Binder1 may 15, 2014 by Newtelegraphonline

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Thursday, May 15, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 86

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President delays assent to 2014 budget over distortions

lGovt promises steady work on Second Niger Bridge Anule Emmanuel

he Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday explained the delay by President Goodluck

Jonathan in assenting to the 2014 Appropriation Bill, which the National Assembly passed into law last month. Minister of Informa-

tion, Mr. Labaran Maku, told State House correspondents after the weekly FEC meeting in Abuja that the president has not done so because of the distor-

tions in it which need to be rectified. The Senate and the House of Representatives had passed the fiscal bill on April 9 and 10 respectively,

after many months of disagreement. They had passed the budget of N4.695 trillion for the fiscal year and transmitted the document to the president for assent. The budget, as passed

by the National Assembly, is about N53 billion higher than the N4.642 trillion proposed by the executive. The budget provides for N2.4 trillion for recurrent expenditure and N1.1 C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2

EMergency rule in adamawa, borno, Yobe

58 Senators reject extension request lSenate, Reps defer approval, seek briefings from service chiefs Chukwu David, Philip Nyam, Ibrahim Abdul and Hassan Jirgi

ith opposition from 58 northern senators and a growing disquiet in the National Assembly, President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for an extension of the state of emergency imposed

on Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states may not sail through. The Senate and the House of Representatives yesterday considered the president’s request, via a letter dated May 13 in which he sought authorisation to extend the emergency rule in the terrorstricken states, which he C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3

Workers carry a rescued miner after an explosion and fire at a coal mine killed at least 245 miners and left up to 300 others trapped underground, in Soma, Western Turkey

GOC escapes death in mutiny

lJonathan rejects Boko Haram’s swap deal lBorno villagers kill 200 insurgents Ahmed Miringa and Anule Emmanuel

he General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Ah-

madu Mohammed, yesterday escaped death by a whisker as mutinying soldiers shot at his vehicle

in Maiduguri, Borno State. Also, President Goodluck Jonathan has ruled out freeing Boko Haram

prisoners in exchange for the release of over 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram from Chibok,

Borno State, British Minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr. Mark Simmonds, who met with him said yesterday. C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4

Mastermind of Nyanya bombing, Aminu Ogwuche, arrested in Sudan

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FLIGHT SCHEDULE FIRST NATION AIRWAYS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06.50; 09:30; 11:45; 16:00 (SAT) 06:50; 11:45 (SUN) 11:45; 16:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 11:30; 13:40;18:30 (SAT) 09:00; 13:40 (SUN) 13:40; 18:30 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 14:45 (SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50 L-R: Deputy Editor (Daily), New Telegraph Newspaper, Emeka Obasi; Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Gabriel Akinadewo; Communication Manager, British Deputy High Commission, Lagos, Wale Adebajo; Managing Editor, Felix Abugu; Editor (Daily), Yemi Ajayi and Editor (Sunday), Emeka Madunagu, during Adebajo’s visit to the Corporate Office of New Telegraph in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Suspected mastermind of Nyanya bombing, Aminu Ogwuche, arrested in Sudan Emmanuel Onani

he International Police (Interpol) has arrested one of the two suspected masterminds of Nyanya bombings, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, in the Sudan. Ogwuche’s arrest was announced yesterday, during a joint news briefing in Abuja. The United Kingdomborn suspected terrorist was declared wanted on

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trillion for capital spending in 2014 while revenue projection from oil sales is anchored as an estimated production of 2.3 million barrels of crude oil per day. The delay in the passage of the bill was largely caused by the disagreement between the legislature and the executive arms of government on the appropriate oil benchmark to adopt, which made the president to suspend the scheduled presentation of the bill to the National Assembly on November 12, 2013. The executive had proposed a $74 per barrel oil benchmark in the 2014 2016 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Policy (FSP) document, submitted earlier to the National Assembly but the Senate and the House of Representatives preferred different figures which were higher than what the executive recommended. While the Senate adopted $78 per barrel as the benchmark for the budget, the House went for $80.

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“One of the two most wanted suspects of the Nyanya bombings placed on terrorists list has been arrested with the effort of the Interpol,” he said. He said Ogwuche’s extradition back to Nigeria would commence soon for interrogation and prosecution. Omeri also said the operation to rescue the abducted girls was being carried out by the Nigerian troops, while others were playing complimentary roles. Marylin Ogar, spokesperson for DSS, said Nigerians

should be happy that the international community had joined the operation to free the country of terrorists. She said the mystery behind Boko Haram and the abduction of Chibok girls would soon be unravelled. While offering a N25 million reward on information leading to the whereabouts of Ogwuche and Rufai Abubakar Tsiga, the DSS had said: “It is noteworthy that UK-born Amina Ogwuche with Service Number SBC 95/104, deserted the Nigerian Army in 2006. He

served in the Intelligence Unit of the Nigerian Army at Child Avenue, Arakan Barracks, Lagos.” He is the son of Col. Agene Ogwuche (rtd). Spokesman for the police, Frank Mba, said: “Parading the suspects would weaken the terrorists. This will also help to demystify them. “It will also enable the security agencies to know their modus operandi.” The other suspected mastermind, Rufai Abubakar Tsiga, is yet to be apprehended.

Jonathan delays assent to 2014 budget over distortions

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Monday by the Department of State Service (DSS) for masterminding the Nyanya explosion, which left over 70 people dead, and scores injured. Mr. Mike Omeri, the Coordinator, National Information Centre on the Rescue of the Abducted Chibok Girls, disclosed this at a joint news conference in Abuja on Wednesday. The news conference was attended by the Department of State Service (DSS), the Nigeria Police and the Military.

But after weeks of disagreement, the two chambers harmonised their conflicting positions and adopted $79 per barrel as the recommended oil benchmark for the budget. This, however, did not resolve the disagreement with the executive which preferred its $74 oil benchmark recommendation as contained in MTEF and FSP. The disagreement dragged on until December 17, 2013 when the two chambers of the National Assembly were able to resolve their differences and pegged the oil benchmark at $77.5 per barrel, paving the way for the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, to lay the budget before the lawmakers on December 19, 2013. However, Maku explained that it would not be appropriate for government to overlook some serious misrepresentations in the fiscal document because of the possible negative impact it would have on the economy.

He said Okonjo-Iweala yesterday briefed the council on the level of progress being made in reconciling the discrepancies that emerged in the passage of the fiscal bill by the lawmakers. “It is very sad that we have almost entered the middle of the year and we don’t have a budget. This indeed is sad that the budget has taken so long in coming and practically we have less than seven months to execute the budget. “There are few areas of distortions and there are those areas that are very serious and we think there is a need to look into them because of the negative impact those distortions may have on the implementation of the budget. We will do everything possible to reconcile the few differences that emerged in what was transmitted to the government by the National Assembly,” Maku said. He added that talks were going on between the Federal Ministry of Finance and the National Assembly to correct the distortions.

“Very shortly, we believe that we are going to reconcile those areas and then the final budget will be announced to the nation by the president,” he stated. Maku’s counterpart in the Ministry of Works, Mr. Mike Onolemenmen, also briefed reporters on efforts by the Federal Government to ensure the timely completion of the Second River Niger Bridge. He said the conception of the idea to construct the bridge started in 2011 and had nothing to do with politics as being insinuated in some quarters. He assured the nation that the pace of work on the bridge will not be affected by the 2015 elections. On the Gamboru-Ngala Bridge linking Nigeria to Cameroun which was damaged by Boko Haram terrorists, he said an assessment was being carried out on the bridge to determine the extent of the damage. He added that he had requested for a contingency plan on how to quickly restore the bridge.

AEROCONTRACTORS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30 MEDVIEW AIRLINES LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30 OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS-ILORIN (MON-FRI) 07:15 LAGOS-IBADAN (MON-FRI) 7:00 IBADAN-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:00 IBADAN-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:30 ILORIN –ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30 ILORIN –LAGOS (MON-FRI) 17:00 ABUJA-ASABA (MON-FRI) 10:00 ASABA-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 14:15 ASABA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 11:30 LAGOS-ASABA (MON-FRI) 13:00 ABUJA-ILORIN 16:00 ABUJA-IBADAN 15:00 ARIK AIR LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:00; 09:00; 11:00 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00; 20:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 09:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 (SAT) 07:00; 11:00; 15:00 (SUN) 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 09:00; 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 (SAT) 07:30; 11:30; 09:00; 13:00; 17:00 (SUN) 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 ABUJA-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30; 16:50 (SAT/SUN) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30 PORT-HARCOURT-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10; 18:30 (SAT/SUN) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10

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CBN: Why we sold Intercontinental Bank Tunde Oyesina Abuja

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that Intercontinental Bank Plc. was sold in order to salvage it and protect the interests of its depositors and creditors, having discovered that the bank was in a grave financial situation occasioned by capital inadequacy, grossly poor liquidity ratio and corporate governance problems. The submission was contained in a preliminary objection filed before the court by the CBN and the suspended CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lami-

do Sanusi, in which they asked the court to dismiss a suit filed against them by some shareholders of the defunct bank. In their preliminary objections, the CBN and Sanusi also submitted that the suit was statute barred having been filed outside the time limit allowed for challenging acts of public officers. They also said the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit by reason of the provisions of section 53(1) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act and section 52(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007. The defendants also asked the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds

that the fraud alleged to have been perpetrated in the sale of the bank was not supported with the particulars. Three shareholders of the defunct bank, Abdullahi Sani, Adaeze Onwuegbusi and Chijioke Ezeipke, had through their counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) taken the CBN and Sanusi to court, demanding N10 billion as special and general damages for breaches culminating in the wrongful sale of the defunct bank to Access Bank Plc. Also joined in the suit is the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which is the third defendant. The plaintiffs also want the court to order CBN to

immediately recover N25.1 billion together with interest still being owed by the trio of former Access Bank Managing Director, Mr. Aigboje AigImokhuede; his successor, Mr. Herbert Wigwe and Senator Bukola Saraki. But in asking the court to dismiss the suit, the defendants said they complied with all the extant laws governing the scheme. In a supporting affidavit deposed to by one Francess Monago, a counsel in the chambers of Kola Awodein (SAN), the defendants said while exercising their statutory duty, they examined the books of Intercontinental Bank and found that the bank

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Nicolas Vervelde; Chairman, Chief Kolawole Jamodu; Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Uaboi Agbebaku, and Non- Executive Officer, Mr. Thomas de Man, at the 68th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

was in a grave financial situation occasioned by capital inadequacy, grossly poor liquidity ratio and corporate governance problems. “In order to salvage the bank and protect the interests of the bank’s depositors and creditors, the 1st defendant (Sanusi) made an executive order removing the then managing director and the executive director of the bank and appointed new managing director and executive directors to oversee the affairs of the bank,” they said. When the matter came up yesterday, Uche told the court that Sanusi and CBN served him copies of the notices of preliminary objection filed some minutes before the court began sitting. He also acknowledged the service of application for joinder by some individuals seeking to be made parties in the suit. Uche however sought for time to enable him respond to the pending applications. The defendants did not object to the application. Justice A.R Mohammed later adjourned the case until July 16 for mention and possibly, hearing. At the last hearing, Uche had prayed the court for leave to serve Sanusi through a substituted means on the grounds that his present place of abode after his suspension was not known.

Uche further prayed the court to serve the application on Sanusi through his last office address at the CBN and that the application should be pasted on the notice board or be given to an adult in the bank. Justice Mohammed granted the plaintiffs prayer and ordered that the court process be served on Sanusi through his last office address at the CBN. In their originating summons, the plaintiffs are praying among others for an order of the court that the takeover of Intercontinental Bank by Access Bank on the scheme, direction and instruction of Sanusi without lawful justification whatsoever is null and void. They said Sanusi took the action in a bid to confer corrupt advantage upon himself and his friends/ associates/cronies to the investment detriment of the plaintiffs and infringement on their personal rights. The plaintiffs also want the court to mandate SEC as the official and apex regulator of the Nigerian Capital Market acting under her power pursuant to Section 13 of the Investments and Securities Act 2007 to conduct detailed public investigation into the circumstances relating to and connected with the sales of the shares, assets and securities of Intercontinental Bank to Access Bank.

Emergency rule: Jonathan’s extension request faces rejection CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

first imposed in May, 2013. But in considering the president’s letter for another extension for a period of six months, the lawmakers deferred approval and sought to invite service chiefs to brief them on the security situation in the states. Shortly after the plenary session at the Senate, 58 senators from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) rose from a threeand-a-half hour meeting in Abuja vowing to do all they could to stop the National Assembly from approving the request to extend the emergency rule, for the second time. The threat, if carried out, will sound a death knell to the president’s bid to extend the emergency rule as the 109-member Senate requires two-thirds majority, representing 72 senators to approve Jona-

than’s request. A source confided in New Telegraph yesterday that the Senate may not be able to muster the required figure to pass the request because southern senators from the All Progressives Congress (APC) whose states are under the emergency rule may team up with their northern counterparts, who have come together irrespective of party affiliation to oppose the extension bid, to reject Jonathan’s proposal. Section 305, subsection 6 states conditions under which a state of emergency shall cease to exist. According to subsection 6(b): “a proclamation (on the state of emergency) issued by the president under this section shall cease to have effect if it affects the federation of any part thereof and within two days when the National Assembly is in session, or within ten days when

the National Assembly is not in session, after its publication (in the official gazette),there is no resolution supported by twothirds majority of all the members of each house of the National Assembly approving the proclamation.” Subsection 6(c) which sheds further light on this, reads: “After a period of six months has elapsed since it has been in force; provided that the National Assembly may, before the expiration of the period of six months aforesaid, extend the period of the proclamation of the state of emergency to remain in force from time to time for a further period of six months by resolution passed in like manner; or (d) at any time after the approval referred to in paragraph (b) or the extension referred to in paragraph (c) of this subsection, when each house

of the National Assembly revokes the proclamation by a simple majority of all the members of each house.” When the president’s request was tabled before the Senate yesterday through a motion sponsored by the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, senators deferred debate on it. Rather, they summoned the service chiefs, Inspector-General of Police, National Security Adviser, Minister of Defence and the Minister of Police Affairs to come and give them a progress report at a closed-door session today on the performance of the emergency rule in the states. Ndoma-Egba urged members to allow the item to be stepped down until another legislative session. He explained that the aspect of the constitution dealing with emergency rule had not been gazetted,

adding that the Senate was yet to review the success or otherwise of the emergency rule. He said the gazette must be circulated to the senators before the motion could be debated. Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session, described the motion as a serious business which borders on the security of the country. He said: “We need to be well informed of the situation on ground and the efficiency or the effectiveness of the state of emergency in the past 12 months to enable us to take a proper decision. “I therefore, appeal that in accordance with the motion moved by the Senate leader, we should step it down till another legislative day.” When the amendment was put to vote, the senators unanimously ap-

proved it. The House, which debated the president’s request, however deferred voting on it. The lawmakers demanded that the service chiefs must come to brief them before they could take any decision on the request. The sharp division amongst members over the request became apparent as soon as the House Leader, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, moved the motion for the consideration of Jonathan’s request to extend the state of emergency in the three states. She argued that if it was not extended, the situation could deteriorate. Consequently, 25 lawmakers supported her position while six others opposed the president’s bid. Leader of the Borno caucus in the House, Hon. C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4

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Borno villagers kill 200 insurgents CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Boko Haram self-acclaimed leader, Abubakar Shekau, had in a video released on Monday, offered to release the abductees in exchange for insurgents in the custody of the Federal Government. Simmonds, in Nigeria for talks about the international mission to free the schoolgirls, said he raised the issue with Jonathan during their meeting in Abuja. “I did discuss this with the president and he made it very clear that there will be no negotiation with Boko Haram that involves a swap of abducted schoolgirls for prisoners,” a report by Reuters quoted him as saying. Also, as part of efforts to rescue the Chibok girls, the United States has deployed drones in Nigeria to facilitate the gathering of information on where the pupils are being held. During the meeting between Jonathan and Simmonds, the president reiterated Nigeria’s appreciation of the support being given by Britain and other countries in the efforts to rescue the abducted schoolgirls. According to him, the Federal Government will also welcome international support for its plans for the socio-economic rehabilitation of the North-Eastern States after the Boko Haram insurgency has been substantially curtailed. He told Simmonds that he looked forward to meeting the heads of state and government of Benin Republic, Chad, Niger and Cameroun this weekend in Paris for talks on how Nigeria and their countries

could strengthen and intensify collaboration against Boko Haram and other criminal organisations. “If we all collaborate more, it will easier to eradicate Boko Haram and terrorism,” he said. Simmonds reassured Jonathan of Britain’s commitment to giving Nigeria all required assistance to find and safely rescue the abducted girls. “We are keen to support Nigeria in every possible way and help you overcome present challenges,” he said. Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, also said the Federal Government would explore all options in rescuing the schoolgirls. Maku spoke just as the GOC, 7 Division, escaped being killed by aggrieved soldiers who opened fire on his official vehicle while he came to address them at the Maimalari Military Barracks in Maiduguri. A source said the soldiers were angered by the sight of the bodies of some of their colleagues who were killed in an ambush by the insurgent while searching for the abducted girls. He said while coming back to Maiduguri, the troops had requested from the GOC permission to pass the night in a village they considered safe as they felt it was getting dark and it would dangerous to drive on the MaiduguriDamboa Road in the night. The GOC was said to have insisted that they must come back the same night and report to Maiduguri. But another source said

the soldiers were returning from an operation in Kala Balge Local Government Area of the state and were instructed to withdraw from the assignment and return to Maiduguri immediately. But on their way back, they were waylaid by Boko Haram members during which some soldiers were killed. The terrorists had on Tuesday at about 11am invaded Kala Balge, a border town with Cameroun Republic, but they were repelled by vigilante youths, popularly known as Civilian JTF, who killed over 200 insurgents. Also, five vehicles and 80 motorcycles were also seized in Sangayari, Mairari and Garawa villages from the insurgents.

The source further stated that on their way back to Maiduguri in the night as ordered by the GOC, they were ambushed by suspected terrorists and many soldiers died. “On sighting the corpses of their slain colleagues, a soldier in Maimalari Barracks who took the advantage of the GOC visit to address another troops on the ongoing operation against the insurgency, opened fire on the GOC owing to what he described as the superior officers’ maltreatment of their junior colleagues as they sit in their air-conditioned offices and send them to the field without equipment and superior power weapons for Boko Haram to kill them,” another source said. A report on BBC Hausa

service quoted the defence spokesman, Major General Chris Olukolade, as saying that the incident was an internal military affairs which have since been resolved Meanwhile, the Borno State Government yesterday gave names of the additional 23 abducted girls identified in the Boko Haran video. A statement by the Special Adviser to the governor, Malam Isa Gusau, gave the names as follows: Fibi Haruna, Laraba Mamman, Saraya Yanga, Hauwa Mutan, Deborah Abari, Hauwa Nkeki Mbalala, Rejoice Musa, Yana Joshua, Esther Ayuba, Helen Musa, Mwa Daniel, Hannatu Ishaku, and Yayi Abana. Others are Mary Ndamah, Monica Enoch, Ami-

na Ali, Ashe Ezekiel, Lydia Simon, Na’omi Bitrus, Kawuna Lalai, Kawuna Luka, Lydia Habila and Margaret Watsai. On Tuesday, the spokesman had released the names of 54 girls identified from the video, and later said an additional 23 had been identified but did not give their names. In a related development The Pentagon has said the U.S. is using surveillance drones to aid in the search for the kidnapped Nigerian girls, and almost 300 Marines have been moved to a naval air station in Sicily in response to the growing unrest in Africa. A senior U.S. official said at least one Global Hawk surveillance drone is in use, in addition to manned MC-12 aircraft.

L-R: Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Yusuph Olaniyonu; Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Segun Odubela; Chairman, Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Muftau Ajibola and Chairman, Abeokuta North Local Government, Taofeek Olabode, at the commissioning of a block of toilets donated to Oke-Ona United Primary School, Ikereku, Abeokuta by Olaniyonu, a former pupil of the school in Abeokuta…yesterday.

Emergency rule: Jonathan’s extension request faces rejection CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno) said lawmakers from the states supported the decision but he expressed reservations that the proclamation had not achieved much. He said: “The Borno caucus is in support of the extension. But let me say that over the last one year, we’re all witnesses to the fact that the state of emergency has not yielded the desired result simply because the military lacks the equipment to fight the insurgents.” Hon. Titsi Ganama (PDP, Adamawa) threw his weight behind the motion explaining that “before the emergency rule, the insurgents took over local governments in the southern Borno, but the soldiers went and chased them away.” However, Hon. Goni Bukar Haruna (APC, Yobe) who led lawmakers from

Yobe State, rejected the request, saying that it was no longer desirable. He said: “On behalf of the people and government of Yobe State, I stand to oppose the extension of the state of emergency. “Emergency rule has not helped us in any way; rather it only succeeded in aggravating the insurgency. Since they declared it one year ago, many people were killed various parts of Borno and Yobe much more than when there was no emergency.” But shortly after the plenary session in the Senate, senators from the north met and took a position to stop extension of emergency rule in the three states. The senators, who met under the umbrella of Northern Senators’ Forum, threatened to frustrate the planned extension when it comes up for voting on the floor of the Senate.

Addressing the press shortly after the meeting, Senator Umaru Dahiru (Sokoto-PDP), who is the Chairman of the forum, said the senators extensively deliberated on the matter and concluded that extending the emergency rule was not the best way to tackle the insurgency in the North-East. He added that the forum had set up a committee to meet with the governors of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states over the president’s request. Dahiru said: “Our meeting this (yesterday) afternoon discussed basically the issue of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States. Everybody in attendance made contributions and a lot was said. “The majority position is basically that we are not going with the state of emergency. That is our categorical position because

we are not convinced that it is only the issue of emergency rule that could make the security personnel to achieve success in the area. “We believe a lot of things ought to be addressed in order to conquer the issue of insurgency. So, our own position is that we are not going to support extension of the emergency rule in the area. “We are going to engage the three governors in the affected states; we want to know what went wrong to be able to come up with better ways to tackle the crisis. However, the government must work for the benefits of its citizens. The leadership of the affected states and our forum here are saying no to emergency rule. “The constitution requires two-thirds majority in terms of voting. Of course, we are going to vote on the issue. If we can outnumber them during the

voting fine, but of course, our position is that we are going to vote against it.” The senator, however, commended the efforts of the military in the fight against the insurgency and pledged the support of the northern lawmakers to whatever would be needed to ensure their success. Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, also rejected the president’s request to extend the emergency rule. He said in a statement in Damaturu that extending the emergency rule is not the answer to the prevailing security challenges in the affected states given the apparent failure of the same measure over the last 12 months. Instead of extending the emergency rule, the governor suggested that security forces needed to be properly equipped with superior weaponry and advanced communications equip-

ment, and that the people of the effected states be carried along in the fight against insurgency. Meanwhile, there were mixed reactions in Adamawa State over Jonathan’s request for the extension of emergency rule for another six months. Most people who spoke condemned the proposal and urged the National Assembly not to grant it. The state Publicity Secretary of APC, Reverend Phineas Padio, said the request was bad and unnecessary, particularly in Adamawa State. Habibu Isa and Jonathan Simon, both drivers, also kicked against the extension, saying it was uncalled for with the level of security now being enjoyed in the state. However, the North-East Coordinator of Interfaith International, Mallam Abubakar Damare, welcomed the president’s bid.

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Thursday, May 15, 2014

BRING BACK OUR GIRLS

APC governors ready to work with FG

...promise to rebuild burnt school Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

overnors from the All Progressives Congress (APC)controlled states under the auspices of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) yesterday

reiterated their resolve to work with the Federal Government, local communities and the international community to ensure that the schoolgirls criminally abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State and other places are

released and reunited with their families. This was as the governors also promised to also undertake the rebuilding of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok that was razed by the insurgents so that the students could resume

normal life when released. The governors said they were deeply concerned about the growing state of insecurity in the North-Eastern part of the country. Chairman of the forum and Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, who stated this in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday,

described the abduction of the schoolgirls as “an assault on our nation, an attack on civility and constitutionalism and colossal descent to barbarism, which is unacceptable and should be combated by all patriots. “More than ever before, we are resolute in our determination to move our dear nation forward. Successful fight against terrorism is a critical precondition for stability and constitutional governance. Together, with all progressives and patriots, we will join hands to restore peace all over Nigeria.” Okorocha assured the people that the forum

would support the government of Borno State and the parents of the abducted girls to ensure that they receive treatment for the physical and psychological trauma they might have suffered in captivity once they are rescued. The forum, through its chairman, also expressed appreciation to Nigerians and the international community for standing by the schoolgirls, their parents, Chibok community and the people and government of Borno State. He also said the governors have decided to support the victims of Nyanya bomb blast with N100 million.

Negotiate with Boko Haram to free schoolgirls, Fasehun tells FG Wale Elegbede

T A cross-section of Women for Peace and Justice on a peaceful protest for the release of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Catholic bishops oppose swap deal with Boko Haram Uwakwe Abugu Awka

he Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese in Anambra State, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor and his counterpart of the Ahiara Diocese in Imo State, Most Rev. Peter Okpaleke, have opposed any move to accept the recent Boko Haram swap-deal offer for the release of the abducted 200 Chibok schoolgirls by the sect. The clerics warned that such a deal would amount to promoting the reign of criminality, rascally conducts and the breakdown of law and order, which the sect has been working vigorously to establish in the North-

East and beyond. Bishop Okpaleke spoke in Awka, where he has been staying following the crisis in Ahiara Diocese, where there has been opposition to his appointment as the bishop of the diocese because he was not an indigene of the area. The two bishops spoke in separate telephone interviews late on Tuesday, saying that agreeing to what they called Boko Haram’s ungodly desire, would not only spell doom for the country, but that such a deal “would as well engineer other disgruntled and ill-informed groups to lay claim and ask for what is not right before man and God and

then, pave the way for more atrocities of varying degrees.” He said: “It is not proper to start to negotiate with faceless people because we know that they have no right to what they are doing; therefore, there will be no ground for any negotiation whatsoever with them. “They should allow the children to go; because they have no business with them. Our stand is that the Federal Government should ignore them and forge ahead with whatever they are doing to ensure the release of the abducted Chibok girls. “It is not proper for the government to start negotiating with them,

Amosun’s wife to hold prayer session

he wife of the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, yesterday said this year’s Children’s Day on May 27 will be marked by a special prayer session involving children from across the state. The children will pray as a congregation for the speedy release of the

Chibok girls, or a thanksgiving prayer session by the children of the state in celebration of the safe return of the abducted Chibok girls. The prayer session, according to Mrs. Amosun, will hold at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta. The governor’s wife said the abduction of the

girls has become a global issue, requiring all hands to be on deck in the bid to secure their release. Amosun had, on May 5, led a group of eminent women in the state joined by other women to protest and offer prayers in Abeokuta, calling for the immediate release of the abducted schoolgirls.

because that will be enthroning criminality, because eventually, they will come up with other antics of theirs,” he posited. They said they were of the view that as a nation and as a people, nobody should have any reason whatsoever to start to dialogue with criminals of such proportion because their acts are clearly against God and humanity.

he National Chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Dr. Frederick Fasehun, has urged the Federal Government to accept the offer of negotiation from the Boko Haram sect and secure by all means the release of the over 200 schoolgirls abducted by the insurgent group. Addressing a press briefing yesterday in Lagos at the party’s secretariat, Fasehun said the condition given by Boko Haram leader, Shekau, that he would only set the girls free in exchange for his arrested members is a welcome initiative, adding that “at this point in time, government should bend over backwards and do everything needful to secure the release of the girls.” Fasehun said, “In the past, Boko Haram was not

going to negotiate, they just kill people at will. But we don’t know what has become of them to have initiated this peace move. It is a good deal and it should be a welcome initiative. “Give us our children, we will return your soldiers. There is nothing too much that Nigeria can do in exchange for these our girls.” On the offer of assistance by the United States to help rescue the abducted girls, UPN urged the Federal Government to tread cautiously warning that the US has always sought to establish military presence called ‘AFRICOM’ in Africa. “If foreign troops will be engaged against terrorism on Nigerian soil, such engagement must subscribe to the summary 2012-2013 international intervention in Mali against the Tuareg rebels,” Fasehun said.

Foreign assistance must not exceed three months –Aliyu Dan Atori, MINNA

hairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, has suggested that any agreement to be reached with the international community offering assistance to the country in the fight against insurgency should not exceed three months. Aliyu also said that the country should be ‘very careful in the crafting of the wordings of

the agreement and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will be entered into with the international community. Governor Aliyu, who spoke in Minna yesterday after swearing in new commissioners at the Government House said; “Nigerians are already apprehensive of the outcome of the support to be given by these countries, necessitating the call on the Federal Government to be extra careful.” While saying that it is normal for the country to seek assistance in the

fight against insurgency, Governor Aliyu said; “People are apprehensive, we must be careful of the wordings of the agreement and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be signed.” He regretted that a nation that has been seen ‘as a peace keeper’ now needs the assistance of the international community to maintain peace within its territory advising that Nigerians should rally round the Federal Government to ensure that peace returns to the country.

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Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Ekiti 2014

PDP will win convincingly, Fayose replies Tinubu CONFIDENCE It is time to boast as PDP fights to take over government from APC Stories by Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

eoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the June 21 election in Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose, yesterday told former

governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu that he will win convincingly without rigging. He stated this in a reaction to the assertion by the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that the PDP was planning to rig the poll. Fayose, in a press statement signed and made available to the press by his spokesman, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, asserted that the grand plan of the APC was to cause mayhem before and during the election so

as to discredit election results. Fayose also said that the PDP had uncovered plans by Ekiti APC to rig the election. He said: "One of their strategies is collusion with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and buying of voters’ cards from unsuspecting Ekiti people with N2,000 or N5,000. "During my campaign

tour to rural areas in Ekiti, many people told me that some APC chieftains came to purchase their cards on the promise to return them but failed to do so. We have lodged complaints at the appropriate quarters and the PDP is battle ready to prevent rigging of this poll by anybody." Fayose continued: "It is the way of life of the APC and its leaders to accuse

people of what they intend to do. "Tinubu is not in tune with the reality on ground in Ekiti; he is still living in the past and I am advising him to send a fact-finding team he can trust to Ekiti who will advise him better not to expend his resources on a failed project. "Fayemi has destroyed education, put Ekiti in debt,

impoverised Ekiti people through capital flight. Nobody really wants to return APC to power in this state. APC is like leprosy to the people. "If Tinubu has alliance with the INEC, it is better for him to collect the money he has given to the electoral body because it will not work. Ekiti people have rejected Kayode Fayemi and APC," he said.

Bamidele to APC: Nothing to copy from you

overnorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, has said neither him nor his party has anything to copy from Governor Kayode Fayemi and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). Bamidele's media aide, Ahmed Salami, in a statement made available to newsmen, said the governor and his party had nothing worth copying by him. "Our attention has been drawn to a recent media comment made by the Ekiti State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) amounting to an unfounded allegation that my party (Labour Party) and I copied the manifestos of the party

in the course of our campaign rallies. "While we describe such an allegation as laughable, watery and baseless; we equally see it as one of the last efforts of a drowning party (APC) and its government in Ekiti to remain afloat. "It is also another of its several attempts at evading politics of issues and embracing politics of character assassination which APC is known for. "It is also ridiculous for a party that prides itself as "the indomitable" ahead of the June 21 poll to embark on such pettiness and political desperation, while governance under its care currently cries of total neglect in the last three years.

Candidates tango over Ero Dam rehabilitation eoples Democratic Par- now being awarded by Pcandidate ty (PDP) governorship the Fayemi-led governin Ekiti State, ment when election is Mr Ayodele Fayose, has described the newly awarded N1.4 billion Ero Dam contract as a "conduit pipe through which the All Progressives Congress (APC) is funding Governor Kayode Fayemi's re-election bid." Speaking through the Director General of the Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation (AFCO), Chief Dipo Anisulowo, in Ado-Ekiti on yesterday, the PDP candidate said it was curious that contracts worth several billions of naira were

change of name

MODUPEOLA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Fashina Risikat Modupeola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Babatunde Risikat Modupeola. All former documents remain valid. Awar-ul Islam Girls High School, Ojokoro, Lagos State University (LASU) and General public should take note.

less than five weeks. The Ekiti State Government had said last week that it approved a N1.375 billion contract for the Turn-Around Maintenance (TAM) of the Ero Dam, Phase 1. The contract was awarded to Messrs Biwater Nigeria Ltd at the State Executive Council Meeting. While reacting through its spokesperson, Dimeji Daniels, the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation challenged Fayose Campaign Organisation to substantiate the allegation with evidence. He stressed that the Fayemi administration had been impeccable in its execution of projects which was why it was not synonymous with failed projects as witnessed during the Fayose administration.

PDP governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Dr. Ayodele Fayose (middle), at a town hall meeting with retired teachers in the state… recently

7.129m The total population of Lahore, Pakistan in 2010. Source:Blatantworld.com

5303,200

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

12%

The percentage share of South Africa’s arms purchase from Germany between 2005 and 2009. Source: Blatantworld.com

Non-indigenes pledge support for Fayemi on-indigenes resident in NArea Ikole Local Government of Ekiti State have

pledged their support for the candidacy of Governor Kayode Fayemi in the forthcoming governorship election. The ethnic nationalities including the Tivs, Idomas, Igedes and Ebiras who trooped out in their large numbers at the All Progressives Congress (APC) rallies held in Oke-Ako, Irele and Ipao communities yesterday said they have benefited immensely from the Fayemi administration. They said Fayemi's construction of roads in rural communities has contributed immensely to the conveyance of farm produce to the urban areas. The campaign tour took Fayemi to Ayebode, OdoAyedun, Oke-Ayedun, Iyemero, Itapaji and Odo-Oro. A prominent Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Oke Ayedun, Mr. Adebisi Ogunsakin, defected to the APC along with his supporters at the rally held in the town. The governor also received royal blessings from the palaces of the traditional rulers of the communities who appreciated him for spreading dividends of democracy to their people. Fayemi said his administration has not neglected any community, saying the APC government has given all communities what is due to them. These, according to him, include road construction, payment of monthly stipends to the aged, employment of youths, grants to finance projects in rural communities, renovation of schools, payment of special allowances to teachers in rural areas and empowerment of farmers with loans

and equipment. The governor assured that Ikole council area is one of the local governments that will be divided into smaller administrative units when the panel on creation of new councils concludes its assignment. He urged the electorate to come out en masse to vote APC to consolidate on the achievements recorded so far. Fayemi charged them to guard their votes against electoral robbers who, according to him, are desperate to grab power by all means. Meanwhile, the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation has urged all registered voters in Ekiti State who are yet to obtain their permanent voters’ cards to do so as a matter of urgency. May 21 has been designated as the last day for the collection and transfer of

voter's cards in the state. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had expressed worries over the high number of permanent voters' cards yet to be collected. INEC had said that the use of temporary voters' cards would not be allowed in the election. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ekiti State, Alhaji Halilu Pai, announced that only 285,794 out of the 635,315 permanent voters' cards had been collected. In a statement in AdoEkiti yesterday, the spokesperson of the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Mr. Dimeji Daniels, said with the May 21 deadline set by INEC, there are only six days left for those who are yet to collect their cards to do so if they are to vote in the June 21 governorship election.

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Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

MEETING

APC leaders relocate to Imo Governor's lodge, Abuja Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

ollowing the cancellation of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheduled to hold at the party’s national secretariat Tuesday, leaders of the party, however, met at the Imo State Governor’s lodge, Asokoro same night. The meeting, which was well attended by all the governors of the

APC leaders in secret meeting in Abuja party except Governor Babatunde Fashola, who sent his Deputy, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, also had in attendance, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, General Mohammadu Buhari, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and House of Representatives member, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. When the meeting ended around 1.00a.m., none of the governors and other party leaders was willing to speak to journalists on the issues discussed and the outcome of the meeting.

$US262.2bn The nominal GDP of United Arab Emirates (IMF) in 2009. Source:Blatantworld.com

Tinubu told few journalists that had waited at the venue of the meeting that he was coming back but he never did. When Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa was approached for comment, but wary of being misquoted again in the media, he asked Governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamako, to speak, but he also declined. Governors of the party had on Sunday gathered in Kano for a meeting, the outcome of which was expected to be the focal point of the cancelled NEC meeting.

48.5m

The total population of South Korea (representing 0.7% of the world’s population) in 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

It will be recalled that when New Telegraph asked the Interim National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, why the meeting was cancelled, he simply said the party has to look at other priorities. But findings by New Telegraph revealed that the party might have been hit by an internal crisis bothering on zoning of political offices ahead of next year’s elections. The crisis, our correspondent gathered, was responsible for the cancellation of the NEC

156,715

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Benin Republic in 2012. Source: Itu.int

meeting was put off and also why a definite date has not been fixed for the party’s national congress. It was also gathered

that there were some dissenting voices within the leadership of the party on the zoning of some key offices for next year’s elections.

Lawmakers worried over low-grade cement

awmakers conducting a Public Hearing on the composition and pigmentation of cement have expressed their worry over the continuing production of low-grade and substandard cement in the country. The House of Representatives ad hoc committee on the composition and pigmentation of cement in the country led by its chairman, Hon. Yakubu Dogara opened a public hearing yesterday aimed at addressing the phenomenon of collapse building in the country. The committee chairman questioned why Nigeria should continue to produce low-grade 32.5 cement while the rest of the world including India and China are producing 42.5 grade. In his opening remarks, Dogara said: “There is no gainsaying the fact that the serial incidence of building collapse in the country has become a source of anxiety. “Some have blamed substandard material includ-

ing cement, while others have blamed it (collapse building) on lack of regulatory framework.” Contributing, President of the Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigerian, Engr. Joseph Makoju, said the 42.5 grade is superior cement over 32.5 and that Nigeria used to produce and import 42.5 before the coming of 32.5 grade. Contributing, Hon. Ayi Essien, a member of the ad hoc committee said Nigerians are worried about the quality of cement as well as the professional administration of the cement in construction work. It would be recalled that the Dangote Cement Plc had announced that it has upgraded its cement to 42.5R, making it the only cement manufacturer in the country that produces that higher grade in line with the specification and requirement of Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON).

Adamawa residents seek review of curfew Ibrahim Abdul Yola

Aligning with the submissions of Liman, counsel to the 2nd and 3rd accused persons, James Ocholi (SAN) and Abdul Mohammed, unanimously opposed the application. They described it as a ploy by the prosecution to conceal the identities of

their agents with which they intent to secure conviction at all cost against the accused persons. After listening to all counsel, the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole adjourned the case to June 4 for ruling on the application.

esidents of Mubi and Michika in Adamawa State have called for the review of the 7pm to 5am curfew imposeded on the towns by the military two months ago following insurgent attacks in northern part of the state. Some of the residents who spoke said the area had been peaceful since the attack hence the need to review the curfew. " Mubi has been peaceful for months. The attack in Michika two months ago has nothing to do with Mubi, yet the curfew was extended to Mubi. " What we want now is that since the Army took that action to protect Michika and Mubi which is not too far

Musa Pam

lometre road cutting across 13 villages in Foron district of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state. The road, which was in deplorable condition, had been a death trap for the villagers before the minister’s intervention.

She said a situation where pregnant women had no access to clinics for delivery and sick people lost their lives before getting to hospitals for medical treatment, was a thing of concern. Ochekpe, who spoke with New Telegraph in

Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu (right), congratulating the new Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Danladi Ndayebo, shortly after he was sworn-in at the Government House in Minna…yesterday

Tunde Oyesina Abuja

he Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday reserved ruling in an application filed by the Federal Government seeking a modification of the earlier partial secret trial the court granted the prosecution of a lecturer at the Kogi State University, Dr. Mohammed Yunus and two others standing trial over alleged involvement in Boko Haram activities. New Telegraph recalled that the court had on April 3 ordered for the partial protection of witnesses that are to be presented by the prosecution counsel. However, at the resumed hearing yesterday, the prosecutor, A. Ogunsina sought a change of the earlier order of the court for a partial protection of the witnesses to

Boko Haram: Court reserves ruling in suit against lecturer a complete protection of the identities of the witnesses. While arguing on the application, counsel to the 1st accused person, Hassan Liman (SAN), objected the application. Liman contended that the court has no power under the under Section 6 (6) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended to set aside its earlier decision after final arguments in the matter had been taken. He further submitted that the court would operate serious injustice to the accused persons if the application for a total protection of the witnesses by the prosecution is granted.

from Michika, there is need to review the curfew as things have since normalised," said Idris Buba , a student in Mubi. Aisha Ahijo, a food vendor and Shuaibu Danjuma, a tea shop owner pleaded for review of the curfew claiming it was affecting businesses. "I make brisk business in the mornings and evenings, but because of this 7 pm curfew me and most of my colleagues are losing the evening market," she said. " Let them adjust the time to 10pm or 11 pm as was the case in Yola," Danjuma said. Ardo Ibrahim, a businessman pointed out that being a commercial town with an international cattle market, there was need to review the curfew for business to fully resume.

Jos after inspecting the road project, said her effort was to complement what the state government was doing in tackling the security challenges facing the state and also to make life more meaningful to the people in the various communities.

Minister constructs 45km road as service to humanity Jos

etermined to address the security challenges facing Plateau State, Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe, has embarked on the construction of a 45-ki-

NEWS

ARREARS Hunger and fear drive retirees to the streets Babatope Okeowo and Umar Danladi Ado Akure

lectricity pensioners in their thousands took to the streets in Ondo, Oyo and Sokoto yesterday to protest the non-payment of their meagre pensions and others entitlements. With many of the senior citizens looking gaunt, they bemoaned their plight, pointing accusing fingers at some younger citizens in positions of power as the authors of their woes. In Ondo, pensioners of

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

PHCN pensioners protest again

...Ondo, Sokoto, others affected the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) paralysed activities at the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Ondo in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State over alleged non-payment of their three months pension arrears. The pensioners under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) stormed the Ondo Business District of the BEDC and disrupted activities in the office. When reporters visited the OBD office, the gate was

2,273m The number of individuals using the internet worldwide in 2011. Source:Itu.int

shut by the protesting retirees who gathered in their hundreds singing various solidarity songs. The protesters, many of whom were within the age range of 80 and 90 years, also carried placards with inscriptions like, "FG please honour the agreement reached with our union, while privatizing PHCN", “FG transfer our pension from capital expenditure to facilitate monthly release of money for our pension", "Pay our March, April and May salaries", "Save our soul from untimely death",

6.5%

The percentage of internally displaced persons in Zimbabwe in 2009. Source: Blatantworld.com

"please pay our pension as at when due", “We are dying of hunger." Speaking with reporters, the chairman of electricity pensioners in the area, Mr. Joseph Afolabi, said they embarked on the protest to demand the payment of their three months salary. The senior citizens vowed not to open the gate of the company until something concrete was done to address their plight. Emegor Solomon, who claimed to be the secretary of the pensioners, said the Minister of Labour and

N11.6bn

The internally generated revenue of Kaduna State in 2010. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

Productivity had disclosed that about N16 billion had been approved by the ministry for the payment of the outstanding benefit, but lamented that they were yet to be paid. He appealed to the Federal Government; to pay their outstanding salary and retirement benefits and the 120% salary arrears among others. Also yesterday, the Sokoto State Chapter of NUP, Electricity sector, staged a peaceful demonstration over the non-payment of some outstanding pensions, gratuity and harmonization allowances. No fewer than 56 members of the union converged for the demonstration at the Marina business unit of the PHCN, Sokoto. The pensioners carried several placards one of which read," After work, rest is sure, now after work, life is total hunger.” The state secretary of the union, Mr Peter Ekpa, told newsmen after the demonstration that, out of the 56 members, only two were paid their harmonisation arrears. Ekpa further alleged that most of the members of the union in the state

were not paid their gratuity after retiring seven to eight years ago. According to him the pensions of the members in the state were not paid since March 2014. His words:" So, we are appealing to the federal government to come to our aid by ensuring that all those responsible for settling us do so urgently," he stated. And in Ibadan, staff of the defunct PHCN protested the non-payment of their gratuities since 2009. Numbering over 500, the pensioners stormed the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IEDC), Dugbe business district at 9:30 am with placards of various inscriptions depicting their grievances, while calling on the Federal Government their gratuities. Some of the placards carried inscriptions like "Pay our deceased next of kin their benefits", "FG pay our gratuity, we are dying", "Federal Accountant General, Pay us our gratuity now", "No money to pay for our hospital bill/ drugs", and "SOS GEJ, Pay our gratuity since 2009", among others.

Drama as EFCC witness recants statement in Fani-Kayode’s trial Joseph Onyekwere he money laundering trial of the former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, yesterday turned theatrical at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos as a prosecution witness alleged that he was forced to testify against the accused. The witness, Ojo Agbor, said the statement he made to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was not voluntary. According to him, the commission’s officials asked him to lie, otherwise he would be charged along with Fani-Kayode. Agbor began his testimony by saying someone else, a property manager, gave him various amounts to pay into Fani-Kayode’s account. The money, he said, was the proceeds of a property sold earlier. He said he was given N3 million and other amounts by a man he called Kola. But in his statement to the EFCC, which he read out in court on Festus Keyamo’s prompting, he said Fani-Kayode gave him all the money directly. Keyamo is the prosecution counsel for the EFCC. During cross-examination by defence counsel, Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), Agbor said he was ‘slapped’ by an EFCC official and threat-

L-R: Chairman, Ex-Okada Riders' Association, Mr Peter Adoror; Commissioner for Transport, Mr Orobosa Omo-Ojo; Beneficiary, Nosa Eguaye; Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole and Group Managing Director, C&I Leasing, Mr. Emeka Ndu, during the commissioning of 300 Comrade Cabs distributed to ex-Okada riders in Benin City…yesterday

Police in Abia list achievements, issue hot lines

Bi-Courtney to spend N.1bn on airport terminal upgrade

Ikechukwu Ucheoma

Wole Shadare perators of the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), yesterday said it was investing over N500 million in the upgrade of its facilities to serve travellers better. The upgrade would see to the total overhaul and replacement of elevators, escalators, expansion of check-in counters, conveyor belts, among others. Briefing reporters yesterday in Lagos, BASL Chief Executive Officer, Christophe Pennick, said out of the amount, N100 million would be expended on escalator and elevator facilities’ upgrade alone, adding that the equipment were imported from Japan.

Umuahia

Abia State Command Thasheof listed the Nigerian Police the command’s

achievement in the last one month to include the arrest of over 35 suspects in various offences like armed robbery, kidnapping, child-trafficking, rape, car snatching, house breaking and the recent killing of two kidnappers in a gun duel in Aba. In a statement signed by the commands Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Geoffrey Ogbonna, an Assistant Superintendent of Police(ASP) and made available to newsmen in Umuahia, the command stated that within the month under review, it recovered eight

vehicles, three rifles including an AK47 with 97 rounds of live ammunition in three magazines, five laptops and two generating sets. The statement noted that some of the suspects were awaiting trial in the command while others had been handed over to the commands where their offences were committed. It assured all Abia citizens and visitors to the state, including investors of adequate security of lives and property. The statement also enjoined the public to always make use of the following distress call numbers08035415405, 08079210003, 08079210004, 08079210005 and collaborate with security agents on public safety.

Accordingtohim,withthe upgrade of the facilities, all operations would make the terminal to be International Air Transport Association (IATA) complaint, adding that this would make it the first terminal in sub-Sahara Africa to be so compliant. Pennick said the facilities wouldbeopenedtopublicuse by the middle of June, stressing that its intention was to make the terminal more comfortable and convenient for users. He emphasised that the management took the maintenance and upgrade of its facilities in high esteem, stressing that it would go to any length to ensure all its facilities are in tandem with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.

ened to ‘cooperate.’ “On November 26, 2006, some riot police officers arrested me and took my car key. I was asking them; ‘Where are you taking me to’? “One of them slapped me and said I was a thief. They took me to EFCC’s office, locked me in a room and asked me to tell them what I know about FaniKayode. “I told them it was one Mr. Kola that gave me the money I deposited into my boss’ account. “They then told me that I should write that it was Fani-Kayode who gave me the money to deposit. They threatened to make me an accomplice if I don’t write that Fani-Kayode gave me the money. My Lord, I had no option than to write,” Agbor said. The witness said EFCC sent him a letter on April 24, asking him to testify. “Keyamo told me that I should not change what I said in my statement. I said I was not going to lie,” he said. During re-examination, Agbor said the officers who arrested him were different from those who took his statement and that he could not remember their names. Keyamo said Agbor’s testimony was totally different from what was in his statement to the EFCC.

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Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Senate moves to reform criminal justice, passes bill

Chukwu David Abuja

he Senate yesterday passed for second reading, a bill seeking to revolutionise the criminal justice system in order to facilitate speedy and efficient delivery of criminal justice. This is to drastically reduce the delay in the dispensation of criminal cases across the various courts in the country. The bill, sponsored by the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, aims at repealing the Criminal Procedure Act Cap C41 of 2004; the Criminal Procedure Act (Northern States) Cap C42, and the administration of Justice Act Cap 43 Laws of the Federation 2004. In his lead debate, Ndoma-Egba noted that Nigerians had lived for decades with a criminal justice system "that is

grindingly slow and open to abuses and rendering it most ineffective.” He said: "From the police stations to the courts and the prisons, the system has delivered everything but justice and the society had been worse for it." Ndoma-Egba noted that though plea bargain was being employed in courts at the moment to resolve high profile cases, it was being applied haphazardly due to the absence of an enabling legislation in the country. He said: "The bill, therefore, establishes clear guidelines for the implementation of plea bargain and measures to avoid abuse of the process. "The benefits of plea bargain cannot be overemphasised. In the United States alone, about 80 per cent of criminal cases in federal courts are decided on plea bargain."

82% The percentage of individuals using the internet in Belgium in 2012. Source:Itu.int

He, however, said that the bill proposed sentencing guidelines to avoid abuse of judge's discretion and corruption. The lawmaker lamented that court cases dragged on to the point that conviction became unlikely, as witnesses might no longer be readily available, and where they were available, some facts relating to the case would have been distorted so much that the essence of seeking justice by litigants was lost. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) stated many aggrieved citizens had shunned the courts because they did not believe that their cases could be disposed of in their life time, let alone obtaining justice. He observed that part of the problem with the nation's justice system was its inability to apply commensurate punish-

40.18

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Austria in 2011. Source: Itu.int

ment to infractions. "It is common to see a court give maximum sentence to a petty thief while those who stole billions of naira from the public coffers get far lesser sanctions for their crimes when convicted by the court," he added. Ndoma-Egba noted that the proposed bill made provision for daily trial from the day of arraignment, restriction on number and interval of adjournments, electronic recording of trials, limit adjournment of cases to five times, and not more than 14 days intervals between adjournments. He said it also prohibits arrest of family members or associates in place of the person suspected to have committed a crime, and the torture and all inhuman treatments of arrested persons. A key element of the bill, according to Ndoma-

520,000

The number of internet users in T anzania in 2008. Source: Blatantworld.com

Egba, was the inclusion of measures for checking prison congestion including monthly visits to police stations and other de-

tention facilities by Chief Magistrates to ensure that suspects were not detained for periods longer than necessary.

Aliyu sacks five commissioners, swears in new aides RESHUFFLE

New commissioners and aides join the Babangida Aliyu government in Niger Dan Atori MINNA

iger State Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, yesterday swore-in five new members of the state executive council while also dropping five others from the cabinet. Those sworn in are Alhaji Danladi Ndayebo, former Director General, Media and Publicity, who has now been posted to the Ministry of Information and Strategy as commissioner; Alhaji Abubakar Tukur, former Accountant-General of the state, who becomes the Commissioner for Finance and Alhaji Abbas Munya, a former Special Adviser to the Governor, who was made the Commissioner

for Mining and Solid Minerals Resources. Others are Alhaji Isa Kantigi, former Chairman of Edati Local Government and Chairman, Forum of Local Government Chairmen in the state, who was made the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs as well as Alhaji Abdullahi Maza Kuka, who becomes the Commissioner for Water Resources. Those dropped from the executive council of the state are; Mr. Daniel Clifford Shashere, former Commissioner for Sports; Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Matane, former Commissioner for Agriculture and the former Commissioner for Mining and Solid Minerals, Alhaji Abubakar Baba Jibrin, Dr. Ibrahim Sule, former Commissioner for Health and Hospital Services and Dr. Mustapha Lemu, former Commissioner for Science and Technology.

Wamakko can’t intimidate me, says Maccido Umar Danladi Ado Sokoto

L-R: Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Foluso Philips; Company Secretary, MTN Nigeria, Uto Ukpanah and Team Leader, DFID, Christopher Shyers, at a workshop on Supply Chain Transparency organized by NESG and sponsored by MTN Nigeria in Lagos

hairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Ahmad Muhammad Maccido, has declared that he would not be intimidated by Governor Aliyu Wamakko's aspirations to contest the same seat with him come 2015. The Senator representing Sokoto Central Zone spoke immediately after he acquired a new PDP registration card at the Sarkin Musulmi Ward 'A' Sokoto yesterday. He said, "I belief the on-

going registration at this point is the beginning of new things in Sokoto State; it means the party is ready to strategize for 2015." He added, "We are going to be on collision course because we are not contesting on the same party. I am to contest on the platform of PDP(Peoples Democratic Party) while the governor is in APC (All Progressives Congress)",he maintained. He appealed to his supporters to strategise to win elections come 2015 and to be calm and law-abiding.

FG seals NNPC filling station, four others in Ogun Christians opt out of mass

Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

he Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment yesterday sealed off five filling stations in Ogun State, including a mega station belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), over alleged sharp practices. Apart from the NNPC mega station located in Ifo Local Government Area of the state, other filling stations shut down at the Sango area are EMIMP petroleum, Vitality Oil and Gas, NIPCO and Conoil.

The petrol stations were shut during a monitoring exercise conducted by officials of the Department of Weights and Measures of the ministry. The Head of the ministry's monitoring team, Mohammed Sadasidi, told reporters after the exercise that the filling stations were discovered to be under-dispensing petroleum products to customers. According to him, the dispensing pumps of the filling stations had been reduced by between 2.75 litres and 2.95 litres from every 20 litres of petrol sold to customers.

Sadasidi explained that the inspection was meant to ensure that marketers exhibited integrity, fairness and accuracy while dispensing fuel to customers. "Some of the filling stations we sealed, after checking the meter with our own Seraphin Test Measure, we found out that in every 20 litres they sold, they only dispensed between 17 litres and 18 litres," he said. Sadasidi declared that the defaulters had been invited to Abuja for explanation. He said they would be prosecuted if their expla-

nations proved unacceptable. He said further, "We also want to protect consumers by ensuring that they always get the right measure or quantity for their money. It is extremely disappointing that motorist are being short-changed. "We will not however relent in our official duty to ensure that proper things are done. We have won one of such cases last week as announced by the Federal High Court in Lokoja. Others are in progress and we are definitely going to prosecute more defaulters ..."

wedding in Kaduna Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

Kaduna State chapter Ttionheof the Christian Associaof Nigeria (CAN) has

warned Christians against taking part in any planned mass wedding in the state. CAN, which said mass wedding is against Christianity, was reacting to reports that the Kaduna State government is planning to conduct mass wedding for both Christians and Muslims. Speaking to journalists yesterday, the state Secretary of CAN, Rev. Sun-

day Ibrahim said; “That Christians do not believe that a divorcee should be married in the church. We also believe in onehusband, one-wife. That is the standard of the Bible and we have to keep to it.” He, however, advised the state government to identify and provide funds to eligible bachelors of the Christian faith, who are in need of funds for marriage. It will be recalled that a mass wedding for 100 couples, including widows was conducted in the state last month.

10 News

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Confab committee unbundles INEC RECOMMENDATION Committee seeks to limit INEC to party registration only, proposes disqualification for electoral offenders Louis Achi

Abuja

n a significant final resolution, the Political Parties and Electoral Matters Committee of the ongoing National Conferences moved for the unbundling of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). If this position is ap-

proved by the plenary session of the conference, a new entity will be saddled with the responsibility of handling political parties’ administration, monitoring, auditing and electoral offences. Against this backdrop, INEC is expected to limit itself to registration of political parties, conduct of election and delimitation of constituencies. The committee also approved a proposal that all electoral offenders must be disqualified from contesting or holding any public office for a minimum of ten years. The powers of the President to appoint the INEC chairman also scaled through as the delegates were of the view that the

idea of setting up a team to appoint chairman for the electoral body will make no difference since the selection committee will be appointed by the President. While the status quo remains, the committee recommended that there must be two weeks period for the public to raise objection whenever a new INEC chairman is nominated by the President.

On independent candidates, the committee gave very stringent condition that anyone that wants to contest election as independent candidate must be nominated by not less than five people from every electoral ward within the constituency. Also approved by the committee is the removal of the residency clause in the Electoral Act to allow voting by Nigerians in the

Diaspora. But the committee was not specific if INEC will go outside the country to register voters and conduct election or if those living abroad should come home to register, return to their base and come back again to cast their vote during elections. However, some of the proposals of INEC were rejected by the committee. They include proposal for constitutional review

to allow INEC to fix dates for election outside the constitutional provision and the right to disqualify candidates submitted by political parties. After a robust debate, the proposal to deregister political parties by INEC was rejected by the committee on the ground that the bigger political parties might exploit that provision to shut other parties out of the political space.

Imo Assembly laments state of Nekede zoo Steve Uzoechi

OWERRI

embers of the Imo State M House of Assembly, has urged the state govern-

ment to declare a state of emergency at the Zoological Garden, Nekede. The call was sequel to the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Public Petitions, Ethics and Privileges, on the condition of the zoo. Members, however, were unanimous in condemning the deplorable condition of the zoo, pointing out that as one of the only surviving zoological gardens in the South-East, special attention should be given to the proper management of the garden. They also said if prop-

erly harnessed, the garden could effectively boost tourism and the internally generated revenue of the state and further ‘create employment opportunities for our teeming youths.’ The state House of Assembly further called on the government to urgently save residents of the area from imminent danger by repairing all existing habitats and holding pens of the wild animals in the zoo to forestall any eventuality. It also called for the upward review of the monthly subventions given to the zoological garden, saying that the move would enable the management take proper care of the wildlife effectively for optimum result.

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano (left), being received by the school children on arrival during an inspection tour of a road construction project in Nando, Anambra East Local Government Area...yesterday

72.4% The percentage of female internet users in Czech Republic in 2012. Source:Itu.int

59.1

The number of newspaper journalists per 1m inhabitants of Morocco in 2004. Source: Blatantworld.com

504,782

The total area (in sq. km) of Spain. Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

Fashola sacks contractor Corps members' allowances ‘Military introduced corruption into civil service’ over slow pace of work gulp N60bn annually Louis Achi Abuja he Director General TService of the National Youth Corp Scheme,

Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumihas yesterday revealed that the Federal Government commits a yearly sum of N60 billion as payment of the allowances of members of Youth Service scheme in the country. He stated this at a presentation he made to the committee of Civil Society, Labour, Youth and Sports. The Director General noted that the corps members were receiving the sum of N19, 500 which does not include stipends paid by some establishments and some states to the corps member. He specifically com-

mended the Enugu State Government as one of the states which put the corps members on a monthly allowance of N10, 000. The Director General who called for the establishment of the Youth Empowerment Fund to enable corps members who have acquired one skill or the other in the camp or during the service year to access interest free loans to establish small scale and entrepreneurship businesses. He added that the corps members would not be asked to pay collateral as their discharge certificates would He stated that the insecurity problem in the country has made the agency to stop sending corps members to Yobe, Adamawa and Borno states since two years ago.

Louis Achi Abuja he onset of military inTpolitics terregnum in Nigerian orchestrated the

beginning of corruption and era of lack of integrity in the civil service. This allegation was made by Nigerian Civil Service Commission yesterday during a presentation at the National Conference Committee on Public Service in Abuja. According to the chairman of the commission, Deaconess Joan Ayo, corruption was first introduced in the civil service due to the unwarranted purge of the civil servants especially at the top echelon by the military junta led by Murtala Mohammed and Olusegun Obasanjo in 1975. Ayo stated that it was

the purge of the service by the military that dealt the final blow to the civil service, as public servants saw the service as lacking in job security and had to deep their hands into the public till to guarantee their future. The chairman said that the core values of fundamental human rights, transparency, honesty, humanness, hard work were swept away as a result the military interference in the operation of the civil service. To this end the chairman called appealed to the Committee on Public Service to ensure that there is body that would oversee and control standards and maintain the core values within the public service to restore sanity in civil and public service.

Muritala Ayinla agos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, has sacked the contractor handling the installation of the railings on the pedestrian bridge on the Outer Marina, over the delay in the completion of the project. Special Adviser to the Governor on the Central Business District, Mrs. Derin Disu, made the disclosure yesterday while briefing journalists on the activities of her agency in the last one year. She also said no fewer than 672 vehicles were either towed or impounded by the agency for contravening the Lagos Traffic Law in the last one year. On the sacked contractor, Electro-Technics Company, Disu said out of the four vital projects em-

barked upon by the agency on Lagos Island, only the installation of the rails project along the Outer Marina was terminated due to the delay in the execution of the project. She said: “If the contractor is not moving along and if he has been paid a sizeable amount to mobilise people and equipment to site and is still lagging behind, then we have to act. “The policy of the state government is that contractors must move along with the intense and purpose of the state government and this is to provide service and upgrade infrastructure,” the Special Adviser added. She said the contract was terminated by the state government for nonperformance and it was never done haphazardly.

News

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Abia 2015: Group favours Ogah as Orji’s successor Leo Sobechi non-profit organisation, the Centre for Education Reform Information (CREI) yesterday said it was supporting the candidature of Dr. Uche Ogah, as the race to the Abia State Government House in 2015 hots up. In a statement signed by CREI’s Executive Director, Hon. Chinwe Ugwu; the group said since the state could be said to have attained unprecedented development under the administration of Governor Theodore Orji, there was the need to look for somebody with the capacity to sustain the tempo of development to succeed him. CREI said it was a good thing that the President of Masters Energy Group, Dr. Uche Ogah is favourably disposed to the calls by well-meaning citizens of Abia to join

the gubernatorial contest, stressing that it would be a fitting honour for the state to enjoy the shrewd managerial capability of Dr. Ogah. Part of the statement made available to New Telegraph reads: “Dr. Ogah has over the years proved that he is a very good manager of men and resources given the phenomenal growth of his business empire. Abia State would therefore benefit immensely from the wealth of his corporate experience and burning desire to make the society better. “It will be a disservice to the people of Abia State if the legacy of Governor Orji was not sustained after he has left office. To avoid such a mistake, now is the time to start beaming the searchlight in the direction of Dr. Ogah to discover the man that Abia needs to keep soaring high.”

Azman Airlines begins flights today Wole Shadare zman Airlines, a new entrant to the domestic airline business, will today commence flight operations. According to a statement by the carrier, the airline is starting the flight services with two Boeing 737 planes while two additional Boeing planes will join the fleet in a couple of weeks. The airline said it was commencing operations after rigorous safety procedure that led to the issuance of Air Operators Certificate by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. The statement quoted the Managing Director, Azman, Dr. Faisal Abdulmunaf, as saying that the airline would be commencing flights on the Lagos-Abuja, Lagos-Kano, Abuja-Kano, KadunaLagos, Lagos-Maiduguri and Lagos-Port Harcourt routes. He said the management of the carrier was

investing huge amounts of money in the region to expand its operations by developing new routes and services in favour of the average passenger. Abdulmunaf said many Nigerians wanted to travel by air but could not do so due to the relatively high cost of air travel, promising that its fares would be competitive to match the type of service its going to provide. He reiterated that the carrier went through stringent demonstration flight before it was issued with a licence, adding that the airline would ensure that it serves passengers efficiently. The statement also quoted the Chairman, Azman Airlines, Dr. Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, as saying that the vision for establishing the business was to establish a highly diversified business conglomerate that provide goods and services that would enhance the development of the economy.

Ebonyi Assembly clears two commissioners Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

bonyi State House of Ecleared Assembly yesterday two commission-

er-nominees sent to it by Governor Martin Elechi. The two nominees are Mr. David Egbu and Mrs. Mary Joy Umoke. When the two nominees appeared before the lawmakers for screening, they were asked to take a

bow and go. This was sequel to the report by the House Committee on Judiciary, presented by a member of the committee, Mr. Gerry Obasi, representing Ohaozara west constituency. Seventeen out of the 24 members of the House were at the sitting, presided over by the speaker, Mr. Chukwuma Nwazunku.

Officiating clerics during the christening of Benjamin Ayomikolopin Eritomiwa Rotimi Williams Akinadewo, at Restoration Parish, Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide, Akute, Ogun State... on Tuesday

Ogun demolishes 1,420 illegal structures ENVIRONMENT

The Ibikunle Amosun govt brings down shanties ready to build more houses Kunle Olayeni

Abeokuta

he Ogun State g ove r n m e n t yesterday said a total of 1,420 illegal structures have been demolished across the state in the last one year. State Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning, Gbenga Otenuga, who disclosed this during the ongoing 2014 ministerial press briefing in Abeokuta, said the affected structures were part of the 8,000 illegal structures and shanties served with enforcement notices. Also, the state Commissioner for Housing,

lTo construct new Govt House, legislative quarters Daniel Adejobi, disclosed the government's plan to construct new Government City Centre which will consist of Government House, Deputy Governor's Lodge, Commissioner's Quarters, Speaker and Legislative Quarters. According to Otenuga, about 1,420 illegal structures and shanties were sanctioned by the ministry of urban and physical planning via total demolition, token demolition and sealing. He stated that the Ibikunle Amosun-led administration created a central monitoring unit to enhance effective control, monitoring and sanction of illegal structures. The commissioner revealed that his ministry had registered 25,737 buildings, out of which

10,970 were approved during the period under review. "The state government intensified efforts at removing shanties and illegal development generally along LagosIbadan expressway in particular," he said, adding that his ministry generated the sum of N2,846,762,109.87 from 2011 to date. On homeowners' charter programme of the state government, Otenuga said the initiative was on course, adding that 135,721 applications have been submitted across the state. He said the scheme would provide enumeration data for the medium term planning for some basic socio-economic infrastructure like roads, schools, hospitals, markets, waste disposal de-

pots and other essential services. Briefing reporters on the activities of the housing ministry, Adejobi restated the plan of the state government to deliver 200 housing units for all low-income earners and families. The commissioner also revealed that the Housing Corporation was in the process of securing N2billion loan from the Federal Mortgage Bank for the construction of affordable housing units in Idi-Aba, Abeokuta. "The state government is also in collaboration with the ROTH Incorporation for the provision of industrial estate at Agbara; 650 hectares of land had been allocated for this purpose and the preliminary work has commenced," he added.

Imo vendors may strike over relocation Steve Uzoechi

OWERRI

ewspaper vendors and NState distributors in Imo have threatened to

embark on an indefinite strike if the state government insists on relocating them to the Owerri Relief Market, where it promised to provide them free shops. In a statement made available to the New Telegraph, the Chairman of the state Newspapers Distributors’ Union, Mr. Kingsley Obinna, said the proposed relocation

was untenable and uncalled for. He argued that newspapers and magazines are not distributed in confinement, but circulated from strategic locations in the city. "Newspaper distribution is not a static enterprise, but a roving trade, as vendors are not meant to stay in a particular environment, let alone in a food market like the Relief Market,” Obinna said. While condemning the recent harassment and intimidation of some newspapers’ vendors

by agents of the state government bearing the acronym “ISITA” for failing to pay a purported levy given to them, the union chairman also contended that newspapers’ vendors do not constitute any form of environmental nuisance and should not be exploited inordinately. Obinna dismissed claims by the state government that the measure was meant to decongest the Owerri municipality of illegal display of goods in front of shops and in between buildings,

saying gover nment should rather provide the vendors with legal display platforms in strategic locations in the city and not confine them to a food stuff market. “We are appealing to the Imo State government led by Governor Rochas Okorocha to rescind its decision of relocating newspaper vendors to the relief market and also to stop the “ISITA” group from harassing and intimidating law-abiding newspaper vendors from doing their legitimate businesses,” he pleaded.

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NEW TELEGRAPH

Thursday, May 15, 2014

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THURSday, may 15, 2014

0802 393 8212

60 prospective tenants duped N6m for eight flats

DUBIOUS DEVELOPER A fraudulent developer dupes about 60 unsuspecting potential tenants Elijah Samuel

bout 60 people have fallen prey to the antics of dubious developer in Lagos. Each of the unwary prospective tenants paid money ranging from N200,000 to N270,000 totalling about N6 million for eight apartments of various types. The house, located at No 1, Omitogun Street, Oke-Ira, Ogba, was a bungalow until January when the landlord, Alhaji

Ibrahim Omitogun, decided to give it to Mr Lateef Balogun for development. Consequently, prospective tenants started paying for different apartments, which the developer promised would be ready by the end of the first quarter of the year. But as they were running out of patience, at the expiration of deadline given for the completion of the house development, they decided to move into their apartments. However, they were shocked to discover that an apartment actually has more than one tenant. One of the victims of the rent fraud, who gave her name as Mrs Charles, said she was disgusted at the way everything turned out. She said: “I’m here to see for myself

Two men arraigned for N9.3m fraud Juliana Francis

wo men, Nnanna Kalu (26) and Ukaegbu Arisa Oti (27), have been arraigned before Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court, Umuahia, Abia State on a 28-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and forgery. They are alleged to be part of a fiveman syndicate which defrauded one Michael J. Firm (a South African) of $60,000 (under the pretence of registering his company with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to enable it to supply the Federal Ministry of Defence with pre-cooked meals in sachets. One of the charge reads: “That you Nnanna Kalu, Ukaegbu Arisa, James David Njoku (at large), Lekwauwa David Emeragh (at large) and Anyaso Okoro (at large) on about 3rd June 2013 in Aba, Abia State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with the intent to defraud obtained the sum of $37,827,00 from Michael J. Firm (a South African citizen) through United Bank of Africa (UBA) account number 3001510615 of Adimigiri Nigeria Limited under the false pretence that the money is meant to register his company with NAFDAC for the purpose of supplying Federal Ministry of Defence with pre-cooked meals in sachet, from South Africa, which pretence you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section (3) of the same Act.” The accused, the Head, Media and Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them. Thereafter, the prosecuting coun-

what has happened, when I heard from a friend who stays in the neighbourhood that people were gathered in the place where I had paid to secure a mini-flat. “I discovered that there were about 15 people who had also paid for the same apartment which I paid for. Then, I realised that the developer, Mr Lateef Balogun, who collected money from most of the people, is a fraud. “I paid N170,000 with the arrangement that I will pay the balance of N60,000 for the agreement and commission fees. Now, all I want is peace and the refund of my money; I don’t need the house anymore.” Another victim, Olaniyi Adepoju, just got married and had high hope to quickly settle down in a new apartment to enjoy

his marriage. He said: “I came to this place in Feb ruary when I had knowledge about the house being redeveloped. When I came I met the developer and he told me that the total money that I would pay for the mini-flat which I was interested in was N265,000 for a year. I paid on February 18 and he promised that the house would be ready at the end of March. The developer told me that I should be coming around to check. “But later as I kept coming around, I realised that the developer was not serious as the pace of work was slow, then I started getting pessimistic. However, as I was still

Structures to go as Lagos plans Agege, Ifako-Ijaiye redevelopment

Kalu

Adaranijo (left), Ayinde and Director of Finance and Administration, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development Segun Adeniji, at the meeting.

Muritala Ayinla

Arisa

sel, Mainforce Adaka Ekwu, asked the court to fix a date for trial and to remand the accused in prison custody. Counsel to the accused person, Saint Moses Ogbonna, asked the court for a short date to enable him to file an application for bail. Olubanjo adjourned the case till May 15 for the hearing of bail application and June 19 for trial. The judge also ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody.

n line with its determination to ensure a better, safe and economically viable human settlement the Lagos State Government yesterday presented the final draft of the AgegeIfako Ijaiye Model City Plan to the public. With the new city plan, structures located on the drainage channels, gorges and those encroaching on the right of ways would be demolished. The plan, according to the government, will also facilitate

improved housing, transportation, employment and recreation in the area in addition to the infrastructure upgrade. Other old structures and abandoned buildings would also be phased the out. Presenting the draft of the model city plan to the community leaders and the residents at a stakeholders’ meeting, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Toyin Ayinde, said the need for environmental redevelopment was essential in order to ensure that influx

of people into the area d overstretch facilities and about lawlessness in the According to him, houses are located on drainage channels while are built without consider for the right of way. The commissioner a that with the new pla buildings would be locate der the high-tension cable on the petroleum pipelin He said: “Sustainabl velopment cannot be ach without operatives dev ment plans to guide the

Conducting 2015 elections in one day, best for Nigeria –Elayo / PAGE 17 | ‘Enugu deserves another Chime in 2015’ / PAGE 18

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THURSday, MAY 15, 2014

Governor Seriake Dickson has been piloting the affairs of Bayelsa State in the past two years. The task, according to him, has been tedious, but yielding desired results. In this interview, the former member of the House of Representatives speaks on his developmental strides, stoppage of dependency syndrome, and the N25 billion scandal uncovered by the House of Assembly, among other issues. CHRIS EJIM brings the excerpts: You have been in the saddle for two years now. What would you say have been your achievements so far? I’m working with my team made up of very competent and dedicated individuals, who have been able to change the trajectory of our history as a state. When I was campaigning for the office, I knew the agenda I wanted to pursue, if elected. And, if you read my inaugural speech, it captures the depth of the revolution I wanted to pursue. Two years and three months down the line, nobody, who comes to Bayelsa will be in any doubt about all the areas I said I was going to make a difference. Whether it is in the area of reform of the governance process, transparency and accountability or openness that now drives our government, or is it in the area of the promises I made about turning Yenagoa into a massive construction site, or is it in the promises I made in the declaration of emergency in the education sector or in the promotion and defence of the Ijaw fundamental interest, promotion of our language and culture, including the most important foundation for human development, which is security. When I said there was going to be zero tolerance to criminality, violence and lawlessness, in all these things, in all modesty, looking back, I feel a sense of modest achievements that has been made. Are we where we should be? No.This is just two years and three months but we have laid a foundation and the evidence of our seriousness is there, the evidence of our focus is there, the evidence of our determination is there and when I said that with me as governor, this state and the Ijaw nation would never be the same again. I meant it. Everybody is coming to Bayelsa, even observers, to see what is going on – within and even outside this country, people are left with no doubt that we are doing exactly what we said we were going to do. Having said that, I think that my team deserves a lot of credit with the dedication and selflessness that have now become part of the governance culture that goes with sacrifices even

Bayelsa’ll never remain the same –Dickson

Dickson

at a personal level. We believe that God himself is in the driver’s seat. That is why even at a time when revenues of states went down so much to the extent that some states of the federation in the last two, three, four months have not been able to pay salaries; when development projects in most states were stalled, but because of the prudence and discipline we have brought into the system, things are moving in Bayelsa. But as I said earlier, are we exactly where we think we should be? No. Can we do better? Clearly yes. But are we making an effort? Have we laid a

foundation for the development and greatness of our state? The answer is obvious to everybody and that is yes. What importance does your administration attach to the development of workforce vis-a-vis training and retraining of public servants in different areas of human endeavour? Talking about human capacity building, we are going to look at it from two perspectives: first, the area of building capacity of our young people and building capacity of the workforce. There is no capacity building programme that the public service has

CROSSFIRE The Boko Haram members have shown how much they are in control of the situation and they have made an offer to exchange those girls for their own comrades.... I think this is an offer we should take very serious -Shehu Sani

It is very disturbing that Boko Haram sect are demanding that these girls be exchanged for prisoners....our girls are not prisoners of war, they were illegally abducted, so, there is no basis for the demand –Femi Falana

approached me to support that I have not supported. There is no programme that the Head of Service or leaders of organised labour want to organise or even attend that I have not supported. But I have tasked them that what is presently going on in the area of development of capacity within the public service is not aggressive enough, and I thought by now we should have finished the Public Service Institute. I have charged the Chairman of Civil Service Commission as well as the Head of Service and the labour unions to make that happen. But unfortunately I have not seen much more in that. I am not impressed with a number of things within the civil service. Qualities of service, attitude to work and the depth of professionalism. But let me also say we have very wonderful civil servants in this state. I have had the honour of intensely working close with a lot of leaders of the service and I’m very pleased. But that has to simmer down the ladder. And my vision for the civil service is that if we have the Civil Service Training Institute in place, I want every cadre of the public service to go through rigorous training and retraining because of our emphasis on capacity building, because the economy of the future is going to be a knowledge-driven one, whether you are in the civil service or private sector; you must have the tools, the skills and knowledge with which to deliver. And the government being a massive bureaucracy, we must be knowledgeable for us to have an efficient public service system. And this government has built so many schools. At the football academy, you have the sports academy capacity building, you have the tourism capacity building, you have the school of agriculture capacity building, school of hospitality and catering capacity building and the maritime academy capacity building. And while we are building the capacity of the youths, I don’t want to leave out the civil service because whether a government is efficient or not does not depend on what I do or don’t do. As governor, what I expected to have is a vision and capacity to get everybody working to actualise the vision. In fact, the real work in the end is done by people you don’t even see, people you don’t even know that are working hard behind the scene and that is one of the legacies I will like to leave behind with the passion, and commitment I have on this. I hope to leave behind a civil service that is second to none just like the Teachers Training Institute. All these institutes were conceived by us, started by us from the scratch. In other words, the vision was not there and this is the critical thing that makes CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

14 POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

a difference that a lot of people don’t know. What makes a difference at a high governmental level, at the level of leadership is the vision. If you have a vision and you put together a team, then the people will not perish. That’s why the Bible says that my people perish for lack of knowledge. So, we have within two years built schools. You know that our focus is on human capacity building. That’s why Bayelsa as a state has more scholars in different fields of human endeavour than any other state in Nigeria. We look like someone hungry for knowledge who wants to see people have knowledge. We bake so much of the scholarship cake. I budgeted N1billion for post-graduate scholarship, but I ended up giving close to N7billion and it was not a mistake. It is unfortunate that when I had accommodated all of that, the revenues of the state crashed. Our commitment to human capacity remains the central focus of our government. Every state needs to do that. The crippling poverty that is ravaging our people can be traced to insufficient skills, insufficient knowledge in an increasingly competitive and global world. So, we remain committed to that. Are you aware that the Bayelsa students on scholarship in the United States have not been paid their allowance for eight months now? I have alluded to the difficulties that the scholarship programme unfortunately is experiencing. I cannot confirm for how long the allowances have remained unpaid, but I’m aware that remittances are being delayed, I’m aware that even government may not be up to date in payment of their allowances, but as I said it was a conscious decision I took to allow these young people experience life outside the shores of their state. It was a decision I took in good faith. But as soon as they left and the initial payments were done, the allocation dropped. Now we are experiencing about 40 per cent reduction of our revenue. So, I apologise that the situation is as it is but we will get out of it. We are trying to release these remittances, the backlog of it as much as government can. I think in the next three weeks I will be remitting some more funds to the scholarship board. Is there any empowerment programme lined up for the aged? I believe that they are the most important components of the society. They matter more than we the leaders and it is a failed government that does not impact on their lives. The people must remain the central focus of all activities of government. One of the sections of our population that had been ignored before now are the old people. I am a welfarist; I believe that government must be committed to the welfare of the individual, especially the vulnerable in the society. The elite usually wants to corner everything. They get all the contracts, they get all the appointments. When they don’t get what they want, they start a fight. But the vulnerable people in our society, the aged, those who have some disability of one form or the other and women are not always considered in the scheme of things. For the aged, what we are presently doing is to pay them N5,000 every month. Once you are 70 and above, you are entitled to the stipend. Our government spends between Dickson

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

How I stopped ‘dependency syndrome’ –Dickson N65million every month on that. That’s a huge amount. So in a year, we are spending N720million plus administrative cost. That’s what we are spending on old people. It is a lot of money, but if you ask me, it is money that is well spent. Bayelsans have always expected free money, which you have always campaigned against. But it appears the mindset still persists. What in your opinion is responsible for this? That actually is one of the major areas we all need to work to address. In the comments I made before signing the micro finance bill into law is this dependency syndrome and it is caused by a mindset that does not take responsibility for living. Life has its own challenges, whoever you are. You need to take challenges. Our people must stand up to these challenges and take responsibility for their lives. I am also a product of this environment. I am not someone who dropped from the moon. I started life from the scratch, stayed in my community, went to primary school, went to the Government Secondary School Toru-Ebeni in my local government and was over 19 years before I went to join the Nigeria Police as a Constable, taking responsibility for my life, and future. I’m not saying I am what I am because of my hard work. I attribute it to the mercies of God, but every human being must work hard. Now, when we were in the old Rivers State, we felt so far from government. We the home boys, we felt the presence of government maybe when one big man comes around, then we dance. Nobody will go to the forest that day and small money will be dropped and the big man and his family will leave like big men. Then, we t h e children of the poor will mind o u r busin e s s. W e

After us, a generation has risen that does not know that there are words in the dictionary called responsibility and hard work didn’t go to the schools that the big men’s children went to. Whereas children of big men went to the university people like us went to join the police, did night duty. It is not just peculiar to me. That’s the story you get from all those that are older than me.We worked hard and took responsibility. Now, after us a generation has risen that does not know that there are words in the dictionary called responsibility and hard work. When we had Bayelsa created, we started with a wrong notion that God used Sani Abacha to create this for ourselves, for the Ijaw people and our understanding was that the state must be responsible for our school fees. I agree with that and that is why we’ve taken that burden off the parents. But the state cannot be responsible for your house rent or your electricity bill and whether you eat in the morning or not. In the morning, state will provide breakfast for you, in the afternoon state will provide lunch, in the evening state will provide dinner for you. The state will now buy a car for you, even marry a wife for you. If your vehicle breaks down the state will fix it. That’s dependency syndrome. You need to make your sacrifices today to make your tomorrow better. If you don’t, there is no one you will hold responsible for your plight. My answer is that they must take responsibility for their lives. I am convinced that this attitude, the prevailing attitude is wrong. I don’t care because I must tell the people the truth. If we had started this way, when our state started, by now we would overcome this mindless notion. Everybody must work hard, you must have something

doing. The state has its own responsibility. Now you have a government that is alive to its responsibilities, but the state cannot solve the general problems of society and solve your own. Life has a cause, you must work hard. Now it is so bad that sometimes I hear say there is hunger in the land, I say yes, there will be hunger in the land if you don’t work. Nobody will sit as governor and say that there will be no hunger. How are you going to do it? Are you expected to share the money after paying salary every month for everybody? Now, that’s what has been happening which people wrongly believe, that money has been going out through massive spending by a few cliques and people could not do anything unless they were in position in government. That’s the culture we are used to and I say that is wrong. Nobody in my system can do that. There is no such free money to play with. All those things have stopped. Those are the things we have stopped that has made it possible to do things you all can see. The government also has a responsibility that will promote and engender wealth creation without sharing the money that is available for the people’s work. And we have done a lot of that. The only way government touches the lives of the people is through active participation in the local economy. So, the point I’m making is that people should key into the economy. We are doing so much in the area of empowerment. Recently, the state House of Assembly uncovered N25 billion scam allegedly perpetrated by banks operating in the state, from overdraft and bank deductions. What’s your take on the development? First of all, I want to commend the House of Assembly for being alive to their oversight responsibilities. And I have told them, to feel free to exercise the full weight and ambit of their jurisdiction in terms of over-sighting my government. What they have done in this goes to affirm their rating. Now, I won’t characterise what they have done as a monumental fraud that you in the press would want to call it. For now, that is refreshing news for me, because now “my eyes are red for money” to do our work. But I want to call it a discrepancy; a discrepancy which I have directed the Commissioner of Finance to find out because I have a finance team, a competent finance team of experts to work with the House of Assembly to ensure that the discrepancies and any amount so concer ned are reconciled a n d then, the state will make a move to ensure that these monies are paid to the state. I’m keenly following up this matter. And I look forward to the day reconciliation will be done so that I can have funds for the state.

POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW 15

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

As one of the leading advocates of devolution of powers, what priority should it take at the ongoing National Conference? I have always been a strong advocate of restoration of the Nigerian geographical state to the status it was before the military struck in 1966. The negotiation was finalised on the basis of true federalism. The region in the true federal philosophical understanding is composed of a central government put in office by the component units. What has happened was that the powers and authorities that normally belong to the regions were appropriated to the Federal Government. And that is the crisis we are into now. Unreasonably, the military decided to take over so many things that had been creditably set down by the former regional government. When Chief Obafemi Awolowo as the premier of the Western Region established a television station, the first one in Nigeria and Africa, many areas of Western Europe had nothing of such. They took everything over and it was not done to make Nigeria better but for their own personal aggrandisement, to ensure that they had total control over everything in the country. It was the same (Olusegun) Obasanjo as military ruler who set up an Ibrahim Dasuki commission of enquiry over local government. It was the recommendation of that body that Obasanjo used to centralise and nationalise local government administration. The concept of local government presupposes that this tier of government will consider its local circumstances in the way they govern themselves. But Obasanjo accepted Dasuki’s recommendation to centralise the third tier of government such that what happens in Maiduguri would be the same thing as Warri. What type of thing is that? It is the ordinary man on the streets that bears the brunt of their wickedness. Power devolution is a very significant matter that has to be dealt with or this nation may be run aground. Nigerian government today is using between 75 and 82 per cent of its total earning to service bureaucracy. That is why we don’t have development, social service and infrastructure. Is CODER worried about the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to use card readers for the forthcoming Ekiti and Osun elections? Like I said recently, the sudden turnaround of INEC not to use card readers for the two elections is clearly ominous. The recounting of such positive and timely development by the INEC is suspicious because the non-usage of card readers in Ekiti and Osun states in June and August 2014 means that it will be practically impossible to detect multiple voting and impersonation. The usage of the card reader is expected to make double or multiple voting and impersonation impossible because on the presentation of your voter’s card, your fingerprint will be tested with the card reader. The card reader will either validate or invalidate your claim of being a genuine voter. The non-usage of the card reader in Ekiti and Osun states would mean that there will be avoidable floodgate for the usage of cloned voters’ cards for multiple voting and impersonation in several polling units. Such a scenario will most certainly lead to confusion, accusations and possible violence in various polling centres given the expected effective monitoring and vigilance that contesting political parties would mount in order to defend their votes. But the commission said it would still use card readers for the 2015 election? Don’t believe what they tell you. Why can’t they use the card reader as trial version for Ekiti and Osun elections? The size of Ekiti and Osun states compared with the entire country is a golden opportunity for INEC and

Opadokun: INEC may bungle Ekiti, Osun elections Chief Ayo Opadokun is the convener of the Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform (CODER). In this interview with WALE ELEGBEDE, the former General Secretary of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) bears his mind on the Ekiti and Osun gubernatorial elections, the state of insecurity in the nation, and other salient issues. Excerpts:

ed till today, no matter the pretentious claims to the contrary by INEC in order to save their faces, this is important so that electoral management, body, local and international publics are equipped for the prior usage and experience of the card reader performance before the nationwide general elections and as such, we must resist the medicine after death policy as INEC has done repeatedly after these isolated elections. What is your reaction to insinuations that CODER is an arm of the All Progressives Congress (APC)? Is it not true that when CODER was established in 2009 almost every part of the country was involved? All those insinuations don’t move me. Do they want me to deny my friends? My cause is right and just. Why won’t I associate with any party that is committed to the same goal as mine: that every vote must count. The goal of ensuring that those who will get to the place of government are people who are responsible and appreciate that to be in government office is to serve the people.

Opadokun

the general public to be acquainted with the use of the technology. If the prospect for testing the card reader to establish the accuracy of the technology, the knowledge and expertise of INEC ad hoc staff are postponed, until 2015 general elections, it could be imagined that there is an ulterior reason for such a negative policy. INEC should be happy to test run the card reader as to how it can be used, operated and deployed for maximum benefit. All well-meaning Nigerians should mount credible pressure on INEC to test the card reader in Ekiti and Osun so that the wide rumour going round in the two states that some candidates are already cloning and buying voters cards are frustrated. What is your assessment of INEC in terms of its conduct of isolated elections? If you look at isolated elections in state and federal constituencies like we had in 2001, 2012, in senatorial and gubernatorial elections in Delta, Anambra, in Ondo Federal Constituencies, those elections have repeatedly exposed INEC of incapability of ensuring timely distribution of sensitive electoral materials. CODER has it on good authority that one or two particular candidates and their party leadership have recently embarked upon cloning of voters’ identification numbers for the purpose of helping them to be able to do multiple voting and impersonate

Recounting of such positive and timely development by the INEC is suspicious because the non-usage of card readers in Ekiti and Osun states in June and August 2014 means that it will be practically impossible to detect multiple voting and impersonation genuine registered voters. This ingenious agenda can only be possible if there is no usage of card reader which is a near perfect machine that can detect clown cards as it’s correlated with the voter’s finger print. In 2010, in consequence of nationwide and international agitations for a computerized voters register, INEC requested and was allocated over N80billion for the purchase and production of credible bio-metric voters register. As a result of the lack of trial runs, the computerized voters register exercise was not worth its investment as it had significant errors yet to be creditably correct-

How do you think the war against insurgency can be won? The first thing I want to say with greatest sense of responsibility is that there is too much government in Nigeria yet no governance, that is what applies to this situation. When the former governor of Zamfara State who is now a senator in this country said his state will be governed by Sharia and established it, former President Obasanjo was in office then and we cried out because that was a total contravention of the Nigerian Constitution as bad as it is. Obasanjo then didn’t have the political will and intellectual understanding of the impulse of that event. He told his friends and colleagues that it was political sharia and would soon fizzle out. Has it fizzled out now? It was because that one was not nipped in the bud that it led to a situation where 12 states are being controlled by Sharia. The Boko Haram thing was a graduated activity of Islamic fundamentalists. If what happened during Obasanjo’s era was not allowed to remain, we could have had some room to manoeuvre. I am mindful of the fact that Islamic fundamentalism is a global phenomenon but we have enough resources to control egress and ingress into our country but that is being poorly done. The expanse of our land in the north is so wide and in several of these communities that are close to our borders, you can’t know the difference between our own people and others. Technology has provided us enough room for area survey monitoring, to the extent that anybody coming from anywhere can be picked on the radar by the border guards. That is what the U.S. is using across the border line of Mexico. But these characters come here in consequence of their ungodly side of Islamic culture and say the president must turn to a Muslim and that Sharia must be the modus operandi in Nigeria, they are not asking for a cheap thing. They are committed towards a goal. Don’t think that those guys that they normally parade are the ones doing these things. Those are not the characters that could have been mounting and detonating those bombs successfully. Some people are doing a yeoman job to go and act on their behalf. That is the only sympathy that I have for President Goodluck Jonathan, the fact that he has not handled the crisis well is another matter. I want to urge Nigerians to collaborate and do the right things otherwise it might get to our doorsteps. God forbid!

16 POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Why we banned campaigns in C’River –Okon You have been the state chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the past two years. What have you achieved? Achievement? The first thing God has helped us to achieve is that the executives have been able to work together as a team in the party. We have been able to work in a cordial relationship with the leadership of the party led by Senator Liyel Imoke who is the leader of the party in the state. So, one of the biggest achievements is that we have been able to work as a team and interface with the government. The other achievement which we claim credit for is that we have been able to, more than any other state, deepen internal democracy in the party. We have been able to put structures in place from the ward to the local, to the zonal and state levels to drive the process. You will notice that we have a kind of decentralised government here. You don’t see people crowding around us. You don’t see us being the centre of activities. We have put in place all the structures. That is how democracy is supposed to work. So, we have been able to achieve that. We have also been able to put in place administrative structures. If you go round this office, you will see that we have the planning and research unit, the account, the administrative and the secretariat where you can go for records as well as other units meant for good administration. We finished the local government election and we won all 18 local government chairmen and 196 councillors hip seats in the state. More importantly, we have done gender mainstreaming such that we have four female chairmen holding some of the biggest local government areas in the state and that is Ogoja, Calabar South, Bakassi, and Abi, the home of the governor. Again, we have a lot of councillors who are female. In appointment, we have met the 35% affirmative action. We did all these with very little rancour. For me, the state is stable. So those are the kind of achievements we have had in the past years. It has been rumoured that the former state chairman was removed so that you could come in and do the bidding of the governor. Is this correct? Well, I don’t know about that. Let me correct you. I think the former chairman had finished his four-year tenure and he was to re-contest for another term. But there were consultations and stakeholders which included senators, house members and the rest sat down and reviewed the situation and felt that the party needed new hands to drive the process. Of course, God brought me into it. So, he was not removed. Now, talking about doing the bidding of the governor is a way of trying to blackmail the leader, who is the governor. If you have a leader and the chairman, they are supposed to work in unison. It’s not as if he is imposing himself on you. The president is the leader of the party nationally and the governor is the leader of the party in the state. Other governors are there. But what is happening in other states, is it happening here? I am talking about the freedom of the party to be able to take decisions. So, rather than malign a democrat who has given the party a free hand, we should appreciate him. I will continue to consult him till tomorrow. We could sit down here and take decisions and he doesn’t bother. But as a leader, we have to consult. There’s no way I can remove my relationship from him. He has been a leader and has managed the affairs of the state with utmost wisdom. Cross Riverians love him and he has been doing wonderfully well in the state. I just cannot see myself doing anything without consulting my leader, the

Elder John Ochort Okon was the former Clerk of the Cross River State House of Assembly and current state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview with CLEMENT JAMES in Calabar, he speaks on a number of burning issues in the state. Excerpts:

targeted at any individual. If you say you are our member, you must abide by this directive. There have been controversies surrounding the ambition of Goddy Jeddy-Agba, especially in recent times. Is he a member of PDP? No. Not to my knowledge. He is not a member of PDP for now. If he comes in and ask to be registered, we will register him. There are processes for registration. As far as we know, he is not a cardcarrying member of the PDP in the state. But he is said to have registered in his ward. We are not aware of it. How can he be registered in the ward level and we are not aware? Who put him in the ward? The ward cannot register a civil servant. There’s a rule that the ward cannot register a civil servant. He cannot come and say he wants to contest on the platform of the party because we will look at the constitution. What would you say about PDP members who have aligned with his ambition? Have you seen the party chairman or the secretary there? Somebody has not found out the policies of the party and he starts having a Director General. We are not bothered about those who are there. We are waiting to get to the bridge before we see how we can cross it. In any case, have you seen where there is honey and you don’t find bees? We are prepared to sanction anybody who is engaged in anti-party activities. This party is a disciplined party and the leader is a disciplined person. So, we are ready to ensure that discipline is maintained in this party. If he wants to be a member of the party, he has to resign first from his appointment and then we will register him and if he has an ambition, we will look at what the constitution says and follow the process.

Okon

governor. After all, I did not create that position and none of us created it. It’s constitutional and he has been able to hold the party together, compared to other states. No governor has allowed a party structure to function the way we are functioning. You have been hearing that people hold senatorial meetings. Do you see him? Except when we did the inauguration, he doesn’t attend the meetings. We cherish him and we get a lot of support from him. Sometimes, he takes the flaks for innocently being the leader of the party. It’s been reported that you have asked your members not to campaign in any form. What’s the rationale behind it? We did not say that. But let’s be frank. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines and the electoral law are clear. What if people start campaign and INEC sanctions us? We know that there are people who want to rope us into this corner. How will it look if INEC sanctions us tomorrow because of political activities of some people? We are a law-abiding people. For now, the national office has not given us guidelines. But we have provided enough structures for people to consult and discuss and I think that has been going on. But we do not want people to print posters and stickers because that would be against the electoral law and INEC’s guidelines. We believe we should follow the process. Don’t put stickers on cars to give us a bad name. We have put in place structures that should help those who are aspiring. By the time a governorship aspirant quietly goes to the 196 political wards, he goes to the 17 ward executives and the 18 state executives, with your blueprint, you should be able to win the people. We don’t want people to just get up and start working outside the structures provided by the party because that will mean you are not recognising the existing structures. How can somebody set up coordinators in each of

We have given a sevenday gap for everybody to stop the use of campaign stickers. At the expiration of the seven days, we will set up a monitoring committee the wards when there are coordinators within the party’s structure? What you are saying is that you don’t recognise the party structure. That’s trying to create confusion. By the time you sell your programme or blueprint, you would have gotten support and this could take you some three months. We are not running open primaries as is done in the United States. We are aware that some people who went to APC are trying to come back to create crisis situation. We have preempted it and we have put in place measures to checkmate it. So, we have not banned political activities but we only want aspirants to avail themselves of the existing structures in the party and work within the law. We don’t want to violate the electoral law. We don’t want people to paste posters. Now that you have banned the use of stickers and posters, what will happen to those who have been displaying them? Yes. We have given a seven-day gap for everybody to stop the use of campaign stickers. At the expiration of the seven days, we will set up a monitoring committee. We are a disciplined organisation and any organisation without discipline will run into trouble. So, we have given directives and so far, we are happy at the responses. This directive is to our members generally and it’s not

With this position, are you foreseeing any crisis ahead of the party primaries? I am not foreseeing any crisis. We have put in place structures that were inherited from my predecessor, Ekpo Okon. They say somebody has opened a campaign office; do you know what a campaign office is? Have they put our flag or symbol there? Have you not seen Senator Imoke’s campaign office in the past? I dare them to put any of our symbols there then you will see what we will do. But in 2011, Sandy Onor was Imoke’s campaign manager. Now, he is heading Agba’s team. Sandy Onor was once in All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) as state chairman. He moved to PDP. Do you know where he is moving to this time around? He was a commissioner in this administration and he lost his job. So, he has to get another job. But certainly, all of that is not done under the PDP umbrella. We have our guidelines and when we get to where we will act, we will act. For all I know, those who are not birds of passage are consulting within the structure of our party. So, we are neither concerned about JeddyAgba nor are we bothered about Sandy Onor because they are non issues. It looks like there is a problem with the cohesiveness of the party in the state. The party in the state is very cohesive and the leader, Governor Imoke has been running the affairs of the party with a sense of passion. We have a cohesive party and serious aspirants are working within the rules. I can assure you that what is happening now is not crisis. It is called trend. Naturally, there are interests here and there. But I can beat my chest and say that we have been able to accommodate genuine interests and we will continue to do so.

POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW 17

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Conducting 2015 elections in one day, best for Nigeria –Elayo Barrister Musa Abdullahi Elayo is a delegate at the National Conference and former Minister of State for Justice. In this interview with MUHAMMAD AHMAD, Elayo advocates for a new system of government that would accommodate Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups and the need to hold elections in a day. Excerpts: Do you see the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducting a free and fair election in 2015? Well, the issue of free and fair election in Nigeria has a long history. We have corrupted our values and unless we go back to those values, we cannot talk of free and fair elections. A free and fair election is not at the level of the election itself because election itself is part of a process which is supposed to be a year round affair involving the political parties, the electorate, INEC and its officials, the security agencies, the media and the judiciary. So, when you talk of a free and fair election, you must look at all these components of the electoral process. So far we keep having a deterioration in our approach and our practices of the electoral process. Therefore, we need to have a change of attitude to speak of a free and fair election. In your opinion which method will suit our electoral system? What ever option you want to adopt can work if we want it to work but if you don’t want it to work, it will not work. But for me, if I am given the opportunity for a general election, I will propose a single day elections, that’s a non-staggered election; an election that takes place in a day, which involves election of the House of Assembly, governorship, National Assembly and the presidential election. I believe by the time you do it that way, first it reduces cost and eliminates bandwagon effect of a previous election. If it succeeds in other places it can also succeed here if we want it to work. If we don’t want it to work no matter what you bring, it will not work. My take is that we hardly allow a system to grow; we are always in a hurry to change it for another thing but we forget that in this change we are not going to have satisfaction because a process must have an incubation period and then you learn in the mistake involved in it and make amends to move along and it is this kind of patience we lack in the country. What do you think the conference will do to further unite the country rather than disintegrate it? The conference I must tell you will unite this country better than what people think because people came to the conference with different perceptions and ideas believing that one part of the country is short-changing the other or that some people are dominating the other. But with the opportunity of sitting together to speak, people realise that it is not like that but that the problems are the same with different dimensions and its nature in different angles. In the North-East you talk of Boko Haram, if you go to the South South you talk of militancy, go to the South-East you talk of kidnapping; in North Central, herdsmen-farmers clash and North West herdsmen versus the people. So, you find out that the problems are almost the same but it is just that the kind of terrain give the operators

different ways to practice them. So, people are beginning to understand these things in the conference and it is the resolve of everybody at the conference that Nigeria as a country has come to stay and the issue of break up is not in anybody’s contemplation rather it’s how we strengthen the federal system that should be important. I think the conference is going to achieve much. Which is your preferred system of government, presidential or parliamentary? People are even calling for a mixture of both presidential and parliamentary but there is no system of government that is unique in its own form but every country must evolve a system that best suits its environment. Presidential system that is being practised in America is not the same that is being practised in Ghana and parliamentary system that is being practised in the United Kingdom is not the same thing that is being practised in other countries. Therefore, we must look at a system that will incorporate and work for our people. Don’t forget that Nigeria is a multilingual, multicultural and multireligious country put together by the colonial masters without regards to our history or culture. So, we must look at the aspiration of every minute tribe and accommodate its fears and aspirations and once we look at a system like that it will work better for us. But as a person, I don’t think that the presidential system is bad; it is a very good system that has a lot of checks and balances provided we can have an attitudinal change so that it can work. Honestly, with that every community in Nigeria will have a sense of belonging. Who should be blamed for the insurgency in the North Central part of the country? The problem of North Central in my view is largely because of population movement, especially the citing of Federal Capital Territory in Abuja. As a result, there is mass movement of people into the North Central states and you know land does not expand. Before the population explosion, we used to have grazing lands and routes but you see the creation of Abuja attracted a lot of people to the zone. There is also the urge to grow more food for the teeming population and new settlements for the population which now brings about taking over of grazing land and routes by the growing population. So, the Fulani man moving in his traditional route is being blocked along the line and the creation of additional local governments and states brings about the idea of people saying this place and land is mine. Government abandoned its responsibility long ago with the issue of maintaining or keeping the grazing routes and grazing land. There was negligence on the part of government at various levels; districts, local government, states and Federal Government. And because these things are no more in place, clashes are taking place. The only way to avoid this crisis is to recreate the grazing routes and lands

Elayo

and create an environment in the long run where cattle rearers will not be moving from one place to another. This cannot stop overnight until you get a sufficient place for them to graze their cows and water to drink. How do you see the issue of corruption in the judiciary? I have never been a judge and I cannot say there is corruption in the judiciary, but of course I believe the judiciary is part of the Nigerian society and not everybody in Nigeria is corrupt. But I think to say the judiciary is corrupt it’s been hanged for no fault of its. You should understand that the idea of the judiciary being the last hope of the common man simply means judiciary comes in when every door is locked. But where every door is opened, how do you expect the judiciary not to be corrupt. For example, in electoral issue; if you have a free and fair election from the level of the party to the level of INEC and conduct of the election and the announcement of result and every-

If I am given the opportunity for a general election, I will propose a single day elections, that’s a non-staggered election; an election that takes place in a day

body that aspires to contest is given a level playing ground, there won’t be any problem. Where a contestant loses an election, he will not go to court because he believes he lost freely and squarely. He believes even if he goes to court and the elections is asked to be repeated, he will still not win. But where somebody stands in an election, he knows he is not going to win and you do not allow him to exercise his right freely and fairly he will certainly go to court and that is why you find in our country today every election goes to the court or tribunal instead of few and exceptional cases going to court. I am talking of elections from the councillorship to the presidential. It doesn’t happen like that in a lot of countries. In some countries, before the final announcement of results, the loser congratulates the winner and this is so because the loser knew he lost freely and squarely. So, if for instance, the judiciary is bombarded by a lot of cases and everybody wants to ensure he wins, how will they not be corrupted? The question is who involves them in corruption? It is we the people that try to influence them by overworking them and telling them to do what will be in our favour. So, it is our conduct that we should check not the judiciary. As a lawyer, I have handled a lot of cases before the court and I have never for one gave a judge any money and I also never ask my client for money to give any judge but I heard some lawyers do. I think for us to continue to castigate the judiciary being corrupt, we are just been unfair. We have a duty not to influence them to be corrupt.

POLITICS | THURSDAY INTERVIEW

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Enugu deserves another Chime in 2015 –Ogbodo distinguished figure like Chief Jim Nwobodo. Nkanu is blessed with highly qualified persons in varied fields and it would have been out of place to expect anything less than the high stakes that the Senate seat for the zone generates. All we have wished is that the best at all times should be there so that developmental strides which such representation entails could accrue to our people. Concerning Chimaroke’s touted ambition, he is entitled to such rights to aspire. But one would be tempted to ask what did he forget at the Senate chambers that he wishes to retrieve? He was there for four years and failed to represent our people. He was only able to attend the Senate sessions for 132 days in the whole of the four years he held on, such that the leadership of the Senate seriously contemplated invoking some sanctions against him. For the days he managed to attend sessions, he was an anonymous benchwarmer who did not make a single contribution to debates. From being the most travelled public intellectual as governor, he suddenly lost his voice on the floor of the Senate chambers. In the end, he was allotted six boreholes as constituency projects to be sited in his constituency and he did not fail to re-enact his legacy of impunity: he sited all in his Orjiagu Agbani community to the exclusion of the other five local government areas that make up the constituency. The crushing defeat he suffered in the hands of Senator Gill Nnaji at the 2011 elections is a graphic testimony of our people’s disappointment in him.

Barrister Nana Ogbodo, a civil rights and anti-corruption activist, is also a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State. In this interview with LEO SOBECHI, he said the politics of the search for Governor Sullivan Chime’s successor should be seen from the prism of the prevalent peace and even development of the state. Excerpts: Seven years on as governor, how would you assess the performance of Governor Sullivan Chime and what are the qualities you would wish to look out for in his successor? I hope it would be enough for me to say that I am indeed happy with the way things have been going in my state especially. I am happy with the vision and prudence of the present administration. Even the most implacable of his critics cannot but spare some praises for the administration of Sullivan Chime. It would be difficult for me to comment authoritatively on the administration of Dr. M.I Okpara who is widely acclaimed to have done so well because I was rather too young to know much. But of all the administrations I have witnessed in the state since the time of the old East Central State, none has shown this audacity, this vision, this prudence and these monumental results as the present administration. We have not only enjoyed peace, we have witnessed all round development that is overtly altruistic. It is breath-taking as it is groundbreaking. Enugu has been recreated in all ramifications, and I can only pray God to continue to guide him. Concerning what would be my wish for his successor, I would say we need another Chime essentially. We need a man who would continue to see Enugu as his constituency and not that he comes from a section of it; who would conceive development beyond the parochialism of clan sentiment; who would appreciate that peace is the necessary pedestal for development; a man who would employ silent dignity to win what verbal pugilism often loses; a cosmopolitan figure that would not push us back to those anachronistic prejudices that divide instead of unite us. Democracy has served as a validating index for the Wawa man; it has proven that given a level-playing field, the Wawa man would always excel. We do not need a swashbuckling warmonger anymore who would drag our reputation into the mud. We need someone who is free from statutory limitations such as psychiatric history; we need a clear-headed person that can cast a vision for the state and inspire the youths. Beyond President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure would be the vexed issue of resource control. So in the inevitability of resource control, how would Enugu fair? We need someone who would begin to think ahead, more so as the basic foundations have been laid by Sullivan’s administration. What is your take on the decision to zone the governorship to the North Senatorial District in 2015 and the governor’s stance that those who have spent two terms as lawmakers should give way to others? In reaching our decision that power should shift to the North, the PDP reasoned that since the East and the West would by 2015 have respectively occupied the Lion Building for eight years each, equity demands that the North should

Ogbodo

Besides, those who compare the terms spent by some legislators overseas as a working paradigm for ours miss the point. Let’s face the issue; a parliament in America is not breeding ground for billionaires be made to have a feel of it. This is in consonance with the federal character principle as enunciated in our constitution, and good conscience supports this. There are indeed very highly qualified individuals from the North who have proven their mettle in various fields of their calling that can carry aloft the flag as raised by Chime already. He has set the benchmark already, and all that the next governor needs do is to build on the solid foundations he has laid. Concerning the suggestion that serving members of the National and State Assemblies who have stayed reasonable time should spare a thought for others, I am not aware that the governor made such remark. But personally, I feel it is a reasonable idea. In the first place, the processes that brought about the emergence of most of them were exceedingly skewed against reason. There are some of them who cannot make correct sentences in English Language, who were railroaded there solely to spite some people. Their continued stay there shotchanges the people and seriously erodes

the sanctity of education as a preparatory process for future leadership roles. Besides, those who compare the terms spent by some legislators overseas as a working paradigm for ours miss the point. Let’s face the issue; a parliament in America is not breeding ground for billionaires. Ted Kennedy who some refer to as having spent decades never owned a private jet because he could not have made such money. Joe Biden the current American Vice President, who many also refer to his decades at the American Senate used to ride in train from Delaware to Washington daily to attend sessions of the Senate; and so on. In our own milieu, being at the National Assembly is tantamount to becoming a billionaire where the occupants, who were never known to have owned any businesses prior to their emergence suddenly own even private jets and revel in other debaucheries. Some of them have never made any contributions to debates on the floor of the National Assembly, yet on Christmas seasons, they manage to share few motorcycles as evidence of democracy dividends. I think we need a re-orientation, and we need a new set of clear-headed people who have the capacity to drive ideas. Enugu East is in the news concerning the Senate seat; why is there constant squabble for that seat? Again Chimaroke Nnamani has indicated his interest. Is there a written or unwritten understanding that sets term limit for occupants? A Senate seat anywhere is a great issue and the squabble for the seat is not misplaced. As it concerns Enugu East Senatorial Zone, the stake is even much higher. Don’t forget that this was the zone that produced a Senate President in the person of Senator Ken Nnamani. This was also the seat occupied by such

Recently, Nnamani boasted that he redefined politics in Nkanu land, nay Enugu East Senatorial Zone. What is your take on this? Well, he is entitled to his opinion. But this is a case of extreme self-admiration. But the question would remain whether his so-called redefinition was positively or negatively done. Perhaps to refresh your memory, Chief Jim Nwobodo, an Nkanu son was elected governor of the old Anambra State in 1979, when Chimaroke was still in secondary school. The old Anambra State comprised of the present Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states. Before 1999, Jim was also a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The late legal icon, Hon Justice Augustine Nnamani was the Federal Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. As Minister of Justice, he authored the most revolutionary, nay fundamental legal instrument that defines rights over land in Nigeria; the Land Use Act of 1978. Nkanu sons had been military governors of Osun, Abia and Imo states. Air Commodore Ike Nnamani was a member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council that handed over power to civilians in 1999. Prof. Bath Nnaji had been Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria before 1999; etc. In 1999, the politics of Enugu State was literally dictated by Jim’s partisan nuances and foibles. He decreed, against wise counsel, that Chimaroke would be governor; and it came to pass. He now claims he is the one that introduced Nkanuland into politics. Perhaps, he redefined Nkanu’s participation in the politics of Enugu State in a negative way. Nkanu has lost its mystique since his tenure as governor. Nkanu has been reduced to ordinary. His consuming passion as governor was to destroy everything and everybody that Nkanu was respected for; our neighbours who used to tremble at the thought of Nkanu’s possible reactions have seen through us. Under him, the best among us lost their propelling convictions. But Nkanu as I have often said is like the proverbial phoenix; we have risen from the ashes of his destruction, and the only one who still needs redemption is Chimaroke himself.

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EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

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

THURSday, MAY 15, 2014

A free media enriches democracy

espite the growth of democracy, press freedom which is one of the critical factors in the sustenance of the former, remains a major challenge. The issues surrounding this problem were brought to the fore on May 3, during this year’s World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) under the theme, “Media Freedom for a Better Future: Shaping the Post – 2015 Development Agenda”. The event celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom, assesses the state of press freedom throughout the world, defends the media from attacks on their independence, and pays tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty. As a backbone of democracy, the media plays a crucial role in helping to shape healthy democratic principles. Besides its traditional role of informing, educating, and entertaining, it sets agenda and acts like a mirror, which strives to show the truth and harsh realities of life. In Nigeria, the press has been instrumental to the entrenchment of democracy, human rights, rule of law and good governance. It is the media when all else fails, that holds public officers accountable to the public. This explains why the practitioners are always in a love-hate relationship with security agencies while carrying out their watch-dog responsibilities. Despite several attempts to stifle the Nigerian media, it has relentlessly

remained vibrant, robust, “free,” and active. Although the 1999 Constitution guarantees Freedom of Expression and of the press, certain provisions such as sedition, criminal defamation and publication of fake news, curtail its activities. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which guarantees citizens’ right to public information that would not have been hitherto in the public domain has become a major useful tool. Despite the resistance in compliance by state governments, its passage remains a major milestone. The Nigerian press is certainly not perfect since it is the reflection of its society. It has had its fair share of criticism for high-handedness, yet its role in the quest for credible governance cannot be ignored. President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr. Femi Adesina, underscored the point during the Press Freedom event: “Without a free press, governance cannot be guaranteed, the fight against corruption would at its best be tepid, our political development would be stunted and sluggish, while the fundamental rights of the citizenry would be trampled upon with impunity. But a freer press would accelerate national development, and engender the country of our dream, which remains in the realm of envisioning.” The Nigerian press if given the chance is capable of squeezing water out of stone. It becomes necessary to

appeal to governments to allow the media contribute its constitutional quota to national development. The free flow of information will be enhanced so that the public’s right to know is guaranteed and upheld. It goes without saying that a free press means a free people. Where freedom of speech and expression are stifled and trampled upon, the public’s right to know becomes threatened and the democratic institution is undermined. When a journalist is targeted, the public’s access to information is indirectly under threat. Out of 197 countries and territories surveyed in 2013, only 32 per cent were rated as “free.” Another 35 per cent were “partly free,” and 33 per cent “not free.” Of countries whose states changed since the previous year, six were in a negative direction. The United States was voted as “free” but it got lower marks this year for greater restrictions on national security reporting. Nigeria, on the other hand, was pitched in the group of countries with “partly free” press. Similarly, a total number of 70 journalists were reportedly killed last year world-wide, 211 held in various prisons, while well over 1, 000 have been killed since 1992. Nigerian journalists have witnessed widespread intimidation, violence and harassment. Several of them have been detained, beaten and even lost their lives and almost all murder cases are yet to be unraveled.

According to UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon and UNESCO’s Director-General, Ms Irina Bokova’ “Journalism provides a platform for informed discussion across a wide range of development issues – from environmental challenges and scientific progress to gender equality, youth engagement and peace building. Only when journalists are at liberty to monitor, investigate and criticize policies and actions can good governance exist.” We are in agreement and therefore condemn violence and intimidation against journalists, and urge various governments to release all journalists in detention all over the world in recognition of their critical role in shaping the progress of societies. We salute and pay glowing tribute to all journalists who are being persecuted for their unrelenting belief in press freedom and remind authorities in the affected countries that journalists are partners in progress. We align ourselves with the position of the Nigeria Union Journalists (NUJ) that the Federal Government should drop the litigation against Leadership newspapers and its staff over a publication. It is our belief also that the first step towards ingraining media freedom is the implementation of the FOIA in all its ramifications. It is also necessary to remind ourselves that freedom comes with responsibilities and in shouldering them, the media owes the public unfettered service that is based on nothing but the truth.

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

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

OPINION

Developing Real Sector is pivotal to Nigeria as emerging market

Favour Ojiabor

ast week, I stated categorically that, despite our new Rebased GDP of $509.9bn (N80.2 trillion) – the largest in Africa, greater percentage of global investors will continue to shun Nigeria unless Federal Government tackles all the suffocating factors influencing the country’s economic and political development. I had argued that our magnified ‘fortune’ will not translate to real economic growth if urgent measures are not deployed to confront corruption, insecurity, high exchange rate, human rights abuses, unemployment and the ease of doing business challenges. Without this, Nigeria may not emerge or reflect the giant of Africa afterall! Adam Smith, the Scottish Philosopher and Economist in The Wealth of Nations 1776, one of the most influential books on market economics, identified three major sources of growth: growth in labour force and stock capital; improvement in the efficiency with which capital is used in labour through greater division of labour and technological progress; and promotion of foreign trade that widens the market and reinforces the other two sources of growth. This highlights great relationship between productivity, growth and development. Suffice it to say that, the understanding of this relationship gave birth to capitalism which, stimulated the development of US, Europe and Asian economies. However, the upset in the advanced free market economies, especially USA, Europe and Asia in 2008/2009, precipitated asset diversification to Africa’s emerging markets. Investors seeking massive returns on their money began to look beyond the shores of America and Europe to Africa for offers of exceptional profit-making opportunities. Sub-Saharan Africa came handy and characterized economies with real profit opportunities, especially in the real sectors of the economy, like power, housing, agriculture, education, transportation, tourism and telecomm. But how much of the big investments came to Nigeria? Not much! Many portfolio and foreign direct investors headed to South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Angola, Ghana, etc. Why? The countries have more stable economy! Now, with our new Rebased GDP and bonds included in JPMorgan emerging market bond index (GBI-EM) and equities in various Frontier market indexes including the MSCI, what is Nigerian Government doing to make the country more investor friendly as to benefit from these bulging investment portfolios targeted at Africa? How ready is Aso Rock to lead the country into this all-time important evolution? This sure goes beyond political and ‘ego massaging’ state-

A striking characteristic of emerging market economy is an increase in its local and foreign investment – both portfolio and direct. This indicates the country has been able to build confidence in the local economy. This entails constructive policies to grow the real sectors of the country’s economy. Sadly, Nigeria is busy putting all its eggs in one basket – growing the extractive sector. ments from Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Labarak Maku, Minister of Information and President’s aids. Nigerians want a concrete short and long term strategic, realistic and sustained development policies that will take the country out of the present economic quagmire – abject poverty in the midst of plenty! The crux of the matter in our dear fatherland is that, Nigerian Government lacks the integrity and political will to sustain long term economic policies by successive governments. Succeeding governments have busied themselves with peripheral policies that are neither people oriented, sustainable nor emanated from economic experts’ thought-through strategies and implementation processes with eyes on the bottomline. The results are lack of continuity, genuine and long term economic policies to drive real economic growth in the country. This is not the case with other economies that have evolved into emerging market and are driven by measurable short and long term economic policies. South Africa, for instance, is categorized by socio-economic dimension – economic growth and socio-economic progress occupy the centrestage of its policy objectives. This reflects its socioeconomic policies of GEAR (Growth, Employment and Redistribution Strategy) and RDP (Reconstruction and Development Program), both fundamental policy declarations that address economic growth designed to support socio-economic progress of South Africa. A peep deeper into these policies shows GEAR dates back to June 1996, and have been consistently

implemented by successive South African governments. GEAR strategy is encompassing aimed at competitive, fast growing and job-creating economy; redistribution of resources and creation of opportunities for the poor as well as provision of accessible health, education and housing facilities. The strategy entails budgetary reform and deficit reduction; trade liberalisation and tariff reform; flexible labour market strategies; renewed infrastructure investment; tax incentives to attract investment; and a commitment to co-ordinated policies. This explains why South Africa will continue to be ahead of Nigeria irrespective of our statistical ‘bogus’ GDP. The major snuffing problems of the Nigeria’s economy are its weak institutions; weedy infrastructure and imperfect market characterised by subsidies on prices of refined petroleum (citadel of corruption); the exchange rate and public Sector funds. This structure has continued to fuel rentseeking behaviour over the years. The subsidies distort the allocation of resources, resulting to sub-optimality at the macro level and underperformance in productivity output and investment. The question is: What are President Goodluck Jonathan’s short and long term economic policies that are targeted at job creation, redistribution of resources and creation of opportunities for the Nigerian poor population? Former US President, Franklin Roosevelt stated that, “Not only our future economic soundness, but the very soundness of our democratic institutions depends on the determination of our government to give employment to idle men.” Whether we like it or not; high unemployment rate breeds insecurity, thereby stultify efforts at growing the economy. Nigeria need to work at our policy continuity theory and tangible ways to engage the youth population! A striking characteristic of emerging market economy is an increase in its local and foreign investment – both portfolio and direct. This indicates the country has been able to build confidence in the local economy. This entails constructive policies to grow the real sectors of the country’s economy. Sadly, Nigeria is busy putting all its eggs in one basket – growing the extractive sector? Countries with eyes on joining the emerging markets institute clear and measurable short and long term economic policies on real sectors development. This is because the sector is the main driving force of any economy. Government policies are adjudged successful if they positively enhance the real sectors as well as impact the welfare of the citizenry. To take its rightful place in the comity of markets equation, Nigeria needs urgent economic blueprint policy on real sector development. •Favour Ojiabor ( favokereke@yahoo.com) is Head of Media JSP Communications Limited. This column will return to Business page on Monday

On Kwara option for N23b Capital Market loan Segun Bambo Ojomo

wift reactions have been trailing the intention of the Kwara State Gover nment under the leadership of Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed to approach the capital market to raise a N23b loan to aid the state’s development projects. During a live radio interview with three state-based stations, including Radio Kwara titled ‘The Gover nor Explains’, Dr.Ahmed stressed the urgent need to seek the loan based on the requirement of huge capital investments in the state’s infrastructural development on roads, water, energy, education, health and agriculture. According to him, a comprehensive assessment of basic infrastructural requirements of the state revealed that it would cost about N300b to achieve a stable and fully functional environment with all the needed infrastructure

Undoubtedly, the monthly federal allocation to the state would not be sufficient for extensive capital projects’ execution as such subvention is meagre and only covers salaries and recurrent expenditure in place for continuity, but on the discovery of the impossibility of attaining the N300b at once, gover nment decided to seek areas of obtaining loans gradually to invariably meet up the mark, believing that subsequent gover nments would continue as they incept.

Realising that the cheapest source of funding is the capital market which offers lower interest rates than the commercial banks, the gover nment decided to opt for the source to ensure that the corresponding interest on the loan does not come too high as to affect the repayment cost. Undoubtedly, the monthly federal allocation to the state would not be sufficient for extensive capital projects’ execution as such subvention is meagre and only covers salaries and recurrent expenditure. But the issue of raising the N23b should not be unecessarily overstated or tur ned into a political thug of war as it seems to begin to appear like, in which the opposition takes the intention as a tool to denigrate the gover nment in power. What stakeholders should do is embark on a critical analysis of

the process of obtaining such loan and encourage the gover nment to ensure that the said loan is directed to due purpose. It should also not be forgotten that majority of the states of the federation that have attained great heights in their development are those whose leaders have been able to aggressively seek development aid for their states to augment the pittance offered monthly by the central government as federal allocation. I believe strongly that the intention of the state gover nment to access large sums of money from cheap sources, embark on and complete projects in record time and use the monthly inflow for payback should be a welcome development by well- meaning Kwarans for a brighter future. • Segun Bambo Ojomo, a Media Communication Specialist wrote from Lagos.

LAW THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

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FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE JUDICIARY Editor

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‘I gained a lot from H.O. Davies'

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Kalu, Okutepa to delegates: Don't remove LGs from constitution

AWYERS yesterday reviewed the recommendation by the Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government at the ongoing national conference that the 774 local councils be scrapped as contained in the First Schedule, Part 1 of the 1999 Constitution and concluded that the committee must perish the thought. They described the committee’s recommendation as not only bizarre but a misplaced priority, insisting that the committee’s recommendation be thrown into the dustbin of history as the local council, being the sphere closest to the people should be strengthened rather than removing it from the Constitution. "Local council, being a vital tier, should be strengthened rather than calling for its removal from the Constitution as it remains the utmost harbinger of accelerated and sustainable socio-economic development, poverty alleviation and rural democratic mobilization in any polity”, one of them said. Apparently blaming the state governments for the woes bedeviling local government in the country, they said recommending its outright removal from the Constitution would no doubt portend grave danger to the nation’s fledgling democracy. The committee which focused on local council administration in the country, had in one of its sittings last week recommended that the list of local councils as contained in the First Schedule, Part 1 of the 1999 Constitution be removed and transferred to the states to be covered by a law of the state Houses of Assembly with a view to reviving the nation’s grassroots administration. Although the committee said the country would remain a federation with the existing 36 states structure, it specifically recommended the councils’ removal as a third tier of government and gave options to the state governments to determine the number to operate in their states. Besides, while the Committee adopted the recommendation that the functions of local governments as contained in Schedule 4 of the 1999 Constitution would be transferred to the states subject to the power of the state Houses of Assembly to add or reduce from the list, it reaffirmed Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution which guaranteed the system of local governments by democratically elected government. Miffed by the committee’s recommendation, a law lecturer, Dr. Muideen Abikan said that the ongoing conference may pose more danger than good to the nation’s corporate existence if such recommendation was coming from one of its committees. He , however feared that the confab may not produce the desired result if local council, being the sphere of government closest to the people, and the utmost harbinger of accelerated and sustainable socio-economic development, poverty alleviation and rural democratic mobilisation in any polity was under threat. While blaming governors for the move as unacceptable, Abikan disclosed that the clamour by the state governments for dominant control over local councils

Should the 774 Local Government Councils be scrapped from the Constitution? Lawyers say no. TUNDE OYESINA reports

Kalu, SAN

Democracy is for everybody and not for a selected few and the only way by which everybody can enjoy and be beneficial of the dividend and rights of democracy is through the local government council was being driven by illusionary rivalry of executive powers being alleged on the part of council chairmen, saying that the transfer of the responsibility of local councils to the state government, would no doubt return local councils to the pre1976 era and between 1979 and1983 with its attendant implications and danger of power concentration. He said: “Nigeria should not forget in a hurry the condition of the local councils between 1979 and1983 when the state governments had dominant control over local councils. Our memory should not fail us to recall that no state conducted election into local councils. “The excruciating handling of local council affairs by the state governments contributed to the overheating of the polity that eventually collapsed the Second Republic". Abikan's views were echoed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Awa Kalu, who said he was confident that the recommendation would not be supported by the larger house because it was an unpopular one. Kalu, however queried why the local government which was the closest tier of government to the people at the grassroots would be scrapped. This, the Senior Advocate believed would certainly bring untold hardship to the common man who could not afford

Toye

the luxury of the city life or the privilege to stay in the urban area should the third tier of government be removed from the Constitution. Kalu said: "The 1999 Constitution provided for a democratically elected local government council in Section 7 of the Constitution. But while the Constitution made provisions for the tenure of federal and state political office holders to be four years, it did not make provisions for the tenure of local government office holders. "However, the constitution in the concurrent legislative list gave the National Assembly the power to make laws with respect to the registration of voters and the procedure regulating elections to a local government council and the same constitution gave the powers to the State Houses of Assembly to make laws with respect to election to a local government council. "The confusion caused by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution on local government is just one of the many problems of the 1999 Constitution. It has been documented that there are problems in the 1999 Constitution with regard to the structure of all tiers of government, women, independent commission, revenue allocation and the security sector just to mention a few". Another senior lawyer and President of Bureau of Public Procurement, Wahab Toye described the committee’s proposition as uncalled for. Toye said: "Democracy is for everybody and not for a selected few and the only way by which everybody can enjoy and be beneficial of the dividend and rights of democracy is through the local government council. "If the councils are now scrapped, what will become of the common man who cannot stay in the city? What will become of people in our various villages? What will become of the people who stay in rural areas?

Okutepa, SAN

"We should all think about these people, we should not be selfish, not everybody can stay in Lagos, Abuja or other cities. Some must stay in the villages. And the only way they can have access to the benefits of government is through the local government councils. "If local government officers are democratically elected, money is released to them directly , the impact of that tier of government would be positively felt by the people. "If the local government is scrapped, we are saying that grassroot people are not part of us. Will everybody move to stay in Abuja.” Taye Ashaolu said "I don't know what the committee that made this recommendation wants to achieve but to my mind, the damage it will cause will be more than the benefits therein. "It would even have been better to move for the creation of more local government councils so that every Nigerian irrespective of where he or she stays can enjoy the goodies of democracy. "Scrapping the local government will take away the government far from the people and to this end, the government of the people by the people and for the people will lose its flavor. To my mind, I think there is no need for the existence of local councils". A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jubrin Okutepa said "I am a strong believer of good governance where happiness gets to the greatest number of people. But what do we say where there is no job opportunity, people are being killed every day, properties worth of billions are being daily destroyed. "I have been saying it that the confab is a waste of money and resources, I don't believe in it. The government should have concentrated on how to make the dividend of democracy available for every Nigerian and stop dissipating energy on what does not matter.

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Rivers CJ to know fate May 26 over NJC’s suspension Tunde Oyesina Abuja

HE National Judicial Council (NJC), has told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that it had no requisite jurisdictional power to entertain a suit initiated by the suspended Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice P.N.C Agumagu. Agumagu is seeking a judicial review of his suspension by the coun-

cil. The NJC had announced on March 27 that it would not recognise Justice Agumagu as the Chief Judge of Rivers State and hence suspended him from office. Dissatisfied, Agumagu through his lawyer, Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, approached the court to challenge his suspension.

He named Justices Babatunde Adejumo, Jubril Idris and Comwell Idahosa as second and fourth respondents respectively. While opposing the application, the NJC through his counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, urged the court to strike out the entire suit filed by the embattled Agumagu. Olanipekun, who predicated his applica-

tion on the grounds that the court had no jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter, asked the court to dismiss the application as lacking in merit. Olanipekun was echoed by other respondents in the matter, who raised objection as to the hearing of the application on grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to do so. At the resumed hearing, Agumagu’s lawyer

L-R: Managing Director, The Book Company, Mr. Dayo Alabi; Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the High Court of Lagos, and the Managing Director of Eastern Book Company, Mr. Vijay Malik at the launch of the partnership in Lagos last Thursday.

Adekoya bemoans schoolgirls' abduction, mourns Oputa Foluso Ogunmodede

OREMOST female Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mrs. Funke Adekoya, yesterday, joined thousands of Nigerians to press for the release of the abducted Chibok Secondary School girls, tasking the Jonathan-led government to ensure the abducted schoolgirls were rescued alive. Dressed in an all-black attire, the Harvard-educated lawyer and former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) 1st Vice President paid no heed to the surging crowd which shoved her to and fro as she marched in solidarity with the human rights group, Women for Peace and Justice, bemoaning

the dastardly act. Adekoya said the plight of the abducted Chibok girls and their relatives had not only caused her ‘a grave concern’, “it is virtually impossible not to daily put oneself in the shoes of the parents of those school children, even if only mentally.” According to her, “this is one nightmare that must be made to go away as quickly as possible. It will be unconscionable for anyone with an ounce of human kindness not to do whatever we can to bring back these hapless girls. As a nation and a people, we must demonstrate the capacity to solve this one challenge. Excuses will not do.” Besides, the foremost

female Senior Advocate expressed shock at demise of erudite jurist , Justice Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa, describing his death as the end of an era. Her words: “The Bar has lost another of its icons, our own Lord Denning. He was one of the greatest philosopher-judges Nigeria has produced, and his judgments always displayed interplay between law and morality. He has gone to rest, but remains with us through his judgments and legal writings.” Adekoya described the late Justice Oputa as a distinguished jurist whose candour, poetic excellence and keen sense of justice permeated his entire conduct on the Bench. To say

that he would be dearly missed is to state the obvious, she said. The Women for Peace and Justice had organized a two-kilometer march which took off from Allen Avenue Round-About and terminated at the Governor's Office, Alausa, Ikeja to press for the release of the abducted girls. Boko Haram insurgents had claimed responsibility for their abduction and threatened to sell the girls. There has been outpouring of concern and solidarity since April 14, 2014 when the girls were taken away from their school as they were preparing for their West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations.

Court adjourns ‘wonder bank’ operator’s N9.8b fraud case to May 22 Foluso Ogunmodede

OR allegedly swindling scores of businessmen at the Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos of N9.8billion on a false pretence, a Federal High Court will on May 22, continue further hearing on the alleged offence preferred against a `wonder bank’ operator, Fortune Etaba. The case which was scheduled for trial on Tuesday was put in abeyance following the ab-

sence of the prosecution witnesses. Justice Ibrahim Buba, in a ruling, however adjourned the case to May 22 as he ordered that the accused person should remain in prisons. Etaba who was charged alongside his company -- Establishment House Ltd, is facing a four-count charge bordering on the alleged fraud of N9.8b. The accused person, who was re-arraigned on January 21 on an amended charge, had pleaded

not guilty to the alleged offence. He was granted bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum. Besides, Justice Buba ordered Etaba to deposit his travelling documents with the court's registry with a caveat that he must not travel outside jurisdiction until the matter was finally disposed of. He also ordered the accused person to be remanded in prison pending the perfection of his

bail. Etaba was said to have committed the alleged offence between June and December 2009. Mr. Effiong Asuquo, who is prosecuting the accused person, had told the court that Etaba fraudulently obtained about N9.8 billion from scores of businessmen at the Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos on an alleged pretence that they would receive a non-existent 50 per cent of their deposits after 21 days.

asked the court to hear both the preliminary objection of the respondents and the substantive suit together. But the respondents’ counsel disagreed, insisted that the court must first determine whether it had jurisdiction to hear the matter. After listening to the argument of all parties in the suit, the presiding judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola adjourned further hearing to May 26 to determine which of the applications to hear first. Agumagu who is challenging the NJC’s power to suspend him, had had asked the court to restrain members of an investigation panel set up to investigate the allegations against him from taking any further steps in respect of his case pending the final the determination of the suit he filed. He asked the court for “an order of certiorari, removing to this court for the purpose of being quashed, the query

and letter of suspension from office of the applicant as a judicial officer, Ref. No. NJC/S.32/ RV.CCA/1/1/36 dated March 26, and written by the 1st respondent to the applicant.” Besides, Agumagu is seeking “an order of certiorari, removing to this court for the purpose of being quashed, the minutes of the decisions reached by the 1st respondent at its emergency meeting of March 26, 2014, concerning the applicant.” However, in their Preliminary Objection, the respondents told the court the NJC did not at any time appoint the 2nd to 4th respondents joined in the suit to investigate the applicant. They further submitted that the 3rd and 4th respondents were not members of NJC , adding that members of any panel constituted to investigate any judicial officer were always drawn from the statutory members of the council.

Indian EBC partners firm on law books Mojeed Alabi

owards improving legal practice in Nigeria and Africa, an Indian firm, Easter Book Company, (EBC), has appointed a Nigerian book firm- The Book Company, as its sole partner and exclusive distributors of law book in Nigeria. The Indian book company, which exclusively deals in law books publications and distributions, said the decision to appoint the Nigerian Book Company, to distribute its books, was a product of rigorous search and debates, saying the long history of integrity and success of the company had earned it the partnership. At a formal launch of the initiative last week, held at the conference room within the Multipurpose Hall of the University of Lagos, the EBC managing director, Mr. Vijay Malik, said his company, established in 1942, had been printing and marketing simultaneously “The Weekly Law Reports” and “Law Reports” published by the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting of England since 2007. Malik, however, pledged that the quality of his company’s books compares with those published in the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Germany, saying the

prices were also cheaper than what was obtainable in Europe and America. In his response, the managing director and chief executive of The Book Company, Mr. Dayo Alabi, said the partnership became necessary having found out the quality of the Indian company, saying the experience was contrary to the general notion against Indian books. Alabi, who noted that in books, quality was central whether in content or in production, said his company was prepared to distribute the necessary law books to the law firms, bookshops and libraries across the nation as the foundation of legal practice globally was in the quality of books available to judicial workers. The partnership launched, was chaired by a Justice of the High Court of Lagos, Mrs. Oyindamola Ogala, who pledged to mobilise both the Bar and the Bench to patronize the duo companies, saying she was impressed with the quality of the books on display at the venue. At the ceremony were major stakeholders in the book industry, legal profession and the academia including the librarian of Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Dr. A. Balarabe; University of Ibadan Bookshop Manager, Mr. Rasaq, among several others.

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Rhodes-Vivour’s son laments ‘new wigs’ poor remuneration Theirs is a family of lawyers. His father is a Justice of the Supreme Court and his mother and Vice Chairperson Law Reform Committee, Institute of Directors London (Nigeria Branch), is into private practice. Rotimi Rhodes-Vivour also studied Law. He spoke to TUNDE OYESINA on his foray into the legal profession, administration of justice, judiciary and sundry issues.

IS father, Justice Bode – Rhode Vivour was born into the famous Lagos family of late Justice Akinwunmi R.W Rhodes-Vivour some six decades ago. Justice RhodesVivour, who rose through the rank and file to become a Justice of the Supreme Court, had his basic educational background in Nigeria, where he bagged his LL.B in 1974 from the University of Lagos. He was called to the Bar in 1975. Rotimi, his son donned the wig 30 years after him and 24 years after his wife, Adedoyin. Unlike his parents, Justice RhodesVivour, a Justice of the Supreme Court and Mrs. Adedoyin Oyinkan RhodesVivour,, who had their law degrees in Nigeria, Rotimi, a partner at Doyin Rhodes-Vivour & Co., read law Law at the University of Hull, in the United Kingdom between 2001 and 2004. Although he did not deny his parents’ influence on his choice of career, Rotimi like his mother, an associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), his choice of career has become a blessing in disguise as ‘it has served as a good foundation for me in other business I have been able to lay my hands upon’. Rotimi told New Telegraph his journey into the profession this way: “I would not deny, that coming from a family of a well renowned legal practitioners did not inform or influence my decision to study law but kindly permit me to also add that studying law has served as a very good foundation for me, not only in my career as a legal practitioner but also in my other business pursuits”. Rotimi, who recalled his first day in court as an interesting one, cut his legal teeth from two of Nigeria’s reputable firms where he had his pupilage. He told New Telegraph that the training he undergone in the law firms of Aluko & Oyebode &Co., and Ayanlaja, Adesanya and Co., no doubt prepared him for some of the successes he had indeed recorded within the short period he was called to the Bar. He said: “I would like to think that just like most lawyers, I was a bit nervous on the day of my first appearance in court. However, having served my pupillage in these law firms, Aluko & Oyebode and Ayanlaja, Adesanya & Co., I had observed my learned senior colleagues in court and taken notes on how well they presented their cases and related with judges and courtroom staff alike. Furthermore, having gone through the case file the previous night, I was able to overcome my initial jitters after announcing my appearance in court and then went on to successfully present my case. On his embarrassing moment, Rotimi said “the only embarrassing moment I can recall was the day I wasn't fully robed and attempted to hurriedly get robed as His Lordship

was making his entrance into the courtroom. “On that day, I was appearing before the Hon. Justice Oshodi of the High Court of Lagos State that morning and had taken off my wig and gown due to the heat in the courtroom whilst chatting with the opposing counsel. Little did I know that his Lordship was a no-nonsense judge and is always on the Bench in regardless of any unforeseen circumstances at 9 a.m prompt, he walked in and immediately he took his seat, asked why I was attempting to robe myself whilst the court was about to sit. I offered my sincere apologies and all he did was to remind me that lawyers are supposed to be fully robed before the judge steps into the courtroom, and if not they should excuse themselves and get themselves robed outside the courtroom before stepping in. I got away lightly that day probably because he could tell that I was a new wig who hadn't yet been accustomed to some of the unwritten rules of the legal profession. I thank him for that. Also, he made a case for better remuneration for new wigs, tasking the leadership of the Bar to address the issue with a view to making the profession an endearing one for the young lawyers. His words: “It is quite sad as this is not the case in foreign jurisdictions including England where we seem to have inherited our legal system. Young lawyers are not remunerated based on their qualifications, skills and competence of the law but they are rather made to believe that they are paying their dues whilst receiving peanuts as salary. Moving forward, it is my humble opinion that the Nigeria Bar Association should take a proactive step by regulating this area of the profession. They could do so by setting a minimum wage for legal practitioners based on their year of call just as we have for our Bar dues and practicing fees. Rotimi, apparently miffed by allegations of bribery and corruption on the Bench said it was erroneous to say that the Bench was an embodiment of corruption, insisting that the judiciary was not the only sector affected by the ‘virus.’ He said: “As a lawyer, I don't play with facts. I am unaware of any judge that has been convicted or tried for corruption. Therefore, there seems to

Rhodes-Vivour, Supreme Court Justice

be no basis on which to formulate my opinion other than accusations and gossip. As a lawyer, I will not engage in that. That notwithstanding, corruption is an evil eating through the fabric of our society and which needs to be urgently addressed and eradicated. “This country will not rid itself from corruption until we start holding people responsible for their actions and inactions. We need to fully enforce the rule of law. In other words, everyone is equal under the law, while there is need to also get rid of the 'big man' mentality. Not until people with no exceptions are made to face the full wrath of the law and made an example of, we will be beginning to seriously eradicate corruption from our society. A situation where ‘A’ feels he can get away from the consequences of a crime he commits because ‘B’ recently got away from a similar offence is not healthy for the fight against corruption and discourages those saddled with the responsibility of enforcing the law i.e the Nigerian Police Force. We also need to better equip our security agencies. On the national conference, he said “I stand to be corrected but no situation can be totally bad. There are always two sides to a coin. It is my respectful opinion that the national conference as inaugurated by our president is a very welcome development as it gives all the various regions, both majority and ethnic minorities an opportunity to sit down, present and discuss their interests and issues affecting their regions that have been ignored in the past. So, to answer your question, I do see a lot of good that will emanate from the national conference”. On what he envisioned for himself, Rotimi unveiled his plan to take the entertainment sector to a new dimension with a view to making it a gateway to Nigeria’s economy. He said: “I am currently working on a project tagged ‘Sounds of Lagos 2014’. “The objective of the project is to create a platform for the key players in the Nigerian music industry to educate, entertain, share knowledge and ideas, network and inform the public as to their position and con-

Young lawyers are not remunerated based on their qualifications, skills and competence of the law, but they are rather made to believe that they are paying their dues whilst receiving peanuts as salary

tributions to this thriving sector of our country’s economy. “This event is created with the overall aim of developing and promoting this industry in a holistic and authentic manner that will not compromise originality. ‘Sounds Of Lagos (SOL)’, is an annual international music industry exhibition that will showcase the work of a select range of emerging and established Nigerian artists as well as other stakeholders working within the music industry in a three day event that will comprise of a series of workshops, music shows and iconic individual presentations by keynote speakers within the industry and internationally. ‘Sounds of Lagos’ will take place each year in November and will be the go-to event for anyone interested in showcasing his or her talent and meeting the buyers and sellers within the industry. Key participants at the event will include l Prominent Nigerian record labels l High profile artists l International guest speakers l Media practitioners l Legal practitioners (Entertainment lawyers) l Fans and music lovers l Corporate organizations and with a stake in the industry l Various service providers in the music industry l Technical and support partners “The project is in support of youth empowerment and poverty alleviation and we have partnered with 234, an online charitable fundraising platform which will distribute finds raised to charities of our choice. We recently obtained the endorsement of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and also the Lagos State Government, so I guess that is one of the many things I am looking forward to. On the nation’s judicial system, he said “just like our beloved country, Nigeria, our legal system is relatively young in comparison to that of developed regions. Rome was not built in one day. It took the United States of America over 300 years to get to where it is today and the United Kingdom even much more. We are slowly making progress, but not as fast as some of us would like to see. I recall that it was our former governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who had the foresight to improve the welfare of judges in the Lagos State Judiciary. Before him, our courtrooms were dilapidated structures and judges were poorly remunerated. Presently, the Lagos State Judiciary is the envy of all other state judiciaries in the country.

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‘I gained a lot from H.O. Davies' HE started his career as a Judge in the old Anambra State on August 21, 1989. Nine years after, he was elevated to the Court of Appeal. He retired last week as Justice of the Supreme Court ,having attained the mandatory age of retirement. Justice Christopher Chukwuma-Eneh, an alumnus of the famous University College, London, speaks on his background, foray into the legal profession, the Bench, judiciary and sundry issues. TUNDE OYESINA met him.

Justice Chukwuma-Eneh

LTHOUGH his father, Mr. Wilfred Udegbunam Eneh a career civil servant, who hailed from Udi Local Government Council of Enugu State and his mother, Mrs Margaret Nnokwo Eneh, a petty trader and house wife lived a fulfilled life until 1967 when the Nigerian civil war which claimed hundreds of lives broke out, Justice Christopher Chukwuma-Eneh, who last week retired from the Supreme Court, said he was undaunted by his father’s death as his passion for law remained paramount in his heart. He told New Telegraph that although it was not a bed of roses, he subdued all odds to become a lawyer following ‘a help’ he received along others in form of funds. Justice Chukwuma-Eneh said: “I was born into a Christian family of Mr. Wilfred Udegbunam Eneh of Umuoka family, Obioma and Mrs Margaret Nnokwo Eneh of Unwozougwuani Nsude, both towns in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu state. “My parents Iived their quiet lives at No. 39 Abagana street, Enugu until the outbreak of the civil war when they returned to Obioma. My father was a distinguished civil servant of old public works department, engineering section for so many years. He died on October 4, 1969, a couple of months to the cessation of the civil war. “My mother, on the other hand, was a full time house wife and because my father traveled a lot during the early stage of their married lives, she engaged herself in trading business. She died on December 27, 2007.

The retired Justice of the Supreme Court started his elementary education at St. Patrick School Ogbette, Enugu, where he attained the necessary qualification which laid the foundation of his future academic. But his moment of glory did not come until he enrolled at the College of the Immaculate Conception where he claimed to have received ‘strict formal education’. He said: “I started my early education as an infant at St. Patrick School Ogbette, Enugu. From there I proceeded to the prestigious College of the Immaculate Conception (C.I.C), Enugu, where in addition to a strict formal education, I got some great funds as a student with other fellow students. “In retrospect, it was the most fabulous time of my life. After this, I went to the University College, London. There it was work all through, I remember fondly Professor Goff who later was appointed a Law Lord with Professor Cornish of the London School of Economics and Professor Allot of the African Studies department and of course our own Dr. Uche (then a lecturer also). “Before now, I had enrolled to read law in the Inns of Court (Middle Temple) and having passed my English Bar Examination as Prizman of the Middle Temple, I decided to practice Law in England and Wales. “The Under Treasurer of the Middle Temple got me places in the common law chambers of John Cope Esq at No. 9 King Bench Walk Monroe W.C.1 and the chancery chambers of John Monroe QC Esq. at No. 10/12 old square Lincoln's Inn London W.C.1 for a year's pupilage.

Shortly after he was called to the English Bar, Justice Chukwuma-Eneh undergone a one -year pupilage in the chambers of John Monroe QC Esq. at No. 10/12 old square Lincoln's Inn London WC1. Although he combined the practice of law with a part-time teaching, Justice Chukwuma-Eneh had acquired enormous experiences in the field of law before he returned to the country in 1973 for the mandatory law school. He said: “Like I practiced law at the High Courts at the strand. Also I had to combine my legal practice with parttime lecturing at the Princeton College London WC1, Hackney Polytechnic and South East Polytechnic, the latter two are now University of East London and South East University. “From these exercises, I can say I acquired enormous experience and expertise from my immediate principal in chambers, Mr. Cope, Mr. Monroe QC and Lan Maclouch Esq. They gave me great opportunities to show case my professional finesse. On his experience shortly after his return to the country, the retired Justice said “I came back to Nigeria in September 1973 and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School for my one year compulsory programme. Having stayed some 11 years in London, it was an experience to stay at the Igbosere Hostel of the Nigerian Law School under the watch of the hostel manager we knew as 'baba'. “He was a good man, one who made us to observe the rules and discipline of the hostel. This regimented life reminded me of my life in the college as a boarder. For some of us students from the diaspora, the living conditions surrounding the hostel were harsh and exacerbated by the humid weather and the stench from green pool of stagnant water infested with mosquitoes in the facade of the hostel and the overall unhealthy environment which made some of us to abandon the course to return to the UK. “My next practical training took me to the Chambers of Chief H.O Davies at No. 40 Stratham Street, Lagos for my Law School attachment. He was a great lawyer who told me of his legal exploits that took him to South Africa and Ke-

Our system needs to be restructured to suit our present day reality. If I may suggest assimilate some of the principles on inquisitorial procedure to an extent, in order to make our criminal justice delivery, more robust and vibrant so as to meet the recent challenges posed in criminal prosecution cum justice delivery in crimes of fraud, corruption

nya, the defence of Jomo Kenyatta and others and his days in Nigerian politics. I salute him posthumously for the exposure and experience I gained in his chambers. “I found the course in Law school as most necessary and of rewarding exposure as it facilitated and smooth ended my entry into private legal practice. I later came back to Enugu and I found myself divided as to taking up teaching law full time and engaging upon full blown legal practice. In retrospect, it is a matter of chance that I got my stint of legal practice in Enugu in the Ozude Chambers of Chief Enechi Onyia SAN (my townsman). The cases in his chambers took me to the High Courts in Enugu, Abakaliki, Nsukka and Onitsha. I then settled down to a most active and vibrant legal practice that took me to virtually all corners of this country, that is Lagos, Ibadan and Asaba in the West, Calabar and Ogoja, Port Harcourt in the South, and Azare in Bauchi and Jos in the North, and in most of the courts of East central state. On his foray into the Bench, he said: “A former Chief Judge of the old Anambra state, Justice P.K Nwokedi, had invited me on two previous occasions to join them on the Bench. About June/ July 1989, I was again so invited and on this occassion, I accepted. “On August 21, 1989 while I was in Lagos attending the Annual Bar Conference at the Victoria Island, my appointment as a Judge of the old Anambra state was flashed over the new bulletin and I was later on posted to Awka High Court where I was posted to Abakaliki High Court and later to Enugu High Court on the creation of Ebonyi state. “On November 21, 1998, I was appointed to the Court of Appeal Bench and posted to Jos Division. After two years in Jos division of the court, I was later posted to Lagos division of the court and I was there for five years plus before being posted to Calabar Division of the court from where I was appointed Justice of the Supreme Court. However, Justice Chukwuma-Eneh lamented the nation’s justice administration, canvassing a holistic review of the system with a view to enhancing efficient administration of justice. He said: “I think the time has come for a critical appraisal of the efficiency of the administration of justice in this country. “This situation calls for a holistic overhauling of the system. If what judges and lawyers are doing in the court rooms, are to resonate with the litigating public, for whom the courts are meant, there must of necessity be some thinking out of the box approach. Time has come for us to take account of our local and peculiar environment in formulating rules and principles that are suited and tailored for our environment, stage of development, culture, mentality and tendencies. “In order to accelerate the tempo of criminal justice delivery that accusatorial procedure in our system although not in any manner superior nor better , a procedure in justice delivery to inquisitorial procedure which is more in consonance with our culture,

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Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Wali and NBA governance: A legacy foretold CO NTINUED F R O M L A S T WEEK

Emeka Nwadioke

Chukwuma-Eneh AT A GLANCE Justice Chukwuma-Eneh

way of life, environment and stage of development. Our system needs to be restructured to suit our present day reality. If I may suggest assimilate some of the principles on inquisitorial procedure to an extent, in order to make our criminal justice delivery, more robust and vibrant so as to meet the recent challenges posed in criminal prosecution cum justice delivery in crimes of fraud, corruption. In advertise to this paradigm shift, I cannot see any justifiable reason for sticking so tenaciously to accusatorial procedure in prosecuting criminal cases in our courts with its attendant slowness in contra distinction to inquisitorial procedure equally geared towards fast tracking of justice delivery. On corruption, he said “the staggering impunity and lawlessness particularly in the area of fraud and corruption that have become the hallmarks of our daily life in this society, are proofs that our justice delivery system in this area, at least is just not working. “No wonder why it should take so long as a matter of routine to get a legal dispute finally determined. Again, it is a notorious fact that the matters filed by EFCC and ICPC are bogged down in our courts on the one hand by the overreaching effect of our adversary system of prosecution of these cases in the courts based on accusatorial procedure when most of the cases are mainly documentary evidence that should not take time to establish and conclude. “Even then the process the lawyers are having a field day in court by re-

• He is an alumnus of the University of London • He was called to the English Bar • He practiced law in England and Wales • He did a one-year stint in the Common Law Chamber of John Cope and the Chancery Chamber of John Monroe • He had chambers attachment with Chief H.O. Davies • He taught law at the Princeton College, London and Hackney Polytechnic, now University of East London and South-East University • He did a stint in Ozude Chambers of Chief Enechi Onyia, SAN • He was elevated to the Bench of the Old Anambra State Judiciary on August 21, 1989 • He became a Justice of the Court of Appeal on November 21, 1998 • He was appointed to the Bench of the Supreme Court in 2007 • Retired as Justice of Supreme Court on April 30, 2014 sorting to all manner of subterfuges is stalling the progress of these cases thus causing unnecessary delays and frustration on having turned the trials into charades. Besides, Justice Chukwuma-Eneh lamented the backlog of cases at the Supreme Court, describing it as sad. He said: “In our present reality, a

he list should also be issued to all candidates for the election not later than 30 (thirty) days to the elections. It was further suggested that an Election Appeals Committee (EAC) has become imperative in resolving electoral disputes, with its members nominated by the NBA Trustees with subsequent approval of the NBA NEC. Universal suffrage was equally canvassed, such that all lawyers who have paid their practicing fees and branch dues for the 3 (three) years preceding the elections shall be eligible to vote, save for a few exceptions. This is to be aided by electronic voting at state capitals, a mode of voting already successfully tested by the NIGCOMSAT in collaboration with at least one professional association. Indeed, Wali - perhaps much like erstwhile President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua - in his inaugural speech, acknowledged some of the disquiet that attended his election and promised to wrought electoral reforms within the NBA system. His words: “Expectedly your (2012 Electoral Committee) report to the pre-conference National Executive Committee meeting of the 26th of August, 2012 made mention of areas that need improvement in our electoral process. We will look at them and in due course, we will set up a committee to review the constitution of Nigerian Bar Association and make recommendations to the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, as some of the issues raised in your report will need amendment of the Constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association and our electoral guidelines.” It is noteworthy that much of the salutary effects that have attended recent general elections in Nigeria were a result of the political will, demonstrated by Yar’Adua in a genuine attempt to wrought electoral reforms. Wali is self-acclaimed as a “man of consummate willpower, undimmed vision and unflagging tenacity.” Even moreso, his legacy is foretold by the antecedents of his election. If Wali is able to carry through similar reforms within the NBA towards bringing about free, fair and credible elections devoid of rancor and undue influence, his place in the annals of NBA history is assured.

case is not finally determined, until it has reached and been dealt with by the Supreme Court save for election related cases, fundamental rights enforcement cases, heat the matters before it in a chronological order. “We are hearing 2007 and 2008 cases in 2014 effectively leaving us with backlog of seven years. Even with this unsalutory state of affairs, nobody can sincerely accuse the noble eminent Justices of the Supreme Court of not being alive to their responsibilities rather our adversary system is a major constraining factor in this regard. “You have only a good look at the returns of cases disposed of every *Nwadioke is Lagos attorney quarter to extempore dispose of that issue as a non-issue. The figures of cases disposed of are staggering for the apex court as it is not expected to dispose of as many cases as Magistrates or High Courts. If I may respectfully suggest, the Nigerian Law Reform Commission should examine the system of inquisitorial procedure of justice delivery with a view to sifting out acceptable procedure of extracting evidence in regard of burden of proof and standard of proof in certain criminal cases involving fraud, corruption and abuse of public office if the cases are to conclude at all. It should be very much appreciated that the apex court is over burdened with cases, a good number of which need not and should not have come this far in the first place, but they are here nonetheless, because lawyers in pursuit of meeting the requirement Nwadioke of elevation to the rank of SAN.

26 LAW | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Aborisade canvasses amnesty for Boko Haram AMNESTY

Lawyer seeks amnesty for insurgents in exchange for safe release of abducted schoolgirls

Foluso Ogunmodede

midst conflicting reports that the abducted chibok schoolgirls were sighted in Central African Republic, an activist lawyer, Mr. Femi Aborisade cautioned the Federal Government on the dire consequence in the cooler should the abducted girls were not rescued from the Boko Haram insurgents. Aborisade insisted that the girls forcefully abducted by the insurgents about four weeks ago from their college must be rescued ‘safely’ as it was the government’s responsibility to ensure their ‘safe release or freedom for the chibok students’. He,however suggested that henceforth there was a need to empower Nigerian adults to carry arms in self defence through a Bill to legalise it in the country. Besides, he called for an end to military operations in the troubled northeast to pave the way for the ‘immediate declaration of Amnesty programme for Boko Haram in exchange for safe release of chibok girls’ as military operations would not solve the nation’s security challenge. Aborisade said: “I wish to add my voice to the demand for the immediate safe release of over 230 Chibok secondary school young women students

who were abducted by the Boko Haram about three weeks ago. “The Federal Government has the primary responsibility to ensure the safe release and/or freedom for the Chibok students. But the issue goes beyond the release of the Chibok young women. Policies and action should be developed and implemented to avoid repeat of the Chibok experience elsewhere. “As we want the safe release of the Chibok students, as we desire that the young women are brought back alive and not dead, the Federal Government has a duty to review the military operations in searching for the abducted Chibok secondary school students and in fighting the Boko Haram phenomenon. To these effects, the following five-point programmes are suggested: l End military operations. l The U.S. and other European soldiers: out of Nigeria! l Pass a bill legalizing adults bearing arms in self defence and for democratic community defense groups. l Immediate Declaration of Amnesty programme for Boko Haram in exchange for the safe release of Chibok girls and to end bloodletting. l Formulate and immediately implement an anti-poverty programme. Commit the huge resources being used to fund state of emergency and which would be used to maintain the foreign security agents to address pervasive poverty. “Military operations are not likely to lead to the safe release of the Chibok students. The insurgents are likely to use them as human shield. Wisdom does not support military opera-

tion as an effective tactic at this stage. Besides, community members in the three North Eastern States where State of Emergency has been imposed for almost a year (from 14 May 2013) have attested to the ineffectiveness of military operations. The Cable Network News (CNN) news items confirm the Report by Amnesty International (AI) that soldiers do not respond early to advance information about the likelihood of impending attacks by Boko Haram. “Apart from delayed or non-response from the soldiers when communities are attacked, communities testify to the fact that more community members have been killed by soldiers in the course of the bid to fight Boko Haram insurgents than the number killed by the Boko Haram insurgents themselves. “For example, according to a Sahara Reporters’ post on 9 May 2014 (http://saharareporters.com/news-pa g e/ nigerian-military-committed-genocide-birningwari-communities-saysurvivors accessed on 10 May 2014), “communities in the Birnin-Gwari Local Government area of Kaduna State said the Nigerian military committed genocide on their areas in a recent clampdown on armed gangs that the military spokesperson had announced was “huge success” during the week. “The communities of Kwalakwangi, Maikyasuwa, and Dokan-ruwa were over a four-day span, from Monday to Thursday of this week, under siege by the military, residents of the area told us. The Nigerian military was deployed in the area to uproot a series of armed bandit ‘safe heavens’ and safe houses, un-

der the military tactics called, "Operation Restore Peace." “According an eyewitness from the Kwalakwangi village, the military had burnt down the village, and killed all the able-bodied men caught in the cross hairs of their guns. Several of the people shot were not connected to any of the gangs military officials sought. At least 43 people were buried in Kwalakwangi village on Friday, including the chief imam, and the district Ward head. Apart from the Mosque located in the center of the village, no single building composed of mostly mud houses, was left standing in the village”. For the foregoing reasons, military operations should be ended and Nigerian soldiers should go back to the barracks. “The U.S. and other European armed forces could provide required technical and training, not only for the Nigerian soldiers but also ordinary people involved in community defense operations, particularly in the North East. The outcomes of U.S. military presence in any war torn country do not recommend the presence of U.S. soldiers in Nigeria. In Afghanistan, perhaps about 20,000 civilians have been killed by US troops. In Iraq, perhaps 140,000 civilians died in the period of the US occupation. In total, more than half a million people may have died directly or indirectly from the conflict. On its part, the Nigerian security forces (as well as other government agencies) appear to have been infiltrated by the Boko Haram, thanks to public declaration by President Jonathan. “For communal protection, the National Assembly should urgently

Retired Justice Okechukwu Okeke in a group photograph with 2012/13 law school students in FHC, Lagos.

consider passing a bill legalizing adults bearing arms in self defence and for democratic community defense groups. This is particularly urgent in the Boko Haram infested States. The proposed bill should be passed urgently under the doctrine of necessity which the National Assembly had set as a precedent. “An Amnesty program should be urgently declared for Boko Haram insurgents in exchange for the safe release of the chibok students and an end to bloodshed. It was not military action that has moderated the activities of militants in the Niger Delta. It is the amnesty programme, including re-settlement and provision of skill development opportunities, etc. “Boko Haram is a movement feeding on

chronic poverty in the Nigeria sea of plenty. The real terror that should be fought frontally is poverty. Social security schemes should be developed so that no Nigerian, as a right, lives below poverty line. “Cost-free education, cost-free health care, social or free housing, employment or realistic unemployment allowance, and so on must be provided for the vulnerable classes of people in Nigeria. The North East must be given priority attention in all of these, even though the social security schemes should be universal and nationwide. Commit the huge resources being used to fund state of emergency and which would be used to maintain the foreign security agents to address pervasive poverty”.

Igbo lawyers ask FG to immortalize Justice Oputa Foluso Ogunmodede

tu Oka-Iwu Lagos, an umbrella body of lawyers of Igbo extraction has urged the Federal Government to immortalize former Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa for his immense contributions to Nigeria’s jurisprudence and national development. In a statement signed by its President, Mr. Zik Obi II and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emeka Nwadioke, the association described the late Justice Oputa as “a consummate and unrivalled jurist of the finest refinement,” noting that Nigerians were united on the excellent stewardship wrought by the late jurist. It reads in part: “Though orphaned at a tender age of barely six months, Justice Oputa by sheer focus and dint of hard work rose to the pinnacle of his profession through uncommon mastery, insight and erudition. “It is not in doubt that he was a great and unstinting patriot keenly aware that if properly applied, law can be a powerful tool in the quest for national growth and development.” The group, however noted that unlike the current trend where promotions to the Supreme Court emanate from the Court of Appeal, the late jurist rose directly from the High Court to the Supreme Court, adding that his glorious and colourful career as a judicial officer was a testament

to his prodigious talent. It said: “Our condolences go to the Oputa family, the legal community and the nation in general on this great loss. “We however celebrate his legacy of service and urge the Federal Government to name some national monuments after the late jurist to honour his patriotism, incorruptibility, exceptional brilliance, lucid intellectualism, poetic licence, judicial activism and unimpeachable integrity. “It is not surprising that his clarity of mind and deep insights earned him the sobriquets, ‘Socrates of the Supreme Court,’ ‘Nigeria’s Lord Denning,’ and the ‘Philosopher-judge,' saying his demise is the "end of a glorious era in the annals of Nigeria's Supreme Court." Justice Oputa died last week after a brief illness. A former Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Oputa bestrode the Judiciary like a colossus, reeling out thought-provoking judgments that emphasized substantial justice than technical justice. A lucid author, he laced his judgements with quotable quotes, a quintessential jurist whose tenure at the Supreme Court was regarded as the apex court’s finest and golden era. The late Oputa was the Chairman of the celebrated Human Rights Violations Investigative Commission set up by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to soothe the frayed nerves occasioned by autocratic military regimes over the years.

NEWS | LAW

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

HURILAW seeks reform of Nigeria's justice system Joseph Onyekwere

orried by the slow pace of Nigeria's justice system, the Human Right Law Services (HURILAW) has through its speed of justice project, proposed a reform of the justice sector in the country. The group said the proposed reforms if taken and implemented would substantially resolve the problem of cases lingering in courts for years. According to Victor Nwakasi, an associate of Olisa Agbakoba and promoters of the reform, the proposed reforms would centre on fundamental objective of the courts, case management in courts, full front loading, modernization of court rules to include usage

of simple languages, presentations, Bench ruling, e-filing and e-payment options among others. Nwakasi who stated that the speed of justice was essentially about case management and moving away from the bitter adversarial clashes of parties, lamented that our judicial system had collapsed as cases lasting between five and 10 years were on the increase. He said: "Our judicial and legal system has failed. Simple cases take five to ten years to resolve. Clearly, there is an urgent need for reforms. The speed of justice project is designed to ensure case flow in courts. The court should be a legal clinic where legal problems like patients are diagnosed and resolved in a short time".

Explaining the issues involved in fundamental objective of courts, he stated that court procedural regimes should have an overreaching purpose beyond the intricacies of litigation under the proposed reform. Said he: “ That higher purpose is the overriding objective; to enable the Judge deal with cases justly and swiftly. The overriding objective is the chief interpretive tool for the rules, and thus precludes the strict constructionist approach to rules construction as the major obstacle to civil procedure reform in Nigeria is excessive loyalty to adversarial forensics. "The Bench and the Bar alike are too enamoured of the ancient traditions of legal battle in courtrooms".

L-R: A lawyer in the Chambers of Olisa Agbakoba & Associates, Gbemisola Orimoloye; senior associate, Victor Nwakasi; partner on corporate/commercial practice, Mrs. Bisi Akodu; and senior associates, HURILAWS, Colins Okeke; an associate in the firm, Chinwe Nwadike.

MONEY LAUNDERING Court grants request by accused person to attend business meeting in U.S. Joseph Onyekwere

ustice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to release the international passport of Alex Okoh, who is standing trial alongside the chairman of BiCourtney Service Ltd, Wale Babalakin over an alleged N4.7 billion fraud. The court ordered the commission to release Okoh's passport to enable him attend a business meeting in the United State of America between May 13 and 30th. Okoh, together with Babalakin and his companies, Stabili-

Abuja

n Abuja base legal practitioner and human rights activist, Kayode Ajulo and over 200 able bodied men have presented themselves for conscription into the military in a bid to join in the fight against the Boko Haram sect. Ajulo on behalf of his group, the Egalitarian Mission for

and satellite communications programmes with a view to reviewing its laws as necessary, set up regulation and build infrastructures in response to the growing multi-dimensional and trains boundary crimes and terrorism. However, they noted that part of the challenges the country faced with in its effort to free the abducted girls was the lack of advanced skills and infrastructure for space and satellite communications which was a prerequisite for technological innovation for defense and national security. "It is imperative to state that the recourse to international agencies and foreign countries have become necessary due to their advanced capacity in space and satellite communications", Nwakasi said, stressing that strong regulatory framework have revolutionized longdistance telephone communications and linked countries with global information structure, enhance health care delivery through tele-medicine and provide satellite services such as data imaging required in dealing with global terrorism.

Agbakoba vs Minister of Finance: Court fixes July 8 for hearing

Babalakin: Court orders EFCC to release Okoh's passport ni Visioni Ltd., Bi-Courtney Limited and Renix Nigeria Ltd for allegedly aiding former Delta State Governor, James Ibori to launder money. They are facing a 27-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit felony, corruptly conferring benefit on account of public action and retention of proceeds of a criminal conduct. Both defendants had since filed objection to the charge and are also challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter. Besides, The duo are challenging the competency of the charge, arguing that the EFCC lacked the power to prosecute them before a state High Court without a valid fiat from the state Attorney-General. Lawyer to Okoh at the hearing of the matter, Tayo Oyetibo,

SAN urged the court to compel the EFCC to release his client's international passport to allow him attend a business conference in the United State. Justice Lawal-Akapo, however granted the request but ordered that the defendant must return to the country before June 6, 2014. Earlier, due to a request by the EFCC Prosecution lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN for an adjournment, the hearing of the defendants’ application challenging the competence of the charge could not proceed. The court said Rotimi had informed the court that he was conducting a trial in another court and would not be able to attend the proceeding. The court subsequently adjourned the matter till June 19, for hearing of all pending applications.

Lawyer, others seek Army’s nod to combat insurgents Tunde Oyesina

Advocating a better case management system, the group noted that a report of the National Judicial Council (NJC) sub-committee on speedy dispensation of justice conducted in 2011 revealed that seventy five percent of cases filed in courts across Nigeria were frivolous and unnecessary. "Part of the reason for keeping such cases is because of the failure to apply strong case management tools by courts. So, case management tools in our rules are required to free up judicial time", he declared. The group also seeks to expedite proceedings in the courts by seeing through reforms that empowers the judge to take applications informally and deliver a Bench ruling, drawing up of orders by lawyers which would be adopted by the court, compulsory alternative dispute resolution mechanism, as well as mandatory Bench rulings. Commending the efforts of the international community in ensuring that the adopted Chibok schoolgirls were freed, the group urged the federal government to take a second look at our space law policy

Africa (EMA) also called on all able bodied men currently involved in various mass protests over the abduction of the Chibok girls under the auspices of #BringBackOurGirls to leave protest to women and the elderly. Besides, the Mission urged the able bodied men in Nigeria to proceed to any nearest military base to demand for conscription for onward deploy-

ment to Sambisa forest to ensure the release of the captives. Speaking with New Telegraph in Abuja, Ajulo who is the Executive Secretary of the Mission further stated that at the moment what is imperative was to take a practical and decisive measure in ensuring that the girls were returned home safe to their parents and dispatch Boko Haram to the world of extinction.

Okonjo-Iweala

Agbakoba, SAN

Joseph Onyekwere

on the respondents, who had also filed a response to their application. She therefore prayed the court for a hearing date. Consequently, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke adjourned the matter to July 8 for hearing. In his interlocutory application, Agbakoba contended that the failure of States to conduct Local Government elections was fatal. He argued that such states were therefore, not entitled to receive public revenue from the Federation Account, adding that the Constitution guaranteed a system of Local Government run, by democratically elected executives. On March 26, the court granted the plaintiff ’s application to amend his originating Summons. The first and third respondents have entered appearance in the suit, while the Accountant General of the Federation is yet to enter appearance

Federal High Court Lagos has said it would on July 8, hear a suit seeking to restrain the Minister of Finance from allocating revenue to Caretaker Committees of Local Government Councils. A former president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), had filed the suit seeking an order to restrain the Minister of Finance from making allocations to states that had not conducted council elections. Sued are the AccountantGeneral of the Federation, and the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee. Agbakoba is asking the court to suspend such allocations pending the determination of the substantive suit. When the case was called on Monday, lawyer to the applicant, Mrs Adanna Duru told the court that they had served all court processes

28 LAW | FILE

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Obtaining probate in Nigeria: Argument for its retention and modification CONT INU ED F R O M LA S T W EEK

Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe

his stage is known as the making of the Will. This is perhaps the climax of the procedure as the executors and witnesses come together to witness the most significant event in the approval of probate. It is essential that after the making of the Will ceremony in court, the draft of the minutes and the order of the grant are made by the court and draft is passed to both the probate registrar and probate Judge for approval. Upon approval, the draft for the grant of probate is made by the Court and checked for mistakes and corrections by the Chief/Probate Registrar. And finally, the applicant/executor is then granted probate by the court. The procedure mentioned above is legal and systematic where the application for probate is non-contentious, that is, the application for probate by the executors is not being challenged by the beneficiaries or other interested parties in the estate of the testator. The same cannot be said to be the case where the Will or application for probate is being contested. It is trite that the court will generally give enough room for grey areas in an application for probate or issues raised in the Will are first dealt with before probate is granted to the appropriate executor or executors. When a Caveat is filed by an interested party, challenging the probate, the court will invite the caveator to explain or give reasons why he is challenging the probate. Thereafter, the executor is issued a citation by the court to within 21 days prove the Will or renounce the probate. If the executor fails to enter the citation, it means he is no longer interested. Same applies to the Caveator who fails to appear in Court to defend the caveat within three months upon filling the caveat. In Lagos State, once probate has been applied for, the interested party must file the caveat within three months or remain silent forever. Once caveat is entered, it is referred to a Judge of a competent court for determination.It is trite that the registrar of probate cannot grant probate when a caveat has been entered. It is the responsibility of the executor who applied for probate to prove that the caveat so entered by the caveator is void. Thus, in Dr. Stephen Dan-Jumbo & Ors v. Bernard Dan-Jumbo & Anor, 13 [1999] 11 NWLR pt. 627 445 SC, the probate granted was revoked due to the legal fact that the caveat entered has not been lifted before probate was granted to the other party. It follows therefore that once a caveat has been voided the caveator must be put on notice before probate is granted to the executor. Appointment of an administrator pendente lite may be necessary in some situation. In the case of Dan-Jumbos, the matter took some time before judgment was obtained. In some cases the dispute can last for several years leading to the dissipation and wastage of the testator’s estate. To protect the deceased’s estate the court is empowered by law to appoint administrator pendent elite to manage the estate pending the determination of the dispute in a court of law. This was the decision handed down by the Court of Appeal in Kunle Ladejobi & Others v.

It is the law that ten percent of the total value of the deceased estate accrues to government through the probate registry

Braithwaite laments delay in N10b suit against Standard Chartered Bank DELAY Lawyer seeks speedy trial in N10b suit against bank Joseph Onyekwere

Dr. Oghenesivbe

Odutola Holdings Ltd & Others, 14 [2002] 1 WRN 94 at 106-7, where Aderemi, J.C.A. stated thus; “His (Kunle Ladejobi) appointment by the court to my mind carries the force of law. My understanding of the contention of the cross-appellants is that because the administrator pendent elite – Kunle Ladejobi has not formally applied for and obtained Letters of Administration, he lacked the legal capacity to perform the functions appurtenant to his office with relation to the estate of the deceased. With due respect, I cannot conceive any other force of law which is higher than that given by the court in the course of the appointment. The order of appointment made by the Chief Judge of Ogun State on the 1st of August 1997 was made pursuant to the exercise of his judicial powers under the law until it is revoked judicial notice of its sanctity must always be taken by any court of law..” The Ladejobi’s case explains the power of the court to appoint administrator pendentelite to protect the estate of the deceased in a situation where the executor and the beneficiaries are engaged in a legal tussle over the validity of the testator’s Will. It follows that in a case where the estate of the deceased is in the state of dissipation, the court will upon receiving information would promptly appoint an Administrator pendent elite to administer the affairs of the estate pending final determination of the case. It is trite that in many states of the federations, there is in operation an administration of estate law which prescribes the duties, rights and obligations of the personal representatives. The Will which names and appoints executors prescribes also what the testator wants his executors to do with regard to the administration of his estate. It is the sum total of the two instruments that map out the perimeter of the powers of an executor. It is necessary at this juncture to highlight some the powers and functions of the executors who have been duly granted probate by the court. These functions include; Legal title, power to sell properties, appointment of trustees for the beneficiary, invest the proceeds of the estate, give proper account of the proceeds, sue and be sued, pay testator’s debts and other liabilities, are some of the powers granted to an executor. Upon the grant of probate the executor is vested with legal title to the estate of the deceased. Accordingly, the estate vests on the executor immediately upon the demise of the testator and so are all interests therein. He takes possession of the deceased’s estate to take inventory, carry out evaluation, and provide security, do the needful which a prudent man will do to preserve and secure his own property. It flows from this legal reality that the executor to a large extent is the legal owner of the testator’s estate while the beneficiaries holds equitable title to the estate. TO B E CO N T I N U E D

lder statesman and Lagos lawyer, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite has expressed dismay over an adjournment by the Lagos High Court, Ikeja on a N10 billion suit he filed against Standard Chartered Bank, describing it as a strategy designed to frustrate the four year-old suit. Justice Doris Okuwobi had adjourned till June 27, 2014 for ruling on application filed by the bank seeking the court to strike out some paragraphs of the claimant's reply to the bank's amended statement of defence. But Dr. Braithwaite, who took some times off from the ongoing National Conference for the expected commencement of the trial along with some expert witnesses, was jolted when the matter could not continue as a result of the application filed by the bank. Expressing his frustration over the delay in the four year-old suit, the octogenarian urged the court to ensure that trial on the matter commenced early by delivering her ruling timeously on the 'frivolous' application. According to him, he only took the time off from the conference because he was told that trial will commence. While urging the court for an early date for the ruling on the bank's application, the elder statesman said his expert witnesses were in court to testify on the matter. He also said that the claimant had taken time to respond to the defence's application filed on Friday even when he had eight days to ensure that the trial was not truncated by the defence. Dr. Braithwaite further stated that the defendant was capitalizing on the delay to continue to dissipate the res, as they had continued building up to the 13th floor. But the defence counsel, Adeniyi Adegbonmire in his submission, refuted the claims that the defendant was consciously delaying trial, saying that he had already started cross-examining the witness before the plaintiff sought for the amendment of his statement of claims. Adegbonmire, who said that it was the bank’s rights to build, stated that the matter had delayed so far because the plaintiff decided to seek injunctive reliefs rather than pursuing the trial. He said the motion on notice filed on Friday, May 8, was predicated on the fact that the plaintiff decided to introduce new facts that ought to have been in its statement of claims in the reply to their amended statement of defence. In urging the court to strike out some paragraphs of the plaintiff"s reply, Adegbomire said allowing them would amount to foreclosing them from responding to the new fact. According to him, the reply to the defendant's amended statement of defence dated February 28, 2014 contained allegations and averments which could only be validly and le-

gally made in a statement of claim. Specifically, the counsel stated that some of the averments referred to the issue of fraud on the part of the bank, which would not give the defendant an opportunity to respond and therefore amounting to an abuse of court process. He therefore urged the court to strike out the paragraphs containing such averrements and hold that the plaintiff had included them in their amended statement of claims. But in opposing the motion, counsel to the plaintiff, Razaq Okesiji stated that the contents of the claimant's reply to the defence statement and witness statement on oath are relevant to the subject matter of the suit and necessitated by the averements in the amended statement of the defence as well as the documents introduced by the defence, which were not in existence at the time of filing the amended statement of claims. He also stated that the claimant had neither departed, contradicted nor added new item to its claim, which should prejudice the defendant. Citing several Supreme Court authorities, Okesiji stated that the reply was within the rights of the claimant and that Order 15, Rule 19 of the High Court Rules allows new pleadings to come up in a reply. While urging the court to dismiss the defendant application, he said the paragraphs of the claimant's reply to amended statement of defence and corresponding paragraphs of the statement on oath which the defendant seeks to be struck out relate to the Environmental Impact Assessment Procedure in Nigeria and the failure of the defendant to comply therewith, which has always been the kernel of the claimant's case right from the commencement of the suit. Ruling on the application has been fixed on June 27, 2014. Braithwaite in the suit is seeking an order declaring as illegal, the erecting a 15-storey commercial building and multi-level car park by the bank in an otherwise residential area in Victoria Island, Lagos. The claimant is also uncomfortable with the bank's installation of a gian industrial generators directly opposite his house with the concomitant fumes and noise shattering their air and serenity. In view of this, Dr. Braithwaite is praying the court to grant him N10billion in damages and a demolition of the building. Earlier this year, the octogenarian told Justice Okuwobi that the Court of Appeal had stopped the Bank at the second floor yet they are now on the 13th floor. "This is a serious case to try. My Lord, I’m not happy with the trend of this case. This case will surely try the integrity of the Nigerian legal system and would either have a solitary effect or eternal condemnation of the Nigeria legal system”, he had declared. "Your lordship will recall that you granted us an order amending our process since June 2013, but up till now the defendant has deliberately refused to file their statement of defence and manipulating the Nigeria legal system while continuing to destroy the res by building up till 15th floor,” he added.

BUSINESS THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

WHAT'S NEWS Agric: GES participants got N18bn loans in 2013 Participants in the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) programme of the Federal Government received a total of N18 billion as loans in 2013. The development is a six-fold increase compared with the 2012 lending, where only about three billion naira was lent to those who took part in the scheme.

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100 firms to boost India's export to Nigeria Over 100 Indian companies have expressed interest in the proposed cooperative warehouse facility in Nigeria, which is expected to boost the Indian pharmaceutical exports in West Africa. The facility is being put in place by the Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) and Sankil Pharmaceutical, a local pharmaceutical business agency in Nigeria.

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NCS boss wants harmonisation of biometric registration Federal Government agencies that have implemented or are in the process of implementing biometric registration of Nigerians have been urged to harmonise their efforts in order to deliver the best for the country. This was the submission of President of Nigeria Computer Society, (NCS), Prof. David Adewunmi, during an interview with New Telegraph

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BUSINESS CREW AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business) SIMEON OGOEGBULEM, Dep. Business Editor BAYO AKOMOLAFE, Asst. Editor (Maritime) SUNDAY OJEME, Asst. Editor (Insurance) SIAKA MOMOH, Asst. Editor (Industry/Agric) JONAH IBOMA, ICT Editor DAYO ADEYEMI, Property Editor ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor

COMPETITION US and Nigeria may compete in the crude oil markets

Ayodele Aminu

igeria’s economy may be at risk, following last Tuesday’s move by the United States of America to consider scaling back regulations that effectively ban the export of crude oil. Following the discovery of Shale oil exploration in the USA and other parts of the world, Nigeria’s crude oil export to North America had dropped by 91.31 per cent in one year, according to data obtained from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)’s December 2013 Petroleum Information. Nigeria exported 1.438 million barrels of crude oil to North America as at December 2013, down by 15.111 million barrels in December 2012. North America accounted for 22.19 per cent of Nigeria’s total crude export by December 2012, but it dropped to 2.23 per cent by December 2013. Prior to the decline, the US was the highest buyer of Nigeria’s crude, purchasing 14.279 million barrels in December 2012, thereby, accounting for 19.15 per cent of Nigeria’s to-

Jonah Iboma

espite spirited efforts by various African countries including Nigeria to increase local hosting of internet content produced in the continent, about 90 per cent of African internet content is hosted outside the continent. This was the submission of technology leaders in the continent, against the backdrop of renewed efforts to reverse the trend. On Monday, international cable operator, SEACOM, unveiled a plan to redress the situation with the building of

CHUKS ONUANYIN, Energy NNAMDI AMADI, Reporter

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

AYODELE AMINU, DEPUTY EDITOR, BUSINESS

ayodele.aminu@newtelegraphonline.com ayodeleaminu@yahoo.com

tal crude export and 86.28 per cent of total crude export to North America. By 2013 end, the US dropped to the 10th highest importer of Nigeria’s crude, with 1.438 million barrels. The NNPC report stated that by December 2013, Europe was the highest importer of Nigeria’s crude, accounting for 47 per cent of Nigeria’s total export; followed by Asia and Far East, accounting for 26 per cent; while Africa accounted for 12 per cent of Nigeria’s crude export.

Current laws in the US prohibit the exportation of raw oil. But a surge in domestic oil production, thanks in large part to the development of Shale, has led some industry executives and lawmakers on Capitol Hill to voice support for ending the ban. US Energy Secretary, Ernest Moniz, told reporters on Tuesday that the US was in the process of evaluating the ban on crude oil exports. Several agencies are working on a study related to the issue,

he said. This means that if the US decides to export crude oil and entirely stops imports from Nigeria, both countries would be competing with the Asian markets, which are the highest revenue spinners for Nigeria. Just a few weeks ago, the Federal Government acknowledged that the cut in the US oil imports from Nigeria affected the economy. CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Turkish Ambassador, Mustafa Pulat (left) and Acting Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BOI), Waheed Olagunju, during the Ambassador’s visit to BOI in Abuja …yesterday. PHOTO:TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

90% African internet content hosted abroad a content node, a system that makes it easier for African content to reach users within the continent. Head of Engineering at SEACOM, Mark Tinka, said that the move was part of efforts to see that the figure is reversed so that 80 or 90 per cent of content is hosted within Africa.” Industry experts say that the fact that hosting internet

content abroad sometimes makes access to such content to be slow and becomes a huge source of capital flight from the continent Leading the pack in Nigeria to increase local hosting of websites is the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA). NIRA recently reduced the registration fees for indigenous websites in the country

to N15,000 (about $100), as it tries to encourage more local websites to sign up. The group has also campaigned for more Nigeria to use the .ng domain name. Nigeria’s .ng is the country code top level domain (ccTLD) name, a suffix for identifying Nigeria on the internet as apCONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Rates Dashboard

DELE ALAO, Brands/Marketing Editor ABDULWAHAB ISA, Finance Editor

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NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria’s economy threatened as US reconsiders ban on crude oil exports

WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor

WHAT’S IN WEF FOR NIGERIA?

INFLATION RATE March 2014...........................7.8% February 2014........................7.70% January 2014 ........................8.00%

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . 10.50% Prime Lending Rate. . . . . 16.93% Maximum Lending Rate..25.83%

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at May 9)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N167.00 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N284 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N234

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at May 9)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N155.73 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N262.70 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N215.88 Source: CBN

30 BUSINESS | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Agric: GES participants got N18bn loans in 2013 EMPOWERMENT Forty per cent of farmers now have valid phone lines

Jonah Iboma

articipants in the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) programme of the Federal Government received a total of N18 billion as loans in 2013. The development is a sixfold increase compared with

the 2012 lending, where only about three billion naira was lent to those who took part in the scheme. According to details exclusively obtained by New Telegraph, a breakdown of the figures showed that seed companies accessed about eight billion naira, while fertilizer companies accessed N10 billion. GES is a special Federal Government’s agricultural programe designed to use technology to facilitate access of farmers to farm inputs and other forms of government support to increase output of agricultural produces from small holder farms About 10 banks were in-

volved in disbursing loans to agro dealers including Mainstreet Bank, UBA and Enterprise Bank. Mainstreet Bank topped the chart of banks that lent out funds to agrodealers. Agrodealers are primarily those who store and distribute fertilizers to farmers and then get paid after their transactions have been verified with government. In all, 67 agro delaers got the loans, a development that showed that more dealers were getting involved in the GES programme. Meanwhile, the scheme has also recorded a 40 per cent success rate in terms of farmers with valid telephone lines, according to the details obtained

by our correspondent. The possession of valid telephone lines by farmers is central to the success of the GES scheme because the programme is designed primarily for small scale farmers and government’s plans has been to uniquely design a system that can identify and reach such farmers across the country. New Telegraph gathered exclusively from a report presented to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development that the figure marked a huge improvement in the success of the scheme, especially attempts to ensure that actual farmers benefit from GES. The developments means that at least 40 per cent of farmers participating in the scheme have valid phones through which they can be reached by government and given information on how to participate in various programmes of GES The need to ensure that data of small scale farmers that have phones with valid numbers are captured is one of the basis upon which the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, stated that government intended to give farmers telephones in 2013.

The GES programme, which kicked-off in May, 2012, was designed as a component of the Agriculture Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the Federal Government in 2012. ATA is the current government’s response to realising food security and increasing household income for farmers at the micro level. Under GES, government sought to withdraw from direct fertilizer purchase and distribution, and introduce an alternative system of distribution built on the voucher system. Under the scheme, registered farmers receive e-wallet vouchers with which they can redeem fertilizer and seeds from agro dealers. The GES is a 3-year scheme and the first cycle was implemented in 2012. The scheme has been designed to encourage a private sector-led market development process, ultimately geared towards improving Nigeria’s competitiveness and food security. Through this scheme, government will subsidise the costs of seeds and fertilizers for farmers by 50 per cent, while providing soft loans to the seed and fertilizer companies and agro-dealers to sell their inputs directly to farmers and build their supply chains to get to rural areas.

Nigeria’s economy threatened CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

L-R: Director of Flight Operations, Discovery Airways, Henry Zebere; Executive Director, Mrs. Olushola Odubunmi and Managing Director, Abdulsalami Mohammed, during a delivery of their new Aircraft B737-300 at the Murtala Mohammed Airport-2, Lagos.

Speaking at the 2014 annual Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum organised by the Nigerian Council of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, in Abuja, Vice President, Namadi Sambo, described the Shale

100 firms to boost India's export to Nigeria Bayo Akomolafe

ver 100 Indian companies have expressed interest in the proposed cooperative warehouse facility in Nigeria, which is expected to boost the Indian pharmaceutical exports in West Africa. The facility is being put in place by the Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) and Sankil Pharmaceutical, a local pharmaceutical business agency in Nigeria.

It was learnt that Pharmexcil would bear 75 per cent of the rent for the first three years. According to Pharmexcil’s Chairman, Ashutosh Gupta, apart from warehouse facility, the Pharmexcil is also taking other steps like mutual recognition of Indian pharmacopoeia with some African countries, as part of the measures to promote exports from India. He said: “The Nigerian facility will be a kind of pilot-project and the success of the same will pave the way for similar facili-

ties in other African countries and Latin America.” In 2013, the Indian commerce ministry had revealed a plan to help the pharmaceutical exporters by setting up common warehouse facilities in some foreign countries so that small and medium scale drug makers can cut down on their expenses. The ministry had collected data from the industry on the possible steps to help the exporters and it was revealed that one of the difficulties

90% African internet content hosted abroad CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

proved by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the global regulator. NIRA Chief Operating Officer, Ope Odusan, said that the new registration was introduced to further promote local content. “Nigerians don’t understand that .ng is Nigeria’s internet identifier on the internet. It is important that our people have .ng instead of

.com, org and .net web suffixes. Over 300,000 domain names are registered by Nigerians yearly leading to capital flight excluding the cost of packaging, hosting and fixing antivirus solutions on the sites. “An average foreign domain name is registered for about $7. If you multiply that over a period of years, add the cost of hosting, designing and security solutions, it is a huge cost. “We need to think about it. We have .ng, a unique domain name, which we can use

to get foreign money back to our country. If we have one million domain names sold to foreigners at $5 it is a huge investment into our economy,” Odusan said. He added that NIRA is collaborating with the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) to address the dearth of internet content hosted and produced locally in Nigeria and encourage a new hosting ratio of 80:20 in favour of Nigeria in particular and Africa in general.

encountered by the SMEs was huge expenditure on using warehouses abroad. The proposed premises where the warehousing facility will be set up has already been approved by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) of Nigeria and it is well suited for storing active pharmaceutical ingredients or APIs and chemicals. The council is also expecting similar approval from NAFDAC to store the pharmaceutical formulations or any other pharma related material at the facility. Sankil Pharma will act as a custodian of the goods stored in the warehousing facility. The company, according to Pharma Biz , will assist the members in all aspects and will arrange for releasing the consignments from customs, store in the warehouse, and dispatch to customers according to instructions of the companies using the facility. Additional facilities like cold storage and extra space will be taken care of by Sankil Pharma and the company will also assist the members in getting their products registered with NAFDAC, if required.

discovery in the US as one of the daunting global industry challenges facing Nigeria. He pledged to support the Nigerian oil and gas industry in its quest to square up against these challenges and compete for relevance in the international energy space. The Vice President, who was represented by the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Andrew Yakubu, noted that government was ready to support the industry to join the Shale gas revolution in the next decade. The Shale boom in the US has created a challenge for refiners trying to keep up with swelling supplies of crude oil, while railroads and pipelines have been strained in areas where production is on the rise. “A driver for this consideration is that the nature of the oil we’re producing may not be well matched to our current refinery capacity,” Moniz said at an energy conference in Seoul, South Korea, according to The Wall Street Journal. Lifting the ban on oil exports is a contentious topic in Washington. Critics argue that the move would lead to higher prices for oil and refined products like gasoline, while supporters point to rising US production as a reason to consider changing the law. According to the Energy Information Administration, total US crude oil production was up 15 per cent last year at 7.4 million barrels per day. Domestic output is forecast to hit 8.5 million bbl/d in 2014. The Paris-based International Energy Agency believes the US will rank as the world’s largest oil producer by 2020.

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Thursday, May 15, 2014

HOSPITALITY Multinational group targets presence in more African countries

Dayo Ayeyemi

tarwood Hotels & Resorts plans to have about 50 hotels in Africa with new openings in Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Senegal and Mauritius by 2015, as it continues its worldwide expansion across Africa. President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East, Michael Wale, said this on Tuesday. Already, the company has

Starwood plans multi-million dollar hotels in Nigeria, five others also signed an agreement with Century Park and Hotel Residences Limited to open a new Sheraton hotel in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. Scheduled to open in 2018, it said Sheraton Kigali would mark Starwood’s entry into Rwanda and would be the company’s 50th hotel in Africa. With this signing, he said Starwood is on track to increase its African portfolio by over 30 per cent with more than 15 new hotels to open

over the next five years. The company also announced the re-opening of the iconic Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers following an extensive US$50 million renovation. Currently, Starwood operates 37 hotels in 15 African countries, representing more than 10,000 rooms in Nigeria, Algeria, Cameroon, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Libya, Mauritius, Morocco, , Seychelles, South Africa,

Tunisia and Uganda. Following the transformation of Dubai hotel– which includes all guest rooms, facilities, public spaces and the hotel’s Italian restaurant, the company said Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers will continue to be a choice gathering place for global travellers and the local community. Michael Wale said, “With more than 35 years of operating in Dubai, the iconic Sheraton Dubai Creek reflects

the Emirate’s heritage and growth.” Global Brand Leader, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, Hoyt Harper said, “Through the long-standing support of our owner, the Al Mulla family, this investment in the renovation of the hotel enables us to continually meet the increased demand for highcalibre accommodation while providing an enhanced gathering place for global travellers and the local community.

Emirates expands services to Abuja, Kano Begins fifth daily flight operations to Singapore Wole Shadare

mirates Airlines, one of the world’s fastest growing carriers, has announced the launch of its fifth daily flight to Singapore. The airline in a statement, said that from August 1, 2014, the Asian firm would strengthen its position as a gateway hub. The airline has been expanding its services not only in Nigeria, Africa but also to other destinations with wide-body aircraft. It plans to expand in Africa’s most populous country Nigeria, with the start of a daily linked service to Abuja and Kano from August 1, 2014. The announcement according to the statement follows Emirates’ recent milestone of 10 years of successful operations to Lagos, to which the airline flies twice daily. Emirates introduced flights to Nigeria on January 2, 2004 with four flights per week from Dubai to Lagos linked with Accra in Ghana, using an Airbus A330-200 aircraft. Just over a year later it increased its services from four to six flights a week, and following further demand, it became a daily operation in October 2005. With effect from January 1, 2006, Lagos was delinked from Accra and became a direct destination from to Dubai and just over three years later on February 1, 2009; a second daily ser-

vice was introduced. Today, according to the statement, both of Emirates’ flights to Lagos are flown using Boeing 777-300ER equipment, but the new linked Abuja and Kano service will be serviced by an A340500 offering a total of 258 seats in a three class configuration – 12 in First Class, 42 in Business Class and 204 in Economy Class. This is coming as the firm recently posted a 43 per cent rise in net profit for the financial year ended March 2014, thanks to higher revenues and lower fuel costs The new service, operated via a 364-seat Boeing 777-300, will bring Emirates’ total number of flights between the two cities to 35 a week, with 28 nonstop services and seven flights via Colombo, it said in a statement. The airline also operates daily services from Singapore to Brisbane and Melbourne. “The introduction of our fifth daily service between Dubai and Singapore is a reflection of the growing passenger demand for flights between these two important global business, trade and tourism hubs,” said Barry Brown, Emirates’ divisional senior vice president, Commercial Operations East. “The increased frequency will give our customers greater flexibility in their travel plans allowing them to connect to other flights on Emirates’ extensive global network.”

L-R: Head of Flying School, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, Oluwole Adekola; General Manager, Human Resource, Bristow Helicopter, Mr. Femi Collins; Managing Director, Captain Akin Oni; Head, Aircraft Maintenance School, NCAT, H O Toluhi, and Head, Aeronautical Telecommunication Engineering School Victor Nwobia, during a courtesy visit by the Management of Nigerian College of Aviation Technology NCAT, Zaria to Bristow Helicopter Aviation Head office in Lagos. PHOTO BY ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

NIMASA secures FG’s approval to float national carrier Bayo Akomolafe

he apex maritime regulator, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has secured approval from the Federal Government to float a new national shipping line. Director General, NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, disclosed this at a national workshop on public-privatepartnership (PPP) strategy for infrastructural development and

Dangote Sugar earns 26% growth Siaka Momoh

angote Sugar Refinery Plc’s full year results for the period ended 31 December 2013 showed refined sugar volume grew 23 per cent, driven by reduced prices while company earnings went up 26 per cent YoY and consolidated earnings flat YoY. According to Vetiva report on the company, “group turnover declined three per cent YoY to N103.2 billion though volume was up by 23 per cent, in a period where other consumer

goods companies reported low single digit volume growth to volume declines in some cases. The strong volume growth was driven by a 24 per cent price reduction, in line with a 20 per cent reduction in global refined sugar prices after raw sugar prices declined 26 per cent. The price reduction for bagged sugar stimulated consumer demand even as manufacturers increased the use of sugar over other substitutes.” The report notes that gross margin for the group increased to 23.8 per cent from 21.7 per cent

in FY’12 thanks to the decline in raw sugar prices and the complete transfer to gas power from low pour fuel oil. “However, this was a contraction from 26.3 per cent for the company, as higher costs from Savannah Sugar came to play. Similarly, operating expenses climbed 35 per cent YoY with Savannah Sugar contributing 17 per cent to the increase. The YoY increase in administrative and other expenses was more contained at five per cent,” it says. It adds that following the consolidation of Savannah Sugar

modernization in the Nigerian maritime industry. The carrier, which is expected to be floated within the next six months, is coming barely 24 years after the demise of Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL). Akpobolokemi noted that the new carrier would be floated on a public-private-partnership (PPP) basis. He explained that the defunct NNSL went under because the government poorly managed it. The said the new national carrier would ensure that Nigerians lifted the nation’s crude oil and financials in 2013, operating expenses, as a percentage of sales, jumped from 6.4 per cent to 11.8 per cent for the group and that consequent to the N2.7 billion loss in Savannah Sugar, Group net earnings came in flat despite the 25 per cent YoY growth in net earnings for the company. The Board of Directors has proposed dividend per share of N0.60 based on this results, a 20 per cent increase over last year, in line with Vetiva estimate. The Annual General Meeting has been scheduled for May 23 at the Civic Center, Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Lagos, with closure and payments dates set for May 2 and 29 respectively.

other vital cargoes. Akpobolokemi said: “We will work with the private sector to get our national shipping line back because it is important for our development. The government will have minimal participation. “It is a huge economic waste that most of our hydro carbon is being transported by people other than Nigerians and I don’t think the agency can have the patience or keep waiting, drastic measure must be taken.” Also, he said NIMASA would provide sea time training for the cadets of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron. He noted: “If a shipping line is floated, we won’t spend a third of what we are spending to train our cadets abroad today. “The president is pushing us to work on the national carrier and the way to go is to bring private people not the government. The government will only provide an enabling environment with minimal participation. The private sector will manage it.” The Chairman of the Nigeria Indigenous Shipsowners’ Association (NISA), Chief Isaac Jolapamo, said his association was ready to partner with the federal government to ensure the successful floating of the new national carrier.

Fact File Today, more than two-thirds of Kenya’s population uses M-Pesa to make and receive payments and an estimated 43 per cent of the country’s GDP flows through the system. According to a report from the World Economic Forum, Africa faces 28 per cent of the global disease burden with only 3 per cent of the world’s healthcare workforce. By training health extension workers to focus on education, family planning and sanitation, Ethiopia achieved a 32 per cent drop in child mortality and 38 per cent drop in maternal mortality. According to World Bank statistics, jobs in manufacturing and services increased from 660 million to 2.12 billion in 2012. Thus, economic globalisation has turned out to be an unprecedented job generator. In fact, the number of jobs added every year (net of job losses) has in fact accelerated in each consecutive observation period in line with economic globalisation to a rate more than 2.5 times the average annual increase before 1982. The only (minor) slow down happened after 1991, when unproductive jobs in the former Soviet bloc were eliminated in large numbers under the pressures of economic reality. Cocoa is just one of the numerous agricultural crops that Nigeria can produce; indeed cocoa alone can qualify us as an industrialized country if we decide to process the beans ourselves rather than export the raw to feed the machines in Europe and the America. Between the earth and the sun, Nigeria is perhaps the most endowed country in the world. Our country has wonderful and fertile soil, suitable for growing a variety of valuable crops. Regrettably after decades of neglect, Nigerian extractive (mining and agricultural) sectors are falling far short of their potentials. There are 17,284,671 MSMEs in Nigeria. The breakdown shows that micro businesses constitutes about 17,261,753 or 99.87 per cent, the small enterprises accounted for about 21, 264 or 0.12 per cent, while the medium scale enterprises is about 1, 654 or 0.01 per cent. Hence, SMEs are only 22,918 representing 0.13 per cent. 32,414,884 employment created by MSMEs. SMEs created 39,478 jobs representing 0.12 per cent. ILO noted that with 53 per cent of new employment, Nigeria’s informal sector (i.e. micro businesses), constituted by over 17 million businesses, and led the growth in total jobs creation. ILO also noted that in spite of the positive developments in the jobs market, unemployment rate is 24 per cent with youth unemployment accounting for 38% of total unemployment. Policy makers need to commit themselves to the creation of a business environment that is conducive to facilitating SME growth and development. There are several business environment issues (multiple taxation, infrastructure, etc) that affect SMEs.

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, May 15, 2014

What’s in WEF for Nigeria?

Deligates at the WEF Abuja

Going by the over 1,000 delegates and 80 countries from across the globe that gathered for the meeting - business chieftains, other stakeholders and political heads, there is proof, once again, that Africa, Nigeria inclusive, is the next destination for investment, reports Siaka Momoh.

nd the world was at our doorstep despite the storm and the bloodletting created by Boko Haram. Recall the Nyanya mayhem. Recall the Chibok abduction of defenceless teenage innocent girls. Recall also the Gamboru Ngala massacre which took the lives of about 300 indigenes of this Borno State settlement, a border town with Cameroon which is some 200 kilometres from

Maiduguri. All these happened as the commencement of the Abuja World Economic Forum (WEF) 2014 for Africa approached! And it held! This is good news for the nation. Thanks for the concerns, the words of support, and the actions that followed it, from the likes of United States, France, UK, China and Israel. Benefit of hindsight Less we forget, we have wit-

nessed it happening here in the past few years. Take this: Trade missions from Pakistan and Japan were guests of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry in year 2013. Mohammed Ahmed, president Metro Group of Companies, led the delegation from Pakistan. Hideharu Sasaki, deputy head of global strategy planning and operations headquarters, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited, Japan, led the team from Japan. These trade missions were in Nigeria to explore the country’s investment potentials. The Pakistani team came with electrical appliances such as fans, TVs, DVDs and motor bikes whilst the Japanese team was interested in investing in oil and gas as well as agricul-

‘SMEs are critical agents of economic transformation’ Dele Alao

he Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are critical agents of economic transformation as they account for over 50 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of developing economies. The executive director, Basel Conversion Coordinating Centre for training and Technology Transfer for the African Region, University of Ibadan, Professor Oladele Osibanjo, stated this at the media launch of mega trade Fair 2014 Prospectus, at the Conference Centre, Ibadan, recently. He said that SMEs are the main sources of innovation and technological development, sources of supply of both human capital and raw

materials to larger businesses and the main source of entrepreneurship and enterprise. “SMEs promotion is one sure way of Nigeria transiting to an “Inclusive Growth,’’ resolving the deteriorating unemployment situation in the country involving large numbers of educated youths because it is easier to establish, require smaller startup capital than larger organisations, has higher turnover employee ratio and has greater flexibility in management,” he said. He argued: “While it is recognised that attrition rate is high, greater regulatory intervention on account preparation, capacity building and mentoring would turn the sector into a significant agent of economic transformation. En-

trepreneurship should be part of educational curriculum from secondary schools to tertiary institutions to encourage young graduates from technical colleges and tertiary institutions to be employers of labour instead of chasing highly limited and elusive government jobs.” Osibanjo, who described inclusive growth, the theme for the forthcoming trade fair in Abeokuta, Ibadan and Akure, as a direct link between the macro and micro determinants of growth, said: “The micro dimension captures the importance of structural transformation for economic diversification and competition. Policies for inclusive growth are an important component of any government strategy for sustainable growth.”

ture. The Pakistani and Japanese trade missions came on the heels of two similar groups that visited the country from the US General Electric Co. (GE). Its Chief Executive Officer, Jeffrey Immelt, visited Nigeria for the first time, pledging to invest in power, health and rail industries, including a locomotive assembly plant. About the same period too, US energy trade mission, led by deputy assistant secretary for African Affairs, William Fitzgerald, came and pledged to invest $1.5 billion on energy business in Nigeria. The mission was a private-public partnership with the Corporate Council on Africa. The delegation of US government met with Nigeria’s senior government officials behind closed doors to discuss challenges for US private sector investment in energy infrastructure projects. Fitzgerald noted that “Nigeria has a tremendous reserve of gas but unfortunately this is not powering energy for the country.” For him, this should not be the case. He also remarked that Nigeria’s potential for alternative energy resource – biomass - was not being fully exploited. According to Robert Perry, vice president, Corporation Council on Africa, who was a member of the visiting team, “some of the companies that will be coming at the instance of the trade mission, will be looking for bankable projects, some will partner with existing companies and the mission is interested in power generation and distribution as well.” In an interview with Bloomberg in February in Zurich, Nigerian Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said that an increased terror attacks in C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3 3

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the country have failed to deter foreign investment in Nigeria. Said she: “What CEOs were asking was: Do you have a strategy,?” Okonjo-Iweala said. Investors “realise that terrorism is just focused on one part of the country and as long as they feel we have an approach to deal with it, they are more or less comforted,” she said. The Abuja World Economic Forum 2014 has replicated the above scenario. $68bn investment inflow Nigeria and other African countries, on the last day of the three-day event on Friday, received commitment from various foreign investors for fresh investments totalling about $68 billion (N11.22 trillion).The Managing Director, WEF for Africa, Phillip Rosler, said during the closing plenary of the meeting that the investment commitment was secured in various sectors of the African economy. He said the money would be invested in key sectors of the African economies, including education, health, infrastructure, and agriculture. He described Nigeria’s hosting of the three-day event as one of the most successful in the history of the organisation, adding that despite the security challenges in the

Week the world was at our doorstep country, the event recorded an impressive turnout. He noted in particular that within the duration of the forum, about 48,000 articles were written on it, pointing out that the figure was three times higher than what was reported in the last edition. Said he: “It was a very successful World Economic Forum on Africa. We have more than 48,000 articles from these three days in Nigeria in comparison to last year, which was 16,000. This is more than three times higher than last year. This is a proof that Africa is very important to the people of the world.” WEF’s Africa Director, Elsie Kanza, said that a Nigerian company would invest about 16 billion dollars over the next four years, which will create 180,000 jobs. Another company will invest one billion dollars over the next 10 years and 20,000 jobs will be created. A total of two billion dollars from donor agencies has been committed to improve electricity supply across Nigeria and 700 million dollars to the immunisation programme, she said. Phillip Rosler explained that through the international event, the Nigerian government had been able to secure huge solidarity around the

16 memorable quotes from 2014 WEF on Africa

he 24th edition of the World Economic Forum on Africa held in Abuja, between May 7 and 9, 2014. The event, which brought together close to 1,000 regional and global leaders, is centered on the theme of forging inclusive growth and creating jobs for Africa’s growing population. Here are some of the more memorable quotes from plenary and brainstorming sessions: Africa is an article of faith. I believe in this continent. -Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman, Bharti Airtel Nowhere in the world do you get the kind of returns you get in Africa. -Olabisi Onasanya, Group CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Africa is going through growing pains, but the potential is great. -Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties This is the right time for anyone to come and invest in Africa. -Stephen Olabisi Onasanya, Group CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Africa’s rise will make the world more stable, more democratic, and more robust. -Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang Africa’s people have taken their destiny into their own hands. -China’s Li Keqiang Don’t be afraid to invest in Africa. -Jean-François van Boxmeer, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Heineken International Africa has been rising for a long time. I hope we will even-

tually get to a point where we have risen. -Albert Kobina Essien, Group Chief Executive Officer of Ecobank Transnational As the economies of Africa grow, progressive businesses will grow with them. -JeanFrancois van Boxmer, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Heineken International Africa represents our fastestgrowing region in the world. If you want to be relevant, you need to be in this part of the world -Dominic Barton, Global Managing Director of McKinsey& Company Private sector involvement is essential - providing resources, finance - invest in women and girls and stabilise your economy -ELTV@ELReports For every $100 billion you spend on infrastructure, you create 1 million jobs -McKinsey's Barton Partnership is key to bridge skills gap among youth private/public, private/private, private/NGOs -Rabat Global Shapers@RabatShapers Sub-Saharan African cities will add 13.8 million people (current population of Beijing) every year to 2025 -Aslam Levy@Aslam_Levy Instead of giving aid, people should come to Africa and invest -President Goodluck Jonathan The perception of risk is improving - one measure is the number of African countries entering global capital markets -Brian Molefe

world in its fight against terrorism. He said that the global community “will not allow the terrorists to dictate the African agenda.” The three-day event, under the theme “Forging inclusive growth, creating jobs,” was held for the first time in a West African country. Voices from the forum Donald Kaberuka, president of the African Development Bank said: “The kidnapping of more than 200 girls in north-eastern Nigeria and the terror attacks by the Islamist group, Boko Haram, largely overshadowed discussions at the World Economic Forum in Abuja, with its regional focus

on Africa. Back in the 1990s, Kaberuka recalled that many more people in Africa were plagued by war and terror. “Our presence in Nigeria is really a statement that terrorism cannot win.” Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum was similarly pleased, as over 1,000 participants from Africa and other parts of the world attended the forum in the Nigerian capital, despite the terror attacks by Boko Haram. Said he: “There were only a few cancellations,” he observed, before asking the audience to join him in a minute of silence for the victims of the violence. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance and Coordinat-

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at the World Economic Forum in Abuja

ing Minister of the Economy said: “It appears that people are looking at the continent for the long-term. They are seeing the potential. They are not looking at the short-term risks.” Nigerian media advisor, Biola Alabi, concerned that Africa’s image in the international media is still dominated by negative headlines, said: “We should not only talk about the kidnapped girls. We should also talk about Africa’s rise.” China’s role in Africa China’s Premier, Li Keqiang, who was the only nonAfrican head of state present, used that the opportunity to praise the continent for its positive economic figures and promised support for Africa’s ambitious plans to develop its infrastructure. For Li, this is what Africa needs for a sustainable economic development. He specifically listed a continent-wide railway and road network, as well as functioning regional airports as all that are needed for further growth. China’s premier announced that he would raise the upper limit for credits to African countries from 20 to 30 billion US dollars (14.5 to 22 billion Euros). He also promised to raise China’s development budget for Africa from three to five billion dollars. And he gave an assurance that “China will never tie its support for Africa to political conditions.”

OLAM upbeat on local rice production, invests $74m in Nasarawa Siaka Momoh

he Federal Governmentappointed agriculture company for Nasarawa State Special Processing Zone for Rice, OLAM Nigeria Limited, has invested $74 million on rice farming and processing in the state. The company, which, according to its Head Corporate and Government Relations, Ade Adefeko, identifies with the Federal Government Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) and is happy to be appointed to run the Nasarawa Special Processing Zone for Rice. OLAM commenced commercial rice production in 2011 and has invested $74 million so far, planting 1,000 hectares (Ha) and harvesting it in March 2013. It harvested 3000 Ha in November – December 2013 – wet season crop and 3,000 Ha (March/April 2014) - dry season crop. Adefeko further said that 4,200 Ha will be planted in 2014 wet and dry seasons; 6000 Ha planting by July 2015; 3,000 farmer outgrowers are to be commenced in May 2014; 105,000 metric tons capacity mill with an expansion provision to double this capacity.

According to Adefeko, “the plant will produce high quality paddy to ensure processed rice that can compete with imported rice, employment generation of over 1,000 at present, which can extend to over 2,000 by July 2015 and will give rise to a network of four villages with approximately 6,000 population turning out to townships in the next 18 months. It will also ensure import substitution and food security - a key initiative under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria.” He disclosed that OLAM has provided a school building, solar lights, health facility, clean water with bore wells for the immediate community and a 64-kilometre road linking neighbouring villages and the town. OLAM, according to Adefeko, is, however, faced with infrastructural challenges and will appreciate if government can help in combating them. The challenges, he said, are power instability as well as security, irrigation and road. To support local production of rice, Adefeko advised that government should allow only five or six genuine businesses to import rice, introduce price control, quantity control, fight

smuggling, and ensure transparency in the sector. He added that “the Federal Government should mandate other international and national trade houses to participate in commercial farming, support farms/producers, and attach out growers to commercial farms, These, he said, should be monitored by neutral body, an NGO. Government should ban brown rice imports – the captive raw material for millers which will discourage buying/processing of paddy, the importation of brown rice puts a downward pressure on paddy prices which leads to disengagement of farmers.” Current gap in rice requirement in Nigeria is three million metric tons while the gap in paddy rice supply is 5.5 million metric tons. Nigeria consumes 5.7 million metric tons of rice per annum. Almost one-third of the world’s population depends on rice and its products for 60-70 per cent of their daily calories. Consumption of milled rice has increased 40 per cent in the last 30 years and demand is expected to increase. By 2025, the world will need additional 300 million metric tons of Rice. Current production is 475 million metric tons.

BUSINESS | INDUSTRY

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Enterprise with

Stephen Faderin: Man on the driving seat of CFAO Nigeria

siakamomoh@yahoo.com 08061396410

Still on the money in waste

Siaka Momoh

tephen Faderin, group managing director, CFAO, is a seasoned marketer and administrator, who has been with CFAO for over 30 years and held several positions as managing director of Electro Hall, NMI Motors, DLI Maltex, Nigerian Ball-point Pen Industries Plc (NIPEN), and General Import & Distribution, at different times. Born on September 8, 1965, Faderin obtained B.Sc Communications from the University of Lagos and has attended a number of training courses, workshops and seminars in Finance, Marketing and Administration. He was appointed to the Board of Directors in April 1998 and then progressed to the level of Group Managing Director in 2011. CFAO is a multinational company established in 1900 and has presence in Africa for 125 years – in Nigeria for 111 years. Today, CFAO is posted on the ParisEuronext Stock Exchange. Its stocks have approximate revenue of about 3.6 billion Euros. Faderin said late last year that the ownership of the majority shareholding was acquired by a Japanese consortium, Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC) who are also capitalised on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. This has brought about a strategic alliance between CFAO and those who are desirous of working together with CFAO to establish an in-road to African market. They are already in the African market but desire to expand their scope in the continent. Stephen Faderin is on top of the putting together of this strategic alliance. Speaking specifically about Nigeria, in Nigeria, Faderin said that CFAO has had various industrial retail and distribution business over the decades. “Our performance is constituted into three main pillars: one is equipment, another is pharmaceuticals, and the third is what we call consumer goods, but it actually incorporates our industrial arm.” The automotive subsidiary in Nigeria is made up of Alliance Motors, which handles the Nissan and Renault franchise and CFAO is currently carrying out some reorganisation there because it has agreed with Nissan to discontinue that franchise in Nigeria. There is also CFAO Motors which handles Mitsubishi and General Motors franchise, and CICA Nigeria Limited which handles its Chinese brands and all the emerging Chinese brands. Pharmaceutical is a relatively new entrant into Nigeria market, by way of association with big pharmaceutical companies and CFAO’s pharma unit was incorporated in July last year and started operation representing major pharmaceutical companies. CFAO is also into the busi-

Strokes

Siaka Momoh

Faderin

ness of selling consumer goods, that rosy sector of the Nigerian manufacturing business. CFAO is very serious about this. Said Faderin: “And for our consumer goods in Nigeria, there is general imports and distribution which today, we are presenting as a platform to many international companies particularly the ones in the manufacture of fast moving consumer goods – as a platform for them to enter and operate in Nigeria. You can imagine that over the last two years, Nigeria’s profile has become heightened as regards international commerce. This is the vehicle we are using to represent companies that are desirous of entering Nigeria. This will include the possibility of manufacturing also. We are thinking of setting up manufacturing plants in joint venture with some of these new entrants. We are involved in general imports and distribution of products manufactured locally by the likes of Cadbury, FrieslandCampinaWAMCO.” CFAO own Nigeria Ball-point Pen Industries Plc (NIPEN). This company has franchise for production of BIC pen and razor in Nigeria. It is a highly understated company but has a huge representation if you watch its profile on behalf of BIC. In 2012, the company had sales in excess of 100 million BIC pens. That is the largest in Africa and third in the whole world. For disposable razors, it had sales in excess of 70 million, also the largest in Africa and the fifth worldwide. “So this represents a very big industrial entity. So, all in all, we think that with these three arms we are able to cover a large part of the market.” Said Faderin. Like other companies involved in the manufacturing of plastic products (CFAO manufacture plastic crates for the beverage industry), CFAO’s NIPEN does recycling but at a very low level, and principally at the request of those the company is supplying to. “Most of our industrial plastics are a B-to-B business. We do not manufacture products that go into the general market. That

is the reason why products done with recycled items have to be at the request of the buyer,” Faderin said. He said for pens and razors, for which the company represents renowned companies, it is bound by the terms of its manufacturing agreements to use virgin material to manufacture their products. For local content, it is difficult to say exactly how much of local content CFAO is doing at the moment. “The problem with this particular type of business is that our petrochemical industry is not yet as well developed to a point we will like it to be. I can assure you it is much easier to purchase from local sources if that product is available in the right quantity and at the right level of quality,” he said. CFAO Motor is an important part of CFAO business with Mitsubishi as key brand, trading well in the market. How is CFAO faring with its automobile division? Faderin explains the automobile business is a very competitive business. For him, the competition in this industry is very high and it has been increasingly competitive since the global financial crunch that we witnessed between 2008 and 2009. “The market up to 2008 and 2009 was moving from a Business-to-Business type of business to a business to consumer type of business which meant that individuals were increasingly forming the core base of customers for all automobile companies. With the way things have tightened up, particularly with regards to credit, and more so the employment situation – generation of employment, that has reduced the overall automotive market that a lot more automobile companies are competing for a static amount of business. “However, having said that, I will say CFAO Motors is doing very well. Our Mitsubishi brand is a very well respected brand in Nigeria. We have some business that will involve CFAO in the very near future wish we will make known to everybody later this year. We have no negative feelings about prospects for our automobile business.”

t is a global phenomenon. True, it is, I found this out from my experience, reading and travelling. I have done stories on this subject before, but any time I witness it, I am pushed to do another piece. I do this because I find the job opportunities it provides interesting. In August last year, I was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I witnessed Brazilians scavenging wastes on the streets. This was business in action not a madman’s routine of searching dustbins for daily bread. Guess what they were collecting? – used tyres. On enquiry I found out these street waste collectors were agents to tyre recycling plants. This reminded me of steel and alluminium scrap collectors in cosmopolitan Lagos. If you think these collectors are street urchins who are dregs of the society, you are making mistakes. Go to Ikorodu and its environ, go to Otta in Ogun State and find out how important they are to multibillion naira steel and aluminium recycling plants. If you have ever read about the passionate complaints of CEOs of these plants about how government agents are failing to stop smugglers of steel and aluminium scraps from indulging in their illegal acts, you will understand my argument here. The story of Nick Friedman and Omar Soliman reminds one first, of the cart pushing trash collectors who are regular callers at homes in Lagos, especially in places like Festac and other estates in the metropolis. Second, it reminds one too of Lagos State government’s trash collectors who do their business in a more sophisticated way - with trucks moving from street to street and from close to close. Success magazine has the story of Nick Friedman and Omar Soliman, two college pals who are taking out the trash in style. As college kids, they spent their break earning money by hauling away unwanted junk from attics and garages in Soliman’s mother’s cargo van. This would have ended after Soliman graduated from the University of Miami and Friedman from Pomona College in California, but it didn’t. In his senior year, Soliman had written a business plan for a junk hauling business operated by employees with clean-cut collegiate image – College Hunks Hauling junk – which won a UM entrepreneurship competition. He saw it as an idea worth pursuing and so turned Friedman, his friend since high school in Washington D.C., who was

also eager for a new challenge. They realised they were taking a big risk by leaving their corporate jobs. But they also knew they had a good idea worth testing. Friedman and Soliman were confident they were a good match, they were confident they could work together. After all, they were long time friends who had worked together for a long time. Friedman, now president, has a background in finance and CEO Soliman is in marketing and management. Start-ups who complain their problem is how to get start-up fund have a lot to learn from these junk haulers. Good sources for such funds are family and friends. Friedman and Soliman explored this as well as the bank to buy their first truck. In the early days, they had appointments as early as 5 a.m, worked weekends and employed their friends’ younger siblings for many jobs. Talking about appointments, this is one initiative that our local junk haulers have not thought of. Appointments for trash collections can be made with residents or resident associations. This can even go up to industrial (perhaps some are doing this now). But it is possible not all firms are covered now. One can recall that the issue of spin-off industries came up in one of ones several facility visits to Nigerian Bottling Company and Dangote Industries, among others. One that we found outstanding was factory cleaning and waste disposal. Progress Since Friedman and Soliman quit their jobs in 2005 to start College Hunks, the company has grown from a single operation with two guys and a truck to include 12 franchises – with more on the way. Sales doubled from $550,000 (N85.8 billion) in the first year to $1.1 million (N171.6 million) the second year. In this era of job losses and high level dearth of new jobs, waste management is an area that fresh graduates should look at and endorse. After all, more than any other time in history, we are in the era of self-employment. Dawn Rivers Baker in his weekly column in Microbusiness NewsBriefs throws his weight behind self-employment. In his piece titled Self is the new employment, he wrote: “Where I diverge from Keynes is in the focus on jobs. From my 21st century viewpoint, the issue is not ‘jobs.’ It’s ‘work.’ Why? Because, in many cases, ‘work’ has the potential to get you better-paid than a ‘job.’

BUSINESS 35

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Sales of towers by mobile network operators companies to independent infrastructure companies have become a major trade issue in Africa’s telecommunications industry in recent times. JONAH IBOMA examines how this new development could provide a platform for transforming telecommunication industry in the continent.

frica’s telecommunications industry has recorded impressive growth in the past decade with countries such as Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya maintaining steady increase in subscription numbers after years of sluggish development of the sector. The major area of growth in the telecoms industry has been mobile telephony, which, today, provides connectivity to majority of people in the continent. Although this is now the trend globally, Africa, particularly witnessed mobile phone growth due to the absence of infrastructure for the development of fixed networks. South Africa, which was among the early developers of mobile phone market in Africa, also helped in promoting investment in many countries in the continent through MTN, which now has presence in 22 countries within Africa and the Middle East. However, in the course of expanding their networks, operators have had to incur a lost of cost to provide infrastructure such as transmission network involving optic fibre cables, base transceiver stations and towers and electricity. In a country like Egypt, government through the fixed national incumbent had infrastructure that allowed firms like Etisalat to simply rollout and have national mobile telephony coverage in less than one year. This has not been the case in many African countries. Mobile network operators, therefore, invested a lot of money in building their own transmission systems and also powered them. In some countries, operators had as many as 11,000 towers, which run on independent electricity not connected to the national grid. As a result, a lot of investment by operators went into supporting their services rather than providing such service. However, as the industry has been growing, some companies with specialisation in providing infrastructure have also emerged and today, many of them are offering to takeover the day to day management of the towers from operators to allow them (operators) concentrate on their core service. The development has led to the current scenario whereby operators are increasing trading off their towers to such companies. Among the leading infrastructure companies involved in this business on the continent today are IHS Holding, American Tower Corporation, Swap Technology and Helios Towers. A very interesting reality about these companies is that they started as firms that built and leased towers to telecom companies. But, today, they are buying such towers from operators and leasing them back to them. The development is proving to be the impetus that will help further develop telecoms in Africa and opera-

Dabengwa

tors are seeking for ways of raising money to fund expansion plans and reduce overheads at the same time. In December IHS signed agreements with MTN in Zambia and Rwanda to acquire more than 1,200 sites in those countries. The company said earlier this month that it had raised a further $130m which will be used to accelerate its plans for expansion into new and existing markets. Issam Darwish, vice-chairman and CEO of IHS, said last month that the funding would "allow us to continue investing in technology, coverage and capacity new build sites, and the growing human resource component that will help IHS continue to provide a quality service and product to an expanding customer base in Africa". IHS Towers owns and manages more than 10,500 towers and has built more than 3,500 for its clients in Nigeria, Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire, making it Africa’s largest independent mobile infrastructure provider by number of towers managed. MTN also revealed in April that it was planning to sell towers valued at $1bn in Nigeria, and its rival Bharti Airtek was selling about 15,000 of its towers in 17 countries for $2bn-

operators are offloading the assets, which cost more to run on the continent than they do in other parts of the world because of the need for backup generators

Darwish

$2.5bn. Similarly, Orange, which is France’s biggest phone company, is looking at disposing of its towers in sub-Saharan Africa and Egypt, according to details revealed last month. In 2010, South Africa based Cell C sold some of its towers to American Tower Corporation for $430m in a sale-and-leaseback agreement. The latest funding by IHS is in addition to the $490m of debt and equity that it secured last month. Funding would also be used for acquisitions and investment in new telecommunications infrastructure. It would also help its customers expand coverage and capacity by building new towers, and continue investing in alternative energy and green solutions that have a positive effect on communities throughout Africa. These operators are offloading the assets, which cost more to run on the continent than they do in other parts of the world because of the need for backup generators and batteries to guard against power failures. Towers and the infrastructure that accompanies them can account for more than 60 per cent of the expense incurred when building a cellphone network, according to data from IHS Holding. MTN said that about 25 per cent of its overhead is related to providing power for its base stations. One of the advantages that the sale of towers to independent companies is delivering to the industry is reduction in the number of such infrastructure in urban area and a better skyline for cities with high number of inhabitants. The Nigerian Communications Commission has also encouraged operators to collocate their infrastructure to reduce cost and also reduce dangers that people perceive that they are exposed to due to the prevalence of such towers.

TECHTalk

W it h

Transforming Africa’s Telecoms through tower sales

Jonah Iboma 08050498516

Addressing fake mobile phones challenge

his week, the Indian government came out with a decision to ask global GSM handset makers to provide a certificate of authenticity to ensure that mobile phones with dubious International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers do not enter the country. The move is aimed at checking the circulation of unauthorised GSM phones, which has been a problem for some time now in the country. In a well laid out plan, government said handset makers such as Samsung, Apple, Sony, Nokia and BlackBerry will be affected. Generally, the 15-digit IMEI number of a cell phone is used by security agencies to block a handset or retrieve call details from a recovered phone. An IMEI number can also be used to identify valid devices live on a GSM network, and can accordingly be used to bar stolen handsets from accessing a GSM network. The move certainly gives some hope in the efforts towards eradicating fake phones in India and also helping buyers to get value for their money. For countries such as Nigeria where the problem of fake mobile phones has become a menace or is gradually achieving such a status, there is need to take a cue from what India is doing. In Nigeria today, many phones that are stolen are easily sold in the open market and nobody does anything about them. Sometimes, the argument in Nigeria is that the country is very large and as such difficult to govern effectively. However, with what India is doing, it is clear that government can effectively tackle the problem of fake mobile phones dominance in the marketplace. The phones that are most attractive to be faked are leading brands such as Samsung, Apple, Sony, Nokia and BlackBerry. This is why the move by India is very commendable. The Nigerian Communications Commission, the regulator of Nigeria’s telecommunications industry, once started a scheme in conjunction with a firm, NetVisa Nigeria Limited, to track and bar stolen mobile phones. The project, although initially condemned by some people provided an avenue to address the huge problem of stolen phones in Nigeria. It is therefore unfortunate that under the current leadership of Dr. Eugene Juwah, NCC has stopped the project due to what it said was the predominance of fake phones in the country. The leadership of NCC said about two years ago that most of the phones in Nigeria had batch numbers that could make it impossible to disable just one phone. With information that sixty per cent of phones in Nigeria come from China, and that most of the phones in Nigeria are fake, NCC has a clear foundation to start from. The problem of fake phones is akin to the problem of fake drugs that once ravaged this country but which had been successfully tackled by government through the National Agency for food Drugs Administration and Control. Therefore, the move by India provides a compelling reason for NCC to look at addressing the problem of stolen and fake phones in Nigeria. The current situation whereby NCC is doing nothing about fake or stolen phones is not good enough for the country. Although, the mobile phone anti-theft scheme designed by the former EVC of NCC, Ernest Ndukwe, may not have been perfect, it however, provided a foundation for the country to develop a solution to a problem which affects not only Nigeria but many others in the world. If a country such as India can take up the task addressing the problem, Nigeria can do same.

BUSINESS | ICT

Coordination Computer society leader urges coordinated effort in national data capture.

Stories by Jonah Iboma

ederal Government agencies that have implemented or are in the process of implementing biometric registration of Nigerians have been urged to harmonise their efforts in order to deliver the best for the country. vThis was the submission of President of Nigeria Computer Society, (NCS), Prof. David Adewunmi, during an interview with New Telegraph. He noted that it was not right for several government bodies to conduct the same exercise over and over in an attempt to get the same result, noting that such showed lack of coordination. Adewunmi also urged government to seek ways of promoting local manpower so that the handling of such data can be done professionally. “There is the need for us to harmonise. All these biometric registrations we are doing, there is no way we can get meaningful results if ca-

NCS boss wants harmonisation of biometric registration pacity building is not properly addressed,” he said. In the past three years, several biometric registration exercises have been embarked upon by various government agencies, with others still being contemplated. Some Federal Government agencies involved in the registration exercises include the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). Others are the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Population Commission (NPC), and the “Banks Verification Number” (BVN) being implemented by Nigerian banks with government funding. There is also the “Nigerian Police Biometrics Central Motor Registry” (PoliceBCMR), which was recently suspended by the National Assembly. The PoliceBCRMR is similar to that of the FRSC that

MTN’s Nwokocha makes Africa’s rising stars list G

eneral Manager, Corporate Treasury, MTN Nigeria, Ishmael Nwokocha, has been named in the final shortlist of 20 people who made this year’s Africa’s rising stars. He was named by Euromoney, a financial magazine with focus on the banking and finance industry, after it concluded a continent-wide search for this year’s edition. MTN said in a statement that at the beginning of every year, Euromoney makes a search to determine African stars driving the continents’ financial and economic transformation, as well as setting standards for others to follow. Nwokocha was nominated based on his commitment to corporate governance in Nigeria. “Once you don’t have a strong governance culture, documented and robust business processes, it means you can’t run a business in an efficient manner. What ordinarily would take only three to four days to go through will instead take over two weeks to be achieved,” said Nwokocha. Nwokocha joined MTN in 2002 as a cash management accountant and has risen through the ranks, garnering significant experience, spanning corporate finance, operational risk management, banking services and treasury. MTN Nigeria’s treasury function managed by Nwokocha has won accolades for its seamless brokering of financing transactions including a $1.8 billion financing in 2010 and

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

$3 billion in 2013. His treasury team served as internal arranger and adviser on a complex deal that raised funds in four continents. It is estimated that the shrewd management of this transaction saved the business as much as $60 million in fees, a positive effect on the company’s balance sheet and its ripple effect on the economy. The statement adds that Nwokocha believes that in the next couple of years, telecommunications will continue to play a major role in Nigeria’s economy, particularly in improving the payment system and enhancing ease of conducting business. “We are still a young country and those between the age brackets of 25-29 form the main part of the population. MTN can help that evolution because we do not think like telcos, but rather like enablers of economic activities,” he stated. “Only recently, MTN made it onto the World Champions list as one of the global companies dominating the telecommunications industry. As part of its talent management and leadership development, MTN invests significantly in building a sustainable supply of quality leaders. We are therefore pleased that one of our very own grown managers made the Africa's rising star list, a testament to our commitment in developing our human capital,” said Akinwale Goodluck, Corporate Service Executive for MTN.

requires each vehicle owner to pay N3,500 in order to be captured on the system. NCC in 2011budgeted N6.1 billion and awarded contracts to seven consultants to conduct biometric registration on telephone users’ subscriber identification module (SIM) cards in the six geopolitical zones of the country in addition to Lagos. The companies were: SW Global (South-East), PNN (North-Central), Chams

(Lagos), JKK (South-West), DATAGROUPIT (North-East), EAGLE/CBC (North-West), and E-Kenneth/SageMetrics (South-South). It will be recalled that mobile phone operators who were initially mandated by NCC to start registering all phone users on their networks also did same before the telecommunication regulatory body changed its mind and awarded contracts for the job to the seven firms to

duplicate the same thing. The current situation has made many observers to describe Nigeria as the country with the highest number of biometric registration of citizens. Adewunmi also called on government to further involve local technology professionals in the capture of national identities instead of the current practice of allowing foreigners to dictate the pace.

L-R: Head, Sales and Marketing, Spectranet Nigeria Limited, Yogendra Sonawane; Chief Operating Officer, Atul Ojha and Marketing Manager, Samson Akejelu, at a press briefing in Lagos.

ipNX prepares to offer commercial IPTV services N igeria’s leading telecommunication services provider, ipNX Nigeria Ltd, is to offer television links as part of its fibre optic service (FoS) product bouquet, a move that could make it the first company to offer internet protocol television (IPTV) service in Nigeria. According to ipNX’s Group Managing Director, Mr. Ejovi Aror, the commencement of IPTY aligns with the strategic objectives of the company when it started the roll-out of fibre optic cable system for residential and business customers. “The launch of ipNX TV fulfils our strategic objective of becoming Nigeria’s first multi system operator to deliver triple-play services, that is, internet, television and telephony, to our customers, similar to what Verizon and AT&T are doing in the USA,” he said. He explained that set-up boxes had been delivered to 1000 of its FoS subscribers who were currently testing ipNX TV for functionality, content and reliability, adding that feedback from these customers was being used to fine-tune the television system before it is launched to the public.

The Head, Media and Entertainment at ipNX, Tunbosun Alake, said that ipNX TV, “is an entertainment service that enables you chose what you want to watch, when you want to watch it and how you want to watch it.” ipNX took the telecoms industry by surprise when it announced late in 2013 that it would offer new residential broadband packages with speeds starting from 10Mbps for just N10,000 per month and another package offering N15Mbps priced N15,000 per month. It also revealed plans to offer FoS services at that time in select parts of Victoria Island but has now made such services largely available in Lekki, Ikoyi, Magodo and Ikeja areas of Lagos State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. ipNX TV carries a blend of both live TV channels and video on-demand (VOD) covering a large array of genres that include news, movies, lifestyle, education, religion and music, among others, that the viewer is allowed to personalise for maximum entertainment.. Nigeria has witnessed the rise and fall of several indige-

nous companies that have ventured into the direct to home and cable television business market which ironically DSTV, a South African company, has continued to run successfully in Nigeria. ipNX TV is not in direct competition with any other pay TV service. The GMD said that with its entry into content distribution, “What ipNX has done with its fibre optic services business model is to build a content delivery platform and network infrastructure with enough capacity to retransmit and distribute thousands of both live TV and video ondemand contents in a super reliable and efficient manner.” He further explained that ipNX TV is a platform that any content producer or aggregator can leverage to reach thousands of viewers in a reliable and secure manner. ipNXTV runs on a fibre optic cable technology which, unlike satellite service, is not affected by rainfall and other inclement weather conditions. Ejovi noted that ipNX and television content producers and distributors can collaborate to improve the quality of service to Nigerian consumers both in content and quality of service.

BUSINESS | ICT

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

99% of mobile malware targets Android devices MOBILE PHONES Tech devices face increasing threat of malicious software. Stories by Jonah Iboma

inety-nine per cent of all mobile phone malicious software otherwise called malware that emerged in the first quarter of 2014 targeted Android based systems, according to a study by F-Secure, a global leader in computer security. The study, titled Mobile Threat Report, showed that many first time threats to the android mobile operating system have arisen, with only two threats being created on other

platforms. The company said that a banking Trojan, (a non selfreplicating malicious software) that infects Windows personal computers which then transfers to Android devices when connected via USB has been found, along with others that could access an infected devices audio and video functions. The reason for the increase in attacks on android devices actually have increased because Android had become the most popular mobile operating system in Africa, with the International Data Corporation (IDC) saying it accounted for over 80 per cent of all smartphone shipments worldwide. F-Secure said that malware authors were constantly attempting to circumvent secu-

rity measures used by application stores to ensure only legitimate apps are offered. “The Google Play Store is currently the largest – and certainly the most scrutinised – official app site catering for the international market. As such, when malware make it into this market, it has the potential to reach a much larger audience. Of course, that makes this store a particularly lucrative target for malware pushers,” F-Secure said. Other platforms saw the creation of two threats, one for jailbroken iPhones and the other for Symbian. The company also reported 19 per cent of all malware infections were botnet-related, linking together infected devices to increase processing power.

L-R: Nigerian Idol Top 6 contestants, Evelle, Beebee Bassey; guest judge, Sheyi Shay; Specialist, Tactical Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria, Okanu Ibeanu and another Top 6 contestant, Eye-D, at the Etisalat-sponsored Nigerian Idol Top 6 gala show in Lagos.

Launch of African domain delayed by injunction T he launch of the generic top-level domain (gTLD) dotAfrica will be delayed further due to an injunction awarded to Kenyan-based DotConnectAfrica (DCA) Trust. Last year the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) awarded management of the dotAfrica gTLD to South Africa’s ZA Central Registry (ZACR). The sunrise and land rush periods of the domain were initially scheduled for February 2014 but were postponed to May. The ZACR said the initial delay was due to the provision of a Continuing Operating Instrument (COI) according to ICANN’s revised criteria and the fact ZACR had recently changed its name from UniForum SA.

However, more delays are now expected after the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) issued the injunction after DCA appealed to ICANN to cease any further applications for dotAfrica domains, to which ICANN failed to comply. In the Internet body’s letter to the DCA it said it did “not intend to refrain from further processing of applications that relate in some way to pending independent review proceedings”. As a result ICANN signed a deal handing management of the dotAfrica domain to ZACR. DCA said ICANN’s administration of the new gTLDs and its decision on DCA’s application were “unfair, discriminatory and lacked appropriate due diligence and care”.

In its ruling the IDCR said: “The Panel therefore concludes that ICANN must immediately refrain from any further processing of any application of dotAfrica” to “preserve the DCA’s right to a fair trial”. In 2012 the African Union Commission (AUC) and several African governments objected to DCA’s application, saying the organisation did not have the mandate nor the support to administer the gTLD. African countries have generally struggled to have control of domain names and the crisis involving the local hosting of Nigeria’s country code top level domain name raged for many years before it was settled with the intervention of for President Olusegun Obasanjo.

TDmobile appointed Lenovo smartphone distributor enovo has appointed TDmobile as an authorised Ldistributor for the recently

launched Lenovo smartphone portfolio in Nigeria. The partnership will provide Nigerian customers access to original range of Lenovo smartphones, such as the A369i, A516, A680, and A859; the stylish S650 and S930 and Vibe X. In addition, TDmobile will distribute a range of Lenovo tablets, including the gamechanging Yoga Tablet, in 10” and 8”, with up to 18-hour battery life as well as the A3000. Commenting on the partnership, Sharay Shams, Business Head Smartphones, Lenovo Middle East and Africa, said: “We are happy to partner with a subsidiary of an African leading technology distributor - Technology Distributions - to deliver our world class leading smart devices in Nigeria and subsequently to other African countries. We have enjoyed successful partnership with the group over the years and we are confident that TDmobile will use their wide network and credibility to deliver our global leading smart devices in the country.” Speaking on the new partnership, TDmobile’s Gozy Ijogun stated that Nigerian resellers are in for an exciting new experience. “Lenovo smartphones

are stylish, industry-leading devices. Whether you want the best camera experience or the longest talk time, Lenovo has a smartphone that will deliver just that and enhance your lifestyle.” Lenovo is the world’s number four smartphone vendor, according to IDC, and its portfolio has been described in glowing terms by industry experts and consumers alike. The portfolio has a carefully considered design innovations and functionality that fits every style, personality and need. Lenovo phones and tablets come in sleek, slim, easy to handle and rugged exterior with very light weight. Their battery life will greatly excite Nigerians. And the phones come with original standard accessories. TDmobile’s partnership with Lenovo is just the first in the series of partnerships that has been struck with other OEMs with a view to benefit Nigerian consumers in the area of original and high quality mobile devices at affordable prices. Technology Distributions Limited is one of the leaders in the ICT consumer sector and consumers are reacting positively to the yearnings of the market to take on smartphone distribution to more than 120 million subscribers in Nigeria.

Spectranet launches new cost effective 4G plan pectranet Nigeria has wardly mobile corporate exlaunched a new range of Sservices ecutive, corporate customers designed to offer fast- and people with keen interer internet download speeds to users at more affordable costs Called pay lite download heavy, the bouquet, according to the firm, is currently available for customers in Lagos and Abuja and are specifically created to offer huge value for every naira paid by customers. According to the Chief Operating Officer, Spectranet, Mr. Atul Ojha, the new range of services are the most costeffective in the market today in Nigeria. He said all segments of users are covered by the pricing provided under paylite download heavy. “The plans will cater to customers looking for significant value for money and take into account the needs of a student, a housewife, a family, an up-

est,” he said. Ojha said further that for people who were interested in downloading music, games and other items that require high amount of bandwidth, the service would be most ideal as it has pricing that allow for downloading at less busy periods like nights. The firm also said that the plans are designed for customers who are busy during the day but want to enjoy the internet during the eve and night. The COO said that Spectranet had created as special distribution system that allows customers to easily relate its neighborhood stores and channel partners to get connected to its services or resolves any issues with its services.

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

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THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014

The return of jungle justice

A suspect being burnt in Akure

Nigeria is daily descending into the abyss of lawlessness where unruly groups of people constitute themselves into complainants, prosecutors and executioners, dispensing jungle justice while the Nigeria Police Force closes its eyes, writes ABIODUN BELLO

n the last couple of weeks many people, perhaps innocent, have been apprehended for various crimes by apprehensive citizens and summarily killed. The offences range from abduction to theft and armed robbery. Many Nigerians have, in the wake of reported ritual killings in many parts of the country, become militant in their thinking, attitude and actions. They have constituted themselves into the police, the accusers, the judges, and the executors of summary judgements passed without giving the accused, neither the benefit of the doubt nor the chance to defend themselves. The cases of many killings in the streets of major cities such as Lagos, Ibadan, Ilorin, Abeokuta, etc, are really alarming. It is now common to see an angry mob at bus stops, street corners, etc, apprehend someone for an infraction, beat the person, put tyres on the accused, pour petrol and set the victim on fire. Recently, the police in Osun State arraigned 12 people before an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court for allegedly lynching three suspected kidnappers. The prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police Promise Akanwa, told the court that the accused killed

Segun Akinwale, Aliyu Mohammed and Seun Gbaja, by setting them ablaze. The incident happened between April 24 and 26 in Osogbo. The victims, who were accused of kidnapping babies, were burnt to death. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Maishanu, who condemned the actions of the suspects, described such acts as jungle justice. Maishanu said the police would not allow people to take law into their hands. Also on April 30, a mob in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, beat to stupor a woman, identified as, Favour Okoye. The woman, who was accused of trying to kidnap a baby, escaped being lynched through the intervention of the officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Earlier on April 22, a suspected kidnapper was set ablaze by a mob also in Abeokuta. The victim was accused of hypnotising a lady and attempting to kidnap her in Saje/Kugba area of the ancient town. The suspect was alleged to have sprayed a strange perfume on the lady who instantly started behaving strangely. A witness said that the development attracted the residents of the area, who asked the suspect to “bring

his victim back to normal, but could not”. This, according to the witness, annoyed the mob which set him ablaze. A few days earlier, a 26-year-old lady identified as Elisabeth Oluwole was rescued from three suspected kidnappers on Ijoko Road, Ota in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State. But again, an angry crowd burnt the suspects to death. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, according to report, said the suspects had been burnt to ashes before policemen arrived the scene. According to him, Oluwole, who resides at Ajegunle Street, Atan-Ota, said she boarded a cab whose number plate was not known about 7.40am from Sona Breweries, Sango-Ota to Ewekoro, but found herself at Gas Line area in Ijoko. “She screamed from the vehicle in which she was being taken to their den when she observed that she was in another place and the people in the area blocked the vehicle, beat the occupants, killed them and burnt them to ashes,” the PPRO was quoted as saying. He, however, said the jungle justice affected investigation into the matter. In Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, three suspected kidnappers were

lynched by angry mob between April 11 and 18. The first one, a suspected female kidnapper accused of abducting eight children was apprehended on Emir Road. The mob descended on the middle-aged woman, beat her, tore her clothes and striped her naked. Officers of the state police command had to disperse the mob with teargas to prevent the suspect from being set ablaze. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the incident, but said the suspect died on the way to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), where she was being taken to for medical treatment. The second occurred near Oyun Bridge on UITH road. In the third incident on April 18, also near the Oyun Bridge, a suspected female kidnapper was lynched by a mob. Witnesses said the suspect was lynched after being dragged to a spot on the bridge. Okasanmi said the command was now ready to enforce its earlier warning against lynching of people who might be innocent. The Commissioner of Police, Mr CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

40 40 FEATURES

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Thursday, May 15, 2014

Mobs as law enforcers, judges, executioners CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39

Ambrose Aisabor, also warned the residents against resort to jungle justice. Jungle justice is not only about lynching. Many people have also, in the last few weeks, lost their property such as houses, vehicles, business outfits, means of livelihood, and other valuables to the trend. On April 3, angry youths set ablaze a duplex suspected to be a ritual killers’ operational base in Abeokuta. Two vehicles found on the premises were also torched by the mob. While the residents of Akinremi Estate, Adigbe in Abeokuta claimed the cream duplex was being used for rituals, the police said that it was a baby-making factory. While reacting to the attack on the house of a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police at Ijaiye in Abeokuta, on the suspicion that it was being used as den of ritual killers, the state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, warned against jungle justice. He said suspicions should be reported to the police for investigation. On Tuesday May 5, two suspected kidnappers were burnt to death by angry residents of Ikire and Apomu towns in Osun State while attempting to kidnap two children. The suspects were said to be trying to force the kids into polythene and travelling bags before being discovered by the residents. The angry mob beat and stripped the suspects naked before setting them ablaze. It was learnt that three kidnappers were apprehended at different locations but one of them was spared. “One of the suspects was apprehended at NUD Primary School, Sango area of Ikire town, by the irate residents after taking to his heels when challenged on his mission in the area. “Another one was burnt in Apomu town while the arrested one at Isale Total area of the town confessed that he was in the town to kidnap children but pleaded for leniency,” a witness said. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Maishanu, who frowned at the trend of jungle justice in the state, appealed to members of the public not to take law into their hands. He said: “The police will not allow the state to be turned into a theatre of crisis and will do everything possible to forestall further breakdown of law and order. “The police will conduct thorough investigations on all the cases.” But the flummoxed public is still waiting for the outcome of the investigations, if any. The gale of summary killing swept through Ekoro Road at Abule-Egba on the outskirts of Lagos metropolis on Wednesday, May 6. An angry mob burnt a woman, riding a Nissan Murano, for allegedly being in possession of five fresh human heads. The unidentified woman, according to a witness who identified himself as Idowu, was caught in front of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) filling station at Ekoro on Road. Idowu said a commercial motorcyclist identified as Ladipo, who had been suspecting the woman for sometimes, believed she was a ritual killer and traced her in the morning of the fateful day. He said: “Idowu and some boys accosted her they asked her to come

Abubakar

A duplex razed at Adigbe in Abeokuta

Okoye

Another suspect being burnt at Abule-Egba, Lagos.

down for a check-up. While they were searching her vehicle, a Nissan Murano, they discovered five fresh children’s heads. “The boys beat her, undressed her and burnt her to hashes. Police came after that and took away the woman’s car and the children’s heads.” Also on May 7, another suspected kidnapper was lynched and set ablaze by an angry mob in Akure, the Ondo State capital. Speaking on the fresh surge in summary killings in parts of the country, the Director of Security 247, Mr Richard Amuwa, said it was a reflection of the disconnect between the Nigerian people the law enforcement agents. He said: “The reasons for jungle justice in Nigeria are numerous but one major reason is lack of trust in policing system in the country; many people feel that criminals are walking free on the streets today because the police will always not do the needful. “Secondly, our judicial system also contributes by delaying most criminal cases and most times let the criminals off the hook.” Another reason, according to him, is the fact that most people also believe that criminals do not deserve mercy because of pains they have

Many people feel that criminals are walking free on the streets today because the police will always not do the needful

Amunwa

inflicted on their victims. He added: “The truth is that if people do not allow law to take its full course, getting to arrest other criminals on the run will be jeopardised and investigation will be inconclusive. Therefore, jungle justice should be discouraged.” Reacting to the barbaric killing of suspects, the Lagos State Government warned the residents not to be tempted to deliver instant punishment or jungle justice by lynching, burning or killing suspected criminals. The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ade Ipaye, said that the full weight of the law would be brought to bear on anyone caught engaging in jungle justice, no matter what the alleged criminal could have done. The commissioner said in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer, Bola Akingbade that anybody

caught beating, burning or killing any suspect, whether alone or in a mob was engaging in a serious criminal act and was liable to prosecution and punishment. Ipaye said that the warning became necessary because of reports that some people were attacked in the state based on mere allegations of kidnapping, stealing or ritual killing. The commissioner said that the suspects might easily have been wrongly accused. He said: “Even if they did commit the alleged offence, there is a process for prosecuting and showing the evidence in court so that proven criminals can be properly punished according to law.” Ipaye cited as instances the lynching of a woman accused of attempting to kidnap three primary school pupils in Abule-Egba area and another one alleged to have abducted two children at Iyana-Ipaja. The commissioner said that just as kidnapping and other criminal acts were condemnable, it was equally unacceptable for citizens to take laws into their own hands by summarily punishing or killing those suspected of any criminal act. “The mob may well be wrong and the helpless victim may be anyone’s child or relative,” he said. According to him, even if the mob is right, instant justice can never be the answer in any civilised community. The Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, has not reacted to the gale of jungle justice in the country. Also, the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, neither picked his calls nor responded to text message sent to his mobile phones on the crucial issue.

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Can coffee lower diabetes risk? lCan't be proved yet - Study

With the number of people with Type 2 diabetes increasing in every country including Nigeria, OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI highlights the impact of coffee, lifestyle changes – diet, exercises, others on the ailment

discovered my diabetes Type2 some months after I had initial indications. Those first indications were a growing feeling of lethargy and lack of vigour that was alien to me. It continued for a while. For a period of two years before then, I suffered from some measure of insomnia. I would sleep for barely three hours each night. It was disturbing but I knew it had to do with my emotional state and various stressful conditions I was undergoing. My body was of course responding to the stress. So, I went to a big Lagos hospital where I was enrolled via my health insurance. The doctor instructed I had a series of tests including fasting blood sugar. It was done and I was told to see the doctor the following week. Meanwhile the lethargy continued. When I returned to the hospital, jthe doctor on duty (it was always a different doctor in these big hospitals practicing rotation and treating patients like numbers on an assembly line), screamed that I was lucky to be alive. My fasting blood sugar (FBS) count was as high as 520, he exclaimed. How had I managed to be walking? I then asked for an explanation of the Greek he was speaking. He said my blood sugar count was three times above the norm. So I remarked that if that was the case how could the hospital be so irresponsible and uncaring as not to have called me on getting such a report? Rather, the health facility waited for me to stroll in a full one week later. I was astounded at the implications. I changed hospital. I have been on a regimen of metformin and another drug. I have followed the doctor's instructions. At a stage, following repeated checks, the frequency was increased to twice daily dosing instead of once and I felt better. I have also been introduced to local herbs with claims of curative powers. I have been careful because of issues with dosing, with reliability and all that. Additionally, I have increased my exercise regimen. At least thrice a week, I take four- kilometre walk in the estate where I live in addition to other exercises and diet management. Joshua Ewuru, is another victim. The parents kept wondering why their nine year old son will always complain of tiredness, headache and joint pains. Typical of Nigerian parents, they assumed it was malaria, they treated him but the complaint did not lessen. They decided to take him to the hospital where he was initially diagnosed of typhoid and jaundice. How wrong were they? Two weeks after he was discharged from the hospital, the school authority called the parents to come and pick Ewuru from school. He fell

down and fainted while playing with his mates. They rushed him to St.Leo Catholic Medical Centre where they told them that the boy had the type 2 diabetes. The parents were shocked. They couldn’t believe it, “how possible? A nine year old boy diagnosed with diabetes!” It was then it dawned on Joshua’s mother that her family feeding habit has been poor and wrong. According to her, the family feed mainly of organic foods, like can package foods, fried foods, and sugar based foods. Every day, she packs the child’s school lunch box with soft drink or sweetened drink. Ignorantly, she believed her boy would not live long or would not live a normal healthy life. How wrong was she? There is a latest research of reducing diabetes in the body, though it may not be healthy and advisable for children. The new and large United States (U.S) study suggests that drinking more coffee might lower one’s risk for type 2 diabetes. People who boosted their daily java (beverage consisting of infusion of ground coffee beans) intake by more than one cup over four years reduced their diabetes risk, while adults who drank less coffee in that time frame saw their odds for diabetes rise, the study of over 123,000 adults found. "It looks like there is a doseresponse relationship between increasing coffee consumption and a lower risk of diabetes," said lead researcher Dr. Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. "Basically, the more coffee, the lower the risk of diabetes," Hu said. "People who drink three to five cups of coffee a day enjoyed a significant reduction in type 2 diabetes risk." However, people can drink too much coffee, particularly those who don't respond well to caffeine, Hu cautioned. Caffeine, a stimulant, keeps some people awake, and can also cause the heart to speed up. "It's hard to pinpoint which components of coffee may contribute to a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes," Hu said. "Current thinking is that it is the combination of antioxidants and other nutrients in coffee that are responsible for a lower risk of developing diabetes." The study, published online April 24 in “Diabetologia”, shows an association between more coffee and lower diabetes risk but can't actually prove that one causes the other, Hu said. Experiments in animals and a small human trial did find a cause and effect relationship between coffee and reduced insulin resistance, he said. Insulin resistance is a warning sign of diabetes. Coffee can be part of a healthy diet, but people shouldn't look to it as a way to prevent “Type 2” diabetes, Hu said. "People should still watch their weight and be physically active," he added. Like Hu, other experts aren't ready to advise patients to increase their coffee intake just yet. "It appears from the study that coffee can protect at least certain populations from developing type 2 diabetes," said Dr. Joel Zonszein, director of the Clinical Diabetes Center at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City.

A cup of coffee atop coffee beans

"However, as with everything else, the message is not drinking coffee to prevent diabetes, but rather balancing all good elements in life so they can all be used and consumed with moderation," he said. Dr. Spyros Mezitis, an endocrinologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said a drawback of the study is that the data was all self-reported by the participants. "You don't know if they are telling the truth," he said. Moreover, weight loss and exercise are more effective ways to reduce diabetes risk than drinking more coffee, Mezitis said. "I am not recommending that everyone should drink coffee to prevent diabetes," he said. For the study, Hu's team collected data from three major U.S. studies: the Nurses' Health Studies of 1986-2006 and 1991-2007, and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study of 1986-2006. Study participants completed questionnaires every four years that included their coffee and tea intake. Overall, 7,269 cases of type 2 diabetes were reported. The researchers calculated that people who increased their coffee consumption by more than one cup a day for four years reduced the risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the next four years by 11 percent compared with those who didn't boost their daily coffee intake. However, people who drank at least,one less cup of coffee or more daily over the four years had a 17 percent higher risk for diabetes in the subsequent four years, the researchers said. Hu's group defined a cup of coffee as eight ounces of coffee, black or with a small amount of milk and/or sugar. “But drinking coffee loaded with sugar or cream may reduce any benefit coffee may have in reducing diabetes risk,” Hu said. The findings only applied to caffeinated coffee. The researchers said that decaffeinated coffee and caffeinated tea weren't associated with changes in risk for type 2 diabetes. Dr. Alyson Myers, an endocrinologist at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y. countered the researchers by saying that’s coffee alone might not account for the reduced diabetes risk. "It

is unclear if the extra cup of coffee may cause these patients to eat less, as they may become full faster," she said. Noting that the study consisted of health care professionals, Myers said the results might not reflect the entire population. Also, the study doesn't address physical activity. "Perhaps those who drank caffeinated coffee had the energy to work out more," she said. Reacting to the study result, Dr. Kolawole Omoyele, medical practitioner with Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, said he does not totally support it. He explained that truthfully, coffee reduces the risk of Type 2 diabetes, especially in people of middle and young age. He said coffee is used mostly as lifetime modification for those who are to avoid alcohol and starchy foods. He added that though, it is a recipe that is not yet embraced in Nigeria, because the actual type of its content is not yet known. The nag in coffee usage, he said, is that caffeine which is part of the constituent of coffee reduces insulin sensitivity, meaning that the patient will not metabolise which is not healthy. Dr. Omoyele advised that "It is good to take coffee but diabetic patients should not use it as a therapy. Instead, they should adhere to the established rules and regulations regarding diabetes," he said. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF), umbrella organisation for 200 diabetes associations in more than 160 countries just released its 2013 Diabetes Atlas. It cites current statistics and the rise of diabetes worldwide. “If you've been following the trend in diabetes, it will not surprise you to know diabetes continues to rise, unabated, around the world.” It stated. According to the organistaion, the key messages given are that 382 million people have diabetes in 2013 and that by 2035 this will rise to 592 million. The number of people with type 2 diabetes is increasing in every country. Eighty percent of people with diabetes live in low and middle income countries. The greatest numbers of people with diabetes are between 40 and 59 years of age.

42 HEALTH

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Reduce child deaths through immunisation, Lions Club, PAN tell govt VACCINATION Parents charged to protect children against diseases Taiwo Jimoh

he Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) has called on parents to desist from primitive way of life in which infants and children are prevented from being administered polio immunisation and other vaccines. Professor Adebiyi Olowu, President of PAN, who disclosed this recently also called on relevant government agencies to ensure that “routine immunisation for children should be a continuous exercise because most clinics in the hinterland do not have vaccines”. He spoke at the 2014 World Immunisation Week organised by Lions Club international, Multiple District 404 in conjunction with PAN in Yaba, Lagos. According to him, Polio Immunisation and other vaccines prevent an estimate of about two to three million deaths every year.

Diseases the vaccines prevent include polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and measles. The proportion of the world’s children who receive recommended vaccines has remained steady for the past few years. In 2012, about 110.6 million infants worldwide got three doses of DTP3 vaccine, protecting them against infectious diseases that can cause serious illness, disability or death. Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that can cause irreversible paralysis. While in 2012, 84 percent of infants around the world received three doses of polio vaccines, countries like Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan remain polio-endemic in the world. Speaking further on the activities of PAN and Lion Clubs to tackle vaccine preventable diseases, Olowu said, “we are here today to chat a new cause and change for the Nigerian children who are in the slums and the hinterland where they cannot access vaccines.” He however, said every Nigerian child should be saved from premature death. Irrespective of where the child resides, he or she

should be able to access the vaccine at their various clinics, he stressed. The PAN President noted that “our major concern is to educate and mobilise parents to bring their children out for immunisation” and added, “our advocacy does not stop with the media. We would go to some selected community in Lagos and enlighten them on the importance of the vaccines.” According to Adetope Tychus, a former District Governor of Lion Club, what you are seeing here today is a beginning of partnership between two organisations because in recent times, we have been looking for how we can work together to save lives. Today, we are together doing it. “The partnership is geared towards savings the lives of Nigerian children by reducing death rate and preventing communicable diseases in the country,” said Tychus. She reiterated that what Lions Club is doing with PAN is for mutual relationship and goes beyond religion. We don’t compete. Rather, we make the world a better place.”

A child recieving polio vaccine

Ultimate Commander honours NAFDAC DG with Championship Belt

igerian wrestler, Osita Offor, a.k.a De Ultimate Commander yesterday presented his Heavy Weight Champion Belt to the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii. Offor who was NAFDAC’s Sport Ambassador said his organisation deemed it fit to present the belt to the Agency following the Director General’s commitment to the fight against fake drugs and support for sports in the country. Offor also intimated the Agency on his recent

appointment to participate in the Nelson Mandela Commonwealth and America Unifying Wrestling Championship featuring the best of legendary professional wrestlers from the Common Wealth of Nations. The wrestling championship in honour of late Nelson Mandela is billed to take place in Johannesburg, South Africa on July 18. Presenting the Belt which ear ned him the title “Battle of the Legends”, he revealed that the presentation was part of efforts to strengthen their collaboration for a healthy drug system in Nigeria.

Responding, the director general of NAFDAC noted that Ultimate Commander was conferred with NAFDAC’s Sports Ambassador in 2007 to foster campaign against the use of illegal substance to enhance performance in sports. Orhii further described him as a great Nigerian who has brought fame to the country. “Ultimate Commander identifies with us today, because he believed in what we stand for because we are committed to safeguarding the health of Nigerians. We are glad because you have made Nigerians proud.”

with Dr. Ihuoma Uko-Ndukwe

ada.ndukwe@yahoo.com

Obesity in children: A family affair EXCESS BODY FAT Results to p oor quality of life

besity in children between ages two to 19 has tripled in the last 15 years and will continue to increase if major changes are not made to the way we eat. Obesity is a long time condition characterised by an excess body fat. It is properly defined by weight as it compares to height and varies by a child’s age and sex. Normally, weight is assessed in comparison to height. It rises in the first months after birth, falls in first year and rises again Obesity is the result of a long term energy imbalances in which daily energy intake exceeds energy expenditure and the balance is affected by the rate at which body burns down food, a person’s appetite, diet and physical activity. In most cases, obesity in children is caused by genetic and secondary issues mostly related to whether children already have some disease or on some medication that will contribute to weight gain but obesity has been more recently attributed to environmental changes that promote excessive food intake and discourage physical activity. Some secondary cause of obesity can be from hormonal imbalances like problems with the thyroid and some forms of mental retardation. Childhood Obesity is considered a family problem, lack of exercise and self control but weight gain in children is also result of lax public policy and a food industry that capitalises on our biologically programmed desire for sugar, salt and fat. RISK FACTORS: The risk of childhood obesity is related to childhood diet and activity. Obesity risk in children increases with television (TV) viewing time, watching more than four hours of TV a day, obesity in parents, low parental education, social deprivation, infant feeding patterns, early or more rapid puberty (both a risk factor and effect of obesity) extreme (both high and low) birth weights and diabetes in pregnancy. Obesity may be induced by medications (high dose glucocorticoids) or inherited disorders like down syndrome. Most obese children in adolescents become obese adults ABOUT 86 percent of the time as they grow. Overweight adolescents have increased risk of developing heart disease and

arthritis , impaired glucose tolerance, increased blood pressure, sleep disturbance and is associated with adverse social and economic consequences in adulthood. PREVENTION: Interventions to prevent overweight in children are mostly family based but should also include population-basedprogrammes such as schools and community programs and attempt to change government policies and individual behavior. 1. BALANCED DIET: Provision of balanced diet maximises a child’s diet. Factors that help include eating food high in fiber and eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day 2. ELIMINATE EXCESSIVE FAT AND SUGARS: limit fat contents in food, replace whole (fat filled) milk with low fat milk. Avoid fast food and junk food including hamburgers, potato- chips, fries, chocolates candies and sweets. Avoid sweetened drinks including soda, fruit drinks, soft drinks and limit the consumption of high calorie food at home.

3.ENCOURAGE HEALTHY EATING BEHAVIOURS: Ensure appropriate (small) food portions. Food should not be used to comfort a child while crying. Do not skip breakfast and limit eating out in fast food restaurants. In addition, treats should not be used to reward a child for finishing a meal. A child does not need to ‘clean plate.” Encourage children to stop eat-

Establish dietary guidelines like using the food pyramid and lower intake gradually with less portions each day

ing when full. 1. ENCOURAGE ACTIVITY: limit the length of time for TV, computer, and video games to two hour or less a day. Do not keep television in the child’s room. Also, foster active play and family exercises.

TREATMENT

1 Set reasonable weight loss goals. Example one to three pounds expectation in a month to five to six pounds in three months 2. Establish dietary guidelines like using the food pyramid and lower intake gradually with less portions each day 3. Establish regular exercises--- 30 minutes every day supervised exercise outside, in addition to school activity. 4. Encourage behavior modifications with attitude change, modifying eating habits and reward positive new behaviors 5. Involve family in weight reduction with family outside activity and parental nutrition counseling. Any form of increased energy expenditure such as biking, walking swimming will encourage reduction in

sedentary life styles. COMPLICATIONS OF OBESITY IN CHILDREN: The most significant short term morbidity for overweight and obese children are psychosocial, social marginaliation, low self - esteem and an impaired quality of life. Similarly, complications of obesity in children is known to lead to more serious health issues like high blood pressure, adult onset diabetes that starts before 20 years, high cholesterol, joint pains, possible heart disease, sleep problems and exercise intolerance. Weight maintenance allows children to maintain weight overtime within the appropriate age and height range. It is also appropriate for all children who are at risk for developing medical complications from being overweight to follow the above guidelines.

HEALTH

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

How common is prostate cancer in this country? don’t want to say it is a disease of blacks but it is common with black men. Even in the United States (U.S) where there is a lot of study on prostate cancer, the black communities are liable to have more prostate cancers than the white communities. Prostate cancer is a more aggressive disease and even lowers life expectancy of affected men. So, let us just say it is like hypertension, a disease of black men. Blacks have the potentials to have bigger prostate glands because of the educational lapse and may be, poverty, corruption in Africa and lack of programmes that normally will identify this health condition early enough. When it is identified early, one can achieve a cure but when it is discovered late, all that can be done is to manage it so as to reduce how far it spreads. Screening programmes that will help to identify these conditions early are not available. The Lagos State Government has made some efforts. It does an annual screening programme. Other governments have not keyed into this measure. Even abroad, they have gone beyond screening. One of the reasons why prostate cancer is a fatal disease in this country is that most times, patients are coming to health facilities when it is almost late and that has been the pattern. Those that come early, it is because they are health conscious. Many Nigerians are not health conscious. They come when symptoms prevent them from doing daily activities. They tend to manage and tell themselves that it is a disease of old age. It is only when it becomes debilitating that they come to the hospitals but at that stage, it is already late.

How many new cases do you see in this centre? I cannot estimate. There is a problem with urology specialty in Lagos, basically in Nigeria. I don’t think urologists in the country are up to 500. More people are getting aware of urological diseases and more are coming out. It is not like before when they tell themselves that it is a disease of old age. Besides, other general practice doctors are referring those coming out, to specialists but the number of urologists are not enough to cater to the needs of affected persons. Now because of the relative access of LASUTH and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), a lot of patients are coming from neighboring states for care. I will not exaggerate to say we see up to 150 new cases weekly. This is aside follow up and aside emergency cases. Similarly, it is aside the patients in the hospital wards. Although, we get various cases – kidney, bladder, etc, majority of the cases are prostate cases. So, this centre where I practice is always flooded with prostate cases. I will say between 30 to 40 percent of the cases that we see are prostatic diseases. It is later that we assess to determine the cases to know if they are ordinary enlargement or cancerous enlargement. What is the incidence of prostate cancer in the country? We don’t have data on that yet because we have not done any multi-centre study to represent what occurs in this environment but there are a lot of institutional based studies that people have done in this country. I cannot say the exact incidence, but prostate cancer is very common in the country. Will you describe the current high incidence of prostate cancer in the country as a public health concern? Yes, it is. One of the issues of public health is actually to take these issues to the community in the form of awareness to try and prevent them. The problem with screening now is that when you identify the cases early, who bears the cost of their treatment? Have you not just helped the person die slowly by

Routine screening can check prostate cancer – Expert Dr. Abimbola Abolarinwa who practices at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). She is the first female urologist in Nigeria. She specialised in the treatment and management of prostate cancer, a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. In this interview with APPOLONIA ADEYEMI, she discusses factors fueling prostate cancer in men, the reason for numerous deaths arising from it, and routine tests to detect the condition early. Excerpts:

Dr. Abolarinwa

informing him that he has cancer and he is incapacitated because he cannot pay for the treatment? Health insurance does not cover that in most cases. Public health will bring awareness. It will get to a point where government can sponsor some of this treatment. All these multinationals that sponsor musicians can sponsor such treatments. MTN has established dialysis a centre in Akowonjo, Lagos and other places. They can extend it to something surgical like prostate cancer and screening. Like what the Lagos State Government is doing, they can go a step further by aiding these people to get their treatment while it is early. You talked about prostate cancer being a debilitating condition. What is the extent? The prostate specific antigen (PSA) detects abnormality. This is a blood test that tests for substance that the prostate gland produces. The normal range is 0 to four. If it is higher than that, you cannot use a PSA to say a person has cancer, but it raises a suspicion. Then, if you do a rectal examination, putting a finger in directly to feel the prostate, it feels abnormal with a high PSA. You have a higher suspicion that there is a cancer. The only diagnostic test is a biopsy where you take out little tiny pieces of the prostate tissues to laboratory pathologist to look at it and determine whether it is a cancer or not. These are the tests. So screening consists of doing a direct examination and a PSA test.

One of the reasons why prostate cancer is a fatal disease in this country is that most times, patients are coming to health facilities when it is almost late and that has been the pattern

It is when those two are abnormal, those two are now taken for a biopsy. So the test are very expensive, but the initial screening process is relatively cheap. It is when you now talk of a biopsy, it is now getting expensive. Basically, prostate cancer does not kill rapidly like that. However, we have patients that now come when they are asymptomatic. Some of them begin to wake up at night to pass urine; three to four times as if they have diabetes. Ideally, if you sleep at night, you shouldn’t wake up at night to pass urine until you wake up at night. This pressure to pass urine is so much on them that it breaks their sleep. So they cannot have quality sleep. Also during the day time, they will go to urinate several time, may be every two hours. So it disturbs the quality of their life. One can get so pressed, they cannot even postpone the urge. If they cannot quickly go to the toilet, they can even pass urine on themselves. So you see an elderly adult smelling of urine as if he is a child. That is what is called urgency incontinence. They cannot postpone that urge to pass urine. It becomes unbearable and after sometime, the urine leaks out. We have other feature like affected men are straining to pass urine. They want to pass urine but he cannot start. Although, they are so pressed, go to the toilet but cannot start because they have to wait and relax. That is what is called hesitancy and then when they start passing it, the stream is so weak. It is not coming out and they begin to strain. Even as they strain, the urine still will not come out. It starts and stops. We call it intermittency. At the end of the whole urine stream, they begin to dribble urine. So if they don’t wait for the dribbling to come out and they dress up, that dribbling can actually wet their clothes. After this long process, some of them will tell you that they feel that there is urine remaining in their bladder. That is what is called the signs of incomplete bladder emptying and these are what is called lower inner track syndromes. We can have these in other diseases but they are quite common in prostatic enlargement. So some people with prostate cancer can have these features which can start mildly and they can tolerate them but gradually as they worsen, they become unbearable and disturb their quality of life such that they do not want to interact socially because every one hour they are looking for a toilet and smelling of urine. Also, many people want to stay away from the person. That is one extent. Then gradually as the cancer spreads to the bones resulting in severe low back pain. We have those that it eventually spreads to the liver, lungs, brain and gradually these people die. What is the major challenge facing the fight against prostate cancer in the country? The major challenge is the cost and the poor knowledge about it. What will you recommend? We need to make more noise about prostate cancer. We need to educate our men and I don’t think it is a disease that takes men only. If a woman has a husband that has prostate cancer, I can assure you that the house will be quite rough to live in. If he wakes up 10 time in the night to go pass urine, somebody beside him will be

disturbed. . So, it is a problem that affects everybody. If your bread winner is affected by prostate cancer, I honestly don’t think that family can be at peace. So whether the information goes to the women, goes to the children or to the man, let people be aware. Prostatic diseases are not things you tolerate. Once you have urinary symptoms, from the age of 40, you should begin to do screening for prostate cancer. You should have a doctor annually examine your prostate Do a PSA test annually. These test can pick aberration early before the disease gets to you and it is too late. We should make noise about it, inform people. People should be more health aware. Going to alternative medical practitioners, people that have little knowledge of medicine cannot help. Symptomatic management of diseases with ‘Alabukun’ should stop. People should be interested to find out the fundamental problems, not just treating symptoms because when you continue to manage symptoms, you might be concealing a more sinister thing. This type of mentality should stop. Even if the government doesn’t make screening available, spend on yourself for the screening. It is once a year. If the man is not interested, you his wife that knows he is your breadwinner should ensure that he goes for his annual prostatic checkup. This is one of the things we should do to overcome that challenge of ignorance and knowledge. The second one is finances. Prostate cancer is not cheap. There should be a proper national Bill and budget for some certain type of diseases of public health interest – malaria, cholera, etc. Cancer should also be part public health interest because cancers are now very common in Nigeria, may be because of change in our diet. People should stop concealing these diseases, especially cancers that people can do something about early. Government should be able to finance management of some of these diseases, either fully finance them or subsidise them. Also, government should invest in health care facilities in the country. It is a shame that it is only one centre that can offer some treatment. By the time crowd goes to that centre, they will destroy the place. Department of Nuclear Medicine in UCH, is an example of such centre. Government should invest in more centres. Similarly, I always tell Nigerians that health is not as expensive as a lot of things that we think are more rewarding. If we think health is expensive, we should try sickness. Malaria is no longer cheap to treat any longer. So when people think that the priority for their money is to do social party, they build 10 houses, I think they should get their priorities right. Many times when people say they don’t have money, it is because they feel that money has its uses and their health is the responsibility of the government and others. Take your own health personal. That is the only best asset you can have as a person. It might be challenging to bring out money to treat prostate cancer or to even investigate for it but nobody is going to do it for you. You can invest in doing that for yourself. We should get our priorities right and re-direct our money in ensuring that we live healthy lives.

44 HEALTH

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Mothers tasked on two years breastfeeding

lAs Nestle trains journalists on water, agriculture this 1000 days and if the development of the brain is warped, deficient or has any Shape health future, form of problem at that level, success of your child it will impact negatively on the child for the rest of his with nutrition life. Hence, what happens during this period determines the future health, well Appolonia Adeyemi being and success of such a child for the rest of his life. o ensure that children get Consequently, she reaadequate nutrition that soned that adequate nutrition will prepare them for their is a key factor that will deterfuture health, President of mine the proper formation of the Nutrition Society of Nige- a child’s brain. ria (NSN), Prof. Ngozi Nnam Prof. Nnam spoke at the has advocated breastfeeding 3rd Creating Shared Value for infants until they attain Media Workshop organised their second birthday. by Nestle Nigeria in collaboTo this end, Nnam who is a ration with Development Professor of Community and Communication Network Public Health Nutrition, also (Devcom. has advocated that nursing The workshop, which working mothers should be brought together journalists allowed to work half day only reporting health, brands, to enable them fulfill this environment, among others, very important responsibil- held in Lagos. ity that will prepare children Speaking on “Nutrition in for a better and robust future. the First 1000 Days of Life: Nnam who made the call, The Role of Nutrition and said first 1000 days, the period Feeding Practices”, the profrom the start of a woman’s fessor of Community and pregnancy to her child’s sec- Public Health Nutrition, ond birthday- sets the future said if the first 1000 days of a child is not well taken care for the child. According to her, the brain of, growth altering occurs of a child is formed during and the danger is that such

DEVELOPMENT

problems are not reversible. Hence, she recommended proper and adequate nutrition for women before pregnancy and during pregnancy, exclusive breastfeeding for the child in the first six months and thereafter continued breastfeeding in addition to complementary feeding so as to achieve proper and adequate nutrition for the child. According to Nnam, “what it entails is putting in more efforts as a mother. You have to wake up early to express that breast milk. The milk can actually keep for eight hours, if not put in the refrigerator. So, if mothers can express milk before leaving for work, they can leave it in the hand of a good care giver who can give to the child on demand.” In his welcome address, Mr. Dharnesh Gordhon, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Nestle Nigeria, said the media workshop is part of Nestle’s effort to build the company’s thought leadership and presence in nutrition, water and rural development in Nigeria. He said, “At Nestle, creating shared value begins

L-R: Nestle Nigeria's CCPA Manager; Dr.Sam Adenekan, Mrs Iquo Ukoh of Nestle's Marketing Services Department; and Head of Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Chris Isokpunwu at the media workshop in Lagos PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

with the creation of superior long-term value for shareholders by offering products and services that help people improve their nutrition, health and wellness. In addition to nutrition, he said Nestle also focuses on water because water scarcity is a very serious issue and rural development because the overall wellbeing of farmers and rural

communities, small entrepreneurs and suppliers is intrinsic to the long-term success of Nestle business. Among dignitaries at the conference are Dr. Chris Isokpunwu, Head of Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Olukayode Oyeleye, Special Adviser to Minister of Agriculcure and Rural Development, among others.

NHIS flags-off community health scheme in Kogi Obinna Odoh

Abuja

he National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has vowed to provide quality and affordable health care services to Nigerians irrespective of class and location. This was contained in a press release issued by the agency. According to the statement, the Executive Secretary of the NHIS, Dr. Femi Thomas stated this during the official flag-off of the Community-based Social Health Insurance promoted by the Emoriko Mutual Health Association in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State. Dr. Thomas emphasised that the scheme is working hard to address health seeking challenges of the vulnerable groups in our society especially those who do not have financial muscles to contribute pre-payment plans. He noted that that over 70 per cent of the Nigerian’s population has a very huge informal sector. According to him “this necessitates the recent convening of a presidential summit on universal health coverage in Abuja, to develop and implement strategies for ensuring that all Nigerians enjoy access to effective health care, without the constraints of physical and financial barriers.” Dr. Thomas however, warned that if any meaningful success should be made, priority should be accorded coverage of the informal sector, particularly at the community level.

Dr. Thomas

He expressed pleasure at the rapidly increasing demand for the services of the scheme in recent times, attributing that to new initiatives at NHIS to achieve the primary objectives of the organisation. He therefore, appealed to state and local governments to summon the political will and embrace the formal sector programmes of the scheme so as to build the platform for improving the quality of life of their workforce The Governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Health Insurance, Dr. Dorcas Onumiya, described the effort of NHIS as a transformation tool and charged community associations in the state to initiate the processes for the formation of mutual health groups, towards empowering members and their families in various communities to become active players in the socio-economic affairs of the state.

Pfizer chief to sustain research jobs in takeover Oluwatosin Omoniyi fizer’s Chief Executive has promised to keep key research jobs in Britain but acknowledged that a potential merger with AstraZeneca would lead to job losses as part of its $106 billion takeover bid. CEO, Ian Read refused to give specifics on where the cuts might take place as he testified before Parliament's Business Innovation and Skills Committee but described them as an in-

evitable outcome of the merger. Still he told skeptical lawmakers the company would honor its promises to keep 20 percent of its global research and development workforce in the U.K. "There will be some job cuts somewhere, that's part of being more efficient," he said. "Whereabouts in the world I cannot say." The U.S. drug maker has sought in writing to ease worries that British jobs will be lost and research undermined

by the transaction concerns that have made the takeover politically fraught. Critics on the committee, however, repeatedly attacked what they described as Pfizer's ruthless track record, accusing the company of buying foreign firms and then downsizing. Amid heated questioning, Read was forced to place his personal honor and that of Pfizer on the table. "We are a highly ethical company," he said. "We keep our promises." AstraZeneca has

rebuffed three approaches since January, saying Pfizer's last offer undervalues the company. AstraZeneca's CEO Pascal Soriot, a biologist by training, stressed that a takeover would disrupt its work on a potentially lucrative pipeline of new drugs. He also called the five-year time window offered by the Pfizer commitments too short. "From the laboratory to the patient takes many years," Soriot said, stressing that people who are sick would

prefer that the company make drugs rather than fight takeover bids. "It's a question of avoiding distraction." The deal would be the largestever foreign takeover of a British company. It's politically charged because it revives memories of when American food giant Kraft abandoned job pledges after its takeover of Cadbury in 2010. Unions are particularly angry, in part because Pfizer said the commitments are made with the assump-

tion that circumstances won't change "significantly." "You don't really buy a second-hand car if the guy says 'I'm giving you a guarantee but, hey, if things change the guarantees are null and void,'" GMB national officer Allan Black said. Pfizer tried another strategy after its failure to persuade AstraZeneca's board, reaching out directly to stockholders and saying in a statement it "remains disappointed at the lack of engagement by the AstraZeneca Board."

e e, t e s 8 e r d

I s d l

METRO

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Akure regent warns against lynching Babatope Okeowo Akure

orried by cases of lynching and W burning of suspected kidnappers in her domain, the Regent of

The house

Omitogun (2nd left) with some of the victims

holding on, I discovered that whenever I came around and wanted to make enquiry from the tenants living on the ground floor, they were always hostile. “Eventually, I was shocked when I came here yesterday and found blood everywhere within the compound. I was later told that there was a fight between those working for the developer and those who had paid and wanted to take possession of their apartments. “I was shocked when the man who was telling me what had earlier happened told me he had come to take possession of the same place that I paid for. I saw two other guys who came around and were ready to

t, Mr

did not d bring e area. most n the e some ration

added an, no ed unes and nes. le dehieved velopdirec-

tion of growth and enforce compliance with the proposals in the plan. “It is therefore necessary for our people in Agege, Ifako and Ijaiye to critically examine the proposed model city plan with a view to making suggestions which will improve the living, working and business environment.” While assuring the residents, comprising the traditional rulers and the local government chairmen in Ifako/Ijaiye and Agege, the commissioner said that the contributions of the residents in the area would be put into consideration before the implementation of the plan. He said: “Once the map is signed, it is like a law, binding on everybody. The proposed development plan is for the good of the public and the residents and not for the government alone. People who live in the community will be the one to enjoy the good roads and the new facilities to be provided in the area. “Plan is like a law, and in making any law, the people for which the law is made must be carried along in the making of such law. The development plan is for the people of Agege, Ifako and Ijaiye.” Speaking with NT Metro, the Chairman of Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area, Mr Taofik Adaranijo, commended the state government for the initiative, saying the residents in the area had been fully briefed on the plan. He said: “We are part and parcel of the new Model City Plan, we have sensitised our people and we are ready for whatever sacrifice for its implementation; even if my building will have to be demolished to give way for the development in my council.”

occupy the same apartment.” Another victim, Emmanuel Anumu, also said he had come to take possession of the apartment only to discover he had been duped. However the landlord, who apparently got wind of the chaos that was going on, rushed from his residence in Iju to placate the prospective tenants. Adepoju said: “When the landlord came he told us to write down our names and promised that he was going to resolve the whole issue. So, we had the hope that it was going to be resolved positively since the owner of the property had stepped into the case.” But there was a new twist yesterday

when the victims gathered as they had been told by the landlord. The landlord went to the police station to report the invasion of his building by unknown people. So, about 15 armed policemen from Area G stormed the place in two patrol pick-up vans. They arrested two of the victims whom they accused of spearheading the mayhem that earlier took place. When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ngozi Braide, said she was not yet briefed on the issue. She promised to contact our correspondent later. But she did not at press time.

Oshiomhole hands over 300 cabs to ex-Okada riders Cajetan Mmuta Benin

uccour came the way of hundreds of displaced commercial motorcyclists in parts of Edo State as Governor Adams Oshiomhole commissioned 300 Comrade Cabs for the use of the former Okada riders. The measure is to cushion the effects of the ban on operations of commercial motorcycles in the state capital and other adjoining towns. Oshiomhole thereafter drove one of the cabs round Benin City, the state capital, picking passengers and dropping them at their destinations. The governor said the ban, which took effect from June last year, was the most difficult decision he made as governor. He said: “I found myself taking a tough decision after repeatedly assuring Okada riders that Okada will not be banned in this state and when I said that, I meant it. “Indeed, after my second tenure elections, I renewed that assurance and I know you were really shocked that after reassuring you repeatedly, you woke up one day to hear that the same comrade had decided to prohibit Okada and to give you a very short notice that was less than one week. “It was a tough moment for me because I believe that as we say, those of us who are Christians say that there are moments of temptation. There are things in government that you are never able to disclose even as you are committed to accountability and transparency. “When it became clear we had overwhelming majority of you honest, hardworking genuine Okada workers, labouring everyday to earn a living, we also found out that some criminals from some other states had infiltrated your ranks and in no time

became even more in numbers. It was clear that many of the Okada riders didn’t know anywhere in Benin City, and clearly they were here for different reasons. “The challenge for the decision maker is to see how you distinguish the genuine operatives from the criminals. That was a process that was physically impossible. I found myself having to say to you eyeball to eyeball, you no longer can drive commercial bikes in the city of Benin. “That was the most difficult decision I have ever had to take since I became the governor of the state. It was a choice between what was politically convenient and what was in the best interest of the Edo public including your own selves.” Oshiomhole maintained that in providing the taxis, “government gave 15 per cent subsidy on the price of each vehicle and the subsidy is a grant that we are giving to each of the beneficiary. We are not expecting you to pay back to the government of Edo State”. Earlier, the Commissioner for Transport, Mr Orobosa Omo Ojo, said government negotiated to reduce the interest rate charged by the bank from 21 per cent to 18 per cent as well as providing a comprehensive insurance. On his part, the Chairman of the former Okada riders, Comrade Peter Adoroh, appreciated the governor for the provision of the first phase of 300 cabs. “We will remain with you come rain or sunshine,” he promised. After the inauguration, Oshiomhole picked some students of Imaguero College who had closed and were on their way home and dropped them at Mission Road. Thereafter, the governor picked two new passengers from Mission Road to New Benin. He, however, did not collect fare from his passengers.

Akure, Oba Adetutu Adesida yesterday directed her quarter chiefs to monitor the activities of people in their domains. The regent urged the residents of Akure to have confidence in the police and desist from taking laws into their hands. Adesida, who warned that jungle justice would not be condoned in Akure, the Ondo State capital, said she had held a meeting with the quarter chiefs on the need for the people to report any suspected criminal to the police. She said: “I know that Akure people are law-abiding citizens and loving people and Nigeria is a country governed by the law, I will implore them that in as much as they are protective of their environment they should not also take laws into their hands. “I urge them to handover anyone suspected to be a criminal or engaged in any criminal activity to the police. Jungle justice would not be condoned. It is totally condemned. We do not promote violence of any form so I want to implore the citizens of Akure to let the authorities and the police do their job as they have promised that they would protect the citizens of Akure.” The regent commended the state government for inaugurating a task force that is to evacuate lunatics and the destitute from the streets of Akure.

Court jails three Indians 15 years for oil theft Juliana Francis hree Indians, Sailesh Kumar TAjay Singh, Chadrashekar Sharma and Bhatiya (still at large) have

been jailed 15 years for oil theft. They were convicted by a Federal High Court sitting in Yenegoa, Balyesa State. The convicts were among 12 suspected oil thieves, including eight other Indians, one Ghanaian and a Nigerian arrested aboard MT Akshay by men of the Joint Task Force, Central Naval Command, Yenegoa sometimes in November 2012 and handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution. They were arraigned on a twocount charge on January 22, 2013 before Justice Lambo Akanbi. After diligent prosecution, the court found the first and the two accused alongside the owner of the vessel, Bhatiya, who is still at large, guilty on count one which borders on conspiracy and convicted them accordingly. The other accused, Dharmaraj Kumar, Ajay Kumar, Nimesh Kodi Parambil, Ashraf Ali, Sanjeev Kumar, Sarbjot Singh, Arvind Kumar Bhardwaj, Gagan Kumar, Dele Johnson Olayemi and Benneth Egbegi, were discharged and acquitted on the two counts preferred against them by the EFCC.

46 BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

14-May-14

The FMDQ Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixed income securities and instruments in the OTC market. The use of this report is subject to the FMDQ OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement.

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description 9.20 29-JUN-2014 9.25 28-SEP-2014 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

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

9.20 9.25 4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00

45.00 100.00 535.00 435.27 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 75.00 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

AMCON FMBN

Bid Price

Offer Price

0.13 0.38 0.94 2.26 2.95 3.20 3.30 4.04 5.13 5.44 7.71 9.83 14.54 15.02 15.52 16.19

9.79 10.67 11.55 12.37 12.22 12.18 12.19 12.25 12.42 12.37 12.60 12.64 12.91 12.94 12.98 13.08

8.63 10.25 10.95 12.30 12.16 12.06 12.07 12.15 12.34 12.28 12.54 12.59 12.87 12.90 12.92 13.02

99.88 99.45 93.43 101.25 106.95 93.93 92.45 95.15 113.25 79.18 118.30 108.60 113.54 97.02 70.40 79.45

100.03 99.60 93.93 101.40 107.10 94.23 92.75 95.45 113.55 79.48 118.60 108.90 113.84 97.32 70.70 79.75

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

29-Jun-14 28-Sep-14 23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30

4,264.84

Issuer

Agency Bonds

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

***LCRM

Description

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.47 1.03 1.51 2.57 2.93 3.15

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 3.20 1.00

11.79 14.28 14.18 14.16 15.36 13.18

94.84 86.78 104.24 95.35 88.73 91.30

05-Aug-14 15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.23 0.42 1.30 0.90 1.20 1.20 2.93 1.76 3.63 2.60 4.39 2.61 2.61 3.19 3.25 5.53 3.22 3.93 6.54 6.63 3.94 3.97

1.56 1.34 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 1.21 1.00 1.00 1.94 2.74 2.74 1.00 1.94 1.44 1.95

11.58 11.99 16.23 14.72 16.20 15.23 17.75 13.04 14.01 13.96 13.28 13.16 13.37 13.18 13.18 14.31 14.92 14.98 13.45 14.40 13.68 14.20

100.44 100.75 95.73 98.97 97.78 100.66 82.83 101.35 99.94 100.22 102.30 103.02 114.08 103.33 105.93 100.69 99.62 99.37 100.19 102.47 111.21 110.86

07-Oct-14 18-Dec-14 31-Dec-14 17-Aug-15 09-Dec-15 06-Jan-16 29-Sep-16 25-Oct-16 30-Sep-17 30-Nov-17 09-Apr-18 09-Sep-18 09-Sep-18 22-Sep-18 18-Oct-18 17-Feb-19 14-Nov-20

0.40 0.60 0.63 0.78 0.86 0.94 2.38 2.45 3.38 2.00 2.15 2.32 2.32 4.36 2.43 2.51 6.50

1.00 5.21 8.71 4.88 1.00 2.63 1.00 1.34 4.52 1.88 3.48 5.20 5.06 1.00 2.29 6.11 2.76

11.58 16.25 19.81 16.19 12.43 14.18 13.16 13.50 16.71 14.04 15.64 17.36 17.22 13.28 14.45 18.27 15.21

99.92 98.45 98.33 95.70 99.82 100.26 99.64 101.50 90.65 107.93 100.82 101.47 101.96 102.29 102.64 97.87 100.17

11-Feb-18

3.75

1.00

13.23

91.24

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,304.32

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto A-/GCR

KWARA NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

05-Aug-09 15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 30-Sep-13 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14

14.00 14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00

17.00 6.00 8.50 16.50 13.00 18.50 57.00 50.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00 20.00 80.00 30.00 11.40 87.00 5.00 5.00 5.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

572.90

Corporate Bonds A+/Agusto; AA/GCR Aa/Agusto Nil Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto BB+/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto A/GCR BBB-/GCR BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

LAFARGE WAPCO GTB µ NGC *UPDC *FLOURMILLS *CHELLARAMS NAHCO FSDH UBA *C & I LEASING *DANA# *TOWER# *TOWER# UBA *LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS# NAHCO

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

07-Oct-11 18-Dec-09 01-Apr-10 17-Aug-10 09-Dec-10 06-Jan-11 29-Sep-11 25-Oct-13 30-Sep-10 30-Nov-12 09-Apr-11 09-Sep-11 09-Sep-11 22-Sep-11 18-Oct-13 17-Feb-12 14-Nov-13

11.50 13.50 17.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 13.00 14.25 13.00 18.00 16.00 18.00 16.00 14.00 15.75 17.00 15.25

11.80 13.17 2.00 15.00 37.50 1.50 15.00 5.53 20.00 0.94 8.01 3.63 1.00 35.00 3.00 0.54 2.05

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

175.67

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

12.00 Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value ($'mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%) Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

4.91

4.76

110.38

111.30

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

18-Dec-09

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.21

4.00

103.44

104.26

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

01-Apr-10

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.35

5.23

107.34

108.23

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

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

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

4.00

3.45

112.20

113.17

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

5.31

4.39

104.10

105.90

GTBANK PLC ACCESS BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC AFREN PLC ZENITH BANK PLC FIRST BANK PLC AFREN PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 10.25 APR 08, 2019 6.25 APR 22, 2019 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 6.63 DEC 09, 2020

08-Nov-13 25-Jul-12 09-May-13 08-Apr-12 22-Apr-14 07-Aug-13 09-Dec-13

6.00 7.25 6.88 10.25 6.25 8.25 6.63

400.00 350.00 300.00 300.00 500.00 300.00 360.00

08-Nov-18 25-Jul-17 02-May-18 08-Apr-19 22-Apr-19 07-Aug-20 09-Dec-20

6.23 6.89 8.38 5.24 6.24 7.18 6.33

5.91 6.52 7.83 4.86 6.07 6.75 6.09

99.12 101.00 95.00 113.53 100.05 103.83 101.13

100.36 102.05 96.80 114.27 100.77 105.43 102.09

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE **Treasury Bills DTM 8 15 22 36 43 50 57

Maturity 22-May-14 29-May-14 5-Jun-14 19-Jun-14 26-Jun-14 3-Jul-14 10-Jul-14

3,460.00 Bid Discount (%) 9.75 9.70 9.20 9.90 9.85 9.50 9.75

Offer Discount (%) 9.50 9.45 8.95 9.65 9.60 9.25 9.50

Bid Yield (%) 9.77 9.74 9.25 10.00 9.97 9.63 9.90

FIXINGS

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.7917 12.4321 13.3380 14.3294

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.50

O/N Tenor Call

10.71

REPO

Rate (%) 10.50

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M

162.56 162.85 163.11 163.74 165.36

162.66 163.12 163.49 164.50 166.19

FMBN

***LCRM

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

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

1.03 1.51 2.57 2.93 3.15

2.63 2.27 2.00 3.20 1.00

14.28 14.18 14.16 15.36 13.18

86.78 104.24 95.35 88.73 91.30

1,304.32

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Thursday, May 15, 2014 Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto A-/GCR Sanctity of Truth

KWARA NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 turn northward 14.50to EKITI 09-DEC-2018 movements riding on the back of low priced 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 by the bear stocks occasioned 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 run last week. 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 The Nigerian equities mar14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 ket had yesterday continued its 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 northwards movement as 13.50 LAGOS IV price 27-NOV-2020 investors sentiment on equities 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI IIgreen 31-DEC-2020 remained following a 0.47 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 per cent gain recorded by the twin

05-Aug-09 14.00 15-Oct-09 14.00 31-Aug-10 12.50 30-Sep-10 13.00 30-Jun-11 14.00 30-Jun-09 15.50 19-Apr-10 10.00 30-Jun-10 13.75 30-Dec-10 14.00 30-Sep-11 14.00 04-Oct-11 14.00 dex (ASI) appreciated by 183.96 09-Dec-11 14.50 basis12-Dec-13 points or 0.47 14.00 per cent to 14-Feb-12 15.5038,955.02 39,183.98 points from 02-Oct-12 points recorded in15.50 the previ22-Nov-12 14.50 ous day . 12-Dec-12 14.75 Further review14.75 of yester30-Sep-13 day’s27-Nov-13 trading showed 13.50 that investors bought 435.7 31-Dec-13 15.00 million 31-Dec-13 shares worth N5.514.50 billion in 4,94906-Jan-14 transactions. 15.00

17.00 05-Aug-14 0.23 6.00 15-Oct-14 0.42 8.50 31-Aug-15 1.30 16.50 30-Sep-15 0.90 13.00 30-Jun-16 1.20 18.50 30-Jun-16 1.20 57.00 19-Apr-17 2.93 50.00 30-Jun-17 1.76 25.00 31-Dec-17 3.63 50.00 30-Sep-18 2.60 9.00 04-Oct-18 4.39 N2.73 per share, and Portland 20.00 09-Dec-18 2.61 12.00 12-Dec-18 Cement added 4.97 per 2.61 cent 27.00 14-Feb-19among other 3.19 to close at N4.86 20.00 02-Oct-19 3.25 price gainers. 80.00 22-Nov-19 5.53 On the other hand, UPDC 30.00 12-Dec-19 3.22 Reit led on the price losers’ 11.40 30-Sep-20 3.93 table, dropping by 4.99 per6.54 cent 87.00 27-Nov-20 to close at 31-Dec-20 N10.47 per share 5.00 6.63 5.00 31-Dec-20 3.94 while Nacho Plc and Custody 5.00 06-Jan-21 with a3.97 Insurance trailed loss

1.56 11.58 100.44 1.34 11.99 100.75 4.44 16.23 95.73 3.23 14.72 98.97 4.46 16.20 97.78 3.48 15.23 100.66 5.59 17.75 82.83 1.00 13.04 101.35 1.79 14.01 99.94 1.80 13.96 100.22 1.00 13.28 102.30 respectively .13.16 Courtiville Busi1.00 103.02 1.21 Solution 13.37 ness shed 4.41114.08 per cent 103.33 to1.00 close at 65 13.18 kobo, among other 1.00 losers.13.18 105.93 price 1.94 14.31 Further analysis of 100.69 the trad2.74 14.92 99.62 ing showed that the Banking 2.74 14.98 99.37 subsector remained the most 1.00 13.45 100.19 active during (mea1.94 14.40the week 102.47 1.44 13.68 111.21 sured by turnover volume); 1.95 162.0214.20 with million 110.86 shares

BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Respite for investors as market points northwards ENCOURAGING

Stock market sustains bullish sentiments

Stories by Chris Ugwu

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

nvestors continued to have a Corporate Bonds field day at the Nigerian Stock A+/Agusto; AA/GCR LAFARGE WAPCO Exchange (NSE) yesterday as Aa/Agusto GTB bargain hunters taking posiµ Nil NGC tions on equities further Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC dominated the trading activities. A-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS Market pundits had predictBB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS A-/GCR edA+/Agusto; that the stock market NAHCOwill re-

A-/Agusto FSDH A/GCR UBA BBB-/GCR *C & I LEASING BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *DANA# A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR *TOWER# # AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR nion Bank Plc *TOWER yesterday A/Agusto; A/GCR UBA said it would seek shareBbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA holders' BB+/GCR approval next BBB-/DataPro†; *CHELLARAMS# month (June) A+/Agusto; A-/GCR to raise NAHCO up to

market indices, NSE All Share Index and Market Capitalisation. Consequently, at the close of 11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 transactions, capitalisa13.50 GUARANTYmarket TRUST 18-DEC-2014 tion by 0.47 per cent 17.00increased NGC 31-DEC-2014 or10.00 N60 billion, from N12.831 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 trillion traded9-DEC-2015 on Tuesday to 12.00 FLOURMILLS N12.891 trillion 06-JAN-2016 on Wednesday. 14.00 CHELLARAMS 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 Also, the NSE All Share In-

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 and now stands at 52 per cent, 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 while t operating expenditure 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 remains under tight control. MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 “Union has main15.25 NAHCO II Bank 14-NOV-2020

At the close of transactions, 572.90 of 4.89 per cent each to close 28 stocks appreciated in price at N5.25 and N2.53 per share during the day as 11.50 against 22 11.80 07-Oct-11 07-Oct-14 0.40 that 18-Dec-09 depreciated in 13.50 value. 13.17 18-Dec-14 0.60 Wema Bank led the 01-Apr-10 17.00gainers’ 2.00 31-Dec-14 0.63 table17-Aug-10 with 6.45 per cent 10.00 to close 15.00 17-Aug-15 0.78 at 9909-Dec-10 kobo per share12.00 while Fid- 37.50 09-Dec-15 0.86 son Heath with 1.50 06-Jan-11 Care followed 14.00 06-Jan-16 0.94 29-Sep-11 29-Sep-16 2.38 a gain of 5 per cent13.00 to close at 15.00 25-Oct-13 14.25 5.53 he Board 25-Oct-16 2.45 of of Directors 30-Sep-10 13.00 20.00 Nigerian 30-Sep-17 Breweries3.38Plc 30-Nov-12 18.00 0.94 and the Board 30-Nov-17of Directors 2.00 09-Apr-11 16.00 8.01 09-Apr-18 2.15 of Consolidated Breweries Plc 09-Sep-11 18.00 3.63 have agreed09-Sep-18 to explore a 2.32 com09-Sep-11 16.00 1.00 09-Sep-18 2.32 ties,22-Sep-11 which would 14.00 transform 35.00 bination of 22-Sep-18 the two businesses 4.36 the bank into a leading finanby way of a Scheme of Merger. 18-Oct-13 15.75 3.00 18-Oct-18 2.43 cial institution with17.00 simplified 0.54 In a notice to the Nigerian 17-Feb-12 17-Feb-19 2.51 banking processes and signifiStock Exchange (NSE), a pre14-Nov-13 15.25 2.05 14-Nov-20 6.50 cantly improved customer ex- 175.67 merger application has been perience, while consistently filed with the Securities and creating value for stakehold- Exchange Commission (SEC) 10.20 12.00 11-Feb-18 3.75 ers. 11-Feb-13 for its approval. He explained that branch 12.00The notice signed by Comoptimisation programme was pany Secretary, Nigerian Brewunderway are eries, Agebaku Issue Date as 13 branches Coupon (%) Issue Value ($'mm)Uaboi Maturity Date Bid noted Yield (%) currently being refit and an- that on receipt of the said apother 53 slated to be completed proval, both parties will take before the end of the year. further steps to consummate 07-Oct-11 6.75 500.00 28-Jan-21 4.91 Emuwa noted that previ- the proposed merger including ously upgraded branches are 500.00 obtaining the approval of 4.21 their 18-Dec-09 5.13 12-Jul-18 already yielding financial up- respective shareholders to the 6.38Promot- 500.00 12-Jul-23 at separate 5.35 sides01-Apr-10 and positive Net scheme of merger er Scores (NPS) Divestment 1,500.00 court-ordered meetings. of four portfolio companies The terms and conditions of almost completed and await- the proposed merger will be coning regulatory approvals. tained in the01-Feb-16 Scheme of Merger 01-Feb-11 11.50 450.00 4.00 The group gross7.50 earnings 500.00 document to be prepared5.31 and 19-May-11 19-May-16 for the first quarter sent to all shareholders. 08-Nov-13 6.00 ended 400.00 08-Nov-18 6.23 March 31, 2014 fell 7.25 to N26 bil- 350.00The two companies are6.89 sub25-Jul-12 25-Jul-17 lion 09-May-13 as against N29.4 sidiaries of Heineken NV, while 6.88 billion 300.00 02-May-18 8.38 recorded the parent company holds 08-Apr-12in the comparable 10.25 300.00 08-Apr-19 5.24apperiod of Qtr 1 2013.6.25 proximately22-Apr-19 54.1 per cent of 22-Apr-14 500.00 6.24the

$750 million in medium-term tained its profitability and is TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE debt instrument, according to delivering against key operaBond anSupranational agency report. tional metrics supporting our AAA/S&P IFC 10.20 IFC .11-FEB-2018 Union Bank has been trans- strategy The first quarter of forming its image VALUE after new 2014 was impacted by reguTOTAL OUTSTANDING investors recapitalised the latory and monetary policy lenderRating/Agency three years ago, followchanges in theDescription financial indusIssuer ing a Central Bank of Nigeria try, which curtailed earnings FGN Eurobonds (CBN) rescue of the institution growth. Nonetheless, having inBB-/Fitch; 2009. B+/S&P clearly defined our growth 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 Building on its loan port- strategy for the next three to BB-/Fitch; folio growth of 55 per cent five years, we focused FGNin 5.13remain JUL 12, 2018 BB-/S&P 2013, the bank had said recent- on repositioning the business, BB-/Fitch; JUL 12, 2023 lyBB-/S&P that it expect to continue to increasing 6.38 banking product grow its loan book and assume penetration in the country and TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE a growth of about 30 per cent optimising our cost structure. byCorporate the endEurobonds of 2014. Going forward, we remain conGroup fident that we on 11.50 will FEB 01,deliver 2016 B-/S&P; B/FitchManaging AFRENDirecPLC I tor and Chief Executive our growth aspirations GTBANK PLCof I 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 for the B+/S&P; B+/Fitch Union Bank, Mr.GTBANK Emeka year,” Emuwa 6.00 said. NOV 08, 2018 PLC Emuwa, while commenting He noted for7.25that JUL 25,going 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC onB/S&P; theB/Fitch bank’s first quarter 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 Union FIDELITY BANK PLC ward, as an institution, 2014 results, said the loans Bank is focused on 08, implement10.25 APR 2019 B/Fitch AFREN PLC to deposits ratio is improving 6.25 APR 22, 2019 prioriB+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC ing its transformation B/S&P; B-/Fitch B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

FIRST BANK PLC AFREN PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020 6.63 DEC 09, 2020

07-Aug-13 09-Dec-13

8.25 6.63

300.00 360.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1.00 11.58 99.92 5.21 16.25 98.45 8.71 19.81 98.33 4.88 16.19 95.70 1.00 12.43 99.82 2.63 14.18 100.26 1.00 13.16 99.64 1.34 13.50 101.50 shares in Nigerian Breweries 4.52it holds 53.8 16.71 per cent 90.65 Plc, of the 1.88 14.04 107.93 shares in Consolidated Brewer15.64 100.82 ies3.48 Plc. 5.20 101.47 Head of 17.36 external informa5.06 17.22 101.96 tion, Heineken, John Clarke, 1.00 13.28 102.29 commenting on the develop2.29 14.45 102.64 ment is intended 6.11 said “It 18.27 97.87 that NB, as the remaining legal 2.76 15.21 100.17 en-

NB, Consolidated Breweries file pre-merger application

Union Bank to raise $750m debt

worth N2.3 billion exchanged by investors in 1,855 deals.

07-Aug-20 09-Dec-20

7.18 6.33

tity, will remain listed on the Exchange after the completion of the merger. Both businesses 1.00continue 13.23 will to operate91.24 as usual until regulatory and other approvals are obtained. The(%) proposed merger Offer Yield Bid Price Offer Price is based on a significant and comPricesstrategic & Yields rationale and pelling will enable the combined busi4.76 110.38 111.30 ness to fully capitalise on the future growth potential of the 4.00 103.44 104.26 highly attractive Nigerian beer 5.23malt drinks 107.34 market. 108.23 and The transaction is expected to create value for all key stakeholders, particularly shareholders, 3.45 112.20drive benefits 113.17 from 4.39 increased 104.10 economies 105.90 of scale, 5.91 enhance 99.12 operating 100.36 and administrative 6.52 101.00efficiencies 102.05 and increase the new company’s 7.83 95.00 96.80 speed in response 4.86 and agility 113.53 114.27 to6.07 market developments. 100.05 100.77 6.75 6.09

3,460.00

103.83 101.13

105.43 102.09

14-May-14

The FMDQ Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixed income securities and instruments in the OTC market. The use of this report is **Treasury BillsFMDQ OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement. FIXINGS Money Market subject to the Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

DTM 8 FGN Bonds15 22 36 Rating/Agency 43 50 57 64 71 78 85 92 99 106 NA 113 148 204 239 253 267 281 295 330 TOTAL OUTSTANDING 344 358

Maturity 22-May-14 29-May-14 5-Jun-14 19-Jun-14 Issuer 26-Jun-14 3-Jul-14 10-Jul-14 17-Jul-14 24-Jul-14 31-Jul-14 7-Aug-14 14-Aug-14 21-Aug-14 28-Aug-14 NA 4-Sep-14 9-Oct-14 4-Dec-14 8-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 5-Feb-15 19-Feb-15 5-Mar-15 9-Apr-15 VALUE 23-Apr-15 7-May-15

Bid Discount (%) 9.75 9.70 9.20 9.90 Description 9.85 9.50 9.20 29-JUN-2014 9.75 9.25 28-SEP-2014 10.10 4.00 23-APR-2015 10.00 13.05 16-AUG-2016 10.00 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.70 9.85 27-JUL-2017 10.05 9.35 31-AUG-2017 9.90 10.70 30-MAY-2018 10.10 10.25 16.00 29-JUN-2019 10.20 7.00 23-OCT-2019 10.40 16.39 27-JAN-2022 10.80 14.20 14-MAR-2024 10.75 15.00 28-NOV-2028 10.75 12.49 22-MAY-2029 10.65 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.80 10.00 23-JUL-2030 10.80 10.70 10.70

Offer Discount (%) 9.50 9.45 8.95 9.65 Issue 9.60Date 9.25 29-Jun-07 9.50 28-Sep-07 9.85 23-Apr-10 9.75 16-Aug-13 9.75 27-Apr-12 9.45 27-Jul-07 9.80 31-Aug-07 9.65 30-May-08 9.85 10.00 29-Jun-12 9.95 23-Oct-09 10.15 27-Jan-12 10.55 14-Mar-14 10.50 28-Nov-08 10.50 22-May-09 10.40 20-Nov-09 10.55 23-Jul-10 10.55 10.45 10.45

*fromRating/Agency the Amortising Description Issuer #bonds, the average life is Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills Agency Bonds

AMCON FMBN

***LCRM

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

Modified Duration KWARABuckets NIGER KADUNA <3 *EBONYI *BENUE 3<5 >5 *IMO LAGOS Market *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS

Bid Yield (%) 9.77 9.74 9.25 10.00 Coupon 9.97 (%) 9.63 9.20 9.90 9.25 10.28 4.00 10.20 13.05 10.22 15.10 9.92 9.85 10.31 9.35 10.17 10.70 10.41 10.59 16.00 10.64 7.00 11.04 16.39 11.62 14.20 11.62 15.00 11.67 12.49 11.60 8.50 11.83 10.00 11.97 11.90 11.95

Bonds

NIBOR

Tenor Rate (%) O/N 10.7917 1M Value 12.4321 Outstanding Maturity 3M 13.3380Date (N'bn) 6M 14.3294 45.00 29-Jun-14 100.00 28-Sep-14 535.00 23-Apr-15 NITTY 16-Aug-16 435.27

452.80 Tenor 20.00 1M 100.00 2M 300.00 3M 6M 351.30 9M 233.90 12M 600.00 75.00 75.00 150.00 NIFEX 200.00 Current591.57 Price ($/N) BID($/N) 4,264.84 OFFER ($/N)

27-Apr-17 Rate (%) 27-Jul-17 10.0031 31-Aug-17 10.0150 30-May-18 10.3330 10.9357 29-Jun-19 11.7052 23-Oct-19 11.9294 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 162.5750 162.6750

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.50

Tenor

Spot O/N 10.71 7DYield Offer TTM (Yrs) Bid Yield (%) 14D REPO (%) Tenor Rate (%) 1M 0.13 9.79 8.63 Call 10.50 2M 0.38 10.67 10.25 1M 12.73 3M 0.94 11.55 10.95 3M 13.48 6M 2.26 12.37 12.30 6M 14.30 1Y 2.95 12.22 12.16 3.20 12.18 12.06 NOTE: 3.30 12.19 12.07 4.04 12.25 12.15 :Benchmarks * :Amortising 5.13 Bond 12.42 12.34 µ :Convertible 5.44 Bond 12.37 12.28 AMCON: 7.71 Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 12.60 12.54 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 9.83 12.64 12.59 FMBN: Federal 14.54 Mortgage Bank 12.91of Nigeria 12.87 IFC: International Finance Corporation 15.02 12.94 12.90 LCRM: Local Management 15.52Contractors Receivables 12.98 12.92 NAHCO:16.19 Nigerian Aviation 13.08 Handling Company 13.02 O/N: Overnight UPDC: UAC Property Development Company WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company #

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Price

162.56 162.66 162.85 163.12 Bid Price Offer Price 163.11 163.49 163.74 164.50 99.88 100.03 165.36 166.19 99.45 99.60 166.15 168.13 93.43 93.93 168.63 174.05 101.25 101.40 176.56 185.43 106.95 107.10 93.93 94.23 92.45 92.75 95.15 95.45 NA :Not Applicable # :Floating 113.25Rate Bond113.55 ***: Deferred 79.18 coupon bonds 79.48 118.30 118.60 †: Bond rating expired 108.60 108.90 113.54 113.84 97.02 97.32 70.40 70.70 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 79.45 79.75 UBA: United Bank for Africa

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.47 1.03 1.51 2.57 2.93 3.15

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 3.20 1.00

11.79 14.28 14.18 14.16 15.36 13.18

94.84 86.78 104.24 95.35 88.73 91.30

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

1,304.32

Porfolio Market Total Outstanding 14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 Value(Bn) Volume(Bn) 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 924.98 888.07 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 1,107.65 951.30 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 470.00 591.57 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 2,502.63 2,430.94 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

Weighting by 05-Aug-09Vol Outstanding 15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 36.53 30-Sep-10 39.13 30-Jun-11 24.33 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 100.00 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 30-Sep-13 27-Nov-13

Weighting by Mkt 14.00 Value 14.00 12.50 13.00 36.96 14.00 44.26 15.50 18.78 10.00100.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50

Bucket17.00 Weighting 6.00 8.50 16.50 0.37 13.00 0.39 18.50 0.24 57.00 1.00 50.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00 20.00 80.00 30.00 11.40 87.00

% Exposure_ 05-Aug-14 Mod_Duration 15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 19.33 30-Sep-15 39.67 30-Jun-16 41.00 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 100.00 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20

Implied Implied Yield 0.23 1.56Price Portfolio 0.42 1.34 1.30 4.44 12.28 113.1734 0.90 3.23 12.54 126.9897 1.20 4.46 13.08 87.6380 1.20 3.48 2.93 5.59 12.71 112.3661 1.76 1.00 3.63 1.79 2.60 1.80 4.39 1.00 2.61 1.00 2.61 1.21 3.19 1.00 3.25 1.00 5.53 1.94 3.22 2.74 3.93 2.74 6.54 1.00

INDEX 11.58 11.99 16.23 1,074.92 14.72 1,075.30 16.20 1,060.93 15.23 17.75 1,066.21 13.04 14.01 13.96 13.28 13.16 13.37 13.18 13.18 14.31 14.92 14.98 13.45

YTD Return 100.44 (%) 100.75 95.73 7.4916 98.97 7.5300 97.78 6.0928 100.66 82.83 6.6208 101.35 99.94 100.22 102.30 103.02 114.08 103.33 105.93 100.69 99.62 99.37 100.19

48 BUSINESS | MONEY LINE

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Banks close branches to consolidate positions and profit making. This newspaper learnt that since the Consolidation of Nigerian banks by Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, the lenders acquired so many branches in major cities, with some of them having three or more cluster of branches in an area. Since then some banks had retained these branch networks many of which have been making losses. Commenting on the closures, Dr. Uju Ogubunka , Registrar/ Chief Executive Officer of the Chartered Institute of Bank (CIBN) said that following the consolidation, banks should have streamlined their branches; strategically choosing the one that would have effectively served their customers. He believes that the current closures of multiple branches were part of the internal consolidation which they did not do then. Also speaking on the closure, Mr. Wale Oke, President of Money Market Association of Nigeria,(MMAN), said that banks at all times should look at the viability and profitability. Any bank that does not make profit, a prudent management would not allow it to exist. According to him,banking has gone beyond the brick and mortar where physical branches are required. “Today, if you want to do modern banking, with your palm top or laptop or any channel provided by the information and communication technology (ICT), in the comfort of your homes, you can carry out

OPTIMISATION Banks move to reduce loss Godson Ikoro

oised to effectively cut costs, improve operational efficiency and better resource allocation, Nigerian banks have resorted to closing unprofitable branches nationwide. The New Telegraph investigation showed that in the last one year, many banks have closed up to four or more branches in what operators have called internal consolidation. For instance, the Sterling Bank Plc had closed its Demurin branch, and merged the staff with those of Ketu branch. It also merged two of its branches at Ikorodu town; merged its Seme border branch with its Lagos State University (LASU) branch. Two of its branches in Idumota were also merged while its aviation branch was closed outrightly. All the merged branches were said to be making steady profits. At Apapa Lagos First City Monument Bank last month merged two of its branches, sacked their managers and some staff while and transferred other staff of those branches that are more viable

your transactions. If you need physical cash, you can use the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) of any bank, not necessarily your account holding branch.”, he said, stressing that ICT is sweeping the brick and mortar concept into oblivion.

igeria recorded a decrease of N495.3billion in total external merchandise trade from N5.658trillion the third quarter of 2013 to N5.162trillion in the fourth quarter, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said. In the trade report released yesterday and signed by the Statistician General of the Federation/Chief Executive, NBS, Dr Yemi Kale, the bureau said the N495.3billion represents a decrease of 8.8 per cent over what was recorded in the third quarter. The report attributed the change to a decline in the value of imports and exports by 19.1 per cent and 2.7 per cent respectively from the previous quarter. For instance, it said while the value of imports declined from N2.084trillion in the third quarter to N1.686trillion in the fourth; the value of exports also dropped from N3.573trillion to N3.476trillion over the same

As at N14,737,618.7m N16,509,472.5m 8 0.0000 12 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$109.9 US$42,604,781,796.6

Description

TTM

4.00% 23-Apr-2015 13.05% 16-Aug-2016 15.10% 27-Apr-2017 16.00% 29-Jun-2019 16.39% 27-Jan-2022 10.00% 23-Jul-2030

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 2/5/2014 1/20/2014 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 1/20/2014 2/5/2014 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

Bid Spot ($/N) 163.28 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

He also said that the closure of branches must have been informed by the collaboration among some banks and microfinance banks in some regions. However, efforts to reach the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday proved abortive.

Nigeria records N495bn drop in merchandise trade –NBS N

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

Citing the bank road Kano, a street that is not up to 500metres with so many branches of banks, Oke argued that it does not make sense, affirming that it would not be out of place for management to weed out unprofitable branches.

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

period. The resulting trade balance of N1.790trillion according to the report, represented an increase of N302.2bn or 20.3 per cent from the preceding quarter. On a year-on-year comparison, the report said that total trade was N21.261trillion for the 2013 calendar year, indicating a decrease of 24.3 per cent or N6.810trillion lower than N28,071trillion recorded for 2012. The report attributed the drop to a 36.5 per cent decline in exports. The crude oil component of total exports, according to the report, stood at N2.981trillion for the fourth quarter, while the non-crude oil accounted for N495.2billion. When classified by sections, the report revealed that boilers, machinery and appliances accounted for the largest share of imports, with N355.9billion or 21.1 per cent of total imports. Other significant imports to Nigeria during the period under review included vehicles, aircraft and parts with N293.6billion or 17.4 per cent, and mineral products with N230.3billion or 13.7 per cent of the total import bill. Summarising imports by region, the report stated that the greatest value of imports to Nigeria in the fourth quarter of 2013 came from Asia, with N746.9billion or 44.3 per cent of total imports. This was followed by Eu-

rope with N554.6billion or 32.9 per cent, the Americas with N267.3billion (15.9 per cent), Africa with N102.8billion (6.1 per cent) and Oceania with N14.4billion (0.9 per cent). The report added that "ECOWAS contributed N48.0billion, or 46.7 per cent of the total imports from the Africa region. "The individual countries with the five greatest import values are China, United States, South Korea, Netherlands and India, with Nigeria consuming N374.1billion, N185.1billion, N122.5billion, N95.7billion and N90.7billion of goods respectively." In terms of exports, the report revealed that "Mineral products dominate Nigerian exports, contributing N3.167trillion or 91.1 per cent of the total. "This is followed by prepared foodstuff, beverages, spirit and vinegar, tobacco with N100.9billion or 2.9 per cent and vegetable products with N 51.641billion or 1.5 per cent of total exports of the quarter." It explained that the continent with the largest consumption of Nigerian export was Europe, which received N1.416trillion or 40.8 per cent of the total exports. This is followed by Asia with N881.7billion or 25.4 per cent of exports, Africa with N439.8billion or 12.7 per cent, and The Americas with N435.5billion or 12.5 per cent of exports.

FirstBank partners WAEC

irst Bank of Nigeria Ltd, Nigeria’s has been designated as sales points for the e-registration forms of candidates for the November/ December 2014 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). With over 750 branches across the federation and 120 years of business operation, First Bank, according to a statement, said it had been a consistent partner for educational and economic development. The e-registration materials which were already available from Monday May 5 through Friday July 4 2014 could be obtained over the counter at all First Bank branches across the country, at a cost of N11, 440.00. Also, a late registration window period between Monday July 7 through Friday August 1, 2014 will be available but at an additional charge of N21,

400.00 as stipulated by WAEC. Candidates are expected to collect an e-Receipt containing the registration PIN, the registration kit and the result checker scratch card after the payment of the fees. According to FirstBank’s spokesperson, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, the bank has been a major player in youth empowerment and development and welcomes this partnership as yet another platform for promoting excellence in the development of education in our country. Ani-Mumuney said the Bank had since been providing adequate support across its social media platforms (Facebook and Twitter) to ensure that prospective candidates for the WASSC (Private Candidates’) Examination receive up-to-date information on the sales of the e-registration materials.

Daily Summary as of 14/05/2014

BUSINESS | CAPITAL MARKET 49

Printed 14/05/2014 16:21:43.043 Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Daily Summary (Bonds)

Daily Summary as of 14/05/2014 Printed 14/05/2014 16:21:43.043

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at May 14, 2014

No Debt Trading Activity

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals AGRICULTURE Totals Daily Summary as of 14/05/2014 Printed 14/05/2014 16:21:43.043 CONGLOMERATES

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

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 23 23 46

Current Price 34.33 35.00

Quantity Traded 184,339 339,443 523,782

Value Traded 6,352,017.43 11,829,376.38 18,181,393.81

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 42 42

Current Price 3.28

Quantity Traded 1,632,965 1,632,965

Value Traded 5,162,773.78 5,162,773.78

2,156,747

23,344,167.59

Quantity Traded 72,666 14,226,460 222,189 14,521,315

Value Traded 105,765.70 53,011,023.12 12,478,359.65 65,595,148.47

14,521,315

65,595,148.47

88 Symbol AGLEVENT TRANSCORP UACN

Daily Summary

No. of Deals 5 216 49 (Equities) 270

CONGLOMERATES Totals

270

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

Current Price 1.52 3.80 56.50

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 1.24

Quantity Traded Page 156,556 156,556

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

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 26 26

Current Price 71.99

Quantity Traded 72,861 72,861

Value Traded 5,263,530.76 5,263,530.76

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

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 37 37

Current Price 18.46

Quantity Traded 605,352 605,352

Value Traded 10,658,447.44 10,658,447.44

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals

Symbol UPDCREIT

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 10.47

Quantity Traded 3,343,211 3,343,211

Value Traded 35,003,419.17 35,003,419.17

4,177,980

51,124,612.97

Quantity Traded 9,800 224,140 144,809 2,608,883 2,987,632

Value Traded 128,478.00 40,350,572.18 3,613,881.75 410,316,652.89 454,409,584.82

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

Daily Summary as ofGOODS 14/05/2014 CONSUMER Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Printed 14/05/2014 16:21:43.043

CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

75 Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW NB Summary Daily

No. of Deals 2 37 23 74 (Equities) 136

Current Price 13.79 180.00 25.00 158.60

Activity Summary on Board EQTY ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

Value Traded of 12 199,215.60 199,215.60

Page

No. of Deals 16 16

Current Price 85.80

Quantity Traded 18,476 18,476

Value Traded 1,585,666.05 1,585,666.05

Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC UNION DICON SALT PLC. U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON UNIONDICON UTC

No. of Deals 40 46 47 40 43 1 8 225

Current Price 8.00 9.16 68.12 3.80 12.21 14.11 0.50

Quantity Traded 360,729 289,354 390,667 1,042,978 560,693 6,700 663,138 3,314,259

Value Traded 2,884,328.11 2,662,360.95 26,639,195.18 3,977,393.39 6,786,334.64 89,847.00 331,569.00 43,371,028.27

Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 38 48 86

Current Price 70.95 1,070.00

Quantity Traded 161,015 269,589 430,604

Value Traded 11,506,783.05 288,524,069.73 300,030,852.78

Symbol VITAFOAM

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 4.24

Quantity Traded 363,027 363,027

Value Traded 1,533,161.71 1,533,161.71

Symbol No. of Deals Daily Summary (Equities) PZ 29 UNILEVER 81

Current Price 35.50 49.37

Quantity Traded 118,250 24,309,660

Value Traded 4,137,617.38 1,213,307,480.84

Current Price

Quantity Traded 24,427,910

Value Traded 1,217,445,098.22

31,541,908

2,018,375,391.85

Current Price 9.80 6.50 13.35 2.09 27.50 3.72 2.30 7.25 10.10 0.50 0.99 23.30

Quantity Traded 16,352,854 1,682,588 1,052,272 14,865,109 12,984,640 8,928,928 6,489,261 36,865,841 882,208 255,000 1,901,232 59,765,820 162,025,753

Value Traded 159,556,842.35 10,987,829.02 14,155,285.08 29,931,398.67 362,896,942.88 33,745,736.16 15,168,186.54 266,124,562.18 8,961,153.27 127,500.00 1,841,495.10 1,379,456,329.87 2,282,953,261.12

Current Price 0.80

Quantity Traded 1,293,462

Value Traded 1,032,270.61

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

Symbol

No. of Deals 110

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY PLC Daily Summary as ofBANK 14/05/2014 WEMA BANK PLC. Printed 14/05/2014 16:21:43.043 ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services

AIICO INSURANCE PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY

FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC INSURANCE Published by CORNERSTONE The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©COMPANY PLC. EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. OASIS INSURANCE PLC PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Daily Summary as of 14/05/2014 Micro-Finance Banks Printed 14/05/2014 16:21:43.043

NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC.

588 Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI FIDELITYBK GUARANTY SKYEBANK STERLNBANK UBA UBN UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

No. of Deals 243 59 62 161 353 152 72 285 55 3 38 372 1,855

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals AIICO 27

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

HEALTHCARE Totals

Symbol

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.61 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,000 440

Value Traded 1,690.00 220.00

Value Traded 1,910.00

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 62 36 566 179 5 42 155 1,045

Current Price 3.28 2.53 13.60 4.09 0.59 22.50 2.43

Quantity Traded 5,735,091 1,832,432 20,110,172 14,493,982 34,569 4,724,462 26,781,958 73,712,666

Value Traded 18,662,981.36 4,719,491.38 274,816,103.14 58,183,630.78 20,004.83 106,276,666.42 66,467,099.64 529,145,977.55

267,475,550

2,830,467,671.26

Quantity Traded 584,700 2,045,010 76,534 840,622 120 3,546,986

Value Traded 1,574,383.00 5,470,073.20 5,113,605.90 1,439,903.72 140.40 13,598,106.22

3,075 Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

No. of Deals 9 41 11 23 1 85 85

Current Price 2.70 2.73 68.30 1.74 1.23

3,546,986

Page

Quantity Traded 1,620 276 1,896

Value Traded 8,440.20 518.88 8,959.08

Telecommunications Services MASS TELECOMMUNICATION INNOVATIONS NIGERIA PLC Telecommunications Services Totals

Symbol MTI

No. of Deals 4

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 101,000,000

Value Traded 50,500,000.00

101,000,000

50,500,000.00

101,152,296

50,606,704.08 Value Traded 40,751,339.05 687,812.57 1,152,446.89 1,134,800.00

Daily Summary as of 14/05/2014 ICT Totals Printed 14/05/2014 16:21:43.043

No. of Deals 73 15 17 18

Current Price 19.50 10.00 38.70 9.30

Quantity Traded 2,109,488 71,072 29,701 119,249

Symbol DANGCEM IPWA PAINTCOM PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 59 3 4 4 30 223

Current Price 224.98 0.50 1.50 4.86 112.50

Page Quantity Traded 651,257 4,500 200,000 164,657 341,742 3,691,666

Electronic and Electrical Products AUSTIN LAZ & COMPANY PLC CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Symbol AUSTINLAZ CUTIX

No. of Deals 2 8 10

Current Price 2.00 1.92

Quantity Traded 1,200 120,400 121,600

Value Traded 2,520.00 232,683.10 235,203.10

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

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 18.90

Quantity Traded 20 20

Value Traded 377.00 377.00

Symbol NIGROPES

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 7.46

Quantity Traded 600 600

Value Traded 4,254.00 4,254.00

3,813,886

229,982,048.63

Quantity Traded 11,327

Value Traded 69,661.05

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. Daily Summary as of 14/05/2014 FORTE OIL PLC. Printed 14/05/2014 16:21:43.043 MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Symbol ASHAKACEM

Daily Summary (Equities) BERGER CAP CCNN

235

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price BOCGAS

6.47

No. of Deals 7

Current Price

Page Symbol

7 of 12 Value Traded 146,527,183.04 2,300.00 297,180.00 799,545.02 38,389,607.96 229,742,214.53

Quantity Traded 11,327

Value Traded 69,661.05

11,327

69,661.05

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 409,112 409,112

Value Traded 204,556.00 204,556.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 135 135

Current Price 15.99

Quantity Traded 1,967,553 1,967,553

Value Traded 31,394,205.87 31,394,205.87

Symbol BECOPETRO CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL TOTAL

No. of Deals 5 10 2 132 38 20 207

Current Price 0.50 49.20 3.61 150.00 125.55 154.00

Quantity Traded 2,231 38,456 45,100 1,004,466 91,319 77,233 1,258,805

Value Traded 1,115.50 1,797,433.44 154,693.00 148,067,154.93 11,511,827.28 11,996,833.36 173,529,057.51

No. of Deals 26 26

Current Price 640.00

Quantity Traded 23,855 23,855

Value Traded 15,137,974.25 15,137,974.25

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol SEPLAT

Page 3,659,325

383 No. of Deals 27 27

Current Price 1.09

Quantity Traded 1,292,162 1,292,162

Value Traded 1,407,498.34 1,407,498.34

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 5 2 7

Current Price 4.45 2.13

Quantity Traded 76,200 79,730 155,930

Value Traded 340,545.00 161,851.90 502,396.90

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 60,000 60,000

Value Traded 30,000.00 30,000.00

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL TOURIST

No. of Deals 5 1 6

Current Price 0.58 3.88

Quantity Traded 100,200 50 100,250

Value Traded 56,215.14 200.00 56,415.14

Symbol

No. of Deals 5 3 8

Current Price 1.66 3.97

Quantity Traded 136,828 20,200 157,028

Value Traded 227,134.48 77,820.00 304,954.48

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 0.82

Quantity Traded Page 113,500 113,500

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 18 53 71

Current Price 2.25 5.25

Quantity Traded 448,000 1,407,863 1,855,863

Value Traded 1,005,445.15 7,423,032.75 8,428,477.90

127

3,734,733

10,823,082.76

4,947

435,792,053

5,514,252,388.51

Quantity Traded 100 1,300 1,400

Value Traded 50.00 897.00 947.00

Hotels/Lodging Daily Summary as of 14/05/2014 IKEJA HOTEL PLC Printed 14/05/2014 16:21:43.043 TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC. Hotels/Lodging Totals Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals EQTY Activity Summary on Board

SERVICES

Daily Summary (Equities) LEARNAFRCA UPL

SERVICES Totals

EQTY Board Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

9 of 12 220,265,793.63

Symbol RTBRISCOE

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

Value Traded 10 of 12 93,340.00 93,340.00

Activity Summary on Board ASeM OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CAPITAL OIL PLC Daily Summary as of 14/05/2014 NAVITUS ENERGY PLC Printed 14/05/2014 16:21:43.043 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Symbol CAPOIL UNIONVENT

No. of Deals 1 1 2

OIL AND GAS Totals

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

Current Price 0.50 0.66

Equity Activity Totals

13,598,106.22

Current Price 5.48 1.97

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Value Traded 305,665.65 305,665.65

Quantity Traded 1,440

No. of Deals 4 1 5

Quantity Traded 321,827 321,827

Current Price

Symbol CWG TRIPPLEG

Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Activity Summary Board EQTY Exploration andon Production Totals

Current Price 0.95

No. of Deals 2

IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

No. of Deals 4 4

Symbol

Value Traded 50.00 50.00

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

Quantity Traded 100 100

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

Current Price 0.50

Value Traded 302,495.00 4 25,000.00 of 12 379,400.00 85,000.00 18,956.00 500,000.00 50.00 877,860.00 315,537.82 1,354,166.59 1,351,551.00 3,740.00 2,042,571.50 8,839.00 7,206,614.00 2,556,805.42 18,060,856.94

Page

No. of Deals 1 1

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Quantity Traded 299,500 Page 50,000 758,800 170,000 35,100 1,000,000 100 1,755,720 135,137 1,622,465 2,650,100 6,800 4,085,143 17,678 14,413,228 3,120,631 31,413,864

UNHOMES

Symbol OMATEK

NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC.

Current Price 1.01 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.54 0.50 0.50 0.50 2.35 0.83 0.51 0.57 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.82

INFINITY Daily Summary (Equities)

Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC Computers and Peripherals Totals

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

No. of Deals 3 2 1 2 3 1 1 2 12 20 11 1 2 1 15 65 169

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals

Value Traded 97,695.00 97,695.00

Tools and Machinery NIGERIAN ROPES PLC Daily Summary as of 14/05/2014 Tools and Machinery Totals Printed 14/05/2014 16:21:43.043

Symbol CONTINSURE CORNERST EQUITYASUR GUINEAINS INTENEGINS LASACO LAWUNION LINKASSURE MANSARD NEM OASISINS PRESTIGE SOVRENINS UNITYKAP UNIVINSURE WAPIC

FINANCIAL SERVICES Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Page

Quantity Traded 150,300 150,300

DANGOTE CEMENT PLC IPWA PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. Building Materials Totals

Symbol 7UP

VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables Totals

Current Price 0.65

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals

Daily Summary as of 14/05/2014 Household Durables Printed 14/05/2014 16:21:43.043

No. of Deals 4 4

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO.on OFBoard NORTH.NIG. Activity Summary EQTYPLC

Symbol COURTVILLE

Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

1,400

4,949

435,793,453

1,400 Page

No. of Deals 3 3 6

Current Price 2,037.00 17.91

947.00

5,514,253,335.51

947.00 11

Quantity Traded 1,477 1,060 2,537

Value Traded 2,999,179.00 18,983.30 3,018,162.30

ETF Board Totals

2,537

3,018,162.30

ETP Activity Totals

2,537

3,018,162.30

50 WORLD | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Death toll in Turkey’s mine disaster now 232

he death toll in the coal mine explosion and fire in western Turkey increased to 232 yesterday, the Prime Minister said. The fate of around 190 miners remained unclear in one of Turkey’s worst mining disasters. Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the announcement yesterday during a visit to the coal mine in Soma, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) south of Istanbul. Earlier, Erdogan declared three days of national mourning, ordering flags to be lowered to half-staff. Erdogan postponed a one-day visit

to Albania and visited Soma instead. The explosion tore through the mine as workers were preparing for a shift change, officials said, which likely raised the casualty toll because there were more miners inside the mine than usual. Mining accidents are common in Turkey, which is plagued by poor safety conditions. Turkey’s worst mining disaster was a 1992 gas explosion that killed 263 workers near the Black Sea port of Zonguldak. In Istanbul, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the headquarters of the

company which owns the mine, Soma Holding. Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said 787 people were inside the coal mine in Soma at the time of the explosion and 363 of them had been rescued so far. “Regarding the rescue operation, I can say

that our hopes are diminishing,” Yildiz said. Turkey’s Labor and Social Security Ministry said the mine had been inspected five times since 2012, including in March of 2014, and that no issues violating work safety and secu-

rity were detected. The country’s main opposition party said that Erdogan’s ruling party had recently voted down a proposal for the establishment of a parliamentary inquiry into a series of small scale accidents at mines around Soma.

Islamist militants hit Yemeni army posts, 18 dead

t least eight Yemeni soldiers and 10 al Qaeda militants were killed in clashes yesterday when insurgents attacked two military posts in a southern province where the government mounted an offensive two weeks ago, military sources said. The sources told Reuters the fighting in Gol al-Rayda and Azzan districts of Shabwa province started early in the morning and raged for several hours. An army colonel was among the dead, a Defence Ministry source said. The Yemeni army had captured both Gol al-Rayda and Azzan, as well as the Mahfad district in Abyan province, earlier this month after heavy fighting in which scores were killed on both sides. Many of the militants, from Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and its affiliate, Ansar al-Sharia, fled to the mountains and turned to hit-and-run tactics against security forces and government facilities across the country. Yesterday’s raid was one of the most daring actions since then. A military source in Azzam said that eight soldiers and 10 al Qaeda militants were killed in the fighting. Air force planes were also striking at fleeing militants, he added. A Yemeni journalist who specializes in covering al Qaeda, Abdulrazzaq al-Jamal, reported on his Facebook page that the militants killed soldiers at a checkpoint and raised a black flag inscribed with the words “There is no

god but God and Mohammed is his Prophet” on the main police station in Azzan. Residents also said that many people were forced to stay indoors as sounds of clashes rang out over the town. Military sources in the field said the army forced the militants to retreat, and they took with them the bodies of their dead or wounded. Five militant vehicles were destroyed, the Defence Ministry said. Government forces also captured a number of the militants in Azzan, who were found in possession of “documents, bombs and explosives belts”, it said. Stability of Yemen, which shares a long border with the world’s top oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, is an international concern. The United States has stepped up its aid and support for the government and military, including drone strikes. The country is trying to recover from political turmoil which began in 2011 when mass protests, part of the Arab Spring that began in North Africa, forced long-ruling president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, to step down. Last week, a gunbattle with militants took place near the presidential palace in Sanaa. Four soldiers were killed. On Sunday a suicide bomber rammed a car packed with explosives into a military police building in the coastal city of Mukalla, killing at least 10 soldiers and a civilian. Apart from the militant threat, impoverished Yemen is trying to cope with separatist demands in the south and a rebel group in the north.

Egypt Brotherhood leader cleared of insulting judges

n Egyptian court yesterday acquitted the former leader of the Muslim Brotherhood of insulting the judiciary in comments he made to the press. The 85-year old Mahdi Akef was arrested as part of the government crackdown against the Islamist group following the military ouster of President Mohammed Morsi, himself a member of the Brotherhood. Akef faces other trials on charges of inciting violence,

and will not be released following the acquittal. The government has branded the Brotherhood a terrorist organization and accused it of inciting violence, a charge the group denies. The case against Akef stems from an interview he gave to a Kuwaiti newspaper when Morsi was in office in which he called the judiciary “corrupt,” threatening to force hundreds of judges into retirement.

Rescue workers carry a rescued miner from the mine in Soma, western Turkey, yesterday.

Stay strong, union boss tells South Africa platinum strikers

he president of South Africa’s striking AMCU union urged its members yesterday to remain strong in the face of efforts by the world’s top platinum firms to woo miners to end a 16-week stoppage, the longest and costliest ever to hit the sector. “Let’s stay strong. Yes it’s difficult, but let’s hold each other by the hand and stay strong. Onward!” Joseph Mathunjwa told thousands of strikers at a rally near the Marikana operations of London-listed producer Lonmin. In a dramatic show of force, the strikers, many wielding sticks, roared their approval to Mathunjwa’s remarks, which sent spot platinum to two-month highs over $1,470 an ounce. Earlier, AMCU members had prevented other workers from trying to return to Lonmin’s shafts, thwarting the company’s efforts to end the strike. Anglo American Platinum and Impala Platinum have also been hit by the strike over pay, which has brought to a halt 40 percent of global production of the precious metal used for catalytic-converters in automobiles. Lonmin had been aiming yesterday for a “mass return” of workers. The trio of producers have said many of the strikers have signaled a willingness to accept the latest pay offer by cell phone SMS, emails and other means. It was not immediately clear how many workers tried to return to

the shafts. But Mathunjwa told the rally, held near the site where police shot dead 34 striking AMCU members in August 2102, that “the spirit of the workers will not be broken by SMSs.” Mathunjwa, a Salvation Army lay preacher who often evokes both God and class warfare, used typically combative language, telling the crowd that “the purpose of capital is to destroy AMCU and its members.” He later told reporters that the strike would continue as AMCU’s members were still rejecting the latest wage offer. There was a heavy police presence in the area and the national police commissioner was to hold a news conference at the Marikana police station at 1500 local time (1300 GMT) The rival National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said its members were unable to return to work because of AMCU intimidation. Four people have been murdered around the platinum mines in the last four days, with no arrests. The companies have been taking their latest wage offer directly to AMCU’s members via SMS and radio spots after wage talks with the union collapsed three weeks ago. Mathunjwa said AMCU was going to the labor court next week to prevent the producers from by-passing the union in this way. The companies said they would “strongly oppose” this, saying in a statement that

they “wanted to ensure that employees are fully informed of the offer, and that they are empowered to accept or reject the offer of their own free will.” The industry has long accused AMCU of using intimidation to keep its members in line, allegations it denies. The companies are offering increases of up to 10 percent that they say would raise the overall minimum pay package to 12,500 rand ($1,200) a month by July 2017, including cash allowances such as for housing. They say they can go no higher given rising costs and depressed prices and Lonmin’s chief executive Ben Magara said on Monday restructuring and job cuts were inevitable as it posted a steep fall in sixmonth earnings. AMCU had initially demanded an immediate increase to 12,500 rand in the basic wage, excluding allowances, but softened that in March to staggered increases that would amount to 12,500 rand within three or four years - still a third more than what the companies are offering in basic salaries. The strike highlights the discontent among black miners who feel they are still not reaping the benefits of the country’s mineral wealth two decades after apartheid ended. It has also hurt already sluggish growth in Africa’s most advanced economy and rating agency Moody’s said yesterday that the country’s credit rating remained under pressure.

SPORT

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS

kunle.salami@newtelegraphonline.com adekunles@yahoo.com

thursday, MAY 15, 2014

Did you know? That Brazil is the fifth country to have hosted the FIFA World Cup twice, others are France (1938 & 1998), Germany (1974 & 2006), Italy (1934 & 1990) and Mexico (1970 & 1986)

Baines, Marcello, Lahm to thrill from left back

Danagogo warns Keshi over final list

Keshi hails maturity of dropped players

}p.52

}p.53

}p.54

Eagles: Adepoju raises the alarm over midfield Mikel

Mba

Adepoju

Onazi

Ajibade Olusesan

ormer Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, has said that Coach Stephen Keshi needs to work on the team’s midfield ahead of the forthcoming World Cup holding between June 12 and July 13. The former Racing Satander CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

Okagbare targets better result in Shanghai Emmanuel Tobi

igeria’s surest medal hopeful in athletics, Blessing Okagbare, has expressed deter mination for a better outing at the Shanghai Diamond League billed to hold this weekend in China. The African champion, who won the 100m race at the 2014 Jamaica Interna-

tional Invitational a fortnight ago, returned a personal best of 11.18 seconds to finish second behind Fraser Pryce at the 2014 Diamond League opener in Doha at the weekend. A determined Okagbare spoke from her base in the United States stating that, “I’m very happy to make my season best in Doha but I’m not satisfied because I want more and I know I can

achieve it.” She added that her determination was to be the best stressing her desire to keep working hard ahead of the Commonwealth Games. “Though it is not what I wanted but I’m glad I came out of the competition without an injury,” she said. The African Long Jump champion however revealed that she was still considering taking part in two events

at the Shanghai Diamond League with her focused being the 200m race. “I’m set for the 200m race but will check the schedule at Shanghai to see if I will be doing the Long Jump,” she added. On the rivalry between her and Fraser Pryce, Okagbare said, “I don’t go into competition thinking about someone else. I focus on myself, what I can do and what I will do.”

Okagbare

52 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Countdown to Fifa World Cup 28

Days To Go

Baines, Marcello, Lahm to thrill from left back Adekunle Salami

D Baines

Lahm

efenders in modern football are very flexible. They help one another at the backline, assist to tidy up the midfield and also surge forward to help in getting the goals or hit the target themselves. In the past, defenders restrict themselves to their roles in the back but over the years football has evolved more as a team play such that goals can come from any player even in open play situations.

Some defenders can easily play dual roles in the back four while s o m e are just good in one position. For the left back position in the forthcoming World Cup in Brazil, the players to watch are world-class defenders who also score goals regularly. At 28, Leighton Baines of Everton and England has made a mark for himself in the left back position. He is yet to play for a big club but that could happen in the summer. He joined Everton from Wigan Athletic in 2007 and h a s scored 2 2 goals f o r t h e team. Because he has been the understudy of Ashley Cole over the years in the English national team, he has only 17 caps to show for it, but in Brazil, the era of Baines is here since Cole, another prolific player in this position, was dropped by coach Roy Hodgson. Baines is a master of dead ball situations. His free kicks and penalties are always excellent. He is a big asset to the English team. The host, Brazil, will bank on Marcello to check attackers from the left back position of the team as they aim to win the trophy on home soil. In the colours of Real Madrid, he has scored 17 goals since he joined in 2007. He was a left sided midfielder, but Jose Mourinho converted him to the defence and he also plays the role for

Brazil currently. He is enterprising not only at the back but upfront. Marcello has a way of motivating the attackers to get goals at crucial times with his overlapping skills. Philipp Lahm of Bayern Munich is the captain of the German national team. Interestingly, he is Bayernâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regular right back since David Alaba plays on the left but in the national team, Lahm switches to the left side of the defence. He is very effective on both sides but in Brazil, the world will see him on the left side and he will surely contribute to the general assessment of the tournament. Germans will always remember Lahmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long range opening goal against Costa Rica in the 2006 World Cup w h i c h Ger many hosted. He also scored the winner for the Ger man Machine in the Euro 2008 semifinal and was on target again in the quarterfinal at Euro 2012. One of the star players of Uruguay at the South Africa 2010 World Cup was Alvaro Pereira who plays club football for Sao Paulo FC of Brazil. He can play anywhere in the defence and also the midfield. Pereira has been battling with fitness in recent time, but if he regains his form, lovers of football will e n j o y h i m at the Mundial.

Twenty five year-old Fabio Coentrao was impressive for Portugal at the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Cup. His exploits at these competitions are enough to mark him out as a star to watch at the forthcoming world Cup in Brazil. However, Portugal is in a tough group with Germany, USA and Ghana, hence, Coentrao will have to be at his best to help the Cristiano Ronaldo led team to glory. In the left back position, Elderson Echiejile is the man for Nigeria. He is not in the class of the players expected to thrill the world in Brazil, but his ruggedness and determination could help the Super Eagles at the Mundial especially against Argentina in the crucial Group F match on June 25.

Marcelo

SPORT 53

Sanctity of Truth

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Olympic gold medal changed my career forever - Garba Lawal TURNING POINT

Chimaobi Uchendu

“I

Danagogo warns Keshi over final list Vincent Eboigbe

he Honourable Minister of Sports and Chairman National Sports Commission, Dr. Tammy W. Danagogo, has warned Super Eagles Head Coach Stephen Keshi, over the final list of the team to the forthcoming World Cup in Brazil. Danagogo stated that the final list was crucial as the team would be up against the best teams in the world. “After the training sessions and friendly games, I will advise Keshi and his crew members to ensure that the final 23 players to represent the country are picked without bias or sentiments. They must ensure that only the best players at all times are selected to represent the country,” he said.

Danagogo

The minister also commended Keshi, for formally naming a 30-man provisional squad preparatory to the competition holding in June. Danagogo who said he was convinced that Keshi and his technical crew are capable of delivering the expectations of Nigerians for the World Cup, charged the team handler’s to commence serious preparation for the assignment at hand to ensure that the players give their best at the World Cup. “ It is good that he has named a provisional squad and I plead with Nigerians to give him the maximum co-operation in the discharge of his duties”, the Minister said adding that “what remains now is for the technical crew to begin serious preparation so that the players put in their best when the competition kicks off next month.” He however, charged Keshi to ensure that the final selection of 23 players is done without bias or sentiments as only the best players at all times should don the colours of the country at competitions. Reiterating his earlier stance that the team should not limit their ambition to the Semifinal but aim to get to the final and possibly lift the cup, he assured the team of the support of the government from the preparation to the participation proper.

Lisbon bound consumers commend Heineken

t was celebration galore for all lucky consumers of Heineken who won an all- expenses-paid trip to watch the final match of the UEFA Champions League this month at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon, Portugal. At the media interaction held at the Heineken House Lagos during the second leg semifinal match of the competition, all the winners in separate interviews disclosed that they were yet to come to terms with the reality that they will be among the privileged thousands of football faithful to watch the epic final of clubs’ most prestigious football tournament live at the stadium.

Usurhyel Auta who won from Abuja said that he was destined to win going by the way events played out on the fateful night he got lucky. He said he was on official duty from Lagos and decided to watch the UEFA Champions League matches at a bar in company of friends. Fortunately, he became the hero of the night after the match. “It was a busy schedule for me that day after arriving Abuja on early flight for official duty from Lagos. I had the option to stay indoors but decided to hang out with my friends at same bar to watch the Champions League match,” he recalled.

started my career as a footballer not knowing what the future had for me, but I had some conviction in me that with hard work, the sky would be my starting point. “As a little boy growing up in the streets of Kaduna, I had dreamt of the good life and better days in Europe playing football with some of the world’s best. I didn’t know how this will come about, but I believed that I was destined for greatness. Even while playing football as an amateur, with Nigeria universal Bank, my coaches saw me as a talented youngster, but they did not have the wherewithal to help my cause. “When I was playing in Tunisia, hoping to get a contract in Europe, I never knew that it was not by struggle but by divine arrangement, that upliftment comes, until I was named in the Nigeria’ U-23 Olympic squad. When I had the opportunity to showcase what was in me during the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, I never hesitated and the result of my good outing was massive. “In fact,I will say without mincing words that the turnaround of my ca-

reer came immediately after the 1996 Olympics. I was included in the Nigeria team, which was named Dream Team as one of the over-aged players, even though I fell within the age bracket. I knew the Olympic Games were the opportunity I needed to achieve greatness and I grabbed it with both hands. “When we eventually won the Gold medal, I was fulfilled but I was not happy with the condition of my bank account. But few days after we won the gold medal, clubs started chasing me with offers; I was confused on choosing the team that suits my philosophy of football. Then my agent sat me down and we discussed and studied the offers and settled for As Roda of Holland. And from then, I never looked back in my career and I can tell you that I’m a happy man. “I started my career with Nigeria Universal Bank in Kaduna between 1989 and 91, from there I joined Julius Berger before moving to Esperance of Tunisia. After the Olympics, I moved to Roda FC of Holland and spent seven seasons there before I moved to Sofia FC then Helsinborg, Sweden and thereafter Greece. “I also had a good career in the Super Eagles and thank God I scored a goal at the World Cup in France 1998. Today, I am a member of the NFF Technical Committee and that’s good for me as a ex- player who has played and now administers the game.”

Foreign pros get Friday ultimatum

...as Oparanozie hits camp today Mercy Jacob

uper Falcons coach Edwin Okon has given all invited foreignbased players up till the night of May 16 ( Friday) to report to camp in Abuja or forget about playing the Africa Women Championship qualifier against Rwanda on May 24. Coach Okon admitted the girls were finding it dif ficult to get their releasesfrom the respective clubs because the AWC is not in FIFA calendar, but he expressed confidence that some of them would make it. He stated that he has been in contact with Desire Oparanozie

and Onome Ebi who have assured him that they would join camp between May 15 and 16, adding that any player who does not train on the mor ning of May 17 will not be considered for the forthcoming game. “I want the foreign based to train with us for at least four days before our departure to Rwanda. We must see their fitness and readiness to play before we pick the team that will make the trip” he stated Meanwhile Stella Mbachu has swelled the number of players in camp. The veteran Rivers Angels winger had stayed away since camp resumed to write her examinations.

FA Cup Final: Sterling Bank delights Arsenal fans

head of the crunch FA Cup Final tie between Arsenal FC and Hull City FC on Saturday, at Wembley, Sterling Bank is set to delight football lovers especially Arsenal fans in the country by offering them 500 free tickets to experience Cinema-style thrilling soccer to watch the game at Silverbird Cinemas on Victoria and Ikeja, Lagos under the bank’s “Fanatic Experience” initiative. Sports enthusiasts including journalists, entrepreneurs, professionals, administrators, academicians and students will be part of this experience organised by the Bank as part of activities aimed at bringing the benefit of its partnership with Arsenal FC to life. Some of the visibly excited fans who spoke with journalists during the

week, commended Sterling Bank for raising the bar in sports sponsorships in Nigeria by providing a platform where fans could experience the game and for connecting and identifying fans’ deepest passion. They are of the opinion that the partnership between Arsenal FC and Sterling Bank has helped to propel the team considerably even though they could not win the title this season. It would be recalled that Sterling Bank also sponsored over 700 fans last February to watch Live the UEFA Champions League tie between Arsenal Football Club and Bayen Munich Football Club under the Bank’s “Fanatic Experience” initiative.

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Thursday, May 15, 2014

LMC to display ‘Protect the Goal’ banners

Keshi hails maturity of dropped players

hairman of the League Management Company, Nduka Irabor, has pledged the support of Nigeria Professional Football League for the Nigeria Football Federation’s partnership of the global AIDS awareness initiative ‘Protect the Goal’ campaign launched by the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan on Monday. A December 2013 report on the AIDS pandemic show that 3.1% of the about 119m youths and young adult population aged between 1549 years are infected by the HIV virus. Irabor said the LMC would be supporting the NFF to drive the awareness on the dangers of and preventive measures to curb HIV, at all Glo Premier League matches which attract this critical segment of the vulnerable demographic with signage that will be displayed on perimeter boards at all live broadcast of star matches every week.

RESULTS NIGERIA PREMIER LEAGUE

Akwa Utd 0-0 FC Taraba Bayelsa 1-3 Abia Warriors Lobi 4-3 Warri Wolves Heartland 2-0 Rangers Crown 2-1 Sunshine Sharks 2-1 Giwa Gombe 2-3 Kano Pillars Nasarawa 3-1 Enyimba Kaduna Utd 3-0 Nembe El-Kanemi 1-1 Dolphins

Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani tackling Nigeria’s Kenneth Omeruo at the Confederation Cup

Eagles: Adepoju raises the alarm over midfield CONTINUED FROM PAGE 51

midfielder said that Eagles have shown in their recent matches that there were still some balancing to be done in the team. He said that there has not been seamless transition between the midfield and the attack, saying that such component cannot be ignored if a team is to do well at a big tournament like the World Cup. He said, “Super Eagles have been doing well under Keshi, everyone can see it. The team has played some big games and you could see that improvement. But that is not to say that we don’t

Injured Eagles to know fate in London

lNigeria, Scotland Friendly Emmanuel Tobi

ollowing the controversies that trailed the naming of some injured players in the Super Eagles World Cup provisional lists, Coach Stephen Keshi is considering to use the Scotland friendly to determine the fate of those struggling or recuperating from injuries. A member of the Nigeria Football Federation Technical Committee early this week stated that it is the responsibility of the coach to ascertain the level of fitness of his players after the likes of; team captain Joseph Yobo, Ahmed Musa, Nnamdi Oduamadi and Uche Nwofor were revealed to still be nursing injuries. But Keshi who confessed to have acted with the information provided by the players, has promised to assess the concerned players closely when the team converge in London for the Scotland friendly billed for May 25 in Fulham. New Telegraph learnt that Keshi believes that with rigorous training session and proper medical examination by the Super Eagles team doctor, he will be able to ascertain the true physical state of the players. “The friendly will expose whatever anybody is hiding and we still have time to make changes between that time and the final list deadline,” Keshi said.

make few mistakes, which I believe the technical crew would work on. There should be more balancing between the defence and the midfield that is one area we need to look at critically. “For me, we are good in the attack. We move very well when we go forward but we don’t do well when we defend. If we can work on this before the World Cup, I beleive the team could do well.” The coach released a 30man list last week, which has attracted mixed reactions following the omission of some players including Ike Uche, Taye Taiwo and Brown Ideye.

But Adepoju who attended 1994 and 1998 World Cup finals said Keshi should be allowed to determine players who will play in his team. “There is no reason why anybody should criticize the coach because of the list. He is the one in charge and you can see that there is a mixture of youth and experience. Everything stops at the table of the coach so he takes the blame and the praise,” he said. Nigeria will play Argentina, Iran and Bosnia in Group F of the World Cup. The Super Eagles will open their campaign against Iran on June 16.

Eagles can stop Messi -Omeruo Charles Ogundiya

uper Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo, has maintained that with team work and determination, Nigeria can stop Argentina striker, Lionel Messi, when both teams clash at the World Cup in Brazil. Omeruo while speaking with fifa.com stressed that the Eagles were not scared of the Argentina striking trio of Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero. “I watch him (Messi) a lot on TV. It’s going to be a team effort to try and stop him. Everyone will have to be positive and 100 per cent focused on the game. “I do have a good friendship with God-

frey Oboabona off the pitch, we talk on Skype sometimes,” he said. “Before the national team I used to play with him in the Nigerian league with Sunshine Stars. “Most times before games Stephen Keshi gives us both separate advice. He tries to psyche us up as much as possible. As well as that, he is a father who advises us. He’s a really good man to play under.” As at USA 1994, and 2002 and 2010, the Eagles were drawn in a group with South American heavyweights Argentina, along with Iran and debutants Bosnia-Herzegovina but Omeruo is sure of a good result.

Western Union’s Europa League PASS boosts education

he Western Union Company, a leader in global payment services and global partner of the UEFA Europa League, together with the Western Union Foundation, have announced the contribution to education that its PASS initiative has been making after a second season of the programme that has supported UNICEF secondary education programs in Jamaica, Nigeria and Turkey on the day of the UEFA Europa League Final 2014. Western Union’s PASS initiative has been turning every successful pass made during the 2012/13, current and next season of the UEFA Europa League into support for access to quality education for young people around the world.

The final which was played between SL Benfica and Sevilla FC at the Juventus Stadium in Turin on Wednesday, saw the number of passes completed during Western Union’s sponsorship term with more than 350,000 having reached 170,000 at the end of the 2012/13 season. Former Eintracht Frankfurt star and Nigerian international, Jay Jay Okocha leads the campaign in Nigeria as PASS lead ambassador, Patrick Vieira, will travel to Senegal with Western Union and UNICEF immediately after this season’s UEFA Europa League Final to see how the funds donated to UNICEF through the PASS initiative will impact children’s lives and help them complete their education.

uper Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, says he is thrilled by the responses of some of the players that were not picked for the World Cup party, especially German based, Leon Balogun, John Ogu and Brown Ideye. Keshi who spoke from his Abuja base said picking the 30-man list for the World Cup was a difficult task and he was ready to please all but that can never be the case. He said, “I wanted the best for the initial camping list but sadly we cannot take everybody along, we have to drop some of our best and committed players, I am happy that the players understand that fact. “I heard what Leon Balogun said and I must say I am thrilled that he understands the very difficult task we have been given by Nigerians, I trust that sooner than later Leon will be back in the team. We are targeting to bring him back during the qualifiers for the Nations Cup in Morocco and I trust we will still be in charge. We reason Leon is one of our stars for the future in the national team.” The Eagles boss while declaring his unalloyed loyalty to the NFF, called on the media to support him and the NFF in the task of making Nigeria great through football come Brazil 2014. “People imaginary disputes between me and my employers but I dare say there is no disagreement between us all I want is for all including the players who did not make the initial 30-man list to Brazil to support us, so that we can excel at the World Cup,” he said. Nigeria will compete for honours in the group F of forthcoming World Cup along with Iran, BosniaHerzegovina and Argentina.

Lagos Junior League celebrates players, officials Ifeanyi Ibeh

layers and of ficials of team that participated in the just concluded season of the Lagos Junior League were hosted to a befitting reception on Tuesday during the award ceremony at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere on Tuesday. According to Kamal Bayewo, chair man of the Lagos Junior League board, the award is aimed at encouraging teams and individuals as well as serving as an inspiration for the next season. “We are proud the Lagos Junior League is contributing to youth and sports development in Nigeria as a whole with five of our players being part of the victorious U-17 World Cup champions in 2013,” he said. Some of the award recipients include: Akeem Taiwo of Ifako Ijaiye (Premier League Highest goalscorer), Etim Akpan of Orile Age ge (League 1 Highest Goal Scorer,)Salami Azeez of Mushin (Most Valuable Player) and Bili Tanni of Surulere (Coach of the year). Others are: Most Improved Team (Premier League) – Agege Giants, Most Improved Team (League 1) – Ojodu, Team of the year – Surulere Sport City FC, Best Referee (Male) – Winjobi Ayodeji and Best Referee (Female) – Ruth Okafor.

Confab committee seeks special court on gas flaring Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

he National Conference Committee on Environment yesterday made a case for a special court to try those engaging in gas flaring and other environmental hazards. The committee similarly demanded adequate compensation for displaced persons as a result of the ceding of Bakassi Peninsular in Cross River State to Cameroun by the International Court of Justice sitting in The Hagues, some years ago. The committee advised that the compensation be paid directly to those affected and not through a third party.

While addressing journalists after three weeks of deliberations, the Committee, chaired by Senator Florence ItaGiwa, recommended that Bakassi people should be compensated for the loss of their natural resources and other artifacts. In the words of Senator Ita-Giwa, “We agreed on the need for Nigeria to protect its territorial environment. We agreed on the need for the Federal Government to establish Environmental Courts. “Hitherto, Nigeria had been very careless with this issue. We need to have a law on gas flaring and also an institution that deals with issues like that. Even the issue of waste was agreed.

RMFC encroaching into Wages Commission’s duties - DG Louis Achi

Abuja

he Director-General, National, Wages and Income Commission, Dr. Richard Egbule, said yesterday that the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFC) was encroaching into its constitutional duties. Accordingb to him, the last review and evaluation exercise out in the civil service was done in 1976 by the then Chairman, Civil Service Commission, the late Jerome Udoji. Speaking yesterday before the Senator Adamu Aliero-led Committee on Public Finance and Revenue at the ongoing National Conference, Egbule questioned how a country like Nigeria would use the job evaluation carried out 40 years ago adding that

Computers and Information Technology have not been factored into job evaluation since they came on board. On the controversial issue of Jumbo salaries for members of the National Assembly, the Wages Commission boss said salaries and allowances for the lawmakers was not high; what is outrageous is what the lawmakers spend which is not in the Act, --- other allowances, benefits they get from Constituency allowances, furniture allowances, among others which were usually abused by the lawmakers, noting for instance that the furniture allowance that was supposed to be once in four years was changed to 300% percent yearly and that most of the allowances that raised public outcry were not their legitimate earnings.

Onaiyekan urges coordinated action on Boko Haram Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

atholic Archbishop of Nigeria and Co-Chair, World Council for Religious Leaders, John Cardinal Onaiyekan yesterday said that the complexity of the Boko Haram phenomenon calls for coordinated action at different levels and in various areas of attention. Onaiyekan stated that the political and socioeconomic issues are well within the ability of Nigeria as a nation, if only the political will to act together across political and ethnic lines to can be summoned. He stated this in a message entitled, “Boko Haram: Scope and Limits

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FROM THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE

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Thursday, May 15, 2014

of Foreign Intervention”, which he sent from Rome. According to the statement, “The political and socio-economic issues are well within our ability as a nation, if we can only summon the political will to act together across political and ethnic lines to save our nation. “But there is also the religious dimension, which in my view has not been given adequate attention. This is where I believe we should welcome with deep gratitude the strong messages of solidarity with our nation and vigorous expressions of condemnation of the Boko Haram by the global Islamic community at the highest level.

Confab committee gets 31 requests for new states Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

bout 31 requests for state creation were received from the six geo-political zones by the National Conference Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government of the National Conference. Among the states are: Oduduwa, Aba, Orimili, Ijebu, Adada, Yemen, Amana, Apa, New Delta, Okun, Anioma and Savannah. Others are Edu, Lagoon, South Plateau, Confluence state, Etiti state, Anim state, Njaba state, Savannah state, OkeOgun state and Toru-Ebe state. The rest are New Oyo, Hadejia, Ose, Ogoja, Okura, Ugwuaku, Ghari, Sombreiro and Old Calabar.

The committee, which has Maj-Gen Ike Nwachukwu, rtd, as Chairman, similarly received a request for change of name of Adamawa state to Gongola state. The committee, which commenced deliberation on the number of states to be created yesterday, agreed, unanimously that there was need for state creation. While some of the committee members believed that some of the requests deserve attention, others were of the opinion that criteria should be set up to know which ones should be considered. However, Pastor Tunde Bakare, a delegate representing the South-West at the conference, said there was no need for any additional state in the country. When members of the

committee began debate on state creation yesterday, the matter split delegates along ideological and tribal lines. Co-Chairman of the committee and a delegate representing the North East zone, Mohammed Kumaila while introducing the matter, explained that state creation was part of the assignment given to the committee and should be done with all sense of responsibility considering its sensitivity. In moving the motion for state creation, a delegate representing Delta State and a former governor of the state, Chief Benjamin Elue, urged that the committee should recommend 12 additional states to bring the number of states to 48. Elue proposed that

states should be created such that each zone would comprise eight States. A delegate representing the Federal Government and a member of the committee, Senator Nimi Barigha Amange, in seconding the motion for state creation, said it was not the list of state demanded that mattered, putting a policy in place to address the need for more states. While opposing the motion, a delegate representing the Federal Government and former Governor of Niger State, Abdulkadir Kure said the issue of zone was not constitutional and should not be used as a yardstick to create states, saying that there are zones that need to be split as a result of their population.

L-R: Deputy Chairperson, National Confab Committee on Environment, Bukar Madara; Chairperson of the committee, Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, and member, Waziri Mariya, after a press briefing on the committee’s report at the National Conference in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

eputy Chairman of National Conference Committee on Science and Technology and delegate from South-East, Ezekiel Izuogu, yesterday said the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT), lacks the facilities to locate the schoolgirls abducted about a month ago in Chibok, Borno state. Izuogu, while fielding questions from journalists at the venue of the ongoing conference, blamed this lack on inadequate funding of the agency. According to him, "They (NIGCOMSAT) have the necessary manpower, but they do not have the facicilities. Their problem is money. I went there with my committee members to interview him (the director-general) and he spoke very well but

Why NIGCOMSAT can't rescue Chibok girls, by confab delegate then the problem is funding. "There is no funding for science and technoloty in Nigeria and we are saying this to all Nigerians because Nigerians want to do things with their hands but the facilities are not there. "And I keep giving myself as an example that seventeen years ago, I did the first car in Africa as the managing director of Peugeot and other executive directors chartered a plane and flew down to Port Harcout and then to Owerri just to come and see what we did. "They made to us wonderful promises that we should make Peugeot cars for them and they would pay us. I said “no, I was not

interested in doing anything for Peugeot. I want to do something that will benefit Nigeria. "Something that is done by Nigerians with things that are around Nigeria. They did everything to entice us but I said “no”. Thereafter, I now took it up to do the Nigeria car and we did not talk to anybody until we finished. Then we invited Abacha who send his deputy to us in Owerri. "We had a crowd of fifty thousand, including diplomats and five governors were there to see physically what we had done and the whole world was celebrating. Thereafter, no support.

"Nigerian government probed the car and found it worthy, they confirmed that everything was well done but till today, no support. I do not have one naira from the government. Instead, people were making effort to blackmail us. They are saying this is Igbo-made, this is Yoruba-made. They started laughing. "So, the Nigerian public has no problem. Nigerians are good people, every Nigerian will want to use his or her hands to manufacture things, but a few policy makers who are sitting up there are ready to sabotage everything to make sure that we do not really have anything.

World Record

On Marble

Death takes no bribes. – Ben Franklin

The tallest living woman is probably Sun Fang from China, who is 7 feet 3 inches (221 cm) tall.

Sanctity of Truth

w w w. new tel eg rap ho nl i ne. co m

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha THURSday, MAY 15, 2014

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‘Tears’ for Chibok

e are all very familiar with the common phrase “crocodile tears”. It has its origins with that marine reptile called crocodiles known for weeping while devouring its prey. Students of literature are very familiar with its usage in popular ancient plays like Edmund Spencer’s Faerie Queen and Othello in Shakespeare. It is often used to explain fake, emotionless tears, to conjure unwarranted sympathy. That is not the type of tears we are going to discuss today in this space. I had planned to title this effort, ‘Political Tears for Chibok’ but when I saw a remark made on tears by Pulitzer and Nobel award winner, Canadian-born author Saul Bellow, I shifted gear. According to Bellow, “tears may be intellectual, but they can never be political. They save no man from being shot, no child from being thrown into the furnace.” You may add – and no girl from being stolen by terrorists – and the associated message is carried. Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, a forth night ago made a show of the nation’s current predicament, the kidnap of over 200 Nigeria Secondary School girls taking their final West African School Certificate (WASC) examination. A mother crying on a touchy issue like the disappearance of children shouldn’t attract all the attention. After all, Sam Slick. a character in Thomas Canddler Halliburton’s book said that “every woman is wrong until she cries, and then she is right instantly”. Crying also called sobbing, weeping or wailing in the dictionary is the shedding of tears in response to an emotional state of humans. But in this instance discerning minds are curious that a mother whose children were stolen suddenly remembers tears after two weeks when neighbours including non-friends started shouting. The First Lady’s comic show seems more as a response to the neighbour’s cry than sympathy for the missing children. This feeling was further underscored by the dramatic manner the cry came as if it was designed for the camera as Nollywood characters often do. When a joke is made of a very serious issue, it sets people thinking about the sincerity of actions. The year 2013 was a crying year for me (when l lost my dear mother and two beloved sisters, may their soul rest in peace). So I know exactly what crying means. It comes from the system; and when it comes you will not be unashamed to be seen crying in public. In the US it seems out of place for the president of that world power breaking down in tears in public. But Barack Obama was unable to avoid it after his presidential victory as he thanked campaign workers for their tireless work for his re-election. The point is that whether tears are of joy or sadness, they come from within. Therefore the question naturally pops up: were our First Lady at the Villa and all the glamorous women at the Eagles Square who were crying and searching for television camera really emotionally involved? Did anybody notice the appearance of

Did anybody notice the appearance of the US First Lady Michele Obama last Saturday when she addressed Americans and indeed the world on the Chibok issue?

Some of the Chibok school girls kidnapped by Boko Haram

the US First Lady Michele Obama last Saturday when she addressed Americans and indeed the world on the Chibok issue? How simple and melancholic she looked; no jewelry depicting the message she was passing. Did you not feel like crying when she talked about the future of Chibok girls and why the world should not allow terrorists to terminate their dreams? Did you feel the same way when “there is God oo” was being packaged? A development from Aso Rock since the return to democracy 15 years ago encourages one to agree with those who framed our constitution and gave no role to wives of presidents and governors. If what we have been experiencing from Stella, to Turai and Patience is anything to note, constitutionally empowering them would have been dangerous. Now this, there has been conflicting reports on our security system on tackling the insurgency. Some are saying that our troops are ill equipped and morally down. Others are saying that they are saboteurs and too indifferent to the huge challenge. The Amnesty International report showing that troops were alerted on the Chibok invasion merely underscored other such reports like a helicopter dropping pure water and other items for the terrorists. Not even in the time of civil war has our national history been filled with such bitterness and feeling of confusion and helplessness as witnessed with the Chibok issue. History attests to the fact that helplessness induces hopelessness, and that loss of hope and not necessarily loss of lives is what decides the issue of war.

When Senator Arthur Nzeribe during the 5th Senate compiled some impeachable offences against then President Olusegun Obasanjo and fearing that his unsteady reputation would affect his mission he put a caveat on it: “Ignore the messenger, look at the message”. Borrowing from that Oguta high chief, I urge my readers to ignore this messenger and look at the message as I bring you a tweet from the daughter of late military junta Gumsu Sani Abacha who recalled that her late father, the maximum dictator and treasury looter, once said that “if insurgency lasts for more than 24 hours, the government has a hand in it”. Did this make any sense to you? Could Boko Haram have lasted if government whether at Federal, State or Local Government has no hand? After all Boko Haram was not formed in a Mosque but in a political gathering and taken to Mosque for religious coloration and to court favour. A commissioner in a State Government we were told even handled and coordinated its activities at inception. Is late Abacha an outsider on security matters? The answer is no, so he should know. Abacha’s view is also being corroborated by a popular American broadcast journalist who covered Second World War, Edward R. Murrow who said that “No one can terrorize a whole nation unless we all are his accomplices”. Big poser! Answer correctly and win: JAMB questions from Chibok saga attract a gift. Tick the correct answerQ1. How many girls were taken away by Boko Haram gunmen from Chibok School? (a) 200 (b) 234 (c) 276 (d) 180. (e) None of the

above Q2. How many of the girls actually escaped from the Boko Haram gunmen? (a) 7 (b) 48 (c) 53 (d) 43. (e) None of the above. Correct answer to any of the questions stand to win the latest DVD Video in the market. “There is God oo”, produced and packaged by the office of the First Lady and marketed by the #Bring back our Girls group.

OmoBaba

OBASANJO DIDN’T WIN 1999 ELECTION - Okurounmu

– Who told you?

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