Binder1 dec 18, 2014 by Newtelegraphonline

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Vol. 1 No. 303

Thursday, December 18, 2014

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N150

Jonathan, mu'azu hold meeting with kalu }8

National growth forecast down to 5.5%

lSenate begins budget consideration January Chukwu David and Philip Nyam

Business }31

he Federal Government yesterday downgraded Nigeria’s growth forecast to 5.5 per cent in 2015, down from

an earlier projection of 6.4 per cent, in response to plummeting global crude prices that have lowered the country’s revenue.

Editorial }19

Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, confirmed CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

NEW TELEG

RAPH THURS

2015 Elec tion

DAY, DECEM

BER 18, 2014

2015: Quak ers, INEC on elect Ananaba, Ozekh ome task oral Act

22&25

Law

Special Rep

ort

CJN appla uds medi a role in natio building, says it’s key n to democracy

Chukwu will alwaocha: Why North ys head S e up r e m e r n e r s Court

Richard Chu kwuocha , in this inte with CHIJ IOKE IREM rview EKA, spea northern ks on the dominan ce of the over othe Supreme r regions Court and conc it was time luded that stakehol ders look ‘anomaly’ ed at the with a view to redressi ng it. Justic

e Mahmud Mohamme the 14th Chief d is after anoth Justice of Niger er north ia Mariam Aloma Mukherner, Justice the office tar, vacat statutory after attaining the ed age of 70. meant exclu Is sively for the office northern extraction judges of ? The promoted nort hern ers are to the younger Bench erners, age unlike the at a southwhere people to the Bench moved well in prac tice. With advanced Bench, it beco age on the for the mes diffic younger the hiera ones beca ult based on rchy on the Benc use as supp date of appointmh is osed to ent the date the Bar. of call For insta nce, if I to Bar 20 was calle person, years ago and anoth d who was Bar years called to er the evated to after me but was he has the Bench befor elautomatica e me, my senio lly become pointmenr. It’s the date of apdeter minet to the Benc h the Benc s seniority. Andthat regulates h, it’s seniority on strat that In other ification. word senior judge beco s, the most ministrat mes the the Chie ive judge or becomadf es Court of Judge or Presi dent, may be. Appeal as the that the So, due to the case northerne fact Chukwuocha Bench younger rs get to the from the than peop le sible for south, it becom es pos- positions. them to occupy We have such a number from the of months south that staye CJN and Bench befor six months d two on This does e their retire the ment you have not make sense . . If High Courbeen a judge Due to the of fact came for t and opportunthe the northern that FOLUSO the uppe you to be eleva ity OGUNMOD r ted to that you Bench and you to the Benc ers get EDE JUDICIARY are EDITOR h retiremen close to the know foluso.ogunm age of than peop younger t, the best hold back newtelegraph odede@ le from for a youn thing is to online.com © Daily Telegra to go. south, it beco the ger perso ph Publish n ing Compa When possible for mes ny Limited you have you accept that them to occu nity of blocked the oppooffer, py a younger such posi rtuperson tions go-

the Fede ratio of the Cour n or the Presi dent t of Appe the Chie al or even f High CourJudge of the Fede t. ral In fact, northern there are other Mahmud senior judge s still conti and that trend after nue. I will ber the last time, can’t rememern beca when a south High Courme the President t. It’s a big of problem. So, what is situation? the way out of this We need to unde that there rstan is a prob we will lem, then,d begin to problems deal with the to the root,squarely by otherwise going miss it. we will Until peop le from ern part the south gether of Nigeria come and reali toneed to vie for andze that they offices like CJN, occupy high judicial eithe r in system this trend or other the wise, would conti abated. nue unThe south should deal with begin to recourse that, especially The olderto federal char with the youn ones should acter. allow not all ger ones to go in. It’s about self. become Until we selfless, won’t come these thing . Law s self, it’s all abou is not about t the peop le. What are the proce ing earlie r for thesesses of applyin judiciary? high rankin g To quali fy, you spent 10 years at would have when there the Bar. So, is an to fill a vacancy opportunity Court, in the if then you you are avail High rules say can apply, butable, , ing to such 10 years you would have the at the spent posit is wher Until peop Bar. e the northion. But this advantage erners have to apply earlyle are encou over us, , the trend raged erners. change. the south - is made When such appliwill not This is cation and they to judic why, when you lawy saw er has done that the iary high come you disco could be well, ver that hierarchy, considered then, he erners I know . have been the northof an NBA the posit man, occupyin chairg yet who was very time and ion of a CJN for he was adva appointed nced until the will continue to long asked, . And of do so address southerners decid he to the what importanc I the judiciary e move the issue and begine to cause system is he woul right and to belawyer younger impact befor dn’t make any to the How man e his retiremen This woul bench earlier. opportuni d afford them him? He y years are left t? should the for the posit ty to grow to either the younger lawyhave allowed ion of Chief er to go Justice in. of

Page 21

five pages of Law

Travel Advisory Guide to local and international flights }4

Tinubu: Buhari offered me VP slot l‘I sacrificed it for love of Nigeria’ CONT INUED

ON PAGE 25

lCabal has captured APC candidate -PDP Drama, intrigues herald Osibajo's emergence as running mate

lThe Prof, the Pastor }13

54 soldiers sentenced to death for mutiny Osibajo, Buhari's running mate

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Travel Advisory

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

International Flight Schedule

Local 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 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 AZMAN FLIGHT SCHEDULE WEEKLY SCHEDULE Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 12:40pm Lagos-Abuja/Kano 4:00pm Abuja-Kano 5:45pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kan 10:10am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 12:40pm Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm WEEKEND SCHEDULE SATURDAY Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Sunday Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 10:30am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 1:20pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm

Air France

Destination Abuja- Paris Paris-Lagos Paris-PHC PHC-Paris Paris –Abuja Lagos –Paris

Flight No. AF 513 AF 3822 AF514 AF513 AF514 AF3849

Departure 23.55hrs 10.55hrs 11:00hrs 21:20hrs 11:00hrs 23:55hrs

Arrival 6:05hrs 17:15hrs 19:15hrs 6:05hrs 17:00hrs 6:20hrs

Amsterdam-Lagos Lagos-Amsterdam

KL587 KL588

13:15hrs 23:05hrs

20:00hrs 05:50hrs

Lagos-New York New York-Lagos Lagos-Abuja-Dubai Dubai-Abuja-Lagos Johannesburg-Lagos Lagos-Johannesburg Lagos-London London-Lagos

W3 107 W3 108 W3 105 W3 106 W3 738 W3 737 W3 344 W3 345

23:35hrs 12:00hrs 9:40pm 12:10pm 09:35hrs 01:00 hrs 12:45hrs 21:30hrs

05:30hrs 16:00hrs 5.40:hrs 17:10pm 14:44hrs 08:05hrs 18:30hrs 05:15hrs

London-Lagos Lagos-London Abuja-London Abuja-London

BA075 BA074 BA 082 BA 083

17:55hrs 00:00hrs 09:00hrs 22:40hrs

11:55hrs 5:50hrs 14:35hrs 06:00hrs

KLM

ARIK AIRLINES

BRITISH AIRWAYS

Middle East Airlines (Two flights weekly (Tues & Friday) to

ASKY AIRLINES

Destination Lome to Abuja Abuja-Lome- Kinshasa Kinshasa-Abuja Abuja-Lome Lome-Lagos Lagos-Libreville Libreville-Kinshasa Kinshasa-Libreville Libreville-Lagos Lagos-Lome Lome-Lagos Lagos-Libreville Libreville-Brazaville Brazaville-Libreville Brazzaville-Lagos Lagos-Lome

Flight No. KP 032 (Tue-Fri) KP 032 ( Tue-Fri) KP 033 (Wed-Sat) KP O33 (Wed-Sat) KP O40 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP O44 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP O45 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat)

Departure 14:00hrs 16:30hrs 8:20hrs 10:35hrs 13:00hr 14:40hrs 17:00hrs 7:15hrs 9:35hrs 11:55hrs 13:10hrs 14:50hrs 17:10hrs 07:00hrs 09:20hrs 11:40hrs

Arrival 15:55hrs 18:15hrs 10:00hrs 12:20hrs 14:00hrs 16:30hrs 18:45hrs 08:55hrs 11:25hrs 12:45hrs 14:10hrs 16:40hrs 18:50hrs 08:40hrs 11:10hrs 12:30hrs

Lagos-Casablanca Casablanca-Lagos

AT738 AT 737

06:25hrs 02:15hrs

09:55hrs 6:00hrs

Lagos-London London-Lagos

VS 652 VS 651

11:00hrs 22:40hrs

17:00hrs 4:40hrs

Lagos- Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi-Lagos

EY 0672 (Sunday) (Monday) (Saturday) EY 955

20.45hrs 09:50hrs 09.20 hrs 06:30hrs

07:00hrs 20:05hrs 20:10hrs 11:45hrs

Lagos-Cairo Cairo-Lagos

MS 876 MS 875

14:25hrs 08:30hrs

22:20hrs 13:30hrs

Lagos-Nairobi Nairobi-Lagos

KQ 533 KQ 534

12:30hrs 18:00hrs

19:35hrs 23:45hrs

air maroc

VIRGIN ATLANTIC ETIHAD AIRWAYS

Lagos)

Lebanon-Lagos Lagos-Lebanon

MEA 571 MEA 572

3:00hrs 14:00hrs

8:00hrs 19:00hrs

Lagos-Dubai Lagos-Dubai Dubai-Lagos Dubai-Lagos Abuja-Dubai

EK 7821 (Sun-Sat) EK 7822 EK 7831 EK 7811 EK 761

21:30hrs 14:40hrs 07:35hrs 14:20hrs 23:55hrs

07:40hrs 01:05hrs 12:50hrs 19:45hrs 10:30hrs

Lagos-Doha Flight Doha-Lagos Flight

QR 1414 (daily) QR 1415

14:55hrs 07:20hrs

23:45hrs 13:35hrs

Lagos-Atlanta Atlanta-Lagos

DL053 DL 054

22:15hrs 5:15hrs

05:32hrs 16:15hrs

Lagos-Houston Houston-Lagos

UA 143 UA 142

10:10hrs 19:10hrs

6:05hrs 15.15hrs

Lagos to Addis Ababa Addis Ababa to Lagos Abuja to Addis Ababa Addis Ababa to Abuja Enugu to Addis Ababa Addis Ababa to Enugu Kano to Addis Ababa Addis Ababa to Kano

ET900 ET901 ET910 ET911 ET930 ET931 ET930 ET931

13:15hrs 09:00hrs 13:40hrs 09:40hrs 12:00hrs 09:20hrs 14:05hrs 09:20hrs

20:25hrs 12:15hr 20:10hrs 12:20hrs 20:50hrs 11:15hrs 20:50hrs 13:20hrs

EMIRATES AIRLINES

QATAR AIRWAYS DELTA AIRLINES

EGYPT AIR

KENYA AIRWAYS

ASKY Airlines international travel tips Earning Miles on ASKY Airlines

UNITED AIRLINES

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES

ASKY is a Lome -Togo based airline that provides an extensive route network within West Africa. The airline provides excellent connections with Ethiopian Airlines flights serving cities in West Africa. Ethiopian Airlines and ASKY provide an end-to-end service for frequent flyers enrolled in ShebaMiles. The airlines jointly provide full coverage of Africa providing full mile earning opportunity for a frequent flyer. Wherever you fly and whichever airline you fly with, it’s easy to earn miles. You only need one frequent flyer card to collect miles from either airline – the ShebaMiles Membership Card. It couldn’t be easier to build your miles and start enjoying all the benefits of ShebaMiles and its partner network wherever you are in the world. Mile Registration Registering ShebaMiles Membership Number on ASKY flight is simple. Members need to advice Reservation Registration Center that they are a member of Ethiopian Airlines ShebaMiles Frequent Flyer Program, at the time of flight reservation. They need to prompt the reservation center to record the membership number on flight reservations made for ASKY, with Full Name as per Name on Passport coinciding with the Full Name on the ShebaMiles Membership Account and ShebaMiles Membership Number. Reservation confirmation shall show your ShebaMiles Membership number and your Full Name in the reservation record. Confirm Mile credit by presenting Membership card to the check-in or boarding agent at the time of check-in or boarding.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Tinubu: Buhari offered me VP slot A Our Reporter

ll Progressives Congress (APC) national leader and former Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, yesterday broke his silence over the speculation that he was nursing a vicepresidential ambition. Tinubu confirmed in a statement yesterday that the idea of being a vicepresidential candidate was mooted by APC presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, who offered him the position. He, however, did not say whether the offer came after Buhari emerged the party's standard bearer last Thursday in Lagos or was part of the behind-the-scene deals that heralded the formation of APC. Tinubu who issued the statement against the backdrop of intense horse trading and intrigues that led to the nomination of his associate, former Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Yemi Osibajo (SAN), as Buhari's running mate, however, said he turned down the offer as a personal sacrifice for Nigeria. Buhari yesterday in Abuja formally presented Osibajo to the public, saying he picked him after a rigorous process because of his loyalty and patriotism and he is optimistic that he will add value to the ticket. However, the emergence of Osibajo as Buhari's running mate did not go down well with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which said it showed that the former head of state had been captured by a cabal. The former governor lashed at those spearheaded the campaign against Muslim-Muslim ticket, which he said was targeted at him. According to him the issue of leadership in Nigeria goes beyond the faith of its leaders as poverty knows no religious boundary. Tinubu said his patriotic conviction and desire to be a bridge builder across all divide necessitated his decision to rethink the offer to be Buhari's running mate. He added that he honourably declined the position so that he would not be seen as self-serving. He said: “After all the political calculations are made and the dust of competition has settled, it must be this nation and its people who stand first and foremost. The ques-

tion becomes whether we stand strong, able to shape ourselves into our best future or will we stand frail and trembling, burdened by the abject failure to surmount the multiple problems confronting us. “It is against this backdrop that I assess any action I take. Here I come to my name being placed in consideration as the vice-presidential candidate for our party, the APC. I have laboured hard to move this party from being merely an idea in the minds of a few into being a political organisation that might win this election and govern the nation in way that gives the people the hope and opportunity they seek. Nothing is more important to me than to realise this dream not for myself but for the people of this land I so love. “I helped to build this party, giving no thought to seeking an elected office because of it. My contribution to the party was never based on the expectation of a later political handout. Nigeria is in trouble and we are well past the moment for such narrow, selfish games. “There came a time during the course of the events when our presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, offered the vice-presidential slot to me. Being a normal human being, I was deeply moved and honoured that he would consider me for the position. Being a patriot, I had to weigh my potential candidacy in all of its dimensions. “I have concluded that the interests of the party, our campaign and of the nation are better served if I retain my position as the national leader of the APC, allowing me to be a bridge builder across all divides. Although, I declined the position, I want to thank General Buhari for extending the honour to me. Despite all the noise and opposition around my possible selection, he stood firm and steadfast. He showed the traits of a leader in holding to a decision he believed was right despite the errant plots against it.” According to Tinubu, the consideration of his name for the position led to a campaign of calumny against him. "The personal attacks did not bother me. I am used to them. While I have a thick skin, I don’t have a thick mind. There has been one form of attack that has troubled me. That is the attack based on religion. The PDP and others have stoked fear of

a Muslim-Muslim ticket. “I have removed myself from consideration so what I now say cannot be seen as self-serving. I plead with the people of this nation to never allow the power lust of cynical politicians to set brother against brother, neighbour against neighbour. If you look at those politicians who raise this issue the most, they are the least devout and faithful to any religion other their self-interests.” He described the coun-

try’s secular problems as too numerous and complicated to allow inept people to use religion to keep the nation from solving them. “Those who exploit religion should be wary. For there really is a God and he does not like it when you play with his people or use His name to do the opposite of what He intends. “I ask the people to remove religion from the electoral equation now that the tickets of both

parties are mixed. I ask you to select the ticket best able to end the downward slide that Nigeria has endured since this government took over. I ask you to remember that too many Christians and Muslims are poor. Most of all, I ask you to remember that the true religion of the PDP is poverty, APC come to bring prosperity to the people. Please vote for that. "The Nigeria I see and seek is one where each person, every man,

woman and child may live free of terrorism, free of the despair of poverty and free of the fear that the government meant to serve and protect them has turned its back to them in cold and utter indifference. “I see and seek a Nigeria where progressive democratic governance creates the political and economic space needed for each of us to contribute to rescuing and retoolCONTINUED ON PAGE 6

L-R: All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari; his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osibajo (SAN) and APC National Secretary, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, at the presentation of Osibajo in Abuja...yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Court abolishes disparity in admission requirements to unity schools Akeem Nafiu

he Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, has ordered the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, to stop disparity in the admission requirements to unity schools. Justice John Tsoho who described the policy as bizarre, said in a ruling yesterday that the action of the minister in prescribing and applying different requirements for candidates seeking admission to unity schools violated Section 42(1) of the 1999 Constitution. He held that the provisions of the constitution were superior to any administrative law or policies adopted by the minister.

The court directed the minister to apply uniform admission requirements, especially cut-off marks to all candidates seeking admission to the schools. The court's ruling was sequel to a fundamental human rights enforcement suit against the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice as well as the Minister of Education. The suit was instituted by former President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN). In the suit, the lawyer sought for a declaration that the action of the minister in prescribing and applying different requirements, including cut-off marks for candidates seeking admission

to unity schools violated the constitution. He asked for an order directing the minister to apply uniform admission requirements, especially cut-off marks to all candidates seeking admission into unity schools. Agbakoba also sought for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the minister from further acts of discrimination in admission to unity schools. However, in one of the respondent's counter affidavit, it was argued that the Federal Government’s policies on education, particularly on qualification for entry into unity schools was formulated to represent the federal character as enshrined in the constitution and subsidiary

legislation. It was further claimed that the first unity schools were set up to reflect the true spirit of "federal character" and had representation in the North, South, West and East of the country. It was added that there was no discrimination, where government policy was driven at ensuring substantive equality and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy equal rights irrespective of their sex or ethnicity. It was further averred that the different cut - off marks are to equitably allocate admission spaces to states, based on the state of their educational development.

News

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Tinubu: I sacrificed it for love of Nigeria CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

ing this nation. And, in the process of this benign endeavour, may each and every one of us share in the sound promise and good prosperity that shall describe the architecture of our national revival," Tinubu added. He promised to commit his resources and energy to work for the victory of Buhari and Osibajo in the 2015 presidential election. Earlier yesterday, Buhari had presented Osibajo to the public, saying he emerged after a rigorous process. He said:"The challenging process of rescuing our country and changing Nigeria for good has commenced. One of the first decisions that I have to make is the choice of the vice-presidential candidate and my running mate. "The method employed in this choice was quite meticulous but yet rigorous. It involved the establishment of objective criteria, broad consultations with party leaders and a few opinion leaders outside the party and interactions with a number of nominees. "To assist me in this great task of securing

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

31o C 26oC Thunder Storms

ABUJA

36oC

20oC

Mostly Sunny

PORT HARCOURT

26o C 18oC

34oC

12oC

Sunny

ENUGU

35oC

22oC

Partially Cloudy

IBADAN

34oC

23oC

Mostly Sunny

CALABAR

30oC

23oC

Partially Cloudy

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

33oC 12oC Sunny

21o C 14oC Heavy Showers

emergence of his running mate as bad omen. The party said in a statement that it showed that Buhari would not be in control if elected president in 2015. But the PDP in the statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr.

Olisa Metuh, expressed no surprise as it claimed that Buhari has never been a man of his own in his previous public responsibilities. "This is not surprising of Buhari, who has consistently exhibited a track record of incompetence.

This is the same man who as military head of state surrendered all his powers to his second in command. The story of his headship of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) is not different, as he also got lost before the flurry of portfolios

of paid consultants", the statement added. It added that the choice of Osibajo is a confirmation of PDP's stand that the APC is the personal project of a cabal commanded by Tinubu to expand its political and economic frontiers.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, laying the 2015 budget proposal before the House of Representatives in Abuja...yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Senate begins budget consideration January CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Thunder Storms

KANO

Nigeria's future, I have chosen a man of unimpeachable integrity, an excellent professional, a man of faith, a devoted family man and a role model to our fellow countrymen and women. "The vice-presidential candidate is a friend of the less privileged, compassionate and zealous in service. A man of uncommon humility; a loyal, dependable and selfless patriot. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I present Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, who by the grace of God and the vote of Nigerians will be the next vice-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria." In his acceptance speech, Osibajo said it would be a privilege to work with Buhari to restore hope and confidence in Nigeria. It was learnt that Osibajo had earlier met with Buhari for the first time at about 1.00 am yesterday. In a post on his Facebook, Senator Babafemi Ojodu said Osibajo had arrived in Abuja on Tuesday to prepare for a case at the Supreme Court and when at midnight it was finally decided he would be running, Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, had called him to inform him only for Osibajo to tell them he was in Abuja. Buhari has, however, come under attack from the PDP, which described the circumstances of the

the revised growth projection to reporters yesterday in Abuja after laying the N4.3 trillion 2015 Appropriation Bill before the Senate. After the ceremony at the Senate, the minister moved to the House of Representatives where she also laid down the budget before the lawmakers. The minster said the N4.3 trillion naira 2015 budget proposal, which rests on a oil price benchmark of $65 a barrel, down from $77.50 in the 2014 budget, and a significant cut on previous budgets, would promote the diversification of the economy through taxation and other non-oil revenue sources. The budget estimate of N4.3 trillion shows a downward review by N300 billion in comparison to this year's figure of N4.7 trillion. According to the min-

ister, the 2015 budget estimates were arrived at by the Federal Government based on the growth of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which reflects the present realities of the economy. She also explained that the budget was designed to protect the average Nigerian, which was why the proposal focuses on diversification of the economy through the nonoil sector. Giving highlights of the proposed estimates of the budget, Okonjo-Iweala put the nation’s oil production figure at 2.27 million barrels per day (bpd). She said: “We have made up for the fall of crude oil price per barrel by raising non-oil revenue through various types of taxes and policies. The surcharge on luxury goods is there; plus additional tax efforts to close leakages in revenue." President Goodluck Jonathan had in a letter addressed to Senate

President David Mark, which was read during plenary on Tuesday, explained that the delay in the presentation of the estimates before the passage of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) by the National Assembly was due to the extra-ordinary global circumstances that confronted the country in the last quarter of the 2014 fiscal year following the instability in oil prices in the international market. The new 2015-2017 MTEF showed a reduction in funds for capital projects by N581 billion. The minister, in the previous document submitted to the National Assembly, had proposed N1.2 trillion for capital expenditure, a figure, which was reviewed downward in the new document to N627 billion. Commenting on the budget, Mark urged relevant committees to commence work immediately. However, in her speech

after laying the budget before the House, OkonjoIweala said the government would stick to the $65 oil benchmark for now despite the declining prices because “we feel the average price next year around $65-70.” She added that the resolution was responsible for the reduction of the 2015 budget from N4.661 trillion to N4.357 trillion. She explained that in the short term, the government will not pursue stringent measures but eventually "in the longer term, we would be able to look at how we re-structure the cost of governance." Okonjo-Iweala said the government hoped to keep emoluments flowing, adding: "We want to make sure that people get their salaries and wages and pensions are paid. We don't want to make any adjustment on the back of our pensioners and workers". She said the Federal

Government was anticipating further revenues having put in place fiscal mechanisms to check wastages. "This budget points to the fact that this country is a non-oil country and I think we want Nigerians to begin to think of the country in that way. We have worked very hard with the guidance of Mr. President to move on nonoil revenue. "We have closed many loopholes and leakages. We have tried to broaden the tax base. We have sped the audit; we looked for everywhere. We have closed some exemptions, all of this will bring additional revenues into coffers," she stated. The minister explained that part of the efforts being made to save money include a review of administrative expenditures, purchase of equipment and excision of foreign travels and institution of in-country training for all federal personnel.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Jonathan, Mu'azu hold meeting with Kalu Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

resident Goodluck Jonathan and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, have stepped up efforts to stop former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, from leaving the party. Kalu, a few weeks ago, withdrew from the Abia

North senatorial race over what he described as the arm-twisting tactics of his successor, Chief Theodore Orji, in the choice of aspirants for elective offices on PDP platform. In a letter entitled: “Withdrawal from Abia North Senatorial District Race” addressed to Mu’azu, Kalu said he was making a personal sacrifice to save Abia PDP from crisis. The former governor

in the letter dated November 24, 2014, expressed dismay that Orji deliberately allowed eminent Abia citizens to resign their positions to vie for the governorship position when he knew ahead of time that he had a candidate in mind. Investigations revealed that the former governor has been under intense pressures since then from his loyalists to seek an alternative political

platform to actualise his ambition. But it was learnt yesterday that in a bid to stop the possible defection of the former governor, Jonathan on Tuesday met with Kalu to find a solution to the intractable crisis in the Abia State chapter of the party. New Telegraph was told that Mu'azu and a former Taraba State Governor, Rev. Jolly Nyame, accompanied Kalu to the meet-

ing. "They were sighted in a black Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), driving into the Presidential Villa. They used the president's private entrance," a source said. It was learnt that when the team arrived at the president's waiting room they met Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha and House Majority Leader, Hon. Mulikat

L-R: Peoples Democratic Party chieftains, Chief Olabode George; Alhaji Tanko Yakassai; Chief Richard Akinjide and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, at the presentation of President Goodluck Jonathan's candidacy to the media in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

Jet probe: Court voids Reps' invitation to Petroleum Minister Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

he Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday set aside the letter of invitation sent by the House of Representatives to the Petroleum Minister, Mrs Deziani AlisonMadueke and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to appear before its investigative panel over alleged 10 billion jet charter. The minister and NNPC had approached the court seeking to stop the House from probing allegations that they spent over N10 billion on chartered aircraft. Delivering judgement in the suit, the trial judge, Justice A.R. Mohammed held that the House of Representatives has the power to summon anybody irrespective of his or her position to appear before it to give explanation on how a public property entrusted to him is being managed. The court however noted that this was contrary to the submission of the plaintiffs that the House of Representatives lacks power to summon them

without the consent of the of the President. The court consequently held that the House did not follow due process in inviting the plaintiffs. The court further held that the House ought to have presented before the court the resolution of the meeting where it agreed to invite the minister and NNPC published in a gazette or house journal. "The National Assembly in the discharge of its duty does not need any consent to invite a public officer to come and defend how he managed a public property such the aircraft in his care. "What the House is asking for is not a confidential document that needed the consent of the president before it would be released rather it is a public property placed in care of a public servant," the court held. On the invitation of the plaintiffs, the court held that the National Assembly is given power to direct investigation but the burden of proof is on the House of Representatives to show that there is resolution that directed such invitation. "None of the defendants have produced the published resolution where it

was said that the plaintiffs should be invited. "The defendants ought to have brought before the court, resolution of its meeting wherein the plaintiffs are invited to appear before it, published in a gazette or house journal. "There is no evidence before the court that there was a resolution to invite the plaintiffs. By this act, it renders the summons invalid. "Therefore, the letter of invitation served on the plaintiffs is hereby set aside because of the failure of the House of Representatives to produce the resolution as duly published in the gazette or its house journal. "Had it been the House of Representatives had published the resolution in a gazette or house journal and presented before this court, the plaintiffs would not have any business doing in court. "This decision does not implies that House of Representatives does not have the power to summon anybody no matter how highly placed to investigate him. "He added that if such power is properly utilised, the National Assembly can summon anybody.

"However, in this instant case, the House of Representatives has not followed the due process of inviting the plaintiffs. "It is on that note, that I advise the plaintiffs to submit themselves to any invitation to show their respect to constituted authorities," the court held. At the argument stage, the plaintiff through her counsel, Etigwe Uwa (SAN) submitted that the National Assembly has no constitutional power to carry out an oversight function on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government and hold hearing to adjudicate on petitions against them especially her ministry. He further argued that before any summons could be issued out by the House or request for any documents or papers, the consent of the president must be first sought, adding that the defendants never followed such process. Diezani further submitted that before the summons could be issued on her, such summon must first be published in the gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and must also be first published in

the journal of the National Assembly in line with section 88 & 89 of 1999 Constitution. In addition, the plaintiffs added that the defendants without complying with Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution cannot summon them. They further submitted that the actions of the defendants via the language used in the vote and proceedings of the House showed that they have taken a biased position against her by calling her fraudulent person, thief and accusing her of breaching Fiscal Policy Act on public money without following the principles of fair hearing. The plaintiff therefore prayed the court to set aside the invitation sent to her by the House for probe. Opposing the argument, the defendants through their counsel, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) and Abubakar Mahmud (SAN) for Senate and House of respectively prayed the court to dismiss the argument of the plaintiff. They added that the National Assembly has not issued any summon on the minister but rather an invitation.

Adeola-Akande, among visitors waiting to see Jonathan. An aide of Mu'azu, who also spoke in confidence, said the meeting lasted for over an hour. "It was all about genuine reconciliation and how to move the party forward. "Mr. President said emphatically that Orji Kalu was an asset to PDP and everything must be done to encourage him to stay in the party. The party is working to ensure reconciliation with its aggrieved chieftains, not only in Abia State, but nationwide. “We don’t want them to leave the party," the source added. Kalu, who later spoke on phone, confirmed the meeting with the president, but refused to disclose what transpired. He said: "It was a private meeting between Mr. President and me and I am satisfied with what the president said."

54 soldiers sentenced to death for mutiny Emmanuel Onani ABUJA

General Court Martial (GCM) trying 96 officers and soldiers for mutiny and related offences against service rules, has sentenced 54 soldiers to death by firing squad. Five others were, however, discharged and acquitted yesterday. Besides, a lieutenant colonel who is facing trial for the breach of communication, will know his fate today. A military source told New Telegraph last night that the accused soldiers were found guilty of mutiny and disobeying lawful directive by their Commanding Officer (CO), Lt-Col T. Opurum. They were accused of refusing to advance to Delwa, even as they were said to have predicated their action on poor equipment to confront Boko Haram fighters. According to the source, "many officers have expressed disgust over the judgement, which I'm sure will be upturned on appeal. "The soldiers demanded better equipment to fight; they didn't just refuse the CO's directive without a just cause."

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

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NATIONAL

Jonathan, service chiefs meet at Aso Rock BOKO HARAM

Inspite of violence and killings in some parts of the country, defence chief insists Nigeria is winning on terrorism

Anule Emmanuel

he Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh, yesterday insisted that the Federal Government was

Businessman asks court to stop dredging of Calabar channel

l Insist Nigeria winning war on terrorism winning the war against terrorism and will soon return guaranteed peace to all parts of the country. The CDS said that was despite the continued violent activities of members of the Boko Haram sect. Badeh spoke with State House correspondents, shortly after leading some security chiefs to a breakfast session with President Goodluck Jonathan. The defence chief urged Nigerians to have faith in the military. He assured that the military has the capacity

to successfully executing the war. “We are certainly not losing it (terrorism war). We are winning the war. Nigerians should have faith in their military. The nation will win this war,” the military chief said. Speaking on the fate of residents of troubled parts of the country, ahead of the 2015 general elections, Badeh said, “Elections will hold there. Don’t worry.” According to him, the military was dealing with issues of fifth commu-

nists in its own way. The CDS, however, refused to speak on the latest revelation that the Federal Government had been negotiating with fake Boko Haram members, leading to his announcement of ceasefire. “It is better not to discuss those things. SSS is on it; they are doing their own investigation. They did a briefing yesterday (Tuesday) and they have told you exactly what they are doing. It is better we leave the SSS to handle that one,” he said.

He explained that the early morning session was summoned by the President to enable them brief him on the current security situation in the country. He said he and his colleagues briefed Jonathan on the situation of things and their plans. "We have told the President exactly where we are and our future plans. As you know, we can’t talk about our future plans here. That will mean us telling the enemy what we are doing.”

L-R: Minister of Works Mike Onolememen; Minister of Steel Development Mohammed Sada and Minister of Trade and Investment Olusegun Aganga, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja… yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

2015: PDP governors confident of victory Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

overnors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have restated their commitment to ensuring the success of the party in next year's general elections. The governors, who met for a little over three hours on Tuesday, in Abuja, said as field com-

manders of the party, it was incumbent on them to mobilise their people to vote massively for PDP during their elections. Chairman of PDP Governors' Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio, who addressed journalists at the end of the meeting, however, denied that some governors were aggrieved as a result of the outcome of the parties primaries. "This is a strategic

meeting. We looked at the strategies of the party for the election and we are confident that PDP is still a strong party. We are confident that PDP will win the election. Elections are not won by propaganda", Akpabio stated. Fourteen, out of 21 PDP state governors were present at the meeting, which was the first to be held after the party primaries. Notable among governors, who were absent

NLNG vessel contracts yield $10m for local firms

he Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas Limited, NLNG, has said that several Nigerian companies taking part in the supply of products for building its six new ships, stand to reap about US$10 million in revenues. The company said in a statement that the NLNG via its subsidiary company, Bonny Gas Transport

(BGT) Limited, in 2013 contracted the building of the new vessels to South Korean shipbuilders, Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), and successfully leveraged to include a unique local content clause which enables the concerned Nigerian companies to benefit from substantial ves-

sel construction material export contracts. It added “Paints and Coatings Manufacturers Nigeria (PCMN) Limited is among the key local company-beneficiaries, and on its part has already shipped 66,000 out of an agreed 388,000 litres of paint, to Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard in South Korea.

NAHCO sacks 20 workers Wole Shadare

Foluso Ogunmodede or allegedly halting a procurement process on the dredging of Calabar channel and awarding it to ‘the least qualified company’ without recourse to due process, a businessman, Mr. Sam Nmeje, has headed for the court. He is asking Justice Obilo Emmanuel to declare null and void the capital dredging of Calabar channel contract, awarded to Calabar Channel Management Limited (CCML), saying the contract did not follow due process as contained under Section 16(4) of the Public Procurement Act 2007. In a suit initiated at the Calabar Federal High Court before Justice Emmanuel, Nmeje asked the court to also declare that the contract was not in tandem with public policy as guaranteed by Section 28 of the Public Procurement Act 2007. Sued are the Presidency, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Minister of Transport, Nigeria Ports Authority, Bureau of Public Procurement and the Calabar Channel Management Limited. Specifically, he asked the court to nullify the contract since its award negates relevant provisions of the 2007 Public Procurement Act. He, however, sought the following declarations among others. *A declaration that by virtue of Section 16 (4) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, the award of the Contract for the Capital Dredging of Calabar Channel to the 6th defendant (Calabar Channel Management Limited) by the 4th defendant (Nigeria Ports Authority) and the processes leading up to the award was contrary to and in breach of Section 16 of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, and therefore, unlawful, null and void.

at the meeting were Governors Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and Martin Elechi (Ebonyi). The governors were believed to be aggrieved that their preferred candidates were unable to win the party's ticket for the elections.

wo weeks after the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) sacked over 187 workers; the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) has also sacked no fewer than 20 of its top management staff under on-going ‘restructuring’ exercise. There are indications that more workers would be axed before the end of the year. Some of the affected persons included Assistant General Managers, General Managers and others while the affected departments included Human Resources, Corporate Communications, Risks Management departments and the office of the Managing Director. The gale of retrenchment, it would be recalled, started in October with the removal of the Managing Director, Mr. Kayode Oluwasegun-Ojo by the Board of Directors and the immediate announcement of a replacement for him. NAHCO had claimed then that the removal of Oluwasegun-Ojo was in line with the company’s succession plan and good corporate principles. The board then announced Mr. Norbert Bielderman as the Acting Managing Director effective from October 20, 2014. Many, who are not affected, told New Telegraph that they are sleeping with one eye closed, claiming that they were unsure of their future. Some of the workers, who spoke, said all may not be well with the company after all, saying that rather than sack workers, the ground handling company needed to employ more staff to beef up its operations. A source said: “In fact, no one is sure of his or her tomorrow in NAHCO at the moment. The rate at which people are fired and hired is unprecedented in the company.

PUBLIC NOTICE

BOKKOS ELITE INITIATIVE DEVELOPMENT Notice is hereby given that the above named organization has applied for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part ‘C’ of the companies and Allied Matters Act. The Trustees are: 1. Mr. James M. Julson 2. Prof. Bernard Matur 3. Asp Ishaku Mador 4. Prince James Akims 5. Professor Silim Danladi Matawal 6. Mr. Amos Akim AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. Empowerment of members of the community 2. Promoting peaceful co-existence 3. Providing advice on security of lives and property of the community by liaising with relevant authorities. 4. Promoting of members integrity 5. Promoting of interest of the community (Bokkos). Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Barr. C.O. Okoh (Mrs).(Solicitor)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro

IG probes undergraduate’s death in police custody

The late Bello

Juliana Francis

he Inspector General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, has ordered investigation

into the alleged murder of Femi Bello, a 300 level student of Economics at the Kaduna State University by policemen in Nasarawa State. Counsel to the family of

the deceased, Mr Nanpon Wuyep of Sterling Law Centre, the IG’s order is contained in a tweet from ‎the handle of the Deputy Force Police Public Relations Offi-

cer (DFPRO). Bello was arrested by policemen in Nasarawa State when he went to visit his friend. Wuyep said the boy did not know why he was arrested. According to him, Bello was taken to the police station. The lawyer added that by the time Bello’s mother and younger brother got information of his arrest and rushed down to the police station, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the station told them: “He don die” (he is dead). According to the DPO, while the police were taking Bello somewhere in a van, he jumped off the moving van despite handcuffs and died. But the family alleged that he was killed by police since the stories of how he died were conflicting. The Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, has intervened in the case. The governor was said to have instructed the police to release Bello’s body to his family. The police complied. Wuyep has filed an application to the Mararaba Magistrates’ Court for a Coroner’s Inquest into Bello’s death. The hearing comes up on December 22.

Two die as drivers, residents clash in Osun Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

t least two persons reportedly lost their lives at Garage Olode in Ife-South Local Government Area of Osun State when timber lorry drivers clashed with the residents

yesterday. The bone of contention was the killing on Monday of a student by a lorry. Also, two others were seriously injured during the

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Osun State Gov., Aregbesola

fracas in which dangerous weapons were freely used by both sides. Trouble started in the early hours of yesterday when lorry drivers reportedly stormed the town to avenge the murder of two of their members, Elijah Olagoke and Seyi, by the residents over the student’s killing. It was gathered that the angry drivers, who said that the killing of the student was not intentional, complained that the residents impounded 200 lorries. The drivers also blocked the ever-busy Odo-Ore Road, thereby hindered the free flow of traffic. The Chairman, Ife Timber Contractors and Sawmillers’ Association, Mr Yaya Ojuade, spoke on the incident. He said: “What happened

at Olode town was an accident involving one of our timber lorries, which resulted in the death of a secondary school student. “But the residents took the law into their hands, killing two of our members. The residents also impounded about 200 timber lorries.” In his own account, one of the community leaders, Adeola Adeleke, condemned the action of the drivers. He said they ought to have persuaded the residents over the matter instead of taking the law into their hands. The police later raced to the scene to restore law and order. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs Folasade Odoro, said that whosoever was found guilty would be brought to book.

Nine arraigned for oil theft

File picture of oil bunker

Juliana Francis

ine people were yesterday arraigned at a Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt for illegally dealing in petroleum products. The suspects, Clement Oguntuwase, Joseph Obie, Ifeoluwa Albert, Adams Amzat Akokhia, Isaac Ndidi Chima, Rafiu Momodu, Rasaq Mahmud, Godwin George, and Thomas Daniel, were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Lambo Akanbi on a two-count charge of conspiracy and illegally dealing in petroleum products. The Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said the accused were intercepted aboard MB SKYE by men of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, on November 14, on Brass waters, close to Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Bayelsa State. According to him, the accused were transferring crude oil from two vessels, MT CERGEN-D and MT ELIMINA, which were under investigation for alleged oil theft. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. In view of their plea, the prosecuting counsel, A. I. Arogha, asked for a date for the commencement of trial. But the defence counsel, A. A. Adetunji, orally presented a bail application and urged the court to grant the accused bail. Akanbi granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000, each and a surety in like sum, who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court. He then adjourned the matter till March 11, 2015 for commencement of trial.

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

‘Policemen must stop guarding banks’

Maid jailed 18 months for stealing N10,000 Caleb Onwe Abuja

Taiwo Jimoh

he National President of Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), Mr Davison Akhimien, has called on police hierarchy to stop mobile policemen from guarding banks and escorting expatriates from and to airports. Akhimien made the call during the fundraising dinner organised by ALPSPN in Lagos. He said that policemen should be allowed to do their core duties, rather than struggling for jobs meant for private guards. According to Akhimien, the dinner was an annual gathering, where private security practitioners come together to share ideas. The security expert added that private security guards should be allowed to carry firearms, while the mobile policemen attached to companies with private guards would have time to focus on their core duties. He said: “Situations where we have mobile policemen escorting foreigners from airports should be stopped. This is the responsibility of the private security guards. Police should go and carry out their duty. “Mobile policemen guarding banks should also be stopped. That should be the responsibility of private security guards.” The ALPSPN president also said private security guards

L-R: Davison Akhimien; Marvello; Mohammed Yusuf and DCP Awoniyi

should be elevated to provide security for government infrastructure across the country, rather than policemen. On his part, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), in Charge of Investigation, Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos State, Mr. Samson Awoniyi, noted that cases of bank robberies were now issues that had gone out of Lagos and Ogun states forever. He said: “Tackling bank robbery cases in both Ogun and Lagos states was made possible by Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2, Mr Umar Manko. When

he was the commissioner of Lagos State, Manko supported the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The SARS was fully armed and given the free hands to carry out operations without hindrances. “SARS was able to send bank robbers out of Lagos and Ogun states because it became proactive in fighting crime.” According to Awoniyi, Lagos and Ogun states were now a no go area for bank robbers. He added: “Our men in both states are fully prepared. That is what contributed to reduction in bank robberies in the

two states.” The DCP also said that the two commands, under Zone 2, had fully prepared for the 2015 general election. Awoniyi explained that the present Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Aderanti and his Ogun State counterpart, Mr Ikemefuna Okoye, recently held a meeting with Manko and some politicians from different political parties. He said: “Some stakeholders were also in attendant. They brainstormed on how to have a free and fair election in their respective states.”

‘Customs comptroller’ bags 10 years for N11.1m fraud

Hassan

Juliana Francis

Kano State High Court yesterday sentenced a fake Customs comptroller to 10 years and six months’ imprisonment without an option of fine for conspiracy, impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence.

The convict, Ibrahim Hassan, better known as Comptroller Kangiwa, was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Hassan, who was tried on a four-count charge, allegedly obtained N11,074,500 from one Alhaji Balarabe Sumaila in Kano. The Head, Media and Publicity of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said the convict presented himself to Sumaila as Comptroller Husaini Suleiman Kangiwa from Zone C, Owerri Office of the Nigeria Customs Service in 2007. Hassan allegedly told Sumaila that he had 12 containers of textile materials auctioned by the Nigeria Customs Service at the Tin Can Port, Apapa, Lagos, for sale. “The complainant, together with the convict’s accomplices, thereafter travelled to Lagos, where he was shown some containers containing the materials as discussed. Without any scintilla of suspicion, Sumaila paid the N11,074,500 to the convict for processing, clearance and transportation of the goods from Lagos to Kano. “However, all efforts made

by the complainant to get the goods delivered or his money paid back to him yielded no result,” Uwujaren said. The trial judge, Justice Dije Aboki, found Hassan guilty of the charge and consequently convicted and sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment for obtaining the money by false pretence, three years’

imprisonment for impersonation and another six months for conspiracy. The sentence is to run concurrently. The judge also granted the restitution application filed by the prosecuting counsel, Nasiru Salele and ordered the convict to pay N11 million to the complainant.

Chief Magistrates Court sitting at Karu, Abuja has sentenced a 21-year-old house maid, Elizabeth Linus, to 18 months’ imprisonment without an option of fine for an offence. The convict has been on trial since May 13, 2013. She was accused of stealing N10,000 belonging to her boss, Mrs Elizabeth Ordia of Block 9, Flat 15, Lapai Street, Area 1, Garki, Abuja. Ordia also said the maid stole a United Bank Africa (UBA) withdrawal slip and attempted to withdraw N20,000 from a branch of the bank at Maraba in Nasarawa State. According to her, Linus would have succeeded in withdrawing the money if not for the inconsistency in her signature which she had forged. This led to the maid’s arrest. Delivering his judgement, the presiding judge, Hon. A. O. Oyeyipo, said he had evaluated the evidence and testimony which the prosecution led by Sergeant Mohammed Garba presented before the court on the matter. The judge added that he had come to the conclusion that Linus was guilty. Garba said that the most disturbing aspect of the matter was the maid, who was entrusted with the care of the home, could take advantage of her position to commit such act. The plea of the defence counsel that the court should tamper justice with mercy and forgive her because she was remorseful did not move the judge. “Even though the convict is a first time offender and may have regretted her act, however, this type of act must be punished to serve as deterrent to other young people who may be contemplating such act,” Garba ruled.

Provost: Erosion threatening Gombe College of Education Ben Ngwakwe Gombe

f urgent steps are not taken, the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe State may soon be ravaged by gully erosion and other ecological threats. The Provost, Dr Abbas Gimba, said this during the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau’s one-day working visit to the institution. Gimba appealed to the Ter-

tiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to assist the school to maintain its facilities. The provost also noted that security was another area of challenge especially in the North-East region, adding that the college needed assistance in the area of protection of staff and students for effective teaching and learning to continue smoothly. He appealed to the Federal Government to assist the college to secure a high impact support project from TETFund to address the challenges.

Apart from thanking the Federal Government, the minister of education and TETFund for the wonderful support the institution had been receiving, the provost said that fund was able to give the college Special Intervention Projects (SIPs) in 2009 and some BOT projects in 2012 and 2013. He said: “These interventions have supported the growth and development of the institution by improving teaching and learning activities in the college.”

News

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NATIONAL

Boko Haram threatens to attack Emir Sanusi in new video THREAT

Now, the Emir of Kano is on the radar of insurgents for attack over his utterances Mojeed Alabi

or the umpteenth time, the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, has released another video threatening to fight and kill anyone who challenges its ideology, especially the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II. Shekau, in the 19-minute new video, said the decision to attack Sanusi was in retaliation for the Emir’s call on Kano residents and other Nigerians to arm and defend themselves against the terror organization. He said his group does

not consider Sanusi a true Muslim, and will attack him whenever an opportunity presents itself. The Emir had earlier issued a call to arms after a series of deadly attacks by suspected Boko Haram militants in Kano. He had spoken at Kano’s central Mosque in October, charging the people of Kano to arm and defend themselves against the sect, which he said was responsible for more than 13,000 deaths.

71%

The militants later launched a deadly assault on the Mosque on November 28, detonating multiple bombs and shooting worshippers to death. Over 100 people died in the attack, which was believed to have been targeted at Mr. Sanusi. The Emir, who had travelled out of Nigeria at the time, visited the Mosque on his return, and re-affirmed his vow that the Kano people will not be cowed in the face

The fatality rate of Ebola virus outbreak in Congo DR in 2007. Source: Who.int

of Boko Haram’s threats. He said: “Before I start talking to my brothers, who believed in me and the religion of Allah not the religion of democracy, not that of western education, those who believed in the religion of the Quran, not that of the constitution and not religion of the Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Jonathan, Obasanjo, Atiku, Babangida, Obama, Bush, Clinton, but the religion of Allah,” he said.

4,200

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Kiribati in 2005. Source: Itu.int

“Now listen to me Emir of Kano. I am talking to you and only you because of your recent utterances. “Let me inform you now that you are late, you should know that you are only but the King of Kano, King of Central Bank, King of money, you are only Sanusi Lamido,” he said. Mr. Shekau denounced the Emir’s religion as religion based on constitution, idol worship and

52%

The percentage of the urban population of Cote d’Ivoire in 2012. Source: Un.org

NUC to suspend operating licences of erring varsities Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

Mr. Chef hailed for women empowerment

ormer President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA), Mrs. Boma Ozobia, has commended Bayswater Industries Ltd, producers of Mr. Chef beef and chicken seasoning cubes, for its sponsorship of a women empowerment initiative. Ozobia gave the commendation in Lagos at the grand finale of the recently concluded Mr. Chef First Lady Reality Show in which a 23-year old undergraduate of the University of Lagos, Miss Juliet Ofodile, emerged winner. As winner, Ofodile went home with a Hyundai ix35 sports utility vehicle, N1.5 million, a LED television set and a double-door refrigerator. Miss Sophia Okoroafor, who came second received a cash prize of N1 million, a LED television set and a doubledoor refrigerator while Miss Ruth Obi who was third won N500,000 cash, a LED television set and a double-door refrigerator. Each of the other 16 women, who made it to the grand finale received N100,000 and a bedside refrigerator. Ozobia, who was the guest speaker at the event, said: “Mr. Chef First Lady Reality Show teaches life’s lessons that are in tandem with the show’s main objective of discovering and nurturing the ‘total woman’ that best epitomised the essence of womanhood,” stressing, “Bayswater

homosexuality. “Our own government is defined as government of the Allah by the Allah and for the Allah not as you define your own government as the government of the people by the people and for the people,” he said. Shekau said his group will fight local vigilantes and hunters, who have successfully crushed the advances of its fighters in some parts of Nigeria’s northeast.

L-R: Director, Clinical Services and Training, Lagos State University Hospital (LASUTH), Dr. Adedokun Ayaode; Regional Medical Officer, U S Consulate, Dr. Otto Dickman and Consultant General, LASUTH, Dr. Oludara, at the Annual General Meeting /Scientific Conference entitled: The Brain drain Syndrome, Organised by the Association of Resident Doctors, LASUTH, Ikeja, Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO:TONYEGUAYE

Shettima: Khadi was first appointed by Sherrif

overnor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has debunked claims that Alhaji Junaid Idrissa Khadi, one of the suspects paraded by the Department of State Security, DSS on Tuesday in Abuja was his aide. In a statement by Special Adviser Media, Alhaji Isa Gusau, he said that Khadi was first appointed

by a former Governor of the state, Alhaji Ali Modu Sherrif, before he was inherited by Shettima. Gasau said: “First, let it be noted that our clarification here is not intended to pronounce Khadi guilty of whatever reasons that led to his arrest. The clarification is simply to put the records in their proper perspec-

tive”. He explained that Khadi was first appointed by Sheriff in 2010,and was retained by Shettima in 2011 on Sheriff's request. Gusua added that it was not the tradition of Shettima of to join issues with security agencies as he holds each of them in high esteem. “ We are concerned

about an insinuation concerning the status of Khadi, who was presented as an aide to Governor Kashim Shettima. We don't want to question the integrity of the security agency involved and hence cannot out rightly allege political motive to bring Governor Shettima’s image to disrepute” he said.

N82.8m fraud: AGF withdraws Bandits kill five in Kaduna village sponded to distress calls application to stop Okorodudu's trial Ibraheem Musa Appolos Christian

he Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, yesterday withdrew a nolle prosequi application he had entered to discontinue criminal proceedings against the Managing Director of Cross-Country Limited, Mr. Bube Okorodudu. Okorodudu and his two companies - Cross

Country Limited and Car Link Limited - were charged with N82.2m fraud. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission accused them of defrauding one AG Moeller Limited and Mr. Adeloye Olukemi through fraudulent sale of 17 units of Volkswagen transporter buses belonging to the complainants.

KADUNA

rmed bandits wielding sophisticated weapons attacked Ungwan Dauda village in Sanga Local Government Area in the early hours of yesterday, killing five persons, including one year old baby, New Telegraph has learnt. According to reports, the bandits also opened fire on soldiers, who re-

and advanced to the village where the attack was going on. Although a gun battle ensured for over an hour, reports indicated that the bandits were repelled The Director of Personnel Management of the local government, Mr Haruna Harande, who is acting as Chairman of the council, following the dissolution of all elected local government chairmen in Kaduna State, confirmed the attack.

he National Universities Commission (NUC) yesterday disclosed that it has concluded plans to suspend operating licences of some universities across the country for failing to meet up with the set standards. Executive Secretary of the Commission, Professor Julius Okojie, who disclosed this in Abuja at the opening of a one-day workshop on anti-corruption war in the universities, said that provisional licences given to universities are subject to withdrawal whenever such universities are found wanting. He said the NUC would in a couple of weeks announce the suspension of some licences of certain universities. Okojie, who spoke through the Commission's Deputy Executive Secretary, Professor Chiedu Mafiana, however, did not specify the number of universities that would be affected. His words: “Yes, you may be hearing a few things in the next two weeks. …We will continue to suspend licenses. Before now, the manner in which certain licenses were issued were not provisional. Once licenses were issued, it was assumed that nothing would happen. But, today, when we issue licenses, it becomes provisional, giving us the leeway to look back and do what is right." He said the Commission has been working closely with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Offences Commission (ICPC) to fight corruption in the nation's university system. "We’ve been working with the ICPC."

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Primaries

Obanikoro accuses George, Agbaje of manipulating primaries

Bianca opposes tenure elongation for Umeh, others

Presidency: Buhari’ll lose again – Kuye

How Sambo emerged Jonathan’s running mate

APGA

2015

Interview

Politics

Osibajo: The intrigues, drama After a long wait, the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday announced former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Prof. Yemi Osibajo as its vice presidential candidate. Felix Nwaneri writes on the intrigues over his emergence

he emergence of Prof. Yemi Osibajo (SAN) as running mate to the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, has proved that former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu, is in control of the party. Despite groundswell of opposition from various power blocs within the APC, Tinubu ensured that his protégé yesterday emerged as Buhari’s running mate. Though he lost his bid for the slot, Tinubu made sure his choice clinched the ticket. Tinubu did not mince words last year when he declared that the greater battle for the salvation of Nigeria has just begun and he is willing and ready to join hands with all like-minded people to move Nigeria forward no matter the cost. Perhaps, part of the cost was letting go of his grip of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which merged with the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to form the APC, and most importantly, yesterday’s shelving of his personal political ambition that paved the way for the emergence of Osibajo, a

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Buhari

former Lagos Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, as the vicepresidential candidate of his party. Tinubu was earlier reported to have held the party’s presidential candidate, Buhari, to ransom over the choice of his running mate, insisting on being on the ballot with Buhari in the February 14, 2015 election. But he backed out at the end of long hours of meetings by party chieftains Tuesday night. Buhari, who announced the choice of Osibajo at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, said he had picked a man of unquestionable character, a professional and an intellectual, whom he believed would discharge the duties expected of him with utmost diligence. He disclosed that the process of selecting the vice-presidential candidate was rigorous, meticulous, and objective and involved broad consultations with party leaders and others outside the party. His words: “The challenging process of rescuing our country and changing Nigeria for good has commenced. One of the first decisions that I have to make is the choice of the vice-presidential candidate and my running mate.” Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi, who had been in strong contention for the ticket, is to be named the Director General of the APC presidential campaign while veteran journalist and former Lagos

Tinubu

State Commissioner for Information, Dele Alake, is expected to head the media team. Tinubu triumphs Though Tinubu did not get the ticket, he however had his way. Osibajo has remained his long standing and trusted ally. The Ogun State-born professor of Law served under him between 1999 and 2007. An intriguing political game had ensued shortly after last Thursday’s national convention of the opposition party over who picks the vice presidential ticket. The battle nearly took the shine off the party’s convention, which had continued to receive acclamation. The opposition party had what most political analysts and observers have described as a model in party primaries in Lagos, given the transparency of the exercise which in turn led to acceptance of its outcome by the five aspirants involved in the contest – former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo) and the publisher of Leadership Newspapers, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah. Though the convention was preceded by high level politicking that saw most of APC’s leaders and governors backing Buhari, but hardly had the party’s leaders left the Teslim Balogun venue of the convention that another round of intrigues ensued over who emerges the former military ruler’s running mate.

Several meetings were held with a number of names mentioned as possible vice presidential candidates of the party. One of the meetings was held behind closed doors at the Lagos House, Marina. Those who attended the meeting were Governors Amaechi, Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) and Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), who played host. Others were Senators Bukola Saraki and Chris Ngige, as well as former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and APC governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai. Another of such meetings was held at the instance of Tinubu, who, earlier reports said got the nod from Buhari to choose his running mate. It was not surprising then the battle pitched the Tinubu camp against the APC governors. Tinubu had before the convention showed no interest in the vice presidential ticket. The twist was therefore a shocker to most analyst and observers, who were wary of the consequence of a Muslim-Muslim ticket by the party. The likes of Governors Amaechi, Oshiomhole and Fashola; former Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Osibajo had before Tinubu’s entrant been in contention as Buhari’s possible running mates. Power balancing Their choices were arrived at by the APC leaders, who argued that with the emergence of Buhari, a northerner; it is natural that the party zones its presidential ticket to the south to ensure power balancing between both divides. The South is comprised of three geo-political zones; South-East, South-South and South-West. But after an analysis of the strength of the party in the three zones, the vice presidential ticket was narrowed down to the South-West and SouthSouth. The former is unarguably the party’s stronghold, while the latter is President Goodluck Jonathan’s home-zone. The South-East was knocked out despite APC’s control of a state in the zone (Imo). The calculation of the party’s strategists in picking the South-South ahead of the South-East is that a vice presidential candidate of the party from the oil-rich region will deplete the president’s support from his kinsmen. Amaechi and Oshiomhole are from the South-South, while Fashola, Osibajo and Fayemi are from the South West. While a source within the APC had CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Politics | Interview

FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE profiles Prof. Yemi Osibajo, the running mate to the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

The man Yemi Osibajo

rof. Yemi Osibajo, the running mate to the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major General Muhammadu Buhari, he has been described as a gentleman, an intelligent man, who understands the law, not given to emotions. The professor of Public Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is a perfect ‘mate’ to flag the party’s ticket for the 2015 general election. Born in Lagos State some five decades ago into the family of the late Sir Adeyemi, Osibajo studied law at the University of Lagos where he obtained a Bachelor of Law, LL.B degree in1978. He was called to Bar in 1979. Thereafter, he proceeded to the London School of Economics where he obtained a Master of law in 1980. Osibajo, an erudite scholar and motivational speaker, is a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). Although he was in full legal practice, he switched his practice of law to advisory capacity when he became a Special Adviser to the then Attorney-General and Justice Minister, Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN) in 1988. Six years after, he joined the service of his alma mata where he became a professor of Public Law and was appointed as the Head of Department of Public Law in 1997, a position he held for two years. He quit in 1999 after he was appointed Justice Commissioner and Attorney-General of Lagos State in the administration of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu. Osibajo served in Tinubu’s cabinet until 2007 when the former governor

Osibajo

completed his two terms of four years. After office, Osibanjo went back into full legal practice. Until he was made Buhari’s running mate yesterday, Osibajo was the senior partner at SimmonsCooper Partners (SCP), a firm of legal practitioners. Osibajo, an author of scores of books on civil procedure in Nigerian superior courts, rules of evidence and justice reform, has 31 years of litigation experience including significant trial and appellate work. He supervises the commercial litigation group at SCP. With a multi-jurisdictional competence spanning Nigeria, the United States and the United Kingdom, SCP fuses sound legal counsel with superior advocacy, and personal and responsive service. SCP

provides a very comprehensive and integrated range of litigation, transactional, advisory and several support services to a vast array of clients. Till date, Osibajo has conducted several important constitutional and precedential cases before the Nigerian Supreme Court. They include fiscal disputes between the federating units and the Federal Government; disputes regarding the ownership and control of oil and gas resources; town and physical planning disputes between the federating units and the Federal Government; an international territorial jurisdictional dispute in the West African sub-regional court; shareholder disputes involving a multinational, private investors and state-owned invest-

ment corporations and energy disputes arising from multinational participation in power projects in Nigeria. In other cases, he has advised and represented clients in a broad range of commercial and corporate issues including securities litigation, investments and divestments, joint ventures, oil block acquisitions, product liability, fiduciary duties of directors, intellectual property, and corporate valuations. He is also involved in statutory and regulatory appraisal representation before the legislature and federal and state agencies. While in Tinubu’s government, Osibajo made some far-reaching significant judicial reforms in Lagos State, addressing critical areas as judges’ recruitment, remuneration, training and discipline. In addition, he addressed access to justice for the poor by establishing appropriate institutions in the Office of the Public Defender and the Citizens Mediation Centre. In honour of his contributions to legal reform and the development of law in Nigeria, a compendium of essays on Nigerian constitutional law was compiled. The authors of these essays were senior lawyers and law professors with a foreword provided by a former Chief Justice of Nigeria. Osibajo is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), International Bar and the British Institute of International and Comparative Law. He is a former member of the Body of Benchers, Council for Legal Education of Nigeria. He is a director of CitiBank. He co-founded Convention on Business Integrity and the Justice Research Institute Limited. Besides, in 2007, Osibajo alongside his wife, Oludolapo founded ‘The Orderly Society Trust, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to the promotion of Christian ethics and orderliness. He is a Pastor at Olive Tree House of Prayer for All Nations, Banana Island, a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

The godfather had his way C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

told New Telegraph in the course of the consultations and horse-trading that Buhari’s running mate will emerge from among the shortlisted five, it was however observed that the party’s leaders handled the issue with utmost care to avoid the banana peels that rocked the alliance between the ACN and CPC (all defunct) in the 2011presidential election. Avoiding 2011 experience Chieftains of the then ACN had insisted that Buhari’s running mate in that election, Pastor Tunde Bakare, must sign an undertaking that he will step down for their candidate for them to support the former Head of State, but Buhari and Bakare’s refusal of the condition led to the collapse of the alliance on the eve of the election. Consequently, ACN tacitly supported President Jonathan, explaining PDP’s victory in the party’s controlled South-West states except Osun. To avoid the 2011 experience, the APC leadership took time to weigh the merits and demerits of going for any of the five options. For instance, Amaechi and Oshiomhole were said to have been considered on the calculation that any of them will deplete President Jonathan’s support base.

Both men are popular in their zone, and were expected to swing their state’s votes to the opposition party. Amaechi was particularly said to have the financial muscle to support the APC’s presidential campaign. Besides this, he is fearless and has what it takes to take the APC campaign to the doorsteps of most of his kinsmen, who believe the president deserves the support of all in the zone. In terms of religious balancing, he was also favoured, being a Christian. For Oshiomhole, he was tipped because of his popularity and acceptability across the country. He is propeople and also fearless like Amaechi. He was a former labour leader, who stormed the political space, when he won the governorship seat of his state in 2007. His political profile has continued to rise since then given his achievements. But the strength of the APC in the South-South and the fact that the zone has already taken the national chairmanship position of the party worked against their emergence. The opposition party controls Edo and Rivers states out of the six states of the zone, but there is the fear that the people of the zone may prefer their son as president than the vice presidential position. Settling for South-West In the South-West, Fashola was

It was also said that Tinubu made a case for his wife, Oluremi, the senator representing Lagos Central in the National Assembly, but was resisted

considered given his performance as helmsman of Lagos for two terms. The strength of the APC and voting potency of the state was also considered. The opposition had been in power in the state since the country’s return to civil rule in 1999, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has put the current total number of registered voters in the state at 5.4 million. So, it was argued that Fashola’s candidature will guarantee a great percentage of these votes, plus more from the south-western states. He was however dropped by virtue of his religious leaning. He is a Muslim like Buhari. For Fayemi, who just lost his reelection bid as governor of Ekiti State to the candidate of the PDP, he was also considered by many as a very good choice as far as the vice presidential ticket of the APC is concerned because of the value he is expected to add to party’s presidency. He is reputed to possess a brilliant mind. But his loss may in the June 21 Ekiti governorship poll counted in his favour, as many argued that he would be unable to garner the muchneeded votes from his state. An alleged strain in his relationship with Tinubu worked against him. Osibajo, who finally emerged is said to be Tinubu’s protégé. The former governor had insisted that he

would only back down if Osibajo, a pastor with the Redeemed Christian church of God (RCCG) is considered. He made the concession when it became clear to him that the Muslim/ Muslim ticket may be a hard sell to Nigerians. It was also said that Tinubu made a case for his wife, Oluremi, the senator representing Lagos Central in the National Assembly, but was resisted. The initial snag over Osibajo’s candidature was the camp of the APC governors, who were then reported to be more favourably inclined to having one of their own as the vice president. Another minus is that he is a technocrat, as against being a thoroughbred politician. It may have been against these backdrops that the South-West caucus of the party presented Tinubu as their choice after the South-South was knocked off. But Saraki reportedly led the rebellion with support of the party’s governors. Religious sentiment Those opposed to Tinubu candidacy were said to have been wary of sentiments that may be evoked by religion over the party’s presidential and vice presidential candidates of the religious faith. They insisted that any attempt by the party to opt for a Muslim/Muslim ticket will cost it victory at the poll. They were also said to be wary that the ruling party was anxiously waiting for the APC to announce a Muslim as its vice-presidential ticket

Politics | Interview

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo defied all odds on his way to emerge as running mate to presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for next year’s general election, writes ONYEKACHI EZE

ice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo owes a lot of gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan. Although, he was elected the governor of Kaduna State in 2007, his continued political relevance in the country is due to the unwavering love and interest Jonathan has for him. Sambo’s success at the polls in 2007 was attributed to his predecessor, Mohammed Makarfi, now a Senator of the Federal Republic who deployed his political machinery to ensure that he emerged, both at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries and at the main election. It was not immediately known why Jonathan settled for Sambo as his vice in 2010, but what he promised Nigerians after the former Kaduna State governor was sworn in, was that there will be no quarrel between them. And this has been the case, at least since there have been no reported case of misunderstanding between the president and his vice since then. If Sambo was a natural choice for Jonathan’s running mate in 2011, he was not so sure of such privilege until the morning of December 11, 2014, nearly three months after Jonathan was unanimously adopted by the various organs of the PDP as the sole presidential candidate of the party for the February 14 presidential election. Sambo’s political fortune has been on downward slide since he became the nation’s vice president in 2010. Shortly

How Sambo emerged Jonathan’s running mate after Jonathan’s adoption, the news went viral that the vice president might lose his position as vice presidential candidate in 2015. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, agreed that there have been “unhealthy speculations” regarding the choice of Jonathan’s running mate, adding: “The president is yet to communicate his acceptance of the endorsement to the party and the nation. “We should wait for the president to announce his running mate instead of jumping the gun. I believe the incumbent vice president enjoys the confidence of the president.” But despite this assurance, pundits still believed that Sambo would not enhance Jonathan’s electoral fortune in 2015. ”For a vice president, who cannot win his polling booth, cannot produce a councillor, the chairman of his local government is an APC, both the member of the House of Assembly and members of the National Assembly are all APC, then it is clear that such a vice president has no clout and is of less electoral value to the president at the polls. “Even Kaduna State where the VP hails from, there have been crises rocking the PDP as a result of alleged interference from him. His replacement is seen as a good omen for the party. With the VP out of 2015, the president can now heave a sigh of relief,” critics once said. These were arguments canvassed for Sambo’s replacement as Jonathan’s running mate. Those who hold such views went further to state that the decision to drop Sambo as vice presidential candidate, was part of a deal reached by the PDP governors as a precondition for Jonathan’s endorsement

Tinubu pushes way through to make it a campaign issue. Buhari is a Muslim, so the argument is that his running mate should be a Christian. The last time Nigeria had two personalities of the same faith as presidential and vice presidential candidates was in 1993, when late Chief Moshood Abiola and Babagana Kingibe contested the presidency on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). Tinubu bows Bowing to party position, Tinubu, in a statement yesterday, said he withdrew from the race because of his patriotic conviction and desire to be a bridge builder across all divides. The former Lagos governors said though he was offered the slot by Buhari at a time; he honourably declined the position so that he would not be seen as self-serving. He said: “I have laboured hard to move this party from being merely an idea in the minds of a few into being a political organization that might win this election and govern the nation in way that gives the people the hope and opportunity they seek. Nothing is more important to me than to realize this dream not for myself but for the people of this land I so love. PDP mocks While it is optimism in the APC camp, the PDP has described the be-

lated choice of Osibajo by Buhari as his running mate, as the height of incompetence. The ruling party also declared that the eventual choice of the professor of Law is a confirmation of its stand that the APC is the personal project of a cabal commanded by Tinubu, to expand its political and economic frontiers. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, the party said: “Should power get to this cabal, who is desperate to control the political and economic power centre of the nation, then Nigeria is finished.” It added: “By the choice of Osibajo, a well known acolyte of Tinubu, who served under him as AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, the APC, General Buhari and Tinubu have boldly recreated their well-known notoriety for sectional and personal interests. “It is particularly worrisome that General Buhari has surrendered his first official responsibility of choosing a running mate, invariably his powers to Tinubu even before he goes to the field to ask for votes.” With the stage now set, Nigerians are sure of interesting times as the two leading parties and their respective candidates hit the roads for campaigns ahead of the February 14, 2015 presidential election.

Sambo

as the sole candidate of the party for the 2015 presidential race. At first, names of two serving governors, also from the same North-West zones, were suggested as his likely replacement. They were Governors Ibrahim Shehu Shema of Katsina and Sule Lamido of Jigawa. Their choice, according to sources, was based on their performance in office and their political influence. Particularly for Lamido, it was believed that this was part of the agreements that made him drop his presidential ambition. Again, his rich political background and personality were needed to win the region for the PDP. Also rumoured to be on the radar for the vice presidential slot, was former Zamfara State governor, Alhaji Sani Ahmed Yerima who is currently a serving senator. Yerima, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) came into the picture after he allegedly facilitated the visit of Muslim clerics and leaders to Aso Rock to pray for Jonathan’s re-election. Those who advanced this view argued that Yerima, an influential Muslim, will attract more support from the Muslim community to PDP than Sambo, if he becomes Jonathan’s running mate. But despite all these permutations, President Jonathan kept the candidate for his running mate close to his chest. He kept the 3,037 delegates that graced the PDP Special National Convention in suspense as he read his acceptance speech. It was not until towards the end of his speech that he decided to unveil his choice of running mate. The president, after inviting the PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, the chairman of PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, the president of the Senate, Senator David Mark, Sambo and others announced the adoption of Sambo as his running mate. “I seize the opportunity of this occasion to formally announce that as we commence the campaign for the 2015

presidential elections, Architect Mohammed Namadi Sambo, a loyal and tested partner, a dependable, trustworthy gentleman and a true patriot will be my running mate and vice presidential candidate once again. “With your continued support and the blessing of God Almighty, Vice President Sambo and I will campaign together to win another resounding victory for our great party in the coming elections,” the president said. This was received with wide jubilation. Jonathan gave reasons why he opted for Sambo. The vice president is described as the second most loyal vice president Nigeria has had, second only to Jonathan himself when he was vice president to late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Having served, at various times, as deputy governor and vice president, Jonathan knows the havoc disunity at seat of power could cause to the smooth running of government. Born on August 2, 1954 in Zaria, Kaduna State, Sambo, Nigeria’s fourth vice president, became Jonathan’s deputy on May 19, 2010 after the later had been elevated to the position of president. An alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Sambo studied architecture and graduated in 1976. His journey to public life began in 1988 when he became Commissioner for Works, Transport and Housing in Kaduna State. He went into private practice in 1990. He joined partisan politics at the return of democratic rule in the country in 1998. In 2007, Sambo ran for the governorship of Kaduna State and won. He was sworn into office on May 29, 2007 for a four-year term. This was however, interrupted as he was appointed vice president on May 18, 2010. As Kaduna State governor, Sambo had an 11-point agenda focused on empowering the youth and women of the community and to address security for the state.

16 Politics

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Lagos PDP: Obanikoro accuses George, Agbaje of manipulating primaries Tunde Oyesina Abuja

former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro yesterday accused a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Chief Olabode George, and the governorship candidate of the party in the state, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, of manipulating the December 8th governorship primaries in Lagos State. Obanikoro alleged that the duo recruited armed thugs to achieve their

aims at the primaries. This is contained an affidavit which he filed before a Federal High Court in Abuja in support of his suit numbered, FHC/ ABJ/CS/994/2014, challenging the conduct of the governorship primaries in which Agbaje was declared as the winner. Obanikoro with 343 votes came second behind Agbaje who polled 432 votes to clinch the party’s ticket. But the former minster in his suit urged the court to nullify the primaries and order a fresh one to be conducted on the grounds of alleged electoral irreg-

Anglican bishops back Ugwuanyi for governor Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

ight Anglican Bishops under Enugu Ecclesiastical Province yesterday called for total support for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. The clerics, however, demanded that the party should field an Anglican as running mate to the governorship candidate. The Bishops stated that since Ugwuanyi is a Catholic, it would be proper to field an Anglican as his running mate, to avoid marginalisation of Anglicans by the government in the state. Spokesman of the Bishops and the Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, made the position of the bishops known yesterday when he briefed newsmen in Enugu along with other Bishops. Declaring support for Ugwuanyi, the Bishop said: “We wholeheartedly

support his candidature because we believe that as it is now, there is no other candidate that is more credible than Ugwuanyi. But Ugwuanyi should not succumb to the pressure of selfish people who want to perpetrate their sister or their brother as deputy. He should be very careful and should be aware that it is not going to augur well.” Chukwuma alleged that the present state government marginalised the Anglican church. “So, we are crying out to the world to say there is trouble looming in Enugu State if Anglicans are not considered in the governance of Enugu State in the coming dispensation,” he said. Other bishops at the briefing are: Archbishop Amos Madu, Bishop of Oji River Diocese; Rt. Rev. Emma Ugwu, Bishop of Awgu/Aninri Diocese; Rt. Rev. Chijioke Aneke, Bishop of Udi Diocese; Rt. Rev. (Prof.) Evan Ibeagha, Bishop of Nike Diocese and Rt. Rev. Dan Olinye, Bishop of Eha-Amufu Diocese.

ularities that marred the exercise. When the matter came up yesterday, the trial judge, Justice A.R Mohammed, after listening to Obanikoro’s counsel, Chris Uche (SAN) who moved an ex parte application ordered the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to appear in court on December 23. He directed the two defendants in the suit to appear in court to show cause why he (the judge) should not make an order of interim injunction, restraining them from presenting or accepting any name as the PDP governorship candidate in

Lagos State pending the determination of the suit. The court, however, declined to grant the restraining order as sought by the plaintiff ’s counsel through the ex parte application. Rather than grant the order, Justice Mohammed asked the plaintiff to put the defendants on notice for them to appear in court to show cause why the order should not be granted. The former minister alleged in his suit that the election was marred by electoral irregularities such as over voting, intimidation of delegates by thugs loyal to George and Agbaje as well as im-

resh facts emerged yesterday over the choice of the Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG), Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, as the running mate to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

New Telegraph gathered that Adebule was chosen among other contenders based on religious affiliations gender balance and the pressure from Muslim organisations and Awori Welfare Association of Nigeria (AWAN), that insisted that the PhD holder in Curriculum Studies should be allowed to succeed Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.

loyal to me ran for their dear lives to avoid being caught in the crossfire between the police and the armed thugs. “That I know as a fact that many of my delegates who ran for their dear lives in the ensuing violence and gun battle never returned and were consequently disenfranchised as it took the police several hours to restore some semblance of normalcy. “That I saw that the police recovered five guns and rounds of ammunition and live cartridges from the thugs brought by Chief Olabode George and Mr. Jimi Agbaje, a coaspirant,” he averred.

L-R: Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, a party chieftain and Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, at the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Special National Convention in Awka, yesterday.

Bianca opposes tenure elongation for Umeh, others Tony Okafor Awka

drama yesterday ensued at the special national convention of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Awka, Anam-

bra State when Mrs Bianca Ojukwu opposed an attempt by party delegates to amend the constitution of the party. The amendment was to extend the tenure of present executives of the party by 120 days starting from February 10th next year.

Why SSG emerged Ambode’s running mate Muritala Ayinla

proper accreditation of delegates. In an affidavit personally deposed to by him, Obanikoro averred, “that the thugs earlier brought by Chief Olabode George and Mr. Jimi Agbaje, a co-aspirant, at this point began to disrupt the venue by throwing bottles, stones and firing gunshots in the direction of the delegates loyal to me and preventing other delegates loyal to me from entering the venue. “That the gunshots attracted another detachment of policemen, who engaged the thugs in a gun and teargas battle during which many of the delegates

“The clamour by the Awori indigene is also a factor. Some of the past deputy governors in the state are Aworis. Alhaji Rafiu Jafojo, Princess Sarah Sosan, and the incumbent Princess Adefulire are all from Awori land. They own about 70 per cent of Lagos land and if the Aworis can’t be considered for the governorship position, in spite

of their heavy presence in all the three senatorial districts, then the position of deputy governor should not elude their sons and daughters,” a source said. Adebule was born to the family of IdowuEsho of Ojo Alaworo in Ojo Local Government Area. She was a lecturer at the Faculty of Education.

Bianca, the widow of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, told journalists after the convention that it was illegal and unconstitutional for serving officers of the party to amend the constitution in that respect. She maintained that their continuing stay on the saddle would oblique transparency in the current electoral process that would produce candidates of the party in 2015. Bianca, however, agreed that her lone voice in the process may not make the desired change, but she wants to be put on record that she saw an injustice and moved against it. The party had in the convention amended several portions of the party’s constitution including the contentious tenure elonga-

tion which would now give patent to incumbent officers of the party to have an extension of tenure not exceeding 120 days. The party had also on the occasion expunged the name of the pioneer chairman of the party, Chekwas Okorie, from the party’s constitution, describing the inclusion of such name in the party’s grund norm as undemocratic and dictatorial. The party also ratified and approved the position of leader and Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman in the constitution and accordingly conferred the position on the Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State. At the convention, the party adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as the presidential candidate of APGA in 2015.

Politics | Interview 17

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Presidency: Buhari’ll lose again – Kuye How would you assess the PDP primaries in Lagos State? The primaries went well and all hands that were engaged in the primaries did their job accordingly, particularly the congress committee put in place by the State Working Committee of the party. So, I give kudos to them for doing a very good job.

Chief Taiwo Kuye is an executive member of the Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, he speaks on the fallout of PDP primaries in Lagos State and the 2015 general election. Excepts:

But some of the aspirants were not satisfied with the governorship primaries where 806 people were accredited but 863 people voted.... That is just a mere error on the part of the organisers of the congress from Abuja because if you look at the figure very well, you will see that some personalities who are leaders of the party were in the hall as delegates. They were not accredited or counted as delegates initially but they voted. So, they were the ones who made the figure to shoot up to that 863. It is not that anything else was done.

The presidential election is going to be a battle between President Goodluck Jonathan of PDP and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of APC. How do you see the contest between the two gladiators? Buhari is going to be beaten the fourth time and I am sure many Nigerians cannot appear to be a failure in their profession for four times. Buhari is going to be beaten silly by Jonathan. In fact, the 2015 election for Buhari, is going to be a landmark and historical murder for APC because after Buhari, there is nobody that can stand in any presidential election. Buhari is a deadwood; he has been beaten three times by the PDP. He was beaten by Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003, Umaru Yar’Adua in 2007 and Jonathan in 2011. He is going to be beaten again by Jonathan in 2015. The man should bury his head in shame for even accepting to contest at 72 and having been defeated three times contesting the same position.

The belief in some quarters was that the increase in the figure was carried out to favour a particular candidate? No, the delegates know who they wanted to vote for. So, there was no any game. The state chairman of the party, Capt. Olatunji Shelle (rtd), said at the beginning of the process and swore with Holy Bible that he is going to ensure a transparent congress, of which he did. But the party has been divided with the former Minister of State for Defence and PDP gubernatorial aspirant, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro calling for the cancellation of the governorship primaries. As I speak, the party is still intact; all the members still remain one. Those who are aggrieved; like Obanikoro and his people will be brought to a roundtable and the issues ironed out at the appropriate time. But Obanikoro has already taken the party to court. Whatever the court says about that matter, we will still come back as a family and put heads together. I am sure Obanikoro will come down and let the cat go. How do you see Obanikoro’s legal action? Legally, as one of the managers in the state, it is illegal and unconstitutional for a member to take the party to court. But specifically speaking, issues like that is left for the National Working Committee (NWC) to decide. It is only the NWC that has the power to decide on such cases and I believe they will decide on the matter. What are the measures being put in place by PDP leaders to manage Obanikoro and other aggrieved members in the party ahead of the 2015 elections? The leadership is working on that; even the national secretariat is working on that. They are setting up a powerful reconciliation committee that will put

Kuye

everybody on the same page. There are reports that some political parties are already talking to Obanikoro and if he dumps the PDP, will his exit not affect the party chances in 2015? In the first place, the ball is in his court. If he chooses to go to another party, it is in his choice. If he chooses to stay in the PDP, it is in his choice. But I am sure that if he leaves the party today, the party will still remain intact. If Obanikoro leaves PDP today, it will have no effect on the party. It is only Obanikoro that will leave; the party remains.

what is left for us in the party is to forge ahead, come together and build a united PDP so that we can send APC to the cooler come February 2015.

But he has influence in Lagos PDP. People like that in the party have left the party. Dr. Yomi Finnih left and many big names have left the PDP and their absence was not felt. We are waxing stronger and more populous on a daily basis.

Do you think that is possible with a divided house? The house is not divided. It is the perception of some people that with Obanikoro making some noise, the house is divided. It is not. I believe that despite all odds and the post-primaries crises, PDP still remains intact; we still remain one indivisible family. We will still work as an entity and we are planning and moving ahead to see that we see our candidate, Jimi Agbaje, through in the next election. I am convinced that PDP is going to win come 2015 no matter the magic and antics explored of the APC cohorts. We will over run them. I am confident that we will over run the APC.

So, you are confident that Obanikoro’s exit will not affect PDP in 2015? It is people that are talking about his strength and followership but to us in the PDP, we know where everybody belongs and we know the level of everybody. We know all the aspirants and what transpired during the congress; what went round and changed hands during the primaries. We don’t want to talk about that again; it is past and it has become history. For now,

Are you saying PDP is not jittery given the fact it has not been able to win in the past elections in Lagos? We are not jittery. They are fielding a candidate and we are fielding a candidate as well. Our candidate is even more formidable than APC governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode. Ambode is unknown to Lagos politics but Agbaje is a household name in Lagos politics. So, it is going to be minus for APC and plus for the PDP.

Why do think Ambode is a minus for APC? He is a minus because he is a dark horse; political dark horse. Somebody that is not known in Lagos politics, how can he win an election? I believe that the 2015 general election is going to be monumental in the history of Lagos politics. It is going to be monumental in the sense that we will overrun the APC in virtually all the local governments. The election is going to be a surprise; it is going to be credible and transparent. We are not leaving any stone unturned. I have utmost confidence that with Agbaje as our candidate, PDP will win the February 28, 2015 governorship election in Lagos State.

He has been beaten three times by the PDP. He was beaten by Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003, Umaru Yar’Adua in 2007 and Jonathan in 2011. He is going to be beaten again by Jonathan in 2015

Some people believe that Buhari will be a good president, considering his antecedent? Why didn’t he win in the last election? Why does he always fail in election? Better candidates always win and in some cases better candidates lose an election for one reason or the other. Buhari does not belong to any of the two; he is a new comer in Nigerian politics. In 2011 presidential election, Jonathan scored about 24 million votes while Buhari had 12 million votes. Don’t you see the margin? You seem to be confident of Jonathan winning the 2015 election but some analysts are of the view that the fall-out of the party primaries nationwide may affect PDP chances in 2015? Their loss at the party’s primaries means that they are not good at home. To be explicit, the case of Senator Victor NdomaEgba will teach any politician the best lesson of his life. Ndoma-Egba, a Senate Leader and number four in the hierarchy of the Senate lost at the primaries, polling 26 votes while the winner polled 276 votes. It is a shame and that tells you that the man is not good at home. Politics nowadays is rub my back and I rub your back.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion

Need for review of legal education

Adewale Kupoluyi

he recent mass failure recorded at the last Final Bar Examination of the Nigerian Law School has remained a source of worry for two reasons. Firstly, it shows a serious decline in our legal education. Secondly, it symptomatic of the rot in the nation’s educational system. Startling figures by the NLS indicate that 6,883 students sat for the Bar examinations out of which only four students had First Class, nine passed in the Second Class (Upper Division) while only 487 passed in the ‘average’ Second Class (Lower Division). Other 1,500 candidates were awarded the ‘below average’ Ordinary Pass while the remaining 4,883 students failed outright. In summary, 57 per cent passed while 33 per cent failed meaning that the students would have to attend at least eight weeks of compulsory revision classes, to make up for the poor performance. No doubt, the results have generated controversy in the sense that many of the students believe that they were deliberately scored low by the school authorities while the NLS on its part had insisted that the poor outing actually reflected the performance of the students. To some of the students, the school’s Director-General, Dr. Olanrewaju Onadeko-led management had failed them en masse, as they called for a review of the entire results. Many legal practitioners are also divided on the issue. Majority of observers, however, were of the opinion that the result was a manifestation that the NLS was making real progress in carrying out its mandate of producing sound lawyers for the country; hence the failure recorded was a reflection of the declining standard, which the school was trying to revamp. Since 1963, a year after NLS was founded; anyone who has obtained a university degree in law (LL.B) and is desirous of legal practice would attend the school while the Council of Legal Education issues certificates, having passed the examinations before being called to the Bar by the Body of Benchers. Already, the Nigerian Bar Association has indicated its willingness to carry out an investigation into the matter. Without prejudice to the outcome of such an

effort, it is useful to examine a few factors that could be responsible and justify why legal education should be accorded priority and revamped. To begin with, the unfortunate development is a reflection of the quality of graduates being churned-out by our universities caused by the persistent problems of poor funding, inadequate manpower and non-adherence to extant admission and academic guidelines. Apart from these, enrolling students that are not passionate about the course could be a big problem. In this part of the world, a lot of young students are hoodwinked into studying some preferred courses by their parents and guardians - because of the prestige and chances of getting employed - they believe lucrative courses include medicine, pharmacy, accounting and engineering, among others. Again, universities without the necessary human resources, capacity and strategic goal needed to run such courses began to offer law programme lately for pure commercial reasons. It is based on this premise that universities of science and technology have been argued not to have any business offering law degrees. The rapid growth in the number of law graduates produced by law faculties has not been matched with the available facilities at the NLS. Hence, with the limited facilities, students find it extremely difficult to undergo the rigorous academic tutelage, which critics feel could explain why half-baked lawyers and graduates are being produced. Another factor could be the students’ addiction to the use of the social media. This technology has so much been abused in Nigeria to the extent that people spend too much time chatting, texting, browsing and pinging when serious attention and decorum are required of them. This point was affirmed by the Chairman of Council for Legal Education (CLE) and a former National President of the NBA, OCJ Okocha (SAN), who blamed the dismal performance to social media abuse by the law students. As a way forward, there is need for wholistic review of legal training in the country. Both the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the CLE should monitor universities more closely to ensure that they adhere strictly to stipulated academic standards. As suggested by some lawyers, integral courses being taught in the law

school be transferred to law faculties. For now, what is being taught in the university is just the substantive law like the law of torts, labour law, family law, criminal law, customary and non-customary law and so on, while the law school curriculum is designed for the procedural law. No doubt, a good knowledge in courses like the criminal procedure codes and acts, and law of evidence would be useful to law faculties. Secondly, there is the need to review the existing admission policy. As obtainable in developed countries, only graduates of other disciplines are allowed to enroll for LL.B. While we may not have a complete shift to this policy, we could settle for an arrangement such that a certain number of admitted students should basically be mature candidates. In the United Kingdom, law is studied as a first degree while in the United States of America; an intending lawyer needs to have a first degree in any discipline before going for a three-year programme, as stipulated by the American Bar Association. There is also the need to get more experienced and practicing lawyers to teach students. This would be of immense help because law - being academic and professional in nature - should strike a good balance of the two in imparting the requisite knowledge. While most academic staff in law faculties are mostly engaged in teaching, research and writing of papers for publication, legal practitioners engage more in the actual legal practice. Therefore, the senate of universities offering law should relax the stringent conditions in appointing academic staff such that brilliant lawyers can be allowed to teach various aspects of law programme. This could be on a part-time basis while local branches of NBA should assist in this regard with special emphasis placed on the sound teaching of substantive law courses like the Nigerian legal system, constitutional law, legal methods and law of contract. This will ground the students well in the basic and foundational knowledge in law. Law faculties should continue to discipline erring students that fail to conform to the discipline expected of future lawyers. • Kupoluyi writes from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, vide, adewalekupoluyi@yahoo.co.uk, Twitter, @AdewaleKupoluyi

Crash of political titans Mike Arayuwa Wilkie

rancois Maurice Marie Mitterrand (1916-1996) was President of France for two tenures (19811995). He studied Law and Political Science and on May 10, 1981, he won the presidential primaries of his Socialist Party. Mitterrand contested the presidential election against Valery Giscard d’ Estaing, the incumbent president and won convincingly. His victory over a sitting President, who had all the incumbency factors in his favour, was certainly a clear case of a crash of a political titan in the history of France or anywhere else. Another devastating blow of how an incumbent office older can be dislodged from office was perfected by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 in the United States of America. He studied History from the prestigious Harvard University and later studied Law at New York’s Columbia University. In the pre-1910 period, Franklin had already prepared and equipped himself intellectually to cope with the rigours of politics. In 1910, Roosevelt was elected to the New York State Senate as a Democrat and thereafter, he occupied serial political offices via elections or appointments. In 1930, he was elected as Governor of New York. In 1932, Roosevelt won the presidential primaries candidacy of the Democratic Party. He confronted and contested against Herbert Hoover,

an incumbent president. Incumbency factors and other advantages could not also work in his favour as he was flatly defeated by Roosevelt with a wide margin of seven million votes. The sitting president was of the Republican Party. There is no doubt that Hoover was a political titan, but he crashed-out from office, unexpectedly. The two instances I have mentioned are obviously intended to stress and indicate that some men of valour and heroism in politics were shown the way out of their elected positions before now. However what is yet to happen in Nigeria is the defeat of an incumbent president. The recently concluded primaries of political parties cannot and may therefore not be an exception. Perhaps, it is imperative to start from the second republic. In 1983, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) “defeated” the Governors of Oyo, Anambra and Kano States from the UPN, NPP and PRP respectively as announced and declared by FEDECO, the electoral body. However, the declared result of the gubernatorial contest in Ondo in favour of the NPN was roundly resisted by the people on the ground that the declaration was not in tandem with the actual voting pattern of the State. Instances of massive rigging by the NPN were one of the reasons which led to the collapse of the Second Republic. General Muhammadu Buhari, Presidential candidate of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) for the February 14, 2015 election, staged a successful coup in that

year against the Shehu Shagari led government. The Army eventually sent all the politicians on long political vacation. In view of this fact, can Buhari be seriously acknowledged to appreciate the values of Democracy? Can he also be said to possess any democratic credential? Is he a democrat? These are related issues which the General should explain to Nigerians before the presidential election of February 14, 2015. If he knew the grandeur, elegance and beauty of democracy, why did he sack the ShagariGovernment from the political scene? No matter the circumstances, the ugliest democratic regimes are far better and civilized than any benevolent and beneficent military regimes. Within the cognitive content of the Nigerian primaries of political parties as already conducted, I will prefer to concentrate on why political gladiators and office holders have lost and crashedout rather than how they were defeated and other details. I want to state that the modus operandi of political parties and their principal actors on stage are complex and difficult to comprehend. Consequently, it is my humble wish to state inter alia: One of the cardinal reasons why the titans lost during the primaries was the fact that after their election to the various positions, they distanced themselves from the party structures and leaders. They thought that their positions and personalities took precedence over and above that of the political parties which

delivered them as duly elected. In this arrogant posturing, such elected office holders stepped on the big toes of their leaders in the parties. Also, there were instances of the blunt refusals of such elected officials to pay visits to their constituencies and those who voted for them grumbled and regretfully fell sad on why they wasted their votes on those irresponsible politicians. This deliberate refusal to pay constituency visits and interactions with those who elected them was a major factor for the delegates to ponder-on and of course reacted negatively. Let me add that the issues of constituency projects were also deeply considered. Conventionally, the projects were expected to be cited in their respective constituencies. Most of the delegates for the party primaries alleged that they could not pinpoint at any project executed and completed in their areas by their representatives in the Legislative Houses. Delegates further alleged that the office holders either embezzled or misappropriated the funds earmarked for such projects. Interestingly, there were clear cases of insubordination leveled against some elected office holders to duly constituted authorities within the parties’ hierarchical structures. This, the party leaders strictly regarded as acts of disloyalty. The party leaders therefore waited patiently for the primaries. • Wilkie can be reached at pmikky1950@yahoo.com (08023097251)

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

EDITORIAL

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Let’s protect this democracy

lection year is an interesting period in Nigeria. This is perhaps one of the periods when politicians remember the masses. Potholes are hurriedly fixed; books are made available for pupils; drugs will be in public hospitals for the sick and lawmakers also remember their long forgotten constituents. The reason is understandable. In the psyche of the politicians, such gesture will be fresh in the mind of the electorate as they go to the poll to choose their leaders. But as interesting as election year is, it could also be the year where orgy of violence and bestial acts become the order of the day. The post-election violence of the 60s, 1983 and 2011 remains a bitter pill in the anal of our political history. The political activities that will herald elections in 2015 climaxed last week as delegates from different political parties elected their standard bearers. This thus set the stage for electioneering as parties will attempt to woo electorate in their quest to occupy various offices. Before the election of candidates, there had been incidences of violence in Ekiti, Lagos and Oyo states resulting in loss of lives and property. This is worrisome in view of the task ahead

Although people claim that politics is a dirty game, it is not actually dirty. It is the players that make it look dirty as the nation goes to the poll next year. The All Progressives Congress (APC) accused the Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government of denying it access to the National Stadium, Lagos, for its congress held last week. The PDP also accused the APCled government in Ekiti under Kayode Fayemi of also denying it access to the state’s stadium during the governorship campaign. There were cases where posters of candidates were defaced by supporters. All these are invitations to violence. On December 9, President Goodluck Jonathan admonished politicians not to engage in acrimonious campaign capable of inciting violence. The president, who spoke at the official presentation of The Kukah Centre in Abuja, said, “I think we are over defining our democracy today by quarrelling as if democracy is all about competitors quarrelling like motor park workers who

always quarrel. I believe that our democracy should be strengthened by robust debates on the generation of innovative ideas, development, patriotism and progress in our country. “Democracy is not just about political parties or politicians; no, it is not just about winning or losing elections; democracy is about freedom, our development and above all the forwarding of our civilisation and encouragement of creativity.” This apt comment by the president should not be taken with levity by our politicians and their supporters. A situation whereby politicians use unbridled remarks during their campaign against one another is unhealthy for democracy and such incendiary utterances are capable of setting the tone for what will happen after the elections. Although people claim that politics is a dirty game, it is not actually dirty. It is the players that make it look dirty. Rather than see it as a do-or-die affair, politicians should tell one another the home truths that politics, like all other contests, will always produce winners and losers. The raison d’etre we had violence associated with elections was because of unguarded statements by politicians. Inflammatory remarks are

not limited to politicians alone. Some of their supporters also throw caution to the wind all in the name of enjoying freedom of speech as enshrined in the constitution. This is mostly done on the social media. Unfortunately, nobody regulates what goes on in the social media and the platform has become an all-comers affairs. But social media participants can also do the country a lot of good by not posting incendiary comments capable of setting the country on fire. For a country that is still ensnares in web of bestial monstrosity as a result of insurgency, pre or post-election violence will be an additional burden that will further weigh down our economy and slow down our progress as a nation. Politics is more than pursuance of wealth and fame. It is about good governance and meeting the aspiration of the people. This is why politicians should engage in robust and issue-based campaign that will strengthen our democracy. We should always remember that the road to this democracy is tense and tedious and we cannot afford to truncate it with our utterances. We have never had a long stretch of democracy like this in the history of the country and the only option we have is to sustain and preserve it.

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20 Politics | Interview

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

On Jonathan’s commitment to securing Nigeria’s future Chika Onuora

uoyed by the support of all 2,812 votes cast by delegates at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention at the Eagle Square, Abuja, where he emerged as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2015 polls, President Goodluck Jonathan has signalled that if he is re-elected, his new presidency will witness a mixture of his trademark characteristics and the adoption of new

strategies. As part of his acceptance speech at the Convention, Jonathan pointedly declared, “Today in Abuja, we begin the next phase of our mission. Our mission is to secure Nigeria’s future.” The question which naturally follows is: how exactly will he do so? Going through the rest of his acceptance speech, it is clear that Jonathan is not ready to compromise on the hallmarks of his current presidency, namely the pursuit of his Transfor-

mation Agenda, guarantee of personal liberties and freedoms, and the prosecution of the war against terrorism and insurgency. Reemphasising his record of safeguarding the rights of Nigerians, Jonathan stated: “I did say during my declaration on November 11, 2014, that we are proud that no Nigerian has been exiled or imprisoned on our watch, for holding contrary views. We must ensure that we continue to water the tree bearing the fruits of freedom, for

our beloved people.” Jonathan also indicated that he is committed to consolidating and expanding the economic gains made under his watch. The president is aware that in this campaign season, his opponents will try to diminish his infrastructural and economic achievements. As such, Jonathan placed his supporters on notice that the opposition will be pushing a message of “change” which will not acknowledge the actual changes he has already

achieved. Even while taking a subtle swipe at the opposition, which has indeed been marked by a flux of name changes and mergers over the past few years, Jonathan emphasised: “Our focus now must be on the future and not on the past. We have challenges but we are determined to overcome them. And this we will.” Furthermore, with his stated mission for his new Presidency being to secure Nigeria’s future, it seems Presi-

dent Jonathan is likely to abide by his principle of not exchanging brickbats with his opponents. Instead, his new action plan outlines priorities that are hardly ever mentioned by even opponents who ideally should be in the forefront of pursuing such matters, if only because, charity, as the saying goes, begins at home. For instance, Jonathan declared that, “there exist environmental challenges, such as desertification, which is threatening the lives of our people, especially in the frontline states of Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara. We have responded most appropriately by implementing the Great Green Wall Programme for which we have released over N16 billion.” With elections scheduled to hold in all states of the country, Jonathan is taking his case for reelection directly to the people. According to him: “The choice before Nigerians in the coming election is simple: A choice between going forward or going backwards; between the new ways and the old ways; between freedom and repression; between a record of visible achievements and beneficial reforms – and desperate power-seekers with empty promises.” To drive home the point that he will never be desperate in his bid to return to Aso Rock, Jonathan declared: “Let me emphasise again, that nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. We must eschew violence, even in the face of the most outrageous acts of desperation.” What is clear is that President Jonathan, based on his achievements in office and his commitment to campaign on the facts and the truth; to campaign with issues and ideas, and to campaign on his record of performance, remains the frontrunner in the 2015 presidential elections. Whether he will succeed in his mission of securing Nigeria’s future will be decided on February 14, 2015. What is noteworthy is that Jonathan himself is supremely confident in his quest as he declared: “Our best days are before us, not behind us. We must continue to move forward.” •Onuora sent this piece from Abuja

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

2015 Election

Special Report

2015: Quakers, Ananaba, Ozekhome task INEC on electoral Act

CJN applauds media role in nation building, says it’s key to democracy

22&25

Law

Chukwuocha: Why Northerners will always head Supreme Court Richard Chukwuocha, in this interview with CHIJIOKE IREMEKA, speaks on the northern dominance of the Supreme Court over other regions and concluded that it was time stakeholders looked at the ‘anomaly’ with a view to redressing it. Justice Mahmud Mohammed is the 14th Chief Justice of Nigeria after another northerner, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, vacated the office after attaining the statutory age of 70. Is the office meant exclusively for judges of northern extraction? The northerners are promoted to the Bench at a younger age unlike the southerners, where people moved to the Bench well advanced in practice. With age on the Bench, it becomes difficult for the younger ones because the hierarchy on the Bench is based on date of appointment as supposed to the date of call the Bar. For instance, if I was called to Bar 20 years ago and another person, who was called to the Bar years after me but was elevated to the Bench before me, he has automatically become my senior. It’s the date of appointment to the Bench that determines seniority. And on the Bench, it’s seniority that regulates stratification. In other words, the most senior judge becomes the administrative judge or becomes the Chief Judge or President, Court of Appeal as the case may be. So, due to the fact that the northerners get to the Bench younger than people from the south, it becomes possible for them to occupy such

FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE JUDICIARY EDITOR

foluso.ogunmodede@ newtelegraphonline.com

the Federation or the President of the Court of Appeal or even the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. In fact, there are other northern senior judges after Mahmud and that trend will still continue. I can’t remember the last time, when a southern became the President of High Court. It’s a big problem. So, what is the way out of this situation? We need to understand that there is a problem, then, we will begin to deal with the problems squarely by going to the root, otherwise we will miss it. Until people from the southern part of Nigeria come together and realize that they need to vie for and occupy high offices like CJN, either in the judicial system or otherwise, this trend would continue unabated. The south should begin to deal with that, especially with recourse to federal character. The older ones should allow the younger ones to go in. It’s not all about self. Until we become selfless, these things won’t come. Law is not about self, it’s all about the people.

Chukwuocha

positions. We have a number of CJN from the south that stayed two months and six months on the Bench before their retirement. This does not make sense. If you have been a judge of the High Court and opportunity came for you to be elevated to the upper Bench and you know that you are close to the age of retirement, the best thing is to hold back for a younger person to go. When you accept that offer, you have blocked the opportunity of a younger person go-

Due to the fact that the northerners get to the Bench younger than people from the south, it becomes possible for them to occupy such positions

ing to such position. But this is where the northerners have advantage over us, the southerners. This is why, when you come to judiciary high hierarchy, you discover that the northerners have been occupying the position of a CJN for long time and will continue to do so until the southerners decide to address the issue and begin to move the right and younger lawyer to the bench earlier. This would afford them the opportunity to grow to either the position of Chief Justice of

What are the processes of applying earlier for these high ranking in judiciary? To qualify, you would have spent 10 years at the Bar. So, when there is an opportunity to fill a vacancy in the High Court, if you are available, then you can apply, but the rules say, you would have spent 10 years at the Bar. Until people are encouraged to apply early, the trend will not change. When such application is made and they saw that the lawyer has done well, then, he could be considered. I know of an NBA chairman, who was very advanced yet he was appointed. And I asked, of what importance is he to the judiciary system because he wouldn’t make any impact before his retirement? How many years are left for him? He should have allowed the younger lawyer to go in. CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

Law

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

2015: Quakers, Ananaba, Ozekhome task INEC on electoral Act

Ozekhome

Ananaba

Quakers

As the race to next year’s general election gets hotter, senior lawyers yesterday apparaised the ‘race’ and concluded that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must conduct a credible election. Besides, they asked the electoral umpire to invoke its powers under the Electoral Act on political parties with penchant for flouting rules. AKEEM NAFIU and APPOLOS CHRISTIAN report

ays after the nation’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) raised the alarm over next year’s general election that politicians had jettisoned the code of conduct signed with it, lawyers yesterday tasked the electoral body to wield its powers on erring politicians rather than becoming a ‘barking dog that cannot bite’. Specifically, they asked INEC to ensure that necessary facilities that would guarantee a credible general election rather than given in to unnecessary complaints. INEC’s chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, a forthnight ago lamented what he described as politicians’ hate message capable of promoting violence during the 2015 general election. This, Jega said was contrary to the code of conduct signed with the commission. But he was yesterday charged by lawyers to do the needful and stop complaining as the commission has the requisite powers under the Electoral Act to punish any electoral offender. According to a Senior Advocate, Mr. Norrison Quakers, who described INEC’s wrangling as unfortunate, urged it to wake-up from slumber and do the needful for a successful general election.

He said: “I think INEC should go beyond complaining that politicians are not co-operating and find a way of dealing with them as well. If an election time-table has been fixed and politicians are sidetracking and to a large extent not following with the schedules as released by INEC, then, a decisive action must be taken. “For instance, the door has not been thrown open in terms of electioneering and before now, we had the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) advocating and propagating for the continuity of President Jonathan, as far as I am concerned, that is an electioneering campaign and these are the things INEC should look into and they should not appear to be helpless. “Apart from that, when you have politicians who appeared not to have been playing the game according to the rules, INEC should also not appear to be helpless. Where there is a breach of the rules, INEC has the power to apply sanctions. I think the Chairman of INEC should start using the powers confer on him by the Electoral Act. “The other thing is that Nigerians are not so comfortable with the structures in place. A situation where the Nigeria Police suddenly becomes politicised, then, the question is,

Where there is a breach of the rules, INEC has the power to apply sanctions. I think the Chairman of INEC should start using the powers confered on him by the Electoral Act

can we have a credible election with such an arrangement? Police is no longer independent as it should be and the opposition party now believes the police are now on the side of the government of the day. It is also being suspected that INEC is also aligning itself with the government of the day. So, how can we have a credible election in this kind of environment’’? Chiefs Mike Ozekhome, Emeka Ngige and Mr. Paul Ananaba, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria were not different from Quakers’ view. They all asked INEC to stop complaining as it has powers to axe any political parties found to have flouted its rules. To Ozekhome, the option before INEC was in the Electoral Act as the commission had the powers to proscribe any political party found to have violated the electoral laws. He said: “The options before INEC are also contained in the Electoral Act. No political party is above the law and INEC has the power to proscribe any political parties no matter how highly place they think they are. If politicians continue to disobey INEC, flout electoral laws and continue to campaign and engaging in thuggery and many other things contrary to the electoral laws, INEC then should wield the big hammer by weeding out such political party and heaven will not fall. “After all, when INEC proscribe political parties some time ago and they went to court, the court did hold that INEC has the power to determine the existence of political parties as the case may be. So, if an existing political party is disrespecting the electoral law, such a party ought not to exist, whether PDP or APC or any other party. INEC is not in any way impotent as regard any

offender of electoral rules, so, let INEC wakes up to proscribe any party or persons that are flouting the electoral code of conduct in accordance to the prescribed consequences because it has the right and power to do so. And doing so will surely encourage the other parties that are ready to obey the electoral rules”. Ananaba said “the option before INEC is simply to evoke the electoral act if only INEC itself is serious, because there is no way INEC can invent new forms of sanctions now. And any action INEC must take as regard this issue must be backed up by the law. “Looking at the handwritten on the wall, INEC is not being firm but rather disappointing because INEC itself is not complying with the law considering the fact that a lot of politicians and their parties began campaigns even before the time and INEC did nothing. So, it shows that INEC is not willing to implement the law. The law is not respecter of anybody, and without INEC involving the law, it is likely not going to get obedience and compliance with anybody violating the code of conduct. Take the last elections for instance, Jega was all over the place; saying that electoral offenders will be prosecuted but after the election, he started saying he doesn’t have what it takes to prosecute electoral offenders and till date, no clearly notable electoral offender has been prosecuted, which is very disappointing. So, credible election is not achieved on the pages of newspapers and television or the media alone, let INEC involve the law and he will get compliance and as well achieve a sound credible CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

Law | Special Report

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Tunde Oyesina

n other to enhance a more objective and accurate reporting of the judiciary, the National Judicial Institute (NJI), last week organized a twoday workshop for the nation’s Judiciary Correspondents in Abuja. At the workshop were the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, the administrator, National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice Roseline Bozimo and the association’s chairman, Barrister Tobi Soniyi. The CJN described the role being played by the media in nation building as sacrosanct especially as it has over the years brought transparency to the nation’s administration of justice. Justice Mohammed, who while declaring the workshop with theme entitled ‘Promoting Understanding between the Judiciary and the Press’ opened, said the media had impacted positively on justice system as no nation could progress without the press. The role of the press has brought about a more transparent judiciary, he said. According to the CJN, the role the press had played enormous role since independence, had not deviated from its traditional role of being the watchdog and bridge between the government and the governed, particularly in enthroning integrity, probity and transparency in the Judiciary. This, he said could neither be underestimated nor over emphasized. He said: “The relationship between the Judiciary and the Press was not clearly delineated. What the Judiciary had on the ground were only restrictive prescriptions for giving out information from the judiciary or the courts. This made the activities of the judiciary shrouded in secrecy and the public were not properly informed or educated about the nature and activities of the judiciary. “The general belief was that all the activities of the judiciary started and ended in the courtroom. The scare of the dreaded subjudice or contempt of court hangs ominously, on information or the head of the information disseminator. “The judiciary completely lived in its cocoon. Any prying eyes of the media into the affairs of the Judiciary was treated as a satanic invasion or demonic intrusion that must be resisted and repelled by any means especially by the use of the doctrine of contempt of court ex facie curie. “In the popular case of Deduwa v. State (1975) ALL NLR (pt. 11) 15, it was held that any words said or written which exposes the authority of the court to ridicule and contempt will amount to an attack on the integrity of the court and shall be punished. “Such comments were punishable whether they are defamatory or not, if they are calculated to prejudice the fair trial of pending cases in court”. Although Justice Mohammed admitted that such trend had changed for good, the Judiciary

CJN applauds media role in nation building

l Says it’s key to democracy

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed with the Admistrator, NJI, Justice Bozimo

Cross section of participants at the workshop.

as the third arm of the government now treats the press as the fourth estate of the realm. To him, since the judiciary as an arm of government was a subsystem within the state, it could not therefore, be insulated from the stimuli both external and internal, which impacts upon and influence the state as a system. He went on: “In that wise, it is imperative that the conduct of the affairs of the judiciary should be brought to the full knowledge of the environment which it serves through informed formal media participation as is the case with other organs of the governmental framework. “The participation of the

The role of the Press in dissemination of information relating to the judiciary, therefore, is a service not only to the judiciary, but to the entire citizens of Nigeria

Press in the Judiciary affairs creates a healthy environment for the human elements in the judiciary to exercise their rights to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinion and to receive and impart ideas and information without let or hindrance as guaranteed by section 39(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. “The role of the Press in dissemination of information relating to the judiciary, therefore, is a service not only to the judiciary but to the entire citizens of Nigeria. This is because public perception of the judiciary as a service component of the State system depends largely on the media presentation.

“Informed, formal active participation in judiciary affairs becomes imperative in any given society. “The fact that the Judiciary and the Press have not fashioned out a mode of interaction or cooperation have given impetus to the new efforts and the new thinking towards the media in their reportage of judicial proceedings. “Most Judges and Justices now court the Press for selfprojection. Media reportage of pending cases in court are no longer seen as satanic invasion or demonic intrusion, they are now welcome. Every judiciary now has Information Department to help project its image. In her own speech, the administrator of the Institute, Justice Rosaline Bozimo noted that though the training may be seen as falling outside the mandate of the Institute under Section 3 of the NJI, Act Cap N. 55 Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 since the targeted participants are neither judges of the High nor Lower Courts, nor their staff. Bozimo said: “However, on a very lucid and progressive consideration of the position and role of the judiciary correspondents, one is left with only one conclusion- the judiciary correspondents though not directly employed by the judiciary, are performing the role of reporting the activities of the judiciary to the outside world and so could pass a handmaid of the judiciary in information dissemination. “The role of the judiciary correspondents in promoting continuing judicial education and uniformity must be properly understood and appreciated. That, being the case, the participants deserve to be properly trained not on journalism matters but processes on which they report”. “It is the media that bring to the knowledge of the outside world the handicaps of the judiciary. The issue of poor funding of the judiciary at all level was exposed to the outside world by the media. Therefore the participants are the spokesmen of the judiciary. Therefore, they should be courted as friends and not despised as enemies. “They deserve collaboration with the judiciary, not absolute disconnection. The judiciary should forge a healthy co-operation with participants. Unnecessary acrimony and friction will be very unhealthy for the integrity of the judiciary and its officers and staff. Any negative activity of the participants against the judiciary will create consequences. “This must be avoided, and one sure way of avoiding it is by co-operating and collaborating with them”.

Law | News

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Gains of 2014 IBA Confab to Nigeria CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

Gbolahan Gbadamosi

n 10 August 2013, he was arrested and accused of ‘publishing false images and information’ and ‘disrupting the law and order situation’ of Bangladesh. The charges brought against him relate to a fact-finding report, published by Odhikar in June 2013, which detailed extra-judicial killings of 61 individuals by law enforcement personnel during a rally, organised by the Bangladeshi Islamic group Hefazate in May 2013 at Motijheel. The case against Mr Khan is still pending and he, his family and colleagues continue to face persistent surveillance and harassment from the Bangladeshi authorities. During the presentation of the Award Mr Reynolds spoke of the importance of Mr Khan’s story for lawyers around the world, saying , ‘Let us be reminded that lawyers play a vital role in promoting justice, human rights and upholding the rule of law, both at home and abroad. May Mr Khan’s courage, determination and resilience be an inspiration to lawyers everywhere.’ Throughout his legal career Mr Khan has provided pro bono legal counsel to political detainees and the families of victims of enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killings. Notably, Mr Khan worked towards the first conviction of police officers in Bangladesh, who were found guilty of torture and causing death in custody in May 2003. In his acceptance speech, Mr Khan told the 200 delegates gathered at the Symposium, ‘The Rule of Law is under serious threat in my country. Justice for all the ongoing gross human rights violations is inaccessible for victims and their families. Their right to access to complaint mechanisms is denied, regardless of whatever is written in the laws or the Constitution of the country. Repres-

Alegeh

sive laws are in force and the independence of the judiciary is under attack in a spree of politicisation of institutions of the state. In Bangladesh now, every person is in fear of his or her life. The politicians, lawyers, members of civil society, youth and the people of Bangladesh know well that the prevalent fear embodied by state-orchestrated abuses of fundamental rights, in no way comply with democracy or rule of law […]. [This Award] not only encourages me to continue my work, but is also a catalyst and a boost of energy and renewed strength to the grass roots human rights defenders associated with Odhikar, who are lawyers, journalists, social workers, teachers and students. They have also been harassed and threatened because of their activism. Within your support and recognition, Odhikar and I find the strength to continue to speak up for human rights in Bangladesh and be the voice of the voiceless, violated and members of the victim families. African Regional Forum(ARF)

ARF, co-chaired by a Nigerian, Mrs. Olufunmi Oluyede, staged a successful session on- The International Criminal Court(ICC-Africa agenda: a legitimate check on impunity and rights abuses or crass misconception of Africa polity and persecution of Africa leaders?. Former ICC Prosecutor,ICC Luis Moreno Ocampo spoke to the audience which included General Secretary of NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe, Lagos lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, Mrs. Funmi Awomolo(SAN) and Lagos State SolicitorGeneral Mr. Lawal Pedro(SAN) among other delegates from African online. The main question is – Was ICC created by the West to punish African leaders? Opinions were divided. Former Osun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo(SAN) was also a discussant. Gains of the conference by delegates Director General, Nigerian Law School, Dr. Olanrewaju Onadeko, former NBA President, Olisa Agbakoba(SAN) Rickey Tarfa(SAN), former Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Wale Fapohunda, former Chief Judge, Federal High Court, Justice Abdullahi Mustapha and former Admnistrative Judge, Lagos High Court, Justice Solomon Hunpunu-Wusu agreed that Nigeria must imbibe discipline to enable us reach the level of development of Japan. Vienna, Austria hosts 2015 IBA Conference As the “6000 delegates from 130 countries” to the 2014 International Bar Association(IBA) Conference departed Tokyo, Japan the next question on the minds of the participants is “where next?.” Providing answer to the above question, a literature tagged “Save the Day” obtained at the Exhibition Stand of IBA informed the delegates that, Vienna in Austria between October 4-9 2015 is the

Ex-Omega Bank boss, Agbetuyi sued over N232.2m debt Akeem Nafiu

debt recovery suit has been instituted against a former managing director of the defunct Omega Bank Plc, Reverend Segun Agbetuyi, by Sterling Bank Plc., at a Federal High Court in Lagos presided over by Justice Mohammed Yunusa, over his alleged refusal to repay a N232.2 million debt. Also sued are Consecrated Farms Limited, situated at 14B, Danny Estate, Makoko, Yaba, owned by Agbetuyi, and the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Land, Lagos State Ministry of Lands. Sterling bank in a statement of claim filed through its lawyer, Dada Awosika, stated that between 2007 and 2008, Consecrated Farms Limited applied for and was granted and utilized multiple credit facilities of N300 million by its compromising of N150 million term loan, N125 million overdraft and N25 million import finance facilities. Although Agbetuyi and his farm fully liquidated the N150 million term loan in 2008, the bank said its effort despite repeated demands on

the overdraft and the import finance facilities were as at September 2010, remained unpaid, with the Consecrated Farms Limited account being irregular without meeting the repayment obligation of the terms and conditions of the facility. Upon an application for the renewal of the credit facilities, the bank revealed that by its letter dated January 27, 2011, it granted the defendants’ request for renewal and restructuring of the multiple credit facility at an interest of 18 per cent, with the security being the property and personal guarantee already donated to the bank. Sterling bank, however stated that despite the extension granted the defendants in April, 2013, for 90 days to liquidate the overdraft and import finance facilities, the defendant’s account continued to be irregular with no substantial lodgement and that its several letters to the defendants for regularisation was never responded to. The bank further alleged that Rev. Agbetuyi is in process of disposing off and transfer its interest in the above mentioned properties to unsuspecting third party.

Justice Auta, CJ Federal High Court

Consequently, the bank said it is therefore necessary for the court to restrain the first and second defendants from disposing off or alienating/transferring any interest they may have in the properties mentioned above. Besides, Sterling Bank is urging the court for an order directing the exbank chief to pay the sum of N232,252,173.99, which represents the outstanding balance on his company’s account with the bank as at May 21, 2014.

Specifically, the bank is requesting for a judicial order to liquidate the defendants debt by selling Consecrated Farms Limited and four numbers of three bedroom detached bungalows, located at Adebimpe Akinwunmi/ Adekitan Oshikoya street, Ori-okuta palace, OwutuAgric, Ikorodu, which is covered by Certificate of Occupancy dated May 5, 2006, and registered in number 2, page 2, Volume 2006F of the lands registry. The bank is also seeking for an order that proceeds realized from the sales be applied in part or full satisfaction of the indebtedness of Agbetuyi and his company, Consecrated Farms Limited. Also, it asked the court to direct the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Land to forthwith, regularise the Title Documents in its custody. Although Agbetuyi, who, through his lawyer, Professor Taiwo Osipitan(SAN), stated that he was not properly served, and that he got to know about the suit through a third party, urged the court to discontinue and dismiss the suit. However, Justice Yunusa has fixed December 19 for ruling.

next host. This is the second time within six years that the conference will go back to Europe. The global confab was held in Madrid, Spain in 2009. “In October 2015, the IBA Annual Conference will be held in the baroque splendor of Vienna, with its Hofburg Palace, Spanish riding school and famous Viennese houses”, the literature reads. It added that, “ More importantly,, Vienna is the hub for Central and Eastern European business, with more than 1,000 international companies coordinating their regional activities from Austria. Over 300 international companies have their CCE headquarters in Vienna and it is the seat of several international organisations such as OPEC and the third United Nations Headquarters. With these links and connections Vienna is a fitting and inspiring setting for the International Bar Association’s 2015 Annual Conference”. The organisers added that the next year conference will among others offer: • The largest gathering of the international legal community in the worlda meeting place of more than 5,000 lawyers and legal professionals from around the world; • Nearly 200 working sessions covering all areas of practice relevant to international legal practitioners ; • The opportunity to generate new business with the leading firms in the world’s key cities; • A registration fee that entitles you to attend as many working sessions throughout the week as you wish; • Up to 25 hours of continuing legal education and continuing professional development; and • A variety of social functions providing ample opportunity to network and see the city’s celebrated sights, and exclusive excursions and tour programme. May I add that after Vienna 2015, Washington DC(USA) will host in 2016 and Sydney, Australia in 2017. *Gbadamosi, is NBA Publicity Secretary

CCD urges human rights to sensitise disability rights Shola Adefuwa

non-governmental organization (NGO), Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has urged the legal aid organizations working on human rights to sensitise disability rights with a view to making justice accessible to people with disability. The executive director of Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Mr. David Anyaele said this during “Sensitization of Persons with Disabilities on Access to Justice” that both the police and the officials of court should be reoriented on the rights of people living with disabilities (PWDs), and the ills of discrimination against them. Besides, Anyaele tasked Ministries of justice and the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba on the need to strengthen court’s personnel to make justice accessible to PWDs through the provision of access ramps, assistive devices and the training of court officials in the use of sign language.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Law | Interview

‘Northerners will always head Supreme Court’

There is no doubt that Nigerians are unhappy for the imposition of that tariff. It’s a reap-off. Nigerians are complaining.

lar law.

CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 21

But you know this might be difficult because a man that hasn’t got to such position in his career would see it as an opportunity before retirement. Don’t you think he would accept it and tag it a lifetime achievement? That is why I said we must be objective in things we do. We are not objective. Don’t think about self, think about the people you represent. It’s important. Now, if you take the position, what impacts are you going to make within that short period? Possibly, you deliver a number of judgments and you are retired. You don’t make any impact but if you have a younger lawyer going to the Bench, he has more time to spend and with time he will acquire experiences that would help him grow on the job. So, there are experiences that come with different tasks. At the High Court, it has its peculiar challenges. People will be able to be delegated on time to enable them to learn and make impact. Justice Oputa went to the Bench early enough and he delivered a number of cases and made much impact. For the sake of the country, younger people are required there. We need to be selfless in most cases for the country because judiciary is the last hope of a common man and if you are not selfless, you will go into judgment, thinking about tribe and group. There shouldn’t be any sentiment about this and by so doing; you would do something for the good of the country. If not, people would want to shield the judgment to suit their section. But experience will tell you that Nigeria comes first before sentiment. With this knowledge, you will not give room for compromise. If anyone gives you an offer to compromise judgment, you have to turn it down. If you have such opportunity at the old age, you should allow the younger person with potential to do so because issues are decided on the popu-

What does it portend for the Nigeria’s corporate existence? No, I don’t think so. It doesn’t portend any danger for the country. Judiciary is guarded by law. Irrespective of any zone anybody comes from, his duty is to interpret the law. Law is not sectional. It doesn’t portend any danger but we are all human beings. How do you welcome the reintroduction of N65 ATM service fee by the Central Bank of Nigeria? I believe that Nigerians should challenge CBN’s N65 ATM service fee. It’s not proper. The action amounts to inconsistency of policy. If CBN saw that the policy wasn’t good and abolished it, why should it be reinstated? When it was scrapped, Nigerians jubilated but emergence of Emefiele re-introduced it for nothing, with a peg that after the third free withdrawals, the service fee is applied for using another bank’s ATM. This is policy inconsistency. Now, you and I know that a lot of ATMs don’t work. You go to another, it says no network and you are forced to go to other banks’ ATM. Why do I have to pay for a course that is not entirely my making? It’s not proper, we might think it is nothing, but add up N65 per a thousand people and you will appreciate what Nigerians are being reaped off. Worse still, the CBN’s Act imposed an obligation upon the Nigerian litigants, who would want to sue it for certain unpopular policies, to first prove bad faith before they could sue CBN or its board. This clause shields CBN from doing what it likes. That shouldn’t be, because Section 3b of the Constitution gives an aggrieved Nigerian rights to sue and get justice but when you put an added burden on the man to prove bad faith, on the part of government policy, it becomes difficult. With such clause, you are telling the aggrieved to do his

Chukwuocha

worse. It’s improper. As long as I’m concerned, that law is unpopular in so far that it abuses the rights of the Nigerian to seek redress. It’s unconstitutional and such CBN Act should be challenged and repealed. If the masses can’t sue CBN base on this clause, what would be the action of the general public and what would lawyers and activists do to liberate the citizenry? The only thing I would say is for the public to go to court and seek a scrap of the CBN’s Act that seeks to shield them from being sued for whatever that they do wrong by placing an obligation on the people to prove bad faith. I wish that such Act should be brought to the court and declared unconstitutional and be struck out to give the people access to challenge CBN’s policies in the court.

2015 is around the corner and bombs are being detonated everywhere in the country, what are your fears for Nigeria? I really don’t know where to start from or where to end. For we know that Nigeria needs a lot to be done that haven’t been done. There shouldn’t be power outage in Nigeria of today. We shouldn’t be popular and losing lives on our bad roads for any reason. Nigeria of today ought to have reliable rail movement in order to decongest the roads. If we have different means of transportation, we shouldn’t be wasting resources and lives on the roads. With that, everybody decides which means of transportation that suits his business – land, water, rail and air. If these happen, movement will be easier and people will achieve more. But what happens here is that everybody is forced to follow road because there is no other means of transportation and the roads are jammed. Unfortunately, our leaders don’t feel the heat because they use siren to clear the roads when moving. Siren should be withdrawn from everybody, including government and politicians so that all of us will suffer the effect of the bad roads so that the policymakers would make right policies. Ojo Maduekwe has the attitude of riding bicycle. He did it in Abuja, and he was knocked into the gutter by a vehicle. So, you can’t use bicycle and you can’t use bikes in Nigeria. So, what are we talking about? All I heard in the country is that automatic tickets have been given to governors and leaders in PDP to return. Return to do what? It means that the people are no longer judged on their performance rather people are judged by their billings and willingness to help somebody, somewhere to achieve one political post or the other. It doesn’t make sense at all. They should be judged by their ability to perform as oppose to ability to return one person to the political position. Bombs are rocking the entire country and there is no serious measures set in motion to arrest these. There is much to be worried about in the country because our leaders have failed us.

‘INEC’s powers to sanction erring parties sacrosanct’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

elections come 2015. So, INEC should get into action against anyone going against electoral code of conduct instead of engaging in empty shout because so far, INEC has not shown determination to evoke the law with the option before it. They were corroborated by Ngige, who said “the options for INEC to

take regarding any person or political party that went against the code of conduct are enshrined in the Electoral Act. And clearly as crystal, the INEC must evoke the provisions of the Electoral Act. For instance, if a political party refuses to do primary elections but rather imposing consensus candidate on the rest members, INEC has the power to reject such actions from the party.

Ngige

But the truth of this issue, INEC is not speaking out against some of the contradictions some political parties are engaging against the provisions of the Electoral Act. Like in the case of PDP where they prevented other party members from contesting against President Jonathan in the primary election, INEC should have spoken against it and take some actions but did it? A

mere complaint of INEC is not good enough when it has power to do a lot to make things right. So, if INEC is serious, let it take positive actions to impose sanctions against any offender, person or political party. Let it as well issue a statement that any political party or person that fails to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act, will from hence forth be duly proscribed according to the law”.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Features

Beer has both health benefits and socioeconomic implications for individuals and society. Moderation, however, is the keyword in beer consumption, writes ABIODUN BELLO

Beer: Beyond misconceptions Beer, he said, contains antioxidants. Quoting the US Department of Agriculture, Agenmonmen says a half pint of beer contains, on average, seven per cent of daily folate requirement for an adult and nine per cent of the required vitamin B2 intake. Beer, he added, helps in reducing high blood pressure, diabetes heart diseases. Researchers who followed 80,000 US women for eight years found out that the risk of hypertension was 14 per cent lower in those who had moderate alcohol drinks than non-drinkers (Thadhani et al 2002.) Polyphenols, according to Atinmo, lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and other chronic diseases due to their antioxidant properties. “There is a lower risk of type 2 diabetes with moderate alcohol consumption due to improved insulin sensitivity or improved glycemic status,” Atinmo added.

eer is perhaps a ‘food’ drink that has been with man for centuries but is yet misunderstood. Beer was discovered more than 7,000 years ago in Sumeria where is now known as Iraq. It has been with man for several centuries, yet it is shrouded in myths, mysteries and misconceptions. The drink has been blamed for almost every evil conceivable. The need to remove these misconceptions made the leader in the brewery industry, Nigerian Breweries, to take some selected journalists from several newspapers, cutting across every segment and category of the print journalism to its Ibadan Brewery for what it termed Media Beer Academy (MBA) recently. The MBA, facilitated by TPT International, was a four-day lecture-packed programme, which took participants through the complete process of beer making – from grains to glass. Resource persons included the Nigerian Breweries’ Brew Master, Mr Ben Anozie, Senior Strategy Manager, Mr Tony Agenmonmen, Dr Olu Malomo of the Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Food Sciences, Bells University, Ota, Ogun State and Prof Tola Atinmo of Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, among others. During the four-day training, apart from the lectures, participants witnessed actual processing of beer, and at the end, interacted with beer drinkers in the natural environment. At the onset of the programme, participants, divided into beer drinkers and non-drinkers, were asked to speak on reasons why they drink or not. Responses differed, particularly from non-

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Agenmonmen (left), Malomo, Atinmo and Anozie

Whatever benefits beer may have, they are derived when it is consumed in moderation drinkers. The responses showed that journalists too have misconceptions about beer. Anozie, who set the tone for the training, said the positive story of beer had never been told. He said beer was discovered by housewives in Sumeria during search for food spices. So beer, according to him, has always intended to be part of food. The brew master, who described beer as a nature’s gift to mankind, said it was brew from four natural ingredients – water, barley (grains), hops and yeast – no additives, no preservatives. He also dismissed insinuation that sugar is added to beer. According to him, fermentable sugar present in the process of brewing comes from barley and it is broken down to alcohol and C02 by yeast. Yeast, Anozie added, is the magic that turns every other ingredient to beer. At maturity, no sugar is present. Misconceptions There are a lot of myths and misconceptions weaved around beer. For many decades, it is believed that beer causes pot belly or what is generally called ‘beer belly’. But scientists have found out that moderate drinkers, who drink regularly but only in small amounts had lower body

weights than their non-drinking peers and those who drank a lot at once, binge drinkers, Istvan et al 1995. According to Dr Kathryn O’Sullivan, a public health nutritionist with over 20 years’ experience, there is no conclusive scientific evidence to support the belief that beer in particular causes weight gain. She said rather, it was the consequence of any excess calories being consumed, regardless of whether they are from beer, wine or food. According to MailOnline, February 13, 2013, O’Sullivan said that “in many instances, beer had a relatively lower calorie value compared to other alcoholic drinks as well as a variety of everyday food items such as a banana, a bag of crisps or a cappuccino”. Professor Charles Bamforth of University of California Davis is more succinct. “The beer belly is a complete myth. The main source of calories in any alcoholic beverage is alcohol,” Bamforth, a food science professor, told Popular Science, according to Time of June 13, 2013. What actually causes fattening or pot belly, according to Anozie, has to do with lifestyle such as eating habits and lack of exercise. Health benefits Atinmo, who considered dispassionately the role of beer in the human diet, based on scientific evidence, said the drink could be part of a healthy lifestyle. The professor of nutrition listed the nutrients in beer to include carbohydrates, protein, water, fiber, vitamins and minerals. According to him, beer has relatively low calories, compared to other alcoholic drinks.

Dangers According to Atinmo, like in every other food items, beer also has some materials which are injurious to health if they exceed certain levels. These potentially harmful components of beer include ochratoxins, mycotoxin, nitrate and acrylamide. “The risks become acceptably low provided proper precautions are taken, such safety measures hinging around proper storage conditions in respect of moisture content and temperature,” he said. Keyword What resonated throughout the programme was moderation. According to Atinmo, whatever benefits beer may have, they are derived when it is consumed in moderation. He says moderation is crucial in the consumption of alcoholic beverages. “Excessive alcohol intake reduces inhibitions. Whatever the derivable advantages are, drinking alcoholic beverages to excess is dangerous (health-wise and accident-wise) and prone to lead to suffering, both for the imbiber and for those close to them,” the nutritionist added. Also, according to Agenmonmen, binge drinkers (excessive drinkers) give beer a bad image. He said it was better for someone to drink two bottles of beer daily than for that individual to dink excessively and die in an accident. Take away In the word of Atinmo, this is not “to persuade those who are not already drinking to start or to hector those who drink into drinking more”. Rather, it is to remove misconceptions around beer; to help individuals take informed decision on whether to drink beer or not.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY DECEMBER 18, 2014

Health News

Healthy Living

Health New

Nature Power

Antibiotics resistance could kill 10m by 2050

Fungal infections spread through contact with infected persons (2)

Lagos to make life better for PWDs

Health benefits of bitter leaf (2)

Health

TB: Killer on the prowl

Appolonia Adeyemi and Oluwatosin Omoniyi

or GbayisomoreYinka, a housemaid, it was a narrow escape from ignorance-caused death. She lived with tuberculosis (TB) for three years. Although, she looked healthy, she is not healthy at all. According to her, she thought it was an ordinary cough that comes with season or dust since she sweeps for a living. To her disappointment, the cough refused to go even with the heavy antibiotics (Zinnat, Augumentine, Ciporex and Erythromycin) that doctors prescribed for her. She said it would relieve for some time but resurfaces after sometime. “Initially, it gave me no problem until I started having difficulty in breathing,” she said. Eventually, when Yinka changed work and environment, her new boss took her to government hospital in Lagos for medical check-up. At the hospital she was told she had primary pulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculosis of the spine. She didn’t quite understand until her new boss explained it to her. “But it dawn more on me when she told me that she won’t be able to employ me again because of her four children,” she said. Luckily for Yinka, she came across someone who took her back to the hospital for proper treatment. “I got enrolled at the government hospital where they said I will be taking injection plus some oral drugs for six month,” she said. The health challenge started for Yinka when she was treating her late father who battled TB for two years until his death. She shared

Appolonia Adeyemi appolonia.adeyemi@newtelegraphonline.com

spoon, cup and other household utensils with him. Similarly, she was very close to her late father. Three months after her father died, she started coughing energetically but the doctors that she consulted in Ibadan told her that she had bronchitis and that it would take three to four weeks before she could be healed. Several months after treatment, she was eventually diagnosed of tuberculosis. She told the doctor that she noticed that she coughs with difficulty. “My chest was heavy and always hurting like pepper poured on it. It was as if my breathing was hanging half way in my chest,” she explained. Not only that, each time Yinka coughed, she produced white and thick sputum. At nights, she ran fever and sweat a lot. Suddenly, she lost appetite and started losing weight. She said she couldn’t even bend down properly to sweep. If she does, then she would have to look for someone to massage her back. Seun Akinborewa,Yinka’s boss told NT HEATLTH that it took her courage to employ her because she was four months into her treatment, an indication that her infectious level would have been subdued. She said that Yinka could hardly stand her cooking or bleaching palm oil in the kitchen. “Whenever I have to bleach palm oil, Yinka would cough her eyes out. Her eyes would become watery and reddish. She would cough with strange chest tightness. At times, she would vomit to point of bringing out blood,” she said. Yinka, as at today is trying to be perfectly okay. She now looks healthy and robust with life. She exudes the vibrancy of a living being, she is yet to complete the dose of treatment. NT HEATLTH ran into another TB patient, Uche at the Tuberculosis clinic, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in Yaba, Lagos. The 32-year-old said when his mother rushed him under emergency situation to the centre way back in March, 2014, he could neither walk nor sit down. He could not also talk but two months after the treatment commenced, he regained his lost weight. “I thank God that my weight which was 43kg then has increased to 55kg. To-

A man covering his cough

Uche’s wife said she could remember that the cough that brought Uche to NIMR has been on for between four to five years.

PHOTO www.vevlynspen.com

day, December10, though, I can walk, talk and have overcome the pain and discomfort of the illness, diagnostic tests show that the TB in me has not been completely tackled.” Relating her experience in providing care for her husband, Uche’s wife said she could remember that the cough that brought Uche to NIMR has been on for between four to five years. He actually inherited it from his late father who also died from TB. “My mother told me that my father also experienced similar cough for several years,” said Uche. “He was put on treatment but few weeks after he regained his strength, he abandoned the treatment. By the time the illness resurfaced again several months afterwards, my father could not make it. That was how he died.” Speaking further, Uche said, “I learnt a lot from that experience. That is the reason why,

though my current treatment has lasted for over nine months, I am determined to continue my medication until I am confirmed cured.” Asked how he managed the TB before coming to NIMR where researchers diagnosed him to have TB, he said when he did not get any reprieve from the ailment in earlier years; he travelled to Ebonyi where herbal medication was administered on him. Thereafter, “I found that my legs were swelling and I lost tremendous weight. I feared that I could die from the TB. That was when I decided to return to Lagos where a neighbour directed me to come to NIMR.” Uche and Yinka are among Nigerians afflicted with TB in the country. There are many more. The World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1993 to declared TB CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

Health News

THURSDAY DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Antibiotics resistance could kill 10m by 2050 Oluwatosin Omoniyi

British government-commissioned review has found that resistance to antibiotics could account for 10 million deaths a year and hit global gross domestic product by 2.0 to 3.5 percent by 2050. The Review on Antimicrobial Resistance said surgeries that have become widespread and low-risk thanks to antibiotics, such as caesarean sections, could become more dangerous without urgent action. The review announced by British Prime Minister David Cameron was led by Jim O’Neill, former chief economist at US investment bank Goldman Sachs, and included British senior public health experts.

It found the region with the highest number of deaths attributable to antimicrobial resistance would be Asia with 4.7 million, followed by Africa with 4.1 million, while there would be 390,000 in Europe and 317,000 in the United States. For comparison, the review estimated that the second-biggest killer, cancer, would account for 8.2 million deaths a year by 2050. “The damaging effects of antimicrobial resistance are already manifesting themselves across the world,” the report said. “Antimicrobial-resistant infections currently claim at least 50,000 lives each year across Europe and the US alone,” it added. The calculations were

based on existing studies by the think tank Rand Europe and the consultancy KPMG. It warned drug resistance was not “a distant and abstract risk” and called for “a major intervention to avert what threatens to be a devastating burden on the world’s healthcare systems”. The review emphasised the economic advantage of investment in tackling the problem early. It said that three types of bacteria -- the Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus -- were already showing signs of resistance to medicine. Treatment of HIV, malaria and tuberculosis were broader public health issues in which resistance “is a concern”.

Healthy Living Dr. Ihuoma Uko-Ndukwe ada.ndukwe@yahoo.com

Tinea unguium - nails

L-R: Associate Director R&D Baby Care Europe Middle East and Africa, P&G, Christofer Fuchs; Nollywood actress, Dakore Egbuson Akande; Brand Manager, Pampers, Iphie Chuks-Adizue, and , Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade Ekehinde at the launch of the newly improved Pampers Baby-Dry held at the Pampers Manufacturing Plant, Agbara, Ogun state.

P&G launches new pampers Shola Adefuwa

rocter and Gamble, Nigeria’s leading producer of consumer goods and maker of Pampers baby diapers has launched its newly improved Pampers Baby-Dry into the baby care market at the Procter & Gamble (P&G) plant in Agbara, Ogun State recently. Reacting to the product demonstrations at the launch, popular Actress and mother, Dakore Egbuson-Akande applauded P&G on the newly upgraded product. She said: “P&G has absolutely outdone itself this time. I must confess that this new Pampers beats my expectations. Having used the product for my baby, I encourage all mothers to try it, because it is truly effective at keeping my baby dry and comfortable”. Christofer Fuchs, associate director R&D Baby Care Europe

Middle East and Africa, Procter and Gamble, said that P&G through the Pampers is committed to healthy and happy development of babies. He said: “Our newly improved Pampers diaper is borne out of extensive research and development, consumer studies and continuous feedback from consumers. We do this to ensure premium comfort for our babies and consequently contribute to the happy and healthy development of babies”. “The latest improvement to our pampers diapers is the new stretchy sides. We understand that babies’ tummy expands as much as 8cm during the night. This makes diapers loosen and leakage occurs. With our new stretch feature, Pampers expands and relaxes with the baby’s tummy, thereby efficiently preventing leakages. In addition, the super gel in the diaper

locks wetness away better than ordinary diapers, keeping the baby comfortable all night”, Christofer added. Iphie Chuks-Adizue, Brand Manager Pampers Nigeria said, “more than 50 million babies experience the comfort and dryness of pampers every year worldwide, so with our latest improvement, Pampers Baby-Dry which is similar to our UK offering as you may have noticed, provides superior dryness for our babies and adapts to the baby’s shape and movements for a good night’s sleep and a great next morning. One Pampers diaper is guaranteed to keep your baby dry throughout the night”. A tour of the facility and demonstrations on the absorbance capabilities of the new pampers provided participants the opportunity to experience the Pampers innovation first hand.

Tinea manuum - palms

Fungal infections spread through contact with infected persons (2) CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

inea also known as fungal infections, is the name of a group of diseases caused by fungus. They are superficial fungal infections which are among the most common skin diseases. They can occur in both healthy and unhealthy persons. Tinea cruris (Jock itch) affects the groin, inner thigh folds area and can be on both sides of the thigh but usually spares the penis and scrotum. Most people with thigh fungus have foot fungus, mostly spread by hand from scratching the foot and it occurs more in men than in female and rarely affects children. Itching is very common. Tinea pedis (Athlete’s foot) is the most common fungal infection, usually related to sweating, warmth and use of occlusive foot wear. It presents as a white macerated area on threequarter of toe webs, and symptoms can be severe itching and burning and can have a bacterial superinfection with some having pus in between. The best treatment is

prevention with good foot care by avoiding occlusive footwear. Changing to dry socks two to three times daily, dry between toes two times/day , change or alternate shoes, and treat bacterial infection in addition to the fungal infection. Oral therapy is more effective than tropical creams but a combination of both, in addition to antibiotic with superinfection is curative. Tinea manuum - palms is less common than foot but when the palms are infected, the feet are also infected. Tinea unguium – Nails Toe nails are more involved than fingernails and it occurs more in adults than in kids. Risk factors include increasing age, diabetes, poor venous and lymphatic drainage. Others risk factors are ill-fitting shoes, sports participation and unhygienic artificial nails placement (unsanitary environment). It can be very difficult t to treat and will require a longer period of oral antifungal treatment. In some cases, it takes up to three months. Treatment most fun-

gal infections can be treated with topical ointments/ cream. When larger body surface areas are involved, oral antifungal medication is needed for complete eradication. Most fungi thrive in moist warm environments. Wearing loose fitting garments made of cotton or synthetic materials designed to absorb moisture and socks with similar fabrics can help. Areas infected should be dried completely before being covered with clothes. Avoid walking barefoot and sharing garments. The main goal of treatment is prescription antifungal treatment.

Others risk factors are ill-fitting shoes, sports participation and unhygienic artificial nails placement

Health New 29

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY DECEMBER 18, 2014

How to reduce Nigeria’s high tuberculosis burden CONTINUED FROM PAG E 27

a global emergency. Currently, Nigeria is ranked 5th among the 22 high TB burden countries in the world. Tuberculosis, TB (short for tubercle bacillus), is a widespread, and in many cases fatal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB typically attacks the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body. It is spread through the air when people who have an active TB infection cough, sneeze, or otherwise transmit respiratory fluids through the air. Most infections do not have symptoms, known as latent tuberculosis. About one in ten latent infections eventually progresses to active disease which, if left untreated, kills more than 50 percent of those so infected. According to data from the 2012 Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey conducted by the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTLCP) and the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), sixty percent of TB cases occur in persons aged 15 to 44 years. Similarly, there is a high disease burden among rural dwellers and rural setting. Besides, people who dwell in urban slums are a more vulnerable population. According to the survey, thirty-three percent of cases have not been diagnosed of TB previously and 14 percent of cases occurred in persons with previous treatment, meaning that people who were treated before and probably abandoned their treatment has case of resurgence. Olayide Akanni, executive director, Journalist Against AIDS (JAAIDS), said before now Nigeria was estimating that it has 183, 218 cases of TB but after they did the TB prevalence survey they found that the actual possible number of TB cases is over three times that number, totaling about 473, 403. “So, we have a higher TB burden than we have been assuming”. Three major things that fuel TB in the country are untreated TB, low TB case notification, and cases that drop out on treatment, failing to complete their therapy, hence making such TB to resurge, said Dr. Dan Onwujekwe, Chief Research Fellow working in the HIV/Tuberculosis Unit at NIMR. According to Onwujekwe, untreated TB puts every other person at risk of TB. “All you need to acquire TB is to share the same room with a person who has untreated TB. As the infected person coughs, sings or talks, he pushes the TB bacteria in his lung into the air and contaminates the environment. Symptoms Discussing the high TB burden in Nigeria, the chief research fellow at NIMR said classical symptoms of TB that are known by most people are cough lasting more than two weeks, weight loss, fever lasting one month or more, night sweating and chest pain. “At times infected persons have swellings

on parts of the neck. These ones make people realise that such persons may have TB but there are people who may not manifest those symptoms at all and they still have TB. You can only find out when you test them or when you suspect that this person was in contact with a person affected by TB, and you check and you see that the person actually has TB.” Furthermore, he noted that TB cases that do not manifest the common symptoms currently prompt few foreign countries to subject some Nigerians intending to travel and seeking visas to do TB tests and those whose test result turn out positive have been advised to treat themselves first before returning for travel visa. “This measure is to prevent infecting population of the host country.” On how common latent TB is in the country, the research fellow said it is not known because nobody has gone out to search for the number of people who are shedding TB but not showing signs of the disease. “It depends on the individual but what we know is that if that person is now infected with another condition, like HIV that will bring down immunity of the fellow and the TB symptoms will occur faster. Risk factors Onwujekwe said what is also known is that some people are more susceptible to coming down with TB than others. According to him, ten percent of people with HIV come down with TB every year. People who have diabetes can easily come down with TB as well. People who have kidney problems may come down with TB. People who have other complications like cancer can easily come down with TB. Smokers can come down with TB easily. Also, people who work in dusty areas which can induce compromised lung functions, have more risks of coming down with TB. People who work in quarries, cement factories, building construction sites, road builders because they are exposed to a lot of dust are easily infected with TB. People, who work in enclosed spaces like mines, are also at risk. If one person in that enclosed space is infected, the TB will spread to infect others there. Way forward However, on what can be done to clear increasing TB cases, Onwujekwe said a cough that lasts more than two weeks should be investigated to be sure it is not TB. This should involve a proper diagnosis to analyse the cause. He recommended an active case finding of TB cases, meaning the establishment of a viable system that will take surveillance, diagnosis and treatment to people within communities. “We should not be waiting for cases to be brought to hospitals before they are sought out,” said the research fellow. “We should extend this search to every part of the country to check if people are coughing.

Rapid TB test is now available

During such investigations, X-ray will done to determine if those coughing have TB. Even if one is not coughing, Xray should also be done. They may find something and analyse what they find.” While calling for the establishment of a community-centered approach system that will closely monitor people within the communities, detecting and treating cases as a strategy to contain rising TB, Akanni also urged the three tiers of government to increase funding for awareness, prevention and treatment of TB cases in the country. “There is a high dependence on external funding. That is a major challenge. The funding that is coming from the government for TB is small compared

PHOTO www.ghfn.org

to the burden of the disease. If you look at the external partners funding TB programmes in Nigeria - Global Funds, WHO, etc, most of the funding for TB in Nigeria is coming from them.” She reasoned that at some point, the external partners may withdraw such funding and move on to other things. Akanni similarly lamented general low TB case notification in both adult and children and the inadequate management of TB in children. “Many children may have TB but doctors who are not sensitive to TB may not notice it on time. Hence the challenge will be that such paediatric TB will not be diagnosed on time.

L-R: Bishop of the Niger Diocese, Rt. Rev (Dr.) Owen Nwokolo; Commercial Director, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kachi Onubogu; and his wife, Mrs Chinwe Onubogu; at the commissioning of Onyekachi Onubugu’s projects at Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital, Onitsha, Anambra State recently.

Iyi-Enu mission hospital projects lauched T he Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital in Onitsha, Anambra State has commended the Commercial Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Kachi Onubugu, for sponsoring the building and furnishing of a patients’ ward as well as the purchase of a 2D Echo Cardiography machine for the hospital. The Hospital Administrator, Reverend Ikechukwu Okwuosa, who gave the commendation at the commissioning of the projects, disclosed that Onubugu discovered the pressing need of the hospital during his tour of the hospital premises last year. His words: “It was some-

time last year that Mr. Onubugu visited my office to inform me of his plan to use his 40th birthday ceremony to raise funds for a project that will positively impact on the services of the hospital.” In response to this, Rev Okwuosa said he requested him to donate a 2D Echo Cardiography machine, which was at the time top on the list of request from the cardiologist in the hospital. While going on tour of the hospital facilities, Onubugu was said to have sighted a dilapidated 10-room ward, which he said was not befitting for human habitation. As a result of that, he insisted

on building an entirely new structure for the unit. Meanwhile, he did not only build the structure, he also furnished it with the requisite medical equipment. “In addition to this building, Onyekachi also procured and installed a 2D Echo machine for the hospital,” Rev Okwuosa disclosed. He therefore commended Onubugu and his family for being used by God to touch on lives. Rev Okwuosa concluded: “We shall continue to do our best to ensure that our clients receive the best health care possible. We are willing to continue to put in our time, strength and intellect to ensure the growth of the health system.”

Health News

THURSDAY DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Malaria: Mortein launches automatic insect control system I

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Office of Youth and Social Development, Dr. J.O. Osiyimika; Animashawun; and General Manager, LASODA, Dr. Babatunde Awelenge at the 2014 International Day for People with Disabilities celebration, held in Ikeja, Lagos recently.

Lagos to make life better for PWDs

he Lagos State Government on Wednesday said it would collaborate with the private manufacturing companies to provide assistive aids for people with disability at subsidised rate. Dr. Enitan Badru, the Special Adviser to Gov. BabatundeFashola on Youths and Special Development, made this known at the 2014 International Day for People with Disability in Lagos, marked globally on December 3 to draw attention to the plight of PWDs and advocate their inclusion with a view to ensure quality living for them.

The theme of the 2014 International Day for Persons Living with Disability is “Sustainable Development: The Promise of Technology” The programme was organised by the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) in Lagos with the theme “Sustaining Development: The Promise of Technology”. Every December 3 has been set aside the United Nations General Assembly as International Day for Persons Living with Disability. Badru said that technology could be used to help make life more meaningful and comfortable for people with

disabilities. “With assistive technology devices, people with disabilities are capable of handling a wider range of activities independently and integrate fully into the society. “The state government recognises that this can help to achieve an inclusive society where people with disability can be comfortable and live meaningful life,” he said. Also speaking, Mrs Tolu Animashaun, the chairman of LASODA, urged them to register with the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASSRA) for proper data collation.

n furtherance of its commitment to provide innovative solutions to make life easier and healthier, leading anti-malaria brand, Mortein from the stables of Reckitt Benckiser has launched its new variant, Mortein automatic insect control system in Lagos recently. The development of the new product was informed by the need to stem the prevalence of malaria scourge in the country and Africa generally, said , the Marketing Director, West Africa, Reckitt Benckiser, Oguzhan Silivrili represented by Head, Trade Marketing, West Africa, Reckitt Benckiser, Mr. Emmanuel Ugwuanyi. The most anticipated Mortein automatic insect control system is made from natural extracts and can last up to four weeks with more than 2,000 bursts of sprays that ooze out at regular interval to provide continuous protection against crawling and flying insects. The revolutionary Mortein Automatic insect control system is the latest addition to the Mortein brand that kills 100 per-

cent mosquitoes. The Mortein automatic insect control system which is safe to use when the room is properly ventilated is available at a cost of N2000 for the complete set and N1100 for the refill pack across stores nationwide. The product launch which had in attendance Lagos trade teams, sales agents and customers offered opportunity to espouse the unique benefits of the new Mortein automatic insect control system to all present. According to him, there are estimated 300 million acute cases of malaria every year around the world, resulting in more than one million deaths while approximately 90 percent of these deaths occur in Africa, mostly in young children. Silivrili decried the high malaria prevalence in Nigeria as ‘‘unacceptable’’, saying ‘‘malaria is responsible for 60 percent of outpatient visits to health facilities, 30 percent of childhood deaths, 25 percent of deaths in children under one year and 11 percent of maternal deaths.’’

Health benefits of bitter leaf (2) CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

The following are some of the many uses of bitter leaf. 1. Stomach-ache Chew the tender stem of the plant like a chewing stick and swallow the bitterness. This is a well-known remedy for stomachaches. In some cases the ache stops within a few minutes. An alternative is to pound the fresh leaves in a mortar and press out the juice. Add a pinch of salt to three tablespoons of the undiluted juice and drink. This brings immediate relief. 2. Skin infection For skin infections such as ring worm, itching, rashes and eczema, the pure, undiluted extract of bitter leaf is excellent. Simply apply it to the affected part daily. 3. Diabetes Diabetics should listen carefully to this good news. They do not need to despair or lose hope. God has not abandoned them. God has given them bitter leaf as a sign of God’s love and care. From time immemorial, herbalists have been using the bitter leaf plant for the treatment of diabetes. Bitter leaf not only reduces the sugar-level drastically; it also helps to repair the pancreas. squeeze ten handfuls of the fresh leaves in ten liters of

Nature Power Fr. Anselm Adodo, OSB

naturepower@paxherbals.net; twitter: @anselmadodo water and take two glasses thrice daily for one month, this amounts to six glasses daily. 4. Loss of memory Loss of memory can be a symptom of diabetes, or a sickness on its own. Whatever its nature may be, bitter leaf is good for this ailment. Take one glass thrice daily for a least two months. 5. Prostrate cancer Prostrate cancer is common among men who are over forty years old. Its symptom is difficult and painful urination, among others. Bitter leaf is very good for this ailment. It increases the flow of urine and reduces the pain, as well as regulates the spread of the cell. Simply squeeze the fresh leaves in water and take a glassful four times daily. Don’t be surprised if you begin to urinate very frequently when you take the bitter leaf extract. It is part of the cleansing and healing process that your body needs. 6. General weakness Do you often feel weak and tired? Do you lack vitality and

vigour? Then get up and take a walk into the bush. You don’t need to trek far before you find a bitter leaf plant. Squeeze the leaves in water and take a glass thrice daily. Soon you will experience a new lease of energy. 7. Stroke Bitter leaf solution calms the nerves, strengthens the muscles and cleanses the system. I have seen what marvels bitter leaf extract has done for many people and I testify that it is good. 8. Pneumonia Squeeze the fresh leaves of the plant in water. Take a glass-full thrice daily. Warm the solution on fire each time before drinking. Remember, do not boil, just warm. Continue the medication for a month. You do not need to squeeze the leaves each time you want to drink it. You can squeeze a large quantity at once and add some honey. This will help preserve the solution. However, note that if you store bitter leaf extract for twenty-four hours or more, the bitterness will disappear or diminish.

Bitter leaf

9. Insomnia Bitter leaf extract has done wonders for those suffering from sleeplessness. Simply take two glasses of bitter leaf solution every night. You will experience great calm and well being. You may add a little honey if you wish. 10. Arthritis Arthritis or rheumatism patients who have tried bitter-leaf solution as described above attest to its effectiveness. It soothes inflamed joints and eradicates the pain.

PHOTO www.nigerianfoodtv.com

Bitter leaves should always be taken fresh. Boiling or cooking reduces the potency of most herbs

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

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Ceramics: Nigeria’s untapped goldmine

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Nigeria’s courier sector records N300bn investments Over N300 billion has been invested in Nigeria’s courier sector till date, New Telegraph has learnt.

p.32

Broadband: Nigeria needs N1.7trn investment –Investigation IMPROVED ACCESS Nigerians will have pervasive access to broadband services in the years to come

“Nigeria has done very well in the strides to implementing NGBN, but the journey has just begun, because an estimated $2 billion (N340 billion) in funding/investment will be required yearly over the next five years to bridge the broadband infrastructure gap,” said

Principal Partner of KPMG, Mr. Joseph Tegbe, who spoke at “Nigeria Investment Meeting” held at the ITU conference. The targeted annual investment, New Telegraph gathered, thus translates into a whopping $10 billion (N1.7 trillion), over a period of five

years, in order for the country to achieve high-speed Internet services. Tegbe, whose company serves as consultants to the soon-to-be-licensed infrastructure companies (InfraCos) by CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Kunle Azeez

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Godson Ikoro

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

igeria will require an investment of about $10 billion (N1.7 trillion) in its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry to achieve robust Next Generation Broadband Network (NGBN) over the next five years, New Telegraph has learnt. The estimated investment will allow the country meet its target of 30 per cent broadband penetration as contained in the National Broadband Plan 2013-2018, approved by the Federal Government last year, as the NGBN will change the way businesses are done by the people in Nigeria. Already, Nigeria’s participation at the recently-concluded International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Telecom World 2014 in Doha, Qatar has been anchored on broadband investment, as the country deployed great deal of time discussing with potential investors in the sector. Having recorded over 134.5 million telephone subscriptions in the last 13 years, Nigeria is focusing on deepening broadband Internet penetration in the next five years. New Telegraph gathered that though broadband Internet penetration currently stands at about six per cent, Nigeria plans to increase this figure five-folds by 2018.

L-R: Publisher and CEO, EMEA Finance, Christopher Moore; Managing Director, FBN Capital Asset Management, Michael Oyebola, receiving the Best Asset Manager in Nigeria Award. With them is Editor, EMEA Finance, Tim Burke, at the EMEA Finance African Banking Awards 2014 held in London... recently.

Palm oil rebate threatens incomes of 40m –Stakeholders T he 75 per cent rebate on Crude Palm Oil (CPO) tariff would jeopardise the livelihoods of over 40 million people, stakeholders in the palm oil value chain, have warned.

The endangered people, according to the stakeholders, are in the businesses of palm oil, palm kernel oil production, palm wine tapping and bottling. Also affected are those in basket and wholesale/retail

trade in the various products of the oil palm value chain. The stakeholders are National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN); CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE November 2014........................7.9% October 2014............................8.1% September 2014.....................8.3%

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate....................12.57% Prime Lending Rate...........17.93% Maximum Lending Rate...26.83%

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Dec. 12)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N189 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N293 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N232

l Foreign Reserves – $35.74bn as at 12/12/2014

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Official As at Dec. 12)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N169 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N264.50 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N210.31

Business | News

DIGITAL INLCUSION

NIPOST offices across the country are being reformed to accelerate financial inclusion Kunle Azeez

ver N300 billion has been invested in Nigeria’s courier sector till date, New Telegraph has learnt. The country has also increased the number of registered courier companies to 293 as at November this year. Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, disclosed this in Abuja. The minister, who presented the scorecard of the ministry since 2011, when the ministry was created, said: “Asset in the courier sector including revenue, capital items and other working facilities, is estimated at about N300 billion.” The postal sector is an amalgam of transport, logistics and distribu-

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria’s courier records N300bn investments tion, and related entities that are involved in the linking of communities by movement of messages, information, goods and services. In the revised Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures, courier services sector contributes 0.03 per cent to national GDP. “The sector’s contribution is still considered low today. So, the growth in the postal sector has been stunted over the years, having been intrinsically tied to the reform of NIPOST,” she said. The minister, however, pointed out that the sector is growing steadily, saying that it is likely to experience more rapid growth as e-commerce expands in the country through e-commerce firms such as Jumia.com and Konga.com, among others, where delivery of goods ordered are being handled more efficiently.

She said that Nigerian government has started considering a review of the Nigerian Postal Bill with a view to accelerating the sector’s growth. The minister said: “The Nigeria Postal Bill is currently under consideration by the Federal Executive Council and will create clear delineation of roles and responsibilities in the postal sector via the creation of

an independent regulator; create a level playing field for postal operators; and transform NIPOST into an autonomous and financially-viable postal company, providing lowcost universal postal services and a broad range of service.” According to the minister, “NIPOST is also modernising its physical and IT network and collaborating with actors

in the broader economy to deliver a wider range of services to drive digital inclusion, where the postal offices are leveraged by the public to access ICT services; and financial inclusion, where postal offices will be used to provide cash management and thirdparty digital payment services as well as preparing to provide financial services through

a private public partnership (PPP) arrangement.” She said that the reforms in the postal service will drive social inclusion as NIPOST works with selected state governments to deliver public services at Point of Sales (PoS) terminals, as well as using PoS terminals as an avenue to implement the National Addressing project. Meanwhile, the minister has said that between 2011, when her ministry was created and now, there has been a sharp difference in the performance of the sector.

Palm oil rebate threatens incomes of 40m CONTINUED FROM PAG E 3 1

Vegetable and Edible Oil Producers Association of Nigeria (VEOPAN), vegetable and edible oil sector of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Plantation Owners Forum of Nigeria (POFON) and individual companies on the palm oil value chain. The stakeholders, who recently met with the officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Abuja, accused industrial users, traders and speculators working individually or in concert, of sabotage in the sector. They also accused them of taking undue advantage of the uncompetitive local palm oil industry to source cheaper palm oil through imports as well as concocting fictitious data to arrive at scandalous supply deficit to hoodwink government to grant concession and waiver to import palm oil into the country. The stakeholders equally told them of mindlessly importing palm oil to depress the domestic market, thus forcing plantation owners and smallholders to sell at non-remunerative prices, benefiting stupendously from palm oil imports and not investment in oil palm plantation and influencing policy summersaults over the last

one to two decades from lifting the ban on importation to 35 per cent tariff and now surreptitiously targeting 75 per cent rebate on CPO tariff. The stakeholders therefore sought speedy intervention to expunge S. I. No. 25, Part 4 (General Regulations), Section 40 (j) (ii) of the Official Gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria No. 56, Volume 96 of 7th August 2009. They are also seeking speedy intervention to expunge S. I. No. 5, Part 2 (General Regulations), Section 10 (4) sub-section 25 (j) (ii), of the Official Gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria No. 19, Volume 97 of 29th March 2010. Also, the stakeholders called on the Federal Government to speedily intervene to get the topmost authorities to investigate the recent huge shipments of crude palm oil into the country with a view to ascertaining the consignees and the duty paid on the consignments. The stakeholders said they have over the last 8-10 years, responded positively to the challenge of eliminating the shortfall in the domestic palm oil supply of vegetable oil and have committed over $800 million to investments in new plantings, milling and processing facilities.

L-R: Registrar, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr Rotimi Omotoso; first Deputy Vice President, Deacon Titus Soetan; Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr Obinnia Abajue and President, ICAN, Mr Chidi Ajaegbu, at the launch/unveiling of the ICAN-Stanbic IBTC Bank credit card in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI CO N TI N U ED F RO M PAGE 32

the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said despite some challenges, Nigeria remains one of the most attractive investment destinations globally. Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, in her remarks, said that Nigeria’s participation at the ITU event was specifically to tell Nigerian telecoms sector stories, while also wooing foreign investors to invest in the country’s ICT sector, especially to develop its broadband market. “Ordinarily, Nigeria looks fulfilled in terms of voice communication for which so much has been done and achieved in the last 13 years,” said Johnson. “However, much more remains to be done.” Johnson emphasised that ICT has become the next “oil and gas,” of Nigeria, saying that “it is a gold mine.” Speaking in the same vein, Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Eugene Juwah, told the audience at the investment

N1.7trn required for broadband forum that the infrastructure companies (InfraCos), each of which is expected to operate in each of the six geo-political zones and Abuja, would soon be licensed. He said that the Lagos and the North Central regions, including Abuja, would be licensed first and other regions will follow. According to Juwah, in the last 13 years, about 134.5 million subscribers, 96 per cent teledensity and over 74 million internet subscribers connected via narrow bands and over $32 billion investment have been recorded so far. “But despite these, opportunity for growth is still high, hence, the adoption of the Open Access Model for the InfraCos licensing regime to promote healthy competition, affordability and access to all in the seven zones for which the InfraCos

will deploy services. “Our adoption of global best practices in regulatory activities has become an inspiration to many African countries, which have come to understudy how Nigeria is developing its ICT sector,” he said. Juwah said broadband offers huge returns on investment as government also moves to incentivise investment in the sector. “In fact, those, who said ICT is the next oil and gas for countries that have opened up their frontiers are right. Government will provide incentives such as tax holidays of between five and seven years and also provide financial incentives of between 15 to 30 per cent of the operators’ capital expenditure (CAPEX). This is to create attraction for operators to go to areas they believe may be unattractive.”

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Industry

XGMA, Richbon to float N6.4bn plant p.34

CFAO, Yamaha target 70,000 motorcycle sales in Nigeria p.34

Ceramics: Nigeria’s untapped goldmine UNDERUTILISED Industry can generate barely 1000 jobs despite huge potential

espite the abundance of ceramics’ raw materials, the country still spends billions of naira on importation of ceramic products. Concerned stakeholders have lamented that the sector, which is capable of generating about 500,000 jobs, has been neglected so much that the country now spends N90 billion importing ceramic products. Potential The country’s ceramic raw materials include alumina, carbon, clay, feldspar, kaolin, quartz, silicon and zirconium, which can be found in all the geo-political zones in the country. The availability of these raw materials, observers argued, made several ceramics manufacturing concerns to spring-up across the country in the 70s and 80s. Some of them are Modern Ceramics Industry, Umuahia; Nigerian-Italian Ceramic Product Industries, Ifon, Ondo State; Ceramic Manufacturers Limited, Kano and Eleganza Ceramics Industries, Lagos, among others. Despite the availability of raw materials, these firms have, been shut due to the unfavourable manufacturing climate and lack of patronage. Ceramics, derived from the Greek expression, keramos, which means ‘potter’s clay’, was originally used to refer to the art of making pots. However, its scope has broadened to include the science of manufacturing articles prepared from malleable clays that are made rigid by firing. They are non-metallic, inorganic materials (mainly compounds of oxygen and compounds of carbon, nitrogen, boron, and silicon). Ceramic products touch lives in many ways. They include traditional pots used for ornamental and other domestic purposes; earthen and tableware like teapots, plates and mugs, flower vases, sanitary ware like sanitary closets, urinals, shower trays, wash hand basins, as well as wall and floor tiles. Ceramics products are found in watches (quartz tuning forks - the time keeping devices in watches). They are also used for industrial and technical items in pharmaceuticals and in the manufacture of medical implants, bio-medicals, among others. Past efforts Reports said that one of the earliest actions taken by the Projects Development Institute, Enugu, when it was established in the early 1970s, was to set up a small

Aganga

glassblowing workshop for the production of laboratory glassware. The success of this operation led to the establishment of the Scientific Equipment Development Institute. Also, they were able to produce Nigeria’s first colourless glass, a critical step that could have led to the local manufacture of optical glass, a strategic material produced only in India and South Africa among the third world countries if the effort had been sustained. In 2004, former President Olusegun Obasanjo visited the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), where he was shown Electrical Porcelain Insulators (EPI) produced there, using local raw materials. The insulators had been tested and proven to be as good as the imported ones and could reduce the cost of electrification by at least 10 per cent to 15 per cent. EPIs are important for the transmission and distribution of electricity; the giant sizes of it are used in big transmission stations while the smaller ones are used to link consumers. After the visit, the former president was said to have set up what was called the Presidential Initiative on EPI. The Initiative was to equip FIIRO’s workshops and laboratories to set up pilot plants for the production of EPIs in the six geo-political zones of the country, to encourage entrepreneurs to invest in that area and stem the waste of foreign exchange on imported EPIs. However, the lofty goal has not been realised. “In spite of the available indigenous potential for ceramics manufacturing business, the Nigerian government and the citizens have not shown much interest in its development. The negligence is due to lack of clear understanding of the meaning of ceramics, lack of significant number of professionals with appropriate skills and expertise in ceramics manufacturing business and absence of avenues for people interested in ceramics

Obasanjo

manufacturing business to pursue their ambitions. Now, no university or higher institution in Nigeria offers training in ceramics science/ engineering/technology. Thus, skill gap is a major problem. So, you cut imports by developing the sector locally, addressing problems enumerated here,” the Chief Executive Officer, Epina Technologies, a global learning, management and engineering blended solutions provider in Africa, Eguakhide Patrick Oaikhina, said.

While the global expenditure on ceramics is expected to reach $408 billion by 2018, Nigeria is expected to have woken up from being a sleeping giant

Hope rises Meanwhile, efforts by stakeholders to revive the sector seem to be yielding results as Ceramics Professionals Association of Nigeria (CPAN), has been incorporated. The stakeholders said that the opportunities which abound in the sector would now be properly annexed. With the registration of CPAN by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), stakeholders believe that ceramic will be able to compete with other sectors in terms of local production and contribution to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP). Oaikhina, who is the Chairman, Board of Trustee and the current Coordinator of the newlyregistered association, said that about 500,000 jobs would have been saved yearly along ceramics value-chain if the sector has been properly developed in the country. The chairman, who is also a professor of Material Engineering, with specialisation in ceramics, noted that the capacity of the sector in terms of job creation is presently less than 1,000 as many ceramic companies in the country have become moribund. He described the registration of the association as a step towards moving the sector forward. “We have got our association registered by government. Now, all the stakeholders, people who are into ceramics productions such as producers, distributors, profes-

sionals, ceramics artists, ceramics technologists, and ceramics engineers can come together under this umbrella to promote ceramics development in Nigeria,” he said. He added that the association would serve as a platform for stakeholders to meet and chart ways towards boosting ceramics production in the country. Oakhina, who noted that the sector remained unpopular among Nigerians, said that might be the reason for the low productivity of the sector. He added that ceramics, as a course, had not been given the prominence it requires in Nigerian tertiary institutions. According to him, only one aspect of the course – Ceramics Arts, is being studied in a few higher institutions, while other aspects such as Ceramics Science, Ceramics Engineering and Ceramics Technology, are not included in the curriculum. He appealed to state governments to incorporate ceramics production into their programmes geared towards empowering the youths in order to promote the sector. Oakhina said that the exploration, exploitation and utilisation of the non-metallic solid mineral re¬sources should be encouraged by government to attract investors to the sector. “The lack of raw materials’ beneficiation and processing primary industries would require special policy direction and government support to initiate collaboration between stakeholders to invest in the raw material processing industry to serve ceramic and numerous other industries,” he said. Also, the Director-General of FIIRO, Dr. Gloria Elemo, said that Nigeria spends over N90 billion on ceramics annually. She said that recent statistics revealed that Nigeria now ranked 9th in the world among the heaviest consumers of finished ceramic products. “Such ceramic products are imported from overseas at huge foreign exchange cost estimated to be N90 billion. While the global expenditure on ceramics is expected to reach $408 billion by 2018, Nigeria is expected to have woken up from being a sleeping giant in ceramic industrial sector to consume the huge non-metallic solid mineral re¬sources of the country,” he said. She explained that without ceramics, the automotive industry would not produce or assemble cars; the wristwatches cannot work; there will be no power transmission and the health sector will be dysfunctional, pointing out that people’s broken bones are replaced with ceramics. She said that apart from the conventional ceramics plates and flower vases, ceramic also includes bricks, floor and roof tiles, table wares, pottery products, sanitary wares, wall tiles and earthen wares, among others.

Business | Industry

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

XGMA, Richbon to float N6.4bn plant INVESTMENT Partnership will boost job creation Taiwo Jimoh

Chinese firm, Xiamen XGMA International Trade Company Limited, has partnered Richbon Nigeria

CFAO, Yamaha target 70,000 motorcycle sales in Nigeria

espite increasing discouragement of the use of motorcycles for commercial purposes in Nigeria, CFAO and its partner, Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd, have agreed to set up a production factory with a sales target of 70,000 motorcycles in 2018. It is not yet clear as at press time if the motorcycles will be for commercial purposes. Lagos had banned the use of motorcycle popularly calledokada for commercial purposes in 2012. The same action had been carried out in major cities across the country. CFAO and Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd signed an agreement to manufacture and distribute motorcycles through a joint venture company in Nigeria called: CFAO Yamaha Motor Nigeria Ltd. (CYMNG). The company will be owned 50 per cent apiece by both companies. A statement by both companies said that CYMNG “will benefit from distribution rights to manufacture and distribute Yamaha motorcycles in Nigeria, the leading market in Africa with over one million new motorcycles sold per year.” Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of motorcycles with presence in about 200 countries, will contribute its manufacturing and marketing expertise. With a strong and longstanding presence in Nigeria (112 years) and an extensive network in 20 cities and towns in the country, CFAO boasts indepth knowledge of the local market, distribution networks and customer needs. CFAO already imports and distributes Yamaha products in 16 other countries in Africa.

Limited Truck and Equipment, to set up a tractor assembly plant worth over $40 million (about N6.4 billion), in Nigeria. The partnership is expected to create not less than 5,000 jobs. Vice President, Xiamen XGMA, Mr. Sahm Yap, who visited the country alongside other officials of the company, said that the partnership would lead to local manufacturing of XGMA tractors, heavy-duty

machineries and equipment, which is first of its kind in Nigeria. He said that the assembly plant, which would be built in Anambra State, would be used for the manufacturing of majority of its earthmoving machineries. Yap said during the visit: “One of the reasons for our visitation to Nigeria is to re-assess the progress thus far on the heavy-duty construction and equipment assembly plant. When we

signed the franchise last year with the XGMA, one of the top agenda was to have made-in-Nigeria construction equipment, which will be the first of its kind so far. The reason is that Nigeria and China have good and long-time relationship. Since we incorporated with Richbon last year, I haven’t been here. This time, I came to Nigeria because we are discussing on the assembly plant. “We pay high attention to this visit because

Nigeria is an important market for us. We plan to build Nigeria as a centre for West Africa in terms of sales, after sales and manufacturing,” he added. On the partnership, Yap said that XGMA is a top earth-moving equipment supplier in China, even in the world, hence, it took it a very long time to find partner in Nigeria. “When we met Richbon last year, we found that we have a lot of

things in common such as the Richbon’s concept of doing business, finance and capability can match our expectation and this is why we choose Richbon Nigeria Ltd. Tractor and Equipment. “XGMA, founded in 1951, is a Chinese national large-scale backbone enterprise, which specialises in manufacturing of wheel loaders, excavators, road construction machinery, forklift trucks and minimachinery,” he said.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

ICT

IDC predicts 2015 ICT trends p.36

Mobofree.com unveils elections solution p.36

Frequency usage: ‘Minister aids illegality’ Minister of Communications Technology, Dr Omobola Johnson, appears to be aiding illegality in the telecoms sector, judging by her recent meddling in the enforcement activities embarked upon by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) to guard against illegal use of frequency spectrum, which has the potential of robbing the country millions of naira in revenue, reports KUNLE AZEEZ

igeria’s telecoms sector is today rated as the fastest growing telecoms market in Africa and one of the fast-growing in the world, having grown significantly from 2001, when government deregulated the sector, from less than 450,000 telephone lines to over 134.5 million active lines at the end of September 2014, according to official industry data. Internet penetration has grown tremendously with well over 70 million Nigerians currently online during the same period with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) above $32 billion. The sector’s contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has increased tremendously, standing at around 10 per cent. This is expected to reach 15 per cent by the end of 2015. Today, the success stories in the industry have been linked to the good and sound regulatory regime in terms of monitoring of operators’ activities, especially with regards to unauthorised use of certain spectrum bands and sanctioning erring ones, according to enabling laws. Minister’s ‘interference’ However, the growth recorded in the sector in the last 13 years may soon begin to wane following interference by the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, in the NCC’s enforcement activities staged in Lagos to raid companies illegally using spectrum not so licensed. The NCC Enforcement team had, as part of its continuous regulatory effort to rid the 5.4 Ghz spectrum band of illegal users, stormed Lagos on Tuesday, December 9, 2014, for a four-day enforcement exercise to track illegal occupants of the spectrum. Before now, the telecom regulator had warned Internet service

with scarcity of spectrum going by the country’s target to achieve 30 per cent Internet broadband penetration by 2018, up from the current six per cent. It was gathered that the need to provide increased spectrum bands for telecoms companies is premised on the apparent shortage of fixed infrastructures in the country, necessitating the demand for spectrum as in the industry, over 90 per cent of services are deployed through wireless means. “There is the need for the regulator to release more spectrum to telecom firms to be able to deploy, especially broadband services, identified as the next growth frontier for the nation’s telecoms sector,” National Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr Gbenga Adebayo, said in a recent interview. Telecom mast

providers and other companies illegally occupying the spectrum to discontinue use of such or face the consequences. Consequently, the enforcement team, led by Mr Salisu Abdu, an assistant director at the Commission, clamped down on four telecoms firms, including Steam Communications, NetCom, SwiftTalk and Multi-Dimension Technologies, all located in Lagos, for illegally using the unlicensed 5.4 GHz frequency band. While Steam Communications was raided on December 9, the three others, which rented spaces on a communication tower belonging to Medallion Communications, a licensed interconnect operator, were raided on December 10 and in each case, radio communications equipment of the operators were confiscated for further investigation and sanctioning, according to law. Briefing journalists during the Wednesday enforcement exercise, Abdu had explained that “seven operators were found to be operating illegally on the 5.4 gigahertz frequency band, which was not licensed to them by the Commission. The operations of the telecoms firms were an offence under Section 122 of the Nigerian Communication Act 2003, which criminalises any operation without proper licensing by the regulator. “In 2009, NCC came up with a guideline on the deployment of service on the 5.4Ghz band that no operator should operate on it without obtaining necessary licence from the NCC. “In the course of the guideline, we have monitored compliance and we have discovered that we still had some operators operating illegally on the 5.4GHz till 2012. We have done a lot of clean-up till 2012 and we thought the frequency was free of interference. “But after a recent monitoring activity by the Spectrum Administration Department of NCC, about

Between 2001 and 2011 alone, sales and auctions of various spectrum bands in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector has earned government over N300 billion

seven operators were now discovered to be operating illegally on the 5.4 Ghz band.” Abdu also assured that the Enforcement Team would spend the next two days (December 11-12) to track down the other three yet-tobe-identified illegal operators. Further action was, however, truncated by an order reportedly given by the minister, asking the NCC team to stop further enforcement on the illegal operators while asking the NCC team to return already confiscated equipment. “This is a shocking development. How can a minister be aiding and abetting illegal use of spectrum band. The interference of the minister on this matter is counterproductive to the target to rid the industry of illegal spectrum users and plans by the NCC to auction the 5.4 gigahertz frequency band to legal user in an effort to deepen broadband penetration in the country,” a source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told New Telegraph after the news of the minister’s action filtered in. When contacted, sources at one of the raided telecoms companies confirmed to our correspondent that the “equipment had been returned to us. “Yes, I learnt that the minister asked the enforcement team to stop further action and return the seized equipment to the erring operators to give them time to regularise their licensing. This is the first time we would be seeing this kind of directive, but what can the enforcement team do than to obey the higher authority,” said a source at NCC. The minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Mrs. Efem Nkanga, however, denied that the minister gave any order asking NCC enforcement team to stop the raid and return the seized equipment. Spectrum as scarce resource Meanwhile, the country is faced

Economic losses Radio frequency spectrum is one of Nigeria’s key natural resources of great economic value as a result of its direct application in telecommunications, broadcasting, military operations and scientific research. Spectrum is a great revenue earner for government if properly licensed and legally used by the operators, but great economic losses can be harvested when licensees use a frequency band illegally. New Telegraph’s findings showed that, between 2001 and 2011, sales and auctions of various spectrum bands in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector has earned government over N300 billion. The 5.4 gigahertz spectrum band is a licensable frequency in the Nigeria’s telecoms market but many telecoms licensee use the spectrum illegally without obtaining necessary permits from the telecoms regulator. Their activities have, indeed, been denying the Federal Government the revenue accruable from proper licensing of these resources, which some industry experts, estimate run into billions of naira. The use of frequency band illegally is against the prescriptions of Sections 121 and 125 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003. Industry reactions According to industry observers, who argue that the minister’s action was tantamount to backing illegality, the meddling of the minister in the regulatory affairs of the NCC was counter-productive. They say a situation where the minister is aiding and abetting the licensees that violate the law, robs government billions of naira that would have accrued to the Federal Government as revenue through proper licensing of the spectrum, being used illegally, to a legal occupant to deploy services. Other industry stakeholders argued that the minister’s interference violates the independence of NCC as industry regulator. “The minister’s action only renders the independence of NCC a ruse,” one of them said.

Business | ICT

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

IDC predicts 2015 ICT trends

GROWTH ICT to be an engine of economic growth in Africa

esearch firm, International Data Corporation (IDC), has released the Africa Top 10 ICT Predictions for 2015 in Nigeria and other African countries. Included in the outlook are assertions that next year will herald the next level of African IT procurement, battles will ensue for dominance in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) space and governments with clear and relevant national ICT policies will dominate economies. According to IDC, ICT growth will be a strong driver of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in key countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda, with mobile services penetration, financial inclusiveness initiatives and government service delivery driving ICT spend in the telecommunications, financial services, and government verticals. Also, increased government policies and relevant processes that favour ICT activities in the society will have a significant impact in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, and Egypt where policies increase ICT awareness and access device penetration, improve service platforms and boost 2015 infrastructure developments. While a variety of ICT provid-

ers have made concerted efforts to tap into the SME market in recent years, ICD predicted that 2015 will herald the open battle for the SME market, where telcos will be strongly positioned to leverage their existing relationships with this segment. “Africa’s 2015 trade is firmly entrenched within the context of the global economy, and governments will slowly but surely address cyber security legislation and education, and consider further country-specific data protection that will require in-country presence for multinational ICT providers,” it says. Furthermore, IDC predicted that international entities such as World Bank, World Health Organisation (WHO), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the United Nations want a better understanding of market dynamics, competitiveness, and productivity in countries that they invest in. As such, IDC their investments will continue to influence guidelines for ICT solutions and use, as will multinational corporations considering Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) trade, and increasing South/South trade. IDC says African market will be characterised by new markets, products, and clients,

sought after by multinational corporations and African organisations alike driving innovation and entrepreneurship through cloud, the social enterprise, enterprise mobility, and big data as new product sets. IDC anticipates that 2015 will see closer intra-Africa trade facilitated by ICT initiatives such as payment systems, financial inclusion initiatives, and cross-

igeria’s telecoms service provider, Etisalat, has joined the Federal Government efforts at pushing for the growth of Information and Communications Technology industry in Nigeria. This, according to a statement, was demonstrated through its support of the Ministry of Communication Technology and The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Telecom World 2014 annual gathering held recently in Qatar. The platform provided

an opportunity for Nigerian delegates to join their counterparts from around the world to debate the future of the ICT industry and attract potential investors. Speaking during the official opening of the Nigerian pavilion sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria in partnership with other stakeholders, Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Ibrahim Dikko, commended the ministry and NCC for developing clear policies to guide the industry and promoting healthy competition among

the operators. He said: “The remarkable growth of the Nigerian telecoms industry has been largely attributable to clear policy objectives from government and a fair regulatory environment that supports competition and level-playing field. We reaffirm our commitment to support the Minister of Communication Technology and the Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in their efforts to put the ICT industry in Nigeria on the world map.”

Mobofree.com unveils elections solution

social marketplace in Nigeria and Africa, MoboFree.com, has officially introduced dedicated advertising solutions for upcoming 2015 election. This is coming a few months after its launch in Nigeria and it has continued to attract loyal advertising clients ranging from the largest Nigerian media agencies, telcos and players in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG). According to co-founder of the company, Mr Cristobal Alonso, internal survey run on MoboFree in November showed that 92 per cent of survey participants are going to vote in upcom-

ing 2015 election with 88 per cent identifying themselves as non-first time voters. The company said that the survey results, coupled with up to 60 million page impressions and eight million private messages monthly, its recording has confirmed that MoboFree is a significant channel for reaching potential voters. “In Nigeria, we have over two million registered users. But in contrast to other digital channels with high volume of traffic, in addition to the huge reach, we can also ensure effectiveness of advertising by very sharp targeting and extremely engaging unique

centre on capturing the feature phone long tail by improving the customer experience. “2015 is the year is where cloud computing proves its worth, and not just as old wine in new skin, but rather as a business driver, where Nigeria and Kenya will catch up to more mature markets as the time to market cycles in these regions diminish exponentially.”

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr.Michael Ikpoki; Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr Eugene Juwah; Minister of Communications Technology, Dr Omobola Johnson; Executive Director, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Ibrahim Dikko and Principal Partner, KPMG, Mr Joseph Tegbe, at the Nigeria investment meeting during ITU Telecom World 2014 in Doha, Qatar.

Etisalat backs FG on ICT growth N

border payments; while digital engagement will combine social, mobility, and big data initiatives, enabled by a cloudbased approach, and move Africa’s mobility momentum into the value-add space. It stated: “African smartphone adoption will continue to be a high growth area in 2015, but feature phones, far from dead, will stimulate development that will

advertising solutions,” said Alonso. Alonso stated that at Mobofree.com, advertisers can target campaigns by age, gender, marital status, location, operating system and several other criteria. “This provides unlimited opportunities for candidates in the upcoming election. Also, if you want to reach 30-35-year-old male entrepreneurs living in Abuja, MoboFree platform allows you to achieve this with ease and on comparatively low budgets, as there is no need to allocate funds for reaching citizens, who are not potential voters,” he said.

Airtel targets 19% subscriber growth

igeria’s telecoms service provider, Airtel, said it plans to grow its subscriber base by 19 per cent in the next three months during which it would run the Season 2 of its Airtel Red Hot promo. Consequently, the company, which currently has about 27 million subscriber-base, hopes to have reached 32 million by February, 2015. Head, High Value Segment, Airtel Nigeria, Mr Kenechukwu Okonkwo, in a statement, disclosed this at the presentation of cheques to the first set of winners in on-going Airtel Red Hot Promo Season 2 in Lagos. “If we have our way, through this promo, which rewards subscribers on our networks and present opportunity for potential subscribers, we hope to attract additional five million subscribers during the period of the promo,” he said. Meanwhile, the first draws run by the telco, which also produced five winners of iPad Air, 500 winners of N10,000 each and 25,000 winners of free airtime, was conducted at the Corporate Headquarters of Airtel Nigeria in Lagos and supervised by leading system processes and appli-

cations audit firm, TCQ&A. Kehinde Fasanya, a welder, Augustine Adugba, a pastor, Tijani Wasiu, a hotel manager and Omotosho Adeyanju, a retired banker, were presented with their N1 million cheques each at a press event held in Lagos. The fifth winner, Adesoji Omoboriowo, a youth corp member currently in Orientation Camp in Abia State will receive his cheque at a location nearest to him. The winners commended the operator for its unblemished history in fulfilling its promise to customers and for rewarding their patronage and loyalty. Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr Maurice Newa, said that Airtel will continue to create credible platforms to enrich and empower its customers, noting that Red Hot promo is a platform for rewarding customers for their loyalty. He said: “Airtel Red Hot promo is another unique way of showing appreciation to all Airtel customers in Nigeria. In addition to the innovative products and services which the network offers them, the Red Hot promo presents them with opportunities to enrich their lives and actualise their dreams.”

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Mom&Parenting

We’re raising godless youths –Prof. Atilade The President, South West Zone of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and Christian Welfare Initiative, CWI, Archbishop Magnus Atilade is worried about the Nigerian society which he said, is fast becoming godless and its youths, tools in the hands of Satan due to increasing unemployment. In this interview with CHIJIOKE IREMEKA, the cleric said that a return to God is the only way forward for the country.

Christmas is around the corner and many people are struggling to do one thing or the other to celebrate. What is your advice to young people in a celebration like this? Yes, we are looking forward to the celebration of anniversary of the Prince of Peace but what I have to say to young people is to put Christ in this celebration, which is the reason for the season. Jesus Christ is a remarkable personality in the Christendom and mankind. Moslems have known that too and even Chinese are aware of that as well. The youths, likewise every other persons should conduct their affairs in peaceful manner and return to God in what we are doing. A lot of things are going wrong with our youths. Our youths don’t have respect and love for God. When there is no love for God, there will be no love for fellow man. So, let us return God into our society. The teaching of love, morality, norms and values would help us to know what is right and wrong. This would help us to address the issues in our society. Corruption among youths is on the increase. And their desires are insatiable. When we have the fear of God in the society, people will not engage in corruption. Stealing of public funds, cheating, armed robbery and shedding of innocent blood are all manifestation of godless society. So, let’s bring God back to our dealings with one another. Let us bring about the love of God to our common man. Let’s resolve in this Christmas that we will be our brothers’ keeper. Let’s be able to have a feeling for the less privileged in our society. And let’s resolve that in the new year, we will be better people than we were in the last year, bringing about to remembrance our short comings to make amends in order to have better and new Nigeria. God bless our leaders, Nigeria and followers; Nigeria will be great.

Mom&Parenting Team O luwatosin Omoniyi lCoordinator Grace Essen lContributor © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

What are your major fears for Nigeria and especially the future of the youths? My major fear is that Nigeria has become a godless society. It’s that bad that while walking on the street, you have to start looking at your shoulders to know who is after you. I saw right in the traffic snarl at Akerele road, Surulere, Lagos, where some youths were snatching things from people in the cars, cutting necklaces and all that. These are the problems of insecurity, which is on the alarming proportion in the country. These are the things of the utmost concern. Again, there is increasing youth unemployment and it’s the idle hands that the devils made use of. This is why some of the NGOs, such as Nigeria Opportunity Industrialisation Centre, in collaboration with Opportunity Industralisation Centre International and Walmart Foundation in USA are working together to train young people on skill acquisitions to be their own boss. When you get there, you would see our youths, who are Masters’ Degree holders but could not get job; lawyers with other professionals, including accountants, on vocational training because there are no jobs. These are my major fears for the country and youths. The youth should rather seek to develop themselves than being employed. They should wish to become job givers themselves. They should look at how they can become self sustainable and put themselves in proper use to live meaningful life, if the system has failed them. Youths are said to be the life wire of every nation. But it seems Nigerian youths have been captured for evil work. What would say about the state of insecurity? We are currently facing the problem of survival in Nigeria. We have forgotten the issues of development and progress but now facing problem of survival. You can’t develop or plan when your very essence is being threatened. Nigeria, as an entity is under serious threat. This is not a story, it is a statement of fact. This situation whereby bombs are going off on daily basis and lives lost, has taken unprecedented dimension. Bear in mind that some people predicted that by 2015, Nigeria may not survive. Unfortunately, youths unemployment is fuelling this. Put these together, every day, you hear that

one community or the other has been captured by Boko Haram. Our youths are now idle minds that Satan has found as tools to work with. This should give all of us serious concerns. But I believe that Nigeria will survive by the great grace of God. By grace of Almighty God, we will survive. We will continue to be united in our diversities. The youths must be vanguard of this transformation. In line with what you said, there is an argument that one of the reasons for US’ refusal to sell arms to Nigeria was to ensure that their prediction on Nigeria disintegration in 2015, would come to fruition. What’s your position on this? No, Nigerians should not be carried away by fictions. It i s not the policy of the American government, and not in the interest of the American people that Nigeria should disintegrate. Yes, we should know that there are distracters eve r y where,

both within and outside the country. There are people, who are top colonists just like we have in America. There is no country that is more divided now than America. They have faced what they never imagined was going to happen, a black man becoming the President of the country. When I was a student in America, I remember someone telling me that the White House is not for the black people and I told him that same White House was built and supervised by black people and one day, a black man will secure a position in the White House. Today, it has happened. Since then, they have not been happy and these hate-filled Americans are plotting day and night to bring him down. They don’t want him to finish his tenure and that same hatred is being transferred to Africa, especially Nigeria because it is the country of the largest black people in the world. Also, there are die-hard and redneck in America, who hate the cause of Africa. Look at what is happening there. Can you imagine a police shooting one black in Ferguson and two weeks later, police struggled and brought down a black man and choked him to death. How sick has that society become? America is a sick society today. CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

38 Mom&Parenting

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

What to check when hiring housemaids MOM’S ALERT with Grace Essen Oluwatosin Omoniyi

inally justice prevailed as the Ugandan maid who assaulted a toddler of about 18months old has been sentenced to four years in jail. The issue sparked outrage across the country after a video footage of the toddler’s maltreatment was released. Jolly Tumuhiirwe, (maid’s name) 22, was seen in the video footage, hitting the child when she resisted feeding and then throwing her to the floor, beating her with a torch before stepping on her and kicking her. She told a court in Kampala the attack was revenge after she was beaten by the child’s mother. The mother denied beating her. According to the AFP news agency, Chief Magistrate Lillian Buchan told Tumuhiirwe she had committed an “unjustifiable and inexcusable” crime. She said the sentence was appropriate in light of the “ruthlessness exhibited” on an “innocent, helpless child. The video footage, which prompted the case, came from a camera the child’s father, Eric Kamanzi, had installed in his home after noticing his daughter was bruised and limping. After the sentencing, Mr Kamanzi said: “We hope this has set an example for other maids out there, that you can’t just go to someone’s house and torture their baby and expect to walk out,” AFP reports. Tumuhiirwe, however pleaded guilty to torturing the toddler. She asked the court, parents and Ugandans to forgive her. Very recently, somewhere in Isheri Magodo Estate, Lagos, Nigeria, a housemaid disappeared with two boys after their parents left them with a nurse and their granny at their residence . Luckily the children were found somewhere in Sagamu, area of Ogun State, after a very sound broadcast on the pages of news paper, and social media. The children and their parents were lucky indeed. But who is to blame for the housemaid who was just six days old with the family. She was hired through an online portal called OLX! The boys’ mother, (Onajite Esharegharan) responded to an advertisement to a “humble housemaid” posted on the ecommerce site. With the trend of happening with housemaids and nannies, parents especially the working class parents are not only scared

but getting worried on how to cope with being a passionate and sensitive parents with being a capable staff at work. Hiring someone else to care for your child in your absence can be an emotionally difficult and confusing process but the question is what are the security measures put in place before hiring a nanny According to the Department of State Security Service, DSSS, Lagos State Command in conjunction with the Lagos State Security Council, it is so not difficult, only if the individual is ready to take the necessary steps. In a document made available to New Telegraph, the steps are as thus: 1) always sensitize members of your family on security tips gained through security awareness. 2) further sensitize family members on emerging threats against human health as well new crime trends. 3) Endeavour to vet and re-vet domestic staff through the service of DSSS. Members of the public are urged to write to the Director of DSSS on their intention of hiring nanny or domestic help. According to the statement, the DSSS will run a security check that could last a week depending on the data supplied by the intended worker and boss. Gail Gross, Human Behavior, Parenting, and Education Expert, offered tips for hiring nanny. “As someone who has worked with parents and educators as a researcher and teacher, and who has a Ph.D. in Psychology and Doctorate of Education, here are some tips that I have found to be helpful in the search for a nanny for your child. 1. Hold preliminary interviews outside of your home. It is important to interview potential nannies in a neutral space rather than a place of power, such as your home. You want to get a true picture of the nanny -- if she is influenced by your environment, you may miss the subtleties that are important to a job interview and a clear evaluation of who this person is. 2. Create a checklist of certain “must-have” attributes and watch for them during the interview. In general, your child’s nanny should be honest, committed, compassionate, intelligent, caring, empathetic and experienced. Your child’s nanny should have a put-together appearance during the interview: How we express ourselves on the outside is often

how we feel about ourselves on the inside. When we meet someone that is disheveled or has poor hygiene, that person may be dealing with some internal issues, including self-esteem. Punctuality is also important, as it demonstrates a person’s work ethic, just like personal hygiene and appropriate dressing. We can only evaluate people in the beginning by their behavior, and mature, responsible behavior often reflects a good work ethic and commitment. 3. Know your parenting style and values, so that you can hire someone who has a similar parenting style and shares similar values. Continuity and consistency is high on the parenting playbook. Children need structure and consistent rules to develop security and competency. Therefore, it is very important that nanny follows your parenting style. This is a point that needs to be established prior to hiring a nanny. 4. Run a security and background check, and carefully check references. You want to be assured that this person is someone who can be trusted with your child. 5. Make sure there is good chemistry between you and the nanny. After all, this is the person that you are trusting with your children. There is no job more important. This person is representing you when you’re not present and therefore must hold your values. Children model what they see and they will model the nanny that is interacting with them for most of the day. You’d better like the person you hire as your child’s nanny, since she/he will transfer her/his own values to your children. Once you think you have found “the one,” I suggest giving the nanny a trial period of one week when you are able to be present. During this trial period, you can watch the interactions between the nanny and your child, and make sure that the values you uphold are also being passed along by the nanny to your child. You can watch for any personality or work ethic quirks that perhaps did not come out during the interview. You can also see how your child reacts to the nanny, whether positively or negatively. Then, at the end of the week, you and the nanny can meet and decide whether to continue further into an official signed contract, or whether it is best to part ways.

Raising godless generation of youths CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37

Those kinds of people would stop at nothing to ensure that Nigeria does not develop. They are not happy to see Nigeria develop. They target Nigeria because it is the country of the largest black people. Unfortunately, I lived there for 15 years. So, I know what I’m talking about. So, there are a lot of sick people in that soci-

ety but I wouldn’t blame them because it’s a sickness that they cannot help. Most importantly, the onus is on us to ensure that their prediction does not come to life. It’s a challenge to us. So, let’s leave them out and face our own problems and see how we can make amends, change and ensure our survival. This is why I started by saying that what we are facing now is the problem of survival

and not development and unfortunately our youths are being used for this heinous task. Let’s therefore, first work out our survival and all other things shall follow. Let’s first build the political kingdom of Nigeria and every other thing will be followed. We must survive their prediction and put them to shame if our youths and leaders would realise the challenge facing the country.

grace.essen@gmail.com

Unhurried holiday

ith the holiday season around the corner, the music hitting the airwaves announces that folks are dreaming of a white Christmas. That may be true. But in reality, many moms are dreaming of something else white: a little more white space on our December calendars! For many, there is no'merry' in Christmas, or 'happy' in holidays because this time of year has a way of increasing our stress levels exponentially. Most of us at this time live at such frantic pace and often dragging our children along with us: "Hurry up! We're going to be late at the Christmas carol!" "Come on kids. Unload these groceries right now. I've got to get these cookies baked before bedtime." Holiday trips, shopping trips, parties and Aso ebis, home cleaning and decoration, baking, cooking, gift wrapping, sending out cards, visits to the salon and so on, simply put us over the edge. It even makes me feel a bit shaky just thinking about it all. At every turn there are deals to quickly take advantage of, people to see, things to do, money to collect, stuff to buy and women pushing and shoving in the markets haggling over prices. The hustle and bustle of this supposedly happy season can knock the holly-jolly right out of our holidays and replace it with hurried-up headaches instead. It's so easy for our calendars to become overloaded, crowding out the real significance of the season. I wonder if the people in the original Christmas story - the shepherds, the angels, the wise men, Mary and Joseph, ever imagined that the future celebration of the birth of Christ would become so hassled and hurried. Imagine if you were one of the shepherds, you probably would have been quiet and amazed once you got there to see the new born king. Being around a newborn baby has a way of making us smile, speak in a hushed tone and just marvel at the sight of the new life. Maybe we could try doing the same. In the midst of our holiday hustle and endless to-do lists, we could slow down long enough to experience an unhurried holiday: a season that will give our lives some meaning instead of sapping our energy and joy. Even for those who manage to avoid the shopping chaos, and the pressure of partying day after day, stress may still find a way to creep into their lives. They might find themselves worrying so much over how much calories they are likely

to ingest from all that holiday munching, and still lose the joy of the season. But does it really have to be that way? Is there something we can do differently this holiday, or should we just accept that holiday stress is "one of those things" we must experience year after year? One good thing about holiday stress is that it is predictable - we know when it will begin and when it will end, so we can actually manage it and not let it steal our holiday joy. We all make lots of plans for the holiday from decorating to shopping to socializing; but hardly make any plans to minimize stress. Here's how you can create some "white space" - space that creates more room for a more meaningful holiday. Plan to set priorities and stick to them no matter how much you have done in the past, or how many traditions you feel you have to keep. Take some time to make a list of all your tasks and activities and then prioritize them in order of importance. Take note of those that could be time-consuming and stress-inducing, and consider delegating or even eliminating some of them, including the joydraining tasks on your list. Plan to own your time and not try to meet the expectations of every one this holiday thereby pushing yourself past your stress limit. Take some moments for yourself, a time you can engage in some activities that you enjoy doing. Choose what you want to, rather than what you think others expect you to do. Plan to breathe. This sounds like a no-brainer, but many of run through the holidays like chickens with our heads cut off, never slowing down or taking time to relax. Think of things you can do this holiday season to help you completely relax and eliminate getting frazzled. And when you have some time for yourself, you can easily engage in any of such activities. It may be taking a long bubble bath, reading a book, visiting with a friend to just chat and laugh, or going to bed early one night in the week. Whatever you think up, make some conscious efforts to carry them out. One easy way to manage stress is taking time to just breathe. Release yourself from feeling obligated to be a holiday superwoman. Avoid over committing and over scheduling. By asking the"what-is-most-important-toyou"question all the time, you will simplify your schedule while ensuring that everyone, including you, gets to really enjoy the holiday. • Grace Essen is the founder and president Mum To Mum Support Initiative.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

L-R: Vice Chairman, Standard Alliance Insurance Plc, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor; Chairman, Alhaji Aliyi Yahya Sa’ad; Company Secretary, Mrs Agnes Okiemute Umukoro and Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Thomas Imokhai, at the 18th Annual General Meeting of company in Lagos . PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

L-R: Alternate Chairman, Executive Board of Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), Mr. Gabbidon Meheux; Nigerian Ambassador to Qatar, Alhaji Shuaibu Ahmed and Group Executive Director, Gas and Power, NNPC, Mr David Ige, at the 16th Ministerial Meeting of Gas Exporting Countries forum in Doha, Qatar.

Photo | News

L-R: Veteran Journalist, Mrs. Modupe Sarafa-Yusuf; Category Manager, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Doja Ekeniche; Marketing Services Director, Mrs. Iquo Ukoh and Corporate Communication and Public Relations Manager, Dr. Sam Adenekan, at the Nestle Milo Champions award in Lagos. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

L-R: Reps members, Stella Dorgu; Rafeequat Onabamiro and Binta Bello, during their resumption in Abuja.

L-R: President, 2015 Junior Chambers International (Nigeria) Seun Osikalu; winner of the JCI World Speaking Competition, Paul Akingbola; 2014 JCI World President, Shine Baskaran and 2015 JCI Vice President, Kola Osinowo, at the JCI World Congress in Leipzig, Germany.

L-R: Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi; an Ibadan elder, Chief K. O. Latunji; renowned industrialist, Chief Kola Daisi; his wife, Florence and Oyo State Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, at a thanksgiving service to mark Ajimobi’s 65th birthday in Ibadan.

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze; the State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, at the public presentation of the Lagos State Development Plan (2012-2025), organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget in Lagos.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Marthee’s International, Mrs Christie Adejoh; former Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Malam Suleiman Baba Ali; APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; his wife, Alhaja Sheriffat and former Executive Director Sterling Bank, Alhaji Abubakar Sule, during a visit to Aregbesola in Osogbo.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Leisure Arcade NUTS

NTPuzzle

By Kaycee

Christmas Word Search for Kids C R S A C W O S I S E C S C 0 S Y I R E L H A O R C H L A K S M O E I E N A O N R T C A S N E T E K T E R S N S T I W O O S O Y M C L O A E E N E O N A S G I K T T O H W S T E R S T I S S R S I Y D T H C S E S N A N C P T C G S N H T M R R O E M O D W E N N T T I B E K H H I R I A A S I G N L O E L D Y O R S Y M R O S I R S M L T M R O M Y L I L N 0 T I G N G D A N W E N R W E T E E I C T S E N I

MAMA LASISI

By Aliu Eroje

L R M O N E A I S T S R G l C R E H N E H B A A G D H T I T T N E I S S L P S S T C M O T K H S Y O S H G T N O I S H S A E C M O N S 0 L N S E D O N L E O I O O G O N R M I R Y D T 0 I 0 O K H N Y M R E H L E E M I E R S O S K K R G I N R A R S S T W N E A I L L T G K M A L S A K N W T E H O K A E W N I T I D S E S O M M D L S T 0 I R A N T Y E W R O N C M A A N S Y D O R T I I T R N S R R N I E N T E A G E S Y C Y N Y O C I R H S R E R O Y S N S I A K E I S R S A O E R N E E O P E E G E C I K T S R A L N R C H L W M R E R K O N M I E R O E O H T S I S Y L K M R Y R D T M H D L T E K S G R D

MOYIN & FRIENDS

By Ayo Oyerinde

L E N E S I S M O H L N C A S W T C H G E O C O K E E V T G N I W R E I T N K I T M I B R E E O S E M R T E E T L R H R C S P L N H P P I R E E I S R E I T T R D N I R O L O H I R R L E T D R V S T S E S T Y E I T O A N W S K S I L O S H L P S R S S Bows Christmas Elves Lights Ornaments Reindeer Snow Toys Caroling Cookies Holiday Merry Presents Santa Stockings Tree Chimney Decorations Sleigh Workshop

SUDOKU - Answer to No 15

SUDOKU - No 16 5

NTJokes

1 2 5

2 5

3 9

only Akpors raised up his hand.

4 3

Teacher: Who is a pharmacist?

6 7

5 6

THE DEFINITION OF A PHARMACIST

Teacher: So it’s only Akpors that is the most intelligent student I have in this class? Still there’s no body else to answer the question except Akpors. Tacher: Ok now Akpors, use this cane and flog them ten strokes of cane each!

How to play

Sudoku

ALIU EROJE

CHIEF CARTOONIST aliu.eroje@newtelegraphonline.com

The objective is to fill a 9x9 grid so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3x3 boxes (also called blocks or regions) contains the digits from 1 to 9. A cell is the smallest block in the game. A row , column and region consists of 9 cells and the whole game consists of 81 cells. A region has thicker lines surrounding it. This simply makes it easier to play the game.

Akpors filled with happiness, gave all the students ten hot strokes of cane.... Teacher: oyaa my dear Akpors, tell this dumb students who a pharmacist is... Akpors: A pharmacist is a farmer who assists people. Teacher fainted...

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Court upholds shippers’ council’s regulatory powers Orders firms to refund N1trn

CHARGES

NSC says charges are ultra vires Bayo Akomolafe

Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday affirmed the appointment of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) as the economic regulators of the seaports in Nigeria. Trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba arrived at the decision while delivering judgments in two suits filed by some shipping companies and terminal operators in Nigeria to contest the power of the NSC to regulate the Ports economically and impose certain charges. The suits included those filed against the NSC by Alraine Shipping Agencies Nigeria Limited and others and Apapa Bulk Terminal Limited and others. Justice Buba, in a landmark judgment, dismissed the claims of shipping companies and the terminal operators, and ordered them to refund over N1 trillion,

which they had hitherto been collecting. The judge held that the Shipping Line Agency Charges (SLAC) levied and collected from Nigerian shippers by the Shipping Companies since 2006 was illegal and that the shipping companies should account and pay to Nigerian Shippers Council all monies or fees charged and collected since 2006 as SLAC from shippers or users of shipping/ port related services from 2006 to date, which runs into trillions of naira. Pursuant to the appointment of the NSC as the economic regulator of the Nigerian ports by the President, in line with his executive powers in February 2014, the NSC issued notices to both the shipping companies and terminal operators to reverse all illegal charges levied on Nigerian shippers. Dissatisfied, the shipping companies and the terminal operators, mostly foreign owned, filed the suits to invalidate the actions of the NSC. The Nigerian Ship-

pers Council represented by Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) had objected the suits as well as counter claim. In the counter claim, the NSC sought a declaration that by virtue of the provisions of Clause 2(a) and(b) of the Memorandum of Understanding between providers and users of shipping/ port and related services

dated 28th March, 2001, the plaintiffs do not have the powers or rights to unilaterally introduce and impose Shipping Lines Agency Charges (SLAC). The NSC also sought a declaration that the unilateral introduction and imposition of the SLAC by the plaintiffs and collection of same

igeria’s telecommunications operators face multiple taxes and fees at local, state and federal level, two of the country’s mobile operators told Reuters, with service disruptions related to tax claims costing the sector millions of dollars annually. Mobile phone penetration nearly tripled between 2007 and 2012 and hit 96 percent at 2013-end. The sector accounted for 7.8 percent of Nigeria’s economy in the nine months to September 2013, more than double its 2009 contribution of 3.7 percent, and such income has made it a soft target for tax collectors, said MTN Nigeria - a unit of South Africa’s MTN. “The ‘Golden Goose’ effect has fuelled demands for larger

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

T 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

Treasury Bills Maturity Date 08-May-14 07-Aug-14 22-Jan-15

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

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

ing to the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC). Globacom has 27.6 million subscribers, Airtel Nigeria, part of India’s Bharti Airtel, 26.1 million and Etisalat Nigeria 19.9 million. Etisalat Nigeria, an affiliate of Abu Dhabi-listed Etisalat , told Reuters it wants the federal government, through the NCC, to be the sole sector regulator. “It is common to have government agencies trying to impose duties and enforce regulatory functions similar to that of the NCC,” said Etisalat Nigeria. “There are levies and other charges that are demanded by government institutions which have all the characteristics of a tax.”

Open-Buy-Back (OBB) Overnight (O/N)

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

he Infrastructure Bank Plc (TIB) in partnership with Gemfonds of UK and Madrid-based Investment Banking firm, Sigrun, is floating a $500 million Nigeriafocused Infrastructure Fund. A statement by TIB in Lagos yesterday said the commercial pact for the fund was executed at a ceremony in London on December 5. The Fund, which is to be named the Nigeria Infrastructure Fund 1 (NIF1) is being set up with the aim of investing in and lending to Greenfield and Brownfield Public Private Partnership projects primarily within the Nigerian infrastructure space. The bank said: “The objective of setting up the Fund is premised on the drive to

bridge the mammoth infrastructure deficit in the country. “TIB, in line with its mission to transform Nigeria’s infrastructure for enhanced productivity, has partnered with Gemfonds and Sigrun with a view to making a significant contribution towards improving Nigeria’s infrastructure base. “In addition to the preservation of and return on investors’ funds, the NIF1 has the mandate to focus on projects with high potential for the promotion of inclusive growth and socio-economic development, with the resultant effect of reducing the cost of doing business and enhancing the quality of lives of the Nigerian masses.

Naira falls most in two weeks

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

social spending, taxes,” MTN Nigeria said in a statement to Reuters. Federal, state and local governments all have tax-raising powers, leading to multiple taxation of telecommunications companies, said MTN. “Operators have been seeking a one-stop shop to ease administration of taxes,” MTN said, warning operators suffer arbitrary enforcement actions and service disruptions by parties working on behalf of tax-raising bodies. “The cost of disruption to our industry runs into millions of dollars annually,” MTN added. MTN Nigeria is the largest mobile operator with 58.4 million subscribers, giving it a 44 percent market share, accord-

$500m fund: Infrastructure Bank partners two foreign firms

As at 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

and pay to the defendant (NSC), with interests at the rate of 21 per cent per annum, all monies or fees collected by the plaintiffs as SLAC from shippers or users of shipping/port related service from 2006 to date. In his judgment, Justice Buba dismissed the claims of the shipping companies and terminal operators and upheld the counter claim of the NSC.

Telecom operators bemoan multiple taxations

Economic Indicators M2* CPS* INF IBR MPR 91-day NTB DPR PLR Bonny Light Ext Res**

from shippers or users of shipping/port-related services from 2006 to date was illegal, ultra vires, and therefore null and void. Besides, the NSC had urged the court to issue an order directing the plaintiffs to immediately stop collection of the SLAC from users of shipping/port and related services, and another order directing the plaintiffs to account for

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

he naira headed for a record low as Nigeria’s stocks dropped for an eighth day as oil prices below $60 a barrel made investors wary of Africa’s largest crude producer. The currency depreciated 2.7 percent to N184.85 against the dollar in Lagos, the most in more than two weeks and its lowest level on a closing basis. “The decline in oil prices

and government revenue has an impact on the exchange rate,” Esili Eigbe, head of West African research at Exotix Ltd., told Bloomberg by phone from Lagos yesterday. “That in turn affects consumer spending. “Some of these names look really cheap and investors see value, but they aren’t keen on getting back into the market unless there’s greater visibility on oil prices,” said Eigbe.

Business | Financial Market News

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

17-Dec-14

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up to date. We do not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information.

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description 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 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

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 18-Jul-14

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 12.1493

535.00 573.89 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 396.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 150.00

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 18-Jul-34

0.35 1.66 2.36 2.61 2.70 3.45 4.53 4.85 7.11 9.24 13.95 14.43 14.93 15.60 19.58

13.28 15.12 15.18 15.32 15.31 15.27 15.15 15.27 15.43 15.16 13.38 13.19 13.01 14.07 15.21

12.81 15.01 15.10 15.24 15.23 15.14 15.06 15.16 15.36 15.10 13.33 13.15 12.95 14.01 15.15

96.88 97.00 99.80 88.56 87.16 88.07 102.70 72.34 104.00 95.25 110.12 95.48 70.62 74.50 81.00

97.03 97.15 99.95 88.71 87.31 88.37 103.00 72.64 104.30 95.55 110.42 95.78 70.92 74.80 81.30

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,730.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,368.72

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

24-May-12 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 3.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.43 1.17 1.98 2.34 2.55

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

15.11 15.93 17.30 16.32 16.32

93.81 101.54 97.91 95.07 91.95

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

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

322.97

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

308.05

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.70

4.44

16.82

97.18

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.54

3.23

15.23

99.74

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

0.83

4.46

17.14

97.32

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

0.83

3.48

16.17

99.56

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.34

5.59

20.91

80.54

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.38

1.00

15.38

97.93

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.04

1.79

17.08

92.91

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.21

1.80

17.12

94.70

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.80

1.00

16.25

93.73

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.41

1.00

16.32

96.63

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.41

4.78

20.10

89.23

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.59

1.00

16.32

96.46

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*GOMBE

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019

02-Oct-12

15.50

16.23

02-Oct-19

2.85

1.00

16.30

98.47

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

22-Nov-12

14.50

80.00

22-Nov-19

4.93

1.00

16.28

94.08

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

12-Dec-12

14.75

26.62

12-Dec-19

2.91

2.74

18.04

93.04

A/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

11.40

10-Oct-20

3.37

1.00

16.27

96.28

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.95

1.00

16.43

89.11

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

6.04

1.94

17.39

91.27

A/Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.78

31-Dec-20

3.52

1.44

16.70

94.44

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.79

06-Jan-21

3.55

1.95

17.21

94.47

468.62 432.04

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Corporate Bonds Aa/Agusto Nil

GTB NGC

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.00

5.21

21.77

99.97

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.04

8.71

24.92

99.63 97.11

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.42

4.88

17.47

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

9.34

09-Dec-15

0.74

1.00

13.46

99.14

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.58

2.63

14.71

99.82

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.78

1.00

16.08

95.32

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.86

1.34

16.50

96.47

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.79

1.00

16.30

92.77

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.81

1.88

16.99

102.39

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.81

3.48

18.59

96.51

A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

1.98

5.20

20.50

96.47

AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR

*TOWER

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

1.98

5.06

20.36

101.85

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.77

1.35

16.60

92.85

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

2.09

2.29

17.61

97.18

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.17

6.11

21.43

92.90

BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

#{r}

Nil

*DANA

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.04

2.16

17.45

96.82

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.91

2.76

18.19

89.58

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.79

1.00

15.89

80.59

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.79

1.00

15.89

87.05

A/GCR

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

139.80

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

132.00

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

3.15

1.00

16.28

85.41

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.38

1.00

16.23

85.26

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.29

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

7.35

7.12

97.10

98.19

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

6.34

5.95

96.17

97.39

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

7.58

7.28

92.48

94.32

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,428.75

Corporate Eurobonds B/Fitch; B-/S&P

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

8.30

103.30

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.71

103.75

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.47

99.48

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

10.95

10.45

88.73

90.01

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.87

7.14

93.82

96.19

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

9.66

102.00

102.00 95.50

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

7.48

95.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

12.46

12.03

87.64

89.00

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

8.53

98.00

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

10.73

82.25

9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021

24-Jun-14

9.25

400.00

24-Jun-21

10.92

10.55

92.50

94.13

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

10.16

89.00

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

9.79

9.18

94.13

97.00

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

AFREN PLC III

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC II

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,527.95

**Treasury Bills DTM 8 15 22 29 36 43 50 57

FIXINGS Maturity 25-Dec-14 1-Jan-15 8-Jan-15 15-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 29-Jan-15 5-Feb-15 12-Feb-15

Bid Discount (%) 9.95 17.10 20.00 15.15 13.63 14.56 20.00 14.14

Offer Discount (%) 9.70 16.85 19.75 14.90 13.38 14.31 19.75 13.89

Bid Yield (%) 9.97 17.22 20.24 15.33 13.82 14.81 20.56 14.46

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 65.9667 17.5323 17.2368 17.7424

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

58.67

O/N Tenor Call 1M

62.25

REPO

Rate (%) 76.33 42.56

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

187.00 187.49 187.78 188.47 189.74 191.01

187.10 187.60 187.93 188.93 190.74 192.51

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.70

4.44

16.82

97.18

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.54

3.23

15.23

99.74

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

0.83

4.46

17.14

97.32

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

0.83

3.48

16.17

99.56

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.34

5.59

20.91

80.54

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.38

1.00

15.38

97.93

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.04

1.79

17.08

92.91

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.21

1.80

17.12

94.70

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.80

1.00

16.25

93.73

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.41

1.00

16.32

96.63

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.41

4.78

20.10

89.23

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, A-/Agusto *NIGER DECEMBER 18, 2014 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

Business | Financial Market News

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.59

1.00

16.32

96.46

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*GOMBE

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019

02-Oct-12

15.50

16.23

02-Oct-19

2.85

1.00

16.30

98.47

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

22-Nov-12

14.50

80.00

22-Nov-19

4.93

1.00

16.28

94.08

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

12-Dec-12

14.75

26.62

12-Dec-19

2.91

2.74

18.04

93.04

A/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

11.40

10-Oct-20

3.37

1.00

16.27

96.28

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.95

1.00

16.43

89.11

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

6.04

1.94

17.39

91.27

A/Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.78

31-Dec-20

3.52

1.44

16.70

94.44

Flour Mills, PZ Cussons, others deflate NSE billion in market06-Jan-14 capiactivities on the shares RECEDING TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE talisation. of blue chip compaTOTAL MARKET value CAPITALISATION nies continued to slow This was due to sell off Investment momentum, giving the by investors in the wake Corporate Bonds dips further by of the cautious optimism bears enablement to sus13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 18-Dec-09 Aa/Agusto GTB µ N273bn 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 NGC that has prevailed01-Apr-10 in the tain stronghold on the Nil 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 17-Aug-10 Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC market following drop in Nigerian capital market. 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 A-/Agusto 09-Dec-10 *FLOURMILLS oil prices and build up to The Nigerian Stock 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 BB+/GCR 06-Jan-11 *CHELLARAMS 2015 general elections. Exchange13.00(NSE) All Stories Chris Ugwu NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 A+/Agusto;by A-/GCR 29-Sep-11 NAHCO At the close of trading, Share Index retreated 2.9 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 A-/Agusto 25-Oct-13 FSDH 10 stocks appreciated, he Nigerian percent to 13.00 28,923.09, the UBA 30-SEP-2017 A/GCR 30-Sep-10 UBA while 49 others constimarket lowest since Jan. 11, 2013 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 BBB-/GCRstock 30-Nov-12 *C & I LEASING #{r} MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 tuted the losers’ table. 09-Apr-11 Nil yesterday *DANA furon an intraday basis. # MPR+7.00 TOWER 09-Sep-11 A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR The dominance led9-SEP-2018 to The twin market inther closed*TOWER on# MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR *TOWER dicators, the All-Share the negative trajectory as a further drop of N273 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 A/Agusto; A/GCR 22-Sep-11 UBA Index dropped by 18-Oct-13 827.92 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA basis points or 2.8 per # MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 17-Feb-12 BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS cent from 29,789.59, the 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 01-Apr-14 Nil *DANA#{r}

UBA begins notification service on twitter A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

14-Nov-13

only receive transaction TOTALrica MARKET CAPITALISATION (UBA) Plc has alerts as text messages on unveiled twitter their mobile phones and Supranational Bond notification service for as e-mails. 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC itsAaa/Moody's; customers in the 18 “The UBA twitter no11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 AAA/S&P AfDB African countries where tification service will not TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE however, replace the curthe bank has operations. TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION The platform, accord- rent SMS alerts system in ing to a statement, will place for all of the bank’s Description Rating/Agency Issuer enable customers receive customers, but will comtransaction alerts on their plement it for added conFGN Eurobonds twitter handle as direct venience for all those who 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P messages. subscribe to the service. BB-/Fitch; UBA’s Director, Infor- FGN “UBA customers seek5.13 JUL 12, 2018 BB-/S&P mation Technology Mr. ing to receive twitter powBB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 Rasheed Adegoke said: ered transaction alerts BB-/S&P “What have done is through their twitter TOTAL we OUTSTANDING VALUE take social media banking account should visit the TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION to a new level. Twitter is UBA Group website or increasingly becoming a the UBA twitter page to Corporate Eurobonds popular means of AFREN com-PLC I register,” he said. 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 B/Fitch; B-/S&P munication especially 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I Adegoke noted that the theJUL 25, 2017 among B+/S&P the young adults. ACCESS BANK PLC introduction of 7.25 AsB/Fitch; a highly innovative service reinforces UBA’s 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC bank, we are giving the PLC growing presence and 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK B/Fitch AFREN Millennials, who are in-PLC II engagement with its10.25 nu-APR 08, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P PLC creasingly bankingZENITH withBANKmerous customers on6.25 so-APR 22, 2019 B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLCmedia adding that8.75 usB/Fitch; an option to get transcial theMay 21, 2019 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch;alerts B/S&P on their FIRST BANK PLC action prebank has been acknowl6.63 DEC 09, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ferred platform”. AFREN PLC IIIedged as one of Nigeria’s USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II He noted that before leading banks 9.25/6M in the so8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK LTD now, customers could cial media space. 8.75 AUG 14, 2021

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.91

14-Aug-14

2.76

18.19

89.58

1.00

15.89

80.59

1.00

15.89

87.05

NSE reviews composition of market indices

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

9.79

able benchmarks to capture 1.00 16.28 85.41 the performance of specific 1.00 16.23 85.26 sectors. The sectoral indices comprise the top 15 most capitalised and liquid companies in the Insurance and Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price Consumer Goods sectors, top 10 most capitalised and liquid Prices & Yields companies in the Banking 7.12 97.10 and Industrial Goods 98.19 sector and the top seven most capi5.95 96.17 97.39 talised and liquid companies 94.32 in 7.28 the Oil & 92.48 Gas sector. The indices, which were developed using the market capitalisation methodology, are rebalanced on a biannual basis first business 8.30 -on the 103.30 103.30 day July. 4.71in January 103.75 and in103.75 The compiler of the 7.47 99.48 99.48 indices the90.01 right 10.45 maintains 88.73 to 7.14 modify the 93.82circulated 96.19 se9.66 102.00 102.00 lection above in connection 7.48 any mergers, 95.50 95.50 with takeovers, 12.03 87.64resumption 89.00 of suspension or 8.53 98.00 other compa98.00 trading or any ny10.73 structure82.25 changes 82.25 during 10.55 92.50 94.13 the period before the effective 10.16 89.00 89.00 date of the annual review. 9.18

4,760.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

06-Jan-21 3.55 shares worth N3.2 billion 1.95ble with17.21 5 per cent 94.47 each to exchanged by investors close at N26.46 and N2.94 in 1,513 deals. per share respectively, Volume in the banking while 7up Plc followed gain of 4.84 sub-sector was0.00largely 5.21with a 21.77 18-Dec-14 99.97 per 31-Dec-14by activities 0.04 99.63 driven in 8.71cent to 24.92 close at N166.70. 17-Aug-15 0.42 17.47 97.11 the shares of GTB and 4.88Wema Bank Plc trailed 09-Dec-15 0.74 1.00 13.46 99.14 UBA Plc. with 4.17 per cent to close 06-Jan-16 0.58 2.63 14.71 99.82 Also, other finanat N1.00 per share. 29-Sep-16 1.78 1.00 16.08 95.32 cial services sub sector, 1.34 On the other 96.47 hand, 25-Oct-16 1.86 16.50 Nigeria boosted 30-Sep-17 by activity 2.79 in the 1.00Flour Mills 16.30 92.77 Plc shares of Custody table, 30-Nov-17 1.81 Insur- 1.88led the price 16.99 losers’ 102.39 09-Apr-18 1.81 with a 3.48dropping 18.59 ance Plc followed 9.72 per 96.51 cent to 09-Sep-18 of 87.4 1.98million 5.20close at 20.50 N35.65 per96.47 share, turnover 09-Sep-18 1.98 20.36 101.85 shares valued at N421.9 5.06while PZ Cussons Plc 22-Sep-18 3.77 1.35 16.60 92.85 trailed with a loss of million in 641 deals. 18-Oct-18 2.09 2.29 17.61 97.18 9.71per cent to close at Betaglas and eTrans17-Feb-19 2.17 6.11 21.43 92.90 act01-Apr-19 Plc led the gainers’ ta- 2.16N27.79. 17.45 3.04 96.82

30-Sep-24 9.79 he Nigerian 11.93 Stock Ex- 0.10 30-Sep-14 30-Sep-24 9.79 change (NSE)13.25 has said 15.44 it is putting final touch- 139.80 es to the year-end review for 132.00 the NSE 30, NSE 50 and the five Sectoral Indices of The talisation from the most liq11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 11-Feb-18 3.15 Exchange. uid sectors.01-Feb-21 The liquidity is 10-Jul-14 11.25 12.95 4.38 Included are the NSE based on the number of times Banking, the NSE Consumer 24.95 the stock is traded during the Goods, the NSE Oil & Gas, 21.29 preceding two quarters. To be NSE Industrial and the NSE included, the stock must be Outstanding Value Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) Issue Date Coupon (%) ($mm) Insurance. traded for at least 70 percent The NSE Index Committee of the number of times the in a statement, said the com- market opened for business. 07-Oct-11 6.75 28-Jan-21 7.35 position of these indices after 500.00The Committee further the review, will be effective on stated that the Exchange was 12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 6.34 January 1, 2015, adding that not oblivious of the fact that 12-Jul-13 6.38 the appraisal will witness the 500.00 the number12-Jul-23 of the stocks7.58 that entry of some major compa- 1,500.00 will be included in some of nies and exit of others. the indices may be inappro1,428.75 The Index Committee ex- priate for optimal portfolio plained that the NSE-30, NSE- diversification. However, the numbers would 50 and NSE Industrial 01-Feb-11 11.50Indices 450.00 01-Feb-16be reviewed 8.30 as sector conditions change. were19-May-11 modified market 7.50 capital500.00 19-May-16 4.71 isation index with 7.25 the num- 350.00The Nigerian be25-Jul-12 25-Jul-17 bourse 7.47 bers09-May-13 of included stocks fixed 300.00 gan publishing the 10.95 NSE 6.88 02-May-18 at 30,08-Nov-13 50 and 10, respectively . 30 Index in February 7.87 2009 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 08-Apr-12 9.66 The numbers of10.25 included 300.00 with index08-Apr-19 values available 22-Apr-14 6.25 500.00 22-Apr-191, 2007.7.48 stocks in the NSE-Consumer from January On 21-May-14 8.75 200.00 21-May-19 12.46 Goods, Banking, Insurance July 1, 2008, the NSE devel8.25 are 15, 300.00 8.53 and 07-Aug-13 Oil/Gas Indices oped four 07-Aug-20 sectoral indices 6.63 360.00 09-Dec-20 10, 1509-Dec-13 and 7, respectively . and one index in 2013, 10.73 with 24-Jun-14 9.25 24-Jun-21 10.92 The stocks will be picked 400.00 a base value of 1,000 points, 23-Jul-14 8.00 450.00 23-Jul-21 10.16 based on their market capi- designed to provide invest30-Sep-14

TOTALnited OUTSTANDING VALUE Bank for Af-

B-/S&P

15.00 4.79 previous day to close at 468.62 28,961.67, while the mar432.04 ket capitalisation dropped by N273 billion or 2.8 per cent, 13.50 from N9.834 trillion 13.17 17.00 trillion. 2.00 to N9.561 10.00 3.61 Meanwhile, a turnover 12.00 9.34 of 481.8 million shares 14.00 0.60 worth N6.2 billion in 13.00 15.00 3,822 14.25 deals was recorded 5.53 yesterday 13.00 . 20.00 Just previ18.00as in the 0.64 16.00 6.30 ous day, the banking 18.00 sub-sector of the 2.90 finan16.00 0.80 cial services sector was 14.00 35.00 the most active (mea15.75 2.40 sured17.00 by turnover vol0.41 ume)16.00 with 296.9 million 4.50

94.13

97.00

17-Dec-14

4,527.95

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not **Treasury Bills FIXINGS Money Market Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) constitute professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up to date. We do not DTM Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) (%) Tenor (%) guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, Maturity completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of anyBid of Yield the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any actionRate taken on the basis of the Information. NIBOR FGN

8 15 22 Bonds29 36 43 Rating/Agency 50 57 64 71 78 85 99 106 113 120 NA 127 134 141 148 232 260 351

25-Dec-14 1-Jan-15 8-Jan-15 15-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 29-Jan-15 Issuer 5-Feb-15 12-Feb-15 19-Feb-15 26-Feb-15 5-Mar-15 12-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 2-Apr-15 9-Apr-15 16-Apr-15 NA 23-Apr-15 30-Apr-15 7-May-15 14-May-15 6-Aug-15 3-Sep-15 3-Dec-15

9.95 17.10 20.00 15.15 13.63 14.56 Description 20.00 14.14 4.00 23-APR-2015 14.06 13.05 16-AUG-2016 12.88 15.10 27-APR-2017 15.50 9.85 27-JUL-2017 13.70 9.35 31-AUG-2017 13.20 10.70 30-MAY-2018 13.69 16.00 29-JUN-2019 13.43 13.49 7.00 23-OCT-2019 13.59 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.55 14.20 14-MAR-2024 11.45 15.00 28-NOV-2028 11.09 12.49 22-MAY-2029 14.00 8.50 20-NOV-2029 11.91 10.00 23-JUL-2030 11.84 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

9.70 16.85 19.75 14.90 13.38 14.31 Issue Date 19.75 13.89 23-Apr-10 13.81 16-Aug-13 12.63 27-Apr-12 15.25 27-Jul-07 13.45 31-Aug-07 12.95 30-May-08 13.44 29-Jun-12 13.18 13.24 23-Oct-09 13.34 27-Jan-12 14.30 14-Mar-14 11.20 28-Nov-08 10.84 22-May-09 13.75 20-Nov-09 11.66 23-Jul-10 11.59 18-Jul-14

9.97 17.22 20.24 15.33 13.82 14.81 Coupon (%) 20.56 14.46 4.00 14.42 13.05 13.21 15.10 16.03 9.85 14.15 9.35 13.69 10.70 14.26 16.00 14.01 14.12 7.00 14.26 16.39 15.37 14.20 11.98 15.00 11.61 12.49 15.37 8.50 13.01 10.00 13.36 12.1493

Bonds

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Tenor O/N 1M 3M Outstanding 6M Value

Maturity Date

(N'bn) 535.00 573.89 452.80 Tenor 20.00 1M 100.00 2M 300.00 3M 351.30 6M 9M 233.90 12M 600.00

OBB

Rate (%) 65.9667 17.5323 17.2368 17.7424

NITTY

23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 Rate (%) 27-Jul-17 14.1079 31-Aug-17 14.3687 30-May-18 14.4008 29-Jun-19 14.5257 14.7595 23-Oct-19 15.3441 27-Jan-22

396.68 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 150.00 NIFEX 22-May-29 200.00 20-Nov-29 Current Price ($/N) 591.57 23-Jul-30 BID($/N) 184.7750 150.00 18-Jul-34 OFFER ($/N) 184.8750

4,730.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION *for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

58.67

Spot O/N 62.25 7D 14D REPO Offer Tenor Rate (%) 1MYield TTM (Yrs) Bid Yield (%) Call 76.33 2M (%) 1M 42.56 3M 0.35 13.28 12.81 3M 43.36 6M 1.66 15.12 15.01 6M 44.39 1Y 2.36 15.18 15.10 2.61 15.32 15.24 NOTE: 2.70 15.31 15.23 3.45 15.27 15.14 :Benchmarks 4.53 Bond 15.15 15.06 * :Amortising µ :Convertible 4.85 Bond 15.27 15.16 AMCON: Asset Corporation of Nigeria 7.11 Management 15.43 15.36 FGN: Federal Nigeria 9.24 Government of 15.16 15.10 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria 13.95 Mortgage Bank 13.38 13.33 IFC: International Finance Corporation 14.43 13.19 13.15 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 14.93 13.01 12.95 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 15.60 14.07 14.01 O/N: Overnight 19.58 15.21 15.15 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

187.00 187.10 187.49 Price 187.60 187.78 187.93 188.47 188.93 Bid Price Offer Price 189.74 190.74 191.01 192.51 96.88 97.03 195.37 198.33 97.00 97.15 204.65 210.21 99.80 99.95 88.56 88.71 87.16 87.31 88.37 NA :Not88.07 Applicable 102.70Rate Bond 103.00 # :Floating ***: Deferred 72.34 coupon bonds 72.64 104.00 104.30 †: Bond95.25 rating expired 95.55 N/A :Not Available 110.12 110.42 {r} :Issuer in receivership95.78 95.48 70.62 70.92 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 74.50 74.80 UBA: United Bank for Africa 81.00 81.30

4,368.72

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Tenor

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 % 20-Apr-17 Exposure_ Mod_Duration 06-Jul-17

0.43 1.17 1.98 2.34 Implied Yield 2.55

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM Modified Duration Buckets

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION 3<5 >5

Sub-National Bonds

Market

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-2017Total Outstanding Porfolio Market Value(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 Volume(Bn)

24-May-12 0.00 FMDQ FGN BOND 03-Apr-12 17.25 09-Dec-11 0.00/16.00 20-Apr-12by 0.00/16.50 Weighting Weighting by Mkt Outstanding Value 06-Jul-12 Vol 0.00/16.50

24.56

INDEX3.00

112.22 116.70 Bucket Weighting 66.49

322.97

44.22

46.68

15.15

116.8141

1,109.50

996.68

31.98

34.15

308.05 0.32

23.37

1,001.84

36.64

15.32

119.1803

1,009.17

0.9173

562.22

741.57

23.80

19.17

0.24

39.99

14.31

88.4758

1,034.44

3.4437

2,933.40

3,116.23

14.87

110.8272

100.00

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

A/Agusto

100.00

0.70

4.18

30-Sep-15

6.27

30-Jun-16

15.50

7.37

19-Apr-10

10.00

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

A+/Agusto

1,058.30

10.9496

5.8303

4.44

16.82

97.18

0.54

3.23

15.23

99.74

0.83

4.46

17.14

97.32

30-Jun-16

0.83

3.48

16.17

99.56

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.34

5.59

20.91

80.54

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.38

1.00

15.38

97.93

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.04

1.79

17.08

92.91

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.21

1.80

17.12

94.70

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.80

1.00

16.25

93.73

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.41

1.00

16.32

96.63

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

8.50

1.00

31-Aug-15

KADUNA

93.81 101.54 97.91 YTD95.07 Return (%) 91.95

1,377.98

12.50

A+/Agusto

15.11 15.93 17.30 16.32 INDEX 16.32

1,369.35

31-Aug-10

0.44

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 Implied Portfolio 1.00Price

Daily Summary as of 17/12/2014 Printed 17/12/2014 15:06:11.011

Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Daily Summary as of 17/12/2014

HEALTHCARE Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. Medical Supplies Totals

Printed 17/12/2014 15:06:11.011

Business | Capital Market Daily Summary (Bonds)

Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

No Debt Trading Activity

Symbol MORISON

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 1.82

Quantity Traded 716

Value Traded 1,303.12

No. of Deals 3 10 10 10 3 3 39

Current Price 2.18 3.35 52.00 1.54 0.78 6.32

Quantity Traded 800 595,000 19,138 117,907 58,728 75,856 867,429

Value Traded 1,664.00 1,986,300.00 945,417.20 173,323.29 44,046.00 479,409.92 3,630,160.41

868,392

3,632,337.91

1 716 1,303.12 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH NIG-GERMAN

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at December 17, 2014 Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 2 13 16 31

Current Price 0.50 24.11 23.11

Quantity Traded 57,000 150,910 313,000 520,910

Value Traded 28,500.00 3,638,440.10 7,254,330.00 10,921,270.10

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 2.21

Quantity Traded 292,000 292,000

Value Traded 645,320.00 645,320.00

812,910

11,566,590.10

Quantity Traded 40,500 12,500 7,741,835 50,558 7,845,393

Value Traded 50,625.00 55,500.00 21,840,443.70 1,648,540.22 23,595,108.92

7,845,393

23,595,108.92

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Daily Summary as of 17/12/2014 Printed 17/12/2014 15:06:11.011 Diversified Industries

A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

35 Symbol No. of Deals AGLEVENT 2 SCOA 1 TRANSCORP 92 Daily Summary (Equities) UACN 16 111

CONGLOMERATES Totals

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Current Price 1.31 4.67 2.82 36.10

111 Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.88

Quantity Traded Page 53,500 53,500

Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 60.66

Quantity Traded 8,273 8,273

Value Traded 476,772.99 476,772.99

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 13 13

Current Price 9.60

Quantity Traded 146,195 146,195

Value Traded 1,405,563.40 1,405,563.40

207,968

1,927,276.39

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC Daily Summary as of 17/12/2014 NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Printed 17/12/2014 15:06:11.011 Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONSUMER GOODS Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Food Products DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. UNION DICON SALT PLC. U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables Daily Summary as of 17/12/2014 NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. Printed 17/12/2014 15:06:11.011 VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Personal/Household Products Totals

22 Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS NB

No. of Deals 6 53 198 257

Current Price 5.67 115.00 132.00

Quantity Traded 197,600 115,979 7,304,305 7,617,884

Value Traded 1,121,030.00 13,116,457.38 963,231,004.38 977,468,491.76

No. of Deals 29 Daily Summary (Equities) 29

Current Price 166.70

Quantity Traded 129,442 129,442

Value Traded 20,556,044.02 20,556,044.02

Symbol 7UP

Symbol DANGFLOUR

No. of Deals 19

Current Price 4.37

Quantity Traded 554,459

Value Traded 2,422,985.83

Symbol DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM UNIONDICON UTC

No. of Deals 64 50 12 49 1 1 1 197

Current Price 4.94 35.65 3.09 5.80 18.05 13.95 0.50

Page Quantity Traded 2,869,905 454,520 55,561 2,123,460 960 126,000 129,700 6,314,565

2 of 13 Value Traded 14,264,069.89 16,209,262.10 164,004.34 12,107,808.80 16,464.00 1,757,700.00 64,850.00 47,007,144.96

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 39 71 110

Current Price 39.00 770.61

Quantity Traded 686,848 1,029,999 1,716,847

Value Traded 26,789,975.50 806,742,060.46 833,532,035.96

Symbol ENAMELWA VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 1 39 4 44

Current Price 31.82 3.60 0.90

Quantity Traded 200 1,409,366 412,800 1,822,366

Value Traded 6,364.00 4,966,649.37 369,951.00 5,342,964.37

Current Price 27.79 31.35

Quantity Traded 239,314 362,359 601,673

Value Traded 6,651,996.06 11,409,670.15 18,061,666.21

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals PZ UNILEVER

14 46 60

CONSUMER GOODS CONSUMER GOODS Totals

697

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK INCORPORATED Daily Summary as of TRANSNATIONAL 17/12/2014 FIDELITY BANK PLC Printed 17/12/2014 15:06:11.011 GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 122 DIAMONDBNK 73 ETI 45 FIDELITYBK 65 GUARANTY 364 SKYEBANK 61 STERLNBANK 442 Daily UBA Summary (Equities) 130 UBN 14 UNITYBNK 1

Symbol WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

18,202,777 Page Current Price 5.70 4.85 17.10 1.44 20.40 2.09 2.19 3.44 7.22 0.50

Quantity Traded 5,781,406 9,654,457 21,377,494 65,544,953 110,187,915 7,252,452 7,676,249 27,989,548 47,854 1,000,000

No. of Deals 36 160 1,513

Current Price 1.00 15.62

Quantity Traded 23,077,136 17,344,317 296,933,781

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Symbol No. of Deals AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AIICO 9 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONTINSURE 16 CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. CORNERST 1 EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. EQUITYASUR 1 GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC GNI 1 PLC.© GUINEAINS 1 Published by TheGUINEA NigerianINSURANCE Stock Exchange CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC HMARKINS 1 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTENEGINS 2 LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LAWUNION 1 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MANSARD 17 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. MBENEFIT 1 N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NEM 9 Daily Summary as of 17/12/2014 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. NIGERINS 2 Printed 17/12/2014 15:06:11.011 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE 1 REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC REGALINS 1 STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. STDINSURE 2 Daily Summary (Equities) UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC UNIVINSURE 1 WAPIC INSURANCE PLC WAPIC 68 Activity Summary on Board EQTY Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals 135

Current Price 0.68 0.84 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 3.00 0.50 0.56 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.60

Quantity Traded 519,000 35,250,500 500 2,500 500 300 Page 2,000 10,555 100 504,660 500 428,000 2,559,200 153,125 2,750 62,500 100,000 16,932,964 56,529,654

FINANCIAL SERVICES Micro-Finance BanksExchange © Published by The Nigerian Stock NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals

Traded13 1Value of 44,940.00 44,940.00

1,901,968,347.28 3 of 13 Value Traded 33,135,371.64 46,829,876.15 365,630,071.00 95,208,152.09 2,246,551,509.45 15,158,197.68 16,359,801.40 96,285,545.12 328,278.44 500,000.00

Value Traded 22,676,986.00 271,009,454.32 3,209,673,243.29 Value Traded 352,990.00 29,257,735.00 250.00 1,250.00 250.00 4 of150.0013 1,000.00 5,277.50 50.00 1,553,190.15 250.00 240,950.00 1,279,600.00 76,562.50 1,375.00 31,250.00 50,000.00 10,176,809.69 43,028,939.84

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 17 17

Current Price 0.77

Quantity Traded Page 470,121 470,121

5Value Traded of 13

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Symbol ASOSAVINGS RESORTSAL UNHOMES

No. of Deals 1 1 1 3

Current Price 0.50 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 2,000 3,000 200,000 205,000

Value Traded 1,000.00 1,500.00 100,000.00 102,500.00

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT & TRUST PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC Daily Summary as of 17/12/2014 UBA CAPITAL PLC Printed 17/12/2014 15:06:11.011 Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS DEAPCAP FBNH FCMB STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 36 105 1 413 22 30 34 641

Current Price 2.66 3.60 0.70 7.79 2.89 27.08 1.45

Quantity Traded 1,540,568 58,316,119 45,000 24,202,702 240,000 210,896 2,884,788 87,440,073

Value Traded 4,105,464.41 218,391,684.84 30,150.00 188,785,468.86 681,300.00 5,711,860.36 4,209,827.92 421,915,756.39

441,578,629

3,675,068,440.06

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers Activity Summary on Board EQTY EKOCORP PLC. Healthcare Providers Totals HEALTHCARE Medical Supplies Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. Medical Supplies Totals Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol EKOCORP

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 3.72

Quantity Traded 247 247

Value Traded 874.38 874.38

Symbol MORISON

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.82

Quantity Traded Page 716 716

Value Traded 6 of 13 1,303.12 1,303.12

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH NIG-GERMAN

No. of Deals 3 10 10 10 3 3 39

Current Price 2.18 3.35 52.00 1.54 0.78 6.32

Quantity Traded 800 595,000 19,138 117,907 58,728 75,856 867,429

Value Traded 1,664.00 1,986,300.00 945,417.20 173,323.29 44,046.00 479,409.92 3,630,160.41

868,392

3,632,337.91

HEALTHCARE Totals ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals Computers and Peripherals

2,309

348,000.54 348,000.54

41 Symbol COURTVILLE

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 4,900 4,900

Value Traded 2,450.00 2,450.00

Symbol

No. of Deals

Current Price

Quantity Traded

Value Traded

Daily Summary as of 17/12/2014 HEALTHCARE Totals Printed 17/12/2014 15:06:11.011

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Computers and Peripherals ICT Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC Computers and Peripherals Totals

41 Symbol COURTVILLE

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 4,900 4,900

Value Traded 2,450.00 2,450.00

Symbol

No. of Deals

Current Price

Quantity Traded

Value Traded

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol OMATEK

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 3,000 3,000

IT Services TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC.

Symbol TRIPPLEG

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 1.86

Quantity Traded 8,537 Page 8,537

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC Processing Systems Totals

Symbol CHAMS ETRANZACT

No. of Deals 1 2 3

Current Price 0.50 2.94

Quantity Traded 2,000 50,534 52,534

Value Traded 1,000.00 148,564.62 149,564.62

68,971

168,625.11

Current Price 24.60 9.00 34.66 8.81 153.00 0.87 1.47 4.30 66.50

Quantity Traded 10,706 840 252,459 102,270 1,693,646 7,906 4,000 3,500 1,798,256

Value Traded 250,199.22 7,182.00 8,741,953.94 900,982.70 255,908,772.49 6,561.98 5,600.00 14,315.00 120,000,884.95

ICT Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PLC Daily Summary as PAINTS of 17/12/2014 CAP PLC 15:06:11.011 Printed 17/12/2014 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC.

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

9 Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER PAINTCOM Daily Summary PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 2 1 23 5 128 2 1 (Equities) 1 46

Value Traded 1,500.00 1,500.00

Page

Value Traded 15,110.49 of 13 15,110.49

Building Materials Building Materials Totals

Symbol

No. of Deals 209

Current Price

Quantity Traded 3,873,583

Value Traded 385,836,452.28

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 1.24

Quantity Traded 98,966 98,966

Value Traded 124,700.30 124,700.30

Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 26.46

Quantity Traded 63,203 63,203

Value Traded 1,649,974.00 1,649,974.00

Tools and Machinery NIGERIAN ROPES PLC Tools and Machinery Totals

Symbol NIGROPES

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 7.46

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 709.00 709.00

4,035,852

387,611,835.58

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Daily Summary as of 17/12/2014 Printed 17/12/2014 15:06:11.011 NATURAL RESOURCES

Metals ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. Metals Totals

Paper/Forest Products THOMAS WYATT NIG. PLC. ActivityPaper/Forest Summary on BoardTotals EQTY Products

224 Symbol ALEX

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 10.43

Quantity Traded 14,750 14,750

Value Traded 146,172.50 146,172.50

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.73

Quantity Traded 10,500 10,500

Value Traded 7,665.00 7,665.00

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol THOMASWY

NATURAL RESOURCES 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 BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS NIGERIA PLC. Daily Summary asOIL of 17/12/2014 TOTAL15:06:11.011 NIGERIA PLC. Printed 17/12/2014 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

Page

153,837.50

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 257,840 257,840

Value Traded 128,920.00 128,920.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 129 129

Current Price 15.80

Quantity Traded 4,203,522 4,203,522

Value Traded 66,482,023.30 66,482,023.30

Symbol BECOPETRO CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 1 2 17 61 21 1 8 111

Current Price 0.50 49.23 3.11 205.33 143.50 56.00 150.11

Quantity Traded 7,600 21,000 318,995 171,765 52,407 439 23,210 595,416

Value Traded 3,800.00 982,170.00 942,350.95 35,305,106.23 7,520,488.54 23,354.80 3,484,211.10 48,261,481.62

Symbol

No. of Deals 38 38

Current Price 266.24

Quantity Traded 320,712 320,712

Value Traded 85,536,110.90 85,536,110.90

5,377,490

200,408,535.82

SEPLAT Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity OIL ANDSummary GAS Totalson Board EQTY SERVICES Published byAutomobile/Auto The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Part Retailers

25,250

280 Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 0.75

Page Quantity Traded 1,215,000 1,215,000

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Symbol REDSTAREX

No. of Deals 13 13

Current Price 3.75

Quantity Traded 283,400 283,400

Value Traded 1,029,126.00 1,029,126.00

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 200,500 200,500

Value Traded 100,250.00 100,250.00

Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC Hospitality Totals

Symbol TANTALIZER

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 2,500 2,500

Value Traded 1,250.00 1,250.00

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 19 19

Current Price 3.86

Quantity Traded 345,440 345,440

Value Traded 1,333,776.40 1,333,776.40

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 31,000 31,000

Value Traded 15,500.00 15,500.00

Current Price 1.40 4.05

Quantity Traded 50,957 1,620

Value Traded 71,397.22 6,237.00

R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Daily Summary as of 17/12/2014 Printed 17/12/2014 15:06:11.011 Media/Entertainment

DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Media/Entertainment Totals

Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC ActivityUNIVERSITY Summary on Board EQTY PRESS PLC. SERVICES Printing/Publishing Printing/Publishing Totals

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 2 1

10Value of Traded13 911,250.00 911,250.00

Page

Symbol

No. of Deals 3

Current Price

Quantity Traded 52,577

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.53

Quantity Traded 173,900 173,900

Value Traded 92,237.00 92,237.00

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 3 27 30

Current Price 1.71 3.74

Quantity Traded 115,233 292,242 407,475

Value Traded 197,048.43 1,094,468.96 1,291,517.39

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 3.17

Quantity Traded 10,343 10,343

Value Traded 31,235.86 31,235.86

2,722,135

4,883,776.87

3,819

481,745,767

6,210,984,711.54

No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 3 0.76 105,000 No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 3 105,000

Value Traded 79,650.00 Value Traded 79,650.00

Support and Logistics Daily Summary as of 17/12/2014 CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Printed 17/12/2014 Support15:06:11.011 and Logistics Totals SERVICES Totals

EQTY Board Totals

Activity Summary on Board ASeM Activity Summary on Board ASeM FINANCIAL SERVICES Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services FINANCIAL SERVICES OMOLUABI SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Daily Summary (Equities) Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol OMOSAVBNK Symbol

105,000Page

Value Traded 77,634.22

12 79,650.00 of 13

ASeM Board Totals

105,000

79,650.00

Equity Activity Totals

3,822

481,850,767

6,211,064,361.54

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Symbol LOTUSHAL15 NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 2 2 2 6

Current Price 9.06 2,138.00 13.05

Quantity Traded 55 23 1,467 1,545

Value Traded 502.80 49,174.00 19,931.13 69,607.93

ETF Board Totals

1,545

69,607.93

ETP Activity Totals

1,545

69,607.93

Page

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

News 45

NATIONAL

Navy: Tompolo didn't acquire gunboat NO, NO

Ex-militant leader does not own gunboats, Navy declares Emmanuel Onani ABUJA

he Nigerian Navy has refuted claims that a former Militant Leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), acquired gunboats, ostensibly for maritime security. It said the gunboat being referred to, belongs

to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). Tompolo was alleged to have procured gunboats from the Norwegian government; a transaction that was purportedly facilitated by NIMASA. But, at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, the Chief of Training and Operations (CTOP) of the Navy, Rear Admiral Austine Oyagha, took serious exceptions to the report, noting that it was the exclusive right of the Federal Government to own gunboats. According to the CTOP, the need to put records straight, was largely in-

formed by the controversy which the report had generated, and the need to reiterate the fact that management of coastal security, rested squarely on the force. His words: "I want to state categorically that no individual has acquired gunboats into this country. "The gunboat being referred to is owned by NIMASA, and is manned by Navy personnel. As you all know, Navy personnel are attached to NIMASA. "I don't want to believe that there is any gunboat or any vessel that the name Tompolo is being written on our waterways. You can investigate."

2015: IGP pledges adequate security for all candidates Emmanuel Onani ABUJA

he Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Suleiman Abba, has pledged adequate security for candidates of all political parties, ahead of the 2015 general elections. Abba gave the assurance yesterday at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, at the second Inspector General of Police Award to four sergeants, who were selected based on what was considered as their exceptional "gallantry".

The event was organised in conjunction with the Puzzles Group, whose chairman, Mr Bayo Adeyemo, promised to take the next recipients to Scotland Yard, the United Kingdom, for training. While Sergeant Bonze Benerside got a star prize of N1 million for helping to intercept suspected Niger Delta militants, who attempted to blow up the Calabar-Itu bridge, Sergeants Ibrahim Riki and Usman Mohammed, got cash rewards of N500, 000 and N250, 000 respectively. Sergeant Meimuna Yusuf, who was said to have

been killed by suspected Boko Haram elements, however, received a posthumous award. While acknowledging the fact that all political parties have conducted their party primaries, ahead of the February 2015 polls, the IGP assured the contending political parties of the neutrality of the police, who he said, will provide the necessary round-the-clock security, before, during and after the elections. That, he stressed, was with a view to ensuring a violence-free, successful election.

Group petitions PDP against Bayelsa candidate Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

eoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders from Bayelsa State have petitioned the party's national leadership against the candidature of Ogola Foster, PDP senatorial candidate for Bayelsa West. The group, under the auspices of Bayelsa West Senatorial Peoples Assem-

bly, in the petition signed by Secretary, Boru Timi drew the party's attention to the academic qualification of the candidate, which it said was suspect. According to the group, there were lots of discrepancies in the information supplied by Ogola in his expression of interest forms, which it said the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) might use at the courts to deny the party

victory at the poll in 2015. Ogola was alleged to have presented an affidavit before the PDP screening panel claiming that he had lost all his credentials to flood in 2012. The issue however, took another twist recently when a member of the group, Felix Okorotie, wrote to the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) seeking clarification on Ogola's academic claims.

couldn't link his name to the man I had met in South Africa. He did very well as a foreign minister. "We were able to stabilise Niger and some other crises within the subregion when I was chair, ECOWAS heads of state and government He helped Nigeria move from being competitors to friends with other countries. "He was a likeable character and good diplomat. A dedicated civil servant committed, and

patriotic. God knows why he took him at a time his services were still needed by the country." Jonathan condoled with the Ashiru family of Ijebu Ode, Ogun State and Nigeria at large. In his own tribute, Attorney-General of the Federation Mohammed Bello Adoke, said Ashiru was a man of high sense of patriotism and polite dignity, who had a sense of humour, cordiality and team spirit.

L-R: Director General, Tanzanian Education Authority (TEA), Mrs. Rose Lulabuka; Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Prof. Suleiman Elias Bogoro; Director, Information Communication Technology, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Orji Kalu and Chairman, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Board of Trustees, Dr. Musa Babayo, during TETFund 2014 Taxpayers' Forum in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

NIPOST to deliver value-added services to rural people Clem Khena-Ogbena

he PostmasterGeneral, Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), Mallam Muri Baba, yesterday said the organisation had concluded plans to extend its value-added services to the grassroots populace in the country. The Postmaster-General spoke in Abuja at the NIPOST Headquarters Merit Awards ceremony for 2013 which was organised for deserving members of staff, across cadres. He said that NI-

POST was the nearest government amenities to the ordinary man in the rural areas. Baba also announced that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had endorsed the National Addressing Policy (NAP), spearheaded by NIPOST, as an effective tool for improved quality of mail delivery in the country. These efforts, he added, were geared towards providing robust and competitive services to esteemed customers of the agency as well as enhancing the organisa-

tion's fortunes. The postmaster-general further stated that it was wrong to believe that advances in communications technology were a threat to the existence of the post, saying, however, that ICT had rather provided opportunities for the post. The NIPOST boss said: "taking the advantage of financial and digital inclusion programme of government, NIPOST is poised to deliver value added services to the rural populace in the country."

FCTA shuts down 459 illegal schools Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

he Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) yesterday revealed that it closed 459 sub-standard and illegal schools within and around the nation’s capital in the last nine months. FCT Secretary for Education, Malam Kabir Usman, who made the revelation at the annual Education Secretariat Media Lunch said the secretariat's Department of

Quality Assurance closed down 196 of such schools in January this year and 263 in September. He also said that site inspection of 154 private schools was carried out by the department, adding that a proposal for the certification and accreditation of 78 schools has been forwarded to the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed. While speaking on efforts to prevent the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in the FCT, Malam Usman said

a total of N1million was approved and released by the FCT minister for the purchase and distribution of anti-Ebola kits and information to all schools in the FCT. “The outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease, which was a public health emergency, was successfully tackled in the FCT. Prior to resumption, all our schools were fully equipped with the temperature scanning machines, hands sanitisers, information handbills and posters on the virus."

YEF, Danjuma Foundation empower 40 FEC pays tribute to Ashiru, late Foreign Affairs Minister out-of-school youths Iwalola Akin-Jimoh, She said the overall Anule Emmanuel

he Federal Executive Council (FEC), yesterday held a special valedictory session for former Foreign Affairs Minister, late Olugbenga Ashiru. Leading the session, President Goodluck Jonathan eulogised the former minister and noted that he had done very well in improving the image of country at the diplomatic front. He said: "Initially, I

Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

s part of their commitment to reduce the incidence of unemployment among youths in the country, the Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF) and TY Danjuma Foundation, yesterday graduated 40 out-of-school youths, who were trained in vocational and entrepreneurial skills. According to YEF Executive Secretary, Mrs.

the training, which was carried out under “My Hands My Future” project, was supported by the TY Danjuma Foundation. While speaking at the graduation ceremony of the beneficiaries, which was held yesterday at Pyakasa village, Abuja, Mrs. Akin-Jimoh revealed that TY Danjuma has concluded plans to provide tools for 40 youths to enable them take off with their personal businesses.

goal of the project was to empower youths with entrepreneurial and employability skills through vocational training, mentorship programmes, life skills, business development and financial management skills. These skills, she added would be used by the beneficiaries to protect themselves from the increasing economic hardships, social and health related hazards of life.

News

DOCKED Awe’s freedom not guaranteed yet as he is on his way back to court Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

n Ado-Ekiti Magistrate Court, yesterday vacated its order discharging the Ekiti State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Jide Awe and four others over

THURSDAY DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Court re-opens murder case against Ekiti APC chair the murder of Mr Ayo Jeje and Madam Julianah Adewunmi in Erijinyan-Ekiti on March 31, 2013. The ruling followed a motion exparte filed by counsel to Ekiti government, Mr Bunmi Olugbade, seeking another order of the court to reverse its earlier decision discharging the accused persons.

In the ruling, Chief Magistrate Adesoji Adegboye, said having taken a second look at the extant laws, relevant authorities and facts of the case, he vacated the order earlier granted. In the motion exparte, Olugbade, submitted that the magistrate erred in law to have acquitted

the accused persons in the instant case. Olugbade, argued that it was an established principle of law that Magistrate Courts lack jurisdiction to try criminal cases with capital punishment such as murder, hence the court could not have entertained the matter, let alone discharging and acquitting

the accused persons. The Counsel also contended that by the provisions of Section 71 subsections 1 and 3 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, Ekiti State, the State Attorney General is empowered to reopen any criminal case suspended through a notice of discontinuance.

L-R: Founder/CEO, Field of Skills and Dreams Vocational Technical and Entrepreneurship Academy, Mrs. Omowale Ogunrinde; wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola and Mrs. Yinka Yussuf, at the inauguration of the academy’s new office complex in Lagos…yesterday

Synagogue: Court awaits bomb report Shola Adefuwa, Cyntia Johnson and Badmus Adedoyin

he Head of the antibomb unit of the Nigeria Police in Lagos State, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Olakunle Olanrewaju, yesterday told Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, of the Lagos State Coroners Court investigating the cause of the building, that the

report of the anti-bomb unit of the State’s Police Command was not ready. Testifying before the court, the witness stated that the Explosive Ordinance Devices (EOD) unit of the Nigeria Police would only visit the site of any disaster, if there was any reasonable suspicion that an explosive must have been used on the said scene. Confirming to the Coroner that he was mandated

by the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Kayode Aderanti, to move to the collapsed guest house belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) for investigation, Olanrewaju said the police had a duty to investigate any suspicion of the commission of a crime. The police witness, added that the decision of the Lagos police boss to dispatch the EOD personnel to the SCOAN col-

lapsed site, was arrived at because there was the need to investigate the possibility of the use of explosives on the collapsed guest house. The witness said: “The mission of the EOD team led by my humble self was to find out whether or not the building collapsed as a result of the use of explosives. My team collected samples of debris and roofing sheets,” he added.

PDP moves to refund unsuccessful Ondo aspirants Babatope Okeowo Akure

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, has set up a reconciliation committee to pacify aggrieved members as well as ensure their return into the mainstream of the party, ahead of next year’s general election. The committee according to the Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Banji Okunomo, would liaise between the aspirants who lost

out in the consensus arrangement for purpose of refunding money expended on purchase of nomination forms. Briefing reporters after the meeting of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party yesterday, Okunomo, said the crisis that rocked the state chapter of the party in the past few months over the defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, from Labour Party (LP) to the party has been resolved. He, however, ,said the peace and reconciliatory

committee is to iron out grey areas in the sharing of elective positions between old members of LP and the PDP. He said there was no way that there would no be concessions by people when two major political parties merge, like the case at hand. Okunomo, also said the consensus arrangement embarked upon by party leadership, was meant to save the energy and fund usually spent by aspirants in order to secure tickets for the actual election which is few days away.

He said both the SWC and NWC of the party, have agreed to cushion the plight of aspirants who lost out in the consensus arrangement by refunding the money paid for the expression of interest and nomination forms. While saying the new leadership of the party led by Clement Faboyede would not discriminate against any member of the party, Okunomo, appealed to aggrieved members to come back to the fold and work for the success at the polls.

Aregbesola closes defence against Omisore at tribunal Adeolu Adeyemo OSOGBO

sun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday closed his defence against the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, who is challenging his victory in the August 9th, 2014, governorship election in the state. The governor closed the case after calling a total of 19 witnesses within the 10 statutory days given to each respondent on the case. Omisore, had dragged Aregbesola, the first respondent before the State Election Tribunal sitting in Osogbo, alleging that the governorship election was characterized by fraud and irregularities. While closing his defence against the petition before the Tribunal through his counsel, Mr Kunle Adegoke, the governor expressed appreciation to the tribunal and the petitioner for their cooperation in the proceedings. Speaking with newsmen on the closure of the defence, Counsels to PDP and APC, Mr. Nathaniel Oke (SAN) and Mr. Bashir Ajibola respectively expressed optimism about been victorious at the end of the proceedings.

Ofakurin for burial tomorrow

he late Pa Jacob Faluyi Ofakunrin will be buried tomorrow at Itaogbolu, Ondo State. Late Ofakurin died on October 14, aged 86. A statement by the family, signed by Mr. Oluremi Ofakunrin, CEO, Reddot Multimedia Limited, said the late Ofakurin, an ardent follower of Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was a community leader whose contributions to the development of Itaogbolu could not be easily whisked away. “He would be strongly remembered for his gallant fight against injustice in the land. He stood by the present Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, when he was fighting to reclaim his mandate between 2007 and 2009. “He was a generous giver and a peace maker, who would go to any length to ensure peaceful co-existence of the community members around him. Even as he was not educated, Baba was a trail blazer in preaching to peers and parents around him about the importance of education. He motivated and supported a lot of them to go extra miles to sponsor their children.” The statement further

Ofakurin

said that Ofakunrin’s final home journey “commences on Thursday, December 18, 2014. His corpse will leave Ondo State Specialist Hospital, Akure to his residence in Itaogbolu at 10 am. By 2 pm, there will be a Lying-inState at his residence, 19, Alamo Lane, Akomowa Street, Itaogbolu while Christian Wake-Keep will take place at 4 pm at the same venue. On Friday, December 19, 2014, Funeral Service will take place at St. John’s Anglican Church, Akomowa Street, Itaogbolu at 10.00 am. Interment follows immediately at his residence, No. 19, Alamo Lane, Akomowa Street, Itaogbolu. Entertainment of guests will take place at the playing field of St. John’s Anglican Primary School, Akomowa Street, Itaogbolu.”

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY DECEMBER 18, 2014

Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

he much awaited second Niger Bridge project may have suffered yet another setback following a court action by some industrialists at Harbour Layout in Odoekpe, Ogbaru Local Government. New Telegraph investigation reveals that already the litigants have secured an injunction restraining the construction company, Julius Berger Plc from forceful ejection. A Julius Berger source told New Telegraph that the project may not come

N4.1bn

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Anambra community opposes 2nd Niger Bridge project on stream within the projected four years because of some inadequacies and obstructions. The source, who did not want his name in print, told our correspondent that the completion of the project under the PPP arrangement may also be another setback. He said: “If it were a direct Federal Government-financed project, I assure you we would have been mobilised and work would have also com-

The IGR realized from PAYE (taxes) of Ondo State in 2011. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

menced in earnest. But this PPP arrangement depends on when the private partners get money. The Public Relations Officer of the organisation, Mr. Ojelabi Joseph, told our correspondent that the company is presently facing the problem of ‘right of the way,’ especially in Anambra axis. According to him, some prominent industrialists in the state had even gone to court to obtain a court injunction restraining the

86.7%

The percentage of the urban population of Andorra in 2012. Source: Un.org

company from continuing with the project. “I even had to go to one of them and after speaking with him, he withdrew his comment, but I don’t want to mention his name,” the PRO stated. “In Anambra State, the part handed over to us is in dispute, because they have gone to court at the industrial layout over the right of the way, but on the Delta State side, the part handed over to us is free from

6,282

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Anguilla in 2010. Source: Itu.int

crisis, because there are no issues. The right of the way has no problem whatsoever now,” the PRO concluded. Meanwhile, construction work is continuing at the project site with series of base structures springing up on both sides of the bank of the River Niger. Our correspondent, who visited the project site, reports that the Project Manager, Mr. Becky assured the people that the project will come in

196

The number of pending asylum seekers of Trinidad & Tobago at the beginning of 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

L-R: President-General, Ohanaeze, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey; former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi and President, Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, at the inauguration of new Aka Ikenga executives in Lagos.

Umahi’s candidature receives boost in Ebonyi Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

t least 10, 000 people from Izzi clan have thrown their weight behind the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, ahead of the 2015 governorship election in the state. Men from the clan comprising Abakaliki, Izzi and Ebonyi Local Government areas were on solidarity visit to the deputy governorship candidate of PDP, Kelechi Igwe, at his country home in Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo Local Government of Ebonyi State. Joint leaders of the team, Dr. Emmanuel Nwangele and Mr. Collins Nweze, said they came to support the can-

didate and to ensure the victory of Umahi come 2015. They pleaded with Igwe to convey their message to Umahi that the three blocs of Abakaliki would remain in PDP despite all odds, promising that they would give their support to candidates of the party, especially President Goodluck Jonathan and Dave Umahi. Responding, the deputy governorship candidate said his nomination was not for Ikwo people alone, but that he would join hands with Umahi to uplift the standard of the state. According to him, if voted in 2015, the administration would build on the achievements of the outgoing regime, especially infrastructural development.

Trouble as Achebe banishes 23 Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

risis is brewing in Onitsha between the Obi, Alfred Achebe and some indigenes as the Obi has banished 23 indigenes for attending the burial ceremony of one Pa Obieze, the father of Chudi Obieze, who is representing one of the claimants to the Onitsha Obiship stool, Prince Ifeanyi Onyejekwe. The alleged banishment of the 23 by the Obi, stakeholders said, may cost the ancient city an irredeemable loss of its age long highly respected and nurtured custom and tradition if the on-going rift is not handled with care. But the traditional ruler, who spoke through one of his Palace Secretaries, Mr. Ofili Ukpabi, told our correspondent in an interview that the allegation is unfounded and should be discountenanced. He said: “We did not banish or ostracise anybody. The community has age long monarchical system dating back to the 15th century. We have ways of doing our things. “Whatever we do in Onitsha is published in our calendar. But, if you have no respect for constituted authority, you have no regard for the land. “In anything you want to do, the laid down rule is that you must approach the Obi-in-Council and if approved, it is published with the approved dates,” he said.

Aka Ikenga swears in new leaders T

he President of Igbo socio-cultural group, Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike and the VicePresident of the association, Chief Anthony Idigbe, were among the newly elected officers sworn in last Sunday at the Colonades Hotels, Ikoyi, Lagos State. Other officers sworn in at the occasion are Edechime Nnabuike,

Chuks Okeugiri, Charles Odunukwe, Dave Nwachukwu and Mr. Onyeani Uka Nwosu (VicePresidents). Others still are Paul Nnaji, Okey Ilofulunwa (Secretary and Deputy), Ano Anyanwu (Treasurer); Joseph Okolo (Financial Secretary); Chief Okey Okyemobi (Publicity Secretary), Ozo Nnaemeka Anaekie (Legal Adviser) and Chief

Ugo Ofodile (Provost). They were sworn in by the President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey and the event was witnessed by a host of Igbo leaders led by Eze Cletus I. Ilomuanya, General Azubuike Ihejirika, Prof. A.B.C. Nwosu, former Governor Peter Obi, Lady Ada Ofoegbu (Ohanaeze Women’s wing) Earlier, Nwosu as part

of his dinner speech, charged the members on leadership and responsibilities. He gave various instances of contribution to the society. To him, Aka Ikenga members must not sit on the fence when issues are being decided. It is important to influence decisions before they are taken, he said.

Madumere lauds APC presidential primaries I

mo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, yesterday described the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries, which his boss, Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha, participated in, as a ‘win-win situation’ for Nigerians. He said APC showed that it has come to inject real democratic tradition

in the polity for the overall good of Nigerians while also lauding the governor for putting up a good showing at the primaries, saying Okorocha’s participation neutralised what seemed a lopsided contest. He further said that Igbo, as it were, have sacrificed so much for the country, because they strongly believe in one indivisible

Nigeria as he wondered the reason for apathy on their part. “What Governor Rochas Okorocha did is to say that in brotherhood we all stand, though tribes and tongue may differ.” While commending the leadership of the APC, especially the Convention Planning Committee led by Dr. Kayode Fayemi, he called on the

people to come out en mass to vote out a party that has impoverished Nigerians over the years. He spoke while addressing members of his staff, guests, associates and journalists during the 12 o’clock traditional afternoon prayers and thanksgiving for a successful sustained presidential campaign and journey mercies.

News

THURSDAY DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Protesters shut Port Harcourt over Nwuche Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

housands of protesters yesterday blocked the ever-busy East-West Road causing traffic gridlock for several hours, over the alleged rigging of the Rivers-West Senatorial district in the Peoples Democratic (PDP) election primaries against the former Deputy Speaker of the House of

Representatives, Hon. Chibudom Nwuche. The protest, which started in the early hours of the day stalled traffic as youths and women took over the Ahoada section of the road. Some of the protesters carried placards with the following inscriptions: “Rivers West, says Chibudom Nwuche is our choice, ”“Bonny say no to imposition.” The protesters alleged that a powerful

€198.8m

clique within the PDP in the state had rigged the election in favour of Hon. Osinachi Udeozo, who served as Commissioner for Finance in the government of Dr. Peter Odili. It would be recalled that the primary election was postponed after it was disrupted by hoodlums, who stormed the venue in Ahoada East shortly after counting started. It was done a few days later at the PDP sec-

808.3m

retariat along Aba Road. It was said that shortly before the primaries commenced, Nwuche had stormed out of the venue, alleging that the leadership of the party was working to rig him out, by intimidating voters through the numbering of ballot boxes according to districts. One of the protesters, Comrade Ewah Harrison, said that Nwuche did not lose the election, adding that it was

17.7%

The total potential transfer cost of Gareth The estimated total population The projected percentage increase of Americans above Bale to Real Madrid in 2013. of Africa in 2000. 65 years with Alzheimer’s in Iowa State in 2014-2025. Source: Goal.com Source: Un.org Source: Alz.org

“fraudulent and lacking in democratic procedure.” Ewah accused the PDP of disregarding the wishes of the people of the senatorial district, who had clearly declared their support for Nwuche through their chiefs and elders. Another protester, Sonny Johnbull Ebedi, a delegate during the primary said the election was rigged “to favour an unpopular candidate.”

$41.7m

The total amount of salary/winnings of Lionel Messi (Soccer) for 2014. Source: Forbes.com

Contingents from Okrika Local Government, Rivers State, participating at the Carniriv International Aquatic Fiesta 2014, at the Tourist Beach, Port Harcourt …yesterday

Police rescue kidnapped bank manager Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he Rivers State Police Command has rescued a bank manager two days after his abductors held him hostage in expectation of ransom. The victim, Mr. Standfast Barnabas, the branch manager of one of the frontline banks in Choba, according to the state’s police spokesman, Ahmad Mohammad, was rescued after the police stormed where he was being held, and engaged in a gunfight with his abductors. He said that two of the hoodlums were fatally wounded, while one of them was seriously injured, adding that the team of policemen who carried out the operation recovered a locally made pistol after the house was searched. Mohammad, however, said that one of the kidnappers escaped with the gang’s operational firearm. His words: “On sighting the police, the kidnappers engaged them in a gun duel. Unfortunately, luck ran against the kidnappers as three of them were due to police superior firepower fatally wounded, while one was injured and the other in possession of their operational firearm managed to escape.”

Ijaw warns against Itsekiri propaganda

Uduaghan unveils N328bn budget

Joe Obende

ASABA

Warri

he Ijaw in Delta State, have told their Itsekiri neighbours to stop overheating the polity with frequent provocative outbursts through media publications as a way of ventilating their opinion on issues of political interest in the State. Speaking in a statement signed by Lucky Oromoni, in Warri, Delta State, the Ogbe-Ijoh/ Warri Clan Governing Council said its attention had been drawn to a publication in a national daily alleging that the headquarters of Warri South-West Local Government Area was relocated from its gazetted headquarters, Ogidigben, to Ogbe-Ijoh to the detriment of the Itsekiris. Describing the publication as misleading Oromoni said he was speaking out so as to set the records straight and for the benefit of the

reading public. “We wish to state clearly that Ogidigben was never the gazetted headquarters of Warri South-West Local Government Council contrary to the assertion of the Itsekiri group. Also, the headquarters of Warri South-West was never unconstitutionally moved from Ogidigben to OgbeIjoh. Warri South-West Local Government Council (formerly Warri South) was created in 1996 by the administration of General Sani Abacha together with other local government councils with headquarters at Ogbe-Ijoh town. The Council functioned for three months with the election of a chairman and 10 councillors. “However, the Itsekiris, in their oppressive manner used their entrenched position in government to fraudulently and illegally relocate the headquarters from Ogbe-Ijoh to Ogidigben after three months of existence,” he added.

Dominic Adewole

elta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan yesterday unveiled a proposed N327.68 billion budget for the year 2015. The budget proposal comprises N161,606,428,92, which represents 49.32 per cent for recurrent expenditure and N166,076,553,989, representing 50.68 per cent for capital expenditure. The governor, who reiterated his willingness to complete all on-going

projects, including the fly-over project in Asaba, the state capital, said the bulk of the appropriated money would go into capital expenditure. This year’s budget, which is slightly less compared to over N400 billion budgeted for last year, the governor further said, would be sourced from the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Acknowledging the meltdown in the prices of crude oil and the meager monthly federal allocation for states, not able to cater

for numerous policies, programmes and projects of the state, the governor maintained that his project ‘Delta Beyond Oil’, policy has become apt for the rapid growth and development of the state. He said his administration has since its inception on May 29, 2007, been proactive in blocking all areas of leakages in government spendings, while attracting people-oriented projects, insisting that “I believe we have tried to actualize this pledge given the plethora of infrastruc-

tural development and other achievements we have recorded in the socio-economic transformation of our beloved Delta State.” The Governor noted that the budget sum, both recurrent and capital expenditure would be expended on road, school, agricultural, health and other infrastructural projects that would impact positively on the lives of the people of the state, and other costs of running government, including payment of salaries.

C’River PDP moves to pacify aggrieved members Clement James CALABAR

he Cross River State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said it has concluded arrangements to set up a committee to reconcile all the aggrieved members of the party on various issues of in-

terests arising from the recent primaries in the state. The State Chairman of the party, Ntufam John Okon, revealed this in an exclusive interview with New Telegraph in Calabar on yesterday. Okon, said the party was aware of the various complaints brought about by the fall-out of the vari-

ous primaries and will soon constitute a committee to go round the state in an attempt to reconcile all aggrieved members. “The PDP is family and we cherish all our members. The umbrella is wide enough to accommodate everybody and that is what we will tell the aggrieved members. A committee will soon be set up

to reconcile all those who feel aggrieved as they can still be compensated one way or the other,” he said. According to him, there were people who did not want to recognize the structure already built by the leadership, but who have eventually recognized that all those aspiring for positions must identify with the structure.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

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NORTH

Ahmed proposes N119bn for 2015, rules out new tax Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

wara Sate governor, Alhaji AbdulFattah Ahmed, yesterday presented a budget of N119.85 billion to the state House of Assembly for the 2015 fiscal year with a promise not to introduce new taxes during the year. According to Ahmed,

13%

there was no justifiable reason to impose more taxes on the people given the current economic challenges facing the nation, which has brought great burdens on the people. But the governor promised to reduce public expenditure and block possible leakages as it redoubles its efforts to increase Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to

The percentage of the population of men above 60 years in Albania in 2012. Source: Un.org

cater for shortfall in federal allocation. Highlights of the budget as given by the governor indicated that N46.4 billion is allocated to recurrent expenditure, N11.2 billion to public debt servicing while N62.1 billion is for capital expenditure. On the revenue side, the estimates include N16.4 billion from IGR, N29.7 billion from capi-

10,432

The number of refugees in Bangladesh at the beginning of 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

tal receipts, N33.6 billion from federal allocation, N7.5 billion from VAT and N2.5 billion from excess crude account while the total projected revenue is N119.8 billion. The proposed 2015 budget was prepared against the backdrop of a fragile global economic recovery and an uncertain outlook. All of us are aware of the crumbling oil revenue in the global market, which

40.9%

The percentage of households with a computer in the Americas in 2005. Source: Itu.int

has resulted in the dwindling of our monthly receipts from the federation account allocation. The governor said he also expects to access N23 billion from the capital market with a provision of N7 billion term loan from the money market to cater for possible delay in accessing the bond. The governor expressed concern over the dwindling revenue

111

The sex ratio of men to 100 women in the 60+ age group in Maldives in 2012. Source: Un.org

to the state saying, however, that it has placed a demand on every government to be more prudent and pragmatic with public funds. He said: “This implies that we should be more prudent in managing our limited resources as well as work harder, faster and proactive to diversify the state economy towards revenue yielding initiatives in order to reduce our dependence on the federation account allocation for meaningful development in the state. “However, we remain resolute to get more young people working through a renewed emphasis on entrepreneurship.

RATTAWU begins three-day warning strike Dan Atori MINNA

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Political and Security Affairs, Adamawa, Mr Ibrahim Manuel; Representative of the Chairman, Presidential Committee On Victims Support Fund, Mr Alkassim Abdurkadir; Executive Director of the Committee, Mr Sunday Ochebe and Madam Amina Haruna, a beneficiary during presentation of relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS) in Yola …yesterday

Benue Assembly in stormy session over leader’s defection Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

he Benue State House of Assembly was yesterday thrown into a stormy session as proceedings were disrupted at plenary following the defection of House Committee Chairman on Finance and leader of the G-23, Hon. Baba

Ode, to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). G-23 is comprised of non-principal officers of the House. The House had slated for debate the issue of local government autonomy, separation of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice and first line charges.

Yobe PDP calls for cancellation of governorship primaries Hassan Jirgi DAMATURU

embers of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Yobe State yesterday called on national chairman of the party and the National Working Committee (NWC) to reject the winner of the state PDP

gubernatorial primaries, Adamu Maina Waziri. In a statement signed jointly by Hon. Baba Ali Maidala Potiskum, Alhaji Yakubu Musa Dumburi and Usman Abdullahi Gashua, which was made available to newsmen in Damaturu, the members said the winner of the primaries is unaccepted to them.

It was also to approve the Fourth Alteration of 2014 of the 1999 Constitution as recommended by the conference committee for the amendment of the constitution as well as alter the name ‘Nigeria Police Force’ to ‘Nigeria Police,’ among others. But the House, which had resumed from its recess, was later turned into a ‘theatre of war’

when Ode, who represents Otukpo/Akpa state constituency tendered his letter informing the House through the Speaker, Hon. Terhile Ayua, of his defection from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the APC. New Telegraph observed that when the speaker was foot-dragging on informing his

Insurgents’ determination worries Jonathan Buhari Bello JOS

resident Gooluck Jonathan yesterday said that he is disturbed by the ‘determination’ of insurgents that has continued to attack the country. The president spoke at the Plateau State Government House while commiserating with the victims of the recent

bomb attack in the state. He said he was in the state to condole with the good people and government of Plateau State over the unfortunate incident. Represented by the Minister for Water Resources, Mrs. Sara Ochekpe, who led the presidential delegation, Jonathan said: “I am highly disturbed by the determination by the people, who continue to act badly and attack the people.”

colleagues about the content of the letter, Ode took exception to the application moved by the Majority Leader, Mr. Paul Biam, for adjournment. The development ignited tension on the floor of the House, forcing the majority leader to interject: “No, you can't come in like that,” but Ode insisted: “I have the right of association.”

he Radio, Television and Theatre Art Workers Union (RATTAWU) yesterday commenced a three-day warning strike, shutting down radio and television houses in Niger State as part of a nationwide action meant to draw government’s attention to the plight of members. Officials of RATTAWU were sited at the gate of various governmentowned media houses in Minna as they move to ensure total compliance by members. It was also observed that members of staff of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Radio Niger and News Line were not allowed entrance into their premises. A member of staff of NTA, who did not want his name in print, said he came to the office as early as 7.30am only to find the gate under lock and key. He said: “I am the Assistant Manager, Programmes, I usually resume work very early, but to my greatest surprise, I was not allowed access to the complex."

Zamfara APC pledges better life in 2015 Idris Salisu GUSAU

he Zamfara State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lawali Abubakar Kaura, yesterday said the party under the administration of Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, would ensure that poverty is reduced to the barest

minimum across the 14 local government areas of the state by the end of 2015. The APC chairman spoke during a phone-in programme titled; ‘Zakara,’ which was organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Zamfara State chapter to allow politicians sell their parties’ manifestos and programmes to the people.

50 Special Features

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

‘Abia Patriots’ versus Kalu Ebere Wabara

n the past six months or thereabouts, some errand boys (real men do not carry out dirty assignations no matter the financial inducement) of the Abia State Government under the aegis of “Abia Patriots” have taken turns to pour invectives on the former governor of the state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, using a cocktail of media establishments (print and nondescript online portals which are best ignored) in the purported “crusade to salvage the legacy projects of Governor T. A. Orji under attack by Kalu”. The latest messenger of the so-called patriots is Donatus Okorie, former Secretary to the Government of Abia State, who, in a full-page interview published in THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER, of November 8, 2014, declared that “Abia had infrastructure challenge under Kalu”. Which state does not have infrastructural challenge in this country? Even Nigeria has a paucity of infrastructures! So, why must Kalu’s name be linked exceptionally to such a national deficiency? I think the point is that members of this ad hoc group must look for a straw to clutch onto as the epilogue/parting music of the current administration ensues. I am sure Okorie and his co-travellers have not heard of one cutting one’s nose to spite one’s face. That is exactly what the misguided fellows euphemistically called patriots are unwittingly and unconsciously doing. They think they are undoing Dr. Kalu through staccato media insurgency without knowing that they are inadvertently amplifying the man’s rising profile. The morbid hate that goes with the onslaught against Kalu is unimaginable. I just cannot rationalize why a government will deploy all manner of combative resources in the persecution of one citizen for eight years. Even if he had committed a combination of adulterous, genocidal, homicidal and murderous crimes, the combustibility of oppositional defence dogs lined up to emasculate him is clearly superfluous and needless. Dr. Kalu must be causing sleepless nights for a lot of his ferocious persecutors! We shall take the serial rehash of the Abia Patriots one by one as comprehensively symbolized by Okorie. “The immediate past administration, under Orji Uzor Kalu (a comma) is perhaps the worst government that Abia State has been privileged to inherit,” Okorie thunders hypothetically. Let me put it to Okorie and his co-gangsters that Kalu may probably (“perhaps”) be the worst government by inheritance (whatever that means), Gov. Orji is incontrovertibly the worst governor Nigeria has today and will ever produce! Ask multi-billionaire Prince Arthur Eze, Ali Baba, social media patrons and, most critically, residents of Aba and its environs. A colleague of mine, Henry Umahi, has done so many eye-popping and award-wining documentaries on the rot in Abia that it would be simply repetitive itemizing them here again. Anyone interested can demand the soft copies from Umahi or go to the National Library for copies of The Sun titles in the past three months. The investigative series by Umahi can easily be verified by any independent. Reactionary photo-shop theatricals cannot change the fact of these revelations. Okorie and members of his team keep talking about the “liberation of Abia from Kalu’s stranglehold with the support of stakeholders”. It is amazing that a single man, Kalu, could hold an elected executive governor and his government to ransom for almost eight years! It is strange that the entirety of the club of patriots do not

Kalu

Orji

know that this is a clear indictment of the present governor and his administration. How could Kalu have successfully done that in a state that is so enlightened with a superfluity of intellectual giants? I find this claim childishly ludicrous! Why is it that Abia is the only state where its former governor is daily humiliated by his successor? From all indicators, Dr. Kalu was not the worst among his colleagues, yet you cannot hear or read any venomous interjection about his 1999-2007 peers. A major morphological inexactitude used to obfuscate issues is “stakeholders”. Almost all members of the Abia Patriots use this amorphous lexicon in reference to a blind alley. Who are the stakeholders in the Abia project? For the avoidance of doubt, a proper contextualization of the word and its applicative essence and expansiveness should include all Abians, all Abia residents irrespective of your ethnic extraction, the entirety of Nigerians, government institutions, the private sector, global agencies—it is not, connotatively and denotatively, a microcosm of lackeys, stooges, surrogates, apologists, hangerson and prospective political appointees. It is also not a band of amnesic blokes and thoughtless ingrates who have fallen apart with Kalu or a cabal of those who just hate his guts/famousness/pan-Nigeria popularity or lately his membership of Forbes’ Club of 50 Richest Africans. Stakeholding has international dimensions. So, when I come across the word being used in its narrowness by messengers, I marvel at such blissful ignorance and sheer vacuity! It encapsulates individual and group cerebral hollowness. Dr. Kalu and I are stakeholders in Abia and its unstoppable redemption. No degree of blackmail can dissuade us and all those in the Abia rediscovery and re-engineering mission. Has it ever occurred to these anomalous patriots that Gov. Orji was a key member of the Kalu administration such that nothing got done without his approval and authorization? Many people still believe, wrongly or rightly, that Gov. Orji was the de facto governor from 1999 to 2007 before becoming the de jure governor as virtually everything revolved around him as the extremely powerful Chief of Staff. Issuing from that understanding, it would be irrational to exonerate Gov. Orji from any failings of his predecessor. Therefore, if as it is being erroneously mega-phoned that Dr. Kalu performed below expectation, it inevitably means, impliedly, that Gov. Orji equally did not make any difference despite his most strategic position as the livewire of that hypercriticized administration.

The interesting thing about this intervention is that all the issues thrown up are the same ones that have been on the gossip pedal since 2007, rehashed and repackaged by multifarious government operatives and nondescript clowns suffering from stomach infrastructural deficiency. What I am doing here is a global response to such systemic staleness, using Okorie as the anchor. Another ranting of his: “Can you imagine that the immediate past Governor governed Abia for eight years in an unbefitting apartment called Government House, Governor’s office and an archaic Executive Council Chambers (sic)?” Because of the precocity of time, I invite Okorie for a visit to Katsina, the Katsina State capital, where Gov. Shehu Shema, a governorship mate of Gov. Orji, recently built the best and most cost-effective Government House in Nigeria, if not West Africa. I will personally pay for Okorie’s return flight ticket, three-star (no four and five-star hotels in Katsina) hotel accommodation and other incidentals, including out-of-pocket expenses. What Okorie is boasting that his master built in Umuahia cannot compare to (not with) a wing of that multi-compartmentalized massive complex in Katsina. Yet, there was a governor before Dr. Shema. This also applies to most other states of Kalu era. Is governance fault-finding or consolidating on established structures and where there are none, new ones are constructed to the glory of God and joy of humanity? I do not understand this hoopla about the erection of modest official quarters. In any case, is that a measure of good governance in isolation? Such edifices are tangential and merely complementary to developmental initiatives—they should form the basis for any democratic KPI or trumpet-blowing or vain-gloriousness! This does not constitute a plank of human development indices, but catalyses administrative convenience. If the patriots were not shameless, they would not be talking of “Mother Excellency” and “Mamacracy” in veiled and mischievous reference to Kalu’s mother when Abians have been subjected to unparalleled and unmitigated surrogacy as scandalously exemplified in “Ikukucracy”, who, I understand, singlehandedly brought about Okezie Ikpeazu, the anointed, controversial and establishment governorship candidate of the PDP in Abia State. Can’t these fellows remove the motes in their eyes before making a laughing stock of their persons? It is crazy for kettles to call pots black. What obtains in Abia today through unprecedented surrogate mediocrity is incomparable to the

time of Kalu and the purported influence of his mother on his tenure. Okorie also talked of a war that was fought between Gov. Orji and Dr. Kalu, which my boss lost, “a situation he has been battling to reverse through scathing write-ups (sic) using his hack writers and shallow newspapers….” I have written voluminously about The Sun and its misperception by ignoramuses like Okorie who talk glibly without knowing their right from left about the business of communication, journalism, professionalism, media ownership, column writing and reportage generally. I will not waste time civilizing dunderheads like Okorie at every turn of their tantrums. If Kalu had been employing “scathing writeups”, the camp inexplicably opposed to his candour has been deploying acerbic, virulent and vicious articles via multimedia platforms, including jaundiced online portals and fictitious leaflets. If we are hack writers, interviewees like Okorie and other members of his patriots’ gang are inconsolable mercenaries, greedy mercantilists and famished bootlickers. Those publications the Okories of Abia use for their media terrorism may not be shallow but filthy rags that cannot stand near The Sun because their documented improprieties, corruptive tendencies and crass unprofessionalism are unrivalled and everyone in the media knows this for a truth. It is possible that Okorie and his co-beneficiaries in the underdevelopment of Abia are unaware that the state government bought Toyota Camry cars for friendly newspaper correspondents in Umuahia and put them on monthly stipends such that professionalism has inevitably taken an eternal flight as they turn a blind eye to the decomposition in God’s Own State! Such unprofessional media representatives who are eating blood money will suffer for it sooner than later. If they directly escape it, their offspring and lineage will generationally bear the brunt of their callousness. This explains why when they conduct their sham interviews with their benefactors, they ask leading questions! This is an old trick. It is unfortunate that the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigeria Press Organisation (NPO), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) have failed abysmally in the area of quality assurance and professionalism. It is now cash and carry with associational impunity. Let Okorie and his cohorts carry out a media audit with the assistance of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. As for content, media analysts are there to interpret the output of both parties. On the issue of hacks, while we pleasantly accept that, the Okories of this world, by their propagandistic avowals and dysfunctional outbursts, are worse because of their squandering of our patrimony that culminates in citizenship extinction on falsehood, public deception, mass deceit, blatancy of lies and ingenious distortion of facts. Whatever we sow, we shall reap! Okorie mentioned the enthronement of “freedom of expression and sense of selfassertiveness” by Gov. Orji. Is this Okorie living in the moon as not to know how the Press had been repressed in Abia in the past seven-plus years and how virtually all local journalists have been brazenly compromised? What self-assertiveness when Abians cannot speak out for fear of attack by rampaging and vindictive agents of government and rapacious forces on the fringes of the corridors of power in Umuahia? • Wabara (ewabara@yahoo.com/08055001948) is the media adviser to Dr. Orji Kalu.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Sport News

International Sport

My dream’s to manage Arsenal – Henry

Olajide targets Italian league title

Amokachi invites 24 players for Cote d’Ivoire, Mali friendlies

Rackets & Bats

Sport

Did you know? That since 94-95 season only Man Utd, City, Chelsea, Arsenal have won the EPL

Taribo drums up support for other sports

Emelieze

Asumnu

Taribo

Charles Ogundiya

espite being a retired footballer, former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, has charged the Ministry of Sports to invest more in other sports especially now that football is at its lowest ebb in the country.

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Deputy Editor, Sports

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sports

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sports Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sports Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sports Correspondent

Speaking with New Telegraph in Lagos recently, the former AC Milan of Italy player said the successful outing of Nigerian athletes at major competitions this year had shown that the glory days were back in the country. Taribo said: “I believe the Sports Ministry should invest more in other sports. Before now, Nigeria was involved in several sports but football later became our major preoccupation because footballers were doing so well.

“Other sports have given us joy in 2014, compared to football. Apart from the women team, we have not really had cause to be happy with our footballers in this outgoing year. “Athletes like Blessing Okagbare, the other young girl that won gold at the Commonwealth Games and African championship, Ese Brume and Aruna Quadri, that has taken the world by storm in Table Tennis and so many more, have done well in their respective

Quadri

Hadiza

sports.” He called on the government to create the enabling environment for other sports to thrive in 2015. The 1996 Olympic football gold medalist said: “Let us put more effort and commitment into sports like basketball, weightlifting, wrestling, parasports, table tennis and the rest. “The gover nment should put structure in place for these athletes to excel. Let them take part in various competitions to prepare them

for major events like the All Africa Games and the Olympics. “We need to get someone who knows the needs of the athletes, who has also been involved, to serve as a gobetween and liaise with officials. If we can take care of some of these things, the glory days of Nigerian sports will be recaptured.” Taribo is of the opinion that with timely preparations ahead of the All African Games in 2015 and Olympics in 2016, success will be within reach.

Jonathan to reward Commonwealth taekwondo team Emmanuel Tobi

n line with his administration’s policy of honouring excellence in sports, President Goodluck Jonathan has concluded plans to reward Nigeria’s Taekwondo team that finished fourth at the 6th Commonwealth Taekwondo Championship in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Nigerian contingent, led by Chika Chukwumerije won 10 medals – four gold, two silver and four bronze

medals – while Nigeria Taekwondo Federation vice-president, Margaret Binga, was also named the Best Referee at the tournament which took place between November 15 and 16. Sports Minister, Tamuno Danagogo, on Tuesday told New Telegraph that President Jonathan was poised to reward the athletes to enable them to attain greater heights. “The President has been very busy of late and you will recall that he is yet to host the Super Falcons. The Badminton team that won the

Africa Championship is also waiting on the cards, but he will definitely host and reward the Commonwealth Taekwondo team,” he assured. Danagogo, while praising the George Ashiru-led NTF for their continuous development of the sport, expressed confidence that Nigeria would win medals at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It would be recalled that Chukwumerije won a bronze medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

SPORT

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Reporting from a car boot! where Isaac Ibhafidon, Ikeddy Iziguzo, Biodun Onadipe amongst others, as friends and colleagues of different media organisations drew the wrath of our Uncle –Chief Ajibade Fashina-Thomas at the Media Centre for “scoops” that never emanated from his department or staff . The friends will simply melt into various associations, sneak around, ask questions and get their copies in their back pockets, went for lunch together and off to their newsrooms without sharing the “scoops” only to almost exchange blows the next morning for the various stories published. That was the happy part. Getting the “scoops” and competing. This prompted this recall. It was at the then UAC (now Teslim Balogun) Stadium where Stationery Stores played against National Bank in the famous but now “dead and buried” Oba Cup(no thanks to my friend Prince Ademola Adeniji –Adele) whose policy as Commissioner for Sports in Lagos State hit below the belt and his successor-Enitan Oshodi is more interested in table tennis where he now superintends as Federation President and aiming high at the African and

Muyiwa Daniel on Thursday

md_muyiwa@yahoo.com 08023525087 (sms only)

ass Communications teacher, Professor Ralph Akinfeleye(we called him - Raufu –for what it was worth for mischief at our cozy lecture hall on the Victoria Island premises of the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ). His first salvo in Journalism study begins with the description of four stages of reporting. First is the Journalism of “Gin and Lime”. He refers to that of clinking of glasses at Press Conferences and Annual General Meetings where the reporter at the end of the day returns to the newsroom with the already prepared press releases by the organisation dictating the news slant. The second is the Journalism of the Government Order which got those students that came from government institutions on the edge of their seats. That brand of journalism is that where the operation is simply reporting from the perception of the government of the day. More of being the mouthpiece of government. That is the position that my brother- Segun Adeniyi -

found himself while working for late President, Umar Musa Yar’Adua. It is the lot of Reuben Abati. Generally it is the thought process of those in the information ministries and other related agencies. The third is the Journalism of next-of-kin where the reporter sees no evil, says nothing about it as it concerns a relation, friend or associate. I guess, I went through that process despite battling with professionalism as Head, Media of the All-Africa Games –COJA 2003. The issue then was that Nigeria had to be presented to the whole world as a country of progressive minds who can deliver the games effectively. More on that later. The fourth – and about the most challenging was that of the journalism of investigations. That is unearthing news where in ANY clime personalities want swept under the carpet. It offered one the challenge of lifting it to public domain and getting it right with awards in merit and respect. We, as students took that to heart and jumped at it. I remember then – at the National Stadium – and Rowe Park Sports Centre

world bodies. Yomi Peters, was a combative striker for Stores having arrived from Mandilas. Daniel Ajibode was a former Stores defender and at that time coach of National Bank. The match could pass for a thriller. Indeed it was. Until Peters head-butted referee “Showboy” Bolaji Okubule. And mayhem followed. The match was halted and the Lagos State Football Association had to take a prompt decision. Chairman-Ojekunle Ferreirra (my father’s bestman) had to lead his colleagues to take a decision. But certainly not at UAC, where Stores fans were overwhelming. The Secretary, Oyeneye had a 504 Station Wagon and the decision was to “escape” to a safe zone. Having eavesdropped on the conversation, the reporter in me moved. I opened the boot of the wagon and lied flat shutting the boot. Between UAC and Saint Gregory’s College, Obalende on the Lagos Island (my Alma Mater), the decisions were taken Yomi Peters (banned for five years) Stores (banned for two years and fined) Okubule (banned for a year) Stores fans (banned from the stands in any match). I took notes. On arrival in Obalende, the committee members alighted at Vice-

Chairman and Principal Tony Omoera’s residence close to my Saint Augustine House dormitory. I opened the boot, notebook and pencil in hand, and rose with head high. What did the members do? Shocked! I left for Obalende and took the “Molue” to Punch Newspapers at Onipetesi. My boss and mentor- a Stores die-hard-Owolabi Ilori -had prepared a query for the reporter who had shunned duty. I put the reverse side of the query paper into the typewriter and wrote what went beyond the Sports pages to the front page as lead with news Editor-Tayo Kehindedancing all round referring to it as “master piece” while Editor-in-Chief, Sola Odunfa (evergreen with the BBC)another Stores supporter bought my drink…wait for it…in the newsroom. What followed was a bonus on the approval of “Sad Sam” Amuka-Pemu. And a ride to Island Club with Owoblow. As I reflect, cannot but thank Akinfeleye for that class. And as Yomi Peters begins the journey “Home” to the Lord with a farewell service at the Lagos SWAN Secretariat, National Stadium, this evening , I say “SUN RE O!” Thanks for providing that copy… from the boot of a car! Got the message?

Amokachi invites 24 players for Cote d’Ivoire, Mali friendlies

U-23 Eagles to play Egypt

Ifeanyi Ibeh

Ajibade Olusesan

uper Eagles Assistant Coach, Daniel Amokachi, has invited 24 players to camp ahead of the international friendly matches against Cote d’Ivoire and Mali billed for Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in January 2015. Topping the list is Gombe United goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim. Others are Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kwambe Solomon, Umar Zango, Rabiu Ali, Emem Eduok, Kingsley Sokari, Mfon Udoh, Gbolahan Salami and Gambo Muhammad. NFF media officer, Demola Olajire, stated that the players

were expected to report at the Bolton White Apartments, Abuja on December 28, with their international passports and four passport photographs. NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu, said: “We are working round the clock to make sure that the Super Eagles will have opponents for all the FIFA windows available in 2015, and we are happy that the two games with the Ivoirians and the Malians are sealed. “The Elephants and the Les Aiglons are on their way to the 30th Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, so they are sure to give our team good games.”

lSiasia endorses Uyo stadium

Emem Uduok (left), celebrating a goal with Osas Ighodaro

igeria national U-23 team will take on their Egyptian counterparts in four-legged international friendly matches as part of their preparation for the All Africa qualifiers in February 2015. According to a press statement released by the media officer of the team, Timi Ebikagboro, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent, the matches will take place both in Nigeria and Egypt. He said the first two matches will hold on January 15 and 17th at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium, while the second leg of the friendlies will hold in Egypt on

the January 20th and 22nd. The statement quoted Coach Samson Siasia to have said that that the team will then depart for Turkey on a playing tour. The coach has also proposed to the Nigeria Football Federation to allow the team move from Turkey to Dubai then Malta for more top grade friendly games before returning to Nigeria on the February 7 2015 to prepare for its first game against Gabon in the qualifiers. Meanwhile, Siasia has said the Uyo Stadium will be suitable for the team to play all their home matches in the qualifying series for both the 2016 Rio Olympics and the Congo 2015 All Africa Games.

Pepsi Academy will invest in Beach Soccer –Laloko Emmanuel Tobi

he Director of the Pepsi Football Academy, Kashimawo Laloko, has revealed that the academy will invest in beach soccer after been motivated by his side’s gallant 7-4 loss to Barcelona during the recently concluded 2014 Copa Lagos Beach Soccer Tournament. Speaking with New Telegraph, Laloko praised his side

for making a contest of the encounter against the Spanish side, who were 4-0 up at some point during the game. “We had many opportunities to level up but our boys were inexperienced,” said Laloko. “Playing on grass is very different from beach soccer. If you get a chance in beach soccer and you don’t take it, you get punished. “We had a lot of opportunities to win but we thank God we

gave a respectable performance,” added Laloko. Norden Thurston, Head of Marketing, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, said: “Pepsi Football Academy playing against a team as big as FC Barcelona is a great opportunity for the lads to gain exposure. We lost 7-4 to a more mature team not just in age but exposure to the game. The academy only started playing beach soccer barely a month ago.”

Managing Director, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, Mr. Sunil Sawhney (left) and Head of Marketing, Seven-Up, Mr. Norden Thurston (right), presenting a cheque of $7,500 dollars to Nigeria Beach Eagles’ captain, Isiaka Olawale, at the COPA Lagos... over the weekend.

INTERNATIONAL SPORT 53

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

My dream is to manage Arsenal – Henry

anaging Arsenal remains Thierry Henry’s dream job but the 37-year-old former striker knows he has a long way to go before he can replace Arsene Wenger. While working alongside Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher as an on-screen analyst, Henry plans to complete his coaching education and Arsenal look set to play a key role. “That would be a dream come true but that’s not how it works,” Henry told The Telegraph. “You have

Mourinho rules out January signings

to prove yourself first, you have to learn first. You need to be able to understand what it is to be a manager. “Can you teach, can you be patient? All these problems. People think they are all managers in their own way but it’s not that easy. “The plan is to start my badges and I guess Arsenal will help me. To pass your badges, you have to work closely with a club and I would like to think it is going to be Arsenal. You know I’m in London when you see me at Arsenal.

Thierry Henry

Khan eyes Mayweather, Pacquiao

Club World Cup: Ramos hoping to make final

eal Madrid defender Sergio Ramos is hopeful that he will be fit for the final of the Club World Cup on Saturday. The Spaniard opened the scoring in his side’s 4-0 semi-final win over Cruz Azul, but was forced off in the second period with a thigh problem. It had been feared that

helsea boss Jose Mourinho has ruled out making any January additions to his squad. Mourinho was active in the close-season as he lured Diego Costa, Filipe Luis, Loic Remy and Cesc Fabregas to Stamford Bridge, while veteran striker Didier Drogba also made an emotional return to the club. Bolstered by the arrival of that particular quintet, Chelsea have set the pace at the top of the Premier League, reached the League Cup semi-finals and will face Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League. However, given the club’s financial backing, Chelsea continue to be linked with a host of top players but Mourinho is not anticipating any activity in the transfer window next month. “We have a short squad but we’ve got good players, some younger, some older, but the squad is very, very good,” Mourinho said.

mir Khan has outlined his plans for 2015, with a fight against Floyd Mayweather in May top of his wish list before ending the year with a bout against Manny Pacquiao. “The plan would be the Mayweather fight in May, because he likes to fight in May,” Khan, who has stepped up from his previous light welterweight category, told Sky Sports News. “I’ve proven my point and my position in the world of boxing and now I’ve fought twice in

the centre-back would miss the conclusion of the competition, but he could yet be passed fit. “I’m not in too much discomfort and hopefully it’s nothing serious. They’ll have a look at it and I’ll see how I am then, but I hope to play in the final,” Ramos told reporters. “This the only competition I have yet to win.”

the welterweight division. “This time last year, I was very close to getting a fight with Mayweather. It didn’t happen but now I’ve proven myself, I think that fight would be ideal for me. I think I’ve got the style to cause him a lot of problems. “Then at the end of the year I’d love the Manny Pacquiao fight - I think that fight could definitely happen and I’d be confident I could win that. I think it’s a great time to catch those guys.” Khan

Olajide targets Italian league title Rackets& Bats T

Olajide

Ivanovic wants top spot

na Ivanovic hopes to return to the top of the world rankings and secure more Grand Slam titles. The Serbian star was the world number one for a spell in 2008, the same year she landed her only Grand Slam title at the French Open. The 27-year-old has only reached two quarter-finals in major tournaments since her French Open crown but she did enjoy an impressive campaign in 2014 as she finished the year as the world

able tennis youngster, Omotayo Olajide, has vowed to take his club, Stet Mugnano, into the top division of the Italian league at the end of the season. In an exclusive interview with our correspondent, the player said that his team was leading the log in the second tier of the league and their last match against Vigevano Cipolla Table Tennis Club would determine the winner of the group. He added that he was determined to lead his team to success so that he could rub shoulder with the best in the Italian table tennis.

number five. Ivanovic now hopes to build on her fine form in 2014 next year and hopes to return to the top spot in the rankings and add more Grand Slam crowns. She told The Sports Review: “I really feel I have the game to be at the top. I was No. 1 before, and I want to give myself the best chance to get back there. So I’m really working hard to get back. And of course to win another Grand Slam is my dream.” Ivanovic

with Ajibade Olusesan 07065377853

“My team can win the league title and get the promotion into the top division. We have some exciting young players in my team just like myself, these guys are from the Italian junior team and together we have formed a very good side. We are leading the table right now having won all our matches. “We are playing the last match for this year on Sunday in Milan. We are playing against the second-placed club and this match will decide who will be in the first position. We are ready for it,” he said.

Ajetunmobi, Atinuke chase trophy

he overseas based pair of Seun Ajetunmobi and Olaide Atinuke, as well as Fatimo Bello and 50 year-old Taofeek Maya, are all in with a chance of winning at the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation organised President’s Cup after progressing to the tournament’s last eight. Ajetunmobi emerged winner of his group, winning all his matches, but those victories weren’t on a platter of gold as he was made to fight hard by his group stage opponents. Atinuke’s passage to the last eight was however a smooth ride as she defeated most of her opponents with ease. 2014 Asoju Oba Cup champion, Fatimo Bello, was in superb form on Wednesday as she defeated Moji Ajibike and national junior champion, Tosin Oribamise, on her way to the championship’s last eight.

Kienka tips Michael for success

ennis coach, Godwin Kienka, has tipped youngster, Moses Michael, as one of the players that will dominate the game in Nigeria in the future. Michael sur prisingly emerged as the champion of the 14th edition of the Lagos Governor’s Cup Tennis Championship after beating an Ugandan player. And Kienka told our correspondent that the player was one of the products of the developmental programme stakeholders like him had put in place and he was excited to see.

“I am very happy for what Michael is doing at the moment. He graduated from the junior category just last year and it is amazing to see how far he has gone. He won the Governor’s Cup, which is not a mean feat and he has been doing well since then. Just last week, he withdrew from the NPA Tennis tournament to proceed to Togo to represent Nigeria in an ITF tournament that will help his ranking. He is one of the players that we can count on for the future,” he said.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

New music, old dance steps Thursday with Yemi YEMI AJAYI 0807 991 0957 (sms only) yemiajayi3010@yahoo.com

ince last Thursday’s emergence of former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the campaign to undermine the serial presidential candidate has been in overdrive. Buhari, who is running for the fourth time after his first attempt in 2003 on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), defeated four others to pick the ticket. His victory at the presidential primaries of the party sprang no surprise. It has been an educated guess in the last three months that he would be the party’s candidate. Unlike his other rivals in the party, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, also a fellow serial presidential aspirant, nobody commands such a cultic followership among the politicians in the APC. When he ran in the 2011 presidential race on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which he had hastily formed some few months to the election after a row with the ANPP, he had garnered 12,214,853 votes, representing 31.98 per cent of the total votes cast. Majority of his votes were from the northern electorate. President Goodluck Jonathan who ran away with victory with 22, 495,187 votes, representing 58.89 per cent of the total votes count, defeated him based on the support he got from other geopolitical zones, especially the South-West, which was then under the control of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Without acknowledging it, Buhari’s performance and the subsequent postelection violence that broke out in many northern states on the baseless suspicion that he was robbed of victory had rattled the ruling PDP about his candidacy for the 2015 race. But if the election had been conducted five times under the same circumstances, there was no way Buhari would have defeated Jonathan. Unlike Buhari, 2011 was the best moment in Jonathan’s political career. He was running not only as an incumbent, but like his first name, luck was good to him. He was coming with a lot of political goodwill arising from the circumstances of his ascendancy to the presidency. His shoeless-boy narrative was not only seductive; it resonated with many voters in a country where your filial pedigree defines your rise in the econo-political sphere. Besides, there was something innovative about his candidacy. He was the first southern minority to take a shot at the presidency. Despite the clamour by the North that the president was ineligible to run because the slot he was using belonged to the North following the death in office of President

Jonathan

Buhari

Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to whom Jonathan was deputy, many voters believed that for equity sake, there was nothing wrong in Jonathan running. And having risen through the ranks from deputy governor of Bayelsa State in 1999 to being vice-president in 2007, he has hands-on experience in gover-

Nigeria is in dire straits and voters need to seize the occasion in 2015 to decide whether given the challenges facing the country, Buhari is the better man for the job or they will stand up, again, for Jonathan nance. He ran and won and the rest became history. As said earlier, if 2011 were to be 2015, victory for Jonathan in the February presidential election would be a cakewalk for the president. Unfortunately for the president and his party, he is going into his second term bid under a different circumstance. The major and potent threat to his return bid is not only the divisive opinions about his stewardship, but the amalgamation of Nigeria’s major opposition parties to form the APC. The PDP has dominated the political space since the rebirth of democracy in 1999 because it is unarguably the only party with national spread to win elections. The support bases of other parties have been regrettably confined to a few geopolitical zones. The defunct ANPP, which started as the dominant opposition party in 1999, was largely a northern party despite the fact that it was once the ruling party in Kwara State. The Alliance for Democracy, which metamorphosed into ACN, was a South-West party despite pretences to the contrary. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has never shown much inclination from breaking out of its South-East mould. Therefore, it is no surprise that PDP has remained the dominant party in the country, until the February 2013 formation of the APC. The merger of the opposition parties, driven by Buhari and former Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, the two most feared opposition figures in the country; the former for his cultic followership and hardto-be assailed integrity and the latter for his doggedness and mastery of the game, have altered the game. With the coming together of ANPP, ACN, CPC and a rump of APGA, the opposition is now fighting on a platform that has more national outlook than hitherto. The merger put paid to the atomistic nature of the opposition parties which the PDP had exploited to retain its grip on power. Also, the internal crises, due to the whimsical way of managing PDP, have broken out to the advantage of the opposition. APC has reaped big from the PDP crises, harvesting four governors, speakership of the House of Representatives and lawmakers from both the National Assembly and state legislatures, among others. Having spent 16 years in power and with no viable alternative to the electorate, the PDP has become not only complacent, but suffers from a kind of entitlement complex. That is why many Nigerians who are not beholden to the ruling party gladly welcomed the birth of APC as they see in it the

vehicle to actualise their yearnings for a change. However, the PDP and its candidate seem not to be gauging the mood of the nation properly. That is why they have exhumed their campaign strategy to beat Buhari through his demonisation. The strategy, based on hate merchandising, is unfortunately, helping to further divide the nation. Although the strategy served the party’s need in 2011, it is a moot point if it will do so again in 2015. Time and circumstances have changed the game and this time capsule strategy may, however, not work this time around. Unlike 2011, Jonathan is campaigning now on his stewardship and even among his party members, they are divided about the much-touted stellar performance of the president. We have been regaled with how under his watch, the Nigerian economy has overtaken that of South Africa’s to become the largest economy in Africa simply by a mathematical juggling called rebasing. But many Nigerians have not seen how that voodoo exercise has transformed to shared prosperity. Unlike his godfather and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, this writer would not score the president below average; but he won’t award him an excellent grade either. As one of the over 22 million voters who trooped out in 2011 to put him in office, the fresh of breath air he was looking forward to has been fouled by abdication of responsibility, lethargy towards governance and divisive politics. Under his watch, Nigerians are now more divided along ethno-religious line than ever. The president has allowed his Ijaw kinsmen who made little investment in the circumstances that led to his emergence, first as acting president during the late Yar’Adua’s travails and the panNigerian mandate he got in April 2011, to diminish his presidency by their hate campaign and assaults on the sensibilities on other ethnic nationalities. Except for his kinsmen and those whose mouths have been stuffed with crumbs from the national patrimony, many Nigerians are unhappy with the president with his handling of the state of insecurity in the country, especially the Boko Haram insurgency. Jonathan has blamed everybody but himself for the security crisis. He has embarked on a circus of blame game to absolve himself from the crisis that he was constitutionally required to tackle. Like in the security sector, we have had megawatts of excuses why we cannot run our homes and industries on electricity from the public source. What Jonathan and his legion of supporters are failing to understand is that come 2015, he will be judged more by the critical things he has failed to do such as poor handling of the security crisis and the feeble anti-corruption crusade than the roads built and patched as well as the rehabilitation of the nation’s antediluvian rail track. Nigeria is in dire straits and voters need to seize the occasion in 2015 to decide whether given the challenges facing the country, Buhari is the better man for the job or they will stand up, again, for Jonathan.

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Are we building or destroying this democracy?

he recent primaries by political parties to elect candidates for the February 14 and 28, 2015 elections, if nothing else, were eye openers on how politicians and party leaders can, when it suits them, sideline the rule of law, justice, equity, fairness and the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended). Globally, party primaries are the first processes that will enable the electorate elect those to govern them. That is why a lot of people argue that credible party primaries are as important as the general elections. This task must not only be credible but it must be seen to be so by rival parties. This is due to the fact that political parties are contesting for votes of the electorate and a flaw in congresses or conventions can be used against a rival party by other parties. In essence, if the process leading to the emergence of the candidate of a rival party was faulty, such a candidate cannot be credible and, therefore, must be rejected on election day by the electorate. That is the parameter used by politicians in the Western world. That is why parties in those climes are always careful about processes and candidates. Pitiably in Nigeria, parties do not look at means to an end. They always look at the end. The primaries held in the last few weeks – governorship, National Assembly and Houses of Assembly – were, in many instances, anything but credible. In fact, they fall below global standards. The conducts were against the spirit of democracy which practises fairness and inclusivity. There were widespread reports of clear disrespect for party members and the rule of law. Or how do Nigerians explain a situation in which the rules for conducting primaries were unknown to aspirants or changed at the last minute? Also, what sort of process would keep aspirants and delegates in the dark about venue for primaries? To worsen matters, what type of process would not allow aspirants to know or see the list of delegates until they get to the venue of the exercise? In many of the parties’ constitutions, there is a section with the title ‘Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections’. It states that designated venue, date and time for primary elections SHALL (emphasis mine) be published and made known to members and aspirants, at least, seven days before the date of the election. Drafters of this section were not stupid. At least, the intention was to ensure that the process is made credible as much as possible. There is another section which states that list of delegates SHALL be made known to aspirants and party members. For anybody to seek to represent his party at any level, he must campaign and reveal his plans to members and delegates. Or how do you represent members who do not even know you or your plans? Also, the moment there is a court order stopping the process, it must be complied with until a higher court vacates the order. But, many of the primaries were conducted in flagrant disobedience of subsisting and binding orders of courts. Years ago, President Barack Obama of the United States (U.S.) referred to Nigeria as a country with strong individuals but weak institutions. Some government officials attacked him for the comments but

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is he not justified today when some governors wrote the list of delegates and kept it until the day of primaries? Why are we always sending the wrong signal to the outside world that the people do not matter in our own brand of democracy? Figures were computed to favour particular aspirants and, in many instances, wishes of delegates were subverted through the fraudulent allocation of votes. Do we have parties, in the real sense, in Nigeria? Brazenly, godfathers and some party leaders impose candidates with no iota of shame and they even boast about it that any aspirant who is not comfortable should go to court. They can say that because the judiciary has been compromised. In this country, everybody has a price. Decency has been thrown to the dogs. Anything goes and anybody who is not happy with imposition should go hug a transformer. Are we building or destroying this democracy? Look at what happened to Otunba Adegboyega Adefarati, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State? The son of the late governor of the Sunshine State, Chief Adebayo Adefarati, was a House of Representatives aspirant for Akoko South-West/East Federal Constituency in Ondo State.

The party leaders had earlier announced the Oka-Akoko Town Hall as the designated venue for the primary election but on the day of the election, the venue was changed to a hall at the back of the house of an APC leader supporting another aspirant. At the point of voting, the delegates’ list was changed. Thugs also stormed the venue to ensure that anybody against the new arrangement was dealt with. The APC Publicity Secretary and Financial Secretary in the council, Ojo Felix and Mrs. Bukunmi Akeju, who protested that they were never part of the new arrangement, were beaten by the thugs and sent out of the venue. Now, a candidate has emerged and Adefarati has petitioned the Legislative Election Appeal Committee of the party but will anything come out of the petition? Your guess is as good as mine. What of Kogi West senatorial district primaries? Despite the fact that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared that no primary election took place at the official venue (the Kabba Township Stadium), some party leaders had announced a former member of the House of Representatives, Dino Melaye, as the APC candidate. In the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), impunity, during the primaries, did not

rain, it poured. In Adamawa State, despite a court order, the party leadership announced the name of Malam Nuhu Ribadu as the governorship candidate. In the face of the law, only the House of Assembly primaries were held. A statement signed by all the governorship and National Assembly aspirants reads: “We are calling on the National Working Committee of the PDP to, as a matter of urgency, cancel the purported illegal primaries held in Abuja which is in contravention of court orders and to also organise and conduct the remaining primaries, being that of the National Assembly and Governorship as provided for in the law”. What of Anambra North senatorial district? On December 5, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh, announced the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) to postpone the primaries scheduled for December 6. This was because, among others, a day to the primaries, the Electoral Panel refused to provide the list of delegates for the exercise, refused to confirm the venue, refused to explain how delegates’ list was generated and refused to furnish aspirants with the list of Returning Officers. To ensure peace, election materials were kept in the custody of the state Police Commissioner, Hosea Karma. Despite these, a winner has been announced. Has Obama not been proven right now? In Bayelsa West senatorial district, Heineken Lokpobiri, a serving senator and an aspirant, was denied access into the venue. He said: “To my utter dismay and amazement, the only access road leading to the venue of the primary was effectively barricaded by a combined team of heavily-armed officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Army, purportedly deployed on the orders of the Governor of Bayelsa State. These officers prevented me and all the delegates accompanying me to the venue from accessing the venue of the primary. In my desperation to access the venue and participate in the primary, I called out my teaming supporters to come to my assistance and to witness this undemocratic and ugly development. When my supporters arrived in their numbers, they forced the barricade open and facilitated my entry. When I eventually gained entry along with statutory and official delegates, I saw some people counting ballot papers, indicating that voting had ended”. Now, there are two aspirants parading themselves as the candidates of the party. Can a party sink lower than this? Also look at the outcome of the Imo State governorship primaries? While the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, is already thanking delegates for electing him as the candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume has published votes obtained by the 28 aspirants, which has stopped Ihedioha’s victory dance. Now, the party in the SouthEast state is in turmoil. Ephesians 6:24 says “Peace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ IN SINCERITY” (emphasis mine). Many of our politicians claim that they love our democracy. Is it by mouth alone or in sincerity? With the outcome of the primaries, are they not enemies of our democracy? If you do not love this democracy (refusing to follow due process) but you want to eat ‘the good of the land’, are you not inviting trouble?

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotline: 01-8541248, Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: YEMI AJAYI.