Dtn 15 5 2018

Poverty rises as global youth unemployment hits 66m - ILO

Motolani Oseni, Lagos

for youths.

The event provided a platform for governments, social partners, youth and civil society, private sector, foundations, United Nations entities and beyond to explore collaboration on innovations that work for decent jobs for youth under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

According to ILO, modern labour markets were identified as tough places

The International World Cup: Labour Organisation (ILO) has said ‎that global youth unemployment figure declines to stop Super hasCourt risen to 66 million and nearly 145 million youths who are working live in abject poverty.

Eagles Supporters Club The ILO revealed this at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, during a conference on innovations for decent jobs

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Soyinka’s bombshell

Continued on page 5

TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2018

VOL. 3

NO. 653

N150

Some leaders’ll soon be guests of new EFCC Hqrts Buhari rallies support for anti-graft war in Africa, others We didn’t know corruption during our time - Gowon Magu: War against corruption, collective fight

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, on Monday, said some leaders of the country will soon be guests of the new headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja, urging the anti-graft body to help Continued on page 4

L- R: Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Secretary General of Commonwealth, Baroness Patricia Scotland, during the 8th Commonwealth Regional Conference for Heads of Anti-corruption Agencies in Africa at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja ... on Monday

CJN warn judges not to upload pictures, comments on social media g 25

Ramadan: Watch out for new moon, Sultan tells Muslims g6

I will resume legislative duties today – Sen Omo Agege 6 g

CBN releases N1bn SMEs fund to Niger State g B2

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Some leaders’ll soon be guests of new EFCC Hqrts Continued from page 1 Nigeria recover its remaining loots in other countries.

The Nobel laureate stated this at the 8th Commonwealth Regional Conference for Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa, held in Abuja, lamenting that Nigeria has been bled dry by corruption.

His words: “We have been bled dry by corruption in Nigeria. Some of our leaders will soon pass through the doors of the EFCC new headquarters. I want to see the Presidential wing at the EFCC. Your responsibility is to help us recover the remaining loots in other countries.”

Soyinka, who was reacting to the theme of the conference, said that corruption is not just an affairs of one nation but a collectivity of all nations Speaking earlier, President Muhammadu Buhari called on African countries and Commonwealth member states to put the necessary framework to fight corruption in the continent, saying that the cost of corruption imposed on all African countries and governments a moral obligation to fight it with vigour and political will.

The president declared that corruption had continued to be one of the greatest challenges in the continent and called for international collaboration to stem the “scourge”.

The President, who was represented by Vice Yemi Osinbajo said that the fight against corruption should be done by strengthening all institutions and systems involved in law enforcement as well as in promoting a culture of transparency and accountability.

According to him, while public sector corruption is the usual focus, the private sector’s complicity is significant, such as when large multinational corporations engage in tax evasion or transfer pricing.

He noted that it was the complex web of public-private collusion and connivance that resulted in proceeds of corruption ending up in foreign countries and especially in their financial institutions and systems.

“Dismantling the conspiracies that facilitate export of stolen assets is probably as important as the theme of this conference, “Partnering towards Assets Recovery and Return,” he added.

The President disclosed that the $320million stolen funds by the former military Head of State, the late General Sani Abacha, would be spent on the Conditional Cash Transfer scheme of the administration to support the poor.

He said this was one condition given by the Switzerland authorities for the repatriation of the funds.

The Global Forum on

Asset Recovery (GFAR) after its inaugural meeting in Washington, DC, in December 2017, had facilitated efforts toward asset recovery and return, Buhari said.

“The GFAR saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and the Government of Switzerland for the return of an additional $320 million of the Sani Abacha loot.

“Included in that agreement is the commitment that the funds would be invested in one of the Nigeria’s flagship social investment programmes, the Conditional Cash Transfer scheme targeted at the poorest and most vulnerable households in our country, he added.

Buhari also quoted a 2014 report by the One Campaign titled: “One Trillion Dollar Scandal”, which claimed that developing countries lost $1 billion annually to corporate transgressions, with most of them traceable to activities of companies with secret ownership.

The president recalled another report in 2015 by the High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa, chaired by former South African President Thabo Mbeki, which stated that Africa had lost over $1 trillion over a 50-year period.

The report added that Africa had lost more than $50 billion annually to illicit financial flows mostly perpetrated in the extractive sector and through companies with hidden ownerships.

“It underscores the fact that fighting corruption is futile if we do not ensure that the proceeds of corruption find no safe haven.

“Recovering stolen assets not only accomplishes the goal of restitution, it also serves as a potential deterrent to future corruption,’’ he stated.

Buhari decried the absence of a legal basis for cooperation in some countries, differences in legal and procedural frameworks, language barriers, bank secrecy, jurisdictional issues, and a lack of funding as obstacles to effective mutual legal assistance.

He, however, expressed gladness on the renewed commitment to collectively identifying the most effective means of overcoming all of the existing legal and technical obstacles to asset recovery and return.

The president urged African countries to come together to keep the issue of asset recovery and return on the front-burner of international discourse and also work hard to build cooperation and mutual understanding with global partners.

“We must insist that recovered stolen assets be returned to the country of origin, without any preconditions, in line with

Article 51 of United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC),’’ he added.

Buhari said that states should agree to apply the highest standards possible of transparency at all stages not just of the recovery and return process, but also in the management and disposal of recovered and repatriated assets.

He also called on governments of African States to adequately fund their anticorruption agencies as the fight against corruption was far more sophisticated, vicious and nuanced than ever before.

“We must provide adequate resources to investigate, adequately equip operatives, protect their families, and protect whistleblowers and witnesses.

“Let me say to you Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa that you have found yourselves in roles that could change the destinies of your nation if you deliver on your mandates.

“You simply cannot afford to fail; on our part as the Government of Nigeria, we are irrevocably committed to the fight against corruption,’’ the president declared.

Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Baroness Patricia Scotland, harped on the need to put in place a sustainable solution that can lead to the success in the fight against corruption in Africa and the Commonwealth nations.

Scotland said globally, over $840 billion are looted annually, calling on the Commonwealth member states and the African countries to build synergy to end corruption.

She applauded President Buhari’s leadership in the fight against corruption, assuring that the Commonwealth would continue to work in collaboration with Nigeria to provide the required mechanism to ensure transparency and accountability in governance.

In his welcome address, the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, said there has never been a better, more focused and committed team as far as anti-corruption is concerned, anywhere in Africa than the current leadership in Nigeria.

According to him, the fact that the fight against corruption is central to the administration of President Buhari is not accidental.

Magu said: “This commitment springs from deep humane roots watered by the unshakeable conviction that corruption is at the very centre of the developmental challenges bedeviling our country and indeed, Africa.

“That conviction, which I share, has informed the

Continued on page 5

PHOTO TIMES

R-L: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma; Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, during an expanded meeting of the Economic Management Team presided over by the Vice President at the State House, Abuja... on Monday

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives, Mr. Fariudeen Akodu; Commissioner for Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye; Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Mrs. Kofoworola Awobamise and Special Adviser to the Governor on Information & Strategy, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku during a media conference by Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives as part of the ongoing Y2018 ministerial press briefing to commemorate the third Year in Office of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, on Monday,

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left); his Deputy, Mrs Oluranti Adebule (left); first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Chief Folake Solanke (2nd right) and Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke (right) during the Lagos State Judiciary first Bi-Annual lecture, at the Lagos City Hall, Lagos Island... on Monday

APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun (3rd right) in a handshake with the Chairman of the Ekiti governorship APC Primary Election Committee and Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura, during the presentation of the committee’s report. They are flanked by the National Treasurer, Alh. Mohammed Gwagwarwa (2nd right); National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi (1st right) and Secretary of the Committee, Barr. Robert Okwuego (1st left).

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

5 News

Some leaders’ll soon be guests of new EFCC Hqrts Continued from page 4 unrestrained and unqualified support of Mr. President for every policy or action aimed at eliminating the cankerworm in our lives.

“I say ‘unrestrained’ and ‘unqualified’ advisedly, but really, President Buhari gives us, the anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria, unrestrained support, qualified only by his insistence that anti-corruption war be carried out under the strict, unyielding guidance of the law.

“The most valuable support you need to do this job is that of the masses admired with the political will at the very top. Once you have that, the sky would be your

starting point. It is my belief and expectation that all have similar experiences in that regard in your various jurisdictions.

“With peer review being at the core of this our much-valued annual crossjurisdictional interface, we are going to be sharing defining experiences from our peculiar situations and circumstances, our strategies, tactics and so on.

“Beyond the confines of our professional and intellectual exchanges, I wish to urge us all to seize this unique opportunity to forge lasting friendships, contacts and collaborations across our different law enforcement agencies and jurisdictions.

Invariably, when bureaucratic

bottlenecks and red-tapes threaten to jeopardise law enforcement activities across jurisdictions, such relationships intervene for the good of all.”

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, while delivering his remarks, urged the conference to look into the issue of cross-border crime and illicit financial flows.

Onnoghen said: “Whenever you have a political will you will definitely make a headway in the fight against corruption”.

He assured that the judiciary “is here to sustain the effort and bring corruption down to the barest minimum.”

Also speaking, former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon,

said that during his time in power, they did not know “anything like corruption”.

Gowon said though some of his ministers then were accused of corruption, his government worked to curb it and it did not go into the public service.

He said, “During our time, we did not know anything like corruption. Some of my ministers were accused of corruption but we did not allow it go into the public service.

“After I left office, apart from my salary, it was the staff that worked with me that contributed their estacode so that I have something to live on. During our time, we did not know that thing. We were afraid of being exposed,”

Gowon said it is sad to see reports or articles that portray all former heads of states as “thieves.”

“It is sad to read reports that all former heads of state are thieves.

“I will like to ask you (heads of anti-corruption agencies) to find a way of making those in leadership not to be tempted – let them be honest,” he added.

The former head of state hoped that whatever recovered asset is brought back to the country would be used for the good of all Nigerians especially the underprivileged.

Earlier in his remarks, Governance Adviser, Commonwealth Secretariat, UK, Dr. Roger Koranteng, said that a central part of the

Commonwealth’s endeavours is to help member countries face up to corruption and tackle its destructive impact.

“Since our Association was established in 2011, Commonwealth member countries in Africa are generally doing relatively better than their global counterparts.

“The Commonwealth is ideally placed in its strategic efforts to foster genuine partnerships amongst all member states. Its effectiveness is built upon the ownership by its members, and the trust and confidence that member countries have in the Commonwealth Secretariat to work on this important agenda for dealing with corruption.”

Poverty rises as global youth unemployment hits 66m - ILO Continued from page 1

Digital Marketing Executive, Indomie, Omotola Edien; Group Public Relations and Event Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Temitope Ashiwaju; ex BBN Housemate, Chef Miyonase Amosun and his Manager, Solomon Adetokunbo. at the signing of the MoU and unveiling of Indomie Chef in Lagos.

Photo: OLATUNJI WALE

Our agricultural revolution on course, says Buhari Mathew Dadiya, Abuja P r e s i d e n t Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria’s agricultural revolution is real and on course.

Buhari stated this on Monday in Auyo, Jigawa State, at an event to mark the commencement of the rehabilitation and expansion of the 6,000-hectare Hadejia Valley irrigation project.

The President also assured Nigerians that his administration would sustain the positive momentum in the sector by implementing the right policies and providing the needed financial resources for people-oriented projects.

The President, who is in Jigawa State for a two-day working visit, expressed delight that the Federal Government’s economic diversification and inclusive growth programmes were yielding positive results, particularly in key foodproducing states.

The President applauded the World Bank’s assistance to the project, which when completed would increase water availability for allseason farming in the State and beyond.

Also speaking, the Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu, explained that works on the Phase One of the project which started in the early 80s during the

administration of President Shehu Shagari and received some funding under the Petroleum Special Trust Fund had suffered frequent abandonment due to lack of funds.

Adamu said with N9.6 billion allocated under the $495 million World Bankassisted Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) project in five different irrigation locations in Nigeria, the project would be completed by 2021. ‘‘By the time the project is finished in three years, there would be about 6,000 hectares of farmland and the Jigawa State Government also plans to key into the project that will benefit

over 25,000 farmers,’’ the Minister added.

In Jigawa, the President commissioned the 42-kilometre TasheguwaGuri Road and the 32-kilometre AbunaboKadira-Guri road constructed by the State government to facilitate easier movement and evacuation of farm produce.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, stated that President Buhari also commissioned the 250,000 solar- powered water supply scheme.

The project is one out of nine of such projects which will add nine million litres to daily water supply in Dutse and environs.

for job seekers, as many feel the pressure to accept the first job offer they get, often without considering if the working conditions put their health and safety at risk.

It stated that this is a problem, since young workers suffer from injury and illness on the job at far higher rates than their adult counterparts.

The ILO said, “ Poor occupational safety and health practices cost an estimated four per cent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) each year, translating to $3 trillion.

While these estimates are based primarily on the economic cost to businesses and government, when a young worker is injured, years of productivity are lost along with the investment in education and training.’’

It continued: “In 2014, 374 million workers globally suffered non-fatal occupational injuries.

The high rate of injury among young people is of particular concern, as one accident can destroy a life and a lifetime of career opportunities, earnings potential and general well-being.

“To improve the safety and health of young workers, empowering young people to take action to protect themselves and their peers at work should be at the heart of strategies while youth occupational safety and health champions can act as international spokespeople for better safety and health and bring muchneeded creativity, energy and commitment to the table.

“Young people are also advised that since they understand the realities of their working lives better than anyone, their voices and ideas should be central to efforts to guarantee their safety and health at work.’’

Meanwhile, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki’s far-reaching revamp of the civil service and drive to reposition the state for optimal service delivery has thrown up vacancies in the building, maintenance, emergency services and agricultural sectors in the state.

This is coming on the heels of the state government’s renewed

commitment to inject new life in the civil service in pursuance of impactful infrastructural and social development projects in the state.

The vacancies, according to a release by the Chairman, Edo State Civil Service Commission, Princess (Mrs.) Ekiuwa Inneh, are for engineers, surveyors, firemen, architects, veterinarians, forest officers, town planners, among others.

The recruitment is an affirmation of a number of policy pronouncements made by the governor in recent times, particularly the setting up of ambulance service to facilitate the work of first responders in emergencies; setting up structure for management of the state’s forest assets; establishment of livestock farms and reviving the state’s real estate and agricultural sectors.

It was gathered that the state government was keen on ensuring that professionals man the key offices that would be interfacing with the private sector, which is increasingly expanding since the governor’s unrelenting expression of commitment to industrialising the state.

Nothing less than 42 vacancies in various disciplines are open and applicants are to apply through the state civil service commission.

The Daily Times recalls that in his Workers’ Day speech, Governor Obaseki said that the state hasn’t sacked any worker since his administration took the reins, rather provision has been made to employ more.

“This government is proud that it has not sacked any worker even those that were moribund in their functions. Rather, we have done so much to reabsorb, retrain and reassign these workers.

“About 186 staff of the moribund Edo Line and Edo Courier have been redeployed to the Ministry of Infrastructure while we are working out ways of liquidating its debt of about N1.5bn. In a few weeks, the Civil Service Commission will advertise to recruit more civil servants to fill critical vacancies in the system,” he said at the Workers’ Day event.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

I will resume legislative duties today – Sen Omo-Agege Ramadan: Watch out for new We won’t prevent Omo-Agege until court decides otherwise - Senate

Tom Okpe, Abuja Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta Central) has vowed to resume full legislative duties today, saying that there will be regrets if anyone tries to stand in his ways.

Senator Omo-Agege stated this in Abuja on Monday when he, alongside Chief Great Ogboru and Prophet Jones Erue led State Working Committee of the party accompanied the Alhaji Sani Dododo led Congresses Committee to submit the report of weekend’s local government congresses in Delta state to the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja Senator Omo-Agege was in the Senate chamber when some hoodlums invaded and carted away the mace while the Federal High Court in Abuja later declared his suspension as null and void.

The senator said, “The enrolment of the Court Order is being served on the Senate as we speak so; I reserve the right to resume whenever I deem fit. I do not expect any resistance because that will have its own consequences. This is a

court order and you must understand the basis of the court judgment. The court rendered that judgment because it felt that they were contemptuous. My matter was in court and notwithstanding, they proceeded to purportedly suspend me. It was on that basis that the court exercised its discretionary powers to reverse the suspension and not necessarily on the merit of my case.

“Now, I understand that they have gone to court to ask for a stay of judgment. For those of you who are familiar with the law, that is an equitable relief. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands. You cannot be in contempt of the court and at the same time ask the court to grant you an equitable relief of stay. In any case, it is a declaratory judgment which is not stay able in law, and the judge said with immediate effect. So, I don’t need any other action to take my seat. So, to answer your question, I will show up any time I deem fit. There is no reason why I should not show uptomorrow (Tuesday). More likely, I will be in the Senate tomorrow”.

Earlier, Chairman of the APC Congresses Committee in the state,

Alhaji Sani Dododo dismissed reports that there was a parallel exercise in the state, saying constitutionally, only the report of his committee is authentic.

He said, “Last week, we came and submitted our results for the ward congresses and today we are also here to present the authentic results of local government congresses in Delta state.

All the delegates and stakeholders were gathered in Asaba and after addressing them, we immediately swung into action, distributed election materials and the congresses were conducted in the presence of INEC and the security agencies.

“There was no violence, rancour or intimidations. Here with me are those who matter in Delta politics; the only serving senator, the chairman of the party, Chief Great Ogboru and the Minister of Petroleum and other stakeholders. As far as I am concerned, there was one congress in Delta State which I was the chairman of the committee and for which I am here to submit the results. Whether there was anything parallel, I do not know. I am on the same page with every APC member in Delta state.

President Muhammadu Buhari during his arrival in Dutse, Jigawa State... on Monday

moon, Sultan tells Muslims The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged Muslims to watch out for new moon on Wednesday (tomorrow) as the faithful prepare for Ramadan.

A statement by the Deputy Secretary General of the NSCIA, Prof. Salisu Shehu, also quoted the Sultan as felicitating with the entire Muslim Ummah on the auspicious occasion of the forthcoming Ramadan, 1439 A.H. The Council also prayed that Allah will grant the Ummah the opportunity to maximise the benefits and blessings of the Holy Month.

The statement reads in part, “ Following the advice of the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC), the PresidentGeneral enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to search for the crescent of Ramadan 1439 AH immediately after sunset on Wednesday, 16th May, 2018 equivalent to 29th Sha’aban 1439 AH. “If the crescent is sighted by Muslims of impeccable character on the said evening, His Eminence would declare Thursday, 17th May, 2017 as the first day of Ramadan. If, however, the crescent is not sighted that day, then, Friday, 18th May, 2018 automatically becomes the first of Ramadan, 1439 AH. “The Council hereby enjoins the Muslims all over the Country to be on the lookout for the announcement of His Eminence, the President-General of NSCIA, on the commencement of the 1439 AH Ramadan fast.”

The NSCIA further urged the Muslims faithful to note that In addition to the established and traditional Islamic leaders in each locality, members of the (NMSC) who can be contacted for information and clarification are as follows: 1. Sheikh Tahir Bauchi (08032103733, 08033058201), Sayyadibashir26@yahoo. com Usmanusman9280@gmail.com; 2. Sheikh Karibullah Kabara 08035537382; 3. Mal. Simwal Usman Jibrin 08033140010 simwaljibril@yahoo.com; 4. Sheikh Salihu Yaaqub 07032558231 Salihumy11@yahoo.com; 5. Mal. Jafar Abubakar 08020878075 jaafaraabubakar@yahoo.com; 6.

Alh. Abdullahi Umar 08037020607

waziringwandu@yahoo.com; 7. Prof.

J.M. Kaura 08067050641 Jmkaura56@ yahoo.com; 8. Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar 08036509363 Baumar277@gmail.com; 9. Sheikh Habeebullah Adam Al-Ilory 08023126335 habibelilory@ymail.com; 10. Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere 08033881335 pgsouthwest85@gmail.com; 11.

Muhammad Rabiu Salahudeen 08035740333 muhammadrabiusalahudeen@gmail. com; 12. Sheikh Abdur-Razzaq Ishola 08023864448 08051111063 hustaz@ yahoo.com sheikh@al@abrartravels. com; 13. Sheikh Abdur Rasheed Mayaleke 08035050804 jentleasad@ yahoo.com; 14. Dr. Ganiy I. Agbaje 08028327463 08057752980 Ganiy. agbaje@nasrda.gov.ng gagbaje@yahoo. co.uk; 15. Gafar M. Kuforiji 08033545208 kuforijiabdulwasiu@gmail.com; 16. Prof.

Usman El-Nafaty 08062870892 elnafaty@ gmail.com; 17. Mal. Ibrahim Zubairu Salisu 08038522693 zubairusalisu@yahoo.com; 18. Dr. Usman Hayatu Dukku 0805 704 1968 udukku@yahoo.com; 19.

Imam Manu Muhammad 08036999841 limaminmisau@gmail.com; 20.

Chief Imam of Yola Central Mosque 08035914285; 21. Prof. Z. I. Oboh Oseni 08033574431 oseni@unilorin. edu.ng wazzioseni@gmail.com; 22.

Nurudeen Asunogie D. 08033533012 hamdallah1999@yahoo.com; 23. Sheikh Bala Lau 08037008805 08052426880 balalaujibwisnigeria@gmail.com; 24.

Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir 08065687545; 25. Muhammad Nasir AbdulMuhyi 08065687545 08024333381 ustaznasirabdulmuhyi@yahoo.com; 26. Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad 08023141752 aahmadimam@yahoo.co.uk; 27.

Muhammad Yaseen Qamarud-Deen 07032558231 info@bmics.com; 28. Sheikh Lukman Abdallah 08037861132; 29. Sheikh Sulaiman Gumi 08033139153 ssgummi@ gmail.com; 30. Sheikh Adam Idoko 08036759892 imamcentral@yahoo.com; 31. Alh. Yusuf Nwoha 08030966956 08026032997 yusufnwoha@gmail.com The Council therefore wish all Nigerian Muslims and their counterparts all over the world happy Ramadan in advance.

nPDP faction disassociates self from Baraje group Says Baraje’s letter full of contradiction, misrepresentation, false assertions

Tom Okpe, Abuja A faction of the new People’s Democratic Party, led by Senator Abdullahi Adamu has disassociated itself from the Alhaji Kawu Baraje faction saying that Baraje’s claim against President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) is unfounded and unjustified.

The group also said the ground for confrontation by some members of the defunct new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) in their letter is full of contradictions, false assertions and misrepresentation, distortion of history and facts and in many instances outright lies.

Baraje has on April 9 led his team to the APC Secretariat, crying of marginalization and neglect by the party and President Buhari after working hard

to win the 2015 general election giving an ultimatum of 7 days for a dialogue with President Buhari and the party.

In their letter of disassociation presented to the party chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun on Monday at the National Secretariat of the APC, leader of the group Senator Abdullahi Adamu said: “We received with great shock and embarrassment the news that a former acting chairman of the PDP Alhaji Kawu Baraje led four others to deliver a letter they claimed on behalf of the nPDP which is defunct and has long dissolved into the APC during the 2013 merger.

“In the letter, Baraje stated that we members of the then nPDP group are being marginalized, maltreated and witch hunted in the APC and requested for an urgent meeting with the party and Mr. President within one week.

“As members of the then nPDP, we are aware that the last meeting that was held by the group was in 2014. Since then, no meeting has been called. Where did Alhaji Baraje and Col. Olagunsoye Oyinlola obtained the alleged resolution to write the said letter? When and where was the meeting held? Who are those that attended the meeting?

“We ordinarily would have ignored such a joke but it is a dangerous joke taken too far. How can you explain that one of the two signatories to the letter, Col Olagunsoye Oyinlola (rtd), who has since left the APC for the African Democratic Party (ADP) after going on AWOL to the Obasanjo Coalition for Nigeria? Yet same person is asking to meet the APC leadership to address grievances? This clearly shows the sinister motive behind the letter which

is not far from destabilizing the party at this most critical time.

“In any case, the letter is full of contradictions, false assertions, and misrepresentations, distortion of history and facts and in many instances outright lies. We as initiators and founding members of the defunct nPDP therefore wish to condemn and disassociate ourselves from the letter and apologize for the obvious embarrassment the letter have caused to our party and government. We wish to reaffirm our support and confidence in the party and Mr. President and we do not in any way feel marginalized or maltreated as we are clearly in the league of the biggest beneficiaries of the party”.

The letter, signed by Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Chairman; Chief Theodore Georgewill Deputy Chairman and Abdulmumuni Jibrin as

Secretary and copied President Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu asserted that Government at the Federal level is not only the Executive branch in isolation but includes the legislature.

The group further said, “Government at the Federal level is not only the executive branch in isolation.

It includes the legislature as well. The APC government deliberately or not has a balance of power among the various parties and groups that merged to form the APC at the Federal level.

While the Muhammadu Buhari lead CPC got the president, the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu lead ACN got the Vice President. We the nPDP as we then were eventually got the combination of Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives though under somewhat questionable circumstances”.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Killings: Groups protest in Abuja, want herdsmen designate as terrorist group Andrew Orolua, Abuja A coalition of pressure groups on Monday took to the street of Abuja in protest, urging the Federal Government to proscribe and designate killer herdsmen as terrorist group.

Protesters said the the proscription and designation of the killer herdsmen as a terrorist group, will give the Federal government a greater leverage to seek better regional and international support to confront their menace.

In a protest letter addressed to the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), under the auspices of “OurMumu DonDo; Concerned Nigerians; Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy; Campaign for Democracy and MAD Connect”, urged him to invoke the provision of section 2(1)(c) of the Terrorism Prevention Act (TPA) 2011, against the killer herdsmen.

The section provides; “Where two or more persons associate for the purpose of or where an organisation engages in participating or collaborating in an act of terrorism; promoting, encouraging or exhorting others to commit an act of terrorism; or setting up or pursuing acts of terrorism, the judge in chambers may on an application made by the Attorney General, National Security Adviser or Inspector General of Police on the approval of the president; declare any entity to be a proscribed organisation and the notice should be published in official gazette.”

The protest came on the heels of a law suit asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to proscribed and designate the Fulani herdsmen and Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore as terrorist organization.

In a suit before the Abuja division of the Federal High Court, a Makurdi-based legal practitioner, Matthew Nyiutsa, has asked the court to compel President Muhammadu Buhari and Attorney General of the Federation to move a court of competent jurisdiction to proscribe the group.

In addition, the plaintiff in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/499/18 is seeking the prohibition of all activities of Fulani herdsmen in Benue State that has resulted in the deliberate and intentional killings, mascare, wanton destruction of both private and public properties including residential and commercial houses, schools, hospitals/ clinic, markets, water boreholes/reservoirs, invasion of ancestral lands of the inhabitants as acts of terrorism under the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 as amended.

The protest letter which was read by Ariyo Atoye of the Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy, said more than 900 innocent lives have been lost so far in 2018 to the unprovoked, brutish attacks of killer herdsmen in the middle-belt Zone of the country alone, according to available statistics.

The letter reads in part, “ We are extremely concerned that the survival of Nigeria is currently

being threatened by the atrocities of killer herdsmen in the country.

On daily basis, innocent Nigerians are being slaughtered in different parts of the country.

“In 2018 alone, hundreds of innocent Nigerians have been cut down by this group, and hundreds of communities have been affected by wanton destructions of human lives and properties, so much so that President Muhamadu Buhari had to publicly declare during his recent visits to the United Kingdom and the United States of America, that Nigeria is under the invasion of killer herdsmen from Libya. It is, however, instructive to admit for effective action and intervention that there cannot be infiltrations into the country by external forces without internal collaborators.”

While commending the recent decision by the federal government that “all animal farmers must ranch their cattle and livestock for better productivity,” as a significant steps, the group however said it was not a sufficient alone to stop the killings and destructions because the country in already under invasion of killer herdsmen.

“The attacks by these killer herdsmen have affected innocent and peace-loving Nigerians in their thousands across the country, uprooted families, destroyed communities socioeconomic activities and business, depriving them.of their means of survival and the desecration of their cultural and ancestral heritage. These barbaric killings

and mindless attacks undermine the laws of Nigeria and principles of the UN Charter concerning the protection of human life.

“We are aware, that the Benue state government has in a judicial process, identified that a group known as Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, is responsible for the widespread killings and violence across 14 out of the 23 local councils in the state. This development has made it compelling for the government to quickly investigate the activities of the group in the interest of entrenching justice, safety, and peace in the state, and the entire country.

The groups urged the AGF to “to immediately take firm action towards getting President Muhammadu Buhari, to proscribe and designate the killer herdsmen a terrorist group in Nigeria.

By doing so, we believe that the federal government will be one step farther in ending this deadly group, at the soonest time possible.”

In her response, Mrs. Lola Uket, the Acting Director, General Services, Federal Ministry of Justice, who received the letter on behalf of the AGF, assured that it will be delivered to the AGF through the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General of the Federation, Mr. Dayo Akpata.

Those who led the groups include Charlie Boy Oputa; (Our Mumu Don Do); Nwazuruahu Shield of Leadership and Accountability Initiative and Maryann Apollo.

R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari; Jigawa State Governor, Muhammad Badaru; his Kano State counterpart, Abdullahi Ganduje and Minister of State (Aviation) , Sen Hadi Sirika during Buhari’s visit to Jigawa State...on Monday

Rivers peaceful for investments –PCRC

Memoye Oghu, Port Harcourt

Contrary to the negative perception outside the state, the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) has declared that Rivers State is very peaceful for investments and night life.

State Chairman of PCRC, Chief Casca Ogosu, made the declaration recently, in an exclusive chat with the Daily Times at the Police Officers Mess in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

“I say so with all amount of authority. If you go outside Rivers

state, the understanding and the news that filter into their ears is that people don’t even sit to take a bottle of beer in Rivers state; that there is nothing like night life in Rivers state,” he said.

Chief Ogosu, who is also a board member of the state’s newly established Neighborhood Safety Agency explained that, “I had to, on my own; I wasn’t sent by anybody, not government, not any NGO. I have top level friends in the media.

I brought four of them into Rivers state. Some of them said that they have told their people that if they don’t return they should hold me responsible. I said I will sign a surety

for that. They came and I put them in a hotel in Port Harcourt here. In the evening, we came to the Mess here, they were surprised to see night life going on here. They were surprised to see people moving.

“We drove down to GRA phase 2, behind Presidential Hotel up to Casablanca. They saw people bubbling. They saw people even drunk and they said, so night life can be like this in Port Harcourt and I said, this is not even the heart of Port Harcourt but somewhere on the periphery. They were shocked.”

Chief Casca Ogosu, one time state chairman of the state branch of the Nigeria Institute of Public

Relations(NIPR) further explained that few years back and at the height of insecurity in the state, the state PCRC mounted an aggressive enlightenment campaign which assisted the Police and security agencies to tackle the insecurity.

“We told them that security is everybody’s business and not that of the Police or any other uniformed organization. You are the Policeman to yourself; you’re the policeman of your environment. So, the people were alert and provided credible and reliable information that assisted the Police and other security agencies. So far, Rivers state is very, very peaceful,” he said.

7 News

Ajimobi inaugurates council chairs, says he has never lost any political battle Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has advised those he said are ganging up against his leadership to retrace their steps, reminding them that he has never lost any political battle since he joined politics.

The governor said this during the inauguration of newly elected Chairmen of 33 local governments and 35 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan, on Monday.

Ajimobi said he remained focused and unperturbed by the activities of those he said had formed themselves into opposition within the fold of the All Progressives Congress, which he said was not a new development in politics.

The governor advised the new chairmen to run an all inclusive administration and to accommodate those that contested against them, including their political adversaries.

He said that the hallmark of good leader is to forgive and forget those who might have wronged them in one way or the other, urging the chairmen therefore to imbibe the same spirit and overlook the misdeeds of their political foes.

Ajimobi said: “Successful politicians are known through their attitude of forgiving their foes, especially after each political battle. This act of forgiveness has assisted me to win all my political battles and I want to use this opportunity to advise those ganging up against my leadership to retrace their steps.

“Leaders require large heart and maturity, and these attributes have made it possible for me to win over the calibre of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, a former Deputy Governor and Ambassador, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja, Senator Teslim Folarin and others from the opposition parties.

“If I can achieve this with leading opposition figures, then there should be no reason why we should not make those campaigning against us to allow reason to prevail and come back to the fold, and anytime they do so, we will surely welcome and forgive them.

“Politics is full of disagreements, misunderstanding and mischief. We must be humble in victory and carry those who fight against us along in governance after every political battle. It is in the best interest of our people. Try to forgive.

“Go and check the holy books. The Bible and Quran are replete with rabble-rousers, trouble makers and mischief makers, but they both teach us to forgive. Note that there is no political battle we have not won and at every point, we forgive our adversaries. It is helping us today.

“It is good that we have many people running with us.

If you run alone, you will come first and last in the race. But now, we have run with others and won, while they lost.”

He challenged the chairmen to see their victory as the beginning of greater responsibilities to serve the

people at the grassroots, in accordance with the APC’s manifesto which, he said, focused on welfare and wellbeing of the people.

Meanwhile, the governor has traced the struggle for relevance by some APC members to the excellent performance of his administration which, he said, had made it impossible for any other party to flourish in the state.

Ajimobi said this while receiving APC leaders and elders across the state who said their visit was to congratulate him on the successful conduct of the local government elections and APC ward and local government congresses The leaders, who passed a vote of confidence in the governor, said they did not recognize any splinter group aside the APC as one indivisible party under the leadership of Chief Akin Oke. Speaking during the visit, Pa Solomon Akindele from Oyo zone said that the governor’s experience in the last few days was an eye opener for him to separate his true friends from pretenders and opportunists.

Akindele said that past political leaders like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Bola Ige and Alhaji Lam Adesina also experienced betrayals from their close allies and those who they brought into limelight through appointments and grooming.

He said: “I will urge you not to be disturbed by the antics of these ingrates because God has always fought your battles.

Those that backstabbed the late Lam Adesina are the ones parading themselves now as Lamists.

“We went under the tutelage of Great Lam and we can confidently say that nobody can be more Lamist than us. We have come to appeal to you to overlook their transgressions.

Call them back and forgive them.

“Your administration has done so well in infrastructure that will stand the test of time.

All the road construction projects that you embarked upon are of good quality. This is among other reasons why people came out en masse to vote for you for a second term.”

Other leaders such as Alhaji Kamarudeen Ajisafe from Ibadan less city, Alhaji Femi Yusuf from Ogbomoso, Alhaji Muftau Adisa from Ibadan, Alhaji Olaide Abas and Chief Samuel Adekola from OkeOgun, extolled the governor for what they called his unprecedented achievements in the last seven years.

Among the visitors were Chief Lasisi Ayankojo, Oyo; Prince Kunle Sanda, Ibadan less city; Chief Samuel Laoye, Ibadan less city; Pa Sunday Adewale, Ogbomoso; Alhaji Bashiru Ajibade, Ibadan; Pa Lekan Adeyemo, Ibadan less city; and Dr. Adepeju Esan, Ibadan.

In his response, the governor thanked the leaders and elders for their insight and thoughtfulness, saying that he remained focused and undeterred in his determination to ensure cohesion within the APC and enhance the socioeconomic development of the state.

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

OPCI ready to defend Yoruba land against Fulani herdsmen attack –President

By Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin

National President of Oodua Progressive Care Initiatives (OPCI) Otunba Maruf Olanrewaju Salam has warned external Fulani herdsmen to steer clear of Yoruba land as the organisation is set to defend its land.

Salam gave this warning at the week-end while fielding questions from journalists during the inauguration of Osun State chapter of the organization/ leadership lecture in Ile-Ife. According to him, “We belonged to Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) before we formed Oodua Progressive Care Initiatives (OPCI) as a result of atrocities in the OPC. What we have used in Mile 12, Mile 2, Agege, Nushin, Sagamu, Ilorin crisis among others is still very

much with us. We are prepared to come out in full force to flush any marauding Fulani herdsmen out of Yoruba land. We know that the on-going crisis and terrorism in the North East is making their youths to be migrating down South. However, we heard it on good authority that the Hausa/ Fulani are sending their youths to Yoruba land and entire Southern part of Nigeria to cause crisis.

Their migratory pattern gives room for suspicion as they get to the South and within a short time start to ride Okada or do other menial businesses. We as an organization are fully prepared to defend Yoruba land.”

Warning Yoruba people to be wary of the Hausa/Fulani migrants, he said, “we should not oversleep, Alimi used religion to deceive the Yoruba to take over Ilorin by killing Afonja.

We should be conscious of those riding Okada. We should not allow history to repeat itself”.

On challenges of the organization since it was launched last year September, he averred that inadequate finance and constant harassment of our members by the OPC. “We are not after Gani Adam’s glory but most of his co-ordinators believes that OPCI would wrest power from OPC. You are aware that OPC has been banned by the Federal Government of Nigeria since 2001 whereas OPCI is registered organization. Gani Adams and his followers became jittery, feel threatened with the emergence of OPCI and have since been after our members that are defecting to OPCI on daily basis.

For instance, Abore and Iya Oodua were kidnapped by OPC

members in Osogbo. We had to petition the Inspector General of Police, Director General of Department of State Security Service (DSS(, and the Security Adviser to the President.

Though Gani Adams was not in Osogbo but his followers committing these crimes.”

He added that, “we are set to report him to the kings in Yoruba land for them to see what Are Ona Kakanfo is doing. We would not want Yoruba land to be set on fire any longer.”

He called on the youths in Yoruba land to wake up from their political slumber and take up the challenge of leadership.

This is because in our own country, Nigeria, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki ventured successfully into politics at a young age and he has emerged as a leader.

Salam also appealed to Nigerian politicians to eschew violence and play the game according to its rules as we are approaching election period. He pleaded with them to put the interest of the people at heart by making them get the dividends of democracy.

Salam who disclosed that not less than thirty-five of its members has been sponsored to study courses like Management education at the American University in Benin Republic said that the organization is set to empower its members educationally, financially and logistically to success in any of their ventures Restating the objectives of the OPCI, Salam said, “it is to promote culture, peace and unity among the Yoruba, support the law enforcement

agencies to make the society free of crimes. He said, “our cultural heritage has gone down and if care is not taken, our culture may go into extinction in the next fifty years. Our royal fathers must be actively involved in promoting our culture.

“It is sad that many homes in Yoruba land today don’t speak Yoruba as a language even to their children” He advocated Yoruba language as the medium of teaching and instructions in the primary and secondary schools.

Eulogising Ooni of Ife, Ooni Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi in his peace and unity drive, he called on other traditional rulers as well as sons and daughters of Yoruba descent to be committed to an harmonious peace and unity of the race.

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Calabar, UNICAL, Senator Nkechi Nwaogwu, congratulating the NDDC Chairman , Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, after being conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in Law. First left is the Vice Chancellor, Prof Zana Akpagu. While first right is Mrs Amaka Ndoma-Egba (the Chairman’s Wife).

Court dismisses suit seeking to stop Odigie-Oyegun’s tenure extension Andrew Orolua, Abuja A Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, on Monday dismissed the suit challenging the tenure elongation of the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun led National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling, All Progressive Congress (APC).

Justice Dimgba, in two separate judgments on the matter, held that the suits had become hypothetical and academic, as the party had reversed the decision to extend the tenures of the officials.

“Having read and carefully

examined all the attachments to the suit, I hold that there was an attempt to extend the tenure of members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), due to expire on June 30, 2018, for another one year”, the Judge held.

Dimgba held that the resolution of the NEC of the part, in its meeting held on the 27th February, 2018, was a case of party organ trying to extend its tenure, which he noted was different from the case the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where it was the National Convention of the party that set up the Care Taker Committee.

He said if the attempt to extend the tenure of the John Odigie-Oyegun led executive committee of the APC had matured, it would have amounted to a violation of the constitution of the party and that of the country.

The Judge recalled that the party had commenced congresses to elect its officials at wards and local government levels and had also slated June to hold its national convention to elect officials of the party at the national level.

Recalled that a member of the party in Imo State, Okere Uzochukwu had, in his suit, marked, FHC/ABJ/ CS/219/2018 and filed on

March 2, 2018, challenged the moves to extend the tenure of the John Odigie-Oyegun led executive of the party.

The second suit, challenging the decision to extend the tenure of the Odigie-Oyegun led NWC of the APC was filed by some aggrieved members of the party, led by Ademorin Aliu Kioye.

The plaintiffs had, on March 15, 2018 secured an ex-parte order directing the defendants to show cause why members of the NWC of the APC should not be barred from parading themselves as national officers of the party.

Respondents in the suit include, the Independent

National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC, National Chairman of APC, Chief John Oyegun and the National Organising Secretary of the party, Senator Osita Izunaso.

Ahmed Raji (SAN), representing the plaintiff, had informed the court that the matter borders around Section 223 of the constitution which fixes the tenure of elected officials of political parties to a maximum of four years.

Responding, the first defendant (INEC), said it remains neutral in the suit but, will abide by whatever decision reached by the court.

According to Joseph Daudu (SAN), counsel to the 2nd

defendant, the plaintiffs’ suit is based on speculation as the NEC of the APC did not breach the party’s constitution nor Section 223 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Similarly, Akin Olujimi (SAN), counsel to the APC Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, while aligning himself with the submission of the 2nd defendant, urged the court not to engage in speculation.

In the same vein, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), counsel to the 4th defendant who completely adopted the submission of both Daudu and Olujimi told the court that his client was not suppose to be part of the suit.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

9 News

Rivers monarch warns youths against drug abuse Memoye Oghu, Port Harcourt A traditional ruler in Rivers state, Chief Philip Obele Osaro, has warned youths in the state to stay clear of psychotropic drugs such as Codeine, Tramadol and other psychoactive substances as well as electoral violence.

In a special thanks giving service organised by a religious group, Aleto All Believers (AAB) over the

weekend to celebrate the restoration of peace in the area, Chief Obele Osaro, the Paramount Ruler of Aleto Town in Eleme LGA of the state thanked Indorama company for fulfilling their social corporate responsibilities to the community in providing scholarships and other forms of educational grants to youths of Aleto.

He said, “We are celebrating here today

because of the shares Indorama gave to us and the money derived from it. That is what our boys are using to sustain themselves as lots of our youths have now gone back to school. Kudos to Indorama.”

Meanwhile, the religious group, Aleto All Believers, AAB, who organized the programme to thank God for liberating the land from the scourge of the devil as shrines and ancient temples

were pulled down.

The President of the group, Pastor Laleobe Friday explained that prayers to God were the group’s weapon employed in ensuring the community’s freedom from devilish bondage.

“We are doing this to thank God because of the mercies of God, we are here today. The devil tried to destroy this land but prayers of the saints kept us

on the right path.

“As I grew up, I discovered that Aleto is backward in every area, especially in education. I happened to be the only man that was a Christian then. Fortunately, I met few people that were believers also and we started praying severely then. We thank God now that there is nothing like shrines in Aleto again.” Friday said.

Also, a community member who spoke on

the sidelines of the event explained that shrines and ancient temples were the only worship centres in the area before the arrival of churches.

The event attracted prominent sons and daughters of Eleme kingdom, including a former military governor of Yobe state, Navy Captain Ben Kalio as well as others who have worked assiduously for the progress of the area.

L-R: Oyo State Chief Judge, Justice Munta Abimbola; state Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; and state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Akin Oke, during the inauguration of the newly elected chairmen and chairperson of the state’s local government and LCDAs, at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Secretariat, Ibadan... on Monday.

Photo: Governor’s Office

Army arrests 4 Fulani herdsmen with Ak-47 in Taraba Tom Garba, Yola Troops of 101 Special Forces Battalion, operational base of the Nigerian Army in Taraba State on Saturday arrested four Fulani herdsmen with one AK 47 riffle at Suntai Daji, in Suntai Bali Local Government of the state.

Addressing journalists, Commanding Officer of the Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Mutiu Olaseni, said that the arrest was made during a tip off his men received from woman (name with held).

“These herdsmen entered a farm belonging to a Tiv Woman who resides in this area with their cattle and

when she talked to them they threatened to kill her and she quickly alerted us and when my men moved to the farm they were able to apprehended them with their over two hundred cattle and in the process of investigation we recovered one AK 47 riffle and 30 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition” he said.

Lieutenant Colonel Olaseni, also explained that they are committed to curbing insecurity not only in Taraba State but Nigeria as a whole, pointing out that they have recorded a lot of successes in their operations in the area.

He said the suspects will be handed over to the Army Headquarters for further

Woman of Nigerian origin stabbed immigration attaché to death –Ministry Foreign Affairs Ministry on Monday said that the Immigration attaché, Mr Habibu Almu, who was assassinated in Khartoum, Sudan, May 10, was murdered by a Sudanese of Nigerian origin.

The Ministry’s Spokesperson, Dr Tope EliaFatile in a statement issued in Abuja alleged that the suspect, a student at the

Sudanese-Canadian College in Khartoum, murdered Almu in his official quarters on Thursday.

Elia-Fatile, said that the suspect had been arrested and detained by security agency in that country.

According to him “consequently, after several arrests and investigations by the host authorities, it was established that the deceased was stabbed to

death by one Miss Inas Khalid Maikano.

“The suspect who is a student of SudaneseCanadian College in Khartoum is a Sudanese of Nigerian origin.

“It was discovered during investigations, authorities discovered that the suspect had stolen some of the deceased personal belongings including cash,” he said.

The suspected allegedly confessed committing the crime and is being held in custody, he added that “our Mission in Khartoum will continue to monitor and follow up the case to ensure that justice is done on this matter.

“In the meantime, the process of conveying the remains of the late Almu to Nigeria for proper burial is being finalised,” he said

investigation while the cattle will be handed over to the local authority for safe keeping .

Speaking in an interview with journalists the suspects who was identified as Dahiru Dumba, Almajiri Nyako, Haruna Manga, and Adamu Hassan confirmed that they have entered the Woman’s farm land and grazed in,

pointing out that they were on migration from Damfar village in Ibi local government area of Taraba State to a village in Gassol local government area of the state.

Meanwhile Dahiru Munga, admitted that the AK 47 riffle with full loaded magazine special rounds belong to their father Alhaji Nyako.

Buhari condoles with Pastor Bakare over mother’s death Mathew Dadiya, Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with his erstwhile running mate, Pastor Tunde Bakare on the death of his mother, Mrs Abigail Bakare, who died on May 5, at the age of 108.

Besides, called on the bereaved family to uphold the cherished ideals of community service, kindness and generosity associated with the matriarch of the Bakare family.

Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement on Monday, said the president condoled with his friend via a telephone call.

He urged the cleric, who is also the General Overseer of Latter Rain Assembly, and the Bakare family to take solace in the fact that the late matriarch lived long enough to witness the enormous successes achieved by her children.

News 10

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Honourable Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun (middle of the 2nd row) with Executive Directors of World Bank and Pupils of the FCT School of the blind, Jabi, during a breakfast meeting hosted by the Minister for the visiting World Bank officials in Abuja . . .on Friday,

South West chapter calls for resignation of Accord Party Chairman South-West Chapter of Accord Party (AP) has called on National Chairman of AP, Mohammed Nalado, to resign over alleged anti-

party activities.

Also, asked him to convoke a meeting of the party’s National Working Committee within seven days so as to constitute a

disciplinary committee to probe the matter.

The was part of the outcome of the party’s zonal meeting in Ibadan on Sunday which was attended

by the chairmen of the six South West states.

The resolutions read after the meeting were signed by all the states in the zone except Oyo which

Armed policemen besiege Kano Assembly Complex Armed policemen on Monday besiege the Kano State House of Assembly complex to forestall alleged plan by some aggrieved members to impeach the Speaker, Alhaji Yusuf Abdullahi Ata. The Police Public Relations Officer of the state police command, SP Magaji Majiya, confirmed

the development, saying that the deployment was to prevent a breach of peace.

According to Majiya, “We need peace in the entire state so we will not allow anybody to tamper with prevailing peace and harmony being enjoyed in the state.”

The State Assembly said in a statement that the House

had adjourned its plenary session from Monday, May 14 to June 30.

“The Kano State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt Hon Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, the Speaker, have adjourned its plenary session from today Monday May 14, 2018 till the end of June 2018.

“The Adjournment is to

allow members prepare for the month of Ramadan and Idil-Fitr.

“The Speaker enjoined the members and the general public to make good use of the holy month in praying for forgiveness and progress of Kano State and Nigeria at large, “said the statement signed by its Director of Press, Ali Bala Kofar Kudu.

Leaders consult for Gov Emmanuel 2nd term bid Stakeholders and leaders from Eket Senatorial District have stormed Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District for consultation on the second term bid of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel.

The meeting which was held at the country home of Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, had in attendance House of Representatives and House of Assembly members from the two districts, members of the state executive council led by the Deputy Governor, Moses Ekpo, local government chairmen led by ALGON chairman, Frank Archibong, chapter chairmen of PDP, members of the state working committee of the party from

the two districts, serving and former political office holders, and other category of major stakeholders.

Eket leaders led by Chief Nduese Essien, used the occasion to restate their appreciation to Senator Akpabio and the entire Ikot Ekpene senatorial district for their role and support that led to the emergence of Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2015.

Chief Essien maintained that Governor Emmanuel has not disappointed despite the financial crises in the country and has used his ingenuity to ensure the spread of projects and political appointments across the state.

He said Ikot Ekpene had gotten a fair share of the projects and appointments,

adding that when given the support for a second term in office, most of the foundation he laid will blossom and the state will be better off.

Others who spoke from Eket senatorial district, Chief Obot Etukafia and Dr. Esio Oquong Udo eulogized Senator Akpabio for the giant strides that he recorded during his tenure as governor, adding that none other than Udom Emmanuel could have consolidated and raise the state to a higher pedestal.

They reiterated that when Uyo and Ikot Ekpene had their turn of eight years, it was with one governor each and urged Ikot Ekpene to continue in their grassroot mobilization so that their

votes will count.

In a remark, Senator Akpabio said such gestures of consultations were very important in lubricating democratic ideals.

He said the Ikot Ekpene district leaders will always take decisions that will promote their interest and development, and expressed satisfaction with Governor Emmanuel’s performance.

The Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpoudoms said the Governor has remained upbeat in developing the state.

He said there was no need to panic about any opposition, as the governor has endeared himself to everyone with his sound leadership principle.

disagreed.

Olusegun Fanibe, the Chairman of the party in Ogun, accused Nalado of engaging in activities which contravene Article 20 of the party’s constitution.

“Article 20 of the party’s constitution states that no member shall engage in acts that will bring the party to public ridicule, disrepute and embarrassment,’’ Fanibe said.

He said that Nalado had unilaterally taken the National Assembly to court without consultation or approval from the National Working Committee and National Executive Committee of the party.

“This, to a large extent, means that he is contesting the election on the platform of another party, while he is also the national chairman of Accord Party.

“In view of the above listed anti-party activities, we the leaders of the party in the south west zone dissociate ourselves from the court proceedings instituted by the chairman in the party’s name against the National Assembly,’’ he said.

He said that failure by the chairman to adhere to the resolutions would cause members in the zone to meet again in two weeks to decide their continued membership of the party.

We are committed to enacting laws against drug abuse -Katsina Speaker Katsina State House of Assembly has said that it is committed to enacting and amending laws with a view to curtailing drug trafficking, abuse and consumption in the state.

Abubakar Kusada, the Speaker of the Assembly, made this known in Daura, on Monday when he addressed hundreds of people at a naming ceremony in the residence of Mal. Nasir Yahaya, member representing Daura constituency in the Assembly.

Kusada, described the rampant cases of drug abuse as

unfortunate, saddening and pathetic, stressing that the Assembly was determined to collaborate with NDLEA, Police and other stakeholders in checking the menace.

He then urged parents and stakeholders to support to the collective efforts to rid the state of the activities of drug barons and consumers.

The Speaker described the working relationship between the executive and legislature in the state as exceptionally cordial, adding that the development had enhanced the rapid socioeconomic progress of the state.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday May 15, 2018

Politics

11

Nigeria gradually drifting towards failed state –Omobude Rev‎. Felix Omobude is the General Overseer of New Covenant Gospel Church and president of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). In this interview with select Journalists, he spoke on the incessant killings across the country and other issues affecting the polity.

TITUS AKHIGBE was there for The Daily Times.

The situation in the country as it affects security has been very troubling, there is hardly any day that you don’t hear of bloodshed, killings either by Boko Haram, suicide bombings or herdsmen across the country, how do you react to the development?

The PFN is greatly worried that Nigeria is degenerating to a failed state, whereas we have a government in office. It appears that this situation is overwhelming to our security forces. The PFN calls on government at the various levels to ensure the safety and security of Nigerians irrespective of their tribes or religion. We hold the current administration to their campaign promises of change for the better.

We call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and his government and the ruling party to take a look at the promises made to Nigerians and make every effort to fulfill them. Like you will know, the cost of living is becoming very high. When this government came into power in 2015, the price of petrol was N87, but as at today, it is N145. I can go on and on; I mean those who do international business knows the value of Naira four years ago and what it is today. It is two or three times more than what it was.

So, we are calling on the government to rise up and do the needful by making Nigeria a safe country. Reduce the poverty level and make life more meaningful.

How would you react to the statement from some persons especially from the North that perpetrators of criminal activities which many Nigerians describe as herdsmen are armed bandits from outside the country?

Well, we are amazed that our President can announce that in the UK and the US and has not said it at home. But even if that was the truth; if someone is using my name to perpetrate evil I should fight it, I should stop it and I will say don’t do so. So, if these people are from outside, it is the government’s responsibility to check the borders, fish them out, because it is not your (press) responsibility or mine to do that. So, they should do the needful.

The country has never had it so bad as on daily basis people are

Nigeria of today, there is a high level of ethnic and religious intolerance, how do you view that circumstance now that we are moving closer to electioneering year?

We can only but appeal to Nigerians to be tolerant. You cannot tell them not to speak the truth. You see, peace and equity are important. Justice and equity are kind of fulcrum on which egalitarianism thrives. Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to have been done. If you look at the nation today, some ethnic groups feel marginalised, left behind and some religious groups feels governors/government is tilting towards that direction. Those driving the ship of state must not only be true, but must be seen to be just and must be convincingly too.

Omobude massacred in different parts of the country. Would you say that it is appropriate to describe the perpetrators as terrorists?

Honestly, whatever language you use to describe their activities, it all runs to terrorism. But do you go out and say that they are cattle herders only to sneak out and bring AK 47, kill owner of farms, rape their wives and then disappear into the tin air. So, it is terrorism.

Would you say that Buhari has done enough to stop these killings since it started. Has the President done enough?

Well, I will leave that to Nigerians to decide, but the PFN is saying that the responsibility of government is to safe guard the people. So, if it was enough, we will not have been crying. The cries are all over the place, I mean across party lines, I mean when we are dealing with this issue, we should not be thinking that his is in my party or your party, we want these things stopped. It doesn’t really matter to us which party is ruling, we want good government, and we want peace and security for all Nigerians.

The issue of hate speech; people see it as an instrument being used by the government of the day to control church leaders especially

the clampdown on some churches mostly from the Southern part of the country. What is your take on that?

It is a Christian virtue to speak things that are true and things that portrait the peaceful coexistence and we stand by that. We don’t encourage hate speeches, because it really can degenerate into problem that we cannot control, but while clampdown on religious leaders, politicians who on daily basis are speaking hate, who rise up and say one party is put in a coffin, what do you call that? It is hate speech. So, I call on Nigerians, we can play politics and be civil and show understanding. You can criticise an issue, but not necessarily rubbishing the person.

There is concern as the 2019 election draws near; in the

“

On the issue of restructuring, do you subscribe to the restructuring of the country?

Honestly, I believe that democracy provides for it. I believe that if restructuring will give us a safer, equitable and just society, why not go for it.

In the North-East, education is amongst one of those things that is lacking due to the impact of insurgency in the area, the Chibok girls, Dapchi girls. How do you think we can reposition the educational system in the North-East in the face of series of attacks on daily basis? They seem to be lagging behind?

Education is the easiest way of developing the mind and the society. The insurgency that came and occupies a certain region of the country is as a result of the neglect of education, especially in that region for a long time. I believe that government at various levels should pay more attention

The PFN is greatly worried that Nigeria is degenerating to a failed state, whereas we have a government in office. It appears that this situation is overwhelming to our security forces. The PFN calls on government at the various levels to ensure the safety and security of Nigerians irrespective of their tribes or religion. We hold the current administration to their campaign promises of change for the better.

”

to the education of the Nigerian child no matter where they are.

Now, looking at the North-East, certainly we have a monumental challenge with the occasional show by Boko Haram and the other sects; many people are afraid to send their children to school. I think that government has made some efforts, but they should improve on the security situations, encourage parents to send their children to school and making it an offence if you fail to send your children to school.

One of the Dapchi School girl that is still in the captivity of the Boko Haram sect, Leah Sharibu on account of her refusal to renounce Christianity and become a Muslim. What is your advice to the government concerning her freedom?

Well, the case of Leah Sharibu has become a very troubling situation because if those who adopted her did not say the reason why they kept her back, one would understand. But very vocally from what we have read, they said they were keeping her because she refused to renounce her faith. This is one of the banes of society, the reason why there is mis-trust on the part of one side of the Nigerian society and of the other. Why will several teenage girls be adopted? And you release the rest and you retain one just because she is a Christian. So, if the government at home do not do anything, it just left us to believe that the mission that we have not yet known is under playing.

Everyday that Leah stays behind is creating some tension among the religious groups in the country and I will call on the government to do everything possible to show that they are impartial. And that they are not with Boko Haram.

Even if it is ransom or whatever they want to pay, they should pay it and get Leah back.

Concerning the security challenge facing the nation, what can the church do to assist the government to end these violent killings in the country?

Well, we will continue to advocate for peace, because if God wanted Nigeria to be solely a Christian country, it was not an impossible thing for Him to do. If He wanted Nigeria to be solely a Muslim country, He had the power to do it, but He did not do it. He wanted us together and we must respect that. We have continued to speak the truth to the powers that be; advocate for justice. Besides, we know the power of prayers and we are actively engaged in praying for the peace, safety and prosperity

Continued on page 12

Politics 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Lagos lawmaker congratulates APC Oshodi/Isolo newly elected officers The Lawmaker representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 1, at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Olusola Abdulhakeem Sokunle, has congratulated the newly elected executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government.

Hon. Sokunle, in a press statement issued in Oshodi, by his Media Assistant, Mr Okunade

Adekunle, expressed confidence in the newly elected leadership, saying that it was a great thing that the delegates conducted themselves in a responsible manner during the congress.

The lawmaker advised the executives to work together in unity to ensure that the party excel in the coming 2019 general elections.

Hon. Sokunle explained that the

newly elected executives at both Local government and Ward level should understand the task ahead of them, saying that the victory of the party at the 2019 polls is not negotiable.

“I congratulate all the elected Local government executives of our great party, APC in Oshodi/ Isolo. The responsible and peaceful manner which the delegates at the congress conducted themselves is

satisfactory and commendable,” said the Lawmaker He added “The peaceful conduct of our members during the ward and Local government congresses shows that our democracy and politics has come of age. It is an indication that we have matured members in APC. The task ahead is the task of ensuring that the party wins all elections in the coming 2019 general elections.”

Court to hear EFCC charge against Jang May 16 Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos on Monday fixed May 16, for the arraignment of Senator David Jang who is being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for misappropriation of funds.

Consequently, pro Plateau youths in solidarity with the Senator, thronged the court premises demanding for his release and carrying placards with inscriptions such as ‘Stop The Witch-hunt’, ‘Jang Our Hero’, and so on.

Our correspondent reports that the EFCC had on Monday May 7, preferred a 12 count charge bordering on alleged corruption and misappropriation of funds against Jang.

Sen. Jang who currently represents Plateau North Senatorial District, is alleged to have misappropriated over N6 billion two months to the end of his tenure as governor of Plateau State in 2015.

According to the charges, Jang is also said to have embezzled over N4 billion from the state’s coffer through a cashier in the office of the Secretary to the State Government, one Yusuf Pam, who is also charged along with Jang for also personally enriching himself with N11 million.

At the hearing, the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacob (SAN) representing the EFCC, moved an

experte application, to prefer the charge to the court.

Jacob said that the case was listed for an experte application for leave and not arraignment, he further prayed the court to give them two days to produce the accused persons before the court for proper arraignment.

Counsel representing Sen. Jang, Robert Clarke (SAN) while responding, expressed shock that his client has been behind bars since May 7, without bail and proper arraignment.

Clarke added that the arraignment should have been done owing that his client had been served with papers and the court served with same.

The judge, Justice D.D Longji, in his ruling said that what the prosecuting counsel did was right, as the matter was not ready for arraignment.

Longji said that the matter was for an experte application to prefer the charges before the court adding that he had to acknowledge the matter before arraignment.

He added that he had also received the bail application for the accused persons, but cannot act on it until they (accused persons) have been properly arraigned.

He thereafter adjourned the matter to May 16, for proper arraignment and hearing of the application for bail.

Recall that a member of the

Jang legal team to Senator Jonah Jang, Barrister David Dusu, had last week, alleged that the Plateau State government and the Minister for Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed, had sustained pressure on the EFCC, to arrest and detain Jang.

Dusu said it is illegal for the EFCC to hold the Senator beyond 24hours.

He said when the Information Minister published the “looters

list” indicting Jang to have embezzled N12 billion, lawyers to the senator wrote him seeking a retraction and demanding a whooping N500million damage, as what EFCC had earlier allegedly indicted the ex -governor was N6.3billion and not N12billion.

As it stands, Jang legal team had file a suit against the EFCC demanding N500million as damages against the person of the Senator.

Group lauds Buhari on zero tuition at federal varsities

The recent directive by President Muhammadu Buhari that Federal Universities should stop collecting tuitions from their students is a re-affirmation of his government’s pro-people disposition.

The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) says it is also an acknowledgement of the Buhari administration’s determination to truly lift the Nigerian poor from their disadvantaged access to qualitative and affordable education.

In a press statement signed by the Coordinator, Austin Braimoh and Secretary Cassidy Madueke in Abuja, BMO says “nobody is in doubt of the significant and catalysing role education, especially of the tertiary sort, plays in uplifting people congregated in family units, to higher economic and mental grounds.

“On this note, we heartily commend the Buhari government for saving qualified children of the poor and vulnerable who, had, until now, been denied equitable access to tertiary education directly because of the fees charged by the Federal Universities.

“We understand that the policy of zero tuition is not new; indeed, it has been in place over the years.

However, the policy had severally been twisted, manipulated at will and generally abandoned by affected Federal Universities so much so that they have engaged in a competition of which among them can charge and get away with the highest tuition.”

The group however cautions that the reassertion by the Federal Government on zero tuition calls for vigilance and monitoring for the good of the Nigerian people. “We call on students’ body as represented by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the entire labour movement to rise to this call to monitor and challenge any appearance of tuition charges by any Federal Universities.”

The group says it believes that this is one more reason Nigerians across divides should rally round Buhari’s administration to continue to deliver consequential policies that are truly beneficial to the mass of Nigerian people.

‘Nigeria gradually drifting towards failed state’ Continued from page 11 of Nigeria.

Recently, the PFN declared a one year prayer programme for the nation. I would want you to throw more light on it?

We have put in place a programme where every hour of the day for the next one year is covered by some people praying for Nigeria every hour. On hour per hour basis and it is on chain basis across the country. It started on the 1st of this month (May) and it is going to go through to the next year.

The utterances and activities of some politicians have started to overheat the political system in the country. Examples are the trial of Senator Dino Melaye and attack on Senator Matthew Urhoghide at the Benin Airport.

Sir, are these development not of concern to PFN? Honestly, I thought we have gone past this stage, politically.

When I heard what happened at the Airport to Senator Urhoghide; on a personal note, I do not believe that impeaching President Buhari at this time is in the interest of

the country. I don’t believe so, but Senator Urhoghide was doing his job and he ought to have been allowed to do his job without harm and there is need for political leaders to call their followers to order, because 2019 election is around the corner. You will have no Nigeria to rule when you burn it before then. So, let us follow the rule of law and do things as civilized people. That is what I will say.

Would you advise the President to change the security apparatus owing to what has

been happening in the country?

Well, it is not my duty to advise him. I have heard calls from various quarters asking him to sack this or that. Being the President, he is the President of Nigeria and if he has any staff working for him that is not meeting his need, he should know what to do because, the success or failure of his administration depends on the activities of the people that he puts in offices. So, I think from time to time, a good leader should have an over view of those who are working for him and those not leaving to the billing should be dropped and those that

need to be lifted, should be lifted.

Would you agree that the security situation in the country is being politicised by some persons?

You cannot rule out politics, but when people are being killed daily and we know it, will you say that is politics? When a bomb explodes in the market, church or mosque, do you see that as politics? I think that they should not think that Nigerians don’t know what they are doing. We have problem at hand, face it and solve it.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday May 15, 2018

Editorial Commentary

13

OUR POSITION 2019 Elections: INEC, voters and reluctant optimism

A

s the nation races toward 2019 general election, many strange things are happening daily in our political space; some heartening and others, undesirable. Particularly echoing on this wavelength is the demand for a robust political partisanship. A move that is aimed at terminating the dearth of leadership that has bedeviled our nation for too long a time.

Essentially welcoming is the call for good governance sermonized daily. But beyond this call, is an uninspiring preparation characterized by gaps between what we profess and our political actions; a case of more speech with less action by all parties (state actors/citizens) alike. This has become a growing source of concern prompting keen political watchers to ask whether Winston Churchill, had us (Nigerians) in mind when he defined a fanatic as ‘he, that can neither change his mind nor change the topic’.

Undeniably, the need for electing the right leaders has become inevitable and eminently desirable. And Nigerians have within this period expressively preached leadership change but visibly shown ineptitude in strategy and commitment that will bring this position to fruition. Beyond doubt, we are more styled than substance in this 2019 project.

Going by what is happening currently, analysts are however worried that what the masses have so far exhibited is, but, a reluctant optimism which could only lead the nation scoring the usual electoral result as speeches alone cannot win an election.

Another deep-seated source of worry is the telling evidence that the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC), has recently become a body that is good at expressing regrets for their misdeeds without a promise of repentance or apology; under age voters’ registration saga comes flooding.

But the most damaging of all these scenarios is the current spate of insecurity in the country; an occurrence that points to the fact that the federal government may not be promising a firm security for the exercise. Particularly now that disobedience of order has become a familiar music hall act.

These looming signs of woes have again necessitated discerning minds to conclude that if the nation eventually elects the right people in 2019, such victory shall be viewed as an unmerited success. And if we fail, such will again be considered as an accident the nation could have avoided since we saw it coming.

Against this backdrop, it will be gratifying that these unspoken fears are urgently and sprightly addressed as doing so shall translate to a force of stability and a small beginning that will bring about an important breakthrough. But having them disregarded may come at heavy political and socioeconomic cost for our nation.

Aside from the above, it also appears that our inability to coexist is another indication that we are not doing so well to establish a democracy and leadership that is enduring. History bears eloquent testimonies that true democracy can only work in a ‘peaceful environment, where the people have the culture of accommodation and tolerance which makes a minority accept majority’s right to have its way until next election, and wait patiently and peacefully for its turn to become the government by persuading more voters to support its views’. I doubt if our nation as currently postured can fit into this description.

Our inability to coexist in my views may not be the only hurdle against 2019 general election as the age-long underage registration/voting challenge mooted above raised its ugly head in a recent but still trending video captured during a registration exercise and a local council poll in some states.

Nigerians are not particularly happy that the Independent National Electoral Commission has not been able to give an impressive explanation of what happened as expected.

As if that was not enough misery for our democracy, damaging state of illiteracy and attempt to regulate freedom of speech as we have recently witnessed with the attempted introduction of hate speech bill, has but become another stumbling block standing on the way to achieving a people-purposed leadership.

Going by what is happening at the global stage, there is again, a telling proof that ‘for democracy to succeed, a relative level of literacy, a growing middle class, and political institutions that

Historical Times in Pictures

support free speech and human rights is desirable. It needs a civic society resting on shared values that make people with different and conflicting views willing to corporate with each other’. In contrast, Nigerians are going about this 2019 electoral project divided while a greater percentage of the electorates still wallow in ignorance.

Illustrating the above, most of the people leading this electoral discourse have neither registered for nor collected their Permanent Voters Card (PVC). Again, a gross apathy on the part of the youths has become another significant source of worry.

A story was told of how in Anambra state, some youths in their resolve to stop a particular candidate from winning the recent gubernatorial contest, decided not to participate in the electoral exercise. Such a decision in my views was born out of political ignorance and further portrays the democracy we practice as ‘democracy turned upside down’.

However, despite these negative developments, it is my firm believes that these monsters can be caged and the anticipated 2019 election result achieved if the FG allays this fears as expressed by the masses.

To get started, such step may include but not limited to our realization as a people that democracy can only guarantee good governance when it is mixed with the appropriate ingredients.

Such ingredient is our ability and resolves to vote the right people that will uphold probity as well as build institutions.

Therefore, as we commence yet another ‘political ultimate search’ come 2019. Voting based on pecuniary inducement or ‘stomach infrastructure’ should be discouraged.

It is imperative that INEC as a public institution run with the approval, and from the funds of the public perform its responsibility of facilitating/regulating the electoral process responsibly as failure may lead to losing public/peoples support and by extension, its existence.

To further disabuse the minds of Nigerians who may have doubts about the forthcoming election, the FG should take pragmatic steps to address the nation security challenge as well as tackle in a holistic manner other issues raised that may blur the 2019 general election outcome.

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14 Column

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Open governance in Nigeria and government partnership

Times Columnist AGABAIDU JIDEANI

G

‘

In order to create better synergy amongst stakeholders, the OGP Nigeria established the National Secretariat to coordinate the effective implementation of the OGP action plan in the country

,

overnance is open in that system where there is a high level of transparency and mechanisms for public scrutiny and oversight in place, with an emphasis on government accountability. Where the public have access to government-held information and records and are informed of government activities and where there is an avenue for citizens’ participation & collaboration in government activities through the use of modern, open technologies.

There is a growing movement towards open governance in Nigeria and in deed the foundations to sustain an open government in Nigeria are largely in place.

It is widely agreed amongst governance experts that an open and democratic society is founded on a well-informed citizenry with access to government information and records.

Nigeria has laid the relevant legal and legislative framework to enhance open governance.

The West African country enacted its Access to Information Law – styled Freedom of Information Act in 2011, it has a law governing the prudent management of public resources – the Fiscal Responsibility Act and in an effort to increase public integrity the country enacted the Public Procurement Act and established the Public Procurement Bureau. The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives (NEITI) Act was a law made to imbue Transparency in the country’s opaque oil and gas sectorits economic mainstay.

Despite the existence of these and many other ingredients in the legal regime and legislative frame work for open governance in Nigeria the country’s government remained largely opaque.

Successive Nigerian governments and public sector officials continued to operate without transparency and in defiance of established legal instruments owing to weak and compromised law enforcement institutions and a lack of top level political will to tackle the menace of corruption in the system.

There has been increased rhetoric by the current government about a fight against corruption and the need for the citizens to join in an effort to minimize its impact on the lives of the people.

Having made the right noises the government was encouraged by leading civil society advocates to commit internationally to the fight against corruption by joining the Open Government partnership.

The Open Government

Partnership (OGP) In ordinary and common language, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a platform where government on one side and the people (represented by - civil society organisations, professional associations, religious and cultural associations and the organized private sector, women and youth groups) on the other hand, come together to adopt and implement measures aimed at improving transparency, accountability, citizen participation and responsiveness to citizens through technology and innovation.

These measures come in the form of commitments made by government in conjunction with the people.

These commitments are contained in an action that will provide a roadmap to the implementation of OGP principles and address relevant challenges that seek to: i. increase the level of transparency and accountability; ii. expand effective mechanisms for citizen participation, and iii. develop innovative platforms for civic collaboration in order to co-produce public value in the planning, design, implementation, and evaluation of public policies and services.

Nigeria joined the OGP in 2016 following President MuhammaduBuhari’s efforts aimed at combating corruption and achieving an open and transparent government.

The president had previously made same commitments at the London Summit on Anti-Corruption on the 12th of May 2016.

Nigeria’s drive in this regards was focused on strengthening anticorruption measures by exposing corruption; punishing the corrupt and providing support to the victims of corruption and doing away with a culture that is conducive to corruption.

Nigeria’s membership of the OGP necessitated the making of 14 commitments by the government in an action plan jointly developed with civil society organizations, professional associations, the academia and the organized private sector. Nigeria’s action plan and commitments focused on 4 thematic areas including reforms in areas of:i.

Fiscal Transparency, ii.

Anti-corruption and Asset Disclosure, iii.

Access to Information, and iv.

Citizens’ engagement and empowerment

In order to create better synergy amongst stakeholders, the OGP Nigeria established the National Secretariat to coordinate the effective implementation of the OGP action plan in the country.

The secretariat in the last one year embarked on an aggressive drive to take the OGP principles and reforms down to the people in localities by encouraging state governments that constitute the Nigerian Federation (Nigeria is a federation of 36 State Governments and 1 Central Government) to sign on to the OGP in what it terms sub-national engagement. The efforts at sub-national engagement is informed by the fact that about 50% of the country’s resources are expended in the states and the need was identified to bring transparency to the management of public resources, increase public accountability in that space and empower the citizens to participate in policies and execution of projects to achieve improved service delivery.

This effort in Nigerian OGP subnational engagement is achieving good results. Since its inception in 2017 6 state governments – Kaduna, Kano, Anambra, Ebonyi, Niger and Enugu states are at various stages of opening up their state institutions. The states have collectively made additional 32 commitments addressing issues in the 4 thematic areas focused on by the central government whilst also introducing 2 new focus areas not being addressed by the central government- these include Climate Change Resilience and Natural Resources Transparency – Anambra State and Improved Public Service Delivery – Kano State.

IMPACT Speaking in Abuja – Nigeria’s Federal capital at the official opening of the Nigeria OGP week celebration on Monday 7th May 2018 ( the OGP week is a global event to create awareness about the OGP and its activities celebrated between the 7th and 11th of May 2018 worldwide) the Country’s President MuhammaduBuhari represented

by His Deputy – Vice President YemiOsibanjo – a law Professor – stated that the government came into office on the back of a threepronged agenda: ensuring security, rebuilding the economy and vigorously prosecuting the fight against corruption. With regards to the fight against corruption He said that the government adopted a twostep approach to dealing with the

scourge of systemic corruption first by stopping “grand corruption and the accompanying impunity” and secondly creating a self-sustaining system that assures transparency and accountability – this second step is exemplified by Nigeria joining and implementing the principles of the Open Government Partnership.

Implementing the OGP principle of Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity, he said, led to the establishment of a ‘Presidential Committee on Continuous Audit’ whose work in cleaning up the Government Payroll not only saved money for the government but also led to significant recoveries as many names on the pay roll were found to be fictitious allowing public officials to syphon public resources – a phenomena referred to as “ghost workers” in Nigeria.

Speaking further he informed that the budgeting and public procurement process were impacted by the development of a budget portal and the National Open Contracting Portal (NOCOPO) respectively and these have increased transparency and enhanced citizens participation.

He stated that Nigeria is in the process of developing a public register of beneficial ownership of shares to increase transparency and reduce the capacity of the corrupt to launder money.

The progress made by the OGP in Nigeria was collaborated by the Civil Society shadow report presented during the OGP week celebrations. The report indicated “limited to substantial” progress in the past one year in areas of Access to Information, Citizens Engagement and Fiscal Transparency.

The Open Government Partnership (OGP) Week celebration in Nigeria was rounded up on Friday 11th May 2018 with a walk in Abuja and rally at the government secretariat housing government ministries and agencies in the West African Country. The OGP week activities enabled government employees and non-state actors to review issues and address important loopholes in the OGP implementation in Nigeria, which started in January 2017.

Nigeria OGP process is a platform of partnerships –Partnership between government and civil society organizations including other non-state actors; partnership between government departments themselves; partnership between and amongst civil society organizations which had hitherto been working in silos.

It is important to note that as civil society organizations become more active within OGP to ensure compliance with commitments by governments, questions will arise about their own transparency and how they open up their own activities and determine to whom and how they are accountable. The non-state actors must at least hold themselves up to the same level of transparency and accountability to which they subject the government.

It is hoped that the moral pressure of “practicing what you preach” will get the civil society organizations to live up to the rhetoric and become more transparent, accountable, and democratic.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

15

News 16

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Niger increase budget to strengthen fight against insecurity Adebisi Oyindamola, Abuja Republic of Niger has increased its security budget from 17% in 2017, to 21% in 2018 with a view to curbing the menace of insecurity.

Presenting the country’s report at the First Ordinary session of the 2018 ECOWAS parliament, the country’s representative Honourable Halima Maname said “despite efforts by the government, our country continues to experience terrorist attacks, particularly

in the western part, the border with Mali.”

She added that the country faces major security challenges, drug trafficking and problems of illicit weapons circulation.

The situation prompted the establishment of the national commission for the collection and control of illicit weapons (CNCCAI) with the mandate of advising the President of the republic on ways of combating the scourge.

The 2018 ECOWAS first ordinary parliamentary

session holding Abuja started on May 10, and is expected to end of June 1.

80% power installations damaged in N’East by insurgents restored – Fashola Federal Government on Monday said that it had restored 80 per cent of the electricity transmission and distribution installations damaged by insurgents in the North-East.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, disclosed this in Yola, Adamawa State, while

giving his opening remarks at the 27th power sector meeting.

He said that 33KV transmission lines in areas like Damboa, Madagali, Maiduguri, Damasak, Gombi, Mubi, Wukari among others, had been restored.

Fashola said the restoration of the damaged transmission and distribution equipment was resulting in an incremental and improved supply to customers in the franchise area.

He commended the management of Yola Disco for the success recorded in the management of the company despite the declaration of a force majeure by the initial owners of the company.

According to him “many of you will remember that in 2015, Yola Disco was the only one of the 11 privatised Discos that was given up as being unviable.

“However, this government did not give up on the company. The government appointed

L-R: Jane Gitau, Secretary - General, African Public Relations Association(APRA), Robyn de Villiers;Vice President, APRA, Amb Quartey Kwesi; Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission (AUC) and Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, President, APRA presenting a plaque to the AUC Deputy Chairperson at the just concluded 30th Annual Conference of APRA themed “Re-PResenting Africa” in Gaborone, Botswana...on Monday

Lagos Assembly: Care for persons with mental challenge bill pass second reading

By Alade Tasma Bill for a law to regulate and care for persons with mental challenge in the State known as “Mental Service Bill, 2018” has scaled through second reading at the Lagos State House of Assembly during plenary on Monday.

The Acting Chairman, House Committee on Health Service, Hon. Segun Olulade, who led the debate on the bill explained that the objective of the Bill when pass into law is to protect the rights of persons suffering from mental disorder, adding “when passed into law, it would guarantee the health of persons with mental

disorder as we have at the federal level.”

Olulade further stated that the Bill also sought to repeal the existing lunatic law in the State, saying “it will have a better health service and provide opportunity to collaborate with other health service providers.”

Adding the Bill would protect the rights of persons who were mentally derailed and also guard against discrimination.

“When eventually passed into law, it would create and maintain mental health data bank,” Olulade disclosed.

Commenting on the necessity of the Bill, the Acting Chairman, House Committee

on Information and Strategy, Hon. Tunde Buraimoh explained that the law would disabuse the minds of those who believe it is only those who are on the streets that are mentally ill.

He added that the law would take care of persons in the traditional mental homes who usually beat up persons with mental disorder, saying it would also make provision for research.

Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuoso in her contributions to the debate said removing the word lunatic from the proposed law is a way of protecting the dignity of persons with mental disorder.

Lending support to

the bill, Hon. Abiodun Tobun suggested that the treatment of the persons with mental challenges should be free.

He argued that since no family members prayed for such sudden occurrence, it would be appropriate to shed the responsibility off them.

Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu in his submission disclosed that there were provisions for offences as regard neglect, having sexual relationship and other offences with persons with mental challenges, he therefore, advocated for fine for concealment.

He further explained that some family members have a way

of shielding persons suffering from this ailment because of societal stigmatization.

In another development, the House has screened Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s nominees for the Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission (LAHASCOM).

Those screened includes four former members of the Commission namely Mr. Olawale Mogaji, Mr. Balogun Afolabi, Mrs. Ajoke Risikat and Mr. Bode Tawak who were renominated by the Governor.

While a former secretary of Agege Local Government, Mr Afolabi Ayantayo was The only new nominee.

Engineer Baba Mustapha to manage the Disco.

“From reports we have received about performance and monthly ratings, it is obvious that Engineer Mustapha and his team have proven that Yola Disco is not unviable.”

“The Maiduguri Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) substation, the Mayo-Belwa TCN substation and the installed distribution infrastructure which had been damaged by insurgents have become fully operational.

Earlier, Managing Director of Yola Disco, Mr Baba Mustapha said the Disco covered 270 kilometers with active customers.

He said the management of the Disco had improved its distribution network and reduced the incidence of technical losses.

“We have also increased our revenue collection by almost 200 per cent,” the managing director said.

According to him, the Disco has also keyed into the Meter Provider Asset (MAP), as it was already discussing with a service provider to supply meters and end estimated billing of its customers.

Mustapha commended the federal government, Yobe and Adamawa State Governments for their supports, saying that the state governments provided vehicles when it lost some of its utility vehicles to insurgents. (NAN)

935 UAE prisoners regain freedom ahead of Ramadan President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday ordered the release of 935 prisoners ahead of the upcoming holy fasting month of Ramadan, UAE state news agency WAM reported.

The gesture is part of Al Nahyan’s attempt to provide prisoners “an opportunity to start a new life and alleviate their families’ hardship,’’ WAM said.

Ramadan, a four-week Islamic period of fasting and worshipping, would start on Wednesday or Thursday this week, depending on moon-sighting in different areas.

In the UAE, the president and the rulers of the seven emirates’, which form the Gulf state, usually pardon prisoners as a sign of goodwill when Ramadan comes. Xinhua/NAN

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

17 News

Ugwuanyi to commission erosion management projects

Moses Oyediran, Enugu

Chairman Enugu State Technical Committee of Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), Dr. Bernadine Chinyere Ezeugwu, has said that arrangements have been concluded for the commissioning of the 9th mile and Ajali gully erosion control sites in the state by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwanyi.

Eze, who is also the Permanent Secretary

Ministry of Environment disclosed this in Enugu on Monday when her committee undertook an inspection tour of gully erosion control sites expressed satisfaction at the executed projects.

She said the committee made up of directors from allied ministries of the ministry of Environment embarked on the tour as part of final arraignment for the commissioning and takeover of the projects by the Enugu State

Government.

“We are here on the NEWMAP erosion control sites to prepare ground for the official commissioning by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

The project is a partnership between the State Government and World Bank.

“You can see that the owners of houses and churches that were almost eroded by erosion have reclaimed their properties.

“My committee is excited.

We commend NEWMAP

for quality of works and urge the communities to be thankful to God for bringing NEWMAP to alleviate their sufferings.

Eze noted that her committee has capable hands that can handle maintenance works at erosion sites in the state.

“If the state government can commit huge funds into these projects, it will sustain its maintenance.

“My committee is made up of knowledgeable engineers capable of handling the

maintenance works at the project sites”, she said.

In an interview, the NEWMAP project coordinator, Barr. Vincent Obetta said the essence of the tour was to identify areas where there are snags.

“I am pleased at the renewed commitment of Enugu State Government to partner with World Bank to recover erosion devastated sites.

“The aim of this tour is to ensure that the committee inspect and give their final

opinion of the projects with the possibility of identifying any snags to be corrected before the final commissioning.

“The World Bank team had done their own inspection.

“Whatever this committee raised would be corrected immediately, that is why Mr. Kola Kusmo of the Aim consult is here with us.

Obetta explained that the gullies before NEWMAP took over the process of recovery could swallow the height of three persons put together.

“The depth at Ajali gully erosion site was 15m deep and 25m width while the 9th mile gully erosion site was 6m depth and 15m width.

“What we have seen today shows that this places are gradual healing and the surfaces coming out.

“There are serious improvements and we hope this continues”, he said.

Rainstorm destroys 65 houses in 2 Delta communities Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, speaking at the opening ceremony of the 8th Annual General Meeting and Conference of Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa, held at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. . . on Monday

CMD wants Buhari’s to ensure completion of NAUTH Chief Medical Director, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Prof.

Anthony Igwegbe, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and ensure completion of the hospital’s permanent site.

Igwegbe made the appeal in a statement on Monday in Abuja, after the Civil Society Roundtable on the

State of Tertiary Health Service Sector in Nigeria organised by the League of Civil Society Groups.

He said that the completion of the hospital’s permanent site would help in improving health care delivery for Nigerians.

Igwegbe said the vision of the hospital was to reduce the burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases, as well as improve on health

care delivery.

He, however, said that development of the permanent site of the hospital, which began in 2013, had been slow due to paucity of funds.

“This is the only teaching hospital still operating in its temporary site in Nigeria.

There is no adequate space and we have limited facilities to engage in a lot of retraining of staff and carrying out adequate

research.

“Power has always been the problem; we don’t have any supply into the hospital.

We have to rely on diesel and this is telling adversely on our expenditure.’’

The CMD, who decried poor budgetary allocation to the health sector, called for adequate funding, atmosphere conducive for work and security for the sector.

These, according to

him, will go a long way in ensuring that the sector performs optimally to the country’s satisfaction.

He also urged the League of Civil Society Groups to help in advocacy to assist the hospital in areas of need.

Igwegbe urged striking Joint Health Workers to call off their action while negotiations with the Federal Government continued.

Kwara nursing school introduce best student award kehinde Akinpelu, ilorin The 1979 set of the Kwara College of Nursing and Midwifery, Ilorin popularly known as ‘Set 6’ has introduced an award for best students in the school.

The association of the alumni made the resolution in a communique issued to The DAILY TIMES, after a

meeting in Ilorin on Monday, Kwara State capital.

The communique was jointly signed by Mr Lanre Quadri and Hajia Mulikatu Jato-Ibrahim.

The alumna stated that the prize would be awarded to students at the end of first six months examination.

The old students also resolved to equip the school library with modern

textbooks to meet up with the contemporary need in the nursing program.

The old students stated that association was formed to contribute to the development of the Alma mater.

The communique explained that the alumna would reconvene in 2019 to celebrate their 40th anniversary of leaving the school.

Earlier in his remark, Alhaji

Imam Abubakar, the Provost of the school applauded the old students for the initiative.

Abubakar urged the union to assist the school in actualising the mission and vision of the school.

He noted that the school was working to ensure that the school is upgraded from a monotechnic to a polytechnic, noting however that the school lacked a need

structures to get the approval of the necessary council.

He also decried lack of technology advancement in the school with a plea to the union to assist the school.

“We believe in the power of the alumna to elevate the school to an enviable height.

“We hereby urged other sets to follow suit and assist in achieving the mission and vision of the school”, he said.

Early morning rainstorm in Umudike, Ossissa communities Ndokwa West/East Local Government Areas of Delta State, has destroyed no fewer than 65 houses in the area.

The rain which lasted three hours reportedly injured six persons.

Speaking to our reporter, traditional Prime Minister in the area, Chief Joseph Eloke Adibeli, said: “65 houses, cash crops such as coconut trees, pepper fruit trees, water boreholes facilities were destroyed, roofs of the affected buildings were pulled-off, the victims are now homeless”.

Similar rainfall had destroyed several houses last weekend in Alifikede, Agbor areas; a situation owners of the building are currently taking refuge elsewhere.

But Onotu-Uku while appealing to State and Federal Governments including Co-operate bodies to come to their aid, said that such disaster had over the years not occurred in the areas, adding that the disaster had thrown the residents, particularly the victims into untold hardship.

One of the victims, Chief David Igbinoba who spoke to reporter said: “the rainfall virtually finished our properties, I have nowhere to sleep now, two of my houses where affected, I am finished, I want people to help me, am old, where do I start from”.

Investigation revealed that over 76 communities in Delta State had in the coming of the rains, been affected with several houses and farm crops destroyed.

News 18

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Presidential aspirant quits NCP, accuses chairman of selfishness Tosin Ajuwon, Akure The 2019 presidential aspirant of National Conscience Party (NCP) Dr. Thomas-wilson Ikubese, has quit the party accusing the its chairman of selfishness.

Ikubese, said he decided to leave the party after noticing that leaders of the NCP have compromised the ideologies on which the party was formed.

He spoke on Monday in Akure, the Ondo state capital, noting that he had suffered enough hostilities in the hands of the leaders of the NCP. Dr. Ikubese accused the National Chairman, Yunusa Tanko and the National Secretary, Ayodele Akele of taxing those who showed interest to run on the plaftorm of the NCP with the sum of N7.04 million.

According to Ikubese, the whooping sum being charged by the leaders was against the tenets in which the late legal luminary, Chief Gani Fawehinmi established the

party.

“The National Chairman Yunusa Tanko and the National Secretary Ayodele Akele drafted a document (attached herein) directing that any Presidential Aspirant who is less than 2yrs in the party should pay the sum of N7.04 million naira to the Party, which is against the age-long tradition laid down by Chief Gani Fawehinmi that party members who seek to run for offices should do so at no cost, as a populist Party, as to encourage the masses to thereby participate actively in politics.

“The argument advanced by the duo is that this money will serve to finance the Party.

Conversely however, Article 9.4.1 of the constitution of the NCP clearly stipulates how the party shall raise funds, i.e membership fees, donations and/or contributions from well meaning individuals or bodies, proceeds from sale or auction of party materials and publications and income from investments. Nowhere is it

stated in the constitution that funds shall be generated by levying aspirants mandatorily!

“This action is in further breach of Article 4.1.3 (c) of the NCP which stipulates that a National Congress must be convened to discuss the affairs of the Party and to take such decisions and/or give general guidelines as may be necessary for the progress and proper working of the Party.

He wondered why the leadership of the party refused to call a National Congress as to deliberate over the decision rather than making it a plan of the duo of the National Chairman and General Secretary.

The presidential aspirant queried why the National Chairman, Tanko, would declared to contest for the presidential seat without resigning his position as stipulated by law.

“The National Chairman, Yunusa Tanko formerly declared to run for the office of the President on the 23rd April 2018, without resigning his

position as National Chairman.

“As at today, he doubles as the National Chairman and a Presidential Aspirant of the NCP to the disadvantage of any other Aspirant in the Party who will be “screened” by a committee that will ultimately report to him.

“He thus upholds the power to approbate and reprobate.

“You cannot be in charge of the Party, control its machineries and resources and also be an Aspirant without fairness, justice and equity being compromised.

“Tanko erected a barricade, mandating me to pay N7.04 million as a Presidential Aspirant, while he is not making any such payment, even though we are running for the same office.

“Since the National Chairman and General Secretary of the party have obviously compromised the integrity for which the party is known, I hereby withdraw my membership of the NCP forthwith, for if I remain in the Party, it is obvious that the duo

will use the Party machinery to the advantage of Tanko.

“And should I defeat him in the primaries, he and his accomplices will most likely work against me in the general elections” Ikubese said.

Dr. Ikubese said he has move on to join forces with genuine progressive-minded individuals and groups to birth a new Nigeria.

He disclosed that he has

pitched his tent with over twenty political parties who are now in talks to form a coalition in order to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

Dr. Ikubese, however, charged other members of National Conscience Party to rise and protect the legacy of justice and equity that late Chief Gani Fawehinmi lived on.

Zamfara APC refutes conduct of parallel congress Ifeanyichukwu Nwannah, Gusau Zamfara State Chapter of the APC coordinating committee has refuted the claim that there were parallel congresses by Senator Kabiru Marafa’s supporters last week in the state.

Addressing journalists in Gusau, the Chairman of the committee, Hon. Sanusi Garba Rikiji who is also the State House of Assembly said he did not receive any report of that nature, saying that in every election such rumors are always expected.

In his own response The State Local Government Committee Chairman, Ambassador Dauda Danladi explained that the congress could be attested by the INEC Officials, election observers and members of the press.

He stated that where there are aggrieved members of the party in the state, they are advised to present their cases to the appeals committee setup by the APC at the National Headquarters for proper investigations, appealing on all the members not to take laws into their own hands.

All parallel congresses complete waste of time –APC

L-R: ECOWAS Youth Council Special Adviser on Education, Amb. Tosin Sanusi, Founder, Fore Runners Nigeria, Hon. Babatunde Orulasi, Project Director, Trek Africa and Adeleke Feyipitan during a round table youths parley on “Youths Participation in Politics and Governance” at Oriental Hotel, Lagos...on Monday.

Ajimobi to APC elders: Reconcile aggrieved members for party’s progress Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, has called on elders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state to reconcile aggrieved members towards building a formidable and virile party.

Governor Ajimobi, made the call in Ibadan, on Monday when APC elders from the five geopolitical zones of the state paid him a solidarity visit in his office, shortly after the swearing-in ceremony of the newly-elected council chairmen in the state.

Ajimobi said that recent political events showed that the APC had been widely accepted, urging members of the party to work together to consolidate on the successes.

According to him “History repeats itself every day.

Misunderstanding and disagreements cannot be ruled out of politics, but we must always endeavour to forgive to move on.

“We cannot all be perfect.

There is always quarrel, even in the home, and such is amicably

resolved in the interest of the family.

“I call on those aggrieved to come back and let’s resolve to move the party forward. I have a large heart and I don’t think evil about anyone. This has been the secret of my successes.”

Alhaji Olayide Abas, an APC leader from Ibarapa zone, expressed confidence that aggrieved party members would be prevailed on and adequately reconciled.

Abas said that the governor, who had done well, remained

the leader of the party and deserved loyalty of members.

Earlier in their remarks, Alhaji Kamorudeen Ajisafe (Ibadan Less City) and Pa Samuel Laoye(Ibadan), commended the governor for his quality leadership.

Also, Pa Femi Yusuf (Ogbomoso), Pa Solomon Akindele (Oyo) and Pa Samuel Adekola (Oke-Ogun), described Ajimobi as a worthy leader who had continued to lead the party on the right path.

National leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, said all parallel congresses in ongoing nationwide conduct of the exercise, amounts to waste of time.

National Publicity Secretary of APC, Malam Bolaji Abudullahi, who made this known in a statement issued in Abuja, while reacting to reports that some APCcontrolled states had parallel congresses on Saturday, said, “the party’s position is that there is no such thing as parallel congress.

“The only congress recognised by the party is that which was conducted in accordance with its Constitution and organised by the congress committee charged to do so.

“We therefore, regard any so-called parallel congress as an exercise in futility and attempt to cause confusion in the party.”

He said that members of the party who had genuine grievances regarding the congresses should channel such through the appeal committees in their states.

Pastor invaded Nkanu community shrine Heaven was let loose at Nkanu Community, in Nkanu-West Local Government Area of Enugu State of Nigeria when a Denominational Church Pastor, Pastor Ugwuoko Nonoso Levi of Image of Christ Church and it’s worshippers allegedly destroy the Community Shrine which is located at the center of the community.

The pastor, according to eye witnesses organised an open crusade to repel

activities of witchcraft that has been tormenting them in the area met with strong resistance from the deity which attacked the clergy man and his brethren made them ran for their life.

It is the belief of the Chief priest of the Shrine that Ugwuoko should come back to the community and make certain sacrifices to appease the god of the land. The whereabouts of the Pastor and his family members has since not been known to the community.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

19 News

Activist murdered in Lagos Joy Anyim, Lagos

A political activist and an anti-corruption crusader, Comrade Femi Adeyemo, 38, has been allegedly murdered by unknown gunmen suspected to be political assassins.

The incident took place recently at his residence located at No. 4, Femi Street in Ogijo area of Ikorudu, Lagos.

Adeyemo before his death was a popular name in Ikorodu local government politics and was known for his courage to stand up against bad government policies. He was said to have been severely intimidated, bullied and even attacked because of his fight with the leadership of the local government on how the sum of N360 million allocation to the local government was embezzled.

Our correspondent learnt that ongoing investigation by the police is still at the preliminary stage and cause of his death is yet to be traced to a particular camp.

However, his supporters are of the opinion that his death has political undertones.

Meanwhile, no arrest has been made so far but according to a source, Late Femi Adeyemo’s housemaids as well as neighbours have been interrogated.

Attacks on perceived political enemies in Ikorodu area has been on the rise lately with Late Femi Adeyemo’s case being the latest in the several cases of alleged attacks on political activism in the state.

In a similar development, Comrade Felix Ayodele Momodebe, a social crusader, a strong political motivator and a philanthropist who has been championing the call for accountability and transparency in local government finances has fled the country to an unknown destination, suspected to be the United States.

According to a source close to his camp, he was left with no option than to run away after several attempts on his life and that of his family.

Momodebe is a former Banker, administer of a welfare package for widows and the aged in his area. He is the director of the youth wing of a socio-political movement, the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM).

He was becoming a rising voice in Abesan political arena with his ever expanding political base that is majorly the youth. His rising profile has been a cause of concern to the political leadership of

the local government and his ordeals were believed to have come from people who see him as a threat to their political ambitions.

One of the several deadly attempts on his life came at about 1:00 am on April 22, 2017 when his residence, AA House, 1st Avenue, Opposite Greenland Field, Abesan, Ipaja, a Lagos suburb, was besieged by unknown gunmen.

According to a source close to him, Momodebe had traveled to his hometown in Kogi State to see his family members on issues of illegal land acquisition by the state government in which their

Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa on Monday extended his condolences to the royal family and the people of Akumazi Kingdom in Ika North East Local Government Area as the Obi of Akumazi, His Royal Majesty Stephen Osagie joined his ancestors.

According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu, the Governor extolled what he described as Osagie’s extraordinary and committed leadership to

wounded and was rescued and taken to the hospital by the neighbours the second morning. The young man spent about a week before he was released from the hospitaL. When Comrade Femi Momodebe returned, he made the case known to the police. At this time, it was clear that his life is no longer safe. If they had met him, he would have been killed.

Just about a month after his residence was attacked, while attending a naming ceremony party of a friend’s child at No. 20, Aderogba Street, in Egbeda, Lagos, his car was attacked with all the four tyres flattened

and the wind screen shattered.

Few minutes before the attack, he was in the car to receive a call away from the rowdy ambience of the party. The attacker must have assumed he was in the car perhaps by their informant which made people assume some people were trailing Comrade Momodebe. This and several other cases must have led to his decision to run for cover.

Contacted, the spokesperson of his camp, Mr. Jide Towolawi, had this to say: “He who fights to run, runs to fight another day. Our Comrade is fine and he would be back stronger to continue the fight “.

Hon. Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola,SAN(left), Managing Director,Yola Electricity Distribution Company(YEDC),Engr. Baba Umara Mustapha (left) and Managing Director/CEO, Faro Table Water, Mr Ahmed Jarma(middle) during the commissioning of 33KV Industrial Feeder to Kofare Industrial Area -Jimeta shortly before the 27th Meeting with Operators in the Power Sector hosted by the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) at the TCN Transmission Station along Numan Road, Jimeta, Adamawa State. . . on Monday,

Gov Okowa mourns Akumazi monarch Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

family land was hijacked by the state government and given to herdsmen for grazing.

His wife, as she does all the time Momodebe traveled out of town, had gone to her parents’ house nearby with their only child. As at the time of invasion by the gunmen, the only person left at home was their house maid, Femi Olatunji, a young man in his twenties who refused to open the door on instructions from his boss not to admit any visitor when he is not around.

The gunmen, desperate in their action, forced their way in to the building and attacked the young man. He was brutally

his people over a period of almost seven decades; and his exceptional stewardship which saw Akumazi Kingdom emerge as one of the leading communites in Ika nation and Delta State.

The Governor expressed the belief that the revered and long lasting monarch will be long remembered for his towering role and dedication to improving the lives and aspirations of the Akumazi people.

He acknowledged that under the monarch’s reign, Akumazi witnessed remarkable transformation in every sphere of

life, including making agriculture the bedrock of economic development in the agrarian community.

The statement read, “Governor Okowa expresses the hope that Akumazi and indeed all who mourn Obi Stephen Osagie will continue to honour his legacy of selfless service and commitment to human dignity.

“He prays God Almighty to grant his soul eternal rest and comfort his family, well-wishers and the Akumazi people in this period of loss and mourning.”

Insecurity: Don advocates ‘reactivation’ of Nigeria’s constitution Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin For Nigeria to overcome her security challenges, the judiciary must ensure that the country’s constitution is reactivated to function properly, an associate Professor of education with the University of Ilorin, AbdulRasaq Oniye has advocated.

He also challenged government at all levels and employers of labour to halt the rate at which Nigerians were losing their jobs even as he said government must create more jobs.

Oniye stated this in a lecture delivered at the summit and Award presentation organized

by The Herald Chapel of the

Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) held at the NUJ press centre Ilorin.

The theme of the summit was ‘‘Insecurity and Challenges of Governance in the 21st Century Nigeria’’.

The guest lecturer in his paper attributed the prevailing insecurity challenges bedeviling the country to the fall out of injustice being meted out to Nigerians and increasing level of unemployment saying ‘‘in any country where there is injustice, bloodletting will be rampart’’.

He expressed concern that Nigeria was ‘‘a strange and falling country’’, because of what he described as ‘‘systemic failure’ ’caused by

the operators of the nation’s constitution whom according to him, were implementing it ‘‘at variance’’. ‘‘The Nigeria constitution must be reactivated, unless we allow the constitution to work, the system in Nigeria will not work’’, he said.

Speaking further, Oniye noted that level of sufferings in Nigeria is unprecedented and urged government to put measure in place to bring succor to Nigerians . ‘‘The level of sufferings in Nigeria in unprecedented, Employers of labour must ensure that loss of job is brought to the barest minimum, jobs are being lost per seconds’’, he said.

News 20

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Ugwuanyi awards scholarship to 340 indigent students Moses Oyediran, Enugu In line with the Enugu State Government’s policy in education and the need to discover and assist intellectuals in the rural areas, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on Monday granted scholarship to 340 indigent students of the Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo, Ezeagu Local Government Area of the state.

Governo Ugwuanyi explained that 20 indigent students in each of the 17 LGAs will benefit from the scholarship scheme, which will cover their tuition fees for four years of study at a total cost of N41.6 million.

The governor spoke during

the maiden engineering day commemoration at the institution, where he inaugurated the newly constructed School of Engineering Complex sponsored by Prince Arthur Eze and laid foundation for the construction of Prof. Julius Onah School of Management Technology.

The event also witnessed the foundation laying ceremony of School of General Studies by the Deputy Governor, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo and conferment of Merit Awards to notable Engineers and other dignitaries, such as the Deputy President of the Senate, Prof. Ike Ekweremadu; former President of the Senate, Senator Ken

Nnamani; Member representing Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency, Hon. Dennis Oguerinwa Amadi; Prof. Barth Nnaji; Sir Chief Emeka Offor; HRH Igwe Augustine Otiji and Engr. Vita Abba, among others.

Also speaking, Gov. Ugwuanyi disclosed that the cardinal principle of the educational policy of his administration was “the provision of access to qualitative education at all levels to all classes and strata of the society”.

He stated that the event afforded his administration the opportunity to take a major step forward in the advancement of technology in the state “especially at this time

when technology has not only turned the world into a global village but has become the major income earner for many nations”.

The governor said that his administration in the light of the above, implemented “firm measures towards repositioning and revamping this institution” to make it a prominent centre for Engineering and Agricultural studies and innovations in the country.

“These measures included the revalidation of old programmes and accreditation of new ones by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) as well as the provision of critical infrastructure and necessary equipment”,

the governor added.

Gov. Ugwuanyi, therefore, expressed delight that the efforts of the government towards the institution have been manifesting “as the institution has developed at an amazing pace and has been attracting positive attention and reviews from regulatory authorities in the country as well as stakeholders in the nation’s education sector”.

Describing the School of Engineering Complex as “a watershed in the history of the institution” that would enhance its growth as a citadel of qualitative engineering and technological education, the governor commended Engr. Arthur Eze for “his kind

Fasoye lacks decorum – Oyegun Tom Okpe, Abuja National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Oyegun, has said that the party must do everything possible to take over Ekiti State, saying the State Governor was “very abusive and lacked decorum.”

Oyegun stated this on Monday, in Abuja when Governor Tanko Al-Makuraled Ekiti state governorship primary committee submitted its report to the party.

The National Chairman praised the aspirants for their spirit of sportsmanship, adding that the disrupted primary, gave the party an opportunity to organize a perfect repeated congress.

According to him, the committees, aspirants and the delegates at the primary deserves a gold medal adding that, “the party leadership had started work to consolidate on the victory recorded at the primary.

“We are working to ensure that the victory you have started is carried through come July 14, this year at the governorship election”.

Responding Governor Tanko Al-Makura, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ekiti Governorship Primary Committee attributed the success of last Saturday primary to the maturity exhibited by aspirants, delegates and party members.

He said that the exercise was successful because of the cooperation, passion and commitment of party members, delegates and the aspirants.

“More than anything else, is the conduct of the delegates at the primary, they were very matured and orderly”, he said.

He added that in spite of the rains, the delegates carried themselves in a very matured way and embraced themselves after the results were announced.

Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Ben Ayade welcoming former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office in Calabar. . . on Monday.

sponsorship of the project”.

He also appreciated the commitment and diligence of the Governing Council, the management and the staff of the institution towards the actualization of government’s vision for the school, and congratulated the award winners for the well deserved honours.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the institution’s Governing Council, Hon. Chinedu Onu expressed gratitude to Gov. Ugwuanyi for effective funding of the school and increment of its monthly subventions, which he said “saw us achieving this feat in a very short while.”

The Rector of the Institution, Prof C.J.C Akubuilo in his address announced that the school in keeping with the repositioning agenda of the governor, in 2017/2018 academic year, has joined other Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria to key into the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).

According to him, “we are now recognized by other national regulatory bodies and agencies such as the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The Polytechnic has between September 2017 and March 2018, mobilized the first two sets of students for their one year National Youth Service”.

Other Award recipients include: Engr.

Ebele Ofunneamaka Okeke; Air Vice Marshal Cletus (AVM) Nwannebuike Udeagulu; Dr. Masa’udu Adamu Kazaure; Engr.

Obiukwu Chukwuma Okeke; Engr.

Anayo Onwuegbu; Engr. Prof.

Emmanuel Ezugwu; Mr. Silas Ifeanyi (Baba Edem); Prof.

Moses Madueze Okonkwo; Kingsley Eze and Dr. Agu Collins Agu.

July 14: ‘We’ll ensure Ekiti joins progressives states’ Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti Prominent All Progressives Congress(APC) Chieftains and aspirants in the just concluded primary of the party in Ekti State, Honourable Opeyemi Bamidele and Mr Kayode Ojo, have declared that Ekiti people will fully join the progressives states in the country for them to benefit more federal presence in the state.

The duo chieftain who vowed to work assiduously to ensure that Ekiti joins the progressives government being superintended over by President Muhammadu Buhari in the July 14 poll charged all the aspirants that participated in the election to bury their differences and coalesced efforts to ensure that the candidate of the party and Minister of Mines and

Steel Development Dr Kayode Fayemi wins the impending governorship poll in the state.

Briefing newsmen in Iyin Ekiti after consultations meeting with his supporters from the 177 wards, Bamidele said the coming election is not about Fayemi, but about afflicted people of the state, who were being deceived by the present government and the party, APC. Bamidele said he would work hard with other likeminds across the state to ensure that the Minister triumph in the election, he described as a reclamation battle to ensure the people are freed from the pangs of poverty, deprivation and bad governance.

“The APC is set to give Ekiti people a new lease of life through prioritization of time-tested policies capable of transforming the economy and provision of opportunities for

wealth creation, social welfare , healthy living and food security.

“Dr Fayemi in the full glare of everybody had apologized to the teachers, civil servants, artisans and those who might be affected by his policies as a governor, I beg our people to accept his apologies.

“We are resolved to align Ekiti State and her good people with the progressive transformation being championed by the APCled government of President Buhari and no stoned shall be left unturned in ensuring that this dream is achieved”, he said.

Bamidele warned that the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) was already latching on the existing crack in the party to destabilize the party.

“This is a calculated plot to destabilize and demonise the APC and give victory to their party. In the July 14 election.

Through the back door but I am certain that the desperate and mischievous agenda of the PDP will fail on a final note”, he said.

Ojo, who polled 281 votes to ranked third in the primary , said he had no reason to blame Fayemi for joining the fray to contest for the governorship ticket in APC, saying it was his constitutional right.

He added that he had accepted the outcome of the primary and had resolved to work with Fayemi to make the party triumph in the coming election.

He said he has no reason to dissent as a loyal party man, saying the party can only have a good and prosperous future if the party emerges victorious in the governorship poll.

“Dr Fayemi had visited me and I have accepted wholeheartedly to work with him in the interest of our party.

I believe the APC is supreme to all of us and we must not do those things that will sabotage our efforts in this coming election.

“Though, I did not win the primary, but I have no regret contesting because members of APC in Ekiti are great people.

I am seeing a bright future for Ekiti APC going by the spirit of sportsmanship our people have displayed.

“I have gone round and saw that our people lacked basic amenities for development.

Virtually every aspect of our lives needed interventions and it is only the APC that can bring this desired change.

“Other parties have been calling me to come and get the ticket but I resisted them. I will work with PC with my teeming supporters for us to win this election and I charge other aspirants to imbibe the same spirit”, he said.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

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I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS HAMAD MUHAMMED JAMIU NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ISSA MUHAMMAD JAMIU.ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OKONKWO MOSES TOCHUKWU NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS OKONKWO OBIEFOKA TOCHUKWU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS GHA YAW JAMES NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS OLISA JOHN CHIZOBA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT MY NAME WAS WRONGLY WRITTEN ON BANK ACCOUNT AS ODEYEMI AJIBOLA AYODEJI INSTEAD OF AJIBOLA ADISA FALANA. THAT MY CORRECT DATE OF BIRTH IS 28 APRIL 1979 AND NOT 28 APRIL 1976. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

KACHI ALKALI

ADARIKWU

DANIEL ISHAYA

ULOMA PATIENCE

CHINAEWUBEZE

CHUKWU MARTHA

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS KACHI ALKALI ALI, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS KACHI ALKALI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS PHILIP ADARIKWU BLESSING, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ADARIKWU BLESSING SALOME. THAT MY DATE OF BIRTH IS 13/09/1982. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MAINA ISAAC DANIEL, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS DANIEL ISHAYA RUTH. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS NWACHUKWU ULOMA PATIENCE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS ULOMA PATIENCE CLINTON-NJOKU. FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OSUAGWU AZUBUIKE CELESTINE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS CHINAEWUBEZE AZUBUIKE CELESTINE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS CHUKWU MARITA AKUBUEZE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS CHUKWU MARTHA AKUBUEZE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE

COUNCIL OF IMAMS AKURE LAND

ADEWURA GIANT FARMERS TRUST FUND

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT OF 1990

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

TRUSTEES 1)IMAM QASIM AKOREDE ABDULHAKEEM 2)IMAM QAMARUDEEN ABDULHAMEED OLANIYI 3)IMAM SANNI MOHAMMED RAJI KEUYEMI 4)IMAM ABDNAFIU ISMAIL ODODOLOTO

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DR. ADEWALE IFABUKUNMI ONAOLAPO 2.MRS OWOLABI ADEJOKE VICTORIA 3.MR. ADEWALE AKIN PETER 4.MRS ADEKANMBI AYOTADE JOYCE 5.MRS OLANIBI KIKE YEMI 6. MR. ADEWALE AWOYINFA OPEYEFA 7. MR. ADEWALE IFANIKIN ONAOPEPO

AIM AND OBJECTIVES TO PROPAGATE ISLAM ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: TRUSTEES

THE LIBERTY IN CHRIST GOSPEL CENTER THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990 TRUSTEES ARE 1.OGBONNAYA STANFORD ONU - CHAIRMAN 2.OGBONNAYA EUNICE NNENNAYA - SECRETARY 3.OGBONNAYA DANIL CHINAZAEKPERE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES TO PREACH THE WORD OF GOD ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL,CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION,PLOT 420,TIGRIS CRESCENT,OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET,MAITAMA,PMB.198,GARKI,ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION SIGNED: CHAIRMAN

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: THE TRUST FUND IS TO PROVIDE A CONDUCIVE, HEALTHY AND FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL ESTABLISH A COMPREHENSIVE BROAD-BASE AGROECONOMY, WHERE QUALITATIVE ORGANIC FEEDING WILL BE READILY AVAILABLE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AT AN AFFORDABLE COST ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IROSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION SIGNED: TOLA OLOWOOKERE & CO 08034498801 & 08021232371

ST. STEPHEN MISSION INT’L. THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACTS OF 1990.

TRUSTEES ARE 1. PROPHET AYOKU JACOB SOBOWALE 2. ELIZABETH OLUFUNMILAYO SOBOWALE 3. STEPHEN TOKUNBO SOBOWALE AIMS: TO TEACH, PREACH, PRAY & IMPACT BY FEEDING GOD’S PRECIOUS AND REDEEMED PEOPLE WITH SOUND INSTRUCTION IN THE WORD OF GOD AND STRONG DEMONSTRATION BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO A KNOWLEDGEABLE, UNDERSTANDABLE AND PRACTICABLE LIFESTYLE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAIMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: TRUSTEES

SOLUTION PRAYER OUTREACH WORLDWIDE THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. AKAYA LOVEDAY (PRESIDENT) 2. AZIKEN JOY IMADE (SECRETARY) AIMS & OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST WORLDWIDE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: PRESIDENT

MARVELOUS MIRACLE CHRISTIAN MISSION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CHURCH HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT OF 1990 THE TRUSTEES ARE: PASTOR OLUFUNMILAYO MICHAEL OLANREWAJU - PRESIDENT MR OLANREWAJU PETER TOBI - SECRETARY LADY EVANGELIST OYERINDE ASIATA - TREASURER MR ISHOLA KOLAWOLE AMOO - MEMBER LADY EVANGELIST ADEBOYE RACHAEL ABENI - MEMBER MRS TIJANI RACHEAL OLUFUNLAYO - MEMBER MRS OLAYIOYE YEMISI COMFORT - MEMBER MR. OLUFUNMILAYO TAYE EMMANUEL MEMBER MR. OLUFUNMILAYO KEHINDE PAUL MEMBER AIMS AND OBJECTIVES TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: TRUSTEES

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

23 Companies Registration

OJIOFOR BIG BROTHERS CLUB OF NIGERIA THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CLUB HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISION, ABUJA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF TRUSTEES UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT PART C 2004 TRUSTEES ARE : 1. APKARA SUNDAY - SECRETARY 2. NWUGURU BENEDITH - CHAIRMAN 3. NWEDE UCHECHUKWU 4. OTARA SIMON AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PROMOTE THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF THE MEMBERS AND THE LESS PRIVILEGE. 2.TO PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT OF ITS MEMBERS. 3 TO PROMOTE PEACE, UNITY AND PROGRESS OF THE MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC. 4. TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. ANY OBLIGATION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, P.M. B. 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.

IKPAP-IDA IMAM/OSONG OTUK COMMUNAL SANITATION AND WELFARE DUTIES ASSOCIATION THIS IS TO NOTIFY THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER THE PART “C” OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. EKPO ESUA DANIEL - CHAIRMAN 2. USORO JAMES - SECRETARY 3. AKPAN DANIEL JOHN - TREASURER 4. EKPO UFOT JAMES - VICE CHAIRMAN 5. JACK UFOT UDO - YOUTH REP. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO CARTER FOR THE WELFARE OF ITS MEMBERS. 2. TO PROMOTE LOVE, UNITY AND PROGRESS AMONG IT’S MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION(S) TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR- GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: CHAIRMAN

SIGNED SECRETARY.

REPLENISHED WOMAN FOUNDATION” THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘’C’’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1999 TRUSTEES: 1.ADETUGBO ADEDIWURA TOSIN. 2.ADETUGBO ADEYINKA AYOBAMI AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT WOMEN TO BUILD AN EMPOWERING LIFE FOR THEMSELVES BY : • LEARNING TO WORK AND DO BUSINESS TO EARN FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE. • BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM THROUGH LEARNING WHAT SELF-DEVELOPMENT IS. • LEARNING AND UNDERSTANDING HEALTH ISSUES RELATING TO WOMEN TO AID DECISION MAKING AND SEEKING APPROPRIATE AND PROMPT MEDICAL HELP. 2. HELP TEENAGE GIRLS TO UNDERSTAND THE USEFULNESS OF HAVING AN EDUCATION AND SUPPORTING THEM FINANCIALLY TO GET EDUCATED. • TO CREATE AWARENESS AMONG THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE EXISTENCE OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS IN NEED 3. TO PROVIDE COUNSELING, EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING FOR WOMEN AND YOUNG GIRLS IN NEED TO ENABLE THEM TO BECOME SELF-SUPPORTING IN VARIOUS TRADES AND OCCUPATIONS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

IMMANUEL COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL IBADAN PECULIAR CLASS OF 89 THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘’C’’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1999 THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. ADEAGBO ADEKUNLE AKINWUMI 2. OKOLO JOHN ONWEAZU 3. FAKOLADE OLUWAFEMI OLUWASEUN 4. UMORU ABBEY ALIU 5. IBRAHIM OMOLAYO JANET 6. SULEIMAN - ARAB ONAKEMI SHERIFAT 7. BALOGUN OLURONKE GRACE 8. ADANRI OLUWAFUNMILAYO OMOLOLA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO FOSTER UNITY AMONG THE MEMBERS ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED :- SECRETARY

THE CECE YARA FOUNDATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT AN APPLICATION HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE AMENDMENT OF THE OBJECTS OF THE CECE YARA FOUNDATION AND THE SECRETARY OF THE FOUNDATION, UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2004.

AIMS AND OBJECTS: 1. TO INCREASE COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND AWARENESS ABOUT CHILD ABUSE, INCLUDING STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTION, INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT. 2. TO SUPPORT ANY CHARITABLE OR PUBLIC OBJECT AND TO SUPPORT ANY INSTITUTION, SOCIETY, OR CLUB IN ANY TOWN OR PLACE INVOLVED IN THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN. 3. TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIP, BURSARIES OR MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE TO ORPHANAGES, MOTHERLESS BABIES HOME OR DESTITUTE HOMES AS APPROVED BY THE TRUSTEES. 4. TO PROVIDE A FREE 24-HOUR HELPLINE FOR CHILDREN EXPERIENCING SEXUAL ABUSE OR WHO ARE AT RISK, OR HAVE SUFFERED ABUSE WITH A LISTENING EAR, COUNSELLING AND REFERRAL SERVICES; 5. TO PROVIDE CHILDREN WHO HAVE SUFFERED ABUSE WITH LEGAL, MEDICAL AND SPECIALISED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT, FREE OF CHARGE, AND PROVIDING SAFE, NEUTRAL, CHILD FRIENDLY AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS AND SHELTERS FOR THE CHILDREN WE SERVE; 6. TO PROVIDE A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM APPROACH TO ASSIST WITH THE INVESTIGATION, INTERVENTION AND PROSECUTION OF CHILD ABUSE; 7. TO PROVIDE AN EXTENSIVE OUTREACH PROGRAM TO SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY WHICH INCLUDES A VARIETY OF PREVENTION SERVICES, EDUCATION ON CHILD ABUSE DYNAMICS AND INFORMATION ON HEALTHY CHILD REARING PRACTICES; 8. TO EMPOWER ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY TO PROTECT CHILDREN AGED 0-18 YEARS OLD FROM SEXUAL ABUSE

BY TEACHING THEM HOW TO PREVENT AND RECOGNISE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND HOW TO REACT RESPONSIBLY; 9. TO STRENGTHEN THE EXISTING SUPPORT STRUCTURES AND INSTITUTIONS FOR CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES THROUGH ADVOCACY AND COLLABORATION. THE NEW SECRETARY IS: 1. MR. SAMUEL SALAKO ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION OF THE ABOVE NAMED TRUSTEES SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PMB 198 AREA II GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ADVERT. _______________________ OLAJIDE OYEWOLE AND COMPANY PLOT 5, BLOCK 14, BASHORUN OKUSANYA AVENUE, OFF ADMIRALTY ROAD, LEKKI PENINSULA, LAGOS.

OVERCOMERS CITY GLOBAL CHURCH THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA, FOR REGISTRATION AS AN INCORPORATED TRUSTEE UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, CAP. C-20, LAWS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA, 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1). IWUO KING SUNDAY PRESIDENT 2) KINGSLEY GIFT SUNDAY SECRETARY 3). SAM-VIKO VERO 4). NDAH TOCHI CONSTANCE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES I). TO TAKE THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION OF OUR LORD JESUS TO ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD AND TO BRING SOULS INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST II). TO DELIVER PEOPLE FROM DARKNESS AND THE BONDAGE OF SIN, SICKNESS, POVERTY AND EVERY SATANIC OPPRESSION AND MANIPULATION III). TO PROMOTE RELIGIOUS HARMONY IV). THE PROMOTING OF HOLINESS AS A WAY OF CHRISTIAN LIVING V). THE QUEST FOR SALVATION AS THE KEY TO HAPPINESS IN DAILY LIFE ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: PRESIDENT

AFRICA’S YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS TRUST FUND

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘’C’’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1999 TRUSTEES: 1. MR SUMMY SMART FRANCIS 2. DR BUKOLA ADENUBI 3. OLUWAFEMI OGUNENIKA 4. JOY MICHAEL AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE YOUNG ENTERPRENEURS AND THE LESS PRIVILEGED ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGEND: SECRETARY

SIGNED :- SECRETARY

SOUTHPOINTE AND LAKEVIEW PARK 2 ESTATE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT AN APPLICATION HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE CHANGE OF TRUSTEES OF SOUTHPOINTE AND LAKEVIEW PARK 2 ESTATE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION, UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2004.

THE OUTGOING TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

OMO OMORODION 2.

OLUSEGUN ADEBAYO JOHNSON 3.

CHRIS ASIA THE PROPOSED TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

MICHAEL AKHIDENOR 2.

OLUREMI ADEKOLA 3.

HENRY UCHENNA OGBONNA THE TRUSTEES OF THE ASSOCIATION AFTER THE CHANGE SHALL BE: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

OLUBUNMI ATINUKE AFOLABI OSINUGA ADEKUNLE OSINUGA MICHAEL AKHIDENOR OLUREMI ADEKOLA HENRY UCHENNA OGBONNA

ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION OF THE ABOVE NAMED TRUSTEES SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PMB 198 AREA II GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ADVERT. MISS TOYIN OGEDENGBE SECRETARY TO THE ASSOCIATION

OLD AWKA DISTRICT UNION KADUNA THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES 1.

CHIEF PAUL MONEME 2.

CHIEF JOSEPH UMECHUKWU 3.

CHIEF FRANCIS NNAEGBUNA. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO PROTECT INTEREST AND WELFARE OF MEMBERS ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

GRAND LODGE OF NIGERIA FOUNDATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘’C’’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990 TRUSTEES: 1. CHIEF. NWOKAFOR AMOBI DANIEL 2. MR. IKOTUN ODUKOYA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE AND INTEREST OF MEMBERS 2. TO ASSIST THE LESS PRIVILEDGE IN THE SOCIETY 3. TO PROMOTE BENEVOLENCE BY TEACHING AND EXEMPLIFYING ALTRUISM AS A DUTY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR CHIDINMA

SOLUTION PRAYER OUTREACH WORLDWIDE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. AKAYA LOVEDAY (PRESIDENT) 2. AZIKEN JOY IMADE (SECRETARY) AIMS & OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST WORLDWIDE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: PRESIDENT

ZIM- UZO DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION:

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

NAMES OF TRUSTEES 1. GEORGE NNADUBEM MOGHALU 2. NNENNA ESTHER MOGHALU 3. NNADUBEM OKADIGBO MOGHALU. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO HELP THE POOR AND THE NEEDY IN THE SOCIETY; 2. TO PROVIDE AND GIVE SCHOLARSHIP TO DESERVING STUDENTS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED:SECRETARY

GIVING COMFORT ORGANIZATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1. UNANE ELEOJO COMFORT 2. MAMUDU CHRISTIANA UKWO AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO PROVIDE HELP OR ASSISTANCE TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE KING OF GLORY POWER CHURCH INTERNATIONAL THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES: 1.

AKUMA DANIEL ONWUKA CHAIRMAN 2.

OBEWU KENNETH ASOH VICE CHAIRMAN 3.

NSIORIE ANANSO IWO SECRETARY 4.

AGBAI ELIJAH AGWU IGBANI 5.

AGBAEZE A. INEM 6.

AKUMA ESTHER AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD 2. TO ESTABLISH A BIBLE BASED CHURCH WITH BRANCHES PLANTED IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: GERALD OGOKEH-GREEN

KAFE GARDEN 2 ESTATE ABUJA RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘’C’’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1999 TRUSTEE: 1. OMEKE OLIVER CHUKWUEMEKA (CHAIRMAN) 2. ABALI WAZIRI 3. BONIFACE O. ALU 4. DAMALY ADEBOLA JOHN (SECRETARY) AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO FOSTER PEACE AND UNITY AMONG RESIDENTS OF THE ESTATE ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

Companies Registration 24 SANDRA MODUPE

AKINTUNDE BUKOLA

OLORUNSOLA ADEOLA

I FORMERLY CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS MISS NODUPE ALAKE NGOZI YUSUF NOW WISH TO BE CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS MRS SANDRA MODUPE NGOZI POPOOLA, ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID,GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AKINTUNDE ABOSEDE ELIZABETH, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AKINTUNDE BUKOLA ADENIYE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC/ AUTHORITIES CONCERNED SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS KUNUJI ADEOLA IBUKUNOLUWA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OLORUNSOLA ADEOLA IBUKUNOLUWA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC/AUTHORITIES CONCERNED SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

ASSOCIATION OF LAGOS TITLED CHIEFS THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REMOVAL, RETAINED AND ADDITIONAL OF TRUSTEES, UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990.

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Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

25 News

Court dismisses suit seeking to stop Odigie-Oyegun’s tenure extension Andrew Orolua, Abuja Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday dismissed the suit challenging the tenure elongation of the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun led National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling, All Progressive Congress (APC).

Justice Dimgba, in two separate judgments on the matter, held that the suits had become hypothetical and academic, as the party had reversed the decision to extend the tenures of the officials.

“Having read and carefully examined all the attachments to the suit, I hold that there was an attempt to extend the tenure of members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), due to expire on June 30, 2018, for another one year”, the Judge held.

Dimgba held that the resolution of the NEC of the part, in its meeting held on

the 27th February, 2018, was a case of party organ trying to extend its tenure, which he noted was different from the case the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where it was the National Convention of the party that set up the Care Taker Committee.

He said if the attempt to extend the tenure of the John Odigie-Oyegun led executive committee of the APC had matured, it would have amounted to a violation of the constitution of the party and that of the country.

The Judge recalled that the party had commenced congresses to elect its officials at wards and local government levels and had also slated June to hold its national convention to elect officials of the party at the national level.

Recalled that a member of the party in Imo State, Okere Uzochukwu had, in his suit, marked, FHC/ABJ/ CS/219/2018 and filed on March 2, 2018, challenged the moves to extend the tenure of

the John Odigie-Oyegun led executive of the party.

The second suit, challenging the decision to extend the tenure of the Odigie-Oyegun led NWC of the APC was filed by some aggrieved members of the party, led by Ademorin Aliu Kioye.

The plaintiffs had, on March 15, 2018 secured an ex-parte order directing the defendants to show cause why members of the NWC of the APC should not be barred from parading themselves as national officers of the party.

Respondents in the suit include, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC, National Chairman of APC, Chief John Oyegun and the National Organising Secretary of the party, Senator Osita Izunaso.

Ahmed Raji (SAN), representing the plaintiff, had informed the court that the matter borders around Section 223 of the constitution which fixes the tenure of elected officials of political

parties to a maximum of four years.

He said one of the questions the court should answer is whether the provision of Section 223 of the constitution, as regards tenure of political parties’ officials is mandatory.

He argued further that the NEC’s decision to unilaterally extend the tenure of the NWC was contrary to Section 223 of the constitution and urged the court to avoid any interpretation that would render it useless.

Raji also dismissed claim by the defendants that the issue is a domestic affairs of the APC and one that does not require the intervention of the court.

According to him, if the NEC of the party can singlehandedly extend the tenure of party officials, it will pose a bad precedent for democracy in the country and urged the court to grant the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs in the originating summons.

Responding, the first defendant (INEC), said it

remains neutral in the suit but, will abide by whatever decision reached by the court.

According to Joseph Daudu (SAN), counsel to the 2nd defendant, the plaintiffs’ suit is based on speculation as the NEC of the APC did not breach the party’s constitution nor Section 223 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He added that the party itself is making efforts to resolve the issue.

“If there is a breach of the party’s constitution then the court can be invited.

Politicians should be allowed to do their job in as much as it is legal and within the ambit of the law”, he said.

In urging the court to dismiss the suit, Daudu said the plaintiffs did not provide any instrument showing that before the end of the tenure of the NWC, there is an extension.

Similarly, Akin Olujimi (SAN), counsel to the APC Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, while aligning

himself with the submission of the 2nd defendant, urged the court not to engage in speculation.

“What they are asking the court is to engage in speculation. Instead of the resolution they came with newspaper reports which cannot prove anything”, he submitted.

Olujimi further submitted that there is no cause of action for the suit and urged the court to dismiss it.

In the same vein, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), counsel to the 4th defendant who completely adopted the submission of both Daudu and Olujimi told the court that his client was not suppose to be part of the suit.

He said the issue involving the 4th defendant is whether he can contest election and still come back as a member of the executive committee.

Onoja, argued that article 31 of the party’s constitution allows a member of the executive to contest election without resigning from office.

CJN warns judges not to upload pictures, comments on social media Peter Fowoyo From the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, on Monday, came a warning that judicial officers must henceforth desist from commenting on matters of public interest on social media.

Justice Onnoghen, who spoke through a Justice of Supreme Court, Justice Olabode Rhodes - Vivour, disclosed this at the first biannual lecture of the Lagos State Judiciary held at Lagos City Hall with a theme titled: Judicial Standards, Integrity, Respect and Public Perception: A Comparative Analysis From Independence In 1960 Into The Present Millennium.”

The CJN also admonished judges to ensure the removal of their personal information

online.

He asked them to as well, desist from uploading pictures of their holiday and personal activities on social media.

He said judges who are desirous of discussing public matters on the social media can only do so without revealing their identity.

Onnoghen also called for the study of law in the university to be made a second degree in view of the low standard of education in Nigeria.

Justice Onnoghen said lawyers who wanted to be appointed into the Bench in addition to 10 years post call requirement, should also be mandated to have post graduate diploma.

These, according to the CJN, would go a long way in further advancing the frontiers o f justice delivery in the country.

In her remarks, the Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke, said the lecture was aimed at facilitating closer interaction between the judiciary and the bar.

She said, : ”The idea of

today’s topic is intended to be thought provoking and to prompt stakeholders in the administration of justice sector to critically assess judicial performance and standards over the years

OTUNBA ROTIMI AJANAKU FOUNDATION

in the state judiciary, describing him as a man of vision who is known for his pursuit of excellence and international best standards in every area of his administration.

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CJN Onoghen

whilst also inspiring judicial reform initiatives.”

The Lagos CJ also commended Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode for supporting reforms being implemented

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THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

TRUSTEE 1. AGBOOLA OLUWAPELUMI. CHAIRMAN 2. ADEBAYO OLAMIDEDSVID SECRETARY 3. DR AGBOOLA D OLUKAYODE 4. ADESEGUN- DAVID JESYSDAMILARE5 5.OSAYI AROME AIMS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. 2. TO HELP THE NEEDY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION(CAC)PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED BY:JAMES FASUYI 08022629999

News 26

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

9 Jewish worshipers docked for terrorism in Abia

By Sunday Nwakanma, Umuahia

Abia State Commissioner of Police, Anthony Ogbizi, on Monday in Umuahia Magisterial Court arraigned nine Jewish worshipers arrested last Sunday holding their religious service at the home of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on charges of terrorism.

When the one count charge was read out to the nine accused persons, they pleaded not guilty to the charges before the court presided over by U. O. Egwu.

The police had last Sunday

Police will maintain ethics of modern community policing –CP

morning arrested some members of the sect, however according to the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, 21 members of the sect were actually “abducted” Producing the Jewish 9 in the court, the Charge sheet stated that the worshippers had on about that 13th May, 2018 in Afaraukwu under the Umuahia Judicial Jurisdiction of the State constituted themselves into a terrorist group.

The one count charge read: “ That you ... and others now at large, on or about the 13th of May, 2018, at Afaraukwu Umuahia in Umuahia North Magistrate district in the course of carrying out your terrorism act , and with intent to frighten ASP Justus Ogar of the Nigerian Police Abia command and his team, and thereby committed and offense punishable under section 12 (a) of the Abia State prohibition of terrorism , kidnapping ,

hostage taking, use of offensive weapons or explosives and other threatening behaviour law 2009”.

The prosecuting officer however, said the children of the accused were not arrested at the church but at a different location.

But Ejimofor, one of the defense counsels insisted that the children were all arrested at the same location but were only released to him later at the police station.

“The children were released to me by the police and I accommodated them in a hotel till this morning. Some of them are even sick and need medical attention. They have been at the place of worship since Friday and not violent. Even one of the accused is about 75 years and unlikely to jump bail.

“When the children were released to me yesterday they were very hungry and I gave them mango to eat. Police

should be called to order because the accused have nothing to associate them as IPOB members. They were only there as Jewish adherents to pray. They were there in their numbers including their children and some women to pray and not for terrorism”.

Ejimakor drew the attention of the Magistrate to the fact that some of the children released to him by the police were also in the court.

In his ruling, the Magistrate expressed sadness at the action of the police by bringing the matter to magistrate court first with the intension of wittingly punishing the accused in detention.

“It is condemnable that police will charge a matter to a court that has no jurisdiction over it with the intension to remand the accused in custody unnecessarily”.

He, therefore, ordered that the accused be remanded at

Afara prisons , while further ordered that the case file be transferred to the State Director of Public Prosecution for further advice on the matter as the court has no jurisdiction to hear the matter.

He wondered why the Police choose to transfer the matter to his court when in the actual sense it would have transferred it to the appropriate court that has jurisdiction to hear the matter.

Later in an interview, counsels to the accused said they would press for the matter to be charged to the high court the next day where they would further pursue their bail.

Meanwhile, the leadership of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB has cried out that “The Nigeria Security agents, have declared war on Christians and religious groups once again, as a daring move against the warnings and US President Donald Trump’s agreement

made in Washington D.C with the Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to Comrade Emma Powerful, the Media And Publicity Secretary for IPOB “We are calling on men and women of good conscience, the US embassy and all civilized nations to see reasons to fight and stop these barbaric moves against the brazen Islamization and religious intolerance in Nigeria.

“The unprovoked attack on these innocent worshippers, whose crime was to pray and spiritually sanctify the residence of IPOB Leader, which was desecrated and where the Nigeria Army and other security agencies killed and maimed over 28 innocent unarmed members of IPOB including the abduction of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu since last year September.

Saka Bolaji, Minna Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command, Paul D.Yakadi has assured the residents of the state that the police will continue to maintain core ethics of modern community policing guided by professionalism and international ethics and values of policing in democratic society.

Yakadi stated this yesterday in a statement issued in Minna pledging that the command will key in to the new mission and vision of the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Kpatun Idris in enforcing core values of modern policing.

He said, “in this vein therefore, the commissioner of police Niger state commande called for the support of all the people of the state both at home or in the diaspora to continue to support the police force in achieving its objectives of ensuring that Niger state becomes safe haven for its citizenry”.

The commissioner restated the commitment and loyalty of the state command to the Inspector General of Police and the entire people of the state adding that the police hereby vowed to carry out all their responsibilities in accordance with extant provision of the Police Act and Regulations and the constitution.

While ensuring the IGP of the unflinching support and loyalty of the Niger state command, the commissioner lauded Ibrahim Idris Kpetun for reforming the police into an efficient law enforcement organization in the country.

He solicited for the cooperation and support of the people of the state in volunteering useful information that will assist the police in flushing out criminals, adding that the police will continue to ensure adequate protection of lives and properties of citizens in the state and the country in general.

Some of the Jewish worshippers during the arraignment of nine members before Umuahia Magistrates’ Court in Abia State ... on Monday

Again, Shi’ite group clashes with Police in Abuja Idu Jude, Abuja Members of the Shiite Muslim on Monday clashed with the Police personnel in Abuja leaving one of their van and other vehicles owned by members of the public shattered beyond repair.

Public peace, was also disrupted as flow of vehicles and other activities within the vicinity was put on hold for nearly three hours.

DAILY TIMES recall that the group clashed with security operatives while staging

protest for the release of its leader El-Zakzaki, has resulted to damage of public properties and obstruction of orderliness across the major parts of Abuja metropolis.

The Muslim group, better known as Shi’ites, were protesting against the continued detention of Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, who among his wife was arrested in 2016 by the Federal Government on the account of causing social disorder in Kaduna State.

Daily Times can report that the protesters threw stones at policemen previously

stationed in the area and two police vehicles got destroyed in the process, one of them numbered: NPF246-7C. The Shiites also took over the roads within the area, leading to disruption of vehicular movement. A police officer was said to have sustained injuries.

Calm has now been restored in the area after some policemen deployed to the area dispersed the protesters.

Aside the regular protests, the IMN members have also been converging on the Unity Fountain to demand the release of El-Zakzaky, who has been

in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) for over two years.

El-Zakzaky was arrested in December 2015 after some of his followers clashed with soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna state.

Over 300 people were said to have been killed during the clash.

Anjuguri Manzah, spokesman of the federal capital territory (FCT) police command, was not available for comments as he neither picked calls nor replied a text message sent.

Meanwhile, motorists whose vehicles were affected in the clash, had lamented over the unfortunate act by the sect. One of the motorists, whose name remain is held in confidence, told Daily Times that an attack on innocent public may result in reprisal attack if government continued to treat the problem of the protesting Shiites with kids glove.

According to him, “can you imagine me losing my vehicle to an issue that is not mine?

And I know that not everybody should condone this.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

27 News

ILO conference: Ngige charges Nigerian delegates on meaningful participation

Experts make case for children with special needs

As Nigeria prepares for the 2018 edition of ILO conference, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has called for meaningful participation among Nigeria delegates.

Senator Ngige, made the call on Monday while presenting a key note address to kick start a two day workshop targeted at preparing the minds of Nigeria participants and moulding opinions of what Nigeria will present at the conference.

The Minister who was represented by the Director of Human Resources Mr. Ajibola Ibrahim, said that Nigeria’s active participation at the 107th session of International labour conference, 2018 ILC is crucial based on the import of items lined up for discussion

Idu Jude, Abuja

Idu Jude, Abuja

at the conference, which cut across key aspects of labour administration.

According to the Minister, the Nigeria ‘s participation, is therefore expedient for Nigeria to develop and articulate interventions that would make meaningful and positive impact on deliberations and decisions and as such will be taken at the Conference. “Our ability to arrive at common ground on all interventions will go a long way to ensure a successful outing for Nigeria.

I wish to make particular reference to the technical items placed on the Agenda by the Governing Board”.

Also speaking at the workshop, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) comrade Ayuba waba, said that this year’s ILO conference, has been

captured and should be a good opportunity for Nigerian participation as she represents the entire country.

He said that on getting there, register will be opened for the registration of all participants and that will enable the participants perform well. “last year most of our delegates participated well and as you all know, Nigeria is going as a tripartite delegation, we will all made to represent our organizations well during the cause of contribution. The issue is that at the end of the day, our contributions counts”.

Earlier chairman of the workshop, Comrade Amaechi Asoguna, revealed that the aim of the forthcoming 107th conference with the ‘theme, looking at the future through decent work’ has become so important that the Nigerians

should come together and strategize before moving to ILO. Part of our aim is that everyone should be united before moving for the conference. “Our aim is also is to exchange knowledge among the participants because there is the indication that going to ILO should be more than fun seeking. Our participants should be able to impact knowledge on others just as we would learn from other participants. Some people say it is just a annual routine but we say it is a ritual with purpose and that is why we say that every participant must account for being at the ILO conference. We also urge you all to ensure that you being there is not a jamboree.

In any committee you find yourself try to let your voice be heard, we say this because

sometimes at the committee level when voting is going on you are no where to be found”.

Also adding voice and advocating for Nigerians better participation in the forthcoming conference, the country ILO representative Mr. Dennis Zulu calls for moulded opinion, saying that the Nigeria is participating as a tripartite partner as she represents other countries in the continent. He said that the meeting has become more importantly because the ILO is celebrating its centenary of establishing its office in Lagos since 1957. “I think that all these points’ amounts that Nigeria is very important in the ILO centenary. the emphasis is that you are going to Geneva and there are more important things to discuss”.

L-R: Honourable Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse; Director, Home Services, Mrs. Olubunmi Siyanbola and Director of Special Projects, Dr. Mohammed Dikwa, during the Quarterly Briefing of the Media by the Minister in Abuja. . . on Friday

NIC dismisses motion challenging jurisdiction on PENGASSAN election dispute National Industrial Court (NIC) sitting in Abuja, on Monday dismissed a motion challenging its jurisdiction to hear a suit filed before it by some aggrieved staff of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN).

Justice Sanusi Kado, also dismissed the section of the PENGASSAN’s constitution which urged an aggrieved member of the association to explore internal dispute mechanism in settling issues.

The Judge dismissed the two motions filed by the defendants in the suit for lacking in merit

and that the section of the PENGASSAN’s constitution which restrained members from approaching a court was illegal.

“The section of the PENGASSAN constitution restraining members from approaching a court tries to oust the right of a Nigerian to approach the court for adjudication.

Kado however adjourned the hearing of the substantive suit until July 18,’’ the judge said.

The claimants in this suit, Mr Seyi Gambo and Mr Declan Agrinya had in 2016, filed the suit challenging the executive

union of the Abuja branch of PENGASSAN that the election that produced it in 2015 was not in line with the association’s constitution.

The defendants in the suit were PENGASSAN, Mr Aminu Ahmed, Idemudia Oseahon, Agora Jubril, Ogbonnaya Okegeri and Abubakar Haruna.

Others were Hasiya Ibrahim, Alice Isah, Ivy Ogbonselebo, Sanusi Abdurrahim and Wale Ajayi.

The defendants had particularly filed a preliminary objection through their lawyer, Mr Rudolph Ezeani after several sittings on the

matter that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit.

Ezeani at the resumed hearing argued that the claimants did not follow the processes stipulated in the constitution of PENGASSAN in resolving internal conflict before approaching the court.

He also argued that the process followed by the claimants in filling the substantive suit did not adhere to the proper order of filling court cases.

The defendants’ lawyer further argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter since the

claimants did not explore the internal dispute resolution mechanism of the association.

According to Ezeani, exploring the mechanism is the first step the claimants should have taken to settle the matter before running to the court.

But the claimants in their argument through their lawyer, Mr First Baba-Isa said that his clients explored every means of resolving the matter but the defendants failed to listen.

Baba-Isa urged the court to disregard and dismiss the preliminary objection filed by the defendants.

The need for the establishment of schools for children with special needs again has been highlighted, as such will bring out the best among the sufferers of several disabilities sicknesses.

Founder, Royal School of Educational Therapy Foundation (RSETF), Abuja, Dr Badewa Adejugbe-Williams, who stated this also called on government at all levels, should support educational therapy for children with learning disabilities.

Speaking during the gallery of talents exhibition, held in Abuja recently to celebrate the achievements of children of the school, Adejugbe-williams, noted that educational therapy for children with learning difficulties are expensive in Nigeria due to lack of governmental supports.

She noted that facilities for the training of children with learning disabilities, due to intellectual disability, autism, dyslexia, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, attention deficit hyperactive disorder and other learning challenges and conditions, are very expensive, adding that it is only government can subsidize it.

Adejugbe-Williams also frowned that many children with learning disabilities in the society are often abandoned and stigmatized by their parents, instead of giving them the opportunities to develop their talents for the advantage of the society.

According to her, “Educational therapy is recommended for students who may have learning disabilities, due to intellectual disability, autism, dyslexia, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, attention deficit hyperactive disorder and other learning challenges and conditions.

Educational therapy demystifies learning problems and stimulates clients’ awareness of their strengths, so they can use those strengths to their best advantage to overcome or compensate for their areas of weaknesses.”

Adejugbe-Williams, who is an educational therapist, with core specialist in children and adult disabilities, maintained that educational therapists create and implement a treatment plan that utilizes information from a variety of sources, including the clients’ social, emotional, psycho-educational neurophysiological context.

Also speaking, public diplomacy officer, US Embassy, Abuja, Joseph Schaller maintained that the embassy would continue to support such schools in Nigeria to improve the learning abilities of children.

28

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Foreign Affairs 4 years after crash: Experts say flight MH370 captain ‘deliberately evaded radar’ 3m square miles covered in search 90m Pounds spent trying to find the Boeing 777 plane ‘Good night Malaysian 370,’ last words from ill fated flight

Zaharie Amad Shah was the captain of flight MH370 when it disappeared in 2014 and the wreckage of the plane Adebisi Oyindamola with agency reports Four years after the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines plane MH370 on March 8, 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia, to its destination, Beijing International Airport in China, aviation experts believe they may have solved the mystery of the disappearance of the ill fated flight, saying the 239 passengers and crew were victims of a deliberate, criminal act carried out by the plane’s captain.

A panel of experts assembled for the Australian TV programme 60 Minutes says the evidence suggests Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah executed a careful series of manoeuvres to evade detection and ensure the plane disappeared in a remote location, The UK Telegraph reported on Monday.

According to the report, Martin Dolan, former head of the Australia Transport Safety Bureau, who led the two-year search for the missing Boeing 777 plane said: “This was planned, this was deliberate, and it was done over an extended period of time.”

The newspaper quoted the experts as saying that the plane was presumed to have flown on autopilot before running out of fuel and plunging into the southern Indian Ocean. However, the wreckage has never been found and the search was suspended in January last year.

Besides, the panel suggested a more gradual descent could mean the search was concentrated in the wrong area and that the plane could still be found largely intact.

Simon Hardy, a Boeing 777 instructor, said Captain Zaharie avoided detection by flying a careful course along the winding border between Malaysian and Thai air space, crossing in and out of radar cover on either side.

“So both of the controllers aren’t bothered about this mysterious aircraft. Cause it’s, ‘Oh, it’s gone. It’s not in our space anymore,” he told the programme, which was broadcast on Sunday.

“If you were commissioning me to do this operation and try and make a 777 disappear, I

would do exactly the same thing.”

He also pointed out the Malaysian captain had made an unexplained turn to fly over his home town of Penang.

“Somebody was looking out the window, It might be a long, emotional goodbye or a short, emotional goodbye to his home town,” he said.

Survey ship HMS Echo and a Lockheed P-3 Orion during the early days of the search in the southern Indian Ocean. Photo: Press Association Larry Vance, a veteran air crash investigator, told the programme the public could be confident in a growing consensus about the plane’s final moments and that the pilot was intent on killing himself.

“Unfortunately, he was killing everybody else on board, and he did it deliberately,” he added.

It would be recalled that theories about the plane’s disappearance being due to a “rogue pilot” emerged soon after the tragedy.

Malaysian officials said they believed the plane went missing after a “deliberate act” and confirmed the last words heard from the cockpit were “good night Malaysian three seven zero.”

It’s unknown whether the sentence was spoken

by Captain Zaharie or the co-pilot, 27-year-old Fariq Abdul Hamid.

However no conclusive evidence has ever been found that one or both of the pilots deliberately steered the aircraft into the ocean.

An initial interim report into the mystery in 2015 looked closely at Captain Zaharie’s background and behaviour in the lead-up to the flight, but found his “ability to handle stress at work and home was good”.

The report also stated: “There was no known history of apathy, anxiety, or irritability. There were no significant changes in his lifestyle, interpersonal conflict or family stresses.”

Captain Zaharie’s wife, Faizah Hanun, was questioned a number of times by the FBI and Malaysian police about her husband’s state of mind leading up to the flight.

The pair were reported to have split-up before

the crash, although they were still living under the same roof in Kuala Lumpur.

Speculation that Captain Zaharie may have brought the plane down as part of an elaborate insurance scam was also ruled out by the report, which found “no record of him having secured a life insurance policy.”

Footage of the pilots and crew preparing to board the missing Boeing 777 again showed no untoward signs, with them appearing “well groomed and attired.”

Commenting on Zaharie’s behaviour investigators concluded that: “The gait, posture, facial expressions and mannerism were his normal characteristics.”

Disappearance MH370 lost contact with Malaysian Airlines less than an hour after it took off from and no distress signal or communication was sent after it disappeared.

The plane’s transponder, the instrument that communicates with ground radar, appeared to be shut down as it crossed from Malaysian to Vietnamese airspace over the South China Sea. Initial investigations suggested the plane came down in the Indian Ocean south west of Australia, well out of its designated flight path.

When it went down the plane was carrying 12 Malaysian crew members and 227 passengers, including seven children.

The majority of those on board were Chinese and Malaysians but it was also carrying passengers from Iran, America, Canada, Indonesia, Australia, India, France, New Zealand, Ukraine, Russia, Taiwan and the Netherlands.

Malaysia Airlines said four passengers who checked in for the flight did not show up at the airport on the day.

‘Most expensive search in history’ The search for MH370 is thought to be the most expensive ever conducted.

The mystery over its last location has lead to a vast search area of nearly three million square

miles being designated.

Since then Malaysian, Australian and Chinese teams have carried out underwater searches spanning 46,000 square miles in the southern Indian Ocean and found nothing.

Debris from MH370 has washed up in beaches along the coastline of Mozambique, Tanzania, Madagascar, Reunion Island and Mauritius.

This has been attributed to the strength of the ocean’s currents rather than giving any clues as to MH370’s final resting place.

A report released by the Australian search agency in December advised that if the plane was not found in the existing zone it was most likely to be in a 9,653 square-mile to the north.

But after spending an estimated at £90 million, the three countries decided to wind down the investigation earlier this year.

Costs of searching for MH370 - D The decision was met with dismay from the families’ official support group, Voice 370. In a statement it said: “In our view, extending the search to the new area defined by the experts is an inescapable duty owed to the flying public in the interest of aviation safety.”

Flash back It was gathered that the last made voice contact with air traffic control was made at 01:19 MYT, on March 8, 2014 (17:19 UTC, 7 March) when it was over the South China Sea, less than an hour after takeoff.

The plane disappeared from air traffic controllers’ radar screens at 01:22 MYT, but was still tracked on military radar as it deviated westwards from its planned flight path and crossed the Malay Peninsula, until it left the range at 02:22 while over the Andaman Sea, 200 nautical miles (370 km) north-west of Penang in north-western Malaysia.

The aircraft was carrying 12 Malaysian crew members and 227 passengers from 15 nations. The multinational search effort for the aircraft was the most expensive aviation search in history.

Search for the missing MH370 began in the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea, where the aircraft’s signal was last detected on secondary surveillance radar, and was soon extended to the Strait of Malacca and Andaman Sea. Analysis of satellite communications between the aircraft and Inmarsat’s satellite communications network concluded that the flight continued until at least 08:19 and flew south into the southern Indian Ocean, although the precise location cannot be determined.

Australia took charge of the search on March 17 when the search moved to the southern Indian Ocean. On March 24, the Malaysian government noted that the final location determined by the satellite communication is far from any possible landing sites, and concluded that “Flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean.’’

From October 2014 to January 2017, a comprehensive survey of 120,000 km2 (46,000 sq mi) of sea floor about 1,800 km (1,100 mi) southwest of Perth, Western Australia yielded no evidence of the aircraft. Several pieces of marine debris found on the coast of Africa and on Indian Ocean islands off the coast of Africa—the first discovered on July 29, 2015 on Réunion Island— have been confirmed as pieces of Flight 370.

The bulk of the aircraft has not been located, prompting many theories about its disappearance.

In a previous search attempt, Malaysia had established the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to investigate the incident, working with foreign aviation authorities and experts. Malaysia released a final report on Flight 370 in October 2017. Neither the crew nor the aircraft’s communication systems relayed a distress signal, indications of bad weather, or technical problems before the aircraft vanished. Two passengers travelling on stolen passports were investigated, but eliminated as suspects.

Malaysian police have identified the captain as the prime suspect if human intervention was the cause of the disappearance, after clearing all others on the flight of suspicious motives.

Power was lost to the aircraft’s satellite data unit (SDU) at some point between 01:07 and 02:03; the SDU logged onto Inmarsat’s satellite communication network at 02:25—three minutes after the aircraft left the range of radar.

Based on analysis of the satellite communications, the aircraft turned south after passing north of Sumatra and the flight continued for six hours with little deviation in its track, ending when its fuel was exhausted.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

29 Foreign Affairs

Morocco’s quest for ECOWAS, no cause for alarm Gunmen rob The controversial request by the kingdom of Morocco to join the Economic Community of West African states, ECOWAS is one of the critical discussions that dominated the floor at the opening ceremony of the 2018 1st ordinary session of the ECOWAS parliament in Abuja.

The presence of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the kingdom of Morocco, at the session led many to believe that the ECOWAS may be on the path to accepting the Northern African country, although Moustapha Cisse Lou speaker of the ECOWAS parliament at opening session has said it is part of parliamentary diplomacy and strengthening of economic and trade relations in the continent, stressing the that parliament will have enough deliberations on the issue at hand.

In an interview on the side of the programmes, he said it is in the interest of economic integration and unity that he proposes the acceptance of morocco into the community.

“Morocco’s participation and desire to join ECOWAS, is to foster integration in the continent” he added “we want Africa to be united and prosperous, and we cannot do that without the international community, that is the place of Morocco. I do not agree that we should not accept Morocco, I am of the opinion that we should corporate” Describing the appearance of the Moroccan delegation as an observer status, Suleiman Yusuf Masun, member of the Nigerian Senate and a Deputy Speaker of ECOWAS parliament, said organisation hasn’t decided to accept morocco yet, and the sub regional community still remains resolute in their stance.

Giving reasons for her continuous involvement with ECOWAS Hon. Rachid El Abdi, Deputy Speaker House of Representatives of the kingdom of Morocco, said cultural and historical relations Morocco shares with Africa forms the basis for her presence at the session.

3 German tourists in South Africa

Among the issues to be deliberated on, over the next 3 weeks includes the implementation of one of the important powers of the community parliament namely oversight function over the activities of the community agencies and programs, the African single market project.

Highlights of the session included the speaker’s assurance of maximum cooperation to the newly appointed president to ECOWAS, H.E Dr Jean

Claude Kassi Brou from Cote d’Ivoire, who took office on 1st march 2018, whom he described as “man with immense experience and value”.

The low turnout of Nigerian lawmakers at the opening session, with less than 20 lawmakers in attendance out of the 35 present is another major reason of concern, and this is not the first time, the Nigerian delegation with highest ratio, will record low attendance at the parliamentary session.

Jerusalem is the eternal, undivided capital of Israel, says Netanyahu as US opens embassy in city The U.S Monday officially opened its new embassy in Jerusalem amid massive protests

by Palestinians. This comes as a fulfillment of a controversial campaign promise made by President Donald Trump who vowed to execute the controversial policy that many past presidents of the country could not summon the courage to carry out.

On Sunday, the US Department of State had announced the Monday dedication, adding that David Friedman would preside over the dedication ceremony.

Trump had on December last year announced that US embassy would shift from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2018 with some countries kicking against the decision. But yesterday, the new diplomatic office was opened in what was an existing U.S. consular building, in a ceremony led by Ambassador David Friedman and attended by top Israeli and American officials.

“Today’s historic event is attributed to the vision, the courage, and the moral clarity of one person to whom we owe an enormous and eternal debt of gratitude -- President Donald J. Trump,” Friedman said to a standing ovation at the ceremony.

‘This president delivered,’ he added.

Trump addressed the gathering by video, celebrating the historic move and saying the U.S. “extends a hand in friendship to Israel, the Palestinians, and all of their neighbors” and remains “fully committed to facilitating a lasting peace agreement” between them.

The U.S. delegation was led by Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan and included daughter and adviser Ivanka Trump and son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner. About 800 people were expected at the event, including a congressional delegation with Republican Senators Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz, Dean Heller, and Mike Lee. Kushner praised Trump in his speech.

“While presidents before him have backed down from their pledge to move the American embassy once they were in office, this president delivered -- because when President Trump makes a promise, he keeps it,” Kushner said. He also alluded to the Palestinian demonstration about 50 miles away.

Israeli PM, Netanyahu “As we have seen from the protests of the last month and even today, those provoking violence are part of the problem and not part of the solution,” Kushner said. Ivanka Trump welcomes crowd to ‘Jerusalem, the capital of Israel’ Kushner also drew a standing ovation with his reference to Trump’s withdrawing the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal.

“Last week, President Trump acknowledged another truth and kept another promise. He announced his intention to exit the dangerous, flawed, and one-sided Iran deal,” Kushner said.

Among other prominent people present were Fox News personality Judge Jeanine Pirro, legal scholar and cable TV analyst Alan Dershowitz, and Republican megadonor Sheldon Adelson, who was seated next to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who unveiled the seal of the United States on the side of the new embassy.

“On behalf of the 45th president of the United States, we welcome you officially and for the first time to the embassy of the United States, here in

US President Trump Palestinians killed by Israeli military Jerusalem, the capital of Israel,” Ivanka forces and more than 1,600 injured in Trump said after the seal was revealed. protests at the Gaza border against the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin embassy move, according to the Gaza Netanyahu thanked Ivanka Trump and Ministry of Health.

Kushner for their involvement on the Palestinians see East Jerusalem as issue and extolled President Trump, the capital of their future state. But for saying, “By recognizing history, you many Palestinians, failing to make the have made history.” distinction all but ignores the existence “May the opening of this embassy of Palestinians. in this city spread the truth far and “It takes away the hopes in having wide, and may the truth advance a Jerusalem or parts of Jerusalem as the lasting peace between Israel and all our future capital of Palestine if a deal is neighbors. God bless the United States to be struck between Palestinians and of America and God bless Jerusalem, Israelis,” Jerusalem resident, Ahmad the eternal, undivided capital of Israel,” Muna, 28, said Sunday. the prime minister said to another He added: “When Trump ovation. announced the move, he didn’t Trump himself, however, has said mention Palestinians and didn’t the U.S. hadn’t changed its support for mention east or west Jerusalem. ... the status quo at Jerusalem’s holy sites, They’ve given all the claim, all the and U.S. officials have continuously rights, of all the parts to the Israelis,” said the embassy move does not mean Muna said, adding that he no longer the U.S. has decided the final status of believes the U.S. is interested in peace. city’s boundaries.

U.S. officials insist they are, but no The event was closed by a prayer American member of the delegation from another pastor, John Hagee, who will meet with Palestinians on this founded Christians United for Israel trip. When Trump announced the and also praised Trump’s “courage” in move, he said his decision marked moving the embassy. “the beginning of a new approach However, the day has also been to conflict between Israel and the marked by violence, with dozens of Palestinians.”

French authorities on Sunday said the man behind a deadly knife attack in central Paris was born in Chechnya in 1997, and his parents have been detained for questioning in the investigation.

A judicial official said the assailant had French nationality but was born in the Russian republic of Chechnya, where Islamic extremism has long simmered. The official, who wasn’t authorized to be publicly named, provided no other information on the attacker’s identity.

The attacker was slain by police after stabbing a 29-year-old man to death and injuring four others in a lively neighborhood near the Opera Garnier on Saturday night.

French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb is held special security meeting Sunday to address the attack, which was claimed by the Islamic State group and is being investigated by counterterrorism authorities.

Collomb said overnight that authorities are working to find anyone who might have helped the assailant.

The attack took place near the city’s main opera house.

The attacker targeted five people and then fled, according to Paris police and a witness. When police officers arrived minutes later, he threatened them and was shot dead, according to police union official Yvan Assioma.

Bar patrons and opera-goers described surprise and confusion, and being ordered to stay inside while the police operation was underway on rue Monsigny in the lively 2nd arrondissement, or district, of the French capital.

“I was working in the restaurant and suddenly I heard a woman screaming ... he came and attacked her,” said Jonathan, a witness working nearby who wouldn’t provide his last name. “That s when the panic started, everyone started screaming and trying to reach our restaurant. The attacker just kept walking around with his knife in his blooded hands.”

“Police were quickly on the scene, in less than five minutes.

They encircled him and he tried to attack them with a knife but they shot him down,” he told reporters.

The Islamic State group’s Aamaq news agency said the assailant carried out the attack in response to the group’s calls for supporters to target members of the U.S.-led military coalition squeezing the extremists out of Iraq and Syria. Aamaq didn’t provide evidence for its claim.

France’s military has been active in the coalition since 2014, and IS adherents have killed more than 200 people in France in recent years.

TIMES SPORTS Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Ebola outbreak: Nigeria, DR Congo friendly match not threatened – NFF

World Cup: Gernot Rohr releases 30-man provisional squad Thee Super Eagles’ manager, Gernot Rohr, has released his 30-man provisional list for the Russia 2018 World Cup. The list released on Monday included two surprises – Junior Lokosa, who has scored 18 goals in the Nigeria Professional Football League, and Simeon (Simy) Nwankwo, who scored five goals for Italian Serie A side, Crotone, in April.

From the angle he has operated since his tenure kicked off 21 months

ago, the inclusions were a major surprise, as one thing about the former Bayern Munich defender is consistency.

However, the main question answered

by Rohr’s list was the exclusion of Vincent Enyeama. There have been continuous calls that the 35-year-old be invited as he seemed the most viable option between the sticks but the counter argument has been that the Eagles should not repeat the Peter Rufai mistake of

1998.

Rohr has often stated that he is more interested in building for the future than retracing his steps and on the issue of goalkeeping; he said he would not take an old goalkeeper to Russia to sit on the bench.

The 30-man list Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Dele Ajiboye, Daniel Akpeyi, Francis Uzoho Defenders: William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun, Chidozie

Awaziem, Stephen Eze, Bryan Idowu, Olaoluwa Aina, Kenneth Omeruo, Elderson Echiiejile, Tyronne Ebuehi, Abdullahi Shehu Midfielders [8]: Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, John Ogu, Wilfred Ndidi, Joel Obi, Mikel Agu, Oghenekaro Etebo, Uche Agbo Forwards: Odion Ighalo, Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi, Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Simeon Nwankwo, Junior Lokosa.

NFF in negotiations with Nike over new contract The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) is reportedly in contact with technical sponsors Nike over a new contract.

The fresh deal is expected to be agreed and signed before the Super Eagles play their first match at the 2018 World Cup next month.

The Guardian quotes an anonymous source, who revealed that both the NFF and Nike are happy with their relationship.

“Both sides have been talking and our teams are almost concluding the draft. The target is to conclude the deal and sign before the World Cup starts and

that is very possible now given the level of work already done,”

said the source.

“A lot of events are usually lined up immediately after the World Cup and we all agree that it is best to work things out now.

“And we are very positive that the final result will make a lot of positive impact on the brand Super Eagles and the fortunes of the team and Nigeria as a country at the World Cup. “It’s all very good. I am not sure we have ever had the kind of package we are getting this time.”

Nigeria will open their 2018 World Cup campaign on June 16 against Croatia in Kaliningrad.

Nigeria’s friendly match against DR Congo is not under threat in spite of the Ebola outbreak in the country, the Nigeria Football Federation’s 1st Vice-President, Seyi Akinwumi, has said.

Akinwumi told the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Lagos that necessary precautionary measures had been put in place to forestall transmission of the deadly disease into Nigeria.

The football governing body had lined up some friendly matches as a build-up to the Super Eagles participation in the Russia 2018 World Cup. In the friendly matches, the Super Eagles are expected to play DR Congo on May 28, in Port Harcourt before the warm-up game against the Three Lions of England on June 2 at Wembley Stadium.

Before the DR Congo match, the three-time African champions had defeated the national team of Argentina 4-2 in the battle of Krasnodar, Russia, then beat Poland 1-0 at the Municipal Stadium, Wrockaw, Poland.

The Gernot Rohr boys, however, lost to the national team of Serbia 0-2 at the Hive Stadium, England.

The third friendly match for the Eagles against the Diables Rouges (Red Devils) of Congo has been a speculation for cancellation due to the deadly Ebola disease outbreak in the country.

The fears of many football enthusiasts were however allayed by the NFF as Akinwumi said there was no need to panic over the friendly match saying that adequate measures had been put in place to forestall transmission of the disease into Nigeria.

“We will not jeopardise the health of Nigerians, we have notified the DR Congo Football Federation, while both presidents have met at

the CAF committee and finalised issues.

“Beyond that, we have written to the Ministry of Health to have all those coming to Nigeria tested.

However, most of the DR Congo players for the match are foreignbased.

“To assure Nigerians, we will not risk anything for the match, there should be no fear at all.

“We are 100 per cent sure that everyone coming for the match will be subjected to test in Congo before coming and Nigeria before they go out,’’ he told NAN. Akinwumi said that the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo did not affect the whole country but some villages and that would not stop the federation from doing the needful.

“We are told that the news of Ebola outbreak in DR Congo happened in the remote village and not in the whole country, but we are also cautious about the health of Nigerians.

The Super Eagles are expected to fly out to their camp in Austria on June 3 from London.

They are to play another final friendly against the Czech Republic on June 6 in Austria.

Massimiliano Allegri: I want to stay at Juventus Massimiliano Allegri has distanced himself from joining Arsenal, saying he hopes to remain at Juvenuts next season.

Speaking after Juventus secured their fourth consecutive double during his tenure by drawing 0-0 at Roma on Sunday, Allegri told Italian reporters: “If they don’t sack me, I’ll stay at Juventus next year too.”

Allegri will have talks with Juventus about his future this week. He has one year left on his contract and chairman Andrea Agnelli and Guiseppe Marotta want to offer him a new deal.

Arsenal are aiming to appoint a new manager before the World Cup starts on 14 June.

Sky Sports reports Allegri, along with former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique, is wanted by Arsenal to replace the departing Arsene Wenger, however both

have concerns about the club’s management structure.

Former Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta remains a leading candidate, despite his lack of managerial experience. He is working as an assistant coach at Manchester City.

City boss Pep Guardiola says he will not stand in the way of Arteta becoming the next Arsenal manager.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

31 Times Sports

Ronaldo: I do not know if Neymar is happy at Paris Saint-Germain Brazil legend Ronaldo told beIN SPORTS France that he does not know if Neymar is happy at Paris Saint-Germain.

Neymar said after the Ligue 1 awards ceremony in Paris on Sunday that he finds the constant speculation over his future “annoying” but did not say that he will stay with PSG this summer.

And Ronaldo, speaking before he handed the Ligue 1 Player of the Season award to his compatriot, said it is uncertain whether Neymar would depart the club after just one year.

“Neymar has given France plenty, but also Ligue 1,” Ronaldo said.

“Everybody speaks about PSG and Le Championnat all over the world. He is a very good player, and everybody talks about him.

“Was joining PSG a good decision? Neymar has been

here for a year and he was unlucky with his injury. I do not know if he is happy here in Paris or not, but life goes on. We need to wait and see what happens.”

Thomas Tuchel is expected to be named coach Unai Emery’s successor later this week, and as well as revealing that Neymar should resume training on Wednesday, captain Thiago Silva noted the parallels between Tuchel and PSG’s Brazilian contingent.

“For now, nobody has told us anything,” Silva said at the awards ceremony, according to Le Parisien.

“However, if it really is confirmed, he is a coach a little from our school.

He is German but with a Brazilian way of thinking about the game. That will help us plenty.

“He likes plenty of order?

In the world of football, a bit of order is necessary. If he

arrives with the mentality that many have spoken about, he will add a lot.”

Meanwhile, Marquinhos told Canal+ on Sunday that there had been disagreements between the players and Emery over the past two seasons.

“Unai always spoke with us,” Marquinhos said. “We had many discussions with him in the dressing room. … Perhaps at one moment he had his ideas and others had theirs. However, of course there were some disagreements with the coach — like in any other team.”

PSG fared well at the Ligue 1 awards, with Neymar voted the best player, Emery the best coach, Kylian Mbappe the best young player and seven players, including Neymar and Mbappe, being voted into the XI of the season.

Coach: Serena Williams will be ready to target French Open victory Serena Williams might well be “stressed and excited” at the prospect of her season clay debut at the French Open, but she remains capable of winning the tournament, according to her coach Patrick Mouratoglou.

Williams landed a 23rd major at the 2017 Australian Open while pregnant, but Mouratoglou admitted that the American, who

lost early in Indian Wells and Miami in March and then withdrew from this month’s Madrid and Rome tournaments, returned to the WTA Tour too soon.

Mouratoglou, however, insisted: “Serena will play the French Open to win it.

“Can she do it? Serena can achieve anything — after being her coach for six years, I’m even more sure of that statement,” he

told wtatennis.com.

“After her pregnancy, Serena had to rebuild her body. When she arrived at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy (in Nice), around April 30, we realised that she was not ready yet.

The time she lost after the delivery with all the medical issues she had to go through, was missing,” said Mouratoglou.

“That is the reason why we decided to skip Madrid and Rome as she needed five weeks to be perfectly ready. Then we worked with my team in order to prepare a programme for her to get back in her best shape including nutrition, fitness and, of course, tennis.

“So far, things are going very well. She is working extremely hard, she is improving in all the areas fast. I am very satisfied and confident that she will be ready for Roland Garros.”

Agent: Junior Lokosa in Bulgaria to sign pre-contract The agent of Junior Lokosa has said the Kano Pillars striker will be at Bulgarian club PFC Ludogrets to sign a precontract agreement and will return to the country latest Thursday.

Ismail Adedoyin said that Lokosa, who has scored 18 goals in the NPFL

this season, will fly out of the country today and head back on Thursday.

“He will only sign a precontract with the club and have a medical after which he will return,” the agent said.

Kano Pillars chairman Tukur Babangida has also collaborated this by saying

the 18-goal striker has been excused to fly out to Bulgaria for a medical and not for trials.

PFC Ludogrets won the regular season in Bulgaria and are now involved in the championship playoffs.

They are regular campaigners in the UEFA Champions League.

Federer on top again, Djokovic slides Rafael Nadal’s surprise quarterfinal exit at the Madrid Masters has seen the Spaniard replaced as world No 1 by Roger Federer in the latest ATP rankings published on Monday.

Federer returns to the top spot despite not having played since March.

Former world No 1 Novak Djokovic slipped six places to 18th after his second round defeat in Madrid, his lowest ranking since October 2006.

Madrid winner Alexander Zverev remains in third, but the man he beat in Sunday’s final, Dominic Thiem, dropped a place to eighth despite knocking out Nadal on his way to facing Zverev.

Thiem saw off Kevin Anderson in the semifinals

and it is the South African who inherits his seventh spot, the 31-year-old’s highest ever ranking.

The highest mover in the men’s charts is Madrid semifinalist Denis Shapovalov with the Russian teenager jumping 14 rungs to a best ever 29th.

RANKINGS 1. Roger Federer (SUI) 8 670 pts (+1) 2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 7 950 (-1) 3. Alexander Zverev (GER) 6 015 4. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 4 870 5. Marin Cilic (CRO) 4 770 6. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 4 540 7. Kevin Anderson (RSA) 3 660 (+1) 8. Dominic Thiem (AUT)

3 545 (-1) 9. John Isner (USA) 3 305 10. David Goffin (BEL) 2 930 11. Pablo Carreno (ESP) 2 280 12. Sam Querrey (USA) 2 220 (+1) 13. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 2 210 (+1) 14. Jack Sock (USA) 2 155 (+1) 15. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 2 130 (+1) 16. Lucas Pouille (FRA) 1 995 (+2) 17. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 1 980 18. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 1 905 (-6) 19. Kyle Edmund (ENG) 1 905 (+3) 20. Hyeon Chung (KOR) 1 807 (+1) Selected; 29. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 1.488 (+14)

Harry Kane challenges Mo Salah to repeat Golden Boot heroics Harry Kane has challenged Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah to repeat his record-breaking goal tally to be recognised as a “great”.

Salah scored his 32nd Premier League goal of the season in Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Brighton on Sunday to finish two ahead of the Tottenham striker and set the record for the most goals scored in a 38game campaign.

Kane’s 30-goal season was the best return of his career, after tallies of 25 and 29 in the previous two years, but not enough to claim a third-successive Golden Boot.

“It’s good to have competition, it’s great for the Premier League to have two players at the 30-goal mark,” he said.

“Personally for me, it was a target to improve on last year, obviously 29, and it was nice to get to that 30goal mark.

“Mo has done great this year, he deserves it, he deserves the Golden Boot, I am looking forward to the competition again next

year.

“For me, it is about doing it year after year. This is my fourth year now and the first time I have got to 30 goals in the Prem, now it’s about getting to 30 goals for the next two or three years, that’s the aim.

“Any player wants to do it on a consistent basis and that’s what defines a good player from a great player.

He has done amazing this year and he looks like a great player and we’ll see if we can both continue it next season.”

Mauricio Pochettino challenged Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to match the spending of their Premier League rivals this summer and “take risks” while also

suggesting the club need to review their strategy if they want to start winning trophies.

Despite that, Kane, who is heading to the Bahamas for a week of golf ahead of the World Cup, believes Spurs have had a fine season by finishing third.

“It has been a good year,” he said. “As a team to get in the Champions League was very important in the new stadium.

“It’s not been easy, especially playing here (Wembley) as well.

“The top six now is so strong, everyone’s really competitive, so for us to finish in the top three for the third year in a row is brilliant.”

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Business Times

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Google’s AI assistant to identify self as a robot during calls

Nigeria, UAE agreement on return of stolen assets takes effect June 13

We have enough funds to disburse to customers – DBN MD

World Bank announces N2.7trn investment strategy in Nigeria The World Bank on Monday announced a fresh $8.8 billion (about N2.69 trillion) investment strategy in Nigeria for the 2019 fiscal year.

The investments under the World Bank’s Nigeria Country Partnership Strategy (NCPS) would be executed through its affiliate financial institutions, namely the International Development Association (IDA) and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).

This development was contained a statement obtained at the end of the World Bank directors’ visit to the country.

The directors, however, acknowledged Nigeria’s strategic importance to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) subregion and its central role in the World Bank Group’s regional strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Nigeria has been one of IFC’s fastest growing portfolios and represents IFC’s fifth largest global country exposure, with a committed volume of $1.6

billion,” the bank said in the statement.

“Nigeria is MIGA (Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)’s fifth largest country exposure in

Sub-Saharan Africa, with $334 million in current exposure.”

The delegation led by Patrizio Pagano, the Executive Director for Italy, Albania, Greece, Malta, Portugal, San Marino

and Timor-Leste, said they were in Nigeria to get a better understanding of the country’s development priorities with a special focus on the energy sector.

L-R: Chief Risk Officer, Africa, UBA Plc, Ruben Andrews; Sales Manager, West Africa, SAS, Babalola Oladokun; Marketing Manager, Africa, SAS, Mabel Schrimpton; and Senior Business Solutions Manager, Pre-Sales Risk Practice SEMEA, SAS, Charles Nyamuzinga at the SAS Risk & Finance Analytics Roadshow in Lagos…recently

Obaseki’s reforms throw up vacancies, as Edo begins recruitment of surveyors, architects, firemen, others Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki’s farreaching revamp of the civil service and drive to reposition the state for optimal service delivery has thrown up vacancies in the building, maintenance, emergency services and agricultural sectors in the state.

This is coming on the heels of the state government’s renewed commitment to inject new life in the civil service in pursuance of impactful infrastructural and social development projects in the state.

The vacancies, according to a release by the Chairman, Edo

State Civil Service Commission, Princess (Mrs.) Ekiuwa Inneh, are for engineers, surveyors, firemen, architects, veterinarians, forest officers, town planners, among others.

The recruitment is an affirmation of a number of policy pronouncements made by the governor in recent times, particularly the setting up of ambulance service to facilitate the work of first responders in emergencies; setting up structure for management of the state’s forest assets; establishment of livestock farms and reviving the state’s real

estate and agricultural sectors.

It was gathered that the state government was keen on ensuring that professionals man the key offices that would be interfacing with the private sector, which is increasingly expanding since the governor’s unrelenting expression of commitment to industrialising the state.

Nothing less than 42 vacancies in various disciplines are open and applicants are to apply through the state civil service commission.

Recall that in his Workers’ Day speech, Governor Obaseki said that the state hasn’t sacked any worker

since his administration took the reins; rather provision has been made to employ more.

“This government is proud that it has not sacked any worker even those that were moribund in their functions. Rather, we have done so much to reabsorb, retrain and reassign these workers.

“About 186 staff of the moribund Edo Line and Edo Courier have been redeployed to the Ministry of Infrastructure while we are working out ways of liquidating its debt of about N1.5bn. In a few weeks, the Civil Service Commission will advertise to recruit more civil

Buhari orders Fashola to resolve power crisis in North East Mathew Dadiya, Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola to resolve the lingering power crisis in the Northeast region before the end of the year.

Buhari gave the order on Monday at the commissioning of 1×40 MVA, 132/33KV Mobile power substation at Mayo Belwa transmission substation, Adamawa state.

The Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Power in the Ministry, Mr. Louis Edozien said that the Buhari administration’s resolve to revamping the economy of the Northeast manifests in a multisectoral approach to tackling power crisis in the region.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, Usman Mohammed discloses that TCN has earmarked some key transmission lines and substation projects for construction in order to strengthen and reinforce the national grid for effect power reeling and to improve service delivery”.

The Managing Director of Yola Electricity Distribution Company, Baba Umar in his address said for a long time now the area has been experiencing low voltage but they now have every reason to be happy.

A community leader and chairman of Mayo Belwa, Local Government applauded the government’s efforts.

With this development, it is expected that the commissioning will go a long way to boosting the economic activities of the area after the destructions caused by the insurgency in the northeast.

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May15, 2018

Nigeria, UAE agreement on return of stolen assets takes effect June 13

World Safety Day: BEDC urges compliance with safety standards

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

Benin Electricity Distribution Plc. (BEDC) has supported the celebration of the 2018 edition of World Safety Day with call by its Safety Managers, Mr. Gilbert Nweke on organizations to ensure strict compliance to the highest safety standards with a view to reducing occupational hazards.

Speaking as a panelist during the Safety Day celebration marked at Oba Akenzua Hall, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin recently, Nweke listed some key responsibilities any organization owes its workers in promoting a safe working environment.

This he said were; providing a safe working environment for the workers, the needed tools and equipment to carry out the job safely, ensuring actions are taken to correct cases of hazardous conditions, making available the safety policy to workers and enforcing compliance with the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

According to him, safety measures adopted by BEDC includes: collaboration with state governments to drive the campaign on the dangers of residing or

The agreement signed between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on recovery of stolen assets and cash stashed away in the UAE by Nigerians would take effect from June 13.

Officials of both countries, on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, exchanged instruments of ratification on judicial agreements signed in 2016.

According to WAM Emirates news agency, the UAE and Nigeria signed the agreement regarding the apprehension of criminals, extraditing convicted persons, providing mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, as well as for legal and judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters.

The ceremony for exchanging the instruments of ratification took place between Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Jarman, Assistant

Minister for Human Rights and International Law at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Nigeria’s Ambassador to UAE Mohammed Dansanta Rimi, at the headquarters of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The UAE’s Director of the International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Justice, Abdul Rahman Murad Al Balushi, witnessed the ceremony during which the June 13 take-off date was announced.

Nigeria had on January 19, 2016, signed six agreements with the UAE following a state visit by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The pact includes Judicial Agreements on Extradition, Transfer of Sentenced Persons, Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters, and Mutual Legal Assistance on

Criminal and Commercial Matters (the recovery and repatriation of stolen wealth).

The Federal Government had been collaborating with the UAE authorities on suspicious cash and assets allegedly owned by some Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs).

The agreements, which were signed by President Buhari are: Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement. Agreement on Trade Promotion and Protection Judicial Agreements on Extradition Transfer of Sentenced Persons Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal and Commercial Matters (recovery and repatriation of stolen wealth) The Federal Government has been trying to attach some suspected assets allegedly owned by some Nigerians or traced to them in UAE. The EFCC also said it has evidence of how some public office holders

benefited from the London-Paris Club refund and how the cash was laundered in Dubai, UAE. The financial intelligence sharing by the two countries has uncovered some cases involving former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and some of her business associates.

The assets allegedly identified with Diezani are marked as J5 Emirates Hills (30million Dirham) and E146 Emirates Hills valued at 44million Dirham.

Those allegedly traced to her associate Kola Aluko are: 4100 Le Reve Dubai Maria, Dubai; Unit 1402, PS 14th Floor located at Metro TECOM near Internet City Metro Station, Dubai; Unit 712, ES 7th Floor located at First Central, Off Sheikh Zayed, TECOM, Al-Barsha 3 Dubai and Unit 512, 5th Floor located at First Group Marina Hotels, Al-Seba Street, Plot 394-426, Dubai AE-AJ.

Lagos exports goods worth N264BN in 3 years Benjamin Omoike The Lagos state government on Monday said over $735.8million (about N264billion) worth of finished goods have so far been exported from the Lekki Free Trade Zone, LFTZ, project in the last three years.

Commissioner for Commerce and Cooperatives, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, who disclosed this at the annual Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the third anniversary of governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration, held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, said the government was totally committed to the development of businesses in the Zone, adding that measures are taken to ensure that the goods meet international standards before they are exported out of the country.

She said the Nigeria Customs, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), and other supporting agencies coordinated the exporting process of the goods in conjunction with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), adding that it was a testament to the fact that the Zone was living up to expectation.

She said the Lekki Free Zone, among other things, was conceptualised to develop an offshore economic growth zone, attract foreign investments, promote export, create job opportunities, transfer technology, minimise capital flight and

establish a one stop business haven and currently has 22 Free Zone Enterprises (FZEs), and 18 manufacturing enterprises in operation.

Oladunjoye also disclosed that to date, the Joint Venture with the Chinese Consortium has a total equity investment of $180.4million and has received Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), totalling $140.2million out of the $200million FDI expected from the Consortium.

She stressed that 125 investors

had registered, while 59 investors have their Lease Agreements. She added that 726 Nigerians have been employed by the FZEs and N376.5million had been spent on executing 14 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), projects for host communities.

She listed other achievements in the Lekki Free Zone to include $500million FDI from FZEs in operation, while a Customs Processing Centre (CPC), for Nigeria Customs Service was

established to improve the ease of doing business and eliminate bottlenecks.

The Commissioner said the government had opened its doors to investors willing to partner the state in the provision of inter-modal transportation infrastructure within the Lekki Free Zone axis, with emphasis on road and rail system, to accommodate the massive investments coming into the corridor and to solve the attendant traffic challenges.

L-R: Partner, Canary Legal (Company Secretary for Momas Electricity Manufacturing Company Limited), Mr. Yahaya Yahaya; the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Momas Electricity Manufacturing Company Limited (MEMMCOL), Mr. David Ogunniyi; Member, Board of Directors, Momas Electricity Manufacturing Company Limited (MEMMCOL), Mr. Tunde Omole; the Chairman, Momas Electricity Manufacturing Company Limited (MEMMCOL), Engr. Kola Balogun and Chief Mrs. Alaba Lawson presenting the Local Content Award to MEMMCOL during the LCCI Awards held in Lagos.

Motolani Oseni

CBN releases N1bn SMEs fund to Niger State The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has released N1billion Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) to Niger government.

Alhaji Mudi Muhammad, Niger Commissioner for Commerce and Investment, who disclosed on Monday, said the fund was the second tranche.

Muhammad explained that the fund was part of the Federal Government’s efforts to create jobs for youths and women as well as alleviate poverty in the country.

“This fund is the effort of the federal government to create job opportunities for women, youths and vulnerable Nigerians.

“The disbursement of the first tranche is still ongoing and the CBN has recorded the state as the most successful, as the fund has been given to the actual beneficiaries.

“The programme is targeted at employing 11,578 people, create 3, 000 jobs and cover over 20,000 indigent youths,” he explained.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

ICT B 3

Facebook to launch own cryptocurrency soon Stories: Ladesope Ladelokun After reports surfaced that Facebook is creating a new Blockchain group, fresh media reports have claimed that the social networking giant is also exploring the creation of its own cryptocurrency.

However, sources say the social network doesn’t have plans to hold a so-called initial

coin offering (ICO) by offering a limited number of virtual tokens for the public to buy at a set price, noting that Facebook has over two billion users globally and launching cryptocurrency will allow them make payments using a virtual currency like Bitcoin.

“I’m setting up a small group to explore how to best leverage Blockchain across

Facebook, starting from scratch,” David Marcus, currently the executive in-charge of Facebook Messenger, said in a post.

In a statement later, Facebook said: “Like many other companies, Facebook is exploring ways to leverage the power of Blockchain technology. This new small team will be exploring many different applications. We don’t have anything further to share”.

Global spending on Blockchain solutions is expected to reach $2.1 billion in 2018, more than double of the $945 million spent in 2017, market research firm International Data Corporation (IDC) said earlier this year.

Recode had first reported that Facebook is building a new team dedicated to Blockchain technology and Marcus was leaving his post to run the Blockchain group.

The Blockchain team would come under “New platforms and infra” run by Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Mike Schroepfer, who will also take care of Facebook’s AR, VR and Artificial Intelligence initiatives.

Mired in a massive data breach controversy, Facebook has rolled out biggest-ever shuffle at the senior management level since its inception -- across platforms, including WhatsApp and Messenger.

According to Recode, the company has made long-time executive Chris Cox incharge of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger -- now called a “family of apps”.

Defective MacBook: Apple faces class action lawsuit Apple is facing a class action lawsuit over the design of its MacBook and MacBook Pro keyboards which, consumers complain, has keys that are prone to becoming stuck.

The lawsuit follows a litany of complaints across user forums, specialist media and a petition with over 21,000 signatures urging Apple to recall the Mac laptops released since late 2016.

“Because of the new keyboard design, consumers report that fixing affected keys requires replacing the whole keyboard, which costs $700,” Girard Gibbs, counsel for the plaintiffs, said, adding that, “Because typing is the primary purpose of laptops, over

time, consumers have become more and more frustrated with the keyboard defect.”

Recall that in 2015 Apple introduced a new key switch mechanism that allowed it to produce a keyboard much thinner and with a smaller amount of travel. It was first used on the 12in MacBook laptop, and then later on the redesigned MacBook Pro line from late 2016.

The “butterfly” mechanism replaced the older “scissor” mechanism, which is still used by the majority of laptop keyboards, and was intended to make the keys more stable and responsive when pressed.

But the plaintiffs claim the redesign has resulted in a defective product: “Apple’s butterfly keyboard and MacBook are

produced and assembled in such a way that when minimal amounts of dust or debris accumulate under or around a key, keystrokes fail to register.”

As typing is the keyboard’s primary input for the laptops, the plaintiffs argue that when a keys become stuck on the MacBook or MacBook Pro the machines, which cost upwards of £1,249, become “unsuitable for its ordinary and intended use”.

The lawsuit argues that “Apple has failed to disclose that the keyboard is defective, and this information would have been important to Plaintiffs’ decision to purchase a MacBook” and that even after repair the problem reoccurs.

Google’s AI assistant to identify self as a robot during calls Google’s AI assistant will identify itself as a robot when calling up businesses on behalf of human users, the company has confirmed, following accusations that the technology was deceitful and unethical.

The feature, called Google Duplex, was demonstrated at the company’s I\O developers’ conference recently . It is not yet a finished product, but in the two demos played for the assembled crowd, it still managed to be eerily lifelike as it made bookings at a hair salon and a restaurant.

But the demonstrations sparked concern that the company was misleading those on the other end of the conversation into thinking they were dealing with another human, not a machine. The generated voice not only sounds extremely natural, but also inserts lifelike pauses, um-ing and ah-ing, and even responding with a wordless “mmm-hmm” when asked by the salon worker to “give me one second”.

In its initial blogpost announcing the tech, Google said: “It’s important to us that users and businesses have a good experience with this service, and transparency is a key part of that. We want to be clear about the intent of the call so businesses understand the context.

We’ll be experimenting with the right approach over the coming months.”

Google’s hope with Duplex is that it will enable a range of interactions with businesses that only have a phone connection, where this was previously limited to those with more hi-tech set-ups.

The company envisages being able to call businesses to ask about opening hours then posting the information on Google; allowing users to schedule a reservation even when a business is closed, lining up the Duplex call for when doors open; and solving accessibility problems by, for instance, letting hearing-impaired users book over the phone, or enabling phone bookings across a language barrier.

The company said it would begin testing Duplex more widely “this summer … to help users make restaurant reservations, schedule hair salon appointments, and get holiday hours over the phone.”

Labour B 4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Demographic dividends: International Agencies, Private sector work towards addressing youth empowerment in Nigeria High-level experts from international donor agencies, government and the private sector in Nigeria are working towards establishing a synergy in a bid to harness the demographic dividends in Nigeria.

With the recent outburst by Nigerian youths following the alleged comments made by President Muhammadu Buhari about youths in Nigeria being dependent and lazy, the delegates have mapped out areas that need to be addressed in order to achieve a more inclusive youth in socioeconomic development of the country.

One key area identified by international agencies is the important role private sector has to play in bridging the gap before 2030.

Country Director of the United Nations Information Centre in Nigeria, Ronald

Kayanja stressed on the importance of supporting the private sector so that education and health can be better addressed.

“The population of youths in Nigeria is not a problem, it is an opportunity; We want to emphasize that it is not just the role of the government, international agencies but the private sector that are to provide programs and activities that will benefit the young people, empower them, employ them, so that the energy that the young people have in this country can be productively used”.

“The framework agreed upon by the United Nations and the Government of Nigeria is to implement activities in Nigeria and one of the components is the demographic dividends, because we know that if we don’t deal with

the element of the youth employment, we cannot spur this country to the development we want”, Kayanja noted.

With regards to the rapid growing population in Nigeria, Country Director of Population Council, Dr Sylvia Adebajo expressed concerns over control, suggesting that adequate planning can help people to be more productive.

“The population of Nigeria is increasing rapidly and we must find ways of controlling the population growth, not necessarily by enforcing anything, but that people have a choice on the number of children they want and when they want through child spacing. We need to control the rate at which the population is growing so that people will be more productive, save money, live longer, better quality of life and expectancy, and

how can we achieve that? A lot of our resources in Nigeria are donordependent and how can we feel this gap? It’s by engaging the private sector because there is a lot they can contribute in all the sector of the economy”.

Dr Diene Keita, UNFPA representative in Nigeria who was represented by Osaretin Adonri, the Assistant representative of the UNFPA insisted that adequate data can help in achieving demographic dividends and with the issue of conducting another population census remains unresolved.

“In everything we do, Data is important, even at the micro level, for a long time, we do not know how many we are in Nigeria, we are not sure, we have been using the population projection which to some extent, is good but we need accurate population of this country to plan”.

“For us to open the window towards demographic dividends we must first start with creating the population structure where more people are working and less people dependent which involves planning, and that is where family

planning is important”, he added.

For the private sector, Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, the Head, sustainability, Access Bank believes investment in health still remains crucial to achieving demographic dividends.

“We need to be deliberate; Demographic Dividend is a deliberate thing that needs proper planning, investment and harnessing the dividends. Quite a number of organisations have been making a lot of efforts to invest in youths; we just need to ensure that the youths are confident in themselves and their ability to drive the economy forward”.

“To stem this tide, we need a lot of collaboration from the public and private sector with similar values.

Sustainability should also be key because we are investing in people; the health connection in investing in people is crucial because if they are healthy, they will be able to live into the long time future and your investment will be sustained.

But if you invest in empowerment and not health issues, you might stand the risk of losing out on your investment, so it has to be holistic in

UNEP-EBAFOSA calls for stakeholders collaboration to create 11 million jobs annually

Digital marketing Executive, Indomie, Omotola Edien; Group Public Relations and Event Manager Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Temitope Ashiwaju; Celebrity Chef Miyonase Amosun and his Manager, Solomon Adetokunbo. at the signing of the MoU and unveiling of Indomie Chef in Lagos. Photo: OLATUNJI WALE

Asset recovery under Buhari’s govt a major achievement – Sagay Mathew Dadiya, Abuja The Chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay, has described the recovery of assets by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as ‘a major match forward.’

Sagay said this while evaluating the anti-corruption war of the Federal Government in an interview on Channels Television on Sunday.

He said that the recovery of assets has been monumental during this government’s tenureadding “It is unprecedented and whether

Nigerians who have short memories like to acknowledge this or not, it is a fact.”

According to the renowned lawyer, parts of the recovered loots are being used to fund the present budget for the social intervention programmes of the government.

He added that the looting of the nation’s resources allegedly by public servants has down considerably and is being reduced drastically.

Sagay who said, “The beginning of wisdom now is the avoidance of looting,” was worried that the progress recorded in the area of asset recovery is not being noticed.

Instead, he said Nigerians were waiting to see those convicted of corruption being jailed, noting that it was the narrow aspect and not the most important part of the anticorruption war.

The PACAC chairman said, “We may be too impatient about conviction, the administration of the Criminal Justice Act which sealed a lot of loopholes which created these long endless cases only came in force in 2015.

“We are just going to start seeing the effect of the impact of the act in the coming months. So, I expect that there’d be more and more convictions.”

The United Nations EnvironmentEcosystem Based Adaptation for Food Security Assembly (UNEP-EBAFOSA) Nigeria has called for collaboration among major stakeholders to create 11million jobs yearly.

Its National President, Mr James Oyesola, stated this at an interministerial/agencies policy task force meeting in Abuja.

He said key stakeholders should tackle climate change challenges to facilitate job creation in the agricultural sector.

He said: “The key issue is that addressing climate change challenges, implementing SDGs and our nationally-determined contributions, among others, can’t be implemented in ‘silos’. ‘’Therefore, there is the need to bridge policy gaps by breaking inter-ministerial silos through convening policy makers in relevant line ministries of environment, agriculture, industry, energy, forestry, lands, trade, finance etc., as well as non-state actors in policy research, for collaborative policy processes.

“Also, to catalyse investment in clean energy powered agroindustrialisation, agriculture policies will need to reconcile with industry policies, energy policies, lands policies and private investors to ensure relevant-cross cutting policies

that incentivise investment by both state and non-state actors in plants and clean-processing industries near high potential agro-production areas.

Infrastructure policies need to be synchronised to ensure prioritised investments in rural roads for efficient connection of production areas or these agro-industrial zones to market areas.”

The UN Environment Africa Climate Change Coordinator, Dr. Richard Munang, lamented the increasing youthful and unemployed population amid untapped opportunities.

“For every three million jobs, there are up to 12 million youths competing for them each year. Right here in Nigeria, while 1.2 million fresh people joined the pool of job seekers in just one quarter of 2017, another 1.6 million who were in full time employment lost their jobs in the same period. The implication is Nigeria may need to create up to 2.8 million jobs per quarter, which translates to about 11 million jobs each year. The implication is the urgent need to increase opportunities exponentially. Across Africa, this youth bulge has been christened a “ticking time bomb. ‘’Yet, these youths represent the most sovereign capital we have as a continent to tap and drive growth,” he explained.

Union faults planned NRC concession, says job loss looms The Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC) have faulted the Federal Government’s plan to concession the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

Its President-General, Comrade Mohammed Yunusa, said the planned

concession would lead to workers losing their jobs. He noted that the workers contributed immensely to the glorious performance of the rail sector, until it had problems in 1984, due to successive administrations’ failures to manage it well.

He said: “Nobody should attempt to

discredit staff of the NRC just because of the failure of successive governments and its managers in NRC. To this end, we make bold to say that we shall resist any form of reform aimed at discrediting and sending staff of NRC into the labour market, under whatever guise be it concession, franchising or public private

partnership.”

Yunusa said the union, with its large membership, would resist any concessioning that would lead to job loss either in the Nigerian Railway Corporation or any or other public corporation in Nigeria.

“The government has business in business, especially when it is social-oriented and, therefore, the government should situp with SSASCGOC and its allies so that we can come up with workable solutions for the rail to roll into glory,” he said.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

B5 Money Stanbic IBTC Bank offers bundled-benefit banking services to enterprises

L-R: Executive Director Young Educators Foundation, Akinolu Phillips; Public Relations and Events manager, Dufil prima foods PLC, Temitope Ashiwaju; Winner of Indomie spelling Bee competition, Chigozirim Ude-Ibe;Country Manager Young Educators Foundation, Ms Anwulika Ngene andMedia Relations Indomie noodles, Ms Aramide Folorunsho; at the national final of Indomie Spelling Bee competition held in Lagos....recently Photo: Olatunji Wale

Why Banks must deploy technology for regulatory changes, risk management Stories: Motolani Oseni Being one of the most regulated industries in the world, banks are under pressure to not only comply with constantly changing regulations but also to modernise their systems, Nigerian lenders have been urged to deploy technology in order to reduce compliance costs, improve efficiency and effectiveness in risk management processes.

Also, to stay competitive in the age of the FinTech, and be innovative on risk assessments during new product development, to better serve their customers. This assertion was made at the SAS Risk & Finance Analytics Roadshow in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, Charles Nyamuzinga, Senior Business Solutions Manager, Pre-Sales Risk Practice, SAS noted that banks in Africa face additional challenges, including risk analytics skills shortages, data management issues and integrating their risk management and finance processes across the enterprise.

But, on the positive side, they have started considering technology as a way of eliminating these challenges and have access to new streams of data that are also helping to advance the financial inclusion mandate.

SAS, a leading global analytics firm, as a technological partner for banking institutions has always played a proactive role in fostering innovation and transformation of processes and systems, from regulatory compliance to strategic decisions support, from digitisation to risk assessment in realtime and also providing analytics solutions allow banks to adapt more quickly to regulatory changes minimising costs.

Recent regulatory changes in the banking industry means that Banks across Africa should already be compliant with the new IFRS 9 accounting standard, which changes the way they calculate expected credit losses. There is also need to start thinking about the new ‘Basel IV’ framework, which impacts on how banks calculate their risk weighted assets and the amount of capital they need to offset those risks. Other issues which banks are currently grappling with include incorrect modelling

caused by data management and quality issues, skills shortages, drawing data from a number of disparate systems, credit loss calculations, and risk modeling amongst other issues.

With solutions like SAS’s Risk and Finance Platform, none of these challenges are major issues anymore.

Bundled with data management, risk calculations, scenario management and reporting capabilities, SAS solutions are easy to use through a simple dragand-drop or point-and-click interface.

From a single platform, Risk and

Finance departments can access the same datasets, populated with data that has been scrubbed, scrutinized and validated, perform calculations and produce reports, so that executives can make confident business decisions.

Banks can trust that the information they’re using to build their risk and credit models is reliable and that the reports they generate are automatically compliant with regulatory requirements and can easily adapt to regulatory changes as and when they happen.

Okpekpe Race 2018: Organisers laud Ecobank support for youth devt in Africa The organisers of Okpekpe International 10 km Road Race, Pamodzi Sports Marketing, have lauded the consistent support of Ecobank Nigeria to the competition, saying the Bank has contributed immensely to the huge success recorded in the race.

Speaking during this year’s edition of the Road Race in Okpekpe, Edo State at the weekend, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pamodzi Sports Marketing, Mike Itemuagbor stated that Ecobank has demonstrated that it is a firm supporter of youth and sports development in the continent, and Nigeria in particular, stressing that, the competition is attracting athletes from all over the continent. He used the opportunity to call on other corporate organizations in the country to support sports development initiatives.

“We commend Ecobank for partnering with us over the years in

organizing this race. It is engendering healthy competition among Africa youths. We wish to implore other corporate organizations to emulate Ecobank and support sports development initiatives,” he said.

In his comment, Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Charles Kie reaffirmed the Bank’s support for the Road Race. Represented by Executive Director, Corporate Banking, Akin Dada, he noted that the objective of the organisers of the Race matches that of Ecobank and assured stakeholders that the Bank will continue to throw its weight behind the race as its Official Bank.

“I want to use this opportunity to state here that Ecobank fully endorse this competition and will like to assure you that we will continue to be associated with the Okpekpe International Road Race,” he said.

He commended the organisers for the elevation of the race by IAAF

to a silver label status, stressed that the competition brings together men and women from various parts of the world.

“I want to congratulate the organisers of the annual Okpekpe International 10Km Road Race for the elevation of the race to a silver labeled status. We in Ecobank remain committed to our partnership with Okpekpe road race. It is always a great pleasure to be at the event,” he stated.

Kenyan athletes made a clean sweep in the male category of the 10km Okpekpe road race as Kibet Alex, ran 29 min 46 seconds to come first, Simon Cheprot who won the 2016 edition came second finishing in 30.29 while Ronoh Timothy took third with a time of 30.39. In the female category Ethiopian Yani Dera Dida came firstr and was followed by two Kenyans , Tuei Sandra Chebey and Kipyokei Diana who came second and third respectively.

Stanbic IBTC Bank has introduced a new banking product that will help small and medium scale enterprises save on cost and optimize their Business margins/revenues. The product, Biz-Smart Account, enables enterprises open and operate the account without paying maintenance fees and other related charges.

Biz-Smart Account is a hybrid current naira account specially tailored to enterprises and offers the unique features of both a savings and current account. The account was developed to help Enterprises reduce to the barest minimum the cost of business, especially the ones that emanate from transactional accounts, Stanbic IBTC Bank says.

The account offers zero account maintenance fees and it attracts interest based on the available deposit on the account.

The account also gives the holder access to internet/mobile banking channels and access to MasterCard Naira Debit card.

Other benefits include third party cheque lodgment, setting up of direct debits or standing orders for regular bills payment and receiving transfers, amongst others.

This unique enterprise banking solution from Stanbic IBTC Bank is offered in two variants namely Biz-Smart account and Biz-Smart Plus account. The Biz-smart requires an opening balance of Sixty Thousand Naira and a daily minimum balance of Fifty Thousand Naira and enables the holder receive interest on their account. In addition to this, a maximum of four cash withdrawals is allowed at the branch.

However, there are no limits for transactions on e-channels (ATM, Web payment, Mobile Banking, POS and Internet Banking) so applicable transaction fees for using these channels would apply.

The Biz-Smart Plus on the other hand allows for monthly unlimited withdrawals but requires a minimum account opening balance of Five Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira and a daily minimum account balance of Five Hundred Thousand Naira.

According to Acting Head, Enterprise Banking & Trade Finance, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Ayodele Ojosipe, “We recognize the importance and pivotal role of Enterprises in the growth and development of our economy.

Business Features B6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

5 months after, minister yet to inaugurate boards of aviation agencies Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

Five months after the presidency appointed chairmen and members to the boards of the federal government owned parastatals, controversy has continued to trail the failure of the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika to inaugurate the boards.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on December 29th, 2017 appointed 209 board chairmen and 1 258 members of the government owned agencies and parastatals including the aviation agencies.

Announcing the board appointments then, the secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha declared that President Buhari had directed all the ministers including the one for aviation to inaugurate the boards of parastatals and agencies in their ministries.

Unfortunately, five months after the presidential directives, Senator Sirika has refused to inaugurate the boards while activities continue to go unchecked across the agencies.

The agencies running without the board members are: the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria while the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) does not have a board of directors.

The refusal of the minister to inaugurate the boards have started generating criticisms within the sector with stakeholders alleging that the non inauguration of the boards will only give the minister unlimited rights to run the affairs of the sector single handedly.

Reacting to the controversy, Comrade Ilitrus Ahmadu, the National President of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) though said the present delay in the inauguration of the aviation board members was not the first of it kind citing a similar experience witnessed during the tenure of Princess Stella Adaeze Odua as the the minister.

According to Ahmadu, though the delay in the inauguration was abnormal, he however attributed the delay to what he termed an error in the appointment of politicians with little or no knowledge on the technicalities of the sector.

His words:”May be the minister saw the appointment as an error and waiting for the Presidency to correct it. Most of the board composition are made up of politicians who do not have the technical knowledge about aviation.

But Comrade Sarah Rindams, another National Officer in ATSSSAN differed from Ahmadu as she described the failure to inaugurate the boards as abnormal

Saidu

which she said can only happen in an abnormal clime.

Rindams who said the refusal to inaugurate the boards will only encourage illegalities and lack of check and balance especially with the electioneering campaigns building up.

She called on the minister to do the right thing by inaugurating the boards without further delay.

Key players across the sector who spoke to some journalists at the weekend insisted that the minister should not capitalize on the so called error in the appointment to deny the agencies of having their boards unless there is an ulterior motive.

According to the key players, the failure to inaugurate the boards may have a negative effect on the agencies since the

‘

financial spending of the heads of the agencies are limited by law as they can only go through the board of directors.

But for Comrade Abdulrasaq Saidu the general secretary of Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), except the Federal Government constitutes Board of Directors for aviation parastatals , the ministry will continue to get it wrong in terms of employment, policies and resource management.

Saidu implored President Muhammadu Buhari to hearken to their voice and speedily save the industry from undue pressure from the aviation ministry.

“Due to the fact that there is no Board of Directors on ground, the aviation ministry has been interfering on the day to day running of the parastatals which is

Due to the fact that there is no Board of Directors on ground, the aviation ministry has been interfering on the day to day running of the parastatals which is not supposed to be so

,

not supposed to be so.”

According to Comrade Saidu, the roles of Board of Directors is in the Act that established them; he however, pointed out that it was a deliberate act by the previous government to dissolve them so that they can have direct control of the funds of these parastatals.

Saidu said by so doing, the powers that be, have been able to gain control of issues that have to do with Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA), IGR, employments, funds, budget, staff salary and other matters that were statutory vested on the Board of Directors.

He said “It is a deliberate act and that brought about improper placements, whereby they brought people to make the top heavy. The top is so heavy in each of parastatals, which makes their wage bill heavy too”.

On the interference of the minister in the affairs of the parastatals, Saidu said “Definitely, he is interfering; you can see the CEOs don’t even stay to do their jobs in Lagos, they are always in Abuja. Don’t forget that PMB merged some ministries together.

He argued that It was the Board of aviation parastatals that will checkmate things happening in the sector. “I am calling on the President to constitute Board of Directors of Aviation parastatals.”

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

B7 Business Interview

‘We have enough funds to disburse to customers’ cannot put out there; but so far for all the development partners we have taken first or second tranche of draw down we are able to meet. In terms of the amount I can assure you that we have enough funding now to disburse to customers.

with customers directly, we won’t do, the banks will do that. We are already thinking of products to address startups, to address women and others, with specific features, we will still engage the PFIs to bring the clients to access the products. Ultimately, we want to collaborate with the commercial banks and the micro finance banks so the reach will be everywhere. There would be serious campaigns so a lot of Nigerians are aware.

Do you have a way of helping young graduates who may want to start up, knowing that they may not be able to meet up with your criteria?

Part of what we are doing differently is that we are ready to form status, like this capacity building we are telling the financial institution that once the projects come and they assess it we are ready to take up the risk with them to give funding for startup.

Subsequently, we are going to come up with products that we are going to sell through these financial institutions for such institutions again that are down the line. For now we want the buy- in of the financial institutions themselves so that we tell them the fund is available for them and we are willing to fund startups. We build that confidence in them and subsequently we go out with our products directly to say help us sell these products to these people but that will be phases. However, we are very much available to start ups and we will also share risk with them. The overall objective is to make funding easy to them.

Do you think you are meeting the target of 20,000 SMEs? We are working towards meeting the target. As I said earlier, we are in our first year of operation. Now DBN is a startup, there is a process of start up, I said first year of full operation so you are going to start the follow up this year, we have full operation in place. We were licensed on 29th of March 2017, we took process of setting up structures that took some time and because we are wholesale bank, we are going to partner with some financial institutions to bring them onboard before we can begin to lend to them. I can assure you that we are on course.

How many have you done so far?

In terms of the number of SMEs, so far request from them is over 5000.

At your maiden interface with the media where you were unveiled, I recall you said you are targeting 20,000 MSMEs in the first fear. You are about a year now; do you think you are meeting the target?

We are working towards meeting the target. Remember, I said our first year of full operation. DBN is a start-up and there is a process to start-up. But now we have a full house so we will start from this year. We now have full operations in place nw. we were licensed on 29th March 2017. The process for setting up the structures would take some time. Also because we are a wholesale bank, we will partner with financial institutions and that means we will have to bring them onboard to lend to them. I can assure you we are on course.

So far how many MSMEs have benefited?

So far, the request from the PFIs for MSMEs is beyond 500. But like I told you, as they make requests and meet the conditions, we fund them.

Do you foresee a situation where the PFIs would be willing to market their products with relatively higher interests than yours?

Every development finance institutions, it’s more like a catalyst. You cannot meet all the demands. A typical business comes to a bank; they need working capital for instance, which is mostly short tenured like 90 days, 6 months etc and most banks are willing to take those businesses. But if a guy comes and says he needs to buy equipment for his factory and he needs four years to pay, the banks runaway from that. And that is where development financial institutions come in. another guy comes and said he needs seven years, usually

‘

most banks would runaway and that’s where we step it. So it’s not either or, it’s collaboration. That’s the way it works.

Some people says why do you guys want to go through banks again? But look at the total balance sheets of banks in Nigeria; which DFI can come near?

Look at their branch networks across the country, and the customer history they have. Which DFI can meet that? So the financial institutions can now give long term financing to their customers with DBN funds and short term wit h their own funds. Which is why we are having a lot of uptake coming now because the gap was long term funding.

Have you been able to simplify the processes to accessing these loans by the MSMEs? That is the engagement that is going on with the PFIs. The PFIs does the credit appraisal which we can’t get involved. But when it gets to the DBN, unlike other institutions, we treat it with speed. In terms of interfacing

We are going to come up with products that we are going to sell through these financial institutions for such institutions again that are down the line

,

How are you engaging institutions like SMEDAN and others?

We are currently working with SMEDAN. We have technical committees from their end and our end. They have clusters around the geopolitical zones.

We want to key into those clusters to help build capacity for the MSMEs. We notice the MSMEs lack certain capacities so we want to start teaching the MSMEs on a case by case basis. My hope is that everyone who is interested in expanding their businesses should learn the basics of doing so. They were here a couple of weeks ago and we have been talking.

Beyond SMEDAN, we also know we need to collaborate with a lot of intuitions – the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) for instance, we need to engage them. There are so many partnerships we are going into. That ECOSYSTEM, we have to work in collaboration. Other DFIS have been working in silos but that hasn’t worked well, so we are coming with a collaborative approach to ensure that all the institutions playing key roles work together. The idea is to take leadership to ensure that MSMEs have easy access to funds.

You also signed an agreement with NIRSAL, can you tell us more about it?

The objective is to finance that value chain in agriculture. So how do you make it easy for PFIs to fund the agric segment because it is priority sector for the economy? So how do we unleash the potentials in the agric space and get the PFIs interested? How do we make it easy for PFIs to get the comfort to lend to agriculture and we also have the comfort to on-lend to them for agric businesses.

We want to have sustainable financing so that on the long run, the institution is running and providing funds on a sustainable basis. A lot of factors come in.

The second is awareness of the fact that the funds are available and begin to get the MSMEs to pressure their banks to sign on.

Thirdly, the ultimate objective is to see the development impacts – like job creation, lending to empower more people and ensure financial inclusion.

It’s not adhoc which is why we are taking time to put in place sustainable structures like it’s done elsewhere.

We also need to make it work. This is the first time all these development partners come together to provide this funding. That means they believe in it also, why don’t we take advantage of it.

Business Interview B 8

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

We have enough funds to disburse to customers – DBN MD In one year of your operation, what is the level of percentage that the SMEs regulators have benefited from the bank?

I think, like you will recall, 1st of November last year we started our learning activities with three microfinance institutions. We have made available to them almost N5 billion, this was supposed to be for several SMEs. Since we are a wholesale institution we work through financial institutions. When they come we make a line available to them so they come with their clients we draw on the line.

What is available now to the three micro finance institutions is N4.9 billion - that is about N9 billion currently available. So, as they are bringing their clients on board, we sign. Beyond that we have started bringing on board some commercial banks which you can see on our website, we have also made lines available to them. They come we draw down the line and that’s when we will begin to give actual. But I am glad to tell you that we have almost nine banks currently on our list both commercial and micro finance banks and between now and the end of June, we expect more commercial banks. So as the commercial bank come up, knowing they have more of the volumes, we will hear more from them.

Can you give us an update about your visit to the UK, when European bank and Islamic development bank were to take up their investment?

We have equity shareholders coming in from African Development Bank and the European Bank; they have invested $50 million and $20 million respectively.

So effectively, they are shareholders of Development Bank of Nigeria. The announcement that was made was to effect that they have committed they are going to it and looking at the publication from our issuing house DLM, SEC have approved the basis of allotment. As we speak, effectively they have funded the investment in the Development Bank of Nigeria and are now shareholders in the DBN. So the $50 million from African Development Bank and European Bank are already in the system so now the bank is owned by the federal government, NSIA, African Development Bank and European Investment Bank.

What are the PFIs that have signed so far?

Wema bank, Eco bank, sterling bank, Diamond bank, Fidelity bank these are the commercial bank; for the micro finance bank, we have Micro credit, Infinity, Busack. There was an issue with fortis, I understand they had issues with accessing the fund. We have not disbursed to them yet, I know they are working towards meeting the conditions that will make them be able to access to the funds. We have not disbursed to them.

What are the mechanisms put in place to ensure that the proposals of the

subsidiary of the Development Bank of Nigeria and we have started working with World Bank to get the consultant to put the structure in place. It is our projection that towards the end of the year or early next year the credit guaranty should come on board.

How far have you gone with derisking the industry and providing capacity to PFIs? That is also on-going, if you recall we have a unit with the ministry of finance called the project implementation unit, the idea is to have different unit handling the capacity building issues so that we are not distracted from the core mandate of lending and they have sent out RFPs expression of interest for consultants to come in and the process – it’s on-going. Then the next stage is to ensure that the consultants are short listed and we identify which PFIs need this capacity building and allocate consultants to them. In the process of appraising the PFIs, some of them that do not meet our criteria, we identify ways to help them, that’s where the technical assistant comes in. for example if the problem is lack of a strong SME desk, we give assistance. The idea is that even if a firm does not qualify today, we work with them to make them qualify.

The overall objective is to create more access for the SMEs.

Tony Okpanachi

The Managing Director of Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), Mr Tony Okpanachi has said the bank is now ready and has enough funds to disburse to customers.

Okpanachi disclosed this during an interview with select journalists in Abuja. MATHEW DADIYA was there for The Daily Times. micro finance bank meets the criteria?

For us, we receive the exact request; check the tenure and the terms of condition offered before we disburse.

We disburse for on-lending not for them to hold on to the fund. We have a mechanism within our system that ensures that the fund hits the account of the end borrowers within 72 hours.

Beyond that, we follow up on them to see the impact made by the borrowing.

For example, we check if it had created more employment, has it increase turn over, has it increase revenue or enable them pay more taxes when necessary, we look out for all of these. So we don’t just create the lines for the banks alone, like I said we made available N5 million so we draw down as they bring the client so it is not just giving the money to the bank alone, that is what we do differently, we ensure that haven made the money available the banks bring clients.

Do you have uniform interest for borrowers?

No, it depends on the risk profile of the

institution. It is not flat for everybody as some based on assessment may be more risky. Knowing that we take the risk of the financial institutions, we assess them and rate them, so that brings about the risk premium for each.

Do you have an upper limit?

The upper limit is tied to the weight we attach to the risk of the rating, there is a minimum criteria you must reach for you to come on the DBN rating, depend on the institution risk profile.

For our rating we have a model which is a bit complicated due to the many factors in our rating. The difference from our rating may not be more than 100-200 basis points depending on the risk profile. The upper limit is a function of the risk premium, for PFIs who are below investment grade is 1.5 with reference to the market rate.

In your model, you talked about risk sharing, have you started that?

We have not started the risk sharing, though we have gotten the regulation approval to set it up, it’s going to be a

Have you seen any reason for you to go to the market to raise some funds?

No, from the funding we have now we can still move for the next 2years. We can only consider going to the market in two years from now depending on the market situation. But where we are now, with the unburden of the PFIs; we are not going to see uptake of the loans. So it is at that point that we will, but I think we have a funding that will take us in the 1-2 years.

How much is available to you now?

There are some information that we

‘

We disburse for onlending not for them to hold on to the fund.

We have a mechanism within our system that ensures that the fund hits the account of the end borrowers within 72 hours

,

The Law

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

‘NASS’ polls sequence nullity, unconstitutional’

President, Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa

CJN Walter Onnoghen

In the Federal High Court of Nigeria in the Abuja Judicial Division Holden at Abuja on Wednesday, The 25th Day of April, 2018 by Justice Ahmed R. Mohammed.

Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/232/2018 Between Accord.................

And

Plaintiff

}

1. National Assembly 2. Attorney General of the Federation.

3. Independent National Electoral Commission.

Defendants

JUDGMENT The facts of this suit are simple and straight forward . The 3rd defendant , being the body constitutionally given the responsibility if conducting elections in Nigeria, in preparation for the 2019 General Elections , released exhibit 2 attached to the plaintiff’s originating summons, tagged “ INEC TIME TABLE AND SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES FOR 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS” on the 19 day of January ,2018 in exercise of it’s powers under sections 96,116, 132 and 178 as well as paragraph 15 of part 1 of the 3rd schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) As can gleaned from the said exhibit 2. the presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on 16th February , 2019 while the Governorship and House of Assembly elections will be held on the 2nd March, 2019.

Subsequently, the 1st Defendant passed exhibit 1, Electoral Act (amendment) Bill,2018 also attached to the plaintiff’s suit. The said Bill was then transmitted to the President for his assent .

The Bill as depicted in exhibit 1 purportedly reverse the sequence if the elections.The President then withheld his assent to the Bill transmitted to him by the 1st defendant .

Apparently anticipating that the 1st Defendant might after 30 days of the transmission of the Bill to the President override the President’s veto, the plaintiff instituted this action challenging the validity of the Bill after the 3rd Defendant had issued exhibit 2 ( INEC elections times table). The plaintiff is patently challenging Section 25(1) of the Bill which reversed the sequence of the 2019 General Elections alleging that , the 1st Defendant, by passing the said Bill, had interfered with the constitutional powers of the 3rd Defendant.

The plaintiff vide it’s originating summons dated and filed on 7/3/18 prays the Court to determine nine issues viz: 1. Having regard to the combined provisions of Sections 79,116,118,132,153,160(1) and 178 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, read together with paragraph 15(a) of the Third Schedule to the same Constitution, whether the 3rd Defendant is not the only institution or body constitutionally vested with the powers and vires to organise, undertake and supervise elections to the offices of the President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Governor and Deputy Governor of a State, membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each state of the Federation, including fixing the sequence and dates of the elections to the said offices.

2. Considering the combined provisions of Sections 79,116,118,132,153,160(1) and 178 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, read together with paragraph 15(a) of the Third Schedule to the same Constitution, whether the 1st Defendant possesses the powers and vires to propose any Bill or pass any Bill into an Act which directs or purports to direct ,mandates or purports to mandate, dictates to or purports to dictate to the 3rd Defendant to follow a particular sequence in the organization and conduct of elections to the offices of the President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Governor and Deputy Governor of a State, membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each State of the Federation.

3.Having regards to the provision of Section 1(3) of the Constitution, read together with Section 4 of the same Constitution, whether the legislative powers vested in the 1st Defendant permit or empower it to make any law or pass any Bill into an Act which derogates from the specific and clear provisions of the Constitution, vesting in the 3rd Defendant the duties,powers and vires to organise conduct ,undertake and supervise elections to the offices of the the President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Governor and

Justice Ahmed Mohammed

Deputy Governor of a State, membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each State of the Federation?

4. Having regard to the combined provisions of Sections 79,116,118,132,153,160(1) and 178 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, read together with paragraph 15(a) of the Third Schedule to the same Constitution, whether the 3rd Defendant can organise, undertake and supervise the 2019 General Elections into the offices of the President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Governor and Deputy Governor of a State, membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each State of the Federation,otherwise than as provided and mandated by the clear provisions of the Constitution?

5. Whether by the combined provisions of Section 153(f) and item 15(a)of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999( as amended), the order or sequence of holding a general election is not already prescribed such that election to the offices of President, Vice President should come first and elections to other offices should follow in the said prescribed order?

(iii) The present / current President, Vice President ,Governor and Deputy Governors of all States of the Federation (except Adamawa, Bayelsa,Kogi,Edo,Ondo,Ekiti and Osun States ) came into office on 29th day of Mày, 2015 and their tenure will expire on 28th of May , 2019.

The amendment to the Electoral Act, 2010 ( introducing a new clause 25) just passed by the National Assembly which prescribed the sequence/or in which the general elections into the offices of the offices of President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Governor and Deputy Governor of a State, membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each State of the Federation should take place is not in conflict ,or has not interfered or curtailed the power, right and discretion of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) generally or in particular in respect of the schedule or sequence of 2019 general election?

9. In the view of the clear and mandatory provision of Section 1(3) of the Constitution: (i) Whether, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria acting or purportedly acting under Section 58(3) and (4) of the Constitution, has the power or discretion to assent to any Bill passed by the 1st Defendant in breach of violation if any provision of the Constitution? or (ii) Whether the 1st Defendant ,acting or purportedly acting under or pursuant to Section 58 (5) of the Constitution, has the power or vires to pass, into an Act ,any Bill passed by it which is inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution, and on which the President withholds his assent.

Consequent upon the above issues, the plaintiff seeks eleven reliefs as follows: 1. A declaration that the 3rd Defendant is the only body and or institutions constitutionally vested with the powers,vires and duties to organise ,undertake and supervise elections to the offices of the President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Governor and Deputy Governor of a State, membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each State of the Federation, including fixing or assigning dates for the said elections and the sequence of same.

2. A declaration that the legislative powers vested in the 1st Defendant by the Constitution do not empower or imbue it with the right, liberty or authority to pass or purport to pass any Bill into Law which attempts to interfere with or undermine the independence of the 3rd Defendant as guaranteed by the content ,spirit and tenor of the Constitution.

3. A declaration that the legislative powers vested in the 1st Defendant by the Constitution did not empower or imbue it with the right, liberty or authority to control or dictate to the 3rd Defendant, the way and manner it should organise, undertake and supervise elections to the offices of President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Governor and Deputy Governor of a State, membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each State of the Federation, including fixing the sequence and dates of the elections into the said offices.

4. A declaration that the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2018 passed by the 1st Defendant, particularly clause 25 thereof which directs, commends and mandates the 3rd Defendant to follow a particular sequence of election into the offices of President and Vice

TIMES LAW REPORT

6. Whether having regard to the exercise by the 3rd Defendant of its power and in furtherance of its function and duty to organise undertake and supervise all elections to the offices of President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Governor and Deputy Governor of a State, membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each State of the Federation as prescribed by Sections 76 (1), 116(1), 132(1), 153(1)(f) and 178(1) and Section 25, 30 of the Electoral Act 2010 and having come out with or announced a schedule or time table for 2019 general election,the 1st defendant can later make a law to re-order or prescribe a schedule inconsistent with the schedule or order earlier on made by 3rd Defendant under legislations which were at the time of the exercise valid and extant.

7. Whether in any event the amendment to the Electoral Act, 2010( introducing a new clause 25) just passed by the National Assembly which prescribes the sequence/ or in which the general elections to the offices of President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Governor and Deputy Governor of a State, membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each State of the Federation should take place ,coming as it were after the 3rd defendant had released or published it time table and order of election into the offices aforesaid can apply to 2019 general election?

8. Whether, having regard to the facts that (i) Provisions of Sections 76(2),116(2),132(2) and 178(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which mandatorily prescribes the holding of elections to the various elective offices of National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly,President, Vice President, State Governors and Deputy Governors, to be held on a date not earlier than One Hundred Fifty days and not later than Thirty days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office. (ii) The current National Assembly and various State House of Assembly were constituted on 9th of June, 2015 and their tenures will expire and stand dissolved on the 8th of June, 2019 and

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‘NASS’ polls sequence nullity, unconstitutional’ f. The Honourable Court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the originating summons against the 1st Defendant given the facts that the principal main relief sought is hypothetical and academic. g. That this instant suit amounts to a flagrant abuse of judicial process.

In this preliminary objection, the 1st Defendant formulated a lone issue for determination viz: “Whether the grounds of the preliminary objection and the particulars in opposition to the plaintiff’s originating summons demonstrably showed that all the reliefs sought in the instant originating summons are not justiciable and are manifestly incompetent, thereby ousting the jurisdiction of this Court”?

AGF, Abubakar Malami

Continued from previous page President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Governor and Deputy Governor of a State, membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each State of the Federation as provided in the said amendment, is unconstitutional ,illegal, ultra vires ,null and void,and of no effect whatsoever.

5. A declaration that the 3rd Defendant is under a duty to organise ,undertake and supervise the 2019 general elections into the offices of President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Governor and Deputy Governor of a State, membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each State of the Federation including announcing the sequence of the said elections only as dictated and mandated by the clear provisions of the Constitution and not in any other way or manner ,particularly as dictated or mandated by the 1st Defendant in clause 25 of the Electoral Act Bill ,2018.

6. A declaration that by Section 153 (1)(f) and item 15(a) of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),the order or sequence of holding the general election is already prescribed such that election to the offices of President and Vice President come first ,while elections to other offices follows in the said prescribed order.

7. A declaration that having regard to the exercise by 3rd Defendant of its constitutional power(s) and in furtherance of its function and duty to organise, undertake and supervise all elections to the offices of President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Governor and Deputy Governor of a State, membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each State of the Federation as prescribed by Sections 76(1), 116(1), 132(1), 153(1)(f) and 178(1) and Sections 25 and 30 of the Electoral Act, 2010 and having come out with or announce a schedule or time table for 2019 general election, the 1st Defendant can not subsequently make a law to re-order or prescribe a sequence/schedule inconsistent with the schedule or order earlier made by the 3rd Defendant.

8. A declaration that the amendment to the Electoral Act, 2010 just passed by the National Assembly prescribing the sequence or order in which elections to the office of President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Governor and Deputy Governor of a State, membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each State of the Federation should take place, coming as it were after the 3rd Defendant had released or published its times table and order of election into the offices aforesaid can not apply to 2019 general elections.

9. A declaration that having regard to the facts that the (i) Provisions of Sections 76(2),116(2),132(2) and 178(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 ( as amended) which mandatorily prescribes the holding of elections to the various elective offices of National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly ,President, Vice President, State Governors, Deputy Governors, to be held on a date not earlier than One Hundred and Fifty days and not later than earlier than Thirty days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office. (ii) The current National Assembly and various State Houses of Assembly were constituted on 9th of June, 2015 and their tenures will expire and stand dissolved on the 8th of June, 2019 and (iii)The present / current President, Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors of all States of the Federation ( except Anambra, Bayelsa, Kogi, Edo ,Ondo , Ekiti and Osun States)came into office on 29th day of May, 2015 and their tenure will expire on 28th day of May,2019.

The amendment to the Electoral Act, 2010 ( introducing a new Clause 25) just passed by the National Assembly which prescribed the sequence/or in which the general elections into the offices of President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Governor and Deputy Governor of a State, membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly of each State of the Federation should take place is not in conflict ,or has not interfered or curtailed the power ,right and discretion of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), generally and in particular, in respect of the schedule or sequence of 2019 general election.

10. An order setting aside clause 25 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2018.

11. An order of perpetual injunction restraining (i) The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, represented by the 2nd Defendant from assenting to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2018 ,as passed by the 1st Defendant. (ii) The 1st Defendant from passing into Law by a two - thirds majority or majority at all, the said Bill as already passed by it.

The ordinating summons is supported by two affidavits deposed to by the plaintiff’s chairman and the 2nd by one Maxwell Mbugdum the National Legal Adviser of the plaintiff.

Preliminary Objection 1st Defendant filed preliminary objection challenged the competence of the suit, the locus standi of the plaintiff that was predicated on seven grounds to wit: a. This instant suit is not justiciable on the ground that this Honourable Court lacks the requisite jurisdiction and vires to entertain it. b. That the plaintiff lacks the locus standi to institute this instant action. c. That the Originating Summons as presently constituted discloses no reasonable cause of action against the 1st Defendant. d. That the honourable Court lacks the requisite jurisdiction to entertain this instant suit as presently constituted as the necessary parties for the effective and effectual determination of this suit are not before the court this court. e. The action is not cognizable by the Court because it is asking Honourable Court to determine political questions.

ARGUMENTS While arguing the lone issue, the 1st Defendant senior Counsel submitted that this court lacks the requisite jurisdiction to hear and determine the plaintiff’s suit. He state that from questions, two, three, seven ,eight, reliefs two, four, eight ,nine, ten, and eleven of the originating summons and paragraphs 18, 19,and 33 of the supporting affidavit ,what the plaintiff is seeking to challenge is a Bill not an Act of the 1st Defendant. Relying on the case of A.G. Bendel State vs.

A.G. Federation. Supra HE submitted until a Bill metamorphoses into a law ,the present suit which challenges the Bill and not a law is premature.

Senior counsel for the 1st Defendant further relying on the case of Hon. Obi Akejule & 5 ors vs. Delta State Govt Supra submitted that a Bill is not more than an intent on the part of the legislature, until assented to by the Governor or sent back to the legislature for approval by 2/3 majority. 1st Defendant Counsel cited the provisions of Sections 1(3), 4(5), and 4(8) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and submitted that the jurisdiction of the superior Courts in determining the constitutionality of any law does not extend to inchoate processes,such as Bills, motions and other legislative processes that are yet to become law. Counsel submitted that in both the questions and reliefs ,the plaintiff is challenging the constitutionality or competence of a Bill passed by the National Assembly which is yet to become law. It is further submission while reiterating the independence of the legislature, in the exercise of legislature powers, that if there is any infraction, the Court’s would declare any legislation, passed pursuant to it, unconstitutional and invalid . In a nutshell, learned senior counsel for the 1st Defendant is of the opinion that the proceedings of the legislature before culminating into an Act is the internal affairs of the legislature which the Courts cannot interfere with.

While submitting that exhibit 1 attached to the originating summons is still a Bill, senior counsel for the 1st Defendant submitted that there are two instances in which our Courts can interfere in the exercise of the 1st Defendant legislature powers,namely; a. When the procedure undertaken by the National Assembly is unconstitutional: and b. when the Act passed by the National Assembly infringes on the Constitution.

Learned senior counsel concluded that none of the above listed two events occurred before the plaintiff rushed to Court and therefore submitted that since the plaintiff is not challenging the procedure adopted by the National Assembly in making exhibit 1, this suit is premature. On this issue, senior counsel contended that it is the responsibility of the 1st Defendant to make laws and to amend them and that in doing that , the Court will lack jurisdiction to intervene unless and until the proposed amendment becomes law.

He cited Amoshima vs.State2011, All FWLR Part 597, 601 at 614 paragraphs E-F. On the issue of locus standi to institute this action, learned senior counsel for the 1st Defendant stated that the plaintiff is challenging the insertion of Section 25 in the Amendment Bill 2018, which seeks to alter the sequence of election as published by the 3rd Defendant (INEC). Counsel submitted that since the said amendment relates to the general interest of Nigerians and not to the plaintiff and it’s members alone, the the plaintiff , to succeed in stopping the 1st Defendant, must disclosed sufficient legal interest in the subject matter and how it’s interest has been adversely affected or threatened.

In the counsel opinion the court should look at the originating summons in determining the issue of locus standi.

Specifically, the plaintiff has to show it’s locus standi by demonstrating the following; a. Sufficient legal interest that is peculiar to the plaintiff and which interest is directly violated or threatened by the application to them of these laws: b.The injury occasioned or threatened to their interest or legal right in consequence of the application to them of the laws and C. Their entitlement to institute this case by showing that the interest they sought to protect and the injury they suffered surpassed that of any other Nigerian. He cited ADESANYA VS. THE PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA. The plaintiff from the affidavit failed to establish it’s standing to institute this action.

Relying on the case of OLAWOYIN VS. A.G. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA supra ,counsel submitted that the plaintiff has to establish that the law which it challenges is unconstitutional, if at all, it is predicated on a particular law.

On the preliminary objection that the suit is academic, counsel repeated the submission that what is in contention in this suit is challenge to a Bill not an Act. On the objection that the suit is a fragrant abuse of the judicial process. He submitted that the filing of the suit which seeks to challenge interferes with functions of another arm of government undoubtedly amounts to an abuse of judicial when the National Assembly is at the process of enacting the law. In support of this contention the counsel relied on the case of Abubakar VS BEBEJI OIL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS LIMITED supra.

1st claims that the President is necessary party to the suit .He argued that since the President would be affected by the outcome of the suit, he is a necessary party that ought to be joined. Learned

senior counsel referred to question nine for determination and relief eleven. The counsel relied on the case Fayemi vs Oni supra and submitted that the court will not make an order that will affect the interest or right of a person that is not a party to the case and who was never heard in the matter. Counsel further submitted that since it is the discretion of the President to assent to the Bill that is being challenged he is a necessary that ought to have being joined and that the joinder issue .That the joinder of 2nd defendant AGF is not an excuse for not joining the president.

Responding to the preliminary objection, the plaintiff relied on the case of A.G. Bendel State Vs A.G. Federation. Supra which the 1st Defendant counsel also relied on.

Plaintiff senior counsel submitted that from exhibit 1. the Bill has already been passed and that as the time the Clerk of the National Assembly authenticated the Bill, the National Assembly had completed it’s duty notwithstanding the provision of Section 58 (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). Plaintiff counsel surmised that it is misleading to submitted that a party can only challenge an Act of the National Assembly, if and only if the President has withheld his assent and the National Assembly has vetoed it by 2/3 majority.

While citing the provisions of Section 58(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended), learned senior counsel for plaintiff submitted that a Bill must first and foremost be introduced and eventually transmitted to the President for assent.

Similarly relying on Section 58 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) counsel submitted that the powers of the National Assembly shall be exercised by Bill passed by both Houses of the National Assembly.

Counsel for the plaintiff further submitted that in any given situation where there is a breach if legislative powers in making a Bill the court can look into the breach. Counsel for the plaintiff further submitted that since the National Assembly has passed exhibit 1 and forwarded same to the President for his assent , the National Assembly has discharged it’s functions in consequence of which he further submitted that the present action is not premature. Relying on A.G.BENDEL vs A.G. FEDERATION counsel submitted that Legislative Powers commenced when a Bill is introduced in either Houses of the National Assembly and end when the Bill is submitted to the President for his assent, consequently at the time the action was instituted ,the National Assembly had concluded it’s duty in so far as the Bill was concerned. Counsel submitted that until the Bill come back the National Assembly has no role to play on the Bill again.

Relying on ADEYEMI vs OPEYORI supra .and A.G FEDERATION vs A.G. LAGOS STATE supra. Counsel submitted that it is plaintiff’s case that determined the jurisdiction of the Court.

Still on the issue of justiciability of the plaintiff claim, Counsel for plaintiff cited the case of A.G. FEDERATION vs NATIONAL ASSEMBLY wherein a preservative order was issued by the Supreme Court restraining the National Assembly from passing by 2/3 majority, the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill 2015 after the then president Goodluck Jonathan had vetoed the Bill by virtue of Section 58(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 on the ground that the National Assembly did not comply with the mandatory requirements and procedures fore it’s passage. The Attorney General of the Federation approached the Supreme Court and sought for nullification of certain provisions of the Alteration Act, 2015 (then a Bill) already passed by the National Assembly.

Counsel to the plaintiff submitted that 1st Defendant senior Counsel while objecting to jurisdiction of the Court overlooked the scope and extent of Section 4 (8) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 1999 as it relates to the powers vested in the Courts and eventually drew Court attention to the fact that there is no equivalent provision of Section 4(8) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 in the Constitution of foreign countries which the 1st defendant relied on and to that extent the authorities cited are irrelevant to the present case.

Learned senior counsel for the plaintiff cited A.G. BENDEL STATE vs A.G. FEDERATION supra to demonstrate the interpretation of foreign constitutions which never had similar provisions as Section 4 (8) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 are irrelevant and referred copiously to pages 98,100 and 101 of the report per EsoJSC .

On the issue locus standi , counsel to the plaintiff submitted that the plaintiff in both affidavits deposed to the fact that it is a registered political party in Nigeria that it interest had aptly and extensively captured,which depositions have not be denied. Counsel for the Plaintiff referred to exhibit 3 ( the Constitution of the plaintiff ) and submitted that from Section 137 (1)(b)of the Electoral Act,the Locus standi of the plaintiff is automatically conferred on it.

It is senior Counsel submission that where there is a breach of the Constitution, every citizen would have a right of access to Court to challenge such a breach, relying on the case of ABRAHAM ADESANYA vs PRESIDENT FEDERAL REPUBLIC (1981)5 SC page 10 per Fatayi Williams CJN. On the ground of the preliminary objection that the suit is academic, counsel for the plaintiff submitted that there is a live issue in the matter. He submitted that constitutional issues can not and can never be termed as academic issues and referred the Court to the cases of AMAECHI vs OMEHIA (2013) 16 NWLR PART 1381 page 47 and also ARDO vs INEC (2017)13 NWLR PART 13 PART 1583, 450AT 477.

On the grounds of the preliminary objection that the suit amounts to an abuse of judicial process , plaintiff counsel adopted his submissions on the justiciability of the plaintiff case and further referred to the case ARDO vs. INEC supra .On the non- joinder of the President, which the 1st Defendant submitted has robbed the Court of jurisdiction, being a necessary party that has not been joined, learned counsel for the plaintiff referred the Court to Section 150 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

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‘NASS’ polls sequence nullity, unconstitutional’ Continued from previous page 1999 which created the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and submitted that the Constitution has made the Attorney General the Chief Law Officer of the Federation. Counsel relying on the case of ENGINEERING WORKS LTD vs DENAP(2011) 18 NWLR PART 746 .page 726 counsel submitted that the Attorney General of the Federation acted on behalf of the Federal Government.

The 2nd defendant did not react to the 1st defendant preliminary objection. The 3 rd defendant reacted to the 1st Defendant’s preliminary objection and distilled a lone issue for determination, to wit: “Whether putting into cognisance the facts and circumstances of this case ,vis-a-vis the combined provisions of Sections 76.,166,118,132,160(1)and 278 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria1999 (as amended), and paragraph 15 (a) of the third schedule to the constitution, this court is not properly clothed with jurisdiction to enable it adjudicate on same?”

The 3rd Defendant counsel submitted that that the crux of this suit is seeking to preserve the Constitutionally bestowed powers of the 3rd Defendant to conduct, organise and supervise elections. The suit is a live .The suit called on the Court to interpret the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria with respect to whether 1st Defendant or and not the 3rd Defendant has the power under the Constitution to determine the schedule and sequence of elections in Nigeria , particularly, the 2019 elections.

The counsel submitted that issues relating to interpretation of the Constitution as in the instant case, can not be dead, academic, speculative or hypothetical.

The counsel submitted that plaintiff has the locus standi to institute this action.

RULING ON PRELIMINARY OBJECTION. The sole issue formulated by the 1st Defendant was adopted by the court for easy if reference in determining the preliminary objection.

In the argument ,senior counsel for the 1st Defendant submitted that the preliminary objection is brought pursuant Section 6(6)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, order 29 rules 1-4 of the Federal High Court Rules 2009 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the Court and by the preliminary objection, the 1st Defendant praying the court for an order dismissing this suit in limine.

Having considered and dissected the submission of all the learned senior counsel on the issue of the justiciability of this suit, I am of inclined to accept and be bound by the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of A.G. BENDEL vs A.G.FEDERATION supra cited by both the plaintiff and the 1st Defendant’s counsel. In particular ,I find the dictum of Eso JSC at page 96-97 of the report ,relevant . His Lordship stated thus: “If, in the Process of the exercise of this legislative power by the National Assembly ,there is such a Constitutional defect as to lead to an interpretation to the effect that a Bill was not passed according to law ,that is , it does not follow the procedure laid down under the constitution for the passing of a Bill, then the Bill which has passed through such exercise is null and void. What the President assents to ,in exercise of his executive powers within the legislative process is a nullity.

The Supreme Court in exercise of its Jurisdiction under Section 212, when there is a dispute ,could adjudicate on the issue. And this constitute the limitation and the sovereignty of the legislature.”

I am of the opinion, that since the plaintiff is challenging the validity of the passage of exhibit 1. I found the above pronouncement relevant and accordingly hold that the plaintiffs suit is justiciable. I am fortified by the dicta of Eso Jsc at page 98, 100 and 101 of the case of A.G. BENDEL vs A.G. FEDERATION supra. See also the case of AkOMOLAFE vs SPEAKER ONDO HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY supra.

I am of the further opinion that the pronouncement of Eso Jsc in the A.G. BENDEL Vs. A.G. FEDERATION’s case has put to rest any argument to the effect that a Bill cannot be challenged in a court until it has been passed into a law.

On issue of locus standi, I observed from the affidavit evidence proffered by the plaintiff that the plaintiff is a registered political party in Nigeria ,which has since registration, been participating in elections into various political offices in Nigeria.

From the paragraphs of the affidavits the judge ruled he was left in no doubt as to the locus standi of the plaintiff to institute this action.

The judge notice to from the originating summons particularly the questions for determination and the reliefs sought that the plaintiff is seeking for interpretation of certain provisions of the constitution .

To that extent , he is of opinion that the plaintiff has the requisite locus standi to sue. He stated that, however, if he is wrong in this holding , he find solace in the decision of the apex Court in the case of ABRAHAM ADESANYA vs PRESIDENT FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA and FAWEHINMI vs AKILU both supra, which are

to the effect that where the plaintiff’ s suit seeks the interpretation of certain provisions of the Constitution, such a plaintiff has the requisite locus standi to institute the action.

On the contention of the defendant that since the plaintiff’s suit is challenging a Bill as opposed to an Act, the plaintiff’s amounts to, an academic exercise. The observed that on the decisions in the case of PLATEAU STATE OF NIGERIA vs A.G. FEDERATION, AMAECHI Vs OMEHIA supra and the recent case of ARDO Vs INEC (2017)13 NWLR PART 1583 .450at 477 the apex Court held BA’s follows; “ An issue relating to the interpretation of a living constitution cannot be dead, academic or hypothetical. Thus where the interpretation of a constitutional provision is in issue ,they are alive and can never be pronounced dead ,otiose, moot, academic or hypothetical”.

I according refused to accept the contention of the 1st defendant that the plaintiff’s suit is academic.

On the contention of the 1st Defendant that the plaintiff’s suit amounts to an abuse of the court’s process, having earlier held in this judgment that the plaintiff’s suit seeks the interpretation of certain provisions of the Constitution, it cannot be described as an abuse of Court process. This is because abuse of the Court process connotes the improper use of legal process to the irritation and annoyance of the other party. I am of the view that an action that seeks the interpretation of certain provisions of the Constitution cannot be said to be an abuse if the Court process capable of annoying or irritating the other party.

On the issue of non-joinder of the President to the instant suit, The judge said he was guided and bound by the decisions of the Supreme Court in the cases of ENGINEERING WORKS LTD Vs DENAP LTD and A.G. OGUN ,BENDEL & BORNO vs A.G. FEDERATION, (1982) 1-2. Sc page 13 at page 86 both supra. to the effect that an action against the President in the exercise if his constitutional powers may be instituted against the Attorney General of the Federation, without necessary joining the President as a party to the said suit. It is my holding therefore that non- joinder of the president in this suit,when the Attorney General of the Federation had been sued, is not a ground for the proposition that the suit is for non- joinder.

In consequence of the above findings , I find no merit in the 1 st defendant’ s notice of preliminary objection dated and filed on 23/318.

Now on the substantive suit. Both the 2nd and 3rd defendants (Attorney General of the Federation and INEC) respectively did not oppose the plaintiff’s claim.

JUDGEMENT ON THE SUBSTANTIVE SUIT After perusing all the processes filed including the issues formulated by the parties for determination , Iam of the firm opinion that the following lone issue calls for determination: “Whether the 1st Defendant was justified in law in passing the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill ,2018 ,which Bill sought to reverse the sequence or Time Table for the 2019General Election already issued and published by the 3rd Defendant.”

Plaintiff argument In arguing the 9 questions formulated which learned senior counsel for the Plaintiff argued together, learned senior counsel after reviewing the Constitutional provisions that he seeks interpretation of , he admitted that by the provision of Section 76(1) of the 1999 constitution, when it come to the issue of date and sequence of elections to the National Assembly including Presidential, Governorship and Houses of Assembly of a State ,it is the 3rd Defendant that is vested with the necessary authority to appoint a date. Learned senior counsel for the Plaintiff further submitted that by the provisions of Section 132,178, 76, of the 1999 Constitution, it is the 3rd defendant that is empowered to fix the sequence of the elections to various offices.

Learned senior counsel for the plaintiff further informed the Court that by the provisions of Sections 132,178, 76, of the Constitution, it is only the 3rd defendant that can organise, undertake and supervise all elections to the offices of the President ,Vice President , Governor and Deputy Governor of a state, National Assembly and House of Assembly of a State. On what it means to orgainse, undertake and supervise elections, learned senior counsel for the plaintiff referred the court to the case of NATIONAL ASSEMBLY vs. PRESIDENT (2003)9 NWLR PART 824 , 104 at 143 paragraph H. where Oduyemi JCA held as follows: “ I am of the view that the above provisions of the Constitution have given unfettered discretion in the 3rd defendant on the choice of a date or dates for the election/elections to the offices concerned.”

While submitting that the Constitution by virtue of Section 1(3) is supreme learned senior counsel for the plaintiff cited the following cases : a. TANKO vs. STATE 4 NWLR 1131, 430 , at 462 paragraphs C - F. b. BELLO vs A.G. OYO STATE (1986)5 NWLR PART 45 , 828 at 851 and c. N.U.E.E. vs BPE (2010) 7 NWLR PART 1194,538 Reacting to the above submission ,learned senior counsel for the 1st Defendant submitted that the

Senate President, Saraki

1st defendant has been given power under the 1999 Constitution to make law over and concerning elections in Nigeria and that there is no limitation to be implied in the circumstances. Counsel for the 1st defendant further submitted that unlike under original constitutional provisions the 3rd Defendant no longer enjoys the freedom to fix dates for elections at will as it has to do so in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act. On the other hand ,learned senior counsel for the 2nd and 3rd Defendants are ad idem as to powers of the 3rd Defendant to organize, undertake and supervise elections to the various offices mentioned above .That same goes for the supremacy of the Constitution which even the 1st Defendant does not contest.

I am persuaded by the submission of the learned counsel for the Plaintiff that it is the sole responsibility of the 3rd Defendant to conduct elections into the various offices mentioned above and further that in doing so ,the 3rd defendant has the powers of determining the sequence of elections including fixing dates for same. On this holding ,I place reliance on the case of NATIONAL ASSEMBLY vs PRESIDENT supra In his submission on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 senior counsel for the plaintiff noted that the 1st defendant ,while attempting to amend the Electoral Act 2010 inserted a new Section 25 herein by imposing on the 3rd defendant a sequence of election to the various offices listed therein. Senior counsel for the plaintiff noted further that while in Section 1 it fixes the sequence of elections, in sub- section 2, the 1st Defendant purports to empower the 3rd defendant to fix dates for the election .

Counsel submitted that the clear wordings of paragraph 15 (a) of the third schedule to the Constitution had been breached. Counsel further submitted that all the bodies created by section 153 of the Constitution including the 3rd Defendant derive their powers, duties and function s, among others from the third schedule to the Constitution.

While reacting to the submission of the senior counsel for the plaintiff, on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 , learned senior counsel for the 1st Defendant submitted that a combined reading of sections 4(1) and( 2) and the amended versions of sections 76(1) and (2) , 116(1)and (2), 132 (1) and (2), 178 (1) and (2) and item 22 on the exclusive list , the Bill of the 1st Defendant is constitutional. It was further submitted by senior counsel for the 1st Defendant has the power to fix the date for elections, the 3rd Defendant must have undoubtedly been acting in accordance with the Electoral Act which the 1st Defendant is in the process of making.

I must say that I find the latter part of senior counsel’ s submission rather nebulous How could the 3rd defendant have fixed the dates of the 2019 General Elections and issued same pursuant to a Bill which was yet to be passed ? How could the 3rd defendant have know the intention of the 1st defendant at the time it fixed the dates for 2019 General elections? If the 1st defendant wants the Court to believe that the 3rd Defendant was fixing the dates in accordance with the Bill that was yet to be passed, why then the discrepancy in the sequence of the elections?

I am left in no doubt that in passing the Electoral Act ( Amendment) Bill, 2018 , the Defendant was in clear breach of the provisions of paragraph s15( a) of the third schedule to the 1999 constitution (as amended). In this regard, I find comfort in the interpretation of paragraph ,15(,a) of the third schedule to the ,1999 Constitution given in the case of N..D. P. vs INEC ( 2013) 6 NWLR PART 1350 ,392 at 419 to the effect that INEC ( 3rd Defendant in this case has the constitutional responsibility of organising and conducting and supervising an election and to that effect it can issue time table and it can also decide when election will hold.

Now since the 3rd Defendant had already fixed the dates and sequence for the 2019 General elections it is the inky body that can change the dates. The attempt made by the 1st Defendant in passing exhibit 1 after the 3rd Defendant had issued exhibit 2 ,is in clear and obvious breach of paragraph 15 (a) of the third schedule to the

1999/Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ( as amended) . I find the decision of the Court of Appeal in Musa vs INEC (2002) 11 NWLR PART 778 paragraph c.

Where Musdapher JSC (as then was ) held that: “In addition aright conferred by the Constitution cannot be taken away by any other statutory provision except the Constitution itself and any law so made will be void to the extent of its inconsistency.”

Flowing from above pronouncement, the power given to the 3rd Defendant in paragraph 15(a) of the third schedule to the Constitution to organise and conduct elections in Nigeria including fixing dates at such election cannot be taken away by the amendment purportedly done by the 1st defendant in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

On the power of the Court to set aside or nullify any Act of the 1st defendant that contravenes the Constitution, learned senior counsel for the plaintiff submitted that by virtue of Section 6(6) of the Constitution this Court can set aside any act of the 1st Defendant in the firm of either a Bill or an Act. Learned senior counsel for the plaintiff called in aid the decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the case of A.G. DENDEL STATE vs A.G. FEDERATION (1979) 12 N.S.C.C. 314 where the Supreme Court declared as null and void and of no effect whatsoever a money Bill (as opposed to an Act) presented to it by the President after making certain amendments which are unconstitutional. Learned Senior counsel for the plaintiff also referred the Court to the case of A.G.ABIA STATE vs A.G. FEDERATION(2002) 6 NWLR PART 763, 264 at 489 paragraph A-B and INEC vs MUSA (2002) 3 NWLR PART 806, 72 at 199 paragraphs E - G. The reaction of the 1st Defendant to the above submission is that the Plaintiff can only challenge an Act of the 1st Defendant and not a Bill which is yet to mature into law and that to that extent, this suit is incompetent.

I am of the opinion, just as submitted by the senior counsel for the Plaintiff that once the 1st Defendant has passed a Bill, its job is complete save in circumstances provided for in Section 58(5) of the 1999 Constitution.

Relying on the case of A.G.BENDEL STATE vs A.G.FEDERATION supra ,I am inclined to refuse to be persuaded by any argument to the contrary.

On a different note, I observed that at the time the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018 was passed by the 1st Defendant ,the 3rd Defendant had already issued the Time Table and schedule of activities for the 2019 General Elections. In issuing the Time Table the 3rd Defendant was carrying out an executed function.

By trying to stop or reverse the decision of the 3rd Defendant ,the 1st Defendant was clearly in breach of the principle of separation of powers embodied in Section 4,5 and 6 of the Constitution. Furthermore ,the 1st defendant’s conduct ,being a breach of Section 1(3) of the 1999 Constitution, it follows therefore that Section 25 of the Electoral Act , ( Amendment) Bill, 2018 which is the Section that contravenes the Constitution is HEREBY DECLARED A NULLITY. According, I hereby resolve all the questions formulated in the originating summons in favour of the plaintiff .Consequently, I HEREBY GRANT reliefs 1- 10 , Relief 11 (ii) of the Plaintiff’s originating Summons is also granted .

I, however decline to grant 11(i) in the originating summons because the President has already refused to assent to the Bill.

Lawyers: Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, H.O Afolabi SAN with 15 other lawyers for Plaintiff.

J.B Daudu SAN, F.C.Ukala SAN, S.T.Hon SAN ,with 18 other lawyers for the First Defendant.

Abubakar Malami SAN, Oladipo Okpeseyi SAN , with four other lawyers for the Second Defendant.

Femi Falana SAN with four other lawyers for the Third Defendant.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Ensure strict enforcement of ACJA provisions A senior lawyer, Mr. Malachy Ugwummadu, in this interview with PETER FOWOYO, speaks on corruption, proliferation of arms by herdsmen, 2019 elections and other sundry issues.

Do you share the view that the looters’ list recently released by the Federal Government is selective and capable of diminishing its ability to fight corruption?

I think the PDP was too arrogant in challenging APC to go to town with the names. This is because a party that has officially come out in one breadth, to apologize for its misadventure, misdeeds and transgression, cannot in another breadth, begin to throw spanners in a glass house. As a lawyer, apparently the action of the government is subjudice, because those on the list are currently going through trial for alleged corruption. But, I think that in the eye of the law, those on the list have an option to raise it as a matter that is subjudice but more fundamentally, they can take out defamation action against the government. However, in the law of defamation, justification is a total defence. If the concerned PDP members decide to challenge government over its action and the government as it were has a water-tight evidence to back up its claims, the action will fall flat. However, the CDHR has challenged the government to move a step further from naming names and prosecute those involved, just as a former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, has just confessed his sins.

There is no other evidence stronger than confession. So, government should act by apprehending Mantu, so that he can tell us more about his exploits. However, I want to say that the APC government should look inward and balance this capacity to unearth corruption.

Those who indulge in corruption among its members should also be exposed because it is all about restoring the integrity of this country.

In whose interest is the on-going arms mopping exercise by the Federal Government when killer herdsmen who are maiming and killing innocent citizens with AK 47 and other sophisticated weapons are yet to be disarmed?

The first point to note is the reason behind the directive. I think it was borne out of the upsurge in the level of violence across the country. This is as a result of huge amount of arms in the hands of unauthorized people. Besides, I am sure that if disarming killer herdsmen is that simple, then senseless killings would have stopped. On this issue, I want to urge the Federal Government to show capacity as a government in charge of Nigeria for it to deal decisively with all acts of violence and criminality across the country.

Every tier of government responsible for the welfare and security of Nigerians, according to Section 14 (2) (b) of the Constitution must rise to the occasion and ensure that the use of arms by unauthorized individuals must come to an end. The Federal Government is in control of cohesive powers of Nigeria. Indeed, the very symbol of sovereignty of Nigeria lies with the military and in the might of the country.

So, if the Federal Government, particularly the Commander-in-Chief, does not have the capability to bring his weight to bear in this situation, then our integrity and sovereignty will be questioned.

As guaranteed by the Constitution, President Muhammadu Buhari is seeking reelection in 2019. Do you think he deserve to be re-elected considering his performance in office since 2015?

On this issue, my position as a Nigerian but drawing from my experience as a lawyer would be to interrogate Section 131 (1)-(4) of the Constitution. I then ask myself a humble question, is this man qualified? What the

Ugwummadu

Constitution requires of anyone who intends to contest for the office of the president is to establish that the individual is a Nigerian by birth. I don’t think this is in doubt. Secondly, it must be established that the person belongs to a political party which sponsored his candidature. We must also be able to establish that he has attained the age of 40. Lastly, he must be able to show that he has been educated up till at least a school certificate level. That was all that the Constitution requires. But given our experience with the governments we have had in the past, I want to advocate that in addition to these requirements by the Constitution, there should be a means of ascertaining the health status of whoever aspires to lead us at the executive cadre of government both at the state and federal level of governance. This will underscore the importance of improving on our heath sector. It will also emphasize the point that beyond the expertise and knowledge of the aspirant, we need to be certain that the person is also healthy. This is because the rigour of that office demands that the person in charge is very healthy otherwise the regular incidence of the person travelling abroad for medical treatment will continue. I have looked at the issue from the perspective of the law. This is to tell you that I have no reason to disagree with President Buhari who has declared his intention to seek re-election.

However, what the electorates considered is the performance ingredients and how far such a person has kept faith with earlier promises. When in 2015 that the promises of improvement on security, economy and graft war were made by the present administration, it was a response to the debilitating failure of the PDP government. To have approximated your leadership to the restoration of security, the

“

Nigerian people who reserved the sovereignty under Section 14 of the Constitution were able to judge and ask the question, are we better off today? In 2014, Boko Haram has gone beyond the North-East taking towns after towns and taking cities after local governments. They were fully established as far as Kogi state and advancing into the southern part of Nigeria.

Now, all of those were reversed but at a huge cost. This is in terms of the lives that were lost and the resources expended. But as the Buhari’s government was plugging the holes of Boko Haram insurgency, there were other forms of violence ranging from kidnapping to armed robbery and so on. This re-enforces the bigger reality that until we deal with the socioeconomic conditions that breeds this violence in the first place, we cannot but continue to harvest violence across the country.

Unfortunately, we have now gotten to the point where there is a balance of violence and aggression. Boko Haram now give the country conditions and we are also negotiating with them. They gave us conditions for the release of our girls that were abducted and we ensure they were met, including that they will have free passage. One of the consequences of this is that we are already establishing the rewarding aspect of violence in the mind of a violent prone youth. The message being passed is that if a violent prone youth is hardened enough, he can take the entire country hostage and blackmail it up to a point where he will be paid. As we speak, the entire female girls’ child schools in the entire North-East have been closed down.

It will take more than 10 years for as long as this war will continue for us to understand the implication of what has just happened.

This is because we are growing a generation where we are already foreclosing the capacity

Every tier of government responsible for the welfare and security of Nigerians, according to Section 14 (2) (b) of the Constitution must rise to the occasion and ensure that the use of arms by unauthorized individuals must come to an end

”

L3 The Law of a particular set of people from having education. If we link that with the economy, you will see that what determine the state of the economy are not the figures and data that the CBN reads out daily, but the capacity of Nigerians to be able to feed themselves. We all know the state of the Nigeria economy at the moment. We all understand that prior to the coming on board of this administration, the treasury was plundered, but the investiture that Nigerians had on Buhari’s government was partly to the effect that it will be able to reorganise and turn around our fortunes in such a way that we will not continue to lament. In essence, so far, it has not looked so good. As far as I am concerned, what Nigerians needed is not any person from the political class, we needed an alternative to the political class.

By political class, I was referring to all the political parties in the country. We needed an alternative not just in terms of ideology but in the area of governance which will be a departure from what the politicians have been offering us. Sadly, this is almost not achievable at the moment. This is because the real class that could upturn the ruling class as it were is supposed to be the middle class, but we don’t have it in this country and it was deliberate.

People were incapacitated and that is the challenge. However, the good news is that it is in the midst of this deprivation that the resentment will set in and when that happens, we will start experiencing what I described as ‘class suicide’. Only recently, we saw Ibrahim Mantu, confessing to his crimes. The beauty of what is happening today is that there are some young people who have decided to take the bull by the horn. Though the system as it is presently structured may not allow them to achieve their ambitions but they have started and their resolve will soon resonate across the country in the minds of people. I believed that a lot of things will soon conspire to make the impossibility possible.

What can you say about the anti-graft war of Buhari’s administration?

No doubt, we have seen very remarkable zeal on the part of government which has refused to be blackmailed by the legislature over the non-confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as the substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The man has shown serious zeal to fight corruption at the risk of everything, including his life. The legislature has been reluctant to consolidate on the anti-graft war of this government.

This can be seen in the light of executive bills which are meant to fortify the fight that are avoidably suffering at the National Assembly.

By and large, whereas we could see so much energy and desire, the way to measure the anti-corruption fight is to be able to ascertain the extent to which the crusade itself have been institutionalized. Such that in the absence of a Buhari and Magu, the campaign can still go on seamlessly. On that score, much is still left to be desired. When we exit this government, it will be difficult to find a kind of continuation except we institutionalized and have enough framework in place to deal with the challenges of fighting graft. However, there is no doubt that there has been an increase in the number of convicts and concluded cases, perhaps not as much as with the cases of politically exposed persons, than it is with cases involving corporate bodies and ordinary citizens.

Are you in support of the adoption of jury trial system as a way of addressing delays associated with high profile corruption cases?

If you look at the innovations introduced by the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, it was all aimed at the speedy dispensation of criminal justice. The law also targeted the beginning of criminal administration, which is the point of arrest. So, as it were, there are lots of innovations in the ACJA and as such adopting the jury trial system as far as I am concerned is unnecessary. It will be difficult for us to apply the jury system into a jurisdiction that is not properly configured to absorb it. So, I think we should focus more on the ACJA and ensure strict enforcement of its provisions.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Culture/Art

L5

L-R: Segun Olotu, founder and convener, TNC; 3 winners of the Canon & TNC Photography Mentorship Programme; Katie Simmonds, Canon Miraisha programme manager; Amy Anaiz, photographer & TNC ambassador, and Taiwo Adediran, Canon channel account manager, at the TNC18 conference in Lagos

TNC/Cannon pushing photography beyond conventional practice

As 3 young Nigerian photographers emerged winners at the mentorship programme

Chris Onuoha The Now Collectives Limited (TNC) and the global camera giants, Cannon last week engaged young Africans in a 2-day photography conference themed, “Africa’s biggest photography conference 2108: Bigger and better”.

The event held at the Four-point Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, is termed as the largest gathering of photographers, educators, entrepreneurs and young leaders in a conference initiative by TNC since 2016 and aimed at developing the creative and entrepreneurial culture in Africa beyond conventional practice.

“With the best in-class speaker line up that was on ground, invigorating open forum talks, general sessions mash-up, moments of inspiration, live shoot demonstrations, motivating mentorship, critic sessions, networking sessions and much more, our goal is to empower African photographers to create their own style of capturing awesome moments. TNC is an annual gathering for photographers to connect, share, learn with other colleagues in the industry, be inspired, enlightened and broaden their skills.” says Segun Olotu, CEO, TNC and award winning international photographer.

Whilst being driven by a core vision to empower, inspire and motivate creative professionals, the Now Collectives is focused on a mission to create a platform for learning, interaction, networking, mentoring and collaboration for the next generation

of photography icons. “Conference like this has been proven to birth skills, define careers and produce some of our industry icons,” Olotu added.

Seasoned professionals drawn from across the globe as speakers in the event comprises Kevin Ouma, Tom Saater, Andra & Marius Dragen, Sergio Kurhajec and TY Bello. Others include Keith Major, Sabina Mladin, Oluwatoyin David Ajayi and Segun Olotu, the converner and Chief Executive Officer, The Now Collectives. Not left out in the conference was the team from Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA), Katie Simmonds, Canon Miraisha programme manager, Amy Anaiz among others.

The Canon & TNC Photography Mentorship Programme, an endeavour geared towards fostering young and talented photographers at the beginning of their photographic careers in developing their skills in visual storytelling, comes as part of Canon’s collaboration with TNC, which has given a boost to the annual photography conference that debuted last year.

Announcing the mentees on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA), Katie Simmonds, Canon Miraisha programme manager, said the goal of the mentorship programme was to attempt to give the young photographers an all-round idea on how to run a photography project from start to finish with the end-game of having a body of work that can be exhibited, thereby helping to push their careers further.

Describing The Now Collectives as a platform which “showcases, celebrates and connects the rich and diverse industry” which Canon works in, Simmonds said it was a momentous occasion for Canon to join the photo and video community in celebrating the massive pool of creative talent across Africa.

“We stand here today affirming our commitment to this region, as partners of The Now Collectives. As the budding new generation of creatives meet here to be enlightened by all the wonderful speakers who have passed through the conference, who are broadening our mindsets, giving us new ways of thinking, and sharing technical skills, whilst enthusing your creative juices to take you to the next level, Canon is here to say that we see tremendous potential in Nigeria and we highly value our involvement in this growing market,” Simmonds said.

Three outstanding participants who excelled during the course of the mentorship programme were selected as winners based on their remarkable input and passion driven performances. They were Dauda Idris Abiola, Rebecca Nwose and Olasubomi Adeyemi got an EOS 1300D Canon Camera with EF-S 18-55mm & EF-S 50mm1.8 lens with camera bag and memory card each.

As part of the programme drawn to support the young photographers, three mentors were announced to guide the three mentees through a one-year journey.

Simmonds was joined by Taiwo Adediran,

Canon channel account manager, and Amy Anaiz, photographer & TNC ambassador, to announce the three mentees. They are Leke Alabi Isama, documentary photographer and filmmaker, Nyancho NwaNri, visual storyteller, photographer and filmmaker, and Segun Olotu, TNC founder and director, while David Ajayi was also mentioned as a dedicated business mentor to work with the mentees.

“The mentors will help to guide the mentees through researching and writing proposals and grants, through to advice and guidance when shooting, to making crucial edits and understanding print workflows,” Simmonds said.

In addition, each of the winners (mentees) will work with a mentor over the course of one year to develop ideas and concepts for a project that they will work on for the duration of the programme, and will also receive financial support towards their project. At the end of the one-year programme, each mentee will have a body of work that will be exhibited at TNC19.

Speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of the event, Segun Olotu described TNC18 as “great and successful”. “Last year was just a tip of the iceberg. This year has been huge.

We have had a lot of support; we have had a lot of feedback which we will be sharing out on our social media platforms soon. And also the collaboration between Canon and TNC has been great. We are looking forward to an even bigger and better TNC19,” Olotu said.

Culture/Art L6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 8, 2018

VISAUL ART (EXHIBITION)

Norbert Okpu breaks boundaries in new solo effort

By Chris Onuoha “To change my environment, I need to change from my end”, the artist declares during preview of the show saying his art is the starting point.

Okpu, who appears to have sympathy for leaders in the period of nationhood challenges shares his thoughts in Breaking Boundaries, a solo art exhibition opening on May 12, 2018 at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos. Okpu’s visual narrative of Breaking Boundaries raises issues about the limit of human capacity in leadership. With one of the works titled Uneasy Lies the Head, Okpu explains his sympathy for those who lead a complex nation such as Nigeria’s where ethno-religious textures cloud rational reasoning.

In referring to the work, Okpu who was passionate about the works in display said, “It is not easy to lead people. This work shows us to respect our leaders because they have so many things to think about”. Reasoning with him may be right but in reality, the artist fail to realise that leadership is not forced on anyone. And for any politician who offers himself to serve the people should be prepared for the uneasiness, and not the excuse.

From one work to another, Okpu’s visual narrative in leadership subject appears like some sermons by clerics. In fact, Nigerian clerics who incite their followers to engage in ethno-religious crisis just because of hatred against a particular head of government - either at state or federal level - have something to learn from Okpu. This much of peaceful advocacy the artist expresses in another work simply titled Love, a painting that coalesces aesthetics and other values.

“Love comes in different forms,” he explains.

“Whatever religion we share, we should tolerate other people’s belief”. He argues that “so many lives have been lost to religious intolerance”, advising that “if we love each other as ourselves, we won’t kills other people”.

Within the context of artistic creation, Breaking Boundaries also challenges Okpu to step up his style and technique. And there is something to sacrifice for what he describes as “going out of the established norms in creating art”. The art in him comes first before others’ satisfaction.

“Now, I have the confidence to work for myself

and not for galleries or collectors”. That sounds like a familiar saying among artists who profess escape from the grip of the piper that dictates the tune.

“There was a time I wanted to create a Jesus devoid of racial identity”, Okpu, an artist in his mid-career recalls recent experience. “I was advised against it on religious ground”. But in other clime, where that religious sentiment does not interfere in creative expression, Okpu would learn a lesson several years later. “Surprisingly, a Japanese artist just did the same concept I had wanted to create”, recalling that “I watched it on CNN.” In fact, that lesson on insisting to break the boundaries, he discloses, “inspired me to have this show”.

That same experience connects him with the leadership challenge in his country. He cites security challenges such as kidnapping, unresolved killings in ethnic and communal clashes and argues that “we don’t just criticise the government without finding a solution”. That

solution perhaps exists in the artist’s 24 paintings showing as Breaking Boundaries. “We have been living together by the grace of God, and all ethnic groups have to collaborate to live peacefully”.

The gospel of co-existence, according to Okpu’s Breaking Boundaries lies in the strength that “Hausa needs Igbo; Yoruba should live with Hausa and vice versa”. He advises that the natural tendency of man with expansionism can be managed so that “we shouldn’t cross the red line”.

Norbert Okpu is a full-time studio artist, resident in Lagos presently. He is an exponent of leaf art who has dramatically bridged the gap between art and event. His dynamic abilities are fast becoming a brand to be reckoned with in Nigeria in the area of events and entertainment.

A graduate of Yaba College of Technology with many awards, he bagged the Best graduating Student in the school of Art Design and Printing.

Also of note is the fact that he is highly skilled in print technology, with a specialized training in one of the-state-of-art machines known as Zund.

Norbert Okpu

Expert explores art beyond the normal

By Chris Onuoha

In what one may describe as a different foray into art appreciation, an art scholar, painter and advertising practitioner Pa Rauf Thompson took art lovers and collectors into a journey of art sphere to explore lines, strokes and rhythms as he holds an art show of his latest works. After a successful display of his previous collections of both old and new paintings held last year at National Art Theater, Iganmu, Lagos, Thompson, a veteran visual artist in this new exhibition titled ‘Beyond drawing and paintings” that took place at same venue April, showcased the other side of art beyond what eyes can see.

In attendance were collectors, art enthusiasts and friends of Rauf Thompson. Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, a great art lover and collector was physically present to declare the exhibition open alongside another collector, Tunde Anifowose, his former classmates and business associates.

Meanwhile, Rauf ’s exhibition that has over 30 pieces of painting is an artistic expression of life around us as seen by the painter. Done in oil on canvas with few pencil drawing, Rauf extended his use of natural and cool colours to vibrant and raw colours as a protest and a reflection of evolving situation in the country. In one of the works that

tell the story of fuel crises in the country, the vibrant colours depicts the intensity of the situation connecting it to the danger of fire outbreaks that emanates from such mad rush for fuel scooping by some indigents in a country of abundance. Other works that has similar connotations were paintings of local drummers that depict the flamboyance and merrymaking that has been part of our lifestyle.

In summary, Rauf exhibited some measure of consistency in style with a bit introduction of new approach in colour usage to show a blending flow with the current contemporaries.

According to the artist, “Often times, people see art or appreciate it for the art sake, but the intrinsic attitude towards art is one spiritual aspect of it that is beyond general perception. What I intend to achieve in this current art exhibition is to bring to fore an art beyond aesthetics – using drawings and colours to pass a message about life around us” Rauf stated.

Pa Rauf Thompson in his late 70s is one of the pioneer students of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos under the tutelage of Professor Adebayo Yusuf Grillo, the foremost art teacher and one of the founding fathers of modern contemporary art in Nigeria. He has consistently been vibrant in the art scene spanning for decades. Having transited from teaching career to studio practice, he had a stint in advertising practice and finally back to art. He said

that his urge to paint all the time supersedes the rest.

According to him, “Beyond Drawing and Painting” is a body work that speaks and connects to everyone in a particular a situation of life.”

For Tunde Anifowose, a longtime friend of Pa Rauf said, “Pa Rauf has come a long way. When he came to my house and saw artworks, he now realized that he has been sleeping. I advised him to quit advertising and concentrate on art practice.

And he also realizes that there’s money in art. In my collection, I have over 2000 pieces in my house and I don’t sell them. Today’s exhibition shows a man that has never got tired. I salute his courage,” says Anifowose.

“I am highly impressed with what Rauf Thompson has done creatively, but unfortunately, we live in a society that doesn’t show appreciation on our art and it bothers on our orientation about the work of arts,” says Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, the chairman of the occasion.

According to him, “There’s a need to re-orientate our mind. Just like I am moving round, I saw a piece that depicts the fuel crises and I told myself that this is a piece of history. Evidently this situation will not last forever. A time will come when we will have it good in the country. And the art piece is a reflection of the situation then.

“Without reading a book that tells you about

events, in the work of arts, you must have gone through a history of one or two generations explaining to you where we were and how we were able to come of such situation. We must also realize that some of the experience we had before came from artistic expression. It’s something that we should all pick interest in, and again business-wise, it is a value added venture. It is a win win situation no matter how you want to look at it, either as a story teller, as a form of decoration, form of expression or investment.

“For Rauf, to be honest with you, I must give it to him. I don’t know how to describe his efforts and consistency in art practice and delivery given that the situation of the country is tough now. I will salute him at his age and vigour.

“If it’s for an ordinary person, he should have been so depleted to the point of given up judging from the things you have to go through to survive every day.

The old man is going about it as if there is nothing wrong anywhere. I just want to commend him for his courage, steadfastness and commitment for the work of art. I picked about four of his works that have cogent message and valuable to encourage him.

For some art enthusiasts who not only admired his courage but also get connected to events they were familiar with says, “This is like another history book in visual representation. All the pieces has one story or another to tell.”

L7

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Feature

Top 20 benefits of ginger

Ginger powder

Ginger is one of the most ancient spices well-known for its health benefits, which include its ability to relieve nausea and pain. It also helps boost bone health, strengthen the immune system, and increase appetite.

Ginger is good for preventing cancer, improving respiratory conditions, stimulating digestion, treating arthritis, and reducing excess gas. It is also good for enhancing sexual activity, mitigating obesity, and relieving the pain related to menstrual disorders.

What is ginger?

Ginger, also known as Zingiber officinale, is a flowering plant, whose root or rhizome is used as a spice. It can be consumed in many forms, fresh, dried, powdered, and in the form of oil and juice. In many places, it is mostly used in sweets and alcoholic beverages such as ginger beer and wine.

Today, ginger is on the FDA’s list of generally safe foods and is often used to mask the taste of bitter medicines such as cough syrups.

Ginger nutrition Most of the benefits derived from ginger are because of the presence of an active constituent called gingerol in it.

It is also rich in carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and protein.

In terms of minerals, it has sodium, iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. Vitamins in it include vitamin C, folate, vitamin B6, riboflavin, and niacin.

There are many anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds like pantothenic acid, beta-carotene, capsaicin, curcumin, caffeic acid, and salicylate in it. Also, the presence of active compounds like shogaol, zerumbone, terpenoids,

flavonoids, paradol, and zingerone in ginger provide many health benefits.

The various health benefits of this amazing root are given below: Relieves nausea Studies have concluded that ginger helps in curing nausea and vomiting connected with morning sickness in pregnancy. It has long been used as a preventive measure for motion sickness and seasickness. Cancer patients who have undergone a chemotherapy can benefit by this root as it will relieve the symptoms of nausea and vomiting. Its quick absorption and rapid regulation of body functions cure nausea in people who have undergone surgeries, without any side effects.

Nausea and vomiting, being symptoms of a migraine, can irritate people. By curing both, ginger can effectively treat a migraine and headaches that follow it.

Treats cold and flu Ginger has been prescribed to fight illnesses and infection like cold and flu in all ages. It can be used in the form of tea for keeping the body warm. The tea acts as a diaphoretic and induces sweating, which removes toxins from the body and makes you healthy as before.

Aids in digestion Ginger has been discovered to be a facilitator of the digestive process. The elevated sugar levels after a meal may cause the stomach to reduce its natural rate of emptying its contents. It helps in regulating high sugar levels and soothing the stomach, thus, maintaining its regular rhythm. Along

with that, it has a number of compounds that improve the absorption of nutrients and minerals from the food we eat.

This is why ginger is frequently used as an appetizer or an aperitif since it can stimulate the appetite while preparing the digestive system for an influx of food.

Removes excess gas Ginger is a very strong carminative, meaning that it induces excess gas elimination. Excess gas does much more than leaving you in an uncomfortable situation. Too much gas built up in your system can go upwards and put pressure on delicate organs in the torso. Ginger acts like a carminative and forces the gas down and out in a healthy way and also prevents additional gas from building up again.

Stomach ulcers Consuming ginger regularly can help improve the gut health. It prevents the occurrence of ulcers, which are generally characterized by bleeding and acute gastric irritability. In addition, it also inhibits the growth of H. pylori bacteria, which is a major ulcerogen, thus keeping your stomach healthy.

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease can create havoc in the body and leave you restless forever. Anti-inflammatory properties of ginger aid in treating these issues.

Reduces arthritis pain Ginger is known to boost bone health and relieve joint pain associated with arthritis. It contains gingerol, which has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Gingerol has been directly associated with improvements in osteoarthritis, knee inflammation, and rheumatoid arthritis. Along with

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, May 15, 2018

L8 Feature

Top 20 benefits of ginger that, it also suppresses the inflammatory compounds like cytokines and chemokines at the source before they begin to affect the body.

Relieves asthma Ginger has been used traditionally as a medicine to treat respiratory disorders. Recent studies on it have also seconded to this anti-inflammatory property of ginger. Zerumbone, an active compound in ginger, helps relieve asthma. Research shows that the allergic airway inflammation is majorly caused by Th2 dominance and ginger is successfully able to suppress it.

Liver protection People suffering from tuberculosis can benefit from ginger, as it helps prevent hepatotoxicity. It also protects against the liver-damaging cadmium poisoning caused due to significant ingestion of cadmium. Ginger essential oil exerts a protective effect against the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease occurring because of obesity.

Mitigates obesity Ginger can aid in accelerating weight loss and managing obesity by helping boost your metabolism. It increases exercise endurance capacity so that you work out well and get back into shape to fit in that outfit you were so excited to wear.

Prevents cancer The organic compounds like gingerol, in ginger aid in the prevention of breast cancer and many other types of cancer. They have anti-inflammatory properties that help prevent carcinogenic activity in the colon that can lead to colorectal cancer.

Recent studies have also connected gingerol to apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells, thereby reducing tumors and the growth of cancerous cells, without harming the healthy cells around them. Gingerol is also known to protect against skin cancer.

Zerumbone, in ginger, is positively linked to prevention of gastric, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer as it functions as an anti-angiogenic and antitumor drug.

Improves cognition Ginger is known to delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases like dementia, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. These harmful factors are also to be blamed for the age-related cognitive decline. Therefore ginger, with its powerful nutrients, mitigates the risk of brain damage and keeps your memory intact.

Relieves muscle pain Ginger is well-known for reducing muscle pain and soreness caused due to exercising. The anti-inflammatory properties of this root are to be credited for this benefit.

Prevents menstrual cramps Ginger helps reduce the levels of prostaglandins in the body, hence it aids in relieving cramps. Scientists believe that high levels of prostaglandins contribute to increased menstrual cramps. Cramps are the body’s way of alarming an individual to some type of danger or damage. In this case, prostaglandins, which are hormones that function as chemical messengers, are the key activators of symptoms such as cramps, pains, and fevers.

Boosts heart health Ginger protects the cardiovascular health by lowering the LDL cholesterol levels and increasing the HDL cholesterol levels. It also reduces the risk of blood clotting, thereby helping regulate hypertension and keeping your heart healthy.

Controls diabetes Ginger helps regulate the blood sugar levels in people suffering from type 2 diabetes. Glycemic and lipid abnormalities lead to long-term complications in diabetics.

Therefore, to improve your insulin resistance and control diabetes, consider adding this root to your diet.

Detoxifies the body Ginger is good at promoting sweating. Sweating cleans out the pores and allows your body to eliminate toxins. Research has also shown that sweat includes a germ-fighting compound, named dermcidin. It has been positively connected to reduced bacterial and viral infections as it can create a sheen on the skin, which is a protective layer of previously unknown proteins.

Prevents infection Ginger is known to inhibit bacterial, viral, and fungal infection, owing to the presence of gingerol in it. It also helps in maintaining oral health by killing the pathogens in the mouth and keep the teeth and gums intact. Ginger, with its antibacterial properties, wards of pathogenic bacteria that cause urinary tract infection (UTI), bronchitis,

and pneumonia.

Treats diarrhea Ginger has been used since ancient times to cure diarrhea since it prevents stomach spasms and gas that contribute to and stimulate it. In China, its powder is given to those with diarrhea and this traditional practice is followed for thousands of years; scientists have concluded that these ancient treatments are indeed beneficial for this condition.

Skin care Ginger can help in alleviating the symptoms of eczema, owing to its anti-inflammatory properties. By adding ginger tea, or ginger juice to your diet, you can easily bid goodbye to many chronic skin conditions like dermatitis, acne, and psoriasis.

Increases sexual activity A known aphrodisiac, ginger has been used for years to arouse desire and enhance sexual activity. Its scent has a unique allure that helps in increasing fertility and establishing a sexual connection. This root also helps blood circulation, hence blood flows more easily to the mid-section of the body, an important area for sexual performance.

How to buy ginger?

Select a root that is wrinkle-free or has minimal wrinkles and taut skin. Make sure the skin is not thick and bruised.

The best way to check is by scraping it with your nail. The aroma of a fresh ginger is peppery, sharp, and strong, so inhale the fragrance and enjoy shopping!

How to store ginger?

Ginger can be stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.

However, you should peel, cut or grate it only before using it. If you want to store a cut piece of the root, dry it first so that it doesn’t rot away.

Ginger supplements Aside from the fresh raw ginger root, you can also reap its benefits in the following forms: • Ginger extracts • Ginger capsules • Dried ginger root • Ginger powder • Ginger essential oil Uses of ginger Culinary Uses • Beverage: In Asian cultures, it is directly used by chopping it up or using its powder in traditional dishes and in soft drinks such as coffee and tea.

• Baking: Bake a ginger cookie the next time you are having a sweet-tooth.

• Smoothie: You can make a healthy smoothie by adding some crushed ginger to it.

• Tea: Steep some grated ginger in boiling water

and enjoy the tea! You can add some honey to make it refreshing and sweet.

• Soups: Your soups, stews or curries can be spiced up by a tint of ginger. Healthy and savory!

• Pickle: Pickled ginger is very healthy and it also soothes your taste buds.

• Juice: Ginger juice is one herbal cure-all drink that can be enjoyed if you are looking for something new.

Other Uses Ginger’s irresistible fragrance is due to an essential oil in its composition that has been coveted and extracted by perfume makers since ancient times.

Side effects of ginger The commonly observed side effects of ginger are as follows: • Diarrhea • Heartburn • Stomach upset • Hives • Swelling • Breathing issues Risks • Acid-reflux: Ginger may worsen acid reflux in some people.

• Gallstones: It can increase bile production, which may cause the stone to create a block in bile flow. Talk to your doctor before using it.

• Diabetes: Ginger can affect your insulin and blood sugar levels drastically so make sure you talk to your doctor before adding it to your diet.

• Blood-thinning: It should not be eaten with bloodthinning medicines or aspirin as it may affect blood clots.

• Pregnant women: Intake of ginger has been connected to a miscarriage. Though it is generally considered safe, consult your doctor before making any change in your diet.

History and origin Not only is ginger known as an essence and a spice, it is known to be one of the oldest remedies in herbal and aromatic traditional treatments, especially in China, India, and the Middle East. In China, it has been used for over 2,000 years for curing inflammation and diarrhea. Native to the Indo-Malaysian rain forests, ginger favors lush, moist, tropical soils for cultivation.

Its cultivation may have begun in southern Asia, but it has now spread to East Africa and the Caribbean as well.

Ginger’s perennial plant grows bright red flowers that come in different shapes such as torch and honeycomb and are often used in seasonal festivals in the South Pacific for the decoration of stalls, houses, and even dresses.

Source: www.organicfacts.net