Binder1 20 march 2014

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Thursday, March 20, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 30

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Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

Jonathan cancels Immigration recruitment Page } 4

Fraud rocks FG electricity agency, NELMCO

lMD elevates brother-in-law as signatory to account lConsultants paid N360m for verification lEFCC, ICPC helpless Louis Achi Abuja

V

ictimisation, fraud and deployment of proxies to ‘corner’

juicy contracts are some of the operational methods of the Managing

agement Company Ltd (NELMCO), Dr. Samuel Agbogun, a whistleblower has alleged.

NELMCO is a special

Director/Chief Executive of the Nigeria Electricity Liability Man-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Insurgency: Turkish Airlines linked to arms importation

lSSS, DMI begin probe lAirline: We follow international law in ammunition supplies INVESTIGATION Security agents mandated to unravel the truth behind alleged arms shipment to Nigeria Wole Shadare

D

id Turkish Airlines ship weapons to unknown groups in Nigeria?

If yes, were the weapons given to fundamentalists in the North-East who are killing security agents and civilians almost on a daily basis?

Who are the arms smugglers, the financiers and the middlemen?

BLAST Militants threaten more attacks as Warri blasts affect the Refining and Petrochemical Company

These were questions security agents in Nigeria and Turkey tried to find answers to yesterday as the airline battled to defend its integrity in the arms shipment scandal.

On Tuesday, an Assistant Executive of the airline, Mehmet Karatas, alleged that the airline shipped arms to Nigeria.

He told Mustafa Varank, an Adviser to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that he felt guilty over the arms shipment.

He said: “I do not know whether these (weapons) will kill Muslims or Christians. I feel sinful.”

A top Nigerian governCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Sola David-Borha; Managing Director, Soft Skills Management Consultants, Wonu Adetayo; Chief Executive Officer, Incubator Africa, Alero Ayida-Otubo and Senior Economic Advisory, Open Society Foundation, Oby Ezekwesili; at the 20th Nigeria Economic Summit (NES) held in Transcorp Hilton, Abuja... yesterday Photo: Timothy Ikuomenisan

Militants bomb Chevron pipeline in Warri lJonathan appoints five Group Executive Directors for NNPC

Joe Obende and Anule Emmanuel A major pipeline supply-

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Jonathan nominates Bulkachuwa as Appeal Court President Page 5

Ladoja will meet me on the field in 2015, says Ajimobi Page 13

ing crude oil to the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) was yesterday bombed by mili-

tants.

The blast took place in Warri North Council Area of Delta State.

AT A GLANCE

The pipelines, christened Dibi Major, belong to American oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited

INSIDE

BUSINESS

SPORT

Railway suspends two directors, others over N500 million fraud Page 29

Bench role: Keshi moves to save Mikel, Moses Page 51

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(CNL).

A group, Egbema Radical Group claimed responCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

P/Harcourt

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Fraud rocks FG electricity agency, NELMCO CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

purpose agency set up by the Federal Government to manage stranded liabilities of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), including the staff pension of retirees and non-core assets approximating N300 billion.

It started effective operations in January, 2010.

The agency’s board, chaired by Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has the Director General of BPE, a director in the Ministry of Power and a director (Revenue and Investment) in the Accountant-General’s office as members, with Agbogun as secretary.

The whistleblower alleged, in a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), that Agbogun uses a syndicate of about 36 companies and some NELMCO staff to defraud the company.

According to the petitioner, suspended Special Assistant to Agbogun,

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Mr Toluwase Abejirin, who spoke exclusively to New Telegraph in Abuja, Umezal Nigeria Limited and Muse Engineering Company are among the companies the agency’s boss uses to siphon government funds.

Also in the syndicate are CEA Solutions and Lily Emeya & Co which Aboderin alleged the MD enlisted to draft Terms of Reference (TOR) for physical verification of PHCN

assets, a brief that had already been concluded and submitted to NELMCO by a committee set up for that purpose.

Others include some key members of staff and the MD’s brother-inlaw, Mr. Seyi Awe, who he elevated to replace the personal assistant as a signatory to NELMCO’s account when he found Abejirin an unwilling accomplice in defrauding the Federal Government.

“Dr. Agbogun also engaged consultants to carry out another verification exercise for N360 million in order to access funds, all in the name of due diligence,” Aboderin revealed.

He further told New Telegraph that NELMCO Tenders Evaluation Committee, which he headed, advertised in the Federal Tender Journal “and companies applied for lots but the MD discarded

the work of the committee and awarded some of the plum jobs to his cronies without considering companies that applied”.

In the heat of the spat between Abejirin and Agbogun, the NELMCO MD wrote the Director-General of the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE) on September 1, 2011 and ordered the removal of the former from the PHCN Liquidation Committee C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3

FLIGHT SCHEDULE FIRST NATION AIRWAYS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06.50; 09:30; 11:45; 16:00 (SAT) 06:50; 11:45 (SUN) 11:45; 16:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 11:30; 13:40;18:30 (SAT) 09:00; 13:40 (SUN) 13:40; 18:30 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 14:45 (SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50 AEROCONTRACTORS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30 MEDVIEW AIRLINES LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30

L-R: Interim National Organising Secretary, All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Osita Izunaso; Interim National Secretary, Alhaji Tijani Tumsah; Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; and his deputy, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, during the payment and collection of nomination form in Abuja... yesterday.

SSS, DMI probe Turkish Airline’s arms shipment to Nigeria CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ment official revealed yesterday that the Presidency has mandated the State Security Service (SSS) and the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) to liaise with their counterparts in Turkey to unravel the truth behind the revelation.

“Aside cross-border banditry and some mercenaries who are believed to be fighting alongside Boko Haram members in the North-East, government is worried about the way these people get the sophisticated weapons they are using. There are many things that the government cannot tell Nigerians now but it is alarming how these guys get the sophisticated weapons they use to kill our people.

“SSS and DMI have been mandated to investigate this matter. It is a matter that will not be swept under the carpet,” he said.

Turkish Airlines is

the national flag carrier airline of Turkey, headquartered at the Turkish Airlines General Management Building on the grounds of Atatürk Airport in Yeilköy, Bakırköy, Istanbul.

With 240 aircraft, it operates scheduled services to 41 domestic and 203 international airports in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

With 244 destinations, the airline is the fourthlargest carrier in the world by number of destinations.

With Istanbul Atatürk Airport being the main base, the Turkish carrier has secondary hubs at Esenboa International Airport, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, and Adnan Menderes Airport.

It joined the Star Alliance network on April 1, 2008.

With an operational fleet of nine cargo aircraft, the airline’s cargo division serves 47 destinations.

The SSS and the DMI

are investigating if one of the cargo aircraft landed in Nigeria with the arms.

The airline flies to Lagos every day and to Kano Monday, Friday and Sunday.

Meanwhile, the airline defended its integrity yesterday.

The management of the carrier, in a statement to the media, stated that the news from social media and press relating the carriage of arms by Turkish Airlines were causing false valuation on the public opinion.

It disclosed that the carriage of arms and military supplies by Turkish Airlines are being made on cargo in the framework of the relevant international law and the International Air Transport Association (AITA) transportation rules, in strict conformity with the official procedures.

According to the carrier, “On the carriage of arms, the forwarders and ad-

dressees can send their cargo with Turkish Airlines Cargo through the representative they have designated, after accomplishing the necessary official approval procedure from the relevant state authorities.

Turkish Airlines Cargo effectuates such shipment again in strict conformity with the law and rules of the forwarders’ and addressees’ countries and by taking necessary security measures as are doing the other air carriers.”

“According to our corporate policy, Turkish Airlines is not effectuating the carriage of arms to/from the countries that United Nations Security Council has imposed an arms ban, lacking authority and/or under conflict.”

This is also the case for the country mentioned on the news, Turkish Airlines has not effectuated any carriage of arms to that country from Turkey nor from any country.

OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS-ILORIN (MON-FRI) 07:15 LAGOS-IBADAN (MON-FRI) 7:00 IBADAN-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:00 IBADAN-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:30 ILORIN –ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30 ILORIN –LAGOS (MON-FRI) 17:00 ABUJA-ASABA (MON-FRI) 10:00 ASABA-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 14:15 ASABA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 11:30 LAGOS-ASABA (MON-FRI) 13:00 ABUJA-ILORIN 16:00 ABUJA-IBADAN 15:00 ARIK AIR LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:00; 09:00; 11:00 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00; 20:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 09:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 (SAT) 07:00; 11:00; 15:00 (SUN) 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 09:00; 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 (SAT) 07:30; 11:30; 09:00; 13:00; 17:00 (SUN) 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 ABUJA-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30; 16:50 (SAT/SUN) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30 PORT-HARCOURT-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10; 18:30 (SAT/SUN) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10

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Confusion over Ekiti PDP ward delegates congress STALEMATE

Shoot-out at PDP state secretariat

Controversy trails Peoples Democratic Party congress in Ekiti State Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

C

onfusion trailed the conduct of the ward delegate congress of the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday, as violence and hijack of materials trailed the exercise.

Apart from the team in Abuja being held hostage in their vehicle for hours by irate youths in front of the party’s State Secretariat in Ado-Ekiti, there were conflicting reports over where the team headed to after being rescued by security

Some of the security agents guarding the bus...yesterday

N45.6bn

The internally generated revenue of Delta State in 2012.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

agents later in the afternoon.

Security agents from the Department of State Security Service and mobile police unit in Ado-Ekiti were able to disperse the youths after some of them were arrested and taken to Mologede Police Station, Ikere Road, Ado-Ekiti with dangerous items such as machete and assorted

charms, among others.

In Ado Local Government Area for instance, when electoral materials were taken to the party LG secretariat for onward distribution to the 13 wards at about 2pm, chaos ensued, following alleged manipulation of the names of party members.

Speaking on the matter, the Ado LG Chairman of

photo: Wahab adesina

672,145

The total population of Polynesia region in 2010 (representing 0.01% of the world’s population).

Source: Blatantworld.com

3

The number of active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in developing nations in 2009.

Source: Itu.int

PDP, Hon. Kola Lawal, said trouble started when the Returning Officer and his team started reeling out the names of party members to take part in the exercise.

“The names being read out by the team were quite different from the ones generated from the ward level up to the LG level and which was sent to the state level.

“The development led to people raising objection.

The people from Abuja came with a mindset and when they knew that they had generated a list, why did they bother us to go and generate our own list?”

Lawal’s view was corroborated by the Returning Officer for the LG, Mr. Arowolo Tajudeen, who said no election was conducted in the 13 wards in the council.

Arowolo also said the trouble started over discrepancies in the lists.

Reports from local governments across the state indicated conflicting signals over the exercise.

Meanwhile, the State Publicity Secretary, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, while commenting on the development, blamed the action of the youths on ignorance about the rules of the party on such matters.

According to him,

whether the method to be used was consensus or primary, there was need for the selection of delegates.

Also, a former member of the Senate, Ayo Arise, described the manner the exercise was conducted as unfortunate.

Spokesman for 13 out of the 14 aspirants, Chief Abiodun Aluko, said no ward congress took place in Ekiti.

He said in a statement that an official of the party at the state level connived with an aspirant to compile a list of his supporters in the 16 councils and thereby manipulated the process.

Earlier, armed youths took over the party state secretariat in Ado-Ekiti.

The development led to the five-man team sent from the National Secretariat of the PDP in Abuja being held hostage inside their bus and not able to come down with the materials they brought for the exercise.

The Abuja team, led by Alhaji Mohammed Danladi Maiauduga, was forced to stay inside their bus marked Lagos BDG 365 CK for hours.

Other members of the team are Mrs Ifeoma Agbomah, Chief Nnamadi C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 5

Fraud rocks FG electricity agency, NELMCO CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

and his replacement with Mr. Makki A. Yalleman.

Other allegations contained in the petition include a bloated staff list, inflated contracts, deliberate overpayment of estacode in hard currency and award of contracts beyond his approved limit.

From New Telegraph investigations and confidential documents obtained, NELMCO management later suspended Aboderin after he objected to the goings on, curiously accusing him of failing to submit the originals of his credentials, a claim the latter dismissed as unfounded and groundless.

All efforts mounted by Abejirin to secure the intervention of the EFCC,

ICPC, BPE, Federal Ministry of Finance and House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions were ineffective.

A source said the antigraft agencies are helpless in the matter. “It looks like they are not even interested in the petition, despite the documents submitted”.

When New Telegraph sought specific response from NELMCO’s MD at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, it was impossible to see him after four visits.

At the fourth call, a certain Nnamdi who claimed he is the agency’s media officer pleaded that Agbogun was defending the company’s budget at the National Assembly and requested more time.

The same Nnamdi later asked our reporter to submit his bank account number so the agency can make some bulk payment on condition that he drops his investigation and rather publishes a public relations material he would send and which he e-mailed to our reporter.

Before press time, when New Telegraph reporter obtained the MD’s number and called him directly, he replied with a sms text that he was in a meeting but neither called back nor confirmed a date he would respond to the allegations.

Agbogun retired from PHCN in 2006 and later joined BPE as a director.

While serving as the Director of Power in BPE, he was also the MD/

CEO of NELMCO. He was disengaged from BPE in 2009 in compliance with government directive which states that any director who has served for eight years should proceed on retirement.

But instead of complying, Agbogun re-emerged as NELMCO’s Managing Director and Chief Executive.

According to Abejirin, “Dr. Agbogun vindictively demoted and re-designated me from his Special Assistant to Principal Manager and eventually sacked me when he found me an unwilling accomplice in defrauding the Federal Government.

“He found me confrontational and removed me as a signatory to NELM-

CO account and replaced me with his brother-inlaw, Seyi Awe. “Dr. Agbogun also engaged consultants to carry out another verification exercise in order to access funds all in the name of due diligence for over N360 million,” he further told New Telegraph.

“We advertised in the Federal Tender Journal, companies applied for lots. I was the head of the Tenders Evaluation Committee. He discarded all we did and awarded a few of the jobs to his cronies without considering those who duly applied.”

From New Telegraph findings, Abejirin was employed (Ref: N E L M C O HRD-03-005-2010 dated 25 January, 2010) with effect

from 1st February 2010 as SA to NELMCO’s MD with his core schedules as advising the MD/CE on financial and technical matters and to prepare presentations for use at seminars and conferences.

But in heat of the spat between Abejirin and Agbogun, the latter wrote the Director-General BPE (dated 1st September, 2011) and ordered the removal of the former from the PHCN Liquidation Committee and his replacement with Yalleman.

“Dr. Agbogun has even resorted to threatening my life as he boasts that he would derail every possible effort I make at bringing him to book”, Abejirin further told New Telegraph.

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

Jonathan cancels Immigration recruitment Orders automatic employment for deceased families, injured youths Anule Emmanuel Abuja

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday cancelled the on-going recruitment by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) which led to the death of 15 applicants last Saturday.

He directed that a fresh exercise be handled by a special committee.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, who briefed State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, said the President also directed automatic employment into the service for three persons each from the families who died in last week’s stampede and those who sustained various degrees of injuries during the exercise.

He said the exercise will be conducted under chairmanship of the Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Mrs Joan Ayo, to fill the vacancies of the Nigerian Immigration Service.

According to Maku, Jonathan agreed to visit families of those who died in the stampede.

The minister explained that other members of the committee as announced

by the President are the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, representatives of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Comptroller General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Comptroller General of Prisons Service, Director General, State Security Service (SSS) and the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

“These committee will proceed to conduct the exercise to fill the vacancies in the Nigerian Immigration Service. The President also directed that for the families of those who lost their dear ones, three spaces be provided for three young people one of which must be a woman in the new recruitment exercise.”

“Also, all those who were injured in the cause of the exercise across the country will be given automatic recruitment into the service,” Maku noted.

Jonathan also directed that as soon as he returns from his trip abroad, he will meet the families of the deceased to express his personal condolences to them over the sad tragedy.

According to Maku, Jonathan instructed all

Mimiko canvasses increase in corps members’ allowance

G

overnor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has urged the Federal Government, through the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Governing Council to increase corps members monthly allowance of N19,800, as a way of motivating and showing concern to their welfare and patriotism.

The governor made the request when the NYSC Governing Council, led by Alhaji Tijani Adekanmbi, paid a courtesy visit to his office in Akure yesterday.

Mimiko said the state has been at the forefront of enhancing the National Youth Service Scheme, particularly in its efforts at promoting national integration and youth development.

According to the gov-

ernor, the state is NYSC friendly and thus registered his belief in the state as agent of sustainable development as he promised that the state will continue to show her support and enhance the efforts of the Governing Council at mobilising corps members every year..

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Aderotimi Adelola, assured the Council of the State’s continued commitment to the social welfare and security of the Corp members.

He further pledged the readiness of the government to liaise with relevant government parastatals to prioritise the welfare and security of corps members.

Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) never to embark on exercise of this nature in recruiting people into the public service because what happened could have been avoided. “ So, Mr. President directed that no one outside the armed forces and the police who usually recruit people through exercise is allowed to embark on this kind of exercise that we

witnessed on Saturday.

“All of us expressed our regrets about what happened. Our hearts go out there to the families of the deceased. This nation is fully behind them, the grief is not their own, the grief is that of all Nigerians and is the grief of the government and the people of Nigeria. We regret it and we pray for the repose of the souls of those who have departed.

“Council noted that it is regrettable that this took place at a time that every effort was being made by the government to increase spaces available for employment. For example, last year, we were able to get 1.6 million employed in the various sectors of the economy and the public service. However, this incident that took place is so painful and we will not want to see in this country

young job seekers losing their lives in the process of seeking for job after school training.

“We assure the nation today that every step will be taken to look into the various lapses in recruitment exercises into the public service to ensure that all those who are qualified get access to employment without going through this kind of experience.”

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State (right) exchanging pleasantries with former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, at an event in Abuja

1.24m

The total number of people that die each year on the world’s roads.

Source: Who.int

828m

The number of urban residents who live in slum conditions worldwide.

Source: Who.int

50.1%

The percentage of the global population living in an urban area in 2009.

Source: Who.int

Militants bomb Chevron pipeline in Warri CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

sibility for the attack.

Its spokesman, Tami Dada, in an online statement, hinged the attack on the failure of both the Delta State government and Chevron to honour agreements earlier reached which he termed the Warri Peace Agreement.

The group specifically accused the oil giant of neglecting the people of the oil-bearing area in its empowerment policies and employment as well as other sundry offences.

It also threatened to wreak more havoc in the next 24 hours if its demands were not met by the state government and

the oil firm.

“The explosion that rocked Dibi Major oil line is a continuation of our warning to Governor Uduaghan’s failure to implement the Warri Peace Agreement and Chevron’s negligence and failure to empower, employ and pay for the damage done to Egbema Radical Group.

“We, therefore, warn that if Delta State government and Chevron fail to address the issues within 24 hours, it will lead to bombing of flow stations”.

Delta State Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Mofe Pirah, said he heard about the pipeline situation in Dibi Major but

stated that he was not aware of any agreement between the government and any group in the area, insisting that he was not in the know if any group was behind the attack.

Spokesman of Chevron in Warri, Victor Anyagbulem, said the company was putting an official statement together on the incident.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the appointment of five new Group Executive Directors for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Their appointment is to fill critical vacancies in the Corporation.

A statement yesterday

by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, said Mr. Ian Gregory Udoh has been appointed as Group Executive Director, Refining and Petrochemicals while Dr. Dan Iwoene Efebo is the Group Executive Director, Corporate Services.

Ms. Aisha Mata Abdurrahman is to serve in the corporation as Group Executive Director, Business Development, Mr. Adebayo Ibikunle Ibirogba is the Group Executive Director, Engineering and Technical while Dr. Joseph Thlama Dawha -Acting Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production.

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Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Defected govs to judge: We have not been properly served with court processes SUIT

Case adjourned till April 7 in suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party against defecting governors Tunde Oyesina Abuja

T

he five governors who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC) yesterday insisted before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that the court processes have not been duly served on them.

The PDP had through its counsel, Alex Izinyon (SAN) approached the court, seeking to unseat the five governors that moved away from the party.

The defected governors are Alhaji Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano); and Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara).

At the resumed hearing yesterday, counsel to

the defendants submitted that the plaintiff have not properly served them with processes and hence, hearing in the matter could not proceed.

Izinyon told the court that defendants have been trying to avoid service, describing it as a way to frustrate the hearing.

He, however, prayed the court to grant the plaintiff leave to serve the defendants in their various liaison offices instead on the National Office which has been in contention.

After listening to all the parties, the presiding judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, adjourned till April 7 to hear the application on service and possibly give ruling.

New Telegraph recalls that hearing in the suit was initially stalled on February 6 as a result of confusion over the address of the national secretariat of the APC. The five governors were not represented in court at the commencement of proceedings in the suit on January 27, when Justice Kolawole fixed February 6 for hearing.

The judge directed that the hearing notice be pasted at the national secretariat of the APC as a means of substituted service on the five governors, in addition to its advertisement in two

national newspapers.

Although the five governors were represented by lawyers when the suit came up on February 6, the court could not hear the matter because, while the order

for substituted service of the hearing notice on the governors indicated No. 6, Guinea Bissau Street, Wuse Zone 6 as the address of the APC national secretariat, the service was done

at a different address – No. 40 Blantyre Street, Wuse 2, the location of the party’s new office.

The disagreement over the development stalled the scheduled hearing.

Labour Party governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele (left) presenting the nomination form to the National Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Iwuanyanwu, at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: Elijah OlaLUYI

29%

80%

36m

The rate by which non-communicable diseases The percentage of premature heart disease, The total number of deaths caused by (NCD) deaths in low-and middle-income countries stroke and diabetes preventable.

Noncommunicable diseases in 2008 occurred before the age of 60.

Source: Who.int (NCD) IN 2008.

Source: Who.int Source: Who.int

Jonathan nominates Bulkachuwa Confusion over Ekiti PDP as Appeal Court President ward delegate congress

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Abuja forwarded the name of Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa as President of the Court of Appeal (PCA).

In a letter addressed to Senate President, David Mark, Jonathan said the nomination was in conformity with the 1999 Constitution as amended.

The letter was read by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary If confirmed, Bulkachuwa would be the first female President of the Court of Appeal.

It would be recalled that Bulkachuwa has been holding the position in acting capacity since

November, 2012.

Jonathan on Wednesday also forwarded the name of Mr Shettima Gana for confirmation and reappointment into the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

This was also contained in a letter sent to the Senate by the president.

The president noted in the letter that the commission was one of the executive bodies established under Section 153(1) of the 1999 Constitution. ``By the provision of Part 1(N) of the third schedule of the constitution, the commission shall comprise a chairman and one member

from each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. ``I have, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by Section 154(1) of the 1999 constitution decided to re-appoint Gana as a member of the commission,’’ the letter read.

Jonathan also forwarded the Nigerian Metallurgical Industry Bill 2014 and the Nigeria Fertilizer Bill 2014 to the Senate for consideration and passage into law.

The President expressed optimism that the requests would receive the usual expeditious consideration and approval of members of the Senate.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

Chinedu, Hon. Joseph Bukar and Hon. Mahmoud Bichi.

The group had to switch on the air conditioner in the bus which was surrounded by more than a dozen armed policemen and officers of the State Security Service SSS).

Despite the presence of more than 30 armed policemen who went there with an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and four patrol vans, the youths were unrelenting.

A spokesman for the group, Mr. Ikusemilori Olu, said they were for the consensus idea mooted by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Asked who they are supporting for the ticket, Olu

said the group would support anybody among the 13 aspirants.

Later in the evening, some members of the State Working Committee of the party came under attack at the State Secretariat in Ado-Ekiti.

The five-man team from Abuja also escaped death by a whisker.

The Abuja delegation was at the secretariat to collate results from the 177 wards across the state.

Some armed youths stormed the secretariat at around 5:20 pm, shooting indiscriminately.

Armed security men, who had been keeping watch at the secretariat since morning, had to shoot back.

The development led to

the security men leading SWC members and the Abuja team out of the place under heavy security.

Our correspondent saw the team as they drove in a convoy at Irona Quarter of Ado-Ekiti going outside the town.

The bus brought by the Abuja group and the vehicle of Ogundipe were sandwiched between a number of police vans.

One of the governorship aspirants, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said he has not withdrawn from the PDP governorship race.

“We in Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM) are part of the process and we will do everything to frustrate any efforts to manipulate the Ward Congress.”

6

NEWS

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Ekiti Guber: Fayemi picks form, as Bamidele returns his

photo news

G

Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State (left), congratulating the new Chief Judge of the state, Justice Peter Nwoke Chukwuma Agumagu after he was sworn-in …yesterday

overnor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State yesterday collected All Progressives Congress’ (APC) nomination form for the governorship election scheduled for June 21.

Similarly, his arch-rival, Honourable Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, member House of Representatives, contesting on the platform of the Labour Party (LP), returned his expression of interest form at Abuja yesterday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Fayemi collected the form at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

After obtaining the form for N5 million, Fay-

emi said his decision to seek re-election was a response to several calls by the people of the state.

He said the vote of confidence given to his administration by the people of Ekiti was a resounding victory for the APC. Responding, APC’s Interim National Secretary, Alhaji Tijjani Tumsa, described the performance of Fayemi in office as a reflection of the party’s ideology in the country.

According to Tumsa, APC is accepted by the people of Ekiti as a necessary agent of change.

Fayemi was accompanied by the state’s

APC Interim Chairman, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Youths and Market Women Association, among others Bamidele, while returning his expression of Interest Form for the June 21st guber polls back to the leadership of the party led by Chief Dan Iwuanyanwu said Ekiti State needed urgent intervention.

According to Bamidele, Ekiti people would not just see the June election as a mere political exercise, but a struggle to salvage the state from claws of anti-democratic forces led by Governor Kayode Fayemi.

One killed, others injured as violence mars town-hall meeting Tony Anichebe Uyo L-R: Minister of Special Duty, Taminu Turaki; National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki and Minister of Transport, Idris Umar during the Federal Executive Council meeting (FEC) held in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

L-R: Executive Assistant to the Group Managing Director, Union Bank of Nigeria plc, Dupe Ogunbiyi; Executive Director, Junior Achievement Nigeria, Kumbi Wuraola and Head, Group Corporate Strategy, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Lola Cardoso, during the recent Global Financial Literacy day held in Lagos.

PHOTO:SULEIMAN HUSAINI

V

iolence yesterday trailed the townhall meeting by Governor Godswill Akpabio .in Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency as vehicles and other properties were massively destroyed even as the constituency tour entered its third week.

One person was feared killed while several others sustained serious injuries in a battle youths freely used guns, machet-

eral constituency on seeing the treatment meted out to their kinsman, gathered to retaliate at the end of the meeting.

The youths of the area fired guns, hauled stones and sticks at the CCU team, even as security agents tried to move the CCU youths out of the Ikot Abasi council secretariat for safety.

Some government officials who were caught in the crisis, had to scamper for safety for fear of being lynched by the irate youths.

2015: War imminent over Sokoto North Senate seat, as Maccido dares Wammako Chukwu David Abuja

T

L-R: Managing Director, AIICO Insurance Plc, Mr. Edwin Igbiti; Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Tunde Fajemirokun and Executive Director, Mr. Jide Orimolade during the presentation of AIICO Capital limited initial Public offer in the AIICO Money Market Fund held in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE.

es, stones, sticks and other weapons to avenge the harassment by youths of the “Crowd Control Unit” (CCU), a unit of youths used by the government as bouncers during the events.

Trouble, New Telegraph gathered, started when a youth from Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency was beaten up by some youths of the CCU when he protested his being barred from entering the hall used for the town hall meeting.

The youths of the fed-

he battle for the Sokoto North Senatorial seat in 2015 National Assembly elections is imminent as the incumbent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Senator Ahmed Maccido has vowed to engage his Governor of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Magatarkada Wammako in a stiff contest.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Ahmed Mohammed Maccido yesterday told

Sokoto State Governor, Magatarkada Wammako to forget his alleged senatorial ambition in 2015.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, Senator Maccido explained how he refused to defect with Wammako to the APC and why the governor is no threat to his return to the Senate next year.

His words: "If you see that your time is up in a particular place and your ideas are no longer needed ,I don't think there's any need for you to stay there anymore. You have, as they say, overdone your stay. Do you understand that? As

far as I'm concerned, this particular institution that is in place now in Sokoto is no longer in need of my services. So, I don't think I need to stay with them.”

Maccido reiterated that he represents the Sultanate in the Senate, an institution, he says, has been in existence for more than 200 years, which the governor cannot sweep aside.

"I'm not here as Ahmed Maccido. I'm not sitting here as Ahmed Maccido.

Do you understand that?

I have an institution that remains relevant and has remained relevant for the past 200 years.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

PLAYING GOD APC says president should not play God over the fate of Kwarans

Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC), in Kwara State yesterday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to ‘stop playing God’ on affairs of the state, insisting that “there is no stolen mandate in Kwara State.”

Reacting to Jonathan’s comments that the Peo-

APC faults president’s boast to capture Kwara ples Democratic Party (PDP) would recapture Kwara State in the 2015 general elections and might even do so before the next general election, APC argued that any reference to a purportedly stolen mandate in Kwara is mischievous.

Jonathan had, while hosting some PDP members in Abuja on Tuesday, expressed hope that Kwara would soon join

Obiano meets judges, civil servants, solicits cooperation Uwakwe Abugu Awka

N

ew Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, yesterday began moves to assess the problems facing his administration with visits to the Judiciary Headquaters, Awka and the State Civil Service, urging a quicker dispensation of justice and a more dedicated approach to service on the part of the public servants.

Chief Judge of the state, Justice Peter Umeadi, told the governor of the challenges facing the judiciary in the state and also let him into the existing

lines of action aimed at addressing the situation.

For instance, a look at the Judiciary building yesterday showed it was weatherbeaten and needed painting.

While addressing them, Obiano advised them to reduce the number of pending cases in courts in the state by 50% in order to make quicker the dispensation of justice.

He had on Tuesday met with members of the State House of Assembly where he gave an indication of his agenda for the State Legislature and called on the honorable members to join hands with him and work together to build a better Anambra State.

FG pleads with ASUP, COEASU to call off strikes

T

he Federal Government yesterday extended the olive branch to the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) over the ongoing strikes by the two bodies.

In a statement signed by Special Assistant on Media to the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, Mr Simeon Nwakaudu in Abuja, the government urged the academic unions to call off the

7

strikes.

The statement noted that the Federal Government had clearly worked hard to resolve the ASUP and COEASU strikes.

According to the statement, the minister has on several occasions negotiated with the ASUP and COEASU leaderships to resolve the ongoing strike. ``It is hoped that in the coming days, COEASU and ASUP will respond positively to the latest efforts of the Federal Government,’’ the statement stated.

states under the banner of PDP. “In 2015, we will know who owns Kwara. And if God gives us the opportunity, which I believe He will, probably we will even test our strength before 2015. All stolen mandates will return to PDP…” the president reportedly said.

But interim publicity secretary of the APC, Sulyman Buhari, in a state-

ment in Ilorin, faulted the President, accusing him of playing God over the affairs of the state.

Text of the statement reads in part: “Any person that tagged a representing mandate like the mandate given to Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed, a stolen mandate, is either being mischievous or too inept to understand the mandate. Stolen from where to where? Kwarans

N104.7bn

The internally generated revenue realized from PAYE (taxes) of Lagos State in 2010.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

are the beneficiaries of this mandate and their interests are assured in the APC.” “Mr. President is not God and shouldn't be seen to be playing God. The signal given by Mr President that Kwara State may be "recaptured" before 2015 elections is questionable. Is there a sinister attempt to "recapture" power through the back door by the Presidency and PDP before

N4.62bn

The internally generated revenue of Adamawa State in 2012.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

2015? Will it be through a Presidency-influenced judgement at the Supreme Court? Will it be through sponsored violence by the PDP and consequent declaration of State of Emergency in Kwara State? All these questions and many more, demand answers.

We condemn these sinister attempts and urge Mr President to dissociate himself and his office from this evil plot.”

258m

The number of fixed telephone subscriptions in Europe in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

L-R: Registrar, Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Mr. Dotun Adenijo; former Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria, Dame Oluremi Oyo; Publisher, Vanguard Newspaper, Mr Sam Amuka and Provost, Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Dr Elizarbeth Ikem, during the confirmation of Mrs Oyo as NIJ fellow during the Institute’s convocation in Lagos …yesterday

Court sets April 8 to hear Sanusi’s suit JURISDICTION

Govt challenges court's jurisdiction to entertain Sanusi's suit

Tunde Oyesina Abuja

T

he Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday held that it would commence hearing in the substantive suit filed by the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, challenging his suspension along side the Preliminary Ob-

jection filed by the Federal Government challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit.

The Federal Government had however through its counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) said it will challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal insisting that the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

The Federal Government had on February 19 suspended Sanusi over report by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria FRCN accusing Sanusi of financial recklessness.

Subsequently, Sanusi

had through his counsel, Kola Awodein (SAN) dragged President Goodluck Jonathan and two others before the court.

At the resumed hearing of the suit yesterday, Ozekhome brought a Preliminary Objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court.

Awodein however prayed the court to take both the preliminary objection and the substantive suit together. Ozekhome and counsel to other defendants objected to the prayer.

They argued that the court has no jurisdiction to entertain the substan-

tive suit. They further submitted that by hearing both applications, the court would have entered jurisdiction which the constitution did not vest in it.

They rather urged the court to hear the objection first. Delivering a short ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, held that the court would take both the objection and the substantive suit together.

He further held that it would be disservice to set down the plaintiff's application in favour of the defendant’s position to hear the suit separately.

8

ACROSS THE NATION FCT ABUJA

Jonathan embarks on sixday working visit abroad President Goodluck Jonathan will today begin a six-day working visit overseas that will see him visiting three different countries including the Vatican, Namibia and Netherlands.

The President while on the trip is scheduled to meet with the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis and Monsignor Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State in Rome.

A statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President Dr. Reuben Abati said while abroad, President Jonathan will also join other world leaders at the 2014 global Nuclear Security summit which opens at The Hague in Holland on Monday.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

EDO

FCT

BENIN

ABUJA

Immigration job tragedy: Injured couple seeks FG’s assistance A couple who were injured in last Saturday’s recruitment test exercise organized by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, have pleaded with the federal and state governments and other public-spirited individuals to come to their assistance.

Mrs. Grace Omuag-

50%

bon, who suffered from a broken rib and scapula and her husband, Mr. Timothy Omuagbon, are presently wriggling in pains at the emergency unit of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), following the stampede during the controversial test.

Narrating her ordeal, the graduate of Economics, also called for assistant from public spiritedNigerians.

The percentage of people who die on the roads among those who are vulnerable road users.

Source: Who.int

JNI decries Muslims’ marginalisation at confab The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) yesterday lamented the lopsidedness in the composition of the delegates to the ongoing national conference, which it said is against Muslims who are in the majority in the country.

The body said 38 per cent Muslim delegates in the confab is not at par with the numerical strength of Muslims in

7%

The percentage of the world’s population (28 countries) with comprehensive laws on five keys risk factors.

Source: Who.int

FCT ABUJA

the country and this disconnect may discredit the confab and put questions on the acceptability of its outcome.

This observation was made by the Secretary General of JNI, Alhaji Khalid Aliyu yesterday.

“Muslims constitute the majority in the country, Christians, who are not more than 40 per cent of the country’s population, ironically constitute 62 per cent.

17.3

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in the world in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

PORT-HARCOURT

Amaechi lays foundation for new NUJ House

ABUJA

Senate passes NASCOM Amendment Bill

RIVERS PORT-HARCOURT

Confab: Sabbath keepers make case over exclusion Sabbath keepers, under the auspices of the National Association of Nigerian Jewish Group have expressed dissatisfaction over their exclusion in the list of people nominated for the ongoing national conference.

Elder Derek Williams, who led the protest yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, said the Sabbath keepers unlike other religions in Nigeria are been treated with disdain.

Former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has tasked government at all levels to prioritise access to quality education by children in the country.

According to her, it would be naïve for government of a developing economy to abdicate the responsibility of funding basic education whose access remains the foundation for the type of education one acquires in future.

Ezekwesili, spoke yesterday in Abuja as a lead speaker at a plenary session of the 20th National Economic Summit.

RIVERS

FCT

The Senate yesterday passed the National Assembly Service Commission Act 2004 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill 2013, just as it also passed the Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Amendment Bill, with stiffer penalties for offenders.

The National Assembly Service Commission Amendment Bill, which report by the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service was considered clause by clause.

Ezekweseli wants quality education for children

L-R; Head, Insurance and Risk Management, Abuja Leasing Company Limited, Mr. Abdullahi Ismaila; Legacy Account Manager, Mr. Idris Rabiu; Manager, SME, Dr. Anthony Onwuha and Group Head, Human Resources, Ms. Ejiro Esiri, during the Simple Money Solutions Seminar on Small Medium Enterprises (SME) in Abuja...yesterday.

DELTA

BAUCHI

AKWA-IBOM

NASARAWA

ASABA

BAUCHI

UYO

LAFIA

N578m fraud: Court restrains police from rearresting accused persons

Bauchi govt, NGOs partner over polio eradication

Certificate racketeering syndicate smashed in Akwa Ibom

LG polls: Vote wisely, Nasarawa deputy gov tells electorate

A Federal High Court in Warri, has restrained the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), his agents or servants from further arresting Chief Thomas Ereyitomi and four others over alleged misappropriation of N576 million belonging to crisis-ridden Ugborodo community in Warri South-West Local Government area of Delta State.

Ereyitomi, along with Isaac Botosan, Benson Babine, Helen Oritsemotosan and Daniel Imami had been docked since 2012.

The Bauchi State Ministry of Health yesterday said it is partnering with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) over new strategies on how to eradicate polio in parts of the state.

State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Sani Abubakar Malami, said this shortly after a meeting with members of the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the Bill Gates Foundation at the ministry’s conference hall in Bauchi.

A syndicate that specialises in forging school certificates and other academic documents has been smashed by the Akwa Ibom State police command.

The breakthrough by the police in uncovering the syndicate was made at Ikot Ekpene, following the arrest of one Ubong Joseph Udoh “M” of No. 2, Sanni Ogun Road, Ikot Ekpene and Thompson Essien Edet “M” of No. 9, Ebukabuka Street, Calabar, Cross River State.

Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Damishi Luka Barau, has urged the people of the state to use the forthcoming local government elections scheduled for March 22, to right the wrongs of the past.

Addressing those who defected from the All progressive Congress ( APC ) in seven local government areas of the state, Luka said the APC is an empty vessel that must be voted out because they have nothing to offer.

He said any attempt to subvert justice will be resisted by the people.

Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi, on Wednesday, performed the ground-breaking of the N.3 billion New Rivers NUJ Complex with an appeal to journalists to Join him in the crusade against rise in crime in the state.

Amaechi expressed concern that there has been a recrudescence of kidnapping, murder, assassination and sundry crimes in the state even as he fingered his political opponents and the former state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, for being behind the recent upsurge in crime in the state.

FCT ABUJA

Confab delegate expresses confidence in Nigeria A delegate at the ongoing national conference, Senator Florence Ita -Giwa, has expressed confidence in the ability of the delegates at the conference to tackle and resolve all the nagging issues confronting the nation.

In a statement made available on her behalf, Ita-Giwa reiterated her conviction that the calibre of delegates at the conference is eminently equipped to put the nation back on course.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

9

You have no jurisdiction to hear Olotu's suit, fg tells court REVIEW

Judge challenges decisions and recommendations of NJC Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

T

he Federal Government yesterday told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, that it has no jurisdiction to entertain a suit filed by one of the sacked judges, Justice Gladys Olotu.

The NJC had, in February this year, sacked the duo of Justice Gladys

l ...Prays for an order of striking out Olotu of the Federal High Court and Justice Ufot Inyang of the Abuja High Court over gross-misconduct.

Not satisfied, Olotu had, through her counsel, S.I Ameh SAN, dragged President Goodluck Jonathan, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the National Judicial Council and two others to court, seeking a review of the sack.

In her suit, Olotu is challenging the decision and recommendation of the NJC. When the matter came up yesterday, the matter could not go on because

some of the parties were yet to file their response.

It was on this note that the presiding judge, Justice Ademola Adeniyi adjourned the suit till April 28 for hearing.

However, in a preliminary objection, the Attorney-General, through Taiwo Abidogun, asked the court to strike out the suit for lack of jurisdiction.

Abidogun submitted that the substantive matter was connected with employment of the applicant who is an erstwhile employee of the Federal

Government of Nigeria.

He cited Section 254(c) of the 1999 Constitution as amended which clearly vests jurisdiction on employment matters on the National Industrial Court.

He further submitted that the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction over employment matters by virtue of Sections 251 and 254 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

In the suit, Olotu is seeking leave to apply for an order of certiorari for judicial review of her suspension and recommendation for re-

tirement by the NJC. Also joined in the suit are the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

The court had at the last adjourned date in the chambers granted Olotu's motion to seek for review of her suspension.

Counsel to Olotu, Ameh had stated that the suit was intended by his client to protect her fundamental rights.

Earlier on February 27, the Acting Director of Information in the NJC, Soji Oye, had explained

in a statement that the Council, headed by the CJN, Justice Mukhtar, suspended the two judges and forwarded the recommendation for their dismissal to the President at a meeting on February 26.

The recommendation for compulsory retirement of the two judges was based on findings made by the NJC after investigations into allegations contained in petitions brought against them.

The AGF had announced the President’s approval of the NJC's recommendation.

RUSSAL set to sack 100 ALSCON operational staff Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

T L-R: Front row: Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State; Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State; Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State; Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Prof Ade Adefuye; Babangida Aliyu of Niger State; Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State; and Idris Wada of Kogi State. Back row, L-R: Kashim Shetttima of Borno State; Isa Yuguda Bauchi State; Saidu Dakingari Kebbi State; AbdulAzeez Yari of Zamfara State; Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State; when a delegation of Northern States Governors Forum met with U.S. government officials and representatives of Norway and Denmark at the United States Peace Institute and the State Department in Washington DC

51.8%

The percentage of households with a computer in the Americas in 2010.

Source: Itu.int

N66.3bn

The internally generated revenue of Rivers State in 2012.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

65.9%

The female percentage of internet users in Malta in 2012.

Source: Itu.int

he Chairman of BFIG Group, Dr. Ruben Jaja, has raised the alarm over impending mass sack of 100 operational staff of Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON)

by RUSAL. Expressing outrage over RUSSAL’s action, Jaja described the impending staff sack across all units and department as dissipation of human assets which his group, BFIG relied upon on bidding for ALSCON. Addressing the media in his Abuja office , Jaja made available a compre-

hensive list of those to be sacked anytime soon by the core investor and accused RUSSAL of indulging in assets pilfering with the aim of reducing the plant to mere carcass for BGIF who is presently in court, challenging its ownership with RUSSAL. “We are raising concern about termination of labour at the plant. The case between the BFIG Group and RUSSAL is still on-going at the Supreme Court and we find it extremely disturbing and a clear violation of the Supreme Court order.

“The list you have is the compilation of operational staff to be laid off, 100 staff effective today.

Budget: Reps seek increase in North East allocation

2015: Nysc members advised to shun financial inducement

Philip Nyam

Joe Ezuma

Abuja

T

The House of Re p r e s e n t a t ive s yesterday urged the Federal Government to jerk up the allocation to the North East geopolitical zone from N2 billion, in order to stimulate the economy of the area ravaged by Boko Haram attacks.

The resolution was taken following a motion under matters of urgent national importance by

Hon. Abdurrahman Terrab (APC, Borno). He argued that the N2 billion contributions by the federal government for the rebuilding process could not be adequate to address the huge economic challenges of the region.

The House, which was presided over by Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal also mandated its Appropriation Committee to find ways of increasing the allocation in the 2014 budget's Sinking Fund for Infrastructural

Development, which is under the Capital supplementation head.

In the motion, Terrab said the funds "provided for future purposes under the capital Supplementation Head of the 2014 budget do not compare in priority when the country is losing one-sixth of its territory to unimaginable magnitude of destruction.”

He contended that "If the effort for reconstruction is not taken seriously despite the quantum of destruction, public confidence will

continue to dwindle, while also vindicating the sympathisers of the insurgents that the country does not care about its masses at all."

But deputy House leader, Hon. Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta) cautioned on adopting the motion to increase the allocation to N12 billion.

He argued that if the House adopted the motion, it would open the flood gate of members coming up with issues of their constituencies to be inserted in the 2014 budget.

Port Harcourt

M

embers of the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC have been warned against any form of financial inducement, but to exhibit high-level of patriotism as they gear up towards rendering national service during the 2015 Director-General of the NYSC, Brig Gen. Johnson Olawumi, handed down the warning while ad-

dressing corps members, during his maiden visit to the Rivers State NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area of the State.

Olawumi reminded them that they were not staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, urging them to resist any temptation to engage in electoral fraud.

"Remember that you are corps members and not staff of INEC," he charged.

10 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

US lawyers seek repatriation of Abacha loot corruption

SERAP seeks repatriation of $458m stolen by late Head of State

U

S senior lawyers and professors of law have asked the Attorney General of United States of America, Eric Holder Jr., to without delay, repatriate the sum of $458 million assets allegedly stolen by the former dictator late General Sani Abacha and his accomplices to Nigeria.

The lawyers, Alexander Sierck and Nicholai Dia-

mond of Cameron LPP, in Washington DC, sent the letter dated 18 March 2014 as Volunteer Counsel for Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

In the letter titled ‘Re: Abacha Kleptocracy Forfeiture Action,’ the lawyers said that “SERAP respectfully requests that the U.S. Department of Justice establish a general process for the repatriation of assets seized as part of its Kleptocracy Initiative.

SERAP’s request arises in the specific context of the Department’s March 6, 2014 announcement that it has frozen more than

$458 million in corruption proceeds, which had been hidden in bank accounts around the world by former Nigerian dictator, Sani Abacha and conspirators, to enable it implement the civil forfeiture complaint filed in federal district court in Washington. As the Department stated in its press release these seized funds properly belong to the citizens the kleptocrats ostensibly served.”

According to the lawyers, “Even though the Department has only recently filed the civil forfeiture complaint regarding the Abacha-

related assets, SERAP submits that its request is nonetheless timely in regard to such assets.

It said that, “in many such cases, the kleptocrats owning the seized property do not appear in the U.S. to contest the seizure because they would then subject themselves to personal jurisdiction in the underlying criminal case that might be filed against them. Thus, at some point, perhaps by the end of 2014, there will be a default on the Abacha asset seizure, consequently freeing up the assets for repatriation to or for the benefit of Nigeria and its citizens.”

SERAP recalled that in

a September 19, 2011 interview with the Main Justice blog, Jennifer Shasky, speaking on behalf of the Department’s Kleptocracy Initiative, stated that, the Department has no legal obligation to repatriate assets subject to civil forfeiture, but that the Department is committed to finding ways to repatriate or use such funds for the benefit of the victim country. SERAP assumes that this is still the Department’s position,” the lawyers said.

They also noted that, “on March 15, 2012, SERAP filed a letter with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Enforce-

Internet scam: EFCC arrests 4 undergraduates

Niger Speaker extols Justice Wambai

Emmanuel Onani

Dan Atori

Abuja

Minna

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arrested four undergraduates and three others, over their alleged involvement in Internet scam.

A statement by the EFCC's spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren,stated that the suspected fraudsters were arrested at two different locations in Ibadan, in Oyo State.

The statement gave the names of the undergraduates and their institutions of learning as: Otuyalo Damilola (Computer Science department, Lead City University, Ibadan), Adegbuyi Michael (University of Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia), Ibrahim Aruna (department of Mineral Resources Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State), and Adeosun Matthew (department of Banking and Finance, University of Ado-Ekiti). Others are, Afolabi Ayodele, Balogun Olumuyiwa and Abiola Okunola.

The statement added that of the lot, Aruna, Matthew, Ayodele, Olumuyiwa and Okunola were arrested.

ment Division seeking comparable repatriation of civil fines paid in connection with Foreign Corrupt Practices Act settlements. In particular, SERAP proposed that such fines be repatriated to or for the benefit of the people of the victim country in the event that the SEC is determined not to pay such proceeds directly to the government where officials were apparently bribed. To that end, SERAP proposed that such funds might be conveyed to a reliable U.S. or Nigerian charitable organization to be spent on health care subject to anti-corruption safeguards.”

T L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Sokoto State, Shehu Goronyo; Senior Manager, Governmental Affairs, MTN Nigeria, Austin Iyashere; Speaker, House of Assembly, Sokoto State, Lawal Muhammad Zayyana and Director, MTN Foundation, Muhammadu Danlami at the commissioning of the six workshops refurbished by the MTN Foundation at the Government Technical College, Farfaru, Sokoto...yesterday

Aide accuses Imo Speaker of corruption

Fuel Scarcity meant to sabotage Petroleum Minister, says group

Steve Uzoechi

Steve Uzoechi

OWERRI

T

he former aide of the Speaker of the Imo state House of Assembly, Mr. Samuelson Iwuoha’s petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging widespread corruption in the office of the Speaker, has been generating flaks between him and the Speaker.

In a dramatic twist, yesterday, Iwuoha, in a statement made available to New Telegraph declared that the Speaker, Chief Benjamin Uwajumogu had on March 11, 2014, sent the sum of N800,000 to him,

demanding his refutal of his allegations of corruption and fraud against him and his office.

However, he explained that the money, though slightly in excess, was for his unpaid arrears of salaries and Christmas bonus which stood at N785,000, but the Speaker allegedly chose to leverage on it to demand his rebuttal of his allegations of graft against his office.

Iwuoha said that he refused to renounce the allegations insisting that the EFCC be allowed to carry out its investigations on the office of the Speaker. "I cant be bribed, what's more, with my own salaries", Iwuoha asked.

OWERRI

A

coalition of prodemocracy groups have attributed the current fuel scarcity being experienced in most parts of the country to a deliberate work of saboteurs who want to blackmail the Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Dieziani Allison-Madueke.

In a statement jointly signed by the Chancellor of South East Peoples Assembly (SEPA), Chief Elvis Agukwe and Chairman of Northern Patriotic Front (NPF), Alhaji Ali Abacha, on behalf of their groups,

they said that some people want to “destroy the good works of the petroleum minister.”

The statement said that the groups hold strongly that there had been a deliberate and orchestrated campaign “by disgruntled elements to discredit the minister and wipe out the good works she had been doing.”

They noted that the campaign of calumny started with allegations of missing billions from the account of the NNPC, graduating into sabotaging the distribution network of the company all in a bid to paint the minister black.

he newly appointed Justice of Court of Appeal from Niger State, Justice Amina Wambai has been described as a legal luminary who has presided over and adjudicated on high profile cases with landmark decisions that have stood the test of time without bing overturned even on Appeal to higher courts.

The Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Barrister Adamu Usman, made this remark on his congratulatory message to Justice Wambai. He described Wambai as a role model and a pride to woman folk whose gender was not a bottleneck in the discharge of her official duties.

He explained that he received with utmost joy and satisfaction the news of the appointment of Wambai, adding that, the appointment did not come to him as a surprise given the over thirty years of her effective and efficient dispensation of Justice in Niger State.

Usman expressed confidence in the ability of Justice Wambai to dispense Justice as enshrined in the Nation's constitution and its laws.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

11

Monitor Osun governorship election, PDP aspirant charges INEC Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

A

governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to monitor the August 9, 2014 governorship election in the state to prevent it from being manipulated.

Senator Akinlabi, said INEC should monitor the election to prevent the state governor, Rauf Aregbosola and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) from allegedly manipulating the election.

He called on the commission and security agencies to be vigilant and not

to allow a repeat of what happened in Anambra State last year, where about 186 Osun indigenes were reportedly sent to observe the election.

The former minister who was at the PDP National Secretariat on Wednesday to obtain his Expression of Interest (EOI) and nomination forms, said he wish to replicate his performance as minister in the administration of Osun State.

According to him, education and sustainable employment will be the focal point of his administration if elected as governor, adding that he will pay emphasis on technical and vocational education and skill acquisition.

Bauchi varsity releases N233.2m for land compensation Yuzarsif Alhssan Bauchi

T

he Bauchi State University, Gadau has released N115, 930, 670.00 million to 139 beneficiaries for site ‘one’ of its land compensation scheme and N177, 304, 455.00 to 196 beneficiaries for site ‘two’ of the same scheme for the university’s land in the state.

Chairman of compensation committee, the Galadiman Bauchi, Ibrahim sa’id Jahun, while presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Bauchi at

the conference hall of the Ministry of Higher Education, used the forum to thank Governor Isa Yuguda for providing the funds with a view to ensuring a conducing atmosphere for the university to take off.

According to the chairman, site ‘one’ of the land has 545 hectares comprising 19 structures along with 13km YuliMada road while site ‘two’ has 524 hectares, comprising 44 structure along 14km Yuli-Zongoro village on the BauchiMaiduguri road respectively.

Billows of smoke during a tanker explosion at Mobil filling Station, Oba Akran-Akilo-Agege Road, Roundabout, Ogba, Agege, Lagos... yesterday PHOTO: ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

42,311,877 306,058,159

The total population of the region of Caribbean in 2010 (representing 0.61% of the world’s population).

Source: Blatantworld.com

Port Harcourt

R

ivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has sworn-in the new Chief Judge of the state.

He is Justice Peter Nwoke Chukwuma Agumagu.

He was sworn in following a Federal High Court judgement in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

At a brief ceremony in Port Harcourt, Tuesday night, the new Chief Judge took the oath of office in the presence of the state governor.

In his charge to the new chief judge, Governor Amaechi congratulated him and urged him to be dedicated in the official discharge of his responsibilities.

Recalling that he was sworn in after series of legal battles, Amaechi appealed to him to see beyond the contest and be fair, treating everybody equally.

“My Lord, let me congratulate you on your appointment. The actual phrase would be at ‘at last’ and to say that; I was a bit worried with the way

95.3%

The male percentage of internet users of Norway in 2012.

Source: Itu.int

Fani-Kayode claimed alleged laundered money was from property sale – EFCC TRIAL

Ex-Aviation Minister defends money laundering charges

Joseph Jibueze

A

n Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigator, Mr Bashir Abdullahi, yesterday said former Minister of Aviation Fani-Kayode claimed money found in his account was payment for a

Amaechi swears-in Agumagu as River' Chief Judge Joe Ezuma

The total population of West Africa region in 2010 (representing 3.08% of the world’s population).

Source: Blatantworld.com

people in the judiciary fought over who would be the chief judge of the state.

“I was more than worried when there was an attempt to take away the power of the governor to appoint a chief judge and rest it somewhere else and I was wondering if there was no need to ask for the interpretation of the constitution.

“Today, we recognise and accept in totality the judgement of the Federal High Court of Nigeria and we say to you congratulations."

property.

The prosecution witness said he was among a team of investigators who probed how N19.5billion Aviation Intervention Fund was disbursed after the commission received a petition alleging misappropriation.

Fani-Kayode is standing trial on an amended 40-count charge of money laundering at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The former minister was said to have laundered about N100,219,500 by paying them into his personal account through an asso-

ciate.

Abdullahi said he obtained Fani-Kayode's bank statements, analysed them and discovered that the former minister made deposits exceeding N500,000.

"We discovered deposits made by the accused person. The defendant made useful response on the source of the fund," the witness said.

According to Abdullahi, Fani-Kayode stated in his statement to the EFCC that the funds were proceeds from a business transaction he made abroad.

"He said they came

from a transaction he did outside the country which was paid in hard currency and he converted to naira and paid into those accounts on several occasions.

"He said some of the deposits were proceeds of properties he sold, or about to sell," he said.

Under cross-examination by Fani-Kayode's lawyer, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), Abdullahi said disbursement of the N19.5billion aviation fund being investigated started during the tenure of Prof.

Babalola Aborishade.

Canada, Cross River partner to improve healthcare delivery

T

he Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Perry J. Calderwood and the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Efiok Cobham, yesterday met to cement an existing partnership between Canada and Cross River State on how to improve primary healthcare delivery in the state.

Canada has been working with Cross River State on a variety of development projects

since 2001.

The occasion was to mark the end of Canada’s support for the College of Health Technology, Calabar, and the primary health care development project being sponsored by the country that has been on for six years.

“These six years, the Canadian government has been supporting both Bauchi and Cross River States with N3 billion to improve the

training of front-line health workers, as well as the infrastructure for primary health care delivery in the two states.”

Calderwood said: “This project has worked to ensure that primary health care services and staff are deeply rooted in the communities they serve. "Working closely with communities is essential to bringing about the needed change, especially for women and children.”

metr 12

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

thursday, march 20, 2014

0802 393 8212

Thre yout in La

Juliana Francis

T

Burnt filling station

Tanker explodes, fire razes filling station

l One injured, six vehicles burnt SCARCITY FALLOUT Vehicles and valuables worth millions of naira were lost to inferno at a filling station in Lagos Muritala Ayinla and Taiwo Jimoh

S

everal people waiting to buy fuel escaped death yesterday morning when a Mobil Filling Station on Oba Akran Road, Ikeja, Lagos, went up in flames.

However, six vehicles and other valuables worth several millions of naira were completely burnt.

It was gathered that the incident occurred when a tanker trying to discharge fuel hit a metal object, spilt its content and caught fire.

The 33,000-litre tanker could not find space to park to discharge fuel because of the long queue of vehicles waiting to buy fuel. While reversing, the truck hit steel which punctured the tank and exploded.

This led to a commotion as people scampered to safety, leaving their vehicles already trapped in the queue.

Some of the motorists blamed the

incident on fuel scarcity.

Some of them said if the fuel had been available, there would not be many vehicles at the station as early as 6am.

For several hours, huge balls of fire billowed into the atmosphere with thick smoke as fire fighters battled to salvage the situation.

A burnt electric pole within the filling station fell on an onlooker. He was rushed to the hospital by the waiting men of the Lagos State Ambulance (LASAMBUS).

The inferno led to massive gridlock in Ikeja, Ogba and Agege as motorists and commuters groaned in traffic for hours.

Other adjourning roads such as WEMCO, Lateef Jakande Road were also affected by the gridlock.

Speaking with NT Metro, the Director of Lagos State Fire Service, Mr Rasak Fadipe, said the tanker was trying to navigate into the station, but it was difficult because of the vehicles on queue.

He said: “The fire spread and burnt five vehicles and several electric poles.

One of the burning poles fell on a man and wounded him seriously.

“We are advising Lagosians not to

crowd around scenes of fire disasters for safety purpose.”

Fadipe said his men got to the scene on time with five fire trucks with each carrying 10,000 litres of water from five of its fire stations, such as Ilupeju, Ikeja, Agege and Isolo.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) spokesman, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, also confirmed that one person was injured.

He said: “It started around 6:05am with a tanker loaded with 33,000 litres of fuel trying to enter the filling station but vehicles on queue did not allow it free access and in the process, hit something and caught fire.”

The General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the fire also spread to adjoining buildings.

The GM called on the residents of Lagos and fuel station owners to be safety conscious.

He said: “Just yesterday (Tuesday), properties worth millions of naira were destroyed as the Generator House of the Christ Embassy Church on Oregun Road was gutted by fire.”

hree young m and many i Ijora Badia State yesterday, tions of gangste a fight.

Police identif victims as Adeother two are no The fight, whi from Tuesday n gridlock, groun cial activities, a ing youths vand vehicles.

The fight betwe of youths in the ‘Ogbana boys’ a boys,’ started las out again on Tues two boys, belongi gang, were kill went to buy shir in the area.

Ogbana boys have jumped o the market and to death before f When Matimi of the death of th they went there bodies, which th palace of the Ob But yesterday snowballed after

I can’t forgive robbers who raided my house –Pastor BEYOND PARDON Some suspects, who robbed a pastor’s house, traumatised his family and stole his car, are now in police net. But the cleric says it is beyond him to forgive them Complex Juliana Francis

T

hree suspected armed robbers invaded the house of a cleric, robbed his family but a few minutes later were rounded up by the police.

The pastor, Professor Benjamin Nwaneri, said he was shocked when he heard how the three armed men scaled his fence and landed in his compound, while his wife and children were fast asleep.

APC’ll crumble before 2015 –Balogun / PAGE 15 | ‘Moro must resign for his cluelessness’ / PAGE 16

POLITICS

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/politics

Dokubo-Asari:

North planning genocide

ayodele Ojo

Deputy Editor, politics

ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

ayodeleojo@yahoo.com

p-14

THURSday, March 20, 2014

Nigeria deserves strong, visionary leader –Ajimobi

Are you comfortable with the presidential system of government?

The presidential system, of course, is like the oldest democracy where you have the emperor, the president or the prime minister. The only difference which I see between the presidential system and the parliamentary system is that there is no consensus built in the parliamentary system whereas, in the presidential system, the president or the governor is the chief executive.

In the parliamentary system, the party is always there to decide for you. But in a presidential system, you must all agree; it is not like, once you are the president, the governor or local government chairman, you run government as your private business. I don’t believe that they are mutually exclusive. In fact, they are very much inclusive. And I am in favour of the continuation of the presidential system.

In a country like ours, I think we need a presidential system with a strong and visionary leader. But if you look at the parliamentary system, it is more of the party. My own little experience in politics, particularly in the area of consensus building, is that you discover in the end that people are fighting for themselves and not for the masses. So, when you are saying parliamentary system, everybody comes with his own demand which may not necessarily be in congruence with that of the masses. So, I still believe that, understandably, presidential system is preferable.

From my own little experience, you need a strong leader; one that has the vision and the intellect to visualise as well as the courage to implement. Unless you have such a leader, it will be very difficult to make a difference. I honestly believe

Governor Abiola Ajimobi prefers the presidential system of government to the parliamentary system which some stakeholders are presently advocating for.

In this interview, he speaks on the nation’s leadership challenge, suspension of Central Bank Governor, his relationship with Senator Rashidi Ladoja and x-rays his administration’s achievements in the last three years. SOLA ADEYEMO reports

Ajimobi

that a leader will take people to where they want to go whereas a great leader will take people to where they ought to be.

I believe that a country like Nigeria needs a strong leader in order to change the country for better because by our nature, we are used to this element of impunity where you do what you like. Even when you preach, you practice something different from what you preach to your followers. And in Nigeria, we don’t challenge our leaders enough; we don’t ask them questions.

What is your definition of a strong leader?

Do not equate strong leadership with impunity. A strong leader is different from a dicta-

tor or an autocratic leader. A strong leader is one who has vision and pursues it compassionately but ensures that he achieves success. A dictator is one that does things with

You need a strong leader; a leader that has the vision and the intellect to visualise as well as the courage to implement. Unless you have such a leader, it will be very difficult to make a difference

absoluteness; a strong leader is not necessarily an absolute ruler. When you have impunity anywhere, people are breaking the laws; impunity means doing something without regard to the existing law. In Nigeria today, I can tell you there is hardly any law that they have in Britain that we don’t have here.

It is just that we don’t obey the law. What I am saying therefore is that there is a wall of difference between the two, that is, a strong leader and a corrupt, absolute or dictatorial leader.

What is your view on the suspension of the Central Bank governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi?

If I were the President, there was no need removing the man.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

POLITICAL NOTES

Belittling the confab

H

ardly had the National Conference put together by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan taken off, than some Nigerians have begun to trivialise the process, using it as another opportunity to score petty business, political and social points with their friends and associates.

On Monday March 17, the day the president inaugurated the conference, signaling the takeoff of deliberations, which should culminate in a working document that may very well reveal the direction the nation’s future may take, a company took a full page coloured advert to congratulate one of the female delegates to the confab, Hajia Bola Shagaya.

Trust Nigerians not to let an opportunity for sycophancy pass them by, nor a chance to curry favour slip by. Surely being a member of the 492 delegates that have been chosen to chart a new course for the nation is a rare and delightful opportunity. But should it be a chance for revelry, even before the job is done.

It’s not enough to be a delegate to the confab, given that a great number made the list on political considerations, not on strength of anticipated intellectual or moral contribution that would enrich discourse.

For example, what has been the contribution of the delegate being celebrated? How has she presented the position of her constituency, defended or promoted it to ensure acceptability?

Considering criticisms trailing the convocation of the conference, the least friends and associates of delegates can do, is not belittle the three-month process that could determine the future of the nation or even waste precious time participating in unnecessary frivolities that will portray the confab as a jamboree.

14

POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW

Dokubo-Asari: North planning genocide Former militant and leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, in this interview with JULIUS TOBA, speaks on the National Conference and Usman Bugaje’s claim that the oil in Niger Delta belongs to the North. Excerpts: Why is Usman Bugaje’s comment that the oil in the Niger Delta belongs to the North drawing much of your wrath?

I have known Usman Bugaje for 25 years since I became a Muslim on October 17, 1988. Bugaje is a pharmacist and holds a PhD in Arabic and Islamic studies. He was national president of Muslim Students Society of Nigeria. He was a member of the House of Representatives. He was also a governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress (AC).

Now the question we are asking is: when we say that people like Bugaje speaks for the North, some persons will tell us no, he is speaking for himself. Bugaje was addressing a northern assembly, made up of the whole northern leadership, elite, academia, business class and political elite, and before this gathering he made such provocative and inciting comment that oil in the Niger Delta belongs to the North. His people clapped for him. But when we react, somebody will tell us that Usman Bugaje is speaking for himself and not the North. In all the positions Bugaje has held, he represented his people’s views, aspirations and demand.

Why are you so concerned about this?

The statement from Bugaje is a serious one, and we shall treat it on its seriousness because we know that they have an evil agenda against our people. Look, we have very small countries in West Africa that are not even as big as Rivers State alone. In their distance to the coast, do they not have nautical miles to the sea? How far and deep is the discovery of oil? I am an Ijaw man, I travel by boat from my village to Sao Tome, Equatorial Guinea and to Gabon and to other African countries, so I know the terrain very well. Bugaje may have never stepped his foot into any ocean, may be the highest he has seen is the Bar Beach in Lagos.

Any grave implication?

Of course, the intention and implication of Bugaje’s statement is that the North is planning genocide against our people, the same way they’re sponsoring Boko Haram. That is the import of what Bugaje has said. People might not see it, and they will say Asari is an alarmist.

H e said

Dokubo-Asari

7 Questions

the oil in the Niger Delta belongs to them, what an insult. First, the only reason Nigeria was amalgamated in 1914 was because the North was poor and could not stand on its own and needed the resources of the South to survive. Lord Luggard was very clear when he was writing to his home office in London, giving them reasons for the need to amalgamate the North and South of Nigeria. There was no time the North has had money to sponsor even themselves, talk less of sponsoring other people.

But one expects that ownership of Nigeria’s crude oil should not be an issue after 50 years of independence?

Yes, but let me say here that Nigeria as a country didn’t invest a dime in oil exploration in the Niger Delta, but this is the lie they keep telling people. Go a n d check, Shell and other oil companies spent all the money explori n g and get-

Thursday, March 20, 2014

ting oil in the Niger Delta. In fact, northern leaders and their southern collaborators who were appointed into ministries took bribe from foreign multinational companies that came to explore oil in the Niger Delta. These companies paid through their nose. And that was one of the reasons that occasioned the Kaduna Nzeogwu coup, when the northern political elite and their southern collaborators collected 10 per cent.

They are now deceiving and inciting their people against our people. What Bugaje did was to incite his people, but we are ready for them. So, he can go on inciting his people, we are ready for everything they are planning.

What Bugaje said started when Ken Saro-Wiwa started the Ogoni struggle, and Bala Mohammed came out and said that the oil segmented from the North to the South, as if the world is horizontal.

They are telling us they are willing for crisis because they are hand in glove in this struggle to subjugate and steal what does not belong to them.

As fellow Muslims, have you tried to reach out to Bugaje personally?

These people have already said they are not Muslims, they do not know Islam, but have always used Islam to deceive their people and get favours. We are telling them that this is not going to be possible. What they are doing is to instigate their people and prepare their people and spread hate messages. When they plot evil, they turn round to blame others for the evils they sponsored and wished for other people. So, what Usman Bugaje has said, the Nigeria security agents should look at it and call him to explain because his statement is a prelude to genocide against our people, and the Nigerian state should not joke with it because Bugaje is not an ordinary person. People should not play with his statement. The weight of what Bugaje said will reverbrate years to come.

But it seems you are alone in this struggle?

No; I am now calling on the Igbo people, the Niger Delta people, the Middle Belt; we must rise up to put a wall of defence and prepare ourselves for whatever they are planning. What they are planning will not be different from what Boko Haram is doing. The killings in Benue and Jos is part of their plan. This we must understand.

What is your view on the National Conference?

We are not going to give up on the conference. We will be on the sideline to fire the shot if our delegates there don’t talk. If our delegates at the conference refuse to talk, they will not return home. That is what we promised them. If they don’t say what our people want them to say, they will not return home; we will not allow them to come home. They will be forced to become more radical like the Dokubo-Asaris and Ralph Uwazuruikes.

The only reason Nigeria was amalgamated in 1914 was because the North was poor and could not stand on its own and needed the resources of the South to survive

POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW 15

Thursday, March 20, 2014

APC’ll crumble before 2015 –Balogun

How prepared is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in its quest to take over SouthWest in 2015?

We are ready. PDP as the ruling party in the country gives different impressions to different people. PDP is a victim of the Nigerian approach to democracy.

PDP is also a victim of what I call Nigerian temperament and Nigerian ego. It is not exclusively a PDP problem; it is a Nigerian problem. Every Nigerian wants to have things his way. An average Nigerian will want to do things in his way no matter how wrong it may be. The PDP is a victim of the Nigerian ego and the Nigerian temperament; no patience, no consideration for the thinking and interest of others. All these are against democratic norms and practices. And because PDP is the ruling party at the centre, its problems are more conspicuous and obvious. When people say because of problem in PDP, they are going to other parties, I ask myself, are the people they are trying to meet in other parties different from the rest of us in the PDP. The people in the All Progressives Congress (APC) are not British, American, French or Ghanaian; they are Nigerians.

Are you saying there is no difference between PDP and APC? APC is even worse in terms of democratic practices and norms. APC knows nothing about democracy. APC is worse.

I am a committed democrat and I know when I see a democrat, I will recognise him. APC without even running the centre is centrally organised at the moment. Somebody from Lagos runs every part of South-West governed by APC and that must stop as soon as possible. Stakeholders’ committee will ensure that these things stop. We will win in Osun. We will recover Ekiti and we would recover all other APC states in 2015.

Do you think PDP would be able to achieve that considering the internal crisis within the party?

You have forgotten that we gave out all these states when we were testing our egos and temperament in PDP. We have learnt our lessons and they are yet to arrive at what we have passed through. Before 2015, APC will crumble. They would crumble in such a way that they won’t even recognise what had befallen them until after the election. The PDP has been having its own internal crisis in the last five years and APC’s own is yet to start and it is threatening to start. It will start anytime now.

What gave you that confidence that APC will crumble before 2015?

I am a social scientist and I can see it coming. It is like asking a doctor why you think somebody would have a headache giving all the background to the patient’s lifestyle. I am convinced about it that Nigerian temperament and Nigerian ego have not manifested themselves in APC and they will inevitably; they will start anytime now. Some of those who went to APC hoping they would become their

Senator Lekan Balogun, Chairman of the South-West Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Stakeholders’ Committee was a member of the Senate between 1999 and 2003. Balogun, in this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, believes that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will crumble before 2015 elections.

point is that democracy works for the benefit of everybody. That is the way it should work. But when some cornered the benefits of democracy to themselves alone, exclusively, it is not democracy.

You have to use the power of democracy to disprove them and that is what we did.

But you and others worked against your party winning the election?

What we did was against individual and not the party. If it was meant against the party, we would have left the party entirely. It is not our fault that PDP lost the election in Oyo State, it is the fault of those who provoked us to do what we did. If I worked for your victory and you got there and started sidelining me and you think I didn’t matter and you didn’t care about my interest, should I say you should reign forever? Democracy is not meant to benefit some individuals alone, it is collective benefit.

Balogun

presidential candidate have already begun to regret; some of them have started having problems. Some people went to APC targeting some aspirations and it is already looking as if they can’t get it again because you can’t have two presidential candidates from any party. About five presidential aspirants exist in APC and the nearer they come to not realising their aspiration, the more frustrated they would become and Nigerian ego will take over.

What is your take on the appeal by PDP national chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu that those who defected from PDP to APC should return to the ruling party?

The more sensible ones would come back. I am convinced about that too. Some of them just jumped on the bandwagon taking account of what frustration they were having at that time. But I think it is dawning on everybody now that it was a wrong decision they made. Anybody who is sensible would come back. The theory of Nigerian ego and Nigerian temperament that was at work in PDP will soon be at work soon in APC. Some of the APC members are already grumbling against the leadership style of Bola Tinubu. I am not against the person but some of them are grumbling and we hear their grumblings. As long as APC is not made up of Americans, British and Ghanaians, their own problems are coming.

In your view, why do you think defection has become a major issue in Nigeria today?

It was due to Nigerian temperament; they are not patient and democratic. It will take about 30 to 50 years before we begin to adjust our patience and ego

Before 2015, APC will crumble. They would crumble in such a way that they won’t even recognise what had befallen them until after the election to democratic expectation and norms.

Some of us have already adjusted and many others have not. But this experience will begin to compel them to adjust.

In Oyo State, we have been out of power for three years and everybody is tired of being in the opposition.

But the likes of you and other PDP chieftains in Oyo State partnered with the opposition party to work against your party’s interest during the 2011 elections.

We didn’t help opposition to become anything. We did what we did to checkmate the ego and temperament of Nigerians in government in Oyo State. We did and we didn’t hide it. Some of us risked our lives to make our governor at that time; they got there and sidelined us and thought that we didn’t matter as long as they have power to themselves. Alao-Akala is my friend and brother as at today.

He has always been my friend before the election, but we fell out completely when he was disregarding us.

So you and others decided to work against your party’s interest to prove a point.

Yes, we did it to make a point. The

Many people are of the view that Governor Abiola Ajimobi should be allowed to run for a second term considering his performance.

At what emotional cost is the beautification? A man has a shop, where he is earning a living, you demolished it. His wife’s shop was also demolished. As a result of that, they take their child from private school to public school because they can no longer send their child to private school. On getting to the public school, the child was not feeling comfortable with the public school because his parents cannot afford to send him to private school and he later became miserable. So, at what cost emotional cost is the beautification? You can beautify our environment without incurring such high emotional cost to the people. Some teachers were laid off and some they said didn’t go to primary school, but they are university graduates. Does that make sense to you? Recently, the Judicial Service Commission appointed some customary judges. The governor woke up one day and said customary court judges were largely PDP, he won’t take them. He appointed his own and swore them into office few days ago. Is that democracy and is that something you would expect from a good governor. He is my brother and my friend but scientific truth will prevail and I won’t attempt to keep it.

Who is benefitting from the beautification of the environment? It is the contractors. What we have in Oyo State and in most South-West states is what I call ‘contractocracy.’ You make the people miserable and you don’t care as long as the contractors are happy and their bags are bigger going home. What is happening is just contractocracy. Let us run government to benefit contractors only at the high cost to the emotional life of the people. Is that working for the people? Recently the people in sawmill were driven away from a land they acquired privately and the offer was to beautify the place and award the contract to a contractor who will smile home and render the people working in the sawmill jobless.

We can’t carry on like that.

16

POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW

Thursday, March 20, 2014

NIS recruitment tragedy:

Moro must resign for his cluelessness –Obioha The much-awaited National Conference kicked off on Monday with the inauguration of the confab by President Goodluck Jonathan. How do you feel about the commencement of the conference?

Many of us who actually were the original agitators for this national conference would have some sense of accomplishment that at last this conference has now been inaugurated. The truth of the matter is that Nigerians hinge all their hopes on the outcome of this conference.

This conference will either put us on the true path of sustainable development or reassessment of true citizenship. The failure of this conference should never be contemplated because Nigeria is at a crossroad that either we make it right or the result of failing would be unimaginable. We pray for the success of this conference. We also pray that the conference’s positions are very vital areas that would bring about the growth of a nation.

The constitution we have today is so fundamentally flawed that nothing can really come out of it to give hope to a new Nigeria. It is so flawed in many areas. It is so obvious that the bane of this nation is corruption, which derives a lot of its possibility from the constitution we are using today. The overhead cost of running government in Nigeria, which also is a terrible hold of releasing the necessary fund for development of the country, again is wrap around the constitution we are using now. The life of sustainable development today in Nigeria is also traceable to the constitution we are using now. So, this conference has on its shoulder a seeming responsibility to give us a roadmap that would at least put our country on the path of sustainable development.

Some of the conference delegates have made it clear that they are going to the conference to pursue ethnic and zonal agenda, such as creation of state, resource control, fiscal federalism, etc. What is your take on this?

On the issue of creation of states, we have today in Nigeria six regions.

We are going to use certain principles about equality of regions and states.

It goes without saying that the region that doesn’t have the same number of states as the other region has to get additional state so that we would maintain a principle of equality of states. A mission works on principles, not on whims and caprices. And the history of creation of states is very rigid and it is done in a way to favour some regions. All the states that were created so far were created through military fiat and we knew that at the point they were created, it was the people that were at the helm of affairs as the Head of State then that dictated how

Chief Ralph Obioha is a chieftain of the defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and Second Republic member of the National Assembly. In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, he speaks on the ongoing National Conference and other burning issues. Excerpts:

Obioha

The failure of this conference should never be contemplated because Nigeria is at a crossroad that either we make it right or actually the result of failing would be unimaginable these states were created. And it is not a surprise that the North-West for example got seven states while other regions got six and five. That needs to be balanced.

Those campaigning for resource control also have a case. The question is: at what level or what meeting point would take care of such agitation because there was a time in Nigeria that the resources of the regions are what was used to run those regions. So, they have a case. For those talking about fiscal federalism, so long we said that we are a federation, there are things that are associated with being a federating region or federating state. There are basic ingredients of such a system and we cannot come to Nigeria to turn our own around. So, all these things are the things that the conference delegates have to maturely and passionately look at and find best solution for each and every one of them.

People must go to the conference with

a sense that they would not get all they have come to get. They must also have a sense of give and take. They must also have a sense that it is better for all Nigerians to live in unity.

Critics have condemned the sum of N4million per month allocated for each conference delegate and the N7 billion budgeted by government for the conference. What is your take on this?

If you look at the income level of Nigeria, I believe that those figures are too high. The average Nigerian who is going through most difficult period of their life thinks of lack of opportunities and income level. To say that you will give a national conference delegateN4 million per month makes nonsense of our income index in Nigeria. I think that the government should review it and get it down to a level that will not insult the sensibility of an average Nigerian.

Look at what happened last week where there were about vacancies of 2,000 positions in the Immigration. They called for Nigerians to come and apply for those 2,000 positions. And over one million people came out to apply for the job. If you look at that type of opportunity and you are talking about less than 500 people you selected, that you will give them N4 million a month. That is too high.

As a result of the stampede that claimed

the lives of many applicants during the recruitment exercise in some parts of the country, many have called for the immediate sack of Minister of Interior, Abba Moro.

Do you think the call for the minister’s sack is justifiable?

It is the cluelessness of the minister that he could not find out the implication of the number that would show up and at least take a survey whether that number can be accommodated in a stadium they called them to show up. I agree that people should be made accountable for their actions. So, in that context, the minister should resign.

How do you feel about the insurgency in the North?

The issue of Boko Haram is a very complicated issue in the sense that there is no nation that is not experiencing one form or the other of the terrorists. But the act, terrorism, means that you are dealing with abnormal circumstance and situation. What I will comment about is the aspect the government is introducing to combat it, whether it is working or not. I believe that it is not working. The situation has been going on for three years now and anything you have tried for three years, you may have to introduce other alternatives to see whether you will contend it. It is unfortunate that we have to be visited by this act of terrorism.

Terrorism is not unique to Nigeria, so applying only one solution I think is not right. There is need to do everything possible to solve the problem. I believe there may be need for us to invite experts from outside. When people fall ill in Nigeria, if we are comfortable with flying them overseas for treatment, we must also try and swallow our pride in trying to talk about our sovereignty and seek the help of people who have actually experienced terrorism in one kind and have found solution to them. The insurgency is not only in North-East, it has now shifted to Katsina and it has now come down to Benue and Nasarawa and then Taraba.

So, this is a very bad situation in the country and I support what some senior citizens and elder statesmen have advocated for about applying the carrot and the stick tactics.

How do you see the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge, which has been finally approved by President Goodluck Jonathan?

I believe there have been a lot of politics in the past over the construction of 2ndNiger Bridge. But one must credit the president that at least he has taken it upon himself to do the ground breaking. The next thing is that we have to see the speed they will use in executing it so that probably they would finish it by next year. If funds are made available, it can be accomplished.

I believe that a lot of Easterners and not Igbo alone are grateful for the actions taking so far by the present government.

It is a gateway to the entire Eastern parts of the country; it is a major gateway. All those thinking that it is only the Igbo that should be grateful for that are not doing the proper calculation. It is a gateway to reach the entire Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Taraba, Benue and toward Adamawa.

POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW 17

Thursday, March 20, 2014

PDP zoning has nothing to do with ethnicity –Sebastian Obong Mike Sebastian is a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State and Commissioner 1, Local Government Service Commission. He is one of the close allies of Governor Godswill Akpabio and had served as commissioner, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). He bares his mind on the political development in the country and Akwa Ibom State in this interview with TONY ANICHEBE. Excerpts: There have been several predictions of Nigeria breaking up. Do you foresee the division of this country into smaller parts?

I am of the opinion that Nigeria is a very vital part of the international community. If you have Nigeria disintegrating now, the problem that both the United Nations and the ECOWAS would face would be very huge. In modern history, it is only the former Czechoslovakia that disintegrated to the point of sharing even that last drop of their water between Czechs and Slovakia. You can’t expect that in an African country and I think before we allow the problem that is engulfing our national polity to overcome us, we should think of North and South Sudan. The Boko Haram in the North is already showing that they are heavily armed, the militants in the South-South have shown that they would not be push overs. So, I think leaders of thought in Nigeria who are from the Middle Belt where I think would be the battleground, should that happen, need to work assiduously to ensure that Nigeria remains one entity.

Then I also want to believe that the trouble that we are having now as 100 years of confusion should be turned into 100 years of decency and cooperation.

I have a very strong faith in BRACED (Bayelsa, River, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers and Edo Delta) Commission. I believe if every zone; South-East, South-South, South-West and the North can begin to look at ourselves inwardly and try to develop a synergy between the states or regions that form those Commissions.

You might see that we are coming out of this problem gallantly. If we wait until one man in the centre trickle down development to the entire country, I do not see us going too far. So, I want to believe that regional reintegration will help Nigeria.

Don’t you think that the divergent political interests of the governors in the region can hamper the BRACED commission’s progress?

Well, that is because of how we play our politics. The people’s interest should not have anything to do with political parties. For instance, if there is a Commission and if we have a programme to make a rail road across the Niger Delta and then PDP rules in Akwa Ibom State, and may be by omission or commission we have another party ruling in Cross River State, it should not affect the programme of the people for regional development. Those are just platforms for

people of the same region to come into leadership and that is how I look at it.

Even though we are almost a single party region I don’t see reason the governors should not contribute to the commission.

Ahead of the 2015 elections, there is mounting opposition to Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election as critics say he has failed to tackle problems like unemployment and decayed infrastructure. Do you think Jonathan deserves a second term?

The North cannot be justified by any of their actions because Jonathan who came some years back did not come with the Nigerian problem. In fact, he has not even introduced his own problems because what this government is fighting is the same thing that has been there over time. Jonathan did not supervise or superintend over the country on the collapse of power supply. Obasanjo, for instance, came and did his best in the area of communication and left. No one can take that away from him and today children do not need to leave school campus and travel long distances to collect school fees from parents. Now Jonathan is facing power, he did not create power problem and most of us grew up to hear people shouting NEPA once light goes out or is restored. This means Jonathan did not come with the problem and if he has taken that up as his primary assignment, he should be given enough time to handle that.

The North should also understand that few years of South being on the saddle of power is not enough to bear the aggression of lack of anything in the country.

Some weeks ago some PDP members in Akwa Ibom State petitioned the National Chairman alleging that there was no congress in the state in 2012 that produced the current state exco. What is your take on this?

Well, there are times we politicians act and if you want to look at it in the scale of sane people, sometimes they may appear as insane. But I don’t think we are insane.

In politics, at every given time people must always find something to do. Now, that may be as a result of the fact that people are deceived in their thinking that with the new national party chairman they could have a leeway. If there were no convention or congresses that brought Obong Paul Ekpo, the complaint would have been on before now. The petition could have been leaked two years ago

Sebastian

to the press but for them to do that now means they believe they have a leeway around the national chairman where they can breathe fresher air. I think it is not a fantastic approach but expect more.

This is a political year but my prayer to them is that while politicking, distract the governor less so that we can continue to have development alongside politics.

Akpabio’s government is gradually winding up; do you as an insider see this administration having a successful transition?

If succession in a democracy were to be by appointment there would have been no intrigues because they would have known who to appoint. But in the politics of succession, the first term politics is always different from second term politics. The succession bid of Akpabio’s administration will be smooth. I know that a lot of people are coming out but the word of God says many are called but few are chosen. So, a lot of people will hear the call that they should be in the race but very few will be chosen.

So, I see a very soft and fine landing for Akpabio. There are some parameters that favour or do not favour aspirants.

For instance, if Akpabio were to be old before coming into race he would not

The rotational principle of the PDP that is enshrined in our constitution has nothing to do with ethnicity, but something to do with political boundaries

have had the strength to run around. I see Obong Attah as the father of modern day Akwa Ibom, but I see Godswill Akpabio as the engineering father of the present day Akwa Ibom. What do I mean? The first person came in and laid the foundation but the second person came in and built on the foundation.

The Oron people are insisting that the governorship should rotate on ethnic basis and that they must produce the next governor.

How do you see the development?

If you look at it, Oron is favoured to produce a governor because they are part of Eket Senatorial District. Political boundaries have never been based on ethnicity. So, Eket Senatorial District has the Oron Federal Constituency, Eket Federal Constituency and Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency. Everybody there is justified to pick the ticket. The rotational principle of the PDP that is enshrined in our constitution has nothing to do with ethnicity but something to do with political boundaries.

In 1998, Obong Attah contested election with virtually everybody. That was the beginning. So, when Uyo won the election, it had to be rotated. Now, it has gone to Ikot Ekpene with Akpabio. The governor also knows that it is ethnically right to rotate to Eket Senatorial District not just because of PDP zoning system. And you don’t expect that people will not oppose it even from Uyo. In fact, don’t be surprised if somebody from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District comes out for the governorship. They should because it is still a contest, but nature will create sympathy for Eket. That is how zoning system works but nature and the system will generate sympathy for the area that it’s supposed to go.

18

POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW

Thursday, March 20, 2014

2015: Ladoja’ll meet me on the field –Ajimobi

CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

He is supposed to be like the head of the Federal Reserve of America. He is supposed to be independent and to be nominated by the president for confirmation by the Senate. If he’s nominated and the Senate has confirmed the nomination, the governor has a term and if we have not established that he has broken any law, you don’t have the right to suspend him and if you are suspending him, you do not appoint another person to be a substantive governor. There is a woman whom you have directed to be acting and then, the President also nominated somebody else as the substantive governor.

For me, it was done without any qualm. Honestly, since Sanusi had few weeks to go, let him shout; let him talk; that is what democracy is all about. Everybody has the right to air his own opinion, and some of the issues being raised by the man are those that need to be attended to. They are questions begging for answers. As far as the legal aspect is concerned, the lawyers have gone to court. I do not believe they should have suspended him. I think that is not a good measure of strong leadership.

But Sanusi was said to have violated the law of the land?

What does the law say? The law says any money accruing to Nigeria must be deposited in a particular account. What we have been told now is that accruable incomes are now being spent and there are other accounts that have been opened where money is being deposited which is illegal and against the law. Two, you are not supposed to spend any money that is not budgeted for but what we are now being told is that as money is coming in, not only are we not putting it in the right account, we are also spending from it on what has not been budgeted for. I think this is a double-barrel illegality.

So, if I were the president, I would have preferred to ensure that all accruable income goes to the federation account where it is then dispensed in accordance with the budgetary provisions contained in the appropriation law. That is all.

What are the restoration, transformation and repositioning agenda of your administration, all about?

This same Oyo State, particularly Ibadan, served as the capital of the then Western Region where the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo administered the whole of the region. Then, we were noted for firsts in many things.

We found out when we came in that all these firsts that we were known for had been destroyed. We found out that even this same Ibadan that boasted of being the intellectual capital of Nigeria, where free education first started, had become a place where our students who sat for the West African School Certificate Examinations came 34th out of the 36 states in Nigeria. It was very disheartening.

We then said, look, maybe education was so bad, let’s go to other areas.

Ajimobi

We went to agriculture, to health and other sectors and we found out that it was the same story. So, we then came up with a tripod of development which we said would be based on restoration, transformation and repositioning. When something had been destroyed, the next thing is to repair it and restore it. Having restored it, we believe the next step is to transform it to the level where it is supposed to be. It is not enough to restore but we must also update it to a level that is contemporary. Then we believe that the next level after reforming is to reposition it to be a preferred state in the comity of states.

So, we came up with our own tripod. The tripod is based on safety and security of lives and property. There is nowhere in the world where you can develop without safety, security and peace.

They are foundations for development.

It’s like the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

We now have this pyramid of safety of lives and property; next to that are social infrastructure, health, education, electricity and water which are all basic requirements of a modern society.

Therefore, we believe that so far, we can say we have done commendably well. In the area of peace and security, we can give ourselves first class. Since we came in, we have been having peace in Oyo State. We are happy with the safety of lives and property, and Oyo State is now becoming a preferred destination to investors.

How far with the state of infrastructure in the state?

When it comes to social infrastructure, we have also done very well. For instance, for the past 17 years, taps had stopped running in Ibadan metropolis and environs. We did not have water in many places. Two months ago, we ensured that we have water running in

our taps. So, what we are doing now is changing the rusty pipes. We are also making sure that new areas are also provided with tap water. Although electricity is essentially federal, we are trying to make a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement with some of these power generating companies to actualise our objective of improving electricity.

In the area of social infrastructure, we have made an appreciable progress.

In health, we have introduced free medical services; we are also refurbishing hospitals, establishing mobile clinics all over the state and providing health services in some of our remote areas across the state. In health, I believe we are also doing well. If you also look at the area of physical infrastructure, we are modernizing our roads. We are making sure that our own roads can stand the test of time; we are making sure that any road we do, we can use for 25 years minimum, without worrying about all these disappointments that we have witnessed in the past. Of course, we have also built a flyover at Mokola in Ibadan, the first to be built by any civilian administration

If your father wants to take your wife, you will fight. So, if we are looking for the same position, we must definitely fight... I have a good relationship with Ladoja and I have no fear about him. If he wants to run for governorship, we will meet on the field. We are ready for him

in the history of Oyo State. Besides, virtually all major entries into major cities in Oyo State are being dualised, while new roads are being constructed and existing ones being reconstructed and/ or rehabilitated.

Generally, when it comes to restoration, we have restored our pride. Oyo State is now becoming cleaner. We have gone to many foreign countries to sell Oyo State. They usually tell us that we speak good English and that we understand governance; there is integrity in governance; the civil servants are very proud now. When we first came in, many of the civil servants could not make presentations; they could not make power point presentations. Today, many of them are experts in power point presentations. We have brought professionalism and integrity into the civil service.

We are also establishing new things in Oyo State. For instance, we will be introducing e-Learning in our schools. This is part of our transformation agenda and it is an ongoing process. In Ibadan now and in Oyo State in general, we have seen big malls springing up everywhere. Odu’a Investment has just finished one while another one will be opened in April in Ibadan which will be the largest shopping mall in Nigeria. I think for us, we are beginning to have some of the firsts that we used to have. We are very proud of the repositioning.

What is your relationship with former Governor Rashidi Ladoja?

The funniest thing about politics is that even your twin brother will disagree with you, especially when you are looking for the same position. The fact is that former Governor Ladoja is my elder brother; he is my cousin and I respect him a lot. We have a good relationship.

Recently, one of his daughters got married and I was there. I sat next to him and we were eating and drinking together.

Like anybody, if your father wants to take your wife, you will fight. So, if we are looking for the same position, we must definitely fight.

Let me tell you however that most of the things they are ascribing to Senator Ladoja, he is not the one doing them.

There are some political mercenaries with him; they work with every governor and once they work with you and you are no longer the governor, they go to the next person. If I give them job tomorrow, they will also work for me and abuse people on my behalf.

So, I don’t think it is Senator Ladoja in particular that has problem, but he has his own people who can only make money by abusing us. How many times have you seen Ladoja coming on stage to abuse me? He will never do that. It is all politics, and I think gradually those ones too will realise that what we are doing here is politics of development; politics of intellect and not of lying and character assassination.

So, I have a good relationship with Ladoja and I have no fear about him. If he wants to run for governorship, we will meet on the field. We are ready for him.

19

EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Our VISION To build a newspaper organisation anchored on the sanctity of truth.

Our MISSION To publish a newspaper of superior value, upholding the fundamental ethics of journalism: balanced reporting, fairness, accuracy and objectivity.

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Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha

THURSday, MARCH 20, 2014

Enhancing women’s political participation

A

gainst the backdrop of dismal performance of Nigerian women in elections culminating in poor representation in political positions, recent call by the Senate President, Sen. David Mark, for better representation of women in the political space is timely, and must be taken seriously with a view to mapping out strategies for the 2015 general elections.

Speaking recently in Abuja at Nigerian Women Strategy Conference on the theme: “Building Bridges of Opportunity: 2015 and Beyond,” Mark who was represented by Chairman, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Mrs. Helen Esuene, said women were being marginalized in the political process despite their relevance in the political and economic development of the country. He said though women had participated actively in politics, they had nothing to show for it except to mobilize for the electoral success of other people.

There is no denying that men’s lethargic approach to women’s issues is everything but commendable. Mark’s comment could be the tonic Nigerian women need to overcome the age-old cultural and traditional barriers. They do need to rise and attain their rightful place politically, while working assiduously to eschew pettiness, ri-

valry and jealousy that characterise their relationships with their womenfolk.

It is sad women who constitute majority of voters during elections hardly make any meaningful impact in the political arena compared to men who, for want of better phrase, are in the minority.

It is nonsensical to sit back and fold arms in anticipation of getting the so-called equality on a platter of gold. Renewed efforts should be geared towards evolving better approaches to effect a change.

Past women leaders were not laid back and showed organisational abilities as evidenced by the Aba women riot of 1929.

Women have unwittingly hurt themselves by being the majority in the ‘hospitality section’ of politics as they are the ones to cook, dance, and make merriment, while the men arm-twist others, amass and cart all positions.

Also, rivalry is most pronounced amongst women. It has been alleged that women are their worst enemies. For instance, Sarah Jubril was the only female amongst the three presidential aspirants for 2011 PDP presidential primary.

Were there no female delegates?

How many women voted for her?

Her single vote cast re-affirms lack of support among women and the patriarchal nature of the Nigerian political system.

Some factors are responsible for

near absence of women in political decision-making positions such as lack of economic power, education, political violence, discrimination, party organization, stigmatization, cheating and rigging. Moreover, Nigeria is a male-dominated country stifled by culture, tradition and social rankings. Worse still, society views women as kitchen managers, trespassers in politics, loose and unstable.

Notwithstanding, some gradual gains have been recorded over the years. The proportion of seats held by women in the national parliament increased from 3.1 per cent in 2000 to 7.5 per cent in 2008. After 2007 elections, there were nine female senators compared to four in 2003. Also, 26 female members in the House of Representatives, compared to 23 in 2003. Between 2006 and 2009, two women were appointed to the Supreme Court bench, while female deputy governor increased from two in 2003 to six in 2007, among others.

To be fair, President Goodluck Jonathan is the first in Nigeria’s history to give women advocacy a human face especially in appointive positions. His Gender Policy has resulted in increased women’s representation in government from 10 per cent in 2011 to over 33 per cent in 2013, with the appointment of 13 female ministers out of 42, representing 31 per cent and about four special advisers out of 18, rep-

resenting 23 per cent. Despite this, women are still under-represented at decision-making levels and the 35 per cent affirmative action is not being followed through.

Nigeria needs to borrow a leaf from other countries which have recorded huge successes in women empowerment. In some African countries, quota systems are being used to ensure women’s political appointments and institutional integration. The classic example is Rwanda, which had 48.8 per cent of seats in its house of parliament held by women in 2003. Women in the Rwandan upper house are also guaranteed 30 per cent of the seats, according to reports.

National Assembly female members must lobby their male counterparts to ensure that women-friendly bills are passed into laws; failure to pass pending bills is malicious, discriminatory and retrogressive in view of the fact that this would have started the process of encouraging female participation in politics.

However, proportionate representation can be achieved if it is impressed upon the leadership of political parties to review their Constitutions and include the 35 per cent political representation as a provision as well as waive the registration fees for women. While we support the advocacy, we also advise women to consider it as a wakeup call, take the bull by the horns and begin to participate actively.

BOLAJI TUNJI Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief IKE ABONYI Deputy Managing Director/DEIC FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU Managing Editor, South SULEIMAN BISALA Managing Editor, North GABRIEL AKINADEWO Editor, Daily LAURENCE ANI Editor, Saturday EMEKA MADUNAGU Editor, Sunday LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, Brussels MARSHALL COMINS Bureau Chief, Washington DC SAM AMSTERDAM Editorial Coordinator, Europe EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board BIODUN DUROJAIYE News Editor PADE OLAPOJU Production Editor TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

20

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

OPINION

Kolawole’s lies about T. A. Orji (1)

Ebere Wabara

T

he greatest challenge in Nigeria’s nationhood is corruption and two of its viral offshoots are the civil service and the media. All public functionaries, especially those in the executive cadre, depend on civil service bureaucrats to commit any financial hemorrhage in their establishments. Only the civil servants in this country know the minutest details of siphoning public funds through years of dexterous manipulation of figures and unwholesome foolproof documentation of financial shenanigans. Overall, they tutor their usually ignorant bosses on how to loot clinically.

Next to the civil service in the underdevelopment of Nigeria is the fourth estate. Most of the problems of this country would have been addressed if journalists had been responsible and committed to the ethics of their profession and propagation of national interest. Alas, personal drives come first before any other extraneous consideration. It is self first in Nigerian journalism.

And because of this, mercantilism has been enthroned in media practice. Everyone in the communicative business now, unlike before, seems to sadly have a price!

This prefatory has become apposite because of Mr. Simon Kolawole’s Back Page Column in THISDAY ON SUNDAY of March 16, 2014, euphemistically entitled ‘Conflict and Underdevelopment’ and illustrated with T. A. Orji’s repulsive face. I am certain that Kolawole wrote in ignorance of the festering decadence in governorship of Abia State, my state. At a personal level, I could dismiss Kolawole’s erroneous declarations about God’s own state, but the public may be deceived by such sponsored and mercantilist piece of creative writing if these authoritative espousals are not made.

I do not blame Kolawole for humouring the disastrous governor of Abia State, Chief T. A. Orji (known by his bewitched backers as ‘Ochendo Global’), with such unmerited laudatory comments. From the outpouring of Kolawole’s lavish praise, it is obvious that he must have written from documents made available to him

by Government House officials without any first-hand experience of the monumental rot in my state. Columnists, especially respected ones, should not sit back in their cozy Lagos homes built with donations by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), among others, and begin to pontificate on matters they know little or nothing about only through literature review and mega-phonic briefs from personal operatives of governors. This is the drawback of Nigerian journalism: instead of telling thievish leaders to retrace their retrogressive steps, most reporters, columnists and editors are easily compromised or intimidated with convertible pots of porridge! If some of the media fellows know the damage they do to the society through wanton acquiescence in the perpetration and perpetuation of evil, they will solemnly ask for remission! The incalculable harm by corrupt journalists to the country after collection of inimical peanuts from roguish and non-performing governors is unimaginable. Despite these scandalous behaviours, they sermonize (Simonize?) weekly by indulging in public relational stunts for individuals/blue-chip institutions or extreme combativeness depending on bargaining profiles of both parties! There is no distinction again between gossip and standard publications.

Let me state from the outset that I was in Abia State between December last year and January 2014 for the celebration of the Yuletide season. A fortnight ago,

too, I was also in the state for other engagements. I went through all sorts of craters and heaps of refuse amid other visible structural decompositions—most of them unattended to since the exit of Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu (MON) as Abia State governor almost seven years ago! I do not know if it is this same Abia State that Kolawole wrote so profusely about as if he was giving an experiential account of a state like Lagos, a city of media excellence!

SK (for Simon Kolawole henceforth), on my honour and word, nothing is happening in my state. I personally invite you for an all-expenses-paid three-day investigative tour of Abia State at any opportuned time. In my own case as your friend, colleague and host, there would be no ‘handout’ for you—just logistical management of the trip!

SK created a misleading background in his deceptive thesis. For once, I was disappointed by SK’s analytical frame of mind in his mischievous interpretation of the nexus between conflict and underdevelopment as they apply to Abia State. The first dubious extract: “It is not just leadership and corruption that impede development: conflict is a strong repellant. Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, as governor of the state from 1999 to 2007, was most of the time at loggerheads with President Olusegun Obasanjo. The battleground was the media. Orji Kalu’s airline, Slok, was eventually grounded. Abia suffered as the state was denied plenty federal juice as a result of the conflict.” How can SK descend to this kind of boyish illogic shrouded in devilish technicality? For SK’s knowledge, conflict in this circumstance was a revolt against presidential corruption. We should not see corruption only in the garb of financial misappropriation or other fiscal misdemeanors.

• Wabara (ewabara@yahoo.com/08055001948) is the media advisor to Kalu.

There was a Chinua Achebe (1) Andrew Iro Okungbowa

T

o begin with the title of this piece is not a result of any ingenuity on my part. It is a coinage that is derived from the recent publication (There was a country) of the late Professor Chinua Achebe, to whom this piece is dedicated (He died on March 22, 2013 and his first year remembrance is just few days away).

This memoir, which by all account was the last literary offering to the public by the acclaimed literary icon, generated a lot of hues from a certain section of the country not too long ago based on a perceived statement or assertion in the book that they saw as ‘unkindest cut’ to one of their revered political legends.

Amusing as this outcries were then, it should be noted that it achieved one positive outcome, which I think was not intended, as the book overnight gained popularity in the Nigerian space and whetted the appetite of many readers to go in search of the book at whatever cost at least to read the offence statement that got a group of people so incensed to the point of calling Achebe all sorts of names.

I was one of those who went in frenetic search of the book in the month

of October 2012 at Glendora Bookshop in Falomi, Ikoyi. It would interest you to know that on this fateful day, for whatever reason, the whole of Ikoyi and Victoria Island witnessed a terrific traffic logjam. Just to give you an idea, a drive from Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi to Falomi took over five hours.

However, what a relief it was when finally I was able to lay my hands on a copy of the book (The original hardback cover and not the pirated copies you now find everywhere. What a shame of a country, profiting even from the dead), which many commentators said was not available in the Nigerian market then but yet they spoke vehemently about it in their denunciation of the author based on his powerful assertions.

It has become one of my most cherished literary possessions. I stole every available time, especially when I was on tour, to read the book with the promise to write a review on account of the ignorance that was making the rounds in the Nigerian media as people passionately spread falsehood in their warped comments on the publication.

Unfortunately, I never got to produce the contemplated review as the death of Achebe broke on March 21. I was actually out of the country then and on the

night I was surfing the internet when the news propped up. I was devastated and felt terribly bad with myself for ever postponing to do the piece while Achebe was still alive.

Now, as the urge to write this piece got hold of me strongly, I tried to extinguish it as I asked rhetorically what new insight one can offer about Achebe that has not been in the public domain since his demise almost a year ago? Recall the deluge of tributes and eulogies that accompanied him to the grave!

Well, to avoid sounding trivial and repetitive, especially in the wake of the first year anniversary of his death, I have decided to relate one or two stories to capture my own understanding of the man, his essence, philosophy, literary beauty and prowess from a limited encounter with him not in person but in somewhat metaphysical and literary realm.

There was this incident that occurred sometime in the late 1990s or early 2000s in his ancestral home, Ogidi. There were these two Catholics priests, one of them is Rev Mbaka who then were very popular within the eastern part of the country, Enugu - Onitsha axis to be precise, for their evangelical and miraculous deeds.

One of the fallouts was that their converts ended up destroying their ancestral shrines and religious symbols.

Some of the converts from Ogidi community were among those who went on the overdrive. Pulling down and burning their ancestral shrines, some of which were located deep in the forest of Ogidi.

This pitched them against their family\ community members who were totally opposed to such destructive act.

The community was on fire as brothers took arms against each other. When the news hit the media, I was promptly dispatched to cover the incident by my editor then, Fred Ohwahwa. That was my first time in Ogidi and I was pleasantly surprised by the level of the carnage I witnessed as I tour the community and the thick forest where some of the shrines were located.

But in all, what was quite instructive though ironic and perhaps metaphoric, is that the clash of cultures that Achebe beautifully crafted in his iconoclast tale, ‘Things Fall Apart,’ was played out in his ancestral homestead, where one could say formed the anthropological, sociological and material setting for the epic novel.

• Andrew Iro Okungbowa, a journalist lives in Lagos

LAW THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014

21

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/law

FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE JUDICIARY Editor

foluso.ogunmodede@newtelegraphonline.com bunfolchester@yahoo.com

what service in sudan taught me - Aguda }p-24 & 25

2015 elections

Discordant voices over INEC's decision to exclude Northeast

Jega

Abayomi

Election may not hold in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States because of security threats

S

OME weeks after the national chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),Professor Attahiru Jega made public the commission’s position that it may not hold next year’s general elections in the crisis-prone states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, lawyers yesterday expressed divergent views.

While some backed the electoral umpire, saying it has the requisite powers to disenfranchise Nigerians in the crisis-prone regions, others simply say no, insisting that INEC do not possess such powers.

INEC’s boss, Jega, had a few weeks ago, threatened at a one-day stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja that it might not hold next year’s general elections in the troubled regions following the escalation of Boko Haram insurgents in the affected states, saying free and fair election would, no doubt become unattainable in such an environment.

He said specifically that it would be

Bade, Chief of Air Staff

INEC's decision is in order because no nation can make progress when there is insecurity and chaos

PIQUED by violence and killings of Nigerians by the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, the nation’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has threatened to exclude the troubled states from the 2015 general elections. Does it have the power to do so? Lawyers say no, yes. TUNDE OYESINA reports. difficult to conduct a free and fair election in an atmosphere devoid of peace and harmony.

"It is my hope that the challenges in the North East will be resolved before 2015. If the security is such that we cannot do election, then we may need to fall back on the law to suspend it or postpone it,” Jega said.

He went on :"Several security threats now characterise the electoral process.

These include physical attacks on INEC staff and facilities, attacks on security personnel on election duty, misuse of security orderlies by politicians, attacks on political opponents and cyber attacks targeting INEC's databases, especially the register of voters and violence at campaigns."

The Federal Government had in May last year declared an emergency rule in the states following bloodshed, violence and destruction by the Boko Haram sect.

But despite the emergency rule, the North East had not known peace; violence has been the order of the day.

This year alone, no fewer than 100 innocent Nigerians had lost their lives in the hands of the Islamic Fundamentalists.

Notwithstanding the ongoing violence and the porosity of security challenge in the northeast, lawyers were yesterday divided over the matter. While some believe that elections could still take place in the troubled regions, others differ.

They reasoned that since INEC has

no powers to stop elections in the area, it must go ahead with its plan to conduct the next year’s general elections in Yobe, Bornu and Adamawa states alongside other states of the federation.

First to fire the shot is Mallam Abubakar Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who said INEC had no power to disenfranchise any Nigerian citizen in respective of any challenge whether security situation in the country or otherwise.

Specifically, Malami said under whatever guise could INEC stop elections in any part of the country as it had no jurisdictional powers to so do.

He said:"It is unconstitutional and illegal for the INEC to decide that it won't CONTINUED ON PAGE22

22 LAW

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Yes, no to INEC's decision on Northeast

Young Lawyers’ Forum For young lawyers, especially ‘new wigs,’ appearing before a judge for the first time can be daunting. A shaky voice; clenched fists; pounding heart; dry mouth – these are some signs of the anxiety that can throw a new lawyer offbalance, and possibly lead to awkward or embarrassing moments in court.

My embarrassing moment in court: Reuben Imarha

w

Geidam, Yobe Governor

Shettima, Borno Governor

CO NT INU ED F R O M PAGE21

conduct elections in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states because of insecurity.

Such decision is illegal and it has neither any root in the Constitution nor the Electoral Act. "It is only a competent court that has the power to make that order that election should not hold in some places due to certain reasons and not INEC to wake up overnight and just decides that it won't hold elections in some places.

"What INEC should have done is to approach a court of law to obtain an order,so that its decision would have been backed up by law only if the court agrees with its reasons. But for now, one may challenge that decision of INEC in court.

"I know that it is not part of INEC’s mandate to determine where an election will hold or not".

But another Senior Advocate, Godwin Obla, who was strongly of the view that since security of lives and property remain the duty of government. He said postponing elections or a shift by INEC would be the best step in the right direction.

He however counseled that major stakeholders should as a matter of fact visit the troubled states so as to have a first hand appraisal of the security challenge in the affected states. This , Obla said would provide the stakeholders further impetus for review of INEC’s position on the matter.

Said he : “ Stakeholders must visit the troubled regions to ascertain the extent of damages done by the so called insurgents as this will give them a good picture upon which their decision on whether elections would be held there or not even on other issues.

“Also people cannot just stay in Abuja or elsewhere without seen the ‘horrors of war’ in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno at first-hand before deciding on whether to conduct elections or not as security of lives and property are fundamental rights of every citizen of a country as given to them by the Constitution which

If Boko Haram can walk into a school and killed several students unjustly, what do you think will happen when an election is going on or being conducted? is the grund norm.”

Dissatisfied ,Mr Timothy Kehinde , a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and an activist lawyer, Dr. Tunji Abayomi believe that INEC was on course to have ruled out elections in some states under emergency rule.

For instance, Kehinde insisted that in view of the ongoing violence in the Northeast, holding an election in the region would amount to suicide as the recent events in the Northeast was more than enough to put on hold the 2015 general elections in the troubled states.

Said he : "Where there is no peace, what will anyone do? Peace is very fundamental to any activity of any nation.

INEC cannot stake its head and sends people to areas where innocent students were killed without any remedy.

"If Boko Haram can walk into a school and killed several students unjustly, what do you think will happen when an election is going on or being conducted?

"The government must be able to stop this madness because it is becoming unbearable. I read recently that they have located about 20 spots in Cameroun where they are training these Boko Haram members. That shows there is international conspiracy against Nigeria.

"I think the issue of Bakassi is still part of why Cameroun is angered against Nigeria. There is bitterness against Nigeria by fellow African countries. I don’t know why African Union cannot rise up and fight against this terrorism?

Nyako, Adamawa Governor

"It is not an attack against Nigeria alone but rather against the African continent as a whole. AU should set up an anti-terrorism team to look into this issue.

"Nigerian government should suspend every other thing including elections to tackle this insecurity. This is because, if the country is not secured, there can't even be a free and fair election. Electorate will be afraid to come out and vote.

"To me, I feel that the security of lives and property is the first thing that should be attended to by the government, all other issues are secondary".

To Dr. Tunji Abayomi, INEC was right by its decision to suspend elections in the troubled Northeast especially as the Federal Government had already declared a state of emergency in the three states since a state of emergency is a precedent to the presumption of irregularity and abnormality.

His words: "Once there is a state of emergency, it gives INEC a leverage to take such decision, this is because a state of emergency is a pointer that all is not well with such a particular zone and such should not be taken for granted.

"I think INEC took that decision because a state of emergency had been earlier declared by the Federal Government, if not, INEC would not have taken that decision.

Government must be alive to its responsibilities and stop paying lip service to the issue of security of the citizens adding that if all the citizens had been killed, who will be left to vote and be voted for?

So to me, INEC’s decision is in order, because no nation can make progress when there is insecurity and chaos just as the security situation is worrisome and a sad one which the affected governors must speedily react to without delay or time wasting.

A state of emergency is not enough in such states but a proactive measure which will completely put an end to the insurgence.

"That is why a proactive action need-

hen I went for my court and chamber attachment during my law school at Lagos campus. We were then regarded as “not yet lawyers” or “lawyers in equity”. We had to sit and watch court proceedings and thereafter you could ask Judges or lawyers questions as the case may be, as regards events that occurred in court. It was late in the afternoon, one Friday and there was a file on my table to be worked on.”

You are now a lawyer and it is time to do some of the business of a lawyer”, a senior colleague in the firm I served as a Corps member, said, smiling. Just read it because you will go for the matter on Monday, he said. Looking at the file, the first thing I saw was IN THE COURT OF APPEAL, boldly written on the case file.

I screamed “No Way”. But a voice said “fantastic opportunity,” this could be an opportunity to show everyone in the firm that I was not just a Corps member, but also a lawyer who had been called to the Nigerian Bar, a requirement which entitles me to appear before any court in Nigeria. Remembering this vividly, I asked the Holy Spirit to help me go through this one as usual. Flipping through the file, I did in-depth study, research and was mentally prepared to give my best a shot. I was ready to move the motion for extension of time within which to file an appeal and compile the records of appeal.

I had already brushed past the weekend and was sitting in Court on the following Monday. All I could see was me and the Justices of the Court of Appeal.

My mind was juggling through possible questions that could be fired at me like bullets from either of the Justices. Sweat was oozing out from my fresh wig, despite the cool atmosphere in the court room, yet I could count more than 72 heartbeats per minute. FEAR that is what it is.

Though prepared, yet perplexed. While waiting for my turn to present my case, as a very young lawyer who was then just called to Bar, I quickly whispered a prayer for help from the Holy Spirit. Not long afterwards, I felt so courageous, like a flood of water sweeping off fears. As soon as it was my turn, I spoke gallantly, with so much courage.

Imarha

LAW | NEWS 23

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Court gives FG ultimatum over Sanusi suspension SUSPENSION Lawyer asks court to nullify Sanusi's removal Foluso Ogunmodede

S

HOULD a Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos grant a request before it, the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, may be restored to his position.

Besides, his sack and suspension may be declared null, void and of no effect, if the request brought before it by a Lagos lawyer, Mr. Godwin Okoli is anything to go by.

Sanusi was on February 19, fired by the Federal Government over allegations of professional misconduct and financial

recklessness.

Although , Sanusi is in court to challenge the government's power to sack him, a fresh suit, was at the weekend initiated

by Okoli, who asked the court to compel President Goodluck Jonathan's led administration to reverse CBN governor's suspension as it had no requisite powers to so do.

Already, the suit which has the nation's Justice Minister and AttorneyGeneral, Mohammed Adoke, SAN, as the sole defendant, may upturn the government's position on the erstwhile governor should the Attorney-General fail to enter appearance within 30 days from Monday.

“If the defendant(s) does not respond within the time and at the place above mentioned, such orders will be made and proceedings may be taken as

the judge may think just and expedient,” says the court process.

Specifically , Okoli who plies his law trade in Lagos , asked the court to determine whether the government could suspend Sanusi without recourse to Sections 7,8 and 11 of the CBN Act 2007 as “the word suspension'', was not contained in the Act. Also ,Okoli who is rooting for the invalidation of Mrs Sarah Alade as Sanusi's replacement, asked the court to determine whether President Jonathan's government could invoke Sections 8 and 11 of the CBN Act and appoint Alade as the apex bank's acting Governor.

The sections , he said , had been breached by the government, describing Sanusi suspension and Alade's appointment in acting capacity as a flagrant violation of Presi-

dent Jonathan's Oath of office as enshrined under the 1999 Constitution and the CBN's Act 2007, Sections 7, 8 and 11.

Okoli, while insisting that the ousted CBN governor must be restored to his duty post, formulated five grounds upon which the CBN governor could be removed, stressing that Sanusi's removal had amounted to illegality, null and void and of no effect until it was reversed.

The grounds, according to him are the followings among others; • The President, having subscribed to Oath of office prescribed in Seventh Schedule to the Constitution as amended, is under constitutional duties to give effect to the clear words of the CBN Act 2007.

• Section 11 of the CBN Act 2007only empowers the President to remove

the CBN Governor provided that the removal is supported by the two-third majority of the Senate.

• The appointment of Mrs Sarah Alade as acting Governor of CBN by the President without the approval of the Senate is ultra vires contrary to Sections 8 and 11 of the CBN Act 2007.

• By virtue of Section 7 of the CBN Act 2007, only the deputy governor nominated by the substantive Governor to the Board of CBN can act on his behalf with regard to the day to day management of CBN. However, Okoli insisted that since the President's Oath of office in the Seventh Schedule of the 1999 Constitution(amended), could not operate in isolation of the CBN Act 2007, President Jonathan had no requisite powers to suspend Sanusi without recourse to the two-third

majority of the Senate and Section 11 of the Act. He is seeking the following reliefs among others: • A declaration that by virtue of Sections 8 and 11 of the CBN Act, the suspension of Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as CBN governor vide a letter dated February 19 , 2014 is not permitted and thus a violation of the CBN Act 2007 and therefore null, void and of no effect.

• A declaration that by virtue of Section 8 of the CBN Act 2007, the president is only empowered to remove the CBN governor.

• A declaration that by the clear reading of Sections 8 and 11 of the CBN Act 2007, the appointment of an acting governor of CBN by the president without the approval of the Senate is not permitted and thus a violation of CBN Act 2007.

EFCC seeks court order to arrest Cross Country boss Joseph Jibueze

T

Justice Joseph Oyewole of the Court of Appeal and other judges at the Lagos State Judiciary's Fast Track summit

FREEDOM Oyo State Chief Judge frees inmate detained for rape without trial Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

O

YO State Chief Judge, Mrs Badejoko Adeniji (CJ), has urged parents and guardians to always monitor their children's activities and behaviour to safeguard them against social vices.

The CJ gave the charge during an official visit to the Abologo Federal Prison in Oyo town where she set free an inmate, Adamo

Oyo CJ charges parents on proper monitoring of wards' behaviour Kazeem, out of the 268 cases she reviewed.

She said that she set the elated 28-year-old Kazeem free in accordance with the Federal Government directive that prisons must be de-congested.

Kazeem, who had been in prison for a year and three months, was alleged to have had an unlawful canal knowledge of a girl while he was sleeping in a mosque. Some people alleged he assaulted a girl and in the process, handed him over to the police, who were then parading

the area.

He was detained for some time, but when nobody came forward to establish the allegation, the police charged him to court, and had been remanded till date.

The CJ heard that Kazeem was versed in Quoran, and very active in Islamic activities while in the prison. Because of this and his testimony which absolved him from the alleged crime, he was set free.

It was, however, a disappointing moment for

many others who had thought they would also be freed, as the Chief Judge refused their alibi which were discovered to be false. Many of them lied to elicit pity, but the evidence against them and their earlier statements before the court gave them away.

Justice Adeniji was accompanied to the prison by some Judges and Magistrates in the state, including: Justices Lekan Owolabi, Yemi Ajayi, Sunmonu, among others.

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has asked a Lagos High Court ,Ikeja to issue a warrant for the arrest of the Managing Director of a transport company, Cross Country Limited, Mr Bube Okorodudu over an alleged refusal to face criminal prosecution.

The commission alleged he is evading trial after he was charged with N82.8million theft.

EFCC's lawyer, Mr Emmanuel Jackson urged the court, being presided over by Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo to order Okorududu's arrest as he had allegedly refused to face trial.

Apparently miffed by Okorodudu’s alleged refusal to stand trial, Jackson asked the court to evoke Sections 79 and 80 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State for his arrest.

"We apply for a bench warrant against the defendant. By the combined provisions of Sections 79 and 80 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, this

honourable court can issue a warrant for the arrest of the defendant," he said.

However, the defendant's lawyer, Chief Robert Clarke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, opposed the application, saying the judge lacked the power to make such an order as the accused had challenged the court's jurisdictional power to entertain the matter.

Citing four Supreme Court decisions, Clarke argued that making such an order when the court was yet to assume jurisdiction would be in contravention of the law.

"The issue is whether the accused person needs to be present when a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court is being determined.

"The totality of the four Supreme Court decisions that I have cited is that until your Lordship determines the issue of jurisdiction, your Lordship cannot make any judicial pronouncement.

"Issuing bench warrant is a judicial pronouncement and it has to be made within jurisdiction, not outside it.

24 JURIST Background is primary education began at 15. Although this was not a fault of his formative years were spent in the farm with grandparents shortly after the separation of his parents. This , however had a toll on his education as it was delayed for about 10 years. But respite came when he ran away from home to Ondo town, where his elder brother and foremost jurist, Justice Akinola Aguda, enrolled him at the then infant school, St Stephens, Oke Aluko.

Justice Oluwadare Aguda, who in the palace of the Akogun of Akure land, told the New Telegraph his foray into the legal profession this way. “ I spent the first six years of my life in Akure with my grandparents, the late Akogun of Akure land because my parents were separated after I was born. Shortly after, my father, who was granted the power to have me in his custody, according to Yoruba customary law when I was six years old, took me to his farm in Aponmu where I lived until I was 15 years . But because education was in vogue and many people valued education, I ran away in the night.

“With the help of my mother and my late brother, Justice Akinola Aguda, I ran to him at the Boys’ High school, Ondo where he was teaching. He enrolled me in a school and I started at the then Infant school, St Stephens, Oke Aluko, now a Cathedral. After about three months, my brother relocated to Lagos and of course, he took me with him but because that was the middle of the year, it was not easy to get a day school, hence, evening classes, which I attended for six months in 1948 became inevitable.

“In those days, when one wanted to move from one Primary school to another, it was compulsory to sit for an entrance examination in that school which would enable the school to determine whether to admit a child or not. Again, it was also difficult to get Christian mission schools because we are from a Christian background but at last, I was able to get an admission into Hamadiya Talisma Muslim School in Elegbaata in Lagos. I was there for two years at Elegbeaata in Lagos.

“The school was well organized as there was no discrimination of any kind between the Christian children and the Muslim children as some of the teachers were Christians; there was a complete harmony between Christians and Muslims as far as I experienced it in Lagos, particularly in my school”.

Aguda continued his education from evening school to a regular one where he started from Standard 3 and two years later, he sat for entrance examination into Kings College, Lagos.

He said: “when I was transferred from evening classes to Hamadiya , I went into standard 3. I had earlier done standard 1 in evening classes ,

H

Thursday, March 20, 2014

How I found myself in Khartoum - Aguda THEIRS is a law dynasty. His elder brother, the late Justice Akinola Aguda, was the first African to be appointed as Chief Justice of Botswana. Justice Oluwadare Aguda, retired as a High Court Judge. In this encounter, Justice Oluwadare Aguda told BABATOPE OKEOWO his background, experience , choice of career, life on the Bench, retirement, and more.

Brilliant lawyers are assets to the Bench

Justice Aguda

then I took an entrance examination into Hamadiya School and I was able to pass to standard 3. After two years, I , again took an entrance examination into Christ Church Cathedral School on Broad Street to standard 5. And that same year, I was lucky to pass an entrance examination into Kings College, Lagos. In those days, we could go to secondary school from standard 5 or 6. The primary school session ended in Standard 6.

“I spent the next five years in Kings College and my brother, who had been paying my school fees, travelled to England for his LL.B.

AGUDA at a glance • Justice Aguda attended Hamadiya Talisma Muslim School, Elegbaata, Lagos in 1948.

• Was admitted into Kings College, Lagos in 1952 • First employment was at the Legal Department, now Ministry of Justice, Oyo State • Attended the University of Manchester, United Kingdom in 1960 • Taught International Law, Public Relations and Politics at the University of Ife, now OAU • Started law practice in 1974 • Became a High Court Judge in 1986

Although he was still sending some money home , my mother managed to raise some of the school fees. I lived with relations who were in Lagos, most of them were very kind while one or two were not so kind and I knew nobody in Lagos when I went there. So, when I got to Kings College in Lagos, I had to start as a day student in 1952.

“When my brother, Akinola Aguda returned as a Barrister , he was able to send me to the Boarding house.

During this time, he had a second wife but was able to finance my studies, through secondary school. He,

JURIST 25

Thursday, March 20, 2014

I made a success of the Bench because my late brother was a good example of the profession

Justice Aguda

however counseled me after my secondary education at the Kings College to look for a job as he had no capacity to sponsor my education. Thereafter, I got a job at the Legal Department in Ibadan, Oyo State in December 1966, now known today as the Ministry of Justice in Ibadan.

At the ministry of Justice, I worked round the clock while studying at the same time until I got through the A levels by private studies in 18 months”.

His journey into the profession began in 1959 shortly after he passed his intermediate LL.B examination through private studies.

Justice Aguda said: “I passed the intermediate LL.B in 1959, and since I did not want to complete my degree in Nigeria, I was counseled by my late brother to travel to England where I attended the University of Manchester in 1960.”

His choice of career was influenced by the late jurist, whom he had lived with in his formative years.

Besides, a book he had read and authored by the late Justice Aguda, entitled ‘Hang an innocent?’, propelled the retired judge to read the law .

Said he: “I decided to read law because I lived with my brother who, at the time was preparing for his LLM degree. I was also interested in the profession because of one of his books entitled ‘Hang an Innocent?’, which I read. I became fascinated by the book and amazed to read about the way lawyers reason and their argument on capital punishment, hence, I decided to be a lawyer and my brother was a good example. Although I at-

tended the courts with him, I decided strongly after I read the book.

On why he chose the Bench, Aguda said , “ before one decides to be a judge, one must have to practice as a lawyer for several years, get employed in the Ministry of justice and work for the government by handling some criminal cases, chieftaincy cases or you could go to the lower Bench and become a magistrate.

“In England , the Barristers’ parents feed them for a number of years because it is the practice for a junior to pay the seniors. They are called people’s masters. But in Nigeria it’s the lawyers that will pay the juniors and sometimes they even complain of not been well paid.

Before I became a judge, I had got a job in the civil service of the Western Region and one of my lecturers in Manchester, a Sudanese contacted me, because my girlfriend was still in the department and he got my address through her. So he invited me to join his department in Khartoum. I was excited with the prospect that I was going to work abroad, thinking I was going there for two years

No judge has the jurisdiction inherent or statutory power to grant ex-parte order that someone should not be arrested

but I got stuck there and spent five years. It was a good time but academically, I did not progress even though I did not have the intention to become an academic. Also, I came home and went to the University of Ife, Ibadan branch where I taught International law, Public Relations and Politics for three years. I also taught Administrative Law at the Local Government in Ibadan as well, before moving to the University of Ibadan, department of Political Science.

In 1974, I started my legal practice .

In 1985, I was summoned home to come and become a judge. Although I am not regretting been a judge, I had a mindset that I would receive the same salary as a serving judge until I die which was not really going to be much . But now they don’t do that, because the serving judges now get ten times our pension. We the retired judges cannot even see the governor for the past four years we have been trying to see him, nothing is done about our pension.

However , Justice Aguda recalled fond memories of his years on the Bench saying “when I accepted to be a judge and I came, but unfortunately the condition was so bad under the late maximum ruler, General Sanni Abacha that I had to retire earlier than I could have stayed.

Although , he enjoyed every bit of it, he could not remember any tasking judgement he delivered while on the Bench.

Aguda said: “I don’t think there was any but I know that judgment could be demanding depending on the complexity of the issues raised.

Although , his tenure as a judge was characterized by economic meltdown as demonstrated by the General Ibrahim Babangida’s introduction of Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), Aguda says today’s judicial officers are better off than their counterparts of yesterday.

He said: “We were handicapped. To start with, by the time I became a judge in 1986, the currency had been devalued by General Ibrahim Babangida. As a consequence of that inflation, price of things went up and this affected the kind of salaries we were receiving; it became virtually meaningless as my annual salary as a judge was N 15,000 whereas, an uncompleted case that I handled in Kaduna as a lawyer, fetched me N 19,000.

Although , the judiciary was better funded when I joined, I was given a seven-year-old car which I used for ten years before it broke down until I bought my own car. In terms of service delivery, I would not be able to comment because I don’t go to their courts and won’t know how many cases the judges handle.

“When we were there, we used to have what we called the Ondo State High Court Law Report.

We published it until we had no money to buy the paper talkless of producing it. Now we don’t have high court judgment which is a way to assess what is going on. If a court publishes a judgment at least they will select so without that we cannot assess them. Recently, I read in the papers that a judge made an ex-parte order, closing down somebody’s office, locking it up and I had to call some senior lawyers to ask if it were possible. It is an abuse of judicial power. No judge as I said in the article , has the jurisdiction inherent or statutory power to grant ex-parte order that someone should not be arrested. If a person is wrongly arrested , he can sue for damage.

26 LAW | DYNASTY

Thursday, March 20, 2014

‘I enjoy countless benefits having my dad as lawyer’ Olufemi Olaoluwa Fabunmi read law at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, AgoIwoye, Ogun state twenty-seven years after his father donned the wig at the prestigious University of Ife, Ile-Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state. He told TUNDE OYESINA his passion for the law profession and why he could not think of any profession apart from the ‘noble profession’.

H

E has a flair for languages.

A skilled negotiator with an unending passion for the law profession, qualities he said he had identified in his father for close to three decades, Olufemi Olaoluwa Fabunmi, says endeared him to the ‘noble profession’. He was called to the Bar in 2007.

Fabunmi had his elementary and secondary education at St. Gloria’s Nursery and Primary School and the Immaculate Heart Comprehensive High School, in Ibadan , Oyo state before he headed for Ogun State University , now Olabisi Onabanjo University, where he obtained his LL.B. Unlike others who were compelled to read law by their parents, Fabunmi chose the profession following his love for advocacy while he identified early in his life as a young man.

“I have always wanted to be a lawyer, I never considered anything else. No other course came to my mind then as everything about me is law, law and law,” Fabunmi said.

This, he said has tremendously helped him in the pursuit of his career as they remain the ‘hallmark of every successful lawyer’.

Fabunmi said: “It was mostly subconscious; I was always a good talker and an avid reader traits of which people,somewhat erroneously believe are the hallmark of a lawyer.

Growing up, I was strong in English, Literature,Government but weak in mathematics ,all these more or less influenced my decision to study law.

“None of my parents compelled me to study law. My mother and I discussed my preferences way back when I was finishing secondary school, but I had already made up my mind much earlier that I was going to study law. My father was always someone I looked up to and trying to emulate him maybe, played a part in my decision”.

Fabunmi said although his father was the motivating factor, he has not looked back since his call to Bar just as there were a lot to benefit from being the son of a lawyer.

Asked specifically if there had been advantages he had gained since he toed his father’s path, he said “Oh!There are a whole lots of benefits there”.

He went on: “The most important one is always having someone with experience, whose brain you can pick whenever

necessary. This makes the profession so much interesting and less cumbersome since law is about precedent. I enjoy uncountable benefits having my dad as a lawyer’.

On his first day in court, Fabunmi said: “Waoh! Very nervous, I couldn’t seem to keep my hands from trembling, thankfully my voice wasn’t jittery. Also, in my first appearance in court, I allowed an opposing counsel to secure an adjournment because I didn’t object in time. I appreciated the fact that I was still learning the ropes though.”

Fabunmi applauded the nation’s judiciary, describing it as the best in Africa notwithstanding its many challenges.

He said : “The Nigerian legal system is a complex one and we need to give kudos to the operator of the system. Nigeria has many laws such as religious, cultural including those transferred to us by the colonial master and all these contend with each other. It becomes a difficult task to marry all these laws together to become a body of laws guiding the affairs of a nation.

“It is indeed not an easy task to do this at all, that is why some discrepancies are still being witnessed today in our legal system.

“Also the judiciary had for a long time being passing through silent turbulent time with delivery of justice. But I must again commend the Bench for working very hard because I must tell you that the hard work being put in by some Justices today , cannot be any way compared to the hard work put in during the military dictatorship otherwise the judiciary would have collapsed absolutely. But now we are seeing different things in many places where some judges are compromising. That is why when lawyers go to court, you hear statement such as 'my lord, I am not confident that I am going to get justice here, I wish this matter be transferred'.

“But for the past few years, things seem to be getting better. We thank God for the wisdom in the appointment of Justice Aloma Mukhtar as the Chief Justice of

Fabunmi

Nigeria. She is a strong woman, taking decisive steps to sanitize the judiciary.

“However, to some extent, people criticize the judiciary unjustly. The law has specified different punishments for different offenses. If a public officers is accused of embezzlement and take for instance, the punishment as we have in the law is seven years and the judge decided to sentence the accused to one month imprisonment, then one may begin to look at the judge as not being sincere. But the truth is that ordinarily, by law, there is nothing wrong in what he has done but for the sake and interest of public policy, the judge should give verdict as much as the law allows so as to serve as a deterrent for others who may be planning to commit such offence. If you ask me, I will summarize by saying that the judiciary is improving under the current Chief Justice of Nigeria, although the past Chief Justices tried also.

On corruption on the Bench, he said: “At this point, we will need to salute the courage of the CJN once again for taking the bull by the horn, especially by the recent sack of two judges for gross misconduct. Her body language alone shows that she is not in for corruption.

We can see the high level of discipline in the judiciary.

“Without mincing words, the leadership of the CJN in the judiciary now is commendable considering the number of judges that have even sanctioned. You can see that she is 'a no nonsense leader' who believes she must clear the stable of the judiciary and we thank her for this .

Recently, in one of my meetings with the police, I challenged them because in NJC we can see the number of judges that had been sent home, how many Commissioners of Police despite the noise that police are corrupt, have been found wanting and dealt with?

“Judiciary, whether we like or not has

Without mincing words, the leadership of the CJN in the judiciary now is commendable considering the number of judges that have even sanctioned. You can see that she is 'a no nonsense leader' who believes she must clear the stable of the judiciary and we thank her for this

zero tolerance for corruption but what can we say of other institutions of government or even private organizations in this country? Go to the executive and you will see a lot of corrupt officers; every day you will hear comments about one top government official or the other with corrupt act but how many of such people have been called to answer for the allegations leveled against them? But you can see the judiciary, once a petition gets to the NJC, a committee of inquiry will quickly be set up to look into the veracity of such petition and apply the appropriate sanction if such judicial officer is found wanting.

“I think this is a leaf that needs to be borrowed from the judiciary. There was a time the late General Sanni Abacha constituted a panel led by the late Justice Kayode Esho to look into the alleged corruption in the judiciary and to make recommendation and indeed, we must salute the panel. But you will be surprised that despite a lot of far reaching recommendations made by the panel, unfortunately, that recommendations did not see the light of the day and I believe that it is not too late to dust that paper and effect it.

“I believe that part of the recommendations is that the remuneration of judges be made attractive, their gratuity should be looked into. It is not logical that considering the sensitivity of their job, they will be collecting salary that cannot meet their needs. Nothing is absolutely wrong if a judge earns fifteen million naira per month. But if their salary is nothing to write home about, there is tendency of being corrupt.

“Though I have not seen any but I have heard that some retired judges ride on 'okada', this is not in any way good for our judiciary.

“I think the judges should be properly taken care so as to enable them to discharge their duty effectively and with good conscience. These are the things that cause corruption because when you know that your future is not secured, you will grab whatever that comes your way, but by the time you are so sure of what will come out by the time you retired, then you would work diligently without the fear of tomorrow and corruption will become a thing of the past”.

NEWS 27

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Why development will continue to elude Nigeria - Awah D The Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) marked its 35th anniversary with great pomp and ceremony. JOSEPH JIBUEZE reports that as part of activities marking the event, a professor of law at the institute, Animi Esther Awah, in her innaugural lecture, says no nation can grow without rule of law and good governance.

Prof. Awah, Prof Azinge (SAN) and Prof Bolaji Owasanoye

Prof. Lanre Fagbohun and Acting NIALS' Librarian Mrs Uwem Etem

Mrs Senapon Jerry-Imahiagbe and Dr Chinyere Ani

Wahab Shittu and Prof Peter Fogam, both of UNILAG Law Faculty

evelopment will continue to elude Nigeria until its leaders begin to show more respect for the rule of law, a professor of law, Animi Awah, has said.

Speaking during her inaugural lecture at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Awah said the government must not act above the law if it wants to enthrone a culture of respect for rules.

Awah spoke on the topic: “Harnessing Nigeria's Banking System: Potential for sustainable development.”

The lecture was part of a weeklong programme set aside to mark the NIALS's 35th anniversary. The week-long programme began on March 10 and ended on March 17.

Apart from the inaugural lecture, other programmes held during the week included the social media assessment of NIALS contributions to national development and media awards, and the institute's Fellows' Conversation on law and order.

There was also a hall of fame induction ceremony and the inauguration of NIALS professorial chairs.

Those inducted into the hall of fame are former President, International Court of Justice, the late Justice Taslim Elias, and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed Uwais.

The ceremonies ended with the Founders' Day lecture, entitled: "In the eyes of the law," delivered by Justice Karibi Whyte.

According to Awah, the rule of law requires that there is a set of rules which are known in advance; that such rules are actually in force; and that mechanisms exist to ensure their proper application.

Rule of law, she said, also requires that conflicts in application of the rules can be resolved through binding decisions of an independent judicial or arbitral body.

Where there is an absence of those requirements, there is bound to be crisis, she said.

Awah said where rule of law is truly practiced, the government is bound by the law and every person is treated equally under the law.

The human dignity of each individual is recognised and protected by law, she said, adding that justice is also accessible to all where rule of law is followed.

Awah added: "The rule of law requires transparent legislation, fair laws, predictable enforcement and accountable government to maintain order, promote private sector growth, fight poverty and have legitimacy.

"If the banking system is to affect development positively and give a clear signal to investors and other stakeholders, it needs to show a clear commitment to abide by rules and regulations and not seek to circumvent rules that seem to make demands on them," she said.

Speaking on the recent banking crisis Nigeria faced, Awah said it occurred because “certain vital indices were not functional or were flagrantly abused.”

“Banks do not just fail; the failure is triggered by activities of men and to talk of failure without making such people culpable is to mask a monumental fraud.

“To ensure that man induced crisis and failure do not occur, these vital indices need to be adhered to strictly and abusers called to book.”

The professor urged banks to do more towards housing funding and mortgage schemes.

Her words: “It would be a plus for development if Nigerians become house owners. More than 80 per cent of Nigerians live in rented housing compared with South Africa’s 19 per cent and 22 per cent in Ghana.”

On how to solve the housing deficit, Awah suggested: “What will work for the poor is an owner-occupier housing scheme where government in collaboration with the banks will build houses and sell to the poor on owner-occupier basis.

“A room apartment in urban slums goes for as high as N2,000 to N5,000 per month. These rents are paid by the poor and no matter how long they reside in those houses they remain tenants.

“If such persons have access to a housing unit provided by government in well-planned residential areas, their rents will be deployed to servicing the mortgage and this should run for 25 years and more. At the end, such occupants become landlords.”

NIALS Director-General Prof Epiphany Azinge (SAN) praised Awah on the lecture, saying the logical arguments she presented shows she is an authority in finance law.

“It was quite professorial and befitting of an inaugural lecture. We want to commend her effort and we’re proud she’s of the institute,” he said.

Commenting on the housing problems, Azinge said: “What type of houses are we talking about? There was a time people were thinking of fabricated houses; some were even thinking of improving on mud houses.

“But has it not gotten to a point where we can perfect the mud house? People believe the mud house is good for our weather, and for our climate. So, must we still look down on mud houses?

“Can’t we configure it in a much luxurious manner that people can live in them? Maybe with that people can build more of such houses, but in a better fashion, well put-together, so that we can have more houses. We don’t all need to build block houses and duplexes and what have you.

“What is important is that you have a roof over your head, so that people will not pay through their noses to afford decent

28

LAW | NEWS

Thursday, March 20, 2014

APC Legal Adviser Muiz Banire (right) and other guests at the event

I

t is said that justice delayed is justice denied. If that is indeed true, then it means that a lot of Nigerians have been denied justice.

This is because the very long time it takes for cases to be decided has resulted in people losing confidence in the judiciary. Some have taken laws into their hands because they fear they would never get justice in court.

The system has also been abused by lawyers who know their clients have bad cases and apply all manner of technicalities to frustrate proceedings in a bid to waste as much time as possible. The effect, according to analysts, is that people no longer have faith in Nigeria's justice system. Even foreign investors would prefer to take their businesses to other countries where they can quickly resolve any disputes that may arise.

When they bring such investments to Nigeria, they ensure that arbitration clauses are inserted in their contracts, with a proviso that any arbitral proceeding should be held abroad.

In a bid to solve this problem, the Lagos State Judiciary introduced the Fast Track Division in the High Court. Yet, the division faces challenges.

To explore means of making the division work better, a Stakeholders Forum on Fast Track Rules and Procedure was held in Lagos last Wednesday.

It was jointly organised by the Lagos State Judiciary, the Justice for All (J4A) initiative of the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Human Development Initiatives (HDI).

Chief Judge of Lagos, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, said the Fast Track Division was created to reduce the time spent on litigation period.

She disclosed that soon, a Special Commercial Court would be created under the Fast Track Division, to be located at Tapa, Lagos Island.

It will have a separate registry, and is expected to attract more commercial investments to Lagos as investors can be assured of having any disputes resolved quickly.

How the Fast Track division works Order 56 of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2012, which contains Fast Track Procedure, states that cases that qualify for fast track are those whose monetary claims or counterclaim are not less than N100million and those involving a mortgage transaction,

Executive Director, HDI, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, Justice Phillips and Mr Ipaye

Stakeholders brainstorm on speedy dispensation of justice system The slow process of justice delivery has remained a concern for litigants. The long time it takes to determine cases is said to even discourage investors from coming to Nigeria. In a bid to solve the problem, the Lagos State Judiciary introduced the Fast Track Division where high-profile commercial cases are to be determined within nine months. Is the process working? What are the challenges? A stakeholders' forum was held to explore ways of making the Fast Track courts work better. JOSEPH JIBUEZE reports. charge or other securities.

A case where a claimant is suing for a liquidated monetary claim and is not a Nigerian national or resident in Nigeria and such facts are disclosed in the pleadings also qualifies.

Where a case satisfies the criteria, the Litigation Section will mark it as "Qualified for Fast Track" and direct the applicant to pay appropriate fees.

The Originating Process is to be served within 14 days of filing, while the statement of defence is to be filed within 42 days of service.

The Case Management Conference (formerly called pre-trial conference), is to be concluded within 30 days. Trial is expected to be conducted from day to day and will only be adjourned for the shortest possible time.

The entire trial period, including the final address of counsel, should not be more than 90 days from the date the trial directions are made.

In all Fast Track cases, the judge shall endeavour to deliver judgment within 60 days of the completion of trial.

How to make the division more effective Lagos Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice ,Mr Ade Ipaye said every investor considers how quickly disputes are resolved before making an investment decision.

He said an efficient working of the Fast Track division would go a long way in contributing to the country's economic development.

Head of the Fast Track Division, Justice Opeyemi Oke said the division faces the challenge of lawyers not being familiar with the time-line rules, and therefore bring frivolous applications for adjournments.

Some lawyers, she said, deliberately wait for trial to begin before bringing applications for amendments or change

of counsel, sometimes even by Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs).

Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, Mr Monday Ubani urged judges in the Fast Track Division to apply strictly the rules guiding the process.

"The Fast Track procedure is clearly a welcome innovation which will encourage commercial transactions of lending and borrowing and also give confidence to foreign investors that debts owed here

by Nigerians will be facilitated in recovery using judicial fast track mechanism," he said.

Ubani recommended that some judges should be designated to handle strictly fast track matters so that they can have enough time on their hands to follow the time-table.

"Lawyers must also be dissuaded from employing delay tactics in matters tagged 'Fast Tract.' In fact, some sanctions are suggested for some of the erring lawyers who want to render nugatory the altruistic application of these new mechanisms," Ubani added.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr Babatunde Ajibade urged judges to get thoroughly acquainted with cases.

"If you have a judge who knows the case inside out, it will be hard for a counsel to play games," Ajibade said.

He ,however recommended that judges should be encouraged to specialize as there was need for greater involvement of the parties in the creation of a detailed timetable at the inception of the case on fast track.

For judges, he said they require high level scheduling and time management to avoid situations where lawyers come to court only to discover judges are attending a conference. Such days, he said, should be blocked out.

Ajibade also wants the "development of a full and proper jurisprudence on costs." The amount of awarded as punitive cost, he said, should be reviewed upward to help check lawyers' excesses.

"It is only when both sides are working together that we can have a real fast track," he said.

Justice Joseph Oyewole, who handles Fast Track cases, said lawyers should not cheapen themselves by asking for costs as low as N5,000 when they have a reason to demand compensation when their time has been wasted.

"Ask for N100,000 and I'll give you.

Don't ask for N5,000. I feel like slapping a lawyer who asks for N5,000," he said.

Oyewole said for an effective case management, the judge must develop a method for managing himself, the staff, counsel and the court.

BOOK REVIEW Title: Compendium of Nigerian Laws on

Corruption, Economic & Financial Crimes.

Author: Chuma C. Chinye Editors: Legor T. Senewo, Esq.; Daketima Gabriel Kio;

Ekine, Peter Henry, Esq.; Chindah, George

Okenda, Esq.; Esther Ezenwoko, Mrs.;

Fyneface, Kelvin Emmanuel, Esq. Publisher:Not stated Year of Publication: 2013 Pagination: 1378 Reviewer: Wahab Shittu

BUSINESS THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014

WHAT'S NEWS Govt grants 5-year extension to terminal operators Two terminal operators, Josepdam Port Services Nigeria Limited and Five Star Logistics at the Tin Can Island Port Complex (TCIPC), Lagos, are to enjoy five years extension each from the Federal Government.

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Western Union, Pagatech to expand Nigeria's mobile money service Western Union has launched a mobile money transfer service in Nigeria in conjunction with Pagatech to Nigeria, to increase the reach of Western Union payout options in the country.

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Small enterprise and potentials offered by e-commerce Electronic commerce, which is part of digital technology, refers generally to all forms of transactions, relating to commercial activities, including both organisations and individuals that are based upon the processing and transaction of digitised data, including text, sound and visual images.

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Microsoft invests $75m in Africa Global technology firm, Microsoft, says its investment in Africa has hit $75 million, with Nigeria receiving a significant portion of it, according to the firm’s International President, JeanPhilippe Courtois.

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AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business) SIMEON OGOEGBULEM, Dep. Business Editor BAYO AKOMOLAFE, Asst. Editor (Maritime) SUNDAY OJEME, Asst. Editor (Insurance) SIAKA MOMOH, Asst. Editor (Industry) JONAH IBOMA, ICT Editor DAYO ADEYEMI, Property Editor ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor

CHUKS ONUANYIN, Energy NNAMDI AMADI, Reporter

AYODELE AMINU, DEPUTY EDITOR, BUSINESS

ayodele.aminu@newtelegraphonline.com ayodeleaminu@yahoo.com

Bayo Akomolafe

F

our officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) have been asked to proceed on compulsory leave without salary over an alleged theft of N500 million from the coffers of the corporation. Two of the suspects are assistant directors.

A source at the corporation’s head office in Ebute Matta, Lagos, disclosed the names of the suspects as Mr. Euna Igbe, assistant director, (finance); Mr. Ekwubiri, Assitant director (audit), Mr. Olu Lawal and one Mrs. Obi of the pension department.

Already, they have been moved out of their departments to avoid complication and to enable management conduct proper investigation into the

L-R: Chief Executive Director, Lionstone Group Amechi Ndili; Chief Executive Office HT Limited, Feyikemi Odunuga and MD/CEO Sterling Bank Plc, Yemi Adeola, at an entrepreneurship programme organised by the bank tagged “Meet The Executives,” held in Lagos.

alleged fraud.

It was alleged that Lawal’s personal account was being used by the two assistant directors as conduit pipe to siphon the money before he was directed by management to join the others for the compulsory leave.

Trouble started when management was unable to lay

hands on the pension money to enable it prepare for its directors who’ll be retiring next year.

Some of the directors are statutorily due for retirement while some will go on retirement because of old age and redundancy.

The source disclosed that N40 million was traced to La-

Reliance on oil sets Nigeria backward in $72bn global leather market

N

igeria’s neglect of the leather products industry in favour of oil production has left the country behind those competing for $72 billion global leather industry, a sub-sector assessment of the Nigerian leather industry by Chemonics International Inc. has revealed.

According to the report, developed countries, despite being the major consumers of finished leather products, export the bulk of raw hides traded globally to developing countries for processing.

“These value-adding developing countries, who are unable to keep up with the demand for tanned leather and finished leather products, are constantly

seeking new sources of supply and are looking to West Africa as a potential source. With longterm investment, Nigerian stakeholders can potentially share what may develop into a $104 million market for Nigeria over the next ten years.

This increased market will be accompanied by a substantial CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

wal’s account, adding that the balance of the money had been withdrawn and transferred to the assistant directors’ accounts.

The management of the corporation has set up a Panel of Enquiry to probe the alleged theft.

Members of the panel are Mr. Fidet Okhiria, (director, Mechanical and Electrical), Ahaji Sehu Tijjani, Jonah Abuh, (deputy director, finance) and Mrs. Gloria Odumade (Chief Admin Officer).

Reacting, the NRC Assistant Director, Public Relations, Mr. David Ndakotsu, denied the suspension of the officers, saying that he was not aware of any such thing.

However, he noted that the panel set up by NRC management was a mere administrative procedure.

He said: “It is a usual practice by NRC to set up a panel to look into the activities of every department.”

Rates Dashboard

DELE ALAO, Brands/Marketing Editor ABDULWAHAB ISA, Finance Editor

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THEFT Nigerian Railway Corporation staff may face charges over theft uncovered by the management.

WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

Railway suspends two directors, others over N500m fraud

Siaka Momoh

BUSINESS CREW

NEW TELEGRAPH

ENTREPRENEURIAL REVOLUTION IN NIGERIA, OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES

INFLATION RATE February 2014......................7.70% January 2014 .......................8.00% December 2013....................8.00%

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . 10.75% Prime Lending Rate. . . . . . 17.01% Maximum Lending Rate..24.90%

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Mar. 14)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N172 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N282 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N240

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at Mar. 14)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N157.74 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N262.27 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N180.76

30 BUSINESS | NEWS APPROVAL Concessionaries at Tincan Island POrt to enjoy more tenure in their terminal.

Bayo Akomolafe

T

wo terminal operators, Josepdam Port Services Nigeria Limited and Five Star Logistics at the Tin Can Island Port Complex (TCIPC), Lagos, are to enjoy five years extension each from the Federal Government.

It was learnt that the extension was granted during the first meeting of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) for the year.

The meeting was presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo in Abuja.

Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Benjamin Dikki, explained that the extension of concession period was granted based on an application by the concessionaires.

He said that when the lease was granted to Joseph Dam, there was a court case which dragged on for over four years and restrained the firm from

Govt grants 5-year extension to terminal operators taking over and conducting its obligations of the contract.

Dikki stressed that at the time Five Star Logistics got its lease of the Roll-On Roll-Off (RORO)

Nigerian's get new payout options.

Jonah Iboma

W

estern Union has launched a mobile money transfer service in Nigeria in conjunction with Pagatech to Nigeria, to increase the reach of Western Union payout options in the country.

According to details on the Wall Street Journal, the new mobile money transfer service integrates directly with Paga’s mobile payment platform with more than 1.2 million users.

By the development, Paga users now have the option of receiving Western Union money transfers directly into their Paga account. Using Paga's multichannel platform, consumers can withdraw the money by sending it to a bank account and then withdrawing the funds from an Automated Teller Machine (ATM), or through Paga's network of more than 4,000 agents in Nigeria. Consumers can also

Terminal within the TCIPC, there were other obligations that government was committed to like dredging of the ports and mending of some of the

collapsed parts of the ports which have not been done.

“The National Council of Privatisation reviewed the matter holistically and has

graciously granted a five-year extension to Five Star Logistics in respect of the RORO Terminals in Tin Can Island,” he said

L-R: Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Architec Namadi Sambo; Director-General, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Mr Frank Nweke; Vice President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Issa Aremu, and Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mrs. Sola David-Borha; during the opening ceremony of the 20th Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja …yesterday.

Western Union, Pagatech to expand Nigeria's mobile money service MONEY TRANSFER

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

choose to pick up their funds at participating Western Union agent locations across Nigeria.

International money transfers for mobile collection via Paga can be initiated at westernunion.com in more than 20 countries, or at participating Western Union agent locations worldwide. The new offering complements Western Union services offered through its retail agent network of more than half a million locations around the world, including 4,900 locations in Nigeria.

"Western Union continues to expand its mobile footprint as part of our omnichannel strategy, which facilitates financial inclusion for consumers who may not have access to traditional banking products," Khalid Fellahi, senior vice president and general manager at Western Union Digital, said in a statement.

According to the World Bank, Nigeria had more than $21 billion in migrant remittance inflows during 2012, representing approximately 9 per cent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

Reliance on oil sets Nigeria backward in $72bn global leather market CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

increase in the industry’s employment level,” the report said.

It noted that increase in disposable income is fuelling international demand for high quality leather shoes, jackets, handbags and upholstery, adding that it is “a market that is growing steadily at three per cent per annum.”

The report explained that leather products industry, from raw materials (animals, hides and skins) through to the manufacturing of various leather products (shoes, handbags, upholstery) has tremendous potential to generate foreign exchange and create employment, especially for women, in

Nigeria. “Nigeria already has a thriving export market; the skin of Nigeria’s Red Sokoto goat commands a premium in the international market, especially from Italy. All of the resources for tanning and producing leather products are available locally, including a large domestic and regional animal population.

With strategic utilisation of these resources, Nigeria could greatly increase their market share of the global leather and leather goods market.”

Nigeria, according to report, faces several challenges to improving its leather production and processing industry.

“An example of the need for improvement is found in the shoe

market. Nigeria imports close to 20 million pairs of shoes yearly despite its manufacturing capacity which could meet local demand and even produce for export.

“Nigeria also has a prosperous local food market for raw hides and skins, called “Ponmo,” which is considered a delicacy. Currently the demand for “Ponmo” competes and wins against the demand for tanning, receiving five times the price for products with fewer quality demands,” it said.

The report argued that in order to fully utilise its manufacturing capacity for leather products, the manufacturing industry needs more sources of quality inputs.

Chinese plans N20.8bn investments in Nigeria Dele Alao

C

hinese investors have indicated their intention to invest $130million (about N20.8 billion) in oil and gas, equipment technology, transportation, energy and building sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The investors, led by Chair-

man, Beijing Yeaco Investment Consulting Company (Africa Investment Net), Mr. Zhou Dewer, who was on a visit to the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Dr. Samuel Ortom, stated this in Abuja.

Dewer said Nigeria has great potentials, natural resources and opportunity for investment and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment is a key

Ministry that will link up the investors for more opportunities in the country.

Meanwhile, Ortom has said Nigeria- China Business Forum organised by the Ministry, has started yielding resulting by attracting a lot of Chinese investment into the country and urged the investors to maximise the economic potentials available in Nigeria.

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

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INNOVATION Africa moving towards high technological innovations.

Stories: Siaka Momoh

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ub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is in the midst of an entrepreneurial revolution that is invigorating the region with new opportunities, increased employment and a robust rise in gross domestic product to one of the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rates in the world, according to the 2012 GEM Sub-Saharan African Regional Report, launched recently in Lusaka, Zambia.

Africa’s real GDP, says the report, rose by 4.9 per cent from 2000 to 2008, more than twice that of the 1980s and 1990s. It adds that in 2012, six of the ten economies studied in this region, Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Namibia, Nigeria, and Zambia reported GDP growth rates of 5 per cent or higher (as high as 8.5 per cent for Ethiopia).

The report notes that many countries in sub-Saharan Africa are becoming less reliant on raw material mineral extraction and agriculture and moving towards high technology innovations.

It says the telecommunications, banking and retail sectors are flourishing, construction is booming and private investment inflows are surging.

“The entrepreneurial landscape in sub-Saharan Africa is changing rapidly and the region is now becoming a Mecca for business development and growth,” remarked Mike Herrington, lead author of the report and GEM Executive Director and Professor at University of Cape Town, South Africa. “Opportunities abound and a positive spirit is emerging amongst the population of these countries.”

“Entrepreneurs in the sub-Saharan nations have among the highest entrepre-

Technoentrepreneurs

Entrepreneurial revolution in Nigeria, other African countries neurship rates in the world, with women participating at equal or nearly equal rates in most of the countries we studied in this region,” commented the report’s co-author, Donna J. Kelley, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at Babson College. “This shows an incredible ability for people here to create their own jobs, and in many cases, jobs for others. As a result, entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan Africa can contribute substantially towards providing income for families and lifting communities out of poverty.”

The ten sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries are Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia.

Some of the report’s key findings: Early-Stage Activity Total Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) measures the percentage of adults (18-64 years) who are in the process of starting or just starting a business. At 28 per cent, SSA rates are significantly higher than all other regions around the world. Countries like Zambia (41 per cent), Ghana (37 per cent), Nigeria (35 per cent) and Angola (32 per cent) show some of the highest TEA levels in the world.

production of general-purpose machinery, electronic appliances and electronic goods for household use.

“Since industrialised countries account for almost two-thirds of the world’s manufacturing value added, the recovery in these countries will make a significant impact on global manufacturing growth prospects in the coming years.”

According to the report, “among developing and emerging industrial economies, China’s manufacturing output rose by almost 10.0 per cent, mainly thanks to domestic demand.

By contrast, growth in other developing economies slipped below 1.0 per cent in the last quarter of 2013. The low growth of manufacturing output

Attitudes Perceived opportunities: SSA nations have a high perception about the existence of good opportunities for starting a business in the next six months, with the exception of South Africa (35 per cent), falling well below the average of 70 per cent for the region. Over 80 per cent of people in Nigeria and Uganda, on the other hand, see opportunities for starting businesses.

Fear of failure: SSA entrepreneurs exhibit the lowest levels of fear of failure, with only 24 per cent responding that it would prevent them from starting a business. The only other region that comes close to this optimism is Latin America and the Caribbean at 28 per cent.

Intentions: The levels of intentional entrepreneurs (those who intend to pursue a business in the next three years) are high at an average of 53 per cent. Exceptions include South Africa (12 per cent) and Ethiopia (24 per cent). In contrast, 70 per cent or more intend to start in Angola, Botswana, Malawi and Uganda.

Entrepreneurial beliefs: In all SSA countries, without exception, entrepreneurship is seen as a good career choice (76 per cent on average) and 77 per cent believe they garner great media atten-

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Established business rates SSA countries have over twice as many startups as established business-

Manufacturing drops in developing countries –UNIDO

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nited Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)’s report for the 4th quarter of 2013 has shown that while manufacturing output has dropped in developing economies, it grew by 3.3 per cent during the last quarter of 2013 as the recovery gained further strength in industrialised countries.

According to the report, manufacturing output rose in all industrialised regions, East Asia, Europe and North America, an indication of the broader base of growth prospects for 2014.

However, many developing economies, trapped by the low growth that has followed years of economic recession, are yet to benefit from the recovery in industrialised countries.

“During the last quarter of 2013, the manufacturing output of East Asia rose by 4.0 per cent, Europe by 1.5 per cent and

North America by 2.9 per cent. This was the first time since 2011 that an absolute increase in Europe’s manufacturing output has been recorded. Manufacturing output rose in major European economies, including France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. Outside Europe, manufacturing output increased in Japan by 4.9 per cent, Malaysia by 4.7 per cent, and the United States by 3.0 per cent,” the report states.

It adds that the current manufacturing growth in industrialised countries is related to increased consumer spending on durable products and that production of motor vehicles rose by 8.2 per cent in France, 6.2 per cent in Italy, and 13.2 per cent in the United Kingdom. “A similar high growth rate in the auto sector was also observed in Japan and the United States. Growth was also observed in the

es. In Angola (32 per cent vs. 5 perc ent), Botswana (28 per cent vs. 6 per cent), Malawi (36 per cent vs. 11 per cent) and Zambia (41 per cent vs. 4 per cent). Due to high TEA rates, there are also many established businesses simply because a lot are getting started; but fewer have survived into the mature stage.

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Entrepreneurial revolution in Nigeria, other African countries CONTINUED from PAGE 31

tion as entrepreneurs: more so than in another region.

Discontinuation rates are high. Over 16 per cent of adults in SSA have discontinued a business in the past year, reaching as high as 29 per cent in Malawi. SSA has a high level of people discontinuing relative to those starting. Exits in this region are most often due to profitability or problems with financing the venture.

Women and men entrepreneurs: SSA nations have almost equal levels of male and female entrepreneurs with the exception of South Africa (50 per cent more men than women).

Education: Levels vary considerably among SSA nations. In Malawi, Uganda and Ghana, only 3 per cent of entrepreneurs had completed secondary-levels of education, while in Zambia and Botswana, over 30 per cent of entrepreneurs have secondary degrees and some post-secondary education.

Policy recommendations: · Introduce new funding models and encourage and possibly incentivize

financial institutions and individuals or corporations to provide capital to entrepreneurs without the stringent collateral requirements of commercial banks · Build programmes providing mentorship by experienced entrepreneurs. · Expand the education curriculum to improve the capabilities as well as the motivations of students to engage in entrepreneurial activities; promote practical training programmes with quality, experienced educators. · Improve the physical infrastructurepower, transportation, water and broadband internet, especially in the more rural areas. · Reduce bureaucracy associated with starting a business and combat corruption. · Form partnerships to facilitate the transfer of technology to the private sector, such as with government and university collaborators. · Identify and implement policies that encourage youth to start businesses. · Support those with high employee growth expectations.

Manufacturing drops in developing countries –UNIDO CONTINUED from PAGE 31

in other developing countries is caused by external factors such as a decline in capital inflow, and internal factors such as the rise of production costs. As the recovery in industrialised countries is at an early stage, the impact on manufacturing growth in developing economies through increases in investment and commodity trade is unlikely to be felt in the near future.

“The manufacturing output of India dropped by 2.0 per cent in the fourth quarter amid a rise in production costs due to the weakening of the rupee. Manufacturing output also fell in Argentina by 3.4 per cent, Indonesia by 0.8 per cent and

Saudi Arabia by 2.5 per cent. Brazil and Mexico maintained a moderate growth, while the manufacturing output of Turkey rose by 4.9 per cent.”

It states that the developing economies of North Africa were quick to benefit from the recovery in Europe, adding that manufacturing output rose by 4.3 per cent in Morocco and by 6.9 per cent in Tunisia. However, it dropped in Egypt by 2.6 per cent amid continuing political instability.

“In general, improved growth prospects for manufacturing output in 2014 are expected to have a positive influence on manufacturing across the globe,” the report says.

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Small enterprise and potentials offered by e-commerce First Bank has a strategic relationship with 3AL Portal, a portal that is a self-service tool, which enables businesses to set-up their online store, upload their products and interact with potential consumers.

Siaka Momoh

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lectronic commerce, which is part of digital technology, refers generally to all forms of transactions, relating to commercial activities, including both organisations and individuals that are based upon the processing and transaction of digitised data, including text, sound and visual images. It is the carrying out of business activities that lead to an exchange of value across telecommunications networks.

Digital technology has come with punch and panache; it has come with transforming power; it is here to add value. Our consumer goods industry therefore needs it. Africa, an emerging economy, needs it. It has all the potentials that investors will want to tap into. This was why Accenture, for two days, some months back, brought industry experts together to discuss the topic ‘Analogue to Digital: The Future of the Consumer Goods in Africa.’

The numbers on African potentials speak volume: According to Dr. Rose Phillips, Accenture’s Managing Director, Products and FMCG sub-Saharan Africa Lead, Africa Collective Gross domestic product is $1.7 trillion; it has 399 million number of people between the ages of 15 and 24; 12 per cent Africa population as percentage of world population; 50 African cities with 1 million+ consumers. Nigeria’s GDP growth rate with year 2010 as base year is 7.5 per cent more than Kenya’s 5.4 per cent, South Africa’s 2.8 per cent but lower than Ethiopia’s 5.4 per cent.

Africa has the potential not only to feed itself, but also to become a major supplier for the rest of the world. It holds 60 per cent of the world’s arable land; 95 per cent of the world’s platinum metals; 90 per cent of the world’s chromite ore; 50 per cent of the world’s cobalt reserves! She argued, alongside its resource potential, Africa is becoming an important consumer market.

She argued that “among the four sub regions in Africa, West Africa has recorded the highest GDP growth, followed by the East. West Africa has 7 per cent expected GDP growth in 2013; Southern Africa 3.8 per cent expected GDP growth in 2013; East Africa 6

per cent expected GDP growth in 2013; Central Africa 5.3 per cent expected GDP growth.

Nigeria of course leads in this sub-region.

It has 7.5 per cent GDP growth rate and out of about 300 million population for the region, Nigeria accounts for about 170 million. It thus controls a large chunk of the market in the region.

First Bank of Nigeria has also found out the potentials for small business players in Nigeria. This was why recently the bank debuted with its SME Annual Conference that would highlight challenges and opportunities for small businesses as part of its far-reaching SME support programme. First Bank’s value proposition to SMEs is focused on empowering SMEs and SME entrepreneurs. It is geared towards building the capacity of SMEs to deliver to business goals and contribute even more significantly to national development. The value proposition goes beyond an SME product or suite of products to a robust engagement programme designed in every way to help SMEs succeed.

As part of its robust plan to drive the project, it came up with FirstBank Media Product Fair a few days ago.

With this, the bank is tapping into the e-commerce platform potential in Nigeria to lift small businesses.

According to Oluseye Olowookere of First Bank, “the bank has a strategic relationship with 3AL Portal for this offering. The portal is a self-service tool which enables businesses to set-up their online store, upload their products and interact with potential consumers. It is a social commerce portal and a merchant aggregating portal.”

He said that its features include: . Free registration for businesses; . Business owners and consumers can log in with Facebook profile; . Business and consumer can post comments on displayed products; . Consumers can chat with businesses through an online chat engine; . Accept payment from all cards; . Delivery of ordered product is done by a Global courier company.

BUSINESS | INDUSTRY

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

BURDEN High operating costs, smuggling, lead to plants operating below capacity.

Siaka Momoh

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he report notes that high operating costs, the killing burden that Nigerian local industrial plants are bedeviled with makes it difficult for them to compete with foreign producers which benefit from more efficient economies of scale.

It gives some interesting details. It notes that manufactured and semi-manufactured goods accounted for one per cent of Nigerian exports in the first half of 2012, according to CBN data, and that oil sector export accounted for 96.7 per cent of total export with over half of the remaining exports being agricultural produce. This is the ridiculous lopsidedness which concerned Nigerians find worrisome and want changed. The reports note further that during the same period, finished goods accounted for 50 per cent of Nigerian imports while industrial goods accounted for 37.1 per cent. These do not include goods coming into the country illegally, it notes. The negative effect of this scenario is the shutting down of manufacturing plants such as Dunlop and Michelin, it says.

Same story goes for the nation’s textile industry. Here, according to the group, once the second largest textile producer in Africa, Nigeria, had about 180 textile mills, and in 1991 it employed about 25 per cent of Nigerians, according to a University report. It states that the sector has, however, declined in the last two decades as cheap imports entered and local operating costs rose.

Smuggling This is a serious problem.

According to the group, government’s efforts to reduce influx of imported goods encourage smuggling of these goods through our porous borders. It states, for example, that most imported tyres are categorised as truck tyres which attract a 10 per cent tariff despite actually being car tyres which are subject to 20 per cent tariff. Most industry experts, it states, agree that everything from steel rods, and industrial cable to TVs and processed foods come in through informal channels.

Opportunities Despite existing problems,

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How the Nigerian industrial sector is faring (3) Excerpts of an overview of the Nigerian industrial sector by Oxford Business Group (OBG)

Automobile manufacturing factory

Ajaokuta steel plant

there are some opportunities for investors in Nigeria, the group notes. It states that mass producers like companies in the FMCG are thriving, citing Nestle and P&G who recently invested in new manufacturing facilities. It cites also PZ Cussons and Nosak Group which recently expanded into palm oil production, a growing sector. It notes that there is room for specialised and high quality inputs as local manufacturers often cannot substitute inferior goods in factory production. It states that this is why Nigerian Foundries Limited has succeeded in supplying specialised steel castings to local industrial clients.

Food and beverages The group notes that the food, beverage and tobacco sector has been a particularly bright spot in Nigerian manufacturing, growing 60 per cent between 2007 and 2011 to reach N230.7 billion in 2012. It states that in 2012 the industry comprised over 30 per cent of the Nigerian manufacturing sector with a number of large foreign-owned facilities.

It notes the following: Nestle

announced a $2.2 billion investment in local operations with the goal of tripling Nigerian sales in the next 10 years; P&G broke ground on a multi-billion naira factory, its second in Nigeria, in mid-2012 (the multi-billion naira plant was opened last week in Agbara, Ogun State); South African firm, Tiger Brands, recently purchased a controlling stake in Dangote Flour Mills, a producer of flour and pasta and one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing conglomerates.

There are more: SABMiller, the world’s second-largest brewing company, recently purchased two Nigerian brewing companies, Pabod and Standard.

The food and beverage industry is among the most vulnerable to the country’s poorly-maintained distribution networks, exposed to fragmented logistics sector and a high risk of spoilage, but it nonetheless benefits from limited fluctuation in demand and a market of over 160 million people. As income continue to inch up in line with headline growth, demand and purchasing power are set to grow.

Agro-industry Palm oil is in the limelight here. The group argues that recent private sector investment in palm oil may soon bring down the price of key industrial inputs. It notes that Nosak Group, a local conglomerate, has invested in palm oil and that PZ Cussons has launched a joint venture with Singaporean firm, Wilmar, to develop a 50,000 ha oil pal plantation. It states that in five to six years, the land is expected to produce about 300,000 tons of palm oil yearly, a key ingredient in soap and other products manufacturing. The OBG was silent on the investment of existing plantation owners who were earlier encouraged by government to do business of palm oil robustly.

Cement Nigeria is now self-sufficient in cement manufacturing with Dangote Cement, Lafarge and some others investing massively in the sector, according to the group. It notes that in 2012, the sector grew over 17 per cent to contribute more than 17 per cent (N79.9 billion) to GDP, boosted by increase in construction activity.

Electronics, petrochemicals and metals It is only four per cent contribution to the country’s total manufacturing output but there is hope as demand for electronics is on the increase, says the report.

The reports state that currently, demand for electronics has traditionally been well beyond local production capacity.

Imported computers from Dell, HP, Acer and others dominate the PC market with 80 per cent market share, says the group.

Nigeria has a great deal of potential to develop a thriving petrochemical industry, but flaring of natural gas, underperforming refineries, weak infrastructure (discussed in earlier slots of this piece) have limited performance in downstream activities like chemicals, fertiliser and feedstock production, according to the group’s report. But a government push to increase fertiliser production to 8 million tons yearly by 2017 has attracted international firms, it states.

The steel and basic metal segment accounted for 9 per cent of Nigerian manufacturing in 2012, contributing N79.9 billion to GDP, up from 70 billion in 2011, according to OBG. Total local capacity, according to OBG is 1 million tons per annum (tpa), country’s plants operate below 50 per cent capacity, thereby opening the market to importers, it states.

The Ministry of Mines and Steel is said to have put the total quantity of imports at between 500,000 and million tpa, with key sources being Ukraine, Brazil, Russia and Turkey.

In summary, OBG’s outlook of the industry is that producing under capacity and fighting foreign goods, Nigerian industry is operating well beneath potential. It notes that years of neglect by government have helped to entrench structural challenges to growth. It states that however, the success of some local producers in the face of these challenges shows plenty of room for optimism about the sector’s long term potential.

It argues that since government is improving power generation (we are yet to see this anyway) that alone could be enough to kick-start growth.

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

W it h

Making success of Nigeria’s TECHTalk Jonah Iboma mobile money initiative Nigeria and 25 years Mobile money has a successful financial inclusion initiative in many African countries. However, this has not been the case in Nigeria despite the fact that the country has adopted many initiatives by both financial services providers and telecommunication companies to boost mobile money services. JONAH IBOMA examines how the situation can be redressed.

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he development and implementation of financial strategies that will bring the millions of unbanked Nigerians and, indeed, Africans into the formal banking system, has been one of the major headaches of African leaders over the years.

In Nigeria, it was at a point reported that the amount of money outside the formal banking system was as much as 30 per cent of total money in circulation. This led to the introduction of many schemes, including encouraging parents to open accounts for their children, taking banking services to open market places and even mounting of several communication campaigns on the benefits of banking. Despite all these, however, use of formal banking system remained low.

However, a major unplanned but pleasant development that has helped change things in many African countries came when mobile money was introduced. This electronic means of transaction using mobile phones has helped many countries to bring millions of persons in the unbanked population to enter a formal means of financial transaction. In countries such as Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, mobile money is enabling new ways of financial transaction. Nigeria has also followed suit, as the Central Bank of Nigeria, in 2010, introduced the cashless initiative and gave provisional licenses to 16 mobile money operators to carryout pilot scheme on mobile money across the country.

In August 2011, CBN released the final list of 11 mobile money operators, but restricted them from going commercial until they are given commercial approval.

The CBN later gave commercial approval to the 11 operators, mandating them to go full blown into cities and remote

Artistic impression of mobile money

parts of the country sensitising Nigerians on the need to embrace mobile money transactions, which is an electronic means of using mobile phone or personal digital assistant for initiation or confirmation of payment transactions.

It supports Person to Person (P2P) transfers with immediate availability of funds for the beneficiary. Mobile payments are meant for low value transactions where speed of completion is key and it encourages cashless economy.

But despite all these efforts, however, Nigeria’s mobile money story is still a bit different.

Two new studies conducted by Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access (EFInA) and In-

Awareness and usage of mobile money remains low in Nigeria

terMedia about mobile money and other digital financial services, showed that awareness and usage of mobile money remains low in Nigeria.

According to the InterMedia Financial Inclusion Insights study, as at November 2013, only 12 per cent of Nigerians aged 15 and above were aware of mobile money, while less than one per cent of that population used mobile money.

The studies noted that mobile money awareness and usage was slightly higher in ‘Cash-less Phase II’ states (Abia, Anambra, Kano, Ogun and Rivers states, and the FCT, Abuja), where the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Cash-less Policy was introduced. EFInA research found that as at October 2013, only four per cent of adults in the Cash-less Phase II states used mobile money.

The EFInA study also revealed that in these states, cards (debit, credit cards and pre-paid cards) were the most CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

08050498516

of World Wide Web

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ast week, the 25th anniversary of the World Wide Web (abbreviated as WWW or W3, commonly known as the web) was marked. In Nigeria, the Alliance for Affordable Internet, A4AI, fielded an event in Abuja to celebrate the anniversary.

Many people who have little knowledge of the internet easily equate the World Wide Web to the Internet. However, it is not, but rather part of the fallouts of the process of developing the internet.

As an introduction, the World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet. With a web browser, one can view web pages that may contain text, images, videos, and other multimedia and navigate between them via hyperlinks.

On March 12, 1989, Tim Berners-Lee, a British computer scientist, wrote a proposal for what would eventually become the World Wide Web. Berners-Lee and Belgian computer scientist, Robert Cailliau, proposed in 1990 to use hypertext "to link and access information of various kinds as a web of nodes in which the user can browse at will" and Berners-Lee finished the first website in December of that year. Since then, the internet has been changed forever.

The Abuja event witnessed the launch of the Nigerian arm of the multi-stakeholder coalition that says its aim is to contribute to the development of policies intended to bring in a new era of widespread and affordable internet access.

MainOne, the most notable Nigerian member of A4AI, said that the Alliance's agenda to drive down high retail internet prices would "help to connect a higher percentage of Nigerians, especially the youth, and make universal access a reality."

Similarly, Sonia Jorge, Executive Director, A4AI, said the Alliance is working to unlock the power of the internet in Africa and place it in the hands of those for whom

it remains out of reach. The group recognised that Nigeria is one of the fastest growing markets in Africa, but that it still has a lot to do in order to overcome the challenges to increased access.

By advocating for open, competitive and innovative broadband markets, MainOne and other members of A4AI are working to cut internet access price to below five per cent of monthly income worldwide, a target set by the UN Broadband Commission.

This is a good plan. However, to achieve this requires a lot of work. It is heart warming that this initiative is starting from the private sector.

It has to be stated that the development of the web started as private initiative of an individual, Tim Berners-Lee, about 25 years ago. It is just a part of the internet and the development showed the power of research. Since the Berners-Lee idea started, the world has not been the same again. The development should serve as an important call to Nigeria’s higher institutions and research organisations that often contribute very little to improving the society. That is why the decision by the Alliance for Affordable Internet needs to be applauded. But the entire development will not be a success if all that it does is just to talk and act a little. There is the need to deliver technology and internet access to Nigerians in a manner that will benefit citizens. The statement made by Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Eugene Juwah, that Nigeria will witness massive growth of broadband in the coming years is good talk, but it must be backed up with adequate efforts.

In many countries, internet access and electricity supply to schools come at a fraction of commercial rates.

This is not the case in Nigeria, as schools are not given any sort of special treatment.

This is a situation that needs to be addressed.

business | ICT

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

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Microsoft invests $75m in Africa Stories: Jonah Iboma

G Lotto machine

Onecard integrates with Premier Lotto O

neCard Nigeria has completed integration of its services with Premier Lotto Limited in a move the firms said will allow Nigerians to top-up their mobile phones from all agents of the lottery firm nationwide.

The development will particularly bring Direct Top-up, one of the recharge solutions offered by OneCard Nigeria, closer to people.

Chief Executive officer, OneCard Nigeria, Mr. Ahmad Baba, said that Premier Lotto, popularly known as Baba Ijebu, will be a simple but effective way of delivering top-up solutions to people in line with the company’s vision of doing this on multiple platforms “We are excited to have partnered Premier Lotto, a household name in Nigeria’s gaming industry. We have chosen the company because we believe its agency network provides us the perfect opportunity to get our unique services to customers across the country. The reliability and successful business network

of Premier Lotto offers us an excellent system that will ensure that Nigerians also access the convenience that OneCard has brought to the marketplace,” Baba, the OneCard CEO, said.

The Finance Director, Premier Lotto Limited, Mr. Jibola Adebutu, said that “the collaboration with OneCard has provided our firm another opportunity to deepen our value proposition to Baba Ijebu patrons and the community around our agents nationwide. With offerings from as low as N50, all Airtel, Etisalat, Glo and MTN customers can take advantage of this value added service.”

“It has always been our objectives to provide high quality value added and related services to our customers and other stakeholders.

This is why the partnership with OneCard is timely,” he said.

He commended OneCard for the innovation that it had brought into the country through services in its various channels.

lobal technology firm, Microsoft, says its investment in Africa has hit $75 million, with Nigeria receiving a significant portion of it, according to the firm’s International President, Jean-Philippe Courtois.

The firm also stated its readiness to drive down data costs to help improve individual access technology and businesses in Africa through cloud computing.

According to details obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday, Courtois also said that the upgrade of Microsoft Nigeria office to a single country subsidiary by its new financial year 2015 will commence on July 1, 2014, describing it as a timely move considering that Nigeria remains one

of Microsoft’s most important markets in Africa.

According to Courtois, Microsft has invested in access, innovation, skills development, youth empowerments, software development, digital curriculum and skills, among others.

He added that despite investing $75 million in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and other African countries, the company was ready to double its efforts in innovation support, skills investments and provision of access for people across the globe, especially Nigeria. This, he noted, will create sustained economic opportunities.

Kabelo Makwane, Microsoft Nigeria’s incoming Country Manager, also said that the Nigerian market had matured with immense opportunities,

fast economic growth, skills deposit as well as large enterprise, all of which require urgent support.

Makwane also noted that Microsoft was already training 18 interns while one of its partners, Galaxy Backbone is training 50, under the 4Afrika initiative which has the goal of empowerment of African youth. 75 per cent of them will end up working with Microsoft, he added.

Courtois expressed optimism that Microsoft, which will expand its cloud services in Nigeria and other markets, will benefit from NOKIA’s mapping system when the company finally takes over the Finnish phone giants. He added that the final takeover will happen once every regulatory structure has been put in place.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Peculiar People Management, Pastor Olaoye Ghandi; Regional General Manager, East, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Obinna Nweje; Co-founder, Apple Computers , Steve Wozniak; and General Manager,Consumer Marketing, MTN, Mr. Kola Oyeyemi, at the MTN leadership seminar with Steve Wozniak, held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

NigComSat frowns at proliferation of foreign vendors COMMERCE Nigeria needs to promote local content in ICT products supply.

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hairman of the board of Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigComSat), Prof. Turner Isoun, has called for a swift change in the current situation whereby foreign Information and Communications Technology (ICT)

vendors dominate Nigeria.

According to him, the situation portends danger and could undermine the war against terror and other security challenges.

Isoun, in a statement after the board meeting last week, decried this ugly trend, saying that the proliferation of foreign ICT vendors proposing and supplying security solutions to Nigerian security, para-military and critical infrastructure bodies, portend serious threats.

According to him, the danger is that the nation is exposed “to a myriad of potential security threats from otherwise restricted data being exposed to numerous vendors.”

Isoun, the longest serving Science and Technology Minister in Nigeria’s history, explained that “this predicament is particularly worrisome, not only because of the present state of national insecurity, but also because NigComSat limited is the only government agency mandated to act as a

clearing house and solution provider for security-related ICT solutions to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and institutions.”

Indeed, NigComSat limited currently manages the National Public Safety Communications Systems (NPSCS), a national safety network. A network upgrade has commenced for the public safety system, Isoun explained.

This, the board chairman said, is to protect the nation’s borders and other key infra-

structure such as oil and gas pipelines. He, therefore, “cautions government agencies to direct their ICT needs to NIGCOMSAT limited or through the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology within the next four weeks.

Isoun also advised state governments “who are interested in providing security solutions for their respective states to liaise with NigComSat limited for effective planning and integration into the NPSCS.”

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INTERNET Users promised faster access by new entrant.

Stories Jonah Iboma

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mile Communications has launched a 4G/LTE (Long Term Evolution) network on 800 MHz spectrum in Lagos following the successful commercial launch in Ibadan in February 2013.This makes Smile Communications the first to launch LTE technology in West Africa.

LTE is a fourth generation standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals, delivering communication at speeds 10 times faster than third generation technologies.

In Lagos, Smile Communications commercial service is expected to offer an improved mobile broadband experience based on LTE technologies to subscribers. The company said

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Smile Communications launches 4G/LTE network in Lagos more locations across the country will follow soon.

Ericsson is the primary vendor for the LTE radio network, leveraging the multi-standard RBS 6,000 family of base stations and the compact and fully integrated AIR (Antenna Integrated Radio) Antennas, deployed in West Africa for the first time. Ericsson is also providing a complete Evolved Packet Core network including Evolved Packet Gateway and Mobility Management Entity.

Smile Group Chief Operating Officer, Tom Allen, said: “At Smile Communications, we seek to deliver affordable, high-quality and easy-to-use broadband internet access and communications services to our customers and, in Nigeria,

Ericsson is helping us do this.

With successful commercial operations since 2013, we are very excited to formally announce today the commencement of our services and the beginning of a cross-country roll-out. We are starting in Lagos and will lay our footprints in other major cities across the country shortly.”

Smile Communications and Ericsson have a three-year network deployment agreement to develop over 1,100 LTE sites across the country. Under the terms of this agreement, Ericsson is responsible for the project management, system integration, interoperability testing, network design and implementation.

Vice President, Ericsson sub-Saharan Africa, Magnus

L-R: Director, Communications and Information Policy, United States Department of State; Ambassador, Daniel Sepulveda; Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Eugene Juwah; and Director/Secretary, Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF, Mr. Abdullahi Maikano at Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain…recently

Mchunguzi, said: “With mobile data traffic estimated to grow 17 times by 2019 and Nigeria currently holding the highest number of mobile subscriptions in sub-Saharan Africa, superior network performance is imperative. As a global HSPA and LTE leader, we are committed to partnering with Smile Communications in meeting this growing demand for enriched broadband experience.”

Ericsson is the market leader in LTE. Today, 50 per cent of the world’s LTE smartphone traffic is served by Ericsson networks, which is more than double the traffic of the closest competitor. Present in all high-traffic LTE markets including the US, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Canada, Ericsson has been selected by the top 10 LTE operators, as ranked by LTE subscriptions worldwide.

Telecoms: Ghana orders re-registration of SIM cards

T

he Ghanaian Government has asked mobile telecommunication firms to start the registration of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards afresh, citing irregularities and fraudulent activities with current exercise.

According to reports on Ghana’s Broadcasting Service, Minister of Communications, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, said that fake identity cards had been used to register many SIM cards, undermining the purpose for which the entire exercise was undertaken.

He expressed dissatisfaction with what had been done and said telecom firms in the country must ‘candidly’ re-run the SIM card registration exercise to help enhance security in the country.

“We definitely need to provide confidence and security in the use of electronic communications in Ghana.

“You would recall the police

report of 2,340,000 prank calls made to the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana National Fire Service in 2013. This is surely not the right use of the opportunities we are blessed with,” he was quoted as saying.

A national SIM card registration exercise was first carried out in 2011 in Ghana, but the National Communications Authority (NCA) subsequently announced that 20 per cent of particulars used in the registration exercise were fake.

Parliament in 2012 adopted the Subscriber Identity Module Registration Regulations, 2011 (L.I. 2006) to give backing to the exercise. The Legislation provided that with effect from Saturday, March 3, 2012, no SIM card could be used if not duly registered. All these are, however, expected to become a nullity with the new government position.

Ghana currently has about 28 million subscribers.

Making success of Nigeria’s mobile money initiative CONTINUED from PAGE 34

widely known and used electronic payment instrument among respondents; and that men were more likely than women to use electronic payments.

EFInA noted that there is the need for the financial services industry to better understand the needs of customers to improve the uptake and usage of digital financial services in the country.

Findings from EFInA and InterMedia research indicated that the barriers to the uptake of mobile money in Nigeria include low customer awareness, lack of trust in mobile money,

and unreliable GSM networks.

However, respondents in both studies also shared positive impressions of mobile money, saying that they perceived mobile money to be fast, convenient and safer than carrying cash.

Experts stated that the way out of the current situation will involve further hardwork for stakeholders including government and mobile money operators.

Divisional Head, E-Banking at UBA, Mr. AdeyinkaAdedeji, said that there was the need for intensive campaign on available channels of transactions for financial inclusion. Adedeji who spoke so much on the use of mobile money and electronic

cards in financial transactions, said that the channels are affordable, easy and faster to drive the cashless initiative of the CBN. According to him, every working-class Nigerian has a lot of dependants, directly or indirectly, and the use of cards would drive financial inclusion since money could be loaded into prepaid cards of dependants instead of giving them physical cash.

Modupe Ladipo, Chief Executive Officer of EFInA, said: “The financial services industry can drive uptake of mobile money by educating customers, providing reasonably priced products that meet customer

needs, and creating the right incentives for both customers and mobile money agents.”

Peter Goldstein, Vice-President at InterMedia, said that Nigeria has a higher percentage of bank account holders, but a lower percentage of mobile money users compared to other countries studied, including Uganda and Kenya.

This development is a little unexpected considering that these countries have virtually the same economic situations like Nigeria. There are huge numbers of unbanked persons in many African countries including Nigeria and mobile money is what is providing financial inclusion for many of

them. It is on this basis that Goldstein stressed the need to educate potential customers about mobile money services, particularly regarding security measures that have been implemented to protect against theft and fraud.

It is commonplace to see some people say that they do not use payment solutions such as debit cards due to fear of fraud that has been associated with this a few times.

Another area that needs to be addressed in the quest towards ensuring successful mobile money services in Nigeria is research, according to Salah Goss, programme officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

BUSINESS | FOR THE RECORDS 37

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Sanusi's response to allegations in relation to suspension CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY 22. ALLEGED ABUSE OF DUE PROCESS THE MOU FOR THE BANKING SECTOR RESOLUTION COST SINKING FUND Briefing Note Allegation 22: that the CBN issued treasury bills using the money in the Banking Resolution Costs Sinking fund (Sinking Fund) without the constitution and approval of the Board of Trustees as required under the MOU signed by the CBN and all the deposit money banks operating in Nigeria.

Response: i. The contributors to the Sinking Fund are the CBN and all deposit money banks in the country. All the parties agreed at Bankers Committee that the monies contributed should be invested in treasury bills for safety. The CBN, as custodian, simply implemented that agreement. The board of trustees for Sinking Fund has not been constituted as the legal framework for the Sinking Fund i.e. the Banking Sector Resolution Cost Fund Bill is still pending before the National Assembly. ii. It should be noted that AMCON redeemed its due bonds on 27 December, 2013 from this account.

23. WRITE OFF OF N3.85 BILLION LOAN Briefing Note Allegation 23: that the leadership of the CBN wrote-off loans supposedly made to staff members to the tune of N3.85 Billion in 2012.

Response: i. The write-off above was not made in favour of CBN staff. Rather the Board of the CBN approved the write-off of the loan as forbearance to Heritage Bank on 17 December, 2010 as part of the process of facilitating its resumption of business as a regional bank.

See Annexure L for the board approval given on 17 December 2010.

24. OVERDRAWN ACCOUNTS BY MINISTRIES, DEPARTMENTS & PARASTATALS Briefing Note Allegation 24: that the deposit accounts of parastatals have debit and overdrawn positions and that this is contrary to government policy.

Response: i. MDAs generally maintain bank accounts with the CBN. Overdrawing of banks accounts is an incidence of banker–customer relationship.

However, the CBN experienced some technical problems prior to mid-2012, which affected about 6 of the over 1000 bank accounts maintained by MDAs at the CBN, but the error has been rectified since the middle of 2012. There were some insignificant over drawings on about six (6) of the accounts and the attention of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation has

been drawn to the matter. See Annexure M for the letter to the AccountantGeneral and the Accountant-General’s response of January 29th, 2014.

25. INVESTMENT IN INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC LIQUIDITY MANAGEMENT CORPORATION (IILMC) Briefing Note Allegation 25: that the investment in the IILMC was not brought to the attention of His Excellency, Mr President, and was not within the exception in Section 31 of the CBN Act. Response: i. Nigeria, through the CBN, is signatory to the establishment agreement of the IILMC. Before proceeding with the investment, I requested for and obtained the written approval of His Excellency, Mr President, via a letter dated 8 December, 2010. His Excellency, Mr President would recall that he approved this request on 22.12.10. See Annexure N. ii. The investment in question is permitted by Section 24 of the CBN Act, in pursuance of which it was made as investment of Reserves by the Reserve Management Department of the CBN. If at any point, the CBN wishes to divest from the IILMC, one or more of the member central banks will purchase this investment. iii. It is worthy of note that in the letter seeking Mr President’s approval for the investment, it was stated explicitly that all the member central banks were treating their investment as part of their external reserves. iv. It was also alleged that, till the date of the issuance of the Briefing Note (7th June, 2013), the CBN had not received its share certificate for the apex Bank’s investment in the IILMC. However, the said share certificate, dated 6th April, 2013, has indeed been received and is hereby annexed as Annexure O. 26. NON-ADOPTION OF IFRS STANDARDS Briefing Note Allegation 26: that the CBN did not comply with the IFRS accounting standards in preparing its 2012 financial statements.

Response: i. It has been and remains a cardinal policy of the CBN to comply with statutory requirements and policy guidelines of regulators. In recognition of the peculiar nature of the CBN as a central bank and its peculiar responsibilities, its migration to the IFRS would require extended time to comply with the Act. ii. In view of this reality, I wrote the FRCN via a letter dated 14th February 2013, requesting for a temporary exemption to allow the CBN prepare the 2012 financial statements based on the existing financial reporting framework. iii. The FRCN waived the requirement for the CBN to comply with the IFRS standards in preparing its 2012 financial

not paying the mandatory one per centum of the amount of its annual payroll to the ITF. Response: i. The CBN, at the time, contested in court its obligation to pay one per centum of its payroll to the ITF on the ground that the CBN is not engaged in commerce or industry, which under the ITF Act is the basis for an employer to make payments under the ITF Act. ii. However, upon further considerations, the matter was amicably settled by the CBN and ITF. The CBN has duly complied with the ITF Act and has paid all levies up to the 2012 financial year. See Annexure R, which bears this out.

Sanusi

statements by its letter of exemption dated 26 February 2013. See Annexure P for the FRCN’s letter. iv. In January 2010, the published Report of the Committee on the Roadmap for the adoption of IFRS in Nigeria (the Roadmap), allowed Public Interest Entities, in the nature of CBN, to delay the adoption of the IFRS financial statements until 31 December 2013.

See Annexure Q for the Roadmap. It is probably for the same reason the FRCN itself did not prepare its audited financial statements in accordance with IFRS for the year ended 2012. v. It is worth noting that very few Central Banks in the world are able to comply with IFRS due to a number of factors peculiar to the nature of central banking, especially in the following areas: a. Accounting for Change in the value of Gold reserves. b. Management of government foreign exchange reserves and exchange rate fluctuations. c. Disclosure challenges around monetary policy interventions and its activities as lender of last resort to financial institutions, and guarantor to government borrowing. d. Valuation of assets held in foreign currencies. e. Challenges around weekly Treasury Bill sales. f. Management of years of deficit after surplus has been transferred to the government in the year of surplus. g. Funding government deficit financing as enshrined in section 38 of the CBN Act 2007.

27. NON-COMPLIANCE WITH ITF ACT Briefing Note Allegation 27: that the CBN failed to comply with the ITF Act by

28. AUDITING Briefing Note Allegation 28: that the joint auditors of the CBN’s financial statement did not certify that the accounts give a true and fair view of the financial position of the CBN as at 31 December 2012.

Response: i. Without any iota of evidential proof, and in a most sweeping statement, the FRCN Briefing Note alleged that the joint auditors’ opinion was a technical qualification; that the accounts should not be relied upon for decision-making. ii. To set the records straight, auditors do not certify accounts but only express opinions on the financial statements. iii. The joint auditors stated that the CBN’s 2012 financial statements were properly prepared and accorded with accounting policies and the provisions of the CBN Act 2007 and other applicable regulations. iv. The opinion, as expressed by our auditors, is consistent with what obtains in respect of central banks in a number of other jurisdictions. We enclose by way of example, a sample of opinions relating to the central banks of the United States of America, South Africa and Ghana. See Annexure S. The allegation made by the FRCN in relation to this aspect of the auditors’ report is troubling when viewed in this light.

29. NON-CONSOLIDATION OF ACCOUNTS WITH SUBSIDIARIES Briefing Note Allegation 29: that the CBN did not consolidate its account with those of its subsidiaries.

Response: i. The CBN does not have subsidiaries and the assumption that AMCON is a subsidiary of the CBN is wrong. The shares in AMCON are held by the Federal Government as borne out by Section 2 of the AMCON Act. Furthermore, the accounting reporting period of the CBN is statutory and does not coincide with that of AMCON. TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW.

38 NEWS

Monday, February 17 - Thursday, Friday, February 21, 2014 2014 March 20,

FEATURES

NEW TELEGRAPH

39

newtelegraphonline.com/entrepreneur

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES EDITOR

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014

Burnt houses in the Benue attacks

Wailing women in Southern Kaduna.

Benue, Kaduna: A cycle of violence In the last couple of days, many innocent people have been killed while several houses and property worth millions of naira were destroyed in the orgy of violence in Benue and Kaduna states, write ABIODUN BELLO and CEPHAS IORHEMEN

O

n assumption of office on May 29, 1999, one of the major challenges confronting the administration of Governor Gabriel Suswam was securing the lives and property of the citizens of Benue State.

As a major responsibility of his administration, the governor did not rest in ensuring peace needed to attract investment to the state.

As a result of the success of the government’s efforts in this regard, Benue State became an investors’ haven as more foreign organisations, donor agencies, and companies deemed it imperative to carry out businesses in the state.

Organisations in the country also started to hold conferences, seminars and workshops, to mention a few, in the state.

Suddenly, the positive image of the state changed. The change was caused by the infiltration of ‘aliens’ who started to unleash all forms of terror on the people.

These criminal activities include snatching of vehicles at gunpoint, bank robberies and the recent attacks on the people by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Miffed by the worsen security situation in the state, Suswam empowered the state police command by donating 20 Hilux vans, 200 bulletproof jackets as well as arms and ammunition.

The donation came with a charge on the police to step up their fight against criminality in the state.

In 2010, the governor donated 46 wellequipped Hilux vans and four Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to enhance operations of security agents in the

state.

He recalled that before the coming of his administration in 2007, the state was ranked among the most volatile in the country.

The story, however, changed with the support the government has extended to security agencies in the state.

Suswam stressed that the security of the state had also been further enhanced by the Joint Military and Police Task Force, code-named ‘Operation Zenda,’ established by his administration.

He said: “As a government, we will continue to support the police and security agencies in Benue State. We will continue to remove all factors that induce and encourage criminality in any part of the state.

“We have also directed security agencies to be vigilant enough to deal with any security challenges in the state, and as a government, we will continue to assist them to discharge that responsibility with all diligence and commitment.”

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, who was also at the event, said the police required the collaboration and cooperation of governors in the states to discharge their responsibilities to Nigerians.

The IG, who inaugurated the vehicles, urged other governors to emulate the Benue State example by assisting the various police formations in their respective states to enhance security of lives and property.

Abubakar also urged Nigerians to always avail the police necessary information and support especially now that

the nation was facing a critical security challenge.

However, Suswam’s dream of a saver state seems to have been dashed. Today, Benue has returned to a volatile state where life seems to be short.

This follows sustained attacks on the law-abiding citizens by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The invaders, whose intention, according to Suswam, still remains hidden, have wasted many lives and destroyed property worth billions of naira.

But the governor is not resting. He has engaged his Nasarawa State counterpart, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar, to find a stop to the bloodletting.

Despite these efforts, attacks on farmers have continued unabated. The assailants have continued to kill innocent farmers for no just cause.

Today, thousands of Tiv farmers have been displaced in Makurdi, Guma, Gwer, Gwer West, Vandeikya, Kwande, Agatu and Logo local government areas of the state.

Most of the victims are now taking refuge under trees and in some designated camps thus exposing them to diseases like malaria and other dangerous sicknesses.

More worrisome is the fact that the herdsmen, in addition to attacking Suswam’s convoy on his way to Ukpian in Guma Local Government to assess the

The fertile land on which food crops are grown may be turned into grazing areas if nothing is done to end the crisis

extent of damage caused Tiv farmers there by the herdsmen.

They also attacked and killed many people in the governor’s village.

The assailants equally invaded the home of the Tiv paramount ruler, Dr Alfred Akawe Torkula, at Tse Torkula in Guma Local Government Area, killing many people and burning houses.

The attacks attracted condemnation from members of the National Assembly from the state, including Senators Barnabas Gemade and George Akume who have vowed to do everything possible to avert the crisis from escalating to a full-blown war.

Gemade said the Benue State crisis was an orchestrated attempt to foment trouble and disrupt the relative peace in the state.

He said: “I think they really want to see some war fought in the Middle Belt part of the country, which is a very big shame. Otherwise, how can you see an insurgence taking place in the middle of the country and the people who are doing this are coming from neighbouring countries such as Chad, Mali, Cameroon, Congo and many others?”

Gemade admonished security agencies to intervene in the matter and cautioned the herdsmen against provoking indigenes of the affected villages into taking law into their hands.

“It is a matter that needs very urgent action by a combination of all the security agencies in this country to fish out the people behind this. The TiV and Idoma people are not the only people who have fertile lands in this country.

There are many other tribes living in the Benue region where the land is very fertile and full of grass for animal.

“But why are they not fighting those tribes? Why are they insisting on fighting the people who are in Benue State?

That tells you clearly that there is a moCONTINUED ON PAGE 40

40 40 FEATURES

Sanctity of Truth

Seeking an end to bloodletting CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39

tive behind it and this motive is not just addressed to the people living on fertile land but against the peaceful existence of Nigeria.

“We are calling on people in this country not to allow our people take laws into their hands. You know that every community in Nigeria can raise an army if they want to do so and it is not right for us to begin to raise an army for ourselves, and that is why the national defence forces should do their jobs. Let them not push us to a point where we will have to raise an army.”

On his part, Akume described the attack as provocative and threatened that his kinsmen would retaliate if they were not protected by the authorities.

The two lawmakers also condemned attack on Suswam and the Tor Tiv, describing it as a slap in the face of the Tiv nation, described as the fourth largest ethnic group in the country.

They said: “It is a sad commentary that the attack on the Tiv farmers has threatened the status of the state as the Food Basket of the Nation.

“The fertile land on which food crops are grown may be turned into grazing areas if nothing is done to end the crisis.

“While we commend the efforts of the state government in bringing succour to the displaced persons, we implore the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to, as a matter of urgency, wade into the matter through the provision of relief materials to the victims to alleviate their sufferings.

“As a way forward to end the crisis, the Federal Government should identify grazing areas for cattle rearers across the country, as well as encourage the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to demarcate the borders between states to help states check encroachment and influx of aliens.

“We equally appeal to the state and Federal Government to provide enough security to the affected persons in camps, in addition to evolving possible strategies aimed at ensuring that the displaced Tiv farmers to return to their homes as farming activities are at the peak.

“When this is done, the lost glory for which Benue State was known for as one of the most peaceful states in the country will return.”

Nigerians, who were still dazed by the killings in Benue State and the attack on the governor, were rudely awaken by vicious attacks on Southern Kaduna in Kaduna State.

Again, the attacks were carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Over 100 people were reportedly killed in Ungwan Gata, Me-Sankwai and Tekum villages in Kaura Local Government Area of the state.

Witnesses said the gunmen were carrying AK47 rifles and other dangerous weapons.

According to them, the assailants

A burnt van conveying yam to the market in Benue State.

Suswam

Yero

Akume

Gemade

attacked three villages about 10pm on Friday night till the early morning of Saturday.

They attackers, who invaded the villages through Ganauwri, a border community between Kaduna and Plateau states, shot and killed people as well as set several houses on fire.

They also reportedly escaped through the same route.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Aminu Lawan, who confirmed the report to journalists, said

more policemen were deployed in the trouble areas to maintain law and order.

Reacting to the massive killings, Governor Mukhtar Yero said the attacks were wicked and ungodly.

Yero, who spoke through his media aide, Ahmed Maiyaki, ordered a fullscale investigation into the incident.

He also called on the indigenes to remain calm and law-abiding, promising that his administration would do everything possible to bring the perpetrators to book.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

The governor also summoned an emergency Security Council meeting to review the situation.

Also reacting, the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), the umbrella body for ethnic nationalities in the region, said the people had no choice now than to defend themselves against the frequent attacks and killings by the Fulani gunmen.

Addressing newsmen in Kaduna, SOKAPU President, Dr Ephraim Goje, said the persistent attacks and massacres of the people were a clear indication that the government and the security agencies were not capable of protecting them.

Goje said the people were being pushed to the wall as they were being killed and their homes and property destroyed.

According to him, it has become imperative for the people to defend themselves by whatever means necessary.

He said: “The Fulani have unofficially declared war on our people. No community has the monopoly of violence, so our people are being pushed to a level that we may take certain actions aimed at defending ourselves and our land in order to put an end to this impunity and senseless killings.”

According to Goje, over 5,000 people have been displaced in the 40 attacks on communities in the southern part of the state since 2011.

“We have identified the perpetrators as Fulani herdsmen; (they are) responsible for the attacks and killings, but each time we raise this observation, the Fulani socio-cultural organisations within the state have out-rightly denied the involvement of their people, asking for proofs,” he added.

Goje said two Fulani youths in Manchok led Saturday’s attack, during which over 100 people were killed.

The SOKAPU president disclosed that the Fulani youths died in the attacks and their corpses were identified by the locals.

He said: “This has clearly vindicated us and confirmed our earlier position that the Fulani have declared a jihad on the people of Southern Kaduna and Nigeria, evidenced by this genocide in Bondong, the murder in Katsina State, Birnin Gwari, Plateau, Zamfara, Taraba, Benue, among others.

“In some of these attacks, suspects had been arrested and handed over to security agencies for prosecution, only for the culprits to be seen working freely on the streets the next day.

“What comes to our minds now is that, truly, the Fulani have unofficially declared war on our people. Let it be placed on record that no community has the monopoly of violence, so our people are being pushed to the wall and we may take certain steps aimed at defending ourselves and our land in order to put an end to this impunity.”

HEALTH THURSday, March 20, 2014

coffee: rich in anti-oxidants

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/health

}p-43

appolonia adeyemi appolonia.adeyemi@newtelegraphonline.com appoloniaadeyemi@gmail.com

Kidney disease mostly prevalent among youths disease could be prevented with moderate exercise, little or no intake of alcohol and brisk exercise. Mumuni added that a glass cup of water early in the morning before food will help prevent kidney problem.

He advised that it is most appropriate for individuals to check their blood pressure and cholesterol level often, “and in the case of family history, they should do it more often.”

The recent 2014 World Kidney Day walk is aimed to create awareness among Nigerians and encourage screening as part of measures to ensure kidney health, writes Oluwatosin Omoniyi

M

ary Perker, 57, and mother of three was seen lying critically ill at the Lagos State University Teaching hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja. She has an oxygen pipe run through her nose and a catheter through her private area to pass urine. Perker was writhing in pain, complaining of body aches and bed discomfort. A cashier with a private firm said she has been in the hospital for nearly three weeks and it appears she is not getting better. She was diagnosed of acute kidney disease associated with diabetes and high blood pressure.

Her condition deteriorated when suddenly she realised that she could no longer pass urine and was always passing bloody excreta. “I became bloated all over including my hands and legs. My children quickly rushed me to this hospital,” she said.

Oluwafunmi Pinmiloye, a mother of two and a teacher with a private school is sad that she has been parading the LASUTH. She is yet to be attended to. Why? There are plenty others she met that were to be attended to before her.

Pinmiloye was referred to LASUTH by her private doctors who diagnosed her of acute kidney disease. She observed thick urine foams whenever she passes out urine. She was also suffering from painful swollen legs and hands. She was always feeling sleepy at day time and wide eyed open at night time. Initially, she thought it was stress, but the symptoms refused to go away after observing the health precaution measures her doctors instructed her to do. She got jolted out of her lukewarm attitude to herself when she noticed that she vomits about five times a day. She lost appetite coupled with drastically reduced urine output. “I did several medical tests and CT scan that confirmed my kidney is problematic,” she said.

Perker and Pinmiloye are just the few mentioned out of the many with kidney

Kidneys

related diseases out there. At LASUTH, about 25 kidney related disease patients were seen awaiting drug prescriptions from doctors or doctors’ attention. Some were waiting for their turn to take a bed at the hospital while some were coming round to look for donor to enable them go for a kidney transplant.

Recently, hundreds of doctors in Nigeria trooped out to mark the 2014 World Kidney Day with the theme: "Chronic Kidney Disease and Ageing." The main purpose is to heighten the awareness for prevention, and improve care for people with kidney disease. They did free blood pressure measurement and sugar level screening for people as a way of encouraging them to do regular medical check up. “The idea is to engage people early in their care, helping them to make better decisions,” adding that they talked to patients about lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise.”

Though not a contagious disease, experts say the disease is on the increase.

Amisu Mumuni, consultant Nephrologist at LASUTH, told NT Health that the latest research reveals that it has gone up from 16 to 25 per cent. He said it is mostly prevalent among the youths and adolescent, “the most affected are the working class between the ages of 25 and 45 due to hypertension orchestrated by an active lifestyle,” he said.

The major causes of kidney diseases, he highlighted as hypertension, diabetes,

genetic related cyst otherwise known as polycystic kidney disease and obstructive uropathy meaning prostrate kidney disease in the elderly. Also, infections like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and abuse of analgesic drugs are among many causes of the kidney diseases.

Symptoms Normally, kidney problems, Mumuni explained, are not without symptoms.

They appear in form of swollen legs and hands, lethargy, nausea, unresolved hiccups, reduced urine output, confused and drowsiness, altered sleeping pattern, and convulsion.

The symptoms include pain between ribs and hips, severe back pains, changes in mental status or mood, especially if it is an elderly person, decreased appetite, and decreased sensation, especially in the hands or feet.

Prevention According to the old sayings to the wise, “prevention is better than cure.” Kidney

Prevention is better than cure. Kidney disease could be prevented with moderate exercise

Treatment According to the American Medical Association, treatment will depend on the cause of kidney failure. “The goal is to restore normal kidney function.”

Researchers said that preventing fluids and wastes from building up in the body system is important to kidney recovery.

The research stated that doctors will restrict the patient diet and the amount of liquids food and drink intake. “The goal is to reduce the buildup of toxins that are normally eliminated by the kidneys.

A diet high in carbohydrates and low in protein, salt, and potassium is usually recommended.”

The researchers added that antibiotics may be prescribed to treat or prevent any infections that occur at the same time. Diuretics may be used to help the kidneys eliminate fluid. Calcium and insulin can be given to help avoid dangerous increases in the blood potassium levels.

For patients with kidney problems, their diets according to Mumuni, should include more fish intake than meat. He said protein should be cut down to 60-to 80 grammes daily. He advised against banana and plantain, not to be taken at all.

He recommended four eggs to be taken on weekly basis.

According to the Polycystic Kidney Disease Research Foundation in America, it stated that fruits like grapes, cranberries and blueberries should be added to their diet. “Vegetables such as spinach, string beans, celery and asparagus are helpful as well.”

What is expected in the long term?

Researchers found that kidney failure can be a life-threatening illness. Death is more common if kidney failure is caused by severe infection, trauma, or surgery.

Lung disease, recent stroke, advanced age, blood loss, and progressive kidney failure also increase the risk of death.

42 HEALTH

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

One in every five Nigerians has kidney problem – Expert Dr. Ebun Bamgboye is a Consultant Physician Nephrologist at St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos and current President, Nigerian Association of Nephrology (NAN). In this interview with APPOLONIA ADEYEMI, he highlights causes of rise in kidney failure in the country and the specific role of water in boosting kidney health. Excerpts:

T

hursday March 13 was 2014 World Kidney Day. What is the significance of the day, especially as it concerns the human organ, the kidney?

The World Kidney Day was set up as a joint venture between the International Society of Nephrologists, the society that all nephrologists everywhere in the world belong to and the International Federation of Kidney Foundation, which is an association of kidney patients worldwide. They realise that there is a need to raise awareness about kidneys and the health of kidneys. Many people are much more aware about the heart, about the lungs and about the liver, but not many people know about the kidneys. One reason for this is because kidneys are not very visible. They are very small.

Regardless of how small the kidneys are, they are responsible for taking on 25 per cent of the blood that comes out from the heart. That is a reflection of their function in maintaining normal body homeosis. So, when the kidney does not function, so many things go wrong - the blood pressure goes up, the person does not make urine and so, he accumulates a lot of waste. The person becomes anaemic. The electrolytes that should be high are low and those that should be low are high. The feet start to swell. So, you find that the person becomes so ill that ultimately, if the person does not receive help in the form of dialysis or a transplant, the person is likely to die within a very short time.

What is the prevalence of kidney disease in the country?

Of concern is the prevalence of kidney failure. The number of cases that we see rises rapidly. Worldwide it is estimated at 10 per cent of any population, but in Nigeria, the prevalence is even higher. In Nigeria, we expect that it should be closer to 20 per cent of the total population. That is to say, if we have five people in any place, at least one of every five will have one stage of kidney failure or the other. Granted, only about .2 per cent of the population will get to the stage that they will need dialysis, but what we know is that even

in the earliest stages, once the process has started, progression to that final stage is inevitable, unless of course, the person succumbs to other things prior to getting to that stage.

In fact, what we know is that in any population of patients who have stages one, two and three, more of them are likely to die from other conditions consequent on their being in kidney failure than to get to end stage that requires dialysis. So, the ones who get to end stage are actually the lucky ones.

Many more would have died of strokes, heart attack, would have had peripheral vascular disease, would have their limbs and hands amputated, would have gone blind from complications of common conditions that lead on to kidney failure. In our environment, we find that those conditions are very common - hypertension, one out of every four adult Nigerians has hypertension; Diabetes, in Lagos now, very close to 10 per cent adult Lagosians have diabetics; and chronic glomerulonephritis, an immunologic damage to the kidneys that usually follow chronic infections like malaria, herpatitis, HIV. All these things can lead on to kidney failure and they are quite common in our environment.

What is the cause of rapid rise in kidney diseases?

The reason is that the conditions that lead to kidney failure are more common; they are not being detected early; even when they are detected early, they are not being properly managed, but aside from that, there are other things such as use of bleaching creams can lead to kidney failure, the

There are other things such as use of bleaching creams can lead to kidney failure, the abuse of even common analgesics can lead to kidney failure, and the abuse of native herbs

Bamgboye

abuse of even common analgesics can lead to kidney failure, and the abuse of native herbs can lead on to kidney failure. Many are not aware of what these herbal medications contain. So, you find that common things that are common in our environment commonly cause our kidneys to fail. And worst still, we are not recognising them; we are not detecting them; we are not even informing the public with enough health education to ensure that the populace desist from such practices.

We are aware that over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s population relies on herbal medicines because the medications are accessible and affordable. If you say herbal medicines can lead to kidney failure, what do you tell people who rely on them for therapeutic purposes?

What I can authoritatively say is that we have looked at many of our patients which have presented with kidney failure and many of them have used native herbs either as initiating factors that started off the process or aggravating factors. That is the person probably has hypertension or diabetes or glomerulonephritis, whose kidneys are partially damaged. He now goes ahead and takes the herbs, which further worsens the condition.

One cannot throw away the possibility that several of these native herbs work, but the reality is that it is not regulated in any way. The same herbs

are prepared for the same conditions in different ways by different people.

So, some might be genuine and many others might not be genuine. Similarly, for something that is so unregulated and poses the risk to a lot of the population, I think government needs to find a way of ensuring the safety of its citizenry. I believe that there are now Boards that oversee such practices and herbal medicine practitioners themselves need to self-regulate.

That aside, what is clear to us is that many of our patients who end up with kidney failure have the use of such native herbs either as initiating factors or as aggravating factors.

What message are we taking away from the 2014 World Kidney Day event?

The theme for this year is “Chronic Kidney Disease and Ageing”. There is a need for those who are aged to recognise that they are more likely to have those conditions that can cause the kidneys to fail. We know that as their age progresses, their kidney functions also decline. So, there is a need for aged people to avail themselves of the opportunity to go for screening.

Specifically, how can water intake help kidney health?

We do not take enough water, but the more water that we take, the better the flow of blood to the kidneys to carry out its functions.

HEALTH 43

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

EPIDEMIC Over 80 million Americans and Nigerians have bad breath

Oluwatosin Omoniyi

H

as bad breadth become an epidemic worldwide? If no, why has the sale of mouth wash products become a big business? According to findings in the Dental Journal published in Feburary, 2014, each year, Americans spend more than $10 billion on oral hygiene products. We want our breath to smell sweet as a baby's.

However, despite using an array of expensive remedies, some 80 million Americans and Nigerians still suffer from chronic halitosis, otherwise known as bad breath.

To check the use of mouthwash, a Medical School Professor at Nashville, America and author of ‘ The Natural Medicine Chest’, Ellen Kamhi, has suggested that a natural way of mouth washing's by swishing a small of amount of coconut or olive oil in your mouth, "pull the oil back and forth through your teeth for three to five minutes. This helps restore gum health and destroys odour-causing bacteria while preserving good bacteria,” she said.

According to the Dental Journal, "Use of mouthwash on a daily basis poses a significant risk for developing head and neck cancers."

Another new research, published in the Journal 'Free Radical Biology And Medicine,' 2014, shows that using mouthwash can increase the risk of heart attacks and

A man uses brand mouthwash

‘Mouthwash increases risk of heart attack, stroke’ strokes by killing off ‘good’ bacteria that helps blood vessels relax. Depletion of this good bacteria can increase blood pressure.

Lynn Griebahn, a dentist with Albany state University, New York, said: "it has harsh chemicals that dry your mouth and kill both the good and bad bacteria in your mouth and gut." I tell my patients to avoid using mouthwash at all costs."

Ismail Adeyemi, a Nigerian dentist with Berkshire Hospital in Massachusetts, corroborated that most mouthwashes offer only a temporary respite. He warned that they can actually make the problem worse

and even harm the overall health of users, adding that most of the mouth washes, especially big brands contain alcohol or the chemical chlorhexidine,( a disinfectant especially in the form of its hydrochloride or gluconate) both of which merely mask unpleasant odors while killing healthy bacteria in the mouth as well as the microbes that cause halitosis. “Alcohol-based products also dry out your mouth, which contributes to bad breath,” he said.

An expert in identifying bacteria that causes offensive breath who spoke on the condition of anonymity corroborated the

fact that brand-name mouthwashes can cause a vicious cycle: they leave a pleasant, tingly taste in the mouth for a few minutes, leading a person to believe their breath problem is solved, but over time, the death of good bacteria means that odor-causing microbes multiply with a vengeance, giving people worse breath than ever. This causes them to use more mouthwash, which makes the problem even worse.

"Each person has maybe 100 to 200 bacterial species colonising their mouth at any given time," he said. .

Some of these bacteria can cause bad breath, but others are beneficial, keeping harmful microbes in check and aiding digestion. Using mouthwash destroys all oral bacteria, wiping out the natural checks and balances in our system, and paving the way for opportunistic infections such as gum disease to take over, according to Anuoluwapo.

On factors that cause chronic bad breath, Kamhi identified them as smoking, drinking alcohol, dental cavities, gum disease, and a diet high in sugar, diabetes.

Other factors that can cause bad breath are kidney and liver diseases.

She advised that anyone with persistent bad breath should see a doctor to rule out serious health problems. She added that routine brushing and flossing can go a long way toward keeping breath clean smelling and probiotic supplements and yogurt can also help promote breath-freshening bacteria. If you do eat garlic just before a meet-andgreet, she recommends chewing parsley or sucking on a whole clove.

Coffee has high anti-oxidants - Expert Appolonia Adeyemi

R

ita Onuigbo (not real name) and her finance, Denrele Cooker had agreed to meet at the coffee shop along Broad Street, Lagos on Saturday to resolve an issue that had pitted Denrele against his future wife. Being the first to arrive at the venue more than two hours behind the appointed time, Denrele ordered a cup of coffee and was actually sipping the bevearage when Rita turned up.

As soon as she sat down on the seat beside Denrele, she bent forward to catch a glimpse of what Denrele was sipping.

"Coffee again," she charged! You must listen to mummy's views that drinking coffee will harm you. This is a bevearage that you must keep away from if you want to live long."

The opinion of Rita on the consumption of coffee is similar to the position of many Nigerians. Often, the information disseminated around town is that consuming coffee is not good for both adults and children. These and many others are some of the myths on coffee consumption, the most drunk bevearage worldwide after water.

To debunk these myths, a group of professionals with science background is currently re-presenting coffee to the Nigerian public with a view to highlight a lot of science-based benefits in the bev-

Coffee beans. Inset: a cup of coffee

earage.

Speaking at an Ignite Programme aimed to educate the public on the health benefits of taking coffee so that they can make informed choice on taking coffee, a Nutritional Biochemist with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Dr. Bathlomew Brai, it was observed that many people in Nigeria do not take coffee. Besides, many healthcare practitioners are not very familiar with the benefits of taking coffee, but from evidence in science, coffee as a beaverage, in many aspects has many benefits.

On the health perspectives, he said coffee has been associated with lower risk of a number of diseases including cardiovascular diseases, liver cancer, type-2 diabetes

and the development of dental caries.

“So, coffee lowers the risk of these diseases. Hence, it is so beneficial not only economically, but socially, nutritionally and health wise,” he said, adding that coffee is made up of anti-oxidants, which occur in the form of polyphenols . The most important one is the cholorogenic acid.

From research, it has been discovered that coffee has the highest source of dietary anti-oxidants more than what is present in fruits, red wine, among others, said Brai.

Explaining the health benefit of anti-oxidants in the body, he said: “Normally, we have free radicals generated from the environment where we live and also from our internal environment because we have metabolic activities going on in the body. What radicals do is to damage biological molecules and when they do so, they lead to a number of degenerative diseases.

“On their part, anti-oxidants mop up free radicals and reduce their concentration in the body to manageable levels. In that way, anti-oxidants help to protect the cells from oxidation," said Brai.

A Consultant Cardiologist from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr. Olusegun-Joseph Akinsanya said although, coffee has a long history of being blamed for many ills, “recent research indicates that coffee may not be so bad at all.

Research over the past few years suggest that coffee consumption may protect against heart failure, liver cancer, liver cirrohosis, gall bladder disease, etc, Akinsanya averred.

Similarly, the cardiologist confirmed that coffee has natural bioactive compounds with beneficial properties including: caffeine, fibre and micronutrients, polyphenols including cholorogenic acid, flavonoids and melanoidins.

According to a large prospective cohort study published in 2008, Akinsanya said coffee moderately reduces the incidence of dying from cardiovascular disease.

Similarly, a 2009 prospective study in Japan following nearly 77,000 individuals aged 40 to 79 found that coffee consumption was associated with a reduced risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

Furthermore, a May 2012 study by the New England Journal of Medicine found that coffee drinkers "who drank at least two or three cups a day were about 10 per cent or 15 per cent less likely to die for any reason during the 13 years of the study."

According to him, coffee has been badly labeled. Although caffeine has not been implicated in the diseases highlighted above, that is not to say that everybody can tolerate caffeine. He advised people who are caffeine sensitive to go for de-caffeinated coffee.

44 HEALTH

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

‘48m Nigerians will have diabetes, hypertension by 2020' ALARMING More Nigerians go down with hypertension, diabetes Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

A

professor of Chemical Pathology at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Adeyinka Akande, has raised alarm over the increasing rate of diabetes and hypertension among Nigerians with a projection that about 48 million Nigerians would be suffering from either or both of the diseases in the next six years.

Akande, who made the projection in his inaugural lecture in Ilorin, has therefore advocated the establishment of a National Health Policy on NonCommunicable Diseases (NCDs) as well as the enforcement of a work-place medical evaluation as compulsory part of the promotion processes in the public service.

“Despite the increasing prevalence rate and the various associated complications, the knowledge of the disease by the public and health care providers is still very poor, " he said.

One of the greatest challenges in a developing world like Nigeria is how to increase public and physician awareness towards early diagnosis, appropriate treatment measures and reduction of complication in the face of inadequate

L-R: Senior Scientist, Nestle Research Center, Switzerland, Dr. KimmoMakinen; Consultant, Pediatrician/Medical Director, Iduma Specialist Hospital, Lagos, Dr. KehindeWenike-Briggs and Consultant, Pediatrician/Endocrinologist, Providence Hospital, Ikoyi Lagos, Dr. Dorothy Esangbedo, during Scientific Symposium,entitled ‘Happiness is back in the Family’ held in Ikeja, Lagos……on Tuesday

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

facilities and manpower.

The prevalence of both diabetes mellitus and hypertension is on the increase. By the year 2020, about 20 to 30 per cent of Nigerians would be suffering from either or both of them.

It is therefore pertinent for the nation to brace up on using this evidence. This can be achieved by the establishment of a National Health Policy on NCDs, especially Diabetes and Hypertension Policy.

Experts screen 50 in free goiter control mission

N

o fewer than 50 people residents of Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State have been screened for goitre. It is the swelling of the neck or larynx resulting from enlargement of the thyroid gland.

The Lagos State Government kick started a control programme to curb the alarming rate of people suffering from the disease.

This is contained in a statement from the Public Relations Officer in Lagos State Ministry of Health, Mr Tunbosun Ogunbanwo.

According to the statement, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris who made this known recently at the Ajara Vetho Primary Healthcare Centre in Badagry, said the specialised screening mission for patients suffering from goitre was necessitated by the high number of cases seen during a free medical mission held in Badagry Local Government Area.

The free medical mission was conducted in Badagry between 9th and 12th of December, 2013.

It was in realisation of the burden of referring these patients to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), coupled with the fact that the clinical management of thyroid swellings requires primary care, health education and disease prevention.

He noted that the first phase of the goitre control programme which was piloted in Badagry LGA involved a clinical assessment of the patients and an epidemiological survey of the community in order to determine the true extent of the disease burden, as well as investigate the determinants of the disease.

According to Idris, after the screening exercise, patients suffering from the disease will be offered definitive care as deemed appropriate following the review of a team of highly skilled surgeons and endocrinologists.

However, in order to reduce the incidence of the disease burden in the long term, measures are being put in place to stem the root cause of this alarming number in the community.

“In line with the WHO strategies and policies, the objectives of such policies should include to reduce the level of exposure, strengthen the health care system, raise the priority and review and strengthen policies,” he said.

In the lecture titled, “From Nothing to Something: Evidence is the Best Teacher,” Akande linked the upsurge in non communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to poor and western lifestyle, choices often imported

to Africa pointing out that the treatment of such diseases will be less expensive if diagnosed early.

On using medical evaluation as one of the basis for promotion in the public service, the professor traced the trend to the adoption of the recommendation by the America Medical Association that every healthy person above 35 years should pay a yearly visit to the doctor to do a series of tests, a head-to-toe physical examination.

Negligence: ‘Pharmacists must avoid lawsuits' Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

F

ormer Chairman of Odu'a Investment Company Ltd., Chief Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli has urged pharmacists in the country to insure themselves against malpractice and medical negligence which may land them in damaging lawsuits and heavy liabilities.

Alli gave the charge on Tuesday while delivering a keynote address at a lecture organised as part of a week- long programme to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan.

In his lecture entitled: "Pharmacy Practice in Relation to Nigerian Law", Alli, a lawyer, pointed out that patients were increasingly becoming aware of their rights in health care, and as such would not hesitate to sue any health care giver who took him or her for granted.

"There is no recognition of ignorance of the law as a defence to breaches of the Law or particular requirements of Statutes.

Secondly, there is an increasing level of awareness by patients of their rights in

health care, as well as in other areas," he said, adding, "What this means is that any health care giver who takes patients for granted or remains unmindful of the rights of those seeking his services, exposes himself or his employer to potentially- damaging lawsuits and heavy liabilities".

He therefore advised that "the time has come for health professionals including pharmacists, to insure themselves against malpractice or medical negligence as their counterparts in the U.S or the U.K would of necessity do."

Alli, the Lagunna Balogun Olubadan of Ibadanland, nevertheless advised practitioners and students not to be discouraged or scared as there was "no law requiring health professionals to be perfect or never to make mistakes; only that he must be professionally sound, reasonable and humane."

He also urged young and up- coming pharmacists to take professionalism and competence seriously even as they "keep abreast of developments in their field or specialty through self improvement and continuing education."

METRO

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

ee die as ths clash agos

s

men were killed injured at the area of Lagos y, after two facers engaged in

fied one of the -Ojora, but the ot yet known. ich spilled over night, led to a nding commeras the rampagdalised several

ween two factions area known as and ‘Matiminu st year. It broke sday night, after ing to Matiminu led when they rts at a market

s were said to on the boys in d stabbed them fleeing. inu boys heard heir colleagues, e to collect the hey took to the ba of Ijora. y, the situation Matiminu boys

sighted a member of the Ogbana boys in a commercial bus and pursued the bus. They allegedly dragged the boy out of the bus and started stabbing him.

The boy attempted to run, but they inflicted more wounds on him before they left him to bleed to death.

Sympathisers later rushed him to Jim-Sam Hospital, which reportedly belongs to the council Chairman, Dr Adedayo Samuel, but was rejected because of his critical condition. He died on his way to another hospital.

A resident, who craved anonymity, said trouble started last year after the brutal killing of two members of Ogbana boys.

He said: “This whole trouble started last year after two boys, Onome and Ololo, were killed.

Both were members of the Keke

Marwa group at Ijora Oloye. The members of the Keke Marwa group are loyalists to Ogbana, who was the chairman of the Keke Marwa group. Ogbana was killed last year.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the incident.

She said: “The incident started on Tuesday night.

One Niyi Star, who had been charged to court by Ijora Police Station for murder three years ago, was suddenly seen in the streets. When he came for the attack, he came in the company of six other boys. They all came from Orile-Igamu.

“The said Niyi Star was born and brought up at Ijora, but relocated to Orile. He launched the attack on one Ade-Ojora.

Ade-Ojora was a wanted criminal and had been on police wanted list. He lived at No. 5 Ijora Oloye Street and was 25 years old. Immediately Niyi Star stabbed Ade-Ojora, he fled, but people identified him.

“Youths came out today in retaliatory mood, but police stopped them. Security had been beefed up in the area.

Ade-Ojora died in hospital, but his parents had not reported the matter to the police.”

Umar Manko, CP, Lagos

The man of God, however, said it was not within his power to forgive the robbers.

The robbers climbed the top of one of the cars in the premises, landed on the balcony of the house and entered the apartment.

The sleeping members of the family where scared when they opened their eyes to flashing torchlights on their faces and found strangers staring coldly at them.

The robbers ransacked the entire apartment, snatched phones, money, laptops and other valuables.

They also stole one of the cars. They were already in the getaway car, celebrating their success when they ran into a police team.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Mr. Chris Ezike, in charge of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Lagos State, confirmed the arrest.

He said: “On March 5, a gang of armed robbers invaded Egbeda area of Lagos in the wee hours, dispossessed them of various properties, including laptops, jewellery, cash, smartphones, among others.

“The robbers snatched a Toyota Camry, marked EKY621BH from one Professor Benjamin Nwaneri, residing in the neighbourhood.

About 5:30am, a team of detectives on surveillance intercepted the car with three occupants at the Ojota axis of Lagos.

45

Murdered teenager

My son would have been a doctor –Mother SEEKING JUSTICE A coalition of civil society groups stage a protest in Lagos to demand justice over the murder of a Nigerian student in Ghana Taiwo Jimoh

M

other of Godwin Ayogu, the Nigerian student murdered in Ghana, has disclosed that her son was planning to study Medicine in Canada.

Mrs Gladys Ayogu told our correspondent yesterday that the dream of the deceased was to go to Canada after graduating from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.

He was killed on February 18, allegedly by his roommate named Abatsi Gwesu alias ‘Enay’.

The bereaved mother, who said it was her late Godwin’s roommate who first called her to inform her about his death, said she was suspicious of the call.

She said: “My pain is that my first child was killed because of money. That is why we are crying for justice.

“I see no reason why I

Nwaneri

“One Emmanuel Ambrose was arrested, while the other two took to their heels. However, Audu Akeem, another member of the gang was arrested while trying to escape on motorcycle. The suspects have confessed to the crime, while Professor Benjamin Nwaneri has identified his car.”

Nwaneri said he was not at home when the robbers struck.

He said: “I was not in Lagos when the robbery

Some of the protesters

PHOTOS: TONY EGUAYE

Mrs Ayogu, mother of the deaceased

am still alive. Godwin is the strength of my youth. I laboured to raise him to that stage. Where do you expect me to start from now?

“Godwin was killed a year to complete his programme at the university. We sent him there when his Chemistry result was withheld.

“And now the High Commission is telling me they are

happened. I was attending a meeting at Awka in Anambra State. My children and wife were sleeping in the apartment when they felt someone flashing torchlight on their sleeping faces. The time was about 3am.”

According to Nwaneri, after the hoodlums left, he received a phone call from his son, explaining to him how robbers had just robbed them.

He said: “I quickly called Idimu Police Station. I was interacting with the Idimu policemen when I suddenly received another phone call and dropped the first to pick the incoming one.

“The caller was one of the FSARS men. Apparently, a SARS team noticed the way the car was parked on the road and the way the driver was struggling to demobilise it. The team went over to quiz the driver. The driver claimed that his name was Benjamin Nwaneri. He claimed my identity.

“The team went thoroughly through the vehicles particulars, saw my phone number and called. I picked. The police officer said that he had just spoken with a driver who said his name was Benjamin. I told him that the man was a thief ! That they just robbed us a few minutes ago.”

Nwaneri later learnt that one of the policemen, who was standing close to the doors of the vehicles that was being checked would have been killed, but for his quick reflex action.

still working on the death of my son.”

The woman spoke during a protest to the Consulate General of Ghana in Lagos.

The protest, organised by coalition of civil society organisations, was to register people’s displeasure over the manner the Nigerian student schooling in that country was allegedly murdered by his roommate.

The protesters said they wanted to call the attention of the High Commission to the way the case was being handled by the Ghanaian police since Ayogu’s death.

In a protest letter submitted to the Deputy Consul-General, Mr Isaac Essilifie, the group gave the Ghanaian Government two weeks to fish out Ayogu’s killers.

Responding, Essilifie said the Ghanaian Government was already working to unravel and prosecute Ayogu’s killers.

He said: “Nigeria and Ghana have good working relationship.

As a country, we will not do things that will mar the friendship that exists between us.”

Essilifie also said that the matter was already before the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) parliament.

Ayogu, a 300-level student of Economics, was stabbed to death by his attackers, who tied his hands and feet, disembowelled him and later dropped his body in front of his hostel.

46 BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

19-Mar-14

The FMDQ Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixed income securities and instruments in the OTC market. The use of this report is subject to the FMDQ OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement.

Bonds

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

NA

NA

Description 10.75 31-MAR-2014 9.20 29-JUN-2014 9.25 28-SEP-2014 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

31-Mar-07 29-Jun-07 28-Sep-07 23-Apr-10 16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10

10.75 9.20 9.25 4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00

35.00 45.00 100.00 535.00 327.47 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 50.00 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57

31-Mar-14 29-Jun-14 28-Sep-14 23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30

0.03 0.28 0.53 1.10 2.41 3.11 3.36 3.45 4.20 5.28 5.60 7.86 9.99 14.70 15.18 15.67 16.35

12.44 13.05 14.29 13.56 14.22 14.10 13.99 13.99 13.96 13.99 13.92 13.98 13.92 13.90 13.90 13.90 13.95

8.10 12.50 13.98 13.39 14.14 13.98 13.87 13.87 13.85 13.92 13.83 13.93 13.86 13.85 13.85 13.83 13.89

99.92 98.89 97.53 90.55 97.65 102.40 89.16 87.63 89.86 107.25 73.67 111.20 101.50 106.76 91.14 65.87 74.76

100.07 99.04 97.68 90.70 97.80 102.70 89.46 87.93 90.16 107.55 73.97 111.50 101.80 107.06 91.44 66.17 75.06

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

4,167.04 Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

Price

***LCRM

Description

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.62 1.18 1.54 2.73 3.09 3.30

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.49 1.00

15.35 17.09 16.48 15.98 15.49 14.99

91.29 82.38 101.11 89.48 86.44 84.94

05-Aug-14 15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.38 0.58 1.45 0.82 1.35 1.36 3.09 1.92 3.79 2.56 4.55 2.76 2.76 3.34 3.23 5.68 3.37 4.09 6.69 4.09 4.13

4.88 5.99 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 7.60 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 1.21 1.00 2.46 1.94 2.74 2.74 1.00 1.44 1.95

18.65 20.31 18.72 17.70 18.80 17.82 19.59 21.56 15.76 15.76 14.94 14.98 15.19 14.99 16.46 15.86 16.73 16.70 14.92 15.40 15.91

98.22 96.69 92.39 95.92 94.70 97.64 78.51 88.55 95.05 96.39 96.95 99.14 105.23 98.81 97.74 94.95 95.22 94.55 94.05 102.46 102.12

07-Oct-14 18-Dec-14 31-Dec-14 17-Aug-15 09-Dec-15 06-Jan-16 29-Sep-16 25-Oct-16 30-Sep-17 30-Nov-17 09-Apr-18 09-Sep-18 09-Sep-18 22-Sep-18 18-Oct-18 17-Feb-19 14-Nov-20

0.55 0.75 0.79 0.93 1.01 1.09 2.53 2.60 3.53 2.15 2.06 2.47 2.47 4.51 2.33 2.67 6.66

1.00 5.21 8.71 4.88 1.00 2.63 1.00 1.34 4.52 1.88 3.48 5.20 5.06 3.06 2.29 6.11 2.76

15.31 19.64 23.16 19.42 15.57 17.14 14.96 15.31 18.50 15.80 17.39 19.15 19.01 17.00 16.23 20.08 16.68

98.03 95.83 95.69 92.44 96.93 97.30 95.99 97.76 86.15 105.00 97.71 97.97 101.79 90.79 99.23 94.30 94.30

11-Feb-18

3.90

1.00

14.97

86.25

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

1,304.32

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto A-/GCR

KWARA NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS *EKITI *NASARAWA

14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

05-Aug-09 15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 30-Sep-13 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14

14.00 14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50 14.50 15.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

567.90

Corporate Bonds A+/Agusto; AA/GCR Aa/Agusto Nil Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto BB+/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto A/GCR BBB-/GCR BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

17.00 6.00 8.50 16.50 13.00 18.50 57.00 50.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00 20.00 80.00 30.00 11.40 87.00 5.00 5.00

NAHCO

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

LAFARGE WAPCO GTB µ NGC *UPDC *FLOURMILLS *CHELLARAMS NAHCO FSDH UBA *C & I LEASING *DANA# *TOWER# # *TOWER UBA *LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

07-Oct-11 18-Dec-09 01-Apr-10 17-Aug-10 09-Dec-10 06-Jan-11 29-Sep-11 25-Oct-13 30-Sep-10 30-Nov-12 09-Apr-11 09-Sep-11 09-Sep-11 22-Sep-11 18-Oct-13 17-Feb-12 14-Nov-13

11.50 13.50 17.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 13.00 14.25 13.00 18.00 16.00 18.00 16.00 14.00 15.75 17.00 15.25

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

11.80 13.17 2.00 15.00 37.50 1.50 15.00 5.53 20.00 0.94 8.01 3.63 1.00 35.00 3.00 0.54 2.05

175.67

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

11-Feb-13

10.20

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

12.00

12.00 Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value ($'mm)

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

FGN

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.64

5.50

106.20

107.06

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

18-Dec-09

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.71

4.53

101.58

102.30

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

01-Apr-10

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.06

5.93

102.21

103.13

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

Corporate Eurobonds Afren PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

3.71

3.19

113.82

114.83

GTBank PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

5.38

4.70

104.25

105.66

GTBank PLC II

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.37

6.08

98.53

99.66

B+/S&P

Access Bank PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.28

6.81

99.90

101.28

B/S&P; B/Fitch

Fidelity Bank PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.44

8.07

94.63

95.88

B/Fitch

Afren PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

5.12

4.63

114.42

115.48

B-/S&P; B/Fitch B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Sub-National Bonds

KWARA NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS *EKITI *NASARAWA

SHIELDING INVESTORS The Securities and Exchange Commission moves to ensure confidence in the market

Stories by Chris Ugwu

I

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE n a bid to ginger investors'

confidence Corporate Bonds in Nigeria’s local bourse, the LAFARGE Securities A+/Agusto; AA/GCR WAPCO and Exchange Commission Aa/Agusto GTB µ Nil (SEC) has endorsedNGCthe rules Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC and regulations governing the A-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS Investor Protection Fund (IPF) BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS in the equities A+/Agusto; A-/GCR market.

NAHCO A-/Agusto IPF is a schemeFSDH funded by A/GCR the World Bank to UBA ensure conBBB-/GCR & I LEASING fidence in the stock*C market.

It BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *DANA# gives succour to investors who A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR *TOWER# # been in one wayA+/GCR or the other had AAA/DataPro†; *TOWER A/Agusto; A/GCR genuinely duped or UBA lost his/her Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA investment in the market.

BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS# The approval by the CommisA+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO sion is seen by market watchers TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE as an effort that will bring the Supranational Bondtonic to attract much needed AAA/S&P IFC investors more local and foreign TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE to boost the stock market.

The Chief Executive Officer Issuer of theRating/Agency Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema, disFGN Eurobonds closure this yesterday during a BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P one-day investor's clinic organBB-/Fitch; ised for shareholders’ associaFGN BB-/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

Premium (%)

Yield (%)

Price

0.62 1.18 1.54 2.73 3.09 3.30

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.49 1.00

15.35 17.09 16.48 15.98 15.49 14.99

91.29 82.38 101.11 89.48 86.44 84.94

1,304.32 BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

SEC endorses Investor Protection Fund rules A/Agusto A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto A-/GCR

(Yrs)

47

Market Capitalisation dips further by N44bn

14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 tions on the floor of the Nige14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 rian Stock Exchange (NSE).

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 II 4-OCT-2018 OnNIGER the current state of 14.50 EKITI health of09-DEC-2018 the stock market, On14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 yema noted that the improved 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 regulatory environment and 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 performance of quoted com14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 panies from 2012 till date, has 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 positively impacted on stock 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 market and overall mar14.50 EKITIprices II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 ket indices.

05-Aug-09 14.00 15-Oct-09 14.00 31-Aug-10 12.50 30-Sep-10 13.00 30-Jun-11 14.00 30-Jun-09 15.50 19-Apr-10 10.00 30-Jun-10 13.75 recorded in 2012 to N4.17billion 30-Dec-10 14.00 EOY30-Sep-11 2013.

14.00 04-Oct-11 Year to Date 2014,14.00 local Inves09-Dec-11 14.50 tors participation in our market 12-Dec-13 14.00 stands at over 50 per15.50 cent (50.72 14-Feb-12 per cent) compared to 02-Oct-12 15.50the 49.28 22-Nov-12 14.50 per cent foreign participation.

12-Dec-12 14.75 It can be recalled that as at end 30-Sep-13 14.75 of first quarter 2013, 27-Nov-13 13.50local investors accounted for 31-Dec-13 14.50 close to 06-Jan-14 15.00 60 per cent of transaction value

17.00 05-Aug-14 0.38 6.00 15-Oct-14 0.58 8.50 31-Aug-15 1.45 16.50 30-Sep-15 0.82 13.00 30-Jun-16 1.35 18.50 30-Jun-16 1.36 57.00 19-Apr-17 3.09 50.00 30-Jun-17 1.92 25.00 31-Dec-17 3.79 50.00 30-Sep-18 2.56 9.00 quity transactions 04-Oct-18 at4.55the 20.00 09-Dec-18 2.76 Nigeria Stock Exchange 12.00 12-Dec-18 2.76 to tumble 27.00 (NSE) continued 14-Feb-19 3.34 as the bears02-Oct-19 dominated trans20.00 3.23 80.00 22-Nov-19 5.68 in actions, leading to a decline 30.00 12-Dec-19 3.37 major blue chips.

11.40 30-Sep-20 4.09 the back of6.69 low 87.00Riding on 27-Nov-20 sentiments in the market 5.00 31-Dec-20 4.09 5.00 06-Jan-21 4.13 yesterday, trading activities

4.88 18.65 98.22 5.99 20.31 96.69 4.44 18.72 92.39 3.23 17.70 95.92 4.46 18.80 94.70 3.48 17.82 97.64 5.59 19.59 78.51 7.60 21.56 88.55 N44 or 0.37 per 1.79 billion 15.76 95.05cent to 1.80 close at N11.928 trillion 15.76 96.39 as 1.00 14.94 96.95 reagainst N11.972 trillion 1.00 14.98 99.14 corded on Tuesday. The num1.21 15.19 105.23 ber1.00of gainers 14.99at the close 98.81 of trading session closed 2.46 16.46 97.74 flat at 1.94 14 while 15.86 decliners 94.95 closed 2.74 95.22 higher at 41.16.73 2.74 16.70 94.55 Meanwhile, 1.00 14.92a turnover 94.05 of 254.1 million shares worth 1.44 15.40 102.46 1.95 billion in 15.91 102.12was N3.6 4,270 deals

He said all vital performance metrics in the capital market bounced 11.50have LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCTback 2014 from 13.50critical GUARANTYlow TRUSTto 18-DEC-2014 the which they 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 backslid in 2008 and have gener10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 ally remained upbeat with the 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 market capitalisation 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 of listed 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 equities on the NSE increasing 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 by over 47.33 per cent in the past 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 year alone.

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 The NSE boss noted: "Also, MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 the average daily value of MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25traded TOWER 9-SEP-2018 shares went up by 57.36 14.00cent UBA II 22-SEP-2018 per from the N2.65billion

in the Nigerian capital market, 567.90 closed in the red, following while foreign investors were re- price losses suffered by major sponsible blue chip companies, as 0.55 mar07-Oct-11for about 40 11.50per cent; 11.80 07-Oct-14 18-Dec-14 of equities 0.75 this 18-Dec-09 turn of events 13.50 contrasted 13.17 ket capitalisation 01-Apr-10 17.00 2.00 0.79 sharply with the circumstances depreciated31-Dec-14

by N44 billion.

17-Aug-10 10.00 15.00 17-Aug-15 0.93 between 2009 and the first half At the close of trading ses09-Dec-10 12.00 37.50 09-Dec-15 1.01 of 2012 when local investors es- 1.50 sion, the NSE All-Share Index 06-Jan-11 14.00 06-Jan-16 1.09 chewed the market 13.00 on account 15.00 moved down by 137.44 basis 29-Sep-11 29-Sep-16 2.53 25-Oct-13 14.25 in the 5.53 25-Oct-16 2.60 of losses they sustained points or 0.37 per cent to close 30-Sep-10 13.00 30-Sep-17 aftermath of the near melt- 20.00 at 37,136.60 index points. 3.53 This 30-Nov-12 18.00 0.94 30-Nov-17 2.15 down of 2008 with transaction is against the opening index 09-Apr-11 16.00 8.01 09-Apr-18 2.06 values being controlled of 37,274.04.09-Sep-18 09-Sep-11 18.00 by for3.63 2.47 eign09-Sep-11 investors to the16.00 tune of 80 1.00 In the same vein, market 09-Sep-18 2.47 22-Sep-11 14.00 35.00 22-Sep-18 4.51by per cent in certain instances.” capitalisation depreciated

recorded at the close of business.

The banking 1.00 15.31 sub-sector 98.03 of the5.21financial19.64 services 95.83 sector 8.71the most23.16 95.69 the was active during 4.88 19.42 92.44 day (measured by turnover 1.00 15.57 96.93 volume); with 2.63 17.14 176.2 million 97.30 shares worth N2.4 billion 1.00 14.96 95.99 ex1.34 15.31 97.76 changed by investors in 1,690 4.52 18.50 86.15 deals.

Volume in the banking 1.88 15.80 105.00 sector was largely driven by 3.48 17.39 97.71 activity in the shares of Ze5.20 19.15 97.97 nith 5.06 Bank Plc 19.01and Diamond 101.79 3.06 17.00 90.79 Plc.

B

Berger Paint’s profit rises to N379m

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

15.25erger NAHCO II Paints 14-NOV-2020Nigeria Plc, a paint manufacturing company listed on the floor of the Nigeria Stock Ex10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 change (NSE) has posted a 33 per cent growth in profit for the financial year ended 2013.

Description Addressing stockbrokers and investment community at the company's fact behind 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 the figures yesterday, the Managing Director, Berger 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 Paints 6.38 JUL 12, 2023

18-Oct-13

15.75

E

3.00

18-Oct-18

2.33

2.29

16.23

99.23

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.54

17-Feb-19

2.67

6.11

20.08

94.30

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

6.66

2.76

16.68

94.30

175.67

Nigeria Plc, Mr. Tor Nygard, Paints CEO said that operat3.90 said11-Feb-13 the unaudited10.20 financial 12.00 ing income 11-Feb-18 also increased by result of the company showed 12.00 33 per cent, from N154 million a growth in profit before tax of to N205 million during the Date Coupon (%) Issue Value ($'mm) Bid Yield (%) N379Issue million in 2013 as against year underMaturity Date N285 million recorded in the review. In the same breadth, comparable period of 2012. turnover also rose to N2.709 07-Oct-11 6.75 500.00 28-Jan-21 5.64 This represents an increase billion from N2.691 in 2012. of 33 per cent. The the company 18-Dec-09 5.13 Berger 500.00Nygard said 12-Jul-18 4.71 01-Apr-10

6.38

500.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Chris Ugwu

12-Jul-23

6.06

intends to regain its domi1.00 14.97 nance in Nigeria and86.25 thereafter, then reach out to other markets in West Africa. He Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Price said plans have been Offer concluded by the& Yields company to build a Prices fully automated paint manu5.50 106.20 107.06 facturing plant at its Oba Akran premises 4.53 101.58 in Lagos.

102.30 5.93

102.21

103.13

19-Mar-14

1,500.00

The FMDQ Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixed income securities and instruments in the OTC market. The use of this report is subject to Corporate the FMDQ Eurobonds OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement.

B-/S&P; B/Fitch

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch FGN Bonds

Afren PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

GTBank PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

GTBank PLC II

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

B+/S&P Rating/Agency B/S&P; B/Fitch

Access Bank PLC Issuer

B/Fitch

Afren PLC II

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

First Bank PLC

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

Afren PLC III

Fidelity Bank PLC

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE **Treasury Bills NA

NA

DTM Maturity 8 27-Mar-14 15 3-Apr-14 22 10-Apr-14 29 17-Apr-14 36 24-Apr-14 50 8-May-14 57 15-May-14 64 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 22-May-14 71 29-May-14 78 5-Jun-14 92 19-Jun-14 Rating/Agency Issuer 99 26-Jun-14 106 3-Jul-14 Agency Bonds 113 10-Jul-14 AMCON 120 17-Jul-14 141 7-Aug-14 FMBN 169 4-Sep-14 NA 260 4-Dec-14 ***LCRM 295 8-Jan-15 309 22-Jan-15 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 5-Feb-15 323 337 19-Feb-15 351Bonds 5-Mar-15 Sub-National

Description

7.25 JUL 25, 2017 Issue Date

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

10.75 31-MAR-2014 31-Mar-07 10.25 APR 08, 2019 9.20 29-JUN-2014 29-Jun-07 9.25 28-SEP-20148.25 AUG 07, 202028-Sep-07 4.00 23-APR-20156.63 DEC 09, 202023-Apr-10 13.05 16-AUG-2016 16-Aug-13 15.10 27-APR-2017 27-Apr-12 9.85 27-JUL-2017 27-Jul-07 9.35 31-AUG-2017 31-Aug-07 10.70 30-MAY-2018 30-May-08 Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) 16.00 29-JUN-2019 29-Jun-12 11.70 11.45 7.00 23-OCT-2019 23-Oct-09 11.80 11.55 16.39 27-JAN-2022 27-Jan-12 12.10 11.85 14.20 14-MAR-2024 14-Mar-14 12.10 11.85 15.00 28-NOV-2028 28-Nov-08 12.60 12.35 12.49 22-MAY-2029 22-May-09 12.70 12.45 8.50 20-NOV-2029 20-Nov-09 12.75 12.50 10.00 23-JUL-2030 23-Jul-10

12.80 12.55 12.90 12.65 12.70 12.45 12.30 12.05 Description 12.85 12.60 13.30 13.05 13.30 13.05 0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 13.30 13.05 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 13.30 13.05 17.25 FMB13.30 II 03-APR-2017 13.05 0.00/16.0013.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 12.75 0.00/16.5013.40 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 13.15 0.00/16.5013.40 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 13.15 13.40 13.15 13.25 13.00 13.55 13.30

A/Agusto KWARA 14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 A-/GCR NIGER 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 A+/Agusto KADUNA 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 *from the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and EBONYI not the duration A/Agusto *EBONYI 13.00 30-SEP-2015 # Nil *BENUE 14.00 30-JUN-2016 Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity riskBENUE premiums A+/Agusto *IMO 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills A+/Agusto; A+/GCR LAGOS 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 A-/Agusto *BAYELSA 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 A/Agusto EDO 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 A+/Agusto; A+/GCR *DELTA 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 A-/Agusto; A-/GCR NIGER 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 A/Agusto; A-/GCR† *EKITI 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 A-/Agusto *NIGER 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 A/Agusto; A-/GCR *ONDO 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 A/Agusto; A-/GCR *GOMBE 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR LAGOS 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

3.71

3.19

113.82

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

5.38

4.70

104.25

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.37

350.00Date Maturity 300.00

25-Jul-17 TTM (Yrs) 02-May-18

7.28 (%) Bid Yield 8.44

6.08 Offer Yield 6.81 (%) 8.07

98.53

25-Jul-12 Coupon (%) 09-May-13

6.00 Outstanding 7.25 Value (N'bn) 6.88

08-Apr-12

10.25

10.75 9.20 07-Aug-13 9.25 4.00 09-Dec-13 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 Bid Yield (%) 16.00 11.73 7.00 11.86 16.39 12.19 14.20 12.22 15.00 12.76 12.49 12.92 8.50 13.01 10.00

13.09 13.23 13.05 12.69 Issue Date 13.31 13.83 13.87 28-Dec-11 13.91 24-May-10 14.02 03-Apr-12 14.17 09-Dec-11 14.33 20-Apr-12 15.03 06-Jul-12 15.11 15.20 15.10 15.58 05-Aug-09 15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12

Bonds

35.00 45.00 8.25 100.00 535.00 6.63 327.47 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 Tenor 233.90 CALL 600.00 750.00 DAYS 3075.00 DAYS 60150.00 DAYS 90200.00 DAYS 180 DAYS 591.57

FIXINGS NIBOR

365 DAYS

12.6250

4,167.04 Coupon Tenor(%) 1M 2M 0.00 3M 0.00 6M 17.25 9M 0.00/16.00 12M 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

31-Mar-14 300.00 29-Jun-14 300.00 28-Sep-14 23-Apr-15 360.00 16-Aug-16 2,960.00 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 Rate (%) 23-Oct-19 10.8333 27-Jan-22 11.1250 14-Mar-24 11.4583 28-Nov-28 11.7917 22-May-29 12.0417 20-Nov-29 12.2917 23-Jul-30

NITTY IssueRate Value (%)(N'bn) 12.2815 13.1410 978.35 13.1823 24.56 14.2188 6.00 14.5204 112.22 15.9115 116.70 66.49

NIFEX

1,304.32

Current Price ($/N) BID($/N) 14.00 164.5125 17.00 OFFER ($/N) 164.6125 14.00 6.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50

8.50 16.50 13.00 18.50 57.00 50.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00 20.00 80.00

0.03 12.44 5.12 0.28 13.05 07-Aug-20 7.30 0.53 14.29 1.10 13.56 09-Dec-20 6.49 2.41 14.22 3.11 14.10 3.36 13.99 Money Market 13.99 3.45 4.20 13.96 Tenor Rate (%) 5.28 13.99 OBB 10.29 5.60 13.92 7.86 13.98 9.99 13.92 O/N 10.50 14.70 13.90 REPO 15.18 13.90 Tenor Rate (%) 15.67 13.90 Call 10.25 16.35 13.95

08-Apr-19

1M 3M 6M

Maturity Date NOTE:

11.25 11.92 12.17

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

0.82 1.35 1.36 3.09 1.92 3.79 2.56 4.55 2.76 2.76 3.34 3.23 5.68

Price

105.66 99.66

99.90 Bid Price 94.63

101.28 Offer Price 95.88

168.74 171.65 179.09 Valuation Yield (%)

171.19 176.29 188.32 Indicative Price

8.10 99.92 100.07 4.63 114.42 115.48 12.50 98.89 99.04 6.86 103.49 105.16 13.98 97.53 97.68 13.39 90.55 90.70 6.22 100.51 101.63 14.14 97.65 97.80 13.98 102.40 102.70 13.87 89.16 89.46 13.87 87.63 87.93 Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) 13.85 89.86 90.16 13.92 107.25 107.55 Tenor Bid ($/N) Offer ($/N) 13.83 73.67 73.97 13.93 111.20 111.50 Spot 164.68 164.78 13.86 101.50 101.80 7D 164.95 165.23 13.85 106.76 107.06 14D 165.71 165.60 13.85 91.14 91.44 1M 165.82 166.56 13.83 65.87 66.17 2M 166.79 168.37 13.89 74.76 75.06

3M 6M 1Y # Risk Premium (%)

:Benchmarks 31-Oct-14 0.62 1.00 * :Amortising Bond 24-May-15 1.18 2.63 µ :Convertible Bond 03-Apr-17 2.27 AMCON: Asset Management 1.54 Corporation of Nigeria 09-Dec-16 2.00 FGN: Federal Government of2.73 Nigeria 20-Apr-17 3.09 1.49 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 06-Jul-17 3.30 1.00 IFC: International Finance Corporation LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company NGC: Nigeria-German Company UBA: United Bank for Africa 0.38 05-Aug-14 4.88 UPDC:15-Oct-14 UAC Property Development 0.58 Company 5.99 WAPCO:West Africa Portland1.45 Cement Company 31-Aug-15 4.44 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19

114.83

3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 7.60 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 1.21 1.00 2.46 1.94

NA :Not Applicable 15.35 Rate Bond 91.29 # :Floating 17.09 coupon bonds 82.38 ***: Deferred 16.48

101.11

15.49 14.99

86.44 84.94

18.65 20.31 18.72 17.70 18.80 17.82 19.59 21.56 15.76 15.76 14.94 14.98 15.19 14.99 16.46 15.86

98.22 96.69 92.39 95.92 94.70 97.64 78.51 88.55 95.05 96.39 96.95 99.14 105.23 98.81 97.74 94.95

15.98 †: Bond rating expired 89.48

48 BUSINESS | MONEY LINE

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Enterprise Bank targets N130bn loan portfolio INVESTORS DELIGHT Enterprise Bank has remained attractive to investors as a result of the foundation laid by the current management.

Ayodele Aminu

E

nterprise Bank Limited intends to grow its credit portfolio to N130 billion

by December this year, its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ahmed Kuru, has said.

From a meager N5 billion loan portfolio in 2011 when Kuru took over the running of the bank, loan portfolio had grown to N76 billion in 2013.

Kuru, who disclosed these yesterday during an interactive session with select Business Editors in Lagos, said the lender was ready for the impending divestment from the institution by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) – its shareholder.

Enterprise Bank was for-

Kuru

merly known as Spring Bank before it was nationalised. The bank was among the three distressed banks nationalised by AMCON on August 8, 2011.

The other two banks are Mainstreet Bank (formerly Afribank) and Keystone Bank (Bank PHB).

Kuru said that the management of the bank was now ready to transfer the bank to new investors.

He said: “For us, we have achieved quite a lot when we came in because it was a fifty-

fifty chance, but we turned around the bank within a year.

In the last three years, a lot of things have happened to improve its banking services and adhere to regulations.

“We have been able to turnaround the bank in the line of profitability, enhanced the quality of its workforce, and upgraded the bank’s technology and processes.”

Kuru said that the bank was not bothered by the new investors, adding: “The change of ownership is not a new thing”.

He said the management of Enterprise Bank was happy that at the end of the day, they are going to “hand over a strong, reliable and profitable bank to new investors.”

Kuru noted that when the management assumed office, they found staff lacking in motivation and not sure of their jobs. Besides, he said that the state of the bank’s Information Technology (IT) and processes also required a lot of improvement.

But he said the management has been able to turnaround

Economic Indicators N14,737,618.7m N16,509,472.5m 8 0.0000 12 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$109.9 US$42,604,781,796.6

Description

TTM

4.00% 23-Apr-2015 13.05% 16-Aug-2016 15.10% 27-Apr-2017 16.00% 29-Jun-2019 16.39% 27-Jan-2022 10.00% 23-Jul-2030

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 2/5/2014 1/20/2014 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 1/20/2014 2/5/2014 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

FX

Bid Spot ($/N) 163.28 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Offer 163.38

O

ne Thousand & One Voices LLC, an Africa-focused private-equity fund, said it’s in talks about investing in two Nigerian companies and another in Kenya.

In Nigeria, “one is a purely consumer-facing opportunity, the other is also in the manufacturing space with a consumer theme to it,” Hendrik Jordaan, president and chief executive officer of the fund, said in an interview with Bloomberg news yesterday. “The companies we’re looking at are all private.”

One Thousand & One Voices, started by John Coors, the great grandson of Coors Brewing Co.’s founder, is hunting for private-equity investments that tap Africa’s growing consumer markets. The fund, which hired former TPG Capital partner

Open-Buy-Back (OBB) Overnight (O/N)

Bid 163.4000

hina’s non-financial direct investments in Nigeria in 2013 stood at 1.79 billion dollars (about N293.5 billion), its Consul-General in Lagos, Mr. Liu Kan, said yesterday.

Liu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the investments were mainly those of Chinese companies involved in free trade zone, petroleum, iron and steel, manufacturing and agricultural sectors.

“The main investors, which

T

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Dag Skattum, has received commitments from more than 15 of the world’s richest families since starting last May and expects to meet a goal of raising $300 million by December, Jordaan said.

“We have sufficient capital from over 15 families that allows us to close on all the transactions in our pipeline,” Jordaan said in Lagos, adding that the fund is also in talks with potential family investors in Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa. “I’m going to be in London and Paris later this week, meeting with leading families in those geographies.”

The fund is in talks with wealthy Nigerian families, said Jordaan, who declined to be more specific. Since November, one South African family has joined the fund, he said.

are over 40 companies, include China National Offshore Oil Corporation, China National Petroleum Corporation and China Railway Construction Corporation.

“The Chinese Government will continue to encourage and support Chinese companies’ investment in Nigeria,’’ Liu said.

The envoy, who did not give statistics of the companies’ investment in 2012, said that their investments in Nigeria would increase in the future.

IMF MD Lagarde queried in French corruption probe

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

Coors-Led African buyout fund in talks with two Nigerian firms

C

Treasury Bills Maturity Date 08-May-14 07-Aug-14 22-Jan-15

being examined by the regulators, he was confident that the authorised figures would show an impressive performance by the bank.

The Enterprise Bank boss noted that it was as a result of the management’s efforts that about 24 investors within and outside the country had expressed interest in acquiring the bank.

China invested $1.79bn in Nigeria in 2013 –Envoy

As at M2* CPS* INF IBR MPR 91-day NTB DPR PLR Bonny Light Ext Res**

the situation and it accomplished this by giving staff the requisite training and refurbishing the bank’s delivery channels and processes.

He pointed out that the bank consistently recorded profits right from the first year that the current management took charge of affairs, adding that even though 2013 financial statements were still

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

he Managing Director of International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, yesterday arrived at a French court in Paris for questioning over her role in a massive state payout.

The payout of 400 million euros was made to controversial businessman Bernard Tapie in 2008 when she was finance minister.

The Court of Justice of the Republic is charged with investigating and prosecuting crimes by ministers in the course of their duties.

Lagarde had already been questioned by the court in May over the payment to Tapie to settle a long-running dispute over the sale of his sportswear company Adidas.

BUSINESS | CAPITAL MARKET 49

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Daily Summary as of 19/03/2014 Printed 19/03/2014 14:36:14.014

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at March 19, 2014

Daily Summary as of 19/03/2014

Printed 19/03/2014 14:36:14.014

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Daily Summary (Bonds)

FINANCIAL SERVICES Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Activity Summary on Board DEBT Federal

Bond Name 10.00% FGN JUL 2030 15.10% FGN APR 2017 16.00% FGN JUN 2019 16.39% FGN JAN 2022 Federal Totals

Symbol FG7B2030S3 FG9B2017S2 FG9B2019S3 FG9B2022S1

DEBT Board Totals

No. of Deals 1 1 1 1 4

Current Price 78.00 103.00 107.85 111.75

4

Bond Activity Totals

4

Quantity Traded 100 100 950 100 1250

Value Traded 79,574.39 109,015.01 1,058,814.86 114,149.64 1,361,553.90

1,250

1,361,553.90

1250

1,361,553.90

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals Daily Summary as of 19/03/2014 EVANS MEDICAL PLC. Printed 19/03/2014 14:36:14.014 FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 3 8 35 46 No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 0.50 42.00 38.95 Current Price 3.55

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY 56 Symbol AGLEVENT JOHNHOLT TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 11 2 93 59 165

CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals Daily Summary as of 19/03/2014

Printed 19/03/2014 14:36:14.014 Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED

Real Estate Development Totals

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Activity Summary on Board EQTY Automobiles/Auto Parts CONSUMER GOODS DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Beverages--Brewers/Distillers GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

Quantity Traded 132,566 132,566

Page

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURE Totals

CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

Quantity Traded 98,717 7,803 640,527 747,047

Current Price 1.41 1.21 3.71 62.00

165

Value Traded 49,358.50 311,339.70 25,046,798.50 25,407,496.70

of

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

13

879,613

25,852,241.48

Quantity Traded 102,884 25,741 7,531,426 345,099 8,005,150

Value Traded 137,864.56 29,602.15 27,949,862.46 21,033,532.79 49,150,861.96

8,005,150

49,150,861.96

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 1.38

Quantity Traded 204,300 204,300

Value Traded 281,934.00 281,934.00

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 25 25

Current Price 19.25

Quantity Traded 225,300 225,300

Value Traded 4,272,644.50 4,272,644.50

429,600

4,554,578.50

Daily Summary (Equities)

37

Symbol DUNLOP Symbol

No. of Deals 2 No. of Deals 2

Current Price 0.50 Current Price

Symbol GUINNESS INTBREW NB

No. of Deals 85 45 147 277

Current Price 168.15 24.00 145.50

No. of Deals 19 19

Current Price 91.00

Quantity Traded 794,369 Quantity Traded 794,369 Page Quantity Traded 983,270 410,210 1,366,163 2,759,643

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON UNIONDICON UTC

No. of Deals 66 108 13 51 43 2 5 288

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 18 163

Symbol

No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 181 310,963

Value Traded 274,400,088.71

Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 24 3.98 915,346 1 1.66 500 25 915,846

Value Traded 3,551,318.79 790.00 3,552,108.79

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 17 34.00 33,574 53 45.00 496,189 70 529,763

Value Traded 1,084,440.20 22,312,487.48 23,396,927.68

Food Products--Diversified NESTLE NIGERIA PLC.

CONSUMER GOODS Food Products--Diversified Food Products--Diversified Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary as of 19/03/2014 Activity Summary on Board EQTY Printed 19/03/2014 14:36:14.014 FINANCIAL SERVICES

Published byBanking The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals on Board EQTY Activity Summary

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. MANSARD INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. OASIS INSURANCE PLC PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, and Published by The Nigerian StockBrokers Exchange © Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Quantity Traded 104,144 104,144

Value Traded 9,328,313.50 9,328,313.50

Current Price 8.99 8.77 74.50 3.48 11.28 14.14 0.54

Quantity Traded 590,435 2,868,823 30,974 1,661,316 892,484 4,600 43,614 6,092,246

Value Traded 5,203,557.52 25,332,862.33 2,236,360.70 5,810,247.96 10,109,173.94 62,504.00 24,387.70 48,779,094.15

Current Price 85.40 968.00

Quantity Traded 30,189 280,774

Value Traded 2,449,233.57 271,950,855.14

Page

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC Daily Summary as of 19/03/2014 GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. Printed 19/03/2014 14:36:14.014 SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC.

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 35 32 456 43 19 38 623

Current Price 2.64 2.00 11.65 3.10 20.07 2.09

Quantity Traded 2,457,577 1,253,383 14,213,180 2,046,118 201,504 1,023,250 21,195,012

Value Traded 6,502,643.28 2,443,152.07 165,065,456.72 6,346,935.80 4,040,432.41 2,138,592.50 186,537,212.78

218,506,903

2,605,681,574.40

Quantity Traded 183,291 895,167 24,765 151,700 398,000 1,652,923

Value Traded 406,906.02 2,551,395.80 1,733,550.00 281,191.00 636,800.00 5,609,842.82

2,473 Symbol No. of Deals EVANSMED 2 FIDSON 19 GLAXOSMITH 5 MAYBAKER 9 Daily Summary (Equities) NEIMETH 5 40

Current Price 2.22 2.85 70.00 1.85 1.60

Page

40

1,652,923

862

11,506,974

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded ACCESS 126 7.41 5,021,191 DIAMONDBNK 83 6.50 35,422,223 ETI 73 13.43 4,634,823 FIDELITYBK 131 2.00 15,585,292 GUARANTY 301 23.10 19,781,445 SKYEBANK 114 3.38 8,839,584 STERLNBANK 43 2.18 3,301,579 UBASummary (Equities) 191 6.70 6,712,694 Daily UBN 69 9.84 648,990 Symbol UNITYBNK

No. of Deals 7 40 512 1,690

Daily Summary (Equities) WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

Current Price 0.50 0.97 20.51

Page

Quantity Traded 434,709 3,924,914 71,950,003 176,257,447

3

of

Current Price 0.70

Quantity Traded 300 300

Value Traded 201.00 201.00

IT Services TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals

Symbol TRIPPLEG

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.97

Quantity Traded 900 900

Value Traded 1,692.00 1,692.00

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 53,925 53,925

Value Traded 26,962.50 26,962.50

Telecommunications Services MASS TELECOMMUNICATION INNOVATIONS NIGERIA PLC Telecommunications Services Totals

Symbol MTI

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 444

Value Traded 222.00

1

444

222.00

7

55,569

29,077.50 Value Traded 13,686,384.60 864,528.25 955,890.00

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER

No. of Deals 48 11 6

Current Price 14.74 9.01 45.00

Quantity Traded 960,902 98,950 22,360

Symbol CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER FIRSTALUM IPWA PAINTCOM PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 25 58 5 2 2 1 3 14 175

Current Price 8.76 229.00 1.28 0.50 0.61 1.90 4.64 110.00

Quantity Traded 191,596 257,266 136,615 74,933 24,500 1,000 109,200 21,447 1,898,769

Value Traded 1,667,016.70 58,948,089.25 177,064.10 37,466.50 14,210.00 1,810.00 508,848.00 2,352,395.50 79,213,702.90

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 1.66

Quantity Traded 216,650 216,650

Value Traded 361,037.00 361,037.00

Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. GREIF NIGERIA PLC

Symbol BETAGLAS VANLEER WAGLASS

No. of Deals 4 6 1 11

Current Price 18.25 12.68 0.63

Quantity Traded 104,850 15,024 200 120,074

Value Traded 1,908,602.00 181,039.20 120.00 2,089,761.20

2,235,493

81,664,501.10

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 350,500

Value Traded 175,250.00

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC IPWA PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. Building Materials Totals

Daily Summary (Equities) CAP

NATURAL RESOURCES Mining Services MULTIVERSE PLC

192

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol MULTIVERSE

No. of Deals 1

Page

Symbol

No. of Deals 1

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors

Daily Summary as of 19/03/2014 CONOIL PLC Printed 19/03/2014 14:36:14.014 ETERNA PLC.

FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC Exchange © Published by The Nigerian Stock Advertising Totals

No. of Deals

Current Price

Quantity Traded

Value Traded

Current Price 0.50 0.81 1.00 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.56 0.50 2.14 0.74 0.50 0.56 0.56 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.70

Quantity Traded 100 1,725,265 166,500 881,942 15,375 80,000 7,437 115,485 1,000 32,000 2,842,040 11,594 499,822 1,067,389 1,000 25,700 160,000 13,155,624 20,788,273 Page

Value Traded 50.00 1,377,614.85 166,510.00 442,931.00 7,687.50 40,000.00 3,718.50 62,361.90 500.00 65,980.00 2,088,232.20 5,797.00 273,277.49 601,737.84 500.00 12,850.00 80,000.00 9,208,986.80 514,438,735.08 of 13

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.71

Quantity Traded 234,421 234,421

Value Traded 166,947.54 166,947.54

13

9

of

Quantity Traded 350,500

Value Traded 175,250.00

350,500

175,250.00

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 18 18

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 978,464 978,464

Value Traded 489,232.00 489,232.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 240 240

Current Price 13.87

Quantity Traded 6,339,392 6,339,392

Value Traded 87,935,378.08 87,935,378.08

No. of Deals 1 3 12 30 1 19 (Equities) 66

Current Price 51.90 3.66 93.86 121.00 54.44 153.00

Quantity Traded 1,799 75,500 130,600 173,964 200 55,545 437,608

Value Traded 88,708.69 276,330.00 11,645,602.00 20,057,824.56 10,344.00 8,499,411.80 40,578,221.05

7,755,464

129,002,831.13

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL Daily Summary

324

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 110,000 Page 110,000

Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 1.35

Quantity Traded 8,795 8,795

Value Traded 11,345.55 11,345.55

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Symbol REDSTAREX

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 4.28

Quantity Traded 385,200 385,200

Value Traded 1,654,391.00 1,654,391.00

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 138,300 138,300

Value Traded 69,150.00 69,150.00

Symbol TANTALIZER

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 6,500 6,500

Value Traded 3,250.00 3,250.00

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 13 13

Current Price 0.63

Quantity Traded 453,189 453,189

Value Traded 289,509.67 289,509.67

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,000

Value Traded 500.00

Symbol

No. of Deals 1

Current Price

Page Quantity Traded 1,000

Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Symbol LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 2 22 24

Current Price 1.72 3.34

Quantity Traded 6,000 755,200 761,200

Value Traded 9,840.00 2,555,508.00 2,565,348.00

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 0.93

Quantity Traded 354,850 354,850

Value Traded 335,833.00 335,833.00

Specialty SECURE ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY PLC Specialty Totals

Symbol NSLTECH

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 26,200 26,200

Value Traded 13,100.00 13,100.00

Transport-Related Services NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

Symbol NAHCO

No. of Deals 43 43

Current Price 5.00

Quantity Traded 524,977 524,977

Value Traded 2,620,782.43 2,620,782.43

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

No. of Deals 1 23 11 7 1 1 2 7 1 3 30 2 10 11 1 2 1 35 149

of

No. of Deals 1 1

Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC

Symbol

8

Symbol AFROMEDIA

Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC Daily Summary as of 19/03/2014 Hospitality Totals Printed 19/03/2014 14:36:14.014 Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

217,354.50 3,755,555.41 1,487,587,251.71 2,404,520,684.00

Current Price

1

OIL ANDSummary GAS Totals Activity on Board EQTY

4Value Traded of 13

of

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

NATURAL RESOURCES Mining Services Mining Services Totals

Value Traded 37,530,873.50 230,239,606.17 62,974,664.74 31,229,142.51 463,564,268.14 28,934,950.81 7,105,848.41 44,940,251.18 6,440,916.92

6

Packaging/Containers Totals

Page

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Symbol AFRINSURE AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST EQUITYASUR GNI GUINEAINS INTENEGINS LASACO MANSARD NEM NIGERINS OASISINS PRESTIGE STDINSURE UNITYKAP UNIVINSURE WAPIC

Page

Daily Summary as of 19/03/2014 W A GLASS IND. PLC. Printed 19/03/2014 14:36:14.014

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

733,481,069.60

of

5,609,842.82

No. of Deals 1 1

Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC

13

7

Symbol COURTVILLE

ICT Totals Daily Summary as of 19/03/2014 Printed INDUSTRIAL 19/03/2014 14:36:14.014 GOODS

Value Traded 397,184.50 Value Traded 397,184.50 2 of 13 Value Traded 165,342,828.91 10,094,065.50 198,190,457.86 373,627,352.27

Food Products

Activity Summary on Board CADBURY NIGERIA PLC.EQTY

Value Traded 1,375.00 3,120.00 13,500.00 17,995.00

Activity on Board EQTY Published

by TheSummary Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Symbol COSTAIN

Symbol 7UP

FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC UNION DICON SALT PLC. U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals

Quantity Traded 2,750 2,000 27,000 31,750

HEALTHCARE HEALTHCARE Totals

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals

Daily Summary as of 19/03/2014 DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC Printed 19/03/2014 14:36:14.014 DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC

Current Price 0.50 1.64 0.50

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Value Traded 444,744.78 444,744.78

1

No. of Deals 2 2 2 6

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Daily Summary as of 19/03/2014 Crop Production Totals Printed 19/03/2014 14:36:14.014

Symbol ASOSAVINGS INFINITY UNHOMES

SERVICES Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Media/Entertainment Media/Entertainment Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

SERVICES Totals Daily Summary as of 19/03/2014 Printed 19/03/2014 14:36:14.014

EQTY Board Totals

Equity Activity Totals Exchange Traded Fund Name

GRIFFIN 30 ETF PublishedExchange byVETIVA The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Traded Fund Totals

Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol VETGRIF30

11 of 13 Value Traded 500.00

2,770,211

7,618,209.65

254,148,400

3,642,820,038.14

4,270

254,148,400

3,642,820,038.14

Quantity Traded 23,000 23,000

Page

13

Value Traded 55,000.00 of 13 55,000.00

113

Current Price 16.65

13

10

4,270

No. of Deals 3 3

13

Value Traded 383,020.00 383,020.00

12

of

ETF Board Totals

3

23,000

383,020.00

ETP Activity Totals

3

23,000

383,020.00

13

50 WORLD | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Crimea: Ukraine threatens to seize Russian assets Sylva Okereke

with Agency Report

U

kraine has vented its anger against Kremlin as it threatened to nationalise Russian property in response to Crimea’s claims to its own assets in the breakaway, Black Sea peninsula.

Russia also threatened to hike price of gas supply to Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a treaty, making Crimea part of Russia, following the flashpoint region’s overwhelming vote in favour of a break from Ukraine and return to Kremlin rule.

The predominantly Russian-speaking peninsula’s switch of allegiance has not been recognised by any other country and has been condemned as illegal by the new Western-backed administra-

Missing Malaysian plane ‘spotted’ in Maldives

T

he missing Malaysian jet is believed to have been spotted over the Maldive Islands.

The Islanders said they saw a “low flying jumbo jet” and it was causing a tremendous noise.

The plane was spotted at 6:15 a.m. local time over the southern atoll of Kuda Huvadhoo, a newspaper reported.

Witnesses said the jet had the red stripe and white background of the Malaysia Airlines plane, which went missing on March 8.

The archipelago, far from the two areas in which the plane is suspected to have flown, is not one of the 26 countries, involved in the search.

Witnesses agreed that the plane was flying at sunrise from the north to the southeast.

Councillor Mohamed Zaheem, said people “came out of their homes to see what could have made such a powerful noise”.

Another witness told a newspaper: “I’ve never seen a jet flying so low over our island before. We’ve seen seaplanes, but I’m sure that this was not one of those. I could even make out the doors on the plane clearly.”

tion that toppled pro-Moscow authorities in Kiev last month.

The self-declared rulers of Crimea, an underdeveloped region of two million people with large offshore energy reserves announced a number of measures, aimed at severing their ties with Kiev and shoring up the creaking economy in the short term.

These included a claim to the pipelines as well as offshore oil and natural gas platforms of Ukraine’s stateowned Chornomorneftegaz and Ukrtransgaz energy firms.

The Crimean authorities also threatened to nationalise several Ukrainian banks.

Ukraine’s Justice Minister, Pavlo Petrenko called the measures illegal and warned Russia that it faced reprisals should it back Crimea’s moves.

“If the Russian Federation

officially recognises (Crimea’s) actions, then Ukraine reserves the right to take adequate steps to compensate these losses at the expense of property, belonging to the Russian Federa-

tion on the territory of Ukraine and in other states,” Petrenko said in a statement.

According to his statement, “We are going to do this in strict accordance with Ukrai-

nian and international law”.

Petrenko’s statement did not specify what property he was referring to or how Ukraine intended to claim ownership of Russian assets in other states.

Riot police are seen outside the grounds of Cairo University as Egyptian students, supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, demonstrate inside the grounds and on the streets, leading to their campus in the capital Cairo, yesterday.

AFP PHOTO / MOHAMED EL-SHAHED

Zuma accused of corruption, seeks re-election

P

resident Jacob Zuma has been accused of benefitting unduly from using state funds to improve his rural residence.

A top corruption fighter in South Africa has said the renovation of Zuma’s private home, including a pool and cattle enclosure, costs about $23 million (£13.8m), being tax payers’ money.

In a 400-page report, the Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela accused President Zuma of unethical conduct.

She said Mr Zuma, who faces re-election in May, should repay costs for some of the unnecessary renovations.

The refurbishment of the residence in Zuma’s home province of KwaZulu-Natal, has turned into a major political controversy in South Africa.

A government probe in December cleared President Zuma, who came to office in May 2009, of any wrongdoing, saying the improvements were needed for security reasons.

Correspondents say it was one of the reasons why Zuma was booed in December at the memorial service of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president.

Ms Madonsela, South Africa’s Ombudsman, said the cost of the Nkandla upgrades were 215m South African rand ($20m; £12m) at end of her investigation and were now estimated at 246m

rand.

“The President tacitly accepted the implementation of all measures at his residence and has unduly benefited from the enormous capital investment in the non-security installations at his private residence,” the report said.

The BBC’s Milton Nkosi in

the capital, Pretoria, says Zuma has in the past repeatedly told parliament he used his own family funds to build his homestead.

The report said that while it could be “legitimately construed” that Zuma had misled parliament over the renovations, it said it was a “bona fide mistake”.

“Some of these measures can be legitimately classified as unlawful and the acts involved constitute improper conduct and maladministration,” the AFP news agency quoted the report as saying.

Ms Madonsela said Mr Zuma has 14 days to respond to her report before parliament.

Day 13: Court examines Pistorius’s i-Pad

T

he third and final witness called to stand in Oscar Pistorius’s trial, is Colonel Mike Sales, a cellular phone expert, who examined Pistorius’s i-Pad. He used a software called XRY to download the general information, web history and bookmarks from the device.

Sales said the history of the i-pad showed the websites Pistorius had visited.

The colonel looked at the sites from 6.29pm on February 13, 2013, a day before the murder.

Sales said, there was no history before that day and that it had been most likely deleted.

The last web access was before 9.20pm that night.

The last page Pistorius had opened was a Google image search of a Morgan Aeromax car. This was visible to journalists in the court, but not stated by Sales.

Sales said this device, an iPad 3 was handed over to the defence, along the documentation of what he had downloaded.

A second iPad, the second model was also given to investigators and its contents were downloaded.

Prosecutor, Gerrie Nel asked, if there were commonalities between the two devices, such as similar websites visited.

Sales said there were Barry Roux for the defence, asked for a short adjournment, and during the break the web history was visible to journalists, who saw that at least one porn site had been accessed on the the I-pad. Nel did not refer to them in his examination of the witness.

During the adjournment, Pistorius’s legal team gathered around the seemingly upset-looking athlete for some

time before court resumed.

Defence advocate, Barry Roux asked, if police had confirmed, who had used the iPad at the time. Sales answered it was not confirmed or the number of people who had access to it.

Nel then said the state was moving towards wrapping up its evidence and that time was needed to look at new aspects of the case raised by the defence’s version.

He asked for the case to be postponed, so he could re-consult with witnesses before the long weekend.

Nel also placed on record that the state would call about five more witnesses to close their side of the case early next week.

Roux said he hoped as much court time would be used as possible, but agreed to the application after hearing the state would conclude soon.

Isaac Ekpo relishes commonwealth title Ajibade Olusesan

F

ormer WBO Interim Africa Super Middleweight champion, Isaac Ekpo, has vowed to claw his way back to the top after he was made the mandatory challenger for Com-

monwealth Boxing Council Super Middleweight title.

The Nigerian lost WBO bout to Robert Stieglitz last year October in Germany and had been looking for another shot at a title.

But the pugilist, who represented

SPORT

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

51

Nigeria at the 2004 Olympics, has now been offered another opportunity after the Commonwealth Boxing Council Super Middleweight title became vacant following the failure of Ghana’s Charles Adamu CONTINUED ON PAGE 55

NEW TELEGRAPH

Did you know?

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS kunle.salami@newtelegraphonline.com adekunles@yahoo.com

That India pulled away from the 1950 World Cup because the players were not allowed to play without shoes

thursday, march 20, 2014

Bench role: Keshi moves to save Mikel, Moses ...to discuss with Mourinho, Rodgers

Moses

Emmanuel Tobi

Mikel

W

orried by the inactivity of the duo of Mikel Obi and Victor Moses for their respective English clubs, Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has concluded plans to open discussions with Chelsea coach, Jose Mourinho, and his Liverpool counterpart, Brenda Rodgers.

New Telegraph exclusively learnt that Keshi’s decision was hinged on the crucial role of both players in the national team ahead of the 2014 World CONTINUED ON PAGE 55

Ronaldo: I’ m ready for El-classico

NBBF introduces Code of Conduct

LMC is broke, unable to pay referees

}p.52

}p.54

}p.55

52 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Ronaldo: I’ m England good enough to shine -Defoe El -classico Countdown to Fifa World Cup

J

ermain Defoe’s recent move to Major League Soccer made plenty of headlines on both sides of the Atlantic. After plenty of fanfare and build-up before Toronto FC’s first match, the 31-year-old was finally able to show everyone – perhaps even England manager Roy Hodgson – that he is still lethal in front of goal.

FIFA.com caught up with the diminutive striker for an exclusive chat after Defoe’s explosive two-goal debut that earned his new employers an impressive 2-1 win at Seattle Sounders.

Despite having limited time to train with his new team-mates, Defoe and co seemed to click instantly en route to their victory.

“All the boys have been fantastic,” Defoe said with a smile. “The team spirit is really good.

When you have to dig in towards the end, like when [the Sounders] scored a goal and put us under a lot of pressure, we all stuck together. Everyone worked hard for one another and we showed great character.”

There is at least one familiar face at the club for Defoe in the form of coach Ryan Nelsen.

Having played with Nelsen at Spurs

Defoe

in 2012, Defoe explained he was happy to be playing for the former New Zealand centre-back “Ryan is really organised,” Defoe explained.

“Even when he was at Tottenham you always knew that he would go on to be a manager. He’s just a natural leader. He’s going to do well because he’s been there and he’s done it. A lot of managers haven’t played at the top level, but Ryan has. He’s someone who knows the game inside and out. He’s the perfect manager for this club.”

“On a personal level, I’d like to score as many goals as possible for the club and go to the World Cup,” Defoe said. “If I can get that experience of playing in a second World Cup, I can come back here on a high and help the team again. That’s all I want to do.”

Defoe has previously stated he believes his move to Toronto will help his chances of earning a spot in Hodgson’s 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. And with his two-goal performance to build off of, Defoe knows what he needs to do to stay on Roy’s radar.

“I just need to play and score goals,” he said. “To get on a World Cup squad you have to be playing. Throughout my career people know I’ve scored a lot of goals. I think the most important thing for me is to play and score goals. I think that’s all I can do.”

Defoe recognised the wealth of talent awaiting England in the World Cup, though he also demonstrated confidence in England’s abilities if they can navigate their way out of a tricky g r o u p.

“Obviously Brazil are a threat and are a great footballing nation - I think everyone knows that,” Defoe said. “Spain are another great side and they win tournaments for fun.

“I think England have a great chance because I think there’s a great mix between the experienced players and the young players. It’s so exciting. It’s going to be hard for the manager to pick 23 players because there are so many good players these days.”

When asked how far he thinks the Three Lions can go in Brazil, Defoe was careful not to put the cart before the horse. “It’s important to get off to a good start,” Defoe said cautiously.

“There’s a hard first game against Italy, but I think if we get off to a good start then you just never know.

“We need to stick together and take each game as it comes. It’s hard to make predictions because it’s the World Cup. It’s the pinnacle of football and that’s why you play the game - to go there and see how it goes.”

If the former West Ham United and Portsmouth player’s maiden performance is any indication of what Toronto supporters can expect in the coming weeks and months from him, it could be hard for Hodgson not to include Defoe in his World Cup plans.

C

ristiano Ronaldo has insisted that Carlo Ancelotti made the right decision to include him in the Real Madrid starting XI for Tuesday’s 3-1 Champions League win over Schalke.

The Portugal international was expected to be rested ahead of Sunday’s Primera Division encounter against Barcelona and the season-ending knee injury Jese picked up against the Bundesliga outfit only further increased the feeling the Madrid boss should not have risked his star man.

However, Ronaldo has stressed that he was keen to play and believes Ancelotti’s decision proved to be the right one.

“I always want to play. I feel good and the coach – who makes these decisions – decided it was good for me to play,” the attacker told the official Uefa website.

“Things worked out well; I scored two goals and helped my team achieve a very important win to keep our good run going. We must continue on this path. Let’s see what happens in the next few games.”

Mourinho: Chelsea cannot win the Champions League

Mourinho (right)

C

helsea boss Jose Mourinho believes his side have no chance of winning the Champions League, despite making it into the quarter finals.

The Portuguese boss was downbeat on the Blues’ ability to progress to the semi-finals.

Having just witnessed his team beat Turkish side Galatasaray 3-1 over two legs, Mourinho remained cautious.

“All the big teams made to win the Champions League are there [in the quarter finals].”

Asked if Chelsea were in that group of top clubs, Mourinho told Gabriel

Buy Balotelli, Maradona tells Benitez

D

iego Maradona has urged Rafa Benitez’s Napoli to buy Mario Balotelli.

“If I were the president of Napoli, my first decision would be to sign Mario Balotelli,” the Argentine legend said.

Clarke:”No because the big Chelsea is not here anymore.”

Mourinho saved praised for the John Terry and Frank Lampard, who are a rarity having played for the ex-Real Madrid boss in both of his spells at Stamford Bridge.

“The really big Chelsea with a certain structure is not here anymore, we have some of those players but this is a team in transition,” Mourinho told ITV.

Mancini

Robben signs new Bayern deal

A

rjen Robben has extended his contract with Champions League title holder Bayern Munich until 2017.

Wednesday’s extension means Robben will stay in Bayern for another three seasons. The Netherlands winger’s current contract was set to expire at the end of the next season.

The 30-year-old Robben is in his fifth season with Bayern.

SPORT | EURO FOOTBALL

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

ready for P

Zlatan: Ligue 1 not easy

aris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has rubbished claims the French Ligue 1 is “too easy”, stating it is merely the quality of the side that makes it look that way.

Les Parisians currently top the standings by eight points heading into the final nine games of the league campaign, leaving them as shoe-ins to successfully defend their top-flight title.

And, following two seasons of complete domination from PSG, questions have been raised about the qual-

ity of competition in France’s premier division.

However, Ibrahimovic, this term’s top scorer with 25 goals so far, believes that could not be further from the truth.

Zlatan

Napoliupbeat aheadof Porto clash

Ronaldo

Guardiola: Barca success became a curse

P

ep Guardiola has revealed he decided to leave Barcelona in 2012 because he felt he could no longer reach his players, telling the Audi Annual Report his glittering reign had come to feel like “a curse.”

Guardiola, now with Bayern Munich, succeeded Frank Rijkaard as Barca coach in 2008 and in a remarkable four-year spell, won 14 trophies including two Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles.

However, throughout his tenure he had always refused to commit to the club long-term and, in April 2012, he announced that he would be leaving at the end of the season, telling a news conference: “I have nothing left and need to recharge my batter-

Mancini backs City for Premier League title

R

oberto Mancini has backed Manchester City to regain the Premier League title that they last won under his leadership.

The Italian, who was sacked by City at the end of last season, believes the squad at the Etihad Stadium is strong enough to overtake Chelsea and replicate the title-winning feat he achieved in 2012.

City are six points behind Chelsea in the Premier League table but have three games in hand on Jose

Mourinho’s men, who were beaten 1-0 by Aston Villa at the weekend.

Manuel Pellegrini has added to the squad that he inherited from Mancini, who is convinced the Chilean can claim the fourth top-flight crown in City’s history.

“I think that Manchester City’s the best team,” the Italian said after his Galatasaray side were beaten 3-1 on aggregate by Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League.

apoli host Porto on Thursday in a Europa League last-16 second-leg clash that Rafael Benitez has described as being “like a final”.

The Serie A outfit come into this clash 1-0 down in the tie after Jackson Martin e z scored the only goal in the opening leg in Portugal last week.

Napoli had been on a run of eight games unbeaten in the build-up to that encounter, but returned to winning ways domestically on Sunday with a 1-0 victory at Torino.

Porto, meanwhile, are

a d justi n g Higuain to life under interim head coach Luis Castro, who tasted defeat for the first time at the weekend with the side’s fifth league loss of the season at Sporting Lisbon.

Juan Camilo Zuniga (knee) and Rafael Cabral (knee) remain sidelined for Napoli, while Christian Maggio was reportedly hospitalised with a collapsed lung shortly after returning from the first leg.

Guardiola

ies.”

The announcement had followed a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League semifinals.

Guardiola said that match had convinced him he could no longer continue at the club with which he had made his name.

“That was a moment of great sadness -- as if suddenly someone had switched the floodlights off,” he said. “We were better than our opponents but in the second leg conceded an unnecessary goal and the next thing we knew we were out of the competition.

Juveboss readytoriskTevez

J

N

53

uventus boss Antonio Conte looks set to call on Carlos Tevez for the crunch Europa League clash with Fiorentina despite fitness concerns.

Juventus are gearing up for a tough Europa League test against Fiorentina and Antonio Conte looks likely to take a risk on Carlos Tevez.

The Old Lady are running away with the Scudetto but they face stiffer competition if they are to deliver the Europa League.

Fiorentina have a slight advan-

tage after a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Turin and Juventus can expect a tough evening away to their rivals on Thursday.

Conte has been pugnacious in the press, stressing that he feels many have written off his side prematurely and he looks set to select his strongest possible side for the Stadio Artemio Franchi showdown.

The Argentine striker has been struggling for fitness but he has been training with the rest of his teammates and according to La Stampa, Conte is going to take a chance on him being 100 percent.

Europa League fixtures

Tevez

Anzhi

v

AZ Alkmaar

Plzen

v

Lyon

Valencia

v

Ludogorets

Benfica

v

Tottenham

Fiorentina

v

Juventus

Napoli

v

Porto

Betis

v

Sevilla

Salzburg

v

FC Basel

Briefs Mutu to star in Snoop Dog video

F

ormer Chelsea and Juventus striker Adrian Mutu is set to star in Snoop Dog’s latest music video.

Mutu, who was banned for seven months while at Stamford Bridge for failing a drugs test, is still playing in Romania with Petrolul Ploieti.

“I’ve personally championed Adrian’s inclusion, and the whole team sees him as a good candidate,” Snoop Dog said.

ArsenaltrackFrankfurtdefender

A

rsenal are interested in Eintracht Frankfurt defender Sebastian Jung.

The London Evening Standard says Jung, 23, has been one of Eintracht Frankfurt’s best players this season and seems certain to leave.

Wenger has shown an admiration for German players in recent seasons, bringing Lukas Podolski, Per Mertesacker and Mesut Ozil to the club, while Serge Gnabry was recruited from Stuttgart.

Ambrosini hints at Fiorentina stay

Bayern star commits to America

B

ayern Munich prospect, Julian Green, has filed a one-time switch to play for the USA over Germany, U.S. Soccer announced Tuesday.

The 18-year-old winger, who was born in Florida to an American father and German said, “Obviously this was a big decision, and I spent a long time discussing it with my family. I was born in Florida and my father still lives there, so I have deep roots in the U.S.

M

assimo Ambrosini has hinted he wants to stay with Fiorentina. The former AC Milan captain moved to the Viola last summer.

“The club knows my desire very clearly, we need to discuss it.”

54

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

NBBF introduces Code of Conduct

Sport Trending

TWITTER |@NTelegraphSport

Tiger Woods Called Arnold today to tell him that sadly I won’t be able to play. Back spasms and the pain haven’t subsided. @TigerWoods

Ifeanyi Ibeh

T

Charles Anazodo The more I think of it, I have come to the conclusion Didier Drogba,even with the simplest of tap ins would not have scored last night. @chaplinez70 Leon Balogun Finished cardio training for today. Next stop: therapy! Recovery in full progress: check @LeonBalogun Patrick Obahiagbon You know it is bad when you are trying to compare an FA cup to Champions league.... lIt’s a miracle! Patrick Obahiagbon tweets in English. @PObahiagbon Gary Cahill Great result tonight and very proud to score on my 100th appearance for #CFC Thanks for all your fantastic support! @GaryJCahill jonathan akpoborie Please prepare the doctors and the Fire brigade for the game at Old Trafford tonight. lFormer Nigeria international, Jonathan Akpoborie, prior to last night’s match between Manchester United and Olympiakos. @akpoborie Alade Aminu Good is Good. Praise him when things are good, just as you praise him when things are tough. @Aminu_34 Phil Jones We don’t give up and eventually it will turn. We truly believe that. @PhilJones4 Ayegba Rachael The difference between winners and losers is not who’s the strongest, but who can recognize the strongest opportunity. @Rachyaye

Taekwondo: Nigeria gets tough draw Charles Ogundiya

W

orld Taekwondo Federation organised Youth Olympics qualifiers will start on Thursday, (today) in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei with Team Nigeria’s duo of Esther Godwin and Ogeh Ogochukwu drawn against tough and experienced athletes.

The duo were handed a tough challenge after their weigh in on Wednesday. Godwin, who will be competing in the female -63kg, may likely confront World Junior Champion, Korea’s Park Bo-eui, in match 16 of the tournament.

The National Youth Games gold medalist is making her first international appearance and she will face a Herculean task against the Korean who is expected to beat Russia’s Turutina Yulia in her preliminary encounter.

Also, Ogochukwu will also be jostling for honours in the female -49kg and she is expected to tackle the winner between Peru’s Huaman Georgina and Chile’s Rios Francisca.

On Friday, the trio of Iniobong Ekong, Isah Adamu and Bashir Mohammed will take to the ring for their ties.

Ekong has been drawn to face the winner between Croatia’s Ivina Babic and Canada’s Jerom Andrea in the female -55kg, while Mohammed will confront Cote d’Ivoire’s Aaron Fran in the male -55kg.

Adamu, who will be competing in the male -63kg, will battle Peru’s Oblitas in the first round on Friday March 21.

Ndoumbe Williams in jersey No 9 of Union Bank going for a dunk against Customs during the 2014 Nigeria DStv Premier Male Basketball League held at the Indoor Sports Hall of National Stadium, Surulere. Customs won by 61-53 points

Inter chief arrive Chelsea for Mikel talk

Ajibade Olusesan

I

talian giants, Inter Milan director of Sports has arrived the Stamford Bridge for discussion over the transfer of Super Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi. The Nerazurri have been heavily linked with the Nigerian international and they have solidified their intention with the official opening of discussion.

Reports emerged that Director of Sports, Piero Ausilio was at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday to begin negotiation.

Ausilio was believed to have watched Chelsea’s comfortable Champions League win over Galatasaray after spending the day in talks with Blues officials over Mikel.

The Nigeria international is being squeezed out of Chelsea after the arrival of Nemanja Matic in January, who

is fast emerging as manager Jose Mourinho’s first-choice defensive midfield option.

Inter are rebuilding their squad and see Mikel as a big part of that revolution.

The former Italian champions are also exploring the RobbenFernando prospect of taking Torres on-loan next season.

Mikel

he Nigeria Basketball Federation has concluded plans to introduce a Code of Conduct for basketball players taking part in any of its organised programmes.

According to the NBBF President, Tijani Umar, the document, which is set to be introduced in the coming weeks, will also cover coaches, officials and fans in line with the Torres practice in the United States and Europe.

“We are about to put in place a code of conduct which players, coaches and officials of every club in the league will sign,” said Umar, in an interview with New Telegraph. “Even every referee and technical official taking part in the NBBF organized events will be guided by this document.

“There will also be a code of conduct for fans,

Xavier

Charles Ogundiya

D

olphins FC have confirmed the signing a deal with Senegalese defender, Mendy Xavier, and Ivorien midfielder, Alhassane Dosso, on a year contract as the club continues in its efforts to build a strong team capable of returning the club to its glory years.

According to the Media Officer of the club, China Acheru, Xavier joined Dolphins from ASFA Yennega of Burkina Faso while Dosso who played for the club between 2005 and 2008 is

which will be displayed at every match venue.

And people will want to ask ‘why the fans,” but the truth is we are doing this ahead of time because we believe that in the not too distant future, basketball will have a huge following, with fans paying a lot of money to come and watch their favourite teams.

“This is the way to go to forestall a situation where unruliness will be the order of the day in the league and at all NBBF events.”

Umar added: “It is not our intention to sanction anybody, but it is our intention to run a programme that is decent, responsible, explosive and accountable. If people expect the NBBF to be accountable, we also expect everyone associated with basketball to be accountable. And those sanctions are going to be effected without fear or favour.”

Dolphins completes foreign duo deal returning from Norway.

Other players contracted by Dolphins ahead the game against Crown FC in Ibadan this weekend areVictor Alegbe, a midfielder and Ayobanmi Asekunuwo, a central defender.

Alegbe and Ayobanmi are joining from Wikki Tourists on one year loan deals.

“The idea is to get a big squad with a lot of quality back up. This is what the coaches have been trying to do and we believe we will continue to build our squad as the weeks go by.”

SPORT 55

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, March 20, 2014

LMC is broke, unable to pay referees

Ajibade Olusesan

T

he Nigeria Premier League season could be truncated by another crisis as referees are set to down tool because of unpaid indemnities, New Telegraph can authoritatively report.

Some top referees who sought anonymity exclusively told our correspondent that they may not honour any further matches in the league except their allowances were paid by the League Management Committee.

“I can tell you that we have not

been paid a dime in our last two matches and nobody is giving us any reason why that is happening.

We have been playing our roles but LMC are just giving us excuses that we believe are not genuine. We may not honour our next matches if something is not done. The NRA (referees body) has been begging us to bear with the LMC but things may turn bad if they don’t pay up before our next game. The LMC must pay us the money,” one of them said.

There have been insinuations that the league body is broke, hence, the body is yet to fufil its financial

Isaac Ekpo relishes commonwealth title C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5 1

obligations.

In an interview with our correspondent, the Executive Director of LMC, Salisu Abubakar, said it was untrue that LMC was broke. He admitted that the body was owing the referees but assured that the angry officials would get their bank accounts credited before weekend.

“LMC is not broke. The money is there but we were unable to pay the referees because of technical hitches from our bank, the problem is the e-banking technology that we have adopted but that will be sorted out, we will clear their outstanding indemnities,” he said.

to annex it last Saturday after a unanimous decision loss to Rocky Fielding who was stripped of the belt even before he faced Adamu for failing to make the weight.

However, the Board of Directors of the CBC voted unanimously for the former world title contender to be next in line to battle for the commonwealth title.

Ekpo said,“This is definitely the work of God because I did not even think about it. This is how Jesus wants to

give me glory and I know it’s the beginning of my return to the top,” the former African champions said.“I thank the CBC for recognising my efforts in the game and making me the mandatory challenger.

If I win the commonwealth title, for sure I will be looking for another world championship.

“I would like to sit down with CEO of Landmark Promotions, Anthony Kermah, to know the next direction in my career.”

Eagles’ defence ready for World Cup -Eguavoen

F

ormer Nigeria coach Austin Eguavoen says that has confidence in the defensive prowess of the national team ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil in June.

Eguavoen revealed that he had some reservation regarding the quality of Nigeria’s defenders prior to the friendly game against Mexico earlier in the month.

But having watched them hold off the Mexican’s

led by Javier Hernandez, the former Enyimba and Sharks FC coach is convinced Eagles will rise up to the occasion in Brazil.

Eguavoen was also optimistic that the players will be afforded an opportunity to blend more effectively during the three weeks pre-tournament camping period.

“Before now, I was a little bit uncomfortable with our defence when we were play-

ing the qualifiers,” Eguavoen said “But after watching them against the likes of Chicharito during the friendly against Mexico, I am a little bit comfortable now coupled with the fact that they are going to stay together for at least three weeks before the World Cup. “I believe they will grow in terms of confidence and do well at the tournament,” he added.

Bench role: Keshi moves to save Mikel, Moses C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5 1 Nigeria Premier League action between Sunshine Stars and Enugu Rangers

Integrity Marathon turns international next year Charles Ogundiya

A

s long distance runners get set for this year’s edition of the 42 Kilometers marathon race slated for Sunday at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium Ibadan, the organisers of the event have pledged to use the competition as test-run for the international edition that would commence next year.

Head of planning and logistics, Adeshina Alawode, said all arrangements to make the race international in 2015 have been completed. He promised that participants in this year’s edition would have a feel of what to expect when the race goes international.

“The Athletic Federation of Nigeria has promised its full technical backing which

would complement the efforts of Southwest Zone 1 of National Sports Commission, that have been offering technical supports from the inception,” Adeshina said.

According to the sponsor, Chief Adebayo Akande; “Sport is a people’s oriented event that attracts a lot of attention and participation and we have been getting the desired awareness for this project since its inception.”

Cup in Brazil.

Five members of Keshi’s starting eleven - Godfrey Oboabona, Elderson Echiejile, Mikel Obi, Victor Moses, Ogenyi Onazihave not been playing regularly for their European clubs and this may jeopardise Nigeria’s chances at the World Cup, a development which necessitated the Keshi’s move to see if the players can get more playing time before the season ends in May. Speaking on the issue, Super Eagles media officer, Ben Alaiya, on Wednesday confirmed that the lack of regular playing time was a

source of worry to Coach Stephen Keshi but maintained that the Nigerian handler was in constant touch with the players on the development.

Alaiya said; “Coach Stephen Keshi is very worried that most of the players he is building his team around are not playing regularly and he is keeping in touch with them. Not that the players are not good enough but some of their club coaches either based their selection on a rotation policy or the playing pattern for a match.

“The coach might not

necessarily speak to the coaches directly but he calls the players regularly and he is not resting on his oars by encouraging them to give their best because he knows their abilities. Just like the case of Mikel and Moses, we all know the peculiarity of their clubs but the coach is finding a way out of the situation. Other players encountering such problems too are being encouraged.”

Nigeria is billed to play Iran, Bosnia Herzegovina and Argentina in the Group F of the FIFA World Cup scheduled to hold between June 12 and July 13

Alampasu set for Racing Genk move

F

ormer Golden Eaglets goalkeeper, Dele Alampasu, is expected to leave Nigeria and travel to Belgium on Friday for what looks like a trial at Racing Genk.

The keeper finally got his visa from the Belgium Em-

bassy.

The player’s representatives insists that Alampasu is not attending trials but going to discuss financial terms as well as have a medical.

Another Nigerian youngster, Flying Eagles defender

Wilfred Ndidi, has been offered a four-year-contract by Racing Genk which will start when he turns 18 at the end of the year.

Cameroonian agent Oliver Noah of Noga Sports Management is the man behind both potential deals.

Alampasu

On Marble

We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think.

Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far.

– Swami Vivekananda

World Record

Sanctity of Truth

w w w. new tel eg rap ho nl i ne. co m

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha THURSday, MARCH 20, 2014.

“S

ome people talk like the watch which ticks away the minutes but never strikes the hour,” mused Samuel Johnson, English poet, critic, journalist and essayist in one of his meditative excursions. He certainly had Nigeria in mind when he penned those lines in the 16th century.

On Monday March 17, President Goodlluck Jonathan inaugurated a team of 492 elite Nigerians for another talk-shop. The historic but controversial ceremony is yet another jaw-jaw aimed at finding a way forward for an embattled nation. With delegates drawn from among various strategic stakeholders in the Nigeria Project, the parley is coming nine years after a similar talk-shop took place with over 300 delegates.

It’s worth recalling that within our democratic dispensation, the erudite former Supreme Court Justice Chukwudipu Oputa had headed a panel that went round the country collating views of Nigerians in another attempt to address the injustices in the land but to no avail.

Many believe that if the recommendations in the Oputa Panel report had been given the desired attention, there might not have been need for the 2005 and 2014 dialogues. And, possibly, the Boko Haram menace would have been averted. However, it is necessary to note that in a free society, people should never get tired of discussing; after all in an ideal democratic setting, discussion is a necessary tool to bring down tension.

Men are more likely to settle a question rightly when they put all issues on the table for discussion than when they do not. The question on the lips of many observers is whether the ongoing national dialogue would be different? Or, would it be, as labour leader Abiodun Aremu observed, “like the previous talk-shops just to give illusory hope to the poor that this government is concerned?”

Many Nigerians believe, and rightly too, that the way out of the woods cannot be determined by a group of rusty, recycled men and women whose cancerous hands are visible in all our problems.

Many argue that even without a single conference, Nigerian laws as they are presently are rich enough to help bring about a sound society but for poor implementation of laws in these parts.

But, just what is responsible for the glaring inability of successive governments in the land to implement good laws towards the realization of a desirable society? Can a talk-shop like this

N150

As the talk-shop begins…

find a way out?

It would be difficult not to finger corruption as the major cause of our problems - if an honest answer must be given. The struggle to acquire wealth illegitimately at the expense of the people is so pronounced in our public life that even those who mean well can hardly operate. Our public officers have virtually refused to appreciate St. Luke’s argument in the Holy Book that “a man’s life is not made secure by what he owns, even when he has more than he needs”. For anything meaningful to come out of this dialogue therefore, all the delegates must be redeemed spiritually but there is scarcely any reason to be hopeful.

But, before you share my pessimism, know also that nothing is impossible if God decides to look our way. Hope is not totally lost. Something meaningful could still come out of this talk-shop. A Danish proverb says hope is the income of the poor. After all, hope is the only good that is common and available to all men.

Those who have nothing else possess it still. Nigerians are watching and waiting. Could the conference turn out to be the beginning of the doomsday prophesy of the Americans on Nigeria in 2015, or the beginning of a new Nigeria where tribe, religion and gender are downplayed for merit, justice and fairness? Only time will tell.

The Man Who Tamed Anambra The story of Anambra State in the last eight years gives hope that when God decides to look the way of Nigeria, something extra-ordinary will happen in an extra-ordinary way. Famed for their energy and intellect as well as noise and agility, Anambra people

A Danish proverb says hope is the income of the poor.

After all, hope is the only good that is common and available to all men

India has the highest percentage of the world’s poor with 41.01%, followed

by China with 22.12%. Nigeria is third with 8.03%

themselves, I am sure, can’t believe what happened to them. For, one selfeffacing Peter Gregory Obi came apparently from nowhere and dribbled his way into their hearts, weathered all the political storms in the most turbulent state and left with his head high.

None had achieved that distinction in the state’s governance arena before.

It is often said by political watchers that Anambra has virtually got it right in all spheres but politics. Until Obi rode into the state on the back of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), the state was, in Obi’s words, “an asylum taken over by lunatics” If the rest of the country can forget how difficult Anambra is politically, the PDP cannot. At Wadata House (PDP HQ) in Abuja, a room is allotted for files on Anambra State and its crises.

Anambra has led to the fall of many PDP leaders at national level.

In one instance, in a desperate attempt to find solution to the Anambra PDP crisis, the party decided to send a sitting state governor in the hope that it would be hard to “buy” him the way previous trouble-shooters to the state had been bought over. But, before the governor from North-Central could settle down in his hotel room, one of the parties to the crises he went to resolve had gate-crashed into his room with a Ghana-Must-Go bag full of money running into millions and made his offer straight away.

When the governor was reluctant to accept, the intruder thought it was too small and quickly offered to double the money. The visibly frightened governor arranged and rushed back to Abuja before the other parties could come over too and reported to PDP that it would be difficult to solve Anambra’s PDP problem.

He was prophetic because nobody has been able to tackle it since then.

That was the credential of a state Obi tackled for eight years and left glowingly. Even the richest man in Africa Aliko Dangote is aware of the political turbulence in Anambra State.

On Saturday March 8, 2014, the world’s 23rd richest man told the

people of Anambra State that “even the embattled people in Yobe State (Boko Haram Zone) are aware that it is very difficult to govern Anambra State.” But, to his surprise, somebody came who happens to be his friend and from the private sector and successfully fixed the state in eight years.

Dangote who spoke at Obi’s scorecard ceremony in Awka had some divine message for the former governor and people like him who strive to serve their people. “Never you worry that you did not steal your people’s money, God will sort you out.” If Dangote was spiritual, the next speaker, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy Dr. Ngozi Okon-Iweala was more political on how Obi is to be sorted out.

According to her, Obi’s contributions to Anambra and Nigeria cannot be easily ignored and as he rounds off in the state, “Margaret (Obi’s wife) should shelve any holiday plan because Obi is highly needed in Abuja.

Those of us who met Obi before his gubernatorial stint know that if he stayed eight years in Awka, the struggle that took him to the place started 13 years ago. Thrice he came to be governor through the law court.

When Obi’s book comes out, on his political struggle in Anambra his private office in Apapa will have a chapter and names like Ike Abonyi, Victor Umeh, Emeka Etiaba (never mind what happened later) etc. would be mentioned. May I in congratulating this sincere and principled friend note that if a friend in government is a friend lost, as is always the case with politicians and journalists, Obi was not. “Okwute,” congrats! Who says Anambra cannot be governed?

OmoBaba

I’M ON DIVINE MISSION TO SPORTS MINISTRY - Minister

- Hope not for football alone?

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