Monday, august 1, 2016 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

Confusion in power sector over removal of NDPHC mgt Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

ncertainty is looming in the power sector following the sacking of the man-

agement of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) and the apparent delay in reconstituting it to enable the organisa-

tion play its pivotal role in the search for solution to the current energy crisis in Nigeria. The Federal Govern-

ment had, early last month, dissolved the executive management of the NDPHC, sacked the Managing Director, Mr.

James Abiodun Olotu and appointed Mr. Chiedu Ugbo as Acting Managing Director. Secretary to the Govern-

FG gives more flight concession to foreign airlines

ment of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, who issued the sack order, directed all Executive Directors of the company and the General Manager CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

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Monday, August 1, 2016

JAMB withdraws 2016 admission list sent to varsities }37

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N150

The Monday Interview

Ojerinde

Soldiers rescue abducted RCCG pastor, Bajomo }8

Adeboye

Buhari’s govt got N2.2trn in one year }6

Buhari

Why I didn’t participate in coups }14 –Gen. Olutoye

Olutoye

Economic downturn:

Banks’ woes worsen …experts predict consolidation of lenders FG bans conference bags, T-shirts, souvenirs at events }6

L-R: Chairman, UBA Plc., Mr. Tony Elumelu; Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi Lamido II; former Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc., Mr. Phillips Oduoza; his wife, Jumai; and Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc., Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, during the send-off of Oduoza, in Lagos…at the weekend.

Budget padding: Fear grips senators lEFCC assembles crack team to probe principal officers lSERAP: Dogara, Lasun, Ogor must step aside }4 Breastfeeding boosts premature babies' IQ }37

Monday, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEWS

Monday, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Budget padding: Fear grips senators Chukwu David, Emmanuel Onani, Tunde Oyesina and Philip Nyam Abuja

here is palpable ap p re h e n s i o n among senators that the budgetpadding crisis currently rocking the House of Representatives might spill over to the Senate. A source close to the Appropriation Committee of the Senate told New Telegraph that fear had gripped some senators over the matter. The source, however, revealed that those in the Appropriation Committee had resolved never to make any statements that would attract the attention of the public to the turbulent chamber. According to the source, senators who were not happy with the handling of the 2016 budget by the Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, Danjuma Goje, have also agreed that they

would not truncate the truce recently brokered in the Senate. "What is happening in the House over budget padding is not different from what would have happened in the Senate, but experience, they say, is the best teacher. In fact, it would have been worse in the Senate, but for the lingering crisis that bedevilled the place since June last year. "I don't think that any senator wants to provoke another round of crisis for any reason because they are tired of being in the mess. From all I have seen, the senators want to be patriotic this time around. They want to cover whatever sins might have been committed during the 2016 appropriation exercise. "Remember the last effort at stabilizing the chamber by its leadership, when Senate President Bukola Saraki had to reshuffle some committees to accommodate and pacify his tormentors. So, the anticipated padding controversy may not be seen in the Sen-

ate, but I can tell you that some senators are jittery because of the trouble in the House," the source said. When our correspondent tried to contact Goje for his comment, his line was not going through. A source close to him said he was out of town. As if the lawmakers were deliberately avoiding journalists, other members of the committee did not pick their calls while a senator who answered said that he was not disposed to speaking with the press on any issue at the moment. It will be recalled that the Senate allegedly had a stormy executive session on April 21, when many senators protested against the leadership of the Appropriation Committee because of the manner it purportedly handled the budget with so much secrecy. It was learnt that Goje came under intense attack from the members of the committee during the closed session, for allegedly excluding them from the

budget approval process. It was further learnt that the aggrieved lawmakers called for Goje's removal, but later resolved to allow him remain in office since the Senate had, as at that time, embarked on reconciliatory moves to resolve all grievances in the Chamber by setting up an ad hoc committee to reconcile all warring factions. Meanwhile, there are strong indications that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may have assembled a team of detectives, to examine a petition arising from the budget-padding crisis rocking the House of Representatives. New Telegraph gathered from highly placed sources that once the petition is found to have merit, the commission may then commence investigation into the allegations contained therein. A former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin has, since his removal, sus-

L-R: General Manager, External Relations, Shell Nigeria, Mr. Igo Weli; Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole; Public Affairs Manager, National Petroleum Investments Management Services, Mr. Ahmed Laminu; and former CEO/Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme, Dr. Femi Akingbade, at the just-concluded Health Concept Validation Exercise organised by the Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), in Lagos.

tained his allegations of diversion of billions of naira against Speaker Yakubu Dogara, his deputy, Yusuff Lasun; majority whip, Alhassan Doguwa and minority leader, Leo Ogor. But investigation by New Telegraph showed that the anti-graft agency was in receipt of a petition. Jibrin confirmed that his petition has since been submitted at the commission. One of the sources, who spoke in confidence with New Telegraph, explained that owing to diligence and best practice, petitions before the anti-graft agency, are investigated based on merit, as those found to be fraudulent are not acted upon. "I think a team of the commission's detectives are now looking at the issues raised in the petition, and this is the standard practice. The merit or otherwise of the petition, will give proper direction on the next action to take," he said. The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, could not be reached for comment. In a related development, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Dogara and other principal officers accused to be involved in the alleged budget padding to step aside pending the outcome of investigation by the EFCC and other agencies. The group made this call through a letter dated July 29 and signed by SERAP’s executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni. The group noted that its call followed the con-

NEITI: Nigeria has no verified oil production figure since 1958 Adeola Yusuf

igeria, Africa's biggest oil exporter, has no verified oil production figure since 1958 and to get a clear picture of how much money the country has lost to corruption over the years is almost impossible. This was the conclusion of the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) in a document obtained by New Telegraph. Nigeria, which began production of oil in 1958, has no independent way of verifying figures given to it by oil companies, NEITI added. It insisted in a power point summary of its latest audit obtained by this newspaper that the system is hemorrhaging cash in so many places that accoun-

tants often struggle to make sense of it all. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) does not measure its output while the regulator, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) lacks capacity to also measure figures given to it by international oil companies (IOCs), the audit stated. The Federal Government estimates in the 2016 budget that average output is two million to 2.3 million barrels of oil a day, making Nigeria Africa's biggest producer. "Right now, no one can tell you exactly how much of our crude is extracted from our soil," the directorate of communications at NEITI, Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, told New Telegraph. "We depend on records from the oil companies. That clearly has to change," he said.

The NEITI report said foreign oil majors may have underpaid royalties "of $2.33 billion arising from subjective interpretation of volume, pricing," and grading variables. "We are questioning the basis of those calculations," Orji explained. "They are not calculated on the basis of empirical fact. And there is connivance by officials," he alleged. Foreign firms also seemed to have, according to both the 2008 and 2013 audits, underpaid petroleum profit tax to the Federal Government. The 2008 and 2013 audits showed an underpayment of over $1 billion each. For instance, the 2008 report recommended a review of the tax returns of Chevron and Exxon Mobil. Exxon officials were not immediately available to comment.

A Chevron spokesman said the firm "complies with all laws and regulations in the locations where we operate. As a matter of long-standing policy, Chevron does not release specific financial details." The NEITI audit shows some startling gaps in NNPC finances: $540 million missing from $1.675 billion in signature bonuses – these are advance payments to develop fields, a standard producer country demand. Then there's 3.1 million barrels of oil missing from NNPC declarations about its joint ventures compared with the figures released by NNPC's international partners. That equates to 0.25 per cent of the output. NNPC also received $3.789 billion in dividends from Nigeria LNG, a liquefied natural gas venture over the 20062008 period, but there is no

record of those dividends being paid into the federal accounts. Neither the Group Managing Director, Group Public Affairs of NNPC, Mallam Garbadeen Muhammed, nor the spokesperson for DPR, Dorothy Bassey, responded to request for clarification from New Telegraph as at the time of filing this report. They neither picked calls to their cell phones nor replied to text messages sent to them.

105

The sex ratio of women to 100 men of France in 2012. Source: Un.org

£115.3m

The amount of money spent by Manchester United in the summer 2015 transfer window. Source: 101greatgoals.com

firmation received from the EFCC that it is looking into SERAP’s petition to the body on the allegations that the leadership of the House of Representatives padded the 2016 budget to the tune of N481 billion. "SERAP is now writing to request you to immediately step aside from your position as Speaker of the House of Representatives pending the outcome of the investigation,” Mumuni stated. The group also urged the speaker to ensure that other principal officers of the House suspected to be involved in the alleged padding step aside from their positions to allow for the investigation by the EFCC and other agencies to go ahead unhindered. "The Speaker, as the head of the House, has a big role to play in guiding parliamentarians to embrace transparency by sending a powerful message that allegations of corruption will not be condoned, tolerated or covered up. “SERAP believes that the House of Representatives can neither function effectively nor enjoy public trust and confidence as long as the allegations of budget padding continue to trail its leadership. “By stepping aside and ensuring that others suspected to be involved in the budget padding also step aside until such a time as the investigations by the EFCC and other agencies are completed, you will be promoting acts that would enhance the integrity and respect for the National Assembly, as well as strict observance of the constitution both in letter and spirit," the letter reads. Also, Chairman of the House committee on Basic Education, Hon. Zakari Mohammed (APC, Kwara) has denied lobbying Jibrin for the inclusion of any project in the 2016 budget. Zakari is one of the 10 committee chairmen Jibrin has submitted their names to the EFCC for alleged corruption. The lawmaker explained that he never at any time during the consideration of the budget contacted the ousted chairman for assistance. On the submission of a petition against him at the EFCC, Zakari said he was ready to face investigation or interrogation from any anti-graft agency. “I have no file with EFCC or its allied agency, but the same cannot be said of the former Appropriation Committee chairman. Nigerians should, therefore, disregard his accusations because they are as a result of frustration of his removal,” he said.

Monday, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEWS

Monday, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Economic downturn: Banks’ woes worsen

Tony Chukwunyem with agency report

ith concern growing over the impact of naira devaluation on lenders’ capital adequacy, leading financial experts, including the Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company (FDC), Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, have predicted that the current crisis facing banks in the country is likely to trigger a consolidation in the industry. Pressure has been increasing on banks in recent months as rising NonPerforming Loans (NPLs), a shrinking economy, the falling naira and acute foreign exchange short-

ages, have led to several lenders sacking staff, closing branches and slashing earnings forecast. However, analysts believe that the recent floating of the naira, which has resulted in over 40 per cent depreciation of the local currency since June 20, will further compound the woes of banks, especially those with a high ratio of dollar loans. Reuters reported Rewane at the weekend as predicting that not all banks will survive the storm. He was quoted by the news agency as saying, "It (crisis) will affect their profitability initially and eventually it is going to affect their liquidity and solvency. Because of the squeeze in profitabil-

ity, there will be a natural consolidation and a shake out." The Chief Executive Officer, Sterling Bank Plc., Mr. Yemi Adeola, predicted last December that the tough times would trigger a consolidation in the industry. Also, the bank’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, said last February that a naira drop of just 20 per cent would trigger a "wave" of bank mergers. Overall, 42 per cent of loans extended by Nigerian banks are in dol-

10%

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

lars. If the naira falls far enough, it will force some banks to recapitalise to have enough naira to stay within financial stability limits. In a recent note, Standard Chartered Africa Chief Economist, Razia Khan, said: "There is concern around the evolution of banks' capital adequacy if the naira continues to weaken. As the naira weakens, FX loans are likely to be problematic." Similarly, Reuters reported London-based analysts, Exotix, as saying, UBA, Diamond and Guar-

£72.2m

The total amount received by Manchester United in the whole 2015-16 season. Source: 101greatgoals.com

L-R: Chairman, Eko Pearl, Mr. Elias Saad; Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc., Mr. Herbert Wigwe; Special Adviser, Lagos Global, Prof. Ademola Abass; Special Adviser on Urban Development, Mrs. Yetunde Onabule and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, admiring the architectural design of the Eko Pearl Towers during the governor’s inspection visit at Victoria Island, Lagos… yesterday.

anty Trust Bank (GTB), which is Nigeria's biggest bank by market capitalisation, have the highest ratio of dollar loans, at 50 per cent apiece. UBA and GTB have said they saw no need for a recapitalisation due to the devaluation. In addition, according to the news agency, some lenders have themselves borrowed heavily in dollars, debt that now costs much more to service. Data obtained from Thomson Reuters show that GTB has $1.6 billion in dollar-denominated debt, followed by First Bank of Nigeria, with $915 million. Last week, the apex bank directed banks to review and make adequate provisioning for all delinquent foreign currencydenominated loans in line with the July 1, 2010 Prudential Guidelines for Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. The CBN said, in a letter by its Director, Banking Supervision, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, entitled: “Provisioning for Foreign Currency Loans,” that the move was in continuation of the efforts to enhance efficiency, facilitate liquidity and transparency in the foreign exchange market. In a note, Nigeria's leading rating agency, Agusto & Co., said NPLs are expected to jump to 12.5 per cent of total loans this year, up from the CBN’s

target level of 5 per cent at the end of last year. One Lagos-based banking analyst, who asked not to be named, said three or four medium-sized banks might need to raise capital. The CBN has said it is monitoring one or two lenders for liquidity, without naming them. However, the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has urged people not to panic about the banking system, saying the apex bank is on top of any trouble resulting from the worst crisis in Africa's biggest economy for decades. The regulator recently shored up mid-tier lender, Skye Bank, with a loan and replaced its management following a weakening of the lender’s prudential ratios. Any failure of the banking sector would have farreaching consequences in the nation of 170 million, with civil servants' pay routed through the banks and residents of remote villages dependent on electronic systems for routine payments. "The strategic health of the Nigerian banking or financial system remains strong at this time. There is no need for anybody to begin to panic or worry that any bank is in distress," Emefiele said after a meeting of the apex bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting last Tuesday.

Recession: Govt bans conference bags, T-shirts, souvenirs at workshops, seminars

FG got N2.2trn from Federation Account in one year

Abdulwahab Isa

ABUJA

Abuja

n the face of economic downturn, the Federal Government has banned procurement and distribution of specified items by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government. Listed as items on prohibitive list, which has been circulated to MDAs are, procurement and distribution of conference bags, T-shirts and other souvenirs hitherto shared at events such as conferences, workshops and seminars organised by MDAs. Director (Information) in the Ministry of Finance, Mallam Salisu Dambatta, confirmed the new measure in a statement he made available to New Telegraph yesterday. The latest measure, according to Dambatta, is in line with the on-going cost cutting and efficiency drive in the utilisation of public funds by the Muhammadu Buhari administration. The new list has been endorsed by the president

on the recommendation of the Efficiency Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance. Already, the Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari, had forwarded the directive to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Ministers of Finance and Budget and National Planning, for implementation. The Efficiency Unit was established by the Buhari administration to promote fiscal prudence on overhead expenditure to reduce wastage, promote efficiency and ensure quantifiable savings for the development of vital national infrastructure. The minister of finance, head of service of the federation, accountantgeneral of the federation, auditor-general of the federation and director, budget office of the federation are members of the Unit. The Unit identified procurement as the area to begin the execution of its mandate of reducing overhead costs and wastage

resources. The Efficiency Unit had already recorded success in cutting government overhead cost in areas such as travels, welfare, honorarium, sitting allowance, training, adverts and publicity, as well as refreshments. It had gone a step further to relocate some of Federal Government's MDAs into recovered looted properties as ways to reduce overhead cost. "The directive, which is a recognition of the fact that in a period of lean financial resources in the face of huge national infrastructural deficit, wasteful and unnecessary expenditure on overheads such as on souvenirs and conference bags were luxuries that the government must eliminate to release funds for infrastructure and services such as health and education that would have direct positive impact on the wellbeing of the citizenry and promote economic development. "The directive also contained specific guidelines that would reduce the

cost of printing invitation cards, programme of events, brochures, folders and notepads. “Among the guidelines are that they should be in black and white and limited to only one page and in the case of brochures, they should be streamlined to contain only essential information. “Similarly, the directive has banned the printing of unnecessary publications and books of short shelf life which have no real value to the concerned public institutions or the citizens," the statement added. To ensure that the new measure enjoys a wider reach, MDAs are directed to save costs by uploading such publications on their websites, which have the added benefit of wider visibility, and print only limited number of hard copies of such publications. Prior to the latest list of items of prohibition, government has also placed a ban on government officials flying on first class seats while on overseas training.

Our Correspondent

resident Muhammadu Buhari's administration received a total of N2,203,573,573,563.25 from the Federation Account as allocation between June 2015 and May 2016. In a recent survey conducted by the Economic Confidential, it emerged that during the period under review, the administration got the highest allocation in July 2015 with N412.60 billion and the lowest allocation of N113.80 billion in May 2016. The report further revealed that in June 2015, the Federal Government received N173.91 billion made up of N159.72 billion for Consolidated Revenue Fund, N3.27 billion for share of derivation and ecology, N1.63 billion for Stabilisation Fund, N5.49 billion for development of natural resources and N3.78 billion for the Federal Capital Territory Administration. In August, September and October 2015, it

received N216.99 billion, N180.86 billion and N162.93 billion respectively. Between November and December 2015, the Federal Government also got N205.15 billion and N151.64 billion to end the year. In January 2016, it received N175.04 billion made up of N160.87 billion for consolidated revenue fund, N3.10 billion for share of derivation and ecology, N1.77 billion representing that of stabilisation fund, while development of natural resources and FCT stood at N5.46 billion and N3.82 billlion respectively. However, in the subsequent three months, the Federal Government witnessed a drastic reduction in revenue in a descending order of N150.32 billion, N139.36 billion, N120.92 billion for February, March and April respectively. Meanwhile, total inflows into the Treasury Single Account (TSA) of the Federal Government under President Buhari stood at N3 trillion while the number of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) rose to 976.

NEWS

Monday, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FG gives more flight concession to foreign airlines Wole Shadare

he Federal Government has promised to give more frequencies to foreign airlines operating into the country that wish to increase its flight time.

This, according to the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, would improve the economic and operational viability of the nation’s designated international airports by creating the enabling environment for international

airlines operating in Nigeria to use them. The minister, who spoke while receiving the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil in his office, said the nation’s relationship with foreign airlines would be based

strictly on the Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA) with the airlines’ home governments. He informed the ambassador of government’s determination to revamp the aviation sector through the concessioning of its air-

ports, beginning with "the big four" in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt. The concession, he said, is to address issues of infrastructure, and ensure world-class maintenance. Nigeria has BASA with over 60 nations. While

Confusion in power sector over removal of NDPHC management CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

(Audit) to hand over to the most senior officer in their respective departments with immediate effect. However, New Telegraph gathered that barely two months after, these changes were yet to be formalised because the Federal Government had since discovered that its decision to unilaterally sack Olotu and the other directors did not follow due process and ran contrary to the rules of engagement of the organisation. Competent sources in the power sector told New Telegraph that some forces within the Presidency instigated the disbandment of the management team to pave way for their favourites to step into the now vacant positions. However, the game could not be fully perfected as neither the outgoing Managing Director nor his sup-

posed successor has been issued with formal letters of sack or appointment. New Telegraph gathered that investors in the sector were getting worried about the lacuna in the leadership of the NDPHC as they do not know whom to approach in respect of new investments or whether there would be major shifts in government policies in the sector. President Muhammad Buhari, who was away on his last medical vacation in London when the directive sacking the management of the company was issued, has reportedly come under intense pressure to reverse the decision. "The president has been told that it would be a breach of the rule of law if his administration failed to correct the anomaly by restoring those who were sacked back to their positions. He is aware that if these directors go to court to challenge their unlawful

disengagement, it could cause a huge embarrassment to this government," our source said. Although, the power brokers within the Presidency who allegedly facilitated the sacking of these directors claimed that their disengagement was based on series of petitions and allegations of fraud against them, there was no evidence that they were investigated and found culpable before they were sacked. The NDPHC, a limited liability company duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), was established in 2005 to serve as the special vehicle to manage the assets of the Nigerian Integrated Power Project (NIPP) using private sector best practices. The company has the responsibility of managing the assets of the 10 power generation plants that have been developed under the NIPP. These

include the Alaoji Power Plant, which is situated near Aba in Abia State; the Ihovbor Power Plant, Benin City in Edo State; the Calabar Power Plant in Cross River State; the Egbema Power Plant near Owerri in Imo State and the Gbarain Power Plant, which is situated near Yenegoa in Bayelsa State. Others are the Geregu II Power Plant in Ajaokuta, Kogi State; Sapele II Power Plant in Delta State; the Olorunsogo II Power Plant in Ogun State; the Omoku II Power Plant in Rivers State as well as the Omotosho II Power Plant, which is situated in Okitipupa in Ondo State. The company is owned by the three tiers of government, with the Federal Government holding 47 per cent stake while the states and local governments have 53 per cent equity share in the venture. New Telegraph learnt that by virtue of the com-

pany's registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) of 1990, the rules of engagement and disengagement of its directors must be in compliance with extant provisions of CAMA and the company's Memorandum and Articles of Association. According to our source, engaging or disengaging the executive directors of such a company would require that the Board of Directors must sit, deliberate and pass appropriate resolutions and present same at the company's Annual General Meeting (AGM) for adoption by its shareholders. It was gathered that since the Board of Directors of NDPHC was dissolved at the exit of the last administration, a new board has not been inaugurated, thus making the decision to unilaterally sack the management a procedural error.

some international airlines are already using their part of the deal, Nigerian airlines are seriously disadvantaged due to lack of finance, weak operational structure and lack of enabling environment to make them prosperous. Despite the huge potential, African and particularly Nigerian carriers are playing second fiddle to foreign airlines, which are said to be controlling 80 per cent of the region’s aviation market, leaving the remaining 20 per cent for their African counterparts. This has triggered concern of huge imbalance between the pair. Aviation experts, however, expressed disappointment with the situation, saying it had slowed aviation growth despite Africa’s over one billion population. Only Arik and Medview airlines are from Nigeria operating international flights. Arik Air operates to London, New York and Johannesburg while Medview does London, Jeddah for now with plans to add other destinations. The Turkish Ambassador on behalf of Turkish Airlines, requested for more frequencies in the airline’s operations in Nigeria considering its population and air traffic volume.

monDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO

ABIODUN BELLO abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

Bombardments: Fleeing militants kill two lWe can now sleep with our eyes closed –Residents

Juliana Francis and Taiwo Jimoh

uspected militants, fleeing from the joint military aerial bombardments, killed two people and abducted at Ikorodu community in Lagos State. The military bombardment of the creeks along Ogun and Lagos states started on Thursday and continued yesterday. It was gathered that militants, who escaped from Ikorodu creeks, escaped into Yewa Phase 5 Estate. It was at the estate they kidnapped two persons and also allegedly killed two others. A vigilante, who did not want his name mentioned, explained that some of his colleagues, stationed at Ikorodu, called and informed him about the killing and abduction. He said: “Immediately we got the information, we mobilised and repositioned ourselves within the community. There were also some soldiers in our area. They were deployed to prevent reprisal attacks. My colleagues and I were unable to sleep because we did not want to take chances. We have increased our patrol of community since we started what I call ‘Operation flush them out.’ “One can never tell, but they might want to regroup and come back into the community. That was part of the reason we beefed up security.”

When our correspondent visited the bombarded creeks at Arepo yesterday, a lot of clothes, adults and children’s shoes, cooking utensils and burnt animals littered everywhere. A resident of Arepo said the people were happy with the dislodgement of the militants from the creek. He said: “We were not informed before the operation started. When we heard of the explosions, it took some of us by surprise. The sound of the explosions made some of the residents to abandon their property and fled the community. We have been held hostage for many years in the community; but we thank God for artilleries deployed by the military into the creek. “My family and I were able to sleep with our eyes closed. The same thing is applicable to other residents; we can now all sleep well. Even some of us, who are landlords, missed the monthly community meeting for Saturday due to peace that had returned to the community. “We are appealing to the mili-

City Briefs

Soldiers rescue RCCG pastor, Bajomo Taiwo Jimoh

ersonnel of the joint military operation codenamed AWATSE yesterday rescued the abducted pastor of Isawo, Ikorodu parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). The pastor, Olukayode Bajomo, was rescued inside the Maware creeks in the mangrove of Ishawo. The militants cum kidnappers fled in the wake of bombardments which began on Thursday and abandoned their victims in the enclaves. It was learnt that after the aerial bombardment by the

Nigerian Air Force fighter jets, soldiers went into the mangroves to comb the area while the personnel of Nigerian Navy component of the operation blocked the exit points through the canals to smoke out the militants. It was also learnt that during surveillance, the military discovered that some hostages, among them Bajomo, were held in Maware and other enclaves. The Operation’s Commander, Colonel Julius Ogbobe, said Bajomo was discovered about 8a.m. According to him, the pastor has been reunited with his family.

tary to make the bombing a continuous process! We want these militants out of our community totally.” Narrating what the impact of the militants’ repeated attacks on the community, another resident said that a man, who used to produce sachet water, closed shops and left after he escaped being kidnaped last week. An 87-year-old woman, who also did not want her name in print, said the bombardments, meant God had answered her prayers. She said: “When I moved into this community in 2007, it was peaceful. Suddenly, everything changed. When the militants went on the rampage, my children advised me to move out of the community, so I would not be killed. I told them to leave me alone; that we are going to overcome them. “I went into prayers. I prayed that the militants should be flushed out. Now, my prayers have been answered. We can now sleep with our eyes closed.” It was, however, learnt that

four militants, who were fleeing from the bombardment, ran to Igbo Olomu area of Ikorodu, into the hands of members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC). The OPC members engaged the militants in a gun battle at Yewa community and were able to facilitate the release of two landlords. These landlords had earlier been abducted by militants, while attempting to escape from the military. It was gathered that an OPC member was killed during the duel, but others arrested four suspected militants. The militants were handed over to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Owutu Police Station. The OPC members, from Ogbagba zone, said they responded to a distress call, that militants invaded Yewa area of Olainukan, where they kidnapped two people. One of the people they kidnapped was a landlord, identified as Mr. Daniel. The OPC members caught up with the militants, who had

by then, relocated to part of the creek. The kidnapped victims were rescued. The militants were alleged to have regrouped and attacked the OPC men, killing Tunde Sogunro in another round of gun duel. An OPC leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: “People have been saying that OPC people are not doing anything about the militants in Yoruba land. Now, we have lost our member. People should come out, to say that OPC rescued two people. The two people were kidnapped by militants. Nobody will come out now and say something about compensating Tunde’s family.” The OPC leader further expressed the readiness of the group to tackle the menace of pipeline vandals. He said: “We know the terrain more than the security agents. They need to invite us and discuss with us, before we can do anything.” The coordinator of the OPC, in the zone, Mr. Femi Atiku, confirmed the arrest of the suspects to journalists. He said the arrest of the militants, was a communal effort by the zonal unit of the group.

Jailbreak: Five inmates recaptured Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

igeria Prisons Service (NPS) yesterday said it has recaptured five, out of the 13 inmates who escaped from the Koton Karfe Prisons, Kogi State, on Saturday morning. The Controller-General of Prisons, Ja’afaru Ahmed, who confirmed this in a statement from the Service spokesperson, Deputy Controller of Prisons, Mr. Francis Enobore, said that five pre-trial detainees, out of the escapees, were re-arrested. According to him, the escapees were re-arrested with the help of other security agencies and local vigilantes. They were immediately returned to prison. Ahmed made the confirmation while on an on-the-spot assessment of the incident of the

jail break in Koton Karfe Prison. According to the statement, the Controller-General has set up a three-man panel to carry out detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the jailbreak. The panel is expected to forward the report to his office for necessary action. The statement added that the controller general had assured

that appropriate measures were being put in place to address congestion phenomenon, particularly among awaiting trial prisoners in line with the reform agenda of the Federal Government. The controller general added that security arrangement was being strengthened in and around prison facilities, across the country to forestall future occurrence.

Nigerian prison

METRO

monDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Suspect steals seven laptops from school

Widow killed for identifying robber during operation

Juliana Francis

fficials of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Ikeja, Lagos have arrested 14 suspects for allegedly stealing seven computers and other accessories from Shomolu-based public school. The police recovered four mini-laptops, a LaserJet scanner, a desktop and a printer. A police source said: “The suspects were arrested on Wednesday after RRS Intelligence Team got information that one of the suspects was in a game shop, at Shomolu. The suspect, who turned out to be a buyer of one of the stolen minilaptops, led to the arrest of the principal suspect and 13 others.” The principal suspect, Yinka Adesola (19), an athlete, disclosed that one Julius Akinyele (20), a phone repairer, whom he accommodated, gave him seven minilaptops, one scanner, one desktop, a CPU and a LaserJet printer to keep. Adesola said: “I knew he was a wayward guy. I accommodated him because his relatives, whom he was staying with, relocated from Shomolu. I offered to assist him since I had an apartment to myself. He was my junior in secondary. He was one of my fans while I was competing for the school and local governments in the state. “Immediately he joined me, a lot of things started missing in the compound. Neighbours were losing their phones. Later, we discovered that he was the one stealing all the phones. My parents ordered me to tell him to move out. I did.” Adesola said that before he told Akinyele to move out, he had already brought seven mini-computers, one scanner, one desktop, a Laserjet printer to his room. He added: “Although I saw the name of the school on the items, since he was always visiting that school, I did not know they were stolen items. After a long while, I did not see him. I attempted to sell all these items. Some I have sold and others like desktop, printer and four mini-laptops, I have not sold. I gave them out to friends and people that I know can help me sell them.” Also arrested are Lookman Sokoya (34), Wasiu Adejare (30), Ismaila Adebowale (42), Ahmed Olaleye (17) and Ramon Mukaila. Investigators said: “Only six out of the 15 suspects arrested were directly connected to burgle school and stolen computers and its accessories. Four of the suspects were released to their relatives, while the remaining five suspects were detained over their link to cult activities in Shomolu. Kazeem Adenuga (24), Owolabi Yusuph (35), Wasiu Shodipe (27), Samson Kareem (34) and Sheriff Badru (22), were arrested when they were discovered that they were involved in violence on Awoseni Street on Tuesday night.”

Lagos CP, Owoseni

Taiwo Jimoh

widow and mother of two, Mrs. Uju Ononaeze, was killed when armed robbers stormed three streets at the Ijegun area of Lagos State. The robbers, numbering about 40, last month stormed the area in five commercials buses and robbed several residents of their valuables. Ononaeze was reportedly

the compound. The deceased, who lost her husband two years ago, was said to have identified one of the robbers. When the robbers realised she knew one of them, they shot her. Another resident, identified simply as Uche, said he prayed to God never to allow him go through what he went through in the hands of the robbers that night. He said: “I was already asleep when two of the robbers broke into my apartment. They woke me up with their machetes. They started beating me, demanding money. I gave them the money with me. After that incident, I have not been able to sleep with my two eyes closed. “After the incident, some residents moved out of the compound. The robbers, while leaving, promised to return soon. They also took away some of my drinks. What annoyed me most was that some of the robbers, who were arrested by policemen from Isheri after the robbery, were said to have been released later. We have taken to self-protection in the community.” Another resident, who didn’t want his name in print, said: “My two-year-old boy started having constant nightmares after the robbery incident.

Police arrest two cultists, recover arms Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

olice in Ogun State have arrested two suspected cult members, who had been on the wanted list, and recovered a locallymade gun loaded with cartridge. The suspects, Omotola Amuda (18) and Adesegun Mayowa (20), were nabbed at the weekend by police operatives from Ago-Iwoye Division. The state Acting Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed this in a statement issued in Abeokuta yesterday. Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, disclosed that the suspected cult members took to their heels when they sighted policemen on routine patrol.

Suspected cultists

He described them as members of a deadly cult group terrorising AgoIwoye and its environs in Ijebu North Local Government Area of the state.

He said: “The two men were sighted by policemen on routine patrol with a bag. On sighting the policemen, they took to their heels but they were hotly

chased by the policemen and the two were arrested. “Recovered from them is a locally-made gun loaded with one cartridge. Two of them are members of deadly cult group terrorising Ago-Iwoye and its environs.” Oyeyemi said the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, had ordered that the suspects be transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Abeokuta for further investigation. He added: “The commissioner of police therefore warned that criminals living in the state should either change their ways or relocate because the state will no longer be a comfort zone for them as the command will not leave any stone unturned in order to rid the state of crime and criminality.”

Task force arrests 285 miscreants Muritala Ayinla

Suspects arrested for laptop theft

shot in the forehead after she identified and called out the name of one of the robbers during the operation. The bandits started operation from Amofia Street about 1a.m. and ended about 1:30a.m. They later proceeded to Mustapha and Anjorin streets, where they also robbed some residents of money and other valuables. One of the victims, Mrs. Adejoke Kehinde, said everybody in the compound had

gone to bed, when suddenly they heard a loud noise. She said: “It was the voice of a man. He was asking everyone to come out and submit whatever valuables they had. Our compound was just like a mini-estate. We have about several rooms. One of the robbers scaled the fence of the compound, landed inside and opened the gate for others. They started their operation from my apartment. They beat up my husband, collected his money and laptop.” Kehinde said she and her husband had been residing in the area for over 12 years and had never witnessed such massive robbery operation. She added: “There are over 30 rooms and these robbers took time in raiding each room. Immediately they left our apartment, they went to my neighbour’s, Mrs. Uju Ononaeze. They shot her in the head after collecting money from her.” It was learnt that while some of the robbers were robbing Ononaeze, others went into different apartments in

agos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit said it arrested 285 suspected miscreants and impounded 295 motorcycles last month. Its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Taofik Adebayo, who disclosed this in a statement, said 85 people who flouted movement restriction order during the last Saturday’s sanitation exercise were prosecuted.

Adebayo also warned the traditional rulers and their relations against indiscriminate use of unregistered vehicle number plates to commit environmental offences. He said the action was contrary to the Lagos Traffic Law 2012. Adebayo enjoined traditional rulers to check their council chiefs and their relations’ excesses by ensuring that all their vehicles with special traditional number plates were registered. According to him, anyone

caught will be prosecuted. The PRO said the 85 people, 68 male and 17 female, arrested across the state during the last environmental sanitation exercise were apprehended for loitering and moving around while the cleaning exercise was on. Adebayo said one of those arrested at Ojodu-Berger, Mrs. Florence Chima (48), pleaded guilty when arraigned. He said the woman claimed she did not know the exercise would catch up with

The impounded motorcycle

her as she was only rushing to buy some items at Ogba in Ikeja. Others were arrested at Ojota, Yaba, Maryland, Ikorodu, Mile 2, Ikoyi, Ajah, Orile-Iganmu, OjoduBerger, Agege and Lagos Island.

Monday, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

12 th

ALL NIGERIA EDITORSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; CONFERENCE (ANEC 2016) PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE

THEME:

ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION: AGRICULTURE AS OPTION FOR A PROSPEROUS NIGERIA KEYNOTE SPEAKER: MR. LUCAS ADENIJI, MD/CEO, NIJI FARMS CHAIRMAN:

AREMO SEGUN OSOBA, FNGE, FORMER GOVERNOR, OGUN STATE

SPECIAL GUEST OF HONOUR:

HIS EXCELLENCY DR. EMMANUEL UDUAGHAN, CON

HOST MINISTER:

HOST GOVERNOR:

ALHAJI LAI MOHAMMED,

HIS EXCELLENCY BARR. NYESOM WIKE, CON

HON. MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND CULTURE

FORMER GOVERNOR, DELTA STATE

DATE:

AUGUST 3-7, 2016 FUNKE EGBEMODE Ag. President 0803-786-7488

EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR, RIVERS STATE

TIME:

9:00a.m.

VENUE:

PRESIDENTIAL HOTEL, PORT HARCOURT

KEN UGBECHIE Chairman, Planning Committee 0803-436-4524

MONDAY, august 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Edo guber Ize-Iyamu faults Oshiomhole’s N120m donation to market women

Politics It is political romance gone sour as two former allies, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and ex-Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, fight dirty over the padding of the 2016 Budget. Philip Nyam reports

Interview Why I didn’t participate in coups – General Olutoye

12 14

House crisis: The inside story

t is no longer news that members of the top echelon of the House of Representatives have put on their gloves and are fighting naked in the market place. Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, erstwhile chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation drew the first blood when on July 21, he levelled allegations of corruption and abuse of office against Speaker Yakubu Dogara and three other principal officers. Jibrin went ahead to call on Dogara and his deputy, Hon. Yussuf Lasun to immediately resign from their positions and face an independent investigation. Today, it has become a regime of allegations and counter allegations in the lower chamber of the National Assembly. Jibrin has plunged the House and indeed the entire National Assembly into a state of chaos as every lawmaker seems to be running for cover so as not to be caught in the ex-appropriation committee chairman’s series of allegations bordering on inappropriate handling of the 2016 budget process. Many people are beginning to ask what may have happened between Dogara and Jibrin to warrant the exposures on both sides. While Jibrin insists that the speaker and the trio of deputy speaker, Lasun; chief whip, Alhassan Doguwa and minority leader, Leo Ogor are corrupt, the quartet want Nigerians to believe that Jibrin is a drowning man, who is angered by his loss of a “juicy” committee chairmanship and should not be taken serious. But the allegations have gone beyond the level of sweeping them under the carpet or treating them

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@newtelegraphonline.com

Dogara

as an internal affair of the House as the anti-graft agencies have already been intimated by Jibrin and Nigerians are eager to see how they will unearth the truth or otherwise of the allegations. It is often said that there is no smoke without fire. Hence, in the unfolding development, there is also an igniting point. Things did not start to fall apart in the relationship between Dogara and Jibrin today, it began from somewhere and it may lead the House somewhere too. In other words, the current imbroglio has both remote and immediate causes. Immediate causes Dogara sparked the raging war of attrition when on July 20, he announced the resignation of Jibrin as the House Appropriation Committee chairman at the plenary. However, the speaker underestimated the inflammability of his words, when in announcing the resignation insinuated that though the leadership of the House under his command had long taken the decision to relieve Jibrin of his position but the embattled exchairman approached him early that day to inform that he had also decided to quit due to “pressure.” The speaker had explained that the House wanted to reposition its budgeting processes and therefore the need to rejig the committee was imperative. Jibrin, who was until recently a member of Dogara’s kitchen cabinet did not take the statement from the speaker concerning his ‘resignation’

Jibrin

Mr. Speaker and the three other principal officers took away the entire Appropriation Committee Secretariat to a secret location

lightly and resolved to fight back. He felt betrayed by his hitherto comrade in the struggle. The speaker, who was beaming with smiles (perhaps innocently), while announcing Jibrin’s resignation did not know that he was toiling with his integrity by attempting to give a glimpse of why the Kano born lawmaker had to be relieved of his assignment. While Dogara was albeit cautious in his approach, Jibrin who felt wounded assembled his arsenal and began to fire the shots. Today, what started as a minor disagreement between political soul mates has metamorphosed into a national issue of gargantuan magnitude. Of course, Jibrin was absent at the plenary and moments after the speaker announced his resignation, he addressed the media in company of members of the appropriation committee where he revealed that his resignation was “circumstantial” but he would be talking about the issues to the press much later. However, on getting the full gist of what transpired at the sitting of the House behind him, Jibrin went out on a revenge mission. Remote causes It would be recalled that Jibrin was a contestant for the position of speaker after the general elections. But along the line, he contemplated working with the APC’s anointed candidate, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila but the marriage could not be consummated. He thereafter pitched tent with Dogara and engaged Gbajabiamila in a dirty fight, levelling series

of allegations against the House leader. Consequently, Dogara emerged victorious at the inauguration of the House on June 9, 2015. While nominating Dogara for the position of speaker on that fateful day, Jibrin representing Kiru/Bebeji federal constituency of Kano State paid glowing tributes to the person of the man, who would later become speaker. Many never expected that both lawmakers would part ways just after one year. But for those conversant with the politics of the House, they knew that it was just a marriage of convenience because Dogara and Jibrin are strange bedfellows. Their lifestyles and political orientation differs remarkably. On becoming speaker, Dogara expectedly appointed Jibrin as the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation on October 22, 2015. The two “prodigal sons” who defied their party’s directive and worked against its candidate started having issues. New Telegraph gathered that a former speaker of the House, who had played a vital role in the emergence of Dogara, had recommended a cool-headed lawmaker from Plateau as the chairman of the appropriation committee but because Jibrin’s support had a price, the speaker disappointed the former speaker. Dogara had attempted to convince Jibrin to have another committee but the hard fighting lawmaker insisted that if not appropriation committee, he CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

POLITICS

MONDAY, august 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ize-Iyamu faults Oshiomhole’s N120m donation to market women

he campaign organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the September 10 governorship election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu, has faulted Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s recent donation of N120 million to market women in the state. In a statement is-

sued by its Media Unit yesterday, the organisation said that Governor Oshiomhole and the All Progressives Congress (APC) by their actions, are waging unnecessary war against the people of Edo State, adding that it is “ungodly and inhuman” for the outgoing governor to induce some selected innocent women with N120 million for

the purpose of election, when pensioners and local government workers have not been paid in the last 10 to 15 months. The campaign organisation, which also said it is malicious and spiteful to blame Pastor IzeIyamu for the mistake of past administrations in the state, including that of Oshiomhole, insisted that Edo people

have developed beyond inducing them to vote for a particular party during elections. It said: “The good people of Edo have made up their minds to take their destiny in their own hands by sensibly picking the best candidate that can move the state beyond where it is now; and that candidate is Pastor Ize-Iyamu.

Edo State gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, acknowledging cheers from party faithful and supporters at the Edo Central campaign flag-off held in Irrua… at the weekend.

Uzamere dumps PDP for APC, drums support for Obaseki Cajetan Mmuta Benin

he immediate past senator who represented Edo South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Ehigie Uzamere, yesterday, announced his resolve to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. Though Uzamere disclosed that he had earlier resigned from the PDP in March this year, his defection to the APC followed the invitation extended to him by the leadership of the APC in Edo South led by the state secretary of the party, Chief Osaro Idah; former deputy governor of the state, Lucky Imasuen, Lawrence Orkar and several others.

While declaring his acceptance of the invitation to join the APC in Benin, the state capital, the former lawmaker expressed his gratitude to the leaders of the party for assisting him achieve a second term in the Senate. He said that he decided to resign his membership of the PDP following the crisis rocking the party. Senator Uzamere urged people of the state to vote en masse for the candidate of the APC, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, who he said has all it takes to govern the state. He said: “I resigned from PDP since March and decided I should face my business and take care of my family. I did not say I have left politics, all I said was that I am resigning from PDP. Now that this same leaders who assisted me to run for Sen-

ate have approached me, I have no choice than to accept their decision, from today on I am a full member of the APC. “I monitored the activities of the primaries within the two political parties, I saw the way the primaries were conducted, I saw how Obaseki emerged. Power belongs to God. I think the primaries have come and gone, so I urged all APC members to work together to ensure that Obaseki wins at the polls. “I have known Obaseki for a long time, we were born in the same neighbourhood and we have had contact on several occasions and I have seen his commitment to the welfare of the people of Edo State. He is very intelligent, hard working

and I know he will win the election, so as to take the state to the next level. PDP does not have what it takes to win this state in the next election. Politics is based on issues and you can see what Oshiomhole has done in this state. “Apart from the fact that Oshiomhole has done well, the PDP today is tattered. As it is now, we don’t know who will be the candidate of the PDP in Edo State. I saw it coming when I resigned three months ago and I have been proved right. The PDP has two national chairmen, two governorship candidates. So, how will I now convince my people to vote for a party enmeshed in crisis? I have no regret leaving the party, from the way it is, they might not have a candidate.”

Nigeria’s challenges ’ll soon be over – Sultan

he Sultan of Sokoto Sad Abubakar, has expressed optimism that Nigeria will soon overcome its present challenges given the determination of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration. The monarch, who gave the assurance, when he addressed officials of the White House Community and Religious Partnerships Department at the end of his four day visit to the United States, said with the strong focus, strident deter-

mination and patriotic zeal of the Buhari administration, it is just a matter of time before Nigeria's greatness begins to manifest in huge dimensions again. He acknowledged the dogged commitment of the present administration to improve the quality of life in Nigeria through drastic reduction of corruption and dismantling of security obstacles and the scourge of insurgency. According to the Sultan, the sustenance of peace and

justice in the country will further provide the necessary platform for improved development as even worship is threatened when there is an absence of peace. Dialogue and continuous engagement, he said is a major ingredient and prerequisite for good governance in the leadership’s effort to further unite Nigerians. Assuring the White House officials of the commitment of traditional rulers to ensure peace and stability in their communi-

ties, he called on various aggrieved groups to bury the hatchet and work towards a united and indivisible country. Stressing the need for peace, he reiterated that as a retired soldier, he has a very clear knowledge of the impact of war and crisis on the citizenry as evidenced in the humanitarian crisis emanating from the scourge of insurgency, Fulani herdsmen versus farmers clashes and other communal strife in various parts of the country.

Edo DECIDES

“The people remain strong and focused in the on-going efforts to bring about a new state that will deliver socio-economic, healthcare, employment, skill acquisitions and other deliverable services to the people. And there is no better prepared candidate for the position in any of the political parties than Pastor Ize-Iyamu.’’ The campaign organisation also stated that the swelling popularity of the PDP candidate and the determination of the people to vote out the APC are already making Oshiomhole and his anointed candidate, panicky. It said: “For all that we have heard, we are yet to

be persuaded by Oshiomhole/APC’s weak argument and misinformation that there is a better prepared candidate for the Edo State governorship position in any of the political parties than Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. “Having served in the past as Chief of Staff to the Edo State government and later the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ize-Iyamu had piloted the engine of governance and would therefore need no induction course to swing into action from day one, just as no one can bamboozle him to derail governance as can be done to a typical green horn, like Godwin Obaseki. “Perhaps, the most popular criticism is that Pastor Ize Iyamu served in Chief Lucky Igbinedion former administration, a government in which all the critics themselves served or garnered immense advantage. And we ask: is it rational for instance, for us to blame the current Chief of Staff, Mr. Patrick Obahiagbon and the SSG, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, for the financial bleeding of the state in the past seven and a half years? Surely no!”

75-year-old pensioner weeps at PDP rally over unpaid arrears Cajetan Mmuta Benin

t was knocks for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State at weekend as a 75-year-old man, Joseph Ogbele, wept profusely before a crowd of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faithful and leaders over alleged refusal by the state government to settle over 14 months pension arrears owed him. The incident happened when the PDP governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, took his campaign tour to traders and residents of Aduwawa community in Ikpoba Okha council area of the state. Mr. Ogbele, who introduced himself to leaders and members of the PDP at the rally, lamented the pains and sufferings of his family since his pension was stopped in 2015 by the state government. He said: “I worked in the state Ministry of Works for 35 years and when I retired, he (Governor Oshiomhole) refused to pay me anything. My children are suffering. Many of them are out of school because I cannot pay their school fees. We have borrowed money from everywhere and nobody wants to give us

again.” Another pensioner who identified himself as Benson Osagie, and a retired treasurer of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area at Ugbekun said: “Before the exit of Chief Lucky Igbinedion as governor, he paid me my gratuity and pension and put me on the pension list since August 2000. I retired in February 2000. My pension was N11,500 in 2000, as I retired on level 13 but with the harmonisation Chief Lucky Igbinedion gave us, my pension is about N26, 000 per month. However, Oshiomhole has refused to pay us. “Since May 2015, I have not been receiving my pension. It is now about one year and two months. My family is living in penury which the Edo State government has put me by refusing to pay me my pension.” Osagie accused the state government of insensitivity towards the plight of pensioners, adding: “Many of us are dead. We go for screening and some die. We were hoping this will make him pay us but he has refused to pay. The two aggrieved pensioners, who pledged their support for Pastor Ize-Iyamu expressed the hope that his government will reverse the ugly situation.

POLITICS

MONDAY, august 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Budget padding tears Reps apart C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 1

will not serve in the cabinet. The speaker was blackmailed and he gave in. This marked the beginning of the crisis between the duo. Dogara and Jibrin suddenly became skeptical of each other. Many of Dogara’s close confidants were not comfortable with Jibrin but had no option than to tolerate him because of the role he played in the emergence of the speaker. His approach to issues did not conform to most of Dogara’s followers but Jibrin was undaunted and carried on as chairman of one of the most powerful committees in the House. He had headed the finance committee in the 7th Assembly, when Dogara held sway as chairman of House Services Committee. Unfortunately, the 2016 Appropriation Bill finally created an avenue for the relationship to collapse irretrievably. There was a clash of interest and ego between Dogara and Jibrin on one hand; some members of the body of principal officers and Jibrin on another hand; between Jibrin and his committee members as well as between Jibrin and other lawmakers in the House. The ex-appropriation committee chairman was accused of padding the budget to the tune of over N4 billion to the chagrin of most of his colleagues, many of whom had been waiting for an opportunity to take their pound of flesh from him over alleged ‘snobbish’ attitude. He was also accused of several infractions in the handling of the budget and many started calling for his sack to save the name of the House. But, cognizant of Jibrin’s contribution to his being speaker, Dogara was always protecting his “friend.” Both Dogara and Jibrin disagreed on lots of issues, which were kept secret. However, those privileged to know about the House affairs were aware that the relationship between the speaker and Jibrin had collapse and it was just a matter of time before the bubble would burst. Jibrin believed that for whatever he was being crucified for, the speaker and his colleagues in the body of principal officers were also culpable. The duo were only tolerating themselves. They were no longer seeing each other frequently and Jibrin had a diminishing appearance at plenary as he was no longer given ample opportunity to express himself. The whole drama got to its climax when Jibrin, who was already feeling isolated and left to bear the brunt of members and Nigerians for allegedly padding the budget had an opportunity during the debate on the immunity amendment clause. Knowing very well that Dogara stands to benefit from the proposed amendment, he came to the floor armed to speak against the bill. Although, he was not given the opportunity by Dogara, who presided the session, he flaunted a paper with a bold inscription “No immunity” and carried it about during the rowdy session. He however got more than he bargained for as he was jeered with the shouts of “thief, thief ” apparently by Dogara’s loyalists. This was the last straw that broke

colleagues and heads of MDAs, and corrupt antecedents capable of bringing the institution of the parliament to disrepute. “It was also discovered that the former chairman, Appropriations, discreetly and clandestinely allocated monies for projects that are not clearly defined in the budget for the purposes of exploiting the ambiguities for personal gains,” he said.

Lasun

Ogor

each to attack him. The speaker’s deputy chief of staff, Hon. CID Maduabum, has dismissed the allegation. The speaker’s decision to contact his lawyers to issue a seven-day ultimatum to Jibrin to retract the allegations and apologies has instead incensed the Kano lawmaker, who has bluntly refused to bulge and has moved a step further by contacting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

the camels back. The allegations Jibrin’s allegations have been coming in torrents and spreading like wide fire. Due to the pent up anger he has endured for a long while, he has hit the speaker and his colleagues like a loose cannon. He first called on Dogara, his deputy, minority leader and chief whip to resign for alleged budget padding. He accused the quartet of illegally inserting and allocating projects worth over N20 billion to their constituencies in 2016 explaining that his refusal to inject another N30 billion into the budget for the speaker earned him the sack. Again, he accused Dogara of using 10 committee chairmen to perpetrate his alleged fraudulent dealings by introducing 2,000 projects worth over N280 billion in the 2016 budget. According to him, “when the Appropriation Committee received all the budget reports from standing committees, an analysis was conducted. We discovered that about 10 only out of the 96 standing committees of the House introduced about 2,000 projects without the knowledge of their committees’ members amounting to about N284 billion.” Continuing, Jibrin revealed that “during the budget period, when they discovered that I was not the kind of a person they could use to perpetrate their illegality, Mr. Speaker and the three other principal officers took away the entire Appropriation Committee Secretariat to a secret location where all sort of insertions were made into the budget" "Mr. Speaker also directed me to create what I advised him will be a controversial line item under service wide vote to introduce about N20 billion project using the name of the National Assembly. He directed me to see a highly placed Peoples Democratic Party politician, which I did and collected the documents. I advised him repeatedly against it but he kept pressuring me until I bluntly told him I will not.” Lawmakers who have taken sides with the speaker are also not left out of Jibrin’s allegations spree. He has accused the speaker of bribing the appropriation committee members with $20,000

It is the highest level of corruption, greed and crass insensitivity for the former chairman to allocate N250 million to his wife

Jibrin’s sins The House leadership through its spokesman, Hon. Abdulrazaq Namdas, has accused Jibrin of fraudulently allocating a N250 million project for his wife in the budget.The House equally accused Jibrin of initially inflating the 2016 budget by N250 billion and diverting funds meant for lawmakers to the Hadejia-Jama’re River Basin Authority and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The House also alleged that “Jibrin padded the sum of N250 million for the construction of a market to be sited in Argungu, Kebbi state. His wife.... Adamu Augie is from Argungu, Kebbi State and Jibrin allocated the amount for the construction of International Tourism Market in Argungu.” Further exonerating Dogara and other principal officers of complicity in the budget padding and sundry corrupt practices, Namdas said apart from the N4.1 billion, he whimsically allocated to his constituency in the budget “Jibrin also inserted N3 billion in the budget for the establishment of film village in his constituency without the knowledge or consent of President Muhammadu Buhari.” He said: “It is the highest level of corruption, greed and crass insensitivity for the former chairman to allocate N250 million to his wife at a time members were struggling to get paltry sum of N30 million as their constituency projects. Namdas clarified that Jibrin was relieved of his position for abuse of the budgetary process, lack of credibility, blackmail of

Emergence of groups As Jibrin continue reeling out allegations, some groups and caucuses have begun to emerge in the evolving scenario. The first to speak out was the Transparency Group (TG) led by Hon. Mohammed Soba (APC, Kaduna) calling for an independent investigation into the allegations leveled by Jibrin against the speaker and other principal officers. The call by TG, prompted a media briefing by the Gombe State caucus in the House, which threw its weight behind the speaker and urged Nigerians to disregard Jibrin’s allegations. Similarly, nine members of the appropriation committee, which Jibrin headed, have come out to dissociate themselves from their erstwhile boss. The nine lawmakers led by deputy chairman of the committee, Hon. Chris Emeka Azubogu (PDP, Anambra), said: “For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state that a comprehensive collation of the reports of the budget from the various standing committees of the House was done by the Appropriation Committee, which was in the process of deliberation, when the ousted chairman, unilaterally hijacked the entire budget to a hideout with his consultant without the consent of the committee. “That was the last time the committee saw the budget only for Hon. Jibrin Abdulmumin to resurface about three weeks later, with a report purported to have come from the committee.” Azubogu, however, clarified that Jibrin did not commit any crime by hijacking the budget, saying “There is no criminality in taking the budget away from the committee. Hijacking does not mean that he committed a crime. We were not happy over the development but he did that as chairman of the committee.” He added: “In conclusion, we wish to state that Hon. Jibrin is on his own and we as members of the Committee on Appropriation saddled with the responsibility of treating the 2016 and subsequent national budgets are solidly in support of Mr. Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers of the House of Representatives.” Conclusion Despite the various defences, the matter is already in the public domain and since Jibrin has intimated the anti-graft agencies, it may be difficult for the issue to be handled internally by the House though it is expected that the House may take a decision on how to resolve the impasse when it reconvenes.

POLITICS \ MONDAY INTERVIEW

MONDAY, august 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Why I didn’t participate in Major General Olufemi Olutoye (rtd), a former member of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) and federal commissioner, relieves his experience during the January 15, 1965 coup that ousted the country’s first democratically elected government and the July 29 counter-coup that led to the killing of then Head of State, Major General Johnson Agunyi-Ironsi. The 84-year-old monarch, the Alani of Ido-Ani, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, in this interview with BABATOPE OKEOWO, also speaks on the clamour for Nigeria’s restructuring, arms scandal and his relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari

What specific roles did you play in that 1966 coup? Before and immediately I joined the army during the time of the Royal West African Frontier Force, which was still part of the colonial army then, I made up my mind that no Nigerian would die as a result of a shot from me. That is; I would not be responsible for the death of any Nigerian either by default or design. If you participate in the coup, you stand the chance of killing people and I didn’t want that. As much as possible, I distanced myself from people who were plotting coups. Most of them were acquaintances of mine but I did not participate. If anything, I even advised some of them that there should be no bloodshed. What led to January 1966 coup? I don’t know if you would still remember the type of government we were running then under Tafawa Balewa. When we won independence from Britain in the 1960, people were expecting many things, a lot of things, a lot of changes. We were hoping that we have been under colonial tutorage for a long time, for almost 50 years if not more actively since 1914, the year of amalgamation. That is over 50 years, so people were expecting a lot and Tafawa Balewa was not a person, who would rush into activities at

Olutoye

all. He was just like the man we have now, taking things in their own stride and very meticulous and planning well for the future. But the people were not satisfied, they were in a hurry. It is true that we were no longer under the colonial system. Under the system, most things were done over our heads and we didn’t know how they were done. For instance, in terms of budgeting and others, we only knew very little. So when the authority fell into our hands, I mean Nigerians, not all of us understood what it meant to be independent, especially those who were not privileged to be in government. Naturally there was a fall, there was a decline in standards of various activities compared to what we were enjoying under the British that some people were behaving like the Israelites of old, who when they saw that the Egyptians running after them in the Red Sea, started complaining to Moses about why he wanted them to die in the desert. That was what happened. That is my own interpretation but have we gotten out of the woods since then? We have not. After the January 15, 1966 coup, there was also a counter-coup on July 29, 1966. Did you also play any role in it? I did not. I distanced myself completely from coup plotting because I firmly believed that I did not join the army to kill Nigerians. What factors led to the countercoup? If you remember what hap-

I distanced myself completely from coup plotting because I firmly believed that I did not join the army to kill Nigerians

pened during the first coup, most of those who were killed were Yorubas and Hausas and not a single person from the other side of the Niger was killed and a lot of sad coincidences happened. Before that time, we had been told that the loud-mouth Igbos were bragging and saying a lot of things that Igbo domination of Nigeria was the question of time. They said this either in Island Club or Yoruba Tennis Club in Lagos either under the influence of alcohol or otherwise. When you look at that coup, those who participated in it were mainly Igbos. Do you mean the counter-coup? No. I mean the January coup, they were all Igbos except one officer, Adewale Ademoyega and I knew him very well. He had Zikist flair. He wanted things done fast. I am sure he did not really understand what the coup was all about. But since they knew that he would gladly want to get rid of some people who could not move as fast as he had wanted, they had no difficulty recruiting him into the coup. The man who led the coup, Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogu, he had brilliant ideas how he wanted the new Nigeria to be but to those who surrounded him, all they wanted was Igbo domination. If you remember, even in the North when the Sardauna of Sokoto was killed, some people were rejoicing, saying ‘we have killed your man, we told you’ and so on and so forth. And of course, any proud Northerner would object to that. That was what led to the counter-coup.

Do you think that the issues that led to those coups have been addressed? Gradually! If you observe when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was in charge, he tried to be fair though he didn’t achieve much but when Goodluck Jonathan was in power, he reasonably achieved a lot. Do you think the killing of AgunyiIronsi was justifiable? When you carry out a coup, the whole idea is to change the leadership. When the January coup took place, Ironsi was not the best officer in terms of discipline and education but he was an Igbo man and the coup was carried out by the Igbos. They did not install him but unfortunately, I have written this in two of my books, he surrounded himself with Igbos; people like Francis Nwokedi and others. The civil servants were teaching him what to do. They abolished the regional system; tried to modify the civil service such that people could be transferred to the North because of vacancies there as a result of the departure of the British. If in the process of change as a result of completion of the first coup in January 1966, there was a counter-coup, you don’t blame the people who carried it out and in the process replaced General Ironsi. Replacing him is the emphasis because they could have successfully replaced him without killing but that is a different story. You were in the military and stayed

POLITICS \ MONDAY INTERVIEW

MONDAY, august 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

coups – General Olutoye very long years in the barracks but now you are in the palace as the Alani of Ido-Ani. Can you compare and contrast the two? There are similarities because first of all there is discipline. If you are in the military, you have to be a disciplined officer. As an Oba, you have to subject yourself to a lot of discipline imposed on you either by tradition or by your own making. So, in that wise, there are similarities. But gone are the days when you just stand at the village square and shout orders. In the good old days, Obaship used to be like that but now it has been democratised, if I may put it that way. You have many people dancing around you now than before. People only dance around you in the military if you want them at your invitation. But more importantly, in both situations, you are serving your country, you are a servant and that is the role I enjoy playing. I am a servant to the people.

What are the challenges you are facing in the change of roles especially from giving orders to your subordinate in the military to a democratic institution like the Obaship? The military prepares you for various aspects of life. For instance, if you remember that after the coup and we appointed military governors; they just went in and started work immediately, some of them you would have thought they were military governors before but that is the type of training you get in the military. You are prepared and ready to take over any responsibility trust upon you and that is exactly what has happened now; I regard this Obaship as a responsibility and a duty that must be performed. It was learnt that you were the first graduate to be recruited into the military. What prompted you to go into the military as a graduate when there were other jobs competing for your attention? There was another person who joined the army before me he was called Emeka Ojukwu. Ojukwu who led the Biafra war; he joined the military before me by a couple of months. It is not absolutely true that I was the first even though he was junior to me. I graduated from the university before him but he joined the army before me. What prompted you to join the army back then? What prompted me then was just the interest. I was just interested in the military. I was a teacher and I had already reached the top of my profession in my mid-20s. There was nothing else than the love of change. You were retired by the Obasanjo regime. What actually led to that? That’s one aspect of my life I don’t like telling the public because I don’t like to run people down. I would rather not discuss that. Obasanjo has given some of the facts out unwittingly but I am not going to say what happened. I

know that my position for which I was victimised was right and I can defend myself anywhere. But I would not open the wound.

ment. But you cannot impeach Buhari. Buhari will not take one naira that does not belong to him. That is the much I can vouch for him even though he did not work directly under me.

Have you forgiven him? Yes! I had to call him years after. He told me that was his level of understanding at that time. What else do I want? Did he apologise? Oh yes! May be not saying I am sorry sir, he did not say that but there are many ways to say sorry. As an army general, what came to your mind when you heard about the scandals in the military especially that of the arms funds? When we entered University College Ibadan in 1950, most of us have never worked before. Some of us were holding money for the first time. Some of us were on scholarships; we used to be described as having more money that sense in those days because we did not know what to do with the money. That is what I think precisely has happened now, there is so much money available. What do you expect them to do?

Whether we like it or not it is more profitable to restructure. The system being advocated will benefit people the more

This is the first time that military spending will be probed. Do you think it should have been done? We inherited the British system in my time, we tried to practice and perfect it. Over the years, this has been whittled down; people now think this is Nigerian Army and politicians crept into them and they begin to see themselves as politicians. That is one evil of the coup of the military regime because you had military boys in political appointments. They see themselves as politicians and we know what happened thereafter. Some of them are now in the National Assembly. In a way, you may not blame the present crop of officers too much; they will think when they leave, how much do they get? I am not saying that what happened is good. No! It is not good, that is not what we were taught in the army. The set after the coup was polluted by the politicians. What was the relationship between you and President Muhammadu Buhari when you were in the military? He did not work with me directly in the military. I am at least 10 years older than Buhari, he could not possibly have worked with me. But I knew him; he was a very good officer, very strict, disciplined and honest. I know the various positions he was made to serve, he did creditably well. He is one of the officers you will be proud of. I am not surprised about what he is doing now because I am sure he will be greatly shocked by the revelations that have now come to light most especially as it affects military officers. This is the thing you can never dream off in our time. We never dreamt of anybody spending more than his salary. I am glad he is there but I don’t know about the civilian politicians that are there with him, they will pollute him. I heard that they are threatening him with impeach-

Olutoye

What is your view on the clamour for restructuring of Nigeria? I don’t know what they mean because the same people who were in the National Assembly are the ones that brought about this constitution we are talking about. Some of those who designed the constitution are now in the National Assembly, why can’t they support it? Those who gave all encouragement possible towards political assemblage call constituent assembly became officials of the Presidency. Some were ministers, some governors, why didn’t they do something? Now they are opposing it for obvious reasons. Are you saying the clamour for restructuring is because they are in another political divide? It is not, but whether we like it or not it is more profitable to restructure. The system being advocated will benefit people the more; there is no doubt about that. But those in power may not hold it anymore as nobody wants to lose power easily. There is no doubt that restructuring is necessary because it will allow each state to manage its own affairs. Can you imagine what old Western Region would have been if the West had continued at the rate at which it was developing. By now, we would have been a nuclear power. Most of our roads would have been tarred; the roads

tarred during Obafemi Awolowo’s time are the best up till now. Look at the hospitals that were built in those days, they are the best. It is just that we have added Teaching Hospitals. Look at the number of specialists trained, if you go to America and remove Nigerian doctors, their medical sector will collapse. This is no exaggeration, I came back from there lately and my children are there contributing to the good health of the people there. President Buhari has said he will not implement the report of the National Conference, what is your take on that? You remember that the last time he contested and failed, he almost swore that it would be the last time he would show up before the electorate to ask for their votes. But people felt that Buhari would be the type of person for this situation and that was why they voted for him. He is a human being and he has his own weaknesses like everybody else. If those around him tell him about the implementation, he will not object. If the Senate, House of Representatives and his ministers advise him, he will definitely implement the report. Assuming the constitution is being reworked, what will you like to be included in it, especially as regards the role of traditional rulers? I am a traditional ruler and I have had the good fortune of recording things right from when Chief Awolowo was in command. His own brand of democracy was such that any traditional ruler who did not agree with him was messed up. It was in the West that somebody’s salary was reduced to One Kobo. There was no much tolerance then, and then came the military; the Obas have been sufficiently emasculated. Even though the military respected the institution, they did not give them any role to play. No Oba installs himself, I regard the Obaship as one of the most democratic institutions; nobody can just wake up one morning and say he is an Oba of a particular town. Do you think there should be constitutional role for traditional rulers in the country? Of course! They are reservoirs of experience, knowledge and wisdom. If you discard them, you are discarding a lot of things. I don’t want to use myself as an example but if you ask me before I left the military, I was a federal minister, I had that insight and experience as to what obtains in Nigeria. The Sultan of Sokoto was close to that and there are many more. If something is wrong, what is wrong in consulting such people? By the nature of our appointment, we are adjudged to be fair to everybody. We are in position to demonstrate goodwill and fairness than the politicians. That is why I said it is a pity if that section of the community is left out of governance. Roles should be created for them and when that time comes, we would give them ideas. We are ready and available to give them ideas.

MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion The dissonance that rocks Dominik Umosen

or someone from the relative comfort zone of banking, adapting to the unpredictability of politics might have presented a challenge to Gov Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom. Sate. Unlike President Muhammadu Buhari who volunteered for the job and came blessed with the benefit of experience, Udom was the typical new kid on the block whose first confrontation with the realities of politics was the realisation that claims of uncommon transformation existed, largely, in the imagination of the manipulators of the claim. In that initial daze, which was reinforced by an intimidating debt profile that no one told him about and through which he has had to navigate with confidence, he suddenly remembered the friendly advice a reporter gave him at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), before his inauguration. Hungry and flustered after many hours at the event, he wanted to duck the typical ambush by newsmen but the reporter insisted that doing so would be a bad start in his relationship with the media. Instantly, he obliged and took some questions. The administration of his successor and Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio invested heavily and elaborately courted the media. Though aggressive in providing infrastructure, especially road and school construction, this traditional resposibility of government was misrepresented by an overly grateful press that went out of its way to reciprocate gratitude by labelling this as evidence of uncommon transformation. The capacity of the media to render an

ordinary story with undeserving panache was ascertained, along with the realisation that this façade was incapable of driving his vision of prosperity for the state. That is why the governor resorted to the timeless vision of development unfurled by the futuristic administration of late Dr Clement Isong in the old Cross River which Akwa Ibom inherited but failed to actualise, in spite of uncommon transformation. This abandoned model was anchored on projects like Sunshine Batteries in Ikot Ekpene, Peacock Paints Ltd at Etinan and Ceramic Industries in Itu, among osome of which the present administration has revived to drive Udom’s vision of economic prosperity for the state. Coupled with the country’s worsening economy, shock-finds that greeted his administration have overwhelmed the state so badly that payment of salaries is now a major achievement, according to a commissioner who confided in yours truly. But the huge façade is minor compared to the challenge posed by representatives of the Federal Government in the state who undermine the anti-corruption war of the administration. For example, like the soldiers and policemen who fought and shot at each other over food items donated by Alhaji Aliko Dangote to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in Maiduguri, their counterparts at Ikot Isong Police Post in Etinan Police Division demanded N10,000 bribe from relations of a teenager who was serially raped by a commercial motorcyclist before they could incident the case. The teenager was on her way to choir practice but instead of being taken to where she requested, the cultist motorcyclist took her elswhere and committed the terrible crime. Enraged, her relations decded to report the incident but the policemen insisted on gratification before the crime could be documented. Meanwhile,

The beasts in uniform should be identified and punished to serve as deterrent

the motorcyclist goes about bragging that he could have done worse. Another inspector attached to Mkpat Enin Police Division raped another teenager thereafter at gun point. T he student of Community Secondary School, Ikot Iyadiong recounted how the rapist demanded to know why a teenager should be so well-endowed (breast-wise), and proceeded to fondle her before ordering her to lie down to be assaulted in the middle of the road. The inspector then threatened her not to report the crime which he is paid to prevent. As criminalities by law-enforcement agents become spell-binding, Nigerians should condemn such with the fullest indignation they can muster. The beasts in uniform should be identified and punished to serve as deterrent to others who might be tempted to hide behind their uniform and AK-47 rifles to terrorize innocent citizens, especially minors. Raping a minor at gun point by a beast that evolved into a supposedly responsible police officer mirrors similar dysfunction as proclaiming that Africa is the centre-piece of the country’s foreign policy yet the only corridor into the continent like Calabar-Itu Highway is washed away by gully erosion and negligence. Palliative measures announced by Akwa Ibom Envirnment commissioner, Dr Iniobong Essien constitute no alternative to well-coordinated response by the Federal Government. The irony is that a highway that guarantees the mercantile pre-eminence of these zones is washed away. And in the ensuing disaffection inspired by an insensitive polity to deploy resources to fix a simple challenge, the Federal Government responds with further repression and killing innocent protesters articulating legitimate disaffection. This hilarious option, instead of applying common sense to arrest dissonance, rocks absolutely. •Umosen (dominik.umosen@gmail.com) wrote in from Lagos.

Imo North: Another inconclusive election Okechukwu Nwanguma

he decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the Saturday July 23 Senatorial re-run election in Okigwe Senatorial Zone, Imo State as ‘inconclusive’ is outrageous and calls for national and international attention on the integrity and the competence of the current leadership of INEC under the current regime to carry out its sacred duty of election management in Nigeria. Under the current leadership of INEC, and for various reasons, most of the elections so far conducted have been declared inconclusive. The number of elections- most of which are re-reun which had been so declared is unrivalled in the history of electoral management in Nigeria. This has thrown up fears as to the competence, ability or will by the current INEC to conduct free and fair general elections- if it cannot manage elections within a small part of a state. In the particular case of the Okigwe Senatorial re-run election, accounts by different election observer-groups and commenta-

tors indicate that, although there was rain almost all day, which may have contributed to low turn-out of voters, but voting went on largely smoothly in most polling booths without significant incidents. Results monitored and documented by observer-groups and other keen watchers indicate that the PDP candidate was leading by wide margins in most booths. However, at the LG collation centers, the results suddenly changed favouring the APC candidate. Reports and complaints are also rife that certain well-known politicians moved around freely with security agents, especially police and army officials brazenly disrupted votes and vote counts, snatched ballot boxes at gun point and took them to locations associated with the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha. The name of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, among many other APC chieftains constantly came up in different reports and commentaries. There were allegations that INEC collation officers were ‘abducted’ or disappeared and were later assembled at a certain hotel owned by a powerful ruler before they later reappeared at the central col-

lation centre where they presented altered or fake results. Army officers apparently acting at the behest of the ruling party were accused of disallowing PDP party agents and independent election observers from accessing the collation centre to monitor the final collation prior to announcement of outcome. Questions have been asked as to who authorised the deployment of the army for this election! Only the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces can deploy or authorise the deployment of the army. And why should the army be deployed in a single election as a Senatorial election? Allegations are indeed rife of collusion by the police, army and INEC with the Imo political heavy weight to manipulate the Imo North senatorial re-run election in favour of the APC candidate as part of a larger political agenda by the Governor and his party. Observers report that votes were inflated in some booths; in some cases, more votes were allocated to certain booths than the actual number of registered voters, the rationale being: ‘let’s rig and get elected first, then let the ‘loser’ go to the Tribunal later’. This is sheer

impunity. Of all the fingered accomplices in the Okigwe electoral banditry and violent subversion of the people’s will and of the electoral act, INEC has a greater stake and higher moral burden to discharge. It is the electoral umpire which ought to be independent and impartial. It has powers under the law to ensure that electoral offenders are identified, arrested and prosecuted. This is imperative in order to create a deterrence and ensure that desperate and conscienceless politicians get the message loud and clear that the days of brazen electoral banditry and subversion of the will of the people are over. Similarly, security agents involved in aiding and abetting such criminality and subversion of the electoral law should also be brought to account. INEC must redeem it’s public image by ensuring that this time, justice is done in this election and that the actual candidate voted by the majority of the people of Okigwe zone is allowed to carry the vote. INEC must safeguard the actual ballot papers for examination. •Nwanguma wrote in from Owerri.

MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Living without kerosene

nly recently, it emerged that kerosene had hit N600 per litre. To say this massive increase in the commodity has far reaching implications for the masses, who depend mainly on it for cooking and other domestic uses, is to put it mildly. The majority of Nigerians use stoves to cook and kerosene powers them. Apart from this, they also use it in lanterns to provide light in their homes given the epileptic nature and, sometimes, complete absence of electricity. This group of people can’t afford gas cookers to cook or generators to provide electricity. At any rate, gas and petrol have also had their share of increase in prices. So, to say the masses are experiencing a predicament of untold proportion is to put it mildly. Sadly, there does not look to be any alternative for the over 30 million Nigerians whose lives are directly linked to the product. Firewood which hitherto had been a source of energy for many homes had since been declared a ‘no-go area’ for obvious reasons. Nigerians have been told repeatedly not to cut down trees for cooking purposes, they have been inundated with the environmental implications of doing so, and, indeed for good measure, have been enjoined to plant trees. Charcoal which is another source of energy has its own implication for the environment also. So what alternative do average Nigerians have? How do they cook their meals? How

do they provide light in their homes? The scarcity of kerosene which had hit major cities across the country, with most retail outlets in Abuja, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Kaduna and Abia States running out of stock arose apparently from the fact that a majority of marketers, who had hitherto reduced importation of the product, have now halted it due to difficulty in accessing foreign exchange. “The shutdown of refineries that produce DPK (kerosene) through which the market is augmented, is another major p r o bl e m , ” a marketer told this newspaper. “The Pipelines and Products Mar-

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and until these are resolved, the issue of scarcity of kerosene will remain intractable. Another reason for the shortage of the product is the activities of vandals on the one hand, and militants, who have continued to vandalise and destroy pipeline installations in the volatile Niger Delta region, on the other. Gover nment must find a lasting solution to the issue of vandalism and destruction of oil installations as this affects not only the production of kerosene, but also gas and petrol,

Government must find a lasting solution to the issue of vandalism

keting Company (PPMC) is now the major importer of the product and except for the majors, most of the independent marketers, if not all, depend on loading from PPMC’s depots. And this explains reasons for the scarcity.” Other reasons that have been adduced for the scarcity of kerosene and its unavailability for domestic purposes is the diversion of the product to neighbouring countries, its industrial usage, as aviation fuel and the unwholesome activities of middlemen. Quite clearly, there are competing demands for the commodity

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ultimately fo r c i n g u p prices. The lesser of the evils, vandalism, which has been a recurring issue and is largely a matter of theft, has persisted because gov-

ernment has not shown enough will to deal with it. But now is the time to act decisively. With regard to the matter of Niger Delta militants, the situation is more complex. Gover nment in this regard needs to be much more circumspect in dealing with the issue because of its various dimension. There are demands being made by these g roups that relate to the issues of justice, equity, fair play and environmental de g radation that require high level of negotiation, understanding and circumspection to tackle. This is one area where the option of

knee-jerk reaction must be resisted. The creeks of the Niger Delta should not become our own Vietnam. Also, government must ensure that kerosene is not ferried to neighbouring countries when the product is not available at home. The perpetrators of this criminal act of sabotage must be pursued with single-minded determination and stopped. In addition, we observe that even in filling stations where the product is available, the outlets prefer to sell to middlemen who buy in large quantities and sell to the people at exorbitant prices. This is another area where gover nment has a huge role to play. It must intervene. Regulators must monitor these stations to ensure that kerosene is sold directly to the people and not sold at ungodly hours to profiteers. Whatever grinds the masses directly, grounds government indirectly. A situation where there is lot of strain getting kerosene to prepare meals for ordinaryfolks should disturb those in power. A hungry man is an angry man and with much angst in the land trouble looms. Finally, we are compelled to remind those in power that the sole purpose of government is the welfare and wellbeing of the people. That is the surest way to measure their perfor mance or lack thereof. Any gover nment that cannot safeguard over 30 million Nigerians where they live - in a matter that directly affects their survival - is unworthy of the name.

MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

monDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Interview

Law

Eleja: Blame FG for insurgency in Niger Delta

NEWS Ekweremadu seeks separation of AG, Justice Minister’s offices

Ngige

Lawyers laud Alegeh as tenure ends FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE writes that notwithstanding the dust generated by the universal suffrage and electronic voting for the 2016 elections of the lawyers’ umbrella body-the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) held yesterday, lawyers took time out to appraise the tenure of the outgoing President of the association, Mr. Augustine Oyarekhua Alegeh, (SAN).

lthough the 2016 elections of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) was held amidst controversy over the universal suffrage and electronic voting adopted by the Augustine Alegeh leadership, lawyers were unanimous that the outgoing NBA President, Mr. Augustine Oyarekhua Alegeh, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, left a legacy of democratisation of the NBA’s electoral process among others. The Alegeh-led executive came into office in August 2014. In his inaugural speech, Alegeh

FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE JUDICIARY Editor

foluso.ogunmodede@ newtelegraphonline.com

said his vision was to move the association forward. He then went ahead to encapsulate his programme of action on the amendment proposal of the NBA Constitution, e-voting, welfare of members, insurance scheme, reduction in Bar practicing fees, NBA partner discount, loans to young lawyers and digitalisation of courts among many others. He, however, predicated his agenda on four major tasks. These are: e-voting, welfare of members, insurance scheme and a voice for the Nigerian people. Alegeh said: “The powers and duties of the NBA president are both wide and almost absolute. However, such powers must be exercised with a high sense of responsibility, with caution, honesty and integrity. But, above all, it must always be exercised in the best interest of the association. “I hereby make a firm and solemn promise to exercise the great powers of the office and carry out the duties

In all fairness to him, I think he put in his best. He did as much to jumpstart the association after what was clearly a low moment for the NBA

Alegeh

attached thereto in the very best interest of the association and the overall interest of our country, Nigeria and Africa.’’ Alegeh went on: “However, there is a further need to amend our Constitution to meet present realities and take advantage of modern technological developments. “The cost of NBA national elections to the association is increasing at an unsustainable rate. The risk, dangers and inconveniences encountered by NBA members during these elections is becoming unbearable. “The elections are becoming too expensive for NBA members and voter tampering appears to be encouraged when delegates at national elections are not provided with accommodation and other logistic requirements by the association. The resultant effect is that candidates are compelled to provide accommodation and logistic needs for the delegates in a manner that may compromise the decision-making process of the candidates. “I believe strongly that the delegate election system of the NBA needs to be reviewed and that evoting through the NBA Website should be introduced. This would require a constitutional amend-

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ment. “The wording of the electoral provisions of our constitution and several other provisions would need to be reviewed and fine-tuned. The amendments to our constitution to introduce e-voting and other changes would be given priority and dealt with speedily with the hope that the system would be operational and members made conversant with its working long before the 2016 national elections. “In the light of the approval of uniform bye laws for NBA branches, it would be advisable for the provision of e-voting to be contained in the uniform bye laws to afford branches the opportunity to implement e-voting and be conversant with its operations before the national elections. I have therefore set up a Constitution Review Committee with the following terms of reference: • To review the provisions of our constitution on elections with a view to introducing e-voting at all NBA national elections. • To review the provisions of our constitution on elections and propose such amendments as may be required to make the provision more definitive and NBA national elections more rancour free. • To review the NBA branches unified bye laws to bring it in conformity with the amended NBA constitution. • To review and propose all other such amendments as it requires necessary to the provisions of our constitution. “I have always made it clear that the welfare of NBA members would be given high priority in this administration. I have since my election engaged myself in seeking ways of enhancing our collective welfare and I have received offers in principle in respect of the following: “All lawyers who have been verified in the NBA Data Base shall be issued with NBA Identification Cards which would be a chip and pin card that would contain the following; name of the Lawyer, passport photograph and Supreme Court Enrolment Number. The card would also function as a payment card for ATM, Pos and online transactions. Presentation of the card would entitle the lawyer to a variety of discount and other packages negotiated by NBA. This card will be issued free of charge.” Alegeh promised to provide insurance policy scheme for members between N30,000 and N700,000 to cover death or permanent disability, death by accident, critical illness and medical expenses. He said: “We have received offers from various insurance companies in respect of the NBA insurance scheme which would provide insurance cover for all lawyers who have paid their Bar CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

20 Law|Interview

monDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Eleja: Blame FG for insurgency Kehinde Kolawole Eleja is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). In this interview with BIODUN OYELEYE, he speaks on the economy, corruption, militancy, federalism and other sundry issues

Despite monthly allocations from the federation account, about 28 governors still find it extremely difficult to pay workersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; salary. Would you support moves to criminalise non-payment of salary? This is something to me that may not be realistic because if you are talking about such a law, you must talk from the point of view of both the intention to commit the crime and the actual committal of the crime (non-payment of salary). Unless you are saying that those who are not paying salaries are doing so deliberately and due to no factor beyond their abilities, that is the only time you may say letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s put in place a law to criminalise it. But once we all agree that the inability of government and others to pay is not due to any fault of those in authority but due to factors beyond their powers, I think a proposal for such a law should be reconsidered. Again, if you want to put somebody to trial for nonpayment of salary, who do you put to trial? Is it the governor when he enjoys immunity and when the civil servants are not working for him but for the state government? Or is it the Head of Service or the SGF that you want to put to trial for inability to pay salaries, when they are also employees of government? I think these are some of the factors we have to consider before we criminalise such an act or omission. Another dimension which is more of a constitutional issue is that non-payment of salary can only amount to deprivation of socioeconomic rights which the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has grouped as socio-economic rights and placed under fundamental objectives in Chapter II of the Constitution, which are said to be nonjusticeable. In essence, they are not actionable in courts in Nigeria. Even though the government is given a mandate to see that the health, safety and welfare of all persons in employment are safeguarded and not endangered or abused, a violation of such right is not actionable in Nigerian courts, except under International Conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory. How would you evaluate the rule of law under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government? The Buhari government came into office at a time when Nigeria was confronted with many challenges, principal of which was corruption. The revelations of corruption that have been brought to public domain left much to be desired and I think that was why the fight against corruption has been put on the front burner by this administration. I must commend the zeal with which the fight is being pursued. I must however caution that in fighting against corruption we should do it in such a way that the rule of law is not debased. I think the fight against corruption ought to be institutionalised;

it should not be made a periodic issue if it will be long lasting in this country. You recall that in 1984/1985 in this country, when the then Major General Muhammad Buhari was the military Head of State, the zeal with which he fought corruption was quite commendable and we had results then. But the poser is whether the results outlived his administration. I think the answer is no. So, rather than just concentrating on picking people and prosecuting them, I think we should try to look inward; try to identify those factors responsible for corruption, let us address them holistically and then let us go back to the drawing board. Right from the primary school up to the university level, there should be a reorientation and our curriculum should be made to reflect this to have a long lasting victory. What is your appraisal of the economy under the ruling government? On the side of the economy, there is still much to be done because you have to appreciate the fact that between when this government came into power and now, the naira has Eleja crashed and lost its value greatly. Of course, that has implications for our economy that is largely import dependent. You also discover that when it comes to the area of job creation, not much has been achieved. On the converse, we have witnessed loss of jobs, for instance in the banking sector where there has been massive job cuts. The power situation (electricity) has also reached a worrisome What we proportion with attendant negative consequence on the economy. Nigeneed is true rians are more than ever before gofederalism ing through serious economic challenges. State governments are unable whereby to pay their workers and also honour other contractual obligations. each state One may argue that it is not the fault of the federal government but of the all along, the states have always defederation pended on the federal government for their share of the national cake and would be this means that whatever affects the resources of the federal government in position also impacts negatively on the states. to pursue In terms of security, we must commend the armed forces in the success its own recorded so far in fighting insurgency in the north east but you will see development that crime wave has been on the increase in the recent time; kidnapping is virtually a common occurrence all over the country, cybercrime is also on increase too, while the herdsmen menace has also assumed a frightening proportion. So, government needs to do more in those directions. I know that we may not be able to put everything on the doorstep of the current administration but I think one year is fairly a long time for the government to settle down and try to address these problems head on. There is currently a lot of talk about restructuring of Nigeria, while some

argue for true federalism. What is your take? Yes, some people say they want restructuring of Nigeria but to me what we need is to ensure the practice of true federalism. When you speak of restructuring, you are saying we should ask questions about our very existence as a nation and no sitting government would want to do that. To me what we need is true federalism whereby each state of the federation would be in position to pursue its own development; where each state would be more independent than we have now. Currently the quantum of the federal allocation to the central government is too much and power is too concentrated there whereas the states which have greater roles to play have little resources to do it. That is not right. Also the influence of the central government would have to be reduced. Take for instance currently to appoint or dismiss a judge in a state, the federal must have its input otherwise the whole exercise becomes a nullity. Also a governor in a state is only a glorified chief security officer because the real power lies with the federal government and the Inspector General of Police. If the governor is not in good terms with the commissioner of police in his state and the Inspector General of Police, he can hardly do anything in terms of security. These are some of the areas we need to look into, not necessarily break up the country. How do we do this? The process of having true federalism may entail having to amend our constitution. You can imagine for example a situation whereby to appoint judges for a state court, or to

remove them, the federal input must be sought otherwise the whole thing would come to nullity. Now if you look at an institution like the police also, management and control is over centralised. A situation whereby the governor is expressed on paper to be the chief security officer but in practical terms the governor is just like any other citizen of the state, especially if he is unfortunate not to have good working relationship with the commissioner of police or Inspector General of Police, you discover that his being called Chief Security Officer is just a notional thing. Revenue sharing formula must also be reconsidered. These are some of the things we could do to ensure that the states have some measure of autonomy. But these are some of the recommendations contained in the confab report. Why do you think this government is not ready to look into the report? Let me confess that I have not been privileged to see the full details of the recommendations but from the snippets I read in the papers, if we have to go by the recommendations of the confab we may have to convoke even a Sovereign National Conference because they were saying let power go back to the people, let the people determine whether or not they want to be together and if they want to be together on what basis. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see any elected government that would want to allow that kind of thing as a matter of reality because it is like questioning the very foundation of their own existence and I think given our past history, that may be taking the mat-

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in Niger Delta ter a bit too far. I would rather suggest a situation whereby people’s observations and recommendations are channelled to the centre through their elected representatives at the local level via the states Assembly and even the National Assembly. I think that would appear to be a better approach. Is it not similar to the one being done across the country by the House of Representatives? I don’t know why that did not happen. I think we should rather concentrate efforts on that in the hope that it may even be more attractive to the powers that be rather than asking for total restructuring. Looking at agitation by IPOB for the Republic of Biafra, would say this agitation is in the interest of the majority of the Igbo race? I have my doubt whether the position of the IPOB is representing the position of the majority of the Igbos because I have been privileged to interact with notable Igbos across the country and I found out that the IPOB position does not represent the position of majority of their people especially those who live outside the enclave of the old Biafra. So, taking their position without thinking about the position of the elected representatives who are taken as speaking for the people of those states may be fallacious. As for the Niger Delta Avenger, the problem started before the administration of the late president Shehu Musa Yar’Adua but he was able to douse the tension and he solved the problem to a considerable extent. I think the current problem became escalated due to the stance of the federal government to use force in dealing with the agitation. I think the government should consider using the same method that worked for the Yar’Adua’s administration because it was the initial decision to use force instead of dialogue that appeared to have created the latest problem before govern-

ment is now calling some of the people for talks. That kind of approach leaves room for doubt about the sincerity of the government. To me, government should use carrot and stick approach instead of only force. You use the carrot first and it is only when such efforts have failed that you may consider other options. My own position is that the NDA should embrace dialogue in the overall interest of their communities and the nation.

Allegation of corruption may have informed the federal government’s decision to discontinue amnesty programme in the oil region, or what do you think? We have a saying that you don’t cut off a man’s head simply because you want to cure him of headache. Yes, if there was a

fault with the programme that does not mean you throw it away completely. You can review the process and refine them to ensure it achieve the right objectives. What is your view about allegation that lawyers are aiding corruption in the country? I think people are entitled to their opinion. But if you want to be objective that position would not be right. I don’t know what real facts that people have to support the proposition. It is unfortunate to make such assertions. Are you telling me that when people who are in government offices want to commit corruption they will call their lawyers and say, please I want to do this and then... No, they say you lawyers encourage them

Eleja

by their readiness to defend them? There is what is called presumption of innocence and it is in the Constitution. If you look at the two holy books; the Bible and the Quran, there is presumption of innocence deeply rooted in them. You will see that even when God knew that Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, and that they did it in disobedience to His directive, He still afforded them the opportunity to defend themselves; meaning that He presumed them innocent. It was until they could not offer any justifiable explanation for their action that He decided to punish them. It is the same thing here. Anybody could be accused of committing any crime. Until it is proved, the person is presumed innocent. And just like the state which is prosecuting is represented by a lawyer, we also expect that an accused person should be represented by a lawyer of his own choice in order to attain justice. It is a provision of the Constitution that hearing should be fair. Lawyers also have what we call “the cab rank rule” as part of our professional ethics and if a lawyer has decided to defend an accused person in obedience to the provision of the Constitution and the ethics of his calling, I don’t think it is justified to tag lawyers as encouraging them. Of course this is not saying that the lawyer should now go out of his way to obstruct the course of justice. No. If you are saying this about lawyers in corruption cases, what do you say about lawyers who represent people in murder or armed robbery cases which are even on a higher plane? I do not think it is fair to have a stereotype for lawyers defending accused persons all in the name of discharging their duties. And in several cases, some of these people that are accused of corruption at the end of the day may be set free by the court not because the court just want to do that but because there is paucity of evidence, so what would have happened if there was nobody to defend them?

Ekweremadu seeks separation of AG, Justice Minister‘s offices Foluso Ogunmodede

eputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, is pushing for the separation of the office of the Attorney-General from that of the Minister of Justice, describing it as the only mechanism that would guarantee the independence of the office. This, Ekweremadu said would give room for the office to work for the people and not essentially for government. Besides, its split would guarantee citizens’ unfettered access to justice without fear of ‘persecution or whatsoever’. He said this while on a facility tour of the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association’s secretariat in Abuja. Ekweremadu said: “I want to commend the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Austin Alegeh (SAN) for the great job that he is doing here. “You see, what we experienced in our country is that when people come to power whether in government or private sector. They meet projects and they abandoned the projects. But you know, he met this project and he has taken it this far and we must commend him. And, we have also discussed the cost implications. “For me, it sounds a lot conservative because he has to apply himself in all the processes to get to where we are at a very conservative cost. So, I must commend

Ekweremadu

him. “But too as a lawyer, I feel very proud that we are going to have a very befitting Secretariat at the heart of the city. So, this is a very good testament to the quality of leadership that we have at the Bar. To me also, it is a good signal that the Bar has come of age so I’m really impressed and I will invite some of my colleagues to come and see what is happening here and we

should be proud of it. On the separation of the office of the Minister of Justice from the AttorneyGeneral, Ekweremadu said: “You know, the last constitution amendment exercise, we recommended that to our colleagues who graciously accepted it unfortunately, the last President did not sign it. “I still believe that’s the way to go and subjects to what my colleagues will say and I think the separation of the offices will ensure fairness, will ensure justice and will also ensure independence system because if you have an independent Attorney-General, he works for the people and not essentially for government which is very key. But we are subject to what our people desire and for what they want. So, whatever is the outcome, I’m all for it. But, for me as a person, I believe those two offices need to be separated. “Definitely, we separated the two offices and as I said, our colleagues, we believed that, that is the way to go. They all approved it but unfortunately, the last President did not sign that Bill. So, we are still having a revisit to that provision. Definitely, there will be provisions for financial autonomy and security of tenure. These are the implications of a separate office of the Attorney-General so that, they will have financial independence and there is going to be autonomous in his thinking

and our idea of justice and no one will dictate to him. We believe that it will also ensure that, individuals, citizens will have access to justice and there will be no fear of persecution or whatsoever.” Also on the NBA facility tour was a Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Solomon J Enang, who applauded Alegeh’s leadership for the edifice. Enang said: “This facility is a pride to the Bar. It will be very encouraging to the upcoming generation of lawyers and very encouraging to us, seniors at the Bar. “I want to join his Excellency, the Deputy President of the Senate to commend the President of the Nigerian Bar Association Barr., Austin Alegeh (SAN) and the entire NBA. It is our hope that we will be able to commission this project before the next Annual Conference so that, it will be their names that would be on the Black before commissioning it. “It is very important because, when you have fulfilled a legacy, your name should be there, you could challenge the upcoming generations. I want to congratulate them. I want to also urge that this should be like a Unity Centre. Like the President has explained, there will be virtue office, there will be an e-library where lawyers from all over, all jurisdictions, can have as their office here, they can practice here, have their processes here.

22 Law

monDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Why judiciary cannot fight corruption alone, by CJN Against the backdrop of several knocks on the judiciary that it remains the clog in the wheel of the anti-corruption war of the Federal Government, TUNDE OYESINA writes that it is the judiciary’s turn to defend itself

Muhammed

he Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed has kicked against the corruption blame game by President Muhammadu Buhari, stating that the judiciary alone would be incapacitated without the collaboration of other arms of government in the fight against corruption. President Muhammadu Buhari had on two occasions blamed the judiciary as being the clog in the wheel of the war against graft. At a time, the president stated that the judiciary was his headache and recently at an international workshop to examine the role of the judiciary in the fight against corruption organised by the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes and Commonwealth Secretariat, he said that the judiciary was delaying the fight against corruption. The president had said: “I am worried that the expectation of the public is yet to be met by the judiciary with regard to the removal of delay and the toleration of delay tactics by lawyers. “When cases are not concluded the negative impression is given that crime pays. So far, the corruption cases filed by government are not progressing as speedily as they should in spite of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of 2015 essentially because the courts allow some lawyers to frustrate the reforms introduced by law. “This certainly needs to change if we have to make success of our collective effort in the fight against corruption. As we are all aware, I have made the fight against corruption one of the top priorities of this administration in the hope of restoring the economy and building a new Nigeria. “In the face of dwindling revenues and in a bid at repositioning Nigeria’s economy, it became obligatory to swiftly tackle two ills: waste and corruption. The eradication of corruption is a joint task involving not only judges and members of the legal profession, but all stake-

Buhari

holders, including all branches of government, the media, the civil society and the general citizenry. “The challenge is to come up with an integrated approach that balances process and substance, promote clarity so as to ensure a coherent and realistic formulation of objectives. “To this end, the judiciary is duty bound to keep its house in order and to ensure that the public, which it serves, sees this. Thus, we cannot expect to make any gains in the war against corruption in our society when the judiciary is seen as being distant from the struggle. This will not augur well and its negative effect will impact all sectors of society. “The judiciary must fight delay of cases in court as well as it fights corruption within its own ranks perceived or otherwise. We expect to see less tolerance to delay tactics used by defence lawyers or even the prosecution in taking cases to their conclusion.” Apparently reacting to this, the CJN speaking at the same occasion stated that the fight against corruption was only a part of the process of building good governance, adding that everyone must be accountable, transparent and adhere to the proverbial rules of the game. “Despite the role of the third arm of government, I must reiterate that the responsibility of fighting corruption in our country lies with every one of us, institutionally and individually. We cannot continue to do things the same way and expect different results. Let us therefore ensure that all hands are on deck working towards a corrupt free Nigeria,” the CJN added. He further stated that the issue of undue delay by technicality, which hitherto plagued the criminal justice system, has also been addressed by the enactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. He went on: “The Act has barred the entertainment of interlocutory applications by any court, limited the number of adjournments that a court may grant, provides for a dayto-day trial until conclusion of the case and permits trial in absentia,

Malami

The challenge is to come up with an integrated approach that balances process and substance

among initiatives too numerous to mention. “The reality of its corrosive effect is found in the socio-economic threat that it poses to the development and harmony of Nigeria. As we have witnessed, corruption suppresses economic growth and undermines the sustainable management of our commonwealth. “It also results in flagrant breaches of the fundamental human rights of citizens, undermines our collective security; aggravates poverty, while threatening the legitimacy of constitutional governance and democracy. Perhaps above these, corruption blunts the sword of justice and engenders contempt for the rule of law, a fundamental principle of any civilized society. “It is therefore important for us to be holistic in our submissions and pragmatic in our solutions. I daresay that corruption cannot be easily tackled without transparent, efficient and speedy delivery of justice. Indeed, this is fundamental to our economic growth, development and national wellbeing. Hence, the growth of our democracy is underpinned by the satisfactory resolution of our individual and collective differences through a proficient and virile justice system. “However, a closer scrutiny suggests that the Judiciary may have a more evolved role to play beyond just adjudication, as any effective campaign against corruption will have to employ a multipronged approach. Tackling corruption is neither easy nor quick and it is a symptom of deep-rooted factors. The causes are complex and the means to control corruption are gradually being understood. There is no single magical solution, as is with most problems in development; it must be tackled simultaneously on all fronts, individually and collectively. “Hence, we must do our part and act now. Our actions must be concrete, ethical and time-bound, as are necessary to ensure an efficient and effective justice system. In furtherance of this, I hasten to add that our courts have indeed proven to be proactive. In 2013, various jurisdictions from the High Courts, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme

Court, acting under the auspices of the Board of Governors of the National Judicial Institute, initiated and introduced Practice Directions on Kidnapping, Corruption and other Serious Offences, that provide a framework for the fast tracking of major crimes and corruption cases. “In addition, most Judiciaries have designated Judges and/or courts that are dedicated to the hearing and determination of economic crimes and corruption matters. These were established to hasten the hearing of corruption cases, given its prevalence, seriousness and potential impact on our dear country. “I therefore urge all parties to proceedings to avail themselves of the innovations introduced by the Act in order to ensure that delay becomes obsolete in our courts. The Nigerian Judiciary will continue to play its role to listen attentively, consider wisely and judge decisively all matters brought before our courts. Rest assured, corruption will not be tolerated and due punishment will be meted out to anyone found guilty of the commission of same in accordance with the law. However, I must caution us all that the Judiciary cannot act on its own without the support of all stakeholders in the justice sector. The prosecution, defence, police and other parties must play their respective roles in ensuring that they obey all directions of the courts and act timeously in the interest of justice.” Also, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN described the Administration of Criminal Justice Act as veritable tool to reduce the delay in the prosecution of corrupt cases. He noted that since its enactment, the Act had been rightly acknowledged as a revolutionary legislation which should facilitate the achievement of the common objective of a humane and modern Criminal Justice system founded on social justice and the Rule of Law. Malami said: “While we have crossed the first stage of enacting the Act, there is no doubt that considerable challenges remain in ensuring its effective implementation. “In the first place, we must all work hard to ensure that the Act transcends the purview of federal laws and federal courts and becomes a truly national legislation through the adoption of its reformoriented provisions by our various state governments. Additionally, given the fact that the Act creates a holistic value chain across all the segments of the Criminal Justice process, there is an urgent need for the proper understanding of its provisions by all persons involved with its implementation, particularly within our security agencies, investigative and prosecutorial authorities, the legal profession, the Judiciary and the Prison authorities, among others. “My office recognises the crucial responsibilities which have been placed on the Federal Ministry of Justice as a consequence of the enactment of this Act. Let me can assure you that we have already taken proactive steps to meet these challenges, which generally revolve around financial resources and requisite human capacity.

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Uwais, Aloma-Mukhtar, Adetokunbo, others bag ‘Words-in-Gold ‘award Foluso Ogunmodede

irst female and immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma-Mukhtar, first indigenous CJN, the late Justice Adetokunbo Ademola, Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais, the late Justices Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa, Chukwunweike Idigbe and Kayode Eso were among tens of the past Supreme Court justices honoured by the Nigerian Institute of Advance Legal Studies (NIALS) in collaboration with Africa’s giant Electronic Law Report and Research software, LawPavillion. Others include Justices Vahe Bairamian, Uthman Mohammed and George Baptist Ayodola Coker. All were honoured for their roles in the development of the nation’s jurisprudence as they bagged the maiden ‘Words in Gold’ awards. It was at the Sheraton Abuja Hotels where their roles in the development of the nation’s law and jurisprudence was appreciated. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria applauded the past apex court jurists, describing the award as a recognition of the justices hardwork and contribution to the development of law in the country. Osinbajo, who gave a keynote address, entitled “Data as the new Equity – New Approaches for Enhanced Justice Delivery and Administration”, emphasized how the legal industry had been transformed tremendously through technology. He described as ‘tedious’

the period prior to the technological innovation when method of conducting legal research was ‘time consuming to find relevant authorities.’ Apparently applauding LawPavillion’s role in innovative software, the Vice President said generous time and effort was now being saved and put to better use following an adoption of electronic legal research. He said: “However, with the introduction of a new software like LawPavilion Prime, which not only provides information but goes further to trace the history of a principle of Law or practice, highlights other cases in which the principle has been enunciated upon and where necessary, brings up conflicting judgments relating to such principle.” Osinbajo however lauded LawPavillion, describing its role by advancing delivery and administration of Justice in Nigeria as worthy of recognition and emulation especially

for midwifing the award. Also, NIALS’ Director-General, Prof. Deji Adekunle described the award as a “remarkable endeavour that will continue to shed light on the invaluable contributions that have gone unnoticed and uncelebrated in the Nigerian Judicial system.” At the event, LawPavilion Managing Director, Ope Olugasa, unveiled the firm’s newest software, LawPavilion Prime, Africa’s first Case Analytics software to further advance electronic law report. Olugasa said: “Today, we unveil the ultimate breakthrough in our quest for making the task of legal research easier and less burdensome for the judiciary. With key features including its Case Analytics, Laws in Action (an Annotation of the Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria), Chain Reference, TextBooks and Journals, LawPavilion Prime will forever change

the way legal research is conducted, not only in Nigeria but ultimately all across the globe.” The event which was well attended by major stakeholders in the nation’s justice administration, witnessed Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, past and present being recognized and given awards. Also, there were also Category Awards which saw many Justices carting award numerous awards in recognition of their work while on the Bench of the hallowed Chambers of the Supreme Court. The Category Awards were informed by a thorough and robust research and analysis conducted by the NIALS. These awards were in recognition of profound pronouncements or judgments that have shaped justice delivery and administration in Nigeria, thus paving the way for more advancement in the judicial system of Nigeria. According to Ope Olu-

gasa, “we at LawPavilion know that the Nigerian Judiciary labours very hard – largely without notice – to further the cause of justice to save lives, to save jobs, to rescue the broken, to free the wrongfully detained and to give justice to all, safe in the strength of the judicial ethos that where there is a right, there surely is a remedy in the courts.” These prestigious awards were divided into three main categories and were presented by Osinbajo. For instance, the first category related to eminent premiers in the Judiciary. They are the first indigenous Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Adetokunbo Ademola, who was represented by his grandson, Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division and the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria- Hon. Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar. The Second Category was recognized and cel-

R-L: Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN; Kola Awodein, SAN; Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, representing his grandfather, Hon. Justice Adetokunbo Ademola, the First Indigenous Chief Justice of Nigeria; Hon. Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, Justice Maryam Aloma Mukhtar, Justice Dahiru Musdapha, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, Minister of Communications and Ope Olugasa at the unveiling of ‘Law Pavillion Prime’

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 9

practicing fees as at when due. We are considering the latest offers in the following choices: OPTION A: N700, 000.00 – Death or permanent disability . OPTION B: N500, 000 – Death or permanent disability .N500, 000: Death by accident OPTION C: N350, 000 – Death or permanent disability .N350, 000: Death by accident .N350, 000: Critical illness OPTION D: N280, 000 – Death or permanent disability .N280, 000 –Death by accident .N280, 000 – Critical illness .N30, 000 – Medical expenses “It is to be noted that all lawyers who have paid their Bar practising fees as at when due are automatically entitled to this insurance cover and a Policy would be issued in the lawyer’s name.” Also, the outgoing NBA President promise to reduce by 10 per cent across board the Bar practicing fees while vowing to rid the profession of quacks. He said: “I shall propose to

Lawyers thumb-up Alegeh as tenure ends NEC a 10% reduction across board in respect of Bar Practising fees for all Lawyers excluding Senior Advocates. Upon ratification by NEC I will take appropriate steps to give effect to the reduction. “I shall also propose to NEC that the share of branches from BPFs be increased from 10% t0 20%. The additional 10% to branches would be applied to set up Lawyers Welfare Trust Fund at all NBA branches. The payment of the branches’ share of BPF shall be by Direct Debit utilizing currently available e-banking means. “The judiciary should collaborate with the NBA in its efforts to rid the legal profession of quacks. “The NBA has just introduced its stamp and seal policy and this policy can only have effect when the judiciary ensures that only documents bearing the stamp

and seal are allowed for filing in our court or admitted in evidence at trials. “I must commend the progressive thinking of Honourable Justice Njemanze, the Honourable Chief Judge of Imo State for his practice direction to the effect that all affidavits in Imo must be prepared or endorsed by lawyers. “I want to assure you all that our association is alive, well and in capable hands with the 20142016 National officers. We would dedicate ourselves to the service of the association and do all within our powers to make the association better, more efficient and more responsive to the needs of its members and the nation.” With these words and many more promises made, expectations were high among members that the association was indeed ‘alive, well and in capable hands.’ But a few weeks to his tenure, members started seeing Alegeh’s

leadership in a different perspective especially on the adoption of the universal adult suffrage and the electronic voting initiated by the Alegeh-led executive after its ratification by the association’s highest ruling organ—the National Executive Council (NEC). Some members who did not believe in the e-voting instituted a suit at an Abuja High Court, asking it to stop the association’s election fixed for yesterday. The suit was initiated by one of the aggrieved members of the association and immediate past Assistant Publicity Secretary, Mr. John Unachukwu. Unachukwu asked the court to stop the elections. Unachukwu hired five Senior Advocates, Chiefs Bolaji Ayorinde, Emeka Ngige, Chukwuma Ekomaru, Mr. Kunle Ogunba, and Mr. Sebastine Hon, to challenge the association’s powers to adopt the contentious universal

ebrated Justices of the Supreme Court who delivered Judgments that resulted in legislative or legal reforms, forming turning points in Nigerian Jurisprudence. The recipients were Justice Vahe Bairamian, who received the award for his judgment on practice and procedure in MADUKOLU & ORS. v. NKEMDILIM (1962) LPELR-24023 (SC) while the late Justice Kayode Eso was recognised for his judgment on Constitutional Law in MILITARY GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE V. OJUKWU (1986) LPELR-3186 (SC). The award for exceptional contribution to Commercial Law was given to Justice Uthman Mohammed for his erudite judgment in M.V Lupex v. Niger Overseas (2003) LPELR-3195 (SC) while Justice George Baptist Ayodola Coker was celebrated for his notable judgment on Criminal Law in Njovens & Ors v. State (1973) LPELR-2042 (SC). In the third category were Justices recognized for their courage, literary writing style, depth and breadth of reasoning, forthrightness and thoroughness at the Upper Bench as symbols of judicial excellence. They are: Justices Muhammadu Lawal Uwais, the late Chukwunweike Idigbe and Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa. The awards, according to LawPavillion were in recognition of their ‘immeasurable and invaluable contribution to the judiciary, government and people of Nigeria and to celebrate these illustrious jurists for their decades of dedicated, selfles service to the nation.”

adult suffrage and e-voting for the election. Specifically, he asked the court to bar the NBA President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh, SAN, Chairman of Electoral Committee (ECNBA), Mr. Kenneth Mozia, SAN as well as two presidential candidates, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN and Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN from conducting the NBA National Officers’ Election by Internet Voting (I-voting) on July 30 and 31, or any other date pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit. But, it was victory for the NBA as the court dismissed Unachukwu’s suit describing it as lacking in merit. Specifically, the court said Unachukwu had no locus standi to initiate the suit. Besides, the Abuja High Court said Unachukwu failed to exhaust the Association’s Internal dispute resolution mechanism before filing the suit. The court said he lacked the locus standi to initiate the suit as the name under which the suit was CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

24 Law|news C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

brought was not the same with the one listed on the roll of call in the Supreme Court. Although Alegeh achieved virtually all his promises for the association, in his two years in office, his colleagues who spoke to New Telegraph believe Alegeh’s legacy was not enough to register his name in gold. Even though they agreed that the outgoing President succeeded in democratising the NBA’s electoral process, lawyers said Alegeh’s legacy may have been dented following the suit challenging the e-voting. Nevertheless, they were unanimous that Alegeh’s tenure remains the best ever in the association’s history. For instance, President of the Campaign for the Defence of Human rights (CDHR), Mr. Malachi Ugwumadu, said Allegeh’s tenure as President of the NBA was that of mixed feelings. He said: “Well, I think that we need to assess his two-year tenure against the backdrop of where he took over the mantle of leadership of the NBA. “In all fairness to him, I think he put in his best. He did as much to jumpstart the association after what was clearly a low moment for the NBA. There are quite a number of reforms that were introduced, particularly what we now referred to as the stamp and seal policy of the NBA, pursuant to the rules of Professional Ethics 2007. Putting the policy in place, Mr. Allegeh, pro-actively in collaboration with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) mandated that every lawyer who issues documents and processes emanating in their official capacity shall do that with the seal of their professional qualifications as a legal practitioner who was called to the Bar. Even though the policy suffered a lot of controversies and confusion, but the Supreme Court has resolved all issues. “This policy had to a large extent helped in streamlining the level of quacks that has been operating with impunity in the legal profession. However, the pecuniary requirements attached to it were some of the observations that the people had. “By and large, we need a very pro-active legal profession one that will stand the test of time and rise to the occasion in defence of the masses of this country. I must also add that under Alegeh’s watch, the number of legal practitioners who also wittingly or unwittingly lent credence to a kind of divided fight against corruption were not as many as expected. I didn’t hear so much about that. The issue is that we are first Nigerians before we became lawyers and as such one would have expected that the NBA will be pro-actively dedicated to every struggle that will revive our country. In this regard, I will like to see the NBA more than any other associations taking the front row on issues that affect this country. In essence, what I am saying is that the focus under Alegeh has been more on the activities of the NBA rather than the entire country. I am saying this not because I don’t appreciate what the outgoing NBA President has done but for the incoming administration to take a cue from it. So, it is actually a mixed feeling from where he took off to where we are at the moment.” Another lawyer and former chairman of the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Monday Ubani, said the outgoing

monDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Alegeh’s legacy splits lawyers

Ugwumadu

NBA president performance in office was laudable. He said: “I have been under the leadership of several Presidents of the NBA but Alegeh’s tenure, to me, seems very exceptional. He did a few things that actually touched the lives of lawyers directly. On this, we can talk about the insurance policy that was never in place before his assumption of office. “Now, if you pay your annual practicing fee, you are automatically under the insurance scheme. This is very commendable. He also introduced the discounts policy. You can get discounts in hotels, airlines and all that, once you have Access Bank Card. Even the reforms in terms of law. We now have a new unified bye laws for branches with opportunity for each branch to amend the laws to suit their environment. The mother of them all is the introduction of electronic voting and universal adult suffrage. “Now, everyone who is a lawyer and has paid his annual dues can participate in the electoral process unlike in the past where we do delegate system in which many people were excluded. “Now, a lot of lawyers are able to take part in the electoral process. To måe, that again is a breakthrough. The man is also on the verge of completing a multi-million Naira Secretariat for the NBA. He started it and it’s almost nearing completion. “Also, when we go to NEC Meeting, we can spend nine hours and nobody gets tired because he makes sure everyone at the meeting is given the opportunity to speak. In actual fact, I saw good leadership in him. He really exemplified it and I believe that he is a good material for other national office in the future. If I am to score him, I will score Alegeh 70 per cent. He did very well. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Emeka Ngige was however cautious. On his assessment of the outgoing President, Ngige said it would be after the contentious election. He said: “Well, I would have preferred to reserve my comments till after the outcome of the election. The election will define his administration. It will show whether he

Nwadioke

I have been under the leadership of several presidents of the NBA but Alegeh’s tenure, to me, seems very exceptional

Agbaje

meant well for the Bar or it is a continuation of the same old story. If the election is conducted freely and fairly with an outcome that is devoid of manipulations, then, I will give kudos to him. But if the election is conducted in a way to get some favored people on board, then, he too will be put where he belongs. So, I will like to reserve my comments until after the election. I can be quoted on these statements. Activist lawyer, Mr. Fred Agbaje said the outgoing NBA President has stabilized the association. He said: “He has come, he has tried his best. At least, there is stability in the NBA during his tenure, which is most important. He also brought in so many innovations, including the use of stamp now and this has helped in reducing the incidences of marketers and quacks in the legal profession. Documents and processes cannot be filed now without the seal of the lawyers concern. I think Mr. Alegeh has done his best. If I am to rate him, I will give him 60 per cent. To Daniel Ihekonroye , Alegeh’s tenure has indeed brought a huge development to the Bar. Ihekonroye said: “For example, the stamp policy has continued to improve the standard of practice. It has really curbed the menace of quacks since its introduction and this has further improved the authenticity of document filed in our courts. “To a greater extent that has also increased the revenue stream of lawyers across the country. “This is one aspect, I think, the outgoing regime has made history.” Emeka Nwadioke said: “Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN) will go down in history as one of the best presidents the NBA ever had if he can surmount one more hurdle which fate has thrust on him, to wit, midwifing a credible, free, fair and widely acceptable general election for Africa’s largest Bar association in an era of universal suffrage and electronic voting. “It is even more ironic that this task is virtually self-imposed, given that he almost single-handedly railroaded the entire association into

birthing a new Constitution that wrought that model. “It is instructive that at his emergence, Alegeh was widely seen as an ‘outsider’ in NBA politics. Some even saw his victory as a fluke. But he soon brushed all that aside and put his hand on the plough, scarcely looking back. This enabled him to engineer substantial changes in Bar governance among which are the howbeit largely cosmetic democratiziation of NBA-NEC meetings by the admission of registered observers; enforcement of the Stamp Scheme, its discontents notwithstanding; and the building of a befitting edifice as NBA Secretariat among others. “Also, through the instrumentality of the amended Constitution, Alegeh has attempted to instill discipline in branch governance. But this seems to have opened his underbelly to attacks, given the seeming arbitrariness that pervaded the application of the Uniform Bye-Laws. Ultimately, there was nothing uniform about the interpretation of the Uniform Bye-Laws, as particular clauses were seemingly interpreted to suit the whims and caprices of the interpreter, thereby throwing some branches into crisis at the twilight of his regime. However, Alegeh’s legacy will ultimately be defined by the forthcoming elections to usher in his successor. Having virtually bequeathed a new and popular electoral system to the NBA, it would be tragic if he delivers his baby to the Bar as still-born where there is ample opportunity to do otherwise. “He has pointedly been accused in writing of descending into the arena of electoral combat, a state of affairs perhaps unprecedented in NBA history. The allegations are weighty. I need not rehearse them here. Suffice it to say that he must be mindful of his place in history. He cannot afford to fail. “The processes leading up to the polls are less than satisfactory. Anxiety pervades the entire electoral landscape. There are no assurances even to key stakeholders that the electoral system will be foolproof and above manipulation.

MONDAY, August 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Interview ‘IMF policies hurt Nigerian economy’

Business

Insurance Economy: Nigerians advised to embrace insurance

32 34

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

L-R: Executive Director, Finance & Strategy, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman; Chairman, China Africa Finance and Industry Cooperation Summit, Mr. Yuan Ru Jun and Nigerian Ambassador to China, Shola Onadipe, after a meeting in Abuja.

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

Taiwo Hassan

Industry, Agric & Brands Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE June 2016...........................16.5% May 2016.............................15.6% April 2016........................13.7%

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

EXCHANGE RATE (Parallel Market as at July 29)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N378 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N495 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N415

l Foreign Reserves – $26,229 as at 26/7/2016

What's news Nigeria’s oil exports’ revenue slide hits 5-year low at $62bn p.26

Shippers in Nigeria, others to pay $2bn on 20m containers p.26

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at July 29)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N316 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N410 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N345

Source: CBN

99.9% of banking software in Nigeria imported, says NOTAP PROTECTION Agency is encouraging development of local technological innovations and domestication of foreign technologies to protect the economy from capital flight

Kunle Azeez

igeria has continued to record quantum capital flight annually, as 99.9 per cent of software packages and solutions being used by the banks in the country in the last six years are imported, New Telegraph has learnt. Director-General of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Dr. Dan Azumi Ibrahim, disclosed this in a chat with New Telegraph in Abuja. He lamented that it was with pains that the agency signs most of those software licensing agreements between the foreign firms selling them and the Nigerian banks buying them, as the transferors often repatriate huge amount

of money made from such deals to develop their own economies. NOTAP is one of the 17 agencies under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology responsible for licensing any technology agreements between foreign and local firms in Nigeria to ensure that Nigeria harnesses its ideas, inventions, innovations and creative works towards technological advancement and global competitiveness. Ibrahim noted: “In the last six years, more than 99.9 per cent of the software packages that are used in the banking industry are imported and if you see the quantum amount of money that leaves this country as software licensing fees, you will shed tears. In fact, it is with pain and difficulty that we approve those agreements.” He noted that since it is a business deal, NOTAP had no choice than to approve such technology agreements, as long as they conform to the laws guiding the technology transfer process within the Nigerian environment, stressing, however, that the agency has been putting measures in place to ensure Nigerian economy also benefit maximally from such software licensing transactions. The DG said: “Though we have

N15 billion Being the estimate of the value of Nigeria’s software industry

no option but five to six years back, we decided that we should do something to ensure that the deployment of every software package coming from any foreign country to Nigeria must be done by Nigerians. “Nigerians must be part of the deployment exercise. Through this exercise, you will be able to develop the capacity of Nigerians in terms of the deployment of those software packages.” He said that if Nigerians are fully involved in the deployment of software in the various sectors, by the time they develop over a long period of time and maintaining the software for banks, it is NOTAP’s target they may be able to acquire some of the skills and technological ideas. The DG said: “So, in the process, NOTAP would insist that for any software product coming into the country, Nigerian firms must be involved. If you involve a Nigerian firm, you are developing the Nigerian firm’s indigenous capacity. He also said another area where the agency has been making effort to empower local players is the agency’s insistence that about six CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

BUSINESS |news

99.9% of banking software in Nigeria imported, says NOTAP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

per cent of the proceeds made from any foreign firm should be paid to Nigerian partner firm helping in deploying and maintaining the software. “We feel also that we must give local players some financial muscles. If software is imported into the country, the amount of money you pay is in lump sum. Then, after one year, you pay what we call technical service fee. That is like mountainous fee and we insist that out of this mountainous fee, six per cent must be paid to Nigerians. “So, any software agreement coming into Nigeria and it is registered with us, we insist that its deployment must involve a local vendor and will also get 40 per cent of the annual service fee. With this arrangement, you are economically empowering Nigerians; you are also developing the capacity of Nigerians through software development.” He said through this action, NOTAP has been able to see that Nigerians have either developed capacity or are developing very serious capacity in terms of software development. “Now, Nigerian software firms have started coming out with some software solutions. The truth, however, is that we cannot be in a hurry because where more than 99.9 per cent of software that powers the Nigerian economy are imported, it takes time for Nigerian software to comfortably compete with those of foreign software packages. Meanwhile, Ibrahim has pointed out that domestication is another area of making the foreign software packages relevant in Nigeria. He noted: “Another thing is the attitude of Nigerians. Some of those software solutions they import have so many modules and not many of the modules end up being effectively utilised by the Nigerians. But Nigerians are able to customise some of those modules to suite our environment. The issue is, yes, local software have started penetrating but in a slow pace. But it is a matter of time as far as I am concerned. Highlighting that the current flexible exchange rate in the country would encourage banks and other businesses to be using locally developed software, the NOTAP boss cited the high exchange rate as one of the things that will encourage local patronage of locally developed software packages. “The software products imported into the system are paid in dollars. The truth is that Nigerian economy can no longer sustain that kind of extra expenditures. We are used to getting dollars freely. Now, source of foreign exchange is very scarce.

MONDAY, August 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria’s oil exports’ revenue slide hits 5-year low at $62bn

CIA: Country rakes-in $38bn in 2015 CHANGE Report says Nigeria is becoming a fast-declining oil exporter Adeola Yusuf

he slide in Nigeria’s revenue from oil exports touched the lowest level in five years, recording a loss of about $62 billion, depicting a 57.8 per cent decline in oil money receipt by the country, New Telegraph has learnt. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which revealed this in its World Factbook on Field Listing: Exports – Commodities of 15 biggest oil exporters in the world, noting that Nigeria is becoming a fast-declining oil exporter. Notwithstanding the loss,

Nigeria raked-in N$38 billion in 2015 from oil exports. This, the agency said, was 4.8 per cent of the total revenues made by 10 countries biggest oil exporters for the year. Nigeria, Africa’s biggest crude exporter, depends largely on proceeds from crude oil to service over 85 per cent of its budget, which constitutive some 70 per cent of her foreign exchange earnings. The declines in the value of the country’s crude oil exports from 2011 to 2015, the agency said, stood at over 55 per cent. “Oil is the world’s number one export product. Amounting to 4.8 per cent of the global value of all export products, crude oil shipments totalled $786.3 billion for 2015,” the report stated. That figure, it explained, “represents a -50.3 per cent drop in value since 2011 and a -44.4 per cent decline from 2014

to 2015.” Giving a breakdown of the losses, the CIA report showed that Middle Eastern countries accounted for the highest dollar value worth of crude oil exports during 2015 with shipments valued at $325 billion or 41.3 per cent of global crude oil exports. “This compares with 18 per cent for Europe, 9.9 per cent for North America and 7.7 per cent for Latin America (excluding Mexico) and Caribbean exporters,” the study showed. It continued: “The four-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix for crude oil is 2709. Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of crude oil during 2015: Saudi Arabia: $133.3 billion (17 per cent of total crude oil exports); Russia: $86.2 billion (11 per cent); Iraq: $52.2 billion (6.6 per cent); United Arab Emirates: $51.2 billion (6.5 per

cent); Canada: $50.2 billion (6.4 per cent) and Nigeria: $38 billion (4.8 per cent). “Others are Kuwait: $34.1 billion (4.3 per cent); Angola: $32.6 billion (4.1 per cent); Venezuela: $27.8 billion (3.5 per cent); Kazakhstan: $26.2 billion (3.3 per cent); Norway: $25.7 billion (3.3 per cent); Iran: $20.5 billion (2.6 per cent); Mexico: $18.8 billion (2.4 per cent); Oman: $17.4 billion (2.2 per cent) and United Kingdom: $16 billion (two per cent). “All of the above international traders posted declines in the value of their crude oil exports from 2011 to 2015, ranging from -27.7 per cent for Canada to -75.7 per cent for Iran. “Apart from Iran, other fastdeclining oil exporters were: Mexico (down -62 per cent), Nigeria (down -57.8 per cent), Norway (down -56.7 per cent) and Venezuela (down -54.4 per cent).

L-R: Former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria/Guest Speaker, Mr. Tunde Lemo; former Nigeria Ambassador to Great Britain, Dr. Christopher Kolade and General Overseer, Foursquare Gospel Church of Nigeria, Rev. Felix Meduoye, at the church’s 61st Annual National Convention lecture, in Lagos. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Shippers in Nigeria, others to pay $2bn on 20m containers INAPPROPRIATE Service providers impose questionable and unspecified administration fees and other services on shippers Bayo Akomolafe

hippers in Nigerian and other ports are to cough out about $2 billion between July and December 2016 from the new Verified Gross Mass (VGM) of container introduced by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in July, 2016. A report by the Global Shippers Forum (GSF) re-

Stakeholders see policy as exploitative

vealed that some shippers using ports in Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, South Africa, Angola and countries in Europe, were already being exploited by service providers less than a month after the rule enter into force globally. IMO introduced the rule to complement the existing provisions aimed at stability and safe operation of containerships, including the safe packing, handling and transport of containers from the port of loading to destination. However, shippers said that service providers had taken advantage of the rule by charging between $100 and $300 per container at ports. No fewer than 20 million containers are ferried annually across the main ports as

service. Also, over one million containers are shipped to Nigeria annually. The new rules require shippers to provide an accurate VGM to the containership or the terminal operator using the prescribed methods in the IMO rules, but GSF said that some ports were hiding under this to exploit importers and exporters without justification. It said that some service providers were using the VGM to exploit the newly introduced container weighing regulations by imposing excessive and unjustified charges for unspecified administration fees and other services. “There is no justification for carriers and terminal operators to apply any charge for a shipper making an accurate VGM

declaration,” GSF said. Already in Nigeria, Grimaldi Agency Nigeria has notified shippers that it would weigh containers on departure at a cost of N20,000 ($60.8) per 20 feet container and N40,000 per ($117.7) 40 feet. Some of the container lines carrying Containers to Nigeria ports are Zim, PIL Nigeria Limited, CMA CGM, Mediterranean Shipping Company, Maersk Line, Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL), Grimaldi Agency Nigeria Limited and Hull Blyth Nigeria Limited and Evergreen. In China, GSF report noted that Kuhne and Nagel (K&N) was already charging a VGM administrative fee of $12.75 fee for all K&N shipments booked for full containers and $25.00 for manual data entry.

BUSINESS |Stock Watch

MONDAY, August 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEM Insurance: Earnings swing on harsh milieu

NEM Insurance Plc, which had maintained stability in earnings, is currently exhibiting rise and fall in profit, as volatility in the economy takes toll on the company. CHRIS UGWU writes

s the equity market struggles to explore the green territory, the insurance sub-sector of the financial segment of the economy has remained in a state of despondency and less visible in the scheme of things. Unlike other subsector, the insurance firms rather than appreciating in value, have remained relatively stagnant even as a larger percentage of the companies have remained at the nominal prices of 50 kobo at which they were quoted on the market. When companies approach the equities market for listing of their shares, the nominal value quoted is usually 50 kobo as against the actual price they are being sold to the investing public. It is worrisome that of all the insurance companies quoted on the floor of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE); only few stocks have marginally risen above nominal value of 50 kobo. The sector has remained worst hit in the capital market in terms of drop in share prices. The reason being that they are playing second fiddle to the oil and gas as well as the banking stocks. One of the insurance companies that have raised high expectations and gingered investors’ interest as regards return on investment, was NEM Insurance Plc but due to the volatility in the economy, the company’s earnings has seen fluctuations in recent times. NEM ended the full year 2015 on a disappointing note due to weaker than expected results going by what was reported the previous year. It however, began the year 2016 on a promising note with 63 per cent growth in profit after tax but nosedived with a drop of 29 per cent in net earnings during the half year ended June 2016. However, despite the lull in the equities market, NEM is one of the few insurance firms that are performing well in terms of share price. The share price, which closed at 65 kobo per share in August 31, 2015 recorded an appreciable growth. At the close the close of business last Friday, the company’s share price stood at 88 kobo year-to-date, representing an increase of 23 kobo or 35.38 per cent year to date. Financials NEM, a Nigerian insurer that provides general and non-life insurance, began the year 2015 on impressive note. For the three months ended March 2015, the company reported 250.70 per cent profit.

Profit was N1.39 billion in the first three months through March 2015, compared with N396.34 million the previous year. Gross premium income (NPI) rose by 22.90 per cent to N2.25 billion in 2015, from N1.83 billion in 2014, as the company intensified its underwriting capacity. Gross premium written moved up by 7.07 per cent to N3.48 per cent, while gross premium earned leapt by 2.65 per cent. In response to the leap in all key performance indices, the insurance stock recorded a fifth day gain during the period, the longest streak in five months. The stellar performance then according to market analysts, means that NEM was aggressively making an inroad into the Nigeria’s untapped insurance market and growth in emerging middle-class. NEM also posted 45.13 per cent rise in profit and after tax for the half year ended June 30, 2015. The insurance firm’s posttax profit stood at N1.582 billion during the second quarter of the year as against N1.090 billion recorded the same period last year, accounting for a growth of 45.13 per cent. The company’s pre-tax profit jumped to N1.872 billion during the period under review from N1.380 billion a year earlier, while gross premium written firmed up to10.75 per cent from N5.804 billion in 2014 to N6.428 billion in 2015. The insurer during the third quarter ended September 30 2015, reported 26.39 per cent growth in profit after tax, from N1.595 billion in 2014 to N2.106 billion in 2015. The profit before tax stood at N2.493 billion as against N2.019 billion in 2014, representing an increase of 23.47 per cent, while gross premium rose by 10.52 per cent from N8.707 billion in contrast to N7.878 billion posted a year earlier. However, the fortunes of NEM Insurance dwindled, as it posted a shocking decline of 53.19 per cent in profit after tax for the full year ended December 31, 2015. In a filing with the Exchange, the insurance firm said its posttax profit stood at N713.702 million during the financial year as against N1.525 billion recorded the same period last year, accounting for a drop of 53.19 per

NEM Insurance Plc. 2016 August 31

65k

September 30

69k

October 31

70k

November 31

67k

December 31

68k

January 31

68k

February 29

72k

March 31

76k

April 31

80k

May 31

80k

June 30

1.02k

July 15

88k

and fall patterns in revenue and profit from year-to-year. Chief Executive Officer, Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adonri, said insurance sector has not improved on its performance after the recession because of volatility of the sector. He said the stocks though penny stocks would have attracted investors but because of low dividend payout of the companies, investors are not willing to take positions. “The insurance sector may find it difficult to materially affect the economy and the capital market. You know that insurance sector has not gained the people’s confidence and long before now when the sector was poorly regulated, it carved for itself a negative image because of their inability to settle claims promptly,” he noted.

Smart

The insurance business is facing challenges of a general slowdown in the economy

cent. The company’s pre-tax profit fell to N598.838 million during the period under review from N1.766 billion a year earlier, representing a drop of 66.09 per cent. However, the company’s gross premium firmed up to 11 per cent from N9.836 billion in 2014 to N10.895 billion in 2015. Investors of the insurance company got respite at the beginning of the year following a growth of 63.99 per cent in profit after tax during the first quarter ended March 31, 2016. NEM posted a profit after tax of N2.291 billion during the first quarter as against N1.397 billion reported in 2015, accounting for a growth of 63.99 per cent. Profit before tax stood at N2.711 billion in Q1 2016 in contrast to N1.653 reported a year earlier, indicating a growth of 64 per cent. Gross premium also rose by 15 per cent, from N3.480 billion in 2015 to N4.013 in 2016. However the insurance firm closed the half year with a drop of 29.07 per cent in profit after tax. The company reported a profit after tax of N1.122 billion during the second half of the year as against N1.582 billion in 2015, representing a drop of 29.07 per cent. Profit before tax stood at NN1.328 billion during the period under review from N1.872 billion in 2015, accounting for a slip of 29.05 per cent, while gross premium written was down by 8.30 per cent from N6.428 billion in 2015 to N5.894 billion in 2016. Why flux in earnings? According analysts, insurance industry has not been able to establish earnings stability, as operators generally exhibit rise

Looking ahead The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NEM Insurance Plc, Mr. Tope Smart had said that the board and management of the company was determined to build a strong brand that would ensure safe protection for the clients. While addressing top management staff of the company during the management retreat held in Lagos, he said the company was determined to build a customer satisfying insurance institution that is passionate about adding value to the interests of all stakeholders in the company. He said: “Notwithstanding the disequilibrium in the economy, we will continue our pursuit of our brand differentiation with renewed vigour. This is with the aim of continuing our upward push for industry leadership. In our quest for this, we are equally not unmindful of the fact that our operations must be in line with international best practices. “We have restructured our operations to make it very flexible and friendly in line with current realities. For instance, we operate 14 branches with two in Lagos. We have set up a customer service centre with the objective of delighting our customers. Aside, the fact that this will ensure customer loyalty, we are equally sure of getting referrals from the satisfied customers. “Our retail unit, which handles our personal line products have been strengthened to enable us achieve our long term objective of taking insurance to the grass root, which will ultimately deepen insurance penetration in Nigeria. Some of the products we have introduced to the market are quite unique and simple in application. Our research unit is currently working on some new products and same will be introduced to the market on conclusion and receipt of regulatory approval”. Conclusion The insurance business is facing challenges of a general slowdown in the economy, which is affecting performance by way of non-growing revenue and rising operating expenses. The sector tends to be affected from yearto-year by the dynamic changes in the cost-income relationship inherent in the business.

MONDAY, August 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | Financial Market News

MONDAY, August 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

$1.20bn CBN’s OTC futures traded on FMDQ system MILESTONE 962.23million settlement amount paid to the ‘Futures Banks’ on the $/279 NGUS JUL 27 2016 contract Stories by Chris Ugwu

ith the OTC FX Futures market having reported remarkable success in its almost one month of existence, over $1.20billion worth of the CBN’s OTC FX Futures contracts, across all the tenors, have been traded on FMDQ’s OTC FX Futures Trading & Reporting System. The transactions also included the profile of the buyers of the contracts including Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) and importers, among others according to a state-

ment made available by FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange (FMDQ). The pioneer 1M contract NGUS JUL 27 2016 $/N 279, for about $26.73 million executed between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Authorised Dealers on FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange (FMDQ), matured and was settled on Wednesday, July 27, 2016. The Securities Exchange noted that in line with the OTC FX Futures Market Framework released by FMDQ and the FMDQ OTC FX Futures Market Operational Standards, the 1M contract, which was valued by the Exchange against the Nigerian InterBank Foreign Exchange Fixing (NIFEX) Spot rate, ceased to trade on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. FMDQ noted: “Clearing operations and settlement for the final variation margins, as valued by FMDQ, were effected through the Nigeria InterBank Settlement System PLC

Zenith, UBA seek late filings for H1 2016 results

enith Bank Plc and the United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) have called for the extension of time to submit their half year 2016 audited financial statements. Lenders and other quoted firms are expected to comply with the post-listing requirements of Exchange by submitting their interim financial reports to the Exchange not later than 30 days from the end of the relevant reporting period. Zenith Bank, in a statement signed by its company secretary, Michael Otu noted: “Accordingly, the board of directors of the bank met on July 27, 2016 to approve the bank’s half year audited financial statements. The half year audited financial statement will be forwarded to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for ap-

proval before release on the floor of the Exchange. “We have accordingly, written to seek the approval of the Nigerian Stock Exchange for extension of time to submit the bank’s half year audited financial statements to August 31, 2016.” Similarly, Group Company Secretary of UBA Plc, Bili Odum, in a statement also said it had directed that the Half Year 2016 results be audited. “The auditors to the Bank; Messrs. PricewaterhouseCoopers Chartered Accountants, have commenced the audit and the results will be considered by the Board of UBA at its meeting. As required by regulation, the audited results will be presented to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for approval, before being released to the general public.

962.23mm total Settlement Amount was paid to the ‘Futures Banks’ – the counterparties to the CBN - on the matured NGUS JUL 27 2016 at $/279 on the maturity date, July 27, 2016.

“The CBN has replaced the matured July 2016 contract and has now offered the new 12M contract, to mature July 2017 i.e. NGUS Jul 19 2017, with a total notional amount on offer of $1.00bn at 250 to $1.

Sterling Bank boosts fundamentals, eyes N35b new capital in H2

lion and N4 billion respectively. The balance sheet of the bank continued to improve. Net loans and advances increased by 36.5 per cent to N462.3 billion largely driven by foreign exchange revaluation. Also, customer deposits increased to N627.9 billion from N590.9 billion. Total assets excluding contingent liabilities increased by 20 per cent (N959.2 billion) by June 2016 as against N799.5 billion recorded by December 2015. The results came on the background of general depression in earnings in the financial services industry and several other industries due to a period of sustained deterioration in the domestic economy during the first half of 2016. The economy, which has been posited to be in recession, was impacted by depressed commodity prices, continued sabotage of oil assets, weak investor confidence and a slow convergence of both monetary and fiscal policy. Managing Director, Sterling Bank Plc, Yemi Adeola, noted that the bank has remained irrepressible as demonstrated by the strength of its core business.

(NIBSS), acting as the clearing and settlement infrastructure for the margining and settlement of the OTC FX Futures contracts. Consequently, in line with the FMDQ OTC FX Futures Market Framework,

terling Bank Plc has showed steadiness and improved the intrinsic fundamentals of its businesses in the first half of this year, as the Nigerian economy and the banking industry struggled with fiscal and monetary challenges that saw inflation and foreign exchange at their worst in many years. First-half report and accounts of Sterling Bank Plc for the period ended June 30, 2016 released at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed that the lender continued to benefit from its credit risk management and efficient cost management as the proportion of non-performing loans dropped further to 2.8 per cent by June 2016 as against 4.8 per cent recorded in comparable period of 2015, just as the bank concludes plans on its N35 billion tier 2 capital raise. Interestingly, the 2.8 per cent ratio of non-performing loan is far below the industry

threshold of 5.0 per cent and represents one of the best in an industry challenged with nonperforming loans. The report also showed that the lender’s cost of funds also declined to 4.7 per cent as against 5.9 per cent, underlining the increasing success of the bank’s retail banking strategy and the preference by depositors for its brand. Key extracts showed that net interest income increased by 31.9 per cent to N25.6 billion in first half 2016 as against N19.4 billion in corresponding period of 2015. This was driven by a 22 per cent decrease in interest expense resulting in a 1240 basis point improvement in net interest margin to 61.7 per cent. Non-interest income however, reduced from N15.2 billion in first half 2015 to N8.5 billion in first half 2016. Altogether, net operating income increased marginally from N30.2 billion to N30.5 billion. Profits before and after tax stood at N4.4 bil-

Dangote Sugar posts N11.1bn HY pre-tax profit

angote Sugar Refinery Plc has reported a profit before tax (PBT) of N11.1 billion for the six months ended 30 June, 2016. The unaudited results for the half-year indicated that all performance measurement indices trended upwards. According to the results, profit before tax rose by 13.3 per cent compared to N9.8 billion in the same period in 2015. The sugar group recorded a profit after tax (PAT) of N7.4 bil-

lion, indicating an increase of 17.5 per cent over N6.3 billion posted in the corresponding period in 2015. Group revenue increased by 37.86 per cent to 70.5 billion compared with 51.1 billion in 2015, reflecting the increase in sales volumes during the period. Gross profit increased by 9.57 per cent to N13.9 billion in contrast to N12.7 billion despite higher production costs mainly driven by increased LPFO usage and currency

devaluation. The unit prices for gas and LPFO were also higher than in the comparative period. Speaking on the six months unaudited results, Acting Group Managing Director Abdullahi Sule, said “Despite market challenges experienced in the first quarter and operating challenges in the second quarter of 2015, we were able to grow our revenue compared to the same period in the previous year.

BUSINESS | Interview

MONDAY, August 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘IMF’s policies hurt Nigerian economy’ Mr. Odilim Enwegbara, a development economist, is Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Pan-Africa Development Corporate Company. In this interview with ABDULWAHAB ISA, he says the economic policy recommendations of International Monetary Fund (IMF) have done more damage to the Nigerian economy than good, among other sundry economic issues. Excerpt:

You are among the few Nigerian economists optimistic that the economy will get better under Muhammadu Buhari administration. Has that strong fate changed, given the current status of the economy? It took President Franklin D. Roosevelt from March 4, 1933, when he was sworn in as president of America to August 14, 1935 to be able to turn around America’s battered economy, caused by the great depression. Within the span of two years, five months and 10 days, Roosevelt carefully took his time to examine the causes of depression, to ensure it was stopped and never happened again; laissez faire capitalism had to be replaced with social welfare capitalism. This means the administration of policies that not just increase the multiplier but also has trickle-down effects in a way that the purchasing power of the poor is increased. The same thing was what Deng Xiaoping did upon inheriting a completely- battered Chinese economy caused by decades of blind communist experimentation, which ultimately created egalitarian society that ended up making every citizen poor. From December 17, 1978, when he took over the mantle of leadership to June 1985, there was nothing meaningful happening, because Deng and his close team took time carefully thinking through the problem and what needed to be done. Social capital-

Enwegbara

ism, rather than continuing with the failed communist system, became the answer to China’s eventual exit from poverty with double digit growth that lifted over 600 million out of poverty in less than 30 years. But even with the economy gradually taking off, there were series of oppositions to Deng’s government, including the infamous Beijing Tiananmen Square protests of between April 15, 1989 and June 4, 1989. From the foregoing, we should agree that 13 months or even one and half years are not enough to be able to put in place, the kind of policy measures this country needs. To begin to work on badly-managed economy and upturn stunted growth takes patience. Let’s also not forget that for the first time in the history of our democratic journey, an opposition party- a party formed within less than two years by numerous micro parties - could take over power from such a formidably powerful ruling party that ruled Nigeria for 16 years uninterrupted. Bearing this in mind will also mean recognising transition difficulties created by the exiting ruling party, which made sure that it left behind loads of intractable economic problems. That is besides inheriting an economy that was at the edge of collapse because the price of the country’s only source of revenue plunged by as high as 75 per cent from its earlier prices 16 months earlier. Where do you think there is a missing link to have warranted the current economic hardships Nigerians are facing? I think the rush to see immediate tangible economic benefits is quite understandable. Of course, it is the duty of the people of Nigeria to always put pressure on those who they elected to turn their economic fortunes to always do just that. I would be surprised if Nigerians should just do otherwise, especially given the current economic hardships. However, while it is okay for the masses to be pressing for immediate fixes, I am stunned to see how those who should know the kind of difficulty and the amount of time needed to turn around our economic fortunes are singing the same song of urgent and magic solutions to our decades-long eco-

13 months or even one and half years are not enough to be able to put in place the kind of policy measures this country needs

nomic malaise. I believe in serious diagnosis of the problem; followed by assembling the right tools in getting the problems not only fixed but permanently fixed so that there wouldn’t be the possibility of a return to the same problems in future. Putting together a comprehensive economic road-map for this country, I will say, needs a lot of time, especially if we want to get it right this time around. In other words, because the economic mess is really mind-boggling and far bigger than what we can imagine, fixing the problem means that everything involving the solution should not be rushed. Having said that, I wouldn’t agree more that should there be some gaps in Buhari’s administration’s economic policy formulation and implementation, we should not hesitate to point them out to the government. But in putting everything in perspective, we should remember that All Progressives Congress (APC), as a party, is yet to be a single interest-driven party. This has continued to overwhelm the president, who has to continue with post-election internal politicking, where all the amalgamated parties are still pursuing individual interests. Because of this, and given the fact that Mr. President is in his 70s, there are already ferocious power struggles by those who are thinking that the president may not go for the second term. Interestingly, having successfully implanted their men and women in the government, these ambitious men are using these smuggled men and women to silently undermine the government with the goal of making sure, when so overwhelmed, the president might begin to think of not going for second term. The International Monetary Fund’s recent report on Nigeria’s economy hinted continuation of contrasting economy, owing to energy crisis, oil price slump and rising inflation. Will you say we are in a helpless situation? Yes, the pessimistic image painted by the IMF is true and is seen, all over the place. But as gloomy as it all sounds, our situation, like every other human situation, shouldn’t CONTINUED ON PAGE 33

BUSINESS | Interview

MONDAY, August 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

be seen to be so hopeless that there is not possible way out. Also, let’s not forget that the IMF has never helped the situation. The Fund’s policy suggestions, rather than helping us come out of our gloomy situation, have been exacerbating the situation. In other words, the IMF goes about proffering damaging policies for our government, and later turns around to paint gloomy picture for our economy. This would be a kind of wake-up call for the government to come up with some drastic policy approaches that would have ensured that the situation never gets out of hand. Unfortunately, all the policies IMF goes about proposing are carefully to ensure that, rather than getting out of the situation, it gets worsened. It we are ready to solve these difficult economic problems, then, we should be ready to accept that what is happening in Nigeria as bad as it sounds, has more global phenomenon, has some homemade solutions, especially, should we be determined to find those lasting unconventional approaches in solving the problems. First, let us come to this painful economic reality that the era of flood of petrodollars is over. Secondly, without bold steps to diversify the economy, those running our economy should never expect having in place the kind of economic shock-absorbers seen in other modern economies so that once we find ourselves in the present kind of situation, the shock-absorbers should carry us throughout such a difficult time. Understandably, with the current pressure coming from oil price plunging, amount of oil export plummeting; without other sources of revenue, such as taxes to fill the revenue gap, the collapsing revenue stream has hit hard our mono oil economy so badly that the government of President Buhari being knocked left, right and center found itself helplessly unprepared for these ferocious hard revenue knocks. Without addressing the very high cost of doing business in Nigeria which, for decades, made importation of finished goods thriving and ‘killing’ locally exporting items, which could create job opportunity thereby leading to diversification of the Nigerian economy. In other words, government should make some conscious efforts to discourage the current flood of imports by imposing tariffs, denying these importers not only access to official forex, but also denying them access to our consumer market by using questionable sources of forex to confiscate their goods upon arrival at the nation’s ports. By so doing, they either relocate their factories to Nigeria or they lose access to our consumer market. Also, government should expand the current local content policy to insist that all super and small markets should only operate in the country if and only if 80 per cent of the goods they display and sell are locally sourced from indigenous producers. Above all, urgent steps should be taken in reforming the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to make it both democratic in governance and in monetary policy stances, proreal sector against its present pro-commercial bank policy stances. This amendment of the 2007 CBN Act should start with amending the undemocratic and anti-investment and anti-real sector liquidity monetary policy of the apex bank. This long overdue overhauling of the CBN is needed especially if we sincerely want apex bank to stop promoting economic financialisation, which hands high liquidity to the banking and financial operators while denying the real sector of the economy the huge and cheap liquidity it badly needs in order to grow investment, expand and upgrade plants and equipment, create jobs and pay more taxes to the government. Without overhauling the CBN, there is no way we should hope to reduce the speculative forex trading regime and the high interest rate economy that hardly encourage real sector borrowing for productive investment. Are you satisfied with the pace the current administration is pushing its economic diversi-

Enwegbara

CV Company: Pan-Africa Development Corporate Company (Economic & Financial Consultants) Founded: 2005

Urgent steps should be taken in reforming the CBN to make it both democratic in governance and in monetary policy stances, proreal sector against its present procommercial bank policy stances

Education: B.Arch/M.Arch University Institute of Architecture Venice (Industrial Architecture & Minoring in Economics), MSC, University of London (Development Economics); MBA, 1998, Ondo State Universisty, Ado Ekiti Snr. Mgt. Prog (SMP 18), 2003, Pan African University (LBS) SPURS Fellow, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Public Policy) MSC, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Development Planning); MSC, MIT-Sloan School of Management (Management of Technology& International Finance); Taught Macro-International Economics at MIT as Teaching Assistant to Prof Lester Thurow, Renowned Economist & Sloan School Dean Emeritus Total pay: Nil

fication agenda? My take on diversification is that, the government’s efforts to invest in agriculture are in the right direction since every great industrial economy we all know today started with investing in agriculture by adding industrial and manufacturing value to agriculture. Making sure that we are able to feed ourselves without having to import food should be made non-negotiable. And the fact that this government is making agriculture its cardinal policy should be recognised to be encouraging economic diversification. When it comes to economic diversification, no amount of efforts should be considered to be enough, given our huge infrastructure investment gap, which is as high as $350 billion. But to fully fast-track this government’s economic diversification agenda, there is the need for such exceptional political will, which is made possible by a united, rather than a divided, nation. Unfortunately, as a result of our present ethnic and religious politics, the presence of large number of economic saboteurs is

constantly undermining the badly needed public and private sectors’ investments in driving economic diversification. Also, real economic diversification can never take place without the government coming up with sound policies to formalise and mainstream the country’s huge informal sector economy, which represents as high as 70 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Besides, some urgent steps need to be taken in reforming the CBN to make it both democratic in governance and in monetary policy stances pro-real sector against its present pro-commercial bank policy stances. This amendment of the 2007 CBN Act should start with amending the undemocratic, anti-investment and anti-real sector liquidity monetary policy of the apex bank. What is your assessment of CBN’s newly introduced flexible forex policy regime? It was designed with the goal to further increase economic financialisation, which helps the commercial banks and speculative foreign portfolio investors seeking arbitrage, all at the expense of the real sector of the economy. What the CBN has been able to achieve with this so-called flexible forex regime is to make the banks acting as primary traders in forex to give importers of finished goods easy to access forex while denying importers of critical industrial inputs, like the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) access to the same market. The reason for doing so is because importers of finished goods have freer access to the country’s huge consumer market, not only because imported finished goods are cheaper and better than locally-manufactured goods; but because of the high cost of doing business in Nigeria, which prices out their goods from the consumer market. Also, there is this psychological preference for imported goods because of the belief that locally-made goods are poor in quality and are more expensive. At a time of dwindling incomes, why blame the consumer, whose income is shrinking while prices of goods skyrocket at the same time? That is why, no matter the quality of time expended by those managing our forex policy, trying to buy over the opinions, at the end of the day -few months from now, the truth will eventually emerge. The consequence of the gross failure of the flexible forex policy include, pricing out the real sector from accessing forex. The country will become more import dependent, which means more imported inflation, and more lay-offs in the real sector of the economy. This is already happening.

MONDAY, August 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Insurance

Economy: Nigerians advised to embrace insurance

PENETRATION Underwriting penetration has remained very low in the country leading to businesses collapsing without resuscitation

Sunday Ojeme

s more Nigerians get confronted with various forms accidents and losses on a daily basis, the management of Great Nigeria Insurance Plc has advised on the need to embrace insurance as a way of cutting down on losses. Chief Technical Officer of the company, Folusho Alliyu, made this call in Lagos. He said it was time Nigerians to consciously educate themselves on the benefits they are bound to derive in taking up an insurance policy, adding that there were various insurance products that have been designed to protect lives and properties. He noted that the most essential thing was for the insuring public to willingly open their minds in accepting the fact that insurance was a very important aspect of their lives. Aliyu noted: “Nigerians have waited too long in recognising and accepting the reality that without insurance, one is like building a house without a foundation and in no time, it could come crashing; and when that happens, you will have to start from the scratch again with even more funds than you initially expended. “The earlier we disabuse our minds of the old notion that insurance does not work, the better it will be for all of us.”

L – R: Former Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria, Mr. Seni Adetu; Marketing Executive, Chi Limited, Godspower Utawure and Marketing Executive, Chi Limited, Ilori Babatunde, receiving the most outstanding fruit juice award on Chivita 100%, at the MarketingEdge Brands and Advertising Excellence Awards, in Lagos.

On his part, the Deputy General Manager/ Head of Marketing and Business Development, Toyin Alonge, attributed the low patronage of insurance in the country to the fact that Nigerians lacked the basic insurance knowledge to fully appreciate the benefits inherent in it. He said: “There is a willing suspension of acquiring basic knowledge about insurance products and how it works by majority of Nigerians, which must be dispelled. “Experience has shown that an individual who took out one policy or the other in the past but with awry experi-

Pension operator reaffirms safety of funds

welve years after coming on stream, the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) has been described as the safest pension arrangement in the country so far. Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sigma Pensions, Alhaji Umar Modibbo, said this in Abuja, while hosting three persons from Niger, Delta and Oyo states who won prizes for their participation in a survey conducted by the PFA. He said the scheme under the Pension Reform Act 2014 is safer due to the policies that have been implemented in the sector, which make the services sustainable. While calling for expansion of the coverage, he said that the National Pension Commission was trying to improve on mini or micro pension schemes to enable more people register under the scheme. The managing director said after 11 years in the market and with the challenges in the market, the industry and the busi-

ness had proven to be very much sustainable. He added that the contributive pension scheme was much safer and well structured in a way that it is much more sustainable. He said: “What the industry needs now is expansion of coverage, which the regulator is trying to do by initiating mini pension scheme or micro pensions as they call it. When it comes into stream, more people can now be served under this new pension scheme” he said. Meanwhile, the Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Mr. Eric Fajemisin, said that the lender had disbursed over N200 billion as monthly pension to retirees under the CPS. While applauding the company for keeping to its promise of ensuring that retirees get their benefits as and when due, he stressed the need to build a relationship with customers as well as guide them in making wise decisions with their benefits.

ence along the line was largely due to the inability of perusing their insurance contract or policy as the case may be. Such an individual is capable of giving wrong information or misrepresentation of ideas to would-be customers out there who would have taken one policy or the other.” Managing Director/CEO of the company, Mrs. Cecilia Osipitan, noted that low awareness remains one of the major reasons why a very large percentage of the Nigerian populace is not insuring as they ought to, considering the population and the level of commercial activi-

ties in the country. She also emphasised the need to positively influence the perception of the insuring public to engender greater patronage as the negative notion that most people have against the profession is adversely affecting the performance of the industry. She charged practitioners of the business to ensure the effective sensitisation of people around them on the need to embrace insurance as an integral part of their lives because we all are confronted with different kinds of risk as we go about our daily businesses.

PFAs UNIT RATE FOR RSA AND RSA RETIREE FUND AS AT 22nd JULY, 2016 S/No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

PFA Premium Pension Crusader Sterling ARM Pension Stanbic IBTC Legacy Pension NLPC Pension Pension Alliance Trust Fund Pensions Sigma Pension First Guarantee Pension Leadway Pensure AIICO pension Fidelity Pension FUG Pension Apt Pension Managers Limited AXA Mansard OAK Pension Investment One Pension Managers Limited IEI Anchor Pension Managers Limited IGI Pension Fund Managers Limited NPF Pensions Limited

Unit Value-RSA 3.0364 2.9966 2.9812 2.8365 2.8306 2.6767 2.6159 2.5893 2.4936 2.5030 2.4299 2.3268 2.1382 2.1000 2.0561 2.0388 2.0381 1.8814 1.8612 1.5219 1.1615

Unit Value-RETIREE 2.2787 2.1507 2.3529 2.5774 2.2137 2.2038 2.2018 2.0531 2.3956 2.2045 2.2373 2.1714 2.0589 2.2421 2.2152 1.9566 2.3236 1.6127 2.1208 1.2934 -

DATE 22-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 20-Jul-16 3-Jun-16 22-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 22-Jul-16 8-Mar-16 22-Jul-16

BUSINESS | MONEYLINE

MONDAY, August 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Forex dealers predict prolonged dollar shortage FORECAST Foreign investors concerned about weak economy Tony Chukwunyem

ontrary to the expectation in some quarters, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) decision to float the naira may not ease the shortage of dollars in the system, foreign exchange dealers have said. They told New Telegraph in separate chats that the naira would continue to weaken on

terling Bank Plc has been awarded the Non-Interest Bank of the Year – Africa 2016, for its Non-interest banking window, Sterling Alternative Finance. The award courtesy “The European,” is one of the major categories at the Global Banking & Finance Awards held in London. Sterling Bank commenced Non Interest Banking in 2013 when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) granted the Bank the license to operate the window. The lender in a statement made available over the weekend, noted that the Award was conferred on the Bank based on its success story in the last three years coupled with its ability to use non interest banking contracts to structure transactions in the most unique

limited dollar supply, as foreign investors would not return until the economy shows signs of recovering from the impact of currency controls. After ignoring calls for over a year by foreign investors and agencies such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that it should devalue the naira, the apex bank, had on June 20, begun the implementation of a flexible exchange rate policy which saw the naira falling by over 40 per cent from N199 to N280 to the dollar. The regulator stated that with the new policy, foreign investors would be encouraged to bring in capital to boost liquidity in the interbank forex market.

Also, at the end of its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting last Tuesday, the CBN increased the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 12 per cent to 14 per cent with a view to attracting foreign investors. However, a treasurer at a Tier one lender, who asked not to named, said foreign investors would not be in a hurry to bring in investments, as they were still concerned about the state of the economy. He said, “I don’t believe foreign investors will be in hurry to bring in investments. This is because they are still worried about the weakness of the economy. Although the government has said it will focus on

Sterling Bank bags best noninterest banking award manner. With about 200 branches offering non interest banking services, the bank’s coverage, which is considered the best in Africa, quality of staff, consultants and advisors such as Sheikh Abdulkader Thomas who belongs to several advisory boards globally, also gave the Bank an edge over competitors. The statement from the bank reads further: “Since 2013, we have achieved major milestones, which include a line of US$30 million from the Islamic Corporation for Development (ICD) and US$25 million from the International Islamic

Finance Trade Corporation (ITFC). Both institutions are members of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). In the same vein, the CBN has approved an array of innovative non-interest financial instruments for us in 2016, which will keep us ahead of industry performance. “As we celebrate the international recognition that has come via this award, Sterling Bank will continue to intensify efforts to sell our Sterling Alternative Finance offerings to customers and prospects and remain a reference institution in the area of non-interest banking not only in Africa but globally”.

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

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 16.5 14 10.77 US$42.36 US$26,229,961,624

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 June, 2016 26/07/2016 Mar 2015 28/7/2016 26/7/2016

Description 15.10 27-APR-2017 16.00 29-JUN-2019 15.54 13-FEB-2020 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.50 22-JAN-2026 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 Tenor (Days) Call 30 90 180

TTM

Price 104.65 114.59 111.96 120.58 109.60 100.54 83.82 97.56

1.07 3.24 3.87 5.82 7.95 9.81 14.31 18.29

NIBOR

Rate (%) 4.4583 9.1071 11.0102 12.3790

Bid Yield 10.38 10.55 11.60 11.44 12.27 12.40 12.44 12.49

Change (%) -2.50 ▼ -0.74 ▼ -0.65 ▼ -0.68 ▼

Change (%) -0.02 ▼ -0.01 ▼ 0.00 ↔ 0.00 ↔ -0.07 ▼ -0.08 ▼ -0.03 ▼ 0.02 ▲

Price 104.80 114.89 112.26 120.88 109.90 100.84 84.12 97.86

Tenor (Months)

Change (%) -0.02 ▼ -0.01 ▼ 0.00 ↔ 0.00 ↔ -0.07 ▼ -0.08 ▼ -0.03 ▼ 0.02 ▲

NITTY

Rate (%) 6.9949 7.2368 8.0819 9.2061 9.5872 10.5042

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Offer Yield 10.24 10.45 11.51 11.38 12.22 12.34 12.39 12.44

Change (%) 1.12 ▲ -0.27 ▼ -0.17 ▼ -0.11 ▼ 0.03 ▲ 0.42 ▲

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 7.67 7.82 -0.51 ▼ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 3.83 30-Jun-16 7.92 8.08 -0.51 ▼ 6-Oct-16 8.59 8.34 8.71 -0.31 ▼ Overnight (O/N) 4.33 8.99 -0.31 ▼ 16-Mar-17 9.36 10.28 -0.07 ▼ 9.11 9.98 -0.07 ▼

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.14

Offer 199.24

Change (%) 0.57 ▲

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.0000

CBN Clearing Rates of January 7, 2016 Spot($/N)

196.00

197.00

Emefiele and one of his deputies, Dr. Sarah Alade, met investors in the U.S. and U.K. about a fortnight ago to encourage them to buy naira stocks and bonds. The naira hit an all-time low of N334.50 per dollar last Wednesday, a day after the CBN hiked the MPR. Trades say investors are pushing the currency lower to test the limit of how far it can fall, given a spread of almost 12 per cent between the official and black market naira rates.

Nigerian fraudsters beat bank’s ATM security •Withdraw $30,000 in Ghana

ix suspected Nigerian fraudsters have been arrested for withdrawing about $30,000 (N12million) from an Ecobank Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in Ghana. The fraud, which has sent panic into the banking community in the former Gold Coast, has put other banks, especially those originating from Nigeria on the alert, prompting Access Bank to issue a statement to its customers that their savings were intact and secure. According to the report in a Ghanaian online news site, the assurance follows the arrest of six Nigerians who made illegal withdrawals at VISA ATM machines in the country. The six Nigerians being questioned are suspected to be part of a syndicate that withdrew the money amounting to over GHS150, 000 ($30,000) from an Ecobank ATM. The report also indicated that the police retrieved a total of 150 Access Bank and

GT Bank ATM cards from the fraudsters and the cards were believed to have been stolen from account holders in Nigeria. Confirming the case in an interview, Head of Corporate Affairs at Access Bank Ghana, Nana Adu Kyeremanteng, said the case had nothing to do with accounts in Ghana and assured customers that their monies were safe. “There is no cause for worry for customers in Ghana. These cards are not related to cards issued in Ghana by Access Bank and they are not related to accounts in Access Bank and so our customers have no need to worry on that score. What we want to say is that we want to assure our customers that they have no need to worry, their funds are intact and this has nothing to do with customers in Ghana,” he stated. According to Kyeremanteng, the police are handling the case, as the crime is not peculiar to Ghana.

ETI reports 35% drop in HY2016 net earnings

Source:CBN

FGN Bonds

diversification, the economy remains heavily dependent on oil exports. Until diversification takes place, the naira will not really appreciate against the dollar.” Similarly, Reuters quoted head of Africa strategy at Standard Chartered Bank, Samir Gadio, as saying, “Most investors would like to see a more liquid FX market before resuming purchases of local assets.” It will be recalled that the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin

0.00 ↔

Offer 199.1000

Change (%) -1.75 ▼ -2.08 ▼

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

Chris Ugwu

cobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) Plc has recorded 35 per cent decline in profit after tax for the half year ended, June 30, 2016. The Pan African lender in a filing with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) said its profit after tax fell to N31.081 billion during the half year as against N48.118 billion recorded a year earlier. This translated to a drop of 35 per cent. Also, profit before tax stood at N41.569 billion in 2016 in contrast to N61.414 billion reported in 2015, representing a drop of 32 per cent. Similarly, the bank’s gross earnings dropped marginally by 0.2 per cent to N273.445 billion from N273.992 billion the previous year. Commenting on the results, Group CEO, Ade Ayeyemi, said: “Our results for the first half of the year were modest, achieved in a period of subdued economic activity and market uncertainty. Our diversified business model,

a source of competitive strength, and strategy positively contributed to underlying results. “Revenues, in constant dollars, were relatively unchanged from the prior year period, while earnings decreased due to higher impairments. “The efficiency ratio of 64.3 per cent was within target, despite the revenue headwinds, driven by actions we continue to take to reduce costs, which will yield future benefits. Though the economic environment broadly continues to be challenging, we are seeing progress in our initiatives to improve credit quality. “Our balance sheet growth was significantly impacted by the depreciation of the Naira and our cautious stance on lending. Our capital adequacy ratio at period end was 23.9 per cent under Basel 1.” Ayeyemi concluded: “We see opportunities to serve our clients in these challenging period and applaud Ecobankers, our most valuable resource, for continuing to deepen relationships with our clients.”

MONDAY, August 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at July 29, 2016

national | news

monday, august 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

JAMB withdraws 2016 admission list sent to varsities, others Yekeen Nurudeen and Mojeed Alabi

he Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has withdrawn the list of recommended candidates for admission earlier sent to the tertiary institutions. A statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the Board's Head of Media, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said the withdrawal was to ensure that the University Senate perform its statutory responsibility of conducting the selection of candidates. Under this arrangement, the University Senate, is expected to refer the list back to JAMB for confirmation in line with the admission criteria of merit, catchment and educationally disadvantaged states as directed by the Minister of Education at the policy committee meeting. The statement explained that the earlier list was sent to help fast track the process of admission, so as to allow other tiers of institutions to also conduct their admission. It, however, appealed to candidates who sat for

Appolonia Adeyemi

remature babies, who predominantly receive their nutrition from breastfeeding, have higher intelligent quotients (IQs) in later life, than those who did not. Paediatrics have alerted parents and care givers on the positive impact of breast milk to child development while showing that premature babies, who are breastfed during their first month have higher intelligent quotients (IQs) later in life. They disclosed this in a study that is published in the in ‘The Journal of Paediatrics’. According to the re-

the last Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME ) not to panic about the development, noting that the measure was part of the process of the 2016 admission exercise. The Board had on July 10 released the criteria for admission into the various tertiary institutions in the country for the year 2016. According to the criteria released, JAMB explained that the 2016 admissions would be conducted purely on the three existing admission pillars of merit, catchment area

WAEC, NECO and NBTE results or equivalent are acceptable as matriculation requirements. “Each candidate is expected to have a minimum of five (5) credits at SSCE including English, mathematics and any other three (3) relevant subjects to his or her discipline “The list of qualified candidates awaiting SSCE/AL results can be kept in view (K.I.V) pending the release of their results. Any candidate who does not possess the requirements as listed above is deemed to have failed the screening."

Sheriff rejects Anenih's pardon by Makarfi Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

actional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has rejected the clearance of former Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party, Chief Tony Anenih of anti-party activities by the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee. The caretaker committee, in a letter dated July 22, and addressed to Anenih, informed him of the party’s withdrawal of the summon notice. The letter, signed by the

Parents at the news conference on the statement made by the Turkish Government, to have the Nigerian Turkish International College School closed down in Abuja..…at the weekend. PHOTO: NAN

Breastfeeding boosts premature babies' IQ searchers, the infants have been found to have larger volumes of certain brain regions at term equivalent and have better IQs, academic achievement, working memory and motor function. Breastfeeding or nursing is the feeding of babies and young children with milk from a woman's breast. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that breastfeeding begin within the first hour of a baby's life and be allowed as often and as much as the baby wants. The world body similarly advocates that babies

Atiku dismisses association with new party ormer Vice President and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has denied a newspaper report alleging that he has formed a new political platform under which he will run for president in 2019, with Ondo State Governor Segun Mimiko as his running mate. The statement signed by his Media Adviser, Mazi Paul Ibe, said that the report smacks of

and educational less developed states through the following process. "First, presentation of the list of candidates, who qualify for screening into individual institution based on the three stipulated criteria mentioned above. This screening should not demand for another test in any form either written, oral or electronic. Candidates are to present their Senior School Certificate Examination ( SSCE) results/ Advanced Level (AL) results for verification and clearing purposes.

“hatchet job planted by his opponents who have desperately tried to invent events in order to draw a wedge between him and President Muhammadu Buhari on one hand and APC leadership as a whole.” According to Ibe, “the report was an incompetent product of fiction, so shallow and vacuous that even its authors could not validate its credibility with reliable and verifiable sources."

should be breastfed exclusively for six months after which both complementary feeding would be continued with breastfeeding thereafter until the child is weaned. Reacting to the study, Researcher Mandy Brown Belfort said: “Many mothers of preterm babies have difficulty providing breast milk for their babies, and we need to work hard to ensure that these mothers have the best possible support systems in place to maximise their ability to meet their own feeding goals. It is also important

to note that there are so many factors that influence a baby's development, with breast milk being just one.” This information was subsequently cross referenced with data related to regional brain volumes measured by MRI scans at each baby’s term equivalent age and again at seven years old. They conducted further analysis on cognitive capabilities, including IQ, reading, maths, attention, working memory, language and visual perception. The researchers followed 180 premature

infants from birth until they turned seven. They identified babies which had received breast milk as more than 50 per cent of their nutritional intake from birth to 28 days of life. This information was subsequently cross referenced with data related to regional brain volumes measured by MRI scans at each baby’s term equivalent age and again at seven years old.

Babatope Okeowo Akure

Gusau

he crisis between Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar of Zamfara State and the members of the state House of Assembly over impeachment have finally been resolved. That followed the swords intervention of traditional rulers and stakeholders from within and outside the state. Speaking with newsmen yesterday shortly after reconciliation meeting summoned by the All Progres-

sives Congress (APC) at government house Gusau, the state capital, Yari said that all the disagreement between the two warring arms has been resolved and that they have agreed to continue working together for the development of the state. "We met and x-rayed our misunderstandings, out of which other concerned stakeholders in attendance have critically identified a lasting solution to the extent that the cordial relationship between the integral arms has returned", Yari assured."

Secretary to the committee, Senator Ben Obi, read in part: “With a view, to finally clearing all issues relating to this matter and based on your request to meet with the current Caretaker Committee, and the agreed meeting which took place on July 13, 2016, the Committee Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, wishes to thank you for appearing before it to finally clear all issues relating to this matter." But Sheriff in a statement yesterday signed by one Bernard Mikko, said any effort to re-admit Anenih as a member of BoT will have to follow due process. The statement reads: "The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has been drawn to the status of Chief Tony Anenih as a member of Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP. "Party members and loyalists will recall that the National Working Committee (NWC) issued a query to Chief Tony Anenih in April 2015 as part of disciplinary procedures for his anti-party activities in Imo State during the 2015 General elections in line with Article 57(4) of the PDP Constitution 2012 (as amended). Chief Anenih did not respond to the query but chose to tender a letter of resignation as BoT member. Up till date, the query remains unanswered and his resignation remains valid. "If the chief is desirous of returning as member of the BoT, he should reapply to the party, with his response to the pending query for consideration."

$220m

The net worth of Robert Downey Jr. in 2016. Source: Fropky.com

FG begins payment of ex-militants

Impeachment: Yari, lawmakers settle differences A Idris Salisu

lmost one and half year after President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office, the Federal Government yesterday said it will today begin the payment of ex-militants in the Niger Delta Region the monthly stipends that was stopped many months ago. The Federal Government's gesture according to the office of the Amnesty Office is to prevent the protest of ex-militants in the Niger Delta Region slated for today. The Special Adviser to the President on Niger

Delta/Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (Rtd), in a statement by his media officer, Mr Piriye Kiyaramo, assured the ex-militants of the government's continuation of payment of the stipends just as he appealed to the ex-agitators in the region to shelve the planned protests slated for today. Boroh, who expressed great concern over the plight of the ex-agitators in respect of their delayed stipends, maintained that President Buhari appreciated their patience, adding that the hiccups in the payment of their stipends were already being addressed.

NEWS | south-west

Oluwo visits Ife on mission to establish forefather’s root Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

luwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, yesterday paid a visit to Ile-ife, the cradle of Yoruba race, to reestablish his root. The monarch, who traced his root in Ile-ife to the Lafogido ruling house of Okerewe, expressed his happiness at the discovery and promised to associate with them at all times. He said: "The ruling families today are one. Even the Osinkola, Ogboru, Giesi and Lafogido are one from the same father. "They are from the same source and Iwo itself is from the same source as this

ruling house. Iwo has a ruling house here in IleIfe. So, it means that Ife prince can come to Iwo anytime and even want to be on the stool and so Iwo prince too can come to Ife and still want to do the same." "This historical event happened about 1,500years ago when Oranmiyan came back to his father's house. There is a family line that goes on the throne. You have to know which family is ours but I don't know if any other place apart from Iwo has this trademark." "Everybody has to prove that and you see an Ooni must be able to identify you as his child. It is not you that will just make up a story because we did not make up a

story to be here today. Our family, the mother of Iwo is Oluwo Gbagida but we are all the same. I want you to know that Ife and Iwo are from the same father." "It must be sustained because I am fully involved. I will come when there is anything. I will be fully involved because this is my house." "Anywhere my mother, Luwo Gbagida is now, May God bless her. Believe me, when she was on the throne, she became the father of all Yoruba. Nobody expects a woman to attain that

$3.2m

The total amount from endorsements of Henrik Stenson (Golf) for 2015. Source: Forbes.com

feat". "She was not just an Ooni that went down in history without anything. She was the first one to make the engineering of a road. She fought in wars and she came back. She was a very dynamic woman; no woman even in the history of Nigeria has ever attained that feat. Luwo Gbagida is a very big woman. She's bigger and greater". While welcoming the monarch, Sooko Obaraso of Ife, Prince Babatunde Adediwura Omolaso, said: "What the Kabiyesi Oluwo, Oba Adewale Akanbi, has just said is true. There is no other woman in Ife or Yoruba land that can be compared with Luwo Gbagida" .

he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has accused the state Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, of blackmailing the Federal Government with the hardship being experienced by the citizens of the state and the country. The APC through its Director of Publicity, Mr Steve Otaloro, in a statement, blamed the hardship being experienced in the country on the 16 years reign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the federal level and the mismanagement of the state funds by the PDP-led administration in the state. The PDP administration in the state had blamed the delay in the payment of salary of civil servants and the execution of some projects on the dwindling revenue from the federation account. Governor Mimiko also called for the restructur-

agos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, is leading other governors in a poll organised by the African Leadership magazine to determine Nigeria's top performing governor. The exercise, tagged, 'Good Governance Polls for Nigeria’s Top Performing Governor’ started two weeks ago with Governor Ambode maintaining the lead with 36.1 percent of the total vote casts so far. Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, is closely trailing Governor Ambode with 25 percent. The poll, according to its organisers, was part of the strategic engagement tool aimed at monitoring performance and gauge the mood of the electorate in Nigeria in line with its objective of providing credible in-

ing of the polity so that the Federal Government can shed some of its powers to the federating units just as he consistently pushed for the review of the revenue sharing formula by the three tiers of government. However, Otaloro, in the statement, said Mimiko’s agitations amounts to a blackmail of the Federal Government. He said the dwindling revenue should be blamed on the mismanagement of the past. According to Otaloro, Mimiko has embarked on provocative campaign of calumny aimed at inciting the good people of the state against the APC-led Federal Government. He said, "Mimiko has recently embarked upon false dissemination of distorted information aimed at projecting the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari-led government as being responsible for the people’s hardship in Ondo State. "In the last three weeks, the state government has been churning out pro-

vocative jingles aimed at inciting the people against the APC-led Federal Government as creating hardship for the people through unfavourable economic policies. "Instead of Mimiko addressing the massive corruption and the unprecedented syphoning of the nation’s resources by the leaders of Mimiko’s PDP-

immediate past federal administration, the Governor had shifted the blame on President Muhammadu Buhari's government that is assiduously working to better the lots of the citizenry and reposition our economy that had been battered and bruised by the previous PDP-led administrations as being responsible for the nation’s woes."

FETHI: Doctors seek probe of hospital's accountant Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

octors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti (FETHI) have called for the probe of the hospital’s accountant, Mr. Rotimi Aladesawe, over alleged financial impropriety. The doctors, under the umbrella of Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) are asking the Economic and Financial

Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe Aladesawe’s activities which they claimed has been impeding the smooth running of the institution. They are also urging the hospital’s management to remove the accountant in order to restore peace at the FETHI. They also issued a 14day ultimatum for the implementation of full salary to medical doctors in the hospital as against the half currently being paid.

formation and support to leaders in Nigeria and Africa at large. An overwhelming 35 percent popularity rating for Governor Ambode, among other governors, clearly showed his popularity as he continues to deliver good governance, promoting infrastructural development and peoplecentred policies to better the lives of Lagosians. Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, is in third place with 8.8 percent while Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, is occupying the fourth position with 7.9 percent of the total vote casts. Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir ElRufai, sits in fifth position with 5 percent. As at press time, voting is still ongoing and it is expected to close in the next four days

Eko Atlantic Project ready this month

APC accuses Mimiko of blackmailing FG

Akure

Ambode leads as Nigeria’s top performing governor

Muritala Ayinla

L-R: Team Lead, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Mr. Akiyama Yoshihiro; Director, Public Transport, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, Mr. Gbenga Dairo; Director, Africa Division, JICA, Mr. Daisuke Watanabe and Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, at a seminar on the Lagos Urban Railway development project, by LAMATA, in Lagos.

Babatope Okeowo

MONDAY, august 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

hairman of Eko Atlantic City, Mr. Ronald Chagoury, yesterday said that one of the first two residential buildings in the new city will be completed by the end of August, while the second one will be ready before the end of the year. The firm added that the first office block will be ready between September and October, 2016. This revelation was coming on the heels of an assurance by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State over the speedy completion of the multi-billion dollar project sitting on over 10 million square metres. The duo spoke during an extensive inspection tour of the project, where Governor Ambode led members of the State Executive Council. Ambode expressed confidence that the ini-

tiative will not only boost the economy of the state, but would also increase its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Speaking after inspecting the project, Ambode said that it would go a long way to facilitate the quest to grow the potentials of the state economy. "I would like to express the total support of this government to this project because at the end of the day we need to grow the economy of Lagos and this obviously is going to have multiplier effect on our IGR”, the governor said. "We promise that we are going to grow our IGR to N30 billion by 2017 and N50 billion by 2018 and this project is a sure outlet in achieving that goal," he also added. The Governor while expressing satisfaction on the infrastructure already put in place urged investors to take advantage of the massive opportunities.

Fajuyi's remembrance: Family affirms Ekiti govt's support Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

ome family members of the late Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, at the weekend refuted claims by his eldest son, Mr. Donald Fajuyi, that Ekiti State Government did not offer any support in the commemoration of the golden jubilee celebrations of the demise of the 1966 coup hero. The family members, led by Mrs. Lanre Fajuyi in a chat with journalists in Ado-Ekiti, said government supported them both in cash and kind throughout the celebra-

tions which was marked across Ekiti, Oyo and Lagos states. The team, which also included Mrs. Desola Olajuyigbe (nee Fajuyi), Dr. Tope Olajuyigbe (son-in-law) and Mrs. Abigail Abike Boboye (nee Fajuyi), explained that Governor Fayose supported the family 'morally and financially'. At a thank-you visit to Governor Fayose at the Osuntokun Hall, the family said the state government was represented by a delegation led by the Deputy-Governor, Dr. Olusola Kolapo Eleka, who fully participated in all the events in the week-long remembrance programme.

News|south-east

monDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Group wants competition, consumer bill passed into law Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

he Society for the improvement of rural people(SIRP) has called for early passage of the federal competition and consumer protection bill, 2015, before the National Assembly. The group, a private sector coalition, comprises the Nigerian Association of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture(NACCIMA) and Enhancing Nigerian Advocacy for a better Business Environment(ENABLE).

Briefing newsmen in Enugu at the weekend, Vice Chairman Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists(NASSI), Enugu State chapter, Mr. Josephat Onoh, stated that the bill when passed into law, would boost the economy by granting entry to more investors, promoting innovation and creativity, increase productivity and prudent. According to him, the law would among others regulate mergers and acquisitions to ensure that completion in the relevant market is not eliminate by the merging of two or more firms.

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (right) conferring with some Catholic priests, shortly after a mass celebrated as part of a grand reception in his honour by the people of Umuopu, IgboEze North LGA… yesterday

China set to partner Anambra on development Pamela Eboh Awka

project contracting company, China CAMC Engineering Limited, is set to partner Anambra State in four key sectors of development. A delegation from the company, led by the Managing Director, Mr. Yu Tao and some finance partners, facilitated by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) disclosed this during a courtesy call on the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano. Speaking at the event,

Mr. Yu Tao, expressed their interest to partner the state in the agriculture, health and oil/gas sectors, saying that the company would support the state in areas of staple food processing and agricultural mechanisation. He highlighted the construction of airport and other transport system as areas they intended to engage in intercity and interstate rail projects. Tao said that following the speed of development in the Anambra State, they were convinced of making the right choice. Addressing the group, Obiano said that the partnership was a welcome

development, especially in the area of oil and gas, as well as power. He assured them of good security, saying that his administration has made great efforts at ensuring that investments and business ventures in the state thrive under a very conducive atmosphere. The governor further sought their partnership in the development of water transportation and creation of Export Free Zone in the state. He also promised his government’s readiness to ensure the deal was struck soon.

Ebonyi college raises the alarm over encroachment Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

he Ebonyi State School of Health Technology, Ngbo, has raised the alarmover continued encroachment into the school premises by members ofthe school community. The school lamented that the encroachments by the Ngbo community has

adversely affected teaching and learning in the institution. Principal of the school, Chief Emma Okoro, stated this at the weekendwhen the state House of Assembly Committee on Health paid an oversightfunction to the institution. He regretted that the entrance gate into the college has been blockedby a man,

who erected a residential building there. “There is no survey plan for this school. We don’t know what the dimension of the school is. I wrote to the Surveyor General of the state, demanding for the survey plan of the school and he said he will get back to me but I have not heard from him months after writing the letter.

Ebonyi: 4,000 apply for 2,400 jobs Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

bout 4,000 persons in Ebonyi State have applied in the ongoing exercise of selecting 2,400 youths and women across the state for empowerment programme of the state government. The state Commissioner for Economic Empowerment and Job Creation, Chief Sabinus Nwankwegu, disclosed this to reporters in Abakaliki yesterday. He noted that the government decided to group the exercise which is cost free into zones to avoid stampede and assured that the selection

would be done with high level of transparency. He debunked allegations that the names of people to be empowered had already been compiled, despite asking the general public to apply and urged the public to disregard the rumour, describing it as baseless and untrue. Nwankwegu disclosed that Governor Dave Umahi, had strictly ordered him to give all applicants equal chances. He said six persons would be selected from each ward with respect to gender equality and applicants would be screened and those qualified selected without favouritism. Nwankwegu, who said the exercise was for

everybody without educational barrier, noted that the only gateway was the applicant’s ability to present convincing business proposal. He explained that those selected would be given N250,000 to start their preferred business but would be meant to sign Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with the state government. He added that government would supervise the beneficiaries to ensure judicious utilization of the fund and those who performed well after one year would be given additional money to add in their business, stating that “the governor’s intention is to raise millionaires.”

MASSOB rejects conditional release for Kanu

lUwazuruike compromised the struggle –Cleric Charles Onyekwere and Steve Uzoechi

he Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra,(MASSOB),has described as unsavoury the purported Federal Government’s offer of a conditional release for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. According to a statement signed by MASSOB leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu, the conditions were not only laughable but inconsequential. The statement wondered how any sane man thinks that Nnamdi Kanu would renounce Biafra and sell out the good people of Biafra, who are clamouring for self-rule. The statement noted that the Biafran struggle was bigger than Nnamdi Kanu or any other leader, pointing out that nobody, not even Kanu can stop the tide.

“MASSOB’s reaction on the FG’s condition on Nnamdi Kanu’s release is a bluff of government that knows nothing about genuine self determination. This condition is not only laughable but inconsequential. “MASSOB does not see Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as one who can betray his belief in Biafra. He is not a sell out, his ideologies on Biafra may differ; he can never betray hundreds of Biafrans that died recently on the course of Biafra. “Secondly, Biafra is not a religious faith that can be renounced or abandoned. Nobody can renounce Biafra. It is an identity, culture, tradition and existence of group of nationalities. It’s not personal or individualistic. “There are thousands of Biafranistic persons more determined, consistent, dangerous, focused, unshakable than Nnamdi Kanu, Uchenna Madu and other leading figures in Biafra struggle. Biafra is also bigger than

all the leading figures put together. “It is childish for the Federal Government to expect Nnamdi Kanu to renounce Biafra, the fate of over 50 million people. MASSOB advises Buhari to save his battered Nigeria’s face from more diplomatic shame by allowing the court to grant Nnamdi Kanu and others bail. “We shall continue to press for their release, including the ultimate aim of Biafra actualization with non violence. Nigeria will soon experience another dimension of non violence struggle that will marvel them. Soon, the world will celebrate the downfall of the most corrupt country,” the statement asserts. Meanwhile, A cleric, Prophet Anthony Nwoko, has called on Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, founder MASSOB to immediately quit the Biafran struggle. He alledged that Uwazuruike was more of a problem than the solution to the Biafran agitation.

Abia PDP faction gives condition for reconciliation Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

s the leadership crisis in the Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepens, the splinter group has said that it is representing the powerless, voiceless majority in the 17 local governments of the state. The group said that its members were dissatisfied with the impunity and imposition of candidates in the congress that produced the present state executive, saying that only a fresh congress would bring lasting peace and true reconciliation. The group made it clear that they were not breaking away from the party even as they are aligned

with the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the party at the national level and would remain so until events turn otherwise. Consequently, they dared the Chief Johnson Onuigbo-led faction to make good its threat to suspend them. Addressing journalists in Umuahia, the leaders of the faction, including Hon Chidi Nwosu, Hon Chukwuemeka Osoagbaka, Hon Emeka Ejiogu, who are immediate past House of Assembly members representing Umuahia South, Ikwuano and Umuahia North respectively and Mr Uzodinma Ugele, the immediate past administrative secretary of the party, said they were upset by the impunity in the state PDP,

even as they insisted that the state congress that produced the Chief Onuigbo –led executive was a sham. They argued that the congress was not conducted in line with the requirement of internal democracy because there was no election as many eligible candidates, who had bought the form were screened out at the last minute in favour of Onuigbo. The group lamented that the development has made the present executive a stooge and cap-inhand group that must beg for support and approval before it could embark on any party programme, saying that PDP lost in most of wards they come from.

40 News|SOUTH-SOUTH

Military releases Tompolo’s boys Joe Obende Warri

he military in Warri, Delta State, at the weekend, released two of Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo) boys, who had been in their cells as suspected oil pipeline vandals. This followed the pressure from Tompolo and other groups who had been calling on the military to charge the duo of Samuel Bebenimibo and Bomboy Oluwa, to court for whatever offence they deemed they must have committed or set them free. While Bebenimibo was said to be a member of the Delta Waterways Security Committee, Oluwa was said to be a boat engine mechanic in the riverside area of Warri. The duo were picked up

by the military of the 3rd Battalion, Effurun on Monday, July 18, allegedly in connection with the activities of the dreaded rampaging Niger Delta Avengers (NDA). The military said they were released unconditionally following pressure from Tompolo and other groups and a directive from the Presidency. “After extensive investigations, the military had no further reason to hold on to them. In addition, there was a public outcry including that of their leader, Tompolo and the Presidency ordered their release,” a security source said in Effurun barracks. The arrest of the young men about two weeks ago had been greeted with public outcry as they were said not to have been picked up anywhere close to the scene of the crime of pipeline vandalism.

APC chieftain urges NDA to lay down arms Johnchuks Onuanyim

Abuja

cting National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has called on the militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), to lay down their arms against the present administration. The APC chieftain, who commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the approval of a 13-man Governing Council and a 10-member Board of Trustees for the cleanup of Ogoniland in the Niger Delta in a statement issued yesterday, also said that the President has demonstrated to the people of the Niger Delta that his commitment to the cleanup of Ogoni land is not a political jamboree. It will be recalled that President Buhari had on June 2, inaugurated the cleanup of Ogoni land at Bodo in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers

State. The APC spokesman said the militants should reciprocate the gesture of the President by laying down their arms and henceforth give the president the benefit of the doubt as he believes that the President will surely deliver on his promises to the region. Frank, who is also a Niger Delta son, called on leaders across the region to take advantage of “a sincere president like President Muhammadu Buhari, who he said has started doing for the region what their son, former President Goodluck Jonathan, could not do for six years as president.” Announcing the committee at weekend, Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed, in a statement by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Bukar Hassan, said the structures would ensure inclusiveness, accountability, transparency and sustainability of the exercise.

Rivers PDP, APC bicker over security Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State at the weekend faulted the presence of soldiers and policemen around Senator Magnus Abe, the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Rivers South-East. PDP Chairman in the state, Felix Obuah, alleged that soldiers and officers of the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) are with the senator, instead of being deployed to different parts of the state to fight insecurity. He said this shows partiality on the part of the Nigerian Police, which he

noted are supposed to work for all rather than a particular individual because of his political affiliation. He said in a statement: “This is indicting and evidently dwarfs all claims of seriousness and impartiality on the part of the Nigeria Police under whose watch and authorisation such illegality and misapplication of national resources and indeed, the tax payers’ money are permitted to continue unchecked. “The PDP believes this is not only wrong but also amounts to dereliction of duty on the side of our national security and should be investigated to correct the created impression of complicity with those in authority.”

monDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Clark, Ijaw leaders to FG: Your dialogue with militants, a ruse Dominic Adewole ASABA

ormer Minister of Information in the first republic, Chief Edwin Clark, at the weekend faulted the dialogue between the Federal Government and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and other militia groups in the Niger Delta region. Clark, backed by elders and leaders of Ijaw ethnic nationality, including the Delta State Governor, represented by his deputy, Kingsley Otuaro,

his Beyelsa State counterpart, Seriake Dickson, in Warri, said any negotiation between the Federal Government and the militants would be a ruse without them. The Federal Government allegedly met with the militants in proxy on Saturday, July 30, through the oil companies and security agencies in a bid to restore lasting peace in the region. But Clark wondered why and how such meeting was planned and conducted without prominent Ijaw leaders in attendance. The elder statesman said the conclusion of the

meeting may soon hit the rock, owing to the way and manner the Ijaw leaders were schemed out. MEND’s spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, in a statement about 48 hours ago, announced that the Federal Government may soon free the former militant leader, Charles Okah, facilitate the release of his brother, Henry Okah, release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu and stop the manhunt for the ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo and suspend the ongoing military occupation in the Niger Delta

region. Gbomo was hopeful that the ‘give-and-take’ agreement reached at the parley would restore peace in the Niger Delta and end the agitation in the SouthSouth and South East geopolitical zones. While Henry Okah is in prison in South Africa and Charles Okah is incarcerated in Nigeria, Kanu has been undergoing trial for treason charges, even as Tompolo, who was charged for corruption, has been declared wanted by court for contempt, having failed to appear to answer to the charges preferred against him.

L-R: Chief of Defence Staff, Lt.-Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin; Minister of Defence, Brig.- Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (Rtd), and the Spokesman of ‘Operation Delta Safe’, Lt.-Col. Olaolu Daudu, during an operational visit to boost morale of the Joint Military Team in the Niger Delta … at the weekend. PHOTO:NAN

Communities petition FG on Delta Steel Complex

iqued by an abandoned power project, three communities- Ovwian, Aladja and Orhuwhorun in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State have jointly petitioned the Federal Government over neglect of the old Aladja Delta Steel Complex. In an open letter signed by the Presidents General of Ovwian, Aladja and Orhuwhorun, Engr. Paul Odiete; Pius Tuphe and Ellias Dogene, respectively, and addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, the communities’ heads ex-

pressed their premonition and bitterness over the proposed concessioning of the plant by NIOMCO to the Global Holdings, being former operators of the old Aladja DSC. They insisted that the old operators devastated and cannibalised the plant beyond redemption, with multi dimension adverse effects on the host communities. “The DSC plant, under whatever names or operators, has the ernormous capacity to empower more than 10,000 persons economically and, in line with the firm resolve of the present administration to provide

jobs for the jobless, every effort should therefore be harnessed towards resuscitation of the plant. “The Federal Government, as the grand overall authority, should do everything possible to support the restart process of the plant, now underway. Nothing less. Expectations are very high,” the communities stated in the letter. However, the three host communities to the old DSC plant, unequivocally stated that “NIOMCO, as the nerve centre and life wire of the DSC plant, and by extension of the steel industry in Nigeria, should

not be concessioned to Global Holdings since they have no regard for the welfare of Nigerians. Any decision of the Federal Government to concession NIOMCO to Global Holdings, without the interests of the old DSC and host communities, is inimical, iniquitous and insidious…affirmative of the plights of the people of the Niger Delta in particular in the present administration. The Federal Government, as matter of urgency, should make adequate provisions, in terms of a hitch-free regular supply of raw materials, for the resuscitation of the DSC plant.”

FG, Delta feud over Asaba-Onitsha Expressway deepens DominicAdewole ASABA

he controversy trailing the failed portion of the Asaba-Onitsha Expressway assumed a new dimension at the weekend as the Federal Government and the Delta State government continued to bicker over the issue. With the statement issued by the state yesterday, an end has not come to the night-

mare being experienced by motorists and commuters on the ever busy expressway as a result of the failed portion of the road in Okwe axis of Asaba. The state said another attempt to fix the failed portion, shortly before the Asaba end to the River Niger Bridge, has again been resisted by officials of the Federal Government. The state described the development as ‘unfortunate,’

maintaining that the Ifeanyi Okowa administration, since its inception, has not discriminated against any part of the state in the provision of infrastructure, especially in the area of roads. Governor Okowa in a statement signed by his Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, said the state’s interventionist department, the Direct Labour Agency (DLA) had mobilised to the spot shortly

before the visit of the Minister of Works, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, but were chased out by officials of the Federal Government. “The second attempt to fix the road was made again last week, but officials of Julius Berger Plc, who were brandishing contract documents again, insisted that the Delta State government cannot work on the road as the state had no valid contract to do such.”

monDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

upporters of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress APC) in Benue State yesterday clashed at a thanksgiving mass organized in honour of former governor of the state, Chief Gabriel Suswam at Lessel, headquarters of Ushongo Local Government Area of the state. The thanksgiving service, New Telegraph gathered, was organised by a socio-political group known as the “Zone A Movement,” to appreciate the former governor for running a successful eight-year-tenure as governor as well as other good things he did for them. The programme, which was held at NKST Church, Lessel, attracted prominent sons and daughters of the area and the state at large, including Suswam’s wife Yemisi, former Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, former Adviser to the ex-Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Solomon Wombo, former PDP governorship aspirant, Dr. Tivlumun Nyitse, a member of the House of Assembly representing Logo constituency, Hon. Kester Ikyenge, among others.

PDP, APC supporters clash at Suswam’s thanksgiving service

Lessel is the homestead of erstwhile Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri and one time Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa. New Telegraph learnt on good authority that trouble started when the church service to mark the event commenced during which hundreds of youths that allegedly claimed loyalty to the

ruling party stormed the venue on motorcycles and taxi cabs, carrying green leaves and placards with the intent to disrupt the service. Some of the placards sighted by our correspondent carried bold inscriptions such as “Leader of G-52, bring back the N107 billion you looted and stop making noise,” “Suswam stop witchcraft in Benue,” among others, while the noise and songs they were singing rented the air.

finally recovered, would be used for the execution of projects that would impact positively on the lives of the citizens. New Telegraph gathered that the timely intervention of security operatives prevented the protest from degenerating into a full-blown crisis and further disruption of the church service, but some worshippers and protesters were reported to have sustained injuries in the fracas.

L-R: Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Olushola Amore; Out-going Commissioner of Police, Sam Okaula and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Ilorin….at the weekend.

World Bank, Sokoto commit N8.8bn to projects in 10 LGAs

he World Bank and the Sokoto State Government have agreed to execute projects in 10 local government areas of the state to the tune of N8.8 billion. The projects are to be executed under the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP). The collaboration is aimed at addressing the menace of gully erosion and land degradation in selected communities across the state. This was contained in

Residents of the area, including market women and children, we’re reportedly not happy with Suswam over what they described as inflicting hardship on them during his eight-year tenure, which they alleged did not favour them. Governor Samuel Ortom had set up an investigative panel to probe the former governor’s tenure, which indicted him and 51 others of looting N107 billion, the money he (Ortom) said when

News|nORTH

a statement issued yesterday by Malam Imam Imam, spokesman to Governor Aminu Tambuwal in Sokoto. “Under the arrangement, the Sokoto State government will pay 12.9 percent of the amount, which stands at over N1.33 billion as counterpart funding. The entire project will be executed in 10 local government areas and will tackle environmental issues, water management and land reclamation across the council areas.

“The projects include rehabilitation of Lugu Dam and Wurno Irrigation Scheme in Wurno council area, control of river erosion along the bridge linking Sabon Birni and Niger Republic, construction of medium earth dam at Rafin Duma and Kadassaka area in Gada council area and the construction of a main collector drainage and gutter from Tudun Wada area to River Sokoto in Sokoto South council area,” the statement added.

Alhassan expresses worry over Ishaku’s govt Sabiu Mustapha JALINGO

inister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Alhassan, has expressed concern over what she described as ‘deliberate discrimination’ against Taraba people, who she said supported the All Progressives Congress (APC) in last year’s general elections by the Darius Ishaku administration in the state. The minister lamented that those discriminated against were mostly those in the state civil service, who she claimed, were being persecuted by the state government. Alhassan, who spoke at the weekend at a press conference in Jalingo, expressed worry over the manner the governor is handling the affairs of the state. She said many of the victims were denied their salaries while others were omitted from the payroll just because they showed sympathy for the APC. “I’m not happy about what the government of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is doing to the APC supporters. Civil servants can belong to a political party,” she said.

Court asserts right of Ajikobi family to emirate stool Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

n Ilorin High Court at the weekend affirmed that the descendants of the late Aliyu Usman of Ajikobi compound, Ilorin, have rights to aspire or be nominated the Daudu Ipaye and Balogun Ajikobi, whenever the stools become vacant. Balogun Ajikobi is one of the four high chiefs of Ilorin Emirate, but the family of Aliyu Usman Ajikobi has not been able to clinch the coveted seat

of recent. According to Justice I. B. Garba, while ruling in a suit instituted by Mallam Garba Nageri Ajikobi and Mallam Alfanla Ajikobi on behalf of Aliyu lineage and Balogun Ajikobi of Ilorin against Alhaji Issa Jimoh Ajikobi, the defendant cannot exclude or refuse to consider or forward the names of the defendants of the late Aliyu Usman, one of the children of the first Balogun Ajikobi in the nomination process of any vacant stool of District Head of Ipaye or Balogun Ajikobi of

Ilorin to the Emir of Ilorin, whenever the said stool is vacant. The court also granted an order restraining the defendant, his servants, agents, privies, or any person acting through or in concert or connivance with him from exercising or denying the claimants’ lineage from aspiring to any office, post, position, enjoyed or capable of being enjoyed or aspired to including the stool of Daudu Ipaye, Balogun Ajikobi or any other right or entitlement meant for Balogun Ajikobi dynasty.

Benue workers threaten strike over salary delay Kogi poised to weed off ‘political civil servants’ cluding primary school N8.6 billion, in addition Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

ivil servants in Benue State at the weekend threatened to embark on strike should Governor Samuel Ortom delayed a minute in the payment of their accumulated salaries using the Budget Support Funds he received from the Federal Government. The state government is owing its workers, in-

teachers, between four to six months salaries. Governor Ortom had disclosed that the state government received N8.6 billion last month from the federation account to pay state and local government workers. The amount, he said, was the highest so far received by the state since he assumed office last year. The governor spoke last week during a radio programme that the

to the internally generated revenue, which was over N500 million, was enough to clear salaries for at least three months. Some of the aggrieved workers, who spoke with New Telegraph on the issue, but who did not want his name in print, expressed regrets at the insensitive posture of the government to the plight of civil servants and sued for a change of heart in the interest of the state.

Zacchaeus Ozovehe Lokoja

ogi State government under the leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello, has reiterated its resolve to overhaul the state’s civil service by training and retraining workers for capacity building and equally weeding off those enmeshed in politicking. The Governor stated this yesterday at the Government House, Lokoja, during a one-day public

lecture organised by the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD) under the chairmanship of Mallam Abidu Yazid. Bello, who described effective civil service as the engine room of any administration, decried a situation where some civil servants who are supposed to aid government to implement its policy objectives, engaged in unnecessary partisan activities. “It will be recalled that when we started our cam-

paign about 365 days ago, we promised to reform the civil service for optimum and qualitative service delivery. That informed the choice of vibrant and young individuals who would serve selflessly to lead the state out of the woods. “We cannot afford to continue in the old order and expect miracles to happen. We shall weed out political civil servants, who are working at cross purposes with government,” he vowed.

NEWS | national

Protect Christians against attack, cleric tells FG Tunde Oyesina Abuja

gainst the backdrop of incessant attacks on Christians in recent times, the Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Kubwa, Abuja, Rt. Rev. Duke T. Akamisoko, yesterday called on the Federal Government to guard the constitutional rights of Christians to worship and association as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Clergy man, who stated this in a communiqué issued at the end of the Second Session of the Third Synod of the Diocese held at the St. Bartholomew Cathedral, Kubwa, Abuja, however called on the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN to take a definite stand against the slaughtering of Christians. According to him,

“while the church is still trying to recover from the effect of the massive destruction of lives and property in the North Eastern states of Nigeria by Boko Haram insurgents, the incessant killings of Christians for instance, the women killed at Kano and Kubwa is worrisome”. Bishop Akamisoko also noted with the dismay the prevalent attack on farming communities by Fulani herdsmen in different parts of the country. He, however, called for more decisive actions by government to disarm the herdsmen in order to stem the rising wave of attack and killing of harmless farmers. The Bishop while commending the Federal Government’s effort towards fighting corruption calls on the anti-corruption agencies to adopt a strategy that will cut across all arms and tiers of government.

MONDAY, august 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Fayose: I made mistake bringing out Sheriff

Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

kiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has described the emergence of Senator Ali-Modu Sheriff as chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP) as an error. “I take responsibility for that. I will not be in the forefront again to carry responsibility for any man", Fayose said, insisting that he would go spiritual and allow God “to choose the right man to lead the people”. Fayose spoke late Sat-

urday at Lady Jibowu Hall, Government House complex in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, while receiving Chief Raymond Dokpesi, who had stormed the state to seek the party's support for his election as the next chairman of the party at its national convention holding in

CONFIRMATION/change OF NAME

Udeme: This is to confirm that Udeme Enyekere is the same person as Enyiekere Udeme Monday which appears on my WAEC result June 2011 and in my First bank account. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Udeme Enyekere. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc, WAEC and the general public please take note.

David

I, formerly known and addressed as Emmanuel Okon Inah now wish to be known and addressed as Emmanuel Holiness David. All former documents remain valid. Zenith bank Plc, First bank Plc, Authorities concerned and general public please take note.

Emoefe

I, formerly known and addressed as Orido Meshack now wish to be known and addressed as Orido Meshack Emoefe. All former documents remain valid. Ecobank Plc and general public please take note.

Bokime

I, formerly known and addressed as Boniface Egba now wish to be known and addressed as Bokime Egba. All former documents remain valid. Access bank Plc and general public please take note.

Jacobs

I, formerly known and addressed as Agu Miebikiegha Innocent and Agu Innocent Miebi now wish to be known and addressed as Jacobs Innocent Miebi. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Ekelojuti

This is to confirm that Olawale Wahab And Ekelojuti Olawale Wahab is the same person now wish to be known and addressed as Ekelojuti Olawale Wahab. All former documents remain valid Skye Bank, Fcmb Bank and the general public please take note.

Babangida

I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Hassan Jacubu now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Babangida Yakubu Hassan. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and general public please take note.

Kotingo

This is to confirm that Kotingo Waidei Flora is the same person as Kotingo Waidei which appears on my Ecobank account. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Kotingo Waidei Flora. All former documents remain valid. Ecobank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Napoleon

I, formerly known and addressed as Bodisere Naingba now wish to be known and addressed as Bodisere Naingba Napoleon. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Jonah

I, formerly known and addressed as Victor .I. Mienye and Victor Iniyenumugha Mienye now wish to be known and addressed as Angelwei Victor Jonah. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Yero

I, formerly known and addressed as Muhammed Abdullahi Faggie now wish to be known and addressed as Muhammed Abdullahi Yero. All former documents remain valid. BANKS and general public please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE UFANABASI BUILDING MATERIALS ASSOCIATION MBIEREBE OBIO, IBESIKPO ASUTAN L.G. AREA

Notice is hereby given to the general public that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2004. The Trustees are: 1. Prince Aniefok Wilson Ndem 2. Mr. Nicholas Aaron Usoro - Secretary 3. Elder Udeme Asuquo Okon - Member 4. Elder Okon Etim Okon 5. Elder Edet Okokon Akpan - Member 6. Mr. Kechi Okafor Emeka - Member

– Chairman - Member

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To cater for the welfare and social interest of its members. 2. To encourage, promote and foster co-operation and understanding among members of the Association. 3. To encourage and support members to achieve higher and sustainable economic potentials. 4. To encourage dialogue as means of harmonizing diverse opinions and conflict on issues affecting members. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: Prince Aniefok Wilson Ndem – Chairman

L-R: Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Nigeria/British High Commission, John Howell; Group Executive Director, Strategy, Capital Projects & Portfolio Development, Devakumar Edwin and British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, during the British Diplomat's visit to Dangote Refinery Project site in Lagos.

Port Harcourt this month. He expressed deep concerns for the crisis currently rocking the party at the national level, noting that this was the consequence of so many people wanting "to be masters in the party". He berated those who had been going to court to express their displeasure regarding issues about the party, insisting that the “dry bones of the PDP will rise again”. His words: “God will give the PDP a new leader that will reposition the party to progress in the country. In Ekiti, we have no anointed candidate. We would come to Port Harcourt with open mind and let God do Justice.” Dokpesi had pleaded with the stakeholders to allow him serve the party as Chairman, assuring he was "a leader, a transformer and a bridge builder, who will promote, protect and project the PDP by bringing freshness into the party."

NERC fines four Discos on reports, customers' complaints Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has penalized four electricity distribution compa-

nies over failure to submit statutory quarterly reports and treat customers’ complaints in breach of their licensing terms and conditions, provisions of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 and regulations of the Commission.

Law Report, Lawyers Digest set for launch in Lagos new law report, Ap- ation (NBA), Ikeja branch A peal Cases Of Ni- of the Lagos High Court, geria (ACN) is set to hit Ikeja Division on August, Nigerian legal literature with the aim of easing legal practitioners’ cases in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. The Law Report titled: “Appeal Cases Of Nigeria,” and a book entitled: “Practice Digest For Legal Practitioners,” will be launched at the Nigerian Bar Associ-

10. According to Mr. Adeyinka M. Kotoye Esq., the publication's Editor-in -Chief, the law reports is the brain child of Pagelaw Books Nigeria Limited. The event will be chaired by an erudite lawyer, Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN), former Commissioner Environment, Lagos State.

Tambuwal, Dogara to lead discussion on budget G overnor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, have been listed among top public officials to headline a Colloquium on the Budgetary process as a key interface between the Executive and Legislative arms of government in Nigeria. The Colloquium tagged, ‘The Gallery’ is a forum conceived by OrderPaper.ng, Nigeria’s premier independent parliamentary reporting

portal to address contentious issues on the Budget and will bring together several top government officials from both arms of government to share ideas, perspectives and experiences on the Appropriation process as dictated by the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The high-profile event billed in Abuja will attract attendance and participation from critical stakeholders in the Executive, Legislature (National and State Assemblies).

According to a statement from the Head of Media, Mr. Faloseyi Micheal, the Commission, in various directives communicated to the affected electricity distribution companies stated that the erring licencees should pay fines of various sums within two weeks, beginning from July 25, 2016 when the directives were signed by the acting Chairman, Dr. Anthony Akah and General Manager, Legal, Licensing and Enforcement, Mrs. Olufunke Dinneh, after which the fines attract five per cent daily interests until remedial steps are taken. The statement revealed that two of the erring companies, Port Harcourt and Enugu electricity distribution companies were sanctioned for their failure to submit quarterly reports

on their key performance indicators, whereas Ibadan and Ikeja electricity distribution companies were fined over failure to attend to customers’ complaints severally referred to them. According to directive 152, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) flouted the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act 2005, its licensing terms and conditions as well as NERC Customer Complaints Handling: Standards and Procedures (CCHSP) Regulation 2006. “The Commission received several complaints directly from electricity customers in IBEDC operational jurisdiction, based on which same was forwarded via letters dated October 27, 2015 and April 15, 2016 to IBEDC’s Customer Care Unit for resolution, in line with CCHSP, 2006."

Theologians seek peaceful resolution of Niger Delta crisis

hristian theologians in the country at the weekend called on the Federal Government not to apply force in the Niger Delta. Rising from a meeting in Lagos at the weekend, they called on the government to explore a peaceful resolution. The theologians, under the aegis Association of Christian Theologians, ACTS, said the country cannot afford any further bloodshed

at this time of its political history. Speaking after an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council of the ACTS, the council’s vice-chairman, Professor Aniefiok Akpabio, said the Nigerian Christian community would subscribe to a suggestion by Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson that the Federal Government should sustain its current endurance and allow more dialogue.

MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sport Mayor to welcome Team Nigeria R

epresentatives of Team Nigeria will take the centre stage on Wednesday by 10 a.m. when the Mayor of Rio, Eduardo da Costa Paes, among other army of dignitaries welcome the largest black populated nation in the world to the Games Village of the Summer Olympics Games. According to the Press Attache to Team Nigeria, Tony Ubani, each team from the 206 countries is welcomed to the Village in a special ceremony led by the Village Chieftains as well as athletes and officials of the countries. Team Welcome Ceremonies are a key occasion for athletes, team officials and their guests. It acknowledges their journey to the Games and marks the start of their residency in the Village. The brief but impressive ceremony would see all Nigerian athletes in their national colours. The Nigerian GreenWhite-Green flag will be raised and the national anthem played. President of Nigeria Olympic Committee, Habu Gumel, who is also a member of International Olympic Committee, and other Nigerian officials would be in attendance. Brazilian officials have promised to make sure that the largest athletes' Village in history provides a comfortable, welcoming and inspiring place for all the competitors. Team Nigeria will be housed in Block 11, occupying four floors with the Nigerian flag fluttering on top of their Block.

Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

Sport News

Did you know? That Team Nigeria has won a total of 23 medals so far in the history of the Olympic Games comprising three gold, eight silver and 12 bronze medals

Siasia confirms Mikel captain

International Hamilton wins German GP

45 46

Foreign coach:

NFF can't sustain salary payment, says Peters

Coach offers solution to federation's woes

Adeolu Johnson

ABUJA

ormer Super Eagles Coach, James Peters, has again chided the Nigeria Football Federation’s insistence on hiring a foreign manager for the Super Eagles, expressing doubt over the ability of the NFF to sustain the payment of salary of the would-be coach. The NFF had said it could afford as much as $50,000 per month as remuneration for a new manager and reports had also suggested the federation had sealed sponsorship for the project. Peters said the federation had penchant for owing salaries and allowances of coaches and players and could expose the country to international embarrassment if it engaged an expatriate. He said hiring an expatriate for the national team was a waste of foreign exchange, insisting that there are quality coaches in the country that can do the job.

“I don’t understand what the foreign Technical Adviser is coming here to do. I don’t think there is any need for it. The words Technical Adviser is all semantics since we have experienced coaches who could offer useful advices to the technical crew of our teams,” he explained. “It is a matter of the tacticians sitting down with this advisory committee made up of experienced coaches and map out plans for different matches and I can assure you that we will definitely get results. “Besides, the $50,000 they are proposing to pay the foreigner is too much and it is very clear they cannot sustain it. Can they even afford to pay for one year or two? I am sure they cannot,’’ Peters said. The former BCC Lions of Gboko coach is unhappy about the current state of Nigerian football and said it was high time the federation takes the welfare of players and coaches seriously. “I think the NFF should immediately look for a way out to

Mikel (right)

settle the players and coaches allowances to get the national teams back on track,” he said. The coach also gave the board of the NFF knocks for not involving CAF President Isa Hayatou and former FIFA and CAF member, Amos Adamu, in their itinerary

during FIFA president Giavanni Infantino’s visit to Nigeria saying it was a lack of respect to these top football administrators. “These top football administrators would have been invited to be part of the show to make it more holistic,” he said.

Rio: Osonaike is Team Nigeria's flag bearer …as more athletes depart today

legant Table Tennis super star, Funke Oshonaike, will lead out Team Nigeria at the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics, at the Maracana Stadium on Friday, August 5. The graceful and stylish ping ponger who will be competing in her sixth Olympics is also the assistant team captain to Mikel Obi who at the weekend was also named captain of the U-23 football team, thereby making him a double skipper to the games. Oshonaike, no doubt, will treasure to be the flag bearer as marching with her fellow athletes in an opening ceremony is considered by many athletes

as the pinnacle of their Olympics journey. In a reaction, the Germany-based player said: “I am highly honoured to be named as flag bearer to the games. It is always a pleasure representing my country.” Table Tennis, is indeed, honoured with yet another player, Segun Toriola, whose incredible willpower and perseverance sees him as the Nigerian with seven appearances at the Olympics. The opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics will also see an athlete takes the Olympic Oath in the name of all the competitors''.

Meanwhile, more athletes to will depart Nigeria today for the games. Seven wrestlers comprising five female and two male athletes, who remain the hope of the nation in winning medals at the event left for Rio. Expectation for medals from the wrestling team is buoyed by the fact that they are handled by one of the very good experienced coaches and a gold medalist in the sport, Daniel Igali. The wrestlers are Mercy Genesis, Odunayo Adekunruoye, Aminat Adeniyi, Blessing Oborududu and HanContinued on Page 45

INTERVIEW

MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Dikko: La Liga deal will boost football development The Chairman of the League Management Company, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, spoke with EMMANUEL TOBI on crucial issues affecting the domestic league. Excerpts:

What does the La Liga partnership entails? It is an exciting time I guess for Nigerian football because what we are trying to do is to align with the world’s football standard. And by all standards, La Liga is among the top two football leagues in the world. They’re doing so many things right. So, we thought we could link up and learn so many good things from them. La Liga has passed through the level which we are at the moment. Clubs were going bankrupt, the clubs were defaulting in payments and so many things happened. They had to go back into working with their government, working with the private sector and now La Liga is one of the best leagues in the world. The partnership is not just in terms of football but also in corporate governance, financially, socially and other aspects. We took the partnership where it is more technical and commercial. Technical in the sense that we can work with them to see how we can export our footballers. Commercially, how we can work together as two brands and see how we can develop business opportunities for the two leagues. They make money in Nigeria and we make money as well. We help each other. Is the Nigeria League All Stars trip to Spain part of the partnership? It got out of the argument that we would be extending training programme for not only the administrators, managers, coaches, referees and also for players too. It would be an avenue where their clubs can come over and play against our teams and our clubs also go over there and play against them too. One cannot underestimate the kind of benefits that would be coming along with that. We now have an NPFL squad, our best footballers in the league going to Spain and playing like up to three good matches. That would get them exposed to seeing the best of the facilities and players over there. That would also take away the fear of playing against big teams of the world, and you can bet with me that the team we are taking to Spain is technically our home-based Super Eagles. They can play professionally as the Super Eagles team of Nigeria. This is a big boost to football development They would now be able to provide the foundation that our national team coaches can use to build the future of the Super Eagles. It creates opportunities for our clubs and the transactions would be done fairly, transparently, and direct from club to club.

Will the DTMS eradicate various transfer problems in the league? Yes, of course. The NFF has already agreed that there should be a domestic transfer certificate that will be issued whenever a player is transferred. So, really when we do this DTMS, whenever a transfer is done, there would be a domestic transfer certificate that will be issued and therefore every transfer deal will be open. And it would eradicate all these d i s putes.

The direct fees would be paid for the players which means the exact money would come back to Nigeria. It is good for everybody and the Spanish League too would get benefits because La Liga is promoted in Nigeria. We are not promoting La Liga at the detriment of our league; we are promoting them together. And above all, La Liga is paying for the first 40 members of the delegations going the trip. All expenses paid. Nigeria became the first league in Africa to embrace the new FIFA transfer system, what is it all about? Few months back, we started the discussions with parent body, the Nigeria Football Federation. We had been in touch with FIFA since last year, trying to see how Nigeria could align itself to the Domestic Transfer Machine System where every transfer would now be computerised and everything would be done via online. The purpose-built software will be for managing transfers in Nigeria between the leagues through the FIFA transfer system. This means everything will be done professionally, openly and transparently. In that all these arguments about expired contracts, payment issues and all that would disappear. But fundamentally, what this brings on the table is that once a player details is entered into the DTMS, such player would have a number. And that number is what would be used to identify him till the end of his career. What is so special about the DTMS? It is like an ID. So, all transfers, everything would be followed with that number. And therefore, a player’s record of service and transfers would be well documented. Assuming now we have a clear DTMS of Ahmed Musa who have just got transferred to Leicester FC of England. It was a huge sum of money. There is what is called compensation claims we could have derived from that transfer.

Dikko

The minimum wage is N150,000, but there are clubs offering like N800,000 and a million naira.

Even the money the player will be paid as salary would be stated in it, and if he is owed FIFA will know. What is your assessment of officiating in the league so far? I think it’s been good regardless of whatever anybody else thinks because the referees are doing a very good job. We have played over 300 matches and we have only gotten complaints in one or two matches. We have had reasons to approach the Referee Committee to complain about some referees’ performances and actions were taken against them immediately. Football hooliganism is gradually coming back to the league. What are you putting in place to checkmate this? The clubs are now making their fans aware of the consequences of their actions. Making them understand that engaging in some negative activities is not the way of showing support to your club. Causing troubles for your

club means you are really hurting your club both financially, technically and potentially. It might even cause them their position in the league. So, the fans have to understand that. For instance when we had issues with the match of Enyimba against Kano Pillars, we dealt with it. We ordered that the supporters had to go for some training and by the next match when they had a draw against Heartland FC, the supporters all applauded Heartland’s players up to their hotel. It means that persuasive actions we are taking are working. Let’s talk about the TV rights, now that you are bringing La Liga model and also more investors, are we going to see improvement in TV sharings. It is part of what we are working on. We want to build our brand as much as we can, so that we can get more revenues and more arrears from the TV. It is all over the world, the revenues of leagues and revenues of the federation is 95% from the TV. Last year, the clubs of Premier League in England shared 1.6bn to the clubs, 1.5 billion was from TV and only 90 million was from other parts, it is not even up to 10% of what they had which is the way it is. We want to build the brand as better as it can be, so that we can get as much revenues from the TV. We want to open windows to get more sponsors to be involved. How do we eliminate this problem of clubs owing their players? All we need to do is just improve the corporate governance within the clubs. Once the clubs can be able to guarantee the revenues they have, they only have to offer their players’ salaries within the guaranteed revenues in comparism with the minimum wage. The minimum wage is N150,000 but there are clubs offering like N800,000 and a million naira. We must agree that these clubs are owned by the states and these funds come through the states. These states are not bankrupt; they are only having casual problems. They will definitely pay, they always pay. So, we have to look at balancing the two. If you are running a purely private sector club, then you can think about relegating teams due to non-payment of staff members. On the long term, we are trying to get the clubs listed in the Stock Exchange Market. Bring private investments into these clubs so that payments won’t be delayed. We at the LMC too work very hard to get more sponsors, more money into the league, so that we can be able to get money available to the clubs to be able to pay their salaries.

SPORT NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Siasia confirms Mikel captain

As stranded U-23 Eagles depart for Rio

Ajibade Olusean

ational U-23 team coach, Samson Siasia, has named Mikel Obi the captain of the side as they are expected to leave their United States’ camping base for Rio, the venue of the 2016 Olympics. Siasia who persuaded Turkey-based midfielder Azubuike Okechukwu to step down for Mikel said it was natural for the Chelsea star to lead the team having been named the captain of Team Nigeria to the games. Okechukwu, who led the team to win the 2015 U-23 AFCON in Senegal, gladly accepted to work under Mikel. Siasia said "It's just natural for me to pick Mikel as our captain. Aside the fact that he is the captain of the

Super Eagles, he is also Team Nigeria captain, so after meeting with both of them and explaining my position, I am pleased to say Azubuike, who has been our captain understood and was happy to hand over the captain’s band to Mikel. It is a thing of joy for my team to produce the first footballer to captain Team Nigeria to the Olympics. This, to me, is more than gratifying.” Mikel and the rest of the teamwill now fly out for the Rio Olympics from Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States of America on Monday after they failed to do so on Friday as their tickets were not ready. “We will now leave for Brazil on Monday after we could not fly out on Monday because our tickets were not ready,” a team official said.

Rangers back at the top

Osonaike

...draw against Enyimba

Osonaike is Team Nigeria's flag bearer

home game of the season 1-0 Charles Ogundiya Continued from Page 43 against Plateau United. t was goal galore in the NiShooting Stars of Ibadan nah Reuben as well as 100% for this compe- Canada in the Olymgeria Professional Football came from a goal down to defeat two males; Amas Daniel tition. All we need pics said. League this at weekend as Sunshine Stars 2-1 in a South and Soso Tamara. are prayers from our Other sports expectRangers of Enugu returned to West derby played in Ibadan ''If you talk about people and luck for the ed to travel are athletthe top of the table after re- with Sunday Adetunji scoring efforts, we have done wrestlers'', Igali who ics team, boxing and cording a hard-fought 1-1 draw twice from the spot for the Oluywell and put in over won Gold medal for weightlifting. against Enyimba. ole Warriors. Former leaders Wikki Tourists IfeanyiUbah beat Kano Pilsuccumbed to a humiliating 3-0 lars 2-1 while Abia Warriors lost defeat against Akwa United with to Niger Tornadoes in Lokoja. Lobi Stars also going goals-crazy Earlier on Saturday, Nasarain a 3-0 defeat of Warri Wolves. wa United defeated El-Kanemi It was a game to forget for Warriors 3-0 with the game be- Adeolu Johnson member that this journey cent,” Onyali charges the MFM of Lagos who welcomed tween Rivers United and Ikorostarted four years ago. wrestlers. ABUJA back their fans to the stadium du United postponed due to moNigerians should be ready Canadian Olympic gold after they served out punish- tor accident involving Rivers for surprise because I saw medal winner and Presiment as they lost their second last week. frican and Olympics them in Scotland and I dent of the Nigeria Wresmedalist, Mary Onyali know what they can do. I tling Federation, Daniel –Omagbemi has disclosed have been to the Olympics Igali, said the unveiling was that an Olympic Fund Project five times, I know your to further motivate the athwill be launched on August feeling, I can feel your spir- letes . 6th to address the problems it, do not feel jittery and do “This gesture is to boost of funding that may be facing not falter, you are the best the wrestlers as they will Nigerian athletes at the next and you should go out to be competing with otherAjibade Olusesan first leg but we only got a draw. Our Olympics Games in Tokyo do the country proud, I sin the world. It is to show uper Eagles midfielder John best is not enough until we scale 2020. wish you all the best of that we are concerned about Ogu has said Olympiakos won’t through. Olympiakos are a very Onyali said the project luck, give it your 110 per their welfare,” Igali said. be as lucky as they were in the first good team, and UEFA Champions to be managed by ex-Olymleg when his Israeli side Hapoel League regular but we are as good pians was coming on the Beer Sheva welcome the Greek as them and can get a victory on heels of the lack of funds champions in the reverse fixture our home soil.” confronting the country’s wesé Free Sports, a ed on Tuesday August 2 of the UEFA Champions League contingent to the Rio Olympart of Econet Media’s by 1:00am Nigerian time . qualifiers on Tuesday. pics Games in Brazil. Kwesé-branded platforms, The official game can The midfielder who has been enOnyali stated this while has signed an agreement also be streamed live on joying good run of form since last charging the wrestlers that with the Nigerian Televi- the Kwesé Sports webseason said that they were ready to will represent the country sion Authority to broad- site (www.kwesesports. beat Olympiakos who also parade at the unveiling at Package cast live the international com)and it will also be another Nigerian Brown Ideye. B of the National Stadium friendly between Nigeria’s streamed via the Kwesé “We have done well to reach the Abuja on Saturday. national basketball team, Sports Facebook page stage and we don’t need to look She said: “I will not be the D'Tigers, and their (Facebook.com/KweseSback now. The draw with Olymsurprised if you guys bet- USA counter parts. ports). piakos in the first leg underlines ter your performance at The match which will “We are excited to be the strength of this team,” He said. the Commonwealth Games be in the NTA network able to bring Nigerian Ogu “We aimed to beat them in the in Glasgow. You should re- Service will be broadcast- fans all the action live from Houston. Our business is founded on the principle of giving African sports fans access to exclusive and premium sports content. Through ew Telegraph Strikers were narrowly to NTA (1-0) as Sports team by the management would this agreement with NTA, at the weekend adjudged the Vision, the only team to have still go ahead as planned. more fans will be able to most disciplined team of the just scored against the Strikers won The captain of the side, Edengage with their nationconcluded Lagos State Sports the final in a penalty shootout win Usoboh, and the team cooral team and have access Writers Association of Nigeria against Voice of Nigeria. dinator, Dapo Sotuminu, howto live content from USA football competition, claiming The Technical Director of ever promised a better outing the Fair Play Award. the team, Adekunle Salami, during the Nigeria Union of Basketball,” says Joe Despite making their debut praised the efforts of the New Journalists competition comHundah, CEO of Econet this year, the NT Strikers finished Telegraph management for its ing up later in the year. Media. fourth out of the 23 teams that support for the team during the Editor of New Telegraph, According to NTA, participated in the competition. five-day competition. Ayodele Ojo, has promised to New Telegraph Strikers' assistant this is a particularly imThe Tobi Emmanuel-led He assured that the tour of five host the victorious team in a captain, Charles Ogundiya, with the portant sports broadcast team lost the third place match Europe countries promised the date yet to be announced. event for Nigeria. fair play award

Ex-international to launch Olympics fund project Onyali charges wrestlers

UEFA Champions League:

Ogu warns Ideye’s Olympiakos

Kwesé Free Sports sponsors D'Tigers, USA friendly

SWAN Cup: NT Strikers win Fair Play Award

INTERNATIONAL

MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

You're free to go, Mourinho tells aggrieved players

ose Mourinho has told Bastian Schweinsteiger and Adnan Januzaj to find new clubs after omitting the duo from Manchester United's friendly win over Galatasaray. The Red Devils came out on top 5-2 in a topsy-turvy clash in Gothenburg on Saturday evening to make it two wins from three outings this summer. New boss Mourinho is slowly starting to shape his squad, but he is not willing to give Schweinsteiger and Januzaj a chance to impress after overlooking the duo once again. "If they were not in my plans I would not give them one single minute, I would not keep them in my squad," he told MUTV when asked about giving fringe members playing time. "The squad is

very competitive, the squad is very important for the season.”

Hamilton

Schweinsteiger

cedes teammate Nico The result means that HamRosberg at the top of the ilton has now won six of the drivers' championship to last seven F1 races, taking his 19 points. career total to 49 wins and 96 podium finishes. Rosberg started the race on pole but was forced to settle for fourth place as for the second week in a row, Hamilton was quickest off the line and ensured that he was never beaten. The German's afternoon was dealt a further blow when he was handed a five-second penalty after being judged to have forced Max Verstappen off the track on lap 29.

Rio: IOC to make final decision on Russia T

he International Olympic Committee has revealed that a three-person review panel will have the final say on which Russian athletes can compete in the Rio Olympics less than a week before the Games

commence. Individual sports’ federations have spent the last week deciding whether to allow Russian competitors to perform in Brazil after the IOC ruled out a blanket ban following the

publication of the McLaren report, which claimed Russia was guilty of statesponsored doping. It was stated by the IOC that a decision is due to be made by the panel “in the coming days”.

Lampard proud to make New York City history

Bryan brothers

Bryan brothers withdraw from Olympics B ob and Mike Bryan are the latest top tennis stars to have withdrawn from this summer's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, citing fears over the Zika virus. The American doubles pair had been expected to defend their gold from London 2012 at this year's competition but said they had decided to pull out after "countless hours of deliberation". "Though we'd love to compete again, as husbands

patrick.ekeji@yahoo.com 08159364282 (sms only)

Beyond FIFA President’s visit… G

Hamilton wins German GP

ewis Hamilton has won the German Grand Prix to extend his lead over Mer-

Pat Ekeji’s Corner

and fathers, our family's health is now our top priority," the brothers said in a post on social media. "Representing Team USA is one of our proudest tennis moments to date and winning Gold in 2012 will always remain the pinnacle of our career. The Olympics means so much to us for so many reasons and the memories we have wearing the Stars and Stripes will burn brightly forever.”

rank Lampard was a happy man after writing himself into the New York City FC history books by scoring the club's first-ever hat-trick. The 38-year-old former Chelsea midfielder scored three times in his side's 5-1 demolition of Colorado Rapids at Yankee Stadium on Saturday night, to help The Bronx-based franchise move five points clear at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference. Lampard's historic treble came in his side's 59th competitive game since they entered the MLS in 2015, with the midfielder delighted to add the accolade to a list of honours which includes 106 England caps, three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and a Champions League win. “I know it's very short history but it's a great accolade for me as a person,” Lampard said. “I'm very happy and when I'm playing well, feeling good, obviously I can score goals, I've managed to do it since I've been fit."

ianni Infantino, the current President of FIFA was in Nigeria last week for a 2-day visit. Reporting his reception by our President and C-in-C, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, the sports press quoted our President thus; “We will take the development of football very seriously and I encourage the NFF to behave itself and organize effective competitions for the good of the game.” Interacting with the Press after the visit, the FIFA President said amongst others, that “when it comes generally to football development in Nigeria, work still needs to be done in organizational structures, setting up training centers and better frame work. A lot can still be done.” He was also reported to have asked Nigerian authorities to pay attention to infrastructure. Infantino’s observations are by no means complimentary but they are factual. I am however attracted by our President’s statement of commitment and Infantino’s concern about infrastructure. I am not privy to the brief made available to the FIFA President for him to have observed that “…Nigerian authorities pay attention to infrastructure”. My definition of this word?, It may be taken, arguably as :- the BASE/FOUNDATION of a system, a contraption, an argument or indeed an administration. NFF need not lose sleep on the mention of the word “infrastructure”. As far as I know, the foremost “infrastructure”, with respect to the ‘beautiful game”, is the (NFF). Without her, there would be no coordination of the various football activities nation-wide. Period. The basic elements of the game are: fields, interested youths coaches. We have them. Accessibility to all publicly owned football facilities in the country (Federal and Stateowned, education institutions), are only a request away from the NFF. We could argue about their quality but this does not, strictly speaking, determine the desired results. Infantino’s argument for infrastructure is overturned by the fact that in the glory period of our football (1994, 22 years ago), when the Super Eagles ranked number 1 in Africa and 5th on the FIFA table, there was statistically, not as many basic elements (defined earlier) for football as we have today. Indeed in terms of numbers, there has been an increase. So by simple logical deductions, Infantino’s argument does not add up. Nonetheless, his point on establishing the “right framework” is noted but who is responsible for evolving the “right framework”? That body is the NFF and it is on ground. If Nigeria were still rated 5th by FIFA, if our Clubs and Referees were top in Africa, or if our league consistently produced players for top clubs in Europe or, if the Glass-

house presented a respectable first impression, his impression of us would be different! Perhaps we should take a cue from the East Africans especially Kenyans and Ethiopians. They have consistently picked the available medals in the long distance events at all recent Olympic Games. Their “infrastructure” lay in their ability to recognize and robustly pursue those sports in which they have comparative terrestrial advantage imposed by nature but bolstered with administrative discipline and focus. In these countries, kids are taught the art of survival by running, from cradle to the podium. Jamaica has achieved results and respect in the world of sprints by applying common sense attention to physical endowment of strength. There are other examples. Mr President was on point and he spoke the minds of all stakeholders in football. He obviously has heard more of acrimonies within the football body than of positive results since he assumed office fourteen months ago. He admonished NFF to “behave itself and organize effective competitions for the good of the game”. Once again I would urge the NFF to study and analyze Mr. President’s speech and thereafter evolve a frame work for the achievement of DESIRED OBJECTIVES AND RESULTS. One of the management issues the NFF would have to delve into sooner than later is the looming and foreseeable collapse of football clubs funded by state governments. Many of these Clubs are reeling under the frustration of insufficient funds and in this era of bailout funds, many state governments are no longer keen at funding these clubs. The strength of the congress rests in the states, therefore collapse of state-funded football clubs is a possibility which should send red flag signals to the executive of the NFF. Recently the sports press reported that only NFF’s head coaches would be on monthly pay roll while all assistants would be placed on allowances. As if that were not sufficiently diminishing, these Assistants were given a period of grace within which to seek alternative employments. Really? This reads more like a quote out of context and I want to see it so. Should this be true however, NFF would really need to review and restrategize on its program-content especially in the realms of sustainability, results and, partnerships. Significant changes in operating environment impose fresh operational dynamics thus, adjustments in management approach. Mr. President said “… I encourage the NFF to behave itself and organize effective competitions for the good of the game…”

Monday, AUGUST 1, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

12 th

ALL NIGERIA EDITORSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; CONFERENCE (ANEC 2016) PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE

THEME:

ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION: AGRICULTURE AS OPTION FOR A PROSPEROUS NIGERIA KEYNOTE SPEAKER: MR. LUCAS ADENIJI, MD/CEO, NIJI FARMS CHAIRMAN:

AREMO SEGUN OSOBA, FNGE, FORMER GOVERNOR, OGUN STATE

SPECIAL GUEST OF HONOUR:

HIS EXCELLENCY DR. EMMANUEL UDUAGHAN, CON

HOST MINISTER:

HOST GOVERNOR:

ALHAJI LAI MOHAMMED,

HIS EXCELLENCY BARR. NYESOM WIKE, CON

HON. MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND CULTURE

FORMER GOVERNOR, DELTA STATE

DATE:

AUGUST 3-7, 2016 FUNKE EGBEMODE Ag. President 0803-786-7488

EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR, RIVERS STATE

TIME:

9:00a.m.

VENUE:

PRESIDENTIAL HOTEL, PORT HARCOURT

KEN UGBECHIE Chairman, Planning Committee 0803-436-4524

On Marble

If we are lucky not to have been disgraced for stealing our spouse’s money; we should not mock others who run errands for their spouses.

World Record

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NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

– Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama

MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016

N150

Tamu Massif is the largest feature of the Shatsky Rise mountain range, marked by A on this map, situated around 1,000 miles east of Japan. The range was formed following the eruption of the Tamu Massif volcano between 130 and 145 million years ago.

Public arena T he column you write

Using universities to drive change Oludayo Tade

overnment policies in Nigeria are rarely informed by rigorous research. More often than not, it does appear that planning is done amid the near absence of hard facts. This aversion for information-based planning partly explains why most incumbent governments overturn the policies of their predecessors while introducing new and often conflicting policies. This practice is not costless as the masses bear the brunt of such policy inconsistencies. More disturbing however is the origin of the ideas driving these policies. For the most part indigenous researches are taken to be inferior to imported/ expatriate evidences. These imported policies mostly are misfits due to the lack of proper grounding in the peculiar realities of the Nigerian context. The world over, successful countries are typically those that prioritize the researches from their universities and other research institutions. This they do by allocating sufficient funds to these institutions. In these countries, research outputs are not only critical drivers of their economies but also the harbinger of rapid transformation in technology, infrastructure and the like. Little wonder that our gluttonous politicians run to these places with our stolen money for holidays. It is incontrovertible that we can neither grow nor develop without funding policy-inclined researches. There is, therefore, a correlation between research outputs and economic transformation. Evidences of the societal functionality of this important nexus abound with Israel, China, USA, UK among others reaping the dividends from research. The proponents of the “Change” mantra need to drive it beyond mere rhetoric by committing adequate funds to research. Developed countries base their policies on researches which proffer solutions to identified problems. It is the same research that makes technologically advanced societies to develop products like phones with ‘torch-light’, rechargeable lanterns which become major consumption items for our own economy. Through this, they rake in substantial foreign earnings into their countries. Another case in point is the fairly recent ‘Ebola’ episode. Recall that it was easy to transport medical Doctors infected with the deadly ‘Ebola’ back to Emory Hospital, USA, where they were treated. Of course, this was a specialized institution where huge financial resources had been invested into researching uncommon diseases. To be factual, Nigeria in particular and Africa in general needs to fund research to understand its economies in order to be able to solve the seemingly intractable problems of insecurity, health, agricultural productivity, low ranking of universities, militancy and the rise in insurgent citizenship. The foregoing and allied issues took center stage when Leading African De-

National Universities Commission boss, Julius Okojie

velopment Economist and Vice Chancellor of University of Ghana, Legon, Professor Ernest Aryeetey delivered the 67th Interdisciplinary Discourse of the Postgraduate School, University of Ibadan on the topic ““Developing Research Universities for Africa: Some New Approaches”. He stressed the need for Nigeria and Africa to invest in university research in order to have globally competitive economies. He noted that low investment in research-focused universities accounts for why many African universities are lowly ranked and cannot be globally competitive. According to him, it is impractical to contemplate competing with Havard, Cambridge, London School of Economics and other top rated universities if Nigeria, and Africa at large, are not ready to invest massively in boosting the research capacities of Universities. By implication, Africa must therefore consciously and concertedly develop research universities that will help in providing sound knowledge economy for its transformation and positive change. Professor Aryeetey averred that universities must specialize either in teaching or conducting research noting that not all universities should be combining teaching with research. He noted that

President Muhammadu Buhari needs to hire an assistant on ‘Research Monitoring

African Universities must collaborate and carry out researches on problems facing the continent. He further noted that some progress is being made along this route with the formation of African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA). To quote him verbatim, “Having research focused universities is important but expensive but the end product is total transformation and economic growth. Innovation comes from research which leads to transformation. We need to pay more attention to research in Africa. Our governments complain of low ranking universities and want us to compete globally but can they do what Harvard, Yale and Princeton universities are investing in Research? They must invest in Research to have their economies change and the continent can be competitive with the rest of the world. We need to change the face of infrastructure in our universities and woo leading scholars through attractive incentives and train more faculties that can conduct transformational research. African problems are of different nature. Our problem is about low productivity in agriculture, health but we must conduct researches that will solve our own problems. We must formulate policies based on researches conducted by African researchers not on imported policy from another clime which is at variance with realities on the continent. It is sad that Africa accounts for a disappointing one per cent of world research outputs at present.” Since there is a strong and positive relationship between research outputs and economic growth, Nigeria through Buhari and other African governments must fund research for the transformation of Africa. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the continent to experience transformation. Aside the dismal performance of government on this metric, how many of our industries fund researches? These private sector entities rather sponsor singing competitions, beauty pageants and so on. Some of these musicians, whose songs encourage anti-social behaviours (like rape, cybercrime, kidnapping), get lucrative endorsements deals as brand ambassadors for private organisations. Politicians even enlist these entertainers during electioneering campaigns with those who are called ‘Honourables’ dancing enthusiastically. At the other end of the continuum, one ponders what happens to ‘First Class’ graduates. Except for dedicated newspapers that now conduct interviews with them, there seems to be no deliberate effort to invest in nurturing them. The usual script is that Nigeria waits for you to either waste away or sweatto-glory and become a global citizen before claiming you as their own (this rings loud in the labeling of the likes of Wole Soyinka and Chimamanda Adichie in federal Government advertisement of Nigerians doing well across the globe). On the part of our universities, they also need to conduct researches that meet the needs of our environment and

thereby build the requisite trust that will attract patronage both from the public and private sectors. Additional government funding will encourage researching alternative sources of power, security, low cost health equipment, ICT among others. This proactive approach should be conspicuous in the intent and actions of government. Such pragmatism is a far better substitute to the present penchant of the ruling class for shedding crocodile tears at convocation ceremonies. They expend ample speech time on low ranking of Nigerian Universities without speaking to funding lapses and the yet-to-be fulfilled N1.3trilion NEEDS assessment intervention fund agreed to with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) following the strike in 2013. Close to three years after that agreement, nothing has changed except that the blame game has come in diverse shades. Without a doubt, ASUU strikes have been an integral contributor to the little achievements we can itemize on our campuses. Nonetheless, the lukewarm attitude of the union as well as its reactionary roles on education and other national issues are aspects that require urgent attention by the leadership of the body at all levels. Funding research will drive growth and development. President Muhammadu Buhari needs to hire an assistant on ‘Research Monitoring’ who can relate with universities and convert many research projects on departmental, Faculty and Library shelves to realistic transformational policies. Change by word of mouth is and will perpetually remain theoretical. Only the practical recognition of the role of Universities in national development will suffice for the kind of progressive Change our nation desperately needs. •Dr. Tade, a sociologist wrote via dotad2003@yahoo. com

HIGH CHIEF

FOOD SHORTAGE TO END 2018 – Ogbeh

- That’s for as many who willsurvive hunger before then!

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