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Dangote launches N2bn ready made village in N’East Gives N100,000 each to IDPs to start new life

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja Barley two weeks after donating 150 cars to the Nigeria Police, in yet another

massive philanthropic gesture, the Aliko Dangote Foundation, on Monday, launched the Dangote village built for the Internally Continued on page 4

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TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2018

VOL. 3

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FG cancels tomorrow’s FEC meeting as experts express divergent views

L: R: Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima; one of the Boko Haram victims, a widow beneficiary, receiving her letter of allocation from Chairman and Founder, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, during the commissioning of Dangote Estate & School for Widows and Orphans built by the foundation at Dalori Konduga LGA, Borno State ... on Monday.

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How plans to whisk Abiola out of jail flopped - Ex-aide Akerele

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Dangote launches N2bn ready made village in N’East Continued from page 1 Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.

The Dangote village in Maiduguri is a selfsufficient set of 200 housing units worth N2 billion, with school, hospital, irrigation farms and poultry farms among others, to enable the occupants eke livelihood.

Dangote also gave each of the beneficiary N100,000 to start a new life.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Chairman of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said about N7billion has been donated to support displaced persons affected by the Boko Haram crisis in the North East.

Aside the N100,000 to start a new life, Dangote also pledged that the Foundation will take care of teachers’ emolument for five years and as well share in the burden of the ongoing educational revolution launched by the Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima.

Dangote also commended the Governor Shettima, saying that he is able to run the state efficiently and pay salaries despite the security challenges.

A visibly elated Governor Shettima said the intervention was unprecedented and gargantuan by a single company, describing the Aliko Dangote Foundation as the fourth arm of government in the state.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Monday, Governor Shettima reminded that the Dangote Group is the single largest employer of labour outside government in Nigeria.

The governor said, “In every clime and in every dispensation, there are three layers of governments: the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. I dear to add that the fourth layer in Borno State is the Aliko Dangote Foundation.

For the past seven years, the Foundation has been consistent and hearkening to the yearnings and aspirations of people of the state.”

He added that the

Dangote Village provided by the Foundation, though very massive, is a ‘tip of the iceberg’ compared to what the Foundation has done to support humanitarian relief in the troubled region.

Governor Shettima said, “When Aliko Dangote came in 2016, he quickly pledged N2 billion. We requested that half of the money should be used in supplying building materials and lo and behold within the span of two weeks all the materials were ready.”

He said it was the support from the Foundation that enabled most of the displaced and malnourished victims of Boko Haram insurgency to survive.

According to the Governor, it was crucial to acknowledge the generosity of Aliko Dangote, adding that as far as he was concerned, Dangote is the world’s biggest philanthropist.

He revealed that most of the beneficiaries are widows and children.

“We call it Dangote village because it is a selfsustaining community with their own schools, clinics, mosques and livelihood,” he added.

He thanked all the donors, and added that Borno State is now opened for investors, saying it is more peaceful than Lagos and Abuja.

Speaking also, the Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Prof Baba Gana Umara, said 95% of the beneficiaries were widows whose husbands were killed by the Boko Haram terrorists.

Prof.

Umara is the chairman of the distribution committee for the new Dangote village.

He said the criterion for allocating a flat to the beneficiaries is to be a widow and having no fewer than five children.

Commending the President of the Dangote Group, Umara said the reconstruction effort was now on and that the infrastructural deficit was still huge.

He said the EU, UN and World Bank had estimated that the infrastructural deficit

caused by the insurgency in Borno State alone was around $6.9billion.

He expressed optimism that with the kind of support from the likes of Aliko Dangote Foundation, the state will bounce back to normal before the year 2020.

In her remarks, the Chairperson of the State Emergency Management Agency, Hajiya Ya Bawa Kolo, expressed appreciation to the Foundation on behalf of the Internally Displaced Persons.

While commending the Foundation, she assured that only deserving persons are beneficiaries.

Ten beneficiaries were selected for symbolic presentation of certificates of occupancy.

Speaking, Managing Director/CEO of Aliko Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou, said the Foundation would not rest on its oars to support the victims of insurgency.

Ms Youssoufou said earlier during Ramadan, food items were distributed to the IDPs which included Rice, Sugar, Salt, Spaghetti, Semolina, Wheat Meal, Maize and Millet.

She said the philanthropic exercise was meant to complement the effort of both State and Federal Government.

“We are supporting g o v e r n m e n t reconstruction and rehabilitation effort,” she said.

Hajara Garba Ibrahim 26, a widow, who is also one of the beneficiaries, commended Dangote, adding that since her husband, Sani Abubakar was killed a year ago by the Boko Haram terrorists, it has been very difficult to cater for the needs of her three children and six orphans.

Another beneficiary, Yagana Mallam Adamu, 39, widowed, said the new village provided by Dangote will help her and her seven children to start life again. The husbands of both widowd were both members of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNTF).

After the ceremony, Governor Shettima, Alhaji Dangote and their entourage toured the 200 housing units to assess the facilities.

PHOTO TIMES Scenes from the commissioning of Dangote Estate & School for Widows and Orphans built by the foundation at Dalori Konduga LGA, Borno State ... on Monday.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 18, 2018

5 News

Expectations as Buhari signs 2018 Budget tomorrow FG cancels FEC meeting as experts express divergent views

Motolani Oseni, Lagos and Mathew Dadiya, Abuja Expectations are high as President Muhammadu Buhari signs the 2018 budget into law tomorrow, prompting divergent view from economists and financial experts.

The Daily Times recalls that the National Assembly passed a N9.1 trillion budget for 2018 fiscal year on May 16 after jerking it up from N8.6trillion budget presented to them on November 7, 2017 by Buhari.

But the Managing Director, Cowry Assets Management Company Ltd, Johnson Chukwu, has said that the budget will enable Federal Government inject more money to reflate the economy.

According to Chukwu, sector like building amongst others will record growth that will lead to job creation especially ‘‘blue collar’’ employment.

Besides, he said the

development will serve as a tool for the Federal Government to embark on infrastructure projects that will drive economic activities.

Similarly, an Abuja based financial analyst and media consultant, Mr Fred Idehai, said that it is a welcome development that Buhari is assenting to the 2018 appropriation about eight months after being presented to the National Assembly for passage.

He said, “Though, the signing of the budget into law is coming a bit late partly to the undue delay by the lawmakers who were using the budget as bargaining tool to score political points against the executive arm at the expense of over 190 million Nigerians.

However, it is better to be late than never.

“The delay in the signing of the budget without being immodest affected the economy adversely as Nigeria was just coming out of economic recession and needed enough

liquidity in the economy as well as embark on infrastructural development to prevent the nation sliding back to recession. ‘‘As a patriotic Nigerian, I expect all government ministries, departments agencies (MDAs) to roll up their sleeves and embark on programmes and projects that will have direct bearing in the lives of the citizens.

It should be more of work and less talk. The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, should as a matter of urgency not delay in releasing as well as cash backing the release to MDAs in order for them to hit the ground running especially those that already have concrete plans on what the money should be use for.

“With the signing of the 2018 budget into law, government contractors will be paid and work will resume at the sites of abandoned projects which will invariably provide jobs for some

Nigerians. ‘‘The only area in the whole budget process that beat my imagination was the unilateral increase of the figure by the legislative arm from eight to nine trillion naira. Though in a normal situation it would have been okay but based on their initial position of grandstanding, accusations and counter accusations on inflating of figures, the situation became suspicious. But would the president have agreed to sign the budget into law if the lawmakers had reviewed the figure downward?’’

For Prof Adi Bongo, Lagos Business School, “The government thinks it can achieve much with the sectoral targeted approach it is using to grow the economy. But from all indications, it is not working.”

On his part, Chief Economist, Vetiva, an investment bank, Michael Famoroti, noted that ‘‘whilst the overall positive growth

is welcomed, the underperformance of the non-oil sector showed Nigerian economy is not out of the woods.”

Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, recently said that the delay in passage of the country’s 2018 budget would have some impact on the nation and cause some adjustments in implementation.

She said this during a news conference in Abuja, adding that the impact was because markets change and the cost of money in the market changes too.

Adeosun, however, said that the Federal Government would try to mitigate the effects of the delay.

She said, “Honestly, we may need to realign some of the priorities now because what we thought we would be doing in January is now different from what we are going to do.

“So, we are going to have to look very closely to see where we would realign and re-

Newly elected Local Government chairmen during the administration of their oaths of office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State...on Monday.

prioritise, but we will carry on because most of the capital projects are multiyear projects so we will just.’’

But President Muhammadu Buhari will on Wednesday (tomorrow) signed the 2018 budget into law, this is even as this week’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) has been put off.

Findings by our correspondent revealed that the budget will be signed at about 11am tomorrow.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, had last week disclosed to State House Correspondents while briefing on the outcomes of FEC meeting that the 2018 Appropriation Bill of N9.1 trillion will be assented to by President Buhari this week.

Both chambers of the National Assembly had on May 16, 2018 approved the budget estimates submitted by Buhari on November 7, 2017.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Customs, Police frustrating ease of doing business at Ports - Osinbajo Vice President Yemi Oshibajo has accused the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Police Force of derailing the federal government’s executive order on ease of doing business at the ports.

He made this disclosure while speaking at the second annual lecture under the theme: “The Gains and Challenges of the Presidential Order on Ease of Doing Business in the Nigerian Maritime Sector One Year After” organised by primetime reporters in Lagos, vice president Osinbajo said the Police and Customs have become stumbling blocks to the order.

The vice president, who was represented by an official in the Presidential Environmental Business Enabling Council (PEBEC), Mr. John Oboh, agreed that there were challenges in carrying out the Presidential Order on Ease of Doing Business, identifying some customs operatives and the Police as not helping matters.

He criticised the Customs for incessant interception of goods cleared at the ports, saying it is against international best practices.

According to him, there is no reason why operatives of the Customs should be stopping containers on the way, particularly within few meters after the port gate for another round of checks.

Oboh said he is a field person who monitors what goes on within the business environment alleged that some

officers of the service collect has not failed to ensure that the A representative of the economic regulator has always shipping services delivery N20, 000 per truck after they Ease of Doing Business at the Executive Secretary, Mrs. been active in enforcing the between consumers and had been cleared at the port. ports was achieved.

Adora Nwonu said the ports order where it has to do with providers of shipping services.

Also, speaking on joint physical examination of goods at the ports, he pointed out that the problem has been with information that some customs officers do not come to the office in time.

For instance, he said that while examination is supposed to be around 12noon, the exercise does not start till 1 and 2pm.

He also said there is no reason why the Police as part of the eight agencies at the ports should be stopping containers for examination.

Oboh said his office had intervened in some cases of molestation of importers who had cleared their goods at the ports by the Police.

Meanwhile, he identified the 24 hour service at the ports in which importers can pay customs duties, joint physical examination of goods at the One of the schools destroyed by heavy windstorm in Bauchi at the weekend. PHOTO: Government House ports as the gains of the order.

He also said that PEBEC had intervened in some cases to fasten the pace of work on the road rehabilitation as well as redesign the pallestisation policy following inputs from stakeholders.

According to him, the closure of Ijora Bridge is coming at Tunde Opalana, Abuja “But, we need the support of making money from them. So, “Alhamdulillah” which means a better time considering the then Big (Uncle) Sam, Abiola’s we thought Randy would do “praise be to Allah” in Arabic. ongoing road reconstruction. friends in America. So, we the right thing. Then, just for him Akerele continued: “If we had He pointed out that the It has now been revealed parleyed over it and it was to ensure he was talking to the spirited him out, it would have reduction of 14 agencies in the that there were plans to decided that I should get in touch right person. - me. I had met him been bloody because Abacha ports to eight was also part of whisk the winner of the with his PA (Personal Assistant) twice when he came with MKO would react violently and then the gains of introducing Ease of June 12, 1993 presidential election, in the US. There’s one Randy to Abuja when things were going more people would have died.”

Doing Business. the late Chief MKO Abiola, out of Echols. He was my opposite okay - I now said, for him to Speaking further, Akerele Nigerian Shippers’ Council jail. number in Washington. They confirm my identity with Doyin, said, “The plan then was that if (NSC) on the occasion said it Giving this revelation was the now suggested that the man our MD (of Concord Press) and we were able to get MKO out, late politician’s personal assistant, should get in touch with Abiola’s Alhaji Akinteye, that’s the PA to those members of staff around Olu Akerele, on The Platform, friends at the Capitol so they MKO in his office.” him would go with us, me too I a programme hosted by Sam would work out the thing. So, But Akerele said Randy Echols would follow. It had to be a clean Omatseye on TVC News, on they took me to a secret house (in mistakenly spilled out the plans sweep. So, when the thing now Saturday.

Abuja), gave me a secured phone. by calling Abiola’s children failed, we said ‘it’s from God’ so According to Akerele, who is Surprisingly, I was on to Randy.” instead. we dropped the idea.” just revealing the details publicly At that time, Akerele had just He said, “This thing I’m going Akerele also disclosed that for the first time, when it became been released from jail because to say would embarrass some Abiola didn’t want to be part of clear that the former Head of he was caught relaying messages people but they just have to take the plan to whisk him out of jail development and State, the late General Sani for Abiola who was in detention. it like that. Instead of talking to but he “was asked to pressurise Atikulating Nigeria to the Abacha, was bent on detaining Continuing, Akerele said: “We Doyin or Akinteye, Randy now him. And I thought I was doing Abiola indefinitely, some friends got Randy and the idea was called Wuraola Abiola, that is my job to get him out of that next level”.

Atiku has finally decided of Abiola mooted the idea to him. that Randy should link with Kola’s youngest sibling, to ask place. But now, he now opened He added that the late Abiola his friends over there, that’s about me, ‘who is this Olu?’ my eyes to the larger picture to unfold his presidential ambition to douse anxiety was reluctant about the whole Abiola’s friends and then with Then Wura now called Agbo, the - my family, Abiola’s families in the political space among exercise and was particularly the military.

MD of RCN, ‘who is this Olu?’ and the families of those people parties and most especially concerned about the safety of his “There’s one ship mooring Then Agbo now called Kola.” around him, their villages, their within other aspirants family and the people who were somewhere in the ocean. So, a Akerele then said that Kola men. That man (Abacha) would guarding him on the grounds that small plane would come and called him and asked “Olu, have rolled the tank all over the jostling for the PDP ticket.

Sources close to the Abacha could kill all of them if he land in Abuja. It’s a question of whats going on? They said there place. So, if he now came out as Turaki Adamawa said the had escaped. taking Abiola from that jail. Four, is one Olu making enquiries president? over the dead bodies Narrating what transpired five hours, he’s into the plane. about some things? decision to formally declare of his children? So, when we for the presidency on July during the turbulent period, Then, the plane flies out. So, that But Akerele disclosed that said the thing had flopped, he 28 was due to nationwide Akerele said, “At a stage when was the idea. But when the thing he feigned ignorance of the (Abiola) was happy.” nothing was moving on again, the was discussed with the late MKO matter and denied involvement, consultations.

The late Abacha died on June The source said, “After Supreme Court was not sitting, through the window as usual, he responding, ‘Oh, is that so? I 8, 1998 while Abiola died on July consulting far and wide it’s like the man (Abiola) had been said, ‘it’s a dangerous thing to do don’t know anything about it.”

7, 1998 after drinking allegedly those that matters in the abandoned there. ooo. And that if his friends or my Akerele then continued, “that poisoned tea.

“Then some of his friends friends insisted, we should leave was the end of the thing.” politics of Nigeria and It is instructive to note that getting favourable response, approached me, both in the out his children and members Blaming Randy Echols for 25 years after the June 12, 1993 it is an auspicious time for military, retired and then civilians. of his family out of it because the botched plan, Akerele said, saga, President Muhammadu Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to They sent someone to me to meet the Abacha he knew would not “Maybe he (Randy) thought it Buhari honoured the late Abiola openly declare his interest to them somewhere. Getting there, I hesitate to wipe out his family was a family thing. He should with the highest title exclusively run in next year presidential saw an American diplomat that I and the families of those people have known from experience reserves for the past Head of election and to unveil knew had been coming to court. guarding him. that it was not a tea party that we States and Presidents - the Grand the blueprint of national So, they now raised the issue of “But we thought it was fool- were planning.”

Commander of the Federal regeneration through which spiriting Abiola out of that place. proof. We thought we could Upon reporting the Republic (GCFR). Buhari also he intends to make Nigeria And they thought it could be do it. Because they were not so development to Abiola, declared June 12 as Democracy done. work again”. popular, except those who were Akerele said Abiola responded, Day in Nigeria.

2019: Atiku holds presidential declaration in Abuja July 28 Tunde Opalana, Abuja Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has unveiled his declaration plan to run for president in 2019.

In a staggered declarations made available by his campaign manager and former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential hopeful will kick-off activities with a Solidarity Mega Rally in his home town, Yola, Adamawa State on July 4, 2018.

Attention will thereafter be shifted to Abuja on July 19 with a Pre -declaration Programme in the nation’s capital city while the mother of all declaration will take place on Saturday, July 28, 2018 with a Mega Rally at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

The rally, according to organisers, is set to “ begin a new page in Stimulating

How plan to whisk Abiola out of jail flopped - Ex-aide Akerele

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

7 News

3 soldiers, 1 suspected pirate killed in shootout Akam James, Yenagoa Three soldiers attached to the Operation Delta Safe (ODS), and a suspected sea pirate were on Sunday killed during a shootout at the Tunu flow station owned by the Shell Petroleum Development

Company (SPDC), in Letugbene community of Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

According to the report, the shootout occurred during an attempt by the suspected armed sea pirates in four boats to invade the Tinu flow

station where the soldiers are stationed.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday at about 6am.

Attempts to get the officer attached to the 16th divisional brigade of the Nigerian

Army failed as his phone was switched off.

But a security Source told Daily Times that the incident claimed four persons including three military personnel.

He said though he could not ascertain the identity of the Armed youths, “the soldiers

Economist: GDP growth not translating to improved quality of life An Economist, Dr Aminu Usman, says the growth in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is not translating to improved quality of life of its citizens.

Usman, who is the Head of Economics Department, Kaduna State University, expressed the concern in an interview with news men in Abuja on Monday.

He said it was worrisome that the little improvement recorded with regards to the GDP growth rate had not translated to improvement in the people’s quality of life.

The don, however, urged the Federal Government to pay more attention to the sectors that contribute more to the nation’s GDP to enhance sustainable growth.

“This is because the sectors that contribute more to the GDP are still bedevilled by many weaknesses.

“The economy’s future is hanging precariously on the fortunes in the oil sector as it has always been without the much talked about change promised,’’ he said.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the first quarter of 2018 started on a bright note as the GDP grew by 1.95 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms.

The GDP report shows a stronger growth when compared to the first quarter of 2017 which recorded a growth of -0.91 per cent indicating an increase of 2.87 percentage points

When compared to the preceding quarter, there was a decline of -0.16 percentage points from 2.11 per cent.

Quarter on quarter, real GDP growth was -13.40 per cent.

This will be the fourth quarterly consecutive positive expansion since Africa’s largest economy exited recession in Q1, 2017.

Usman, however, said that the GDP figures had shown downward slide back to recession.

“It was about 2.17 per cent during the 3rd quarter of 2017, 2.1 per cent in the last quarter of 2017 and now 1.95 per cent for the first quarter.

“This is a very disturbing trend given the fact that we recently celebrated our exit out

of economic recession.

“We should expect a growing positive trend not downward slide in the GDP growth rate,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the oil sector’s contribution to GDP remains below 10 per cent in first quarter of the nation’s GDP, according to the NBS. Although the nation recorded some growth in the oil sector during the period, the contribution formed only 9.61 per cent of the total, with the non- oil sector accounting for the rest.

This is despite an increase in the daily oil production to an average of 2.0 million barrels per day (mbpd), higher than the 1.95 mbpd in the fourth quarter of 2017.

were deployed to guard the SPDC flow station in the area.

They engaged the youths in a shootout while trying to stop an invade of the flow station. “ Although community sources could not be reached over the development, the Armed invasion may not be unconnected with the conflict between the indigenes of Letugbene community and the Shell Petroleum Development Company over the ownership recognition of the Tunu Flow station.

It would also be recalled that on July 30, 2012, the Bayelsa State High Court, sitting in Yenagoa and presided over by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Kate Abiri, entered

judgment in favour of the Letugbene community against SPDC and others in the suit No; YHC/31/1994.

The court declared Letugbene community as owners of all the lands and areas bordering the Tunu Flow Station location operated by SPDC after more than 18 years of trial.

The appeal filed by SPDC at the court of Appeal, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was however dismissed for want of prosecution on June 11, 2013, sequel to the community motion filed by its counsel, Nnamdi Ugwuka, with motion No; CA/PH/297m/2013, at the same Appeal court in Port Harcourt.

Former Supreme Court Justice Aderemi passes on at 79 Andrew Orolua, Abuja A former Justice of Supreme Court of Nigeria ((JSC) Justice Pius Olawiyola Aderemi is dead.

Aged 79, the news of his demise was communicated via a post from the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan Branch and it reads thus: ‘With gratitude to God for a life well spent, the Exco announce the passing to higher glory the

of our patron Hon. Justice P.O. Aderemi (JSC retired).It said further information as may be announced by the family shall be provided.”

The NBA Ibadan branch said Justice Aderemi had contributed greatly to the development of law from the Bench through his scholarly writings and well researched judgements.

Justice Aderemi retired from the Supreme Court bench in 2009 .

DELSU Mgt raises the alarm over inadequate funding, lecturers Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

L-R Dima Agiobu, Factional State Youth Leader APC Rivers State and Prince Peter Odike, Factional Ag. Chairman Rivers State APC and Hyncinth Okpara Factional State Auditor APC Rivers State during a Media Briefing to declare the Ojukaye Flagg Amachree Led APC Leadership in Rivers State Illegal

National Chairman: Enugu APC endorses Oshiomhole Moses Oyediran, Enugu The All Progressive Congress (APC), the Enugu State Chapter of the party has endorsed former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole for National Chairman.

It could be recalled that the APC in Enugu State had earlier endorsed the incumbent National Vice Chairman, SouthEast, Chief Emma Eneukwu, National Organizing Secretary Senator Osita Izunaso and National Auditor George Moghalu for re-election.

The endorsement of Eneukwu and others was announced in a

communiqué issued at the end of its meeting held at the party’s secretariat last week.

Announcing the endorsement Oshiomhole yesterday shortly after a meeting of Enugu State Delegates for the National Convention which was attended by 125 delegates, State Chairman of the party, Dr Ben Nwoye explained that they resolved to endorse the former governor because of his leadership qualities as a governor and labour leader.

Nwoye further hinted that after the meeting where the National Convention was discussed, the delegates reaffirmed their support for

re-election of Eneuwku as well as others they had earlier endorsed.

He told journalists that the the Enugu State APC was proud to be the first state in the South East and perhaps the first in entire Federation to adopt Adams Oshiomhole for National Chairman.

The APC chairman in Enugu State pointed out that looking at the quality leadership displayed

by Oshiomhole through his eight years as governor of Edo State as well as his approach to dispute resolution, they believed that he will lead the party to a greater height and sustain the achievements of his

predecessor, John Oyegun.

While expressing the gratitude of Enugu APC delegates to Oyegun, Nwoye said Oyegun has written his name in the stone of democracy, adding that his records cannot be broken easily.

“Looking at the leadership credentials of Oshiomhole, his days as labour leader, his eight years in office as Governor, We believe that Adams Oshiomhole will lead this party to a greater height, Enugu State is happy to be the-first in the south East and perhaps the first in the federation to adopt him for National Chairman.

The Authorities of the Delta state owned University (Delsu) at the weekend raised the alarm following inadequate funding and absence of lecturers, warning that the university might be worse hit if urgent steps are not taken by the state government to attend to its needs.

Although the university management however expressed satisfaction to the state government led by Dr Ifeanyi Okowa for his efforts in ensuring the university meets standard with others, it regretted that the University was far from meeting infrastructural Standard including adequate manpower (ie lecturers).

The vice chancellor of the university, Professor Victor Peretomode who confirmed this to our reporter in an interview appealed to the state Governor, Dr, Ifeanyi Okowa to give heed to the university’s request for more funding by boosting the financial allocation accruing to the institution.

He said “funding had remained the university biggest challenges, it affects everything, including adequate staffing, we don’t have lecturers, we need more lecturers, the university might go into extinction if there are no measure to strengthen

the infrastructural decay ,the university needs lots for a befitting standard, hence we appealed to Governor Okowa to come to our aid” .

According to the vice chancellor, challenges abound in the Nigerian university system of which Delsu is not an exception, saying “Nigeria is gradually emerging from severe economic recession which took a toll on every sector of the nation’s economy, including the universities, I wish to play Oliver twist, and appeal to the Governor to give heed to our request to approve our request for the appointment of new lecturers”.

He said that Delsu would have emerged one of the best, and sought after universities in Nigeria, but for its current situation, noting that to attain this standard, there was need for more funding in order to cope with the expectations, and engender academic, as well as scientific breakthrough and increase its carrying capacity “We need to build on our achievements by improving on our accreditation status, this means that we will need more funds for expensive science and technology, as well as vocational equipment and machines for accreditation purposes since it is a recurring phenomenon,” the vice chancellor added.

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

FG to begin artificial insemination of cows The Federal Government says it will commence artificial insemination of cattle at its different research institutes and centres to aid multiplication of cows and increase milk production in the country.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said this while speaking with youths at a `Leadership Clinic’ organised by the Guardians of the Nation International (GOTNI) in Abuja.

Ogbeh said the move will kick-start a programme known as `Milk River Project’ which the government was planning to launch soon.

He said the insemination would require the importation of semen from countries like Europe and Brazil to inject into local cows to be able to produce many calves.

“There is a new project that is coming. It is known as the Milk River Project.

“We are going to start

doing multiplications of cows now at different centres. “ We bring the semen from Europe, Brazil, sort them out, the female and the male, inseminate the local cows, it produces calves and at 6 months, we wean them, sell them at a cheaper rate to youths.

“They put them at the back of their houses, just ten of them and you don’t need a job for your life.

“You keep the cows, collect about 25 litres of milk every morning, sell it to a mini processor nearby and earn a lot of money daily,’’ he said.

According to him, we buy low quality powdered milk for about 1.2 billion dollars a year because our cows are so badly nourished and they do only one bottle of milk per day but cows in Israel and Europe do about 50 litres a day.

The minister, who quoted some research as saying that about 37 per cent of children in the country were malnourished, noted that

Ondo PDP promises credible primaries The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Ondo State has promised its members vying for different elective positions free and fair primaries.

The Chairman of the PDP in the state, Clement Faboyede, stated this on Monday in Akure when Mrs Funmilola Ademoyegun picked an expression of interest form at the party’s secretariat.

Ademoyegun is seeking to represent Ileoluji/Okeigbo Constituency in the Ondo State House of Assembly.

The governorship and state assembly elections would hold on March 2, 2019.

Faboyede said he was happy the party did not lose any of its members to the recent defection of former the governor of the state, Olusegun Mimiko, to Labour Party.

The chairman said that while there were many posters and aspirants on

social media, the party only recognises those who pick forms from the secretariat.

“Our primaries will be free and fair, we don’t want our aspirants to waste money on primaries, let us work for candidates that would emerge eventually.

“The masses are supporting the opposition now,’’ he said.

Ademoyegun, on her part, said she was proud to be a member of the party in the state and would serve her people diligently if given the opportunity.

“I believe the legislature is the bedrock of democracy and provides an untapped opportunity to make positive difference through peoplecentered legislation and effective oversight on the executive arm of government.

“Increasing women’s representation in government can empower women and this is necessary to achieve gender parity,” she said.

increased milk production would reverse the trend.

Ogbeh, who advised the youths to get involved in agriculture, said the country had received a request from Malaysia to supply about two million tonnes of soybeans.

He lamented the high interest rates in the country, adding that the Federal Government was working to restructure the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) to reduce the interest rates to a single digit.

“The youths are in the majority in this country, the old ones will go and you will replace them but it will be very dangerous to replace them without knowing why the failures of the past have being happening.

“High interest rates have been the tragedy of Nigeria for the last 35 years.

“Bear this mind you young and upcoming leaders of this country, be very careful about economic advise, ask more

questions before you accept what they tell you because they put us in a corner.

“The world is permanently at war, economic war is the most dangerous war a country can experience. “ To free ourselves, we have to do what India and China have done, intensify local production, create wealth for young people,’’ he said.

Ogbeh said the government was currently designing new stainless

steel machines for palm oil processing which would be sold to youths at cheap rate to enable them meet international standards for palm oil production.

GOTNI Guardians is a non-profit youth leadership capital development organisation with a passion to nurture various categories of young people less than forty years of age, into transformational leaders who will make a difference in any sector where they find themselves.

Saraki leads Senate delegation to Russian parliament Tunde Opalana, Abuja President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, will today lead a Senate delegation on a three day parliamentary visit to Russia, aimed at deepening legislative best practices and further strengthening the relationship between both countries.

During the visit, the President of the Senate is expected to address the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly

of the Russian Federation (Senate of Russia) and hold meetings with its Chairperson of the Federation Council, Ms. Valentina Matviyenko, Chairman of the State Duma, Mr. Vyacheslav Volodin and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Mr. Mikhail Bogdanov, to exchange views on issues of Nigerian-Russian cooperation.

Senators will also hold side meetings with corresponding

committees of the Federation Council of Russia.

Senators on the delegation include Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Olusola Adeyeye, Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, Chairman, Senate Committee on Air Force, Senator Duro Faseyi, Chairman, Senate Committee on Sports and Youth, Senator Obinna Ogba and the Vice-Chairman, Senate

Committee on Army, Senator Ibrahim A. Danbaba.

Also on the trip is the Chief of Staff to the President of the Senate, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Special Assistant on Partnerships & NGOs/CSOs to the President of the Senate, Mr. Innocent Onah and the Special Assistant on Events to the President of the Senate, Ms. Eniola Shitta.

The delegation is expected back in the country on June 22, 2018.

L-R: Former Senate President, Sen. David Mark; Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu; former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose; Sen. Eyinanya Abaribe and others, during the courtesy visit of members Ekiti governorship campaign committee set up by leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), visited Ekiti State...on Monday

2019: Emulate legacies of Abiola, Agbakoba urges presidential aspirants

A human rights lawyer, Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), on Monday urged presidential aspirants to emulate the legacies of the late MKO Abiola to enthrone good governance in 2019 and beyond.

Agbakoba, also a former President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), made the call in an interview with

journalist in Lagos. ”Our presidential aspirants in the coming 2019 elections should be purposeful and think about the electorate, the people, like the late Abiola. ”When you are running for an office, you are running to carry the burden of the people. It is like becoming the father of the house. ”Many of these politicians

often forget why they go there and do away with all their campaign promises.

“So, it is very simple; to be a politician, all you need to do is to remember the people that voted you to power, that is all.

“If you do that, you will find that wherever you go, you will be honoured. ”When MKO was alive, he was remarkable, because

he had the will to listen and attend to the yearnings of the people. ”That is why today, we are honouring him, even in death.

A politician must remember his political goal by providing good roads, healthcare, education and basic amenities for the people. ”The way forward in Nigeria is to get a good leader

to rule this country,” he said.

On the legality of declaring June 12 as the new date for the celebration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day as against May 29, Agbakoba said that it was “clearly an illegal declaration, but a popular one’’. ”I also think that the declaration is illegal, but I do not think that it is important.

What is important is that there is a declaration that is popular; so, that is how we will take it. ”I know it is illegal, but I don’t feel aggrieved. I will not go to court to challenge the declaration; those who feel aggrieved can go to court and challenge it.

“But, I know that the late Abiola’s family deserve the recognition,” he said.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

9 News

Group tasks stakeholders, FG on infrastructure devt Business and Professional Women (BPW), an NGO, on Monday called on stakeholders, philanthropists and the Federal Government to prioritise infrastructural development at the rural areas to enhance national economy.

National President, BPW, Ms Yinka Ajibola, made the call in an interview with journalists on the sideline of the inauguration of BPW Karu Golden Club, Abuja.

Ajibola decried the plight of rural women due to lack and

inadequate attention of the government at all levels toward the vulnerable group.

She identified some challenges bedeviling the rural women to include lack of access to health facilities, education, access to farm land, seedlings, credit and skills acquisition programmes, among others.

“Empowering them is the key, not only to the well-being of the individuals, families and rural communities, but also to overall economic productivity, given women’s large presence

in the agricultural workforce worldwide,’’ she said.

Ajibola said that though the Federal Government had a lot of programmes focusing on women empowerment, poverty eradication, health, education among others but government should ensure they get to the grassroots.

She said that such programmes were mostly channeled to urban centres alone while rural women who bear the brunt of such challenges were often

neglected.

Ajibola, while commending Karu Golden Club for empowering some widows among others, however challenged them to intensity efforts to further better the lots of large number of vulnerable groups in their zone.

According to her, the club which started in December 2017, has really done a lot but they still need to do more to affect the lives of large number of women, who are facing challenges on means of

livelihood.

She assured them of BPW national and International body’s commitments to enable them achieve their desired goals.

“BPW stands for empowering members and other vulnerable women in the society. This can only be achieved through financial commitment and dedication toward service to humanity.

“Karu Golden Club is falling into the culture of BPW International. Within

Gov Lalong gives scholarship to aviation students Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has paid fees for Plateau state indigenes currently studying in the Nigeria Collage of Aviation Technology Zaria, International Aviation College Ilorin and Airforce Institute of Technology, Kaduna.

This was made known to pressmen on Monday by the Association of Plateau State

Aviation Students, who lauded the governor for his kind gesture.

Newsmen who were informed through a statement jointly signed by the President and Secretary of the Association, Jerry Gwom and Samuel Nyanye, said this development has placed Plateau as the only State in the country that has in the last three years consistently sponsored large number of students in

piloting, engineering and other aviation related courses.

The duo pointed out that these are renowned aviation training institutions in the country that are established for training, adding that these institutions trains flight engineers, cabin crews, pilots and meteorologists, and offers several other related courses.

According to the statement, “the fees charged are quite high and a scholarship is

usually recommended to enable the students cope with the theoretical and practical demands of the training so as to be able to compete with their colleagues anywhere in the world.

“The support given to aviation students by the present administration of Barrister Simon Lalong is enormous and a welcome development; this is in line with the desire of President

Mohammadu Buhari’s administration to establish a national carrier for the country before December 2018”.

The Association pointed out that the establishment of a national carrier for the country will also create employment opportunities for these young professional graduates who are trained in various aviation related courses and are ready to serve their fatherland.

Wife of Ondo state Governor, Chief (Mrs) Betty Anyanwu – Akeredolu and others during the Forum for Wives of Ondo State Officials, (FOWOSO) Empowerment Outreach Programme for Women, Youths and Special needs people in Ondo East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Expert advocates PPP for improved healthcare outcomes A medical expert, Prof.

Lanre Adeyemo, says the Public Private Partnership (PPP), will improve outcomes in the nation’s healthcare delivery and cushion the effect of poor funding in the sector.

Adeyemo, who is the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (DCMAC), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, made the assertion in an

interview with news men on Monday in Lagos.

He said that Nigerians would have more confidence in hospitals in Nigeria when they begin to see better healthcare services and outcomes.

According to him, improved outcomes will be realised if there is adequate investment in healthcare delivery because ‘healthcare is very expensive anywhere in the world’.

“Though, about 70 per cent of the funds that go into healthcare delivery comes from the government, hospitals and other public institutions are still poorly funded.

“So, PPP is advocated as a means to cushion the effect of poor funding thereby improving the quality of healthcare delivery.

“If you look at our big hospitals, the public hospitals

that are working, it is actually because of PPP. “That means the private individuals will bring in the resources and establish, and we will have facilities running functionally all day round.

“Apart from PPP, you also have what is called jointventure, you have more like a company; it is a joint venture between the institution and a private partnership and they

share the profit,’’ he said.

Adeyemo said that in LUTH, “our blood bank is a PPP initiative and it is working round the clock.

“PPP is more like a winwin situation that should be encouraged.”

Adeyemo urged nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) to invest their resources in the healthcare sector for improved health outcomes.

six months of its existence it has done so many projects including adoption of some women groups within the community, mobilise some to farm among others.

“We are going to provide them with platforms to enable them do better job geared toward ameliorating the plight of women in the society,” Ajibola said.

Also, Mrs Yemisi Bankole, President of BPW, Karu Golden Club appreciated the national body for deeming it fit to inaugurate the club.

She said that though they are not that rich and financially buoyant, but the little they contributed to other people’s lives goes a long way to make such beneficiaries happy and further transform their lives.

Bankole called for the support of the Federal, State and Local government in the amelioration of the plight of the rural women.

According to her, rural women need governments’ support in the area of empowerment, skills and literacy acquisition among others.

Bankole, however, attributed the high rate of maternal, infant mortality in the country to lack of education.

16 Teams for Savannah Conference Volleyball League No fewer than 16 teams will participate in the 2018 Savannah Conference of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) League in Kaduna.

Jacob Dickson, member of North-West League Management Committee Made the disclosure to journalists on Monday in Kaduna.

Dickson said the event was scheduled for June 22 to July 1, adding that the nine-day competition would feature eight male teams and an equal number of female teams.

“These are the teams that qualified to round of 16 from the four zones of the North during the zonal eliminations held earlier this year,’’ he said in a statement.

According him, the female teams are: North East: Wikki Bauchi, Spatan Yola; NorthWest: Kada Emeralds of Kaduna and Zamfara State VBallers.

From North-Central: Benue Queens and Plateau Rocks and Federal Zone: NSCDC and Immigration.

The male teams are: North East: Spartan of Yola and Wikki Bauchi; North West: Kano Pillars and Kada Kings of Kaduna, while NorthCentral has Plateau Rock and Niger Brass and Federal Zone: NSCDC and Immigration.

News 10

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Delta communities protest absence of banks Nosa Akenzua, Asaba Angry indigenes of two Delta communities on Monday protested the absence of banking institutions in the areas.

The protesters, reports said, were armed with broken bottles, and cutlasses as they took to various streets chanting war songs, demanding for the immediate operations of banking institutions in Isiokolo, kokori, Okpara water land, Ethiope local government area of Delta state.

Although the protest caused

serious tension in the areas, but eyewitness, Jacob Movie told our reporter that there was causality as the protest lasted several hours before they were stopped by security agents.

It was gathered that residents and indigenes of the areas currently pay through their noses at POS stands to secure cash withdrawals, and in most cases they pay N100.00 for withdrawal, others attract N1000.00 and above.

It was further gathered that the higher the amount a customer is withdrawing, the higher the interest it will attract

for the transaction fee.

But investigation revealed that the POS usually fail over network problems as the POS operators make huge profit from the business on daily basis, a situation the angry residents described as punishment.

Speaking to our reporter, leader of the protesting residents, Okiemutie Ogheneovo said “why is it difficult for us to have Banks in our areas? We are suffering, most times, we will travel to Ughelli Town, how can we cope with this mess?

We will continue to speak until government or whoever will

answer us, sometimes while coming from Ughelli robbers may attack us, take the money from us”.

Also, Godwin Ukane who spoke in the same vain said “POS operators are milking us dry in this part of Delta state, they know if we like it or not, we must withdraw money, we are suffering in these areas, we want Banks.”

A POS operator who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity noted that the business sometimes will be reduced following network problems, but expressed

concerns that the only hindrance to their business more often is network.

Further investigation revealed that Isiokolo, Okpara water land, Kokori are under continued siege of armed robbery, a situation that informed Bank executives’ decision to move out of the areas to Ughelli town.

However, the police spokesman in the state, DSP Aniamaka Andrew said the problems have been the youths who allegedly work with armed robbers to attack Banking institutions.

L-R: Chairman, International Chamber of Commerce, Nigeria (ICCN), Mr. Babatunde Savage; Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Nominees Ltd, Mr. Akeem Oyewale; and ICCN Board Member, Mr. Segun Olugboyegun, at the ICCN Annual General Meeting in Lagos supported by Stanbic IBTC Bank in Lagos.

JAMB to hold 2018 admission policy meeting in Osun The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has fixed June 26 for the 2018 admission policy meeting to kick-start the admission process into the nation’s tertiary institutions.

The JAMB Head of Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made this known to journalsits on Monday in Lagos.

Benjamin said; “The main reason for the meeting is to define all modalities for admission of qualified

candidates into the nation’s tertiary institutions for the 2018/2019 academic session.

“The board has concluded arrangements for this year’s admission policy meeting with all stakeholders in the education sector.

“This kind of meeting is to give room for contributions as well as ensure fairness and equity in the conduct of the 2018/2019 admission process.

“We are expecting in attendance all heads of tertiary institutions across the country.

“We shall be convening this meeting, for the first time, in the South-West, Osun precisely.

“All the South-West governors have been invited coupled with other critical stakeholders.

“To ensure that there is no misrepresentation of facts or information, there will be a live coverage of the meeting on NTA from 11:30a.m. to 1:30p.m, so that Nigerians can follow the proceedings,” he said.

Benjamin said that in addition, Nigerians would also be able to get firsthand information on how the admission would be conducted, especially the requirements needed.

He assured Nigerians that the board would continue to ensure it brought on board innovations and reforms that would give the candidates an edge over admission process challenges.

“Our determined objective is to ensure that every prospective candidate is treated fairly and

equally under a transparent platform.

“We will also continue to strive to open up the space for healthy competition.

“As it was done in 2017, this year’s admission process will also be conducted through the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS).

“This system eliminates all human interference in the admission exercise, where candidates are selected purely on the basis of defined criteria,” Benjamin said.

SMEDAN urges financial institutions to ease SMEs access to funds The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), has urged financial institutions to design programmes that will enable small businesses easily access funds.

Director General of SMEDAN, Mr Dikko Radda, made the call in an interview with news men in Abuja on Monday.

Radda said that funding had been the major challenge for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria.

He said that the Federal Government has done a lot to ensure that funding would not be an issue to SMEs in the country.

According to him, the agency has been pleading with financial institutions to have a programme that will eliminate the difficulties small businesses encounter trying to access funds.

He said that government had a lot of funding programmes for SMEs but the problem had been the process of obtaining the loans.

“In an effort to help SMEs access loans, we are in the process of establishing SMEs Rating Agency of Nigeria in collaboration with the Bank of Industry (BOI), Nigeria Export and Import (NEXIM) Bank and Dun and Bradstreet Nigeria Limited.

“SMEs in the country have suffered high mortality rate largely due to inadequate finance to sustain their enterprises,’’ Radda said.

The DG also said that the rating of small and medium enterprises would enable them secure financing from banks.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria has established National Collateral Registry of Nigeria to improve access to finance particularly for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Radda said that the collateral registry would facilitate the use of movable or personal assets as collateral that remained in possession or control of the borrowers and thereby improved access to secured finance.

“You can use your movable assets for example generator, car and machine even gold as far as it is registered to access funds,’’ he said.

Radda said that the establishment of the Development Bank of Nigeria to address the major financing challenges facing MSMEs in Nigeria was a welcome development.

He expressed dismay that SMEDAN was not represented in the bank’s board.

“There should be an agency that can represent the interest of SMEs at the board of the bank,’’ he said.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday June 19 , 2018

Politics

11

Osun will see dramatic changes if I become governor – Akogun Oyewumi Akogun Kamorudeen Oyewumi is a gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Osun State in the July 14, 2018 governorship primaries. In this interview with JIDE OKE, Oyewumi speaks on his dream for Osun State and other sundry issues.

Where are you specifically coming from in terms of political arrangement?

Yes, I started politics at a tender age, during the Second Republic. Since then I have been fully engaged in Osun politics when I contested to represent my Constituency at the House of Representative, Abuja which I won. I later came back to my local government, Irewole and contested for the Chairmanship seat which I won twice on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

During my tenure I was elected, Chairman Association of Local Government Chairmen (ALGON) Osun State from 2003 to 2007. Not only that I was also appointed by the Federal Government as the Commissioner, National Population Commission (NPC) to represent Osun State in Abuja from 2012 to 2017. From the profile, you could see that I am politically loaded as a grassroots politician.

How is Akogun Oyewumi preparing for the primary election of your party?

I am fully prepared for the governorship primaries scheduled for July 14, 2018. I have satisfied all the laid down rules and guidelines provided for by the party constitution. I am also working day and night, meeting with all the relevant stakeholders to ensure my victory at the primaries. So far, so good, I have done my homework and I leave the rest to God. There are over 20 aspirants contesting the governorship primaries on the PDP platform.

What is your reaction to this?

As a matter of fact, that is the beauty of democracy. That is to tell you that PDP as a party is a reliable and formidable political party where people want to be associated with. To me PDP as a party is living up to expectation.

A situation where you see a crowd of people struggling for a position and nobody is complaining then there is mutual understanding, but in a situation you see somebody complaining it means something has gone wrong somewhere.

So, the number of aspirants notwithstanding, it is a welcome development.

God willing, if I emerge the next governor of Osun State after the September 22, 2018 governorship election, Osun will see some dramatic changes within the first two years of governance as all areas of human needs hitherto neglected by the present administration will be addressed to give succour to the generality of the people of the state. With compassionate love, I will also muster all within our little resources and allocation from the federation account to undertake various projects and also put smiles on the faces of the people of the state.

Akogun Oyewumi Considering the fact that charity begins at home, could you please tell us what the people of Osun West Senatorial District will look at and be motivated to support your ambition?

Well, there are certain special things that have happened in one’s life time. There are so many things I have done which I don’t like to mention at the moment which to the glory of God cut across the Osun West Senatorial District. Back home in Irewole, my local government, when I was the chairman I engaged in a lot of community projects, in the area of education, health, roads, poverty alleviation programme, scholarship awards, help to indigent people, widows and provision of other social amenities to the communities in the local government. I have also been fully engaged in Islamic and Christian

activities not only within the local government but also across the state. All these are not narrowed down to our state. I have done my best within my capacity as a human being and I leave the rest for people to judge me.

Now you want to govern Osun State; how prepared are you for the task ahead?

“

There has been conscious efforts on the part of your supporters to sell your candidature as the gubernatorial candidate in Osun State come September, 2018; is their effort yielding fruitful result?

Well it is a well thought out position, it is a well thought out ambition. Well thought out in terms of consulting, in terms of assessing the situation on the ground. And well thought out in terms of self-assessment. And after all these, we thought that it is the right thing to go for such position, because we believe we have what it takes to win the election. We have what it takes to run the elections. We have what it takes to run a successful administration because that is the most important thing. Winning election is not enough. Being in government is not enough, but running a successful administration is a major one. It is the most important thing and we believe very strongly that we will achieve this. Talking about administration, we know

God willing, if I emerge the next governor of Osun State after the September 22, 2018 governorship election, Osun will see some dramatic changes within the first two years of governance as all areas of human needs hitherto neglected by the present administration will be addressed to give succour to the generality of the people of the state. With compassionate love, I will also muster all within our little resources and allocation from the federation account to undertake various projects and also put smiles on the faces of the people of the state

”

what the problems on ground are and what are begging for immediate attention. And we have plans already on ground to find solution to them. So finding solution to those problems has to be dynamic. That means we have to be very proactive. All in all, we are looking at every programme for every sector with the sole aim of improving the economic well being of the people of the state.

Would you say you have fully represented your people in Isokan, Ayedaade and Irewole since your sojourn in Osun politics, first as honourable member and as Executive Chairman of Irewole Local Government?

Well, I think I have tried in all issues to always put the masses of our people at the back of my mind before casting my vote.

I have also tried to weigh the options before me, before taking a decision. By and large, I have tried as humanly possible to project the views, aspiration and yearnings of the people while in the House of Representatives and as Chairman Irewole Local Government Council. So, to a large extent I will say I have tried my best, but then again the electorates have the final say that a particular person has done so well and I am confident that I will get a pass mark any day.

Sir, how has it been to be fully involved in Osun State politics?

It has been an interesting experience. It affords one the opportunity to meet with different people, exchange ideas and all that. It also affords one the necessary exposure from local politics to national politics. It is quite interesting.

Just recently Senator Iyiola Omisore decamped to the SDP with his supporters, what is your reaction to this?

I have been avoiding to discuss personalities, but let me tell you that his exit will not cast any dent on the hold of our party in the state. We are on the ground and we are not scared at all. The only good thing is that he played his hand early and that has been put to rest. The more, the merrier; the more they are, the more exciting and challenging it becomes. From experience, I have never had an election put on my laps. I have had to struggle for it. None of them has been given to me on a platter of gold.

Politics 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Lagos APC factional chairman Oki sets agenda for party

SDP chair assures on electoral success in Osun

Patrick Okohue

Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in Osun State, Alhaji Ademola Ishola has boasted that the party would uproot the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from power in the September 22, 2018 governorship election in the state.

Ademola in a chat with The Daily Times in Osogbo, at the inauguration of the local government working committees of the party said that the people of the state are seriously yearning for changes in the coming election.

According to him, the eight years of maladministration of the APC had forced the people of the state to move enmass to support the SDP for the much desired change.

The Chieftain averred that the SDP would right all the wrongs perpetrated by the Rauf Aregbesola led government through conscious efforts and the burning desire to secure the people.

“What do you need to say than to congratulate the people of the state of virtue for coming on board of the SDP to the Nigeria political landscape? SDP would definitely uproot the APC from governance” he boasted.

Ishola added that the leadership of the SDP would afford party members opportunity to nominate only credible candidate to contest elections, unlike the APC which is noted for imposing candidates on electorate.

He said, “Our party is people oriented, the masses are our backbone.

We cannot afford to disappoint them.

This is our guarding spirit.”

The SDP Chieftain however appealed for more support for the party at all levels while calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be fair and just to all political parties in the coming election in the state, in the interest of peace and stability in the system.

The factional Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Fouad Oki has declared that it is time to restore Lagos back to the original owners, citing the expiration of the era of impunity and illegality.

Oki made this assertion while speaking at the first constituency meeting of his faction in Alimosho, he unequivocally condemned the deliberate attempt to unconstitutionally pocket the APC in the state, by a number of party opportunist who felt threatened by his stance to change the ugly trend.

The thoroughbred Lagosian raised three posers which according to him, the other faction must accord credible answers to.

He asks; what did the Constitution say about internal democracy? What is stated in the Electoral Act as amended on party congresses? What does the guideline say about jurisdiction?

“Don’t join issues with them when they abuse me, but tell them to address the issues on ground, the impunity and illegality must stop, we taught them politics, I have been campaign manager for four times now, it is no joke, quite unprecedented.

“Councilors from INEC recognised wards can participate, if such hold sway 245 wards will be the result, but all dubious characters can’t do it right, that informs why I said they don’t want Ambode to be governor, this bunch of quacks can produce nothing credible.

“I have countered illegalities before and would continually do, I once confronted Ajomale when

Fouad Oki after six month he noted there won’t be need for executive meetings, six months after saying we have met the standards, I deferred and told him if we called for meeting and he refused to attend we shall remove him.

“I remain steadfast and will never stand against truth, fairness, equity and justice, these reasons made me had issues with many people as after AD we met ourselves in three sole proprietor owned parties; AC,ACN,APC where the owner dictates the tune, we shall return the party back to the people they will finance it.

“No harmonisation, no retreat no surrender, we shall not seat with them to share anything, darkness will not prevail over light, we are

in court for the interpretation of laws and guidelines.

“I urge Alimosho whenever the candidates shows interest don’t give preferential treatment, there would longer be any room for consensus candidates again, we will go out and vote and accept the people’s will, that they are not ready to do, we are victorious already because we have the number.

“We would hold our ground strong, internal democracy has come to stay, never again would we allow godfatherism or imposition; we are respecters of the law and would stick by it.”

He noted that members should brace up for new registration as the initial registration branded by the

other faction has crashed and not reckoned with at the national, “that one is not authentic.”

“Immediately after Ramadan membership registration would commence and in three weeks you will have your membership card, that would put paid to slip issue,”Oki said.

Also speaking at the meeting, Alhaji Olu Bakare the State Vice Chairman Lagos West, who affirmed the position of the party to do away with irregularities and illegality, noted that the party would no longer tolerate imposition.

“Here in Alimosho we are the pacesetter for good governance from the time when I was state Chairman for SDP, the like of Tunde Balogun were my foot soldiers, all we are out to state is that APC is one, but we are up against impunity.

“We shall not give in to consensus again since they have chosen not to do the right thing, we shall ensure constitutionality and compliance with electoral procedures in Lagos State.”

Hon. Wale Okedara, a state exofficio who also harped on the need to ensure total shift from what used to be the norm, where someone just arrogate too much influence not considering the need for even distribution of wealth to make the society develop.

According to Okedara the faction of the party would stand for what is right at all times not minding whose ox is gored, “as the impunity has cost us a lot.”

Over 2000 party faithful were in attendance, besides those who could not gain access into the venue due to the crowd.

Jide Oke

Crisis imminent in Osun APC over Aregbesola’s successor Jide Oke

A fresh crisis is brewing in the camp of the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), over who succeeds outgoing Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, in the September 22, 2018 governorship election in the state.

The crisis is not a physical one, but crisis of wisdom against the interest of one person who wants to be a domineering factor in a state with diverse ethnic groups.

Dependable Daily Times source hinted that the national leader of APC and erstwhile governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Osun State governor; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola are at the centre of the crisis which if not urgently settled may tear the party to pieces.

The source said that the two gladiators are sponsoring different candidates for the plum job in the September 22, governorship election.

While Asiwaju Tinubu is said to be sponsoring the incumbent Chief of Staff to Governor Aregbesola, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, the governor is said to be in a dilemma over who to support between his bosom friend and retired Permanent Secretary in the state Mr. Adelere Adeyemi Oriolowo and Tinubu’s Political godson.

Tinubu was said to have insisted on the candidature of Gboyega Oyetola because of the fact that they are blood related brothers from Iragbaji in Boripe Local Government Area of the state, and that he has served Aregbesola’s government meritoriously for eight years as Chief of Staff, hence the need to be compensated with the plum job.

The unfolding scenario now points to an imminent crisis in the fold of the All Progressive Congress in the state as the two political gladiators are spoiling for showdown.

The situation is also compounded

by the decision of the leadership of the party in the state, to field home-based candidate rather than

to allow somebody to impose a candidate who is not acceptable to the electorate and familiar with the

Bola Tinubu

Gov Aregbesola

politics of the state as the party flag bearer in the governorship poll.

Against this background, APC leadership in the state, who saw the crisis signal have prevailed on the duo to allow for fair play in the emergence of a credible candidate through a free and a fair primary for all the aspirants eyeing the Bola Ige House.

They vowed that all the aspirants would still have to pass through the primaries according to due process before a flag bearer emerge.

As of the last count, over 20 aspirants have signified their intentions to contest the gubernatorial primaries scheduled for July 7, 2018.

They are Elder Chief Peter Adebayo Babalola, Surveyor Babatunde Taiwo, Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, Barrister Nathaniel Oke, Chief Sunday Akere, former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, Engr. Oriolowo, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, Ezekiel Oyebola Oyemomi among others.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

13

Editorial Commentary OUR POSITION Ex-Governors’ convictions and matters arising

T

he conviction and sentencing of former Taraba State Governor Jolly Nyame and his Plateau State counterpart, Joshua Dariye, within two weeks interval represent a sad reminder of the pervading corruption of our time.

It is painful that their convictions came approximately 10 years after they were charged to court. But the good news is that they made the list of former executive governors convicted of corruption practices. Others include former Adamawa State Governor Bala James Ngilari, whose case is pending on appeal at Supreme Court, Chief James Ibori of Delta State, who served his sentence in London and Chief Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State who wriggled out of severe sentencing in a controversial plea bargain in 2011 with N500 million and three properties.

We commend the courage of Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory High Court who on 30th, May, 2018 convicted and sentenced Nyame to 14 years imprisonment without an option of fine for misappropriating N250m and N180m.

Equally commendable is the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the prosecuting agency which appears to have jettisoned the plea bargain policy after the unfortunate Police pension fraud trial episode in which a pension thief, Teidi Shuaibu, was asked to pay a ridiculous fine and became a free man.

Nyame, a two term Governor of Taraba State

was found guilty of 27 out of the 41- count charge filed against him on May 13, 2007 by the EFCC. The court found that Nyame has breached the trust reposed on him by the people of Taraba State who in three separate occasions elected him as the governor of Taraba State.

Therefore, the court imposed a maximum of 14 years imprisonment for each of the count on criminal breach of trust, two years jail term for misappropriation, seven years jail term for gratifications and five years for obtaining property without appropriation.

But all the sentences are running concurrently, which implied that the convict would spend 14 years in prison.

Similar fate befell Dariye, who also served a two - four- year term as the executive governor of Plateau State. He also perpetuated corruption in his own state.

According to documents in court and in his own hand writing at the back of his complementary card, Dariye authorised the diversion of N1.16 billion Ecological Fund meant for Plateau State, to his personal use, including transferring N176.8million to Ebenezer Retnan Ventures (an unregistered company managed by him) and Pinnacle Communications Limited.

Justice Banjoko, in a landmark judgment delivered on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, convicted Dariye, a serving senator on 15 out the 23 counts preferred against him in July 2007.

His offences includes criminal breach of

Historical Times in Pictures

trust and criminal misappropriation. He was sentenced as provided for under sections 315 and 309 of the Penal Code Act. Evidence of impunity and corruption on the part of the convict were so overwhelming that judge exclaimed while reading the judgment “I can’t imagine such a brazen act. Is it the transfer of as much as about half a billion naira from the state’s Ecological Fund into a personal venture account? Everybody is a victim here,” the Judge said.

The public has received the judgments with relieve that at last after 13 years of trial, justice appeared to have been done while in certain quarters protests are still ongoing over the verdicts. It is not our habit or culture to praise sing convicts rather we see them and their acts as disgraceful. They should be look upon with disdain.

Any convict who is not satisfied with lower court’s judgment has a right of appeal against his or her sentence.

We are of the opinion that 13 years trial of Nyame and Dariye and many ongoing high profile cases have exposed the inherent weaknesses in our criminal justice system delivery that is bugged down by delays and technicalities.

We therefore call on every judicial official in the temple of justice to faithfully implement the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015 and endure speedy dispensation of cases as justice delay is justice denied.

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S I G N AT U R E Publisher

Folio Communications Plc

1959 Asaba-Onitsha Ferry (1959)

The opinions expressed in the articles published in this newspaper are solely those of the authors.

Articles may be reproduced, provided that the original source is indicated.

Opinion 14

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

June 12: Buhari’s action illegal, unconstitutional

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Ben Nwabueze

he question of primary interest to us here concerns the legal aspects of the President’s Declaration, which raise three issues of some intricacy , viz (a) whether what he calls the cancellation of the June 12 election by the then Military Government is binding legally on him and Nigerians generally, or putting it differently, whether as President he has the power or competence to overturn or disregard the cancellation without an Act of the National Assembly repealing it; (b) the legal effects of the cancellation; and (c) whether the President’s 6th June Declaration does not require, as a condition for its effectiveness in law, that the results of the June 12 election should have been officially announced and Chief Abiola officially declared its winner.

Binding force of the annulment of the June 12 election by a Decree of the Federal Military Government (FMG) It is as indisputable that a presidential election was, as a matter of fact, held on June 12, 1993 as that the said election was, as a matter both of fact and law, annulled by a Decree of the Federal Military Government (FMG) Decree No. 61 of 1993. The binding force, or rather the supremacy, of Decrees of the FMG has a history which it is appropriate to recall here. The issue of the binding force or supremacy of Decrees was settled with finality 48 years ago by the Federal Military Government (Supremacy and Enforcement of Powers) Decree 1970 reenacted by Decree 13 of 1984 made by Gen Buhari as the then Head of the FMG. (He, Gen Buhari, enacted 37 Decrees during his one year rule in 1984 as Head of the FMG). Even the 1999 Constitution from which he derives his authority as President to make the June 6 Declaration is the product of a Decree, Decree 24 of 1999 to which that Constitution is scheduled. The 1999 Constitution itself, in its section 315(4)(d), recognises the annulment Decree 61 of 1993 as an existing law. So President Buhari has no moral right or justification to disregard or disdain Decree 61 of 1993 or to do things as please him, as if that law does not exist.

Nigeria is or is supposed to be a lawgoverned state, a state of law where the Rule of Law reigns and governs not only the lives and affairs of people in society, but also the actions of government. It is an axiomatic principle, accepted nearly by all, that democracy cannot meaningfully exist or function without the Rule of Law any more than it can meaningfully exist or function without Justice. Nigeria itself cannot exist without the Rule of Law – and Justice too.

Of the two cardinal principles of governance, the Rule of Law is more fundamental and overriding, since the Justice talked about is justice according to law. The alternative to the Rule of Law is anarchy and the ruin of communal life. Respect for the Rule of Law must not therefore be sacrificed to the need for Justice. We must strive to pursue and maintain both subject to the more overriding demands of the Rule of Law. Nigeria, our dear country, should not be turned into a state where the President can, in his unfettered whim, set aside the law or do things contrary to the law; his June 6 2018 Declaration clearly affronts the law. The annulment of the June 12 1993 election is admittedly loathesome to millions of Nigerians because of its injustice, inhumanity and its culmination in the sad death of its presumed winner, Chief Abiola; its error has been acknowledged and duly apologised for by its author, Gen Babangida. The annulment should therefore be set aside, but that should be done in due form of

law, i.e. in a manner required by law, meaning by an Act of the National Assembly, not by the President’s unilateral Declaration unbacked by an enabling law. The process of getting an enabling law enacted may take more time than is agreeable, but it is better to follow the process dictated by law.

Legal effects of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election by a Decree of the FMG The legal effects of nullity are authoritatively stated by Lord Denning in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in an appeal from the West African Court of Appeal in Macfoy v.

United Africa Co. Ltd [1961] 3 WLR 1405 at pp. 1409 – 1410: “If an act is void, then it is in law a nullity. It is not only bad, but incurably bad. There is no need for an order of the Court to set it aside. It is automatically null and void without more ado, though it is sometimes convenient to have the court declare it to be so. And every proceeding which is founded on it is also bad and incurably bad. You cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stay there. It will collapse.” (emphasis supplied).

Lord Denning’s statement of the law on the point was echoed by Oputa JSC in Adejumo v. Ayantegba [1989] 3 NWLR (pt. 110) 417 at p. 451. Said he: “If a transaction is void, it is in law a nullity, not only bad, but incurably bad and nothing can be founded on it, for having no life of its own, it cannot vivify anything.” (emphasis supplied).

The legal implication is thus that an act or transaction which is a nullity is in law regarded as having no existence or never to have come into existence at all. Both Lord Denning M.R. in Macfoy v. United Africa Co. Ltd [1961] 3 WLR 1409 – 1410 and Oputa JSC in Adejumo v. Ayantegbe [1989] 3 NWLR (Pt 110) 417 at page 451 describe it as amounting to “nothing”.

Its non-existence or nothingness arises from operation of law and does not depend on a court’s decision declaring it null and void, which only re-affirms and reinforces its inherent nullity. The dictionary definition is at one with the law on this. Collins English Dictionary defines “nullify”, and “void” as “having no effect or existence”. “Nullity” is defined in New Webster’s Dictionary of the English Language as “nothingness”.

It follows that the annulled June 12 election, deemed in law not to have taken place and to have no existence and therefore to amount to nothing, cannot vivify or give life to anything; June 12 cannot be declared Democracy Day and a public holiday, and Chief Abiola the “presumed” winner of the June 12 election and his running mate, Amb. Kingibe, cannot be awarded the national honour of GCFR and GCON respectively based on their presumed victory in the June 12 election. Both the declaration and the award are illegal, null and void; the annulment Decree, No. 61 of 1993, an existing law under section 315(4)(d) of the 1999 Constitution, must first be repealed – with effect from a date before June 12, 1993 – before the declaration and the award can legally or lawfully be made. The point being made here, and on which we insist, is that, as a country committed to respect for the Rule of Law, the law should be duly followed and not disregarded, as if we are still in a military dictatorship.

Whether the President’s 6th June Declaration does not require, as a condition for its effectiveness, that the results of the June 12 election should have been officially announced and Chief Abiola officially declared its winner The repeal of the annulment Decree, No. 61 of 1993, does not dispose of all

the legal issues arising from President Buhari’s 6th June 2018 momentous Declaration. It is not enough for the purposes of the law to presume Chief Abiola as the winner of the June 12, 1993 election, whatever that means. To presume something means, according to its dictionary definition, to “suppose or believe without examination; to assume beforehand”. The results o the June 12, 1993 election should have been officially announced and Chief Abiola should have officially declared its winner to form a legally valid basis for the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day to be henceforth observed and celebrated as a public holiday in the country, and before Chief Abiola can be awarded and invested with the national honour of GCFR, the highest honour that is reserved for a President of Nigeria.

He cannot be President-elect, which is necessary to qualify him to be so to be treated, unless the results of the election have been officially announced and he has been officially declared elected.

The law is clear and emphatic on the matter. Section 70 of the Electoral Act in force today (June 11, 2018) provides: “In an election to the office of the President or Governor whether or not contested and in any contested election to any other elective office, the result shall be ascertained by counting the votes cast for each candidate and [the candidate that satisfied] the provisions of sections 133, 134 and 179 of the Constitution……..shall be declared elected by the appropriate Returning Officer”; The word “declared” is italicized to emphasise that a candidate “deemed duly elected” under section 179 of the Constitution must formally be “declared elected by the appropriate returning officer” under section 70 of the Act. The National Assembly has proposed that the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) should now formally announce the results of the June 12 1993 election and declare Chief Abiola its winner. This proposal raises the question whether INEC, constituted under the 1999 Constitution (section 153), has the competence to announce the results of an election that took place 25 years ago, and declare a candidate under it the winner, so as to constitute him President-elect. The power of INEC, as conferred on it by paragraph 15 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution, is power, among other things, “to organise, undertake and supervise” presidential and other listed elections. By its terms, the power is power to organize, undertake and supervise elections in the present and in the future; it does not authorize or enable the Commission to do anything in relation to an election that took place in the past – 25 years ago – and organized and conducted by a differently constituted Electoral Commission. It may be that under the residual clause of paragraph 15 above authorizing INEC to “carry out such other functions as may be conferred upon it by an Act of the National Assembly”, the Assembly may make a law enabling INEC in the behalf. Even so, the problem will still remain as to how the provision of section 70 of the Electoral Act is to be complied with, having regard to the specificity of the words “shall be declared elected by the appropriate Returning Officer”; the reference is to the particular returning officer involved in or who took part in the conduct of the particular election.

President Buhari’s 6th June 2018 Declaration disdains the law of the land in other respects The sacroscanctity and supremacy of the Rule of Law, as a principle in the government of society, need to be

reinterated. Although not expressly enshrined by name in our Constitution, as is done in some of the modern constitutions in the world, like the Constitutions of Romania and Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia’s Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, all three adopted in 1991 after the collapse of communism in the 1989 – 90y worldwide democratic revolution, the Rule of Law is embodied and incorporated in our Constitution as an inarticulate major premise, to borrow the pithy phrase of the great Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Thus, the supremacy of the Constitution, as provided in its section 1(1), enures, by extension, to the Rule of Law, as incorporated in it as an inarticulate major premise, overriding any action or declaration of government that is inconsistent with the principle: section 1(3).

The question again arises whether the posthumous awards of the national honours of GCFR and GCON to Chief Abiola and Chief Fawehinmi respectively accord or are consistent with the law of the land – National Honours Act. The Act does not, by its express provisions, authorize posthumous awards, nor do those provisions give any indication that they contemplate posthumous awards. The indication is indeed to the contrary; it (the indication) comes from the provision that “a person”, meaning a living, not a dead person, “shall not be eligible for appointment to any rank of an Order unless he is a citizen of Nigeria”, and that “a person shall be appointed to a particular rank of an Order when he receives from the President in person at an investiture held for the purpose (a) the insignia appropriate for that rank; and (b) an instrument under the hand of the President and the public seal of the Federation declaring him to be appointed to that rank”.

The words “when he receives from the President in person” exclude posthumous awards, a view that derives support from the fact that no posthumous award had ever been made in the past to any one before the awards to Chief Abiola and Chief Fawehinmi. There is, however, a provision in the Act that seems to give a lot of leeway to the President. It says : “The President may, by warrant, make provision for the award of titles of honour, decorations and dignities”.

It may be that posthumous awards are not authorized by the Act as a matter of policy decision. If so the Act needs to be amended to change the policy.

President Buhari could not have been more disdainful, and more careless, he could not have made a greater mockery, of the Rule of Law than by his announcement on June 6, 2018 of the decision of the Federal Government that “henceforth June 12 will be celebrated as Democracy Day”, knowing, as he well does, that May 29 is enacted by law, the Public Holidays Act, as Democracy Day, and that that could not be changed to June 12, except by amendment of the Act, not by mere presidential Declaration; and that his wishes, intentions and whims, however pure and benevolent, are not law, as in the days of the absolutist military dictatorship when laws could be made simply by word of mouth, later to be put in written form by Decree or Edict. It is incredible that, knowing all this but still believing himself to be an absolute ruler, he went ahead to organize the farce of commemoration ceremony on June 12 at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa. His perception of himself as absolute ruler is antithetical to constitutional democracy, and constitutes a danger to the country. He should be made to shed that perception of himself.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

15 Column

Obasanjo and the fangs of June 12 Times Columnist shola oshunkeye

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Even if politics was the primary motive of President Muhammadu Buhari for honouring Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, for proclaiming June 12 as Democracy Day, and for apologising to the Abiola Family, and Nigerians, for the grave injustice done them over the June 12, 1993 historic vote, then, I will beg the president to play more of that politics

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ven if politics was the primary motive of President Muhammadu Buhari for honouring Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, for proclaiming June 12 as Democracy Day, and for apologising to the Abiola Family, and Nigerians, for the grave injustice done them over the June 12, 1993 historic vote, then, I will beg the president to play more of that politics.

Nigeria needs more of such politics.

Our country needs the politics of truth and reconciliation. Politics that heals past wounds and corrects the wrongs of years long gone. Politics that takes power from self-conceited political landlords and places it squarely in the hands of the people. Indeed, we need the kind of politics that, like in our extant case, redeems the times and clears the mess created by oppressors who never thought June 12 could happen. But when it happened, they chose to dance on the graves of the martyrs who watered the seed with their blood.

In a way, it was good that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo did not attend Tuesday’s special awards in Abuja. He couldn’t make it because, according to the apology he sent to the president, he had to participate in a summit in Norway.

Had he attended, he would have seen his own political obituary. It was on that day, June 12, 2018, that Buhari drove the last nail that sealed Obasanjo’s political coffin.

Had he attended the awards, I would have loved to see his reaction that moment when President Buhari handed the GCFR plaque to Kola, Abiola’s first son. Also, I would have loved to see the expression on his face when Hafsat Abiola-Costello made that moving post-award response in which she referred to some persons as political “landlords”.

For me, last Tuesday’s conferment and Buhari’s apology effectively buried the political remains of, not General Ibrahim Babangida who annulled the election, Obasanjo, who long before he was jailed by General Sani Abacha, did his best to help other June 12 haters to inter the phenomenon. Recall that it was Obasanjo who, while the country was burning over the annulment, declared that the best candidates do not necessarily win elections. He took that line from the same verse he delivered in 1979 when the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo felt he had been robbed of the presidency during that year’s elections. Recall also that, at the peak of the agitation to reclaim June 12, the self-same Obasanjo travelled to South Africa and told the world that Abiola was not the messiah Nigeria needed.

Yes, it was an open secret that Obasanjo collaborated with some northern oligarchs and some traitors in the South-West to bury June 12. What they never knew was that June 12, by the power and fury of right-thinking Nigerians, had become practically unkillable, like the phoenix.

Like the phoenix, the more they tried to burn it and consign it to the grave, the faster it rose from its own ashes, and the more energetic it became.

On Tuesday, June 12, 2018, those

who tried to kill June 12, 1993, met their nemesis. Buhari, with that apology, sincere or concocted, drove the last nail into their political coffins. The apology effectively neutralised Obasanjo and his co-travellers, and practically inaugurated them into Nigeria’s Hall of Shame, which Professor Wole Soyinka canvassed in his brief speech during the ceremony.

Well, like in all matters democratic, not all Nigerians have supported the presidential proclamation of Wednesday, June 6, 2018. With a stroke of his pen, President Buhari, on that day, proclaimed June 12 as Democracy Day, conferred the national award of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Abiola; and Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), each, on Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, Abiola’s running mate in the election, and Chief Gani Fawehinmi.

The late Senior Advocate, together with other pro-democracy activists and labour, led the resistance against the wicked voiding of the people’s will. Many died in the struggle. Those who managed to survive bear the scars till date. For 25 years, the Abiola family bore the agony of that dark period without the faintest hope that their father and husband will ever get justice.

Yet, when justice eventually came on June 6, 2018, some still loathed it. They described it as a political scam; crass political opportunism; a rap-tap to lure an unsuspecting populace to the 2019 train of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The June 12 haters called it a sheer skank-hole where political scum resides.

No porn intended, please. There are those who disdained it in their closets but lacked the courage to say so publicly. Rather, they hid under some hideous legalese to latch at the ‘illegality’ of the epoch.

Dino Melaye, the senator representing Kogi West, still recuperating from his recent suicidal adventure, was in that pack. In voicing his objection, he leaned on the letter of the law and not its spirit.

During upper Thursday’s plenary, Melaye railed against the award, neck brace and all, and only stopped short of calling for Buhari’s impeachment. In Melaye’s warped imagination, Abiola had, on account of his death, become an alien, a non-Nigerian. Nothing can be more sickening than that perverted argument.

But in the din of the crowd, there were voices that rang out in very loud tenor praising the proclamation. They were the voices of compatriots who believed that correcting the grievous errors of the past is a super highway to realising the glorious Nigeria all patriots earnestly yearn for. The voices sooth the soul and please the heart. I belong to that group.

Like I said, I care less about the president’s motive but care more for the yield of his action. For 25 years, June 12 had been hanging there like a low-lying over-ripe fruit, waiting for someone to pluck it. For 25 years, June 12 lay there like a loose ball in front of an open goal,

waiting for a striker, just any striker, to tip it behind the net. None of the seven heads of state and presidents that held sway at the Villa during the period gave that watershed in Nigeria’s political process any serious thought. Like they say in Ajegunle, they all waka pass.

Rather than allow Abiola, his friend, to rule, then military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, voided the vote and abdicated the throne. Abacha, who succeeded Babangida, gave Abiola a crown of thorns and sent him to the gulag. Abiola died in confinement on July 7, 1998, after drinking tea in the presence of visiting American diplomats. A month earlier, June 8, 1998, Abacha himself had bitten the dust while allegedly cavorting with Indian prostitutes. The scarlet ladies were reportedly imported from Dubai to satiate the barbarous Emperor’s erotic desires.

The inclusion of Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, who won the mandate with the late businessman-turned-politician cast a shadow on the awards. After the ignoble annulment, Kingibe pandered to the northern oligarchy and regional interest, and dumped the mandate in a huff.

General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who succeeded Abacha, tried to convince Abiola to forget his mandate and move on.

The politician was resolute in his resolve to claim his mandate. He died under Abubakar’s nose. Some people have described both deaths as ‘government arrangement’, just like the legendary Fela sang years before.

As Abuja Bureau chief and State House correspondent of TELL magazine, I covered President Obasanjo for four-anda-half years. Throughout his presidency, Obasanjo, the greatest beneficiary of the sacrifice by Abiola and countless other martyrs, never mentioned a word about the politician or June 12. In fact, all you needed do to make him hit the roof or set the house on fire is to mention June 12. Those who know the ex-president intimately are not surprised by his reluctance to redress that monumental justice for his kinsman. They say he is illdisposed to anything that would enable anybody to outshine him. This, they add, also accounts for his letter-writing habit.

It is hard to blame President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua because of the infirmity that dogged his steps and eventually amputated his presidency. Had he enjoyed excellent health and finished his term, maybe he would have done something. Maybe.

President Jonathan, who finished Yar’Adua’s term, and ruled till 2015, thought he could make political capital of Abiola and June 12 by simply renaming the University of Lagos as Moshood Abiola University (MAU). He must have thought June 12 was a Kenya phenomenon and slamming an institution like UNILAG with a MAU MAU tag would placate its restless spirit. He goofed. The plan died on arrival. It is on record that President Jonathan dished out the highest number

of national awards. He honoured all sorts of characters, including comedians and looters; and pardoned ex-convicts.

Significant as last Tuesday was, it has not, in my estimation, brought closure to the June 12 saga. The inclusion of Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, who won the mandate with the late businessman-turned-politician cast a shadow on the awards. After the ignoble annulment, Kingibe pandered to the northern oligarchy and regional interest, and dumped the mandate in a huff. He jumped ship to serve under Abacha, Abiola’s tormentor-in-chief, as minister of Foreign Affairs (1993 and 1995).

To be fair to the Borno-born diplomat, he wasn’t the only pillar of June 12 that jumped ship. Some bigwigs in the Social Democratic Party, even some political heavyweights from Abiola’s South-West, also dumped the mandate and eloped with the dictator. They lied that Abiola donated them into the murderous regime with the hope that the dictator would, at some point, revalidate his mandate and install him president. That turned to be one of the biggest political scams of all times. They all became victims of their own greed. They rode on the back of a tiger and ended in its belly. …Buhari should etch his name deeper in gold by investigating the countless murders and other atrocities committed by the brutal Abacha regime and bring those found culpable to justice. If he’s able to do that, it would explicitly demonstrate to the whole world that, truly, Buhari belongs to everybody and yet to nobody.

All these happened at a time goons of the brutal dictator were mauling people in the streets of Lagos, perpetually muting voices of dissent wherever they may be.

That was how Kudirat Abiola, Pa Alfred Rewane, Harry Marshal, Suliat Adedeji, Bagauda Kaltho, etc. were callously murdered.

Although he had left government when, on June 9, 1996, Sergeant Rogers murdered Kudirat, wife of the man who should have been president, what did Kingibe, the man who would have been vice president, do or say? He was in silent mode. When history beckoned Kingibe to stand by the mandate, what did he do? He turned his gaze elsewhere. It seems life on Abacha’s red carpet, a carpet of blood, was so irresistible that Kingibe couldn’t do or say anything. But didn’t Wole Soyinka say that “The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny”?

Based on these, I submit: Kingibe’s participation and contribution to Abacha’s despotism and reign of terror marks him out as a rotten apple in the pack. That singular misadventure disentitles him from the award. However, some people have risen in Kingibe’s defence. They say he got it because of his position as one of President Buhari’s most trusted strategists.

Over all, the president richly deserves all the applause he has been getting over June 12. However, to effectively bring closure to the matter, he needs to cause Prof.

Humphrey Nwosu, the INEC chairman who supervised the June 12, 1993 vote, to declare the official results. Although the GCFR conferred, posthumously, on Abiola is a tacit confirmation that he won the vote, declaring the result officially will put a seal on it and settle all outstanding matters.

Lastly, Buhari should etch his name deeper in gold by investigating the countless murders and other atrocities committed by the brutal Abacha regime and bring those found culpable to justice.

If he’s able to do that, it would explicitly demonstrate to the whole world that, truly, Buhari belongs to everybody and yet to nobody.

God bless Nigeria.

News 16

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

2019: Cleric urges Nigerians to shun violence kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin Ahead of the 2019 general elections, a cleric, Abdul Rasaq Erubu, has urged Nigerians to refrain from violence and acts capable of truncating democratic structures.

The cleric gave the advice in llorin on Monday in a

sermon at a special prayer for Mr Tunde Mohammed on his elevation to the position of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP).

Erubu urged Nigerians to collectively work together toward ensuring violence-free elections irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliations.

He said no meaningful

development could be attained in an atmosphere of chaos and acrimony in any part of the country.

The cleric also advised politicians to abide by the rules and regulations governing the conduct of elections instead of promoting disputes.

The Magaji Nda of llorin, Alhaji Salihu Woru-

Mohamned, in his remarks advised residents of llorin Emirate to shun destructive tendencies in order to ensure successful polls in 2019.

He also advised residents of the emirate to shun acts capable of causing disaffection and disunity in the emirate.

The newly promoted CSP and Commander of the Special

Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Ekiti Police Command commended the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, for strengthening the squad.

He said the police leadership had taken appropriate steps to strengthen SARS to make it more effective rather than scrapping it.

Estate surveyors seek Kwara Govt’s patronage Estate Surveyors and Valuers under the umbrella of the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Kwara branch, have called on the state government to patronise local firms in order to boost economic activities in the state.

The state Chairman of the association, Mr Lanre Hassan,

made the call in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin on Monday.

Hassan decried the institution’s non-patronage by the State government, adding that this had been one of its major challenges.

“Our major challenge operating in Kwara is that the state government does not patronise us.

“They prefer to patronise the charlatans and quacks who will under-value the properties and at the end of the day, such properties are not able to stand the test of time.

“In our profession, we have statutory jobs and nonstatutory jobs; one of the things we do in our statutory duties is to bring the government

to our confines but there has been some resistance.

“Look at the tenement rate, the law says you should value the property before collecting tax, but the government is not acting in line with the law.

“As law-abiding professionals, we do not want to be confrontational but this is posing a big challenge to our operations.

“We want government patronage so that we can contribute our human resources to both the physical and economic development of the state,’’ he said.

The chairman warned quacks in the profession to desist from valuation of property, adding that anyone caught would be made to face the wrath of the law.

Governor Seriake Dickson (2nd R), his Deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah Retd (2nd L), in a group photograph with the Team Captain of the all-conquering St. Judes Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Basketball Team, Susan Odiowei (R), and the Most Valuable Player (MVP), of the Competition, Regina Donanu (L), when the 5-time Champions of the Milo National Schools Basketball Championships (Female Category) ), visited the Governor in Government House, Yenagoa, to present their Trophies to the Governor. Photo by Michael Owi.

Kaduna SUBEB to conclude recruitment of 13,665 teachers, 23 education secretaries The Kaduna State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB), says it will conclude the recruitment of 13,665 primary teachers for the public primary schools by the end of June.

The Executive Chairman of the board, Malam Nasiru Umar, disclosed this to journalists in Kaduna on Monday.

Umar said that of the 65,000 applicants who sat for the recruitment examination, 13,665 would be employed.

He said that marking of the examination scripts had been concluded and names of the successful applicants would soon be announced for interview to select the most qualified ones.

He explained that the interview for new teachers would conclude the recruitment process to fill the 25,000 vacancies earlier

announced in the state’s public primary schools.

The chairman said that 11,335 qualified teachers had earlier been recruited and deployed to the public primary schools across the state.

The state government had in November 2017 sacked about 22,000 alleged unqualified teachers in its primary schools and announced plans to recruit 25,000 qualified ones to replace them.

Umar also said that the board would soon conclude the process for the appointment of 23 Education Secretaries, adding that 128 applicants were interviewed for the positions.

The chairman said that those to be employed would be deployed to the 23 Local Government Education Authority offices in the state.

“The state government is doing all it can to ensure

qualitative teaching and learning in its public schools to enable them compete favourably with the private schools.

“We are training our teachers and we will continue to retrain them to

ensure quality.

“We recently distributed 104 motorcycles to our school support officers for school monitoring to ensure quality education in basic schools.

“We have also distributed

525,741 text books to public primary schools in the state for the teaching of Basic Science and Technology, English Language, Mathematics, Social Studies and Computer Science,” he said.

1 killed in Lagos cult clash

A deadly clash by two rival cult groups has resulted to the death of an unidentified man at Alapere in Ketu, near Lagos.

It was learnt that the incident took place at Modupe Street, off Kazeem Street in Alapere late on June 17.

A resident of the area, who claimed to have witnessed the fight told NAN that the cultists came from a nearby street, describing the area as a hotbed of cultist activities.

The Alapere cult war has

been on for more than three years, resulting to the death of no fewer than eight people within the period.

The source, who pleaded not to be identified, named the rival cults as members of Eiye and Aye confraternity.

“These cultists are always at war with each other, shooting guns at night all the time.

“Kazeem, Aminu and Akampson Streets near the transformer at Alapere are notorious for cult activities,” the source said.

The spokesman for the Lagos Police Command, Mr Chike Oti, confirmed the development, saying that the dead man was stabbed to death.

Oti said that the identity of the dead man was not yet known.

He said, however, that the body had been removed by policemen from the Alapere Division and deposited at a mortuary.

The spokesman said that no arrest had been made on the development.

Telecom workers call for local contents implementation The Private Telecommunication and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PTECSSAN), on Monday called for the implementation of the President’s Executive Order on local contents.

The President of PTECSSAN, Mr Oladapo Moses, made the call in an interview with the news men in Lagos, alleging increase in number of foreigners working in Nigeria.

Moses noted that four months after the executive order was signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, there had been no blue print for its implementation.

President Buhari signed the executive order on Feb. 2 to improve local contents in science, engineering and technology components.

The order, among others, prohibits the Ministry of Interior from giving visas to foreign workers whose skills are readily available in Nigeria.

Moses claimed that since the order was signed, the number of expatriates whose expertise was available in the country had continued to increased.

He said that if the trend was allowed to continue, the plans of the current administration to create 740,000 in the country would fail. ”The rate at which Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) grant expatriate quotas to foreign workers is worrisome. ”This is a direct abuse of the laws. Imagine an expatriate working in Nigeria as a Security Manager, Fleet Manager, Account Manager and Human Resource Manager. This is sad,” he said.

According to him, telecommunication companies keep Nigerian workers as casual or outsource staff while their foreign counterparts, some of who are less qualified, are treated with full benefits. ”This is against the laws as no Nigerian worker understudies the expatriates; rather the reverse is the case. ”We have companies with 30 per cent locals and 70 per cent foreigners as staff,” the union leader said.

Moses said it was wrong to believe that Nigerians in the telecommunication sector “still needed to learn forever, after over a decade of learning and teaching the supposed teachers.”

He said that some multinationals hid under redundancy policy to terminate employment of the indigenous workers only to bring in foreigners to take over their positions. ”The result is that Nigerians lose their jobs to foreign workers. ”We urge the MDA’s to immediately work with all labour unions in the information sector to nip this development in the bud,” he said.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

17 News

Osinbajo calls for dispute resolution mechanism Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday called for a strong and effective dispute resolution mechanism for economic growth and investment in Africa.

Osinbajo made the call in his opening remarks at the Third International Court of Arbitration Conference held in Lagos, organised by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

Theme of the conference is: “Viability of Arbitration in Africa, Thinking Globally, and Acting Locally.”

He said: “The existence of a strong and effective dispute resolution mechanism is a crucial driver for economic growth and investment in Africa.

“Investors, whether domestic or foreign, look beyond pure Economic fundamentals, to require assurance for effective legal frameworks for enforcement of awards and a credible judicial system, which gives them a reasonable level of comfort and confidence.’’

The vice president was represented by Dr Jumoke Oduwole, a Senior Special

Adviser to the President on Trade and Investment.

Osinbajo said: “In the past few decades, there has been an incredible expansion in global trade and investment, resulting in significant increase in the volume of arbitration cases in the continent.

“As a natural by-product, there has been an increase in the number of international arbitration proceedings resulting from investment disputes.

“However, while these arbitrators involve African parties or interest, most of these

arbitrators have their seats outside Africa and sometimes do not involve African institutions, law firms or legal practitioners.

“The situation is not peculiar to the African region; as a result, emerging economies have expressed concern about the perceived domination of international arbitration structures by the northern hemisphere.

“Therefore, ICC needs to do more to enhance its position as the foremost worldwide trade organisation, by championing issues of diversity and regional

Some of the newly acquired buses at the Ikeja Bus Terminal as part of the Bus Reform Initiative of the Lagos State Government.

representation in the arbitration community.”

The vice president also said that there was provision for the establishment of a Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) in the recently executed AFCFTA, which was adopted and signed by 44 African Union Countries in March.

He said that the DSB provides a bespoke arbitration mechanism for dispute resolution, through agreed rules, between state parties to the agreement.

“I encourage all participants present at the conference to familiarise yourselves with the provisions of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA) and invest your skills to register on the dispute settlement panel.

“The aspiration is that the move will encourage the greater involvement of Africans in the settlement of inter-Africa trade dispute and thereby promote the deepening of intra-Africa trade, which Nigeria fully aligns with,” Osinbajo said He said that the ICC’s annual conference was a key forum for dialogue on international commercial arbitration in Africa, providing indispensable updates on developments in the region.

“It is indeed becoming an important gathering for the African Arbitration Community.

“Nigeria is fast becoming a leading seat of Arbitration and settlement of investment dispute between contractual parties.

“The current administration

has been focussed on delivering on Economic growth in Nigeria; the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) was drawn to keep the economy on the path of sustainable economic growth and global competitiveness,” he said.

The vice president also commended the Chief Judge of Lagos State for establishing the Small Claims Court for the state in April.

He said that the Lagos State judiciary collaborated with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), toward creating an enabling business environment for Nigeria.

Osinbajo noted that if we have a strong legal framework for arbitration, including judicial reform which PEBEC could drive, there would be increased Foreign Direct Investment, as a country and as a region.

He urged other members of the arbitration committee in various African Jurisdictions, to replicate same with similar governmental bodies in their home states or engage government directly like Nigerian Arbitration Community, by pushing hard for arbitration reforms.

The conference also had in attendance Mr Alexis Moore, the President of the International Court of Arbitration.

Others were Mrs Funke Adekoya (SAN), the Partner, AELEX Nigeria; Mr Babatunde Savage, the Chairman, ICCN, as well as other senior lawyers in the legal profession.

We must not allow APC die in Rivers, says Odike Memoye Oghu, Port Harcourt As the national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), slated for next Saturday June 23, inches closer, the Rivers state branch of the party seems to have been boxed into a tight corner.

The Ward, LGA and state Congresses which ended up factionalising the party in the state has remained controversial and a subject of intense litigation.

The question now remains which of the factions will submit the state delegates list for the national convention. Is it the Amaechi or the Senator Magnus Abe’s led factions.

Acting chairman of the party in Rivers state, Prince Peter Odike(JP), clarified the issue in a media briefing in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers state on Monday, saying that by

virtue of the court nullification of the state Congresses, the state executive council of the party before the annulled Congresses remains intact and legal.

According to him, it is the state EXCO headed by Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya of which he is the deputy chairman that would forward the authentic list of delegates from the state for the national convention.

In a statement captioned “APC Rivers should not die - not even by suicide”, he contended that since the court has voided the Congresses, the former state executives remain intact.

“In no certain words, the court declared as null and void the purported ward, LGA and state Congresses which produced Ojukaye Flag-Amachree and his group. With the voiding of the Ojukaye Flag-Amachree midnight Congress, our state working Committee which they sought to succeed is still in place

and intact. In one sentence: we are the state working committee and EXCO of the APC in Rivers state,” he stated, adding that the Dr Davies Ikanya led state EXCO of the party will continue with its work of running the party.

Explaining why he signed the document as acting chairman, he said, “the chairman, Dr Davies Ikanya is in London, UK for his eyes medical examination and treatment. I communicated with him on this development over the weekend.

By the party constitution, the Deputy Chairman acts pending resumption.

“Consequently, I announce to you this morning that I, Prince Peter Odike, the Deputy Chairman of the party in Rivers state, pending the return and resumption of duty by the chairman, is the Acting chairman of the APC Rivers state.”

He appealed to party faithful

and supporters in the state to remain calm and work towards the restoring unity in the state party in order to face the greater challenge of dethroning the ruling PDP in the state in 2019.

Just as he stressed that, “His Excellency, Rt. Hon Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, the Hon Minister of Transportation remains the leader of the party as no one is contesting that.”

Urging all members of the party to toe the part of constitutionalism and adherence to law and order as well as to shun yielding to the dictates of one man, he said that they have notified the national office and in particular the national chairman of the party of these developments, he concluded, “our party in Rivers state in should not be allowed to die - not even by suicide.”

It would be recalled that party members desirous of contesting various positions in the state

branch of the party paid for nomination forms to enable them participate and contest various positions in the Congress and with their tellers they went to the party Secretariat to obtain, fill and return the forms but were denied the forms.

Many of them gathered to protest this denial but were termed thugs and tear gassed by the Police called in by the party leaders. However, left with no other option, they filed a suit challenging their unlawful exclusion and prayed for an injunction restraining the party from holding the congresses without them.

On day of the matter at the state High Court, a motley crowd, mainly supporters of the Amaechi led faction sought to prevent it from sitting by locking the gates leading to the State court complex. It took the intervention of the security operatives to dislodge them to

enable the court do its work.

Eventually, the ruling was delivered, restraining the party from holding the Congresses.

However, on their own the national executives of the party cancelled the Congresses, rescheduled all and held them in the weekend days of Saturday,Sunday and the wee hours of Monday.

Dissatisfied with the suddenness of the new dates, the aggrieved members again approached the court to complain about the illegality of going ahead with the Congresses in defiance of the court order and their prayers were granted, declaring the congresses null and void.

But Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, who emerged as the state chairman of the party from the annulled Congresses continued to maintain that he is the authentic state chairman of the party.

News 18

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Why Ambode feted Muslims at Sallah in 20 centres across Lagos Benjamin Omoike, Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos says ensuring peace, love and harmony among Muslims, and indeed Lagosians, were part of reasons why his government decided to feed faithful of the religion in 20 centres across the state.

He added that the gesture was also in furtherance of his Administration’s policy of inclusive governance and the need to reach out to every member of the society, especially those who may not have been able to enjoy the Sallah celebration owing to their financial status or other reasons.

It would be recalled that

the governor, along with his wife, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, celebrated Eid-Ul-Fitri with Muslims simultaneously in Lagos, at designated locations in each of the 20 Local Government Areas across the state. At these venues, apart from the usual merriment associated with such festivals, Muslims had the opportunity to pray for

sustainability of peace and continuation of unprecedented development for Lagos and for governor Ambode, as well as his wife, and other members of his family; for many successes recorded so far in the third-year of Administration.

Decentralised form of Eid-el-Fitri celebration were successfully held in 2017 for

the first time in each of the 20 Local Government Areas, where governor Ambode pledged to continue to meet with the people during important religious festivals, stating that grassroots participation, involvement and identification to enhance spirituality “is central to sustainability of peaceful coexistence and religious harmony, bringing unprecedented accomplishments being experienced in Lagos.”

The governor says he believes that prayer has been playing pivotal roles in the rapid development and tranquility that prevails in Lagos, and has been actively supporting initiatives that will promote socio-economic growth, infrastructural expansion, and enhancement of security, increment of safety and happiness of the people.

Prior to the 2017 celebration of Eid-El-Fitri at the grassroots, state participation in religious festivals usually held at the State House; a situation which excluded participation of large segments of the people.

Since the last Eid-El-Fitri GetTogether, however, governor Ambode and his wife had celebrated Eid-El-kabir and Christmas in similar ways in 2017.

This year’s Eid-El-Fitri was celebrated in the following centres across the 20 Local Government Areas and people were directed to attend any one of the venues that fell within their Local Government or Local Government Development Areas as

follows: Agege LG: Agege Local Government Maternity Centre, Sango Agege.

Ajeromi LG: Aga Hausa, Ajegunle, Ajeromi Ifelodun LG, Alimosho LG: Alimosho Local Government Secretariat Premises, Akowonjo Amuwo Odofin LG: Amuwo Odofin Local Government Secretariat, Festac.

Others were Apapa LG: United Christian Primary Sch. Apapa water works, off Liverpool Rd Badagry LG: Badagry Grammar School Badagry Epe LG: Marina Waterfront Oju Alaro Eti-Osa LG: World Oil Filling Station, Ilasan junction before Jakande Round about, Eti -Osa Ibeju LG. Iberekodo Primary School, Ibeju Ifako Ijaye LG: Ifako Ijaye Mini Stadium, beside IfakoIjaye General Hospital Ikeja LG.: Opebi primary school, Ikeja.

Ikorodu LG. Ikorodu Town Hall Kosofe LG: Emmanuel High Primary High sch. Emmanuel High Street, off Ogdu Road, Ojota Lagos Island LG: 64, Freeman Street, Lagos.

Lagos Mainland LG: Evans Square, Carter/Simpson Street, Ebute Metta, Lagos. Mushin LG: Nitel Playing Ground Agege Motor Road Cappa Ojo LG: Ojo Local Govt. Secretariat, Olojo Drive, Ojo Town Oshodi LG: Oshodi-Isolo Lovcal Govt Secretariat Premises Somolu LG: Angus Memorial High School, Opposite Army Barrack, Morocco. Surulere: Surulere Local Government Secretariat Premises.

Primaries: CNPP advises parties against high nomination fees All Progressives Congress (APC), Ekiti State gubernatorial candidate for July 14 election, Dr. Kayode Fayemi (left) and others, during a campaign visit to Ejiyan-Ekiti...on Monday.

Lagos CP redeploys Anti-Cultism Squad Joy Anyim, Lagos The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Imohimi Edgal, on Monday redeployed the officer and men in charge of the AntiCultism Squad over alleged unprofessional conducts and corruption.

The police spokesman in Lagos Command, CSP Chike Oti, said in a statement in Lagos that the move was to reposition and reinvigorate the command’s Anti-Cultism Squad.

According to him,

reorganisation of the squad was necessitated by the unprofessional conducts of its personnel and corruption in the unit.

He said that the unit was very crucial in the fight against cultists and cultism in the state.

“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Edgal Imohimi, has redeployed the Officer-in-Charge of the Squad, SP Godwin Agbegbe, while CSP Akaninyene Etuk has been posted to take over from him.

“Similarly, all members of the squad were relieved of

their duty posts and have been directed to report to the Lagos State Police Headquarters for debriefing.

“The CP warns that the same treatment awaits any other unit in the command that is working at cross purposes with the fundamental objectives of the Nigeria Police Force,” he said.

Oti added that all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Head of Departments were enjoined to increase supervision of their men in order to ensure nonviolation of the police Standard

Operating Procedure (SOP).

He also urged members of the public with useful information about the activities of cultists in any part of the state to reach CSP Etuk on 08034448617.

Edgal had on Sept. 3, 2017, sacked, Adejobi Akinade, the Officer in-Charge of the AntiKidnapping and Cultism Unit of the command over alleged corruption.

The police chief, after removing Adejobi, separated Kidnapping unit from Cultism and posted senior officers as heads of the two units for better service delivery.

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), on Monday urged political parties not to impose high nomination fees on aspirants in their respective primaries for the 2019 elections.

The CNPP Secretary in Lagos State, Mr Olumide Oguntoyinbo, gave the advice in an interview with journalists in Lagos.

He said imposition of high nomination fees for primaries would limit participation and prevent emergence of credible candidates.

Oguntoyinbo added that high nomination fees favoured money politics, at the expense of quality leadership.

“As political parties make early preparations for primaries to elect candidates for the general elections, we advise they encourage wide participation and emergence of credible candidates.

“A sure way in which they can achieve this is to make nomination fees for the different offices reasonably affordable.

“Imposing high nomination fees would only produce money bags and not necessarily

good candidates for leadership positions.

“We strongly advise that the fees should be reasonable as fees as high as N5million or even N10 million would shut out competent people who cannot afford to pay,’’ he said.

Oguntoyinbo said primary elections should not be seen as avenues to generate revenue but a process to put forward potential great leaders.

He, however, praised political parties which charged zero nomination fees for women aspirants, saying the step would encourage gender parity in politics.

Oguntoyinbo also said that the country’s democracy could not be said to be growing with poor internal democracy in the political parties.

He, therefore, urged political parties to allow for the emergence of popular candidates and stop the practice of imposition.

The CNPP scribe added that voter apathy was a major challenge in elections and urged parties to partake in efforts at sensitising Nigerians to participate in the electoral process.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

19 News

Expert urges tertiary hospitals to deploy doctors to PHCs The Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof. Olufemi Fasanmade, on Monday appealed to managements of tertiary hospitals to deploy medical doctors to Primary Health Centres (PHCs) as support staff.

Fasanmade told journalists in Lagos that deploying some doctors to Primary Health Centres (PHCs) would build confidence in patients and improve healthcare at the grassroots.

“The fact that you are working in LUTH does not mean you cannot go and help them in the Primary Health Centres or in other small centres.

“Say okay I’m going to be coming to this centre once a week from my busy schedule in LUTH; I want to operate cases here. That way, not every case needs to be referred to the tertiary centre.

“A Primary Health Centre should be able to take care of things like Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT), immunisation.

“It is detrimental both to the government and to the people.

“For instance, you are going to a tertiary health centre, saying you want immunisation.

“See how big LUTH is, about 25 hectares of land with different buildings and departments and a peasant farmer just comes in saying she’s looking for immunisation.

“They are busy handling accident cases; they are busy handling people with brain tumour; and you are busy knocking.

“Which door do you want to even knock?

“Is it the emergency door, is it the out-patient, is it the surgical. So, is not meant for those type of patients.

“Also if government just put a nurse in each Primary Health Centre; a qualified nurse, an experienced nurse, youth corps doctors; then some basic laboratory staff are there, they can handle most of the cases that otherwise would have been coming to the teaching hospitals. ” He said that the behaviours of some nurses and doctors posted to work in rural areas had also led to patients’ lack of confidence in Primary Health Centres, The medical expert added that some of the nurses were going to work once a week and the doctors’ once in a month.

Fasanmade, who is also the Unit Head, Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism Division, LUTH, said that a typical Primary Health Centre should be about two to three houses next to a patient’s house, where the fellow could walk in and receive treatment within few minutes or an hour.

Cross session of passenger boarding free train ride provided by Osun State Government to convey indigenes back to Lagos State after the celebrations of 2018 Eid-el-Fitr at the Osogbo Terminus of the Nigerian Railway Corporation...on Monday.

Air Force begins bombardment of Zamfara bandits The Nigerian Air Force commenced aerial bombardments on Monday, in a joint military offensive to end the banditry in Zamfara communities.

The Commander of the 207 Quick Response Group of the air force, Group Capt. Caleb Olayera, made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen in Gusau.

He was speaking after taking delivery of two airplanes deployed for the operation.

Olayera described the operation as part of a joint military operation, involving the air force, army, police and civil defence to flush out the bandits.

Zamfara in Nigeria’s northwest has seen intense

banditry in recent times that has left hundreds dead and displaced thousands in various communities.

The Federal Government has since been battling the jihadist Boko Haram group in Nigeria’s northeast in a low intensity war that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions since 2009.

Olayera said that two helipads had already been constructed by the air force for the Zamfara security operation.

“We told you that the helipads will be used as the base for our fighter jets to neutralise any group of criminals and their hideouts.

He assured that peace would soon return to troubled

communities in Zamfara with the commencement of the military operation.

The governor of Zamfara, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, in an apparent frustration over the banditry in the state, recently renounced his position as chief security officer of the state.

He cited his inability to take charge of security agencies in the state to end the banditry.

We are working with IBEDC to combat vandalism, says NSCDC The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), says it will collaborate with the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), to fight against vandalism and theft of electricity cables in Ogun.

The State Commandant of the Corps, Mr Philip Ayodele, made this known at a press briefing in Abeokuta on Monday.

Ayodele said that the NSCDC in Ogun was planning to partner with IBEDC to ensure adequate protection of “these critical assets” to avoid vandalism by criminals.

He said that the corps had stepped up surveillance around the pipelines and electricity installations in the state to put an end to vandalism of critical national assets.

“We have instituted several legal proceedings on suspected vandals of IBEDC cables across

the state.

“We have also established a combat team against vandalism of all sorts in order to rid the state of crimes,” Ayodele said.

He said that despite the enormous challenges regarding vandalism in the state, the

command had continued to be proactive in its duties.

“On June 8, two suspected pipeline vandals died in the pipeline explosion, while a survivor, Segun Animasaun, also died on Saturday, while helping us with some useful

intelligence.

“Animasaun had once been a victim of fire explosion during some of his illicit acts and nemesis only taught him a bitter lesson having refused to learn.

“He confessed that he started

the illicit act in 2012 when he was 16 years old,” Ayodele said.

He said that the NSCDC would not tolerate any act of criminality, especially in the areas of disruption, vandalism and misuse of government infrastructure.

Lunatics cause stampede at Asaba wedding

Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

Four lunatics at the weekend stormed a wedding reception and chased out guests who were already seated, listening to music including jokes by a comedian around infant Jesus road, Asaba, Delta state, The event center built by a highly placed politician in Asaba was packed full with dignitaries when the four lunatics suddenly beat security

men at the gate, and went into the hall to embarrass the guests and the newly wed.

Before many of the guests could recover from the shock, the lunatics were fast eating their foods and drinks as they took to the dance floor in the eyes of the couple who screamed at security agents to take them away.

Speaking to our reporter Mrs. Mercy Chukwudi said “it was very shocking to see the four lunatics suddenly beat security agents to find their way into the

hall, and embarrassed guests.

I am the mother of the bride.

The way they came was very shocking to see them.”

It was gathered that trouble started when the security agents had quarrel among themselves, and they were allegedly engaged in shouting, when the lunatics sauntered into the hall, and pounced on the guests.

But a guest, Eunice Bello said “I was just introducing the arrival of some personalities when I saw guests running, I

was shocked to see the lunatics, they started eating the foods on the tables, thank God for the police men who later moved them out of the hall.”

Unconfirmed sources said the groom had had some differences with a friend who allegedly threatened to embarrass guests during reception, but the groom’s brother, Patrick Soghadu said it was not true adding “there was minor quarrel among my brother and his friend, it was resolved”.

News 20

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Girl Guides tasks states on protection, education of girl-child The Nigeria Girl Guides Association (NGGA), has called for intensified efforts to give the girl-child more opportunities through education and protection to realise her potential.

The association’s Chief Commissioner, Mrs MariaGoretti Sule, made the call when she spoke with journalists in Lagos.

According to Sule, policy makers, particularly in states, are not paying adequate attention to the education of the girl-child.

She said that the situation was giving the association a major concern.

“We are not happy with the way policy makers are handling the education and protection of the girl-child in this country.

“We have discovered that some governors are really not helping matters when it comes to girl-child education.

“Most policy makers at the state level are educated and know the immense benefits that come with educating a child, whether male or female.

“Do not forget that when you educate a girl-child, you educate a nation,’’ she said.

Sule said that equal opportunity should be given to the girl-child, adding that lack of education of the girl-child would expose her to violence and low self esteem.

She said that there was the need to assist girls in rediscovering themselves to express their views freely.

The Project Manager of ‘Action on Body Confidence’ a programme being implemented by NGGA, Mrs

Lilian Damie, also said that girls from seven years should be encouraged to have selfconfidence as a strategy to help them to realise their full potential.

“The association is training 60 young and adult leaders across the federation to understand issues of low esteem and body confidence especially among girls and even boys.

“These persons who are also peer educators and leaders will return to their respective states to impact on both boys and

the girls in their communities, using the modules of the `Action of Body confidence’ that has been developed for persons between the ages seven to 25.

“The programme will support these young persons to plan their own advocacy projects, by identifying the biggest body confidence issues in their communities and plan a project that will then task decision makers for a change.

“We want our girls to be assertive, be confident and look beyond their appearances when

Gov Yari directs Zamfara Emirs to file detailed reports on security Governor Abdulaziz Yari has directed the 17 Emirs in Zamfara to immediately file detailed reports on the security situation in their domain.

The governor said on Monday while receiving Sallah

homage from the Emirs of Kaura-Namoda, Birnin-Magaji and Zurmi, that the emirs should immediately convene stakeholders meeting on the matter.

Yari said that the reports should provide recommendations that

would enable the government take appropriate measures in addressing the serious insecurity situation in the state.

He expressed deep concern over the recurring killings in the state in spite of the presence of security agencies and said his

administration is working with relevant stakeholders within and outside the state to find lasting solution to the problem.

In their separate remarks, the emirs of Kaura-Namoda, Alhaji Muhammad AhmadAsha, Birnin-Magaji, Alhaji

Hussaini Dan’ali-Maude and Alhaji Abubakar Atiku of Zurmi assured continued support to end the killings in the state.

Kaura-Namoda emirate council presented its reports on security to the governor during the event.

L-R: Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi and Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, during a visit to Igbo traders at Basiri area of Ado-Ekiti... on Monday.

Rainfall kills 2, destroys 76 houses in Delta community

Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

Heavy rainfall in the early hours of Monday, in some parts of Delta state killed two persons and destroyed no fewer than 76 houses in Idumuesah community, Ika North East Local government area of the state.

It was gathered that the two persons were killed by zinc of their house that pulled off by the heavy storm during which they were just waking up from their sleep, and in an attempt to escape, were trapped.

The police in the area who

confirmed the incident to our reporter on condition of anonymity said “the zinc of the victims house killed them; it pulled off by the heavy storm during early hours, while they were trapped. The victims are “Johnson Okewe and Frank Igbenoba. We have moved their corpses to Agbor Central Hospital mortuary; it is unfortunate, the storm was very heavy in the early hours.”

A father of six children, Godwin Alika, a victim of the rainfall told our reporter that “My house was affected; I have no house to sleep; my family have nowhere to go,

the rainfall destroyed my house and property, and threw us outside”.

It was gathered that the rainfall destroyed virtually all houses in Obume street, Nehi quarters including economic crops, and farm lands Speaking further, Godwin Alika lamented that he found it extremely an uphill task for himself, his children on where to stay, and appealed to the state government to come to his aid as the burden of renting three bed rooms flat would be too much for him However, the state commissioner for special Duties, Barr Ernest Ogwezzy

who spoke to our reporter said “it is pathetic, we thanked God it was only two persons killed, and the state government is concerned, and would do something to assist the victims” Another victim, Paul Adah who also spoke to our reporter said that what pulsates his emotion was that his life long savings have gone down the drains, adding that he would be grateful if he could get relief from the state Emergency Relief Agency (SERA), public spirited persons, others Sources said many of the affected buildings were completely destroyed to

ground level as it was first of its kind since the community was founded.

Speaking with our reporter, an Elder statesman in the community, Chief Chukwudi Akaye said “it was very shocking, the rainfall is first of its kind, and it destroyed many houses, we want the state government to come to our aid, we have no houses in our community again.”

Two quarters were reported to have been affected with virtually all the houses destroyed, and the farm lands, and victims are currently taking refuge in neighbouring communities.

taking certain decisions or when faced with certain challenges.

“They should be able to see themselves not as second class citizens and not allow themselves to be used, abused or held back from taking leadership position,’’ she said.

Damie said the girl-child, if encouraged and empowered through the right kind of education and other life changing programmes would be able contribute their quotas to national development.

Ex-BBN housemate Alex thrills Port Harcourt revellers at `Elevated Concert’ Alex Asogwa, a.k.a Alex Unusual, 3rd runner-up BBNaija season 3, left her fans in awe as she performed her first hosting duty at the Elevated concert in Port Harcourt.

She co-hosted the show alongside Olisa Adibua, one of the most respected executive radio and Television presenter of Beat 99.9Fm, at the concert and launch of Singer Mr2kay’s album tiled: `God can Bless Anybody’ on Sunday, in PortHarcourt.

Alex unusual, known for her dancing, writing and speaking skills thrilled the crowd and engaged them all through the concert.

Some of the fans took to twitter to react to her performance using the hashtag #ElevatedConcertPH18.

Grey @greyy_k stated: “its mind blowing. I have a friend that is also an event host and she cannot believe that this is Alex’s first gig as a host.

Atom @haewhizzy said “her confidence is on 100%…

“She surpassed our expectations and m so thankful to God He made it possible; More hosting gig now.”

Flora Shaw @Mz-_florashaw said: “Baby had to check in…I speak for us all when I say u killing it…carry on baby I love u we gat u..’’

While in the BBNaija house, Alex has mentioned to “Biggie’’, owner of the BBBrother house that she would love to co-host the reality show one day.

She is currently being managed by Naomad Talent Management Agency owner by Naomi Adenuga.

Meanwhile, Alex will be a panellist at the Dialogues and Cocktails, a real talk and mentorship programme organized by 360 Women Africa, scheduled for June 23 in Lagos.

She will be speaking on the topic: `Road to Discovery: How real it can get’’.

She is the first 2018 housemate to get signed by a talent agency.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

21 Companies Registration

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[RTD] - PRESIDENT

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

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THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) EZEORJI UCHECHUKWU FRANK. (2) IBEH SOLOMON CHIDIEBERE. (3) OSITA CHUKWUMA NWOSU. (4) ANAEKWE CHUKWUDI CHIBUEZE. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PROMOTE THE COMMON INTEREST OF LOCALLY PRODUCED FOOTWEARS 2. TO PROTECT THE COMMON INTEREST OF LOCALLY PRODUCED FOOTWEAR DEALERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: TRUSTEES

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

THE TRUSTEES: 1. OLUYOMI ODUNOLUWA - CHAIRMAN. 2. OLUSHOLA ODUNOLUWA - VICE CHAIRMAN .

3. OLAYINKA EMMANUEL - SECRETARY. 4. MOYONINUOLUWA ODUNOLUWA - TREASURER. 5. AYANTAYO AYANKUNLE - MEMBER AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, P.M.B. 198. GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY.

CARDINAL ONAIYEKAN FOUNDATION FOR PEACE

LADI-LAK INSTITUTE PRIMARY SCHOOL OLD STUDENTS ‘ ASSOCIATION

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. HIS EMINENCE JOHN CARDINAL ONAIYEKAN (CON) 2. SIR B.L. OMOLUWA (KSS) 3. DAME PAULINE TALLEN, (OFR) 4. PROF. SANI ABUBAKAR LUGGA 5. MOST REV. DANIEL CHUKWUDUMEBI OKOH 6. PROF. DESIREE AMEZE GUOBADIA 7. ALHAJI IGBAHIM ABUBAKAR JEGA AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO MOBILIZE AND EQUIP LOCAL RELIGIOUS GROUPS AS ACTORS IN PEACE BUILDING ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR TONYUNACHUKWU

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990.

NAMES OF TRUSTEES: 1.) AKINYOSOYE OLADOTUN 2.) METOEVI SAMSON MAKANJUOLA 3.) LEGBE OLUWASEGUN 4.)FATUNBI ADEOLA OLUFUNMILOLA 5.) ADEMUYIWA FUNMI RONKE 6.) FAYEMIWO OLUWATOYIN 7.) MAKWE CATHERINE 8.) OSORO AYOKUNLE .R. 9.) OGEDENGBE SOLOMON 10.) IBEKWE LINUS CHIBUEZE 11.) OSHIYEMI IDRIS. AIMS & OBJECTIVES: 1. TO CONSERVE & PROTECT THE TRADITIONS OF THE SCHOOL WHICH THE ASSOCIATION CONSIDER WORTHY OF BEING PRESERVED. 2. TO SERVE AS A LINK BETWEEN THE PAST, THE PRESENT & THE FUTURE STUDENTS OF THE SCHOOL ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BOLAJI RAMOS ESQ.

TONYE HARRY FOUNDATION

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. HARRY SOTONYE LYNDA - PRESIDENT. 2. HARRY GABRIELLA ORIBIM - VICE PRESIDENT. 3. HARRY FAITH - TREASURER. 4. UGO KINGBA VICTORIA - SECRETARY. 5 AMADI ABUCHI MAXWELL - PRO. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES; 1 TO PROMOTE SPORT ACTIVITIES 2 TO CATER FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGE IN THE SOCIETY 3 TO FOSTER LOVE AND UNITY AMONG 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; HARRY SOTONYE LYNDA (PRESIDENT)

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) APOSTLE STEPHEN, BELOVED --PRESIDENT (2) STEPHEN, MIRACLE CHIDI- SECRETARY (3) EZE, STEPHEN ELEONU (4) NDAH, JOHN BACHI AIMS & OBJECTIVES: (1)TO REDEEM LOST SOULS FROM THE KINGDOM OF DARKNESS INTO THE KINGDOM OF HIS MARVELLOUS LIGHT (2) TO PREACH THE MESSAGE OF REPENTANCE TO THE WHOLE WORLD (3) TO HELP THE POOR IN THE SOCIETY 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: APOSTLE STEPHEN, BELOVED - PRESIDENT

LOSS OF DOCUMENTS

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY OF MY PROPERTY LYING AND SITUATED AT PLOT 477, FILE NO MISC 52067, CADASTRAL ZONE A00 MEASURING 1.2PHA WITH OLD ALLOTE NAME WUMI ALABA NIGERIA ENTERPRISES LTD WITH CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY NO: 1932W-12DE7-697ER-105EA-20 . GOT MISSING ALL EFFORT MADE TO TRACE THE SAID DOCUMENTS PROVE ABORTIVE. IF FOUND KINDLY RETURN TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

IHE FRIENDS CLUB OF NIGERIA

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ORGANIZATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. REGINALD NDUBUISI OJILERE 2. GOODLUCK EBERE HEZEKIAH 3. JUDE ODIUMARAKWE EGBUJOR 4. ALBERT CHUKWUJEKWU ORUYA THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ORGANIZATION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. TO PROMOTE UNITY AND LOVE AMONG MEMBERS. 2. TO PROMOTE AND CATER FOR THE WELFARE OF MEMBERS AS APPROVED

BY THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ORGANIZATION. 3. TO PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE ACTIVITIES AIMED AT UPLIFTING MEMBERS FINANCIALLY, ECONOMICALLY, SOCIALLY AND OTHERWISE. 4. TO ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO LIVE EXEMPLARY LIFE WORTHY OF EMULATION BY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY. 5. TO PROMOTE THE WELLBEING OF HUMANITY AND THE SERVICE OF GOD. ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, AREA II, PMB 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. ATHOJA UMUGHELE ESQ.

REMENAF FOUNDATION

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DUROWAIYE-HERBERTS, SEDISYNE ABIODUN - PRESIDENT 2. ALIYU, AWWAL ABDULLAHI - VICE PRESIDENT 3. AMB. OKHIDIEVBIE OAMIEN ROY - SECRETARY 4. UDOKWERE, UWEM HAROLD - TRUSTEE 5. UNUFE JOHN I. - TRUSTEE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO SUPPORT THE ELDERLY RETIREES AND PENSIONERS 2. TO ASSIST AGED MILITARY VETERANS AND FAMILIES BOTH IN NIGERIA AND DIASPORA ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: TRUSTEES

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

ADEDAMOLA AKIOGBE MINISTRY

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED 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- ADEDAMOLA ARIBISEYE AKIOGBE 2- STEPHEN ABIODUN AKIOGBE 3- MICHEAL ADEYIWOLU . M. 4- MOBOLAJI BANJO 5- OGUNLI ORITSEWEYINMI GLORY 6- OLUBUNMI FAFIYEBI 7- OMOYEMEN ODION OKOBIEMEN 8- PAMELA EVBOTA 9- SIKEADE ADETU 10- BABATUNDE ELESIN 11- BRIDGET ELESIN THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST THROUGH MUSIC, DRAMA, BIBLICAL WORD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. 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 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED BY: SECRETARY

VICTORIA IYABO

CHARLES KENNETH

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS VICTORIA FEYI OYEWOLE. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS VICTORIA IYABO OYEWOLE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AKAEMEZIE KENNETH OSINACHI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS CHARLES KENNETH, MY DATE OF BIRTH IS 1ST/FEBRUARY/1994. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

CHIZOBA DORIS I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS CHIZOBA DORIS AWAOGU, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. CHIZOBA DORIS ONWUBUALILI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

23 Companies Registration

2013 Delta killings: Group seeks speedy trial for suspects, probe of Sen Nwaoboshi A coalition of civil society and human rights organisations, the Coalition of Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRGG) has urged the Delta State Government to expedite the process of the trial of suspects in the killings of innocent people in Ibusa, Delta State in 2013.

The group also wants a serving lawmaker from the state, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, invited for questioning on the matter.

The National leader of the

group, Richard Iyalla, while speaking with journalists in Abuja, said it is high time Nigerians hear the feelings, frustrations and pains about how the killings of innocent Nigerians is being handled by the Delta state judiciary.

The group alleged that on June 20, 2013, a group of cult boys allegedly sponsored by Senator Nwaoboshi, representing Delta North Senatorial District of Delta State, who was the then chairman, Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP), in the state rounded up and killed an innocent young Okada rider (Zikara Saswad) and took away his motorcycle. One of the cult boys (Uba Nonso) is still in detention in Ogwashi-Uku medium prison in Delta state awaiting trial.

Iyalla said ‘‘It will also interest the public to know that all criminal cases have been transferred from the State High Court of Akwukwu-Igbo to Asaba in Delta State apart from this case alone with case file No:

AKU/13C/13 and charge number 0/21c/13.

“To this end, we are hereby calling on the judiciary to do the needful as justice delayed is justice denied and interrogate Senator Peter Nwaoboshi to immediately answer for this innocent lives and relinquish his position in the red chambers until he is exonerated as we cannot continue to have such elements as our legislators while the lives of youths are lost daily,” he said.

EZE PETER

OHNSON REGINA

EMEHELU SABINA

OLUWADARE ABRAHAM

KEKE QUEENETH

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS EZE PETER SANTA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS EZE PETER UWAEZUOKE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS EKEANYANWU REGINA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS JOHNSON REGINA IKAN. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BANKS AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS JIDEOFOR SABINA IFEOMA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS EMEHELU SABINA IFEOMA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BANKS AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ABRAHAM PAMILERIN, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OLUWADARE ABRAHAM SUNDAY. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS KEKE LOVETH NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS KEKE QUEENETH UGOCHI ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE

EZEIGWE IFEOMA

NWODO NGOZI

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS EKWUEME DORATHY IFEOMA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. EZEIGWE IFEOMA DORATHY. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BANKS AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS JOSEPH NGOZI STELLA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS NWODO NGOZI STELLA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

FEYINWA JULIET

ADIMABUA PETER

I

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS IFEYINWA JULIET ONOH, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. IFEYINWA JULIET PATRICK-NWAKA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS PETER A. NWAKA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MR. ADIMABUA PETER PATRICK-NWAKA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BANKS, NIGERIA IMMIGRATION SERVICE AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

ONUORAH NGOZIKA I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS MBAMALU NGOZIKA ESTHER, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. ONUORAH NGOZIKA ESTHER. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

ONYEMA GINIKA I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS EKWUEME GINIKA QUEENDALINE, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. ONYEMA GINIKA QUEENDALINE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ESUT ENUGU, BANKS AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

HAMMED KEHINDE

HOJOH CHINENYE

BANKOLE GBOLAHAN

CORRECTION OF NAME

IKPEAMA ONYEAHALACHI

ANIOKO NGOZI

I FORMELY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ISA KEHINDE ADEOLA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS HAMMED KEHINDE ADEOLA. MY DATE OF BIRTH WAS WRONGLY CAPTURED ON MY BVN AS 29 /04/1991 INSTEAD OF 27/07/1994. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OMEJE HOJOH CHINENYE PATRICIA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS HOJOH CHINENYE PATRICIA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAINS VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS BANKOLE GBOLAHAN PETER NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESS AS BANKOLE GBOLAHAN OLAYINKA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

IN SOME OF MY DOCUMENTS MY NAME WAS WRONGLY WRITTEN AS (BVN) AKEEM IDOWU ATANDA INSTEAD OF IDOWU AKEEM IYANDA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS IDOWU AKEEM IYANDA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS IKPEAMA ONYEAHALACHI, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS IKPEAMA ONYEAHALACHI CAROLINE. MY CORRECT DATE OF BIRTH IS 25 OCTOBER, 1989. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS OKENWA NGOZI MARY, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. ANIOKO NGOZI MARY. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

OLUWAGBAYI ABIOLA

ADEBAYO KOFOWOROLA

ADEBAYO OLUWAFUNKE

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ODUBELA ABIOLA TEMITAYO NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OLUWAGBAYI ABIOLA TEMITAYO. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ODUBELA KOFOWOROLA ENIOLA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ADEBAYO KOFOWOROLA ENIOLA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ODUBELA OLUWAFUNKE TEMILADE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ADEBAYO OLUWAFUNKE TEMILADE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

JOYKLINIC FOUNDATION THIS IS TO NOTIFY THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED SOCIETY, HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1. REV. FR. NWOKEKE NWOKEMODO STEPHEN 2. MRS IJEOMA EDITH ODIMGBE. 3. MR EZEOFOR ANTHONY IFEANYI. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO ENSURE PROPER COUNSELLING AND MARRIAGE CRISIS RESOLUTION. 2. TO PROMOTE HUMAN EMPOWERMENT AND SELF DEVELOPMENT. 3. TO INCULCATE THE HABIT OF PRAYERS THROUGH PRAYER PROGRAMMES AND RETREAT/SEMINAR WORKSHOPS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, MAITAMA ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION SIGNED: K.C NWANKWO ESQ. (LEGAL ADVISER).

DIOCESE OF IBADAN-NORTH THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA ANGLICAN COMMUNION THIS IS TO NOTIFY THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED DIOCESE IN THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA ANGLICAN COMMUNION, HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. THE MOST REVD. DR. OLUSEGUN OKUBADEJO (PRESIDENT OF SYNOD) 2. VEN. DR. SAMUEL OSUNGBEJU (SYNOD SECRETARY) 3. CHIEF AKINLOLU OLUJINMI SAN (CHANCELLOR) THE AIM AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO HOLD, MAINTAIN AND SEEK TO PROCLAIM IN WORD AND DEED THE DOCTRINES AND SACRAMENTS OF CHRIST. 2. TO ORDER ITS DISCIPLINE AS TO BANISH AND DRIVE AWAY ALL ERRONEOUS AND STRANGE DOCTRINES WHICH ARE CONTRARY TO GOD’S WORD. 3. TO TEACH GOD’S WORD AS UNDERSTOOD AND INTERPRETED ON THE CHURCH FORMULARIES, FAITH, DOCTRINE AND DISCIPLINE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRARGENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: EBENEZER O. OGUNDORO ESQ 07031050626

OWOILU OLUWAFUNBI I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS DIYAOLU YUSUF OLUWAFUNBI TITILAYO NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OWOILU OLUWAFUNBI TITILAYO. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

BADAMOSI MOROHUNMUBO I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ADESANYA MOROHUNMUBO HELEN NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS BADAMOSI MOROHUNMUBO HELLEN. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

OLEH NKECHI

ADEBIYI LATIFAT

ADEBOLA OLASUPO

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS LUMANZE CHIJIOKE .C. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OLEH NKECHI CHRISTENCIA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS BELLO LATIFAT OMOBOLANLE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ADEBIYI LATIFAT OMOBOLANLE BELLO. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ODUBELA OLASUPO ADELEKE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ADEBOLA OLASUPO EBENEZER. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

RESPONSIBLE DYNAMIC AMBASSADORS ORGANIZATION THIS IS TO NOTIFY THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER THE PART “C” OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1) ANYANECHI CHUKWUNONSO FAVOUR 2) CHIWETELU NNENNA 3) OMOJIATE OMOIKE COLLINS AIMS: 1) TO CONTROL RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE 2) TO CONTROL RESPONSIBLE EMPOWERMENT IN OUR SOCIETY 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: TRUSTEES

CORRECTION OF NAME

ODUNTAN LUKE

IN SOME OF MY DOCUMENTS MY NAME WAS WRONGLY WRITTEN AS ECHETA CHUKWUODI STANLEY INSTEAD OF ECHETA CHUKWUKODI STANLY. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SEIDU LOOKMAN OLUGBENGA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ODUNTAN LUKE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC KINDLY TAKE NOTE.

LUKMAN TOBILOBA I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS LUKMAN HABEEB NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS LUKMAN TOBILOBA VALENTINE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

OLOTU ADEDOJA I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OLOTU ADEDOJA ONINAMUA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OLOTU ADEDOJA ELIZABETH AND MY CORRECT DATE OF BIRTH 14TH OF SEPTEMBER, 1969. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

24

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Feature

Umahi: Changing the face of commerce and industry in Ebonyi Charles Onyekwere, Abakaliki Before its creation in 1996, Ebonyi State was largely an agrarian state especially known for the production of cash crops in commercial quantity with neighbouring states and beyond as buyers.

The state governor, Engineer Dave Umahi, having performed well in the area of commerce and industry in the state to re-affirm the agro status with the introduction of modern farm equipment and machines has painstakingly embarked on aggressively models of industrialisation and commercialisation across the state.

The plan of Umahi is to establish industrial cluster where Biomass plants would be installed. The gains of biomass as a means of electricity supply is that ecofriendly bio-based materials are used in all its generation process.

Within three years of his administration, the state government under Umahi has commenced the establishment of three Industrial parks in Ebonyi south, Ebonyi North and Ebonyi central, the three senatorial zones of the state. They are located at Umunaga, the home of the governor, in Ohaozara Local Government Area; Ezzangbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area and Umuoghara, in Ezza North Local Government Area The plan of the Industrial parks is that each of them is designed to have 500KVA Biomass plant, internal road network, adequate water supply, restaurants, fire service stations, police posts, Banks and adequate security. Interestingly, several large industries in the Eouth-East region have indicated their interest to invest in the industrial parks, which have been reserved out for outright sale to the investors.

To this end, contracts have been awarded for the fencing of the parks at Uburu and Ezzangbo while that of Umuoghara will soon be awarded. This followed in Umahi’s vigour to meet the targeted dream of saturating the state with micro, small and medium scale industries.

To crown it all, a total of N4 billion has been earmarked as matching fund of N2 billion each by the Bank of Industry and Ebonyi State Government for prospective industrialists to access a maximum of N20 million for purposes of industrial activities within the state with a nominal interest rate of 6%.

In realising his dream for Ebonyians, another N4 billion has also been set aside by a joint partnership of BOI and EBSG for Ebonyi civil servants to access for purposes of establishing agro-business and other related industries to boost their economy while still in service.

Accordingly, hundreds of civil servants in the state have been aggregated into co-operatives and profiled for purposes

Gov Umahi

of accessing the loan which has repayable period of 3 years with 6% interest rate.

The present administration, in a hurry to boost commerce and industry especially increase the internally generated revenue of the state, has also redesigned the Abakaliki rice mill to meet up with the International standard. The design is to house new rice mills while the old ones would be reconstructed. The rice millers have been aggregated into co-operatives for purposes of effective operations at the city. To achieved this laudable feat, a total of 8 co-operatives with minimum membership of 10 each have so far been registered for the Rice city while more are being expected to be registered for effective operations.

It is interesting that the construction work on another Rice city has commenced in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area. Both rice mills at Uburu and Abakaliki are being designed to have all the modern amenities similar to what is obtainable in other developed countries.

Meanwhile, prospective marketers/ farmers are already being aggregated into co-operatives for effective operation of the city.

Ebonyi State government has through

the Ministry of Commerce and Industry successfully installed an overhead crane line through direct labour at Ebonyi pipe production company at Ezzangbo.

The company has been producing water polythene pipes of various sizes for reticulation of water in the state and for public use outside the state.

Currently, the state government under Governor Umahi is discussing with consultants to take over the management of the company and installation of equipment needed for the manufacture of PVC pipes for domestic and commercial buildings.

On the International market, a lot of progress have been made since the inception of the present administration in the state. Ebonyi State stakeholders’ visit to the market due to shady work done by past regime brought to bear a lot of construction defects manifested in cracks and dilapidated buildings arising from damaged wells, sagging foundations, roof members and poor drainage system which has occasioned water logging of the entire market.

In view of this, the state government swung into action by starting the construction of 18 new storey building

of 48 shops on each, giving an additional 864 shops while the old ones in LOT I are being widened and reconstructed to serve the traders better. The storey buildings housing some of the old shops are equally being remodeled to raise the height of the walls to meet international standards.

Currently, the state government has started selling application forms for different categories of shops. Prospective allottees are expected to make 100% down payment. However, in the event that 100% payment is not possible, a concession is given to allottees to make 50% down payment while the balance of 50% is paid within two years in the ratio of 30% and 20% per annum respectively.

Ebonyi State government under Governor Umahi has started a regional market at Afikpo. The site has been cleared, culverts constructed while contract for the fencing of the market had been awarded and will soon be completed.

Ensuring full industrialisation of the state, Ebonyi State has organised and played host to local trade fairs known as AGRODEF since inception of the present administration from 2015 to date. The fair for 2018 is right now going on at the Women Development Centre, Abakaliki.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

25 Feature

Amazing benefits of Watermelon The health benefits of watermelon include prevention of kidney disorders, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, heart diseases, heat stroke, macular degeneration, and impotence.

What is Watermelon?

Watermelon is a fruit that grows on a vinelike flowering plant native to Southern Africa.

It was cultivated in the Nile River Valley, in Egypt, and eventually in China, roughly 1,000 years ago. Now, watermelon is grown around the world, and in 44 of the 50 states in America. It is specifically selected to grow larger and juicier, resulting in the huge fruits that many of us are familiar with. The green outer rind is hard and fleshy, and rarely eaten, while the interior is soft, red or pink flesh containing many seeds; this is the part of watermelon which is typically eaten.

As for accessing the total medicinal benefits of watermelons, it is highly dependent on the variety of watermelon and the ripeness. Betacarotene and lycopene are usually available in high quantities once the watermelon is completely ripe, and don’t be afraid to eat the watermelon rind; there are quite a few nutrients in there as well, particularly roughage and fiber.

Nutritional value of Watermelon The healthy or beneficial effects of watermelon are mainly derived from its unique nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and organic compounds. These include significant amounts of vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, fiber, protein, and a large amount of potassium. Furthermore, they contain vitamin A, vitamin B6, niacin, thiamin, and a wide variety of carotenoids and phytonutrients, including lycopene!

The question is, why is there so much craze for watermelon? At first glance, it may seem like nothing more than a big ball of water. We all know that there is nothing more refreshing than a big, chilled wedge of watermelon on a hot, summer day and it does sport a stylish scientific name of Citrullus lanatus, but what’s the real reason so many people flock to grocery stores every summer to buy a big fruit like this one? Well, it is hard to narrow it down to a single reason; there are actually a lot of them.

Health benefits of Watermelon All the above components of watermelons contribute to their major impact on health; let’s explore some more details of those benefits below.

Treats Kidney Disorders Watermelons contain a lot of potassium, which is very helpful in cleaning out the toxic depositions in the kidney. Moreover, they are helpful in reducing the concentration of uric acid in the blood, thereby reducing the chances of kidney damage and the formation of renal calculi. In addition to this, being high in water content, watermelons induce urination, which is again helpful for cleaning the kidneys.

Also, the antioxidants present in watermelon ensure good health of the kidneys for a long time and reduce signs of premature aging like wrinkles and age spots on the skin.

Prevents Heat Stroke Watermelon is effective in reducing both your body temperature and blood pressure.

Many people in tropical regions eat this fruit every day in the afternoon during summer to protect themselves from heat stroke. The high amount of water in watermelons also stimulates a release of excess liquid in the form of sweat, which cools your body further during hot summer days.

Regulates Blood Pressure The amount of potassium and magnesium present in watermelons is very beneficial in terms of lowering blood pressure. Potassium

Watermelon

is considered a vasodilator, meaning that it releases the tension on blood vessels and arteries, thereby stimulating blood flow and reducing the stress on the cardiovascular system. The carotenoidspresent in these fruits also prevent hardening of artery walls and veins, thereby helping reduce blood pressure and the chances of blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, and atherosclerosis.

Prevents Cancer Watermelons have gained a lot of attention in recent years, primarily because of their impressive level of lycopene, a carotenoid phytonutrient compound that is increasingly being linked to cancer prevention. Lycopene has been shown to significantly reduce the risks of prostate, breast, colon, lung, and endometrial cancer. All in all, between the antioxidant potential of vitamin C and the impact of lycopene, watermelon is a great anticancer fruit!

Controls Diabetes Diabetics, who are supposed to have a low energy and low sugar diet, often complain about starving since they don’t get to eat their staple diets, which gives them the feeling of being half-fed. Watermelons can be a good supplement for them. In spite of being sweet in taste, a thick wedge will give them very few calories, since ninety-nine percent of its total weight is composed of water and roughage.

Moreover, the vitamins and minerals such as potassium and magnesium help in proper functioning of insulin in the body, thus lowering the blood sugar level. Arginine, another component found in watermelons, is very effective at enhancing the impact of insulin on blood sugar. Diabetics can also have curries, steaks, and salads made from watermelon rinds, which are even lower in sugar.

Heart Health Lycopene, a carotenoid found in abundance in watermelon, improves cardiac functions.

Beta-carotene, known for its great antioxidant and anti-aging properties, keeps you young at heart and prevents age-related cardiac problems. The roughage in watermelon, along with vitamin C, carotenoids, and potassium (potassium cuts the risk of a heart attack), helps reduce cholesterol and keep your heart safe from many dangerous conditions.

Prevents Macular Degeneration

Don’t worry about eye health and macular degeneration if you eat plenty of watermelons.

Thanks to the beta-carotene, vitamin C, lutein, and zeaxanthin, your eyes are well protected.

They ensure the protection of your eyes from age-related blindness and degeneration and prevent your eyes from ailments such as drying up of eyes and optic nerves, as well as glaucoma.

Prevents Heat Stroke Watermelon is effective in reducing both your body temperature and blood pressure. Many people in tropical regions eat this fruit every day in the afternoon during summer to protect themselves from heat stroke. The high amount of water in watermelons also stimulates a release of excess liquid in the form of sweat, which cools your body further during hot summer days.

Regulates Blood Pressure The amount of potassium and magnesium present in watermelons is very beneficial in terms of lowering blood pressure. Potassium is considered a vasodilator, meaning that it releases the tension on blood vessels and arteries, thereby stimulating blood flow and reducing the stress on the cardiovascular system. The carotenoids present in these fruits also prevent hardening of artery walls and veins, thereby helping reduce blood pressure and the chances of blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, and atherosclerosis.

Prevents Cancer Watermelons have gained a lot of attention in recent years, primarily because of their impressive level of lycopene, a carotenoid phytonutrient compound that is increasingly being linked to cancer prevention. Lycopene has been shown to significantly reduce the risks of prostate, breast, colon, lung, and endometrial cancer. All in all, between the antioxidant potential of vitamin C and the impact of lycopene, watermelon is a great anticancer fruit!

Controls Diabetes Diabetics, who are supposed to have a low energy and low sugar diet, often complain about starving since they don’t get to eat their staple diets, which gives them the feeling of being half-fed. Watermelons can be a good supplement for them. In spite of being sweet in taste, a thick wedge will give them very few

calories, since ninety-nine percent of its total weight is composed of water and roughage.

Moreover, the vitamins and minerals such as potassium and magnesium help in proper functioning of insulin in the body, thus loweringCthe blood sugar level. Arginine, another component found in watermelons, is very effective at enhancing the impact of insulin on blood sugar. Diabetics can also have curries, steaks, and salads made from watermelon rinds, which are even lower in sugar.

Heart Health Lycopene, a carotenoid found in abundance in watermelon, improves cardiac functions.

Beta-carotene, known for its great antioxidant and anti-aging properties, keeps you young at heart and prevents age-related cardiac problems. The roughage in watermelon, along with vitamin C, carotenoids, and potassium (potassium cuts the risk of a heart attack), helps reduce cholesterol and keep your heart safe from many dangerous conditions.

Prevents Macular Degeneration Don’t worry about eye health and macular degeneration if you eat plenty of watermelons.

Thanks to the beta-carotene, vitamin C, lutein, and zeaxanthin, your eyes are well protected.

They ensure the protection of your eyes from age-related blindness and degeneration and prevent your eyes from ailments such as drying up of eyes and optic nerves, as well as glaucoma.

One of our readers, Berrada Ali, wrote “I was travelling from Agadir to Marrakech in Morocco yesterday (August 8, 2008), and en cours de route, I bought a watermelon. During a hot day, I don’t feel good. I measured my blood pressure with a handy apparatus -a tension meter- the result was: 7.8/15.2 for diastolic and systolic pressure. Then, I ate half a kilogram of watermelon, of a variety well known in the region of Southern Morocco – a Mediterranean variety. Immediately, I measured my blood pressure and the result was: 8.2/12.3 for diastolic and systolic pressures! The drop in my blood pressure could not be the effect of any agent other than the watermelon!”

Word of Caution: A new research study reveals pre-cut melons are a threat for the Salmonella outbreak. So, be cautious while consuming this otherwise healthy fruit.

Source: www.organicfacts.net

News 26 Group commends Buhari over Abiola, seeks action against oil theft Nosa Akenzua, Asaba Members of the National Executive Council of the Movement for Nigerian Greatness (MNG), have applaud President Muhammadu Buhari for honouring late Chief Moshood K. O. Abiola with the highest title of the land, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).

MNG national President, Mr. Oniobo Ofegor Collins, who spoke to newsmen in Asaba on the outcome of the group meeting in Beyelsa state last weekend, said the honour done on late Chief Abiola shows clearly that the President believes in the victory of the June 12th Presidential election of M. K. O. Abiola of blessed memory.

He said “we want to believe therefore, that Mr President will not only ensure a free and fair elections come 2019 but that victory will be accepted in the spirit of sportsmanship, irrespective of whom the victor may be.”

In the same vein, MNG commended Mr President for declaring June 12th as the Nation’s ‘Democracy Day’, stressing that such a declaration is in line with the principles of Franchise and also in the spirit of Democracy.

“Moreover, we hope that the 2019 general elections will possess the characteristic features of June 12 where citizens exercised their franchise devoid of religious and ethnic sentiments, and where peace and tranquillity swept the day.”

Continuing, he noted “we hope that the part where the presidential election was cancelled should not repeat itself, so as to keep the nation alive. Notwithstanding, we want to humbly draw the attention of the Federal Government to the accusations being levelled on the JTF Commander concerning oil theft in Bayelsa and Delta states of the Niger Delta region.”

MNG implores the Federal Government to halt any plans of deploying more military troops to the region, rather, the Federal Government should commence and conduct intelligence guided investigation with a view to bringing anyone found culpable to book.

According MNG boss, this is aimed at maintaining the fragile peace the region is, and has been enjoying over the years, and on the other hand, sustain and increase the nation’s revenue via oil exploration in the Niger Delta.

“We therefore stand against anyone or any group of people who want to use this medium to bring anarchy to the region especially now that the 2019 general elections are gathering momentum.”

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Olomu vacant stool: We won’t disappoint, kingmakers assures kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin The Omu-Aran Traditional Council of Chiefs in Kwara State, on Monday, pledged to ensure diligence and transparency in the selection of a new monarch to fill the vacant stool in the community.

The council, headed by Chief Festus Awoniyi, the Petu Atayero of Omu-Aran, made the pledge when members of OmuAran Muslim community paid Sallah homage to the Olomu’s Palace.

It would be recalled that the traditional ruler of the community and Olomu of Omu-

Aran, Oba Charles Ibitoye, after two decades of reign on the throne joined his ancestors on Nov. 30, 2017, after a brief illness.

Awoniyi, who is also the Acting Traditional Head of the community and the Olomu-InCouncil, said the assurance was to allay fears being expressed in some quarters over succession to the Olomu stool.

He said members of the council were resolved to ensure the sustenance of unity and peaceful co-existence among the people of the community.

The chief told the gathering that no amount of pressure or

financial inducement would distract the Kingmakers from performing their responsibilities, honestly and diligently.

Awoniyi urged religious leaders, indigenes and nonindigenes in the community to continue to support the council with prayers to achieve the desired success.

“I want to assure you on behalf of Omu-Aran traditional council and its members that we will not disappoint the community.

“Selection processes toward succession to the vacant Olomu stool is already on top gear and

God willing we will surely come out victorious,” Awoniyi added.

Earlier, Alhaji Sodiq Afolayan, the Chief Imam of Omu-Aran central mosque, in a remark, had charged the kingmakers to be alive to their responsibilities.

He noted that any act of omission or commission on the part of the kingmakers in the succession processes would be rewarded by God accordingly.

“All eyes are on you to do a thorough job in selecting a God fearing leader for the community.

“We as religious leaders will not relent in interceding

on your behalf for God’s divine guidance in carrying out your assignment successfully,’’ the Imam said.

A renowned Islamic scholar, Alhaji Issa Abdulsalam, in a sermon during the visit, urged Nigerians to imbibe religious tolerance and patriotism in order to achieve the desired nationhood.

“Our country presently is in dire need of unity, tolerance and sacrifice to move forward.

“This is not about being a Muslim or a Christian, Ibo, Yoruba or Hausa but a law abiding and patriotic citizen of Nigeria,” he said.

Some of the newly acquired buses at the Ikeja Bus Terminal as part of the Bus Reform Initiative of the Lagos State Government.

New buses arrive Lagos in batches It was an iconic sight to behold as new buses adorned some of the recently constructed Bus Terminals in Lagos for the take off of the Bus Reform Initiative of the State Government designed to bequeath a world class transportation system and enhance connectivity across the State.

Apart from adding to the aesthetics of the State with the impressive blue and white colour, the new environmentally-friendly high capacity buses, which are now arriving the State in batches, were also equipped with modern facilities to bring about comfort and seamless travelling experience along the dedicated

routes.

Under the Bus Reform Initiative, 5,000 new buses are expected to be added to the public transport system, while other components of the scheme such as modern bus terminals, bus depots, bus stops and segregated lay bys are already springing up in strategic locations across the State.

This is aside the Intelligent Transport System mechanism of the initiative which will aid Lagosians to plan their journeys.

Also, arrangement is also being firmed up as part of the short-term plan for the buses to be assembled in Lagos, which would in turn create jobs for the people, and as well serve to properly maintain the buses.

Gov Jibrilla declares 3 days to mourn Chief of Staff Tom Garba, Yola The Adamawa state Governor, Senator Muhammad Umar Jibrilla Bindow has declared three days of mourning in the State starting from Monday, (yesterday) to pray for the repose of the soul of Government house chief of staff, Alhaji Abdulrahaman Abba Jimeta who died while performing the lesser Hajj in Mekkah, Saudi.

According to a statement signed by the Commissioner of Information and strategy, Comrade Ahmad Sajoh, the remains of late Abdurrahman Abba Jimeta will be buried in Makkah the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia according to Islamic Injunctions.

“It is with a deep sense of grief and total submission to the will of Almighty Allah that the Adamawa State Government announces the passing away of

the Chief of Staff, Government House Yola, Alhaji Abdurrahman Abba Jimeta. The sad event occurred in the early hours of Monday the 18th of June, 2018 in Makkah the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where the late Chief of Staff went for Umrah (the lesser Hajj).” The statement reads.

Comrade Sajoh urged the state workers to resume work on Tuesday (today), to be more committed to the progress and development of the State as a

befitting remembrance of what the late Abdurrahman Abba Jimeta stood for in his over three decades of public life.

The Governor calls on the people of the State to pray for the peaceful repose of the soul of the late Chief of Staff.

The late Chief of Staff would have been 60 years old at his next birthday in November, 2018.

He is survived by an aged Father, one wife and eleven (11) children.

Giving rationale behind the initiative, the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode said the new buses and terminals were conceived to redefine public transportation in the State with the view to make the State globally competitive.

“Like we have said, we are doing bus terminals to actually improve on the management of transportation in the city. Some people would have noticed that we are beginning to receive some of our new buses. We have actually ordered 820 buses and we believe that by end of September, the 820 buses should be in Lagos.

“The intention is not to drive away Danfo buses (Commercial Buses). Buses in Lagos right now are never enough.

Government is intending to inject 5,000 but we do not intend to operate them and so whoever is going to operate the buses would recruit drivers and personnel to work on those buses.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

27 News

Ikpeazu is our consensus candidate –Abia traders Sunday Nwakanma, Umuahia Traders in Abia state under the umbrella of the Abia State Market Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA), have endorsed Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as their consensus candidate in the 2019 governorship polls.

Speaking at the Government House, Umuahia at a rally organised

by ASMATA in support of the Governor, the traders assured the Governor of their unflinching support in next year’s election.

According to the ASMATA president, Emeka Emecheta as well as others who spoke at the event, the traders were impressed with the landmark achievements recorded by the Governor

Glo’s Professor Johnbull carpets fraudulent consumer practices Consumers who tinker with their meters with a view to cheating public utility services’ providers are up for excoriation in the latest episode of the popular Globacom-Sponsored Professor Johnbull.

The episode is entitled Cold Meters and takes critical look at unsavoury practices among consumers that can negatively impact public utility services, especially electricity supply.

Some of the antics employed by consumers trying to cheat the service providers will be showcased in the episode with hilarious consequences. The lover boy of the series, Flash (Stephen Odimgbe) is the brain behind one of such tricks. And as would be expected, it is all in a bid to impress a lady. Viewers would be interested to see how this ends.

The legendary Chief Chika Okpala, aka Zebrudayah, will also be appearing in this episode, playing the husband of a woman found on the wrong side of the law in a bid to avoid electricity bills.

Viewers would also be interested to know if any solution is proposed for the lingering problem of crazy bills by public utility companies, especially in the energy sector.

Catch ‘Cold Meters’ at 6.00 p.m. on Sunday on DSTV Africa Magic Family and GOTV Channel 2, with repeat broadcast on Thursday at 9.30 p.m. and on NTA Network, NTA International on DSTV channel 251 and NTA on StarTimes at 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday. It is also aired on Anambra Broadcasting Service at 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday and Saturday.

in the various sectors of the state’s economy especially the construction of quality roads in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state.

They assured the Governor that they shall not entertain any campaign

by any other candidate apart from the Governor and promised him of their massive vote in 2019.

Receiving the traders, the Governor asserted that without traders there is no Abia and that’s why trade and commerce remains the

first pillar of his government.

He maintained that traders are an integral part of his government as he believes that Abians can fend for themselves if provided with the enabling environment.

The Governor assured

that his plan is to connect all the markets in the state through good roads in order to enhance trade and commerce.

He promised not to disappoint Abians, but to fulfil all his campaign promises to the people

disclosing that his government will take over Obohia and Ohanko roads if the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), contractors given the contracts fail to report to site in the next three weeks.

. . . Presbyterian Church commends Gov Ikpeazu Sunday Nwakanma, Umuahia The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria (PCN) has applauded the infrastructure development efforts of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and described him as “a true Nehemiah of our time”.

This was during the 2018 Fathers’ Day Celebration of the Men’s Christian Association (MCA), of the Ogbor Hill Parish of the Church by the Minister in Charge, Rev. Akim Erim Mbeh, while presenting the award of “Nehemiah of our Time” to the Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Rt Hon. Sir Ude

Oko Chukwu.

According to the Minister, “Governor Okezie has rebuilt Aba and other parts of Abia State and deserves this award from the Church. When you look at where we were before he came and where we are today, you will no doubt acknowledge that we have made good progress that nobody can deny.”

In his response, Governor Ikpeazu, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, who also read the first scripture during the Service, thanked the Church for partnering with

his administration to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of the state and promised to do much more to make life better for the people.

“We appreciate the support and prayers of the Church.

While the Church is building the spiritual life of our people, it is our job as political leaders to deliver the necessary socioeconomic infrastructure that will enable our people to enjoy a better quality of life and do well in whatever their hands find to do.

“My Promise to you is that we will do much more than we have done, with God on

our side and the continuing support and prayers of Ndi Abia. We will not let your down and our commitment to your welfare will never wane.”

Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Chief Jerry O. Kalu, expressed appreciation to the Governor for honouring their invitation and promised that the church will continue to pray for him and partner with his administration in all spheres, including education, to ensure the rapid development of the state.

Chief Kalu used the opportunity to inform the

Governor of plans to construct a 57-room students’ hostel at Michael Okpara University Umudike and pleaded with the Governor to support the project which is aimed at providing affordable accommodation to students of the institution.

The Deputy Governor was accompanied to the event by senior government officials including the Commissioner for Agriculture, Rt. Hon. Uzor Azubuike, who also received award as a “Man of Valour”, Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu and other top government officials.

R-L: Governor, Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Managing Director, Azura-Edo Power Plant, David Ladipo; and Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu, during the Vice President’s visit to the power plant in Edo State. . . on Friday.

African women demand presence in peace resolution Adebisi Oyindamola, Abuja With the continuous human rights violations against women during conflicts across Africa, civil societies and non governmental organisations are clamouring for stronger presence and influence of women in conflicts resolutions and governance.

They explained that, with the incessant crisis rocking most African countries, and it attendant consequences, the importance of women participation in curbing the effects of conflicts at large as

identified by the 2016 AUC summit of leaders in is another critical route to finding lasting solutions to conflicts across Africa.

The Society for Empowerment and Self reliance (SESER), in partnership with National Association of Nigerian traders (NANT), in a media parley in Abuja disclosed that plans are underway for an All African Women Summit (AAWOS 2018) scheduled to hold in from 26th to 28th of July 2018.

The maiden edition of the summit will convene leaders

from different sectors of the African economy, leadership, with the aim of creating a platform for networking and mentorship among African women, giving them opportunity to negotiate and dialogue on matters concerning peace, as well as providing female role models for effective leadership.

A statement signed by the chairperson of SESER, Rosemary Effiong said nearly half of the 42% of ongoing conflicts in Africa have made African women to be in charge of the majority household and are key food producers.

She said, “according to human rights watch, internally displaced people in Somalia for instance, are suffering sexual violence in the form of gang rape and other forms of abuse in Mogadishu’s refugee camps.

“This abuse takes place at the hands of armed groups, including government officials”.

She emphasised on the failure of previous commitments by African governments to yield positive results and change, while calling for more efforts to be put to ensuring that women play a significant and major

part in peace talks and post conflicts reconstruction, as well empowering them to be less of victims and onlookers, urging them to take steps against gender violence.

The two-day summit with the theme ‘The power of negotiation: the role of African women in political leadership economic development and peace building’, will also feature the Vice President of Liberia, Dr Mrs. Howard Taylor as key speaker and ambassadors Francis Duru and Bimbo Akintola who will be advocates for structural changes in the politics.

28

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Foreign Affairs

Rwandan auctions assets of President’s critic Rwandan authorities have auctioned off assets from the family business of a jailed critic of President Paul Kagame.

Diane Rwigara was barred from running in last year’s election, and was later arrested on accusations of forgery and inciting insurrection.

The Rwanda Revenue Authority sold machinery from the family’s tobacco business for almost $2m (£1.5m) in a bid to recover $7m in tax arrears.

The family says the auction and charges against her are politically motivated.

A previous auction of Ms Rwigara’s family business assets - of processed tobacco - netted $595m (£449m).

Ms Rwigara is a renowned women’s activist in Rwanda and her family says their problems began with her decision to contest the presidency.

Her bid was unsuccessful

when she was disqualified after investigators alleged Ms Rwigara had committed an electoral offence by collecting forged signatures to endorse her candidacy.

She denied the allegation, saying that she met all the requirements to run.

Ms Rwigara was arrested with her mother, Adeline Rwigara, in September 2017 at their home in the capital, Kigali.

Her mother also faces charges of inciting insurrection.

President Kagame won the election that year with 98.63% of the vote.

He has been praised for bringing economic stability to the country following the 1994 genocide, in which some 800,00 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed

by Hutu extremists.

But human rights groups accuse him of suppressing democratic opponents and muzzling the independent media. BBC

Diane Shima Rwigara

Anger mounts against Trump’s child separation policy Pressure is mounting on US President Donald Trump to reverse his policy of separating children from refugees and migrants who cross the USMexico border.

“Families belong together,” protesters chanted on Sunday, as hundreds gathered outside detention centres in the states of Texas and New Jersey, calling for an end to the practice.

In May, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a “zero tolerance” approach towards migrants and refugees who cross the US southern border

without documents, promising to prosecute those who did so.

Part of that approach has been separating children from their parents who are detained.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesman told reporters last week that 1,995 minors were separated from 1,940 adults who crossed the US border without documents between April 19 and May 31.

Sunday’s protests coincided with the celebration of Father’s Day in the US, and drew several legislators from the Democratic Party.

New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney shared the

People hold signs to protest against President Donald Trump’s executive order to detain children

stories of five men detained in the New Jersey facility who were separated from their families.

“All 5 of these men brought their families to the US to escape #gangviolence in their home countries,” she said on Twitter. “They came hoping for a better, safer life for their loved ones. Instead they were separated from their children & have received no update on their children since being detained.”

One man broke down when telling me about how his young daughter was ripped from his arms. This is inhumane and traumatizing.

Other members of Congress toured a converted Walmart supermarket that is housing about 1,500 children, dozens of whom have been separated from their parents under the “zero-tolerance” policy.

“They call it ‘zero tolerance,’ but a better name for it is zero humanity, and there’s zero logic to this policy,” said Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon said while touring the facility.

“It’s completely unacceptable under any moral code or under any religious tradition to injure children, inflict trauma on them in order to send some political message to adults somewhere

overseas,” he said.

Protesters also marched to the newly-erected tent city in Tornillo, Texas, where hundreds of boys will be housed, according to Congressman Will Hurd, who toured the area over the weekend.

The US Department of Health and Human Services announced the opening of the “shelter” last week.

Democrat senators are attempting to drum up support in Congress to legislate against the policy, including proposing a law that would ban the practice.

Named the “Keep Families Together Act”, the bill, if passed, would ban the separation of a child from a parent or guardian unless there was a risk of abuse or neglect stemming from the parent’s custody of the child.

Democrat Senator Dianne Feinstein said the bill had picked up support from 48 senators.

“We’re making progress, but we still need Republicans to join,” she wrote on Twitter.

While no Republicans have signed up to back the bill, others within the party establishment have spoken out.

Britain condemns Israel bias at UN rights council Britain on Monday urged the UN Human Rights Council to reform its treatment of Israel, joining the United States in demanding an end to the body’s alleged bias against the Jewish State.

Addressing the opening of the 38th council session, British foreign secretary Boris Johnson criticized the council’s controversial Agenda Item 7, a permanent fixture on the schedule exclusively devoted to discussing rights abuses in the Palestinian Territories.

“We share the view that the dedicated Agenda Item 7 focused solely on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories is disproportionate and damaging to the cause of peace, and unless things change we shall vote next year against all resolutions introduced under Item 7,” Johnson said.

Israel is the only country with a dedicated council item.

Washington, some European countries and Australia have sided with Israel in condemning Item 7 as prejudiced, noting that countries with arguably worse rights records in recent years, like Syria are spared such intense scrutiny.

While previous US administrations have criticized Item 7, President Donald Trump’s government has raised the prospect of withdrawing from the council unless it is scrapped.

Johnson noted however that the council had an important role to play in “the IsraeliPalestinian conflict under the right agenda item.”

Each council session includes an agenda item on so-called country specific situations, known as Agenda Item 4, where debates on the crises in Syria, Burundi and others typically take place.

AFP

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

29 Foreign Affairs

What to look for when assessing South Africa’s president Mzukisi Qobo Now that Cyril Ramaphosa has served as South Africa’s president for more than three months, many pundits and ordinary citizens are assessing his performance.

Some have argued that he’s doing a great job others are less impressed.

Whatever one’s view, perhaps the most important element to take into consideration when assessing Ramaphosa’s work so far is that he took the country’s reins under circumstances that were far from ideal. He stepped into the role vacated by President Jacob Zuma when he had to be recalled by his own party in order to allow Ramaphosa a greater latitude as a leader.

Since Ramaphosa was elected to the position by parliament rather than in a national poll, he will be hoping to secure his own full-term, and with good margins for his party, after the 2019 general elections. So far he has taken an inclusive approach to keep the ship steady towards the 2019 general elections.

He is treading a delicate balance between expressing his own distinct leadership and cultivating cohesion within his party. This is not without difficulty, as fissures deepen in the ANC’s KwaZulu-Natal province despite Ramaphosa’s quest to achieve unity. He has also failed to assert his will in the North West province, where his party is also riven by tensions.

And yet, Ramaphosa needs to be firm if he’s to reverse Zuma’s legacy that left behind a deeply damaged economy and state institutions.

He will not succeed if he becomes a teddy bear within his party, especially given its chaotic state. This is even important given the fact that the pro-Zuma faction is not giving up and will possibly mobilise against Ramaphosa at the 2022 elective conference of the African National Congress.

Ramaphosa should bear in mind that he does not have much time at the helm of government, since there is no South African president under democracy who has completed

Cyril Ramaphosa two terms in office.

Need for better focus In his hastily delivered state of the nation address a day after he replaced Zuma, Ramaphosa presented a 10-point plan that emphasised the economy, renewal, and unity as the centrepieces of his presidency.

He’s come up with many ad-hoc initiatives and ideas.

These include the jobs summit, the investment conference and the special investment envoy. He’s also been talking about reviving manufacturing, supporting black industrialists, boosting youth employment, growing the tourism sector, and a digital industrialrevolution commission, among others.

These are all sensible and promising programmes. What they need to succeed is better rationalisation, clearer focus, and technocratic finesse. They will also need sound indicators to measure success. Otherwise they run the risk of gathering dust in filing cabinets.

Some good moves There are some commendable practical steps Ramaphosa has taken so far, which will

need a strong push to bear results. On the political front, Ramaphosa has managed to exercise influence over the core of the economic cluster in government. Agencies such as Treasury, Trade and Industry, Economic Development, and Mineral Resources are now steered by figures that enjoy credibility with the public and the private sector.

At the institutional level, he has taken little time to get on the work of overhauling leadership in struggling state owned enterprises. Boards at Eskom, Denel, Transnet and SAA Express were replaced with fresh blood and individuals that have experience and integrity. New leadership appointments have been made in the security cluster.

The head of the South African Revenue Services Tom Moyane, a known Zuma ally, has been suspended and is likely to be dispatched to the wilderness before his contract comes to an end.

Law enforcement agencies were quickly on the heels of those implicated in acts of corruption. Among those feeling the heat are the

Gupta family which had been untouchable due to its closeness to Zuma and their allies like the former minister of mineral resources Mosebenzi Zwane. Even the ANC general secretary Ace Magashule is feeling the pressure.

Ramaphosa’s short tenure has, no doubt, brought a sense of urgency in cleaning up government and other state institutions. This is something to be encouraged. However, the road ahead requires much more.

Beyond slogans Beyond a set of programmes and short-term plans, Ramaphosa needs to develop strong signature themes that define his leadership, and not just piecemeal programmes.

He needs to express a clearly discernible mission beyond the feel-good slogan, “Thuma Mina”, a campaign to galvanise citizen activism in addressing the country’s challenges.

Whatever people think of former South African leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki, their leadership had strong imprints that were felt early on. Whether it was reconciliation and nation-

building, in the case of Mandela, or African renaissance, in the case of Mbeki, what their presidency stood for was clear.

Ramaphosa is yet to show his leadership identity.

However Ramaphosa’s record is assessed, people should not lose focus on the responsibility of citizens to keep leaders accountable. They should not allow themselves to be reduced to applauding spectators. Leaders are here today and gone tomorrow.

Positive efforts should by all means be supported but citizens must avoid complacency at all costs. They can play a critical part in contributing meaningfully to consolidate the country’s democracy and promoting social change by getting involved in initiatives that seek to address social ills.

Qobo, is Deputy Chair: SA Research Chair on African Diplomacy and Foreign Policy, University of Johannesburg, S’Sfrica Matlala Setlhalogile coauthored this article.

He lectures politics at the University of Johannesburg.

Source: Polity.org.za

TIMES SPORTS

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Elderson Echiejile: Super Eagles will make amends against Iceland

Amaju Pinnick: Super Eagles still have hope President of Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick is confident the Super Eagles can lift themselves up to reach the knockout rounds of the competition despite their 2-0 loss to Croatia in their first match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

An unfortunate Oghenekaro Etebo own goal and a penalty from Luka Modric gave Croatia all maximum points from the game.

“We expected to win against Croatia but it did not happen and the whole team, as well as the Federation, have put that behind us and looking ahead with hope to the next two matches,” Pinnick told the Nigerian

Football Federation media department.

“I have spoken with the Coach and the players and they have confidence that the job can be done. They feel bad to have lost the first match and are determined to go out there and do what they have to do against Iceland on Friday.

“Losing your first match of a major competition is not an automatic exit ticket.

Spain lost their first match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals and still went ahead to win the tournament.

“We have a young team that can achieve so much with the right attitude and invention, and we must now reach deep down for those qualities when we play Iceland in Volgograd.

“At this tournament, world champions Germany have lost their first match; Argentina have been held to a draw; 2010 World Cup winners Spain have been held to a draw and; Brazil could not defeat Switzerland. France even struggled before defeating Australia with a late goal.

So much is still possible.”

The Super Eagles have since returned to training in Essentuki ahead of Friday’s encounter at the 45,000-capacity Volgograd Arena.

Croatia currently lead Group D with three points following the win while Argentina and Iceland, who played a 1-1 draw, are joint-second with Nigeria bottom of the log.

Abdullahi Biffo: Super Eagles must improve to fly past Iceland Katsina United head coach Abdullahi Biffo has said the Super Eagles need to improve on their pattern of play if the must get the necessary points against the smallest nation to have ever qualified for World Cup, Iceland.

Biffo, who spoke in Abuja Sunday, said, “The Super Eagles did not perform badly against Croatia just that it was not our day. But we must do better in our next game if we must get the necessary points in the game against Iceland “Majority had earlier written Iceland off in this group but they have proved to the world that they have not come to the World

Cup to complete numbers with their outstanding performance which earned them a point against two times World Champions, Argentina,” said Biffo.

He added that this is not the time to criticize the team rather support them.

“Majority have started condemning the team due to that loss to Croatia which I think is uncalled for at the moment. I strongly believe that the same set of people will still come out to praise the team after the Eagles might have defeated Iceland.

“Though beating Iceland won’t be an easy task but am very optimistic that Nigeria will defeat Iceland

come on Friday,” he posited.

On the tactics of Super Eagles, Biffo said the coach knows the best tactics that suit the team.

“I did not see anything wrong about the tactics because the coach knows the best tactics that is good for the team. I can only advise that he should work more on the transitioning from the midfield to the attack because that is the area I think we are having problem.”

Nigeria will play their second group stage game against Iceland on Friday.

While Group D leader Croatia will face Argentina in the second fixture.

Super Eagles defender Elderson Echiejile is disappointed the team paid dearly for their mistakes in their opening group game against Croatia on Saturday at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Oghenekaro Etebo’s own goal and Luka Modric’s spot kick gave Croatia a 2-0 win in the encounter.

“It was a tough game where our mistakes cost us,” Echiejile said.

“We will try to correct them and hope we win our next game to stand a chance of getting out of this tough group.”

He also revealed that

the team have put behind them the defeat to Croatia.

“We can’t continue to dwell on the defeat we have to move on and

show we can overcome setbacks.”

Nigeria will face Iceland on Friday in their next game.

John Ogu wants fans to get behind Super Eagles Hapoel Beer Sheva midfielder John Ogu has urged Super Eagles fans to show true patriotism by supporting the team when they take on Iceland in their second group game at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia on Friday.

Ogu was an unused substitute in the Super Eagles 2-0 opening day loss to Croatia last Saturday where an own goal from Oghenekaro Etebo and a penalty from Luka Modric condemned Nigeria to a defeat.

He however revealed

that the team is working hard on training to give a strong and better outing.

“None of us walks on to the pitch with the intention to lose,” Ogu wrote on his Instagram page.

“Patriotism doesn’t like only when we do well. It means standing with the team through thick and thin.”

“We have a very important game against Iceland coming up, we are working hard for a better and strong outing. Thank you all for your support so far.”

Gernot Rohr urged to fortify Super Eagles’ midfield, defence Coach Hamza Abara, Acting Head Coach of Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna, has advised Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, to fortify the clubs midfield and defence.

Abara, who gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Minna lamented the 0-2 loss to Croatia in their opening game of the ongoing World Cup in Russia.

“If Nigeria must make any good impact against Iceland come June 22 in St. Petersburg Stadium, Russia, then our technical adviser must fortify our midfield and defence to be better than what we witnessed against Croatia,’’ he said.

He said that Rohr had

a game plane to win the match but unfortunately luck was not on his side.

“The coach tried his best but it did not work, right now, we have to forget the defeat and look forward to how to win the next match.

“The midfield and defence have to be up and doing, they have to be mobile and always go for the ball,’’ he said.

The coach noted that Nigeria lost to Croatia on Saturday because the Croats defence was more compact.

NAN reports that the Super Eagles lost to Croatia through an own goal by Oghenekaro Etebo and a Luka Modric penalty kick.

NAN reports that Rohr had said the team’s loss to Croatia was due to “many

mistakes’’ that the technical crew has noted and looking forward to correcting them.

Rohr, however, assured Nigerians that he and his assistants would go on to ensure the team improved upon their performance before their encounter with Iceland.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Official: Croatia loss costs Super Eagles at least $20,000 each Super Eagles failure to win the 2018 World Cup opening match against Croatia meant the entire team [players and backroom staff] missed out on huge bonuses – at least $20,000) [7.2 Million Naira] each and this was outside the $50,000 from Aiteo for

every unreplied goals.

One of the team officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “I couldn’t sleep last night because I was just thinking of the solid 3-bedroom flat I would have been able to build from the bonus had we won against Croatia.”

The backroom staff concluded by stating he has now gone as far as calling his mum at home to start praying for the team to win the remaining two group matches so that he doesn’t miss out on the bonuses while wearing a sorry face.

Mikel Obi: Super Eagles condemned to beat Iceland Nigeria can still progress to the World Cup knockout stage, despite their 2-0 defeat to Croatia on Saturday, according to John Obi Mikel.

The former Chelsea midfielder, who captains Gernot Rohr’s side, acknowledged Nigeria must improve ahead of their clash with Iceland on Friday.

“We have to play better. I think we can play better, we can do better,” Mikel told reporters.

“It’s difficult to say I think.

We have to go back to the drawing board and see what we can do better, together as a team.

“It’s not easy playing against these fantastic players, European players, they can hurt you in any given time.

We know that, but we have to do better.”

However, despite Nigeria’s inefficiencies, Mikel is confident that progression from Group D is still possible,

citing that Argentina’s unexpected draw with Iceland has provided the Super Eagles with a lifeline.

“Why not? We believe.

That’s why we’re here,” the skipper added.

“That’s why we came here.

We have two more games to play. Argentina drew so I think this is a bit better for us.

“Next game, we have to go and try to win the game.

If we do that, we’re back in it again.”

31 Times Sports

June 18 World Cup Results Sweden 1 - 0 South Korea Belgium 3 - 0 Panama Tunisia 1 - 2 England

World Cup Fixtures June 18

19:00 13:00 16:00

Russia vs Egypt Colombia vs Japan Poland vs Senegal

Andre Silva: Portugal ‘stronger than Morocco’ Portugal striker Andre Silva believes the European champions are well equipped to beat Morocco ahead of their upcoming World Cup group stage clash in Moscow.

“I think we are stronger than Morocco if we compare the two teams, but I’m not saying the game will be easy for us,” Silva told reporters at Portugal’s team base on Monday.

“We cannot underestimate them and must have respect for any opponent. Any game at the World Cup is difficult.”

Silva came on as a late substitute in Portugal’s 3-3 draw against Spain in their

opening game in Group B, while a late own goal condemned Morocco to a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat by Iran.

“They lost their first game but it happens and now they will focus on winning and will try their best,” the AC Milan forward said.

“They’re used to playing against European teams and will do their all to get this victory.”

He added: “There are no favourites. Morocco have excellent players and the result of their game against Iran could have been different.”

Cristiano Ronaldo has

tipped the 22-year-old Silva, who moved to Milan from Porto last year, as his long-term successor in the Portugal team.

“As I’ve said it’s a big honour to play with him, he’s the best footballer in the world,” said Silva, who has scored an impressive 12 goals in 24 international appearances.

“I’m very happy to be on the same team with him.

“When he needs me to do something I’m always where he needs me to be. And when I need him he’s always by my side. We always try to work together and in combination.”

World Cup: Russia ‘know how to stop’ Egypt’s Mo Salah

Isco: Julen Lopetegui will be a ‘great coach’ for Real Madrid Spain ace Isco is thrilled by Real Madrid’s appointment of Julen Lopetegui, following his controversial departure from the Spanish national side last week just a day before the World Cup began.

Lopetegui’s decision to move to the Santiago Bernabeu despite recently signing an extension with the national team led to a swift departure, with Fernando Hierro taking the helm days before the start of the tournament in Russia.

Spain’s dramatic few days off the field caught the headlines and there was similar excitement surrounding their opening

game at the World Cup, where Cristiano Ronaldo’s late freekick saw Portugal snatch a point off the 2010 winners.

While the situation has seen some criticism of Lopetegui, Isco says he’s happy to see the former national coach take charge of the European champions.

“He’s a coach who I’ve known for many years; we worked together right the way up the Spain set-up.

He’s given me confidence when I haven’t been enjoying a central role at my club, and he’s a great coach,” he told a press conference on Monday.

Spain have not won their

opening game at a World Cup since 2006 and will look for improvements in their upcoming matches in Group B against Iran and Morocco, and Isco believes last week’s incidents have brought the squad closer together.

“This team has so much heart, pride and desire to do well,” he added. “When the tough gets going, we rise to the challenge. We were dealt a setback and the team got on with it.

“Even when we conceded a goal in the third minute [against Portugal] we refused to go under. This team never gives up.”

Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov says the World Cup hosts have figured out a way to reign in Egypt’s striker Mohamed Salah on Tuesday in Saint Petersburg.

The 26-year-old has scored 44 goals in a sensational first season for Liverpool and is keen to make his debut after missing the Pharaohs’ 1-0 opening game loss to Uruguay with a shoulder injury.

Salah’s name has been creeping into conversations often since Russia’s 5-0 thumping of Saudi Arabia in Thursday’s tournament curtain-raiser.

But Cherchesov said he was not particularly concerned.

“We know how to play against him,” the Russia coach said after the team’s morning training session.

“We are ready to stop Salah and we will.”

The bold promise highlights a new swagger that had been missing from the host nation’s team for much of the past year.

Russia’s convincing win over the Saudis was preceded by a seven-match winless streak and a spate of injuries

that wiped out almost the entire defence line.

But the men in red are now on the cusp of making their first knockout stage of a World Cup in post-Soviet history.

The achievement would a huge relief for both players and Russians who worried about being humiliated on the world’s biggest sporting stage.

One poll said Thursday’s win has seen the number of

Russians who say they plan to follow the football rise from 52 percent to 64 percent.

Russia’s veteran goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev said he would rather focus on winning than any particular opposing player.

“Would I prefer to see Salah play or not? I do not even know how to respond,” said Akinfeev. “I would prefer to see my team win.”

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Business Times

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

CBN lifted retail Forex segment with $343.06m

Recycling of plastics, glass can generates 6 million jobs - ILO

Stock markets fall amid trade fears

Dangote Refinery will solve Nigeria’s crude oil refining challenge – IPMAN Rice smuggling: Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) on Monday said that the Dangote Refinery, Petrochemical and Fertilizer projects would solve the country’s crude oil refining and exporting challenges, when completed.

Alhaji Debo Ahmed, the Chairman, Western Zone of IPMAN told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the refinery would address the lingering crisis of importing refined products into the country.

Ahmed said that the $16b investment project would revamp the oil and gas industry when it finally kick-starts its operations.

He, however, appealed to all stakeholders to support the

actualisation of the huge investments to address the challenges confronting the nation’s downstream sector.

Ahmed said that the Dangote refinery would impact positively on the downstream investments and significantly boost the country’s economic growth.

According to him, its 650, 000 barrels per day refining capacity projects would have a great multiplier effect on the nation’s economy when completed.

“The refinery is expected to solve the country’s crude oil refining and exporting challenges when completed.

It will also be able to supply 95 per cent of local daily consumption.

“It is also expected that half of Nigeria’s crude would then be

refined and exported, rather than just exporting crude, to create jobs elsewhere,” he said.

The IPMAN boss, therefore, urged government to harness the potentials of the private sector to make the national economy recover speedily.

“The Dangote Refinery, Petrochemicals and Fertilizer Project, which is reputed to be the biggest in Africa, when completed, will offer a lot of relief in the quest for the diversification of Nigeria’s economy from a total dependence on oil to other areas like agriculture and solid minerals.

“We have been assured that when the project fully takes off, it would save the country over 12 billion dollars now being spent on the importation of oil into the country.

“It has also been said that it would as well save for Nigeria about three billion dollars per annum on forex from exports,” he added.

The chairman said it was, therefore, needful for government to support the project to come on stream, adding that the company had substantial compliance to local content development since most of its jobs were being handled by Nigerians.

NAN recalls that the 650, 000 BPD refinery project located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos State is scheduled to come on stream by 2019, and expected to increase to 90 per cent by 2030.

Construction work commenced on the ongoing Dangote Refinery project in 2013.

Cross section of youths at one of the labs in Edo Innovation Hub, recently launched by Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, at the Institute of Continuing Education (ICE), Benin City, Edo State.

Edo innovation hub partners Siemens, offers N3.5m prize

• Seeks new solutions to power generation, distribution challenges Sequel to its launch only last week, the Edo Innovates tech cluster has concluded modalities for The Hack Edo Series, a multi-dimensional initiative to identify and incubate the best ideas that tackle problems of power generation and distribution faced by individuals, businesses and the digital ecosystem, with a N3.5 million prize money.

In a statement by Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Skills Development and Jobs Creation, Mrs. Ukinebo Dare, said that The Hack Edo Series which is being organised in partnership with Impact Hub and

Siemens Nigeria, will leverage innovation technology to identify solutions in the area of power generation, adding that N3.5 million in cash prizes will be won by the best ideas.

She said starts-ups or groups with ideas can apply on the Edojobs website, as deadline for application is on June 30.

According to her, “Through a series of practical Hackathons, the Hack Edo series aims to equip young Nigerian innovators with the skills necessary to make impact in their various communities.”

She said the series will help increase the number of individuals taking action

on social and economic issues, build a collaborative community that tackles issues and identify the best ideas that will be supported through the incubation phase.

She said the hackathons will catalyse high-growth startups within Edo State, support development of ventures from ideation to commercialization and promote job creation and economic development, adding, “this will drive and ensure the increased adoption of local technology by government, corporates and development agencies across Edo state and Nigeria, strengthen and raise the standard of startups in the

region and deliver positive social impact returns to communities and people across the region.”

Recall that the Vice President, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo, alongside Governor Godwin Obaseki, last week, launched the South-South Innovation Hub in the state, kicking off activities for the state’s fledging tech ecosystem at the remodeled Institute of Continuing Education (ICE).

The state government has partnered with over 25 technology firms in setting up the facility, which will serve as a one-stop shop for training, incubation, acceleration for start-ups and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the state.

FG to shut land boarders, laments effects on economy

Tom Okpe, Abuja Federal Government has revealed its intention to shut land borders with neighbouring countries with a view to curtailing the smuggling of foreign rice and other toxic materials into Nigeria.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, disclosed this during an interactive section with Nigeria youths under the theme: ‘‘The Guardians of the Nations International (GOTNI) Leadership Clinic’’ in Abuja on Sunday.

Ogeh, lamented that the friendly relationship that existed between Nigeria and her neighbouring African countries was adversely affecting the nation’s economy, hence the decision to shut the borders.

He said that the government in the past two years succeeded in reducing rice importation by 95 percent and increased the number of rice farmers from five to 30 million noting that states like Anambra, Ebonyi, Kebbi, Kano and Jigawa have taken advantage of the Anchor Borrower programs of the Federal Government to upscale their rice production and that achievements will not be allowed to fizzle away through smuggling activities.

According to him ‘‘our problem is smuggling. As we speak, a neighbour of ours is importing more rice than China. They do not eat parboiled rice, they eat white rice, they use their ports to try and damage our economy. I am telling you now because in a few days, you will hear that borders have been shut; we are going to shut it to protect you, (us) and protect our economy. You will start seeing all sorts of negative things on the internet. Let me tell you why we need to shut the border, I grow rice, I was the first Nigerian to mill rice free of stones, if you plant rice in certain parcels of land, some poisonous materials gets into the rice.

“There are three kinds of water in their natural state; there is fresh water from the river, salt water from the sea, blackish water. If you go to the Delta in many countries, in South East Asia where they grow rice, if you plant rice in the same place like four to six years continuously, the quantum of arsenic begins to increase and arsenic causes cancer and that is what they are dumping for us.

“Some people say they prefer Thai rice because they are very sophisticated; welcome to poison. We just have to handwork you to prosperity otherwise, this country will not grow.

Labour B 2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

US Consulate trains Nigerian students, women on drone technology Stories: Joy Obakeye The United States Consulate General Lagos in collaboration with a Baltimorebased Global Air Media has concluded a twoday drone technology workshop for students and women STEM leaders.

The training was held at the Cedar STEM & Entrepreneurship Hub, an American Corner at Co-Creation Hub (CCHUB), both in Yaba, Lagos on Monday and Tuesday respectively.

A team of three drone experts led by Global Air Media co-founder Eno Umoh facilitated the series of workshops.

Thirty elementary and high school students were coached on the basics of building a drone from the scratch, as well as the requisite skills for piloting and landing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

In addition to the students’ seminar, thirteen female STEM leaders were mentored on the evolving technology needs of the 21st century, particularly in the fields of real estate and construction, cinematography, as well as humanitarian and emergency response.

Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate Lagos, Ms Darcy Zotter, explained that the hands-on workshop was designed to stimulate the interest of the participating students in math and science, as well as careers in the STEM fields.

“STEM enables us to find solutions to some of the most pressing issues of today such as alternative energy or even food security. Creating inventions to solve global challenges can be a catalyst for a country’s economic development,” Zotter said.

According to her, the U.S. Mission in

Nigeria has funded a number of projects to increase STEM education in different parts of the country. Whether at home or abroad, she added, promoting STEM education is a top priority of the U.S. government.

“Last March, we hosted a 16-member delegation of senior women technology executives and professionals from Silicon Valley, California. The visiting delegation held a mentoring program for over 70 Nigerian female STEM leaders.

“In December 2017, we funded the establishment of a technology hub in Lagos designed to host training and mentoring sessions for persons living with disabilities in various technology-based skills. We also hosted RoboRAVE, a robotics education program in Lagos and Abeokuta in October 2017,” she explained.

Wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty Anyanwu - Akeredolu (middle), with others during the Excursion and tourism tour to the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir, Morocco.

ULC urges FG reverse electricity privatisation The United Labour Congress (ULC), ‎has called for the reversal of the power sector’s privatisation.

Reacting to President Muhammadu Buhari’s speech on Democracy Day, said the power sector has failed Nigerians.

Its President, Joe Ajaero, said “It has been a harvest of woes. The United Kingdom has done the needful with their railways on seeing the woes the sector was bringing to the nation, the government has started reversing the privatisation of that sector.

The government should emulate this and do the most sensible thing at this time by mustering the needed courage to reverse the nation’s electricity sector privatisation,” he said.

Ajaero said labour considered it embarrassing that the country has continued to pay the individuals that captured the DISCOs and GENCOs, despite repaying the nation with darkness.

He said: “Our findings showed that the government has paid about N1trillion to these private entities and this is most befuddling.

“It is; therefore, better to reverse the sale so that instead of paying these companies, Nigeria can manage its funds for the purposes of generating and delivering power to our homes and organisations.”

He said workers were surprised that Buhari did not find it necessary to address the myriads of problems confronting them and the workplaces.

“We had thought that the President will recommit to ensuring that the minimum wage quickly become a reality but he never did.

“We had thought that the President would have talked about the infrastructure deficit. We had hoped that the President would have addressed the crisis of unemployment and the increasing business shut down; alas, it did not happen,” he said.

He, however, called on the government to move towards delivering the benefits of democracy to the people, especially workers, adding that the country’s testimony of harvests of benefits would be the demonstration of the government’s service and commitment to the people.

Recycling of plastics, glass can generates 6m jobs - ILO The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has said recycling of plastics, glass, wood pulp, metals and minerals can generate about six million more jobs worldwide, Its Director-General, Guy Ryder, in a statement, said more than 32 per cent of plastic packaging escapes collections, as most of them end up in landfills, dumps, oceans and farm lands.

He said though plastic has many benefits, it has many drawbacks, hence, the need to keep the planet safe, clean and fit for work, he said.

“The sad reality is that the handling of plastic waste, as well as e-waste and other fast-growing solid waste streams, remains largely part of the informal economy in many countries.

“Unless we act now, there will be more plastics than fish in the oceans by 2050,” he said.

Ryder said workers faced serious decent work deficits, such as work hazards, violence, discrimination, stigmatisation and harassment, low earnings and long-working hours.

The ILO chief said filling the gaps would enhance opportunities for decent work, noting that a coherent and integrated legal framework is a step in that direction.

Ryder noted that governments, employers’ and workers’ organisations have a role to play in plastics evacuation.

He added: “The challenge before us is to transform the “make-use-dispose” plastics’ economy into a circular economy, based on recycling. We also need to reduce our

consumption of single-use or disposable plastic.

“We can lessen the environmental damage that plastic pollution is causing by extending the use of plastic products for as long as possible, while recovering, reusing and recycling plastics at a much higher rate.

This will not only reduce the environmental damage that plastic pollution is causing but will also open up new opportunities for decent work.”

Ryder called for an urgent action to tackle the causes of child labour, pointing out that attention should be paid not only to global supply chains, but also to unpaid family work in agriculture.

“The challenge is not just about globallytraded garments, tobacco and cocoa; it is also about local markets for sorghum, millet,

bricks – and it’s about domestic work as well,” he said, at a panel held on the sidelines of the International Labour Conference and ahead of the World Day against Child Labour.

Ryder pointed out that 152 million children aged five and 17 are in child labour worldwide. Between 2012 and 2016, there was “almost no reduction in the number of children aged five to 11 in child labour, and the number of these most vulnerable, youngest children in hazardous work actually increased.”

This, Ryder added, was partly because child labour in agriculture – which is mostly unpaid family work – increased.

“These children typically begin child labour at six or seven and they commonly perform hazardous work as they get older.”

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

CBN lifted retail Forex segment with $343.06m Stories: Motolani Oseni

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has again intervened in the Retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) to the tune of $343.06 million.

Figures obtained from the Bank on Thursday, June 14, 2018, indicate that the amount released was for requests in the agricultural, airlines, petroleum products and raw materials and machinery sectors.

The Acting Director, Corporate Communications at the CBN, Isaac Okorafor confirmed the figures and noted thatthe continued intervention

were in line with the assurances made by the Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to sustain market liquidity in order to boost production and trade and maintain stability in the forex market.

Speaking further, Okorafor assured that the CBN remained very committed to ensuring that all the sectors continue to enjoy access to the foreign exchange required for the business concerns.

It will be recalled that on Tuesday, this week, the Bank injected the sum of $210 million into the inter-bank Foreign Exchange Market.

Meanwhile, the naira exchanged at N362/$1 in the BDC segment of the

market on Thursday, June 14, 2018.

Although, forex dealers projected that the Nigerian currency will be seen flat at about 361 per dollar next week, as investors weigh the impact of monetary tightening in United States against expected returns from holding local treasuries.

Foreign exchange trades were thin at midday on Thursday, with demand for dollars but little supply. The naira last traded at 361.50.

The Nair was quoted at 305.90 to the dollar at the CBN official rate on Thursday, supported by it continuous forex injections.

L-R: President, Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe; Executive Secretary, ABCON, Uduma Cletus and an official of Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) at the end of a three-day joint training/sensitization programme on anti-money laundering and terrorist financing organised by ABCON and NFIU at the ABCON Secretariat, in Ikeja Lagos…recently

B 3 Money

DMO clicks 3 categories at EMEA awards The Nigerian Debt Management Office (DMO) to raise revenue to finance infrastructure was recognised internationally last week when it won awards in 3 categories for its securities issuance activities in the domestic and international capital markets.

The awards were Best Sovereign Bond in Africa – US$3bn Dual-Tranche (10 and 30 year) Eurobonds issued in November 2017; Most Innovative Bond – US$300mn Diaspora Bond issued in June 2017; and Best Naira Bond – 100bn 7-year Inaugural Sukuk issued in September 2017.

Coming from EMEA Finance (Europe, the Middle East and Africa), which is a wellrespected institution in the international financial markets, the Awards position Nigeria properly to attract foreign capital flows and also confirm the robustness of Nigeria’s Debt Management Office in packaging and offering products that appeal strongly to local and international investors.

Even more significant for Nigeria is that awards by EMEA Finance are made after evaluating several Transactions, each of which is unique, using clearly defined criteria.

That 3 Transactions by Nigeria won awards from a competitive process, is a huge plus for Nigeria. Nigeria issued its first Diaspora Bond for USD300 million in June 2017.

The Bond was selecte for the Award both for the uniqueness in the manner in which it was structured. The Bond is also the first security issued by Nigeria that is registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

With the USD3 billion dual-tranche (USD1.5 billion for 10 years and USD1.5 billion), Nigeria recorded several firsts, making it a landmark transaction. Firstly, it was the very first time that Nigeria raised an amount that large at once in the International Capital Market (ICM).

Secondly, it was the first time a SubSaharan African country other than South Africa to issue a 30-year Bond in the ICM. For Nigeria, the significance of the tenor lies in the fact that it could now access stable long term funds necessary to finance infrastructure.

Indeed Nigeria is proud to have opened the 30-year window as some other African countries such as Kenya subsequently issued 30-year Bonds.

Fintech: Branch increases access to financial services with over N4bn loan Despite the proliferation of Fintech industries in Nigeria, Branch has successfully distinguished itself with provision of over N4 billion loans, in order to increase access to modern financial services in Nigeria.

Branch International, is one of the fastest growing digital financial platforms, who recently celebrated its first year in the Nigerian financialtechnology industry.

Through their innovative approach to lending, Branch has provided world class financial services to the underserved and unlocked financial access to customers around the country.

The company provides fast, fair and flexible loans without late fees, hidden charges, rollover fees or restrictions on money expenditures.

At the stakeholders meeting held recently, the CEO Matthew Flannery said, “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be working in Nigeria with Branch.

The startup community is incredibly dynamic, and the country is poised for a FinTech explosion. The early response from our customers shows that there is a massive need for a product like Branch. We hope to play a significant role in increasing access to modern financial services in Nigeria over the next decade.”

Branch offers a unique proposition to the average Nigerian, providing users with access to instant loans on their mobile devices. Android smartphone users can receive loans between N3,000 to N150,000 requiring no face-to-face meetings, lengthy application processes, collateral or paperwork. As Branch customers repay their loan, they unlock access to larger loan amounts and more flexible terms.

More than 75% of customers use Branch loans to help start or grow their business or meet financial obligations.

Notwithstanding, Branch has no

restrictions on the usage of the loans; customers are given the independence to make their own financial decisions.

Unlike traditional financial institutions, Branch provides customers with the opportunity to build their credit regardless of their banking history by assessing their loan eligibility based on the data procured from customer’s smartphones. With the customers’ consent, Branch’s algorithm processes thousands of data points to create customized loan options. These data are protected using world class security and encryption techniques to ensure the safety of customers’ private information.

In Nigeria, Branch has disbursed over N1 billion and over 100,000 loans.

The company’s growth continues to accelerate; in the first quarter of 2018, Branch grew 50 percent month on month in Nigeria.

“The growth that we have seen indicates that our product is providing

a valuable service and solving a meaningful need for Nigerians around the country,” says Country Manager Maria Rotilu. “The rapid user adoption is a clear sign of a strong need for fast, accessible world class financial services.”

This year, Branch plans to disburse more than N4 billion and generate over half a million loans. They are also investing in their Lagos office and plan doubling the number of employees.

Founded by pioneers of micro lending and leaders in finance and technology, Branch has established offices in San Francisco, Lagos, Nairobi, and Mumbai with plans to expand its financial services to additional countries. Currently the top finance app in Africa with over a million subscribers globally, the company plans to diversify into savings and payment activities which will be included into the financial platform

Business Interview B 4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Calabar airport: Cashless policy has reduced touting How far have you gone at Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, in the screening of passengers on Ebola and what do you have on ground to carry out screening because Cross River state is a boundary state?

Immediately we heard about the second outbreak in Congo; we organized a seminar for all the airport stakeholders and we invited medical doctors from Port Health to also talk to us about Ebola.

It took us almost three hours, it was an exhaustive deliberation and advice were on steps to be taken and by the grace of God, we have been able to put in place a lot of measures.

One is that proper screaming of passengers, two is about surveillance because we were told some signs to look out for and since that time; we made sure that our medical operatives too were also properly briefed.

At intervals you see them also coming to the terminal building on a monitoring and observation routine.

And of course, we also have the issue of hygiene too and everything is in place.

We have also had an agreement with Port Health at the national because even though we have not started any international operations here but we are bonded by Cameroon and Cameroon is juts about 40 minutes away from Congo and then we also have so many porous entry points to Calabar.

All the three major transportation system in Nigeria, they are evident in Calabar; if you talk of sea, we have it in Calabar, if you talk of land and air, we all have them in Calabar and the only one that we feel that pose a threat is the sea especially people coming from Cameroon or Congo through the sea, illegal sea routes, we have so many illegal seas routes that can get you into Calabar.

So anybody can pass through the illegal sea route and of course get to town, come to the airport and then fly.

So we are talking every step to make sure that all the possible signs are in place and that all the precautions that we have been told about the Port Health, we are also adhering to it. Basically we have activated our emergencies procedures to curtail any possible outbreak.

You will discovered that in 2014, Sawyer (Name of the man with Ebola) was actually coming to Calabar because he had a conference in Calabar. Calabar was supposed to be his final destination. So thank God that he didn’t get to Calabar, it happened in Lagos. But here we are quite very proactive, we have activated our emergencies procedures.

Now, all the passengers being screened.

Have you recorded any case of abnormal temperature on any passenger?

No, there is none.

The Federal Government through the Ease of Doing Business wants to ensure that everybody can do business within the stipulated time, without stress, how far has the Ease of Doing business affected transactions of business in Calabar airport?

It has improved business transactions very greatly. I think it was one of the brilliant initiatives of government that has brought this to fore.

It has actually positively brought a lot of dignity and it has also increased our revenue. Now passengers are not allowed to pay cash to anybody; so the so-called staff that want to do any funny thing with our revenue, there is no how he/she can do that since they don’t have access to our revenue or cash.

Except they want the passenger to go with the money free which is not possible. So; one, it has made things very easy in the airport, it has help in reducing the activities of touts at the airport top the minimum.

It has completely reduced the level of touting in the airport because if anybody is exchanging cash with you, we will ask you, please that money is for what especially with the staff, so we will ask you what is it for.

So; if you go to the screening point, nobody dash anybody money there because people are watching.

The only place for now that we are not doing cashless policy is the access gate because it has not been automated but every other cash point; both in our VIP, even the car park, our cleaning, everywhere completely, is cashless and of course, we also have the roll-up banners that also sensitize people and we have these jingles that we also play to sensitize people both in all the languages.

We have it in Yoruba, we have it in Igbo, we have it in Hausa. We have POS and it is very active so that when people go, you just slot in your card and pay. So, everything is in place and it is moving smoothly, it is 100% compliance except the access gate because it has not been automated.

Olusegun

Airport Manager, Margret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, Mr. Ayodele Sunday Olusegun, is happy with the introduction of cashless policy but grappling with the challenge of grass cutting at the airport in the rain forest zone. He wants more airlines to fly into the ‘viable’ airport to reduce the sufferings of passengers in the region. In this interview with CHUKWUEMEKE IWELUNMO, Olusegun speaks on Ebola Virus and issues affecting the airport.

Let’s look at Margret Ekpo International Airport, it is one of the airports that was being done by Princess Stella Oduah. What is the level now, has the contractor gone back to site?

Yes, the contractor came back to site to complete the job sometime ago even though it has not been fully completed but at least, it has gone to appreciable level and apart from the terminal building, they are also working on the car park.

I think the car park is also part of the job that time which they have already moved in and I think that they are working.

What is the greatest challenging that you are facing at the airport?

I think it is the grass management that is the greatest challenge. You know the rate of rain here is 12 months in a year, there is nothing like August break, our own is every time rain but by the grace of God we are coping and luckily we have our own tractor but NAMA is cooperating, we have a very great synergy with NAMA. So; we go to NAMA and they complement us with their own.

Has the power situation improved at the airport?

From the primary source yes, to some extend but the airport has always been magnanimous with AGO so that if we don’t have supply from the primary source, we quickly swift over to the secondary source but everything is stable.

Both the primary source and the secondary source is stable. Our generators are okay, we have enough diesel, enough AGO, when we have PHCN which is the primary source, we also swift.

And Lagos is very responsible; they are very prompt in buying their PHCN bills.

‘

Is there any support from the state government?

In their own little way, they are supporting; when the Acting President was to visit last year, we asked them for assistant and they gave us a KIA vehicle for surveillance; we are still using it. I think it is a donation to the airport and everything is going on smoothly, we have a good relationship with the state government.

What will you say about the management of FAAN. Have they been up and doing in terms of Calabar airport?

Yes, I must confess that FAAN has actually being alive to their responsibilities. One, in payment of salaries, welfare of staff, and in terms of allocation, it has been regular.

So that has been able to support us a great deal to be able to do maintenance of most of the infrastructures.

And anytime that we have major challenge, we write to them for special release and they also give it to us. So for any special assistant, they are very prompt.

FAAN is doing extremely well, we have an MD that is very good. Luckily for us, he was once an airport manager, so he knows the terrain very well. He is not an outsider.

When he was the airport manager, he knew some of the challenges that he was facing that time, now he is at the saddle and he is extremely cooperating with us and I think that he is actually a father and I hope that we will continue to have insiders as MD, those who have tasted some of these things before so at least we can continue to have direct access to them.

What will you say about passenger traffic, is it improving or decreasing when compared to two, three years ago?

For me, the passenger movement is supposed to be increasing but unfortunately we don’t have enough airlines flying into Calabar airport, as at today, we have just only one airline which is Air Peace that is doing

The only place for now that we are not doing cashless policy is the access gate because it has not been automated but every other cash point; both in our VIP, even the car park, our cleaning, everywhere completely, is cashless and of course, we also have the roll-up banners that also sensitize people and we have these jingles that we also play to sensitize people both in all the languages

,

Lagos-Calabar and then Calabar-Abuja and then come back from Abuja to Calabar and then go back to Lagos.

So those passengers that would have loved to go in the morning, some of them, it is either they go by road or they go to Uyo and so as a result of just one airline that we have. Definitely monopoly sets in and then you expect the prices to go up in compliance with the law of demand and supply.

So when the prices go up, people find their way to Uyo airport, from Calabar to Uyo is just N1,000 and then when you get to the park, from the park to the airport is just about N1,500 and then they can conveniently get a fare say maybe N25,000 from Uyo to Lagos or to anywhere; whereas here because of monopoly, you get it for over N40, so people move to that side.

I want to advise FAAN that route mapping is one of our major responsibilities. It is the duty of FAAN to encourage some airlines to also go to most of these so-called unviable airports which for me I don’t belive that they are unviable which if properly managed, they are very viable.

Lagos is congested, Abuja is congested, Port Harcourt and everywhere, they should encourage them to come to this route and develop this route.

If you have an aircraft that is operating Benin, Port Harcourt and Calabar, they very are viable routes.

FAAN should encourage airlines to take that route.

If you go to Benin very early in the morning, you can conveniently count over 40 to 50 vehicles that move from Benin to these axis, to Calabar, to Port Harcourt, to Bayelsa and everywhere.

Most of these people, they first go to Lagos, or they go to Abuja in order to fly to where they are going to because the road is bad.

From Calabar to Benin alone is about 9 hours, how many people can stand that. So, if I am going to Benin now and I don’t want to sit for 9 hours, I will first of all fly to Abuja, or I fly to Lagos then I will take a flight to Benin.

So; if we have FAAN headquarters can help us encourage some of these airlines especially using a smaller aircraft to take most of these routes, if we are able to, we don’t need more than five of those vehicles that ply Benin to Port Harcourt or to Calabar, just five of them 18 seater bus, five of them will be about 75 passengers.

So; if we have jus five of them and we have a smaller aircraft probably maybe Dash-8 or CRJ that can take this route, before you know it definitely this place will be better.

And then it will also encourage airline like Dana, like Overland to begin to fly, the passengers are there but the airlines or the aircraft are not just there.

We need an aircraft that probably do a night stop here and that can go very early in the morning, people can, if we had an aircraft that have left here probably around 8 or 9 in the morning, they can still come back even in the evening.

Last year and two years before, Calabar airport won the award of Nigeria’s Best Airport of the year for cleanliness. How have you been able to sustain it ?

I want to thank my predecessor; he did a very good job.

He has a very big shoe that I won’t say that it is difficult to fill, but I just feel that it becomes imperative that one should continue with that.

He gave me some of the tips and then from my own experience too from where I was coming from, I was able to sustain it and if you go round, you will still discover that we have not changed from being the cleanest airport in Nigeria.

For me, I dedicate the award to the entire staff, in particular the department of environment is doing a very fantastic job here. I commend them, they are up and doing all the time, call them anytime they are there, I give it to them.

What is your message to airport users?

They should continue to have faith in us. Aviation is still the safest and the fastest, when they get to the airport, they should maintain high levy of safety and they should be security conscious and they should believe that they are in best hands anytime that they get to the airport.

What is your level of cooperation with other agencies here?

Like I said, I have a very robust relationship with NAMA, whenever we go to them for tractor when we are in need, they are very cooperative, all the agencies are very cooperative, NCAA is also very wonderful they keep us on our toes all the time even we do one or two things.

The Nigerian police are very cooperative, the Nigerian Air Force and others.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

B 5 Business Feature

S’Arabia, Russia oil market policy to dominate OPEC summit Richard Wachman Saudi Arabian and Russian oil market policy is set to dominate the Vienna OPEC meeting next week.

The summit, to include Russia and other non-OPEC members known as “OPEC+” will gather to review a production-cuts agreement, hammered out in 2016 — amid fears of a supply crunch.

Output cuts have helped crude to rise from below $40 per barrel in early 2015 to $76 on June 15. But severe outages from crisis-hit Venezuela are also a major factor behind the rise in the price, according to the International Energy Agency.

Richard Mallinson, chief geopolitical analyst at London-based Energy Aspects, told Arab News: “The Saudis and Russians have been talking extensively throughout this process about aligning their goals and achieving a long-term impact. The OPEC+ arrangement is not a short-term deal which expires (at the end of 2018) and then everyone goes their separate ways.”

On June 14, Saudi Arabia’s energy minister, Khalid Al-Falih, said it was “inevitable” OPEC+ participants would vote to boost oil production gradually at next week’s meeting .

Speaking to reporters in Moscow, Al-Falih said “as usual we will do the right thing … I think we’ll come to an agreement that satisfies most importantly the market.”

The deal leaders, Saudi Arabia and Russia, are said to have proposed plans for the group to add as much as 1 million barrels per day to production.

When the time comes to unwind their accord, “they will do so in an orderly way as possible to maintain their influence on the market,” said Mallinson.

Carsten Fritsch, senior oil analyst at Germany’s Commerzbank, said the June meeting would probably see the signatories agree to comply at 100 percent, rather than current overcompliance at 170 percent.

But that may not happen immediately as it remains to be seen how much Iranian crude will be lost following President Donald Trump’s decision to reimpose sanctions on Tehran last month.

“I don’t see any reason to continue these production cuts at the current scale (the target was to reduce supply by 1.8 million barrels per day) into the new year,” Fritsch told Arab News in a phone interview from Frankfurt.

But there will be ongoing, jointpolicy cooperation to avoid price and production spikes, he suggested.

“What I see developing is ‘informal guidance,’ much like comments from the chairman of the US Federal Reserve with regard to interest rate policy, in order to try to anchor market expectations,” said Fritsch.

Looking at the Vienna meeting, he said the message would probably be that production increases would be gradual and depend on the extent of further losses from Venezuela and the magnitude of shortfalls from Iran. These wouldn’t become apparent until the end of the year, and so it was “impossible to predict production levels that will hold in 2019,” he said.

Barkindo

With prices spiking at $80 per barrel in May in the wake of President Donald Trump’s decision to terminate the nuclear deal with Iran and reimpose sanctions, “the world has woken up to the fact that oversupply is no longer an issue,” and that there are looming fears of a supply squeeze, said Mallinson.

“Some of us have been saying for quite a while that the overhang would disappear and we would come back into this sort of world … a supply crunch,” he said. “What we are hearing is that there is no desire from OPEC and others to pre-empt the supply losses coming later this year.

“Iranian exports will start falling soon, but only when the world feels the ‘actual’ loss, will the Saudis, Russians and others begin to ramp up production,” said Mallinson.

Shakil Begg, global head of oil research at Thomson Reuters, said the message from producers seemed to be that they still wanted to maintain some sort of coordinated agreement.

“GCC countries are thinking about the need to replace lost Iranian barrels. They may maintain an output agreement, but the quotas for the individual countries could change.”

Begg said peak OECD inventories had been cut from around their 5-year average, at a level targeted by OPEC+ to

‘ ,

get rid of the overhang built up between 2010-14.

Those inventory figures, however, did not fully capture what was happening in Asia where there was quite a lot of crude that had been put into storage.

“If you look at China, for example, they are refining a lot more crude than they actually need, so inventories are going up there,” Begg said.

OPEC+ is under pressure to manage market expectations, but will likely indicate at Vienna that its response will come later, when supplies tighten further, he said.

As OPEC and Russia are producing significantly less oil than intended by the cuts agreement — and less than the market needs — thanks to production outages in Venezuela, observers agree that output could easily be expanded by Saudi Arabia, Russia, Kuwait and others.

“That would rebalance the oil market, driving Brent down to $65 by year’s end,” according to a Commerz-bank circular on May 21.

Comments from Saudi and Russian ministers at a recent energy forum in St. Petersburg have put pay to soaring prices with Brent plunging by more than 6 percent to $75 per barrel within days.

Still, compared to where we were, this looks like a suppliers market by any other name.

That’s perhaps what has led Chinese President Xi, at the recent Boao Forum on economic development and on the 40th anniversary of the opening up of China’s economy

“Yes, but we think the Saudis will be more focused on preventing a really big price spike than they are on limiting or stopping prices at $75, $80 or $85, we don’t think they are concerned at the moment,” said Mallinson.

“What worries the Saudis is a massive price hike that could see crude smash through the $100 barrier.”

If that happened, he said, it could have a damaging impact on the global economy and this was not lost on OPEC and Russia. Price stability was viewed as critical for longer term demand for oil and a big spike would undermine their claims to be responsible participants, able to manage both the downside and upside of the price cycle.

Mallinson said the lurking danger was that another upward surge in the price would boost technological advances and energy efficiency gains, bolster consumer purchases of electric vehicles, and accelerate rapid shifts to alternative technologies and fuels.

Neil Atkinson, head of oil industry and markets at the International Energy Agency, said Venezuela’s production could fall by the end of this year by another several hundred thousand barrels a day, given the degradation of the oil industry there. “And that is a prognosis that is quite widely accepted,” he said.

Then factor in probable Iranian losses.

“If for the sake of argument, Iranian barrels fell by about 1 million barrels a day like last time around, combined with the Venezuelan collapse, you are in a situation where unless there are compensatory increases from elsewhere, the market could tighten very rapidly.

Indeed, the market is already tightening today,” said Atkinson.

US shale production is rising significantly, with the IEA forecasting an extra 1.3 million barrels per day more in 2018 compared with 2017.

“To some extent, US supply is held back by bottlenecks, but not significantly.

“But US production by itself was never going to be enough to plug gaps left by Iran and Venezuela.”

Atkinson said: “Maybe at the next OPEC meeting, they will formalize some sort of relaxation of the agreement, by some given volume, at some given time.

But I don’t think the intention is for prices to rise significantly above where they are today, because at that point there is the risk of ‘demand destruction.’”

Whether action will take crude down to $60 or $75 is anyone’s guess.

Mallinson believes we are no longer in the mantra of “lower for longer.”

And there is a bigger point to be made, he suggested. It’s now clear there is more influence in OPEC’s hands than some had been claiming.

“Remember a couple of years ago they were writing off the group as irrelevant, because of US shale … because people thought oversupply would last forever.

Now, OPEC is back in the spotlight, it has some difficult challenges ahead. But, together with Russia, it has reconfirmed it has influence in the market.

“The big overhang is done. But the fact that OPEC members are not doing a victory dance indicates they don’t see the job as yet finished,” he said. ARAB NEWS

Capital Market B6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

NSE fines 20 firms N81m for late filings of 2017 results • As Fortis MfB, 14 others face sanctions by regulator Stories: Motolani Oseni No fewer than 20 companies have been sanctioned with N81.2 million for late submission of 2017 results by the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE).

This is even as 15 other listed companies on the NSE including, Skye Bank Plc, Unity Bank Plc, Fortis Microfinance Bank Plc and 12 others may also face sanctions over late filing of 2017 audited result accounts.

However, of the 20 companies, Academy Press Plc has the highest amount fined by NSE, followed

by Great Nigeria Insurance Plc and Diamond Bank Plc. The Exchange fined Academy Press N35 million for late submission of 2017 results and penalised Great Nigeria Insurance and Diamond Bank N6.6 million and N3.8 million respectively.

Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc was sanctioned N700,000 by NSE while A.G. Leventis Nigeria Plc was fined N2.7 million for late submission of 2017 results.

Others are Conoil Plc, N5.9million; Equity Assurance Plc, N2.4 million; FBN Holdings Plc, N2.1 million; FCMB Group Plc, N100,000;

Fidelity Bank Plc, N2.7 million; International Breweries Plc, N100,000; Linkage Assurance Plc N3.5 million; Mutual Benefit Assurance Plc, N3.8 million; Meyer Plc, N2.1 million; Presco Plc, N1 million; Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, N2.1 million; Sterling Bank Plc Audited, N1.3 million; Union Bank Plc, N3.7 million; Vitafoam Nigeria Plc , N800,000 and Wema Bank Plc, N800,000.

Meanwhile, Nigerian German Chemical Plc, Roads Nigeria Plc, Afromedia Plc, African Alliance Insurance Plc, Cornerstone Insurance Plc, Niger Insurance Plc, R.T Briscoe Plc, Royal Exchange Plc, Standard Trust Assurance Plc, Standard Alliance Insurance Plc, Plc, Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc and Universal Insurance Company Plc, are others that may face similar sanctions.

The stipulated three months given by NSE to listed companies to submit Audited Financial Statements (AFS) for the year ended December 31, 2017 expires on March 31, 2018.

Our findings, majority of the above companies have not officially written to the management of NSE to explain the delay in filing of 2017 audited result accounts.

Further findings showed that the above companies are trading below N1.00 per share as

investors on the bourse continued to dump their shares over increased uncertainty.

The Exchange noted that the identified the companies have fell short of the minimum listing standards in terms of timely disclosure of their audited annual financial performance Currently, those companies are tagged Missed Regulatory Fillings (MRF) for investors to know the status of their annual financial performance.

“The sanctions for non-compliance with periodic financial disclosure obligations are clearly spelt out in the Rules for Filing of Accounts and Treatment of Default Filing, Rulebook of The Exchange (Issuers’ Rules),” the Exchange explained in its X-compliance report.

Further findings revealed that three companies have not submitted 2016 audited result accounts while four are yet to remit the 2015 audited result accounts to the Exchange.

Specifically, Skye Bank Plc, Resort Savings & Loans and Afromedia Plc have failed to Audited Financial Statements of 2016. The likes of Resort Savings & Loans, DN Tyre & Rubber Plc, MultiTrex Integrated Foods Plc and Omatek Ventures Plc are yet to make public 2015 audited financial results to the Exchange.

L – R: Tinuade Awe, Executive Director, Regulation, NSE presenting a replica of the closing gong to Hassan Usman, Managing Director/ CEO, Jaiz Bank Plc during the Facts Behind the Figures presentation at the NSE in Lagos... recently

Investors trading on NSE reap 0.67% returns in 4 days As the federal government declared Friday public holiday, to mark the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan and commemorate the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations, investors on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) gained 0.67 per cent of their investment in four days trading.

The equities market, last week, sustained a bullish, hinged on supportive positive macroeconomic fundamentals, as the gains recorded previous week were further extended on the equities market in the week ended June 14th 2018, with forecasts of bullish week ahead.

Specifically at the end of the four days trading, the NSE All Share Index inched up by 0.67 per cent to close at 38,928.02 basis points from 38,669.23 basis points, while market capitalisation closed at N14.102 trillion, after gaining N98 billion from N14.008 trillion the market opened for trading.

All other indices finished higher with the

exception of the NSE CG, NSE Consumer Goods and NSE Industrial Goods Indices that depreciated by 0.08per cent, 0.85per cent and 0.12per cent respectively, while the NSE ASeM Index closed flat.

Consequently, equities market Year-toDate and Month-to-Date returns at a positive region of 1.79 per cent and 2.16 per cent respectively.

According to NSE, “a total turnover of 1.738 billion shares worth N18.462 billion in 14,790 deals were traded this week by investors on the floor of the Exchange in contrast to a total of 1.749 billion shares valued at N31.183 billion that exchanged hands last week in 24,604 deals.

“The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.170 billion shares valued at N9.695 billion traded in 7,809 deals; thus contributing 67.35per cent and 52.51per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Services

Industry followed with 293.492 million shares worth N733.407 million in 531 deals.

“The third place was occupied by Consumer Goods with a turnover of 154.093 million shares worth N4.997 billion in 3,002 deals.

“Trading in the Top Three Equities namely – United Capital Plc, Ikeja Hotel Plc and United Bank For Africa Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 811.747 million shares worth N3.887 billion in 986 deals, contributing 46.71per cent and 21.05per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The recorded growth was on the back of interests in the shares of Japaul oil Plc – which remained last week’s leading stock, as well as Equity Assurance and Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. On the other hand, profit-taking in Nigerian Breweries and Berger accounted for losses in consumer and industrial goods indices.

Beware of fraudulent schemes in financial markets, SEC tells investors The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned investors and the general public to beware of illegal operators and promoters of ponzi and other fraudulent schemes in the financial markets.

In a notification on its website, the capital market regulator urged investors to exercise utmost caution and conduct adequate due diligence before they patronise any financial product or scheme in the capital market.

According to the commission, investors should seek professional advice and check the commission’s website to confirm the registration status of company/individuals marketing any products to them before taking a decision to invest.

“Please be further advised that while the commission is under a duty to protect investors, a duty which it has continued to discharge, such duty does not include recovering funds for investors who against reason and public notices such as this, invest in products promoted by unregistered/unregulated entities.

At best, the commission will work with law enforcement agencies to bring promoters of such schemes to book and no more,” SEC said.

The regulator explained that Section 38(1) of the Investments and Securities Act, 2007 requires any person who intends to operate as a professional in the capital market or carry on securities business to be registered by the commission before engaging in such activities, declaring “It is therefore illegal to carry on any kind of capital market business without registration or to patronize such person.”

“In view of the above, the general public is hereby warned that any person dealing with any such persons in any capital market/ investment related business is doing so at his/her own risk,” SEC said.

Meanwhile, the commission has expressed its readiness to collaborate with various grassroots groups in its financial literacy campaign. This, according to the commission, is in a bid to ensure that Nigerians in the rural areas are effectively sensitised on the benefits of investing in the capital market.

Acting Director General of SEC, Ms Mary Uduk, stated this during a meeting with executive members of National Youths Initiative for Peace and Governance (NYIPG) in Abuja recently.

Uduk, who was represented by Acting Executive Commissioner Corporate Services, Mr. Henry Rowlands said: “ We are delighted at the various sensitisation you have carried out to enlighten the people in your region on the need to engage in meaningful vocations. When someone is fully engaged, he will work for the peace of the country as he would not want any activity that would destroy his business.

The SEC as part of its market development mandate would like to partner with you to educate the people on the best ways to invest these money they are making from their businesses.”

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

B 7 For The Record

New soft loan scheme for small traders under way – Osinbajo Let me say how delighted I am to be here in Edo State. I am here to do three main things. As you already know, we were here earlier for the “Energizing Markets Programme”.

The meaning of that is the Federal Government, in collaboration with the State Government, is putting together solar power in all of our markets. So that our markets will have power, our hairdressers, dress makers will have power, those who need to have power in their stores and shops will have power, everyone will have power. That is one of the first reasons why I am here.

The second reason why I am here is for the MSME Clinic, which is this particular event. The policy of the Federal Government is to support businesses; not just big businesses, but particularly small and medium businesses, and also micro businesses. The whole idea of the MSME Clinic is that we want to ensure that we give whatever support we can, whether it is cash, advice or even registration, to all of our small and medium enterprises. That is why I am here today, with the Corporate Affairs Commission, NAFDAC (registration), Bank of Industry (credit), Standard Organisation of Nigeria – all of those agencies of the Federal Government that you need to do business. I brought them with me to serve and solve businesses in Edo State.

What we hope these two days of events will do, is to help those of us who are small businesses and have any kind of problem, talk to the regulatory agencies.

If you need NAFDAC registration, they are here, if you need company registration, CAC is here also. The reason is we want Federal Government agencies to be facilitators of businesses, not obstacles. That’s why I have taken them round the country - this is about the 16th edition of the MSME Clinics.

One of the things we want to do is to set up a one-stop-shop here in Edo State, where we have BOI, NAFDAC, SON, CAC in one place, so that anybody who needs their services can go to that particular place and get the service.

The third reason I’m here, is for our Social Investment Programmes.

It is a very special programme of our President, Muhammadu Buhari. The first part of the SIP is the N-Power. This programme is an important National programme, because what we want to achieve is to be able to address the question of youth unemployment. Not just youth unemployment, because it is not enough to be employed, you must also be trained and re-trained. We want to make sure that our young people have the right types of training for any type of engagement that they do later in their lives.

That is the reason we started the N-Power programme; we have 200,000 N-Power graduates across the country today, and we are on boarding another 300,000 by God’s grace, by the end of this month. We will have a total of 500,000, and we want to maintain that number.

Osinbajo

We want to ensure that not only are you an N-Power beneficiary, but you also have the right type of training.

The tablets that you have with you are meant to be training tools, they are also meant to be work tools, because we are doing so many surveys across the country now, and we think that you, as N-Power graduates, should be able to benefit from those surveys. So whenever we are doing a survey, we will call on N-Power graduates, because we have your tablets, you will be helping with enumeration, and of course, you will be paid for the work that you are doing, added to what you are earning already.

That is one of the reasons why we want to make sure every N-Power graduate has his/her tablet. It is not just to learn, but also for your own benefit and for different types of engagement that you may need to have.

Asides from N-Power, I am also here in respect of GEEP, our micro-credit loans scheme. You have also heard the governor talk about Home GrownSchool Feeding; today we are feeding over 8.2million school children every day in Nigeria. You heard the governor say

‘

that Edo State is going to start the Home Grown School Feeding.

Asides from that, we also have the Conditional Cash Transfers; which is giving N5000 a month to some of the poorest Nigerians across the country.

In the next few weeks, we are starting a Micro-credit scheme which we call Trader Moni – that is a different scheme from Market Moni. The Trader Moni is for the smaller traders – these are the hawkers, those selling bread, those frying “akara” and “puff puff” by the roadside, those selling plantain - those who are doing small, little things, where in many cases, their inventory isn’t more than N5000 – N10,000. We want to give those types of people some credit as well, and once they pay back, we will give them some more money as well.

We want to make sure that the very poor trader, no matter how poor you are, so long as you are trading or working, the Federal Government will support you by giving you some extra money to do whatever you are doing. So that every Nigerian who wants to work, who wants to do something, can get the opportunity to do some work.

We want to make sure that the very poor trader, no matter how poor you are, so long as you are trading or working, the Federal Government will support you by giving you some extra money to do whatever you are doing. So that every Nigerian who wants to work, who wants to do something, can get the opportunity to do some work

,

We are going to be asking our N-Power graduates, to help us with enumerating all of those small traders, so that we can identify them everywhere we go. So here in Edo State, we will do the same.

If you are not benefitting from GEEP,our micro credit loans scheme, you can benefit from this new microcredit scheme we are about to start. By God’s grace, we should start in the next couple of weeks, and it will be all over the country.

The important thing for us as a government, is to make sure that we deal with the unemployment problem in two ways; one by direct employment, which is what we are doing through the N-Power programme. We would also deal with unemployment by giving credit to people who want to work, whether it is the market women, the artisans, the N-build, asides from them, we would also give credit to the smaller traders like the hawkers and those selling little things all over the country. Because all of these people are hardworking Nigerians, we want to make sure Nigerians who are prepared to work, are given the opportunity to work.

I hope that soon in Edo State, anybody who wants to work, will have an opportunity to work, so that those who are serious about work, will be trained to work in our N-build or N-teach programme, graduates will have something that they are doing, and we will create an enabling environment for doing business.

I want to commend the State Governor, for the excellent work that he is doing. We were at Ikpoba Okha local government, were they are building 1,600 units housing estate. I was also here also for the Fertiliser Plant which is in Auchi, and even before that, the Industrial Plant. All of these are fantastic developments, which the governor has undertaken.

I think that by the time I come back here next, we are going to see some major industries here and there. I want you to give the governor a round of applause.

I think that Edo State is a blessed State, just look at the people you have, the former governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, and the Chairman of our great party, Chief John Oyegun, are also here with us today.

I want to commend all of you for the great work that you are doing, and to wish you all well, and say that we believe very strongly that this State, which in many ways, is the heart beat of our nation, will continue to grow from strength to strength, and all will be well with you, we will always look out for Edo State because the State is very special to the Federal Government.

God bless you all.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN delivered this addressed At the launch of the Msme clinic in Benin City, Edo State, on Thursday, June 14, 2018.

Business Int’l B8

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Stock markets fall amid trade fears Stock markets have fallen sharply amid fears of a further deterioration in USChinese trade relations.

Tensions in Germany’s coalition government over migration policy added to investors’ uncertainty.

The Dax in Frankfurt ended 1.4% lower, with the Cac in Paris closed down 0.9% and Madrid fell 0.8% on Monday, while London’s FTSE 100 made up for earlier losses to close almost flat.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones fell 0.6%, while the S&P 500 was 0.4% lower.

Earlier on Monday, markets in Asia fell following US President Donald Trump’s decision on Friday to impose 25% tariffs on $50bn worth of Chinese goods.

China retaliated, saying it would impose an additional 25% tariff on more than 600 US products worth $50bn.

Japan’s Nikkei closed 0.8% lower on Monday, while South Korean shares fell 1.1% and other Asian markets also declined.

However, stock markets in China and Hong Kong were closed for a public holiday.

“Tensions between the US and China are escalating, and we are not any closer to an agreement being reached. With neither side willing to back down, investors are caught in the middle,” said David Madden, market analyst at CMC Markets.

Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B. Riley FBR in New York, said: “The trade war is definitely on the front burner right now, and will continue to be in the absence of news catalysts and unless something substantially changes.”

European investors are also wary of political factors in Germany, where Chancellor Angela Merkel has clashed with leaders of her coalition ally in Bavaria, the CSU, over her refugee policy.

“With the US-China trade war already creating an uncomfortable trading atmosphere, the brewing political tension between long-time allies the CDU and CSU in Germany has caused some bloody losses in the eurozone,” said Connor Campbell, financial analyst at SpreadEx. Sterling continued to struggle, trading

against the dollar at $1.3241 - close to the seven-month low of $1.3205 hit late last month.

The pound has fallen 8% since mid-April as traders become less confident that the Bank of England will follow the US Federal Reserve by raising interest rates in August.

Oil prices gained ground after earlier falls, with Brent crude up more than $1 to $74.50 a barrel despite suggestions that Opec would increase production later this year.

Countries in the oil-producing cartel led by Saudi Arabia - along with other big producers including Russia - will meet in Vienna later this week. Both countries want to boost output.

Commerzbank commodities analyst Carsten Fritsch said: “That production will be increased in the second half of the year is considered certain - the only question is by how much.”

Goldman Sachs expected Opec and Russian output to rise by 1 million barrels a day by the end of 2018. BBC

Audi boss arrested in diesel emissions probe The chief executive of German carmaker Audi, Rupert Stadler, has been arrested in connection with an investigation into the diesel emissions scandal.

A spokesman for Volkswagen, which owns Audi, confirmed he was being held.

Munich prosecutors said they had acted because of a risk that Mr Stadler might seek to suppress evidence.

The scandal erupted three years ago, when it emerged that cars had been fitted with devices designed to cheat emissions tests.

The devices were initially found in VW’s cars, but its Audi subsidiary has also been embroiled in the scandal.

Last month, it admitted that another 60,000 A6 and A7 models with diesel engines have emission software issues.

That is on top of the 850,000 recalled last year

by Audi, of which only some have been found to require modification.

Munich prosecutors said Mr Stadler would be questioned by Wednesday, once he had spoken to his lawyers.

According to German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung, VW’s supervisory board has nominated Bram Schot to be the interim chief executive at Audi following the arrest of Mr Stadler.

However, Audi’s supervisory board has yet to sign off on the nomination, the paper said.

The so-called dieselgate emissions scandal first came to light in September 2015.

Volkswagen admitted that nearly 600,000 cars sold in the US were fitted with “defeat devices” designed to circumvent emissions tests.

The carmaker said it had installed software in 11 million diesel cars worldwide that could tell when they were being tested and cut their emissions.

‘China tariff threat could be a boom for Gulf oil exports’

Brexit barriers could cost households £1k each - Report Households could be left up to £1,000 a year worse off because of Brexit trade barriers, a report will suggest.

Global consultancy firm Oliver Wyman will say that under the most negative scenario of high import tariffs and high regulatory barriers the cost to the economy could total £27bn.

Business profits for supermarkets and restaurants could be wiped out because of supply chain disruption.

A rise in costs would likely be passed on to consumers, the report will argue.

The analysis, to be published next week and seen by the BBC, will make clear that even under the most favourable scenario of no tariffs and few regulatory barriers, there are likely to be increased “red tape” costs.

It will suggest that increased paperwork and delays for customs checks are likely to increase household costs by 1% a year, or £250 per household. The total cost to the economy would be £6.8bn.

Economists who support Brexit said that reports of significant economic costs post-Brexit

were “alarmist” and that by focusing on the domestic economy, Britain outside the European Union could flourish.

The government has also made it clear that it wants a relationship with the EU that is as “frictionless” as possible when it comes to trade.

“While the outcomes of Brexit remain unclear, our analysis shows that any scenario will increase costs for UK households,” said Duncan Brewer of Oliver Wyman, a consultancy firm that has done major pieces of work on the economic impact of Brexit for the financial services sector and retailers.

It has also worked for the government.

“A Brexit deal that results in no new tariffs with the EU is still likely to increase the red tape costs of imports, driving down profits for businesses, and driving up prices for consumers,” Mr Brewer continued.

“Looking across the whole supply chain and taking into account multiple different Brexit outcomes, one thing is clear: Brexit will decrease profits for consumer businesses.

“The only question is by how much, which will depend on what deal is negotiated.

Prices would need to rise by 2.3% to compensate and ensure the business made as much profit as it did pre-Brexit.

‘Too pessimistic’ The report follows a number of studies, including by government officials, that say there is likely to be a negative economic impact from Brexit.

The Bank of England has also said that the Brexit process has already cost households money.

Gerard Lyons, of the Economists for Brexit group, which supports Britain leaving the EU, said that although there might be a short-term “hit” from leaving the EU and the political process had not been “ideal”, the greater room for manoeuvre for Britain once out of the union would have economic advantages.

“We need pro-growth policies, and should remember that 90% of global growth in the future will come from outside the euro-area,” said Mr Lyons, a former chief economist of Standard Chartered bank and now chief economic strategist for Netwealth.

Gulf oil producers may benefit from China’s threat to impose import tariffs on US crude and other energy products, as key exporters meet to discuss production increases later this week.

China, one of the largest buyers of US crude oil surprised many late last week when it announced plans to tax such imports, as part of retaliatory measures following the decision by US President Donald Trump to impose $50 billion worth of tariffs on a variety of US goods.

The announcement comes as China looks for a different oil supply mix ahead of likely reductions in its imports from Venezuela and Iran.

Carsten Fritsch, a commodities analyst with Commerzbank, said that while China’s reduction of imports of Iranian crude should not be overestimated, the decline of production from Venezuela left the country with no choice but to seek alternative sources of oil.

“The US could could have been an alternative supplier but of course that won’t be the case if a 25 percent import tariff comes into effect,” Fritsch told Arab News.

“Some of the Arabian Gulf countries might have an advantage in plugging the gap, given the similarity of the crude types, and the same shipping lanes that would be used.”

China is currently the largest Asian customer for US crude; imports rose to 3.89 million metric tons in the first quarter of the year, compared with just 443,000 metric tons for the year ago period, according to figures from S&P Global Platts, with the US’s market share rising to 3.5 percent at the end of March.

American crude has proved competitive for China; the US benchmark WTI averaged a $1.83 per barrel discount to oil from the North Sea Forties on a delivered basis into China in May, and a 74 cents per barrel discount to Abu Dhabi’s Murban crude, according to S&P Global Platts calculations.

The Anambra Times Daily Times Nigeria

Senate lauds Obiano for contributions to National Housing Scheme

AT 3

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

ANSG will soon improve welfare of doctors, says Akabuike

AT 4

‘Resident engineer to be stationed at Aguleri Otu–Aguleri Uno-oil rig road project’

Chairman, Senate Committee on Land, Housing and Urban development, Sen Banabas Gemade (third right), briefing Governor Willie Obiano (third left) at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, during their visit to the state recently to access some Federal Government projects in Anambra State. Sen Gemade was in company with Senator Uwajumogu Benjamin from Imo State, Senator Urhoghide Aishagbonnriodion from Edo State among other high profile personalities.

We’ll clampdown on deviant behaviours, cultism in Anambra, Obiano assures Stories by John Ndu, Awka electoral victory and the The Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has frowned over the recent incessant killings among the youths, especially students in different schools.

Governor Obiano vowed to clamp down deviant behaviours and cult activities in the state to restore peace and tranquility.

The Governor stated this during the seventh Seminar for the Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ Council, held at Government House, Awka.

The 2018 annual seminar attracted all the traditional rulers in Anambra state, as well as some guests including the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, the Amanyanabo of Opobo, DandisonDouglas Jaja among others.

Declaring the event open with the theme, “Governor Obiano’s landslide

making of a united and greater Igbo nation”, the Governor warned all those who parade themselves as cult boys to immediately vacate the state before the long harmmer of justice would fall on them.

“We must revive our youths. Many of them have gone astray. We have mapped out various measures to engage them in meaningful projects.

“They need proper reorientation and enlightenment to remold them towards pursuing positive and meaningful goals.

“The traditional rulers also should assist in the fight against cultism in their respective communities. You know them and they must be pointed out,” Obiano said.

Speaking on the recent concluded Ekwueme Declaration organised Ohaneze Ndigbo, the Governor noted that the communique had

been forwarded to his counterparts in other states for proper digest and implementation.

“We are clamoring for restructuring not secession.

We want equality and proper distribution of resources,” Obiano pointed.

He commended the traditional rulers for their active roles in the last Governorship election, calling on them not to relent in sustaining peace in the State, as well as their maturity in handling the Fulani herdsmen in their community.

The Chairman of the Council and traditional ruler of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, observed that Gov Obiano had made Anambra a role model state in Nigeria, which other states emulate.

He stated that his developmental strides cut across many areas including security, Agriculture, community development and politics,

noting that destiny had designed it that he would lead the state and Ndigbo towards the desired destination.

According to him, “the event was an opportunity to discuss on the journey which Ndigbo have started towards self-discovery and strategic positioning in the politics of Nigeria, using the Obiano electoral victory.”

The President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo acknowledged that “there has been sustained growth trajectory in Anambra State due to sustained visionary leadership of Governor Obiano”.

Nwodo lauded Obiano’s developmental qualities and commended him for his immense contributions towards the Igbo cause.

In a keynote remark, Chairman of the Planning Committee for the event and traditional ruler of Okpuno, Igwe Sunday Okafor, expressed hope

that the year’s seminar will yield answers to the socio-economic challenges of Ndigbo and thanked Governor Obiano for keeping faith with the traditional rulers.

In a goodwill message, the Amanyanabo of Opobo, Dandison Douglas Jaja, said the cordial relationship between the Governor and the traditional rulers as well as his community development initiatives were very laudable and should be emulated by other governors in the country.

“The way Anambra is going, it will become a reference point in terms of development in the near future,” Jaja observed.

Governor Obiano was during the ceremony presented with a plaque by the Ohaneze Ndigbo leadership in appreciation for his decision to host her recently concluded summit on Restructuring of Nigeria.

Anambra State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Marcel Ifejiofor, has directed the stationing of a resident engineer at Aguleri Otu-Aguleri Uno-Oil Rig road for regular update on activities on the road project. ``We want regular reports, on daily and weekly basis, on activities around the road project in the area,’’ Ifejiofor directed during inspection tour of the road.

He said the directive became necessary to ensure that the 42km road project would be completed in line with specification. ``Governor Willie Obiano holds this road dear to his heart; this is one of his priority projects and from what we have seen, a construction company, CCC is doing a great job,’’ he said.

He added that the company needed to be encouraged to do more, and promised to discuss their payments in order to achieve about 20km before the coming of heavy rains.

On the issue of ‘cuttings of the unsuitable’, Ifejiofor said they were doing quite a lot.

He said the Ministry would liaise with the Anambra State Due Process Tenders Board to determine ``the average the level of cuts needed’’. ``But so far so good, they are doing well; Aguleri communities living across here are happy at the level of work done so far. At least, this rainy season, they can use the road,’’ the commissioner said.

The commissioner re-assured that his ministry would closely supervise the project and as well as join the Tenders Board to ensure that money spent by government was accounted for and democracy dividends delivered.

The Site Engineer, CCC, Mr. Tariko commended the Anambra Government for entrusting the job to his company. ``Although the job is challenging, but we will deliver in time and according to specification,’’ he said.

On commissioner’s entourage are engineers, directors and members of the Due Process/Tenders Board.

The Anambra Times 2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

African Child Day: Mrs. Obiano makes case for children with special needs

Stories by John Ndu, Awka

Wife of Governor of Anambra State and founder of Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFE), Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano, has made case for greater care and attention to indigent children especially those with special needs.

Mrs. Obiano made the plea in her message on the occasion

of the commemoration of International Day of the African Child on June 16, 2018.

A statement signed on her behalf by Chief Media Officer, Emeka Ozumba, Mrs. Obiano observed that the Day’s theme: “Leave no child behind in African Development,” reminds everyone that every child needs support, proper nurturing and education to grow through life.

Her words: “Children are God’s precious gift of love to mankind. It behooves on us to nurture, shield, and educate every child to live to his/her full potential by ensuring that no child is left behind in the scheme of human development.“ The Governor’s wife called for inclusiveness that will ensure that no child is left behind, stressing that in this era of pervasive hunger and

privation there is the tendency to ignore the plight of others especially indigent children with special needs.

She urged parents not to abdicate responsibility and the teachers, to use their talents to identify and harness the unique gift of every child no matter how challenging.

Drawing inspiration from the classic song, “Greatest Love of All” by American singer,

Late Whitney Houston, Mra. Obiano belted the chorus; “I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside. Give them a sense of pride to make it easier. Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be...!

She emphasised that adults owe it as a duty to protect the children whose laughter,

according to the song, “remind us how we used to be,” stressing that “there is a child in every one of us.”

Furthermore, Mrs. Obiano expressed appreciation with the state government commitment to the protection and welfare of children which she noted is apparent in steadfast implementation of child-friendly programmes by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Children and Women Affairs.

She also assured that her NGO, CAFÉ will sustain collaboration with the Ministry especially in the area child welfare programmes by supporting maternal and child healthcare, immunization and social education for the development of sound mind and body that would lead to the realization of the hopes, dreams and aspirations of every Anambra child.

Lawmaker offers scholarship to 40 students in Umueri

The member representing Anambra East Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Chief Obinna Emeneka (centre), with some students of Virgin Mary Convent and Madonna Secondary Schools, in Anambra State, at the State Assembly Complex, Awka

Onitsha North APC in disarray The All Progressive Congress (APC) Onitsha North, Amambra State is at the verge of collapsing due to egocentric interest and power tussle among the leaders in the zone.

This was observed recently when the party faithful in the area accused the Zonal Chairman, Anambra North, Mr. Ezenwa Joe Ekwuaju of high-handedness and personal aggrandizement geared towards disintegrating the unity in the party.

The APC Onitsha North Chairman, Mr. Michael Bamidele Agha led a mammoth crowd on Thursday to the party’s State Secretariat, Awka, to express their rage, calling for State’s intervention.

They called on its national

body to carefully admonish the Zonal Chairman Anambra North, Mr. Ezenwa Jeo Ekwuaju, to stop disintegrating the party and caution commotion among members.

Addressing newsmen, the APC Onitsha North Chairman, Mr Michael Bamidele Agha accused Mr. Ekwuaju of parading one Mr Nwakaibie Okagbue as the Onitsha North Chairman elect.

Mr. Agha expressed surprised that after the State’s Congress, the Zonal Chairman started recognizing defeated Okagbue as the chairman of Onitsha North.

Agha said: “Ekwuaju’ act is capable of distorting the peace APC in Onitsha North had been enjoying. It will mar the

reputation of the party.

“The present executives from Onitsha North were constitutionally qualified by virtue of our Congress. We came to seek for justice. We will remain faithful and loyal to the provisions of the party.

“I am a party man. I have joined our leader, Ngige from PDP to A. C. From A. C to ACD and ACN, now APC. We are not going back. Our party is known for internal democracy.

“We want our State Chairman, Emeka Ibe, a good man and the National Body of the party to use their good office to address this,” Agha stated.

Agha frowned that Ekwuaju, after the state’s congress in Awka, started running a parallel executive against

the Party’s constitutional provisions.

Also, the Onitsha North Secretary, the PRO, and the Chairman Ward 10 Onitsha North, Mr. Basil Chukwudozie Onubueze, Pastor Ignatius Egbunike and Mrs Uju Nwanekezie Egemole respectively noted that the decision of the party remains valid and we want the party to call him, Mr Ekwuaju to order.

They called Ekwuaju to respect party’s structure for the general interest of all and not for his egocentric interest.

It would be recalled that APC, Onitsha North Local Government conducted its congress on May 12, 2018, where Mr. Michael Bamidele Agha was duly emerged as

the authentic chairman for the local government.

In the said congress, the Zonal Chairman Anambra North, Mr. Ezenwa Jeo Ekwuaju, who participated actively, witnessed the landslide victory of Agha, against one Mr. Nwakaibie Okagbue.

The congress was successfully conducted amidst the party stalwarts, the congress party Committee led by the the former Anambra House of Assembly Member, Hon Chinedu Muokwue, members of INEC, Security officers among others.

All efforts to reach the accused, Mr. Ekwuaju, as at the time of this report proved abortive as his phone was not reachable.

The member representing Anambra East Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Chief Obinna Emeneka has offered scholarship to forty students of Virgin Mary Convent and Madona Secondary Schools, Umueri in the spirit of third anniversary celebration of the sixth Anambra State House of Assembly.

Chief Emeneka made the pronouncement after plenary at the Assembly complex Awka.

The students who were enrolled in Chief Emeneka’s scholarship Foundation watched the plenary and answered questions from the Speaker, State House of Assembly, Barrister Rita Maduagwu.

Impressed with their performance at plenary, Chief Emeneka offered them one year scholarship to spur them to remain focused and achieve academic excellence.

On his part, a teacher at Madona Secondary school Umueri Comrade J.C Akwuobi who led the students to the state House of Assembly described Chief Emeneka as a vibrant lawmaker and lover of education who has invested meaningfully in the youths.

Some of the beneficiaries, Chibude Aghadinuno from Virgin Mary Convent, Umueri and Miracle Kalu a student of Madona Secondary School, Umueri commended the Lawmaker for his kind gesture, assuring that they would not disappoint him.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

The Anambra Times 3

Senate applauds Obiano for contributions to National Housing Scheme Stories by John Ndu, Awka

Senate has reiterated its commitment to partner with Anambra State for construction of a National Housing scheme.

This was disclosed when the Senate Committee on Land, Housing and Urban development paid a courtesy visit to Gov Willie Obiano, at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia on Friday.

The Committee led by its Chairman, Senator Banabas

Gemade, was in company with Senator Uwajumogu Benjamin from Imo State, Senator Urhoghide Aishagbonnriodion from Edo State among other high profile personalities.

The Senate Committee was in Anambra State on oversight tour of three Federal government’s projects.

The projects are the Federal Secretariat, Zik’s Mausoleum and National Housing programme.

Speaking after a brief meeting with the Governor, the

Committee Chairman, Senator Gemade pointed the readiness of the federal Government to partner with states for realisation of National Housing Scheme.

Sen Gemade, who commended Governor Obiano for providing land for the housing project, regretted that some states had not expressed interest in embracing the scheme.

“For a very long time since Shagari days, no government has embarked on National

Housing Programme. The APC government has made an attempt.

“We really want to partner with state governments to ensure they contribute to housing needs in various states.

“Not many states were forthcoming, but Anambra is contributing to the project, “Gemade said.

Senator Gemade described the Zik Mausoleum as a monument that must b completed to preserve the legacies of the country’s past

leaders.

He assured that the Zik Mausoleum would be delivered before September, 2018.

Earlier, Governor Willie Obiano commended the committee for its interest in ensuring the timely completion of federal projects sited in the area.

Governor Obiano said he was particularly happy that the contract sum for the Zik Mausoleum had been fully paid.

Lawmaker donates classroom block to primary school Member Representing Aguata 11 constituency in Anambra State House of Assembly, Mr. Ikem Uzoezie, has donated classroom block that he built to Umuezennafor Primary School, Ekwulobia.

Ikem Uzoezie officially

handed over the classroom block to the Anglican Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Rt. Rev. Sam Ezeofor, on June 13.

Bishop Ezeofor commended Mr. Uzoezie for the classroom block and the drainage he constructed to control flooding around the school.

He prayed for God’s protection, blessings and love upon him.

The Bishop, then, urged the teachers to see their job as service to God who would reward them.

Responding, Uzoezie said he made the donation

of the classroom in order to provide the pupils conducive environment for learning.

Chairman, Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, Chief Nzemeka Olisah (PEN) thanked Uzoezie for his magnanimity while describing the gift of classroom block as

the best. ``This is the best gift given to your people. By gesture you have invested in people, not just the pupils but also the contractor, the artisans engaged, with their families who partake from the proceeds,” he said.

Cross section of Services Commanders and the newly promoted Police Officers, at the Government House Awka, Anambra State

Child labour should not have a place in our society - Commissioner The Commissioner for Social Welfare, Women and Children Affairs, Lady Ndidi Mezue, has described Child Labour as evil and a deadly scourge.

Lady Mezue, made this revelations, during a road show organised by the Steering Committee On Child Labour, in commemoration of this year World Child Labour Day, with

the theme “Generation: Safe And Healthy” The Commissioner, who joined the march to sensitise the public on ills and dangers of child labour, called on all and sundry to join hands to eradicate the ill from our society.

According to the Commissioner, the era of allowing our children to be

roaming the streets hawking all sort of items while their mates are in school is over and belongs to the past.

She therefore warned that, henceforth, children who roam the markets and streets during school hours will be picked up and parents arrested, subsequently will be made to face the law. She however appeal to parents to send their

wards to school alongside their own children, remaking that with good education the children stand a better chance to surviving in the society.

While the roadshow progressed, the Commissioner, personally intervened to rescue some children hawking Goods at Eke Awka market, Lady Mezue, quizzed the children to Assertain reasons why they

are not in school during school hours, she took a step further to initiate contacts with the parents of the children and offered to pay their school fees in other for the kids to return back to school.

She finally appreciated the support extended to the ministry by Governor Willie Obiano, whom she explained has been very helpful and supportive to the ministry.

Awka North link roads to be delivered in 5 months’ time - Obiano Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has directed for the asphalting of OkpunoUrum -Amanuke -Achalla Road, Awka North Local Government Area.

The 15.9km road with 20m Bridge was inspected by Governor Obiano to ascertain the level of works on the road.

Speaking during the inspection at Achalla, the Governor emphasised on the importance of the road, saying it would encourage evacuation of goods to markets by the farmers in the community.

Governo Obiano, who described the road as a strategic road to economic development, explained that Achalla community was not accessible by road due to deplorable condition of the road.

He noted that if completed, it would link communities in Awka North and boost the efforts of the state government to ensure food sufficiency.

Governor Obiano, who expressed happiness over the pace and quality of job done by the contractor, promised to release more funds for the road to be completed in the next three months.

On his part, the contractor handling the project, Engr. Leo Okoye, said they had completed the drainages and the earthworks and would be delivered within five months.

Okoye explained that 2.3Km of the road was ready for immediate asphalting, while the other part would be delivered as scheduled and within specifications.

On his part, a stalwart in Awka North, Chief Godson Ezenagu, said the commitment of Governor Obiano towards completing the project was not in doubt, adding that for people of the benefitting communities who supported the governor during the past election in the State, there couldn’t have been any other better way to repay them than completing the project

The Anambra Times 4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Aguata Federal constituents vow support lawmaker for Reps seat Stakeholders and Constituents of Aguata Federal Constituency, Anambra State at the weekend insisted that Hon Ikechukwu Umenwa, member currently representing Aguata 1 in the state House of Assembly is the most qualified candidate to represent them in Federal House of Representatives in 2019 as he has been tested and trusted.

The stakeholders and Aguata Federal Constituents further said that Hon Umenwa, a.k.a Iyke Russia, remained untainted for 8 years in the state House of Assembly and was never arrogant and selfish as some others even as they passed a vote of confidence on his political representation so far at the State House of Assembly.

They asked others to wait after Hon Umenwa’s sojourn as their votes are for Iyke Russia as he is fondly called, describing him as a good material for the National Assembly since he has not discriminated against party or religion in dealing with his constituents even though the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), his party, is proud of him as disciplined party man, having stayed in APGA since he joined.

They were elated and even amazed at his level of selflessness that necessitated his attraction of overwhelming infrastructure --roads, and projects as well as intimidating job opportunities –civil service, empowerment and skill acquisition for Aguata people and urged him to be set for election into the National Assembly since he does not want to return to the state House for a third term.

A renowned farmer and CEO of Eagle Foods from Umuchu, Chief Ugochukwu Okpalaeke, expressed gratitude on behalf of Aguata one constituency in the state House for Hon Ikechukwu Umenwa’s quality representation in the constituency, describing him as trustworthy son worthy of support to actualise his dreams of more service for Aguata Federal Constituency in the

National Assembly.

For Barrister Ikenna Ezeibenne from Amesi with an eye in the state House of Assembly, Hon Iyke Umenwa remained am asset for the people of Aguata, describing him as a man with an impeccable character.

He informed that Hon Umenwa’s strong representation in the state House made it impossible for him to have contenders but with his exit for higher representation, things would be easier for them in the contest.

Speaking in same vein, a business magnet and CEO of DANAS Motors, Hon Uche Okoli, informed that he would have asked Iyke Russia to proceed to the National Assembly because of his effective and action packed representation if he has the powers but reassured that he would support Hon Umenwa with a bus for his campaign if he emerges the flagbearer of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) after the party primary.

Again, Chief Jude Ezeobi from Akpo and Peter Ezeonyilimba said a support to Hon Umenwa for House of Representatives is a progressive support having excelled in the state House of Assembly and urged all in Aguata 1 to join forces with Hon Umenwa in mobilizing support of Aguata 2 to enjoy what they have enjoyed.

For Hon Innocent Obiefuna, Hon Umenwa’s representation was an eye opener for Agauta 1 constituents hence they appealed to him to move to the National Assembly and bring home dividends of democracy for Aguata Federal Constituency, describing his representation as unequalled.

He as well as said Umenwa is a bulldozer the constituents needed most for better service.

He added that he should be forgiven in any way he has erred against his party or constituents but remained the only person that would win the ticket for APGA. Chairman of all chairmen of the All Progressives

Deliver Abatete Road according to specification, Obiano tells contractor Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has directed the contractor handling Agbaja AbateteOraukwu/Alor Junction road to speed up construction and deliver according to specification.

Governor Obiano gave the directives during his sudden visit to the site to inspect the progress of work executed by the contractor.

He charged the contractor to complete asphalting, at least 1Km before the heavy rain.

The Governor while appreciated the pace of work,

promised to release funds to ensure that the part of the road where earthwork and drains had been achieved, was asphalted before the rains.

The site engineer of the firm handling the project, Mr. Tochukwu Kalu assured that they are committed to delivering a quality project on schedule.

A native of Abatete, Professor Omaliko, thanked Governor Obiano for the project and said its completion will help decongest traffic usually experienced at major junctions in Idemili area.

Grand Alliance (APGA) in Aguata council area, Onyeka Ezenwa, informed that so many constituents are in Umenwa’s payroll, others in his scholarship scheme, others he has granted employment opportunities in local, state, federal agencies as well as private organisations. He said aside giving unconditionally, he has left Aguata South better than he met it with infrastructure and projects and hasn’t left APGA since he joined.

In his speech after Umenwa’s declaration at the local government party secretariat at Aguata, Hon OCJ Ezechukwu, who is the local government chairman of APGA, regretted that politicians have failed the citizenry with poor representation and nonfulfilment of their promises, but lauded the massive achievements Hon Umenwa showcased in his quality representation of his council.

He encouraged him to write down all he has been able to achieve to avoid others taking glory as he was shocked from the list he has seen so far, ‘’…. you have done well. What I have seen today, you are credible enough to represent us’’.

He assured that the primary would be free and fair and only who the masses want would emerge victorious.

For George Ogbuagu , Hon Umenwa aside his official contributions had used his personal resources to grade local roads in his community and restored peace in Uga community after 17 years of crisis leading to crowing of a Traditional ruler for the community.

He said Umenwa has an open door policy, God fearing, accessible and considerate hence he built houses for people, among others and needed support to emerge APGA Candidate. He said

he was crowned Eziokwu futaihe by his people for his steadfastness and stand on the path of the truth.

Others who spoke in similar tone were Chief (Engr.) Isaac Okpalanzekwe, Hon Ifeanyi Dim, Hon Chigozie Umendu, Hon Engr Jude Uzoenyi, Chidi Nwakpodolu, Mrs. Amaka Ifemezie, Umendigbo Williams and Chidi Ochili among others.

Speaking earlier, member Representing Aguata 1 constituency, Hon Ikechukwu Umenwa, said he was humbled by the genuine support and solidarity from his constituents and promised to change the APGA local government office to be befitting. He declared his interest to contest the Federal House of Representatives seat for Aguata Federal constituency, appealing for their support to make it a reality.

Umenwa told them his Russian story and his

interest in politics which is to champion development hence the testimonies because he was okay in every sense of it before joining politics having sponsored his campaign hundred percent, and till today he has no godfather or godmother to control his representation.

He said politics is a place to help others and not to help self aside the joy of being chosen to represent adding that he has a school for training people on skill acquisition at no cost to them. He announced that he has so many things he has achieved without advertising it. He informed that he facilitated the employment of 100 teachers during teachers’ recruitment for his Aguata one constituency. ‘’I don’t give promises, I cannot keep. The problem of Aguata lies on my head and whatever I can do to improve on it I do without waiting for prompting,’’ he stated.

Head of Service, Anambra State, Barrister Harry Uduh, (centre) and other dignitaries after a seminar in Awka recently on how to digitise financial activities of Anambra State.

ANSG will soon improve welfare of doctors, says Akabuike Stories by John Ndu, Awka Anambra State Government plans to increase salaries of medical doctors in the state.

Commissioner of Health in the state, Dr. Joe Akabuike, disclosed this in Awka, adding that “Governor Willie Obiano considers it his responsibility to see to improvements in the welfare of medical doctors in Anambra’’.

Dr. Akabuike said this during a meeting with Chief Medical officers of all the General Hospitals in the state at the Ministry of Health Conference Hall, at the Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka.

He stressed that there was the need for the welfare of doctors

in government employ to be improved upon.

Dr. Akabuike while interacting with the doctors urged them to work hard at their various posts in order to improve on the healthcare delivery of Ndi Anambra. ``If you work hard and shun lackadaisical attitude, there will be increase in the Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) that will enable government to fulfil its promises to you,’’ Akabuike noted.

The health commissioner said he was optimistic that if there was positive change of attitude toward their work, the quality of healthcare services in government-owned hospitals would improve. ``Government hospitals can

only be involved in the Anambra Health Insurance scheme, if they are of standard; and with high quality doctors, they will address the health needs of the people,’’ commissioner said.

The Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Medical Supplies and Facilities, Dr. Vincent Okpala, said the meeting was an avenue to evaluate how the hospitals were being managed. ``It is also to find out if things are done the way they should be done, and to evaluate the revenue generation by the hospitals.’’

Dr. Okpala commended the doctors for their efforts so far and urged them to do more, to positively impact on lives of Ndi Anambra.

``Health system has multisectoral problems but the biggest positive thing that has happened is that we have a working governor, who is investing heavily in the sector. ``This is the first time in the state budget that the biggest chunk allocated to the healthcare sector,’’ Okpala noted.

He enjoined the physicians to put in more effort so, that the health of Ndi Anambra would be improved.

The Hospital Administrator, Dr. Richmond Achugbu, pleaded with his colleagues to take the hospitals where they work as their own, urging them to be dedicated, trustworthy and faithful in the discharge of their duties.

The Law

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Defence of insanity requires proof of certain radical, fundamental points FACT The appellant herein, (as accused person), was arraigned before the trial court for the offence of culpable homicide punishable with death under Section 221(b) of the Panel Code. She pleaded not guilty whereupon the matter went to trial.

The prosecution’s case was that, on or about November 9, 2009, in Tungar Zazzagawa village, near Argungu, the appellant strangled one Abdulwahab Hashimu(alias Abudu) a four - year boy. She was alleged to held the boy’s neck very tight with her hands until he died in her room. She concealed the corpse in her room. Although, she had dug a hole for the burial, she could not bury him. One Aishatu Hashimu discovered the boy’s corpse in the appellant’s room.

The appellant denied the charge and put up a defence of insanity which arose from attacks from evil spirits.

The trial Court gave due consideration to the said defence, dismissed it, convicted and sentenced her death.

The Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division , found that her statement was, wrongly , admitted. All the same, it , (the Court of Appeal, hereinafter , simply ,referred to as “the Court below”), found other material evidence sufficient to prove her guilty. It , thus , affirmed the conviction and sentence of the appellant. She has, further , appealed to this Court. She has urged the Court to determine the sole issue thus: Whether the lower court did not, passionately, consider the appellant’s defence of insanity and found that it did not avail her having regard to all circumstances of the case?

APPELLANT’S SUBMISSION At the hearing of this appeal on March, 2018, learned counsel for the appellant, Adekola Mustapha, adopted the brief of argument filed on August 7, 2014, although, deemed properly filed and served on April 26, 2017.

In the said brief, learned counsel drew attention to page 106 of the record where the appellant, allegedly, raised the defence of insanity. He cited Section 51of the PenalCode and Ani v. State [2001] 17 NWLR (pt 742) 411, 427-428. He contended that the question for determination must be whether the accused person was in a state to know the nature of the act and its criminal character. In the instant case, it was pointed out, the appellant admitted carrying out the alleged act in a state of deprivation of mental capacity arising from affliction by evil spirit.

Counsel pointed out that the appellant and her father testified that she had occasional evil spirit attack.

The trial Court accepted the testimonies as enough justification to subject her to medical examination at Zauro General Hospital in order to ascertain her true state of mental health, Annabi v. State [2008]13NWLR ( pt 1103)179.

The appellant, counsel explained, was examined by Dr.Abdullahi Jalil, CW3, a medical Doctor attached to the said hospital.

His medical report was exhibits. Counsel pointed out that, although exhibit C, CW3’s medical report showed that the appellant had mental challenges, the CW3’s viva voce evidence contradict the said report. In his submission, the appellant ought to have been referred to a Neuro-Surgeon a CW3 lacked the expertise.

He conceded that the burden of rebutting the presumption of sanity was on the person who alleged insanity.- burden that is discharged on balance of probability, Arisa v. State [1988] 3 NWLR ( pt 83) 386.

However, he submitted that, in the instant case, the trial court did not afford the appellant the opportunity to have her true state of mental health determined, Ezedinfu v. State [2001] 9 NWRL ( pt 718)349,370.

He, further, argued that the lower court did not consider it necessary to review the appellant’s complaint, Ndaba ( Nig) Ltd v. UBN [2009] 13 (sic) 323; Uka v. Irolo (1996)4 NWLR (pt 441) 218. Counsel maintained that the appellant was not afforded fair hearing, J.C.C.Into Ltd v. N. G. I. Ltd (2002) 4 WRN 91; Durwode v. State [2002] 15 NWLR( pt 952) 416. He urged the court to set

Justice Chima Centus Nweze

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA HOLDEN AT ABUJA ON FRIDAY, THE 8th DAY OF JUNE, 2018 BEFORE THEIR LORDSHIPS MUSA DANTTIJO MUHAMMAD, JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT. KUDIRAT OLATOKUNBO KEKERE-EKUN, JUSTICE ,SUPREME COURT CHIMA CENTUS NWAEZE, JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT AMINA ADAMU AUGIE, JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT EJEMBI EKO, JUSTICE , SUPREME COURT SC. 231/ 2004.

BETWEEN: SA’ADATU ALIYU APPELLANT AND THE STATE RESPONDENT JUDGEMENT (Delivered by Chima Centus Nweze, JSC) aside the lower court’s judgement and enter an order of discharge and acquittal in favour of the appellant.

RESPONDENT’S CONTENTION On his part, S.M. Kibo , Assistant Director, Public Prosecutions, Ministry of Justice, Kebbi State, for the respondent, adopted the brief filed on December 18,

Relying on Umaru Adamu v. The State [2014] 58 (1) NSCOR 75,78 ; Edoho v The State [2010] 42 (1) NSCQR 451, 462, he contended that the trial court had to decide, as a question of fact, when the act was committed. The Court has a duty to take into account each and every admissible piece evidence, including medical evidence

2014 although deemed, properly ,filed and served on April 26, 2017.

He cited Yahaya Mohammed v. The State [1973] 9 NWLR (pt 520):169 on the legal test of responsibility.

He pointed out that both the trial, and, lower, courts had considered every evidence, especially, the defence of insanity. They found that the defence did not avail the appellant. The trial, it was pointed out, had abundant vital facts to come to the conclusion that the appellant was not insane when she strangled the deceased person by his neck.

where available, in determining the previous and contemporaneous act of the accused person.

Thus, no matter how knowledgeable the medical experts may be, they will not take the place of the trial court in scrutinizing the evidence and coming to a decision. In effect, the trial court’s failure to refer the appellant to a Neuro- Surgeon for examination could not have infringed on her rights.

He cited pages 171 and 172 of the record . He pointed out that the defence founded on the belief of witch craft or juju or evil spirits was untenable since it was founded

TIMES LAW REPORT

on the subjective belief of the accused person instead of the requirements of the law relating to particular defence.

Relying on Edoho v. State (Supra), he argued that it was a presumption of the law that everybody is sane.

Thus, where an accused person contends that he is insane, he/she has the duty to rebut the presumption of law which regards everybody to be sane until the contrary is proved even though the standard of proof is on the balance of probabilities.

He maintained that it was the court’s responsibility to determine insanity. It was thus not the duty of a medical Doctor no matter how knowledgeable he was, Edoho v.

State (Supra); A critical Appraisal (sic) 30-51.

It was contended that the appellant failed to prove these salient points through the evidence before the court.

Counsel pointed out that her father, during cross examination, answered that he did not live with the appellant. As such, he could not explain her state of mind as at the time she committed the act, that is, the offence.

Above all, this evidence and that of the appellant was not able to prove that, at the material time, the appellant was suffering from any disease of the mind to hinder her from knowing that what she was doing was not right or to control her actions. The result was that the defence failed. He urged the Court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the conviction and sentence on the appellant.

RESOLUTION OF THE ISSUE My Lords, as this court pointed out in Sanusi v.The State(1984) LPELR - 3007(SC) 17 -18; E - E, before considering what evidence there is indicating that the appellant was insane, certain radical and fundamental points regarding the defence of insanity will have to be borne in mind and kept in view.

1. The law presumes every person, including any person accused of crime, sane until contrary is proved, Section 51 of the Penal Code; 2. The prosecution does not set out to prove what the law presumes in its favour; 3. An accused person who raises insanity as his defence has the onus of proving such insanity cast on him. The standard of such proof is not as high as that cast on the prosecution. It is not proof beyond reasonable probability , proof sufficient to create a reasonable doubt in the mind of a fair - minded court as to the sanity of the accused; 4. Insanity is a blanket term embracing a considerable variety of mental abnormalities, mental infirmities,neurosis and psychosis.

5. To constitute a defence the mental condition relied on should be such that could and did deprive the accused person of capacity; (a) To understand what he was doing ; or (b) To control his action ; (c) To know that he ought not to do the act or make the omission complained of as constituting the ingredient of the offence charged.

The important thing is this lack of capacity. At the root of the defence of insanity is the fact that by reason of his mental condition the act of the accused cannot really be held to be the product of the free exercise of his will and he is, therefore, deemed incapable of forming the requisite intent.

Learned counsel for accused person setting up insanity as a defence will appreciate that they have to work very hard and place before the court credible evidence tending to establish this incapacity.

The first thing to do here is consider the nature of the evidence which the appellant placed before the trial court in this regard. This was the trial court’s finding on the mental condition of the appellant.

From the totality of the evidence above, the accused person is not suffering from any mental defect or disease of the mind even if temporary for her to enjoy the defence of insanity and absolves (sic) her from the crime she committed.

The lower court found that the above findings of the Continued on page L3

The Law L2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

June 12: Buhari must comply with laws governing public holidays A former Dean, Faculty of Law, Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, Ogun State, Prof Bankole Sodipo, in this interview with PETER FOWOYO, speaks on the legal implications of President Muhammadu Buhari’s pronouncement declaring June 12 as democracy day and other sundry issues.

What are the legal implications of the pronouncement by President Muhammadu Buhari, declaring June 12 as democracy day?

Has the President made June 12 a public holiday? Or he has merely pronounced June 12 as democracy day? There’s a law that governs public holidays. So, the President must comply with the law that governs public holidays. To make a pronouncement would not be sufficient.

The President, though, has powers to sign laws, it is the National Assembly that make laws. What I imagine is that yes, a declaration can be made and then he can push the legal machinery through the National Assembly. Until that is done, it remains a declaration.

The other legal implications too maybe, has he now annulled May 29 as democracy day? Are we going to have two democracy days? The President needs to clarify that. The President must be mindful of the fact that he should not be adding to his number of days as President.

He took power May 29, is he not going to hand over power May 29 and if he is not, should there not be a law that backs or changes that tradition? That is the problem that I see, so that if that is what he wants to do then let him do it in a way which is backed by law because it has implications.

So is not that he is adding almost two weeks to his tenure otherwise, he hand over May 29 and then we still celebrate June 12 but, why should we celebrate two days? As a private sector person, whether it’s my university or the firm I’m associated with, we don’t want more holidays because we have to pay people for not working. That should be clarified urgently and proper.

The National Assembly has gone further asking the President to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to declare the late Moshood Abiola as winner of the 1993 elections and also ask that all his emoluments be paid. Is this constitutional?

The National Assembly makes laws, the INEC act under the laws. INEC has powers to conduct elections. INEC did not conduct that elections, it is the body that conducted the election that could make such a declaration.

Let us recall that there were judicial pronouncements concerning June 12 and the elections so, how can the National Assembly, the legislature be taking a decision which overrides a judicial pronouncement? There must be separation of powers.

The proper thing to do, if they are in agreement is, seek an order.

The President can, in agreement with the National Assembly but,

Prof Bankole Sodipo

it will be better if there is an order that rescinds, reverses the orders that were made by courts upon the elections or if another law is passed.

You can take a decision by passing a law at the National Assembly but, they cannot take a decision and that’s why they are directing the executive to direct INEC but, INEC cannot act unless it is acting under a law and the law says the elections they conduct but, they didn’t conduct that elections.

I see the good they want to do but, let us abide by the rule of law and seek proper advice in terms of how they can achieve what they are aiming to achieve because, if they achieve it, it means in the future, nobody would attempt to do what was done to the late Abiola after elections but, let us do it in a proper way. INEC itself cannot do that unless the enabling law is passed.

A former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Alfa Belgore, stated that the award given to the late Chief Moshood Abiola, is illegal while a senior advocate, Mr. Femi Falana, disagreed saying it is legal. What is the position of the law in post humours award?

The pronouncement that has been made by the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, particularly somebody as highly revered as Justice Belgore CJN, is one not to be taking lightly. I don’t

“

know whether he was not taken out of context, I don’t know whether his comments were not abridged but I do recall from what I read, His Lordship referred to a National Honours Act which was passed in 1963, though I think it took effect from 1964.

Under that Act, the President has powers by warrant, the law says, to make provisions for the award of titles of honours and decorations and under the Act, he has such enormous powers to award National Honours to indicate President to be given National Honours and to limit the number of persons, to specify their designation and the insignia they would wear, so he has such executive powers.

Now, interestingly section 1(4) of the National Honours Act says that the powers must be exercised in accordance with the provisions of the constitution. Interestingly, the constitution created a body called the Council of States.

Section 153 of the constitution established the Council of States and the powers and the compositions of the Council of States is contained in the part one of the third schedule of the constitution. The Council of States comprises of all former Chief Justice of Nigeria, and so the learned Justice Belgore is a member of the Council of States.

It maybe that what the learned law lord is saying is that there was no

The National Assembly makes laws, the INEC act under the laws. INEC has powers to conduct elections. INEC did not conduct that elections, it is the body that conducted the election that could make such a declaration.

”

issue of award to the late Abiola that was brought before the Council of States. Since the executive powers of the President is supposed to be done in accordance with the constitution, his Lordship may be right.

However, paragraph 6 of that part of the constitution says that the Council of States shall have power to advice the President in the exercise of his power with respect to the award of National Honours. That paragraph acknowledges the power of the President and that the Council has powers to advice the President but, with utmost respect.

I am not sure that the President is bound to seek advice or to take advice. Everybody should realise that the President had just been to America and he met Trump and you know Trump has executive powers, he doesn’t seek advice, he doesn’t take advice.

So, if the President has exercise his powers without seeking advice, he is probably doing it like Trump.

I would say he’s Trumping. I would say that he has the powers to take a decision like that without the advice.

But, it is not the best.

The other issue which the learned former CJN alluded to is whether it can be awarded to a dead person.

The learned CJN actually confirmed that under that Act, it is clear it can be awarded to dead persons in military or paramilitary but, the Act itself does not say it is limited to only living persons. So, a proper analysis of that maybe Mr. President has been duly advised that he may award it to a non living person.

I dare say that the President may have taken the decision in line with his constitutional powers but, it would have been better if he had ran in by the Council of States because not running by the Council of States speaks volume. I doubt if the Council of States would have disagreed, I’m sure some people would have said no but, majority would probably have said yes.

Not running it by the Council of States brings to question the rationale. Why would you do such a thing without seeing whether former Presidents, all former Heads of Service, all former Chief Justice of Nigeria, the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, all the governors, the Attorney General, why didn’t you get a view from these people?

It suggest that it was done hurriedly, it suggest that there may be some other things behind it. I doubt if there were some other things behind it but, the President should not in future leave things to speculation.

The abuse of stay of proceedings by some lawyers have delayed justice and led to abrupt end of many criminal trials. How has the

abolition of technicalities in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 enhance the administration of justice?

The Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 is a wonderful piece of legislation because it aimed to do a lot. It is not yet seen whether it will achieve all that it is aimed to do. The Supreme Court per Niki Tobi has said stay of proceedings is a serious, grave and fundamental interruption on the right of a party to conduct his litigation on the basis of merit of his case. So stay of proceedings is not something that should be given lightly.

However, the law as established by the cases is that once you approach a trial court and the trial court says I’m not staying proceedings but once you have appealed and the papers have been transmitted to the Court of Appeal and it has been entered as an appeal then the trial court does not have powers to continue even though the trial court may want to continue and that impedes trial for civil and criminal cases.

What the Administration of Criminal Justice Act has done in section 306 categorically is that it says an application for stay of proceedings in respect of a criminal matter before the courts shall not be entertained which suggest that the court should not entertain any application for stay of proceedings in any criminal trial.

You will recall some criminal trials that took about 14 years when we came back to democratically elected governance in 1999, Al-Mustapha in particular. Those kind of things cannot happen again. We cannot use interlocutory appeals to delay matters.

That Act seems to change the tenure of the law from the cases that you can no longer even though cases have been entered on appeal, the trial court will not stay the proceedings because it’s a criminal matter.

Now, some judges would say yes, there is a statutes but then the Supreme Court has held that once an appeal has been entered, I should hands off, they may not be bold enough, we will need to see the Supreme Court interprets that to say yes, last year or previously we have said that this is the law but, because of this Act, it is no longer the law.

Many judges may not be bold enough and they may be rightfully say, sorry, the Supreme Court has already said it even though the law has been passed, let the Supreme Court reverse and authorize me to continue proceedings rather than to continue and then it goes on appeal and they would say that’s judicial rascality.

Hopefully, stay of proceedings will no longer be used in criminal trials particularly in federal capital territory courts where this law immediately is enforced.

You talked about the Supreme Court reversing itself. Can the Supreme Court reverse itself on any matter it has already made pronouncement?

Of course, the Supreme Court has CONTINUE ON PAGE L3

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

L3 The Law

June 12: Buhari must comply with laws governing public holidays Continued from page L2

the powers to reverse itself and they have done so previously. When I say the Supreme Court reverse itself on this matter, the Supreme Court, like I said tenure of the cases is that once an appeal has been entered at the Court of Appeal, even though the trial court has said it is not going to stay proceedings, it must stopped because it no longer has jurisdiction otherwise, the issue to be adjudicated upon at the Court of Appeal, the trial court could make nonsense of it and destroy the res, that is, the main essence of the case can be destroyed.

Once it has gone to the higher courts, just hands off. That is the principle the Supreme Court established. Now, this Act now says that application for stay shall not be entertained.

The point I’m making is that some judges could just say that the Act has changed the law but, I am bound by authority of the Supreme Court.

Unless the Supreme Court interprets it and say in criminal trials, all we have said before which is the law, is no longer law because it has been changed by this Act then there can be a problem.

That’s why some of us have counseled that we should have something similar, not exactly but, similar to what the Americans have in the reinstatement of laws such that when a new law comes out like this or even a policy which we need to improve the administration of justice not just criminal justice, we don’t need to have the appellate courts pronouncing but, once this body which we are counseling should be established which would say this is the reinstatement of Nigeria law on this position, once they make that reinstatement then judges follow it.

They don’t need to wait for an Appellate or Supreme Courts decision on it so that there will be issues which some judges, senior lawyers and academics will be making statements on to guide the courts and once the statements have been made, a judge that follows that statement will not be said to be doing an act of judicial rascality.

Stakeholders have called on the judicial sector to simplify the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and also advocate for the inclusion of the Act in school curriculum. As a former Dean in the Faculty of Law, do you think this is necessary?

There is a general call for us to revise the curriculum in the universities to make our students running immediately they are called

to the Bar. The Council of Legal Education is the one mandated to deal with a lot of issues when it comes to procedural law and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act deals with procedure to a large extent.

What we do in the universities for criminal law is the substantive law. However, the Council of Legal Education through body established which seeks to improve legal education has introduced a lot of changes where we are encourage to have legal clinics in the university.

We are just like medical students who go with doctors to examine patients. We should run our laws, teach them,but then run the programme where they can learn the practice of law through simulations and handling some real life cases with teaching faculty and have external lawyers around the faculties who work with them to handle part of the work so that students would be exposed early.

This is the way in which the faculties will be dealing with this so that the students really appreciate the essence of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

How do you view the drama between the police boss, and the Senate President, over robbery allegation brought against the Senate President?

Well, it is rather unfortunate. Allegations of crime can be made against anybody but, this does not mean the person has committed the crime, the constitution is very clear on that and so care must be taken when such allegations are made particularly on a very highly revered citizen of Nigeria.

However, nobody is above the law, although the constitution seeks to protect some people, and so the constitution in protecting some people specifically remove some people from possible litigation. The constitution itself that does this is specific in the sense that it does not list the Senate President as one of those that has immunity.

Section 308 of the constitution says no civil or criminal proceedings will be instituted against the persons who are listed and the persons listed in section 308 are: the president, the vice president, the governor or deputy governor when they are in office.

It does not mean you can’t proceed against them, it means that we want to protect that office but when they leave office you can proceed against them.

So, unfortunately the constitution does not list the Senate President as one of those who

enjoys immunity. However, the Legislative Powers and Privileges Act gives immunity to the members of the National Assembly.

However the immunity is for things that happen in the National Assembly. It’s says no civil or criminal proceedings will be instituted against the members of the National Assembly for the words spoken in the National Assembly, in the respect of what is written there.

If for instance, a member of the National Assembly steals in the National Assembly, that immunity does not protect him. They only have immunity in doing their functions so that they can make laws, say things freely like freedom of expression in the National Assembly for resolution, bills, motions and so on.

Unless the Senate President quickly passes a law that he has immunity and if he is going to pass a law, the President must sign it. It is doubtful the President will sign such a law.

The police has power to investigate, they have powers to arrest but I’m concerned that the IGP too is not above the law.

It’s been reported, maybe falsely but, it’s been reported that he too does not want to come to the National Assembly to answer questions but, he wants to prosecute the Senate President.

I don’t know whether it’s a set up or not. I think nobody is above the law.

The Senate President should submit himself to interrogation and the IGP should submit himself to the National Assembly when he is called upon, otherwise, we will make a mockery of the whole system and once we make a mockery of the whole system then the whole system will fall apart and that’s my worry.

I’m seeing the strands of mockery, signs of a tsunami against the whole system and people are toying with fire, toying with the existence of Nigeria.

I called on the IGP submit to the National Assembly, I call on the Senate President to submit himself to the police. Although armed robbery is a state offense and only the state Attorney General shall have powers to commence criminal proceedings. See Emelogu v. State. However, if there is no proof let the matter go quickly so that we save ourselves from embarrassment and save the national polity from this grave incident that is occurring.

What is your take on the media parade of suspects by the police before their trial. Is it lawful?

We do a lot of things which we think we should do in doing our work, sometimes when

...requires proof of certain radical and fundamental points

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trial court were not perverse, page 175 of the record .

The court gave reasons for its findings. Listen to this: The appellant knew what she was doing.

She attempted to cover her track by shielding the mother of the deceased [person] from entering her room. She even dug a hole where she intended to bury the body of the deceased [person]. [Page 175 of the record].

The question then is : are these findings consistent with the evidence on record? PW1 was the mother of the deceased person. Her name is Aishatu Hashimu.

According to her: There is a boy called Sank Aliyu who said (sic) is in Sa’adatu’s room [that is ,the accused person]. I then wanted to enter Sa’adatu room and checked for Abdul but did not see him. But on my way out of the room, I saw the accused person’s clothes by the door on top of the mattress, as I wanted to remove the clothes and see what was under the accused person, Sa’adatu, said no and then went and sat on the mattress.

I then pushed her , Sa’adatu, away and removes (sic) the clothes . I then saw Abdul’ s body under the mattress .He was dead already. Sa’adatu then run away. So I went at the back of her room where I found that she dug a hole where she wanted to bury the child,(Abdul).

[Page 177 of the record; ] The testimony of CW3 ,Hausa Shehu Ibrahim, was not different. According to this witness: The accused person has been in detention awaiting

trial for three years now, and I am one of those taking care of her at the prison. Since her detention in the prison, her behaviour is just as normal as any person.

There was no time she has any abnormal behaviour or having relapse in her health to the best if my knowledge.

[Page 172 of the record].

Indeed, under cross- examination, Adamu Lima , the father of the accused person, maintained that “ it is not true establishing that - the state of insanity. If he succeeds, he will ... be relieved of criminal responsibility .To succeed, he must establish, by a preponderance of evidence necessary to discharge the civil onus of proof, that he is in such a state of mental disease or natural mental infirmity as to deprive him.

(1) of capacity to understand what he was doing ,or (2) of capacity to control his actions, or (3) of capacity to know that he ought not to do the act or make the omission.

Regrettably, the appellant could not scale these evidentiary hurdles, Ogbu v. The State (1992) LPELR 2292 (SC) 16 ; B-D . In this appeal, the issue of insanity was one of concurrent findings of fact by the trial court and the lower court. Unless there is a miscarriage of justice, this court will not interfere with the findings, Ogbu v. The State (Supra ) 17 ; C. - E, citing Ibodo v.

Enarofia [1980] 5-7 SC 42, 55; Fashoro v. Abdallah [1987] 3 NWLR (pt. 56) 134, 141.

In my view, there is no miscarriage of justice which can lead to interference with the said concurrent findings , Ogbu v. The State (Supra) 17; C -E ; Peter v

The State (1997) LPER- 2912 (SC) 45 ; A- D. In all, learned counsel for the appellant, from his approach in all the three tiers of courts that heard this case, would seem to fall into the category of counsel which Aniagolu, JSC, in Sanusi v. The State [1984] 10 SC 166, 177, described in these words: There is a tendency for some counsel to be casual in presenting their case of insanity on behalf of accused persons. Some tend to treat the matter as if all that was required to establish the defence of insanity was to allude to insanity as the accused’s defence and proceed to show how unreasonable and motiveless the action of the accused [person] had been, leaving it for the Court to infer that anyone guilty of such behaviour as the one committed by the accused [person] could not but be insane . Such an approach to the defence of insanity is wrong.

In this case, this wrong approach of the appellant’s counsel , from the trial court , through the lower court, to this court, must account for the dismissal of this appeal. I affirm the concurrent findings of the lower courts, that is , their conviction of, and sentence on, the appellant. Appeal is dismissed for being frivolous.

Chima Census Nweze Justice, Supreme Court.

Counsel: Ademola Mustapha for the appellant S.M. Kibo, ADPP, MOJ, Kebbi State, for the respondent.

we’re challenged, we then discover maybe it is not right. Police shoot, police maim, police beat up people but, when they are challenged, they now see they are not supposed to.

There’s presumption of innocence and because of presumption of innocence, unless you’ve been tried, it is not right to be parading people. You parade them today as suspects if you try them tomorrow and you’re not able to establish, either because they have smart lawyers and raise technical points or, because you didn’t do your homework well as police, not that they didn’t do what was wrong or whether they did not do it, do you now parade them again and say this people were wrongly paraded?

If you do that, do you also pay them because people have seen the names, they have seen the faces and they have been ridiculed publicly?

That’s why in foreign reports they blocked eyes and the faces of people. That’s what we need to do in Nigeria. It’s just in a bid to play to the gallery that this has been done and it’s not right, it is unconstitutional.

Section 143 of the 1999 constitution provides for the removal of the President in office, can the National Assembly invoke this section in view of the insecurity across the country?

By insecurity I guess you mean the wanton killings, wanton kidnapping particularly by insurgents such as Boko Haram by people around the reverine area by the herdsmen who have cows which are not worth more than one million naira but are carrying guns worth more than four million naira to protect the cows of one million naira.

The insecurity is worrisome particularly because the President is an owner of herds, cattles, he is a stakeholder even in the association of owners of cattles and he has made some pronouncements that make people feel that he supports the reckless, illegal and unconstitutional act of the herdsmen.

Section 143(11) defines gross misconduct which you ask me as a grave violation of the constitution or a misconduct of such nature as amounts to opinion to the National Assembly to gross misconduct. So, breach of the constitution is a grave misconduct.

If the National Assembly says we feel this is gross misconduct of the constitution. The constitution in section 130 empowers office of the President to be the Chief Security Officer, he is the head of state, commander in chief and it means that the security apparatus of Nigeria is controlled by him.

Therefore, not attending promptly, not ensuring that the persons who are doing this things are arrested, prosecuted, imprisoned, charged to court, sentenced, fined, not ensuring that the guns are seized, not setting up tribunals that will quickly deal with this matters, could be said to be a breach of the constitution.

As such, I will be calling on the President to deal with this situation otherwise, he may open up himself for the National Assembly moving to impeach him.

I pray and I hope that the National Assembly will not do this but, I urge the President to do his duty. I end with a note of caution. The International Criminal Court, can pick him up, charge him and imprison him after he leaves office, even when he is in office, if he doesn’t deal with the security situation.

Even if he is not worried about the National Assembly in the sense that, in case it is controlled by his party machinery, the ICC can come after him. I did allude to his meeting with Trump, remember Trump said he is not happy about the killings going on.

So there are many people watching internationally and it is only friends of the President like myself that can warn him about this. They are setting him up big time. He need to sort that out otherwise, anything can happen.

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Edo NBA Law Week: Obaseki unveils plan to build houses for Judges Trains 300 stenographers

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has disclosed that his administration has commenced work on the design and development of houses for judges beginning with judges of the Appeal Court and the Federal High Court in the state.

Obaseki said this while declaring open the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Benin Branch, 2018 Law Week and the official commissioning of the NBA Bar House in Benin City.

He explained that the phased housing project will commence with the first five units for Appeal Court judges and judges of the Federal High Court, assuring that more units will be constructed as his administration plans to develop a colony for judges in the state.

“The real investment has to be in the people, system and the process. I have decided to relocate the Ministry of Justice to the new Block C in the state secretariat complex and will be fully furnished, computerised with an e-library to make the work place conducive for our judicial workers,” he said.

The governor noted that his administration has hired 300 stenographers who are currently undergoing training.

“Court recorders are being procured and by the time the new court building is completed, they will be installed,” he said.

Obaseki said the goal and focus of his administration is to make the state the judicial hub of the region.

“In the past 19 months we have made tremendous progress in taking the state

Peter Fowoyo

Gov Godwin Obaseki

to an enviable height. Our administration has made appreciable impact in the lives of our people by insisting on the rule of law”.

The governor noted that his administration has created a sense of social security, stability, order and a sense of purpose which were made possible because of fear of sanctions.

“The judicial system has helped in restoring law and order in the state. It has also helped to drive our reforms,” he said.

The Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice Esohe Ikponmwen, commended the Edo State branch of the NBA for the success recorded during the 2018 Law

Federal High Court begins vacation

Week.

The Chief Judge, who was represented at the occasion by Hon. Justice Ada Ehigiamusoe, said: “The various topics treated will go a long way to further stabillise and enhance the development and growth of the nation and the law profession”.

Delivering the keynote address titled The Role of Law in Economic Development and National Security, Dele Adesina (SAN), said the greatest threat to the survival of Nigeria as a nation is security and solving the security problem will mean solving the economic problem.

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria,Justice Abdulahi Abdukafarati has released time table for the oncoming annual vacation, 2018 for the Federal High Court nationwide.

Pursuant to the Provisions of order 46,rule 4(d) of the Federal High Court (civil) Procedure rules 2009,the Federal High Court will proceed on its annual vacation for the year 2018 from Monday 9th of July to Friday 17th September, 2018.

The court resumes on Monday 17th of September, 2018.

During the vacation only core stations will usually remain functional and the litigating Public will be at liberty to approach any of the functional courts.

The Abuja division will cater for cases from the Federal Capital Territory, North Central, North West, and North Eastern parts of the country.

The Lagos Division will cater for Western parts of the country while,PortHarcourt will cater for South South, South Eastern part of the country.

It is essential to stress that during the vacation only extreme urgent cases, arrest of ship, Fundamental right cases are to be entertained.

Vacation judges are : Abuja Division -(1).Justice Babatunde Olaide Quadri (2).Justice Nnamdi Dimgba Lagos Division -(1).Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor (2)Justice Muslim Sule Hassan Portharcourt Division -1.Justice Hillary.

Ide. Osho. Oshomah (2).Adamu Turaki Mohammed.

Legal ceremonies - The 2018/2019 Federal High Court legal year annual Judges Conference will hold from 17th September -20th September 2018.

Anglican Diocese lauds state judiciary, assembly financial autonomy Andrew Orolua, Abuja

The Anglican Diocese of Udi in Enugu State has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Financial Autonomy Bill for State Houses of Assembly and Judiciary into law.

The diocese stated this in a communiqué released on Sunday after the first session of its fourth Synod, held from June 7 to 10 at St.Peter’s Anglican Church, Nachi, Udi Local Government Area.

According to the communiqué signed by Chijioke Aneke, Bishop of Udi Diocese, the Synod however urged the federal government to replicate same feat for local government councils in the country.

The church also acknowledged that it was good to confer a posthumous award of GCFR on Moshood Abiola, but admonished that all good things would be better if properly done and within the confines and provisions of the law.

It expressed the feeling of the diocese that the National Council of States and the National Assembly should have been consulted before the proclamation.

The statement also called for payment of outstanding pensions and gratuity at all levels of government and resolve industrial disputes in the country.

It enjoined all Christians to engage in fervent prayers to avert or minimise these unpleasant incidences.

The church further enjoined all residents of the Diocese to acquire their Permanent Voters Card

(PVC) and use it appropriately during election.

It also flayed the continued involvement of Christians in fetish activities, masquerading and consulting mediums despite teachings and Bible studies in various churches under the diocese.

The synod’s theme was ‘Behold I Come Quickly’, drawn from the Biblical book of Revelation Chapter 22 verses 7 and 1 The Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Matthew Kolawole, also on Sunday commended the enactment of the law that granted financial autonomy to states’ Houses of Assembly and the Judiciary.

He said the law would further strengthen democratic norms at the states level.

Kolawole stated this while addressing the people of Ogidi community in Ijumu Local Government Area of the state on the occasion of the 2018 Ogidi Day Celebration.

The speaker noted that in spite of the autonomy, the three arms of government would continue to work together in synergy for the overall development and benefit of the people and the country.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for taking the bold initiative to assent to the Bill in the overall interest of the people.

Kolawole commended the organisers of the “Ogidi Festival” for their well-thought out mission and vision to put the festival on the world map of tourism.

He stressed that the 6th Assembly in the state was already working on a bill to reposition the tourism sector for better performance and make it one of the major contributors to the state’s income.

According to him, when the bill is passed, it will provide legal framework for the promotion of the sector, promising that the assembly would continue to make laws that will promote good governance in the state.

Kolawole charged the Ogidi community to continue to support and cooperate with the current government of Gov. Yahaya Bello in its efforts to positively transform the state.

Ologidi of Ogidi, Oba Rilwan Sule, in his response,

thanked the speaker and indigenes of Ogidi for making the 2018 edition of the annual festival a success and called on the people to continue to support the government.

Oba Sule also charged politicians to play by the rules as the 2019 general elections drew close.

He urged the youth not to allow themselves to be used as thugs and agents of destruction during the electioneering process.

Justice Kafarati takes oath as CJ of FHC

Andrew Orolua, Abuja

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen will today administer oath of office and allegiance on Justice Adamu AbdulKafarati as the substantive Chief Judge of Federal High Court.

Justice Abdul- Kafarati who replaced former Chief Judge of Federal High Court retired Justice Ibrahim Auta has been on Acting capacity since 17 September, 2017.

The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria last week confirmed Justice Adamu Abdu-Kafarati nomination as substantive Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, nine months after acting in that capacity.

President Muhammadu Buhari approved Justice Abdu-Kafarati appointment and forwarded his nomination to the Senate.

The request contained in a letter by Buhari to the Senate was read on the floor of the Senate after the emergency session of the National Assembly

by Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki .

Justice Kafarati