Monday, april 20, 2015

Nigeria to overtake UK, France in growth by 2030 –Report CHIDI UGWU

WITH AGENCY REPORT

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igeria’s economy is to grow faster than those of France and

Okonjo-Iweala

Vol. 5 N0. 1094

United Kingdom by 2030, a consultancy firm, Price WaterhouseCoopers, PwC, has projected.

Making the forecast in its latest report titled: “The world in 2050: Will the shift

THE

in global economic power continue?” PwC reported that China will be the largest economy by 2030, while India may challenge the United States for second

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

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Xenophobic attacks: Nigerians lose N21m —Envoy P.4

Monday, April 20, 2015

N150

Ondo mysterious deaths linked to Ethanol poison Ogun moves to curtail possible outbreak at border town

OJO OYEWAMIDE AND FEMI OYEWESO

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thanol poison has been found in the systems of victims of the mysterious deaths at Ode Irele in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The strange deaths had been ascribed to an angry local deity called “malokun” in whose shrine some youths had allegedly gone to steal.

But the Commissioner CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Airspace closure: NAMA, NATCA reach truce P.6 Chukwumerije, 75, dies of lung cancer ...PDP, others, mourn

South Africa anti-immigraton violence: Foreign nationals heading home from Durban to Zimbabwe, yesterday.

PHOTO: BBC

Why US backs Buhari on anti-corruption campaign Kashamu raises alarm over plot to extradite him

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700 feared dead in Mediterranean shipwreck

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Monday, April 20, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ondo mysterious death linked to Ethanol poison CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

for Health, Dayo Adeyanju, yesterday disclosed that findings from the post-mortem carried out on the victims and other laboratory tests showed that ethanol poison was found in their systems.

Adeyanju, who made the disclosure in Akure, added that preliminary report also revealed that the disease was neither epidemic nor contagious.

He said: “Our investigations have also revealed that the victims, who, interestingly, were all Okada riders, gathered at some local joints to consume alcoholic substance mixed with roots and some other local herbs on the eve of the outbreak of the disease.

“I can assure you that the disease is in no way contagious. The fact that none of the caregivers has contracted the disease has greatly underscored this point.

“Therefore, the fear of spread does not arise and should be discouraged. We strongly suspect ethanol poison, and in view of this, we have ordered for another toxicology test for surviving victims.”

Saying there had been no report of new cases in the last three days, the commissioner explained that 23 people were affected in all, out of which 18 had lost their lives.

According to him, five survivors who have gone blind had been referred to the University Teaching Hospital, UCH, Ibadan for further examination and monitoring.

Adeyanju said he would not join issues with traditionalists, who believe that the death was due to some angry god from whose shrines some youths were said to have gone to steal.

He said his job goes beyond explaining the god’s action as he was expected to back up his claims with available evidence.

The commissioner, however, said that the dead persons would be buried in body bags to curtail the spread of the disease.

A spokesman for the World Health Organisation, WHO, also disclosed that pesticide poisoning was the probable cause of the mysterious deaths.

The spokesman, Gregory Haertl, confirmed that tests done so far had been nega-

tive for viral and bacterial infections.

He said the current theory was that the deaths were caused by weedkiller.

Haertl tweeted: “Current hypothesis is cause of the event is herbicides” and “Tests done so far are negative for viral and bacterial infection.”

Meanwhile, Ogun State government has assured residents and citizens not to entertain any fear over

the possible spread of the disease to the state.

The state government said the assurance became imperative owing to the fact that Ogun shares common boundaries with Ondo State at Waterside Local Government.

A statement issued over the weekend in Abeokuta, the state capital by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, explained that the

state’s Disease Surveillance Team, who had earlier been on red alert has been deployed to ensure that the disease does not spread to the state.

Soyinka also explained that the state’s Emergency Response Team is maintaining close contact with the Ondo State government on other measures towards ensuring that the disease is curtailed and does not constitute anoth-

er national epidemic like the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD. “Given recent outbreaks, we are aware that the members of the general public may be worried. However, we wish to assure the people of Ogun State that there is no immediate cause for concern.

“In particular, we are monitoring Ogun Waterside Local Government area closely and are sensitising our border

communities to reduce cross border movements to Ondo State for now,” the commissioner said.

Soyinka, who explained that the characteristics of the deaths were not suggestive of any highly infectious disease, further hinted that the Disease Surveillance Team whose capability had earlier been enhanced during the outbreak of EVD has been put on full alert on the order of the governor.

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima (standing) speaking when he led a Borno State delegation comprising traditional rulers led by the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi, elected National and State Assembly members and other stakeholders on a congratulatory visit and pre-inaugural interface with the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, at his residence in Kaduna, yesterday.

Nigeria to overtake UK, France in growth by 2030 –Report CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

place by 2050 even as it predicted that the emerging economies of Nigeria, Indonesia and Mexico could push the UK and France out of the top ten economies of the world by the year.

The firm, however, hinged Nigeria’s and other countries’ capacities to meet the growth trajectories on the extent to which their governments are able to build their institutions to global standards, diversify their economies and sustained growth-friendly policies.

Reflecting on the report, the PwC Nigeria’s Chief Economist and co-author, Mr. Andrew S. Nevin, explained: “Nigeria’s potential advantages for future growth include a large consumer market, a strategic

geographic location, and a young and highly entrepreneurial population.

“With drop in oil pric, which could thwart this possibility as a result of the attendant pressure on fiscal policy, Nigeria will need to manage the oil price decline effectively at all levels of government and create a sustainable platform for diversification into the sectors.

“We are all aware of the significant headwinds created by the rapid drop in the oil price, putting pressure on the fiscal and monetary systems, as well as reducing economic growth in the short term.

“To achieve its longterm economic potential, Nigeria will need to manage the oil price decline effectively at all levels of

government and create a sustainable platform for diversification into the sectors that we know will drive the economy in the future – including power, agriculture, manufacturing, telecoms, hospitality and real estate.”

According to him, over the past decade, Nigeria has boasted superior economic growth and, with the right reforms and investments, the country could become one of the world’s leading economies by 2030, with further progress by 2050.

The report stated further that Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia are set to be notable risers with Colombia and Poland growing more strongly by 2050 than Brazil and Russia.

With a long-term projections of potential GDP growth up to 2050 for 32 of the largest economies in the world, covering 84 per cent of total global GDP, the PwC report projects insist that the current global economic power shift away from established advanced economies in North America, Western Europe and Japan will continue over the next 35 years – despite a projected slowdown in Chinese growth after around 2020.

Noting that the world economy is projected to grow at an average of just over three per cent yearly from 2014-50, doubling in size by 2037 and nearly tripling by 2050, the report which tipped China as the largest economy by 2030 on any measure, however stated that it expected China’s

growth rate to slow markedly after around 2020 as its population ages and high investment rate runs into diminishing marginal returns.

“Eventual reversion to the global average has been common for past high growth economies such as Japan and South Korea and we expect China to follow suit,” it stated.

Other highlights from PwC’s projections are that India has the potential to sustain its higher growth rate for longer and become a $10 trillion economy by around 2020 in purchasing power (PP) terms, or around 2035 at market exchange rates while emerging economies like Indonesia, Brazil and Mexico have the potential to be larger than the UK and France by 2030.

FRANKA OSAKWE

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esearchers from the United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) have developed a special IVF technique that would combine genetic materials from three people to produce a baby. This means the baby will have three biological parents (two mothers and a father).

The new procedure involves using the nuclear DNA from two parents (father and mother) and the mitochondrial DNA of a third person (a second mother) to create an embryo.

The researchers say the procedure will prevent children from being born with mitochondria disease. Mitochondrial disease is an inherited chronic illness that can be present at birth or develop later in life. It causes debilitating physical, developmental, and cognitive disabilities with symptoms including poor growth, loss of muscle coordination, muscle weakness and pain, seizures, vision and hearing loss, gastrointestinal issues, learning disabilities and organ failure. Report has it that about 1 in 2,000 people has Mitochondria disease, the disease is progressive and has no cure.

So with the hope of preventing these genetic diseases, the British parliaments recently passed a bill of approval on the 3-parent IVF procedure and this will become a law in UK come October 29. What this means is that by next year 2016, the world will be seeing the first 3-parent baby from UK, and more children will follow suit.

In Britain, about 2,500 women give birth to children with mitochondria disease and these women would be benefiting from the 3-parent IVF. The implication is that about 150 children with 3-parents will be born in Britain every year after the law is drafted.

However, advocates of the procedure have denied the 3-parent ascription of the procedure, claiming that the procedure is merely a mitochondrial DNA transfer, which involves replacing an egg’s defective mitochondrial DNA with healthy DNA from a female donor, to prevent children suffering debilitating conditions like muscular dystrophy.

“This is very good news for patients with mitochondrial DNA disease and an important step in the prevention of transmission of serious mitochondrial disease,” says Prof.

Doug Turnbull, Professor of Neurology, Newcastle University.

DID YOU KNOW?

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Good Health New IVF technique creates baby with three parents Also, Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer for England said the intention in allowing the new procedure is to ensure that mothers thers who carry faulty mitomito chondria can have ave healthy children free from devastating ng and often deadly conditions caused ed by serious mitochondrial disease. se.

“It is important ant to remember that mitochondrial DNA represents less than 0.054 per cent nt of the total DNA, and is not part of the he nuclear DNA, which determines our personal characteristics and traits such ch as personality, hair and eye colour.

“It is only right ht that we introduce this life-saving fe-saving treatment as soon n as we can so we can give ve hope to hundreds of families”, he said.

However those against the procedure ocedure have warned thatt threeparent babies could ould be at greater risk of cancer and premature ageing and would need to be monitored all their lives.

Dr Trevor Stamammers Programme me Director in Bioeththics and Medical cal Law at St Mary’ss University, explained that: “Even if these babies are born n they will have to be monitored all their eir lives, and their eir children will have ave to be as well.

“We do not yet et know the interaction between the mitochondria and nd nuclear

Texting with your phone stresses your spine new study reveals that every time you look down at your cell phone to text, it’s equal to four bowling balls weighing down on your spine.

Bending your head to text or browse puts lots of extra stress on your cervical spine, but there are ways to be a smarter

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Monday, April 20, 2015

user of your smart device.

Dr. Ken Hansraj, a spinal and orthopedic surgeon in New York, set out to measure the impact that the typical texting posture —head tilted forward, shoulders drooping — is having on our bodies.

An adult head weighs 10-12 pounds in a neutral position, but by tilting it forward, the forces it exerts on the neck can surge—up to 60 pounds when the head is tilted by 60 degrees, Hansraj found in a study recently published in the journal Surgical Technology International. That may lead to “early wear, tear, degeneration, and possibly surgeries,” the study found.

•Gets approval in Britain

DNA. To say D that it is the th same as changsa ing a battery is facile. It’s an exfac tremely complex trem thing.” thing.

Dr Paul KnoepAlso, D associate professor fler, assoc

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pot of yoghurt a day could help beat high blood pressure, a study claims. Researchers have discovered that boosting healthy bacteria in the gut with probiotics found in live yoghurt can improve and maintain healthy blood pressure.

Probiotics or “good” bacteria are micro-organisms in the gut which are believed to be beneficial for health. Research leader Dr Jing Sun said: “The studies suggest regular consumption of probiotics can be part of a healthy lifestyle to help reduce high blood pressure, as well as maintain healthy blood pressure levels.”

The studies suggest regular consumption of probiotics can be part

at the University of California, Davis, said: “Since this is uncharted territory and the children born from this technology would have heritable genetic changes, there are also significant unknown risks to future generations.

“There are numerous serious risks associated with this technology. These include the possibility that developmentally disabled or deceased babies will be produced.”

Yoghurt can reduce high blood pressure –Study of a healthy lifestyle to help reduce high blood pressure.

Dr Sun said they believed probiotics helped by having other positive effects such as improving total cholesterol levels, reducing blood glucose and insulin resistance and helping regulate the hormone system controlling blood pressure and fluid balance.

High blood pressure, is a risk factor for stroke and heart ¬disease and is often called the “silent killer” because it mostly has no symptoms.

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Photo News

Monday, April 20, 2015

L-R: Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Deputy Governor, China’s Central Bank, Mr Yi Gang, and United States Chairman of Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Mrs. Janet Louise Yellen, emerging from the G-24 meeting of Ministers and Governors during the 2015 Annual Spring Meeting of the World Bank/IMF event in Washington, D.C.

L-R: Group Company Secretary/General Counsel, United Capital Plc (UCP), Leo Okafor; Director, UCP, Emmanuel Nnorom; Chairman, UCP, Chika Mordi; Group CEO, UCP, Oluwatoyin Sanni ; Non-Executive Director, UCP, Yoro Mohamed Dialo; and Non-Executive Director, Adim Jibunoh at the United Capital Plc Annual General Meeting in Lagos, recently.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Business Development Director, Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Daesong Ra; Head, Business Development, Technology and Mobile, Mr. Olumide Ojo; Managing Director, Mr. Brovo Kim; Director, Information Technology and Mobile, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas; Head, Product Marketing, Information Technology and Mobile, Ms. Olajumoke Okikiolu and Samsung Electronics brand ambassador, Banky W, during the official launch of Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphones in Lagos, at the weekend. PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

L-R: Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Obinnia Abajue; Deputy Group Managing Director, Coscharis Group, Mr. Okey Nwuke, and Executive Director, Personal Banking, Access Bank, Mr. Victor Etuokwu, at the partnership signing ceremony for Coscharis Motors Auto Finance Scheme in Lagos, at the weekend.

National News

Xenophobic attacks: Nigerians lose N21m –Envoy Gboyega Adeoye

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igerian ConsulGeneral in South Africa, Mr. Uche Ajulu-Okeke, said yesterday that Nigerians have lost more than 1.2 million Rand (N21 million) in the on-going xenophobic attacks.

She told News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, by phone from Johannesburg, South Africa, that the loss included looted shops, burnt shops, two burnt mechanic workshops, 11 burnt cars and two stolen cars, among others.

“Nigerians have compiled damage to their property and it is totalling about 1.2 million Rand or N21 million, which will be sent to the Federal Government for further action,” she said.

She said in Durban, two of the three Nige-

•Group blames government over unemployment rians who were wounded during the attacks had been treated and discharged from hospital.

The consul-general said she would go back to Durban to assess the situation on ground and meet with the provincial authority on security of Nigerians in that Province.

“The Nigerian mission in South Africa is on top of the situation. We are working hard to protect Nigerians in South Africa.

“Though the task has not been easy, we are trying our best. In one of the hot spots at Jeppe, near Johannesburg, the mission assisted about 50 stranded Nigerians to re-settle.

“I have also visited the site of the attacks in Johannesburg to

assess the damage and it was enormous,” she said.

The envoy added that the Nigerian mission would meet with all Nigerian Union chapters in the nine provinces of South Africa to find strategies on how to check the attacks.

“I am bringing all Nigerians together so that we work out a vigilance and alert mechanism; they will also tell me what their challenges and issues are,” she said.

According to Okeke, the mission and the Nigerian Union had been working cordially to meet the challenges caused by the xenophobic attacks.

Meanwhile, Coalition of Oodua Self Determination Groups, COSEG, has called on

the Federal Government to address the lingering problem of unemployment so as to stem the tide of migrant workers streaming out of the country.

The call, according to the groups’ Chairman, Ifedayo Ogunlana, was necessitated by the ongoing xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa.

Ogunlana said: “COSEG is highly alarmed by persisting ugly development where we learnt some Yoruba have been affected, we symphatise with the victims.

The Yoruba is known worldwide to be sophisticated and rich in custom and moral values.

“We are hardworking people with track records of trail blaz-

ing in socio-economic advancement, engendered by quality leadership and painstaking followership. This feat has earned us the first television station in Africa as well as other social amenities that place the Yoruba above every other race.

“We view the current trend as a product of acute mis-governance in the centre as aided by the unequal amalgamation of the entity called Nigeria.”

Ogunlana noted that as much as the xenophobic attack is highly reprehensible because people have the right to live anywhere as long as they don’t commit crimes, it should serve as an eye opener to countries that have made

life difficult for their citizens to the extent that they go to other countries to pick up menial jobs.

COSEG however advised the Federal Government to make job creation a priority, stressing that the present administration has failed Nigerians through its abysmal performance and wanton disregard for human dignity.

The group urged the incoming government to, as a matter of urgency, stem the tide of migrant workers streaming out of the country, saying “General Muhammadu Buhari should also give life to his promises by creating jobs that would give living wages to the youths, no matter their qualifications.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Monday, April 20, 2015

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Why US backs Buhari on anti-corruption campaign ISE-OLUWA IGE AND OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

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he United States of America may have deliberately collaborated with Nigeria and the in-coming government in the fight against corruption in order to ensure certain individuals wanted in the US are finally extradited to face trials.

Facts have emerged on why the US has thrown her weight behind the anti-corruption stance of the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.

National Mirror exclusively gathered that the US was backing Buhari in his anti corruption campaign in order to extradite prominent Nigerian politicians who have been on the want-

ed lists of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, for sundry offences.

These politicians, according to sources, are top ranking members of both the outgoing political party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, allegedly protected by the federal might of President Goodluck Jonathan and the incoming All Progressives Congress, APC. National Mirror gathered from reliable sources who had been investigating cases involving these prominent Nigerians that the US, had running battles with the outgoing PDP-led Federal Government over prominent members of the party, who allegedly have cases to answer over alleged involvement in financial crimes.

We learnt that many high ranking members of the

APC are also on the wanted lists of the FBI and the best way to get them to face trials for their crimes was to offer full support to Presidentelect Buhari, for the US to get these individuals to face trial for their crimes.

General Buhari had used his strong anti-corruption stance as one of the fulcrums during the electioneering campaigns for the 2015 presidential election; a stance many believed gave him an upper hand in the run up to the election When contacted, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, in his reaction said that if the US is collaborating with the incoming government, it will be to the benefit of the masses, although he said the US never gave such support to the outgoing President

and administration.

His words: “The truth is that I’m not aware of this development. At the party level, we don’t know, but we will be happy, if the US is collaborating with the incoming government bilaterally.

“Although the US never gave President Jonathan such support and collaboration; if that happens, we will appreciate it.

“They will be supporting Nigerians and the people will be the greater beneficiaries of such bilateral arrangement.”

Asked about his reaction to some members of the PDP allegedly on the wanted list of the US, but protected by the outgoing PDP-led government, Metuh said that every suspect is assumed innocent until proved guilty,

L-R: Chairman, Uvwe LGA, the Ovie of Uvwe, Emmanuel Sideso Abe; Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan; his Deputy, Prof.

Amos Utuama, and others during official commissioning of the 120m Six-Spam Effunru, Uvwe Flyover Bridge in Warri, at the weekend.

Office of DIGs, Police Service Commission may be scrapped SAM OLUWALANA

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he incoming of administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari plans to carry out sweeping reforms in the judiciary and the police, National Mirror has learnt.

To show its seriousness on the matter, the Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has been mandated to head the teams that will carry out these reforms in the two top establishments that are responsible for the maintenance of law and order in the country.

The judiciary and police have been dogged with allegations of corruption and inefficiency in the recent past

by Nigerians and they both

do not enjoy the confidence of the citizenry, especially during the recent elections, with allegations of complicity in the act of illegalities at the polls leveled against one of the two organs of government.

Prof. Osinbajo, who was credited for a lot of wide range reforms that took place in the Lagos State judiciary, when he was the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, had stressed the need for the immediacy of the assignment and has initiated steps to hit the ground running.

Our correspondent learnt that he has already commissioned experts and top professionals in the judiciary and police circles to come up with recommendations that

will bring about the necessary changes.

According to a source close to the top echelon of the incoming administration who spoke with National Mirror in confidence, the police force will especially attract special attention of the Vice President-elect and his teams because it is seen as having failed in its duty as an impartial security outfit that is supposed to be committed to the deepening of democracy in the country, while ensuring the safety and security of citizenry.

According to the source, some specific areas to be looked into by the V.P. team will include, but not limited to the issue of the offices of the six Deputy Inspectors General, DIGs, accommoda-

tion and transfer of junior officers, motivation and post -service compensation packages and others.

“The positions of the DIGs are widely seen as unnecessary and a waste of resources in the force. All the police experts are of the opinion that the force ought to have only one DIG and not the present practice in which each of the six regions has a DIG,” the source said.

The source also gave other reasons why experts believe the position should be discarded.

“Each of the DIGs views himself as an Inspector General-in-waiting and sometimes, they may actually sabotage the efforts of their boss in order to realise their inordinate ambitions."

adding that if in the course of investigation, anyone is found culpable of any criminal act, such person, irrespective of his position or party, should be made to face the law.

Efforts by National Mirror to get a reaction from APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed proved abortive as his telephone line was not going.

Message sent to his e-mail address was not replied as at the time of filing this report.

Political analysts agree that it would be a good development if corrupt politicians, whether in PDP or APC are brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.

They also believed that it will be a litmus test for the incoming President Buhari, especially if high ranking members of his party, who played major role in his emergence as presidential candidate and Presidentelect, are among those to be so extradited for appropriate punishment for their past crimes against the nation.

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the PDP in the South West and Senator-elect for Ogun East Senatorial District, Buruji Kashamu has raised the alarm that former President Olusegun Obasanjo is plotting with the US security agencies to have him extradited to answer charges on drug related indictment.

Kashamu is contending that Obasanjo was making the alleged stealthy move to get back at him over the comprehensive political defeat he (Obasanjo) suffered because of him (Kashamu) in the PDP. In a petition he forwarded to National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Kashamu is asking the commission to probe the alleged move to abduct and forcibly take him to the US to answer charges on drug related offences.

The petition, dated April 15th, 2015 was written on his behalf by his lawyer, Mr. Abiola Oluyede and titled: “Prince Buruji Kashamu: Abduction Plans By United States of America Agents in Collaboration with Law Enforcement Agencies in Nigeria.”

The petition, which was addressed to the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Professor Bem Angwe

reads: “Kashamu has instructed that we bring certain important facts and records to your attention with regard to the illegality of this plan and the malicious and unpatriotic motives of those behind it and seek your urgent intervention in accordance with the jurisdiction expressly given to your commission by the National Human Rights Act 1995 as amended to carry out and inquiry into the matter in order to establish the culpability and compromise of certain institution in this despicable plan and to protect our client's fundamental human right to liberty, life and dignity of the person.”

Kashamu said despite several decisions both in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, which exonerated him from the alleged offences, desperate politicians had been putting pressure on the Attorney General of the Federation to resuscitate the US indictment against him in Nigeria and to instigate an extradition process.

According to him, the current plan to abduct him is an admission by the US authorities that there is no case against him and is a design instigated and commissioned by Obasanjo who seeks revenge against him for political reasons.

He, however, said that the pressure on the AGF did not work because up till date the US authorities had not made a request for Kashamu to be extradited to the US as required by the Extradition treaty the US and Nigeria as well as the Nigerian Extradition law.

He said that several people closed to the AGF had warned him to watch his back because there were moves to have him extradited to the US. The letter further reads: “Kashamu's enquiry revealed that indeed there had been moves by US officials within the region to secure the assistance of the head of the INTERPOL division in Nigeria, Mr. Solomon Arase, a Deputy Inspector General, for the arrest and delivery to the US officials of Kashamu for transportation to the US without following the due process required by the Nigeria Extradition Act.”

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Monday, April 20, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Chukwumerije dies of lung cancer

•PDP, Mark , others mourn OBIORA IFOH AND GEORGE OJI

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enator Uche Chukwumerije yesterday died of lung cancer.

The death was announced in a statement by Che Chidi Chukwumerije on behalf of the family.

“Comrade Chukwumerije passed into the open arms of history, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, after a long but gallant battle with lung cancer.

“His life is many volumes, which can only be told with care and time, of dedication and focus, integrity and discipline, and an unbroken love for the highest ideals of our shared humanity.

“Details of burial arrangements will be announced in due course. We ask only for your prayers and good wishes,” the statement said.

The senator, who was born in November, 1939, hailed from Isuochi in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.

Until his death, he was the senator that represent-

ed Abia North Senatorial zone.

In the contemporary Nigerian political terrain, Chukwumerije was an enigmatic figure and a prominent voice.

He was Minister of Information in 1992. He was a three-term senator, having been first elected in 2003.

He was chairman of the senate committee on education and a member of five other committees. He was also a member of the ECOWAS Parliament.

He founded or led various bodies, among which are: Movement for African Union 1962 – 1965, Socialist Agit-Prop Group 1964 – 1966, Progressive Thinkers Forum 1965 - 1966 and Christian Unity Band, 1991 In 1961, his socialist vision inspired him to join the Socialist Workers and Farmers Party, SWAFP, led

by Dr. Otegbeye.

At the end of the war in 1970, he founded AFRICOPE, the first continental mouthpiece of the African continent with circulation all over Anglophone Africa. By 1983 when the magazine folded up because of his heavy commitments to what he cherished as a superior cause namely

the fight for the masses in Aminu Kano’s PRP, Chukwumerije emerged the first journalist to interview Presidents or Heads of States of all Independent African states.

He in fact spearheaded a successful media campaign for Nigeria’s recognition of the regime of Dr. Augustinho Neto in wartorn Angola.

For three years, as PRP laboured against odds to win seats in two national

elections, Chukwumerije rose from the post of Publicity Secretary to Secretary General.

Till his death, he values Aminu Kano and the PRP as the role model for Nigeria’s political class.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday expressed over Chukwumerije’s death.

The party, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh described the senator as a democratic

icon.

“We are indeed deeply saddened by the loss of this great Nigerian, a highly respected statesman who has made immense contributions to the development of our dear nation.

“Senator Chukuwumerije lived a patriotic Nigerian and a brilliant lawmaker who gave his all and discharged his responsibilities with unequaled forthrightness,

loyalty and commitment to the service of our dear fatherland.

“He was a democratic icon and an outstanding party-man who remained committed to the ideology of the PDP and the visions of the founding fathers.

“We will greatly miss him. Our hearts and thoughts go out to his family as we pray God to give them the fortitude to bear this great loss,” the statement said.

Parish Administrator, Rev. (Fr.) Jude Nwigwe (right) and President, Catholic Women Organisation, Mrs. Pauline Out, during a mass to mark the 2015 Mother’s Day celebration at the Our Lady’s Queen of Nigeria Pro Cathedral, Garki, Abuja, yesterday.

ICPC probes 11 construction firms over N2trn tax evasion NAMA, NATCA reach truce on airspace closure today TORDUE SALEM ABUJA

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ndependent Corrupt Practices (and other related offences) Commission, ICPC, says it has commenced probe of about 12 tax offenders.

A source at the ICPC revealed at the weekend that in the course of investigations, the commission found that about “12 road construction firms working with the Federal Ministry of Works were operating with forged tax certificates.”

Among companies that may come under the hammer of ICPC are Arab Contractors, a road construction firm, Septa Energy, Tower Aluminum, B. Stabilini and others, who are alleged to have evaded tax over several years to the tune of about N2 trillion.

A source at ICPC, who confirmed that the commission had already re-

ceived a petition on the matter from the National Assembly Coalition on Cyber Crimes, said the commission would also push for prosecution of companies with high rate of casualised workers and fraudulent expatriate quota practices by foreign construction and oil and gas companies in the country.

The ICPC in a document it submitted to the Senate three weeks ago, stated: “In view of the Financial Intelligence analysis carried out by the commission on the plethora of petitions received on issues bordering on tax clearance certificates scam, investigation led to uncovering tax evasion, non-payment of Capital Gain Taxes, nonremittance of withholding tax and Value Added Tax.” The commission regretted the serial breach of the procurement process with the collaboration of procurement officers.

OLUSEGUN KOIKI

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igerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, has assured all airline operators and other service providers dependent on its services that there would not be any interruption in air traffic service today as threatened last week by Air Traffic Controllers, ATC. The agency in a statement yesterday from its acting General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs. Olajumoke Adetona, said the agitation by ATC on harmonisation of professional allowances with other professional groups in the agency had been addressed on merit and resolved by the Federal Government.

President, Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association, NATCA, Mr. Victor Eyaru, had threatened last week

that the controllers would embark on indefinite strike today if demands of his members were not met by last weekend.

The NATCA had embarked on a six-hour warning strike last week to press home the demand for improved welfare and professional packages.

However, Eyaru in a joint statement by the association’s General Secretary, Mr Banji Olawode, stated that Federal Government had approved payment of the harmonised rating allowances for its members and therefore called off the intended strike.

Adetona in her statement insisted that on the strength of this resolution, there was no cause for any industrial disharmony by professional groups in the agency.

She added that in furtherance to its commit-

ment to staff welfare, the agency reassured the general public of the safety and security of the Nigerian airspace at all time.

The stated advised all airline operators; local and foreign to go ahead with flights as scheduled today.

The statement added, “The management of NAMA hereby wishes to inform the general public that there would be no disruption in the provision of air traffic services on Monday, 20th April 2015 in line with the agency’s mandate to provide safe, economic, efficient and expeditious air navigation services.

“The service delivery capacity of the agency has been at optimum and further enhanced by the recent successful calibration of Navigational Aids across the country. In line with the agency’s vision, several

safety-critical projects, in particular ADS-C/CPDLC, are being closed to fully optimise capacity.”

Eyaru enjoined all its members to continue to render their services in ensuring a safe and secure airspace in Nigeria while it partnered with NAMA management on the future growth of the agency.

The statement further commended President Goodluck Jonathan, minister of aviation, minister of labour and productivity, chairman and staff of National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, NAMA’s management for their supports and understanding.

“To the teaming aviation stakeholders and passengers, we appreciate your understanding and patience. We assure you of a better and secure airspace,” the statement added.

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Monday, April 20, 2015

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News

Monday, April 21, 2015

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TETFUND disburses N1.3trn to varsities PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

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ederal Government said it has set aside N1.3 trillion through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND, to be disbursed to all 138 public universities, across the nation as intervention to tackle challenges confronting the institutions in key areas.

President Goodluck

Jonathan, who stated this at the 24th convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology, FUT, Minna, explained that the funds would be channeled towards improving the quality of infrastructural and personnel developments and other teaching and learning facilities in the public institutions.

The President, who spoke through Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission,

NUC, Prof. James Okojie, said the funds for the ivory tower would be disbursed to them over a period of six years.

He said, “Existing universities have no means left out of the transformation in tertiary education system. Government has, through the TETFund made the sum of N1.3 trillion to be disbursed to all public universities over a six-year period.

“I therefore, urge the

management to ensure judicious use of the allocation from the intervention fund to enhance FUT, Minna, and also leverage on staff development fund.”

Also giving a breakdown of the 138 universities, Jonathan stated that two of the 40 federal varsities are military and paramilitary, 59 are private and 39 are state universities, coupled with 50 study centres operated by the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN,

with nationwide spread.

Pro-Chancellor, Godwin Atuwatse, who is also the Olu of Warri, listed a number of factors militating against sound academic standard in tertiary institutions to include cultism, armed robbery and examination malpractices to the point that degrees obtained from the nation’s varsities are no longer respected outside the shores of Nigeria.

Earlier, Vice Chancellor,

FUT, Minna, Prof. Musbau Akanji, said a total of 3,490 students graduated, 2,903 with first degrees; 105 having post-graduate diplomas, with 453 Masters and 29 Doctor of Philosophy graduates.

He also explained that of the first degree category, 34 made first-class, 1,190 Second Class Upper Division, 811 Second Class Lower, 1,363 Third Class, while 648 graduated with Pass.

Jonathan appointees cost him the presidency –Kwankwaso OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

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L-R: Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; Chief Imam of Lagos, Alhaji Garba Akinola Ibrahim, and Governor Babatunde Fashola, at the Special Prayer session to commemorate the 8 Years in Office of the Governor in Lagos, on Saturday.

Refuse dumps take over National Stadium

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ot less than five refuse heaps have been spotted at different locations within the National Stadium complex, Surulere, Lagos, leaving the sport complex environment filthy and unhealthy for users of the facility.

News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that some heaps of refuse were rather haphazardly located at the weightlifting gymnasium, opposite the mechanic workshop, behind the main bowl and by the legacy pitch, as well as the boxing gymnasium/secretariat.

Some of the athletes and

coaches who use the environment for training decried the awful sight.

They separately told NAN that the present state of the complex was not good enough and could pose health hazard to users of the stadium.

Many sportsmen and women, as well as individuals troop to the facility in the evenings, but mainly at weekends, to engage in jogging and other forms of exercises.

A good number of them also patronise on a daily basis, many of the drinking and relaxation joints within

the complex. It is believed that these visitors generate the huge wastes that has become an eyesore at the stadium.

Okechukwu Elendu, who said he uses the facility for physical exercises, said the management ought to be more responsive in ensuring cleanliness of the environment.

Elendu condemned the act of abandoning heaps of refuse at strategic places within the complex, describing it as an eyesore.

Ijeoma Iherobiem, an athlete, said the cleaners always come around in the morning

hours to clean up the environment and end up soliciting for trash bins to evacuate the wastes.

Iherobiem said the place was usually messed up as a result of lack of waste bins where people could dispose of wastes, stressing, “the heaps constitute mainly nylon, sachet water, biscuit wraps, banana peels, empty cartons of wine and bottles.

Meanwhile, Abolore Alanamu, National Stadium Manager, in reaction, said management was committed toward ensuring a healthy environment for users of the facility.

ano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso yesterday said President Goodluck Jonathan made several mistakes in appointing those working for him and that caused him re-election.

“You know he had all the opportunities, I don’t blame him, he did not play such a game at the national level for some time. He didn’t know who is who in this country; he was just looking at faces and those who were dressed very well. He meets them at the airport and he smiles and says ‘these are good people,’ he sits down and listens to gossips, ‘oh this man is bad, this man is good in so so places’ and sometimes he doesn’t even know the names and at the end of the day he made a big mistake by picking the wrong people.

“Look let me tell you, our leaders who were in this game before us, those who were in the 1st Republic especially, they told us so much about our friends in this country and if you happen to

UNHCR Nigeria to train staff on IDP protection

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he United Nations High Commission for Refugee, UNHCR, Nigeria, says it will train its staff and partners on protection of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the country.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by Mr Hanson Tamfu, External Relations Officer, UNHCR, the

commission said the training was within the context of UNHCR Level II for Nigeria’s situation.

It stated that the fourday training from April 20 to April 24 was designed to build the protection capacity of key stakeholders in Nigeria and UNHCR staff on IDP-related issues.

It noted that the training

would further arm stakeholders on how to handle the IDPs arising from activities of insurgents and communal clashes across Nigeria, adding that the relevant skills and knowledge acquired would equip participants for greater impact and more effective field work.

“Participants would be trained on protection, co-

ordination and cluster approach, legal frameworks on IDPs. “Others are protection analysis tools and guidelines on design of protection response and information on the humanitarian programme cycle.

“Prior to the commencement of the training, participants would have completed

an e-learning course which would further build their knowledge on international coordination system for large scale emergencies.

“The e-learning course would also encompass notes on humanitarian funding and planning and other areas of importance to humanitarian response to IDPs,’’ the statement said.

come from South South, where they were very close to our leaders they had done everything possible to work with that part of the country, but of course he misused the opportunity to the extent that many of us felt that with him there, we have no future as a people and as individuals and that is why we had to come and organise ourselves to defeat him.

“Look at what the wife was saying that northerners were bearing children and throwing them away.

How could you say that to northerners? With due humility we are masters of the game. You cannot stay and insult us and get away with it. Democracy is a game of numbers, whether you are almajiri or professor, everybody has one vote that was why we went back and put almijiris together to get about two million votes.”

He said Jonathan further alienated a part of the country when he allowed those close to him to be making disparaging remarks about the North, stressing that instead of providing leadership to all, Jonathan reduced his office to an instrument for causing divisions.

He blamed the PDP for being carried away by its successes, saying all those who supported it were hit in one way or the other.

“Nobody was important, even those of us who have high population and number of people in the country, those of us who by the grace of God have the confidence of our people were not being carried along by the PDP.

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South West

Monday, April 20, 2015

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How Nigeria can achieve Vision 2020 –CBN Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

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entral Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has explained how the nation can realise its 2020 Vision to be among the 20 strongest economies of the world by 2020.

Delivering a paper entitled, ‘Recent Development in the Nigerian Payment System’ during the 2015 Customer Forum at CBN, Osogbo branch, main hall, Principal Manager, Banking and Payment System Department of the bank, Mr. Emmanuel Etim Udoh, said for the goals to be met, there must be conscious effort targeted at ensuring government’s plans and policies regarding Vision 2020 do not fail.

Udoh said one of such policies was the National Payment Systems, NPS, stressing that the goal was to ensure availability of the system without interruption to meet users’ needs and operate at minimum with reasonable cost.

He also urged the Federal Government to follow the global trend and adopt best practices in her effort to achieve the vision, say-

ing that government had set up an 8-man committee to ensure its ministries and agencies achieve the vision.

Udoh maintained that the payment system plays a very crucial role in any economy, being the channel through which financial resources flow from one segment to the other.

He added that the core objective of the strategy that was launched in 2007 was to ensure an efficient payment system infrastructure that would be nationally utilised and internationally recognised.

In his welcome address, Osun State branch Controller of the bank, Mr. Machperson Effetabore, stated that effective and efficient service delivery was a global phenomenon that epitomises activities that concern satisfaction of customers, hence the need for the apex bank to play its expected role.

He assured that “Central Bank of Nigeria in its efforts to be one of the best in a very dynamic environment, adopts framework from time to time that would put in place best global practices.”

Impeachment: Gov stoking violence, says APC lawmakers Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

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he 19 All Progressives Congress, APC, lawmakers in Ekiti State House of Assembly have accused Governor Ayodele Fayose of inciting the people to violence against them for allegedly planning to resume their legislative duties today.

The APC lawmakers accused the governor of demonstrating non-commitment to the peace overture he made to them at the weekend over the impeachment threat.

In a statement by media aide to the Speaker, Adewale Omirin, Wole Olujobi, in response to the governor’s broadcast yesterday, the lawmakers stated: “It is shocking that the governor could go on air to start inciting workers, traders, okada riders and artisans to defend him with their last drop of blood”.

They also alleged a

public service announcement on the state-owned broadcasting outfit “urging okada riders to look out for strange faces across the state and attack them because they are thugs being imported by APC lawmakers”.

“They are also to converge on the House of Assembly as early as 6am on Monday to prevent the lawmakers from performing their legal duties,” the statement added.

The APC lawmakers, who denied any plan to invade the state with thugs, advised the governor not to entertain any fear, adding that he would be given a fair hearing.

They said: “The best he and his deputy can do is to appear before the panel to be set up by the Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, and defend themselves. This is the rule of law, which he has benefited from and there should not be an exception to this”.

L-R: Executive Director, Partnership for Child Development, Imperial College, London, Dr Lesley Drake; Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, at the London School of Economics Africa Summit, recently.

Tourism revolution’ll boost Lagos economy –Fashola

…inspects reconstruction of Apapa Amusement Park Francis Suberu

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overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has said the government was focused on implementing its road map of development geared towards revolutionising the tourism sector of the state.

Fashola, who stated this while inspecting reconstruction of the Apapa Amusement Park, said the state’s strategic road map in the tourism industry will further boost economic prosperity of the state.

The governor emphasised the essence of the Apapa Amusement Park, saying the intention was

to fall back to what was already in existence.

He said: “So, we go back to what we have, we don’t abandon what we have.

We can build more of this; but we just want to make a statement, the old Apapa Amusement Park can come back before we can now go to the Iddo Park, the Lekki Park or the Alimosho Park or the Amuwo-Odofin Park or even the Ajegunle Park” to demonstrate that we can fix things.

“So, we are now in the old Amusement Park in Apapa coming back to life because we have dared to believe and we dare to commit and we dare to work hard. Somebody told me this place looks like

Dubai and I told him there is no mystery to it, if people work hard we can build anything we want in this country and the money we can find because the market is here,” he said.

Describing the project as “a very strong statement of our commitment to tourism, Fashola said a lot of work was currently going on in Badagry at the Beach front, reclamations at the Slave Port adding that the rail and the expansion of the LagosBadagry Expressway was the driver of tourism.

“I have said it time after time, that if there is no transportation there will be no tourism. It is all about destinations, how quickly you can get

there, that is what the rail and the road expansion in Badagry will do.

That is what the about 15 or 16 roads we awarded in Apapa are doing”, the governor said.

He said his administration started with road construction in Apapa during the first term and now embarked on tourism destination because the road networks have been established.

Fashola added that, “What is important now is that people should live by the law. We cannot take over the road sidewalks, you have to drive properly, and you have to obey traffic signs because if people cannot get here then there is no tourism.”

14 die in Akure-Ilesha auto crash

•Fire kills 6months-old baby in Lagos Francis Suberu

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o fewer than 14 people lost their lives in a ghastly motor accident that occurred on Sunday at the Akure-Ilesha expressway.

It was gathered that the road crash involved a ve-

hicle coming from Akure and another coming from Ilesha.

The crash occurred very close to Ayo Babalola Seminary in Osun State.

According to spokesperson for National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, South West, Ibrahim Farinloye, “the ve-

hicle coming from Akure with a wedding train had five people killed, while the other from Ilesha, en route Akure had nine people killed on the spot.”

In another development, a 6-month-old baby boy was consumed in a fire incident Saturday night at CA Street, House

52, Shagari Estate, Mosan Okunola, in Ipaja area of Lagos.

Ibrahim Farinloye, who also confirmed the incident, said the fire was caused by candlelight the mother of the deceased baby placed on a candle stand, while she stayed outside, leaving the sleeping baby inside the room.

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South West

Francis Suberu

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agos State government said it has paid over N32.2 billion into the Retirement Savings Accounts, RSA, of 6,145 workers, who retired from the state’s public service between 2010 and now, and issued N8 billion as Retirement Bond Certificate.

Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions, Mrs. Florence Oguntuase, who disclosed this during a ministerial press conference at the weekend in Lagos, said the move was to ensure that retirees get their entitlements as and when due.

The commissioner explained that the monthly deduction of 7.5 per cent from employees salary and 7.5 counterpart fund-

Monday, April 20, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Retirees in Lagos get N32.2 billion

ing is now over N16 billion, while the employee joint contributions have cumulatively risen to over N57 billion since inception of the scheme in 2007.

Oguntuase added that the current administration through Lagos State Pension Commission, LASPEC, in collaboration with the state’s approved six Pension Fund Administration, PFAs, and five insurance companies, organised series of seminars for workers on pre-retirement plan in order to prepare them adequately for life after retirement.

According to her, the ministry had also organised seminars for workers scheduled to retire from the

state’s civil service between January and June this year.

The commissioner added that in a bid to provide an enabling environment for all civil servants in the state’s employ and position them for quality service delivery, government had or-

ganised capacity building programmes for its workers as a way of motivating them in the course of their duties.

To ensure that all pensioners are captured in the scheme, she said government has conducted verifi-

cation exercise for over seven thousand pensioners in 16 local governments of the state in January this year.

Also speaking, Director General of the Lagos State Pension Commission, LASPEC, Mr. Adekunle Hussain, revealed that the

present administration was set to review the State Pension Law and increase the monthly pension payment by the state government and staff in the ratio 10% and 8%, respectively, as against the current 7.5 per cent.

Ondo poll: APC heads for court Ojo Oyewamide AKURE

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ll Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State has approached the Federal High Court in Akure, the state capital, seeking an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct a fresh House of Assembly poll in Ilaje constituency I and II. Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Segun Agbaje, had declared the April 11 Assembly election in the two constituencies inconclusive following widespread violence and snatching of electoral materials.

The APC in a suit filed by its counsel, Charles Titiloye, is seeking a declaration that INEC cannot consider the concocted results from the polling units where ballot boxes were allegedly snatched and stuffed by hoodlums.

The party is also seeking a declaration that INEC was duty bound to comply with its guidelines and manual issued pursuant to power conferred on it by the Electoral Act, particularly the provisions of electoral guidelines/ manual, which made the use of card reader machines compulsory for accreditation during the said election.

The APC is asking the court to declare that INEC and its officers were in breach of its guideline on compulsory use of electronic

card reader and the regulation guiding ward collation of result during the said inconclusive election at Ilaje, Ondo State.

It is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC, its servants, agents and privies from further dispensing of with the use of card readers in accordance with its guidelines during its planned supplementary elections.

The party further prayed the court to order the commission, for the purpose of the supplementary election in the two Ilaje constituencies, to deduct votes that political parties scored in polling units where ballots boxes were reportedly snatched, stuffed and where accreditation was done manually without the use of card readers.

The party further urged the court to order INEC to conduct a fresh election in the entire two constituencies if deduction of such illegal votes substantially invalidates the whole election conducted on April 11.

In a 24-paragraph statement of claim filed before the court, APC said the REC while declaring the election as inconclusive, stated that electoral materials in some of the wards were hijacked by hoodlums from the distribution centre and that INEC returning officers for the two Ilaje constituencies were forced under duress to collate the results at Igbokoda collation centre.

L-R: Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titilayo Laoye-Tomori; widow of the late General Leader of Cherubim and Seraphim Movement, Ayo ni o, Mama Grace Fakeye and son, Olumide, during the burial at Imesi Ile, Osun State, at the weekend.

FAAN destroys N1m goods at Lagos terminal Olusegun Koiki

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ederal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, yesterday seized and destroyed goods worth over N1 million during its raid of the Hajj and Camp terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos.

Raid of the terminal was supervised by Chief Security Officer, CSO, of FAAN, Mr. Uche Ukeni,

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n intellectual roundtable comprising accomplished Ekiti State indigenes, aptly referred to as Ekitipanupo, is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary at Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on May 23.

The event, which is expected to draw the crème-de-la-crème of the state and beyond, will witness conferment of Timeless Merit Awards on a legal icon and owner of the first private varsity in the state, Afe Babalola (SAN), and a former Managing Direc-

and a 31-year-old female suspect was arrested in the process.

The airports authority said two canopies were illegally set up at the raided site; one was used as a church, while the other was filled with various assorted drinks.

Ukeni said the authority had to conduct the raid to sanitise the airport environment of touting activities.

He said the illegal ac-

tivities allowed people who have no business at the airport to linger and cause unnecessary panic and mayhem, adding that any person interested in operating business at the nation’s airports should approach the commercial department of FAAN for documentation and approval.

The CSO said the authority would continue to carry out such exercise periodically, stressing

that most illegal activities within the airport were carried out around the overgrown fields.

But a cargo operator at the terminal, Aliu Danbaba, told journalists that operators within the hajj and cargo terminal used the shanties as a resting place after work.

Danbaba said the items sold at the shanties were cheaper than those inside approved shops at the terminal.

Ekitipanupo to mark 10th anniversary tor of the Federal Mortgage Bank, Bamidele Falegan, among others.

Other distinguished Ekiti indigenes to be honoured at the epochmaking event include Dr Adebimpe Okunade, Senator Banji Akintoye and Emeritus Prof Michael Omolewa.

A statement released yesterday by chairman of Media and Publicity Committee of the event, Sam Oluwalana, revealed that Governor Ayodele Fayose would be

special guest of honour.

The programme has the theme: ‘Rejuvenation of Ekiti bond and values’, which the statement described as “carefully chosen to further instill the culture of unity and peaceful co-existence among Ekiti patriots across the globe.”

The programme will also feature the unveiling of Ekitipanupo logo and delivery of lectures

by Dr J. Ayo Ajayi and Prof. Michael Omolewa.

While the five oldest

members of the forum will be honoured at the event, the welcome address would be delivered

by Leader of Ekitipanupo, Prof Akin Oyebode, a former Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University.

Also, the Ekitipanupo logo will be unveiled by guest of honour, Afe Babalola, even as the opening remarks would be made by Chairman on the occasion and former governor, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

No plan to impeach Chime —Speaker Dennis Agbo ENUGU

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nugu State House of Assembly at the weekend said it has no plan to impeach Governor Sullivan Chime.

Speaker of the House, Eugene Odo, made this known while briefing journalists through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Lawrence Agbo.

The speaker said despite series of infractions, intimidation and blackmail directed at the House and himself, “the House, for now, has no plan to impeach the governor,” he said.

Chief press secretary to the Speaker was reacting to an advertorial by Chief Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Chukwudi Achife, in which he accused the speaker of personal interest in the current probe of some activities of the state government, as well as the warrant of arrest issued against Accountant General of the state, Paschal Okolie, by the Assembly.

He alleged that it was the lawmakers’ rejection of N11 billion loan request from the executive that precipitated the sour relations between the two arms of government.

It would be recalled that the House presided over

by Odo had on resumption probe of the state government’s activities, last Wednesday asked the Commissioner of Police to bring the Accountant General to the House in their next sit-

Charles Okeke AWKA

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andidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, has dragged Honourable Uche Ekwunife, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and others before the Anambra Election Petition Tribunal over the outcome of Anambra Central Senatorial poll.

In the petition filed at weekend, Umeh is challenging the declaration of the PDP’s candidate, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, as Senator-elect for Anambra Central Senatorial zone by INEC. Umeh’s petition suit number EPT/ AWKA/5//16/2015, was filed at the Tribunal’ Secretariat in Anambra State

South East

Monday, April 20, 2015

ting (Tuesday).

The House had during its sitting on Tuesday last week cancelled the water concession deal by the government, stopped land allocation at the International Conference Centre, construction of Park and Shopping Mall near the House of Assembly complex and land allocation at Old Eastern Nigeria Industrial Centre, Zik’s Avenue, Enugu.

The warrant of arrest was issued after the Accountant General failed to honour several summons by the House to answer questions on starving the House of its statutory overheads and allowances, while the executive and the judicial arm of government have been receiving theirs.

Odo said that contrary to the advertorial by Achiefe that the House had already approved a loan of N11 billion requested by the state government before recanting recently, the House rather disapproved of the loan because it was coming less than 60 days to the end of the administration and the state was already under heavy yoke of staggering debts.

The speaker contradicted the governor’s press secretary, who stated that the House had no right to arrest the Accountant General, saying that section 129 (1b) empowers the state and National Assembly to conduct inquiry into public office/ officer charged with implementation of appropriation as approved.

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Ahamba faults INEC’s decision on Imo guber poll Chris Njoku OWERRI

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Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Chief Mike Ahamba, has faulted decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to declare the governorship election in Imo State inconclusive, saying INEC erred in law to re-run the election in some local government areas.

Addressing newsmen in Owerri, Imo State capital, over the weekend, Ahamba explained that the word “inconclusive” means the election failed, noting that

the whole exercise should have been repeated once the election was declared inconclusive.

According to him, once an election is considered inconclusive, it has to be repeated all over, adding that recently in Oguta Local Government Area of the state, where election was held off because of four wards, the whole election was repeated in the area.

He also condemned the use of thugs to win election.

He lamented the widespread violence, intimidation, fake policemen, and fake monitors in the last

election, pointing out that the case of an electoral officer saying she was forced to falsify results was enough for INEC to cancel the whole election.

“The woman said the results were not the original, why would INEC stop at nothing to demand for the original results before the fake one came in.”

He also criticised the Returning Officer for allegedly reworking the collated results from Ezinihitte Local Government Area where the result was pruned down from over 48,000 to 29,000 because the returning officer claimed

the number of PVCs supplied to the local government was higher than the number of registered voters in the area.

Ahamba faulted the returning officer’s decision to rework the results certified okay by all party agents. “It is not the work of the returning officer to start reworking figures the electoral officer had collated if there is irregularity otherwise, what is the work of the election tribunal? What he (returning officer) can do is to look at the papers to see if they were signed by all agents.”

L-R: Former Anambra State Governor, Chief Peter Obi; returning Senator for Anambra South, Mr. Andy Uba and Senator-elect, Anambra Central, Hon. Uche Ekwunife, during presentation of certificates of return to elected National Assembly members in Awka at the weekend. PHOTO: NAN

Anambra Central poll: Umeh drags Ekwunife, INEC to election tribunal Judiciary Complex, Awka, at the weekend.

Fielding questions from newsmen shortly after filing the petition against Ekwunife and INEC, Umeh said he had done everything he was supposed to do to put his petition in proper perspective, including paying the security cost.

Umeh, who doubles as National Chairman of APGA, said he was not desperate about going to the Senate.

He stated that he filed the petition asking the tribunal to declare him winner of March 28, 2015, election for Anambra Central Senatorial seat, since he won the election.

Umeh said one of the reasons he was contesting

the election at the tribunal was to protect the interest of his supporters most of who voted for him during the election and want him to be in the Senate.

Umeh also said he went to the tribunal to preserve due process and democratic tenets, as well as protect

APGA, which he alleged has been victim of several electoral frauds.

Umeh said he filed his petition exactly five days after collecting the Certified True Copy, CTC, of INEC election result, and urged his supporters and all APGA members in the

Abia re-run: Chris Njoku OWERRI

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socio-political group known as South East Progressives Assembly, SEPA, has alleged that some forces were working with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to declare

Dr. Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, winner of the Saturday, April 25 re-run election in the affected polling units.

The group warned that such act would tantamount to subverting the popular wish of Abia people.

In a statement signed at the weekend by Ebere

state to remain calm and look up to God for divine intervention.

He expressed implicit confidence in the ability of the tribunal to do justice in this case, adding that this was not the first time he has gone to court over an issues relating to politics.

Umeh stated that it was only by challenging injustice and electoral fraud that a good society can be built.

He alleged that huge electoral fraud was meted to the entire South East in the March 28 and April 11, 2015 elections.

Uzoukwa and Comrade Munonye Maximus, President and Secretary, respectively, and made available to newsmen in Owerri, Imo State capital, SEPA alleged a possible collaboration between the military and some corrupt INEC officials to divert the results sheets and fabricate outrageous figures

that would award victory to APGA candidate.

The group therefore, reminded INEC and other stakeholders that Abia people have already spoken on April 11 through their massive votes for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu.

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South South

Bonga oil spill: Fishermen task Buhari on compensation

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rtisanal fishermen in the Niger Delta have urged president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to pay the recommended compensation to victims of Bonga oil spill when he assumes office.

Coordinator, Artisan Fishermen Association of Nigeria, ARFAN, Niger Delta chapter, Rev. Samuel Ayadi, made the call yesterday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Yenagoa.

The spill, which occurred in Bonga offshore oil field belonging to Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, SNEPCO, discharged 40,000 barrels of crude into the Atlantic.

The pollution, which occurred on December 20, 2011, and covered 185 kilometre along the Nigerian coast, compelled fishermen in the area to desert the sea.

House of Representatives and National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, had in December 2014 recommended payment of $3.96 billion compensation to the victims.

Ayadi said failure by the

company to pay the recommended compensation had crippled fishermen in the region, and urged Buhari to come to their rescue.

“We have not been able to get out of the problems of Bonga spill; more than 50,000 of our members were affected because we operate in the Atlantic Ocean.

“Our members lost their fishing nets and gears.

When the spill occurred the regulator directed us to suspend operations to avoid catching contaminated fishes.

“We complied and withdrew from fishing activities till clean-up was completed.

“Many of our members have been thrown out of business following that incident, which wiped out generations of fish from the waters.

“That is why Bonga fish, which the facility is named after, is almost extinct now,’’ he said.

According to him, the fishing sub-sector is often neglected in government’s policies on agriculture, which the incoming administration should revitalise.

Delta: Theophilus Onojeghen WARRI

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wo men disguised as senior army officers have been arrested by men of the 222 Battalion, Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State for parading themselves as Commanding Officers of 3 Battalion, Warri, and 222 Battalion, Agbarha-Otor.

Enguru Marvelous and Omowhovo Efe had through their nefarious actions also duped several members of the public of huge sums of monies.

Commanding Officer, 222 Battalion, Lt. Col. Mathew Oyekola, disclosed this to newsmen at the weekend while handing the suspects over to crime unit of the police at Ughelli Area Command. He said the duo not only impersonated but also swindled unsuspecting members of the public of money by promising to assist them get recruited into the Nigerian Army.

He warned citizens to be-

Monday, April 20, 2015

Rivers police arrest 104 electoral offenders

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ivers State Police Command yesterday said its officers arrested 104 persons for election-related offences in the state.

Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, said in a

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tion days in different parts of the state,’’ he said.

Muhammad said the suspects were arrested for alleged offences against the Electoral Act 2010 or other extant laws of the country.

“Items recovered from

the suspects included multiple Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, offensive weapons and electoral materials, including ballot papers and boxes,’’ he said.

He added that the suspects would be charged to court after investigations.

Bayelsa Assembly re-run: APGA wins seat …PDP grabs seven more YENAGOA

ayelsa government yesterday read the riot act to multinational companies prospecting oil and gas in the state over incessant pollution of its communities.

The government warned that any oil company whose operations resulted in the pollution of the environment would be made to face the wrath of the law.

Commissioner for Environment, Mr Inuro Wills, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Yenagoa.

He spoke shortly after visiting Kolo Creek oil fields where a leak in the oil pipeline discharged crude into farmlands and vegetation.

He said the pipeline leak at Kolo Creek manifold in Otuasega, Ogbia Local Gov-

statement in Port Harcourt that the police had begun investigating 41 different cases involving the suspects.

“The command is discreetly investigating 41 different cases involving 104 suspects arrested on elec-

L-R: Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Godwin Ntukedeh; Governor Godswill Akpabio and President, Akwa Progressive Commercial Taxi Tricycle and Motorcycles Association, Comrade Udo Johnson, during donation of 70 new buses to tricycle operators in Akwa Ibom, at the weekend. PHOTO: NAN

Osahon Julius

ware of persons claiming to know top hierarchy of the military to get their wards/ children enlisted into the Nigerian Army, saying that recruitment into the army was open to the public through writing of recruitment exams.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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ll Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in a shock performance won one seat in Saturday’s Bayelsa State House of Assembly’s rescheduled poll, as massive protest votes against the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led to the victory of its candi-

date, Ebiye Tarabina, in Kolokuma/Opokuma 2 constituency.

Tarabina, according to the result declared on Saturday night at 11:35pm by Returning Officer of the poll and Senior Lecturer of the Federal University, Otuoke, Dr. E. Roselyn, defeated the PDP candidate, Ongore Ebikeme, by 3,962 to 3,182 votes.

Loyalists of PDP had

earlier told newsmen in Bayelsa that evening that the party was already cruising to victory in the rescheduled Assembly poll in Sagbama, Southern Ijaw and Kolokuma-Opokuma constituencies.

Results collated from seven other constituencies in which the rescheduled election held, had PDP winning amid allegation of undue manipulation and intimi-

Dickson reads riot act to oil firms

ernment Area of the state, had contaminated the environment.

The commissioner said the oil facility belonged to Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, SPDC, adding that the state government had taken steps to ensure the oil firm promptly cleaned up the impacted area.

The commissioner maintained that government and people of the state would no longer tolerate incessant pollution of their environment.

According to him, oil firms in the state carried out their operations without being sensitive to the environment.

He criticised the Joint Investigation Visit, JIV, a

dation of voters by armed security men deployed by the state government.

With the results, PDP will now retain majority in the State Assembly with 22 seats of the 24 available. The All Progressives Congress, APC, and APGA have one seat each with victories from Brass constituency 1 and Kolokuma/ Opokuma constituency 2, respectively.

process currently adopted by oil companies and other stakeholders in accessing oil spills, insisting that the

procedure had outlived its usefulness.

He said the state had begun an overhaul of JIV

process to enable the participation of more stakeholders and make it more transparent.

Theophilus Onojeghen

ered that the unfortunate fire incident that gutted over 300 shops started about 10:30pm, through early Sunday morning before traders and nearby residents managed to stop the fire.

Although cause of the fire could not be immediately ascertained, sources at the market suspected the smoke fish section of the market.

Ogbe-Ijo community chairman, Lucky Oromoni, told our correspondent that the market suffers fire in-

cidents about every four months, which were minor compared to the latest incident.

On what caused the fire, Oromoni confirmed that its finding found the smoke fish section culpable, lamenting that most of the women involved in such trade don’t usually completely put out the fires used before leaving for home at night.

A visit to various sections in the market revealed victims wailing profusely over their losses.

WARRI

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n overnight inferno on Saturday night gutted Ogbe-Ijo market, one of the biggest markets in Delta State, destroying property worth over N300 million belonging to traders, especially women. Saturday’s fire brings the number of similar occurrence to six within two years.

National Mirror gath-

Monday, April 20, 2015

‘APC must be wary of PDP defectors’ BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

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eadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has been told to be wary of defectors into its fold, especially from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, because of difference in ideals and programmes of the two parties.

PDP leaders and supporters have been dumping the party in large numbers since it lost the presidential poll to APC on March 28, raising concerns that the country may end up as a one-party

state.

Speaking with newsmen in Osogbo yesterday, a security expert, Comrade Jackson Olalekan Ojo also urged PDP national leadership to prepare itself for life as an opposition party and give the country formidable opposition for the incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari.

Ojo said: “APC should be wary of the horde of defection into its fold.

Most of those decamping are former chieftains of the PDP. APC should be very watchful, careful and sensitive to the characters

that are now decamping to join its ranks so as not to destabilise the party.

“APC should not allow the same people who created all sorts of trouble for the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan to join APC and derail its vigorous march to bring positive change to Nigeria.

“Barely two years after its formation, APC has transformed itself into the ruling party at the centre. So, we should commend Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s doggedness, perseverance and resilience in transforming the political and electoral fortunes

of the opposition.

“If Tinubu who was in control of one state in 2003, and can in span of 16 years of civilian democracy transform himself into becoming the national leader of the ruling party, why can’t some leaders of the PDP that has controlled the centre for 16 years withstand the rigours of been in opposition He added that the failure of PDP to manage its success in the past 16 years should be taken as a worthwhile lesson by the APC to manage its affairs properly.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Delta NCP guber candidate congratulates Okowa DEBORAH DIDI

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elta State National Conscience Party, NCP, gubernatorial candidate, Barr Okiogbero Jonathan Edhebru, has congratulated the governor-elect and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP gubernatorial candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on his victory at April 11 election in Delta State.

Saying that the victory would bring economic development to the state, Okiogbero added that he was happy on Senator Okowa’s campaign message of unity, peace and called on the governor-

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Reps-elect to INEC: Declare winner of Taraba guber now JUSTIN TYOPUUSU JALINGO

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ouse of Representatives member-elect for Ussa/Takum/ Donga federal constituency of Taraba State, Mr. Rimande Shawulu, yesterday advised the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to declare the winner of the 2015 governorship election in the state to avoid further confusion.

Shawulu stated this while baring his mind on the political stalemate in an interview with newsmen in Jalingo.

He wondered why INEC would cancel the entire results of Donga Local Government Council with 165 polling units when there were reported irregularities in only five polling units.

He said: “I want to call on INEC to do the right thing; it should cancel the results in the five polling units of Donga where there were reported irregularities and go ahead to declare the person with the highest votes as the winner of the election.

“That’s the only correct thing to do at this moment, instead of the scheduled run-off election, which is

generating unnecessary tension in the state.”aid.

Shaulu, who observed that INEC had cancelled results in 22 polling units in Bali Local government council but went ahead to accept the results from the area, wondered why the problem in five polling units would lead to the cancellation of the entire Donga results, a situation he noted led to the inconclusiveness of the gubernatorial poll in the state.

The veteran journalist and member-elect urged INEC to always act correctly in order to build confidence

in the electoral process.

INEC had slated April 25, for run-off election between the PDP governorship candidate, Mr. Darius Ishaku, who polled 317, 198 votes and the APC candidate, Sen.Aisha Alhassan with 262, 386 votes.

The INEC returning officer for the state, Prof.

Mohammed Kyari had declared the gubernatorial election inconclusive, saying the marginal difference of 54,812 between the PDP and APC candidates respectively, was less than the total number of cancelled votes which stood at 127,125.

elect to ensure he sticks to his promises.

He said that those who are aggrieved for one reason or the other should for the sake of unity and progress of the state embrace peace and give the incoming governor every necessary support he needs to survive.

He said: “It is my prayers that God direct him as he governs the state to grow in unity and peace. I also call on every Deltan who may not be happy with the outcome of the election to embrace peace and support our governor-elect, so that together we can achieve the Delta of our dreams.”

Xenophobia: Group asks FG to evacuate Nigerians from S’Africa EBERE NDUKWU

L-R; Kwara State governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed; Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, and Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Ibrahim Chatta Umar, during congratulatory visit to the governor by traditional rulers at Government House, Ilorin, yesterday.

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s different reactions trail the ongoing illegal killing of innocent African citizens in South Africa, a Nigerian human rights group, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice, CHRSJ, has called on the Federal Government to immediately evacuate Nigerian citizens in South Africa so as to save their lives from the ongoing extrajudicial killings in the country, insisting that evacuation of Nigerians is the best option for now.

CHRSJ lauded the steps so far taken by the President Goodluck Jonathan-led government on the mind boggling saga, urging other African countries to also evacuate their citizens from the turbulent South Africa.

A statement by the group’s executive chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman, made available to newsmen

yesterday, strongly condemned the attack on innocent fellow African citizens, urging the United Nation, UN and African Union, AU, to quickly wade before it goes out of hand.

Sulaiman, who described the extra-judicial killing of innocent citizens of fellow African countries, tagged “xenophobia” as barbaric, uncivilised, ungodly, evil, terror, inhuman and maltreatment against humanity, urged leaders across the countries of the world to collectively and strongly condemn the barbaric act.

He frowned at at South African President, Mr. Jacob Zuma, for allowing the merciless maiming and killing of the innocent fellow African citizens in the country without taking any proactive step to curb it and called on UN and AU to sanction South African, to serve as deterrents to other countries of the world that might want to engage in such wicked act.

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Politics

Monday, April 20, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Senator Uche Chukwumerije 1939 – 2015

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enator Uche Chukwumerije was born November 1939 and was elected a senator representing Abia North senatorial district in the Fourth Republic, in 2003 on the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, platform.

Midway into his term, fell of apart with the leadership of the PDP over his opposition to the alleged third term agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Chukwumerije eventually decamped to the Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA, in 2006 and was reelected to the Senate on

April 28, 2007, on PPA’s platform. He later went back to his former party, PDP, where in 2011, he was re-elected senator.

He was a former Minister of Information, who served in the dying days of the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. He also served as Minister of Information in the interim national government of Ernest Shonekan.

He was one of the senators who failed to clinch their party’s tickets at the party primaries last year to contest for a return to the Senate for a fourth time in the just concluded gen-

eral elections in Nigeria.

Divorced with seven children, Chukwumerije studied Economics at the prestigious premier University of Ibadan.

A rumour of him being dead went viral late last year, when he was said to have slumped after he lost his return bid to the Senate, a rumour which the senator then described as “the handiwork of a few ungodly and irresponsible individuals.”

His son Chika won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Chukwumerije funded his training.

His other son, Dikeogu Egwuatu Chukwumerije, is a writer and a performance poet. He also hosts the Abuja Literary Society Night of Spoken Words. He has written books like The African American, One Nigeria: The Birth and Evolution of an Idea, The Revolution Has No Tribe: Contemporary Poetry on African History, Culture and Society, co-written with Azuka Juachi Okonji, Strategic Love: Simple Rules That Make Love Work and many others. He also did a tribute to the legendary Chinua Achebe titled ‘Nna Anyi, Is It True?’

Lagos: TAN celebrates elections of non-indigenes OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

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L-R: Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, Mr. Ferdinand Anabraba; Mr. Anderson Hart and General Secretary, Ijaw Youth Council, Mr. Emmanuel Alagbariye, during a thanksgiving service in honour of Governor-elect in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

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resident of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, NBC, Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to take steps and remedy complaints of electoral malpractices arising from the conduct of the governorship election in some states of the federation.

Ayokunle called for transparent re-run election in Imo State, adding that though there were some alleged violations of electoral rules, INEC was given a clean bill of health, as he insisted that it conducted a credible poll.

This, he said, has given Nigeria a better name in the international community, adding that the electoral umpire deserves national recognition.

Speaking on the oneweek 102nd Annual Session of the Baptist Con-

Polls: Baptist church calls for transparent supplementary guber in Imo vention holding in Obinze, Owerri West council area of Imo State, from April 1823, Dr. Ayokunle also gave kudos to law enforcement agents for a job well done and for reducing electoral frauds throughout the nation.

Congratulating the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari on his victory at the polls, Rev. Ayokunle enjoined him to gird his loins and fight corruption, unemployment, erratic power supply, insecurity and bad roads to a

standstill.

He also paid glowing tributes to outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan for making possible credible elections which he said appears unprecedented in the nation’s history, noting that the President would forever be remembered for such a worthy legacy.

The NBC President who gave the theme of this year’s convention as “Moving Forward, Working and Praying for Peace and Progress,” said that God led the church to the theme

in view of the raging insecurity ravaging the country, especially the insurgency in the North East.

With a vivid historical background of the Baptist Church in the country, Rev. Ayokunle commended Governor Rochas Okorocha for returning some schools belonging to the church for effective management and urged other states governors to emulate him by returning post primary schools to their original mission bodies for qualitative education.

ransformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, has commended its efforts in breaking the over 70-year old jinx of electing nonindigenes to represent Lagos State in both the National and state Assemblies, urging every state of the federation to emulate the feat recorded in Lagos in providing a level playing field for all residents in their states.

In a release signed by its Director of Media, Barr Afam Ilounoh, TAN equally defended the reason for supporting and using Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the party platform to archive the record, arguing that the party is more open in accommodating everybody more that the All Progressives Congress, APC. It said: “The 2015 general elections might have come and gone but the ripples generated by the polls will abide with us for quite some time. One of such ripples is the feat performed by the TAN towards the election of nonindigenes to represent the cosmopolitan Lagos State

Drama in Gombe as INEC presents CoR to Dankwambo, others WILLIAMS ATTAH GOMBE

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mild drama ensued yesterday afternoon when two persons appeared before Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, National Commissioner in charge

of Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba states, Engr Nura Yakubu, to collect certificate of return for Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye federal constituency of Gombe State.

The occasion which also saw the presentation of certificate of return to Governor Ibrahim Hassan

Dankwambo, saw Hon Yaya Toungo Bauchi coming for the same certificate of return when Hon Ahmed Khamisu Mailantarki’s name was mentioned as winner of the March 28 election.

Though it took some time and explanations before

Mailantarki was finally presented with the certificate, Bauchi, who won the All progressives Congress, APC primary election ahead of Mailantarki was booed out of the hall and even out of the main gate of the Gombe International Hotel, venue of the occasion.

in the National and state Assemblies.

“TAN in its characteristic manner threw in everything into canvassing support for the best candidates whether indigenes or non-indigenes during the campaigns and at the end of the day Nigerians residing in the state, who constitute a major block in Lagos can now have people who will actually give them a voice and representation in the National and state Assemblies.”

It would be recalled that the last time a nonindigene was voted to represent Lagos State in any form of representative capacity was over seventy years ago when the legendary late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe was elected in the state. That was during his great partnership with late Adeniran Ogunsanya that spanned their political lives.

Ilounoh added: “With the significant contribution of TAN towards redressing this anomaly starting with the National Assembly election in Lagos State, it is obvious that the it has indeed played a pivotal role in deepening and expanding democracy in Nigeria and as well take shine off the dreaded monster of political discrimination which has bedeviled the nation for long.

“It is expected that all Nigerians irrespective of state of origin will begin to participate actively in the affairs of their host communities, knowing full well that there would always be a day of reckoning.

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Monday, April 20, 2015

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Weeping and rejoicing with the Orekoyas Mirror of the moment ABDUL-WAREES A SOLANKE korewarith@yahoo.com, 08090585723 (SMS only)

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he political fever in the land should not afflict us to the extent of forgetting the more basic family and social dislocations that warranted a case like the Orekoya kiddies kidnapped by their nanny in Surulere Lagos, on April 7, few days to the elections. Certainly, the entire Orekoya family was one that we lost their votes as they were engrossed in the search and negotiation for the release of their innocent children on whom the kidnappers demanded a ransom of N15 million.

Thanks be to Almighty Allah the kidnap saga has been resolved with the three children released in good health to their parents last Wednesday.

Indeed, the profile of the parents of the three hapless children in fact does not fit that of money bags, politicians or businessmen, who are heavily loaded to afford the hefty N15 million tag placed on their heads. Theirs is just a young lower middle income working class family. Certainly, the couple will be carrying

a burden of blame for cheaply throwing their precious children into the hands of a total stranger. There have been kidnap cases, mostly bizarre, but this episode is perhaps the smoothest: No violence accompanied it. Not gangster like seizure.

No blindfolding; but just a walk away. A walk away of trust betrayed. Do we need to regale ourselves with these details again, when they are everywhere? As I rejoice with this innocent family, who I consider victims of the e-world we now live, a few issues can be raised on how we can all be victims.

First, this kidnap saga is no different from the internet or Facebook love that always goes awry. Many individuals have been fleeced to the last kobo with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission only able burst a number of cases. It is no different from incidents as the recorded in the death of Cynthia Osokogu in 2012 from a fake love affair.

The first is the commoditization of the human person in today’s world shaped by globalization. Added to this is the unbridled optimization of infotech in an era that technology is like religion. Both have impacted on the authentic family values that used to define the essence of our humanity.

Here is a scenario: A woman secured a foreign job with her husband. They needed to report urgently or else they will lose the opportunity. The academic

THIS KIDNAP SAGA IS NO DIFFERENT FROM THE

INTERNET OR FACEBOOK LOVE THAT ALWAYS GOES AWRY calendar of the country is not like ours.

They had to leave their children behind and travel to sort things out. With whom would they leave the children? Of course, with the extended family or anyone they can trust. But who can take care of our children as we would ordinarily if we are available? Now, another dilemma: The parents’ job hardly permits any opportunity of long break or else they lose it. So, the alternative arrangement is for their trusted travel agency to process the under-aged children unaccompanied to meet their parents. Anything can go wrong no matter the extent or perfection of the arrangement. Humans are not commodities. I’ve also heard of a case of a woman who hurriedly travelled with her children to the US but had to return to Nigeria to tidy up certain official requirements of her disengagement in Nigeria. She assumed the process would be smooth, but for more than four months she was still held back in the country while the children, also under-aged, were in the foreign land. The best she could do

was to engage them in phone conversation that ’mummy will soon be back’.

Now, when we are searching for would be wives or husbands, the best roasted plantain in town, or just anything, we resort to online. The ease or speed of response is remarkably instantaneous. Infotech driven applications or options have broken human contact. We are, therefore, getting depersonalized as well. But there are certain necessary human contacts or involvements in our daily social lives that we cannot afford to break or delink if some aspects of our economy or values must continued to be nourished.

Infotech is turning us sedentary and depersonalizing us.

In this situation, especially in Africa, the ideals of the family are being lost. We are shutting out grannies and aunties from our doors; we are no longer accommodating cousins and nephews in our homes; we are turning to total strangers and technology as our helpers and trusted. As I weep with the Orekoyas, I am also concerned about the rest of us who are completely detached from the romantic social past that we used to be physically, directly and emotionally connected while relishing the cute smart phones, being dazzled by the seamlessness of many i-products or overwhelmed by the efficiency or the usefulness of the new apps.

Causative factors of negative perfectionism SANDRA AKUOMA

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irst, a brief recap of what I have been discussing for the past two weeks. The definition of perfectionism, which I say is a set of self-defeating thought patterns that push one to trying to achieve unrealistic or unobtainable goals, I believe we are familiar with. I also differentiated between negative and positive perfectionism. I know you now know that negative perfectionist sees mistakes as signs of unworthiness, and positive perfectionism, on the other hand, sees mistakes and failures as growth. Among the effects of negative perfectionism, I enumerated procrastination, missed opportunities, among others.

The thrust of this very piece is the causes of negative perfectionism. Top on the list is excessive praise! Children who grow up in an environment where they are excessively praised grow up feeling pressured to maintain that standard. They grow up to feel valued based on some accomplishment. Like a teacher or coach heaping too much praises on a child for the perfect test score or school work well done, excessive praise can create an unhealthy need in the child. The child may expect balloons and standing ovations after every performance, and beat himself/herself up whenever he/she falls short.

Excessive criticism (please, do not whoa) is another. Children who are constantly put down can grow up struggling to achieve a certain level of perfection in order to feel worthy and

SOMEONE WHO SUFFERS FROM LOW

SELF-ESTEEM WORKS RELENTLESSLY TO ACHIEVE PERFECTION IN ORDER TO COMPENSATE FOR FEELINGS OF INFERIORITY accepted. Such a child spends quality time working to achieve perfection as his/ her self-worth depends on it.

Childhood trauma is also a cause.

Many survivors of childhood trauma are prone to becoming perfectionists as adults. They have a strong need to control every aspect of their lives, especially how others perceive them. They set ridiculously high demands on themselves because this is how they prove that they are valuable.

And of course, children whose parents exhibit perfectionist behaviours. Children whose parents are very successful feel pressured to live up to the standards and expectations of their parents. When children see their parents working doggedly on projects, coming home late, taking work home, not taking holidays, working weekends, paying desperate attention to details, they are likely to internalize the message: “Everything must be perfect.” Likewise, if a parent

hovers over a child, correcting each tiny mistake, the child learns that no error is insignificant; they learn to “sweat the small stuff.” In short, a mother and father can inadvertently raise a perfectionist by modelling perfectionist behaviour.

Children are not taught that mistakes are part of life: Our perfectionism also grew out of the fact that as children we didn’t learn that mistakes are a natural and acceptable part of life. We didn’t learn that errors are to be honoured because they offer a chance to learn to live comfortably in the middle ground between success and failure — where most people live most of the time.

The famous low self-esteem is a factor.

Someone who suffers from low selfesteem works relentlessly to achieve perfection in order to compensate for feelings of inferiority.

Fear of failure: When you fear failure or making mistakes it can make you to overcompensate by exaggerating your efforts to achieve. You will want to make sure all the ts are crossed and all the dots are in the right places even if it takes forever.

A society where there is lots of competition: A highly competitive society makes demands on us. It creates the mindset of having to be the best. That if we are not the best in anything, we have no place in society. Once this mindset becomes an obsession, the tendencies of perfectionism can follow.

The media: Media have a large part to play in making us wanting to have the perfect body, by bombarding us daily

with impeccable dressed models, photo shopped actors and so on. When we are constantly plagued with these images, we then have a certain mindset that we must have a perfect body to look healthy, acceptable, beautiful and so on. The fallout could be suffering from eating disorders ( anorexia and bulimia), we over exercise and might go down the cosmetic surgery route just to have the perfect body.

Genetics: Studies suggest that some people may simply be genetically predisposed to striving for perfectionism.

Food for thought Many people who struggle with perfectionism possess a core belief that their value is directly related to their accomplishments or the approval of others. They tend to have a strong desire to please others and a fear of disapproval, as their self-esteem is dependent on external standards rather than on an inner sense of being valuable.

Next week, the finale, I will discuss ways to manage or eradicate negative perfectionism…

Ms Akuoma wrote from Lagos via sanlifepointers@hotmail.com and can be reached via 0816 5583876 (SMS only) 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.

Editorial

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Monday, April 20, 2015

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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 SEYI FASUGBA DAILY EDITOR GBEMI OLUJOBI SATURDAY EDITOR AYO OLESIN SUNDAY EDITOR BEN MEMULETIWON GENERAL EDITOR DOZIE OKEBALAMA COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD CALLISTUS OKE EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR ISE-OLUWA IGE ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF AUGUSTUS IMEKAN ACTING HEAD, GRAPHICS

Strange disease in Ondo

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he death toll occasioned by the outbreak of a strange disease which struck OdeIrele town, the capital of Irele Local Government Area in Ondo State, about the middle of last week, which was initially put at 14, reportedly increased to between 20 and 28, going by reports at the weekend. Victims of the mystery ailment first suffer headache, then blindness and eventual death within few hours of being attacked; while community leaders and experts variously suggest that exposure to dead bodies and the desecration of a traditional shrine could be responsible for the affliction. It was claimed, for example, that some reckless youths broke into the inner room of the shrine of ‘Molokun’, a traditional god on April 15, 2015; and stole traditional items in their bid to acquire extra-ordinary powers and engage in money rituals; and that the god’s vengeful mission in return was responsible for the deaths.

The Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, was quoted as saying in Akure, the state capital that preliminary investigations showed that the disease was not Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), which devastated some African countries, including Nigeria, lately. He said the strange plague “does not manifest any

of its (Ebola) symptoms, but it attacks the central nervous system of the victims”. It is, however, not improbable that in a world where science rules, there could arise the controversy or disconnect between those that linked the disease with traditionalism and orthodox medical experts.

Specialists view strange or rare diseases as conditions that affect a small portion of the population. Such health conditions are often chronic, progressive, degenerative, Iife-threatening and disabling, according to one report.

Individual rare diseases are said to be uncommon and disparate.

But collectively, there are approximately 7,000 different types of rare diseases and disorders affecting an estimated 350 million people worldwide. Indeed, experts say it takes, on the average, more than seven years in the United States and five years in the United Kingdom for a patient with a rare disease to receive a proper diagnosis. “On the journey to diagnosis, a patient typically visits up to eight physicians (four primary care and four specialists) and receives two to three misdiagnoses.

Physicians (both primary care and specialists) often don’t have the time, resources and information to properly diagnose/manage patients with rare diseases, compared to more common diseases.

ADEQUATE FUNDING AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH THE VICTIM AND MEDICAL COMMUNITIES ARE IMPERATIVE IF QUICK RESULTS ARE DESIRED

Due to the uncertainty, the lack of available information, resources, and economic strains, rare diseases take a major emotional toll on patients and their caregivers…”.

Against this background, therefore, the immediate steps taken by Ondo State officials who took samples from victims and sent same to Lagos for laboratory analysis to help understand the nature of the disease; and other subsequent measures taken by the state so far to contain the spread of the strange ailment, deserve commendation. The state health commissioner revealed, for instance, that five emergency response task teams had been set up to handle contact tracing to establish contacts with those already exposed to patients or dead bodies and monitor them for possible manifestation of any of the symptoms; case management made up of health personnel and volunteers already trained to attend to medical emergencies

ON THIS DAY April 20, 1946 The League of Nations officially dissolved, giving most of its powers to the United Nations. The League of Nations (LON) was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. Its primary goals, as stated in its Covenant, included preventing wars through collective security and disarmament; and settling international disputes.

Letters tothe theEditor Editor Letters to

April 20, 2010 The Deepwater Horizon oil well exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, killing twelve workers, injuring 17 others and beginning an oil spill that would last six months. It is the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry. The spill stemmed from a sea-floor oil gusher that resulted from the April 20, 2010, explosion of Deepwater Horizon, which drilled on the BP-operated Macondo Prospect.

of the type at hand - they are to ensure safe and proper management of new and existing cases of the illness; laboratory/forensic to establish the etiological/causative agent for the strange illness and ensure safe disposal of corpses; community education and mobilization to intensify mass education and sensitization of the community and the state in a way that will not constitute public health hazard; as well as print, electronic and social media sensitization to make available progress reports of unfolding developments in a timely manner to the world to dispel rumours that may lead to widespread panic and fear.

In all of these, however, adequate funding and collaborative effort with the victim and medical communities are imperative if quick results are desired.

This is particularly important because of the speed with which the strange disease kills. In tackling the challenge, care should also be taken not to denigrate the traditional belief of Ode-Irele community, since the firewood of any given community serves the energy needs of the community. All hands should be on deck to unravel and summarily deal with the killer, yet strange disease, the same way Nigeria and the rest of the world rallied against Ebola.

x April 20, 2013 A 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck Lushan County, Ya’an, in China’s Sichuan province, killing more than 150 people and injuring 11,248 others, 852 of them seriously Several townships suffered major damage, and many old buildings in Lushan collapsed. The electricity service was interrupted, and the electricity grids in the counties of Baoxing, Lushan, and Tianquan disintegrated.

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Business Courage

Monday, April 20, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Cover

Online Forex Trading:

Veritable tool for job growth Online Forex trading is fast becoming popular especially among the unemployed youths because it requires relatively small amount to participate in the rapidly evolving, ICT- powered and borderless innovative market. Currently, the market is estimated to worth a whopping $4trn. Gbenga Odogun reports that the new but fastgrowing market has the potentials of impacting positively on the Nigerian economy, particularly based of its job creation and wealth making opportunities.

F

ew years ago, the world witnessed the emergence of a new IT-driven trading platform, the Online Forex Trading, OFT. Simply defined, OFT is the buying and selling of the world major as well as minor currencies online. The currencies involved include, the US dollar (USD), the British pounds, GBP, Canadian dollar, CADS, Euros, Australian dollar (AUD) New Zealand dollar, Japanese yen, YEN, and other minor currencies such as the Kiwi, Noki, amongst others.

Apart from currencies, other items being traded in the market include, gold, crude oil, and commodities such as cocoa, coffee, and ground nuts. The market also has metals and indices such as FTSE, NSDE, DOW JONES and s o on as instrument being traded on. To be part of the trading community, would be

traders only need a computer, internet connection regular power supply and to be familiar with the basic knowledge about the use of computer.

In Nigeria, the market remains relatively unpopular, largely unregulated and access to it through brokers, majority of who are foreign brokers not broad even as the Naira remains untraded in the market.

But then, these minor lapses did not deter the everadventurous Nigerians from joining the commerciallybubbling global trading community.

At the moment, it is estimated that over 300,000 Nigerians are part of this increasingly growing traders who are exploring the trading opportunities to boost their returns on investment.

The market is leveraged and traders utilise this to increase their exposure to cur-

Mounir Gwarzo, DG, SEC

rencies and improve their potential profits. With leverage, a trader can control a relatively large exposure for only a small initial deposit amount in his account, maximising returns on investment.

The relatively ease with which a trader can make significant returns perhaps explains the reason behind its increasing popularity and exploration in recent times.

Quite disturbing however is that in Nigeria, this innovative market place in financial

and commodities has been bedevilled by lack of trust since it debuted in 2008.

Industry operatives attribute this partly to lack of understanding of the working of online transactions since any business is prone to risk of loss just as it can make profits.

Kunle Adeyeri, an expert in the business, said that the potentials in the industry remained so huge that government can leverage on it to address the lingering problem

of unemployment, especially among the youth population, in the country.

He however lamented the lack of regulatory framework in this potentially vibrant venture and preventing expansion as well as preventing traders from having enough UDO ONYEKA, CO-ORDINATOR BUSINESS COURAGE udonyeka@gmail.com c

Global Media Mirror Limited

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Business Courage

Monday, April 20, 2015

A3 19

creation, inclusive

Adeyeri

Basil Omeje

confidence in the market.

He is also of the opinion that the involvement of the Securities and Exchange Commission in the discussion focusing on drafting a regulatory framework for the industry is a welcome development.

Adeyeri, also a trainer in the business, observed that the liquidity in the online

Computers in use for forex trading

Forex market if properly harnessed could provide means of livelihood for the unemployed as well as additional income for the employed and serious-minded adventurers.

As a market boosting initiative, he canvassed the need for issuance of licences to more indigenous brokers with a view to structurally balanc-

ing traders’ composition now largely foreigner-dominated real time Forex market.

According to him, foreign brokers are opening offices here almost on daily basis which pointed to the fact that they are making huge profits from the country.

He listed one of the losses of such an imbalance to mas-

sive capital flight from the economy with the attendant negative implications for indigenous brokers’ competitiveness and capacity building in the nation’s financial system.

Adeyeri said: “There should be concerted efforts among stakeholders to address the issue of fluctuating exchange rate by allowing the forces of demand and supply to determine exchange rate of Naira as a way of giving the Naira the leeway of fitting in to the exchange rate mechanism.

“Government should create enabling environment for Forex to thrive including cheap internet and regular power supply since these two were the most important instruments for effective trading.

“The Securities and Exchange Commission is already holding consultations with operators of Forex Trading with a view to working out a regulatory framework for the industry” said Emeka Basil Omeje the convener of the Lagos Forex Expo. Omeje said that SEC has already signified

its intension to have the market regulated and has held series of meetings with stakeholders through the umbrella Association of Forex Traders in the country. This he said will help to boost trader’s confidence as well as attract big players to the industry while profit making will no longer be for corporate traders alone but for small traders as well.

On traders part Basil Omeje said efforts is being made to expand participation through enlightenment programmes geared towards opening up the market so that our teeming unemployed youths can take advantage of the market to earn a living.

Local and Foreign brokers have been organising various training programmes some free {especially the foundation level} to enhance participation since the “market is big enough’’ to accommodate everyone who is interested in it.

To Bade Ajidahun Oludahun, Online Forex Trading is a business you can embark on with as little as $50 and bearing in mind such golden rules such as less greed, and not overtrading, one is on his way to attaining financial independent! The potentials are so enormous and the market is voluminous enough to accommodate anyone. According to him, “the market is worth over $4 trillion daily which makes it big enough to accommodate everyone who might be interested” As a way of enhancing more participation, Oludahun said the industry has embarked on self regulatory programmes such as setting up of dispute resolution board to address issues within clients and brokers.

According to him, the umbrella organisation under which online Forex traders operate is taking the issue of trust among traders and clients seriously adding that no stone will be left unturned in address all disputes that may arise from transactions between them. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, April 20, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News CET best for national, regional interest, says Customs Stories by Francis Ezem

O

ne week after the Federal Government announced the takeoff of the implementation of the Common External Tariff, CET, 2015-2019 for member nations of the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS, the Nigeria Customs Service has said that strict enforcement of the new tariff regime was in the best interest of the Nigeria’s interest as well as the sub-region.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, had penultimate Thursday, announced that in addition to the approval of the new CET, the government has also approved the implementation of the 2015 fiscal policy measures.

Meanwhile, Customs Area Controller in charge of Apapa Area 1 command, which handles over 65 per cent of Nigeria’s imports, especially containerized and bulk consignments, Mr. Charles Edike, while speaking in Lagos, disclosed that the service has already been updated in respect of the percentage of the new tariff rates.

According to him, some officers of the command have also been designated to handle all issues that may arise from the implementation of the new tariff regime, which might slightly differ from the previous ones.

He disclosed that the new tariff regime will involve the adjustment of 17 new tariff lines and and tax adjustments, which would alter certain things in the tariff structure.

It was also gathered that the new tariff structure would also entail the upgrading and downgrading of some tariffs.

“The CET is a continuous process and it is in both national and regional interest.

Some import items might be shifted from one HS Code or to the other and vice versa”, Edike also said.

He however said that the success or otherwise of the new tariff regime would be dependent on the support and coop-

Edike

L-R: Head, Events and Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria, Modupe Thani; Kate Henshaw; Nigerian Actress, Omonor, Director and Founder, Hear Word, Ifeoma Fafunwa; Nigerian Actress, Joke Silva; Nigerian Actress, Bimbo Akintola; and Head of Events, Cool FM, Lolo Eremi at the press briefing of the second edition of the Etisalat-Sponsored theatre production ‘Hear Word’ at Goethe Institute, Lagos Island, recently

prefer the old order characterised by the disorderly port business environment to continue.

“Without doubt, the terminal operators have added much value not only to Nigeria’s seaports but also to the nation’s entire economic landscape, especially in the recent past”, the letter also said.

eration of other port stakeholders, especially importers and clearing agents, who he said are critical to the enforcement of the regime.

He also assured that there would be no cause for alarm if the stakeholders play according to the rule of the game, adding that in addition to designating some officers, the management of the command would also be available to handle issues that would arise in the course of enforcing the new regime.

Bello

Port concessionaires kick over alleged antiinvestment speeches

P

ort concessionaires in Nigeria under the aegis of Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria STOAN, have warned the Nigerian Shippers Council over public comments that could be counter-productive to Federal Government’s drive towards attracting Foreign Direct Investment FDI into the port industry.

Executive Secretary of the council, which is the economic regulator for the industry, Mr. Hassan Bello had recently derided some of the terminal operators over arbitrary imposition of charges on port users, which is believed to fuel cargo diversion.

Meanwhile the association in a statement issued at the weekend, cautioned that such statements especially from the Chief Executive Officer of the port’s apex economic regulator could send a wrong signal to the investing community, which might not be to the advantage of the Nigerian nation.

The association argued that the CEO’s comments, which are published in the media and read worldwide, portrayed

Nigeria’s seaports in bad light to the international shipping community.

“He has been deliberately making unfriendly statements in the media against the terminal operators with the aim of damaging their reputation. He has also been creating a division and tension in the maritime industry as he has consistently tried to incite one group against the other, a development that could ignite labour unrest, which will disrupt economic activities in the port industry”, the association alleged.

“When someone in his position makes such utterances, the international shipping community reacts and vessels which plan to come to Nigeria will either come at a premium or go elsewhere. These comments therefore scare away the much-needed FDIs in the maritime industry.

The statement signed by the spokes person of the association, Mr. Bolaji Akinola however said that such statements are false.

The association said that the modest achievements recorded by its members in the face of system-oriented operations within a relatively short time have not gone down well with those who would have

FG receives logistics support from agric stakeholder

By Abolaji Adebayo

I

n a bid to support the development of the fishery industry, one of its key stakeholders, Atlantic Shrimpers Limited, ASL, recently donated a Toyota Utility Vehicle to the Federal Department of Fisheries, to help tackle some of its logistics challenges, as well as aid in the execution of its duties across the state.

The handover event which took place at the Federal Department of Fisheries, Lagos liaison office, Victoria Island, had in attendance top representatives of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, representatives

Kabra

of the donor company, key stakeholders and staff of the Lagos liaison office.

According to the Managing Director of ASL, Mr. Kamlesh Kabra, the donation was borne out of the company’s sense of Corporate Social Responsibility and its motto which involves two basic things: to provide basic sea food items and employment to the Nigerian population which is in tandem with the agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Mr. Kabra stated ASL to be the largest fishery company in Nigeria as it covers 8% of sea foods in the country as well as offers 1500 direct employment and thousands of indirect employment in the sector.

Describing the gesture as laudable, the Director, Federal Department of Fisheries, Lagos, Mr. Remi Abioye stated that the donation will help solve the logistic challenge facing the department, noting that when he came on board last year, the budget was N31.3billion as against this year which is N5.6billion.

Mr. Abioye also commended the Special Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture on media matters, Barrister Richard Mbaram on his effort in propagating the industry to the heterogeneous audience through his publication and called on stakeholders to support him in the field to drive visibility for the sector.

Furthermore, he called for a more robust continuous partnership and collaboration in the sector, adding that there is need to bridge the gap between the government, public and private sector.

Former NIMN boss, Aimiuwu passes on

By David Audu

F

ormer President, National institute of Marketing of Nigeria, NIMN, Lugard Aimiuwu is dead. He died on Thursday after a brief illness. Until his untimely exit, he was the immediate Past President and Chairman Governing Council of National Institute of Marketing between September 2008 and August 2013.

He was also President and Chairman of Nigeria Institute of Management between 2003 and 2005.

A source at the institute headquarters in Lagos who was not authorised to speak on the unfortunate development told our correspondent that the council members were saddened by the sudden exit of the renowned marketer but consoled by his indelible contribution towards the growth of the profession while he held sway.

Aimiuwu, earned a degree

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, April 20, 2015

Mining needs continuity of policies, guidelines to succeed – Minister

in Business Administration at University of Lagos where he won the university prize for his academic performance.

At a time, he was President of the university of Lagos Alumni association and also chaired the UNILAG Development/Endowment Board between a period of 5 years.

He was also a council Member, University Governing Council between 2001 and 2005

T

‘NCS generates N61.7bn at Tin-Can Port in Q1 2015’

T

he Tin-Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, said that it generated N61.6 billion revenue in the first quarter of 2015.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, said Mr Chris Osunkwo, this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN,on Friday in Lagos.

Osunkwo said that the amount was higher compared to N59.8bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2014.

“For first quarter 2014, we had N59.8 billion, and then for this year first quarter, we have N61.6 billion; and the difference is attributable to quality leadership.

“Both in the command and at the Headquarters levels, because when you provide the right leadership every other thing falls in line.

“Nothing is static in life. Is all about dynamism. We make efforts daily to block, identified and suspected revenue leakages and all these impact on our revenue profile.

“In Tin Can Island Port, we deal with two categories of cargo imports. They are from general cargo and packed and unpacked vehicles.

“Bulk of the general cargo that comes in here forms source of our revenue.

“There is nothing apart from prohibited items. All of us know that we run an importoriented economy. So, almost everything you find in the market that we use here are imported.

“So, and as these come in, customs collect maximum revenue.” he stated.

He said that the new automotive policy had adversely affected the volume of vehicles imported, but, however, did not affect revenue collection.

“The new auto policy has drastically affected the volume of vehicles that come in, because that is exactly what government objective is to do; whatever is possible to reduce.

“They are trying to establish auto-manufacturing. The new auto policy has really achieved this objective, because if you check our RORO facilities, they

A5 21

L-R: Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Rahamon A. Bello FAEng; Group Head, Retail Banking, Heritage Banking Company Limited, Mr. Davidson Regha, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academy, University of Lagos, Prof. Babajide Alo, and Group Head, SME, Heritage Banking Company Limited, Mr. Bayo Ogunnusi, during the Annual Orientation Programme For Fresh Post Graduate Student 2014/2015, held at University of Lagos Nigeria Main Auditorium, Power by Heritage Banking Company Limited

are almost without vehicles now. The volume has really gone down.

“Government definitely has an objective before they came up with the new auto policy and I think it is achieving its desired goal by reducing the volume of imported vehicles.

Aviation expert seeks FG increased commitment to aviation sector

A

n aviation expert, Mr Kolawole Olayinka, week-end in Lagos said the Nigerian aviation sector impact on the economy was not being adequately maximised.

Olayinka, who is the British Airways, West Africa Regional Commercial Manager, made the assertion in a lecture titled ``Aviation in Nigeria: Opportunities and Challenges’’.

In the lecture organised by the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, Olayinka said the impact of the nation’s aviation industry contributed in new employments, increased investment opportunities, tourism and hospitality development.

He remarked that under the Billing Settlement Plan,

BSP, the revenue generated from IATA- Licensed Travelling Agents from sale of tickets for 38 airlines in 2014 was $1.32bn.

“The aviation industry is a big industry that cannot be ignored by policy makers based on its impact on the economy.

“The need for the right policies, level playing ground and decision makers being at the helm of affairs of the industry cannot be over emphasised.

“If truly we want change in Nigeria, we must have the right people, right aircraft, right airport with everything functioning,’’ Olayinka said.

He said that Nigeria’s population made it imperative now for the nation to float a national carrier.

“I hope that with the recent political change in the country, we will have a national carrier in some shape or form flying Nigeria’s.

“It could be a flag carrier, government-owned or given to investors to run.

“Nigerians are everywhere and they need a viable airline to take them around, think about the multiplier effect in taxes, and hotel reservations in the country.

“Airlines also need to expand their services for people travelling, especially with the emergence of the middle-class with disposable income,’’ he sa id.

EKEDC installs 5,400 new smart meters in 6 communities in Lagos

A

Olayinka

bout 5,400 electricity consumers in Ijora, Iponri, Orile, Masha, Mushin, and part of Festac Town of Lagos State have acquired new smart me-

ters designed to replace the old prepaid meters.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the meters were installed by the Eko Electricity Distribution Company EKEDC, between Feburary and April 10.

Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Godwin Idemudia, said in Lagos that smart meter was a new technology in electricity metering that created an inter-face between electricity providers and consumers.

According to him, the smart meters available both in prepaid and post-paid platforms, allows electricity providers remote access to consumers meters, ascertain its working condition and monitor cheats.

Idemudia said that the pilot smart meter installation programme commenced early in February in the six densely populated areas under its jurisdiction.

“The exercise is a continuous programme which will take three years to conclude.

“The company will spend close to N12bn on the project.

“We have applied to banks for the money and they are releasing it in batches,” he said.

He appealed to electricity consumers yet to benefit from the programme to exercise patience, stressing that consumers under EKEDC would soon get free smart meters.

Idemudia, however, said that any consumers that could not wait for free meter due to estimated billing could apply through Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation, CAPMI, scheme.

He said that through the scheme, smart meter would be installed within 45 days after payment.

He said that one phase meter would costs N39, 650 while three-phase attracted N68, 906.

he Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Musa Sada, said mining sector needed continuity of policies and guidelines to ensure its development in the country.

The minister said this in Abuja when Mr Demola Gbadegesin, the Managing Director, Promethean Resources Ltd, briefed him on the mining operations of the company.

The minister said that studies had shown that intermittent changes in government seemed to have affected the progress of the solid minerals sector.

He said following this development, the Federal Government had set up plans to develop some sustainable processes, to ensure institutionalisation of its operations.

Sada said that the mineral title (Licence) administration was one area set up to ensure ownership of the mines, as it was the main item of the ownership of the business in mining.

Sada said government had developed roadmap for the sector based on policy thrust, value addition, import substitution and job creation, to promote modern mining practices, natural resources conservation and visibility of private sector.

He said that the roadmap could be reviewed from time to time to make the country a mining destination through generation of credible geosciences data and others.

Sada said that the study of countries doing well in mining had shown that the sector had been the main stay of any nation’s economy.

He said that the government had plans to diversify from crude oil to solid minerals for multi economy, revenue generation and employment generation.

“The government had made a pronouncement, wishing to diversify the economy and had picked the mining sector as one of the areas to use to move away from petroleum.

“The petroleum had been the major source of revenue for the country.’’

He said mining needed knowledge, skills, patience and doing things right, to move the sector forward.

He added that at every stage of the development, one needed to make a good assessment of the risk as a way to achieve a result.

The minister said the country needed corporate entities to reduce the cases of illegal mining in the country, adding that right now, the country was at the stage of establishing corporate entities in the sector. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, April 20, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Companies & Markets

FCMB restrategises focuses on retail banking

Sterling Bank partners firms to boost education T

By David Audu

By Udo Onyeka

S

terling Bank Plc has signed a memorandum of understanding, MoU, with some firms in the education sector to digitise and simplify learning process at all levels of education.

The partnership is also to make the learning solutions affordable for students in primary, secondary and tertiary education levels.

Some of the partners include HR & P Solutions, Netlibrary Nigeria Limited, QC-Investment Limited and the DFID-Deepen Programme.

Speaking at an event held in Lagos, the Executive Director, Finance & Strategy, Sterling Bank, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman noted that fundamental to the progress of any nation is education.

He said the objective of the initiative is to transform education and make it ‘sexy’ again for people to want to invest in education and also for start-up companies to see education as where there is a clear demand.

“The idea is to digitise all the

Adeola

educational contents and make it cheaper for the students to afford. We are to develop devices that would provide digital solutions for students.

“We also recognise that the government does not have the resources. There is nowhere in the world where the government provides all the needs of the society. So, it is clear that at some point, financial intermediation is required. We have also looked at our partners and they have the same desire.

“Most of them are trying to

take advantage of modern technology, firstly, to make it cheaper and more affordable for people to access education.

Secondly, to also make sure that we are providing the relevant education because as things evolve, if you stay with the traditional educational methods, you will not be prepared for the new world,” he said.

He however, noted that like every partnership, the initiative is not charity. “Sterling Bank is not a charity organisation, neither is any of our partners. The intention is not sustainable unless there is a sound economic logic behind it. So, whatever we are doing is to make sure that five years from now, this partnership is something that is still ongoing.

“It is not one of those projects that works for a year and disappears. So, what we want to do is to bring in a complete set of team to ensure that as far as providing access to content across board, starting from primary schools all the way to tertiary schools, we have the solutions and that they are affordable,” he said. BC

he management of First City Monument Bank Plc., FCMB, last week, unveiled a new logo and its new identity to the public at forum where the Group Managing Director, Mr. Ladi Balogun, told stakeholders that the bank is set to rewrite the rules of retail banking business in Nigeria.

Speaking on the retail thrust of the bank, Balogun disclosed that with 50 per cent of retail deposits, 30 per cent loans retail, and the vast majority of which are to individuals, these diversity of business has brought greater resilience, strength has steadily revealed itself in the bank’s financial performance.

Balogun

Heritage Bank boss tasks youths on entrepreneurship

By Udo Onyeka

H

eritage Bank has called on the nation’s teeming population of undergraduate and postgraduate students to embrace the global shift towards entrepreneurship as a means of generating employment and wealth, instead of perpetually looking for non-existent employment after graduation.

According to the Bank, the unfolding global economic challenges, with its attendant dwindling revenues and fiscal realignment, have continued to force governments and businesses to tighten their belts while both the public and private sectors continue to witness more job losses, thereby widening the unemployment market and reducing regular employment opportunities for new graduates.

While representing the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ifie Sekibo at the 2014/2015 Orientation programme organised by the University of Lagos for its incoming postgraduate students, Group Head, SME Banking, Bayo Ogunnusi noted that the growing global rate of youth unemployment has made it imperative for individuals to creatively and proactively seek new skills and other legitimate wealth generation initiatives in order to achieve happi-

ness and personal fulfillment.

“In spite of the global economic challenges, every individual has the potential to be great in life. However, identifying and developing such potential by searching out and resolutely embarking on a profitable enterprise is the responsibility of such individuals”, Ogunnusi counselled.

He added that Heritage Bank would always be readily available to offer support and partnership for any and all entrepreneurship ideas aimed at creating, preserving and transferring wealth, especially among youths who are the pivot of the country’s economic and socio-political future.

According to him, “Heritage Bank is a brand committed to delivering distinctive financial

Sekibo

services, building on the legacy of innovation and partnership to create, preserve and transfer wealth across generations.

Therefore, the Bank is totally committed to supporting young individuals who would like to start their own small businesses and painstakingly nurture such.

As an innovation-driven business, our doors are always open to young people with new ideas,

fresh thinking and nuggets of opportunities that need a little push to be developed into economic giants”.

Ogunnusi further stated that Heritage Bank’s unwavering commitment to fostering SME culture is informed by its strong belief that Nigeria’s future economic wellbeing would depend largely on how well micro businesses flourish in the country. BC

“Today, our products provide practical solutions to the borrowing, saving, investment, and payment needs of our customers. Every month, we welcome 50,000 new customers and we disburse 20,000 new loans, with over 2,000 monthly to women owned micro-enterprises. Every month over 70,000 customers are registering on our mobile banking solutions that offer reliable and convenient ways to bank.

“For us it is not just about numbers, but more importantly it is about quality. We have been investing in building a unique FCMB customer experience, defined by simple helpful reliable products and services, professional and friendly bankers willing to go the extra mile for you.

“We have taken the best of our traditional values of professionalism and excellence. We have complemented this with the sustainability and customer focus that a more inclusive bank demands. We also believe that a strong retail franchise strengthens the corporate and investment banking aspects of the group, providing a more robust balance sheet and better distribution of your opportunities. Our new look, whilst unexpected to many in its vibrancy, is reassuringly familiar”, he said.

He said in order to heralds a new chapter in the evolution of FCMB, the old colours of black and gold, which spoke to an exclusive audience have been replaced by a vibrant combination of purple and yellow, thus speaking to a broader audience.

“Our logo has also been modified to be slightly less formal and more contemporary, yet retaining a distinctly FCMB feel”, he said. BC

NB promotes Fuji through Goldberg talent hunt

By David Audu

F

uji music will once again take center stage as Goldberg, a lager beer brand from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc, is set to begin the third edition of Fuji T’o Bam, a Fuji talent hunt show. Fuji T’o Bam is an indigenous music activation platform of Goldberg which has in the last two editions led to the discovery of budding Fuji talents. The winner of the contest which begins in May, will eventually be crowned the Oni Wura1 of Fuji T’o Bam” in addition to a mouth-watering cash reward of N750, 000.

According to Mr. Kufre Ekanem, the Corporate Affairs

Adviser of Nigerian Breweries Plc- the competition which will take place across key cities in South West Nigeria, will have notable Yoruba actors, like Sanyeri, Kamilu Kompo, Mr. Latin and Odunlade Adekola gracing the event from the quarter final to the grand finale stages.

Auditions will hold in Ota, Ibadan, Oshogbo, and Akure.

Identified talents from the auditions will later converge in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital for the final selection of 30 contestants that will proceed to the quarter final at Ota, Ogun State.

The semi-final is expected to hold in Ilesha Osun State while the grand finale will hold in Ibadan.

Explaining the reason for the

contest limited to the south west Nigeria alone, Ekanem said that Fuji music enjoys huge followership especially in the south Western part of Nigeria, which has led the brand to create the platform ‘Fuji T’o Bam’ to connect and engage its target consumers. “The music genre thus provides a credible platform for the brand to get closer to them and share their interest”.

Highlighting the modalities for the competition, he emphasized that interested talents are expected to participate in audition at centres closest to them.

Contestants will have about five minutes each on stage to impress the judges during the auditions in order to get into the contest proper. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, April 20, 2015

A7 23

Companies & Markets

Ecobank bags 2015 Best Corporate Bank award Stories by Udo Onyeka

E

cobank Nigeria has been named 2015 Best Corporate Bank in Nigeria by a London based Global Banking and Finance Review Magazine, a reputable banking and finance performance review platform.

Production Coordinator, Global Banking and Finance Review, Mr. Noel O’Leary, while presenting the award to Ecobank in London, said the choice of the bank from the various nominations was in recognition of its various initiatives targeted at economic transformation of Nigeria and the Africa continent.

He said Ecobank has been in the forefront of international trade financing, adding that the bank clearly stands out in various area of expertise within banking and finance globally.

Explaining the rationale of the awards, O’Leary pointed out that the awards were created to recognize companies of all sizes which are prominent in particular areas of expertise and excellence within the financial world. In his words “the awards reflect the innovation, achievement, strategy, progressive and inspirational changes taking place within the global financial community.”

Executive Director, Corporate Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Folake Aboderin, said the series of international awards won by

Albert Essien, CEO, Ecobank

the bank in recent times underscores the contributions of Ecobank to the economic development of Africa continent.

According to her, “Ecobank has become a major player in the economy. We play in all the segments of the economy – oil and gas, telecommunications; we facilitate and promote international trade across the various regions, financing importers and exporters. As a bank, we are glad that our efforts in this direction are being recognized globally.”

She also used the opportunity to explains the various ways the bank is promoting commerce and integration with various products such as Rapid Transfer, preferential cards, among others Global Banking and Finance Review is an online news portal providing informative and independent current news for the banking and finance industry. BC

MTN unveils platform to assist MfBs

M

TN Business, the business-to-business unit of MTN Nigeria said it has unveiled a platform that will assist Microfinance Banks,MfBs, to effectively deploy their banking services better to aid financial inclusion in the country.

Speaking on this development at a forum in Lagos, the Acting Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer, MTN Nigeria, Tsola Barrow, advised micro banks to adopt the platform, since it is cost-effective and operationally efficient solu-

Barrow

tions in the management of their businesses.

Since technology has become a key differentiator and enabler for businesses, he said the ‘MTN XaaS: Micro-Banking Software-as-a-Service solution’ was introduced to take the operations of microfinance institutions to another level.

The idea was to provide a highly secure, cloud-based solution that, by design, could be implemented within a short time without licensing or setup costs, he stressed.

According to him, “MTN Business is committed to delivering value and driving business growth in Nigeria through tailor-made, productivityenhancing solutions. We also recognise that microfinance banks provide a huge funding platform for SMEs.” Enhancing the service delivery of these banks makes access to funds easier for SMEs, ultimately impacting positively on the economy, added Barrow, who was represented by Senior Manager, Enterprise Marketing, Mr. Olutayo Egunjobi.

FBN Holdings to cut loans in power, oil sectors F BN Holdings said it has mapped out plan to ensure that it is conservative with granting of loans in the current year, although, it promised to focus more on short-term trade finance transactions.

Speaking on this development last week, the Chief Executive, FBN Holdings, Mr. Bello Maccido, said it expects loan growth at its banking unit to slow to 4 percent this year, down from 23 percent last year.

With over N2.2trn, $11bn, on its loan book, he disclosed that the will be conservative on loans in 2015 after financing power and oil sectors last year, saying, despite this, income will rise from short-term lending.

Maccido said he expected FBN Holdings to generate a tenth of its revenues from its investment banking and insurance units combined by 2016, up from around 7 percent now, after it acquired Kakawa Discount House and Oasis Insurance last year.

Meanwhile a financial expert has called on banks and other institutions involved in creditrelated business to avoid bad credit, as this can mar the af-

fected institutions.

According to the Credit Professional, Mr. Emmanuel Ozulumba, said almost all the banking crisis in the past, including the present one which the sector is yet to overcome, emanated from poor credit extension and management.

For a profitable and sustainable credit environment, he stressed that both the banks and customers are expected to play very important roles. It is the failure of both parties especially customers in meeting their credit obligations that have continued to subject the sector to this vicious circle that is plaguing the banking sector and by extension the economy, he pointed out.

While calling on banks to properly ascertain customers’ requests before giving credit, he added that many customers cannot differentiate the facilities meant for working capital and those meant for fixed assets. “When both are mixed up as overdraft, there is probability that funds meant to serve as working capitals are tied down to purchase of fixed assets or even property development. This development strangulates the

business of funds and thus failure in serving of their debts,” he stated.

The issue of Know-Your-Customer, KYC, according to him, is very important, saying customers with doubtful integrity should not be allowed by banks to benefit from banking facilities, as they will not meet their credit obligations.

To him, “There are recalcitrant debtors moving from bank to bank. Status enquiries should be sent to their bankers to ascertain his credit records. Enquiries should also be undertaken through the CBN Credit Risk Management System, CRMS, to achieve this objective.” BC

Maccido

EFInA says innovative products could improve MFBs fortune

W

ith over 85 million adults without a microfinance bank account in the country, the Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access, EFInA, has urged Microfinance Institutions,MfIs, to be innovative in the designing of their products and services.

EFInA, in its recent survey titled ‘the Landscape of Financial Inclusion and Micro finance In Nigeria’, added that new ways of thinking and innovation in product and service offerings are needed to attract the finan-

cially excluded population.

According to EFInA, “MfBs need to develop products/services that are uniquely tailored to meet the needs of the low income population and ensure that they fully understand the benefits of these products. MfBs need to tailor loan products to suit the specific needs of consumers. Factors to consider when designing loan products include quick access, repayment period, low interest rates and flexible collateral requirements.”

MfBs, it added, should develop innovative savings products to encourage the 25.5 million adults currently saving at home to save in a microfinance bank.

Microfinance, the survey agency stressed, should be extended beyond branches by using technology such as mobile phones and POS devices.

“Take micro finance services closer to the customer through agent banking by leveraging non-bank channels such as retail stores, restaurants, petrol stations,” EFInA said. BC

Insurance brokers urge industry support to fight quacks

T

he Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, NCRIB, has called on the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, to employ measure to discourage fake operators from the insurance industry.

Interim chairman of the NCRIB Abuja chapter, Ifeanyi Opara who made the call lamented that activities of racketeers in the industry has significantly affected genuine operators the income.

Chairman particularly noted that the fake operators specialises in the issuance of Third Party Motor Insurance.

He said the call has become necessary as the fight could only

be waged and realised when all stakeholders partner to eliminate fake insurance cover in the country.

Opara regretted that law the enforcement agents whose responsibility it is to identify and arrest these quacks by enforcing the Third party insurance have been compromised.

He said government, in an attempt to deepen insurance penetration, came up with the law but over the years after the third party insurance was made compulsory its enforcement has been an issue .

He complained that because the fake operators issue vehicle licence at low price motorists pa-

tronise them just to beat security operators.

“Now if you don’t have the money to obtain the comprehensive insurance, for instance, on your vehicle, you can afford the minimum price of about five thousand Naira to take up a third party insurance. So that one is made compulsory,” Opara said.

He added that the Vehicle Inspection Officers ,VIO,the Road Safety Corps and the Nigerian police charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the compulsory insurance policies are enforced, have been found wanting in the discharge of their duties. BC

A8 24

Business Courage

Monday, April 20, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Global News

Obama

U.S. urges Greece to strike deal with creditors

T

he Obama administration on Friday urged Greece to move quickly with technical negotiations aimed at reaching agreement on bailout terms with the International Monetary Fund and European Union, saying a failure to strike a deal could hit the global economy.

“We urge the (Greek) authorities to quickly and fully commit to technical negotiations with their international partners,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said in a statement prepared for delivery at a meeting of the IMF’s steering committee.

“Not reaching agreement would create immediate hardship for Greece, and uncertainties for Europe and the global economy more broadly,” he said.

Shares fall on China margin crackdown, dollar falls

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lobal equity markets fell on Friday on reports about a crackdown on margin lending in China, while the dollar retreated after rising U.S. consumer prices failed to ease concerns that the Federal Reserve might delay plans to raise interest rates.

China’s securities regulator warned investors to be cautious as Chinese shares hit sevenyear highs after seven weeks of gains. Retail investors are borrowing record amounts of money to buy stocks, pushing trading volumes to new highs.

China on Friday also allowed fund managers to lend stocks for short-selling and expanded the number of stocks investors can short to increase the supply of securities in the market.

Stocks in Europe and on Wall Street fell more than 1 percent on the Chinese news and on worries Greece may run out of money as debt repayments loom. Peripheral euro zone government debt yields

rose while core German bund yields hit a new record low.

Prospects have dimmed that Athens can strike a reform deal at a meeting next Friday to unlock much-needed bailout funds.

“China in general has been tightening up on some of the excesses in lending,” said Rick Meckler, president of hedge fund LibertyView Capital Markets in Jersey City, New Jersey. “It’s just another area that makes people think globally there’s a bit of a top to this recent rally.”

MSCI’s all-country world index <.MIWD00000PUS> of equity performance in 46 countries fell 1.06 per cent, while the FTSEurofirst 300 index <.FTEU3> of top European shares closed down 1.8 per cent to 1,607.03. Germany’s DAX <.GDAXI> fell 2.6 per cent.

Traders said the European and U.S. sell-off was worsened by the expiry of futures and options in Europe and options in the United States. Disappointing corporate reports on both sides of the Atlantic also weighed on the market.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> is fell 316.97 points, or 1.75 per cent, to 17,788.8. The S&P 500 <.SPX> slid 28.48 points, or 1.35 percent, to 2,076.51 and the Nasdaq Composite <.IXIC> lost 86.15 points, or 1.72 per cent, to 4,921.65.

U.S. consumer prices rose 0.2 percent in March, propelled by higher costs for gasoline and housing. Closely watched core consumer prices rose 1.8 percent year-on-year, inching closer to the Fed’s 2 percent target.

The dollar headed for its worst week in four against a basket of major currencies after the rising pace of inflation failed to ease concerns that a recent spate of weak U.S. economic data could slow Fed plans to raise rates for the first time in almost a decade.

at British investment group Alliance Trust has gained partial support from shareholder advisory group Glass Lewis.

Activist hedge fund Elliot Advisors is campaigning for the appointment of three directors at Alliance, hoping this will kickstart an improved performance by the investment fund.

Elliott wants to elect Anthony Brooke, a former executive in financial services, Peter Chambers, former CEO of Legal & General Investment Management; and Rory Macnamara, a former corporate finance executive.

Independent advisory groups Pensions & Investment Research Consultants, Institutional Shareholder Services Inc and ShareSoc have all backed plans to install the three, however Glass Lewis said it only favoured the election of Chambers.

“Mr. Chambers appears to us to have an extensive background in fund management and investment banking, which should make him wellqualified to serve on the company’s board, in our view,” the group told its clients in a report.

Elliott has called a vote on the appointment of three new independent directors on April 29.

Alliance Trust Chairwoman Karin Forseke separately issued a fresh appeal to shareholders, seeking to rally support in a fight to derail Elliott’s plan.

B

A

campaign for the installation of new board directors

C

hinese e-commerce company Baozun Inc filed with U.S. regulators for an initial public offering of American Depository Shares.

Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse and BofA Merrill Lynch are underwriting the IPO, the company said in a preliminary prospectus filed with the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday.

Baozun counts Alibaba Investment Ltd, an unit of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, as one of its major investors.

The filing included a nominal fundraising target of about $200 million (134 million pounds).

The amount of money a company says it plans to raise in its first IPO filings is used to calculate registration fees. The final size of the IPO could be different.

I

Japan says didn’t see strong G20 concern over weak yen

Alliance Trust board shakeup gets partial support from Glass Lewis

Chinese e-commerce company Baozun files for U.S. IPO

EU to investigate transparency of Internet search results

Kuroda

Forseke

Kuroda told a joint news conference alongside Aso after the G20 meeting in Washington.

The BOJ has argued that its massive monetary stimulus was aimed solely at achieving its inflation target, though some countries have criticized the move as triggering sharp falls in the yen that give Japan’s exports an unfair trade advantage.

ank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said on Friday the dominant view among Group of 20 finance leaders was that recent exchange-rate moves largely reflected economic fundamentals, while Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said he had not faced criticism from his G20 counterparts over the weak yen.

“I didn’t get the impression there was strong concern (among the G20) about heightening market volatility,”

nternet platforms such as Google, Microsoft and Yahoo! will be the subject of a widespread inquiry by European regulators to determine whether they are transparent enough in how they display search results.

The inquiry will seek to address concerns of European business and politicians about the dominance of U.S. tech giants and whether there is a level playing field for European firms.

However, it is not an antitrust inquiry which can lead to fines of up to 10 percent of a company’s global sales.

In a draft of the Commission’s strategy for creating a digital single market, seen by Reuters, it says it will “carry out a comprehensive investigation and consultation on the role of platforms, including the growth of the sharing economy.”

The investigation, expected to be carried out next year, will look into the transparency of search results - involving paid

Ansip

for links and advertisements - and how platforms use the information they acquire.

European Commission Vice-President Andrus Ansip is expected to formally announce the new strategy on May 6.

The transparency of search results came under particular scrutiny this week when the European competition chief accused Google of cheating competitors by distorting web search results to consistently favour its own shopping service.

[ID:nL5N0XC2W0] There are concerns in Europe over how Internet companies such as Facebook and Amazon use the huge amounts of personal data they acquire.

The inquiry will also look at how platforms compensate rights-holders for showing copyrighted material and limits on the ability of individuals and businesses to move from one platform to another.

The draft “digital single market” strategy document cites potentially unfair terms limiting access to platforms, high fees and non-transparent or restrictive pricing policies as some of the areas of concern.

“While a framework exists for business-to-consumer complaints in all EU member states, no such mechanism exists for business-to-business relations,” the document states.

The investigation follows calls from France and Germany for greater regulation of dominant Internet players which they believe are harming home-grown European web firms.

In November the two countries asked the Commission to launch a public consultation on the issue, with a view to regulating Internet platforms.

[ID:nL6N0TH2FS] However, in an earlier discussion paper, seen by Reuters, the Commission concluded there was not enough evidence to justify legislation.

One EU official said the Commission was assessing whether the issues raised in the Google antitrust case warranted a more systemic view of the problem.

“We want to move away from case studies,” the official said. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, April 20, 2015

A9 25

Brand Watch

We’ve been able to tackle indiscrimate billboard erection, pasting posters

– KWASAA boss

tions.

But the provision of the law guiding the activities of the agencies stated that ten days after the election all bill boards should be cleared, by the tension would have died down, the losers and winners would have emerged and the agency will be able to clear all these illegally mounted billboards and posters.

Director General of Kwara State Signage and Advertising Agency, KWASAA Alhaji Hammed Olufadi speaks to Dare Akogun on the agency’s challenge to regulate the deployment and erection of bill boards in Kwara State, and ensure the environment is beautified using signage structures as a platform. Excerpts...

The mandate of the agency entails working with different stakeholders in the industry, how would you describe the relationship of the agency with

advertising agents both locally and globally?

If you must know in the middle of last year the agency organised a stakeholders forum in which members of the outdoors advertising practitioners all over the country, sisters agencies from other states all came here to fraternise and share ideas with the agency and also see how we can synergise to ensure that the interest of the business community ,advertising agencies and outdoor practitioners, are well protected and the state government get value for money from people who came to advertise especially the third party structures owners, which we have been able to give approval for more to operate in the state.

So one way or the other we have been able to exist mutually in a beneficial relationship with the advertisers, the regulatory agencies, the state government and the people of the state.

One serious issue the agency has had to contend with in time past is curtailing the influx of adverts dotting the metropolis without passing through the agency, what are the economic implications of these action for the revenue generation of the state and how successful would you say is the fight against such has been?

The State Governor Abdul Fatai Ahmed has been very magnanimous, because when we started out to enforce the strict regulations of bill boards in the state especially the political and the religious aspect, we had very serious issues. We held different security meetings with the police, DSS, Army and all other interested stakeholders.

Beside the governing party in the state, you will be shocked that no other political party came to the agency despite series of meetings with them to

Olufadi

‘

The agency in its short years of existence has been able to ensure that architectural design of each area, be it low, medium or high is preserved

do the needful before erecting their bill boards or flying banners and pasting of posters. The same applies to religious bodies and some business owners in the state who believed that they have the right to erect bill boards or paste posters anywhere in the metropolis without the recourse to the agency.

What we did was to forward our bills to them, but as that they didn’t turn up with their dues. When it becomes problematic I had to approach the governor explaining the situation to him by paying for erecting of their structure and take permission for future deployment so that they won’t constitute nuisance in the metropolis.

But he said I know your job is difficult and I know you are capable of doing the job that’s why I gave you the job and if you enforce those laws, the state government will be ac-

‘

A

s the DG of KWASAA would you say the creation of the agency has justified its existence as the advert police in the state?

Yes the creation of the agency came in at the right time, initially we have chaos in the signage structure regulations in the state. Every Local Government in Kwara state was doing one thing or the other differently from the centralised thing we are doing now. As at then it brought in some unpleasant scenario because of the non uniformity of the regulatory process, but now that everything has been centralised with the input of the local government, the state and other stakeholders, we have been able to really monitor and properly regulate the deployment of signage structures. We have been able to attract investment into the state via the agency in the process of regulating signage structures; we have been able to improve on the revenue generation base of the state.

Also we have been able to beautify and bring sanity into the environment, because in those days, if you come to Ilorin you can’t walk through the road medians without having one accidents or the other involving both vehicular and human elements. But now we have been able to clear the road medians, if you want to make a u-turn on the road it will be easier for you to see on coming vehicles same with a pedestrian who wants to cross the road.

The agency in its short years of existence has been able to ensure that architectural design of each area, be it low, medium or high is preserved so we can say the setting up of the agency is a welcome development.

Is the agency thinking of collaborating with the security agencies to serve as cover for the staff when on enforcement duties?

Normally when we go out for enforcement depending on its nature we are accompanied by armed mobile police team to serve as warning to would be mischief makers, but if it is light enforcement we have Civil defence officers attached to the agency that goes out with us.

But no matter what we go out with law enforcement agents to ensure we do not go out of line in the carrying out our duties and the people too cooperate with us as they should, so there is no how we will go out without being accompanied by law enforcement agents.

I must say that Kwara State Command of the Nigerian Police are have been cooperative with the agencies in ensuring that they carry out their statutory functions and also crave their indulgence to cooperate with us more because the job will become tougher after the elections.

cused of witch hunting the opposition parties in enforcing these signage law and also the agency of being partial in carrying out its duties. It will interest you to know that the state government and the All Progressive Congress, APC, is the only entity that replied and came to settle the bills sent to it, but as at that these people still went ahead with campaign of calumny saying that it’s the government money that he is using.

So we just keep forwarding reminders to them on the need for them to see reason and pay up their dues. Then another factor is that all these bill boards and structures illegally erected by all these politicians had hoodlums guarding them to prevent the agency in making any attempt to effect its removal. So prevent unpleasant happenstances to the staffs of the agency we decided to condone them till after the elec-

Where do you see the agency in ten years time judging by its success in the few years it has been in existence?

The agency is just about four years and some months old, within this short time starting from the previous administration in the state which laid the foundational groundwork till the present government in the state. I must say the agency has received tremendous support and backing from the state government who has ensured that what the entire agency needs to succeed are adequately provided and catered for.

We have been able to put a structure in place because an institution should not be run based on a certain personality and sees that whoever is in charge will be able to build on the existing structures. So in the next ten years I see this agency attaining the height of being one of the best advertising regulatory agencies in the country which model will be used as a reference point. BC

A10 26

Business Courage

Monday, April 20, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Review

Oil price drop: Firms, govts finding it difficult to meet financial obligations Stories by Gbenga Odogun

T

hese are not the best of times for the oil industry due to the dwindling prices of crude oil at the world market following the exploration of Shale oil in the United States of America.

At the moment, the price of crude hovers around $58 per barrel at the international market prompting the federal government to peg the 2015 budget at $55 benchmark.

The rally in price to $63 per barrel of last week notwithstanding ,the industry as a whole continue to swim in the ocean of uncertainty as the fluctuation continue to eat deep into the profit margin of the oil companies while the Nigerian economy which depends largely on oil as the major source of revenue accounting for 95 percent of the country’s export and about 75 percent of government’s expenditure suffers significant setback.

Feelers from state governments across the Federation revealed that governments of various states owe their workers salary arrears ranging from two to six months.

While the state government lament dwindling allocation from the federation

account, the Federal government on the other hand blamed the falling oil price in the world market as the reason for the reduction in the states allocations.

On the part of the exploration companies, rising exploration costs coupled with the crashing prices are putting pressures on the on their margin as prices are not keeping pace with rising costs.

Industry watchers were of the view that the oil industry would have to changes and adjust to reflect the realities of fluctuating oil market, a reduction in the price of oil as currently the case will dampen the enthusiasm of investors as is presently being witnessed in the upstream sector of the nation’s oil and gas sector of the economy.

Such changes and adjustments will include substantial reduction in their operating costs as well as overhead, while the Federal government on the other hand should consider alternative source of revenue as a long term measure to shore up income from crude oil.

Areas such as Agriculture, mining and the real sector should be looked into as a way of diversifying the economy to meet the challenges

Nigeria’s oil production falls most among OPEC members

O

il price recorded its highest drop in the Month of March with the country recording daily output of 1.67 million barrel per day down from 1.80 million per day recorded in February.

The report released last Thursday put Nigeria’s daily output as the lowest among OPEC member countries behind fellow African countries like Algeria and ,Angola who also recorded decline in output.

Four other OPEC members Algeria, Angola, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela, recorded declines in production, while the rest, excluding Kuwait whose production remained unchanged, led by Saudi Arabia, saw an increase.

Crude oil production from Algeria, Angola, UAE and Venezuela fell to 1.12 million bpd, from 1.13 million in February, 1.75 million, from 1.79 million, 2.91 million, from 2.98 million and 2.73 million, from 2.74 mil-

lion, respectively, based on direct communication. Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer, also saw the second-largest drop in rig count after Venezuela in March, data from Baker Hughes Incorporated and OPEC’s estimates showed.

Rig count, which is largely a reflection of the level of exploration, development and production activities occurring in the oil and gas sector, dropped to 32 last month from 36 in February.

OPEC said “signs of higher output in the united States continue to pressure the market while Global crude struggled to find a bottom over the month as initial fears that a 60 percent price drop since June was excessive were later offset by growing oil production.

OPEC attributed the decline in demand to slowing growth in china’s economy as well as high US production creating surplus in the oil market. BC

Oil exploration

arising from over dependent on oil revenue At a forum recently in Lagos, the Lagos chambers of commerce and Industries lamented the dwindling income from the oil revenue due to the falling prices in the world market.

“As a short term measure therefore, the Federal

government should put adequate measures in place to cut wastes, and block all holes through which oil revenue develop wings” .the chamber said.

Government should as a matter of priority put the refineries to optimal use and address the controversial issue of subsidy so as to free

up fund for other developmental purposes.

The task before the incoming administration of president elect Muhammadu Buhari include holistic approach to address the various challenges facing the industry as the success or otherwise depends largely on the survival of the industry. BC

NERC to sanction AEDC for overbilling costumers

T

he Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has warned Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, of an impending sanction for increasing its customers’ estimated bills by about 1,100 per cent.

This is a follow up to an earlier notice following an investigations and forensic observa-

Sam-Amadi, NERC Chairman

tions of electricity distribution companies’ operations through which unusual increases in estimated billings of consumers were observed in the last quarter of 2014.

The commission said in a statement that although some other Discos were found culpable, NERC described the bill increase by the AEDC as “manifest and flagrant breaches of approved methodology for estimated billing of electricity consumers.”

The commission noted that after its investigation, AEDC and some other distribution firms were invited for explanation for the unusual increase in estimated billings.

NERC accused AEDC of “imposed arbitrary and random figures on clusters of its customers, ranging from 18 to 28 per cent between October and December 2014, and in some cases, 1,100 per cent increase.”

This, it said, resulted in an unusual increase in customers’

bills as against the provisions of the Methodology for Estimated Billing Regulations 2012.

The notice from the commission added that the AEDC “tripled its customers’ bills issued in September 2014 and issued it as bills for October 2014 without evidence of a commensurate increase in electricity supply within the same period.”

It stated that the company also failed to forward a report of estimated billings it issued in every billing circle as provided under section 9 of the Methodology for Estimated Billing Regulation 2012, in the format prescribed by the regulation.

The commission gave AEDC seven day to explain itself if it will escape sanction.

“Sanctions for violation of licensing conditions range from financial imposition, energy refund to customers or discipline of responsible senior management staff of any erring electricity company as may be decided by the commission.” BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, April 20, 2015

A11 27

‘Nigeria remains Vodacom’s biggest market’

By Isaiah Erhiawarien

N

otwithstanding the crisis in South African whereby immigrants from African countries are being killed because they seemed to be taking jobs meant for South Africans, latest report however revealed that Nigeria remains the biggest market for one of South Africa’s global company, Vodacom Business Africa, the enterprise arm of South African telecoms group Vodacom.

Vodacom Business serves the enterprise business customer, offering products such as connectivity, MPLS services, VSAT services, and broadband wireless access services on the continent.

Vodacom, which has a strong presence in Nigeria recently, signed into the Convention on Business Integrity ,CBi. The signing reinforces Vodacom’s undertaking to observe the values of the Code of Business Integrity both within the company and dealings with customers and partners.

The company represented

by Douglas Craigie–Stevenson, Managing Director Vodacom Business Africa and Guy Clarke Managing Director Vodacom Business Nigeria, signed documents to formalise the company’s membership to CBi in a signing ceremony held in Lagos.

According to Douglas Craigie-Stevenson, the company has always maintained the highest level of integrity in its business operations, “Joining the Convention on Business Integrity shows our commitment to conducting all our business affairs with honesty and professionalism.”

At the signing ceremony, the Managing Director of Vodacom Business Nigeria, Guy Clarke, added: “By signing into CBi we have pledged to abide by its code and collectively we will

gradually change the perception of doing business in Nigeria, especially on the international stage.”

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Soji Apampa, the Executive Director of The Convention on Business Integrity commended Vodacom Business Nigeria for their efforts. He said, “We recognise the necessity to build a strong alliance of companies and organisations such as Vodacom, their collective action will improve corporate governance and reduce corruption in the Nigerian business environment.”

The Convention on Business Integrity (CBi) was established in 1997 with the mission of promoting ethical business practices, transparency and fair competition in the private and public sectors. Signatories of the convention undertake to observe the values of the Code of Business Integrity, both within their own organisations and in their dealings with customers and partners.

Craigie-Stevenson said they have nine operating entities across the continent, but the West African and Southern African nations represent their biggest markets.

VSAT is one of the major services we offer across the continent, which can connect anywhere there is a satellite footprint, said Craigie-Stevenson.

“Your customer today is no longer asking to be connected; he is asking to be connected with a service level attached to it.

“The managed service component of your connectivity layer is where we differentiate ourselves in the market,” he stated.

According to Craigie-Stevenson the biggest sectors they provide services to in the regions where they operate include oil and gas, as well as financial services.

Craigie–Stevenson

Clarke

Apampa

Commenting on doing business in Africa, Craigie-Stevenson said their customers are asking for connectivity in multiple countries, and are going in with a bullish approach to the continent.

Vuyani Jarana, chief officer for Vodacom Business reiterated Craigie-Stevenson’s comments and said Africa has vast and largely untapped growth potential.

“Many global enterprises based in the US, Europe and Asia are focusing on expanding their operations into Africa to establish a presence. As a result, Vodacom Business is seeing a huge demand for connectivity services. These enterprises generally prefer to deal with a single supplier, and Vodacom Business is perfectly positioned to meet this need,” said Jarana.

According to Craigie-Stevenson, “Nigeria is the dominant market in Africa... but there has been a little bit of a slowdown in investment, but that country’s gross domestic product growth rate is still above five percent, which is still substantially high.”

Craigie-Stevenson also noted that there are challenges in operating in big African markets especially in terms of regulatory frameworks.

“Some of the traditional issues include logistical problems, and power supply is probably the number one issue in almost all of the markets.”

“Your network can’t operate without power, so the power generation the deeper you go into territories becomes problematic especially for financial services companies,” he said.

The companies footprint

is felt in the provision of enterprise-class communication solutions, and it is rapidly expanding its business in Nigeria opening new offices in Ibadan and Kano.

The new offices are part of Vodacom Nigeria’s expansion plans which will strengthen services to customers in these regions and the surrounding areas.

Vodacom Business Nigeria will leverage its extensive national communications network to provide secure and agile communication solutions to customers in these regions.

These services include enterprise voice, cloud and hosting solutions as well as machine– to–machine solutions.

Vodacom Business Nigeria’s Managing Director, Guy Clarke said “We expanded into Ibadan and Kano in response to the demand for converged communications. These are thriving markets where companies are investing in cutting-edge telecommunication solutions to increase customer engagement and loyalty.”

The new offices will provide services and support to largescale enterprise, SMEs as well as public enterprises in Ibadan, Kano and surrounding areas in both cities. “Our solutions will provide businesses in these regions with a single point of contact for their enterprise telephony and data services, all on a single secure network,” Clarke added.

Vodacom offers connectivity, voice, cloud and hosting services from Nigeria’s only certified Tier 3 data center and now business in Ibadan and Kano can enjoy reliable, secure and scalable communication services regardless of their size or location. BC

A12 28

Business Courage

Monday, April 20, 2015

Huawei unveils P8 flagship handset

C

hinese smart device maker Huawei has unveiled its flagship P8 smartphone, a 5.2inch handset that sports a full metal unibody and a sleek design measuring 6.4mm thick.

The device, unveiled by Huawei Consumer Business Group CEO Richard Yu, at an event in London, follows on from the company’s highly-popular Ascend P7 handset that came to market last year.

“Huawei has seamlessly combined the best elements of style and durability, delivering a revolutionary user experience especially in terms of camera capabilities and network connectivity,” said Yu. Yu presentation focused heavily on showcasing the P8’s advanced camera features, explaining camera design included elements of hardware, software and proprietary algorithms, allowing for good quality photographs to be taken in poor-light conditions.

The handset boasts an eightmegapixel front-facing camera and a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera that features Optical Image Stabilizer technology up to 1.2° that enables the taking of high-quality photos and videos,

and manages camera shake so images are consistently sharp.

Yu also highlight the fact that the camera features “the world’s first” four-colour RGBW sensor, which enhances brightness by 32 percent in high-contrast lighting scenarios and reduces it by 78 percent in low-light.

The P8 handset is powered by a 64-bit, 2GHz octa-core Kirin 930 CPU, and comes with 3GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a 2680mAh battery and accommodate two 4G SIMs. Yu noted that the handset is available in four colour options – silver, gold, black and grey – and boasts a “revolutionary” touch screen experience. He demonstrated that by doubletapping a knuckle, the phone captures a full-length screen shot, while drawing a circle on the screen captures content.

Huawei has released two versions of the P8 – the standard device.

The Huawei P8 will initially be available in more than 30 countries including China, Columbia, France, Germany, Mexico, Spain, SA, Turkey, UAE and the UK. Yu also unveiled the P8max “phablet”, a device featuring a

larger 6.8-inch screen, longer battery life and a camera with light tracing for any environment.

The P8max also includes ID design and light painting capabilities of the Huawei P series devices, which Yu said deliver more fun to consumers through Huawei’s new large screen smartphones.

The large 4360 mAh battery features Huawei’s power saving and power consumption management technology that delivers improved battery life, allowing users to watch downloaded video for over 15 consecutive hours. BC

oftware giant Microsoft has announced the launch of its dual SIM smartphone, the Lumia 540.

According to Microsoft the new device is designed for young and ambitious people looking for their first serious smartphone.

The new dual smartphone boasts features such as the latest Windows Phone 8.1 operating system, a 5-inch HD display and crafted design details, Skype and Office available out-of-

the-box.

Microsoft also noted that the Lumia 540 dual SIM is capable of upgrading to Windows 10 when the service becomes available later this year.

“The Lumia 540 Dual SIM is a testament to our passion for product-making that is reflected across the entire Lumia product portfolio and will continue with future devices,” said Jo Harlow, corporate vice president for Phones at Microsoft.

T

elecommunications company, Etisalat thrown its weight behind the empowerment of women by supporting another edition of Today’s Woman Brunch Series.

The event, held at the serene ambience of the Clear Essence Spa, Ikoyi was an avenue for women to not only network and inspire one another but to tap into the wealth of knowledge and experience of key female leaders, Chief Executive Officers and entrepreneurs across various industries.

The Brunch Series organised by media personality, Adesuwa Onyenokwe is an inspirational quarterly event that celebrates female icons that have made giant strides in their fields of endeavour with integrity, passion and consistency. Etisalat had in the past hosted previous editions, which featured phi-

lanthropist and entrepreneur, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija and acclaimed politician, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa.

Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank, Mrs. Bola Adesola was hosted at the Brunch Series which was graced by other notable personalities such as Azuka Ogujiuba, Modele Sarafa Yusuf, Author, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta, Assistant Editor TW Magazine, Ifeyinwa Ojekwe, Media Entrepre-

Adesola

(ozueesther@nationalmirroronline.net) 08059234648 (sms only)

Useful iPad tips and tricks

W

*Create folders iOS now supports folders. To create a folder all you need to do is tap and hold on an app until they all start to jiggle, then drag the app over another icon and release.

Your iPad will create a folder with both the apps in. The folder will be named according to the category of the apps it contains, but you can rename it as you like.

Yu

Harlow added, “With the Lumia 540 Dual SIM, we’ve made it possible to deliver a smartphone with strong design and technology credentials that is also fun to use, and incredible value for money.”

Other features include a rear-facing 8-megapixel camera, apps such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and Instagram. And Microsoft services like Office, Outlook and up to 30 GB of free cloud storage via OneDrive4. BC

Etisalat expresses support for women empowerment

By Isaiah Erhiawarien

with Esther Ozue

ith great new features like two video cameras, a faster processor and a Retina display, the new iPad is the world’s best tablet device.

Here are some of the useful iPad tips that cover everything from customising your Home screen through to getting more from built-in apps like Mail and Safari.

Microsoft launches dual SIM Lumia 540

S

Technotalk

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

neur, Ono Bello, Fade Ogunro, Funke Babs Kufieji, Ebele The Flutist, Wana Udobang, amongst others.

The event provided Mrs. Adesola an opportunity to share her corporate experiences as well as the giant strides she has achieved in positioning Standard Chartered Bank as a major player in the banking industry.

She further mentored the ladies on issues such as developing a road map to getting their desired jobs, combating challenges in gender sensitive environments, indices needed to balance career, marriage and motherhood, identifying the right partner , savings and investing Speaking about the sponsorship, Head, Events & Sponsorship, Modupe Thani described the Brunch Series as one of the ways of sharing the passions of Etisalat’s customers and supporting causes that make impact in the community. BC

*Access all running apps Double-clicking the Home button shows you all the apps that are running on your iPad in a bar along the bottom of the screen. To switch to a running app just tap on it here in this bar. Just swipe the screen downwards to remove this bar. *Orientation Lock or Mute The internet got mightily upset when Orientation Lock was replaced with Mute on the iPad during the last iOS update. Apple listened, and now you can head to Settings > General to choose between Lock Rotation and Mute. *Passcode Denied… DELETE ALL! If you’re carrying around sensitive data, you can now enable a feature that’ll erase all the data on the device if someone inputs the incorrect passcode 10 times. Navigate to Settings > General > Passcode Lock > Erase Data. *Home Sharing First, turn on Home Sharing in iTunes (Advanced menu) and on your iPad (Settings > Music/Video and enter your Apple ID). Next, launch the Music or Video app on your iPad. In the Music app, tap the “More” button at the bottom; find the little house with “Shared” next to it. Tap on that and then on one of the Shared Libraries. It might take a few seconds to update, but then you can listen to all of that Library’s media on your iPad. For video, tap the Shared tab at the top of the screen. *Control iPad notifications By going to Settings > Notifications, you can decide which apps can pop up alerts, which have notifications at the top of the screen, and which appear in Notification Center. This means you can make sure that noisy apps don’t clog things up for you, and you notice the important things. *Go VPN The iPad supports a VPN connection. To configure it, go to Settings, then General > Network. Select the VPN and move the slider to On, then add a VPN configuration with your server and account details. *Stop asking to join Wi-Fi networks If you’re fed up of getting bugged by messages asking if you’d like to join this or that Wi- Fi network all the time then head to Settings, Wi-Fi and turn off Ask to Join Networks. You can still join any network that will have you from this same screen, it just won’t bug you constantly when the opportunity arises. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, April 20, 2015

A13 29

John Obayuwana:

Merchant of status symbols He belongs to the retailing cadre of the entrepreneurial divide where he operates under the brand name Polo, a company which started some two decades ago selling watches, jewelleries and assorted bags. Today, Polo has become the leader in the luxurywatch and jewellery market as the exclusive agency in Nigeria for some of the finest Swiss watch and jewellery brands. This is the story of John Obayuwana, the Rolex man, who is also making significant inroads in the construction sector in Nigeria

By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

T

he story of John Obayuwana, the brain behind Polo Limited, Nigeria’s foremost luxury item collection firm, is indeed, an interesting one to behold. Ordinarily, by Nigeria’s standard, wrist watch retailing, the type of business he had decided to venture into could be said not to be a money-spinning business. This is because; the watch market in Nigeria is an unstructured and an-all-comers affair, estimated at about over 55 million units. It is a market that is dominated by inferior low-end watches imported daily mainly from Asia.

But not one to be daunted by this palpable trepidation, Obayuwana went into the business of selling watches with style.

Twenty six years after he established Polo, the result of his business adventure has been glaring and he has been able to show that he is an example of a dogged businessman who thrives where others dread. His company, Polo, has been able to maintain a reputation that has soared over the years through a

painstaking artistry.

When he chose to venture into the business of selling watches, Obayuwana certainly knew he had to do it with a difference to stand out from the crowd. From the word go, Obayuwana positioned himself at the high to middle segment of Nigeria’s luxury goods market.

With the mindset that there are always the precious few in every society who are driven by some inner force to excel in all they do, and for the fact that they need materials that could show their class in the society, Obayuwana targeted top governments officials as well as wealthy and influential individuals.

At a time when many people would look down on the business as a degrading enterprise, Obayuwana approached his business with the mindset of a man set to conquer his world.

For Obayuwana, the idea behind Polo is beauty; a devotion to beauty with focus on bringing excitement to people’s lives. His work style speaks of excellence, a quality which has earned him the franchise as a Rolex agent in Nigeria.

Obayuwana started Polo in 1987, as a watch retailing busi-

Obayuwana

ness to serve the crop of highly successful, articulate, sophisticated individuals with eyes for some of the best things of life.

The world of Polo began as a devotion to beauty and a refined way of doing things that seek perfection at all times. The name Polo has come to mean beauty to its highly placed clients, a four-letter stamp of good quality products and services on watches, jewellery and other exceptional products. Its quest to satisfy the needs of its discerning and affluent clientele, led the company through the portals of the makers.

However, just like it is for every other business, the road to success for Obayuwana’s Polo did not come on a platter of gold. What stands him out in this line of business, he admits, is being able to stay true to the core values of intimacy with its customer service, as well as to its core beliefs in integrity. Polo, Obayuwana noted, has over the years been able to keep to honesty as it stays true to values that bring nobility, honesty and enablement to individuals. “We have firmly resisted the short cut, because the short cut can bring you big success in the

short term but in the long term, you will be out of business and you are nothing without a name.

We have resisted this even when it is not the fashionable thing to do because out there, everybody is in a hurry; we are not very fashionable. If you like, you can call us traditional. We believe that there are some core values that shouldn’t shift with fashion; we have passed through phases and here we are,” he said in a recent interview.

Obayuwana’s journey into the luxury goods business did not come by accident. Having studied in the United Kingdom, he was able to have established connections with makers of luxury goods, particularly in Switzerland.

He couldn’t recall how much he started the business with, but Obayuwana admitted that though he started the business with very little or no capital, sheer hard work, integrity and determination to succeed remained the major plank upon which the Polo business was built.

Today, Polo is the exclusive agent in Nigeria for world-class luxury brands for wrist-watches, jewellery, leather goods and

other fine accessories. “It’s been good. We started small and we have grown. We have been growing steadily over the years.

There have been challenges along the way but overall, it’s been good,” he said.

Though Polo is a fully independent business built with a set of governing principles, but just like most luxury brands around the world, the business is strongly rooted in the Obayuwana family, with John and Jennifer in charge of the day-today running of the business.

Jennifer, the eldest child is the Executive Director at Polo. A 2004 graduate of Business Administration from the American University of Paris, France and International Relations from Franklin College Switzerland in 2006, Jennifer joined her father in the running of the business after completing her studies and has contributed to the expansion of the business. She has a keen eye for luxury and an undeniable sense of style, which she has used to further advance the course of her father’s business.

No doubt, Polo seems to have been built on a solid foundaContinued on pg A14

Business Courage

tion of hard work and loyalty, the attributes which have kept it ahead of its competitors.

Polo also draws on its wealth of strong connections with the major luxury brands of the world.

Creativity is also a core part of the business and Polo believes that in its quest for excellence, its employees need to think out of the box. The company gives priority to the personal and professional growth of its employees to enable constant improvement in retail processes and customer service and satisfaction.

In its 26 years of doing retail business in West Africa, Polo has achieved significant milestones, one of which is winning the exclusivity to a number of world class luxury goods - wrist watches, fine jewellery, leather products, ball pens and accessories from brands such as Vacheron Constantin, Rolex, Piaget, Hublot, Roger Dubuis, Chopard, Cartier, Frank Muller, Longines, Rado, Balmain, Baume & Mercier and Mont Blanc and many more In a rare feat of maintaining standard as renowned retailers of some of the world’s most luxurious goods, the company launched the first functional Rolex approved workshop in West Africa last year. This is a major milestone in the history of luxury retailing in the region which came after Polo announced in 2010 that it had acquired the exclusive franchise and sole distributorship rights of Rolex in Nigeria.

Obayuwana said that Rolex occupies a very unique position at the top of wrist watch making industry. “Everybody wants Rolex because not only is it a only recognized brand, it is also probably the most exclusive brand in the world,” he said. He further spoke on the strength of the Polo brand saying “in Polo we do not cut corners, we have a name and our name speaks for us. We spent over 20 years building the Polo brand and we are happy and proud of the business we do”.

On why he decided to collaborate with Rolex, Obayuwana said that Rolex connotes prestige, luxury, durability and store of value. Rolex is the most renowned watch brand in the world. It is truly a special piece.

“When you talk of watches generally, there are watches and there are watches. If you are talking of watches at the highest level of performance, at the highest level of technical excellence, that is one level. There is another level that has to do with watches in the mid-range.

Then you have watches that just barely tell you the time which you pick up in any street corner for peanuts. But they are also watches. So, it’s difficult to group watches generally. But when you speak about Rolex, you speak of watches at the highest peak of excellence, perfection and performance. And

Obayuwana

you think of watches that are made with details, high tech that modern technology can provide; a product of the ingenuity of human technical know-how. That is what we mean when we talk of Rolex.”

Obayuwana is so passionate about the Rolex brand. “Everybody knows Rolex. It occupies a very unique position at the top of the wristwatch making industry and has a special pride of place. It is the core. If you have a watch collection and there is no Rolex in it, it is not complete, because not only is it recognized, not only is it sought after by kings, royalty, leaders in government and politics, from arts, name them, it is also the most inspirational brand in the world,” he said.

“You just must have a Rolex. When you have bought one, then you must want to buy another because it has a range of collection from everyday wear, knock about in stainless steel to the dress watch to the gala evening, special dinners, big business meetings, and they have activity watches - sports watches; watches that you can take under the sea at a depth of 4,000 feet. These are marvellous watches. And then, there is what they call the pilot watch,” he said.

According to Obayuwana, what is unique about all of this is that Rolex holds its value.

“This is the strongest thing about Rolex. It absolutely retains its value. It is not a fashion object that is simply flashy in your face and after one or two years it ceases to be hot and you discard it. Rolex is an iconic brand that started at the turn of the last century and some of those pieces today still exist in private collections.

“The most actively traded watch at auctions is Rolex .You can always be sure that the

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, April 20, 2015

value of your Rolex will keep increasing and you lose very little.

We are happy to introduce Rolex to the Nigerian people and we recommend it to all connoisseurs, to all taste makers. We recommend it to all successful people because they call it a crown for every achievement. In fact, that is how they describe Rolex in addition to what they say: that Rolex is the king of watches and also the watch for kings,” he states of the brand that was won by one of Britain’s most popular fictional heroes – Special Agent 007, James Bond, for decades.

Obviously, Rolex is not the only luxury brand stocked by Obayuwana’s Polo stores. From the world’s oldest brand name in watch manufacturing Vacheron Constantin to Chopard and Piaget, Polo is the go-to place for these and other luxury brands.

“We have managed to secure the exclusive agency in Nigeria for some of the world’s most exclusive wristwatches and jewellery brands. Vacheron Constantin is over 200 years old. We are talking about Chopard which styles and dresses the stars, celebrities, all the moguls, the big names in the arts. We are also talking about Piaget. In the world, there are three brands that are considered over all brands and Polo is privileged to represent these three. These are the Rolls Royce of the watch and beauty industry,” Obayuwana

‘

states with his trademark broad grin.

Obayuwana attributed Polo’s phenomenal rise to the fact the company has never deviated from its values. “By staying true to our core value of intimacy with our customers, of staying true to our core belief in integrity that we are true to our word and we remain true to the values that bring nobility and honesty that brings ennoblement to the individual.

“We have firmly resisted the short cut. Because the short cut can bring you big success in the short term but in the long term, you are out of business and you have no name. We have done this even when it is not the fashionable thing to do because we believe that there are core values that shouldn’t shift with the winds, with fashion.”

That philosophy has helped Polo record an impressive growth from a modest presence on Allen Avenue, Ikeja where the company started from about two decades ago to the exclusive zones such as Transcorp Hilton in Abuja and The Palms in Lagos where its shops are today.

Obayuwana noted that the relationship between Rolex and Polo goes beyond franchise as it won Rolex’s sole and exclusive distribution and retail right of Rolex watches in West Africa.

“Franchise is a typical market.

I will give you an instance. You have a global Radisson Hotel and you own Radisson Hotel in Nigeria. All you need to do is pay them a fee for using that name.

With a similar arrangement, you can also have Hoss Electronics.

The parent Hoss organisation will do the interior, they will furnish it, they will train your people and they will give you every other support. You can write your invoice with Hoss logo. But you own it and every year you pay royalty to Hoss. Now that is franchise. We are retailers and that is already more than prestigious alone. The relationship also entitles us to all the necessary back-up support,” he said in an interview.

But how did the exclusive distribution came about? According to Obayuwana, the exclusive distribution came through the company’s commitment to the highest value of watch making, commitment to the best brands which it believes are the most trusted watches as well as its commitment to the core values of service excellence. “They came and

In Polo we do not cut corners, we have a name and our name speaks for us.

We spent over 20 years building the Polo brand and we are happy and proud of the business we do

‘

A14 30

investigated our business, they looked at our structures, they have seen our capability, sufficiently enough for them to say okay, we trust you to represent us in Nigeria,” he said.

Today, Obayuwana believes that Polo doesn’t have any close competitor in the watch market.

Rather, competition comes more from London, Paris and Dubai.

“Of course, there are many vendors out there who are also trying to take a piece of the action.

They must be quite a lot, but I don’t know of any who has the set up that we have, who has the organization that we have, who has the family of brands that we have. I don’t really know,” he boasted.

However, aside Polo which Obayuwana is largely known for, he is also the Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of CAT Oil & Gas Limited as well as CAT Construction Group Limited.

CAT Construction’s fields and scope of activities include infrastructural development of new townships, settlements and industrial areas which include infrastructural highway development and construction of bridges, flyovers and tunnels, construction of runways, airplane shelter and other aviation infrastructures. CAT construction group also deals in construction of administrative buildings, hospitals, healthcare centres and schools as well as construction of shops and market buildings, construction of residential, condominiums and apartment buildings.

Since its incorporation years ago, the company has been able to execute many projects like the Erosion Control Works, Pinnock Beach Estate Infrastructure Project, Five Star International Hotel, Abakaliki, Aruma House, Port-Harcourt, New Secretariat Complex at Yenagoa, Protea Cattle Ranch Conference- Obudu, New Airport Road, Novotel Hotel Festac, Administrative Office Complex PH and Tinapa Business Resort. Others are Nigerian Security Printing and Minting, 1004 Estate Limited, Peace garden city project as well as many private residential buildings.

But behind the veneer of luxury lies a heartache seldom seen by the public. The global economic slump has dealt a severe blow to customers’ capacity to patronize luxury brands. For luxury goods, the picture was a lot dimmer as that sector tends to feel the squeeze in the event of an economic downturn. But the Polo boss has a less pessimistic view. “Everybody went through it. You go up, you go down, and you go up again. It is normal.

We lost money, everybody lost money, the banks are not lending. We go through it because if you are prepared for the good times, you also must prepare for the bad times and we are not complaining all the time. We are moving forward,” he said. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, April 20, 2015

A15 31

ThebuddingEntrepreneurs

Weave the workers to improve services improvement

BUSINESS 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

her fired some of the production executives because she felt they could not be woven into the production team.

Dear entrepreneur, trying to improve services by hiring many workers who probably have experiences and have done well in the previous enterprise does not guarantee the expected result because not often does talent performance is consistent.

What does it mean to weave the workers together for services improvement in enterprise?

Weaving workers simply means bonding them into fine relationship- workers who feel and act as if they own the business and it owns them. It also means a team of workers with strong and resilient bond like Aso-oke (Yoruba hand woven fabric). It is a team of people accountable to one another in service delivery.

How can an entrepreneur weave his team for service improvement?

The first responsibility is for the entrepreneur to model love Love is a verb! For the purpose of our discussion, this would mean to care deep-

T

‘

A study shows that when people are given subtle reminders that others might be watching, they are prone to do the right thing. When driving in the city of Lagos, the tendency to flout traffic rule is lower since the introduction of LASTMA (State traffic agents) who enforce traffic rules

‘

D

uring my university period, I lived in Ijebu ode town, South West, Nigeria and I sometimes visited professional fabric weavers who specialised in “Aso-Oke. Aso Oke is that popular brand of cloth for special occasion and events among Yorubas in South Western Nigeria. The Aso-oke fabric weavers usually spread hundreds of strings of wools that could be mistaken for mere tiny ropes. The separated strings do not have values until they are woven together by the fabric weavers.

In the same manner, hiring ‘strings’ of right people is very crucial for propelling services improvement, but it is not enough. The unfortunate aspect of this is the common belief of entrepreneurs and business leaders that once they hired very skilled and highly motivated employees, service improvement will, sure, follow.

My experience as entrepreneur and with many startup and businesses in Nigeria is that team effectiveness for quality services delivery requires weaving together people with diverse background, tradition, knowledge, religious belief, and skills. An entrepreneur cannot just gather many talented workers hoping they could figure out working together effectively.

One of my most interesting scenes was at the production factory of Charis Flavour. It was with the production executives who were fantastic young people and with energy to work as individuals and who had different background. While some could communicate in English language effectively, others could only speak in vernacular. They were all expected to work as team of woven talents in order to achieve production target. Interestingly, during my period of executive coach services with the CEO, Maureen, I was privileged seeing

ly about, to be dedicated to (someone or something). Love expresses respect and honour to people within a community and in this case, it is in organisation. A Jewish once wrote a poem on love thus: “So no matter what I say, what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for

self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.

Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head,.. Isn’t always “me first,”...Always look for the best, Never looks back...Love never dies.”

The relevant of the love value in organisation is that it encourages mutual respect and bonding among the team members, which encourages people to put in their best effort in service delivery.

The second responsibility is to suppress free riding Robbert and Huggy made it known in one of their titles that when people feel accountable to their colleagues and customers, they feel obliged to put in extra effort and make sacrifice for the greater good.

Sure, it is a challenging task and sustainability requires strong leadership whose obligation is to provide enabling environment for such habit to thrive.

Let me give a perspective of free ridding using Nigeria’s Presidential election won by General Muhammadu Buhari of the APC. The election was between people who wanted change in governance and those who wanted forward agenda of the incum-

Motivational Business Quotes

here is no royal, flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it. For if I have accomplished anything in life, it is because I have been willing to work hard. – C.J. Walker Let every man be respected as an individual and no man idolized. – Albert Einstein

We are currently not planning on conquering the world. – Sergey Brin If it really was a no-brainer to make it on your own in business there’d be millions of no-brained, harebrained, and otherwise dubiously brained individuals quitting their day jobs and hanging out their own shingles. Nobody would be left to round out the workforce and execute the business plan. – Bill Rancic

It takes more than capital to swing business. You’ve got to have the A. I. D. degree to get by — Advertising, Initiative, and Dynamics. – Ren Mulford Jr. For all of its faults, it gives most hardworking people a chance to improve themselves economically, even as the deck is stacked in favor of the privileged few. Here are the choices most of us face in such a system: Get bitter or get busy. – Bill O’ Reilly A man should never neglect his family for business. – Walt Disney The only limits are, as always, those of vision. – James Broughton BC

bent president. In all of these electoral processes, over 54 million people who registered were to vote among the population of over 170 million people but only about 25 million people voted. This will mean, whatever the decision of the voters produce for the nation, the non-voters will benefits.

Those who decided not to vote due to either personal choice or technical reasons are “free riders” because they will sure enjoy along the voters whatever benefits of electoral promises of the elected President.

In business, you cannot afford to tolerate free riders attitude as it discourages others from giving the best efforts towards services improvement.

It kills sense of ownership among the team members.

The third is to let team members know that someone is watching A study shows that when people are given subtle reminders that others might be watching, they are prone to do the right thing.

When driving in the city of Lagos, the tendency to flout traffic rule is lower since the introduction of LASTMA (State traffic agents) who enforce traffic rules. Not every time is an agent visible but the subconscious mind of Lagos drivers feel a LASTMA agent might hide and watching.

People would often do the right thing, improve services, and shows sense of accountability when they feel that someone is watching their input and activities.

My encouragement is that when you bring in new workers because you needed them to improve services as they did in previous work place it may not be automatic without strategy to weave them into the system. It will require effort from the business leader to weave them, help them bond with people, and effectively contribute to business function. Be courageous to do it right. Cheers! BC

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Business Courage

Monday, April 20, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ThebuddingEntrepreneurs

Babatunde – The shoemaker

Mr Kassim Tyler Babatunde, very early in life had desired to be a business owner instead of an employee. Perhaps, the desire to actualise his dream made him engage in one business or the other even while in secondary school. During his university days, he was into buying fashion stuffs which he sold to fellow students and making profit.

He says he was making some cool money on campus.

Aside buying and selling, he was engaged with on campus, he took up tailoring and was making clothes for fellow students.

By Lolade Akinmurele

E

ven after his graduation, he continued his tailoring business until few years ago when he met a friend that would eventually lead him to shoe making.

The urge and determination to have his own business led him into setting up Pitchersville Bespoke Shoes, a local shoe making firm after under studying a friend and owner of St. David’s Shoes, one of the country’s finest shoe makers.

The creative Director of Pitchersville Bespoke Shoe Company, Babatunde, who runs the business alongside his partner and co owner Diane Joseph, says that in spite the challenging business environment in the country, he enjoys what he is doing- making shoes.

Few years after he started his shoe line he is fast becoming an authority of the dress shoe world. There are many shoe designers that follow his blog; Pitchersville Bespoke Shoes, and some of the changes they make from season to season are most likely influenced by Babatunde’s creativity. Many who have seen or used his shoes would quickly say that he has the eye for a great looking shoe as Michelangelo’ would have for the art.

“His creations are amazing.

I have a profound admiration for the shoes he creates. The colours, the styles, the shape, everything about these shoes make them nothing short of awesome. His shoes are Goodyear welted, made of very high quality leather, and are without question on the top of my wish list”, one of his clients said.

Babatunde says he was drawn into fashion because of his admiration for elegance.

According to him elegance is

being comfortable and confident in your own skin and physique and with who you are as a person.

“It is only after the above things are realised that the clothing comes to play. I have seen elegant men wearing shabby clothing and very sharp men who were far from elegant.

It’s about how you carry yourself and how you treat others. My influences come from watching other men do elegant things, like being a gentleman, helping others. Like I said, for me, elegance goes far beyond what one wears but rather is all a part of how one is.

For Babatunde his favourite Shoe-Maker, in the local scene is St. David’s Shoes.

“I remember vividly the first day I saw a St David’s shoe. I was a University of Lagos undergraduate then, the shoes actually left me in complete awe. It was something so amazingly different yet still so classically elegant, I found it totally hard to believe they were Nigerian made products. It fused so many styles into one and it just showed me what great shoemaking could be”, he said.

Perhaps the indelible impression St. David’s Shoes made on young Babatunde was later to draw him close to David and they became friends.

After having modelled for him for few years and actually became his photography model, David taught him a lot about shoe-making “and after having spent some time with him. I actually confirmed how great his talents as an artist are. He taught me that the beauty in a shoe comes from the way in which the pattern is laid onto the last.

“Even though the process was difficult but David makes it look easy and his shoes are simply superb. Simply put, his

shoes for me define elegance in footwear through his ability to perfectly match a pattern to a last. He is just the epitome of everything shoes in Nigeria”, he said.

Like many men Babatunde agrees a good pair of shoes is necessary for every man.

“Shoes are the foundation of one’s outfit and if men intend to be taken seriously then they need a pair of serious shoes.

Shoes speak wonders about the person that they are on.

They are often the focal point to everyone’s eyes and there is just nothing more unattractive than a horrible looking pair of shoes.

“For me, it is simply a part of being an adult: wearing good shoes.

“Not only all of that, but a pair of good shoes make you feel good about yourself and that confidence exuberates in your being and projects outwards, which ultimately makes you more desirable, not only sexually but professionally too. And having a pair of good shoes is one step in the right direction to being elegant”, Babatunde told Business Courage.

Babatunde said his favourite shoe style is the monk for shoes and balmoral for boots. “When I say monk shoe though, I do not mean the old

Babatunde

Management Principles

Business partnership management

C

o-founder disagreements and misunderstandings can sink a company before it starts. Here are four ways to manage your partner and set the business up for success:

Get an outsider’s perspective.

Most startups don’t have a board of directors but still need an outsider’s viewpoint. Frank Demmler, an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business, advises founders to give a monthly presentation about company goals and challenges in front of two or three mentors. Presenting to a third party keeps partners from blaming each other for company decisions gone wrong. For example, partners who disagree about how to price their product can present their cases to their mentors instead of getting into a direct conflict with one another. Getting into this habit also helps the founders gain perspective on their decisions, since their mentors are removed from the day-to-day ups and downs.

Solve problems before they happen Just like you would create a business plan, it’s a good idea for founders to sit down together, write out potential hot-button issues and think through solutions in advance. For example, you’ll want to outline each partner’s time commitment to the company and how you’ll handle personal problems, such as illness. It’s also important to discuss how and when the partners will be paid and strategies for growing the business, says Demmler. For instance, one partner may want to keep the profits, while the other may prefer to re-invest them in order to scale. Taking the time to address what’s important to you upfront can help prevent future breakdowns in communication, he says. “Do it at the beginning when rational minds are engaged.”

Clearly outline job responsibilities If one or more founders aren’t pulling their weight, it can breed resentment. One way to avoid

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Business Courage

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ThebuddingEntrepreneurs

per excellence

Personal Finance

Five main drivers of corporate success

“I

Americana ones from the 40s50s. I mean the modern day dress version whereby you have a nice piece of leather that separates the vamp and the counter. It thus allows for great two tone shoes.

“My favourite colour is blue but for shoes I really love the combination of black and red or blue and grey”, he said.

Naturally, some clients are very hard to please, but Babatunde said that pleasing your clients is one of the easy ways to success in business. “I make sure my clients are happy with what they are getting from me. I make room for them complain about

what we are giving them. When it comes to running a business, you will have instances when clients may raise issues. I have learned to be patient. I have also learned to always think ahead of my clients and be creative.

“Humility is important for success. Everybody working with me knows that if something has to do with my clients, I don’t joke with it. If my client wants to get his job in three day, he will get it .I will not do anything less.

I have learned to be faithful and my employees have been taught same.

For those that want to be-

this is by assessing and redistributing the amount of work each one does through weekly partner meetings, says Shahab Kaviani, chief executive at CoFoundersLab, an online co-founder matching service based in Rockville, Md. Knowing you will meet regularly to discuss the workload can help ease any lingering tension. Keep in mind that a balanced division of labor doesn’t necessarily mean divvying up every project.

For example, instead of splitting the marketing work down the middle, one partner can focus on marketing while the other concentrates on operations. Of course, you’ll want to consider each other’s strengths when making those choices.

Consider all partners when making decisions For many business partners, making even the smallest company decisions can turn into a drawn out, painful process, which can slow down the company’s upward trajectory. Learning how to effectively negotiate with your co-founders will help smooth out potential gridlocks. When negotiating a big decision, Douglas Noll, a corporate mediator in Clovis, Calif., suggests that partners focus on their overarching goals, rather than quibble over specifics.

For instance, if you’d like to take more money out of the business to pay off company debt, make a list of the long-term benefits of doing so, such as added financial security. When you come to the negotiating table, discuss ways that you might be able to achieve your ultimate goal of financial security, and offer directing funds to pay off debt as one possible method.

At the same time, Kaviani advises against making concessions without getting something in return. For example, when negotiating a hiring decision, one partner might agree to hire someone they’re not sure about, if the other agrees to a three-month trial period for the employee. Then, both sides feel they have gained. Finally, he says it’s important to stay calm during these discussions, because losing your cool can escalate the conflict rather than resolve it. BC

come entrepreneurs he advised them not to worry about making mistakes. “Just focus on achieving your goals with patience and persistence. Again always invest part of the money you make from your jobs, no matter how small it is.

“You don’t necessarily need a huge amount of money before you start your own business. The problem however is that many young people who want to go into business do not want to start small”.

Babatunde said apt from the issue of power generation which is very poor in the country another major problem an entrepreneur must face is that of competition. So for you to survive in any business you must be on top of your game.

When asked what the immediate future hold for Pitchersville Bespoke shoes, the Creative Director was quick to say that the future holds much for the shoe making firm.

“Our world class Studio should be operational in the next few months so people can actually walk in and purchase our readymade shoes.

“We would also have been able to affiliate with our shoe sole production partner in Italy thus importing our own soles with Pitchersville brand labelled on it.

“E commerce site should be on too before June which will hopefully be a big milestone for the brand. We will then be able to start easily reaching the men of the world with only a few clicks on the keyboard.

“I know very soon Pitchersville Bespoke Shoe Blog” became an integral part of the goal of having the Pitchersville brand because I intend for the blog to serve as a voice which educates the men of the world on shoes and secrets of the shoe industry”, Babatunde said. BC

t is not the strongest of the species that survive, not the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change” – Charles Darwin Whatever got you where you are today will not be sufficient to keep you there. A rapidly changing environment is the regular background against which organizations must develop.

Change is continuous and will become more rapid as we move forward over time. Senior management must be capable of reacting to those changes and be prepared to take advantage of them and yet stay within the overall framework and agreed strategy.

The role of strategy is fundamental if the people within an organization are to be enabled to make the level of contribution of which they are capable. Strategy, based on a good grasp of the core competencies of a business, is an essential precursor to achieving optimal shareholder value.

The world’s leading organisations continuously seek to improve their performance. There may be unlimited potential for achieving accelerated improvement but if this potential is not being realised, good change agents must line up and mobilise all the forces (or drivers) for improvement.

There are five main drivers for improvement in organizations: Strategy Lean operations Balanced culture Customer responsiveness Leadership Strategy sets direction and gives focus to improvement. It must however be deployed throughout the organisation to be effective.

Processes need to be mapped and analysed in a methodical way; projects must be managed; problem symptoms traced to root causes; data must be collected before decisions are taken; trends in customer preferences detached and fed back; improvement activity of any kind reported on and coordinated; improvement action measured. Just about everything should be done to a discipline.

A balanced culture means effective, creative management of people. Customers are served by people; processes are managed by people.

Only people can deliver quality improvement.

For them to work well they must be empowered, given direction, measured, reviewed and success recognised.

Customer responsiveness keeps the organisation focused on customer needs, reactions and changing requirements.

Finally, leadership ensures that everyone is enthused and supported to work on the strategy, improve processes, served customers and active team players. BC

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Behind d Wheels This page is open to sponsorship

By Adejuwon Osunnuyi

O

f course there’s the three-pointed star in the centre of the lavishly crafted steering wheel – a globally recognised corporate icon and a visual tie that unites the company’s many product families, from passenger cars to light commercials to heavy-duty trucks.

There’s also the heavy emphasis on safety, with myriad technologies all aimed at protecting occupants from harm – a facet that’s as prevalent in Mercedes-Benz’s commercial offerings as it is in its passenger-car products.

Differentiating the C 250 Estate from the maker’s commercial lines then are the rather more intangible qualities of luxury and prestige.

Not so easily defined, the C 250 Estate has both in spades – as you’d expect of a family wagon with a price tag that, once loaded with options, nudges $85,000.

To that end, grabbing the C 250 Estate for a weekend was a real treat. Certainly,

it was a step up from the usual take-home offerings of dual-cab utes and other assorted LCVs. But how would it stand up to the usual family abuse?

Certainly, it passes the comfort test without any problem. The electronic adjustment offered on both the driver’s and passenger’s seats allows a tailored setting to suit just about anyone, and the ability to store a number of profiles is just one convenience feature among many – and far too many to list here.

It’s a part of the optional Seat Comfort Package, which also delivered electric headrest adjustment and seat heating.

The leather upholstery front and rear is sumptuous and inviting; while the optional Cranberry Red AMG scheme in our test vehicle may mark more easily than darker tones, it certainly adds a touch of extra class and the leather itself should prove easy to maintain.

The driver ergonomics are difficult to fault, with the many controls logically placed

and close to hand. The wheel itself has electric adjustment for tilt and reach and with a degree of familiarity the large and attractive multimedia display can be managed with ease via the touchpad and wheel mounted in the middle of the centre console. It’s highly functional, highly intuitive and all very slick in its operation.

We do have one gripe in

this area, and that concerns the location and format of the shifter for the seven-speed automatic transmission, as noted initially by Bruce Newton in his introductory piece on this model.

It’s a right-hand stalk off the steering column and it’s very similar to the left-hand stalk, for the C 250’s lights and indicators. If you regularly swap between vehicles with

reverse formats getting the two confused can cause issues, in this case accidently selecting neutral instead of indicating for a left-hand turn. At least it’s an issue that should dissipate with familiarity.

Dynamically the C 250 Estate offers an engaging, enjoyable drive. It might only be a modest 2.0-litre fourcylinder beneath the bonnet but Mercedes-Benz has ex-

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Monday, April 20, 2015

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Behind d Wheels This page is open to sponsorship

Autocare Keep your car’s air conditioning system trouble-free (1)

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tracted plenty of poke regardless, with a decent low-down hit off the line quickly giving way to a strong and insistent urge that doesn’t let up until 6000rpm, just shy of its indicated redline.

For those after more involvement the paddle shifters offer incredibly refined gear changes, while the sevenspeeder in general is a pleasure to use. While we appreciated the simple adjustment of the optional Airmatic suspension in our test vehicle, with its stiffer AMG Line set-up the C 250 Estate is a little harsh on less-than-ideal roads. It clings tenaciously through the corners, however, and the responsive and beautifully weighted steering adds to the confidence and security. It’s no truck, that’s for sure.

Speaking of trucks, while we had no cause to shoulder a decent load the C 250 Estate does have a generous amount of space up the back – and for bigger jobs the second-row seating folds flat in an instant, ramping the storage capacity up from 490 litre to a massive 1510 litres. There’s plenty of room for extended family holidays although, as previously

noted, the load area is on the narrow side, even if it is long.

The radar cruise control deserves special mention.

Equipped with MercedesBenz’s ‘Disctronic Plus’, the C 250 Estate will follow the vehicle in front up at a set distance and up to a set maximum speed. It’s not just for fast-flowing motorways, either. In stop-start traffic, if the vehicle in front stops, the C 250 stops. When it moves off, the C 250 moves off. The driver need only steer and the car takes sharp deceleration in its stride.

It’s something of a leap of faith for the system to win the driver’s trust, but a 50-kilometre peak-hour commute without touching an accelerator or a brake is window to the future of autonomous motoring.

It is genuinely difficult to find fault in the C 250 Estate, and that’s borne out by the nit-picky nature of our modest list of gripes. The mirrors, while technologically advanced and incorporating blind spot assist, offer a distorted view of a vehicle once that vehicle is positioned near the limit of the mirror’s field

of vision, at its outside extremity. We found this distracting and mildly annoying, although again greater familiarity has a role to play.

The head-up display is a nifty safety feature but it’s not compatible with polarisinglens sunglasses – at least it wasn’t with mine. Like viewing an LCD display, the HUD effectively vanishes when viewed with sunglasses of this nature.

Those small foibles aside, life’s exceptionally good in the C 250 Estate. There’s a significant degree of comfort in knowing your family is protected by some of the best automotive safety systems available, while the comfort, the high construction quality and the C 250’s addictive performance will ensure that peace of mind is complemented by no small degree of driving pleasure.

There are very few manufacturers who play in all three major automotive spheres: passenger cars, LCVs, and trucks. For this scribe, a weekend in the C 250 Estate amply demonstrates how Mercedes-Benz truly excels in each. BC

ou might think that setting the air conditioning or heating system would be a simple procedure, but you’d be amazed at how many cars are taken in for repairs, just because the car owners didn’t have the A/C system set properly. Obviously, one of the first places to look for this information is in your owner’s manual. However, there are a few tips you should be aware of that will help you get the most out of your car’s A/C system.

Adjusting the System for Optimum Performance First, remember that warm air rises and cold air sinks.

That means in most cases you’ll want to use the floor vents for the heat. In the warm weather you should use the panel vents for the A/C, and you should adjust them to aim slightly upward. That way the air will circulate better and cool the passenger compartment more quickly.

Once the temperature in the passenger compartment becomes comfortable, don’t shut the system off because you’ll only have to turn it back in a few minutes. Instead, adjust the temperature slightly and lower the fan speed.

That’ll keep it comfortable inside.

To defrost or defog your windows in the winter, the defroster is a good choice. Consider that windows can become fogged on damp summer days, too. On those days, switch to the A/C, set to normal. The A/C system dries the air coming in, it and will circulate it better than the defroster.

Don’t switch to the maximum setting on the A/C to defog your windows. That setting re-circulates the air in the passenger compartment so cool, dry air may not reach all the way to the windows. The normal setting works better. On really hot days, you may want to use the max A/C setting, On most cars max A/C shuts off any coolant flow through the heater core and recycles the air in the passenger compartment instead of trying to cool and dehumidify the outside air. However, don’t leave it on max too long. Eventually, the air inside will become stuffy and can affect your concentration. Once the system has taken the edge off the heat, switch to normal.

Maintaining your air conditioning system means that you always have enough refrigerant to properly do the job.

Small leaks in the vehicle’s air conditioning system allow the refrigerant to escape and the system can’t cool the air as well.

It is recommended that you regularly check your vehicles air conditioner system for the obvious faults which are associated with an Air Conditioning systems break down such as: • The drive belt tension • Blocked air flow through the Condenser and Radiator • Visible signs of Refrigerant oil stain at the compressor, hoses, pipes or fittings.

• Loose or faulty compressor mounting brackets • Service port caps missing Anything beyond this visual inspection then requires a full Air Conditioning Service. Only a fully qualified air conditioning technician can carry out this service to effect all necessary repairs an get your vehicle’s air conditioner working optimal levels.

Air Conditioning System check Your car’s air conditioning is the one system that probably doesn’t require a lot of regular maintenance. In general, if the system’s working, it’s OK. If not, it needs to be checked and repaired. BC To be continued next week

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REGULATORS

BVN will boost retail credit, says NIBSS boss

By Udo Onyeka

T

he Bank Verification Number, BVN, initiative, apart from helping banks to identify and blacklist fraudulent customers, will help to boost retail credit in the banking industry, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System, NIBSS, Mr. Ade Shonubi, has said.

The NIBSS boss, who is responsible for the implementation of the BVN, in a statement, explained that once banks are able to identify and blacklist fraudulent customers, they would be encouraged to extend loans to those customers that are credit worthy and do not have any record of being delinquent borrowers.

The BVN is an initiative aimed at protecting bank customers and further strengthening the Nigerian banking system. It is an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, in conjunction with the Bankers’ Committee meant to address the safety of customers’ funds, avoids losses through compromise of personal identification numbers and other criminal activities in the indus-

Shonubi

try.

Shonubi noted that apart from the challenge of identifying customers, a major hindrance to retail credit in the Nigerian environment was the perception that most Nigerians are crooks who would look for ways of failing to repay loans.

He pointed out that the BVN would address this problem by helping to identify and distinguishing fraudulent Nigerians from law abiding and honest citizens.

“When the BVN project came up, there were three key things.

First and most important of all

NAICOM to sanction insurers on irregular rendition of returns

T

he National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, has instructed insurance institutions to start harmonising the returns being rendered to the commission or face stiff sanctions.

In the circular entitled “Harmonised returns with effect from April 2015″, signed by the Director, Supervision, NAICOM, Mr. Nicholas Opara, the commission stated that the new directive is to further enthrone regulatory clarity particularly with respect to regulatory returns requirements.

The circular reads in part: “In furtherance to the commission’s determination to enthrone regulatory clarity particularly with respect to regulatory returns requirements, it became necessary to harmonise the processes of obtaining various returns from insurance in-

Fola Daniel, NAICOM Boss

stitutions”.

He noted that the harmonised returns are categorised as “on occurrence, monthly, quarterly, bi-annually and annual basis”. NAICOM also attached schedule of the harmonised returns.

Opara added that the returns shall be submitted to the commission according to the regularity of returns, i.e. on occurrence, monthly, quarterly, bi-annually and annual basis, through the medium required and forwarded to the emails only for each.

The insurance operators are also required to submit the returns to the commission in the format prescribed (Ms Excel) and on separate sheet using the attached templates without modification.

Where both the hard and soft copies are required, the operators were mandated to submit both as required.

NAICOM further explained that the new circular does not preclude companies from complying with other regulations and additional returns requirements as may be required by the commission from time to time.

The insurance operators were also asked to draw the attention of all their employees to the content of the new circular in order to ensure strict compliance, stressing that failure to comply with the new directive will attract stiff sanction. BC

is for us to identify our customers and to identify them uniquely across banks and across accounts. So, once you have BVN, even if you have 10 bank accounts, it is the same BVN that will be tied to the bank accounts.

“Now, relating to identifying is the possibility of banks blacklisting people who have committed financial infractions.

“It could be fraudsters; it could be people who have gone to forge documents because what happens today is that the same guy will go to a bank, commits fraud, then runs to another bank and because there is no way of tying all these activities across.

So, we found out that there were quite a lot of losses related to these individuals from one bank to another”, he said.

According to him the BVN would allow lenders begin to build retail credit, adding that “This is because a concern for bank is, if I lend you money now and you go away, how do I identify you?

So, you find that the entire retail consumer lending is to people with formal employment, that is why you see everybody running to the oil companies to say ‘let’s give your staff car loan; let’s give

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has reminded all banks of the consequences of the rising trend of currency substitution and dollarisation of the economy.

The CBN, in a circular issued by its Banking Supervision Department, warned all banks to desist from collecting and using dollars for transactions.

It reiterated that the Naira currency remained the only legal tender in the country.

The apex bank reminded the banks that Section 15 of the CBN Act 2007 provided that the unit of currency in Nigeria shall be the Naira.

The circular said, “Section 20 (1) of the same Act provides that the currency notes issued by the Bank shall be legal tender in Nigeria, at their face value, for the payment of any amount.

“Section 20 (5) further pro-

your staff consumer loan; let’s give your staff TV loans.”

He said there are a lot of self-employed people working in smaller organisations, who should also benefit. “Nobody wants to take the risk on them because if they resign today and run off, how are you going to get your money? Once they have bank accounts, the BVN allows us to identify them.”

The BVN involves the registration of customers in the financial system using biometric technology making accounts more secure by using unique identifiers such as fingerprints.

As part of efforts to encourage enrolment on the BVN, the CBN directed banks to only honour transactions over N100 million from customers with BVN from March 2015. Such transactions according to the apex bank include but not limited to, money transfers, loans, and contingencies, among others.

The regulator also urged all bank customers to register for their BVN by June 2015, warning that any bank customer without a BVN would be deemed to have inadequate know-your-customers (KYC) by that date.

Analysts have also described the BVN as a ‘silver-bullet solution’ to many of the challenges in the banking industry. The BVN is a unique identifier for each bank customer across the financial industry, making it possible to build and track customer financial history and activity. This will allow banks’ access to more reliable information that could inform decisions on customer loan and credit applications and other complex transactions.

The initiative, which was launched on February 14 2014, will also encourage financial inclusion as those who have typically stayed away from mainstream banking due to low literacy levels will be able to open and access their bank accounts using their biometric information rather than traditional identification methods.

The NIBSS, which is owned by the CBN and all licensed banks in the country, provides the infrastructure for automated processing of data, such as customers’ biometric information, settlement of payments and fund transfer instructions between banks, discount houses and card companies in Nigeria. BC

CBN tasks banks on consequence of dollarisation of economy vides that a person who refuses to accept the Naira as a means of payment is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or 6 months imprisonment.

“Based on the above provision, the general public is hereby warned that it is illegal to price or denominate the cost of any product or service ,Visible or Invisible, in any foreign currency in Nigeria.

“And no business offer or acceptance should be consummated in Nigeria in any currency other than the Naira.

“Consequently, deposit money banks operating in Nigeria are advised to desist from the collection of foreign currencies for payment of domestic transactions,

on behalf of their customers.’’

It, however, said that the warning was without prejudice to foreigners, visitors and tourists, who are encouraged to use their cards for payments or exchange their foreign currency for local currency.

The CBN said that appropriate sanctions shall be meted on any bank that breaches the regulation.

The bank noted that the circular superseded the provisions of Memorandum 16 of the CBN Foreign Exchange Manual and Paragraph (XI) Section 4.2.1 of the Monetary, Credit, Foreign Trade and Exchange Policy Guidelines for Fiscal Years 2014/2015. BC

DMO auctions N70bn bond at lower yield

T

he Debt Management Office, DMO said Nigeria raised N70bn, $352m at lower yields across all tenors during a bond auction last Wednesday.

The debt office said in a notice that the total subscriptions stood at N184.72bn, compared with N119.14bn at the last auction.

The office said it had sold N20bn worth of the 5-year bond at 14.44 percent, down from 16.49 percent at its previous sale on March 11.

The 10-year paper was sold at 14.22 percent against 16.84

percent previously, raising a total of N25bn, while N25bn worth of the 20-year debt note was sold at a yield of 14.45 percent compared with 16.99 percent previously.

The low yield at the auction was in tandem with prevailing yields at the secondary market, which have been falling after Nigeria held peaceful national elections.

Meanwhile, the country’s overnight rate spiked to 90 percent last Tuesday, near record highs, up from 60 percent on Monday, two days after the central bank debited lenders to

Abraham Nwankwo, DMO Boss

enforce its cash reserve requirements. Rates have been rising sharply for two days -- the overnight lending rate stood at 27 percent on a fortnight Friday, before the central bank withdrew the funds. BC

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Business Courage

Monday, April 20, 2015

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NSE moves 315.67m shares worth N3.49bn

I

nvestors on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Friday transacted 315.67 million shares worth N3.49 billion in 4,920 deals.

The volume of shares traded dropped by 56.14 per cent compared with 719.74 million shares valued at N3.86 billion traded in 4,494 deals on Thursday.

NAN reports that First Bank of Nigeria Holdings was investors’ delight, accounting for 38.61 million shares worth N374.05 million.

Fidelity Bank came second with a total of N34.52 million shares valued at N73.97million,

while United Bank for Africa sold 33.74 million shares worth N165.77 million.

Zenith Bank trailed with 28.44 million shares valued at N650.75 million and Transcorp exchanged 27.51 million shares worth N87.15 million.

However, the All-Share Index reversed the three-consecutive day loss improving by 172.80 points or 0.49 per cent to close at 35,005.42 against 34,832.62 achieved on Thursday.

Also, the market capitalisation rose by N59 billion or 0.49 per cent to close at N11.928 trillion compared with N11.869 trillion posted on Thursday.

Unilever led the gainers’ chart, gaining N1.90 to close at

N43.43 per share.

Nigerian Breweries garnered N1.68 to close at N161.29, while UAC rose by N1.31 to close N42.31 per share.

Dangote Cement gained 90k to close N180 and Oando chalked up 86k to close at N18.16 per share.

Nestle on the other hand, topped the laggards’ table, dropping by N6 to close at N940 per share.

Mobil oil trailed with a loss of N3.99 to close at N160, while Guinness dipped N2.23 to close at N170 per share.

Lafarge Wapco dropped by N2 to close at N90, while Stanbic IBTC lost N1 to close at N29 per share. BC

Market Indicators for Week Ended 17-04-15 All-Share Index 34,832.62 points Market Capitalization 11,936,757,406,955.74 Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING PRICE

RTBRISCOE

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he Maritime Arbitrators can benefit from it in the mariAssociation of Nigeria, time industry.

MAAN, has said that vi“So, towards that advocacy brant national maritime arbi- and enlightenment campaign, tration system will attract qual- we usually organise an annual ity investors to the industry and seminar called the ‘Practical fast-track its development.

Maritime Dispute Resolution’ President of the association, Seminar.

Dr Omogbai Omo-Eboh, said “In addition to that, every this in an interview with the year as well, we always orgaNews Agency of Nigeria, NAN, nise a maritime arbitration on Friday in Lagos.

Omo-Eboh said that the association adopted the strategy, as arbitration offered desired solutions and confidentiality in maritime disputes for parties in dispute.

According to him, maritime regulators and operators need a lot of enlightenment and advocacy to encourage people to tap into the arbitration dispute mechanism.

“There is still a lot of information dissemination we need to do to encourage people and to let them know that these are the things we do and how they Omo-Eboh

workshop as part of objectives to enlighten the public and to demonstrate the practical aspect of how maritime arbitration works.

“One of the major attractions of arbitration and what is central and cardinal to arbitration is that it is confidential.

“When you go to the court, you bring your disputes into the public domain, into public glare. Whereas with arbitration, it is very confidential, it is between the parties, their counsel or representatives, and the arbitrator or the arbitrators.’’ He said.

According to Omo-Eboh, a workable dispute settlement mechanism will increase the confidence level in the industry.

He said that numerous investors consider industrial dispute resolution seriously, as it engendered confidence and protection of investments.

Omo-Eboh stated that the association was working to ensure that more people utilise the facilities available for arbitration. BC

CHANGE

0.84

5.00

17.30

18.16

4.97

MAYBAKER

1.82

1.91

4.95

CUTIX

1.65

1.73

4.85

NASCON

8.10

8.49

4.81

OANDO

MAAN says vibrant arbitration system will attract quality investors

CLOSING PRICE

0.80

UNILEVER

41.53

43.43

4.58

UBCAP

1.55

1.62

4.52

NEIMETH

0.91

0.95

4.40

VONO

0.97

1.01

4.12

NAHCO

6.60

6.86

3.94

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING PRICE

CLOSING PRICE

CHANGE

1 DANGFLOUR

4.89

4.65

2 AGLEVENT

1.49

1.42

-4.91 -4.70

3 CONTINSURE

0.91

0.87

-4.40

4 AIICO

1.14

1.09

-4.39

5 WAPIC

0.53

0.51

-3.77

6 STANBIC 7 MOBIL 8 WAPCO

30.00

29.00

-3.33

163.99

160.00

-2.43

92.00

90.00

-2.17

9 CHAMPION

8.00

7.85

-1.88

10 CAVERTON

3.19

3.14

-1.57

Treasury Bills Maturity date

Bid

16-Jul-15

11.45

Offer 11.79

15-Oct-15

13.10

14.02

07-Apr-16

12.90

14.76

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

91-Day

21538.34

182-Day 364-Day

RATE (%)

DATE

9.95

27-Mar-15

33783.25

10.1

27-Mar-15

59081.14

10.35

10-April15

A22 38

Business Courage

Monday, April 20, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FBN Holdings: retail banking, technology drive profit

By Johnson Okanlawon

F

BN Holdings posted an increase in profit for the financial year ended December 31, 2014 on commercial banking business, which is built on an extensive retail network and a robust information technology platform.

Despite the tough operating environment, particularly the regulatory headwinds that saw most of the lenders reporting negative profits, the group showed commendable growth across all the key performance indicators buoyed by the complementary performance of non-bank subsidiaries with gross earnings growing by 21.3 per cent to N480.6billion and profit before tax at N92.9billion.

Profitability The holding company announced a profit after tax of N82.8billion for the 2014 financial year, an increase of 17.3 per cent when compared to N70.6billion recorded in the same period of 2013. The group gross earnings stood at N480.6billion, up 21.3 per cent when compared to N396.2billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2013.

The group declared a non-interest income of N111.8billion, up 66.1 per cent from N67.3billion recorded in 2013, while net interest income added 6.0 per cent to N243.9billion in the review period from N230.1billion in 2013. Further analysis showed that other key indices appreciated in value, as impairment charge for credit losses and operating expenses rose 27.7 per cent and 27.5 per cent to N25.9bn and N236.8bn respectively.

The bank however surprised many by proposing a meager dividend per share of 10 kobo and bonus issue of one for every 10. By paying 10 kobo, the bank is essentially paying out just 3.9 per cent of its earnings per share of 255 kobo. In trying to assuage shareholders,

the bank claimed the cash dividend and script (bonus issue) represents a N1.05 dividend and a 10 per cent dividend yield.

Speaking on the result, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Bello Maccido, said that the group recorded a strong financial performance in 2014, in spite of the highly challenging operating environment.

“We remain focused on diversifying our revenue streams through the extraction of value from our recent bank acquisitions, consolidating our position in the investment banking space, especially with the acquisition of Kakawa, and expanding our insurance business scope.

“Our investment in technology, human capital and portfolio expansion are beginning to shape the longterm fundamentals of the group and will deliver a positive return on investment over the longer term.

However, in the short to medium term we continue to ensure our business remains as resilient as can be to the shifts in the regulatory and macro-economic environment; shore up our risk management processes; and, drive efficiencies across the group,” he said.

Liquidity The group total assets hit N4.3 trillion, up 12.2 per cent year-on-year from N3.9trillion recorded in the same period of 2013, while customer deposits rose 4.2 per cent to N3.1 trillion, from N2.9trillion recorded in the corresponding period of 2013. Customer loans and advances (net) stood at N2.2trillion, up 23.2 per cent from N8 trillion recorded in 2013 financial year.

On the key ratio, pre-tax return on average equity stood at 18.7 per cent from 20.0 per cent in 2013, while post-tax return on average equity stood at 16.7 per cent, from 15.5 per cent in the corresponding period of 2013. The group net interest

Maccido

margin dropped to 7.6 per cent, from 8.0 per cent in 2013, while cost to income ratio rose to 66.7 per cent, from 62.7 per cent the preceding year.

However, the level of non-performing loan ratio dropped marginally to 2.9 per cent, from 3.0 per cent in 2013, while the banking group liquidity ratio stood at 44.0 per cent, from 44.2 per cent as at December 2013.

Adequate provisions have been made on the impaired assets with coverage ratio being 137.9 per cent, from 97.7 per cent in December 2013. “We will continue to reinforce loan growth within our preferred sectors and defined risk appetite as well as proactively manage and drive efficiency within our portfolio,” the holding company said.

The group capital adequacy ratio stood at 16.7 per cent (Basel 2), just 1.67 per cent higher than 15 per cent minimum requirement by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. This puts the bank at risk at defaulting and as such paying further cash

dividends could just see them fall below the 15 per cent band.

Business Strategy The holding company is a shell companies with no significant operations and income streams. FBN Holdings completed the acquisition of 100 per cent equity of Kakawa Discount House Limited (Kakawa) which is now a direct subsidiary of FBNH. FBN Insurance Limited completed the acquisition of 100 per cent equity interest in Oasis Insurance Plc, while First Bank acquired International Commercial Bank, ICB Senegal to complete the acquisition of the ICB West African operations. First Bank concluded a $450 million subordinated Tier 2 debt issuance in the international markets for general banking purposes.

FBN Holdings Plc, owner of First Bank Nigeria, said it expects to benefit from a surge in sales of bonds by state governments to replace dwindling oil revenue and after peaceful elections bolstered investor confidence.

“We expect a lot of the state governments to go to the market to issue bonds to be able to fund their projects,” Chief Executive Officer Bello Maccido said in an interview. “It presents an opportunity for the investment-banking business.”

Also, the group said it expects loan growth at its banking unit to slow to four per cent this year, down from 23 per cent last year, as it shifts focus to shortterm trade finance transactions. The top tier lender, with over N2.2 trillion on its loan book, will be conservative on loans in 2015 after financing power and oil sectors last year but income will rise from short-term lending.

Maccido said that the holdings company should generate a tenth of its revenues from its investment banking and insurance units combined by 2016, up from around seven per cent now, after it acquired Kakawa Discount House and Oasis Insurance last year.

Company Background FBN Holdings Plc is the Nigerian-based (non-operating) financial holding company for the banking and non-banking operations of the First Bank Group. FBN Holdings Plc was incorporated in Nigeria, as a limited liability company, on October 14, 2010, to act as the ultimate holding company for the FBN group in compliance with CBN guidelines.

The company was converted to a public liability company on August 13, 2012.

Analyst opinion For shareholders of the bank, one can begin to prepare for a capital raising exercise by the bank. The bank will surely want to raise equity or quasi equity to help shore up their capital adequacy ratio. Not doing that will mean the bank has to rely on profits this quarter and the next to push it further away from the default line of 15 per cent. BC

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Courage

Monday, April 20, 2015

A23 39

STOCKWATCH Stock Exchange weekly equities summary as at Friday, April 17, 2015 SECURITY

PRICE (=N=)

AGRICULTURE/AGRO-ALLIED Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC 0.50 OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. 27.24 PRESCO PLC 26.25 Fishing/Hunting/Trapping ELLAH LAKES PLC. 4.26 Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. 2.60 CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. 1.42 CHELLARAMS PLC. 3.95 JOHN HOLT PLC. 0.94 SCOA NIG PLC 4.44 TRANSNATIONAL CORP. OF NIG.PLC 3.15 U A C N PLC. 42.31 CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Construction ARBICO PLC. 5.30 CAPPA & D’ALBERTO PLC. NT Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. 1.00 G CAPPA PLC 14.46 Non--Building/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. 51.51 ROADS NIG PLC. 6.29 Real Estate Development PINNACLE POINT GROUP PLC NT UACN PROPERTY DEV 11.40 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC 100.00 UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INV 45.22 UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST 10.00 CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC 0.50 Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. 7.85 GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. 0.89 GUINNESS NIG PLC 170.00 INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. 20.71 JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. 2.02 NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. 161.29 PREMIER BREWERIES PLC 3.61 Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. 170.01 Food Products BIG TREAT PLC NT DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC 4.65 DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC 7.22 FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. 34.00 HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC 3.49 MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC 0.50 N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. 18.05 NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC 8.49 P S MANDRIDES & CO PLC. 5.35 U T C NIG. PLC. 0.50 UNION DICON SALT PLC. 11.84 Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. 41.01 NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. 940.00 Household Durables BETA GLASS CO PLC. NT NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. 31.82 VITAFOAM NIG PLC. 4.20 VONO PRODUCTS PLC. 1.01 Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. 27.20 UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. 43.43 Textiles/Apparel UNITED NIG. TEXTILES PLC. NT FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. 6.64 DIAMOND BANK PLC 4.58 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INC. 20.50 FIDELITY BANK PLC 2.13 FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC. NT GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. 28.85 INTERCONTINENTAL BANK 13.50 SKYE BANK PLC 2.56 STERLING BANK PLC. 2.27 U B A PLC 4.99 UNION BANK NIG.PLC. 11.00 UNITY BANK PLC 0.50 WEMA BANK PLC. 0.98 ZENITH BANK PLC 23.00 Insurance Carriers, Brokers & Services AFRICAN ALLIANCE INS. COY. PLC 0.50 AIICO INSURANCE PLC. 1.09 CONFIDENCE INSURANCE PLC NT CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INS. PLC 0.50 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 0.87 CORNERSTONE INS. COY. PLC. 0.50 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INS. PLC NT EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC 0.53 GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC 0.50 GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. 0.50 INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INS. PLC NT INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INS. PLC 0.50 INVESTMENT AND ALLIED ARN. 0.5 LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. 0.50 LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC 0.50 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC 3.04 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. 0.50 N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. 0.68 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. 0.50 OASIS INSURANCE PLC NT PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. 0.50 REGENCY ALLIANCE INS. COY PLC 0.50 SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC 0.50 STANDARD TRUSTASSURANCE PLC 0.50 STANDARD ALLIANCE INS. PLC. 0.50 UNIC INSURANCE PLC. 0.50 UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC 0.50 UNIVERSAL INS. COMPANY PLC 0.50 WAPIC INSURANCE PLC 0.51 Micro Finance Banks FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC 5.42 NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC 1.17 Mortgage Carriers, Brokers &Services ABBEY MORTGAGE BANK PLC 1.30 ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC 0.50 INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK PLC 1.42 RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC 0.50 UNION HOMES SAVINGS&LOANS PLC 0.5 Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS 2.9 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INS. PLC 4.05 CRUSADER ( NIG) PLC. NT DEAP CAPITAL MGT & TRUST PLC 0.67 FBN HOLDINGS PLC 9.84 FCMB GROUP PLC 3.45 ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. 0.52 STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC 29.00 SIM CAPITAL ALLIANCE VALUE FUND 103.24 NIGERIA ENERGY SECTOR FUND 552.20 UBA CAPITAL PLC 1.62 HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers EKOCORP PLC. 3.72 UNION DIAGNOSTIC &CLINICAL PLC 0.50 Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. 1.82 Pharmaceuticals

NOTE NT=Not Traded on 17-04-15

QUANTITY

52 WK HIGH

52 WK LOW

9,140 261,540 107,996

0.64 107.81 41.14

0.50 20.92 8.24

SHARES OUTSTANDING

EPS

2,200,000,000 476,955,000 1,000,000,000

0.10 2.29 7.55

MOV. (%)

N/A 4.73 -1.69

Previous

0.50 26.01 26.70

70

4.26

4.26

60,000,000

0.00

N/A

4.26

1,249,104

7.18

0.68

1,199,549,736

0.07

14.54

2.27

100,150 300 17,558 512 6,693,406 2,658,148

2.08 6.43 5.89

0.71 4.15 1.07

2,191,895,983 963,900,300 389,151,408

0.11 0.16 1.09

4.41 N/A N/A

5.89 71.10

0.50 28.00

821,666,666 1,600,720,323

0.09 4.38

N/A N/A

1.36 3.95 0.94 4.44 3.18 37.30

375 3

26.00 95.49

5.05 95.49

148,500,000 196,876,000

0.33 4.50

N/A N/A

5.30 NT

807,550 217

2.66 14.46

0.72 14.46

920,573,765 125,000,000

0.00 0.00

N/A N/A

0.94 14.46

27,437 1,832

83.75 10.60

19.86 6.61

1,200,000,000 20,000,000

6.74 1.69

1.00 N/A

51.00 6.29

NT 324,368

7.28 20.90

7.28 8.82

1,375,000,000

0.00 2.20

N/A 3.17

NT 11.05

93 100 6,350

100.00 50.00 10.50

100.00 50.00 0.00

20,000,000 250,019,781

5.82 0.19

N/A N/A

100.00 45.22 10.00

5,016

0.50

0.50

4,772,528,415

0.00

N/A

0.50

54,992 8,132 28,374 172,515 50,000 1,808,302 513,550

19.48 0.68 297.41 30.00 9.09 179.40 0.97

3.13 0.68 209.10 5.34 0.81 91.10 0.93

900,000,000 272,160,000 1,474,925,519 2,112,914,681 562,000,000 7,562,562,340 126,000,000

0.00 0.00 8.66 0.63 0.00 5.03 0.00

N/A N/A 21.43 N/A N/A -1.51 N/A

7.76 0.89 140.00 19.65 2.02 163.76 3.61

24,150

75.90

38.12

640,590,362

4.46

N/A

160.00

NT 224,970 1,588,435 187,271 952,850 53,816 159,011 2,835,920 2.08 124,000 50 100

0.50 10.68 12.85 109.24 4.11 1.21 29.70 14.00 5.94 0.93 13.31

0.50 3.85 3.26 50.00 1.83 0.50 17.51 3.65 5.35 0.50 4.22

2,000,000,000 5,000,000,000 12,000,000,000 1,879,210,666 7,930,197,658 3,722,493,620 178,200,000 40,000,000 1,233,375,004 360,000,000

0.00 0.00 0.81 3.38 0.34 0.00 0.00 1.05 0.08 1.13 0.00

N/A -5.10 -1.10 0.00 14.05 N/A N/A 1.31 N/A 0.00 N/A

NT 4.90 7.30 34.00 3.06 0.50 18.05 8.38 5.35 0.50 11.84

5,725 390,319

64.53 1250.00

8.33 400.00

3,129,188,160 792,656,250

1.57 28.34

-1.23 -9.97

41.52 1,044.05

25,333 100 187,845 15,000

15.58 36.19 5.54 2.88

10.03 32.27 2.91 0.57

63,360,000 819,000,000 300,000,001

3.90 13.92 0.71 0.00

N/A N/A 1.20 N/A

NT 31.82 4.15 0.85

156,973 119,119

56.00 76.00

21.02 27.60

3,176,381,636 3,783,296,250

1.34 1.42

0.00 4.10

27.20 41.72

NT

0.97

0.57

843,284,027

0.00

N/A

NT

20,610,779 1,358,484 5,746,153 4,669,271 NT 11,491,149

12.39 7.85 17.51 3.47 8.30 29.99

4.70 1.92 9.90 1.13 3.04 13.02

17,888,251,479 14,475,243,105 9,873,614,567 28,974,797,023 16,271,192,202 29,146,482,209

1.61 1.71 3.67 0.68 0.60 3.08

2.15 2.46 5.34 5.45 #VALUE! 3.00

5,074,965 2,601,379 11,173,106 1,469,943 359,359 1,128,531 9,778,427

7.05 3.05 9.60 15.30 1.16 1.88 27.40

2.65 0.80 1.64 2.34 0.50 0.50 11.96

13,219,334,676 12,563,091,545 32,334,693,693 13,509,726,273 33,675,576,085 12,821,249,880 31,396,493,790

0.97 0.63 1.70 0.44 0.18 0.00 3.30

-3.03 -1.30 3.96 0.00 0.00 3.16 -2.21

200 1,627,718 NT 9,140 1,882,960 62,000 9,054,578 4,754 NT 42,003 165,731 NT 698,304 NT 14,710 100 220 23,600 1,319,465 10,579,013 52,100 1,654,611 27,973 5,028 100 1,650 161,547,689 25,000 200 518,140 1,368,084

0.50 1.42 0.64 0.52 1.45 0.72 2.44 0.50 0.69 0.60 0.50 2.50 2.50 0.50 0.50 0.61 0.50 2.87 0.63 1.01 1.11 0.50 1.24 0.53 0.59

0.50 0.50 0.61 0.50 0.58 0.50 1.08 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.06 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

20,585,000,000 7,809,391,256 211,626,000 6,000,000,000 10,372,624,157 8,820,010,363 5,100,846,808 8,847,298,420 4,549,947,000 3,827,485,380 720,000,000 5,061,804,000 6,420,427,449 28,000,000,000 7,323,313,227 3,437,330,500 4,083,713,569 10,000,000,000 7,998,705,336 5,332,830,881 5,649,693,923 5,003,506,791 2,508,315,436 6,668,750,000 5,203,757,266

0.00 0.19 0.00 0.05 0.15 0.02 0.24 0.01 0.00 0.03 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.25 0.00 0.37 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.04 0.09

N/A 0.00 N/A N/A 0.00 0.00 0.00 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0.00 N/A N/A N/A 0.00 -0.33 N/A 1.49 N/A N/A 0.00 N/A 0.00

0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.55

0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

8,493,173,450 2,581,733,505 13,000,000,000 16,000,000,000

0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.07

N/A N/A N/A N/A

10,000,000 584,766

6.60 1.22

0.00 0.72

500 500 500 220,000 4,570

1.65 0.50

1.37 0.50

4,200,000,000 8,679,148,676

0.03 0.02

N/A N/A

0.50 0.99

0.50 0.50

13,175,732,404 7,812,500,000

0.30 0.00

N/A N/A

3,778,005,975 1,333,333,333 32,632,084,358

0.00 0.15 2.45 1.23 0.13 1.53

313,164 369,250 500 5,000 8,812,914 27045923 1,050,953 3,807,836 465 100 1,926,013

2.1

0.5

0.61 2.02 21.50 5.70 1.33 20.72 103.24

0.50 2.02 8.57 2.90 0.50 10.64 98.33

1.70

0.00

1.18 0.19

0.50 1.00 NT 0.50 0.86 0.50 NT 0.50 0.53 0.50 0.50 NT 0.51 0.5 0.50 0.50 0.50 3.05 0.50 0.67 0.50 NT 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.53 5.42 1.05

0.63

3,608,657,661 18,750,000,000

6.50 4.47 19.46 2.02 NT 28.01 13.50 2.64 2.30 4.80 11.00 0.50 0.95 23.52

N/A N/A 3.47 N/A -3.33

0.29

1.30 0.50 1.45 0.50 0.5 2.74 4.15 NT 0.67 9.51 3.61 0.55 30.00 103.24 552.20 1.45

170 40,000

5.05 0.50

4.32 0.50

498,600,908 3,553,138,528

0.13 0.00

N/A N/A

3.72 0.50

100

10.54

7.39

152,178,750

0.00

N/A

1.82

N/A=Not Avialable

SECURITY

PRICE (=N=)

EVANS MEDICAL PLC. 1.99 FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 3.35 GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER PLC 56.26 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. 1.91 NEIMETH INT PHARM PLC 0.95 NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. 6.32 PHARMA-DEKO PLC. 2.13 ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SLN PLC 0.50 Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC 0.50 Electronic Communications Services MTECH COMMUNICATIONS PLC 0.91 IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC 4 NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. 12.19 TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. 1.77 Processing Systems CHAMS PLC 0.50 E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC 3.39 Telecommunications Services IHS 3.8 HIS NIGERIA PLC 2 2.25 HIS NIGERIA PLC 1 3.08 MTI PLC 0.5 INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials AFRICAN PAINTS (NIGERIA) PLC. 2.72 ASHAKA CEM PLC 20.02 BERGER PAINTS PLC 9.50 CAP PLC 35.66 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC 11.14 DANGOTE CEMENT PLC 180.00 DN MEYER PLC. 0.83 FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC 0.50 IPWA PLC 0.50 PREMIER PAINTS 10.93 LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. 90.00 PAINTS & COATINGS MANFACT.PLC 1.40 PORTLAND PAINTS & PRDT NIG. PLC 3.33 Electronic and Electrical Products AUSTIN LAZ & COMPANY PLC 2.09 CUTIX PLC. 1.73 NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. 0.50 Packaging/Containers ABPLAST PRODUCTS PLC. NT AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS 1.59 BETA GLASS CO PLC. 28.70 GREIF NIGERIA PLC 11.48 NIG. BAGS MANFACT. COY PLC NT POLY PRODUCTS (NIG) PLC. NT W A GLASS IND. PLC. 0.63 Tools and Machinery NIGERIAN ROPES PLC 7.46 NIG SEW MACH. MAN. CO PLC. 0.15 STOKVIS NIG PLC. 0.14 NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. 5.21 Metals ALUMACO PLC 7.75 ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. 10.43 MINING SERVICES MULTIVERSE PLC 0.50 Paper/Forest Products HALLMARK PAPER PRODUCTS PLC. NT THOMAS WYATT NIG. PLC. 0.73 OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SER. PLC 0.50 Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC 18.16 Petroleum &Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC 0.5 CONOIL PLC 38.00 ETERNA PLC. 3.13 FORTE OIL PLC. 204.25 MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. 160.00 MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. 50.54 TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. 180.00 Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVT. CO, LTD. 398.83 SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC 0.50 Apparel Retailers LENNARDS (NIG) PLC. 3.15 Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. 0.84 Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC 3.60 TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. 1.35 Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. 0.50 Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC 0.50 Hotels/Lodging CAPITAL HOTEL 4.28 IKEJA HOTEL PLC 4.85 TOURIST COY NIG PLC 3.51 TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC 9.63 Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC 0.50 Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS 1.06 LEARN AFRICA PLC 1.45 STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. 2.30 UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. 4.47 Road Transportation ABC TRANSPORT PLCPLC 0.54 Specialty INTERLINKED TECHNOLOGIES PLC 4.66 SECURE ELECTRONIC TECH.PLC 0.5 Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC 2.20 NIG. AVIATION HANDLING COY PLC 6.86 SUPPORT AND LOGISTICS CAVERTON OFFSHORE GROUP PLC 3.14 ASeM CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Property Management SMART PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC NT CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC NT OIL AND GAS CAPITAL OIL PLC NT NAVITUS ENERGY PLC NT Personal/Household Products ROKANA INDUSTRIES PLC. NT HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals AFRIK PHARMACEUTICALS PLC. NT INDUSTRIAL GOODS Electronic and Electrical Products NT ADSWITCH PLC. NT NATURAL RESOURCES Metals W.A. ALUM. PRODUCTS PLC. NT Food/Drug Retailers and Wholesalers NT JULI PLC. NT ETF’s Sector ETF LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NT NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND NT VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF NT

QUANTITY

52 WK HIGH

52 WK LOW

SHARES OUTSTANDING

EPS

MOV. (%)

74,488 1,444,640 66,411 163,454 251,300 100 572,185

4.80 2.50 69.00 3.38 1.76 8.59 3.50

0.50 0.61 18.97 1.23 0.58 7.36 1.83

486,473,856 1,500,000,000 956,701,192 980,000,000 1,925,717,268 153,786,012 100,000,000

0.58 0.24 3.07 0.09 0.00 0.00 0.00

-4.78 1.52 0.00 9.77 9.20 N/A N/A

2.09 3.30 56.26 1.74 0.87 6.32 2.13

37,000

0.96

0.50

2,960,000,000

0.11

0.00

0.50

100

0.50

0.50

2,941,789,472

0.00

N/A

0.50

NT

0.91

0.91

4,966,666,668

0.00

N/A

0.91

400 100 5,460

18.70 2.94

13.12 2.07

108,000,000 492,825,600

0.00 0.03

N/A N/A

4 12.19 1.77

27,420 1,080

0.50 4.97

0.50 3.13

4,620,600,000 4,200,000,000

0.04 0.04

N/A N/A

0.50 3.39 3.8 2.25 3.08 0.5

Previous

100

0.50

0.50

4,893,594,400

0.00

N/A

2,000 1,557,197 40,673 20,474 1,514,719 1,167,463 40,890 600 6,000 60 109,667 50,000 72,650

2.86 29.98 12.20 67.50 12.99 210.01 3.54 0.75 1.34

2.86 8.01 6.82 13.78 4.00 102.00 0.50 0.50 0.50

260,000,000 2,239,453,125 217,367,585 560,000,000 1,241,548,285 15,494,019,668 242,908,200 2,109,928,275 513,696,000

0.07 0.80 0.91 1.66 1.12 5.77 0.06 0.00 0.00

N/A 3.62 0.11 0.00 -5.11 0.00 N/A N/A N/A

110.00 2.41 7.22

39.80 0.50 2.27

3,001,600,004 792,914,256 400,000,000

6.83 0.36 0.43

-0.01 N/A N/A

2.72 19.32 9.49 35.66 11.74 180.00 0.83 0.50 0.50 10.93 90.01 1.40 3.50

100 220,132 100

2.00 2.39 0.73

2.00 1.20 0.50

510,396,608 2,220,000,000

0.05 0.19 0.00

N/A 9.49 N/A

2.09 1.58 0.50

NT 561 1,361 100 NT NT NT

3.98 5.94 13.18 13.28 3.60 1.86 0.63

3.98 1.71 9.04 12.68 1.60 1.05 0.63

N/A N/A

42,640,000 6,215,000,000 240,000,000 199,066,550

0.00 0.00 3.23 0.90 0.24 0.22 0.00

N/A #VALUE! N/A N/A

NT 1.59 26.11 11.48 NT NT 0.63

100 200 NT

8.69

8.26

265,409,280

0.00

N/A

0.14

0.14

2,918,000

0.00

N/A

25,000,000 683,974,528

7.46 0.15 0.14

10,000

9.35

5.68

393,120,000

0.76

0.00

5.21

320 100

7.75 12.39

7.75 10.55

75,600,000 100,000,000

0.00 0.24

N/A N/A

7.75 10.43

100

0.50

0.50

4,058,989,226

0.01

N/A

0.50

NT 4,050

3.22 1.38

3.22 0.67

50,000,000 220,000,000

0.04 0.00

N/A N/A

NT 0.73

1,408,720

1.02

0.50

6,262,701,716

0.00

0.00

0.50

4,924,248

24.80

9.32

2,262,711,568

1.24

6.82

17.00

10000 2,577,516 2,541,040 412,758 22,164 167,074 43,476

76.00 4.87 115.64 146.00 59.00 190.01

16.96 1.32 7.73 106.00 16.20 118.75

693,952,117 1,249,162,828 1,080,280,628 300,496,051 253,988,672 339,521,837

2.69 0.61 1.43 9.93 1.04 12.91

-3.80 2.62 -1.57 1.27 N/A 0.00

0.5 39.50 3.05 207.50 158.00 50.54 180.00

306,355

28,677,671

200

0.72

0.50

100

3.48

3.48

209,933

2.45

1.00

2,572,000 3,000

5.10 3.45

2.19 0.73

4,035,497,307

388.50

0.00

N/A

0

N/A

0.50 3.15

980,294,400

0.00

3.70

0.81

589,496,310 198,819,763

0.52 0.00

0.00 N/A

3.60 1.23

4,059,547

1.64

0.85

865,808,912

0.00

N/A

0.50

1,500

0.75

0.50

3,211,627,907

0.00

N/A

0.50

100 599,750 1,000 2,800

1.72 3.88 10.00

0.64 3.51 10.00

2,078,796,396

0.00

0.00

4.28 4.85 3.51 9.63

1,000

0.51

0.50

8,000,000,000

0.43

N/A

0.50

16500 224,498 20 20,800

3.09 2.78 5.77

1.39 2.52 3.00

771,450,000 425,641,111

0.00 0.00 0.61

N/A N/A 0.00

1.06 1.51 2.30 4.47

955,140

1.29

0.50

1,507,000,000

0.21

N/A

0.57

6 40,000,700

5.15 1.88

4.90 0.80

236,699,511 5,631,539,736

0.00 0.00

N/A N/A

4.66 0.5

111,000 246,274

5.90 8.81

1.27 5.08

634,000,000 1,230,468,750

0.50 0.43

N/A 11.91

1.95 6.13

189044

2.9

60

1.43

1.04

45,000,000

0.12

N/A

NT

100

2.26

1.02

201,885,335

0.00

N/A

NT

100000 1000

NT NT

NT

0.60

0.60

30,000,000

0.00

N/A

NT

NT

0.50

0.50

24,898,850

0.00

N/A

NT

NT NT

1.88

1.63

125,005,250

0.00

N/A

NT NT

NT NT 1,000

0.50

0.50

6,650,000

0.00

N/A

3.05

2.76

194,700,000

0.00

N/A

2,706

2,003

41 10

#VALUE! 49467

NT NT NT

NT NT NT

A24 40

Business Courage

Monday, April 20, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, April 20, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

41

Law & Justice nationalmirrorlaw@yahoo.com

‘’The particular phraseology of the constitution confirms and strengthens the principle supposed to be essential to all written constitutions that a law repugnant to the constitution is void’’ – Justice Niki Tobi, retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria

xx

Young lawyers desperate to make quick money –Dabiri 42

Lagos State CJ, Justice Funmilayo Atilade

CJN, Justice Mohammed

CJN blasts magistrates over stringent bail terms Why five of Adelabu’s supporters were convicted 45

Child support: Missouri executes convict for murder 46

Under the Nigerian judicial system, an accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. This makes the question of bail relevant as its essence is to secure the attendance of accused persons in court. Stakeholders in the administration of justice are, however, worried that the imposition of stringent bail conditions negates the constitutional rights of the accused, writes FRANCIS FAMOROTI, Head, Judiciary.

A

bout 10 weeks ago, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, asked magistrates to stop imposing stringent bail conditions on accused persons involved in minor offences. His advice urging them to liberalise bail conditions came on the heels of rising figures of awaiting trial inmates in various prison facilities across the federation.

The CJN reportedly gave the directive when the national executive of the Magistrates Association of Nigeria, led by its acting National President, Chief Magistrate Victoria Isiguzo, paid him and 15 other Justices of the Supreme Court a courtesy visit last month and he said some magistrates were to be blamed for the level of congestion in the prisons.

He said it was regrettable that minor offenders were sometimes ordered to meet harsh and untenable bail terms, even as he stressed that the essence of bail was not to punish an accused person, but to

secure his attendance to appear in court for trial.

Besides, the CJN noted that a large number of persons were detained without charge, while others were detained pending further investigation.

He therefore, called on magistrates to stop indulging the police by admitting to bail a suspect whose case the police were not ready to prosecute.

According to the CJN, “a corollary to this is the imposition of such bail terms, which an accused has no real hope of meeting. I wish to use this medium to counsel magistrates to judiciously and carefully exercise their discretion to remand and consider alternatives to deten-

tion where possible, and to set reasonable bail terms as appropriate.”

Indeed, the admonition of the CJN required in-depth consideration when viewed against the alarming figures of inmates in prisons and detention camps in the federation. Studies have shown that prison congestion arises where the number of inmates at a given period of time exceeds the actual capacity originally meant for that prison.

In a recent investigation carried out by National Mirror, about 56,785 inmates were languishing in about 239 prisons located in various parts of the country.

It was learnt that out of this figure, 18,042 inmates, representing 32

WHEREAS BAIL IS GRANTED IN THE OPEN COURT IT IS APPROVED IN THE CHAMBERS OF SOME CORRUPT MAGISTRATES ON THE PAYMENT OF NEGOTIATED SUMS OF MONEY

per cent of the total population, were convicted prisoners, while about 38,743 inmates, who constituted 68 per cent, were yet-to-be convicted.

It was further gathered that a breakdown of the prison population indicated that 55,616 were male inmates, about 98 per cent compared to 1,169 female inmates, representing two per cent of the total inmate population.

Statistics obtained from their website of the Nigerian Prisons Service, NPS, also stated that as at June 2014, a total number of 1,484 condemned prisoners, about eight per cent of the convicts’ population, were on death row in all the prisons.

Of this figure, 1,452 males are condemned convicts while 32 females are equally awaiting the hangman’s noose.

Statistics further revealed that out of a total of 531 inmates serving life sentences, 523 male convicts were jailed for life, while CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

42

Law & Justice

Chief Abiodun Dabiri, a one-time Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Lagos branch, with 37 years post-call experience in this interview with WALE IGBINTADE, speaks on the Stamp and Seal project for lawyers, the falling standard of legal practice and the mode of appointing judges in the country, among others.

Excerpts:

The Nigerian Bar Association has introduced what is called the stamp and seal project for the use of all lawyers. Do you think this is necessary?

The stamp project has the great advantage of weeding out fraudulent lawyers.

It is necessary because it will not allow a situation where there will be cases of ghost lawyers. If your stamp and seal are on every document, it is okay, at least to know those who are real lawyers.

Some lawyers have called for the abolition of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

What is your opinion on this?

I don’t see anything bad in awarding privileges to members of the Bar. What people are complaining about is the method, there is nothing wrong in the award because you have to apply for it. But, to me I am not interested, I just want to be known and addressed as a lawyer and it is not necessary that I have an attachment to my name. You see a lot of young lawyers today who don’t know much about the law are being conferred with the rank of Senior Advocates; it is not on the basis of merit but because they are connected. You know in this our country, we don’t follow the rules in doing things even when they are spelt out, we don’t follow due process.

A lot of them are going for this title not because they are competent or qualified or they want to improve the image of the profession or they want to develop the law.

They are going there for pecuniary reasons, that if I become a SAN I will be getting money, people will be calling me SAN and then when a case comes I will charge them N10million. That is what they are going there for, not for any other reason at all. Left to me, if they want to scrap it, good luck to them. If they want to retain it good luck to them. I am not interested. I still get cases without being a SAN. To be a SAN you have to apply and I don’t believe in applying for this sort of thing. It is a privilege, why should I apply for it? If you want to be given a chieftaincy title, do you have to apply to the kabiyesi and say that I want to apply for so and so title? It is the application that is causing problem.

Have you ever applied for the rank?

I am not interested because I don’t need to be a Senior Advocate before I can be recognised as a lawyer. Already, I am a senior member of the Bar, I have paid my due and I do not need to be a Senior Advocate to make any further mark. It’s okay for the young ones, they need it. I am over 37 years in practice, you want me to go and queue behind all these junior boys? No, it’s not possible.

Monday, April 20, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Young lawyers desperate

Dabiri

Besides that, I don’t believe if you have to confer an honour on people, they should apply for it. The idea of applying for the rank is also something I find appalling. I don’t feel anything wrong or bad had been done to me in any way. The rule is that you have to apply and I did not, not that they did not give me. I know all the privileges they give to them but the issue is that I did not apply, I am not interested.

What are your expectations from the new President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari?

What I want is a peaceful atmosphere, we want food, we want security and also youth unemployment issue must be tacked.

Besides, we want regular electricity supply because no economy can grow without energy. Nigeria has money, we don’t have business with poverty if our resources are well managed. Look at the issue of minimum wage, you pass a law to give N20, 000 to workers as minimum wage. How do you expect an average worker to survive with that meagre amount? But, look at the lifestyle of

A LOT OF YOUNG LAWYERS TODAY, WHO DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE LAW, ARE BEING CONFERRED WITH THE RANK OF

SENIOR ADVOCATES; IT IS NOT ON THE

BASIS OF MERIT, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE CONNECTED our lawmakers, members of the National Assembly are living like kings, they are making millions every month. You find out that there is a great disparity between the rich and the poor in this country.

How will you assess the just- concluded Presidential election? Do you think there are reasons for PDP to contest the result at election tribunal?

No. I think for the first time in this country, I have seen a credible and transparent election. All these ghost voters do not exist again with the introduction of Permanent Voters Card (PVC). Before now, we used to have places where there are incredible numbers of voters and a lot of discrepancies.

But, the introduction of PVC has eradicated that with the help of the biometric process.

No more over- voting, over-registration because of the PVC processes and all the rest.

Look at the numbers of voters compared to what we use to have when the system was so corrupt that somebody can vote five or more times. Now with the results of this election, it is clear what the people want.

They are saying we are tired of this person, we want that person.

In some instances, lawyers have been

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Law & Justice

Monday, April 20, 2015

43

to make quick money –Dabiri arraigned for allegedly defrauding their clients. How do you see this development?

In our society today, we have bad ones in every profession. So in situation like that such should be reported to the appropriate authority for prompt disciplinary actions. Such should not be swept under the carpet, our society is like that and these are products of the society. There are cases too, when a client will request the assistance of a lawyer to recover an outstanding debt and promised to pay the lawyer 50% of the money if recovered. The lawyer will use his clout and sometimes, the lawyer may know the Managing Director of such company, and at the end the day the lawyer was able to help the client recover his money. We have had instances when such client ran away with the money. It has happened to me in the past and I did nothing.

Are you comfortable with the mode of appointing Judges in the country?

Honestly, you raised a very good question. I think in appointing Judges, preference should be given to integrity. To appoint a judge, you need to ask questions, verify facts about the individual but you know in this part of our society people are not always truthful. For instance, if someone asked me about you now, there is possibility that I would not disclose certain facts about you. I will not want to block your chances. This is our culture, attitude and it will definitely come to play. Unlike the Western world, where a child would tell you; oh my father is a thief and even call in police to arrest him. But, in this part of the world, nobody will want to do that.

Despite concerted efforts made by stakeholders to tackle the delay in justice administration in Nigeria, the system is still fraught with challenges. How do you think this can be resolved?

You see justice delayed is justice denied.

We as counsel often contribute a lot to the delay. Take for instances the case of former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, who was charged with certain offences. His lawyer started by challenging the charges and it has taken over seven years and the Supreme Court was annoyed. Lawyers contribute to all these kinds of developments and the point is that they don’t take advice.

It is what they want that they will do.

As a senior member of the bar, are you satisfied with the practice of the legal profession in the country?

The standard has dropped. You know in our own time we don’t just go from the Bar to the court. What you read in the university and law school is theory. To practice is a different thing entirely. The certificate you get from the law school is not for you to go straight into practice, you need to learn the trade. You have to work under a senior lawyer where you understudy them for some years but these days it is not so again. These are some of the reasons why the standard of legal profession is dropping. The new generations of lawyers don’t want to learn, they are in hurry to make money.

Several months after some Judges were attacked in Ekiti State, the culprits have not been charged nor prosecuted by the police; how do you see this development?

We are even grateful that nobody was killed. Look at the case of the former Attorney- General of the Federation, late Bola Ige. Somebody was arrested as a suspect, brought to court and at the end of the day the matter did not really have head or tail.

No tangible result because everything was politicised. Somebody is shading them up, the killer can never be found. It is a pity that Judges are not protected to do their job. They are sending wrong messages now; students and young men have seen that the government have attacked Judges, and people will feel that they can do likewise.

Judges should be free, when we came into this profession, judges were treated like God, you dare not go in and see a Judge because it is like you are going to see somebody special. But, judges have been reduced to ordinary human beings to the extent that you can even attack them and kick them but such a thing cannot happen in a civilised country.

Do you think there is going to be changes in the 1999 Constitution in this coming dispensation?

The process of changing constitution is very cumbersome and the elected president has a lot to do. He has not promised anything, but when he gets there he will see the rots that need to be cleared first because the whole place need some surgical operations.

He has won election, but to me, I don’t know

I THINK IN APPOINTING JUDGES, PREFERENCE SHOULD BE GIVEN TO INTEGRITY.

TO APPOINT A JUDGE, YOU NEED TO ASK QUESTIONS AND VERIFY FACTS ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE where he will start from. Barack Obama made a lot of promises, but when he got there he was to some extent overwhelmed by the rots left behind by George Bush. I wish Buhari case will not be like that anyway.

As a former chairman of the Bar, looking back, how would you compare the participation of lawyers in Bar affairs years back and now?

This life and the world itself is dynamic, it is not static, things move, people come in there, they do things in their own way, they make addition or subtraction. It depends but the participation now wasn’t the same as it was then because people love to support the Bar. They believe the Bar is the strongest body, they believe they owe the Bar something. Now, it is the Bar that

owes them something. Today, lawyers fight for election into offices and you see them spending millions of money, it’s like a political rally. I am sure it is the same thing with National Union of Journalists too.

How do you see the administration of the current NBA president?

I think he is doing his best.

What is your advice to young lawyers who are just coming out of school on how to be successful in the profession?

The first thing is to work hard like any other profession. You don’t need to be in a hurry. Life is a process, you need to persevere. They should not be in hurry to make money. Hard work should be the basic consideration for the new lawyers. They should be more interested in getting some satisfaction in the work they are doing, they should be more committed.

There is no doubt that you are a successful lawyer and you have reached the peak of your career, what will you say is the secret of being a successful lawyer?

There is no secret except first of all you must understand your calling and when you understand your calling; if you are a young lawyer under five years at the Bar and you do need to be extremely ambitious to achieve what a lawyer who has spent nearly 30 years has achieved in five years.

You want to do that less than five years, then you are definitely looking for a short cut you may be lucky but at the end of the day you may not be well- grounded. You cannot trade experience, so for me there is no secret except that you must understand your calling, once you do that, the rest is history.

44

Law & Justice

Monday, April 20, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Stakeholders urge magistrates to liberalise bail terms’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41 eight females will also spend the rest of their lives in jail.

A breakdown of the statistics showed that 8, 591 inmates of the total population are serving short term sentences of about two years. This represents 48 per cent of the total convicts. 7,436 inmates comprising 41 per cent of the prison population are being kept for long term sentences.

The first noticeable cause of prison congestion is the reckless disregard of section of 35 (4) (a) of the 1999 Constitution.

The provisions of the said section are clear and unambiguous that a person shall be tried within two months from the date of his detention, but the practical realities are a far cry from this constitutional provision.

The legal effect is that a person who is detained and not tried within two months has a right of redress under section 35 (4) (a).

The objectives of imprisonment of convicts which are; Reformation, Rehabilitation and Integration of the inmates back to the society are hardly achievable under the present prison system in the country.

The United Nations prescribes the Standard Minimum Rules (SMR) for the Treatment of Prisoners in the country. Among others, the UN instrument prescribes rules for the administration, management and required conditions of prisons and detention centres. It also highlights the minimum standards relating to the right of prisoners and detained persons and the way they are to be treated by the prison authorities.

To an extent that Nigeria is a signatory to this instrument; its provisions are being observed more in breach than in compliance.

Freedom of movement is a constitutional right. Accordingly, nobody should be intentionally deprived of his freedom except upon the order of a court in expiation of some crime the person must have committed.

This is the position of the law in the entire civilised world. Thus, if a person is being prosecuted for any alleged crime, the issue

Bar

Jokes

My daddy is a lawyer

While two families were waiting in line to see the Washington Monument, their two five-year-old boys were getting acquainted.

“My name is Joshua. What’s yours?” asked the first boy.

“Adam,” replied the second.

“My daddy is a doctor. What does your daddy do for a living?” asked Joshua.

Adam proudly replied, “My daddy is a lawyer.”

“Honest?” asked Joshua.

“No, just the regular kind,” replied Adam.

Fair Trial

A judge enters the courtroom, strikes the gavel and says, “Before I begin this trial, I have an announcement to make. The lawyer for the defence has paid me $15,000 to swing the case his way. The lawyer for the plaintiff has paid me $10,000 to swing the case her way. In order to make this a fair trial, I am returning $5,000 to the defence.”

Injustice in Hell

A man died and was taken to his place of eternal torment by the devil.

Falana

Ubani

Shittu

IN NIGERIA, ACCESS TO BAIL IMPLIES THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR THE SERVICES OF A LAWYER, TO HIRE A SURETY, AND INVARIABLY TO “GREASE THE PALMS” OF COURT REGISTRAR AND SECURITY PERSONNEL HAVING CUSTODY OF THE SUSPECT of bail immediately comes to fore since the person is adjudged innocent until he or she is proven guilty. When a judge makes pronouncement on bail, whether or not the accused person will be able to enjoy this constitutional right depends on his or her ability to fulfill the bail conditions.

Investigation has showed that majority of those being held in the Nigerian prisons as awaiting trial inmates are those who have been granted bail, but could not perfect them and therefore lose their constitutional rights.

Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN in an article titled: ‘Monetisation of Bail in NigeAs 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.’

‘Shut up,’ barked the devil, jabbing the man with his pitchfork.

‘Who are you to question that woman’s punishment?’

Robbed Lawyers

Two lawyers are in a bank, when, suddenly, armed robbers burst in. While several of the robbers take the money from the tellers, others line the customers, including the lawyers, up against a wall, and proceed to take their wallets, watches, etc. While this is going on lawyer number one jams something in lawyer number two’s hand.

Without looking down, lawyer number two whispers, “What is this?” to which lawyer number one replies, “It’s that $50 I owe you.”

Alimony

“Mr. Johns, I have reviewed this case very carefully,” the divorce court judge said, “and I’ve decided to give your wife $275 a week.”

“That’s very fair, your honour,” the husband said. “And every now and then I’ll try to send her a few bucks myself.”

Culled from Active Jokes, C.C Jokes.com and Lawyers’ Jokes.

ria’ writes ‘upon arraignment at the magistrates and area courts, accused persons are made to pay for bail with the connivance of defence counsel. Whereas bail is granted in the open court it is approved in the chambers of some corrupt magistrates on the payment of negotiated sums of money. There have been reports of frivolous charges deliberately filed in the courts by the police for the sole purpose of extorting money from “accused persons”. A number of lawyers and magistrates shamelessly participate in the fraudulent commercialization of the liberty of such innocent people.’’

Falana also stated that ‘’the Lagos State

government has monetised bail in total disregard of the rising inequality in the society.

Thus, section 116(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2007 provides that, “The Court may require the deposit of money or any other security as specified by the Court from the Applicant and/or his surety before the bail is approved”.

The Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, UNILAG, Prof. Akin Ibidapo-Obe, in his book,’’ Bail Process and Human Rights in Nigeria, “stated: “In Nigeria, access to bail implies the ability to pay for the services of a lawyer, to hire a surety, and invariably to “grease the palms” of court registrar and security personnel having custody of the suspect. If what is needed to ease his bail is not available to a suspect, then he is sent back to prison to await the day when he can afford it.”

Reacting to the CJN’s advice to magistrates, the former chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja branch, Mr. Monday Ubani, said that his idea was commendable and would help decongest the prisons.

LEGAL TIPS Importance of Power of Attorney *A Power of Attorney is a formal instrument by which one person empowers another to get for him or act in his stead for certain purposes. *The person giving the power is called the donor, while the person to whom the power is given is called the donee. *Power of Attorney is a written document in which one person (the principal) appoints another person to act as an agent on his or her behalf, thus conferring authority on the agent to perform certain acts or functions on behalf of the principal. *Powers of attorney are routinely granted

to allow the agent to take care of a variety of transactions for the principal, such as executing a stock power, handling a tax audit, or maintaining a safe-deposit box. *Powers of attorney can be written to be either general (full) or limited to special circumstances. A power of attorney generally is terminated when the principal dies or becomes incompetent, but the principal can revoke the power of attorney at any time.

A special type of power of attorney that is used frequently is the “durable” power of attorney. A durable power

of attorney differs from a traditional power of attorney in that it continues the agency relationship beyond the incapacity of the principal.

With a durable power of attorney, a principal can appoint someone to handle her or his affairs after she or he becomes incompetent, and the document can be crafted to confer either general power or power in certain limited circumstances..

Written by Francis Famoroti, Judiciary Editor. We welcome feedback and reactions from readers via our e-mail: nationalmirrorlaw@yahoo.com

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Monday, April 20, 2015

45

Why five of Adelabu’s supporters were convicted FAMOUS CASES

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lhaji Adegoke Adelabu was a politician and frontline member of the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (N.C.N.C) in the country in the first republic.

Reputed for his masterly command of English language, he was known to have imported into the nation’s political lexicon the expression ‘’Peculiar mess’’, which some people, especially the illiterates often called ‘’Penkelemesi’’.

Unfortunately, Adelabu, the charismatic politician, was killed in a motor accident on March 28, 1958.

Some of his supporters in Ibadan and its environs believed that he was killed by their political opponents. They therefore decided to avenge his death on members of the AG. According to the evidence adduced in the Ibadan High Court in the old Western region and accepted by the trial judge, ‘’on March 28, 1958 between 10.00 and 11 a.m, a group of N.CN.C members, numbering about 60, approached Arulogun village in Ibadan shouting their party slogans.’’

They were said to have been armed with guns, cutlasses, axes and cudgels. They went into the market and attacked two men, Salawu Aboderin and one Napoléon. The latter subsequently died of the injuries he received at the hands of the crowd.

Aboderin ran into his house and locked himself up in a room. The crowd chased him there and set fire to his house. When he could not bear the suffocation caused by the smoke from the fire, he jumped down from the ceiling and ran. The crowd caught hold of him, beat and cut him with cutlasses and cudgels and only left him when they thought that he was dead. He did not however die, but later recovered from his injuries.

After they left Aboderin’s house, they went to Oshuntoki’s house which was nearby and attacked him. His left hand was completely severed from his body and as he ran they chased him and inflicted more wounds on him with cutlasses. Oshuntoki ran into the house of one Alfa, where he fell down and died.

Ten members of the N.C.N.C were subsequently charged with Oshuntoki’s murder.

At the conclusion of the trial, four of them were acquitted and dischargedwhile six others were found guilty of the offence.

The court eventually held that it was not in dispute that a crowd of N.CN.C members attacked and killed the deceased.

In finding them guilty, the judge relied on Section 8 of the Criminal Code to the effect that ‘’where two or more persons form a common intention to prosecute an unlawful purpose in conjunction with one another, and in the prosecution of such purpose an offence is committed of such a nature that its commission was a probable consequence of the prosecution of such purpose, each of

Shortly after the demise of the late First Republic politician, Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu 57 years ago in Ibadan, Old Western Region, some of his followers decided to avenge his death by killing a member of the defunct Action Group (AG), Gbadamosi Oshuntoki. Five members of the N.C. N.C were subsequently tried and found guilty of the murder. FRANCIS FAMOROTI, Head, Judiciary writes. them is deemed to have committed the offence.’’

Those found guilty are, Jimo Amoo, Bakare Adeyanju, Amusa Aremu, Karimu Alao, Bandele Ajagbe and Faleti Disu.

Dissatisfied with the verdict, the men lodged an appeal against their convictions at the Federal Supreme Court.

The panel of jurists who sat on the appeal included, Justices Abbott, Brett, and Mbanefo.

Delivering judgement, the Federal Supreme Court said it could not be disputed that there was evidence from which the inference could be drawn that those who constituted the crowd that invaded Arulogun village on March 28, 1958, had a common purpose.

Part of the judgement reads, ‘’They were members of the same party and their motive was to avenge the death of their leader.

They were armed with lethal weapons and attacked and wounded or killed their opponents at sight. ‘’According to the 6th prosecution witness, Layiwola Ajagbe, when the crowd arrived at the village they said ‘’Kill everybody in the village’’. The 5th prosecution witness, Adebanjo Orekoya, who was himself attacked and wounded, said that as he ran he heard some members of the crowd shout ‘’ Papa Ijebu is not dead-bring his head’’. ‘’ The defence has not suggested any other reason for the behaviour of the crowd.

Indeed, appellants’ counsel in the court below opened his final address by saying that the illiterate members of the N.C.N.C wrongly believed that Adelabu, a leader of N.C.N.C, was murdered by his political opponents and after they had conspired to do so and in that belief began to attack their political opponents.’’

The federal Supreme Court said anybody who knew the purpose of such a crowd and joined it could not escape responsibility for its criminal action.

In the words of the court, the crowd in the present case having formed a common design to attack and kill members of the AG, their political opponents, any member who joined it with full knowledge of the common intention was equally guilty of murder of the deceased who was killed in the attack.

It saidthe trial judge did not, therefore, misdirect himself on the law when he held that ‘’anybody who joined in this hostile crowd with that knowledge was as guilty as the actual perpetrator of the crime.’’

The court, however, said from the testimonies before it, and having disregarded the evidence of the first prosecution witness, there was no other evidence to connect the sixth appellant, (Faleti Disu) with the crowd that killed the deceased. ‘’He was not mentioned by any of the other witnesses.’’ It added.

According to the federal supreme court,

Adelabu

ON MARCH 28, 1958, A GROUP OF NCNC MEMBERS, NUMBERING ABOUT

60, APPROACHED

ARULOGUN VILLAGE IN IBADAN AND SHOUTED THEIR PARTY SLOGANS ‘’there is, however, overwhelming evidence that the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th appellants were not only amongst the crowd, but were also armed. Each of them was identified by at least two witnesses as being amongst the crowd that descended on the village and attacked and killed the deceased. ‘’ It noted that at the hearing of the appeal, the appellants’’ counsel, Mr. M. Agbaje, referred to two crowds and that being so, the members of one crowd could not be held responsible for what the other crowd did.

The federal supreme court said on a careful examination of the evidence, it was clear that the appellants were identified as being amongst the crowd that attacked the village at the time and place in question and that some members of that crowd in fact killed the deceased.

The federal justices said ‘’The crowds if in

fact they were two, were composed of members of N.C.N.C, their purpose was the sameto attack their opponents- and they were operating in the same village at the same time.’’

The jurists said on that evidence, the court could be justified in presuming that it was one crowd that split into two.

The Supreme Court said ‘’be that as it may, it is clear from the evidence that the appellants were in the same crowd.’’ ‘‘This is borne out in the evidence of the 2nd and 4thappellants as witnesses who identified the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th same crowd; the 5th prosecution witness who saw the 2nd and 5th appellants as being in the same crowd; the 9th prosecution witness who saw the 3rd and 4th appellants in the same crowd and the 10th prosecution witness who identified the 4th and 5th appellants as being in the same crowd.’’

The federal Supreme Court contended that these witnesses were talking of the crowd that killed the deceased. ‘’It is, therefore, an inescapable inference to be drawn from the evidence of these witnesses taken together with the same crowd.

We are satisfied that there was ample evidence to justify the position of the trial judge in reaching the conclusion he did about the guilt of these appellants and their appeals were accordingly dismissed.’’

The sixth appellant, Disu’s appeal was allowed and his conviction and sentence were set aside.

Law & Justice

46

Monday, April 20, 2015

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Child support: Missouri Detectives search mosque executes convict for murder over preacher’s killing LONDON

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A

second man has been arrested and a mosque is being searched after a Syrian-born preacher was found shot dead in his car in North-West London.

BBC reports say Abdul Hadi Arwani, 48, was found dead last April 7 in Wembley.

He was believed to be a critic of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad.

Scotland Yard said a 61-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.

Earlier Leslie Cooper, 36, appeared in court charged with Mr Arwani’s murder.

At Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court , Cooper, of Nightingale Road, Brent, was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey last

British Prime Minister David Cameron

week.

As part of the ongoing investigation, officers said they were searching a number of addresses including the mosque at the An Noor Cultural and Community Centre in West London where Arwani had been an Imam.

Arwani, who was a British national, was found with bullet injuries to his chest in a parked car at the junction of Greenhill and The Paddocks.

Chinese court grants man nod to sue firm in Canadian court CHINA

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British Columbia man has won the right to sue a company in a Canadian court that he allegedly conspired with Chinese authorities to force him to spend years behind bars in China.

The B.C. Supreme Court rejected a bid by Silvercorp Metals Inc. (TSX:SVM) to have Kun Huang’s allegations of “false imprisonment” thrown out.

The Vancouver-based mining company had claimed in court that the case would be better dealt with in the Chinese justice system.

“The burden is on the defendant to establish that the alternative forum is the ‘clearly more appropriate forum,’” wrote Justice Carol Ross in her judgment released last week. .

“Silvercorp has not established that China is the clearly more appropriate forum.”

Court documents outlined how Huang worked at the time in China as a researcher for John Carnes of EOS Funds, a New Yorkbased hedge fund manager.

In 2011, he contributed to a brief but damning report

USA Missouri prison inmate has been executed for killing a man in a fit of rage over child support payments 16 years ago.

ABC reports say Andre Cole, 52, became the third convicted killer put to death this year in Missouri.

His fate was sealed after the United States Supreme Court turned down several appeals, including one claiming Cole was mentally ill and unfit for execution.

Also last week, Governor Jay Nixon refused a clemency petition that raised concerns about the fact that Cole, who was black, was convicted and sentenced by an allwhite jury.

Mike O’Connell, spokesman for the Missouri Department of Corrections, said Cole was executed by lethal injection at 10:15 p.m. and pronounced dead nine minutes later.

In the execution chamber, Cole nodded as relatives blew kisses his way. He chose not to make a final statement. He breathed deeply a few times as the drug was administered.

Cole declined any sedatives prior to the execution. He also declined to order a last meal and instead received the day’s inmate tray,

O’Connell said.

Attorney- General Chris Koster said in a statement he hoped “that the sentence carried out brings those forever impacted by this tragedy a sense of justice and a measure of closure.”

Cole and his wife, Terri, were married for 11 years and had two children before divorcing in 1995. The couple fought about visitation and he was upset about child support payments, authorities said.

By 1998, Cole was $3,000 behind in child support. Koster said Cole became angry when he learned that a payroll withholding order was issued to his employer, taking the money out of his check.

“Before I give her another dime, I’ll kill (her),” Cole told co-workers, according to Koster.

The first deduction appeared on his August 21, 1998, paycheck. Hours later, Cole forced his way into his ex-wife’s home by throwing a tire jack through a glass door, Koster said. He was confronted by Anthony Curtis, a friend who was visiting.

Andre Cole used a kitchen knife to repeatedly stab Curtis, then Terri Cole. Curtis died but Terri survived.

Cole fled the state but surrendered 33 days later. He claimed at trial that he did not bring a weapon into Terri’s house and that Curtis initiated the attack with a knife.

No relatives of Terri or Curtis attended the execution.

Andre Cole’s brother, DeAngelo

US President, Barack Obama

Cole, 38, of Las Vegas, said the attack was out of character for his sibling. He called it a crime of passion.

“It was a one-time thing,” DeAngelo said. “He didn’t have a history of that kind of behavior.”

Cole’s attorney, Joseph Luby, said Cole’s mental health deteriorated during the more than a decade he spent in prison.

He said Cole was plagued by psychosis and constantly heard voices in his head.

Both the Missouri Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to halt the execution based on mental health concerns. The U.S. Supreme Court also turned away appeals based on Missouri’s secretive method of obtaining the execution drug pentobarbital and over how instructions were given to the jury.

Coal miners lose bid to restore licences NEW SOUTH WALES

Chinese President Xi Jinping

that highlighted discrepancies in Silvercorp’s financial and mining output reports to Canadian and Chinese authorities.

In his lawsuit, Huang alleged the mining company provided money and encouragement to local police, directing them to detain and interrogate him.

He claimed local police, at Silvercorp’s direction, demanded he turn over passwords to his computer, email and trading accounts associated with EOS. The documents further allege that Silvercorp used that access to find documents to bolster its defamation claim against Huang.

Following a lengthy detention, Huang was reportedly convicted in September 2013 in a single-day, closeddoor criminal trial.

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group of New South Wales coal miners have lost their High Court bid to a law that struck out their exploration licences.

According to ABC, the Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) found the process under which the licences for areas near Doyles Creek, Mount Penny and Glendon Brook were issued was tainted by corruption.

Lawyers for Doyles Creek owner NuCoal - as well as Cascade Coal and its director Travers Duncan, which had licences for the other two areas - told the High Court a law which stripped them of their licences was unconstitutional.

However, the High Court found there was no case to answer.

The corruption findings centred around the activities of former Labour ministers including Ian McDonald and Eddie Obeid, as well as Mr Duncan.

In 2013, the ICAC found a number of people had engaged in corrupt conduct relating to the granting of the licences.

The NSW Parliament passed an amendment to the Mining Act, effectively cancelling the licences, in January 2014.

Acting Premier Troy Grant said the court decision had drawn a line under a sorry saga.

“The cancellation of these licenses was recommended by the ICAC,” Mr Grant said.

It was a nice experience –Elebute

M

y first appearance was before Justice Kasali, at a Lagos High Court.

I was a counsel to the

claimant though the matter was for mentioned but for the fact that Justice Kasali was my judge during my internship period, it was very easy for me to appear before her court. Because of the relationship I had had with her during my internship, the judge helped me out when I was having little difficulty, but I was not fidgeting.

Over time, there has

been improvement when I appeared before other judges though, at times, one might not know the exact thing to say but the fact that I have confident to appear before the court, though many judges usually put young lawyers through on what to say, while some of them often abused people. I am confident before a judge that corrects rather than Funmilayo Elebute the one that abuses.

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Law & Justice

Monday, April 20, 2015

47

Unconstitutionality of governor’s removal procedure AYOKUNLE AKINPELU

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he fourth republic adventure by Nigeria has brought the 1999 constitution into prominence than any other constitution that has governed the entity called Nigeria. The Court has been heavily saddled with making pronouncements of constitutional substance that are germane to the progress and development of Nigeria’s nascent democracy.

However, of all the constitutional contentious issues brought before the Court, none has been notorious as the Removal of Governors and Deputy Governors under Section 188 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) 1999 3rd Alteration. Once, the House of Assembly is in a conflict with the Governor and/or Deputy Governor, it is not unusual to have the House of Assembly dangle the removal carrot before the eyes of the alleged aggressor, such is the case of the Ekiti State Governor.

The procedure for the removal of the governor has been succinctly laid down

by Sec. 188 CFRN 1999 3rd Alteration. Removal procedure is not subject to wills and caprices but a full legal procedure that must be obeyed by the House of Assembly conducting the removal exercise.

Every action must be properly conducted for the whole exercise to be valid; sec 188 (1) to (9) CFRN 1999 must be followed seriatim and in full compliance; and in event of any breach of procedure, the Court would not hesitate to assume jurisdiction over the proceedings despite the oust provision of Sec. 188 (10) CFRN 1999. In the case of Inakoju v. Adeleke (2007) 4 NWLR (pt 1025) 423, the Supreme Court has decisively laid to rest the interpretation of Sec. 188 CFRN 1999 3rd Alteration and has laid the proper foundation for any removal proceedings. It is against the background of the Supreme Court interpretation that it becomes germane to examine the constitutionality of the Ekiti House of Assembly removal proceedings.

There have been several allegations and counter-allegations between the Governor Ayodele Fayose, the Seven (7) PDP lawmakers and the Nineteen (19) APC lawmakers in the House of Assembly.

All these accusations and counter-accusations have brought the state into chaos such that the House of Assembly now has two factional speakers; coupled with unrest which has started to claim the lives of the citizens of the state. However, the crisis got to its head with the purported service of the Notice of Removal by the Ekiti State Nineteen (19) APC House of Assembly lawmakers. The Nineteen (19) APC lawmakers had purportedly sat in an unknown location and moved the motion for the removal of the governor; the same motion having been passed was allegedly served according to the 19 APC lawmakers by courier service, adverts and according to Governor Ayodele Fayose on the Internet. The 19 APC lawmakers further went ahead to sit at Mary Hills Boys High School, Ado-Ekiti, amended the Ekiti State House of Assembly Rules by reference to Sec.101 CFRN 1999 3rd Alteration and moved a motion directing the Chief Judge to set up a panel to investigate the

allegation of gross misconduct against the governor. On the other hand, the seven PDP lawmakers claim that there is no on-going removal proceeding against the governor and that the recognised speaker has not received any notice of allegation in writing, the Speaker of the House of Assembly has purportedly even described the whole proceedings by the 19 APC lawmakers has a distraction. The Governor lent a voice to the 7 PDP lawmakers by describing the Notice of Removal as a joke and also stating that he is yet to receive the Notice of Removal. Since the removal of a governor is a matter of law it would be appropriate to place each event side by side the constitutional provision of the law.

The constitution in Sec. 188 (2) CFRN 1999 3rd Alteration provides that: “Whenever a notice of any allegation in writing signed by not less than one-third of the members of the House of Assembly. (b) stating that the holder of such office is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office, detailed particulars of which shall be specified. The speaker of the House of Assembly shall, within seven days of the receipt of the notice, cause a copy of the notice to be served on the holder of the office and on each member of the House of Assembly…”. The position of the law is clear that the speaker and no one else shall cause the notice to be served on the Governor and all members. Unfortunately, this provision has been breached by the Nineteen 19 APC lawmakers has the Speaker of the House was not the one who served the notice. The law does not separate responsibilities from occupation, hence a person can not be given an office and the duty of the office is allocated to someone else by the law. A person who is in Court challenging his removal can not turn around and execute the responsibility of the office save in the circumstances where the Court has made appropriate orders. It therefore behooves that the right person to have served the Notice of Removal should have been the person occupying the seat and performing the responsibility assigned to the office. The section

IN THE CASE OF INAKOJU V. ADELEKE (2007) 4 NWLR (PT 1025) 423, THE SUPREME COURT HAS DECISIVELY LAID TO REST THE INTERPRETATION

SEC. 188 CFRN 1999 3RD ALTERATION AND OF

HAS LAID THE PROPER FOUNDATION FOR ANY REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS

CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed

has also provided that all members of the House of Assembly must be served the Notice of Removal by the Speaker. The 19 APC lawmakers also breached that position by not causing the Notice of Removal to be served on their 7 PDP counterparts.

The 19 APC lawmakers in passing the motion for the removal of the Governor sat at an unknown location and not within the complex of the Ekiti House of Assembly. This action in itself has been declared illegal by the Court; the Court has even gone further to state that any decision of the House of Assembly reached outside the premises of the House of Assembly is a nullity, Akintola v. Aderemi (1962) All NLR 440 at 44. Nikki Tobi JSC, stated in Inakoju v. Adeleke (supra) “A Legislature is not a secret organization or a secret cult or fraternity where things are done in utmost secrecy in-the recess of a hotel. On the contrary, a Legislature is a public institution, built mostly on public property to the glare and visibility of the public.

As a democratic institution, operating in a democracy, the actions and inactions of a House of Assembly are subject to public judgment and public opinion…” the dictum of the learned Justice gives an insight to the inclination of the court to legislative proceedings carried outside the complex of the House of Assembly shall be declared a nullity. It would therefore not be wrong to say that sitting of the House of Assembly in an unknown location to pass the motion for the Notice of the Removal and also sitting at Mary Hills Boys High School, Ado-Ekiti to pass the motion requesting the Chief Judge to set up an inquiry panel is alien to our law and also illegal.

The Removal proceedings under Sec.188 CFRN 1999 3rd Alteration is a quasi-judicial proceedings which must observe strict adherence to the principles of fair hearing as provided for under Sec. 36 (1), (6) (a) CFRN 1999 3rd Alteration. Sec. 36 (6) (a) provides expressly thus: “every

person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be entitled to: (a) be informed promptly in the language that he understands and in detail of the nature of the offence.” Thus the right of Governor to be duly informed is a sacrosanct responsibility that can not be abdicated by House of Assembly. Sec. 188 (2) (CFRN) 1999 3rd Alteration also provides “… the speaker of the House of Assembly shall, within seven days of the receipt of the notice, cause a copy of the notice to be served on the holder of the office…” Service of processes in any judicial proceeding in Nigeria is personal service; the Court has further held that non-service of an adverse party entitles the adverse party to have the judgment set aside Mbadinuju v. Ezuka (1994) 10 SCNJ 109. However, when the adverse party can not be served because of circumstances beyond the control of the other party, it may approach the court for substituted service. It is therefore absurd that the 19 APC lawmakers decided to effect service through courier and/or advertisement rather than through the Clerk of the House of Assembly. The proper procedure would have been for the 19 APC lawmakers to serve the Governor through the Clerk of Ekiti State House of Assembly. The Court has never taken the issue of non-service lightly, and even a Court of first instance is empowered to set aside her own judgment if the adverse party brings an application for non-service. Hence, the non- proper service of the Notice of Removal by the 19 APC lawmakers is a violation of the Governor’s right which can vitiate the whole removal proceedings, as the court may not turn her eye away from this violation. It could be say to conclude that, owing to the aforementioned contraventions of the constitutional provisions by the 19 APC lawmakers, the removal of Ekiti State Governor may end up being declared a nullity by the Court.

Akinpelu , a Lawyer writes from Lagos.

Monday, April 20, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

48

Community Mirror You need to have a nation before you can have an ambition.

It should always be the nation first. You don’t have to scuttle national progress for personal ambition.

–President Goodluck Jonathan

Six-month-old, 4 others burnt to death DARE AKOGUN

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o fewer than five persons, including a six-monthold baby boy, were killed in fire incidents between Friday and Saturday.

The Southwest Spokesperson of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye dis-

closed this on Sunday.

He said that four of the victims were roasted to death in an accident that occurred at Costain area of the state, involving a commercial bus popularly known as `Danfo’.

According to him, the bus was carrying nine passengers when the accident happened.

He said that the bus

was coming from Lagos Island at a top speed while descending to Costain Bridge when suddenly the driver lost control and hit the pavement.

Farinloye added that the impact made the bus to summersault severally and burst into flames.

“The bus burst into flames, burning to death four men beyond recog-

nition. Five others that sustained serious burnt were rescued and taken to the General Hospital, Marina, by the Lagos Emergency Ambulance Services.

“The police from Iponri Division removed the dead bodies to the same hospital. The incident happened on Saturday at about 12.12 p.m.’’ he said.

Farinloye added that

a six-month old baby boy was burnt to death at about 9.30 p.m. on Saturday at CA Street, House 52, Shagari Estate, Mosan Okunola, Ipaja are of Lagos State.

He said the fire was caused by a candlestick lit by the mother of the child, who claimed to be taking fresh air outside, when the incident happened.

He, however, advised members of the public against the use of the candle, stressing that many lives have been lost to it use.

Also a wedding team from Akure to Badagry was involved in a road crash at Ilesha Osun State, two people died on the spot while the injured passengers were taken to OAU Teaching Hospital, Ilesa for treatment Farinloye also called on parents to always keep an eye on their children while sleeping, advising them against locking up children at home and leaving for a far distance.

Fresh violence claims 45 lives in Benue community

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Drainage filled with dirts in Mushin area of Lagos at the weekend.

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Lawyers charge Buhari to rescue Chibok girls as promised MATTHEW IRINOYE

L

awyers under the aegis of Lawyers for Change has charged the president elect, General Muhammadu Buhari to take giant strides in recovering the Chibok girls abducted over a year ago.

The association’s national coordinator, Mr. Adesina Ogunlana made the call at a press briefing held at Ikeja.

Ogunlana charged Buhari to live up to his earlier made promise of finding the girls who were

abducted by the boko haram sect, adding that his comments after the general elections in which he stated that he cannot guarantee the recovery of the girls, contradicts his promise made prior to the elections.

The girls were seized April 14, 2014 from their dormitory as they prepared for their examinations.

He said, “What he said is at variance with his promise.

Chibok girls must be rescued, they must be found.”

The association, through its coordinator also admonished the newly elected, at both the na-

tional and state (Lagos) level not to bask in the euphoria of past glory, but to endeavour to create the much awaited change Nigerians have been craving for.

According to him, In order to adequately address and curb the issue of corruption, there must be a project tagged ‘real retooling of the national economy.

He said, “Misappropriation of government fund must end.

To serve as a deterrent to others, wealth corruptly acquired should be relinquished. Our country must change and be changed.

“Life in Nigeria must not re-

main the same. What the people elected in is change, and change they will get, change not just transition,” he said.

Ogunlana also commended Nigerians for electing Buhari/ Osinbajo who he described as real agents of change and promised to ensure that his group will continue to be a watchdog on the incoming administration.

He said, “We will be the conscientious critics of the people voted into power. Our leaders must become lean so that our people can become fat. The only thing our leaders must deliver is nothing but change”.

o fewer than 45 persons were yesterday killed in a violence that erupted between the Ologba and Egba communities of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

Confirming the incident, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Hyacinth Dagala, said only 23 dead bodies were discovered, while three persons sustained serious injuries and had been taken to the hospital.

The police commissioner said that the villagers had been fighting over a fishpond and that the renewed crisis was as a result of suspicion by the Egba community that the Ologba had organized the recent deadly Fulani invasion against them.

Dagala said relative calm has returned to the warring communities, adding that his men are on ground to maintain peace in the area. Also, confirming the incident, Mr. John Ngbede, the immediate past Commissioner for Works and PDP Deputy Governorship candidate in the just concluded election, who hails from the area, said the communities have had long-standing unresolved issues.

Ngbede said that in the wake of yesterday’s clash, which started in the evening, many people were injured, even as thousands are now refugees in Obagaji, headquarters of the Agatu Local Government Area.

Monday, April 20, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

49

World News

Iranian leader urges military to increase preparedness

We reject the Iranian initiative. The goal of the initiative is only a political manoeuvre.

50

–YEMENI GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN RAJEH BADI

Fury as 700 feared dead in Mediterranean shipwreck PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

U

p to 700 people were feared drowned yesterday after an overcrowded boat smuggling them to Europe capsized off Libya in the latest and deadliest in a long list of migrant disasters in the Mediterranean.

Italy’s coastguard, which was coordinating the search for survivors and bodies, said only 28 people had survived a wreck that triggered fresh calls from Pope Francis and others for European leaders to act over what many see as an avoidable loss of life.

Survivors’ testimonies suggested there had been about 700 people on board the 20-metre (70foot) fishing boat when it keeled over in darkness overnight, officials said.

“It seems we are looking at the worst massacre ever seen in the Mediterranean,” UNHCR spokeswoman Carlotta Sami said.

A boat transporting migrants arrives in the port of Messina after a rescue operation on Saturday

The European Union announced an emergency meeting of foreign and interior ministers to discuss what Amnesty International blasted as a predictable “man-made tragedy”.

Coastal authorities in Italy and Malta picked up a distress signal from the stricken vessel around midnight (2200 GMT) on Satur-

day, when it was about 70 miles (126 km) off the Libyan coast and 110 miles (177 km) south of the Italian island of Lampedusa.

The Italian coastguard instructed a nearby merchant ship to provide assistance and it was when the Portuguese-registered King Jacob arrived at the scene that the fishing boat capsized,

Over 300 arrested for South Africa anti-immigrant violence

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edia caption South African minister Malusi Gigaba calls for people to stem the violence against immigrants More than 300 people have been arrested in South Africa in connection with a wave of violence against immigrants from other parts of Africa, the minister of home affairs said.

Malusi Gigaba issued a warning to those responsible, saying

that they would be subject to “the full might of the law”.

At least six people have been killed in the past two weeks.

Armed groups have targeted shops run by African immigrants, accusing them of taking jobs from locals.

Thousands of foreigners have fled their homes to shelter in makeshift camps, and neighbouring Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique have announced plans

A South African police officer tells foreign refugees to return to the Central Methodist Church where hundreds of immigrants are staying

to evacuate citizens.

Speaking during a news conference, Mr Gigaba said 307 people were arrested in connection with the violence.

“Everything is being done to restore peace and order,” he said.

“The government will enforce the laws of the country and will not hesitate to act speedily and decisively.

“We also want to issue a stern warning to those who lend themselves to acts of public violence: We will find you, and you will be dealt with to the full might of the law.”

In Durban on Saturday, President Jacob Zuma told a group of people displaced by the violence that the unrest went against South African values and that he would bring it to an end, but he was jeered by some in the crowd who accused him of acting too slowly.

Migrants, mostly from other African states and Asia, have moved to South Africa in large numbers since white-minority rule ended in 1994.

Many South Africans accuse them of taking jobs in a country where the unemployment rate is 24%.

most likely as a result of the terrified passengers stampeding to one side in their desperation to get off, the UNHCR’s Sami said.

A total of 17 boats scoured the area for survivors on Sunday but only 24 bodies had been recovered by late afternoon, the coastguard said.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, a former Italian foreign minister, said Sunday’s events were a stain on Europe’s conscience.

“We have said too many times ‘never again’. Now is time for the European Union as such to tackle these tragedies without delay.”

Burundi charges 65 protesters with rebellion Burundi has charged 65 protestors with rebellion after they were arrested during clashes with police while calling for the president not to seek re-election, a prosecutor said.

Tensions are high with opposition parties concerned at incumbent President Pierre Nkurunziza’s expected bid for re-election in June despite the constitutional limit of two terms.

Nkurunziza has not yet confirmed whether he intends to try stay in power, but his supporters say he has every right to do so.

Police arrested scores of protestors on Friday, and on Saturday charged 65 of them with “participation in an insurrectionary movement”, state prosecutor Arcade Nimubona said late Saturday.

Some stones were thrown at police, who stopped protests using tear gas and water cannon.

Those charged face a possible life sentence if found guilty of armed insurrection.

WORLD BULLETIN UK archbishop offers condolence during Egypt visit Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the Church of England leader, offered his condolences to Egyptian officials yesterday over the beheadings of 21 Coptic Christians by jihadists in Libya.

The Copts, 20 of them Egyptian, had travelled to Libya for work. They were kidnapped and executed by Islamic State militants in February, provoking Egyptian air strikes on IS targets in the strifetorn country.

During his one-day visit, Welby met President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, grand imam of Al-Azhar, the highest authority in Sunni Islam and Coptic Pope Tawadros II, officials said.

Welby offered his “condolence over the killings” of the Copts, Sisi’s office said in a statement.

He was also to lead a communion service at the All Saint’s Angelican Cathedral in Cairo’s upscale Zamalek district.

In sermons and speeches, Welby has called for greater support for Christians in the Middle East and Africa.

He has also backed military action against IS jihadists in Iraq, warning that the group represents an “extraordinary, once in a millennium threat”.

Ethiopia condemns purported Christians executions in Libya Ethiopia condemned yesterday the reported killing of Ethiopian Christians captured in Libya, and vowed to continue its fight against Islamist extremists.

“We strongly condemn such atrocities, whether they are Ethiopians are not,” Ethiopian Minster of Communications Redwan Hussein told a news agency.

Ethiopia’s embassy in Egypt was working to verify if those killed were indeed Ethiopians, he added.

The Islamic State jihadist group yesterday released a video purportedly showing the executions of some 30 Ethiopian Christians captured in Libya.

The 29-minute video purports to show militants holding two groups of captives, described in a text on the screen as “followers of the cross from the enemy Ethiopian Church”.

A masked fighter in black brandishing a pistol makes a statement threatening Christians if they do not convert to Islam.

A large number of Ethiopians leave their country -- Africa’s second largest in terms of population with more than 90 million people -- seeking work elsewhere.

Many travel to Libya and other north African nations for jobs, as well as to use it as a stepping stone before risking the dangerous sea crossing to Europe.

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World News

WORLD BULLETIN

Finnish election early votes show defeat for pro-Europe PM Voters are tipped to oust Finland’s pro-European and proNATO prime minister in yesterday’s election, with counts from early voting showing a win for an opposition party that may need to rule in a coalition with Eurosceptic nationalists.

Around 32 percent of Finns voted ahead of Sunday’s elections and pollsters warn the results can be skewed to certain geographical regions. A more accurate estimate of votes is due out at 1825 GMT (2.25 p.m. EDT).

But the early results confirmed what polls have said for weeks.

Opposition Centre Party leader Juha Sipila, who has backing of the urban middle class and rural conservatives, had the biggest share of votes, with 23.2 percent.

The main parties in the outgoing government, centre-right National Coalition and Social Democrats, scored 17.9 percent and 17.7 percent, respectively.

The euroskeptic Finns Party came fourth with 15.8 percent.

Sipila is expected to become prime minister of the euro zone country, succeeding Alexander Stubb of the National Coalition Party.

“I am very satisfied with this result, it looks very good. That would be some seven percentage points more than what we got in last election,” Sipila told public broadcaster YLE, while declining to declare victory.

Sipila has said he is open to including the Finns Party, formerly known as True Finns, in a coalition, even though they could complicate ties with Europe because they oppose bailouts and want to kick Greece out of the euro zone.

Bangladeshis evacuated from Yemen arrive home Bangladesh said yesterday it had brought back 337 of its citizens from strife-torn Yemen with the help of India, with the total number of Bangladeshis evacuated so far reaching 500.

The ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement the Bangladeshis had arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by special flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

They were first taken to the south Indian port city of Kochi by Indian ships on Saturday from Djibouti in Africa.

India conducted an air and sea evacuation operation late last month to bring back its nationals stranded in Yemen.

“We requested India to help bring home back our citizens stranded in the Middle Eastern country and it responded friendly,” Shahriar told reporters.

As India has wrapped up its evacuation operation, Bangladesh plans to repatriate the remaining Bangladeshis from Djibouti by its own arrangements.

Muhammad Shahidul Haqu, secretary to the ministry of foreign affairs, told Reuters he was not sure how many more Bangladeshis intended to return back.

Monday, April 20, 2015

I

ran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged his armed forces Sunday to increase their “defensive preparedness”, denouncing a US warning that military action is an option if there is no nuclear deal.

In a speech to commanders and troops, the supreme leader said “the other side with insolence threaten us all the time”, denying Iran was seeking an atomic bomb and insisting its military doctrine is defensive.

Khamenei’s remarks came after General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, reiterated last week that should nuclear talks with Iran fail “the military option... is intact”.

The United States has long said bombing Iran’s nuclear sites and other key facilities may be necessary if Tehran does not rein in its atomic activities.

Khamenei did not name Dempsey, but said: “After a period of silence by the other side, one of its officials has once again recently talked of options on the table.

“On the one hand they bluff, and on the other hand they say the Islamic Republic of Iran should halt its defensive advancements, which is a stupid remark.

“Iran will never accept such stupid remarks and the nation has proved that if it is attacked, it will defend itself quite powerfully. It will stand united and like a strong fist against illogical aggressors.”

Iran and six world powers led

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Iranian leader urges military to increase preparedness

Iran’s army ground forces, General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan (R) attending a speech by Khamenei to military commanders in Tehran, yesterday

by Washington agreed on April 2 on the key parameters of a nuclear agreement that could end the 12-year standoff over Tehran’s atomic programme.

A comprehensive agreement is due by June 30 but Khamenei has stressed that concrete details, including how to lift sanctions, have not yet been decided.

“All bodies from the ministry of defence to the army and the Sepah (Revolutionary Guards) should increase their military and defensive preparedness.

This should be regarded as an official directive,” he said.

Russia, one power in the nuclear talks, last week lifted a ban on the sale of its S-300 missile systems to Iran, a move condemned by Israel which vehemently and frequently warns of a bad nuclear deal.

Russia said progress in the talks meant there was no longer a need for it to prohibit export of the S-300 surface-to-air missiles.

Iran, which hailed Russia’s move as a step toward “lasting

Afghan blast kills 33, president blames ISIS

A

suicide bomber in Afghanistan’s eastern city of Jalalabad killed 33 people and injured more than 100 on Saturday, setting off a blast outside a bank where government workers collect salaries, the city’s police chief said.

President Ashraf Ghani blamed Islamic State militants, without giving further detail.

If true, it would be the first such major attack carried out by the group in Afghanistan,

marking a significant step in its expansion into South Asia.

Up until now militants claiming allegiance to Islamic State in Afghanistan have been widely identified as former Taliban fighters disillusioned with their leadership. The Taliban itself condemned Saturday’s attack as “evil”.

The explosion smashed windows and sent debris flying across a tree-lined street, filling the air with smoke and dust.

People running for cover after an explosion in Jalalabad, on Saturday

“It was a suicide attack,” police chief Fazel Ahmad Sherzad told a news conference.

He added that officials were investigating witness reports of a second explosion after people had rushed to the area to help the wounded.

Police said a later blast that shook Jalalabad was a controlled detonation after experts discovered a further bomb close to the scene of the initial explosion.

Local media said a former spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban had claimed responsibility on behalf of the Islamic State in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The spokesman could not be reached and his connection to the group could not be verified

by Reuters.

Islamist militants of various hues already hold sway across restive and impoverished areas of South Asia, but Islamic State has started to draw support from younger fighters in the region, impressed by its rapid capture of territory in Syria and Iraq.

security” in the region, currently lacks advanced air defences that could knock out modern fighter aircraft in the US or Israeli air forces.

Opponents of a nuclear deal, including Gulf states, fear that Iran -- fuelled by money released if sanctions are lifted -- could be emboldened into furthering its regional aims.

Norway asks Moscow to explain deputy PM’s visit despite sanctions

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orway said yesterday it has sought an explanation from Moscow for a visit to a Norwegian island by Russia’s deputy prime minister, who is banned from Norway in keeping with international sanctions against him over Ukraine.

Dmitry Rogozin is among a group of Russians who had sanctions imposed on them by the European Union and the United States after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine last year.

Norway also adopted the sanctions, although it is not an EU member.

“We have earlier this spring clearly expressed to the Russian embassy in Oslo that people on the list are not wanted in Svalbard. It is therefore regrettable that Rogozin has been on Svalbard,” a spokesman from Norway’s Foreign Ministry said in a written comment to Reuters.

A representative of Rogozin declined to comment.

On Saturday Rogozin, who is also barred from U.S. travel, posted a picture on Twitter of himself in front of a signpost for Svalbard airport in the Norwegian island’s main settlement Longyearbyen.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North 51

Monday, April 20, 2015

Plateau ADC wants Jang, Lalong to end face-off JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

C

hairman of African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Plateau State, Alhaji Sabiu Musa Ibrahim, has appealed to Governor Jonah Jang and Governorelect, Barr Simon Lalong, to sheathe their swords in the interest of peace and progress in the state.

INEC National Commissioner Supervising Bauchi, Borno and Yobe states, Col. Hammanga Mohammed (rtd) presenting certificate of return to Bauchi State Governor-elect, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar in Bauchi, at the weekend. PHOTO: NAN

Adeyemi drags Melaye, INEC to tribunal WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

A

pparently not satisfied by the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, after the last National Assembly election, senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Smart Adeyemi, has headed for the Election Petition Tribunal to register his displeasure over outcome of the election.

The petition, which was submitted on Friday at the National Assembly Petition Tribunal, sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, identified some alleged irregularities in the conduct and result declared

by INEC on March 28, 2015 National Assembly election and prayed the

tribunal to declare him winner of the election.

Adeyemi, who contested the senatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, scored 38,148 votes, while Dino Melaye of the All Progressives Congress, APC, scored 41,120 and was declared winner by INEC. Not satisfied with the result, Adeyemi in a petition filed through his lawyer J.O. Olatoke (SAN), averred that Dino Melaye was not duly elected or returned by majority of the lawful votes cast at the election for Kogi West Senatorial District held on 28 March, 2015.

The petition also declared that the petitioner, Senator Smart Adeyemi, had scored majority of lawful votes cast at the

election and ought to have been declared winner and returned as elected, adding that the declaration and return of Melaye was wrongful and invalid.

It added that Melaye was declared winner of the election because of wrong and/or incorrect computation of lawful votes cast and intentional omission of collating results of the polling units won by the petitioner, and counting of spoilt ballots in his favour.

Adeyemi is also seeking an order withdrawing or nullifying the Certificate of Return already issued to Melaiye as winner of the election and an order directing INEC to issue a certificate of return to him, the petitioner, because he scored the highest num-

ber of lawful votes cast at the election contrary to the result declared by INEC in favour of Melaye.

“That Dino Melaye, who is first respondent, was not qualified as at the time of the election to contest for Kogi West Senatorial District by reason of substantial non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) therefore, seeking his disqualification as candidate for the election,” the petition stated.

Adeyemi is also asking the tribunal to order INEC to conduct a fresh election into the Kogi West Senatorial District on the basis of irregularities identified.

Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for hearing of the petition.

Traders association housing scheme takes off in Abuja JOEL A JAYI ABUJA

N

ational Association of Nigerian Traders, NANT, at the weekend formally kicked off building of the first phase of its 5,000 housing units for traders in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, under the Affordable Home Ownership Scheme.

The project, to be developed by Onos International Nigeria Limited and Databridge International Nigeria Limited, would be financed by the

Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, in collaboration with the Federal Housing Authority, FHA. National President of NANT, Mr. Kenny Ukoha, while speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the scheme in Abuja, said with commencement of the project, traders would begin to have opportunity to own their houses under a flexible payment package.

Findings revealed that under the scheme, a unit

of two-bedroom apartment will go for between N4.5m and N7.5m, depending on the location, while three-bedroom apartment would be from N7m upwards.

The president noted that unlike in the past when it was difficult for traders to own their houses through affordable mortgages; the process had now been simplified.

According to him, 97 percent of traders in FCT are tenants, even in their shops where they do businesses, they are

tenants. So, commencement of this laudable project will surely correct that situation.

However, he warned handlers of the project against tribalism, nepotism, religion and ethnic sentiments, insisting that “it should be on first come first serve basis”.

Earlier, Chairman of NANT, FCT chapter, Prince Edozie Ugwu, said the project would be delivered in six months; it would be built to standard with quality materials.

National Mirror recalls that Jang and Lalong had at the weekend exchanged words over alleged looting of the state’s treasury.

While Lalong, who was elected under the platform of APC accused the outgoing PDP administration of looting the state’s treasury and planning to sell-off government properties, Jang de-

nied such allegations and advised the incoming APC administration to concentrate on having a smooth transition process and going further to surpass the PDP administration instead of making unfounded allegations.

But ADC chairman, who expressed worry over the development in a chat with journalists in Jos yesterday, urged both leaders to exercise restraints and allow peace to reign.

“This is not the time for exchange of words.

Now that the election was over, what Plateau people want from the outgoing administration and incoming one is cooperation and understanding so that together we can move the state forward.”

Bauchi auto crash kills three EZEKIEL TITUS BAUCHI

B

auchi State Police Command has confirmed that three persons were certified dead by a medical doctor at the Federal Medical Centre, Azare, following a fatal auto crash at AzareBulkachuwa road.

The crash, which involved an Opel Sharon ash colour car with marked DJ-245-ABJ, was driven by one Engr Ismail Abdullahi of the National Water Research Institute, Kaduna.

The accident, according

to police, occurred when the vehicle’s tyre rod pulled out on motion and the car skidded off the road and somersaulted.

According to the police, particulars of the other victims are L/CPL Zaphaniya Jonathan, 195 Battalion, Nigeria Army, Aganebode, Edo State, and Barr Umar Abubakar (legal practitioner), of Sir Kashim Ibrahim road, Maiduguri, Borno State.

The police said corpses of the victims were deposited at FMC, Azare, mortuary for postmortem examination.

Dangote Sugar gets SON safety certification

N

igeria’s foremost sugar refinery, Dangote Sugar Refinery, has been certified by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, as a food safety compliant company.

Management of the refinery said at the weekend that it had successfully obtained the Food Safety Management Systems certification (NIS ISO 22000:2005) issued by the standard regulatory body.

According to Deputy Group Managing Director, Dangote Sugar, Engr Abdullahi Sule, “the Food Safety Management System is a standard that guides the refinery’s core

business, the refining of high quality sugar using safe practices to manufacture finished product hygienically in the production processes.”

He added that the FSMS (ISO 22000:2005) certification was the third in the series of ISO certification on Quality, Process Safety/Security and Food Safety achieved by the sugar refinery.

He also disclosed that in addition to the FSMS, ISO 22000:2005; Dangote Sugar Refinery was also ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System, QMS, and ISO 18001:2007 Occupational Health and Safety Management System, OHSMS, certified.

North

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Monday, April 20, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

APC zones Senate Presidency to North Central Wole Adedeji ILORIN

N

orth Central caucus of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has expressed gratitude to its national leadership for zoning the Senate Presidency to the region in the 8th session of the Red Chamber.

The North Central caucus consisting of APC state chairmen in Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau, described the zoning arrangement as just and fair.

A statement by Kwara State Publicity Secretary of the party, Suleiman Buhari, said Kogi chapter chairman, Hadi Ametuo, CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that Ikechukwu David Udeogwu is the same person as Ikechukwu David Udeh which appears in some of my documents henceforth I wish to be known and address as Mr. Ikechukwu David Udeogwu. All former documents remain valid, general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

OKEREKE: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okereke Prisca Francis, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Orji Prisca Oluchi Francis. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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LAWRENCE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Uffot Uduak Lawrence now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Uduak Enemari. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc and the general public should please take note.

signed a letter conveying the appreciation after a meeting of the caucus.

He said the letter had stated, “The North Central caucus of our great party, the APC, wishes to express its satisfaction with the official decision of our great party at the highest level of decision-making, to zone office of the Senate President to the North Central geo-political zone.

“We commend the national leadership of our party for taking this fair and just decision even in CHANGE OF NAME

EZEOCHIRI: I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ezeochiri Loveth Chibuzo, now wish to be known and address as Mrs. Udeh Loveth Chibuzo. All former documents remain valid, general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that Onuabuike Oluchi Clara was mistakenly written as Onuabuchi Oluchi Clara hence the correct name is Onuabuike Oluchi Clara. All former documents remain valid general public take note

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AKINWUNMI: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Akinwunmi Bukola Dorcas, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs Egunsola Bukola Dorcas. All former docunents remain valud. The general public, Girls High School, Agege and LASPOTECH, Ikorodu should take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwogu Favour Olivia Onyinyechi, now wish to be know and addressed as Mrs Asoh-Chika Favour Onyinyechi Olivia.

All former document remain valid. Ekiti State College of Health Sciences and Technology, Ijero-Ekiti and general public should note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE WORD AND PRAYER EVANGELICAL CHOSEN CHURCH The general public is hereby notified that the above mentioned Ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: i. ii. iii.

Popoola Ebenezer Adekunle Ajayi Abraham Kehinde Esther Olubukola Olumorin

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

1. To preach the undiluted truth of the word without fear or favouritism Acts.4:19-20.

2. To take the gospel to as many villages, towns, cities and nations of the world, especially places where the truth of the gospel has not yet been established or has diminished. Mk.16:15-18, Acts 1:8.

3. To raise as many giants as possible for Christ through discipleship training for the last harvest of the world.

Lk. 6:40, Eph.4:12.

4. To establish the Christian lifestyle that characterises the perfect way of Christ and the Apostles in character, dressing selfless service and worship that reflect perfect holiness for a better society. 1Cor. 11: 1, Acts 11:26c.

5. To build the Christian faith and raise Christian soldiers through aggressive prayers to destroy the kingdom of darkness. Eph.6:10-18,1Jn.3:8b.

6. Christ only is our message - we believe in total obedience to the Master. 2 Cor. 4:5, Jn. 15:16.

7. To teach and establish the fact that heaven is real and the only gateway to heaven is pure holiness:1 Jn. 3:2-3.

8. Synopsis: To accomplish the aforementioned points above regarding our vision/mission, “Go ye” is our priority.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent District, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: THE TRUSTEES

PUBLIC NOTICE

TURN TO JESUS MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL The general public is hereby notified that the above name MINISTRY with headquarters in Benin City

has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Pastor Niyi Ayoola Pastor (Mrs) Grace Ayoola Pastor Akinola .O . Jegede Deaconness Cecilia .O Amusan Pastor Joshua Ishola Evang. Femi Ayoola Barr. Jegede Oluwagbeminiyi

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

1 To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 To preach love, fellowship, respect and peaceful co-existence among members 3 To deliver the oppressed, heal the sick and set the captive free.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, District Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: BARR. JEGEDE OLUWAGBEMINIYI

the face of intensified pressure from our sister zones.

There is no doubt that this zoning arrangement reflects a rich understanding

of the diversity of Nigerians and the geography of the nation.

“For us in North Central zone, work has just started.

And we can assure the national leadership of our party that the office of the Senate President would help consolidate on our

successes in the recently conducted general election where we delivered 100 per cent state governors and 13 Senators to APC.”

Account for N13.4bn WDP funds, APC dares Aliyu Priscilla Dennis MINNA

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iger State All Progressives Congress, APC, has called on Governor Mu’azu Aliyu to account for the N13,426,000,000 funds he deducted and CHANGE OF NAME

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I, Mr Mufutau Gbalakale is one and same person as Mr Bolakale Mufu, that on my staff ID card no ID/LC. 33397 with PFA Pin no 100067476994 issued by Cappa and D’Alberto Plc my name was written as Mufutau Gbalakale, and on my pension payslip issued by Sigma Vaughn Sterling Pensions Ltd my name appears as Mr Bolakale Mufu. General public take note.

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All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and the general public take note

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All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

failed to release to the Ward Development Project Committees from 2010 till date, before he can seek forgiveness from Nigerlites.

The amount, the party said, was contained in Gazzette vol. 13 in Niger State Legal Notice No.24 CHANGE OF NAME

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ABIMBOLA: formerly known and addressed as Miss Abimbola Temitayo Janet.

Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Gold Temitayo Janet. All former documents remains valid general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Iwuh Kelvin now wish to be known and addressed as Iwuchukwu Kelvin Ifeanyi. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

formerly known and addressed as Miss Abdullahi Zeniatu Evelyn, now wishes to be known and addressed as Mrs Omoriawo Zeniatu Evelyn. All former documents remain valid. General public take note, please.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Rev. Miss Abigail Ogwe, now wish to be known and addressed as Rev Mrs Abigail Sunday Ekeoma Odum. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Okonkwo Ukamaka .P. now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Anwunobi Ukamaka .P. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHRIST GOSPEL INTERNATIONAL REVIVALIST GROUP

The general public is hereby notified that the above named group lost its original certificate of incorporation and has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for a CERTIFIED TRUE COPY of the CERTIFICATE under part “C” of the company and allied matters act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Michael Oluwatoba Oluwamuyide 2.Gabriel Olomititu Oni 3.Ezekiel Olusesan Moyegun 4.Isaiah Olaide Adenuga

- Chairman - General Secretary - Member - Member

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

Propagation of the gospel and reviving of souls for Christ

Any objection to this request should be forward to the Registrar – General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigiris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication

SIGNED: JATS SHOPEIN & PATNERS

of 2009 as amended in Vol 16 Niger State Legal Notice No.4 2012.

The APC through its state Publicity Secretary, Jonathan Vatsa, in a press statement, revealed that in 2010, the sum of N1,644,000,000 was deducted and not reCHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known, called and addressed as Miss Uneke Esther Adaobi, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs Chukwuemeka Esther Adaobi. All former documents remain valid. National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and General Public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHUKWUNYERE: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluchi Chukwunyere Ann, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nwankwo Oluchi Ann. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

BABALOLA: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Babalola Blessing Ruth, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Omolebi Blessing Ruth. All former documents remains valid general public please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ozoani Chidimma Vivian, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ezeilo Chidimma Vivian.

All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Tokoni Promise Agama, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Tokoni Promise Ifidi. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Odo Christian Chukwujekwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Odo Victor Chukwujekwu.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ugonabo Amara Cynthia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ugwunze Amara Cynthia. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

mitted to the 274 wards; in 2011, N3,288,000,000 was deducted; as well as N2,466,000,000 in 2012, N2,466,000,000 in 2013, N2,740,000,000 in 2014 and N822,000,000 in 2015, but not released, amounting in total to over N13 billion.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeyemi Gladys, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Alabi Gladys Temitope.

All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OTTAH: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Glory Ottah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Glory Sule.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as Liyasu Ibrahim Anataku, now wish to be known and addressed as Emmanuel Abraham Anataku. All former documents remain valid. Redeem Christian Church of God (R.C.C.G.) Enugu Province and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly Known and Addressed as Sunday Muochebe, now wish to be Known and Addressed as Uchenna Daniel Chukwuchebe.

All former documents remain Valid.

The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Abdull Hameed, now wish to be known and addressed as Abdullamid Ibrahim. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwimo Augustine Onyedinma, now wish to be known and addressed as Nwachukwu Augustine Onyedinma. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to inform the public that Osunkwa Desire Ezinne and Ufere Desire Ezinne refer as one person but no wish to be know as Osunkwa Desire Ezinne. All former documents remain valid general‎ public take note

PUBLIC NOTICE

LOVE AND FAITH BELIEVERS ASSEMBLY INTERNATIONAL

This is a public notice to inform member of the public of the intention to register the name of the above church with the Nigerian Corporate Affair Commission.

NAMES OF THE TRUSTEES: 1. Rev. Dr Emeka Chukwuemeka 2. Rev Mrs. Abigail Chukwuemeka 3. Mrs Chetachi Chikezie 4. Mr Christian Chukwuemeka

PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES OF THE CHURCH 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is to live a sin free life and be reconciled to God 2. To transform lives through the word of God and revelation of the Kingdom principle here on earth which is doing the absolute will of God in order to live a successful and fulfilled life through faith in Jesus Christ.

3. To propagate and proclaim the unfailing Love of God towards all men here on earth, uniting tongues, tribes and nation.

4. To help all mankind experience the power of the Kingdom to come here on earth through the perfect Love of God and Faith in Jesus Christ.

Members of the public are thereby invited to forward any objection to above procedure to the CAC within 28day of this publication

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, April 20, 2015

I am sure the national team will come good. It’s only a matter of time and we will return to winning ways

53

Sport

Obi nears Inter exit

54

–SUPER EAGLES GOALKEEPER, VINCENT ENYEAMA

FG sacks Elegbeleye, appoints Yakmut AFOLABI GAMBARI

T

he Federal Government yesterday relieved the Director General of National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, of his duties with immediate effect on the orders of President Goodluck Jonathan.

National Mirror gathered that a Director in the NSC, Mr. Alhassan Yakmut, has also been directed by the Sports Minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, to assume office today as the Acting Director General of the Commission.

Investigations revealed that the Danagogo had sought and received approval from the Head of Service of the Federation to appoint Yakmut as replacement for the former director of sports, Dr. Bolajo Ojo-Oba, who retired from the NSC last July after his mandatory 35 years of service.

Although Elegbeleye had received an order to that effect from Danagogo, he had failed to implement accordingly, as he apparently pre-

ferred an Assistant Director in the NSC, Mrs. Hauwa Kulu Akinyemi, for the director general’s position, contrary to the Civil Service procedure, as Yakmut is her senior in rank.

National Mirror, however, gathered that a distraught Danagogo who was displeased by the undue vacancy of the position had taken the matter directly to President Jonathan who ordered the action that led to Elegbeleye’s sack yesterday.

Further investigations revealed that the sacked DG had also angered the minister by the apparent delay in giving approval to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to resolve the impasse arising from re-engagement of Stephen Keshi as Super Eagles coach as it was understood that Elegbeleye preferred any other coach to Keshi, although he did not divulge his preference until he was removed from office.

National Mirror learnt that Yakmut will assume his new duty at 10am today at the NSC office in Abuja after a brief handover by the sacked former director general.

Elegbeleye

NCF seals N150m sponsorship deal ...begins construction of pitches JOEL AJAYI ABUJA

N

Members of the NIgeria National Cricket team

igeria Cricket Federation (NCF) has secured the third largest sponsorship in the history of Nigerian sports with the signing of a deal worth N50million a year.

The sponsorship deal that will run for the next three years (meaning N150m) is in addition to the construction of two cricket pitches worth N55million.

Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Tammy Danagogo, said this in Abuja at the weekend at the signing of the three-year sponsorship contract between the NCF and Montage Cable Television.

Danagogo, who was represented at the occasion by Alhasan Yakmut, the Director of

Grassroots Sports Development at the National Sports Commission (NSC) described the development as a landmark achievement for Nigerian sports.

According to him, the achievement is between the private sector (Montage) and the Public sector (NSC).

He said: “The NSC has keyed into the private public partnership by ensuring that government and companies unite together to raise the profile of sports in Nigeria for the benefit of the entire citizenry.

“You have invested wisely and the value of your investment has made you the third largest sponsor in Nigerian sports.

“The Zenith Bank Basketball is N75million and you own league and the capital project is N70 million; if you are one year old now, imagine when you are five years

what the value of the partnership will be,’’ Danagogo said.

The minister said the sponsorship which included construction of two cricket pitches would trigger sports employment among the youths and the commercialisation of the game in Nigeria.

In his own speech, Chief Operation Officer Montage Cable Television (MCT), Mr. Lanre Olujitan, said the company was working towards being a panAfrican company.

“MCT Company had acquired an Outside Broadcast van from Sweden to enable it beam live all the cricket matches when the league kicks-off by September. We want to replicate in cricket what other sponsors are doing for football so that it will translate to the universities and into the national game.”

54

Sports

Monday, April 20, 2015

EPL Results

City piles

Man City

2

0

West Ham

Newcastle

1

3

Tottenham

FA Cup Aston Villa

pressure on

2

1

Liverpool

Aguero

Red Devils M

anchester City yesterday closed the gap on Manchester United in the Premier League table after a comfortable 2-0 victory over West Ham at the Etihad Stadium.

James Collins gifted the home side the opener with an owngoal after 18 minutes and Sergio Aguero added a second before

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

half-time.

The result sees City reduce United’s lead over the side to just a single point, after the third-placed side lost 1-0 at Chelsea on Saturday evening.

A real concern fo for City, however, will be the injury suffered by David Silva, who was wa forced off on a stretcher after taking an elbow t to the face from Cheikhou Kouyate midway through m the second secon half.

The first sign of danfi ger for the Hammers

Obi

came within five minutes when Silva got in behind their defence and managed to bring a pass down from Martin Demichelis, but the Spaniard couldn’t quite get his shot away before he was blocked off.

Understandably, the game lost a little momentum after the injury to Silva and other than a decent chance for Enner Valencia the home side never looked in any real danger, cruising to a victory that also sees them extend their gap over fifthplace Liverpool to seven points.

Obi

nears Inter exit I

Ameobi

Ameobi enters Baggies radar W

est Brom has joined Everton and Real Sociedad in the chase to sign Newcastle United forward Sammy Ameobi.

Baggies Manager, Tony Pulis, is eyeing up a deal to sign Ameobi in the summer if the side stays in the

Premier League.

Pulis has expressed his desire to sign the 22-year-old Nigerian, who will be out of contract at St James’ Park and looks set to leave on a free transfer.

West Brom will now battle Ever-

nter Milan midfielder, Joel Obi, is one of several players the club will release in the summer and his likely destination could well be Atalanta.

According to reports, Inter Coach, Roberto Mancini, is set to offload some players in the current squad and Nigeria midfielder Obi falls in that category.

He may now join Atalanta next season as a replacement for Baselli and Cigarini, who are widely tipped to move on in the summer.

Despite staying back at Inter this season, Obi has failed to establish himself at Inter, who gave him his big break in Europe in 2005, and the 23-year-old player will now have to switch to a club where he will play a lot more regularly.

ton and Real Sociedad for the winger’s signature in the summer.

Reports said yesterday that Pulis is keen to add more pace on the wings after only managing to land one winger in Callum McManaman in January.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Monday, April 20, 2015

Nkwocha

PAUL EREWUBA

F

our-time African Women Footballer of the Year and Super Falcons striker, Perpetua Nkwocha, has assured Nigerians that the 2016 Rio Olympics ticket will be won, even as she tasks her teammates to make the team competitive.

Nkwocha gave this charge when she joined the team’s camp over the weekend as the Falcons trained at the FIFA Goal Project pitch in Abuja.

sure of Rio 2016 ticket

Nkwocha

55

“We have to concentrate first on the Olympics qualifier which is a sure bet,” Nkwocha said.

“I am 100 per cent sure that we will qualify for the games.

“I think what we should do now is to put behind us the All African Games (AAG) ticket and look ahead to Rio 2016.”

Nkwocha urged Nigerians to continue to support the Falcons in their bid to qualify for the Olympics as well as perform well at FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.

Lulu gives N7m soccer scholarship Local Okpekpe

F

Lulu

ormer NFF President Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi has awarded academic scholarship of about N7million to ten U-13 players to pursue their education at FOSLA Academy.

The players who were picked from Kogi State and FCT are Emmanuel Yakubu (Idah), Simeon Zakari (Igalamela), Bala Abubakar (Omala), Ayuba Yusuf (Ofu), and Adaji Timothy (Dekina), Onyeka Chukwu (Kuje), Jeremiah John (Kwali), Gideon Goodlag (Gwagwalada), Nawas Abdullahi (Karshi).

Chairman of FCT Football Association, Alhaji Musa Saeed Talle, who spoke at the occasion, commended Lulu for

his generosity while enjoining the beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture.

Lulu, who is the Proprietor of the Academy, said FOSLA Academy was the first privately owned academy in Nigeria with emphasis on providing naturally endowed youth opportunity to further their education while playing football.

“In this past four years, we have within our limited resources provided for the over 60 students who are on scholarship with other fee-paying students,” Lulu disclosed, adding, “Provisions would be made to accommodation girls in the school in the new session.”

Tennis: CBN revels in Juniors’ event PAUL EREWUBA

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria has expressed delight at the progress made since the institution began sponsorship of junior tennis tournaments in the country about nine years ago.

Director, Corporate Communications Department of the CBN, Ibrahim Mu’azu, who was represented by Head, Media Communications, Isaac Okoroafor, at a briefing in Lagos to herald the 2015 CBN Junior Tennis Circuit at

the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos hailed the diligence of Godwin Kienka whose International Tennis Academy organised the annual event.

“I am pleased to say that the Junior Tennis Championship has become an important event of the International Tennis Academy since its inception in 2007,” Mu’azu said.

“The management of the bank has noted with satisfaction, the steady development and success recorded in the Championship as players from the Junior Circuit have

always represented Nigeria in the African Junior Championships and other international competitions.

“They are already challenging the senior players in the senior CBN Senior Tennis Open Championship. It is worthy to note that in the senior rankings of 2014, we had six players who have gone through this circuit in the top 12.

“The players are Thomas Otu (No.3), Emmanuel Idoko (No. 4), Joseph Imeh (No. 6), Sylvester Emmanuel (No. 8), Michael Moses (No. 11) and Sunday Emmanuel (No. 12).”

athletes get prize hike

O

rganisers of the 3rd Okpekpe 10km Road Race scheduled for next month in Okpekpe have announced increase in the prize money for the first nine Edo State-born finishers in the men and women race.

The male and female winners will go home with N500, 000 each, an increase of N400, 000 while the first and second runners-up will get N300, 000 and N250, 000 respectively.

The ninth-placed runner will get N50, 000 while the eighth, seventh, sixth, fifth and fourthplaced finishers will go home with N75, 000, N100, 000, N150, 000 and N200, 000 respectively.

A member of the organising committee and former Africa, Commonwealth and World Universities Games long jump champion, Yusuf Ali, explained that the committee resolved on the increased prize money for

the locals to encourage their competitiveness.

“Hopefully, we will get them to compete for the main prize of $25, 000,” Ali said.

He also commended the race owner, Mike Itemuagbor, for approving the new prize money structure for Edo state indigenes.

“With people like Itemuagbor, Nigeria would rank among the best in the world in any sport,” Ali remarked.

The Okpekpe 10km road race is organised by Pamodzi Sports Marketing in conjunction with the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and Edo State government.

The race, which is run over hills and sandy path and it starts in Apama road and ends in Okpekpe, a town in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, is located about 25 km North East of Auchi.

Ali

WORLD RECORD Most Fastest money raised whilst running a half marathon mile fireman’s carry

Vol. 05 No. 1094 Monday, April 20, 2015

The most money raised while running a half marathon is 9,336 (£7,460; US$11,900) by Fundación Trinidad Alfonso (Spain)

N150

Electoral innovation and unrepentant politicians

“Q

ualified success” is the verdict of discerning Nigerians and international observers on the just concluded 2015 general elections. The electoral process packaged by the Professor Attahiru Jega-led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the exercise, though highly rated, yet could not produce optimal efficiency because of the deliberate attempt by the politicians and their hirelings to circumvent it.

However, I must admit that the innovativeness of INEC (minus human spoiler factors) took Nigeria to a new threshold in the drive for clean election. It will be the second time in the democratic history of our country when the nation’s electoral body made genuine effort to meet the expectations of Nigerians on free and fair elections.

The first was in June 1993 when Professor Humphrey Nwosu, as chairman of the

HeartBeat Callistus Oke

Callistusoke@nationalmirroronline.net 08054103275 (SMS ONLY) anthonykila@mail.com National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON), deployed high intellect to give credibility to outcome of that year’s presidential election, the last in the series of the Transition Programme of General Ibrahim Babangida regime. Option A4 voting system was the finest point of that intellectual engagement. The process depended on complete manual accreditation of all voters in each polling unit before the actual voting. That way, the total number of eligible voters per polling unit was known to all beforehand, thus eliminating opportunities for manipulation by parties or individual politicians.

Twenty two years later in 2015, Professor Jega has reenacted such uncommon accomplishment, deploying technology.

The permanent voter’s card (PVC), which has the biometric data of a registered voter and card reader used for voter authentication, are the twin electronic solutions for strengthening the credibility of the electoral process, which in turn would make the results less disputable or non-disputable.

Making the smart card readers complement the permanent voter’s cards makes impersonation of voters near impossible. In the past, political parties and candidates would buy voter’s cards, which they would issue to procured illegal voters to win elections.

The authentication of voters’ biometrics, using card readers, has dealt a deadly blow to politicians’ rigging proclivities.

Deploying technological solutions to electoral malfeasances, as psychologically

WHY SHOULD A RETIRED ARMY GENERAL CONDESCEND TO THE LOWLY LEVEL OF PARTAKING IN

ELECTORAL FRAUD? lifting as it seems, has proved not to be panacea to the mindset of the average Nigerian politician. This is the point the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua hammered on January 16, 2008 in Abuja during a consultative meeting on electoral process organised by him. In his opening speech, he had said: “No matter the legislations, no matter the efforts we put at electoral reforms, unless we the political leaders change our attitude towards elections, we will continue to have problems”. Well said, you may say.

Nigerians still nostalgically refer to the June 12, 1993 presidential election as the cleanest so far in our political history. But the same Nigerian factor the late President Yar’Adua alluded to above has made that election to belong to the category of inconclusive elections in the country. The ruling military cabal backed by the northern power oligarchs, annulled the election. The former for the fact that it detested the loss of political power to the civilians, while the latter for the reason that they were repugnant of the reality of power shift to the southern part of the country.

In 2015, resistance to Jega innovation came mainly from the PDP hierarchs, who never hid their abhorrence for the deployment of the card readers during both the national and state elections. Jega found in the unequivocal support the leadership of the APC and majority of discerning Nigerians gave to the innovation the courage to stick to its use.

Beyond this, the electronic solutions to electoral fraud proffered by INEC have not been able to penetrate the psyche of our politicians to make it amendable to the new drive of the nation. Unmistaken signs that our politicians are still steeped in their ugly atavistic past are the various faces of political chicaneries on display during both the March 28 and April 11 elections. Or why should a retired army general condescend to the lowly level of partaking in electoral fraud? Unless for filthy lucre, why would any staff of INEC compromise his/her office to favour a particular candidate or party? The charade in Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Imo, Taraba states tell the story of unrepentant politicians.

It has become apparent that electronic solutions to electoral fraud in the country are only a part of the solution required they should be complemented by legal and psychological solutions that will extirpate political chicaneries from the hearts of our politicians.

Perhaps, the late President Yar’Adua’s approach to the problem needs studying. First, he admitted that all politicians rig elections and second, he took genuine steps to reform the nation’s electoral system by setting up the Justice Muhammed Uwais Committe.

The President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, should be challenged by certain observable unwholesomeness in the 2015 general elections to do something in the mold of the late President Yar’Adua.

One unmistakable fact of our democratic history is that only the exertion of a strong political will by the President will make a success of the nation’s drive for clean elections. This must be part of the change to be expected.

Sport Extra

w

Transfer: Man United weighs up move for Benteke

R

eports yesterday claimed Manchester United is preparing a move for in-form Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke.

The Belgian, who recent-

ly returned to super form after a long time out due to an injury that forced him out of his country’s squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, is believed to have impressed United Manager Louis van

Gaal in Villa’s recent clash with the Red Devils and could be set for a summer move to Old Trafford.

Benteke, 24, moved to Villa from Genk in 2012, but United is set to present

a £25million bid to tempt him away from Villa Park as the new approaches.

The reports said United is keen to bolster its attacking options after the duo of Radamel Falcao and Robin

van Persie have managed only 14 Premier League goals between them this season, even as Van Persie is speculated to be on his way to Turkish side Fenerbahce next season.

Benteke

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