety vehicles access into the ports, as soon as we conclude the exercise, any truck that fails to register with us will not be allowed into the ports”, he warned. He also said that following the protest, the management of the authority met with the leadership of the truck owners where all the issues were discussed extensively, adding that there was no need for anyone to oppose the policy because of what the nation’s port system has suffered due to the nonregulation of the truckers operating in the industry. “The problem with the protesting truck drivers is not the

Firm unveils cluster initiative for SMEs’ growth

L-R : CEO, Diamond Bank Plc, Uzoma Dozie; President/CEO, Womens World Banking, Mary Elen Iskenderian; CEO, MTN Nigeria, Ferdi Moolman; and Deputy Director, Strategy, Planning and Management, Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation, Elizabeth Kalisin during a partnership of Diamond Bank with Womens World Banking and MTN Nigeria, to develop global model for digital financial services in Lagos recently.

N10,000 annual levy, their problem is that they would be compelled to bring their trucks for inspection to ascertain whether they meet the roadworthiness requirements and so many of them are afraid that their trucks may not pass the roadworthiness test”, he also said.

Sterling Bank, Innoson Motors partner on auto finance deal

n line with the plan of the Federal Government to diversify the economy, Sterling Bank has taken a bold step to champion the use of locally manufactured goods and services by going into partnership with Innoson Motors to finance the purchase of locally made vehicles produced by the company. According to the partnership agreement signed by the management of the two companies last weekend in Nnewi, Sterling Bank will provide auto finance to prospective customers willing to acquire any brand of Innoson motor vehicles. A statement issued by the Bank’s Executive Director, Finance and Strategy, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, on the deal indicated that the partnership was informed by the current economic headwinds and exchange rate volatility fueled by the fall in oil price which brought to the fore, the need to diversify the nation’s revenue base and support the manufacturing sector through the patronage and use of locally made products and services. “The country’s dependence on oil exports for foreign exchange and the global oil sector downturn driven by the falling oil price has led to near economic recession in the country and has negatively impacted

other sectors with prices of imported products rising significantly. “For the country to navigate the current headwinds there is an urgent need to diversify the economy and empower the manufacturing sector of the country. But local manufacturers will not thrive if they are not patronised by Nigerians. This is why we have entered this partnership with Innoson,”Suleiman said. Speaking further on the development, the Bank’s Executive Director emphasized the value of the partnership to all the parties involved, adding that through it “individuals will be able to access high quality brand new cars at affordable prices; the Innoson Brand enjoys more patronage from Nigerians; the Bank drives it support for locally manufactured products thereby boosting the value of the Naira while fulfilling its one-customer proposition, and the government benefits from the conservation of foreign exchange”. Chairman of Innoson Group of Companies, parent company of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company, IVM, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma , described the partnership as “a welcome development and indicated that the company was committed to producing premium quality automobiles as it serves the Nigerian market”.

ExxonMobil targets other oil firms for takeover

xxonMobil is leveraging on the oil price crash to acquire other petroleum companies, but will wait for the right opportunity, chief executive Rex Tillerson has said. Tillerson alluded to the company’s history of big takeovers

during oil busts, as when Exxon acquired Mobil in 1999. That deal expanded Exxon’s presence in key oil producers such as Kazakstan and Nigeria. A 2009 acquisition of XTO Energy significantly boosted its holdings in US shale. Analysts at an ExxonMobil investor day said they were surprised that, given the current market conditions, the company had not made a big acquisition to boost its portfolio of oil and gas plays. As US prices have fallen from more than $100 a barrel in July 2014 to the current $34 a barrel, many smaller oil producers have seen profits dry up and face problems paying debts. Tillerson said there are many “quality resources” that could boost ExxonMobil’s holdings, but that potential targets are setting unrealistic terms for a buyout. “Expectations have yet to come in line for sellers,” he said. Tillerson also said some producers have “destroyed” the value of their companies by taking on more debt or diluting equity as they try to stay afloat. “We’re just going to have to wait,” he said. Tillerson said nothing has changed yet in the crude market despite the crash. “We’re still oversupplying and overproducing for a market that doesn’t need it,” he said. Global economic conditions are also uncertain, with Europe struggling to maintain growth and China’s economy slowing. “I don’t think we can look to the market demand side to solve this problem quickly,” he said. ExxonMobil plans a 2016 capital budget of $23bn, down 25 percent from 2015. The oil giant has held off from green-lighting major projects. In some cases, ExxonMobil’s plans have been delayed by partners who have not

orkplace Plus Limited Operators of the Regus franchise in West Africa, has unveiled a cluster initiative that will offer Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs, the benefit of maximising profit in Nigeria’s current harsh economic environment. The initiative, which is the first of its kind, brings companies under one operating environment with the necessary infrastructures that will enhance business development. Executive Chairman of the company, Ayo Akinmade explained the firm which was registered in Nigeria in 2003, engages in the business of providing infrastructure to support companies to carry out their businesses seamlessly in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Accra, Ghana. According to him, we provide representative offices for corporate bodies, organizations and individuals, with fully furnished and equipped short stay office accommodations. We also provide conferencing services to corporate bodies and organisations. Our clients, including many multinational companies, are some of the most respected names in the world. Akinmade, noted that one of the challenges of business operations in Nigeria is inadequate provision of infrastructure which include, electricity, information technology and a conducive working environment to facilitate business contacts, development and capacity to promote efficiency. He said the company is the largest provider of virtual office space in Nigeria, providing over 150 customers with office and related facilities from grade – A buildings. Giving further insight into the initiative, the Executive Chairman stated that Regus Virtual Office provides best possible first impression to clients as well as offering a great corporate image at a fraction of the cost of running an individual office. Describing the initiative as cost saving for entrepreneurs, he said, “Our business is to make sure that you focus 100 per cent on your core business. Our friendly and professional team will answer your dedicated number in your company name, take and pass on your messages in the way you choose ad give your business the due representation”.

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Adeosun

RIMSON seeks involvement in govt’s economic recovery drive

isk Managers Society of Nigeria, RIMSON, has stressed the need to incorporate and integrate the role of risk managers in governments’ economic recovery strategies to help achieve the desired results President of RIMSON, Jacob Adeosun, who made the call during their meeting with the Commissioner for Insurance, Mohammed Kari, explained that government requires risk management initiatives to prioritize and drive new investments and projects to unlock untapped resources and opportunities in addition to preventing avoidable waste of scarce resources and national wealth. Adeosun said RIMSON is determined to expand the frontiers of risk management practice within the public and private sectors in Nigeria, adding that more organs of government agencies and the professionals therein need to embrace the risk management doctrine. He said small, medium and large scale enterprises in the private sectors and their managers require risk management to remain competitive and excel, adding that there is the need to get everyone on board the risk management flight to actualize the Nigerian dream. He noted that the body, as part of its contribution to national economic growth and development, shall continue to advise government on the need to engage risk professionals. The body commended the commission for effectively regulating the industry which he said has enhanced the sector particularly in the area of risk management development. “We also note the intent and significance of NAICOM’s guidelines for development of risk management framework for insurers and reinsurers in Nigeria. Through these roles, NAICOM has continued to restore public confidence in the insurance industry and reposition the industry positively in the minds of the insuring public.

“Permit me to applaud the on-going initiatives of the present administration towards reviving the Nigerian economy at this trying time. The Commissioner in his response promised to support RIMSON’s push for the engagement of risk professionals in public and private sectors. Kari, however advised the risk managers to write the Head of Service on the need to engage risk professionals, and assured them of the commission’s assistance in pushing the issues.

FG re-assures on plans to achieve Naira exchange stability

he Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar, has re-asurred on government’s commitment to stabilize Naira exchange value against the dollar and other international currencies. The Minister, who gave the assurance at the opening ceremony of the 37th Kaduna International Trade Fair, held at the weekend in Kaduna State, noted that the short term measures were introduced by the monetary authority to prevent the free fall of the Naira. “I wish to emphasis that these measures are meant to stabilise the foreign exchange rate which will be address as soon as the economy improves,” she added. Abubakar noted that the theme of the fair “Promoting Solid Minerals Sector for Sustainable Economic Development in Nigeria’, reinforced the need and necessity for a paradigm shift in promoting export products and diversify the revenue base of the economy. She emphasized that the present government remains committed and resolute in ensuring that the on-going reform programme especially in the areas of trade, industry, power, agriculture and solid minerals sectors result in a vibrant private sector participation and increase efficiency in the national economy. The Minister urged the entire private sector operators in the country and their foreign coun-

terparts to positively reciprocate these gestures by investing in the identified growth and employment generating sectors of the economy. Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, called on all and sundry to support and partner with the present administration in promoting non-oil export opportunities for economic growth and development in the state, “It is when economic diversification is encouraged and supported that we will be able to provide critical infrastructure, employment, and wealth creation,” he added. He disclosed that the government is making effort to acquired sites for the establishment of industrial packs in the state adding that the state has expended substantial amount in the development of Kaduna Inland Dry Deport to ease clearance of goods in the state and the North West geopolitical zone as well as serve as origin of the final destination. According to him, “Approval has been granted for the payment of compensation to property owners at Sabo Gari Market Zaria and as soon as arrangements are concluded payment will commence.” Also speaking, the National President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture ,NACCIMA, Mr Bassey Edem, noted that Nigeria has vast alternatives to oil in its untapped solid mineral deposits. “Nigeria is richly endowed with variety of solid minerals, which are yet to be fully exploited. The availability of these minerals provides opportunities in exports and local industrial to use as raw materials. It provides opportunities for the emergence of new downstream industrial products and increase employment opportunities, particularly in rural areas where the minerals are found,” he said. Edem, who was represented by NACCIMA National Vice President, Alhaji Ahmad Ahmad, expressed confidence that the fair would boost business interactions that would exploit the innumerable potentials in the solid mineral sector. Earlier in his welcome address, President of the Kaduna Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, KADCCMA, Dr Abdul Bello, said the 37th edition had witnessed upsurge in number of participants.

Universal Insurance promises investors good returns on investment Abubakar

niversal Insurance Plc has assured its shareholders

technical ability and sound ability you have in terms of selecting your risks is germane. We are not reckless in terms of accepting risk, we want to consistently grow our portfolio and maintain our level and that we have done to build confidence over the years.”

Ujoatuonu

good returns on their investments as the company begins to implement its long term plan to bring the underwriting firm to prominence. The Managing Director, Universal Insurance Plc, Mr. Benedict Ujoatuonu, who stated in Lagos , last week, noted that the company, for the past four years, has been consistently making profit, from a loss position the company was when the current management took over in 2010. “When we took over the business in 2010, the company was making loss consistently. In 2011, of course, there was loss, in 2012, we posted profit. In 2013, we posted profit. In 2012, we made a profit of about N197m, in 2013, we made a profit of about N318m, in 2014, we recorded N487m profit. So, consistently, we have put the company on the path of profitability,” he said. Stating that the company was exposed to investment in equities listed on the floor of Nigerian Stock Exchange,NSE, during the capital market bubble, he said the crash in the market really affected the investment of Universal Insurance, hence, the current management inherited over N2.5bn general loss that went into the general reserve of the company. He noted that the loss, as it stands, has been reduced to N1.5bn, promising that the loss would be wiped off in the next five years, so that the company could be able to pay dividend to shareholders. “With what we are doing in the long term plan, our expectation is that, putting together all these efforts, we are going to wipe off that loss over a period of five years and be able to give return on investment to our shareholders in terms of dividend. That is an articulated plan,” he pointed out. From 2011 till now, he said the total claims paid by the company was about N200m, saying, in 2015 alone, the insurance firm paid N96m. Giving the reasons for the low claims paid, he said: “Universal Insurance have had consistent growth and in this business, it is not about bogus figures. What matters most at the end of the day is your bottom line. And in claims, the

Seme Customs Command generates over N1bn in February

he Customs Area Controller of Seme border command has generated N 1,072,484,462.82 as revenue, 55 seizures with a duty paid value of N15, 614,397.00 and the arresting of 6 suspects in the month of February 2016. According to a statement signed by S. K. Taupyen, the Command’s spokesman, the generated revenue represented a major improvement on its previous collections. “Comparatively, research from Seme data base has shown that the unequal revenue figure of February, 2016 is the first of its kind since the creation of the command. The revenue collected for the month exceeded the N 899,800,250.76 collected within the same period in 2015, representing N 172,684,212.06 excess collection. “It is also important to note that achieving this feat did not just come, considering the hiccups that militated against this unprecedented performance both nationally and internationally:- The prevailing high exchange rate, the strike action by the port Authority and the customs in the Republic of Benin, protest on the implementation process of unifying the exfactory price nationally and the uncompromising stand of the command to remain resolute in adhering strictly to the service guidelines and procedures. “The Customs Area Controller is not resting on his oars as he briefed his management team to intensify the effort of every unit toward actualizing same in the month of March 2016. According to the Comptroller, ‘’it is easy to attain success, but not easy to maintain success’’ therefore all hands must be on deck to maintain and exceed the current record”, statement said. Speaking on the revenue, the Customs Area Controller, Compt. Dimka, V.D attributed this feat to the commitment of the management team, the critical stakeholders and the host community that were ready to partner with him as change agents in transforming the command. BC

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Companies & Markets

Diamond Bank, MTN, group, collaborate to deepen women’s financial inclusion Stories by Udo Onyeka

iamond Bank, in collaboration with ICT company, MTN and global nonprofit; Women’s World Banking, is unveiling the next phase of the Diamond Y’ello account aimed at deepening the financial inclusion of women in Nigeria. With support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this partnership seeks to build understanding of what it takes to make digital financial services work for low-income women. The Diamond Y’ello account will be developed as a global model for expanding women’s access to and usage of digital financial services through simplified steps in account opening and banking transactions, using mobile phones. Diamond Bank’s CEO, Uzoma Dozie, stated that the Bank is very passionate about the fi-

Dozie

nancial wellbeing of women, noting that the strategic focus of this project is to enhance the financial lifestyle of women by providing convenient mobile banking services. “Diamond Y’ello is an account you open without the documentation and other rigours associated with traditional accounts. We are aware that the future

of financial inclusion is digital, and we aim to use this product to bring banking to everyone no matter your income, where you live or the type of mobile handset you are using,” Dozie said. Diamond Y’ello, first launched in Nigeria in 2014, is a mobilebased bank account opened instantly through the customer’s mobile phone in a few simple steps and is available to MTN’s over 63 million subscribers and potential subscribers. Industry insiders hail Diamond Y’ello account as a unique financial product that helps not only to optimize the use of mobile phones in carrying out full banking services, but also serves as an effective means of spreading financial literacy in urban, semi urban and remote areas. Research by Women’s World Banking has shown that women are inherent savers, managing to save an average of 10

to 15 percent of their earnings despite low and often unpredictable incomes. According to Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO of Women’s World Banking, Diamond Y’ello, is a convenient digital banking product that offers a solution to the myriad challenges confronting low-income women who find it difficult accessing a safe place to save due to mobility and time constraints. “We are thrilled to continue our valued partnership with Diamond Bank to use technology to bring vital financial services closer to Nigerian women. This support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation gives us the opportunity to work with Diamond Bank and MTN to build on their innovative product and ensure that Diamond Y’ello helps women throughout Nigeria achieve their savings goals and build a brighter future,” said Iskenderian. BC

U.S. to place restrictions on China’s ZTE

he U.S. Commerce Department is set to place export restrictions on Chinese telecoms equipment maker ZTE Corp for alleged violations of U.S. export controls on Iran, according to documents seen by Reuters. The restrictions will make it difficult for the company to acquire U.S. products by requiring ZTE’s suppliers to apply for an export license before shipping any American-made equipment or parts to ZTE. According to a Commerce Department notice that will be published next week in the U.S. Federal Register, the license applications generally will be denied. The restrictions will take effect Tuesday, Reuters has learned, and apply to any company worldwide that wants to ship American-made products to ZTE Corp in China. Those com-

panies are not the target of the export curbs on ZTE. “This is a significant new burden on trade with ZTE,” a senior official at the Commerce Department told Reuters. The official declined to comment on whether the U.S. government might take further action against ZTE. The company can appeal against the action. ZTE, based in Shenzhen, said in a statement on Sunday that it was aware of media reports on U.S. export restrictions. “ZTE is highly concerned about recent media reports relating to a U.S. Department of Commerce investigation,” the company said. “ZTE has been working with associated U.S. government departments on investigations since 2012 and maintains constant communication with associated departments and is committed to fully

address and resolve any concerns.” The Commerce Department investigated ZTE for alleged export-control violations following reports by Reuters in 2012 that the company had signed contracts to ship millions of dollars worth of hardware and software from some of America’s bestknown technology companies to Iran’s largest telecoms carrier, Telecommunication Co of Iran (TCI), and a unit of the consortium that controls it. The U.S. companies, which included Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O), IBM (IBM.N), Oracle Corp (ORCL.N) and Dell Inc [DI. UL], have all said they were not aware of the Iranian contracts. It is not clear if any of the companies still do business with ZTE. Washington has long banned the sale of United States-made technology products to Iran. The

Commerce Department’s investigation focused on whether ZTE had acquired American products through front companies and then shipped them to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. Commerce Department investigators obtained internal ZTE documents -- some of which had been marked by the company as “Top Secret” -- outlining an alleged sanctions-busting scheme. Reuters reviewed some of the documents. The senior Commerce Department official declined to comment on whether ZTE had implemented that scheme. The ZTE statement did not provide comment relating to the documents. The day after the first Reuters article was published in March 2012, a ZTE spokesman said the company would “curtail” its business in Iran. BC

Brokers call for diversification of the nation’s economy

he National Council of Registered Insurance Brokers,NCRIB, has called for the diversification of the nation’s economy from oil, which is its major source of revenue. The President, NCRIB, Mr. Kayode Okunoren, who stated this at the February edition of the Broker’ Evening in Yaba, Lagos, last week stressed that the mono economy has left the country helpless, considering the weakened Naira against dollar and other international currencies as well as the continuous downward slide in the price of crude oil in the international market, upstaging the budgetary anticipations of government. Stating that the insurance industry is not insulated from these grievous indices of economic recession, he commended the initiatives and drives of the present administration in the country in combating the nation’s economic challenges headlong. According to him, “As a critical stakeholder in the nation’s economy, it is our take that the present situation serves as a good avenue for government to begin to pay more emphasis to diversification of the nation’s economic mainstay from oil, as we have had till now.” He proposed that there must be “a re-tuning of the minds of Nigerians from rabid consumption of foreign goods and services at the expense of those produced locally. Also, the penchant for luxuries has to be curtailed so as to preserve the nation’s available meager foreign monetary reserve for the essentials, rather than fritter them on irrelevances.” He added that this period calls for sacrifice on the part of all Nigerians, including the leadership, if the present crusade would achieve long lasting positive results. BC

Kaduna Trade Fair: FirstBank fetes customers with products bouquet

n keeping with its tradition of stimulating the economy and encouraging bi-lateral trade relations between Nigeria and its trading partners, Nigeria’s foremost financial institution and the most valuable bank brand, First Bank Nigeria Limited, has deployed cutting-edge technology to drive its products and services at the 37th edition of Kaduna Trade Fair. According to a statement the ten-day fair, offered the Bank’s broad clientele and prospective ones beneficial services from FirstBank’s famous financial advisory, on-line-real-time bank-

ing, internet banking, Automated Teller Machine ,ATM, cards products, consumer finance products, Western Union/MoneyGram and a bouquet of innovative and lifestyle-fit products. “As Nigeria’s leading retail bank, FirstBank has over the years broadened its product and services offerings to include agricultural finance, bills discounting, equipment leasing and mortgage finance”, it said. The trade fair which was formally declared open on Saturday, February 27, 2016 attracted participants from 10 countries. This year’s edition

titled: “Promoting Solid Minerals Sector for Sustainable Economic Development of Nigeria” is aimed at supporting the realisation of the multiple potentials of the solid minerals sector, especially its ability to become a major source of the country’s revenue earner and massive job creation with solid minerals fast becoming a strategic income earner in the nation’s economy. Over the years, the fair has attracted both local and foreign exhibitors and has continued to provide avenue for various trade groups and professionals to present new products, servic-

Adeduntan

es and ideas as well as tap into business opportunities that exist in the country particularly in the solid mineral industry. According to the MD/CEO of FirstBank, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, ‘FirstBank as a Nation builder remains committed to driving sustainable growth and development of the nation’s economy and will continue to promote the industrialisation of the economy to ensure job creation and increased investment inflow into key sectors of the Nigerian economy in particular and the global economy at large. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, March 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Brand Watch

Sanofi boosts health care, launches Zentiva in Nigeria Stories by David Audu

igeria’s pharmaceutical industry recently received a boost with the launch of Zentiva on the stable of Sanofi Company. Zentiva is one of the third largest generics company in Europe that develops, manufactures and distributes generics drugs to improve and prolong lives of patients. Speaking on the occasion, Managing Director of Sanofi Nigeria-Ghana, Mr. Abderrahmane Chakibi, said that the company’s ambition is to increase access to health care through the provision of innovative medicines and disease management expertise.

He promised that the company will continue to invest in research and development activities in order to discover and develop new therapeutic solutions in response to emerging health challenges. He said one of our strategies is to continue to provide safe, effective and cost-effective medicines to support the driving down of overall health care costs. “This is why we are unveiling our portfolio of quality and cost effective generic medicines under the identity of Zentiva in Nigeria. It is in direct reinforcement of Sanofi’s ‘access to healthcare ambitions’.” In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Ogun State

who was the Special Guest of Honour, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, stated that Zentiva’s entry into Nigeria would enhance accessibility to quality health care. He underscored need to offer quality health care service to the citizenry. “There is a huge gap in the health care spend in the more developed economies when compared to what is spent on health care in this part of the world. Many citizens cannot afford the kind and quality of medicines that are used in developed countries. So, one of the ways to get the citizens to afford qualitative drugs is to support companies that produce generic medicines. That is why I will align with organi-

zations that explore innovative ways of providing qualitative and affordable healthcare and services.” Director, Drug Evaluation and Research of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Mrs. Titilope Owolabi, educated the audience on the differences between innovator, generics and counterfeit drugs. According to her, the innovator or branded drugs have undergone the process of research and development and have been patented and marketed; while generic drugs are the equivalent copies of the innovator drugs after the latter’s patents have expired. She further explained

Chakibi

that generic drugs are subjected to the same level of regulatory scrutiny as the branded drugs and therefore must undergo similar process of quality assurance in their manufacture. Mrs. Owolabi stated: “Despite the lower costs of the generic drugs, considerations for their quality, safety and efficacy are never compromised when it comes to the process of their approval by the drug regulatory agency.” BC

CNN, Multichoice announce entries for African Journalist of the year awards

NN International and MultiChoice this week launched the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2016 Awards and welcomes entries from African based journalists creating content targeting an African audience. A press statement from the two companies also disclosed the addition of a new category this year, The Maggie Eales Young Journalist Award, in honour of late Maggie Eales, the CNN executive and former journalist who during her 20 year career at CNN was the driving force behind the development and growth of the African Journalist Awards. “This award reflects Maggie’s enduring passion for nurturing young talent and will recognise the work of journalists starting out in their career, who demonstrate exceptional storytelling and the ability to identify a

story and tell it with conviction. There are no restrictions on subject matter for this category and entrants must be born after 1 Jan 1990. Executive Vice President and Managing Director of CNN International, Tony Maddox, said Africa is an increasingly important part of the global story, and CNN reflects that. “We are committed to the African story, not just editorially, but also in terms of supporting its own journalistic enterprise through the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards. “I am immensely proud of our long-term commitment to Africa and there is no better example of that than these Awards. We’re particularly proud this year to honour the incredible contribution Maggie Eales made in shaping the Awards into the continent’s finest celebration of its journalism. It’s fitting that

young journalists who symbolise the next generation for journalism in Africa now have an award to aspire to.” CEO MultiChoice Africa, Tim Jacobs, said the longevity of these Awards is indicative of how these awards continue to play a meaningful role for the advancement of outstanding journalism across the continent. “I’m confident that the 2016 edition of the Awards will continue to unearth extraordinary African talent whose tireless work and search for the truth may otherwise not receive the recognition it deserves.” The statement explained that the competition is open to journalists working in any medium and will recognise excellence in the following categories: Culture Award, Dow Technology & Innovation Reporting Award, Ecobank Economics & Business Award, Features Award

Peak Milk signs artistes for TV campaign

oised to further strengthen its brand positioning in the dairy market, Peak milk, has signed on top Nigerian artistes in its current Television campaign. The artistes, Yemi Alade, Inyanya, Selebobo, Olamide and Tekno are the quartet who collaborated together to produce the “Mama Oyoyo” song which was sponsored and commissioned by the dairy brand for its new Television campaign. Speaking on the new initiative, Senior Brand Manager, Peak Milk, Miss Oluwaseyi Ayesa said the new initiative was informed by the need to celebrate Mothers who are central to the family. “We came up with this new song, for our brand’s Television

campaign as a way of making the society to appreciate mothers and what Mothers do in the lives of every individuals and nations.” She stated further that the brand took a step further in celebrating mothers by introducing into the market a special limited edition packs for its products emblazoned with affectionate and emotive words like “Love You”, “Thank You” and “Sweet Mother”. Peak milk, she said, has always been on top of the pack and will continue to occupy this position in terms of innovation and creativity. Since its introduction into the market over six decades ago, Peak has continued to grow in status and equity despite the vagaries in the Nigerian market. The brand’s soar away success

in the market is attributable to two things: first, a singular focus, which is to nourish Nigerians with quality dairy nutrition in order to reach their Peak. Second, continually exploring ways to stand out of the crowded shelf

and Francophone General News Award in Electronic Media. Other categories include the GE Energy & Infrastructure Award, Mohamed Amin Photographic Award, MSD Health & Medical Award, News Impact Award,Portuguese Language General News Awards and Press

Freedom Award. The Sport Reporting Award, the African Development Bank Environment Award and the Maggie Eales Young Journalist Award are also included. From these category winners, an independent judging panel will choose the overall winner - The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2016. Finalists in the 2016 competition will also participate in a finalists’ programme that will include a media forum and networking opportunities with senior journalists, editors, business leaders and media owners from across the continent, culminating in a gala awards ceremony later in the year. The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2016 will have the opportunity to participate in the CNN Journalism Fellowship at CNN Headquarters in Atlanta, USA.BC

and connect with its consumers through every stage of their lives. Indeed, Peak has won industry recognition as an innovative and trend setting brand that delivers superior dairy nutrition across life stages.

The brand’s positive results and success is about connecting with consumers, supporting business partners and communities to pursue and reach their aspirations so as to reach for their Peak. BC

Maddox

Ikea launches £300m global media review

kea is reviewing its estimated €400m, £312m global media-buying arrangements with at least five agency holding groups. It is not clear if Ikea plans to consolidate its buying with fewer agencies. WPP’s Group M is believed to be the agency group that has the single, largest part of Ikea’s business, but all of the five biggest ad groups handle the

Swedish furniture giant in different territories. An Ikea spokesperson said: “As part of our commitment to the ongoing improvement of our media and marketing governance, Ikea periodically evaluates all marketing service suppliers to ensure we maintain the best working relationships with the best agency partners. “Ikea is currently in the pro-

cess of reviewing its media agency suppliers globally. ID Comms, our media consultancy partners, will be helping us facilitate this process. “We will continue to work with our incumbent agencies in each local market during this process.”Vizeum won Ikea’s UK media account in 2009 when it was estimated to be worth £10m. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, March 7, 2016

Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 Edge to hit Nigerian market Stories by Isaiah Erhiawarien

amsung Electronics West Africa has unveiled its latest flagship phones in its long line of Galaxy devices, saying that Nigerians can now commence registration for the device. The smartphones on offer are, Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge available in 32GB with expandable memory slot of 200 GB. Director of Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung, Emmanouil Revmatas, said that Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge represented the new galaxy of unlimited possibilities saying that Samsung did not just redefine these devices. He said also that they were re-

designed based on the feedback from the people who use them, and what they need most from the devices saying “Our customers are the inspiration for any innovation. These devices do not only look great but feel great as well and comfortable to hold. They are sleeker with smoother edges and lines.” The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge were first unveiled on February 21st at the Samsung Unpacked event held at the Mobile World Congress (MWC), Barcelona, Spain. The Galaxy S7 has a 5.1inch display screen, while the Galaxy S7 edge has a 5.5-inch screen. They both feature Super AMOLEDdisplay, allowing for clearer videos and images with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 (Quad HD).

Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 edge

Both devices have support for microSD cards augmenting their 32GB of internal storage, as well as IP68 water and dust resistance feature, which allow for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes at a time. The S7’s waterproofing includes sealed ports, so there are no fussy port covers over the USB ports or headphone jacks. Even though the S7 series do not have removable batteries, they come with longer lasting batteries to keep users going all day long. The S7 comes with 3,000mAh battery, while the S7 edge has 3,600mAh battery. One of the new features is the always-on display where notifications, time, date or personalised screen are permanently shown on the screen even when the phone is off. This feature does not significantly impact the battery life as it uses just 1 per cent of the battery power per hour. Also, both phones retain Samsung’s adaptive fast-charging and fast wireless charging features. The devices also feature a ‘Dual Pixel’ rear camera with large F1.7 aperture with Smart OIS feature. The adoption of dual pixel technology means that the autofocus on each of the Samsung Galaxy S7 series is much quicker, producing sharper and brighter images– even when capturing precious memories in dimly lit environment. BC

Xiaomi CEO says firm’s IPO won’t be soon

iaomi Corp. Chief Executive Officer Lei Jun said the Chinese handset maker, valued at $45 billion by a 2014 funding round, wasn’t planning a public listing “at the moment.” Lei, speaking to reporters at the opening of the National People’s Congress in Beijing Saturday, said he wants Xiaomi’s initial public offering to be a natural process and noted that he is already the de facto controller of several publicly traded companies. While not ruling out a listing for Xiaomi, he said it would not be for “the time being.” Asked how he would define “time being,” Lei smiled without answering. Xiaomi had been one of

China’s most exciting startup stories of the past few years, after a fairy-tale run of growth that helped it secure $1.1 billion in 2014 from investors including GIC Pte., All-Stars Investment Ltd. and Russia’s DST. Its market share however has since been pinched by competitors including Huawei, the country’s leading brand in the fourth quarter. Lei said Xiaomi was planing to produce a “high-end” smartphone. The company began selling a new phone model, the Mi5, this month priced at 1,999 yuan ($307). Xiaomi sold more than 70 million smartphones last year, falling well short of an 80 million unit target and prompting

Lei to tell employees he was refocusing research efforts into “cool stuff” like robotics and virtual reality. At the annual meeting of China’s legislature Saturday, Lei said he believes there will be another round of momentum for mobile-internet products and services and that the most-promising developments would be in rural areas as 4G networks expand and prices for higher-end smartphones fall. Asked if Xiaomi was interested in making cars, a business that other Chinese technology companies such as Baidu Inc. have entered into, Lei said that they didn’t have such a plan at the moment. (Source – Bloomberg.com) BC

Facebook set to pay more British tax after criticism

ocial media giant Facebook, which has been under fire in Britain for its tax arrangements, says it will stop routing its British sales through Ireland — a practice that had kept its U.K. tax bill extremely low. Facebook, Amazon and other multinationals have been

criticized for using complex tax arrangements to drastically reduce their bills. Facebook said in a statement Friday that from April, “U.K. sales made directly by our U.K. team will be booked in the U.K., not Ireland. Facebook U.K. will then record the revenue from these sales.”

The company said the change would “provide transparency to Facebook’s operations in the U.K.” Facebook paid just 4,327 pounds ($6,116) in corporation tax in 2014 in Britain, one of its biggest markets outside the United States. (Source – Bloomberg.com) BC

Technotalk

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with Esther Ozue (ozueesther@nationalmirroronline.net) 08059234648 (sms only)

Understanding iPad tips and tricks

ou might think you know all there is to be known about your iPad. Your ipad can perform variety of functions and make you productive any where you are. However, here are some little-known but useful iPad tips and tricks that will help you explore the functional resourcefulness of this device optimally. Take a screen shot This is perhaps the most exciting trick i have to share. Have you ever achieved a top score in a game, or encountered a scenario where you thought to yourself and you feel you could take a picture of the event? Well, now you will be able to do just that by pressing and holding the on/off button on the upper right-hand side of the iPad, then press the home button. You will see your screen go white and hear a sound like you have just taken a picture. Hiding App Store purchases If you have a need to hide specific apps that you have purchased in the app Store, it’s as simple as a swipe and tap. You can achieve this by opening the app store, click purchased and find the app you want to hide, swipe either left or right over it, then the greyed-out installed button will be replaced by a red button. Simply tap hide, then exit the app store. Multitask tray and its multifunctional uses Only few people are aware of the multitask tray. To use it, double-click your home button or swipe up with 4 fingers on your screen. Once the tray loads, swipe to the right within it. Then you can adjust your brightness and volume, as well as have quick access to any music or videos you were playing in the background. Triple-click functionality You might have known that you can double-click your home button to bring up the multitask tray, but did you know you can configure your home button to perform an action when triple-clicked? This is achieved by tapping the settings app, followed by general, accessibility, tripleclick home, and you select from that list what you would like the home button to do when you quickly click it three times in a row. Split the keyboard When typing with thumbs only, you can split your keyboard with ease by touching both sides of it with your thumbs, then swipe out towards the edges of your iPad with each thumb. Your keyboard will stay like that for as long as you want it. If you want to make it one singular keyboard again, simply touch your thumbs on each side of the split keyboard, and then swipe your thumbs toward each other. App Group Creating an app group will help you to consolidate up to 20 apps into one convenient group by tapping and holding an app. Once you see the icons start jiggling, move the app on top of another app. That is a group which is a great way to have almost 400 apps on just your home screen. However, there are always default apps on the iPad that are there to stay which cannot necessarily be deleted but can all be moved into a group which is a Newsstand. It’s really great keeping all those apps out of sight and out of mind. Finally, If you write a lot on your ipad and sometimes you feel the need to delete a whole sentence or section without having to tap backspace a million times can be achieved by shaking your iPad using a text-editing app, normally the short menu will appear the first time you do it, it will only give you two options. However, if you have already deleted something, then BC you can undo the deletion with another shake. BC BC

bo of sy m fu wa ph

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Business Courage

Monday, March 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Florence Seriki

Amazing computer amazon She started by training people on how to use computers during her National Youth Service Corps year and today, she sits atop Omatek Ventures Plc, a multi billion Naira holding company that manufactures computers and other electronic products. Even at the age of 27, she was already a multimillionaire with a property at the prized Victoria Garden City, VGC. This is the story of Florence Omatule Seriki, Group Managing Director, Omatek Ventures Plc. Reports, Tayo Elebijo

he actually desired a career in engineering, but clearly, that desire was not within the realm of computer engineering. She rather chose to read chemical engineering at the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. Indeed, If anyone had predicted to Florence Omatule Seriki several years back then as a chemical engineering undergraduate that her future lies in computer engineering, she probably would have sneered at the idea. However, rather than earn her living as a chemical engineer, Seriki, armed with hard work, determination and uncommon ability to identify opportunity, draws her fame and fortune from computer. Indeed, her first million came through computer training, an entirely different field from her course of study. Seriki’s entrepreneurial adventure started way back in the 1980s as a youth corps member with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, when she took it upon herself to train her bosses on how to use the computers. As the story goes, at that time, all directors in the corporation had computers on their desks but the systems were only used by their secretaries and whenever the secretaries were not available, the computers were allowed to gather dust. That was the situation until Seriki summoned the courage and offered to train her boss on the use of his of computer. Impressed by her mastery, Seriki’s boss told another colleague and before long, she became the most sought after, as virtually everyone wanted to learn computer usage. While training her bosses at NNPC, Seriki’s fame spread like wildfire in the corporate community and in no time, she got contracts to train executives in

Seriki

banks and oil and gas among others. As someone with eyes for opportunities, Seriki saw through the opportunities provided and immediately set about floating a business to enjoy the extra income flowing her way as a young corps member. She employed people whom she had trained to be able to train the growing number of executives who sought the knowledge of computing. In 1988, Union Bank of Nigeria gave her a space on the sixth floor at 409 Marina Office where all the bank’s executives, including the then managing director were given computer training on appointment. When the new generation banks started, Seriki expanded her scope to accommodate more bankers. Before she finished her youth service, she opened an office in Lagos Island, employed and trained people who in turn train other people, starting with executives from NNPC, Shell and banks and in no time, what started as a mere extracurricular activity blossomed to become her pot of wealth. As it turned out, Seriki’s uncommon knack for spotting opportunities and latching onto them has placed in her hands, Omatek Ventures Plc, an indigenous computers and accessories manufacturing company. However, but for hard work and her undying crave for knowledge, Seriki too would herself, not have been able to acquire the skill, which today earns her a living and fame. Even for her, the opportunity to learn computer usage presented itself during her final year in the university, where she was asked to conduct a research to study the growth of organisms. One of her lecturers had just returned from Manchester, United Kingdom with an old XP Windows computer which she had reasoned, would aid her research work. “I quickly attached myself to the lecturer and convinced him of the need for him to teach me how to use the Lotus application, which he did. Before I knew it, I could do micro programming in Lotus and I used the software to do my project,” she recalled. But then, while that endeavour facilitated the execution of her project, it also denied her the privilege of passing out with distinction. She was reportedly marked down for her decision to use personal computer rather than Fortran machine that was meant for engineering students at that time. She passed out with 3.8 cumulative grade point average when distinction was 4.1. However, one thing that cannot be taken away from Seriki is the drive to continually take opportunities and break new grounds. After covering sufficient grounds in computer training, she moved on to computer vending when she realised that the executives and companies which her company, Omatek Ventures Limited was consulting for would need their own personal computers (PCs). “I realised many companies did not have enough computers. I saw an opportunity, so I started initially by buying foreign brands and selling to my customers,” she said. Up to 1992, key computer buyers in Nigeria were banks and oil and gas companies. They were buying only finished products. The oil and gas companies were buying only from their offshore companies. Therefore, there was no opportunity for Nigerians to sell to them. So, to tap into the opportunity, Seriki started a joint venture with two other Nigerians, got concessions for oil companies to do business with them but

were required to have off-shore affiliates. As the computer training outfit blossoms, so her computer vending business and in no distant time, Omatek Ventures became a leading sales outlet for Compaq, IBM, Apple and Microsoft. Her high sales volumes which ran into over $1 million annually made Omatek a Premium Partner for Compaq, Senior Partner for IBM, Apple, and Microsoft. Aggressive and insatiable, Seriki was determined to conquer her world. She was determined to take a plunge, moving from vending to manufacturing of computers, an adventure which many of her peers had thought was unattainable then. In fact, the dream was then perceived as a child’s play by some who derisively tagged Seriki and her team as ‘the clone people’. But she remained undeterred and by 2000, the idea which started far back in 1993 when the first Omatek computers were launched at the then CTO, a flagship IT seminar and exhibition event organized yearly by the US Consular Office, came into being through Omatek Computers Limited, a subsidiary of Omatek Ventures. Today, Omatek is the pioneer and the only factory on the African continent involved in the production of computers, casings and speakers from Completely Knocked-Down (CKD) components. Operating at 25 per cent capacity utilisation, the Omatek Computer factory rolls out per annum: 120,000 speakers, 120,000 casings and 48,000 fully-built PCs. Interestingly, the Omatek factory now assembles Other Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) brands for other brand builders both local and foreign. These brands are customised in the OEM brand names. The Computer manufacturing firm is presently producing a low-cost PC for INTEL to fulfill the realization of CANI/GAPP initiative spearheaded by Intel and Microsoft, to digitally empower all Nigerians. Like most business startups, funding was also a major challenge for Omatek as Seriki’s effort to raise the initial capital of N500, 000 was almost frustrated by the same banks that later jumped at her after she had succeeded. “The first time ever that we needed an overdraft and we approached an old generation bank, we were asked to produce our transaction history. At the end of the day, the bank did not give us the facility. So, I went to one of the new generation banks, GTBank. GTB said they don’t know me and that I need to have a transaction history, need to have a bank statement and I am new. They said it could be from any bank. Luckily, I had a transaction history, because I used to bank my money. So, when they saw two to three pages of transaction, in, out, they said they would give me N500, 000,” she recalled. However, her major source of funding came through the Small and Medium Enterprises Equity Investment Schemes (SMEEIS) funds in partnership with Zenith International Bank and GTBank. By the time she graduated into computer manufacturing, things began to look up. Before then, Omatek was doing quality delivery per order,

Business Courage

Monday, March 7, 2016

Seriki

‘

I walked into the banks, they looked at me and said, Florence, we bought your computers, we have dealt with Omatek. They were ready to put their money down and help us through their SME scheme

ploughed back its profits to grow the business and created tremendous relationship with its bankers. So, when she “walked into the banks, they looked at me and said, Florence, we bought your computers, we have dealt with Omatek. They were ready to put their money down and help us through their SME scheme,” she narrated. So far, Omatek Computers Limited has gone through three stages in its lifetime. First, it was collaborating with some of its foreign affiliates that would couple the computers up a little bit and then ship them down to the country for Omatek to complete the coupling. Three years after it commenced production via coupling, Omatek in 2003 graduated to a completely knocked down (CKD) factory with funding from two banks. The factories engaged in moulding, design, nails, screws etc to promote local content. She added that every raw material in computer production is produced by different companies. The first and second factories of Omatek are the case and speaker factories while the third and fourth factories are the PC and notebook factories. These factories are graded in low level, middle level and high class level manufacturers. For now, Florence Seriki’s dream of becoming a clear leader in the African ICT industry may appear lofty but it is being seen coming to fruition as the company gradually spreads its tentacles outside the shores of Nigeria. Already, Omatek has made its presence known in Ghana, where it equally manufactures computers, speakers and other electronic products. It entered into partnership with the government of Ghana in its epress consumer initiative to make computer acquisition easy and

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

affordable. The programme was launched in conjunction with Ghana’s ministry of communication under the umbrella of Ghana Government Assisted PC Programmei-Advance and comes with huge funding support from partnering banks which makes it easy for civil servants, corporate executives, corporate organisations, educational institutions, SMEs and students to acquire computers through a convenient payment plan. Seriki and by extension, Omatek has scored many firsts over the years. She was the first indigenous computer company to list on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the first in the African continent to locally produce computer casings and speakers from Completely Knocked Down process ,CKD, locally produced home entertainment speakers and plasma and flat screens from SemiKnocked Down, SKD, process. The company was also the first in Africa to buy directly CKD process parts from front-line producers across the world. And perhaps, the most outstanding of Omatek’s achievements was its becoming first in the continent to win Microsoft Systems Builder Award in 2005 for Central, West and East Africa. Seriki received the award at the Microsoft African Partner Summit, MAPS, in South Africa, having beaten contenders from 42 countries. Seriki started gaining recognition way back in 1992 when she won the Young Entrepreneurship Award of the Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce. Touted as the “Africa’s Bill Gates in the Making”, Seriki has won a good number of laurels, in recognition of her contributions to the development of Information and Communication Technology,ICT, in Nigeria and

Africa at large. She emerged the Best Woman IT of the Year (2003) Award conferred by the Nigeria Information Technology and Telecommunication (NITT) body; Africa International Role Model Leadership Gold Award for Excellence; Patriotic Achievers’ Award and the Woman of Merit Gold Award, to mention and a few others. At a time, former president Olusegun Obasanjo reportedly referred to Omatek Computers as “a company that has done Nigeria proud and put Africa on the world ICT map” by winning the prestigious Microsoft Best Systems Builder Award for East, Central and West Africa in 2005. Persons close to Florence Seriki said a cupboard in one of the siderooms of Omatek factory in Lagos is overflowing with trophies the Company has been awarded over the years for its outstanding performance. But then, the Seriki will not be swayed by the many accolades she keeps receiving both from within and outside the country as fondly push her dream of becoming the best in the field of ICT. Today, Omatek keeps enlarging its coast by diversifying its business into other related areas. The establishment of Omatek Engineering Services Limited, a full subsidiary of Omatek Ventures Plc, enables the group to open a new business line which offers an avalanche of services including disaster and data recovery, network optimisation and web security. The company works in partnership with a Chinese company, Kelog reputed to be one of the world’s biggest UPS manufacturers to produce a range of UPS, inverters and power backup systems that could be used for telecommunications applications, in homes, offices, server rooms, medical institutions, industries, large corporations, banks, Automated Teller Machines, ATMs, points and other mission critical environments, hotels, industries and factories. Interestingly, Florence maintains a balance between business and family life. Unlike a good number of successful women entrepreneurs around the globe, playing her role as a wife and mother at home cannot be negotiated. This is what she said as regards life at home “In spite of my busy schedule, I assist my children with their homework and cook my husband’s meals. A woman that wants to go to the next level must balance family life and business. Even if a woman is busy, the man married a wife and she is still the mother of her children. The home must never be sacrificed on the altar of success”. Howbeit, Seriki’s success story, apart from being aggressive and hardworking, will not be complete without the influence of friends who helped her redirect her energy properly. One of such is Fola Adeola; the pioneer Managing Director of GTBank who convinced her to take a course at the Lagos Business School , LBS, to properly arm herself for the business world. The negotiation power is one of the weapons that Florence has wielded so far to get Omatek to where it is today, and that skill was learnt at LBS.

A11 27

Seriki narrates her own story thus “In 1993, a friend called me and said there is something called the Lagos Business School, so he said I should come and attend. When he said that it would cost N150, 000, I said that could bring in about four containers. And from nowhere, Fola Adeola called me too and said the same thing. He said that some of those things I do that I can learn them there in the books I will buy. I went for the examination, was successful and that was how I got into the school. I sat with other chief executives of companies. When I got there, negotiation was a course and that was how I learnt about my negotiations with the banks”. After spending so much on personal development, Seriki would put her knowledge into immediate use to make gains. “I received big contracts from oil companies and I think of how I can fund it. So when I go to the banks, they tell me all their stories and I will go back and tell them the dynamics I think they should follow. We fight and fight until they know that their dynamics may fail. Over time, I noticed that banks give us high account and attention, because they realized we know what we are doing. Like I always tell them here, if you are asked to take care of something and you say you are waiting for somebody, if that person doesn’t help you, you are the one to push, because I would push till I get what I want,” she said. Besides help received from friends, the Omatek boss would readily acknowledge that some policies put in place by government has been very instrumental to the survival of the company. Seriki attributed her company’s phenomenal breakthrough to two important interventions from government. First was the passage of the ‘Computers for All Nigerians Initiative, CANl’ and the other being the exemption of Omatek from payment of duty for the importation of computer components, as well as the cancellation of the Value Added Tax ,VAT, on the export of the company’s products. CANl, a government - private sector collaboration, is aimed at bridging the digital gap and promoting computer literacy in Nigerian society. Today, thanks to that bold step taken by the government and also owing to the unshaken sense of mission on the part of Omatek Computers, PCs were not only available locally at affordable prices, but there had also been a record rise in the number of Nigerians, who could boast of personal computers in their homes. Over the years, Seriki has grown from making revenue of $1 million from selling foreign-made computers to establishing a company valued at over N10 billion within a period of 21 years. Born on August 16, 1963 in Lagos to the Udebu family from Ebu, Delta State, Florence, the first child in the family of five girls, attended Reagan Memorial Baptist Secondary School, Sabo, Yaba between 1975 and 1980 and later proceeded to the Federal School of Science, Lagos for her A levels where she emerged the best overall in lower six form. BC

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Business Courage

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, March 7, 2016

ThebuddingEntrepreneurs BUSINESS

Bring leadership to table

KLINIC

With Mamora Victor Mamora is a system thinker and advisor whose belief and activator leadership strengths are directed towards improving workers perspective for city and enterprise development.

e-mail: olusegunmamora@gmail.com

accept your offer of employment to help you achieve your business dream faithfully they simply trusted you with their lives. In addition, when customers walk into a shop and pick your product it means they are influence by your advertorial and it is a trusted privilege. Leadership is a trusted privilege and not a right. Leadership is an attitude that appreciates people and their gifts. The belief that people are valuable is the spirit of leadership. In any venture where spirit of leadership is scarce, there is a very high turnover of workers and irreconcilable crises. True leadership comes down to two personal leadership principles. The two personal leadership principles are “principles of personal manifestation” and “principle of movement”. In business, who you are is self-discovery and how you think is attitude. Many of the world most admired business leaders who have created great values place emphasis on attitude and not aptitude. Attitude is about the belief and apti-

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Without qualitative leadership, business cannot render qualitative services. We are in a time that things change so fast but many business, which were profitable many years ago suddenly, lost relevance in the market because of slow responses to change

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ear friend, it is important to know that in business, family and society everything rise and fall on the leader. In all of my business relationships, business observations, business related readings I have observed that the productivity of venture is proportional to the leaders’ personal productivity. Good performance in business does not go beyond the leader’s capability. Where the leader is blind to what matters the company suffers for it. Without qualitative leadership, business cannot render qualitative services. We are in a time that things change so fast but many business, which were profitable many years ago suddenly, lost relevance in the market because of slow responses to change. The environment is changing very fast but many business leaders are not changing at the same rate. When industry trend change is moving at a speed that can be equate to 100change per hour and a company CEO in the same industry is leading the company change trend at about 15change per hour then it is inevitable that this company close shop or the CEO lose his job. It is important for a CEO to improve on leadership capability consistently, remain relevant in order for business to sustain relevance in the market. Leadership is an art and a privilege. For startup CEO, when you pitch for investors fund in such a way that they gave funds for the venture it means you have just influenced them and that is a trusted privilege given you. When a group of people who invested many years in university education or learning skills decided to

tude is about the education. This is the reasons that many biggest corporations such as Apple computer in USA, Daystar Christian centre in Nigeria, Google Inc. in USA, Virgin business in United Kingdom are either started and built by people without university degree or didn’t attend recognise schools. All leaders of these organisations mentioned are recognise for great attitude towards people who work with them. They have a strong belief about an idea and value for people who support to work on those ideas. Personal Leadership consists of two principles as I stated earlier and they are “Principle of personal manifestation” and “Principle of movement”. The Principle of “Personal

Manifestation” What do I mean by personal manifestation? It simply means self-discovery. Leadership is discovering and appreciating the gifts in you, your talent and dreams. This is personal manifestation. What does it mean to appreciate your business dream or gifts? Appreciation simply means placing value on something. In the same attitude, self-manifestation is placing values on yourself, and business dreams to the point it appreciates. It is how important you perceive, receive, and accept your talent or gift from God for the benefits of humanity. You have not accepted a gift until you appreciate it. The same way that you may have dream for the enterprise but if you will not engage yourself, to live it, it

Motivational Business Quotes

t is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change. – Charles Darwin

purpose is to do my best to my utmost ability every day. That’s my standard. I learned early in my life that I had high standards. – Donald Trump

Industry is the soul of business and the keystone of prosperity. – Charles Dickens

In the business world, everyone is paid in two coins: cash and experience. Take the experience first; the cash will come later. – Harold Geneen

I don’t pay good wages because I have a lot of money; I have a lot of money because I pay good wages. – Robert Bosch People are definitely a company’s greatest asset. It doesn’t make any difference whether the product is cars or cosmetics. A company is only as good as the people it keeps. – Mary Kay Ash In business, I’ve discovered that my

To be successful, you have to have your heart in your business, and your business in your heart. – Thomas Watson, Sr. The absolute fundamental aim is to make money out of satisfying customers. – John Egan BC

will be lost. Why will it be lost? It is because you do not appreciate it. The second is “Principle of Movement” Leaders are movers and shakers. The principle of movement is about moving from the present to the future. Every entrepreneur must be able to see the future inside the present business and continue to move towards it every time. It is about moving from the place you are to where you have not been except in your mind. Leaders do not maintain things but expand things. The former American President, JF Kennedy, has been to the moon in his mind before he moved the scientists, engineers, and astronauts there. He refused to maintain status quo because he saw what is possible with Americans capability beyond the present. Your managers are free to do business services maintenance but leaders move everybody to a possible future. What possible future do you see for that startup? Move everybody in that direction through your daily communication, training, and personal action. It may look challenging and long time but it is possible. Leaders challenge the tradition and always break the existing record. They break tradition and create new barrier that is to be broken by another leader. Leaders disturbed tradition. Dear entrepreneur, my understanding is that the better the business leaders in any city the more prosperous is the government, the people and the economy. You are very important to this generation and I believe that you will fulfill your purpose. Be courageous to lead and expand your services. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, March 7, 2016

A13 29

ThebuddingEntrepreneurs

Making it big with hair styling Kome Sunny Ikpeba is one of Nigeria’s fast rising young entrepreneurs, who earns a living through barbing, a job many considered as low-income generating. He runs K-Dove Peluqueria (unisex salon) which has three exquisite salons both in Nigeria and Spain as the Managing Director/CEO. The passion of this secondary school Certificate holder is to show as many young Nigerians as possible how not to always depend on the government or even their parents to earn a living. This is borne out of his belief that the best way to live a fulfilled life is by embracing entrepreneurship. Kome’s desire is to inspire, train and provide gainful employment for youths in the professional art of hair styling to render world -class services to Nigerians rely on his barbing skills as language was a barrier for him to have any job where interactive exchange was required, he also worked in a car wash shop just to complement his income from the salon, while he pursued a six months course in graphic arts. After a while Kome realised that instead of just being an employee barber he could actually own his Peluqueria and employ others. Moreover the standard of the salons over there was something he had not seen before in Nigeria and he also felt that if he could successfully set up shop in Spain and raise some money he would come down to Nigeria to establish other outlets. “When I started barbing it was actually with the intention of using it to survive until I travelled to Spain and saw what barbing shops could look like. I never thought much about using my barbing gift to achieve my dream which was why I did the certificate course in graphic arts until what I saw abroad opened up my eyes and the first thing that struck me was that I can reproduce this back in Nigeria, where teeming and talented youths roamed the streets without jobs daily,” he recounts. Though he was already acclaimed an excellent barber when he was in Nigeria, Kome confesses that on arrival in Spain he realised that he was way out of his league over there as he discovered that there was a lot to learn from barbers and hair stylists over there. He recounts how after working for about six years he tried to obtain a bank loan to start his own salon but it proved very dif-

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Ikpeba

ficult because there was no one to surety him and he actually lost all hopes of ever securing a loan. “Until one day I was taking a walk and I noticed a bank that I had not visited before and I walked up to the bank and the manager happened to be a nice lady who asked to see my work history and bank statement which I later furnished her and after she had seen my documents she requested that I transfer to their bank and it was on the fulfilment of that condition that I was advance d a 20,000 Euros loan with which I started my salon in addition to a friend’s gift of 3,000 Euros,” he also recollects. On coming back to establish his business here in Nigeria, Kome encountered a lot of challenges as well, such as power which he says was the major challenge he had to contend with apart from integrity issues from staff which compels a business owner to have to be on ground at all times. “Succeeding in Spain really gave me hope that I would succeed in my own country, where I wouldn’t be contending with language barrier or any form of discrimination,” he says. Despite all the challenges he encountered, his resilient neversay-die spirit will not allow him to surrender or give up his aspiration and dream to establish world-class salons in his fatherland as he mentions that he was initially discouraged by some Ni-

When I started barbing it was actually with the intention of using it to survive until I travelled to Spain and saw what barbing shops could look like. I never thought much about using my barbing gift to achieve my dream

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orn in the city of Lagos but grew up in Benin City, Nigeria, Kome Sunny Ikpeba, the founder of K-Dove Peluqueria (unisex salon), which has three exquisite salons equipped with state- of -the -art equipment in two countries– Nigeria and Spain is an example of a dogged entrepreneur who adheres strictly to the popular saying,: “start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” Though the death of his father had denied him the opportunity of acquiring tertiary education, he did not allow the loss to deter him as he picked up the skill of barbing, earning stipends while still in secondary school. For Kome, a stylist extraordinaire whose passion for his artistic and grooming gift has clearly distinguished him in the hair styling industry both in Spain and here in Nigeria, he defied all odds to set up an exquisite unisex salon in Spain. That for him was just the beginning, as he nurses the ambition of having the K-Dove brand established across the length and breadth of Nigeria, a quest which he says was borne out of the desire to raise a platform to inspire, train and provide gainful employment for youths in the professional art of styling to render world class services to Nigerians. After his secondary school education, he worked in several barbing salons in Benin City and Lagos, before gaining employment with an outdoor advert agency that promised to give him a scholarship to Yaba College of Technology, a promise that was never fulfilled. Seemingly frustrated with what the future held for him without a higher educational qualification, Kome set his eyes on “checking out” of Nigeria in search of greener pastures and so he saved and having put all what he could together he left the shores of Nigeria for Spain in 2002. On getting to Spain he had to

gerians in Spain from coming to establish a business in Nigeria especially against the background that most of them who had tried couldn’t stand the challenges and had to close shop. “I don’t give up easily, otherwise I wouldn’t be here in Nigeria today, as the first thing I brought into the country which was a power generator set actually got missing at the wharf, which was a huge discouragement at the time but I told myself that I just had to keep trying because this is my home,” he says. “My plan for the future is to have shops all over Nigeria, I remember when I first got to Spain I noticed that there was a salon called Marco Aldany, which now has shops all over Spain, interestingly it started with one person and has grown to the extent it is today. That is my dream also for K-Dove, to have it all over Nigeria delivering quality and standard services to all our customers,” he continued. Most entrepreneurs usually have a target market before setting up their business models; interestingly Kome reveals that as his Peluqueria model began to take shape his clientele also began to take form after the quality of his services and the regal ambience exuded by his salons. “When I started out I didn’t have any class of people in mind specifically to render my services to, I only told myself that my ideas would sell especially in Nigeria, however when we started I began to realise that the class of my salons in Nigeria simply filtered the clientele for me and today those that patronise us are drawn from the elite and middle class,” he says. He pins his entrepreneurial success on passion as he says: “I think passion covers everything,

if you don’t have passion forget about success and for me my business is fun to me because I enjoy doing it and it is such that if you don’t have passion for it, don’t even go into it because that is what has gotten me where I am today and it is what sustains me in that position too.” He explained that why he had to bring in all his equipment from Spain instead of shopping for them here in Nigeria was because he discovered that most of the equipment being sold here in Nigeria was substandard. However he insists that for him when it comes to quality his emphasis was on the services being rendered by his staff rather than displaying quality equipment. Kome believes that training is a basic requirement and one of the core philosophies of K-Dove because according to him “if you don’t train them, you don’t blame them.” “I like and insist on my stylists delivering quality jobs. When you see the place, yes it is beautiful, comfortable has the right ambience but if we cannot deliver it does not make any sense. My stylists are always undergoing training in every department of the profession and we have various professionals who come to train them and very soon we are going to sign a branding deal with Dark ‘n’ Lovely and part of it will include continuous capacity building for my workers,” he said. He revealed that that there a lot of things that stands K-Dove apart in the industry today and one of them he says is the art of “frictioning” a barbing term which most barbers in Nigeria would not be familiar with even though it gives a perfect finish to a haircut. K-Dove apart from haircuts has a wide array of special world class offerings including feet and stress reducing chair massage, luxurious facials, nail and pedicure services, a kiddies section, a gym section all enclosed in a tranquil facility that engenders relaxation, catering for the whole family at the same time and has about 30 employees combined its two outlets in Lagos. He disclosed that for every haircut in K-Dove, customers are entitled to a mini facial treatment while there is a wifi service to be enjoyed while you are in the waiting area besides other forms of electronic media entertainment. “When somebody walks into my salon I envisage that the person should walk out with a big smile and for me to achieve that is more than having a million Euros in my pocket. What I keep telling my workers is that retaining your customers is very important and that depends on how well you treat them,” he says. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, March 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Commerce & Industry

NACCIMA urges Turkish investors on Nigeria’s investment

Stories by Abolaji Adebayo

he Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, has told the Turkey investors to leverage on the various business opportunities that existed in the Nigerian economy as a way of helping in the economic diversifications of the country. Speaking at the Nigeria-Turkey Business Forum held in Abuja, the president of NACCIMA, Chief (Dr.) Bassey Edem, declared that the trade volume between the two countries, which stood at $2.3billion as at 2014, needed to be enhanced, and this could be achieved if the Turkish Business partners use the opportunity of this forum to further develop long term business relationship with their Nigerian counterparts. “I wish to note here that even though Turkey currently have a comparative advantage with respect to trade relationship between our both countries, we believe this could be balanced when our Turkish counterparts consider more of Technology Transfer by partnering with their Nigerian counterparts to invest in some specific sectors of the Nigerian economy most especially at this time that the Nigeria government is very committed to the diversification of the economy from Crude oil.” Noting that Nigeria was basically an agrarian economy with a wide variety of produce and strong value chain for agribusiness and skilled labour, Edem said there were extensive potentials for investors to take advan-

tage of the industrial utilisation of this sector in terms of trade and investment. Equally revealing the opportunities in other sectors, Edem said Nigeria’s manufacturing sector offered considerable investment prospects for foreign investors in key areas such as Foundries and forges, Metal fabrication; Chemical/Petrochemicals; Iron Steel, non – Metallic building materials (ceramics, bricks, glass, etc); Biotechnology; Plant and Machinery manufacture; Aircraft, Shipbuilding and Trains; Long fibre pulp/kraft paper production; Food processing, Leather and leather products and others. He added that Nigeria was

endowed with enormous solid mineral deposits in almost all the states of the federation and that the current level of exploitation was very low in relation to the extent of deposits found in the country. In view of this, he said tremendous business and investment opportunities abound in Gemstone cutting and polishing; gold processing; sodium tri- phosphate production; multi-mineral plant for Gypsum, Talc, Kaolin, Marble, Dolomite, etc.; Lead and Zinc projects; Sodium Tri-phosphate production; and Exploitation of Coal. He informed that the current administration with a bid to in-

crease investment in the Solid Mineral Sector had introduced several reforms that would increase the earnings of would be investors On Tourism/Hospitality, the NACCIMA boss said a tourism policy that is investors’ friendly has been put in place, which encourages foreign - Private Sector participation within the country in areas such as Overhead Safaris, National Parks, Game and Gorilla Viewing, Deep Sea Recreational Fishing, Archaeological Tours, Beach Resorts and Hotels; Transportation – water, land and air; Surfing and Snorkeling; Theme Parks and Exposition Centers, etc. BC

R-L: Dr. Uche Olowu, FCIB, 2nd Vice President, CIBN; Otunba (Mrs.)’Debola Osibogun, FCIB, President/Chairman of Council, CIBN;Ms. Barbara A. Harper, Group Head, Human Capital Management and Development, FirstBank, and Deacon Segun Ajibola, 1st Vice President, CIBN at the presentation of the CIBN Accreditation Certificate for FirstAcademy Foundation Tier I School to FirstBank in Lagos

Nigeria, Ireland partner to boost mining, construction, agric sectors Francis Suberu

s the dwindling revenue from oil continue to takes its toll on Nigeria’s economy, governments’ efforts to attract Foreign Direct Investments, FDIs, into the non-oil sector is set to receive a boost as Nigeria and Ireland are set to partner in the area of mining, agriculture and construction. The partnership will begin with the convening of the Ireland- Nigeria Investment Forum, slated for this Friday at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin 8. The event, which is to be hosted in partnership with the Embassy of Nigeria in Ireland and will feature promising

sessions in the areas of Agriculture, Education, Health, Transportation, among others , will explore areas such as agriculture, construction and mining and health among others for the planned partnership between the two countries. Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who will deliver a Keynote address at the Investment Forum, is expected to lead a strong delegation from the Oyo State Bureau of Investment Promotion & Public Private Partnerships and make presentation on investment opportunities that abounds in the pace-setter state. Renowned agricultural consultants, George Bagnall and Ian Morrice will attend the

business meeting. Also, Greg O’Halon from World Trade Centre, Alan Davidson and Bob McCammon will be talking on flood solution in Ibadan while Thomas McGovern will be talking mining among numerous investors showcasing at the forum. These investors shall make presentations aimed at encouraging collaboration and investing millions of Euros in Oyo State. Transfer of technology, job creation and mass production of agricultural produce which could be exported to several countries of the World are the expected benefits to Oyo State. The CEO of Courage GF Ireland, the organisers of the event, Mrs. Gbemisola John-

son, while speaking on the benefits of the investment forum said participants will be drawn from the business communities, government institutions and the private sectors of both countries in their drive to chart a new course in the areas of comparative advantage for mutual benefits. Johnson said the Charge de Affaire of the Embassy of Nigeria in Ireland, Mr. Olusola Iginla shall be representing the interest of the Nigerian government at the business meeting while the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Republic of Ireland shall be duly represented by Mr. David McGlinchey of the Bilateral Cooperation Unit, Dept of Foreign Affairs. BC

Indian Motorcycle introduces limited editions

ndian Motorcycle, America’s first motorcycle company, today announced the availability of Limited Edition Jack Daniel’s, Indian Springfield and Indian Chief Vintage motorcycle models. This partnership brings together two of America’s most iconic brands that share a mutual commitment to independence, originality and American craftsmanship dating back more than a century. Created to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Jack Daniel Distillery, which was registered in 1866, each model will be produced in extremely limited numbers not to exceed 150 total units and will benefit U.S. Military personnel and their families through the “Operation Ride Home” program. Designed in conjunction with Klock Werks Kustom Cycles of Mitchell, S.D. to offer classic styling, premium features, touring comfort and custom detailing, the new hard-bagged Indian Springfield and the leather-bound Indian Chief Vintage are the first-ever production vehicles to feature Jack Daniel’s livery and its “Bottles and Throttles Don’t Mix” responsibility campaign. The first unit of the limited edition series, an Indian Chief Vintage version that was the custom painted prototype built by Klock Werks, will be auctioned at the Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas auction on October 6-8 at the Mandalay Bay resort. All proceeds from the auction will benefit Operation Ride Home, which assists active duty U.S. military personnel in traveling home to visit their families. The individually numbered 2016 Limited Edition Jack Daniel’s Indian Springfield and Indian Chief Vintage models are available to order today at your local Indian Motorcycle dealership. Both motorcycles share an MSRP of $29,999 (California models add $250 for California emissions), a Canada MSRP of $37,499, and will be available in limited quantities for international order. Both models come with a custom-printed Jack Daniel’s whiskey barrel top to commemorate each bike, a twoyear unlimited mileage factory warranty and free membership in the Indian Motorcycle Riders Group™ for one year. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, March 7, 2016

A15 31

Stock market last week Equities turnover of 1.476 billion shares worth N7.992bn in 15,743 deals were traded this week by investors on the floor of the Exchange in contrast to a total of 4.476 billion shares valued at N11.742bn that exchanged hands last week in 14,124 deals. The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.319 billion shares valued at N5.590bn traded in 9,955 deals; thus contributing 89.36 per cent and 69.94 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Conglomerates Industry followed with 50.809 million shares worth N108.297m in 557 deals. The third place was occupied by the Consumer Goods Industry with a turnover of 49.655 million shares worth N1.376m in 2,434 deals. Trading in the Top Three Equities namely – Wapic Insurance Plc, FCMB Holding Plc and Access Bank Plc.(measured by volume) accounted for 578.238 million shares worth N933.534m in 1,424 deals, contributing 39.18 per cent and 11.68 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. ETPs: Also traded during the

NASD OTC REPORT

NSE trading hall

week were a total of 40,021 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N1.885m executed in 44 deals, compared with a total of 14,844 units valued at N14.134m transacted last week in 29 deals. Bonds: A total of 4,063 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N4.903m were traded in 3 deals compared to a total of 4,990 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N5.799m transacted last week in 2 deals. Index Movement: The NSE All-Share Index and Market Capitalization appreciated by 6.57 per cent and 6.55 per cent to close the week at 25,820.10 and N8.882trn respectively. Similarly, all other Indices finished higher during the

NASD OTC MARKET REPORT

week, with the exception of the NSE-Main Board Index, NSE Consumer Goods Index and NSE Oil/Gas Index that depreciated by 0.54 per cent, 1.36 per cent and 6.10 per cent respectively while the NSE ASeM Index closed flat. Summary of Price Changes: Thirty-five (35) equities appreciated in price during the week, higher than Twenty-one (21) equities of the previous week. Twenty-four (24) equities depreciated in price, lower than Thirty-five (35) equities of the previous week, while one hundred and thrity (130) equities remained unchanged, lower than one hundred and thrity four (134) equities recorded in the previous week. BC

WEEK 8

1 OUTSTANDING OFFERS AND BIDS ON NASD OTC Outstanding deals for Febuary, 2016. Security SD ACORN PETROLEUM PLC SD ARM LIFE PLC SD ARM PROPERTIES PLC SD AFRILAND PROPERTIES PLC SD BGL PLC SD CAPPA AND D'ALBERTO PLC SD CENTRAL SECURITIES CLEARING SYSTEM PLC SD DUFIL PRIMA FOODS PLC SD FRIESLAND CAMPINA WAMCO NIGERIA PLC

Offers Industry Oil & Gas Financials Financials Financials Financials Industrials Financials Consumer Goods Consumer Goods

Nominal value (₦) 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.00 1.00 0.50

Offer Date 26-Feb-16 26-Feb-16 26-Feb-16 26-Feb-16 26-Feb-16 26-Feb-16

Bids

Volume offered Last Offer Price 400,600 0.35 983,905 2.16 848,862 2.57 128,149 63.00 100,000 6.10 -

SD FOOD CONCEPTS PLC

Consumer Services

0.50

26-Feb-16

SD FREE RANGE FARMS PLC

Consumer Goods

1.00

SD FUMMAN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES PLC SD GEO-FLUIDS PLC SD GOLDEN CAPITAL PLC SD INDUSTRIAL & GENERAL INSURANCE PLC SD JAIZ INTERNATIONAL PLC SD NIGER DELTA EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION PLC SD NIGERIA MORTGAGE REFINANCE COMPANY PLC

Consumer Goods Industrials Financials Financials Financials Oil & Gas Financials

26-Feb-16 26-Feb-16 26-Feb-16 26-Feb-16 -

1,294,500 8,014,270 517,217 243,151 -

SD PARTNERSHIP INVESTMENT COMPANY PLC SD RESOURCERY PLC SD RIGGS VENTURES WEST AFRICA PLC SD SPRING MORTGAGE PLC SD SWAP TECHNOLOGIES AND TELECOMMS PLC

Financials Technology Industrials Financials Technology Financials Consumer Goods

0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.00 10.00 1.00 0.50

26-Feb-16 26-Feb-16 26-Feb-16

1,140,300 933,000 241,940 -

RUSTRUSTBOND MORTGAGE BANK PLC TP VITAL PRODUCTS PLC

0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.00 0.50

1,000,000 -

2 DEMATERIALISATION AND CUMULATIVE TRADE IN OTC SECURITIES 26-Feb-16 Security SD ACORN PETROLEUM PLC SD ARM LIFE PLC SD ARM PROPERTIES PLC SD AFRILAND PROPERTIES PLC SD BGL PLC SD CAPPA AND D'ALBERTO PLC SD CENTRAL SECURITIES CLEARING SYSTEM PLC SD DUFIL PRIMA FOODS PLC SD FRIESLAND CAMPINA WAMCO NIGERIA PLC SD FOOD CONCEPTS PLC SD FREE RANGE FARMS PLC SD FUMMAN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES PLC SD GEO-FLUIDS PLC SD GOLDEN CAPITAL PLC SD INDUSTRIAL & GENERAL INSURANCE PLC SD JAIZ INTERNATIONAL PLC SD NIGER DELTA EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION PLC SD NIGERIA MORTGAGE REFINANCE COMPANY PLC SD PARTNERSHIP INVESTMENT COMPANY PLC SD RESOURCERY PLC SD RIGGS VENTURES WEST AFRICA PLC SD SPRING MORTGAGE PLC SD SWAP TECHNOLOGIES AND TELECOMMS PLC RUSTRUSTBOND MORTGAGE BANK PLC TP VITAL PRODUCTS PLC

Market Indicators for Week Ended 04-03-16 All-Share Index 25,820.10 points Market Capitalization 8,890,268,169,256.09

Industry Oil and Gas Financials Financials Financials Financials Industrial Financials Consumer Goods Consumer Goods Consumer Services Consumer Goods Consumer Goods Industrial Financials Financials Financials Oil and Gas Financials Financials Technology Industrial Financials Technology Financials Consumer Goods

Introduced by Meristem Securities Limited APT Securities & Fund Limited Mega Equity Limited APT Securities & Fund Limited Nigerian Int. Securities Ltd UBA Stockbroking Firm Greenwich Securities Limited Anchoria Investment & Securities Limited Capital Bancorp Plc Stanbic IBTC stockbrokers limited CSL Stockbroking Limited Integrated Trust & Investment Limited Icon Stockbrokers Limited Sterling Capital Market Limited Greenwich Securities Limited APT Securities & Fund Limited FCSL Asset Management Co. Limited Cordros Capital Plc APT Securities & Fund Limited APT Securities & Fund Limited APT Securities & Fund Limited Primera Africa Securities Limited Signet Investment and Securities Limited Prominent Securities Limited CSL Stockbroking Limited

Company Registrars CardinalStone Registrars Limited African Prudential Registrars Plc African Prudential Registrars Plc African Prudential Registrars Plc Unity Registrars Limited African Prudential Registrars Plc African Prudential Registrars Plc Nnenna Ejekam Associates First Registrars Limited Meristem Registrars Limited Meristem Registrars Limited PAC Registrars Limited Meristem Registrars Limited African Prudential Registrars Plc GTL Registrars Limited African Prudential Registrars Plc United Securities Limited Meristem Registrars Limited First Registrars Limited EDC Registrars Limited Mainstreet Bank Registrars Limited PAC Registrars Limited PAC Registrars Limited United Securities Limited Centurion Registrars Limited

Year end 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Mar 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec 31/Dec

0.70 -

Bid Price 0.55 5.70 9.80 113.00 -

Volume Bidded Last Bid Date 600 26-Feb-16 250,000 26-Feb-16 1,000,000 26-Feb-16 45,172 26-Feb-16 -

0.47 0.10 1.41 127.30 0.72

0.48 0.78 -

TRADE INFORMATION (JAN 2016) DEMATERIALISATION INFORMATION Total Share Capital Volume % DEALS VOLUME '000 Dematerialised Dematerialised 66,704,146 2,000,000,000 3.34% 9 38,700 606,000,000 5,785,673,000 10.47% 49,884,038 1,900,000,000 2.63% 6 8,275 66,963,602 1,249,000,000 5.36% 29 25,681,134 9,628,657,533 12,000,000,000 80.24% 2,692,664 196,875,000 1.37% 779,359,719 5,000,000,000 15.59% 121 32,347,119 6,753,333,334 0.00% 185,791,314 976,335,936 19.03% 177 2,061,124 110,811,770 5,650,000,000 1.96% 2 1,100 872,307 519,999,631 0.17% 69,369,303 1,200,000,000 5.78% 568,235,594 4,257,668,000 13.35% 4 93,100 252,655,056 1,170,324,536 21.59% 1,023,194,820 14,231,238,000 7.19% 10 42,370,600 321,247,809 11,829,700,000 2.72% 7 808,783 20,603,435 181,408,000 11.36% 20 534,283 125,000,000 1,762,500,000 7.09% 210,821,244 2,875,595,000 7.33% 1 400 520,000,000 2,576,686,039 20.18% 2 200 1,726,264,230 0.00% 7,138,199,210 0.00% 1,539,242,000 2,705,378,000 56.90% 129,097,505 10,945,334,000 1.18% 4 900 1,823,084,076 0.00% 106,454,595,992 16,277,203,859 15.29% 392 103,945,718

VALUE (₦) 13,920.00 17,874.00 4,373,618.22 185,047,284.29 257,649,389.93 825.00 48,367.00 5,050,765.00 1,252,959.03 56,021,348.60 328.00 96.00 621.00 509,477,396.07

A16 32

Business Courage

Monday, March 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Behind d Wheels This page is open to sponsorship

Kia Niro HUV

Kia Optima Sportswagon

Adejuwon Osunnuyi

ast week, Kia Motors rolled out three latest models giving them a global public debut at the 2016 Geneva International Motor Show (86th Salon International de l’Automobile), ahead of the car going on sale across Europe from Q4 2016. On the Kia stand, among the three new models included Optima Sportswagon, Kia’s firstever D-segment tourer, as well as Optima Plug-in Hybrid and the all-new Niro hybrid, both of whom were both making their European debuts following world premieres at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show in February. Speaking on the development, Michael Cole, Chief Operating Officer, Kia Motors Europe, said, “These three new models will bring Kia into new segments for the first time, and help drive the brand’s growth in Europe for years to come. “The SPORTSPACE concept from 2015 signalled a clear direction for the next generation Optima, and the Sportswagon adds an extra level of style and practicality to the well-received sedan. We decided to show our first-ever D-segment tourer together with our first-ever plugin hybrid in Geneva to demonstrate our commitment to this hugely important sector, aimed at attracting new private and corporate buyers to the brand. “The Kia Niro will also broaden our appeal to European customers, offering a compelling blend of crossover practicality with the cool, modern styling for which Kia is famous, and an efficient new hybrid powertrain to keep running costs down. The Niro fills a gap in the market for a crossover with low hybrid emissions, and will enable us to attract a new type of car buyer. Hybrid sales have more

than doubled in Europe over the last five years, and are forecast to account for approximately 700,000 sales in Europe by 2020. “The Niro and Optima Plugin Hybrid will also help us meet our 2020 global target to improve average fleet fuel efficiency by 25 per cent over 2014 levels.” Global premiere for the allnew Kia Optima Sportswagon The Optima Sportswagon, Kia’s first foray into the D-segment tourer segment, has been inspired by the 2015 SPORTSPACE Concept. Manufactured exclusively for Europe, the new Optima Sportswagon offers the striking exterior design and high quality interior of the Optima sedan, with the added practicality and appeal of a tourer. In adopting a tourer bodystyle, the Optima Sportswagon boasts a series of highly ergonomic features in the boot render the car more practical than many other D-segment tourers. Highly versatile 40:20:40 splitfolding rear seats are fitted as standard, enabling owners to slide longer outdoor equipment – such as skis or snowboards – through the central seat, while two rear passengers can still sit in comfort. Other features include a safety barrier net built in to the back of the rear seats and pop-up sliding luggage rails. A low, flat boot lip, and a Smart Power Tailgate enable owners to load heavy items easily. The Optima Sportswagon is equipped with Kia’s latest audio-visual navigation (AVN) system, and will be among the first of Kia’s models to feature Android Auto™ for Android phones running 5.0 Lollipop or higher (available from launch), and Apple CarPlay™ for iPhone 5 or newer (available by the end of 2016). Both systems allow

smartphone-style use of the infotainment system, with apps, voice control and music streaming. The Optima Sportswagon will be available with a choice of 1.7-litre turbodiesel and 2.0-litre CVVL (continuously-variable valve lift) gasoline engines, as well as a high-powered 2.0-litre T-GDI (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) engine for GT models. European debut for new Optima Plug-in Hybrid The all-new Optima Plug-in Hybrid, Kia’s first ever plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, makes its European premiere today, before going on sale across Europe in Q4 2016. The innovative new plug-in hybrid powertrain will be a key addition to Kia’s D-segment Optima line-up, as well as the company’s expanding portfolio of low-emission vehicles. The all-new Optima Plugin Hybrid is powered by a 9.8 kWh lithium-polymer battery pack paired with a 50 kW electric motor, allowing it to operate in pure-electric mode for more than 54 km (33 miles or above) at speeds as high as 120 kph, placing the Optima Plug-in Hybrid among the leaders in the Dsegment for pure-electric range. Kia’s development teams are Kia Optima Sportswagon Interior

targeting combined CO2 emissions of just 37 g/km, which will ensure a low total cost of ownership for private and fleet buyers alike. The innovative powertrain employs Kia’s efficient 2.0-litre ‘Nu’ four-cylinder GDI engine at its core, which on its own generates 156 ps and 189 Nm. The engine is coupled with the electric motor, which allows the car to operate in charge-sustaining mode once the battery runs out of charge. The powertrain’s total power output is 205 ps at 6,000 rpm, and, with the addition of electric power, torque output is a high 375 Nm (276 lb ft) from just 2,300 rpm. The Optima Plug-in Hybrid adopts a range of enhancements designed to improve its aerodynamic efficiency, including reprofiled front and rear bumpers and an all-new active air flap grille, which reduces the drag coefficient to just 0.25 Cd (0.27 Cd for the Optima sedan). The Optima Plug-in Hybrid is equipped with two key technologies to save and regenerate battery power – regenerative braking and an advanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, with a driver-only ventilation function to conserve energy. Available to European buyers later in 2016, a new Coasting Guide Control (CGC) function is also currently in development for the Optima Plug-in Hybrid, allowing the Niro to anticipate road conditions to reduce energy use and harvest additional electrical power. European debut for all-new

Kia Niro Shown for the first time in Europe, the all-new Kia Niro, a low-emissions hybrid crossover, has been produced from a combination of significantly re-engineered existing Kia platforms, designed to accommodate the Niro’s specific set of hybrid powertrain technologies. The Kia Niro will offer the practicality and curbside appeal of a spacious crossover, together with the high fuel efficiency of an advanced hybrid powertrain. Engineered from the ground up as a dedicated hybrid vehicle, its compelling blend of crossover practicality with the cool, modern styling, for which Kia is famous, will help the car stand out among conservatively-styled hybrid rivals. A target CO2 emissions rating of sub-89 g/km (combined, based on Kia internal testing) will ensure low running costs. Conceived as a dedicated hybrid model, the Kia Niro HEV will achieve its ultra-low emissions levels and impressive fuel economy with a downsized hybrid powertrain. Kia’s 1.6-litre ‘Kappa’ GDI engine – producing 105 ps and 147 Nm torque – is paired with a 32 kW electric motor and a 1.56 kWh lithiumion polymer battery pack. The powertrain’s combined 141 ps power output is applied to the road through a highly-efficient six-speed double-clutch transmission (6DCT), with a maximum 264 Nm (195 lb ft) torque available in first gear. The Niro is designed to offer high levels of practicality and comfortable interior dimensions despite its compact on-road footprint, with class-leading headroom, 421 litres (VDA) of cargo capacity and a boot of a sufficient size and space to offer a full-size spare wheel beneath the boot floor (depending on market). From Q4 2016, the new Niro will be available with optional towing functionality – rare amongst cars in the hybrid class – allowing owners to tow braked loads of up to 1,300 kg. The all-new Kia Niro is due to enter full series production in May 2016, and will go on sale across Europe during Q3 2016. BC

News

Monday, January 13,2016 2014 Monday, March 7,

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Law & Justice nationalmirrorlaw@yahoo.com

It is the clear responsibility of the court, which it does not share with any other body to act as the interpreter of the constitution — Justice Dahiru Musdapher, former Chief Justice of Nigeria. xx

Scrap NASS, constitute legislative arm on part-time basis-Nwankwo 34

ICPC Chairman, Ekpo Nta

Justice-Ayoola

Jurist, lawyers divided over call for States’ anti-graft agencies How Apalara, Islamic preacher was killed 37

Appeal court halts Bill Cosby’s criminal case 38

Corruption is a global phenomenon and it is not peculiar to Nigeria. The yearly study of Corruption by Transparency International (TI) has not deviated from its verdict that Nigeria is ranked as one of the most corrupt nations. An eminent jurist and notable lawyers have proffered suggestions to tackle the menace writes WALE IGBINTADE.

he issue of the upsurge of corruption in the country is troubling. In an article titled: ‘’Corruption in Nigeria: A New Paradigm for Effective Control’’, a writer, Victor Dike lamented that the damages it has done to the polity are astronomical. His words, ‘’The menace of corruption leads to slow movement of files in offices, police extortion tollgates and slow traffics on the highways, port congestion, queues at passport offices and gas stations, ghost workers syndrome, election irregularities, among others. Even the mad people on the street recognize the havoc caused by corruption - the funds allocated for their welfare disappear into the thin air. Thus, it is believed by many in the society that corruption is the bane of Nigeria. Consequently, the issue keeps reoccurring in every academic and informal

Why can’t the state governments set up their respective independent anti-corruption agencies and the Local Government councils could as well establish independent anticorruption monitoring agencies. discussion in Nigeria. And the issue will hardly go away! Recently, an eminent jurist, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola on a Television interview programme series equally harped on the issue. The retired Supreme Court justice said ‘’what we are facing in Nigeria is lack of integrity that breeds corruption. Ayoola, a former Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ( ICPC), observed that when ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo came on board,

his administration injected about N1billlion in the purchase of Keke NAPEP to fight poverty and thereby empower the less privileged in the society. Ayoola regretted that huge part of this fund was stolen and the then Federal Government’s resolve to alleviate poverty was scuttled by unscrupulous people. He queried that why can’t the state governments set up their respective independent anti-corruption agencies and the Local Government councils could as well establish independent anti-

corruption monitoring agencies. Ayoola said Nigerians are emotional about corruption and they could be sentimental about corruption. He said ‘’ If A is a good spender of money and he’s arrested, people will have sympathy for him, they will writes lots of articles about him in the media why he should be tried and so on. ‘’. The jurist also observed that most Nigerians did not want accused persons to be investiCONTINUED ON PAGE 36

Law & Justice

Monday, March 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Scrap NASS, constitute legislative Richard Nwankwo is the President, Crusade for Justice, a Lagos-based non-governmental organisation. In this interview with WALE IGBINTADE, he speaks on the ongoing fight against corruption and concludes that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has outlived its usefulness. Excerpts: Are you satisfied with the way ongoing fight against cor ruption is being handled by the present administration? Well, first and foremost we must make our position clear and that is, no decent society will accommodate corruption. No progressive- minded community will accommodate corruption. Corruption is evil in every ramification but bringing that concept down home and the attitudes, the fight against corruption is being portrayed to the entire world also buttresses the fact that as a people, we are extremely unserious. The reasons are not far-fetched. One is that the present political leadership is about eight months in office, fighting corruption is not an economic policy. Fighting corruption is a welcome development but, it does not in itself amount to economic policy, it does not give any idea to any discerning mind as to the economic focus of this government. Nigerians have been made to believe that this campaign against corruption is selective. Selective in the sense that there are people Nigerians know that they are extremely corrupt and nobody is talking to them. Fighting corruption must be done in such a way that it has all the entrapments of an ideal of true justice. It must be done in a manner that would be acceptable to everybody. But what we see here like I have said on several fora that selective justice is the worst form of injustice. I will give you a glaring example of selective justice, the campaign against Boko Haram is being done in a very cosmetic manner, the same campaign against the agitation for the Biafra state which is a legitimate aspiration under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, under the African Charter, under the United Nation Charter, under the International Covenant Civil and Political Rights of 1963 and other international instrument is being fought with all manner of harshness and wickedness. It is extremely surprising that agitators for the state of Biafra are being killed in Onitsha, are being killed in Aba, are being killed within Nigeria and the National Assembly, the representatives of the people are silent while certain number of the Boko Haram even those that were caught with arms have been released on the pretext that they have been rehabilitated. It is difficult for any discerning mind to reconcile these two incidents. I think what is going on in the guise of campaign against corruption is a rehearsal of selective campaign against certain individuals and we believe it cannot run a nation with this culture and attitude of doing justice to different people at different levels on different standards.

Nwankwo

You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need any utterance from lawyers to tell you that the leadership of the

EFCC presently is grossly

incompetent and we have consistently maintained that there is absolutely no need for How do you view the statement of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Ibrahim Magu that lawyers are acting as hindrance in the fight against corruption? Well, I think if you place all the utterances of these key actors on the card what you can

EFCC.

crystallize from that is that there is a failure of governance. That is the summary of what they have said. They have practically admitted to Nigerian public that the political leadership in the country has failed. The leadership of EFCC which I consider and which most of us into law practice are over-

whelmingly aware that EFCC is the most corrupt anti-graft agency that has ever existed in the history of Nigeria and we are equally surprised that the Magu who is not qualified to head that agency but by mere strength of federal character is now making such sweeping statement about members of the Nigerian Bar. Of course you know, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need myself, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need any utterance from lawyers to tell you that the leadership of the EFCC presently is grossly incompetent and we have consistently maintained that there is absolutely no need for EFCC. Why did you say EFCC is no longer relevant? EFCC is an arm of the Nigerian Police that is equipped more than the regular police. The kind of facilities the government have placed

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Law & Justice

Monday, March 7, 2016

arm on part-time basis —Nwankwo

within the domain of EFCC if you give that to the police they will do better. So, there is nothing esoteric about the EFCC, so it will be very unnatural for me to waste time on what Magu has said. I think I should attach importance to what the Vice- President said, it is also an admission of failure because most of us that are political observers also identify the fact that the political leadership is extremely weak and manifestly incompetent and that is why you can see what is being carried out on foreign exchange. That is why you see that you cannot today tell anybody or any businessman whether local or international, what the value of the naira would be tomorrow. It is a sign of irrevocable incompetence on the part of the political leadership. So, when they now go beyond their terrain to talk about the National Assembly, these are institutions we have consistently maintained that have reflected very huge balance of the political terrain. So, when the Vice President and the leadership of the EFCC are making such sweeping statements, it is an admission of failure on the part of the entire regime, the National Assembly, the political leadership and of course, when they talk about the judiciary they must attach some level of respect because in this dispensation, the judiciary has shown that it’s the last hope of the common man. If anything happens to the judiciary today then we can now say goodbye to Nigeria. These attacks on the judiciary are premeditated, they are absolutely irresponsible, they are totally unacceptable, they are extremely frivolous, very provocative and as members of the Nigerian Bar, I think we have every reason to treat this with some measure of repulsion and that is what the leadership of the Nigerian Bar has also been doing now. Because they lacked the moral latitude to make such comment, the EFCC under Lamorde has shown there is no reason for it existence, that institution is extremely corrupt and I am happy the government is coming up to investigate the activities of EFCC. It is just that it is belated but I think it is better we do it now than never. That is a very painful statement in our political history and like I have said, we believe in the fullness of time, we also have to scrap EFCC and the National Assembly. Nigerians know what their problems are, we don’t need a National Assembly as it exists today, we need a legislative arm that will be on a part-time basis. There are so many injustices that are inbuilt in the constitution; I do not know where to start. If you look at the number of local governments, if you look at some of the appointments of some of the leadership of the judicial arm, a lot of lopsidedness, the federal character that was brought into the constitution by those that felt that they were marginalised on the account of their educational backwardness is now being used to marginalised those that are academically advanced. Is it not an irony? I believe that issues that must be woven and then we need to do a very thorough isolation of these problems in a manner that will be beneficial to all Nigerians but these utterances from the leadership of the Vice- President is inconsequential and we have to allow them to lie where they belong, they lacked moral latitude to stand on that high ground and make those comments. Is there a law that says you cannot ar-

rest a suspect within the court premises? Well, I am sure you know that within the courtroom and court premises are entirely different environment. In the case of criminals and those that have committed crimes, I do not think that there is any restriction on the part of the police or any of the security agencies to arrest those that are suspected to have committed any offence. But of course, you know that it is very important too to know where to draw the line. And that is what we believe have bring out some of the cases that you may be silently alluding to but of course, the position of the law is clear. The enabling laws allow you to arrest and of course arresting a tailor or a suspect within the court premises may never amount to a travesty of justice. The anti- graft agency had alleged that Rickey Tarfa SAN bribed Justice Mohammed Yunusa with the sum of N225, 000 in order to pervert the course of justice Yunusa. What is you take on this? The trial of Rickey Tarfa SAN, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which surprisingly has been concluded on the pages of the Nigerian newspapers, even before the actual trial began, is a pointer to the fact that a radical overhaul of the entire EFCC as a crime fighting agency is urgently required. One is greatly appalled at the relentless siege and vituperations being poured upon the person of Justice Mohammed Yunusa, a serving judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria. We view as extremely atrocious, the perchance with which EFCC, an anti crime agency goes about maligning individuals on the pretext that they are investigating some petitions or mere allegations of crimes and/ or misconduct against them. With the inexplicable siege on the person of Rickey Tarfa SAN, some serving judicial officers, the members of the Nigerian Bar Association and its leadership, it is crystal clear that with the drama playing out before us all, no decent society needs an institution like the EFCC. In civil climes, investigation is a painstaking, deep and professionally sober adventure, but not with EFCC. Before EFCC makes any arrest, you will read about it a month or two before the physical arrest is made in virtually all Nigerian newspapers. We know that serving judicial officers have no limbs, they have no mouths; they can neither run nor talk, and this explains the uninformed, uncivilized, unwarranted attacks being hurled at them in torrents. This must stop. Professional idlers, political failures and individuals with questionable moral pedigrees, now make these attacks a pastime and these must be roundly condemned. We view the travails of Rickey Tarfa SAN, as a calculated attempt to bewitch the NBA, overreach the judicial officers and by necessary implications destroy the hope, bastion and last defence line of the common man. We must call EFCC to order now and those behind these orchestrated manoeuvres must retrace their locus or face the wrath of the people. We, by our apathy risk the possibility of harvesting a whirlwind when EFCC finally breaks loose. This is a call for vigilance. NBA must speak out loud and clear, and must draw a firm line in de-

Nwankwo

I do not think there is anything esoteric about the conviction of

Rev. King because I believe that he had an exceedingly fair trial from

Magistrate’s Court to the High Court, to the Court of Appeal up to the Supreme Court. the

fence of these violations, which equally border on both depravity and criminality.” How will you react to the recent decision of the Supreme Court which upheld the conviction of Emeka Ezeugo otherwise known as Rev. King? Well, the issue of death punishment is an international challenge because there have been a lot of agitations for the abolition of capital punishment but we must also appreciate the fact that that agitation has not taken root or succeeded in Nigeria and as the law stands today, capital punishment is also recognised within the provisions of the constitution. I do not think there is anything esoteric about the conviction of Rev. King because I believe that he had an exceedingly fair trial from the Magistrate Court to the High Court to the Court of Appeal up to the Supreme Court, we must also appreciate the fact that justice is not for the lowly alone, that if you run fowl of the law irrespective of your social pedigree, your religious pedigree or your intellectual pedigree that you must be subjected to the strict provisions of the laws of the land

and that is what has happened in Rev. King’s case. It is unfortunate that he is convicted, it is also unfortunate that the Court of Appeal upheld the decision, it is also sad that the Supreme Court upheld the judgment of the Court of Appeal but we must appreciate the fact that there was absolute compliance with due process in his case and that having being found guilty of all the tripartite platforms as far as justice delivery is concerned in Nigeria that it will be morally reprehensible for anybody to make a sarcastic comment about that judgment. Crusade for Justice has been silent on topical issues in recent times. Why is this so? Well, I think we have not been silent. We have been traditionally vocal. We have been on the television and most of the newspapers in Nigeria. I think it is because events are happening and they are accelerated cases and it looked as if we are unable to keep pace with multitude of cases and the events that have been taking place within this political arena.

Law & Justice

Monday, March 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘States’ anti-corruption bodies’ll amount duplication of duties’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33 gated or prosecuted; pointing out that this attitude is contrary to the criminal justice system in the country. Since Nigeria became an independent nation on the October 1, 1960, the issue of corruption in both public and private sectors has been on the front-burner. The country though, richly endowed with diverse natural resources, yet remains poor and underdeveloped. Over the years, many agencies of government have become involved in financial scandals. There are daily reports of officials fraudulently appropriating millions of dollars from the treasury. There have been unbelievable scandals in almost all sectors of the economy, and more often than not, indicted officials get easy bails when arraigned in court. On the bail, it is almost impossible to be convicted later. It would be recalled that a lawyer, Femi Falana SAN had in a petition dated 19 January 2016 requested the International Criminal Court (ICC) to “investigate allegations of crimes against humanity committed against the Nigerian people by some former and serving military as well public officials and private persons who engaged in the criminal diversion of $8 billion earmarked to procure equipment for the armed forces to fight insurgency”. Falana had asked ICC prosecutor to urgently commence an investigation propria motu on the allegations of the criminal diversion of the security fund of $2.1 billion and N643 billion earmarked by suspected perpetrators, with a view to determining whether these amount to crimes against humanity within the court’s jurisdiction. But notable lawyers reacted to Ayoola’s call differently.

First ladies who are unelected running parallel governments and running pet projects which fizzle out as soon as possible often contribute to the issue of corruption we are talking about. Mr. Seyi Sowemimo, SAN said , ‘’If we allow each state to set-up a branch of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission or the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, the question is who is going to lead it? If states are allowed to lead, they won’t have the capacity to maintain such agency. They do not have police of their own, or the Directorate of State Service, DSS. The state will still rely on federally established

Bar

Jokes

My daddy’s a lawyer

Two small boys, not yet old enough to be in school, were overheard talking at the zoo one day. “My name is Billy. What’s yours?” asked the first boy. “Tommy,” replied the second. “My Daddy’s an accountant. What does your Daddy do for a living?” asked Billy. Tommy replied, “My Daddy’s a lawyer.” “Honest?” asked Billy. “No, just the regular kind”, replied Tommy.

A man and the devil

Ananaba

Igbokwe

structures agencies to do. ‘’ Mr. Mike Igbokwe, SAN agreed with Justice Ayoola’s position. According to him, ‘’I agree because corruption has become so endemic and eaten into the fabric of Nigerian society that if Nigeria does not adopt all measures to kill it, it will kill Nigeria. The Federal Government cannot do it alone. Indeed, anti-corruption and corruption should be taught as a part of civic studies or Government in the primary or

meat?” The lawyer replied, “Of course, how much was the roast?” “$7.98.” A few days later the butcher received a cheque in the mail for $7.98. Attached to was an invoice that read: Legal Consultation Service: $150.

Dumb lawyers?

There are several jokes that portray lawyers as stupid: Thanks to progress in medical technology, it has become possible to buy brain material from people who have died. Jane, who was born with less than her fair share of cerebral matter, enters a brain shop and inquires about prices. “Well,” the shopkeeper replies, “you can purchase doctors’ brains for $100 an ounce, and Ph.D.s go for $200 per ounce. Then, I’ve got lawyers’ brains for $10,000 per ounce.” “Ten thousand dollars per ounce!” Jane exclaimed. “Why are lawyer’s brains so expensive?” “Do you have any idea how many lawyers have to die before I can harvest just one ounce of brains?” the shopkeeper responded. Lawyers are not dumb, however. Perhaps a reason for such jokes is to pull lawyers down from their perch. Other “dumb lawyer” jokes, like ethnic jokes, are just looking for a victim. Nonetheless, “dumb lawyer jokes” do suggest that the public does not always hold lawyers in especially high regard.

A man died and was taken to his place of eternal torment by the devil. As he passed sulphurous pits and shrieking sinners, he saw a man he recognized as a lawyer snuggling up to a beautiful woman. “That’s unfair!” he cried. “I have to roast for all eternity, and that lawyer gets to spend it with a beautiful woman.” Bastard in the family “Shut up”, barked the devil, jabbing the man with his For three years, the young attorney had been taking his pitchfork. “Who are you to question that woman’s punishment?” brief vacations at this country inn. The last time he’d finally managed an affair with the innkeeper’s daughter. Looking forHow much was the roast? A dog ran into a butcher shop and grabbed a roast off ward to an exciting few days, he dragged his suitcase up the the counter. Fortunately, the butcher recognized the dog as stairs of the inn, then stopped short. There sat his lover with an infant on her lap! “Helen, why belonging to a neighbour of his. The neighbour happened didn’t you write when you learned you were pregnant?” he to be a lawyer. Incensed at the theft, the butcher called up his neigh- cried. “I would have rushed up here, we could have gotten marbour and said, “Hey, if your dog stole a roast from my ried, and the baby would have my name!” Culled from lawyersjokes.com butcher shop, would you be liable for the cost of the

at least secondary schools because education as a means of enlightenment and enlightenment would encourage knowledge and understanding that would assist in the avoidance of corruption. ‘’ However, Mr. Paul Ananaba, SAN suggested that ‘’ the EFCC should be expanded and made to have offices in all the states of the Federation. Allowing each state to set up their own anti-graft agency would lead to duplication of duties. This is because there is already in place a Police Force and state commissioners of Police. If states are allowed to set up anti-graft agency, will be control by the state or the federal governments. Again, such an agency within the purview of the state can be used for political purposes to whisk away opponents. ‘’. Speaking at the former NBA Chairman, Lagos Branch, Mr. Chijioke Okoli, he said ‘’Corruption in Nigeria has become a symbol. He stated that corruption among government officials was monumental, alleging that it manifests more in the award of contracts. “I honestly do not know how we can tackle corruption. We found the wives of local council officials driving around in government cars. We have parallel and unofficial offices that serve as appendages and contribute in plundering the economy. First ladies who are unelected running parallel governments and running pet projects which fizzle out as soon as possible often contribute to the issue of corruption we are talking about.’’ Another lawyer, Mr. Dapo Oduwole said ‘’ I will differ from the opinion of the respected retired justice of the Supreme Court. What I think is important is for the EFCC to engage more hands and establish offices in all the 36 states of the federation’’.

legal tips Consumer Rights in Nigeria

s a consumer, you have the following rights and you must insist on them. The right to Satisfaction of Basic Needs *Access to basic goods and services necessary for survival, such as food, water, energy, clot hung, shelter, health-care, education and sanitation. Goods and services must meet the standard of quality promised such that there is value for money in the purchase. The Right to Safety * Protection from hazardous products, production processes and services. The Right to Information * Provision of information enabling informed consumer choice as well as protection from misleading or inaccurate advertising and labeling. The Right to Choose * Access to variety of quality products and services at competitive prices.

Bar

The Right to Redress * Compensation for misrepresentation, shoddy goods and unsatisfactory public and private services, including the right to adequate legal representation The Right to Consumer Education * Acquisition of the skills required to be an informed consumer throughout life The Right to Consumer Representation * Advocacy of consumers’ interest and the ability to take part in the formulation of economic and other policies affecting consumers i.e. the right to be heard The Right to a Healthy Environment * Habitation is a place that is safe for present and future generations and which will enhance the quality of their lives. Culled from CPC.gov.ng

Jokes

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FAMOUS CASES

Law & Justice

Monday, March 7, 2016

hen Bisiriyu Apalara woke up on January 3, 1953 in Oko-Baba area of Ebute-Metta, it never occurred to him that the day would be his last on earth. In line with Islamic injunctions, he did his ablution and prayed to Almighty Allah before setting out of his house. That outing however turned out to be an eternal journey to the world beyond. Prior to that day, he had had clashes with the leaders of Oro, Awo-Opa, and Agemo traditional cult groups, accusing them of being deceitful and over indulgence in fetish practices. At every gathering, Apalara never hid his resentment for them and he often criticised and preached against them during the series of his Islamic lectures. He warned them to avoid their evil deeds. In one of such Islamic lectures, Apalara openly demonstrated before his adherents and members of the public what he called the hypocrisy of Oro and Agemo cult groups. Sensing that Apalara had exposed them and ridiculed their beliefs, the members of these groups plotted his murder. It was a well-planned and orchestrated crime that would not show any inklings of its commission. Interestingly, the masterminds and executors of the crime were caught and their complicity was established by the prosecution. Shortly after his preaching on January 3, 1953, some men ambushed the Islamic preacher in the night on Tapa Street, Ebute-Metta and attacked him with cutlasses. They left him to die and thereafter dumped his body into the lagoon. About two days later, when his body came afloat, the assailants tied rope round his body with a heavy object and his body sunk. Hence, the body of the deceased was not found despite the efforts of divers that combed the lagoon and its environs. Nonetheless, he was presumed dead. This incident that occurred exactly 63 years ago, led to the arrest of several persons linked with the crime and they were charged with Apalara’s murder. The first accused person was Joseph Ogundipe. Ten others were also apprehended including two Oteka brothers. They were tried by Justice de Comarmond and a jury at a Lagos High Court who found them guilty of killing the deceased. It was a case rooted in circumstantial evidence. The trial judge devoted part of his summing up to the evidence of the victim’s death. ‘’ His belongings were found in his house, and he has never been seen again, and we have got the evidence of the attack upon him and you know that blood (which was human) was found leading from that place, Tapa Street, to

How Apalara, Islamic preacher was killed

The murder of a notable Islamic preacher, Bisiriyu Apalara in Ebute-Metta area of Lagos in 1953 was a tragic incident in the pre-independence era. The deceased was killed and his body was dumped into the lagoon. Eleven persons, including two brothers were subsequently tried, convicted and condemned to death for the murder. FRANCIS FAMOROTI, Head, Judiciary highlights the case.

Justice Ian Lewis, former Justice of Supreme Court of Nigeria

Shortly after his preaching on January 3, 1953, some men ambushed the Islamic preacher on Tapa Street, Ebute-Metta and attacked him with cutlasses. the foreshore.’’ The hearing of the case took approximately five weeks at the end of which the jury brought in a unanimous verdict of guilty against each of the accused persons. They were thus condemned to death for the murder of a person whose body was not found. The convicts were dissatisfied with the decision of the court and they lodged a notice of appeal before the West African Court of Appeal (WACA). The appellants urged WACA to quash their convictions. At the hearing of the appeal, Mr. Alli Balogun appeared for the first appellant, Mr. A. Tejuoso for the third, sev-

enth, eight and eleventh appellants, Mr. G.B.A Coker for the second, fourth, and ninth appellants, and Mr. Tejuoso, led Mr. Coker for fifth and sixth appellants, the tenth appellant argued his own case and the Crown was represented by Mr. Madarikan. The case of the appellants who relied heavily on the ground of appeal was that the verdict of the lower court was unreasonable and against the weight of evidence. The appellants also complained that the judge did not direct the jury properly on the possibility of returning a verdict of manslaughter. Delivering judgement, the WACA said ‘’ we have examined the evidence against

each appellant with anxious care and are satisfied that there was evidence against each one of them upon which the jury could properly come to the conclusion they did.’’ The court said the evidence in each case, ‘’was carefully and fairly dealt with by the trial judge in his summing up to the jury,, who had the advantage of seeing and hearing the witnesses, and there is, in our view, nothing which would justify our interfering with the verdict of the jury, in any one of the cases, on the ground of appeal in question. ‘’ The WACA held that it was unable to agree with the appellants that the trial judge failed to direct the jury properly as to the nature of evidence required in the absence of corpus delicti. According to the court, ‘’ It appears to us that there was ample evidence, if accepted by the jury as it clearly was, that Apalara died on the night of the 3rd of January, 1953, as a result of injuries inflicted upon him, and we are of the opinion that this aspect of the matter was clearly and adequately put to the jury by the trial judge when he summed up the case to them. ‘’ The WACA noted that the appellants’ lawyers also argued that the trial judge erred in leaving the question whether the seventh witness called by the prosecution, Yesufu Aka, was an accomplice, to the jury, and in the absence of corroboration of his evidence the jury ought not to have convicted some of the appellants. But the court declared that there was no substance in this complaint even as it held that the prosecution had proved in the court below that the 10th appellant, accused No 19 was at the scene of the crime on January 3, 1953. It said ‘’ the accused denied that the statement he was alleged to have given to the police, exhibit ‘’C 1’’ was a voluntary one. He denied attending the meeting held at the Bale’s house on the 2nd January, 1953, or being at the scene of the crime on the night of the 3rd of January, 1953, and there was ample evidence, obviously accepted by the jury, showing his complicity in the crime. ‘’For these reasons we are of the opinion that there is no substance in any of the appeals and they, therefore, dismissed.’’ In effect, the WACA affirmed the conviction of the appellants and the death sentence passed on them. The men were eventually executed on May 27, 1954.

Law & Justice

Monday, March 7, 2016

B Valentine night: Court fines man for sexual assault on girlfriend

young man who was thrown out of The Ritz after drunkenly attacking his girlfriend when she refused him sex on Valentine’s Day has been fined by Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Rhys Weatherburn, 20, assaulted his partner Shannon Fidge inside a room at the exclusive London hotel, which he booked as a romantic gesture. Evening Standard in London says he had lost his temper after Ms Fidge refused to sleep with him following an argument over her ex-boyfriend at dinner, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard. He shook her aggressively and started yelling at her in their suite, the court was told. Weatherburn then pushed her onto the bed and Ms Fidge’s screams for help became so loud that guests in nearby rooms contacted the hotel reception. Prosecutor Robert Simpson told the court: “They had argued about some contact that the complainant had had with her ex-boyfriend. “The defendant became jealous.” Mr Simpson said the couple then went out into central London for drinks. But when they returned to the hotel, another argument ensued when Ms Fidge said she did not want to have sex because she was tired. He [Weatherburn] pushed her onto the bed and began

LONDON

L-R ; Fidge and RhysWeatherburn, to hold her by the arms and shook her aggressively,” Mr Simpson told the court. “She was frightened and scared.” As Weatherburn was removed from the hotel by security, he kicked a glass panel causing it to smash. Ms Fidge was not in court for last week’s hearing. Weatherburn, who was dressed in a dark blue suit and tie and represented himself, told the bench: “I have been very open and honest about all of the facts in this case. “I am very, very sorry for what I’ve done and the trouble I have caused everybody. “I just hope that you can take my openness and honesty into account.” Chairman of the bench, Spyro Elia, said: “This is a very, very serious crime which the courts take very seriously. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s Valentine’s, you have absolutely no God given right to sex whether you want it or not.”

Politicians cannot sue media, Appeal Court rules

oliticians cannot sue the media for defamation in their capacity as public figures, the Court of Appeal in Malaysia has ruled. According to the New Straits Times Press , a threeman bench chaired by Datuk Rohana Yusuf made the decision when allowing Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd’s appeal to strike out a defamation lawsuit brought against it by Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob. In her brief decision, she said it was the court’s view that the article, in its context and as a whole, had referred Adnan in his capacity as

PUTRAJAYA

menteri besar and not as an individual private person. She said Adnan’s defamation suit against the Malay newspaper should be struck out following an English case law principle, Derbyshire County Council vs Times Newspapers Ltd and others which stated that local authorities could not institute libel action. The panel, which also included Court of Appeal judge Tan Sri Idrus Harun and High Court judge Datuk Mary Lim ordered Adnan to pay RM3,000 legal costs to Utusan Melayu.

ill Cosby’s criminal sex-assault case was temporarily halted days before a key hearing while a Pennsylvania appeals court considers his effort to have the case thrown out before trial. The case is expected to come tomorrow, March 8. Associated Press reports that the Pennsylvania Superior Court granted Cosby a postponement last Tuesday while the court decides whether to hear Cosby’s pretrial appeal. His preliminary hearing had been set for this week. Cosby, 78, is accused of drugging and molesting a Temple University employee in his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004. He said he had a promise from a former district attorney that he would never be charged over his encounter with Andrea Constand. However, a different district

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Appeal court halts Bill Cosby’s criminal case USA

US President, Barack OBAMA attorney reopened the case last year and filed charges in December, weeks before the statute of limitations expired. The preliminary hearing to determine if probable cause exists to send

the case to trial had been set for March 8. The hearing seemed likely to be postponed unless the Superior Court quickly decided to quash his appeal. Prosecutors have argued that he does not have the right to a pretrial appeal and should instead file the usual post-trial appeal if he is convicted. A Montgomery County judge who heard two days of evidence on the issue agreed and refused to ask the appeals court to intervene. The judge, Common Pleas Judge Steven O’Neill, could end up with the case if it goes to trial. O’Neill found no credible evidence of a binding agreement that Cosby would never be charged. The former district attorney, Bruce

Castor, had testified for Cosby but acknowledged there was no written agreement forged. Cosby is embroiled in civil litigation in several states, but the Pennsylvania case is the only one to lead to criminal charges. He has teams of lawyers for the case itself, for appellate issues and for a countersuit he filed last month against accuser Andrea Constand. He also is embroiled in defamation lawsuits with some of the dozens of women around the country who accuse him of molesting them. Cosby has posted $1 million bail in the Pennsylvania case. He faces five to 10 years in prison if convicted of felony indecent assault.

Indian court grants bail to student in sedition row

n Indian court has granted bail to a student leader whose arrest on a controversial sedition charge last month sparked major protests and a nationwide debate over free speech. Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on February 12 over a rally at Delhi’s prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) at which anti-India slogans were chanted. He has been in judicial custody in the capital’s Tihar jail since February 17. Last week the Delhi High Court granted Kumar six months’ interim bail while the police conduct an investigation into the case, ordering him to furnish a personal

INDIA

India Prime Minister, Narendra Modi bond of 10,000 rupees ($148). The court also asked a JNU faculty member or a relative to put up the same amount as surety, the Press Trust of India reported. “The court granted interim bail for six months to the

accused, subject to (the) outcome of the investigation,” a lawyer for the Delhi police, Shailendra Babbar, told reporters after the hearing. “The court has taken a balanced view to ensure that the investigation is not affected and also making sure his (Kumar’s) liberty is not curtailed,” he added. He is expected to be released from jail , Vrinda Grover, a lawyer for Kumar, said. “We welcome this order because clearly Kanhaiya has no role to play in any of this,” Grover added. The student union lead-

er denies he was among those chanting anti-India slogans at a rally to mark the 2013 hanging of Kashmiri separatist Mohammed Afzal Guru over a deadly 2001 attack on the Indian parliament. Television footage last Wednesday showed students, who had been protesting against Kumar’s arrest in New Delhi earlier in the day, celebrating the news of his bail. In his home village in the impoverished state of Bihar, his family and well-wishers were seen jubilantly smearing each other’s faces with coloured powder, setting off firecrackers and handing out sweets.

Judge orders release of facebook executive

Brazilian judge has ordered the release of Facebook’s vice president for Latin America , about 24 hours after he was arrested for refusing to hand over WhatsApp messages to the police investigating a drugs case. The judge, Ruy Pinheiro, considered the detention of Diego Dzodan in Sao Paulo on Monday “unlawful coercion,” the court in Sergipe state said in a statement. “It seems to me that the extreme measure of imprisonment was hurried,” Pin-

BRAZIL

heiro said. Facebook, which owns the popular WhatsApp mobile phone messaging tool, denies it has tried to obstruct the police probe. Dzodan had been arrested on the request of a lower court judge in Sergipe and accused of “repeated non-compliance with court orders” to share Facebook data, federal police said. “This information was required to produce evidence to be used in an organized crime and drug trafficking investigation,” police said.

According to Brazilian media reports, traffickers had been using WhatsApp to discuss their business. When Facebook refused to comply, Brazilian authorities imposed fines, starting with 50,000 reais (about $12,500) daily beginning two months ago, and which rose to 1 million reais ($250,000) a month ago, Sergipe federal police told AFP. US billionaire Mark Zuckerberg’s companies slammed Brazil’s approach. “We are disappointed with the extreme and disproportionate measure of

having a Facebook executive escorted to a police station in connection with a case involving WhatsApp, which operates separately from Facebook,” Facebook said in a statement. “Facebook has always been and will be available to address any questions Brazilian authorities may have.” WhatsApp insisted that it had no technical means for cooperating. “We are disappointed that law enforcement took this extreme step. WhatsApp cannot provide information we do not have,” it said in a statement.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Law & Justice

Monday, March 7, 2016

Reforming Code of Conduct Tribunal Joseph Otteh and Lazarus Chinwokwu

stablished in 1989, the Code of Conduct Tribunal (“the Tribunal”) is a strikingly unique adjudicatory body created to strengthen integrity in public service by enforcing the Code of Conduct for Public Officers. While the tribunal shares overlapping jurisdiction with ordinary courts in relation to some criminal offences, it has exclusive jurisdiction over particular offences listed in the Nigerian Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act (“the Act”). The Tribunal receives complaints from the Code of Conduct Bureau (“The Bureau”) over breaches of the Act. And only the Bureau to can refer complaints of non-compliance with, or breach of the Act to the Tribunal; no other body can. Alongside this, some of the Tribunal’s powers, including the range of punishments it can award offenders upon conviction are also unique and exclusive to it. The Tribunal can order convicted persons to vacate office, or disqualify them from holding public offices for a period of up to 10 years or order the forfeiture of ill-gotten property. See Ogbuagu v Ogbuagu (1981) 2 NCLR 680. These features make the Tribunal a specially designed vehicle for fighting public sector corruption and abuse of office in Nigeria. The tragedy, though, is that in spite of its extraordinary powers and strategic importance to the fight against corruption, the Tribunal has largely been a light hidden under the bushel, and more than that, a toothless bulldog! Since its establishment in 1989, the Tribunal has taken up quite a few cases, but the overall impact of its work has been nickels and dimes, grudgingly below par, which is disappointing given the scale of the afflictions brought about by corruption in Nigeria. The Tribunal should, and can do more; however, it can only make the effort if it is “unshackled” from the Code of Conduct Bureau and given the latitude to stand freely and independently and be a more meaningful anti-corruption asset. Being tied to the apron strings of the Code of Conduct Bureau limits the Tribunal only to cases referred to it from the Bureau. This co-relative dependency imposes a terrible limitation on what the Tribunal can potentially offer Nigeria’s efforts to curtail abuse of public office; it can even facilitate the politicization of the Tribunal’s functions, where, for example, the Bureau has been successfully infiltrated by politically motivated interests. There is some insistence, even now, that certain high profile cases referred to the Tribunal, in the past and present, were, or are politically motivated. This needs to change. The Tribunal must not remain the theatre, or stamping ground for proxy political conflicts. If it continues to be, whenever cases involving significant political actors come before it, there will always be a perception that it is politics, and not rectitude that is the driving force, and this perception will overshadow and hurt the important role of this court. The Tribunal must be

Another reason the Tribunal is malfunctioning is the

Tribunal’s

leadership and the way the authority of that leadership is appropriated.

reformed, therefore, to free up access to it by others, such as the other anti-corruption agencies, or even, other civic actors. Civic actors? Yes! The Tribunal is a special place. It has jurisdiction to determine, among other things, whether public officers have abused their power; it has power to ban them for up to ten years where they have. Abuse of power can take a variety of forms and would ordinarily include the gross misuse of power. It could include, for instance, the failure to comply with court judgments; it could also include a claim, where proved, that a military officer directed armed troops to summarily kill protesters blocking a highway to enable a General’s convoy pass through. Arguably! The Tribunal could possibly offer a platform where civic actors can canvass their convictions that those who exercise power have misused it to such an extent that they are not fit to continue in public office. If this happens, if this opportunity is granted, it should be a glorious dawn for the rule of law and good governance in Nigeria. This will also be consistent with the trend we are witnessing in other climes. In Ghana for instance, its Constitution provides, for example, that any person may apply to the Supreme Court for a declaration that any thing done by any person is a breach of the Constitution, and the court may give any orders appropriate to its declaration on the matter. It is a “high crime” to fail to obey or carry into effect the order of the Court. This crime can fetch up to 10 years imprisonment, and a person convicted may further face up to 10 years ban from holding a public or elective office. The Tribunal could play a similar role in Nigeria. Another reason the Tribunal is malfunctioning is the Tribunal’s leadership and the way the authority of that leadership is appropriated. Danladi Umar’s tenure as Chairman of the Tribunal has been characterized by fractious antagonisms with Tribunal staff and Board members, a morale-depleting politicization of the Tribunal’s work environment, brutal victimizations of “disloyal” staff and widespread allegations of

corruption and financial malpractices. This is not the kind of atmosphere that achieves much result. It is therefore, no longer tenable for Danladi Umar to continue in office as the Chairman of the Tribunal given all this, in addition to the harm, public ridicule and embarrassment he has brought to the image of the Tribunal and the Judiciary in Nigeria. The Code of Conduct Tribunal needs a new leadership that will restore public trust in the Tribunal, provide purposeful leadership for the staff of the Tribunal and put the tribunal’s powers to effective use. The Tribunal’s legal framework is also faulty; for a start, operating under the executive arm of government is quite a setback. As a judicial body with adjudicative functions, the Tribunal appropriately “belongs” to the judicial branch of government. That said, it should be made accountable to judicial oversight bodies such as the National Judicial Council and not be under the Presidency. This will offer the Tribunal greater independence and ensure more effective oversight of the performance of its members and staff, enhance its performance standards and make the tribunal a more accountable anti-corruption institution. The current framework also suffers from its failure to safeguard against arbitrary control of the Tribunal by the Chairman. There needs to be clearer demarcation and allocation of powers among members of the Board of the Tribunal (i.e. the Chairman and two members) and better clarity of decisionmaking powers amongst them. The Chairman should not enjoy or exercise any “casting vote” privileges as is the practice now. The Tribunal also needs powers to make its rules of Practice and Procedure and amend same whenever it becomes necessary to meet the exigencies of its mandate without needing to have an amendment of the parent legislation anytime this need arises. The powers of the Board of the Tribunal as well as those of heads of unit heads within the Tribunal should be strengthened to give them more independence from the Tribunal Chairman. Also, the powers to transfer staff of the Tribunal, interdict them, audit their performance and make promotional decisions should be clearly spelt-out and divided between the Board and different unit heads. President Buhari’s pledge to fight corruption needs a fullcourt press to achieve desired results as well as the contribution of every facet of our anti-corruption infrastructure. The public excitement generated following the referral of some high profile cases to the Tribunal of late has put the spotlight on the flaws of an agency that has remained under the radar for so long. This is an opportune moment for the Buhari administration to take far-reaching action to re-model the Tribunal, transform it fundamentally and rebuild public trust in its ability to fight corruption. Otteh and Chinwokwu are staff of Access to Justice (AJ), a justice advisory group in Lagos.

EVENTS

L-R: Chairman Investments & Securities Tribunal, Dr Ngozi Chianakwalam, Chairman of the Occasion, Dr Olisa Agbakoba; Head, Department of Commercial Law Abu Zaria University, Dr Augustine Agom, Mrs Dorothy Ufot, SAN and the Chairman of Bancorp Capital Plc, Mr Tola Mobolurin at the Investment & Securities Tribunal workshop 2015 held in Lagos.

L-R: The Commissioner, Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC), Mr. P.C Okorie; Secretary, NLRC, Mrs. Folake Oguneye; SBL Treasurer & Managing Partner of Olisa Agbakoba Legal, Mrs. Priscilla Ogwemoh; Ag. Chairman, NLRC, Mr. Kefas Magaji; SBL Chairman, Mr. Asue Ighodalo; Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Dr. Babatunde Ajibade, (SAN), during a courtesy call by the leadership of the SBL preparatory to its 10th Annual International Business Law Conference scheduled to hold between 22nd and 24th of June, 2016 at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

North

Monday, March 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Kwara owes N14bn gratuity to retired LG workers ...eyes N30bn investments WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

L-R; Chairman, Council of Muslim Organisation (CMO)/Chief Imam of Ilorin, Alhaji Mohammed Bashir; Coordinator/former Grand Kadi Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Idris Haroon; Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Secretary CMO, Ustaz Yusuf Pakata, during a courtesy visit to Government House, Ilorin, at the weekend.

NLC to meet stakeholders over increase in electricity tariff

igeria Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday said it would meet with stakeholders for a decision on the refusal of the Nigeria Electricity regulatory Commission, NERC, to reduce electricity tariff. President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba said in Abuja that the meeting, scheduled for next week, was important as Nigerians cannot afford the new regime of bills. “Next week, we are going to have a review meeting with all stakeholders as NERC has refused to reverse the increased tariff. “At the last meeting we had with the Senate Presi-

dent and other members of the National Assembly, a directive was given that the tariff should be suspended until there was a public hearing. “But the status quo has remained and Nigerians have continued to be exploited,” he said. According to Wabba, Ghana, for instance, has tried to canvass for increase in its electricity tariff. He noted that the Ghanaian people protested against the increase and when the government waded into the issue, the tariff was reduced by 50 per cent. Wabba said the Ghana-

ian Government had started using gas and crude oil as other means of generating and supplying electricity. The NLC president also said the present administration should take a cue from the Ghanaian government to improve electricity supply in the country. “In our case, we are paying for darkness; it is a big problem to even provide meters in the country and this could continue. “By next week when we meet with our allies, if the government does not reduce cost or NERC is unable to reverse itself then expect a pronouncement from us.

“We may have to go to the streets again because this is one issue that we must fight and we must continue to fight for our rights. “People have seen the exploitation in the system; if government wants to deliver on power, there is no way monopoly will be beneficial; what is happing now is monopoly. “To a large extent, they have monopoly over the distribution and the transmission but I am not sure that they have added any value to the lives of the people. “That is why Nigerians will continue to experience darkness,” he said.

Almajiri institution, scam against children - Ononuju REGINA OTOKPA

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain and Director General, Heritage Centre, Dr. Katch Ononuju said the almajiri system of education was a scam against children of the north. Speaking on the sideline of a debate competition in Abuja, Ononuju stressed the need to reform the system through inclusion of relevant subjects, especially English Language, in almajiri’s curriculum to enhance holistic education for the students. According to him, it was out of place for a country to have a cer-

tain set of children have access to holistic education, while another wallow with an incomplete education, thereby creating a vacuum for efficient expression. He said: “The almajiri as an institution is a scam against the children of northern Nigeria. The almajiri is the single biggest reason why those children cannot speak English. “I believe that by teaching English and retooling the almajiri syllables to include subjects like Biology, English, Physics, Chemistry, Geography and other things that make a child holistically educated, we will bring education to northern Nigeria which according to United Nations

is home to humanity’s highest concentration of children without access to formal education.” While questioning the inability of northern state governors to commit a minimum of 15 per cent of their revenue to improving education, he stressed that education was the only solution to issues facing the region as guns alone would not win the war against poverty and insurgency. Ononuju urged politicians and other aggrieved individuals to employ debate to settle all kinds of scores. “The more we can encourage this kind of thing (debate) the better because this actually speaks to the current problem we have right

now in Lagos. Instead of people taking to the street to settle national problems because we know there is a lot of tension, we encourage debates to forge a way forward not hurting ourselves. “I believe this is the future of our country where people who are not happy about the cut throat competition brought about by capitalist democracy can be able to openly express through open debate what is in their heart, and not allowing those who are not happy about the difficulties brought about by the competition, brought about by democracy to suddenly start organising to kill people in the back alley. It is good to talk instead of fighting one another,” he added.

ver N14bn gratuity are being owed retired teachers in primary and junior secondary schools in Kwara State as well as workers in the 16 Local Government Councils. Also, out of about N300m monthly obligations to this same category of workers as pensions, only N15m is made available which had made payment of pensions irregular and grossly inadequate. It was learnt that in spite of shortfall in the monthly federal allocations to local governments to the tune of about N1.8bn, paid into a joint account at the instance of the state government, N1.3bn is removed to pay teachers’ salaries. However, a source told our correspondent that only N625m out of the N1.3bn deducted from the joint accounts by a body known as Joint Accounts Allocation Committee, JAAC is spent to pay the salaries. It was further disclosed that the local governments, since the idea of a joint account system was forced on them and with statutory responsibilities and others pushed to them by the state, have had to contend with financial difficulties. Confirming the development, Secretary state chapter of t National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Comrade Abayomi Afolabi said the last time any gratuity was paid to a pensioner in the state was May, 2008. He lamented that while it was a tripartite responsibility of the federal, state and local governments to fund basic education; primary and junior secondary education; both the federal and state governments had for years not been forthcoming. The NULGE scribe expressed sadness that many of the pensioners that retired from 2008, who should have been paid their gratuities had died of mainly heart re-

lated diseases and lack of money to take care of their health and general needs. “For over ten years now, no federal government cheque had come, state government has also failed to contribute, so we only rely on the Joint Account,” Afolabi added Also, tNigeria Labour Congress, NLC Chairman in the state, Comrade Agunbiade, said labour unions were only recently allowed to be part of the JAAC meeting. He said workers in the state would not subscribe to the contributory pension scheme the state government was planning until all outstanding pensions and the N14bn gratuity were paid. Meanwhile, a Public Private Partnership, PPP that will draw N30bn investments to the state between now and 2019 is being arranged by the government, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has said. The investments, according to the governor, would be in the areas of manufacturing, power, health, energy and aviation. Speaking in Ilorin at the ground breaking ceremony of an ultra-modern shopping and office complex called the ‘Hub’, a project of Harmony Investment and Property Development Company Ltd, HIPD, a subsidiary of Harmony Holdings Limited, the governor said the state was expecting about N1.5bn worth of new investments in the solid mineral sector within the same period. HIPD is a conglomerate owned by the state government The governor said: “I must, however, state that these projected investment inflows depend on critical factors such as Federal Government policy consistency, a stable monetary climate and the appropriate incentive regime. “On our part, we will continue to provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state through businessfriendly policies, and sustained infrastructure development.”

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Monday, March 7, 2016

World News What we are seeing in Kansas is a manifestation of a real shift in momentum. We can only see more. –US REPUBLICAN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL, TED CRUZ

Migrants’ boat sinks in Turkey, claims 25 A FOLABI GAMBARI

WITH AGENCY REPORT

boat carrying migrants from Turkey to Greece suank yesterday with the loss of 25 lives, Turkey’s coast guard said. Authorities said 15 people were rescued after the boat capsized near the Turkish resort of Didim. In another development, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that alliance ships would be deployed to Turkish and Greek territorial waters in the battle to defeat people smugglers. “The purpose of NATO’s deployment is not to stop or push back migrant boats, but to help our allies Greece and Turkey, as well as the European Union, in their efforts to tackle human trafficking and the criminal networks that are fuelling this crisis,” Stoltenberg said in a statement. More than 2, 000 migrants, most of whom the IOM says are from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, are arriving into Greece from Turkey every day

One of rescued victims of the boat mishap being taken to hospital yesterday hoping to travel further north through Europe. Governor of a northern border region, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, said on Saturday that the number of migrants on the frontier waiting to cross north into Macedonia had grown to at least 13, 000. Tzitzikostas called for a state of emergency to be imposed on the border that could

facilitate the delivery of aid. An emergency summit will take place between the EU and Turkey on Monday to try to seek a common approach to handling the flow of arrivals. Last week, European Council President Donald Tusk said he had been told by the Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan that his country was ready to take back all mi-

Iran billionaire, Zanjani, gets death sentence

illionaire Iranian businessman Babak Zanjani has been sentenced to death for corruption, justice officials said yesterday. He was arrested in December 2013 after accusations that he withheld billions in oil revenue channelled through his companies. But he denies the allegations. Zanjani, 42, was convicted of fraud and economic crimes, a judiciary spokesperson said at a press briefing.

One of Iran’s richest men, Zanjani was blacklisted by the US and EU for helping Iran evade oil sanctions. Two others were sentenced to death along with him and all were ordered to repay embezzled funds. The ruling can, however, be appealed. A lawyer for Zanjani, Zohreh Rezalee, said the verdict was politically motivated and an appeal would be lodged. “We believe that Babak Zanjani in this case is just a debtor,” the law-

yer said. Zanjani had acknowledged using a web of companies in the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Malaysia to sell millions of barrels of Iranian oil on behalf of the government since 2010. Before his arrest, Zanjani had argued that international sanctions were preventing him from handing over $1.2bn still owed to the government. But at his recent trial, prosecutors said he still owed the government more than $2.7bn in oil revenue.

Sudan opposition leader, Turabi, dies

Late Hassan el-Turabi

The Sudanese opposition leader who helped bring President Omar al-Bashir to power, Hassan al-Turabi, died yesterdayat 84 in the capital Khartoum. A hospital source said he had suffered a heart attack. His death was announced by state TV, which described him as a “well-known Islamic thinker”, and was confirmed by his party. Turabi, who was a key ally of Bashir when he took power in a coup in 1989 but with whom he

later fell out a decade later, was one of the most divisive figures in the country’s turbulent history, according to analysts. For the first decade of Bashir’s rule, Turabi was the de facto leader of the country, and his influence spread beyond Sudan’s borders. During his years of ascendancy, he promoted a radical version of Islamism, with sharia law applied strictly, Osama bin Laden accepted an

grants apprehended in Turkish waters. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says at least 321 migrants drowned trying to get to Greece between January 1 and March 3. Reports suggest Macedonia has set new curbs on Syrian migrants trying to cross the land border from Greece. Other wealthy individuals have been executed after being found guilty of similar charges. In May 2014, businessman Mahafarid Amir-Khosravi was hanged after being convicted of embezzling billions of dollars.

WORLD BULLETIN

Multitude vie for Benin presidency Citizens began voting yesterday in Benin Republic’s general election, with 33 candidates fighting to become president. Incumbent Thomas Boni Yayi is stepping down as leader in the West African nation of 10.6m people after two terms. The ruling party’s candidate is Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou, who used to head France’s largest investment bank. The election was delayed after problems with the distribution of polling cards, an issue that continued until Saturday. Zinsou, who is Franco-Beninese, is considered as “France’s candidate” by his detractors, RFI reports. Job creation and anti-corruption drives are two of the main promises being made by candidates. Among other leading candidates are two prominent businessmen, Sebastien Avajon and Patrice Talon, as well as economist Abdoulaye Bio Tchane and financier Pascal Irenee Koupaki.

Migrants stuck in Macedonia More than 12, 000 people are reported stranded yesterday in Idomeni, as borders across Europe have slowly been shutting in the face of those most vulnerable and fleeing from atrocities. In this small Greek border town, bewildered and confused refugees wait. They sleep in hundreds of little brightly colored tents that have popped up on fields along the border, now demarcated by a double concertina wire fence. Some tents are spray-painted with messages like “help us, it’s cold” and “borders are racist.” Refugees stand in long lines waiting for food, usually bread with a piece of cheese. It got harder in recent weeks for refugees to get across the border so they can continue toward what they hope will be safe havens like Germany and Sweden. Macedonia is allowing only a few dozen Iraqis and Syrians to cross the border each day, which has created a backlog in Greece.

Nancy Reagan dies at 94

Sentenced: Babak Zanjani invitation to live in Sudan, and the civil war against the largely non-Muslim southern Sudanese was intensified. The Sudanese security services were accused of numerous human rights abuses against dissidents. Large numbers of Sudanese fled the country. A widely read man with a high-pitched giggle, Turabi was famous for his comprehensive and rambling interviews. He advocated the rights of women and democracy within Islam, and saw himself as a moderate reformer.

Former US First Lady, Nancy Reagan, died yesterday at home in California at the age of 94. Mrs Reagan, who had been living in Bel Air, Los Angeles, died of congestive heart failure, according to the Reagan library. Her 52-year marriage to Ronald Reagan was once described as the US presidency’s greatest love affair. From 1981-89 she was one of the most influential first ladies in US history; initially criticised for an expensive renovation of the White House, but later becoming a much-loved figure. She will be buried next to her husband, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, the library said in a statement. Like Ronald, she was a former Hollywood performer who made it all the way to the White House. As Nancy Davis, she was an actress during the 1940s and 1950s and married Reagan, a prominent film actor, in 1952.

North

Monday, March 7, 2016

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NHIS orders strict adherence to guidelines in Bauchi facilities EZEKIEL TITUS BAUCHI

L-R: Wife of Kogi State Governor, Hajia Rashidat; Gvernor Yahaya Bello and Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole during the visit of Governor Oshiomhole to Kogi State at the weekend.

Blackmailers, manipulators of religion have no place in Kaduna –el-Rufai A ZA MSUE KADUNA

overnor Nasir el-Rufai at the weekend said blackmailers and those manipulating religion and ethnicity in pursuing selfish interests have no place under his watch in Kaduna State. The governor’s spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan, disclosed this in a statement quoting the governor’s address at the 2016 Khituk Gwong ceremony held in Fadan Kagoma, Jema’a local government

area of the state. On security, the governor said the government reduced the frequency and level of the senseless killings in southern Kaduna, intense cattle rustling in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Chikun and other parts of the state. El-Rufai said: “We have noticed there are groups and persons that have in the past made a living by promoting prejudice and specialising in incitement. They distort public discourse, corrupting every issue, policy or ap-

pointment as an outlet to vent religious, ethnic and sectional viewpoints. “We cannot allow the continuation of such blackmail. The expectation that if you make yourself sufficiently obnoxious and incendiary, the government will use public funds to settle you; that was the kind of environment the other party encouraged. “People and parties with such mindset are mistaken, as the only settlement they are likely to get is with the law, which

will definitely take its course against illegal and anti-social conduct. “The exploitation of religious and ethnic diversity as a tool to divide people and set them against each other will no longer be permitted in Kaduna State. “The emergence of kidnapping and armed robbery as serious threats is now being addressed by law enforcement agencies, and we hope to see these reduced to a minimum, by God’s grace. But other unseen threats remain.”

Concession national dams to states, Tambuwal urges FG

overnor Aminu Tambuwal has urged the Federal Government to concession dams under its care to states that are interested in managing them, saying state governments will put the dams to better use for the benefit of the citizenry. Tambuwal, who made the appeal while inspecting irrigation works at Goronyo Dam in Sokoto, said it would be economically more viable if states were allowed to manage the dams since they benefit directly from its resources. “Almost all the citizens who use the dams for irrigation and other purposes are under the care of the state governments, so it will be economically wise if Federal Government can concession the dams and allow us to

manage it,” he said. Tambuwal, who addressed some farmers and fishermen in Goronyo on the significance of water resources available in the area, said the dam is a great asset to Sokoto and has played a huge part in boosting farming activities among the local populace. He said he would request that the Federal Government allow Sokoto continue to handle the operations of the dam. According to him, because of the importance of the dam, the government, along with a private firm, Erisco Foods Ltd, will set up a $250 million tomato processing factory in the area in order to assist farmers process their products in their localities. In addition, the governor said the government

would set up the state commodity marketing board to ensure fair pricing for farmers and their

produce as a way of maintaining economic stability for farm produce all year round.

Borno spends N600m to rehabilitate health facilities

orno State government said it spent N600 million to rehabilitate and upgrade 18 secondary health facilities destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents. Chief Medical Director, Borno State Hospitals Management Board, Dr Salisu Kwayarbura, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Maiduguri. Kwayarbura said the facilities were destroyed between 2011 and 2015 at the peak of insurgency in the state. “Before the peak of insurgency, all hospitals in the state were functional with medical equipment in

them intact. “We had about 38 secondary health facilities in the state, but 18 were completely destroyed,’’ he lamented. The chief medical director expressed regret that the destruction of the hospitals had caused serious setback to healthcare delivery to people of the state. He said activities of the insurgents had also created additional burden on the state’s health facilities. Kwayarbura said General Hospitals in Dikwa, Mafa and Marte, which were equipped with drugs and facilities worth N14 million, were also destroyed by the Boko Haram terrorists.

ational Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, has demanded strict adherence to its new operational template guidelines on healthcare facilities in Bauchi State, in order to monitor use of payments to facilities on monthly basis. Coordinator of the scheme in the state, Sani Garba Affa, stated this at the weekend when he visited the Chief Medical Director of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, ATBUTH, Dr. Alkali Mohammed, to congratulate him on his re-appointment and notify the hospital management of the new template. Earlier, Affa had met with representatives of various facilities in the state. He said sequel to this, the scheme had scheduled its staff to visit all registered facilities to ensure strict adherence to NHIS guidelines and make sure monies disbursed were used for treatment of enrollees and facility upgrade to provide 24-hour service. He said as a regulatory body, the scheme “has the responsibility to protect enrollees and the interest of all. Therefore, the new template will provide the scheme with information

on capitation received, number of lives, training of staff, number of enrollees attended to, purchase of equipments and drugs within and outside retainership pharmaceutical outlets.” He urged management of the hospital, which has the highest number of lives in the state, to upgrade its NHIS clinic and educate staff on the new guidelines, revise drug list and service charges for secondary/tertiary levels of care. He said as a tertiary facility, ATBUTH must provide services that would encourage primary facilities in the state to refer more enrollees for higher levels of care. Reacting, Dr. Mohammed, after appreciating the visit, promised to incorporate the NHIS clinic into the family medicine department of the hospital for improved and seamless 24-hour service. He attributed some of the challenges facing the NHIS clinic to the inability of some Healthcare Maintenance Organisations, HMOs, to pay their capitations on time as required by law. Mohammed thanked the state office for the concern and promised to cooperate with the scheme to enable it achieve its mandate of providing qualitative healthcare services to Nigerians at affordable cost.

Nasarawa’s mineral resources can sustain Nigeria –Al-Makura IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

asarawa State governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, yesterday said mineral deposits in the state could conveniently sustain the country’s economy if harnessed. Special Assistant to the governor on Media and Publicity, Ahmed Tukur, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists in Lafia, the state capital. The governor, who expressed confidence in Federal Government’s efforts towards diversifying the economy, said Nasarawa’s large deposits of over 27 types of solid minerals could earn

the country huge foreign revenue. He was optimistic that with the dwindling fortune in the oil industry, the mineral deposits in the state would become a window of opportunity to sustain the economy, in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s diversification drive. The governor explained that his administration had earmarked a lot of opportunities for investors to come over and make fortunes. According to him, “Amenities ranging from roads and investorfriendly policies have been provided to make it easier for willing investors to come and invest in the state.”

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CHANGE OF NAME

DAUDA: FORMERLY known and addressed as DAUDA ZAHARADDEEN NOW wish to be known and addressed as ADO BELLO. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and the General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME /DATE OF BIRTH

This is to inform the general public and authorities concerned that my name was wrongly written as, DANIMOH DAVID DANIEL, instead of the correct name as YAHAYA ADINOYI DAVIDKING. My date of birth was as well wrongly written as 10TH day of AUGUST, 1993 instead of the correct date of birth as 10TH AUGUST, 1994. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Titus Abiodun Ademola. Now which to be known and addressed as Abiodun Titus Ademola.All former documents remain valid Wema bank and general public take note.

This is to confirm that, I, Pastor Oduola Ademola is also the same person addressed as Babajide Emmanuel on an account opened with United Bank of Africa, UBA, Osogbo Branch. Henceforth, I want to be addressed as Pastor Oduola Ademola. All former documents remain valid. UBA and general public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that I, SALMAN MONSURAT OMOLARA, is the one and the same person as above born on 15th April, 1992. All former documents remain Valid. General public and concerned authorities take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss. KATTO PRINCESS ANNIEFRED, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. SAINTS PRINCESS ANNIEFRED. All former documents remain Valid. General public and concerned authorities take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that I, Mrs. SILIFAT ABIMBOLA is one and the same person bearing Mrs. SILIFAT ABIMBOLA ADARANIJO. All former documents remain Valid. General public and concerned authorities take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly AGBAJELOLA RASIDAT now wish to be known, called and addressed as ADAMOLEKUN TOPE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc and general public take note.

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Formerly known as Betta Rose Ngozi Moka now wish to be addressed as Blessing Chinyere Obiesie. All former documents remain valid,general public take note

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MERCY: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Mercy Itohan Hilary now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Mercy Itohan OlusegunAwobona. . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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Fdormerly known as Paul Shehu now wish to be addressed as Paul Zakka. All former documents remain valid,general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

ANIEDI: Formerly known and addressed as ANIEDI FYAMBA SOLOMON now wish to be known and addressed as SHOKUNBI JIDE EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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ADEPOJU: Formerly known and addressed as ADEPOJU RASHIDAT now wish to be known and addressed as AZEEZ RASHIDAT YETUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ANIFE: Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Anife Blessing Uloma now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Sunday Blessing Uloma. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

OLOMUKORO: This is to confirm that That Olomukoro Esther and Olomukoro Matilda Onoriode refer to one and same person. All documents reflecting any of the Stated names remain valid and should be treated as one person. Banks and the general public take note

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Monday, March 7, 2016

MOHAMMED: This is to confirm that MOHAMMED IBRAHIM and MOHAMMED AIKI refer to one and same person. All documents reflecting any of the Stated names remain valid and should be treated as one person. Banks and the general public take note.

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Ogoni commends Buhari’s commitment to clean up land

ovement for the Survival of Ogoni, MOSOP, has commended the Federal Government for its renewed commitment to speedily implement the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, on cleaning up of Ogoniland. MOSOP gave the commendation in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Fegalo Nsuke in Abuja yesterday. The organisation also commended Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed for the cooperation and commitment demonstrated when CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adewunmi Tolulope Seun now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Awoniyi Tolulope Seun. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

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Formerly known and addressed as Jake - Orisa Dele, now wish to be known and addressed as Orishadare Oyedele Bamidele. All former documents remain Valid. General public and concerned authorities take note.

CHANGE OF NAME f

she visited Ogoniland recently. It pledged the cooperation of the Ogoni people to the Federal Government and relevant agencies involved in the implementation of the UNEP report. “We note that the delay in the implementation of the UNEP report has had some damaging consequences on the health of our people, including an increased mortality rate resulting from organ fail-

ures. “We believe that these negative experiences could have been averted had the government given the desired attention to the report when it was released in August 2011. “We will be counting on the assurance given by the Minister of Environment that the implementation of the report will be launched by the present government within weeks,” the statement

NDLEA arrests 13 drug traffickers in displaced persons’ camp

orno command of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, said yesterday that it had arrested 13 drug trafickers in camps of internally displaced persons.

Commander of the agency, Mr. Ona Ogilegwu, said in Maiduguri that the agency seized assorted hard drugs from the suspects. Ogilegwu said the suspects were arrested during five mop up activities

in collaboration with the military in Bakassi camp in Maiduguri. He said that the operations were testimonies to the fact that the camps were not immune from criminal culpability.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS OKOLO THERESA NKADI now which to be known and addressed as MRS ADDO THERESA NKADI All Former Documents Remain Valid Banks And General Public Take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as princess ronke sonoiki now wish to be known and addressed as jesunoiki ibironke olade.All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

This is to certified that I EZE CHRISTIAN OKECHUKWU AND ALINWAOYIGA EZE CHRISTIAN OKECHUKWU is one and same person as EZE CHRISTIAN OKECHUKWU Henceforth want to be known as EZE CHRISTIAN OKECHUKWU All former documents remain valid banks and general public take note .

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Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeleye Eunice Taiwo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olasehinde Eunice Taiwo.All former documents remain valid. Fidelity Bank plc and General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MISS ATULUKU LOVE UFEDO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLADEINDE LOVE UFEDO. All former documents remain Valid. General public and concerned authorities take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I EZENWA CHINEYE PRISCAL is the same and one person as EZENWA CHINEYE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, Eco Bank Plc and general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as UCHENNA EUCHARIA NNAEMEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as AMAUCHE EUCHARIA UZOUKWU. All former documents remain Valid. General public and concerned authorities take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Joy Nwafor Anoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Joy Okereke. All former documents remain Valid. General public and concerned authorities take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Olanrewaju Kazeem Abimbola now wish to be addressed as Olanrewaju Kazeem Oseni .All former documents remain valid,general public take note

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Formerly known and addressed as Oluwakemi Omotosho, now wish to be known and addressed as Oluwakemi Adelaja. All former documents remain Valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Hassan Hussani Musa, now wish to be known and addressed as Oseni Hassan. All former documents remain Valid. General public please take note.

QUADRI: I, formerly known and addressed as BILIQUES QUADRI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as BILQUES ABIOLA AROWOJOBE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly Miss Ladokun Olajumoke Omotayo now Mrs Oderinde Olajumoke Omotayo all former documents remain valid General public note

Formerly Miss Oputu Margarita Blessing now wish to be known as mrs Olatunji Margarita blessing. All former documents remain valid,general public take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME OLUYEMI: Formerly known and addressed as OLUYEMI ALABI SUNDAY now wish to be known and addressed as ADELAKUN ALABI SUNDAY . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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GLORIA: Formerly known and addressed as GLORIA SUPURUCHI CHIDIMA IBE now wish to be known and addressed as GLORIA SUPURUCHI CHIDIMA OFOEGBU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly Miss Taiwo Oluwatoyin Mojisola now Mrs Adeosun Oluwatoyin Mojisola all former documents remain valid General public note CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MUHAMMED KORIN AEN ASZAADAH, now wish to be known and addressed as SHEIK. KORINAEN ASZAADAH. All former documents remain valid, First City Monument Bank, First Bank plc and general public take note.

said. He called on all stakeholders, including multinational oil companies to demonstrate similar dedication to and work towards the success of the programme. It would be recalled that the minister of environment was in Ogoniland on Friday to solicit the cooperation of the people, preparatory to the launch of the clean up by President Buhari.

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FORMERLY MISS ADESANYA ADEDOYIN OLUWATOBILOBA NOW MRS OJE ADEDOYIN OLUWATOBILOBA ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC NOTE I formerly known and addressed as HAPPINESS SUBEDETU DAUDA now wish to be known and addressed as DAUDA ABU DORIS. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note

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Formerly known and addressed as David Ogbo, now wish to be known and addressed as Sunday David Ogbo. All former documents remain Valid. General public please take note.

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JOHN: I, formerly known and addressed as JOHN ANIAH BONIFACE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as JOHN BONIFACE BETIANG. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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ADEOYE: Formerly known and addressed as ADEOYE OLUWASEYI now wish to be known and addressed as OMOBUWA OLUWASEYI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ISIBOR: Formerly known and addressed as ISIBOR ANGELA now wish to be known and addressed as OSEGHALE THERESA ANGELA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME ASHAPHA: Formerly known and addressed as Ashapha Ismail Yusuf now wish to be known and addressed as Ashafa Samaila. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MOHAMMED: Formerly known and addressed as MOHAMMED ALHAJI AUDU. now wish to be known and addressed as MOHAMMED JAURO AUDU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I Formerly known and address as Mr. Fadiran Sakiru Awofolaji, now which to be known and address as Mr. Ifadiran Oriyomi Awofolaji. All former documents remains valid, General public please PLESA TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mojisola Awonorin Now wish to be known and addresssed Mojisola Soetan, all former document remain valid general public take note

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Formerly known and addressed as David Daniel, now wish to be known and addressed as Douglas Daniel Oyinkuro. All former documents remain Valid. General public and concerned authorities take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that I, Ezana Nelson Oghenero is one and the same person as Ezana Mishak Oghenero now Ezana Nelson Oghenero. All former documents remain Valid. General public and concerned authorities take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Ifeoluwa Iyabosola Kuku now wish to be addressed as Ifeoluwa Iyabosola Ajani. All former documents remain valid,general public take note CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, AJENIFUJA MISTURA O L U WATO D U P E F U N is the same person as IBRAHIM MISTURA OLUWATODUPEFUN.All former documents emain valid.Bank and General public take note.

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KUBURAT: Formerly known and addressed as KUBURAT AJIJA AROYEWUN now wish to be known and addressed as FUNSO KUBURAT AROYE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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ADEBISI: Formerly known and addressed as ADEBISI OMOTAYO OLATUNJI now wish to be known and addressed as ADEBISI OMOTAYO OLATUNJIEKEMODE. All former documents remain valid.. General public take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as Nwajiofor Okwuchukwu Bonaventure now wish to be known and addressed as Nwaji Okwuchukwu Bonaventure. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Monday, March 7, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

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Formerly known and addressed as MISS OLAMIDE OLAHOJE, now wish to be known and addressed as MISS OLAMIDE JAMES. All former documents remain valid. HERITAGE BANK and General public should please take note

Formerly known and addressed as MR. BISI PROMISE CHIDUBEM, now wish to be known and addressed as MR BISI PROMISE CHUKWUDUBEM JOSEPH. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

Formerly known and addressed as MISS ANEKWE JULIANA OBIAGELI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EWENI JULIANA OBIAGELI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

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I known an addressed as JOSEPH ENO ANTHONY now wish to be known and addressed as UDOH JOSEPH ANTHONY general public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Udoka Lawrence Uwem,Now wish to be known and addressed as Uwem Lawrence Udoka,Born on April 28th 1986. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

JAWOLUSI: I formerly known and addressed as Miss Jawolusi Oreoluwa Odunola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Agbede Oreoluwa Odunola. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as ADIE CALEB EMMANUEL EBEIYIN, now wish to be known and addressed as ENYA CALEB EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

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Formerly known and addressed as MR. OMOTAYO ABOLORE AYANLAJA now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. OMOTAYO OLUWASEGUN AYANLAJA All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm and certify that ATASIE IHUOMA GOLD and ATASIE QUEEN GOLD is one and same person . All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note.

This is to confirm and certify that ALH. ANAS MUSTAPHA and ANIGBOGU PAUL THOMAS is one and same person but now wish to be known called and addressed as ANIGBOGU PAUL THOMAS. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note.

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ANI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ANI HELEN CHINONYE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ONOH HELEN CHINONYE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EDENWANYANWU: I, formerly known and addressed as EDENWANYANWU JOSHUA, now wish to be known and addressed as EDE JOSHUA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AGU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AGU STELLA CHIOMA CHIKODILI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MADU STELLA CHIKODILI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ELUWA: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ELUWA CYNTHIA UGOCHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EMMANUEL UGOCHI UZOCHI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

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CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Stephen Nwakwukwu Ikechukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Stephen Ikechukwu Pascal. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as OGUNNIYI SADE VICTORIA, ADEWALE SADE AISHA , now wish to be known and addressed as ADENIJI SADE VICTORIA . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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OJOMA: FORMERLY known and addressed as MISS SHAIBU JANET OJOMA NOW wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADEJOH JANET OJOMA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public should please take note.

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I formerly known as Igwe Eze Kingsley now wished to be known and addressed as Godspower Gift,all former document remain valid,Union Bank and the general public take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ruth Olaitan Samuel now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Arogundade Ruth Olaitan Samuel. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that Agnes kiamso Akanya, Agnes Olayemi Durojaiye , Grace Mafo Durojaiye and Mrs Grace Mafo Owoyele are one the same person.henceforth I wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Grace Mafo Bayo Owoyele. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note

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IDRIS: FORMERLY known and addressed as DOCTOR IDRIS OMALE NOW wish to be known and addressed as IDRIS OMALE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

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JENNIFER: I, formerly known and addressed as NWOSU JENNIFER NNEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as NWOSU AFORJI NNEKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as Adebiyi Tolulope Oluwaseun now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ohu Tolulope Oluwaseun. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

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I formerly known and addressed as EMMANUEL IGENUMA now want to be known and addressed as EMMANUEL GOODWILL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE SMILE FOR LIFE ORGANIZATION This is to notify the general public that the above named Organization has applied for Registration, with the Corporate Affairs Commission under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990 THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr. Sunny Jacob 2. Mr. Kevin Mcquinn 3. Rev. Ayewah Dickson A. 4. Mr. Tijani James Drisu AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To execute projects with the sole aim of empowering women and protecting their rights. 2. To undertake and execute projects for the empowerment of the less privileged including women, widows, orphans and vulnerable children. 3. To enter into effective collaboration with organizations, individuals, institutions and associations which are geared towards poverty alleviation and human empowerment Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twentyeight (28) days of this publication SIGNED: Dorcas Salami

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NYOM: FORMERLY known and addressed as MISS NYOM VERONICA NOW wish to be known and addressed as MRS ATOGBON VERONICA MNGUESHIMA. All former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank, FCMB, First Bank, Unity Bank and General public should please take note

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ELIJAH OKORO ASUQUO, now wish to be known and addressed as ELIJAH OKORO EKPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as BUKOLA IBUKUNOLU SOAGA BADA , now wish to be known and addressed as BUKOLA DEBORAH SOAGA BADA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as OYERO ANIFAT IYABODE, now wish to be known and addressed as OGUNDELE ANIFAT IYABODE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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NNEKA: FORMERLY known and addressed as CHINEANYA EUCHARIA NNEKA NOW wish to be known and addressed as OTU EUCHARIA NNEKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

MUNKAILA : FORMERLY known and addressed as HASSAN DANLADI MUNKAILA NOW wish to be known and addressed as HASSAN DANLADI . All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

GIBSON: FORMERLY known and addressed as ENDURANCE ANIETIE GIBSON NOW wish to be known and addressed as OFONIME ANIETIE GIBSON . All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and General public should please take note.

This is to inform the general public that the names ODOH LINUS PAUL refers to one and the same person as WILFRED LINUS UCHENNA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. FIRST BANK PLC, WEMA BANK PLC and general public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

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CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and called as Miss Nafiu IsIamiat Bukola now wish to be addressed and called as Mrs Adetoyi IsIamiat Bukola. All former documents remain valid, Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS),and general public should please take note.

Formerly addressed and known as Ganiyu Abdullahi Oyeyemi now wish to be called and addressed as Tajudeen Abdullahi Yemi. All former documents remain valid, Wema Bank Plc and general public should please take note.

This is to certified that Adekunle Olaolu and Oluyide Rufus Olaolu is the same one person as Oluyide Adekunle Olaolu, that henceforth wish to be known and called as Oluyide Adekunle Olaolu. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Esther Mimi James now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Esther Mimi Haruna Sidi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

MBONU : Formerly known as Miss Mbonu Chioma Felicitas now wish to be known and address as Mrs Okeke Chioma Felicitas. All former documents remains valid. General public take note.

AKWAEKE : Formerly known as Akwaeke Kingsley Chibuzor now wish to be known and address as Chukwuma Kingsley Chibuzor. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME ONUM: FORMERLY known and addressed as JOHN ACHOR NOW wish to be known and addressed as ELIJAH ONUM. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

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Formerly known and addressed as Miss Aliyu Olanike Asakun now wish to be called and known as Mrs Salawudeen Olanike Jelilat. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

BLESSING : FORMERLY known and addressed as OGBA RAPURUCHI BLESSING NOW wish to be known and addressed as VINCENT RAPURUCHI BLESSING . All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and General public should please take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as Kabir Tajudeen Bolanle, now wish to be known and addressed as Kabir Tajudeen Bolanle Ododo. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EZE: I, formerly known and addressed as EZE JULIET .U., now wish to be known and addressed as EMMA JULIET AMAKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. UDE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UDE MARIA IFEOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MALO MARIA IFEOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ONYIA:I, formerly known and addressed as MISS CHINWE NNEKA ONYIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHINWE NNEKA OZOR. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as YUSUF LAWAL BIOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as OLANIJI LAWAL BIOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADDITION OF NAME

I formerly known, called and addressed as OGBIMI ABEL AZIAKPONO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OGBIMI ABEL AZIAKPONO DESTINY. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Daniel Bamas, Now wish to be known and addressed as Daniel Bamaiyi Taru. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

OFORDILE: I, formerly known and addressed as OFORDILE SABINA CHINYERE, now wish to be known and addressed as OGUEJI SABINA CHINYERE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

UDE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UDE CHIOMA JANE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NEBOH CHIOMA JANE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MISS. AKEH BLESSING VERONICA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. GANIYU BLESSING OMOOWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS. JOKOTOYE OMODELE DAMILOLA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. OYETUNJI OMOLARA DAMILOLA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. LAUTECH TEACHING HOSPITAL OGBOMOSO AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE

UCHENNA: I, formerly known and addressed as MKPUME UCHENNA, now wish to be known and addressed as NKPUME ONYEKACHI EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note.

IKEKPEAZU: I, formerly known and addressed as HILARY OGOCHUKWU IKEKPEAZU, now wish to be known and addressed as HILARY IGNATIUS ONUORA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

This is to confirm and certify that MISS CELESTINA IFEOMA AGWUNOBI and MISS JULIET AGWUNOBI is one and same person. All former documents bearing the two names remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CHANGE OF NAME

NASIR : FORMERLY known and addressed as NESBROW NESIR NOW wish to be known and addressed as NASIR ALIYU. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and General public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE CROSS OF CHRIST ORPHANAGE HOME

The general public is hereby notified that the above name Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C.), Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Company and Allied Matter Act 1 of 2004. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) DR. BLESSING. F. ADEOYE - CHAIRMAN 2) DR (MRS) FLORENCE ADEOYE 3) PASTOR DELE OLUWADARE 4) MRS STELLA OLADUNJOYE - SECRETARY 5) CSP JOHN AGWOYE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1) To provide education, health care, love and other basic need to the needy and orphans. 2) To cater for the general well - being of children. 3) To help build mental, spiritual, educational and moral capacity of the needy and orphans Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General,corporate affairs commission,Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: Mrs Stella Oladunjoye Secretary

CHANGE OF NAME

This is to confirm that Salau Tope is the same person as Olugbenga Olayinka,that henceforth wish to be known and addressed as mrs Olugbenga Olayinka,all former document remain valid,keystone bank and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Temitope Seun Adewole , henceforth wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Temitope Oluwaseun Oluwatosin. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ESTHER : FORMERLY known and addressed as MISS ESTHER EKAKITIE NOW wish to be known and addressed as MRS DESTINY FAVOUR. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and General public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE LION OF DOMINION AMBASSADOR‎S MINISTRY This is to notify the general public that the above named ministry h ‎ as applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts No.1 of 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Evang. ANAYOCHUKWU MBACHU (Chairman) 2. Mrs. HAPPY MBACHU 3. Barr. Mrs. SYLVIA .C. MOKA (Secretary) 4. Mr. TOCHUKWU IBEZIM 5. Mr. OGADINMA NWARIE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.TO PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ALL OVER THE WORLD. 2. TO ORGANIZE SEMINARS, CRUSADE, OUTREACHES, SYMPOSIA AND OTHER CHRISTIAN PROGRAMS AIMED AT PROPAGATING CHRISTIAN FAITH AND CATER FOR THE WELFARE OF MEMBERS AND LESS PRIVILEGED. 3. TO WIN SOULS TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD BY PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. Any objection to the above registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNEDS.C MOKA (Mrs) solicitor

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, March 7, 2016

Sport Every match in the Premier League is a battle. Five points is nothing.

I’m the right man to coach Nigeria –Bonfrere

–Claudio Ranieri

ITTF Ranking:

Quadri displaces Egypt’s Assar as Africa’s best

Quadri

fter months of dominance over Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri in the ITTF ranking, Egypt’s Omar Assar has been displaced by the 2014 ITTF Star Player in the March 2016 ITTF ranking released today. From the rating released, Quadri returned to top 30 in the world from the 37th place he was in February while Egypt’s Assar dropped to 36 following the defeat he suffered against Quadri at the ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup in Sudan. At the just concluded ITTF World Team Championships in Malaysia, Quadir only lost a match to highly-rated India’s Sharath Achanta while Egypt’s Assar was defeated by lowly-rated players twice in Malaysia. The defeat suffered by the Egyptian affected his drop in the ranking. With this, Nigeria may be on his way to Rio Olympic Games in the men’s event as Segun Toriola also made a triumphant return to the ranking to become the third rated African player in the world. Toriola, who acted as player/coach at the ITTF World Team Championship in Malaysia played his heart out to be ranked 116 in the world ahead of Egypt’s El-Sayed Lashin who dropped from 127 to 135. Also, Nigeria’s Bode Abiodun continued his rise in the ranking as the Portugal-base star is rated 185 to be the sixth rated African player in the world. According to Olympic team event qualification criteria, the ranking of the three players in each country will determine their eventual qualification for the Olympics. As it is Nigeria players are ranked higher than the Egyptians and this was also confirmed by the President, African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy, who has said that it is May ranking of the three top players in Nigeria and Egypt that will decide the eventual team that will qualify for the men’s team event of the Rio Olympic Games.

Nigeria’s Harrison Chinedu breaks world record Ifeanyi Eduzor

istory was made yesterday in Lagos when Cambodia-based Nigerian footballer, Harrison Chinedu, broke the Guinness Books of World Records in the farthest distance traveled with ball balanced on the head. To achieve the feat, Chinedu trekked a distance of 48.04 kilometers in 6 hours, 15 minutes to break the previous record set by Indian soldier, Naib Subedar Azad Singh, who in 2014 travelled a distance of 45.64 km to erase the record set by Abdul Halim of Bangladesh who travelled a distance of 15.2 km on October 22, 2011 and additional 35 minutes to set the new record. The history-making event which was flagged off by representative of Minister of Youth and Sports, Demola Ali, after the ball and his head was inspected by President of Nigeria Referees Association, Tade Azeez assisted by former FIFA-badged referee and senior lecturer at the National Institute for Sports, Dr. Alex Mana, and ex- Olympian, Henry Amike, saw him trek from the Redeemed Camp to the National Stadium,

Surulere, Lagos. At the National Stadium, he trekked round the main bowl eleven times to break the record before trekking further eleven times to set a new record. Chinedu told National Mirror that he was happy to put Nigeria in the World Records, even as he ascribed his feat to hard work and dedication. The athlete, who expressed appreciation to the Rafiu Oladipo Sports Foundation which organised the event, for believing in his abilities, stated that his greatest challenge during the event was when he nearly had a muscle strain at Berger Bus Stop. “I am happy that the scare gave way immediately to enable me continue the journey unhindered,” he added. “I thank the Rafiu Oladipo Sports Foundation for encouraging me both financially and otherwise and also made contacts with the Guinness Book of World Records office to ensure the event took place.” President of the Foundation, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, who doubles as President of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, recalled that the foundation received less support at inception of the event. “I am happy that it saw the light of the day in the end,” Ladipo remarked. Ladipo described Chinedu as a Nigerian

sports ambassador and pledged his foundation’s sponsorship for the athlete to “Tafisa 2016” championship. “We are also committed to helping any talented Nigerian youth put the country’s name on the world map,” the NFSC boss concluded.

Harrison

Sports

Monday, February 22, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EPL results Tottenham Chelsea Everton Man City Newcastle Southampton Swansea Watford Crystal Palace West Brom

West Brom dent Manchester United’s top- four hopes

est Brom earned their first home league win against Manchester United for 32 years as Salomon Rondon’s low strike beat the 10-man visitors. United played for more than an hour without Juan Mata, who received two bookings inside three minutes. But Albion created little until Rondon found space to fire in Sebastien Pocognoli’s dangerous left-wing cross. United rarely looked like equalizing as they lost ground on the top four. The Red Devils are sixth in the Premier League table, failing to move back above West Ham and remaining three points adrift of fourthplaced Manchester City. Victory moved Albion up to 11th, their tally of 39 points almost certainly securing top-flight survival for a sixth successive season. Manchester United looked assured in the opening 25 minutes as they dominated possession against the Baggies, albeit without really troubling home keeper Ben Foster. But the entire complexion of the match turned on the stupidity of the normally-intelligent Mata. The Spain international was shown his first yellow card for rashly blocking Darren Fletcher’s quick free-kick, then he was given a second when he needlessly clipped the heels of the

former United midfielder within three minutes. Within seconds of Mata’s dismissal, Albion almost took the lead when Craig Dawson’s ambitious 25-yard punt looped over David De Gea but dropped

just past the wrong side of the left-hand post. An Albion onslaught failed to materialise in a dour end to the first half, while United almost opened the scoring through Marcus Rashford’s instinc-

tive drilled shot and Jesse Lingard’s dipping angled drive before the hour mark. But the home side gradually grew in stature as United tired, finding the breakthrough through Rondon’s smart finish.

Liverpool snatch dramatic win at Palace

stoppage-time penalty by Christian Benteke gave 10man Liverpool a dramatic 2-1 win over Crystal Palace. Benteke went down following a challenge by Damien Delaney and got up to coolly score the spotkick. Palace had led through Joe Ledley’s 48th-minute finish and Liverpool’s

James Milner was sent off for a second yellow card on 62 minutes. A calamitous slip by Palace keeper Alex McCarthy gifted Liverpool their equalizer, scored by Roberto Firmino. The defeat leaves Alan Pardew’s men without a win in 12 Premier League matches. The penalty was a sensational end to the match, with Palace boss Pardew

hurling his coat to the ground in frustration. Delaney’s knee touched Benteke’s ankle and referee Andre Marriner, guided by a well-placed assistant official, awarded the match-winning spot-kick. It gave McCarthy the chance to become a hero after his earlier mistake, but Benteke stepped up to end 715 goalless minutes in all competitions.

Hall wants McClaren sacked as Newcastle coach

ewcastle manager Steve McClaren should be sacked as the club embarks on a “rescue operation”, according to former Magpies owner Sir John Hall. Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat by Bournemouth left McClaren’s side above only Aston Villa in the Premier League. It was a third successive loss for the Magpies, and Hall told BBC Radio 5 live’s Sportsweek: “You need change. “Steve is not getting them to play and it’s probably time he goes. You’ve got to find someone to harness the team.”

Former England coach McClaren, 54, was appointed as John Carver’s successor in June last year but has presided over only six league victories this season. The defeat by Bour-

nemouth was Newcastle’s eighth loss in the past 11 matches, and their tally of 24 points is their lowest at this stage of a Premier League season.

McClaren

2-2 1-1 2-3 4-0 1-3 1-1 1-0 0-1 1-2 1-0

Arsenal Stoke West Ham Aston Villa Bournemouth Sunderland Norwich Leicester Liverpool Man Utd

Leicester is experiencing something special, says Ranieri

laudio Ranieri has told his Leicester players that “every match is a final” after the Foxes extended their Premier League lead on Saturday. Leicester defeated Watford 1-0 to move on to 60 points, five more than nearest rivals Tottenham, with nine games left. “We are running for something special,” said Ranieri, whose side has only lost three times in 29 league games this season, winning 17. “Every match in the Premier League is a battle. Five points is nothing.” Winger Riyad Mahrez scored the only goal of the game in the 56th minute; a brilliant strike from 18 yards. Earlier on Saturday, title rivals Tottenham

and Arsenal drew 2-2. Leicester’s next fixture is today when they host struggling Newcastle. “The fans dream and we work, which is a good combination,” the Italian added. “I said to my players, ‘every game is a final’. “We want to continue to fight and now our mind is on Newcastle, which is another tough match at home.

Ranieri

Kompany harps on consistency

incent Kompany believes Manchester City’s title challenge is back on track after thrashing Aston Villa 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. Sergio Aguero’s double either side of goals from Yaya Toure and substitute Raheem Sterling saw City move to within two points of third-placed Arsenal with a game in hand on their rivals. City had lost their three previous league games

but Kompany insisted it is not a true reflection of their form after beating Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League before winning the Capital One Cup last weekend. “It’s been an awkward week but if you actually look at the last four games we’ve won three of them. They were over different competitions,” Kompany said. “For the whole team it’s now important to get to the level we showed here.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Monday, March 7, 2016

I’m the right man to coach Nigeria –Bonfrere

utchman Jo Bonfrere believes he is ‘the right man’ to return Nigeria to the summit of African football, 15 years after he was sacked as coach. 69-year-old Bonfrere previously guided Nigeria at the Nations Cup in 2000 and is keen to replace Sunday Oliseh who resigned from the post. Bonfrere, who was sacked by Nigeria in 2001 after losing a World Cup qualifier in Sierra Leone, was also assistant Super Eagles coach from 1990 to 1994 and led Nigeria’s under-23 team to gold at the Atlanta Olympics. No one has done what I achieved and I believe I am the right man to return Nigeria to glory days in Africa and the world “I have worked in Nigeria for a long time in the past and I know what to do to get the Super Eagles flying again,” Bonfrere told BBC Sport on the telephone from the Netherlands. “I love Nigeria because that is where my football mentality is most at home and I have a fantastic relationship with the people

Bonfrere

there” Bonfrere added. The Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick has said they have no plans to appoint a local coach on a permanent basis. Current under-23 coach Samson Siasia will take charge for Nigeria’s Nations Cup qualifiers against Egypt later this month. “Apart from Stephen Kes-

hi, the other local coaches have not succeeded because they cannot give what they don’t have to take the team higher. “Other foreign coaches have also failed because they come with the arrogant attitude of being a world class coach and a big name to perform magic there, and that wrong notion meant they had no

passion, desire and the required knowledge to succeed on the job. Bonfrere began his stormy romance with Nigeria in 1990, when he was the de facto assistant to Clemens Westerhof. The Dutch coaching duo worked together at the 1990, 1992 and 1994 African Nations Cups, winning silver, bronze and gold medals.

New prize money outlay for Okpekpe race Afolabi Gambari

rganisers of the annual Okpekpe 10km road race have announced a new prize money outlay for the fourth edition of the race, which holds on Saturday May 7, 2016. Spokesman for the race, Dare Esan revealed that a total of $92,000 in prize money will be paid to the top eight finishers in the men and women’s race with the winner in each gender category going home with $15,000 while $10,000 and $7,000 respectively will go to the second and third placed finishers. ‘’The prizes for 4th-8th placed finishers in each gender category are $5000, $3,000, $2,500, $2,000, and $1,500 respectively,’ said Esan who also revealed the introduction of performance bonuses to this year’s race. “Athletes achieving a world leading time will be eligible for a special bonus, which will be revealed in due course,’ further said Esan who noted that the

performance must be an improvement on the existing time. According to him, organisers of the race were considering using pacemakers to help athletes in their record-chasing mission. “Pacemakers are runners who lead a middle or long distance running event for the first section to ensure a fast time and are frequently employed by race organisers for world record attempts with specific instructions for lap times. This time we are employing them for world

leading times,” Esan explained.. Esan also explained why there is a reduction in the prize money for the top three finishers in this year’s race. Last year the top three finishers were rewarded with $25, 000, $15, 000 and $10,000 respectively. “We are concerned about the quality of athletes we invite for the race because of its status as the only IAAF bronze-labeled 10km road race in Africa and one of only two IAAF labeled road race in Africa so far this year. That is why we

brought in the highly respected international marathon/road race organiser, Walter Abmayr to ensure we get athletes who can run world leading times in Okpekpe’. He also revealed that the total prize money for Nigerian runners at the race has been increased to N1.1m with the first placed finishers in both the men and women race going home with N250, 000 while the second to the fifth placed finishers will get N100, 000, N80,000, N70,000 and N50,000.

Ifeanyi Eduzor

mi, who disclosed this, said the programme is aimed at getting Nigeria WushuKungfu practitioners adequately prepared for both National and international engagements like the forthcoming National Sports Festival holding in Calabar and world Championships. According to Fabunmi, the programme will start with a Seminar which runs from March 7-8 while the championship begins on the 9th and end on Satur-

day March 12 at the same venue. With the year 2016 already seen as busy year for Wushu- Fungfu following the loaded programme of activities they have, Fabunmi appealed to various states to sponsor their athletes to the championship considering that the Federation plans to use the programme to pick a standing Wushu-Kungfu National team for the country.

Wushu-Kungfu seminar begins in Lagos

he Nigeria WushuKungfu Federation will today begin a weeklong Wushu-Kungfu Seminar holding at the knock-up hall of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, National stadium, Surulere, Lagos, from March 7-12, 2016. Secretary General of the Nigeria Wushu-Kungfu Federation, Evelyn Fabun-

ITT/CAT tourney: Team Nigeria gets visa, departs for S/Africa Ifeanyi Eduzor

fter delay by the South African embassy, Team Nigeria were eventually issued visas yesterday and are scheduled to depart Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja in the early hours of today for the forthcoming ITF/CAT African Junior Championship in Pretoria. The seven-man team was originally scheduled to travel for the championship holding from March 8-19 at the ITF High Performance Centre, Pretoria on Saturday but only two members were issued visas. National junior tennis coach, Mohammed Ubale, who was apparently relieved after what he termed a weekend off frustration, said: “a lady in the embassy called the Secretary of the Nigeria Tennis Federation Sunday morning to come for the visas. “Although she apologized on behalf of the

embassy, she was a bit disturbed that the issue was mentioned in the press stating we shouldn’t have gone that far but I don’t think the embassy should bear any grudge towards us for this because we provided all the documents they requested for on time only for them to derail our arrangements as well as preparations by denying virtually all the players visas for the championship. Ubale said the delay which necessitated a change of travelling arrangement cost an additional N25, 000 each to the seven-man team but he was more worried by the fact that the team will now have just a day to acclimatize due to the high altitude of the venue. “Surely, we will be the last country to arrive for the tournament because all the countries are expected to be in South Africa latest by Saturday which was what we planned for. “However, we will put in our best because the players are determined to do Nigeria proud.

MLS: Idowu scores Portland’s wonder goal

igeria youth international Akinjide Idowu has scored his first goal for Portland Timbers of the United States as they defeated Oregon State 4-0 in a pre-season friendly on Saturday at Timbers’ Providence Park Stadium. The 19-year old started from the bench for the Timbers’ second team, the T2, in the friendly against the Oregon State side, who play in the United States University league but was introduced after 60 minutes and within 10 minutes of his introduction, blasted in a ferocious shot from 33-yards to break the deadlock. Timbers had won a corner-kick and it was quickly cleared by the Oregon State defence but it was far from safety as Idowu, standing just ahead two other defenders as they attacked the corner, received the loose ball from 33-yards and without attempting to control, blasted it past the Oregon goalkeeper who was left bemused with the ferocity of the shot as it landed right at the top corner. The goal after 70 minutes was Idowu’s first since he joined the club in January, and it opened the floodgates for Timbers as

Kharlton Belmar’s brace and Seth Casiple’s goal settled the game as they ran out 4-0 winners. Speaking exclusively to fcnaija after the game, Idowu admitted the goal also came as a surprise to him. “I must confess that the goal also came as a bit of surprise to me,” he admitted. “I just saw the ball coming and I took a onetime shot and it landed in the back of the net,” he added. Idowu joined the Portland Timbers’ second team, T2, in January from Nigeria youth soccer academy after representing Nigeria at both the U-17 and U-20 World Cups in 2013 and 2015 respectively.

Idowu

WORLD RECORD

Longest human chain (length)

N150

Vol. 05 No. 1322 Monday, March 7, 2016

On 11 December 2004, over 5 million people joined hands to form a human chain, 1,050 km (652.4 miles) long from Teknaf to Tentulia, Bangladesh.

Wanted: Legislation to prohibit radical, extremists religious scholars

fter the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence passed on Rev. Chukwuemeka Ezeugo (aka Rev King), the General Overseer of Christian Praying Assembly, the Ndigbo Cultural Society of Nigeria (NCSN) was quick to call on the Federal Government of Nigeria not to carry out the death sentence. NCSN leader, Chief Udo Udeogaranya defended this call with the logic that “This plea is premised on the ground that many Nigerians still hold Rev. Ezeugo as their spiritual leader even in various prisons”. It doesn’t matter that Rev. Ezeugo on January 11, 2007 murdered one of his church members, Ann Uzoh when he doused her with petrol alongside five others and set them ablaze. What is important to those who want to see him escape the hangman’s noose is that he has a fanatical following that must not be

Guest Columnist allowed to die. There is no ethnic undertone intended in using this example, it just happens to be the most recent case of pleading for people who had the benefit of thinking through their fanatical extremism before acting but still went ahead to take the law into their own hands anyways. The foregoing is a prelude to the major trust of this write up. There is need to work on a legislation to prohibit the activities of radical and extremist religious leaders. Not quite unlike Rev King, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) or Shiite Sect, Mr Ibrahim El-Zakzaky drove adherents of his sects to death when he facilitated the build up to a faceoff with the Nigerian Army. The result was the incident in Zaria, Kaduna state in December 2015 when the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf was reportedly the target of an assassination bid and the resulting military operation led to regrettable loss of life and property. El-Zakyzaky might not have physically doused his followers with petrol and strike the match like Reverend King but his teachings and indoctrination primed their psyche to be willing fodders for his canon. Save for the differences in inscriptions on flags and choice of uniforms, videos depicting drills by IMN members is highly reminiscent of Boko Haram propaganda clips as far as inferred belligerence goes. So how does a sect leader brainwash his followers to that level of aggressiveness and not expect a catastrophic outcome in any resulting faceoff

Israel

Abiodun WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT MR ELZAKYZAKY AND IMN LOSE THE CAPACITY TO CONTINUE USING THE PRETEXT OF PREACHING TO INCITE HATRED AGAINST THE STATE OF STATE OFFICIALS with the authorities in a secular state? The legislation should also have provisions to keep the finances of preachers and organisation to which they are affiliated under watch. This is because some of these people preaching extremist views are merely puppets of greater interests that could sometimes be a rival nation or a country that has ulterior aims in Nigeria. Apologists and beneficiaries of sectarian and religious extremism will be quick to point out that legislation to curb propagation or preaching of extreme views will stifle the freedom to worship, association, and expression. But these apologists must ask themselves if it was also right that the Shiites, Reverend King and others deprived fellow Nigerians of their right in the course of living their extreme views. In Germany, the Holocaust Denial Legislation is in place because they have

decided that the right to free-speech must be balanced against the right not to be subjected to racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and a potential revival of Nazism. Austria, Hungary, and Romania have their own versions of the law. In France, the French Council for the Muslim Religion (CFCM) has suggested that the country’s imams should be given a certificate - “like a driving licence” that ensured they promoted a “tolerant and open Islam”. This of course tallies with what Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai has in the works – only that the Kaduna State’s “A bill for a law to substitute the Kaduna State religious preaching law, 1984” will encompass all faiths. That the Council in France came up with this suggestion is a testimony to the dire need to be decisive in caging extremism and propagation of hate speech under the cover of religion. This is why we must stand up to the time bomb called Shiite or IMN, those that kill children on the pretext of witchcraft or any other sect and faith that threaten the corporate future of Nigeria by seeking a law at the national level to ban the activities of questionable organisations. Perchance, if we had such legislation in place, Reverend Ezeugo might not have had the followership that emboldened him to set a congregant ablaze and might just not be on the condemned list. But we still have that chance to set out a federal legislation to criminalise extremism now. We need to ensure that Mr El-Zakyzaky and IMN lose the capacity to continue using the pretext of preaching to incite hatred against the state of state officials. For those who think this is an extreme suggestion for dealing with extremism they should ask themselves what role hate preaching extremists played in recruiting the army of murderers that became the killing machine called Boko Haram. Abiodun is a security strategist based in Lagos, Nigeria.

Sport Extra

Musa yearns for Arsenal move

igeria captain Ahmed Musa has sent a come-andget-me plea to English Premier League side Arsenal. Leicester City have

made attempts to sign the Nigerian in the January transfer window, but his Russian employers, CSKA Moscow, turned down the offer as they want to keep the winger

till the end of this season. However, the 23-yearold has a £23-million release clause but has said he holds the hope of joining Arsenal because

Nwankwo Kanu made the club dear to him. He also admitted that Leicester City tried to prize him away from his Russian club. “I would be happy if

I was wanted by Arsenal. I have supported the team since the age of six. Nwankwo Kanu has been my idol since childhood. It will be fantastic to play for Arsenal.

Musa Emenike

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