Banks reject loan requests for fuel imports
Ayodele Aminu and Adeola Yusuf
T
he newly introduced foreign exchange policy that indirectly devalued the
value of the naira, has tremendously changed banks’ lending dynamics, compelling them to reject fresh loans for importation
of petrol, otherwise known as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), New Telegraph has learnt. Already, lenders in Nige-
ria have discarded the N49 billion loan requests from importers of petrol meant to service the 3.5 million metric tons second quarter
CBN to begin new rice project in 14 states
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allocation schedule. The banks’ action, investigation by New Telegraph revealed, stemmed from the May 1st total removal of subsidy on fuel by
Emefiele
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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Monday, July 18, 2016
Nigeria loses $518m to oil swap deals – NEITI }6
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10-year-old rape victim dies in hospital }9
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Gunmen invade palace, abduct Lagos monarch }8
N150
Owoseni
Arms procurement scandal:
Panel probes Buhari’s minister, ex-Service Chiefs Dambazau, Petinrin, Dike, Adekeye, Ibrahim, Ezeoba, Jibrin face committee Ihejirika, Minimah, Generals under surveillance, passports seized }2 1
3
2
4
1. Main gate of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), IdiAraba, Lagos… yesterday. 2. Some of the patients 'detained' over their inability to pay hospital bills 3. An empty ward. 4. A corridor in one of the wards
PHOTOS: SULEIMAN HUSAINI
Strike: LUTH discharges all patients
}3
Gonorrhea could soon be untreatable –Experts
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NEWS
MONDAY, July 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
Panel probes Buhari’s minister, ex-Service Chiefs
Our Correspondent
T
he 13-man Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement (CADEP) set up to probe arms procurement contracts between 2007 and 2015, is now set to quiz the Minister of Interior, LtGen. Abdurahman Dambazau (rtd), New Telegraph has learnt. The panel will, today, begin sitting to scrutinise procurement papers in the Nigerian Navy between 2007 and 2015, as well as probe arms purchase in the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) between 2007 and 2010. There have been strident calls from individuals and groups for the probe of Dambazau, who served as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) between August
2008 and September 2010. In fact, it was alleged that the Interior Minister had been working tooth and nail to suppress the arms panel report, before its release last week Thursday. Also to appear before the Air Vice Marshal Jon Ode (rtd)-led panel, are three former Chiefs of Defence Staff (CDS) – Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin (rtd), Admiral Ola S. Ibrahim and Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike (rtd). All the former Chiefs of Naval Staff from 2007 to 2015 – Vice Admirals G.T.A. Adekeye, I.I. Ibrahim, D.J. Ezeoba and U.O. Jibrin – are also to appear before the panel. Dambazau, Petinrin, Ibrahim, Dike, Ezeoba and others will be asked to explain contracts awarded during their respective ten-
ures as COAS and Chief of Naval Staff (CNS). New Telegraph gathered from highly placed military sources that General Owoye Azazi (rtd) and Lt-Gen. Luka Yusuf (rtd), who had served as CDS and COAS, respectively, would have appeared before the panel, were they not late. "I can confirm to you that the Audit Panel, which had been on a 10-day break, will reconvene this week, to commence work with immediate effect. "Among those to appear in this final batch are Dambazau, Air Force chiefs between 2007 and 2011, and Naval chiefs from 2007 to 2015. "They will all be confronted with documents regarding contracts and procurement transactions during their tenures," the source said.
This is as New Telegraph further learnt that an ex-COAS, Lt-Gen. Azubike Ihejirika (rtd) and his predecessor, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah (rtd), may be interrogated by a special team of operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) this week. The arms panel had in a report on the procurement of the Nigerian Army released last week Thursday, indicted 54 individuals and companies. One of the sources, who spoke in confidence with New Telegraph, said palpable tension may have gripped senior military officers, who held some strategic positions during the tenures of the former Service Chiefs scheduled to face the panel this week, all things being equal. Investigation revealed
that President Muhammadu Buhari had met with members of the panel, where he extended the period of their assignment, gave them a new terms of reference, and charged them to remain firm and focused in the audit task. Also to face scrutiny, are former officials in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Ministry of Defence (MOD), as well as the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON). Giving some details, our source disclosed that one of the service chiefs was fingered in the construction of a military hospital in a Northern state. The hospital was said to have served as a conduit through which billions of naira was allegedly syphoned. The current COAS, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, was quizzed by the panel, though nothing was said to have been established against him. Speaking against the backdrop of Ihejirika and Minimah's indictment, another source hinted that:
0.54
The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Angola in 2002. Source: Itu.int
L-R: Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; former Presidents Shehu Shagari and Olusegun Obasanjo, during Obasanjo's visit to Sokoto... yesterday.
1.3%
The percentage share of Crude Inedible Materials of Nigeria’s import trade in 2014. Source: National Bureau of Statistics
Banks reject loan requests for fuel imports CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
the Federal Government, which threw the 58.37 per cent import permit for marketers in the second quarter fuel allocation into disarray. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a Tier 1 bank, who confirmed this development, said lenders are not disposed to granting credits to oil importers because the dynamics of risk have changed with the fuel subsidy removal. Specifically, he said banks, which had developed a product paper around subsidy payments that are usually guaranteed by the Federal Government, are now perfecting a new product paper that seeks to find another way of making sure that their loans for petrol imports are fully recovered. He said currently, banks are only disposed to giving loans to confirmed uptakers such as Mobil and the likes because they are sure that such loans would be repaid.
“Banks’ risks for petroleum imports have changed with the subsidy removal. Most banks now develop on new product paper for onward presentation to their boards for approval. “During the fuel subsidy regime, banks willingly gave loans to petrol importers because they are sure that part of their loans would be recovered when the Federal Government pays subsidy. But now, the dynamics have changed with the removal of subsidy. Banks now have to monitor what the petrol importers sell to recover their loans and also factor the cost of devaluation,” the CEO explained. “Don’t also forget that the devaluation of the naira has also raised banks’ dollar-denominated loans by 40 per cent, meaning that lenders need more cash to beef up their capital.” The marketers in the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency’s
(PPPRA) second quarter allocation schedule include Techno Oil Limited, Oando Plc., Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited, Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc., AA Rano, Total Nigeria Plc and NIPCO Plc. Others are Integrated Oil and Gas Limited, Folawiyo Energy, Forte Oil Plc, Conoil Plc, MRS Oil and Gas Limited, and Heyden Petroleum, among others. Before the removal of fuel subsidy, oil marketers were allowed to import petrol into the country based on the official exchange rate of N197 per dollar but, according to the revised pricing template for petrol released by PPPRA in May, they would be allowed to source foreign exchange (forex) at the current autonomous exchange rate of N298 to the dollar. Loan facility from banks and third party lenders is a major source of finance for importation of fuel by marketers in Nigeria, Africa's biggest crude exporter,
which depends largely on importation of refined products, as its four refineries are largely ineffective and incapacitated by lack of maintenance and allegation of corruption. "We received a correspondent from our bank officially denying us the loan made specifically for the second quarter imports programme and I am aware that this is done across board by all other lenders to other marketers who requested for the same facilities," a management staff of a top product importing and trading company told one of our correspondents. Stating that the banks’ officials have verbally informed them "this particular loan will not fly," he added that the exchange of official correspondence between the lenders and the marketers signified an end to such loan request. "Aside from Total and Mobil, and a few integrated oil firms such as Oando that could source
for funds and foreign exchange through their upstream companies, other importers that need loans from banks for fuel importation have ceased to apply for loan with allocation request," he said. Aside from putting stringent measures in place to screen requests for facilities henceforth, the lenders, which are also facing liquidity challenges, have also frozen issuance of fresh credit to finance marginal upstream facilities. Prior to the removal of subsidy, the PPPRA was empowered to, at every three months’ interval, allocate permits to importers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on volume of the product to be imported. Instead of adherence to the allocation, marketers have now been let loose to import with disregard to the allocation due to the new import regime of subsidy removal. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
"Both former Army Chiefs, including 52 others, have had their international passports impounded. "I also heard that both men are under surveillance, as the EFCC sets out on a further investigation." Meanwhile, indications have emerged that the 13-man panel may be confronted with challenges of gathering documents and information, owing to the arrest and detention of Air Commodore Muhammed Umar (rtd). "The arrest of retired Air Commodore Umar, may pose some challenge to information gathering. He was largely responsible for gathering of information, considering his vast networks and connections during the probe of procurements in the Army and Air Force," the source hinted. Umar, who is a member of the Ode Committee, was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) recently. New Telegraph was also told of a businessman, who had offered to return a huge sum of money he received from a former Naval chief, without commensurate execution of contracts. It was learnt from informed sources that the man, who is said to be a close friend of the former Naval chief, had approached the panel, with a view to returning the said money, which he said he neither worked nor asked for. One of the sources said that the panel, conscious of its terms of reference, which did not include receiving of funds, directed him to the EFCC. “You know interesting discoveries were made by the panel. Do you know that in the course of our sittings, a civilian, who is a friend of a former Chief of Naval Staff, walked into the committee that he wanted to refund money the exNaval chief paid into his company’s account? “The man said he did not do any work, but that the money was paid into his account on the instruction of his friend, the Naval chief. “The committee said there was a procedure to follow, which required him to go and make the refund at the EFCC,” the source said. A source close to the panel told New Telegraph that the panel is billed to invite the businessman to testify against the former naval chief. Already, the 13-man panel has released reports on the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Army, wherein it indicted top senior serving and retired military officers, politicians, and firms.
MONDAY, July 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
Strike: LUTH discharges all patients Appolonia Adeyemi
P
atients admitted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idiaraba, in Lagos State, have been discharged as a result of the strike embarked upon by nurses in that institution since June 10. As the nurses down tools, there was nobody to care for the patients, majority of which discharged themselves to avoid deteriorating health conditions. When New Telegraph visited some wards in LUTH yesterday, most of the beds were empty, except for a few patients, who could not go home as a result of their inability to pay their medical bills. According to the Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), LUTH branch, Olutola Stephen, the strike, which led to patients deserting the tertiary hospital, began since June 10. “Up till now, we have not resumed normal services because of management’s insensitivity to what we are agitating for,” Stephen said. With the industrial
action lingering for over one month without the management addressing the problems, many of the patients in the wards chose to leave the hospital, so as to continue their treatment in other facilities. Although, Stephen said the management of LUTH had appealed to the nurses to return to work, they have refused to comply, asking that the management should first address the issues they raised. When New Telegraph visited the hospital yesterday, the only wards where a few patients were present were Wards C2, D2 and E2, all of which accommodated patients that did not have approval to leave the hospital because they could not pay their bills. The four that New Telegraph's correspondent saw had been in the hospital for over two months. They were practically being ‘detained’ for their inability to pay hospital bills. According to one of the patients, Mrs. Ndubisi, a petty trader that has been in LUTH for over three months, she has N168,000 hospital bill to clear before she and her three-month-
Sheriff wants to anoint next PDP leaders Onyekachi Eze ABUJA
F
acts emerged at the weekend on the terms for reconciliation offered by factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, for the resolution of the leadership crisis in the party. Sheriff, who has held tenaciously to the chairmanship of PDP after the National Convention held in Port Harcourt on May 21 sacked him and other members of the former National Working Committee (NWC), allegedly want to be allowed to conduct the next national convention. PDP has, again, fixed August 17 for another national convention, which will also hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Both the chairman of the seven-member National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, and Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin, have confirmed negotiations with Sheriff to end the crisis. Makarfi had told journalists that "we will never foreclose full reconciliation with Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and other persons that may still be
associated with him." Jibrin, on his part, said party leaders met with the factional national chairman till late hours of last Friday and expressed the hope that "at the appropriate time, Sheriff himself will be with us." None of them could give the type of concession Sheriff wants the party to make before he could renounce his claim to the chairmanship. A source, however, revealed that the factional national chairman wants to be allowed to conduct the convention and chose the candidates. "He is asking that he should be allowed to conduct the convention and select those who will run for the offices," he disclosed. The source did not, however, disclose what the party's leaders were offering him as compensation. Meanwhile, the committee that will draft the zoning arrangement for national offices will be inaugurated this week. The committee, whose chairman was not disclosed, will submit its report within one week. The next national chairman of the party is expected to come from the South, since the North will produce the presidential candidate in 2019.
old baby would be allowed to go home. Mrs. Ndubisi, a mother of five children, said the delivery of her fifth child brought her to LUTH where a caesarean surgery (CS) was performed by the doctors to save both herself and the baby girl that she delivered three months ago. She told New Telegraph: “I thank God that I am alive today. The doctors tried for me, saving my life and that of my baby. Sadly, my husband and I cannot pay the hospital bill.” Another patient, Mrs. Ejimozo, 33, has also been in LUTH for two months following her inability to pay the hospital bill of N55,000. Ejimozo’s baby was very ill and had jaundice after birth, requiring daily oxygen for six days, charged at N5,000 daily.
On her part, Mrs. Mercy Oba from Iruah in Edo State said her baby, who was delivered premature through CS, has been incubated since three months. She added that her husband, Mr. Oba was jobless, hence he could not clear the total bill of N297,000. However, on two different instalments, Oba has paid N80,000 and N70,000. Yet, she has not been allowed to leave the hospital. When contacted, the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode, said the demands of the nurses were being addressed by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), which he explained was already looking into issues with a view to tackling them. “None of the demands of the nurses falls within the category of what LUTH can do,” he
added. He said some of the demands, which bother on salary arrears, are already being looked into by the FMOH, and the nurses were aware of this development. On patients that could not leave LUTH as a result of unpaid bills, the CMD said they have to pay up their bills, adding, “If the services in the hospital were good enough to be accessed, they should equally be good enough to be paid for.” Part of the demands of the nurses in LUTH is stoppage of payment of teaching allowance in October 2015. Although, other federal hospitals have reviewed theirs, reinstating the allowance of nurses that are entitled to it. “In LUTH, they did not review ours. Now, because of this
NEWS
3
strike, they commenced paying the teaching allowance in June 2016 salary, but the arrears from October last year have not been paid.” Furthermore, the nurses are crying out over poor working environment, which prompted nurses in LUTH to work in darkness throughout the night, using lighting from their telephones to see when attending to their patients. Similarly, they are demanding for the provision of working materials, including consumables, water for sanitation, gloves, stationeries, etc. In addition, they are demanding the employment of more nurses to ease the pressure of work on available nurses. “Contrary to the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation that one nurse should attend to four patients, two nurses in LUTH attend to 30 patients,” Olutona lamented.
L-R: Divisional Head, Large Scale Enterprises, Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr. Joseph Babatunde; Executive Director, Corporate and Commercial Services, Mr. Jonathan Tobin; Director, Micro Enterprises and Financial Inclusion, Mrs. Toyin Adeniji and Acting Managing Director, Mr. Waheed Olagunju, during the bank’s media parley, in Lagos…at the weekend. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI
I’ll probe lopsided promotions in Police –IG Juliana Francis
T
he Acting InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, yesterday said that the force had set up a committee to look at the lopsided promotions in the Force. Speaking with journalists yesterday in Abuja, Idris stated that the police would not shy away from investigating any complaint of corruption in the Force. The Police boss also said that the Force would investigate the deduction of rent from the salaries of officers who stayed in the barracks. The acting IGP said that the Force is building the capacity of the police to tackle the rising cases of kidnapping and other violent crimes in the country. He said that it was because he was aware of the increasing cases of violent crimes that he deployed all MOPOL Commanders. "Henceforth, no mobile policeman would be used as guards. They are specially-trained policemen.
We shall strengthen our Special Protection Units for guard duties," he said. He also assured Nigerians that policemen would be made to comply with the Asset Declaration directive in compliance with the Code of Conduct Act. He said: "I have already declared my assets. Other policemen will have to declare theirs. Everybody will comply. But sincerely, I haven't started checking on who has complied or not. But I personally have declared my assets in order to lead by example." Reacting to the sack of the 21 AIGs, Idris said he had nothing to do with it, adding that it was under the purview of the Police Service Commission (PSC). He said that the PSC apparently retired the AIGs in order to pave the way for the smooth running of the Nigeria Police Force. Idris accused the immediate past IGP, Mr. Solomon Arase, of taking 24 cars, belonging to the Nigeria Police Force away, instead of just four.
Idris also accused the immediate past Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) of also leaving with cars that they were not supposed to go with. He said that investigation was already going on into the disappearance of the vehicles. He said: “A letter to that effect has been sent to the immediate past InspectorGeneral of Police, Solomon Arase, who left with 24 cars. The DIGs also left with cars they weren't supposed to take." Idris said he was surprised at the disappearance of a lot of vehicles, which were parked at the force headquarters just a week to his emergence as
746.19
The total number of NSE Consumer Goods Index of the Nigerian Stock Exchange as at Q4 2015. Source: Nigerian Stock Exchange
-0.9%
The annual population growth rate of Saint Helena in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org
the Acting IGP. His words: "A week before I was announced, when you look through my office window, you could see so many cars. But the cars all disappeared when I came in. What I did was to give a directive to the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) for them to investigate all vehicles' purchases and donations to the police in the last three years, as well as their positions. "When I took over, there were no vehicles. I discovered that the last IG went away with 24 vehicles, including two BMWs. Some DIGs took seven, others eight cars. And they left me with an old vehicle. Even the one I follow the president with, the last time I went for an engagement, the president asked what I was doing with that kind of vehicle. The headlight has changed colour, which means it was parked for long under the rain. According to him, he would also probe any corruption allegation brought against police past administration.
4
NEWS
MONDAY, July 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
CBN to begin new rice project in 14 states
Taiwo Hassan
P
resident Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend the Anchor Borrowers’ programme in rice production to 14 other states in the country as part of the efforts to ensure food
sufficiency in Nigeria. Kebbi was the first state in Nigeria to begin the Anchor Borrowers’ programme. The representative of the CBN on the Bank of Industry (BoI) Board and Executive Director, Corporate Services in the bank, Jonathan Tobin, disclosed this at a media parley organ-
ised by BoI for journalists in Lagos at the weekend. He revealed that the presidential directive stemmed from the successful implementation of the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers’ programme in rice production in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State. Tobin said that the president had approved
that all the states in the North, including Benue, Cross River, Anambra and Ebonyi states, commence a fresh Anchor Borrowers’ programme in rice production. “President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the CBN to commence a replica of the Anchor Borrowers’ programme in 14
L-R: Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu; a traditional ruler and Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC), Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, at the 12th edition of the Nigerian Telecoms Awards in Lagos…at the weekend
states in the country. These 14 states are all the states in the Northern parts of the country, while Benue, Cross River, Anambra and Ebonyi states are also included. But I think you will get the 14 states,” he said. Tobin said that fresh funds are being packaged by the apex bank to ensure that the programme is given all necessary funding to ensure the success of the scheme. He said the CBN supported food production initiative to increase local production of rice and wheat in the country in line with the Federal Government’s resolve to diversify the economy through agriculture. The CBN executive said that the main reason for this Anchor Borrowers’ programme by the apex bank was for it to address some food commodities that the government is hugely spending so much foreign exchange on for their imports into the
country, such as rice and wheat. He added that the key objective of the programme is to quickly address these staple food items that government has already identified so as to reduce the country’s import base and also to make rice available for Nigerians. Tobin said that the apex bank is critically looking at rice, wheat, fish and other food items that are taking toll on the country’s foreign reserve. Available statistics indicate that Nigeria can no longer afford to spend huge foreign exchange on the importation of food items that can be produced locally in view of decreasing oil revenue. About N1 trillion is spent annually on food imports. According to CBN figures, import of rice and wheat alone was N428 billion and N307 billion in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
Banks reject loan requests for fuel imports NSA moves to unravel masterminds CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
New Telegraph had earlier reported that the Federal Government had also set a new target of 2019 for Nigeria to become a net exporter of refined products. A document from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, sighted by our correspondent, showed that the minister was optimistic that the target would be met with the new price regime of N145 per litre and the total removal of subsidy on the product. Meanwhile, some banking sector analysts have expressed concerns over banks’ exposure to the upstream oil and gas sector. It was gathered that of the top five banks’ $4,882 million exposure to the upstream oil and gas sector, at least 15 per cent is exposed to the Trans Forcados Pipeline (TFP). The pipeline has been closed for four months due to recent attacks by the Niger Delta Avengers, a new militant group, which has claimed responsibility for attacks on oil and gas facilities in the oil-rich region. The TFP links a number of oil fields and oil mining leases (OML) in the western Niger Delta with the Forcados terminal on the coast. Many of these OMLs were once owned by Shell Nigeria, but were sold to indigenous Nigerian upstream companies, in many cases financed by Nigerian banks. At that time, these loans were celebrated as a milestone for Nigeria’s financial institutions and a boost to bank portfolios aimed at supporting greater domes-
tic participation in the industry. Now that the price of Brent crude has fallen by nearly two-thirds to the mid-$40s, much of that lending has become a liability. “The banks lent way too much,” said a foreign oil executive who observed the wave of acquisitions in 2012-2014. “The assumptions made by the local oil companies were inaccurate. The value of the assets is basically zero with the low oil price,” he said while speaking on condition of anonymity. “The whole system is shaking.” Five banks – First Bank, which is Nigeria’s largest bank by assets, Diamond, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Ecobank Nigeria Plc. and Skye Bank Plc. – had issued profit warnings in the past months. Most of the country’s 22 licensed commercial banks are exposed to the industry through large syndicated loans, many of which were not hedged, and some of which were poorly collateralised, according to analysts. In a sign of the times, one of Nigeria’s leading energy firms, Oando, announced in its results statement recently that circumstances “lend significant doubt as to the ability of the corporation to meet its obligations as they come due.” The company bought an oilfield from ConocoPhilips for $1.65 billion in July 2014. Upstream oil and gas and services make up an average of around 28 per
cent of the banking sector’s loan books. But Robert Omotunde, analyst at Afrinvest, a Lagos-based investment bank, says at least two banks have made more than 30 per cent of their loans to upstream energy companies – notably First Bank, where oil and gas debt makes up 47 per cent of the total loan book. In addition to the upstream energy groups, local companies that borrowed in dollars to acquire power plants sold in a government privatisation programme are also struggling to keep up with payments. There has been “significant restructuring” of energy-related loans since the price of oil began falling, said Adesoji Solanke, head of research for Nigeria at Renaissance Capital. But for the restructuring, Solanke estimates that the sector’s non-performing loan ratio would be at least 15 per cent. As it is, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says the ratio stands at 4.65 per cent. During the 2009 Nigerian banking crisis, more than 30 per cent of loans were classified as non-performing and the banking watchdog was obliged to step in with rescue packages and reforms. The index of Nigerian bank stocks has fallen by 50 per cent in the past 12 months, far further than the broader market decline of 25 per cent. “The magnitude of losses has been translated directly into how sentiment has been priced into their stocks,” said Omotunde of Afrinvest.
of ghost workers, N4bn fraud Juliana Francis
P
resident Muhammadu Buhari has directed the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd), to unravel the identities of those behind the ghost workers in the Office of the NSA. Twenty-nine ghost workers and N4 billion fraud have been uncovered in the ONSA. Monguno was said to have discovered the ghost workers and fraud after he carried out an audit and verification exercise on the instruction of the president. A source in the ONSA said: “Monguno uncovered over N4 billion security fraud within the Presidency. The security audit and verification exercise was ordered by the president. The verification exercise showed that about 29 ghost security personnel have been on payroll in the Presidency over the years.” New Telegraph learnt that Monguno and his team are working to unmask the identities of those behind the scam and their modus operandi. Already, the NSA has carried out an audit of those involved in the security of the Presidential Villa. This effort, according to sources, is to block all the leakages. “The money paid for
the 29 ghost workers were received by human beings. At least, the monies were paid into certain accounts. So, we have begun investigation into who paid the money, who authorised the mandate and the owners of the accounts. The essence is to ensure that those who participated in the fraud, both the payment of ghost workers and the N4 billion security fraud are made to pay for the crime. “The NSA has done a good job in the discovery of the fraud. The next step is to ensure unravelling the identities of those behind the scam, block the leakages and recover the funds,” a source told New Telegraph. It was gathered that prior to the emergence of the Buhari administration, the internal Aso Rock security budget was N6.5 billion for 2015. To sanitise the security circle in the Presidency, Monguno sought and got the approval of the president to embark on the verification exercise, in line with the anti-corruption campaign of Buhari. The N4 billion was alleged to be part of the N6.5 billion dedicated to the security personnel and logistics in the Presidency, most of which allegedly went into private pockets. “The NSA, who considered the N6.5 billion as outrageous, insisted that it be reduced. He subsequently brought the
figure down to N2 billion. It was a move commended and approved by the president,” said the source. It was further gathered that the verification exercise did not go down well with some persons in and around the security circle. These people felt the exercise would expose their dirty deals. He noted that the new security budget regime introduced another new middle level cadre of personnel, with a minimum of N100,000 monthly allowances and attached benefits. This upward review of allowances, it was learnt, is to ensure professional hierarchy and discipline. This aims at boosting the morale of all the security personnel in the discharge of their statutory duties. Aside from the increment in monthly allowances of staff, another quarterly allowance was also said to have been introduced by the Office of the NSA as special duty quarterly allowance for security personnel in the Presidency.
95,500
The official capacity of Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico. Source: Businessinsider.in
$21.3m
The total pay (including salary/ winnings & endorsements) of Fernando Torres (Soccer) for 2015. Source: Forbes.com
5
MONDAY, July 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
RETURNS ON SOURCES OF FUND SOLD TO CUSTOMERS FOR THE WEEK ENDED FRIDAY 15-07-2016 S/NO.
SOURCE 1 CORONATION MERCHANT BANK
DATE OF FUND PURCHASED
EXCHANGE RATE
AMOUNT PURCHASED ($)
11-Jul-16
282.50
1,000,000.00
2 CBN
12-Jul-16
282.00
10,000,000.00
3 CITIBANK
13-Jul-16
283.75
4 UNUTILIZED REPURCHASE
14-Jul-16
283.17
2,000,000.00 162,753.60
5 ORDINARY DOMICILLIARY PURCHASED
14-Jul-16
282.00
40,000.00
6 SHELL NIGERIA
14-Jul-16
283.42
15,000,000.00
7 EXPORT PROCEEDS
15-Jul-16
282.00
373,500.00 28,576,253.60
TOTAL
RETURNS ON UTILIZATION OF FUND SOLD TO CUSTOMERS FOR THE WEEK ENDED FRIDAY, 08-07-2016 S/NO.
CUSTOMER/FXPD/NON-FXPD
ITEM OF IMPORT
DATE OF FUND PURCHASED
EXCHANGE RATE
AMOUNT SOLD ($)
136 ADEGUNWA ISMAIL
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
4,000.00
13-Jul-16
284.25
66,400.00
137 ADELANA ABIOLA OLUWAYEMISI
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
2,000.00
2 PEUGEOT AUTOMOBILE NIGERIA LTD
15 UNITS OF SKD-11(DKD) 508 ALLURE FOR PEUGEOT VEHICLES
12-Jul-16
282.50
328,310.82
3 TECHNOLOGY EDGE & ENGR. CON
ACCOMODATION
12-Jul-16
282.50
4,581.95
138 ADELORE ADERONKE MODUPE
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
3,000.00
4 STERLING BANK PLC
ACL ANALYTICSCLIENT SUBSCRIPTION
14-Jul-16
283.50
14,594.71
139 ADENIKE ADEBUSOLA ADENUGA
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
4,000.00
5 NYCIL LIMITED
ACRYLIC ACID
12-Jul-16
282.50
36,160.00
140 ADEWOLE ADEKUNLE
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
2,000.00
6 BENEGINES BUSINESS ENT. LTD
AGRICULTURAL GRINDING MILLS
12-Jul-16
282.50
626.30
141 ARIYIBI OLALEKAN OLUSOLA
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
4,000.00
7 GODY JONAS ENT LTD
AGRICULTURAL GRINDING MILLS
12-Jul-16
282.50
818.68
142 ASHWIN S DAYALANI
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
4,000.00
8 D2H SERVICES LTD
AGRICULTURAL GRINDING MILLS
12-Jul-16
282.50
148,488.00
143 JEGEDE FAITH OLUWADARASIMI
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
1,500.00
9 D2H SERVICES LTD
AGRICULTURAL GRINDING MILLS COMPLET WITH PRIME MOVERS
12-Jul-16
282.50
339.48
144 JEGEDE TEMILOLA OLUWAFUNMIKE
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
1,500.00
10 BENEGINES BUSINESS ENT. LTD
AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY AND SPARES
12-Jul-16
282.50
785.12
145 LATA ASHWIN DAYALANI
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
11 QUALITEC INDUSTRIES LTD
ALUMINUM PLAIN COILS
13-Jul-16
284.25
96,000.00
146 MUDATHIR LAWAL
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
12 MEGA PLASTICS INDUSTRY LTD
ARTIFICIAL RESINS
13-Jul-16
284.25
108,469.78
147 OGUNBIYI ALEXANDER AKINWUNMI
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
1,500.00
13 SACVIN NIGERIA LTD
ASSORTED COLOURS OF MASTER-BATCHES
12-Jul-16
282.50
42,360.00
148 OGUNRINDE DAVID OLUSEYI
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
2,500.00
14 BINANI PRINTING PRESS LIMITED
AUTOMATIC EXERCISE BOOK MAKING MODEL
12-Jul-16
282.50
200,000.00
149 OLADIPUPO ABIODUN
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
4,000.00
15 BINANI PRINTING PRESS LIMITED
AUTOMATIC EXERCISE BOOK MAKING MODEL
13-Jul-16
284.25
100,000.00
150 OLUBOBOLA BOLAJI
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
2,000.00
16 CELPLAS INDUSTRIES NIG. LTD
BALL POINT
12-Jul-16
282.50
20,190.00
151 OYETAYO OYERIIIKE
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
2,000.00
17 CONOIL PLC
BASEOIL
12-Jul-16
282.50
28,061.37
152 ROJUGBOKAN FOLASHADE OLUBUNMI / ROJUGBOKAN ADEBAYO OLORUNWA
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
2,500.00
18 JRHZINONE CO LTD
BLENDER FAN PARTS
12-Jul-16
282.50
30,136.32
153 SOLA AINA ORIOLA
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
4,000.00
19 POLY PRODUCTS NIGERIA LTD
BOTTLE MOULDS AND SPARE PARTS
13-Jul-16
284.25
71,700.00
20 NYCIL LIMITED
BUTYL ACRYLATE
12-Jul-16
282.50
64,080.00
154 TIJANI BABATUNDE ADEMOLA / TIJANI TAIRAT BOLANLE
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
4,000.00
21 MANCHESTER INDUSTRIES LTD
CABLE MAKING MACHINE COMPLETE
12-Jul-16
282.50
100,000.00
155 TIJANI FEYISIKE TITILAYO / TIJANI TAIRAT BOLANLE
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
4,000.00
22 AARTI ROLLING MILLS LTD
CAPITAL MACHINERY -VARIOUS COMPONENTS
12-Jul-16
282.50
3,966.76
156 TIJANI TAIRAT BOLANLE
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
4,000.00
23 AARTI ROLLING MILLS LTD
CAPITAL MACHINERY -VARIOUS COMPONENTS
12-Jul-16
282.50
60,085.24
157 ABIODUN ADEROJU
PTA
13-Jul-16
284.25
24 POLYFIRM SERVICES NIG. LTD
COMPLETE HYDRAULIC LIFT
12-Jul-16
282.50
239.75
158 ABIOYE OLUWAFEMI
PTA
13-Jul-16
284.25
4,000.00
25 MARTIN-ISOJE SARAH CHIMENEM
COST FOR DONOR EGG BANK
14-Jul-16
283.50
9,800.00
159 ADERONKE ADEOLA
PTA
13-Jul-16
284.25
1,000.00
26 AYENI FOLAJUWON BAYODE
COURSE FEES
12-Jul-16
282.50
1,195.00
160 ADETUNJI ADERIBIGBE
PTA
13-Jul-16
284.25
4,000.00
27 OKOH NDUBUISI
COURSE FEES
12-Jul-16
282.50
161 AMUSAN MUBARAK AYOMIDE
PTA
13-Jul-16
284.25
1,000.00
28 KRISHAN NIGERIA LIMITED
CYL BLOCK LISTER
12-Jul-16
282.50
162 AMUSAN MULIKAT ADEFUNKE
PTA
13-Jul-16
284.25
2,000.00
29 KRISHAN NIGERIA LIMITED
CYL HEAD COMP
12-Jul-16
282.50
35,000.00
163 BABATOPE ABIOLA OLUBUNMI
PTA
13-Jul-16
284.25
4,000.00
30 T.G ARLA DIARY PRODUCTS LIMITED
DANO COOL COW FILLED MILK POWDER
12-Jul-16
282.50
133,830.76
164 BABATOPE MOSES OLUMUYIWA AYODELE
PTA
13-Jul-16
284.25
4,000.00
31 T.G ARLA DIARY PRODUCTS LIMITED
DANO COOL COW FILLED MILK POWDER
13-Jul-16
284.25
133,830.86
165 BABATOPE OLUWASEYI
PTA
13-Jul-16
284.25
4,000.00
32 QPLAS LTD
DIVIDEND FOR YEAR 2014
13-Jul-16
284.25
63,736.59
166 LAWAL OLUYEMISI AWENI
PTA
13-Jul-16
284.25
4,000.00
33 SOMOTEX NIG LTD
ELECTRIC INVERTER/STATIC CONVERTER
12-Jul-16
282.50
1,906.43
167 MARYAM AFOLAKE ABUDU
PTA
13-Jul-16
284.25
4,000.00
34 SOMOTEX NIG LTD
ELECTRIC INVERTER/STATIC CONVERTER
12-Jul-16
282.50
2,419.06
168 OWOLABI ABIOLA ADEBAYO
PTA
13-Jul-16
284.25
2,000.00
35 EMEL ENT. LTD
EMEL BRAND COMPLETE ORDINARY STEEL DOOR
12-Jul-16
282.50
40,833.20
169 WILKEY BAMBO
PTA
13-Jul-16
284.25
36 NEW HEALTHWAY CO LTD
ESSENTIAL RAW MATERIAL FOR MFG IND:QUININE
13-Jul-16
284.25
71,360.00
37 DANIUM ENERGY SERVICES LTD
GASOIL
12-Jul-16
282.50
12,426.12
170 WILKEY OLUKEMI
PTA
13-Jul-16
284.25
4,000.00
38 DANIUM ENERGY SERVICES LTD
GASOIL
12-Jul-16
282.50
22,669.20
171 DOKAI IFEOMA ANASTESIA
PTA
15-Jul-16
290.00
2,500.00
39 CONOIL PLC
GASOLINE
12-Jul-16
282.50
111,117.12
172 DOKAI IFEOMA CHUKWUDI
PTA
15-Jul-16
290.00
2,500.00
40 AFRO BALA NIG LTD
GRANITE TILES
12-Jul-16
173 NEPAL OIL & GAS
PMS
14-Jul-16
283.92
7,500,000.00
41 KRISTORIA AGRO CENTER LTD
HAND SPRAYER
12-Jul-16
282.50
707.56
174 MAINLAND OIL & GAS
PMS
14-Jul-16
283.92
42 RELIANCE UNIVERSAL CONCEPT LTD
HARRY BRAND INSECTIDE SPRAYERS
12-Jul-16
282.50
25,512.00
43 HIGH COMMISSION OF INDIA ABUJA
HOME COUNTRY REMITTANCE
12-Jul-16
282.50
50,000.00
44 ZANOTTI FOOD PRESERVATIONS LTD
INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURAL DRYER
12-Jul-16
282.50
45 RITE FOODS LTD
INDUSTRIAL BAKERY MACHINERIES
12-Jul-16
282.50
46 RITE FOODS LTD
INDUSTRIAL BAKERY MACHINERIES
12-Jul-16
282.50
2,128.86
47 PLENCO INDUSTRIES LTD
INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY-MOULDING MACHINE
12-Jul-16
282.50
200,000.00
48 BEAUMONT AROMATICS NIG LTD
INDUSTRIAL MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT S
12-Jul-16
282.50
49 MIGHTYKENS INTL LTD
INDUSTRIAL MIXER
12-Jul-16
282.50
86,275.00
50 STARSONIC NIGERIA LTD
INDUSTRIAL MOULDS
12-Jul-16
282.50
100,450.00
51 BHOJRAJ INDUSTRIES PLC
INDUSTRIAL RAW MATERIAL
13-Jul-16
52 SUNCHEM INDUSTRIES LTD
INDUSTRIAL RAW MATERIALS
12-Jul-16
53 CORONATION MERCHANT BANK
INTERBANK SALES
12-Jul-16
282.50
1,000,000.00
54 CITIBANK
INTERBANK SALES
12-Jul-16
282.50
2,000,000.00
55 DIAMOND BANK
INTERBANK SALES
12-Jul-16
282.50
2,000,000.00
56 GUARANTY TRUST BANK
INTERBANK SALES
12-Jul-16
282.50
2,000,000.00
57 BOND GLOBAL ENERGY PROJECTS LTD
JET A1
12-Jul-16
282.50
8,653.00
58 PRICERITE PRODUCTS LTD
KENWOOD BRAND APPLIANCES
13-Jul-16
284.25
21,013.20
59 PRICERITE PRODUCTS LTD
KENWOOD BRAND APPLIANCES
13-Jul-16
284.25
22,629.28
60 MAYFAIR AGRO-ALLIED NIGERIA LTD
LINEAR LOW DENSITY
12-Jul-16
282.50
35,392.50
61 Q-OIL AND GAS SERVICES
LIVING ALLOWANCE/RENT
12-Jul-16
282.50
62 ODUNEWU JADESOLA SAKIRAT
LIVING EXPENSES
12-Jul-16
282.50
1,770.00
63 OGBUNUDE EBUKA PETER
LIVING EXPENSES
12-Jul-16
282.50
11,600.89
64 ODUNEWU JADESOLA SAKIRAT
14-Jul-16
282.50
66 BENEGINES BUSINESS ENT. LTD
LIVING EXPENSES MACHINERY FOR STORAGE AND RE-PRODUCTION OF ELECTRIC CURRENT (STATIC CONVERTER) MACHINERY FOR STORAGE AND RE-PRODUCTION OF ELECTRIC CURRENT (STATIC CONVERTER)
67 SEVEN UP BOTTLING COMPANY PLC
1 NYCIL LIMITED
65 GODY JONAS ENT LTD
TRIETHYLENE TETRAMINE
282.50
284.25 282.50
1,195.00 46,609.40
11,517.00
2,000.00
7,500,000.00 27,505,069.02
587.00
132,032.00 1,838.26
5,000.00
3,550.00
282.50
104.00
282.50
1,243.26
MACHINERY SPARE PARTS
12-Jul-16
282.50
54,794.50
68 SEVEN UP BOTTLING COMPANY PLC
MACHINERY SPARE PARTS
12-Jul-16
282.50
74,628.32
69 MELVYN NICKSON NIGERIA LTD
MASTER REHEOBUILD 561
12-Jul-16
282.50
14,297.50
70 TEMPO PULP AND PACKAGING LTD
MASTERBATCH FOR BOPP FILM PRODUCTION
12-Jul-16
282.50
71 TEMPO PULP AND PACKAGING LTD
MASTERBATCH FOR BOPP FILM PRODUCTION
12-Jul-16
282.50
72 ADEWUMI TAIWO OYEWALE
MEDICAL
12-Jul-16
282.50
8,000.00
73 HANA PACKAGING LTD
METALLOCENE EXEED GRADE 1018KB
13-Jul-16
284.25
70,370.00
74 TUYIL PHARM IND. LTD
MULTIVITAMIN AND MINERALS CAPSULES WITH ALOEVERA
12-Jul-16
75 LOKEL PHARM CO. LTD
PARADREX
12-Jul-16
76 HAMMOUD AND SONS LTD
PAVER FINISHER
12-Jul-16
282.50
459.00
77 BHOJRAJ INDUSTRIES PLC
PET FILM
12-Jul-16
282.50
102,672.00
78 GREAT TIMEC PHARMA NIGERIA LTD
PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS AND MEDICINES
13-Jul-16
284.25
116,576.40
79 KRISHAT PHARMA IND LTD
PHARMACEUTICAL FORMULATIONS
12-Jul-16
282.50
43,125.00
80 STEFANOV STEFAN ZAHOV
PHR
12-Jul-16
282.50
3,435.22
81 KUMAR SANJAY
PHR
12-Jul-16
282.50
3,500.00
82 SAMANTHA MANABENDRA
PHR
12-Jul-16
282.50
3,500.00
83 HASAN AMJAD
PHR
12-Jul-16
282.50
4,000.00
84 SREEJITH NAMBIAR
PHR
12-Jul-16
282.50
85 LAKSHMANAN ADAIKKAPPAN
PHR
12-Jul-16
282.50
86 INTER-SWASTIK NIG LTD
PLASTIC RAW MATERIAL
12-Jul-16
282.50
349.10
87 MDV INDUSTRIES LTD
POLYPROPYLENE (PP RAFFIA GRADE HLR102)
13-Jul-16
284.25
132,660.00
88 CELPLAS INDUSTRIES NIG. LTD
POLYPROPYLENE COMPOUND GRADE
12-Jul-16
282.50
19,425.00
89 SANKIL NIGERIA LTD
POWER INVERTERS
12-Jul-16
282.50
98,300.00
90 INTER-SWASTIK NIG LTD
PP COPOLYMER
12-Jul-16
282.50
347.85
91 INTER-SWASTIK NIG LTD
PP COPOLYMER
12-Jul-16
282.50
79,541.40
92 STARTREND INDUSTRIES LTD
PRIME ELECTROLYTIC TINPLATE(INDUSTRIAL RAW MATERIAL)
12-Jul-16
282.50
69,420.00
93 MELVYN NICKSON NIGERIA LTD
PRIMER (MAXDAN -25)
12-Jul-16
282.50
13,085.00
94 KACHIFO LIMITED
PRINTED BOOKS
12-Jul-16
95 KACHIFO LIMITED
PRINTED BOOKS-VARIOUS TITLES
12-Jul-16
282.50
565.00
96 MONTANA INDUSTRIES
PVC GRADE 1230P AND /OR SE950 AND F622
15-Jul-16
285.00
373,500.00
97 PANAR LTD
PVC RESIN
13-Jul-16
284.25
114,480.00
98 RITE FOODS LTD
RAW MATERIAL
99 SANKIL PHARMACEUTICALS LTD
282.50
4,000.00
740.93
12-Jul-16
282.50
4,000.00
1,219.49
12-Jul-16
282.50
TOTAL
4,000.00
428.74 871.01
60.00 97,301.00
4,000.00 5,000.00
293.69
12-Jul-16
282.50
75,584.48
RAW MATERIAL
13-Jul-16
284.25
263,650.00
100 UNIGROW IND LTD
RAW MATERIALS FOR TEXILE
12-Jul-16
282.50
46,418.89
101 ABDULSALAM MISBAHU GAMBO RABI
SCHOOL FEES
12-Jul-16
282.50
1,700.00
102 MUSA-AGBOENI ATIEMORIA GODWILL
SCHOOL FEES
12-Jul-16
282.50
3,072.71
103 OMOTALADE OMOLOLA
SCHOOL FEES
12-Jul-16
282.50
3,187.44
104 OYEBOLU TITILAYO ALARAPE
SCHOOL FEES
12-Jul-16
282.50
3,492.20
105 IGBINOBA SIMISOLA FADEKE
SCHOOL FEES
12-Jul-16
282.50
3,838.21
106 ABODERIN OLUJIMI
SCHOOL FEES
12-Jul-16
282.50
4,300.00
107 MUHAMMAD NDA
SCHOOL FEES
12-Jul-16
282.50
6,103.24
108 ANYACHEBELU CHINWE GEORGY
SCHOOL FEES
12-Jul-16
282.50
6,200.00
109 ABOYEJI RASAQ
SCHOOL FEES
12-Jul-16
282.50
110 FADAIRO LASUKANMI FATAI
SCHOOL FEES
12-Jul-16
282.50
111 ADENIRAN MICHAEL TOSIN ADEDIRAN
SCHOOL FEES
12-Jul-16
282.50
8,000.00
112 EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT CENTRE LTD
SCHOOL FEES
12-Jul-16
282.50
11,029.87
113 ODUTOLA ABIODUN
SCHOOL FEES
14-Jul-16
283.50
17,044.20
114 TAJUDEEN KAZEEM OLABIYI
SCHOOL FEES
13-Jul-16
283.75
1,121.10
115 PALMORA NIGERIA LTD
SHAVING STICK WITH RAZOR
12-Jul-16
282.50
28,347.52
116 OVINOMAS INTEGRATED SOLUTION
SOLAR MODULE
12-Jul-16
282.50
83,110.00
117 QPLAS LTD
STABILIZER FOR PVC
12-Jul-16
282.50
378.00
118 HENRY WEST INTERNATIONAL LTD
SUNSHOW BRAND AGRICULTURAL IRRIGATION WATER PUMP
12-Jul-16
282.50
40,000.00
119 STERLING BANK PLC
SWIFT RECURRING CONNECTIVITY
14-Jul-16
283.50
2,543.00
120 SIEGWERK WEST AFRICA
UNIBASE ORANGE/BLACK/WARM RED
12-Jul-16
282.50
23,140.00
121 SIEGWERK WEST AFRICA
UNIBASE ORANGE/BLACK/WARM RED
12-Jul-16
282.50
26,430.00
122 SIEGWERK WEST AFRICA
UNIBASE WHITE
12-Jul-16
282.50
24,700.00
123 CONOIL PLC
UNLEADED GASOLINE
12-Jul-16
282.50
34,024.01
124 BULK STRATEGIC RESERVE LTD
UNLEADED GASOLINE
12-Jul-16
282.50
71,207.80
125 OTTUN MUSADEEQ KAYODE
UPKEEP ALLOWANCE
12-Jul-16
282.50
1,328.10
126 WINSALA BOLANLE HALIMAT
UPKEEP ALLOWANCE
12-Jul-16
282.50
5,000.00
127 FUELS AND BITUMEN MARKETING CO LTD
UPKEEP ALLOWANCE
12-Jul-16
282.50
128 AROWOROWON OLALEKAN AZEEZ
UPKEEP ALLOWANCE
12-Jul-16
282.50
129 RITE FOODS LTD
VIBROFLOORS INDUSTRIALS FLOORING SYSTEM
12-Jul-16
282.50
1,085.97
130 JEMIMAH NIG. LTD
WATER PUMPS AND ACCESSORIES
12-Jul-16
282.50
101,635.86
131 OLAYIDE SANUSI
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
2,000.00
132 ABISOLA HAMZAT
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
2,000.00
133 ABOYEJI LAWAL RASAQ
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
4,000.00
134 ABOYEJI MUSILIMAT AKINSHOLA
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
4,000.00
135 ADEBAYO ADEKANMI
PTA
12-Jul-16
282.50
4,000.00
7,000.00 7,568.00
7,000.00 9,055.45
For further enquiries, please contact Sterling Bank Plc. Tel.: 014484481-5 or 014489470-94 E-mail: customercare@sterlingbankng.com www.sterlingbankng.com
6
NEWS | national
Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA
N
igeria lost an estimated $518 million to oil swap deals and Offshore Processing Agreements (OPA) in 2013 due to inefficiencies of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiaries. Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mr. Waziri Adio, who disclosed this in an interview, said the Federation lost $211.88million to crude for product swap and $306.16million of OPA, totaling $518million. Adio, who spoke on the backdrop of the just released 2013 Oil and Gas
monday, july 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
Nigeria loses $518m to oil swap deals –NEITI Industry Audit report, said that the NNPC also withheld some of the monies that were due to government, including the sum of $3.8billion and N358billion worth of revenue. According to him, the losses were incurred as the NNPC divested some of its interests in Shell Joint venture and transferred about eight Oil Mining Leases(OMLs) to its subsidiary, Nigeria Petroleum Development Company(NPDC). The Federal Government, Adio said, also lost a whopping $1.29billion being proceeds from the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG); N354billion from unpaid
domestic crude debt; N3.98billion from subsidy over-recovery in 2012 and N2.17billion from cash-call refunds. The Audit Report also showed that the sum of $4.7billion was lost to pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft in three Joint Venture (JVs) namely, Shell, Agip and Chevron while another N20billion was lost to not observing 90-day credit time value of money at 12 per cent. "Now NNPC divested
7.00%
The equity turnover velocity of the Nigerian Stock Exchange for Q4 2015. Source: Nigerian Stock Exchange
55 per cent in eight assets (OMLs) in Shell JV: OMLs 4, 26, 30, 34, 38, 40, 41, and 42. They were valued by DPR at $1.8billion but according to Price Waterhouse Coopers(PWC), they should have been valued at $3.4billion, given that Shell got $2.72billion for its 45 per cent interest in those same assets. This, then mean that Shell’s 45 per cent valued at 47 per cent was higher than the federation's 55 per cent. "Let us look at it another way. Given the disparity between $3.4billion and $1.8billion, assets valued at 47 per cent loss or discount. But even with discount or loss, NPDC paid only $100 mil-
L-R: Zonal Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Muhammad Kanar; Secretary, Borno State Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Isa Goni; Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris and others, at the Borno Idps Camp in Maiduguri … yesterday.
H
ealth officials in the United States (U.S.) have raised the alarm, warning that gonorrhea was rapidly becoming untreatable. The case was reported in the ‘New England Journal of Medicine’. According to the officials from the U.S. Centres for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, antibiotic-resistant cases of the sexually-transmitted disease (STIs) including gonorrhea rocketed more than 400 per cent between 2013 and 2014. For now, the CDC said solution to the threat of untreatable STIs was by using condoms. Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can infect both men and women. It is a very common infection, especially among young people ages 15 to 24 years. Without treatment, it can lead to chronic health problems. If the bacteria gets in the blood stream, it can cripple one's joints or even infect the heart. A report in the mailonline stated that medical personnel were trying to combat the issue by combining the only two drugs that kill Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria, which
on some of these OMLs, namely, $536million paid as cash call on the four OMLs from Agip JV, $389million refunded to NAPIMS, but refund not remitted to Federation, apart from an outstanding of $147.8million not paid at all. “There are also Cashcalls also paid on some of the divested OMLs from the Shell JV, which include $35.12million refunded to NAPIMS, but refund not remitted to Federation. Records from NAPIMS showed request for refund of $414,000 and N249, 272, 000 on OML 25 apart from request for refund of $2.17billio on OML 42. You can’t imagine that these requested refunds were not made as at close of audits”, he said.
SERAP drags FG to court over alleged looters Tunde Oyesina and Akeem Nafiu
S
PHOTO: NAN
Appolonia Adeyemi
lion, leaving an outstanding of $1.7billion. This means that NPDC paid only 5.6 per cent of the discounted value of $1.8billion, and 3 per cent of actual value of $3.4biilion and yet enjoyed all the benefits, as oil from those assets lifted on behalf of NPDC and not the Federation”, he said. On the four assets under the Nigeria Agip Oil Company(NAOC) JV which were similarly divested, Adio said that no valuation was done on OMLs: 60, 61, 62, and 63, yet oil was lifted on behalf of NPDC rather than the federation. He said despite the fact that 12 OMLs in the Shell and Agip JVs divested to NPDC, and not fully paid for or not paid for at all, NAPIMS paid cash-calls
‘Gonorrhea may soon be untreatable’ is the causative agent of gonorrhea. However, in an analysis released on Thursday, the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said there was a strong possibility this approach would soon become ineffective. “The confluence of emerging drug resistance and very limited alternative options for treatment creates a perfect storm for future gonorrhea treatment failure in the U.S.,” said Dr. Jonathan Mermin, director of the CDC's National Center for preventing HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, STD, and tuberculosis (TB). “History shows us that bacteria will find a way to outlast the antibiotics we are using to treat it. “We are running just one step ahead in order to preserve the remaining treatment option for as long as possible.” The CDC did not offer an estimate of how long it could take for gonorrhea to become untreatable. There are only two antibiotics remaining that can treat gonorrhoeaAzithromycin and Ceftriaxone. The infection has al-
ready become immune to penicillin, tetracycline and fluoroquinolones. Increasingly, gonorrhea is building up a resistance to the individual drugs and in some cases, even a combination of the two is proving futile. Last month, British doctors revealed they have spent weeks trying to treat a man with gonorrhea in his throat using combination therapy - to no avail. According to the CDC, multidrug therapy still works and American doctors have yet to report
a failed case. The concern, however, stems from the dramatic spike in cases where individual drugs were failing, the report on the mailonline stated. In 2013, 0.6 per cent of gonorrhea cases were resistant to azithromycin. A year later, that figure leapt up to 2.5 per cent. “If this becomes more widespread, it could jeopardise treatment of gonorrhea,' report author, Dr. Robert Kirkcaldy, an epidemiologist in the CDC's Division of STD Prevention, said.
NLC wants FG to enforce court order on electricity tariff Akeem Nafiu
T
he President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has called on the Federal Government to prevail on the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission(NERC) to immediately reverse the 45 per cent increase in electricity tariff as directed by Justice Mohammed Idris of the
Federal High Court in Lagos. Speaking at a press conference over the court’s judgement, the NLC President said it was highly expedient for NERC to obey the order of the court, so as to avoid the wrath of Nigerians. He also threatened that the labour union would not hesitate to file contempt proceedings against anyone who disobeyed the order.
ocio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Federal Government before the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State, over failure to release the names of suspected looters and the circumstances under which recovered stolen public funds were recovered. The group, had filed the suit following a Freedom of Information request to the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, asking him to use his good offices to provide information about the names of high ranking public officials from whom public funds were recovered and the circumstances under which funds were recovered, as well as the exact amount
of funds recovered from each public official. The applicant, via an originating summons with suit number FHC/ CS/964/2016 was brought pursuant to section 4(a) of the Freedom of Information Act, and signed by SERAP Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni. Joined as defendants in the suit are the Minister of Information, Lai Muhammed and the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture. The applicant is arguing that, by a letter with reference No MJ/FOI/ GEN/014/1/54 and dated 21 June 2016, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN confirmed that the FOI request by SERAP was brought to the attention of the defendants for handling.
Fayose cautions Buhari on anti- corruption war Wale Elegbede
E
kiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has urged President Mohammadu Buhari to stop acting like the grandfather of corruption in Nigeria by shielding his men from probe. That was just as he asked Nigerians to demand the release of the authentic report of the Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement in the Nigerian Armed Forces. In a statement issued yesterday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor said claims by the Federal Government that the probe panel only looked into procurement and
contracts awarded by the military between 20112015 because documents regarding procurement from 2007 to 2010 were not available, was a clear indication of his support for corruption. “It is now obvious to the entire world that anyone that is in President Buhari’s good books can never be adjudged as corrupt even if such a person is caught looting the entire money in Nigeria’s treasury.” The governor said it smacked of sheer hypocrisy and nepotism for anyone to accept that fraud could have been perpetrated on procurement and award of contracts in an establishment without the involvement of the director of procurement.
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MONDAY, July 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
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HERITAGE BANKING CO DIAMOND BANK LTD ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC HERITAGE BANKING CO FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK CHI PHARMACEUTICAL LIMITED QEW GARDENS ENTERPRISES NIG LTD NATURAL PRIME RESOURCES NIGERIA LIMITED OK FOODS LIMITED MERCHANT INVESTORS LTD VICTORY GIFT INVESTMENT NIGERIA LIMITED BLUEFIN ENERGY LIMITED TADECO IND ENT NIG LTD8 TEMPO PAPER PULP AND PACKAGIN LTD SPRINGFIELD AGRO LTD CHINA EXPORT PROMOTION ACCURATE STREAMS NIGERIA LTD DELIFROST CATERERS NIGERIA LTD MF20160058373SPECTRUM PAPERS NIG LTD PETROCAM TRADING NIGERIA LIMITEDILCLITF151840752 ORIGIN OIL AND GAS LTDILCLITF151750713 ADVANCED CHEMICALS INTERNATIONALILCLUNC152591024 TOTAL NIGERIA PLC (ONTARIO)ILCLITF151770727 DANIUM ENERGY SERV LTDILCLITF152260883 FATGBEMS PET CO. LTDILCLITF153491255 ORIGIN OIL AND GASILCLITF152851085 PRUDENT ENERGY AND SERVICESILCLUNC160540256 FLOUR MILLS OF NIGERIA PLC HOLBORN LTD EKULO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED APEX PAINT LIMITED BLUE CLOUD FARM LIMITED VITAL PRODUCTS PLC VITAL PRODUCTS PLC CUSMAN BATURE ABDULLAHI NWANAJU ISIDORE UCHECHUKWU OKOYE DAVID NNANYELU INYAMA SIMEON CHIOMA NWANONYELUM JOSEPHINE ESAN ADEGBENGA OLUWAFEMI NNOROM AMEDE OGECHI YAHAYA SHUAIBU JAURO ATTAHIRU IAYBO SALAMATU OKOYE DAVID NNANYELU CHUKWU EDMUND EZEKWEM ETOK IMEH B BUBA B SALAMATU DAHIRU DR OKAM CHIKE NKENYIKA ONAH FATI MARIA ADEMIIJU ADEKANMI SAMAILA YAKUBU RAJAB NWACHUKWU STEPHEN EKENECHUKWU UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLCRICHARD BURRETT ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC POA ADIT NIGERIA LIMITED PRIMA CORPORATION LIMITED PRIMA CORPORATION LIMITED BOZAC CONTINENTAL LTD NWANONYELUM JOSEPHINE KWARGANA SULAIMAN KWARGANA KHADIJAT KWARGANA FATIMA I KWARGANA IBRAHIM AMUSAN TEMITOPE E ADEOSUN ADEOLA T DONASULU NIG LTD 3 MF20160062134VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC MF20160036116NCR NIGERIA PLC MF20160072024AUTO SPRINGS AND AXLES NIG. LTD TADECO IND ENT NIG LTD STALLIONAIRE NIG LTD ALLER AQUA T BARROW INTL COMETSTAR MANUFACTURING CO APPLE AND PEARS HAFFAR INDUSTRIAL COMPANY LTD OKPAME ASSOCIATE FEMINA HYGIENICAL FLOUR MILLS OF NIGERIA PLC EMADEB ENERGY SERVICES LTD JOF NIG LTD JOF NIG LTD JOF NIG LTD EGBADON VIOLET ODELEYE OLAYINKA OJEAHERE ADEYEMI
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CBN OTHER SOURCES 1 OTHER SOURCES 2 OTHER SOURCES 3 EUR OTHER SOURCES 4 GBP OTHER SOURCES 5 GBP OTHER SOURCES 6 OTHER SOURCES 7 OTHER SOURCES 8 OTHER SOURCES 9 OTHER SOURCES 10 GBP OTHER SOURCES 11 GBP OTHER SOURCES 12 OTHER SOURCES 13 OTHER SOURCES 14 OTHER SOURCES 15 OTHER SOURCES 16 OTHER SOURCES 17 OTHER SOURCES 18 OTHER SOURCES 19 OTHER SOURCES 20 OTHER SOURCES 21 OTHER SOURCES 22 OTHER SOURCES 23 OTHER SOURCES 24 OTHER SOURCES 25 OTHER SOURCES 26 OTHER SOURCES 27 OTHER SOURCES 28 GBP OTHER SOURCES 29 OTHER SOURCES 30 GBP OTHER SOURCES 31 OTHER SOURCES 32 GBP OTHER SOURCES 33 OTHER SOURCES 34 OTHER SOURCES 35 OTHER SOURCES 36 OTHER SOURCES 37 OTHER SOURCES 38
Interbank Interbank Interbank Interbank Interbank MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING OF PHAR RAW MATERIALS FOR PRINTING INDUSTRY SODIUM CARBONATE (DENS) HYDROGENATED VEG FAT RAW MATERIAL FOR MOSQUITO COIL CALCIUM CARBRIDE 295L/KG UNLEADED GASOLINE RAW MATERIAL FOR EXECISE BOOK MASTERBATCH FOR BOPP FILM PRODUCTON POLYMERIC POLYOL BULB WITH B22 LAMP CAP MACHINERIES: DISC PLOUGH, HARROW IN CKD AND SKD FORM SWEETWHIP PRINTING PAPER BOARD GAS OIL GAS OIL BASE OIL UNLEADED GASOLINE GAS OIL GASOLINE GAS OIL GASOIL 15,000M/TONS OF US WINTER WHEAT HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE RESIN RESIN ESSENTIAL RAW MATERIALS FOR PAINTS AND COATINGS COMPLETELY KNOCKED DOWN AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT INDUSTRIAL RAW MATERIAL PRINTED FLEXIBLE PACKING RAW INDUSTRIAL RAW MATERIAL PRINTED FLEXIBLE PACKING RAW PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES JOURNAL PUBLICATION LIVING EXPENSES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES MORTGAGE REPAYMENT PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES MEDICAL BILLS LIVING EXPENSES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES DIRECTOR'S SITTING ALLOWANCE Interbank GASOIL RESIN RESIN PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA PTA CUTTING MACHINE COSMONATE 80/20 TDI NCR SELFSERV 6634 ATM FUHE BRAND "MG" LOGO 16T AXLE ASSEM PLAIN PAPER SHEETS GAS OIL ALLER CLARIA FLOAT NEW SPARES FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLES PVC COMPOUND HEXANE SUITABLE FOR THE EXTRACTION OF VEGETABLE OIL SINGLE YARN OF SYNTHETIC STAPLE BABY DIAPERS ESSENTIAL RAW MATERIAL FOR WOMEN SANITARY GRANULAR MOP IN BULK JET A1 / DPK 60MT OF 1+G, DISODIUM 5'- INOSINATE (50PCT) AND DISODIUM 5'- GUANYLATE (50 PCT) SKIMMED MILK POWDER SKIMMED MILK POWDER PTA PTA PTA
11/07/2016 11/07/2016 11/07/2016 11/07/2016 11/07/2016 11/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 13/07/2016 13/07/2016 13/07/2016 13/07/2016 13/07/2016 14/07/2016 14/07/2016 14/07/2016 14/07/2016 14/07/2016 14/07/2016 15/07/2016 15/07/2016 15/07/2016 15/07/2016 15/07/2016 15/07/2016 15/07/2016 15/07/2016
282.00 280.00 280.00 300.00 370.00 370.00 283.25 283.00 280.00 280.00 355.00 355.00 285.00 285.00 285.00 285.00 285.00 285.00 285.00 280.00 283.75 280.00 280.00 280.00 280.00 284.00 298.00 280.00 374.60 280.00 370.00 280.00 370.00 280.00 280.00 280.00 280.00 280.00 280.00
11/07/2016 11/07/2016 11/07/2016 11/07/2016 11/07/2016 11/07/2016 11/07/2016 11/07/2016 11/07/2016 11/07/2016 11/07/2016 11/07/2016 11/07/2016 11/07/2016 11/07/2016 11/07/2016 11/07/2016 11/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 12/07/2016 13/07/2016 13/07/2016 13/07/2016 13/07/2016 13/07/2016 13/07/2016 13/07/2016 13/07/2016 13/07/2016 13/07/2016 13/07/2016 13/07/2016 14/07/2016 14/07/2016 14/07/2016 14/07/2016 14/07/2016 14/07/2016 14/07/2016 14/07/2016 14/07/2016 14/07/2016 14/07/2016 14/07/2016 14/07/2016 15/07/2016 15/07/2016 15/07/2016 15/07/2016 15/07/2016 15/07/2016 15/07/2016 15/07/2016
282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 283.50 283.50 283.75 283.75 283.75 283.75 283.75 283.75 283.75 283.75 283.75 283.75 283.50 283.75 283.75 283.75 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 283.75 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 284.25 284.25 284.25 284.25 300.00 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 282.50 300.00 300.00 284.50 284.50 284.50 284.50 284.50 284.50 284.50 284.50 284.50 284.50 284.50 284.50 284.50 284.50 284.25 298.50 298.50 298.50 300.00 300.00 300.00
10,000,000.00 12,107.40 292.78 161.07 1,436.69 252.52 2,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 289.01 458.00 557.75 1,895.93 978.90 957.18 589.24 2,345.25 1,256.50 1,455.61 236.04 300.00 2,000,000.00 4,860.40 1,070.00 750.00 587.04 2,000,000.00 1,125,500.50 50.00 528.68 2,823.13 407.02 420.00 672.56 1,642.26 1,191.21 981.58 180.77 50.00 30.00
1,000,000.00 2,000,000.00 2,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 52,336.60 59,600.00 121,937.80 47,208.47 43,180.00 27,450.00 2,000,000.00 97,131.96 53,760.00 107,524.60 80,092.57 172,000.00 37,778.00 53,000.00 635,410.00 103,964.60 96,035.40 200,000.00 200,000.00 200,000.00 200,000.00 200,000.00 500,000.00 81,840.00 246,271.37 61,590.00 100,000.00 49,217.00 50,459.89 186.27 250.00 1,000.00 1,945.63 1,600.00 2,192.00 2,202.22 2,344.12 2,500.00 2,500.00 1,957.99 3,000.00 5,836.88 5,883.88 8,967.68 7,000.00 8,870.50 11,673.76 18,471.13 1,000,000.00 500,000.00 150,000.00 150,000.00 34,829.00 430.76 4,000.00 4,000.00 4,000.00 4,000.00 2,000.00 4,000.00 80,000.00 50,000.00 25,000.00 33,075.00 52,999.16 500,000.00 62,216.00 64,888.26 86,250.00 22,788.00 25,500.00 27,198.00 29,300.74 1,000,000.00 200,000.00 370,709.46 566,453.78 173,738.99 4000.00 4000.00 2000.00
8
monDAY, JULY 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
METRO
ABIODUN BELLO
...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS
Gunmen invade palace, abduct Lagos monarch
Taiwo Jimoh
G
unmen at the weekend invaded the palace of the Oniba of Ibaland in Lagos and abducted 73-year-old Oba Yushau Oseni. His wife, Nofisat, told our correspondent yesterday that the monarch was abducted about 8p.m. when he was preparing to take his bath. It was learnt that about 15 masked gunmen stormed the town. Six of them entered the palace while others positioned themselves at strategic locations around the palace and on the waterways. It was also learnt that two yetto-be-identified persons were also kidnapped in Ojo Local Government axis before the monarch’s abduction on Saturday. Nofisat said the monarch was in his room when he heard the children making a loud noise in the living room. She said: “The monarch and I were both in his room when we heard the noise. We came out to caution the children. But unfortunately, we met the gunmen who were already at the entrance of the living room. “They were shouting ‘where is the king?’ Immediately they saw both of us, they asked me if the person behind me was the monarch and he answered in the affirmative. Immediately, they left the children to abduct him.
lKidnappers kill two, injure two
Sympathisers at the palace... yesterday. Inset: The creek through which the kidnappers fled
“When I realised that they came for him, I tried to prevent his kidnap. But one of the gunmen hit me on the neck and I fell down. Before I could regain consciousness, they had whisked him away. They also went away with about five of our mobile phones.” The monarch’s wife added that four of the gunmen took Oba Oseni through the backdoor, while the other two left through the main gate of the palace. She said: “The young wife went after the two abductors at
City Briefs
Two die in bandits, soldiers’ shootout Nankpah Bwakan Bauchi
T
wo suspected bandits died at the weekend during a shootout with soldiers from the 33 Artillery Brigade at Jejin Dutshen Zaki in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State. The soldiers also captured two suspects. The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 33 Artillery Brigade, Major Joseph Afolashade, who spoke with journalists at Jejin Dutshen Zaki Forest, said the troops on Saturday carried out a patrol to Kanawa village, Rugan Abdulsalam Diwa and Dutshen Zaki all in Ningi Local Government Area. He said: “At Jejin Dutshen Zaki, the troops came in contact
with bandits (kidnappers) who opened fire on them and our men replied. The exchange lasted for over one and half hours. At the end, our gallant troops overpowered the bandits and succeeded in killing two of the kidnappers while two of the bandits were captured.” Afolashade said the soldiers recovered five AK 47 rifles, four Bajaj motorcycles, 23 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, two mobile telephone handsets, some rings and a bag containing charms, foodstuffs and clothing were recovered from the bandits, According to him, the operation focuses mostly on forests such as Yankari Forest in Alkaleri, Burra Forest in Ningi, Lame Forest in Toro Local Government Area and Buzun Forest in Ganjuwa Local Government Area.
the entrance, begging them to spare her husband. It was in the process she was shot. The palace security guard, who was also preventing the kidnappers from taking the monarch away, was shot. He died on the spot.” The 60-year-old palace guard, Mr. Sunday Okanlawon, was shot in the chest. The gunmen fled through the Iye-Egbe creek. Nofisat said they had not witnessed any abduction in the history of Iba town. “This is the first time. Even
when vandalism was on the increase, there was nothing of such in this community,” she added. A resident, who identified himself simply as Biodun, said that while the kidnappers were escaping with the monarch, they shot sporadically to scare the people who might want to halt their operation. He said: “In the process, bullets hit two residents, Hakeem Lalupon, a commercial bus driver, and a yet-to-be-identified commercial motorcyclist. The motorcyclist
Dangote donates food items to IDPs D angote Foundation has donated food items to alleviate the suffering of the vulnerable and the indigent in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The food items, worth millions of naira, were on Thursday presented to the Minister of
FCT, Malam Muhammad Bello. Receiving the items, Bello said he was impressed by the gesture and promised that the beneficiaries would get the products. The Acting Secretary of Social Development, Bolanle
Oseni (left) presents food items to the representative of Old Peoples Home, Abuja, Dr. Ifeyinwa Obegolu, and Mrs. Elegbede
abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212
died on the spot. “Lalupon was shot in the stomach while refilling his vehicle with registration number AGL 658 XL, after the day’s work at his residence. He was rushed to three private hospitals in the community but he was rejected. He was later referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja where the doctors said he needs four pints of blood to survive.” The son of the abducted monarch, Alhaji Kabiru Oseni, said he was coming from Oto-Ijanikin when he was informed by one of his siblings that their father had been kidnapped. He said: “The kidnapping of the monarch is embarrassing. Since his abduction, they have not called or demanded anything. What is paramount to us at this moment is the release of my father.” About 1:30p.m. yesterday, Muslims and Christians in the community converged on the palace to pray for Oba Oseni’s quick release. The traditional worshippers also appeased their gods to ensure the safety of the monarch. Speaking after the prayer session, Evangelist Michael Toivide, head, Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), Iba Province, said: “the Oba is our father and since his abduction on Saturday, we are not happy and could not sleep. This prompted us to embark on indefinite fasting until his release.” The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Dolapo Badmos, said the kidnappers were militants. She said: “They resorted to kidnapping because pipeline vandalism has been curtailed. “We have been arresting kidnappers and this will not be different. The command is working with the Ogun Police Command to ensure that the issue of kidnapping is nipped in the bud in both states.”
Elegbede, who represented the minister, commended the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, and the Dangote Foundation for supporting the poor people in Abuja. The items included Dangote Sugar, Dangote Salt, Dangote Spaghetti, rice, Danvita and wheat meal. The donation followed the contribution by the foundation of N2 billion to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno last month. Speaking at the ceremony marking the distribution of the food items in Abuja, Chairman of the Dangote Foundation, Aliko Dangote, who was represented by Dr. Azeez Oseni, director of Health and Nutrition, said the foundation was committed to alleviating poverty in Nigeria.
METRO
monDAY, JULY 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
Bag snatchers kill nine-month pregnant woman Clement James Calabar
T
wo men suspected to be armed robbers at the weekend killed a mother of two, Chidinma Obiechina, who was also nine months’ pregnant in Calabar, Cross River State. The victim’s husband, Mr. Echem Obiechina, who spoke with journalists in Calabar, narrated events which led to his wife’s death. Obiechina said two men accosted his nine-monthold pregnant wife, who was due for delivery on July 27, and attacked her on her way from her shop. The husband, said the incident took place at Ikot Nkebre, 8th Miles in Calabar municipality. He said: “The shop is a stone throw from my house. She closed the shop a few
Ayade
minutes to 8p.m. (on Saturday) and was strolling down to the house when she was attacked by two men. “They initially tried to snatch her handbag where the money of the entire sales for the day was but she tried to hold strongly to it. In the process, they hit her right in her belly; that was how she fell down. Immediately she fell down, the robbers took off with her handbag.
“I was coming back from work at that same time. What I heard was the cry of pains, calling for help. I rushed to where she was, picked her up and rushed her to the hospital where she gave up the ghost.” Obiechina said Chidinma, who left behind a fouryear-old boy and a two-yearold girl, was booked for delivery on July 27 for her third child.
Nine die in Ogun auto crashes Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta
A
t least nine people lost their lives at the weekend in two separate auto crashes in Ogun State. Seven persons died yesterday in an accident involving a truck
and an 18-seater Mazda passenger bus while two others died in another auto crash a day earlier. In yesterday’s accident which occurred at Fidiwo area on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway nine others sustained injuries. The state Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Sector Commander, Adegoke Adetunji, who confirmed the accident,
Scene of an accident
said it occurred about noon. He said the accident happened at a section where there was diversion of traffic to a single lane owing to ongoing construction work on the expressway. Adetunji said the Ogunmakin Unit Commander of FRSC, David Ogunjana, who was at the scene, reported that the accident was due to wrongful overtaking. He added that the driver of the Mazda bus, marked SKJ 958 SP, was headed to Ibadan but overtook wrongfully and ran into the oncoming truck with registration number XB 219 PTN. Adetunji disclosed that the casualties included four men, two women and a child. He said the bodies of the victims had been deposited at the FOS mortuary, Ipara, while
He wondered why the robbers did not take the bag without killing his wife. Chidinma’s body has been deposited in the mortuary of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. Meanwhile, a former Deputy Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Patrick Ene, has decried what he called incessant robbery attacks in the area. Ene said before the incident which claimed the pregnant woman’s life, residents were robbed on a daily basis. He said: “Please, let His Excellency, the Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, know that Nkebre is under siege.” The former lawmaker appealed to government to extend its security apparatus to cover Ikot Nkebre community as, according to him, the people now sleep with one eye closed. those injured were taken to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, for medical attention. Meanwhile, two middle-aged women were killed while four others were injured on Saturday night in the auto crash on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway in Ogun State. The accident, which occurred at Wasimi end of the highway, involved a Nissan car with registration number Lagos SZ 171 AAA and an IVECO truck marked Ogun SRA 546 XA. Witnesses said an unidentified driver of the car, a woman, lost control when the graniteladen truck coming from behind hooted ceaselessly on the highway. While trying to manoeuvre, the truck was said to have hit the road median and consequently fell on the car, pouring all its content on the highway.
Friend lured me back to robbery, says ex-convict Sola Adeyemo Ibadan
A
former convict, Moruf Shina, has told the police in Ibadan, Oyo State that he returned to robbery because of influence of a criminal friend. He said: “I have never killed or injured any of my victims. I only threatened them with my weapon which I got from a friend. I had been involved in armed robbery operations before and I was jailed. But I was later granted pardon by the state Chief Judge, but my friend lured me back into robbery before I was re-arrested.” Shina and some other suspected criminals were paraded by the Police Commissioner, Mr. Leye Oyebade,
at the state Command Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan, at the weekend. The suspect, who was arrested by the Special Anti-
Shina
Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Oyo/Ogbomoso unit during a routine patrol of the metropolis penultimate Saturday about 1p.m. in Oyo
town, was part of a two-man robbery gang. The gang had invaded the shop of Mr. Afolabi Lanre located opposite the old Oyo National Bank and dispossessed him of his valuables including assorted handsets and money. The prompt response of the special outfit, however, saved the situation as they arrested Shina. Upon interrogation, Shina confessed to a series of armed robbery operation he had masterminded and carried out in different parts of the state. Shina told our correspondent that he was forced to join the armed robbery gang because of his peculiar situation. He said: “I was a driver, but when I had an accident, I injured my hand and the vehicle was taken from me.”
9
Angry youths burn two robbery suspects Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI
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n angry mob, at the weekend, arrested, tortured and burnt to death two suspected robbers near Bristow Roundabout, Gboko, Benue State. This came barely a week after gunmen kidnapped Pa Gbor, father of the former speaker pro tempore of the House of Representatives, Terngu Tsegba. It was learnt that the suspects invaded Gboko late on Saturday and stopped over at the roundabout where they were seen transferring sophisticated guns from one of their vehicles into another. Witnesses said that in the process of transferring the guns, some residents saw them and quickly alerted the police who swiftly arrived at the scene. Sensing danger, members of the gang opened fire on the police, but the police overpowered them and shot two of them. But irate youths later burnt the two men to death. Sources said that the two men were members of a five-man robbery gang who besieged the home of a businesswoman (name withheld) in the community recently and attempted to rob her of her valuables. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Yamu, did not pick his calls at press time to confirm the report.
10-year-old rape victim dies in hospital Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt
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10-year-old girl allegedly raped by a kiosk operator in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has lost the battle to stay alive in the hospital a few days after the incident. The girl had gone to buy sachet milk at a housing estate in Rumuibekwe area of Port Harcourt about 8p.m. when she was allegedly defiled by a man identified as Mallam Bashir, who owns the kiosk. Bashir was arrested and detained by the police. According to a relative of the deceased, the girl died in a private hospital in Port Harcourt after doctors battled for days to save her life. Following the incident, the Rivers State chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) have embarked on a campaign for Bashir not to be granted bail until he is tried. The state chairperson of NAWOJ, Mrs. Lillian Okonkwo, alleged that friends and relatives of Bashir had been making efforts to get him out on bail. Okonkwo said that the police were initially reluctant to arrest Bashir until NAWOJ and FIDA mounted pressure on them. She said: “It is unfortunate that she died. But we are appealing that the bail being sought by the relatives of Bashir should not be granted.” Okonkwo also appealed to Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalebo Banigo-Harry, and the governor’s wife, Justice Suzette Wike, to intervene in the matter as women.
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NEWS | national
Magu, Ambassadorial list to wait till September in Senate
Chukwu David Abuja
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s Senators prepare to go on eight weeks annual recess on Thursday, New Telegraph
CONFIRMATION/ change OF NAME
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Clarkson
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has gathered that the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as the substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), may wait till their resumption in September. Similarly, the Upper Chamber may also withhold till September, the consideration of the 47 ambassadorial nominees forwarded to it for approval for appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari. That was even as some senators urged Nigerians to disregard insinuations that the delay might be a ploy by the apex assembly to pay the executive arm back in its own coin, fol-
lowing the strife between the duo since June last year. President Buhari had on June 9, forwarded a list of 47 ambassadorial nominees for confirmation for appointment as ambassadors to different countries. However, some Senators brought complaints the following day that their states were omitted from the list while others alleged that the list was flawed by other irregularities. Consequently, the Senate, shortly before it embarked on Sallah break, summoned the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation
(SGF), Mr. Babachir Lawal, to explain reasons for the defects in the list before it could confirm the nominees. Onyeama and Lawal were also to explain to the lawmakers the perceived irregularities, such as selection of some junior officers in foreign service for ambassadorial appointment from some states while their superior officers were still in service. However, appearing before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs Tuesday last week, Lawal and Onyeama, told the Senate that the list of 47 ambassadorial nominees forwarded to it last month by Buhari would not be adjusted.
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DANJUMA
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cores of travellers were stranded across airports in the country as aviation fuel scarcity continued to hit the sector yesterday. Although, the scarcity was not seriously felt yesterday because it was a Sunday but airlines feared that the situation would be worse today being a Monday when people are expected to resume for work. Consequently, many airlines cut their schedule from four to two to maximize JET A1, saying they were running out of stock. Some of the passengers who spoke to New Telegraph at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos said their 2pm flight was rescheduled to 6pm, adding that they hoped they would eventually be air-
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Opubo
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Wole Shadare
Adeola Yusuf
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I formerly known and addressed as Zidougha Tari now wish to be known and addressed as Glassgow Justina. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.
Passengers groan over aviation fuel scarcity
lifted. Nigeria’s flag carrier airline, Arik had last week Friday, forewarned air travelers of severe aviation fuel (Jet A1) scarcity as it said that oil marketers started rationing the product’s supply to airlines, giving limited stock at the depots as the reason. This is just as Managing Director of Centurion Securities, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd) has blamed oil marketers of insincerity, stating that there was no Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) scarcity and there is scarcity of kerosene and jet-A1 even when government has given an open door to anyone who wants to import. He also restated that repairs could be made to the pipelines that bridge fuel from Ejigbo and Mosimi to Murtala Muhammed Airport that consumes 70 per cent of the aviation fuel.
Shell International appoints Omotowa VP
Lambe-Ibrahim
This is to confirm that Opubo Bikinbo with which my Union bank/BVN was registered is the same person as Opubo Daumunabo. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Opubo Bikinbo Daumunabo. All former documents remain valid. Sterling bank Plc, Union bank Plc and the general public should please take note.
monday, july 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
Former First lady, Patience Jonathan (middle), with others, during her visit to the funeral ceremony of late Queen Comfort Kaine Obudibo, wife of His Royal Highness, King E. T. I. Obudibo, Ikwo V., Amayanabo of Ogoloma in, Okrika, Rivers state…at the weekend
'Why NJC sacked Justices Yunusa, Oloyede' Tunde Oyesina Abuja
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he National Judicial Council, NJC, has explained why it sacked Justice Mohammed Nasiru Yunusa of the Federal High Court Lagos Division and Justice Olamide Folahanmi Oloyede of the High Court of Justice, Osun State last Friday. According to a statement issued by the spokesperson of the council, Soji Oye, yesterday, in Abuja, said that Justice Yunusa's sack was sequel to the findings by the Council on allegations contained in petitions written against him by the Civil Society Network Against Corruption. The group had alleged that the judge granted interim orders and perpetual injunctions, restraining the Attorney-General of the Federation, the In-
spector General of Police, Independent Corruption practices and Related Offence Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting, investigating and prosecuting some persons accused of corruption. For Justice Oloyede, the council noted that her sack was also sequel to a petition filed by the Osun Civil Societies Coalition. It further noted that the findings of its 'Facts Finding Committee' showed that Judge failed to conduct herself in such a manner as to preserve the dignity of her office and impartiality and independence of the Judiciary. Justice Oloyede was alleged to have written a petition against the Osun State Governor and his Deputy to the members of the State House of Assembly and circulated same to 36 persons/organizations.
hell International has appointed outgoing Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Babs Omotowa, into the Global Upstream Leadership Team as Vice President in the Hague. Omotowa, who will be completing his time at the helm of affairs at NLNG on September 1, 2016, will report to the Upstream Director across Shell’s Conventional, Unconventional and Deepwater global busi-
nesses. The NLNG, which announced this in a statement by General Manager, External Relations, Kudo Eresia-Eke, at the weekend, added that Omotowa "leaves Nigeria LNG Limited in a stronger position and well positioned for the next chapter of the company’s growth." The outgoing MD/CEO hands over to the incoming Chief Executive, Tony Attah, who will be engaged in an on-boarding programme until September 1 when he would effectively take over.
Hajj 2016: Abuja intending pilgrims to write exams Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja
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he Federal Capital Territory Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board has issued a stern warning to intending pilgrims for this year’s hajj exercise to take part in all orientation activities aimed at successful hajj exercise or forfeit their slots for the annual spiritual exercise. Director of the Board, Mallam Bashir Muhammad, gave the warning during the commencement of
education and orientation exercise for the 2016 intending pilgrims at the permanent hajj camp in Abuja. This was as he hinted that examinations would be conducted at the end of the orientation exercises, warning that any intending pilgrim, who could not get the required marks, would not be allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia through the board. Bashir said the warning became necessary considering the various policies introduced this year by relevant authorities saddled
with the responsibility of ensuring that pilgrims attained acceptable levels. He emphasised the need for the intending pilgrims to avail themselves with the opportunity of activities by the board to get acquainted with the knowledge and guidelines put in place to ensure successful, Hajj exercise. The Director of the board also disclosed that a befitting hotel accommodation has already been secured for the FCT contingents to this year’s hajj in Makkah Saudi Arabia.
S’East, S’South lawmakers reject grazing bill Steve Uzoechi OWERRI
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awmakers from the South East and South South Houses of Assembly have rejected the controversial Grazing Bill presently before the Senate. They argued that the bill should not be considered in any of the Houses of Assembly in the two regions. This was even as the leg-
islators urged the Federal Government to review and restore the amnesty programme as a way of quelling the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta. Rising from their joint session in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the legislators resolved to pass bills restricting the proposed grazing bill and any form of grazing from farmland to farmland in the two regions.
Speaking during the first ever joint plenary held at the Imo State House of Assembly, the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Dr. Acho Ihim, who presided over the joint plenary, noted that the joint session has become necessary because of their shared social, economic, religious and even political interest, which would afford them the opportunity to discuss their mutual challenges.
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MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
Interview Ogbuoji: APC has proved it wasn’t prepared for governance
Politics FELIX NWANERI writes on the ambiguities in the impeachment process of a president against the backdrop of the alleged plot to remove President Muhammadu Buhari by the Senate
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Costly gamble
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n impeachment proceeding, the world over, is a serious legislative business because of its application as a technique for the function of the Principle of Checks and Balances in a democracy. As a containment device, the exercise of this constitutional right by the legislative arm of government is intended to ensure that the executive – a president or governor – functions within the realm of the constitution. In Nigeria, the 1999 Constitution (as amended), in Section 143, copiously provides for a detailed procedure to be followed before a president can be impeached. This procedure is sequential and must be duly followed. It is a chain of events, which must not be broken at any stage. The sections states: “The President or Vice President may be removed from office whenever a notice of any allegation in writing signed by not less than onethird of the members of the National Assembly is presented to the president of the Senate; stating that the holder of the office of President or Vice President is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office.” This provision, notwithstanding, Nigeria has never impeached a president. Perhaps, the reason is the ambiguity of the provisions of the constitution on impeachment. If the president is to be impeached, the process will approximately take five months. The question is: Why is this so? The answer is not far-fetched, as Section 143(1) of the Constitution provides that the process of the
FELIX NWANERI
GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@yahoo.com
© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited
Buhari
impeachment of the president can only commence whenever a notice of any allegation in writing signed by not less than one-third of the members of the National Assembly is presented to the president of the Senate; stating that the holder of the office of president or vice president is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office. It is after this notice that the Senate president, can within seven days cause a copy of the notice to be served on the president and on each member of the National Assembly as well as also cause any statement made in reply to the allegation to be served on the legislators. The next step is that the National Assembly, must within 14 days of the presentation of the notice, resolve by motion without any debate whether or not the allegation should be investigated. A motion that the allegation be investigated would not be declared as having been passed, unless it was supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of all the members of each House of the National Assembly. After this, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), will at the request of the Senate president appoint a panel of seven persons, who in his opinion are of unquestionable integrity, not being members
Saraki
If the president is to be impeached, the process will approximately take five months
of any public service, legislative house or political party, to investigate the allegation and within three months of its appointment, report its findings to each House of the National Assembly. Where the panel reports that the allegation has not been proved, no further proceedings will be taken in respect of the matter. However, should the report has is that the allegation against the president has been proved, the National Assembly will then within 14 days of its receipt, consider it, and if by a resolution supported by not less than two-thirds majority of all its members, the report is adopted, the president stands removed from office as from the date of the adoption of the report. Botched attempt to simplify impeachment process This cumbersome process prompted a bill to simplifying the procedure of the impeachment of the president, sponsored by a member of 7th House of Representatives in 2013 – Hon Yakubu Dogara (now Speaker). It was titled: “The Bill seeking to amend Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution to remove the ambiguities in the process of removal of the President and the VicePresident from office on allegations of gross misconduct and to provide for a more transparent
and democratic procedure for impeachment.” Dogara, had then proposed adoption of the American model of impeachment by giving the sole powers to remove the President to the National Assembly. According to him, rather than the CJN constituting a panel of seven persons to investigate any allegations of gross misconduct made against the president, the Senate will sit to convict the president after he would have been impeached by the House. He, however, added that the CJN should preside over the sitting of the Senate. Dogara claimed that the current provision whittled down the powers of the National Assembly, noting that should the CJN’s panel fail to establish the allegations leveled against the president, the legislature would be ridiculed. His words: “Once the omnipotent panel of seven is constituted by the CJN, who himself is an appointee of the president, and the panel reaches a decision, no authority, not even the courts can question it. This may ridicule the National Assembly to the high heavens. It will be unprecedently ridiculous for a body consisting of 469 members to pass a resolution supported by two-thirds of its members only for a panel of CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
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POLITICS \ INTERVIEW
MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
Ogbuoji: APC has proved it wasn’t prepared for governance Senator Sonni Ogbuoji is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation as well as Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Special Duties. In this interview with CHUKWU DAVID, he speaks on the performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government, anti-corruption war and executive, legislative face-off
You once said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) didn’t know why it came to power. What do you mean by that? Is it not very obvious? APC is a sinking ship; neither the captain nor their crew know what they are supposed to do. As you can see, there is no facet of the Nigerian state that is not bleeding. Look at the appointment that President Muhammadu Buhari has made so far, it is obvious that if you call Nigeria, what you mean is Northern Nigeria. If you look at the economy, this government came in inheriting more than $30 billion from the previous administration in form of reserve, today we are below $3 billion. If you look at the general well being; everybody is crying and lamenting. In fact, some people have continued to ask themselves why they ever voted for APC. For those of us who did not vote APC, we are asking them to explain to us what they mean by change. Does change mean deprivation? The mantra they are telling us that is change is fighting corruption. Anybody who loves this country called Nigeria will support the war against corruption but what is corruption? Is corruption just fighting financial embezzlement? The answer is no because it is not only financial embezzlement that is corruption. Corruption is also when you appoint people that should not be appointed to offices; corruption is when you do not recognise that this country is a very plural country, corruption is a whole lot; in fact, I don’t know which area to start. Shortly before we embarked on the Sallah break in the Senate, we were addressing the recent list submitted to us about people who should be considered to head our foreign missions. These are career civil servants. There is no state that does not
Ogbuoji
have career civil servants in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but what do we have? The list that was submitted does not include several states. Even those that were selected, they went below to select people who are less qualified. Diplomacy is an art which you learn; like wine, as it gets older, it becomes sweeter. You find a situation where you have directors from a state and you go and appoint an assistant director when you have deputy directors and directors who are qualified. You have people who are going to stay more than ten years in their career; you go and appoint people, who ordinarily should not be considered. And the Senate took a resolution that we should invite the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Committee on Foreign Affairs to explain to us the criteria used in this selection. So, what is really corruption? It is not only financial embezzlement. And by the way, since they came on board, how many people have they convicted? At a point Nigerians started agitating, they simply said ‘we are going to give you a list of those who have forfeited their loots.’
APC is just a party of armchair critics and that’s why they have been wobbling
Forfeiture is a long process and it comes from the court. It is not these trials that are ongoing on the pages of newspapers. Media trial is not trial at all. The reason of course why there is such media trial is because the government does not even believe in the courts. They don’t obey the pronouncements of the courts; otherwise, how will you freeze the account of a governor without court order? How will you charge the presiding officers of the Senate to court without their making one single statement under caution in any police station? What is corruption? It is something we don’t really know where to start. Like I said before, APC government has only one agenda: if we do not win this election, there will be no Nigeria. So, when they finally got the lamb in the person of Goodluck Jonathan, who quickly said ‘there is nothing I am looking for that is worth one pint of blood of any Nigerian,’ and quickly gave up by saying come and take over because the result said that you are leading and I don’t have any long argument on it, they became completely confused because they were not prepared
for governance. One year after, they are still not prepared. If I were to advise them, I would have told them that since they have tried this one year and they have seen that they are not capable of governing, it will be better for them to go to opposition because armchair critics always think they will perform wonders but when you give them responsibility, they fail. APC is just a party of armchair critics and that’s why they have been wobbling, fumbling and unable to produce anything one year after being in office. We cannot point at one single road and say this is the road APC has done in Nigeria. The battle they are fighting on Boko Haram is the battle that we all know. They said that they didn’t buy weapons and ammunition but for the equipment bought by Jonathan, they wouldn’t have been where they are now in the battle. Of course, Nigerians still remember that the People Democratic Party (PDP) government was able to arrest the insurgents in the North-East to the point that it was possible to conduct an election in the region because if it was not possible, there wouldn’t
POLITICS
MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
have been an election. So, I don’t know which area you will say that the APC government has performed for which they deserve our support. Your party, which is supposed to put the APC government on its toes by providing viable opposition is facing unending crisis. What is the way out of this doldrum? I want to tell you that it is not true that there is no opposition because of what is happening in PDP. It is rather the dictatorial tendency of the present administration that is muzzling the opposition. Check it; Olisa Metuh came up talking about what is happening in government, today he is denied a trip for medical check-up but the same President who is canvassing that our hospitals are good enough to treat all ailments went abroad. Femi Fani-Kayode came up talking about what is happening, they detained him without court order. A sitting governor, Ayo Fayose has been talking, what did they do? They froze his account and said they are investigating, not minding that there is an immunity clause in the constitution, which the current government swore to protect and defend. I am not saying that they should not investigate Fayose but if he is enjoying immunity, no property of his can be confiscated not to talk of being frozen. They tried it with Mutala Nyako but the court has given a ruling against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that what it did was unconstitutional but still because of the impunity that they thrive on, that is why they still locked up Fayose’s account. If Fayose has done any wrong, please gather all the evidence. If they have traced the money as they have claimed that they have done, all the information they have is on the highway; it can never be hidden, nobody can obliterate it. All they need is to click on their system and they will see whatever happened to the account. If somebody moved money from it after they have done their investigation, nothing stops you from carrying out the prosecution on him. For me, the impunity that we are witnessing is the reason the opposition appears to be watching. Let’s see whether there is anything they have for Nigeria and Nigerians because whether you call it opposition or the ruling government, it is still Nigeria. But so far, they have proven gross incompetence. They talked about cluelessness but Nigerians are now the better judge because if cluelessness means to buy rice N7,000 per bag and those who have clue buy rice for N20,000 or more per bag, Nigerians should judge. If cluelessness means to exchange $1 at less than N160 and those who have clue are exchanging at N350 to $1, Nigerians should be the judge. If cluelessness is to pay school fees for your children who are abroad with your own money not on scholarship and those who have clues have made it impossible for those who have children abroad to continue to pay their school fees, and are
order for us to be able to move forward. If toady you leave the North, they will not collapse; if others leave the East without even the oil, the East will not collapse; so also it is with the SouthSouth and the South-West. If we continue to exist in a manner that does not in any way support what our innermost desires are, is not right. Like I said, this place was structured to fail. Nigeria is the only country in the world, where demography reports show that population increases as you get close to the desert and decreases as you go close to the Atlantic. But life is supported by water and not by sand.
asking the children to come back midway and yet this same people who claim that some people’s children should not be trained abroad have their own children in schools abroad. Nigerians should be the judge on what it means to have clue and what it means to be clueless. Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, recently suggested that the time is ripe for Nigeria to be restructured. Do you agree with him? Nigeria is long overdue for restructuring. We need to embark on devolution of powers from the central government, because what we are currently practising is purely unitary government and not a federal system. A federal system means that all the federating units have their measures of independence and the inter-dependence will now be by way of monetary contributions they make to the central government. But what do we have today? We have degenerated to the level of bailing out, which means giving handouts to the federating units. That is not a federal government. So, when we talk about restructuring the country, I totally support the former Vice President. He is not the only person that has advocated that; many others have also made the same call. We need restructuring because it only when the federating units begin to operate at their levels of competence that we can maximize the advantage of a larger government. Maybe, I need to add here that ab initio, Nigeria was designed to fail by Britain but we cannot continue to wallow in that level, where we are feeling that they didn’t do us well. They have gone many decades ago, we should have found solutions to our problem. And that solution would have included restructuring this country so that we will be able to know that there is strength in unity. This unity should not be the unity of the graveyard where everybody is just there and watching. The unity should be based on the understanding of ourselves in
Ogbuoji
We need to embark on devolution of powers from the central government
The country’s economy is currently is a state of recession. What is the way out? The economy has collapsed; it is not in a recession. The way forward is policy because it is a shame that when the Jonathan administration came on board, Nigeria was not the largest economy in Africa but in the course of his government, Nigeria became the largest economy in Africa. Less than one year after he left office, Nigeria is no longer to be reckoned with; Nigeria is now one of the poorest countries in Africa. What is the difference? The magic wand is just in the capacity of the leader. Jonathan has a doctorate degree in Zoology, so he was not a financial guru but he was able to raise a team during his administration. One of the indices of acknowledging performance is that the economy transmitted to be the largest economy, and per capita income was higher in the whole of Africa. So, it is a matter of the government applying wisdom in whatever it is doing. If somebody is strong, it does not mean that he is capable of doing everything himself. If somebody is intelligent, it doesn’t mean that there is nothing he doesn’t know. So, it is good for us to be humble and accept that we as human beings have limitations; we have areas of our best performance and we have areas where we are not the best. President Muhammadu Buhari, I doff my cap for him; he is a general of the Nigerian Army and I respect the Nigerian Army. Any general from the Nigerian Army commands my respect. We may leave matters of security to him but when it comes to economy and administration; I think he needs to assemble a better team than what he has now. Governance is a collective responsibility, so it is not only the executive arm that should be held responsible for the failure of this administration. What do you think the National Assembly can do to help ensure that this government succeeds? Is it the National Assembly the President doesn’t even want to exist? The basis for our (PDP Senate Caucus) recent press conference was because of persistent attack and desire to destroy the third arm of the Nigerian government, which is the National Assembly. If the government wants to move forward, it should first of all recognise that it is a tripod that is sustaining the government of the Federal
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Republic of Nigeria, not only the executive. This tripod includes the executive, judiciary and legislature. So, the parliament must be given her independence. We elected our principal officers on the June 9, 2015. Since that day till today, Mr. President has not recognised that we have a leadership duly elected by us as members of the National Assembly in line with provisions of the constitution. The constitution is very clear; that we are the people to choose our own leadership. It is not to be appointed or determined for us from outside the precincts of the National Assembly. The parliament is independent and we must be allowed to remain independent and function in order to contribute to the good governance of this country. We have passed bills and adopted motions but we have not seen them assented to but I know that sanity will prevail one day for Nigeria to be able to move forward. Looking at the last one year of the existence of this government, do you think that the National Assembly has done what it ought to do to facilitate good governance in the country? You know that what ensures good governance is government by consensus; government by cooperation; government understanding its limitations and making room for the other person to contribute. But a situation where these are not prevalent, things can’t go well. The pulse of the government of Nigeria is with the National Assembly but the executive don’t want to accept that. So, you don’t expect the best from the National Assembly in a situation that we continue to have this war of attrition. An irreconcilable war can never help the growth of the economy of this country. What is your take on the Grazing Bill before the National Assembly, which some people in the SouthEast say governors in the zone are likely to endorse? I doubt if that is correct but I will like to tell you that that the bill, for all the noise and the rumour, it was only on June 22 that it appeared for the first time in the Senate, and it was dead on arrival. It will never scale to get second reading because Nigerians have shown their disdain and dislike for it. Maybe, we need to remind ourselves that cattle grazing is an economic activity, just like fish farming; piggery, poultry and raising crops in your farm. I have never seen where government gives land to somebody who wants to establish three or more hectares of land for fish farming. I have never seen where government designates land and say come and take and do your fish farming. We need more fish in Nigeria than we need cattle. I have never seen where government gives money and say, oh, don’t do intensive poultry, come and do your free range poultry farming, we will give you land for it. So, as long as that does not exist, I can assure you, there will be no land allotted. The religious component is another matter.
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seven to throw it out.” Though the bill passed a second reading and received the support of some members of the lower legislative chamber then, many kicked against it, describing it as “unnecessary, undemocratic and a waste of parliamentary time.” Then Minority Leader of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila (now Majority Leader), particularly expressed concern over its “timing,” which he said could send a wrong signal over its real intention. Other stakeholders, who reasoned along this line, maintained that Nigeria, in her present fragile state of ethnic, political and economic volatility may not survive the rigours of impeachment proceedings against her president. But a political school, which believes there is the need to amend constitutional provisions on impeachment, suggested that the law ought to expressly provide for what amounts to impeachable offences and not the vague term ‘’gross misconduct.” The definition of “gross misconduct” in sections 143(11) in the case of the president/vice president and 188(11) for the governor/ deputy governor, is not explicit enough. Both sections define the term as “a grave violation or breach of the provisions of the constitution or a misconduct of such nature as amounts in the opinion of the National Assembly to gross misconduct.” Abuse of the process Expectedly, some legislators have leaned on this inadequacy to impeach members of the executive. The case of a former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, is evidence of this rascality. Other similar cases abound. Governor Ayodele Fayose was removed as Ekiti State governor in 2006 (his first term) without recourse to the law. This led to the declaration of state of emergency in Ekiti by then President Olusegun Obasanjo. In Oyo State, Rasheed Ladoja was impeached by 18 members of the House of Assembly also in 2006 from a hotel instead of the approved place of sitting of the House. This was not withstanding the fact that the legislators were not up to the constitutional mandated two-third of the House. Joshua Dariye, also had his own share of the illegality. He was removed as governor of Plateau State by eight out of the 24 members of the state House of Assembly in 2006. The cases of deputy governors, who suffered similar fate, however make more mockery of the process. A majority of them were ousted over mere disagreements with their principals – the governors. The old Kaduna State, it would be recalled, blazed the trail in 1981 when the state House of Assembly brought the full force of Section 170 of the extant 1979 Constitution to bear on then Governor Balarabe Musa. In a move that surprised many political observers, Musa, of the defunct Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) was removed from office by a House dominated by the Na-
MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
Twists and turns of alleged tional Party of Nigeria (NPN). He was barely two years in office. The plot against Buhari While governors and deputy governors have so far been at the receiving end of the impeachment process, no Nigerian president had been removed from office through it. But the 8th Senate seems ready to take a gamble on it given the recent alleged plot to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari. The impeachment plot reportedly cropped up during a closed door session of the Senate last Tuesday. Sources revealed that the session was dominated by issues of executive recklessness and outright disregard to federal lawmakers. It was also alleged that some senators were emphatic that President Buhari had serially breached some provisions of the constitution, thereby leaving the situation as if the Senate lacked teeth to bite. There has been a long standing face-off between the executive and the legislature, particularly the Senate but the impeachment plot, which is coming on the heels of a rumoured plan to overthrow the Buhari government, has prompted some stakeholders to wonder why anyone or group would want the president removed from office. It would be recalled that the Army, had last month announced that it will investigate and track down those behind the speculation that some of its most senior officers had approached the Niger Delta militants for support to carry out a coup against the current government. The coincidence of the plots (coup and impeachment) has raised questions over whether corruption is trying to fight back given the hard stance of the Buhari administration on graft. Some top military officers and officials of the immediate past
Melaye
Misau
The senators in question should not allow political shenanigans becloud overall national interest
government of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan are currently being prosecuted for corruption, while others are under investigation. Similarly, the Senate President Bukola Saraki is being tried at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for alleged false declaration of assets as well as facing another trial at the Federal High Court alongside his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, for their alleged involvement in the forgery of the Senate Rules. Some senators, especially those loyal to Saraki, have constantly read political meanings to the trials and even accused the executive of trying to stampede it into changing their leadership, but the Presidency described the allegations as puerile and base-
Babatope: Threat, a ridiculous joke Chief Ebenezer Babatope is a former Minister of Transport and member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT)
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don’t believe in the nonsense. They should concentrate on the job of ensuring that Nigerian people live well and should drop the idea of impeaching the President. It is bad news to the ears. I believe that impeachment is not an answer to any problem and when they think of impeachment, they are making jokes of national problems. If the Senate has a problem with the President, let them solve it constitutionally and politically. Personally, I don’t like the way they are treating Bukola Saraki, but the Senate must not talk of impeachment because when they talk of that they are turning themselves to jokers. However, there is no way the impeachment threat can heat up the polity because
no serious politician will support the move. What are they impeaching the president for? What has he done? The Senate cannot give judgement in its own case. Nobody can be a judge in his own court; it is left for Nigerian people to decide. I am not a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but the issues are so clear that we must support that which is good to make Nigeria’s democracy a success. The issue between the executive and legislature will sort themselves out. If the executive want to witch-hunt the National Assembly, it will fail. But I don’t support the National Assembly threatening to impeach the president. What are you impeaching him for? What has he done? So, apparently I don’t support the impeachment and I will want the National Assembly to stop the joke. I see the impeachment threat as a joke; a ridiculous joke. The National Assembly should drop it and face the work of ensuring that the executive governs well and lessens the tension in the country.
less. Joke taken too far While many continue to question the rationale for a course that is likely to destabilise the polity, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) described the impeachment plot against President Buhari as “a huge joke taken too far.” The party, in a statement signed by its National Secretary, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, titled: “President Buhari’s Purported Impeachment Threat, A Huge Joke,” advised the senators to concentrate on their primary constitutional responsibilities of lawmaking and discharging of their legislative mandates to their constituents. The statement read: “The at-
Tsav: It’s an attempt Alhaji Abubakar Tsav is a former Lagos State Commissioner of Police and anti-corruption crusader
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ome members of the Senate just want to frustrate the President because of his stand on the anti-corruption war. He has taken the fight to them and they are not happy. I think the impeachment threat is like a child’s play as far as I am concern. They just want to frustrate him. He should ignore them and carry on with his policies. It is wrong for the Senate to be using impeachment as a weapon of war against the President. The Senate is not serious. If they are serious, they should think about what will uplift this country and not about their selfish interest. They are all talking about their personal interest; they are not talking about what will move this country forward. The President is concerned about administering this country and we have not been able to progress because of the level of corruption in the country. There is nothing that had developed in this country. If you want good hospital, you have to go to India; if you want good road, you have to go to other countries of the world, even to some African countries. President Muhammadu Buhari is trying to
MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
plot to impeach Buhari election promises and to steer the nation to its deserved heights.”
Wamakko
Buni
tention of the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to media reports of a laughable impeachment plot by some senators on President Muhammadu Buhari during Tuesday’s July 12, closed session of the Senate. “This is a huge joke taken too far. The party advises the senators in question to stop this huge joke and concentrate on their primary constitutional responsibilities of lawmaking and discharging of their legislative mandates to their constituents at the National Assembly. The party reiterates that the senators in question should not allow political shenanigans becloud overall national interest. “The party will not join issues
to frustrate Buhari
on the Senate forgery suit and other court cases concerning some members of the 8th Senate because it will be subjudice. We advise the senators in question to tow the same line and allow judicial processes run its normal and legitimate course. “Repeated allegations that the court cases are politically-motivated by the President and the APC are baseless. The President Muhammadu Buhari administration strictly respects the principle of the rule of law and also adheres to the constitutional provisions of Separation of Powers between the three arms of government. “The APC urges Mr. President and the entire cabinet to remain focused in its effort deliver on
I have no cause to scheme against the President and the party I campaigned for or the cause I believe in
Obioha: Senate toying with democracy Chief Ralph Obioha is a Second Republic member of the House of Representatives
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improve the country and I think everybody should support him. The plan of the Senate may heat up the polity because the President at present is facing a lot of challenges. There is the issue of Boko Haram and Niger Delta Avengers bombing pipelines. There is also the Biafran agitation. There are many issues in the country, so they should allow him to be focused to pursue things that will help uplift the country.
Alleged masterminds absolve selves As reports over the impeachment plot gradually gained ground with condemnations from various quarters, some senators fingered in the plan quickly came out to deny it. Two of the alleged masterminds, Senators Dino Melaye (Kogi West) and Isa Misau (Bauchi Central), dismissed the plot as mere tissues of lies. Melaye, who is chairman of Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, said the falsehood emanated from those who don’t want Nigeria to progress unless they are in power. He said: “It is pertinent to note that the incredulously machinated misinformation was orchestrated by forces bent on destabilising the upper chambers of the Nigerian parliament for selfish reasons.” The denial, notwithstanding, the Kogi senator decried the manner in which the legislative arm of government is being treated. He insisted that the National Assembly should be given a free hand to carry out its responsibilities. His words: “While I remain unimpeachably committed to the leadership of the Senate, I believe the respected arm of government charged with the onerous responsibility of lawmaking should be given the independence to conduct its business. “I am a responsible Nigerian, role model and a champion of anti-corruption and equity which my party (APC) stands for. I therefore urge the general public to discountenance the libelous publication as I will continue to respect the history, culture and excellence of my Kogi West people on the floor of the Senate. The
t is rather unfortunate that the highest chamber of our parliament is toying with our hard won democracy, which they are trying to trash by getting into the euphoria that is unthinkable for any serious nation builder. Their pivotal position confers on them the greatest guidance and strength of our democracy but reducing it to venting their discomfort and anger on a serious matter concerning impeachment is unfortunate. Anybody who is toying with impeachment of the President as of today has no excuse to take such action. What sin can the person ever imagine that the President had committed to warrant talking about impeachment? What infraction can anybody imagine that the President had done to the constitution to warrant talking about impeachment? It only demonstrates the level that our highest institution of democracy has been relegated to, to be toying with such an exercise, especially at the current economic situation that cut across the entire nation. The situation we are today is as a result of the misrule that had gone on for over 12 years. And
instead of people who are in a position to tighten their belt to find out how we can get out of it to rise to the occasion, they are trying to destabilise the democracy that we all fought hard for by going on a mission that is impossible. It is really unfortunate that instead of the National Assembly, particularly the Senate concentrating on finding the best way we can sustain our democracy and allow to grow, they are now dabbling into impeachment. I am sure that no sane Nigeria can ever lend his or her support for such impossible mission. It is obvious to most Nigerians that we are really in a jab and I don’t think they (Senate) should ever imagine that they would use an impeachment threat to achieve their aim. Are they saying they can use impeachment threat to threaten people not to do what is expected of them? Is it because there is a resistance that there is no money available for unnecessary expenditure? And should that warrant an impeachment for them to be able to get what they want? The reason why Nigeria is where she is today is the stealing and corruption that has afflicted the country in the last 12 years. • Interviews by Temitope Ogunbanke
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true threats to the current republic are those who believe that a Nigeria that is not led by them must not exist.” Senator Misau, on his part, criticized his colleagues for leaking secrets of the Senate to the media. He also said he was disappointed that senators would leave an executive session and mislead the public. He described the impeachment report as misleading, adding that the alleged plot was never discussed. “It is unfortunate that senators will go out after a session to mislead the public of something that was never discussed,” he said. Another senator and former governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto North), also refuted reports of meetings being held in his residence to strategise on the impeachment proceedings of President Buhari. Wamakko, who is chairman of Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, said: “To set the records straight, a meeting was only held in my residence towards finding amicable solution to the frosty relationship between the executive and legislature.” He added that he had nonetheless observed the growing disharmony between the two arms, and resolved that finding amicable solution to the impasse would move the nation forward and give the president focus to pursue his Change Agenda. “As a principled politician, I have no cause to scheme against the President and the party I campaigned for or the cause I believe in. Let me once again reiterate that we hold the President in high esteem, and we will do our best towards ensuring that there is cordial relationship and harmony between the two arms of government,” he said. Senate berates APC The Senate, in its official reaction to the plot, expressed surprise that the leadership of the APC could make comments on what it described as mere speculation and fabrication on a purported plan to impeach President Buhari. Its spokesman, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, said the ruling party had the opportunity to crosscheck what actually happened at its executive session from its members in attendance. He assured the APC that the Senate as an institution values the present democracy in Nigeria and will not do anything to undermine or weaken the system. Despite the refutations, some analysts are of the view that the plot may be a ploy by some gladiators to test the political waters ahead of the 2019 general elections, while others opined that it may be a strategy by the opposition and aggrieved members of the ruling party to feel the perception of Nigerians on the Buhari government, as they intensify plans to wrest power in 2019. No doubt, there is nothing wrong in any group or individual using the impeachment-game as a dummy to feel the peoples’ pulse concerning their ambitions, Nigerians, however, cannot afford another political impasse that will impede governance.
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Opinion The luxury Udom cannot afford Dominik Umosen
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e do not know if, or when, eventually Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State will succumb to the trending temptation to betray his predecessor as in Benue and Plateau where Andrew Ortom and Simon Lalong are singing songs that are in variance with political songs bequeathed by political unforgettables like late Joseph Tarka and Solomon Daushep Lar respectively. In the South-West however, we know that the absence of a generally-acceptable rallying force has robbed the zone of its robust consensus for a unique polirtical identity for which the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo was well-known. Even as the struggle to sustain the façade and myth of uncommon transformation sponsored by the previous administration in the state falters in momentum, it does not appear that the former banker is in any hurry to join the league of political traitors. For example, he has refused to upset the apple cart,as it were, ordained for him by the former governor and Senate Minority Leader, Obong Godswill Akpabio. The incumbent reaffirmed his loyalty by retaining a sizeable chunk of his predecessor’s cabinet in his but made it very clear that he desired no part in the rowdy populism of the past that promoted unbridled executive profligacy and a wasteful culture of political patronage. Though the decision to build his administration from inherited members of the previous administration, especially among those who expected a sharp break from the past and emphatic assertion of his individuality, was unpopular in the state, what was regarded as unpopular decision invariably resonated as spectacular
political wisdom, especially given the need to reinforce unity in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has vindicated cynics who once described the party as a behemoth without a soul. Instead of initiating fresh crisis which might have further aggravated a fragile political situation within the party, Udom opted to make political statements through policies, including the revolutionary rescusitation of dormant indusrial projects in the state; a policy which ought to drive uncommon transformation, instead of grandiose and white elephant projects that bear little or no relevance to the well-being of ordinary people in the state. Unlike Ortom and Lalong who have hoped on a bandwagon of strange views that were anathema to Tarka and Lar respectively, including support for the establishment of grazing reserves in every state of the country, Udom shunned overt defiance of his political mentor and benefactor initially, contrary to general expectations from the political gallery. Though accepting to retain about five commissioners from the previous administration created the erroneous impression of a lameduck in power, his decision to rescusitate abandoned projects which his predecessor lacked the foresight to do, definitely unveiled elaborate claims of uncommon transformation as either deliberate hoax or grand deception, perhaps to justify the huge chunk of resources that were squandered on grandiose projects that bear little relevance to the genuine aspirations of the majority of dirtpoor people in the state. It was defiance delivered with classical subtlety! But defiance, all the same! Simply because the rowdy populism promoted by the Godswill Akpabio administration in the state encouraged indolence and general migration of political
Udom shunned overt defiance of his political mentor and benefactor initially
hangers-on to the Hill Top Mansion seat of government in Uyo, for generous cash hand-outs by the former governor, his successor who resolved to have nothing to do with this destructive tradition, has found it difficult to consolidate because people erroneously consider him tight-fisted and unwilling to distribute the “dividends of democracy’ like his predecessor. Not many indigenes, especially those accustomed to the popular and regular cash hand-outs and donations by the former governor, are willing to give Udom the benefit of doubt for his radically different stragy to mature and bear the desired fruits. Because the questionable culture of indiscriminate donations and cash hand-outs invariably encouraged political hangers-on to view the state government as a cash cow that could always be relied upon to ‘keep the boys busy with easy cash hand-outs’, any one who came up with a different strategy of governance and leadership was viewed with suspicion and even hostility which is the unfortunate situation the former banker has had to contend with since assuming power. For example, contrary to the traditional vain displays which characterized the birthdays of previous governors, Udom’s 50th birthday, last week, shocked many with its sobriety, instead of the usual panache and rowdy boisterousness that such milestones usually attracted. The worsening economic situation notwithstanding, the governor should expand the vision of late Dr Clement Isong. He also owes the ordinary people of the state eternal vigilance and consciousness of the fact that complacency is a luxury he can not afford. The politicians he exposed behind the façade of uncommon transformation are sulking and itching to strike back and derail his lofty vision, including frustrating smooth rescusitation of dormant industrial projects in the state. •Umosen (dominik.umosen@gmail.com) wrote in from Lagos.
Taming the tide of religious victimization Ezeugwu Ifeanyi
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he primary end of any political association is the preservation and prosperity of its members, and when a nation fails in this task, the subject of criticism is usually the government in power. Some political theorists hold the view that the surest mark of a people’s preservation and prosperity is their numbers and population. In other words, the administration under which the citizens increase and multiply most is beyond question the best. While the administration under which the citizens wane and diminish is the worst. When it comes to the question of which administration has genuinely prioritized our prosperity and preservation as citizens of a democracy, the verdict is distinctly that of speculation. Over 13 months since President Mohammed Buhari took the oath of office, Nigerians are unbelievably hopeful that Mr. President and his team will not betray the expectations that greeted his victory at the poll, notwithstanding the many challenges he faces. While we appreciate the federal government’s effort at strengthening our wobbling economy, as well as stemming the tide of corruption and impunity in the country, Nigerians are beginning to lose sleep on the spate of religious victimization in
the country. The religious sphere that is supposed to be an antidote for unity, acceptance, tolerance and peaceful coexistence has been drastically altered. And it is high time the federal government woke up to its obligation. As a multi-religious nation, the impact of religion in Nigeria’s socio-economic development either as a stimulus or a constraint cannot be over emphasized. Islam and Christianity, the two major religions in the country, may be compatible with democracy. The former in particular establishes no less than the latter the principle of universal human equality, but they are hard to reconcile with liberalism and the recognition of universal rights particularly freedom of conscience, speech or religion. Almost on a daily basis helpless Nigerians are victimized because of their religious conviction. Religion in its various ramifications is gradually losing its social significance and influence on the social character formation. Every religion promises a pathway of love and peace and righteousness, and yet no religion has been spared from believers who have claimed their faith has a licence to kill. In an era when the worldwide conquest of liberal democracy has brought to the fore the need for people to tolerate one another and live together as one individual member of a unified, peaceful and strong nation, some unscrupulous elements still entertain sentiments in the name of what is sacred. Their distorted view
of the religion they profess has turned them wolf unto their fellow men as is evident in the killing of Mrs Bridget Agbahime in Kano state not long ago, and just recently Mrs. Eunice Olawale, who met her waterloo in the Federal Capital Territory while spreading the Good news. It is the height of bestiality and man’s inhumanity to man, and goes to show just how human value and dignity have been dashed to bits. It is good that Nigerians and non-Nigerians have condemned this unconscionable act, but it is very important that the federal government put measures in place to check future occurrence. One of such measures, and arguably the most appealing, is contained in the recommendation of the 2014 National Conference. Among the many recommendations of the conference is the need for the establishment of the Religious Equity Commission (RECOM). The body is to “prohibit all forms of religious discrimination, religious victimization, religious harassment, hate speeches, and matters connected therewith.” Other functions of the commission when established include but not limited to; promoting inter-religious harmony and understanding due to the chequered history of religious intolerance in Nigeria; check the insidious effects of religious bigotry, profiling, stereotyping, extremism and hate speeches; investigate cases of religious marginalization, victimization, harassment and discrimi-
nation, nip them in the bud and sanction the culprits through appropriate legal and constitutional mechanisms; serve as a platform for the promotion of inter-faith unity, understanding and harmony; detect early warning signals that can trigger religious tension and nip them in the bud. Granted that the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) played no part in the said conference, President Mohammed Buhari should put politics aside and do the needful in the overall interest of the Nigerian people. I agree that strengthening the economy is top on his agenda but when that which ought to bind up together poses a threat to our existence, it becomes expedient for the government to initiate a policy that is aimed at our preservation. Governance is about the people, a view echoed by the departing British Prime Minister, David Cameron in his farewell address to the British people. Religion plays sensitive role in national pace and harmony. In the present era, even among members of the same religion or religious denomination, people differ in the degree of their acceptance of certain doctrinal issues. This often leads to spates of interminable quarrels and divisions among these religious groups. It is my belief that the establishment of the Religious Equity Commission will be the panacea to religious victimization and discrimination in the country. • Ifeanyi wrote in from Lagos.
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From Boko Haram to IPOB, Avengers
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ar is a series of surprises, the little sparks we ignore are enough to grow beyond comprehension. It is an undeniable truth that no nation can be led to a path which it does not wish to pursue. Civil war unlike lightening may strike more than once in in a particular area. Of course, is difficult for a country to survive two Civil wars. Nigeria today is as divided as never before. Beyond the crushing economic crisis there are drumbeats of war from the North down to the South. Insurgency in the North East has not become history yet. While troops battle Boko Haram a new front has opened in the Oil rich Niger Delta where the Avengers have plunged the economy to almost Ground Zero. In the South East the ghost of Biafra is walking the region, from the North Central to the South West and beyond Fulani herdsmen have gone beyond cattle grazing . During the Civil War years, General Yakubu Gowon insisted that to keep the country one was a task that must be done. With his policy of No Victor No Vanquished he tried to create a conducive atmosphere for re-integration. From the Military to the Second Republic and even during the later Dictatorships of Generals Ibrahim Babangida and and Sani Abacha the South East did not feel so alienated from government at the centre. Not that an Igbo was able to rule the country though. Attempts were made to arouse consciousness when such groups as the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra ( MASSOB) and the Biafra Zionist Movement emerged. Populated by young men and women, they chose non violence
as key to their struggle. A splinter group later appeared wearing the brand Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB). Still preaching non violence, the new group led by Nnamdi Kanu made use of technology to advance their cause through what to government became the pesky Radio Biafra. What the Federal Government did was to throw Kanu into detention. While Kanu gained grizzled beard in custody, herdsmen ostensibly of Fulani background began to terrorise all nooks and crannies of the North Central, South West and South East. The Fulani and their cattle were welcome guests until recently when instead of controlling th cows with sticks they began to patrol the the land with automatic weapons.
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These agitations are more political than our defence chiefs think
As the Fulani continued to pillage the South, a new group emerged in the creeks. Niger Delta Avengers are the latest in the band of armies giving the economy cough and headache. What we expected the government to do was to open a line of communication with these groups, to know their grievances and the way forward. That was not done. President Muhammadu Buhari, a Civil War veteran who today wears the flowing gown of a politician harped on a military solution. That could be the best strategy if it was a full blown war. These agitations are more political than our defence chiefs think. The security agencies did not spare those calling for the release of Kanu. They descended on people who chanted Biafra with all their might.
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In Aba scores were killed and their bodies buried in unmarked graves. Many more were killed in Asaba, Port Harcourt, Onitsha and beyond. The worst carnage played out in Onitsha as the various groups gathered to remember 49 years of the declaration of Biafra. They organised prayers with prominent Christian leaders billed to address them. These men of God included Francis Cardinal Arinze. Like thunderbolt, troops emerged with weapons and fired into the crowd leaving so many dead and more wounded. The Avengers stayed in the creeks and were determined to give the military a good fight. Those who live in the Warri Delta area bore the brunt of military attacks. Villages were heavily
bombarded leaving scores lifeless. That did not help the government as the militants blew up as many oil facilities as could dwindle national finances. It is absurd that the herdsmen did not feel the might of the military while all this transpired. From Agatu in Benue state to Nimbo in Enugu where the killers spilled red blood, no detachment of the Army or Airforce, not even a platoon was sent to stem the rampaging Fulani. In a country with a lot of diversities as ours, a lot must be considered. It is likely that the Biafrans are crying over marginalisation in appointments made so far by the Buhari government. The Avengers believe Niger Deltans are being persecuted for supporting their kinsman Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Government must sit down
with these groups and hear them out. May we remind our leaders that the 1919 Treaty of Versailles which dealt with Germany after the First World War also led to the Second World War because the Germans saw it as Diktat (imposition). The lesson is that the South-East and Niger Delta should not be punished for backing Jonathan. Only dialogue will let them understand what Abuja thinks. It is also the responsibility of all those in government to look beyond party politics and the 2015 elections to chart the way forward. Government is collective. When the Second World War ended, neither Adolf Hitler nor Benito Mussolini stayed alive to face trial. All ten men who were hanged at the Palace of Justice after the Nuremberg Trials in 1946 were in government or had some form of influence including newspaper Editor Julius Streicher. Foreign minister Joachim Ribbentrop, Interior minister Frick Wilhelm, Hans Frank, Alfred Jodl, Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Keifel Wilhelm, Alfred Rosenberg, Fritz Sauckel and Arthur Seys-Inquart all died by hanging for being part of a government that committed crimes against humanity. Even soldiers who are called to shoot defenceless protesters should learn from the experience of Jodl, Chief of Operations, German High Command. He said at the trials,”Secondly, I don’t see how they can fail to recognise a soldier’s obligation to obey orders. That’s the code I’ve lived by all my life.” In all these, Nigeria should be different. We call on the Federal government to drop the military solution card and adopt a political solution. Only justice and fair play can save the situation. And we can achieve this through dialogue.
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Interview
Law
Buhari goofed on confab report –Adegbite
News Magu, Sagay seek lawyers’ collaboration in graft war
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Cracks in NBA
FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE writes that there are ominous indications that lawyers’ umbrella body—the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) may again be in limbo as aggrieved members have approached an Abuja High Court to stop the association’s national elections billed for Saturday
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awyers are worried that its revered association—the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) may be plunged into an unending crisis reminiscent of the 1992 going by wrangling among members over a process adopted for the association’s national elections billed for Saturday. For six years during the leadership of the first female president of the NBA, Chief Priscilla Kuye, the association was in limbo following a protracted leadership crisis that put it in comatose. This may again repeat itself as some members are accusing the NBA, being led by the Augustine Alegeh executive over some electoral process. Already, an Abuja High Court was at the weekend told to stop the elections of its new executive fixed for Saturday and Sunday. Elections of the association come every two years. A member of the association and immediate past Assistant Publicity Secretary, Mr. John Unachukwu, has approached the court, asking it to stop the planned elections. Although the court has asked the aggrieved lawyer to put the association on notice, the court will tomorrow determine whether the NBA will go ahead with the elections come Saturday.
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Unachukwu who has hired five Senior Advocates-- Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, Chief Emeka Ngige, Chief Chukwuma Ekomaru, Mr. Kunle Ogunba, and Mr. Sebastine Hon, is asking the court to bar NBA President, NBA President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh, SAN, Chairman of Electoral Committee (ECNBA), Mr. Kenneth Mozia, 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. Specifically, Unachukwu is asking the court to declare that the system of voting over the Internet or Internet Voting (I-voting) proposed by the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants for the 2016 NBA elections is contrary to and ultra vires their powers under relevant provisions of the NBA Constitution 2015 as amended. Other orders sought include “an order upholding the principle of universal suffrage enshrined in the NBA Constitution by suspending the use of voting over Internet (I-voting) and ordering the adoption of electronic voting (with paper ballot backup) for all branches across the country in the 2016 NBA general elections; “An order of the court guaranteeing the meaningful exercise of universal suffrage by directing the ECNBA to issue guidelines stipulating that the e-voting for the 2016 NBA general elections be conducted in all branches of the NBA and that results be collated at branch level before transmitting same to the Secretariat, and
Akintola
“An order of the court, upholding the principle of universal suffrage enshrined in the NBA Constitution by directing the ECNBA to issue guidelines allowing the use of manual voting alone in branches of the NBA where available information technology infrastructure is clearly inadequate.” This may plunge the association into unending crisis as the aggrieved members may pursue the matter up to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, unlike previous years when its members will converge and elect their leaders in biennial elections, lawyers will now elect their representatives in a national election by electronic voting. This is the first time the NBA in its 116 years of existence will produce its national officers by universal suffrage through electronic voting. The e-voting which was implemented by the Augustine Alegeh outgoing leadership was adopted by the body as contained in its amended 2015 Constitution. Augustine Oyarekhua Alegeh, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria was elected 32nd NBA President on July 14, 2014 in Abuja where about 5,000 lawyers cast their votes in an election adjudged the freest in the association’s electoral history. Alegeh, whose tenure terminates this month after two years of stewardship, won the election keenly contested alongside Mrs. Funke Adekoya, Deacon Dele Adesina, Chief Adeniyi Akintola, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria and Mr. Osas Erhabor with a simple majority of the votes cast. Two years on, Alegeh determined to leave a better NBA, mid-
Alegeh
wifed the adoption of the e-voting with a view to reducing attendant tensions being charaterised by NBA biennial elections in terms of logistic and other inconveniences. However, about 114 branches of the NBA with over 100,000 lawyers will this year vote at the comfort of their offices for the candidates of their choices on July 30 by electronic voting. NBA has fixed the election for July 30 and 31 by electronic voting while results will be released same day, according to the association’s electoral committee. But the novel e-voting is already generating anxiety among members of the lawyers’ umbrella body as their anticipatory hitches are beginning to unfold leading to a court action. For instance, lawyers are already complaining of strange names in voter’s register while others say their names cannot be located even as a section faulted the process on the grounds that they are yet to update or upload their profile as part of voter’s verification exercise. This, among other apathy had characterized the NBA planned electioneering process. Also, the NBA electoral committee is being blamed for some of the apathy as it has failed to meet up with many of what the lawyers referred to as ‘self-imposed’ timelines for the novel election. They feared that the NBA electoral committee being led by Mr. Kenneth Ekene Mozia, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria may not conduct a free and fair election. Notable names of senior lawyers are allegedly being omitted in the voter’s register. Notable among them include a former president of NBA, Chief Wole CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
20 Law|Interview
monDAY, JULY 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
Buhari goofed on confab report –Adegbite
He is an alumnus of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. Adesina Adegbite, a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) scribe and member of the association’s highest ruling body, National Executive Committee (NEC), speaks on law, economy, corruption, judiciary, Bar elections and sundry issues. FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE reports
Adegbite
Renewed militancy is gradually halting progress being made by the ruling All Progressives Congress despite the transformation of Ogoni land. Also Biafra agitators are springing up by the day. What do these portend for Nigeria’s corporate existence? The Ogoni clean-up is a long awaited exercise that has indeed been long overdue. That President Buhari considered it as one of his prioritised actions is indeed commendable and I personally commend the President’s patriotic effort in this regard. The clean-up will automatically transform the Ogoni land from an abandoned and hitherto hopeless communities into viable and refreshed land where hope will rise again; where economic activities can flourish; where life can be lived in abundantly and healthily. Indeed the people of Ogoni land should encourage and support the action and ensure that it is done according to the plans of the government. Invariably, this action will translate into a better life for the people of Ogoni land, while the government of President Buhari will also earn respect of the Ogoni people and ultimately the international community for his expression of love and solidarity with the Ogonis. I must confess that I do not share at all in the sentiments being expressed by these agitators and their sympathisers. The secession agitation by IPOB, Biafra Avengers and MASSOB of the eastern part of Nigeria will do only harm to the corporate and peaceful existence of Nigeria. Nothing good
can come out of it. Same goes to the mindless bombings of oil and gas pipelines in the Niger Delta by the Niger Delta Avengers. Unfortunately, the Niger Delta region will suffer more for their actions but the entire country will be denied of peace and infrastructural development as a result of their thoughtless bizarre actions. So, I pray these people will rethink their actions and allow peace to reign. There’s no ethnic group or section of Nigeria that does not have justified reason to agitate for a better deal from the Nigerian State. But the world has gone beyond armed struggle or revolution. What should be adopted now is Common-sense Revolution.
didn’t specifically mentioned that as the reason for his disinterest in the Confab’s Report. Nigeria is such a complex country and our problems are so multi-dimensional that any meaningful proposition towards resolving some of the problems must be critically considered. I believe nothing more could have been meaningful than the propositions of the people of Nigeria voluntary and collectively agreed to. I was also an antagonist of the Confab for many reasons, but we have all seen that the Confab actually gave birth to a lot of meaningful recommendations which if implemented could seriously reduce the tension we are presently experiencing across the country. My advice to Mr. President is that he should study that document in detail and start making use of some of the beneficial recommendations in the report.
Not many Nigerians have confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari-led government because of the on-going extreme harsh economy. Nigerians are hungry. Naira struggles against the Dollars. Employers are downsizing. All in one year of this administration, would you say this government took off on the wrong pedals? No, I won’t say that. I will rather say that the government of President Buhari underestimated the rot in the system he was to inherit and failed to prepare adequately for it. I can assure you if President Jonathan had remained in office today, things would have been worse than we are presently experiencing. Unfortunately, for President Buhari, he rode to power on the pedestal of the Change Slogan with very high hopes from the masses. It is natural for people to be disenchanted when rather than seeing positive change; all we see every day is reduction in living standard of the people. I do not envy Buhari administration at all, but I hope and pray that we begin to see the positive effects of some of the good policies being put in place now, in good time.
Generally, how would you assess the one year and two month-old government of President Buhari? I will simply say Mr. President is doing his best in the circumstances he found himself, but he needs to do more. It is difficult for me to do an objective assessment of his government in view of the so many challenges the government has been confronted with.
President Buhari has told Nigerians that the Confab recommendations would remain in Archive. Do you think archive is the best place for such recommendations put together by eminent Nigerians? That is a slip by the President that I feel should be reviewed. If I were to advise the President, I will tell him that the statement was un-presidential. We cannot just throw away the entire recommendations of the Confab which was composed of eminent Nigerians simply because the APC boycotted same, even though the President
Do you also share the view that restructuring of Nigeria must begin from the implementation of the confab report? I really don’t know where that is coming from and certainly cannot share in such view. The only thing I believe in is the entrenchment of True Federalism in Nigeria. What we are presently operating in Nigeria is more of a unitary system and no meaningful development and sustainable peaceful co-existence can happen in Nigeria under the present absurd arrangement. Early in the year, Mr President said the judiciary was his headache in the war against corruption. Would you say Mr President was right going by allegations of bribery being brought against some judges? The truth really is that the judiciary was headache to many people in Nigeria. But I think the President should have restrained himself and avoid making such statement. The truth is that the international community takes what the President says more seriously than what an ordinary citizen like me says. But I think the Judiciary should braze up and be less seen but more heard, while integrity, courage and untainted justice dispensation should be the mainstay in the discharge of their duties. Many judges have been sacked this year on account of alleged corruption while others are under the National Judicial Council’s (NJC) investigation. Is the judiciary living up to its constitutional duty in the face of these allegations of bribery and corruption dogging it?
There will always be allegations against umpires. So, judges being judicial umpires are not immune from such allegations and suspicions. The judiciary needs to brace up and be heard more and seen less. I think the recent increasing interaction of the public with judicial officers is exposing them to more suspicion. I am of the opinion that the judiciary is living up to its constitutional duty. What are your expectations of the judiciary in the next one year? I look forward to a stronger judiciary that is not intimidated by anyone including the government; a judiciary that is insulated from politics and governance; a judiciary that will dispense justice to all manner of persons and bodies irrespective of status, class or influence, without fear or favour. This year is crucial for the Bar and the Bench. The Bar will change its leadership after two years while the Head of the judiciary will retire to pave the way for a new Chief Justice of Nigeria. What qualities do you expect from the incoming NBA President? I expect to see a dogged President whose main objective will be to advance the course of the Bar and promote the welfare and wellbeing of Nigerian lawyers. How would you appraise the outgoing leadership of the Bar? I think it is a general consensus among most Bar men that the Austin Alegeh SAN led administration has performed beyond the expectations of many people. Election of the NBA is 13 days away and you are eyeing the office of Welfare Secretary. What value do you intend to add to the association by becoming its Welfare Secretary? The value is largely my experience and passion for service. Having served my Branch (NBA, Ikeja Branch) in various capacities and leaving behind legacies of good performance and innovative ideas, I intend to add value of diligence and passionate service to the office of Welfare Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association. What specific innovations are you bringing into the association that successive holders of the office had not introduced? I mean what difference would you bring into the office if you eventually become the NBA welfare officer next week? I intend to dedicate special attention to the welfare and wellbeing of the young lawyers by proposing social policies that will ensure the provision of soft loans/credit facilities for acquisition of practice enhancement tools and assets. I also intend to manage the NEC Meetings and Conferences of the NBA more effectively that the hiccups often experience in the accommodation allocations and logistics arrangement will be a thing of the past.
Law 21
monDAY, JULY 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
TUNDE OYESINA writes that judiciary is on trial as Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State seeks judicial interpretation of his mandate
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gain, the judiciary is in the news. This time, it is not on who is the alter ego of the erstwhile largest political party on the continent of Africa, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but the legitimate governor of Abia state. It is indeed, a season of conflicting judgements. PDP is still battling over three different judgements from court of coordinate jurisdiction in respect of who is the authentic national chairman of the party. As the dust is yet to settle, another shocker came. It is on who is the legitimate occupier of the office of the Abia state Governor. It all started on June 27 when the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, annulled the election of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State. The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue a certificate of return to Samson Ogah, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, who contested the governorship ticket with the governor. The trial judge, Justice Abang Okon held that Mr. Ikpeazu was guilty of tax evasion and was therefore unqualified to have contested the 2015 governorship election in the state. The court also ordered the governor to vacate office immediately and hand over to Ogah, who came second in the PDP’s governorship primaries in Abia. Ikpeazu had in turn filed an appeal against the judgement of the Abuja High Court. In the notice of appeal filed by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the governor raised five grounds of appeal upon which he asked the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgement and orders of the lower court. The governor said that the Federal High Court lacked the power to order him to vacate the seat of the Abia State Governor. The notice of appeal reads: “The trial judge erred in law when he ordered as a consequential order that the appellant vacates his office as the Governor of Abia State immediately when there was no jurisdiction in the Federal High Court to remove, vacate the occupier of the office of the governor of a state or order the removal of such officer after the unsuccessful challenge of the result of the election at the tribunal and swearing in of the appellant as the governor.” The governor said that the only power, authority and order exercisable by the Federal High Court was to disqualify the candidate from contesting the election based on Section 31(6) of the Electoral Act 2010. Ikepazu also faulted the judge
Ikpeazu
Ogah
Judiciary on trial
when he held that he did not pay his tax for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 as at when due when he was a public officer whose tax deduction was under Pay As You Earn (PAYE) scheme where tax deductions were from the source of his monthly salary by the tax authorities who issued all the tax receipts and certificates. He also said that the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Services that issued him with the tax certificates had not declared the certificates forged and that the trial court did not invite the issuing authorities to give evidence in the course of the trial. Meanwhile, the INEC had during the pendency of the appeal handed over a certificate of return to Ogah. This issue had however raised dust among stakeholders in the judiciary. A few hours after Ogah collected his Certificate of Return in Abuja, an Abia State High Court in Osisioma stopped the Chief Judge of the state or any other judge in the state from inaugurating Ogah as directed by Justice Abang. The trial judge in the court, Justice C. H. Ahuchaogu, equally made a belated order stopping INEC from issuing a Certificate of Return to Ogah as the winner of the 2015 governorship election in the state. In a suit, HOS 52/2016, by Ikpeazu, Justice Ahuchaogu ordered “that the third defendant (state CJ) or any other judge of the court or any judicial officer are hereby restrained from swearing in the first defendant (Ogah) while the claimant remains in office in accordance with Section 143(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and pending the determination of the motion on notice.” The issuance of the Certificate of Return to Ogah and the pronouncement of the Abia State High Court have created confusion on who is the valid governor of the state. However, reacting to the action of INEC, President of Public Interest Lawyers League PILL,
That action is quite surprising because if we have to follow the precedent that has been on since 1999, that is not the decision of the court, particularly when it is the issue of tenure
Abdul Mahmud said the action of INEC was unconstitutional and an affront on the judicial system. “It is illegal, it is unconstitutional; the development is strange to our legal and constitutional jurisprudence. “The practice that we know as lawyer is that when a litigant files his notice of appeal and stay of execution, it automatically serves as a stay for the judgement of the trial court. “Why INEC decided to present the certificate of return to Ogah is what I do not understand.” Another lawyer, Kayode Ajulo in his reaction condemned in totality the action of INEC. “That action is quite surprising because if we have to follow the precedent that has been on since 1999, that is not the decision of the court, particularly when it is the issue of tenure. “The practice is that once there is an appeal and a stay of execution, INEC should restrain itself until when the whole thing has been dispensed with. “I think it behooves on INEC to explain why it did not follow the normal procedure.” Another lawyer, Wahab Olatoye also aligned with the submissions of other lawyers on the grounds that it is trite law than when a matter has moved from a trial court to the Court of Appeal, and appeal entered, then all actions must be stayed. “In law, a judgement of court is enforceable and there is a time limit for doing so. If the court said immediately, it means that party the order is directed at must comply. “But the issue is that can the certificate be useful, if appeal has been entered? And what are the conditions for an appeal to be entered? One is that you must file Notice of Appeal, when record of appeal is transmitted from court of first instance to the Court of Appeal. “An appeal proper is instituted when transmission of records have taken place. Then INEC must have been put on notice. “But if appeal has been entered
and INEC has been put on Notice, then what INEC did was like robbing the face of court. “The man cannot be sworn in until the appeal is dispensed off.” Ikpeazu had however gone back to the Federal High Court seeking to reverse its earlier order sacking him. Justice Abang in his ruling refused to stay the execution of his judgement sacking Ikpeazu from office. The court however affirmed that the certificate of return issued to Ogah by INEC for him to be sworn in as Governor of Abia State, was valid. The court also held that his earlier judgement can no longer be stayed since the Independent National Electoral Commission had already issued fresh certificate of return to Ogah. He ruled that the judgment removing Ikpeazu remain valid until it is set aside by the Court of Appeal. According to him, “the order of the court subsists until set aside by the Court of Appeal. “Therefore, the INEC lawfully issued Certificate of Return to Ogah as it was in line with the judgment of this court”, he held. But a twist was however introduced to the matter last week Wednesday, July 13, when a Lagos lawyer, Mr Festus Keyamo backed Justice Abang’s judgement. Keyamo said it was illegal for Governor Ikpeazu to still remain in office. According to him, the continued stay of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in office as Abia State governor was extremely illegal, saying that a thorough scrutiny of the judgement of the court would reveal that contrary to widespread opinion that Dr. Sampson Uchechukwu Ogah’s case was that Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu presented forged tax papers to INEC, his case was simply that Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, apparently rushed to pay all his backlog of taxes just before the elections, yet he swore to a false affidavit and supplied a false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission that he paid his taxes as at when due. He noted that it was based on this false information that the court nullified his candidature. He said: “I have carefully listened to various arguments regarding the immediate issuance of a Certificate of Return to Dr. Sampson Uchechukwu Ogah by INEC in strict compliance with the judgment of the court. “Contrary to opinions expressed in certain quarters, there is no judicial decision or statutory provision preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from complying immediately with the Orders of the Federal High Court. INEC acted legally and correctly by instantly issuing Certificate of Return to Ogah. “The provision of Section 143(1) of the Electoral Act, Part VIII that gives Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu (or any other office holder for that matter) 21 days within which to file an appeal against an adverse judgment (and to remain in office until the appeal is determined) applies only to postelection matters before election Tribunals or the Court of Appeal and not pre-election matters as in this case.”
22 Law|FILE
monDAY, JULY 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
EFCC under Magu – The scorecard so far Wahab Kunle Shittu
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head of the reported written communication of Mr. President to the Senate to confirm Mr. Ibrahim Magu as the substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), it is necessary to xray the performance of the man since he was appointed in an acting capacity on November 9, 2015. For starters, what parameters should influence the choice of the substantive chairman of EFCC in a climate recognized for zero tolerance for corruption? What factors ought to be taken into consideration in appointing an anti-corruption arrowhead in a regime whose main agenda is the fight against corruption? In my view, the choice of the EFCC Chair at this point in time should be influenced mainly by national interest i.e. the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians and not the interest of the ruling elite whether in the Executive, Legislature or any other arm of government. Fortunately, this regime is acknowledged locally and internationally for its zero tolerance for corruption. The President is noted for integrity, character, discipline and high moral standing. The Vice-President is also of that orientation and this fact is also widely recognized. Given this background, the person to occupy the exalted seat of EFCC Chair should be someone ready to key into the anti-corruption agenda without any question and someone with competence, character and capacity. This is where the candidacy of Mr. Ibrahim Magu given his antecedents is not only compelling but auspicious beyond doubt. Statutory requirements The starting point of course of our analysis is relevant constitutional and statutory provisions. Section 2(1)(a) of the EFCC Act reads in part: “The commission shall consist of the following members – (a) a chairman who shall (i) be the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the commission; (ii) be a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police or equivalent; and (iii) possess not less than 15 years cognate experience.” There is no doubt that Magu a seasoned Police Officer who is recently promoted as Deputy Commissioner of Police on account of his sterling performance at the force satisfies the relevant constitutional requirements for the exalted office apart from having well over 15 years prescribed cognate experience for the job. What about his antecedents? Magu it will be recalled is no stranger to the job having been around fighting the anti-corruption battle for and on behalf of Nigeria and Nigerians since the hey days of the Nuhu Ribadu era. He was easily one of the finest characters that defined that era
in terms of performance, integrity, effectiveness and efficiency. He was noted for thoroughness in the way he carried out his assignments so much that his reputation swelled and the fear of Ribadu and by extension Magu at the material time was the beginning of wisdom. On account of his performance, he was perceived as a threat in certain quarters but at the end of the day, his reputation for integrity won the battle for him as he was recalled back to EFCC to continue his anticorruption crusade for the benefit of the country. Therefore, Magu has been around since the inception of the Commission. Undoubtedly, it was on account of his pedigree that his service was enlisted as a member of several investigative panels constituted by this administration to probe past activities of bordering on misconduct and financial malpractices including funds meant for procurement of arms details of which are now in the public domain and the outcomes of which have given rise to the ongoing criminal proceedings, the merits of which the courts are now called upon to determine. Those who are in the know Magu testify that his activities and experience became handy during the proceedings of the respective investigative panels who worked and are still working for Nigeria. This was the background that informed his choice in an acting capacity by Mr. President who was then shopping for an incorruptible character at the helm of affairs of EFCC expected to drive the administration’s anticorruption agenda. Magu neither lobbied or applied for the job but was singled out for national service on account of his knowledge, experience, exposure, integrity and character in fighting anticorruption over the years. But the critical question remains, has Magu justified his rating in the last six months of his acting role at the helm of EFCC? Every honest Nigerian will attest to the fact that in the last six months the character of the anti-corruption battle has changed dramatically gaining increasing confidence of the rank and file even as the perception of the EFCC changed positively with the realization that it is no longer business as usual as EFCC continues to record convictions and successes in various spheres with Magu at the helm of affairs. The list included the following: a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Raymond Temisan Omatseye (five years for N.5n contract scam); a
Lagos Court Registrar, Mrs. Rosulu Idowu Oluronke (10 years for $8.4m); a former Chairman, Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area of Kogi State, Gabriel Daudu (154 years for N1.4billion fraud); ex Adamawa Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, John Elias Babani (10 years for N51.5m); George Uboh (three years for selling vehicles belonging to the defunct Police Equipment Fund). The EFCC also secured a court order to extradite a former managing director and chief executive officer, Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPM), Ehi Okonyomon to the United Kingdom to face charges of corruption and money laundering on the N750m polymer bribery scandal. It also got another order to extradite a Nigerian fugitive, Franca Asemota to the UK for prosecution of trafficking of minors. There are also ongoing trials in various courts with some of the suspects involved volunteering to return state funds because they know that this regime is different and that Magu at the helm of EFCC cannot and will not be compromised. Magu is competent with character and capacity. His anger against corruption is passionate with the element of courage in waging the war. Indeed I bear personal testimony to Magu’s integrity and passion in fighting the war against corruption and I will
EFCC Chair should be someone ready to key into the anti-corruption agenda without any question and someone with competence, character and capacity
share two personal experiences to buttress my submission in the above regard. In one of my informal meetings, I tried to sound him out on his attitude to a few of the ongoing high profile cases some of which he inherited from the previous administration. He informed me that the guilt or innocence of the suspects is for the court to determine and the offences alleged if proved (emphasis if proved) constitute offences against the Nigerian State and the Nigerian people and that if he does anything to pervert the course of justice without allowing justice to take its course in any of these matters it will amount to the gross betrayal of the Nigerian people and the Nigerian state. On another occasion involving an informal meeting with witnesses including a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Magu informed us that any attempt to shield any operative of the Commission who is accused of any off e n c e b o rd e ring on financial malpractices will m e a n transferring the burden of guilt of the affected operative from the ope r a t iv e to himself for which he has to answer to God not only here but hereafter. I came out of the two encounters fully convinced that this is one anti-corruption fighter who is conscious of his place in history, posterity and hereafter after he might have gone from this planet. Magu does not cease to amaze me on account of his passion and his readiness to sacrifice everything including his life in defence of his convictions. Indeed, Magu is a no nonsense Police officer whose services is required by our country at this point in time even if he cannot do the job alone without the collaboration of all Nigerians. I will strongly recommend to the distinguished body of the Senate to ask Magu on account of his accomplishments to simply take a bow and proceed to his desk and the field to continue the good work he has started. I believe that the Senate which is recognized as constituted by men and women of exemplary qualities and who have the interest of Nigeria at heart will do the needful by confirming Mr. Ibrahim Mustapha Magu as the substantive Chairman of EFCC in the overall national interest. I believe strongly that the candidacy of Magu and his suitability for the substantive office of the EFCC chairman is one that should not be open to any debate being a subject matter justifiably requiring consensus.
Law|News 23
monDAY, JULY 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
Magu, Sagay seek lawyers’ collaboration in graft war Tunde Oyesina
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he Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu and the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC)), Prof. Itse Sagay have warned lawyers in the country to desist forthwith from colluding with individuals who allegedly stole public resources that were put in their care. They said lawyers were duty bound as social engineers to promote social wellbeing of society already stunted by monumental corruption by a few privileged public office holders in Nigeria. Magu who spoke at a one-day workshop organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in conjunction with PACAC in Abuja, advised defence counsel in corruption cases to steer from acts capable of truncating the smooth adjudication of the various suits. While appealing to lawyers to join in the fight against graft, the EFCC boss was quick to warn lawyers that the anti-graft body would not hesitate to prosecute any legal practitioner found wanting in terms of acting as an accomplice to help their clients to launder or benefit from the proceeds of the alleged crime. Magu who said he was at the workshop to solicit lawyers’ cooperation in government’s effort to tackle corruption, admonished lawyers to place the
Sagay
Mohammed
overriding interest of the country above that of their clients. Speaking earlier in his welcome address, Prof. Sagay decried the attitude of defence lawyers who constituted themselves as clog in the wheel of judicial process. Sagay who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), reminded lawyers at the event tagged: “AntiCorruption, Ethics of Legal Profession and Justice Sector”, of their huge responsibility in promoting law and order. He said: “The legal profession as we all know, cuts across all sectors of society. Every aspect of existence has a law; the fact that our profession cuts across every facet of human activity means that we have a very huge responsibility thrust on us. Therefore, we have an obligation to discharge
this responsibility with honesty, integrity and trust to all society with the law; because if we do not perform our roles as social engineers effectively, society will suffer; society will descend into chaos, poverty and wretchedness. “By the very nature of our profession as lawyers, we are duty bound to promote the social wellbeing of society. The legal profession as we all know cuts across all sectors of society. Every aspect of existence has a law; the fact that our profession cuts across every facet of human activity means that we have a very huge responsibility thrust on us. Therefore, we have an obligation to discharge this responsibility with honesty, integrity and trust to all society with the law; because if we do not perform
our roles as social engineers effectively, society will suffer; society will descend into chaos, poverty and wretchedness. “It is therefore, unethical and a breach of the rules of the profession to set out to frustrate legal proceedings by exploiting the rules, procedures and regulations.” He highlighted some of the currently used methods of frustrating criminal trials by defence counsel to include: allegation of bias against judges, frivolous applications and objections as well as feigning of ill-health by defendants in order to “indefinitely postpone the judgment day. “Therefore, the obligation of lawyers to accept briefs does not extend to the protection of their clients from the consequences of crime against society. A lawyer who knows
that his client is guilty of a crime should encourage that client to plead guilty otherwise he should drop the case; he has no choice. “It is unethical to make frivolous applications with the hope of delaying the proceedings in a case. It is also unethical to accuse a judge of bias in order to make him withdraw from a case so that the case will start all afresh (denovo) before a new judge, and therefore the judgment will be delayed in definitely. This ploy is one of the most recent ones adopted in the light of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act which has dogged most of such frustrating ploys usually adopted by lawyers.” Sagay urged judges not to succumb to the antics of defence lawyers; but to be courageous in the discharge of their duties
and act in accordance with the dictates of their conscience. “I want to call on all our judges to be courageous in their courts, act conscientiously and deliver their judgments courageously; let their only judge be their conscience and nothing else; they a have nothing to fear as long as long they have acted in accordance with their conscience. “Finally, defence counsel should avoid ending up a partner in the crime of his client by sharing guilty and the proceeds of that crime. The lawyer’s role should not degenerate from that of a legitimate defence counsel to becoming an accomplice after the fact. “A lawyers who is over enthusiastic in the defence of his client and crosses the line from being a lawyer to becoming a co-defendant, will be prosecuted as such. We should avoid anyone coming fraud, perjury, money laundry in the process of trying to defend our clients. “We should never forget our status as ministers in the temple of justice; that status prevails over any other duty even over the duty we owe to our clients. I therefore use this opportunity to appeal to our colleagues that they should never ever cross over from the bar because if they do that they will be docked.” The event was declared open by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), who was represented by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
Aero petitions CJ, seeks transfer of suit John Chikezie
C
an a court grant an ex-parte order of interim injunction without recourse to a pending judgement in another court of coordinate jurisdiction? This is the thrust of a petition wired to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta by Aero Contractors Company of Nigeria Limited. In the petition dated May 4 and signed by Aero chairperson, Board of Directors, Eniye Ambakederemo, asking Justice Auta to intervene in the matter with to restore confidence in the judicial process. Besides, the company
is requesting the Chief Judge to immediately transfer the matter from Justice Mohammed Idris. The company is accusing the judge of a miscarriage of justice for allegedly granting a contentious order without recourse to the pending judgement before the court. The firm is asking the Chief Judge to immediately transfer the case file from the court to any other judge who would adjudicate on the matter without any form of bias against it. The petition which was obtained during proceedings on June 27 through the Court Registrar, who distributed it in open court on the order of Justice Idris stated that a mortgage agreement
between Aero Contractors and the defunct Oceanic Bank Plc. Allegedly suffered default which formed part of the debt allegedly inherited by Asset management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) from the bank upon its liquidation. Attempts by AMCON to recover the debt led to the suit No: FHC/C/ CS/07/2014 in AMCON vs. Aero and presided over by Justice Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos. Later on, the matter was resolved amicably and the terms of settlement was entered as the judgment of the court on February 17, 2015 and pronounced upon by the Judge. However, the firm through the petitioner sought to know “how
could an ex-parte order have been made against me in my absence and I now have difficulties of presenting any case to discharge the order that was granted by listening only to AMCON, the order haven elapsed without renewal. “ From the enquiries I have made, without my prompting or application the judge can on his own set aside the order after 14 days, since the AMCON obtained the exparte interim order and the court has refused to hear my plea to set aside. At the moment, the fleet of Aero which was six aircrafts have been reduced to three and unfortunately when the judge made the order of exparte interim injunction, he did not make an
Auta
order that AMCON should provide an undertaking as to damages, Soon Aero will collapse. “How can a judge sit over the same matter in a different dimension without sensing and or raising a question of an
abuse of court processes at all in view of the judgment in the previous case, when everything about the cases in suit No: FHC/C/ CS/07/2014 and FHC/L/ CS/146/2016 revolved round the same money, AMCON and Aero.”
24 Law|news C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 9
Olanipekun, SAN, FIDA President, Hauwa Shekarau, Professor Olawoyin, Dr. S.P Aji, former NBA 1st Vice President, Mrs Funke Adekoya, SAN and scores of others’ names are allegedly being omitted in the register barely 10 days to the election. There is also an allegation of a planned manipulation of Saturday elections against the leadership of the outgoing NBA by one of the managers of the two contenders to the association’s presidency. They wired a letter to the outgoing NBA President, Alegeh that there were strong fears that the elections may be marred by partisanship of the NBA leadership. In the letter, dated June 24 and signed by Mr. Steve Abar, the Alegeh leadership was accused of ‘working to ensure that a particular candidate emerges by all means as no leadership in the history of the NBA has openly showed support for any presidential candidate in the manner that you are now doing.” This may have formed the fulcrum of worry being expressed by some lawyers that the 2016 elections of the NBA may turn out to be worst ever in the history of the association. Already, a series of meetings are ongoing including the concerned Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) which met at the weekend in Lagos to address some of the complaints being raised by lawyers. Also, a meeting of past NBA presidents and the Bar leaders with the outgoing Alegeh leadership was allegedly held in Abuja at the weekend to resolve the brewing crisis. Notwithstanding, some senior lawyers at the weekend said there was nothing to fear as the novel evoting NBA election would produce credible candidates. According to them, the e-voting would not only restore sovereignty but make members responsible for their choice of candidates and the would-be elected officers accountable for members. Chief Adeniyi Akintola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, an activist lawyer, Mr. Festus Okoye, an Ibadan rights lawyer, Comrade Femi Aborisade, a former NBA chairman, Mr. Monday Ubani, Festus Keyamo and an Oyo NBA Secretary, Mr Jide Olanipekun and the President of Public Interest Lawyers League, Dr. Abdul Mahmud were unanimous that the evoting will produce credible officers on July 30. To Akintola, there was nothing to worry about as ‘the intention is to drag everybody back to work.’ Akintola said: “I don’t know why people should be crying wolf where there is none. “In the first place, this is a new innovation and we are using it for the first time. Our people should allow it to work. Of course, with all innovations, there will be teething problems here and there. Must we continue to operate the archaic system that is riddled with corruption and inefficiency? “You see, this innovation was not welcome by some people, most of whom were practicing Bar and not practicing law. The intention, however, is to drag everybody back to work. People should go back to the court and should no longer live on Bar activism. Some of our people are practically surviving on Bar activism. They don’t even have offices. But all they do is to wait for the time of election, they write memos and proposals to collect money from people. In the process, they made a whole lot
monDAY, JULY 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
E-voting splits lawyers as court decides Tuesday
Keyamo
of money. “Do you know that the amount of money that went down the drain at the last elections? It is quite amazing. You can imagine having over 1,500 delegates in Abuja for the election for about four or five days. If you are a candidate, you can imagine how much will be spent. The estimated cost of hosting 700 people is more than N800million. So, I believe that it is those that have no other business that are complaining. This is what they feed on. The issues that might arise with this innovation will surely be rectified. People should allow it to work. Other professional bodies like ICAN have also gone through this route and they are now enjoying it. Why should anyone be kicking against Universal Adult Suffrage? What belongs to us should be overseeing by all. Every lawyer who has paid his or her practicing fee should be eligible to vote. The idea of delegate system is corruption laden. It is an indirect election that breeds corruption.” Akintola was echoed by a fiery activist, Okoye , who said that the universal suffrage would no doubt restore sovereignty to members. Okoye said: “All the members of the association are now responsible for their choices and can no longer blame delegates for wrong choices. Universal suffrage and the electronic platform for voting are innovative, creative and novel. “Furthermore, the Constitution of the association is clear on qualifications for voting. You must have paid your practicing fees and branch dues as at and when due. “You must have done your verification. The Chairman of the Branch must endorse the list and the list has been uploaded. “The Bar election is in the public domain and it is our responsibility to make the election a model.” Mahmud said the e-voting and the universal suffrage were new innovation and lofty steps that must be welcome by members, insisting that the idea that all lawyers would have an opportunity to exercise their power of universal suffrage in the NBA was a lofty one and it is welcome. He said: “At least it is the gain of lawyers for the democratization of our country and by extension the NBA.
Okoye
“As a lofty idea, it seeks to erode the culture unwholesome business of commoditization of the electoral process within the Bar and makes every lawyer to own the leadership of the Bar. “For me the mechanics for unraveling universal suffrage within the Bar shouldn’t be cumbersome or problematic; but we live in a country where politics is politics of influence, prestige, opportunism and careerism and it inevitably follows that the contests for offices and positions within the NBA would be fierce and competitive. “While the contests turn into fierce battles, it is ineluctable that certain forces within the Bar would invariably seek out ways of undermining the universal suffrage and work sinister ways to ensure that the e-voting framework is corrupted, skewed to the benefit of these interests within the Bar. “This shouldn’t be so when there exists the Roll of lawyers in the Supreme Court and every lawyer’s call date and number are reflected in the Roll. “While it is easy to rig all electronic voting framework, it behooves the leadership of the NBA to provide foolproof electronic voting system that can catch vote riggers out, forbids double voting and the likes. “The NBA has a duty to Nigerians: show that free and fair polls are possible in our country, that polls can be conclusive in this era of inconclusive polls, and that as a premier professional group it can set electoral examples worthy to be copied by other groups. “If the allegation that strange names have already appeared on the voter’s list is correct, there are questions, then, on the integrity of Augustine Alegeh’s universal suffrage reform within the NBA, on the commitment of the Bar to constitutionalism and democratization. “This allegation must be properly investigated, for all contestants to have confidence in the electoral process. The nation is watching.” Ubani, advised anyone with complaint to petition the top hierarchy of the Bar.
He said: “I think if there are people with concerns on the use of the Universal Adult Suffrage and E-voting for the forthcoming election, they can put up a petition on the issue and point out those strange names that were found in the register to the appropriate authorities. “I also believe that the system is much capable of making corrections. I know that there were some names that were not there initially from branches. But some branches collated some names, sent it to the electoral committee and those names were put in the register. “So, if anyone has issues with what is going on, this is the point to raise such and ensure that the proper authority receives the complaints so that it can be addressed. “But basically, I believe that anything that is new is bound to suffer some resistance from people. We have not done this before and this is the first time we are going this way. There will be anxiety. But I believe that the process will eventually throw up something credible. If the NBA gets it right with this process, I think the entire country can even borrow and benefit from it. So, I am hopeful to the extent that if there are issues, it should be corrected immediately. Mr. Alegeh has promised a free, fair and credible election. I want to believe him. Keyamo was not different as he expressed his support for the new initiative, describing it as the best thing that has ever happened to the association. He said: “Let me just tell you that I support the new initiative. There were bound to be challenges when you’re implementing a new idea. The Universal Adult Suffrage is the best thing because it has many advantages. “One, it reduces the cost of election when you compare it with what we have in the past. Before its introduction, the past system entailed mobilizing delegates, paying for their accommodation, transportation and other logistics. “Indeed, the NBA election was becoming like the presidential election in Nigeria. So, I think this new initiative is good because it will enhance democracy within the union. “Secondly, it avails many lawyers the opportunity to cast their votes and thirdly, it reduces cost like I earlier said. “Now, the challenges being talked about are bound to be there since this is a new initiative but as time goes on there should be an improvement. The thing is that we cannot be afraid to try a new idea because of challenges when we are yet to see the challenges in the first place. Those who are expressing fears are just anticipating that there will be challenges when they have not actually experienced one. Let us see the challenges first and we then take it from there.” Aborisade said “first, it must be recognized that the rank and file members of the NBA, led by people like renowned constitutional lawyer, Dame Carol Ajie, the leading human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, the principled late human rights crusader, Bamidele Aturu, and many others, campaigned vigorously for the democratization of the process of electing NBA national executive members.
25
MONDAY, july 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
Insurance Fashola, others anchor sustainable devt on insurance
Business What's news Cashless: Electronic funds transfers hit N22trn in 1H p.26
Nigeria’s rice imports fall by N47.5bn
p.26
Interview ‘Right policy framework needed to attract FDIs’
30 34
Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE May 2016...........................15.6% April 2016.............................13.7% March 2016........................12.8%
LENDING RATE Interbank Rate....................12.57% Prime Lending Rate...........17.93% Maximum Lending Rate...26.83%
EXCHANGE RATE (BDC as at July 15)
USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N365 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N471 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N398
l Foreign Reserves – $45.62 as at 14/7/2016
EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at July 15)
USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N290 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N380 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N317
Source: CBN
L-R: Country Manager, HP, Chukwuma Okpaka; Cloud & Enterprise, Microsoft, Blessing Nnachi; Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Ade Bajomo; Chief Information Security Officer, NSE, Favour Femi-Oyewole and Business Group Director, Cloud & Enterprise, Microsoft, Ope Olaniran, at the Nigerian Capital Market Information Security Forum in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI
Local airlines to save N80bn yearly from tax exemption LIFELINE Govt’s gesture was specifically to commercial aircraft operators
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
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
Wole Shadare
T
he plan by the Federal Government to fully implement the zero duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) payment on the importation of commercial airplanes and spare parts could save airlines in the country over N80 billion annually, New Telegraph has learnt. There are indications that the amount could be more considering the huge number of aircraft ferried outside the country for maintenance and the acquisition of relatively newer aircraft by the airlines. Arik, Medview, Overland and Dana plan to acquire more airplanes for the expansion of their operations. The government’s gesture was extended specifically to commercial aircraft operators and not private jet operators who are required to pay for luxury taxes. The clarification on the Zero Duty
and VAT was contained in a letter dated June 20, 2016 and signed by the Nigeria Customs Service. It stated: “I am directed to inform you that by virtue of the Federal Government 2013 Fiscal Policy measures, Ref No. BD.12237/S.1008/T/11 dated January 15, 2013, all commercial aircraft and its spare parts imported for use in Nigeria shall attract import duty rate of zero per cent (0 per cent) and zero per cent (0 per cent) VAT respectively.” It would be recalled that the Federal Government had, aftermath of Dana Air crash four years ago, introduced zero duty policy on aircraft and spare parts. The policy was not fully implemented as a former minister of aviation then (name withheld), allegedly favoured selected airlines close to the Ministry of Aviation. The action of the ex-minister also saw to the influx of private jet owners who took advantage of the policy to purchase jets without payment of duty. But that is over now are as the exemption is only for commercial jet owners. In Nigeria, the Boeing aircraft is the dominant as virtually all carriers operate the aircraft type. The most popular are B737-400, B737-500. These are regarded as classics and are in the fleet of Aero, Medview, Air Peace, Azman Air and Dana,
N200 billion Being Nigerian airlines’ spend in 2013 on overseas checks due to lack of any major maintenance facility, when the exchange rate was N200 to $1
while the NextGen Boeing aircraft such as the B737-700, B737-800 and B737-900 are operated by Medview and Arik Air. The cost price for the 1998 Boeing 737-500 goes for $3.8 million; 1992 made, B757-500 costs $3.6 million; B737-700 costs $74.80 million; B737800 - $89.10 million; B737-900ER costs $94.60 million and these are in the fleet of Arik Air and Medview. Other aircraft that have been acquired in recent times are Q400, which going price is $31.3 million – that is in the fleet of Arik and Aero Contractors; CRJ700 ($41million); CRJ 900 ($46 million) and the CRJ100 ($49 million) all in the fleet of Arik Air. Equally acquired is Airbus type of aircraft. First Nation Airways is the only airline operating this brand of airplane and the cost range from between $25 million and $40 million, while the Embraer and ATR airplanes, which go for $5 million and $10 million are operated by Overland and Aero. A former Assistant Secretary General of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Mohammed Tukur, welcomed the idea of full implementation of the policy, noting that it was CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
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BUSINESS |news
Local airlines to save N80bn yearly from tax exemption CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25
initially partially implemented. He noted that usually when airlines bring in their airplanes, they usually pay 10 per cent of the value of the equipment to Nigeria Customs and another five per cent as Value Added Tax (VAT), describing it as killing for airlines. Even for maintenance of aircraft and acquisition of spare parts like engines, which costs between $500,000 and $1 million depending on the size of the engine, the carriers are requested to pay 10 per cent of the value and another five per cent as VAT. This newspaper had exclusively reported that Nigerian airlines could spend over N560 billion for the maintenance cost of over 350 aircraft that are expected to go for both ‘C and D checks. The country and airline operators would continue to lose several billions of naira to ferry their airplanes abroad for maintenance checks. Lack of functional maintenance hangar and customs duty have done incalculable damage to the operation of airlines in the country, leading to carriers closing shops less than ten years of operations. In 2013, Nigerian airlines spent over $1.22 billion (N200 billion) when the exchange rate was at N200 to $1 on overseas checks due to lack of any major maintenance facility, according to statistics given by the former Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Olusegun Demuren. Aviation security consultant, Group Capt. John Ojikutu (rtd), said: “No one would have problems with government giving a life support to the ailing Nigerian aviation industry, but every discerning mind should question the rationale behind the continuous provision of same prescriptions in financial model for same ailment without sufficiently diagnosing the ailment.” He noted that the financial prescriptions have come in various forms and names. “If it was not intervention fund as it was for government operators during Obasanjo/Fani-kayode era and Jonathan/Oduah era, it would be debt concession as it was in Yaradua/Njeize era.” He listed the problems of the industry generally as “poor management structure, lack of adequate skilled manpower, inefficient supervision from field managers and ineffective professionally inclined inspectors to enforce compliance to regulations.” On the part of the Nigerian airlines, the problem has always been that of single ownership resulting always to uncontrolled diversion or divestment of funds, especially the generated earnings, from sales including government intervention funds, to private uses and other businesses.
MONDAY, july 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
Cashless: Electronic funds transfers hit N22trn in 1H
Monthly value rises 13.5% COLLABORATION NIBSS says collaboration among stakeholders to combat e-fraud will boost further e-payment adoption
Kunle Azeez
N
igeria continues to gain traction in its electronic payment sector, as the value of electronic fund transfers carried out by Nigerians in the first half of this year hit N21.837 trillion. The transactions were those carried out by the banking public on two major platforms of the National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT) and NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP).
According to the latest status report on electronic activities in the country obtained from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlements System (NIBSS), over 60 million units of transactions were executed in the first six months of the year, amounting to N21.837 trillion on the two platforms. Details of the transaction value on NEFT showed that the platform recorded N983 billion last January, N864 billion in February and N909 billion in March. In April, May and June, the transaction value were N920 billion; N820 billion and 973 billion respectively, amounting to N5.471 trillion in total transactions on NEFT platform in the first six months of the year. NIP recorded higher transaction value, according to the NIBSS latest report, which also provides information regarding transactions on E-bills, mobile money, cheque transactions and
Point of Sales (POS), among others. Accordingly, NIP transaction values in January, February and March stood at N2.389 trillion; N2.499 trillion and N2.747 trillion, while in April, May and June, the figures were N2.8 trillion, N2.7 trillion and N3.096 trillion in that order. Consequently, half-year transactions value on both NEFT and NIP currently stand at N21.837 trillion, according to the NIBSS report. Meanwhile, between May and end of June, the total monthly transactions value on NEFT and NIP increased from N3.582 trillion to N4.069 trillion, representing a 13.5 per cent monthly growth, according to New Telegraph analysis. In 2015, over N35.5 trillion transactions were executed on various electronic payment platforms. Commenting on the traction
being recorded in the e-payment sector, the Chief Executive Officer of NIBSS, Mr. Ade Shonubi, said the increase in NEFT and NIP usage and the volume of transactions done monthly reveals a major progress being recorded in the country’s payment industry. “NEFT is an irrevocable fund transfer instruction where a bank simply captures its customer’s funds transfer instructions electronically. However, the bank will first debit the customer’s account to ensure that the funds are set aside after which such a bank customer’s instruction (along with other customers instructions) are sent to NIBSS as an electronic file for onward processing,” he said. Unlike NEFT, Shonubi said NIP was, so far, the most innovative and revolutionary epayment solution designed by NIBSS to service the banking industry.
L-R: Founder/ CEO PAGA Nigeria, Tayo Oviosu; CEO, Youth Entrepreneurship Summit, Ndiana Matthew and Chairman, Youth Entrepreneurship Summit, Meka Olowola, at the summit held at Eko Hotel, Lagos.
Nigeria’s rice imports fall by N47.5bn INFLATION Consumption of sorghum has been increasing, mirroring rise in the prices of other commodities Bayo Akomolafe
T
he import substitution policy adopted by Nigeria appears to be gaining ground, as importation of rice fell by 400,000 tons or N47.53billion ($166.8 millon). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s latest Global Agricultural In-
Maize down 33%
formation Network report said that the importation would further fall by 100,000 metric tons before the end of the year to 2.5 million tons in 2016, from last year’s imports of three million tons. Besides, the study added that rice imports may drop further by 400,000 tons to 2.1 million in 2017, as local production remained stagnant at 2.5 million metric tons. Also, the report explained that decline in corn production in Nigeria had increased the 2016-2017 imports to 400,000 tons or N56.40 billion ($200 million), a 33 per cent increase from the previous year.
Meanwhile, a vessel has berthed in Calabar Port since June 30, 2016, to offload 14,000 metric tons of maize as the local supply gap dwindles. The commodity was ferried to the port by MV Desert Unity since June 30, 2016. In the last one decade, the country had imported 1.05 million metric tons of maize due to short supply. The commodity is valued at N59.24 billion ($210.1 million). The country’s corn production had declined from 9,250,000 metric tons in 2011 to 7,000,000 metric tons in 2015, leading to a shortage of 2,250,000 metric tons.
In 2008, the country imported 50,000 tons; 2009, 100,000 tons, 2010, 100,000 tons; 2011, 200,000 tons; 2012, 200,000 tons; 2013, 200,000 tons and 2014, 200,000 tons, 2015, 400,000. This year, USDA revealed that the Nigeria would experience 500,000 tons short fall in 2016/17 session. Meanwhile, data by Foraminifera Market Research revealed the country is battling to meet 42 per cent of its deficit. It said that the Nigeria’s demand for maize starch was estimated at 800,000 tons while the supply was just 350,000 tons per annum.
BUSINESS | MONEYLINE
MONDAY, july 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
27
Dollar scarcity: Banks grapple with rising BTA demand DEARTH Summer travel season is underway
Tony Chukwunyem
W
ith the summer travel summer Season underway, there are indications that the worsening dollar scarcity in the system is making it difficult for deposit money banks (DMBs) to meet the rising demand for Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) by
intending travelers. Investigations by New Telegraph reveal that most intending travelers who approached banks in recent days to purchase BTA went away empty handed, as the financial institutions said they had no dollars to sell. Banking industry sources told this newspaper that there was an acute shortage of dollars in the system, which they did not see easing anytime soon. New Telegraph also gathered that attempts by the travelers to source dollars from Bureaux De Change (BDC) were not successful, as most operators said they have not been buying the greenback since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) stopped weekly
sales to them in January this year. A Lagos-based BDC operator, Mr. Mike Abu, said: “There is serious scarcity of dollars in the system. You can’t get dollars to buy anywhere. Even people travelling for summer holidays are finding it difficult to buy BTA from banks. A man travelling with his family put me under a lot of pressure the other day to help him source dollars, but I could not help him.” According to him, the shortage of dollars in the system is responsible for the naira’s decline against the dollar on the parallel market in recent days. He noted that the naira had fallen to N365 against the dol-
businesses. The Corporation emphasised that it was going about its mandate for which it was created by the Federal Government in 2010 to manage the huge Non Performing Loans (NPLs) in the banking sector. “AMCON has never and will not run any business. But as facilitators, we encourage competent professionals to manage businesses. So, it is important we correct this wrong perception in some quarters,” the statement added. In furtherance of the Corporation’s responsibility of acquiring Eligible Bank Assets (EBAs) and putting them to economic use in a profitable
manner, AMCON, the statement stated is in receivership of about 50 businesses and more than 180 businesses under enforcement. According to the Corporation, these interventions have saved so many businesses from going under, meaning that AMCON’s involvements are in order and therefore cannot be faulted. Some 400 obligors of AMCON account for more than N4.5 trillion, which is approximately 80 per cent of the total outstanding loan balance of the Corporation’s over 12,000 accounts with obligors that have become recalcitrant over time despite obvious efforts of the Corporation.
lar by Friday from N348 to the greenback less than a fortnight ago. Forex dealers attributed the naira’s decline on the parallel market to the forex supply gap on the interbank market. In a chat with journalists last week, the National President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators, Aminu Gwadabe, said: “It is a supply and demand market. A lot of demand is being pushed to the parallel market due to the shortage at the interbank market.” The naira eased 4.3 per cent against the dollar last Friday to
hit a record low of N295.25 on the interbank market after the apex bank sold the greenback at a weaker rate to boost interbank market liquidity. Financial analysts believe that the persisting liquidity problem on the interbank market is as a result of the N280/ dollar level where the market started. According to them, foreign investors, which the CBN is counting on to bring forex liquidity to the interbank market, would prefer trading in the market to begin from about N300 to the dollar.
Sterling Bank, SMEs float ‘AMCON doesn’t run any business’ workshop for operators
A
gainst the background of what it described as “some perceived misconceptions in public domain” about its statutory role, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) at the weekend reiterated that its primary assignments as mandated by the Act establishing it, empowers the corporation in the recovery, restructuring and resolution of debts and not to run businesses. A statement from the Corporate Communications Department of the Corporation, made available to New Telegraph, restated that AMCON’s intervention in the country actually prevented the collapse of so many
Economic Indicators As at M2* CPS* INF MPR 91-day NTB Bonny Light Ext Res**
N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 15.6 12 10.77 US$45.62 US$25,705,628,060
Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 May, 2016 23/03/2016 Mar 2015 15/7/2016 14/7/2016
Description 15.10 27-APR-2017 16.00 29-JUN-2019 15.54 13-FEB-2020 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.50 22-JAN-2026 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 Tenor (Days) Call 30 90 180
TTM
Price 104.65 114.59 111.96 120.58 109.60 100.54 83.82 97.56
1.07 3.24 3.87 5.82 7.95 9.81 14.31 18.29
NIBOR
Rate (%) 4.4583 9.1071 11.0102 12.3790
Bid Yield 10.38 10.55 11.60 11.44 12.27 12.40 12.44 12.49
Change (%) -2.50 ▼ -0.74 ▼ -0.65 ▼ -0.68 ▼
Change (%) -0.02 ▼ -0.01 ▼ 0.00 ↔ 0.00 ↔ -0.07 ▼ -0.08 ▼ -0.03 ▼ 0.02 ▲
Price 104.80 114.89 112.26 120.88 109.90 100.84 84.12 97.86
Tenor (Months)
Change (%) -0.02 ▼ -0.01 ▼ 0.00 ↔ 0.00 ↔ -0.07 ▼ -0.08 ▼ -0.03 ▼ 0.02 ▲
NITTY
Rate (%) 6.9949 7.2368 8.0819 9.2061 9.5872 10.5042
1 2 3 6 9 12
Treasury Bills
Offer Yield 10.24 10.45 11.51 11.38 12.22 12.34 12.39 12.44
Change (%) 1.12 ▲ -0.27 ▼ -0.17 ▼ -0.11 ▼ 0.03 ▲ 0.42 ▲
Money Market
Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 7.67 7.82 -0.51 ▼ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 3.83 30-Jun-16 7.92 8.08 -0.51 ▼ 6-Oct-16 8.59 8.34 8.71 -0.31 ▼ Overnight (O/N) 4.33 8.99 -0.31 ▼ 16-Mar-17 9.36 10.28 -0.07 ▼ 9.11 9.98 -0.07 ▼
Spot($/N)
Bid 199.14
FX
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
the concept of entrepreneurship and better position them to improve their managerial capacity in the areas of risk management and profit maximisation. “It will also cover Basic Accounting Skills, Customer Service and Team Building, Sales and Marketing, Essentials of Business Plans and Human Resources Management among others”, the statement added. Executive Director, Finance & Strategy of the Bank, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman had announced at a press conference earlier in the year that the bank would be anchoring a series of workshops for MSME operators in various states nationwide. He explained that the bank came up with the initiative to empower the MSME operators in the country in order to improve their capacity and contribute to the economic growth of the country. “MSMEs remain the pillar of any growing economy and the operators in the sector must be well positioned and equipped for accelerated growth and positive impact on the economy”, Mr. Suleiman reiterated
Skye Bank, COPE partner on breast cancer
Source:CBN
FGN Bonds
S
terling Bank Plc, in collaboration with the Lagos chapter of the Nigerian Association of Small & Medium Enterprises (NASME), will from today flag off a three-day Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSME) Workshop for its members scheduled to hold at the Federal Institute for Industrial Research (FIIRO) Oshodi, Lagos. The lender had organised similar workshops in Port Harcourt and Kaduna for MSME operators as part of its nationwide workshop to empower MSMEs. The next workshop will hold in Ibadan, Oyo State, according to a statement from the bank. NASME was registered in 1996 as a Business Membership Organisation (BMO) with the responsibility of coordinating and promoting the growth and development of the MSME sector of the Nigerian economy and has pursued its objective through strategic collaborations with institutions such as Sterling Bank Plc. The bank said the workshop would provide participants with the opportunity to fully appreciate
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n line with its corporate social responsibility drive and commitment to the fight against cancer, Skye Bank, in conjunction with a non-governmental organisation, COPE Foundation, is once again offering free breast cancer screening to the public. The event, which is scheduled to hold on Saturday July 23, 2016 from 8am to 5pm at the premises of COPE Foundation, 39B, Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, is intended to stem the growing incidence of the scourge through early detection and treatment of the disease. The bank said in a statement that to take advantage of this opportunity, interested customers are required to pre-register on www.skyebankng.com/skye pearl/ free-breast-cancer-screeninghttp://www.skyebankng. com/skyepearl/free-breastcancer-screening. The lender had in the last
three to four years sponsored over 30 indigent cancer patients for treatment in addition to providing free screening programmes for over 10,000 women within and outside Lagos. The prevalence of the scourge in younger women and the late presentation is still on the increase. The bank said it is committed to supporting worthy social causes in the health sector to improve the wellbeing and healthcare of Nigerians, noting that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 70 per cent of all cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Deaths from cancer worldwide are projected to continue to rise to over 13.1 million in 2030. Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, accounting for approximately 8.2 million deaths in 2012.
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BUSINESS | Movers, Shakers and Appointments
MONDAY, july 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
Total names divisional president
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ormer Chairman of Total Nigeria plc, Momar Nguer, has been appointed as President, Marketing and Services, as well as member of the executive committee of the company. Before the new appointment, Nguer was senior vice president of Total Marketing and Services. He was also the company’s president for Africa and Middle East, a position he had occupied since December, 2011, a statement by the company said. Nguer began his career in 1982 in Hewlett Packard France’s Finance Department and joined Total in 1984, serving in various downstream positions, the statement further said. He was named vice president, Marketing, at Total Senegal, in 1985 and appointed vice president, Retail Network & Consumers of Total in Africa in 1991. In 1995, Momar Nguer, the statement
said, became chief executive officer of the marketing affiliate, Total Cameroun and was subsequently chief executive officer of the marketing affiliate, Total Kenya, in 1997. In 2000, he was appointed executive vice president, Total East Africa & Indian Ocean in Total’s Refining & Marketing business. From 2007 to 2011, he was vice president, Aviation Fuel, at Total Refining and Marketing. The company, in the statement, described Nguer as a dynamic and exceptional man who has contributed immensely to the sustainable growth and development of the Nigerian downstream industry as a whole. Since his appointment as chairman of Total Nigeria in 2012, the company has achieved great milestones that reflect his passionate drive and determination to excel even in the midst of industry and environmental challenges.
New CEO for LNLG
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he Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) has appointed Mr. Tony Attah, as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. In a statement by LNLG’s General Manager, External Relations, Mr. Kudo EresiaEke, the new CEO who was appointed by the company’s Board of Directors, will take over from Babs Omotowa after returning from an assignment at Shell’s Group Integrated Gas business as Senior Projects Advisor, working on projects in The Netherlands and Singapore. Attah, a mechanical engineer, has a 28year experience in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. He started his career in Sokoto Cement Company as maintenance and operations shift supervisor. The statement added that he joined Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in 1991, working in various technical and management roles in field maintenance, production operations, core engineering and major projects commissioning and
rotating equipment engineering, among others. The statement added: “At NLNG, Attah will be responsible for sustaining NLNG’s top quartile performance in supplying LNG to the global energy market and advancing the company’s expansion programmes.”
Attah
PR firm appoints head for West Africa
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ransnational Corporate Communications and Public Relations Service firm, MyPR Manager has appointed Kunmi Balogun as its head of Communications for West Africa. Balogun, according to a statement by the company, was appointed to oversee the firm’s communications and marketing activities across West Africa, mainly in Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone. Balogun is an alumnus of The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, from where he obtained a Master of Science degree in corporate communications and public affairs.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from University of Abuja and is a member of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA). Balogun has a successful career in communications working across various sectors including telecommunications, insurance, oil and gas, consulting and FMCG. Until his appointment, he was the marketing communications manager of Eunisell, an oil and gas service company in Lagos, Nigeria, the statement added.
LASACO names chairman
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Aderinola
ASACO Assurance Plc has appointed Mrs. Aderinola Disu as chairman of the board of directors. She took over from Mr Ashim Oyekan who resigned from the board, having served the company for 19 years, a statement by the Managing Director of the company, Segun Balogun, said. Disu holds a Bachelor of Law Degree from the University of Lagos and she is an alumnus of Lagos Business School. She is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, United Kingdom (UK). Her career spans over 20 years
Nguer
NITAD gets female president
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igerian Institute of Training our combined efforts and articulated and Development (NITAD) eight-point agenda.” has elected Mrs. Janet Jolaoso Jolaoso, a fellow of the institute, as its president and chairman. was described at the investiture as According to a statement by the a world-class trainer, a consummate Institute, Jolaoso was elected the 8th human resource practitioner, a scienpresident and chairman of council tist of note, a seasoned educationist along with other officers at the last and versatile mindset change agent. annual general meeting in Lagos. A member of many other professional bodies, Jolaoso joined the institute in 1994 and was elected on April 7, 2016, along with other council members and chairmen of committees for the institute. Speaking at the investiture held recently, at Sheraton Hotel in Lagos, she said: “I have accepted the assignment as a clarion call with my usual valued altruistic disposition to serve. With every sense of responsibility, passion and commitment, we will elicit and optimally harness the members’ potentials, talent, treasure and time to take the institute to the next and even, higher level through Jolaoso
Oil firm announces director
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n oil & gas production and development company operating in West Africa, Eland Oil & Gas Plc, has appointed Mr. Henry Obi to its board as a non-executive director to represent Helios Natural Resources, a significant shareholder in Eland. Eland, in a statement, said that Henry would replace Richard Norris who has been Helios Natural Resources’ representative on the board since September 2014.
in private legal practice and with T.A Braithwaite & Co (insurance brokers), where she rose to the post of Executive Vice-Chairman between 1993 and 2003. Disu, the statement added, brings significant experience, both from the public and private sectors, through her extensive record and her wider business interests in strategic sectors in Nigeria. “LASACO Assurance is extremely fortunate to have appointed a chairman of such caliber and experience,” Balogun said in the statement. She was the former executive secretary and later chairman of Lagos Island Local Government and was also a member of Lagos State Executive Council as the special adviser on Central Business Districts under the former governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, from 2011 to 2014.
Henry holds a Master of Science degree in architecture from University of Nigeria, a Bachelor of Architecture from University of Nottingham and an MBA in Finance from the London Business School. He sits on the Boards of Maris Capital Limited and the Africa Venture Capital Association, the statement further said. Also, Henry served as chairman of the Africa Regional Advisory Council of Emerging Market Private Equity Association. He received Private Equity Africa’s Outstanding Leadership Award in 2014 for his commitment to advancing the cause of private equity in Africa. Henry has over 15 years’ experience in private equity sector and is currently a partner and chief operating officer at Helios Investment Partners LLP where he was responsible for its operations and serves on Helios’ Equity and Credit Investment Committees. The statement added that in 2006, Henry was a Partner at Aureos Advisers Limited, where he was responsible for monitoring the performance of the firm’s funds in Africa and Central America and their compliance with investment policy.
BUSINESS |Stock Watch
MONDAY, july 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
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Academy Press: Poor reading culture, piracy slice profits The inclement business milieu has made the publishing industry unable to sustain its performance and Academy Press Plc is not an exception. CHRIS UGWU writes
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urrently, books rank very low on the preference list of an average Nigerian and this has made it difficult for the industry to achieve a turnover that is commensurate with the huge population of the country. Investigations revealed that poor reading culture in the country has become a big challenge to the publishing industry. This is because even some parents who ordinarily should encourage reading culture among the children would rather spend money on electrical appliances, jewelry, clothes and frivolous ceremonies than buy recommended books for their children. Besides, the cost of funds is still very high and this is a serious headache for many companies in Nigeria. As a matter of fact, some of them are unable to pay dividends to shareholders because the greater percentage of what they would have declared as profits is used to pay interest on credit facilities that they obtained from the commercial banks. The industry is also seriously concerned about the high level of infringement of copyright, most especially by students, many of whom engage in widespread photocopying of recommended textbooks, which reduces sales of the original copies. According to market watchers, it is painful that some crooks engage in unauthorised printing of fast moving titles from established publishers and sell them at ridiculous prices. They can afford to do that because they have not invested time and resources in content development. Besides, they do not have employees that promote these publications among teachers and school administrators. Estimates vary; there is strong feeling that perhaps more than two-thirds of book industry revenue goes to pirates. The problem has affected the growth of the industry, hampered its ability to generate additional employment opportunities for the growing youth population and limited its contribution to national economy. The publishing companies are also troubled by the epileptic nature of public power supply. As a matter of fact, they spend several millions of naira on diesel every month in order to run the generators for their operations.
Academy Press Plc. 2016 August 31
73k
September 30
62k
October 31
59k
November 31
57k
December 31
55k
January 31
55k
February 29
53k
March 31
57k
April 31
64k
May 31
66k
June 30
69k
July 15
69k
It is also painful to observe that the road network is still not impressive despite the billions of naira that the government has committed to the construction and rehabilitation of roads. Following the challenging macro-environment and the squeeze on household wallets, growth in the publishing segment has been constrained. The financial results of Academy Press Plc like its peers have not been encouraging and the expectations that the subsequent results will be brighter enough to erase the negatives in the accounts has remained a forlorn hope, as the trend of loss position has continued unabated. The difficult business environment has made the company unable to sustain its performance despite innovative and proactive responses to market dynamics and competitive pressures. The company has remained vulnerable to the challenges facing the manufacturing businesses in Nigeria due to the upset in financial sector triggered by drop in oil prices and currency devaluation. The current lull in the market following massive profit taking that saw the market lose considerable chunk of investors’ wealth, also hit the company, but marginally. The share price which closed at 73 kobo per share in August 2015 stood at 69 kobo when the closing bell rang last Friday, a decrease of four kobo or 5.48 per cent year to date. Financials Academy Press Plc closed the financial year ended March 31 2015 in a loss position, as the challenges of operating environment took toll on the earnings. According to a notice to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the company posted the loss after tax of N25.522 million, as against profit position of N90.273 million during the comparable period of 2014. The group also recorded a loss before tax of N9.680 million during the period under review from a profit before tax of N82.624 million in 2014.
Oguntimehin
The greatest threat to the survival and prosperity of the publishing industry in our country is piracy
However the company’s revenue declined marginally by 1.57 per cent to N2.310 billion during the review period from N2.347 billion posted a year earlier. The firm also began financial year in the red, as its first quarter ended June 30, 2015 showed a loss after tax of N23.721 million as against a loss of N303 million in 2014. However, the group’s revenue leaped 11.27 per cent from N538.270 million against N598.932 million posted in 2014. The trends of loss position continued, as Academy Press recorded a loss of N139.160 million in net earnings for the nine months ended December 31, 2015. The company in a filing with Exchange said the loss it posted in 2015 was against a loss position of N110.297 million during the comparable period of 2014. However the company’s revenue declined by 2.95 per cent from N1.589 billion in 2014 to N1.542 billion during the 2015 review period. The company also ended the year ended March 30, 2016 with a loss position, as the group reported a loss after tax of N151.869 million in 2016 as against a loss of N25.522, representing a percentage change of 495. The group’s loss before tax equally stood at N183.950 million in 2016 financial year, from N9.680 million recorded in 2015, a change of 1800 per cent. However, its revenue declined by 11 per cent, from N2.310 billion in 2015 to N2.047 billion achieved during the period under review.
Reasons for low earnings Chairman of the company, Simeon Oguntimehin, while addressing shareholders at the annual general meeting (AGM) in Lagos, identified the importation of print products, as the major threat bedeviling the growth of the printing industry. He explained that importation had made both the huge capacity and skilled labour that exists in the country idle. “The operating import tariff regime, which made importation to be more economically viable for print product buyers to the detriment of local printers has been responsible for this. We therefore wish to commend the government on its recent pronouncement on measures to encourage industrialisation and job creation by amending tariffs that have constituted barriers to these objectives and hope the steps would be sustained to the benefit of the printing industry.” Oguntimehin noted that the country does not need to import printing products, as a nation because local printers can do it. “We do not need as a nation, to import any of our print products such as books, magazines, annual report, calendars, diaries, fliers, bank forms, flow lines, tickets, vouchers and all other sensitive materials including elections papers, revenue agencies forms, bank forms and other security agency document needs,” he said. Outlook Oguntimehin noted that Academy Press was now positioned to lead the industry to fully cater for the entire needs of the country. “We have remained strong over the last 50 years as a result of continued re-investment in modern printing equipment and we just launched new sets of printing equipment worth N1.5 billion. Academy Press is Nigeria’s onestop shop for world class printing.” “In fact, we do not end any five years without investing in major modern equipment. This is to ensure that we catch up with the latest skills and technology and to always be at par with the rest of the world.” The Managing Director of the company, Mr. Gbenga Ladipo, added: “We have been financing the growth and retooling from our own internally generated funds. For six years we were getting equipment one after the other and demand was ahead of us until the Bank of Industry’s intervention and that led to a leap within that year.” Conclusion The greatest threat to the survival and prosperity of the publishing industry in our country is piracy. It is an assault on the intellectual rights of authors and discourages creativity. It is however, advisable for the governments at all levels to come up with workable policies to arrest the situation for the overall growth of the industry.
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Infrastuctural facilities. inset:Fashola and Commissioner for Insurance, Mahammed Kari
Insurance
Fashola
MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
Kari
Fashola, others anchor sustainable devt on insurance PRODUCTIVITY Infrastructure that is public in nature enables economic activities, which enhances productivity and the quality of life
Sunday Ojeme
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s the Federal Government rejigs its energy towards rebuilding the nation’s failing infrastructure, the Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, last week in Abuja, led a group of experts and economic analysts on the way forward and the role insurance sector should play. Fashola stated that insurers could contribute to infrastructural development through investment in projects and insurance of different stages of the projects. The minister noted that infrastructure does not begin and end with road and power but also includes housing, health care among others. He added that beyond housing, insurers could go into mortgage financing insurance, which is the retail branch aspect of the business. He urged the insurers to develop higher spirit of creativity and innovativeness in order to develop products that meet the present day business demand, saying the insurers were in position to do this because of availability of long term funds and the need for the industry to expand its hori-
zon in investments business. According to him, there are a lot of opportunities for insurance in infrastructural development. In terms of risk bearing opportunity, policies on infrastructural insurance alone can only be limited by the operators’ lack of imagination and enterprising spirit, he added. Other who spoke included a public affairs analyst, Dr. Biodun Adedipe, who described infrastructure as a capital asset that is public in nature and enables economic activities, thus enhancing productivity and the quality of life. He identified infrastructure to include air and land transport logistics, port facilities, electricity, information communication technology, water, sanitation, social services, among others, adding that they come as critical inputs into the productive activities of enterprises and services for household consumption that largely define the quality of life. Adedipe said: “When infrastructure is available in the right quantity and quality, it unleashes entrepreneurial and innovative energies that are vital to competitiveness and sustainability. Infrastructure has also been an effective way to provide fiscal stimulus for recessed or slowing economies. “The evidence of this abounds in history, and especially during the recent global financial crisis and economic downturn. “The resulting improvements in the standard of living and income levels further fuel demand for new infrastructure because the increase in discretionary income through urbanisation
When infrastructure is available in the right quantity and quality, it unleashes entrepreneurial and innovative energies
raises the demand for automobiles (logistics needs), high-end electronics and modern communication gadgets as well as other high quality consumer goods. “In essence, economic development (especially income growth) and infrastructure improvement are mutually reinforcing.” He also observed that the state of infrastructure could attract new investments in two different ways. “If it is world-class, it makes the business climate competitive and to attract new investments. This is the common sentiment of investors in their preference for particular investment destinations. If it is not world-class, it creates opportunities for investments in infrastructure. “The typical measures of international competitiveness and attractiveness in infrastructure include power, telecommunications (telephony services and Internet access), roads, aviation (especially domestic air travel), seaports (container cargo handling), potable (clean) water and sewage (access to sanitation facilities),” he noted. He also added that there were many lessons to draw from China and South Korea when it comes to resource mobilisation for infrastructure development from both the public and private sources. According to him, it has also been argued that South Korea is to the Next-11 what China represents to the BRICs, and this indeed reflects in Korea’s peculiar commitment to infrastructure development in the last two and half decades. For South Korea, the infra-
structure gap of the mid-1990’s as its economy grew strongly elicited increased new investments at the rate of 20 per cent annually through the 1990s, while government budget had substantial allocations to infrastructure - 11.2 per cent in 1993, 14.2 per cent in 1997 and 14.6 per cent in 2001. He said: “The economy is troubled for several reasons, and the signs began to show since early 2013. “Economy is diversified by GDP contributions (non-oil sector was 89.71 per cent in Q1 2016), but over-dependent on hydrocarbons (at about 97 per cent of total exports, 77 per cent of foreign earnings and 74 per cent of government revenue over the last 15 years).” Proffering a way out of the impasse and looming recession, he noted that there must be actual spending on hard-core infrastructure that enable socio-economic activities towards growth and development, and not a primary focus on the ‘stomach.’ According to him, if economic agents have avenues to release their entrepreneurial and innovative energies, they will earn income and be able to attend to their consumption needs. It is quite unfortunate that the 2016 federal budget that gave such hope was mishandled and weakened before it got approved for implementation. “Some N792 billion (Forty-nine per cent of proposed total MDA capital expenditure) committed to key socio-economic infrastructure was a huge departure from the meagre allocation of N72.85 billion under the same headings in Budget 2015,” he said.
MONDAY, july 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
PENETRATION Some operational factors have been identified for the industry’s low penetration across the continent Sunday Ojeme
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Nigerian analyst, Deniese Imoukhuede, has lamented the low penetration of insurance within subSaharan Africa due to factors bordering on inadequate finance and li-
BUSINESS | Insurance
‘Inadequate finance, liability stunt insurance growth’ ability mismatch among others. Imoukhuede in a special report he authored for A.M Best, said SubSaharan Africa (re)insurers typically maintained low capital bases while many have thin levels of risk-adjusted capitalisation, when measured by A.M. Best. He added that material fluctuations in asset values would therefore have significant consequences
for the operators’ balance sheets. The Associate Director, Analytics at the agency in the report, titled, ‘Africa’s Insurance Market Prospects Threatened by Low Commodity Prices and Political Uncertainty,’ believes that certain factors still pose some risks to the sector’s financial strength in the region. Such factors include financial system fragility,
asset/liability mismatch and extended delays in premium collection. Imoukhuede added: “To date, A.M. Best-rated (re)insurers have shown stability in their rating fundamentals, in spite of the underlying difficulties within their operating environments. These companies’ risk-adjusted capitalisations remain at strong levels, mostly due to their large and underutilised capital bases
relative to their underwriting risk exposures. Additionally, balance sheet strengths are supported by a high quality reinsurance panel, and in some cases, strengthened reserve provisions owing to mounting inflationary pressures.” The report further observed that for almost two decades, growth in the insurance markets of sub-Saharan Africa had been buoyed by the conL-R: National Marketing Manager, Diversay Solution Limited, Dr. Noble Igbokwe; Director, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Council (NAFDAC), Dr. Bukar Ali Usman; Acting Director General, Mrs Yetunde Oni; Product Manager, Natnudo foods, Mrs. Adenike Shola-Oni and Customer Satisfaction Manager, Amo Byng Nigeria Limited, Mr. Adelowo Olabanji, during a workshop on food safety in meat industry in Nigeria, held in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI
Adeosun decries poor publicity by insurers T he Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has deplored the attitude of underwriters towards adequate exposure of their products to the public. Adeosun, who said this during a conference
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resident, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Kayode Okunoren, has declared his resolve to sustain the mentorship of Nigerian youths out of poverty. Okunoren, who made the declaration while receiving an award from the leadership of National Association of Nigerian Student (NANS), eulogised and appreciated the doggedness of Nigerian students in spite of the state of the nation’s educational system. He also used the opportunity to inform them of his mentoring programme that spanned beyond insurance to include all Nige-
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in Abuja, lamented that out of the 57 insurance companies in the country, less than 23 advertised their products. She identified low awareness as one of the factors responsible for the under-performance of the sector.
The minister said: “The companies put in less than 20 adverts on television, less than 10 adverts on radio and less than 10 adverts on social media. “Other factors include poor distribution channels and unethical prac-
tices among operators,” she said. Adeosun said that her ministry is working vigorously with the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to ensure that premium discounting is eliminated among practitioners, stressing
that there was need for recapitalisation of most insurance companies. Commissioner for Insurance Mohammed Kari pledged NAICOM’s commitment to making the industry the next growth area for economic development.
‘I am committed to mentoring youths out of poverty’ rian youths. He said: “I share your vision, I believe in you, especially, the endowment fund that is meant for indigent students among you. That has been my passion, and I am committed into it. It is my joy to mentor Nigerian youths out of poverty. Your presence here today and this award will help me to double my efforts not to disappoint the students.” The National Outstanding Leadership Award 2016 was presented to him at the NCRIB Secretariat in Lagos by the NANS president, who was represented by the association’s Vice
President, Comrade Lawal Alpounds, The students said the award was in recognition of Okunoren’s contribution to Nigerian economy through his participation in insurance industry. According to the NANS representatives, two Nigerians were nominated for the award from which Okunoren emerged the winner after a formal ratification on the floor of NANS Senate in Abuja. In his speech, Comrade Alpounds lamented the dangerous trend of selecting politicians who have contributed nothing to the development of the nation they
were called to serve for awards, stressing that it further erodes the values and importance of awards. He added that Nigerian students, under the aegis of NANS, had distanced itself from giving awards to people of questionable characters, who could not add any meaningful value to the nation but rather look for means to exploit others. One of the reasons for Okunoren’s emergence as the recipient of the award, according to him, was his recognition for the place of mentoring as part of values that could build a nation.
He further lamented the disposition of Nigerian leaders to education and employment, stressing that the educational system in Nigeria is in a state of comatose that needs quick intervention of philanthropists and individuals that have the passion. He also used the opportunity to explain what he tagged “NANS Endowment Fund.” Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, NCRIB, Fatai Adegbenro, stressed the need for the nation to pay more attention to the development of education, adding that the best way to tackle terrorism was to educate the youths.
tinent’s economic boom. With average growth in gross domestic product (GDP) across the region far outpacing much of the developed world, the African continent has presented an extremely attractive environment for domestic, regional and international investors seeking to enhance returns. “Sub-Saharan Africa (re)insurers typically maintain low capital bases while many have thin levels of risk-adjusted capitalisation, when measured by A.M. Best. Therefore, material fluctuations in asset values will have significant consequences for (re)insurers’ balance sheets.” However, the fallout from low commodity prices, the slowdown of China’s economic activity and the impact of monetary tightening by the US Federal Reserve are just a number of global issues that threaten to stall growth and stability, and in turn, likely will compromise the development and financial strength of insurance markets across the continent. A.M. Best believes that the industry balance sheets are exposed to material volatility arising from the uncertain landscape. Imoukhede’s position was also corroborated by the a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Mining Corporation (NMC), Ambassador Biodun Olorunfemi, that Africa ranked lowest in the world index of insurance penetration. He called on stakeholders to manage risks associated with mining business by providing access to funds. The former Nigerian ambassador to Namibia said that the President Muhammadu Buhariled administration had expressed its readiness to provide intervention fund for development of the mining sector. Recalling some strides of the administration within a short span, he said, “We must join hands to support this government for prioritising the non-oil sector as a focus for national prosperity.” He said that operators should strengthen the insurance systems in the continent and called for an all-inclusive approach to the problem, saying, “governments at all levels and all stakeholders must think outside the box.”
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BUSINESS | Financial Market News
MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
BUSINESS | Financial Market News
MONDAY, july 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
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CIS unfolds four-point agenda for market devt STRATEGIC PLAN
Stockbrokers are being prepared to rebrand in order to take their rightful position in the financial market
Stories by Chris Ugwu
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he Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) has given assurance to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) of continued collaboration of the institute in order to build a strong and virile capital market in Nigeria. The institute’s President, Mr. Oluwaseyi Abe, gave this assurance while unfold its fourpoint agenda to stockbrokers on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. He appealed to the stockbrokers to work very closely with
the CIS for enhanced professional development in view of the expanding nature of capital market operations. Abe listed the agenda to include rebranding, education, collaboration and partnership (RECP). He explained that stockbrokers are being prepared to rebrand in order to take their rightful position in the financial market. According to him, the market seemed gloomy at the present but there is hope that it would bounce back. He noted that other Exchanges such as National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), FMDQ Plc and Abuja Commodities Exchange had created alternative platforms for stockbrokers to practice. Abe noted that the new trend in the financial market required additional skills on the part of stockbrokers. He said that the Institute’s Continued Professional Development (CPD) had been ex-
Unity Bank partners foundation on fertility awareness
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s part of key strategic interventions and collaborative initiatives to demonstrate its Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS), Unity Bank Plc is partnering Beibei Haven Foundation, a non-governmental organisation to organise a ‘Fertility Walk’ in order to raise awareness and funds to assist families with fertility challenges. The target of this campaign, according to a statement from the bank, is to assist no less than 20 couples gain access to effective and efficient treatments that could remedy their conditions. The Executive Director, Secretariat & Service, Unity Bank Plc, Mrs. Aisha Azumi Abraham declared that the bank is pulling its resources to join
forces with the Beibei Haven Foundation as well as other advocacy groups to alleviate fertility challenges in the society. She stated, “undergoing fertility treatments such as IVF can provide solution to a lot of couples’ fertility challenges but these treatments are expensive for many. But, at Unity Bank Plc, we strongly believe that there is hope for couples whose primary barrier to fertility is cost”. The founder of the Beibei Haven Foundation, Mrs. Omotade Alalade, thanked Unity Bank Plc for supporting the Fertility Walk and also identifying with the cause of the Foundation whose primary aim is to bring succor to the couples grappling with issues of infertility in the society.
panded to bridge the skill gaps and position the stockbrokers to key into emerging opportunities. Speaking on education, he explained that investor education had become more compelling, as new products are being introduced into the market and the more investors understand the benefits and risks of investment in the capital market. Abe stated that the Institute had placed premium on the need to intensify efforts aimed at creating more awareness of the relevance of the market to
all categories of existing and potential investors who beat the closing gong yesterday. Abe, who sounded the closing gong, commended the management of the Exchange on its efforts aimed at developing the market. He gave assurance to The Exchange of the Institute’s continued collaboration to globalise the market. Abe noted that the capital market regulators and operators had always worked on the same goal of market development. According to him, col-
laborative efforts have become more compelling in view of the challenges of globalization. He explained that the CIS would always be prepared to partner with individuals and institutions that share common values on the growth and development of the capital market. Abe, who gave assurance to the stockbrokers that the current economic challenges would soon be over, urged them to partner with the Institute for enhanced professional development.
Benchmark index down by 0.17%
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ctivities on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) ended last week on the negative trajectory, as the NSE All-Share Index and Market Capitalisation depreciated by 0.17 per cent to close the week at 28,805.45 and N9.893 trillion respectively. Similarly, all other Indices finished lower during the week, with the exception of the NSE Premium Index, NSE 30 Index, NSE Consumer Goods Index and the NSE Industrial Goods Index that gained 0.11 per cent, 0.17 per cent, 0.95 per cent and 1.46 per cent respec-
tively. Meanwhile the NSE ASeM Index closed flat. A turnover of 1.149 billion shares worth N13.616 billion in 21,868 deals were traded last week by investors on the floor of the Exchange in contrast to a total of 377.798 million shares valued at N3.641 billion that exchanged hands the previous week in 7,466 deals. The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 868.827 million shares valued at N6.110 billion traded in 13,046 deals; thus contributing 75.59 per cent and 44.87 per cent
to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Conglomerates Industry followed with 103.304 million shares worth N272.848 million in 1,111 deals. The third place was occupied by the Consumer Goods Industry with a turnover of 66.743 million shares worth N3.501 billion in 3,368 deals. Trading in the top three Equities namely – FBN Holdings Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Access Bank Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 353.999 million shares worth N3.867 billion in 4,188 deals, contributing 30.80 per
Nigerian Breweries confirms receipts of CPC inquiry
N
igerian Breweries Plc has confirmed that it is now in receipt of a notification on the commencement of investigation from the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) on the veracity of claims regarding the health benefits of beer consumption and mandating the firm to back up statements made about beer at the 3rd Nigerian Beer Symposium, which was recently held in Lagos. CPC, in a statement had said the company claims were capable of luring un-
suspecting consumers into unwholesome consumption of beer. In a statement obtained from the Nigerian Stock Exchange’s (NSE’s) website and signed by the Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, the company noted that the Nigerian Beer Symposium was an annual platform created to share available and scientifically verifiable knowledge on beer with its stakeholders. The confab also allow robust debate on same and reinforce
its message of moderate and responsible consumption. He noted: “In the past two years, the Nigerian Beer Symposium has enabled experts in different fields to share evidence-based knowledge on the nutritional, health and lifestyle benefits of beer when consumed in moderation. Simultaneously, each symposium discusses the risks that come with abuse of beer or other alcohol for the consumer and for the society. These information on beer are in the public domain and can easily be confirmed.
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BUSINESS | Interview
MONDAY, july 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
‘Right policy framework Director-General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Muda Yusuf In this interview with TAIWO HASSAN, speaks on sundry issues bordering on the precarious economic situation, foreign exchange policy and import prohibition list, among others. Excerpts:
How would you assess Nigeria’s economy in the last six months vis-à-vis activities in the manufacturing sector? Well, Nigeria’s economy has faced some very challenging moments, so far, this year, especially in the first half of the year. Virtually all sectors of the economy have been affected by the developments in the country’s economy. The basic issue has to do with the situation on the country’s macro-economic fundamentals, especially with regard to the external sector of the economy. The collapse of the crude oil price at the international market has added a major impact on a lot of variables in the economy, especially very important variables, such as foreign exchange rate, foreign reserves and revenue earnings. These variables have affected virtually all sectors of the economy, including the manufacturing sector. The development has also led, to a large extent, to the decline in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate. It has also brought about decline in sectoral performances across all sectors of the economy and that is why I think, in the first half of this year, we saw some contractions in the economy that led to anxiety in the country over the dwindling in our economic fortunes. Perhaps, Nigeria’s economy was heading toward a recession in the first half of the year. You know that the country’s economy has been undergoing a very difficult situation, largely as a result of these external factors. So, that is the situation and that is why manufacturing sector and many other sectors of the economy have been declining and, of course, you have issues with security and the challenges in the Northeast, which affected quiet a number of their populace in that region. These challenges had very major impacts on our agricultural performance and the capacity of the country to ensure food security. Today, the challenge of insecurity in the Niger Delta region has affected the performance of our oil and gas sector. It has also affected the capacity to generate quantum electricity for Nigerians. All these together have combined to put a lot of pressure on Nigeria’s economy and had virtually slowed the growth of the economy in the country in the second quarter of this year. Talking about the flexible foreign exchange rate policy, do you see it having positive impact on the nation’s real sector and the economy in general? Yes, the flexible foreign exchange rate policy will have a positive impact on the real sector and the larger economy for some reasons. First, it is likely to improve the liquidity in the exchange market, which is one of the biggest issues that we have had under the fixed foreign exchange rate policy and because at that time it was very difficult to have access to foreign exchange in the parallel market. Authoritatively, less than 20 per cent of operators in the country were having access to
Yusuf
forex, even when they have access to the forex, only about 20 per cent or less of their demands were met at that time. I must say that fixed policy regime virtually crippled the real sector and the entire economy in the country. It affected investors’ business confidence. But in this new flexible forex regime policy, liquidity is likely to improve; investors’ confidence in the country’s economy is also likely to improve. It will be easier for businesses to be able to plan because uncertainties in the economy will now be much more reduced. Then, we also expect that the new system will be more equitable. It will be more transparent and good for the economy also. It is likely to lead to better inflow in the foreign exchange market and there will be better inflow of foreign exchange through capital importation and diaspora remittances. Our export proceeds is also going to improve because of the flexible foreign exchange rate. These are some of the positive things this policy is bringing into the Nigerian economy. Although, it will also take some time before we begin to see the impact because we have had major confidence problem in the economy and it is easier to lose confidence than to build it. It will take a much longer time to rebuild the confidence back. That is what is happening right now, if you give the policy a chance, I am sure it will help to bring about the necessary adjustments that will lead to the recovery of the economy. Of course, there were some challenges because every policy of the government has its own cause because investors that have ongoing transactions, which have matured obligations and are waiting for remittances from abroad based on the N197 exchange of Naira to dollar, are the ones that were caught-up in the policy change, and of course, are expressing a very serious shock at the moment because
Once there is a slowdown in the economy, it affects virtually all sectors
transactions that have been concluded at N197, are now to be financed at N280/N285. So, that is a major dislocation for many of these enterprises. However, my appeal to the Central Bank is to see how this shock can be mitigated and not necessarily by giving them any subsidised exchange rate, but by seeing how refinancing and restructuring of those facilities can be put in place so that, those companies that are affected can have a better room to renegotiate their debts with the banks. Perhaps, giving them longer time to repay and also giving them a concessionary interest rate that is important to mitigate that shock that those companies have experienced should be considered. There has been a rise in job cut in the country, especially among conglomerates and manufacturing firms. Are government policies responsible for this? Again, the increase in job cut, lay-offs and others that are happening in the country are largely as a result of the general contradictions that we are witnessing in the economy nowadays. This is because once there is a slowdown in the economy, it affects virtually all sectors of the economy. You can see that profitability in the economy has declined marginally; capacity of many businesses to sustain their enterprises has also weakened; purchasing power has declined, cost of production has gone up and access to foreign exchange rate was also an issue at some point. All of these factors have led to the weakening of the production capacity of many industries to be able to retain jobs let alone create new jobs. Without any doubt, all these factors are responsible for the challenges of unemployment that we have been witnessing in Nigeria. However, it should be pointed out that
BUSINESS | Interview
MONDAY, july 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
needed to attract FDIs’
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CV The Institution: Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Founded:
1888
Birth place:
NIL
Asset: Billions Total pay:
NIL
Education:
Education: University of Ilorin, University of Lagos, Lagos Business School.
Career: Prestigious courses, conferences and seminars both locally and internationally, Delegate to the Commonwealth Business Forumin Doha and Malta; and delegate to the world chambers congress in Doha and Turin, Advanced Management Programme of the Lagos Business School. Training: Prestigious courses, conferences and seminars both locally and internationally, Delegate to the Commonwealth Business Forum in Doha and Malta; and delegate to the world chambers congress in Doha and Turin, Advanced Management Programme of the Lagos Business School.
Yusuf
the challenges are not as a result of government’s policies but it is more as a result of the general macro-economic situation that has been brought about by lots of external factors. Government policies, of course, may also have played some little impact, but the bigger issue here is that of the fundamental macro-economic factors. What is your reaction to the recent alarm raised by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on looming economic recession? Well, the position of the National Bureau of Statistics is correct because we are having a situation whereby productivity is declining; cost of production is going up and purchasing power is also declining, and in addition, we also had issue of states’ governors not being able to pay salaries of their workers for months. This also has adverse implication for aggregate demand in the country. All these factors led to a situation where we had contractions in the economy in the first quarter of this year. If we have continued contractions in the economy, of course, that will mean recession is in the pipeline. Having said this, I will say that the fear expressed by the NBS and CBN was real and if we don’t do anything urgently to reverse the fortunes of the country’s economy, we may actually end up in recession in the second half of this year. But the good news is that some of the policies being rolled out by the Federal Government seem to be addressing these issues in the country’s economy. The signing of the budget is likely to bring some liquidity into the economy. It is also likely to activate some aspect of economic activities in the country. The recent review of the foreign exchange policy is likely to impact the economy positively. The deregulation of the downstream sector is also expected to impact the economy positively. Hopefully, with all these, the looming recession may be avoided if all these positive policies come into place. So, this is my view on the looming recession in the country.
We need to remove monopoly, especially in the area of infrastructure such as roads, railways, airports
How can manufacturing sector attract more Foreign Direct Investment, having said to be the worst hit in the on-going economic woe in the country? Virtually all sectors of the economy are, in fact, affected by the current challenges in the economy and don’t forget that this economy is highly import-dependent across all sectors and to the extent that you have challenges with your exchange rate and revenue, there is no way it will not affect virtually all sectors of the economy. It is not just about manufacturing sector alone, but all sectors of the economy. Also, when we talk about FDI, we are looking at FDI coming in from virtually all sectors of the economy. What is important to attract FDI is to have policies that are stable, consistent and credible. It is important to have a foreign exchange market that is liquid, which is what has happened with the adoption of flexible foreign exchange rate policy in the country. This will help the inflow of FDI into the country and it is also to ensure that policies are right to encourage investments. We need to remove monopoly, especially in the area of infrastructure such as roads, railways, airports and all those areas in which the government is holding on to some infrastructure control. This is because government doesn’t have the finances to improve those infrastructures. Therefore, it is better to open up those sectors to private investors to come in and develop them just as something similar to what we have in the telecoms sector. We can have it in railways, airports, maritime and all sectors of the economy, but we need to come up with the appropriate policy framework to be able to attract investors to all these areas by way of FDI. What do you see happening with regards to the ban on importation of some 41 items by the apex bank in this era of flexible foreign exchange rate policy? Talking about the 41 items that have been prohibited from the foreign exchange market, I think we need to also segment those items. Some of those items are very important in pursuing growth for the manufacturing sector in which you don’t have sufficient adequate capacity domestically. My suggestion and recommendation is that, those items should be segmented in a way that we can identify those of them that are raw materials in which we don’t have sufficient production
capacity locally so that you can exempt those items from that list. I am not talking about tooth picks or other menial items, but I am talking about important input for the purpose of the manufacturing sector. Already, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has generated the list of 95 of those items that can be identified and removed from the list. It is very important for us to do so. And for some consumers’ items, the CBN can also look at them and see areas in which some augmentation could also be necessary. You know, this step is important so that, we can mitigate the hunger the populace is going through presently. We need to look at those staple items and see how their prices can be brought down. That is very important because, if you have a situation, where purchasing power is very low many people are out of jobs and the prices of foodstuffs are also going up, that is not good for social stability in any economy. It is important that government also look at the country’s import policy holistically. What are the impacts of the sudden scarcity of industrial gas, increase in price of automotive gas oil and premium motor spirit on production and capacity utilisation in the country? The scarcity of gas has really affected many manufacturers adversely. The impact has been very profound on their production. I think quiet a number of them have cut down on their production capacity and this has led to scarcity of some products in the market right now. This is something that the government needs to treat as an emergency and whatever needs to be done is done in earnest to ensure the restoration of gas supply to the manufacturing companies. It is a very important issue. Then, concerning AGO, the price has also gone up rapidly. My feeling is that this is arising as a result of the forex rate depreciation that has taken place in the economy but, I am hoping that, as the foreign exchange market stabilises, the price of AGO is likely going to drop because, globally, crude oil prices are dropping, but the challenge we have in Nigeria is that we are still heavily dependent on importation of fuel and you can see that the exchange rate situation has affected us as a country, but, as the situation stabilises at the foreign exchange market, I am hopeful that the situation with AGO and PMS will be improved. However, the issue of gas needs to be tackled as a matter of utmost urgency.
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BUSINESS | Capital Market
MONDAY, july 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at April 1, 2016
News|NATIONAL
monDAY, JULY 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
L-R: Best student of Nigeria Air Force Military School in Jos, Mr Abubakar Bala; Representative of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal, Augustine Jekennu and Commandant, Air Force Military School, Jos, Wing Commander, Samson Adelekun, during the 31st Passing Out Parade and Prize Giving Day ceremony of the Nigeria Air Force Military School in Jos…at the weekend. PHOTO: NAN
Sex scandal probe reopens Wednesday Philip Nyam Abuja
T
he investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against some members of the House of Representatives is due to continue on Wednesday after one week postponement. This is just as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, is expected to brief the investigation committee on his findings from the interaction with the US ambassador, Mr. James Entwistle. When the hearing opened last Thursday, the absence of the foreign af-
fairs minister and the US ambassador forced the committee to postpone the hearing till July 20. Onyeama had written to the committee of his inability to attend the hearing because of his participation in the 27th session of the ordinary sesion of the African Union in Kigali, Rwanda. Although, the accused members were all present and ready to testify, the committee had to shift the exercise. The members are Hon. Mohammed Garba Gololo (APC, Bauchi), Hon. Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa Ibom) and Hon. Mark Terseer Gbillah (APC, Benue). In an interview with New Telegraph, co-chairman of the probe panel,
EFCC betrayed me –Okupe
F
ormer Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to exPresident Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has expressed regret that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), allegedly made public information he provided in confidence. There had been reports credited to EFCC sources, that Okupe has a health challenge, which has made it difficult for the anti-graft agency to detain him over allegations that he allegedly obtained about N50 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). But, the former SSA, in a statement he personally signed yesterday, said it was unfortunate that a health condition he discussed in confidence with operatives of the Commission, was divulged to the public. Okupe, who admitted having a challenge, insisted that he has not soiled his reputation in the years he held public office. According to Okupe:”I
have been asked to explain only three issues so far: Why I received N50m from the office of the National Security Adviser at the onset of my appointment, and what I used the money for. “Why I was paid N10m monthly by the Office of the National Security Adviser, and why I received another sum of N50m from the NSA in October 2014.”
Hon. Ossai Nichols Ossai (PDP, Delta) explained the delay in the full take off of the investigation. He said: “I believe that the first postponement was predicated on the fact that some of our members travelled for the lesser Hajj. So, we could not form quorum to sit. “On Thursday, we started on a good note but unfortunately, the minister of foreign affairs travelled to Kigali, Rwanda and we could not continue with the investigation. He has written to us that he will be back by July 19th and we have fixed the next hearing for July 20 when he will be available” According to Ossai: “The House of Represen-
D
espite Nigeria’s infrastructural challenges, with 35 per cent return on investment, the country is still ranked fourth in the World, acting Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BOI), Mr. Waheed Olagunju, has disclosed. He said this at the weekend at a media parley organised by the bank in Lagos.
do our job and submit a report to the House. “That is why we are conducting this investigation in the public. We do not want to hide anything and we want members of the public to assess everything we are doing. If they bring any video, we will play it for everyone to see. We have nothing to hide”
146.49m
The total number of GSM subscribers of Nigeria as at June 2015. Source: Ncc.gov.ng
17.8×
The average PE ratio of the Nigerian Stock Exchange’s listed equities for Q4 2015. Source: Nigerian Stock Exchange
Army, Shiite clash: Arewa group faults Falana’s claim Yekeen Nurudeen, Abuja
T
he Arewa Hope Foundation has faulted what it described as an attempt by counsel to the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN ) also known as Shiite sect, Femi Falana, to cast aspersions on the composition and work of the Kaduna State Commission of Inquiry set up by the State Governor, Mallam Nasir elRufai to probe last year’s Army, Shiite Clash in the state. While reacting to a purported letter written by the human rights lawyer to Kaduna State Attorney General, the youths said Falana was only trying to pre-empt the final report of the committee which may have indicted the Shiite group. Addressing a press conference, President of the group, Comrade Muhammadu Ibrahim, wondered why Falana would be calling for the prosecution of soldiers involved in the clash when the report of the panel was yet to be released Ibrahim expressed concern that no one seems to be talking about justice for families of slain and injured personnel of the Nigerian Army.
Ngige, Ayorinde, three others want to stop NBA election Foluso Ogunmodede
A
fter days of disaffection and animosity among its members following complaints against the procedure being adopted for the 2016 biennial national elections, the centre may no longer hold for the lawyers’ umbrella body—the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). The complaints were at
Nigeria is fourth in return on investment, says BOI boss Olajide Fabamise
tatives is a responsible chamber and the committee is made up of people of integrity and we will not do anything to betray the trust of the Nigerian people we represent” On how the committee intends to conduct the investigation, Ossai assured Nigerians that, “we are not going to look at the technicalities. If we were to consider technicalities, we would not have even looked at the letter. But what we want is facts to prove the allegations. “The letter has already been written and the Speaker has acted on it appropriately. So, we will not go into that. We are only asking for credible evidence so that we can
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Themed “Sustaining Nigeria’s industrial sector growth through impactful partnership”, he said that the return on investment was much higher in Nigeria than other countries. He noted that return on investment should not be taken for granted. “We should try and derisk our environment, improve on climate and continue to take measures by increasing our ranking in doing business.”
the weekend shifted to an Abuja High Court as five Senior Advocates of Nigeria are poised to compel the Augustine Alegeh leadership of the association to rescind its position on universal adult suffrage by electronic voting adopted for the 2016 NBA elections. Already, an Abuja High Court will tomorrow decide on whether the association will go ahead with the 2016 national elections
of its new executive fixed for Saturday and Sunday July 30 and 31. The suit was initiated by one of the aggrieved members of the association and immediate past Assistant Publicity Secretary, Mr. John Unachukwu. Unachukwu is asking the court to stop the planned elections. Although the court has asked the aggrieved lawyer to put the association on
notice, the court will tomorrow determine whether the NBA would go ahead with the planned elections. Unachukwu has 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 adult suffrage by e-voting for the election.
Gbajabiamila: Review of expatriate quota won’t affect Nigerians Philip Nyam Abuja
L
eader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that the proposed amendment of the Immigration Act seeking a review of expatriate quota cannot have any negative effect against Nigerians in the Diaspora. Gbajabiamila, who is the sponsor of the bill made the clarification in a statement released in Abuja yesterday.
He denied that the Bill was discriminatory and isolationist and “our citizens abroad may suffer retaliatory laws based on reciprocity. “I do not see this as discriminatory or isolationist. Rather for me, it is protectionist. There is no responsible government that will sit with arms akimbo and watch foreign nationals come in and exploit its hospitality by taking away jobs that should ordinarily be available to the locals and citizens”
He argued that “it is the job of any government to protect its workforce. This situation is so extensive in Nigeria that it cuts across all categories of workers from skilled to unskilled. According to him, “From Phillipino nannies, artisans and tillers to pilots and mariners, to bank MDs and oil workers, most of our top hotels in Nigeria are managed by foreigners. Yet, we have Nigerians who are professionally qualified to do same.”
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News|south-WEST
monDAY, JULY 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
U.S., Lagos communities sign $2.5bn refinery agreement
A
n American investor, Trans Oil Energy incorporation and some communities in the Lagos, at the weekend signed a $2.5billion joint ownership agreement that would midwife a 100,000bpd petroleum refinery in the next
twelve months. The company, Union Trans Oil Refinery Limited will be sited in over 700 acres of land provided by the communities. The investor will not only pay for the land, it will also part with a sizable chunk of equity shares to
APC to conduct Ondo guber primaries August 27 Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja
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he All Progressives Congress (APC) has fixed August 27 for the party’s governorship primaries in Ondo state, just as it has released the full schedule of activities for the primaries. According to a statement from the APC Assistant Director of Publicity, Edegbe Odemwinge, the party’s National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso made the announcement. The Assistant Director quoted Izunaso as saying that the announcement was in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines and Party guidelines. According to the time-
table and schedule of activities, sale of forms will commence at the party’s National Secretariat between July 19 and August 5 while governorship nomination forms will be sold at N5 million as intending aspirants are expected to pay N500, 000 to pick expression of interest form. The forms are free for female aspirants. Also the statement stated that the last day for submission of completed forms is August 8 at the APC National Secretariat. Screening of aspirants will be conducted in Abuja between August 9 and 12, 2016 while election appeal committee will hold from August 29 to September 1. The Independent National Electoral Commission has slated the state governorship election for November.
LG funds: Group drags Aregbesola before UN, ECOWAS, others Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo
A
n Osun State based Civil Society Organization (CSO), the Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEOS) at the weekend, dragged Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola before the United Nations (UN), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), United Kingdom (UK) and the United State of America (USA) over an alleged act considered as anti-democratic. Also, it asked the United Nations and other International Communities to pre-
vail on President Muhammadu Buhari and other appropriate authorities to stop the monthly allocations to the Local Government areas of Osun State until Aregbesola restore democratic structure to the third tiers of government as contained in the amended 1999 Constitution and the United Nations Charter on democracy. The group in a statement by its Chairman, Comrade Alimi Sulaimon in Osogbo alleged that the governor had repealed democratic system in the third tier of government while embarking on illegal diversion of local government funds for selfaggrandisement.
give the communities a sense of belonging. Speaking during the short but impressive signing ceremony, the promoter and President of the refinery, Mr. Hicham Makkaoui said this move would end the perennial restiveness in oil regions. “The communities know that they stand to receive dividends yearly which we believe will be ploughed into community developments, so the sense of belonging has been provided,’’ Makkaoui said. Besides, Makkaoui said the fact that the communities’ representatives were also on board of the company would be an assurance that their views were taking into cognizance during decision making processes and employment. According to him, the company had received the approval of the United States Export Import bank for $500m equipment
T
he Lagos State Government yesterday announced the commencement of the State Digital Library project even as it promised to upgrade 21 secondary schools’ libraries across all the six educational districts in the state. Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh who disclosed this in a
statement, said the project would be executed by the government’s Private-Public-Partnership initiative tagged Adopt-A-Library. The Special Adviser said that the libraries would be upgraded this year, adding that the initiative was geared towards transforming the State public libraries into modern, ICT-enhanced knowledge centres. On the Digital Library, Bank-Olemoh who said the
£51,697
The daily salary of Yaya Gnegneri Toure of Manchester City in 2014/2015. Source: Paywizard.co.uk
had been resolved, “we can boldly say full operation will begin in 2018,” saying that the establishment of the refinery was in response to President Mohammamadu Buhari’s recent shuttle diplomacy to USA and the government’s deregulation of the oil sector, which had made investment in the sector attractive. He said: “It is actually in response to the deregulation of the oil sector which has just become encouraging for investors.” It is expected that this Oil &Gas refinery when completed will increase production of refined products locally and create employment for Nigerians.”
€40m
The estimated transfer value of Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal in 2016. Source: 101greatgoals.com
Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta
T
he Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) has said that the outcome of the forthcoming local government elections in Ogun State would shock the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The state UPN Chairman, Mrs Olufunmilayo Oginni made the declaration during a news conference held at the weekend at the party’s secretariat in Abeokuta. Oginni, who expressed the readiness of her party to participate in the council elections slated for October 8, said the UPN was determined to deepen its presence on the political turf of the state by recording electoral victory. She however warned the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) against compromising the electoral process in favour of the ruling party.
L-R: Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi; wife, Olori Wuraola and former Vice-President/ chieftain, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar, at the wedding reception of Demola Adesina and Temitope Olanipekun, daughter of Chief Wole Olanipekun, in Lagos …at the weekend.
Sacked Ogun commissioner dares govt, denies misconduct KunleOlayeni Abeokuta
S
acked commissioner in the Ogun State Civil Service Commission, Mr Ebenezer Oluwole Olubena, has faulted allegation of misconduct levelled against him by the Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led administration. Olubena, who was re-
Lagos to begin digital library project Muritala Ayinla
guaranty to commence operations on the oil refinery while Sterling Finance Canada has also structured $2b for the project. He said also that the company had secured the interest of foreign technical partners for the Projects such as S&B Infrastructure, a U.S. based American Engineering firm, in Houston Texas including a refinery licence from the federal government. While applauding the efforts of the federal government in deregulating the oil industry, Makkaoui pointed out that since the issue of funding, location of the company, operational licence and appointment of technical partners
Ogun LG elections’ll shock APC, says UPN
project was in line with the vision of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration, was aimed at providing unlimited access to knowledge for all through the collection and curation of digital content through an online portal. The portal, according to him, would be accessible via an internet connection on a range of devices including desktop computers to feature phones, saying
lieved of his appointment as Commissioner IV in the commission last week also raised the alarm over alleged threat to his life and that of his family members. In a statement issued, the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa had disclosed that Olubena was sacked “for misconduct and in accordance with the extant laws.” the content would include, among others; E-books on numerous topics, 1,600 videos covering English, Mathematics & Sciences for all classes, 2,000 Study Aids in Key Subject areas for Secondary School subjects, quality research papers from Lagos State Tertiary institutions covering a wide variety of topics to be digitised for the platform, vocational training videos, Creatively presented history lessons as well as online course on coding.
Adeoluwa also directed the former appointee to hand over all governmentproperty and documents in his possession to the Permanent Secretary at the commission immediately. But in a statement he personally signed and made available to reporters in Abeokuta yesterday,Olubena denied any misconduct in the discharge of his duty since he assumed the position almost five years ago. The embattled former commissioner said though he was not contesting the fact that an employer has the right to sack his employee anytime he pleases, the use of “misconduct” has to be explained by the government to the public. He said: “To clear all doubt, I conceive it a duty to put the entire public in the know that before the publication of the news of my sack for ‘misconduct,’ I have never received any query or invitation to appear before any
panel of enquiry to present my case as provided by the rules of natural justice and I still remain in the dark as to what I have done in my official capacity that constitutes a misconduct. “I have not at any time abused my oath of office, used my office for personal gratification, show dishonesty in the position I occupy nor received any query from any quarters in respect of the office I occupy.” Olubena said Amosun must have been misinformed to have conceded to the termination of his appointment, adding that the governor “in his usual painstaking and fair manner will find out about my unfavourable condition and the way I was treated shabbily.” The former commissioner claimed that agents allegedly sponsored have been threatening his life and that of his family members, following “misconception” about his person.
News|South-EAST
monDAY, JULY 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
Leadership crisis rocks Umahi’s pastors Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI
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he peace that has existed among over 500 clerics in Ebonyi State, under the aegis of Divine Mandate Pastors (DMP), was yesterday threatened by leadership crisis. But for the intervention of the Senior Special Adviser to Governor David Umahi on Religion and Welfare Matters, Rev. Fr. Abraham Nwali, there would have been breakdown of law and order at Pastoral Centre of the Catholic Diocese, Mile 50, Abakaliki. The clerics had met and announced the removal of their Director, Evangelist Ephraim Ononye and replaced him with Pastor Ifeanyi Igwe. Ononye was accused of general misconduct, arrogance, autocratic, and hostile behaviour among
Doctors should be punished for medical lapses, says consultant
others by the Divine Mandate Pastors who were instituted by Governor Umahi during the electioneering campaign, and who worked for the success of the Governor during the election. In a resolution signed by some coordinators in the 13 local government areas of the State, the Divine Mandate Pastors further accused Ononye of not calling for meetings since the 2015 general election. But in a reaction, some of the Pastors, including Rev. Ukoma Nnachi (Afikpo South), Ogbonnaya Inya (Afikpo North), Agwu Lawrence (Ivo), Okike Lawrence (Ohaozara) and Alloy Ogah (Ikwo), maintained that Ephraim Ononye remains their leader and cannot be removed by anyone except Governor Umahi who made him their leader. According to them, “Some disgruntled elements cannot impeach our leader Oonoye because they don’t have the locus standi to do that.”
IPOB condemns killing of Christians, attacks by herdsmen
2019: Nigerians must change the change
Charles Onyekwere
Uchenna Inya
ENUGU
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he Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has condemned the incessant killing of Christians in the northern Nigeria and the attack by fulani herdsmen disguised as cattle rearers on people in every State of the federation. IPOB, in a statement by its spokesman, Emma Powerful and made available to newsmen, condemned the killing of Christians in the North as well as the amalgamation of Southern and Northern protectorates in 1914, which they believe was the bane of woes in Nigeria. According to the statement, not only that the amalgamation was evil, it was also the worst mistake that ever happened in Africa. The statement reads:
“The most despicable moral crime in world’s history was committed when Lord Lugard and his fellow British thugs decided to join the Southern and Northern protectorates together as one country. “The 1914 amalgamation remains one of the worst mistakes in world history. We pray for those responsible to rot in hell, except we did by lying to ourselves, the biblical hell is too good a place for those soulless beasts. “Why should we co-exist with people who behead and slit other people’s throat in defense of a God who is supposedly omnipotent? “Why should we be in the same country with a president who places so much value on cow and none on human life? “Why the hell should we share the same country with some bunch of blood-thirsty 16th century brained-barbarians who
kill for the flimsiest of excuses? “What in devil’s name are we doing together with people who find nothing wrong in abducting and forcefully having sex with little girls as young as seven, eight, nine years of age? “Isn’t it very obvious..... too obvious, even...that we are not one, never have been one and never can be one? Is this even debatable? You cannot mix oil and water together. You just can’t!” According to the statement, bringing Southerners and Northerners together to live as one country “is as wicked as bringing a herbivorous animal and a carnivorous one together under one roof. The carnivore will always feed on the herbivore. An average Northern muslim is like a carnivorous animal. His urge to kill at the slightest provocation is as irresistible as the vampire’s thirst for blood. And we are not exaggerating.
Steve Uzoechi OWERRI
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ases of negligence and other medical lapses caused by doctors and other healthcare providers resulting in avoidable deaths or permanent injuries have been described as actionable offences by a London-based consultant physician on Family Health, Dr. Chukwudi Ukpaka. Ukpaka, the founder of Crystalife Care, a health-based Non-Governmental Organisation which trains healthcare providers and engages in medical outreaches to communities, called for strict sanctions against erring health practitioners to serve as deterrent to others. He argued that lapses, negligence and other unethical medical practices leading to avoidable deaths or deformities negate the dictates of clinical governance which encourages professionalism among health professionals and further mandates them to do the right thing when taking care of their patients, and be prepared to take responsibility of the consequences of any of their actions posing any health risk. While hinting that the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole will on tomorrow, preside over the Clinical Governance Summit in Abuja, Dr. Ukpaka regretted that in many cases it seemed, ‘Patients pay to be killed through misdiagnosis, wrong medications and other careless mistakes during treatment.’
Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (right), with one of the survivors of Aokland Recreational Centre Accident, Little Peculiar Godwin, when the governor visited Niger Foundation Specialist Hospital where Peculiar is receiving treatment, at Independence Layout, Enugu…at the weekend.
OWERRI
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mmediate past Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha has joined the growing number of Imo leaders to voice their misgivings over the ongoing massive demolition of structures, businesses and buildings across Owerri metropolis in what Governor Rochas Okorocha described as ‘urban renewal through expansion of internal roads’. Ihedioha noted that as good as the project was, the timing was wrong and that the roads and streets going under the
ABAKALIKI
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senator representing Ebonyi Central in the National Assembly, Chief Obinna Ogba at the weekend said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) must be voted out in 2019. Speaking to journalists at the Women Development Centre (WDC), Abakaliki, Ogba, who is the Chairman Senate Committee on Sports, accused APC of not having any plan for human development, and attributed the hardship facing the country to the APC’s failure to bring in the much touted change which it promised the people. He maintained that APC had grown flaccid and that it will be voted out in 2019 by the electorate who are already prepared. “We need to change the change and PDP is the only answer. You can see that the government of Ebonyi State is PDP and is doing very well but at the national level, nothing is happening. “There is no gainsaying that APC as a party has failed and the only option for Nigeria in 2019 is PDP,” Chairman Senate Committee on Sports said.
0.7%
The percentage share of Beverages & Tobacco of Nigeria’s import trade in 2014. Source: National Bureau of Statistics
7
The total number of goals conceded by Spain at Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Fifa.com
Demolition: Ihedioha tasks Okorocha on due process Steve Uzoechi
39
bulldozer were mostly the few passable roads. In a statement signed by his spokesman, Mr. Chibuike Onyeukwu and made available to newsmen in Owerri, Ihedioha said “one had expected the government, given the present paucity of funds in the state and those accruing to it, to place its priorities right by completing the projects it flagged off since 2011 which have become death traps and some impassable roads begging for attention across the Owerri capital city before initiating this demolition campaign. The plight of the owners of the demolished buildings and businesses should also
be of great concern to the government.” Ihedioha therefore urged the governor to give the ongoing exercise a human face by ensuring that adequate palliatives and compensation were provided for those directly affected by the ongoing demolition exercise, noting that “this is even more compelling as we were in a democratic government.” He urged Governor Okorocha, having already commenced the exercise, to go about the demolition in accordance with due process and respect for the fundamental rights of citizens as guaranteed by the country’s Constitution.
Assembly to contractors: You must account for funds on projects Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI
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bonyi State House of Assembly has insisted that the contractors summoned to appear before the House Committee investigating ongoing projects in the State must account for the funds released to them by the government for projects executed. The Chairman Adhoc Committee of the Assembly investigating the contractors, Hon. Chike Ogiji stated this yesterday while reacting to the inability of the contractors to vividly explain some issues relating to their contracts and refusal by some of them to honour
the summon. He therefore gave July 21 as final deadline for any contractor who had refused to appear before the committee to do so or face arrest. He said a situation where the Chief Executives of the contractors refused to appear before the committee was unacceptable. He noted that the insistence of the Committee on the contractors to appear before the Committee became necessary as the Assembly will do everything within its powers to compel the contractors to respect and obey the rule of law and account for their stewardship to the State during the time of their enlistment.
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NEWS | south-south
monday, july 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
PDP to Buhari: Ensure level playing field in Edo election Onyekachi Eze and Cajetan Mmuta
T
he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to allow a level playing ground in the September 10 governorship election in Edo State.
The party in a statement on Sunday by spokesman of the National Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye also called on the people of Edo State to vote for PDP candidate as the party had shown that it was better prepared to deliver democracy dividends to the people. The statement described the flag-off cam-
paign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate as a charade and empty promises that had become the trademark of the party at the federal and in the states under its control. It reads: "Nigerians now know better and the people of Edo State have also tasted the difference between the government of the Peoples Democrat-
ic Party (PDP) and that of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and will decide on Saturday 10th September, 2016 who will govern them. "We have seen it before and we are seeing it again with the usual empty promises of the APC. They will promise everything to deceive the people and will go 360 degrees denouncing
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he Federal Government said it was determined to restore confidence of millions of Nigerians in the nation’s healthcare delivery system by revamping over ten thousand primary health care centers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, in order to meet the challenges of people’s demand in the rural areas. Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire stated this at the weekend in Benin, the Edo state capital while speaking during the unveiling of the maiden edition of the Edo State branch of the Nige-
BENIN
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rian Medical Association (NMA) journal entitled," Annals of medical and surgical practice." He said the essence of providing 10,000 PHC centers in all the 36 states of the federation was to ensure provision of quality health service delivery. Ehanire also lamented the incessant strike action in the country’s health sector and observed that the role of the medical practitioners cannot be over emphasized. He stressed the need for unfettered commitment of medical professionals, staff and management towards improved, effective and efficient healthcare delivery in the country. According to him, each state in the country was
expected to get the sum of $1.5 million to drive the revitalization of the PHC projects adding that a total of $500 million has been borrowed by the federal government to boost healthcare system delivery so far in the country. He said: "There must be enough commitment to develop the health sector. All the problems about utility are largely to an extent due to management challenges. A hospital is not run only by doctors. It is also run by Nurses, other health professionals group, auxiliary professions and also by managers, people who are not even Medical doctors at all such as the management engineers to
keep things going. We need improvement in all these sectors to be able to rival those countries where our people go to for medical treatment.” He deplored the increase in medical tourism by most Nigerians, stressing that as critical as the health sector remains, industrial disharmony and unhealthy rivalry among healthcare professionals were inimical to growth and development of the sector. Ehanire said "too much strike in the health sector has compelled patients to seek for alternative medical care in foreign countries,” pledging government’s commitment to avert issues of strike by the NMA.
PDP candidate, Ize-Iyamu, lauds Delta community denies link with INEC, judiciary’s impartiality Cajetan Mmuta Niger Delta Avengers Ola James Warri
F
ollowing threats by a self-styled militant leader on the life of President Mohammadu Buhari and others, the people of Orogun community in Ughelli North Local Government area of Delta State have denied the existence of militants in the community. They said that none of its indigenes belonged to the Niger Delta Avengers or any other militant groups. President General of
1.2%
The percentage share of Oils, fats & Waxes of Nigeria’s import trade in 2014. Source: National Bureau of Statistics
Cajetan Mmuta
FG earmarks $500m to boost PHC delivery system BENIN
heavy tax without tangible projects in the state." The party called on the people of Edo State to protect their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) and come out en-mass on the day of the election to vote for its flag-bearer, Pastor OsagieIze-Iyamu.
Union members blame Oshiomhole for poor varsity takeoff
L-R: Groom, Mr. Nduese Ebong; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel and Bride, Miss Rebecca Okpoho, during the traditional marriage of Ebong and Okpoho, in Ikot Akpaden, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State …at the weekend
Cajetan Mmuta
all their promises once they grab power.” It re-iterated the fact that PDP is on a rescuemission in Edo State "to redeem the people from the 'go-and-die' government of the APC that has no regard for the ordinary people except to impose
Orogun community, Chief Josiah Ntekume, said at the weekend that a militant who claimed to hail from the community never existed in their area. A self-styled militant leader, who identified himself simply as Ogheneghochuko, had in a video that had gone viral on social media on July 7, threatened to kill President Muhammadu Buhari, his family and Governors of the South East region if detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOD), Nnamdi Kanu was not released before the end of July.
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andidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the September 10 governorship election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu said yesterday that with INEC acceptance of his candidacy and court ruling in favour of the national chairman Senator Ahmed Markafiled committee of the party, all distractions had been cleared and he was more focused on campaigning for the contest. He said the gesture had further demonstrated the impartiality of the electoral umpire and the nation’s ju-
diciary just as 28 traditional rulers drawn from Edo Central senatorial district (Esan) at the weekend, in Uromi adopted Ize-Iyamu’s candidacy as they asked their subjects to cast their vote in the forthcoming election. Speaking in an interview with New Telegraph in Benin the state capital, Ize-Iyamu declared that despite the confusion that hit the party during the governorship primaries, the doors of the party had been thrown open while the campaign organization and leadership were reaching out to all members towards fortifying the fold ahead of the battle for Osadebay Avenue Government House.
ncertainty looms in the education sector in Edo state as workers of the newly upgraded Tayo Akpata College of Education University, Ekiadolor, yesterday declared war against the state Governor, Adams Oshiomhole over the poor process of take-off of the institution. The workers who decried what they tagged as high level of neglect and rot of infrastructure meant for the smooth take-off of the university, vowed to proceed on protest to the new Edo university, Iyahmo, in Etsako West council area of the state to prove their grievances over alleged marginalization, abandonment and insensitivity by the state government. Chairman of the college of education academic staff union (COEASU) which should have by now been members of the Academic Staff Union of University, Ekiadolor campus, Comrade Fred Omonuwa noted that there is confusion presently created within the institution as “there is nothing to show that Tayo Akpata Univer-
sity has come to stay.” Omonuwa said the new university, the staff and management as well as the entire environment had identity problem “as to whether the members of staff of the institution are that of a university or still the old College of Education. According to him, “we may be forced to move to Iyamho to protest at the gate of Edo University. As we speak now, we can’t admit new students as College of Education nor as Tayo Akpata University. There is a stalemate presently at Tayo Akpata University over identity question and paucity of fund to the university. He said: “All the hue and cry about Tayo Akpata University is for political reasons and from all indications the law from the Edo state House of Assembly has repelled the College of Education, Ekiadolor, but the worst of all is that there is no money as subvention to the new university. We don’t have license to operate; we are not receiving salary and to even talk of clearing overgrown grasses is a problem. We have an identity problem whether we are staff of College of Education, Ekiadolor or Tayo Akpata University.”
Navy tasks personnel on security challenge
Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt
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he Nigeria Navy has urged its personnel to be disciplined and committed to duty so that they will be at their very best when deployed for internal security operations. Commodore Kennedy Egbuchulam, the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, who gave the charge while addressing troops at the end
of Navy’s second route march, noted that unfit personnel will find it very difficult to carry out their responsibilities. He said: "One of the reasons why the route march is organised is to keep us (personnel) physically fit to accomplish task assigned to us. "The exercise also enables us to demonstrate force – such that when residents see us marching through the streets, they get some sense of reassurance that they are safe.''
north | news
monday, july 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
Kebbi NTI matriculates 1,113 students Abubakar Abdul Birnin Kebbi
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he National Teacher's Institute (NTI), Kebbi State study center, has matriculated 1,113, newly admitted students to various courses and programmes in 2016 Delivering his speech at the ceremony which took place at the Waziri Umar Federal Polytechnic Hall, Birnin Kebbi, the Director General and Chief Executive of the Institution, Dr. Aminu Ladan Sharehu, said a total of 40,736 students had so far been admitted in this academic year across the country. The DG who was represented by the Deputy Director Programme and design in the institution, Dr. Ibrhaim Bala, explained further that the admission programmes which included PGDE, NCE and Bachelor's Degree into the institution was aimed at strengthening education system in the country. "NTI is a recognized institution across the world, we used to have more lager number than the conventional university" he said. In his remarks, the state Co-ordinator of the programme, Mallam Salima Maiwada, urged the newly matriculated students to take their studies very serious.
Zacchaeus Ozovehe Lokoja
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he Kogi State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), suffered a major loss over the weekend as the State Organising Secretary, Mr. Peter Salihu and hundreds of others across the state defected to All Progressives Congress (APC). Abejukolo, the head quarters of the Local Government Area, which is
Obasanjo condoles with Shagari, Sultan over Shinkafi's death Umar Abdullahi Sokoto
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ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo has described the late Umaru Shinkafi as a committed nationalist who worked tirelessly for the unity and development of the country. He made this remark yesterday when he paid a condolence visit to the deceased family and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Saad Abubakar 111 . Obasanjo said Shinkafi's death, and that
Ilorin
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he Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Works and Housing, Alhaji Abubakar Kannike, has said that the call for the extension of immunity clause to the principal officers of the National Assembly is in the best interest of the country. Kannike, a former Kwara State Commissioner for works and transport, in a chat with newsmen in Ilorin said the National Assembly is actually being proactive by the proposal. The lawmaker, who
gesture of friendship, adding that Shinkafi lived a worthy life of service to his country. Obasanjo equally paid a visit to former President Shehu Shagari and prayed to God to grant him good health.
2
The total number of goals scored by Russia at Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Fifa.com
€39.7m
The estimated transfer value of Ross Barkley of Everton in 2016. Source: 101greatgoals.com
Poverty reduction: Kano Govt shares N2bn to 20,000 people
Muhammad Kabir Kano
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ano State Commissioner for Finance, Professor Kabiru Isah Dandago, has disclosed that the State Government has secured the sum of N2billion from the micro finance funds of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The fund, according to him, will be shared among some selected micro businesses associations in order to tackle the rising wave of poverty in the state. Each of this business entity is expected to receive the sum of N50,000. Speaking at a poverty
Reverend Father Christian Levi Achinivu (a.k.a. Fada Paiko) (right) receiving the 2016 Award of Ambassador for Peace from the Secretary General, Universal Peace Foundation, Dr. Raphael Ogar Oko in Minna...yesterday. PHOTO: DAN ATORI
Mass defection hits Kogi PDP
also the home of the former Governor of the State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, was agog as several supporters of PDP formally announced their exit from their former party, PDP to the APC Salihu said they decided to embrace the APC because of the selfless and leadership qualities that has so far been displayed by Governor Yahaya Bello. He pledged his support
Rep defends immunity for NASS principal officers Biodun Oyeleye
of Maiduguri-based elder statesman, Shettima Ali Monguno, have robbed the country of honest voices who still had a lot to offer the nation. He said, “even though we cannot question the work of God, present leaders should emulate both Shinkafi and Monguno in their dealings with other Nigerians”. Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, in his speech, thanked Obasanjo for the visit and prayed to God to reward him accordingly. On his part, Sultan Muhammad Sa'ad commended Obasanjo for his
is representing Ilorin South/East Federal Constituency said those attributing the move to the current travails of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, are mischief makers. He said, “Talking frankly on this, we have two divided opinions on the issue of bill on immunity, but as they say if a bird learns to fly without perching, the hunter must learn to shoot without missing. Before now, nobody talked about immunity for the legislature. But can you imagine a situation now when we have the President and the Deputy President of the Senate under trial”.
and that of his followers to the new direction agenda of Bello. He said: "As a long standing politician who understands the tricks of politics in state, I have decided to shift grounds by joining APC after critical analysis of the political terrain of state, knowing full well that it's either you are in APC or you are out, either you are for President Muhammadu Buhari, or you are sorry,
either you are for Yahaya Bello or you are for nobody, or you are on your own". Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Honourable Akor Adadu, at the occasion, thanked the people for coming out in enmass to pledge their support for the new direction agenda of Alhaji Yahaya Bello. He called for continuous support for the divine mandate. He added that
Bindow flags-off N3.2bn Kiri-Shelleng road project
Ibrahim Abdul Yola
G
ov Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa state has flagged off the construction of 37kilometre Kiri-Shelleng road project abandoned for the past 40 years. Speaking at the flagging-off ceremony over the weekend in Kiri village, Gov. Bindow said that the measure was historic in view of the various failed attempts made by past administrations to make the construction of the important road a reality. He said, "It is on record that the first attempt at con-
structing a road to Shelleng when it was under Guyuk Local Government Area in 1996 actually started during the civilian administration of Governor Abubakar Barde of blessed memory. "Indeed, Gen. Abdullahi Shelleng of blessed memory also made attempt, Governor Boni Haruna also made attempt without success as well as Governor Murtala Nyako. "In fact, the drama of the construction of this important road resulted in catastrophic consequences leading to the accusation that politics of the construction of Kiri-Shelleng road is nothing but a conduit pipe of siphoning government funds or resources." Jibrilla said.
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"the ongoing staff verification by the governor was not intended to victimize anybody or to reap any civil servants of their jobs but aimed at sanitizing the system, stressing that at the end of the exercise, the state would be better for it, as so many civil servants have started testifying already. Earlier, former Nigeria Ambassador to Botswana, Ambassador Isaac Onuh, urged the people not to attempt to change divine creation.
reduction support program, organized by an Osun State Indigene and Kano based Youth Corper, Duduyemi Oladayo, in collaboration with Wisdom Foundation, the Commissioner said the initiative was that of the State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who is worried by the level of poverty among his people. He said the money will be given to Kano indigenes while about 53 percents of women entrepreneurs will also benefit from it owing to their vulnerability to poverty and other livelihood challenges. The Commissioner was of the opinion that the strategy is aimed at ensuring that in the coming months and years, poverty line among Kano people, more specifically women will be greatly reduced if not eradicated, while businesses will also grow. He revealed that the State Government has already spent about N700million days before the last fasting period with over 3000 people benefitting in the state wide poverty reduction and business growth programs that was conducted at the Government house. The Commissioner commended the efforts of the Corper at organizing the program saying his action is a great challenge to other well-meaning individuals in Kano. The Corper, Duduyemi Oladayo, in a chat with New Telegraph, said he put the program together as a way of showing his concern for numerous Kano indigenes who lives in abject poverty. Representative of Wisdom Foundation, Mrs. Omolade Eruotor, said her organsation had spent about N4million in providing general medical services and free drugs to the less priviledge.
Sultan, others to attend workshop on Islam
Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin
T
he President-General, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria(NSCIA) and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Saad Abubakar 111 will on Friday declare open a three-day national conference on propagation of Islam in the North Central States. The event is being organised by the Da’wah Co-ordination Council of Nigeria (DCCN). The chairman, Central Working Committee of DCCN, Justice Idris Abdullahi Haroon said
the conference would hold in Ilorin at the Kwara state Banquet Hall, between Thursday and Saturday. He said the Sultan will declare the conference open while Governor of Kwara state, Alhaji AbdulFatah Ahmed is expected to be the Special Guest of Honour. Justice Haroon further disclosed that the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari will be the royal host while other eminent personalities expected at the event from all parts of the country include muslim traditional rulers, islamic scholars and preachers.
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WORLD \ NEWS
MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
Again, gunmen kill three American police officers
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n a city already tense following a high-profile police shooting of an African-American man, three Baton Rouge police officers were yesterday killed and three others wounded. Officials think the attack on the officers is the work of multiple gunmen. Police received a call of a “suspicious person walking down with an assault rifle,” a source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN.
When police arrived, the shooting began. One of the suspects is dead. Authorities believe two others may be at large. “If they are wearing army fatigues; if they are wearing all black; if they are wearing a mask; if they are wearing anything that’s out there, please, give us a call,” said Baton Rouge Police Cpl. L.J. McKneely. The shooting took place around 9 a.m. (10 a.m. ET)
in the city of about 230,000 people. “There was no talking, just shooting,” McKneely said. By noon, authorities had secured the scene and were making sure there weren’t any explosives left behind. “After that, we’re going to gather as much information as we can and work this case as best as we can to find all individuals that were involved in this,” McKneely said. “Somebody might have seen
something suspicious; may know of guys plotting to do this. That’s why we’re reaching out to the community.” Since the shooting death of Alton Sterling by Baton Rouge police earlier this month, the department has worried about credible threats against officers. It’s been an emotionally charged few days across the country because of the protests stemming from the Alton Sterling shooting, and the ambush
on Dallas police officers where a sniper killed five officers. “This is an unspeakable and unjustified attack on all of us at a time when we need unity and healing,” Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said. Kip Holden, the mayor-president of East Baton Rouge Parish, said “everything is moving fast.” “There is still an active scene. They are investigating,” he said. “Right now we are trying to get our arms around everything.”
AU to vote on peacekeeping mission to Burundi
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urundi said it has the backing of other nations in refusing to accept an African Union (AU) peacekeeping force as leaders from across the continent met ahead of an unprecedented vote on the potential deployment of 5,000 troops to the crisis-hit country. Talks at the AU Peace and Security Council in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, attended by presidents and foreign ministers as well as UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon, stretched late into Friday night in a bid to narrow positions before the opening of a summit on Saturday. AU Peace and Security Council chief Smail Chergui said “the stakes are indeed high”,
but Burundi remained defiant in its opposition to a mission it describes as an “invasion force”. Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza is not attending the talks, but foreign minister Alain Aime Nyamitwe insisted he had the support of other nations in opposing such a deployment. When asked whether he had the backing, Nyamitwe replied with an emphatic: “Yes, very strong, you will see”, according to a report by the AFP news agency. Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi, reporting from Addis Ababa, said that many people there believed that “African leaders will be reluctant to endorse such a move because Burundi is a sovereign country.
Brother confesses killing celebrity sister in Pakistan
T
he brother of Pakistani social media star Qandeel Baloch has been arrested for her murder, confessing he strangled her for “honour”. Waseem Azeem was arrested in Dera Ghazi Khan in central Pakistan, having earlier fled the family home and murder scene, late on Saturday. “Yes, of course I strangled her,” he told journalists in a press conference arranged by the police early on Sunday. “I have no regrets.” He said that he acted alone and was “not embarrassed at all” because his sister’s behaviour “was completely intolerable”.
“She was on the ground floor while our parents were asleep on the roof top,” he said. “It was around 10.45 pm when I gave her a tablet ... and then killed her.” Azhar Ikram, the police chief in Multan, where Baloch was killed, said: “Wasim confessed to his crime, saying he killed his sister for honour after her recent objectionable videos, mostly posted on Facebook.” Baloch, whose real name was Fauzia Azeem, rose to fame for her provocative social media posts that saw her praised by some for breaking social taboos but condemned by conservatives.
More suspects linked to Nice attack detained in France
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he French police detained three more people in Nice yesterday in connection with the probe into the Bastille day attack that killed at least 84 people when a truck rammed into crowds in the Riviera city, police sources said. Two men and a woman were taken in for questioning, according to an official with the Paris prosecutor’s office, which oversees national terrorism investigations, but the official provided no details on their identities. Seven people linked to the attacker are now being held by the police in total, according to
AFP. The driver Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel’s estranged wife, who had also been taken in for questioning, has however now been released. “No charges have been brought against her,” a source close to the investigation said. Investigators continue to hunt for possible accomplices to the 31-year-old truck driver Bouhlel, a Tunisian who had lived in Nice for years. He was killed by police after ramming his truck through crowds on Nice’s famed Promenade des Anglais seafront after a holiday fireworks display on Thursday night.
Armed police several blocks away from the scene of attack
6,000 detained over Turkey’s failed coup
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t least 6,000 people have been detained in Turkey in relation to a failed coup, with more detentions expected, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on national television. “The judicial process on this will continue,” Bozdag said on Sunday, shortly before clashes between security forces and coup plotters broke out in areas across the country. Turkish security forces clashed with coup plotters at Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Istanbul on Sunday evening, and at an air base in central Turkey. Security forces fired warning shots near Istanbul’s second airport on the Asian side of the
city but coup plotters did not return fire, a Turkish official told Reuters, adding that arrests were being made. There were also clashes at an air base in Konya in central Turkey, the official said, adding that “the situation is under control”. Among those arrested is General Bekir Ercan Van, commander of the Incirlik air base from which US aircraft launch airstrikes on Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant militants in Syria and Iraq (ISIL, also known as ISIS), an official told Reuters. The chief military assistant to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Ali Yazici, was also detained on Sunday, according to broad-
caster CNN Turk. News of the arrests came after Erdogan accused an exiled businessman and cleric, Fethullah Gulen, of orchestrating the violence and demanded the US extradite him. Gulen, though, denies any involvement and has publicly condemned the events of Friday and Saturday. Erdogan calls on US to extradite cleric Gulen Al Jazeera’s Rosiland Jordan, reporting from Washington DC, said: “US Secretary of State John Kerry is now saying the US had neither knowledge nor assisted in the coup attempt. The US understands Erdogan is suspicious of Gulen.
South Sudan conflict tops African summit agenda
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enewed fighting in South Sudan that has killed more than 300 people is set to dominate an African Union summit that starts in the Rwandan capital Kigali on Sunday. A shaky ceasefire has held since late on Monday after fighting raged for four days in the South Sudanese capital Juba, forcing 40,000 people to flee their homes. The violence echoed fighting that triggered the civil war and marks a fresh blow to last year’s deal to end a bitter conflict that began when President Salva Kiir accused ex-rebel and now Vice President Riek Machar of plotting a coup. The unrest has also plunged into doubt a peace deal signed in August 2015. Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi,
reporting from Juba, said the ceasefire appeared to be holding but that there was a sense of uncertainty in the city. Locals, she said, were wondering about the whereabouts of Machar, who has been in hiding. “What is certain is that he has not left the country,” Soi said. “But he says he still feels his life is in danger and until his safety is guaranteed he will not come out.” Speaking to regional grouping IGAD in Kigali on Saturday, UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon said a “critical stage” in the South Sudan crisis had been reached. “Now is the time to send a strong message to the South Sudanese leadership,” he said. “The people of South Sudan have been let down by their own
leadership. Their hopes and dreams have been tarnished at the expense of warring parties enriching and empowering themselves. We cannot and will not tolerate this.” The AU will also seek to hammer out a solution to a crisis engulfing Burundi where a spate of killings have rocked the country since President Pierre Nkurunziza’s announced he would seek a third term. Also on the crowded agenda will be the ongoing fight against the Boko Haram armed group that has its roots in northern Nigeria but has carried out attacks across the Lake Chad region. Recent violent incidents in the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo are also expected to feature in the talks.
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MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
Sport
Sport News
Did you know? That In 2014, Ronaldo became the first ever player to score in every minute of a football game – scoring the most goals in the 45th and 90th minutes.
Funds threaten Keshi’s burial plans
International Henry: I still want to be Arsenal's manager
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THE CHOSEN ONE
Paul Le Guen NFF set to confirm Frenchman as Salisu waits
Adekunle Salami
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arring any hitch, the Nigeria Football Federation is expected to confirm 52-year-old Frenchman Paul Le Guen as the new coach of the Super Eagles today. Le Guen is one of the three shortlisted by the technical committee of the federation on July 8. Other candidates are Nigerian Salisu Yusuf (54) and Belgian Tom Saintfiet (43). Saintfiet was in the running until last week when he was linked with the national team job of Bangladesh. He initially denied this but at the weekend, he confirmed that he had taken up the Bangladesh job because there was no information to him about the interview after he was shortlisted by Nigeria. Salisu, who handled the team in interim capacity to record two wins against Mali and Luxemburg in recent international friendly games, stands no chance because the NFF has decided to engage a foreign coach to boost the chances of Nigeria in winning a ticket to the Russia 2018 World Cup. “Salisu’s issue now is on the
Le Guen
decision of whether he will emerge the Nigerian assistant or not. That is the main agenda. The coach has been decided but the team to work with him will be confirmed by Monday,” our source noted. On Sunday, Chairman of the technical committes, Chris Green, told thenff.com: “We have concluded arrangements for the interview process to take place at the NFF secretariat on Monday and thereafter, we will forward the name of the successful candidate to the NFF board, which will deliberate on
Salisu
it and thereafter make its decision public.” Green added that the committee will only settle for the candidate they see as most qualified and capable of qualifying the Super Eagles for the World Cup finals. Authoritative sources told New Telegraph that the activities of the technical committee members and the NFF board would only be a formality on Monday as Le Guen is the ‘CHOSEN One.’ The choice of Le Guen according to sources was due to his knowledge of all the three countries in Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying group; Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia. Le Guen, 52, played for Brest, Nantes and Paris Saint Germain and won 17 caps for France, before coaching Rennes, Lyon, PSG (in France) and Glasgow Rangers (in Scotland). He qualified the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals and also coached Oman. As coach of Cameroun, he played against Zambia and as the coach of Oman, he also filed out his team against Algeria.
Dudu-Orumen: Nigeria should pull out of Olympics Charles Ogundiya
Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor
Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor
Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent
Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent
© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited
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former member of the technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, Godwin Dudu-Orumen, has advised that the country should honourably pull out of the forthcoming Olympic Games to avoid embarrassment. Orumen said that with the situation on ground, it would amount to wasting of resources by sending athletes to Rio. He believes that the competition will be worse than the country's Lon-
don 2012 edition where Team Nigeria failed to win any medal. "At least we were able to get to finals in some events in 2012," he said. "But with lack of any meaningful preparation, it might be difficult for any of the athletes to get to the final of their events not to talk of winning medal. "When I look at someone like Segun Toriola going for his seventh Games, I realised we are not a serious country because we never prepare for the future. "All other serious countries have been preparing
for the Olympic Games since the last edition and here we are yet to start anything with less than three weeks to go." Speaking further, he said the country’s biggest asset in athletics, Blessing Okagbare's best this year was 11.02secs which she recorded during the last trials in Sapele, Delta State, a distance he believes cannot even take her near the medals range. He however advised that the athletes should be sent back home with some form of compensations while preparations for the next games should start immediately. Dudu-Orumen said: "My advice now is that the minis-
try should use the funds released for this competition to start preparation for the next one in four years time. "All the athletes that are still very young should be given grants to start intensive preparations, periodic competitions and camping should be arranged for them. "We must start to count our losses and also learn from our past mistakes that put us in this type of mess in the first instance. "Let the athletes that have qualified be compensated and let them go back home, to their clubs and wherever they are now. Let us put sentiments aside and do the right thing for once."
Enyimba edge Pillars as Rivers Utd stun 3SC }44
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SPORT NEWS
MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
Funds threaten Keshi’s burial plans Charles Ogundiya
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NPFL RESULTS Enyimba
2-1 Kano Pillars
Rivers Utd
2-0 Shooting Stars
Tornadoes
1-1 Wikki Tourists
Abia Warriors 1-0 Warri Wolves Akwa Utd
2-3 Enugu Rangers
Lobi Stars
1-0 Plateau Utd
MFM FC
2-0 Heartland
FC Ifeanyiubah 1-0 El-Kanemi Nasarawa
3-0 Sunshine Stars
Action from the Nigerian League
Enyimba edge Pillars as Rivers Utd stun 3SC Wikki caged as Rangers retain top spot
Emmanuel Tobi
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igeria Professional Premier League champions, Enyimba Football Club of Aba on Sunday brightened their chances in the league with a 2-1 win over visiting Kano Pillars in Port Harcourt. The Aba giants recorded a double over Pillars having secured a 2-1 win in Kano in the first round of the championship. Enyimba are now fourth
on the table with 40 points, six points adrift of new league leaders Enugu Rangers. Pillars are fifth on the standings with 39 points. Also on Sunday, Rivers United defeated Shooting Stars of Ibadan 2-0 while Wikki Tourists failed to regain leadership of the league after they forced hosts Niger Tornadoes to a 1-1 draw in Lokoja. Wikki will now be second
on the table having recorded 44 points from 26 matches, two points behind new leaders Enugu Rangers. Earlier on Saturday, Rangers regained the leadership of the league in style after they stunned hosts Akwa United 3-2 in Uyo. Rivers United stayed in third place also on 44 points, but with an inferior goals difference to Wikki.
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igeria’s Flying Eagles will now host Sudan in a final U-20 AFCON qualifier on Saturday and not Sunday because of the official visit of FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
“Infantino will fly directly to Abuja on Sunday and as a result the Flying Eagles qualifier against Sudan in Lagos will now be on Saturday and not Sunday,” an official said. The FIFA President will be on a two-day working visit
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during which he will be received by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. The Flying Eagles won the first leg in Khartoum 2-1 and the overall winners of this tie will qualify for next year’s U-20 AFCON in Zambia.
WJS, YEDA host Pele in Lagos August 11 Emmanuel Tobi
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he Winihin Jemide Seris along with Youth Experience Days Africa have concluded plans to host world’s greatest football legend, Edson Arantes do Nasciment, known as Pele in a 2-day youth development and empowerment event billed for August 11th -12th, in Lagos. According to officials of WJS and YEDA, the event will involve football-loving teenagers and parents, key figures from various state governments, the corporate sector and the Nigerian Football Federation. “This event will include; a sports clinic (Legend tournament), a Gala Night with Pele and other African football
legends; including an auction of Pele memorabilia. Proceeds from the auction will be donated to an eligible local youth football academy. “This will be Pele’s second visit to Nigeria; the first in 1967, was occasioned by a 2-day cease fire during the Nigerian Civil War which allowed the warring sides to watch Pele and Santos team play an exhibition match in Lagos,” the officials said. The WJS is an organisation which provides engaging platforms to facilitate deeper understandings, through conversations that drive nation building consciousness while Youth Experience Days Africa is structured to identify, encourage and develop high potential youth become responsible citizens of the
Late Keshi
Olympics: D'Tigers, Argentina battle in Las Vegas
NFF reschedules Flying Eagles, Sudan match
Ajibade Olusesan
ndications have emerged that unless the Presidency intervenes, the planned burial of late soccer icon, Stephen Keshi may not TAKE PLACE as scheduled due to lack of funds. The burial has been fixed by the Federal Government for July 27, 28 and 29, with a committee headed by the Permanent Secretary of the Youth and Sports Ministry already put in place for the purpose. It has now come to light that the committee has not been able to function because there are no funds for its meetings let alone the burial. Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, who is battling to get the funds for the Rio Olympics out for Team Nigeria to travel later this week is said to be at a loss on how to ask the Presidency for the Keshi burial money, which is in the region of N30m. Sources within the committee said the Minister was worried, especially as Nigerians will not take it lightly if Keshi is not given a befitting burial. “But, this is an extra-budgetary matter and we have to be patient with the Presidency”, a source hinted. “Having captained the na-
tional team for nearly 15 years, winning the Nations Cup as captain and coach, Keshi deserves a here’s burial and the Federal Government will do it but funds have been hindering us”, another committee member hinted. Keshi was also an Ambassador of Sports for Nigeria before his sudden passage. In setting up the burial committee, Dalung had said the government want to accord Keshi a heroic burial so as to send a message home to today’s youths that if they serve Nigeria well in any endeavour the nation will never forget them and will reward them bountifully even in death.
society. Pele is renowned for many achievements including scoring 1,281 goals in his professional career, receiving an honorary knighthood from Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, named "Athlete of the Century” and "Player of the Century,” by the International Olympic Committee and FIFA respectively, amongst others.
Pele
fter the Four-Nation Stankovic Cup tournament in China where the male national basketball team, D'Tigers placed third behind France and Argentina in preparation for next month's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the William Voigts-tutored team will today in Las Vegas, USA take on Argentina in a two-legged friendly. The Sergio Hernandez-tutored Argentina team who beat Nigeria 71-49 at the Stankovic Cup early this month has already named 14 players, including four 2004 Olympic gold medallists Luis Scola, Andres Nocioni, Manu Ginobili and Carlos Del-
fino for the friendly games. After today's game, both sides, who incidentally are in the same group for the Olympic Games basketball event along side Croatia, Spain, Lithuania and hosts, Brazil, will have another opportunity on Wednesday to try out the strategies they have been planning towards the Rio Games. D'Tigers last friendly game will be in Houston against the United States' team on August 1 in what the Americans have dubbed the USA Basketball Showcase, before they depart to Rio. Their first game is against Argentina on August 7 and they have to finish among the top four to advance to the quarter-finals.
SWAN commends NFF on FIFA President’s visit
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he President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Honour Sirawoo, has described the expected visit of Gianni Infantino less than six months after his emergence as FIFA President to Nigeria as a good omen and one that would open new vista for the country in world football. “It is no mean feat to have the FIFA President visiting Nigeria, with other world football officials. I congratulate the NFF on this. It is a great job which must be fully utilised towards the upliftment of football standards in Nigeria, especially now that the country’s rating is dwindling in FIFA rankings. “I urge all stakeholders as well as Nigerians to support the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF’s quest to move football forward in the
country," he said Sirawoo gave assurances of the association’s full support for the NFF in repositioning Nigeria's football for maximum benefits as applicable in most countries of the world. He said it was in line with this that zonal Vice-Presidents of North Central, South West and South South have been directed to ensure full involvement of members in activities related to the FIFA President’s visit and the burial of former national football coaches. The remains of the late former Super Eagles captain and coach, Stephen Keshi will be buried next week, while the 40th day fidau prayer for late former Super Eagles coach, Amodu Shaibu holds on July 20, 2016.
INTERNATIONAL SPORT
MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
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Henry: I still want to be Arsenal's manager T
hierry Henry admits he still has his sights set on becoming Arsenal manager. The Gunners’ all-time record goalscorer was set to coach the club’s Under-18s side this season but has
been forced to step aside after Arsene Wenger wanted him to quit his role as a pundit for Sky Sports. Henry completed his UEFA A license earlier this year but the former France international insists his
is still far from taking his first steps into management. “I’d be lying if I told you being manager wasn’t a wish that I have because I love Arsenal,” Henry told The Sun. “The game is my passion and always
will be. I would like to manage but I am far from it. “Although I am able to manage any team now, I would still like to pass my UEFA Pro Licence, which I’m working on to give me a better all-round knowledge.
Mata wary of Dortmund
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Messi to sign new Barcelona contract
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ionel Messi is set to sign a new contract with Barcelona, according to Mundo Deportivo. The Argentine is currently on holiday but, in his absence, the club and Messi's father Jorge have agreed terms on a three-year extension. The report comes soon after speculation over Messi's future at Barcelona, with Chelsea the latest club to be linked with the forward, and team-mate Neymar penning fresh terms.
uan Mata says Manchester United must be wary of Borussia Dortmund's attacking qualities ahead of the two teams' meeting in Shanghai next Friday. After Jose Mourinho's first match in charge ended in a 2-0 victory over Wig an Athletic on Saturday, United tur n their attention to upcoming Inter national Champions Cup matches against Thomas Tuchel's side and rivals Manchester City in China. Dortmund are first up for United and Mata is wary of their offensive threat going into the match, which he hopes will kick-start another successful preseason after United won against Barcelona in the United States prior to last season. "They are two great clubs and when you play in this kind of competition you are focused on getting fit and getting ready for the season," Mata, 28, told the club's website. "I think it's a good experience and we'll try to win as we did last season in the States. It's always nice to win this tournament as you are up against very prestigious rivals.”
Mkhitaryan (left) who impressed with his performance against Wigan
West Brom set for £150 million takeover
Robben out for six weeks with groin injury
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est Brom are close to being sold in a £150 million deal, according to the Sunday People. The club’s current owner Jeremy Peace has been seeking a buyer for two years and is ready to sell to Chinese investors. The man leading the bid is Chinese businessman Wang Jianlin, who is worth an estimated £21.7 billion. The 61-year-old also owns a 20% stake in Atletico Madrid.
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Chelsea eye shock Ayew swoop
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ntonio Conte has made Swansea star Andre Ayew a shock target for Chelsea, according to The Sun. Koscielny Chelsea had been linked with the likes of Alvaro Morata and Romersenal are facing a fight to lu Lukaku earlier keep hold of Laurent Kosci- in the summer, elny with Bayern Munich interested in signing the defender, according to the Sunday Express. Koscielny, 30, has just one year remaining on his current Arsenal deal and talks over a new contract worth £90,000-a-week have hit a snag, despite manager Arsene Wenger's desire to retain him. News that Koscielny is no closer to extending his stay at the Emirates Stadium has prompted interest from Bayern, who are reportedly keen to land him as back-up for both Jerome Boateng and Mats Ayew (right) Hummels.
Bayern keen on Koscielny
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but Conte has now ruled out signing a big-name striker this summer. Robben And Ghana international Ayew is expected to leave the Liberty o-Wilfried Tsonga sent France Stadium this suminto the Davis Cup semi-finals mer, with the Blues after beating Jiri Vesely of the hoping to agree a £12m million deal Czech Republic on Sunday to hand his team an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the with the Swans. quarter-finals. On the hardcourt of the Werk Arena in the eastern Czech steel hub of Trinec, world number 10 Tsonga beat 50th-ranked Vesely 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 7-5 in three hours and 28 minutes. In their quest for the first Davis Cup title since 2001, France will now face either the United States or Croatia in the semi-finals. In a clash of the teams' numberone players, the 23-year-old Vesely took the first set on a single break and both held on to their serves in the second, which went to Tsonga, 31, in a tie-break.
ayern Munich winger Arjen Robben will miss the start of the new Bundesliga season after being ruled out for six weeks with a groin injury sustained in pre-season. Robben picked up the problem in Bayern's thrilling 4-3 win over Lippstadt on Saturday, which was Carlo Ancelotti's first game in charge of the Bundesliga champions. Having registered a goal and an assist in the early stages, the 32-year-old pulled up as he attempted a sprint in the 36th minute and was immediately replaced by youngster Mario Crnicki. "The injury to the player's right leg was diagnosed after an examination conducted by the club's medical unit in Munich on Sunday. Robben will be sidelined for approximately six weeks," a Bayern statement confirmed.
Tsonga leads France into Davis Cup semis
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Tsonga
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Countdown to
Rio: Dalung gags athletes, coaches
Olympics
Minister threatens to sanction erring athletes Adeolu Johnson
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thletes and coaches preparing for Rio 2016 Olympic Games have been ordered by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, to stop talking to the media. Preparations for the Games have been in shambles with athletes and coaches grumbling quietly at their various camps over the delay in paying allowances and the cancellation of overseas training.
Dalung
100,000 tickets for Olympic Games
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ickets for sold-out sessions and for the Rio 2016 Opening and Closing Ceremonies will be part of a new batch of 100,000 seats for next month’s Olympic Games due to be released on Thursday (July 21), organisers have announced. Other events which will be included in the batch - the last big amount of tickets to go on sale for the Games - feature medal matches in volleyball, football and basketball, as well as previously unavailable sessions in swimming and tennis. It comes as a result of broadcast plans being finalised, with “some of the seating areas previously set aside for the use of equipment being freed up”. This had made more tickets available, according to the Organising Committee. It follows a controversial plan where seating at some venues has been reduced as part of wholesale budget cuts. The latest batch will be sold online and in Rio 2016 offices across the city, including at the Maracanã Stadium, which is due to host the Opening Ceremony on August 5. They will also go on sale in cities such as São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Manaus and Salvador.
Dalung has reassured Nigerians of President Mohammadu Buhari’s commitment to the Games with a fundraising dinner fixed for Aso Villa on July 19th but the late arrangements is not going down well with most of the athletes. One of the wrestlers that just returned from a World Championship in Spain with a medal wondered why it was taking so long for government to disburse funds for the camping exercise. “If we win any medal in Rio, it will be due to sheer luck and determination of such athletes. This is the first time since I started going to Games that athletes will be this badly treated,” the wrestler said. “When our President Daniel Igali won an Olympic gold medal for Canada, we understood that he featured in over 200 competitions in preparation for the Games.” The athlete added that the situation was so bad that most of them could not give or send money to their families at home. “We just take it as it comes because we do not have other trades apart from sports. Over 56 countries participated in the tournament in Spain and most of them stayed back for other competitions from where they would move to Rio,” the wrestler added. The morale of most of the athletes was low when our correspondent visited their camps with most of them shying away from any conversations.
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Williams sisters lead US tennis team to Rio
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Serena (left) and Venus
Semenya eyes 800m gold
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Days to Go
outh Africa’s Caster Semenya is back and vowing to win an Olympic gold medal that could reignite the complex biological and ethical gender storm that once engulfed her life. The athlete, who was at the centre of a bitter dispute over gender testing seven years ago, is favourite to win the women’s 800 metres in Rio next month. The 25 year old who she failed to qualify for the world championship final last year, is in the best form of her life, and confidently brushing off the past track disputes. “I don’t have time for that," she said when asked about the gender issue at the African Athletics Championships in Durban in June. “I am an athlete and I focus more on the issues that concern me: training, perform, eat, sleep.
So that thing — you know, it’s not part of me."
orld number one Serena Williams, a double Olympic champion in 2012, her sister Venus and the Bryan brothers lead the US tennis team named Friday for the 2016 Rio Games. Serena Williams, who earned her 22nd Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, will defend the singles and doubles titles she captured in London. In doubles, she and Venus will be trying to win gold for the fourth time, after triumphs in 2000, 2008 and 2012. Venus, who won Olympic singles gold in 2000, Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens will all
Hewitt, Gerrans out of Australian squad
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Semenya
compete in singles while Bethanie Mattek-Sands and CoCo Vandeweghe will form the second women’s doubles team for the US. T he country’s other strongest medal chance lies with Bob and Mike Bryan, the reigning men’s doubles champions who have won 16 Grand Slam titles and spent more than 435 weeks atop the doubles world rankings. As expected, US number John Isner, ranked 16th in the world and a quarter-finalist at the London Games, is not in the squad, having indicated earlier this year he would not play.
ustralia’s Olympic hopes were dented Sunday as road cyclist Simon Gerrans withdrew from the Rio Games with an injury and Lleyton Hewitt was set to pull out as tennis coach. Gerrans, 36, was due to ride in his third Games, but was forced to quit the Tour de France on Thursday after breaking his collarbone in a crash. He later underwent surgery in Spain. “With my current injury my (Olympics) preparation would be seriously jeopardised, and so too my performance at the Games,” Gerrans wrote in a letter to team officials. “For Australia to have the best chance to achieve the best result possible, I feel I should be replaced by one of the riders in the squad.” Cycling Australia will select a replacement rider later this week, the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) said.
SPORT
MONDAY, JULY 18, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH
Players to win N17m prize money at NCC Tennis League Ajibade Olusesan
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he Nigerian Communications Commission has announced a total prize money of N17 million with a star prize of N7 million for the team that wins the 2016 Team Tennis Championship. Unveiling details of this year's event at the Ikoyi club with the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung in attendance, the Executive Vice President of the NCC, Prof . Umar Danbatta, said the commission was happy with the profile, organisation and impact of the event which has achieved all
the objectives it was designed for. "The League is introducing 45 weeks of to the Nigerian tennis calendar up from 32 last year and is taking topflight tennis to more cities across the country. The number of teams has also risen from eight to 10 this year." Danbatta, who was represented by Mrs Iyabo Sholanke, the director of special duties, said. Dalung who took a tour of the Ikoyi Club before the opening ceremony, extoled the NCC for sponsoring such a major historic tennis event which has the potential of producing top professional tennis players in the near future adding,
" What I have seen here has convinced me that the private sector has to lead the sports development process in Nigeria." The Minister later participated in the ballot for the placement of the teams into the Blue and White round robin groups. The Blue Group comprises Team Tombim - Abuja, Team Offikwu Kaduna, Team Lead Way - Lagos, Team Anambra - Onitsha and Team Goshen - Ilorin while the White Group is made up of Civil Defence - Kaduna, Team FCT - Abuja, Team Kalotari - Port Harcourt, Team Hope Asaba/Warri and Team CBN Futures - Lagos.
L-R: Head of Administration, Nigerian Communications Commission, Kehinde Oladipo; Director, International Tennis Academy, Godwin Kienka; Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung; and Director, Special Duties, NCC, Mrs. Iyabode Sholanke, during the launch of the 2016 edition of the NCC Tennis League Cup… recently
Conte hints on Mikel’s future Ajibade Olusesan
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uper Eagles captain Mikel Obi could extend his stay at Chelsea after manager Antonio Conte suggested the 29-year-old was part of his planS for the new season. Mikel’s future at the Stamford Bridge has been thrown into confusion following the arrival of N’Golo Kante from
Leicester City. The Nigerian who has spent more than a decade in north London has been linked with several club sides inclusing Besiktas and Inter Milan. But Conte, after their 2-0 loss to Rapid Vienna on Saturday, described the midfielder as a hard worker who could give the team stability. “He’s a good player. He has good technique, fantas-
tic stamina and I like this type of player,” said Conte to chelseafc.com. “If you want to win a team needs this type of player – Kante, Nemanja Matic and Mikel – that work hard for the team.” Mikel, who has been at Chelsea since 2006 after switching from Lyn Oslo in Norway, is now contracted to the London club until June 30, 2017.
Dalung congratulates SWAN, Sirawoo
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he Honorable Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has joined other sports stakeholders to congratulate Mr. Honour Sirawoo who recently emerged the National President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria. In a statement released at the weekend, Dalung described Sirawoo's election as a testament of the overwhelming trust reposed in him by the members of the body which was demonstrated by delegates at the polls in Ilorin, Kwara State.
He charged the new board to continue from where the former executive council led by Saidu Abubakar stopped in their quest to move sports writers to the desired height in modern day journalism. Barrister Dalung described members of SWAN as an intergal part of the sporting family and promised to work with the new board in the interest of sports development in Nigeria. "Any activity without media coverage is like a man winking in the dark. Sports
writers in Nigeria over the years have demonstrated their unquantified relevance and support in the development of the sector. "The ministry under my watch will continue to provide the needed assistance to SWAN as they are our partners in progress. My doors are always open" the minister said. He charged the new board to hit the ground running, tasking it to focus more on the improvement of members' welfares, onthe-job training, investigative and community development journalism.
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Pat Ekeji’s Corner patrick.ekeji@yahoo.com 08159364282 (sms only)
That we may be aware
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n the period between April 2009 on the subject at the NSC manageand April 2013 that I served as ment at that time, it was concluded DG NSC, I am proud to say that that we (NSC) invite and brief all my period was certainly not bereft Permanent Secretaries of States’ of ideas, or courage. Within that Sports Councils on the proposal for four-year tenure, I worked with five their consideration and possible Ministers. Capacity building was a implementation in their various key policy I tried to get instituted States. My concern at that time as a major operational continuum and even now, was that there was but it had the challenge of fund- need to provide a wider but more ing. There were two major reasons solid structure for the funding of for this: difficulty in introducing football. It has to begin from States new expenditure sub-heads into and were this to have succeeded, the budget template, and lack of fi- the management of football in the nancial provision for the program. country would gradually be taken Non-actualization of that policy still over largely by persons with corpobothers me even as I am no longer rate management background. With there. Understandably so, I know such personalities, the NFF would exactly what the draw-backs are. be assured of enhanced image and It bothers me because none of the stronger corporate support. coaches in any of the sports earns I foresaw the tomorrow of fundnearly enough to conveniently ad- ing sports when money from govdress personal, family and other due ernment would ‘dry up’ before we expenses let alone self-funding incre- all rise up in the morning. Sports mental career training. The matter in general and football in particuof coach for the Super Eagles is lar would be the worst for trending at the moment, the arguit. However, following the ment that protagonists for a foreign public knowledge of the coach would make is that we do not conclusions of that meethave a good enough local ing, the NFF coach. It has always been board declared I foresaw the the argument even at my ‘war’ against tomorrow of time as a footballer. One my person and “small” but significant office, first as Difunding sports point which these prorector of Sports when money from and subsequenttagonists fail to ‘deliberately’ remember is that government would ly, as Director our sons who shine in forGeneral of the ‘dry up’ before we eign football leagues (enNSC. That is the vironments) started their genesis of my all rise up in the careers here at home. In ‘poor’ relationmorning other words, all of them ship with the picked up the rudiments, Sani Lulu-led the basics of the game board. Seven here. So where is the disconnect? If years after, football administration some coaches here were responsible is not sitting pretty financially and for developing them to have been there are still no significant changes seen as good enough to play in these in strategy to attract sustainable foreign countries, why are these lo- funding platform, equally disturbing cal coaches not then good enough to is that the operating environment for manage these players at the nation- the ‘beautiful game’ is anything but al team level? Are the faults in our ambient. stars or ourselves? It is this disconOne of the intentions of expandnect that I am interested in and on ing the zonal structure from six to which I tried to originate a conversa- twelve was to impact sports admintion at a point in my sojourn in the istration at the grassroots. For inadministration of sports. stance, inter zonal championships Way back in 2009, I was the Di- as well as capacity building prorector of Sports at the NSC, I de- grams for not just football coaches, sired to introduce a fresh portal but the seven other category “A” into the quality of membership of sports defined by the NSC were to the Boards of States’ Football As- be rotationally regular. I got SUsociations by way of encouraging PER SPORTS of South Africa inState Governments to deliberately terested and they were committed woo and invite identified corporate to the vision. It was also foreseen sons and daughters to take inter- that NFF would adopt the football est in becoming part of football ad- portion of the program as marketministration in their States. The able product to potential sponsors. under-lying concept behind this I also foresaw this project as a verthinking is that the State Associa- itable source of engaging our ex tions constitute the NFF congress internationals for youth coaching from which the Executive Board at the grass roots. is elected. I saw the need to attract Rio here we come. On Friday, July such caliber of persons into foot- 15, 2016, on one of our TV Channels, ball administration. I believe it the Permanent Secretary sports would be good for our football ad- ministry and the President NOC, apministration to inject private sec- peared before the House Committee tor mentality and practice into the on Sports. They tried, with so much game at that level and ultimately at difficulty, to assuage members that the Executive Board level. South for Rio, all is “well”. Africa is a good example. For the Nigeria House shows, it After a rigorous brain-storming might be so!
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Tenure policy and the Civil Service Tunji Olaopa
R
ecently, the news about the tenure policy in the federal civil service silently burst into the public sphere, and rather silently seems to have fizzled out like most significant issues that concern the progress of the Nigerian state. I however consider the issue one of rather immense significance, especially to the reform and transformation of the civil service in Nigeria, and so deserving of protracted debate and discussion that affects policy about how the civil service can perform and hence fulfil its mandate as a cornerstone of national development. My concern with this issue is, of course, not far-fetched. I have been a civil servant all my life; and my brief revolved around the reform of the civil service system in a way that backstopped Nigeria’s burgeoning democratic governance. For me, therefore, what is at issue is not the appropriateness of removing or retaining the tenure policy, but rather situating it within the overall well-being and performance capacity of the civil service. There are so many things that are wrong with the Nigerian state. And the civil service system is one of the focal points of the inability to transit into a developmental state with the capacity to empower its citizens in terms of a democratic service delivery that concretises democratic dividends. And the civil service system in Nigeria has been the focus of more than six decades of active reforms that targets almost every dimension of its operational modalities, from wages to staffing. Yet, these reforms have had ambivalent effect on the progress of the system. Let us cite one cogent instance. By the time the massive purge of the civil service by the Murtala/Obasanjo regime was completed in 1975, the system had been so eroded that civil service professionalism was effectively compromised, and the critical performance that would capacitate the system was effectively lost. It was therefore most appropriate that the Phillips Report, which undergirded the Civil Service Reform of 1988, would essentially be concerned with restoring and enhancing professionalism and performance. Unfortunately, this Report politicised rather than professionalised the civil service elite corp. The wastage which ensued from this politicisation was the result of making permanent secretaries political appointees who mark time on a position for as long as the lifetime of the government which appointed them, and effectively ensured the erosion of cooperation and motivation. When the tenure policy was established under theUmaru Musa Yar’Adua government, one positive purpose it served was as a check against systemic demotivation to career progression officers who have always been in the Federal Service. No one civil servant would have the opportunity of sitting at the helms of affair in a ministry until s/he attained to managerial level through rigorous pipelining and tested career progression. The reversal of this
Olusegun Obasanjo
Murtala Mohammed
policy simply demonstrates the subtle and not-so-subtle ways in which politics oftentimes trump policy and reform in Nigeria. I doubt if anyone would be able to seriously fault its significance as a plank in any effort to take the civil service, and especially its senior level cadre, to the next level in terms of productivity and performance. Let us put the discourse in a new light. The tenure policy is not a stand-alone administrative policy; it does not exist or cease to exist for its own sake. On the contrary, its effectiveness or lack of it, in global administrative best practices, is tied to its specific function in the performance record of the civil service. All across the globe, from USA and the UK to the Netherlands and France, the tenure policy issue goes beyond the career progression of the civil servants; it has often been tied to the urgency of achieving a result-oriented civil service that is lean, economical, effective and efficient. Countries which have confronted the tenure issue have done so, therefore, within the context of a larger smart practice which performance management imperative actualized through the deployment of numerous human resources toolkits like flexible employment policies and performance accountability systems that draw any civil service into the service mandate of producing tangible results. Since Nigeria lost the golden opportunity presented by the Udoji Report of
1974, the civil service system has been in a race against time to constitute the service into a policy implementation hub that efficiently delivers development outcomes through the effective circumvention of the policy execution trap which choke visions, development plans and policy outcomes. Since 1974, in other words, the civil service system has failed to achieve a shift from a system which manages input processes to one which supervises output outcomes. Mr. Steve Oronsaye cannot be blamed for his valiant effort at laying the foundation of the tenure policy. The real issue is why successive heads of service have failed to deepen the administrative implications of that policy as a performance game changer which not only tenure civil servants but ask for price of the tenure in terms of accountability for results and outcomes within the context of rigorous and continuous annual assessment metrics. With the politicisation of the issue, and its eventual reversal, it becomes clear that we have on our hand a case of the system protecting its own top management in a manner that precludes accountability and results. The tenure policy must be placed within the larger issue of cost of governance and the overbloatedness of the civil service. The reality in the civil service today is not only the existence of many deadwoods and ghost workers who shoot up the overheads of the service. This reality is complicated by the fact that government pays through its nose for the outsourced services of policy consultants and analysts. There is also the obscene surplus of special/personal assistants and special advisers as well as the frameworks of over-reliance on technical assistance from development agencies. All these have become the unfortunate dynamics by which the civil service copes with its own deficiencies, compromised by skills deficits, nepotism, lack of any re-professionalisation programmes that bring the civil servants up to date on current administrative skills, and wrongheaded industrial actions.
The reality in the civil service today is not only the existence of many deadwoods and ghost workers who shoot up the overheads of the service
The civil service has a tough choice to make between remaining a lumbering bureaucratic contraption that circumvents Nigeria’s democratic governance and a lean, efficient and professional system girded around by values and procedures that compel performance and results. This is the dilemma that the adoption or reversal of the tenure policy places on us. While the objective of the civil service, according to the National Strategy for Public Service Reform (NSPSR) is fast moving, intelligent, professional, information-rich, flexible, adaptable and entrepreneurial world class civil service that is performance-focused, accountable and capable of creating the policy climate that will instigate a new productivity paradigm in the national economy, there are obviously many options that could take Nigeria to this objective. One of these numerous options is the concept of the Senior Executive Service (SES). This refers to a small, professional, non-political career civil service that would not only enjoy career protection, but would also enjoy a compensation package that serves as adequate incentive, especially in the face of private sector recruitment. But the task of the SES goes beyond being retained in the public service. Specifically, it constitutes the nucleus of reflective innovation, leadership core and skills repository of the civil service. It is around the SES that the reform of the civil service can be achieved. Those recruited into this top echelon will be distinguished by a different pay package which is inevitably tied to a performance contract scheme. Thus, the SES is more about administrative leadership, performance outcomes and accountability than about security of tenure. More significantly, the SES option ensures that the civil service system is constantly kept in check. •Dr. Olaopa (tolaopa2003@yahoo.com) is the Executive Vice Chairman, Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP), Ibadan.
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