Oct 24 2016

Judgegate: Ploy by EFCC to shield some senior lawyers uncovered

Wale Igbintade, Abiodun Nejo and Emmanuel Ezeh

Mahmoud

Vol. 6 N0. 1467

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ndication emerged at the weekend that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,

EFCC, may have concluded plans to shield some prominent legal practitioners that transferred huge sums of money to judges’ bank accounts.

An impeccable source told National Mirror that the Commission discov-

Monday, October 24, 2016

Ondo guber

ered the huge transfer, following recent interrogation of two Federal High Court judges, Justice Agbadu James Fishim and Uwani Abba Aji. According to the source, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Adeosun

36 states take N143.6bn from federation P.4 account in September

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Why INEC is reluctant to obey court order –Jimoh Ibrahim ...writes President Buhari over $1m bribe demand •Ondo PDP wants EFCC, DSS to probe electoral umpire

George Okpara and Ojo Oyewamide

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Ondo State PDP gubernatorial candidate, Barr Jimoh Ibrahim, CFR, addressing media during a world press conference announcing the flag off of his campaign in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial candidate in Ondo State, Barr. Jimoh Ibrahim has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of refusing to obey a court order mandating the electoral body to recognise him as a candidate because he failed to give a $1m bribe.

Already, the gubernatorial hopeful has forwarded a five-page petition to President Muhammadu Buhari, urging him to direct the Department of State Services, DSS, to investigate the issue.

Barr. Ibrahim disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

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Ondo guber: Why INEC is reluctant to obey court order –Jimoh Ibrahim CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

yesterday.

He said a copy of the judgement, in which Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja division ordered that; “INEC, the 1st Respondent/Alleged contemptor shall accept the process for the purpose of its functions and activities in organization and conduct of Ondo State Governorship election only the nomination of Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim who emerged from the primary election conducted by the 1st and 2nd judgement Creditors/Applicants on 29th August, 2016 as the candidate of PDP in the said Ondo State Governorship election slated for November, 2016,” was served on INEC. According to Barr. Jimoh, a copy of the enrollment order on the post judgement application was served on INEC at 9:17 a.m. on 17th October, 2016 and received by one Hassan Adamu.

Barr. Jimoh, who specifically accused one Mrs. O. O. Babalola, the Acting Head, Legal of INEC of frustrating the execution of the court judgement because he refused to do her bidding of paying $1m as bribe, said the INEC top shot made the demand in her office.

Recounting his encounter with Mrs. Babalola, the PDP standard bearer said he went to her office to lodge a complaint that an officer, mandated to be receiving mails in the chairman’s office disappeared and kept him waiting for hours.

According to him, he was shocked to find the same officer in Mrs. Babalola’s office, adding that while he was asking the officer why he disappeared and abandoned him in his office, the acting head, legal pointedly told him there was a mistake in the judgement.

He said: “Mrs. Babalola said there was a mistake in the judgement! I was shocked. I asked which judgement? How did you know the paper I wanted to submit and more importantly that the one we submitted previously did not contain the said judgement?

“She said I should bring $1m or another order of court before she can do her job. I asked which job?

She insisted that she will not obey that court order and if I don’t pay, she will not do it unless we bring another court order. Like a joke, she published another person’s name from Mimiko.”

Barr. Ibrahim said the electoral body changed its position when he served the body another court judgement by saying it was “studying the judgement”, and that he and the impostor to the PDP ticket should go and meet and reconcile.

“After the service, the music changed. INEC should not allow one governor to destroy its reputation. We have a judgement which is specific,” he said, stressing that the Commission’s foot-dragging tactics and meddlesomeness smacks suspicion and subtle intention to subvert justice.

The gubernatorial candidate said the case that was decided had nothing to do with both Senators Ali Modu Sherriff and Ahmed Makarfi, adding that the case was initiated before the aborted first national convention of PDP in Port Harcourt.

He explained that the attempts by the embattled nominee of Governor Mimiko to appeal the judgement was going to end up in disaster, stressing that they are not party to the case and signifying their intention to appeal does not amount to stay of execution of the judgement.

“There are processes they need to take,” he stressed adding that he would go to any length that is legally permissible to execute and enforce the court judgement.

Barr. Ibrahim also hinted that his campaign train would hit Ondo state roads this weekend.

He said the campaign organisation had started work at the ward, local government, state and senatorial levels.

Meanwhile, Ondo State chapter of the PDP, yesterday asked Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, as well as the DSS, to beam their searchlights on INEC, with a

view to fishing out corrupt officials of the commission.

The party said in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Yemi Akintomide, that it had become imperative for both the security and antigraft agencies to move against some officials who were giving the commission a bad name.

Akintomide said “the dirty deals” of top officials of INEC were exposed by its governorship candidate Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, in a newspaper interview published on Sunday.

In the interview, Ibra-

him reportedly accused the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Segun Agbaje and a senior legal officer in the Abuja office of the commission of shady deals.

He said: “We are urging both the EFCC and DSS to take into cognisance the issues raised by Jimoh Ibrahim about the corrupt attitude and unholy behaviour of INEC officials involved in the submission of his governorship nomination form.

“In his narration of events of submission of his nomination form, Mr. Ibrahim alleged that a

female official of INEC in Abuja demanded $1m from him before she could accept the document.

“The other issue raised by our candidate that needs security scrutinising and investigation is that Ondo State REC, Agbaje, requested to hold a private meeting with him in faraway London in the United Kingdom.

“This is not right. Mr. Agbaje should be invited by security operatives to explain this action. “As a political party that is participating in the November 26, 2016 governorship election in Ondo State, we

insist INEC must remain an unbiased umpire and it can only remain so if the likes of Agbaje and the legal officer are purged out of the system.

“INEC should go ahead and publish our candidate’s name as directed by a court of law. This is a court order. INEC has no right to say otherwise if there is nothing wrong within its system.

“That is why we are calling the security agents to secure our electoral institution and its values and purge all the bad elements out of our electoral system.”

L-R: Cross River State Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu; Governor Ben Ayade; Secretary to State Government, Barr. Tina Bankor Agbor and Chief of Staff to the governor, Hon. Martins Orim, at the flag-off of the carnival Calabar Dry Run in Calabar, yesterday.

Judgegate: Ploy by EFCC to shield some senior lawyers uncovered CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the EFCC chairman was shocked that prominent senior lawyers, who have affable relationship with the Commission, are involved in corruption in the judiciary.

The source stated that the leadership of EFCC is in dilemma on how to handle the situation and may have decided to cover-up the activities of the senior lawyers to preserve existing relationship.

It would be recalled that EFCC last week drill Justices Fishim and Aji, at its headquarters to answer questions over alleged corruption.

With the interrogation of the two, the number of judges quizzed by EFCC has risen to five out of the

eight judges on its radar.

The EFCC source said: “We have discovered that corruption in the judiciary is widespread. Some Senior Advocates of Nigeria who have assisted the Commission in handling some of our cases in the past are involved.

“Some of these lawyers had assisted us with useful legal opinions on several matters. So, we are in a dilemma.”

The source stated that the Commission has concluded arrangement to force another Federal High Court judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, to appear before it after she failed to honour several invitations extended to her.

“If any judge refuses to

honour our summons, the EFCC will have no choice than to employ legal process to make him or her respect the law of the land. “We have accorded all the judges who came to the EFCC a lot of respect in line with international best practices,” the source added.

Fishim and Aji responded to invitation by the EFCC as they presented themselves before operatives at the Lagos zonal office, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi accompanied by their lawyers.

In a related development, former Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, President, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, has described as dangerous, call for the suspension of the

judges accused of corruption.

Olanipekun said that in as much as the call showed clearly that NBA was not supportive of any corruption in the judiciary and that whoever is corrupt on the bench should be dealt with, he believed things should be done properly.

The senior advocate who spoke at his Ikere Ekiti home town at the weekend shortly after he was installed as the Asiwaju of Ikere Ekiti by the Ogoga of Ikere Kingdom, Oba Adejimi Adu, said such suspension on mere allegation could lead to the total collapse of the judicial arm.

Olanipekun said though he was in support CONTINUED ON PAGE 4>>

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Monday, October 24, 2016

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National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

36 states take N143.6bn from federation account in September

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he 36 states got N143.6bn from the federation account in September as their share of distributable revenue generated for the month.

The breakdown shows in a report obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, from a source at the office of the AccountantGeneral of the Federation in Abuja yesterday.

The funds are usually shared the following month; for example, revenue generated in January is shared in February; thus, the revenue shared was actually generated in August and shared in September 2016.

The key agencies that remit funds into the federation account are the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, and Nigerian Custom Service, NCS. At the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, meeting in September, federal, states and local governments shared N516bn as against the N530bn that was shared in August.

The report showed that the amount distributed included Gross Statutory rev-

enue, Value Added Tax, exchange gain, N35bn excess Petroleum Profit Tax and 13 per cent derivation to oil producing states.

The oil producing states are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers.

The report showed that before distribution, state liabilities were deducted.

The liabilities include an external debt of N2.9bn, contractual obligations of N10.48bn and other deductions amounting to N16.9bn.

The report showed that other deductions covered national water rehabilitation projects, national agricultural technology support, payment for fertilizer, state water supply project, state agriculture project and National Fadama project.

To sum it up, here is what the 36 states got after all deductions were made.

Abia N3.01bn, Adamawa N3.14bn, Cross River N2.04bn, Ekiti N2.16bn, Edo N2.54bn, Kaduna N4.23bn, Kano N5.2bn, Lagos N7.92bn, Rivers N9.05bn, and Zamfara, N2.58bn.

Also, Delta got N7.39bn, Anambra N3.43bn, Benue N3.37bn, Borno N3.9bn,

Ebonyi N2.99bn, Enugu N3.34bn, Gombe N2.61bn, Nassarawa N2.92bn, Imo N2.97bn and Kogi N3.39bn.

Yobe got N3.29bn, TarabaN2.89bn, Sokoto N3.62bn, Plateau N2.31bn, Oyo N3.53bn, Osun N868.9m, Ondo N4.18bn, Ogun N2.16bn, Niger N3.49bn and Kebbi N3.36bn.

The rest are, Katsina

N4bn, Bayelsa N7.6bn, Bauchi N3.52bn, Jigawa N3.82bn and Kwara N2.77bn.

The report also showed that the Federal Capital Territory got N4.7bn from the Federal Government’s share of the distributable revenue.

The FAAC committee is made up of Commission-

ers of Finance and Accountants-General from the 36 states of the federation; Accountant General of the Federation, and representatives from NNPC. Others are representatives from the FIRS; NCS; Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, as well as the Central Bank of Nigeria.

L-R: Director-General, National Gallery of Arts, Abdullahi Muku; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Iyasere of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe and others at the Arts Exhibition organised by the National Gallery of Arts in commemoration of the coronation of Oba of Benin, Prince Ehenede Erediauwa at the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre in Benin, at the weekend.

PHOTO: NAN

Ploy by EFCC to shield some senior lawyers uncovered CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

of the NBA’s President, Mr. Mahmoud Abubakar, in his view that the bench should be rid of corruption, the integrity of the judiciary would be greatly demeaned and undermined if such advice was implemented.

He said NBA should not oversimplify the issue.

He said: “If you say a judge has been accused of corruption and should step aside from the bench, that is very dangerous to the judiciary.

“There are so many things to think of here what if the judges are not found guilty eventually and they are given a clean bill, it means we have prejudged them.

“I want to say with respect to the NBA president that I disagree with this stand and this is my humble opinion.

“I support that corruption must not be allowed in the judiciary, because that arm is very crucial to our survival as a na-

tion. But, I disagree with the NBA on this issue that judges alleged of corruption should stop handling cases.

“This quickly suggests that politicians and petition writers will use the opportunity to continue to level allegations against judges and a time will come that there won’t be any judge on the bench to handle cases.

“Even if that will be the case, it has to cut across board. Let any President, governor or political office holder accused of corruption also be asked to resign for fairness, equity and justice.

“Some are saying that these judges should be dealt with like every other common Nigerian, the fact remains that they are not ordinary Nigerians.

“President Muhamadu Buhari heads the executive, Bukola Saraki leads the Senate, Yakubu Dogara leads the House of Representatives and likewise governors of the states, these are not ordinary

The federation account is currently being managed on a legal framework that allows funds to be shared to the three tiers of government under three major components.

These components are the statutory allocation, Value Added Tax distribution and allocation made under the derivation principle.

Nigerians just like these judges, they lead the judiciary.

“Even if the judges are ordinary Nigerians, they must enjoy rights to dignity and self respect as enshrined in the constitution. I believe things should be done properly,” Olanipekun said.

Meanwhile, All Progressives Congress, APC, Enugu State Chapter, yesterday told the two embattled Supreme Court judges, John Inyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta to leave Rotimi Amaechi and Ogbonnaya Onu out of their current ordeal.

It would be recalled that the two judges, who are facing corruption allegations alongside others judges, had in their separate letters to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, alleged that Onu, minister of science and technology and Amaechi, transport minister, approached them to pervert justices in some election appeal cases.

Speaking on the mat-

ter, Publicity Secretary of APC in the state, Mrs Kate Ofor said: “I am outraged that instead of defending themselves, the Honourable Justices John Okoro and Slyvester Ngwuta are looking for people to drag along with them, hence the resort to afterthought.

“They should forthwith leave Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and Rotimi Amaechi alone.”

On the claim by the judges that they informed the CJN over the alleged attempt to influence their judgement, Mrs. Ofor said: “The Honourable Justices going by the powers conferred on them by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, are aware that they have the power to call on the police or even their orderly to arrest anybody who is attempting to pervert the course of justice.

“It is not enough to whisper to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, who luckily has not owned up to such frivolous allegation.

“It is painful that cor-

ruption has penetrated the temple of justice, where justice is for sale, to the extent that humongous amount in different currencies were found in the houses of the justices like Bureau De Change dealers.

“This is why President Buhari lamented that if Nigerians did not kill corruption, corruption would kill Nigerians.”

Mrs. Ofor praised the NBA over its call for the suspension of the justices “I am happy that the NBA has woken up; the National Judicial Council, NJC, and indeed the Chief of Justice of Nigeria should be more patriotic to joining this strident war against corruption.

“If Nigerians do not join the fight and show enough commitment, then we are in soup. The Constitution never envisaged this level of unbridled corruption penetrating the temple of justice.

“In the past, there were instances where the NJC used kid gloves adminis-

tratively in dealing with malcontent judges. The result is what we have at hand today.

“As His Lordship, The Honourable Justice Samson O. Uwaifo (rtd) proclaimed, ‘a corrupt judge is more harmful to the society than a man who runs amok with a dagger in his hand in a crowded street.

He can be restrained physically of course, but a corrupt judge deliberately destroys the moral foundation of the society.’

“In the past, we have had forthright judges like late Justice Anthony Aniagolu, who voluntarily declined the position of Chief Justice of Nigeria after a military coup because he was 3rd in the hierarchy. He also declined a tribunal case because his legal son, Tony Mogboh, SAN, was the lawyer to the defendant.

“Finally, let trial commence as all we need is enough evidence, not name calling. Therefore, leave Onu and Amaechi alone,” Ofor further stat-

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ANED wants senate reconsider bonds for electricity companies

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ssociation of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, ANED, Sunday appealed to the National Assembly to reconsider stoppage of bond for electricity companies to avoid collapse of the power sector.

Executive Director, Re-

search and Advocacy of ANED, Mr Sunday Oduntan, made the appeal in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN. Oduntan said the sector had a huge liquidity gap, which was being bridged

by Federal Government’s

Troops arrest 21 suspected terrorists

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roops have arrested 21 suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State, according to a statement by Army Spokesman, Col. Sani Usman.

Usman stated that the suspects were arrested in connection with alleged aiding and abetting of cattle rustling.

He noted that troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, in conjunction with other security agencies arrested the suspects as part of measures to stop cattle rustling.

He added that the crime served as another means of funding Boko Haram terrorists’ activities.

“Such actions by these unpatriotic elements are

likely to jeopardise our collective efforts of clearing the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in our country.

“Although investigations are ongoing, it is important to state that this is a warning to all those collaborators that aid and abet terrorism in the North East generally and Borno State in particular, to desist forthwith.

“The Nigerian Army and indeed Operation Lafiya Dole will not tolerate such acts of sabotage from anybody,” he said.

Usman advised the public to report any known or suspected illegality with regards to Operation Lafiya Dole to security agencies.

Christian Pilgrim Commission moves to prevent absconding during pilgrimage

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igerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, said it has put in place measures to prevent absconding during Christian pilgrimage.

Executive Secretary, NCPC, Rev. Tor Uja, made this known at the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, forum in Abuja.

He described pilgrims’ defection after the spiritual exercise as “a sore point” for the country.

According to him, in future, only people duly employed and married will perform the Christian pilgrimage so as to check absconding.

“Absconding is a sore point in pilgrimage because even those foreign nations, they want to lure Nigerian youths to stay in their countries. Because Nigerians are energetic, they are brilliant and they are dependable.

“So, many of these foreign nations want to lure them.

So, the structures we have

put in place include what I have said before, screening.

“We want to limit those who don’t have any proper engagement or family commitment even though they may be sincere,” he said.

He said that pilgrims would not be easily lured when they have responsibilities back home in Nigeria.

Uja said the engagement of security operatives to monitor the pilgrims is another measure taken by the commission to stall pilgrims’ defection.

He said the commission would also continue to give pilgrims orientations to discourage them from absconding after the exercise.

The executive secretary pointed out that being a faceless person in a foreign country is worse than remaining a poor Nigerian at home.

Uja advised defectors to return to Nigeria in order to contribute their quota to national urged churches to take ownership of the Christian pilgrimage.

intervention in form of bond, adding that electricity consumers no longer show willingness to pay bills.

“Government’s ministries, departments and agencies owe the sector over N100bn electricity bills,” he said.

The executive director said that bond was a form of promissory notes given to power sector in form of

loan to cover some shortfalls in the industry.

He said that electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, had no chance of obtaining bank loans because banks believed that it would be difficult to recover loans given to them.

“We are appealing to the senate to revisit its stand on stoppage of bond for electricity companies.

“At present, electricity

companies need bond to balance the liquidity gap in the sector.

“Government is assisting the sector through this medium.

“With stoppage of this intervention, DISCOs will find it difficult to buy new transformers and meters, while Generation Companies, GENCOs, will not have resources to service their plants.

“The stoppage of this bond will contribute to collapse of the power sector,” he said.

It would be recalled that the Senate, on October 12, passed a resolution stopping the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing from using the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company, NBET, to give electricity companies a N309bn bond.

L-R: Benue State Deputy Governor, Benson Abounu; Acting Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BOI), Mr. Waheed Olagunju and Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, during a courtesy call on the Governor by the management of Bank of Industry, at Government House, Makurdi, Benue State, at the weekend.

We must change our ways of doing things, JAMB registrar Regina Otokpa ABUJA

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egistrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, has said a systematic change was needed to ensure actualisation of Mr. President’s change agenda concerning education.

Expressing concern over most of the policies which he said were geared towards accommodating the interest of the elite and leaving the downtrodden to suffer unjustly, he assured that the present and future reforms by the Board was geared towards the interest of every Nigerian child, irrespective of social class or economic power.

As a result, the Board has cancelled the use of scratch cards which were hitherto sold only by banks in the cities.

In its place is pin vending, which could be obtained by candidates anywhere using their phones, web payment, online quick

teller; ATM payment, quick teller mobile application and bank branches.

According to a statement

by JAMB’s Head of Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, in Abuja, Sunday, this was a way to make JAMB’s services easily accessible, discourage fraudulent acts associated with the cards system and to conform to global best practice.

Oloyede further noted that having critically looked at the process of regularising candidates and found a lot of lapses, the Board has designed a template to be completed on-line by candidates and endorsed by Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts or Registrars of candidates institutions, to be submitted to the Board’s Offices nearer to the institution for the Registrar’s approval subject to available evidence.

The statement, however, added that the Registrar may deny approval if sufficient and convincing reasons were not given.

It further reads: “The public is to note that all admissions are done by the academic board of tertiary institutions and submitted to the Board who ensures that the admissions meet set requirements by proprietors of these institutions and government criteria.

“As such there is no basis for regularisation. The Board only designs this process to clear any backlog as it doesn’t intend to continue with regularisation exercise again.”

The Registrar, while calling for a national debate on the propriety of cut off marks, maintained that institutions should be allowed to determine the kind of candidates they want.

He argued that the uniformity of cut of marks doesn’t make any sense when colleges and Polytechnics admit for NCE and Diplomas, Universities admit for Degrees and yet they are subjected to the same cut off marks thereby starving this tier of institu-

tions from admitting candidates who if not engaged, may likely become easy prey to social vices Oloyede also expressed worry over the class opportunities as it affects the distribution of admission resources saying, the rich have multiple opportunities, which include going abroad for studies while the poor only have the opportunity of struggling for the scarce spaces in the country.

“The rich children write JAMB and if they do not get the required cut-off marks, they are taken out of the country for studies abroad.

“They come back and they are integrated while the poor can’t afford it and are forever denied the opportunity of education. Let institutions admit what they want according to their needs.

“This means that if a university wants 250 as minimum cut off marks why not and if another want less so be it.

Photo

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Monday, October 24, 2016

NEWS

Chairman, organizing committee, Mr Gabriel Toby (L) and Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Mrs. Ipalibo HarryBanigo, at the 11th West African Project Fair organised by Rotary International Port Harcourt, yesterday.

PHOTO: Chidi Ohalete/NAN

L-R: Curator, International Project LagosPhoto, Maria Pai Bernardoni; Head, Events and Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria, Modupe Thani; Brand Director, LagosPhoto, Wunka Mukan and Brand Ambassador, Absolut, Lola Marcus at the press conference announcing the commencement of 2016 edition of Etisalat-sponsored LagosPhoto Festival in Lagos, at the weekend.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Barr. Rita Maduagwu; wife of Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano; President, Anambra State Women Association of Lagos (ASWAL), Dr. Mrs. Nkeiru Ifekwem and Chairman House Committee of Women Affairs, Hon. Nikky Ugochukwu, at the Silver Jubile Lectures and Awards ceremony of ASWAL in Lagos, at the weekend.

L-R: Group Executive, Consumer Banking, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), Mr. Patrick Akinwuntan; Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Charles Kie, and Group Chief Executive Officer, ETI, Mr. Ade Ayeyemi, during the launch of Ecobank Mobile APP in Lagos at the weekend.

National News

No cover up in N2.7m bribe case –Police

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igeria Police yesterday say there will be no cover-up in the case of the Assistant Commissioner of Police arrested with N2.7m bribe money.

Head, Compliant Response Unit (CRU), Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Abayomi Shogunle, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said the police had taken all necessary actions provided in the Police Act and Regulations in respect of the case.

He added: “I don’t see anybody covering up this particular case because the necessary actions needed to be taken, the normal disciplinary procedure as provided under the Police Act and Regulations are being followed.”

Shogunle said the officer in question had already been issued a query and a criminal investigation had been conducted by the X-squad.

The officer had since responded to the query and had faced the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC), he said.

Shogunle added that FDC had made its recommendations to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), which had been forwarded to the Police Service Commission (PSC) for ratification.

“The processes needed have been done and all we are just waiting for is the recommendations of the PSC,” he said.

He said after the commission informs the IGP on the matter, the CRU would in

turn inform the public.

Shogunle said the IGP had directed the unit to ensure that it discharged its responsibilities without impunity in line with its motto.

“One of the things the IGP has tasked the CRU, which is no to impunity, is that the unit should ensure that it upholds that motto,” he added.

It would be recalled that information about the recovery of the N2.7m bribe money from the officer in question was made known in the third quarter report of the CRU, signed by Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police

Abayomi Shogunle, Head of CRU in Abuja.

The report said the recovery followed a complaint made to the CRU through a telephone call.

On alleged preferential treatment for senior officers, Shogunle said the unit had taken up all cases against all police officers irrespective of their ranks.

“Probably, we get more complaints against the junior ranks because they interact more with members of the public.

“They are the ones that are always out on the streets. So it

is possible you will get more complaints against them than the senior officers.”

Shogunle assured that all complaints irrespective of the ranks of the persons would be treated based on merit, adding that the rule of law would always prevail.

The CRU head said the inclusion of the X-squad unit of the police was yielding result.

“One of the breakthroughs we have had as contained in the CRU third quarter report was actually done by the x-squad.

“This is the kind of things the public should expect with

the inclusion of the squad by the IG in the fight against corruption,” he said.

He said there is cordial working relationship between the Nigeria Police through the CRU and human rights groups in the country.

“As a matter of fact, we have a committee made up of these organisations to review policing operations nationwide.

“We hear from them issues of policing and also give them feedback on their cases that were handled by the CRU,” he said.

....probe death of innocent person while responding to distress call

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ayelsa Police Command on Sunday said that it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of an innocent person shot in error by police while responding to distress call.

Mr Asinim Butswat, Deputy Superintendent of Po-

lice and Police Spokesman told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa that one of the three people shot in error on Saturday died in hospital.

Asinim, who said that investigation into the incident had commenced, stressed

that the policeman who fired the shot was immediately identified and taken into custody.

“On October 22, around 1730 hours, policemen from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad responded to a distress call of cult attack at

Ekeki village, Yenagoa.

“The policemen were ambushed by the cultists.

“Consequently, a police sergeant fired a bullet, it ricocheted and injured three persons who were unfortunately not among the cultists.

“The victims were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa for treatment and one of them later died.

“The sergeant who fired the shot has been detained.

Investigation is ongoing,” Buswat said.

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Monday, October 24, 2016

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FG urged to declare emergency rule on navigational systems Olusegun Koiki

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ir Traffic Controllers, ATC, have called on the Federal Government, as a matter of urgency, to declare state of emergency on all the navigational equipment at the nation’s air-

ports and sites.

The body lamented that there are various poor communications between controller/pilot and controller/controller at the two area control centres in Kano and Lagos.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, NATCA, also called on the government to rebuild

the burnt Kaduna and Maiduguri airports control towers, gutted by fire in 2014.

President of NATCA, Mr. Victor Eyaru, at the 45th Annual Air Traffic Controllers General Meeting, AGM, held in Jos over the weekend, said it was necessary to declare state of emergency in the sector to resolve the agelong problem.

Eyaru said the poor communication had remained a nightmare to both pilots and ATC, noting that its resolution would save the country from any form of embarrassment that may result from the current epileptic system.

Eyaru said the nation was passing through recession, but said certain critical infrastructural

development that would aid the rendering compact services must not be treated with levity.

On the burnt Kaduna and Maiduguri control towers since 2014, Eyaru said this would go a long way in improving the poor communications between pilots and controllers on that axis.

Besides, NATCA declared that the Abuja

Airport runway has become a national embarrassment, stressing that it deserved urgent and sincere attention from the government.

Specifically, Eyaru said the ongoing construction of a new terminal at the airport by a Chinese company was not well sited, maintaining that it would affect controllers on completion.

Lagos APC tackles Oyegun on Ondo primary

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ll Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos State chapter, has faulted the handling of the fallout of the Ondo State governorship primary by the party’s National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun.

The party’s spokesman, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, in a statement Sunday said the party chief erred by sidetracking the views of other members of the National Working Committee (NWC), who reviewed the report of the appeal panel raised to review the controversial primary.

The spokesman alleged that Odigie-Oyegun was economical with the truth in his ‘belated’ explanations on why the leadership stuck to the choice of Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu as the party’s flag bearer in the November 26 governorship

poll in the Sun Shine State.

According to him, contrary to what is expected of party leader, the party chairman manipulated the nomination process to favour the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) chairman, who he described as OdigieOyegun’s preferred man for the job.

His words: “OdigieOyegun approved the use of the tampered delegates list.

Odigie-Oyegun unilaterally submitted the name of Akeredolu as the party’s candidate, although according to his admission, no vote was held.”

Igbokwe said the chairman’s explanations to justify his actions on the Ondo primary election, the appeal panel report and the NWC decision, were not only belated but full of contradictions.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (R), and the General Overseer, The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Church, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, before the Church’s Abuja crusade at National Stadium on Saturday.

PHOTO: SUMAILA IBRAHIM/NAN

‘Reps will strengthen anti-corruption laws’

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ouse of Representatives will strengthen the nation’s anticorruption laws to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade, says Abdulrazak Namdas, chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs.

The legislator made the pledge on Sunday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

He said that comprehensive review of existing anti-corruption legislations was being undertaken by the parliament to give the President the legal muscle in the war against corruption.

The lawmaker said: “The House supports the anti-corruption stance of the President.

CHANGE OF NAME

MARVELLOUS: Formerly known and addressed as MARVELLOUS FAVOUR. ONUOHA. now wish to be known and addressed as MARVELLOUS. FAVOUR. ONYEBUCHI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note CHANGE OF NAME

MUSILIU: Formerly known and addressed as MUSILIU AKANBI MUHAMMED now wish to be known and addressed as BASHIRU MUSILIU AKANBI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note

“The House of Representatives has agenda to support the anticorruption programme of the federal government.

“We have consulted on ways to strengthen our laws in that regard.

“Nigerians should also encourage the President. If not for corruption, Nigeria would have made more progress.

“In Nigeria, there are individuals that are richer than the state.

“Where did they get their money? We do not know them as businessmen; this is likely to affect us.

Government must continue to demonstrate its resolve on this.

“The president’s anticorruption war is no longer selective because the executive, the legislature CHANGE OF NAME

ESTHER: Formerly known and addressed as MISS ESTHER OLUJUWON EKOGBULU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ESTHER OLUJUWON OSHUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note CHANGE OF NAME

AFOLABI: Formerly known and addressed as, AFOLABI FOLASADE JOKE now wish to be known and addressed as ADENIYI FOLASADE JOKE All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

and the judiciary are now being accused.

“It is a vicious circle; it has gone round.”

Namdas urged the media to hold politicians accountable for their promises and actions.

“When you are elected

as a politician and you do not do the things you promised, Nigerians do not hold you accountable the way they hold leaders of the western world.

“But then this a nascent democracy; we are growing and hopefully we will get to

that level,” he added.

The chairman said the ongoing US Presidential campaign had shown how the press should hold politicians accountable for their actions.

He however lauded the vibrancy of the Nigerian

press which ensured that democracy was restored to the country.

He urged Nigerian journalists to intensify their efforts in investigative journalism to make them effective agents of progress in the polity.

Shun criminals, police boss tells Nigerians Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

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sun State Police Commissioner, Fimihan Adeoye, has called on Nigerians to return to those cultural values that ostracise criminals as part of means to rid the society of crimes.

Briefing newsmen who visited his office CHANGE OF NAME

YUSUF: Formerly known and addressed as MR YUSUF GANIYU. now wish to be known and addressed as MR ABERE YUSUF ADEBAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note CHANGE OF NAME

JEMIMAH: Formerly known and addressed as JEMIMAH OLUCHI AGHACHI now wish to be known and addressed as JEMIMAH OLUCHI EWURUM. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

on familiarisation visit at the weekend, Adeoye said the Osun command is already embarking on advocacy and community engagement that will rely mainly on the dictates of culture to fight crime.

He said emphasis is being placed on prevention of crime rather than seeking arrest after crimes have been committed and called on Nigerians to CHANGE OF NAME

OPKE: Formerly known and addressed as OPKE DESTINY now wish to be known and addressed as OPKE-NATHANIEL JOSHUA DESTINY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

JEMIMAH: Formerly known and addressed as JEMIMAH OLUCHI AGHACHI now wish to be known and addressed as JEMIMAH OLUCHI EWURUM . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

return to those cultural values that elevate virtues, celebrate hard work and dissociate from vices.

“People worship money today. They don’t want to know where it comes from even in places of worship. We must return to our cultural values as Nigerians. In those days, no one would want to marry a family with criminal record, no matter how rich.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as IJIMOROTI SAMSON, now wish to be known and addressed as JIMOROTI SAMSON ALABA. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as SULEIMAN ABUBAKAR AHMED, now wish to be known and addressed as SULEIMAN ABUBAKAR MAYAKI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

“We should all roll back the years and dissociate from money source of which is unclear. Good name should be the main thing, not display of blood money,” he added.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ADEWALE ADENIKE REGINA, now wish to be known and addressed as OLUWOLE ADENIKE REGINA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as NWAIWU ONYEMA J, now wish to be known and addressed as NWAIWU ONYEMA JEREMIAH. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OSHOFU: Formerly known and addressed as OSHOFU ESTELLA MISAN now wish to be known and addressed as ESTELLA ORITSHEGBUBEMI OSHOFU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Editorial

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Monday, October 24, 2016

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All the Facts, All the Sides A PUBLICATION OF GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LTD BARRISTER JIMOH IBRAHIM, CFR n PUBLISHER SUNDAY OLAJIDE – MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO •AG. EDITOR, DAILY BEN MEMULETIWON

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•AG. HEAD, ACCOUNTS OKOCHA MADUEKWE

Nigeria and restructuring tangle

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he lingering controversy on whether or not Nigeria should be restructured has refused to exit the front burner since it was stoked in the second quarter of this year. It really started when President Muhammadu Buhari indicated that the report of the 2014 National Conference convened by his predecessor, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s government, was fit for the archives. “I advised against the issue of National Conference…I never liked the priority of that government on that particular issue, because it meant that what the National Assembly could have handled was handed to the Conference…, the President stated.

Buhari, thereafter, also declared that “the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable”, in reference to the massive destruction of oil and gas infrastructure and pipelines by militants in the Niger Delta region. Again, comments credited to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir David Lawal, that the 2014 national confab was mere ‘job for the boys’, ignited widespread public wrath and contentions, particularly in the circle of delegates to the said conference and other eminent Nigerians, too numerous to list and across geopolitical divides, that either felt restructuring is the right way for the country to go or the contrary.

Central to the ‘National Question’ would, among others, however, include Nigeria’s federalist

hypocrisy that confers monstrous powers on the Federal Government and concedes scant powers and autonomy to the federating units (states) in organising governance and mobilising/utilising their own resources; power sharing arrangement among federating constituents is also vague, marginalisation and fears of oppression by minority and even some majority tribes are largely unaddressed, while acceptable revenue sharing formula between the three tiers of government (federal, state and local), as well as resource control and peculiar problems of oil bearing communities, and so forth, have remained nagging issues for many decades now.

Of a truth, the Buhari government is grappling with daunting national challenges, like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, one of the pro-restructuring apostles, has rightly pointed out. They include rebuilding the nation’s battered economy; creating jobs to contain widespread unemployment, poverty, frustration and desperation feeding the crime pool; fighting corruption; and securing the country and its citizens from terrorism amid other life-threatening crimes. Many, like Atiku, strongly believe the aforementioned problems may be expressly or remotely related to the flawed federation the country has been engineering, particularly after the first and second military coups of January 15 and July 28, 1966, respectively; and that restructur-

If we take the controversy dogging revenue allocation as an example, the report of the 1987

Political Bureau will be instructive

ing will help address some of the country’s prevailing economic and security challenges.

If we take the controversy dogging revenue allocation as an example, the report of the 1987 Nigerian Political Bureau (NPB) will be instructive. Recall that the NPB was established in 1986 by former military leader, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

The said bureau was acclaimed as one of the broadest political consultation exercises ever conducted in Nigerian history. Its charge included investigating the problems of failed Nigerian political and democratic institutions, collating the socio-political views of Nigerians and submitting remedies to curtail the perceived shortcomings of the political and economic process.

The verdict of the bureau on revenue allocation in the country is as follows: “Revenue allocation… from the Federation Account among the different levels of government has been one of the most contentious and controversial issues in the nation’s political life. So contentious has

ON THIS DAY October 24, 1945 The United Nations Organisation (UN) was founded.

The UN (French: Organisation des Nations Unies, ONU) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated aims include promoting and facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, political freedoms, democracy and the achievement of lasting world peace.

Letters tothe theEditor Editor Letters to

October 24, 1964 Northern Rhodesia gained independence from the United Kingdom and became the Republic of Zambia. But the country remained a colony until the following year. Zambia is a landlocked country in southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west.

the matter been that none of the formulae evolved at various times by a commission or by decree under different regimes since 1964 has gained general acceptability among the component units of the country. Indeed, the issue, like a recurring decimal, has painfully remained the first problem that nearly every incoming regime has had to grapple with since independence. In the process, as many as thirteen different attempts have been made in devising an acceptable revenue allocation formula, each of which is more remembered for the controversies it generated than issues settled”.

This being so, how can the matter be resolved without peaceful dialogue and restructuring in a democracy; especially considering the fact that before the Sir Jeremy Raisman and Professor Ronald Tress’ committee that reviewed the federal fiscal structure in pre-independence Nigeria in 1958, the then regions retained 100% of mining rents and royalties; while under the Independence and Republican Constitutions of 1960 and 1963, respectively, such revenues were shared through the Distributive Pool Account (DPA), with the regions of origin getting 50 percent, the FG 20 percent, and all the other regions 30 percent.

The Nigerian government should not shy away from these realities.

It should, instead, explore best options from experienced democracies with similar challenges to navigate the storm.

x October 24, 2008 ‘Bloody Friday’ saw many of the world’s stock exchanges experience the worst declines in their history, with drops of around 10 percent in most indices. A stock exchange is a form of exchange which provides services for stock brokers and traders to trade stocks, bonds, and other securities. Stock exchanges also provide facilities for issue and redemption of securities and other financial instruments, etc.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Monday, October 24, 2016

Catholic bishop wants 2014 Confab report revisited Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

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atholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Felix Ajakaye, has reiterated the need for the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to consider the recommendations of the 2014 confab to move Nigeria forward.

Ajakaye, who advised the Federal Government against discarding the recommendations, said: “We need to re-visit it.

Implementation of the report of the confab will make our country, Nigeria a better place.”

The cleric spoke in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, at the weekend during the public presentation of his book, ‘Beyond Ideas,’ saying “the book is for positive and concrete actions, for a new dawn for Nigeria and Nigerians in all our dealings with one another.”

He charged Nigerians to face meaningful actions

rather than chasing shadow, saying the citizenry should through their actions ensure the country does not fail.

While noting that indiscipline and its fruit, corruption, should be fought to a standstill in the country, the Catholic bishop urged leaders to avoid media persecution in the anti-corruption fight, saying such would lead the nation to nowhere.

University of Abuja lecturer, Prof. Isaac Obasi, who reviewed the book, said it is a gentle protest and criticism of the prevailing governance crisis in Nigeria. He recommended it to all Nigerians regardless of age, gender, educational qualification, ethnicity, religion, location and political party affiliation.

According to him, Ajakaye, in the book, demonstrates that the Godgiven intellectual gifts of many Nigerians must be

used for the betterment of society, “otherwise our knowledge and great ideas would be useless to the generations coming after us.’’

Obasi said the book “touches the heart of every Nigerian, particularly lovers of social justice in present day Nigeria where pervasive corruption in governance is alarming.”

While presenting the book, Minister of Mines and Steel, Dr Kayode Fayemi, described it as a work of creativity, knowledge and reflection which showed that knowledge without character is meaningless to the society.

Archbishop of Ibadan and the Metropolitan of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province, Gabriel Abegunrin, called on Nigerians to talk positively, think positively and act positively, so that everybody would make the world a better place.

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Militancy: Joint Military Force arrests 5 suspected vandals, repel vessel hijack attempt

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he Joint Military Force in the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe, said Sunday that it arrested five suspected pipeline vandals and repelled a hijack attempt of a vessel by heavily armed sea pirates.

Spokesman of the joint military force, Lt-Cdr. Thomas Otuji, disclosed this in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Otuji said the suspects were arrested between Oct. 17 and 18 near some oil wellheads at Apala, off Nana Creeks in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

“Troops of Operations Base 2 in Delta State, while on anti-crude oil theft patrol on October 17 and 18,

intercepted pipeline vandals in a large Cotonou and speed boats.

“Five suspected vandals were arrested and they confessed to their plan to vandalise the wellheads. The two boats were recovered in the crackdown.

“Similarly, troops of Operation Base 2 repelled a hijack of a vessel (MT VAJARA) by heavily armed bandits in Ramos River, around Agge area of Delta State.

“The criminals were repelled after fierce exchange of fire with our troops of the maritime component,” he said.

He recalled that the force recently responded to distress calls by some travelers who were attacked by

sea pirates in Cross River and Rivers states, killing the suspected pirates and rescuing the victims.

Otuji said that last week, other seven suspected pirates and militants were killed in crossfire during rescue operations while the hostages were freed unhurt.

He said that the force was committed to making the entire Niger Delta and the waterways safe as Operation Delta Safe was working tirelessly to secure the region.

He said the force had intensified patrols and raids on the criminals’ hideouts and was poised to halt the

renewed violence in the region and restore peace for legitimate businesses to thrive.

The spokesperson said that the successes recorded in the ongoing military operation had raised the morale and commitment of the troops.

Otuji said that the time-

ly and credible information from the coastal communities led to the successes and commended them for cooperating with the force.

He assured that if the support was sustained, the force would soon flush out criminals from the Niger Delta.

Assemblies of God: District head urges factions to sheath sword Isesele Ezekiel BENIN

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do District Superintendent of Assemblies of God Church, Dr Joe Okogele, at the weekend sued for peace among the warring factions of the church.

It would be recalled that the national leadership of the church has been embroiled in crisis.

Okogele, who made the clarion call at a special Unity/Rally Service, tagged ‘Enough is Enough’, in Oluku, said the crisis has affected both the members of the church and the divine mandate to win souls for Christ.

He posited that the three years old leadership crisis, which snowballed into several courts cases, has become a big embarrassment to the church in the eye of the public.

He appealed that the status-quo of the leadership structure of the church, pre-crisis period, be retained for peace to reign.

“We will not longer take this; this crisis and in-fighting must stop now.

We are saying enough is enough. This crisis has lingered on for too long.

Assemblies of God church has become an object of ridicule in the public.

“We have even gone to Sharia court where we are not supposed to go.

“In one of the court hearing, the judge said, if we cannot listen to man, then we should take it to God. This is how far we have gone in this crisis.

“We are taking it to God because, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, have at different times tried to intervene, but the leadership of these bodies were rebuffed by those bent on taking over the leadership positions of the church through the back door.

“For us, Assemblies of God church is one; we do not have two Assemblies of God, the one we know and belonged to is the one under the leadership of Prof. Paul Emeka. Dr Chidi Okoroafor should go back to his position as the Deputy Superintendent.

“We are using this rally to tell Nigerians that we do not believe in two assemblies. We believe in only one assembly where Prof. Emeka is the General Superintendent,” he said.

L-R: Acting Vice Chancellor, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Prof. Joseph B. Kinanee; Permanent Secretary, Rivers Ministry of Education, Dr Patricia Ogbonnaya; Registrar/Secretary to Senate and Council of the University, Mr. Ikem Adiele; Commissioner of Education Prof. Kaniye Ebeku, who represented the Governor Nyesom Wike and Special Adviser to the governor on pollution control, Sir Nwuke Anucha, during the commissioning of the administrative block of the University at the 33rd and 34th Combined Convocation of the school in Port Harcourt on Saturday.

PHOTO:NAN

Group challenges Bayelsa govt on appropriation of N12bn bailout fund

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group, Democratic Youth Watch, DEYOW, has called on Bayelsa State government to ensure judicious use of the N12bn loan it secured from the Federal Government for the execution of capital projects.

It would be recalled that Bayelsa State benefited from the budget support facility recently disbursed by the Federal Government to states to augment funds for capital projects and reflate the economy.

Speaking Sunday, Chairman of the Yenagoa based youth group, Mr. Ayawei Zikala, urged Governor Seriake Dickson to give account of the N12bn the government collected to complete ongoing projects across the state.

He alleged that some people in the state were suspicious that attempts were being made by the government to divert the money.

He also alleged that since the loan was collected, there was nothing on ground at project sites to indicate that government was utilsing it for projects execution.

Zikala further alleged that since May this year when the government publicly announced it had secured the facility, the government had yet to mobilise contractors to site raising concerns that the loan might have been diverted.

He expressed concern that the governor had failed to inform the people how the money was spent in the spirit of transparency and accountability.

He said: “The governor declared receipt of the loan at a time civil servants were being owed salaries for several months.

“The governor was asked to use the N12bn to settle outstanding civil servants’ salaries; he declined and insisted that the loan was collected

to fund projects across the state.

“But after independently inspecting several abandoned projects across the state, we are convinced that the government did not put a dime from the N12bn into any of abandoned projects.

“It is high time the governor explain to the people of Bayelsa how the loan was spent.

“All we could remember is that, after the governor announced that it collected the loan to fund projects, all they did was dump trips of sand opposite the mini-estate they are building and patch some bad spots along Isaac Boro expressway.

“For us those projects are not worth the N12bn; we urge the governor to give proper account of how the loan was spent.

“To cover up for the N12bn loan, the government falsely took credit for projects funded by Niger Delta

Development Commission, NDDC. “The NDDC has said that the government was being economical with the truth; when it said repairs on all internal roads in Yenagoa were being funded by the government.

“We will not back out in our quest to unravel the mystery behind the loan collected in the name of Bayelsans.

“We will not allow our leaders to enslave our future; we will continue to protest until the governor does what is right,” In his reaction, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, described the position of the youth group as ‘propaganda.’

He alleged that the youths were being sponsored by All Progressives Congress, APC, and its governorship candidate, in the last election, Chief Timipre Sylva to incite the people.

Monday, October 24, 2016

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Ekiti PDP to Buhari, probe bribery allegations against Amaechi Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

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eoples Democratic Part, PDP in Ekiti State has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the bribery allegations made against the Transportation Minister, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi by Justices Sylvester Agwata and Nyang Okoro.

The PDP said that the immediate probe became necessary especially now that the President had put the Judiciary on test of integrity, adding that the probe of

allegations against Amaechi would go to a certain extent to determine the culpability of individuals who might have been involved.

The judges had alleged that the Minister approached them to swing judgment in cases involving the All Progressives Congress, APC candidates in elections in favour of the party and as well against Ekiti State Governor at the Supreme Court.

The PDP said in a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Jackson Adebayo, that “President Buhari should be courageous enough to look into allega-

tions against his men if he wants Nigerians to change their opinions that his fight against corruption is selective and vindictive.

“When judges of the highest court in the country are revealing how Amaechi had tried to influence judgment by allegedly offering bribe which they rejected and the next thing was arrest and detention of the judges, the President should not pretend as if nothing is happening.

“The Nigeria Judicial Council , NJC should also come out with statements affirming or otherwise what the judges have said

because they made Nigerian to believe that each time Amaechi made his clandestine approach, it was reported to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) who is the chairman of NJC. “These allegations cannot be swept under the carpet not only because all what Amaechi was desiring to achieve was to upstage the PDP governors in Ekiti, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, but because of precedence and to redeem the image of the so-called anticorruption fight of the APC government at the centre.

“We are not on the side of any judge found wanting

in the dispensation of his job but whoever is accused therein should also be brought to book. In view of this, the minister that has been alleged along the lines should also face trial like the judges”, the PDP stated.

The PDP, however, cautioned that leaving Amaechi outside the probe would clearly vindicate those who alleged him, adding that it would not only make mockery of the whole exercise but show clearly that the judges were allegedly being punished for not dancing to the tune of the Presidency which the transportation minister represented in

this context.

PDP noted that the statements coming from APC after the revelations of the pressure from Amaechi to overturn the elections of the PDP governors had elaborately indicted him in the mind of Nigerians hence the need to probe the matter to ascertain his level of culpability.

“We cannot pretend to be comfortable with the unwieldy selections of who to place on trial on the same matters by the Federal Government because it is an aggression against democracy and rule of law,” Adebayo stated.

Bauchi APC strategises for 2019 election Ezekiel Titus BAUCHI

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L-R: Senator Usman Bayaro Nafada; Deputy Speaker, Hon. Lasun Yusuff and Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki, during the meeting of the African Geo-political Group at the ongoing 135th IPU Assembly in Geneva (Switzerland), yesterday.

he Bauchi state Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Alhaji Uba Ahmed Nana has said that the party is not leaving any stone unturned in its bid to win the 2019 elections in the state.

Nana dropped this hint in Bogoro, in Bogoro Local Government Area of the state , the home town of the Speaker of the House of Representatives , Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, where he rated the APC as the best performing party in the state and the country.

Nana said that the party leadership was in Bogoro as part of its tour across the 20 Local Government Areas of the

Lautech Ownership: Osun Assembly lauds Aregbesola, Ajimobi for peaceful resolution

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sun State House of Assembly under the leaders of its Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam has lauded the Governors of Osun and Oyo states, Rauf Aregbesola and Abiola Ajimobi for the peaceful resolution of the recent controversy about ownership and management of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho .

In a statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, the Assembly said, the gesture of the two leaders had demonstrated that they are living up to the demand of their offices.

The assembly noted

that conflicts cannot be ruled out in any human settings even among siblings but allowing conflict to degenerate to crisis was a responsibility that leadership must exercise.

This resolution according to the assembly would make the institution to be stronger and meet up with the aspiration of its founding fathers.

According to Assembly, the resolution and the reaffirmation of the joint ownership of the institution by the two states has vindicated that path of peace, dialogue and tolerance was the way to go rather than any party fanning the ember of discord and violence.

“We have always said that Oyo and Osun, are creation of law and the constitution and would not do anything that would contravene the same constitution over the joint ownership of LAUTECH. “LAUTECH is also created by law and unless that law is jointly amended by the two states, none of the two states can arrogate to herself the sole ownership of the institution.

“Those fanning the ember of discord needed to be educated on this and desist from causing disharmony between the two states and their people over the institution.

“It was a privilege that the institution is located

in Ogbomosho, Oyo State and that privilege must be properly explored by the hosting community for economic development”, it said.

The Assembly then charged the government of the two states to design ways of making the institution to be self-sustaining like other universities.

It said, by making such design, it would relief the two states, the burden of using their scarce revenue to finance the institution on monthly basis, rather than making it a revenue-generating institution on its own.

The parliament further noted that LAUTECH has created for itself a name that would continue to

place it in the lead among its peers, saying, the advantage must be properly made use of.

It said, the management of the institution must strive very hard to maintain the lead that the university has secured.

Osun Assembly also expressed the need for the two Houses to work together on matter of mutual interest rather than be seen as groups working at cross purposes.

It then appealed to the workers who have been on strike since the commencement of the ownership crisis of the institution to return to work in the interest of the students, host community and the people of the two states.

state to thank the entire electorates for supporting the APC as a party in the 2015 general election According to the chairman, the recent flag-off of roads constructions. rehabilitation and dualization in Bauchi state is a demonstration of the fulfillment of its campaign promises to the people apparently to link villages to the major cities.

Nana stressed that in spite of the economic doldrum. APC is pose to transform the state through direct bearing projects like infrastructures desirous of developing the state “ Our meeting today in Bogoro is to familiarise ourselves and identify with you in spite the political support you rendered to APC at all levels during the 2015 election and we want you to maintain same support in future elections”, Nana added.

The chairman told the people of the local government that their support for the party is not negotiable due to its quest for peaceful co-existence where people now sleep with their two eyes closed despite the security challenges facing the country.

He said among the positive testimony is the recent release of some Chibok girls from captive of the insurgents and the federal government move to address the crisis in Niger Delta region.

He assured that APC is a formidable political party without any crisis as being rumoured in some quarters explaining that its members are living in peace, justice and equity.

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Monday, October 24, 2016

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APC South-South leaders berate Frank Patrick Okohue

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eaders of the All Progressives Congress ,APC in South-South geo-political zone have berated the Assistant National Publicity

Secretary of the party, Mr Timi Frank over his comments in the ongoing crisis in the party, describing him as a man lacking in understanding of his duties.

The leaders noted that in a big party such

CACOL commends NBA on call for suspension of judges under investigation

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he Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL has commended the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA on its call for the suspension of Judges who are accused of corruption by the Department of State Security, DSS pending the completion of their trial .

The Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran while responding to the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA’s latest position on the case of the suspected corrupt judges advising them to step aside from official judiciary functions pending the outcome of the already commenced judicial processes to establish the veracity of the allegations against them, said “we had told all aggrieved persons to submit to the constitution of the country by using every constitutional means to prove or disprove their innocence in all the allegations against them.”

“We thus welcome the latest suggestion from the NBA to the suspected judges as it falls in line with the advice we gave to all those alleged to have committed corruption

crimes in the positions as Judges in the country’s ‘Temple of Justice’. We commend the NBA for the courage to allow logic to guide the situation before us a country as it concerns the obvious sharp practices that has been going on, and still subsisting in the Judiciary.”

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Abubakar Mahmud (SAN), who had been overtly critical of the Department of State Security, DSS’s arrest of some suspected corrupt judges in a recent statement, recommended that the National Judicial Council, NJC should suspend some serving judges.

Adeniran said that this is a different position from the one the NBA previously took, “they had condemned the DSS for the raid and arrest of the suspected judges and described it as blatant disregard for due process and against the rule of law. It is a good signal that the NBA has finally come to realize the logical need for the suspension of the affected judges.”

as the APC, conflicts were inevitable, but that the ability of the leadership to manage it to achieve result is what will define their capacities as leaders.

“There is no political party in the world that does not have its own internal crisis.

A political party has its own internal mechanism to put its house in order. It is disgraceful for Timi Frank to ridicule his office. It is also a dereliction of his duty. It clearly shows that the man does not understand his office or the party”.

While defending the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun for his roles in managing the party, the APC leaders described him as “a strong and competent leader” “Chief John OdigieOyegun knows his substance.

He is working closely with President Muhammadu Buhari in the fight against corruption in the country” the leaders said.

They also praised the national chairman for freeing the party from factionalism, vested interests and

authoritarianism.

In a statement issued by the chairman of South-South APC Leaders Forum, Chief John Harry, the leaders commended OdigieOyegun for promoting progressive values, respecting progressive views and keeping members of the party together.

“Odigie-Oyegun is a man of impeccable credentials.

He is a highly trained technocrat.

We are blessed to have him at the helm”.

Dismissing the opinion of Mr. Timi Frank, as a figment of

his own imagination and that of his cohorts, the leaders described the action of Frank as regrettable and a betrayal of Oyegun and the South-South people.

“Mr. Timi Frank is a disgrace to APC. He lacks the ability to manage the party’s relationship with the general public.

His incompetence is setting our party back” they said.

They accused the deputy publicity secretary of the party of playing politics of the stomach. rty” they added.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign and Domestic Debt, Senator Shehu Sani (l), addressing members of Igabi Local Government Standing Committee on Qur’anic Recitation Competition, during their visit to the senator in Kaduna, yesterday.

PHOTO:NAN

Alimosho residents seek Lagos Assembly’s help over abandoned project Patrick Okohue

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ome residents of Abule Oki, Onajole area of Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos state have protested against the abandonment of Aboru, Lower Akinola Canal/Arigbanla Abbatoir Continuation Dredging and Concrete Lining Project by Dully Dredging and Construction Company Limited.

The protesters who were led by the Chairman of the Community, Alhaji Kamorudeen Bamidele, stormed the House of Assembly chanting solidarity songs and displaying several placards to express their grievances.

Some of the placards read; “Governor of the masses, the contractor, Dully Dredging and Construction Company Limited has collected N1.9

Billion out of N2.7 Billion abandoned the project,” Arigbanla Continuation of the Aboru Project totally abandoned,” “N1.9 Billion collected and job not done,” “Dully Dredging Ole,” and “Save Our Soul, Governor Ambode, our people are dying of blood.”

Bamidele stated that the residents were protesting against Arigbanla Continuation Concrete Lining Project, and that they have been on it since 2012, and that the problem of serious flooding started in the area immediately after the commissioning of the Agege Abbatoir over 20 years ago.

He stated that after several years of requesting from the state government, they felt that they could help themselves or ask the government to come to their aid, and that they contributed about N4 million to engage the services of a dredger to do

the job.

“We were on the third week of the dredging, when former governor Babatunde Fashola sent someone from the Ministry of the Environment to come and meet us and they asked us to stop that the state government would continue from there.

“Moreso, we continued to dredge till three weeks later, when we heard that the contract has been awarded to Messrs Dully Engineering Dredging Service. Engineer Pearse is the Chairman of the company.

“We held several meetings with them and they commenced the project. After about four months, they started behaving somehow and they abandoned the project,” he said.

The community leader revealed that they spoke with the then Director of Dredging in the Ministry

of the Environment, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry and the then state Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello.

Bamidele stated that, when they discovered that nothing was coming from the ministry, they decided to focus on the state government, and that it was later confirmed officially that the project had been abandoned.

He then insisted that it was wrong for a project that was awarded for N2.7 Billion out of which N1.9 Billion had been released to be abandoned just like that.

He said: “we could not just keep quiet like that.

This is tax payers’ money, no contractor can be bigger than the state government.

We were on that till the present administration came in, and we felt that a new government should be given some time.

“We stopped our protests

and letters, when this government came in. The present Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Samuel Adejare called us to a meeting, but Engineer Pearse refused to attend the meeting, and the Commissioner had to leave.

But, the Commissioner could not attend the second meeting because he lost his sister two days to the meeting and the meeting has not been rescheduled since then.”

He revealed that over 500 lives have been lost in the area in the last four years, and that over 70% of the water that comes to the area comes from Arigbanla end because, according to him, a concrete lining has been done up to the bridge to Abeokuta Expressway and that the water comes to the area.

In his reaction on behalf of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, Hon. Olanrewaju OgunyemiI

promised that the Assembly would continue to work to ensure that all the 40 constituencies in the state were catered for.

Ogunyemi stated that the issue was not new to the Assembly, but that it predates the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of the state.

He said that the matter is before the House of Assembly, saying that the House received the petition and letter of the residents and that the contractor has been summoned by the Committee on Works and Infrastructure headed by Hon. Abiodun Tobun that is working on the issue.

“The House of Assembly would do justice to the matter. You can be sure of our integrity and commitment to the matter.

The leadership of the Assembly and the members would do something about the issue. We will speak on the matter soon,” he said.

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Monday, October 24, 2016

Judges’ arrest not a threat to democracy James Ikechukwu

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am not a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). As a matter of fact, I do not like the party. I dislike the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) even more. But on the war against corruption, I support wholeheartedly the Buhari administration.

In early 2008, Kenya erupted into violence in which several thousands of people lost their lives. You know why? The people vowed they would not go to the courts to seek electoral redress. They dubbed the patently corrupt courts the “Kibaki courts”. Two years after, it was the turn of the unabashedly corrupt Cote d’Ivoire court to set the nation on fire by declaring that Laurent Gbagbo had won a presidential election, which the whole world knew the opposition leader, Alassane Quattara, had clearly won. The country’s electoral body had declared Quattara winner but the corrupt Constitutional Council, ruled otherwise. The scale of blood-letting that follows is still very fresh on our minds.

People blame Gbagbo for the crimes against humanity and civil war but the real culprits, who undermined the Cote d’Ivoire’s national security were the corrupt judges.

Even here in Nigeria, it has been acknowledged that the loss of faith in the judicial system is what led to the postelection violence of 2011 and other intermittent acts of violence or recourse to selfhelp across the country.

Section 15 (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) declares emphatically that “The State shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.” The word “shall” is mandatory. Therefore, all lovers of the security, stability and prosperity of the Nigeria must join hands with the current government to wage war against corruption in our judicial system. This is not the time to play politics. We must not allow corrupt judicial officers to push the generality of Nigerians to regard self-help as the last hope of the common man or any citizen before we act.

The leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) says the invasion and arrest of some judges in the wee hours of Saturday, 8 October, 2016 is unconstitutional. With due respect to the learned SANs, which aspects of the constitution or laws of the federation were breached by the Department of State Services (DSS)?

A combined reading of the extant Criminal Code, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA, 2015) and of course, the Constitution of Nigeria shows the DSS has acted within the ambit of the law.

For example, Sections 12 (2) and 13 of ACJA (2015) empowers a law officer to break into any house for the purpose of effecting an arrest of a suspect who refuses to co-operate with the officer. I should like to amplify that any private citizen of Nigerian, male or female, is protected by law (s.23 ACJA) to effect the arrest of any suspected criminal and hand him/ her over to a prosecuting authority. In the same vein, Section 43 (1) ACJA says: “A warrant of

Judges have no immunity

from arrest or prosecution for any crime committed arrest may be executed on any day, including a Sunday or public holiday.” And s. 148 of ACJA states that “A search warrant may be issued and executed at any time on any day, including a Sunday or public holiday.”

I have heard the argument by a couple of learned colleagues that certain provisions of the ACJA 2015 are in breach of the constitution. I do not agree. Even if that were to be correct, until the Act is set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction, it remains a law in force and valid to all intents and purposes. And so, such an argument is of no moment at this momentous turning point in our nation’s history.

Again the National Judicial Council (NJC) is only empowered to discipline judges but the body cannot arrest, prosecute or sentence any judge found to be involved in corruption to a term of imprisonment. Judges have no immunity from arrest or prosecution for any crime committed. Only the President, Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors have immunity from arrest and prosecution while in office. Law enforcement officers must therefore be allowed to do their job.

In this connection, one must condemn in unmistakable terms, the attempt by Gov-

Valuing and improving teacher’s status Tayo Ogunbiyi

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o a large extent, the destiny of every nation is shaped, reinforced and actualized in the classrooms. The quality of lawyers, doctors, accountants, engineers, politicians, administrators and other professionals that a country has is determined by the worth of what transpires in the classroom. According to Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher, Confucius: “To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; To put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; To put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; And to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right”. Since a well nurtured teaching force lies at the heart of every society, to get our hearts right, we need to first get our teachers right.

Without doubt, teachers hold the key to a better future for all. They inspire, challenge and empower innovative and responsible global citizens. They get children into school, keep them there and help them learn. Every day, they help to build the inclusive knowledge societies we need for tomorrow and the century ahead. In truth, nothing can replace a good teacher.

Since 1994, World Teachers Day is celebrated by UNESCO annually every October 5th, to mobilize support for the teaching profession across the world. Indeed, teachers are worthy to be celebrated. It is, therefore, quite thoughtful of UNESCO to set aside a day to acknowledge the laudable contributions of teachers to the socio-economic evolvement of our contemporary world.

It will, therefore, be an understatement to affirm that teachers play multifaceted role in the society. In taking care of pupils and students put in their care for a considerable number of hours on a daily basis, they act as proxy parents. By helping to shape the destinies of numerous children, they perform the

Teachers remain under-qualified and poorly paid, with low status, and excluded

from education policy matters task of social workers. A teacher could equally be likened to a miracle worker who is well schooled in the art of helping a student to discover his/her untapped potentials. Whenever the innate but largely hidden potential of a student comes in contact with the therapeutic skill of a teacher, a miracle occurs.

Teachers don’t just teach, they are critical personalities who nurture the young folks to mature, to understand the world and to understand themselves. The education of a child involves a total development of personality and this means that the human element of improvement is essential. This is something that can only be done by the teacher.

In the words of famous rabbi and scholar of Judaism, Jonathan Sacks, “when teachers open our eyes to the world. They give us curiosity and confidence. They teach us to ask questions. They connect us to our past and future.

They are the guardians of our social heritage…Life without a teacher is simply not a life”. In a world that is daily confronted with swift social changes, sometimes inexplicable crisis and bizarre natural occurrences, teachers remain the most constant bastion of hope.

In line with the theme of this year’s World Teachers’ Day, “Valuing Teachers, Improving their Status”, every investment in teachers is one that is worthy of every penny spent. A society that refuses to value teachers will only be promoting ignorance. And ignorance, in its nastiest manifestation, breeds all manners of social ills. This is why every society must fully come to term with the need to further enhance

the competence of teachers at all levels. It is only in doing this that the critical issue of nation building, especially in Third World countries, could be effectively tackled.

Now that the razzmatazz and euphoria surrounding the 2016 World Teachers Day event are over, it is pertinent to properly address the plight of teachers as well as the falling standard of education in the country.

It is no longer a secret that the teaching profession is fast losing its status as a dignified vocation in our dear nation. Paradoxically, for any nation to really attain lofty heights, it must pay a close attention to the teaching profession. Sadly, today, being a teacher is almost akin to being an outcast in our country.

Ideally, teachers ought to hold the ace when it comes to nation building. They get children into school, keep them there and help them learn. Every day, they help to build the inclusive knowledge the society needs for tomorrow. Evidence shows that teachers, their professional knowledge and skills are the most important factor for quality education. This requires stronger training upfront and continual professional development and support, to enhance performance and learning outcomes. In Nigeria, we are aware of this, but still neglect teachers’ welfare far too often, teachers remain under-qualified and poorly paid, with low status, and excluded from education policy matters and decisions that concern and affect them.

This is, therefore, the time to go beyond paying lip services to capacity building for teachers. Concerted efforts should be made by appropriate authorities to improve the working conditions of teachers. A situation where teachers are hired by some private schools as cheap labour should be utterly discouraged.

A nation that toils with the well being of its teachers toils with her future.

Without putting in place the proper machinery to improve the working condition of teachers, all efforts to bring about the real-

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ernor Wike of Rivers State to prevent men of the DSS from performing their duties in Port-Harcourt on the said early hours of Saturday. This amounts to obstruction of justice, which in itself is a crime. Indeed, Wike should be investigated and charges preferred against him after the expiration of his tenure. It is trite in law that time does not run against the state.

Judges, just like the legislators, can however not be arrested based on their pronouncements in the courts or floor of parliament as the case may be.

Finally, the arrest of judges is not and does not constitute a threat to democracy. The real threat to democracy is corruption, especially in the Bench. In the cacophony of reactions to the arrest of some judges suspected to have committed acts of corruption by DSS, we must never be deceived into forgetting the substance by chasing shadows. Were those judges guilty of corrupt practices or not? Were the funds recovered from them a product of sleaze and corrupt acts or not? Questions like these should our preoccupation.

It is high time we rid the Nigerian judiciary of corrupt elements and saved this country from sliding into the Hobbesian state of nature. In that state, life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

We should support President Muhammadu Buhari on the course of his administration to halt the dangerous slide to the state of nature.

Barr James Ikechukwu writes from Lagos

ization of the national mass literacy project would simply go down the drain. Consequently, the successful execution of the mass literacy project could only be made possible with the active participation of a well motivated, properly trained and competent teaching force. Appropriate governmental and nongovernmental organizations, therefore, need to intensify efforts towards developing the competence of teachers across the country.

Perhaps, the most convincing approach to deal with the numerous of problems we face in our dear nation is to urgently attend to the waning fortune of teachers in the country.

As much as we try, poverty, disease, religious fanaticism, political chaos, ethnic bigotry, gender discrimination, economic depression among others, could only be effectively contained with the assistance of proficient and loyal teaching personnel.

It is, however, important that teachers, particularly in our nation, continue to uphold the integrity and dignity of the teaching profession. A situation where teachers get involved in unimaginable acts capable of denting the image of the profession is, to say the least, despicable. The teaching profession, the world over, is a noble vocation. Ours must not be an exception. A nation could cope with halfbaked engineers or lawyers. But, no nation desirous of making meaningful progress could survive with a mediocre teaching workforce.

Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs.

Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

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Law & Justice nationalmirrorlaw@yahoo.com

A trial is not an investigation and investigation is not the function of the court

Justice Modibbo Alfa Belgore, Former Chief Justice Of Nigeria

Judges’ arrest: Layonu, Gomez want judges to seek redress in court

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The dust raised by the arrest of seven judges by the DSS is yet to settle. Eminent lawyers are still expressing their views on the sudden incident which has pitted the National Judicial Council (NJC) against the Presidency. WALE IGBINTADE examine reactions from some legal practitioners.

ECOWAS Court has institutional weakness –Okoli 17

Will the truth walk free? Is this a wakeup call for the Nigerian judiciary?

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he controversy that followed the recent raid and arrest of seven judges by the Department of State Services (DSS) has continued to attract comments from eminent Nigerians both within and outside the legal profession.

During the raid, the DSS said it recovered a huge stash of money in local and foreign currencies. Seven judges were arrested, but have since been released on bail.

Those arrested were Justice Sylvester Nguta and John Okoro of the Supreme Court and Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court Abuja.

Others are Justice Muazu Pindiga of Gombe State; Kabiru Auta of Kano State, Innocent Umezulike, of Enugu State and Justice Mohammed Tsamiya, an Appeal court judge in Ilorin.

However, Justices Ademola Adeniyi and Nnamdi Dimgba have accused the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, of being the brain behind the recent raid of homes and arrest of judges.

The two judges claimed in separate letters sent to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mahmud Muhammed, that their travails in the hands of Malami stemmed from recent verdicts they entered against the Federal Government which the minister was uncomfortable with.

While Justice Ademola ordered release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, and also granted bail to the detained former National Security Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), on self recognition, Justice Dimgba

CJN, Mahmoud Mohammed

AGF, Abubakar Malami

From all indications, what they are trying desperately to do after the DSS raid is an afterthought, which cannot avail them of any advantage in law, as the AGF has nothing personal against any of them or any other Nigerian in the discharge of his duties on the other hand, granted bail to a former member of the arms probe panel set up by the Federal Government, Air Commodore Umar Mohammed (rtd).

Already, the judges are seeking leave of the CJN to raise legal issues against the DSS and the AGF over the raids on their homes and infringement on their fundamental rights.

But, the Attorney-General of the Federation has challenged the two judges to go to court and prove any case they have against him, instead of resorting to blackmail and falsehood

in the media.

Malami, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Comrade Salihu Isah, said that the claims by the embattled justices were untrue.

Malami wondered why the affected judges did not bring up the cases against him when he appeared before the Senate for confirmation but threw them up only after being confronted with corruption allegations by the DSS. “The Minister of Justice does not do a personal job to warrant taking vengeance on anyone.

The issue is clear and unambiguous. If you have any case against him, proceed to court to prove it or stop whipping up sentiments to score cheap points.

“From all indications, what they are trying desperately to do after the DSS raids is an afterthought, which cannot avail them of any advantage in law, as the AGF has nothing personal against any of them or any other Nigerian in the discharge of his duties,” Salihu said.

But, the question many people are asking is whether the affected judges should approach the court to seek redress, absolve themselves and maintain their reputations.

Reacting to the issue, Dr. Abiodun Layonu (SAN) said what has happened was unprecedented and the affected judicial officers should do everything possible to clear their CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

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Law & Justice

Monday, October 24, 2016

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ECOWAS Court has institutional weakness –Okoli

Chijioke Okoli, one of the lawyers recently elevated to the rank of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was called to the Bar over two decades ago. In this Interview with WALE IGBINTADE, the former Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos branch speaks on the problems in the Nigerian judiciary, the electoral reform committee and other legal issues. Excerpts:

Okoli

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ow do you feel when your name was listed as one of the few lawyers elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate this year?

I was naturally very happy I must say but not overly so. I have considered myself stable. I don’t get over joyed by successes or good luck and at the same time. I don’t get too depressed when I don’t get what I want so. On the balance, the apostle Paul said: “I have learnt to be abound and to be abased”. That way I was very happy but not overly so because there was also the awareness that there is a huge burden that comes with it. It is a call to service at a high level. I have always had in mind that the problem we had in Nigeria generally is that people hankering over powers, privileges and authority but over -looking the huge responsibility that comes with such a high office. I have always been aware, to be an SAN yes happy, but there lies huge burden of leadership in my profession and the society.

What are your expectations from

the judiciary as we commence a new legal year?

Well, my expectations are principally that they continue doing what they are doing but even better. The Nigerian Judiciary is far from being perfect.

It is besieged by a lot of problems. It is performing under a lot of constraints when we talk about problems of the judiciary; we have to understand that they are not working under the best of conditions. There are some institutional constraints. A situation where the judiciary regardless of the constitutional provision, is still largely tied to the apron strings of the executive

in terms of its budget is not the best situation.

If there are critical things that needed to be done, the executive, as at today would have to buy in for solution to the extent that those solutions require pecuniary investment and we know that money is required for this whole lot of things. We expect that the Judges, they have been bearing this burden; they continue to bear it and regardless of those constraints even perform better.

Some of your colleagues have ad-

A situation where the judiciary regardless of the constitutional provision, is still largely tied to the apron strings of the executive in terms of its budget is not the best situation

vocated that the next Chief Justice of Nigeria should be appointed outside the Bench. Do you subscribe to this?

I have a view what the constitution says it is 10 years’ post call but for me, you don’t just go outside the Supreme Court for the sake of because you want to go outside the Supreme Court. We are expecting that the current number two man expected to take over, even if he was out of the Supreme Court, would be the kind of person who we can say we are bringing. You will not say we must go out of the Supreme Court even when you would have very good materials within the Supreme Court. It is a bit academic, by God’s grace, Hon. Justice Ononnghen would be the next CJN and he is very well qualified.

If he was out of the Supreme Court, some people would say this is the kind of people we need. He was one of those Judges that had the courage to nullify President Musa Yar’ Adua’s election.

It is on record. It was a split decision; himself and Justice Oguntade and Aloma Mukhtar where the full court was split four to three. A lot of tremendous pressures would have been brought to bear against most of them.

They said this election does not stand, we would nullify it. He is the only one among those Judges who gave that dissenting opinion that is still in service.

If we are looking for courage, if we are looking for eloquence and good head, somebody that can handle the judiciary, I think we are there. We can say let’s choose out of the Supreme Court when we have good, if not better Justices in the Supreme Court.

Most of the judgments coming out of the Supreme Court these days are no longer with dissenting opinions. What is responsible for this?

I really don’t know because I am not in the Supreme Court but, because they say law is no mathematics and especially in volatile issues where there could be different conclusions very reasonable. When we keep having repeated opinions without any dissent, especially on issues that are not recondite, where it is relatively virgin area, areas where the law is not settled,

Continued on Page 18

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Law & Justice

Monday, October 24, 2016

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ECOWAS Court has institutional weakness–Okoli Continued from Page 17

when we have such cases in the absence of dissent directly or indirectly then you may ask the quality of the debate in the case. This may also be a function of the argument presented to the Judges because we do an adversarial system. It is something I will be tentative in answering because sometimes, a particular judgment comes and then you sit somewhere and ask why could this judgment be? Didn’t they think of this or that? But you may also wonder, was this particular point urged to the court?

Because if you understand the system of administrative of justice is adversarial, the Judge is largely passive.

It is the two parties that advance their different positions. The Judge now gives his position. It is not like in the civil law or the French system where he is an active participant, descends to the arena. Judgment, first you have to ask for it, even though in some cases, the court may raise a point which is called suo moto, but when it does that, it ask the party to address it but it is not bound to raise an issue suo moto because, when a Judge raises an issue suo moto, it means that there is a particular bearing on that judgment but counsel has not been diligent or bright enough to bring it up.

The Judge on his own may say: What do you think about this issue in the light of so and so? Can counsel please address me? But a Judge is not obligated to do so. He has the power but he is not obligated to do so. The lawyer is the one who has collected the money so, it is his job to cover the ground so to speak and answer the Judge. All the Judge is going to present is based on the argument presented to him in that case. Sometimes, the Judge may say, we are not a Father Christmas; you didn’t make that claim so I cannot give it to you. If you didn’t raise a particular point that could affect the case, the court is not obligated to raise it for you. Which is why sometimes, a particular judgment will go this way. The same fact maybe subsequently somebody now raise a point, maybe there is a statute that has a bearing to that decision which counsel for whatever reason, in whose favour that existing statute goes did not bring it up and the court goes and decides it one way. But, if that thing had been brought to the court’s attention, the judgment would have gone the other way.

What is your view about the various conflicting judgments emanating from the same courts of competent jurisdiction?

My views, my feelings? Distressful.

Because it’s strikes at the root of the rule of law. Certainty, if you go into the jurisprudence, the philosophy of law, certainty is critical, it is no law again. And then for the lawyer, that is critical, it strikes at the root of your

Okoli occupation because if you come to my office as a client to advise you, I will advise you based on law and law is nothing in the final analysis but the pronouncements of the Judges. If we have a particular set of affairs, set of facts upon which you seek my advice and then I know there are two or three judgments on the same point that is irreconcilable, I have a problem, I cannot advise. The client wants level of certainty. When we have those conflicting decisions, it is sad and indeed no less a personality as the Chief Justice of Nigeria has complained bitterly about it that care should be taken to avoid that because it is a cardinal error.

What lessons shall we learnt from the judgment emanating from the Economic of West African States (ECOWAS) Court asking the Federal Government to release Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and also pay him N15 million?

I will be circumspect in discussing.

I hardly discuss judgments that I have not read and beyond the occasional thing that I read in the newspaper. I

have also not been following closely the details of Sambo Dasuki matter.

However, the ECOWAS court has an institutional weakness more than that of the local court because you are talking about enforcement, how do you enforce it? At the end of the day, how will you enforce it? As a matter of fact, the President of the Court has complained that the member states have not been complying with the judgments. These are practical issues we have to deal with but my major concern is, I have not read that judgment. Apparently the person who read the lead judgment was my school mate. He was a year ahead of me in the university, Professor Chijioke Nnwoke, perhaps when I read it I may be able to form my opinion in one way or the other.

What is the implication of the Federal Government disobeying the judgment?

I really don’t see any implication in practical terms quite honestly, there is none? Nigeria is actually the biggest sustainer of ECOWAS and it is sitting in Abuja. For me, it will suffice

It is to Sambo Dasuki’s advantage and the entire system that he goes to trial and if convicted he can go to appeal. It is important we know one way or the other whether indeed the huge allegations against him are sustainable in the court of law or not

to say you can’t pick and choose. At all material times you could say I am not part of it just like United States does not care about what the International Criminal Court of Justice does in all its conventions, they don’t. But Nigeria is a signatory to the ECOWAS treaty and the courts. So, it should abide by the decision. But part of what I read somewhere is that Dasuki was granted bail in two different cases but there was the third one he wasn’t granted bail.

I think that Dasuki should go and face trial, at the end of the day, if the court says you should give him bail then, government should give him bail but, he should face trial. It doesn’t help our system that huge mountainous allegations are made and then you don’t want to face trial. He should have his day in court but with all the safeguards. If the court says he should get a bail, for goodness sake, he should get a bail. But, both the prosecution and the defense counsel should do their job. Nigerians would be watching it.

If you say you resist trial, it would appear some people are above the law.

Nobody is above the law.

For example, Major Al-Mustapha avoided trial for many years; he tried to bring the administration of justice in Lagos to disrepute but, finally, even though he was convicted in the court of first instance, the Court of Appeal released him. Let Dasuki go through the trial as well. A lot of people couldn’t believe that Major Mustapha could go through all that. It is to Sambo Dasuki’s advantage and the entire system that he goes to trial and if convicted he can go to appeal. It is important that he is put to trial, let us know one way or the other whether indeed the huge allegations against him are sustainable in the court of law or not.

What is your take on the electoral reform committee set up by this administration?

The short answer is I do not think there is need for this committee to be set up regardless that they could not have found a more credible person than Senator Ken Nnamani to do a similar thing. He is one of the few politicians who held public space and come out with nothing with their integrity intact if not enhanced. When former President Obasanjo was doing his third term bid , essentially, the third term did not succeed, it was down largely due to Senator Nnamani, his strength of character and incorruptibility.

Having said that, I do not see the need to set this committee up, the Uwais report is comprehensive. We haven’t finished with it, we have to go and review the Uwais report and tell us why we are not going to implement all of it before setting up another committee that will obviously spend money to sustain. I really don’t see the need for it.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Law & Justice

Monday, October 24, 2016

19

Judges’ arrest: Layonu, Gomez want judges to seek redress in court CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

names.

He said “I don’t see why the affected judges should not seek redress in court.

This is an exceptional situation hence the judges should be allowed especially that the executive is backing the DSS.” In his view, Pa. Tunji Gomez said “The way DSS carried out the arrest against the topmost judges of the country gives the impression that they are only superior to the judges. If the judiciary is weakened by the fear of arrest from the above, then the last hope of the citizen will start to crumble and the rights of the citizens cannot adequately be protected.”

“I feel it is wrong and this should not occur again. The judges are entitled to protection of their human rights and they must be free to deliver their judgements without fear or favour no matter whose horse is gored.”

Speaking in the same vein, a Lagos based lawyer, Yemi Omodele said: “NJC is the body that controls the judges in Nigeria. The judges can approach it for clarifications but the allegations made against the AGF and others by the judges should have been exposed before the recent development which would have been proper and decent. I am aware that every Nigerian is at liberty to approach court for redress. Meanwhile, it is a judge that will preside over such a case.

Then what would be its outcome?

Any case to be filed by the judges and/ or the government, there must be a proper analysis of the cases and the strate-

Gomez

Layonu

gies of the parties otherwise; it may result to wasting of tax payers’ money by the government. I think the government should be more proactive in whatever it is doing so that it will not result to gaming. I think every Nigerian wants the

system to be sanitised in terms of corruption but this should be done in line with laws and not “jankara” The National Security Agencies Act, Section 3, among others, charges the State Security Service with the respon-

I don’t see why the affected judges should not seek redress in court. This is an exceptional situation hence the judges should be allowed especially that the executive is backing the

DSS

LEGAL TIPS

peal immediately.”.

Bar

Jokes

The offence was committed by his limb A lawyer defending a man accused of burglary tried this creative defense: “My client merely inserted his arm into the window and removed a few trifling articles. His arm is not himself, and I fail to see how you can punish the whole individual for an offence committed by his limb.”

“Well put,” the judge replied. “Using your logic, I sentence the defendant’s arm to one year’s imprisonment. He can accompany it or not, as he chooses.” The defendant smiled. With his lawyer’s assistance he detached his artificial limb, laid it on the bench, and walked out.

Appeal Immediately Many years ago, a junior partner in a firm was sent to a far-away state to represent a long-term client accused of robbery. After days of trial, the case was won, the client acquitted and released.

Excited about his success, the attorney telegraphed the firm: “Justice prevailed.”

The senior partner replied in haste: “Ap-

The New client A new client had just come in to see a famous lawyer.

“Can you tell me how much you charge?”, said the client.

“Of course”, the lawyer replied, “I charge $200 to answer three questions!”

“Well that’s a bit steep, isn’t it?”

“Yes it is”, said the lawyer, “And what’s your third question?”

You’re late The lawyer wandered home at 3 AM. His wife became very upset, telling him, The lawyer replied, “I’m right on time. I said I’d be home by a quarter of twelve.”

My honest opinion Lawyer: “Let me give you my honest opinion.”

Client: “No, no. I’m paying for professional advice.”

The parked BMW A lawyer returns to his parked BMW to find the headlights broken and considerable damage.

There’s no sign of the offending vehicle but he’s relieved to see that there’s a note stuck under the windshield wiper. “Sorry. I just backed into your Beemer. The witnesses who saw the accident are nodding and smiling at me because they think I’m leaving my name, address and other particulars. But I’m not.”

•Culled from Bar Jokes at BrainDen.com

sibility for preventing and detecting crime against the internal security of Nigeria; and such other responsibilities “affecting internal security within Nigeria and the National Assembly or the President, as the case may be deem.”

Already, a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, has instituted a N50bn suit against President Muhammadu Buhari, the Department of State Services and it’s DirectorGeneral, Lawal Daura, and others for the raid of homes and arrest of some serving judges between October 8 and 9.

Others joined as defendants in the suit, with number FHC/ABJ/ CS/809/16, are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN); the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; and the National Judicial Council.

Ogungbeje filed the suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, October 14.

He alleged that the arrest of the judges without recourse to the NJC was unlawful and amounted to humiliating them.

He said the DSS operations violated the rights of judges under sections 33, 34, 35, 36 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution. The plaintiff sought 10 prayers, among which is an order awarding N50bn against the defendants as “general and exemplary damages.”

Obligations of Tenant under the Lagos Tenancy Law 2011

T

he Tenancy Law 2011 of Lagos State has aroused considerable public interest since its enactment in August 2011.

The Tenancy Law provides for rights and obligations of tenants. Although the law exempts certain areas of Lagos State from the application of the law, the obligations included hereunder are generally acceptable as usual practice in tenancy and leasing arrangements.

Obligations of the Tenant *Subject to any provision to the contrary in the agreement between the parties, the tenant shall be obliged to do the following: (1) Pay the rents at the times and in the manner stated.

(2) Pay all existing and future rates and charges not applicable to the landlord by law.

(3) Keep the premises in good and tenantable repair, reasonable wear and tear excepted.

(4) Permit the landlord and his agents during the tenancy at all reasonable hours in the day time by written notice, to view the condition of the

Bar

premises and to effect repairs in necessary parts of the building.

(5) Not to make any alterations or additions to the premises without the written consent of the landlord.

(6) Not to assign or sublet any part of the premises without the written consent of the landlord.

(7) Notify the landlord where structural or substantial damage has occurred to any part of the premises as soon as practicable and Lastly, obligations not to commit waste. Activities that constitute waste include, installation of heavy machinery on the premises which may cause dangerous vibrations, overloading the floors or roof.

Jokes

Written by Francis Famoroti, Head, Judiciary. We welcome feedback and reactions from readers via our e-mail: nationalmirrorlaw@yahoo.com

20

Law & Justice

Monday, October 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Will the truth walk free? Is this a wake-up call for the Nigerian judiciary?

Introduction eactions to the overnight raids of Judges/Justices residence have mostly been divided – maybe unnecessarily so – between two pole positions: one camp forcefully asserting that the actions were outrageous and disrespectful, and the other saying the State Security Department (SSS, aka DSS) has done no wrong. The latter says the Judiciary has been in need of a cathartic turn-around for a very long time and this could very well be what it needs to kickstart the process. President Buhari himself, says that the fight is not against the Judiciary, but against corruption.

Both positions can co-exist peaceably, and there are strong common grounds that unite the positions of the respective camps if we dispense with fringe parts unnecessary to maintain their central themes. The objection to the manner of the “sting operation” is not so much about the legality but, at the core, around its appropriateness. Were the midnight/ overnight invasions appropriate and necessary for persons who posed no significant flight or harm risks? Or was it just an artifice, a brash, hawkish and arrogant display of state power operated as a two-edged sword: one edge intended to intimidate a set of judges known for their insistence on the rule of law, and the other perhaps to genuinely access information?

Looking at this from the prism of legalism alone can make us miss some fine nuances around purpose. Dictators use legalisms as well in the pursuit of supposedly legitimate state or political objectives as a proxy to carry out dubious intentions, like former Pakistani President Purvez Musharraf did when he filed petitions to Pakistan’s Supreme Judicial Council alleging several acts of misconduct against then Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. President Musharaff wanted to contest elections that would extend his stay in office in 2008 and he feared the Chief Justice would constitute a major obstacle to his ambition. The Pakistani judiciary deflected the President’s crusade and reinstated a popular Chief Justice back to office.

The judiciary wields the least coercive power of the State, and is itself quite vulnerable to attacks by other branches of government. The authority of the judicial branch is largely derived not from the physical accoutrements of power and force, but from the sense of social, civic obligation, and a recognition that the judiciary plays a role that requires society to respect the institution. This deference is socially mediated but its foundations are brittle and can be easily unstuck, so that persistent acts of disrespect can diminish the Judiciary’s social base, standing and authority: where that happens, the rule of law is really endangered. We fear, that the example set by the DSS would inspire wider confronta-

R

Ngwuta, Okoro and Ademola tions with the Judiciary – and even States will do likewise to judges whose decisions irritate them.

The Judiciary’s Shared Responsibility for the Affront: Failure to do Enough Can Be Costly When the dust of these controversies settles, the judiciary will need to ask itself some hard questions. It is not likely that any of those who have stood up to defend the judicial branch will by any stretch deny that the judiciary has let Nigerians down and has largely squandered the hopes many had of a resurgent judicature after Nigeria became a democracy. Among the fiercest critics of the Judiciary are many who belong to the legal profession and have had, at some point, taken great pride in the Nigerian judiciary.

From the time of our transition to constitutional democracy in 1999, Nigeria’s judiciary was in an undeclared state of emergency, just as the Justice Eso panel said. And the pointers were all over the place. After taking office as President in 1999, former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo brutally conveyed the prevailing sense of public discontent with the judiciary to Judges in conference, saying: “[t]here is prevailing disenchantment of the populace with the Judiciary – an attitude which has arisen out of the lapses or failings of the Judiciary”. In an address at the First Federal Integrity Meeting for Chief Judges in Abuja, 26-27 October, Bola Ige, then Min-

ister of Justice told Judges “[t]here is evidence of growing public disenchantment with the entire court system…”

Fifteen years later (May 2012), Obasanjo again lamented that “the judiciary has been riddled by corruption, which has affected other sectors of the country. Justice has become the highest bidder takes all.

That is what we have now”. In spite of these warnings, the Judiciary continued to rely on weak, oversight/complaint procedures to tackle corruption and failed to adapt its approach, even when it was clear that traditional methods were failing to contain the epidemic.

The Judiciary’s approach to fighting corruption suffers from a number of weaknesses, but three may be noted. First, the overarching burden it puts on complainants. The rule of “he who asserts must prove”, an axiom of the law of evidence, has only limited value in a field like this.

It is self-evident that victims of corruption have very little access to the evidence, and are often not in a position to gather the relevant facts - telephone records, bank accounts, etc etc without assistance from criminal justice agencies. This means that only few can substantiate their allegations or suspicions that corruption had occurred or was about to. This attitude discouraged many with genuine complaints from coming forward. But even where this rule was applied, there were many a slip between the cup and the lip, and many complaints

In spite of these warnings, the Judiciary continued to rely on weak, oversight/ complaint procedures to tackle corruption and failed to adapt its

approach, even when it was clear that traditional methods were failing to contain the epidemic

were not investigated. Although better complaint intake and investigations procedures were introduced by the NJC in 2014, it was still based on “you allege, you prove”!

Second, the NJC disciplinary system is petition driven, not “allegations” driven. It means that even where damaging allegations against judicial officers are made public, unless there is a specific petition by someone against that judicial officer, the NJC will not investigate the story.

Lastly, the NJC was seen, in terms of outcomes, as systematically offering soft-landings to persons found wanting.

Lately, the NJC tightened the noose, referring Judges for prosecution, but whether this represents a new perspective in the fight against judicial corruption in this respect needs to be ascertained, though, in the eyes of many, particularly the DSS, it was too little, and perhaps too late. Over the years, while the NJC thought it was probably doing its job as well as it should, but outside its chambers, the impression was growing that it was quite laid back at best, and was letting illicit lucre become the new currency for judicial justice. With respect to the NJC, its approach did not clearly create sufficient disincentives or deterrents against corruption.

A wake-up call This is a watershed moment for our Judiciary, and ought also to be a time for deep institutional introspection. Yet, something redeeming can come from the turbulence of a crisis, as it did in Kenya not long ago.

At the time of negotiating Kenya’s 2010, the judiciary’s reputation was so bad and public discontent with it so high that the drafters of the 2010 constitution actually considered removing all serving judicial officers and requiring them to reapply. In the end, a new Chief Justice was recruited, and a new Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board was created to vet the suitability of all judges and magistrates in office prior to inauguration of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution.

Many judges and Magistrates have been removed from office by this Board. The new Chief Justice of Kenya has undertaken major reforms to make the judiciary operate in a more transparent and accountable manner.

The Nigerian judiciary can draw some valuable lessons from these unfortunate incidents, the first of which could be to put its house in order. It must now draw a line in the sand and say: never again will we flounder and falter in our commitment to delivering true justice in Nigeria.

Joseph Otteh Director, Access to Justice.

FM 21

Every Monday

Monday, October 24, 2016

Analyzing the costs, benefits of national assets’ sale option to economy

inside

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News

Sage tasks Nigerian firms on accurate tax filing 24

Money

Assessing impact of DMBs’ rising charges on financial inclusion agenda 33

Aviation

Low interest mortgage rekindles tenants’ hope for homes 26

Airlines not immune from collapse – Med-View boss 29

FM 22

Financial Mirror

Monday, October 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Analyzing the costs, benefits of national With its shrinking revenue and inability to fund many projects and programmes provided for in the 2016 fiscal year, the Federal Government is exploring the option of selling some national assets to meet its funding needs. However, the fiscal measure has continued to generate mixed reactions that suggest clearly that majority of Nigerians are not kindly disposed to the remedial option. In this analysis, TOLA AKINMUTIMI & UDEME AKPAN reports that most analysts believe that selling such assets, especially the NLNG, could impact negatively on the nation in the long run. especially to enable government provide the much needed but scarce funds for the implementation of the capital budget.

The minister pointed out that country had lost almost half its expected revenue to the pricing upheavals in the international oil market thereby making it impossible for government to faithfully implement some of the key programmes provided for in the financial year buget.

Udoma, in a statement issued by his Media aide, Akpandem James, to clarify the minister’s position in his remarks made at the 2016 pre- NESG Summit media chat in Lagos stated that “this unfortunate scenario prompted the Economic Management Team to urgently work out a fiscal stimulus plan to generate immediate large injection of funds into the economy through asset sales, advance payment for license rounds, infrastructure concessioning, use of recovered funds, among others, to reduce the funding gap.

“The other option would have been to source for additional loans, beyond the level of borrowing already projected for in the 2016 Budget. This would not be a wise option as it would raise the level of debt service to an unsustainable level”, Akpandem stated.

Sparking the fire of the raging controversies over the desirability or otherwise of selling national assets to meet short-term funding needs, leading industrialist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, argued that the sale of national assets to cushion the biting effects of recession on the economy remained among the few options open to government. .

Budget & Planning Minister, Senator Udo Udoma Dangote, in an interview with a cable television, CNBC, urged the Federal Government to explore other options of raising funds to meet urgent needs rather than depleting the foreign reserves by selling its equities in major assets, such as the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), refineries, financial institutions and airports, among others.

Over the past six weeks, the

‘

We actually commissioned some consultants that conducted the study and at the end of

that study, we were told that if we sold

10 per cent to 15 per cent of our

holding in the oil and gas sector, we could realise up to $40 billion

‘

D

oubtlessly, there is hardly any other issue that has polarized Nigerians in recent public discourse on how to fix the nation’s fiscal crisis than the proposal by the Federal Government to sell some assets in order to bridge the huge deficit in the 2016 budget.

While some, including top functionaries in government and business leaders voted in favour of the option, others in the organised labour, civil society and concerned ordinary Nigerians believe that selling legacy assets like the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas, NLNG, is not in national interest, in view of their socio-economic implications for the country.

Apparently concerned about the parlous state of the economy over the months, particularly its slide into recession for months, the National Economic Council had at its meeting held on September 22 this year given President Buhari the authority to adopt strategies he considers necessary to pull the economy out of the woods.

Speaking on why the government considered the sale of some assets as desirable among other measures being pursued to reverse the recessionary trend of the economy, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma, said that the primary objective of the plan was not to sell off all major critical national assets but to source immediate funds to reflate the economy and implement capital projects in the 2016 budget.

He explained that this option was part of government’s fiscal stimulus plan to get enough money to fund the 2016 budget,

position of Africa’s richest man has continued to elicit mixed reactions from major stakeholders in the economy who, depending on their economic orientations or interests, have been arguing for and against the fiscal option.

For instance, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigerian (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, a former Governor of the apex bank and now the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and a few others have become leading advocates for immediate disposal of the affected assets to bridge public sector funding gap.

Emefiele, in his explanations recalled that when the idea of selling the national assets was first muted last year, it was estimated that accruals from the sale of the assets could be up to $40 billion, pointing out however that with the current flexibility in the foreign exchange market serious deprecitation of the naira, earnings from selling the entities could just yield between $10 billion and $20 billion

now.

He clarified: “In the short run, we can sell assets. You will recall that as at April 2015, I had an interview with Financial Times of London during which even before the government came on board, I had opined that there was need for the government to scale down or sell off some of its investments in oil and gas, particularly in the NNPC and NLNG as at that time when the price of oil was around $50-$55 per barrel “We actually commissioned some consultants that conducted the study and at the end of that study, we were told that if we sold 10 per cent to 15 per cent of our holding in the oil and gas sector, we could realise up to $40 billion. Unfortunately, the markets have become soft. Now, if we choose to do that now, we could still get $10-$15billion or maybe $20 billion”, the CBN Governor added.

Corroborating his successor’s stance, the Sanusi said: “One option is to sell down some assets; sell down some refineries in a manner that does not hurt your strategic interest; sell down some oil assets; sell down some refineries in a transparent manner that gives you value. You can also have options to buy them back later. You should expect basically forex,” he said.

Aligning his views with Emefiele and Sanusi, the Senate President, at the resumption of the National Assembly from a two-month break last month, lent his voice to the clamour for the sale of the assets, describing it as one of the most feasible fiscal options that could help the country address the worrisome challenges of the current recession.

Saraki had earlier told the Financial Times that selling the assets would reduce the level of borrowing by the country from international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), adding that experienced of the past showed that borrowing had not been helpful to the country.

As expected, the raging calls by perceived well-to-do people in the country have continued to attract serious criticisms from notable institutions, organizations, organised labour groups and individuals who believe such calls were not rooted in sound economic logic.

Quite surprisingly, in what appears a major plank for driving

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Financial Mirror

Monday, October 24, 2016

FM 23

assets’ sale option to economy sets, the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, noted that an asset such as NLNG, which yields over $1 billion to the nation every year, remained resourceful to the economy and therefore should not be disposed.

“It is on record that dividends, in excess of $1billion, have accrued annually to the national coffers from the gas company over the past 12 years.

These calls are more worrisome when one considers the history of sovereign assets divestiture in the past.

“Where are the proceeds from sales of the assets in the power sector for instance? With the benefit of hindsight, it is obvious that these assets were distributed to favoured individuals and surrogates of the ruling elite without any appreciable benefits to Nigerians,” NLC stated.

Similarly, the Trade Union Congress, TUC threatened that government should be ready for industrial showdown if it continues with the assets’ sale plan.

In a statement issued to clarify the Congress’ stance, the President, Mr. Bala Kaigama, and the Acting Secretary-General, Mr. Simeso Amachree, stated: “The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria warns those calling for the sale of national shareholdings in Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited and concession of the country’s airports to drop the idea if they do not want to incur the wrath of workers. Those suggestions are

‘

Mr President, the time is now to change course. The capital to bridge the deficit in our budget so that government can build

infrastructure, and meet her social welfare responsibilities to the people can be sourced from the

IMF just like we

have done with the

ADB

‘

the opposing camps, the the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), has condemned the proposed sale of the national assets, describing it as a fiscal option that could accentuate the nation’s economic crisis in the medium and long terms if pursued to logical conclusion.

In his reaction, the then Acting Chairman of the Commission, Shettima Abba Gana, pointed out that selling the assets now would be an unwise and advised the government to secure loans from IMF and subsequently deploy revenues raked in from the various assets to offset the loans over a period of 10 or 20 years.

Gana argued that after the loans would have been offset through revenue from the assets , the country would still continue to enjoy the income from such assets.

To justify its position, the Commission recalled how the National Extractive Industries and Transparency Initiative (NEITI) 2013 audit and financial report on Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, had shown that $12.9 billion was paid to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) by NLNG within a period of eight years which the Corporation failed to remit to the federation account.

It also noted that another audit report indicated that the same company remitted $1.289 billion in 2013 as Federal Government’s dividend from its incomes which showed clearly that NLNG remained a revenue cash cow for the country.

The Commission cautioned that Nigeria should not sell valuable assets such as “NLNG and other strategic national resources…to meet a short-term financial obligation.”

Apart from the Senate President, majority of the lawmakers, spearheaded by Senator George Akume, have also kicked against the proposed sale of the national assets.

As expected, the organised labour groups have also picked holes in the proposed fiscal measure, saying that selling such assets would worsen the unemployment and poverty rates in the country as past privatization and commercialization of national assets has not translated into real economic gains for the country.

In a statement issued to oppose the proposed sale of the as-

Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Engr Elias Mbam

disgraceful and portray them as enemies of the state,” TUC said in a statement.

The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, have also opposed the planned sale of new assets.

Labour is not alone. The former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari on the subject. According to him, the current challenges confronting the nation has nothing to do with what he described as an over-bloated balance sheet where Nigeria must offload assets, but rather “that of low productivity in practically every sector of the economy brought about by a neglect of the economy and delayed action.”

Kalu disclosed that Nigerians applauded the president’s fight against corruption, but “they also want an economy that would allow them to restore their human dignity as men and providers of their families.”

“Mr President, the time is now to change course. The capital to bridge the deficit in our budget so that government can build infrastructure, and meet her social welfare responsibilities to the people can be sourced from the IMF just like we have done with the ADB. The IMF

condition of transparency and fiscal discipline are conditions your Excellency should embrace, since, truly, it is the desire of this administration to roll back the recession.”

“The very low cost of the IMF money and its long tenure will relieve the pressure on our economy. I urge your Excellency to consider, seriously, the waited pros of the IMF bailout.

There are brilliant economists and international financial experts across the country that can assist your administration in structuring a win-win deal with the IMF. We both know who these men and women are.

Carpe Diem, seizes the day sir, and make good on your promise to Nigerians. They are waiting patiently.”

The reason for the stringent opposition to the sale of more national assets appears not to be far-fetched.

Investigations showed that it is based on the many factors, especially the failure of already privatised companies. Take the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria ALSCON, as an example.

Before the shutdown of the company, ALSCON was not only a big company but also the second largest employer of labour in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State. Statistics have it that over 2,500 others worked for support-

services companies. The situation is not the same again as the shutdown of the company has thrown thousands of its former workers into the labour market with untold hardship to their families.

After the controversial sale of the company to RUSAL, the fortune of the company has continued to worsen.

In 2007, production of aluminium hovered at about 11.4 percent. In 2008 the plant operated at 4.97 percent of capacity, which resulted in RUSAL recording a loss of $49.9 million.

The company also recorded a loss of $22.97 million in 2012.

The company director of Public/Government Relations, Tatyana Smirnova, is said to have attributed the development to mainly high production costs, which averaged $2,700 per ton.

Despite this, Nigerian Gas Company accused the company for its inability to settle gas supply bills which amounted to $34.4 million in 2014.

Besides ALSCON, other privatised companies, particularly Ajaokuta Steel Company and Nigerian Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) have not fared better.

For instance, expectations that the sale of Ajaokuta Steel Compnay would enable the country meet local demand for steel, generate additional foreign exchange through export of steel as well as create employment for citizens have been dashed.

Except for a few privatized companies such as NICON Insurance and the concessioned assets at the ports, experiences of privatized or commercialized former public entities showed clearly the initial objectives of using the sales to generate employment, improve infrastructure and revenue to government are usually defeated in the long run by a combination of militating, government-created, factors.

Financial Mirror’s investigations showed that most analysts believed that selling the assets for the purposes of meeting short-term funding needs remained not the best of options, particularly when low-interest loans could be sourced from the international financial market to make up for the shortfall in revenue targets for the 2016 fiscal year.

FM 24

Financial Mirror

Monday, October 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Taxation

Sage tasks Nigerian firms on accurate tax filing Stories: Tola Akinmutimi

O

ne of the global accounting and financial solutions and services providers, Sage, has advised companies in the country to put in place systems and processes that enable them to report accurately on revenue and expenses and to streamline tax submissions.

It noted that this fiscal option had become imperative now as the various tiers of government are intensifying their tax collection drives in the face of shrinking earnings from crude oil exports.

According to the consulting outfit, with Nigerian tax authorities under pressure to find new sources of revenue, companies that do not yet comply with tax regulations must work fast to get their books in order and pay their tax dues.

Regional Director for Sage in West Africa, Magnus Nmonwu, with the federal and state tax authorities taking a hard line towards non-compliance as they race to bring in new tax revenues to compensate for falling oil revenues, companies that fail to report accurately on revenue and expenses and to streamline tax submissions will be at the receiving end of sanctions.

Sage noted further that the Federal In-

land Revenue Service (FIRS) reported that it had been able to add 700,000 companies to the tax base by deploying inspectors armed with notebooks to register businesses and individuals.

These companies are then audited to check whether they have paid their taxes.

The FIRS has also approved a 45-day tax waiver window on penalty and interest accruing from outstanding tax liabilities for the period, 2013 to 2015.

“Those businesses that have not complied to date may benefit from this waiver to get their affairs in order. This means companies would only need to pay the principle amount of tax they owe, which could save them a substantial amount of money.

“However, those that don’t comply are bound to face stiff penalties, including fines, punitive interest, and possible criminal prosecution of CEOs and board members, and closure of their offices.

“To take advantage of this golden opportunity, many companies will need to put in place systems and processes that enable them to get better visibility into their finances at a fast pace,” Nmonwu added.

Nmonwu explained that the tough tone from Nigeria’s tax authorities showed that

Dangote seeks lower tax rate, reliefs for SMEs

T

he President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has canvassed the need for governments in the country to mitigate the fiscal burdens of Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs, through tax reliefs.

Specifically, the industrialist canvassed the streamlining of various taxes and levies at all tiers of government with a view to reducing the incidence of multiple taxes which small and medium businesses are being compelled to pay, particularly at state and local government levels.

In a statement issued in Lagos last week, Dangote explained that the small

President Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote

and medium enterprises would perform better if given tax holidays or seasonal exceptions.

He stated: “With the way the economy is going now, we are in a time when the government should loosen some of its tight regulations so that businesses can grow. Small and medium enterprises are at the risk of taxes from Local, State and Federal Governments, and other regular taxes that agencies demand from them.

“This is not to say that taxes are not part of running a business. “Of course, business owners should pay taxes, but the channels should not be too much in such a way that will discourage them.

“We also urge government to look into the area of concessions for businesses at this time, in order to boost their capacities”, the industrialist added.

As a strategic option to sustain their operations, he advised the small and medium enterprises owners and new startups not to spend all their profits, avoid over projection and commit their funds to areas that could help them sustain their operations profitably.

Dangote identified one of the greatest problems of Nigerian-owned businesses as the inability of most of their owners to retain profit for the purposes of growing the enterprises.

He therefore urged entrepreneurs to operate their businesses with bankable proposals in order to attract investments.

companies can no longer risk non-payment of tax or incorrect remittances of taxes to the relevant government agencies, whether the reason is deliberate evasion or an accidental oversight.

“One of the most common reasons for non-compliance is that many organisations don’t have automated systems for accurate recordkeeping, precise calculations and deductions, and preparation and submissions of necessary statutory returns.

“Against the backdrop of growing regulatory complexity, organisations need to realise that spreadsheets and other manual methods are no longer sufficient to meet their needs. Companies must instead implement solutions that streamline capturing of transactions, automate payroll calculations, processes and put visibility of the business in the hands of managers to enable them comply easily”, he said.

According to him, such solutions also make it simpler to keep track of annual changes to tax regulations that impact on payroll tax calculations and various changes in legislation, adding that these solutions help organisations to manage other challenges such as reducing the risk of internal fraud and getting better insight into business performance.

Actg Chairman FIRS, Fowler

Nmonwu noted further that federal and state governments were eager to expand their tax bases, and are investing heavily in modernising and streamlining tax administration.

“Today’s technology gives Nigerian companies the power to control their businesses from the palm of their hand.

We connect our customers to accountants and partners with real-time and intuitive information about their business.

“Using technology streamlines compliance so companies can focus on their core business operations”, the tax expert added.

UK tax gap falls to all-time record low

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he UK tax gap fell in 2014–2015 to its lowest-ever level of 6.5 percent, official statistics released on October 20 show.

The Government said the statistics demonstrate the significant progress that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has made in reducing the tax gap from 8.3 percent in 2005–2006. It noted that if the tax gap had remained at the 2005–2006 level of 8.3 percent, the tax gap would have grown to GBP47bn (USD57.5bn) and the country would have been GBP11bn a year poorer.

The Government said this year’s tax gap figure highlights the positive impact that HMRC’s digital transformation is having in making it easier for people to pay the right amount of tax. In particular, the introduction of Real Time Information

for the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system has led to more accurate recording of information on payroll taxes, and the shift to VAT online has helped bring the VAT gap in 2014–15 to its lowest level of 10.3 percent (GBP12.7bn), it said.

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Jane Ellison, said: “This government is committed to tackling tax evasion and avoidance wherever it occurs. The UK has one of the lowest tax gaps in the world. By investing GBP1.8bn since 2010 in boosting HMRC compliance capabilities, we’ve brought our tax gap down to its lowest-ever level. And to make it even easier for people to pay the right tax in the future, we’ve invested GBP1.3bn in new digital tools.”(Source – tax-news. com)

Italian tax amnesty to include domestic cash holdings

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he Italian Government has proposed including undeclared domestic assets, including cash and bearer bonds, in a relaunch of its voluntary disclosure program (VDP) next year.

A reopened VDP, as announced at the same time as the 2017 Budget on October 15, is forecasted to yield a further EUR2.6bn (USD2.9bn). It is expected to open from January 1, 2017, after the original program that closed on November 30 last year provided EUR4bn in additional tax revenue.

Under the VDP, participants have to agree to pay all outstanding taxes when declaring their assets, but are then subject

to much-reduced administrative and criminal penalties.

Within its new provisions, declarations of previously unreported cash holdings in Italy will be subject to a 35 percent withholding tax, and to an investigation by the Italian Revenue Agency to ensure the assets are not the fruit of fraud or money laundering.

Both Premier Matteo Renzi and Minister of the Economy and Finance Pier Carlo Padoan have stressed that the terms of the VDP are therefore “a long way from being comparable to a tax amnesty.”(Source – tax-news.com)

Monday, October 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FM 25

Financial Mirror

Capital Market SEC takes financial literacy campaign to schools Johnson Okanlawon

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o close the financial literacy gap in the nation and deepen the level of financial awareness about the Nigeria’s capital market, the Securities and Exchange Commission is set to carry its awareness campaign across the country.

This is in alignment with the forthcoming World Savings Day celebration by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the entire financial sector.

Speaking on the programme, the SEC’s Technical Committee on the Financial Literacy Week (TCFLW), which comprises representatives from regulatory bodies, capital market operators and the media, said plans are being concluded to hold spe-

cial programmes across the geopolitical zones of the country, to coincide the world savings day.

The Chairperson of the TCFLW, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sanni said to begin with, multiple fora would be held in Kano (Kano State) to represent the Northern zone, Port Harcourt (Rivers State) to represent the Southern zone and Abeokuta (Ogun State) for Western Nigeria.

“The literacy drive and awareness campaign will be extended to other locations as we move on. However, we are beginning with these three locations and this would commence from the 31st October to the 4th of November,” she said.

Specifically, the event will hold in Kano by the end of this month Port Harcourt and Abeo-

kuta early next month. .Sanni, who said the literacy drive and awareness campaign, was in line with the Capital Market 10-Year Master- Plan of the commission, noted that it is very necessary, considering the generally low level of finan-

cial literacy and capital market awareness across the country.

According to her, in Nigeria, financial illiteracy, amongst other factors, could be said to have contributed to the crash of the Capital Market in 2008/2009.

“The public is largely unfa-

miliar with the workings and benefits of the capital market.

The loss of investor confidence in the market due to crisis that hit the banking industry and capital market some years back, partly resulted from lack of financial knowledge.

FBN Capital to host business leaders this week

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BN Capital Limited, the Investment Banking and Asset Management subsidiary of FBN Holdings will host business leaders across various sectors this week in Lagos.

The annual conference, which is now in its 6th year, provides a forum for investors to interact with leaders of the economy, key policy makers in government and senior executives of leading corporate institutions.

According to the Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications, FBN Capital, Lolade Sasore, the theme of this year’s event “An economy at a crossroads: thriving in the face of new realities” will be explored through a combination of presentations and interactive sessions with some of the foremost reformers in government, business leaders and senior executives in both the public and

private sectors of the economy.

She explained that with the event, the company aims to contribute meaningfully to the discourse on how to return the Nigerian economy to growth, temper inflation, boost job creation, and increase awareness on how the government is responding to on-going fiscal and monetary challenges.

“Over the past five years, we have hosted the annual conference in line with our commitment to facilitating the debate on developing our market, and promoting Nigeria as one of the leading investment destinations in sub-Saharan Africa for both domestic and foreign investors.”

“We will discuss the subject of fiscal stimulus and an expansionary posture; Nigeria’s stance on attracting foreign investment, and explore the workings of the liberalized FX markets.

Group CEO for Ecobank Ade Adeyemi (left) and Division President for Sub-Sahara Africa/Head of Financial Inclusion, International Markets, Mastercard, Mr. Daniel Monehin, after signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Mastercard and Ecobank.

Wema Bank profit drops 2.26% in 9 months

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ema Bank has reported a profit after tax of N1.27billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, a decline of2.26 per cent when compared to N1.299billion recorded in the same period of 2015.

The bank’s gross earnings however rose 16.4 per cent to N37.9billion majorly due to growth in interest income, from N32.6billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2015.

According to the result presented to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, increase in interest expenses by 43,7 per cent to N19,14billion led to a decline in

net interest income by 3.57 per cent.

Improved recoveries recorded on loans led to a drop in net impairment loss on financial assets by 65.18 per cent.

The Managing Director of the company, Mr. Segun Oloketuyi said the result shows modest improvement in operating indices despite the slowdown in the operating environment.

He noted that the domestic environment remained largely strained, as the country’s August 2016 manufacturing and nonmanufacturing data continued to show underperformance(s) at 42.1

Microsoft shares at new high as cloud focus pays off

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icrosoft’s focus on cloud computing has helped it deliver better-thanexpected quarterly profits, sending its shares to an all-time high.

The software giant posted a $4.7bn (£3.8bn) profit for the three months to September.

Chief executive Mr Satya Nadella has focused on building Microsoft’s expertise in cloudbased services amid slowing PC sales.

Shares rose 6 per cent to $60.73

in after-hours trading.

The previous high was $59.97 in December 1999, close to the peak of the dot-com boom, shortly before Steve Ballmer replaced Bill Gates as chief executive.

When Nadella succeeded Mr Ballmer in 2014, Microsoft’s shares were trading below $37.

Investor confidence in Microsoft has been restored by focusing on mobile and cloud computing rather than its traditional products such as the Windows

operating system and Office software.

Individuals and businesses are increasingly accessing computing services such as servers, databases, software and storage that are provided over the internet (“the cloud”).

And Nadella said the changing business environment meant this was paying off.

“It’s not just the Silicon Valley startups anymore; it is the core enterprise that is also be-

coming a digital company. And we are well-positioned to serve them,” Nadella said.

Revenue from Microsoft’s Office 365 cloud service increased 8% in the quarter while revenue from its Surface tablet - pitched as a rival to the iPad - rose 38 per cent.

And while revenue from its flagship Xbox - Microsoft’s games console - fell, the number of people playing online rose to 47 million from 39 million a year.

index points and 43.7 index points respectively.

Oloketuyi explained that inflation maintained an upward trend from 17.6 per cent (August 2016) to 17.9 per cent (September 2016), though at a slower pace (May – September 2016), as rising interest rate and foreign exchange illiquidity continue to impact prices.

“Despite the harsh operating environment, Wema Bank continues to record growth, as gross earnings increased by 16.36% to N37.89 billion from N32.57 billion in the same period last year.

“The bank optimized its balance sheet, as loans to customers rose by 20.78 per cent to N177.01 billion with interest income expanding by 20.12 per cent to N31.93 billion compared to last year while fees and commission increased by 16.79 per cent to N4.41 billion,” he added.

He stressed that the bank maintained its commitment to innovation, introducing *945# and other digital initiatives.

“These efforts continue to engender confidence with our customers, leading to a growth in savings deposits by 18.10 per cent from N35.58 billion as at December 2015 to N42.02 billion as at the end of the period.

FM 26

Financial Mirror

Monday, October 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Real Estate

Mortgage Low interest mortgage rekindles tenants’ Capsule hope for homes Sylva Emeka-Okereke

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eprieve appears in sight in the nation’s housing sector, as the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company, NMRC, has concluded plans to return to capital market to issue fresh bond that would enable it raise N20 billion for increased liquidity in mortgage market.

Recently, the NMRC visited the capital market, where it raised N8 billion to refinanced mortgages originated by six mortgage institutions, including Stanbic IBTC, Imperial Homes and Sterling Bank.

Others include, Sun Trust Mortgage Bank, Trustbond Mortgage Bank and Homebase Mortgage Bank, which got N1.8 billion,

N1.7 billion, N1.6 billion, N1.3 billion, N700 million and N500 million respectively.

Currently, Nigeria is said to have a housing deficits of over 17 million, thus requiring about N59.50 trillion to close.

This deficit, according to experts, is traceable to lack of mortgage access such that houses are built through own savings, which fuels temptation for corrupt practices as many who want to save legitimately take a life time to save, yet cannot afford to buy or build houses.

NMRC is a private sector-driven company with the public purpose of developing primary and secondary mortgage markets by raising long-term funds from the domestic capital market as well

with Fasanya-Osilaja

The 10th Abuja Housing Show Conference 2016

as foreign markets for providing accessible and affordable housing in Nigeria.

The company, according to reports, is one of Nigeria’s first successful link between the private financial sector and the public sector, with a mission to break barriers of home ownership by providing liquidity, affordability, accessibility and stability to the housing market in the country.

Expectation appears high on the ground that when the company raises the N20 billion by the first quarter of 2017, more mortgage institutions, especially the primary mortgage banks, PMBs, would be refinanced and more mortgage applicants would be able to access mortgage to buy or build their homes.

Housing estate in Ajah, Lagos

Nigerian property market operates on a ‘buyer-beware system’ –Experts Sylva Emeka-Okereke

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perators in the nation’s real estate sector have noted with dismay that Nigeria’s real estate market operates on a ‘buyer-beware’ system.

Disclosing that this slogan is more visible across the nation’s metropolis, where spray-painted signs on numerous homes shout warnings- “This house is not for sale”, they said that such messages thwart a long-time con-game in which scammers sell homes they don’t actually own to unsuspecting buyers.

Hinging this on corruption everywhere, including government circle, the experts said government workers have long demanded bribes in order to obtain official documents needed for buying property, hence, once a deal is done, problems emerge.

An expert, who pleaded for

anonymity said ‘’armed with machetes, criminal gangs so well established they have a name, ‘omo onile’, roam Lagos building sites looking to extort money before allowing construction to begin.

He also noted that government

makes liberal use of eminent domain, regularly seizing property, sometimes with extreme consequences, noting that this month alone, nearly 33,000 people had been evicted from a seaside community in Lekki suburb of Lagos.

Building materials’ prices soar in Lagos as recession worsens Isaac Asabor

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here are indications that the ongoing recession in the country has started to take its toll on the prices of building materials, particularly in Lagos markets, where National Mirror carried out its findings from.

Financial Mirror survey showed that the prices of building materials had been on steady rise since the month of July 2016, thereby casting pall on the hope of some residents in the state, who are already carrying out housing projects or are planning to-

ward embarking on housing projects.

Also, some residents that planned toward the replacement of dilapidating materials in their already completed and occupied properties also condemned the escalating increase of building materials as the trend is negatively affecting their budgets.

For instance, at the popular Amu market in Mushin, Lagos, a 50kg bag of cement that was sold at N1,600 (One thousand six hundred naira) in the month of July, 2016 is now sold at N2,200 (Two thousand, two hundred naira)

H

ello all.

I have had the most eventful summer, with six speaking engagements in the last three months, phew! I was privileged to be a Guest Speaker at the recently concluded Abuja Housing Show in Nigeria, and I just had to share my experience with you all. The theme of the conference was “Expanding Access to Affordable Housing in Africa”. I was absolutely blown away by the strong turn-out of out of Government officials and industry magnates at the very pinnacle of their industries. Guests and Speakers at the event included the Honourable Minister for Power, works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (S.A.N), the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Dr. Chi Akporji the ED of the National Mortgage Refinance Company, Arc. E. Alozie, Head of the PPP department of the Fed. Ministry of Work and Housing, Ex-Ministers, State Commissioners for Housing of several states and other high level officials, as well as industry juggernauts like Hakeem Ogunniran of UPDC, Sir Mbaka of Platinum Mortgage Bank, Mr. Chime of REDAN, Prof, Nubi and Alh. Saadiya Aminu of Urban Shelter and many more.

Both the Hon. Minister and the Senate President spoke at the opening ceremonies, and itemized several policy targets for the Federal Government in this area. Affordable Housing facilitation was clearly the main topic on their minds, and they both pledged government support and possible financial funding for programs with serious minded focus on helping the lower income buyer make the transition from home rental to home ownership. The Honourable Minister has apparently tasked the industry to come up with a clear definition of the term “Affordable Housing”, a development which I found to be both a challenge and a burden.

This issue came up time and again throughout the conference and I left the event with the realization that there is a LOT of talent in Nigeria, and in many other emerging markets, in the industry, and they will come up with a workable definition.

Why was this conference necessary? The statistics continue to make it a no-brainer. With over 70% of the Nigerian population being under 30, the need for Affordable Housing cannot be viewed as anything but critical. I was shocked to learn that as of today, Nigerian tenants spend 60 % to 70% of their income on rent, versus the 30% advocated by the United Nations. Obviously, the inadequacy of the housing stock, as well as the almost impossible chances of obtaining a mortgage (with some mortgage processes going on for as long as four years!) is a major factor for this depressing stat. Meanwhile, the housing industry seems to be so focused on building new construction projects, that there are actually existing housing projects which have deteriorated into slums that could potentially be renovated for urban regeneration, and housing access.

I was very impressed to learn that some States have been able to implement affordable housing with an element of social housing. A State Housing Commissioner enlightened us that his state had identified a need to participate up to 54% in equity, to make their affordable housing units actually affordable. While there is obviously no one size fits all approach, just the fact that the governments are sitting and working out solutions to their citizens’ issues, is extremely encouraging.

Affordable housing, when seriously addressed by the government, would create millions of jobs in an economy where the unemployment rate, especially for the younger generation, is horrendous to contemplate. So much work still needs to be done in so many areas, with everything from amenities to roads to security to actual construction needing improvement. It would be a real coup if this government is able to advance the cause of affordable housing while creating gainful employment for the people, many of whom would be the ones qualified to purchase those same homes. Obviously, one of the biggest issues to be addressed remains that of improper access. There must be a clear and transparent process for the allocation of homes that carry the designation of “affordable”, to eliminate (or at least drastically reduce) cronyism and corruption in the allocation of these properties. A low income earner that is able to pay rent must be considered able to pay a mortgage, It is one thing to cap the homebuyer’s purchase price to an affordable level, but it is in my opinion, not right to automatically consider them not entitled to home ownership. After all, they are paying rent to someone somewhere. Home ownership must be the right of the qualified general public, and not just a privilege of the rich few.

I welcome your questions and comments on this article. Please find me on LinkedIn and on Twitter (@NikefinancePro). Have a wonderful week.

Financial Mirror

Monday, October 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FM 27

Insurance Experts urge Nigerians to embrace Takaful Insurance Stories: Saka Olalekan

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nlike the conventional insurance where the insured loses everything, if there is no disaster on insured risks, Takaful Insurance guarantees profit sharing between the insuring public and the insuring company, said experts.

The experts, who spoke at the Takaful Insurance Symposium organised by Noor Takaful Plc in Lagos at the weekend, explained that Takaful insurance remained an inclusive product and services that anyone can buy regardless of faith, culture or religion.

To ensure its general acceptance, they canvassed the for rigorous industry-wide sensitisation and training on this form of insurance to increase the knowledge of Nigerians on its relevance to their well being.

The Chairman, Noor Takaful Insurance Plc, Amb. Shuaibu Ahmed, said Takaful is about joint guarantee, whereby individuals in a community jointly guarantee themselves against any loss or damage.

This function, he said, is undertaken by insurance companies whereby the insuring public transfers their financial risks of loss or damage of their assets or lives to the insurance companies at a price called premium.

According to him, “Under a Takaful contract, the insuring public can make charitable donation, called Takaful premium to a common fund known as Takaful risk fund, from which they may draw funds whenever they are facing defined financial losses covered under the Takaful contract. Unlike an insurance company, a Takaful operator does not own the Taka-

CIIN takes insurance awareness campaing to Kano ....donates books to schools

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he Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN)phas promoted insurance awareness and education in Kano State, as well as donated insurance textbooks to some secondary schools in the state.

CIIN President, Lady Isioma Chukwuma, said the campaign was part of the institute’s statutory functions.

The institute’s visit to Kano commenced with a courtesy visit to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi 11 at the Emir’s Palace, where 100 copies of the institute’s published ‘Insurance Textbook

Chukwuma

for Secondary Schools’ was donated to the schools situated within the Emir’s Palace.

Responding to the gesture, the Emir commended CIIN for this initiative, and encouraged the institute to upscale its drive in insurance awareness creation and penetration in Nigeria as it is very low compared to what obtains in other countries. He however called on the business community especially in the northern region to embrace insurance as a matter of necessity in order to avoid total losses in the event of unforeseen occurrences.

In a similar vein, the institute also donated 400 copies of insurance textbooks to the Kano State Ministry of Education which was received by the Permanent Secretary of the Kano State Ministry of Education, Alhaji Danlami Garba.

Lady Chukwuma, while making the presentation, noted that the donation was borne out of the desire of the CIIN to further strengthen the teaching and study of insurance in the country. She further expressed the institute’s desire to partner with the Kano State Ministry of Education to train prospective insurance teachers in Kano state on how to effectively teach insurance at the secondary school level.

Kari

ful fund; it only manages the fund for a fees and share of the profits from the fund.”

While stating that the Takaful concept is a better concept compared to the conventional insurance, he noted that there is still a dearth of knowledge on Takaful, saying, Noor Takaful Plc comes to contribute to the developments and deepening of this new concept, thus, becoming the first fullfledged Takaful operator in the country.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Mohammed Kari, said the commission issued a robust guideline on Takaful Insurance to facilitate transition to fully-fledged operation and also to provide a level playing field for all operators in the Nigerian insurance market.

In addition to the three Takaful window operators, he said the commission has licensed two fully-fledged Takaful companies of which Noor is one of them.

Kari, who was represented by Director, Authorisation and Policy, NAICOM, Mr. Pius Agboola, said Takaful insurance is a new line of business that many people are completely ignorant of its operation in other climes, stating that the challenge of conventional insurance is equally applicable to Takaful Insurance. Saying that the growth of Takaful business in Nigeria requires a highly trained personnel to drive its operations forward, he added that building both human and financial capital within its jurisdiction is a key success factor for achieving the country’s objective of becoming the hub of insurance and Takaful in Africa.

Boff &Company assures improved customer service

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off & Company Insurance Brokers Limited has promised its teeming clients nationwide, better customer services, as it will continue to roll out competitive products and services in the insurance industry.

Speaking at the 25th anniversary and unveiling of its new brand identity in Lagos at the weekend, Chairman/CEO, Boff &Co Insurance Brokers, Mr. Babajide Olatunde-Agbeja, said the company had been paying dividends to its shareholders since its 7th year of operations and also ensuring that genuine claims are paid promptly.

He equally calling on insurance industry players to always celebrate their success and make the public aware of who they are and what they do, as this will go a long way to raise insurance awareness in the country.

According to him, insuring through brokers remains the best because brokers will always fight on behalf of its clients to ensure that the clients get their claims settled from their insurers.

While thanking the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) for the implementation of the No Premium No Cover policy in insurance industry, he said this initiative stabilised the industry as companies were getting their premiums as at when due.

To celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary, he said the company had donated an Information Communication Technology (ICT) room to Ibadan Boys High School to enable the students to be computer literate.

Earlier, Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Mohammed Kari, represented by Deputy Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. George Onekhena, had appreciated the role of insurance brokers play in insurance industry, saying NAICOM is doing all it can, to ensure that the industry does not only grow, but, can compete favourably among its counterparts in the world.

Most of the restructuring and policies we embarked upon has given our insurance industry an international face, he pointed out.

FM 28

Financial Mirror

Monday, October 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

CSEA tasks CBN on dollar sales directives’ enforcement Tola Akinmutimi

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he Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), a leading economic think-tank, has advised the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, on the need to sustain its current efforts aimed at improving the efficiency of the foreign exchange market by ensuring that its dollar sales directives are strictly adhered to.

The advice was contained in the Centre’s latest Nigeria Economic Update, Issue 44, published on October 14 and sourced

by Financial Mirror.

While noting that Nigeria’s external reserve recorded considerable downward pressure between September 2016 and October 2016, it however reported improved naira exchange rate during the period due to improved forex supply by the apex bank.

Analysts at the Centre project-

ed that sustained appreciation of the naira remained healthy for the economy as it could force currency hoarders to sell-off more dollar/pounds/euros, and by so doing, engender a further appreciation in the value of the national currency in the succeeding months.

CSEA stated: “While courageous efforts have been made to improve forex supply at the risk of depleting reserves, the CBN is strongly advised to supplement these with efforts aimed at ensuring that its dollar sales directives are strictly adhered to.”

Reflecting on the performance of the nation’s capital market during the review period, the Centre noted that total investment transactions at the NSE increased from July to August, 2016, with the latest figures on domestic and domestic portfolio investment flows improving by 34.3 percent (from N45.91 billion

Air France, KLM partners MTN, offer 25% airfare discount Olusegun Koiki

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ir France – KLM has partnered with the MTN Nigeria to package an unbeatable offer of up to 25 per cent discount on Business class tickets to London.

The partnership between the two companies would offer this discount from October to December 2016. In addition, customers would enjoy free incoming calls on the MTN network while outside the country.

Speaking on the partnership, Commercial Director, Air France KLM, Nigeria and Ghana, Arthur Dieffenthaler said that the partners “sharea bank of loyal customers who frequently use both our products not only in Nigeria, but also abroad. Roaming outside Nigeria, they need to know that we care, that is why we decided to create an unbeatable offer for the end consumer.”

On how the loyalty offering would run, Dieffenthaler went on to reveal that the customers who intend to take up this offer would receive a special code from MTN as a unique identifier and send travel plans to a dedicated Air France KLM email address quoting the unique code, amongst other information.

Air France would then send a confirmation response to the customer, advising on travel itinerary and giving details of the

discounted price. Once payment is effected, an e-ticket is issued to the customer.

The period of purchase of the tickets runs from the 14th to 31st October 2016; while tickets remain valid till the end of December, which means that beneficiary customers must travel and return before 31 December 2016.

The General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN, Richard Iweanoge, said the partnership was conceived towards rewarding our current Platinum customers at this time.

He said that this was one of MTN’s ways of supporting its loyal customers as they engage in their regular travel for different purposes.

to N61.65 billion) and 26.6 percent (from N44.28 billion to N56.06 billion) respectively.

It clarified: “Domestic investment marginally outperformed its foreign counterpart. This reflects an improvement in investor confidence likely on the account of the increase in stock market efficiency following a reduction in listings fee in August, 20163”

CSEA reported that given such positive feedback, the authorities of the NSE should continuously endeavor to implement measures to improve stock market efficiency, and make the market appealing to investors.

On the oil and gas sector, the organization noted that Nigeria’s petroleum imports data showed a significant decline in the quantity

L-R: Executive Director, Heritage Bank, Mary Akpobome; Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Sports/Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Ayodeji Tinubu; Heritage Bank-Lagos State Skoolympics Ambassador, Mary Onyali and Divisional Head, Retail/ SME, Heritage Bank, Ori Ogba, during the Heritage Bank-Lagos State Skoolympics Stakeholders meeting in Lagos…recently.

Nigeria to issue $1bn Eurobond before year end ….as overnight lending rates fall after cash injections Udo Onyeka

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s a way of generating funds to boost the nation’s economy the Federal Government has said it plans to sell a Eurobond worth $1 billion before the end of the year.

Speaking in London at the weekend, the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun who informed managers for the sale of the bond would be appointed

this week, said the Eurobond was part of Nigeria’s plans to borrow a total of N1.8 trillion, $5.8 billion from abroad and at home to fund an expected budget deficit of N2.2 trillion this year.

According to Adeosun who said she hoped oil prices would stabilise around $42 and $50 per barrel, even as oil edged higher last Friday, with Brent crude futures 12 cents higher at $51.50, noted that “we have headroom

PartnerRe acquires Aurigen for $286m

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artnerRe Ltd. (“PartnerRe”) and Aurigen Capital Limited (“Aurigen” or the “Company”) last Friday announced a definitive agreement for PartnerRe to acquire 100% of the outstanding ordinary shares of Aurigen, a North American life reinsurance company.

Since its formation in 2007, Aurigen has leveraged its technical expertise, longstanding relationships, and local knowledge to serve clients and is today a top-five life reinsurer in Canada based on recurring

and value of products (PMS, AGO and NHK) between 2015 and 2016.

Specifically, it reported that the value of imports significantly declined year-on-year (January to April) by 30.4 percent to N571 billion in 2016, adding that the huge decline in the import of (refined) petroleum products likely reflects the lower (unrefined) crude oil production/exports.

new reinsurance business. The Company has also been providing mortality risk solutions in the U.S. since 2013. Aurigen’s gross premiums written in 2015 were USD 110 million, with the Company delivering a gross premiums CAGR of 16% over the last five years.

PartnerRe’s President and CEO, Emmanuel Clarke, welcomed the deal saying: “Aurigen is a well-respected life reinsurance partner in the North American market and will be a highly complementary addition to PartnerRe’s existing

business. This acquisition is expected to be financially accretive to PartnerRe’s book value per share in 2017 and aligns particularly well with our overall strategy to grow our Life and Health business.

Aurigen will expand our life reinsurance footprint in Canada and the U.S. with virtually no overlap in market coverage.

“We look forward to welcoming Aurigen to PartnerRe and to bringing all the benefits of PartnerRe’s strong balance sheet, excellent ratings and global franchise to existing and

and we are very fortunate in that regard, we have very low debt to GDP ratio”.

Adeosun also said the government had spent N770 billion on capital expenditures since President Buhari signed the 2016 budget in May. Meanwhile, overnight interbank rate fell on Friday after the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, repaid matured treasury bills and cash meant for government’s capital projects reached the system, traders said.

Overnight lending rates fell to 11 percent, below the CBN’s benchmark 14 percent, from 15.5 percent the day before. Rates had risen above 100 percent at the start of the week because of a central bank dollar auction.

Traders said the bank repaid about N138.7 billion in matured treasury bills on Thursday to boost liquidity.

They also said the market was flush with cash after the central bank sold fewer dollars than expected and returned excess naira, adding that the CBN also sold $313 million at a special auction meant to clear a backlog of dollar demand.

Financial Mirror

Monday, October 24, 2016

Aviation Airlines not immune from collapse – Med-View boss

shegzzy4live2000@yahoo.co.uk 08186007273

When House Committee seeks participation in agencies’ in-house trainings

T

T

Managing Director, Med-view Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole [left] being presented with the IATA Operational and Safety Audit, IOSA, certificate from the IATA Regional Manager, West Africa, Mr. Samson Fatokun at the airline’s corporate headquarters in Lagos recently. With them from left include Engr Lookman Animashaun, Executive Director, Technical, Capt Godfrey Ogbogu, Head, Flight Operations and Ewemade Atake, Aviation Solutions Manager, IATA

Tax, VAT, and navigational service charge among several others.

Bankole explained that the charges should be harmonised by the various agencies and companies in order to help the carriers stay afloat.

Apart from this, he also lamented the price of Jet A1, otherwise known as aviation fuel in the local parlance.

He emphasised that the product that was barely N98 per litre about a year ago, has grown to between N204 and N240 per litre depending on the airport an airline is buying from.

He also mentioned the free-fall of naira against major foreign currencies especially the dollar as another challenge that is facing the carriers, saying that the industry is dollarized while none of aircraft spare parts is manufactured in the country.

Real-time bag tracking to save $3bn for industry–IATA, SITA

T

he global deployment of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, which can accurately track passengers’ baggage in real time across key points in the journey, can enable the air transport industry to save more than $3 billion over the next seven years.

Global IT provider SITA and the International Air Transport Association, IATA revealed that the highly accurate tracking rates of RFID technology could reduce the number of mishandled bags by up to 25 per cent by 2022, mainly through efficient tracking.

The SITA/IATA business case, released during the week at the IATA World Passenger

Ikechi Uko

Symposium taking place in Dubai, outlines how this would provide a major saving for airlines and deliver more certainty for passengers. Initial deployment of RFID by airlines, such as Delta Air Lines, shows a 99 per cent success rate for tracking bags.

In particular, RFID would address mishandling during transfer from one flight to another, one of the key areas identified

by SITA and IATA where the technology could help improve baggage handling rates.

RFID technology would ensure that airports, airlines and ground handlers are able to keep track of bags at every step of the journey and ensure the right bag is loaded onto the correct flight.

The technology also supports IATA’s Resolution 753 that required by 2018 airlines keep track of every item of baggage from start to finish.

The deployment of RFID would build on the already significant savings delivered by the smart use of technology for baggage management.

According to the SITA Baggage Report 2016, technology

has helped reduce the number of mishandled bags by 50 per cent from a record 46.9 million mishandled bags in 2007, saving the industry $22.4 billion. This improvement comes despite a sharp rise in passenger numbers over the same period.

FM 29

Airside

Stories: Olusegun Koiki he Managing Director of Med-View Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole has called on the Federal Government to show more supports to existing indigenous carriers in order to help them remain in the air.

This is even as he said that with the current unfriendly situation in the industry and the country at large, there is no airline that is beyond collapse.

Speaking at the presentation of the International Air Transport Association, IATA, Operational Safety Audit, IOSA, certificate to the airline at its headquarters in Lagos last week, Bankole decried what he called multiple and enormous charges imposed on the carriers by agencies and companies operating in the sector.

According to him, some of the charges are landing and parking, en route, fuel surcharge, Passenger Service Charge, PSC, Ticket Sales Charge, TSC, Value Added

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

he visit of House Committee on Aviation to agencies recently was not different from the past. Expectedly, the members seek to know the financial status and implementation of approved budgets to the parastatals.

But along the line, committee members delved into in-house training of the agencies’ personnel. They specifically called on the agencies’ helmsmen to include them in the in-house training of their technical personnel, arguing that this would enable them to have a firmer grip of the industry.

Airside says this request by the committee members is unacceptable. For them to grab the technicalities of the industry, they have to read more on aviation, which can simply be done online.

Or better still, the members collect allowances regularly from the Assembly, some of the funds could be diverted for self-training by attending conferences and seminars within and outside the country if they are really serious about increasing their knowledge about the industry.

Airside insists this cap in hand approach by honourable members must stop.

As foreign airlines gradually shun Nigerian routes

T

he Nigerian aviation industry is facing a battle of its life. The hitherto bubbling industry is gradually taking the backseat; no thanks to the downturn in the nation’s economy.

Before now, several foreign airlines were battling to fly directly into the major cities in the country; Lagos. Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano, but since the beginning of the year, the foreign carriers are shrinking their operations on most of these airports with others changing their aircraft to smaller one.

The latest of such airlines to suspend operations in one of the major airports in the country are Kenya Airways and Emirates, which announced

planned stoppage of Abuja route by the end of the month.

The airlines cited lack of patronage from air travellers as one of the reasons for the suspension of the route. Though, the airlines still operate direct flights to Lagos, but about two months ago, Emirates reduced its weekly frequencies to Lagos to seven from the initial 14.

Airside says this is the right time for Nigerian airlines to take the centre stage in these markets if they really have proactive management. Though, the economy is not buoyant at the moment, but with provision of good in-flight services, timeliness and fair fares, the Nigerian airlines can reclaim the cities formerly taken over by foreign carriers. Time for them to act is now.

SAA bans Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on flights

F

ollowing the recent accidents linked to Samsung Galaxy Note 7 mobiles phones, one of the leading airlines on the continent, South Africa AirwaysSAA, has taken a decisive decision to ban the phone on all its flights.

SAA said that the decision to prohibit the phone was taken based on safety considerations in the interests of passengers, crew and property. The decision takes immediate effect.

A statement from the media consultant to the airline in Nigeria declared that the phone is prohibited completely and may not be carried by travellers on their persons, in carry-on baggage, in checked in baggage or as cargo.

The spokesperson of the airline, Tlali Tlali, recalled that the

airline had initially placed a restriction on the use of the device by prohibiting the charging of the specific model on board its aircraft, but noted that the recall of the device by the manufacturer based on safety considerations and the announcements made by regulatory authorities in some key markets it operates into had left the with no option, but to comply.

She hinted that subsequent to the announcement by the manufacture to recall the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 regulators in various jurisdiction and countries had announced a ban on the device in respect of air transportation, adding that the announcement by the regulators obligates SAA as an airline to implement and comply with such a ban.

The statement added, “Further SAA is enjoined by the International Air Transport Association, IATA,

general provisions on safety to take steps to ensure safety of its operations as and when goods and/ or products have not met safety requirements. IATA’s position is stated as follows: ‘Lithium batteries that have been recalled by the manufacturer for safety reasons must not be shipped by air’. The Galaxy Note 7 is powered by lithium batteries and has since been recalled by the manufacturer.

“In the interests of standardising and maintaining operational safety and compliance with regulatory requirements it has become necessary to prohibit this specific model on board our aircraft. We are aware that Samsung remains one of the most popular brands worldwide and the decision is not an outright ban of all Samsung mobile devices – it is limited to Galaxy Note 7 only.”

FM 30

Financial Mirror

Monday, October 24, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Consumers’ Court

Consumer Rights Issues

Passenger laments shoddy treatment

by Kenya Airways

I

travelled to Kenya on July 14, 2016 to attend a conference in Nairobi on the intellectual legacies of the late Kenyan political scientist Ali Mazrui. From the conference I was to travel to London for a one-week holiday.

The organisers of the conference understandably booked me on Kenyan Airways for the Abuja to Nairobi limb of the trip. I had no problem with that. After

boarding we were delayed for over an hour. Many of us were tensed with the prolonged delay in departing and wondered whether they had detected some technical problems with the aircraft. No one said anything to us which heightened the sense of anxiety.

It was only when we got to Nairobi that we learnt that the aircraft had exceeded its lug-

gage limit and was therefore refused departure. It eventually had to randomly take off some luggage from the aircraft – without informing the owners of the luggage – before it was allowed to depart for Nairobi. I found out at Nairobi that my luggage was unfortunately among those randomly taken off the aircraft. Apart from the suit I wore and my laptop, every

L-R: Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr Isa Pantami; Minister for Communication, Mr. Adebayo Shittu and other officials, inspecting the exhibition stand of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) at the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) 2016 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently. PHOTO:NAN

Again, subscribers recount pains over telcos’ poor services

C other thing I was traveling with was in the luggage that I checked in.

I lodged a complaint and after formalities and filling of some papers, I was given $100. In Kenya, the $100 could barely buy you a decent shirt and slippers.

The following day, I made concerted efforts to ensure that my luggage would be returned to me as soon as possible but to no avail. On July 17, precisely the day I was to leave for United Kingdom, I got a message from Kenyan Airways telling me that they could not even locate my luggage in Abuja. I was simply pissed off.

I never heard again from Kenyan Airways until July 25, the day I was to leave UK for Nigeria. They had called to tell me that my luggage had arrived in Nairobi. I was taken aback because I had told them of my itinerary. I asked them to return the luggage to my residence in Abuja, which they promised to do.

Jideofor Adibe (Report by Olusegun Koiki)

Commuters groan over alleged waning BRT services

P

assengers along various BRT designated bus stops have started groaning over what most of them called “poor customer services” emanating from the Ticket sellers who most of them described as being insolent.

Investigation by Financial Mirror showed that most of the Ticket sellers lacked the requisite courteous approach to passengers.

As one of the passengers, Mr. Abiodun Adesina, puts it: “They lacked what it takes to render services to the public” Passengers spoken to by our correspondent at various BRT designated bus stops that cut across Leventis, Costain, Stadium, Barracks, Fadeyi, Anthony, Ojota and Ketu were unanimous in their views that the ticket sellers are usually insolent, especially when “change’ is demanded from them.

Mr. Agboola, who bought a ticket that entitled him to ride the BRT bus from Leventis Bus stop in Lagos Island to Barracks Bus stop in

Surulere said buying ticket at the going rate of N70 (Seventy Naira) for the journey usually result to a situation where the ticket sellers would resort to keep the “change” to themselves by feigning they do not have it.

He said: “Whenever they are paid with N100.00 (Hundred Naira), they would decide to keep N10 (Ten Naira) to themselves and give the intending passenger only N20 (Twenty Naira) in return claiming that there is no N10 (Ten Naira)” He added that the scenario has been repeated by the Ticket sellers by each passing day.

Another area of the services rendered by BRT which the passengers complained of is that of expiration of ticket purchased. As a rule, the ticket purchased, say in the morning, without being utilized would automatically become invalid in the evening of the same day.

According to one of the ticket sellers who preferred to remain anonymous, “The ticket pur-

chased in the morning cannot even be used any longer in the afternoon.”

She said anyone that wishes to buy ticket for future use has the option of using the e-payment system. She explained that the epayment system allows commuters to pay as low as N20 per trip as it is a pay-as-you-go mode of payment instead of N70, and users of e-payment would not need to struggle for change or lose their money, and that the system is safe and convenient.

However, a passenger waiting to board the bus to Ketu insisted that the operators of the Bus Rapid Transport, BRT, ought to allow passengers to make the choice of their own between purchasing ticket for future use and resorting to the use of e-payment system.

He said most people that patronize BRT seem not to have confidence in the use of the epayment as it requires an appreciable literacy level to understand its use. He said most of the pas-

sengers who are market women prefer to buy the ticket, both for “going to their markets and going back to their homes at the close of business” in the morning due to long queue that is usually associated with BRT services, and then conveniently use the ticket in the evening without struggling to buy another ticket buy joining the “time-wasting” queue.

Also complained of by the passengers is the lopsided routing of the buses. One of the passengers at Leventis bus stop, Mr. Friday Iduwe, decried the operation of the scheme, saying he had waited for over one hour at the bus stop waiting for any of the buses that would take him to Stadium at Surulere but all the buses were disappointedly plying Ikorodu route thereby making those of them that were commuting to Barracks, Stadium and Fadeyi to continue waiting as no bus for the route was in sight.

It would be recalled that the

ross sections of telecommunication customers across the country have bemoaned the challenges being faced by them in the hands of telecom services providers.

The people made their views known in a chat with Financial Mirror during the weekend.

Subscribers of the various telecom operators in the country have lamented the poor quality of services being rendered by these operators in recent times as despicable. The poor quality of services, subscribers said is not just the poor voice call service but also unsolicited SMS, poor data services and several others which they said were simply there to fleece the numerous subscribers.

Most customers’ spoke of poor services and high tariff, among others.

A mobile phone user, Sam Odejobi, complained of poor services rendered by the various networks, mostly when it’s raining.

Another subscriber, Friday Udoka, lamented over illegal charges and getting unsubscribed messages for which the network provider had been deducting his money from his credit balance.

Friday sighted an example, According to him “If I recharge #100 I will be offered a bonus of #200 and the total balance will be #300,then if I make a call of just 3minite the whole #300 is gone which is bad, at list I should be able to call for 15minites” He urged the service provider to be trustworthy.

A subscriber Anim Nelson, said poor network from the service providers had been a challenge to me especially when in a busy community.

(Report by Lilian Okafor)

buses which are under the management of PRIMERO Transport Services Limited was launched on the 12th of November, 2015 by His Excellency Mr. Akinwumi ‘Dapo Ambode, the executive Governor of Lagos State at Majidun depot.

The buses commenced full operation on 13th November, 2015, upon the approval of the routes with 70 buses out of the expected 434.

(Report by Isaac Asabor)

This page welcomes genuine complaints from aggrieved consumers of products and services who feel unsatisfied with the quality of services, goods from their producers or providers. It will also accommodate product producers and service providers’ reactions to such complaints on weekly basis. The aim is to ensure value for money in economic relationships. Do you have any complaint to lodge over poor quality of goods or ser-

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CONFIRMATION OF NAMES/ CORRECTION OF BIRTH DATES THIS IS TO CONFIRM AND CERTIFY THAT I ADEGOKE DARE PHILLIP REFER TO AS SAME PERSON AS ADEGOKE DAMILARE PHILLIP. THAT I NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS ADEGOKE DAMILARE PHILLIP HENCEFORTH. CORRECT DATE OF MY BIRTH IS 4TH APRIL1994 NOT 4TH APRIL, 1992.

ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ECO-BANK PLC AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE. CHANGE OF NAME/ CORRECTION OF DATE BIRTH

Formerly known and addressed as LUKMAN YAYA, now wish to be known and addressed as LUKUMAN YAHAYA. My Correct date of birth is 1st February, 1992 not 21st January 1989. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS, OCHI NGOZI PERPETUAL, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS, UGWU NGOZI PERPETUAL. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS OGUNRINDE OLAWANDE BETHY, now to be known and addressed as MRS. AKINWALE OLAWANDE BETHY. All former documents remain valid, general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as FOLAKE OLUWATOYIN OGUNDELE, now wish to be known and addressed as OLUWATOYIN TINA DIKENU. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as ISAYA DINDA, now wish to be known and addressed as ISHAKU BENJAMIN. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MOSHOOD IYABODE OMODELE, now wish to be known and addressed as FASALI IDAYAT IYABODE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MISS. AGBANIMU ESTHER TEMITOPE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. CHINEDUM ESTHER TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm and certify that EMENGINI SIMON, EMEREMGINI NWANKWO, EMEREMGINI SIMON ANIZOWA, EMEREMGINI SIMON is one and same person, But now wish to be known and addressed as EMEREMGINI SIMON ANIZOWA NWANKWO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and address as BOLATITO ADEWALE, now wish to be known and addressed as BOLATITO EVELYN DANIEL. All former documents remain valid.

General Public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly MISS OGUNDIPE TAIWO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS AKINKUGBE TAIWO. All former documents remain valid. Adeyemi College of Education, N.Y.S.C and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known, called and addressed as MISS OLUSUYI TEMITOPE FLORENCE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS ABOLUWARIN TEMITOPE FLORENCE. All former documents remain valid. Deeper Life High School and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known, called and addressed as EVELYN AKIOYAMEN, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS.EVELYN DIEKMANN. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ADETAYO OLUWOLE FOLORUNSO Now FOLORUNSO ADETAYO EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. and public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly MISS ADESANMI OMOTOLA MERCY, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AKINBOBOLA OMOTOLA MERCY. All former documents remain valid. N.Y.S.C and general public to take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known, called and addressed as MISS OBAYA LOVETH RACHAEL, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS JAMIU LOVETH RACHAEL. All former documents remain valid. N.Y.S.C., Adeyemi College Of Education Ondo and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known, called and addressed as PIUS AIMIEYE AGBON now wish to be known, called and addressed as ESEZOBOR OSEZUWA GIFT. All forner documents remain valid. Authority concern and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS ADENEYE OLABISI JANET Now MRS ODUKALU OLABISI JANET.All former documents remain valid.NYSC and general public take note.

32

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net CHANGE OF NAME

Friday, February 14, 2014

CHANGE OF NAME

Monday, October 24, 2016

CORRECTION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS SALAMI OMOLOLA ADERONKE Now MRS EREME OMOLOLA ADERONKE.All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MRS OWOKONIRAN TEMITOPE OLUSOJI Now which to be known and addressed as MISS AWOLERI TEMITOPE OLUSOJI. All former documents remain valid.BANKS and general public take note.

My name was erroneously written as SOLAHUDEEN AHMAD OLALEKA and SALAWUDEEN OLALEKAN instead of SALAWUDEEN AHMAD OLALEKAN. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as SOLAHUDEEN AHMAD OLALEKAN. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly addressed and known as MISS OYETADE GRACE OYEBIMPE now wish to be called and addressed as MRS ADENIRANJEGEDE OYEBIMPE GRACE. All former documents bearing the above names remain valid, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Surulere Local Government Universal Basic Education Authority (LGUBEA) and general public should please take note. .

Formerly known and addressed as MISS OLUYEYE AMUDAT OLUBUNM,I now wish to be known, addressed and called as MRS AKANBI AMUDAT OLUBUNMI. All former documents bearing the above names remain valid, general public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MISS AYANLOWO ABOSEDE VICTORIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADEDOTUN ABOSEDE VICTORIA. All former documents bearing the above names remain valid, general public should please take note.

Formerly known and called as MISS OYEKANMI FAUSA, now wish to be addressed, called and known as MRS OLAOLUWA FAUSAT. All former documents bearing the above names remain valid. Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

FAMILY CHANGE OF NAME We formerly known and addressed as OGUNSEYE as our surname, now we wish to be known and addressed as MR OLUSOJI JOHN OMOGBOLAHAN, MRS FUNKE OMOGBOLAHAN, MICHEAL ABIODUN OMOGBOLAHAN, BOLUWATIFE OLUWATOYIN OMOGBOLAHAN, KANYINSOLA OMOGBOLAHAN, FAITH OMOGBOLAHAN and ISREAL OMOGBOLAHAN. All former documents remain valid, general public take note.

FORMERLY MISS MEDUOLA OLABISI COMFORT NOW MRS ADEOSUN-ADEWALE OLABISI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID.NYSC AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

Formerly known and called as ADEDOJA ADEKOLA JACOB now wish to be addressed and called as ADEDOJA ADEKOLA ISRAEL. All former documents bearing the above names remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as CHINENYE EDITH EBOH, now wish to be known and addressed as CHINENYE EDITH NWACHUKWU. And my date of birth is 17-02-1977. all former documents remain valid, banks and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

KEHINDE:I, formerly MISS KEHINDE TANWA BASIRAT, now wished to be known and addressed as MRS AJAYI TANWA BASIRAT. All former documents remain valid, NYSC and general public take note CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as ADELEKE TIAMIYU BABATUNDE now wish to be known and addressed as BABATUNDE ADELEKE SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid.

Insourcing Limited, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS SALAM RUKAYAT OLASUNKANMI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BALOGUN RUKAYAT OLASUNKANMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as SAMUEL ADEMOLA OLUWANISOLA 1-5-2006 now wish to be known and addressed as BABATUNDE ADEMOLA SAMUEL 2-2-1966. All documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ADLINE: I,formerly known and addressed as MISS ADLINE ANIKWU. N., now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OCHINANWATA ADLINE. N. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MAKINDE ADEBOLA RACHEAL, HENCEFORTH WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. ANIMASHAUN ADEBOLA OLUWASEUN DEBORAH. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC, TAKE NOTE. CHANGE OF NAME

ADENIJI: formerly known and addressed as MISS ADENIJI JANET ABIMBOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. WAHAB JANET ABIMBOLA. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as NGOZI MEWU, now wish to be known and addressed as NGOZI OSAGIE-ROBINSON. Banks and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

FORMERLY DADA FUNKE REGINA NOW DADA EUNICE REGINA. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

SUBI: formerly known and addressed as FLORA AKHUEYENATA OSAGIE now wish to be known and addressed as FLORA AKHUEYENATA AJAYI. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ONDOR OTUMAIR, now wish to be known and addressed as ONDOR OKWA BENJAMIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as HENRY LEON 15-5-1993 now wish to be known and addressed as AMOS HENRY 15-5-1996. All documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

UMAHI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UMAHI OZIOMA ISABELLA,now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UMAHI OZIOMA ISABELLA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MR. OMOGBEMILE JIMOH, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. OMOGBEMILE JULIUS KAYODE. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known addresed as EFFIONG DAMARIS IQUO, now wish to be known and addressed as DAMARIS OLUJAH OLISAELOKA. All former documents remain valid NYSC & general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS BELLO RUTH OLUWATOYIN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ADENIRAN RUTH OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS OMITOOGUN KAFILAT ADERONKE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADETULA MARILYN ADERONKE. All former documents remain valid. Nysc and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as NJIKA AMARA BLESSING now wish to be known and addressed as ALAGBU AMARA BLESSING. All documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm and certify that NWEKE CHIMARIHE NELLY and NWEKE CHIMARIHE NWIGBOJI refer to one and the same person.

All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MAX HARRY EBE, HENCEFORTH WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS THANKGOD HARRY. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC, TAKE NOTE.

FORMERLY MISS AJIBADE MOJISOLA REGINA NOW MRS OWOPOJU MOJISOLA REGINA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID.GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHUKWU JOYCE CHINWE, I AM ALSO KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS CHUKWUJEKWU JOYCE CHINWE, MY SURNAME IS CHUKWUJEKWU, HENCEFORTH I WANT MY RECORDS TO BEAR CHUKWUJEKWU JOYCE CHINWE. Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NOTICE OF CHANGE OF NAME

Notice is hereby given to the general public that XIXCO OIL LIMITED (RC. NO. 641472) of 8/9,Fiddil Commercial Avenue, TransAmadi Industrial Layout, Port Harcourt, Rivers State has changed its name to SIXXCO OIL LIMITED by the issuance of a Certificate of Change of Name issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission dated 8th March, 2016.

TAKE NOTICE ,that all former documents and transactions remains valid.

Signed Femi Olayinka Esq Company Secretary

Formerly known and addressed as FRANCIS NWANGBO JOSEPH, now wish to be known and addressed as JOSEPH NWEBONYI FRANCIS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MISS OLAYEMI RUKAYAT ADENIKE now wish to be addressed, known and called as MRS AZEEZ RUKAYAT ADENIKE. All former documents bearing the above names remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

MUSILIU: I, formerly MUSILIU AKANBI MUHAMMED, now wish to be known and addressed as BASHIRU MUSILIU AKANBI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS AKINOLA RUKAYAT OPEYEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. IBRAHIM RUKAYAT OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MR TAIWO OLALEKAN, now wish to be known and addressed as MR OLALEKAN ALAWODE JONATHAN. All former documents remain valid. Skye, Access bank and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS AREMU SHAKIRAT YETUNDE now wish to be known and addressed as DAVID SHAKIRAT YETUNDE. All documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

This is to inform the general public that my name was wrongly written and addressed as JUMOKE FAUSAT IDOWU instead of JUMOKE FAUSAT ADESHIYAN. Henceforth i wish to be known and addressed as JUMOKE FAUSAT ADESHIYAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known MISS IBRAHEEM AMINAT. Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLANIYI AMINAT ALIU. All former documents remains valid. general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as IKWUAZOR NJIDEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as OKEKE NJIDEKA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Formerly known and addressed as MISS NURUDEEN KABIRAT ONAOLA now wish to be addressed, known and called as MRS ADEBAYO KABIRAT OLUWATOYIN. All former documents bearing the above names remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

AFOLABI: I, formerly AFOLABI FOLASADE JOKE, now wish to be known and addressed as ADENIYI FOLASADE JOKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

11

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS OGUNDIYA FUNMILAYO TOLU now wish to be called and known as MRS OYELAMI FUNMILAYO TOLU. All former documents bearing the above names remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS ADELUSI ADETILEWA ELIZABETH, now wish to be addressed, known and called as MRS FAKOREDE ADETILEWA ELIZABETH. All former documents bearing the above names remain valid, general public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that ADEDARA TITILAYO is the same person as OJO BUKOLA,now wished to be known and addressed as ADEDARA TITILAYO. All former documents remain valid, GTbank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OMENKA: I, formerly known and addressed as OMENKA GIFT OGAHI, now wish to be known and addressed as OGAH GIFT OGAHI OMENKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS OGUNPOLA KUDIRAT OLUWASEUN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS FATERU KUDIRAT OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MRS LINDA EBRERE AMAGWU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS LINDA CHIDIEBERE SOPHIA OKOLI. All documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ADDICTION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as SALIU ABDUL LATEEF now wish to be known and addressed as SALIU ABDUL LATEEF MASAHUDU. All documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ADUBI MULIKAT ADEJOKE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADEBIYI MULIKAT ADEJOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that AROWODUYE BASIRAT is one and the same person as AROWODUYE JOKOTOYE BASIRAT. That all former documents bearing both names are mine and remain valid. General public should please take note.

Formerly Known and addressed as MISS BUKOLA OMOLEWA AJIBOJESU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BUKOLA OMOLEWA BALOGUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as OLOWONYO HAMEED ODEBOLA now wish to be known and addressed as OLOWONYO AHMED ISHOLA. All documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHUKWU: I formerly known and addressed as MISS CHUKWU DORIS NKECHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS KORIE DORIS NKECHI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS BADMUS ADEOLA AMINAT, HENCEFORTH WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SHITTA ADEOLA AMINAT. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC, TAKE NOTE. CHANGE OF NAME

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS JATTO MUNIRAT, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SULAIMAN MUNIRAT. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. NYSC AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as OLADAPO ABOSEDE OLUWAKEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as OLANIYONU OJUBANIRE OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as ATUEYI OPEYEMI HALIMAT, now wish to be known and addressed as SHOFU HALIMAT OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

JUSTCARE INTERNATIONAL AID FOUNDATION

EMPOWERMENT FOR GLOBAL DISABILITY AID INITIATIVE

This is to inform the general public that the above named body has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the part C of the Company and Allied Matters Act 1990.

This is to inform the general public that the above named body has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the part C of the Company and Allied Matters Act 1990.

TRUSTEE 1. JOHN IFEANYI AMOS 2: OKPARA UCHENNA ANTHONY

TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DR KENNETH EDUN. - CHAIRMAN 2: MR GILBERT EKAMA AFONUGHE - VICE CHAIRMAN 3. MR ANTHONY OBORAKPORORO ARIENEKI - SECRETARY

AIM To assist the less privilege ones.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE To assist the less privilege ones.

Any objection to the above registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Trigis Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street,Maitama, Abuja,within 28 days of this publication.

Any objection to the above registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Trigis Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street,Maitama, Abuja,within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: JOHN IFEANYI AMOS

SIGNED: DR KENNETH EDUN. CHAIRMAN

Financial Mirror

Monday, October 24, 2016

Investments

Money Market Assessing impact of DMBs’ rising charges on financial inclusion agenda Efforts by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to reduce the unbanked population in the country through the financial inclusion agenda may be under serious threat as Deposit Money Banks’ escalating cost of doing business appears to be constraining their capacity to pursue the agenda with vigour in the past three years. In this report, NIYI JACOBS assesses how DMBs’ transaction charges are keeping the unbanked away from the banking system.

F

or some time now the Central Bank of Nigeria , (CBN) has be putting several measures in place to ensure that there is the unbanked Nigerians are brought into the banking system net.

To be specific, in 2013, the apex bank launched and commenced the implementation of the Nigeria National Financial Inclusion strategy in a bid to attract the unbanked population into the nation’s financial system.

Aside the implementation of the strategy, the CBN mobilised the three tiers of government and other relevant stakeholders to achieve the goals and operations of the policy.

Part of the approach adopted to actualise the goal was moral suasion to ensure that those outside the banking system are persuaded into the banking landscape.

To this end, Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) are regarded as a major player and all the banks roll out fascinating products and services to cajole these unbanked people to bank.

Financial Mirror notes that the strategy works, as more people were captured into the banking system. However, some are reluctant to join the banking platform, citing exorbitant bank charges as one of the reasons they will rather warehouse their money, rather than take it to banks.

Our correspondent also reliably gathered that even some of the already banked are stylishly pulling out of the banking system because of these eye-catching charges on banking transactions.

Unless, the apex bank can call the banks to order, experts said, the plan of CBN to enhance financial inclusion could be under serious threat.

Threat to CBN’s efforts Financial Mirror learnt that the plan of the apex bank to attract the unbanked Nigerians into the banking system to deepen financial inclusion initiative is seriously under threat.

Emefiele

GTBank MD, Segun Agbaje

What is happening is that customers now run away from using

ATMs of other

banks even when the banks where their accounts are domiciled are not within the neighbourhood.

This

development, industry analysts believe is a serious disincentive to banking Accord banks customers the reforms of the nation’s payment system designed to facilitate easier transactions and cashless society are not given the necessary support by the banks.

Though the cashless policy, which was experimented in Lagos, precisely in 2012, has since been introduced to major commercial cities across the nation, but it has recorded with minimal success use due to infrastructural deficiencies.

Worst still, deposit money banks, on daily basis, devise creative ways to fleece their customers in a bid to remain profitable in business.

Financial Mirror learnt that some of those illegal and excessive charges, which contravened CBN guideline, include, illegal deductions from account

holders’ accounts without their knowledge, excessive debit interest , debit correction, administrative charges on returned cheques, collection fees and bank draft, among others.

Some banks’ customers, who spoke to Financial Mirror described the fees as a veiled ripoff by the banks, which is not only anti- customer, but capable of scaring those who are supposed to be lured into the banking system.

And when the CBN ostensibly failed to stop reintroduction of such illegal fees, other DMBs came out with theirs, under different guise, to the detriment of the few that are banked.

The latest of banks’ antics to defraud customers is refusal by Continued on pg 34

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FM 33

Dr Ayo Taylor

Economic Planning –Part 1

I

ntroduction Every country moves in economic cycles. Each cycle has four main stages, all of which we will experience at some point. Stages tend to follow each other in a defined order, but the time spent in each stage can vary greatly. While history can provide an average length of time for an economic cycle and for each stage, it also shows that there can be huge variances in the actual periods, meaning that the future cannot be accurately predicted.

The four stages in an economic cycle comprise: • Recovery/expansion; • Boom; • slowdown/contraction; and • Recession.

We shall look at each of the different stages in more detail and the impact that each may have.

The Economic Cycle Recovery/Expansion Recovery/expansion is the time when an economy moves out of recession and starts to grow. Demand for goods and services starts to increase and consumers and companies begin to feel more confident.

Boom Boom is the period of fastest growth. High demand for goods and services can lead to supply difficulties which can further increase demand and lead to price increases.

Slowdown/Contraction The economy starts to slow down in this period. Confidence starts to reduce, leading to reduced levels of spending. Fear of the economy moving into recession can further reduce spending and increase savings levels.

Recession Recession is defined as a period of two or more successive quarters of negative growth, as determined by Gross Domestic Product (GDP). While the economy is in recession, there is little consumer confidence to purchase goods and services, and prices tend to reduce due to low demand.

In each stage, factors must change to move this into the new cycle stage, as we have seen recently with austerity measures introduced by the Government to lift us from the most recent recession.

We will now consider how each cycle affects areas of the economy, and the impact this has upon inflation, interest rates and investments.

The Economic Cycle: Recovery/Expansion Individuals: As the economy starts to recover, consumer confidence increases. Low prices, low borrowing rates and low savings rates encourage individuals to start spending.

Businesses: As confidence starts to return to the economy, demand for products and services starts to increase. Businesses look to recruit and expand to meet increasing demand, with a view to increasing profits.

Low interest rates encourage companies to borrow to invest and expand.

As demand increases, businesses start to raise prices, further increasing profitability, and businesses look to hire more staff.

Government: GDP is rising. Increasing business profitability and employment levels start to drive tax receipts higher. Government spending on benefits falls as employment levels increase.

Inflation: Early in the recovery/expansion stage, inflation rates will be low, but as the demand for products and services increases, due to increased spending, prices start to increase, driving inflation rates higher.

As prices increase, there is more pressure for higher wages. Historically, wages tend to increase faster than inflation rates.

Interest rates: At the start of this stage, interest rates are low, following the slowdown of the economy, and possible recession to encourage spending. Borrowing rates (such as for loans and mortgages) are low. As inflation rates increase, interest rates are raised to dampen demand and to start to slow the growth in the economy.

Cash: While interest rates are low at the start of the stage, there may be higher rates available for those prepared to tie money up for longer terms in fixed term deposits as deposit takers anticipate higher interest rates in the future. Interest rates start to increase during this stage to control inflation.

Investments: The combination of low interest rates and lower prices can encourage consumers and companies to start spending. Companies start to grow and profitability increases, driving equity prices higher. As the stage progresses and prices are increased, profitability increases, further increasing equity prices and dividends.

We will meet next week discuss another topic on investments Dr Taylor, CEO-Analytics Secure Associates and forensic audit expert can be reached for reactions and comments on issues covered in this column through Mobile -08098210000 (SMS only) or ayotaylor@yahoo.com

FM 34

Financial Mirror

Monday, October 24, 2016

Assessing impact of DMBs’ rising charges on financial inclusion agenda

Money Market FirstBank, Uber to offer low-interest loans to cab drivers Isaiah Erhiawarien

U

ber Nigeria and FirstBank have entered into a partnership that will offer financial assistance to cab drivers at low-interest and for used-vehicle loans.

The loan will be made available to top-rated driver-partners meaning that for the first time, Uber driver-partners in

Nigeria will be able to apply for finance for used vehicles based on their driver performance records.

According to the General Manager for Uber in Nigeria, Ebi Atawodi, the used vehicle finance offering is the first of its kind to be made available to Uber driverpartners in the country and this is in keeping with Uber’s stated commitment to constantly de-

L-R: President of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), Mr. Anthony Arabome; Past President of CIPM, Mr. Biola Popoola and immediate Past President, Mr. Victor Famuyibo, at the annual national conference of the institute in Abuja, yesterday.

velop forward-thinking partnerships that benefit its driverpartners.

“We are absolutely committed to making it as easy as possible for our driver-partners to start and maintain their own successful and profitable businesses and these used vehicle finance options make it possible for those with a demonstrable performance commitment to build sustainable businesses without incurring the high costs often associated with new vehicle purchases.” Atawodi said She explained that the move was set to create significant business growth opportunities for driver-partners by allowing them to access used-car finance from First Bank of Nigeria Limited at a very competitive interest rate of just 20 percent per annum over a 24 month repayment period.

Atawodi emphasised that Uber’s commitment to helping its driver-partners build their businesses extends far beyond just making innovative vehicle finance available to them.

Access Bank raises fresh $300m Eurobond Udo Onyeka

A

ccess Bank Plc, one of the largest banks by assets, has raised a fresh $300 million through an Eurobond from the international bond market.

The bank recently accessed the international market to raise the bond, with a maturity date of October 2021 and at a coupon of 10.5 per cent.

The bank’s management, in a statement hinted that the successful outcome of the bond demonstrated the strength, resilience and international endorsement of the bank.

The bank currently has two series of Eurobonds in issue – the $350 million maturing in July 2017, at a coupon of 7.25 per cent, and the $400 million (9.25%) maturing in June 2021 – as part of a US$1 billion global medium-term note programme.

Commenting on the development, the bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, said that the bond would be for working capital, for lending to investmentgrade names, including Nigerian companies seeking to expand their exports.

He explained that the process marked a significant turning

point in the bank’s sundry efforts to entrench itself as one of the nation’s top three banks by next year.

“It also ensures that we keep our promise of speed, service and security to our customers as we target Africa’s fastest-growing

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

industrial sectors,” he added.

Access Bank is now one of the top three banks in Nigeria and ranked among the top 500 global banks, according to a 2015 report

by The Banker magazine and is aiming to be Africa’s top bank.

Continued from pg 33 banks to retrieve cash holders’ ATM cards trapped in banks other than where such account is domiciled. The current practice is for banks to seize and deactivate the cards trapped in ATM of banks other than theirs.

Consequently, the affected customers are advised to request and pay for a new card for further transaction. This does not take place immediately but after about three or more days even after payment for new ATM card has been made.

Initially, few banks such as; Fidelity Bank Plc, First Bank , Access Bank and FCMB sent alerts to their customers informing them of the development. The CBN, when contacted, kept mute over the issue, but today, it has become an industry-wide affair.

According to these DMBs, the worrisome development is said to be in line with international best practices and regulations.

To this end, they now advise customers to only use their ATM cards in banks where their accounts are domiciled. This, experts said, is not only veto aggressive, but two steps backward, considering the original advice of the CBN. The implications What is happening is that customers now run away from using ATMs of other banks even when the banks where their accounts are domiciled are not within the neighbourhood. This development, industry analysts believe is a serious disincentive to banking Of course, banks are contending with the prohibitive cost of maintaining the ATM machines. According to reports, banks spend N30 billion annually for ATM maintenance.

Mr. Kayode Shitta-Bay, a Lagos-based analyst said, since they were in business to make money, someone must bear the cost of those ATM machines.

This, he said, explained banks’ agitation and lobby to be allowed to charge certain fees’ to remain afloat.

It would be recalled that malfunctioning ATMs have been blamed for the return of queues in the banking halls of many banks of recent as brick and mortars banking has resurfaced Barister Odion Unuakhe , a Lagos-based Corporate Attorney, said it is actionable for a customer’s ATM trapped in bank where his account is not domiciled to be seized and deactivated The trapped card, according to him, should be returned to its rightful owner to avoid legal action against the affected banks.

But how many Nigerians are ready to go to court to challenge actions, such as, his right that is infringed.

Meanwhile, reports indicated that billions of Naira were now trapped in failed ATM transactions across more than 5,500 branches of Nigeria’s DMBs nationwide, a development which many depositors are calling for the monetary authorities investigation and urgent action.

UBA, MEC Inc. partner on Ecobank launches mobile app Omni Payment System to improve service efficiency

Udo Onyeka

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cobank has launched its Mobile App, an instant and convenient way of banking via the mobile phone and the first unified app delivered by any institution for use in 33 countries.

The bank’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ade Ayeyemi, who unveiled the new product in Lagos, which included customers, students, professional workers, traders and transporters and other key stakeholders of the bank was aimed at transforming banking services in the country.

According to him, the Mobile App opens up opportunities for customers by allowing them to shop, transact and do business without cash. At scale, this will

be transformational for Africa.

“Through its purchasing power and Ecobank’s partnerships with Visa and Mastercard, the Ecobank Mobile App will be an accepted means of payment. With its removal of barriers to entry and affordable price points, the Ecobank Mobile App will empower the consumer to be on the move,” he said.

The bank’s Group Executive Consumer Banking, Patrick Akinwuntan, said, the launch fulfils the bank’s promise of creating relevant solutions for consumers, adding that with the Ecobank Mobile App, Ecobank customers can make and receive instant payments across 33 African countries.

“They can also pay in store with their mobile phones. This is genuine convenience delivered to our consumers”, he said.

Niyi Jacobs

U

nited Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has entered an agreement with MEC, Inc. in a bid to provide a revolutionary emailbased billing, payment and banking software system tagged “EmailMoni.”

According to the firm’s statement, EmailMoni represents the world’s latest fin-tech for cloud banking and social payments, and is expected to transform the payments, invoicing/ billing and remittances landscape in Africa. it noted that the service provides a convenient and highly accessible application with multiple ways to transact that are instant, secure, and low cost.

It also stated that the payment system will also enables people and businesses to securely send and receive invoices and money electronically in real-time, using their mobile phone or any web browser

compatible device. Adding that users can send and request and receive money using the mobile phone app, Microsoft Outlook app, or any email service. Money can also be securely requested and/or sent using Facebook app, SMS text and other methods.

The firm also noted that the Apple iOS App and Android App can also interact with point of sale (POS) systems, e-commerce for quick and secured payments online, as well as card-less ATMs using Quick Response (“QR”) Codes enabling withdraws from the system at thousands of ATM locations.

“EmailMoni will enable faster more efficient payments for UBA customers who are billers, such as airtime, cable and utility companies. Customers can also send and receive secure payments instantly and conveniently, while non-bank customers will be able easily access UBA banking and payment services’ it stated.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

North

Monday, October 24, 2016

35

Kwara NULGE demands refund of N33.6bn illegal deductions Wole Adedeji ILORIN

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igeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, in Kwara State has demanded for a refund of N33.6bn the state government deducted from the local governments’ statutorily allocations for 84 months.

The amount, according to the union was unconstitutionally deducted by the government to pay salaries of Junior Secondary School, JSS, teachers, a development that was said to be outside the responsibilities of the local governments.

NULGE State Secretary, Mr. Afolabi Abayomi, who made this demand in a statement yesterday in Ilorin, said N400m was illegally deducted monthly for the period.

Abayomi said in addition to the N33.6b, the state government did not only

...govt denies claim

failed to remit its statutorily contributions for payment of council pensioners, but also illegally withheld Federal Government’s contributions since 2009.

The NULGE scribe said the decision to say enough was enough was taken at the union’s State Administrative Council, SAC, meeting held on October 14, where it was resolved that even the 16 local governments were short-changed in their September statutory allocations, using the Joint Accounts Allocation Committee, KWLGJAAC He said: “The shortchanging culture was being used in favour of a state agency that draws its statutory salary from the local government allocations.

“The SAC-in-Session wishes to stress here that the mode of the distribution of the August alloca-

tions shareable in September 2016 was unfair, bias, unconstitutional and thus rejected by the union in Kwara State.

“SAC-in-Session also resolved to withdraw from participating in the monthly Local Government Joint Allocation Committee meetings because of the unholy activities coupled with deceitful tendencies and domineering roles of the Kwara State government in the meetings.

“That the state government should as a matter of urgency transfer the state

government technocrats posted to local government agencies to enable the local government staff that are also trained to manage local government staff matters as obtained in other states of the federation.”

He also tasked the state government to commence payment of “Domestic Allowance to GL. 15, 16 and 17 officers at the local government level as it is paid to the state civil servants.”

He implored local government workers in the state to remain calm even in the face of alleged unfair treatments meted on them by the state government, promising that NULGE Na-

tional President, General Secretary and other national officers would be visiting to assess the plights of members in the state.

Reacting to the allegation, Dr Muyideen Akorede, Senior Special Assistant, SSA to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, on Media and Communication denied government’s deduction from the LGs. He said: “Funds are shared among Basic Education teachers, LGs, Pensioners, Traditional councils as prescribed by law.

“The Ahmed administration ensures this distribution is done in transparently manner on monthly

basis. So there is no basis for a demand of refund of that or any other figure.

“The government only proposed to take over payment of JSS teachers in order to reduce the burden on LGs and enhance their capacity to pay workers in view of reduced allocation.

“It is ironic NULGE is using that as the basis for its illogical demand for refund. We all know allocations have dropped to all tiers of government due to drop in oil prices.

“It’s time NULGE woke up to that reality. The Ahmed administration does not tamper with LG funds.”

IMN criticises Lalong for banning its activities in Plateau

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resident, Media Forum, Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, Ibrahim Musa, has criticized Governor Simon Lolong of Plateau State for banning the activities of the movement in the state.

In a statement issued to newsmen Sunday in Abuja, Musa accused Lolong of imitating Governor Nasir El’Rufai of Kaduna State in banning the activities of the movement without recourse to law.

“It is perplexing that the premise upon which Plateau State governor has placed his own ban was simply because of the ban in Kaduna State.

“No recourse to the dictates of the law, reason or logic.

“He is merely copying Kaduna State without basis. This is awkward to say the least,” Musa said.

He noted that the ban on the activities of the movement in Plateau, like in Kaduna State, strips the citizens of the two states of their inalienable rights to practice their faith without molestation.

“We believe Governor Lalong is fully aware of this and his limitation,” he added.

Musa said Plateau is the least state expected to copy Kaduna in the infringement of the rights of its citizens.

He said: “Of all the myriad of crises bedeviling the state, IMN has never been implicated in any.

“It therefore beats imagination why the state would target IMN for persecution.

“Governor Lalong only seems to be playing to the gallery in making this illadvised illegal and illogical move.”

Musa appealed to the governor to rescind his decision to act like his counterpart in Kaduna state on matters concerning IMN. “We believe he (Lolong) should stand for justice, fairness and obedience to the rule of law.

“We call on him to exercise his powers in ordering for the release of members of IMN in detention immediately, pay compensation to IMN members who lost properties in the statesponsored terror attacks on IMN in his state.

“We also expect him to prosecute those soldiers and thugs involved in the carnage during Ashura commemoration anniversary in Jos,” Musa said.

Chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja, Emir of Fika in Yobe, Alhaji Abali Ibn Muhammadu (l) and Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello (r), at the first convocation ceremony of the institution in Lokoja, at the weekend.

FG to vaccinate 41 million children against polio before January —Adewole

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he Federal Government planned to immunise 41 million children against polio before the end of the year as part of efforts to ensure complete eradication of the virus in Nigeria by 2017, Health Minister, Isaac Adewole said.

The minister told newsmen in Maiduguri Sunday that the goal was to ensure that polio was eradicated in Africa by next year.

He said that similar immunisation would take place in neighbouring countries of Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Central African Republic as part of joint effort to ensure the eradication of the virus

from Africa.

“Our target is for Africa to be free of polio by 2017.

“We have an elaborate ring fence immunisation that is going to take place not only in Nigeria, but also in Niger, Chad, Cameroon and the Central African Republic,” he said.

He explained that the Federal Government planned to conduct five rounds of immunisation against polio before the end of December.

He said: “In Nigeria, we are planning five rounds of immunisation; we have done one in the immediate area, where we immunised about 800, 000 children.

“We will do another

round of four states to 18 states and go back to do another round of 18 states.

“By December, we will have immunised nothing less than 41 million children under five years of age in Nigeria.”

The minister pointed out that the discovery of wild polio virus in Borno State was a great setback on the country’s journey toward final eradication of the disease.

“We thought that we had overcome polio, unfortunately between July and now, we detected four new cases.

“One case of polio alone is unacceptable, because it is equal to an outbreak,” he

added.

He, however, said that the discovery of the virus in the liberated communities from Boko Haram insurgents was not totally unexpected.

He then commended President Muhammadu Buhari for providing all the support needed in the fight against polio.

He also commended the World Health Organisation, WHO, and other partners for their support in the anti polio campaign.

He said: “We want to thank the WHO, UNICEF and all these organisations for their support and partnership in the fight against polio.”

36

Monday, October 24 , 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News “Winning candidates don’t threaten prosecution of individuals with a view to putting them in jail. Donald Trump is wrong on this”.

–FORMER WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY, ARI FLEISCHER

Resign, ANC top shot tells Zuma, others A fol abi G ambari

WITH AGENCY REPORT

A

NC Parliamentary Chief Whip Jackson Mthembu yesterday urged its top leaders including President Jacob Zuma to quit, saying fraud charges against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan reflected an abuse of power to settle political scores within the party.

Mthembu’s comments come a week after Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa publicly expressed support for Gordhan, saying the case against him should not be allowed to undermine his efforts to revive the economy.

Prosecutors have ordered Gordhan to appear in court on November 2, in what his supporters and analysts described as an attempt to muzzle the Treasury over its criticism of the undue political influence exerted by a wealthy family close to

South African President Jacob Zuma

Zuma.

“In my view, a minister is being pursued for political reasons, and then charged with fraud. That’s why I have then said, perhaps we are not the leadership that can take

the ANC forward under these conditions,” Mthembu said on national television.

“When I said the entire ANC leadership that has already taken collective responsibility must take the

WORLD BULLETIN fall, I meant everybody, myself included, including President Zuma,” he explained.

South African media has reported growing rifts within the African National Congress which suffered its worst electoral performance in August.

Unemployment, economic stagnation and scandals around Zuma led voters to punish the ANC in the local government vote, changing the outlook for national elections in 2019.

Publicly, Gordhan has said that he still enjoys a good relationship with Zuma, and that he is hard at work preparing a budget policy speech to be delivered next week.

But investors fear his prosecution on charges of committing fraud while running the tax agency could see Gordhan removed as finance minister, opening South Africa to possibly losing its investment grade credit rating.

Iraq: Forces near Mosul capture

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eports yesterday indicated that Kurdish forces have carried out new attacks on positions of ISIS in northern Iraq to retake the town of Bashiqa, near Mosul.

Kurdish Peshmerga commanders said they made large advances into ISIS territory and secured part of a highway that will limit ISIS’s freedom of movement.

Turkey also joined the fight against IS yesterday, launching artillery at jihadist positions in Bashiqa.

The Iraqi PM had rejected an offer of Turkish involvement on Saturday.

Kurdish fighters killed doz-

Smoke billowing as Iraqi forces attacks intensified near Mosul yesterday

ens of IS militants, cordoned off eight villages and blocked ISIS’s ability to supply Mosul with reinforcements.

The top US commander in Iraq, Lt. General Stephen Townsend, told reporters there had been what he called considerable success in Bashiqa yesterday.

But he cautioned: “I have not received a report that says every house has been cleared, every ISIS fighter has been killed and every roadside bomb has been removed.”

Interestingly, journalists were not yet allowed into the

town.

TV footage, shot from a nearby village, showed smoke rising from Bashiqa as Kurdish fighters launched attacks against ISIS with mortars and machine guns.

Coalition forces have continued to push back IS positions around Mosul. Peshmerga commanders say they have advanced within 9km (5.5miles) of the city.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said in televised comments: “The Peshmerga have mobilised to cleanse the Bashiqa region from ISIS.

“They asked for help from our soldiers at the Bashiqa base. So we are helping the tanks with our artillery there.”

Bashiqa is close to a military base where Turkish troops are training Sunni Muslim fighters, both Arabs and Kurds.

On Friday, US Defence Secretary, Ash Carter, suggested Turkey should play a role in the Mosul offensive, but the Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi balked at the idea, telling the US that there was no need for Turkish forces yet.

I’m done with Trump –Clinton

U

S Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, has said she no longer cares what her Republican rival Donald Trump might say and will focus on issues instead.

“I debated him for four and a half hours,” Clinton said yesterday, recalling their acrimonious exchanges.

“I don’t even think about re-

sponding to him anymore,” she added.

More polls yesterday suggested the tycoon lagged behind Clinton in key battleground states.

Her campaign has predicted this is going to be what is called the biggest election in American history.

Campaign Manager Robbie Mook said yesterday: “More people are going to turn out than ever before.”

Hillary Clinton

‘Coup plotters nabbed in B/Faso’ Reports yesterday said at least ten of the coup plotters in Burkina Faso have been arrested while others are still on the run.

Interior Minister Simon Compaore had announced last weekend that plotters loyal to ousted president Blaise Compaore had made a failed attempt at seizing power.

“The coup was to have been staged on October 8, with an attack on the presidential palace,” Compaore said.

“They also planned to attack a prison to free those held over last year’s coup,” the interior minister added.

Forces loyal to the ex-president staged a coup in September 2015, but surrendered a week later after protests and opposition from top generals.

French-educated banker Roch Marc Kabore was elected president in November, ending a turbulent period since Compaore’s overthrow in a popular uprising in 2014.

Somali pirates free captives Twenty-six men held hostage by Somali pirates for nearly five years have been released, international mediators said yesterday.

Their ship, the FV Naham 3, was seized south of the Seychelles in March 2012.

The vessel and its crew were kept off the Somali coast, until it sank. The hostages who were from a number of East Asian countries were then brought ashore and held in the bushland.

The men from Cambodia, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam are believed to be some of the last remaining captives seized by Somali pirates in the mid2000s.

Piracy off the coast of Somalia has reduced significantly in recent years.

“We won’t know until I actually pick them up inside Somalia tomorrow,” John Steed, who works with the Hostage Support Partnership, said.

“The guys are pretty ragged, very thin and malnourished. Several of them had to see a doctor today because they were unwell,” Stewed added.

Cameroon train crash toll hits 70 The number of people killed in a train crash in Cameroon on Friday has risen to 70, with another 600 injured.

The train was travelling between the country’s mains cities, Douala and Yaounde, when it came off the tracks.

Reports said it was overcrowded because a bridge on the road connecting the two cities had collapsed after heavy rain.

Witnesses said carriages were added to accommodate extra passengers, even as an investigation into the cause of the derailment is under way.

President Paul Biya, who is abroad, wrote on his official Facebook page: “I instructed the government to provide full assistance to the survivors.”

Monday, October 24, 2016

No NPFL stars for Algerian game –Yusuf

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

37

Sport

They told me it was 30 years since Watford beat Manchester United, so this win brings a lot of satisfaction –Mazzarri

39

ACL 2017: Rangers

target Zambia World Cup stars, others …Enugu Gov ready to host team

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igeria champions Rangers have listed two Zambia World Cup stars as well as players from Cote d’Ivoire and Benin Republic ahead of next year’s CAF Champions League.

Coach Imama Amapakabo disclosed Rangers were already in contact with two Zambians who played against Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier earlier this month as well as two Ivoirians, whose experience on the continent would be needed.

“We are also targeting a Benin Republic international, whose name I don’t want to disclose yet, to boost the squad we have on ground,” Imama added.

“We are equally working relentlessly to ensure that we

keep our best players.

“I am due in Enugu this week to submit my contract papers and discuss with the management on how we can start negotiating with clubs about the players needed for the CAF Champions League.

“We will give it our best to represent the country and prove that Rangers are worthy champions of Nigeria.”

Rangers will resume training in the first week of next month with officials announcing the Enugu Governor will then reward them for clinching the league crown after 32 years.

Meanwhile, Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi will host the players and officials of Rangers between December 19 and 21.

According to Enugu State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Charles Ndukwe, the targeted days will enable stakeholders and well wishers from

home and abroad be part of the celebrations.

The government is expected to reward the team for this achievement.

Rangers were crowned Nigeria league champions on October 2 after they last won a major trophy in 1984.

‘Why Musa didn’t start Ndola game’

I

t has been exclusively revealed that Super Eagles’ coaches were seriously crossed with Leicester City winger Ahmed Musa when he opted to drive to team’s camp in Abuja in a new N30million car.

He further drew the coaches’ wrath after he was almost mobbed as he gave away cash to fellow worshippers after the muslims’ Friday service in the capital city, hours before Eagles’ departure for the crucial World Cup qualifier in Zambia.

The 24-year-old forward, who finally opened his Premier League goals account on Saturday, lost his Eagles’ first-team place to Gent forward Moses Simon in Ndola with the official explanation being that it was because he has struggled to play regularly for Premier League champions Leicester.

An Eagles’ top official said: “The Eagles’ coaches were very unhappy with Ahmed because they felt he was not concentrated for the game by what he was do-

ing off the pitch.

“He almost got himself badly hurt when he was giving out cash to other worshippers around the mosque close to ICPC office in Abuja.

“Bystanders said he had to run into his car for his life when the crowd became very uncontrollable.

“It was very comical because he had to tear away from the crowd, like a common thief running away from an angry mob baying for blood.”

38

Sports

Thursday, March 5, Monday, October 24,2015 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Iniesta to be out for eight weeks

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arcelona captain Andres Iniesta will be out for six to eight weeks after injuring knee ligaments in the dramatic win over Valencia.

The midfielder was injured by an Enzo Perez tackle after 14 minutes of the 3-2 win and left on a stretcher.

He could miss the rest of the Champions’ League group games and is definitely out of the match at Manchester City on 1 November.

Barca won thanks to a late Lionel Messi penalty, his second goal of the game.

Luis Enrique’ side, who went top with the win, are also going to be without Iniesta’s fellow Spain internationals Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba through injury for the City game.

Iniesta

Mourinho humiliated on Stamford Bridge return

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ose Mourinho was humiliated on his return to Chelsea as his former club blew away his Manchester United

Bayern set to open Ribery, Robben renewal talks

Ribery

B

ayern Munich are ready to open contract talks with Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has revealed.

Both wingers are in the final year of their deals at the Allianz Arena, but Rummenigge has made it clear Bayern aim to hold on to the experienced attackers beyond the expiry date.

“We will hold talks with them in the not too distant future,” the Bay-

ern chairman told reporters.

“But there will not be a public announcement when we will hold talks exactly.

“We will not ring a bell and invite everyone to the Sabener Strasse to hear what we are discussing.

“There is no doubt about it that Robben is performing at a very high level again.

side at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues, who sacked Mourinho for a second time last year, led after just 30 seconds when Pedro capitalised on slack defending to roll in.

Gary Cahill smashed in the second after United allowed Eden Hazard’s corner to bounce in their box.

United offered little sign of making a comeback, falling further behind when Hazard drilled in a precise 15-yard strike.

N’Golo Kante skipped around a static defence to slot in and seal victory as Chelsea moved within

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resident of J. Atete Football Club of Warri, Julius Atete has sued for fair officiating as his pet-club take on AbubakarBukolaSaraki babes of Ilorin in Abuja on Wednesday.

Both teams have been mandated to play the remaining eleven minutes of their abandoned Nigeria National group B2 league game on Wednesday and Atete believes that only quality officiating would

a point of Premier League leaders Manchester City.

The comprehensive win lifted the Blues above Tottenham into fourth, with just one point separating the top five.

United stay seventh as the gap between them and the early pacesetters widens to five points, with almost a quarter of the season gone.

Mourinho was making his first return to Stamford Bridge since he was sacked in December 2015, leaving when the defending champions were 16th in the Premier League.

U-17 trial: Paulson Academy selects 25 players Ifeanyi Eduzor

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aulson Football Academy U-17 recruitment trials has ended in Benin City, the Edo State capital with 25 players selected after the exercise.

National coordinator of the academy, Oliver Ndigwe told National Mirror that the lucky players will resume at the academy next week Monday.

He named some of the players as; purpose Patrick, Dennis Okewgbe, Tosin Funlosho, Osaro Joseph, Wellington Friday, Adebayo Odumosu and Abudu

NNL: Atete seeks fair officiating in re-scheduled match Ifeanyi Eduzor

Moses

guarantee a fair and just end to the game that ended abruptly when both sides met earlier at Ilorin, Kwara State.

Atete who is also captain of his team applauded the Appeals Committee of the NFF that called for the conclusion of the match through playing out the remaining eleven minutes in a neutral venue. ‘’Surely the Appeals Committee brought sanity by not accepting outright forfeiture of points or punishment to any club of the clubs after the 1-1 stalemate. They indeed

prove to be out to end sentiments, Godfatherism or favoritism in our football.

“Let the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and management of the NNL appoint God-fearing and credible referees to complete eradication of injustice that bedeviled the last outing’, declared the gangling Atete who said he will not slam the organizing and Disciplinary committee that recommended their losing all three (3) points after the controversial game even as he appealed to the NFF and other stakeholders to monitor the game.

Eiton.

Others are Theophius kingsley, Steven Ovierokly, Aghoteam Endurance, Osagie Endurance, Osaheden Robinson, Osabohen Miracle and Emmanuel Micheal Isaac Justice.

Also selected are Hope Fine Idemudia, Aimufua Junior Aimufua, Imosili Monday, Promise Onye, Osagbovo Enugie Emmanuel Monday, Mavis Amadi, Obasogie lkpomwonsa, Uwas Obasogie and Julius Blessed.

According to him, the next stage of the trials will be held at the Awka Township Stadium on the 25-26th of October while that of Lagos will come up on the 27th and 28th of this month.

He stated that all the selected players from all the centres will be camped in the academy in Benin City before their trip to Ghana and other playing tours outside the country.

Sissoko could face elbow ban

Sissoko

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ottenham Hotspur midfielder Moussa Sissoko could face a retrospective Football Association ban for elbowing Bournemouth’s Harry Arter, says ex-England international Danny Murphy.

Sissoko caught Arter in the second half of Saturday’s 0-0 draw, apologising to the Cherries midfielder afterwards.

“He said it was an accident.

I’m happy to take that as gospel,” said Arter.

Referee Craig Pawson did not punish Spurs substitute Sissoko following the incident, which sparked an angry reaction from Republic of Ireland international Arter.

The FA can use video evidence to take retrospective action for incidents that are not seen by match officials.

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero was banned for three matches last month after being found of violent conduct against West Ham defender Winston Reid, after initially going unpunished.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Monday, October4,24, 2016 Thursday September 2014

39

FIBA Africa Zone 3 championship: Kano Pillars begin title defence

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efending champions, Kano Pillars of Nigeria started the defence of their title on a good note beating Elan Sportif de Porto Novo 90-75 yesterday at the FIBA Africa Zone Three club championship in Lome, Togo.

The Nigerian champions, who were the bigger and better side, had to bank on experience to beat their smaller and quicker opponent.

Pillars captain led the floor with 22 points making three point shots at will. Other players who made double figures were Gnimassou Joel of Elan Sportif with 18 points, Tossou Vivien of Elan with 19 points, Akpachi Romaric with 16 points, while Yahaya Abdul of Kano Pillars also made 14 points.

The defending champions will take on Modele of Togo today in a game expected to be tough. In the two games played on the opening day on Saturday, Togolese side Etoile Filante defeated Nigerien side, STT SC 73-52 at Stade Eyadema de Lome, Togo.

Despite the apparent home-court advantage, Etoile Filante had a slow start to the game as both teams finished the opening quarter at 20-20.

No NPFL stars for Algerian game –Yusuf T

he Super Eagles assistant coach, Salisu Yusuf has revealed that there would be no place for local based professionals in the World Cup qualifier against the Fennecs He stated that it would be difficult for any Nigeria Professional Football

Lagos agog for Muslim secondary schools’ tourney Ifeanyi Eduzor

T FIBA Zone 3 President, Col Sam Ahmedu ( Rtd)

he 5th edition of the annual Muslim Secondary Schools football competition tagged ‘Hijrah Cup’ will kick off today at the play ground of Anwar- Islam Secondary, School, Agege.

According to the fixtures released by the organizers of the tournament

Nationwide League Super 8 holds in Lagos ty of seeing other talented players in

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he Agege Stadium, Lagos, will be the zone of unmitigated soccer battle as winners of each of the eight groups in the Nationwide League One (NLO) storm the state to determine the overall champion of the country wide amateur football competition.

Executive Secretary of the NLO. Olusola Ogunnowo, confirmed that while the teams arrived Lagos yesterday, they will hold technical meetings and get the players to feel the turf today while action will kick off Tuesday, October 25, with four matches slated for the first day while the final is fixed for October 29 The participating teams include AS Racine and My People FC representing Lagos zone. FC Abuja and FRSC FC representing the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Others are Enyimba of Aba Feeders team, Papilo FC from Owerii, Imo State, Yobe Desert Warriors and Bida FC of Niger State.

The Organisers have also invited four top grassroots teams from Lagos to compete by the side of the Nationwide Final 8. The objective is to avail the Nationwide teams the opportuni-

League players to make the 23-man list for the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier against Algeria.

Yusuf revealed that with the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season on break, the senior national team coaches cannot guarantee the fitness level of the local

the grassroots and possibly sign them on as they move on to the professional level of Nigerian football.

The invited grassroots clubs are Destiny FC, Collins Edwin FC, Spartans FC and Goodland Rangers.

indicates that in the junior category, Anwar- Islam College will meet Saka Tinubu School, Qiblah Mind College will trade tackles with Adam Yakub School while Noju Kenku College will face the might of Bakre Disu College, Oshodi.

In the senior category, Bakredisu College, Oshodi will meet Qiblah Mind College with Adam Yakub College taking on Saka Tinubu College respectively Organiser of the tournament, Prince Adewale Atiba of Atico Global Concepts Limited noted that the championship which was initiated to promote healthy rivalry among Muslim secondary school students in Lagos State has lived up to expectation as many talented players has been discovered through the competition since inception five years ago.

Katsina to capitalise on Air force games to improve sports –Masari James Danjuma KATSINA

K

atsina state government says it would use the ongoing Nigerian Air force Games in the state to improve on sporting activities.

Governor Aminu Bello Masari stated this yesterday after inspecting sporting facilities being used by officers and men of the Nigerian air force.

The NAG which had commenced during the weekend is scheduled to officially be declared open today.

Masari also said the state would give the recently- promoted Katsina United Football Club necessary assistance, to consolidate on their victory.

“You know people can now use the various sporting facilities to engage themselves and ward off stress and

depression,” he said.

On Katsina United Football Club, Masari said government would provide necessary assistance for the club, adding that, “We shall ensure that available resources are judiciously used by the club.”

Aminu Masari

league players and so would all the excused from the November 12 cracker against the Desert Foxes at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. “I don’t think any home based players will make the list for the Algeria game,” Yusuf told Goal.

“It is a crucial game for us and we do not want to toy with it. The league season is on break and the players

have gone on break to their respective families.

“Their slots would be used to add more new players who have been scouted but are yet to be invited to be watched at close range.

“We want to assure Nigerians that the players that will be invited for the tie with Algeria will be players who will do the nation proud.”

LMC remains monumental fraud by Maigari, Irabor •Continued from Back Page And in yet another affidavit sworn to by the Attorney General of the Federation in the same Suit No, the Minister of Justice/Attorney General of the Federation said: “That the 2nd Applicant (NFA) in this matter is created with a governing board as specified in the NFA Act 2004........... That the said Governing Board of the 2nd Applicant (NFA) is presently not constituted and that the 2nd Applicant currently has no Secretary General” Also, to prove that the LMC’s claimed incorporation by NFA is false and illegal, the Nigeria Football Federation in its letter of 29th August 2013 to FIFA affirmed that: “The NFF in furtherance of the decision of the NPL Congress and the NFF Congress set up a 13-man League Management Committee to run the league in the interim........... this Management Committee as part of its mandate to establish a lasting structure that will stand the test of time, has in conjunction with the NFF registered a Limited Liability Company in order to confer corporate legal entity status on the body running the league” Readers will note NFF affirms herein that it company registered LMC Limited even though its President signed LMC Limited incorporation papers as ‘Football Administrator’, NFA. Harry fails to say that the same legal faith that befell NFLL will be visited on LMC soonest. Harry also lied saying there has been court judgment on this issue in favour of LMC. Absolutely no such judgment exist as of date.

Harry further made mention of the judgment of Justice D. U. Okoro-

wo of the Federal High Court, Abuja in Suit NO: FHC/ABJ/CS/179/2010.

Let me briefly deal with this unappealedjudgment to further show that the creation of LMC either as a committee or as an incorporated company is purely an act of impunit; exhibiting wanton disregard of the orders of the honorable court till date.

Justice D.U. Okorowo had ordered on 2010/2012 “THAT THE PLAINTIFF IS GRANTED AN ORDER OF PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the 1st to 4th Defendants and each of them, either by themselves, their agents, servants, privies, agencies or otherwise however, form taking any steps or doing anything either in the name of Nigeria Premier League or Nigeria Football Federation in relation to League Football or any aspect of football administration and management”.

Nigeria Football Federation is the 2nd defendant in this case and had been perpetually injuncted to have nothing to do in relation to League Football. Inspite of this, the League Management Committee was inaugurated in December 2012, that is eleven months post this injunction. It transmitted to a limited liability company 14 months post this perpetual injuction whenAlhajiMaigari fraudulently and in disregard of court judgment signedthe registration papers as NFA Administrator.

Harry should exhibit court papers etc to back his false claims or keep quiet.

Ojo Nifemi is a Lagos-based lawyer

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The most pierced man is Rolf Buchholz, from Dortmund, Germany, who had 453 piercings, including 158 around his lips, as of August 5 2010.

LMC remains monumental fraud by Maigari, Irabor

I

am an ardent Nigerian Football follower and this has been further accentuated by the unique opportunity I had as a former legal practitioner in one of the Chambers handling legal matters relating to Nigeria Premier Football League.

I feel hard pressed to reply the very many misleading and irrelevant assertions in Harry Iwuala’s article in the Sunday Vanguard of 16th October 2016 as I am very conversant with relevant public legal documents sworn to by LMC Executives, High Officials of State and other filed Court Processes.

In Harry’s piece, he asserts that LMC is not an offshoot of Nigerian Football League Limited. But his article states clearly that LMC was inaugurated by the NFF on the 27th December, 2012. I part quote below a paragraph from the speech of the president of NFF, Alhaji Maigari in order to prove

Guest Columnist League Management Company is truly and legally an offshoot of Nigeria Football League Limited: “The exercise we are conducting today is the fulfillment of a mandate handed down to the NFF Executive Committee by the Congress of Nigeria Football, at the 68th Annual General Assembly in Port Harcourt on Thursday, 13th December 2012. .............

“The directive of the Congress to compose League Management Committee to run the affair of the Nigeria Premier League also stemmed from the decision of the 7th Congress of NPL,(Nigeria Football League Limited )which threw out the Board of NPL at a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, 11th December 2012” To further buttress the fact that LMC formation stemmed from the NPL/NFLL Club’s resolution, it is important to refer the public to Nigeria Football Federation’s letter of 29th of August 2013 to FIFA in which NFF said the following: “The NFF in furtherance of the decision of the NPL Congress and the NFF Congress set up a 13 man League Management Committee to run the league in interim” Even Harry’s boss, Nduka Irabor who still by the way owns 75% of the shares of LMC Limited had acknowledged in a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting between NFF, Representative of Premier League Clubs and LMC held on 10th of May 2013: “That the LMC welcomes the need to work closely with the clubs in the discharge of the mandate given by

Ojo

Nifemi Alhaji Maigari strangely signed the

LMC incorporation papers as “NFA Administrator” ...unknown to NFA Act

the Nigeria Football Federation (‘as authorized by the Premier League Club Congress’)......... “That the mandate (‘handed over by the congress of Premier League Clubs’) from the Nigeria Football Federation shall continue to govern the activities and the function of the LMC in line with the terms of reference as provided” Clearly it is factually bending the truth to deny LMC is an offshoot of NFLL/NPL. In order to deny its NFLL root, Harry further wrongly asserts that LMC did not metamorphous through various names. This is equally patently not true.

The fact is that in a space of 3 months, post Alhaji Maigari’sinauguration of LMC on behalf of NFF/NFLL on 20th December 2012, LMC changedit’s name from LMC, with which it was inaugurated to: B. Interim LMC of Nigeria Premier League.

C. NFF Premier League Management Committee.

D. League Management Committee.

E. Premier League Management Committee.

F. Nigeria Premier Professional

Football League.

G. Nigeria Premier Football League Harry then went on to delve into the 2004 NFA ACT which empowers NFA under an “elected chairman” as clearly stipulated in Section 4 of the NFA ACT to set up subsidiaries. Harry’s attempts to falsely claim that the NFA used that same power to set up NFLL and later, precisely in 2013, the LMC Limited falls short of the true position. Harry ought to be aware that there are conflicting claims through Court Sworn Affidavits by his bosses that NFF (not NFA as fraudulently claimed in the article of memorandum of LMC Limited) incorporated LMC Limited in 2013. Even his boss, at another forum acknowledged that following the Makurdi 2008 Conference where the name of NFA was dropped for NFF, there had been no functional NFA in line with NFA ACT till date. So which NFA partook in registration and granting of 99years lease to run the league to LMC? Having suddenly realized the legal problem that using either NFA/NFF will throw up, his bosses now say NFF is NFA! Clearly this is another deliberate illegal falsehood.

To prove this, Harry’s boss and Chairman of LMC,Nduka Irabor in Suit No M/145/12 at the Lagos High Court swore on oath that the NFA authored the incorporation of LMC Limited. But his Chief Operation Officer, Salihu Abubakar, in an affidavit in Suit No LD/997/2013 swore that the NFF, jointly with NdukaIrabor, incorporated the LMC Limited.

But Alhaji Maigari who strangely signed the LMC incorporation papers as “NFA Administrator”, a position very unknown to NFA Act and therefore illegal had also sworn an affidavit in Suit No FAC/L/CS/962/2010 that: “It is misleading to refer to Nigeria Football Association, NFA as (trading under the name and style of the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, as the two bodies are quite different and whereas the NFA exists only in name today, the NFF is a functional body” Continued on page 39

Sport Extra

w

Man City will be back to winning ways, says Iheanacho

M

anchester City hero against Southampton Kelechi Iheanacho has vowed his club will soon be back, winning games again after now going five games without a victory.

The 20-year-old Iheanacho came off the bench in the 46th minute and drew City level nine minutes later, when he stabbed home a cross by Leroy Sane for his third goal in the league this season.

After a flying start to the new season, City have now gone five matches without a win, but the Nigeria youngster said that will change soon.

“We will improve on what

we have been doing,” he said after the 1-1 draw with Southampton.“ We did our best but unfortunately we drew.

“It was not a good start by us, but we came back into the game.

On Wednesday, City battle rivals Manchester United in the League Cup. “It will be a big game against our next-door neigbours,” Iheanacho remarked.

Iheanacho Emenike

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