Dtn 13 11 15

Buhari reads the riot act to civil servants Egena Egena, Abuja

ÎÎÎPresident Muhammadu Buhari

on Thursday warned that his admin-

istration would not tolerate incompetence and acts of sabotage from civil servants.

He gave the warning at the swear-

ing-in ceremony of 16 of the 18 new permanent secretaries he appointed on Tuesday. Two of them did not participate in the excercise as they were

said to be outside the country.

In particular, the President noted Continued on page 6

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N150

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.230

GAINERS

LOSERS

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 11th November 2015.

CAP

39

40.95

1.95%

UAC-PROP

6.61

6.94

0.33%

NESTLE

817

810

-7%

WAPCO

93.75

90

STANBIC

20

20.89

0.89%

IKEJAHOTEL

3.33

3.48

0.15%

7UP

184.5

180.1

-4.4%

NB

131.8

128.83

-3.75% -2.97%

CCT: Supreme Court puts Saraki trial on hold Andrew Orolua, Abuja

ÎÎÎReprieve came the way of the

Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, on Thursday as the Supreme Court ordered a stay of proceeding of his trial by the Code of

Conduct Tribunal (CCT) pending the determination of an appeal he filed.

Saraki, who is facing 13-count criminal charge for alleged false asset declaration, ought to have return to the tribunal on November

19 for trial after his team of lawyers walked out on the tribunal on November 5 when the CCT decided to proceed with the trial.

The Senate President had earlier approached the apex court challenging the ruling of the Court of

Appeal, Abuja Division which held that the Code of Conduct Tribunal has jurisdiction to try him.

Although, the Apex court could not hear the main appeal on Thursday, it granted a stay of proceeding of the tribunal hearing that was

sought by Saraki. This followed an undertaken by the federal government’s counsel Rotimi Jacobs that the proceedings at the Code of Conduct Tribunal will be put on hold Continued on page 6

NAFDAC imposes N1b fine on 8 Guinness Politics g Æ17s Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

Biafra: Group to drag Buhari to ICC for extrajudicial killings

A human rights group, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) has concluded arrangement to drag President Muhammadu Buhari before the International Criminal Court of Justice for extra- judicial killing of unarmed peaceful protesters in Port Hacourt.

They were demanding for the unconditional release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB ) and Executive Director of Radio Biafra, Comrade Nnamdi Kanu, who had been illegally detained.

The group condemned Buhari

for ordering security men to shoot at sight, at the protesters which led to the death of few of them, insisting that Buhari has committed an offence against the innocent citizens of Nigeria which he pledged to protect while taking the oath of office.

It criticised the series of attacks against the activists of IPOB by Military Personnel and anti-riot policemen on the orders of President Buhari that the protesters -IPOB should be shot at sight.

CHRSJ’s Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Sulaiman, frowned at the way and manner the un-

armed peaceful protesters in Port Harcourt and part of the South Eastern and South South Nigeria were being attacked in a democratic era, describing the attack as undemocratic, anti-people and criminal in nature, insisting that President Buhari led –Federal Government has committed a serious offence against humanity.

He added that the blood of those who lost their lives and sustained injuries during the brute attack of IPOB would continue to haunt Mr. President.

PDP, NLC, TUC to g6 FG: Probe alleged N25b The war over TSA fraud NNAMDI KANU

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

resources in Edo The g8 war over resources in Edo

Titus Akhigbe Benin

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has shed more light on the shocking details of sleaze that characterised the administration of former Governor Lucky Igbinedion.

He announced that the government is planning to look into the unlawful withdrawal of $31 million from government coffers for questionable business dealings which were clear abuse of power by the Igbinedion administration.

Speaking to members of the civil society groups and students of the Ambrose Alli University who thronged the Government House in their thousands to pledge their support to the government on its policies, especially the Land Use Charge Law, the governor said the Igbinedion family had thrown caution to the wind and was using its television and radio stations to wage a war against him because he recovered over 200,000 hectares of land illegally dashed Chief Gabriel Igbinedion by his son, Lucky, when he was governor. stressing that he was not deterred by the media campaign against him, the governor said he would do what is always right in the interest of the Edo taxpayers no matter whose ox is gored.

His words: “Let me thank all of you for coming out in this

GMD/CEO, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza; former Presidents, Gen Abubakar Abdusalam and General Ibrahim Babangida; and Emir of Minna, HRH (Dr.) Farouq Bahago, at thefuneral of the father-in-law of immediate past Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Aliyu Babangida at Minna... on Thursday

N413b subsidy claim: We’re selling our last stock, say marketers g12

huge number to express your solidarity, your support and your endorsement of my stewardship here in Osadebey Avenue.

“Let me assure you, I will continue without fear of man, but with the fear of God to provide leadership that will deliver prosperity to the great people of this great state. To be able to do that, everybody, and I mean, everybody born of a woman that lives in this state must be subjected to the rule of law.

“In the interest of Edo people, even the one yet unborn, I want to be remembered after my stewardship not only for roads, hospitals, schools, much more importantly, I want to be remembered as the man who brought an end to exemption. There is no more exemption in Edo State. I want to be remembered as the man who took from those who have bastardised, raped and privatised the resources of Edo State, used our money to build their private universities, and walk around our streets when they are supposed to be in prison.

“Let me share with you some of the things that are going on and why they are angry. I did not promise to make everybody happy, what I promise was to make the majority happy. I will publish records in black and white and Edo people will be shocked how they have been raped by CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

I won’t fake, Nigerians will see the real me – 39th Miss Nigeria gL1 ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE Edo State Governor

2

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

3

Politics Page Three Æ s Editorial Exploring alternative energy sources

N

o one is ever in doubt that the level of power supply in Nigeria is far below the country’s needs. Available figures show that Nigeria produces less than 5,000mw of electricity for a population of 170 million people.

In contrast, South Africa produces 48,000mw of electricity for a population of 50 million. Such comparison becomes more apt because while Nigeria claims to be the largest economy in Africa, South Africa remains the most advanced.

Reason for this yawning disparity is well known. Even of the 170 million Nigerians, only 25 percent have access to electricity, while 75 percent make do with little or no electricity.

Indeed, while South Africa produces electricity from such disparate sources as coal, nuclear power, recycled wastes, hydropower and solar energy, Nigeria still relies mostly on oil and gas for generating more than 90 percent for her energy needs. This should not be.

We believe the country has abundance of alternative energy sources such as coal, lignite, geothermal heat and sun to generate enough power to meet its industrial and domestic needs.

Before discovery of oil in commercial quantity, Nigeria relied mostly on coal and thermal sources for generating much of her electricity. Sadly, the past 40 years have seen a sharp decrease in the use of coal for power generation, even as the existing hydro power stations are becoming obsolete due to lack of maintenance and spare parts.

That is why we are calling for a return to coal and renewed interest in solar power as major sources of electricity supply in the country.

The shift to oil for power gen-

eration has had dire consequences for the coal industry for reasons not connected to its viability. From both quality and availability perspectives, Nigerian coal was as well placed as that of any other coalproducing country in the world, even as its low sulphur and ash content makes it very attractive for power generation. Moreover, the country has about 22 coalfields found in Enugu, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, and Benue, Cross-River, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Kogi, Kwara, Nassarawa, Ondo and Plateau states. In fact, it is said that our proven coal reserves are about 639 million tonnes.

Apart from coal, the government should also explore the opportunities offered by abundance of sunshine to use solar power. Nigeria enjoys more than a fair share of sunlight, given the fact that it is along the Equator.

This energy source could be exploited for more than a fifth of the country’s electricity needs. Solar electricity can be cost effectively harnessed anywhere in Nigeria.

It is probably the only renewable energy solution that can be found anywhere to address local and regional needs. Incidentally, recent advances in technical performance of solar panels and cost reductions in utility scale storage technologies make this feasible.

There is no denying the fact that countries such as China, Australia, India and some major Asian countries rely on solar power for substantial part of their energy mix. We could learn from these countries. Finally, solar power generation has the potential to ultimately achieve grid parity within two decades primarily from economies of scale, research and improvement in technology.

Before the anti-graft war is bungled Sam Nzeh

ÎÎÎUnless

something is done and urgently, the probability is high that the anticorruption war of the present administration may be bungled by the very agencies and officers charged with the responsibility of prosecuting the war.

This is in view of the shoddy manner most of the prosecuting agencies and officials have continued to carry out their work, which on many occasions had resulted in a number of the corruption cases being unnecessarily delayed or thrown out of the courts and those charged therewith freed.

Just on Monday, the Federal Government docked the erstwhile Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder

Godsday Orubebe, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja on a four-count criminal charge bordering on money laundering and alleged bribery to the tune of N70 million.

Sadly, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Musa Ibrahim Usman, failed to produce witnesses against Orubebe, an action which infuriated the chairman of the CCT, Justice Danladi Umar, who is presiding over the case.

Berating the prosecution counsel, Justice Umar said: “I am not happy that the witnesses are not here today. The prosecution had ample time to assemble its witnesses but failed to do so. I want you to take this case very serious”.

Not a few Nigerians are on the same page with Justice Umar for scolding the prosecution counsel over his failure to produce witnesses against the former

Words On Marble :

Niger Delta Affairs minister.

The prosecution counsel’s failure to produce witnesses against Orubebe, is another example of how agencies and officials charged with prosecuting the anti-corruption war inadvertently bungle the fight.

So, before the anti-graft war is bungled, agencies and officials charged with the responsibility of prosecuting the battle should do proper homework before bringing cases before the courts. This will include proper and detailed investigation, building up water-tight cases, and assemblage of credible witnesses among others. This way, they will be able to hold their onions in court and secure needed convictions which is the visible evidence that the anti-corruption war is on course.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

Publisher/Editor in Chief – Fidelis Anosike Editor Biodun Durojaiye Deputy Editor/Southern Bureau Chief Sam Nzeh Deputy Editor/Northern Bureau Chief Lateef Ibrahim

Group News Editor Segun Adio Politics Editor Akintola Akinjide Business Editor Friday Atufe Head, Graphics/Design King Ododoru

Group Managing Director Noel Anosike Group Executive Commercial/ Business Developement Ifeoluwa Isijiola 08086296714 Group Head Accounts & Control Samson Abiodun

Technical Adviser To Publisher Innocent Nwankwo 08033072614 Ag Head Operations Segun Bamigboye Adverts/Partnerships/ Corporate Subscription Ifeanyi Emefu 08086296714 Konnie Agu 09033765031

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Muhammadu Buhari

Ebenezar Babatope

Tonye Princewill

“The work of restoration and renewal is urgent and immense…

Our determination to succeed and change the fortunes of our country must be equal to the challenge.”

‘’Those who love this country must drum it to the ears of the Hausa/Fulani nomads that they should kindly allow peace to rein in the Southwest. They must not take us for granted’’.

“Politics is not war. There must be a winner and a loser.”

4

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

‘PEACE ADVANTAGE’ Frequent Flyer Program

Overview PROGRAM OVERVIEW The Air Peace “Peace Advantage” Frequent Flyer Program is a customer initiative by Air Peace to show appreciation to & continuously reward its frequent flyers for their patronage from inception of Air Peace flight operations. The Peace Advantage FFP offers distinctive value to frequent fliers by delivering ‘recognition’, ‘rewards’ and differentiated service levels with an integrated customer interaction strategy to allow for continuous customer expression & feedback via a unique smartphone app (Android/iOS/blackberry 10 versions) and a dedicated website.

The “Peace Advantage” FFP aims to clearly communicate to Air Peace customers the value Air Peace places on their patronage & Air Peace’s commitment to building long lasting mutually beneficial relationships with its customers. The basic principle being that – The More You Fly with Air Peace, The More You Get Back From Air Peace.

The “Peace Advantage” Program rewards program members with an exchangeable loyalty currency called “Peace Points” for all their qualifying International, Regional & Domestic flights on Air Peace. Earned ”Peace Points” can be exchanged by program members for Air Peace flights nationwide, and in Future Air Peace promotional offers, gift merchandise, vouchers & other lifestyle related items from a dedicated online rewards catalogue – The Air Peace Loyalty Shop. In addition, program members will also be entitled to additional benefits – discounts & status benefits – from a network of Air Peace partners nationwide.

EARNING “PEACE POINTS” Peace Points are awarded to program members for flights flown as follows

The “Peace Advantage” program has 4 Member levels - Peace Bronze, Peace Silver, Peace Gold & Peace Platinum with the following benefits – TIER BENEFITS & QUALIFICATION

**Based on Availability

All individuals / passengers above 16 years of age will be eligible to enrol in the Peace Advantage Program, whilst to cater for our numerous passengers with families, Family Memberships will be allowed for passengers / individuals below 16 years of age, who will be enrolled under a parent / adult utilizing the Family Membership option.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

Ohakim’s trial stalled over lack of petition Andrew Orolua

Abuja ÏÏÏNon-availability in court of five petitions against the former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, on Thursday, stalled his trial over money laundering before the federal high court, Abuja.

At the resumed trial on Thursday, the defence counsel, Chief Awa Kalu (SAN), who was cross - examining the prosecution witness, Ishaya Dauda, asked the court to furnish him with the petitions written against the former governor that formed the basis for the investigation and his prosecution.

The prosecution witness who had earlier told the court that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) received five

petitions, said they are in file.

Not satisfied with the pattern of the questioning, prosecution counsel, Festus Keyamo said that if the defence has need of any document relating to the case he should approach him instead of harassing the witness who is a staff of EFCC. But Kalu said he needed to see the five petitions which the EFCC said formed the basis of the accused trial so that he can cross -examine on the foundation of the trial.

The witness, under cross examination, had told the court that the five petitions were the one written by Alliance for Redemption of Democracy, Imo state, Aggrieved Imo State Citizens, signed by one Hon. Emeka Ukaegbu, Citizen for Imo Economic Security, signed

by Ndubwueze and the written 27 representatives of the 27 Local Government Councils in the State.

Daudu said they investigated some of the petitions and stumbled into exhibits how the accused person made a cash payment of $2, 290,000.00 (Two Million, Two Hundred and Ninety Thousand Dollars), for a piece of land at Plot No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, otherwise known as No.60, Kwame Nkurumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

The trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola has adjourned further cross examination to December 7.

It would be recalled that led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Festus Keyamo, Mr. Dauda, a senior detective superintendent with the EFCC, had on 21 Octo-

L-r: Former National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Bello Haliru; former Governor of Jigawa, Alhaji Sule Lamido and Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, at the PDP 2015 National Conference held in Abuja… on Thursday.

Police arrest robbers with explosive devices, others in Ogun Abiodun Taiwo Abeokuta

ÏÏÏOgun State Police Command,

on Thursday, paraded four suspected bank robbery syndicate with explosive devices meant for operation in Ijebu Ode area of the state.

Parading the suspects at the Police Headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of finance and administration, Celestine Okoye said the suspected robbers were arrested last month with four explosive devices and connective wires.

The Deputy Commissioner said all the suspects were coming from Delta State to meet another leader of the syndicate simply identified as Wisdom, who was arranging the operation in Ijebu Ode. Three of the suspects; Gelebele

Aitlabor, Moses Demene and Friday Saborom are indigenes of Delta State, while the fourth, Mohammadu Kadiri was said to be of Edo State.

The Police boss explained that the case was still under investigation and would be charged to court at the appropriate time.

He said, "Information was received by Policemen on patrol at Ayepe town that some group of gang were seen with bags and on the receipt of the information, they were intercepted by the team.

"On search of the bags, four explosive devices with three connective wires were recovered from them. The suspects confessed that they were coming from Delta State to meet their gang leader named Wisdom in Ogun State, now at large to rob."

While speaking with newsmen,

Demene, who identified himself as the leader of the group said he was aware of a robbery plan on a bank in Ijebu Ode and had to call Gelebele who was in the possession of the explosives.

He said they were on their way to meet the leader of the group after alighting from a bus from Delta when an Okada riders suspected them and invited the police.

But Gelebele denied any knowledge of the robbery operation explaining that the explosives were used for fishing in Delta State before Demene called him that he was ready to pay N150, 000 for the devices.

According to him, he agreed to sell the devices because of his pregnant wife who needed money for her upkeep and that he had to follow Demene to Ijebu-Ode because he couldn't trust him with money.

ber said the accused person, who served as Imo State governor between 2007 and 2011, was invited to the EFCC office in 2013. ‘‘I gave him the petitions to go through and asked him if he would be willing to volunteer statement or not and he answered in the affirmative. I then administered the word of caution and EFCC statement form on him. I also asked him whether he understood the word of caution and he said yes; then, he signed the form, indicating that he understood the word of caution,’’ he told the court.

According to him, the accused person was given the EFCC Asset Declaration form to fill, in addition to his statements that were obtained five times between 2013 and 2015.

Imo contractors decry non-payment of executed projects Val Okara

Owerri ÏÏÏA group of contractors that executed road contracts for the Imo State government have decried non-payment of their money two years after the execution of the jobs.

The contractors, under the aegis of the Genuine Unpaid Imo Contractors said that payment certificates of the contracts were processed and forwarded by the relevant ministry and committees to the office of the state governor after site inspection, and due-certification of their work by inspection teams of engineers and contract administrators of the state government.

In a petition to the governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, dated November 9, 2015 and signed by some representative of the group, Mr Adbulkadir Ogurima and Godwin Oparaka, copies made available to newsmen in Owerri on Thursday, disclosed that both the payment certificate and inspection reports were duly acknowledged by the office of the state governor.

The aggrieved contractors noted that, after signing of the road contract, they (contractor) were prevailed by the state government to move to the site and commenced execution of the contracts without payment of mobilization fees.

Okorocha

5 News

APC wants PDP to apologise to Nigerians publicly Pita Chikwem

Minna ÏÏÏWorried by the volume of the stolen funds by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last 16 years, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger state has demanded that the Party should make apology to Nigerians publicly and return all the loots.

The APC in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, on Thursday, said if they truly want forgiveness, they should act honestly and sincerely return all wealth at state and Federal levels.

It should be recalled that the PDP recently begged Nigerians to forgive them of its 16 years of misrule.

Vatsa said: "It is a known fact that Nigerians have been gang raped financially for 16 years, so if the plea of the PDP to Nigerians is anything to go by and it is sincere from the heart, we are calling on the past PDP government of the last 16 years to make restitution to Nigerians publicly and return all illegal wealth they stole from their various states and Federal ministries.

Kano govt approves huge sum for Education ministry Yakubu Salisu

ÏÏÏKano

State government, after its weekly council meeting, approved a total sum of One billion, two hundred and ninety-six million, three hundred and ninetytwo thousand, nine hundred and thirty-two Naira sixty-eight kobo (N1, 296,392,932.68) for various ministries in the state with the ministry of Education receiving a large share.

According to the Kano State Commissioner of information, Youths and Culture, Alhaji Muhammad Garba, the council deemed it necessary to do so considering the deplorable conditions of some schools in the state, such as Government Girls Secondary School, Albasu, which got the sum of N142.557 million for the renovation of the school, adding that the council has set up a committee to assess and report back to the council general conditions of every government owned school in the state, so that the government would be able to look into their problems and come up with strategies to meet up to their needs.

Also, the sum of 17 million 393,759.00 was approved for the completion of Kano State student's hostel at University of Maiduguri.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

Saraki trial: S’Court stops CCT Continued from page 1 pending the determination of the appeal.

Presiding Justice John Fabiyi also ordered the federal government to filed her response brief of arguments to the appeal within seven days and Saraki seven days to filed his reply on point of law if any. Counsel to Saraki, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, had served the appellant brief of argument on Jacobs in the court room before the proceedings commenced.

Daudu ,SAN, yesterday

told the apex court the appeal is challenging the competent or validity of Saraki’s trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal which he claimed lacks jurisdiction. He said it is important for the apex court to decide the issue of jurisdiction, although the main appeal contained five issues which he said were novel, so as to prevent anarchy and promote the rule of law.

One of the issues raised in the appeal, the counsel stated relates to the constitution of the tribunal particularly its

quorum. “While the appeal is waiting it beholds on the tribunal to wait”, he added.

In his reply, Jacobs told the court that the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act,(ACJA) has intervened on issue of stay of criminal cases and remove the power of courts to grant stay on criminal proceedings.

He said the all courts are enjoined to enforce ACJA provisions in particular section 306 which specifically state that criminal proceedings shall not be stayed.

Stating that the prayer of the accused to stay his trial would set a bad precedent if granted, Jacobs pleaded thus: “I am making confession that the moment the Supreme Court stays proceeding the ACJA is dead because such a pronouncement will kill the Act.” Jacobs said he would prefer to write an undertaking to put the trial on hold pending the determination of the appeal than for the court to make pronouncement that will frustrate the trial of criminal cases in the country.

L-R: Head, Youth segment, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Aderinokun; Managing Director, Evans Publishing Group, Lukman Dauda; Chairman, Mobi Tutor Systems Ltd, Ayo Afolabi and Vice President, Segments, Usage and Retention, Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh at the launch of Airtel Smart Trybe Junior held in Lagos... on Thursday

Pro-Biafra agitators demonstrate in Owerri

ÎÎÎHundreds

of supporters of Pro- Biafra groups on Thursday marched along major streets in Owerri and called for the release of Mr Nnamdi Kanu, the acclaimed operator of the pirate Radio Biafra.

The demonstrators, comprising members of Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous People of Biafra, chanted pro-Biafra songs and war songs.

While the demonstration lasted, armed security operatives, including the police and the army, in trucks, monitored the situation.

A demonstrator, who refused to be named, said that the agitation was meant for the Federal Government to release Kanu unconditionally and allow Biafra people freedom.

He said that it was wrong for the Federal Government and its security agents to arrest Kanu because he supported and believed in the freedom of Biafra people. ``Kanu did not commit any crime to be arrested by

PDP, NLC, TUC to FG: Probe alleged N25b TSA fraud Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Buhari reads the riot act to civil servants ...Says govt won’t tolerate incompetence, corruption Continued from page 1 that there had been reports of intolerable level of incompetence and acts of sabotage as well as poor level of cooperation with ministers in the past by civil servants, which had frustrated faithful implementation of government policies and programmes.

Buhari, accordingly, asked the permanent secretaries to disseminate the warning down the line to civil servants that a new Sheriff had come to town and they must do things differently henceforth.

He said: “I must, however, sound a note of warning. It is within public domain that Ministers as Chief Execu-

tives of their Ministries as well as other Government officials involved in policy formulation and implementation often complain of the intolerable levels of incompetence, indifference or even suspected sabotage by some of the top echelon of the Civil Service. Even where Permanent Secretaries, in some instances, are exempted from these accusations, they are still responsible and liable for failing to provide the required leadership, control and direction.

“This Administration will not condone any excesses, indifference, incompetence, and corrupt practices in any form. Permanent Secretaries are therefore advised to note these words of caution

and disseminate them to all Civil Servants accordingly.”

According to the President, civil servants were reservoir of expertise, experience and loyalty, saying that he therefore considered them as a dependable ally in his quest to change the country for the better.

Promising to give support and encouragement to civil servants to do their work well, President Buhari urged them to key into the ‘change matra’ of his administration and lead its spread.

Accordingly, he called for a partnership between government and the civil servants in order to chart a new course for the country.

“I am sure the Permanent Secretaries and all other Civ-

il Servants appreciate the fact that I have always considered the Civil Service as an indispensable reservoir of experience, expertise and loyalty. I, therefore, consider the Service as a dependable ally in my quest to change this country for the better.

“If Nigeria has to realize its full potentials for greatness, its Civil Service must first understand and accept the “change mantra” of this Administration, and then lead its spread through all the institutions of governance and the economy.

This Administration shall give all the necessary support, protection and encouragement to the Civil Service Continued on page 12

the Nigerian Government and we cannot hold ourselves back in asking for his release even if we die in the process,’’ the demonstrator said.

He said that the members of the group had carried out the demonstration in Enugu, Aba, and Port Harcourt. ``We are in Owerri today and hope to extend this move to other towns within Biafra territory till we achieve our aim,’’ he said.

The demonstrators wore T-Shirts with Biafra inscriptions and flags.

The three markets in Owerri -- Owerri Main Market, New Market and Owerri Relief Market -- were shut while some private schools and shop owners closed their businesses to avoid any ugly experiences.

When contacted on why armed policemen were accompanying agitators, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Andrew Enwerem, declined comment. ``Please I do not have any comment on that my brother,’’ Enwerem said.

ÎÎÎThe Peoples Democratic

Party, PDP, on Thursday, called for comprehensive investigation into the allegation involving the payment of commission to a company believed to be owned by a northern All Progressives Congress (APC) state governor and a South-West APC leader for collecting monies meant for the Single Treasury Account (TSA) in violation Banks and other Institutions Act (BOFIA Act).

Also, two labour unions in the country, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Thursday in Abuja joined the PDP in calling for the probe of the alleged fraud in the TSA. The PDP acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, made the call in his speech at the one-day national conference of the party in Abuja.

Secondus said the party demands the prosecution

of anybody indicted in the fraudulent payment of N25 billion as commission for collecting monies meant for TSA. He further called on the APC government to put a stop to its various indiscretions in its running of government in the interest of the survival of the nation’s hard-won democracy.

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, noted that the greatest service PDP could offer to Nigeria and her democracy is to set up a shadow cabinet to benchmark the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government on its promises.

Meanwhile, the NLC and TUC has called on the Federal Government to investigate allegation of fraud in the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

The unions made the call at a one-day public lecture with the theme: “Cost of Good Governance with Special Focus on the National Assembly”.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÏÏÏArik

L-R: Baba Aladura, Stephen Adeoye; Baba Aladura, Hezekiah Amusan; Lagos State chapter chairman, Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria (CSUCN), Supt. Apostle Joseph Adagba; Supt. Apostle, Omoniyi Owomoyela and Chairman, National Executive Council, Special Apostle, Olusesi Sowande during the second annual general conference of Lagos State chapter of CSUCN, held in Lagos… on Thursday.

Senate accuses BPE top shots of sell-out on power reform projects Olufemi Samuel Abuja

ÏÏÏAnomalies

responsible for stifling the growth of power sector in Nigeria came to the fore, on Thursday, as the Senate averred that some top officials of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) had been conniving with investors in the power sector to slow down the progress in efforts by the government to improve upon electricity generation in Nigeria.

Chairman, Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Power, Senator Abubakar Kyari, made this known during a chat with top officials of the BPE who turned up for the concluding part of the Senate public hearing on power.

Kyari said he was reliably informed that some staff of BPE were board members of the Generating and Distribution Companies, and had, in the process, been in league with the companies to slow

down progress on initiative by the government to improve the lot in the sector.

He said, “I have the protection of the Senate to say what we have gathered. There are some staff of the Bureau of Public Enterprises that are board members of Generation Companies and Distribution Companies who were given Prado and Land Cruiser Jeeps.

They are conniving with the companies to slow down efforts by the government to reposition the power sector.

The Senate spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, who is also a member of the Senate Committee, noted that part of the problems the power sector has been grappling with anchored on lack or little coordination between the power sector and the Ministry of Power.

He said while the BPE appeared to be mustering more than sufficient power on issues surrounding power sector, the Ministry of Pow-

er appeared to lack the required clout to fully take charge and work things out in the interest of Nigeria.

He urged the BPE to, henceforth, act with sincerity of purpose in its dealings with foreign investors, who were management contractors on the on-going power sector projects in the country.

BPE, he said, should be seen to be negotiating in favour of Nigeria, adding, “It needs to be technically and morally responsible to the country. It seems that the BPE is short-changing the country” Responding, the Director General, BPE, Mr. Benjamin Diki, said no one within the agency had compromised his or her integrity, adding, “We are there to protect Nigerians. Whatever companies that are paying or have given to their board members as privileges should be referred to the respective companies. Whether the privileges is right or not I don’t know.

Akure youths tip indigenes as next gov ’Tosin Ajuwon Akure

ÏÏÏThe

Akure Youth Council (AYC) has supported the agitation for the “Akure Agenda” being propagated by leaders of the ancient town that an indigene be elected the next governor of Ondo State in the forthcoming guber poll.

Its President, Tuyi Adekanbi, said it was high time an Akure indigene emerged the governor.

Ondo State was created in 1976.

Adekanbi noted that Akure as a kingdom which comprised AkureSouth-North, Idanre, and Ifedore council areas had always have the highest number of votes in the state.

It disclosed that the votes had been used in supporting political aspirants from other divisions to win elections as governor in the state. The statement read; “AYC enjoys the indigenes of Akure and its environs who are into politics, spiritual and traditional leaders, as well as opinion leaders, to come together and support the current agitation for an Akure man to be the next governor of our dear ‘Sunshine State’, in other to put Akure city in its rightful leadership position in the state.

“We, as Akure youths, we can no longer fold our hands when our beloved town and people are relegated to the background and we continued to play a second fiddle

in the political arrangement of the state. We urged our parents, brothers, sisters and mates to join hands with our revered kabiyesi, the Deji of Akure, to make this dream come to reality,” he said.

The group also urged both the Federal and State Government to as a matter of urgency, to commence repair and rehabilitation works on the deplorable Akure-Iju road in Akure North council area of the state. It said the road had become a death trap to motorists and other road users alike, plying the busy road that link Ekiti and Kogi states and stressed that prompt rehabilitation of the road would boost economic activities among the affected states.

Air, has launched a Self-Service Kiosk, in addition to launching two extra-payment options to broaden payment means available to passengers.

The Self Service Kiosk allows passengers make bookings and pay for Arik Air tickets at a kiosk without the intervention of a human being and is the first of its kind in Nigeria.

A statement by Mr. Banji Ola, Head, Public Relations, said the Kiosks were being rolled out across Nigeria in phases starting with Lagos, adding that it was currently available at Arik Air City Office at 44, Toyin Street Ikeja, Lagos.

Banji said the launch of a Self Service Kiosk followed the intro-

7 News

Arik launches service kiosk duction of two other payment options: Globalpay and Internet Banking/Bank Branch Payment (NIBSS Ebills Pay).

According to him, Global Pay, a product of Zenith Bank, allows the Verve card, MasterCard, Visa Card holders and Zenith Bank Internet banking users make payment for Arik Air tickets on the Arik Air mobile website.

He said the Internet Banking and Branch Payment option which went live on November 2, 2015, enabled passengers book and pay for tickets on Arik Air website using their internet banking.

Ebonyi trains 1,000 unemployed youths Jacob Ogodo Abakaliki

ÏÏÏOver

one thousand unemployed youths in Ebonyi state have been trained on Information Communication Technology.

Flagging off the training at the Akanu Ibiam Intternational Conference Centre, Abakaliki, Governor Dave Umahi, represented by the state Head of Service, Dr. Chamberlin Nwele, said the reason for the training was that most of the youths, especially the school leavers roam about in search of white collar jobs, without the technological wherewithal to tackle the contemporary socio-economic challenges.

Lalong to partner political office holders Chijioke Kingsley Jos

ÏÏÏPlateau State Governor, Bar-

rister Simon Bako Lalong, has said that he would properly harness the Changed agenda of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration particularly in the area of decision-making issues through critical engagements with representatives and political office holders.

He made this commitment during a one-day interface session for elected leaders and citizens organised by the National Orientation Agency, (NOA), in collaboration with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation, which took place at the Crest Hotel, in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

Speaking through his deputy, Prof. Sonny Tyoden, Lalong said

“The reason for government’s accelerated approval for this exercise is because we are also aware that over 1,000 online jobs are available on a daily basis with attractive returns’’.

He assured the participants that his administration would not relent in its determination to gainfully provide for the people of the state in the area of employment, infrastructural development and human empowerment.

Umahi explained that the thematic focus of the training was to get unemployed youths of the state to be economically viable to qualify to secure employment either in private or public sectors or become self-employed.

that projects in the state would be determined by the community needs assessment and impute from citizens and stakeholders.

He urged the people to use the rare privilege provided to them by government to propel the people driven agenda, noting that the chat was aimed at providing the platform to define windows of opportunity for proper participation in government.

Lalong

8

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

Politics

NNAMDI KANU

Æs

Biafra: Group to drag Buhari to ICC for extrajudicial killings

A human rights group, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) has concluded arrangement to drag President Muhammadu Buhari before the International Criminal Court of Justice for extra- judicial killing of unarmed peaceful protesters in Port Hacourt.

They were demanding for the unconditional release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB ) and Executive Director of Radio Biafra, Comrade Nnamdi Kanu, who had been illegally detained.

The group condemned Buhari

for ordering security men to shoot at sight, at the protesters which led to the death of few of them, insisting that Buhari has committed an offence against the innocent citizens of Nigeria which he pledged to protect while taking the oath of office.

It criticised the series of attacks against the activists of IPOB by Military Personnel and anti-riot policemen on the orders of President Buhari that the protesters -IPOB should be shot at sight.

CHRSJ’s Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Sulaiman, frowned at the way and manner the un-

armed peaceful protesters in Port Harcourt and part of the South Eastern and South South Nigeria were being attacked in a democratic era, describing the attack as undemocratic, anti-people and criminal in nature, insisting that President Buhari led –Federal Government has committed a serious offence against humanity.

He added that the blood of those who lost their lives and sustained injuries during the brute attack of IPOB would continue to haunt Mr. President.

The war over resources in Edo Titus Akhigbe Benin

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has shed more light on the shocking details of sleaze that characterised the administration of former Governor Lucky Igbinedion.

He announced that the government is planning to look into the unlawful withdrawal of $31 million from government coffers for questionable business dealings which were clear abuse of power by the Igbinedion administration.

Speaking to members of the civil society groups and students of the Ambrose Alli University who thronged the Government House in their thousands to pledge their support to the government on its policies, especially the Land Use Charge Law, the governor said the Igbinedion family had thrown caution to the wind and was using its television and radio stations to wage a war against him because he recovered over 200,000 hectares of land illegally dashed Chief Gabriel Igbinedion by his son, Lucky, when he was governor. stressing that he was not deterred by the media campaign against him, the governor said he would do what is always right in the interest of the Edo taxpayers no matter whose ox is gored.

His words: “Let me thank all of you for coming out in this

huge number to express your solidarity, your support and your endorsement of my stewardship here in Osadebey Avenue.

“Let me assure you, I will continue without fear of man, but with the fear of God to provide leadership that will deliver prosperity to the great people of this great state. To be able to do that, everybody, and I mean, everybody born of a woman that lives in this state must be subjected to the rule of law.

“In the interest of Edo people, even the one yet unborn, I want to be remembered after my stewardship not only for roads, hospitals, schools, much more importantly, I want to be remembered as the man who brought an end to exemption. There is no more exemption in Edo State. I want to be remembered as the man who took from those who have bastardised, raped and privatised the resources of Edo State, used our money to build their private universities, and walk around our streets when they are supposed to be in prison.

“Let me share with you some of the things that are going on and why they are angry. I did not promise to make everybody happy, what I promise was to make the majority happy. I will publish records in black and white and Edo people will be shocked how they have been raped by CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE Edo State Governor

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

9 Politics

People should be patient with Buhari – Lawmaker He is a member representing Ifo Constituency 2, in Ogun State House of Assembly.

In this interview with OGUNTADE ISMAILA, Hon. Ganiyu Oyedeji spoke on various issues affecting the state and nation.

Excerpts: Can we meet you?

I am Ganiyu Alani Oyedeji, attended Yaba College of Technology for my National Diploma(ND) and also the University of Lagos (UNILAG) where I had my first and second Degrees.

I started my career with Federal Mortgage Bank and was the Head of Human Resources after which I moved to Flour Mill Nigeria PLC as Management Staff in-charge of Human Resources (HR) on assignment as Employee and Industrial Relation Manager before I resigned and went into politics.

As a new legislator in the Ogun State House of Assembly, what are the challenges so far?

As a matter of fact I don’t have challenges in terms of governance, we have the executive and legislative arms of government and we are in charge of legislation; we are doing our job to ensure that we key-in into what his excellency has being doing to ensure that the state moves to the next level. Again, we have done quite some things in the area of salary and we thank God that our governor is one of the state that did not owe any employee in Nigeria. When the issue of bail out came up, we found out that deduction was made from some employee at the state and local government level and the governor actually brought the request to us for deliberation because we know that the career civil servant are

Buhari

Amosun

the engine room of any government, we ensured that we went ahead and approved the request to enable his excellency to be able to get the bail out. Apart from that, the relationship between the executive and the legislative of this 8th assembly is very cordial and we hope it will also continue to ensure the dividend of democracy actually get to our people.

On the issue of bail-out, Ogun State reportedly got N20 billion. Is it justifiable and how will it be spent?

Its justified because it affords the state to get loan at a single digit rate of 9 percent compared to when they have to pay more than 20 percent to the bank. Apart from this single digit rate, it also afforded the state to repay the loan for the next 20 years so that what they will be paying per year definitely will be reduced compared to if we have to take the loan from the bank; though his excellency said instead of paying the loan for 20 years, he will ensure that the loan will be paid in just 10 years.

So, to that extent you will see that it is going to free up a lot of fund that would have been used to pay interest which can also be used in ensuring other developmental activities in the state.

There are speculations on the creation of new local government in Ogun State, how

real is it?

His excellency has promised that there will be more creations of Local Council Development Areas (L.C.D.A) in the state. But, as at today that we are speaking and to the best of my knowledge there is no bill to that effect at the State House of Assembly. So, I should be able to say more about it by the time his excellency brings the bill to the house. Though, he has promised that there will be a referendum and the leaders will come to the State Assembly to defend it, but, as at today we have not received any bill to that effect.

Community leaders in your constituency recently cried out to the state governor on the decline of rural infrastructures and the slow nature of work on the road project from Sango to Ojodu-Berger since 2013, what is the development on the project?

Well, I will only appeal to my people to be patient with our excellency; he has promised that all the on-going projects will completed during this tenure and I believe that he is going to do that.

Recently, we are all aware of some palliative measures going on now on that road to ensure that our people do not have problem. We also realized the fact that we are in the rainy season and immediately it stops, work will continue on the

Hon Oyedeji project. So, I can assure that the road will not be abandoned.

In terms of Governance, it has been six month that the new government came on board; people have the feelings that APC-led-Buhari administration is slow in decision making. What is your view?

As far as I am concerned, it’s better to be slow and get things done in the right way rather than to rush and get things done in a wrong way. The people are saying that His Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari is too slow in governance, but, I don’t think they are right in that perception because what governance is all about is to ensure that the people get what they need. When we look at it in terms of electricity you will agree with me that it has become stable compared to what we used to be in the past administration. The price of Kerosene has come down to fifty naira per liter.

In the area of tackling corruption, it is enough for people to do the right thing at the right time.

So, if all these things are in place, I don’t see any reason the people

should say he is slow in decision making even when the new ministers have just been sworn-in. As far as I am concerned, mine is for the people to get the dividend of democracy. I thank God that all the ministerial nominees have been approved by the National Assembly and I am sure that we are going to see more in terms of performance.

The legislators in the past from this constituency usually have a run-in with the executive governor under which they served.

What is your relationship like with Governor Ibikunle Amosun?

As far as I am concerned, the relationship is very cordial. One thing that the people before us complained about is a question of disagreement between the executive and the legislators. During the electioneering campaign, many people asked me the same question and I told them that mine is going to be a different ball game. So far so good, we have had a cordial relationship and I don’t believe that you have to be confrontational before you get anything for your constituency.

You must be tried, court tells ex-presidential candidate

Justice Mohammed

Justice B. O. Quadri of the Federal High Court, in Port Harcourt, the River State capital, has overruled a preliminary objection filed by G.I. Abibo, SAN, in a case involving a former presidential candidate of the Hope Democratic Party, (HDP), Chief Ambrose Ambrose

Owuru, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), for a phony land deal to the tune of N66m.

According to statement signed

by EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, Owuru was on August 2, 2013 arraigned before the late

Justice Suleiman Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, on a five-count charge bordering on uttering, forgery and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N66million.

The complainant had alleged that he paid the sum of N60million through a Skye Bank ac-

count, to the accused person for a property located on Nzimiro Street, Amadi Flat, Port Harcourt sometimes in March, 2011.

He also alleged that he could not take possession of the property, as the accused person had allegedly sold it to one Chief AusCONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Politics 10 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 gang masters.

“You are here looking for a small parcel of land and Lucky Igbinedion, former governor gave out to his own father, Gabriel Igbinedion over 200,000 acres of government land. They took that land on the ground that they will use it for mechanised farming. That is what is in the books but what is on ground is that, Igbinedion takes this land and gives this land to cocoa farmers, some of them from Edo, some from Yoruba land. These cocoa farmers will farm and sweat to grow their cocoa on government land, Igbinedion will sit in his house on which he is not paying ground rent and is collecting royalties. Is Igbinedion the Oba of Benin? The great Oba of the great Benin Kingdom never subjected his people to that level of exploitation. Can you accept that one chief collects royalties as if he is a traditional ruler.

“Based on the powers vested in me, as the elected Governor of Edo State, I used those privileges to revoke the over 200,000 hectares of land that the Igbinedion, the son gave to Igbinedion the father. I revoked it and I returned it to government.

“Let me tell you what I have done, I told those Cocoa farmers, you are Nigerians, you do not need resident permit to live in any part of Nigeria as a Nigerian citizen. Why will a Nigerian be asked to pay rent on a farmland to a chief who collects royalties and I directed, ‘you go and do your farming and whatever you make from it, you pay tax, personal income tax to Edo State Government to ensure that Edo people have the resources to develop Edo State and I said never again should you pay money to a chief.

“That is the battle line that Igbinedion has been fighting and he tells me he is above the law and I tell him, if you fault

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

Shocking details of how Igbinedion abused his office to enrich his father, by Oshiomhole “That is the battle line that Igbinedion has been fighting and he tells me he is above the law and I tell him, if you fault the law, he will go to prison. He must obey the law” the law, he will go to prison. He must obey the law. Laws made

by Edo State Government and laws made by the Federal Government. If he does not want to obey those laws, he will have to relocate.

“You need to hear as students of AAU how Igbinedion raided Edo State resources. You know that in AAU, we have College of Medicine where we are training doctors. In 2000, when Lucky was in government, AAU was producing Medical students.

These medical students are supposed to be attached to a hospital for their clinicals.

“The Igbinedion family decided that AAU will not use the State-owned Hospital. They decided on record that our Central Hospital will be reserved for Igbinedion University. Some of you will remember that AAU medical students had to go to

Gabriel Igbinedion

University of Jos Teaching Hospital for their clinical at their own expense. When UniJos could no longer take them, they made arrangement to take them to Uniben. When the authorities found out the capacity of Uniben could not accommodate them, AAU students were stranded. In the end, they ended up with Irrua Specialist Hospital.

“Now, what did they do with the Edo State owned Central Hospital? Igbinedion the son, entered into agreement with Igbinedion the father that the Central Hospital shall be reserved for the medical students of Igbinedion University, Okada. So whereas Edo State Government owns a university, their own students were denied the use of Edo State-owned hospital. Edo State hospital was obliged to teach students of Igbinedion University, Okada.

Lucky Igbinedion

“They did agree, that Igbinedion University will pay some fees to the Central Hospital.

The amount to be paid was not stated. Year-in, year-out , Edo State Government and the taxes that you pay were being used to provide facilities for the Central Hospital to teach the students of Igbinedion University and they paid zero cost. Edo State Government paid the lecturers, the doctors and provides all the consumables in the hospitals and Gabriel Igbinedion as the owner of Igbinedion University collects on average about One million naira from every medical student meanwhile, Edo State Government incurred the cost of training these students. Is that right? Edo people fund the training and Igbinedion collects the money and AAU cannot use Edo State hospital. They had to use Irrua.

“When I got this information, I called for the MoU and read it.

I directed the Commissioner of Health to write to Igbinedion University to draw their attention. I asked how much do they pay and they said about a million naira. I said, how much have they paid for the past six years they have been using the hospital as at that time and they said nothing. So I revoked it and I directed that the services we had already provided using Edo tax payers money, that Igbinedion must pay for it.

“So I directed the Commissioner to write to terminate the MoU and to demand that Igbinedion pay about N30 million per year for those periods and I directed he should be charged to court and we will prosecute and if we convict him, because

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

You must face trial, court tells ex-presidential candidate CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 tin Omire.

He further stated that the accused person allegedly collected additional N6million from him to ‘‘settle’’ Omire.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Ambrose Owuru, on or about the 7th day of March 2011 at Port Harcourt, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of Sixty Million Naira(N60,000,000) from Ikechukwu Eze on the pretence that you have sold to him

four (4) plots of land situated at Plot 44A, Amadi Layout- Port Harcourt, a pretext which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.” Another count reads; “That you, Ambrose Owuru, on or about the 7th day of March 2011 at Port Harcourt, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did alter a forged “Certificate of Occupan-

cy” dated 20th of March 1990 purportedly issued by the Rivers State Lands and Survey covering Plot 44A Amadi Layout, Port Harcourt and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(2) ( c ) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 of the Revised Edition (Law of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007, and punishable under section 1(2) of the same Act.” The accused person had pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.

At the last sitting, the defense counsel had raised a preliminary objection before the late Jus-

tice Aliyu to quash the charges preferred against the accused person on the grounds that he already had a civil matter against him (the complainant) in another court.

However, while delivering his ruling, Justice Quadri overruled the preliminary objection filed by the defence counsel, on the grounds that the criminal trial would not obstruct proceedings in the said civil matter.

Justice Quadri therefore adjourned the matter to February 1, 2016 for commencement of trial.

Ambrose

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

11 Politics

Biafra: Group to drag Buhari to ICC for extra-judicial killings CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Oshiomhole

Gabriel Igbinedion

Lucky Igbinedion

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

Igbinedion the father, properties of Edo people. Even Pastor Ize Iyamu, as Secretary to Government, he acquired a number of Edo State GRA properties. Even the one that his wife is using for business, who owns it? How much did he acquire it? How many blocks of flat does he have there? Where did he work before? Those are the people who want to govern.

Now when you use your power to take so much, you will pay.

Every man is entitled to land.

In the future, if one man takes all the land, which one will you get? Now we say, pay Land Use Charge and they refuse.

“When I am fighting, I fight with clean conscience; I do not fight for my privileges. I fight to secure the collective future of our people. My motives are not personal. My mission in government is not to bring hardship to anyone. I just want to correct what is wrong and get going. I am not here to look at yesterday but if you over do it and you continue, we need to put an end to it.”

Leaders of the civil society groups and student leaders of the AAU who led the people on a solidarity rally to the Government House pledged their support to the governor even as they said the Land Use Charge was a law which would ensure even distribution of land and was in the interest of the masses.

Comrade Sulaiman who declared his total support for the peaceful protest said that the arrest of Kanu is illegal, tribalistic, unlawful and unconstitutional, and demanded his unconditional release. He condemned the President Buhari for ordering security agents to face the harmless peaceful protesters with brute force which is against the principles of democracy that gives the citizens freedom to assemble and protest to press home demands, According to him: “The order given to security agents to shoot peaceful protesters showed the level of religious and ethnic bigotry on the part of President Buhari. But, we have informed our lawyers to prepare our paper on the attack and file it before the International Criminal court of Justice on the allegation of ex-

Nnamdi Kanu

tra judicial killings.

“We believe that leadership should be about service to humanity, not to use brute force of despotic days of military era on

the innocent citizens of the country. We want international communities as well to investigate the regime of President Buhari”, he stressed.

The war over resources in Edo Buhari’s Cabinet: Tested

this is not something you voluntarily give him, we know the implication when you have internal family transaction. When a family member uses his office to confer state asset to a family member; Igbinedion the son to Igbinedion the father, I know what it means .They were able to cover it, but now, it can never be business as usual. If he doesn’t pay that money quickly, we will calculate the interest on it and he will pay it.

“You have also heard of Igbinedion School of Nursing.

Where do they train? Igbinedion carries these students to Stella Obasanjo Hospital, our own Edo State Hospital that is run with Edo taxpayer’s money. So you pay the cost of training nurses for Igbinedion. Igbinedion collects 280,000 naira per term from each Nursing Student and you are paying for it. We pay for it, then Igbinedion collects the benefit, put in his pocket.

“Should I have allowed them to continue to do that? You need to know why they are angry. So I terminated the School of Nursing that they can no longer use Edo State facilities to train nurses for Igbinedion University. Am I wrong to have done that? That is the fight.

“Now in the GRA here, I am going to publish all the assets, government owned lands that Igbinedion the son has ceded to

hands – Olapade Agoro

The best time to know the true beauty value of any woman is very early in the morning, when she gets out of bed. The lazy one gets out of bed leaving it rough, not laid and her person unkept, smelling in tardiness.

The real beauty will get out of bed looking fresh like an early morning rose radiating colour of strength, life and love to behold.

President Muhammadu Buhari and his newly announced cabinet members, one must confess are coming on board the affairs of Nigeria at this particular period of their roads strewn with pebbles, rough stones, gullies and bumps.

To be sincere, this is not the best of time for any right thinking and well meaning individual trying to envy President Buhari in his coat of many colours of national problems, distasteful and horror challenges.

In the last 20 years or so, Nigeria has never been this too bad and with tough to handle challenges.

Political tinkering apart, one’s core value nationalistic opinion sharing, one can equate some of those in the newly set up Buhari’s cabinet as men and women with tested hands just waking up ready to radiate colour of strength, and to smell arrogance of love vapour as an early morning rose.

Agoro

These men and women, unless they are prepared to be stoned to death and buried under the rubbles of shame by overburdened, over abused, over traumatized and over worked Nigerians, cannot afford to fail in the arduous task they willfully and willingly brought upon themselves with their change mantra.

If the truth must be faced for the benefit of all, the first to be realistically changed must Buhari, and his men and women from rhetorical speech making into progressive actions practicality.

President Buhari, like late Sage Obafemi Awolowo could be rightly said are particularly two of the nation’s political leaders who have in the past roughly, painfully and bitterly tasted Nigeria’s beer

parlour judicial and electoral horrors of shame.

Perhaps this was why, President Buhari, in the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday 9th November 2015 at the swearing in of Professor Mahmud Yakubu the new Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its five National Commissioners, rightly enthused among others that “It was long overdue to address what he described as shortcomings in the nation’s judicial system”.

He went further to say: “Similarly, perpetrators of electoral violence and thuggery should not be spared. Unless our system stops covering up all forms of electoral malpractices we can hardly get it right”.

These men and women now trusted by Buhari to help him work out solutions to Nigeria’s socio-economic and political problems must be unanimous starting from the block of judicial reform and electoral evils corrections.

After all, almost all of them with the exemption of one or two recent political office sweet honey tasters could be said to have been active partakers in what led to and or the fall out of what Buhari bitterly complained of as ‘judicial shortcomings’ and ‘electoral evil malpractices.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

Oil swap probe: Reps issue deadline to NNPC, 2 other agencies Henry Omunu, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe House of Represen-

tatives on Thursday issued a November 18 deadline to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Petroleum Product Market-

ing Company (PPMC) and the Department of Crude Oil Division to respond to queries over the oil swap initiative of the Jonathan administration.

Chairman of the House ad hoc committee investi-

gating the oil swap initiative, Rep. Zakari Mohammed gave the deadline to the three agencies, saying the committee would trigger the powers of the House to subpoena the chief executives of the agencies if they

failed to available their submissions over the oil swap deal as requested by the ad hoc committee.

Mohammed declared that “the 8th House of Representatives will protect the rights of Nigerians to know

as the documents needed by this committee are in the possession of these three agencies.

“If by Wednesday, November 18, we don’t get their submissions, the full weight of the law will be brought to bear, including the subpoena of those involved. It appears the anticorruption stance of the present administration is yet to be embraced by the NNPC as we believe the rot in the agency and the oil industry runs into billions of Naira,” he said.

The lawmaker assured that the ad hoc committee will get to the bottom of the allegations surrounding the oil swap initiative, adding that the current probe will

not go the way of past investigations when the NNPC shunned invitations to appear before the House or any of its committees.

According to Mohammed, the ad hoc committee has received submissions from the Customs, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the the Nigerian Extractive Industry and Transparency Initiative (NEITI) while it is experiencing difficulties with the other three agencies.

He accused the NNPC of trying to subvert the probe of the oil swap initiative as the corporation has consistently failed to respond to queries and make submissions to the committee as requested.

Buhari reads the riot act to civil servants Continued from page 6 L-R: Pastor Samson Laoye; Rev. Mrs Tola Oyediran; Amb. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu and others during the condolence visit of members of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry to the residence of late H.I.D Awolowo at Ikenne, Ogun State… on Thursday.

Photo: DAVID IDOWU

N413b subsidy claim: We’re selling our last stock, say marketers ÎÎÎSome

accredited fuel marketers on Thursday said the failure of Federal Government to release the approved N413 billion subsidy debt was disrupting their importation schedule.

The marketers, who made their feelings known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, also said that fuel importation has stopped and that they were selling their last stock.

They said they were concerned that the money had not been released one week after the approval was granted.

The marketers alleged that the delay was affecting loading activities at

depots and had led to the shutting down of some filling stations due to nonavailability of petroleum products.

“Government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, has not released any subsidy claims as promised.

“As I am talking to you we have been directed by the CBN to go and meet the Debt Management Office for clarification.

“All our efforts to get the said money have been in vain and to start importing has been a serious problem.

“There is no money to back up the cheques presented to the marketers.

“We do not even know

the basis for the clarification of the cheques, but we are aware that there is no money in the account.

“It is like giving the marketers cheques only to discover that there was no money in the account.

“Nothing like importing now because all marketers are angry because of the failed promised,” one of the marketers, who pleaded anonymity, said.

The marketer said; “If you go outside Lagos you know how much they are selling fuel per litre now, it is the last stock that we are selling now.

“It is unfortunate that the Department of Petroleum (DPR) is saying that we are hoarding the

products, which is not the truth.

“We have not collected a single coin from the money.

“If not the fact that some of the marketers are making some money from other products, how do you think we will be able to get anything for now?

“We have been summoned by DPR for a meeting this morning to settle the crisis, we are only managing what we have in stock at present,” he said.

The Federal Government, had on Nov. 3, approved the sum of N413 billion to petroleum products marketers as the outstanding payment for subsidy claims.

to do its work. I have great faith in the ability and quality of the Nigerian Civil Service to provide stability and the desired change.

“This Administration and the Civil Service can thus develop a constructive partnership in charting a course for the change that Nigerians are looking forward to.”

Buhari further noted that the focus of his administration, which he said was voted into power by popular mandate to implement clearly articulated programmes and policies with a view to re-generating and re-invigorating the national economy, were creation of employment for the youth, fighting corruption, tackling insecurity, and diversifying the economic base with emphasis on agricultural development, solid minerals exploitation as well as provision of infrastructural services.

“This, at a time when the nation’s economy and revenue base are very low, will task the capability and capacity of any Government.

This is why you have been chosen and you should all re-

gard your appointments as an emergency call to duty,” he said.

He also emphasized that the success or otherwise of the government would largely depend on the competence, ability and capacity of the permanent secretaries to discharge their duties most effectively and efficiently.

He said: “Permanent Secretaries are the Chief Advisers to their respective Ministers and are responsible for safeguarding public funds and ensuring the propriety of expenditures under their control. They are also responsible for coordinating their respective bureaucracies as well as ensuring effective implementation of all approved Government programmes and policies.”

According to the President, the selection process that led to the appointment of the new permanent secretaries was a reflection of the ‘change’ mantra.

He expressed optimism that the new process would throw up the best among the civil servants to occupy the sensitive position of permanent secretaries.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

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13

International14

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

UN, EU, AU seek urgent talks on Burundi crisis

Burundian police and soldiers guard a deserted street in Bujumbura, Nov. 8, 2015. The United Nations, African Union and European Union are calling for talks between Burundi's government and the opposition to resolve the country's deepening political crisis.

ÏÏÏThe

United Nations, African Union and European Union are calling for talks between Burundi's government and the opposition to resolve the country's deepening political crisis.

In a joint statement Thursday top officials of all three bodies said it is urgent that the sides meet, either in the Ethiopian or Ugandan capitals, under the mediation of Ugandan President

Yoweri Museveni.

The U.N. Security Council is expected to unanimously adopt a resolution Thursday calling for an end to violence in Burundi and threatening sanctions against anyone who stands in the way of the search for a peaceful solution.

The measure expresses concern about "ongoing escalation of insecurity" in Burundi and the lack of dialogue among its par-

ties.

Diplomats in New York have said the U.N. could rush peacekeepers into Burundi if calm does not return soon to the East African nation.

Authorities in Burundi, however, say the country is "not in flames," and that there is no chance of mass murder.

"The Security Council has come together in the course of this

week to ensure we do everything possible to increase the pressure on the authorities in Bujumbura and warn against the dangers of mass atrocities," British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said Wednesday. The African Union also could intervene in Burundi with a peacekeeping force.

Violence erupted in April when President Pierre Nkurunziza announced he would run for a third term, a move the opposition called unconstitutional.

Nkurunziza was re-elected in July in a vote the opposition boycotted.

Election-related violence has killed at least 240 people and sent tens of thousands fleeing for their lives across the border.

The United States, European Union and Burundi's African neighbors fear the violence could result in another civil war between Tutsis and Hutus - the same kind of fighting that brought on the genocide of Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda in 1994.

White House officials say President Barack Obama spoke of his "deep concern" about the situation in Burundi in a conversation Wednesday with South African President Jacob Zuma.

Obama asked Zuma to keep working with others in the region to call for calm and push for talks to bring an end to the crisis.

Obama congratulates Suu Kyi, Myanmar on 'historic' vote

ÏÏÏU.S.

President Barack Obama has congratulated Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi for the success of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party which appears headed for a landslide victory in the country's elections.

A White House statement said Obama called the Nobel Peace Laureate to commend "her for her tireless efforts and sacrifice over so many years to promote a more inclusive, peaceful, and democratic" Myanmar, also known as Burma.

"The president noted that the election and formation of a new government could be an important step forward in Burma’s democratic transition and the effort to forge a more peaceful and

prosperous future," the statement said.

Obama also called Myanmar President Thein Sein to offer his contratulations following the November 8 "historic elections."

"The two leaders discussed the importance for all parties to respect the official results once announced and to work together with a spirit of unity to form an inclusive, representative government that reflects the will of the people," the White House said With results continuing to trickle in, opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) appear headed for a landslide victory.

The current government, led by the military-backed Union Soli-

darity and Development Party (USDP), continues to gives signs that it will respect the outcome of the vote.

The NLD said Wednesday it received a promise on behalf of Thein Sein that "the government will pursue a peaceful transfer" of power once the NLD victory is confirmed.

Myanmar's powerful army, which still wields enormous political control, has also hinted it will respect the results. "[Myanmar's armed forces] will do what is best in cooperation with the new government during the post-election period," said senior Myanmar army General Min Aung Hlaing in a Facebook statement.

Under the 2008 constitution, the

military automatically controls 25 percent of all parliamentary seats, and maintains control of several key government posts, including defense, interior and border security. The latest results from the country's Union Election Commission show the NLD has claimed 196 out of 243 seats, or more than 80 percent of the results announced so far for the lower house of parliament.

Obama

World powers to bridge gaps in second round of Syria talks

ÏÏÏSyria's political turmoil and

Islamic State unrest will be high on the agenda for U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry as he leaves Thursday on a three-nation trip.

In Austria, Kerry will join officials of other world powers Saturday for the second round of talks

on Syria’s political future, following their initial round in late October.

In a communique, 17 world powers, the United Nations and the European Union agreed on the importance of accelerating diplomatic efforts to end Syria’s

civil unrest. They also agreed to a U.N.-led process that would include talks between the Syrian government and the moderate opposition, along with a possible cease-fire.

But stark differences remain over some issues, including the

status of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

At the end of the first round of talks in Vienna, Kerry said, “[Russian Foreign Minister] Sergei Lavrov, [Iranian] Foreign Minister [Mohammad Javad] Zarif and I and others agree to disagree.

Police fire grenades at striking S’ African Parliament staff

ÏÏÏAnti-riot

police fired stun grenades to disperse scores of striking parliamentary workers demanding higher pay outside South Africa's assembly building on Wednesday.

Officers in full body armour carried away members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu), a powerful public sector organization aligned with the ruling African National Congress Party.

"The police must go," chanted union members massed on the front steps of parliament's second house, the National Council of Provinces, witnesses said.

Much of parliament has been shut down for the past three days during the protest over a bonus payment and a state security vetting process targeting workers and management Television images showed police and some workers scuffling outside parliament in Cape Town.

New Tanzanian President insists on hard work from public workers

ÏÏÏThe

spokesman for Tanzania’s ruling party said impromptu visits to government institutions by new President John Magufuli are aimed at ensuring accountability and improving the work ethic among public employees.

Three days after assuming office, Magufuli went unannounced to the Ministry of Finance and Muhimbili National Hospital. At the hospital, he transferred the executive director and dissolved the health board after expressing concern about the poor hygienic conditions, lack of drugs and lack of functioning essential equipment.

Nape Nnauye, a spokesman for the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, said Magufuli’s actions were in line with his promise to Tanzanians to restore confidence in public institutions by focusing on civil servants' work ethic and accountability. He said Magufuli, a former works minister regarded as a nononsense, hardworking cabinet official, would put an end to business as usual in the public sector.

“We promised Tanzanians that we are going to insist on hard working. … So [Magufuli] started visiting government institutions to show that first of all he meant [it] when he said people should work. ... We want people to work hard, and we think this is going to change many places," Nnauye said.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

15 Opinion

Assigning duties or functions to recently appointed Ministers (2)

T

Prof. Ben Nwabueze

he discretion of the President under section 148(1) is an unqualified one, in that it does not oblige him to assign to ministers, responsibility for any business of the government. This flows from the word “”may” used in the subsection. He may choose not to assign to ministers, responsibility for any business of the government. His right or power not to do so is derived from, and is affirmed by, section 5(1), which vests the “executive powers” of the Federation in him, and then goes on to provide that the executive powers so vested in him, i.e. the executive powers in their entirety, may be “exercised by him either directly or [BY HIM] through the Vice-President and Ministers of the Government of the Federation or officers in the public service of the Federation”. (Emphasis supplied.)

The word “BY HIM” in capital letters is interposed by me in order to bring out the meaning of the provision more clearly.

Under section 5(1), therefore, the President is within his constitutional right to exercise the entirety of the executive powers of the Federal Government by himself directly, without assigning any part of them or any business of the government to ministers, subject to what is said below about the manner or form for exercising the powers.

More explicitly, he can keep all the ministries or departments under his direct responsibility and use the ministers for general duties as ministers “without portfolio”. This accords with the letters of section 5(1), though not with its spirit.

If he chooses to assign any part of the executive powers or any business of the government to the ministers, he is deemed, in law, to be the one exercising the functions, the ministers being simply agents to exercise in his name and by his authority, functions so assigned or delegated to them by him. As agents, the ministers’ official acts, done in the regular course of business, are presumptively the President’s. This encapsulates the principle of “a single executive” underlying section 5(1) and the presidential system; the Vice-President and the ministers are not co-beneficiaries of the executive powers with the President; the powers belong to him alone, not to him, the Vice-President and ministers as joint owners or co-owners. Such is the logic of the principle of the single executive underlying the presidential system. Interestingly, if somewhat inaptly, section 130(2) designates him (the President), not as the Executive, but as “the Chief Executive”. The implications of the designation, “Chief Executive”, in relation to the principle of a single executive underlying the presidential system, are examined in my book titled Presidentialism (1974),

442 pages, and pp. 18 – 25.

The right of the President under section 5(1) to exercise by himself directly, the entirety of the executive powers of the Federal Government vested in him must be taken subject to the duty cast on him to appoint ministers (section 147) and to “hold regular meetings with all of them for the purpose of (a) determining the general direction of domestic and foreign polices of the Government; (b) co-ordinating the activities of the President, the Vice-President and the Ministers… and (c) advising the President generally in the discharge of his executive functions….”

(Section148 (2)).

The distinction involved is between the vesting of power (i.e. the substance or title of power) under section 5(1) and the manner and form for exercising the power under sections 147 and 148(2). Both are important, and attract the same sanction of nullity for any infractions of them; any violation of the power vested in the President by anyone, e.g. by the National Assembly, is unconstitutional, null and void; equally non-compliance by the President with the manner and form for exercising the power, as by failure to appoint ministers and to hold regular meeting with them for the purposes specified in section 148(2), is unconstitutional, null and void.

4.

EQUALITY IN RANK (BUT NOT AS REGARDS FUNCTIONS OR POWERS) AMONG

MINISTERS AS AN ALL-IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THIS CONNECTION It is of no constitutional significance in this connection that some ministers are assigned responsibility for the administration of a ministry, department or agency of government, while others are designated ministers of special duties or ministers of state. The difference in the functions or duties assigned to ministers is no doubt important in terms of the power, prestige and influence they confer, but they do not confer on a minister in charge of the administration of a ministry, department or agency of government, a rank higher than that of other ministers. All ministers are equal in rank irrespective of the nature of the functions assigned to them.

The equal ranking of ministers flows from the fact that they are all full members of the federal executive council or cabinet, whatever it is called, with all the rights and privileges conferred by membership.

We may here note in parenthesis the provision in section 144(5) that the reference to “the executive council of the Federation” in subsection 1 of that section is “a reference to the body of Ministers of the Government of the Federation, howsoever called, established by the President and charged with such responsibility for the functions of government as the President may direct”.

Concluded

Jonathan: PDP and Dokpesi’s misplaced apology

T JUDE NDUKWE

he recent apology by the chairman of PDP National Conference Planning Committee, High Chief Aleogho Raymond Dokpesi , for what he considers perceived mistakes of the party in its 16 years in power and particularly for fielding former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, is indeed embarrassing. Olisa Metuh, the party’s National Publicity Secretary has also distanced the party from that ill-advised apology.

The apology and its timing seems to serve some ulterior motives which may also include the playing of a script meant to embarrass not only the former president but also the PDP. Dokpesi is experienced enough to know that such apologies should actually have come from the party’s official organs before it can have the stamp of an official statement.

As long as that was not done, the apology is nothing but a personal opinion.

In making such statement, Dokpesi has proved that he lacks the equanimity and restraint to be trusted with high responsibilities to

lead in party like PDP. He has proved that he is a man who allows such responsibilities given by the party to get into his head as he assumes an authority not given to him.

His easy access to the media using his AIT platform might be another factor that propelled him to make such unauthorised statement. The urge to have his face seen and his voice heard made him throw caution to the wind in issuing the apology.

In highly regulated, fearless and forthright climes, the party hierarchy would have invited him to explain why and where he derived the authority to make such over-generalisation. But we are in a society where individuals still seem to be stronger than institutions. One will not be surprised if Dokpesi is not sanctioned for causing the party an embarrassment.

It must be stated that the PDP choice of Goodluck Jonathan was never a mistake. The process that threw him up was a necessity. The party has a constitution and a zoning arrangement but this did not cover what happens when a sitting president dies or becomes incapacitated.

Even at that, there was no way the party’s zoning arrangement would

have superseded the nation’s constitution which spelt out in very clear terms the succession process in the case of the unfortunate demise or incapacitation of a sitting president.

The arguments, negotiations and compromise among stakeholders showed that PDP did not out of its way to undermine any part of the country.

Rather than apologise, Dokpesi should actually push for the implementation of the National Conference Report and such other instrumentality that might help us fill the vacuum created by the demise of a sitting president.

Furthermore, the choice of Jonathan as the PDP presidential candidate in the 2015 election was not just a decision of the National Working Committee (NWC), National Executive Council (NEC) and the party’s National Caucus, it was the collective decision of the 12,853,162 strong Nigerians who voted for him on the day of election. Such apology would have attempted to rubbish the good work that the party’s campaign organisation in collaboration with other major stakeholders of the party did. 12.8 million people could not have made a mistake! Dokpesi

is the one making a mistake! The election was a contest between two parties, and one had to win. Dokpesi should know that despite PDP’s failure at the polls, the party put up a good fight. The APC did not win with a landslide margin.

Rather than apologise for fielding Goodluck Jonathan, what the PDP should be apologising for was allowing APC to embark on an alleged long, systematic and entrenched manipulation of the electoral process without let or hindrance.

But for humongous figures from places like Kano without a single voided vote in favour of APC and the skewed distribution of PVC’s to favour APC, Jonathan would have beaten Buhari silly. Therefore, if the PDP must apologise, it is for allowing such alleged entrenched fraud perpetrated by APC and not for fielding Jonathan. There is nothing to be ashamed of about Jonathan and his tenure. Just six months after he left office a majority of Nigerians are already beginning to regret his absence. With the benefit of hindsight, even those who conspired against the PDP are already wishing they never did so. Having married two wives, they now know which is better.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

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17

STOCK MARKET REPORT

NSE ASI declines by 0.74% Adesola Akindele The Nigerian equities market slumped from 0.12 per cent gained yesterday to close in red as lead indicator, the All-Share Index depreciated by 0.74 per cent.

The index dropped 216.11 points to close at 28,798.67 basis points against 33.66 basis points gained previously to close at 29,014.78 basis points.

Market capitalization also lost N74.3 billion to close at N9.899 trillion against N11.6 billion gained previously to close at N9.974 trillion.

Price movement on the equity board showed that CAP Plc led 12 gainers with a 5.00 per cent or N1.95 to close at N40.95 per share, followed by UAC-Property Plc which added 4.99 per cent or 33 kobo to close at N6.94 per share, while Dangote Flour Plc increased 4.55 per cent or 11 kobo to close at N2.53 per share.

Ikeja Hotel Plc appreciated 4.50 per cent or 15 kobo to close at N3.48 per share, while Stanbic IBTC Plc grew 4.45 per cent or 89 kobo to close at N20.89 per share.

On the flip side, Fidson Health Care Plc led 22 equity losers with a loss of 4.89 per cent or 15 kobo to close at N2.92 per share, followed

by E-Tranzact Plc which lost 4.81 per cent or 13 kobo to close at N2.57 per share, while May & baker Plc dropped 4.76 per cent or 6 kobo to close at N1.20 per share.

Diamond Bank Plc declined 4.73 per cent or 13 kobo to close at N2.62 while Unity Bank Plc decreased 4.62 per cent or 6 kobo to close at N1.24 per share.

L-R: Centre Manager, FirstBank Sustainability Centre, Dr. Ijeoma Nwagwu; GMD/ CEO First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mr. Bisi Onasanya; Guest Speaker and CEO, Golden Palm Investments Ghana/USA, Mr. Sangu Delle; and Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney at the FirstBank Sustainability Centre International Conference held in Lagos on Thursday.

NAFDAC imposes N1bn fine on Guinness Ï1ƏƆ Ƅ ƍƄ ƏƍƄ ƃ ƏƊƄƍ ƌƏ ƉƆƎƓ ƅ ƆƎ Ƌƍ ƕƏƃƎ

Friday Atufe

National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has imposed an administrative fine of N1 billion on Guinness Nigeria Plc for certain alleged regulatory infractions.

In a correspondence to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday, Guinness said “the purported infractions relate, in part, to the destruction of expired raw materials and the revalidation of expired raw materials by the manufacturers of the materials ‘without authorization and supervision of NAFDAC.” “We wish to reiterate that the allegation by NAFDAC relate to

raw materials rather than any of our brands. We have been in discussion with NAFDAC in the last one following the visit of its officers to one of our rented warehouses which is being used as a raw material store.

“We do not understand the basis for the computation of the administrative charges nor the particular regulations alleged to have been infringed and had expected that our discussions with NAFDAC would give us better clarity on the issue and hopefully help in its resolution.

“We have been advised that there is no legal basis for the demand by NAFDAC for the payment of the said sum and we hope that our engagement with

NAFDAC will enlighten the organisation about the correct position.”

Meanwhile, Guinness has reassured consumers of its products that they conform to the highest standards of quality, having not only been produced in line with the globally accepted code of good manufacturing practice (GMP), but also been repeatedly so-certified by the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON).

Mr. Peter Ndegwa, Managing Director of Guinness Nigeria Plc, said this in a statement issued yesterday.

According to Ndegwa, “the me-

ticulous and painstaking work including rigorous quality assurance, that precedes the final production of all our products, has a singular objective: to ensure that our consumers drink products that are healthy and comparable with similar products made by a Diageo facility anywhere else in the world.”

Referring to the Guinness Nigeria production facilities in Ogba, Benin City and Aba, Ndegwa stated that each of the breweries continues to work to exceed critical standards in areas such as quality and very importantly, human safety and environmental preservation. “On an incremental basis we continue to automate our processes,” said Ndegwa.

Stanbic IBTC/FRC face-off: Capital market operators seek regulatory synergy

Unegbu

Some capital market operators yesterday said that regulatory synergy among the different arms of financial markets and industry regulators was needed for economic growth and development.

They said the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Central Bank of Nigeria and Financial Reporting Council (FRC) and other regulators should work together for economic develop-

ment and sustainability.

They spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos against the backdrop of Stanbic IBTC issue with FRC, leading to suspended registration of four of its directors.

Mr Okechukwu Unegbu, former President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), said that regulators needed to collaborate in the interest of the market and economy in general.

Unegbu said that investors’ confidence should be paramount in regulations, adding that regulators should be mindful of things that would dampen confidence.

He said that the media should not be awash with things that would affect investor confidence, noting that there were ways of disciplining erring companies without heating up the polity.

Alhaji Rasheed Yussuf, the

Managing Director, Trust Yield Investment Ltd., said that regulators should work together to avoid regulatory controversy.

Yussuf said that regulatory controversy was not good for the market because ``it brings about cautious trading leading to drop in equities prices’’.

He said that the market had gone through hard times and that further regulatory controversy would erode investor confidence.

Business News 18

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

Reps to investigate Virgin Atlantic’s discrimination against Nigerian crew members Joy Ekeke

L-R Corporate Relations Director, Mr. Sesan Sobowale, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Peter Ndegwa, both of Guinness Nigeria Plc; Executive Governor, Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Special Adviser to the Governor on Overseas Affairs and Investment, Prof. Ademola Abass, and Supply Chain Director, Guinness Nigeria, Mr. Cephas Afebuameh during a courtesy visit to the governor by the Guinness Nigeria Plc team at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja recently.

BVN is affecting sales of foreign exchange - BDC operators Some Bureau De Change operators yesterday said that the requirements of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for sale of foreign exchange was affecting their sales.

They disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

They said that inability of customers to provide all the required data had been posing challenges in the sale of foreign exchange An operator, who preferred anonymity, told NAN that many customers had discrepancies with the information on their international passports and the Biometric Verification Number (BVN).

He cited the problem of not having same information such

as difference in date of birth on the two requirements.

The trader said that the extension of BVN to the sub sector as part of requirements for sale of foreign exchange was giving the BDCs some problems.

According to him, foreign exchange should be allowed to be sold without challenges.

He said that the policy had reduced the level of foreign exchange sold on weekly basis by the BDCs. “Extending BVN to BDCs has brought problem to us. This is because we do not have the power to store people’s data like the bank.

“Commercial banks are deposit money institutions that are backed by Data Protection Act to store customers’ data.

“In our own case, customers are not willing to divulge personal information,” the trader said.

NAN reports that the requirement needed for purchase of forex before the BVN registration were international passports, travel tickets and valid visas.

The adoption of BVN as a condition for the sale of foreign exchange is expected to reduce the incidence of multiple purchases, round tripping and illicit transfer of funds.

It also facilitate enforcement of authorised limits of forex sales to end users, sanitize the retail segment of the market and engender policies that will facilitate better allocation of foreign exchange.

E-PPAN, stakeholders calls for pragmatic approach to check electronic fraud Tony Nwakaegho The E-payment Providers Association of Nigeria (E-PPAN) and stakeholders have called for a more pragmatic approach to check electronic fraud in Nigeria.

This is a fall out of the just concluded 6th Annual Payment Systems and Fraud Conference 2015 with the Theme: Hitting the Target; Addressing Electronic Fraud through Industry Approach, held in Lagos.

The Executive Secretary/CEO E-PPAN, Onajite Regha stated

that electronic fraud was no longer a new crime but the ways in which electronic payment fraudsters operate have evolved significantly in recent years, stressing that the activities of these fraudsters are based on high levels of planning and coordination.

In order to significantly reduce fraud, she said, it is essential to formulate a solid and comprehensive approach, adding that one of our main approaches over the years has therefore been to advocate for a collaborative approach in fighting fraud.

According to her, the core objec-

tives of this year edition of the conference therefore is to explore and strengthen collaborative efforts between the law enforcement agencies; regulators and the payment industry in the fight against electronic fraud, and also to define the roles of the merchants, consumers and the payment providers in the fight against fraud.

“The Payment System and Fraud Conference is designed to be a one stop shop of payment system and fraud knowledge in West Africa with limitless business opportunities.

A lawmaker representing Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives and Chairman of House Committee on Justice, Rt. Hon. Razak Atunwa has moved the House of Representatives to speedily investigate the apparent discriminatory treatment of Nigerian cabin crew of the Virgin Atlantic Airways.

The motion was unanimously passed by the House.

In the motion, Atunwa emphasized the need for equitable treatment of Virgin Atlantic Nigerian crew who are being made compulsorily redundant without adequate compensation.

However, it’s U.K. crew have the options of continuing in lesser roles, part-time work, or voluntary redundancy from April 2016 or October 2016.

Branson

On the contrary, the Nigerian crew is to be made compulsorily redundant by 30th of November, 2015. They were notified by letter on 3rd of November, 201.

Shockingly, Virgin Atlantic is keeping other international cabin crew such as Shanghai, Hong Kong and Delhi.

The reason given for dismissing all its Nigeria crew is “to reduce complexity in our operations”. This is appears to be a crass and most untenable excuse.

“We must consistently protect the rights of Nigerian employees of foreign companies operating in Nigeria because they deserve fair treatment,” Aruna said.

House Committee on Aviation and Committee on Labour and Employment promised to investigate and report back to the House in two weeks.

Customs generates N23.3bn from Apapa Port in October Funmi Coker The Apapa Area 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated N23.3 billion as revenue in October, same as it recorded in September.

This is contained in the revenue report of the command made available to news men on Thursday in Lagos by the NCS Public Relations Officer, Mr Emmanuel Ekpa.

The report showed that N12.

2 billion was generated through the Federation Account comprising import duty, Common External Tariffs (CET) and other fees.

The document also showed that N11.1 billion went into the Non-Federation Account from Value Added Tax (VAT); seven per cent from Port’s levy; and the levy from the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS).

According to the report, other sources of revenue into the NonFederation Account include: one per cent Comprehensive

Import Supervision Scheme (CISS), National Automotive Council (NAC), levies on rice, iron, sugar and wheat grain.

The report also showed that the command collected N1 million from the Negotiable Duty Credit Certificate (NDCC).

NAN reports that the NDCC is a document accepted for duty payment by importers who bring in raw materials for production purposes.

Ali

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

19 Real Sector Digest

LCCI calls for repositioning, diversification of economy Stories by Siaka Momoh The investment conference of the 29th edition of the Lagos International Trade Fair, has called for the repositioning and diversification of the Nigerian economy.

Mr. Michael Olawale Cole, LCCI’s chairman Trade Promotion Board said in his opening address that the Chamber aimed to draw attention to the need for repositioning and diversification of the Nigerian economy.”

He added that in addition “the Chamber wants to address the is-

Lagos goes gay as fair gives jobs to the jobless Right from the parks, you feel the pump and pageantry. The parks at the Tafawa Balewa Complex are in brisk business. It is N500 per ticket, which tells you, you have lost that privilege, that ambience you enjoy at the International Trade Complex along Badagry.

The TBS Complex is compact but the festive environment is electrifying. Music from podiums set up by companies to promote and advertise their products fills the air.

Products on display range from furniture and other home and office items to security products, personal products, paints, automobiles, traffic control products, pharmaceuticals, ICT products, electrical, beer/wine/soft drinks, etc. Just name it.

According to Segun Alabi, spokesman for Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the 10day fair has provided temporary jobs for about 50,000 youth and another 10,000 artisans. Most of the employed work as sales people, dancers and temporary office assistants.

Sources close to some of the companies said the remuneration for adhoc staff for the 10 days ranged between N30, 000 and N50, 000, depending on the hiring firm and the nature of work.

Artisans earn between N180,000 and N250 000 from the construction of the companies’ pavilions.

These include carpenters, electricians, painters, etc.

Said Mr Alabi, “We don’t dic-

sue of value addition in Nigerian non-oil export with a view to ensuring that the nation earns more from commodities and processing in Nigeria.”

Olawale Cole argued, “This investment conference is aimed at drawing attention to investment opportunities in the non-oil sector with a view to expanding the non-oil export net in line with the vision of on diversification of the economy. The much needed development and diversification we crave for in Nigeria cannot be achieved without investments.

“Foreign Direct Investment into

tate to participating companies how to remunerate their adhoc members of staff but we also expect that it will be a win- win situation.”

Lagos Chamber restates promise to boost creative industry The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), the premier Chamber of Commerce and one of the leading voices in the organised private sector (OPS) in Nigeria, has reaffirmed its commitment to boost the creative industry and make it a major source of income in Nigeria.

To this end, the LCCI, in conjunction with the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), has put together “Eko Akete: The Lagos Creative Industry Fair,” a creative industry fair aimed at showcasing the interesting talents in showbiz, fashion and lifestyle, music, poetry, artwork and film production in Nigeria.

The Eko Akete is aimed at reviving the Nigerian economy by refocusing on the non-oil sector, to which the creative industry belongs.

According to a statement signed

by Segun Alabi, the LCCI spokesperson, the fair which holds at Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos from Friday 6th to Sunday 15th November 2015, is expected to feature amongst others, the Nigerian entertainment conference tagged “Bridging pathways to the Creative Industry of our dreams; Grill fest, cultural night, musical concert by Timaya, Vector, Brymo, Project fame, All Stars among others as well as music workshop to be facilitated by PMAN, fashion shows, acting and audition workshop by DStv featuring Kate Henshaw, Lancelot Imaseun, Desmond Elliot, and Gospel Concert featuring Monique, Kunke Kenny and Nikki Laoye.

Nigeria has dwindled from $1.381 billion in July 2014 to $723.49 million as at July 2015. In real terms, the non-oil sector contributed 90.20 per cent to the nation’s GDP, marginally higher from the figure recorded in Quarter 1, 2015 (89.55%) and 89.24% recorded in the second Quarter of 2014. This justifies our focus on investment and the nonoil sector development this year.”

Also speaking, Alhaji Remi Bello, the President of LCCI called for the diversification of the Nigerian economy.

He said, “With the theme of this year’s trade fair on Enhanc-

ing Value Addition in the Non-Oil Economy,” the Lagos Chamber join forces calling for the diversification of the Nigerian economy.”

He also asked government to put in place conducive business environment where investment could thrive.

He added that the much needed industrial revolution in Nigeria required massive inflow of foreign investments into the productive sector of the economy.

In his keynote address at the conference, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Country Represen-

tative to Nigeria, David Tommy said the nation’s drive toward value added economy would be a mirage if diversification “is not based on aggressive agriculture driven by manufacturing concerns.”

He said the combination of aggressive agriculture and manufacturing remains the potent economic policy to move the contribution of manufacturing to GDP to 85 per cent from the current level of 30 per cent.

He called for an overhaul of the nation’s educational programme to meet Nigeria needs in what he termed existing knowledge gap in the real sector “Degrees and Skills are not interchangeable as is currently obtained in Nigeria and the situation if allowed to continue will worsen the skills capacity needs of manufacturing sector,” Mr. Tommy said.

Cassava

Cassava and vision 2025: The challenge of sustainability (1) Agbor Ndoma Agbor Every nation that has developed has followed a successful trade strategy, by manipulating its comparative trade advantage to the benefit of it citizenry.

Goldman Sachs’ paper presented some few years ago painted a detailed study of the prospects of the next eleven (11) countries in the community of growing economies – Bangladesh, Nigeria, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Korea, Mexico, Pakistan, Indonesia and Philippines. Sachs’ paper forecast that these countries will be among the top 20 economies of the world by 2025. As if in response and reaction to this publication, the then Nigeria Government saw the possibility of her becoming a top 20 economy and

went further to believing that this possibility is realizable even earlier by 2020.

Goldman Sachs’ presentation of the true status of individual countries, specifically Nigeria, asserts that it faces serious fundamental weaknesses in the condition they identified as necessary and very critical to growth.

Nigeria is forecast to be the 20th economy by 2025 and 12th economy by 2050.

In the Growth Environment Condition (GEC), the paper scored Nigeria very low and that the country has an extensive work to do if it is to lay claim to achieving the growth potential predicted for her by the year 2050.

Closely related and linked to this presentation, was a recent study of the Assessment of Ni-

geria’s Agricultural Policy conducted by a Consortium of scientist in Africa which identified CASSAVA as a commodity with high priority for investment in Five (5) out of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. It also identified Cassava as a commodity with comparative economic advantages in the domestic, regional and world market with an estimated gross return of over US $970 billion per year before year 2020. Data also from the collaborative study of Cassava in Africa (COSCA) showed that 70 percent of Nigerians in the rural, sub-urban and urban areas eat and depends on a cassava meal at least once a day.

It is time for us to identify two or three products we successfully make and produce and let us make them well.

Real Sector Digest with Siaka Momoh

Agric 20

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

L – R: Chairman, PRIMLAKS Group, Mr. H. K. Ram; Deputy Director, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs. Esther M. Amuta; Chairlady, PRIMLAKS Group, Mrs. H. K. Ram and Chairman, Venus Processing and Packaging Limited Otunba Christopher Tugbobo at the Sympli stand at the 2015 FOODBEXT WEST AFRICA Exhibition in Lagos recently.

Ban on contaminated agro produce: EU separates facts from rumours As NAFDAC steps up checks with mobile labs Stories by Isaac Agber The European Union has dissociated itself from rumours surrounding the ban on Nigeria’s contaminated agro produce. The EU’s Ambassador to Nigeria and West Africa, HE Michel Arrion, dispelled misleading stories that the Union had banned all fresh agricultural produce from Nigeria to European markets, including beans, melon seeds, sweet potatoes, cashew nuts, nutmeg snails, sesame seeds, smoked fish and meat, among other consumable items.

Arrion clarified emphatically that the ban was placed only on dry beans seen to have

contained too much chemicals.

According to him, the ban was necessary to protect European consumers from health hazards.

Speaking at the 4th EU-Nigeria Business Forum, held in Lagos recently, Arrion debunked accusations of European protectionism, stating that Europe does not even produce dry beans.

“This is a matter of the protection of the health of consumers.

We had to take this unfortunate decision because of at least 60 rejections of Nigerian dry beans at European ports,” Mr. Arrion said.

He blamed the situation on the high content of banned and harmful pesticides in dry beans.

These pesticides, according to him, are usually added by postharvest warehousing traders to such products, to treat and preserve such maximally till export. However, the pesticides could result in serious medical conditions, some of which may not manifest until 20 years after ingestion.

“We hope Nigeria will ensure the stakeholders are using the appropriate products to fight insect infestation”, he said, adding that “it is also a matter for Nigeria and West Africa, as such banned dry beans rejected at European markets will eventually find their way into the local Nigerian market, and neighboring

countries like Niger and Cameroun,” thereby putting the populations of such countries at risk too.

On suggested solutions to the index trade problem, the EU Ambassador noted that the EU has maintained a good rapport with the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) for over two years. The challenge, however, according to him, is that the EU is not capable of forcing the Nigerian agency to do its job; banning the harmful insecticides in this case. The EU is however helping the SON and other relevant agencies reform their processes in consonance with international norms, not exclusive

EU norms.

“We are confident that, within one year, Nigeria should be able to change the regulation to better monitor the use of the banned pesticides,” he assured, giving hope of an eventual lift of the ban in a not-too-distant time.

Meanwhile, in attempt to reduce the high risk of contamination through storage and preservation, The National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has stepped up the screening process by setting up mobile laboratories in various parts of the country to check the movement of contaminated agricultural products.

Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, who announced this in Abuja, when he received in audience, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.), noted that the distribution and sale of contaminated food items had become a major threat to health and the country’s economy. As such, there was need for proper monitoring.

Orhii said the need to establish the laboratories became paramount following the deadline of June 16, 2016, given by the European Union (EU), for the establishment of a risk management system to monitor contaminated food export.

He said: “The rejection of Nigeria food items in the international market, especially sesame seeds, cocoa seeds and beans, due to too much use of chemicals has been a source of major concern to us. This is why we have taken on the job to ensure we deploy mobile laboratories that will go from farm to farm, market to market, to identify at what point the contaminants get into these products and help reduce the rejects at the international market.

PRIMLAKS promotes ‘made in Nigeria’ food at AGRIKEXPO PRIMLAKS Group, pioneers of Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) fruits and vegetables in Nigeria, has again demonstrated its steadfast support for agriculture in Nigeria by exhibiting its innovative Sympli brand of convenience food at the 2015 FOODBEXT WEST AFRICA Exhibition in Lagos.

Sympli is the registered brand name of a range of IQF foods produced by Venus Processing and Packaging Limited (VPPL), which is a part of the PRIMLAKS Group.

The locally farmed, processed and packed Sympli products, which include ‘Yam

Fries’, ‘Yam Cubes,’ Plantain ‘Dodo’ and Plantain Chips, are delivered in ready-to-cook state for frying, steaming or baking.

Chairman of VPPL, Otunba Christopher Tugbobo said, “I am very happy to be a part of this venture because Sympli proves that Nigeria is capable of doing new things in agriculture that can help reduce our dependence on oil and gas.”

Tugbobo, a one-time Head of the Division of Agricultural Research in the Federal Ministry of Economic Development and a retired Permanent Secretary, described Sympli as a 100 percent Nigerian prod-

uct, stressing, “Sympli is produced 100 percent locally by Nigerians for Nigerians and this gives me hope as it creates much needed employment, helps reduce post-harvest losses and gives Nigerians a home grown brand in the frozen food segment that we can all be proud of.”

Group Chairman of PRIMLAKS, Mr. H. K. Ram, explained that PRIMLAKS invested in Nigeria’s first IQF production facility in order to tap into the country’s vast agricultural potential, particularly in light of growing concerns on unemployment and dwindling for-

eign exchange reserves.

He described Sympli as PRIMLAKS Group’s contribution to Nigeria’s drive for selfsufficiency in value added food production and creation of additional sources of foreign exchange, saying: “I arrived in Nigeria in 1957 and started PRIMLAKS with a view to manufacturing locally.

Our company has always been a strong supporter of Nigeria and our family continues here in its third generation. We have plans to expand our investments in the real sector, as we have done for decades, particularly now that the country

needs a boost to agricultural production and capacity building for exports.

It is time that the world gets to taste Nigerian food as we in Nigeria have come to experience foods from other countries.”

At last year’s edition of AgrikExpo, former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, after sampling the range of Sympli products which were a star attraction at the exhibition, lauded the PRIMLAKS Group for its innovation in pioneering IQF fruits and vegetables in Nigeria.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

21 Public Notice

SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD GLOBAL MINISTRY

ROD OF MIRACLE EVANGELICAL BIBLE MINISTRY

HOLISTIC PEACE HEART CARING FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Ministry has applied to the corporate Affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part C of the companies and allied matters act 1990.

The trustees are: 1. Obe Oluwafemi Samson.

2. Bethel Praise Nkor.

3. Salako Olusegun Olanrewaju.

4. Dr Majengbasan Timothy Oladele.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Ministry has applied to the corporate Affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part C of the companies and allied matters act 1990.

The trustees are: 1. Prophet Samuel Orogojimoh Olayemi - chairman.

2. Mrs Adewunmi-Adeniyi Abimbola Folake - gen. Secretary.

3. Pastor Adelusi Omolayo John - treasurer.

4. Mrs Orogojimoh grace Adebisi - D.G.O Aims and objectives: 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus christ.

2. To proclaim the goodnews of Jesus to all nations.

3. To proclaim the word of life, through special programmes of the ministry.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation has applied to the corporate Affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part C of the companies and allied matters act 1990.

The trustees are: 1. Bamgbose Adekunle Abraham.

2. Bamgbose Olubunmi Olufisayo.

3. Jibeh Ologeh.

Aims and objectives: 1. The prevention or relief of poverty in the world by providing or assisting in the provision of education, training, healthcare projects and all the necessary support designed to tackle or mitigate factors that contribute to poverty.

2. To cater for the less privilege women and children.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general corporate affairs commission plot 420 tigris crescent of aguiyi ironsi street maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Fred Aigbadumah Esq. The law masters chambers.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general corporate affairs commission plot 420 tigris crescent of aguiyi ironsi street maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Trustees.

UNIFICATION OF CHRIST PEOPLE MISSION

UNITED ALAGBO DEALERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA

ASSOCIATION OF THE ULTIMATE ALLUMINIUM FABRICATORS OF IBADAN

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the corporate Affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part C of the companies and allied matters act 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Most Snr Apostle Abraham Ajadi 2. Primate Sunday Akintola Afolajuwon 3. Prophet Dr. Olumide Ogunjinmi 4. Primate Oladele Obigbesan 5. Prophet Yemi Ogunbanjo 6. Most Snr. Apostle Felix Adebayo Aim and Objective: 1. To preach the gospel, teaching converts to obey and follow Christ.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general corporate affairs commission plot 420 tigris crescent of aguiyi ironsi street maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Trustees

This is to inform the General Public that the above Named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

The trustees Are: 1. Obi Ojigiri Ossai - President (5) Kasali Omilani Asake -Member 2. Laketu Mojid Adeniyi - Vice President (6) Albert Abayomi Abiola -Financial Secretary 3. Asikolaye Isiaka Iyanda - Member (7) Mrs. Toyin Akala - Member 4. Osunlakin Awosanmi Morufu - Member (8) Alimi Tijani - Treasurer Aims And Objectives: 1. To Protect Interest Of Its Members.

2. To Foster Unity And Progress Of The Association.

3. To Assist, Promote And Protect The Welfare And Interest Of Members.

4. TO GIVE MORAL, FINANCIAL AND LEGAL SUPPORT TO MEMBERS WHEN THE NEEDS ARISE. 5. TO ORGANISE CONFERENCE, SEMINAR AND SYMPOSIA GEARED TOWARDS MEMBERS’ EMPOWERMENT. Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi-Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication.

Signed: Trustees

This is to inform the General Public that the above Named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. trustees: 1.Sola Adejare chairman 2.Quadri Hassan Gen. Sec. 3.Edmond Mark 4.Ogunyomi Babatunde Aims and Objectives: 1. To promote unity and progress among members 2. To ensure quality and excellent work 3. To protect the interests of members

ORE OFE FOUNDATION.

ASSOCIATION OF EVENTS VENDORS NIGERIA

GREAT IFE LAW 82-83 CLASS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part C of the Companies & Allied Matters Act 1990.

TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr Olakunle Sodipo -Chairman.

2. Mrs Olufunmilayo Sodipo.

3.Mr Muyiwa Kupoluyi.

4. Mr Olumuyiwa Olusa.

5.Mr Olufunke Ogunmoyero.

6. Mr Lanre Idowu -Secretary.

7. Mr Oladipo Sodipo.

Aims And Objective:, 1. Advancing The Christian Faith And Alleviating Poverty.

2. Offering Free Spiritual And Pastoral Care And Counselling. 3.Supporting Individuals And Families In Material Needs.

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Area II, Garki, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

This is to inform the General Public that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

The Trustees Are: 1. Akinyamoju Akintunde Benedict - President 2. Agatha E. Adesigbin - Vice President 3. Shonubi Damilare Olalekan - Financial Secretary 4. Osilaja Tolulope Oluwabunmi - Secretary 5. Oluwafemi Tolulope - Treasurer Aims & objectives: 1 To promote event planners and vendors 2. To make sure every event planners and vendors deliver a good job to their clients Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi-Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication.

Signed: Trustees

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap 20 Laws of the Federation, 2004.

The Trustees Are: 1. Adeleke Olaniyi Agbola, Esq. 2. Hon. Justice Annie Chikere Ononeze-Madu 3. Hon. Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora.

4. Victor Ihua-Maduenyi, Esq. 5. Mrs. Olubunmi Titilola Adegbile Aims And Objectives: 1. To foster unity and co-operation among members.

2. To create avenue for socio-cultural relationship.

3. The advancement of education by supporting educational institutions generally and with grants, awards, endowments, prizes and by providing mentoring and internship facilities to youths, students and trainees of Nigerian descent.

4. To educate the public in good governance and social development by promoting public lectures seminars and symposium.

5. The relief of unemployment for the public benefit in such ways as may be thought fit, including assistance to find employment.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

A O Agbola, Esq Cheakley Chambers 7b, Adeniyi Adefioye Street, Kilo Road, Surulere, Lagos. Mobile +2348022235222

MENTALLY AWARE NIGERIA INITIATIVE

ROYAL SEED CHRISTIAN CENTRE

EZ CHUKWUNONYERE OBINWANNE SOCIAL CLUB OF NIGERIA

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part C of the Companies & Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustees Are: 1. Ugo Victor Onyekachukwu -Chairman/Founder.

2.Osian Franklyn Chuks-Vice Chairman. 3.Dipeolu Iyewande Ayobami -Secretary General.

4.Uwajeh Stephanie -Treasurer. 5.Oyeobu Mofiyinfoluwa Oluwatoyin -P.r.o.

Aims & Objectives: 1. To Increase Awareness Of People And The Society To Mental Health.

2.To Reduce The Stigma Associated With Mentall Illness.

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Area II, Garki, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Secretary General

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part C of the Companies & Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Pastor Johnson Oluremi Agbabiaka - Senior Pastor 2. Pastor (Mrs.) Rebecca Iyabo Agbabiaka - Assist. Pastor 3. Pastor David Oluwatunmise Ajayi - Assist. Pastor 4. Pastor Festus Ayodeji Odukoya - Treasurer 5. Pastor Alexander Adepoju Bamgbade - Secretary Aims & Objectives: a. To preach the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to all Nations of the World through Bible Seminars, Outreach, Media Ministry, Publication of books . b. To evangelize in all parts of Nigeria and to establish branches of the Church to enhance Missionary work. c. To engage in social and community work by assisting Charitable Homes d. To promote unity among Christian Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Area II, Garki, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: PASTOR REMI AGBABIAKA Senior Pastor

NOBLECHOICE GODSTIME EDU-CARE FOUNDATION

RIPE FOR HARVEST EVANGELICAL MINISTRY

Aims And Objectives: -1. To Preach The Gospel Of Jesus Christ.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general corporate affairs commission plot 420 tigris crescent of aguiyi ironsi street maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: secretary

Signed: Secretary.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part C of the Companies & Allied Matters Act 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part C of the Companies & Allied Matters Act 1990.

The trustees Are: 1.Ekhomu Feliciaizehinosen-Chairman 2.Ekhomu Goodness Eseose-Secretary 3.Rev.samson Ekhomu 4.Erharhire Joe 5.Iyile Christy Omoya

The Trustees Are 1. Rebecca Adefunmilola Ayanfeoluwa.

2. Jonathan Ayooluwa Ayanfeoluwa.

3. Samuel Olusegun Agosu (4Th) Bisola Olubukola Hastrup.

4. Adekunle Michel Alabi.

Aim and Objective: To Preach The Gospel.

Aims&Objective: 1.To Assist The Less Privilege.

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Area II, Garki, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Trustee

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Area II, Garki, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi-Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication.

Signed: Trustees

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part C of the Companies & Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustees Are : 1. Okorie ogonnaya -sec.

2. Simon Ekwe. - chairman 3. Asoegbu uchenna -tresurer 4.Vitalise Nwabugo -vice chairman 5.Okafor Hyginus - patron To promote peace and unity among others.

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Area II, Garki, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

THE GREAT PEOPLE OF EDDA SOCIAL CLUB OF NIGERIA The general public is hereby notified that the above named Club has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part C of the Companies & Allied Matters Act 1990.

The trustees Are: 1. John Ogbonnaya Ekumankama. 2.Wisdom Ogbonnaya Uduma.

3.Simon Iroegbu Chima.

4. James Ufiem Obasi.

5.Ernest Oko Ukpai.

Aim And Objective : To Promote Harmony, Understanding And Progress Among Members Of The Club.

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Area II, Garki, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Wisdom Ogbonanya Uduma. (Secretary

News 22

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

Ortom, Akume, Gemade meet Buhari over federal appointments Egena Egena, Abuja

ÏÏÏBenue

State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Thursday, met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja to make case for the appointment of sons and daughters of the state into federal positions.

The governor who was accompanied by Senator George Akume, a former governor of the state and Senator Barnabas Gemade, said Benue people overwhelmingly voted for the President in the 2015 presidential election and needed to be given a sense of belonging.

Ortom stressed that the state was well endowed with qualified persons of high integrity who could contribute positively in moving the country forward.

“We believe that we are endowed with the capacity to deliver and sustain food security for our nation

even beyond our nation.

“So, we are happy about this, we appreciate Mr. President and we also know that we overwhelmingly voted for Mr. President and we the capacity, the man power is there, there are so many of our people that can add value to the development of this

Experts urge Fashola to focus on power generation, transmission ÏÏÏSome

experts in the power sector on Thursday urged the new the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Raji Fashola, to focus more on generation and transmission of power.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in interviews in Lagos that the current transmission chain of electricity supply was weak and required urgent attention.

Mr Adekunle Makinde, the immediate past Chair-

man, Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), said Fashola should focus more on transmission to succeed.

He said that transmission remained the area in the power sector that was giving it serious problem. ``At present, we have a weak transmission as the backbone of the power chain, if the transmission cannot evacuate 5,000MegaWatts from the grid, how does our power sector improve?

GOD’S GRACE AND POWER MINISTRY ADDRESS-NO 32 ADISA AKINTOYE STREET KETU, PHONE : 08039103736 The general public is hereby notified that the above named Club has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part C of the Companies & Allied Matters Act 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1. PASTOR OLASUNKANMI SAMUEL 2. SHINA FAFORE 3. ERIC EJIOFOR 4. AGWU IKEMBA 5. TOLA ODUBANJO 6. ENIOLA AJAYI AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Area II, Garki, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: BARRISTER AKHABUE MERCY

VIRTUOUS WOMEN IN CHRIST MINISTRY WORLDWIDE The General public is hereby notified that the above named Ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part “C” of the companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. FAMODUN OLUBUNMI OLADELE 2. AKINTAN SELINA ABIOLA THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To encourage women to be godly and build themselves spiritually.

2. To spread the warning from God to all women.

3. To reconcile women to God in holiness and righteousness.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs commission, plot 420, Tigris crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama Abuja within 28 Days from the date of this Publication.

Signed By: Secretary, 08037978991

``He should upgrade the transmission to make it efficient. ``The new minister should work with engineers in Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to put things right so that TCN will be able to transmit all energy generated to distribution companies. ``With what we have seen in Lagos State, in terms of Independent Power Projects (IPP), I know that Fashola is an excellent administrator and manager,” he said.

Mr Yomi Kolawole, the Chairman, Topean Energy Solution Ltd., said the minister should focus on ways to increase generation through solar field and embedded generation.

Kolawole said that instead of relying solely on gas for electricity generation, the minister should extend it to electricity generation.

This, he said, became necessary in case of problem with gas supply; he would look elsewhere to get power.

THE INNOVATION INITIATIVE

country through several appointments” he noted.

The governor added: ”Mr. President, we are not being Oliver Twist but we believe that we have the capacity to also present other sons and daughters of Benue to be appointed into other key positions and that is why we are here today.

“We know that the appointment of ministers is not the end, there are several appoints that will come, in next consideration, we are sure that the Tiv people will be carried along.”

While thanking President Buhari for appointing

one of Benue sons, Audu Ogbe, as minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, the governor said that “Beyond that, Audu Ogbe is a detrabalized person and some one who is known to carry everybody along. We are sure he will represent our interest.

“Above all we believe in the next appointments, the interest of our sons and daughters will be taken into consideration.”

Ortom promised support for the Agriculture minister who he said would collaborate with the state to pursue the food security policy of the country.

THE SAVE HEARING IMPAIRED FOUNDATION The above association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for the registration as a foundation under the company and allied matters act No 1 of 1990.

NAME OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1. Olu G. Ajayi – Chairman / Leader 2. Mrs Ngozi Abudioke – Member 3. Mr Ambaliu Isaiah – Member 4. Mr Ogodo Iyasere – Member 5. Mr Taiwo Jimoh – Member AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To see to the welfare of hearing/ hearing impaired.

2. To develop hearing/ hearing impaired to be able to improve their life.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Trustee

GUIDING GRACE CHURCH

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. EZE CHIBUIKE ANTHONY — CHAIRMAN 2. EZE ANTHONIA CHINENYE — SECRETARY 3. EZE CALLISTA NWAKAEGO — MEMBER AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To motivate people to be creative and innovative to achieve their purpose in life

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. EZE CHIBUIKE ANTHONY - CHAIRMAN 2. EZE ANTHONIA CHINENYE - SECRETARY 3. EZE CALLISTA NWAKAEGO - MEMBER AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar- General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: TRUSTEES

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar- General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: TRUSTEES

REDEMPTION HOPE CHURCH INT’L The above named church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990 The Trustees are:1. OKAFOR EMEKA LINUS 2. OKAFOR ONYINYECHI 3. OKEKE VINCENT CHIMGOZIRIM 4. OBI SUNDAY OBIDIGBO NESTOR 5. UDECHUKWU ATHAN OBINNA 6. WOGU UCHECHI OBIMBA The Aims and Objectives are:1. To take the message of salvation to the whole world 2. To win as many souls as possible to the Kingdom of God 3. Our ultimate goal is to make heaven and take as many souls as possible with us Any objection to the registration of the above named foundation should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed by: Awunor Chigozie Esq Tel: 08038120440: 08028285531

ST. ALOYSIUS GOZANGA YOUTHS EMPOWERMENT CENTER The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part “C” of the companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. ENEMALI ALOYSIUS UDOKA 2. ACHEGBULU EMMANUEL USMAN 3. IROLE EBERE NWANNEKA THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:1. To liberate the rural youths from the slavery of illiteracy, poverty, drugs, alcoholic addiction, cultism and prostitution.

2. To help the rural youths attain self actualization through acquisition of basic education and skills that will make them independent and authentic citizens of the nation.

3. To assist the rural youths by provision and running of quality voc

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

Kogi, Bayelsa guber: PDP warns APC against rigging Lateef Ibrahim

Northern Bureau Chief

ÏÏÏAhead

of the of the forthcoming Kogi and Bayelsa states’ governorship elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has warned that it will not accept any results that did not reflect the true wishes and aspirations of the people.

It denounced what it called the “prevailing selective application” in the fight against corruption targeted at opposition elements and perceived opponents of the ruling All Progress Congress (APC)-led administration, while APC members with corruption charges were being rewarded with ministerial positions and other juicy appointments, as the party’s tickets in the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bay-

elsa states.

The party stated this in a communique issued at the end of its national conference, in Abuja, which was attended by PDP Governors, Senators, former governors and other national leaders of the party.

The party, in a communique issued at the end of the conference and signed by its National Secretary, Prof.

Adewale Oladipo, equally said it rejected the current manipulation of the judiciary and security forces by the APC-led Federal Government in its desperate bid to subvert the sovereign will of the people and forcefully take over states genuinely won by the PDP in the last general elections and, ultimately, impose a oneparty state in Nigeria.

The opposition party further charged the new

leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to assert the independence of the electoral body, resist all external influences and ensure free, fair and credible electoral process in Kogi and Bayelsa states, and other future elections.

The PDP national conference, according to the communique, resolved as follows: “That the PDP at all levels shall continue to ensure credible, robust and issuebased opposition, while promoting harmonious relationship among all people and ensuring that citizens’ confidence in democracy does not wane.

“Conscious of the imperative of a quick PDP rebound, the conference called for the immediate implementation of the rec-

23 News

FVCA tasks news ministers on nation-building policies Kehinde Akinpelu Ilorin

ommendations of the PDP Post Election Review Committee Report, especially those relating to zoning, internal democracy, e-registration and the restructuring of the party at all levels with a view to giving the party back to the rightful owners – the people.

“Condemned the growing authoritarianism of the APC-led Federal Government which has been characterised by gross violation of human rights, constitutional infractions, invasion of a governor’s lodge and private homes, deliberate interference and instigation of crisis in the legislature, arm-twisting of the judiciary, undermining of democratic institutions like INEC, nepotism in appointments, abuse of power and clamp down on opposition elements.

ÏÏÏPresident Muhmmadu

Buhari has been tasked to remain resolute and committed to his campaign promises, while being commended for the swearing -in of Ministers who would work with him in repositioning the country towards the direction of the desired change.

The Foundation for the Victims of Child Abuse (FVCA), in a statement issued on Thursday by its Board of Trustees’ Vice Chairman, Professor Tajudeen Akanji, particularly lauded the appointment of Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazau (rtd) as the Minister for

Murder: Police absence stall late Ilemobade’s trial ’Tosin Ajuwon

L-R: Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akinolu; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode and Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs (MLG & CA), Hon. Muslim Folami during grand finale of the 2015 community day celebration held at Police College, Ikeja, Lagos…on Thursday.

Photo: OLAWALE ROTIMI

Akure ÏÏÏThe Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure on Thursday adjourned the hearing of the murder case of the erstwhile ViceChancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Prof. Albert Ilemobade.

The adjournment followed the absence of a police officer from the Ogun State Command, who was a witness to the hearing of the trial case of the late university don.

The Daily Times gathered that the absence of the offi-

UNC moves to end pro-Biafra protests

New minister vows to reform Aviation sector

Akor Ejumene

Akor Ejumene

Abuja ÏÏÏA non-partisan, paramilitary corps known as the United Nigerian Chaplaincy (UNC), on Thursday, vowed to end pro-Biafra protests in the south- eastern parts of the country in the interest of the country’s unity.

At the swearing-in of six newly promoted zonal commandants in Abuja, the Commandant-General of the corps, Professor Jidejisos Ejie, said the body was committed to creating and making peace, while rendering service to Nigeria.

The promoted officers were Ukom Ezuma, Leonard Steven, Ajeleson Samuel, Nasal Chima, Ezekiel Joshua and Nwabueze Ifeanyi, who were posted to the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.

Ejie said: “I want to encourage the people from the eastern part to shun violence. Nigeria is coming as God wants it. We are speaking and preaching about the unity of this country and it must be achieved.”

According to Ejie, what makes UNC different from others was because its of-

ficers have been called for peace. “Others are made up of graduates, street workers but these are men that are called by God to reconcile men to God and man to man.” Ejie said, “Our aim is to ensure that they should be one no matter the region, tribe or location. We want tell Nigerians that no matter where you come from, a Muslim and Christian can stay together in one house with fighting.

“We move around in market places, courts and public squares to ensure peace. We settle disputes out of court

and this will help decongest the many matters in courts and the prisons.”

Responding, one of the promoted officers, Ezekiel Joshua said his promotion had emboldened him to render more selfless service to Nigeria, adding that it was a position that any military or paramilitary servant hoped to attain on day. Joshua said that as the Commandant in charge of the North East region of the country, Joshua said he hoped to work towards restoring peace to the region as a core mandate of the chaplaincy.

Abuja ÏÏÏMinister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has pledged to make a change in the sector in pursuance of President Muhammad Buhari’s change agenda. While addressing the management staff, he reiterated Mr. President’s commitment in moving the nation’s economy forward. Considering the unique nature of the aviation industry, Sirika said he would ensure that the expectations from the industry were achieved, adding that his tenure in the office will

Interior and Professor Isaac Adewole as the Minister for Health.

According to the statement, “There is no doubt that Gen. Danbazau will use his wide military and global experience as a former Chief of Army Staff to bring to fore the much anticipated reforms in the interior sector of the economy to further facilitate more opportunities for Nigeria as a nation and the youths as major stakeholders.

Buhari

cer caused disappointment for those who had already seated in the court to experience the resumed hearing.

The lead counsel to the state and Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs. Sola Adeyemi-Tuki, sought the adjournment of the case, since the cop who was the witness absent in the court.

Tuki expressed regrets at the lack of co-operation from a police officer from Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, who was supposed to witness in the matter.

The presiding judge, Justice William Olamide who frowned at the delay said the prosecution counsel should expedite action as he wished case was dispose of without any further delay. have a zero tolerance for errors and corruption and that he was ready to take constructive ideas and initiative from everyone around him.

He added that there would be no protocol or bottleneck working with him.

Sirika expressed the belief that his sojourn in aviation sector would be successful as he was not new to the sector, which he said had seasoned professionals who knew well the industry.

Earlier, the outgoing Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Hajiya Binta Bello, who led the management and staff of the ministry to welcome Sirika, said that she had extreme confidence that he would be successful in the discharge of his duty as he had been a part of the sector.

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

ASUU warns FG, new minister against thwarting agreements Sodiq Adekunle

Osogbo ÏÏÏAcademic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Obafemi Awolowo University chapter, has warned the Federal Government and the newly appointed Minister of Education, Alhaji Adamu Adamu, not to thwart the agreement existing between the FG and ASUU. The lecturers stated this in a press conference in honour of the late Prof. Festus Iyayi, who lost his life in an accident during a strike

action by ASUU in 2013.

Chairman of the ASUU-OAU, Dr. Caleb Aborisade, urged ViceChancellors in Nigeria Universities to make judicious use of the NEEDS fund given to them as a means to honour Iyayi.

He said: “We still demand for justice because the autopsy conducted on Iyayi showed that the severity of the accident could not kill Iyayi, but the iron object that pierced through him.

“Our hope is that with the new

executive cabinet/ministers of President Buhari, more attention will be given to education. We also challenge VCs not to squander the NEEDS fund given to them so that Iyayi will not die in vain.”

Comrade Saheed Adekilekun added: “The government of the day championing the change mantra should stop the recklessness of governors and government officials leading to death of many Nigerians, including Iyayi. The lives of Nigerians should not be mur-

dered or affected by government officials who should be protecting them."

ASUU-OAU treasurer, Mrs. Sakpere Ayobola, while commiserating with the family of Iyayi urged the federal government to redeem all the pledges made with the union.

Another ASUU-OAU member, Mrs. Tayo Omisore, described Iyayi as a legend and warrior who died on the battle of ensuring educational growth.

Toxic Ponmo: Ogun, NAFDAC inspect markets in Abeokuta Abiodun Taiwo

President Muhammadu Buhari (5th left); Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo (4th left); Head of the Civil Service of the federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, and new perrmanent secretaries after their inauguration by the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja… on Thursday

Ambode, epitome of creativity, says Tinubu Oyetubo Olabimpe

ÏÏÏNational

leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Thursday, described Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, as an epitome of creativity, intelligence and honesty in governance.

Tinubu, who spoke in Ikorodu at the official flag off of the SMART Transportation For Lagos Campaign, described Ambode as a man who is extremely gifted in providing solutions to problems, no matter how daunting the challenges.

Tinubu, who is also a former Lagos State governor, recalled how Ambode provided solutions to the financial crisis which engulfed the state during his tenure between 1999 and 2007 when the then Federal Government seized the monthly allocation of Lagos for 23 months.

He said as Accountant General of Lagos State, Ambode, along with others, provided solutions to the quagmire and lifted the state out of financial crisis.

"He (Ambode) never gave excuses; he was always ready with solutions. He is a bundle of creativity, intelligence and honesty in governance.

"When we were thinking of whom to succeed Babatunde Raji Fashola as Lagos State governor, Ambode himself never thought about it; we sought him out and I'm proud to be a grandfather.

"I have many of them who are extremely gifted and talented and I have no doubt that Fashola will succeed even as Minister. You can see portfolios they gave to our people here; the government is now put together by our chosen president to move Nigeria forward and I can conveniently say that Nigeria is in good hands," Tinubu said.

Meanwhile, Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, shortly before he formally commissioned the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) extension project and flag off of the 434 new BRT bus operations, expressed optimism that it would bring comfort and conve-

nience to commuters in the state.

He said the BRT system which was initiated as part of the strategies to modernise the public transport system, has to a large extent lived up to expectation since the launch of the first BRT system in March 2008 along the Mile 12 – CMS corridor.

The governor said that the 22 km BRT corridor has moved over 250 million passengers in the last seven years, adding that the extension is an improvement on the shortcomings noticed on the Mile 12 to CMS corridor. This upgraded system, known as the BRT classic with the BRT lanes running in the median, will provide better service in all ramifications.

Ambode

Abeokuta ÏÏÏDue to the discovery of toxic ponmo in some markets in Ogun State, the state government and the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), on Thursday, embarked on mop up action to all the major markets in Abeokuta.

The inspection team which was led by the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun and accompanied by the State's NAFDAC Coordinator, Ugochukwu Ilo, inspected Kuto, Panseke, Omida and Itokun markets. Also, environmental officers were also part of the inspection team.

Sokefun, who spoke with the market women to be on the lookout and also be careful with what they consumed, saying "We are doing this because of you people welfare".

Ilo, who spoke with the journalists at Itoku market after the inspection, said that they embarked on the inspection to look out for the toxic ponmo.

The NAFDAC boss said "We are here for the level of compliance on the toxic ponmo and also to know its availability".

Asked whether he suspected any foul play, Ilo simply disclosed, "I am not suspecting any foul play.

We are only on the lookout".

He explained that NAFDAC was on the lookout for the importer of the poisonous ponmo into the circulation. The Director of the Veterinary Services from the state Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Dotun Sorunke, disclosed that there was strict compliance by the market women based on the result of the inspection. "We didn't find these ponmo in all the markets and that shows the strict compliance of the market women. I am happy that when we raised the alarm the environmental officers swung into action...", he added.

Court jails man for escaping from Police cell 'Tosin Ajuwon

Akure ÏÏÏA middle aged man, Taye Isaac, was on Thursday sentenced to six months imprisonment for escaping from police custody by a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Akure, Ondo state capital.

It was gathered that Isaac was arrested by the men of the State Police Command for breaking a bottle on one Sunday Akinola during a scuffle that ensued between the duo.

He was accused of taking to his heels from the police detention.

However, he was later rearrested and charged to court. According to the prosecution, the accused person committed the offence in Ondo Magisterial District on November, 4, 2015.

The accused pleaded guilty to the offence after a written statement was tendered before the court as an exhibit which was read to him and confirmed.

The counsel to the accused person, Grace Obanigba, appealed to court to be lenient in its verdict because the accused had confessed to the offence.

Ebonyi: Umahi issues ultimatum to water ministry Jacob Ogodo Abakaliki

ÏÏÏEbonyi

State Governor, Chief David Umahi, has issued a two weeks’ ultimatum to the Commissioner in charge of the state Ministry of Water Resource, Mr. Francis Orji, as well as all workers in the ministry to either provide water to the state capital or lose their jobs.

Governor Umahi handed down the threat when he summoned the commissioner and the top officials of the ministry on Thursday.

Umahi, who was visibly angry said when he assumed office as the governor the issue of providing water to the people was one of the upper most things in his mind and the sector had received serious attention before he formed cabinet.

But wondered why after forming the cabinet and appointed someone to man the ministry, the issue of water scarcity still persisted in the state.

"When I assumed office as governor the issue of water was very much uppermost in my mind.

That was why it is one of the very first thing I started giving serious attention to before I formed my cabinet.

Art Review Æ s Author inspires readers to embrace spiritual realms in new book This week marks the nationwide release of Cut Off Your Head, an eye-opening new spiritual book by author Opeoluwa Dele-lge.

In “Cut Off Your Head, the author reveals that in a world that is ruled by logic and reason, where people hardly believe what is not revealed to their senses, most of them are having little or no supernatural experiences. It has therefore become expedient that they trace their way back to that place where they recognize that their human wisdom cannot get them anywhere far because the things that are not seen are the real and eternal things. Published by Tate Publishing and Enterprises, the book is available through bookstores nationwide.

Dele-Ige is a microbiologist who trained from one of the Nigerian universities. She is passionate about seeing men and women live the fullness of life that their heavenly Father has prepared for them, and she does this through writing and oneon-one counseling.

ART HERITAGE SERIES Benedict Enwonwu (1917 –1994) Late Prof Ben Enwonwu was a premier African modernist and a pioneer artist. He was a painter and sculptor. He is a pioneer whose career opened the way for the postcolonial proliferation and increased visibility of modern African art. His work has been exhibited around the world. The Enwonwu crater on the planet Mercury is named in his honour.

Enwonwu

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

29

Writers get set for Ake book festival Niyi Osundare, Denis Mukwege, Colette Braeckman, others on the speakers list

Mukwege

This year’s edition of Ake Arts and Book Festival, a yearly literary feast in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital is set to begin.

From Tuesday November 17th through Thursday 21st, some of the globally reputed writers, filmmakers, scholars, researchers will arrive the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto-Abeokuta, for the five-days event. The festival is packaged as a way of bringing together authors of African origin to showcase their best works to the public as well as establish Ake in Abeokuta as a notable literally spot in Nigeria This year’s event was announced at a press conference hosted in Lagos this week by the chief director of the project, Mrs Lola Shoneyin, who founded the festival in 2012 in the company of the festival’s senior communication manager, Miss Byenyau Jessica.

Osundare

According to Mrs Shoneyin, renowned poet, Prof. Niyi Osundare, Angolan writer and TV host Imanni Da Sylva, and Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna State, are among top writers and resources people would be at the event. While Osundare will sit in a conversation with author and editor, Kunle Ajibade, Dr Olaokun Soyinka will also sit with Imanni Da Sylva and in another panel moderated by Kadaria Ahmed. Governor El-rufai will talk about Minding the business of Africa with Howard French of the New York Times.

Theme for this year’s festival is Engaging the Fringe, and it will focus on the genres and creative endeavor that do not get the same attention as art forms considered as mainstream.

The Ake Arts and Book Festival which was conceived three years ago and now in its third season is a platform aimed at bringing

Shoneyin

together authors of African origin to showcase their best works to the public. It is also aimed at celebrating literary excellence among Nigerians, with particular emphasis of also exploring topics about African life and living in Africa in an honest, open and constructive way.

To ensure that the three -day event supersedes last year’s outing which was the second, the organisers are not leaving any stone unturned. As a result, the body is already doing everything possible to ensure an incomparable outcome.

The festival film, The Man Who Mends Women is based on Dr. Denis Mukwege, winner of the Sakharov Prize in 2014. Dr. Mukwege is internationally known as the man who treated thousands of women after they were raped and brutalised during the twenty year conflict in the East of the Democratic Republic of the Con-

go. The screening will be followed by an interview session with the writer, Colette Braeckman and the director, Theirry Michel, hosted by Olaokun Soyinka. The festival will also be screening Ramata, a movie about a woman in her fifties who decides to follow a young Ngor Ndong on a journey to Copacabana where she starts a new life.

The five-days festival which holds in collaboration with Etisalat Nigeria, will also host the premiere of Ifeoma Fafunwa’s Hear Word!, The book is a powerful stage play that combines artistry, social commentary and true-life stories of inequality and transformation, delivered by some of Nigeria’s most talented actresses like Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, Joke Silva, Bimbo Akintola, Omonor, Elvina Ibru, Ufuoma McDermott, Zara Udofia, Lala Akindoju, Rita Edward, Debbie Ohiri and Odenike.

In Lagos, Ato Arinze’s magical Root of Change If you were not in Lagos recently, then you must have missed the grand opening of ‘The root of change’, a drawing exhibition by surrealist master Ato Arinze.

The exhibition opened with a display of 27 graphite drawings capable of holding even the most intelligent spell bound. Arinze inspires feelings generated from careful observance of how people respond to change in our society.

In humble anticipation for the revolution that comes with change, we must be enlightened on our identities and existence. Root of change is all about this enlighten-

ment. The drawings encourage us to think twice or perhaps thrice as we juggle individual elements until they reveal to us the root of change. Bashed with numerous extensively used symbols like snails, ladders, genitals, flowing river, each with the potential of explaining further the consequences of change.

A drawing worthy of speculation is the ‘Agony and Ecstasy’. It presents a woman with her skin thin and dried out revealing her collar bones and rib cages. Her thinned arms and neck look as though they have been prosecuted

by a deadly disease, HIV? Across her arms are snakes possibly signifying the tragic fall of man, in her case woman. Two barren trees stand beside her with a motive to portray inevitable death. Behind her is a large male phallus that is seen to have just ejaculated. Her face is raised up as she looks at it in anguish, she looks at what had caused demise. The organ represents the ecstasy and pleasure that is usually derived from intercourse, only for it to bring this agony to this woman. Actions that might have been overlaid with temporary pleasure has unfortu-

nately been the conveyor of permanent suffering.

As Nigeria is going through a hopeful major turnaround in its leadership, the glamour for political power was at its peak during the last elections. Different strategies were employed by the ‘power mongers’ to delude critics and gain public approval. Ato represents this situation in ‘The soul of 9ja politics’ where a nude figure is seen elevated on a convex surface perhaps symbolizing the podium for political promises. the female has six hands each holding an item symbolic to Nigeria’s leadership.

Art Review 30

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

Chimamanda’s Half of a Yellow Sun wins the best of the best female fiction writers

Chimamanda

Agozino Agozino Nine years after its publication, Half of a Yellow Sun still proves to be a literary masterpiece and a hallmark of excellence as its author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, is announced as the Best Winner for the last decade of the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction.

By winning the “Best of the Best” award, Chimamanda has pitched her tent next to some of the finest female novelists in the world including Zadie Smith,

Marilynne Robinson, Ali Smith, Rose Tremain, amongst others.

The Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction (BWPFF) is one of the most prestigious, celebrated and successful literary awards in the world. Based in the United Kingdom, BWPFF celebrates full length fiction written by women across the globe. This explains the buzz surrounding the news of a Nigerian bagging the award against several international contenders.

This award is well-deserved as Chimamanda’s other books like

Purple Hibiscus and Americanah, speak volumes of her ingenuity, creativity and excellence.

These books have been nominated and have won a number of awards.

Known as one of Africa’s foremost modern writers, Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus has scooped many awards, the most popular of which was the 2005 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for “Best First Book.” The book also bagged the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, got shortlisted for the Orange Prize for fic-

tion, and long listed for the Man Booker Prize.

In 2014, Chimamanda emerged the winner of one of the most reputable literary prizes in the United States, the National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) award for her book, Americanah, which was equally shortlisted for the BWPFF in

the same year.

The book Half of a Yellow Sun was so impressive, Mauriel Gray, chair of the judges of BWPFF concluded that “Chimamanda’s achievement makes Half of a Yellow Sun not just a worthy winner of this most special of prizes, but a benchmark for excellence in fiction writing.”

Obi Emelonye’s Oxford Gardens set for premiere

Okafor

Award-winning filmmaker, Obi Emelonye is set with a new movie, Oxford Gardens. Shot in London, the film features Ngoli Okafor, a former boxing champion in United States, Ngozi Thompson Igwebike, Savanah Roy, Iffy Chukwu, Princess Abiye, Frank Ani, Nnenna Ani and D’Richy Emelonye. It will be officially premiered on December 18, 2015.

Basking in the success of great films like, The Mirror Boy, Last Flight to Abuja, Onye Ozi and Thy Will Be Done, the director-producer, who is renowned for championing causes with his themes in Nollywood, says he intends to be refreshingly different with this new work. According to him, “I dig deep to explore stories that our young industry has ignored for some reason or another. In 2011, it was The Mirror Boy which at-

tempted to see Africa through the eyes of a 12 year old London-born African boy. Last Flight to Abuja, a year later dealt with the glamorous world of aviation with its excitement, glitz and unfortunately, crashes. In all of these projects, I am seeking a new vista from which to see our common existence. In Oxford Gardens, I have attempted to tell a moving love story, wrapped in boxing gloves. Nigeria has produced great boxers, old and new. However, for some reason, Nollywood has ignored stories around boxing in spite of boxing’s gritty nature that would lend itself easily to cinematography.

Boxing films over the years have been hugely successful globally because they stir potent emotions in audiences, as the Rocky series and more recently Cinderalla Man and Southpaw have proved. Oxford

Gardens is a film about boxing and not a boxing film. It takes some of the elements that make boxing films successful; sympathy for the underdog, blood, sweat, tears; and weaves them into a narrative that is an allegory for our broader fight for love, life and our place in the world.”

Explaining further, Emelonye, said: “As part of the story, there is a very important accident scene where a young girl is killed. I told my team that if we can make this scene work, with a level of visual realism and hence believability, then we would have made this great story special. So, we enlisted the help of the stunt co-ordination team that worked on big budget films like Skyfall and Johnny English. Their remit was, make this accident scene the best that has been seen in an African film.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

31 Opinion

Some thoughts on public service

ÏÏÏThe

list of public servants who have fallen under the president’s hammer is growing into a long list. The strike of the hammer, a “partial fulfillment” of the president’s electoral promise to clean the Augean Stable, serves as an obituary notice of those men and women, gamekeepers, appointed by power to protect our collective game, barns, harvests and to make the rest of us happy, if not happier, by delivering on the terms of their appointments, but who end up as poachers and killers of joy and happiness. There is that other aspect for which any subsequent actions that are taken by the president would invariably make it the “final fulfillment” of his electoral promise. It is common knowledge that the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption headed by Professor Itse Sagay is currently working to shape the framework of that promise, and sooner, if the present strike of the hammer points to what is to come, there shall be the gnashing of teeth, breaking of eggs to make omelettes for citizens who demand the cleaning of the Augean Stable. Surely, there will

be no limit to the number of eggs that will be broken. There will be no escape for those who privatize the commonwealth, who live off the labour, toils, sweats and blood of the masses of our people, who hurl up criminal values that are incompatible with the nobler society and who will be remembered for the infelicities of our age. The hammer strike is karmic- only the impure of hearts will face the consequences of their actions!

A few days ago seventeen permanent secretaries were sacked. No reason was given for the sack, but the speculation was that they were sacked because they did not demonstrate commitment to the moral basis of the new change. A mild way of saying that the permanent secretaries did not distinguish what was Caesar’s from what was theirs. They cornered what was Caesar’s. The refusal to distinguish what belonged to Caesar from what was theirs, or accept that breaking eggs in order to serve omelettes to the greatest number is what modern public service is all about, lies at the heart of the culture of

Buhari

impunity that has reigned for too long. A few days before the sack, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde, was relieved of his duties. Coming on the heels of Lamorde’s sack, the National Judicial Commission (NJC) announced the dismissal of Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Port-Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court over allegation that he collected one hundred million naira to facilitate the judicial removal of twenty-two Chairmen of local councils in Rivers state. While Justice Akan-

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bi was publicly named and shamed, the suspicion is that Lamorde fell under the president’s hammer because of the damaging allegation of impropriety and the improper handling of monies recovered from late DSP Alamieyeseigha.

The allegation against Lamorde as far as I am aware is what it is: an unproven allegation. But there is no smoke without fire, as they say in this part. While Lamorde can be given the benefit of doubt, there is a sense in which truth emerges like the smoke billowing from the fireplace. It is

needless to search for the fireplace when the poor conduct of public servants undermines public trust. The point I make, here, isn’t about negotiating the line that separates innocence from guilt, but it is also about appreciating how the wrongness of crime is established and punishment is served as an example to the rest of society. That the corrupt judge was found out, for instance, highlights two incontrovertible facts: first, that our governance environment can only be cleansed when individuals, who, think that they personify our state institutions and the rule-based system, turn the public realms into their private estates, are shown the way out. Ask our permanent secretaries. Second, that those who infringe public service rules are disciplined not only by established rules of behaviour but by the discipline of authority. And for others that the terror of power keeps on its good sides, they are disciplined when they fall from the good sides of power! Ask Lamorde. However, in this new era of change, we must guide against naked use of power and vigilante justice.

Public service is a call to duty, to serve the public rather than being served by the public. There is something promethean about our public servants who reject the appointed order and work government in a manner that guarantees them benefits good governance would ordinarily gifts citizens and ordinary folks. For this tribe, sufferings are

the inescapable lot of we, the people and not they, servants of the public, who feed fat on public resources, who appoint or elect them as custodians of our collective trust. It is from this contractual relationship of appointment and election good and service proceed, we gauge the moral worth of public actions, that the fullest potentials of citizens can be achieved. The extraordinary dynamic between public and service is what our public servants deny, in the sense in which they take service out of the public, and replace it with the self and the personal, game the system, and neutralize internal framework, so they can steal or CHOP AND CLEAN MOUTH. The struggle over juicy committees in the House of Representatives is a sad example of how service has been hollowed out of the public in our country. Can the president hammer service back into our public? Will the discipline of authority or what many have rightly termed the body language of the president return our public servants to serving the people for the good of our nation?

There are good public servants in our public service and there are many others outside the public service who diligently and conscientiously serve our homeland, who shed tears for us when we weep and who carry the burden of building a just, humane and egalitarian nation that we all carry. We must promote these good public servants as exemplars of what is good in us as a nation of people.

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fRidaY, noVEmBER 13, 2015

VOL. 1. NO.230

Price: n150

WORLD CUP QUALIFIER RESULTS Mozambique 1 - 0 Gabon

F I FA :

Sudan 0 - 1 Zambia Burundi 2 - 3 DR Congo Namibia 0 - 1 Guinea Benin 2 - 1 Burkina Faso Togo 0 - 1 Uganda

Warner

Palestine 6 - 0 Malaysia U.A.E. 8 - 0 Timor-Leste Australia 3 - 0 Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan 5 - 0 Bangladesh Maldives 0 - 1 Hong Kong China 12 - 0 Bhutan Iran 3 - 1 Turkmenistan

denies

India 1 - 0 Guam Singapore 0 - 3 Japan Afghanistan 3 - 0 Cambodia Thailand 4 - 2 Taiwan

Beckenbauer

deal, as Bility raises alarm J

ack Warner has denied signing a contract with Franz Beckenbauer four days before the vote to decide who would host the 2006 World Cup. The German FA says former Germany international Beckenbauer, who was the head of its 2006 bid committee, signed the contract with Warner, who was president of CONCACAF at the time.

Germany won the vote and acting DFB president Reinhard Rauball, who took on the job alongside Rainer Koch following the resignation of Wolfgang Niersbach earlier this week, says the contract “amounted to bribery”.

But Warner, who is banned from football for life and faces corruption charges in the United States, insists he did nothing wrong.

“I have no intention of joining in the circus of the international media,

whose only objective seems to be to demean and denigrate,” said Warner, who is a former member of FIFA’s executive committee.

“Suffice to say, however, that I have never, ever had any agreement of any kind with anyone involved with Germany’s hosting of the 2006 World Cup.” In another development, former FIFA presidential candidate Musa Bility has raised alarm saying he was rejected as a possible candidate to replace Sepp Blatter due to a previous ban from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Liberian Football Association president Bility was not among the list of confirmed candidates released by FIFA on Thursday, with the organisation confirmed it had not admitted the candidature “in view of the content of the integrity check report

relating to him”.

Bility was previously the subject of a six-month ban from CAF due to the use of confidential documents during a bid to change regulations governing election rules within the organisation.

And Bility confirmed in a statement that this ban was the reason behind his rejection by FIFA but explained he would review the matter with his legal team.

With Michel Platini currently suspended by UEFA, his candidacy will not yet be assessed, leaving Prince Ali Al Hussein, Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, Jerome Champagne, Gianni Infantino and Tokyo Sexwale in the race to succeed Blatter.

Blatter and Platini have been accused of corruption in relation to an alleged “disloyal payment” made from FIFA to the Frenchman in 2011.

Both deny the allegations and have appealed their suspensions.

Meanwhile, a FIFA official accused of taking bribes will be extradited to Uruguay, not the United States, should the US agree, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) has confirmed.

Eugenio Figueredo, the former vicepresident of CONMEBOL, was one of a seven FIFA officials to be arrested in Zurich in May. Figueredo, 83, is accused of accepting bribes from a marketing firm in his native Uruguay in connection with the sale of TV rights for the 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2023 Copa America finals.

An FOJ statement released on Wednesday read: “It will be for the US authorities to state whether or not they agree to Uruguay being given priority.”

South Korea 4 - 0 Myanmar Lebanon 7 - 0 Laos Philippines 0 - 1 Yemen Uzbekistan 3 - 1 North Korea

TODAY’S MATCHES Madagascar v Senegal 12:30 Comoros v Ghana 13:00 Kenya v Cape Verde 14:00 Libya v Rwanda 14:30 Angola v South Africa 15:30 Niger v Cameroon 16:00 Liberia v Ivory Coast 17:00 Mauritania v Tunisia 18:00 Swaziland v Nigeria 18:00 Saturday, November 14, 2015 Ethiopia v Congo 14:00 Tanzania v Algeria 14:30 Botswana v Mali 15:00 Chad v Egypt 15:30 Gabon v Mozambique 18:00 Sunday, November 15, 2015 Uganda v Togo 14:00 Zambia v Sudan 14:00 DR Congo v Burundi 15:30 Equatorial Guinea v Morocco 16:00 Guinea v Namibia 20:00

Life&

TIMES Friday, November 13, 2015

I won’t fake,

e m l a e r e h t e e s l l i w s n a i Niger eria g i N s s i M h t 9 3 –

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Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

L3

How I became first Miss Nigeria Atinuke Grace

OYELUDE Now in her 80s, Atinuke Grace Oyelude never believed she would be crowned Miss Nigeria when she contested in 1957 as there was no preparation whatsoever. Still with flawless look and poise, she was filled with joy as she attended the 39th edition of Miss Nigeria.

In this chat with MUTIAT ALLI, Mrs. Oyelude narrated her journey to becoming the queen in 1957, among other issues. Excerpts:

Finali sts of 1957 Miss Niger ia pag eant

‘

My brother applied for Miss Nigeria pageant for me

What is the difference between Miss Nigeria then and Miss Nigeria now?

Then beauty pageants were really beauty pageants. The whole prestige was around it. Looking at that time and now, there are so many things you emulate and so many things you bring back.

‘

What were the pageants like?

To be honest, I only experienced one Miss Nigeria pageant since I was crowned.

later, a late Miss, Lady Alakija and a lawyer, two of them came and they left. However, after a short while, they made the announcement of the new queen which I was but I myself didn’t hear until someone touched me that I was announced the winner and I was later taken up to the stage and that was how I became Miss Nigeria and that night I had to find my way home. My brother was a broadcaster, he was one of the people that were in the broadcasting profession in Nigeria. He was on duty when they told him and he said that’s my sister and that is the story of how I became Miss Nigeria.

So you didn’t crown the next person?

I was not even in the country at that time. This (the 39th Miss Nigeria) was the first one that I have actually met.

What was the experience like, the process involved before the big day?

We did what was expected of us. I was living in Kano then and like I always said, I have always been repeating the same thing. My brother saw it in the papers that I had to go to Lagos because I had been selected as one of the Miss Nigeria to be interviewed in Lagos. So he said I should go to Lagos. I had not applied to be a Miss Nigeria; then he said he saw it in an advert that anyone who wants to be Miss Nigeria should apply. So he applied, and the result came that I was supposed to be in Lagos for the Miss Nigeria and I was working in the UAC then; and they also were involved in the pageant. The following day, they got me on plane to Lagos and that was it.

So what happened later?

We arrived in Lagos, there was no accommodation, so we all had to look for our accommodation. We were later asked to come to the Daily Times office after. So we all met, about 200 of us. I was the only one from Kano. We were interviewed. I told them I flew for the first time in my life, and was looking forward to that. So we met and they told us to come back,

What did you think the criteria were?

I don’t even know what they were looking for and majority of us didn’t know.

First Miss Nigeria (1957), Mrs Grace Oyelude (left) with 39th Miss Nigeria, Leesi Peter-Vigboro that was three weeks running. We went back to the Daily Times offices; there was no much interview that time.

What were the questions asked then?

Well, they asked simple questions like where you came from, our back ground; funny enough, they didn’t ask us why we wanted to become a Miss Nigeria, because I won’t have known what to say.

After the interview questions and

other process; what eventually happened at the grand finale?

On the day of the Miss Nigeria which was on one Saturday in 1957, we met at Lagos Island club. We were offered drinks and someone came and told us we would be asked to go to a wall and many people around and then they asked us to walk around. There was music of late Bobby Benson that was playing. Then we went round the first time, the second time and the third time and later they asked us to go and sit down and we sat down. Then

Were there any benefit or did you get to win anything?

I said after the Miss Nigeria, I went straight back to work and I was given 200 hundred pounds. Then that was a lot of money and a wardrobe filled with four beautiful cotton dresses and a trip to London.

Part of the things you were taught in the pageant, do you remember posing for the camera?

Camera!! If you check most of the pictures taken, myself and my other contestants stood normally in photographs not the regular posing that is the order of the day now.

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Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

I won’t fake, Nigerians will see the real me

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

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— Leesi Peter-Vigboro Computer Science graduate of University of Port Harcourt, Leesi-Vigboro, is the newly crowned 39th Miss Nigeria held last weekend at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island after a keen contest. Leesi, who is currently undergoing the compulsory National Youth Service Corps programme in Ogun State is fully prepared for the task ahead as beauty queen.

In this chat with Life & Times, MUTIAT ALLI, Lessi explains how she feels wearing the historical and indigenous crown, plans for the future amongst others.

Excerpts: How were you able to cope with the rigors in camp?

It was tough at first because of the energy you came with to the camp and because one wanted to win. We woke up by 5.30 am. The first day, I woke up at 4 O’clock. At times, one was tired but I just had to try. There was one time I came really late, I didn’t hear when the alarm rang, my alarm went off. It was getting too much for me but I came for a competition, so I just decided to stick around.

Was there any contestant that was a threat to you while in the boot camp?

That happens with a lot of people because they were so many smart and beautiful girls in the camp. A lot of them actually were a threat. My runner up; she is quiet, smart and all of that and a few other girls. Yes when I saw them, I was like this a proper competition. They were so many suitable girls for it.

Did you see your winning the crown coming?

Believe me sincerely, I did not see it coming but I was really hoping to, well not really, but I was really hoping to win.

When your name was mentioned among the top 5, what was actually ringing in your mind?

At that point, I said finally, I think I have a shot at this, because I came all the way from top 10 to top 5. So at that top 5 stage, it was clear that I had a chance at been the Miss Nigeria.

What would you say about the section of the judges and their role in the pageant?

I think they did a good job. They used what they saw; utilized it to get the top 10 and all of that.

What did you think gave you that saving grace of becoming the queen?

I don’t know really. I think it was just God because I feel positive about it. Like I said before; from the beginning of the pageant, it was something I decided to try. I wasn’t thinking of failing. I didn’t put that giving up in my mind. All I did was just constantly think of the crown every day. I would talk to myself and say, Miss Nigeria and would act like I had it all already and see how thankful I am. Even in my drama, I used to write and I will say, I’m the Miss Nigeria and I’m really happy to act out my reality and I’m surprised it worked for me.

What was the reaction of your parents?

They are very excited. My mom is so excited that she would not stop screaming, yes!

How well are you prepared for the challenges and duties ahead?

I am very prepared. I knew that before now but the reality is now on me.

I will not act fake as such the general public will see the real me.

Do you have any pet project you intend projecting as a queen?

Yes, I do but it is not structured yet, but my pet project will tend towards capacity building for young women.

How do you intend to achieve that?

That is why I said the project is not structured yet but the content of it would be capacity building for young women. I would properly do collaboration with smart young ladies in Nigeria through a proper programme.

What is that one thing people don’t know about you?

People that are close to me know that I am a very quiet and respectful person. Sometimes I just withdraw myself and go inside and do a lot of deep thinking. That is something people don’t know about me but people that are very close to me know that I do think deeply a lot.

How do you intend to coordinate the beauty queen that you are now?

I would find a way around it. When it is time for my responsibility as a queen, I would have to take my mission and attend to that. When I can as well attend to my primary assignment, I would that.

What was growing up like for you?

Growing up was pretty normal. I

‘It feels very amazing, I’m gradually coming to terms with it. Since last weekend when I won, I did not know how to feel or how to react. I felt like it was a dream at that time’. had a normal childhood with my siblings and I have always been an introvert as a child. I didn’t usually have a lot of friends. Most of the time, I was with my book or my diary or I was really quiet.

How do you intend to still be in contact with your fellow finalists?

I made like quite a few connection because they were so many strong and amazing ladies in the house. I’m going to keep in touch with as

T H E Chairman- Fidelis Anosike Executive Producer - Chioma Ude Group Managing Director- Noel Anosike Project Directors Ifeoluwa Isijola, Wendy Tabansi, Ola Joshua, Julian Nwagboniwe, Dr. May Ikeora Project Management Office Konnie Agu, Enakeno Oju, Bola Awosika, Emily Archo, Geraldine Ubah

much as I can. I would even like to work with some of them on my development project.

What would you like to say about the past queen that crowned you in person of Ennize Akudo?

She is an amazing person. I really admire her.

I like the fact that she is able to stay grounded.

She is a queen; you can see through her in her originality. She is original, so I really like that about her.

T E A M Deputy Editor/Southern Bureau Chief Sam Nzeh Deputy Editor/Northern Bureau Chief Lateef Ibrahim Group News Editor Segun Adio Politics Editor Akintola Akinjide Business Editor Friday Atufe

Daily Times Special Publication Team

Entertainment, Society & Style Mutiat Alli, Isaac Oguntoye

Editor Biodun Durojaiye

Photography Bolaji Olasunkanmi, Quadri Olowolagba Head, Graphics/Design King Ododoru

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Red Carpet p 39TH MISS

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

Isiabella Ojuinou

Esther Adeyemo

Fidelis Anosike and Ruth Osime

Jenifer Brawn

Jessicia Oputa & King Jerry

Jihane Benslimane

Arem

Miss Toursm Nigeria 2012, Tomi Salami

Miz Gold

Mrs Oluwatoyin Olajide

Nkoli Modebe Oby Obijiaku

Olamide Sadiq

Osas-Ajibade

Albert Okumagba MC Acapella

Lilian-Afegbai

Tobi Osoba Mimi Onalaja

photos of the NIGERIA

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

Patrick Doyle

mo Olusegun Osoba Konisola Ayodele

Lady Ann Okononkwo

Layole-Oyatogun

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Noel Noel Anosike Anosike

Patrick Doyle

Kenny Adazie

Princess Lina

Air Peace Staffs, Toby Nwanede & Mrs Oluwatoyin Olajide

Barr. Allen Ifechukwu Onyema with wife Mrs Alice Ojochide Onyema

Azuka with a Guest

Bose & Kadijat

Adebola Williams

Quincy Ayodele Zeal Zeal

Mai Atafo

Yibo Koko

PHOTOS: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI AND QADRI OLOWOLAGBA

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Daily Times Nigeria

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

Monday November 9, 2015

L3 News

InIntheir their words words Opeoluwani Akintayo

Publisher/Editor-in-chief, Daily Times, Fidelis Anosike

Audu Makori

Miss Nigeria 2015 Judge I am excited to be part of this year’s pageantry especially as a judge. I can assure you that I and my fellow judges will be fair and the best girl in terms of beauty and intellect will be picked.

The pageant is Nigeria’s legacy and that’s why I am proud to be part of it.

Osas Ajibade As a woman, I am happy to be part of this kind of event which celebrates the usefulness of the Nigerian woman.

I am also one of the judges which means I get to truly be able to bring out who did what well. So, it’s going to be fun after spending weeks in camp with the girls. It’s difficult to pick the best girl because they all came prepared but we will put in our best.

Yibo Koko

Miss Nigeria 2015 judge

Mai Atafo

Miss Nigeria beauty pageant is the most outstanding pageants ever. Nigeria is a great country and the contestants will blossom all the same. We are here because we have to change the way things are being done in this country. A woman is not all about miniskirts. And it will surprise us that if a woman is elected president, she will perform very well.

I am happy that the Miss Nigeria pageant is holding this year. Daily Times is proud to be keeping it flying for years now. I welcome everyone present and I want to enjoin our judges to be fair. Daily Times is here to stay and the Miss Nigeria pageant has been in the business of celebrating Nigerian women since 1957.

It will be good to see a Miss Nigeria whose innate beauty supersedes her outward appearance.

How judges selected 39th Miss Nigeria – Helen Prest Ajayi Helen Prest Ajayi was crowned Miss Nigeria in 1979. She was one of the 13 judges who determined the winner of the 39th Miss Nigeria beauty pageant in the early hours of Sunday. In this interview with BIODUN DUROJAIYE, she explained how the judges selected the winner.

Why the tie which necessitated another round of votes by the judges to determine the winner? This is not common in beauty pageants.

A tie happened because two contestants got the same votes. Votes were allotted for specific things. And when all were counted, these two had the same number of votes.

So there had to be a run-off, and the same question was put to each of the two. The question was based on the business plan they presented to the Bank of Industry. I believe Miss Cross River (Pa-

mela Peter-Vigboro Leesi) gave the better answer.

The judges’ vote on that was almost a tie also. How would that have been resolved?

We probably would have asked them another question.

What were the criteria used in narrowing down from 36 contestants to 10?

The 36 were judged on five criteria. Poise, Looks and Beauty, Stage Presence, Confidence and Connection with the Audience. All 36 were given the opportunity to be judged on these criteria. It was the 10 with the highest

marks that we moved to the next round.

The judges had no previous interaction with the contestants?

No. Not that I know of.

What do you think of tonight’s queen?

She got my vote. I voted for her.

A lot of people were thinking Miss Anambra would make it. Why do you think she didn’t?

We had five criteria to use in judging. Until you tally the votes, you never know who would come up… It is not just about being pretty. There are

so many other components of the beauty queen. From the criteria, you know the other things the judges were looking for in a queen. You have to be beautiful. But you also have to have so many other elements. It is not easy to be a queen.

In this pageant, there was no swim suit segment. A lot of people might think you can’t really tell how beautiful a lady is if you cannot see her legs.

I think a lot of the contestants wore short clothing, so we were able to see their legs.

Helen Prest Ajayi Those who didn’t, would that have been a disadvantage?

You know, your charisma comes out in whatever you

do. I don’t think so. And we saw them in the film clips shown. So, people had the opportunity to see the girls at work, at play.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

Photos from

Chike C. Ogeah Esq (right) and Albert Okumagba

39

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th Miss Nigeria pageant

The contestants

Frank Osodi (left) and Dieter Grabher

Chukwuma Chigbo and Emeka Chigbo

Cross section of the contestants (L-R): Miss Osun, Temi; Miss Aanmbra, Nkem; first runner-up, Itunu; winner of Miss Nigeria Cross section of the Judges 2015, Leesi Peter-Vigboro and the second runner-up, Mary.

Cross section of the Judges with the New Queen, Leesi Peter-Vigboro

Cross section of the last five contestants, Miss Osun, Miss Jigawa, Miss Anambra, Miss Cross River and Miss Oyo

L-R: Publisher of Daily Times, Mr. Fidelis Anosike; Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi; Sir Innocent Oparadike; Chief Segun Osoba; 39th Miss Nigeria, Leesi PeterVigboro; Dr. Patrick Dele Cole and Dr. Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo

L-R: Dr. Ernest Azudialu Obiejesi; Dr. Tunde Ayeni; Mr. Fidelis Anosike and Mr. Adebola Williams

L-R: GM, Legal Nest Oil, Nmaji Iqwe; Gloria Igwe; Kaweng Madu and Chieneka Madu

Outgone Miss Nigeria, Ezinne Akudo (right) decorating the 39th Miss Nigeria, Leesi Peter-Vigboro

L-R: Ronke Kehinde; Tobi Ayodele; Dipo Kehinde and Quincy Ayodele

Dr. Ifeanyi Obiakor (left) and Dr. Tunde Ayeni

L-R: Former Miss Nigeria, Helen Prest Ajayi; First Miss Nigeria 1957, Mrs. Grace Oyelude and Wunmi Ogunbiyi

L-R: First runner-up, Itunu; 39th Miss Nigeria, Leesi Peter-Vigboro and second runner-up, Mary.

L-R: First runner-up, Itunu; Outgone Miss Nigeria, Akudo; 39th Miss Nigeria, Leesi Peter-Vigboro and second runnerup, Mary with the judges

L-R: First runner-up, Itunu; Outgone Miss Nigeria, Akudo; 39th Miss Nigeria, Leesi Peter-Vigboro and second runner-up, Mary PHOTOS: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI AND QADRI OLOWOLAGBA

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Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

Photos from

Dr. Eloka Umeh (left) and Dr. Nicholas Okoye

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Bank of Industry (BOI), Rasheed Olaoluwa (2nd right) with some of the contestants

39

th Miss Nigeria pageant

Cross section of the contestants

Mrs. Quincy Ayodele (right) with daughter, Mrs. Tobi AyodeleKeeney

Fire girl performing

Mr. Noel Anosike

Another section of contestants

The 10 finalists who qualified for the second round

Outgone Miss Nigeria, Ezinne Akudo arriving the stage in grand style

L-R: Deputy Editor, Southern Bureau Chief, Daily Times, Mr. Sam Nzeh; Deputy Editor, Northern Bureau Chief, Daily Times, Mr. Lateef Ibrahim and MD/CEO, Freedom Online, Mr. Gabriel Akinadewo

Mr. and Mrs. Rasheed Olaoluwa

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, BOI, Rasheed Olaoluwa (left) with Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Daily Times, Mr. Fidelis Anosike

Executive Director, Special Projects, The Sun, Mr. Bolaji Tunji (left) and Managing Director, The Sun, Mr. Eric Osagie

R-L: Executive Director, Bank of Industry Limited (BOI), Mr. Olagunju Waheed; Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Daily Times, Mr. Fidelis Anosike; Managing Director/CEO, (BOI), Rasheed Olaoluwa and wife

Sen. Emma Anosike (left) with Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke

Mrs. Adetunji Farinu and Ms. Banke Alawiye

L-R: Mrs. Hannah Durojaiye; Mr. Boidun Durojaiye (Editor, Daily Times); Mr. Dipo Kehinde and Mrs. Ronke Kehinde.

L-R: Sen. Daisy Danjuma; former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; Mr. Fidelis Anosike; Chief David Richard; First Miss Nigeria in 1957, Mrs. Grace Oyelude and Wunmi Ogunbiyi

L-R: Mr. Olusesan Sanya; Gbenga Ajibua and wife, Jumoke PHOTOS: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI AND QADRI OLOWOLAGBA

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

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Daily Times Nigeria Friday, November 13, 2015

Photos from

39th Miss Nigeria pageant L-R: Nenzi; Kokoma Ephraini and Princess Thomos

Presentation of a car key by Heritage Bank official, Mr Davidson Regha to First Miss Nigeria 1957, Mrs. Grace Oyelude (first left). With them are Mr. Fidelis Anosike; Mr. David Richard and Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi

Mr. Muhammed Ciroma and Casimir Maduafokwa

L-R: Dr. Lai Ogunbiyi, Mr. Fidelis Anosike and Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi.

39th Miss Nigeria, Leesi Peter-Vigboro Mr. and Mrs. Christian Udechuckwu

Mrs. Alice Ojochide Onyema and Mrs. Oma Attah Yemi Alade performing

Kcee on stage

Aremo Segun Osoba with son, Tobi

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EKIGHO EHIOSUN g X4,5

Friday, November 13, 2015

‘happy’ Blatter out of hospital

FiFa boss hayatou thumbs up Eaglets g X2

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: i t t o l E C n a

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Friday, November 13, 2015

EXTRATIME

FIFA boss Hayatou thumbs up Eaglets ANDREW EKEJIUBA Sport Editor

A

cting President of world football governing body, FIFA, Alhaji (Dr) Issa Hayatou has felicitated with the Nigeria Football Federation over the Golden Eaglets’ successful defence of the FIFA U-17 World Cup at Chile 2015.

In a letter dated November 11,

Hayatou

and addressed to NFF President Amaju Pinnick, Hayatou commended the efforts of the Nigerian youngsters in retaining a title they had won for a record fourth time in the United Arab Emirates two years ago.

“On behalf of the international football family, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to the Golden Eaglets on retaining the FIFA U-17 World Cup crown in Chile last Sunday, a record fifth championship at this level.

“Your triumph was undoubtedly by a team effort and besides the players who performed so well, I would also like to give special mention to your Coach Emmanuel Amuneke, to the entire technical, administrative and medical team, and to all your fans.

“This victory is proof that another very exciting generation of Nigerian footballers is emerging and I am looking forward to seeing them further develop and reach even greater heights in the game.”

‘Happy’ Blatter out of hospital S

uspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter has been discharged from hospital, six days after having a check-up for feeling unwell.

Amid recent reports that he had been suffering from a stressrelated illness, the 79-year-old was admitted to hospital on November 6 after reluctantly accepting the advice to seek medical attention by his doctors.

His former publicist and confidant Klaus Stohlker told reporters on

Thursday that Blatter had been discharged and had gone home to recover and that his doctor had said he can return to work on Tuesday.

“He is not depressed. He is ready to go ahead and fight against his suspension. He can’t live without football.

“He is very happy and he is relaxing a few days until the beginning of next week and then he will be back,” Stohlker said.

Stohlkler revealed that Blatter

Blatter had spent most of his time in hospital in bed watching football games from all over the world.

Stohlker stated earlier this week that Blatter had undergone tests and that “his brain and heart were fine, but his body was letting him down”.

Blatter is preparing himself to go ahead with his fight against his 90day suspension convinced that the ethics commission could not force him out.

I’m alive, no ill feelings against govt—Brodericks

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ebastian Brodericks, Coach of the 1985 U-16 JVC World Championship winning team, the World Golden Eaglets on Thursday said he was alive, hale and healthy.

Brodericks, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in

his GRA residence in Benin said: ``1 am delighted, 30 years after, to hear the good news of Federal Government’s plan to redeem the pledge to my team’’.

The 77-year old coach, who won the maiden World Youth Soccer Championship 30 years ago in

China, said he had no ill-feelings against anybody for the apparent neglect of members of the team.

“Yes, I am happy over President Muhammadu Buhari’s pronouncement to reward us 30 years after we brought honour and glory to this nation.

“I have not been too happy about the way and manner we were treated. But I hold no ill feelings toward anybody.

“My mother told me that ‘my night shall be better than my day’.

And that ‘the water meant for will never pass me bye’. I hold to that

wise sayings.

“I believe my right hour has come. My only regret is that some of my boys are no longer alive to receive that well-deserved honour and reward,’’ he said with a tinge of regret.

Friday, November 13, 2015

EXTRATIME

ANDREW EKEJIUBA

N

ewly appointed Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalong on Wednesday night, in what was his first official assignment after taking the oath of office earlier in the day, gave kudos to the Golden Eaglets for winning a record fifth FIFA U-17 World Cup at Chile 2015.

Speaking at reception organized by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports led by DG Sports, Mallam Alhassan Yakmut for the Golden Eaglets and the Scrabble World Cup-winning team at the Transcorp Hiton Hotel in Abuja, Dalong said Nigerians were happy with the Eaglets for representing the country with pride in Chile. He equally challenged administrators to be alive to their responsibilities in order to change the face of the

Udoji, Buggi clinch October LBA Award

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Eagles battle Sihlangu today!

Dalong hails victorious T Eaglets aglets Golden E ches in coa players, h hotograp a group p reception eir during th . ja u b A in

sport sector of the economy.

“The performance of the Golden Eaglets at the World Cup has shown that success has so many fathers,” said Dalong.” If they had lost, Nigerians would have not have welcomed them with love. But their victory has once again shown that sport is a universal tool for our unity because the players were picked from different places but they were united as one in Chile.

“We want to thank them and their officials for making us proud with their performance,” he stated,

E

nyimba captain Chinedu Udoji and Giwa FC trainer, Danladi Buggi, have been named winners of the League Bloggers Awards (LBA) for the month of October.

Udoji claimed the award in the player’s category while Buggi emerged the manager for October.

The pair fended off a shortlist of eight in the month under review to be named the best performers in the Glo Premier League.

Enyimba defender, Udoji, had to contend with the like of Warri Wolves duo of Gbolahan Salami and Joseph Osadiaye as well as Chisom

advising administrators to find a lasting solution to all manner of malaise, including internal wrangling, which has endangered the growth of sports in the country over the years.

NFF 1st Vice President, Barr.

Seyi Akinwunmi, wished the new Minister a successful tenure in office even as he reiterated the federation’s commitment to a sustainable football culture with systematic approach towards its development.

Chikatara in the player’s category.

The trio of Salami, Osadiaye and Chikatara netted hat-tricks in the month of October. There was also Dolphins striker, Godbless Asamoah with an outside chance.

But the tussle for the player of the month was narrowed to Udoji and Salami, who was impressive for Wolves with four goals in October.

However, Udoji’s defensive display for Enyimba in the month as well as playing the odd-job man role as a defensive midfielder following injuries to his teammates also gave him an edge.

he Super Eagles of Nigeria will today battle Sihlangu Somnikati in a 2018 FIFA World Cup African Qualifying Round 2 tie.

The delegation led by NFF 1st Vice President, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi, traveled aboard a chartered ARIK Air Boeing 737-800 aircraft from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and landed at the Matsapha International Airport, Manzini at 4pm Swazi time (3pm Nigeria time) on Wednesday, after six hours on air.

At the Matsapha International Airport, the group was received by about three dozen excited Nigerians based in Swaziland, who cheered and sang various songs as players and officials walked into awaiting buses. They were clad in T-Shirts specially made for the occasion.

“We really appreciate this show

of love from fellow Nigerians, who have left their businesses in various areas of Swaziland to come and welcome the National Team of Nigeria,” said leader of delegation, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi.

Also at the airport were NFF Executive Committee member, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau and Assistant Director (Technical), Rafiu Yusuf, who had gone ahead of the delegation to make arrangements for the team’s comfortable stay. Chief Executive Officer of the National Football Association of Swaziland, Frederick Mngomezulu, was also at the airport.

The Super Eagles had a feel of the Somhlolo National Stadium, venue of today’s match, as Coach Sunday Oliseh supervised a 45–minute session under the floodlights.

Nigeria, Senegal, Morocco book slots in 2016 Olympics

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igeria, Senegal and Morocco have earned Rio 2016 Olympic slots at the African Canoe Slalom Championships staged in Sagana River in Nairobi, Kenya.

The three-day competition served as Olympic Qualifier for the African athletes.

Nigeria’s Jonathan Akinyemi won gold in men’s K1 event to qualify for the Rio Games and he was the only Nigerian that participated in

the canoe event of the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Senegal Jean Bourhis won the men’s C1 event to book a place in the Olympics; he was a graduate of the International Canoe Federation’s talent identification programme.

Meanwhile, Hind Jamili, a 16-yearold Moroccon female canoeist won the women’s K1 event at the Africa championship to represent his country at the Games.

Awori College Ojo lifts Copa Coca-Cola 2015

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L - R: Principal of COPA Coca-Cola, Lagos winning team, Awori College, Adeyemo Joshua; National Secretary, Nigerian School Sports Federation (NSSF), Olabisi Joseph; Team captain of the winning school (Awori College), Fasasi Elijah and Senior Brand Manager, Colas, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Gbolahan Sanni, at the COPA Coca-Cola Lagos Finals, held at Dairy Farm Secondary School, in Agege, Lagos, on Friday, November 6, 2015.

wori College, Ojo has emerged the winner of the 2015 Copa Coca-Cola tournament, defeating close rival, Egan Grammar School 2-1 in a keenly contested football final at the Dairy Farm Secondary School, Agege and also smiled home with a N200,000 cheque.

Spirited attempts on goal by the determined Egan team, despite the heavy downpour, kept the Awori College goalkeeper, Ejeh David on his toes for most of the first half, until Awori’s top striker, Adeleye Farouk, led a final drive into the Egan side just before half-time, yielding a free kick which was converted into a spectacular goal.

Mid-way into the second half, Awori College pulled away from

Egan again, increasing the tally to 2-0. Undeterred, the Egan team kept their wits and stunned the Awori team by pulling a goal back just a minute later, bringing the final score line to 2-1.

In the third place match, Ifako Comprehensive Grammar School defeated Agidingbi High School by a lone goal.

Certificates were also presented to the Highest Goal Scorer of the tournament, Farouk Adeleye of Awori College; the Most Valuable Player, Samson Makinde of Agidingbi Grammar School and goalkeeper, Ejeh David, of Awori College, who won the Golden Gloves award.

Commenting on the performance of the teams, Senior Brand Manager, Colas, at Coca-Cola Nigeria,

Gbolahan Sanni, commended the teams for their fine soccer artistry.

“The students came to the tournament with raw talent and it has been quite an experience seeing the changes in them. That is what Copa Coca-Cola is about and that is why the tournament is close to our hearts,’’ Sanni said.

He added: ‘’It is also an opportunity to harness the power of football and transform the beautiful game into more than a game. Through Copa Coca- Cola, Football actually gives back and the participants learn about friendship, team spirit, respect, self-confidence and sportsmanship. So, no matter what the scores are, every participating student won in this competition.”

Ekigho Ehiosun (born June 25, 1990, Warri) is a Nigerian football forward who currently plays in Turkey for Gençlerbirliği S.K. in the Süper Lig. Ehiosun moved from Delta United to fellow Delta State team Warri Wolves in 2008.

He scored ten goals in 2009-10 to lead the club.

One-third of the way through the 2010-11 season Ehiosun was the leading scorer with 7 league goals, including a hat-trick against Sharks F.C. In July 2011, Ehiosun, moved to Turkish club Samsunspor on a one-year contract, with the option of two more.

On August 3, 2012 Turkish club Gençlerbirliği have signed Ekigho on a 3-year deal.

In July 2014, Ehiosun moved to Gabala of the Azerbaijan Premier League on a season-long loan deal.

After training with the Nigeria National B team, he was called in as an emergency replacement for Victor Anichebe in the Eagles friendly against Sierra Leone. Ehiosun scored seven minutes after coming on as a sub, becoming the 58th player in Nigeria history to score in his debut.

EKiGho EhioSun

ABOUT

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EXTRATIME Friday, November 13, 2015

Ehiosun

Ekigho Warri, Nigeria 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Striker Gençlerbirliği

Place of birth: Height: Playing position: Current team:

Gençlerbirligi Samsunspor (loan) Gabala (loan)

2012: 2013–2014: 2014–2015: 2011–Till date:

Nigeria

Samsunspor

2011–2012:

National team

Warri Wolves F.C.

2008–2011:

Senior career

2005-2008:

Delta United

June 25, 1990 (age 25)

Date of birth:

Youth career

Ekigho Ehiosun

Name:

PERSONAL INFORMATION

EXTRATIME

Friday, November 13, 2015

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Friday, November 13, 2015

EXTRATIME

Boateng urges Guardiola to stay at Bayern

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ll of the Bayern Munich squad want Pep Guardiola to put pen to paper and extend his stay with the Bundesliga champions, according to defender Jerome Boateng.

G u a rd i o l a ’s contract is up at the e n d

Guardiola

of the season with talks over an extension due to take place in December amid continued rumours of interest from Premier League sides Chelsea and Manchester City.

And Germany international Boateng reiterated his desire, along with his Bayern teammates, to see the former Barcelona coach continue at the Allianz Arena.

Asked whether the squad wanted Guardiola to stay, Boateng said: “Definitely. I think that’s what everyone on our team wants. This we have made clear.”

Boateng is currently on international duty with Germany ahead of friendlies with France and Netherlands as the world champions begin preparations for the European Championship.

Ancelotti:

how professional he is,” Ancelotti said.

“We would sometimes return from a European game. It could be three in the morning but Ronaldo would be the player who did not go straight home.

Instead, he would go to the training ground for the ice bath, to help with his recovery from the game.”

It has been reported that Ronaldo had a cryotherapy chamber installed at his house in 2013 to aid recovery while Ancelotti’s previous assistant Paul Clement revealed he got a sports massage from a physio at 6am after a trip back from Istanbul.

Ancelotti has been out of work since being sacked by Madrid in the summer, although there has been speculation that he could return to Chelsea.

Ronaelpdro o! a tr u C

arlo Ancelotti says Cristiano Ronaldo has taken professionalism to another level, including taking ice baths at 3am.

Ronaldo worked under Ancelotti for two seasons at Real Madrid, with the pair winning the club’s historic 10th Champions League together in 2014.

Ancelotti has also coached some of the world’s best players at AC Milan, Juventus, Chelsea and Paris St-Germain.

But he says Ronaldo stands out as the most professional player he has ever worked with.

“Truly, the most. I watched the film (Ronaldo’s documentary) and it was good but it did not show

Roma keen on Szczesny stay

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BRIEFS

Ronaldo

oma want Wojciech Szczesny to stay beyond the end of his current loan deal from Arsenal, according to the club’s sporting director Walter Sabatini.

Szczesny joined Roma on a season-long loan from Arsenal during the summer, but the Poland international has already stated his

intention to return to the Gunners next season.

However, Sabatini has revealed Roma want the 25-year-old to stay in the Italian capital beyond the end of the current season, despite suggesting a deal with Arsenal could prove difficult.

“We are working on it and would like to keep Szczesny, but knowing

Ribery close Dortmund confirm Leboeuf hails to comeback Aubameyang injury Blanc’s work

F

ranck Ribery says he is close to returning for Bayern Munich after the “most difficult time” of his career.

The 32-year-old has been sidelined since March due to an ankle problem suffered against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

B

orussia Dortmund have confirmed that forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed Gabon’s World Cup qualifier against Mozambique after suffering bone bruising in his knee. Initial reports suggested that the in-form 26-year-old’s absence from Wednesday’s match, where Gabon suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat, was a result of a muscular injury.

F

rank Leboeuf has hailed the strong leadership of Laurent Blanc as he has guided Paris Saint-Germain to the top of Ligue 1. Former France international Blanc is reportedly on the brink of agreeing a new deal at Parc des Princes and Leboeuf is impressed with his work.

Szczesny Arsenal it will be difficult to achieve that,” said Sabatini.

“In any case, Roma are already covered in that role for next season.

Who did we get? I would never tell you that!”

Keane: I can still score goals!

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obbie Keane says he still has “a lot to offer” the Republic of Ireland and can provide goals in their Euro 2016 play-off with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The 35-year-old is in contention to start today’s first leg in Zenica as a replacement for the injured Shane Long and the suspended Jon Walters.

Friday, November 13, 2015

EXTRATIME

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BRIEFS

Ancelotti denies Liverpool talks

No regrets dumping Liverpool, says

g n i l r e t S

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aheem Sterling says he was right to leave Liverpool for Manchester City and has no regrets about the decision.

Sterling, who is part of the England squad that plays Spain in Alicante today, joined City in a £49m move this summer after a protracted transfer saga.

Premier League leaders City will face Liverpool after the international break and Sterling insists his decision to force through a move to the Etihad Stadium was necessary for him to develop as a player.

“I thought the move to City at the time was right for me

and my heart was saying that is what I should do. That is what I have done and I have no regrets,” Sterling said.

“Liverpool and Manchester City are both big football clubs and I am just happy to be where I am - and I am happy with my development at this moment in time. I want to continue my development and win trophies.

“Part of it was my development, trying to get myself better as a player, definitely help my club and definitely help my country in big tournaments.”

Sterling has settled in quickly to life at the Etihad and has helped City move to the top of the Premier League despite key duo

captaincy

A

De Ges

De Gea ‘very happy’ at United Sterling

Sergio Aguero and David Silva missing multiple games through injury.

Sterling, 20, has already scored four league goals and registered two assists and admitted he has taken a lot of confidence from competing with City’s worldclass talent on a daily basis.

“I go into training every day and see the players of that calibre that I work with - like VVincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Joe Hart,” Sterling said.

“There is only one thing you can do and that is improve with players like that, who have been around for many years and achieving stuff.

Richards set to keep Villa ston Villa captain Micah Richards will retain the armband after impressing new manager Remi Garde.

Richards produced a man-of-thematch display against former club and Premier League leaders Manchester City, who were held to a goalless draw at Villa in Garde’s first match in charge last week.

The 27-year-old’s performance impressed Garde and the French boss sees no reason to change skippers as Villa bid to beat the drop.

“Yes of course definitely,” Garde responded when asked whether Richards would keep the captaincy.

“We have had many chats and discussions already. He is a strong

C

defender, a good guy in the group, an experienced man and he did brilliantly against City.

“He has led the team to this point and I am very pleased with that.”

Garde added: ‘I don’t decide the captain by flicking a coin. The objective is to find the player best at uniting the squad – the man who represents something for the others.

“Captaincy is not an individual award. We play a team sport. A captain has responsibilities and duties. I’m a coach who doesn’t think giving the armband to the goalkeeper is necessarily a good thing.”

D

avid de Gea is loving life at Manchester United again after putting the transfer saga involving Real Madrid firmly behind him.

The Spain goalkeeper was primed to complete a move to the Santiago Bernabeu, but the deal fell through on deadline day after the paperwork was not submitted in time.

De Gea was dropped by United boss Louis Van Gaal while the speculation over his future remained unclear, but after signing a new four-year contract on September 11 has since re-established himself as number one at Old Trafford.

“I felt in that moment that to extend my contract was the best thing to do,” he said. “I’m really happy now, at one of the biggest clubs in the world, where I feel loved by the fans.

“Nobody let me down or disappointed me – these are things that happen. You must look forward and I am very happy now.

“During the transfer market anything can happen, it can all change inside a minute. Football is like that. There were difficult moments, strange moments, but they help you to mature. To be stronger.

And De Gea paid tribute to the United fans for welcoming him back despite the drama around his future.

“The way Old Trafford received me, it made the hairs stand up.

It’s very difficult to describe what that day was like. I really appreciated it,” he said.

Richards

arlo Ancelotti has denied holding talks with Liverpool to replace Brendan Rodgers in October, though the former Chelsea manager would like to return to the Premier League. But the 56-year-old Italian - on a break after he was sacked by Real Madrid at the end of the 201415 season - said he did not speak with the Merseyside club before Jurgen Klopp was appointed last month.

Dembele thriving going forward

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ousa Dembele says he has been relishing the opportunity to be a more “dangerous” player this season as he continues in an advanced role for Tottenham. The Belgium international has been in fine form playing further forward in recent weeks as Tottenham have gone unbeaten since the opening day of the season and now sit five points behind joint Premier League leaders Arsenal and Manchester City.

Gomez devastated by ACL injury

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iverpool youngster Joe Gomez has revealed he was left “devastated” after suffering a season-ending injury whilst on international duty. The left-back took an innocuous-looking fall whilst representing England Under21s against Kazakhstan in October, which resulted in him rupturing the anterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee.

Fulop

Ex-Sunderland goalkeeper Fulop dies

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ormer Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop has died at the age of 32 after a battle with cancer.

Fulop who hailed from Hungary played for West Brom and Manchester City in the Premier League after failing to make a first-team appearance for Tottenham.

He also represented his country on 24 occasions after making his international debut in 2005.

His illness was first apparent in 2013 when he took a break from the game to have a malignant tumour removed from his arm.

A statement from Sunderland chief executive Margaret Byrne read: “We are devastated to hear of Marton’s passing.

“He was a genuinely lovely man, liked and respected by everyone at the club during his four years with us.

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Friday, November 13, 2015

EXTRATIME

Football

Ibrahimovic hints at retirement Z

latan Ibrahimovic has hinted he may retire from international football if Sweden lose to Denmark in their Euro 2016 play-off.

The Paris Saint-Germain striker also explained how he believes he has put both France and Sweden on the football map.

“I would love to play at the European Championship in France,” Ibrahimovic said. “I have played there for four years. I have put Sweden on the world map and now I have put France on the world map too.

Ibrahimovic

R RUSSIAN FEDERATION ‘TO ADMIT’ ICS T THLE A DOPING CHARGES

ussia’s athletics federation is planning to admit to some of the charges made against it by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) commission in order to avoid a ban from competition.

A WADA independent report accused Russia of “state-sponsored” doping.

The International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) decision on the matter is expected today.

The Russian federation’s acting president Vadim Zelichenok says it will “admit some things” in its response.

“We admit some things, we argue with some things, some are already fixed - it’s a variety,” Zelichenok told reporters.

If Russia is banned, the country’s track and field team could be excluded from the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Sports minister Vitaly Mutko says Russia will not boycott next year’s Olympics, even if the suspension

Cricket

Schedule ‘no excuse’ for England loss

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ngland’s defeat by Pakistan in the first one-day international cannot be blamed on a lack of warm-up games, says assistant coach Paul Farbrace.

Mohammad Hafeez’s unbeaten century helped Pakistan successfully chase England’s 216 to record a six-wicket win in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

England played one warm-up game against Hong Kong before the four-match series.

“We’re not making excuses about schedules, it’s down to the fact we did not play well enough,” said Farbrace.

“It was the same before the Test series which England lost 2-0. Everyone said two two-day games wasn’t enough but we proved during that

first Test we were ready to play.

“We didn’t take opportunities in that match, we had opportunities to win the first one-day game and we didn’t take them.”

On Wednesday, director of cricket Andrew Strauss said England needed “more separation” between the Test and one-day sides.

Prior to the one-day series, opening bowler David Willey said he was worried about those not involved in the Tests being “undercooked” while captain Eoin Morgan admitted after Wednesday’s defeat that his team have been “slow starters” in recent series.

Farbrace said his side were still taking shape after a disastrous World Cup campaign earlier this year and added there will still be opportunities for those not selected for the current series to establish themselves as regulars.

“We have got Stokes, Broad, Wood and Finn who can come into this side and will add to our bowling attack,” he said.

“So it’s up to the guys here to show they have the ability and that they’ve also got the nous, the intelligence to learn quickly and deserve to stay in the side when we get closer to the Champions Trophy in 2017 and the World Cup in 2019.”

The second ODI is today in Abu Dhabi with Sharjah and Dubai hosting the final two matches the following Tuesday and Friday.

“If it’s over for me after the playoffs? We’ll see. If you’re asking me now? No. If you ask me after the play-offs? I don’t know.”

The games between the two Scandinavian rivals could also allow Ibrahimovic to rid himself of an unwanted record.

The 34-year-old has never scored against Denmark but was typically unfazed when asked about that statistic.

“It doesn’t mean anything,” he said. “There will be goals when there are goals. If we create chances, they’ll turn up.”

is applied.

“Russia is against a boycott. Russia is against political interference in sport,” he added.

WADA says London 2012 was “sabotaged” by “widespread inaction” against athletes with suspicious doping profiles, while the IAAF - whose former president Lamine Diack is being investigated by French police - was also implicated.

The report also recommended that five athletes and five coaches should be given lifetime doping bans.

The Kremlin dismissed the accusations, describing them as “groundless”, while Russian president Vladimir Putin has ordered an investigation into the claims.

Mutko and Putin have both appealed for Russia’s track and field team to be allowed to compete, arguing that a blanket ban would unfairly punish clean athletes.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach said on Wednesday his organisation had “no authority” to ban countries from the Games, and the matter was solely for the IAAF to deal with.

BMW Masters: Garcia shoots 64 to lead in Shanghai

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pain’s Sergio Garcia leads the BMW Masters in Shanghai by one shot after recording an eight-under-par 64 in the first round.

South Korea’s An Byeong-hun and Victor Dubuisson of France are one stroke behind, with England’s Ross Fisher a further shot back on six under.

England’s Danny Willett, who can close on absent Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai standings, started with a par 72.

His fellow countrymen Paul Casey and Justin Rose are three off the lead.

Garcia, who holed nine birdies, said: “Hopefully, I keep improving and I’ll be out there on Sunday with a chance.”

The Shanghai competition is the penultimate event in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai Final Series, which compromises four events at the end of the regular season.

Northern Ireland’s world number three McIlroy is not competing in Shanghai, but leads the European Tour

Golf

Garcia list at the moment and stands to collect the £820,000 prize money bonus for the third time in four years.