DTN-24-11-18

Corrupt leaders won’t escape jail eventually, Buhari warns g 3

CJN, NASS move to revive 17 rejected bills by President g 5

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Battling unending scourge ahead of 2019 polls

Excitement as Miss Nigeria grand finale holds tomorrow g 12

Corruption: Magu assures Whistle-blowers of safety g 5

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2018

VOL. 3

NO. 812

N100

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Tramadol tops list of illicit drugs among youths, others Customs, NDLEA, others make Why the ‘Alagbara’ series is a must watch – Adebayo Salami ‘Oga Bello’ in-roads to tackle menace g 11

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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 24, 2018

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 24, 2018

Illicit drugs: Battling unending scourge ahead of 2019 polls Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo and Joy Anyim, Lagos

The trend of illicit drugs trafficking is becoming worrisome in Nigeria with Tramadol taking the front burner in recent times.

This has become a source of concern to every stakeholder as security agents and other relevant authorities appear to be confused on how to combat the menace.

Seizures of various magnitude of narcotics, ephedrine, cannabis, and Tramadol among others are being made on daily bases, thereby sending wrong and unhealthy signals to the country.

The recent seizure of N7billion Tramadol by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at Lagos port months after the ban on codeine by the Federal Government is a pointer that all is not well in the country.

According to statistics, there are over 100 million youths in Nigeria. If they are allowed unregulated access to these drugs, the development will portend great danger for the nation.

The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, in conjunction with the Nigeria Customs Service, recently set up an eight man committee to stem the tide of illicit drug trafficking at the ports.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tin-Can Island Command, recently said it had handed over a 40-foot container containing confiscated and falsely declared pharmaceutical goods to the National Drug Law

Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Yusuf Bashar, listed the items to include Spectradol (Tramadol) capsules, SpectraDoxycycline capsules and Jinart tablets that were falsely declared as vehicles.

Bashar, in a statement, said that the area command handed over the container to the NDLEA, TinCan Island Port commander, Mr. Nse Jack.

He listed other seized drugs to include Clarinthromycin tablets and Jincold-Extra Strength capsules.

The Comptroller said the Service would continue to build on the existing inter-agency cooperation with all concerned regulatory agencies, in its efforts at ensuring that illicit goods were intercepted at ports.

The Comptroller, who linked the frequency of drugs seizures in recent times to the forthcoming election year, said that consumption of such drugs by the youths usually gave them false illusion to perpetuate deplorable acts.

He said the command recently seized arms, cars, drugs and other goods.

Bashar said that an importer, who falsely declared some pharmaceutical products as imported vehicles and another container as containing computer accessories, could never be described as a patriotic citizen.

“It is not just about money but the health and well-being of the people. Every Nigerian should show care about the lives of Nigerians and it is not about revenue nor trade facilitation but about the good of Nigeria and

Nigerians, so this must stop,’’ the Comptroller said.

Bashar gave the name of the importer as Jin Spectra Pharmaceutical Ltd., based in Kano.

He also said the name of the clearing agency was Febeaco Nigeria Ltd., with office along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Apapa, Lagos.

The Comptroller expressed confidence in the officials of the NDLEA to complete its investigation and prosecute offenders.

He, however, said that the NCS would not allow unpatriotic and inconsiderate importers and agents to use the TinCan Island Port as a dumping ground to perpetrate their illegal operations.

Meanwhile, as part of their resolve to end the menace, officials of the Apapa Area Command, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) were said to have turned down a bribe of N150 million offered by an unscrupulous importer to clear 40 containers of the banned hard drug tramadol illegally imported into the country through the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa.

Customs ComptrollerGeneral, Hammed Ali, disclosed this on Thursday while addressing journalists on the seizure of the containers ad two aircraft in Lagos.

Ali said the containers of tramadol, which were intercepted at the Apapa port by operatives of the command, were imported into the country from India.

Aircraft which were seized

3 News

PHOTO TIMES

L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari; Senator George Akume, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Jime, Comrade Abba Yaro, Chief Paul Unongo and Senator Ameh Ebute during a delegation of APC stakeholders from Benue State at the State House, Abuja...on Friday

Representative of the President and Minister of Power, Works & Housing Babatunde Fashola,SAN (middle); President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Adekunle Mokuolu (second right); Past President, Dr. Folasodun Shonubi (second left) and others during the Nigerian Society of Engineers’ 60th Anniversary Colloquium with the theme, “Re-Engineering the Engineers for Optimum National Economic Growth and Development’’, at the Conference Hall, NAF Conference Centre & Suites, Abuja...on Friday.

Continued on page 6

Corrupt leaders won’t escape jail eventually, Buhari warns Says FEC monitoring plight of workers, utilisation of Paris Club Refund by Govs

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja said leaders who undermine the economy by denying workers their benefits, while stuffing personal accounts with public funds will not escape the current anticorruption dragnet.

Buhari dropped the warning when he received All Progressives Congress (APC) delegation from Benue State, led by Sen. George Akume, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President said that the Federal Government’s bailout to states and Paris Club funds were basically to alleviate the sufferings of the people, describing misappropriations as unjust and unfair to workers.

“I honestly don’t know how people sleep when workers have not been paid. The workers have to pay rent, buy food, send their children to

school and they have healthcare to take care of.

“I assure you that my main interest is all Nigerians in all parts of the country. Therefore, if anybody who tries to create any impression that I prefer any group across ethnicity or religion let him dare me by being caught red handed stealing public funds. I will deal with him,’’ he said.

He told the APC delegation that the Federal Executive Council had been monitoring the plight of workers across the country and utilisation of the bailout and Paris Club funds by some states.

“I thank you for your courage to come and see me.

This visit has resuscitated our morale,’’ he said.

President Buhari said the Federal Government had made significant progress in diversifying the economy by investing in agriculture and encouraging more individuals

and entrepreneurs to go into farming, pointing out that Nigeria would soon become self-sufficient in feeding its citizenry.

“We have achieved a lot with resources at our disposal,’’ he added, listing ongoing road, rail, sea port, airport and power projects as hallmarks of his administration’s commitment to improving lives.

Buhari said that the Ministry of Agriculture and the Central Bank of Nigeria will be further motivated to work together and support all interested Nigerians to take up farming on commercial scale.

He noted that the killings across the country, including in Benue, Zamfara and Taraba, were carried out by “ungodly’’ people who had no religious or ethnic inclinations.

“We know about herders.

The ones we knew carried

Continued on page 5

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu delivering a lecture on a topic titled: “Taming Corruption: The way forward for African Development” during the Black History Month of the School of Business and Management Studies of the Queen Mary University of London organised for Nigerians in the Diaspora in London...on Friday.

L-R: Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Hon. Edorodion Erimona; Commissioner for Budget, Hajiya Maryam Abubakar; Executive Chairman, Edo Development and Property Agency (EDPA), Isoken Omo; and Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Joseph Eboigbe, during a Consultative Forum on the Edo State Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), held at Government House, in Benin City, Edo State.

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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 24, 2018

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 24, 2018

CJN, NASS move to revive 17 rejected bills by President Tunde Opalana, Abuja The Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen and the National Assembly have put in motion action to revive 17 different bills that were refused assents by President Muhammadu Buhari early this year.

Chief among the bills which President Buhari has refused include Judiciary Amendment Bill 2017 number 22 which seeks to strengthen the judiciary for speedy dispensation of justice.

The Technical Committee set up by the Senate to revive 17 different bills that were refused assents by President Muhammadu Buhari had an interface with Justice Onnoghen on reasons adduced for one of the rejected bills.

Specifically, the committee headed by Senator David Umoru (APC Niger East) on Thursday tackled the CJN for allegedly advising President Muhammadu Buhari on refusal of assent to Judiciary Amendment Bill

2017 number 22 which seeks to strengthen the judiciary for speedy dispensation of justice.

Senator Umoru in his remarks to the CJN said: “Your Lordship, this committee on behalf of the Senate and by extension, the National Assembly want to hear from you directly on why you advised the President refusing assent to the bill.

“We believe that information made available to us via his letter of refusal of assent on account of advice given by your lordship is also available to you”.

But when it was the turn of the CJN to respond, the Committee chairman ordered journalists, aides and protocol officers to the CJN out of the venue to pave way for closed door session which lasted for about 2 hours.

Attempts made to get clarifications from the CJN by journalists on what transpired at the closed door session proved abortive as he refused entreaties to that effect.

Aside the CJN, representatives

of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) and Post Master General of the Federation, also had closed door session with the committee on how rejected Stamp Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2018 can be redrafted and forwarded to the President for assent.

President Buhari had in his letter of refusal of assent to the bill forwarded to both chambers of the National Assembly said the bill’s proposals for the imposition of stamp duties on savings accounts and electronic transactions may impair the implementation of the Federal Government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy, e-payment programmes and cashless banking policies.

The technical committee as disclosed by its chairman, will meet heads of other government establishments and the Attorney General of the Federation next week on way out for the remaining 15 bills refused assents by the President.

5 human traffickers jailed 5 years each Andrew Orolua, Abuja The Federal High Court Makurdi Division in Benue State on Friday convicted five men of human traffickingrelated offences and sentenced them to various jail terms.

The convicts - Adejo Ogiri, Michael Ezekiel Uzochukwu, Afonne Edward Nwokocha, Ndukwe Henry, and Obuito Joseph Onyema were found guilty under section 13(2)(a), 21 and 27 of TIPPEA ACT, 2015 in case: FRN Vs Adejo Ogiri & 4 Others filed by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

Adejo Ogiri was sentenced to two years on count 1 and five years’ imprisonment on count 2. The fourth and fifth accused persons were sentenced to five years imprisonment, each, while the second and third accused persons, who jumped bail in the course of the trial, will be sentenced when caught.

They were arrested by officers of the Department of State Services, for the abduction and attempted sale of a four years old boy, and handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

The first accused, Adejo Ogiri, abducted his neighbour’s four years

old son from Otukpo and took him to Umuahia, Abia State, where he handed him over to the second accused, Michael Uzochukwu. Mr. Michael took the child to the third convict, Edward, who had a client, Augustina, who is still at large, whom they intended to sell the child to.

While waiting for the client to pick up the child, they kept him with the fourth accused person, who is a relative of client’s. Edward was arrested by the DSS as he went to the bank to withdraw the money earlier sent by the client. The DSS thereafter, rescued the child, arrested and handed the suspects over to NAPTIP for further investigation and prosecution.

Under sections 13(2), 21, and 27 of the Trafficking In Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration (TIPPEA) Act, 2015, it is a crime to abduct, transport, receive, or harbour a victim of human trafficking. The law also prohibits the purchase, sale, hiring, or taking possession of any person with intent, knowing it to be likely or having reasons to know that such a person will be subjected to exploitation, as well as any conspiracy to commit any offence under the Act. In the course of the trial which lasted between September 2016 and May 2018, the presiding Judge found the acts committed by the accused persons

despicable, and, based on the evidences tendered by the prosecution.

The Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, reacting to the news of the conviction, lauded the collaborative efforts of the DSS in the arrests and course of the trial.

She emphasised the importance of partnership, which is one of the fivepronged approaches which NAPTIP employs in combating human trafficking, as she believes the fight against human trafficking will be more impactful when law enforcement agencies work together.

The NAPTIP boss condemned the abduction of children, as she could not imagine the pains that parents whose children were abducted could be going through. She used the opportunity to caution Nigerians against illegal adoption, and advised anyone who wishes to adopt a child to go through the legal processes, in order to avoid falling foul of the law, or causing another parent severe emotional and mental pain, by buying a child abducted from his or her parents.

Dame Julie Okah-Donli also cautioned Nigerians to be careful and mindful of their environment, especially as the year draws to an end, with its accompanying increase in criminal activities.

Corrupt leaders won’t escape jail eventually...

Continued from page 3

sticks, and sometimes cutlasses to cut foliage for their cattle. We now have people who carry AK 47s and pretend they are herdsmen.

“We are working hard to secure our borders. We are going to see how the old cattle routes can be opened. We will control movement. Please beg our people to be patient,’’ he said.

The President pointed out that security personnel were already uncovering the network of the killers and arresting them.

In his remarks, the leader of the

delegation said the narrative in the state about the Federal Government was fast changing for the positive as more people had discovered the good intentions of President Buhari to secure lives and property, and alleviate poverty.

“Your Excellency, Mr. President, we know your commitment to Nigeria. We know how much you love the country and will be ready to die for the good cause,’’ Sen. Akume said.

Akume, a former governor of Benue State, told the President that APC members had started sensitisation and mobilisation of voters for the 2019 elections, noting that more had accepted

the party and its manifesto in the state.

He commended the President for the flag-off of the dualization of the AbujaKeffi-Lafia-Makurdi road, urging more attention on the Makurdi-Otukpo road and the water projects in Gboko and Otukpo.

“You have worked hard to stop herdsmen and farmers clashes in Benue.

It is important to note that many people used religion and ethnicity to score cheap points. Religion was used in Benue for sinister purposes,’’ he added.

On corruption, Sen. Akume said the President has made significant difference by tackling perpetrators.

5 News

Corruption: Magu assures Whistle-blowers of safety Doosuur Iwambe, Abuja The Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has once again urged the public to support the whistle-blowing policy of President Muhammadu Buhari, while stressing that the security of the informant is guaranteed.

In a statement made available to The Daily Times on Friday by Tony Orilade, the commission’s Ag. Head, Media & Publicity, the EFCC boss said “the whistleblower can report to the authorities through a secure online portal, which would also conceal the identity of the blower through the Ministry of Finance or through law enforcement agencies like EFCC”.

Assuring members of the public of the protection of whistle blowers, Magu said that the Federal Government of Nigeria introduced the whistle-blowing policy in 2016 based on the Whistle-blower Act. “The policy states that if you whistle-blow in good faith, you will be protected. If you feel that you have been treated badly because of your report, you can file a formal complaint. If you report false or misleading information, it will be referred to the enforcement agents for investigation and

possible prosecution,” he added.

He further said that corruption, as we all agreed, is a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabrics of every system in Nigeria.

“It is a crime with such a despicable viral effect and disastrous tendency like terrorism, and is capable of obstructing good governance,” he said.

Speaking further, he listed the EFCC achievements so far on whistle blowing. He said: “On the 10th of February, 2017, $9.2 million cash was recovered from a home belonging to the former Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Andrew Yakubu, in Sabon Tasha, Kaduna.

He continued: “In that same period, EFCC recovered N450 million from an abandoned shop in the Nigerian Air Force Complex in Victoria Island, Lagos.

“In 2017, the EFCC via information from a whistle-blower helped the government to recover $43.5 million, GBP27, 800 and N23.2 million at No 16 Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagoa, Nigeria. It will interest you to know that the Federal Ministry of Finance paid the Ikoyi whistle blower the sum of N421 million.

“This has no doubt reduced the craze for stealing government resources and stocking them in unthinkable locations”, he added.

Presidency blames NASS for delaying 2019 budget processes Tunde Opalana, Abuja A presidential aide, Senator Ita Enang, has told Nigerians that the National Assembly should be held responsible for late presentation of the 2019 budgetary proposals.

Blaming the lawmakers for stalling the processes of next year’s budget, he said the non - consideration and passage of the 2019- 2021 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) by the National Assembly is delaying the presentation of the 2019 budget estimates by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) said President Muhammadu Buhari had few weeks back forwarded to the National Assembly the two documents for consideration and approval preparatory to 2019 budget presentation but which are yet to be considered by either the Senate or the House of Representatives.

Fielding questions from journalists in his office on when the 2019 budget would be presented, Enang said it all depends on when the federal lawmakers approved the MTEF and FSP documents presented to them.

He said: “The president has transmitted to the National Assembly the request for the approval of the MTEF and the approval of the Fiscal Strategy

Paper.

“It is the MTEF that set out the budget parameters for the benchmark of oil, the exchange rate, the money projected to realise from solid minerals, internal revenue from oil, and borrowings.

It is this that enables you to deal with budget projections. That document is pending before the legislature.

“Ordinarily we should present the budget but we just felt that the legislature should first pass the MTEF/FSP so that we can use it as benchmark but since the legislature is still working on the document, we are going to use the parameters that were used in what we submitted as the budget benchmark of oil, exchange rate, the amount we are going to have as excess crude and other sources of revenue as submitted”.

He, however, added that the presidency is very much ready to work with the National Assembly in getting things done as far as the 2019 budget presentation is concerned.

“We will work with the legislature when they eventually pass the MTEF/FSP. That is where we are on the budget but every necessary step has been taken by the executive for the presentation of the document “, he said.

According to him, there is still enough time for both arms of government to do things aright since the N9.12 trillion 2018 budget will expire in June next year.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, October 20, 2018

Buhari is militarising our electoral process, PDP alerts UN Tunde Opalana, Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reported President Muhammadu Buhari to the United Nations (UN) over plots by his Presidency and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to scuttle the conduct of the 2019 general election, particularly, the presidential poll.

The PDP said there is heightened tension across the country over the manipulations by the Buhari Presidency, adding that if the UN and the international community fail to intervene and support a credible, free and fair election, the nation may witness an electoral stillbirth, capable of triggering violence and humanitarian crisis in Nigeria and the entire subSahara region.

The National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, who led the members of the National Working Committee to receive the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for West Africa and the Sahel, Mr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, in his office in Abuja on Friday, alerted the UN Security Council that President Buhari is already compromising the military and other security forces as tools to muscle the electoral process.

“President Buhari is not preparing for elections. He is not prepared for the rigours of any electoral exercise. Every well-intentioned politician goes out to the street to engage and persuade the people with his or her manifesto and policies, but President Buhari is not ready to engage anybody in contest of ideas; that is why he is desperate to compromise our military as a measure of limitless powers to rig.

“The world saw how our Service Chiefs participated in President Buhari’s campaign rally. There is no way these Service Chiefs will not be pushed to resort to self-help on behalf of President Buhari and his APC in the election. The UN Security Council should note this and intervene to save our democratic process.

“President Buhari has militarised our electoral process. In the July and September governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states respectively, in addition to various bye-elections, military equipment were rolled out to prevent the opposition from voting.

Citizens were freely manhandled, arrested and subjugated by security agents, who openly worked for the APC. Today, in Nigeria, the PDP is contesting with security forces and not with the APC. “Also, President Buhari has

compromised our Police. As we speak, the Inspector-General of Police has sealed the Akwa-Ibom State House of Assembly and seized an arm of government, just like they did in Benue State in July. Our country has been turned into a police state and there is fear everywhere.

“Similarly, our Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been annexed by the Buhari Presidency.

This is the reason it has not been able to conduct any credible election in the last three and half years. Nigerians have lost confidence that INEC as presently constituted can guarantee credible polls in 2019. We, therefore, demand for the resignation of the INEC Chairman, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu and Mrs. Amina Zakari, who is a niece of Mr. President.

“Our international partners must therefore insist and encourage a free, fair and credible electoral process. They must also caution against manipulation and other abuses that are capable of truncating our democracy and endangering the lives of Nigerians as a result of a failed electoral process,” Secondus said.

Earlier, Mr. Chambas had urged political stakeholders in the country to follow the rules to ensure a smooth electoral process in the 2019 elections.

Secondary school rival cult groups’ clash claims life in Asaba Nosa Akenzua, Asaba Secondary School rival cult groups’ clash on Thursday evening in Asaba, the Delta State capital, allegedly claimed the life of an SS1 student identified as Gregory Osakwe of one of the secondary schools (name with-held) in Asaba.

It was gathered that trouble started after the Oshimili South principal’s cup competition was held at the Stephen keshi Stadium Asaba when the rival groups allegedly clashed over their female member being dated by nonmember.

An eyewitness, Tony Okwudifuo, said the groups - Eiye confraternity and Ake confraternity, allegedly clashed when a female member of confraternity was

found to have been dating someone in Eiye confraternity, a situation that erupted verbal cross-fire and later degenerated into free for all fight, leaving the SS1 allegedly stabbed to death.

The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, had last week warned secondary school students against membership of any cult groups, disclosing that any student caught will be expelled from the school.

Policemen at the “A” division police station, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity, said “investigation is ongoing on the clash, we cannot speak further on the matter, all we know that there was rival cult groups clash and it was bloody”.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Andrew Aniamaka,

when contacted for a reaction, could not confirm the incident but said he will get details and get back to journalists who called at him in his office.

However, Chairman of Asaba Vigilante outfit, Mr. Nnamdi Chukwuedo, who claimed to have been among other security agencies who waded into the incident, told journalists that one of the boys from one of the secondary schools (name withheld) was stabbed during which the fight broke out, adding that the victim gave up the ghost before getting to the hospital.

He said “investigation is ongoing as one of the boys was stabbed to death when the fight broke out, while the principal suspect escaped into the thin, but he is being looked for by the security agents”.

Buhari orders Defence minister to meet with Chadian President over Boko Haram Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

Following the deadly attack on the Nigerian Army by the Boko Haram terrorists that claimed lives of over 50 soldiers, President Muhammadu Buhari has dispatched the Minister of Defence, General Mansur Dan Ali (rtd) to the neighbouring Republic of Chad for an urgent meeting with President Idris Deby and his Defence counterpart on the deterioration of security situation on the Nigeria – Chad Boarder.

President Buhari expressed worry over the recently increased Boko Haram terrorism in the area.

Diplomatic sources who did not want to be named, on Friday in Abuja, told The Daily Times, that Nigeria has a Chad

problem in the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) put together to secure the Lake Chad basin areas and repeal the Boko Haram terrorism attacks against all the countries neighbouring the Lake.

The sources revealed that Chad is believed to be having their own internal security challenges and this has reportedly led to their pulling away their own troops manning their own border around Lake Chad.

“That lacuna is being exploited by the Boko Haram terrorists, who go in and out of Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon to launch terrorist acts. This is a clear illustration of the fact that terrorism is beyond national borders,” the sources said.

When contacted, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said he was aware

that the Defence Minister was going to Chad but denied having knowledge of his mission there.

Dan Ali

Battling unending scourge ahead of 2019 polls...

Continued from page 3 alongside the container include a helicopter with registration number SN-BLI and a Cesena 182A. The Customs boss said the helicopter was intended for export but was falsely documented by the owner as 388 bags of cashew nuts, while the Cesena 182A, imported from the United States of America and declared through SGD NO. C130308 was seized because of the failure of the owners to present End User Certificate from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and an approval from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

This, according to him, is in contravention of Section 46 of CEMA, Cap C45, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004.

Ali expressed concern over the growing importation of tramadol and other illicit items into the country, which he said pose great risks to the security and health of the nation.

He said: “We are all aware of the dangers that the deliberate noncompliance to import and export procedures pose to our nation as importers bring in all manner of items which put the security and health of the nation at great risk.

Terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal elements get hold of these illegal goods such as illicit drugs to perpetrate their heinous activities”.

In addition, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had at the middle of the year intercepted over four tonnes of drugs confirmed to be Tramadol concealed in several cartons from the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCOL) shed at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, (MMIA) Lagos.

Commander of NDLEA, MMIA Special Area Command, Garba Ahmadu, told The Daily Times that the seizure at their Lagos airport office include cartons which came in from India containing capsules with 225 milligrams and tablets of 120 milligram which is above the approved milligrams by the government.

Ahmadu condemned the activities of drug peddlers, pointing out that the latest seizure goes to show that Tramadol is becoming a serious problem in Nigeria, not only in the northern part but also in the southern part of the country.

The Commander disclosed that the Tramadol which they removed from SAHCOL shed were coming in via Etihad cargo and added that the total number of drugs came by five waybills, with four of the waybills weighing about 3, 615 kg excluding the last one.

On how they were able to track the drug peddlers, Ahmadu said: “We had an “intel” from our foreign collaborators; and when we got the report, we started working on it. We first wrote the company that brought the cargo. We got the waybill and we started keeping the cargo on hold for some time while we monitor it from outside to know

if somebody will come to claim it or whether an agent will come and clear the cargo”.

While pointing out that the seizure has nothing to do with the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS), the commander stated that “It has nothing to do with Customs; it is just that we are working with intelligence. Customs does not know anything about this thing.

You can clarify independently from SAHCOL when we have been working on this.

“Everything that comes into this country, you have to pay Customs duty on it. So as soon it comes in, somehow, it gets to their system in Abuja. For the interest of working together with them, we have to notify them that we have this cargo and we need to pay duty because we have to seize it. We have to notify them and that is exactly what we did”.

Recounting the achievements in last year, Ahmadu stated that the agency had arrested 72 male suspects and another 13 female suspects with a total of 85 persons arrested.

He said the annual drug seizures stood at 1, 266.4kg in 2017 while cocaine seized in the same year weighed 51.520kg, heroin 53.930kg, cannabis sativa 96.655kg, methamphetamine 13.205kg, ephedrine 108.250kg, tramadol 938.554kg amongst others.

He also stated that while 25 male suspects were arrested, 4 female suspects were apprehended with total persons arrested hitting 29 just as 24 cases were equally recorded from January to April, 2018.

With a total number of 59 convictions from 2017 to 2018, the commander informed that, in this year alone, about 187.22kg of drugs have also been seized between January and April, 2018 with cocaine, heroin, cannabis sativa, methamphetamine, tramadol weighing 1.88, 4.48, 15.56, 41.06 and 89.06 respectively.

On choice airlines for drug peddlers, Ahmadu said “I don’t think they stick to one airline.

It used to be Emirates. To some extent, Ethiopian but as at last week, South African Airline had the highest number of arrests followed by Ethiopian Airlines”.

The commander stated that the agency has challenges of adequate personnel and that they require more funding than what they are having now.

Other areas, he wants addressed are in the areas of equipment and the need to upgrade all the body scanners at the airport.

To him, he also believes that there is need to carry out a lot of awareness education to airlines who in turn will enlighten their staff on the issue of drugs.

“We need to carry out more awareness to stakeholders such as airlines so that they know how to educate their staff. It is not out of place to increase the salaries and allowances of our personnel.

That will bring motivation and increase productivity”, Ahmadu said.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 24, 2018

FG to crash medicine prices as Buhari constitutes inter-ministerial c’ttee Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

The Federal Government has directed the setting up of an inter-ministerial committee to fashion out how medicines and livestock drugs can be made available to the Nigerian public at a fraction of the prevailing prices.

President Muhammadu Buhari gave the directives on Friday when he received the executive board members of a pharmaceutical company, Graham Foggs Ltd, at State House, Abuja.

Buhari reiterated his commitment to the improvement of the quality of lives of Nigerians, and then charged the Ministers of Health as well as Agriculture and Rural Development to work with the pharmaceutical company, “short-circuit disruptive bureaucracy, and brief me from time to time.”

The company, led by Chief Sam NdaIsaiah, a pharmacist and newspaper publisher, seeks to make essential medicines and livestock drugs available to the public, at significantly reduced prices.

“It has been established that 70% of Nigerians cannot afford modern medicines produced by multinational pharmaceutical companies due to their high prices,” Nda-Isaiah said, adding that most of the companies operate at less than 30% of installed capacity, “and it has been so for a very long time. The only break was during the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) days, when drug manufacturers were achieving 80% of installed capacity.”

Graham Foggs Ltd plans to bring down the prices of most of the commonly used medicines by up to 60%, producing only generic medicines as against patented ones.

“This would be achieved without a single kobo subsidy from government, with Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs)

or bulk raw materials imported from China and India for the approved local production companies in Nigeria,” Nda-Isaiah said.

He noted that the finished products would be sold at fixed prices, to achieve the objectives of the programme, adding: “Millions of jobs would be created across the country as pharmaceutical plants would be operating at near-maximum capacity, and this would be for medicines of all classes including livestock drugs to boost the agricultural sector. The price of every medicine, including those under the health insurance scheme, will come down.”

The Daily Times recalls that President Buhari had earlier in the life of this administration reduced tariff on pharmaceutical raw materials, and increased the one for finished imported products.

This was to boost and encourage local production of medicines, for the benefit of ordinary Nigerians.

7 News

Short News Court adjourns Ashinze, ex Dasuki’s aide’s trial to Feb 20 Andrew Orolua, Abuja Justice Babatunde Quadri of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday adjourned the trial of Col. Nicholas Ashinze, a former special assistant to then National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd); an Austrian, Wolfgang Reinl; Edidiong Idiong and Sagir D. Mohammed to February 20, 2019.

They are facing a 13-count charge of corruption and money laundering to the tune of N3.6 billion.

When the trial resumed yesterday, prosecuting counsel, Offem Uket sought to tender some documents in court through the first witness, Remigus Ugwu.

Ugwu, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank PLC, Maitama, Abuja branch narrated how the respondent via a subpoena was directed to respond to enquiries by EFCC sometimes in 2017.

However, defence counsel, Ernest Nwoye objected to the subpoena, which he argued was previously issued by Justice Gabriel Kolawole who was presiding over the matter and so “was part of the legal proceedings formerly nullified”.

1000 benefit from free malaria testing, treatment in Nasarawa Augustine Kuza, Lafia Not fewer than 1000 beneficiaries across 10 world of Keana Local Government, Nasarawa state have enjoyed free malaria testing and treatment programme through the intervention policy of a House of Assembly flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Keana Constituency.

Mohammed Adamu, who is the APC candidate in Keana constituency in the 2019 general election, disclosed this to journalist in Lafia the state capital.

According to him, the gesture would touch the lives of the populace in the constituency and hope to do more if given the mandate “Basically, I have the burning desire to touch the lives of the populace by way of contesting to represent them in House of Assembly. Through the legislative instrument, I can do more if voted in to the position.” He stated.

Adamu further informed that he would improve educational sector in his area of assignments by initiating bills that would have direct bearing to that effects.

Kebbi NGO trains, sponsors 100 indigent youths Haruna Aliyu Usman, Kebbi

L-R: Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Hon. Edorodion Erimona; Commissioner for Budget, Hajiya Maryam Abubakar; Executive Chairman, Edo Development and Property Agency (EDPA), Isoken Omo; and Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Joseph Eboigbe, during a Consultative Forum on the Edo State Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), held at Government House, in Benin City, Edo State.

FG flags off dualisation of 220km Keffi, Lafia- Makurdi road Augustine Kuza, Lafia The Federal government in collaboration with the Nasarawa state have flagged off the 220 kilometre dualisation of Keffi, Akwanga, Lafia to Makurdi, road.

The exercise which was held in Market, Kokona Local Government Area of the state, attracted many people from within and outside the state.

Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Barrister Babatunde Fashola, alongside the Nasarawa state Governor, Umaru Tanko A-Makura and representative of the Benue state Government collectively performed the opening ceremony.

The dualisation of the road which linked the Federal Capital Territory and six Eastern states has been in the plan and programmes of the President Muhammadu Buhari, led administration which was contracted to a Chinese construction firm to the tune of over One hundred billion, six hundred and forty eight million, one hundred and seventy seven thousand, six hundred and sixty four kobo.

Speaking earlier, the minister Babatunde Fashola, revealed that the president’s visit

to China on Diplomatic mission was not for fantasy, but to engaged experts who can tackle meaningful and lives changing projects that has direct bearing on the people, which has resulted to the construction project aimed at enhancing the long suffering of motorists travelling from Abuja to Makurdi.

He further assured the Federal Government readiness in making sure that the construction of the road would be completed within 36 months.

The minister also cautioned those who are in the habit of criticising the administration of being slow, to be aware of the fact that the present government programmes are quicker in terms of achievements, that is why “We are result oriented and have began this huge projects within Three years, which is faster than the Sixteen years of the past government of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, also important to note that this is a road connecting people which would have formed their priority to link the people but was neglected.” He stated.

Accordingly, he said with the flag off of the road it would create massive job opportunities for residents along the cities that the road connects, which President Buhari has signed an executive order in that effect that anywhere the road projects are ongoing, it must accommodate its citizens

by engaging them to work as they are not foreigners.

Adding that the expansion work which will provides up to six lanes that would made it possible with the cooperation of the Land owners, Shops and Farmers which the expansion work would affect.

“So it is bending on the states governors to liaise with such owners for the purposes of actualising the dream of creating succour for roads users”. He added.

According to him, government has made provisions for settlements and compensation, which he said same co operation is needed so as to help the contractors commenced their work in due time.

On his part, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura while thanking the federal government drive towards easing up the long suffering of commuters and motorists on the Keffi, Akwanga, Lafia and Makurdi road, said apart from decongestion on the highway it would ease up the incessant cases of insecurity often recorded on the roads.

Governor Al-Makura who also appealed to the Federal government on the need for the completion of the Federal secretariat in Lafia said it would go a long way to promote productivity among the federal government civil servants in the state if the project is considered for completion.

Youths from indigent background in Kebbi state are currently enjoying a humanitarian aid from nongovernmental organisation called Youths Advancement for Re-orientation, Counselling and Advocacy (YARCA).

According to the state chairman, Nafiu Umar the assistance cut across all genders, religion and tribe. The aid is meant to lift the lives of poor youths whose parents cannot despite their good efforts train them in school due to financial challenges.

He added that at least 100 JAMB forms were given to applicants with the prerequisite for admission, out of which 40 of them got admission in Universities and Polytechnics and are being sponsored by the body.

In addition, those who are not qualified were sent to skills acquisition centres to learn various self reliant trades and will be empowered by the NGO. On the finances of the body, the chairman said they source funds from well spirited persons in the society.

2019 polls: Civil Society groups can help stamp out votes buying – Gov Akeredolu Adewale Momoh, Akure As campaigns for 2019 general election commences, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has said members of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the country have crucial roles in education and enlightenment of voters to stop selling their votes.

The Governor gave the charge at the first Ondo State Civil Society Congress held at Bishop Gbonigi Hall, Winners Guest House, Ijapo Estate, Akure, with a theme: “CSOs, Catalyst for Sustainable Development”.

The Governor who expressed concerns over increasing rate of voters’ inducement and vote buying during elections in the country in recent time, appealed to Civil society organisations, human right activists and the media to enlighten the public on the dangers inherent in collecting money before voting political office holders.

Akeredolu represented by his Special Adviser on labour matters, Mr Alaba Isijola, said whoever collected money or any form of inducement before voting for contestants should not complain of maladministration or poor performance of those in positions of authorities.

He commended the initiative of CSOs in mounting pressure on government and its officials about good governance.

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 24, 2018

Offa Robbery: Police diverting attention from Short News case of extra-judicial killing, says Saraki Aggrieved Lagos PDP members petition Tunde Opalana, Abuja Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has stated that the response by the Police to his call for inquiry into how the prime suspect in the Offa robbery attacks on April 5, died was a mere diversionary tactic which aims at evading the serious issues of human rights abuse, extra-judicial killing and politicisation of criminal investigations.

In a statement by Yusuph Olaniyonu, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Saraki said when he mentioned in his statement on Wednesday that he had been vindicated, he was not referring to the outcome of a case which is just about to commence but rather he was pointing to the belated admission by the Police that Michael Adikwu, the prime suspect, had died in custody, a fact that was initially denied by the Police when he (Senate President) raised it a few months ago.

He added that the Police in a cover up of its mishandling of the investigations and their politicization of the process, have continued to make inconsistent statements

and commit more blunders.

“The Police while reacting to our disclosure that the prime suspect had died in custody caused their spokesman, Moshood Jimoh, to respond that: ‘Michael Adikwu is in police custody in one of the South-west states...helping in the investigation’. The same Police have equally documented the claim that the suspect died during arrest.

What a contradiction!

“It is surprising that the Police which initially allowed the said Adikwu to grant interviews to several national newspapers while in custody refused to inform the public that the suspect had died until the Attorney General of Kwara State mentioned it on November 21, 2018 in the course of his address to the High Court in Ilorin while applying to amend the charge sheet”, he stated.

He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari need to institute inquiry into the death of Adikwu because it has several implications for the country’s legal system and its engagement with the international community which has consistently cited the issues of human rights abuse and extrajudicial killing by security forces as major

reasons for their reluctance to sell arms to Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram.

“One of the key issues those of us who have been engaging with the international community on the need for them to support Nigeria in the fight against terrorism in the North-east region through supply of arms, provision of training and other technical aid has been confronting is that of the flagrant abuse of human rights and extra-judicial killing by our security agencies.

“This is an instance of what these international partners complain about.

The Presidency should make a point that the present government does not tolerate human rights abuse, extra-judicial killing, politically-motivated criminal investigation and refusal to comply with global best practices by security agencies by instituting an inquiry into the case of the death of this suspect”, he stated.

The Senate President further called for diligent prosecution of the Offa robbery case so that justice can be done to the innocent victims of the April 5 attacks, the suspects facing trial and the state whose peace was disturbed by the sad incident.

Secondus over imposition of non-member Tunde Opalana, Abuja Members of Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), in Epe local government area of Lagos state have petitioned the national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus over imposition of a non-member of the party, one Elizabeth Oluwatoyin Oniyinde, as the PDP candidate for Epe 1 Constituency for Lagos State House of Assembly race.

In a strongly worded protest letter to Secondus, which was signed by PDP Ward chairmen and Leaders in Epe Constituency 1, it was stated that Elizabeth Oniyinde is alien to the party and her name is not in the party’s membership register within the constituency.

The PDP members declared that they were taken aback when Oniyinde’s name was published by INEC as PDP candidate as no primary election was conducted in the constituency to pick flag bearer for the party.

Part of the petition reads: “Elizabeth is not a member of the PDP and is not known to anyone in the Ward or to the leaders or Stakeholders in the constituency and the local government.

“The Ward register has been copied to the State and National Organising Secretary as evidence to confirm this.

“The LGA chairman, including the party leaders and Ward chairmen has written to corroborate this fact.

UNESCO commends FCT on youths’ empowerment Idu Jude, Abuja The United Nations Educational, Scientific Cultural Organisation, (UNESCO), Regional Director for West Africa and Country Representatives for Nigeria, Mr. Ydo Yao has applauded the commitment and support of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) towards human development and youth empowerment programmes in the Territory.

The UNESCO Boss gave this commendation, when he paid a visit to the FCT Minister in his office.

The visit he stated was in recognition of the huge success achieved so far in the FCTA/ UNESCO partnership on Youth Mobile ICT Bootcamp and Training programme in the Territory.

Mr. Yao used the occasion to brief the FCT Minister of plans to celebrate 1000 youths who would successfully complete the ICT Training programme embarked upon by the organisation in collaboration with the FCT Administration.

He stressed the need to institutionalise the process by establishing a hub where beneficiaries could come for refresher courses and follow-up exercises.

His words: “Honourable Minister, your support was very exemplary, it has been unmatched everywhere we go, and we hope others would borrow a leaf from you.”

Magu urges Nigerians in Diaspora to play more roles in corruption fight Andrew Orolua, Abuja

An alleged notorious suspect, Sani Rabiu, during his parade by police in Abuja on Friday.

Nigeria to vaccinate 25m people in biggest yellow fever campaign - WHO Doosuur Iwambe, Abuja Nigerian government with support from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and partners will today launch mass vaccination campaign to prevent the spread of yellow fever in the country.

According to WHO, more than 25 million people will be vaccinated throughout 2018 in the planned campaign, which it declared is going to be the largest yellow fever vaccination drive in the country’s history.

According to the organisation, the immunisation plan is part of efforts to eliminate yellow fever epidemics globally by 2026.

This step of the campaign, which is funded by Gavi will run from 22 November to 1 December 2018 and will target children and adults in Plateau, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger and Borno states as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

The preventive campaign according to the WHO will use vaccines funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and will be supported by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Speaking on the Vaccination Campaign, the Director of Special Duties at the National

Primary Health Care Development Agency Dr Joseph Oteri, said the Yellow fever vaccine is free, safe and effective.

“The vaccination will be for people within 9 months to 44 years cohort, parents are advised to avail themselves and their children to partake in the vaccination” he added.

Also, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, said that immunizing more than 26 million people is a massive undertaking.”It is an achievement that will represent a huge step towards protecting people from the potentially deadly viral haemorrhagic disease not only in Nigeria but in the African region”, Moeti said.

On his part, Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, said that the Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with WHO with support from Gavi, has trained and deployed Management Support Teams (MST) to ensure that the phase of the vaccination campaign runs smoothly.

“The MSTs are overseeing preparations in the run-up to the campaign and, in partnership with WHO yellow fever experts, will act as supervisors and provide technical assistance during the campaign itself.

“Routine immunisation coverage

remains dangerously low, as shown by the latest outbreak, which is why this campaign is so important to protect the vulnerable. While this campaign will save lives, we need to focus our efforts on the best long-term solution – improving routine immunisation coverage so every child is protected, preventing outbreaks from happening in the first place” the GAVI boss added.

Yellow fever is caused by a virus spread through the bite of infected mosquitoes.

Some patients can develop serious symptoms, including high fever and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), but the disease can be easily prevented by a vaccine that provides immunity for life.

The first phase of this yellow fever preventive mass vaccination campaign (PMVC) took place in January and February 2018 in Kwara, Kogi and Zamfara states and parts of Borno state. Approximately 8.7 million adults and children between the ages of 9 months and 45 years of ages were vaccinated. A total of 39.9 million people are expected to be vaccinated against yellow fever this year.

The campaign is taking place as Nigeria experiences a yellow fever outbreak. Since its start in September 2017, confirmed cases have been recorded in 27 Local Government Areas across 14 states.

Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu has appealed to Nigerians in the Diaspora to play more active roles in the fight against corruption because it concerns all Nigerians.

Magu spoke on Friday, as a guest speaker at the Black History Month of the School of Business and Management Studies of the Queen Mary University of London.

He said for the fight against corruption to be effectively won in Africa, the job of fighting the scourge should not be left in the hands of the government or anti- corruption agencies alone.

Delivering a paper titled “Taming Corruption: The way forward for African Development” the anti-graft czar said Africa has been bearing the grunts of corruption for so long that developmental efforts of government gets truncated as corrupt individuals divert public funds to private pockets.

“This presentation supports the view that corruption is one of the factors that contributed to the current predicament of the African continent. The World Bank estimates that about $1 trillion are given out as bribe worldwide annually, representing about 3 percent of world GDP.

Gov Obaseki charges Campaign Council on membership drive, triumph at polls The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has inaugurated the Edo Central Senatorial Campaign Council, with a charge to win all the elective positions in the senatorial district, during the 2019 general elections.

Speaking to members of the campaign council at the party’s secretariat in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, Obaseki urged the council to liberate the people of the senatorial district who have been under the control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since 1999, through aggressive membership drive.

He explained that the campaign council will supervise, provide direction and overall guidance for the party’s participation in the 2019 general elections in the area.

Obaseki said: “The campaign council is to coordinate all the 2019 campaign activities and resources will be deployed to strengthened the various units and wards to enable them win the various elective positions in the 2019 general elections.”

He noted that in the last two years, his administration has focused on governance rather than politics, and has numerous achievements to show Edo people and residents.

He added that his administration has committed resources to the development of Esan land in collaboration with the World Bank and United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to ensure that the age-long water problem is being solved.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 24, 2018

9 News

CJN, NASS move to revive 17 rejected bills by Buhari Short News Tunde Opalana, Abuja The Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen and the National Assembly have put in motion action to revive 17 different bills that were refused assents by President Muhammadu Buhari early this year.

Chief among the bills which President Buhari has refused include Judiciary Amendment Bill 2017 number 22 which seeks to strengthen the judiciary for speedy dispensation of justice.

The Technical Committee set up by the Senate to revive 17 different bills that were refused assents by President Muhammadu Buhari had an interface with Justice Onnoghen on reasons adduced for one of the rejected bills.

Specifically, the committee headed

by Senator David Umoru (APC Niger East) on Thursday tackled the CJN for

allegedly advising President Muhammadu Buhari on refusal of assent to Judiciary Amendment Bill 2017 number 22 which seeks to strengthen the judiciary for speedy dispensation of justice.

Senator Umoru in his remarks to the CJN said: “Your Lordship, this committee on behalf of the Senate and by extension, the National Assembly want to hear from you directly on why you advised the President refusing assent to the bill.

“We believe that information made available to us via his letter of refusal of assent on account of advice given by your lordship is also available to you “.

But when it was the turn of the CJN to respond, the Committee chairman ordered journalists, aides and protocol officers to the CJN out of the venue to pave way for closed door session which lasted for about 2 hours.

Attempts made to get clarifications from the CJN by journalists on what transpired at the closed door session proved abortive as he refused entreaties to that effect.

Aside the CJN, representatives of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria , Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Services ( FIRS) and Post Master General of the Federation , also had closed door session with the committee on how rejected Stamp Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2018 can be redrafted and forwarded to the President for assent.

President Buhari had in his letter of refusal of assent to the bill forwarded to both chambers of the National Assembly said the bill’s proposals for the imposition of stamp duties on savings accounts and electronic transactions may impair the implementation of the federal government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy, e-payment programmes and cashless banking policies.

The technical committee as disclosed by its chairman will meet heads of other government establishments and the Attorney General of the Federation next week on way out for the remaining 15 bills refused assents by the President.

ILO, ECOWAS task member states on child trafficking Adebisi Oyindamola, Abuja The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has expressed concerns over the low commitment of ECOWAS members states in the implementation of child rights laws.

In a joint workshop on enhancing mobilisation against child trafficking and Labour, on the sidelines of the ongoing second ordinary session of the ECOWAS parliament, the organisation decried the low conviction of child traffickers in the region, stating that most West African countries have not implemented laws relevant to eradicating the trend.

The ILO Country representative and Liaison Officer to ECOWAS, David Dorkenoo, in his address to members of parliament, appealed to them to push for the implementation of necessary legislations on domestics child labour, and child trafficking in their countries.

He said “what we have observed within Africa and the ECOWAS region is the fact that many of our countries have good legislations.

Kwara by-election: APC queries Senate Tom Okpe, Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) has queried the upper chamber of the National Assembly on what it described as a ‘questionable decision’ to investigate the circumstances leading to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) losing the last Saturday’s House of Representative’s by-election in Kwara State.

The ruling party said the decision of the Senate must be seen for what it is, an abuse of the powers of the legislative arm of government to pursue selfish political ends.

The Senate decided to investigate the circumstances leading to the ruling party, APC winning the said election in a landslide victory in Kwara state last Saturday in the national Assembly by-elections to pick candidates for the vacant positions.

In a press statement released on Friday by the party spokesman, Mallam Lanre Issah- Onilu noted that while the APC condemns this curious Senate investigation of the by-election which took place in the home state of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, it is also curious that other by-election conducted in Katsina and Bauchi States have not received similar attention from the Senate.

FCTA dragged to court over double allocation of land Idu Jude, Abuja

Hon. Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN(2nd right), Governor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Tanko Al – Makura(right), Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Kabiru Gaya(middle), Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing and Senator representing Benue North East, Senator Barnabas Gemade (2nd left) and Senator representing Benue North West, Senator George Akume (left) during the Flag-Off of the Expansion and Dualization of 5.4KM Abuja-Keffi -Lafia -Makurdi road from the current six lanes to 10 lanes at Km 15+ 400, Keffi Akwanga Road, Mareke- Kokona L.G.A , Nasarawa State... on Thursday.

Again, Customs intercepts another 10 containers of tramadol in Tincan Joy Anyim, Lagos

Officials of the Nigeria Customs Service have intercepted 10 containers of Tramadol tablets with Duty Paid Value of over N3.1 billion that were imported into the country from India at the Tincan Island Port.

This development comes barely 24 hours after the Apapa Customs Command had intercepted 40 containers of Tramadol tablets also from India.

Briefing Journalists on the seizures at the Tincan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service was the Comptoller General of Customs (CGC), Col Hameed Ali (Rtd), who said two suspects had been arrested in connection with the seizures.

The CGC who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller of Customs (DCC), Austin Chidi said, “Consequent upon our increased surveillance on declarations made in Tincan Island Port Command to ascertain imporper/

untrue declarations, some containers found to be loaded with prohibited items were seized and forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria in line with the provision of CEMA CAP C45 LFN 2004 Section 46 and 161.

“The seizure includes 10 by 40ft of Tramadol, ciprofloxacon capsules, Diclofenac sodium tablets, soffeathe I.V. Cannula, Sidencfil Citrate tablets, one 20ft container of bleaching soaps and one 20ft container of bales of used clothing all with a DPV of over N3.1 Billion.

“It is pertinent to note that two of the containers of tramadol had earlier been handled over to NAFDAC on 11th and 20th October. All the seizures were in violation of the absolute prohibition list of CET 2015 -2019.

“The service wish to reiterate its concern for the health and security of Nigerians and one would better imagine the devastating effect on the life of our youth if these quantity of unwholesome drugs had found its way into the market not only will it lead to increase insecurity but will impact negatively on the health of our youth. We want to re-assure the nation that Nigeria Customs Service will not renege on its

mandate irrespectively of its circumstances.”

Similarly, the CGC said a total of N3.3 Billion was generated as revenue between January till date as against N253 Billion in the corresponding period of 2017.

He also commended the command for the feat saying, it remain a trail blazer in the introduction d application of ‘Time Release Studies’ for the evaluation of officers to ensure that needless delays are identified and regularised in the quest to achieving 48 hours clearance timeline in line with presidential directives.

Ali in his remark also lamented the desperation of importer and exporters to circumvent due process. He said, “it is instructive to note that the service has been confronted with incessant cases of infractions as a result of noncompliance and other related vices.

“These challenges have posed some impediment in our quest to ensure enforcement of the fiscal policies of the federal government in terms of trade.”

He further appreciated the contribution and co-operation of sister security agencies the fight against illegalities in trade, import and export.

Despite efforts to vacate plethora of land disputes inherited from several past administrations, Property owners in Zaudan Paseri and Filli Dabo in Dei-Dei area of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) have dragged the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to court over double land allocation, which has denied them huge financial investment.

The matter, which came up Thursday the November 22nd, at Jabi FCT High Court, seeks to ensure that both parties settle amicably.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Banjoko adjoined the matter to 4th of March 2019 as requested by the defence Lawyer to FCT Administration to allow both parties seek alternative dispute resolution mechanism and report back to court.

Speaking to newsmen, at the court premises, Chairman of the property owners in Dei Dei, Mr. Friday Okala narrated the experience of the property owners which he described as injustice by the FCT Administration.

A Legal Practitioner and second claimant in the matter, Chijioke Nnaji noted that several efforts have been made to ensure the matter is settle out of court without yielding effort.

Edo re-opens certified burrow pits, urges operators on best practice

Sequel to meeting to set guidelines for environmentally-friendly operations and other regulatory requirements, the Edo State Government has approved the re-opening of certified burrow pits across the state.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Dame Omoua Alonge Oni-Okpaku, the state government said that burrow pits that have been duly evaluated have been reopened and urged operators who are yet to collect their clearance to report to the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability for the document.

According to her, “The Ministry of Environment and Sustainability wishes to announce for the information of the general public, and in particular the owners of burrow pits, haulage operators, tipper drivers and other stakeholders, that following the re-opening of the burrow pits that have been duly evaluated, operators who are yet to collect their clearance are to report to the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability to collect their letters between 9.00am to 3.30pm from Monday to Friday.”

News 10

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 24, 2018

APC wants court to void INEC’s letter barring Short News it from fielding candidates in Zamfara Presidency blames NASS for delaying .... Court joins Marafa, Siraju, others

Andrew Orolua, Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to declare Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), letter barring it from fielding candidates in Zamfara State null and void.

It wants the Court to grant an order of perpetual injunction restraining the INEC from giving effect to the contents of the letter swith Reg. No. lNEC/SEC/654/1/330, dated 9th October 2018, it issued in respect of the 2019 general elections.

The said letter contains an administrative decision taken by INEC, barring the Zamfara APC from fielding any candidate in the 2019 general elections for failing to conduct party primaries within the stipulated time.

The APC’s originating summon dated 31st October, 2018, was filed on behalf of the party by its counsel, Abdul Ibrahim (SAN).

Meanwhile, the presiding judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, on Friday joined a governorship aspirant, Senator Garba Marafa, and a senatorial aspirant, Alhaji Siraju, as well as seven other APC chieftains in the suit as defendants.

A 22-page paragraph affidavit deposed to by one Ibrahim Masari, the National Welfare Secretary of APC, accompanied the originating process.

By the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1279/2018, the APC wants the court to declare that

INEC’s letter purporting to exclude the party from presenting and submitting the list of its candidates for the forthcoming election in Zamfara state scheduled for 2019 is null, void, ultra vires and of no effect having regards to the provisions of sections 31(1) and 86(2), (3) and (4) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

Also, the APC prays for “A declaration that by virtue of section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and section 31(1) of the Electoral Act (as amended), the defendant lacks the power to refuse to collect the name of the plaintiff’s candidates for Zamfara state presented and to be submitted to it not later than 60 days before the election scheduled for February 2019.

“A declaration that the administrative decision communicated in the defendant’s letter with Ref No. lNEC/SEC/654/1/330 dated 9/10/2018 is null and void, having been taken without fair hearing or giving the plaintiff an opportunity to give clarification in accordance with section 86(2) of the Electoral Act. “A declaration that by the provisions of Article 20 of the Constitution of the All Progressives Congress (as amended); section 223 of the 1999 constitution (as amended), the defendant is bound to give recognition to the list of the plaintiff candidates for Zamfara state and accept the names to be forwarded to the defendant by the plaintiff for the 2019 General Election in Zamfara state under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

“An order of court mandatorily compelling

2019 budget processes

the defendant to accept the names of the plaintiff candidates for all the various offices scheduled to be contested in the forthcoming February 2019 general elections in respect of Zamfara state and to be conducted by the defendant.

“An order mandatorily compelling the defendant to publish the names of the plaintiff’s candidates for Zamfara state sent to it by giving same recognition and according to the various persons and candidates named therein, the various right and privileges that inure in favour of the candidates nominated by political parties for the Governorship, National and State Assembly constituency and Senatorial Districts of Zamfara state.

Among the four questions raised before the court for determination include: “Whether having regards to the provisions of section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), and section 80 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), the defendant herein can prevent and preclude the plaintiff from presenting candidates for the forthcoming general election scheduled for February, 2019 in Zamfara state without affording the plaintiff a right of fair hearing before reaching a decision to exclude the plaintiff’s candidates in Zamfara state from contesting in the general election for the positions of Governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly respectively”.

Meanwhile, the matter has been adjourned to December 11 for hearing.

Tunde Opalana, Abuja A presidential aide, Senator Ita Enang has told Nigerians that the National Assembly should be held responsible for late presentation of the 2019 budgetary proposals.

Blaming the lawmakers for stalling the processes of next year’s budget, he said the non - consideration and passage of the 2019- 2021 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) by the National Assembly is delaying the presentation of the 2019 budget estimates

by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate) said President Muhammadu Buhari had few weeks back forwarded to the National Assembly the two documents for consideration and approval preparatory to 2019 budget presentation but which are yet to be considered by either the Senate or the House of Representatives Fielding questions from journalists in his office on when the 2019 budget would be presented, Enang said it all depends on when the federal lawmakers approved the MTEF and FSP documents presented to them.

He said: “The president has transmitted to the National Assembly, the request for the approval of the MTEF and the approval of the Fiscal Strategy Paper.

2019: IGP tasks officers on free, credible election Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris has tasked officers of the Police Force on free, fair and credible election as the nation prepares for another general election come 2019.

The IGP stated this on Friday at the graduation ceremony of Tactical Leadership and Command Course held at the Police Staff College in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

Represented by the Commandant of the Police Staff College Jos, AIG Dorothy Gimba, the IGP charged the graduating senior officers to ensure transparency in the application of their job especially with the new skill acquired in the Intermediate Command Course (ICC).

He said, “As we inch towards the 2019, General Elections you must brace up and prepare for an all important task of bequeathing to our Nation a free, fair and credible election that will herald sustained peace and National cohesion.

“You must be guided by the provisions of the Electoral Act and remain apolitical in your dealings within the political process.

Senator solicits investment on citizens’ education …Gives support to 50 law students

Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti; General Manager, RB West Africa, Dayanand Sriram; Marketing Director, RB West Africa, Aliza Leferink and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Mr Abiodun Bamgboye at the 2018 World Toilet Day event organised by Lagos State Government in partnership with RB in Lagos.

Nature Care Foundation lists culture, tourism as alternative to diversify economy Isaac Job, Uyo Worried by near extinction of rich culture and traditions of people in Africa, Nature Care Foundation- a nongovernmental organisation has suggested preservation of culture and tourism potentials of the nation to generate income and reduce over dependency on oil revenues.

Addressing members of Akwa Ibom State Council of Chiefs in Uyo yesterday, the programmes coordinator of Nature Care Foundation, Mrs. Carine Udo implored the royal fathers to revive the rich cultural values of the people transforming them into money spinning enterprise to diversify the economy.

Mrs Udo explained culture to include Arts, Drama, dress code, native food, songs, aesthetics, natural tourist attraction, tradition and language of the people.

She urged the royal fathers to reactivate these natural endowments in their various domains and kingdoms for both posterity and economic gains.

“When nature puts certain creature in a particular environment, it is for the development of that vicinity” Udo further charged the royal fathers to translate their God given natural phenomenon in their domains to promote economy of the area.

She frowned at a situation where Nigeria economy is driven by oil while other natural heritage is neglected in the society.

Udo told the royal fathers that the NGO technical consultant has concluded arrangements to publish an Ibibio language as a means to preserve the native language of Akwa Ibom people.

She urged NAFDAC to continue to provide regulations to local manufacturers instead of constant clamp down on them as such arrest discourage ingenuity that may improve the local economy.

In his response, the Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Council of Chiefs and Paramount Ruler of lni local council area, His Royal Majesty Edidem Ntoeng Udo Effiong Akpan assured the programme co-ordinator of cooperation and referred them to custom and traditions sub-committee of the state Council of Chiefs for enlightenment.

The Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has said that government at all levels should invest more in the education of its citizens.

Senator Abe particularly called on the Rivers State Government to give its youths second to none education as an oil-bearing area.

He stated this during the 5th edition of his Annual Law School Students Support Scheme held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, in which a fresh set of 50 Law Students benefited from the scheme.

The Senator said he initiated the scheme in memory of his experiences when he was going to law school in 1986 and his father had no money to give to assist him.

He said, “When I went to law school in 1987, my father at that time was alive, but then he was a member of the NPN and after the coup that took NPN out, my father was arrested and detained, his accounts were frozen and all his properties were seized.

FCT minister canvasses for investment in Agriculture, solar power Idu Jude, Abuja The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said it is ready to assist local and foreign investors to set up businesses in the FCT to explore the huge investment opportunities in the Territory, especially in solar power generation and processing of agricultural products for local consumption and export.

Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello made this disclosure when the Siraya International Company, from Thailand, paid him a trade visit.

Welcoming the Chairman/CEO of the Company Prof. Shah Siraya, the FCT Minister, informed the visitors that relevant FCT agencies like Abuja Investment Company Ltd, the Abuja Enterprise Agency as well as the Abuja Chamber of Commerce have been strengthened to help both local and foreign investors and to make the process of investing in Abuja much easier.

Malam Bello noted that the policy of the Federal Government is to discourage rice importation from outside, adding that this shift in policy has opened up the business landscape for rice mills and other agricultural value chain, where Thailand has comparative advantage. He urged the company to invest in the domestic production of the rice mills and processing among others.

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, November 24, 2018

11

Why the ‘Alagbara’ series is a must watch – Adebayo Salami ‘Oga Bello’ Adebayo Salami is a veteran in Nollywood, especially the Yoruba film industry. He is presently part of a star-studded cast of actors in a StarTimes produced series, ‘Alagbara’ and in this interview with MUTIAT ALLI, he spoke about the project and why it is a must watch for everyone combating marriage issues.

What is the meaning of the title, Alagbara?

Well! In Yoruba, ‘Alagbara’ means a powerful person and if you want to interpret it, you may say ‘Alagbara’ is someone of authority; it may be a politician or anybody that has position.

But this one is quite different. I can call it a question. Who is an ‘Alagbara’ between the male and female humans? That is the idea behind the title. A lot of people have unknowingly entered into relationship bondage. Then, you could ask, who is more powerful; a man or woman?

Why ‘Alagbara’?

Naturally, I always base my stories on societal satire that is things that are wrong within the society. If you look around today, it’s happening. In marital situations, you will see that the way a husband treats his wife and the way the wife treats her husband may be bad. So, the question is, is it by his or her own making? All these, necessitated the production of this movie.

Are we hoping to see you as an ‘Alagbara’ in this movie or what role you are taking in this series?

I took the role of a useless man that marries women all around.

Yes, he likes women too much. The rest, watch it.

What informed your choice of cast?

Yes, I chose them because I knew that they can handle the roles effectively. They can do the job very well.

We hardly see you in series unlike the regular movies, why?

Maybe because they don’t invite me.

With your caliber of person, why don’t they invite you?

I don’t know. Perhaps they are afraid or maybe they feel I cannot interpret their roles. Well, I can’t

say. I am a busy person as a matter of fact. Maybe, they are thinking about my tight schedule. I don’t know why they don’t invite me.

But in all honesty, if I see a good script, I will go for it.

So, why are you coming into the series genre?

Don’t get it wrong, it’s not that I have never produced a series before. I produced this one particularly for StarTimes.

As an African man, what’s your comment on feminism?

Well! As an African man, I must confess to you that we have lost our culture. That’s the truth. We are emulating western world too much and that’s what is causing problem of marital life. That’s why we stressed in ‘Alagbara’, that we must not emulate everything about the western world.

Why the choice of StarTimes?

Well! We threw out our proposals and StarTimes responded. We did exactly what I wanted. My priority is not money. My priority is not anything else other than for people to watch and see all the messages that I want to pass and I can see that StarTimes can do that. We sat down together, made arrangements together and here we are today.

Have there ever been any disagreement with you and your son while on set?

If he does not interpret a role, we fight. Yes, if he does not maintain discipline during the production, we fight. So, that is it.

What make this movie unique?

Because I have not seen this concept before. What we are putting up is very unique.

Is a day coming that we will hear that Oga Bello has retired?

Have you seen an artiste retire?

Just mention one. You move with time and if you don’t practice what you have in you, it will haunt you.

Oga Bello

Gist 12

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 24, 2018

Excitement as Miss Nigeria grand finale holds tomorrow Tomorrow, history will be made as organisers of the prestigious Miss Nigeria Beauty Pageant will crown its 42nd queen amidst pop and razzmatazz at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Battling for the crown this year are

18 beautiful finalists selected after various screening processes from 40 contestants that were pre-selected from the auditions held nationwide in Lagos (West), Owerri (East) and Abuja (North) in October.

Speaking on the final 18 selection, the Project Coordinator of Miss Nigeria

2018, Chioma Nwigwe, said: “This year’s selection though gruelling, has been very rewarding.

Beyond their looks, every single one of these incredible ladies brings something unique to the table and we can’t wait to see which of them wins the crown.”

Asa

Asa to headline Spice Lifestyle Honors

Cross section of the finalist

AFRIFF ends on a high with the globe award ….As Ghanaian Film with a strong focus on women goes home with most wins Stories Mutiat Alli The curtains drew on the eight edition of the Africa International Film Festival, AFRIFF, at a very colourful ceremony attended by A-list movie personalities from Nigeria and the rest of Africa.

The well-attended event held at Twin Towers, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria attracted a rainbow outlook of young and established filmmakers who had gathered from different African countries to witness the climax of the seven-day movie fiesta. Leaving their footprints in their elegant best were filmmakers from Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and host nation, Nigeria.

Some of the biggest names in African cinema out of Nollywood at the event include Rita Dominic, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Ini Edo, Uche Jombo, Ego Boyo and Lala Akindoju. Also adding more glitz to the AFRIFF black carpet were Kiki Omeili, Ken Erics, Michelle Dede, Chinonso Young, Kemi Adetiba, Kunle Afolayan, Belinda Effah, Cynthia Shalom and Adonijah Owiriwa.

South Africa topped the list of winners at the festival’s main awards

night, with four awards. This year’s opening South African film, ‘Sew the Winter to My Skin’ nabbing the award for ‘Best Director’ and Ezra Mabengeza winning the award of the Best Male Performance.

To complete the South African domination was Ramothopo the Centenarian by Riaan Hendricks which won Best Documentary and ‘Not in My Neighbourhood’ by Kurt Orderson getting Special Jury Award for Outstanding Film.

Ghanaian actress, Asana Alhassan bagged the Best Female Lead Award in the film Azali and was presented with N250,000 cash. Azali also went on to notch two other awards namely Best Feature Film and Best Screenplay to complete a hattrick of awards.

Standing tall to be counted among winners on the night were the duo of Nigerian filmmakers, Stanlee Ohikuare and Adekunle “Nodash” Adejuyigbe. Ohikuare’s Coat of Harms won Best Short while Adejuyigbe’s ‘The Delivery Boy’ won the Best Nigerian Film. Stanley who won the Best Short Film went home with a cash prize from Access Bank.

According to organizers, about 30 Nigerian films made it to the final list of the 140 films that were screened at the 2018 edition of AFRIFF. In demonstration of their support

for the arts, foremost financial intuition, Access Bank rewarded various award-winners with cash gifts. The support from the bank was even more accentuated with the presence of its Group Managing Directors/ Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Hebert Wigwe.

Pledging the sustained support of Access Bank, Dr. Herbert Wigwe said: “There’s so much that brings this continent together, and film is a wonderful vehicle for showcasing these things. We are here to empower AFRIFF year after year, because the work they do is important to celebrating work born in Africa.

Access Bank will continue to work with people and organizations who are showcasing the very best of the African continent and championing art and creativity in Africa.”

Speaking at the award, Newton Aduaka, the well-travelled Artistic Director for AFRIFF noted, “The Many Face of Woman was a visual exploration of the portrayal of women in cinema that raises discussions on a central question, ‘What is a woman?

Some of the selected films were made by female directors and/or about women as central protagonists.

Others were directed by male directors with their gaze on and the interpretation of being a woman.”

Africa’s Premium Lifestyle and Fashion TV channel, Spice TV is raising the bar this year as it debuts the first of its kind award show tagged ‘Spice Lifestyle Honors’.

The hottest celebrities, fashion icons and style connoisseurs in Africa will converge at the prestigious Eko Convention Center of Eko Hotels in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria on Wednesday, December 5th, 2018 to honor and celebrate the best in the African fashion and style industry on a night filled with lots of exciting activities.

The highlight of the show would be live performances by talented artistes such as Bez, Adekunle Gold, Falana including multi-award winning singer, songwriter and resident artiste of the evening, Asa. Known for soulful voice and sold out concerts, Asa

will grace the stage to serenade guests with some of her hit songs all night long.

Guests will also enjoy an exceptional fashion showcase by top designers in Africa such as David Tlale (South Africa), Patience Torlowei (Nigeria), Chulaap (South Africa), Osei Duro (Ghana) and Orapeleng (South Africa) including fresh talents in the fashion industry such as Pepper Row, Orizu, Red Button and Boy Martin.

Some of the award categories for Spice Lifestyle Honors include Male & Female Lead in a Movie, Fashion Business of the Year, Telecom Company of the Year, CSR Brand of the Year, Innovator of the Year, Lifestyle Product of the Year, Outstanding Achiever of the Year Award, Design Company of the Year and more.

OAP YAW releases trailer for his first movie, ‘SMASH’ Seasoned OAP-actor, Steve Onu, popularly known as Yaw, has released the trailer to his upcoming romantic-comedy movie ‘SMASH’, which follows the hilarious adventures of five best friends - Somachi, Madu, Anayo, Somto and Hector, as they evade marriage, despite their individual success and the unyielding pressure that comes with being unmarried at their ages.

The movie stars an ensemble cast consisting of some of Nollywood’s most sought-after names including Iyabo Ojo, Gideon Okeke, Ufuoma McDermott, Uzor Arukwe, Enyinna Nwaigwe, Steve Onu, Stanley Chibuna ‘FunnyBone’, Bolanle Ninalowo, Kiki Omeli, Ebele Okaro, Comedian Senator, amongst others.

The movie’s title is an acronym representing the first letter in the name of each lead character; Somachi, Madu, Anayo, Somto and Hector.

The trailer shows the characters in various hilarious scenes that give insight into the movie’s plot; which shows unique attributes that defines each of them on their journey.

Anayo is shown to have an over-bearing mother, who insists he marries a particular lady of her choice, an idea that doesn’t sit with him as he appears to be in love with another woman. Somto, the overly businessminded one of the group appears to be in a

confused relationship with his fiancé. Hector is shown to be an avid womanizer with zero interest in commitment. Somachi on the other hand appears to be a superstitious cynic while Madu is the sex-crazed friend in their circle.

Directed by prestigious filmmaker John Njamah, with Yaw (Steve Onu) serving as the producer, SMASH marks Yaw’s first self-produced movie.

Smash premieres on November 30, 2018 and will hit cinemas across Nigeria from December 7 2018.

Yaw

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 24, 2018

American Afro-pop singer, Prinxes Elam plans big for African youths

Pearl Thusi

AFRIMA

awards holds today in Ghana

...Ceremony to be aired live on DStv and GOtv across Africa Stories by Mutiat Alli

Today, history will be made in Ghana as top African musician clinches the prestigious AFRIMA award plaque. The award ceremony which kicked off from Wednesday, 21 November will come to an end today, Saturday, 24 November with a live broadcast of the event on DStv and GOtv channel across Africa The festival, which is in its 5th year, will be held in multiple locations in Accra, its new host city till 2020.

This year’s main event will be hosted by a trio led by Ghana’s polyglot MC Anita Erskine, Pearl Thusi from South Africa and US-based Ghanaian Actor/Comedian Michael Blackson.

“MultiChoice is proud to use the power of entertainment to connect our customers across the continent. We believe by sharing the magic of this award ceremony and its allied events with the world, we will not only be celebrating the rich musical diversity of our continent but supporting Africa’s creative industries into becoming a more vibrant, economic powerhouse,” said Martin Mabutho, Chief Customer Officer, MultiChoice Nigeria.

Other activities scheduled include the Africa Music Business Summit - a combination of musical conferences and trade expos which will bring stakeholders in the creative and arts industry together to discuss the business of music in Africa. There is also the AFRIMA Music Village, a music concert and cultural festival which will be aired live to millions of African music lovers across the globe via a network of over 80 broadcasters. The AFRIMA Music Village will witness live performances from African artists like P Square, Shatta Wale, Wiyala, Falz, Diamond Platinum and over 40 more African musical greats.

Nominees in the regional and continental categories are battling it out for the coveted AFRIMA 23.9 karat gold-plated trophy. The Regional Category, which consists of Best Female artistes and Best Male artists in the five regions of Africa features 79 nominees, while the Continental Category which honours exceptional work in different African music genres, boasts 260 nominees with both categories making up a total number of 339 music professionals and songs nominated for the 2018 edition of the continental awards.

After a successful 2018, American artiste, Prinxes Elam has decided to empower African youths.

Her intention, according to her, is to give back to the society that has contributed to her musical career. The humanitarian cum socialite plans to empower African youths in 2019 with self-help.

The conference that will kick-start from Nigeria soil according to information is meant to teach the youth on how to fish, network and train them on how to earn a living without depending solely on the government.

Prinxes Elam is a pretty black American who came to Nigeria to prove her musical dexterity. And ever since she announced her presence into the industry, she has been a blessing to the most competitive industry in Africa.

When the beautiful songbird was asked why she’s organising this workshop, she said “Normally for me, if I didn’t sing, I would probably be a football agent because I love football so much and I do have the ability of seeing and discovering new talents and breaking new grounds and the truth is that Nigeria is beautiful with a lot of untapped resources.” She concluded In case you don’t know, the sexy singer have some singles to her credit which includes; “Ur Love Don’t Be” which is produced by Wisperbeats with video from Patric Ellis. The second single is ‘Good Girls’ which she featured a fuji artiste, Ola. The other song is titled “No Be Small Thing”, Aside these, she has some Afro-pop songs enjoying airplay and topping musical charts both in Nigeria and abroad. Some produced in Los Angeles where she came from.

Meanwhile, the workshop is promised to be sponsored

by MTN, Dangote, Total, Eco Bank, and many more.

“But our societies do not real make easy for women like us who didn’t choose to be barren. We did not choose to come to the world without having children.

“Every woman help a dream of carrying her own child. When a waiting mother is mocked it is like adding pain to an existing pain,” she said.

13 Gist

My biggest motivation comes from girls - Yung Miraboi Mark Budding Nigerian entertainment PR, brand manager and businessman, born Miracle Kelechi Chike but known in the entertainment industry as Yung Miraboi Mark has explained what motivates him as an entertainer while explaining to our reporter in chat how he left a relationship to focus more on his career. However, he admits he loves women so such and they have remained the source of inspiration.

“Most of my friends wanted me to be a player (cheat) while some thought I was gay but I never explained what I have been through with girls. In my experience with women I have come to realise that money is all that matters to them. If you don’t have money you don’t matter much to them. But once you have money the world is in your pocket. I have come to know girls are all the same. That is why I have decided to make money first. I know I’m going be a father someday so I once told myself if women it’s all about money then it’s compulsory I have to make the money in this life. I challenge myself and it works for me but I came to know that money is not everything but my biggest motivation comes from them. They are the fire behind my passion to succeed” he said Speaking further, Yung Miraboi Mark, who once accused singer, Zoro and his management of gypping him out of a deal said: “I can never be a cheater in my life and I’m ever ready to learn from anyone.

Following the footsteps of my father I chose studying business management but I got influenced by friends who introduced me to the entertainment business. With the right connections and my good works I got influenced in becoming a PR and a business manager through the help of some of the Nigerian entertainment successful publicists like Emmanuel Nde, Kevin Eze, Dami Adenuga, HG2 Filmworks who are also my biggest motivators in the Nigerian entertainment industry. ”Continuing, he

Yung Miraboi Mark listed some of the people he had worked with in the industry, asserting that he had come too far to have any interest in schooling right now.

“Moving forward to the entertainment industry, I had my first opportunity working with the the Nigerian musician, Sean Tizzle under the management of 715 Media Leakers. There, I got a lot of connections and worked with people like DJ Kaywise, DJ Bally, Cynthia Morgan, Small Doctor, HKN Music, AJE Filmworks, KS1 Malaika and more. To be sincere with you I cannot find schooling as interesting as this. I focus more on entertainment than my school. The Abia State-born aspiring entertainment artiste manager and businessman has dropped out of school, University of Portharcourt where he was studying marketting and hoping to continue at a university in South Africa at a convenient time.

Yung Miraboi Mark was nominated at the Tush Award 2017 as Best Student Brand of the year. He has also been involved in the progress of some entertainment celebrities in Nigeria.

Sole cause of infertility is fibroids, says expert

Prinxess Elam

A medical expert, Dr. Babatunde Oguniran, has identified fibroids as the sole of cause of infertility, adding that it has plagued women not to conceive.

Oguniran, who stated this at the second edition of Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation, tagged: Ma gbe temijo, explained that fibroids were the commonest benign tumors in the uterus.

He mentioned other causes of infertility which include obesity, early menarche, black race, null purity, lamenting that some women do not feel the sysmptom of this disease, hence it poses damage to them.

“If the semen, tubes and ovaries are tested okay, it might just be the fibroids alone and they could be located in inner layer where baby stay. The best form of treating it is before conception.” He said.

Speaking at the event, the founder, Mrs. Ibidunni Udaghalo lamented that the society does not help in assuaging the pressures but rather add salt to injuries of waiting mothers.

“To be honest, there is a stigma in our societies that have a way of labeling

waiting mothers as barren and calling her fruitless, cursed and it is not easy to admit and come out for help because it really doesn’t want to add to your pain.

So when start referring to woman who she is not, it can be very painful.

“The pain a woman feels at that point is to get children; she can go anywhere, do anything and eat anything. It takes the grace of God to reject certain things.

Ibidun-Ighodalo

Society Gist 14

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 24, 2018

Photos: 42nd Miss Nigeria: Meet the 18 Finalists

BUSINESS TIMESg Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 24, 2018

15

Habari, platform for music, shopping, others unveiled in Lagos Motolani Oseni

L-R: Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Hon. Solomon Adaelu; Executive Director, Finance & Administration, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Bashir Yusuf Jamoh; Chairman, House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago during the committee’s oversight visit to NIMASA in Lagos.

Afreximbank nets $546.6m in 9 months - Financial report Shows strong financial, operational performance with $12bn assets

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has released its unaudited financial statements for the nine months ended 30 September 2018, showing strong financial and operational performance, with gross income of $546.6 million.

This indicates a 14.3 per cent increase from the same period last year and net income of $172.4 million - a growth of 11.9 per cent from the same period last year.

According to the financial statements, released in Cairo, Friday, by the Head, Communications and Marketing, Mr. Obi Emekekwue, showed that the Bank’s total assets stood at $12 billion.

Loans and advances at $9.5 billion, an increase of 14.2 per cent from FY17; return on average assets at 1.9 per cent; return on average equity at 10.3 per cent; and capital adequacy ratio at 23 per cent.

The balance sheet remained solid with shareholder funds growing by 11 per cent since 31 December 2017 to reach $2.36 billion.

Other highlights of the results include: non-performing loans (NPL) coverage ratio of 145 per cent (compared to 141 per cent for the same period in 2017); NPL ratio of 2.5 per cent (versus 2.4 per cent in 2017); Proportion of non-interest/gross income of 11 per cent (versus 4 per cent in 2017); and net interest margin of 3.1 per cent (versus 2.8 per cent in 2017).

President of the bank, Prof. Benedict

Oramah said that the results reflected the continuing successful implementation of the Bank’s five-year strategic plan, “Impact 2021”, which emphasized: Improving Intra-Africa Trade; Facilitating Industrialisation and Export Development; Strengthening Trade Finance Leadership; and Improving Financial Soundness and Performance.

Oramah said that the results reaffirmed the Bank’s transition to normal operations, with growing loan book and improving interest margins.

He noted that the pursuit of the medium-term strategy had led to higher operating expenses driven by staff costs and one-off general expenses relating to ongoing initiatives.

The Bank’s Intra-African Trade

Strategy, including the Intra-African Trade Fair being held in collaboration with the African Union, underpinned the expected growth in trade finance, project finance, and advisory services in the short to medium-term, he said.

Prof. Oramah announced that the Bank was planning a secondary listing of its depositary receipts to improve liquidity and access to diversified investor base.

It had also explored alternative sources of funding the balance sheet and deployed excess cash holdings to finance loans with better interest margins.

It was developing an African payment platform to facilitate intra-African trade and to help mitigate the challenge posed by low access to the international foreign exchange, added President Oramah.

House committee lauds NIMASA for effective management of Nigeria’s maritime sector Temitope Adebayo The House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration has commended the Management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for its efforts in repositioning the country’s maritime sector for greater efficiency. The committee gave the commendation in Lagos, when it paid an oversight visit to the Agency’s headquarters.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago, who led the House delegation, expressed confidence in the Management of NIMASA, saying his committee is impressed with the

Agency’s budget performance in 2018.

Bago, however, noted that there was room for improvement in the remaining part of the year and in 2019.

The House Committee Chairman’s remarks followed a presentation by the Agency on the 2018 budget performance, which was based on the five-point transformation strategy of the Dr. Dakuku Peterside-led Management. Bago observed that there had been improvements in the Agency’s activities, saying it is a welcome development for the country’s maritime industry.

“We wish to assure you that as a responsible Committee, we are poised to continue to give NIMASA the required legislative backing in ensuring that it achieves its mandate to realise a robust

maritime sector”, Bago said.

He also expressed delight in the operation of the Satellites Surveillance System put in place by the Agency to check and monitor the activities of vessels on Nigeria’s territorial waters. He assured that the National Assembly was working on the speedy passage of the Anti-Piracy bill proposed by the Agency, noting that it will help to nib illegalities on the country’s waterways in the bud.

He also applauded NIMASA for the successful berthing of its recently-acquired modular floating dockyard in the country, describing the facility as an asset that should be promptly put into operation for revenue generation.

“Let us put that asset to use and generate revenue,” the Committee

Chairman stated.

He used the opportunity to commend the Management of the Agency for its commitment to staff welfare, promotions, and training, and urged that the tempo should be sustained, as it will help the Agency realise its vision of being the leading maritime administration in Africa.

Responding, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, expressed gratitude to the Committee for their support to the Agency. Dakuku, who was represented by the Agency’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Bashir Jamoh, reiterated NIMASA’s commitment to working together with the Committee to achieve the common goal of growing the maritime industry and developing the country.

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, on Friday, launched Habari, Nigeria’s largest platform for music, shopping, lifestyle content, amongst many other features.

The event, which was attended by renowned personalities in the entertainment, media and technology sectors, witnessed how Habari was demonstrated offering users direct access to the most extensive catalog of local and foreign music online, a seamless shopping experience and an exciting way to connect with friends, among others.

The new platform, which was powered by GTBank, was built around the everyday lives of customers. Habari is the first mobile platform in Nigeria created by a financial institution that focuses on enabling people’s needs and lifestyles rather than providing a limited bouquet of regular banking products.

The mobile application is open and free for all to download, does not require mobile banking details and offers a wide range of services, all of which are accessible to anyone regardless of where they choose to bank.

Habari is also very simple to use and is designed with a clean user interface as well as a seamless navigation experience that ensures everything, from the music to listen to, to the bills to pay, are just two clicks away.

Habari, also offers an end-to-end shopping experience that allows users to buy goods and services directly from over 10,000 small businesses. On Habari users can also shake their phones to find and connect with friends, split bills, transfer and receive funds as well as pay for utilities, subscriptions, and other services.

Commenting on the launch of Habari, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank plc, Mr Segun Agbaje, said; “By reimagining the role of banking and driving innovation in how we serve customers, we have built a platform that is less about us as bank and more about our customers and everything they need to enable their lifestyle.”

He further stated that “Habari is not a mobile banking application; it is the start of our journey towards building a platform that connects our customers to everything that they need, and which continues to evolve with their lifestyle. We are excited about this journey and we are confident that our customers will see in Habari a simple, smart and exciting digital experience that adds value to their lives, every day.”

GTBank has consistently played a leading role in Africa’s banking industry. The GTBank brand is regarded by industry watchers as one of the best run financial institutions across its subsidiary countries and serves as a role model within the financial service industry due to its bias for world-class corporate governance standards, excellent service, quality, and innovation.

Business Times 16

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 24, 2018

Practitioners charged to power brands on local narratives Godwin Anyebe Practitioners and stakeholders in the Nigerian marketing communications industry have been advised on the need to weave local stories into marketing campaigns for lasting effect on the consumers even as Molfix Diapers emerged the “Brand of the Year” as the ultimate winner at the 2018 edition of the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) annual awards for Marketing Excellence.

Delivering the keynote speech on the Power of Storytelling, renown filmmaker, Femi Odugbemi said the act of marketing and storytelling are interwoven as both are working together to tell a captivating story.

According to him, “a brand must not just tell a story, it must speak to things that matter to us, promote education, human growth, and development.”

Winning brands glowed in the euphoria of the night as the 8 edition of the annual awards held recently in Lagos producing winners across categories and brands.

Earlier in her welcome address, the President, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney said she was happy to see the vision which was birthed 25 years ago wax stronger.

She added that the Awards for Marketing Excellence which the association has successfully run for eight editions is designed to reward exemplary marketing initiatives and encourage best practices in the industry.

“Setting of standards and benchmarking exemplary marketing is the principal motive behind the establishment of this award. It is an opportunity for brands to shine and show their marketing successes” she said.

Edo projects 2% growth rate, 250,000 new jobs by 2021 Ladesope Ladelokun The Edo State Government has projected a positive economic outlook for the state between 2019 and 2021, as reforms across different sectors of the economy by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration is expected to drive investments and fast-track job creation in the state.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic and Development Planning, Mr. Joseph Eboigbe, submitted a presentation on the Edo State Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2019 to 2021, during a Consultative Forum on the MTEF, held at Government House, in Benin City, Edo State.

Eboigbe noted that critical features of the state government’s programmes in the last three years were educational reforms, investment in infrastructure and institutional strengthening, which grew the state’s economy by 1.5 per cent in 2018.

He said growth will slow down by one per cent in 2019 due to the elections but will rise again in 2020 to 1.5 per cent and 2.0 per cent in 2021, noting, “Unemployment is projected to gradually decline in the medium term as investment promotion efforts begin to yield results. Hence, number of unemployed people will drop from 18 per cent (756,000) in 2018 to 11.8 per cent (531,000) in 2021.”

Eboigbe noted that Governor Godwin Obaseki led-administration is set to transform the state into an industrial hub in the South-South through the development of industrial clusters and free trade zones.

“Edo State Government has created 77,200 jobs from 2017-2018. It forecasts to create 50,000 jobs in 2019, 75,000 in 2020 and 100,000 in 2021”, he added.

Declaring the forum open, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning in the state, Hajiya Mariam Abubakar, said the MTEF is aimed at providing an informed basis for budgeting from 2019 to 2021.

She said the forum was held to re-emphasise the need for efficient and effective allocation of available resources to strategic projects and programmes, adding that the MTEF will guide all stakeholders on decision making concerning the direction of public expenditure.

According to her, “Budget implementation has continued to focus on the core priority sectors of infrastructure, education, health, job creation and investment in the economy of the state.”

Abubakar said that the forum will facilitate feedback from the public as the budgetary process is about people, noting “The input of the people is needed to enable the government capture the needs of the people concerning programmes and projects that will drive and stimulate the economy of the state.”

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (2nd left); Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters and Community Affairs, Chief Osaro Idah (left), Enogie of Ehor, His Royal Highness, Dr. David Igiehon (2nd right); and Chief Alohan Nogheghase (right), at the inauguration of the Edo Food and Agriculture Cluster (EDO-FAC) and skills centre, in Ehor, Uhunmwode Local Government Area, Edo State

AGF to collaborate with FRC, NOUN for better performance Mathew Dadiya, Abuja The Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed Idris has promised to collaborate with the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria and the Nation Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to take the Financial Reporting to the next level.

Ahmed gave the promise at a meeting held with the representatives of the two bodies in his office on the need towards developing a platform for further engagements on accounting works, in Abuja The AGF, while congratulating the Executive Members of the Financial Reporting Council for coming up with such a forum described the project as a laudable one which will ensure adherence to International Best

Practices in Financial Reporting. He urged the Universities and other Tertiary Institutions of learning to inculcate the appropriate Financial Reporting values.

This justifies the inclusion of a University Professor, Mande Samaila, the Dean of Post Graduate Studies, the National Open University of Nigeria in the vital meeting to ruminate on ways to interact and partner with the Accounting and Management arms in the University - the NOUN Business School.

Earlier, the Chief Treasury Officer (the AGF), announced his readiness to support an Annual Award to the best student in Financial Reporting.

According to him, this is to encourage the upcoming Financial Reporters to strive to be the best they can be in the field of study.

He also promises to be one of the pioneer

students of the NOUN Business School.

The Dean of Post Graduate Studies, NOUN, Professor Mande Samaila in his address supported the need to Establish Financial Reporting Courses in the institutions as well as activities like Financial Reporting Clubs and Award giving days.

He reiterated their unflinching support to the initiative.

In his remarks, the head of the delegation and Executive Secretary /Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Mr. Daniel Asapokhai commended the AGF for his continued support and further solicited for improved engagement on accounting duties, personnel deployment and other ways necessary to sustain the subsisting synergy between the OAGF and his organization for mutual benefits.

Dana Air extends sponsorship deal with Akwa United Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo One of Nigeria’s leading airlines Dana Air, has extended its multi-million sponsorship deal with Uyo based Akwa United FC of Akwa Ibom State for the 2018/19 League season.

Speaking at a brief ceremony in the conference room of the Godswill Akpabio International stadium, the Media and Communications Manager of Dana Air, Kingsley Ezenwa said, we are back again to extend what we started last year. We believe in Akwa United and the club did well last season and looks good for the next season.”

“We are also committed to developing sports particularly football in Nigeria. We are the first airline to have taken this step towards making our league glamorous and we hope other

credible organizations will follow because we believe that our league can get to that level.’’

Speaking further Kingsley said, ‘for us at Dana Air, it’s not just about flying to Akwa Ibom state, but contributing positively to the growth and development of the state.”

The Dana Air spokesman also congratulated Nigerians and the Super Eagles on their qualification for AFCON 2019 in Cameroun, saying ‘we are proud of the Super Eagles of Nigeria for bringing glory to our country Nigeria and for encouraging us to continue to believe in our greatness.’’

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of Akwa United, Elder Paul Bassey described Dana Airlines as worthy partners and expressed delight that the contract has been extended for another year.

“We are particularly grateful to Dana Airlines for this amazing partnership with

our club. This partnership has relieved us of the stress of tedious road travels to league matches especially the northern and western parts of this country”.

“The success story of Dana Airlines in the Nigerian airspace in the last ten years is a clear testimony of your commitment to Nigerians and we are proud to be associated with Dana Airlines through this sponsorship agreement “.

“We will be going into a new NPFL season confident that we will do well to bring glory to all our fans, supporters as well as Dana Air for identifying with and staying by us”, Bassey said.

Dana Air recently celebrated 10 years in Nigeria’s airspace with a record-breaking load factor, an unrivaled on-time performance, world-class in-flight service, and customercentric products and services.

POLITICS TIMES g Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 24, 2018

17

My experience will be a great asset to Ajegunle when I represent them in Reps – Taiwo Hon. Kolawole Taiwo (HKT) is a former Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly; he is now the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Ajeromi Ifelodun Federal Constituency of Lagos State for the House of Representatives in the 2019 election. In this interview with PATRICK OKOHUE, he speaks on the last APC primary, President Muhammadu Buhari and what he will do differently if elected to represent his people of Ajegunle.

You are one of the aspirants that emerged successful in the last primary of the APC in Lagos State, how will you describe the experience at the primary?

It was not easy, it is something that one will just keep giving thanks and adoration to God that it came out better, even better than one imagined. The experience was quite different from my past experiences, this is the first time in a long time that I will be contesting from outside, I always contest from inside, but this time around I contested from outside and it is not easy contesting from outside, you will be fighting so many forces. So I give thanks and adoration to God, I thank my friends, those that love me, those that I met in government, those I have had course to have dealings with, they stood by me, they are the pillars and I will forever remain grateful to all of them.

For the first time in this dispensation the Lagos State APC decided to go by way of direct primary to elect those that will run on their ticket…

It is not the first time, my first election in AD (Alliance for Democracy) was by direct primary, so it is the second time since 1998.

So, between then and now and with the developments in-between, how do you see this direct primary, will you say Nigeria is ripe for this experience?

Well, then politicians were fewer in number and they were finite, you can know the number of politicians that are in ward A or the number of politicians in ward B, so you know who to talk to, we also had caucuses and you know the caucus to meet and talk to and if they adopt you all their members will know, but this time around it is different, politicians are becoming infinite, every voter is now a politician and every politician now a voter, so you are talking of a huge number of people and now many people want to get to power not necessarily for the same reasons we started it, then our intentions was to serve the people, we want to be known and we talked less about money, but now people see it as investment, therefore they are ready to do anything and some of us cannot counter it by fighting and even the topmost leaders. In some cases leaders in government will get themselves involved, so I can only thank God that I was able to get the ticket and I thank my leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership role in the party.

People say in indirect primary politicians have opportunity of seeing individual delegates and that delegates also have opportunity of mingling…….

Yes, because they are finite, let me give you my experience in 2015, there was a particular ward that when I calculated the money I spent on each of the delegate it was like N150,000, just one ward and you have like six wards to touch, it is not a juicy story and to reduce the involvement of money in our politics direct primary is good, but we still need to do more in the area of security, because it can become really rowdy and unruly.

If you say direct primary is better, how do you deal with the issue of party leaders who are the ones in charge of the primary and may decide to favour who they want to favour?

Yes, those areas that needs fine-tuning. If it was not stopped since 1998, we would have gotten to a stage where you will not even need to worry, it will be like autopilot, secondly we may have also designed a programme that will make it easier. Let me give you an example in LASU (Lagos State University), at the Student Union Government (SUG), they developed a software using their matriculation number as registration number and students were able to vote from anywhere they were, there was no particular point of voting and at the end of the day the results were announced immediately after the election. That is improvement, that is scientific support for election, assuming we have been doing it

Kolawole

and we perfected our register and we now know our members and the members are finite, we can come up with programmes that can allow everybody vote using their android phones, using their registration number as access code and at the end of the day nobody will need to cajole anybody or force anybody to be on a any particular

If you look at my area it is the only area in the country that you can call a mini Nigeria, there is no tribe in Nigeria that is not in my area. The other day I was talking about indigeneship and citizenship, people don’t know that the constitution does not recognise indigenship, it is only citizenship that the constitution recognises, but anywhere you go you still see it playing out, why don’t we sit down and discus it and we can only discuss at the green chamber, let us look at ourselves eye to eye and discus the indigeneship thing.

line, but we are yet to get to that stage, that is what we should be working towards and I know our party will get there. You know it will even make the second election simpler, because when most of the party members say they want you and if your party has gotten to the stage where it has been accepted by the people, it makes it easier for the candidate to scale through.

So, I like direct primary in so many ways, from the selection of those that are going to conduct election from the ward level must be done in such a way that all contesting aspirants should have a say or none of them should have a say. It should be done in such a way that those people will be apolitical, they mustn’t support any of the candidates and they must be ready to abide by the rules and dictates of the party. If we are able to cross that hurdle it means the biasness is reduced to the barest minimum, then it will now be the voice of the people which will be better.

There is one other issue that has become of concern in recent time, it happened in Edo, Ekiti and it happened again in Osun State, the problem of vote buying by

party supporters or supporters of particular candidates at election, how do you see this practice impacting future elections?

Inducement has always been there, but it has never been open, but you know those staggered elections are different from the general one, because those other states that doesn’t have business with the election, they will come, like Osun election, Osun election will always be contentious because it is the last election before the general election and you know it has a lot of stories to tell, that is why everybody will want to win the election by force, but I know it will get to a stage when contesting election will not be a do or die again. We are in a developmental period, we must pass through it, like I said earlier, when we contested election in 1999 it was not because we wanted to make big money, but to represent our people and make a difference, we want to fulfill our promise, but suddenly it changed, it became an employment, you know that if you are elected a councilor you will be given a car, if you are elected a House of Assembly member you know you will get a car and you can build a house and live a good life, those are the motivations, but it will get to a stage when those things will start dropping again, the real reasons for election will start coming out. Take for instance; if you listen to the comment of people now, you hear people complaining about the economy, people that doesn’t know anything about the economy, they talk about the roads and all that and very soon people will start having consciousness about the major reason why they are in government, things will start changing.

You know we are lucky, I always tell people that I give thanks to God for giving us President Buhari, people say Buhari is weak and all that, look no president will carry fire on his head, no, the job of the president is not to carry fire on his head, his greatest work is to sign things and before he signs all those advisers and ministers around him must have perfected it, the president is supposed to be a symbol, a symbol of incorruptibility of Nigeria. We are talking of anti corruption, and he has really exhibited it, if it were before SSG will not be

Continued on 18

Politics Times 18

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 24, 2018

Group tackles Senate for adjourning plenary over alleged killing of soldiers

by Boko Haram insurgents

Ondo APC leadership denies involvement in anti-party activities

…says action hypocritical, blackmail The Nigerian Senate has been criticised for hurriedly adjourning its plenary to Tuesday, November 27, 2018 over the alleged killing of 44 soldiers in a recent attack by Boko Haram terrorists.

Recall that the motion to suspend the plenary was moved by Senate President Bukola Saraki and seconded by the Minority Leader.

The Middle Belt Conscience Guards (MBCGs), while frowning at the decision of the Red Chamber, described the action as hypocritical and height of eye service.

The group said it was most unfortunate that the Senate took the decision without verifying the claim.

It also decried the action of the Senate as coming quite late after series of plea by the Federal Government to approve funds for arms failed to get their nod.

The MBCGs under the

leadership of Dr. Paul Itodo and Prince Adamu Enero, recalled that the Senate had persistently refused to extend legislative support and encouragement to Mr. President in the war against Boko Haram terrorists and other security challenges in the nation.

According to them, “In spite of the sensitive nature of the two matters, the Senate indulged in political games by shutting down the chambers for a meaningless long break. This is legislative brigandage.

“To now understand that the same Senate which never deemed it imperative to deliberate and approve President Buhari’s anticipatory approval of $ 496 million drawn from the Excess Crude Account for the purchase of Tucano fighter jets to battle Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria, suddenly appears very

concerned that soldiers were killed by terrorists to the extent of adjourning plenary?

“We consider this action absurd; a loud display of legislative hypocrisy and blackmail of the executive arm of government. A Parliament which had inexplicable difficulties endorsing presidential anticipatory approval for the procurement of arms and ammunitions to fight insurgency has suddenly become very empathetic that our soldiers died in the process of battling terrorists.

Is the Senate mocking itself?

“In the past three years, the Sen. Saraki led Senate has never found it necessary to increase defence budgets in the Appropriation Act laid before the National Assembly.

While they casually up figures for National Assembly expenditure; the parliamentarians rather slash defence budgets,” the group said.

My experience will be a great asset to Ajegunle when I represent them in Reps Continued from 17 sacked for reasons of corruption, not in Nigeria , sacked because they found him wanting for some contract awards, he awarded the contracts to his personal company and didn’t do the job, they sacked him, if the president is able to get to the stage of sacking the number three to him in the executive, this government has also sacked the DSS boss for committing an error and there are so many people that have been charged for anti corruption reasons, but you know corruption will fight back. As for me I always thank God, when you talk about economic meltdown I tell you it is not limited to Nigeria, those that were more affected are the oil producing countries and it is almost general, particularly we that depends solely on oil, even countries with more reserve than Nigeria are in trouble, it is not easy to get out of that problem and that problem has spilled over to political you know politicians like to resists things like that.

We are also lucky that we have the kind of vice president that we have, he is not ordinary, he is from Lagos and one of Asiwaju’s think tank and he has really exhibited it, so we are lucky as a nation and things will get better. ********Coming back to your ambition, you were in the House of Assembly for 16 years, you were Majority Leader, Deputy Speaker and you were on your way to becoming Speaker when you lost election, I also know that you attracted quite some projects to your constituency, what more do you want to do now that you are still aspiring to go to the House of Representatives?

Thank you very much, I have met this question severally in my campaign and I always tell them that I won election when I was 37 years old and I am yet to be 60, so I am still a young man, so I cannot retire, the retirement age is 60 years, if you want to look at it from that angle. But, seriously I love what I am doing, I have been representing my people for quite some time and I believe there are still several questions to be answered. During the campaign I gave some examples, when I was Majority Leader I ran after AntiTrust law, I went to America got some material on Anti-Trust, but when I came back to Nigeria I gave it to our legal unit and they said no, anything Trust is in the exclusive legislative list, I still want to do Anti-Trust, that is the only tool that we can use to check the corporate world. Those Allied and Company laws they are not really catching anybody, they talk more about the registration of companies and all that, but registration of company itself is on trust, when you want to register a company to deal on a particular product they will not even interview you, they take your money do the search on your name and if the name is available they just register it for you, it is on trust. So there must be a check on it. If you listen to what is happening in some developed world, especially in America, few months ago there was this America company that was fined about $9bn on anti-trust activities.

It will help to check activities of companies and help them to be more trust worthy. You will buy a recharge card before you know it they will say your money is

exhausted, is there any means of checking it, do we have any law that can check that? So, we need an Anti-Trust Commission, to ensure organisations abide by the agreement that they entered into with the country. That will affect my own constituency, I am from Ajegunle and I know we need things like that, because we have the population, we suffer for it the more. If you go to Ajegunle now you will see those women doing Anti-NEPA association, you don’t need to do that, there is supposed to be a commission checking to ensure that each person is doing what is supposed to be doing, if they don’t it is those people that will take them to court and charge them. It is a tool that will be used to be checking the corporate world, because the corporate world does things with focus only on their gains without considering the effect on the people. That is one law that I am going to pursue at the National Assembly and I pray to God that He will give me the grace to get there and do it, because it is going to assist our country.

Secondly, if you look at my area it is the only area in the country that you can call a mini Nigeria, there is no tribe in Nigeria that is not in my area. The other day I was talking about indigeneship and citizenship, people don’t know that the constitution does not recognise indigenship, it is only citizenship that the constitution recognises, but anywhere you go you still see it playing out, why don’t we sit down and discus it and we can only discuss at the green chamber, let us look at ourselves eye to eye and discus the indigeneship thing. Why is it

Stories by Patrick Okohue The Executive Committee of the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied an allegation by some members of the party in the state that they were involved in anti-party activities, saying that such thought was only in the imagination of those concocting the lies.

Expressing surprise that such thoughts could emanate from supposedly respected members of the party, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Alex Kalejaye noted that at no time did the state executive of the party done anything outside the rules and regulations of the party.

According to Kalejaiye in a statement, “We read with concern a statement credited to some aggrieved members of the party in the State chapter to the effect that, among others, the State executive engages in anti-party activities, and should therefore be dissolved.

“We feel obliged to say, in no ambiguous terms that members of the State executive have never, and will never contemplate anti-party in APC that holds so much hope for us, individually and collectively as a country.

“The State chapter is currently preoccupied with electioneering thoughts and strategies to achieve victory at the polls, come 2019.

“The State Chairman of our party, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, is a true democrat and a party man to the core, who is endowed with rich history of enviable stability in his political life. His loyalty to the party and its national leadership is without

blemish.

“The leader of the party and governor of the state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, can never compromise the fortune and development of the state and the party for whatever consideration.

“Our priority in the last few months has been how to unite the party, appease aggrieved members so we can, collectively, deliver the State for our dear party during the general elections next year.

“It was also comical that the Alhaji Alli Olanusi-led group claims to control over 80 percent of the party strength in Ondo State. This exists only in an unrealistic dream.

“While it is expedient to state that we are not surprised about the attitude of the formal deputy governor, who had fought every government , from Adefarati, Agagu to Mimiko and now Akeredolu, not for altruistic reason though, majority of the other co-travellers had not delivered their wards for the party in the last two elections in the State.

“Although we are reluctant to conclude that their action was triggered by the need to position themselves for patronage during the general elections, we urge the National Working Committee to discontinuance the agitation.

“We also cease this opportunity to appeal to all gladiators within the party to lower personal ego and grievances in the interest of the party.

“Ondo State APC Executive, ably led by Hon. Ade Adetimehin, will continue to work hard to ensure unity of members , and to bring all aggrieved leaders and chieftains together for the overall interest of our dear party,” he said.

HKT

that it is easy for anybody to come to the West and contest election, but it is so difficult to do the same in the East or in the North, let us discus it, secondly even when you want to, it is almost impossible.

Let us look at America, their law says if you have lived in a place for six months you can vote and be voted for, but it is the same America that puts the clause when it comes to their presidency, they say you must be born here. The experience

of the last election shows that we need somebody that was born in an area, even if you are an easterner you must be born in Ajegunle for you to be able to contest, your birth certificate must read Ajegunle because if you are an Ajegunle person if they give you money for the development of Ajegunle you will not take that constituency to fund projects in your village, because your number one village will be Ajegunle.

ARTS & CULTURE TIMES g19

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 24, 2018

‘Yoruba Obas Forum’ clamour for fourth-tier govt Frowns at diaspora Obas

Stories: Chris Onuoha The Ooni of Ife His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi played host to over hundred of Yoruba Traditional rulers in a special 3-day Summit tagged: “Regaining the lost glory of traditional rulers of Yoruba land.”

The summit noted to be the first of its kind in decades under the aegis of His Royal Majesty (HRM) Heritage Forum had in attendance traditional rulers and Regents across Yorubaland making it the largest gathering of monarchs in recent time.

Held between 18th to 21st November, 2018 at Ife Grand Resort and Leisure, Ile-Ife, the conference observed as the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria if not Africa as a whole aimed at repositioning the Yoruba monarchy to its pride of place and promoting unity among Traditional Rulers in the Yoruba nation.

According to the conference, previous attempts were made by government, mostly colonial masters, and the success of this conference is an indication that the Ooni’s dream of a united Yoruba race and kings are achievable.

The event also featured lecture session by seasoned speakers, technocrats and traditionalists that include keynote address by Prof Akinola Ibidapo-Obe from University of Lagos and others and an address by Ogun State Commissioner for Tourism, Art and Culture, Rt. Hon. Bashorun Oladipo.

Among prominent issues discussed that hinged on progress, unity and preservation of Oodua cultural heritage include some far reaching decisions: clamour for fourth-tier arm of government constituting traditional rulers, local government autonomy from state, proliferation of fake Obas in foreign land, code of conduct for Obas, expansion of customary court, security votes for traditional rulers, Traditional rulers welfare among others.

The Obas in affirmation resolves that letters should be forwarded to relevant authorities and government for implementation.

In an early address by Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, he emphasized with strong voice on the proliferation of unrecognised Obas in diaspora.

“This is to bring to your notice a ‘clear and present danger’ ravaging the land of Oduduwa. Pitiably, this desecration of our customs and tradition is not perpetrated by strangers but some Yorubas who I will refer to as ‘shady characters’, living outside the shores of this land.”

“Through this statement, I am also bringing to your notice the activities of an illegal group known as ‘Council of Yoruba Obas in the Diaspora’.

This group is not known to our law. The modus operandi is alien to our customs and tradition and if nothing is done urgently to caution and sanction its promoters, our highly-revered traditional institution may, God forbid, become extinct soon,” says Iba Adams.

He also noted that Yoruba traditional institutions derive its legitimacy and authority from traditions of a particular village, town or city within Oodua enclave.

“As an Oba, it is your duty to protect traditional institutions in your domain, and subordinates such as chiefs take instructions from you. This hierarchical order has been with us for centuries.

In other words, it is a taboo to replicate the role of an Oba or question his authority. That is why he is referred to as ka-bi-o-osi (Kabiyesi),” Adams added.

Also, Iba Adams emphasised on the fact that royal families and government play an important role in who becomes an Oba anywhere in Yorubaland.

And for anybody to become an Oba, he must be a son of a king or of the same blood line as chosen (royal) families from which a king might emerge.

This customs according to him is dated back to centuries but the activities of ‘Council of Yoruba Obas in the Diaspora’, if not checked, he said, threaten this age-long tradition.

Adams disclosed that members of this group, who reside mostly in Europe, North and South America, are standing logic on the head due to their inordinate ambition. He said, “Now they install themselves as Obas without government recognition, wear crowns similar to what our royal fathers wear in Yorubaland and parade themselves as Obas, with a complete paraphernalia of office,

even when the return home.”

He lamented that some of these characters engage in some shady deals, every now and then and if any of them is arrested at any airport abroad, there will be a screaming headline on newspapers “Yoruba Oba arrested in possession of ...”

“The British monarch has existed for centuries.

Can a replica of Queen of England be seen in any part of the world?

This is an ugly trend that is gradually creeping into our traditional institution, an aberration which must not be allowed to continue. The coronation of a Yoruba Oba in the Diaspora is alien to our culture and tradition. An individual can be the leader/ coordinator of a Yoruba group in a foreign land, but not to be crowned as an Oba,” Adams said.

Iba Gani Adams used the platform to urge the Obas to intervene and call the erring persons to order. However, he emphasized that the issue of Yoruba Oba in the Diaspora does not affect all the royal fathers in Republic of Benin. “They were being delineated by the Berlin Conference of 1884/85.

They all have their roots in Yoruba land, including that of Oyotunji in North Carolina in America,” Adams added.

Top on the agenda was the clamour for fourth-tier arm of government for Traditional rulers arguing that the fourth-tier, government by traditional rulers will effectively handle grassroot issues. According to them, it is an institution that remains permanent in every regime and knows their domain better than any government.

The conference also proposed proper devolution of power to allow local government to have autonomy. “We believe the lack of autonomy makes it difficult for traditional rulers to have control and contribute more effectively than they are doing now. Each traditional ruler is the chief security of his domain. They should be empowered to carry out security functions in partnership with the existing police force.

Recall that Boko Haram insurgence was reduced by the help of local vigilantes in the community,” they stated.

They requested for reintroduction of old palace court that will relieve the judiciary of some cases.

Expand its scope at various levels to deal with for instance, land, domestic and minor community disagreements.

There was a call for govt to come into agreement with labour to resolve workers minimum wages noticing that inflation in the country has eroded in a large chunk of disposable income available. Also, to lower inflation by value if what money can buy.

On the issue of fake Obas, the resolved that notice will be dispersed to security agencies to arrest any erring person both local and in diaspora. The argued that no Oba should be recognised in a foreign land, that an Oba must have a domain within Oodua

enclave with staff of office from government. But said anyone can be a leader of Yoruba community in a foreign land and not an installed Oba. Another point made is that all Oba should desist from partisan politics; must be father of all, blessing any aspiring candidate to work for the interest of the people.

The conference also pointed that Obas’ welfare should be looked into with urgency, noting that Obas’ welfare package should at least be up to level 15 - 17 in government salary scale to accommodate huge responsibilities they carry in their domain.

They stated that some Obas were highly placed in the society before becoming an Oba. The issue of Chieftaincy law should be reversed and be called ‘Obas law’ because the law relegates traditional rulers to be none effective in the land.

Also, Oba in Yoruba land should be properly addressed as ‘His Imperial Majesty’ and not His Highness, saying anyone from a royal family who is not a King can be call His highness and not an Oba. The monarchs also bemoans the killings, kidnappings and armed robbery incidents in the country. Adequate security allocation should be given to them hence, the know every one within their community and can easily fish out criminals within their domain.

Most deliberated and controversial among the categories is the ‘Code of Conduct’ among the Yoruba Obas. The conference resolved that no Oba should eat or drink in parties or public places.

According to them, the institution is sacred and should not be desecrated. ‘It is a taboo and was not practised by forebearers,’ says the conference.

It also says, Obas should put on appropriate royal costume and beads for public places including their beaded staff and not casuals.

Obas should not dance in parties and especially in the crowd. His is to respectfully position himself at a vantage position to be respected by all.

The idea of an Oba removing crown in religious place is seriously frowned at by the conference.

Obas are advised to always wear the little white cap in religious gatherings if they do not want to wear crown but the head must be covered even if they are to receive honorary awards. Also, Oloris and concubines are advised to always dress to add value to the stool and the images of the Obas and refrain from trending indecent fashion with exposed cleavages.

There is a resolve that traditional culture is seen and believed to be above all. Therefore the use of titles like Oba (Evangelist or Alhaji) should be discouraged.

Traditional rulers are seen as father of all and should not stand or bow to governors on their arrival or to any spiritual father or mentor.

In promoting the culture and value of the yoruba race, it is observed that for culture to be

static, passed from generation to generation, Obas should not be complacent in teaching their children to communicate in their mother tongue(yoruba).

The issue of difference between idol worship and rituals should be explained vividly to a discerning ear that idol worshipping is different from yoruba customs and traditions.

The group thank sincerely the Ooni Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Babatunde Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ojaja II, not just for both his moral and financial support but for the success of the conference of Obas and also for his work, consciously to achieve lasting peace and unity among all Yoruba Obas and Yoruba race as a whole.

Speaking with the chairman, Conference of the Traditional Rulers, The Elerinmo of Erinmo Kigdom, HIM, Oba Michael Ajayi, he disclosed that this is the first convention of Obas ever held in decades.

“We have traditional rulers from all the Yoruba states in attendance. The purpose is moving forward.

We knew that in the past, Yorùbá Obas were very powerful. In fact, we believe we are in charge of leadership as well. This then, is to discuss how to regain this lost glory and improve in the welfare of the Obas achieve unity, improve discipline and treat the proliferation of unrecognized fake Obas in diaspora. Another purpose is to understand that we should leave that toga behind and understand that as long as Oba is concerned, no king can be a king in another person’s town. Obas need to always keep in touch and communicate with each other.

The level of participation is incredible and it has brought out things like knowing our common problems which is not domiciled to a particular kingdom but noticeable in other places.

In terms of welfare, Obas are been shortchanged caused by British colonial masters who eroded the rights of Obas with the introduction of indirect rule.

As a result, politicians have taken control of powers that ordinarily should be within the purview of a traditional ruler,” Oba Ajayi added.

In the same vein, His Royal Majesty, Odidiomo Afolabi, Olu of Igbokoda Oba, Ondo State added that the issue of ‘Conduct of Conduct’ for Obas become necessary because people are finding it difficult to remain in the past. “Not because that we are saying there should be no change or development but because there are some conduct that are not befitting for a king. The institution of kings became popular with Oduduwa and also, let the Yoruba’s know the way Obas should dress, behave and others, but with civilisation or modernity so to say, they are trying to deviate from it. These, among other things desecrates the dignity of the stool.”

Meanwhile, Ogun State Commissioner for Tourism, Art and Culture, Rt. Hon. Basorun M. Oladipo, Co-founder, Heritage Forum confided that the move and inspiration was conceived during the Ogun Drum Festival. “When we started the drum festival three years ago. It was a realisation and fact that our culture was dying. We in Ogun state started the drum festival to revive our culture.

And also along the line, we felt that the Obas are the custodians of our culture and tradition. Knowing full well that they are the custodians, we also find out that something was missing within the Yorùbá race. There is no unity among the Yorùbá race. This forum serve as that pointer and call to finding a lasting solution and uniting the entire Obas. And ever since three years ago we started, everything has been going on well, to appreciating the fact that yes, it is possible. The response in the conference has been positive and most encouraging. Although there are Obas who couldn’t make it for different reasons, but within the conference, they broke themselves into groups to deliberate issues and come out with communiqué to chart way forward. We have Obas from various Yorùbá states including Kogi and Kwara at this convention and they will be taking the resolutions to their states for implementation and the respective governments to work on it.

“For the culture to be preserved, I would say, if you and I and the Obas are not doing what we are supposed to be doing, of course the thing will fizzle out like that. The convention has started and will sustain itself as time goes on because the response and enthusiasm has been high and as more people are coming in. It is a technology based forum that let people to come in and participate and air their views. Although, we are not readily in togetherness with other government agencies handling culture but we are working towards bringing all the commissioners and culture agencies together for this course.

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FOREIGN TIMES

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 24, 2018

g 21 CAR war crimes suspect Yekatom appears at ICC, alleges torture

Mohammed bin Salman and a murderous web of lies

The Western media, foreign business and politicians will no longer be able to fete MBS as a great moderniser and visionary pulling his desert kingdom into the 21st century, writes Law.

Bill Law “Oh what a tangled web we weave/when first we practice to deceive,” are lines often attributed to Shakespeare that were, in fact, written in 1808 by the great Scottish bard Sir Walter Scott. But how well they describe the tangled web Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (known as MBS) has woven and now caught himself in with the brutal murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 this year.

On October 3 in a wideranging interview with Bloomberg, MBS was asked about the disappearance of Khashoggi. His reply became the first Saudi narrative: “My understanding is he entered (the consulate) and he got out after a few minutes or one hour.”

Subsequently, Saudi authorities took the line that Jamal Khashoggi had disappeared. They had no idea where he was.

When Bloomberg asked MBS if he was still in the consulate, the crown prince answered, “He’s not inside.”

That at any rate, as events were to show, was the truth.

The Saudi authorities clung to the narrative of not knowing where Khashoggi was while smearing him in the domestic press and having friendly journalists in the West attempt to do the same. But the Turkish authorities began a drip-drip campaign, based on surreptitious recordings and CCTV images they held that soon undermined this initial narrative.

So, the Saudis pursued another one: that Khashoggi had been accidentally killed after an argument and a fist fight broke out in the consulate.

That, too, collapsed under

The Trump White House and the Saudi crown prince have been struggling with damage control after the Khashoggi murder. the weight of the Turks’ relentlessly calculated release of information.

Then, a third line: Khashoggi had been strangled by a rogue agent and his body given to a mysterious Turkish collaborator to dispose of.

Next, came yet another narrative - the killing had been pre-meditated but that those responsible would be held accountable. And sure enough, 18 suspects were arrested. None of them was named.

Then, on November 15, the public prosecutor announced, again without supplying any names, that 11 were being charged and he was seeking the death penalty for five of the men held. The rogue narrative was resuscitated. But instead of Khashoggi being strangled, the claim was that he had been killed by a lethal dose of a sedative.

Within a few hours, the US Treasury Department released a list of 17 Saudi citizens facing sanctions under the Magnitsky Act. The list included Saud al-Qahtani, a senior adviser and very close confidante of MBS as well as Maher Mutreb, a senior security officer who was said to have led the attack on Khashoggi.

Mutreb had frequently accompanied the crown prince on his foreign trips.

It was all of a set piece: the Saudis would punish those they claimed as perpetrators and the US would follow suit with sanctions, all while sticking to the line that MBS was not involved.

And to make sure the plan would run smooth, the White House also appointed a US ambassador to Riyadh after the post had been left vacant for almost two years.

But major cracks in the TrumpSaudi arrangement remain. For example, Saud al-Qahtani is not, it appears, one of those being pursued by the Saudi judicial system, yet he is on the Treasury Department list because he is considered to be one of the key plotters.

Ahmed al-Assiri, another very close confidante of MBS, is not on the Treasury list even though the Saudi

public prosecutor has claimed that al-Assiri, without the knowledge of MBS, had approved a plan to bring Khashoggi to Riyadh by persuasion or force. So, one is on the US sanctions list and one is not, yet both are deeply implicated in the killing.

At the same time, the Turkish government is not showing any signs of backing off. Just a day after the Saudi public prosecution’s announcement, Turkish daily Hurriyet ran a column claiming that the authorities had a second tape of what went on in the Saudi consulate on October 2.

Then, the same day, numerous US media outlets reported that the CIA has concludedthat MBS personally ordered the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. The president announced he was going to think about things while calling Saudi Arabia a “truly spectacular ally”.

All this effort has been put into pushing suspicion away from MBS because President Trump would really like to keep him in power.

There are three reasons for this.

The first is the so-called “deal of the century” cobbled together by his son-in-law Jared Kushner, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and MBS. The Saudis are seen as crucial to arm-twisting the Palestinians into accepting the deal.

The second is the alliance against Iran. The president’s national security adviser, John Bolton, has long advocated for regime change there but the Americans don’t want to repeat the Iraq fiasco so they want regional players - that is the Israelis, the Saudis and the Emiratis - to provide the military muscle should Bolton’s dangerous fantasy threaten to become reality.

The third factor in Trump’s calculations is his desire to ensure that MBS manages oil prices so that the US economy doesn’t suffer negative consequences from the oil sanctions on Iran, as he begins his campaign for re-election.

There are, however, potentially lethal consequences for Trump’s political career if he insists on standing by the crown prince. The midterm elections swung control of Congress to the Democrats who would like nothing better than to hold the president’s feet to the fire over his handling of the Khashoggi killing. And as the impact of the midterm results begins to take hold - the Republicans lost key support in suburban America - the GOP may start to rethink whether Trump is indeed able to win the next presidential election.

Meanwhile, European pressure on Saudi Arabia is growing; Germany just announced it is halting all arms sales to the Saudi state and imposing an entry ban on 18 Saudi nationals suspected of being directly involved in the killing.

Still, what plays in MBS’s favour is the fact that any serious challengers, such as former Crown Prince and Interior Minister Mohammed Bin Nayef and the former head of the National Guard Miteb Bin Abdullah, have already been sidelined and others such as his uncle Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz are considered too weak and ineffectual to bring change within the House of Saud.

Nonetheless, the damage to MBS’ reputation is profound and largely irreparable. The Western media, foreign businesses and politicians will no longer be able to fete him as a great moderniser and visionary pulling his desert kingdom into the 21st century. Now, he will forever be seen for what he is: a reckless authoritarian thug who uses murder as a weapon to silence those who criticise him.

Were MBS able to rewind the clock, one wonders, would he repeat his blunder? Would he weave the same web? Unfortunately, the answer is yes, he probably would.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.

A lawyer for war crimes suspect Alfred Yekatom, a former militia leader accused of alleged atrocities against Muslims in the Central African Republic (CAR), has said his client had been tortured and was later forcibly transferred to The Hague.

Yekatom, a member of parliament previously nicknamed as “Rambo”, was arrested by local officials in the CAR on October 29 and handed to International Criminal Court (ICC) custody on November 17.

At his first appearance before ICC judges since his transfer to the Netherlands, Yekatom on Friday confirmed his name, age and that he had read the charges in his arrest warrant. He was not required to enter a plea at the 35-minute hearing.

Defence lawyer Xavier-Jean Keita told the presiding judge, Antoine Kesia-Mbe Mindua, that Yekatom says he was beaten with a Kalashnikov rifle butt following his arrest last month after firing gunshots in the parliament in Bangui, the capital of the CAR. “The arrest was, according to him, brutal,” Keita told the court.

“He was tortured, he says, he was beaten with Kalashnikovs and rifle butts, and he still has visible signs of the beating,” the lawyer added.

“The medical team at the ICC detention centre has observed this.”

Yekatom faces 14 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, mutilation, torture, cruel treatment and recruiting child soldiers into his so-called “Anti-balaka” militia group.

The group is accused of attacks on Muslims between December 2013 and August 2014.

Yekatom said the first he had known about the war crimes charges was when he arrived in The Hague.

“No one said anything to me, I was at parliament and there was a bit of trouble there. Then, they arrested me and sent me here,” the ex-fighter, wearing a suit and listening to a translation of the proceedings on headphones, told the court.

“When I got here on Sunday I was given some documents and I read the charges. No one said anything to me there, it was only here that I was told.”

Yekatom’s lawyer added that his “fundamental rights had been violated” because he had been denied access to a judge in the CAR, and the first time he had seen a lawyer was on Monday at the ICC. The court will hold an official hearing to confirm the charges on April 30, 2019, Judge Antoine KesiaMbe Mindua said.

The judge said he could not immediately deal with the allegations of torture.

“You have raised a very important problem and we cannot deal with it orally. We have to have written submissions, at this stage, we cannot discuss this question, nor resolve it.”

SPORTS TIMES Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 24, 2018

Gernot Rohr: Samuel Chukwueze is not Mikel Obi’s replacement in Super Eagles Super Eagles chief coach Gernot Rohr has cleared the air on why new boy Samuel Chukwueze wore the number 10 jersey against Uganda in last Tuesday’s international friendly at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.

The number 10 jersey is worn

by Mikel Obi, but fitness issues ruled out the captain in the last Eagles four matches. “That Samuel wore the number 10 jersey against Uganda does not mean that he has

replaced Mikel in the team. It’s just a jersey number he used,” Rohr told newsmen on Friday.

“Mikel is part of our plans and the reason why he has been playing for the team is because of fitness issues.

All i can l say now is that only Mikel can decide if he wants to be at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations,” said Rohr who hailed his captain as a fantastic player.

On why he is taking the team’s last Afcon qualifier against Seychelles

seriously having qualified “We don’t just want to qualify for the AFCON, we want to finish top of our league. We need to win against Seychelles,” he said.

The Eagles lead Group E with 10 points which sealed their qualification.

“There is a lot of work left but l must say that the team has improved tremendously under my watch. The mistakes are minimal, we now defend well and are scoring goals.

Rohr also hoped that Victor Moses will get his career with EPL side Chelsea back on track after he has been relegated to the bench by new manager, Maurizo Sarri.

He also explained why he has continued to invite Ikechukwu Ezenwa despite not keeping regularly for his side Enyimba of Aba. “It’s always good to have a player

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like Ezenwa in the team because of his positive spirit just like John Ogu. They pray a lot and I like that.

On his assistant coach Salisu Yusuf suspended by the Nigeria Football Federation, he said, “If the NFF recalls Coach Salisu Yusuf to the Super Eagles, I will work with him. We have a good relationship. There is no reason why he should not be given another chance, but it is for the NFF to decide on that,” he said.

On the domestic players, “We have called up a lot of players from the local league to the national team. I love local players. I want to see them in the Super Eagles, but they need good infrastructure to play. They have to play often. So far 20 NPFL players have been invited to the Super Eagles,” he concluded.

Jean-Paul Mpila: Equatorial Guinea will make life difficult for Super Falcons Equatorial Guinea’s JeanPaul Mpila has stated that his team will make life difficult for the Super Falcons of Nigeria in their AWCON 2018 Group B encounter at the Robert Mensah Stadium, Cape Coast on Saturday.

Mpila‘s charges are already eliminated from the 2018 African Women’s Nations Cup after defeats to the Shepolopolo of Zambia and Banyana Banyana of South Africa in their first two games of the tournament.

And ahead of the game, the gaffer boasts that his charges will give the Super Falcons a run for

their money and possibly pick their first win of the tournament.

“I can boldly say we are out of the tournament, but concerning tomorrow’s fixture against Nigeria, we are going to honour it. We will give our best until the last blast of the whistle. So we are preparing for the match,” Mpila stated during his interaction with the media on Friday.

The Super Falcons are looking to build on their impressive win against Zambia on Wednesday when they face the Nzalang Nacional.

The defending champions need

to win the game to be sure of a place in the semi-finals.

Group leaders, South Africa will face Zambia in the other Group B fixture in Accra also on Saturday.

The Banyana Banyana top the group with six points, while Nigeria and Zambia occupy second and third positions respectively with three points apiece. Equatorial Guinea are without a point.

The top three teams in the tournament will represent the continent at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.

Santiago Solari: Zinedine Zidane is incomparable Onome Ebi: Super Falcons highly New Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari is not expecting to have an impact similar to that of Zinedine Zidane in his time as coach, calling the Frenchman “incomparable”.

Zidane stepped down as Madrid coach at the end of last season, just a few days after guiding the club to a third successive Champions League title under his watch.

The former Madrid player had a remarkable impact during his time in the hot seat, also winning a La Liga title in his first full season.

Solari follows in his footsteps after being promoted from Madrid’s Castilla team, replacing the sacked Julen Lopetegui.

But the Argentinian does not want comparisons to be made between himself and Zidane.

“Zidane is incomparable with anyone,” Solari told reporters in Friday’s news conference.

“He is a legend, he had a fantastic level. He was an exquisite player, with whom I was lucky to play.

“But as a coach he will probably be the most successful in the history of Real Madrid. I admire him as a human and we must admire him in his greatness.

He is unique.”

After initially taking over on an interim basis, Solari earned himself a contract until 2021.

Some have suggested he stands little

chance of seeing out his contract given Madrid’s history of hastily dismissing coaches, but Solari is unconcerned, acknowledging that everyone is just passing through the club.

“Nothing changes to me, nothing in the 11 years from when I was here before [as a player],” Solari added.

“The important thing is being here and the commitment you make with your work every day.

“We’re all just passing through in Madrid, particularly in this job.”

motivated to beat Equitorial Guinea Captain Onome Ebi has revealed that the Nigeria Football Federation has fully motivated the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons, to go all the way and retain their Africa Women Cup of Nations trophy at the ongoing championship in Ghana.

“The NFF have done their part very well. The ball is now in our court to do our part and make Nigerians happy, by winning against Equatorial Guinea on Saturday and going ahead to win a ticket to the World Cup and also retain our African title.”

Speaking to thenff.com, Ebi said victory over Zambia on Wednesday only meant the team was gradually returning to great shape.

“We are getting back to shape. In the first game against South Africa, it was not the Super Falcons that Africa knew that up. Defeat made us to talk hard to ourselves. I think we are getting back to the form known of Super Falcons, the champions. We are not there yet but we are still pushing ourselves to reach our normal

level. I believe our third game will definitely be much better.”

The experienced defender said it had never crossed her mind that the Super Falcons would leave the tournament at the group stage.

“I never thought about that.

I don’t think that is possible because to me I see us in the semi finals already. I have strong faith in the team that we are going to

beat Equatorial Guinea and then we will take the knockout stage one match at a time.

“Nigerians should keep praying for us. They should keep believing in the Super Falcons because we are here for the trophy and we are here to qualify for the World Cup. I believe that with hard work and with God on our side, we are going to achieve our twin objectives.”

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, November 24, 2018

23 Sports Times

AWCON: Thomas Dennerby expects best Falcons ‘showing’ against Equatorial Guinea Super Falcons head coach Thomas Dennerby hopes his side will keep improving and produce their best performance so far at the 2018 African Women’s Nations Cup in Ghana when they face Equatorial Guinea in a Group B encounter on Saturday in Cape Coast.

The defending champions started their campaign in the competition on a disappointing note going down to a 1-0 defeat to the Banyana Banyana of South Africa.

But they bounced back in an emphatic fashion in their next game thrashing the Shepolopolo of Zambia 4-0, thanks to goals from Desire Oparanozie, Francisca Ordega, Rasheedat Ajibade and Amarachi Okoronkwo.

Equatorial Guinea are already eliminated from the tournament after suffering heavy defeats to Zambia and South Africa.

The former champions fell to a 5-0 defeat to Zambia in their first game and were totally pulverised 7-1 by South Africa in the second.

The Super Falcons need to beat Equatorial Guinea to be sure of a place in the last four.

“We hope to keep getting better

and better. We hope to have our best performance so far tomorrow (Saturday).”

Dennerby stated during his pre-match conference on Friday ahead of the game.

“We are not doing any changes.

We are working on as we have done from the beginning. Going to training sessions to prepare the team, have pre/post match meetings and watch videos of the others, so we know how to play and so on.”

Dimunitive midfielder Rita Chikwelu also reiterates the team’s desire to secure the maximum points against the Nzalang Nacional.

“We are ready to pick the maximum points against Equatorial Guinea on Saturday.” Chikwelu stated.

The game will kick-off at 4pm Nigerian time at the Robert Mensah Stadium, Cape Coast.

Max Allegri: Cristiano Ronaldo deserves Ballon D’Or

Emenike vows to return bigger and stronger, recounts 2013 AFCON triumph with pride Emmanuel Emenike has told SCORENigeria he hopes to stage a comeback after injury and departure from Greek champions Olympiacos combined to keep him out of the spotlight.

He also remembered with fondness the highlight of his time with the Super Eagles – winning the 2013 AFCON and finishing as Goal King.

“A football career is short and sweet, but a painful moment could erase the good moments if you don’t live up,” the big striker told SCORENigeria “I have conquered the fear of injuries and I can tell you I am coming back stronger and better.

“My wife and my kids already give me the motivation to bounce back to the pitch and prove why football has not left me.

“And I am eager to return and be great again.”

Emenike was one of the reasons Nigeria clinched a third AFCON title five years ago in South Africa.

He described it as “wonderful” as his four goals lifted the Super Eagles to the

summit of African football against most expectations.

“It was a wonderful moment for all the players, nobody gave us a chance but we were determined to live beyond expectations by beating Cote d’Ivoire with their big squad, and move ahead to win the tournament,” he recounted.

“It was great moment indeed, and at the end, everybody was happy and we restored the hope of the fans.

“Sometimes, you need big occasions like that to prove to people why people prefer you, and I am happy I was able to do it at the best moment, but beyond everything, it was a moment of God’s intervention in my life.”

He said the AFCON Golden Boot Award was a reward for his dedication to the Eagles.

“Winning the AFCON was a great achievement and my AFCON top scorer award spoke a lot about my commitment and dedication to the team,” he further told SCORENigeria “It wouldn’t have had any meaning if I won the top scorer award without

winning the trophy, the celebration will be too low for me and my family.

“And sincerely speaking, I never gunned for the personal accolade, I fought hard for the team, and everybody knows that winning the top scorer award was just a compensation for hard work and determination.

“I love to celebrate collective victories, my team mates matter a lot, especially as a striker, your team mates should be your priority and that was what happened at the 2013 AFCON. “I always cherish my AFCON awards, and I am already showing it to my little angel (daughter).”

Dare Ojo targets CAF Champions League glory after completing Lobi Stars transfer Dare Ojo has said he hopes to help Lobi Stars shine in the 2019 CAF Champions League after he completed his transfer from Enyimba.

Dare Ojo told SCORENigeria: “I decided to join Lobi Stars to play on the continent and new challenge in my career.

“I also left Kwara United for Enyimba and now I am starting a new

life with ‘The Pride of Benue’.”

Lobi Stars will play next week away to UMS de Loum of Cameroon in a preliminary round of the Champions League.

Combative defensive midfielder Ojo played for three seasons with Enyimba during which he featured in both the Champions League and Confederation Cup.

Massimiliano Allegri believes Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to win the Ballon D’Or, following media reports that the forward has not been short-listed for the award’s final three for the first time since 2010.

The Portugal international has won the prize, run by French magazine France Football and awarded to the world’s best player annually, five times and finished as runner-up five times since 2007.

Media have reported that the podium for this year’s prize would be made up of Paris St Germain’s Kylian Mbappe and Luka Modric and Raphael Varane of Real Madrid.

The winner would be named at a ceremony in Paris on Dec. 3.

“He is doing well and yesterday he trained well. For what he has done, as I’ve said several times, he will deserve the Ballon D’Or,” Allegri said.

Allegri shot down suggestions that his side were facing an injury crisis in midfield ahead of the visit of SPAL in Serie A on Saturday.

Sami Khedira and Emre Can were sidelined with injuries, but their absence does not concern the coach.

“We will need to play with who we have on ground.

“Blaise Matuidi returned today because he needed a few days of rest. ‘’We have Miralem Pjanic and Rodrigo Bentancur available; we will find a solution with who we have. We are not in an emergency,” he said.

Allegri confirmed that Mattia Perin would start in goal alongside Ronaldo and Mario Mandzukic in attack.

Paulo Dybala was likely to be rested, having only returned from international duty on Thursday.

Allegri was encouraged by the forward’s development after he scored his first goal for Argentina against Mexico on Tuesday.

“It’s a step forward for him, he is constantly growing, this year he has started very well and he is in a great physical and mental state.

“His development must not stop; it depends on how much he wants it,” said Allegri.

Juventus hold a six-point advantage over second-placed Napoli at the top of Serie A. The club from Turin remains unbeaten this season with 11 wins and a draw from 12 games, while SPAL are in 15th with 13 points.

Kida Backs Elephant girls to pick FIBA AWCC semifinal ticket NBBF chief Engr. Musa Kida has charged reigning Nigeria Women Basketball Champion Elephants to pick a semi final at the expense of Cameroonian side Army Force and Police Basketball team at the ongoing FIBA AWCC. The Elephants women are currently unbeaten at the competition, winning all their four Group B games to finished on top of the group.

Kida, however urged the team not to rest on their oars, as big tasklies ahead.

“I have closely monitored their four group games and I am impressed with what I have seen so far. The depth of the team is amazing and I can only hope that they continue their winning streak when they face FAP on Friday.”

The Basketball boss also expressed his satisfaction that members of Nigeria Women Basketball National team are proving their worth in the team.

“As a federation, we take pride

in the fact that 5 members of the D’Tigress history making team to the World Cup are currently on the rooster of First Bank which has already impacted on their journey so far.”

FAP are the underdog going into the Friday match as they managed just 1 win in group A to end up in the fourth spot.

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