Binder1 friday, july 24, 2015 by Newtelegraphonline

Osinbajo alleges plot to bomb VIPs' residences entertainment

Stella Damasus: The woman in charge

NNPC swapped $13bn worth of refineries' crude in 2014 Adeola Yusuf

T }21

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said 135.85 million barrels of crude, worth $13 billion, and which were meant for

the nation's four refineries were diverted for the crude oil-for-refined products exchange arrangement, better known as crude oil swaps in 2014. According to the oil corporation in its Annual

Statistics Bulletin for 2014, which New Telegraph obtained from its website, the deal was buoyed by the 14.4 per cent drop in cumulative refining capacity of the four refineries located in Port Harcourt, Kaduna

and Warri in 2014. This is against 22 per cent fall in 2013. From a total of 162.425 million barrels of crude oil allocated for the country’s four refineries in 2014 through the NNPC, the re-

fineries only received 25.84 million barrels of crude oil, leaving the 135.85 million barrels of crude oil unaccounted for. With an average price of $96.29 per barrel in 2014, CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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Friday, July 24, 2015

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NLC pushes for higher minimum wage }4

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House leadership crisis a distraction –Dogara }6

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Tompolo, MEND commanders regroup }2

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Buhari’s arrival after a visit to the United States, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja…yesterday.

We didn't receive bail-out from FG, say govs lTo meet Buhari on state of economy

News

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Tompolo, MEND commanders regroup Donald Ojogo Abuja

here was anxiety in security circles yesterday as a former militant leader in Niger Delta and founder of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Chief Gover nment Ekpomupolo, otherwise known as Tompolo, summoned key commanders of the group to a meet-

ing tomorrow. The meeting of the once deadly militant movement, billed for Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, is already sending disturbing signals to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. The gathering will be the first official meeting of MEND since its members, who disrupted oil production and embarked on kidnapping of oil workers and piracy,

accepted the amnesty offer of the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2009. A statement reportedly signed by Tompolo on the proposed meeting read: “My dearly beloved Commanders and leaders of various wings of the Movement of the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), I greet you all. “It is my pleasure to humbly invite you to a

very crucial and urgent meeting as follows: Venue: Izon House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Date (of the meeting is) Saturday, July 25th, 2015. Time (is) 2pm Prompt.” Tompolo signed-off with his traditional title – Izon Ibe-Ebidouwei of Izon nation. When contacted, Tompolo’s spokesman, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, confirmed the meeting, but allayed fears that it was a prelude to the out-

break of fresh hostilities in the oil-rich region. “It is not and cannot be what people think; there is no cause for alarm because no evil is intended by the meeting scheduled for Saturday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital. “And because the parley intends to be moderate and focused, only invited persons are going to be allowed into the meeting because there is need to be cautious in

L-R: Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu; Senate President Bukola Saraki; President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Ayuba Wabba and his deputy, Mr. Najeen Usman Yasin, during a visit to Saraki in Abuja…yesterday.

this regard. “Basically, the meeting is to have an appraisal of the prevailing situation in the Niger Delta and discuss modalities that will engender peace and development to our region. So any fears about the meeting is only misplaced and unwarranted,” Bebenimibo said in a telephone interview. However, it was learnt that leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the oil-rich Niger Delta region were said to have made efforts to reach Tompolo to ascertain the reasons for the meeting. “We are worried; this man is not known for frivolities and we need to find out why such a meeting at this time because he has remained silent and had made suggestions on the way forward for the Niger Delta region under this administration,” a top APC leader from the South-South told New Telegraph. When contacted, the presidency said it had no comment to make on the planned meeting, which is coming on the heels of the president’s return from a state visit to the United States. Presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, said: “I cannot make any comment on a meeting I know nothing about; you will also note that we just returned to the country, so there is nothing to say.”

We didn't receive bail-out from FG, say governors Onyekachi Eze and Biodun Oyeleye

overnors yesterday said contrary to reports, they have not collected from the Federal Government any fund to bail them out of their financial crisis. The governors, who met late Wednesday in Abuja under the auspices of the Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF), said the over N7 billion that was regarded as bailout from the Federal Government was their statutory allocations from the Federation Account. They also proposed a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari to seek a lasting solution to the worsening macroeconomic challenges confronting the nation, especially, the foreign exchange stability.

It was announced last month that the Federal Government approved N713.7 billion from the accrual from Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) packaged special intervention fund, as soft loan to states to clear backlog of salary arrears But the NGF Chairman, Governor AbdulAziz Yari of Zamfara State, told journalists after the meeting, which ended in in the early hours of yesterday, that the "Federal Government has not given any bailout to any of the states. "What were shared last time were monies from NLNG and FAAC (Federal Allocation Account Committee). And as we have been saying, we have not been looking for bailout. Instead, we have

been looking for all monies that are in the coffers of the federation, most especially, we are talking about some of the monies that hung around the coffers of government to be brought together for the purpose of sharing. "Therefore, we are not taking any bailout from the Federal Government and the Federal Government did not give us any bailout yet." Yari also said the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, had raised some issues that taking the monies from those accounts would affect the exchange rate. Also, the NGF, in a communiqué, pledged to work with Buhari to ensure coherent policy actions that will create a clear policy direction for the country and stimulate domestic production.

It promised, "to collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure that the National Health Act is operational and the one per cent funding for primary health care is provided for in the budget. "Sequel to presentation made by the Country Representative of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the forum agreed to aggressively support the total eradication of polio in the country." Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, was the first to deny that states got any bailout from the Federal Government. Also yesterday, Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, said the real bailout would not involve releasing money to states as the Federal Government would only ‘buy over’ the various indebtedness of the states to

enable them to meet other obligations. Ahmed, while taking questions on a programme tagged, ‘Governor Explains’ which was monitored by our correspondent, said what the Federal Government gave the states was their normal allocations. He said: “Kwara State collected N2.1 billion and the local governments collected N1.4 billion. The monies have gone into the payment of salaries at both levels, which of course is not enough. What the Federal Government truly means by bailout is the restructure of existing loans that states are owing banks and other financial institutions in such a way and manner that the pressure on the monthly repayment is lessen to create an additional headway for states to meet other finan-

cial obligations. “This bailout is just being worked on. It has not gotten to any state yet because we are just submitting the levels of debts that all states have incurred for those that have incurred debts. “The Federal Government does not have the capacity to take money and pay states to go and pay salaries. It is not possible. Where are they going to get the money from? But the best it can do is to help the states to restructure the loans. The savings from that comes from the repayment is what is meant by bailout and that is what the states are expected to use to defray their recurrent expenditure pressure. Nobody should imagine that any money will be given to states to pay out outstanding debts."

News

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

NEC advises state govts to cut cost of governance lOsinbajo alleges plot to bomb VIPs' residences

he National Economic Council (NEC) yesterday resolved that state governments should design ways of reducing the cost of governance. The resolution was taken at the 59th meeting of the council presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the Executive Chamber of the State House, Abuja. The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, who briefed State House Correspondents at the end of the meeting, said that the council also resolved to support the efforts of the Federal Government to boost the economy of the nation. Ambode said that the states did not have a uniform template on how to reduce the cost of governance but it was very clear that the states should in their specific situations find such way of cutting costs. “What is important is that we cannot continue with the kind of huge cost we are applying to run our government. “A situation where you are having a huge percentage of your budget as recurrent expenditure is

obviously not acceptable. You must look for ways in reducing the cost of administration in the various states,” he added. On the outcome of the NEC meeting, Ambode said: “We resolved that all states should find ways to reduce their costs of governance. We also spoke about the issues that relate to the state of insurgency in the North-East and the activities of Boko Haram. “We spoke extensively on its implication to the whole nation and what effect that will have on our economy. We also recorgnised the frantic efforts that has been made by the President and even his recent visit to the U.S. in trying to find solutions to resolve the situation in the North-East. “We also recognised the fact that the new Service Chiefs will cooperate with the president and also ensure that all the things that are to be put in place are done as quickly as possible. “We resolved to support the Federal Government in all its policy direction to boost the economy of this nation. “Above all, we also

spoke in areas that relate to boosting the revenue potential of the country. “We commend the efforts of the president, we also commend the effort of the Vice President on their visits to the areas in the North-East and also resolved that we will do everything in our own ways and rights to ensure that we boost the economy of the states in the NorthEast.” On the report of the

committee set up by the NEC to look into the depletion of the Excess Crude Account (ECA), the governor said the committee had yet to submit the report as it was still working on it. He, however, said that NEC would expect the report at its next meeting. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, made a presentation to the Council suggesting how

existing state loans could be restructured. But the council resolved that the governors of Bauchi, Rivers, Ondo, and Osun should follow-up with the CBN and resolve the issue by Tuesday. The council noted the various reports of insurgency and cattle rustling in parts of the North following security concerns raised by the governors of Yobe, Borno, Taraba, Kaduna, Gombe, Plateau

and Bauchi. At the meeting, Osinbajo revealed that security reports indicated that scavengers were being prepared by insurgents to dump refuse laden with bombs in the houses of Very Important Persons. NEC, therefore, recommended that adequate sensitisation to the development be carried out at the grassroots, while security should be beefed up across the country.

Clark lauds Buhari’s anti-corruption war Tunde Oyesina Abuja

jaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday hailed the anti-corruption fight of President Muhammadu Buhari. The elder statesman specially lauded the move to recover about $150 billion oil money stashed away in various banks outside the country by corrupt Nigerians. He noted that corruption which has become systematic and endemic has slowed down the progress of the country over

the years. Clark stated that if the culprits are not severely dealt with, the development will sink the country. The former Information Minister also called on President Buhari to as a matter of urgency appoint a successor to the former Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme to avoid imminent disintegration of the programme which has kept the peace in the Niger Delta. While congratulating Buhari on his official visit to the United States and his safe arrival to the

country, the Ijaw leader called on Nigerians to put the outcome of the 2015 general elections behind them and support the president in his fight against corruption. In a letter to the President, Clark, who traced the origin and importance of the Amnesty Programme to the nation’s economy, lamented that the programme is facing imminent collapse as it is without leadership. "It would be recalled, that the former Chairman of Amnesty programme and Adviser to Mr. President on Niger Delta Af-

fairs, Chief Kingsley Kuku has since vacated his office as a result of change of government, but unfortunately, he has not been replaced by an appointee even in acting capacity by Mr. President. As a result, the whole programme for now is without leadership, and no one has the authority to operate the account of the Amnesty Programme. "I have received series of delegates from our people on the same matter and I have appealed to them to remain calm and continue to maintain the peace," he said.

News

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

You can't raise electricity tariff now, court orders NERC Akeem Nafiu

he Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday suffered a setback in removing the legal impediment to raising electricity tariff as the Federal High

Court, sitting in Lagos, rejected its plea to vacate an order restraining NERC in collaboration with the electricity distribution companies (DISCOS) from increasing electricity tariff pending the determination of a suit before the court. Justice Mohammed

Idris struck out two applications brought by NERC challenging the order given in the suit filed by a human rights activist, Toluwani Yemi Adebiyi, over the proposed hike in electricity tariff. The court dismissed the preliminary objections by

the regulatory agency for being incompetent. On NERC's preliminary objection to the suit, the judge held that from the processes before him, the commission failed to comply with the mandatory provision of Order 29 Rule 4 of the Federal High

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, WorldMark Insurance Brokers, Mr. Shola Olabode; Hon. A. Haruna of the National Judicial Institute; Director General, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Mrs. Nellie Mayshak and Mr.Yinka Adewuti of Goldlink Insurance, at a workshop in Abuja… yesterday

Court Civil Procedure Rules to the effect that such objection must be filed within 21 days after service. Justice Idris said he did not agree with the submissions of NERC’s lawyer, George Nwechue (SAN) that the provision was discretionary, adding that the operating word “shall” makes it mandatory for the court. “The objection is incompetent and it is hereby struck out, having been filed outside the 21 days stipulated by Order 29 Rule 4,” Justice Idris ruled. On the motion to discharge the interim order, the judge equally held that it was not filed within seven days as stipulated by Order 26 Rule 11, and no order for extension of time was sought. The development, according to the judge, equally rendered the motion incompetent and accordingly struck it out. “The ex-parte order of this court restraining hike in electricity tariff is valid and still subsisting, Justice Idris held. NERC had filed a preliminary objection chal-

NLC pushes for higher minimum wage lAccuses N' Assembly of operating secret budget

Onwuka Nzeshi, Chukwu David and Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

he Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday called for an amendment to the National Minimum Wage Act to pave the way for higher pay for workers that will reflect the current cost of living in the country. It said in Abuja during a visit to the National Assembly that it would soon submit a new Minimum Wage Bill to the legislature for approval because the current minimum wage of N18, 000 had become unrealistic. "`The last Minimum Wage Act was promulgated by the National Assembly in 2011. As we also indicated in this year’s May Day address, the five-year circle, during which the National Minimum Wage is due for review, is here. “In addition, the devaluation of the naira from 150 to $1, to about N242 to $1 today underscores the grim situation for salary earners in the country against the fact that our economy is import-driven. The devaluation, in simple economic terms, means that the purchasing power of the ordi-

nary Nigerian wage earner is grossly devalued “The N18,000 minimum wage is no longer realistic as a minimum wage. As a result of this grim economic reality, Congress will soon submit a new minimum wage demand, which we hope will be negotiated by the tripartite negotiating team. Our hope is that when the end product of that negotiation is brought before the National Assembly for legislation, it will be treated with dispatch," NLC President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, who led the delegation to the National Assembly, said. Wabba also demanded explanations from the National Assembly on how its budget rose astronomically from N23.347 billion in 2003 to N154.2 billion by 2010. He blamed the high cost of governance on the jumbo salaries and allowances earned by some political office holders. According to him, information available to the NLC showed that the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) had, since 2009, put the salaries and allowances of "Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office holders numbering 17,474 at N1.126 trillion an-

nually. The central labour union also accused the leadership of the parliament of using its privileged position to put its budget on first line charge, thereby making the records of its earnings and expenditure inaccessible to the public. Wabba said the concern of the labour movement was to have in the National Assembly, an open, transparent and accountable budget based on the expenditure items of the legislative arm of government. The labour leader accused former Senate President David Mark of leading the parliament along the path of secrecy and appealed to the current regime to open up the books for public scrutiny. He said Mark attempted to explain the rationale behind the rising budget of the National Assembly, which contributed to the high cost of governance on the long run. "In calling for transparency and accountability, it is also our belief that those who seek to diminish the significance of this concern by saying that the budget represents a small fraction of the national budget miss an important point in the accountability

principle. "Our hope is that the Eighth National Assembly, under your leadership, will take deliberate steps to come clean with Nigerians and put to rest all the controversy surrounding the earnings of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives," he said. Wabba lamented the downturn in the economy and devaluation of the naira, adding that these conditions have worsened the plight of the average worker in Nigeria. On corruption, Wabba tasked the National Assembly to strengthen the anti-corruption laws to ensure quick dispensation of justice against those who looted the nation's treasury. He said for Nigerians to regain confidence in anticorruption agencies and the judicial process, high profile corruption cases should be more diligently and competently handled and dispensed with more quickly and timely. Corruption cases being handled by anti-corruption agencies, according to him, are taking too long to conclude with some lasting for as long as nine years. "Corruption will reduce once people know that

there is no hiding place for those who perpetuate it, and that corrupt enrichment will not necessarily be able to buy them freedom from the long arm of the law. Conviction of perpetrators of corrupt practices is how corruption is being tackled in other climes, where they have fought it, and brought it to a standstill” Wabba said. In his response, Senate President Bukola Saraki, while congratulating Wabba on his election in March, urged him to continue in the good work of representing the Nigerian workforce. He assured the NLC that the Senate would make an impact in the lives of the workers and ensure a connection between the workforce and the National Assembly. Saraki also said the Senate was on the same side with the NLC in fighting for the welfare of all Nigerians, saying that no sacrifice would be too much for Nigeria. On the fight against corruption, Saraki said the war could only be won if workers cooperated with government, stressing that no corrupt activity could be perpetrated without the input of the Nigerian workers.

lenging the locus standi of the lawyer to file the suit. The commission had also argued that the suit disclosed no reasonable cause of action and that the applicant failed to comply with relevant provisions of the law, as the suit was wrongly instituted. Also, in the motion to set aside the interim order against electricity hike, NERC had argued that the lawyer misrepresented facts before the court and misled the court to grant same. The matter was consequently adjourned till September 23, for the hearing of the substantive suit. Adebiyi, in the suit, is seeking an order restraining NERC from implementing any upward review of electricity tariff without a meaningful and significant improvement in power supply at least for 18 hours in a day in most communities in Nigeria. He also wants an order restraining NERC from foisting compulsory service charge on pre-paid metres' users not until "the metres are designed to read charges per second of consumption and not a flat rate of service not rendered or power not used." He also wants the service charge on pre-paid metres not to be enforced until there is visible efficient and reliable power supply like those of foreign countries where the idea of service charge was borrowed. Adebiyi is further asking for an order of court mandating the NERC to do the needful and generate more power to meet the electricity use of Nigerians. He added that the needful should include and not limited to a multiple longterm financing approach, sourced from the banks, capital market, insurance and other sectors of finance to power the sector. In an affidavit in support of the suit personally deposed to by the applicant, the lawyer lamented that despite the motto and mission of NERC which were expressly stated as "keeping the light on and to meet the needs of Nigeria for safe, adequate, reliable and affordable electricity," most communities in Nigeria do not get more than 30 minutes of electricity supply, while the remaining 23 hours and 30 minutes were always without light and in total darkness. "Nigeria’s poor masses are paying an estimated and indiscriminate residential bills ranging from N5, 000 to N18, 000, spending an average of N15, 000 to N20, 000 for fuel to maintain generating sets," Adebiyi stated.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Group sue govs, agencies, others over use of public funds Tunde Oyesina Abuja

group, Policing Nigeria Awareness Initiative, yesterday dragged all the 36 state governors,19 federal institutions and two dominant labour unions in the country before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja seeking for the release of information on the management of public funds. The group, which sued through nine of its members, filed the suit with number FHC/ABJ/ CS/607/2015. The suit has, however, not been assigned to any

judge. The plaintiff said it initiated the suit against the background of the inability of governments, at both the federal and state levels, to pay workers’ salaries and recent call for bailout by governors of the various states. The group sought an order of mandamus, directing relevant Federal Government agencies to produce, among others, records of account showing allocations from Federation Account to the various state governors between May 29, 2007 and May 29, 2015. It also seeks an order of mandamus compel-

ling the relevant agencies to provide the court with information on the local and foreign debts of the 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) within the same period. In addition, the plaintiffs also want the court to order concerned government institutions to produce records of the capital expenditures of the 36 state governors and the FCT within the four-year period. They also want the court to order the Code of Conduct Bureau to produce the asset declaration forms submitted by incumbent and the immediate past governors along with their

Buhari’ll limit probe to Jonathan’s administration –Presidency

resident Muhammadu Buhari has declared that his anti-corruption fight will be limited to the immediate past administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. The president has vowed to prosecute ministers and government officials who were engaged in corrupt practices and oil theft while serving the Jonathan administration. Former President Jonathan had before he left office stated that limiting the probe to his administration would be seen as witch-hunting those who served his government. But Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina, told Channels Television yesterday that limiting the probe to the activities of the immediate past government would only make sense. “It would be a distraction for the President to begin digging into all former administrations but for a proper take-off of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, there is the need to look into the immediate past government,” Adesina said. The presidential spokesman stated that the probe of the Jonathan administration is not a witch-hunt, saying only those who looted the nation’s treasury would be made to return such loots. Adesina said embarking on the probe of administrations of Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsalam Abubakar, Sani Abacha and Ibrahim Babangida will only be a waste of time. The presidential spokesman noted that

Buhari had before his inauguration stated that it would be a waste of time if he extends the probe to past administrations. “If you recall, that was already settled before he got inaugurated

as president. He has said he will not waste time digging into the far past. The far past will includes Obasanjo and others. But the president has said he will not waste time to go that far,” he said.

commissioners, special advisers and other categories of their aides. Nine members of the group comprising Tony Akeni, Akpan Daniel, Lennard-Henry Monogoma, Petter Eboye, Nwoche Petter, Steve Mondo, Abubakar Bitako, Abdul Adesina and Mimi Ayua, claimed to have instituted the suit on behalf of the group, their respective geopolitical zones and Nigerians home and abroad. They plaintiffs through their lawyer, S. A. Adukwu, anchored their suit on provisions of section 1(2) and (3) of the Freedom of Information Act. The Federal Government agencies who are

among the first 13 defendants include the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Code of Conduct Bureau, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the Debt Management Office (DMO). They also include Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Ministry of Finance, Accountant-General of the Federation, Securities and Exchange Commis-

sion (SEC), and Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE). Other Federal Government officers and institutions sued as 47th to 52nd defendants are: the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Minister of Petroleum Resources, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Federal Ministry of Education and the Director-General of the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS). Also, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are joined as defendants.

Buhari returns from Washington after official visit

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday returned from his four-day visit to Washington. The visit of the president was on the invitation of President Barrack Obama of the United States. He arrived the presidential wing of the

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at the early hours of Thursday in company of five governors and other presidential aides who had travelled with him. The president was welcomed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and the Service Chiefs. While his journey last-

ed in Washington, President Buhari met with Mr. Joe Biden, Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry and several other officials of the U.S. Government. He also met with the Nigerian community where he reiterated his commitment to better the lots of Nigerians both at home and abroad.

L-R: Governors Willy Obiano (Anambra), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos) and Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

Oil industry association protests ban on 113 oil tankers

he global oil tanker industry association, INTERTANKO, has protested the ban on 113 oil tankers by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). INTERTANKO, whose independent members own the majority of the world's tanker fleet, said in a letter to NNPC, dated July 22, that there were no "evidence or grounds" given for the ban. NNPC had issued a letter on July 15, citing a directive from President Muhammadu Buhari, which

said the vessels, mainly VLCC crude oil tankers, were banned from calling at Nigerian crude oil terminals and also from Nigerian waters with immediate effect. In a protest letter, the industry association said the ban must be lifted immediately as no grounds have been given for the measure. "INTERTANKO protests in the strongest possible way that these bans should be lifted with immediate effect until grounds and evidence for the ban have been given

to each vessel and vessel owner/operator, and the owner/operator has had an opportunity to respond," General Counsel Michele White wrote in the letter. White said the list of banned tankers was "not exhaustive and already further tankers are being added." "Our current understanding is that these ships may have been targeted due to a failure to provide official outturn figures at their last call and/or commercial differences be-

tween load and discharge figures for cargo and free water," White said in a separate note to members. "This may also, however, be part of a general crackdown by President Buhari on corruption in Nigeria's maritime, oil and gas, financial services and security sectors, including illegal bunkering and fuel sales." White said after INTERTANKO had spoken with its members in some cases the ship had not called in Nigeria for several years, or at all.

"In others, the ship has changed ownership since her last call in Nigeria," White said. "Members have also advised that some oil majors are attempting to introduce charterparty clauses requiring the owner to warrant that the vessel is not subject to any Nigerian bans or restrictions due to failure to report any outturn figures for prior voyages." According to Reuters, INTERTANKO said it had advised members to avoid such a provision.

News

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

House leadership crisis a serious distraction –Dogara

lNational Assembly crisis shameful, says Emir Philip Nyam Abuja

peaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, yesterday lamented that the protracted leadership crisis rocking the National Assembly was a serious distraction hindering the smooth take off of the legislature. Dogara stated this while inaugurating a 12man committee to help in the nation's law reform process in Abuja. He explained that the House was committed to the speedy passage of all major bills before it so as to impact positively on the lives of Nigerians, a move the leadership crisis has slowed down. According to him, the setting up of the committee was to facilitate a review of the various laws in the statute books of the country which, he noted, had become anachronistic and outdated. He added that by the provision of Section 315 of the 1999 Constitution, all existing laws, including military era legislations were deemed to be Acts of the National Assembly.

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He said: "The eighth Assembly has had a few distractions, but it is time to get on to the job for which we were elected. Apart from reviewing existing laws, law reform involves introduction of new laws where necessary. "Laws that aid the anti-corruption struggle, infrastructure renewal, efficient and optimal utilisation of our petroleum resources, solid minerals, education and social services, agriculture, diversification of our economy and massive employment of our teeming youthful population should engage our undivided attention as a parliament." "The good news, however, is that the eighth House of Representatives is resolutely committed to expeditious passing of all major bills before it or submitted to it that will impact positively on the lives and well-being of Nigerians. This is the irrevocable undertaking enshrined in our legislative agenda," Dogara said. Members of the committee include: Hons. Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Razak Atunwa, Ken Chikere, Madubueze Peter Obiano, Olabode Ayorinde, Simon Arabo; President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Austin Alegeh; NBA Secretary, Mr. Afam Osigwe; Prof. C. O. Okonkwo; Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Prof. Auwalu Yadudu, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, Prof. Joash Amupitan, Dr. Ladi Hamalai and Prof. Okechukwu Okoli. Other members are:

Barr. Kefas Magaji, Mrs. Oguneye, Mr. M. A. Sani Omolori, Hon. C. I. D. Maduabum, Dr. S. A. Danwanka and Prof. Ade Adekunle. The committee, as part of its terms of reference, is to advise the Speaker and the House of Representatives on the legislative action required for revision of all existing laws with a view to incorporating all amendments and adaptations made earlier. The panel is also expected to advise the Speaker and the House of Representatives by collating all existing laws and evaluating their efficacy and effectiveness as well as to assess all existing laws and

identify areas that require reform or further legislative action. Meanwhile, the Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Mustapha Agwai II, has described as unfortunate the recent crisis in the two chambers of the National Assembly. He said Nigerians sacrificed their comforts in order to effect leadership change in the country with lots of expectations, but that the crisis over leadership positions is both disheartening and unfortunate. A statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the Speaker, said the monarch spoke yesterday in Lafia, Nasarawa State

capital, when Dogara paid him a condolence visit in his palace. “The things we are seeing happening in the two chambers of the National Assembly are not encouraging,” Agwai said. According to him, people sacrificed even their lives for the present crop of leaders to be elected with the expectation that they will deliver on the mandates given to them and provide good leadership. He said it will be disappointing if they fail to learn from history and provide solutions to the many problems bedevilling the country. “Recent events in the

National Assembly are shameful. When will the crisis and struggle for power be over? People can’t wait anymore for change to take place. “You have asked us to pray for peace in our land and for all leaders, we are also appealing to you our leaders to put your individual ambitions and interests aside because it is God who gives power to people,” he said. He said Nigerians are watching events in the National Assembly with keen interest. Speaking earlier, Dogara called on the Emir not to relent in praying to God over the security challenges bedevilling the country.

L-R: Vice-President, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Mr. Nat Ofo; President, Mr. Suleyman Ndanusa and Registrar, Mr. Dele Togunde, at the institute's 2014 Annual General Meeting in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI.

NNPC swapped $13bn worth of refineries' crude in 2014 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

according to the Price Reference Basket of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the 135.85 million barrels of crude diverted is worth about $13.billion. This is valued at N2.289 trillion at N175 to a $1 exchange rate in 2014. The refineries were only able to refine 23.36 million barrels of crude oil and this amount of crude oil processed by the refineries, according to the NNPC, translated to an average daily production capacity of 64,001 barrels per day. Group General Manager, ‎Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, did not pick calls on his mobile phone for clarification, but a source at the corporation said the proceeds from the crude swap had been remitted

to the Federation Account. His view corroborated NNPC's bulletin, which added that crude valued at N6.76 billion were received by the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC). “The PPMC evacuated 3.208 million metric tonnes of petroleum products from the refineries and it also imported 7.038 million metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Household Kerosene (HHK) for distribution valued at N6.76 billion on Offshore Processing Agreement (OPA) and Crude oil for product SWAP arrangements. "The state of the refineries has made it difficult for the corporation to utilise the entire volume of crude (445, 000 barrels per day). So, you should expect a business-minded corporation to re-channel the unutilised volume for

business purpose by a way of sending them abroad for the product-for-Crude exchange programme (crude swap)," the bulletin said. Meanwhile, the daily supply to the refineries represents 15.91 per cent of the total crude oil allocation of 445,000 barrels per day. The balance of 135.85 million barrels was, however, not accounted for by the NNPC. This means that 135.85 million barrels of crude oil might have been appropriated for other unexplained reasons, or used for the controversial Offshore Processing Agreement (OPA) or for the Crude oil for product SWAP arrangements entered into by the NNPC. “We took a conscious decision that if the refineries are not in a good state to process crude for maximum gains, then

there was no point in sending crude to the refineries. What we do is to try and fix it, so that by the time it starts processing the crude, then we get real value for the crude we have sent to the refineries," Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Joseph Dawha assured Nigerians penultimate week, that the refineries would be put back on track. The Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency International (NEITI) had earlier said an estimated $8 billion annually was lost by Nigeria through the crude oil-for-refined products exchange arrangement, better known as crude oil swaps, which the NNPC has with oil traders such as Trafigura, Vitol, Aiteo Energy Resources, Mercuria, Glencore, Taleveras Group Nigeria Limited, Sahara Energy Limited,

Etena Oil and Gas Limited, Ontario Oil and Gas and Rahmaniya Oil and Gas. Although these allegations have been refuted by the companies involved, the NNPC's bulletin showed that the refineries received a total of 25.84 million barrels (3.5 million metric tonnes) of (dry) crude oil, condensate and slops in the year under review, translating to 70,793 barrels of crude oil, condensates and slops per day. The amount of crude oil supplied to the refineries daily was 374,207 barrels less than the 445,000 barrels per day of crude oil allocated to the NNPC for the refineries in the country. With the amount allocated to the NNPC, the refineries were supposed to receive 162.425 million in 2014.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH friday, july 24, 2015

WAEC vows to prosecute erring centres, candidates Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

he West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has issued a warning to candidates and schools that engage in organised examination malpractices, noting that dire consequences, including persecution await those caught in the act. The Head, National Office of the Council, Mr. Charles Eguridu, who gave the warning yesterday at a Road Show on Examination Malpractices Sensitization held in Abuja, stated that WAEC had introduced stricter measures and the use of advanced technology in its bid to curb the menace in the country. “We have regulation that governs the conduct of our examination. When we discover candidates who are involved

in examination malpractice, we have the power to withhold their results and carry out investigation. “ When we investigate and confirm that they were involved in any form of malpractice, the results of that subject could be canceled, the entire results could be canceled and the center can be de-recognized. “We have introduced some technologies in the conduct of our examination; we have introduced a technology that verifies candidates to be they are the candidates that registered for the exam. At the point of registration, we captured their biometric features; we get their fingerprints, then we also get their facial features and this is uploaded in to our database and on the day of the exam, theses features are uploaded into a handheld device at the centre and like the card reader does, we verify that it is

the candidate that writes the exam." He said Eguridu explained that WAEC remains the only examination body that has introduced the use of the technology in the conduct of examination in the whole of Africa. He noted that Nigeria has the highest number of examination irregularities among the five WAEC member countries. “Nigeria is the biggest office among the five member countries. We have the largest number of candidates in terms of population; apparently with that population, we record the largest number of examination irregularities in terms of examination conducted by WAEC across the member countries.” In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. MacJohn Nwaobiala, decried the increasing rate of examination malpractice in the country.

Naval chief tasks officers on writing Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

he Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibokeate Ekwe Ibas, has challenged both serving and retired officers of the navy to document their experiences , knowledge into books in order to close the wide gap in knowledge amongst the officers. He said that men and officers of navy must pay deep attention to the knowledge acquisition and putting such in to books for others to learn from their experiences . The naval boss admonished his officers yester-

day in Abuja at a book launch by a retired navy officer, Commodore Idris Uru Yusuf(rtd) entitled " the Nigerian Navy: Development amidst contemporary challenges". Represented by Naval Chief of Administration (National Headquarters) Rear Admiral Goddy Anyankpele , he said the author from a robust career that spanned over three decades has succinctly captured his experiences as a participant of old and new navy era in a book. "As a retired navy engineer, Yusuf has done what many retired officers could not achieved by cue-in successfully in to private life as academician .The book

is no doubt an expression of history of navy as seen by a participant actor. He was part of the old and new navy. He started with the old navy and retired with the new navy and the book chronicled in details vital developments in the annals of navy as institution". In a remark earlier, chairman of the occasion and pioneer Director- General of National Broadcasting Commission, Chief Tom Adaba, also harped on need for people that had served out their working years in their areas of specialisation to document such in to books to guide upcoming generation.

Corruption: Ondo PDP berates Buhari Babatope Okeowo Akure

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State yesterday asked President Muhamadu Buhari to face the task of government instead of raising allegation of corruption against the immediate past administration. The party, in a statement by the Director of Publicity, Mr Ayo Fadaka, said since May 29 when President Buhari came into office, he has been preoccupied with the task of rubbishing his predecessor instead of moving the nation forward. According to him; "It becomes obvious that the

only agenda that Buhari seems to have for prosecution is to ridicule the reign of his immediate predecessor, President Goodluck Jonathan, through the numerous declarations that seem to suggest that every action of that regime is corruption laden and obviously this is not true." He added: "Our intention is to reawaken Buhari to the fact that there remains a gargantuan assignment of state begging for his attention and sadly enough, he does not seem to recognize this fact as his attitude continues to suggest that corruption remains the only problem that continues to stare Nigerians in the face. "Buhari’s latest vitu-

peration that ex-Ministers stole and sold one million barrels of oil per day is not only sensational but a mere gimmick to divert the attention of Nigerians from the fact that his ‘touring administration’ has so far failed to get its bearing and impact positively in the life of average Nigerians. "Since he became President, he has failed most blatantly to address the issue of continuing fuel scarcity and its sale above the approved pump price and we even note that Boko Haram whose activities were seriously hampered and curtailed in the twilight of the Jonathan administration is now brazenly empowered and operates boldly in our cities."

IN THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA IN THE LAGOS JUDICIAL DIVISION HOLDEN AT LAGOS

IN THE MATTER OF PETROLOG CAL DIVE NIGERIA LIMITED AND IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT CAP C20 LAWS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA 2004 AND IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION FOR WINDING UP PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 408, 410 AND 486 OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT CAP C20 LAWS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA 2004 SUIT NO. FHC/L/CP/1003/15 IN RE: PETROLOG CALDIVE NIGERIA LIMITED ... PETITIONER NOTICE is hereby given that by an Order dated 10th day of July, 2015 by the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, Coram Honourable Justice I.N. Buba it was ordered that the winding up of Petrolog Cal Dive Nigeria Limited be continued subject to the supervision of the Court and that the appointment of Messrs Adedayo Ayoola-Johnson of Adepetun, Caxton-Martins, Agbor & Segun and Olujumobi Orioye of Filial Partners as joint liquidators of the Company in line with the resolution duly passed at the Extra-Ordinary General Meeting of the Company held on 14th April 2015 is sanctioned by the Honourable Court. Any creditor or contributory of the said company should within fourteen days of this publication send details of any claims together with supporting documents they may have against the company to the liquidators at both office addresses provided below. In addition such claims and supporting documents may be sent to the email addresses provided below Dayo Ayoola-Johnson Adepetun, Caxton-Martins, Agbor & Segun 9th Floor St. Nicholas House Catholic Missions Street Lagos Island Lagos dayoola-johnson@acas-law.com Olujumobi Orioye Filial Partners 72 Queen Street Alagomeji-Yaba Lagos. orioye.oo@filialpartners.com

News

JV funding: PENGASSAN tasks FG on cash-call arrears Sunday Ojeme

orkers in the oil and gas industry under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have called on the Federal Government to put machinery in place for the payment of cash call in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Joint Venture (JV) operations with the oil companies. The national Public Relations Officer, PENGASSAN, Comrade Emmanuel Ojugbana, noted that the Joint Venture between the NNPC and oil companies presently accounted for more than 60 per cent of Nigeria’s crude oil production. He said in a statement made available to New Telegraph yesterday that contributions of the JV operations to the nation’s economy could not be under emphasised despite increasing production from the Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) fields. He explained: “The JV structure is an average of 55 per cent for the NNPC and 45 per cent for private oil companies.”

NATIONAL

Village head, seven others killed in Borno lDeath toll in Gombe blast rises to 31 Ahmed Miringa Maiduguri

o fewer than eight people, including the village head of Pompomari village of Biu Local Government Area of Borno State were slaughtered when suspected members of

Abuja

resident Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the death of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Aminu Saleh. The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, commiserated with the family, government and people of Bauchi State over the death. Buhari mourned the

loss of Saleh whom he described as an astute administrator and highly respected bureaucrat, who served the country patriotically in various capacities as a Permanent Secretary, Minister, member of various Boards before his voluntary retirement from the public service. The President particularly recalled the contribution of Saleh to the establishment of the Petroleum Trust Fund, and also noted his unwavering commitment and forthrightness on matters of nation building.

Nigeria set to eradicate polio by 2017 Appolonia Adeyemi

ithout any reported case of polio in the country in the last one year, Nigeria is one step closer to achieving the goal of eradicating polio in 2017. Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Muhammad, who made this assertion, also said halting polio in Ni-

Boko Haram terrorist invaded the village. Pompomari village is 2 kilometres away from Miringa town and about 12kilometres away from Buratai town, the home town of the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Tukur Buratai. A resident of the area, Isa Umar, who fled to Biu, told our correspondent on phone that the

insurgents stormed the village at about 3:50pm where they picked their victims and slaughtered them, before they left unchallenged. He said: “The insurgents, who fled at about 3:50pm picked their victims and slaughtered them, including the village head. As I am speaking to you, most of our people have fled to Biu

and some are still missing”, A security source from Biu, who does not want his name in print, confirmed the incident saying that “we received a report from a village near Miringa District of Biu that Boko Haram insurgents slaughtered eight people”. In a related development, some Boko Haram terrorists also attempted to attack Magari village

L-R: Director, Regulation & Monitoring, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Prince E. O. Jeminiwa; General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN, Richard Iweanoge; winners, Adekoya Bolatito Khadija and Olola Seun, at the presentation ceremony of MTN TruTalk Best 11 promo, in Lagos…yesterday.

Buhari mourns Aminu Saleh Anule Emmanuel

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

geria will save hundreds of thousands of children from lifelong paralysis or death each year. It will be recalled that the last case of polio in Nigeria was reported exactly a year today in a 16-month old boy from Sumaila Local Government Area (LGA) in Kano State. If all pending laboratory investigations return negative in the next few weeks, Nigeria will officially be taken off the list of polioendemic countries.

of Biu Local Government, four kilometers away from Buratai. But while they were resting under the tree before entering the village, they fell asleep. meanwhile the death toll in Wednesday’s multiple bomb attack in Gombe State has risen to 36, according to online newspaper, Premium Times. The newspaper quoted local authorities as saying that 30 people died in three explosions that occurred at two motor parks. But the Chief Medical Director of the Specialist Hospital in Gombe, Reuben Ardo, said on Thursday that 86 people were taken to the hospital, out of which 15 died. A pregnant woman was among the injured. Ardo said the injured woman underwent an emergency caesarean section and was delivered of a baby girl ahead of her due month. Of the 71 injured people, 56 were discharged and 15 admitted in the hospital, he said. At the Federal Teaching Hospital, the Deputy Director Public Relation, Haruna El-Rasheed, said 66 people were taken to the hospital, out of which 21 died. Thirty six were admitted and nine discharged.

APC meets over Kogi, Bayelsa guber polls Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday commenced arrangements for the governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States slated for November and December this year. A source close to the National Working Committee members told the

New Telegraph that the elections were top on the agenda of the NWC meeting yesterday. According to him, the meeting had nothing to do with the party’s crisis in the National Assembly as being speculated. The source explained that also on the agenda of the meeting was issue of how the party would win the two states governorship elections. Also, the issues of elec-

tion tribunal sittings and party funding were discussed in the meeting. The source stated that national leadership of the party believes that it was unnecessary to continue to discuss the crisis in the National Assembly, but was of the opinion that it would be resolved before the end of the month. On what preparation for the election in the two states controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party,

PDP, that the NWC members were making, the source stated that the time table for the primaries and those that would be sent to go and conduct the primaries were discussed. Since the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, announced the date of the elections, governorship aspirants and their supporters from the two states have been visiting the national secretariat of the party.

Senators kick over EFCC’s invitation of Saraki’s wife Chukwu David and Wale Elegbede

he Like Minds Senators yesterday expressed reservations over the invitation of the wife of Senate President Bukola Saraki, Toyin, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Mrs. Saraki was invited by the anti-graft agency over alleged corrupt practices while her husband was governor of Kwara State between 2003 and

2011. She is expected to be interrogated by EFCC operatives on Tuesday, July 28. The pro-Saraki Senators stated that the invitation of Mrs. Saraki by EFCC is very curious. In a statement signed yesterday on behalf of the lawmakers, Senator Dino Melaye queried that, “we hope that the invitation of Mrs. Saraki was not politically motivated or linked with the on-going leadership tussle in the Senate.” The lawmaker noted

that the decision of the EFCC to invite the wife of the Senate President created a lot of coincidences which any discerning mind would not want to ignore. “Though, we do not want to make any hasty conclusion, we are surprised that about five years after the Sarakis left Government House, Ilorin, the EFCC suddenly realised the need to invite the wife. We hope this is not part of the plot we have heard about aimed at wrestling

the Senate President down with different tactics. “We have heard some of our colleagues and their sponsors boasting about throwing all types of mud at the leadership of the Senate in the bid to force it to accept their conditions. The EFCC definitely should perform its lawful duties but we warn that it should not return us to the dark days when the antigraft agency was frequently and flagrantly used as a political weapon,” Melaye stated.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

News

NATIONAL

NUC disowns online degrees, Abacha University Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

he National Universities Commission (NUC) yesterday warned Nigerians against patronising online universities and other degree awarding institutions operating online saying that any certificate obtained from such institutions is not recognised. Speaking at a press conference at the Headquarters of the Commission, Director, Information and Public Relations, Ibrahim Usman Yakasai stressed that degrees obtained online are not accepted in the country. He said, “Nigeria will not recognize online degrees. Online degrees are not accepted in Nigeria at the moment” This was as he also warned Nigerian students and parents against patronising Maryam Abacha American University, Niger Republic noting that the Commission has been inundated with enquiries from some Nigerian students who had been offered admission in the university. He disclosed that the

PDP chieftain defends Buhari’s probe Caleb Onwe Abuja

eoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain and serving member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Prince Idongesit Ituen has described as uncharitable the idea that President Mohammad Buhari was out to witch hunt the opposition parties by his much touted probe of the past administration. In a statement he issued during a press briefing in Abuja, Idongesit said that the idea of probe was not out of place, in as much as the motive is to deal with the root cause of corruption that has alienated the country from the comity of nations. According to him, Buhari should not vary his measures of fighting corruptions when dealing with members of his party. He also advised him to demonstrate his acclaimed impeccable integrity in the fight against corruption without partiality.

concerned students were offered admissions on parttime with a graduation time of four semesters for programmes like Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, Public Health among others. “In Nigeria the duration for a full time degree programme is not less than three years for direct entry and at least six years for

part-time, while professional programmes in Science, Engineering and Health Sciences including Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science and Public Health are not offered on part-time basis in Nigeria. Also, all part- time cross boarder education in Nigeria is not allowed” he explained. Yakasai further lamented that the university

admits Nigerian students who do not have the basic requirements to gain admission into the nation’s tertiary institutions in addition to running courses such as Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science on part-time basis which according to him is not acceptable. While disclosing that Ghana National Accredi-

Buhari’s appointments will benefit S/E – Okechukwu Johnchuks Onuanyim

tation Board (NAB) has banned 53 tertiary institutions in Ghana, some of which Nigerian students run to from advertising and admitting students due to lack of qualification, Yakasai noted that all countries are at liberty to accept or reject certificates from any foreign university they felt is operating below their acceptable standards.

L-R: Member of the committee , Hon. Rasaq Atunwa; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Director General, National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS), Ladi Hamalai, during the inauguration of a committee to review existing laws and law reform in Abuja… yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Security: Police advise corporate bodies to follow due process Emmanuel Onani Abuja

he Nigeria Police have charged corporate bodies and individuals wishing to hire the services of their men for protection, to follow the appropriate channel for that purpose. It warned of the consequence of taking “illegal route” in hiring policemen for their services. A statement by the

Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, a Commissioner of Police, reads: “It has come to the notice of the Police High Command that some corporate bodies and individuals have taken the illegal route of hiring police personnel for their services. A recent case is that of an oil services company that hired a dismissed Police Officer, who in turn procured miscreants, dressed them in

what looked like Police uniform and armed them to serve the company. “It is the duty of the Nigeria Police Force to warn the public of the dangers inherent in this unlawful practice. The Special Protection Unit of the Force is available and equipped to meet the special protection needs of corporate bodies and individuals. “Those interested are to route their application to the Inspector-General of Police for approval.”

Be fair to all tribes, cleric tells Buhari Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

he prelate of Methodist church Nigeria, (MCN), Dr Samuel Uche Kanu has tasked President Muhammadu Buhari to carry along all tribes and regions in Nigeria in his administration, if he want to win in the next general election in the country. The cleric made this known in Abakaliki shortly, after the dedication of a project (corper’s lodge)

built by women fellowship of the church in Ebonyi, located on onwe road said president Buhari should know that he is not APC leader rather he is the leader of Nigeria and should not be controlled by any person or party. He urged the president to disprove his alleged hatred on Igbos through the implementation of principle of charter of equity to accommodate all tribes in his appointments of aides. “We should be patient with President Buhari. He just started. I believe that he will balance the equa-

tion. Each tribe should have a sense of belonging, because if any one allude that Igbo’s did not vote for him, I believe that there are Igbo stalwarts in his party. “He should carry along all tribes, regions with sincerity, fairness and equity. He should try not to wrong any zone for the purpose of democracy. Reacting on the recent bomb attack by Boko Haram especially in North East of the country, he said “we don’t know what they (Boko Haram) are fighting for. We don’t know who is sending them.

Abuja

chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the spokesman of the party in the South-East, Osita Okechukwu, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari still have more than five hundred appointments to make, which he believe Igbos will be fully carried along in the next one year. Okechukwu, who stated this at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, said the appointments made so far were solely based on professional competency, expressing confidence that Igbos won’t miss out in Buhari’s government. He said, “My message for my people is that in next one year or two years, they will have nothing to complain because the federal government of Nigeria is a big Elephant. He has more than five hundred appointments to be made and the juicy ones are also there, and even the sensitive ones are also there. We cannot miss out. “My people from the South-East are complaining over the appointments made so far, yes and valid argument. But the arguments could be accessed on two grounds.”

PUBLIC NOTICE

JEFF UJU CARES FOUNDATION

This is to inform the general public that the above named body has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Chief Jeff Uju - Chairman 2. Lolo Ada Uju - Vice Chairman 3. Chief Martin Ezeka - Secretary Aims and objectives: 1. Provision of charitable acts to alleviate hardship, and bring hope to widows and the aged. 2. Provision of good health care services for the sick, the aged and other disadvantaged persons. 3. Provision of support for capacity building, training and educational advancement for youths and women, for their employment, and entrepreneurship development. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication. Signed: Chief Martin Ezeka Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE THE ENTHRONMENT CHURCH This is to inform the general public that the above named CHURCH has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for incorporation under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. OLABODE AYODEJI BABATUNDE - GENERAL OVERSEER 2. OYINLOLA ADETOLA DAMILOLA - VICE GENERAL OVERSEER 3. KOLAWOLE SOLA SAHEED - SECRETARY 4 ADENIRAN OPEYEMI GBENGA 5 AKINTAYO OLUSEGUN ABIONA 6 LAWAL AYANFEOLUWA OLUWAFUNMISO 7 LAWAL ADEYINKA KUDIRAT AIM AND OBJECTIVE To preach the word of God Any objection to the incorporation of the above ministry should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street,P.M.B 198, Maitama, , Abuja, within 28 days of this publication. Signed: TRUSTEES

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro Pipeline vandals kidnap journalists LORDS OF THE MANOR Suspected oil pipeline vandals dare security agents, parade Arepo with AK47 rifles Camillus Nnaji

or two days, armed oil pipeline vandals have held Arepo, a coastal community in Ogun State, by the jugular and kept security agents at bay. On Wednesday, scores of the vandals and others were burnt in a fire explosion in the community. But yesterday, the vandals abducted two photojournalists (names withheld) and subjected them to torture. The vandals stole money, cameras and other valuables from the photojournalists and stripped them stark naked before releasing them several hours later. The journalists, who were not familiar with the terrain at Beach Land Estate, walked directly onto the vandals who were parading the area armed with AK47 rifles. The journalists were said to have brought out their cameras and were about to take shots of the creek before they were abducted. A witness, who resides in the estate, told our correspondent that they had pleaded with the vandals to release the journalists but they refused. According to the witness, the vandals promised not to kill their captives but take them to the creeks. He said: “You journalists are taking risk with your lives. Why do you come to a place you do not know and start taking

The gate leading to the estate, yesterday

shots? Your colleagues were kidnapped by vandals this morning and taken to the creeks despite pleas to set them free.” A journalist, who was to go with one of the photojournalists, said he had been calling his colleague but his number was switched off. He said: “I asked him to wait for me at Arepo Junction about 9:45am, while I went to Ibafo Police Station to make an enquiry. When I came back, I could not see him and his phone numbers were off. “Because of the situation here, I asked him to wait and not proceed to any place until we get security information concerning the area but he could not wait, apparently because he wanted to get exclusive shots.”

Babatope Okeowo Akure

A ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

driver has allegedly hanged himself on the ceiling of the boys’ quarters of his rented apartment at New Town, Oke-Aro Titun on Idanre Road, Akure, Ondo State capital. The father of four was said to have committed suicide out of frustration. His body was seen yesterday. The deceased, identified simply as Dayo, reportedly took his life on Wednesday when he found it difficult to fend for his family.

About 5pm, our correspondent gathered that they had been released. It was also gathered that the photojournalists were rushed to the hospital and were being treated at press time. Meanwhile, no security agency was stationed at the area yesterday. But a resident said the Ibafo Divisional Police Officer (DPO), identified as Mr Lawal, and his men have as well as Police Anti-vandals Unit visited the place and left. The vandals manned strategic points around the waterside. They also demarcated the area as their territory and hoisted a red and white flag. A police source in the area said their greatest challenge was inability of the residents to offer useful information on

the situation. He said: “The police are not immune to the situation. Early this year, seven police officers were killed by the vandals because they had no information on the terrain. Police just cannot enter inaccessible environment. If you said journalists were abducted this morning, I am hearing this for the first time.” The Public Relations Officer, National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), South-West Zone, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, said he had been warning any person venturing to do any report at that area to be very cautious. He said: “I am just hearing the abduction from you. But, I have warned any person going to that place to be very careful because the place is not safe

for now.” On Wednesday, the Manager, Corporate Affairs, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Mr Nasir Imodagbe, said officials of the company were yet to reach the scene of the pipeline explosion. Imodagbe disclosed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. He said: “We are trying to gain access to the area but the fire is going down. “Once we access the area of vandalised spot, we will commence repairs immediately to ensure the line is re-opened for operation. “The spot of the explosion is about two kilometres away, making it very difficult to access.”

Father of four hangs self It was learnt that the deceased had been having problems with owners of vehicles he was driving for commercial purposes in recent times. He was said to have been sacked by two of his employers within three weeks over some issues relating to daily remittance. It was learnt that the owner of a bus sent him packing while the owner of a taxi asked him to leave a week after. His inability to secure another driving job to take care of

his family members reportedly pushed him to commit suicide. A police source said that some neighbours, who discovered he was not seen, raised the alarm. He was said to be living apart from his wife and children. The door of the boys’ quarter was said to have been forced open only to discover his dangling body. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Wole Ogodo, confirmed the incident.

Ogodo said detectives had visited the scene and taken photographs of the deceased. He pointed out that the deceased left a note instructing his wife and children not to arrest anybody over his death. The PPRO added that the deceased noted that there was no foul play in his death as he willingly took his life out of frustration. He said the body had been deposited in the morgue of the State Specialist Hospital.

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Motorcyclists cripple Ondo over new number plates

New-born body found inside gutter

Babatope Okeowo

Cajetan Mmuta

Akure

Benin

ommercial motorcyclists popularly called Okada riders went on the rampage yesterday in Akure, the Ondo State capital, over alleged extortion by the state government. The protesters accused the state Ministry of Transport of deliberately impoverishing them by introducing new number plates. The riders marched through the major streets and roads in Akure and called on Governor Olusegun Mimiko to reverse the new order directing them to obtain new numbers at the rate of N10,000 each. The protest, which lasted several hours, crippled social and economic activities as major roads were blocked. The protesters moved round the city in large numbers with their motorcycles. Armed policemen and soldiers were at strategic locations in Akure, to prevent the breakdown of law and order. The protesters were armed with different placards with various inscriptions such as: “Mimiko must go,” “We are tired of this government,” “Tofowomo is a thief.” They started their demonstration from the entrance of the Ministry of Works in the popular Oyemekun Road

The protesting motorcyclists

area, leading to gridlock. They described the new number plates and other charges by the state government as “barbaric and exploitation”. One of the protesters, Akinola Olumide, alleged that the government had come up with a policy banning all number plates used by commercial motorcycles not from the state. He said: “They said we can no longer use number plates from other states, but the one designed in the state with a red line.

“That means those who are arrested with such number plates are made to pay N5,000 and a compulsory N2,000 for ‘Card Igbeayo’ and another N700 before the machine will be released. “Our leaders have been trying to get the government to change the policy, but they refused.” Also, Akinlade Temitayo, a graduate of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic (RUGIPO), said: “To be an Okada rider is not easy. If actually they want to cancel motorcycles in Ondo State. Let them go ahead,

then, we will know what next to do. However, the Commissioner for Transport, Otunba Nichola Tofowomo, said the government was not the one who introduced the law but the Federal Government. He said some motorcyclists took private number plates and used the motorcycles for commercial purposes. The commissioner added that the government had given them ultimatum to obtain the new numbers.

Malad International School holds 13th graduation Stanley Ihedigbo and Esther Albert

t was celebration on Monday for students, management and staff at the 13th annual graduation and prize giving ceremony of Malad International School, Idimu, Lagos. The students entertained the parents and guardians with different performances. The proprietor, Mr Mufutau Lamidi, said since its establishment 13 years ago, the school had made efforts to realise its vision and mission of making the difference. Lamidi said that measures had been put in place to develop an innovative and balanced curriculum and a professional learning community among teachers. He appealed to the parents to relate with the school as partners in progress for the sake of their children. The proprietor expressed delight that the vision of education reform was already being realised in Malad International School.

ery vacant space in the life of every of the students thereby building them to become future leaders. Idris, therefore, advised the SS3 students to take their studies seriously. He said: “I employ you the students to keep on with

he residents of Akala Street in Benin, Edo State, yesterday raised the alarm over the discovery of a decomposing body of a new-born baby in the area. The decomposing body of the baby was rapped with cloth and dumped under a culvert on the street, which is off Airport Road. A similar incident had occurred in the ancient town last month when a dead baby was discovered inside a moat. In yesterday’s incident, it was discovered that the innocent baby’s mouth was tied with rope and wrapped in a polythene bag before it was dumped. The incident elicited the condemnation of residents of the area following the discovery. An offensive odour and flies attracted the attention of the people who embarked on a search which led to the discovery. Some residents appealed to the relevant bodies including security agencies to take measures to nip the trend in the bud. They also called on health officials in Oredo Local Government Area to evacuate the body in order to prevent an outbreak of epidemic in the area.

Students’ torture: Varsity dean, CSO get bail Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

n Enugu Magistrates’ Court, presided over by Nkemjika Anibueze, has granted bail to the Dean, Student Affairs, Madonna University, Akpugo, Nklanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, Rev. Fr. Isaac Jinga, and the institution’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), Ogbonna Okey. The accused were remanded in prison custody on July 14 for brutalising two final year students of the university. They were arraigned on July 14 by the police on a two-count charge. The charge sheet, MEN/87C/2015, reads in part: “That you Rev. Fr. Isaac Jinga ‘m’, Ogbonna Okey ‘m’ and others at large on February 2, 2015 at the Madonna University, Akpugo campus, Nkanu West Magisterial District ‘holden’ at Enugu, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit by causing grievous bodily harm and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 495(a) of the Criminal Code Cap 30 Vol. 11 Laws of Enugu State, 2004.”

Police warn vehicle owner

Students of Malad International School at the graduation ceremony

He said: “The students are nurtured to be self-directed learners who enjoy learning and also have space and freedom to develop their individual interests and potential.” Speaking earlier, the Principal, Mr Lamidi Idris, said the school was out to fill ev-

City Briefs

the hard working legacy by doing the right thing at the right time. “You must concentrate fully on your further studies because this is just the beginning of another academic journey in which you are going into..

he Lagos State Police Command has warned owner of abandoned vehicle parked at Oko-Oba Police Division, to remove it within 21 days after this publication. The police warned that the vehicle would be auctioned to the public at the expiration of the ultimatum. The vehicle is an unregistered Toyota Camry.

News

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-WEST

Lagos debunks nursing school admission adverts

Daniel’s ex-aides, others want Amosun to pay N2bn severance benefits

Muritala Ayinla

Kunle Olayeni

he Lagos State government yesterday dissociated itself from the fake advertorial making the rounds on the Internet about admission into the state school of nursing. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Modele Osunkiyesi, who made this known yesterday, said the state government was not responsible for the advertorial, describing it as the antics of fraudsters who want to defraud unsuspecting citizens of the state. She said: “The attention of the Ministry of Health has been drawn to the activities of some unscrupulous group of people who placed a fake advertisement on the Internet. These dubious people invite unsuspecting individuals to pay into their personal accounts.” She, however, urged members of the public to disregard any information on the Internet about such purported admission forms, adding that all enquiries regarding admission into the School of Nursing should be channeled to the Coordinator, Lagos State School of Nursing Complex, Alimosho General Hospital, Igando.

Lagos restricts movement for sanitation exercise Muritala Ayinla

he Lagos State government yesterday said it would restrict human and vehicular movement during tomorrow’s monthly environmental sanitation exercise that holds between 7.00am and 10.00am, urging residents to observe the exercise. The government, in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment, Hakeem Ogunbambi, implored residents to troop out massively to participate in the cleaning exercise. Hence, intra and interstate commercial bus operators, members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers Association, taxi operators, are warned to obey and comply with the restriction order as any vehicle caught violating the order will be sanctioned, while passengers in such vehicles will be prosecuted in accordance with the state sanitation laws.

Abeokuta

ormer political office holders in Ogun State, who served under the administration of exGovernor Gbenga Daniel, yesterday appealed to Governor Ibikunle Amosun to pay their severance benefits totalling about N2 billion. They urged Amosun to take advantage of the recent bailout given to states by the Federal Government to offset

their severance gratuities and other outstanding allowances. The ex-political office holders, who served between 2007 and 2011, said no fewer than 25 of their colleagues have died awaiting the payment of their packages. The Chairman of the Conference of Local Government Ex-Political Office Holders in the state, Hon. Akorede Oduntan, who spoke at a press conference in Abeokuta, said his colleagues had been going through hard times.

Flanked by other expolitical office holders, Oduntan, a former chairman of Ewekoro Local Government, said the state government is still owing them outstanding furniture allowance, salary arrears and severance gratuities. According to him, only 43 of the over 700 former political office holders that served between 2007 and 2011, had been paid their severance benefits by the government. He urged the governor to utilise the recent bail-

out to settle the debt owed them in order to save their remaining members from ‘untimely death.’ Oduntan noted that any further delay would only increase the state’s debt profile in view of the tenure expiration of elected local government officials yesterday. He said: “It is exactly one year and one month that our governor paid the first set of ex-political office holders their severance gratuities. On June 24, 2014 when the governor was paying 43 beneficiaries, he did promise to pay

the rest of us in batches, saying categorically that N300 million has been set aside to offset this debt on monthly basis. “But since the first set was paid, no single person has been paid again up till this moment. We are therefore appealing to the governor to please effect the payment from the bail-out package just released by the Federal Government. “We beg you, Your Excellency, in the name of Almighty God, to please approve the payment without further delay.

L-R: Executive Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board, Mr. Olawunmi Gasper; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule and Development Adviser for Department for International Development (DFID), Mrs. Alessandra Lustrati, during the year 2015 Enterprise Day in Lagos …yesterday

Ogun to acquire additional APCs O

gun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has said that his government would acquire additional Armoured Personnel Car riers (APCs) to assist the police fight insecurity in the state. He also said the state would work towards increasing the number of police command personnel in the state. Receiving the new Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, into his office yesterday, Amosun said the step

is imperative because of the enormous security challenges the state has to cope with along the Lagos-Ibadan and parts of Sagamu-Benin Expressways, which he described as the busiest expressways in the country and which exerts a lot of pressure on the infrastructure of the state. “I am happy that you are coming at a very crucial time that the state has a huge task of policing some of the busiest expressways that are

under the watch of the state, the Lagos-Ibadan and part of the SagamuBenin Expressways. I know if we get security right, then development will take place without any sort of hindrance. “I want to assure you that we will buy more APCs and also increase the number of our squadrons while we will see how we can increase the number of the area commands and personnel, notwithstanding the dwindling federal revenue.

Ekiti Assembly promises protection for traders Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

he Ekiti State House of Assembly yesterday promised to protect the rights of traders from being trampled upon by any supervisory or regulatory agency

in the state. The Assembly, however, said it will also not condone a situation where traders will go beyond their boundaries. According to a statement issued by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Speaker of the

House, Mr. Stephen Gbadamosi, in Ado-Ekiti, the Assembly made this known when hundreds of members of the Nigeria Association of Patent Medicine Dealers (NAPMED) embarked on a peaceful protest to the Assembly complex in the state capital.

Ambode moves to lift Lagos public service Muritala Ayinla

he Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has approved the commencement of professional human resource management practices in the state’s public service as part of his administration’s commitment to building a vibrant public service. The governor, who described the move as a new dawn for civil servants, said it would engender a better organised public service whose staff possesses the right attitude, skills and motivation to perform their roles efficiently. The governor, in a circular signed by the Head of Service, Mrs. Shade Jaji, disclosed further that with the commencement of the professional human resource management practice in the state public service, the hith-

erto Finance and Administration Department, which was the heart of every Ministry, Department and Agencies of government will now be known as the Administration and Human Resource Department. The circular added that the department would comprise five divisions namely; Administration, Work-Force Planning and Recruitment, Learning and Development, Employee and Industrial Relations and Human Resources Performance Measures (KPIs). The circular therefore enjoined all statutory commissions and bodies performing human resource management functions in the state public service to commence a review of their current finance and administration practices to conform to the new human resource management initiatives.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, JUly 24, 2015

Corruption

Open Forum

Senate leadership

Metuh: Probe should be within the ambit of the law

Sagay: Nigeria would have become bankrupt if…

APC’s paradox of equity

Politics

Obasanjo

Yar’Adua

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, last week, opened up on why he chose the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as his successor in 2007. His submission that those that wanted to succeed him then were corrupt has since generated mixed reactions. In this report, KUNLE OLAYENI recalls the succession battle for Obasanjo’s seat and implications on the nation’s chequered political history

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Atiku

Obasanjo’s bombshell

x-military head of state and two-term former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, is no stranger to controversy. In Nigerian political circles, he has carved a niche as one with the uncanny ability to express himself on any issue no matter whose ox is gored. Last week, Obasanjo stoked a fresh controversy when he said that he chose late former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as successor in 2007 because others angling to succeed him then were corrupt. He noted that one of the aspirants who wanted to succeed him was “stinkingly corrupt” and that the only way he could justify himself before man and God was to pick Yar’Adua. Yar’Adua, who served as Katsina State governor between 1999 and 2007, won the presidential election as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate but died in office on May 5, 2010. His demise, of course, had far-reaching implications and significantly altered the political equation in the country. Many people had condemned Obasanjo for foisting a manifestly sick man on the nation. To the critics, the ex-president deliberately imposed Yar’Adua to punish the country for rejecting his controversial third term bid. Their belief was reinforced by the fact that an

Sir, I like your job, but I cannot do it the way you are doing it because I don’t have the stamina

“unwilling” Goodluck Jonathan was also drafted into the race as Yar’Adua’s running mate. But more than eight years after he stepped out of power, Obasanjo has defended his choice of Yar’Adua. In an interview with a Lagosbased private television station, Channels Television, the ex-president said Yar’Adua was the best of all the presidential aspirants of the PDP. Giving an insight into the 2007 political process, Obasanjo declared that he had no regrets in choosing Yar’Adua above others. He stated that majority of those angling to succeed him in 2007 were either not prepared for the job or were corrupt. He added that his choice of the late Yar’Adua was guided by facts available to him then and he and his team took the decision with all sense of responsibility. According to him, his conscience will not allow him to give the job to a corrupt or inept person. Obasanjo said: “Even if you take your son as your successor, you are not sure of what he will do when he gets there. Don’t ever kid yourself. “What do I know about any successor? What he presents. When he gets there, he presents it differently. “We did our best, but if you say

our best is not good enough, I will say, when it comes to your turn, do better. “With all the people that were available to be my successors, what we came up with was about the best that we could think at that time. Is it the one that we know are corrupt that we will now go and take? No! “One of them who wanted to do the job came to me and said, ‘Sir, I like your job but I cannot do it the way you are doing it because I don’t have the stamina to do it the way you are doing it.’ If he has told me that, should I then say ‘come let me give you the job?’ Now, what do you expect me to do with that person? “Or the one that I know that this one, before he gets the job, he was stinkingly corrupt. Now, will I be able to defend myself before God and man, if with what I know, I give this job or I encourage the man to have this job?” Botched third term bid After the Senate voted on May 16, 2006 to reject a constitutional amendment allowing Obasanjo to seek a third term, Nigeria’s succession politics assumed a fratricidal dimension. Hitherto, debates over a possible third term had been marred by accusations of bribery and violence on the part CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Politics

FRIDAY, JUly 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

OPEN FORUM Chief Olisa Metuh is the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

hat are they tracing? This is a very vague statement. Are they saying that Nigerians who have accounts abroad should not operate them? Are they saying that people should not have account abroad? Have these people been convicted? This is not a loan from a foreign a government. Or is the $150 billion the money given to the country to fight Boko Haram war? The statement is ambiguous, it is hollow. People should not be hanged because they operate foreign account. Nigeria is a sovereign and independent nation. We are not saying that people suspected of money laundering should not be investigated or

...Recovery of stolen funds

Metuh: Probe should be within the ambit of the law prosecuted but this should be within the ambit of the law. If the law finds them guilty then they can be prosecuted. This is how democracy operates. Democracy should not be subjected to mob lynching where somebody will shout “ole! ole!!” and people will be lynched! This is mob lynching. There should be the rule of law in democracy, and it must be followed. There may be bad eggs in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) just as there are also bad eggs in the present government. But while we in PDP concede to that, there were equally people who went to the government to genuinely serve the nation. They should not be crucified just because they served in the former administration. Yes, government is free and can do selective application of war against corruption but the law should be obeyed. They should not just arrest people or freeze their accounts simply be-

We are not saying that people suspected of money laundering should not be investigated or prosecuted, but this should be within the ambit of the law

Metuh

cause they served in the previous government. This is injustice, it is not good for democracy.

And this is the stand of PDP. Interview by Onyekachi Eze

Mahmud: President must outline anti-corruption framework Abdul Mahmud is the president, Public Interest Lawyers’ League

nti-corruption has become a mantra for every Nigerian president and it is the failure of one president to deliver on the mantra that emboldens another president to come out with his version of the anti-corruption fight. Invariably, it is Nigerians that end up getting disappointed when no tangible results emerge from the so-called anti-corruption fight. And Nigeria dies slowly from the bleeding effect of corruption. Is Buhari capable of fighting corruption? Yes, his antecedent shows he can. But, while many hurl up his record as a military head of state, it is important to exercise caution because the military era is different from a civil demo-

Barrister Musa Bello is the General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress (TUC)

resident Muhammadu Buhari is no doubt charting the right course for the nation. His recent demand for support from President Barack Obama of United States of America to help the nation recover all the looted funds abroad is a step in the right

cratic eras. While in the former, it is the cavalier fiat of the head of state that drives governance, the latter is founded on constitutionalism, so it is always very difficult for the personal preferences of the president to make things happen. We hear of Buhari’s commitment to fighting corruption but that’s how it goes. No attempts have been made to outline the framework of the anti-corruption fight. Is he going to use the extant laws such as the ICPC Act or EFCC Act which has been shown to be grossly inadequate? Will he be proposing an entirely new rafts of legislation directed at the reform of the anti-corruption laws and the reform of the judicial and justice system? We do know how difficult it is for the prosecution to establish the guilt of those accused of corruption beyond all reasonable doubt. Isn’t it time we change the adversarial character of our justice system to make accused person prove their inno-

Mahmud

cence in corruption cases rather than the prosecution proving their guilt. Would whatever framework Buhari proposes seek the creation of anti-corruption courts?

Yes, rafts of arrest have been made by Buhari and as we have seen in the past, are these arrests not part of the show circus that tends to make Nigerians believe that the war of corruption is on? I am not enthused by what is going on at the moment and until the president publicly declares his assets, until he outlines the framework for the fight against corruption, I will take the current effort like the ones we saw under former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan. If I may ask, how many politically exposed persons have been jailed since the war against corruption began under this civil democratic dispensation? To fight corruption, we need a combination of effective arresting and prosecution agency, proper adjudicatory justice system and laws that don’t respond to the political environment. Interview by TUNDE OYESINA

Bello: Recovered funds must be invested in all sectors direction. This is what all of us have been clamouring for, though we don’t know the worth of Nigerian money that stashed abroad. The good thing is that the president has declared his intention to find all the money wherever they are with the support of President Obama. The US President has also agreed to assist him. It is a right step. And I want to say that such money when successfully repatriated should be ploughed back

We have someone who is putting transparency and good governance in the front burner

into the various sectors of the economy. We have heard in the past of some looted funds returned but we never knew what government did with them. But now that we have someone who is putting transparency and good governance in the front burner particularly in the face of financial and economic crisis, if the money is gotten, it should be used to develop the nation. Now, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has found its steam and

it is investigating and prosecuting high profile politicians who are alleged of financial fraud. We have to know that what affects the society affects the environment. You know everybody is trying to be upright and seeing to be working because of the kind of person the president is. I’m just afraid that the Nigerian factor should not come in. They should do the job as it should be done. There must be transparency. Interview by Yekeen Nurudeen

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, JUly 24, 2015

OPEN FORUM Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) is a former Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Benin

support the decision of the president to probe the immediate past administration and for those who are saying that the probe net should be backdated to pre-Jonathan’s administration, I think they are not being fair at all because the government has the capacity to define the scope of its investigation and prosecution. A government has to operate on the basis of what it has capacity to do and it might as well extend it to the colonial period or 1960 if the government so wishes. It is odd for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ask for the extension of probe to other governments before Goodluck Jonathan, whenever they come to power again, they can decide to extend it to 1914, that is their own problem. But as far as this government is concerned, the people responsible for the immediate shattering and destruction of the Nigerian economy are those who have just left office. By the time the government finish dealing with all the rots, if the government still has capacity, it can extend it further. We cannot jump or have ambition for an endless scope when we have an immediate problem on our hand. The president was talking of some former ministers selling about one mil-

...Recovery of stolen funds

Sagay: Nigeria would have become bankrupt if… If the Jonathan government had continued for another two years, Nigeria would have become bankrupt and ungovernable

Sagay

lion barrels of oil for themselves every day and we have so many other things going on; we still have the subsidy scam which is still there, and every day we are hearing of former ministers, gov-

ernors and even their wives now, who collected monies from the states and cannot account for it. I want to tell you that so much has happened in the last six years that if President Muhammadu Buhari decides to go beyond it immediately it will even bury the government in the details and volume. So, he has to tackle the one that is immediate, if he succeeds, he may go beyond but that is at his own discretion. It is not for the criminals who were involved to tell us

how far the probe should go. The enormity of the stealing is mindboggling and there are questions already whether the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has the capacity to investigate and prosecute. We may be in a situation where the various agencies may have to share and share the burden of EFCC – the Ministry of Justice, the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police Force and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). They may need to divide the work between themselves so that it may not be too much for one agency because the level of looting and stealing is just mind blowing. We are so lucky about the new government because if the Jonathan government had continue for another two years, Nigeria would have become bankrupt and ungovernable because there would be no resources left. These people decided to render the whole country barren. That was what they did. So, let us deal with the immediate ones now, when we succeed we can extend our scope further. Interview by Wale Elegbede

Okei-Odumakin: Every stolen kobo from treasury must be recovered Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin is a human rights activist and President, Women Arise for Change Initiative

he revelation by President Muhammadu Buhari during his visit to President Barack Obama in Washington that over $150 billion stolen by past government officials are kept in foreign banks, to me just like some other Nigerians is not an alien fact. This has been of public knowledge, but what President Buhari did in the US is to initiate a process of pressurising the United States and other nations

in ensuring that these looted funds are recovered. It is the expectation of Nigerians that every stolen kobo from our treasury be recovered, but the important issue remains the commitment of government to such. Every successive government has paid mere lip service to that same issue and I believe any meaningful step in that direction must be extended beyond the immediate past administration to 1999 when we began the Fourth Republic, and not also excluding former military leaders who have questions hanging on them to answer on the management of our commonwealth. The probe of the looters by President Buhari is inevitable and such step will be the first indication of the readiness

of the administration to truly fight corruption which was the high point of the campaign of Buhari during the electioneering. The promise by the United States to help Nigeria recovers the stolen wealth is a welcome development and every Nigerian will surely be looking forward to the manifestation of that promise. I believe in President Buhari’s capacity, judging by his antecedent to recover the stolen wealth. The only concern I have is in his willingness to step on toes and act on the promise made in the US few days ago that no one will be spared, including members of his own political party. I believe such statement is encouraging but he must walk the talk. Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Okei-Odumakin

Adeniran: Buhari should prosecute looters Comrade Debo Adeniran is an anti-corruption crusader and chairman, Campaign Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL)

Adeniran

t is a good start that President Muhammadu Buhari has decided to trace the looted money to all the countries where they are domiciled and requesting or working with authorities of those countries with a view to repatriating such stolen funds to Nigeria. The president should not waste time in probing the looters as long as he knows the looters already. What he should do is to hand them over to anticorruption agencies which should do diligent investigations on it and ensure that the anti-corruption agencies have

the materials with which they will conduct the investigations, prepare quality charges against them and ensure that they are convicted. The punishment for the convicted looters should go beyond slap-on-thewrist. It should be deterrent enough that every civil and public servant would be afraid to conspire with anybody to steal state funds and what we are recommending is not actually death penalty but life jail for anybody that stole up to N10 million. All their properties and everything they must have possessed should be deemed to have been acquired through fraudulent practices, corruption, stealing, embezzlement, extortion, kick-back etc. and should be confiscated by the state. I will also suggest that instead of wasting more money and time; since the report of the probe would still be sent to the anti-graft agencies, the agen-

cies should rather be strengthened with men, material and money to execute their task without leaving any stone unturned. President Buhari should also prevail on the governments of the countries where the public funds are stashed to assist Nigeria to expose those behind the practice. Property acquired in those countries must also be investigated and if it is discovered that the property were procured through proceeds of corruption, they should be confiscated on behalf of Nigeria, sell them and repatriate the money to Nigeria. The anti-corruption institutions also need to be further strengthened with human and material resources that can enable them to deliver on their mandate for the anti-graft war to bear good fruits. Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Politics

Odili

FRIDAY, JUly 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Duke

Attah

Gana

Obasanjo’s ‘unworthy’ successors C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

of supporters. Though Obasanjo never publicly acknowledged plans to seek tenure elongation, the effort to amend Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution was widely viewed as engineered by him and his top aides. But after the third term agenda failed, real machinery was set in motion for the 2007 transition programme. Do-or-die transition The 2007 general elections were so significant in Nigeria’s democratic history. It was the first time the country was witnessing transition from one civilian administration to another civilian government. For Obasanjo, the 2007 presidential contest was crucial because he wanted a successor that would continue his reform programmes. At one of the PDP campaigns, the former president declared that the 2007 poll would be a do-or-die affair for him and his party. He stated that he was not prepared to hand over to criminals. And the election eventually had all the trappings of do-or-die politicking, maneuvering, intimidation and manipulation. Apart from the late Yar’Adua, others who vied for the PDP’s presidential ticket in 2007 included former Rivers State governor, Dr. Peter Odili; former Cross River State governor, Mr. Donald Duke; former Akwa Ibom State governor, Obong Victor Attah; former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana; former Lagos State Military Administrator, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd) and the current Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha. Others, who in fact obtained the PDP nomination forms, included former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd); exGovernor Sam Egwu of Ebonyi; former National Security Adviser (NSA) to Obasanjo, Lt-General Mohammed Aliyu Gusau; former Chief of Staff in the regime of Babangida, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe; ex-Governor Abdullah Adamu of Nassarawa State; exGovernor Achike Udenwa (Imo);

former Governor Adamu Mu’azu (Bauchi); ex-Governor Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna); former Chief of General Staff, Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe; lawyer and former police and intelligence officer, Albert Korubo Horsefall; Chief Ralph Uwechue; Major General Mamman Kontagora and Mrs. Sarah Jubril. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar was also prominently in the race under the PDP banner but he later abandoned the party, due to his running battle with Obasanjo, to contest the presidential election on the platform of the defunct Action Congress (AC). At the December 16, 2006 PDP National Convention, some other presidential aspirants such as Odili, Duke and Attah pulled out of the race at the dying minutes while Yar’Adua went on to poll 3,024 votes to clinch the party’s ticket. Fayose panel Earlier, Obasanjo and the PDP leadership had assigned Ayodele Fayose, who was at that time Ekiti State governor, to scout for a credible presidential candidate among the PDP governors. Aspirants were advised to apply to the Fayose-led committee. But as Fayose was settling down to work, the PDP executive issued a counter-directive that those interested in the plum job should obtain the N5 million presidential nomination form from the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. The likes of Babangida, Gusau, Marwa, Kontagora, Odili and some interested PDP governors then obtained the nomination forms. It is instructive to note that Yar’Adua obtained the nomination form few days to the primaries. Yar’Adua’s entry into the presidential race aroused suspicion. The then Katsina governor never showed interest all the while. He never did anything to give the inkling that he was ambitious. Many wondered why he came into the race that had been dominated by early starters, who had traversed the entire country selling their candidature. But it soon dawned on political

watchers that Yar’Adua was the long-awaited anointed candidate. There was a school of thought which claimed that Obasanjo’s succession plan was to reward the close relationship of the Yar’Adua dynasty. Umaru’s elder brother, late Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, was Obasanjo’s Chief of Staff in the military days. Many of the presidential aspirants were at a loss over why Obasanjo preferred Yar’Adua’s candidacy. While some of the aspirants withdrew from the race without much ado, others were forced to step down following intense pressure and intimidation from the powers that be.

Atiku’s second term as vice president was marked by a stormy relationship with his boss. His bid to succeed Obasanjo did not receive the latter’s support

Atiku Abubakar Former Vice-President Abubakar was among the frontline aspirants that wanted to succeed Obasanjo. A renowned politician, businessman and philanthropist, Atiku served as the second elected vice president of the country from 1999 to 2007 on the platform of PDP. He worked in the Nigeria Customs Service for 20 years, rising to become the deputy director, as the second highest position in the service was then known. He retired in April 1989 and took up full-time business and politics. He ran for the presidency in 1993, coming third after MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) primaries. In 1998, he was elected governor of Adamawa State. But while still governor-elect, he was picked by Obasanjo as his running mate for the February 1999 presidential election. Atiku’s second term as vice president was marked by a stormy relationship with his boss. His bid to succeed Obasanjo did not receive the latter’s support and it took a judgement of the Supreme Court to allow him to contest after he was initially disqualified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the grounds that he had been indicted for financial misconduct by an investigating panel set up at Obasanjo’s behest. He ran on the platform of Action Congress (AC) but lost the presidential election,

placing third after Yar’Adua and Muhammadu Buhari of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP). Peter Odili Dr. Odili served as governor of the oil-rich Rivers State between 1999 and 2007. In November 2006, he announced his intention to run for president. With vigour and deftness, he took the country’s political landscape by the storm and soon emerged from the “multitude” gunning for the presidency to become a force of national reckoning. In fact, in some quarters, his emergence as PDP presidential candidate was already presumed a fait accompli. However, a day before the PDP presidential primaries held on December 16, 2006, Odili stepped down from the contest, paving the way for fellow governor Yar’Adua to emerge as the party’s standard bearer. Odili was believed to have been promised the slot of vice president but eventually, the post was given to his Bayelsa State counterpart, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. It was widely believed that some power brokers wreaked Odili’s chances by dangling a corruption indictment on him. In January 2007, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) issued an interim report on Odili that pointed to severe implications of fraud, conspiracy, conversion of public funds, foreign exchange malpractice, money laundering, stealing and abuse of oath of office. But Odili, who denied the allegations, promptly filed a suit challenging the anti-graft agency to probe his administration in Rivers State. Donald Duke Duke was the governor of Cross River State from 1999 to 2007. He was also one of the PDP presidential aspirants who attempted to succeed Obasanjo. He was praised for his contributions to the fields of agriculture, urban development, environment, information and communication, investment drive and tourism. Through his work, Calabar, which is Cross River capital, has been adjudged

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, JUly 24, 2015

Marwa

Okorocha

as the “cleanest city in Nigeria.” Duke created the idea of Obudu Ranch, where one of the most lucrative mountain running competitions in the world is held; and also initiated the Tinapa Resort project as a way to boost business and tourism in the state. Over $350 million was reportedly spent on initial development of the project before Phase 1 opening in April 2007. It was to his credit that he had no EFCC case before and after he left power. Though he announced his intention to run for president in 2007, Duke later stepped aside for Yar’Adua. Victor Attah Obong Attah was elected the governor of Akwa Ibom State in 1999 on the PDP platform and was re-elected for a second term in office in 2003. He emerged the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF). His strident call for resource control, especially for the oil-producing Niger Delta states, made him a thorn in the flesh of the Obasanjo administration. Also, his successful leadership of the South-South region during the onshore-offshore crisis made him very loved in the area and respected across the country. In the heat of high-wire politicking at that time, Attah came under trial and was vilified over alleged money laundering and corrupt practices emanating from the $67 million ECONET shares acquisition. Former Delta State governor, James Ibori, and his Lagos State counterpart, Bola Tinubu, were also accused of same offence in the transaction. But till date, Attah was not prosecuted for graft. In 2007, Attah aspired for the presidential nomination of the PDP but later withdrew from the race. Jerry Gana The Niger State-born politician, Prof. Gana, was also in the race for the 2007 presidency. Gana, a Professor of Geography, has held many political offices in the country. He was appointed chairman of the Mass Mobilisation for Social and Economic Recovery (MAMSER) by General Babangida regime. He was at various times a Minister for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Information and Culture, Cooperation and Integration in Africa and Information and National Orientation.

Egwu

Gana, who unsuccessfully ran for president in 1992 on the SDP platform, announced in August 2006 his intention to contest the 2007 presidential election under PDP. Gana was the founding national secretary of PDP in 1998 but his presidential ambition hit the rocks when he lost at the primaries. Buba Marwa Marwa was military governor of Borno State between 1990 and 1992. He was also military governor of Lagos State from 1996 to 1999. In 2001, Marwa was questioned concerning money that was transferred to his account during the Sani Abacha regime. Marwa said that he was told the money was for use in the clandestine operations in East Africa, and he had transferred the money to an account in Nairobi, Kenya. In 2005, the EFCC arrested and questioned Marwa concerning the money, on suspicion that it was used in setting up his airline business, Albarka Airlines. Later, the EFCC dropped the investigation. In 2006, Marwa announced he would be running in the PDP primaries to become the party’s candidate for president. His bid was unsuccessful and he gave his support to Yar’Adua. Rochas Okorocha Owelle Okorocha, the governor of Imo State was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in 2011. He left the party and joined the APC, through which he was re-elected in the April 2015 governorship election. Okorocha made several attempts to attain elected public office. When democracy was restored in 1999, he competed in the primaries to be PDP candidate for governor of Imo State but lost. He moved to ANPP, where he made an unsuccessful presidential bid. He returned to the PDP and Obasanjo appointed him as Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs. He formed the Action Alliance (AA) in 2005, planning to become the party’s candidate for 2007 elections. But he again returned to the PDP to seek the presidency. At the party primaries, however, Okorocha came second with 372 votes behind the eventual winner, Yar’Adua, who polled 3,024 votes.

With all the people that were available to be my successors, what we came up with was about the best

Gusau

Sam Egwu Dr. Egwu was the former governor of Ebonyi State on the PDP platform. He served between 1999 and 2007. He failed in his 2007 ambition to contest the presidential election. In December 2008, he was appointed Minister of Education. The two-term former governor is now in the Senate representing Ebonyi North senatorial district.

ticket in 2015. In 2006, Adamu was one of the 31 governors investigated by the EFCC for corruption. In February 2010, however, he was arrested by the EFCC for allegedly embezzling $100 million of government money meant for public projects. But the ex-governor dismissed the EFCC case, saying it was based on “mere allegations.”

Aliyu Gusau Lt.-Gen. Gusau is a former Minister of Defence. At different times, he was National Security Adviser (NSA) to the president from May 1999 to June 2006 and from March 2010 to September 2010. He played an important role in the coup that ousted President Shehu Shagari on December 31, 1983 and brought General Buhari into power. With wide influence in both civilian and military circles, Gusau played a central role in ensuring that the transition to democracy in May 1999 went smoothly. He was the NSA in the crucial period when former political office holders in the armed forces were retired in June 1999, helping Obasanjo to assume control of the military as a civilian president. He came third in the PDP presidential primaries in December 2006.

Achike Udenwa Chief Udenwa was former governor of Imo State between 1999 and 2007. From December 2008 to March 2010, he served as Minister of Commerce and Industry. During the tenure of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as EFCC chairman, the agency, in 2006, accused Udenwa and some state officials of diverting N56 million from each of the 24 local government areas of the state for an abandoned road project. The ex-governor was among the PDP presidential aspirants that were allegedly forced out of the race.

Ebitu Ukiwe Commodore Ukiwe served as the Chief of Staff in the military regime of Babangida from 1985 to 1986. After his retirement in 1987, he joined pro-democracy group which supported the late Chief MKO Abiola, who was the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election. In 2006, Ukiwe unsuccessfully ran to become PDP candidate for the nation’s presidency. Abdullahi Adamu Senator Adamu held office as governor of Nasarawa State from 1999 to 2007 on the PDP platform. After his two-term governorship, he became Secretary, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP. He was unsuccessful in his bid to pick the PDP presidential ticket in 2006. In 2011, he contested for Senate and won as PDP member representing Nasarawa West. But he has since defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and won re-election on the party’s

Silence over blanket indictment Since Obasanjo dropped the bombshell on Wednesday, last week, none of those who aspired to succeed him in 2007 had reacted to his allegation. Perhaps, their silence was because the former president did not specifically mention names. Nonetheless, there is groundswell of views that failure to repudiate the expresident could be a tacit admittance of guilt. While Obasanjo may still be savouring his blanket indictment of those who wanted to succeed him, political pundits insist that his latest attempt to wash his hands off the shortcomings of his successors does not hold water. After all, as the then sitting president, he could not claim ignorance of Yar’Adua’s health challenges. It was the popular belief that he only decided to foist an ailing candidate on Nigeria in order for him to continue to have grip on the country. Similarly, Obasanjo was believed to have deliberately drafted in Jonathan, who was considered docile and lacking the political structure to rock the boat. Therefore, any misgivings that might have occurred during Yar’Adua and Jonathan’s administrations, whether directly or indirectly, cannot be totally divorced from Obasanjo.

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Brandishing Biafra’s baffling balafon Emissary EMEKA OBASI

emobas2003@yahoo.com 08094457557 (sms only)

surprise we are still talking about Biafra long after the Civil War ended 45 years ago. Those who fail to learn from history ,are forever condemned to repeat it. Nigeria will be making a huge mistake if the painful factors that took us to the battle field continue to factor into the projections of our leaders. As a boy , I lived in Biafra and I know the pains of war. After General Yakubu Gowon proclaimed that we were all one again , with no Victor no Vanquished, I never believed that we shall all find ourselves in this fractious corner again. I must confess that I did not take MASSOB as a serious group. I just saw many of them as excited young men who wanted to express themselves in their own way. Then came the Biafra Zionist Movement, it did not fit into my idea of a warring bunch. And now Radio Biafra. After seeing secession and the corollary underdevelopment, my take was that the Igbo must benefit from this project called Nigeria before anyone would talk of separation again in any guise. The Igbo have put so much into the body that they need to make something good out of it. So much Igbo blood has been shed to make Nigeria breathe, a lot of sacrifice coming from people who are ready to move to any part of the world in the bid to eke a living and extend the frontiers of unity. At the moment , it does appear that Nigeria does not want the Igbo. Never have I seen the kind of gang up against the Igbo than today. It sounds unbelievable but it is true. The People are treated like refugees in their own country. It is more disgusting as the former Eastern Region has been singled out for punishment by other parts of the country. The Izon, the Ibibio, the Efik, the Ejegam, the

Ogoni, the Ibani appear not to have any hope in our own homeland. History did not record any such unholy gang up. It sounds like the end of another war, this time there are victors and there are vanquished. Simply because a minority from Southern Nigeria ruled Nigeria, the whole of the old Eastern Region must be ostracized. Northern minorities like Generals Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdusalami Abubakar had ruled in the past, nobody descended on the mighty old Northern Region. People of the Eastern Region are being forced to think home now more than ever before. Anyway, home is Nigeria and they are prepared to make something out of it. They are taking their destiny in their own hands. An African proverb says you cannot be taller than a man and also be shorter than the same person as well. God has his reason for every action he takes. Nnamdi Kalu is gradually being turned into a global figure because Nigeria has given him cause to emerge. The Biafran flag is gaining prominence because present developments seem to raise the flag which was lowered at the end of hostilities in 1970. This talk of Biafra should disturb the Federal Government. And I believe it is only President Muhammadu Buhari that can really make the Igbo think more of what they can do for Nigeria than what Biafra can do for them. I mention the President because he is a strong link between the past and the present. Buhari fought the war and recently confessed that he lost friends and family members. He knows the pains he went through fighting under difficult situations. I am convinced he does not want to see Nigerians go back to the trenches. We must continue to shout and shout it out. A united strong Nigeria will be good for the world. Should we run into crisis again, that is the end of West Africa, if not the African continent. With our large population , the world cannot handle a Nigerian refugee crisis as a result of conflict. President Muhammadu Buhari must stand now and be counted as the man who changed Nigeria from bad to good. Nigeria is bad right now, there is poverty, there is corruption, there

tribalism, there is confusion , no love and above all wickedness in high places. This is the time for President Buhari to turn to a statesman. This country needs a true national hero. Buhari at 73, is seasoned to become Father of the Nation. The World talks about Abraham Lincoln, Pandit Nehru, Josip Bronz Tito and Nelson Mandela. Let the Universe also put Mr. President in that group. I do not know why so far, no one from the South East has been given any position of authority in the new administration. Those who say the South-East must be punished for supporting Dr. Goodluck Jonathan are probably bushmen who should be confined to their forests because they do not deserve a place in modernity. The very few who voted for Buhari deserve recognition more than the so called millions who voted for him from other zones. That is how to say a big thank you to people who chose you against their people’s reasoning. Leadership is not about witch hunting. Vendetta is not sold by vendors in the newsstand. A true leader does not look back, he thinks ahead. It is not everyone that will get the opportunity that was offered to President Buhari a second time. This is a time to work , a time to heal and a time to lead. There is every reason for the President to trust the Igbo. Ndigbo do not look back if you win their support. And when you have an Igbo by your side, you need not fear treachery. Buhari knows this much. Colonels Chris Ugokwe and Juventus Ojukwu are well known to him. They got their commission same day, January 26, 1963 as the President. Ojukwu stood for Buhari during the last elections when he was labeled Igbo hater . Ugokwe was retired on September 16, 1985, three weeks after Buhari was overthrown. His offence could have been his friendship. It is a shame that Nigeria buried Gen Emeka Ojukwu like a hero, Nigeria made Okokon Ndem General manager of NTA Channel 9 Calabar, Nigeria appointed Uche Chukwumerije Information minister and today Nigeria seems to be making Biafra breathe again by sidelining those who can really die for Nigeria.

In defence of Radio Biafra (2) Paschal Chiduluemije C O N T I N U E D F R O M Y E S T E R D AY

eanwhile, if there is one known fact that is increasingly endearing the people of South-East and SouthSouth to the so-called illegal Radio Biafra (to the chagrin and discomfort of Buhari’s government), it is best to be situated in the perceived witch-hunt by the present national leadership. Rightly or wrongly, its first rash decision to transfer a whole lot of high risk Boko Haram detainees/prisoners to an unworthy prison facility at Ekwuluobia in the South-Eastern state of Anambra speaks volumes about the validity of the stereotyped mindset of President Buhari’s government vis-a-vis Ndigbo. And this may help to explicate the rationale behind the fortune being made by Radio Biafra in the area of securing the attention of the public. Though it has always been easy for those who enjoy the privilege of being in the media or having access to the media to put in the public domain fierce polemics against peoples’ proj-

ects that are apparently antithetical to the interest they represent or protect. Yet it must be noted that the role of the media, whether print, electronic or online, on this issue of Radio Biafra should go beyond attacking the station. At the very best, there is need for caution, profound reflection and candid analysis on this issue. Like the British Broadcasting corporation (BBC) Hausa service which champions the cause of the Hausa people all over the world, it may not be out of place to say that the Radio Biafra fundamentally exists to serve and promote the cause and interest of the people of Igbo extraction both at home and in Diaspora. To this end, it does not seem to make sense that Premium Times, an online media, in its July 10, 2015 Editorial, erroneously tried to equate the activities of Radio Biafra with Radio Television Libre des mille (RTLMC) that allegedly aided the massacre of 500,000 Rwandans during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Truth be told, there is hardly any station which caters and propagates solely the cause of a nation that does not err from time to time in terms of providing contro-

versial content to its listeners. As a matter of fact, we may recall that it was reportedly on the BBC Hausa Service interview segment that our current President, Major-General Buhari, allegedly issued his notorious threat about the possibility of monkey and baboon’s blood oozing out on the streets in the event the 2015 general election failed to meet his personal and group expectations. And here lies one of the challenges associated with the existence of a cause radio station or a global radio station that permanently runs a cause programme for a nationality co-existing with other nationalities within the same geographical entity and under a supreme authority (one government). What is more, if indeed Radio Biafra is illegal on account of the pronouncement by Dr. Esan, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, merely because the station does not have a licence obtained from Nigerian government to be on her airwaves, then it stands to question if the BBC, Voice of America, Radio Deutsche welle and their ilk that freely operate on our airwaves do so because they are issued with Nigerian

government’s licences or basically because of their ownership, possession and use of superior technology/technical knowhow. But be that as it may, it is high time the government left Radio Biafra alone and mind its business of governance, especially as it concerns its efforts in containing the unabated offensive being launched daily by the Boko Haram insurgents. Endlessly chasing shadow in the guise of fighting to jam the signals of Radio Biafra will only continue to attract more attention and listenership for the radio station. This is why it is imperative for President Muhammadu Buhari to start addressing cases of injustice, inequality and inequity (which abound in our polity) against the people of the enclave whose cause and interest the pirate radio station claims to be pursuing. This is one major way of making the vast majority of the people concerned think and act less for and in defence of Radio Biafra. •Concluded • Chiduluemije, a journalist, writes from Abuja via duluemije4justice@yahoo.com – 07012130204

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

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Between Shell and BP

very news channel in the country ran the report detailing how international oil giant, BP, is set to comply with a U.S. court judgement ordering it to pay a whopping £12bn (N3.6 trillion), for the spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010- the largest by a single company in US history. A federal judge was expected to rule on how much BP owed in Clean Water Act penalties following the massive disaster which refocuses attention on a similar report which recommended remediation effort in Ogoniland. As in Ogoniland where oil exploitation was conducted with scant regard for international best practices, over 125 million gallons of oil spewed into the Gulf after an explosion at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in 2010, prompting the government to move in to protect citizens. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill was one of the worst environmental disasters in US history and claimed the 11 lives. As at the time the U.S. Supreme Court rejected BP’s legal challenge of the original compensation package of 2012, it had already paid out $2.3bn in business economic loss claims out of a total of $4.25bn in compensation claims to individuals and businesses, according to

Patrick Juneau, the administrator appointed by the courts to handle claims. The example of BP contrasts sharply with the curious reluctance by the FG to sanction Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) for environmental atrocities in Ogoni, Rivers State. This chronicle of massive pollution of farmlands, rivers and streams, was contained in the United Nations Environmental Report which is being ignored. Despite protests in the Niger-Delta for the revocation of the licence granted the AngloDutch oil giant to explore in Nigeria, the FG refused to act on revelations by UNEP that the company polluted Ogoniland massively. About 17 years ago, Shell was forced to pulled out of Ogoni land following mass protests by the people against its operations. UNEP spokesman, Nick Nuttal, said the study was not intended to “blame any particular stakeholder operating in Ogoniland”. The former president of MOSOP, Ledum Mitee said the only option for Shell was to commence immediate remediation exercise in Ogoniland and not to infuriate the angry people with the spurious argument that the pollution was caused by a third party (sabotage). Mitee described as appalling that government spent billions of Naira to reha-

bilitate youths (ex-militants) who wielded guns to protest criminal neglect and plunder of their resources while Ogoni people, who opted for nonviolent protest, went away with nothing. By foot-dragging, the government has vindicated the allegation that Shell is a sacred cow that reportedly garnered over $30 billion from its operations in Ogoniland before things went sour. The former president MOSOP, Ledum Mitee, however, said the only option was for Shell to commence immediate remediation exercise in Ogoniland and not to infuriate the already-angry people with the spurious argument that the pollution was caused by a third party (sabotage). Mitee described as appalling that government spent billions of Naira to rehabilitate youths (ex-militants) who wielded guns to protest neglect and plunder of their resources while Ogoni people, who opted for nonviolent protest went away with nothing to show for it. We condemn this brazen act by the FG on the report against Shell in Ogoni land and reaffirm that hiding this strange reluctance under the pretext that it is studying the UNEP report before determining the next line of action is aggravated mischief. Part of the report listed “Shell’s atrocious breach of

minimum requirements of the Environmental Guidelines and Standards for Petroleum Industries in Nigeria and its own standards”. Executive Director, ERA/ FoEN, Mr. Nnimmo Bassey, said, “The UNEP assessment with documented evidence of widespread pollution in Ogoniland is not surprising. It has vindicated our position that Shell, and not the people, is wholly responsible for this environmental assault.” Director, Global Issues at Amnesty International, Audrey Gaughran, said: “This report proves Shell has got away with denying it for decades, falsely claiming they work to best international standards” . Most vindicated by the report, perhaps, is charismatic former MOSOP leader, late Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni leaders who were executed in 1993 because the battle for which they were killed was to position Ogoniland for recognition as devastated and despoiled and that appropriate remedial measures should be taken. The time to implement the UNEP Report on Ogoniland is now! Further foot-dragging reinforces the allegation of an evil conspiracy between oil companies and the government against ordinary folks it should ordinarily be responsible to as the case in the U.S. clearly vindicates.

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FRIDAY, JUly 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Senate leadership: APC’s paradox of equity Zacheaus Adebayo

he All Progressives Congress (APC) is one party that never ceases to amaze you. Their 360 degrees turn from their original stand on bipartisan leadership in the National Assembly in less than eight months and the drama playing out in Abuja since the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly have further confounded those who thought our change had come. As in George Orwell’s Animal Farm where the pigs (the impostor leaders) now walk on two legs, party, and gulp exotic rums with their so-called human oppressors, it is now diffi-

cult to tell the difference between the APC and the much-demonised Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Those who branded it the All Pretenders Congress, appear to be having the last laugh, for if it is all about the interest of the masses the apocalyptic battles for control would have been unnecessary. With a handful of lawmakers, some party leaders feign ignorance of the difference between a party’s constitution and the Nigerian Constitution or between a National Assembly and the APC party office. They would therefore not accept the outcome of the June 9 elections for the positions of the presiding officers of

the National Assembly because it did not go their way. The first salvo culminating in the present crisis in the National Assembly was fired by APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. According to him: “Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara are not the candidates of the APC and a majority of its National Assembly members-elect for the positions of Senate President and House Speaker…. The party is supreme and its interest is superior to that of its individual members.” Unfortunately, APC leaders are coming to equity with unclean hands. They have not told Nigerians

what portion of the constitution empowers their party to impose presiding officers on the National Assembly – as though members elected on other party platforms have no say in who leads them. Ironically, these proponents of party are mainly the same brains behind the emergence of Hon. Aminu Tambuwal as the Speaker of the House of Representatives against PDP’s will. The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) elements of what we know today as APC practically coerced even the South-West House of Representatives’ members to vote against their own daughter and sister, Hon. Mulikat AdeolaAkande because only one

crock must crow in the entire Yorubaland. However, it is the emergence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as the Deputy Senate President that truly unmasked APC’s inconstancies and duplicity. Not surprisingly, the same people who defended Tambuwal’s are fighting Ekweremadu with the cudgels of intimidation, blackmail, media terrorism, and all manner of harassment. But they have obviously met their match in the young man who doesn’t even seem to care a hoot. Just a few days before the inauguration of the eighth Senate, the APC helped their members to emerge as Speakers in Plateau and

Benue States Houses of Assembly, notwithstanding the fact that the PDP were in the majority. Yet, they would not allow Nigerians peace because a PDP Senator became Deputy Senate President, even when the PDP had the opportunity to elect one of their own as the Senate President. But rather than be grateful as the APC Deputy National spokesperson, Mr. Timi Frank advised them, some APC leaders are deliberately clutching at every imaginary straw to make the National Assembly ungovernable. The alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rule being promoted by Senator Kabir Marafa and his co-travellers is just one of their monkeyshines. As far as records can show, the National Assembly has always produced Standing Rules at the beginning of each National Assembly. The rules of the previous Senate can only be part of the Rules of the new Senate to the extent that the management of the National Assembly reproduces them. So, what the Senate Unity Forum and their falconers deliberately call a forged copy of the rule is, by tradition, a new document strictly for the Eighth Senate, amendable by the Eighth Senate, and for the Eighth Senate alone. If Marafa and his supporters insist that this tradition has become forgery; that the 2015 Senate Rule is invalid; that the Eighth Senate was invalidly inaugurated; and that its presiding officers were illegally elected, why did they submit themselves to be inaugurated after missing out the first day (June 9)? They contend that the Senate leadership is illegal, yet they insist that APC national chairman’s letter imposing their members as principal officers must be read by the same supposedly illegal Senate leadership. My question is, how come they want to be principal officers of a supposedly illegal Senate? So, let us just say the truth and shame the devil. What the members of the Senate Unity Forum want are principal positions and juicy committees. But that can only come through constructive engagement and lobbying, which is the practice, the world over. Subterfuge, noisemaking, blackmails, and trying to coerce their colleagues with external tyrannical external influences won’t help them. Those who come to equity must come with clean hands, in addition to pure hearts. They should climb down their high horses. •Adebayo writes from Ibadan

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, july 24, 2015

21 Movie

Oge Okoye shrugs off marital squabbles

Entertainment Stella Damasus:

The woman in charge Stories by Lanre Odukoya

s proverbially mused, ‘many waters have passed under the bridge’ since that call came through to Tunde Moshood’s phone sometime at dusk in December 2004 when Jaiyejeje Aboderin breathed his last. “Hello”, Tunde Obe had made that august call to TM, the Editor of defunct Fame Weekly magazine and because he seldom called, the receiver hurried with huge enthusiasm to answer; “Uncle Tunde, good evening sir…” The rest, as they say, is history. TM had just been hinted of how Jaiye slumped on the basketball court when he was exercising in preparation for a big gig he was to perform at. “Stop press!” TM screamed. The paper had almost gone to bed, but this exigency forced the team on duty to discard the old and plan a fresh cover. In fact, that week, Fame Magazine almost had two covers after a heated argument by the editors comprising TM, Mr. Starrys Obaze and Miss Josephyn Mba. Widowed by such a tragic happenstance when Stella C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2 2

sony neme

Editor, entertainment sony.neme@newtelegraphonline.com

Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert announce split MTV VMAS in top gear-Full nomination list emerges

On Ojuelegba remix, Wizkid prefers Rick Ross to Drake

Entertainment

FRIDAY, JUly 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Stella on stage with the late Jaiye Aboderin

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 1

Damasus was just in her 20s, many of us empathized with the starlet who had just begun to ride into fame and ‘perceived’ fortune. Her claim to fame was a movie titled ‘Real Love’ in which she played a lead role, a blind lover alongside TV darling, Ramsey Noah (Jnr.). That was when Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola JoladeEkeinde were the producers and fans’ super delight. She brought a breath of fresh air with a mesmeric plunge into a character that was miles apart from her person in real life and everyone almost jettisoned the old ‘chic(s)’ for this new kid on the bloc. Pardon my necessary digression. Before her husband’s untimely death, Stella had stellar musical outings with Jaiye as a partner on the Synergy Band. They sang together at gigs and stole the show wherever fate took them. That was when men were boys and ladies cradled in age of near-innocence. Stella was the vice president of the band, which she reportedly joined when she was an undergraduate of Theatre Arts at the University of Lagos. At the said time, Jaiye wasn’t big yet and understandably so, would drive his rickety car to spend time with drop dead gorgeous girlfriend on campus. The fact that Jaiye was the son of late Olu Aboderin, founder of Punch Newspapers did open the doors, but his mastery of smooth blend of juju and highlife music kept those doors opened. Though a sunset at dawn, Jaiye’s life and times were full goals; sadly there was no time to see most of them to fruition. Stella carried on with the band for some time, but couldn’t sustain it. One of the hangers-on and earliest callers at Stella’s home the morning after was Kate Henshaw. She played the comforter’s role for as long as she could and, at some point, moved Stella and her two beautiful girls, Isabel and Angelica, to her house. Expectedly, it was about the most trying times of the Nollywood heartthrob as there were attendant in-laws’ palavers to also deal with. It was believed and reported that while still legally married, Stella was lecherous. And similar reports had fallen on Jaiye’s deaf ears; he would even avoid his family members anytime such matter reared its head. So, he was left to stirring his ship. Some of her in-laws had also felt she had begun to waste the resources meant for the upkeeps of the kids on frivolitieswhat was due to Jaiye from his father’s vast business interests which include Punch Newspapers add up to tens of millions of naira every passing year. And the annual benefits are much more than that now according to an insider. So, she blatantly fell out with the Aboderins and whatever is left now are the claims she picks up yearly. Then in about the five years she stayed unmarried, she often allegedly fell in

The woman in charge

and out of love. Her alleged romance with Sammie Okposo who reportedly also shared some romantic tie with Kate Henshaw was a matter the press feasted on for m o n t h s. And we learnt it was the af fair that put a strain in her friendship with Kate. And at other times, she was alleged to have dated Nollywood superstar, Richard Mofe Damijo, Tim Godfrey, the famous singer and Mofe Duncan, a budding actor and on-air-personality. Five years after her last marriage, Stella took another shot at marriage albeit secretly. She got married to Emeka Nzeribe and the marriage lasted barely a year. It packed up on allegations of infidelity in 2010. The last straw that broke the camel’s back was a ‘quickie’ Stella was alleged to have had with mogul, Taiwo Afolabi. Afolabi, the chairman of Sifax Group was said to have put the lady on an all-expense paid trip overseas when the hubby was made to believe she was traveling to pick an award. When the cookie crumbled, Nzeribe vacated her home located on Kingsley Emu Street, Lekki, Lagos to his apartment. Shortly after the crash of her second marriage, Wunmi Obe, Jaiye’s sister tweeted; “Vindicated at last. Jaiye, it’s over! Sleep on brother.” And that was inadvertently connected to what had just befallen Stella. She moved on with her life and career, but the emergence of Mercy Johnson,

Tonto Dike and a few other actresses who could act well for lesser fees changed the game. Producers would rather work with the Ini Edos, Uche Jombos, Queen Nwokoyes and other emerging girls of the screen. So she was adversely affected. But as a lone parent with her beauStella and tiful daughters, Emeka Nzeribe Stella had a task to muster the courage to survive with her girls, teach them to be better women, put them through school and consequently prepare them not to fail because there might just be some people waiting to mock her. As she continued to ignore negativities, as though her life depends on it, another phase of her life will open fresh controversies. Three years ago, another romance scandal was stirred by her sudden dalliance with Daniel Ademinokan, a movie director and husband to another actress, Doris Simeon. Daniel had fallen on bad times and couldn’t live up to the standard he’d set for his family. And in no time, he began to spend more time with Stella than he’d spend with his family. Sooner than expected, the veiled affair unsettled his home and the man, who could no longer pay his rent in their Magodo

home, absconded with the only fruit of their liaison, a boy. But in an interview with the man in his late 30s, he said; “I’ve moved ahead, I don’t want to talk about my past, I now live happily with my boy, David in Abuja.” The two ostensibly agreed to tell a common lie; “We’re partners in business”. Following a twitter rant by Stella last year, some men of the Department of State Security were on the trail of the actress which led them to Daniel’s mother’s abode, but she was lucky to be absent when the gun–trotting men arrived. In self-defence, she claimed Daniel’s mom was her spiritual mother. And shortly after, the love-struck duo started posting photographs from the chill of US. By this time, there was nothing more Doris could do other than to let go. The romance is now nothing to hide as they attend shows together with no worries about people’s judgement of their choice. On August 22, 2013, Stella in a series posted online had said this; “This is for the married women o. Please, this is not targeted at single girls. Now we know that the one thing men cannot live without, apart from money, is SEX. In this forum, I really don’t care where anyone is from or what religion you belong to, I will be as raw and honest as possible. I do not understand why women, especially Africans, do not talk about sex when we know that it is the one thing we do regularly with so much pleasure. “Anyway, our men love sex to the max and we know that for a fact. So, how come when we are dating them we are so willing to give them what they want even though we know it is wrong? The first few years of marriage is filled with sex almost five times a day in different parts of the house and at odd hours, but after the few years, we start to back down, we start to make excuses, we start to see it as a chore and then we let them know that we are really not interested in them physically. Wow, what happened to the lady fox, the hot chic, the sexy cat that he got married to? What happened to the babe that would understand the signal he would give and immediately comply? “What happened those times when he would race home to his sexy, energetic, ever ready wife who would make him feel wanted? “I know that most of you will say: “I have kids who wear me out, I have work that drains me, I got older, my sex drive has gone under, I have a headache” to the point that the man will need to get a visa at your “embassy” to visit his favorite place in the world. When you do this to him, how do you expect him to come home everyday to look at your tired, grumpy and unfriendly face? “How would you expect him to come home to you complaining about the plumber, your child that was being rude and your boss that gave you a hard time?” All these, even if they were innocent couns e l s,

Stella and Daniel Ademinokan

CONTINUED O N PA G E 2 3

Entertainment 23

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, july 24, 2015

On Ojuelegba remix, Wizkid prefers Rick Ross to Drake Stories by Lanre Odukoya

Rick Rose

izkid’s famous single, ‘Ojuelegba’ got remixed by American rapper, Drake and this has shored up his image a great deal. It remains one of the most-talked-about showbiz matters on the social media and it’s a rain of praises for the ‘Starboy’ all the way. Since the remix was posted on the Internet, the singer has been getting commendations from his teeming fans. But in a recent interview, the Surulere, Lagos-bred artiste disclosed that he initially wanted Rick Ross on the sing, not Drake, but explained that Drake first contacted him after listening to the song. “Skepta said Drake liked the work, then he followed me on Instagram so he filled him in and later I met him in London where we recorded the song”, Wizkid told Hitz FM’s ‘Showbiz Filla’ with Amanda Jissih.

Wizkid

Drake

Oge Okoye shrugs off marital squabbles

hat actress, Oge Okoye’s marriage to Stanley Duru has since met a brick wall is no longer news. What’s excitingly new, however, is that the actress has literally said farewell to the mess in her yesterday. You’ll recall that the couple had since parted ways upon the interference of Oge’s colleague and ex best friend, Nkiru Sylvanus. Nkiru, who has once granted an interview that there’s nothing wrong in being a second wife to anyone, is now brazenly dating Duru. Whether Oge is feigning it or not, at least the lady is putting up an outlook that simply suggests that for her, the storm is over. The pretty mother of two has resumed her social life and was recently spotted with Ebube

Nwagbo having fun together. We reliably learnt that at an event where DSTV launched its Igbo channel sometime in June, Oge and Nkiru met, but avoided each other like a plague. It might also interest you to know that Oge has been showing off her adorable kids on social media, telling fans how much she loves her son and daughter without giving credits to any man for the well-being of the Oge kids. Instead, she sent her ‘kisses’ to God for being her ‘best daddy and soul provider’.

The woman in charge C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 2

were believed to be a string of words to taunt ‘Doris’ who couldn’t keep her man. This incident was the same that propelled the twitter jibe, which would later pitch Toyin Aimakhu against Stella. Toyin had posted something on twitter eight months earlier, but the person the jibe was directed at responded after such an incredibly long time. In the tweet, Toyin had accused Stella of a number of things which she thus responded to; “First of all, sister girl. I love you too. I love you like crazy. Let’s just look at your hashtags again. Okay? We need to sort this out. You said hashtag visa don expire. I’ve been here for about two years and nobody has asked me to leave. And apart from that, I am doing a lot of

work with the United Nations. So, if I had a problem with my visa, I don’t think they will be working with me right now. I’m doing radio, I’m doing TV. Doing a lot of things and nobody has come to knock on my door to say your visa has expired, leave. Honey, when it comes to the visa let’s be sure what we’re saying. And you said hashtag bring our son back. Is your son missing? (looks around and asks ‘does she have a son?’) If your son is missing, let’s look for him. You know me, I can do plenty videos. Tell me and I will scream till my lungs burst or something and make sure they return your son. Then you said attention seeker.

Entertainment

FRIDAY, JUly 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert announce split Stories by Lanre Odukoya

lake Shelton has always been the flirty, party guy, but it turns out that Miranda Lambert may have been the one who strayed in their failed marriage. ‘The Voice’ judge reportedly made the decision to file for divorce after learning his wife of four years had allegedly cheated on him twice. Many are still so devastated over Blake Shelton, 39, and Miranda Lambert’s, 31, divorce. But if this is true, we can’t blame the “Sangria” singer for calling it quits. Quite surprisingly, it was Miranda who was unfaithful and her infidelity wasn’t just a one-time thing, according to a new report. Blake reportedly began to get suspicious after hearing rumors that his wife had cheated with fellow country star, Chris Young, 30, who she’s very friendly with and has toured with in the past. But their alleged affair wasn’t what caused the split — rather, it was another incident with a non-country singer that finally had The Voice judge file divorce papers, TMZ claims. For the exes’ who married in May 2011, divorce has already been finalized, though Blake just filed two weeks ago. And it wasn’t just Miranda’s alleged cheating that had her hubby rethinking the relationship, either. “Miranda has changed, the more popular she has become,” an insider alleged. “The divorce definitely has to do with how their careers changed their attitudes. They used to be perfect for each other, but now they are oil and water.” Blake and Miranda announced their heartbreaking decision on July 20, with no explanation of what went wrong, though. “This is not the future we envisioned and it is with heavy heart that we move forward separately,” they said in a statement. “We are real people, with real lives, with real family, friends and colleagues. Therefore, we kindly ask for privacy and compassion concerning this very personal matter.” The writing has been on the wall for quite some time, though — back in April, Miranda failed to acknowledge her husband while accepting her trophies at the ACM Awards. Plus, these two have been dodging split rumors for years. But, despite widespread belief that his wild lifestyle would lead him to be the one to stray, HollywoodLife.com has learned that this is definitely not the case.

Beyonce

MTV VMAs in top gear, full nomination list emerges Sia – “Elastic Heart” Ellie Goulding – “Love Me Like You Do” BEST HIP HOP VIDEO Fetty Wap – “Trap Queen” Nicki Minaj – “Anaconda” Kendrick Lamar – “Alright” Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth – “See You Again” Big Sean ft. E-40 – “IDFWU”

Wiz Khalifa

t’s that time of year again, The MTV VMAs! Well, it’s almost that time, which means we’ve now got the full list of 2015 nominees. The MTV Video Music Awards, which will air on August 30, are going to be huge this year, judging by the nominations. First of all, the shindig will be hosted by Miley Cyrus, which is reason enough to be stoked. Then, factor in this freaking stacked list of nominees, and we know enthusiasts are in for one crazy show. Can you believe that Taylor Swift grabbed a whopping nine nominations? Check out a full list of nominees. The VMAs are pretty much known for their shocking performances and antics and, after seeing these nominees, it’s safe to assume we can expect a whole lot more of that at this year’s show. Along with the aforementioned, we’ve got Beyonce, Nicki Minaj and so many more! Here’s the full nomination list. VIDEO OF THE YEAR Beyoncé – “7/11” Ed Sheeran – “Thinking Out Loud” Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood” Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk” Kendrick Lamar – “Alright” BEST MALE VIDEO Ed Sheeran – “Thinking Out Loud” Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk” Kendrick Lamar – “Alright” The Weeknd – “Earned It” Nick Jonas – “Chains”

Miranda and Blake

BEST FEMALE VIDEO Beyoncé – “7/11” Taylor Swift – “Blank Space” Nicki Minaj – “Anaconda”

BEST POP VIDEO Beyoncé – “7/11” Ed Sheeran – “Thinking Out Loud” Taylor Swift – “Blank Space” Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk” Maroon 5 – “Sugar” BEST ROCK VIDEO Hozier – “Take Me To Church” Fall Out Boy – “Uma Thurman” Florence + the Machine – “Ship To Wreck” Walk the Moon – “Shut Up and Dance” Arctic Monkeys – “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?” ARTIST TO WATCH presented by Taco Bell® Fetty Wap – “Trap Queen” Vance Joy – “Riptide” George Ezra – “Budapest” James Bay – “Hold Back The River” FKA Twigs – “Pendulum” BEST COLLABORATION Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood” Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk” Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth – “See You Again” Ariana Grande & The Weeknd – “Love Me Harder” Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj – “Bang Bang” VIDEO WITH A SOCIAL MESSAGE Jennifer Hudson – “I Still Love You” Colbie Caillat – “Try” Big Sean ft. Kanye West and John Legend – “One Man Can Change the World” Rihanna – “American Oxygen” Wale – “The White Shoes” PROFESSIONAL CATEGORIES BEST ART DIRECTION Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood” (Charles Infante) Snoop Dogg – “So Many Pros” (Jason Fijal)

Jack White – “Would You Fight For My Love” (Jeff Peterson) The Chemical Brothers – “Go” (Michel Gondry) Skrillex & Diplo – “Where Are U Now” with Justin Bieber (Brewer) BEST CHOREOGRAPHY Beyoncé – “7/11” (Beyoncé, Chris Grant, Additional choreography: Gabriel Valenciano) OK Go – “I Won’t Let You Down” (OK Go, air:man and Mori Harano) Chet Faker – “Gold” (Ryan Heffington) Ed Sheeran – “Don’t” (Nappy Tabs) Flying Lotus ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Never Catch Me” (Keone and Mari Madrid) BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Flying Lotus ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Never Catch Me” (Larkin Sieple) Ed Sheeran – “Thinking Out Loud” (Daniel Pearl) Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood” (Christopher Probst) FKA Twigs – “Two Weeks” (Justin Brown) Alt-J – “Left Hand Free” (Mike Simpson) BEST DIRECTION Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood” (Joseph Kahn) Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk” (Bruno Mars & Cameron Duddy) Kendrick Lamar – “Alright” (Colin Tilley & The Little Homies) Hozier – “Take Me To Church” (Brendan Canty and Conal Thomson of Feel Good Lost) Childish Gambino – “Sober” (Hiro Murai) BEST EDITING Beyoncé – “7/11” (Beyoncé, Ed Burke, Jonathan Wing) Ed Sheeran – “Don’t” (Jacquelyn London) Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood” (Chancler Haynes at Cosmo Street) A$AP Rocky – “L$D” (Dexter Navy) Skrillex & Diplo – “Where Are U Now” with Justin Bieber (Brewer) BEST VISUAL EFFECTS Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood” (Ingenuity Studios) FKA Twigs – “Two Weeks” (Gloria FX, Tomash Kuzmytskyi, and Max Chyzhevskyy) Childish Gambino – “Telegraph Ave.” (Gloria FX) Skrillex & Diplo – “Where Are U Now” with Justin Bieber (Brewer)

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Media

Tourism

African cultural heritage key for development, integration – CBAAC DG

Arts

embers of Poultry Farmers Association of Nigeria have a bad market in Ode-Aye in Okitipupa local government area of Ondo State, as indigenes of the town neither eat fowl nor eat egg, as the town forbids them from doing so. Many of these beliefs are the fundamental principles on which some of the communities in Ondo South senatorial district in Ondo State thrive on, and formed the essential basis of their existence. In some places, they are celebrated virtues of the people’s existence while in other places, they are regarded as taboos. There are serious historical and cultural attachments to some of these beliefs in some communities. Many of these taboos predate the foundations of some of the communities. And any indigene who defies these taboos face the consequences; the culture and tradition of the people take precedent in the area. For the people of Ode-Aye, the question of which comes first, egg or hen does not apply to them, as they see the hen as a tin god, who had helped them in time of need and in order to pay back, they neither eat egg, hen or any product made of egg. These included chicken pie and egg roll. Any of the indigenes who violates the taboo risks his or her nose being perforated while the person would vomit blood which would eventually lead to death. There are however antidote which must be done by traditionalists who would force the victim to lick ash. This however does not guarantee his survivor hence the total ban. It must be noted however that 95 percent of the people of the ancient town of Ode-Aye are farmers making them believers in customs and traditions. In fact, value their culture than any other western culture. Ode-Aye is one of the prominent nine enclaves of the Ikale people, a town where tradition and cultural values are celebrated and highly respected. The town is situated at the outskirt of Okitipupa local gov-

TONY OKUYEME Arts Editor tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

Osun to partner Webisco on resort

CULTURE

Town where you can’t eat eggs, fowls Despite the influence of western culture in our societies and globalization, some pre-colonial beliefs and ideologies still manage to subsist and stand the test of time. In Ode-Aye in Okitipupa local government area of Ondo State, South West, Nigeria, eating of egg and fowls are forbidden, BABATOPE OKEOWO reports

A street in Ode-Aye town

ernment and an opening into the interior of Okitipupa, Igbotako, Ikoya, Ilutitun towns. As rustic as the town is, it has produced the first deputy governor of the state in this democratic dispensation, Afolabi Iyantan, Commissioners including Oye Alademehin, Diran Iyantan among others. It had also produced board members both at the state and federal level. The town plays significant roles in the politics of the state, yet it stayed to its customs and traditions. Historically, it was gathered from oral tradition in the town of about 20,000 people that fowl became deified in Ode-Aye town after the war with a neighbouring town. During the war which spanned across several decades, oral tradi-

tion has it that the enemies used to trail the Ode-Aye people by their footprints. This, they said served as an advantage to the enemies until the Ode-Aye people eventually crossed the Oluwa River. At the bank of the river, a mysterious hen appeared to their rescue and used its legs to erase their footprints, making it impossible for their assaulters to detect the path they followed. It was related that after they had crossed the river, they hid inside a cave and watched the hen as it embarked on the rescue mission, thereafter; leaving their enemies confused. In an interview with New Telegraph, the Halu of Ode-Aye kingdom, Oba Williams Akinmusayo

Oba Akinlade CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

Arts

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

De Beautiful Beginning pupils in compelling performance of Moremi Ajasoro Tony Okuyeme

enultimate Saturday, the serene Agip Recital Hall of the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, was agog with vibrant creative expressions through dance, drama, music and recitals that were marked with ovations. It was, indeed, a day of talent showcase as De Beautiful Beginning School, Magodo, feted guests, including frontline thespians, arts and culture enthusiasts, families, friends, teachers and others to a rich array of performances. The event was the school’s graduation and prize giving ceremony. For the enthusiastic pupils of the De Beautiful Beginning School it was a rare platform to showcase their talents as creative artistes before an appreciative audience that included their parents, guardians and the school’s proprietress and teachers. And the pupils from the different classes did not disappoint as they dished out series of performances – dance, drama, recitals, singing – from their rich repertoire to the delight of the audience, especially their teachers and parents. The show saw the pupils in captivating dance performances comprising of ballet, traditional Yoruba dance, Edo dance, among other contemporary dances, turning the stage into a rich canvas of colourful traditional attires showcasing Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage. For instance, in one of the performances, the pupils richly attired in Yoruba traditional asooke, trouped onto the stage and performed a beautiful rendition of Yoruba praise chants for God, following it with some well-composed praise songs, singing with power and palpable passion. The pupils also engaged the audience in a breathtaking performance of some Edo songs. Significantly, the hall resonated with applause as the Playgroup and Kindergarten classes took the stage in a rendition of the late Lady of Songs, Christie Essien Igbokwe’s evergreen song, “Omo mi seun rere”, with passion and panache. The highpoints the event include the command performance of the play Moremi Ajasoro (the noble woman of Ile-Ife), directed by Tony Biyi- Boyede, Artistic Director of Lagos-based theatre troupe, Theatrecentrik, who in his handling of the play, gave it contemporary outlook without losing its essence. Notably, the role of Moremi was played by three girls, each pupil representing different aspects of Moremi’s existence: her love life with Oranmiyan before marriage; her life as an Ife queen; and her life as an Ugbokanni queen. Set in the ancient kingdom of Ile-Ife, the play tells courageous the story of the sacrifice of a young woman’s undying love for her husband and his people.

A scene in the play

Faced with incessant battles from the people of Ugbo, who raided and terrorized the people of Ile-Ife, Moremi decided to use espionage. She allowed herself to be captured by the Ugbo warriors during one of their raids and later becomes wife of the king, in the course of which she discovered the secrets of the power of the enemy. Although warned by her beloved husband, Oranmiyan, not to carry out her espionage plans, Moremi sought the help of the gods with a promise to make a costly sacrifice if victorious. After the people of Ile-Ife conquered their long-time enemies, Moremi returned to the Esimirin shrine to fulfil her promise to the gods. It never occurred to her that the gods would demand her only son, Ela. Teachers and management

staff of the school were not left out of the staging of the play as some of them featured in the play. The proprietor of the school, Mrs Ogunleye, inspired the pupils as she played the role of Iya-Oba (mother of Oranmiyan), who came out at the wedding ceremony to pronounce blessings on the new couple: Moremi and Oranmiyan. The highpoint of the event was the presentation of awards to veteran film maker Mr. Tunde Kelani, culture promoter and founder CEO of Terra Kulture, Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters and Wunmi Dada. Also, awards were presented to deserving pupils and members of staff of the school. Kelani, in his address, stated that seeing the young children perform on the stage so well reminded him of his first play and appearance on

stage when he was in primary school. He applauded the children for their enthusiasm, and the school for recognising the need to impart on these young ones the love for the arts. According to him, no education is complete without culture, and the school had done a fantastic job of reminding the children of their culture. Though the performance was in English, he said it embodied the Nigerian culture and, for that, he was grateful to the school. In the same vein, Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters applauded the abundant talents in the school, noting that while watching the play, she had noticed a few exceptional talents. Hence, she acknowledged the school’s immense contributions to the honing of their talents. She added that their

early training would help them in future, and expressed her willingness to take on some of the young performers in a children musical soon to be staged. Wunmi Dada, in a speech delivered by Jennifer, expressed her gratitude to the school of considering her worthy of an award. She declared her excitement at the thought of the things that could be achieved from starting young. She thanked the management of the school, especially the proprietor, Mrs Bukola Ogunleye, for the honour and privilege. Mrs. Ogunleye, in her remarks, said recipients of the awards were personalities recognised as worthy and able role models. She thanked the parents and children for a wonderful school year, stressing that she was excited to see what the coming year would bring.

Town where you can’t eat eggs, fowls CO NT INU E D F RO M PAGE 2 5

Akinlade said eating of python and hen became ‘forbidden fruit’ to them in appreciation of the roles the duo played during the war at ensuring their victory against their assaulters. His words: “The story was like that of the Israelites when they were about to cross the Red Sea, God instructed Moses to stretch his rod towards the sea and it parted, thus paving way for the Israelites to cross over. “That was exactly what our

ancestors experienced during the war against our adversaries. When we got to the bank of River Oluwa, a big python stretched across the river like a bridge for the people to get to the other end. “Don’t forget that, I told you our enemies used to trail us by our footprints. Immediately we crossed over, the enemies followed us but we were far ahead of them. We now followed a path that led to where we are today, that is, Ode Aye. “When the enemies crossed over, they could not trace us

because the hen had erased our footprints; making it impossible for our adversaries to locate us.” Oba Akinmusayo added that any native of Ode-Aye that defiles the tradition will definitely bear the consequences. “No authentic indigene of Ode-Aye will defile this custom because it is a taboo. Those eating eggs in the town are not part of us. They are not from this town. They are strangers,” Oba Akinmusayo said. Though eating of hen and eggs are forbidden, rearing

of this livestock is a prosperous economic venture in some quarters of the ancient town. These people are migrants who have now become adopted indigenes of the town. But to the aborigine, eating of eggs or fowl remains a taboo with dire consequences. The confession of Oba Akinmusayo could further be interpreted that eating of snacks made of eggs, ice-cream, fruitsalad which are by-products of the objects of the taboo, should automatically be forbidden by the so-called Ode Aye people.

Media 27

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

African cultural heritage key for development, integration – CBAAC DG

L-R: Comrade Abiodun Aremu (Coordinator ACII), Dr. (Mrs) Glori Chuma-Ibe (Director Exhibition & Museum, CBAAC), Sir Ferdinand Anikwe (CBAAC Director General), Comrade Aboagye Boamong (Ghana) and Comrade Emoni Emoja (Guinea Bissau).

or the African continent to achieve cultural growth, once in a while we must produce a template on how to ensure that we graduate from one cultural development to the other and eventually emerge as total Africans,” the Director General of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), Sir Ferdinand Anikwe has said. He urged Africans to emulate the late nationalist thinker, political leader, and one of Africa’s foremost anti-colonial leaders, Amílcar Lopes da Costa Cabral, who fought to liberate Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde from the Portuguese

Elijah Samuel

agos City Chorale, again, proved itself as a worthy ambassador as it won laurels and did Nigeria proud at the just-concluded international music festival and competition which held in Magdeburg, the capital of state of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. With a 30-man contingent to the 2015 edition of the European Choir Games, the world’s largest cultural festival and choir Olympics, Lagos City Chorale, directed by Sir Emeka Nwokedi, won three gold medals in three different categories, namely Folklore, Chamber Choir and Musica Contemporanea (contemporary music). The Interkultur, the organizers of the world choir Olympics, had staged the programme with the major aim to, among other things, foster peace among the nations of the world through choral music as representative choirs from all parts of the world sing together. Thus, the period of the choral competition in which about five thousand choir members

government, saying that, “after Cabral, there has been a burning desire by those who are following him to ensure that his ideas are actualised. But I must say that there has been a big gap between his ideas and what we are seeing in Africa. “He also stood against the belief in the West that many African leaders don’t want democratic change, as they want to be in power for life, pointing the fact that the western countries have leaders, who have been ruling for 30 years.” The CBAAC DG made this call in his remarks when members of the Amilcar Cabral Ide-

ological Institute (ACII) paid him a visit to congratulate him on his new appointment as the President of the Pan African Cultural Congress. The visit was prior to its just concluded 10th anniversary celebration, which held from July 15 to 16. Anikwe said, “Neo-colonialism is worse than colonialism because with that, we think we are liberated, but in fact deepening the colonial process. There are simple things we must do to prove to the West that we are no longer for them, speak the African language, wear African attires and so on”. According to him, “since these our oppressors are oppressing our culture, then

fighting for culture is what we need by depression.” Anikwe called on every black country on Earth to value what Africa has, adding that the country is yet to understand what CBAAC stands for. CBAAC, he said, has a number of programmes that will properly help to re-orientate the African children. “One of such is our partnership with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), so that, rather than seeing the western culture, they will see Africans, who are going through our process, and the proper education, respect for elders and so on. What we want to do is to move Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) everywhere.” Anikwe also commended Nollywood for the efforts at exposing the African culture to the rest of the world, adding, “for us to imitate Cabral, we must look inwards, return to our roots, listen to our elders and research those important areas of our culture that are fading.” Coordinator of ACII, Abiodun Aremu, in his remarks, said CBAAC has produced a lot in the sector. “One thing that strikes us most is the underdevelopment of the Centre, the Nigerian State ought to protect and guard the place, because if there is an invasion here, Nigeria will lose its entire history and these are histories that are not even available to generations after the FESTAC in 1977,” he noted. Aremu urged the federal government to pay more attention to CBAAC and invest on the basis of cultural reality, saying, “you cannot drive

development outside your cultural reality.” He said the Centre should be well resourced to enable it move from school to school to show documentaries that would capture the younger ones to our culture. “The ACIS would partner with CBAAC to ensure that every African takes maximum advantage of the Centre, which, can show in our thinking, consciousness and in our ability to see that we essentially are just one Africa,” he said. Also speaking at the event, Aboagye Boampong, the organiser of All African Peoples’ Revolutionary Party, Ghana, commended CBAAC on its achievements saying, “there are a lot of cultural centres in Ghana, but none can be compared to what I have seen here today. If there is any relevant thing, it’s Kwame Nkrumah, we are going to use our culture to reclaim our land”. Imani Na Umoja of Guinea Bissau said Africa is one and must be united to liberate the continent. According to him, “to fight neo-colonialism, we must have our own thinking to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery, we must have our own ideology that comes from our history, and to get our land back we must have independent mass organisations.” The national Youth Leader ACIS, Mr. Patrick Oseriemen Benjamin, suggested that CBAAC should decolonise the mind of the African child by creating the platform to scrutinize the educational system of Africa.

Lagos City Chorale shines at European Choir Games from different countries and cultures performed various songs, literally became a melting point for various world cultures. They co-habited in hotels and hostels, fed together at a central feeding point, had a very healthy contest in various categories of the competition, shared same stage in friendship concerts and cut friendship across borders and various cultures of the world in a very convivial atmosphere. According to the Master of Music, Sir Emeka Nwokedi did Nigeria proud and was selected to perform in a special forum to entertain high profile audience. “Nigeria’s Lagos City Chorale representing Africa was among five choirs from different continents specially invited to perform for a select high profile audience which include Reiner Haseloff, the Governor of the State of Saxony-Anhalt; Lutz Trumper, the Lord Mayor of the City of Magdeburg and Gunter Titsch, the President of Interkultur. The performance

Lagos City Chorale in performance

was evidently outstanding by the reaction of the audience which gave a resounding ovation at the end of each song.” “In all the performances, Lagos City Chorale exhibited Nigerian rich Culture embedded in her indigenous choral music, traditional music instruments, costume and unique dance to the admira-

tion of a global community that constituted the audience.” Irrespective of the daunting challenges of having to represent Nigeria at international outings without the needed support, Lagos City Chorale has continued to use its participation in various global cultural festivals and choir Olympics as a way of contribution to re-

branding Nigeria and showcasing her positive abilities on the international platform. The Lagos City Chorale has represented Nigeria at the European Choir Games held at Cincinnati, Ohio USA in 2012; Graz, Austria in 2013; Riga, Latvia in 2014 and recently concluded 2015 edition in Magdeburg, Germany.

Tourism

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Osun to partner Webisco on resort A s part of its tourism agenda, the Osun State government has unfolded plan by it to build a world class resort in Ikirun, one of its major towns with huge tourism potential. This is in partnership with Mrs. Margaret Bolanle Fabiyi of the Webisco fame. The multi - billion naira project is expected on completion to serve as one-stop centre for leisure, hospitality, entertainment, shopping, business conference and tours. It is also to feature agricultural component dedicated to agro tourism, in addition to residential houses and service providers in the areas of hospital, school, jetty, helipad and filling station among other facilities. Speaking in Lagos recently on the dream project, Mrs. Fabiyi, said a project of this magnitude would certainly address the problem of unemployment as it would create jobs and also generate revenue for the state in the face of dwindling funds caused by the fall of crude oil price at the world market. ‘‘We have acquired a 25 square kilometres land in Ikirun, Osun State for the development of a one-stop tourism resort second to none in

Nigeria. The land was facilitated by the Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Rauf Olawale. The resort, when developed will have parks, hospital, school, residential buildings, jetty, filling station, business outlets, and conference centre among others. ‘‘We are working out the modalities and would make an appropriate statement on its update when we have sorted out the grey arrears,’’ she said even as she disclosed that the land acquisition and documentation processes are being perfected. Mrs. Fabiyi, who is a member of most tourism and travel organisations in Nigeria, including the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) and country liaising officer for Africa Travel Association (ATA) with headquarters in New York, U.S.A., is optimistic that consisting effort and investment in tourism would in not distant time yield the expected result for the country. “As we continue to invest our individual efforts in promoting and marketing tourism in our country we hope that very soon we will begin to reap the dividends,’’ said even as she disclosed plans

Aregbesola

Mrs. Fabiyi

by her association to organise a familiarization tour for Americans and others to the country. According to her, about 10 travel writers are expected to visit soon, revealing that the move is in partnership with VALinc PR and would comple-

ment what Nigerian tourism writers have been doing and to create a window and a sustainable gateway for the world to see and appreciate our potentials. Mrs. Fabiyi is banking on the sponsorship and partnership of the Federal and State

Akinboboye named tourism personality

he event was Accra Weizo and the venue was one of Ghana’s most prestigious hotels, La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra. The debutant travel and tourism event, which witnessed the combination of exhibition and talk sessions turned out to be a well - attended occasion with travel operators from across the west coast of Africa. Organised by Africa Travel Quarterly (ATQ), organisers of Akwaaba and Abuja Bantaba with the Ghana Ministry of Tourism and Creative Arts as host and supported by Ghana Association of Tour Operators and a host of sponsors, the gathering with the theme, ‘Seamless travel in West Africa,’ focused on ways and means of as well as exploring opportunities to unite and lift West Africa travel and tourism, including aviation and all the necessary components, to a global standard by encouraging interactions, networking and businesses among the various players in the industry, including government. But besides the exhibition, talks and entertainment as well as feasting with revelries from Carnival Calabar in attendance to add blitz and glamour to the event, the climax of the one day show was the award session, which had in attendance the governor of Cross River State, Professor

Ben Ayade who was represented by the deputy governor, Professor Ivara Esu and the Minister of Tourism in Ghana, Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare. The governor was the chairman of the debuting travel event. Five personalities were honoured for what was described by the organizers for their distinguished and exemplary pioneering effort in establishing businesses which have resonating effect across the west coast and Africa continent as a whole. One of the awardees was the Founder and President of La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort in Ikegun Village, Lekki, Lagos and La Campagne Club, Ikeja, Lagos, Ambassador (Dr) Wanle Akinbobye. He was honoured with the Tourism Personality – Nigeria – 2015 award. According to the organizers, Akinboboye, who is also the Founder of Motherland Beckons, a body, which is devoted to promoting Africa culture and integrating The Diaspora and the Black race all over the world to their ancestral home – Africa (Motherland), was described as a huge personality and investor in the travel and tourism business whose involvement with the Nigeria tourism has greatly helped to extend the frontiers of the country’s tourism. His indefatigable promotion of Africa cultural heritage through his various

governments to execute this project in the coming months while also hoping that whoever would be appointed as the minister of tourism that the person would understand and appreciate the effort of her association by given it the needed government support.

The Gambia celebrates July 22

Otunba Wanle Akinboboye (middle) flanked by the Ghanaian Minister of Tourism and Creative Arts, Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjara (left) and Mr. Uche Odege (right) of ABC Transport Plc during the award ceremony in Accra

engagements and platforms such as Motherland Beckons, Atunda Entertainment, KampAfrica and HURP, was also applauded. A fact that is well replicated in his La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, a wholesome Africa themed resort where he has succeeded in blending nature with a rich mix of Africa motifs and tinges of modernity and sophistication to bargain. Akinboboye who is also the Tourism Ambassador of the World Conference of Mayors (WCM) is presently replicating that truly and successful Africa themed resort in Cote Di Voire with over 20 of the resorts billed for operations in no distance time across the French speaking West Africa country. An elated Akinboboye

who is admired for his innate creative prowess and visionary foresight, expressed delight at the award while thanking the organizers for singling him for the award, which he said he is quite happy with and cherished because there is nothing like be honoured by one’s own people. The awardee used the occasion to call for African renaissance while condemning the lack of unity and cooperation among Africans, particularly the Anglo Phones or English speaking Africa countries, he enjoined them not to see themselves as enemies but rather as brothers and sisters and great partners who should join hands and partner in developing and building the continent.

uly 22 was a joyous and celebration day for The Gambians, as the tiny land known as the Smiling Coast of Africa, rolled out the red carpet and the drums to mark the anniversary of the revolution and birth of The Gambia’s second republic. And for the tourism industry, it was a special occasion as the industry was agog with celebration as different hospitality homes and tourist attractions across the land offered choice packages and other leisure and entertainment offerings for the people. It witnessed a colourful official ceremony held at the July 22 Arch in Banjul with official parades of the security forces, school children and cultural groups. Major government projects were also inaugurated in the midst of musical and cultural jamboree. The country’s tourism industry led by the tourism board inspired the tourism industry in heralding the celebration with lots of incentives for the visitors.

The July 22 Arch, Banjul

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Labour

Electricity workers fault FG on Manitoba deal

Agric Landmark varsity launches commercial farming

Business What's news

PenCom suspends inhouse enrolment of retirees The in-house enrolment of prospective and retired employees of the Federal Government has been suspended.

p.30

Nigeria, S’Africa, others listed as corruption ‘hotspots’ A survey by South African firm, ENSafrica, has named, Nigeria, Angola‚ the Democratic Republic of Congo‚ Ghana‚ Kenya‚ Mozambique‚ Nigeria‚ South Africa and Uganda as the continent’s corruption “hotspots.”

p.30

L-R: Director of Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria, Tope Omage; President/Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Dr. Nelson Uwaga and Deputy President, Prof. Manzali Jibril, during the Institute’s Women in Management and leadership conference in Abuja. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

Nigeria misses 350,000 PoS deployment target DEFICIT

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

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

Abdulwahab Isa

Country recorded a deficit of 107,923 PoS units despite increased terminal operators Kunle Azeez

igeria has missed the auspicious target set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to have deployed a total of 350,000 Point of Sales (PoS) terminals by the end of last year, New Telegraph has reliably gathered. The apex bank, working with the Nigeria Interbank Settle-

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

We’re still on course, says NIBSS ment System (NIBSS), had set a target of 350,000 PoS for the country by December 2014. But the e-payment sector ended the year with 242,077 successful PoS terminals. This represents a deficit of 107,923 terminals, which the country could not achieve, according to a data obtained from the NIBSS. In 2013, the total number of PoS terminals stood at 121,886 with additional 120,191 recorded by the end of last year. The CBN had increased the number of licensed Payment Terminal Service Providers

(PTSPs) from six to 19 as part of measure to meet the 350,000 PoS deployment target. PTSPs are the companies licensed by the CBN to deploy PoS terminals for merchants on behalf of the banks. The idea of PTSP was conceived to allow the banks to focus on their core banking

N137.72 billion Value of PoS transactions recorded in 2014

services without bothering themselves with the deployment of PoS for merchants. The 19 terminal operators include Global Accelerex Limited, Citiserve Limited, Interswitch Limited, ITEX Integrated Systems, Top Limited, Paymaster Limited, Globasure Technologies Limited, Signal Sources Nigeria Limited, Bizzdesk Global Solutions Limited, Callphone Limited and Cloud Systems Limited. Others are TITIS /Goswiff Limited, Nera Networks Nigeria Limited, Electronic SettleCONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE May 2015.................................9% April 2015................................8.7% March 2015.............................8.5%

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

EXCHANGE RATE (BDC as at July 17)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N245 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N365 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N265

l Foreign Reserves – $29.955bn as at 13/07/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at July 17)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N199.00 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N315.27 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N225.60

Business | News

VERIFICATION

Agency plans expanded verification for government agencies

Sunday Ojeme

he in-house enrolment of prospective and retired employees of the Federal Government has been suspended. This stemmed from an expanded verification and enrolment exercise proposed by the National Pension Commission (PenCom). The proposed verification and enrolment for employees of the Federal Government Treasury Funded Ministries, Departments and Agen-

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

PenCom suspends in-house enrolment of retirees cies due for retirement between January and December 2016, is scheduled for between July 27 and September 4, 2015. According to the commission, the suspension, which took effect from July 13, 2015, is for prospective/retired employees of the Federal Government who missed previous verification and enrolment exercises. PenCom said that the suspension was to enable the Commission adequately prepare for the 2015 nationwide enrolment exercise scheduled

to cover over 30 states of the federation. According to a notice posted on the commission’s website, the exercise will cover ministries, parastals, academic institutions, health and research institutions, paramilitary and police. The proposed verification is coming on the heels of a previous sensitisation exercise for potential retirees where the Director-General of the commission, Mrs. Chinelo Ahonu-Amazu, called on government at the state and local govern-

ment levels to key into the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) by registering their workers. Specifically, she lamented that since the inception of the scheme, no state in the South East had fully keyed into it, saying that the commission had established offices in the six geo-political zones to assist states that are yet to register their workers with the implementation of the scheme. This, she said, would avail their employees of the numerous benefits of the scheme while avoid-

ing huge future pension liabilities. She said: “Recent development with regards to inadequate finances affecting most states of the federation is a pointer to the urgent need for states to adopt the CPS. In our quest to assist the states in guided implementation, PenCom has established functional offices in the six geo-political zones including Awka for the South-East Zone. These offices have been equipped to provide the required technical assistance to states and local

governments in their efforts to adopt and implement the CPS.” Anohu-Amazu noted that prior to the enactment of the PRA 2014, several states in the federation had adopted the CPS and were at various stages of implementation. She said that the PRA 2014 had enhanced states and local government participation in the CPS by expressly prescribing the coverage of their employees in addition to the federal public service and the private sector.

Nigeria misses 350,000 PoS deployment target CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

ment Limited, Computer Warehouse Group Plc, Inlaks Computers Limited, Easyfuel Limited, Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited and Ameya Infocom Limited. Despite the boost in the number of PTSPs, the country could not achieve its set target of 350,000 PoS terminals’ deployment by end of last year. However, a report by NIBSS revealed that current payment trends show that the Internet, which is used for Instant Payments (IP) and PoS, is extensively utilised for money transfers and payments for goods and services. “Since 2012, growth in Instant Payments and PoS grew by an average of 87 per cent and 77 per cent year-onyear respectively, which is representative of consumers’ increasing appetite for immediate and convenient payment options. “The increased reliability, accessibility and security provided through electronic platforms have created a paradigm shift in consumers’ spending patterns, leading to an increased dependency on these platforms for funds transfers and payments of goods and services,” the NIBSS report said. Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of NIBSS, Mr. Ade Sonubi, who provided further highlights on the trends in the PoS space, said that the success so far recorded was still commendable, given the fact that the epayment sector is gaining traction everyday.

L-R: Mr. Bosun Hambolu; Dr. Shanti Tripathi of Bitflux; Victor Adoga and Ikenna Mbar of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), during the inspection of Bitflux Data Centre facility in Lagos.

THIRD-PARTY Sixty- eight per cent believed that third-party business partners posed the greatest source of bribery risk to their firms

Tony Chukwunyem

survey by South African firm, ENSafrica, has named Nigeria, Angola‚ the Democratic Republic of Congo‚ Ghana‚ Kenya‚ Mozambique‚ South Africa and Uganda as the continent’s corruption “hotspots.” A total of 88 organisations across Africa‚ including Mauritius‚ participated in the survey. The study was designed to gauge perceptions regarding an organisation’s anticorruption compliance with local and global requirements and to see how these pro-

Nigeria, S’Africa, others listed as corruption ‘hotspots’ cesses compared with generally accepted anti-corruption compliance best practice. ENSafrica said that 24 per cent of organisations had experienced an incident of bribery or corruption in the past 24 months‚ an increase of four per cent since 2013‚ with five per cent experiencing five or more incidents within the past 24 months. According to the firm, just over 90 per cent of organisations surveyed have a policy prohibiting bribes‚ 52 per cent have an established anti-bribery compliance programme and 43 per cent have conducted a detailed antibribery risk assessment of their bribery risks. Other key findings included that 68 per cent of those surveyed believed that third-party business

partners posed the greatest source of bribery risk to their organisations; 36 per cent were confident that they had proportionate procedures to mitigate bribery risks or believed that they were well prepared to respond to the threat of an anti-bribery regulatory investigation; 62 per cent of organisations now conducted due diligence screening on third parties‚ an increase of 22 per cent from 2013; and 40 per cent of organisations had a dedicated anti-bribery training programme for their employees, while 15 per cent provided antibribery training to their business partners. “Having an effective anticorruption programme is more important for companies today than ever before.

Many companies are now recognising the potential reputational harm‚ economic costs‚ fines‚ penalties and potential criminal prosecution that bribery and corruption pose to their business,” ENSafrica said in a statement on the survey. “Fewer organisations feel they are highly exposed to bribery in Africa (17 per cent as opposed to 50 per cent in 2013)‚ which may be attributed to organisations embracing the challenges of anti-bribery compliance and starting to build workable compliance programmes that mitigate bribery risks,” the company said. Companies with top-level commitment reported fewer incidents of bribery as opposed to those without‚ it added.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

ASURI to picket NASENI over alleged corruption p.32

Labour

Electricity workers fault FG on Manitoba deal PETITION A petition has been forwarded to the president on the pact Stories by Sunday Ojeme

lectricity workers under the aegis of Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied

Companies (SSAEAC) have expressed dissatisfaction with the Federal Government over the one year extension it granted Manitoba Hydro International Limited (MHI) to manage the operations of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). In a petition addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, the association picked holes in the contract, saying there was no clear-cut evaluation of the assignment and job

carried out by MHI in improving transmission as contained in the contract. The President-General of the union, Comrade Bede Opara, and General-Secretary, Barrister Abiodun Oginsegha, who jointly signed the petition, expressed surprise why so much premium was given to the contract renewal rather than an assessment of the impact that the MHI has had in improving and strengthening

the operational capacities of the TCN. The union said, “It is not enough to lay claims to improving the power generation capacity that peaked at 4545MW recently, which was as a result of better and improved supply of gas to our Thermal stations. It is necessary to ask how to raise the wheeling power of the TCN to accommodate and sustain increased/improved generation. It is also neces-

L-R: State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Imo State Council, Chief Gideon Ezeji; Secretary, Mr. Livinus Asiegbu and others, at the council’s endorsement of the protest by Imo pensioners over arrears of pension and gratuity owed them in Owerri

Ondo workers vow to resume strike

ivil servants in Ondo state have vowed to resume the suspended strike if the state government failed to honour the tenets of agreement that prompted the suspension. The state Chairman of the Public Service Joint Negotiating Council, Comrade Sunday Adeleye, stated this in Akure shortly after the state government agreed to pay all the outstanding allowances and deductions for March and April within 24 hours. The decision came after the representatives of the state government and the organised labour unions in the state reached an agreement. Adeleye threatened that the unions would embark on the strike if government failed to honour the agreements on the agreed time. The workers suspended their planned strike billed

for Wednesday to protest their unpaid salaries and allowances. During the meeting, the government also directed the payment of May salary to local government workers and primary school teachers across the state while other state workers would be paid after the sharing of next federation allocation. The state Head of Service, Mr Toyin Akinkuotu, who led the government delegation at the meeting, promised that government was committed to workers’ welfare and would fulfill its part of the agreements. The peace meeting was also attended by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour Matters, Mr. Dayo Fadahunsi and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance as well as the chairmen and secretaries of various labour unions in the state.

sary that we know the structure the MHI has put in place to accommodate this increased generation in the nearest future. We are aware that a lot of generated MW is lost due to the inability of the TCN in some locations, to evacuate them into the grid.’’ It noted that during the last contract period of three years, there was a glaring lack of coordination between the expatriate and Nigerian teams in the TCN. The union also said there was no team spirit amongst the management contractors, and also, between the management contractors and their Nigerian counterparts. ‘’We expect a better coordinated work regime, which regrettably, is absent. We also expect amongst other matters, serious and committed training programmes of Nigerians – an assignment that constitute part of the MHI contract. There is need to look inwards in order to identify any challenge(s) that might negatively affect the schedules and plans by Nigerian operators or the management contractors.’’ The union advised that the TCN should be independent and insulated from partisanship political interests and influence. It also advocated the need for an all-inclusive stakeholders meeting to re-evaluate, and design a practicable work plan that will ensure that the TCN plays its assigned role and achieves desired objectives.

Manufacturing: Food, beverage workers seek level playing field

he Executive Secretary, Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE), Mr. Aderemi Adegboyega, has called on the government to work for the removal of obstacles to competitive and productive manufacture in the country in order to benefit from globalisation and drive employment. Adegboyega gave the admonition during the Annual General Meeting of the association in Lagos. He deplored the current high cost of manufacturing, which makes goods manufactured in Nigeria expensive and uncompetitive compared to goods imported from Europe, Asia and the Americas. “Cost of manufacturing goods here is very high. You find out that goods that are manufactured outside Africa and are manufactured at low cost would compete with Nigerian-made goods in the region. The likely thing is that people

will prefer products that are coming from Europe, America and from Asia to goods that are manufactured in Nigeria. That is a big issue that we will have to address,” Adegboyega declared. He identified the factors that contribute to high cost of production in the country to include high cost of obtaining capital, lack of co-operation from regulators and bottlenecks in terms of getting access to government support. “What we want is a situation where anybody can walk to the bank in terms of business you want. We want a situation where regulatory agencies would listen to you regardless of which company you represent; where they would support you. A situation where we would all be able to go out on the streets without being asked to get out of the road by one person blowing siren”, he added. The President of the Association, Mr. Paul Gbededo, lamented the fact that reforms

embarked upon by various governments in the past have not had much impact on the economy. He therefore recommended the review and fine tune of reforms and policies by the Muhammadu Buhari administration where necessary. Reviewing the business environment in the last one year, Gbededo said the environment has remained inclement with increasing cost of doing business arising from contending with challenges of inadequate and deteriorating infrastructure, lack of access to longterm finance, insecurity of lives and properties and the problem of Naira devaluation. He, therefore, challenged the government on ensuring provision of necessary infrastructure such as stable electricity, good roads and efficient rail system, enforcement of corporate governance and best practices in order to combat corruption and ensuring access to long-term credit.

Business | Labour

ILLEGALITY The agency has been alleged to be riddled with acts of illegalities Clem Khena-Ogbena Abuja

he Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) is warming up and mobilising its members nationwide to picket the National Agency for Science and Engineering Institutions (NASENI), over what the union described as act of corruption, illegality and maladministration in the agency, New Telegraph has gathered. A source in NASENI disclosed the picketing would be carried out anytime soon. He said that ASURI had resolved to continue the picketing once it commenced until their demands would be met by the relevant authorities, particularly the supervising ministry, the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology which, the source alleged, was largely responsible for majority of the problems in NASENI. Such demands, the source said, include, among others, the immediate sack of the incumbent Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of NASENI, Dr. Mohammed Sani Haruna, due to his ineligibility for the position he is occupying in the agency, and reappointment of a qualified substantive executive vice chairman and chief executive EVC/CF for the agency in line with the Research and Development Institutions conditions of service (ANNEXTURE 6). Other demands are reinstatement of dismissed labour leaders, redeployment of three

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Workers to picket NASENI over alleged corruption labour leaders transferred from the NASENI Headquarters on duty post to other institutes, reinstatement of four Directors/Chief Executives of various institutes under NASENI, earlier redeployed to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja and sent on forced one year sabbatical leave. According to the source, some of the affected NASENI staff included, Financial Secretary, Angus Oko-oboh Akhere; Public Relations Officer, Chukwudobe Kevin Ugochukwu; and Treasurer, Onwuka Emmanuel Ifeanyichukwu. Oth-

ers are Engineers A. N. Adnan, HEDI, Kano; Kole Olunlade, EMDI, Akure; Professor C. O. Nwajagu, SEDI, Enugu; and Dr. S.O. Momoh, NEDDI, Nnewi. This newspaper also learnt that the status of the present NASENI has been characterised by various acts of illegality, corruption, maladministration and corruption suffered by staff and management of the institute. An official document ASN/ PMB/June/2015/01, dated 19th June, 2015 and made available to New Telegraph to further buttress the source’s

the grievances of the ASURI to include, among others, “The illegal dismissal of Comrade Eragbe Anslem AphimiaNASENI/Aa/637-Chairman, ASURI-NASENI branch (ANNEXTURE 1) and the illegal termination of the appointments of Comrade Azuka I. Francis NASENI/Aa/495, Secretary, ASURIce-NASENI branch (ANNEXTURE2) as labour leaders in NASENI, from service of the agency since 15th April, 2013 till date (26 months now) for indulging in legitimate union activities among others.”

L-R: Vice President and Managing Director, Intercontinental Distillers, Chief Patrick Anegbe; representative of the Lagos State governor, Professor Ademola Abass; and Executive Secretary, Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers, Aderemi Adegboyega, during AFBTE’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos

Somorin is WAUTI’s first female president HE West African Union of This, she obtained on presentaT Tax Institutes (WAUTI) has tion of dissertation on Operaelected Dr. Olateju Somorin as its tion of VAT in Nigeria. She also first female president since the formation of the group in 2011. The WAUTI is an association of national tax professionals within the ECOWAS sub-region. Somorin, according to a statement, is the fourth WAUTI President as well as the current president of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN). A retired Acting Co-ordinating Director of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), where she had a distinguished public career for 34 years, she will be in the saddle till February 2017. WAUTI described her as an amazon in tax matters. “She is the author of TejuTax Reference Book on the Nigeria Tax System and a tax columnist with BusinessDay newspaper.” Somorin is a recipient of Doctor of Letters degree in Nigeria Tax System (2002) from St. Clements University, Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Indies.

claim, stated in part: “These issues began since July 2010 when Dr. M.S.Haruna was employed from a salary grade level of CONTISS 12 step 08 and placed on an illegal level of CONRAISS 15 as a research director in PEEMADI, Okene in 2010, a position he would only be due for in 2020.” He added that the current leadership of NASENI had committed atrocities against the fundamental human rights of labour leaders, senior directors in NASENI and the entire NASENI family. The document reeled off

holds an honorary Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in taxation. According to the statement, she has attended many international and local tax conferences as a speaker. While in FIRS, she was the secretary of the Study Group on Nigeria Tax System in 1991. She has promised to foster the vision of WAUTI through the harmonisation of taxation practice in West Africa and its mission to promote the highest professional standards of competence and integrity among practitioners in member states. Dr. Somorin, a life patron of the Society of Women in Taxation (SWIT), will drive WAUTI to greater heights in collaboration with WAUTI partners such as ECOWAS, FIRS, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), Ghana Revenue Authority, and the revenue authorities of the Francophone countries, among others, the statement added.

ICSAN lauds FG over states’ bail-out T

he Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) has described the recent bailout of states by President Muhammadu Buhari as “a good step in the right direction.” The institute also commended President Buhari for non-discrimination in the release of the bailout package. Speaking at a roundtable on Corporate Governance organised by the Institute with the theme, “A case for Corporate Governance Audit for Nigerian Public Companies”, the Vice-President of the institute, Dr. Nat Ofo, said the bail-out package is in order because the money issued out is from the dividends from Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), which

the states have been agitating for. It would be recalled that the Federal Government released over N713 billion to the states to offset the salary arrears of workers in their various states. There is also N413.7 billion that will be shared between the states and the Federal Government. The multi-pronged package approved by President Buhari includes the sharing by the Federal and State Governments of $1.7 billion out of the $2 billion remaining in the Excess Crude Account (ECA); the sharing of about $2.1 billion sourced from the LNG’s payment to the Federation Account; and a CBN-packaged special intervention fund that will offer financing to the

states, ranging between N250 billion to N300 billion, as a soft loan available to states to access for the purposes of paying backlog of salaries. The President also approved a debt relief programme that will help states restructure their commercial loans currently put at over N680 billion. Reacting to this development, Ofo said the federal government’s gesture was in order as it would go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of the masses and enable people further reap more dividends of democracy. “Looking at the Amnesty International report, which has dubbed Nigeria as one of the corrupt countries, the rot in the system is expected,” he stressed.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Agric

Import curb: Nigeria can earn $50bn yearly –NACCIMA p.34

Landmark varsity launches commercial farming

TECHNOLOGY Varsity’s departments turn Jatropha seeds into diesel Dele Alao

he Landmark University, Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, has commenced commercial farming of rice, maize, soya bean, groundnut and cassava. Also, the university has ventured into cattle, pig, sheep, cow, goat, rabbit, poultry and vegetable farming with broiler and laying birds, fish ponds, crop and livestock feed production. The school is to maintain three established farms as training platforms for army of agricultural entrepreneurs that would break new grounds on graduation. The move is to realise the food security aspiration of not only Nigeria, but the African continent. Speaking at the university’s second convocation press briefing, Chancellor of the University, Dr. David Oyedepo, said that the institution, in line with its visionary focus, had a massive teaching and research farm where these products are produced on a large-scale.

He said that ground-breaking efforts were being intensified to yield exotic cows for milk, rice production as well as an irrigation system to enhance all seasons cropping and a biotechnology laboratory that would ease yoghurt and feed productions. The chancellor disclosed that preparation was on top gear between the Agricultural Research Centre and Landmark University Development Ventures to launch the institution’s biscuit into the market. He said that the institution runs a thriving commercial farm and livestock feed productions, which is steadily expanding. Oyedepo added: “Their products are attractively displayed for sale at the University Garden and Landmark University Development Ventures, among others and this help to boost the internally-generated revenue for the university.” The chancellor said that the university, in its quest for wealth creation and generation of gainful employment in the country, has a farm plantation in Eleyin Village

near Omu-Aran, purposely established as Jatropha plantation, where a biofuel plant of great economic importance is being developed by the School of Engineering. The plantation, which is just Phase One, covers 534 hectares and plans are afoot to launch Phase Two. He said: “The project, which commenced in April 2014, has started yielding encouraging output as some

harvested Jatropha seeds have been processed into diesel by the Agricultural and Chemical Engineering Departments of Landmark University.” Oyedepo added that the university was not relenting in grooming students of the institution in the art of farming, regardless of their course of study, as a way of empowering them and promoting self-reliance and the dignity of labour

towards national development. According to him, the institution has, in just four years of existence, ascended into the prestigious category of the top 10 universities in the country, adding that in the January 2015 edition of the webometrics, it was rated second among private universities, while ranking ninth among 136 private and public universities in the country.

Agricultural Commodity Prices – Grains Commodity Wheat Corn Soybeans Soybean Meal Soybean Oil Oats Rough Rice Hard Red Wheat Spring Wheat

Price 528-2 407-4 1027-4 363.9 32.11 242-4 11.120 524-2 559-0

Change -2-2 -2-2 +3-0 +3.7 -0.62 unch +0.095 +0-4 -2-0

Contract Sep 15 Sep 15 Aug 15 Aug 15 Aug 15 Sep 15 Sep 15 Sep 15 Sep 15

Time(ET) 11:20 11:20 11:20 11:20 11:20 11:00 11:07 11:20 11:18

Nigerian, others adapt 14 weeder machines for cassava Stanley Ihedigbo

Softs Commodity Cotton #2 Orange Juice Coffee Sugar #11 Cocoa Sugar #16 CME Coffee CME Sugar #11 CME Cocoa CME Cotton #2

Price 64.77 124.80 128.00 11.55 3352 24.76 1.2760 0.1140 3312.00 0.6540

Change +0.39 +3.60 +0.55 +0.01 -61 -0.19 +0.0085 -0.0002 -51.00 -0.0045

Contract Dec 15 Sep 15 Sep 15 Oct 15 Sep 15 Sep 15 Sep 15 Oct 15 Sep 15 Oct 15

Time(ET) 11:20 11:19 11:20 11:20 11:20 11:13 09:17 10:45 08:44 07/21/15

Lumber

271.70

+1.10

Sep 15

11:20

Price 146.275 214.900 78.775

Change +0.100 +0.275 +2.425

Time(ET) 11:20 11:20 11:20

16.52

+0.17

Contract Aug 15 Aug 15 Aug 15 Aug 15

Meats Commodity Live Cattle Feeder Cattle Lean Hogs Class III Milk

Seeds of Jatropha

11:20

Commodities trade on different exchanges with different trading sessions. Change always shows from the previous close price. Quotes delayed, except where indicated otherwise. All prices in local currency. Time is ET. Source: Bloomberg

lobal engineers from Nigeria and other countries have been engaged by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, to modify 14 motorised mechanical weeders for cassava farming system in Nigeria. According to a statement made available to the New Telegraph, the team was mandated to evaluate the performance of the machines for general weeding and modify them as necessary with special focus on cassava farms. Also, the engineers were mandated to establish performance and suitability of the machines with focus on cassava farms; carry out any needed improvement to make the machines usable for cassava farms and modify all the available machines for demonstration. At the end of the meeting,

the engineers modified and adapted 14 of such machines to suite cassava farming system in the country. They are currently on field trials across four states in the country Benue, Oyo, Ogun and Abia. Leader for the IITA Cassava Weed Management Project, Dr. Alfred Dixon, explained that the weeders could tackle weeds more efficiently. “Their performance would determine whether further modification is needed or not,” Dixon said. He urged the engineers to look beyond adaptation and conceive the idea of developing African made motorised weeders that could tackle the problem of weeds in the continent. Also, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Professor Abdulganiyu Olayinka Raji, commended the IITA Cassava Weed Management Project for involving local partners in the programme.

Raji recalled that the Nigerian made cassava flash dryer, which had become a success story today, also started with a similar invitation and convocation of experts by IITA. He said: “I am optimistic that we will soon begin the fabrication of motorised mechanical weeders in Nigeria.” Last year, an inception workshop was organised by IITA Cassava Weed Management Project for engineers for the same purpose. The second meeting, this year, was built on the progress made last year. Participants were drawn from the IITA; Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; University of Ibadan; Federal University of Agriculture; Abeokuta, University of Agriculture, Makurdi; Federal University of Technology Akure; National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation and National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike.

Business | Agric

FOCUS Nigeria focuses on food crops for domestic markets Deborah Olayode

f a deliberate policy restricting importation of agricultural products to protect local production is put in place, Nigeria can save over $50 billion annually, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), has said. This was contained in a communiqué issued by NACCIMA president, Chief Bassey Edem after its 55th Annual General Meeting tagged: “Policy consistency in agricultural value chain: A Key to Socio Economic Development.” NACCIMA explained the need for the Federal Government to provide incentives for large scale mechanised farming to create employment, achieve increased productivity and self-sufficiency in food production for local consumption and export.

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Import curb: Nigeria can earn $50bn yearly –NACCIMA The communiqué read: “This will save the scarce foreign exchange expended on importation of food, estimated at over $50 billion annually. There should also be a deliberate policy for the protection of local investors against dumping.” The organisation identified agriculture as an important sector of the Nigerian economy employing over 60 per cent of Nigerians, including many rural women and contributing 35 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). NACCIMA emphasised that despite the involvement of over 60 per cent, agriculture in Nigeria is largely focused on food crops for domestic market. It identified operating environment as a major constraint inhibiting agricultural development, urging government to take deliberate steps to drive improvement in the operat-

ing environment in terms of provision and/or facilitation of access to security, power, finance, processing, storage and marketing facilities. NACCIMA pointed out that Nigeria’s over-dependence on petroleum has been a major hindrance to agriculture and agribusiness development. According to the agency, 95 per cent of the country’s exports are dominated by petroleum and related products thereby shifting focus from agriculture and resulting in severe underinvestment in the sector. The agency said it recognised that the country has a substantial base to build upon, which includes its natural assets such as land (39.6m hectares of arable land, of which 60 per cent is under cultivation), climate and rainfall, its coastal areas and its history as an agrarian economy. NACCIMA tasked govern-

ment to take agriculture as a key business sector. Like other sectors, it noted that agriculture required the engagement of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) across critical value chains by way of provision of easy and cheap financing and support systems, including equipment, processing, transportation, distribution and marketing support. With adequate support and incentives, the agency said that it would result in the emergence of small and medium size enterprises, which can create value and jobs across critical value chains. NACCIMA also stated the need for effective collaboration between the private and public sectors by way of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in agricultural development, stressing that all stakeholders, the OPS, which includes members of NACCIMA, development partners, civil society organisations (CSO) and national governments should take advantage of the PPP

strategy in transforming Nigeria’s agricultural and agribusiness landscape where the country’s growth and development is anchored. NACCIMA said that the country should borrow a leaf from successful models such as “UniBRAIN” developed by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA),which brings together African universities, research organisations and the private sector “to work together, deliver together and win together” along key commodity value chains from production to the plate. NACCIMA also recommended that there should be a multi-stakeholder approach to policy formulation with government investing more in policy formulation and secure the active involvement of the private sector in policy formulation and implementation to ensure continuity of agricultural programmes beyond the tenure of the government that initiated the policies/programmes.

Jigawa supports Dangote’s rice project Dele Alao

L-R: President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof. David Adewunmi; Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; his Deputy, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo and President/Chairman of Council, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, (CPN), Prof. Vincent Asor, during a visit by the council of NCS to the governor in Akure

Ghana faces shortfall in cocoa crop

ry weather and the late application of pesticides and fungicides to protect cocoa trees have caused Ghana’s crop to shrink significantly, raising the possibility that growers won’t be able to deliver enough cocoa to fulfil their contracts. But Ghana’s cocoa farms, according to Wall Street Journal, are poised to bounce back in the next season, some analysts say, now that the national government has agreed to provide seedlings and pesticides directly to farmers, backtracking on some of the changes it had made to reduce its $400 million cocoa-subsidy programme. The erratic output spot-

lights a major vulnerability in the $7 billion cocoa-futures markets: an overreliance on Ivory Coast and Ghana, which together account for over half of the world’s cocoa supplies. Last year, prices surged to a 3½-year high when the world’s worst Ebola outbreak hit West Africa, fanning fears of a disruption in cocoa production. The disease never spread to either Ivory Coast or Ghana and prices retreated nearly 21 per cent over a fourmonth period. Ghana’s current woes have pushed cocoa prices towards the highs reached during the Ebola scare, likely leading to more expensive chocolate for consumers world-wide.

Last year’s cocoa surge prompted major chocolate makers, including Hershey Co., Nestlé SA and Lindt & Sprüngli AG, to raise their retail prices as much as eight per cent this year. Analysts say that once price increases appear on retail shelves, they remain even if cocoa costs decline. Ghana is expected to produce 696,000 metric tons of cocoa beans this year, according to the International Cocoa Organisation, or ICCO. Initial forecasts had pointed to an increase in output to around one million tons, from 900,000 tons last year, according to Cocobod, the government’s cocoa-purchasing body.

he Jigawa State government has pledged its support to the management of Dangote Rice Farm in order to realise the nation’s rice self-sufficiency target. President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has expressed his resolve to invest heavily in rice farming in five states of the federation within the next five years. In a statement, members of the state’s communities, at a town hall sensitisation meeting, expressed satisfaction at the choice of their area for the project. He added that the project would complement the state government’s agenda of job creation and poverty reduction at the grassroots. Dangote said that the first phase of the project would see the firm cultivating 600 hectares of land for commercial rice farming by November, 2015. The statement said: “Jigawa government was particularly excited at the out-grower part of the plan that would see Dangote Rice helping farmers to cultivate and grow rice which would also be bought from them under the plan. “Already, multi-million dollar worth of state-ofthe-art equipment have been procured for the commencement of the rice project,” the statement added. According to the farm plan released during the sensitisation town hall

meetings with some host communities, the rice project at Kaffin Hausa has a five-year plan to achieve between 175,000 and 200,000 hectares of rice grown twice a year. The rice project has a plan to follow a due process for the development of the 20,000 hectares of land in order to produce and sell high quality parboiled rice in Nigeria. The management of the company, led by Alhaji Mohammed Bello, said that the Dangote Rice project had the objectives of becoming the leader in rice farming in the world. He said that the company was set up to reduce importation of rice into the country and to become the largest farm in the world by 2020 with excess of 150,000 hectares of land spread around five states. He noted that Dangote Rice Company would produce and sell one million tons of high quality parboiled rice within the next five years, while at the same time support and develop Nigerian rice farmers through the out-grower plan that will generate employment. In his remark, the Director of Jigawa Invest, an investment agency of the state government, Alhaji Hamisu Sabo, said that the state government had been encouraging and supporting Dangote Rice project because it is a project that would make a difference in the lives of the people of the state.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Auto Beat

Peugeot losing Nigeria to Hyundai, Kia P S eugeot Automobile Nigeria, a baby of the French car maker, Automotive Peugeot, returned to Nigeria last year to explore the country’s new auto policy to re-establish its foothold in the Nigerian auto market which it had dominated in the past before the boom in the imported fairly-used vehicles (tokunbo), forced it out of the country. On re-opening its assembly plant in Kaduna last year, PAN launched its Peugeot 301 model as its signpost for a bold reentry into the Nigerian market. But the brand which had been the unwritten official Nigerian car may have lost that position as the sleek South Korean and Japanese models have already won the hearts of Nigerian car owners with their unique, stylish and fuel economy vehicles. At the last count, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, Honda and Volkswagen have started doing SKD assembling in Nigeria, even as Renault of France has equally joined the competition with the recent commencement of its SKD assembling in Nigeria. Speaking on the emerging battle for the control of the Nigerian market by the South Korean firms, the Japanese, French and even the Chinese automakers, Mr.

Adegoke Adegoroye, an auto dealer on the busy Awolowo Road, Ikeja, Lagos; said the era of Peugeot domination of the Nigerian market is gone for good. He said with the products PAN has in the Nigerian market today it may not be able to compete with the likes of Kia and even its peer from France, Renault. He said the auto firm may have to understand that the taste of a typical Nigeria car owner has changed over the years because of the introduction of fairly-used vehicles in the country in the 80s and 90s. “Tokunbo gave Nigerians access to classy vehicles from across the best automakers in the world. That has positively improved our taste for good cars. So a car maker coming to Nigeria must know that it is going to people with high taste when it comes to c a r s,

that is where the South Koreans and Japanese are taking the lead in the emerging new car market in Nigeria, “ he said. He said the South Koreans and Japanese are rising up to the challenge with their exciting products in the Nigerian market. “The days are gone when government buys cars for civil servants, because of the monetization programme of the Obasanjo regime. Therefore the automaker that will survive in Nigeria today must boast of four things one, exciting designs, world-class features, fuel economy and durability,” he stressed.

Ranger Odyssey 2015 winner emerges Aug 11 Paul Ogbuokiri

he winner of the 2015 edition of Ranger Odyssey will ultimately be revealed at a Ford event in Sandton on August 11, Ford Motor Company, South Africa said in an online statement made available to New Telegraph. In the statement signed by the Product Communications Manager, FMCSA, Minesh Bhagaloo, it was disclosed that the contest would be an adventure of a lifetime for the 20 contestants from South Africa, Nigeria and two other countries of the Africa. It added that it is going to be a 12 days of simply amazing 4x4 endurance and action through north-western Namibia’s most spectacular and rugged regions, which kicks off on July 23 in Windhoek. “It’s an opportunity to experience the splendour of some of Africa’s most remote and challenging destinations in the ‘Built Ford Tough’ Ranger - and with the allure of potentially winning an Odyssey Ranger for a year, plus an equivalent in local currency of ZAR5 000 worth of fuel per month,” the state-

ment said. The challenging route includes extreme off-road driving through the mountainous Khuwarib region, experiencing the breathtaking Purros canyons, tackling the desolate Gainas Plains, visiting the UNESCO heritage site at Palmwag, travelling through the aptly named Desolation Valley and traversing the steep 2 500-m high Brandberg by foot. According to Bhagaloo, while many of the challenges will be taken on behind the wheel of the mighty Ford Ranger, the adventure is a test of brains and brawn. Aside from testing each contestant’s driving and vehicle-related skills, every individual will have to prove that they are tough enough to be crowned the winner. They will be assessed by a panel of judges on their mental and physical endurance, as well as on a variety of other aspects such as communication skills, leadership abilities, camp craft and overall demeanour. In a new twist for this year’s event, the trip will end prematurely for the lowest-scoring contestants, as two people will be eliminated from the competition

at the end of day four (26 July), and a further four contestants will leave after day eight (30 July). The www.rangerodyssey.com website features a leader board that is updated daily for fans to follow the progress. However, the rankings for the highestplaced contestants will remain hidden and placed randomly on the chart, adding a further element of intrigue to the competition. Aside from the main Ranger Odyssey action, fans are able to follow and participate in the event themselves by entering the ‘Back Seat Driver’ competition hosted on the Ranger Odyssey website (www.rangerodyssey.com). The competition runs to August 4, and participants are required to register on the site, interact by viewing the content - including the daily blogs, photographs and videos - and book a test drive. Each interaction scores points, and the more times you visit the site the better the chances of winning. There are a total of 16 prizes, a selection of which is awarded and then refreshed after every three days based on the highest scores as listed on the Back Seat Driver leader board.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class records 2.4m sales

ales of the preceding model of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class that was launched globally in 2007 had a total of over 2.4 million. It is therefore, no news that the Mercedes-Benz C-Class delivers impressive driving dynamics and takes aesthetic motion to a new level, thereby setting standards for the medium size category on many fronts. Its great load capacity, sensuously clear design, sporty interior and high class appeal, represent a clear lifestyle of elegance and ultimate refinement. The C-Class has a breathtakingly beautiful face with an aerodynamic design for even more efficient motoring. It is also equipped with new suspension technology and many innovative system options. The German brand continues to push for more fresh and youthful interior designs. The vehicle’s character has clear design and high quality interior. It has been designed on a cost-conscious fence with the Mercedes-Benz family, balancing enough luxury to justify the three pointed star. The front section defined by design and equipment line – including classic 3D radiator grille or sporty design with central star – features large air intakes and sharply defined headlamp contours (day and night) to present the self-assured classic face of the new C-Class Saloon. The strong visual impact of the C-Class Saloon exterior is continued in the interior. High-quality finish and materials, cultured sports styling, a tasteful colour scheme and intelligent details, create an atmosphere of easy poise and assurance. The brand had used premium materials for the door panelling and the instrument panel, which add to the overall unmistakable feeling of modern luxury. The efficient and high performance engineering incorporated in this car delivers a higher level of driving pleasure. In the petrol range, the output of the entry-level C 180 is 115 kW/156 hp with a maximum torque of 4.5 per cent from 220 to 250 Newton metres, and an output of 135Kw/184 hp with a torque peak of 300 Newton metres from 28100 rpm for the C 200. The engines considerably improve the performance and fuel consumption of the four-cyclinder models. When accelerating from standstill to 100 km/h, the C 200 is 0.5 seconds faster than its predecessor. The C- Class model incorporates a raft of further measures that help reduce the impact on the environment. The petrol engine measures such as the combination of exhaust gas turbo charging with direct injection and an enhanced combustion process reduce both fuel consumption and emissions.

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Photo | News

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

L-R: Director, Transportation Engineering Department, Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Frederick Olofin; Finance & Administration counterpart, Ministry of Transportation, Mrs. Olabisi Ariyo; the Chairman, Executive Group, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan; Executive Director, Finance, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria, Mr. Alli Jumad; MD/CEO, Infinity Group, Mr. Johnson Sehinde; Head of Sales, Auto Nation, Mrs. Cladius Ojinmah; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Managing Director, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria, Mr. Boyi Ibrahim; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello and Showroom Manager, Auto Nation, Mr. Mishra Navendu, during a visit by representatives of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria to the governor in Lagos.

L-R: Executive Secretary, Shippers’ Council of Nigeria, Mr Hassan Bello; Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Abdullahi Dikko and Director, Commercial Shipping Services, Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Mrs Dabany Shall-Holma, during a meeting on Technical Committee on areas of collaboration between Nigeria Shippers’ Council and Nigeria Customs Service on the Inland Container Depots Projects in Abuja. PHOTO: NAN

L-R: Deputy Coordinator, Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, Class of ‘85, Mr. Ndubisi Owoghiri; Class of ‘85 member, Prince Tonye Princewill and Director of Operation, Crust and Cream, Faisal M. Naja, during the College’s Class of 85 reunion meeting, at the Crust and Cream, Victoria Island, Lagos.

A cross-section of graduating students of Jextoban Secondary School, during their 17th Valedictory/ Graduation ceremony at the school’s multipurpose hall in Ogun State.

L-R: Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Prof. Ade Adefuye; President Muhammadu Buhari and Chief Executive Officer, EbonyLife TV, Mo Abudu, during EbonyLife TV’s Meet & Greet with the President in Washington D.C.

L-R National Treasurer, National Road Transport Workers’ Union (NURTW), Chief Ibikunle Isma; General Secretary, Clement Wetkur; Deputy President, Chief Elijah Umemokpo; National President, Dr. Najeem Usman Yashim and Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, during a courtesy visit to Osinbajo in Abuja.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (left), congratulating a mother and her son/patient (from Lagos State) who underwent a successful open heart surgery at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Ituku/Ozara, Enugu State.

L-R: Khalifa-Baba, Alhaji Lukman Badmus, Fadilatul Sheikh Alhaji Nurudeen AbdulAkeem Awayewaserere and erudite Islamic Scholars, during the Eid-el-Fitri celebration visit in Lagos

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Islam

E X H O RTAT I O N

8 Shawal, 1436 AH

“AND YOUR LORD HAS DECREED THAT YOU WORSHIP NONE BUT HIM. AND THAT YOU BE DUTIFUL TO YOUR PARENTS. IF ONE OF THEM OR BOTH OF THEM ATTAIN OLD AGE IN YOUR LIFE, SAY NOT TO THEM A WORD OF DISRESPECT, NOR SHOUT AT THEM BUT ADDRESS THEM IN TERMS OF HONOUR.” (QURAN 17:23)

UNDERSTAND YOUR FAITH

How Is Reward Gained For Fasting in Shawwal? L-R: Alhaji Elias Bameke, Chairman lecture, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu former Ogun State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Kunle Olayeni Chairman Correspondents Chapel, and Alhaji Kamal`deen Akintunde National President NACOMYO.

QUESTION

Please I want to know how is reward gained for fasting in Shawwal ANSWER

Let us first list what did the Prophet (peace be upon him) said concerning the reward of fasting six additional days in Shawwal: Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) as saying: He who observed the fast of Ramadan and then followed it with six (fasts) of Shawwal, it would be as if he/she fasted perpetually (continuously). (Sahih Muslim) It is also important to understand how deeds are multiplied in order to explain the reward of fasting: Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said that Allah, the Glorious, said: “Verily, Allah (SWT) has ordered that the good and the bad deeds be written down. Then He explained it clearly: He who intends to do a good deed but he does not do it, then Allah records it for him as a full good deed, but if he carries out his intention, then Allah the Exalted, writes it down for him from ten to seven hundred folds, and even more. But if he intends to do an evil act and has not done it, then Allah writes it down with Him as a full good deed, but if he intends it and has done it, Allah writes it down as one bad deed”. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim). From the hadith above, the minimum reward for a deed is multiplied ten folds. Now if someone fasts thirty days in Ramadan, this is equivalent to fasting three hundred days, adding six days in Shawwal will make the total 360 days’ worth of fasting. To be accurate, a lunar year is 354 days. Since we sometimes fast 29 days in Ramadan and other times 30 days and adding six days of Shawwal, this will almost be equivalent to a whole year’s worth of fasting. If every year we fast the additional six days of Shawwal in addition to Ramadan then it becomes equivalent to fasting continuously. However, it doesn’t stop here since if we follow the Prophet’s way by fasting Mondays and/or CONTINUE Next WEEK

Super eagle star, Emenike converts to Islam–Turkish daily LESSON

Muslim leaders charged faithful not to lose sight of the lessons of Ramadan Adeola Yusuf

uper Eagles’ star and Nigerian international, Emmanuel Emenike, has reportedly converted to Islam, Turkish leading daily sports Newspaper, Fanatik has reported. The player told his coach at Fenerbahce, Vitor Pereira, that he is now a Muslim, according to the newspaper report. The Super Eagles striker was missing when the squad had breakfast during the just concluded Ramadan fast,

prompting the manager to ask his whereabouts. “I’m fasting,” he reportedly told Pereira, according to Turkish daily Fanatik. Pereira replied: “You’re not a Muslim,” insisting that Emenike is a Christian. In response, the former Spartak Moscow made it clear that “I became a Muslim, I am a Muslim.” Emenike is yet to feature for the Turkish club in their two pre-season games so far. Fanatik is one of the most popular sports magazines in Turkey. It is a daily published magazine in Turkish language. It is produced in Istanbul with a circulation of about 250.000 copies. Thus, Fanatik has the widest-circulation in Turkey Meanwhile, the Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Asiwaju Khamis Olatunde

Badmus has charged Nigerian Muslims who have just completed Rammadan fasting not to lose sight of the lessons of Ramadan and allow it to reflect in their lives. By doing so, according to Asiwaju Badmus who is also Chairman Tuns Farms, they would have succeeded in satisfying the objective of fasting which is obedience to the wish of almighty Allah and as such their fasting would be accepted in the sight of Allah. Asiwaju gave this charge to the Muslims in the Eid-el-fitr festival message to people of Nigeria to mark the end of this year’s Ramadan fast. In a statement made available to the news men and signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Dawood Ajetunmobi, Asiwaju said that it is important that Islamic Faithful recognize the

positive role of spiritual renewal, compassion, and charity that the month of Ramadan symbolizes and it will be in the interest of all to extend such to post Ramadan period. “Our Society would be a better place to live in if during post Ramadan period we could imbibe the spirit in which we worship Allah, avoid sins, extend hands of generosity to those in need and make them part of our daily routine now that Ramadan fasting has gone,” the statement read in part. While congratulating Nigerian Muslims for witnessing this year Eid-el-fitr celebration, Alhaji Badmus also lauded President Muhammad Buhari for the bailout he did for some States in the country who are facing economic challenge to meet their financial obligations .

MURIC bemoans move to ban hijab in Nigeria

he Muslims Right Concern (MURIC) has decried the recent request from some quarters on the possible ban on hijab, (head cover used by Mus¬lim women) in Nigeria. The call for Hijab ban, according to MURIC, was due to the incidences of female bombers who wear the Hijab to perpetrate the dastardly act. Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, who stated this in a statement, maintained that the idea of was “as laughable and as ridiculous.” The purported proscription of Hijab in countries like Chad,

Niger, Cameroon, Gabon and Congo-Brazaville upon which the proponents of the ban place their request to include Nigeria is a sinister plot to give Islam and Muslims a bad name so as to smear them. He said: “It is the height of provo¬ca¬tion… an attempt to ridicule Mus¬lims in pub¬lic. It is noth¬ing but a hid¬den cru¬sade against Mus¬lims. The proponents are simply intolerant, parochial and fanatical Muslim haters who have drowned themselves in the ocean of Islamophobia. We assert that this crude attempt will definitely

fail.” Nigeria Muslims, he said, have rejected attempts to treat them with disdain or allow any one dehumanise their mothers, daughters and wives who dress in hijab. “Hijab is a divine commandment, a religious duty and a civic right. Any community or country that bans hijab has committed religious apartheid. Even South Africa has dropped the garb of discrimination. “Contrary to the misleading call, it was Niqab and not Hijab that was temporarily restricted in the trouble spots of those

countries. “They even got it all wrong. Ordinary hijab was not banned in those five countries. What was allegedly banned is the burka or fullface veil and the niqab (face veil with an opening for the eyes). But hatred nursed for fellow Muslim compatriots informed the exaggeration. They believe this is ample oppor¬tu¬nity to embarrass Islamdom.” MURIC argued that the call is not logical. It wondered why they have not called for the ban of police uniform because men of the underworld use it to commit evil acts.

Feminique NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Ngonadi: Gunning for best fabrics

Nkechi Harry Ngonadi is the Chief Executive Officer of NHN Couture, a fashion brand known for cutting-edge fabrics and exquisite designs. A household name in Nigeria’s fashion industry, NHN, which has the exclusive store for Fouad Sarkis Couture in Nigeria, is set to storm Abuja with high end, luxurious and custom made fabrics in a one of its kind Fabric Fair starting tomorrow. EBERE AMEH writes

ver smiling and ever classy, Nkechi Harry Ngonadi is the brain behind the beautiful and elegant looks of most celebrities, first ladies and politicians in Nigeria. Ironically, the highly sought after designer, who has exhibited in both local and international fashion fairs, neither has a sign board nor advertises. Operating from the back of her house, she does not go to parties but she dresses socialites, turning her house to a Mecca of sorts. “It’s a vision that God gave me. He gave me instructions to start in my house. I don’t do adverts, I don’t have fliers. God alone advertises us. I had a vision and He sent me on a mission to bring decency back to the church and the society at large. He gave me specific instructions and assured me that it will not fail. So NHN Couture is a vision on a mission. Bringing decency back to church first and the society at large! Covered yet sexy, fabulous and simply classy is our motto. “We have styled ex-presidents’ wives, ex-vice presidents’ wives and senators. We also style members of the House of Representatives, Nigerian celebrities and we have the opportunity of styling great women of God. We are the brain behind Senator Ita-Giwa’s daughter’s wedding aso-ebi for over 2,760 people. We don’t display our exclusives in order not to scare customers, because when they see the fabric, they tend to get scared. We have affordable outfits for everyone depending on your taste,” Nkechi said. Though her vision is primarily for Christians, a great percentage of NHN’s customers are Muslims. Previously a housewife, she ran with the vision and relying solely on God that sent her on the mis-

EBERE AMEH ebere.ameh@newtelegraphonline.com

sion to give her the grace to function, her contemporaries struggle to see her back. “Though, my vision is for Christians, we have Muslims patronizing us in large numbers too. I was actually a housewife and I want to use the opportunity to encourage all housewives that there is nothing they cannot do. You must not do what the other person is doing, just pray and ask God for direction and He will direct you on what to do and how to go about it,” she said, sharing the stories of women who started small but have made it. “There is this woman in Abuja, she sells akamu but she commands Abuja. She was a house wife but she saw that there was a need and she rose to fill the need. You have to source for a need in your community and supply it. During the Ramadan period she makes akamu of different types and sizes and people place orders to get it. So it all depends on you, it might be akara (bean cake), salad or whatever, just start. Every woman needs to be financially productive because your husband might not be there attending to your needs forever. You must be able to make impact not just morally, but financially on your children. “You must not be like the other person or do the business the other person is doing because that is the trend now. People ask my photographer to find out where I source my fabrics, others try to take my tailors but it’s not about my tailor, it is not about my designs, it not about me, it’s all about God!” the elegant lady disclosed. Nkechi does not just dress others, she is ever decently and smashingly dressed. Now an apostle of decency and elegance, Nkechi had issues with dressing properly while in school at the north-western city of Zaria, to the extent that she was almost rusticated while in the university. “For those that knew me when I was in school, I really dressed indecently and we all partied, but I thank God. It got so bad that I was summoned by the disciplin-

When I was in school, I really dressed indecently and we all partied but now, I thank God

Ngonadi

ary panel of my school and I was to be expelled. Being a northern school with the girls’ hostel close to the mosque, everybody had to dress decently. But despite all that, I didn’t change until much later. When I eventually changed from my miniskirts and bum shorts to a much decent way of dressing, I got a totally and different response from people. Everybody, including my lecturers concluded that I had gotten married. They started referring to me as ‘madam’ and started respecting me in ways I never imagined. I was called to make presentations; some of the m a n y

opportunities I missed all the while because of my mode of dressing. That tells me that dressing is actually important and it takes you a long way,” she narrated. A very busy woman, Nkechi does not stop at sewing, she is also a blogger and spends most of her night writing to inspire women. “The Nkechi Harry Ngonadi Blog’s goal is to inspire, encourage and mentor. I am passionate about God, family, style and encouraging women to embrace Godly womanhood in whatever stage of life they are in. I want to help other women see the beauty and dignity in fulfilling the roles God has called us to, especially in our homes and also what a huge impact we as women can have in the society we live in, as well as generations to come. My desire is that people who visit my site will find this blog an encouragement in their calling as a single lady, career woman, wife and mother.” Speaking on the upcoming fabric fair, the fashion mogul who sources for her custom made fabrics from as far as Asia, Germany, India and Malaysia to get them made, said there will be over 200 high end, exclusive fabrics on display. “We have custom made and hand beaded fabrics that will be on display and most of them come with complimentary matching gele (head gear). The first 50 sales will a get mega discount. Though it is slated for Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th of July, with the level of enthusiasm we are getting, it may all sell out before Sunday. That is why we encourage our customers to come in early to get their choice fabrics before it sells out.” An Urban and Regional Planning graduate of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nkechi who has graced the cover of many exclusive lifestyle magazines, says her creative style and colour combinations are drawn from her study of Urban and Regional Planning. A mother of two, she is married to Rear Admiral Harry Ngonadi and is a highly sought after speaker in conferences and seminars where she shares the story of her life to the glory of God while propagating the gospel of successful marriages.

Feminique

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

12 reasons why women cheat on their husbands (2)

ecause they can. Whether we men like it or not, things have changed. What with women’s lib and co. They have become empowered. What a man can do, a woman can also do is the slogan now. Even better sef. In those days, a woman’s place was always in the home. The man was both the sole bread winner and the final authority. Now that the society has changed, her eyes are now wide open. She can no longer be easily deceived. Unfortunately, we men refuse to acknowledge this and change accordingly. We still believe and want to run our homes the same way as our grandfathers did. With an iron hand. We forget that we no longer have that absolute control. Gold diggers. We know them. They are the ones that love money to the exclusion of everything else. No matter how much money you throw at them, they will always ask for more. They are the modern day Oliver twist. Peer Pressure. A lot of women go cheat and go into affairs due to peer pressure. Against their will and wish. Women by nature are group animals. They move in groups. They always want to belong and don’t want to be left out. In fact statistically, over 70 per cent of women lose their virginity at the wrong time and to the wrong man due to peer pressure. All their friends are doing it at that time. And they don’t want to be left out. Even when

they know it is wrong. The same thing goes for drinking alcohol, clubbing, smoking and of course, sex. That is the primary reason they beg, borrow and sometimes even steal in order to buy that aso ebi for that party. They will do it first and regret later. Fall in love too fast. It doesn’t take that long for some women to fall in love. That does not mean they are cheap. Far from it. They are naturally sympathetic by nature. Once they start feeling sorry for you, you’re on your way to winning their heart. They are somehow easy to take for a ride. I can’t count the number of times I have had to counsel single ladies on this issue. A married man tells you his wife is a witch and does not love him at all. And he keeps on going home to that same wife every night. Meanwhile he promises to divorce her and marry you sometime in the future. And you believe him. Why don’t you wait for him to get divorced first? I always wonder. Too close too fast. A good Casanova is always a good story teller. The more unbelievable the story the better. Once you have gone past the first level of resistance you will soon have her eating from your hands. Drama and Gossip. Women generally love gossiping. They are all Amaebo by nature. They love to hear stories about how you are surrounded by witches and wizards. Especially, your wife, girlfriend and in laws. They are

always ready to swallow such stories hook, line and sinker. Incompatibility. Some marriages are so incompatible that they start failing from the day of the wedding. Most of these are marriages by post. The man is either in Lagos or “abroad” and sends for a partner from the village. Photographs are sent to him and he picks one. Probably the most photogenic or the one chosen for him by his family. Who of course have a different agenda entirely. The communication gap is so wide that even Julius Berger cannot build a bridge to cross it. Soon after, things start falling apart. Emotional support. Women generally are emotionally unstable. They need a shoulder to cry on more than we men do. They are more in tune with the dictates of the heart more than the mind. Once you cannot provide that for her, she will look for someone who can. Even when she knows fully that the relationship is temporary and cannot last. Good times. Some women are born extroverts. They love the good times. You know, partying, clubbing, dancing, dining out etc. Even as they grow older. Most men on the other hand tend to become more conservative and home bound. What with the pressure, stress and politics of work and continuously being just one step ahead of poverty. Most men come home, eat, fall asleep and start snoring mightily in front of

Fadeyi

the TV. Poor woman. Please note that this type of woman is not a gold digger. She is not after your money. She at times even foots the bill. All she wants is fun. And of course one thing eventually leads to another. The lesson in this for men is for us to learn to unwind occasionally. Don’t always be too tired for home. All work and no play eventually makes Akin a dull man. Besides when you mix both work and play you will be healthier and live longer. Dr T. A. Fadeyi. MB. BCH. Sexologist, Sex and Marriage Counselor. drtaiwofadeyi@gmail.com 08033148899 (sms only)

Ego: Diary of a happening mom

Ebere Ameh

anny’s father intermittently entertained us with his humour throughout our two days stay with them. The visit gave me ample opportunity to know them more and see his jovial side, an opportunity I missed during our previous visit because Danny had to catch up with his peeps in the hood. His attempt at Pidgin English and slangs, mimicking his kidnappers made him even funnier. But despite our laughter, Danny’s mom just grins occasionally. “I’m used to his jokes my dear. It was during our courtship that I laughed like that. His charm and high sense of humour was simply irresistible,” she said as we tried to recover from a bout of laughter. Danny must have got his charm from him, but for the humour, he lost that gene to his younger brother Ben. “Oh my! I’m still irresistible till now, am I not?” he asked no one in particular, with hands akimbo, checking out his once muscular arms and getting ready to crack more jokes. “See this old son of Eradiauwa kingdom! Irresistible? Your bald head is the only irresistible thing you have left,” she said, rubbing his head and sending us to yet another episode of laughter. What a close-knit and hilarious family. I loved every bit of my stay with them. I actually thought her ‘negative’ comment would spoil our gay mood but Danny’s father is a ‘clown.’ “Don’t mind that girl,” he said. She is shy to admit that

Maldives, here we come!

she loves my pot belly too,” he said with a broad grin. After two good days with the happy old folks, they escorted us to the airport to start our journey to the Maldives to begin our honeymoon. After bidding us farewell, we checked into the departure lounge where we waited for close to an hour before departure. Though Danny has got everything sorted out, I kept wondering why it has to be Maldives and not Hawaii or Florida, where I actually wanted. Even though he convinced me on why Maldives would be the best location, he seems so excited, much more than I am, but his excitement ignites my expectation of this much talked about ‘paradise’. “You will love the place my dear,” he said, explaining in detail now, when I asked him to tell me about the place for the umpteenth time. “It is an Island nation in the Indian Ocean spreading up to the Arabian Sea area. Better referred to as the Republic of Maldives it is the smallest Asian country both in terms of population and land mass but highly geographically dispersed. With a rich history and great cultural heritage, it is a country with the lowest natural highest point in the world, at 2.4 meters and her government has pledged to make it a carbon neutral country by 2019. Though it is a Muslim country, the people are very peaceful and hospitable, mak-

ing it a tourists’ delight,” he said with growing excitement. “We can always vacation at Florida and Hawaii with the kids later, but this one is much more than a vacation. It would have either been this Maldives or the Bahamas – The Great Land of the Valiant and Noble Lord...” As soon as he mentioned the Bahamas, I knew I was in for another history of an Island in a faraway land. It all sounded interesting but do I really want to go to any Island? An aquaphobic like me? Though Danny has assured me that it is not going to be all water, I’m still anxious.

“I will take you to the Bahamas soon,” he said as if he had read my mind. “As long as I am able, I shall take you round and show you the universe,” he said, drawing me closer so that my head rests on his chest. Raising my head to look into his eyes, I smiled. “Thank you my Lord,” I said, tightening my grip around his torso. “You will remain able my king. I love you so much.” “I love you much more my princess. My prayer is that we shall grow old gracefully together. My love for you will never dim,” he said with a kiss on my forehead as we waited to board our plane.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Crime How church leader duped me of N5m, by member

Juliana Francis

n her determination to wage a decisive and thorough war against policemen attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos State Police Command, for arresting her brother and keeping him incommunicado, Miss. Rita Okoro has come to the battle ground, with a loaded gun, firing from all sides. In one of the sides, she has lawyers fighting, in another, she has a nongovernmental organisation, Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN) and on the third side, she has her General Overseer. Each of them had a role to them. But the expected end for all was to ensure that her brother, Mr. Afam Nriezed, was granted bail or his family allowed access to him. As the battle raged, she had spent money. She was so sure that at the end of everything, she would see her brother. Nriezed was picked up by SARS operatives from a hospital in Ikorodu, Lagos, where he had gone for a surgery for being in possession of four police rifles, but later the accusation turned to kidnapping and robbery. It’s been almost seven months that Nriezed was arrested, but for reasons unknown, SARS men had adamantly refused to allow his family access to him. This standoff situation forced Okoro to seek NOPRIN, employ lawyers and finally intimated her General Overseer, Prophet David Babalola of ‘His Presence Redemption Ministry,’ located at Folorunsho Street Ogba, Ikeja, of her troubles. Okoro said: “Frustrated by the persistent refusal of SARS men to either grant my brother bail or charge him to Court or even allow my family or legal representatives to see him, I and my sister, as members of his church, approached Babalola for assistance, believing and trusting him as a true Prophet and our spiritual father, he would help. He accepted to assist, assuring us that

JULIANA FRANCIS CRIME Editor

juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

Babalola

it was a ‘small problem’ compared to previous more difficult cases he had assisted other people to solve.” According to her, just to sort the case and see to her brother getting bail, Babalola allegedly collected over N5million. She would have swept the matter under the carpet, but got furious after she realised that Babalola allegedly didn’t do anything concerning the matter. Recalling how it all started, Okoro said that she joined the church five years ago, after a close friend, who is also a pastor, invited her. She said: “This pastor friend invited me to Prophet Babalola’s church because he had a deep knowledge of what my family was passing through. He said he knew Babalola because they grew up together. He said that Babalola was from a Muslim background, but got born again. He said God was using him.” When she met the Prophet, he gave her messages and placed her on prayers. She soon started attending the church.

Arase

She explained that after Nriezed’s arrest and detention, she and other members of her family has decided to approach and tell him about their problem. She said: “We went to him because he used to talk about having

connection in the Presidency. We went to him because we were frustrated! We thought that with the Prophet’s intervention, we could have access to our brother. I wasn’t even the person that came up with the idea of going to him. My sister, Ngozi did!” She said that it didn’t cross her mind to involve Babalola in their problem because she was angry with him. According to her, if not for her sister, she wouldn’t have gone to him. Okoro said: “The reason I never thought of going to him in the first place was that sometimes in November-December last year, there was a kind of seed sowing in the church. I was a participatory member. I used to give all manners of seed sowing whenever it was called for. I gave it because I believe in God.” She narrated that there was a particular incident she didn’t like. They were in the church when Babalola, who was trying to raise money for the building of the present church, called her. “He wanted people to come out and sow a seed of N1 million. He said that whoever sowed N1 million, would be given the person a plot of land in Abuja as replacement. What crossed my mind was that; if one had several plots of land to give to about five people, the person could sell those lands to build the church. Babalola suddenly called me; he said he wanted me to be a partaker of the seed sowing. He said that the ushers should lift and bring me out forcefully. When they were coming, I didn’t want anybody to rough handle me, so I got up and went to the altar. I wasn’t happy. I had always given without being forced before, why should I be forced this time around. But I respected him a lot. Whenever he spoke, it’s like God was talking! That’s why I was always quick to sow seed. But on that particular day, I didn’t want to sow a seed of N1 million because I had a lot of financial commitments!” She said she knew she wouldn’t redeem the pledge because she didn’t have such an amount. After that incident, she started skipping church services. “I travelled through Christmas, but he never once called me to know how I was faring. It was then I realised he used to look out for me because of the money he gets from me,” recounted Okoro. “He used to come to my home and visited me a lot. It was in January we had this problem. We were desperate women. Thus when my sister said this man had connections, that we should go C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4 2

Crime

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Yes, family brought money to facilitate the case –GO C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 1

to see him, I reluctantly agreed.” Okoro and her sister met Babalola at his home and spilled out their predicament. After listening with rapt attention, the Prophet said it was a minor problem. Okoro recalled: “He said he had handled far more serious cases than what we were talking about. It gladdened our hearts that our pastor was going to help us. He said he would have to make some calls and that he needed to be in Abuja, so that he would be able to pull strings.” Immediately in their presence, Babalola ostensibly made some phone calls to an unnamed ‘top police officer’ at the Force Headquarters, Abuja and thereafter told them that he would need to travel to Abuja to see the said top police officer. The next day, Babalola called Okoro and told her that he had spoken with his police contact in Abuja as well as a lawyer and then demanded the sum of $4,500, which he said would cover his air fares and other logistic, as well as a lawyer’s fee to secure the release of Nriezed. Okoro told Babalola that she could not afford such a huge sum, but the Prophet persuaded her to join efforts with her family members to ‘look for something and send across’, assuring her that her brother’s release was guaranteed. Okoro said: “I took a cash sum of N300,000 to the church. My sister and I met with him in his office. We told him that the money was for his welfare and any other expenses. That was just for him to take off. He left for Abuja the next day being Monday. On Tuesday evening, he called and said he had met with his contact. He said that he was lucky to meet the contact because most of the people he knew had been transferred. He said that the case would be easier if a lawyer was involved and the case transferred to Abuja.” Okoro said that her GO told her that when he got to Abuja, he saw lots of people going in with bags of money and stuff. She added: “He said that the police didn’t want naira there. They wanted dollars. He demanded the sum of 4,500 dollars from me. He even assisted me in calculating the naira conversion. He told me they needed that amount but that the money should come in dollars for easy carriage. I wanted to agree to go and get the dollars myself but on second thought, I felt that if I started with dollars, I might end up spending dollars throughout the period of trying to settle the case. I told him I didn’t have dollars. I also told him that I didn’t have such an amount with me immediately. I begged him to give me time to rally round and get the money.” She said that she was able to raise N1m the next day. She told him to tell the policemen to give her time to rally round to get money to balance it up. “The remaining was N1,000,000, aside the first N300, 000 I gave him in cash.” When Babalola returned from Abuja, he told Okoro to relax, that everything was in control. “I was

Front view of Babalola’s Church

excited. In fact, I practically told him that if he could do this for me, he would become a living god to me.” After some days, Babalola called. He said that the policemen were beginning to disturb him for the balance of the money. “I was under pressure. I raised N500,000 cash and gave to him. I also raised another N300,000. I was able to give him N1,800,000, which after a while; he started going to Abuja again.” She recalled that sometimes Babalola would call, insisting that he was broke. She would send N50,000 to him. She said: “There was a day he called me that he had exhausted his money that he had to call his church members to send him money. I apologised for the inconveniences. After wards, we continued with the entire money thing. It got to a point that he came to my house. I started contemplating selling one of my cars, just to raise money. He encouraged me by saying that nothing was too big to pay for someone’s life. He said that the car was not worth someone’s life. I started making efforts to sell off the car. I started parting with money. I have documents to show for it. It became clear that he wasn’t doing anything when three months passed and I still didn’t get any result. Today, he would tell me that some people came from Abuja to pick the file to Abuja, after about one week, the story would change. There were so many inconsistencies! After four months, my family and I started seeking another alternative after he told us that Afam had been transferred to Kuje Prison.” Okoro said that when she heard the Kuje Prison angle, she knew it was a blatant lie. “You don’t remand people in prison without first charging them to court,” she spits. Okoro said that on one of the days the Prophet claimed to have travelled to Abuja after demanding and receiving money from her, and shortly after they spoke and he claimed to be talking to her from Abuja, she suddenly ran into him on the streets of Lagos. He attempted to dodge. On seeing

Shortly after they spoke and he claimed to be talking to her from Abuja, she suddenly ran into him on the streets of Lagos

that he had already been sighted, he tried incoherently and unconvincingly to explain away his sudden presence in Lagos. Trying to extricate her family from further dealing with Babalola, Okoro said that she told him that her mother’s people had taken over the case. She explained: “I asked him how far he had gone and those he had contacted. I told him that my uncles wanted to know his efforts so far. He said there was no problem that he was going to Abuja, that when he gets there, my brother was coming back with him. He said that I should tell my mother’s people to hold on. I later went back to him and told him that my family members were on my neck. It was as if I was the one that wanted to kill my brother. In the first place, the pain and torture I’m passing through is that I caused the whole thing! I was the person that took the police to where my brother was. Each time I thought of how my brother was picked, I always cry.” Babalola called and informed Okoro that a police team from Abuja was coming to Lagos to take over her brother’s case and that the team would like to meet with a member of the detainee’s family. Curiously, when Ngozi met the police team at a hotel in Ikeja, one of the things they asked her to do was to make a statement changing the facts, to the effect that her brother was arrested in a beer parlour, instead of in a hospital at Ikorodu. They also asked her not to mention that the family gave any money to Babalola in connection with the case. The woman refused. Presently, NOPRIN had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission and the Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU), to probe the GO for fraud. Last week Thursday, New Telegraph correspondent was at Babalola’s church, but he was not available. The pastor on ground however said: “This story is all over the internet and in many newspapers. Many journalists

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

had also been here. I can you that he doesn’t and wouldn’t speak on the matter.” It was further gathered that Babalola said that ‘God told him’ not to speak on the matter. Meanwhile he had contacted his lawyers. Some weeks back however, when the story first broke, Babalola spoke to New Telegraph via phone. He said: “Initially, I didn’t want to get involved in the case, but the fact that the suspect’s sister is a member of my church and actually brought the matter to me, made me to get involve. It was in January that the family met and told me about the case. I told them what we could do to know the demand of the case, which primarily include going to Abuja to see the then Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Suleiman Abba. I did that. Along the line, the IGP was removed. But at the Force Headquarters, a detective called Joseph was asked to write a petition on the matter, which he did. But election delayed them from further investigations. The last time I went to Abuja Force Headquarters, they said they would come to Lagos when the IGP approves. Finally, the IGP approved their trip and they came to Lagos, seeking to see a member of the suspect’s family. The policemen said they needed a statement direct from a family member. I encouraged Ngozi to go and represent her family. But she was so afraid and refused making a statement. She said her uncle had intervened in the matter. This made me think that with all my effort, they were having second thoughts. They brought some money to facilitate the process.” He said that prior to this drama; the family was confused whether the case was still at SARS or Abuja. The GO said that recently, he went to SARS to discover another petition in Afam’s case file. “Those that arrested Afam were directed to come to Abuja on Friday. They also invited me, but I will be in Abuja earlier because of other things I want to do there.”

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

UNCHANGED Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) rate likely to remain at 13% Tony Chukwunyem with agency report

resident Muhammadu Buhari’s delay in naming his cabinet and outlining a policy direction will make the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to keep rates on hold despite the fact that inflation has exceeded its target band, analysts have predicted. According to 21 of 23 economists surveyed by Bloomberg, the MPC will hold the rate at 13 per cent, where it has been since November. CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele is due to announce the decision at a press conference scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. today in Abuja. The inflation rate of Africa’s biggest oil producer has accelerated for seven straight months, reaching 9.2 per cent in June to exceed the bank’s 6 per cent to 9 per cent target band. An index of naira bonds declined 1.8 per cent per cent in dollar terms over the past month. While Ni-

Delay in policy direction: MPC to retain interest rates gerian 10-year rates of 14.87 per cent are the highest among 31 emerging market nations, foreigners are staying clear until they know Buhari’s plans for the exchange rate and budget. Bloomberg quoted head of equity research at Chapel Hill Denham Securities Ltd, Tajudeen Ibrahim, as saying, “A level of 9.2 per cent is still fairly manageable. Fiscal policy has a major impact on what the CBN is going to do on monetary policy.” Buhari, 72, inherited an economy struggling to deal with an almost 50 per cent slump in the price of Brent crude in the past year that’s forced the government to curb spending. He has said he won’t appoint a ministerial team until September. In the absence of clear policy direction from the government, the regulator is unlikely to take big steps. Similarly, an economist at Exotix Partners LLP in London, Alan Cameron, said, “We think that the MPC will hold rates at the meeting in July, pointing to a stabilisation of the foreign-exchange rate and a recent increase in reserves,

Naira falls in black market

orty-eight hours after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) adjusted its exchange rate peg to N197 against the dollar from the N196.95 it set last week, the local currency fell on the parallel market, to N243, down 0.83 percent from the previous day. The persistent decline of the naira in the parallel market stemmed from the introduction of new measures by the central bank last month, restricting access to hard currency at the interbank in a bid to conserve dwindling foreign exchange reserves.

Dealers said the outcome of a rate-setting meeting of the apex bank due today could affect the naira. The adjustment of the peg is the fifth since the bank introduced tight controls on the foreign exchange market last February. The bank said it would sell dollars only at N198 to customers through the interbank based on direct orders by banks. The local currency traded at N199.50 to the dollar on the interbank market compared with the 1N97 per dollar rate it closed at on Wednesday.

IOD boss highlights significance of ethics Tony Chukwunyem

he President/Chairman Governing Council of the Institute Of Directors (IOD) Nigeria, Mr. Samuel Akeju, has stressed the need for companies to have a strong ethical culture. He said that the absence of such a culture affects the productivity and bottomline of firms. The IOD boss, who was speaking at the Institute’s quarterly business forum in Lagos, pointed out that the lack of ethics was the bane of African countries. He added that it was in a bid to foster a strong ethical culture in these parts that the IOD chose “Governing the Ethics Performance of Organisations” as the topic of the forum. In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Ethics Institute of South Africa,

Professor Deon Rossouw, who was the guest speaker at the event, noted that strong ethical culture exists when doing the right thing takes precedence over getting the job done. He pointed out that the ethical philosophy an organisation uses to conduct business can affect the reputation, productivity and bottom line of the business. According to him, “If you have a strong ethical culture your employees feel less pressure to commit misconduct. Because they don’t feel pressured they are also far less likely to observe misconduct by others. In strong cultures employees are much more likely to report misconduct and the retaliation rate drops considerably.” He emphasised that a strong ethical culture was key to uniting the organisation toward a common goal adding those that want to break the rules should not be made welcome.

as signs of returning confidence in the economy.” Also, Managing Director, Chief Economist, Africa, at Standard Chartered Bank, Razia Khan, said, “We expect the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to be on hold at 13 per cent. Inflation accelerated to 9.2 per cent y/y in June. We expect it to break into low double digits in H2-2015. In our view, the CBN has limited scope for conven-

tional monetary policy easing through an MPR cut. But tight liquidity is an increasing problem for Nigeria’s banking system, and will need to be addressed. Although the CBN harmonised its cash reserve ratios (CRR) at 31per cent in May, pressure is rising to amend the CRR, or at least ease its impact on the banking system.” Continuing, she said, “For now, the policy trend appears

to be for further controls rather than FX liberalisation. The publication of a new CBN requirement for the Bureaux de Change to report bank verification numbers of all clients (effective August) hints at the intention to exert even greater control over Nigeria’s parallel market. Reports suggest that USD-NGN has reached 244, signalling a wider spread with the more regulated interbank market.”

IMF: South West leads in financial inclusion Tony Chukwunyem

outhwestern Nigeria maintains its position as the region with the highest rate of financial inclusion in the country, according to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) working paper released yesterday. The working paper entitled, “Household Financial Access and Risk Sharing in Nigeria,” stated that while financial inclusion is highest in the Southwest with almost 50 per cent of the population in the zone having access to banks, it is lowest in the Northwest region where 12 per cent of the population has access to financial institutions. According to the paper,

the South south zone occupies the second position with 45 per cent, it is followed by the Southeast and the North central zones in the third and fourth positions with 35 per cent and 32 per cent respectively, while the Northeast zone has 16 per cent of its population having access to banks. The IMF paper further stated that access to informal finance is similar across zones while access to semiformal finance is almost negligible in the Northern zones. Those with formal financial access tend to be richer (i.e., have higher net worth), consume more, are more educated, and located closer to a bank. In addition, it stated that cross-regional comparisons

also show similar patterns. Regions with relatively higher formal financial access (i.e., the South South and South West) have households that are located closer to a bank, have a higher net worth, and consume more. They also are more likely to have some reported labour income and be an entrepreneur rather than be a farmer and are less likely to receive remittances. Household heads are, on average, somewhat older (above 50 rather than mid 40s). “Greater financial inclusion could help poverty alleviation efforts by buffering the impact of unexpected adverse shocks on household consumption and micro-household businesses,” the Fund said.

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

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 9 13 10.77 US$56.51 US$30,697,280,995

As at Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 May, 2015 4/6/2015 Mar 2015 23/7/2015 22/7/2015

Source:CBN

Description 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 16.00 29-JUN-2019 15.54 13-FEB-2020 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

FGN Bonds

TTM

Price 98.18 100.55 103.58 103.37 106.49 97.17 68.00 85.08

1.07 1.76 3.93 4.56 6.52 8.64 15.00 18.99

NIBOR

Tenor (Days) Call 30 90 180

Rate (%) 29.5417 15.7357 16.9407 17.5568

Bid Yield 14.93 14.69 14.76 14.49 14.80 14.78 15.57 14.47

Change (%) 8.42 ▲ 0.35 ▲ 0.35 ▲ 0.36 ▲

Change (%) 0.08 ▲ -0.08 ▼ -0.13 ▼ -0.15 ▼ -0.10 ▼ -0.09 ▼ 0.00 ↔ -0.10 ▼

Price 98.33 100.70 103.88 103.67 106.79 97.47 68.30 85.38

Tenor (Months)

Offer Yield 14.77 14.59 14.66 14.40 14.73 14.72 15.50 14.42

NITTY

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Rate (%) 12.0346 13.2004 13.8406 13.8965 14.1877 14.9409

Spot ($/N)

Offer 197.71

Change (%) 0.34 ▲ 0.45 ▲ 0.19 ▲ 0.20 ▲ 0.47 ▲ 0.55 ▲

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 13.43 13.93 0.11 ▲ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 29.00 29-Oct-15 13.68 14.20 0.11 ▲ 12.57 13.41 0.10 ▲ Overnight (O/N) 29.33 21-Jan-16 12.82 13.70 0.10 ▲ 12.55 14.08 0.20 ▲ 02-Jun-16 12.80 14.39 0.20 ▲ Bid 197.61

Change (%) 0.08 ▲ -0.08 ▼ -0.13 ▼ -0.15 ▼ -0.10 ▼ -0.09 ▼ 0.00 ↔ -0.10 ▼

Change (%) -0.17 ▼

NIFEX

Bid Spot ($/N) 199.0000

Offer 199.1000

Change (%) 6.00 ▲ 5.00 ▲

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

CBN Clearing Rates of June 11, 2015 Spot ($/N)

196.00

197.00

0.00 ↔ Source: FMDQ

Business | Financial Market News

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

23-Jul-15

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 ^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 ^15.54 13-FEB-2020 ^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)

16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 13-Feb-15 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

581.39 480.13 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 261.73 605.31 599.99 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 340.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,890.82

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,480.64

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13-Feb-20 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

1.07 1.76 2.01 2.11 2.85 3.93 4.25 4.56 6.52 8.64 13.35 13.83 14.33 15.00 18.99

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

14.93 14.69 14.72 14.72 14.74 14.76 14.60 14.49 14.80 14.78 16.22 16.41 16.62 15.57 14.47

14.77 14.59 14.62 14.63 14.67 14.66 14.48 14.40 14.73 14.72 16.16 16.34 16.53 15.50 14.42

98.18 100.55 91.78 90.54 90.81 103.58 76.51 103.37 106.49 97.17 93.36 78.76 56.08 68.00 85.08

98.33 100.70 91.93 90.69 90.96 103.88 76.81 103.67 106.79 97.47 93.66 79.06 56.38 68.30 85.38

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

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

17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

2.10 112.22 116.70 66.49

03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.95 1.38 1.74 1.95

2.94 1.00 2.66 3.13

17.48 15.77 17.43 17.86

99.79 100.22 102.85 98.57

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

297.52

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

300.13

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.11

4.44

16.97

99.46

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.19

3.23

16.75

99.25

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

2.60

30-Jun-16

0.69

4.46

18.51

97.19

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

3.96

30-Jun-16

0.70

3.48

17.55

98.68

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.74

1.00

15.77

91.46

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

21.24

30-Jun-17

1.23

1.00

15.72

97.88

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.44

1.79

16.52

95.08

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

1.82

1.00

15.75

97.35

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

1.83

1.00

15.75

97.31

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

12.40

09-Dec-18

2.02

1.00

15.72

97.98

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

9.21

12-Dec-18

2.02

4.78

19.50

91.44

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.01

1.00

15.72

99.62

BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

*GOMBE LAGOS

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12

15.50 14.50 14.75

15.09 80.00 24.74

02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19

2.44 4.33 2.51

2.02 1.00 1.00

16.75 15.55 15.73

97.59 96.71 98.07

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

10.46

10-Oct-20

3.04

1.82

16.57

95.92

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.35

1.00

15.61

92.50

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.44

1.00

15.63

97.73

‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

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

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.30

31-Dec-20

3.28

1.00

15.76

96.98

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.31

06-Jan-21

3.31

1.00

15.76

98.16

99.77

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

440.27 420.54

Corporate Bonds BBB+/Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

17-Aug-15

0.07

1.00

13.10

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

9.38

09-Dec-15

0.38

1.00

14.96

98.91

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.22

06-Jan-16

0.46

2.63

16.42

98.89

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.19

1.00

15.71

97.12

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.26

1.34

16.07

97.93

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.19

1.00

15.72

95.06

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.56

30-Nov-17

1.42

1.88

16.67

102.30

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

5.40

09-Apr-18

1.46

1.00

15.80

100.19

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.54

09-Sep-18

1.63

1.00

15.79

102.89

1.63

1.00

15.79

100.22

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.70

09-Sep-18

A+/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

30-Sep-18

3.19

3.00

17.75

91.08

BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.10

18-Oct-18

1.74

2.29

17.06

98.07

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

17-Feb-19

1.82

6.11

20.86

96.10

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.44

2.16

16.89

98.24

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.31

2.76

17.36

92.80

BBB/GCR

FCMB

14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021

20-Nov-14

14.25

26.00

20-Nov-21

6.33

1.80

16.64

90.80

A/GCR

UBA

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

30-Dec-21

6.44

1.00

15.87

102.26

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

16.29

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.19

1.00

15.96

101.48

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.19

1.00

15.96

87.09

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

177.87

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

169.22

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.56

1.00

15.73

88.71

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

3.77

1.00

15.75

87.75

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 22.01

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

6.29

6.06

102.11

103.19

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

5.23

4.88

99.71

100.66

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.57

6.39

98.78

99.90

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

1,502.98

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

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.78

102.13

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.52

99.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

12.04

10.25

88.06

91.99

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.72

7.13

95.10

96.74

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

7.33

96.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

10.21

9.72

95.47

96.95

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

FIRST BANK PLC ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

8.25 AUG 07, 2020 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

07-Aug-13 24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14

8.25 9.25 8.00

300.00 400.00 450.00

07-Aug-20 24-Jun-21 23-Jul-21

9.72 10.76 10.12

9.72 10.40 10.12

93.70 93.75 90.00

93.70 95.26 90.00

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.68

10.26

90.88

92.63

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,650.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,465.17

**Treasury Bills^ DTM 7 14 21 35 42 49 63 70

FIXINGS Maturity 30-Jul-15 6-Aug-15 13-Aug-15 27-Aug-15 3-Sep-15 10-Sep-15 24-Sep-15 1-Oct-15

Bid Discount (%) 11.58 13.05 13.07 11.97 12.87 12.86 12.94 13.52

Offer Discount (%) 11.33 12.80 12.82 11.72 12.62 12.61 12.69 13.27

Bid Yield (%) 11.61 13.12 13.17 12.10 13.06 13.09 13.23 13.88

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 29.5417 15.7357 16.9407 17.5568

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

29.00

O/N Tenor Call 1M

29.33

REPO

Rate (%) 26.00 27.00

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

197.61 199.23 199.61 200.44 201.91 204.94

197.71 199.58 199.98 200.87 202.78 206.23