Monday, june 13, 2016 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

New forex rules: CBN to sanction erring banks' CEOs

lApex bank continues consultations Ayodele Aminu

hen the muchexpected flexible exchange rate

regime eventually takes off, Chief Executive Officers of lenders that flout the rules would be held responsible and sanctioned

accordingly by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), New Telegraph has learnt. The apex bank governor, Godwin Emefiele, dis-

closed this last Thursday at the Bankers’ Committee meeting that held in Abuja. At the meeting, which holds bi-monthly to discuss the state of affairs of the industry, Emefiele was said

to have sternly warned the bank CEOs to inform their treasurers to play by the rules, failing, which they (bank CEOs) “as most senior officers of their banks would be personally sanc-

tioned.” Besides, Emefiele, according to sources, informed the CEOs that the CBN was not in a hurry to release the guidelines CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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NSCDC arrests Boko Haram recruiter, arms supplier }5

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N150

Arms scandal: Air Force to retire AVMs, Commodores Bello

Abiola

Muhammadu

Omar Mateen

lAdigun, Ojuawo, Oguntoyinbo, Omenyi, Mamu, K ayode-Beckley on the list lAffected officers to face trial, lose ranks }2 List of Army officers compulsorily retired

Maj. Gen. Koleoso

Maj. Gen. Atewe

Maj. Gen. Ilo

Maj. Gen. Wiwa

Maj. Gen. Alli

Brig.-Gen. Onoyiveta

Col. Adegbe

Col. Achinze

Maj. Gen. Mobolaji Koleoso Maj. Gen. TC Ude Maj. Gen. SD Aliyu Maj. Gen. LC Ilo Maj. Gen. PAT Akem Maj. Gen. IN Ijoma Maj. Gen. O Ejimai Maj. Gen. ED Atewe Maj. Gen. Letam Wiwa Maj. Gen. FO Alli Maj. Gen. MY Ibrahim Brigadier Gen. D Abdusalam Brigadier Gen. MG Ali Brigadier Gen. AI Onibasa Brig. Gen. Mustapha Onoyiveta Brig. Gen. Bright Fiboinumama Brigadier Gen. GO Agachi Brigadier Gen. Okonkwo Brigadier Gen. Bashir Mormoni Brigadier Gen. AH Sa’ad Brigadier Gen. IMD Lawson Brigadier Gen. Koko Essien Brigadier Gen. Ogidi Brigadier Gen. LN Bello

Brigadier General PE Ekpeyong Brigadier General Oyefesobi Col. Ojogbane Adegbe Col. CK Ukoha Col. Tonye F Minimah Col. DR Hassan Col. FD Kayode Col. OU Nwankwo Col. MA Suleiman Col. Audu Col. Nicholas Achinze Lt. Col. GC Nyekwu Lt. Col. TE Arigbe Lt. Col. C Enechukwu Lt. Col. TO Oladuntoye Lt. Col. CO Amadi Lt. Col. Adimoha Lt. Col. DB Dazang Lt. Col. OC Egemode Lt. Col. Baba Ochankpa Lt. Col. A Mohammed Lt. Col. AS Mohammed Major TA Williams

N23bn campaign funds:

EFCC freezes Jonathan’s ministers, PDP leaders’ accounts ...Commission in dilemma over serving governors involvement Air pollution increases stroke risk

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MONday, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Arms scandal: Air Force to retire AVMs, Commodores Our Correspondent

here are strong indications that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will, any moment from now, sack some of its senior officers over their indictment in the $2.1 billion arms procurement scandal and other corruptionrelated offences. New Telegraph's investigation revealed that the NAF has already compiled the list of the senior officers to be given the boot, in the coming days. Highly placed military sources said the looming retirement will pave the way for the officers' prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which has since been investigating some of the indicted officers. The Air Force will be toeing the line of the Nigerian Army, which announced the sacking of about 50 officers on

Saturday. Some of the officers to be eased out of service, according to a source, who pleaded anonymity, include: Air Vice Marshals (AVMs) A.M. Mamu, O.T. Oguntoyinbo, T. Omenyi, J.B. Adigun, R.A. Ojuawo, and J.A. Kayode-Beckley. The list also includes Air Cdre A.O. Ogunjobi, Air CdreG.M.D. Gwani, Air Cdre S.O. Makinde, and Air Cdre AY Lassa. “The process on their exit from the Nigerian Air Force has been concluded. What is left is formal announcement of their disengagement. There is no way the indicted officers can stay in the force when they are being tried for corruption cases in court. “Some of them have been arrested by the EFCC and kept in custody. Some of them have been detained at a military formation. So, there is no way they can

be in the service. There are other officers whose names were not in the list of indicted officers made public by the audit panel, but they have been found culpable in corruptionrelated offences. “From feelers, there are about 40 officers to be retired including eight AVMs. I’m sure they will all be retired this month,” a senior officer in the know told New Telegraph. The affected senior officers were indicted in the report of the presidential audit of the arms procurement between 2007 and 2015. Other officers indicted by the 13-man panel are Maj-Gen. ER Chioba (Rtd), AVM I.A. Balogun (Rtd), AVM A.G. Tsakr (Rtd), and AVM A.G. Idowu (Rtd). The serving officers were indicted along with three former Chiefs of Air Staff (CAS), namely Air Chief Marshal Alex

Badeh (rtd), the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS); Air Marshal MD Umar (Rtd), who has opted for an out-of-court settlement in the N4.8 billion alleged fraud, as well as Air Marshal Adesola Amosu. It was further gathered that any of the officers, who may be convicted, upon prosecution, will go to jail losing their rank. Until now, it was learnt that the indicted officers, who are still in service, were made to sign attendance register twice daily at the Air Force headquarters in Abuja, to indicate that they still resume normal duties on all working days. AVM Oguntoyinbo, the Chief of Training and Operations of Nigerian Air Force, was remanded in Kuje Prison on June 2, for allegedly receiving N166 million bribe from NAF contractor, Société D’ Equipments Internationaux Nigeria Limited,

Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar G. Danbatta (left), with Chief Executive, MTN, Fredinand Moolman, after the signing of agreement to stagger MTN fine in Abuja…on Friday

Avengers are bombing pipelines because of probe – FG Muritala Ayinla

he Federal Government has said that the Niger Delta Avengers are bombing the petroleum facilities in the oil-rich region due to the President Muhammadu Buhari's stance on anticorruption crusade. It expressed optimism that the challenges posed by the destruction of the pipelines would soon be overcome. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the disclosure yesterday at a Ramadan Lecture held in honour of late Kafaru Tinubu at the Eko FM, Agidingbi, saying that in spite of the challenges confronting the nation,

the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration is making so much sacrifice to better the lots of Nigerians, especially the less privileged and other vulnerable. "The main reason they are against this government is because they are opposed to our anticorruption war. They want us to go back to the old ways of corruption where the nation's wealth will be shared by the few in government. President Buhari believes that public's wealth shouldn't be squandered, but we are very sure that the truth will prevail. Despite the challenges, the current government is not resting on its oars. I want to assure you that this gov-

ernment is pro-people," the minister said. Speaking on the theme of the lecture, “Supreme Sacrifice and the Essence of Followership in Governance,” Mohammed said N500 billion set aside for the poor and the less privilege would be judiciously used to better the lots of the Nigerian masses, adding that 500,000 unemployed graduates will be employed and trained. The minister blamed the current economic challenges on the activities of the militants in the Niger Delta, saying that activities of the Avengers had further compounded the problems in the power sector as the nation is finding it difficult to generate 2,000 megawatts.

According to him, "This government is making a lot of sacrifice to ensure Nigerians feel its impact. The power won't be stable because gas is used in powering the plants. But the destructive individuals called Avengers; they have destroyed almost all the pipelines such that out 5,000 megawatts that we are capable of generating, the continued destruction of the pipeline has made it difficult to generate 2,000 megawatts. “It is not only the power that was affected by this; the economy is also affected because today, one million barrel of oil cannot be produced because of the activities of the Avengers, but we are optimistic that we will overcome them.”

in the course of performing his official duty. Oguntoyinbo, who is being prosecuted by the EFCC, allegedly accepted the gift from the contractor through the account of his company, Spaceweb Integrated Services Limited, kept with Wema Bank Plc. Both AVMs J.B. Adigun and R.A. Ojuawo have been arrested by the EFCC over the arms contracts. Adigun was Chief of Account and Budget of NAF. There were reports that houses belonging to Adigun had been confiscated by the EFCC. AVM Ojuawo, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Tactical Air Command, Makurdi, Benue State, was arrested by EFCC operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, on his way to Germany recently. Ojuawo was arrested while in the entourage of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Olonisakin, who was travelling to attend a meeting of the United States Africa Command in Germany. Ojuawo served as Director of Operations under Amosu, who is also being investigated by the EFCC over the arms deal. The EFCC is investigating the officers over 10 NAF contracts totalling $930,500,690 awarded to Societe D’ Equipments Internationaux (SEI) Nig Ltd. between January 2014 and February 2015. According to the report of the 13-man panel, the award letters contained misleading delivery dates, suggesting fraudulent intent in the award process. Operatives are also grilling them over the procurement of two used Mi-24V Helicopters instead of the recommended Mi-35M series at the cost of $136,944,000. The helicopters were discovered to be excessively priced and not operationally airworthy at the time of delivery. The arms probe panel established that a brand new unit of Mi-24V Helicopter goes for about $30 million. The helicopters were delivered without rotor blades and upgrade accessories. The officers are also being grilled over the procurement of four used Alpha-Jets for the NAF at the cost of $7,180,000. Whereas NAF paid for four used Alpha-Jets, the panel confirmed that only two of the Alpha-Jet aircraft were ferried to Nigeria after cannibalisation of engines from

NAF fleet. This is contrary to the written assertion of Amosu to the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki that all the four procured Alpha-Jets aircraft were delivered to the NAF. They are also being investigated in the procurement of 36D6 Low Level Air Defence Radar for NAF, which was awarded to GAT Techno Dynamics Ltd in April 2014 at the cost of $33 million. The arms panel averred that the radars were excessively priced as a complete set of such radars goes for $6 million. It was established that $2 million from the proceeds was transferred to Mono Marine Corporation Nig Ltd, which is jointly owned by some principal characters in the deal. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has sacked about 50 officers, who were either found to have shown partisanship during the 2014 governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, or indicted by the arms probe panel. The list of officers sacked included former Aide-de-Camps (ADCs) to late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Brig.-Gen. Mustapha Onoiveta and Col. Ojogbane Adegbe. The Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Major General Mobolaji Adeleke Koleoso, top the list of the retired Army officers. Maj. General Letam Wiwa, the younger brother of late environmental rights activist and author, Ken Saro-Wiwa, was among those retired. Col. Tonye F Minimah, who is a younger brother of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Minimah, was also affected. So also was Col. Nicholas Achinze, who served as the ADC to the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd). While justifying the sack, the Army, in a statement by its spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, said: "Their retirement was based on Service exigencies. It should be recalled that not too long ago, some officers were investigated for being partisan during the 2015 general elections."

£15.7m

The net amount of money spent/received by Arsenal in the whole 2015-16 season. Source: 101greatgoals.com

MONday, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEWS

MONday, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

EFCC freezes Jonathan’s ministers, ex-govs, PDP leaders’ accounts Emmanuel Onani Abuja

n its determination to recover all public funds allegedly used to prosecute the 2015 presidential election, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen the bank accounts of some stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). International passports of some of the PDP leaders under investigation have also been seized by the anti-graft agency. Those whose accounts have been frozen include those of some ex-governors, former ministers and PDP leaders who were said to have shared or benefitted from the N23 billion campaign funds, distributed to states, to enhance the electoral fortunes of the party. Each of the 36 states benefitted between N450 million and N950,000 million from the campaign funds used to prosecute the 2015 general elections. New Telegraph further gathered that the anti-graft agency is in a dilemma over the alleged involvement of about six serving governors in the campaign funds. It was learnt that the sitting governors got involved either as state chief executives then, or as gubernatorial candidates of the PDP. The commission is, however, hamstrung as it concerns the sitting governors, owing to their constitutional immunity, which does not allow for interrogation or prosecution, as long as they remained governors. In fact, New Telegraph was reliably informed by a highly placed source, who pleaded anonymity, that all the bank accounts of a very prominent and influential leader of the party, have been frozen ostensibly because the EFCC believes so much of the disputed cash may have been channelled through his accounts. New Telegraph was reliably informed that the account of a former Kano State Governor and Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, domiciled with one of the old generation banks, has been frozen. This development may have obstructed the payment of the ex-governor's four-year entitlements, which were to be paid into the said account by the Umar Ganduje-led administration. According to sources, the action of the commission is already having adverse effects on those affected, as they are unable

Distribution of campaign funds States Share Kano N950m Katsina N700m Edo N700m Kaduna N700m Jigawa N500m Bauchi N500m Oyo N500m Enugu N450m Gombe N338m Yobe N450m Adamawa N500m Borno N450m Delta N450m Zamfara N450m Niger N450m Sokoto N500m Kebbi N500m Cross River N500m Akwa Ibom N500m Imo N350m to access funds through those accounts that have since been blocked, pending conclusion of investigations. The action of the EFCC, which is not final in itself, is to pre-empt possible closures of such accounts, which could hamper the course of ongoing investigations. Another source also hinted that more arrests and interrogations would be made in the coming days, as there are still some states that have not been visited. This is more so that the funds under investigation were said to have been distributed to the 36 states of the federation.

“I can confirm to you that the EFCC has blocked the bank accounts of our (PDP) leaders being investigated over what they said was money used for election. “It came to some of them as a huge shock, because they got to know about it when they made efforts to either withdraw money, or conduct other transactions from their accounts. “Honestly, it was so bad that an ex-governor of a state in the NorthWest, who was a minister in the last dispensation, could not have his pension paid into his only existing bank account, because of the freezing. “He may not even travel to Mecca for this year's lesser Hajj, because his passport has also been confiscated,” he said. On the temporary

freezing of all the accounts of a leader from the South, another source said: “It is so bad that one of our respected leaders has had all his existing accounts frozen. “We are waiting to see how this whole investigation pans out, but I know that our leaders under probe, are really in some dire straits.” Meanwhile, a former governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sullivan Chime, is expected back at the Commission's zonal office today, where investigation into his alleged involvement in the sharing of N450 million sent to the state, will continue. Chime, who reported first on Wednesday, June 8, was said to have made a statement, where he denied any personal involvement with the disbursement of the said

amount as was claimed by Mrs. Rita Chinelo Mba, secretary to the campaign office and his former Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernment Affairs. The commission has, so far, quizzed the following ex-PDP governors: Chief Achike Udenwa (Imo State), Senator Liyel Imoke (Cross River State), as well as Alhaji Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi (Zamfara State). Apart from the former state chief executives, operatives had interrogated a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali (Kano); a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Muhammad (Jigawa State); Ntufam John Okon (Cross River State PDP Chairman), and retired Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga

(Akwa Ibom). Also quizzed were a former Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda (Zamfara); an ex-Minister of Mines and Steel, Arch. Musa Muhammad Sada (Katsina), as well as a former Minister of State for Agriculture, Asabe Asmau Ahmed (Niger). A former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Imasuen, as well as former Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, had been interrogated in respect of the controversial cash.

€8m

The annual salary of coach Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid in 2015 season. Source: France Football

L-R: Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Deputy President, Dublin City University, Ireland, Prof. Daire Keogh and Prof. Brien Ruene, during a visit to the governor in Enugu…at the weekend.

Militancy: Our economy is bleeding, say South-South monarchs lConvene emergency security summit

Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

raditional rulers in the Niger Delta, under the aegis of the South-South Monarchs Forum, yesterday raised the alarm over the recent activities of some militant groups operating in the oil-rich region, saying the Nigerian economy was "bleeding from the seams" and urgent steps must be taken to halt the trend. In the last couple of months, Nigeria’s crude oil production had declined from 2.2 million barrels per day to 1.2 million barrels per day due to pipeline vandalism. Between January and April, Nigeria lost an estimated N51.388 billion to sustained bombing of pipelines by militant groups in the Niger Delta. The royal fathers said that apart from the huge loss of revenue, which the vandalism of oil and

gas assets had caused, the massive oil spill into the waters and land portends grave dangers to the ecosystem of the Niger Delta. The alarm came as the monarchs rose from a meeting where they reviewed the recent developments in the region and resolved to hold an emergency security summit with a view to developing an actionable blueprint to resolve the crisis in the region. Chairman of the Forum, HRM Edmund Daukoru (Mingi XII), Amanyanabo of Nembe kingdom, said the decision to urgently convene an emergency security summit was to explore strategic frameworks for collective intervention on the conflicts relating to the broader aspects of security in the region. "The corporate integrity of our great nation Nigeria is under siege and fierce challenge. The renewed intensification of

violence, militancy, targeted destruction of national assets, kidnappings and other violent acts of sabotage has triggered a wave of insecurity in ways that cannot be described. “The unrestrained resort to brazen violence and intemperance has become truly worrisome, even ominous of potentially worse events to come. The imperative we face is that something has to be done with speed, to reverse this ugly slide towards potential anarchy, which threatens our very corporate existence," Dakorou said. The planned summit, which has as its theme “Institutionalising an Integrative Architecture for Systemizing Domestic Security Management in the Niger Delta” is scheduled to hold in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. According to Dakorou, the summit will provide an avenue to fashion out a holistic blueprint to tackle

the root causes of the crises, stem further escalation and lay a proper foundation to consolidate the unity and prosperity of the region for the present and future generations. The royal father warned that if all stakeholders do not take immediate steps to address the remote and immediate causes of the resurging militancy in the Niger Delta and develop a roadmap to contain it, the situation could spiral out of control like the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East. If that happens, Dakorou said, the crisis could sweep aside the marginal successes achieved in the economic, socio-cultural and developmental sectors of the Niger Delta. He said that the only solution is “to act decisively now to protect and safeguard our collective heritage, opportunities and commitments.” The royal father lamented that following the sustained attacks on strategic national assets,

the Nigerian economy has been adversely impacted. "Business activities have taken a nosedive and are plummeting steadily while at the same time, the ecology of lands in the region is fast being degraded as a result of massive spillage from the destroyed crude trunk lines. These have constituted a national embarrassment and opportunity losses of untold proportions. Under this heightened tension, the future of the region is being driven backwards,” he said. Dakorou appealed to all aggrieved citizens to sheathe their swords and allow the royal fathers to mediate in the conflict, which has pitched some militant groups against the Federal Government. He urged all parties in the conflict to see the intervention proposed by the royal fathers as a natural mandate and a sacred duty, which only the traditional institution is uniquely placed to initiate.

NEWS

MONday, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

PIB: Niger Delta crisis delays Senate passage

lDelay is in interest of oil producers –Spokesman Chukwu David Abuja

here are indications that the current resurgence of hostilities in the Niger Delta by the Niger Delta Avengers is the reason for the delay in consideration and passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in the Senate. New Telegraph learnt that sequel to the resumed bombing of oil pipelines and destruction of other infrastructural facilities

in the oil-rich region by the aggrieved militants, some senators from the area were making case for enhanced provisions for the host communities in the PIB, as a means of placating them and return peace to the area. However, some senators from the Niger Delta, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that the bill was already facing sectional politics and sentiments that made it impossible for it to receive support from the two Chambers of the

National Assembly since 2008, when it was first introduced. One of them threatened that the Niger Delta lawmakers in the National Assembly would not allow the bill to pass if the interest of the host communities was not well protected in the proposed legislation. But the spokesman for the Senate, Saliyu Sabi, told our correspondent that the PIB was being delayed by the Senate for further consideration in the interest of the oil-producing communities.

According to Sabi, senators from the Niger Delta made some observations on the bill and the Senate resolved to step it down for the time being, to give room for further consultations before representing it for approval. He refuted the insinuation that the document was stepped down in the last two consecutive occasions it was scheduled for second reading as a result of divisive politics of interests, which frustrated its passage in previous assemblies.

L-R: Managing Director, Union Bank Plc., Mr. Emeka Emuwa; Managing Director, Standard Chartered Nigeria & West Africa, Mrs. Bola Adesola; Group Managing Director, UBA Plc., Mr. Phillips Oduoza and Director (Banking Supervision), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, at the end of the 327th meeting of the Bankers’ Committee in Abuja …recently.

His words: "Nobody is frustrating anything; the bill was dropped in the interest of the Niger Delta people. The people from the area made some observations about it, and it was dropped for further consultations. "The 8th Senate is committed to doing justice to every segment of this country in all its legislations, and we have resolved to do whatever we can to ensure that people's interests and concerns are handled to their satisfaction, as a means of addressing the various agitations and unrests in the country." Sabi's position, however, is an indication that the bill is being trailed by disagreements and perhaps politics of interests that marred previous attempts at passing it into law. The Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Babajide Omoworare, while reacting on why the PIB was dropped on Wednesday last week, after it was scheduled for second reading, said that the PIB was one of the bills that would never pass into law, if enough consensus was not built among the senators and their constituents. He also hinted that the Grazing Reserves Bill, as well as the Gender Equali-

New forex rules: CBN to sanction erring banks' CEOs CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

for the new forex regime, explaining that the policy failed in some of the countries that had adopted it, while it succeeded in others. Consequently, he told the bank CEOs that the CBN would not be “stampeded” into releasing the guidelines and that it would still continue to do more consultations, appealing to lenders to abide by the rules when the new regime takes off. The banking watchdog had, last month, announced plans to adopt a flexible exchange rate policy and abandon the naira's 15-month peg to the dollar, which has overvalued the Nigerian currency, harmed investments and caused the economy to contract. The CBN has held the naira at N197- N199 per dollar since March 2015, even as other oil exporters from Russia to Colombia and Malaysia let their currencies drop amid the slump in crude prices since mid2014. Emefiele had said the decision to adopt a new forex policy was to enable the country avert an imminent recession. He stated that the CBN would soon release new guide-

lines on the management of foreign exchange, adding that it would retain a small window for critical transactions. However, the apex bank has yet to clarify how the new policy would work, spooking foreign investors, long worried about getting caught in the middle of currency devaluation. Bloomberg had reported an economist at Exotix Partners LLP in London, Alan Cameron, as predicting that under the new arrangement, the naira, which traded last Friday at N350 per dollar at the unofficial market (black market), could trade at around N285-N290 per dollar. Bloomberg also said that other analysts believe that if the CBN does not allow the naira to decline enough, foreign investors will continue to shun Nigerian assets. It reported a Fund Manager at Tundra Fonder AB, Mathias Althoff, as saying that the banking watchdog may try to control the new interbank rate by imposing a trading band of about 5 or 10 per cent around it. According to analysts at Renaissance Capital Ltd., the new forex regime will entail the CBN allocating dollars at a fixed rate to strategic industries, such as energy and agriculture,

while letting the naira weaken in the interbank market, where everyone else would buy their foreign currency. But analysts are worried about the introduction of a dual exchange rate, warning that it could give room for abuses in the forex market. Bloomberg quoted Head of African research at Standard Chartered Plc. in London, Razia Khan, as saying, “The suggestion of a dual exchange rate, with the maintenance of the official window, is a concern. This might lead to continued distortions in the market, ultimately with pressure on foreignexchange reserves.” There is also uncertainty in some quarters about whether the CBN will really allow the naira to fall steeply against the dollar, given its previous stance – backed by President Muhammadu Buhari – that such a move will lead to an increase in inflation. “The MPC has dangled the carrot of exchangerate reform, but without giving any details of what a reformed market would look like,” said Cameron at Exotix. “To the skeptics among us, this will simply sound like a rehash of the same old material we’ve been hearing about since

December 2015.” Africa's biggest economy, which contracted by 0.4 per cent in the first quarter, faces its worst crisis for decades after the sharp fall in oil prices and last year's introduction of a currency peg that put investors to flight. Currently, international airlines have over $591 million of their monies trapped in the country. Last Thursday, Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, said the government planned to continue "engagement over the coming months" with international investors as it explores fundraising options following a non-deal road show in London earlier this week. Money managers who attended Nigeria’s road show last Tuesday, said they were alarmed at the lack of any steer on what happens next in Nigeria's foreign exchange market, two weeks after the CBN announced plans to liberalise the currency. Also, Reuters reported last Thursday that a meeting between Emefiele and local currency traders under the aegis of the Financial Market Dealers Association the previous day to discuss the policy did not yield the desired result. The news agency quoted

an unnamed senior banker as saying, “We are unlikely to get anything in the next two to three weeks. I don’t think the guidelines are ready. The reality is that he (the governor) does not understand the meaning of signals. “By not coming out (with the details) the governor has shown he doesn’t believe the policy. There is the risk the policy could be reversed,” the senior banker added. Buhari has, for months, rejected calls to devalue the naira. During his Democracy Day speech on May 29, he backed the CBN’s flexible policy on the currency, but said he was still against devaluation. “On the value of the naira, I am still agonising over it… I need to be educated on this… I am under pressure and we’ll see how far we can accommodate the economists,” Buhari said in an interview. In a note issued recently, Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, predicted that when the CBN eventually releases the new forex guidelines, it would lead, “to further market segmentation into four rates... and rates will converge with slight naira appreciation.”

ty Bill were in the category of legislative proposals in the current assembly that needed strong and comprehensive consensus building before they could pass into law because of conflicts of interests around them. The bill, which is now known as New PIB, has earlier passed first reading in April. It was scheduled for second reading on April 26, but suffered a setback when the Senate suspended debate on it midway. Some senators, particularly those from the SouthSouth insisted that debate on it should be suspended on the ground that copies of the bill were not distributed to members ahead of time to enable them do a thorough study and prepare for meaningful contributions. Then, last Wednesday, June 8, the bill appeared as number one item on the Order Paper, but the Senate went into executive session, after which the bill was dropped again without any explanation. When New Telegraph tried to get detailed information on what was actually happening to the bill, Senator Gershom Bassey (PDP, Cross River South) simply replied: "We are on tract".

NSCDC arrests Boko Haram recruiter, arms supplier

he Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a 56-year-old Boko Haram kingpin responsible for recruitment and supply of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The terror suspect, who was arrested in Aski Uba Local Government Area of Borno, confessed that three of his children are arrowheads of the terrorist group. The Commandant of the NSCDC in Borno, Mr. Ibrahim Abdullahi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri. Abdullahi said that the suspect was apprehended at Mussa village on June 7. “Our men have made remarkable progress by arresting a Boko Haram kingpin. The notorious kingpin was said to be a recruiter as well as supplier of arms and IEDs to Boko Haram terrorists. “He confessed that his three children were also arrowheads of the Boko Haram sect,” he said. He said the command had since handed over the suspect to the army for further investigation.

6 News|NATIONAL Imminent, NANTA warns 300, 000 job losses in aviation Andrew Iro Okungbowa

s foreign airlines operating into Nigeria continue to experience difficulties in operations, resulting from their inability to repatriate their money, due to the squeeze in foreign currency, the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) has raised the alarm of over 300, 000 losses in aviation and imminent fold up by the airlines if the situation remained unchecked. This warning was sounded by the President of NANTA, Mr. Bankole Bernard, while speaking on the challenges that operators in aviation, particularly travel agents and other travel suppliers are facing due to the non-availability of foreign currency

in the economy. According to him, volume in the numbers of travellers have dropped considerable as many people and corporate bodies can no longer afford the high cost of tickets or purchase tickets in foreign currency as demanded by many of the foreign airlines in the country. Bernard said that if something urgent was not done by the Federal Government, over 300, 000 Nigerians are at the risk of losing the jobs as many of the airlines may not be able to keep up with their daily operations, adding that once that happened, the economy would further take a plunge due to the ripple effect it would have on both the downstream and upstream operations of aviation and related sectors.

SERAP tasks FG on Niger Delta crisis Tunde Oyesina Abuja

ocio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) yesterday asked the Federal Government to stand up to powerful oil companies that have continued to abuse the human rights of the people of the Niger Delta with impunity for decades if it is to satisfactorily resolve the crisis in the region. The call was contained in a statement issued by the Executive Director of the group, Adetokunbo Mumuni.

The call, according to the group was against the background of continuing crisis in the Niger Delta, fuelled by the activities of the ‘Niger Delta Avengers’, who are relentlessly bombing the country’s oil infrastructure and have slashed its crude output. The statement reads in part, “An important part of the solution to the human rights crisis is for President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the ECOWAS Court judgment which ordered the Nigerian government to punish oil companies over oil pollution and devastation in the region.

monDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

L-R: Human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana(SAN); Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG), Mr. Tunji Bello; former Editorin-Chief, Newswatch Magazine, Mr. Ray Ekpu and Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief, New Telegraph Newspapers, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, at the public lecture, to mark the 23rd Anniversary of June 12, 1993 presidential election, in Lagos… yesterday. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Subsidy: Obasanjo beratesYar’Adua, Jonathan

lNeglects deny Nigeria N9bn revenues from CNG residence in Abeokuta, Adeola Yusuf

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, reviewed the natural gas utilisation in Nigeria, expressing misgivings against previous administration after him for neglecting further works on the licenses he gave ten years ago for the development of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) facility for automobiles. Obasanjo, who said this when he received the top management of Green Gas Limited (GGL), a Joint Venture company between the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) and NIPCO Plc at his Presidential Hilltop

Air pollution increases stroke risk Appolonia Adeyemi

ir pollution has for the first time become one of the top contributors to stroke worldwide. This is the finding of a research published in ‘The Lancet Neurology’ journal. The study found that unclean air now causes more stroke-related deaths and disability than smoking. Air pollution is the introduction of particulates, biological molecules, or other harmful materials into earth’s atmosphere, causing diseases, death to humans, and damage to other living organisms such as animals and food crops or the natural or built environment. Going by the findings of the new research, air pollution is now a leading risk factor for stroke, which is a “brain attack”. Stroke can happen to anyone at any time. It occurs when blood flow to an area of brain is cut off. When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die. When brain cells die dur-

ing a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain such as memory and muscle control are lost. The Sunday Morning Herald reported that globally, it was responsible for nearly 30 per cent of years of healthy life lost to a stroke in 2013, compared with 23 per cent for tobacco smoke. Major sources of air pollution include fumes from car exhausts, factories and power plants. The stroke-related danger from unclean air compared with smoking is particularly acute in low and middle-income countries. In these countries, air pollution caused 34 per cent of stroke-related death and disability, compared with 24 per cent for smoking. In high income countries, smoking caused more stroke-related harm – 20 per cent, compared with 10 per cent for air pollution. Ambient (outdoor) air pollution caused more stroke-related harm than smoking in numerous African and Middle Eastern countries, as well as India and Bangladesh.

This reflects both higher smoking rates in developing countries and the success of antismoking legislation and public health campaigns in high-income countries such as Australia, according to Amanda Thrift, head of stroke and ageing research at Monash University’s School of Clinical Sciences. Monash University is an Australian public research university based in Melbourne, Australia. “We’ve had the Quit campaign, plain cigarette packaging, a ban on cigarette advertising. This has translated into behavioural changes that have really put Australia at the forefront of changes to reduce smoking worldwide,” Professor Thrift said. “Tobacco companies are pretty smart and know which countries have these legislations in place. So, in the last 15-20 years, they’ve been targeting low income countries without these measures.” The research, which analysed trends in 17 stroke risk factors in 188 countries between 1990 and 2013, highlighted the split between

Ogun State, maintained that he awarded the licenses for three firms, including Nipco, in 2006 to lessen pressure on the use of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) known as petrol for automobiles in Nigeria. He argued that if previous governments had built on this, the millions of Naira paid on subsidy would have been reduced while about 20 per cent of vehicles in the country could have been converted and be fuelled by natural gas. Former Special Assistant to the President on Petroleum Resources during Obasanjo and General Abdulsalami Abubakar,

high-income and low-income countries. Between 1990 and 2013, the burden of stroke in low and middle-income countries increased for 15 of the 17 risk factors. Only second-hand tobacco smoke (down 25 per cent) and household air pollution from solid fuels (down two per cent) are now less dangerous than in 1990. By contrast, the burden in high income countries fell for all but one of the 17 risk factors: sugar-sweetened drinks.

Dr. Muhammed Ibraheem, corroborated Obasanjo’s view on the economic fortunes, which the neglect of natural gas for automobiles licenses denied Nigeria. Ibraheem, who led the Green Gas delegation, including the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Venkataraman Venkatapathy, to Obasanjo specifically maintained that Nigeria would have saved $2.5 billion for investing just $200 million in the natural gas for automobile project. “We would have saved $2.5 billion for investing $200million on CNG,” he said. “It is exactly 10 years now that your govern-

£18.5m

The net amount of money spent/ received by Crystal Palace in the summer 2015 transfer window. Source: 101greatgoals.com

£25.3m

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

ment awarded licenses to three firms, including Nipco, Contact global and one more. “But since that time, little or nothing is done by government to check these licenses. No additional license is awarded since then. “What we have come to show you are what the Green Gas limited has been able to do through the license you awarded to NIPCO, one of the JV partners in the Green Gas project,” he said. Venkatapathy added that his company has converted the engine of over 4, 000 vehicles in Benin, Edo State from fuel to gas. “In Benin city, Edo State, over 4,000 vehicles run on CNG, which resulted in replacing 20 million litres of petrol from Year 2012 to 2015 and forex savings of over USD 9 million to the country. “With a license given to it to develop CNG facility for automobiles, Green Gas Limited (GGL) is the only company till date, which has developed nine operational CNG stations, three stations under completion and five under construction.”

Nigeria reiterates fears over airspace violation Wole Shadare

he violation of airspace by the deployment of drones has raised concern over air travel with many believing that it would not be long before a drone causes an air disaster. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) recently said it was worried about the use of drones in the country and has taken cognisance of the growing requests for the use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) leading to its proliferation in Nigeria. The development of the use of RPA nationwide has emerged with somewhat

predictable safety concerns and security threats. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is yet to publish Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), as far as certification and operation of civil use of RPA is concerned. NCAA has therefore put in place Regulations/ Advisory Circular to guide the certification and operations of civil RPA in the Nigerian airspace” The agency, through its spokesman, Sam Adurogboye, reiterated that the NCAA would ensure that applicants and holders of permits to operate RPA/

Drones must strictly be guided by safety guidelines while in addition, operators must ensure strict compliance with the conditions stipulated in their permits and the requirements of the Nig.CARs. Violators shall be sanctioned according to the dictates of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs). According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), there have been 23 incidents involving drones at UK airports over the past six months, including 12 “category A” near-miss scenarios – four of them in January alone.”

news

monday, june 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

APC chieftain canvasses Civilian-JTF in Niger Delta

Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the South-South geo-political zone is canvassing for a Joint Task Force that would include civilians in order to tackle the recent attacks on oil installations in the region. The call came as an exmilitant leader, Africanus Ukparasia, warned the Federal Government against plans to negotiate with the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) that has claimed responsibility for the attacks on oil in-

stallations in the Niger Delta. The APC chieftain, who did not want his name in print, said it is only the civilians in the Niger Delta that would help in solving the problem of renewed militancy in the area, just as it was when the Federal Government involved the civilians in the Joint Task Force in the North East that the security operatives were able to make impact in the war against Boko Haram insurgents. He said: "The issue of Niger Delta Avengers blowing up oil pipelines should be addressed locally."

Bello to Abdulsalami at 74: You’re the foundation of our democracy Dan Atori MINNA

iger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, at the weekend, said the country owes the uninterrupted democracy being enjoyed today to the solid foundation laid by the short but memorable administration of General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retired). The governor in a birthday message to the immediate past military Head of State, who clocked 74 yesterday, described Abubakar as the father of the new Nigeria. Governor Sani Bello in a statement issued

in Minna yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, said the Abubakar's contribution to the democratic development of the country gave birth to the current political dispensation in the country. "You are a compatriot of immeasurable value, a man whose words are his honour. Though your reign was brief, Nigeria and Nigerians are the beneficiaries of the democratic foundation you laid. Your singular bravery act saw to the enthronement of democracy and the re-positioning of Nigeria in the comity of nations."

Ex-militants: Rivers' protest not about N'Delta avengers Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

x-militants who unleashed mayhem on innocent citizens in the Elekahia axis of Port Harcourt, last Saturday, have distanced themselves from the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, which has been attacking oil and gas installations in Delta and Bayelsa States. According to one of the ex-militants, who escaped being arrested by opera-

tives of the Special AntiRobbery Squad, SARS, they protested and damaged properties to express their anger over the refusal of the Presidential Amnesty office to pay them their monthly stipend. About 15 cars were damaged by the ex-militants during a procession that turned ugly after some of them started snatching peoples bags, phones and cash, causing confusion in the area as motorists and commuters ran helter skelter.

Ekwueme, Adebanjo, Ezeife, Obi back restructuring

Kenneth Ofoma and Charles Onyekwere

minent Nigerians yesterday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to embark on the immediate restructuring of Nigeria in line with the principles of true federalism. They made the call in Enugu at the 17th annual convention of Igbo Youth Movement (IYM), headed by Elliot Ukoh. The elder statesmen and women, including second republic Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme; Yoruba leader, Ayo Adebanjo; former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana; former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife; resource control protagonist, Ankio Briggs and the immedi-

Ibadan

he Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty, Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, has called on traditional rulers and the Federal Government to expedite efforts towards the preservation of local languages and re-introduction of History as a subject in secondary schools in order

to preserve the national identity of Nigerians. The monarch made the call on Friday during his lecture delivered at the 3rd National Public Service Lecture of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association held at the Trenchard Hall of the university where many distinguished ancient alumni, including Chief Dr. Michael Omolayole, were in attendance.

deeply on Nigeria's problems. According to him, he came out with the idea of six geo-political structures, which he pushed for in a national conference much later and it became a convention and has taken care of minorities in the South and North. Ekwueme said what Nigeria negotiated for and agreed with the colonial masters before independence was a regional government, where each has a constitution that were annexed to the Republican Constitution of 1963. According to him, the Republican Constitution then provided 50 percent revenue sharing formula for the regions, 30 percent to a distributable pool and 20 percent to the centre. "There is need for us to

return to the basics from what we inherited from our founding fathers," he said. On his part, Adebanjo who went down memory lane to trace the origin of federalism in Nigeria to the various pre and postcolonial constitutional conferences, insisted that Nigeria must be restructured to correct the humongous damage done to the nation’s constitution by the military and to put a stop to the various acts of uprising in the country, including those of the Niger Delta Avengers, MASSOB and IPOB. Prof. Jerry Gana said the nation’s founding fathers were right by agreeing to a federal structure, which he described as the best governance structure to guarantee peace, equity and justice.

L-R: Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule; member, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Fatai Lawal; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola at the 8th Alhaji Kafaru Tinubu's Memorial Ramadan Lecture in Lagos …yesterday

FG signs pact on return of 80,000 IDPs from Cameroon Obinna Odoh Abuja

he Federal Government has signed a tripartite agreement with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Republic of Cameroun for the return of 80,000 Nigerian refugees that had fled for safety and are currently

Achebe calls for preservation of local languages Sola Adeyemo

ate former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, advised President Buhari to begin the immediate implementation of the National Conference report of 2014 as a first step towards restructuring the country. The leaders, who spoke on the theme; "Still In Search of True Federalism," noted that the current protests and demands for separation by various groups in the country, as well as other socio-economic crises could be reduced by half if the national confab report was implemented. Second Republic VicePresident, Ekwueme said every disappointment was a blessing, noting that his incarceration in 1984 at Kirikiri Prison by the military afforded him the opportunity to reflect

Speaking on "Change and the Nigerian Traditional Institution", where he urged the Federal Government to accord due constitutional roles to traditional rulers as custodians of customs and traditions which are beacons of communal development, the monarch wondered why Nigerian local languages were being relegated for English.

take refuge in Cameroun because of insurgency. Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammad Sani Sidi, made this known when an African Union Humanitarian Mission led by Dr. Aisha Laraba Abdullahi, Commissioner, Political Affairs, visited the headquarters of the agency during the weekend. He said there were 80,000 displaced Nigerians currently taking refuge in Cameroun and that the Federal Government has been making efforts to cater for all their basic needs. Sidi said the Federal

599

The number of fatalities in terrorists’ violence involving terrorists in 2006. Source: Satp.org

Government and states affected by the insurgency, United Nations Organisations, International Non-Governmental Organisations and the private sector had done a lot in the past four years to manage large numbers of internally displaced persons in the North East, adding that “we have moved from the emergency response stage to recovery and resettlement of the IDPs.” He urged the visiting commissioner to use her good offices as Commissioner, Political Affairs, of the African Union (AU), to seek for more assistance and support for the affected persons and the states. He thanked development partners, UN agencies, civil societies and others for working tirelessly in supporting the IDPs and the Government of Nigeria.

TUC honours Dangote for jobs creation I

n recognition of his efforts at job creation in the country, Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the weekend honoured the President and Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his Savannah Sugar Company with awards in Abuja. Dangote is the second largest employer of labour outside government in Nigeria. Last month the group announced that it was creating 210,000 jobs between now and 2018 in the agricultural sector with its diversification in rice cultivation and tomatoes paste production. While honouring him with an ‘Excellence Award in Major Employment,’ TUC described him as “a living example of generosity, grace and fortitude.” The Savannah Sugar Company, a company under the Dangote Group, also bagged the Most Labour Friendly Employer award.

monDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO

ABIODUN BELLO abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

Serial rapist, killer escapes lynching

...caught a week after raping, killing nursing mother JulianaFrancis

fleeing suspected rapist, identified simply as Badoo, who allegedly raped and killed a 27-year-old Ghanaian, Grace Obinna, at Ibeshe in Ikorodu area of Lagos State, almost lost his life yesterday. On Thursday, residents of Oke Ota protested Obinna’s alleged murder. While attempting to rape Obinna, who had a nine-month-old, Badoo knocked out the victim’s teeth. Members of the community yesterday saw the suspect or someone who looked like him and swooped on him. They were about to lynch him when operatives of the Rapid Respond Squad (RRS) got to the scene and saved him. But the police had a hectic time wresting the suspect from the angry mob which was bent on lynching and setting him ablaze. Not satisfied, the mob descended on the palace of the Olu of Ibeshe. They vandalised the palace, according to sources. The people were angry that the suspect initially took refuge in the palace. The mob then accused the monarch of shielding the suspected rapist cum killer. A police source said: “He has just been picked at Ibeshe, Ikorodu by members of the community. The residents wanted to carry out jungle justice on the suspect, but police rescued him.” A resident, Segun Ogundeji,

said: “Someone has been arrested, purportedly being the rapist. But with the situation on ground now, I can’t confirm he is the rapist. But he is in the palace of the Olu of Ibeshe. We have been trying to manage a mammoth crowd for over four hours now. The crowd is insisting on lynching the person. “But as members of the community, we are insisting that justice should take its course. We are looking for a way to help the police to ferry him away and carry out their investigation. I have been liaising between the police and the palace, so I haven’t been able to speak with the suspect, to know

whether he is denying or accepting that he is the serial rapist.” Another resident, Adenike, said: “We don’t know the power this man is using. He used to sneak into ladies’ apartment to rape them. He would later wipe their vagina with a handkerchief.” Residents alleged that Badoo had raped two other women before Obinna. He allegedly used to inflict knife cuts on his victims after raping them. Obinna, a mother of one, was raped and killed on Sunday last week. The escapades of Badoo forced many women to start fleeing the community.

Badoo

lMob attacks monarch’s palace Badoo was able to gain entry into Obinna’s apartment by entering through the window, while her husband was not at home. He reportedly struck her head with a weapon. Obinna’s screams alerted neighbours, who rushed into the room. However, before they got there, Badoo had fled, leaving Obinna and her baby all bloodied. Some residents said that Obinna would have lived; if not that she was rejected in hospitals she was rushed to. She was confirmed dead at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.

The protesters

City Briefs Senator donates lifejackets, cash to constituents

Adeola (second left) presenting a lifejacket to Akingbola (right)

Wale Elegbede

awmaker representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Senator Solomon Adeola, has donated 500 lifejackets to boat operators in his constituent. The donation came on the heels of incessant boat mishaps and loss of lives on the waterways.

Adeola also gave N20,000 grant to 50 market men and women to augment their trading activities. Making the donation in his senatorial district office at Ikeja over the weekend, the senator said it was not limited to members of his political party, All Progressives Congress (APC). According to him, the gesture is meant for his constituents, irrespective of

The Chairman of the Landlords’ Association, Pastor Abayomi Adelakun, alleged that Badoo attempted to rape an 86-year-old woman in the community a week before Obinna was raped and killed. When she resisted, he injured her in the nose. The woman was rushed to a hospital. Luckily, she survived the attack. The Baale of Oke Ota community, Chief Awoyemi Tijani, said his wife also could not sleep at home because of the attacks. He said: “Nobody has seen him in the daytime. I don’t know what he looks like.

political party affiliation. He said: “I see my empowerment as a way to remind the people that I have not forgot them. Despite dire economic situation of the country, I will continue to remember those who sent me to Abuja as their senator. It is also part of fulfilling my campaign promises to the people.” While calling on all boat operators to impress safety measures on all their passengers by wearing life vests in order to eliminate loss of lives in case of mishaps, Adeola urged them not to contravene the laws and directives guiding boat operation on the water ways. He added: “The cash donation to market men and women is the first set for beneficiaries as I am going to make it a regular grant for different sets of market men and women to assist in their business.”

Cultists abduct six in Rivers community Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

unmen, suspected to be cultists, have abducted six persons in Edeoha community in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State. This came barely a month after gunmen attacked the area and killed some persons. According to reports, the suspected cultists stormed the community on Friday evening, and went after their targets, including a chief, a man and wife, among other victims. A source said those abducted included Chief Leo Ahamefula, Mrs. Abule, Mr.

and Mrs. Success Nwanodi, Nenka Atomic and Mrs. Natty. In early May, gunmen attacked Ulu-Akpata and Edeoha communities in Ahoada East and killed about 11 persons before setting them on fire in two separate attacks. A source said that there were no security operatives when the gunmen attacked Edeoha, explaining that soldiers had been deployed in the area in the aftermath of the May attack by suspected cultists. When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ahmad Mohammad, said he was not aware of the incident.

METRO

monDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

11-year-old girl begged me ‘22 non-existent schools got allocations for 10 years’ to sleep with her –Bricklayer Dan Atori Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

65-year-old plumber, Akinlolu Ogunlade, has told police in Oyo State that he had carnal knowledge of an 11-year-old girl (name withheld) because the victim lured him into sleeping with her. Ogunlade was paraded at the weekend at the Eleyele Police Headquarters, Ibadan, by the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Leye Oyebade, along with 14 other suspects in connection with various criminal acts including armed robbery, kidnapping and fraud. Oyebade described Ogunlade as a serial rapist who specialises in abducting teenage girls and keeping them in his hideout permanently as sex slaves. He said: “The girl left home on May 27 about 8pm for a vigil at Abidi-Odan area, Akobo, Ibadan and did not return home on Saturday, May 28 as expected. All efforts made to locate her whereabouts proved abortive. “However, on May 30,

about 4:30pm, police detectives, acting on reliable information, traced the victim to the hideout of the suspect at Abidi-Odan area, Akobo, Ibadan where she was finally rescued.” But the suspect, Ogunlade, told our correspondent that he had consensual sex with the minor. He said: “I am 65 years’ old and I am also a plumber. I was arrested at Akobo area in Ibadan. The little girl came over to me and started disturbing me to have sex with her. I told her that she was too young. I told her she could not do something like that but she told me that she could. I thereafter had sex with her two times and kept her in my custody just for four days. “I am married but my wife is dead and I have only one child.” Similarly, a two-man gang of robbers was nabbed by police detectives attached to Ashi Police Division. The detectives trailed and arrested Kelvin Eluwa (31) and Adegboyega Tunji (31) who claimed to be a graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University.

MINNA

hanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State has suspended at least three of its principal officers following the discovery of 22 non-existing schools. Most of the schools, it was learnt, are not located in Chanchaga but in other local government areas of the state but have been allocated salaries in the past 10 years. It was also learnt that the discrepancies which gave birth to the non-existent schools and ghost workers were created by local government officials. The suspension of the three officials is already generating anxiety among directors in the remaining departments as two out of the six departments in the council have been investigated. The local government Chairman, Hon. Yusuf Fuka, wrote the state chairman, Local Government Service Commission

Juliana Francis

Tunji and Kelvin with stolen items

22-year-old man, who left Kirikiri Prison three months ago, is likely going back after he was arrested for attacking and robbing Portuguese couple at the Ojora area of Lagos State. The suspect, Samuel Meme, was arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) after he and his accomplice, Wasiu, robbed the Portuguese couple in traffic. He said: “Wasiu and I positioned ourselves on both sides of the car and we broke the two rear glasses. I collected the man’s phone while Wasiu took his wife’s phone

Angwan Gaya Model Primary, one of the non-existent schools in Chanchaga Local Government Area.

and chairman, Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB), requesting for the immediate suspension of some officers. “The three officers are suspended for the roles they played in their respective departments. They are the Education Secretary, Dr. Rahmatu Haruna, Head of Personnel Management, Danladi Mohammed and Cashier of the local government, Mohammed Garba. More heads will roll. We expect

Three months after leaving prison, ex-convict robs Portuguese couple

Meme and Yahuu

and her purse containing N60,000. The lady pleaded for her drug from the purse and I asked my colleague to give her and we left for another car.”

Customs officer slapped judge –Task force Muritala Ayinla and Camillus Nnaji

agos State Task Force on Environment and Special Offence Unit at the weekend accused two officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) of attacking a Magistrate of the state Mobile Court, Mr. Lekan Aka-Bashorun, and carted away court exhibits as well as recording gadgets. The task force also alleged that a fully armed Nigerian Customs Assistant 1, Mr. S. S. Yusuf, with Service No 48730 and an Identification Card No 368 attached to the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A,’ Ikeja, slapped Aka-Bashorun for ordering court officials to impound Customs officers’ private vehicles for traffic offences. The task force Public Affairs Officers, Mr. Taofik Adebayo, told journalists yesterday that the officers were attached to the Federal

Arrested Customs officials who were later released

Operations Unit, Zone ‘A,’ Ikeja. Adebayo said armed Customs officers also beat two para-military officials and rough handled two Superintendents of Police attached to task force - Supol Sunday Ikharere and Supol Adeloye Okunola - at the gate of their premises at Ikeja. He said: “Officers of the Nigerian Customs Service at Ikeja who

more revelations to come out from the revenue, health and the agriculture sectors,” the letter reads in part. On assumption of office, Fuka has uncovered payment of salaries to 22 non-existing primary schools and their teachers in the council for the last 10 years. The discoveries were made in the ongoing biometric verification exercise by the local government.

Fuka told our correspondent that the local government had over 4,000 workers comprising over 2,700 in the education sector and 1,600 other staff. He disclosed that the verification was not aimed at witch-hunting anyone but to bring sanity to the administration of the finances of the local government. According to him, by fishing out ghost workers, his administration will be able to source for funds to embark on developmental projects since the present monthly allocation cannot pay staff salaries. He said there was dwindling monthly allocation to the local government. The chairman said that last month, his local government received N74 million instead of N177 million needed monthly for the payment of staff salaries. According to him, the local government allocates N122 million to teachers’ salaries while N55 million is for other staff per month.

trooped out en masse angrily and violently re-acted to the operatives of the Lagos Mobile Courts claiming that they were Federal Government agency and were fully exempted from any of the Lagos State Government laws particularly the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012. “The operatives of the court had commenced its operations from

The traumatised Portuguese couple were said to be on admission in the hospital. Meme, a former scrap metal collector, who later

Allen Avenue at Ikeja impounding both commercial and private vehicles for various traffic offences down to Nigerian Customs Operations Unit, Ikeja area where private vehicles were flagrantly parked along the walkways beside an illegal car wash despite a ‘NO PARKING’ sign printed by the management of Nigerian Customs on the walls of the premises.” When contacted, the FOU Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Uche Ejesieme, confirmed the report. Ejesieme, however, said the misunderstanding had been resolved by the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni and FOU Comptroller, Umar Dahiru. He said: “Indeed there was a minor misunderstanding between our operatives and the police task force. We admit it was unprofessional, but the matter has been resolved because of the respect the two security agencies have for each other. We have to reiterate that FOU is not a lawless Customs unit and cannot excuse lawlessness. What happened has been settled.”

embraced robbery, said he used to target cars whose occupants were busy using their phones while in traffic. Meme was arrested on Saturday after robbing a Portuguese couple and occupant of another car in traffic on Marine Bridge, Ijora. He said: “My plan was to operate alone that night. Luckily for me there was heavy traffic, which extended deep into the night on Marine Bridge. Just as I was planning to strike, I ran into Wasiu, who is still at large. We decided to rob cars together.” Meme added that minutes after they agreed to work together, they noticed a Toyota Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), occupied by a white man and woman. It was the Portuguese couple. The suspects attacked. After robbing the Portuguese couple, the two men went for another victim. Meme recounted: “The next car in front was a Toyota Corolla, with a lone occupant. We broke the two side glasses too but the lady insisted she had no phone but we collected her bag and jewellery.” He said that it was Wasiu that taught him how to rob in traffic. According to him, after he had mastered the act, he started operating alone.

NEWS | national

NADECO, activists demand restructuring, confab report

Temitope Ogunbanke

orried by state of the nation, National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) leaders, eminent lawyers and pro-democracy activists yesterday demanded the restructuring of Nigeria. They also implored President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the report of the 2014 National Conference, which according to them, would assist government in restructuring Nigeria. Speaking yesterday at the 23rd anniversary of June 12, 1993 presidential election organised by Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in Lagos, leader of NADECO, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd); National Coordinator of OPC, Chief Gani Adams; President of Women Arise for

Change Initiatives, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin and other activists, said the implementation of the confab would address basic problems in the country. Kanu, in his address, advised Buhari to revisit his decision on sending the confab report to archives. “I will advise President Buhari to revisit his decision on National Conference report because the report contains the opinion of credible Nigerians, who gathered at the conference to chart a way forward for Nigeria,” he said. Adams said some of the issues raised during the June 12, 1993 presidential election campaign remained unaddressed till date because past Nigerian leaders failed to address the need to restructure Nigeria and ensure fiscal federalism.

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JESUS LIFE YOUTHS DISCIPLESHIP OUTREACH

The general public is hereby inform that the above named Association has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part 'C' of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Degree No. 1 of 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Rev. Emem Simon Jacob - Chairman 2. Pastor Idongesit Moses Ekpo 3. Pastor Daniel Duff Umoh 4. Rev. Jones William Udi 5. Elder Inemesit Okon Nta 6. Mrs. Mfon Emem Simon 7. Mrs. Mercy Umoh Udonwa AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: REV. EMEM SIMON JACOB PRESIDENT

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The general public is hereby inform that the above named MINISTRY has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part 'C' of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Degree No. 1 of 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Kayode Oluwafemi Sam 2. Kayode Olayinka Olabisi 3. Oyewale Tope Lawrence AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To propagate the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ to the world 2. To win souls for Christ and to help the less privileged-one. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: MOSES OLUSEGUN 08180264484

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The general public is hereby inform that the above named CLUB has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part 'C' of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Degree No. 1 of 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Mr Mbachu Christogonus 2. Mr. Agabi Cletus Emeka 3. Mr. Okeke Christopher Chinwe 4. Mr. Emenoba Chijioke Peter 5. Mr. Ike Emeka Magnus AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To promote unity and love amongst members. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: TRUSTEES

monday, june 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

remembering june 12 election

Abiola family demands presidential entitlements T MKO's enemies now laying wreath Kunle Olayeni

he family of the late Chief MKO Abiola, the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, has called on the Federal Government to declare him the winner and pay presidential entitlements to his family. The request was made yesterday by the head of the family, Alhaji Muritala Abiola, at the commemoration of the June 12, 1993 election. The event, which was organised by the state government, started with a Democracy Walk from the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta to the Oke Ido ancestral home of the Abiolas. Muritala, who is the younger brother of the late business mogul, said he deserved the entitlement for dying for the enthronement of democracy in the country. "First, we want the Federal Government to declare June 12 as Democracy Day. It should do even more than that. " Ken Saro Wiwa died fighting over Ogoni oil spillage; the Federal

Government is doing the cleaning up of the oil spillage in Ogoni land. "MKO was killed because of an election he won. Maybe, it is you journalists or the Nigerian government calling him acclaimed winner. “He is not acclaimed winner. They should confirm him as slain president of Nigeria. “MKO should be declared president. Although slain, all the entitlements belong to the family," he said. Murtala, however, thanked the state government for keeping the memory of the late Abiola alive by staging a Democracy Walk in the last five years. He appealed to the state government to return the school established by the late Abiola- Salawu Abiola Comprehensive High School, Osiele, Abeokuta- to the family to administer. Gov. Ibikunle Amosun, in his speech, said that everyone knew that the late MKO Abiola was the adjudged winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election. Amosun, who was rep-

change OF NAME Chukwu: I, formerly known and addressed as Okpara Anthonia Ugo now wish to be known and addressed as Chukwu Anthonia Ugo. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

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DIVINE MOTHER OF CHILDREN FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby inform that the above named Foundation has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part 'C' of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Degree No. 1 of 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Mrs. Lily- White Imafidon - President 2. Mr. Cornelius Ubong Ukpong 3. Mrs. Aniefiok Victor Akpan - Secretary AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To Relief poverty especially among children and to help the needy. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: MRS. LILY-WHITE IMAFIDON PRESIDENT

resented by the deputy governor, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, described him as the hero of the nation's current democracy. ``We have been or-

ganising the Democracy Walk and identifying with the Abiola family for the past five years that this administration has been in government.

at his graveside –Osun PDP sun State chapter of get in return?", The statethe Peoples Demo- ment queried. "Protests O cratic Party, PDP, yester- were instigated and insults day declared that the real enemies of late business mogul and the acclaimed winner of June 12, presidential election, Bashorun MKO Abiola, are the ones using his goodwill to curry favour of Nigerians at the moment. The party, in a statement issued in Osogbo, by its spokesperson, Prince Diran Odeyemi, recalled that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, had in recognition of the sacrifice of late presidential candidate of Social Democratic Party, SDP, for the nation's democracy, named University of Lagos, UniLag, after him. "But what did Jonathan

hurled at President Jonathan by those that have over the years benefitted immensely from the goodwill of the late Abiola. "Chief MKO Abiola stands for all that is noble and good. Unfortunately, effort that would have perfectly immortalised him, was rejected by biggest beneficiaries of late Abiola's goodwill and philanthropy. "Nigerians know those that worked against Unilag being named after MKO and history will always remember President Goodluck Jonathan as the courageous leader that made sincere efforts to immortalise him.

Falana, Ekpu, Egbemode want just society Olalekan Osiade and Wale Elegbede

o commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, some eminent Nigerians have called for the restructuring of the polity, while advocating for a balanced and just society. Most of these personalities narrated their experiences of the annulment of the election in Lagos yesterday at the annual June 12 lecture organised by the Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). That came as Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) faulted the appointment of sole administrators for the 57 local councils in the state. Falana, who noted that the swearing in of the new council helmsmen, scheduled to hold today was unconstitutional, said all lovers of true federalism must condemn the action because it was illegal. Falana said it was unfortunate that the third tier of government has become an appendage of state governments, while citing Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution to buttress his point. "Ambode has just appointed 57 sole administrators in Lagos, I understand they want to swear them

in tomorrow (today), it is wrong and it is unconstitutional", he said. Also narrating her experience of the June 12 lecture, the Managing Director of New Telegraph, Mrs Funke Egbemode, recalled how her pot of stew was stolen from her apartment during the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12 election, noting that the poor have become a burden on the rich because there is no balance in the system. She explained that the poverty in Nigeria then was a child's play to what is happening in the country today. "On June 12, I saw Nigerians deciding on their future. We need to start thinking differently. It is easy to speak with someone who is not hungry than a man on empty stomach.” She also lamented the new trend in which young couples run abroad to deliver their babies, while asking Nigerians to speak in the same way they spoke during the June 12 struggle. "What we need is the June 12 language. We must speak with the June 12 language. June 12 gave us a voice as a people. As such, we must continue to speak the June 12 language, which means we are speaking genuinely as a people," Egbemode said.

MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

June 12 Nigeria yet to honour ‘President Abiola’

Politics Yesterday’s 23rd anniversary of the annulled 1993 presidential elections, offered the opportunity to assess Nigeria’s stride to true and representative democracy and the man, who symbolised that period of national history Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola. FELIX NWANERI reports

Interview Abiola was betrayed, but stood by his mandate – Wife

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP POLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@newtelegraphonline.com

The president who never made Aso Villa

fter an eight-year conduct of a transition programme to return Nigeria to civilian democratic rule, the then military government led by General Ibrahim Babangida, voided the result of the June 12, 1993 election, which would have produced his successor. That action added the word “annulment” to Nigeria’s political vocabulary. Though the result of the election was inconclusive before it was annulled, everyone knew that MKO (as Abiola was popularly known) won. Initial figures released by the then National Electoral Commission (NEC), showed that he was already coasting to victory, before the military junta directed it to stop further announcement of results from the remaining few states. This prompted Abiola’s insistence that he won the poll although the claim was a subject of debate for years until Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, who then headed the electoral body, set the record straight 15 years later (June 12, 2008), when he affirmed that the Ogun-State born business mogul won the election. Nwosu, in his book Laying the Foundation for Nigeria’s Democracy: My Account of June 12, 1993 Presidential Election and its Annulment, stated that out of the 14, 396,917 votes cast in the election, Abiola, who was the candidate of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), polled 8, 323,305 votes while his opponent, Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the defunct National Re-

Abiola

publican Convention (NRC) had 6, 073, 612 votes. The book further explained that Tofa had one-third of the votes in 23 states out of the then 30 states in the country and Abuja, while Abiola had one-third of the votes in 28 states, thereby satisfying the constitutional requirement to be declared winner. According to results of the election published on pages 296 to 298 of the 392-page book, the states which Abiola won included Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu and Jigawa. Others were Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe and the Federal Capital Territory. On the other hand, Tofa won Abia, Adamawa, Bauchi, Enugu, Imo, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Rivers and Sokoto states. Nwosu, however blamed an

Registered Voters Total Valid Votes Abiola Tofa

JUNE 12, 1993 ELECTIONS 39 million 14.29 million 8.34 million (58.36%) 5.95 million (41.64%)

It was free and fair... To be honest, the situation was not ripe to hand over at the time

order by the Abuja High Court which was served on the commission on June 15, 1993, for the inability of the electoral body to release the entire result of the election at the time. Babangida, on his part, some years ago explained that he was compelled to nullify the poll because of security threats to the enthronement of a democratic government at the time. He pointed out that the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) he headed then knew that Abiola, if installed as president would be toppled through a military coup, which his government did not want.

According to him, his regime decided that it would be the last that would ascend the seat of power through coup, adding that it would make no sense to install a democratic government that would be truncated within another six months. He admitted that the poll was the best ever conducted in Nigeria’s history, saying: “June 12 was accepted by Nigerians as the best of elections in Nigeria. It was free and fair. But unfortunately, we cancelled that election. I used the word unfortunately, for the first time. We were in government at the time and we knew the possible consequences of handing over to a democratic government. We did well that we wanted ours to be the last military coup deta’t. To be honest, the situation was not ripe to hand over at the time. “The issue of security of the nation was a threat and we would have considered ourselves to have failed, if six months after handover, there was another coup. I went through a coup deta’t and I survived it. We knew that there would be another coup deta’t. But not many people believed what we said. They could have allowed me to go away and then they (coup plotters) would regroup and stage another coup.” While many still believe that Babangida’s reasons does not justify the election’s annulment, others have continued to wonder how Abiola was able to secure the landmark victory on a Muslim/ Muslim ticket in a country where religion plays an important role in its politics. The fact, however remains that Abiola, who work his way out of poverty through hard work, symbolised the aspirations of many downtrodden Nigerians. His “Hope ‘93 political manifesto,” which became a sing-song, also played a significant role. The policy paper was received with optimism by many, especially the downtrodden and the middle class. Unfortunately, he never lived to implement the progamme in which he had provided answers to the pervasive poverty and dearth of infrastructure that still bugs the country till date. Abiola, the man who would have been president between 1993 and 1998 and or beyond, died on July 7, 1998, in the custody of the Federal Government, four years after he was arrested and detained by the late dictator, General Sani Abacha, for daring to declare himself president- elect.

POLITICS

MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria yet to honour ‘President Abiola’ FELIX NWANERI writes on Nigeria’s failed bid to honour late Chief Moshood Abiola despite his sacrifice for the country’s democracy

here has been clamour by most Nigerians over the years for the Federal Government to immortalise the aclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola. Those in the vanguard of this campaign persistently argued that the nation’s continued silence on the democratic feat that Abiola wrought, portrays Nigeria as an ungrateful nation. It was even advocated at a time that Abiola should be accorded the privileges due to former Heads of State. The clamour got to a height with the country’s return to civil rule in 1999. However, the Olusegun Obasanjo administration then ignored the call. Obasanjo is Abiola's kinsman (both hail from Ogun State). While it is believed that Obasanjo rode on the back of Abiola’s struggle to emerge president in 1999, the former never acknowledged that silent gesture all through his eight-year rule (19992007). It was seven years after he (Obasanjo) left office that he acknowledged that Abiola made sacrifices that needed to be recognised by the nation. “Ogun State would have produced three presidents if not for bad belle. I want to agree with him (Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo) that Abiola sacrificed for the nation,” he said in Abeokuta in 2014 at the 4th Founder’s Day of Nobelhouse College and 85th birthday of an industrialist, Chief Olatunde Abudu. But in what seemed doing what a kinsman could not do, the immediate past Goodluck Jonathan government, heeded to the call for the Federal Government immortalise Abiola in 2012, when it renamed the prestigious University of Lagos (UNILAG) after the late Ogun State born-businessman and politician. The then president, in a nationwide broadcast to mark the 2012 Democracy Day, said the honour was in respect of Abiola’s sacrifice in his pursuit of justice and truth. His words: “Destiny and circumstances conspired to place upon his (Abiola) shoulders a historic burden, and he rose to the occasion with character and courage. He deserves recognition for his martyrdom, and public-spiritedness and for being the man of history that he was. “We need in our land more men and women who will stand up to defend their beliefs and whose example will further enrich our democracy. After very careful consideration, and in honour of Chief M.K.O. Abiola’s accomplishments and heroism, on this Democracy Day, the University of Lagos, is renamed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, Moshood Abiola

Obasanjo

University, Lagos by the Federal Government of Nigeria.” However, the gesture, which ordinarily would have earned Jonathan commendations, sparked-off protests by students of the university, other stakeholders and even political leaders. They described the name change as “provocative and unpopular” though they made it clear that they had nothing against the person of the late Abiola. A former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who was among those that faulted Jona-

Jonathan

He deserves recognition for his martyrdom... and for being the man of history that he was

TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE writes on late heroes and heroines who played active role in the June 12, 1993 annulment struggle

n June 12, 1993 Nigerians trooped out in their millions to choose who will govern them at the federal level between Bashorun MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC). There was hope that the outcome of the election will bring a positive change but the expectation was cut short following the annulment of the election by the General Ibrahim Babangida-led regime. The annulment set the polity on fire as leading lawyers, human rights activists, religious leaders, local and international organisations took to the streets to demand for de-annulment of the poll. The struggle was spearheaded by the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Joint Action Council of Nigeria (JACON) and other civil societies in the country. The pro-democracy struggle, which lasted for about six years, took place within and outside the shores of Nigeria and it paved the way for the present Fourth Republic in May 29, 1999. The June 12 struggle was not an easy one as many Nigerians lost their lives and properties worth billions of naira. MKO Abiola, his wife, Kudirat and many leaders of the civil society groups, pro-democracy activists and other Nigerians paid the supreme price. Many people were also ar-

than’s decision then, said: “We must salute the man who made June 12 possible and who died prosecuting the struggle to regain the peoples’ mandate. More than anything else, we must realise that the greatest monument we can build in honour of M.K.O Abiola that will immortalise him is not in the hurried sectional and tokenist naming of an institution after him as recently announced by the government, but in every Nigerian vowing never again to let our votes be stolen or our electoral rights trampled upon. “Abiola undoubtedly numbers

among Nigerian greats that have made sacrifices to birth a modern nation. We do not seek kingdoms for Abiola but we seek justice. We seek for him what he more than deserves and has earned. Chief Abiola’s victory as elected President is now a settled matter. Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, then Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), declared the result in his book published in 2008. Nothing and no one can be more authoritative than the umpire who saw it all. “Now, the most honourable thing to do is for the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, to recognise M.K.O. Abiola as the second duly elected executive president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria posthumously. We should accord him, even if posthumously, the recognition and all the rights and privileges due to that office. Finally, we should declare M.K.O’s birthday a national public holiday, just as it has been done in the United States for Martin Luther King. Or June 12, the date of the election could be declared a public holiday.” Others who held similar view, not only asked the Federal Government to declare Abiola the winner of June 12 1993 presidential election as an elected president, but for the declaration of June 12 as a public holiday in honour of Abiola for the supreme prize he paid for the nation’s democracy. The bold and vehement message from across board to Jonathan that his gesture was not welcomed, forced his government to rescind its decision, and thereby put an end to an honour meant for the man who laid his life for the democratic rule Nigerians are enjoying at the moment.

Late heroes and heroines of

rested, detained and jailed by government during the struggle. Nigerians cannot forget the roles of Pa Alfred Rewane, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Senator Abrahim Adesanya, Pa Anthony Enahoro, Alhaji Lamidi Adesina and Chief Gani Fawehinmi, among others.

Kudirat Abiola Kudirat was the most senior wife of MKO Abiola during the June 12 struggle and she rallied round other pro-democratic activists and civil society groups to ensure that her husband was freed. She fought tirelessly and her commitment to the struggle led to her untimely death on June 4, 1996. She was killed by assassins in Oregun, Lagos State few days to third anniversary of June 12. Alfred Rewane Pa Rewane was among the leading voices in the battle against the military junta. The NADECO leader used his pen and money to fight the military to a standstill to ensure that June 12 was de-annulled. He was a thorn in the flesh of the military. He was assassinated on October 6, 1995 at his residence in GRA Ikeja, the capital of Lagos State. Anthony Enahoro Enahoro, a nationalist of repute and chairman of NADECO’s Steering Committee was one of Nigeria’s foremost prodemocracy activists, who took active part in the June 12 struggle. He was arrested and detained for almost three months without any charge by Abacha’s govern-

ment. He was the leader of NADECO abroad during the struggle and led other pro-democracy activists in the Diaspora to fight the military to a standstill. He died on December 15, 2010.

Adekunle Ajasin Ajasin, the Second Republic govKudirat Abiola ernor of old Ondo State was the leader of Afenifere and NADECO during the struggle. Despite his age, Ajasin provided the required leadership and motivated the younger generation to ensure that June 12 was de-annulled. He was arrested in June 1995 by the military alongside others for holding a meeting at his residence. He was later released and he died on October 3, 1997. Abraham Adesanya Adesanya, who became the leader of Afenifere after the death of Ajasin, also played a crucial role during the June 12 struggle. He was one of the targets of the military junta but escaped been hit by assassins bullets on many occasions. He remained steadfast to the end and witnessed the birth of the Fourth Republic. The Afenifere leader died on April 27, 2008. Gani Fawehinmi Fawehinmi, an outstanding lawyer and

MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Text of the proclamation speech by the late M.K.O. Abiola on Saturday, June 11, 1994, announcing the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU) at Epetedo, Lagos

POLITICS

Enough is enough

eople of Nigeria, exactly one year ago, you turned out in your millions to vote for me, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But politicians in uniform, who call themselves soldiers but are more devious than any civilian would want to be, deprived you of your God-given right to be ruled by the President you had yourselves elected. These soldier-politicians introduced into our body politic, a concept hitherto unknown to our political lexicography, something strangely called the “annulment” of an election perceived by all to have been the fairest, cleanest and most peaceful ever held in our nation. Since that abominable act of naked political armed robbery occurred, I have been constantly urged by people of goodwill, both in Nigeria and abroad, to put the matter back into the people’s hands and get them to actualise the mandate they gave me at the polls. But mindful of the need to ensure that peace continues to reign in our fragile federation, I have so far tried to pursue sweet reason and negotiation. My hope has always been to arouse whatever remnants of patriotism are left in the hearts of these thieves of your mandate, and to persuade them that they should not allow their personal desire to rule to usher our beloved country into an era of political instability and economic ruin. All I have sought to do, in seeking dialogue with them, has been to try and get them to realise that only real democracy can move our nation forward towards

June 12 struggle human rights activists led many pro-democracy groups to fight the military during his life time. He was a tireless fighter, which earned him the title - Senior Advocate of the Masses. Fawehinmi, as a lawyer of reRewane pute, provided legal, moral and financial support for the activists during the struggle. He died on September 5, 2009.

Beko Ransome-Kuti Beko, the President of Campaign for Democracy (CD) also led many civil society organisations during protests to kick against annulment of the June 12 election. He died on February 10, 2006. Other great late heroes and heroines of June 12 are Second Republic governor of old Oyo State, Chief Bola Ige; former Minister of Housing and Environment; former governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lam Adesina; former Executive Director of Civil Liberty Organisations, Comrade Chima Ubani; Assistant Secretary of NADECO, Revd Tunji Adebiyi, Olori Bisoye Tejuoso, Bagauda Kaltho, Toyin Onagoruwa, Alex Ibru, among others.

Abiola

progress, and earn her the respect she deserves from the international community. However, although this peaceful approach has exposed me to severe censure by some who have mistaken it for weakness on my part, those with whom I have sought to dialogue have remained like stones, neither stirred to show loyalty to the collective decision of the people of their own country, nor to observe Allah’s injunction that they should exhibit justice and fair-play in all their dealings with their fellowmen. Appeals to their honour as officers and gentlemen of the gallant Nigerian Armed Forces, have fallen on deaf ears. Instead, they have resorted to the tactics of divide and rule, bribery and political perfidy, misinformation and (vile) propaganda. They arrest everyone who disagrees with them. Even the 71-year old hero of our nation, Chief Anthony Enahoro, was not spared. How much longer can we tolerate all this? People of Nigeria, you are all witnesses that I have tried to climb the highest mountain, cross the deepest river and walk the longest mile, in order to get these men to obey the will of our people. There is no humiliation I have not endured, no snare that has not been put in my path, no “set-up” that has not been designed for me in my endeavour to use the path of peace to enforce the mandate that you bestowed on me one year ago. It has been a long night. But the dawn is here. Today, people of Nigeria, I join you all in saying, “Enough is Enough!” We have endured 24 years of military rule in our 34 years of independence. Military rule has led to our nation fighting a civil war with itself. Military rule has destabilised our nation today as not before in its history. Military rule has impoverished our people and introduced a dreadful trade in drugs which has made our country’s name an anathema in many parts of the world. Even soccer fans going to watch the Green Eagles display in America are being made to suffer there needlessly because Nigeria’s name is linked with credit card and fraud and “419.” Politically, military rule has torn to shreds the prestige due to our country because of its size and population. The permanent seat at the United Nations Se-

curity Council that should be rightfully ours, is all but lost. For who will vote for Nigeria to get the seat if Nigerian military rulers do not respect the votes of their own people? Enough of military rule. We are sickened to see people who have shown little or no personal achievement, either in building up private businesses, or making success of any tangible thing, being placed in charge of the management of our nation’s economy, by rulers who are not accountable to anyone. Enough of square pegs in round holes. We are tired of the military repetitive tendency to experiment with our economy: Today, they say “no controls.” Tomorrow; they say “Full controls”. The day after, they say “Fine tuning”. The next day, they say “Devaluation.” A few days later, they say “Revalue the same naira upwards again Abi?” All we can see are the consequences of this permanent game of military “about turns;” high inflation, a huge budget deficit and an enormous foreign debt repayment burden, dying industries, high unemployment and a demoralised populace. Our youths, in particular, can see no hope on the horizon, and many can only dream of escaping from our shores to join the brain drain. Is this the Nigeria we want? We are plagued also by periodic balance of payments crises, which have led to a perennial shortage of essential drugs that has turned our hospitals and clinics into mortuaries. A scarcity of books and equipment has rendered our schools into desolate deserts of ignorance. Our factories are crying for machinery, spare parts and raw materials. But each day that passes, instead of these economic diseases being cured, they are rather strengthened as an irrational allocation of foreign exchange based on favouritism and corruption becomes the order of the day. Enough is enough of economic mismanagement! People of Nigeria, during the election campaign last year, I presented you with a programme entitled “HOPE ’93. This programme was aimed precisely at solving these economic (problems) that have demoralized us all. I toured every part of Nigeria to present this programme to you the electorate. I was questioned on it at public rallies and press conferences and I had the privilege of incorporating into it much of the feedback that I obtained from the people. Because you knew I would not only listen to you but deliver superb results from the programme, you voted for me in your millions and gave me an overwhelming majority over my opponent. To be precise, you gave me 58.4 per cent of the popular vote and a majority in 20 out of 30 states plus the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Not only that, you also enabled me to fulfill the constitutional requirement that the winner should obtain one-third of the votes in two-thirds of the states. I am sure that when you cast an eye on the moribund state of Nigeria today, you ask yourselves: “What have we done to deserve this, when we have a president-elect who can lead a government that can change things for the better? Our patience has come to an end. As of now, from this moment, a new Gov-

ernment of National Unity is in power throughout the length and breath of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, led by me, Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, as President and Commander-in-Chief. The National Assembly is hereby reconvened. All dismissed governors are reinstated. The State Assemblies are reconstituted, as are all local government councils. I urge them to adopt a bi-partisan approach to all the issues that come before them. At the national level, a bi-partisan approach will be our guiding principle. I call upon the usurper, General Sani Abacha, to announce his resignation forthwith, together with the rest of his illegal ruling council. We are prepared to enter into negotiations with them to work out the mechanics for a smooth transfer of power. I pledge that if they hand over quietly, they will be retired with all their entitlements, and their positions will be accorded all the respect due to them. For our objective is neither recrimination nor witch-hunting, but an enforcement of the will of the Nigerian people, as expressed in free elections conducted by the duly constituted authority of the time. I hereby invoke the mandate bestowed upon me by my victory in the said election, to call on all members of the Armed Forces and the Police, the Civil and Public Services throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to obey only the Government of National Unity that is headed by me, your only elected President. My Government of National Unity is the only legitimate, constituted authority in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as of now. People of Nigeria, these are challenging times in the history of our continent, Africa, and we in Nigeria must not allow ourselves to be left behind. Our struggle is the same as that waged by the people of South Africa, which has been successfully concluded, with the inauguration of Mr. Nelson Mandela as the first African President of that country. Nelson Mandela fought to replace MINORITY rule with MAJORITY rule. We in Nigeria are also fighting to replace MINORITY rule, for we are ruled by only a tiny section of our armed forces. Like the South Africans, we want MAJORITY rule today that is rule only by those chosen by all the people of Nigeria as a whole in free and fair elections. The only difference between South Africa and Nigeria is that those who imposed minority rule on the majority rule whether it is by black or white, remains minority rule, and must be booted out. I call on you, heroic people of Nigeria, to emulate the actions of your brothers and sisters in South Africa and stand up as one person to throw away the yoke of minority rule for ever. The antics of every minority that oppresses the majority are always the same. They will try to intimidate you with threats of police action. But do not let us fear arrest. In South Africa, so many people were arrested, during the campaign against the Pass Laws, for instance, that the jails could not hold all of them. Today, apartheid is gone forever. So, let it be with Nigeria. Let us say goodbye forever to minority rule by the military. They talk of treason. But haven’t they heard of the Rivonia treason trial in South Africa? Did those treason trials halt the march of history? People of Nigeria, our time is now. You are the repository of power in the land. No one can give you power. It is yours. Take it! From this day, show to the world that anyone who takes the people of Nigeria for fools is deceiving himself and will have the people to answer to. God bless you all. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Long live the Government of National Unity.

POLITICS

MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Abiola was betrayed, but stood by his mandate – Wife Mrs. Dupe Onitiri-Abiola, wife of the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, in this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, speaks on the annulled election, the Muhammadu Buhari administration and restructuring of Nigeria, among other issues June 12, 1993 presidential elections mean different things to different people, what does it mean to you? June 12 means one Nigeria; it means the true will of the people, change from darkness to light and from dictatorship to democracy. June 12 is the actual will of Nigerians; the voice and unity of Nigerians. That is the true Democracy Day for Nigerians and ironically, the man behind June 12 (General Ibrahim Babangida) conducted the best election in Nigeria but the same man annulled the election. It is so unfortunate that he annulled the election, which was the first time Nigerians spoke as one and that was why they stood by June 12 and defended it even with their blood. How do you feel that what Nigerians demanded for through June 12 did not come to pass? It will remain part of Nigeria’s history and the reason is because certain things happened during June 12. There was a belief that power cannot shift; power must stay in the North, it cannot shift to the South. But with June 12 and MKO Abiola, power was able to shift. He did not only bring democracy but also brought shifting of power from the North to South and because of his involvement, anybody from the North and South can be president. So, for that reason, June 12 will forever be in the memory of people. And it means that the sacrifice of one man has made it possible for anybody from anywhere in Nigeria to become president in this country. June 12 is still alive and in actual fact, I believe President Muhammadu Buhari is actually reincarnating June 12 right now. How is President Buhari reincarnating June 12? Because President Buharis emergence relates to June 12 and that is why I don’t support people criticizing him and his government. President Buhari should not be blamed for Nigeria’s problem; we are all parts of the problem, which

is corruption. Some of us refused to be part of it and that was why my participation in politics during last year’s general elections was totally different from the corrupt way of doing election in Nigeria. In Nigeria, some people are not corrupt but everybody is categorised to be corrupt because when the Prime Minister of Britain said Nigeria is ‘fantastically corrupt,’ he didn’t exempt anybody. What people are complaining about President Buhari is not new; we have always had this problem. That was why June 12 came to life and that was why Nigerians said enough is enough at that time. We experienced it under the dictatorship of the military and we are still under the same arrangement with a different name. If there is anybody to blame for Nigeria’s problem, the person is General Abdulsalami Abubakar; who is still alive. He is the source of the problems Nigerians are facing today. Why do you attribute Nigeria’s problems to Abubakar? Abubakar, after succeeding General Sani Abacha accidentally had the opportunity to make a decision either to stand with the people or the special interest group holding the country captive. Abiola was alive when General Abubakar came on board but he went with the special interest group. Nigerians believe that June 12 is the true Democracy Day but Abubakar came up with another date, May 29, and said he was going to hand over on that day. When Abubakar was leaving office, those of us fighting for democracy at that time demanded a system that will give way for permanent change in Nigeria. Nigeria is so blessed and the people are so blessed but look at where we are today. This is what we saw and said no more to military dictatorship. They are like the slave master. There is no difference between the colonial masters and the military dictators. The military structured the country to make sure that slavery continues. The structure of Nigeria is wrong

Onitiri-Abiola

and that is where the problem is.

The sacrifice of one man has made it possible for anybody from anywhere in Nigeria to become president

Are you supporting the call for restructuring of Nigeria? When we fought for June 12, one of the things we wanted was a Sovereign National Conference and the reason for that was there had never been anytime Nigerians were involved in the determination of their destiny and manage their own resources. When the colonial master came, Nigeria became Nigeria for the economic interest of the colonial masters. The so-called development they did here was for their own interest and when the military came on board, they also maintained that structure of master-slave. Every income from the states go to the centre and distributed from there. Does that make sense? How do we develop and get dividends of democracy for the people? Nigerians are suffering for no reason. We have no reason to have poverty in Nigeria and we have no reason to be where we are today. I am a very serious stakeholder in this issue because we paid a lot of price for this democracy. The highest price was paid by MKO Abiola and many other people who fought for Nigeria’s democracy. Abiola had the choice and resources to fight for his mandate in his own way. He could have fought and bring the country to whatever situation with his own resources but he didn’t. So, he sacrificed himself for Nigeria and up till today, his children are still sacrificing. How are they suffering? Do they have a father? They don’t. Do they have somebody to take care of them? Nobody, but God is taking care of them. They are still sacrificing and paying for this democracy. Abiola gave everything so that Nigerians could be in a better position but now Nigeria is in a worse position and everybody is suffering. Former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to General Abacha, Major Hamza

Al-Mustapha, recently accused some notable Nigerians for contributing to Abiola’s death. What is your take on that? When you are talking of betrayal, yes they betrayed him. That is normal; even our Lord Jesus Christ was betrayed. We had people that betrayed him but the fact is that MKO stood by his mandate. And because that mandate was written with the blood of Nigerians, there was no way he would not defend it. So, he has to defend it also with his own blood. It is not a matter of been deceived because there is no way you can deceive somebody that won an election. People said they wanted him and they voted for him and what happened to him was a coup against Nigerians and the will of the people. What Babangida and Abacha did against June 12 and Abiola was a coup. They betrayed him but the fact remains that the people of Nigeria gave him a mandate and they defended it with their blood. Abacha and Abiola were close friends just like Abiola and Babangida were close. It is true that people betrayed him and many of his friends and close associates were going front and back during his incarceration, visiting Abacha. They know themselves. But the issue is that Nigerians made a decision and Babangida had no right to annul that election and Abacha had no right to have staged a coup against the people’s mandate. After winning at the court, Abacha should have hand over to him. But he refused. Why do you think President Buhari and late Abiola have things in common, considering your view that Buhari is reincarnating June 12? President Buhari and my husband have something in common because he (Buhari) had the belief that he was going to fight for the masses and that was why people voted for him during last year’s presidential election. But his issue is like somebody who wants to clear a room and was standing outside holding a broom. He cannot clean the room from outside; he has to go inside the room. When he entered the room, he was unable to find out what the floor looks like because there was too much dirt and trash in the room. The best thing for him is to first pack the dirty in the room. So, the fastest way to solve Nigeria’s problem is to restructure. President Buhari must address the problem from the root because the foundation was wrong. When you have a foundation that is wrong, you cannot build anything good on it. As long as we have a faulty foundation, the present structure and system is not going to work. So, President Buhari should do his best for the country because people expect so much from him. If he didn’t believe that he want to fight for the people, he will not contest for presidency four times. And the only way he can fight for the people is to restructure Nigeria and change the evil arrangement that is denying the people what is good for them. He needs to convene a Sovereign National Conference for Nigerians to decide what they want and for each state to develop at their own space. For President Buhari to do meaningful things in office, he must convene a Sovereign National Conference now because the situation in Nigeria is really bad. The source of corruption in Nigeria is the faulty structure and system, and that is why restructuring of Nigeria is very important for us to move forward.

POLITICS

MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ruling class must consolidate Nigeria owes on democracy – Odumakin Abiola – Obioha Chief Ralph Obioha was the Coordinator of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) in the United States during the struggle over the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election

Dr. Joe Odumakin, the President of Women Arise for Change Initiative, was Assistant General Secretary and later General Secretary of Campaign for Democracy (CD) during the June 12 struggle

une 12 symbolises whatever we may have today as democracy in Nigeria because the foundation for the return to civil rule which was eventually achieved in 1999, was laid through the June 12 struggle. Recall that June 12 was not just adjudged as a credible election, it was and still remains the freest and fairest election in our nation's history and no election conducted since then can be adjudged as anything near the June 12, in term of credibility. June 12 should always remind us that the road to democracy is a long walk. So many people sacrificed their lives and more importantly, the present ruling

Odumakin

class must appreciate the need to consolidate on the democracy that was enthroned through the June 12, by ensuring that the true dividends of democracy is made attainable by the Nigerian people. The greatest good that can be done, not only for the remembrance of the historic day but also to the memories of all those who paid the supreme price in the course of the struggle, including the winner of the election, Chief MKO Abiola, is for the Federal

Government to posthumously recognize Chief MKO Abiola as a former President of Nigeria. Nothing less can be enough to immortalise these great men and women. The ruling class must always remember that some people laid the foundation and paid the supreme price for democracy to come to stay in Nigeria. They must therefore govern in such a way that will further entrench democracy and bring the gains to our people.

June 12 should be recognised as Democracy Day – Erubami Comrade Moshood Erubami, the President of Nigeria Voters Assembly, was an active player in the struggle to revalidate the June 12, 1993 presidential election

s we celebrate the 23rd anniversary of the best election ever held in Nigeria but was annulled for no tangible reason, Nigerians are insisting that the day should be known as Democracy Day. Since the annulled election, the gains that would have been made from the election have eluded the country. The election was the first time that Nigeria will witness unity in diversity, peaceful religious coexistent, and transition of power from the North to the South despite the pairing up of a Muslim-Muslim ticket without opposition. All these were lost to the annulment. Notwithstanding, those who struggled to ensure that the outcome of the election sees the light of the day tried their best but they could not win the war against the cabal that were behind the annulment. The stakeholders who believe in the struggle should hon-

Erubami

our the family of the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, who sacrificed his life and that of his wife and lost all his businesses in the process. Abiola deserved to be compensated for his doggedness and commitment to bring a sense of oneness into our politics. At this juncture, the country needs to give honour to Chief Abiola and a host of others like Chief Anthony Enahoro, General Alani Akinrinade, Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti, Comrade Ola Oni, Chima Ubani among others for their steadfast struggle to develop Nigeria through democracy. It is also behooves on the Muhammadu Buhari-led government to remember the man that Nigerians voted for on June 12, 1993, and subsequently declare

the day as ‘Democracy Day’ in Nigeria as against the insignificant May 29, which is being recognised as ‘Democracy Day’. Government should reorganise itself and begin to join hands with June12 stakeholders to celebrate the day and declare it as a public holiday for Nigerians. If the present government is to be seen to be a true progressive, it must go beyond the tokenism of the last administration which dangled the name the University of Lagos before his memory but hasn’t materialised till today. Nigerians should insist that government should ensure that the University of Lagos named after MKO Abiola should be retained to ensure that the principles inherent in June 12 do not elude the country. Government should further name the National Stadium in Abuja after him. Government should further name the Aso Rock as MKO Abiola State House and he should be given the highest honour of this land posthumously. In addition, the best of Chief MKO photograph should be hoisted among that of past Heads of State to immortalise his name as the symbol of democracy in Nigeria. Government should also give honours to those who took active part in June 12 and died during the struggles, especially Pa Adekunle Ajasin, Pa Alfred Rewane, Pa Anthony Enahoro, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti, Baba Omojola and Comrade China Ubani, among others.

What does June 12 remind you of as a participant in the struggle? It reminds me of sacrifice by a man who gave his comfort and position in life to ensure that Nigeria navigate into democracy. Any true d e m o c r a t Obioha must remember June 12. I don’t believe that the honour that is due to late MKO Abiola has been done. We all owe him a debt and that debt is that we must at least appreciate his sacrifice. It is a misnomer for Nigerians to have adopted May 29 as Democracy Day. The true date that should be adopted for Democracy Day in Nigeria ought and should be June 12. Nigerians have had about four general elections after the June 12, 1993 presidential election; can those elections be compared to what happened 23 years ago? Not at all and everybody know that. May be the general elections of 1999 reflected a free expression of democracy but after that, it has actually been heavily manipulated elections. That is a fact. A lot of people made sacrifice for Nigeria to return to democratic government in 1999. Looking at the present state of the nation, will you say this is the democracy you and many others fought and sacrificed for? No, this is definitely not the democracy we fought for. The democracy we fought for was free expression of peoples’ will to elect their leaders. At the moment, elections are heavily manipulated and the sad thing is that this manipulation is financed from the public treasury because most politicians fund their elections with money stolen from government treasury. What is your advice to public office holders and Nigerians on the commemoration of 23rd anniversary of June 12, 1993 presidential elections?

As I said early, June 12 should actually be the natural date for our Democracy Day. It is a pity that it has not been done. My advice to Nigerians is that there is a need for us to be serious because the critical mass of Nigerians have not been taken care of. And there is a need for a serious address of issues that have put a lot of Nigerians down. A lot of people have spoken on the need for MKO Abiola to be immortalised, how do you think he should be immortalised? Immortalisation of MKO Abiola should be national and not Ogun or Lagos states declaring a public holiday in his honour. What they are doing is right and we applaud them but the immortalisation should be national. All Nigerians should recorgnise the contributions Abiola made for our democracy. Apart from Abiola, what about other heroes and heroines of Nigeria’s democracy, how should they be honoured? There are certain sacrifices that are made without one expecting to be compensated or recognised. What is important is that we did something to return democracy in the nation and we should all be happy that there is democratic government in the country, though it may not be going the way it should go but we are making some progress. Nation building requires that some patriots must make sacrifice and I believe that I made a very huge sacrifice and there are still more things that need to be done. Interviews by: TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion

The evil covenant bewitching Nigeria Dominik Umosen

t is only natural that we begin by wishing President Muhammadu Buhari a speedy recovery from chronic health challenges that compelled his visit to the united Kingdom. It is a tribute to his managers who kept denying his humanity and the challenges that humans are prone to. My scripture says that we should give thanks to God in every situation, good or bad. The visit is fortuitous in that it might provide the president the opportunity to disconnect from the daily grind of his position. And reflect upon fundamental challenges that have returned to taunt and torment the country after decades of painstaking attempts to dodge or suppress the inevitable. The rest period provides the number one citizen of Africa’s largest economy the the rare opportunity to to reflect upon the many challenges of leadership and nationhood. Depending on the trajectory of his presidential reflection, his searchlight might zero in on the traitionallyrefractory politics of the Middle East where Bashir Al Assad is unwittingly presiding over the asphyxiation of his country with his sensational stiff-neck and woeful failure to recognize the futility of state arrogance. We are not predicting the possibility of a rebound of the totality of events that have gone down in once virile Syria in the past four or so years in Nigeria. We are hoping that the forced retreat to attend to his persistent health challenges might provide the president the perfect opportunity to fully appreciate how much of a statesman he has transformed into since his last outing in power. We make this bold assertion bearing in mind that initially, Buhari stoutly opposed any mea-

sure that might compound the misery index, especially for ordinary Nigerians. But when it became obvious that removal of subsidy on petroleum products was inevitable, the number one citizen bought into the logic like a true statesman. Because the only thing that is constant in life is change, not the rowdy variety, I am optimistic that the will eventually see through the elaborate deception and manipulations of those misadvising him that trident calls for the re-structuring of the country amount to surreptitiously inviting undertakers to hover around the country. I am optimistic that because of the president’s sensational transformation into a consummate statesman, he would invariably decode this grand deception by those that are plotting to discredit and make him stand alone against the wish of the people. Already, this isolation is deepening into huge cracks and dissonance in the administration. For example, the Legislature appears to have drifted away with the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Army, Hon Rima Shawulu, emphasizing that the country is over-due for re-structuring to make the country more efficient. Providence also lent its weight to this argument when the notorious Kano mob lynched an Igbo trader, Mrs Bridget Agbahime, allegedly for blasphemy and the Federal Government which has always condoned such atrocities, including the beheading of Gideon Akaluka, wants to intimidate Nigerians to subscribe to the preence that all is well with the country as presently configured.For decades, previous administrations needlessly dribbled on issues that do not require circumlocution; doggedly defying the simple geographical logic that te shortest distance beteen two points is a straight line. So if the wish of the people favours

So if the wish of the people favours restructuring, how can those they elected pitch against their electors

re-structuring, how can those they elected pitch against their electors who are asking that the government stop railing against symptoms of tension amd instead, deal with the causes, once and for all? The insurgency that is mocking the country’s sovereignty, for example, has been attributed by some to lack of freedom to import unfettered religious fundamentalism. This is a dubious claim that actually magnifies the mischief and reluctance to implement the report of the 2014 national conference which clearly recommended re-structuring as antidote for the problems of the country whose real enemies are those plotting to frustrate the way forward like Shawulu who questioned the jaded unleashing of security agents on communities whose resources sustain the huge military complex, the Chairman of the Committee on Public Petitions, Hon Uzoma Nkem-Abonta criticized the over-concentration of power at the centre for which former Head-of-State, Gen Aguiyi Ironsi was killed. And which successive juntas reinforced. ‘As we speak, the centre can no longer hold. So where do we go? The way to go is to re-structure and Nigeria is over-due for it’, he re-affirmed, reechoing Shawulu’s position that the country can not continue to pretend that the situation should be resolved through the constitution alone. Babajimi Benson said ‘there should be reduction in the list of items on the exclusive page so that states can can exercise greater leverage…., including control of God-given items like inland water ways, devoid of interference by federal authorities’. Before Nigeria stutters under his watch the president should remember that same Western nations that encouraged Assad, arm his opponents and pretend to be finding solution for a problem they inspired. •Umosen (dominik.umosen@gmail.com) wrote in from Lagos.

Are concessions jinxed in Nigeria? Mathew Adedayo

oncession the world over is a means of reducing the deficit in infrastructural provision engendered by the disproportionate growth in population and the available resources for national development. And since government can hardly do it alone, private investors have to come in, in what is appropriately tagged Public-Private Partnership (PPP). As it is in other developed economies where concessioning has become part of government policies, so it is supposed to be in Nigeria. But the reverse is the case, with several attempts at concessioning public infrastructure thwarted by government officials, who after inking agreement papers, renege on such agreements in apparent demonstration of lawlessness and ignorance on the modus operandi of concessions. Since various administrations had made veiled attempts at concessioning some public utilities, which were eventually truncated by their own officials, who appeared not to share the vision of the government, Nigeria seems to have been perpetually marooned in infrastructure deficit. Even those concessions that appeared to have been successfully executed have been swimming in

the ocean of controversies, which is detrimental to our national psyche. In fact, in situations where the concessionaire and the concessioner coast home successfully with their concession agreement, workers of such government utility that is being mismanaged, and eventually concessioned, have always embarked on bitter protest because of the fear of job cuts. So, in this clime, concessions appear to have been jinxed. For instance, the process for Nigeria’s seaports concession started in 2000 and was completed in May 2006, when the Ro-Ro Terminal at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, was handed over to Five-Star Logistics Limited. Although it was one of the successfully completed concessions, which gained global credibility because of the passionate involvement of the World Bank, Messrs CPCS Transcom of Canada and Messrs Royal Haskonig of Holland, this success did not just come on a platter of gold, as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) workers, who turned the ports to nests of corruption before the concession, and some other stakeholders, kicked and engaged the Federal Government in sustained battle over their entitlements and other compensations. In other words, this concession never ended without some controversy. Then, there were various concessions in the aviation industry, which

either never saw the light of the day, or were completed amidst controversy. That between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Maevis Nigeria Limited to shore up the authority’s revenue base through the Airport Operations Management System (AOMS) was a classic case of a concession gone awry. In it, FAAN, using all the weapons in its arsenal and the might of a federal agency, and in the crudest of manner, messed up the concession, even after Maevis had invested millions of naira to buy and install equipment for the job. Officials of the government agency went physical to eject those of Maevis from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, after FAAN was floored in court, just to frustrate the concession. The same FAAN engaged AIC Hotels Limited in a battle of wits over a parcel of land leased to the company to build an international hotel around MMIA under a concession agreement in 1998. And as usual, despite a court order, officials of FAAN went physical with those of AIC just to recover the land from the company. In fact, they chased away the company’s workers from the land and seized some of their tools. But, one concession that has remained the most controversial of all till date is that of the Murtala

Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) between FAAN and BiCourtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) signed on April 24, 2003. It must be said that MMA2 remains the first successfully executed concession in the country, as the terminal began operations on May 27, 2007. The concession has witnessed the highest number of court cases, all won by the concessionaire. Despite all this, FAAN appears to have remained unreceptive to the participation of the private sector, as it has consistently reneged on all the agreements it signed with the concessionaire of MMA2. For instance, the authority has taken over the GAT, which the concessionaire said was part of its concession, and has been earning revenue from there, despite the reaffirmation through various judgements of BASL’s claims by both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. There was also the Lekki-Epe Expressway concession between the Lagos State Government and Lekki Concession Company Limited (LCCL) for the rehabilitation and upgrade of the 50 kilometres expressway under a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) agreement. The project is trailed by controversy both in the court of law and outside it. • Adedayo, an architect, sent in this piece from Benin

MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Keshi: Sacked for choosing Nigeria

his is indeed a time to mour n, one of the greatest patriots produced by Nigeria Stephen Okechukwu Chinedu Keshi passed on when there are calls for more dedicated citizens to pick up positions all over the land. Keshi who rose from a World Cup qualifying substitute to captain and later manage the senior National soccer team showed he could do or die for country when he was punished severally by his European teams for choosing Nigeria above Strasbourg, France and RWD Molenbeek , Belgium respectively. The Nigerian captain had joined Division Two side Strasbourg in 1991 from Anderlecht, Belgium. In the next one year, he helped the team to the elite division. Coach Gilbert Gress was so impressed that he handed over the Skipper’s band to the Big Boss. Keshi knew the responsibilities of a leader. He also knew the Eagles needed to qualify for their First ever World Cup. The Captain travelled to South Africa against the Bafana Bafana in a 1993 USA’94 qualifier. Gress was furious. The Manager reacted promptly by stripping the Nigerian of the captain’s band. Big Boss was also condemned to warm the bench. Not many Nigerians knew what their team leader was going through. Keshi was compelled to open up at the Gateway Hotel, Otta in May 1993 shortly before the Eagles flew to Abidjan to confront the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire. He said,” my headache is manager, Gilbert Gress, a man who was like a

father to me but today does not want to have anything to do with me. We used to be the best of friends. He always called me for discussions, asking questions like what is happening to me, what of the family and all that.” Frustrated, the skipper returned to Belgium to join RWD Molenbeek. Love for country was like a red rose sweetly tuned in June. Keshi was thrown out in 1994, for the same reason that cost him a place in France. The Eagles qualified for the World Cup, a huge compensation. At the end of the Mundial, he moved to the United States. K e s h i ’ s patriotism ear ned him the respect of

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief

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Managing Editor, Business & Strategy n Yemi Ajayi

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Since then we became friends. I love the way Keshi believes in his country.” Keshi stood out as a player and many could bet a fortune about his place in future. South African journalist and FIFA Media Officer, Mark Gleeson, after watching the Eagles pound his country 4-0 in Lagos prophesied thus, “ Keshi is world class. He will be the next coach of Nigeria.” The skipper achieved that much later. The exodus to Europe began with Keshi after he joined Belgian side Lokeren from Stella

He was also the first African to lead three African teams to the Nations Cup

former Camerounian international, Joseph Antoine Bell. Appointed Eagles Skipper to the Cote D’I voire 2006 Nations Cup by Coach Adegboye Onigbinde , he squared up with the Indomitable Lions duo of Roger Milla and Bell in a pregrand finale radio programme. Bell explained Keshi’s infectious patriotism. “ A day to the final, a journalist interviewed Keshi, Roger Milla and I”, the goalkeeper told Nigerian daily, Champion, eight years later in Dakar, Senegal. “ I was surprised to hear Keshi tell the reporter ‘we came here to win. We promised our people back home we wil win and we are going back to Nigeria with the cup.’ I asked Milla , ‘who is this boy talking like that?

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

Abidjan. He had been a xe d from the Ea gles by NFA boss To n y Ikazoboh in 1985 leading to his move to Cote D’Ivoire. Be-

fore Keshi, some Nigerians had played in Europe. There was Albert Osakwe who played in England before the UK Tourists in 1949. Titus Okere starred for Swindon in 1952, Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun joined Peterborough in 1955. In the 1980s, names like Christian Nwokocha, Sylvanus Opkala[Keshi’s 1977 Flying Eagles team mate], were in Portugal. It was Keshi who opened the big door. Stars like Osaro Obabaifo, Samson Siasia, Mike Emenalo,Humphrey Edobor, Etim Esin, Ademola Adesina, Andrew Uwe, Chidi Nwanu and Austin Eguavoen journeyed to Belgium. Here was the little boy of yore who won the Lagos state Principal’s Cup with St. Fin-

barr’s College, Akoka Lagos as a junior student in 1976 and again 1977. His first club was NICON Lagos from where he teamed up with Seven Planners, Badagry. Keshi later joined Johnson Wyatt, Lagos before he moved to ACB, the Lagos Rangers and then New Nigeria Bank, Benin in 1979. Skippo joined Anderlecht from Lokeren and in a 1989 Champions League quarter final game with Barcelona which the Belgian side won 2-0, Keshi was voted Most Valuable Player. He won the Belgian Cup in 1988, 1989. Twice the Big Boss won the then elusive WAFU Cup with NNB, 1983,1984, lifted the Ivorian Cup with Stella in 1985. Keshi made a huge mark in African soccer in 2013 when he won the Nations Cup as Eagles coach thus becoming the second to win as player[1994] and coach after Mahmoud El –Gohary of Egypt. He was also the first African to lead three African teams to the Nations Cup. The first Nigerian to play soccer in four continents-Africa, Europe, Asia and North America. Nigeria owes this great son who sacrificed so much a lot. First Nigerian to qualify another country to the World Cup, CAF Coach of the year 2005 and former Flying Eagles coach. The best way to honour our own dear Keshi is to name the National Stadium, Abuja after him.The history of our football should be the story of patriots like Stephen Keshi.

MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

monDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

INTERVIEW

Law

Esan: EFCC, ICPC merger’ll boost graft war

NEWS Lawyers in defence of immunity clause for govs

20 21

Imposing unrealistic bail conditions

lthough the grant of bail is constitutional, there is always a presumption of innocence on any accused persons. When a court grants bail, it is part of the rights the Constitution proffered on the accused person. What is the principle for granting bail? It is to ensure that an accused person is present in court for his trial. In the event that he absconded or he is not available for his trial the assets involved in the bail attached will be forfeited to the state. But some schools of thought are of the opinion that the condition attached to the grant of bail presupposes an accused person is adjudged guilty without a hearing because the bail conditions sometimes appear to suggest that a court has taken a position and that the accused person is guilty of the alleged offence and it is for him to establish his innocence. There is however a provision that says that if an accused person feels that his bail conditions appear harsh, he could approach the court with cogent and verifiable reasons why such conditions should be varied. Sometimes we compound very simple legal issues. So, if you feel that the condition is too harsh you can go back to the court. If the court that granted the bail refuses, you can go to the Court of Appeal and if the Court of Appeal refuses you can proceed to the Supreme Court. We have what you can call hierarchical court structure to review condition of bail. However, some sureties shy away from identifying with accused persons. For instance, when accused persons are to provide a civil servant of level 17 as a surety and that the surety should come up with a property in Victoria Island or Garki in Abuja. The question is what is the salary of a level 17 civil servant? Is it such that can earn him a property in Garki in Abuja or Victoria Island? So, some of them on account of that will stay away. So, what then happens to the accused person? Is that bail fair? Is it real in view of the contemporary Nigerian environment? So, that in itself is a problem. In order developed societies, bail is granted after the conclusion of investigation and you’re taken to court. In other words, the case is ripe for hearing. When you appear in court you will be granted bail. It could be your house title document, the court may ask you to provide sureties or it could be on personal recognizance. It is because our criminal justice system is not as effective as it should be and the anti-graft bodies are not working the

FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE JUDICIARY Editor

foluso.ogunmodede@ newtelegraphonline.com

Stringent bail conditions have become an albatross for those accused of corruption in various courts. Does harsh bail for accused persons an indication of being adjudged guilty without a hearing? Asked Foluso Ogunmodede and TUNDE OYESINA

Badeh

Metuh

Fanikayode

Bail: N2bn way they should. The court must not appear to impose bail conditions that are unrealistic. For instance, a man has been arraigned for stealing N500 million and you ask him to bring two sureties whose total assets will be N500 million. What you are simply saying is that the accused person stands guilty and it is for him to proof his innocence. However, an individual accused of a crime must be held in custody as it may be determined by the court or until his or her guilt or innocence is determined. Although, court has an option of releasing the individual before a determination is made, this option is called bail. The right to bail is intrinsically affiliated of the accusatorial system which favours a bail system that ordinarily enables a person to stay out of jail until a trial has found him or her guilty. The position bail occupies to an accused person awaiting or standing trial is of great importance. An accused person who is released on bail would not only see it as an opportunity to breathe the air of freedom but also as a stepping stone to his eventual discharge and acquittal. The grant of bail is based on the presumption of innocence. This simply means that an accused is presumed innocent until the contrary is proved. It is not for the accused to prove his innocence rather the burden of proof is on the prosecution to establish the accused person’s guilt to the satisfaction of the court. Bail is a conditional right guaranteed by Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. To grant bail is to set at liberty a person arrested, charged to

Bail: $1m

Bail: N400m

Azibaolas

Bail: N500m court or imprisoned on security being taken for his appearance on a day and place certain for his trial. When bail is granted a suspect, an accused or convicted person, is granted temporary release from custody pending the conclusion of investigation, the determination of the case against him, or determination of his appeal against conviction. Although the grant of bail is at the discretion of the court, it is not supposed to be stringent but a rather a one that the accused person can fulfill. According to an Abuja based lawyer, Adeoye Adeoti, making a bail stringent is a way of given a child something with the right hand and taking it back with the left hand. However, the turn of things as far

Bail: N500m as bail is concerned especially in recent money laundering cases show that the right of an accused person to bail is being trampled upon as the condition for the bail granted is strenuous and could not be easily met by accused persons. For instance, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had granted bail to the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh (retd), to the tune of N2 billion. Badeh is facing a 10-count criminal charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He is facing trial over allegation that he fraudulently diverted about N3.9 billion from account of the Nigerian Air Force within 2013. CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

20 Law|INTERVIEW

monDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Esan: EFCC, ICPC merger’ll boost graft war

Tunde Esan, an expert in corporate law practice, in this interview with Tunde Oyesina, speaks on the planned merger of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission, war against graft, rule of law, militancy and agitation for wage increase

What is your appraisal of the war against graft in the last one year of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration? The President has not shed the toga of an army General and he seems to find it easier to operate in a command structure; his body language says he would prefer a military tribunal type setting to deal with the alleged cases of corruption instead of the slow and convoluted way of the courts. I listened to his interview on Al Jazeera on how certain individuals sat down as if they were having dinner and shared USD$2.1 billion. Fact is no matter how heinous these allegations are, they remain in the realm of allegations and it is the duty of the prosecution to prove its case. This constant herding of people to detention and thereafter seeking remand orders from magistrates in order to conclude investigations smirks of deliberately trying to break the spirit of the accused person. We all want corruption to be dealt with but if you stigmatize the Judiciary in the process and people lose faith in the rule of law it would be a sad day for everyone. Will you support the merging of the EFCC and ICPC? In the present state of our development, I do not mind the existence of a plethora of anti-graft agencies provided they are seen to be working and not just taking up space with no value. How best do you think this government can address militancy and other increasingly restive youths in the country? We need to start by collectively agreeing that we want to live together as one and be bold enough to admit that there is nothing sacrosanct about the inviolability of Nigerian State. Countries regularly do referendum to determine if an indigenous constituent part of the country wants to remain a part of the Union or not. Having decided that we want to stay together, we need to give ourselves a Constitution that will allay the fears of members of the over 250 ethnic nations making up the country and that tongue or tribe is not an inhibition to self-actualization within the system. We need to invest massively in education for an ignorant mind is easy to manipulate. We must develop a national goal and

pull in the same direction. We must have strong adherence to the rule of law and infractions must be punished irrespective of whose ox is gored. Long held beliefs must be confronted. Can you under any guise for instance put out kids as beggars or marry under aged girls? Can you rear cattle and in the process destroy, kill and maim and there is no repercussion? Can you kidnap, blow up pipelines under any guise? Can you under the guise of an ethnic militia levy war against people in your jurisdiction? The battle against corruption will be hard and brutal. It is a mindset, from the stealing of biro at the office to the missing trillions being bandied all over. There is a disconnect between the people and the State and its resources. The resources of the State are seen as spoils of war and getting to the point of seeing the same as instruments for development will take a while. How best in your opinion should the government resolve the disagreement between it and the labour union over increase in fuel pump price? Or the matter be refferred to the alternative disputes resolution (ADR)? As a preliminary point, it is interesting that this administration which has consistently upbraided the Judiciary as the weak link in its fight against corruption would seek the validation of the same Judiciary to delegitimize the strike action of organized labour. Beyond that, on a theoretical plane, it was laudable of the Federal Government to approach the Industrial Court to wade into a Labour dispute but on a practical note, has this government seriously sat to reflect on its economic policies and its effects on the already impoverished citizenry? How are workers who have not been paid for months afford a litre of petrol at N145? How do these workers combine the increment in electricity tariffs by 45 per cent despite a restraining order on NERC with this increment in pump price of PMS? How does an employer who has foreign components to his business source for forex at almost N400 to USD$1 and you still expect him to retain his workforce? It is easy to argue for a recourse to the court but beyond that unless this administration realises quickly that there is widespread hunger in the land and that fanciful economic jargon and experimentation can only go so far, the government may be dealing soon with social rebellion on such a scale that neither the courts nor alternative dispute resolution may be able to handle. There is a renewed agitation for increase in minimum wage. Should the federal government fix minimum wage or each state be allowed to have its minimum wage? Federalism presupposes that each State should determine the wage it can pay but Federalism also presupposes that each State should exploit and manage all resources within its geographical space. Federalism presupposes that you should not collect VAT on beer consumption in Enugu State and distributes a portion of it to Borno State where beer consumption

Esan

is widely frowned at. Federalism presupposes that a State Governor who is the CSO of a State should have control over the Police in his State and not being so cuckolded that he cannot even control a Constable. We keep mouthing federalism whereas what we have is a Unitary System of government with all the powers concentrated in one man called the President, whom if he so desires can amend the text of an existing law. Truth is as far as we run the system we run the way we run it collective bargaining will continue to rule pertaining to wages of workers in the public sector and the burden of States spending the bulk of their allocations from the Centre on the recurrent expenditure of paying salaries will continue. The day true federalism is introduced will be the beginning of each State paying according to its capacity. Nigeria ranks low in terms of World Bank’s ranking of countries on ease of doing business. Why is this so? What steps should the country take to reverse this negative trend? Let us start with something as simple as incorporating a company with the Corporate Affairs Commission? How do you explain to anyone that it takes you at least fourteen (14) days to complete the registration of a business? How do you explain to anyone that you pay as many as eighteen (18) different taxes in respect of your business in some States? How do you explain multiple taxations to prospective investors? How do you explain in a manner that makes sense the difference between VAT and Sales Tax and when he tells you that he reads online that Sales Tax has been abolished, how do you explain that the power of the State Internal Revenue Service to charge it in some States has been upheld by some State High Courts? How do you explain to anyone that a State Governor may wake up one day and direct that branches of banks operating in his State be shut down by his thugs whereas the company itself has paid its Companies Income Tax to the Federal Inland Revenue Service? And if there are issues, what is the average turnaround time for resolv-

ing a dispute through litigation? We have to realise that the competition for every investment dollar is fierce and while population, may on the face of it provide us with an advantage, the layers of difficulties in doing business is a natural turnoff. We may need to ask ourselves how Cotonou is a maritime hub in West Africa whilst 98 per cent of the goods discharged in that town end up in Nigeria? What is the difficulty in making our ports the maritime destinations of choice for West and Central Africa? The same officialese, administrative bottlenecks, crippling bureaucracy, lack of transparency applicable in the operations of the Ports is prevalent in every sector and until these are dealt with we will continue to be unattractive to investors. Multiple taxations also make it difficult for companies to operate in Nigeria. Can you identify instances of multiple taxations? How do we streamline the tax system and make it more investors friendly? Our tax system is chaotic. You may look at the taxes and levies (Approved List for Collection) Decree (now Act) 1998 and on the face of it there seems to be a clear demarcation as to the taxes each tier of government may assess and collect but in practice how does it work? When a State is allowed to charge consumption taxes how does this differ from Value Added Tax charged by FIRS on behalf of the Federal Government? Operators and Owners of Casinos, Betting Shops, Games and Lottery have resigned to paying both the States and Federal Government taxes for licensing and operations since both tiers of government have turned themselves into licensing, regulatory and taxing authorities. The same is applicable to dredging operations and activities on Inland Waterways. When you look at the sophistry contained in the Land Use Charge Law and how the collection of Tenement Rate was ‘delegated ‘ to the State Government by the Local Governments willy-nilly, you will marvel at what citizens both corporate and individual, experience under the tax regimes in Nigeria.

Law 21

monDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Fayose

Quakers

Lawyers in defence of immunity clause for govs TUNDE OYESINA and AKEEM NAFIU write that Section 308 of the Constitution is being put to test following an alleged travel ban placed on two governors by the Federal Government

awyers were at the weekend unanimous that no laws in the country allow the President to exercise executive powers on any of the 36 states governors under whatever guise to restrict their movements. Although the country runs a federal system, governors are independent of the Federal as they are responsible to their respective Houses of Assemblies which supervise their activities. “By provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, ordinary Nigerians do not require clearance from the DSS or any security agency to travel outside Nigeria unless travel restriction is placed by an order of the court, not to talk of a State governor that enjoys immunity just like the President and are not under the control of the President,” one said. “Except a governor is under investigation, his movement cannot be restricted. A governor does not work for the Federal Government. Every governor is independent of the Federal even though we are in a federation. A governor is responsible to the House of Assembly of his state. Every governor has an independent organ that supervises his activities and movements’, another said. They were reacting to an alleged travel ban placed on two governors by the Federal Government. Although the Federal Government is silent on the alleged travel restriction placed on the governors, the alleged travel restriction has sparked of controversy among lawyers. A circular was allegedly issued by the Federal Government compelling

the two governors to always seek clearance from the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS) before travelling outside the country on the grounds that their activities were considered to have security implications for the country. Already, signals for the travel restriction had allegedly been sent to security officials at all entry and exit points in the country by the DSS. Although the government was silent on the names of the affected governors, Ekiti State Governor has headed for the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), claiming that the ban was directed at him and another governor from the South-South. Fayose’s petition which was initiated on his behalf by the state’s House of Assembly, described the alleged travel ban as an infringement on his rights and by extension the entire Ekiti state. The petition reads: “A few weeks ago, our governor was reliably gathered that President Muhammadu Buharihad directed that he should be banned from traveling outside Nigeria. This reliable information was to be confirmed through two major dailies on Sunday, May 29, 2016 titled: two governors under watch, face travel ban. “From our findings, one of the governors being referred to is our own governor and we wish to state like we have always done that we, the members of Ekiti State House of Assembly are with the governor on everything that he does. “Even ordinary Nigerians do

Except a governor is under investigation, his movement cannot be restricted. A governor does not work for the Federal Government

not require clearance from the Department of State Services or any security agencies to travel outside Nigeria unless in compliance with court order, and as of today, there is no court order placing travel restriction on our governor, Ayodele Fayose. “Issues concerning Governor Fayose cannot even be entertained in any court by virtue of the immunity he enjoys as provided in Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). “We however know as always that this latest plot is as a result of our governor’s critical stance on President Muhammadu Buhari’s government and its anti-people’s policies, and we make bold to say that no amount of intimidation, harassment and oppression will cowed the governor from exercising his fundamental rights to freedom of expression and to hold opinions as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended). “We are aware that this is coming as a result of the failure of the President Buhari led APC government’s plot to use the DSS to coerce the House of Assembly members into the plot of removing the governor. “We are also aware that plot to out-rightly take the governor ‘out of circulation’ cannot be ruled out as those advising President Buhari are said to be of the opinion that our governor has become a threat to his (Buhari) re-election bid and that everything must be done to ‘whip the governor to line’ before 2018. “Going by the antecedents of the President Buhari-led Federal Government of Nigeria and the DSS under the President’s kinsman, Alhaji Lawal Daura, it is certain that there is nothing that cannot be attempted, no matter how unlawful.” Fayose is not alone about the position of the law especially Section 308 of the Constitution. He is being supported by lawyers who viewed the alleged travel ban on the two governors as bizarre. They reasoned that since no laws empower the Federal Government to restrict governors’ movement, granting the DSS to approve or clear them before embarking on any trip outside the country would become null and void. Only a court of law has power to grant such directive not even when the governors still remain in office as they are immune by Section 308 from arrest and prosecution, they can be investigated though. Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, has in crystal clear terms restricted legal proceedings against the President and Vice-President of Nigeria and the Governors and Deputy Governors, respectively, of the various States. It says: 308.-(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Constitution but subject to subsection (2) of this section– (a) No civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against a person to whom this section applies during his period of office; (b) A person to whom this section applies shall not be arrested or imprisoned during that period either in pursuance of the process of any court or otherwise; and (c) No process of any court requiring or compelling the appearance of a person to whom this section applies, shall be issued: Provided that in ascertaining whether any period of limitation

has expired for the purposes of any proceedings against a person to whom this section applies, no account shall be taken of this period of office. (2) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to civil proceedings against a person to whom this section applies in his official capacity or to civil or criminal proceedings in which such a person is only a nominal party. (3) This section applies to a person holding the office of President or Vice-President, Governor or Deputy; and the reference in this section to “period of office” is reference to the period during which the person holding such office is required to perform the functions of the office. Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Malam Yusuf Ali, Norrison Ibinabo Quakers, a former chairman of the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Monday Ubani, President of the Public Interest Lawyers League, Abdul Mahmud, a law teacher, Dr. Henry Ndukuba, Biodun Egbewole, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa and the National President of the Campaign for the Defence of Human rights (CDHR), Malachi Ugwumadu. All said such alleged travel ban on governors cannot stand as Section 308 of the Constitution tacitly in favour of the governors. In his view, Ali said it was out of place for the Federal Government to contemplate such alleged travel ban when it had no power to so do as there was no constitutional provision backing the government to restrict the movement of any governor. He said: “By virtue of the Constitution, President, Vice President, Governors and their deputies enjoy immunity, which means they can’t be arrested and if you can’t arrest somebody, it means you can’t restrict his movement. “Any citizen at all, there must be liberty of his movement. Liberty is guaranteed by the Constitution. Even if you are not a governor, nobody can restrict your movement without due process. Due process must be followed in everything.” Quakers simply said the Federal Government was not in any position to issue travel ban on any governor because the nation operates constitutional democracy and federalism. He said: “Except a governor is under investigation, his movement cannot be restricted. A governor does not work for the Federal Government. Every governor is independent of the Federal Government even though we are in a federation. “A governor is responsible to the House of Assembly of his state. Every governor has an independent organ that supervises his activities and movements. That is why we have a constitution which mandates a governor to report to the House of Assembly if he intends to travel out. “So, to these extent and except a governor is being investigated by agencies of the Federal Government, there should not be any restrictive directive from the Federal Government. This is because there are checks and balances and separation of powers. This issue must be handled with care so that we don’t create constitutional crisis.” Quakers was echoed by Mahmud who said there was no such law empowering the Federal Government to place travel ban on governors even though he said such directive had remained a mere speculaCONTINUED ON PAGE 24

22 Law|File

monDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Legal liability for ‘naming and shaming’

Femi Aborisade

n 4th June 2016, the Federal Gover nment published the values of recovered cash loot, various sums involved in final forfeitures, interim forfeitures in local and foreign currencies and a list of 239 non-cash loot comprising farmlands, plots of land, vehicles, maritime vessels, completed and uncompleted buildings, between 29 May 2015 and 25 May 2016. However, the identities of persons from whom the recoveries and forfeitures were made were not disclosed, contrary to repeated promises made by the regime to name and shame former public officers who had looted public vaults. Some persons, including Buhari Professors of law, have attempted to rationalize the non-disclosure of the names of persons from whom the recoveries were made and those involved in interim and final forfeitures, arguing that premature disclosure of names would have been illegal on the grounds of likelihood of claims of damages for defamation. But none of those who share this opinion have gone ahead to cite the provisions of the law that would have been violated if Mr. President or any other arm of government named and shamed those who voluntarily made returns or have been made to suffer forfeitures. In this short article, I argue that by statutory and judicial authorities, disclosure of names as well as the amount returned is not just what is legally required but it is also what is in the public interest. By necessary implication, suppression of the identities of those who made returns and have suffered forfeitures, interim and/or final, smacks of undue secrecy, non-transparency, a tendency to use the anti-graft agencies as tools of dispensing favours to attain political control and subjugation. Without doubt, the failure of the Federal Government of Nigeria to disclose the names of persons who voluntarily returned looted cash and those who have suffered asset forfeitures either on interim or final basis shows that the PMB/APC regime is succumbing to pressure in the fight for probity and transparency in the handling of public affairs. In the context of the fact that the identity of some other persons and the sums they allegedly looted had been disclosed before commencement and conclusion of their trials, the latest attitude of the regime amounts to double standards. A fundamental point to first establish is that disclosure of the identity of persons who have voluntarily been making returns as well as those

treasury looters

who have suffered forfeitures and the value of what they return or forfeited ought to be a product of a systematic process of investigation and prosecution through the judicial system rather than being politicized through agencies of the executive arm of government outside the judicial process. Where arrests are made pursuant to proper investigation and suspects are promptly charged to court, disclosures ought to be made in the ordinary course of prosecution of suspects. In the process of prosecution, relevant agencies of government as well as individuals and organizations would have the opportunity to gather empirical and verifiable information on recovered or forfeited loot based on the processes filed in the court’s Registry. The primary function of an antigraft agency is to conduct investigation, gather evidence and charge suspects or defendants to court, with or without the defendant making confessional statements. Indeed, the defendant may only be prosecuted and convicted based on proof by the prosecutor beyond reasonable doubt. A defendant who is accused of an offence is not obliged to answer any question in the process of investigation and interrogation. Under the EFCC Act however, the only obligation of the defendant is to disclose details of his/her assets. Even in the court, the accused is not compellable to give evidence against himself/herself. But this would not hinder such a defendant from being convicted based on the evidence placed before the court. This is the import of a community interpretation of Sections 35(2), 35(4), 35(5), 35(7), 36(5), 36(6) (a)-(c) and 36(11) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, CFRN, 1999, as amended, Section 270(7), Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA); Section 27(1) of

The failure of the Federal Government to disclose the names of persons who voluntarily returned looted cash shows PMB/ APC regime succumbs to pressure in the fight for probity

the EFCC Act; Section 29 of the Police Act; Abidoye v. F.R.N (2014) 5 NWLR (Pt. 1399) 30 and Chwuemeka v. FRN (2016) 2 NWLR (Pt. 1495) 120. However, for a suspect or defendant who is disposed to plea bargain, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) provides that an admission or confession upon which plea bargain agreement may be based shall be voluntary and be expressly in writing and signed, as follows: “(7) An agreement between the parties contemplated in subsection (3) shall be reduced to writing and shall: (a) State that, before conclusion of the agreement, the defendant has been informed: (i) That he has a right to remain silent; (ii) Of the consequences of not remaining silent; and (iii) That he is not obliged to make any confession or admission that could be used in evidence against him. (b) State fully, the terms of the agreement and any admission made; and (c) Be signed by the prosecutor, the defendant, the legal practitioner and the interpreter, as the case may be; and (d) A copy of the agreement forwarded to the Attorney-General of the Federation.” [See ACJA, Section 270 sub (7)] In other to strengthen the requirement of voluntariness in the drawing up of the plea bargain agreement, Section 270(6), ACJA, mandatorily provides that the suspect or defendant shall be allowed to make inputs as follows: “(6) The prosecution shall afford the victim or his representative the opportunity to make representations to the prosecutor regarding – (a) The content of the agreement; and (b) The inclusion in the agreement of a compensation or restitution order.” Once it can be shown that the plea bargain agreement is the product of the voluntariness of the suspect or defendant, such an agreement would be adjudged sufficient evidence of the truth of the defendant’s guilt and the court could act upon such voluntary confessional statements. Where a plea bargain agreement has been reached (including agreements to make returns) between the defendant and the prosecutor, the State/prosecutor/anti-graft agency lacks the discretion to delay prosecution. Section 270(9), ACJA, mandatorily provides that: “…the prosecutor shall inform the court that the parties have reached an agreement and the presiding judge or magistrate shall then inquire from the defendant to confirm the terms of the agreement.” By Section 270(10)(a), ACJA, once satisfied that the defendant entered into the plea bargain agreement vol-

untarily and without undue influence, the presiding judge or magistrate is empowered to convict the defendant “in accordance with the terms of the agreement”. By Section 270(11) (a), ACJA, the presiding judge or magistrate shall sentence the defendant in accordance with the terms of the plea bargain agreement where the agreed sentence is considered appropriate. However, by Section 270(b)-(c), ACJA, a lesser or heavier sentence may also be imposed where the presiding judge considers the agreed sentence to be inappropriate. The provisions of Section 270(10) & (11) are a codification of judicial principles. In Ologe .v. New Africa Holdings Ltd. (2013), 17 NWLR (Pt. 1384) 449 at 466, Paras. A – B, the apex court held that the court can convict an accused based solely on confessional statement, as follows: “…A confessional statement made by an accused person which is properly admitted in evidence is, in law, the best pointer to the truth of the role played by such accused person in the commission of the offence. Such a confessional statement can be accepted as satisfactory evidence upon which alone the accused can be convicted.” Pursuant to the sentence passed by the presiding judge, an order could then be made “that any money, asset or property agreed to be forfeited under the plea bargain shall be transferred to and vest in the victim or his representative or any other person as may be appropriate or reasonably feasible (Section 270 (12). ACJA). Under the EFCC Act, forfeited assets, in appropriate cases are vested in the Federal Government. Subsequently, the prosecutor is mandatorily empowered to “take reasonable steps to ensure that any money, asset or property agreed to be forfeited or returned by the offender under a plea bargain are transferred to or vested in the victim, his representative or other person lawfully entitled to it.” (Section 270 (13), ACJA). It is only within this context that “any person who willfully and without just cause obstructs or impedes the vesting or transfer of any money, asset or property under this Act shall be guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for 7 years without an option of fine.” (Section 270(14), ACJA). Even within the context of the EFCC Act, the power to confiscate and declare assets of defendants forfeited is vested only in the courts, not in the EFCC. Sections 19 to 25 of the EFCC Act empower the court to make an order of forfeiture, seizure and/or confiscation of all assets and properties, real or personal that may have been acquired, obtained and/ or derived, directly or indirectly, disclosed or undisclosed in Any Assets Declaration Form.

monDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NBA tasks FG on police bill, increased funding for judiciary

Mohammed

Tunde Oyesina

iqued by paucity of funds, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on the Federal Government to increase the budgetary allocation to the judiciary and the security agencies. Speaking at a conference organized by the association in Abuja, the Chairman of the NBA Committee on Administration of Justice, Olawale Fapo-

hunda said the nation’s security challenge required an effective criminal justice system, saying that there was the need for an urgent reform of both sector. He however tasked President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to convene a major stakeholders’ meeting for the effective funding of the Judiciary, stressing also the need for the government to support the enactment of the police reform bill.

Fapohunda called for the restructuring of the Ministry of Interior and the removal of Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) from the over sight functions of the Ministry of Interior to the Ministry of Justice even as he called for a national gathering and prison reforms. While lamenting the deplorable work condition of prison officials, the NBA Committee Chairman canvassed the establishment of prisons service commission with a view to quickening speedy trial of criminal cases and their backlogs in various courts across the country and congestion of inmates in the Nigerian prisons. Fapohunda was corroborated by the Secretary, Presidential Committee on Anti-corruption, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, in his paper entitled “Fighting Corruption: what has worked and what has not”, advocated for an effective oversight function of the Anti-corruption agencies in the country, the EFCC and ICPC to prevent witchhunting, selective prosecution and other inadequacies. He charged agencies to conduct proper investigation of allegation of corruption before charging suspect to court for prosecution, while calling on the government to operate an open door policy, transparency in governance. “I am now in government and as I always do, I advocate open government, more transparency and information sharing”, he stated.

Law|News 23

Lawyers bemoan harsh bail conditions

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

The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang while ruling on the bail application maintained that under Section 36 of the Constitution, the defendant ought to be presumed innocent until his guilt is established, but however held that he would in view of the amount contained in the charge, grant Badeh bail to the tune of N2 billion with two sureties who are to deposit N1 billion each. The court ordered that the sureties must not only be residents in Abuja, but must own landed property in the Federal Capital Territory with a valid Certificate of Occupancy. He directed the Chief Registrar of the court to authenticate the ownership and value of the property. Justice Abang directed that upon being put on notice by the defendant, the EFCC should within 24 hours, independently ascertain the residence of the sureties as well as their ownership and value of the landed property. Besides, the sureties are to provide their three years tax clearance certificates, deposit the original title documents of the property and also depose to an affidavit of means. The sureties, according to the court, must also submit their two recent passport photographs as well as produce convincing evidence that they have the means to pay the total sum contained in the charge, should Badeh jump bail. For the Azibaolas, the court presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba released them on N500m bail each. Fani-Kayode is still being

Court to hear Tompolo’s suit against FG, others June 17 Akeem Nafiu

ustice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola of the Federal High Court, Lagos will on Thursday hear a suit filed by a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemulopo, alias Tompolo against the Federal Government in which he is seeking to nullify Sections 221 and 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 (ACJA). The judge fixed the date after granting an application to allow the EFCC file its response to the suit. Federal Government had in its counter-affidavit described the suit as an abuse of court process, frivolous, time wasting, grossly misleading and erroneous in its totality. Besides, it claimed that the sections did not infringe on fair hearing and fundamental rights of the applicant as the intention of the sections were geared towards ensuring speedy and efficient dispensation of justice with a view to avoiding malicious delay and stalling of criminal cases by parties employing frivolous and time wasting tactics to impede the course of justice. Tompolo had in the funda-

Auta

mental rights enforcement suit urged the court to nullify Sections 221 and 306 of the ACJA, under which he was charged, arguing that the Sections were invalid unconstitutional as they violated his constitutional rights to fair hearing. The ex-militant also argued that the Sections were unconstitutional so far as they sought to prevent the court from exer-

cising its jurisdiction to entertain any objection to a criminal charge and application for a stay of proceedings pending appeal. Section 221 Administration of Criminal Justice Act, states that “objections shall not be taken or entertained during proceedings or trial on the grounds of an imperfect or erroneous charge, while Sec-

tion 306 states that “an application for stay of proceedings in respect of a criminal matter before a court shall not be entertained.” The defendants in the suit are the Federal Government of Nigeria, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Inspector-General of Police, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Air Staff. Justice Ibrahim Buba of the same court had on January 14 issued a warrant for the arrest of Tompolo after he failed to show up for his trial. The EFCC had charged Tompolo alongside nine others for an alleged N45.9 billion fraud. However, on January 27 Tompolo filed an application before the court, seeking an order setting aside the said warrant of arrest. On February 8, the said application was argued and dismissed by the court. Tompolo thereafter filed an appeal against the ruling of the court on February 18. Tompolo’s appeal was entered at the Court of Appeal on March 3 following which his lawyers filed the appellant’s brief of argument in the said appeal, awaiting the response of the EFCC.

kept by the EFCC on account of his $1m bail. The same issue played out while the National Publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh was arraigned and granted bail. The same judge, had earlier on January 19 admitted Metuh in the sum of N400m with two sureties in the sum of N200m each. The judge also ruled that the sureties must produce the certificates of occupancy of the property which must be verified by the Chief Registrar of the court and confirmed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The judge, who also ordered that Metuh must deposit his traveling documents with the court pending the period of his trial, also ordered the EFCC to verify the residences of the sureties who must be resident in Abuja. After about 8 days of inability to perfect the bail condition, Metuh had to return to the court to vary the condition. It was after the bail was varied that he could meet it. Reacting to this, a lawyer, Adeoye Adeoti said that such situation was not the mindset of the drafters of the Constitution. “Bail is not meant to deter an accused person from standing trial rather it should be an opportunity to stand his or her trial. Giving an accused person stringent bail condition does not portray the judiciary in good light.” This is because, every accused is presumed innocent until it is proved otherwise. “And in as much as someone is presumed innocent, then his fundamental rights to freedom is guaranteed. Any attempt to make the exercise of the right difficult by the court is infringement on such individual’s right.” “Although there are instances when bail can be completely turned down by the court, this is determined by the gravity of the offense and the length and gravity of the punishment. “But in money laundering charge case, the offense is bailable and justice should be done and also be seen to be done in the granting of bail.” A law lecturer, Dr. Yunis Imam opined that bail should not be made stringent because it touches on the constitutional rights of an accused person. “Making the condition of bail stringent is another way of turning down bail applications and our constitution does not promote such. An accused is presumed innocent no matter the gravity of the offense committed until such is proven beyond reasonable doubt by a competent court of law. “Although bail is at the discretion of the court it is not to say that the court should make the condition so stringent for the accused person to perfect it. Remember, an accused is to be prosecuted and not persecuted. Denying an accused bail or given a stringent condition is a way of tramping on the accused person’s fundamental right to freedom. “In addition, an accused person is to be allowed to prepare for his trial, and this can only be done when he is not behind the bars while the trial is on.”

24 Law|news

monDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Lawyers: Why FG can’t restrict governors’ movement

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

tion, no agency had formally carried out the alleged presidential directive. Mahmud said: “Chapter 4 of the Constitution is very clear. A governor is like every other citizen of Nigeria; he has the right to free movement. But no government agencies, including the DSS have come out to say that they have restricted the movement of the governors of Ekiti and Rivers. “For me, it is mere speculation. But the Constitution is there except such person is found guilty by a competent court. “Also in the case of emergency where the government exercises its powers under the emergency laws, then movement of citizens can be restricted, but such laws are not applicable here. “Nobody can resist the movement of governors.” In his own reaction, a law teacher, Dr. Henry Ndukuba also submitted that going by the provisions of Chapter 4 of the Constitution, Governors movement cannot be restricted. “There is no issue in the news going round that the Federal Government wants to restrict the movement of the Governor of Ekiti state. This is because there is no law that empowers the federal government to do so. “The governors, just like the President has immunity. In other words, their movement cannot be restricted for any reason. “And of course, I don’t see any reason why such issue should even come up in the first place. Nigeria is not a banana republic where anything can happen, we are governed by rules and regulations and such must be followed to the letter. “Even citizens are guaranteed the freedom of movement. They can move from one part of the country to another without restriction except where such movement constitutes a threat to the security of the nation. Ubani said: “Of course, it will not be in order for the government to place travel ban on governors. However, in any rule, there are exceptions. Where it is proved that the governor is going abroad to buy arms and ammunition to levy war

Mahmud

against the country or for any security breach against the sovereignty of the country, the governor’s movement can be restricted. Indeed, the particular governor can be asked not to travel. “So, a very genuine reason must be advanced before the movement of any governor in the country is restricted. To Egbewole, placing governors under restriction was against the fundamental principle as contained under the Constitution. He said: “So for the Federal Government to say it wants to restrict the movement of governors, it is a breach of the governors’ fundamental rights. “This is an affront on the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) more so that states, as federating units in Nigeria are not under the Federal Government, which itself is also a State and not superior to other federating units. “By provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, ordinary Nigerians do not require clearance from the DSS or any security agency to travel outside Nigeria unless travel restriction is placed by an order of the court, not to talk of State Governors that enjoy immunity just like the President and are not under the control of the President.” Adegboruwa was not different. He said: “I believe the Constitution has guaranteed the personal rights of every Nigerian as to freedom of movement. As far as I am concerned, that personal right can only be tampered with when the person is suspected of committing a criminal offence. “This means there is a need to restrain his liberty either for the purpose of investigation or committing the person to trial. Other than that, no individual as a citizen of Nigeria can be hindered from moving in and out of this country. Governors, their deputies, President and his Vice President are rated above ordinary citizens in the enjoyment of this right. That is why in Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, a provision has been inserted to give protection and immunity to these set of people

Malachi

against arrest and summon through any process whether of court, police, National Assembly, etc. in relation to the discharge of their duties while they are in office. This is to avoid distractions in the discharge of their duties and allow them to concentrate on the business of governance. So, any complaints against these people by anyone will be reported to the security operatives and will be kept in abeyance till the individual concerned leaves office. These people are not immune to investigation but they can only be prosecuted when they end their tenure in office. “So, if this is the position, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has no constitutional powers

to restrain the liberty or movement of a governor. Since we are running a federation under Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the 1999 Constitution whereby states and local governments have been given their powers and as such the President has no powers to interfere in the affairs of a state or local government. “This means a governor is not answerable to the President because he is an independent office holder. He holds his allegiance to the House of Assembly of his state or the representative of the people that elected him into office. That is why the President cannot discipline, remove, suspend or punish a governor. “So, a President issuing a directive to any governor is just wasting his time because the directive cannot be enforced. The governors can hold meetings with the President and advised him appropriately but the President can’t tie them down to any directive.” He cannot direct any governor whether to travel out of the country or not. He is not constitutionally empowered to do so. Ugwumadu, said every Nigerian has the constitutional rights to movement and as such placing travel ban on governors will amount to violation of their rights to freely move. He said: “Every Nigerian has the constitutional rights to freely move in and out of the country. If any governor constitutes a security breach which is highly suspected to undermine the security of the country, acceptable practice and procedure must be adopted. “By this, I mean that the person can be invited for interrogation and if he is found to have committed the offence, you will have to wait till he serves out his term because he enjoys immunity. However, to say that a governor cannot move or travel out of the country is not sustainable.”

SARAKI: Law teacher faults apex court on CCT’s quorum The governors, just like the President have immunity. In other words, their movement cannot be restricted for any reason

Tunde Oyesina Abuja

Professor of Law, Paul Idornigie (SAN) has faulted the Supreme Court’s decision which held that two members of the Code of Conduct Tribunal can hear the case of an alleged false declaration of assets filed against the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki. Idornigie who spoke in Abuja at a round-table on reporting Court Proceedings by Media: Uses and abuse/ Justice Development in the FCT Judiciary organised by Law, Edit and Social Justice Development (LMSJD) noted that the provisions of the Constitution did provide for quorum but shall be constituted by three members. He however queried what the decision of the tribunal will be when a member finds an accused guilty and the other member did not so find? Idornigie who is the Head, Department of Commercial Law, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) said it was wrong for the Director General in the ministry of Justice to have instituted the charges against Saraki when there was a sitting Solicitor-General in the ministry.

He said: “There was a sitting Solicitor-General in the Ministry of Justice but it was a Director that instituted the charges against Saraki, I have issues with that. “You can see that even at the Court of Appeal, there was a split decision amongst the panel of judges; these are areas that should be reported by the media so that our laws will be reformed.” Also, the Law Professor frowned at the statement credited to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) where it said that “nobody comes to the EFCC and come out clean,” describing it as speculative statement because in Law there is a presumption of innocence. He therefore called for caution against media trial. Idrnigie said: “It is the desire of any justice system to at least be seen as fair in conducting its adjudicatory functions. “Many legal systems afford specific protection to the presumption of innocence, which is an essential feature of the right to fair hearing. “According to Section 36(5) of the Nigerian Constitution, ‘everyone charged with a criminal offense shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.”

MONDAY, june 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Interview ‘Stakeholders should pressurise govt, NNPC to make Cabotage work’

Business What's new 2.6Ghz: NCC moves to relax spectrum licensing conditions

Money Line Analysts: Current account deficit may hit $20bn

34 36

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE April 2016...................................13.7% March 2016...............................12.8% February 2016............................11.4%

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

EXCHANGE RATE

(BDC as at June 10 )

(Interbank as at June 10)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N358 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N515 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N405

l Foreign Reserves – $26.401bn as at 8/6/2016

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N200 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N307 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N224

Source: CBN

p.26

Liberalisation: Nigeria, others to reap $1.3bn

L-R: Retail Business Manager, Sterling Bank, Abuja, Musa Atahiru; Winner in the N1 million category, Otorkpa Joseph, and representative of Sterling Bank Business Executive Retail, Abuja, Uche Isinetugo, at the cheque presentation to winners of the New Sterling Plus Cash Reward promo

p.26

DECLINING Nigeria slated exports of 1.57 million barrels per day (bpd) for June loading, as against 1.6 million bpd recorded in the previous month

Adeola Yusuf

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

igeria failed to meet the export of 52 oil cargoes in the June export schedule, as India, the biggest consumer of Nigeria’s crude, began importation of other West Africa’s crude grades to meet the shortfall created by the slide in Nigeria’s export schedule. A schedule sighted by New Telegraph showed that India, the South Asian nation, now Asia’s second largest oil consumer, accounted for 4.5 per cent of daily global oil demand last year, marginally higher than Japan’s 4.4 per cent, which was equivalent to 4.15 million barrels. The loading schedules are done a month ahead, indicating that the June loading was expected to be exported in May. This newspaper gathered that the renewed disruptions in the production and export from Africa’s biggest crude producer worsened the exports’ woes. Nigeria had earlier scheduled 52 oil cargoes in its June programme for exports in May, representing a drop from 55 cargoes slated for May, which were exported last April. The preliminary loading schedule

Attacks: Nigeria misses June oil export target

•Major client, India looks elsewhere sighted by this newspaper showed that the nation will be exporting about 1.57 million barrels per day (bpd) during the period as against 1.6 million bpd recorded in the previous month. While the June loading schedule showed that the country planned to export 1.57 million barrels daily, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, confirmed that the country’s export had slid to 1.3 million barrels daily. The dwindling export level in Nigeria, Kachikwu said, is already affecting the 60 per cent to 40 per cent Joint Venture agreement of the Federal Government with the international oil companies (IOCs). He said: “In terms of exports, you know that usually we tend to have a 60 to 40 per cent Joint Venture (JV), the 1.6 million barrels is a mixture of Production Sharing Contract and JV production. “The first is the 445,000 barrels, which goes into our local production for the refined petroleum products that we see. “If you take that out, we are probably at less than 1.3 million barrels in the export volume and we all treasure that 1.3 million affects Nigeria in 60-40 relationship business.” The minister noted that the volume

95 million bpd Global demand for oil was 95.008 million barrels per day in 2015, of which US consumed 19.7 per cent

of oil available to the federation had dwindled substantially, adding that the Federal Government was making every effort to ensure increase in the volume. He said the increase is important to enable government meet the demands of 2016 budget projection on the oil production. Meanwhile, according to the loading schedule, about 20 May cargoes remained available, while some traders re-offered previously sold cargoes. Grades available included Escravos, Bonny Light and Qua Iboe. Shell’s operated Forcados grade remained under force majeure due to damages to the Trans Forcados pipeline early last February. The repair works on the pipeline that feeds Forcados terminal is still on-going, while the exports plan did not include Erha, which is the subject of a disagreement between ExxonMobil and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). According to the April edition of OPEC monthly oil market report, the production issues pushed Angola’s oil production levels above Nigeria. Also, some cargoes of Nigeria’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

BUSINESS |news

TARGET The regulator is targeting higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contribution from telecoms sector to the nation’s economy Kunle Azeez

orried by the widespread apathy witnessed in the recent spectrum auction in the country, the Nigerian government, through its telecoms regulatory body, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is considering relaxing the licensing conditions after due consultations with the operators, New Telegraph has learnt. This newspaper gathered that the regulatory move was coming on the heels of the apparent lack of interest exhibited by many operators and prospective investors during the planned auction of 2.6Ghz last month. The release of the spectrum is expected to further accelerate access to high-speed Internet or broadband across the nooks and crannies of the country. According to findings, the regulator is ready to take necessary measures towards boosting the broadband penetration in the country currently standing at 10 per cent to 30 per cent by 2018.

Nigeria misses June oil export’s target CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

largest crude oil stream, Qua Iboe, billed to be exported in April and May, are still struggling to find buyers, even as the June export programme emerged. Trading sources said buyers from India, which is the single largest importer of Nigeria’s crude oil, were choosing other West African crude grades over Qua Iboe. Other traders also noted the lack of Qua Iboe cargoes being bought by the usual Indian refineries, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited, as well as Indonesia’s Pertamina, during their May tenders. The tenders instead took similar grade Bonny Light or other West African crude grades such as Nigeria’s Agbami or Angola’s Pazflor and Kissanje grades. Out of the 11 May Qua Iboe cargoes, trading sources said five currently remain unsold, while two April cargoes are still available. Exports of Qua Iboe are expected to rise to 317,000 barrels per day in June. Militants bombing oil installations in the Niger Delta rejected offers of peace talk by the Federal Government with the last Wednesday bombing of Chevron oil well in new attacks.

MONDAY, june 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

2.6Ghz: NCC moves to relax spectrum licensing conditions

Despite the impressive buildup to the auction by the regulator and level of awareness created around the auction, only MTN Nigeria bided for six slots out of the available 14 slots in the spectrum band. For being the only operator participating, the regulator foreclosed further auction in line with the conditions laid down in the Information Memorandum (IM) released on the 2.6Ghz spectrum auction process. The IM had stated: “If the aggregate demand from approved

bidders is less than or equal to the number of lots on offer, the Commission will provisionally award the license to the party/ parties at the reserve price.” Already, the regulator is undertaking a post-mortem on the 2.6 Ghz spectrum, though findings showed that it had not yet met with the operators to find out why they did not bid. “The intention is to be able to know their reasons and to know in what way the regulator can come in to relax some of the conditions in the process, if this relaxation can lead to more

operators going for the remaining eight,” said Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof Umar Danbatta. “I am sure the Commission will be disposed to looking at the reasons that prevented other operators from coming forward to bid, except only one,” he noted. Consequently, it is believed that tweaking with the current licensing conditions would encourage more operators to come for the remaining six slots in the 2.6Ghz spectrum bands with a view to accelerating broadband deployment.

On assuming office last year, Danbatta had expressed his resolve to accelerate broadband development in the country through releasing more spectrum bands for existing and prospective players in the industry. Such frequency spectrum bands include the 2.6 gigahertz spectrum; the 5.4 gigahertz spectrum band and the 70/80 gigahertz bands, the licensing of service providers in the 38 and 42GHz bands and the replanning of the 23GHz microwave spectrum band, among others.

L-R: Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer, UAC of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Abdul Bello; Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Larry Ettah; Chairman, Dan Agbor and Company Secretary, Mr. Godwin Samuel, at the company’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Liberalisation: Nigeria, others to reap $1.3bn •MRegion to generate 155,000 jobs SYSTEMIC STATUS Aviation supports 6.9 million jobs and over $80 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) across Africa Wole Shadare

igeria and 11 other African nations can generate 155,000 jobs and $1.3 billion in annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) if air transport is liberalised, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said. According to a report published by IATA, the 12 nations setting out the considerable social and economic benefits of intra-African air service liberalisation are Nigeria, Algeria, Ethiopia, Angola, Egypt, Ghana and Kenya. Others are Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and Uganda. The study by the experienced independent economic consultants InterVISTAS outlined the benefits that would accrue if the 12 African nations were to imple-

ment the 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision. The Yamoussoukro Decision committed 44 signatory countries to deregulating air services and to opening regional air markets to transnational competition. The implementation of this agreement, however, has been slow and the benefits have not been fully realised. IATA’s outgoing Director General and CEO, Tony Tyler, said: “This report demonstrates beyond doubt the tremendous potential for African aviation if the shackles are taken off. The additional services generated by liberalisation between just 12 key markets will provide extra 155,000 jobs and $1.3 billion in annual GDP. A potential five million passengers a year are being denied the chance to travel between these markets because of unnecessary restrictions on establishing air routes. “Furthermore, employment and economic growth are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the benefits of connectivity. Aviation is a force for good and plays a major role in helping to reach the African Union’s mission of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa.” Aviation already sup-

ports 6.9 million jobs and over $80 billion in GDP across Africa. The InterVISTAS research demonstrates that liberalisation will create opportunities for further significant employment growth and economic development. The jobs and GDP impact for the 12 countries in the study are as follows; Nigeria - 17,400 jobs ($128.2 million) in GDP; Algeria - 11,100 job creation ($123.6 million) GDP and Angola -15,300 job creation ($137.1million) GDP. Also included are Egypt - 11,300 job creation ($114.2 million); Ethiopia 14,800 job creation ($59.8million), Ghana - 9,500 job creation and $46.8 million to accrue its GDP; Kenya, 15,900 jobs to be created, $76.9 million GDP. Also, Namibia - 10, 600 jobs and $94.2 million to GDP; Senegal 8,000 jobs and $40.5 million; South Africa - 14,500 jobs and $283.9 million in GDP; Tunisia - 8,100 job creation and $113.7 million in GDP and Uganda with 18,600 jobs with $77.6 million accruing to its GDP. Speaking in the same vein, Vice President (Africa), IATA, Rapheal Kuuchi, told New Telegraph that the study clearly highlights the crucial role air transport plays in driving economic and social development in Africa

through enhanced connectivity. He urged governments to support the growth of the industry by fully liberalising African skies as intended by the Yamoussoukro Decision, while providing other facilitator assistance such as implementing global standards in safety, security and regulations, reducing high charges, taxes and fees and removing visa requirements for ease of movement across the continent. He disclosed that Africa represents a huge potential market for aviation, stressing that it is therefore unfortunate that African states are opening their aviation markets to third countries but not to each other, which does not promote the spirit of the Yamoussoukro Decision. “This isn’t just holding back African aviation, but African economies. This important new report developed in collaboration with IATA, AFRAA and our key regional partners provides compelling facts and figures, which should send a powerful message to States and their key decision makers such as Finance, Tourism and Trade ministries across the continent to place aviation at the heart of their economic development and national planning growth strategies,” Kuuchi said.

MONDAY, june 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | Movers, Shakers and Appointments

Odu’a Group hires MD, group head

Oloyede

he Board of Odu’a Investment Company Limited has approved the appointment of Dr. Morakinyo Kunle Oloyede as the Head, Group Human Resources and Olasupo Solomon Falana, as the Managing Director for Glanvills Enthoven & Co. Nigeria, a subsidiary of the group. The two appointments, according to a statement, were in line with the group’s five-year strategic plan to grow its revenue base by over 300 per cent

in 2019. The company said in a statement that Oloyede emerged through a competitive and transparent selective process executed by KPMG Advisory Services. Oloyede is to focus on effective job analysis, evaluation and grading, organisational structure, talent management and succession planning, learning and development, industrial relations, performance management, reward, compensation and benefits.

Oloyede, who joined the company from First Bank of Nigeria Plc, according to a statement, is a seasoned human resources practitioner with extensive experience from the hospitality and banking sectors. He holds a first degree in Guidance & Counselling, a master degree in Personnel Psychology and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Applied Psychology from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye. Also, according to the statement, Falana was appointed to reposition the Insurance Broking Firm into its enviable place in the top echelon of the insurance broking business in the country. He will be bringing his 25 years of professional experience in top-class rated insurance institutions including Goldlink Insurance Plc and Law Union & Rock Insurance, where he was the Chief Technical and Business Officer to lead the Management team of Glanvills Enthoven. He is a seasoned insurance executive versed at delivering appropriate technical operations, marketing solutions aligned with corporate strategy and business goals. He obtained his Higher Diploma (HND) in Insurance from the Lagos State Polytechnic and Master in Business Administration from University of AdoEkiti. He was the best overall National Diploma Student in Insurance from The Polytechnic, Ibadan and the Best All-round HND Graduate at the Lagos State Polytechnic.

Deloitte Africa appoints CEO for Nigeria

eloitte Africa has appointed Mr, Fatai Folarin as Deloitte West Africa regional leader and chief executive officer of Deloitte Nigeria. The appointment, according to a statement, was part of the company’s efforts to drive regional growth. The company said that Folarin’s priorities would include applying leading technology to serve clients across the Deloitte core businesses in West Africa of audit, tax, consulting, risk advisory and corporate finance services, while building on a dis-

Folarin

tinct experience that engenders trust with clients and attracts and inspires talent. The company noted he would continue to serve as the Tax Leader of the practice, serving several of Deloitte West Africa’s most prominent clients. According to Deloitte Africa’s Chief Executive Officer, Lwazi Bam: “Fatai’s extensive history of leadership, coupled with his experience advising multinational clients looking to establish themselves in the West Africa market makes him an ideal person for this role. “I look forward to working

closely with him to continue to ensure that Deloitte West Africa makes a positive, enduring impact for all stakeholders, including Deloitte clients, its people, and society.” Prior to his role of Deputy CEO of Deloitte West Africa, which he assumed on 1 December 2015, he led Deloitte West Africa’s tax practice, managing various international and national engagements involving technology, media and telecommunication companies, oil and gas companies and companies in the consumer business industry. Folarin according to the statement is an alumnus of The Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation, Nigeria (CITN). Speaking on his new position, Folarin said: “I feel extremely honoured to take on this leadership role in Deloitte at such an exciting time for our profession. “The requirements of Deloitte’s clients, people, regulators and other stakeholders are constantly changing and I know that Deloitte in West Africa is best placed to help our stakeholders with these changes in meaningful ways, which will benefit them for years to come.”

Firm gets country manager

ravelstart has announced the appointment of Philip Åkesson as the new country manager for its Nigerian branch. A statement from the company said he took over from Andre Van Straaten, who was the country manager and international markets project manager. Åkesson is a graduate of the Stockholm School of Economics and one of the founding members of Konga. At Konga, he filled in positions ranging from operations, strategy, investor communications, business intelligence and strategic partnerships. Following this appointment, Philip Åkesson, according to the company, will be based at Travelstart’s Nigerian office in Ikeja, Lagos. The firm explained that under Akesson’s leader-

ship, Andre would continue to manage strategic relationships with suppliers in West Africa. According to the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Stephan Ekbergh, “Akesson brings a wealth of experience and we are delighted to welcome him to the Travelstart Nigeria team. As an ecommerce business leader, he will be an asset to Travelstart and will bring a depth of practical knowledge that our customers and partners will benefit from.” As Country Manager, Philip will oversee commercial and operational strategies for Travelstart Nigeria and drive initiatives that will grow the brand. This is a great opportunity that he seems optimistic about. Philip said: “I am excited to start a new challenge within the Travelstart group and look forward to working with the team to expand its presence across verticals in the region, leveraging my experience in the local ecommerce space.”

Akesson

ECOWAS employs NANTS President

he Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has appointed the President of National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS), Ken Ukaoha, as a member of the Task Force Committee of Eminent Persons on the implementation of ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of persons, goods and services and Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS). The task force committee, according to a statement, is composed of seven members led by the former

Ukaoha

President of the Republic of Niger. Ukaoha is the president of NANTS, an incorporated umbrella organisation of traders and trade groups saddled with the responsibility of promoting the welfare of traders in Nigeria. He was appointed following the Heads of State and Governments of ECOWAS’ decision towards effective implementation of the ETLS seamless enforcement of the Free Movement Protocol across the West African region.

BUSINESS |Stock Watch

FTN Cocoa Processors Plc has continued to struggle to get out of the woods despite the recent consummation of a strategic deal with Transmar Group of United States. CHRIS UGWU writes

MONDAY, june 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FTN Cocoa: Battling to survive

igeria used to be the second largest producer of cocoa in the 1960s, but the discovery of oil in the 1950s and the subsequent focus of attention on the exploitation of the black gold have to a large extent stunted growth of the nation’s agriculture industry, especially the cocoa sector that was once served as the major revenue earner for the nation. The massive oil revenues of the 1970s led to the neglect of the industry and bred overdependence on oil. However, after petroleum, cocoa still remain Nigeria’s most important export, contributing more than 80 per cent of export earnings, according to the Federal Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment March 2015 report, which also showed that the country’s cocoa export earnings come largely from cocoa beans and by-products such as cocoa butter, cocoa powder and cake. Regrettably, the overreliance on oil has inadvertently led to the dwindling fortunes of most Nigerian cocoa farmers, who have had to relinquish their position as Africa’s leaders in the production of the cash-crop to Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana position. Hence, the overconcentration has driven the unwavering devotion given to cocoa to the oblivion and eroded Nigeria’s position as Africa’s leader in production of the crop. Recent information from market analysts also revealed that Nigeria’s cocoa production has dropped by 5.2 per cent from 248,000 metric tonnes in the 2013/2014 planting season to 235,000 metric tonnes in the 2014/2015 season. Stakeholders had expected an increase to about 350,000 metric tonnes for the 2014/2015 season following the distribution of improved seedlings by the Federal Government with a target to increase yield and make the country the largest producer of cocoa in Africa before the year 2020, and to develop a globally competitive manufacturing industry around the Nigerian cocoa bean. But the processors have continued to be faced with various challenges ranging from delays in the disbursement of the export expansion grant; imposed duty on processed cocoa in the international market; high interest rates; underutilisation of installed capacities, poor power supply and the lack of competitiveness of processed cocoa when compared with raw cocoa in the export market.

Aderonmu

FTN Cocoa Processors Plc was not insulated from the harsh operating environment, as its bottom-line has remained susceptible to the challenges facing the agribusiness in Nigeria. Hardest hit was its share price on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), which has stagnated at nominal value of 50 kobo year-to- date following negative sentiments that have enveloped the demand of the stocks. Financials FTN Cocoa Processors Plc, a pioneer-status agro allied company has continued to battle with lower sales and declining bottom-line, as it posted a loss after tax of N577.204 million for the full year ended December, 2014. The figure showed 181.79 per cent higher than N204.831 million losses after tax reported at the comparable period of 2013. The company’s revenue in a filing with the Exchange also fell by 46.28 per cent from N460.633 million in 2013 to N247.418 million recorded during the period under review. However, what seems to be a respite from the loss position came the way of the company. It began the year 2015 in a positive route with 155.4 per cent growth in revenue for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015. The company’s revenue grew to N387.972 million during the first quarter from N151.894 million recorded during the comparable period of 2014, accounting for 155.4 per cent increase. The firm also returned from loss position during the period

Cocoa industry has recorded reduced foreign order and low international prices of cocoa products following the global economic meltdown

to a profit of N3.695 million. Expectations that the good numbers posted during the first quarter will be sustained was dashed, as FTN Cocoa Processors returned to the limbo and continued to struggle with negative bottom-line, recording of loss after tax of N39.065 million for the half year ended June, 2015. However, the figure showed 86.59 per cent decrease over N291.394 million loss after tax reported at the comparable period of 2014. The company’s revenue in a filing with the Exchange grew by 251.7 per cent from N159.874 million in 2014 to N159.874 million recorded during the period under review. FTN Cocoa ended the year 2015 with a loss after tax of N201.195 million; some 65 per cent lower than N577.204 million recorded a year earlier. The firm’s revenue rose by 453 per cent to N1.368 billion from N247.418 million recorded in 2014. The management attributed the growth in revenue to the company’s consummation of a strategic deal with Transmar Group of United state. Contrary to the expectations that the strategic deal translate to profitability, FTN Cocoa has continued to battle with negative bottom line, as it began the year with a loss after tax of N62.568 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016. The figure depicts a loss of 1,793 per cent from N3.695 million profits after tax reported at the comparable period of 2015. The company’s revenue however, declined by 12 per cent from N387.972 million in 2015 to N341.441 million recorded during the period under review. Strategic deal/future outlook FTN Cocoa said that the consummation of a strategic deal with Transmar Group of United States has repositioned its balance sheet from a turnover of N247 million in 2014 to N1.3 billion in 2015. Group Managing Director, Abiola Aderonmu, said the deal enabled Transmar to sign an uptake agreement with the

FTN Cocoa Plc. 2015 July 31

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firm, guaranteeing a market for all the company’s product up to installed capacity for the next five years and renewable. Aderonmu explained that Transmar, which is one of the top cocoa traders in the world, would also provide technical support, especially in the areas of machines, spare parts and quality control. He added that the company had obtained a quality assurance to penetrate into the global market without hitches. Speaking further on the terms of agreement, he explained that Transmar would be taking 100 per cent of FTN products, adding that FTN cocoa has been looped into the global maintenance and quality control scheme of Transmar, which enables them to get spare parts at a lower cost. “The Nestle deal that we have that makes us the no 1 supplier to Nestle is because we have looped into their global market. Nestle have a worldwide ways of giving other in cocoa. The benefit is there and we are enjoying the partnership. “Before now, when we have problems, we would order for spare parts and most of these parts are off the shape, they have to be reproduced. “Now, once there is any issue, and the spare part is not available, they can pull it from any of their factories from any country and that is why we hardly have any problem of parts. There is now a regular supply from their pool and spare parts are becoming cheaper,” he said. Aderonmu gave assurance that the firm is fully hedged against currency fluctuations, noting,” Transmar is very strong and they are backing us up. There is market for our installed capacity. We don’t have problem anymore producing without having market for them. “One of the problems of cocoa industry, not only in Nigeria alone, including Cote de’voire is most time producing the goods and not having up takers. “The way to go in cocoa business is the volatility from currency. Today is when you have strategic partnership with very strong people and this make us competitive in the industry. “We are working to consolidate existing rules and provide working capitals. We are currently discussing with couple of some development banks and local banks to boost our working capital,” he said. Conclusion The cocoa industry has recorded reduced foreign order and low international prices of cocoa products following the global economic meltdown and high incidence of underabsorption of fixed operating costs due to persistent low capacity utilisation, which is putting huge strain on invested capital.

MONDAY, june 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | Capital Market

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at June 3, 2016

International Business News

MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

World Bank, ECOWAS partner to tackle trade barriers

he Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the World Bank have resolved to tackle trade integration barrier in West Africa. ECOWAS Director of Trade, Dr. Gbenga Greg Obideyi, disclosed this at the opening of a two-day workshop on “Unlocking Transit Challenges Across Trade Corridors in West Africa,” organised by the World Bank in partnership with ECOWAS under its ‘Improved and Facilitated Trade in West Africa Project’ in Accra’. The director according to Peace FM News, said lack of trade facilitation was a major problem to low levels of regional trade in the sub-region and its integration into the global trade system. He noted that ECOWAS has recorded persistent low levels of 10 to 14 per cent intra-regional trade since its inception

StanChart CEO to quit

tandard Chartered Plc’s chief executive officer for Europe, Richard Holmes, is leaving after eight years at the London-based lender amid Bill Winters’s management overhaul. According to Bloomberg, from August, 2016, his responsibilities would be taken over by Tracy Clarke, who last July was made regional CEO for Europe and the Americas. Clarke is also head of compliance and human resources. It was learnt that Holmes would spend more time on his philanthropic work and consider non-executive boardroom positions, he said. Since taking over from Peter Sands in June, CEO Winters, 54, had replaced several executives and was cutting 15,000 jobs worldwide to help save $2.9 billion in costs. Winters increased his oversight by appointing a 13-member management team reporting directly to him and reduced the number of regional heads to four, including China and North Asia, South Asia, and Africa and the Middle East. Holmes said that he’d been asked to stay on at the bank for the last year to help Winters during the management transition. Holmes was previous head of American Express’s banking arm in New York and studied economics at Cambridge University. He represented Standard Chartered on the boards of several industry lobbies, including the British Bankers’ Association and TheCityUK. Winters was hired to turn around the Asia-focused bank, which has been hit by a surge in loan impairments and falling revenue, as growth slows in emerging markets. The shares are trading at about half the value of the bank’s assets and have fallen about 8 per cent this year.

in 1975, while the European Union, North America Free Trade Agreement and the South American economic organisation, had recorded 65 to 70 intraregional trade. Obideyi listed the solution to intra-regional trade to include tariff and non-tariff barriers, increase trade facilitation, which involves reducing the financial costs of clearing goods, reducing the time spent in clearing goods and removing disharmonies in Customs practices. He noted that the region had not been able to achieve its aim of being integrated into the multilateral trading system due to

poor trade facilitation in the region, and urged participants, particularly stakeholders who were directly affected to be frank in their assessments and contributions to the workshop. Obideyi expressed dissatisfaction about the lack of political will on the part of authorities to implement the protocols, decisions and agreements that they sign in a bid to address the issues. He said that the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, which allows citizens of member states to move freely between member countries with their goods without barriers or tariffs

had suffered a set back. The director said: “Others are the ECOWAS protocol/supplementary protocol on free movement of persons, residence and establishment, ECOWAS Convention on inter-State road transportation and Convention on mutual administrative assistance on Customs matters. “These agreements and conventions still remain on paper due to the lack of political will by the member states to implement them and technical people not doing what they were supposed to do. “We want to walk the talk. Whatever commitments we make

here, we as ECOWAS Commission, I, as Director of Trade and my colleague the director of Customs, intend to ensure that we follow up on the decisions we reach here with actions by reaching to authorities in members states and political leaders for action.” Also, Ronke Amoni-Ogunsulire, International Finance Corporation (IFC) Country Manager for Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger and Togo, said West African countries have enormous potential to strengthen competitiveness and increase trade flows, which can drive growth, reduce poverty and deliver jobs to the region.

L-R: CEO, Rwanda Development Board, Francis Gatare and President, Middle East and Africa for MasterCard, Raghu Malhotra, at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost financial inclusion in Rwanda.

Money violent crime costs S’ Africa $66.7bn yearly

he latest Global Peace Index compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) has revealed that total violence containment spending in South Africa amounted to $66.7 billion in the last one year. The index found that the national cost of violence in South Africa is at 19 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – the 16th highest rate in the world. The institute said that South Africa was the 10th most violent and 19th unsafe country in the world. This position is significantly worse than in the 2015 report, where South African was 33rd in this metric. The Global Peace Index is the latest to reaffirm South Africa’s position as one of the most dangerous places on earth, following similar findings from the World Health Organisation and the World Economic Forum. In the last quarter of 2015, local stats showed that murders increased for the third year in a row in South Africa. According to the figures, 17,805 people were murdered between April 2014 to March 2015. In the 2012/2013 periods the figure was 16,213. This equates to roughly

R34, 160 per person in the country, it added. Globally, the report said that the state of peace has again deteriorated, with the global index declining by 0.53 percentage points. While 81 countries actually improved their peace rating, 79 countries deteriorating, reflecting the inequality of peace. It added: “The global economic impact of violence across the world is over 13 per cent of global GDP, swallowing up $13.6 trillion in PPP terms,

or $1,876 for every person on earth. In terms of the most and least peaceful nations, the top of the index was once again led by Iceland and Austria – while war-torn Syria, South Sudan and Iraq made up the index’s tail. According to Business Tech, South Africa ranked 126th overall, an improvement from 133rd in 2015. According to the study, “The country stands out in five categories of violence: the number

of violent crimes, the number of violent protests, the number of murders, easy access to weapons, and an overall perception of criminality. “Out of 193 countries, South Africa ranked as the 10th worst in overall violence reduction (2015: 8th), below high violence countries such as Belize, Hondurus, Venezuela and war-torn Syria. When it comes to societal safety and security, South Africa ranks as the 19th worst country in the world (2015: 15th).

Africa accounts for 1.4% of world insurance premiums

he total world insurance premiums in Africa have been put at 1.4 per cent, due to chronically low levels of penetration. According to African Insurance Organisation (AIO) reports, total African premiums totalled $69 billion in 2014 down from $72 billion in 2013. Life insurance accounted for about two thirds of the 2014 total, with general insurance accounting for the rest. In 2014, the 10 largest markets (South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, Algeria, Angola, Namibia, Tunisia and Mauritius) generated premium of $63.4 millon, or 92 per cent of total African premiums.

Miffed by this development, Uganda has concluded plans to host the 44th annual African Insurance Organisation (AIO) and General Assembly in May 2017. According to the country’s Head of Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA), Kaddunabi Lubega, AIO had 326 members, 315 of which were from 45 countries in Africa and 11 are associate members from 7 overseas countries. The President of AIO, Lamia Ben Mahmoud said: “Insurance penetration is still a hard nut to crack, the share of insurance premiums as a percentage of GDP, has remained exceptionally low.” She noted: “In some coun-

tries, it only amounts to less than one per cent, well below the global emerging market average of 2.7 per cent in 2014, while Africa’s share of the global insurance market is 1.1 per cent for non-life and 1.8 per cent for life but this is a demonstration of the enormous growth potential within the African insurance industry, an indicator that the insurance market is still widely untapped. “In order to insure Africa’s future, we must devise strategies aimed at facing the continent’s numerous challenges today. There is still wide spread ignorance on the benefits of insurance. Added to this list is an acute insufficiency of product differentiation.

MONDAY, june 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | Financial Market News

MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | Financial Market News

MONDAY, june 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

SLUGGISH Investors stake N7.871 billion in 17,561 deals

Stories Chris Ugwu

he equities market sustained bearish run, as banking, consumer goods and industrial stocks received low patronage from bargain hunters following sell pressure occasioned by profit takings. The NSE All-Share Index and Market Capitalisation depreciated by 1.45 per cent to close last week at 27,232.62 and N9.353 trillion respectively. Similarly, all other Indices finished lower last week, with the exception of the NSE ASeM Index, NSE Insurance Index and the NSE Oil/Gas Index that rose by 0.25 per cent, 1.71 per cent and 1.97 per cent respectively A turnover of 959.917 million shares worth N7.871 billion in 17,561 deals were traded last week by investors on the floor of the Exchange in contrast to a total of 1.263 billion shares valued at N11.583 billion that

Stock market closes week bearish, loses 1.4%

exchanged hands the previous week in 17,434 deals. The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 782.476 million shares valued at N4.114 billion traded in 10,477 deals; thus contributing 81.51 per cent and 52.27 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The conglomerates Industry followed with 59.433 million shares worth N99.619 million

in 762 deals. The third place was occupied by the Consumer Goods Industry with a turnover of 46.553 million shares worth N2.833 billion in 2,703 deals. Trading in the top three equities namely – United Bank For Africa Plc, FBN Holdings Plc and Access Bank Plc. (measured by volume) accounted for 288.689 million shares worth N1.275 billion in 3,854 deals, contributing 30.07 per cent and 16.20 per cent to the total equity

turnover volume and value respectively. Twenty-seven equities appreciated in price last week, higher than 12 equities of the previous week. Forty-one equities depreciated in price, lower than 60 equities of the previous week, while 112 equities remained unchanged higher than 118 equities of the previous week. Also traded during last week were a total of 78,666 units of Exchange Traded Products

(ETPs) valued at N866,656.30 executed in 25 deals, compared with a total of 6,500 units valued at N117,637.20 transacted the previous week in 24 deals. A total of 4,725 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N5.266 million were traded in three deals compared to a total of 151,970 units of Federal Government and Corporate Bonds valued at N170.962 million transacted the previous week in five deals.

FBNH to raise input of non-bank subsidiary to 10%

BN Holdings Plc has said that it would intensify its effort to drive the contribution of non-bank subsidiaries of the group to 10 per cent through enhanced coordination of synergy realisation over the next financial year. Its Group Managing Director, Mr. UK Eke, who stated this in a document obtained by New Telegraph, said the group would also extract maximum value from its investment across West Africa through integration with FirstBank and FBN (UK) Limited to

drive trade finance. Eke added that the group will overhaul its risk management process to improve its asset quality and drive down non- performing loans (NPL) and cost of risk in the medium term. “We will continue to focus on driving efficiency through cost containment and shared services in an effort to further reduce our cost to income ratio and intensify our portfolio review for the purpose of effectively deploying capital to enhance our return to shareholders,” he said.

Lasaco reports 36% drop in FY2015 PAT asaco Assurance Plc has posted 36 per cent drop in net earnings for the financial year ended December 31, 2015. The group in a filing with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) posted a profit after tax of N283.320 million during the year end 2015 as against N445.745 million in 2014, indicating a drop of 36 per cent. Pre-tax profit was down by 23 per cent from N525.856 million in 2014 year end to N404.113 million in 2015, while the gross premium written also decreased from N5.633 billion to N5.102 billion in 2015, accounting for a drop of nine per cent. Lasaco Assurance posted 61.88 per cent increase in net earnings for the financial year ended December 31, 2014 to

N445.745 million during the year end 2014, from N275.340 million in 2013. Pre-tax profit grew by 27 per cent from N412.807 million in 2013 year end, to N525.856 million in 2014, while the gross premium written also increased from N4.965 billion to N5.633 billion in 2014, accounting for a growth of 13.45 per cent. Lasaco Assurance recently received the supports of the Nigeria-British Chamber of Commerce in its approach to risk management aimed at winning investor confidence. A statement from the firm said a former President of the NBCC, Dr. Micheal OlawaleCole, specially applauded the firm’s marketing drive. Speaking at a bi-monthly members’ evening of the

NBCC, which was sponsored by the insurance firm, Cole said Lasaco had the pedigree to provide the needed cover for any risk that might arise in the course of any commercial activity. He stated that a business activity was better enhanced with virile risk management, asserting that the insurance firm had remained a dominant force and great support for the organised private sector. In his presentation at the event, the Assistant General Manger, Marketing (Lagos & South-West), Lasaco, Mr. Akintunde Akinyanju, reiterated the commitment of the company to support the economic activities and aspirations of investors and stakeholders.

Eke noted that the insurance subsidiary has continued on its growth trajectory, adding that the enhanced relationship with the Sanlam Group of South Africa particularly in the area of product development would further strengthen the dossier in the life insurance business where it has moved from an anonymous position in the industry to ranking second largest by gross written premium. “In the same fashion, the general insurance business is positioned for monumental growth, leveraging the experience of Sanlam in the specialised insurance segment and the

extensive size and reach of our commercial banking franchise to roll out insurance product once the bancassurance regulation, which currently awaits the approval of the National Insurance Commission is released,” he said. Addressing shareholders at the recent AGM, the group chairman, Dr. Oba Otudeko, had said that despite the moderated global and domestic economic performance in 2015, the group realised an additional N2.3 billion from revenue synergies through collaboration among the various strategic business units a

Shareholders approve Berger Paints’ N217m dividend

hareholders of Berger Paints Nigeria Plc have endorsed the directors’ proposal for payment of a dividend of N 217.4 million dividend, translating into 0.75 kobo per share for the company’s 2015 financial year. Addressing the shareholder at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), the Chairman, Dr Oladimeji Alo, explained that the company had continued to make significant progress despite the challenging operating environment characterised by decline in the world crude oil prices, controversial exchange rate of the Naira to foreign currencies, delay in the budgetary approval insurgency and other

disturbing issues, Berger Paints was able to scale the hurdle. “In spite of the challenging operating environment, our company continued to sustain its performance, with emphasis on profitability and value creation for shareholders. Our Profit before Tax (PBT) grew from N249.3 million in 2014 to N565.2 million in 2015, representing a 126.7 per cent increase. “As a demonstration of the confidence it has in the future of the company, and to reward shareholders for their investment, the Board is recommending for your approval, the sum of N217, 367, 585 to be paid out as dividend. This works out at 75 kobo per share”, Alo said.

BUSINESS | Interview

MONDAY, june 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Stakeholders should pressurise govt, Chairman, Ship Owners’ Forum, Margaret Orakwusi, insists Nigeria is losing a lot of money by selling her crude oil products on Free On Board (FoB). In this interview with BAYO AKOMOLAFE, she speaks on how the maritime industry could boost job opportunities in other sectors of the economy and other industry issues.

What are your takes on the slide in the price of crude oil and its effects on Nigeria? I think no matter how we glorify oil; it has brought about a lot of negative things with it. Some people say it is a blessing, but I don’t see it as a blessing. Before oil, as a nation, we (Nigeria) survived. As a little girl in my village, I would work through the cocoa plantation. My greatgrandfather signed a trade treaty with the British. We were wealthy. But the cheap money from oil money has made us to become lazy. Innovation is no longer there. We are not thinking of how to improve our country. We have to go back to agriculture. We are 170 million people, let’s feed ourselves. We have markets here (in Nigeria) to feed 170 million people. So, let us add values, build factories and encourage entrepreneurs to grow. That is why history should be brought back to be taught in schools. Let students learn about the pyramids, and the groundnut pyramids; these were what our forefathers lived with. What made Nigeria great? I would like to believe it wasn’t oil. We have to go back to those things that made us great? Even if oil slides to $10 per barrel, it wont hurt our economy. Take a look at our maritime sector, for instance, it can replace oil and do better. How can Nigeria become the hub of shipping in West Africa? This was what cabotage envisaged. Do you know the number of industries that will grow and the number of jobs this would create? It will have ripple effects. So, maritime holds the key and you know the tonnage we import. If we offer all these services, you can imagine what maritime will contribute to the national purse? It is a lot. This is just the maritime sector, there are so many others. There are so many sources of generating funds that have been abandoned. That is why I said crude oil made us lazy. Why are there so many associations in the maritime sector? Government will respect any association that has something positive to contribute, because only by that is the sincerity of purpose unveiled. The Ship Owner Association of Nigeria (SOAN), for instance, is young, it is a new association, but it has shown that it is a responsible organiation. Members of the association were at Malta during the Commonwealth Forum; they sponsored the maritime forum and they exhibited and introduced the Nigerian maritime sector to all the nations of the commonwealth. We keep shouting that there are 2,000 cadets that are unemployed. SOAN highlighted the problems of the cadets that are unemployable. Since there is a gap in

Orakwusi

this sector, we have students, but they are unemployable because of lack of sea time. We help to find sea time from the commonwealth countries’ and they agreed to help us. That is what SOAN has achieved. It has also been able to take about 100 cadets and offer sea time to them. My appeal to all these associations is that they should do something good in the industry. They should not just be talking, they should develop the industry and emulate SOAN, which is less than a year old. What is the relevance of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) established to motivate local shipping development? Nigeria has no national shipping line and you are asking if the fund is relevant. It is more than relevant because the sole purpose of that fund is to grow indigenous ownership of ship and provide facilities for shipyards. It is very relevant. Don’t forget the surcharge on contract that we paid; part of that money is also being withheld. The purpose is still very vital to our society. So, the sooner it is released, the better. Let me also use this opportunity to plead for the cabotage

The cabotage funding should be released for the development of the shipping industry

funding to be released for the development of the shipping industry. As a nation, we are losing a lot by selling our crude oil products on Free On Board (FoB). This is wrong. It is not only the maritime sector that is losing in the sense that the freight we would have been earning through freight is forfeited in the maritime. The insurance groups are also losing. This is because if we are selling on Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF), we can then take the money for the freight. The insurance firms and banks are also losing because the transactions is done here alongside some other services from, which the legal departments would benefit. Unfortunately, most of these essential service providers do not even know what they are losing. If we have been able to make noise about it and l believe by the time we all come up together, put pressure on the government, put pressure on Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to help in making Cabotage work, l think the industry will grow. Is the Cabotage fund still available?

BUSINESS | Interview

MONDAY, june 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NNPC to make Cabotage work’ CV

The company: Ship Owners Forum, Shipowners Association of Nigeria Assest: Founded: 2016 Membership: Indigenous shipping companies CEO: Margaret Orakwusi Born: Nil Education: University of Lagos, University of Buckingham , England, United Kingdom Career: First female president of Nigerian Trawler Owners Association (NITOA), Fellow, International Logistics, Fellow, Certified Institute of Shipping (FCIS), Council member, Indigenous Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (ISAN) and principal partner, Margaret Onyema & Co. Total pay- Nil Training: Local and international training in shipping and law

Some parastatals in the maritime sector were not remitting the funds they were earning to the Federal Government

Do you think the TSA will affect agencies such as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)? Of course, it will affect their operations. They are also revenue earning agency. But apart from the NPA, it will affect every-

At least, we have a body that can be held accountable for it. Thank God for President Muhammadu Buhari’s zero tolerance for corruption. So, there must be a person or group of persons who owe us an explanation. Account must be rendered because the money belong to the industry for the development of shipping and we trust that with the president, the money would be found and whoever must have misappropriated the money must be held accountable. The money cannot be diverted because it is meant for a specific project. How has the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s forex restriction policy affected the maritime sector? Seriously, it is terrible. We need to buy spare parts in foreign exchange and if they are making it difficult, how would the business grow and how do we stay in business? Also and as a parent, l am also affected in some other dimensions, because if l have children abroad and l am unable to pay their fees whenever it is due, they would be thrown out and some children have already been thrown out and that is not because l don’t have the money, but because of some sort of regulation, l cannot pay. Whether we like it or not, the CBN forex policy is affecting a lot of things, not just the business, but also children in schools abroad. Do you think some parastatals in the maritime sector should be exempted from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) rules because of the kind of services they render? If you were saying some should be exempted and you are using the maritime sector as a good example, then I would agree with you. l would like to believe that’s why the idea of exemption came into play. But the hitch we have suffered however is that some parastatals in the maritime sector were not releasing or remitting the funds they were earning to the Federal Government account. May be with all the mopping up, stringent measures

would now be put in place. Whether we like it or not, there is nothing like maritime money, but there is only Nigerian money. If stringent measures are put in place to prevent a group of people from stealing from a fund that would have taken us out of poverty and make our children gainfully employed, that would have been the growth we deserve in this country. If that is all we all we can achieve, it is good. l believe with these measures, the good and the bad will suffer, but as time goes on, when good structures and safety gargets are put in place, then, nobody would ever be able to go out of line. So, let good structures be put in place so that the funds can be used for its original purpose, then whatever is extra would be paid over to government in good time. l sometimes read it in the papers, but whether it is true or false, l don’t know; that some earnings were collected in dollars, and remittances were made in naira. How can you earn one dollar and you are not paying that one dollar to government coffers?

Orakwusi

body. Definitely some measures will hurt. Like I tell everybody, we have been told 2016 would be difficult. But if it is difficult for the purpose of achieving a greater tomorrow, then we must all tighten our belts and bear it. We have no business being a poor nation. We have been blessed with great resources; both human and natural and name it; why can’t we harness all these and become a great nation? We cannot allow a few corrupt individuals to kill the nation; that is what my sentiment is all about. I love my country and I know we have everything that will make us a great nation, a successful nation, a nation we will all be proud of and our children will look at and say ‘during the period of my mother, my country sowed the seed of greatness for us; and a lot of people were employed.’ When I was a student in Britain, I entered Britain without visa. As at then, $1 was sixty something kobo. I had my first degree in the University of Lagos, before I went to study abroad. About two to three months to the end of the course, companies were coming to offer employments and they were competing. A company will say ‘as a graduate, we will send you for training in one country or other.’ They start with basic salary and give you accommodation and also a car.

BUSINESS | MONEYLINE

MONDAY, june 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Analysts: Current account deficit may hit $20bn FORECAST Turnaround in economy depends on recovery of oil prices

Tony Chukwunyem

igeria’s current account deficit is likely to widen to $20 billion this year, reflecting a sharp deterioration in the country’s trading position with the rest of the world, analysts at FBN Quest have said. In a note obtained by New Telegraph, the experts stated that Nigeria’s current account deficit - the difference between a nation’s total exports of goods, services and transfers and its total imports-has increased mainly because of the slump in oil prices and the impact of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) foreign exchange policy. The analysts noted that Nigeria’s current-account deficit eased to -$2.01 billion in Q4 2015 or 1.5 per cent of quarterly Gross Domestic Product (GDP), stating that although net investment flows on the financial account were negative, at –$1.13 billion, net errors and omissions of $3.14 billion covered the gap. The experts said “On the flows, Nigeria remains a con-

tender for steady, if unspectacular, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on the grounds of demographics and consumption potential. The once compelling argument for portfolio investment has been undermined by the emergence of sizeable delays in repatriations and by the CBN’s exchange-rate policies. (We are waiting to see what it has in mind in terms of greater ‘flexibility’). Other inflows consist largely of loans and deposits.” Noting that the ‘grey’ areas

in the Balance of Payments (BoP) include investment by Nigerian residents in real estate abroad, private-sector external debt and the reinvestment earnings of direct investors in the country, the analysts forecast that the current-account deficit will hit, “$20.0 billion this year and $14.6billion in 2017, equivalent to 4.2 per cent and 3.1 per cent of GDP respectively.” According to the analysts, “a turnaround in the current-account hinges upon a marked recovery in the oil

r. Augustine Chijioke, a spare parts dealer in the Sabongari area in Kano and Mr. Joseph Otorkpa, a retired Chief Accountant at the Supreme Court, Abuja, have emerged millionaires in the ongoing New Sterling Plus Cash Reward Scheme Season 2. The duo, according to a statement from the bank, were not the only ones smiling all the way to the bank this season, as Rev. George Bako and Mr. Yakubu Bashir were also N500,000 richer. They were selected via an electronic raffle draw held at Sterling Bank’s Corporate Head Office in Lagos and attended by representatives from the National Lottery Commission (NLRC) and the Consumer Protection Council (CPC). According to the lender,

30 of its customers have won N100,000 each while 289 others have been rewarded with the sum of N50,000 each for their participation in the promo to date. In the first season of the promo, the lender paid out a total of over N40 million. Five customers won One million naira each, six won N500,000 each, 70 others became N100,000 richer, while 579 customers went home with the sum of N50,000 each. Mr. Augustine Chijioke who could not hide his excitement at the presentation of the prize money, commended the Bank for fulfilling its promise of rewarding customer loyalty, adding, “this will remain memorable to me as long as l live, as this will be a great support to my business”. He speaks further: “One

As at N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 13.7 12 10.77 US$49.64 US$26,401,408,492

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 April, 2016 23/03/2016 Mar 2015 10/6/2016 8/6/2016

Source:CBN

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

FGN Bonds

TTM

Price 104.65 114.59 111.96 120.58 109.60 100.54 83.82 97.56

1.07 3.24 3.87 5.82 7.95 9.81 14.31 18.29

NIBOR

Rate (%) 4.4583 9.1071 11.0102 12.3790

Bid Yield 10.38 10.55 11.60 11.44 12.27 12.40 12.44 12.49

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

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

Price 104.80 114.89 112.26 120.88 109.90 100.84 84.12 97.86

Tenor (Months)

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

NITTY

Rate (%) 6.9949 7.2368 8.0819 9.2061 9.5872 10.5042

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Offer Yield 10.24 10.45 11.51 11.38 12.22 12.34 12.39 12.44

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

Money Market

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

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.14

Offer 199.24

Change (%) 0.57 ▲

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.0000

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

196.00

per cent in 2017. Foreign-exchange restrictions, fuel shortages and a plunge in oil production and prices have hit the economy, the World Bank said in the report. Nigeria’s economy contracted for the first time since 2004 in the first quarter of this year and CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, warned in May that a recession was imminent after a four-month delay in the country’s budget stalled economic stimulus programmes.

Millionaires emerge in Sterling Plus cash promo

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

price, which we do not see before 2018, and/or significant import compression as a result of substitution policies.” In its semi-annual Global Economic Prospects report released last week, the World Bank cut Nigeria’s economic growth forecast for this year, citing weakness from oil-output disruptions and low prices. The bank said Nigeria’s economy is expected to grow 0.8 per cent, down from an estimate of 4.6 per cent last January, adding that growth is projected to pick up to 3.5

197.00

0.00 ↔

Offer 199.1000

Change (%) -1.75 ▼ -2.08 ▼

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

can best imagine what is happening to me because this can only be God. I found it very difficult to believe the news when l got a call from Sterling Bank that l had won a million naira. In fact, l could not rejoice, I was just calm. I was still in doubt until this was reconfirmed to me when l got to my branch. l thank Sterling Bank for this gesture and assure that l will remain a good ambassador

of the brand”. In the same vein, Mr. Yakubu Bashir who went home with the sum of N500,000, said the gesture will go a long way to reinforcing customers’ confidence in the Bank and lead to increased patronage. “Sterling Bank has fulfilled its promise to enrich the lives of its customers and on behalf of other winners l want to say a big thank you to Sterling Bank”, he stated.

Skye Bank to showcase products at Card Expo

kye Bank Plc has announced that it will showcase a vast array of retail and e-payment products at the “Card Expo Africa 2016” being organised by Intermac Consulting Limited in Lagos. The lender, which is one of the leading exhibitors at the exhibition that starts tomorrow in Lagos, said it will display e-commerce products such as Skye Mobile, internet banking and card products. According to a statement from the bank, about 3000 delegates and 70 international exhibitors will attend the annual exhibition, which has as its theme; ‘Retail payment and E-Commerce’. Card Expo Africa 2016 according to the statement, will focus on the future of retail payment and e-commerce and how innovation will drive the process. The conference and exhibition will focus on new users as well the service delivery strategy that will deliver the future of retail payments and ecommerce.

The statement said at the conference and exhibition, top retail payment and e-commerce experts will provide strategies on how to position and enhance your business to guarantee operators top spot in the ever changing retail and e-commerce industry. Besides, it explained that merchants, financial institutions and solution providers would get first- hand information from on new trends in e-commerce, as well as enable companies to present their innovations and meet their competitors and partners. Skye Bank and Chams Mobile recently won the ‘Best Mobile money/Card combination in Nigeria’ award for their joint development and activation of the Kegow Visa virtual card. The prize was presented to the winning organisations at the Kalahari Awards 2016 during the 6th Remittance and Mobile Money Conference, which took place in Lagos at the weekend.

Naira appreciates against dollar on parallel market

he naira appreciated against the dollar at the weekend exchanging at N358 to the greenback from the N370 it sold at the parallel market on Thursday. However, the naira traded at 197.50 a dollar on the official interbank market, around the peg rate of 197. Forex dealers told New Telegraph that the naira strengthened due to an increase in dollar supply occasioned by speculation that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will release details of its new flexible

forex regime this week. At the end of the Bankers’ Committee meeting last Thursday, the Group Managing Director, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Philips Oduoza, said details of the flexible currency model will be ready in a “short while”. Analysts said that announcement halted the free fall of the naira, as many dealers are expecting that the release of the details would spur the alignment of the parallel market rate and the official window.

south-west | news

monday, june 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Hijab crisis: Nigerians Falana flays land grabbing should hold Aregbesola activities in Lagos responsible –PDP H Muritala Ayinla

Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

he Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, said Nigerians should hold Governor Rauf Aregbesola responsible, if any damage is done to the state's education system through the brewing crisis over the wearing of hijab in public schools by female students. The party, in a statement issued in Osogbo by its spokesperson, Prince Diran Odeyemi, said Muslims and Christians in Osun State have coexisted long before now without crisis and blamed the rising tension on Aregbesola, whom it accused of grand plan to destabilise the state for some political reasons. Odeyemi said the state education and other sectors have suffered enough under the watch of Aregbesola, warning that stoking religious disharmony over students' uniforms

may be the final straw, if the governor was not cautioned. Going through the memory lane, right from the reign of the first Executive Governor of the state, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke to the period of Chief Bisi Akande and the seven years tenure of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Odeyemi queried why the matter of students' uniform should suddenly become an issue polarising the state along religious lines. "Why is the issue of uniform for public schools suddenly becoming major threat to peace in Osun under the watch of Mr. Aregbesola? We believe this is the question Nigerians should help us ask our governor" "During time of Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke, uniforms did not cause crisis in Osun public schools. When Chief Abdulkareem Adebisi Akande held reign as governor, despite all the turmoil in education sector, uniform did not cause

crisis. During PDP reign which marked the golden era of education between 2003 and 2010, when Osun was ranked 9th in the entire country in WAEC passing rate, uniform did not cause crises why now" "All public schools belong to government but this did not just happen under Aregbesola. During the past administrations, public schools were under state government control. The reason why the state is seeing the present tension over uniform is not unconnected with divide and rule, insincerity and plans to cause unrest to cover up massive looting of treasury by the present administration," the PDP said.

uman Rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) has condemned activities of land grabbers in Lagos, saying their activities was constituting a serious threat to the lives and properties of residents in the state. Falana, who opined that the problem could be tackled if the state government took proper records and information on land, said activities of land grabbers also known as "Omo onile" constitute the greatest threat in Lagos, apart from the threat of armed robbers.

6,268

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Anguilla in 2009. Source: Itu.int

Speaking on the importance of record keeping at an event organised by the Lagos State Records and Archive Bureau, LASRAB in commemoration of the 2016 International Archive Day, Falana said several people have been killed as a result of the menace of land grabbers. He said: "Omo onile" shouldn't be allowed to operate freely in a city like Lagos” He said that the state government should do everything humanly possible to make property documentation easy for property owners and keep records of the landed property to avert the menace of the land grabbers. According to Falana: "People are killed in Lagos because of the menace of Omo onile. You can't justify a modern age or town

run by omo onile. It is not possible. We have a case now where somebody bought a land from the Lagos State Government. He took a loan of N20bn from a bank to establish an estate around Gbagada. Omo oniles, who have been compensated by the government, have taken over the land. You can't run a society like that. What has happened is that people are killed. That's the greatest threat in Lagos apart from the threat of armed robbers. All the Omo onile, who are causing the problems in Lagos are known. "But the society is helpless. How did we get to this mess? Sometimes, when it happens, they used OPC boys. When a country hands over its security to criminals, you can't talk of security, law and order."

Osun launches standardised weighing scales Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

sun State Government has concluded arrangements to officially launch the use of standardized weighing scales called Osuwon Omoluabi for accurate transaction of businesses in all markets across the state today. One of the aides of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the immediate past Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr. Ismail Adekunle Jayeoba Alagbada, who made this known, in a statement in Osogbo, stated that the programme would be held at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park at Old Garage in Osogbo, the state capital. According to him: "The programme was put in place to ensure that the accurate weighing scales are introduced for usage for commercial transactions in all the markets across the state to discourage cheating of customers in the markets." He noted that "the existing measures are based more on rule of thumbs than any degree of accuracy and consistency. The existing measuring standard are not accurate and

full of inherent shortcomings often observed by the market men and women themselves.” Alagbada further explained that, standardizing scales will eliminate all inherent shortcomings, mistrust, incessant arguments and disagreements that are currently common place in commercial transactions. "The standardized scales and measures will positively impact on the economy of the state by bringing unprecedented ease to trade and commercial transactions in the state." “This will no doubt increase the pace and volume of transactions among traders and consumers, thereby increasing the volume of commerce."

L-R: Director, La Roche Leadership Foundation, Mrs. Marina Osoba; Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor, Lagos Global, Prof. Ademola Abass; member, Board of Directors, La Roche Leadership Foundation, Mrs. Titi Anibaba; Chairman, Board of Directors, Justice Adesola Oguntade (rtd.); Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Political Affairs, Engr. Adekunle Olayinka and Director, Legal Services, Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), Mr. Seyi Alade, at the inauguration of the Foundation in Lagos…at the weekend.

Fayose deceiving workers with debt figures –APC Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has said the state Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has been cooking up debts figures owed by the state to excuse himself on the non payment of workers’ salaries and allowances. The party, in a release by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun said that,

"In a programme on NTA recently, he put monthly deductions from federal allocations at N1.5 billion. But again few days later on AIT, he said the figure is N600m. We make bold to say that Fayose's claim of N1.2 billion deduction from Ekiti monthly allocation is total fallacy and Fayose' s creation to justify his inability to pay workers' salary." The party therefore called on the Debts Management Office (DMO) in the Federal Ministry of

N300m fraud: EFCC to quiz Akande's brother, others today Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) would today quiz top management of the Osun State College of Education(OSSCE),IlaOrangun over alleged illegal diversion of over N.3billion public funds approved for the construc-

tion of Amphitheatre (Lecture Theatre) and other valuable projects in the institution. Those expected to be quizzed are the Chairman of the College Governing Council and younger brother to Chief Bisi Akande , the Mr. Oyeniyi Akande; College Provost, Professor Isaac Oyewole and Registrar, Mr. Aderiola Adeoti. Others are former Bursar(now College of

Education, Ilesa), Mr. Akin Latilo; College former Acting Provost, Dr. Basiru Gbadamosi and the member of the Governing Council, Mr. David Olayinka Olojede. Also to appear are Mr. Oyegbade Reuben Abayo, Mr. Amobi Yinusa Akinlola, Mr. Ayoola Peter Olajiola, Mr. Moses Oyewole Otitoola, Mr. Kujeunbola Oluwafemi, Dr. Omotosho Adeleke and Dr. Adeleke

Finance to make another public clarification on the status of the state's debts. APC, through the release, said only this could put to rest the discordant figures fed the public by the governor to justify non-payment of workers' salaries and pensions after he had allegedly taken 20 months federal allocations and N9.6b bailout cash. The release read: "How he spent the bailout was not clear because he collected the bailout cash of N9.6b at the time Ekiti was ow-

Sulaiman Ajala. Sources close to the EFCC, who confirmed this, stated that, the agency would do its best to see that all wrongs concerning the matter would be righted. It would be recalled that the invitees were dragged before the commission by an Osun State based Civil Society Organization, the Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEOS) led by its Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman.

ing only one month salary, which he falsely quoted at N2.6b and so, how he spent N9.6 billion to pay a month salary remains unclear." Accusing Fayose of deliberate and malicious misrepresentation of facts, APC challenged the governor "to produce in writing, the purported commendation he received from the EFCC and the ICPC over the N9.6 billion bailout fund he is yet to account for", adding "Fayose is only lying against the anti-graft agencies one of which he has an outstanding case, to buy credibility for his government." On Fayose's claim that the Kayode Fayemi’s administration borrowed another N31billion commercial loan, apart from the N25 billion bond, APC noted it was a total lie. Olatunbosun consequently challenged the governor to provide evidence of this loan and what it was used for as records were there in the office of the Account General if he was sure of his facts.

News|SOUTH-EAST

monDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Anambra killings: IPOB flays Army’s comments over Amnesty report Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

he Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has decried the Nigerian Army over the denial of its culpability in the deaths of many people in Onitsha, Anambra State during the 49th anniversary commemoration of Biafra Day. Taking a swipe at the

Army for its response on the report of Amnesty International which blamed the Nigerian Army for the shooting of unarmed protesters comprising members of IPOB, said the excuse the Army y gave was baseless and untrue. A statement by IPOB signed by its spokespersons, Mr. Emma Mmezu and Dr. Clifford Iroanya, said the Army was eco-

manner of name-calling and peddling of lies. In their response credited to one Col. H. A. Gambo, the Nigerian Army stated thus: “The attention of 82 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to insinuations of misdeed being leveled by Amnesty International against security forces during the MASSOB/IPOB violent protests in Onitsha and environs on 31 May 2016.” “Accordingly, it is deemed imperative for the wrong and misleading impressions with which the public is being fed to be corrected once and for all.”

nomical with the truth by stating that Amnesty International did not carry out an unbiased investigation to arrive at its claims. “The blatantly illiterate and incompetent Nigerian Army responded to an indicating report by Amnesty International concerning the killing of unarmed and peaceful Biafrans which occurred on the 29th and 30th of May 2016 in their usual

L-R: Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi; Senator Obinna Ogba and Chairman, Ibeto Group, Chief Cletus Ibeto, at the signing of an agreement for the revitalization of NIGERCEM, Nkalagu in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State …at the weekend

Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

undreds of residents of Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, were yesterday sacked from their homes following a down pour that lasted for several hours. The rain which started around 9 pm on Saturday till the early hours of Sunday, came with heavy storms and breeze, destroying property worth millions of naira. The Iyi-Udele River which runs through the middle of the town was over flooded and all the buildings

Flood sacks Ebonyi residents situated 30 metres away from the river bank were over flooded leading to the collapse of some walls and buildings under the tidal wave. Some worshipping houses located near the bank of the River close to Water Works Road, were affected thereby disrupting church service yesterday. Also, shops and residential houses at Ogboaga Road, Iyiokwu Avenue, Onwe Road and Hilltop Avenue were submerged with property worth millions of naira also destroyed.

This was the second time in less than one month that the state was being faced by a similar challenge. Speaking to our correspondent, one of the victims John Uguru, said his family would have been swept away by the flood but for the quick intervention of neighbours who rose to the challenge. ‘’We were asleep when we were alerted of the flood. Before we could wake up everywhere has been submerged by water. Infact I have to smuggle my children out of our compound. We

were floating in the water and our sleeping mattresses were swept away. You can see that our lifelihood have been destroyed by flood. We want government to assist us because the damage is enormous’’, he said. Another victim who gave his name simply as Ukamaka attributed the flood to the massive reconstruction of roads and channelization of the drainage systems in the metropolis by the government He added that the flooding had become perennial and may be more devastating.

Abia APC vows to wrest power in 2019 Rice: Ebonyi to acquire 60,000 Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

eaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State including Chief Ikechi Emenike, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, Mr. Fabian Nwankwo, Hon. Acho Obioma, Chief Nyerere Ayim, among others, have resolved to eschew their differences and work together to wrest power from the peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019. The leaders and stakeholders who met at the Mission Hill party secretariat, Umuahia vowed that the APC would sack the PDP in 2019 and take

over the reins of power. The harmonization which retained Hon Donatus Nwankpa as state chairman ended all factions that had hitherto polarized the party thereby weakening it against opponents in political contests. Speaking at the event, the APC governorship candidate in the 2015 election, Chief Nyerere Ayim, said the harmonization had brought to an end to the issue of factionalisation, saying that henceforth no more Emenike group and Nyerere group. He charged the new team to move the party forward in the spirit of unity.

hectares of land

Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

bonyi State Government yesterday said that it plans to acquire 60,000 hectares of land for the purpose of commencing rice production in the state. State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Senator Emmanuel Onwe, disclosed this at the weekend while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state executive council. He said the state government was targeting 80,000 people from the state for farming, add-

ing that the government will today flagged off the distribution of seedlings to farmers in Ikwo Local Government Area of the state. He said the government had procured 49 tractors and that about 300 persons are currently undergoing training for operation of the equipment. Onwe said government places much emphasis on rice cultivation and processing to consolidate on the gains recorded in rice production. He described agriculture as alternative to the deplorable state of the nation’s economy.

Non-conduct of senatorial rerun polls, plot to cut S’East quota –MASSOB Pamela Eboh Awka

he Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has accused the Federal Government of planning to reduce Igbo representations in the upper chamber of the National Assembly from 15 to 13. In a statement made available to journalists in Awka, the Anambra State capital yesterday and signed by its leader, Mr. Uche Madu, the group pointed out that the plan was a calculated attempt by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to sideline Igbo. The group also called on the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, to release the dates for the con-

duct of the senatorial re-run election and ensure that the elections were conducted on or before July 15 to fill up the vacant senatorial seats of affected districts in the South East zone. It also called for the release of all its members still being held by the government. The statement read: “One year after the 2015 general election that produced the complete representations of senators from each geopolitical zones, two senatorial seats of Anambra Central and Okigwe remains vacant in the upper legislative chamber. “South East has the least number of senatorial representatives with only 15 while other districts have 18 senatorial representatives while North East has 21 senatorial representatives.”

EEDC commences meter distribution to customers Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

he Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), has said that it has commenced the distribution of additional 200,000 smart meters to its customers across the entire South- East region. According to the company, the massive metering program was in fulfillment of its commitment to provide meters to all its customers. To this end, EEDC said it has awarded contracts to three companies, namely: MOJECM International Limited, MBH Power and Genus Power Infrastructure Limited. This it said was in

continuation of EEDC’s ongoing metering of its Maximum Demand (MD) customers, and the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI), a programme designed to enable willing customers within the network obtain their meter by advancing funds to EEDC to purchase and install these meters for them. Metering customers had been a major challenge facing most distribution companies; and the peculiarity of high prevalence of energy theft and meter bypass in the South East region had not also helped the situation. Over 70 per cent of the prepaid meters on the network are said to be bypassed.

Abia uncovers 1,800 ghost workers Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

bia State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Obinna Oriaku, has disclosed that the state has uncovered no fewer than 1,800 ghost workers in the state civil service, stating that the government would also review the operations of parastatals in the state. The commissioner said the discovery was made during the recent bio-metric verification exercise for the state workers in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in the state. Oriaku while hosting the executives of the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), who paid him a courtesy visit said the exercise was conducted to ascertain the actual wage bill and size of the state workforce. The Commissioner who said the exercise was

worthwhile, added that the measure became necessary in view of the dwindling revenue of the state. According to him, the biometric exercise was carried out in all MDAs, except the Abia State Newspapers and Publishing Company, publishers of Ambassador newspapers, as well as the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba. The commissioner attributed the high wage bill over the years to what he called the “rot” in the system, characterised by ‘padding and ghost workers’, saying that with the bio-metric verification, the state had succeeded in reducing the monthly wage bill from N1.5 billion to N1.0 57 billion. He expressed concern over the drastic decline in the state’s revenue from the Federation Allocation Account Committee (FAAC) and Joint Allocation Account Committee (JAAC).

monDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Edo PDP to members: Our chances depend on our choice Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

eaders and elders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, yesterday, declared that the chances of the party to return to power during the September 10 governorship race would depend solely on the emergence of a credible candidate who would emerge at its primaries slated for next week Saturday. They assured the electorate and Edo people that the June 20 primaries of the party would be free, fair and credible as well as devoid of any hitch as the delegates are better informed to follow their hearts rather than their minds. Former Secretary of the state chapter of PDP, Mr. Monday Ihama; exchairmen of Ovia North east and Ovia South West Messrs Monday Osaigbovo and Hon. Victor Emuagbor as well as former lawmaker in the state, Hon. Abbass Jega, stated these during an interview with newsmen yesterday in Benin the state capital. According to Osagbovo, the electorate and party

leaders now know they have to put the party in the hands of a credible person by voting for credibility for the growth of the state rather than for mediocrity that would take us back to bondage. The leaders described the party’s governorship aspirant, Chief Solomon Edebiri as ‘Mr. no stain’, a tested, trusted and humble personality who would be better entrusted with such huge responsibility” of the estate of Heart Beat state.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Betsy Ifueko Obaseki, wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in the state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, said the state needs a man who shares the vision of the Edo Project with great plans and has participated actively in the formation of the policies and programs of the present government under Governor Adams Oshiomhole. Obaseki stated this yesterday when she played

BENIN

do State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole has, again flagged off the construction of dual-carriage intra-city roads in Ekpoma, headquarters of Esan West in the Central Senatorial district. He said that his government will work till its last day. Oshiomhole, who spoke at the flag-off of the 7.5-kilometre intracity roads, to be completed in three months, said his government has worked

tremendously in all parts of the state including Edo Central, where he said his government has constructed numerous roads, schools and sank industrial boreholes in very difficult terrains. He said he decided to do the Ekpoma intra-city roads because of his conviction to spread even development to every part of the state. “By this week, we are releasing new contracts, about 200 contracts for primary schools such that in every ward, throughout the 192 wards in Edo State, new primary school classrooms will be built.

“Those contracts will be awarded this week. So, Edo is working. We raised N3 billion to cover 192 wards, and I insisted that every ward must have a school to be rebuilt, so that I cannot be validly accused during the election and even thereafter that there is any ward in Edo State, a political ward where my government did not touch the lives of the very ordinary person. “That is I am here today, about six months to the end of my tenure. It is also quite significant beyond what the ordinary person will understand.”

A’Ibom NUJ chairman calls for review of FoI Act Tony Anichebe UYO

he Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, Elder Patrick Albert, has drawn the attention of relevant authorities to the need to review the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act. Albert stated this in his

152.12m

The total number of active lines of Nigeria in October 2015. Source: Ncc.gov.ng

$700,000 The total amount of endorsements of Ryan Howard (Baseball) for 2014. Source: Forbes.com

address yesterday at a OneDay Interaction/Sensitisation on the Freedom of Information Act held in Uyo. He noted that a careful analysis of the FOI Act suggested that the Act was not passed with all the good intentions expected, adding that while Section 1 and 3 articulated freedom to obtain information from public institutions, sections 7,11,12,14 through

19 as well as 26 give indications of some tricks to deny the public free access to information. He maintained that if the FOI Act must serve the purpose it was drafted, it is imperative for some sections to be reviewed. According to him, the level of Freedom of Information available to any society determines the thinking level of the people.

A’Ibom lawmakers’ wives give succour to less privileged Tony Anichebe UYO

kwa Ibom State Legislators Wives Association (LEWA), weekend presented food items and toiletries worth hundreds of thousands of naira to the Lutheran Church Children’s Home at Ikot Otong Nsit in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of the State in a bid to assuage their conditions. The legislators’ wives, whose gesture was part of the activities marking

L-R: Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole; his wife,Lara; Edo State Commissioner for Education, Mr. Gideon Obhakhan, and Acting Vice Chancellor, Edo University, Iyamho, Prof. Emmanuel Aluyor, at the first Matriculation of the University in Benin City…at the weekend

Oshiomhole flags off 7.5km dual carriage way in Ekpoma Cajetan Mmuta

host to women leaders and female delegates of the APC in Benin, the state capital.

News|SOUTH-SOUTH

the end of the first legislative year of their spouses, also shared some gifts item and donated money to the orphanage. The LEWA members promised that they would use their position to assist the orphans and the less privileged in the society. Addressing the inmates, the wife of the Speaker, Mrs. Uduak Onofiok, expressed gratitude to God for seeing their husbands through a successful end of the first legislative year. She said that the association decided to visit the orphanage to show love and care to the children and to tell God thank you for seeing them through one legislative year. “We are here as Legislators Wives Association (LEWA). We thank God for what He has done in our lives. God has seen us through one legislative year and our husbands are in good health. “We deem it fit to come and identify with you and also encourage you not to lose hope in God,” Mrs. Onofiok. She advised the children to always have a positive outlook towards life, while praying God to uplift the children and make them great in future.

Udom: FG’s school feeding programme will employ 3m people Tony Anichebe UYO

n line with the purpose of providing school children in the country with one square meal on daily basis, the school feeding programme of the Federal Government would employ over three million people. A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Sony Udom, stated this while answering questions from journalist over the weekend in Uyo. The Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, last Thursday inaugurated the

‘strategic plan’ and the national coordinating team for the implementation of the programme at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. While launching the programme, he said that “the strategic plan runs until 2020 and forms the cornerstone of the nationwide Home Grown School Feeding (HGSF) programme, which when fully realised would provide a nutritious hot meal a day to over 24 million primary school children”. Udom, a onetime federal lawmaker, noted that the benefits were enormous. “It is not only feeding children in the primary school, it will also have

about one hundred thousand artisans catered for. “Then money for market women is still in that package and the very low in the society, about one million people will be collecting N5000 every month. The benefits are enormous. “Think of a situation where a school with about 1000 or 2000 pupils then maybe you have one or two caterers or food vendors supplying food, they can employ up to 50 people from the locality and beyond to feed the 2000 pupils. That is something that the whole country might get up to about three to five million people employed instantly,” he said.”

NURTW threatens war in Delta community Dominic Adewole

ASABA

elta State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has raised alarm over impending crisis waiting to erupt at its branch in Udu Local Government Area of the state. The union fingered the

Chairman of the council area, Hon. Solomon Kpomah, as the sponsor of the crisis. The Chairman of the Union in the state, Chief Ifeanyi Obi, in Asaba yesterday told journalists that the situation in the area would claim lives and property worth millions of naira if not urgently addressed. He said the situation was already tensed follow-

ing an alleged security breach being festered by some politicians, especially the council chairman. “The situation in Udu council area is very bad at the moment. The Council chairman has taken over the activities of the union and has gone further to print fake tickets for the union and insisting that he is in charge and nobody can control him.

NEWS | north

monday, june 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Attah kingship tussle: Kogi urged to intercede in succession face-off

Muhammad Bashir and Zacchaeus Ozovehe

ogi State government has been urged to intercede in the crisis surrounding the Obaje Otalu of Atabaka stool in the state by prevailing on His Royal Majesty, the Atta of Igala, Micheal Amen-Oboni 11, to exercise his authority within the ambit of the custom, tradition and law of the Igala nation. This call was made by Okwoli Descendants’ Union (ODU) in Olamaboro Local Government Areas of the state at the

weekend, following alleged succession plan to the stool of Obaje Otalu of Atabaka by Atta Igala, which the Okwoli Ruling House said it is not in line with the tradition of the stool. In a communiqué issued at the end of the general meeting of ODU, which was held on June 11 at Efofe-Okpo and made available to journalists, signed by A. S. Ogbole and Mathew Odo (Chairman and Secretary respectively) in respect of the vacant stool. The Okwoli Ruling House said they have the prerogative to nominate a

Senator condemns Niger Delta Avengers’ attacks on oil facilities Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

he senator representing Nasarawa West senatorial district, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, yesterday condemned in strong terms, attacks on oil facilities by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) in the oil rich region. Adamu, who described the action of the militants as ignorance, said the Federal Government has the capacity to contend with the Niger Delta Avengers,

but was restrained in the interest of the innocent ones. He made his feeling known yesterday in Keffi while fielding questions from newsmen shortly after the opening of the 7th Ramadan Symposium organised by the Muslims community in Nasarawa State University, Keffi. Adamu reminded NDA that the source of funds used in oil and gas exploration in Nigeria before 1958 was funds from agriculture and solid minerals found in the north.

substantive Obaje Otalu of Atabaka and not the Atta Igala. The statement added that the body has made adequate consultation on the issue and the name of the consensus candidate will soon be forwarded to Olamaboro Local Government Traditional Council for submission to Igala Area Traditional Council in line with the custom and tradition of the community and in tandem with the provision of the law, Kogi State Legal Notice No. 3 of 2006. The community has vowed to disregard a memo said to be from Atta Igala, calling for applications from interested candidates to fill the vacant stool noted that the directive from the monarch is against the customs and provisions of the Act setting up the stool.

Jang condemns moves by Plateau to implement grazing policy Musa Pam Jos

mmediate past governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, now representing Plateau North in the National Assembly, yesterday condemned moves by the state government to implement the grazing reserves policy in the state. Jang in a statement signed by his media aide, Mr. Clinton Garuba and made available to New Telegraph at the weekend, condemned plans by the government to gazette large swathes of plateau lands into the

grazing reserves policy. He said grazing reserves bill is anti-people, self-serving and dangerous to Plateau State values, culture and heritage. The senator questioned the government’s motive for instituting such a policy, given the sensitivity of land, farming and herding matters in the state and also expressed disappointment at how the government has neglected Plateau farmers and the agricultural sector since assuming office only to then foist such an antiagricultural policy on them. "At a time like this, it

Representative of the Chairman, Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria, Kaduna State Chapter, Alhaji Tukur Abdulsalam (right) sympathizing with the victim of an attack by unknown persons, Mr Emmanuel Francis, at the St. Gerards Catholic Hospital, Kaduna.… yesterday, PHOTO: NAN

Kwara Assembly to review House rules Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

wara State House of Assembly is to review its rules, strengthen and reinvigorate its standing and special committees for better performance to further improve on the well-being of the people of the state. Speaker of the Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad, gave the assurance in Ilorin while presiding over the sitting that signified the beginning of another legislative year. He said the current

legislature had passed six bills, while three others are at various stages of consideration, most especially the first private bill; "Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Bill 2015." The Assembly has also passed 43 motions and 23 reports arising from Matters of General Public Importance and various petitions from the public. The Speaker noted with delight that the motions delved into subject matters once considered too sensitive or no- goareas like the proliferation of filling stations in Kwara State.

Appointment of commissioners, ploy to defraud Kebbi, say critics Abubakar Abdul Birnin Kebbi

ritics of the administration of Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, have described the choice of commissioners in his government as a ploy by him to defraud the state of some colossal amounts of money. The critics under the auspices of Citizens Vanguard told newsmen at the weekend that Governor Atiku's

method of governing the state is unacceptable to the body and therefore called for the probe of the administration since inception last year. The body, having a critical assessment of the APC administration in the state, said Governor Bagudu spent six months in office without establishing government at the council level, adding that he did not appoint sole administrators in the state until he was confronted by a highly placed politician in the state.

is imperative to state in unequivocal and unambiguous terms where one stands with regard to the issue of the grazing reserve. Jang made it clear to his constituents and all peace loving Plateau people that he does not and will not support any grazing reserve either on the floor of the senate or any forum/platform where the issue is discussed. He called for crossparty cooperation in standing against the bill, saying Plateau people must come together as one regardless of party affiliations to put an end to this devious plan.

Bello names varsity after Audu Muhammad Bashir Lokoja

ogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, yesterday named the state university after the late gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 21, 2015 governorship election in the state, Prince Abubakar Audu. Bello disclosed this in a statewide broadcast at the weekend while reacting to his victory at the Kogi State Elections Petitions Tribunal. He said: "In this matter, I declare that there is neither victor, nor vanquished. "Today, and as always, I celebrate the life and times of Prince Abubakar Audu, the first executive governor of Kogi State. It is our hope that those who want to lay claim to his legacy will at least develop the same heart for the growth and development of Kogi State that he demonstrated throughout his lifetime."

Fasting: Emmanuel’s attack unIslamic, says Shariah Council Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

aduna State chapter of the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria, at the weekend, visited Mr. Francis Emmanuel, the 41-year-old man that was attacked by suspected Muslim youths last week for eating during Ramadan period. It will be recalled that Governor Nasir El-Rufai also visited him along with the Deputy Governor, Barnabas Bala Bantex and senior government officials. The governor did not just condemn the attack, he di-

The total number of goals scored by Ghana at Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Fifa.com

rected the police to arrest Emmanuel’s attackers. The Supreme Council for Shariah, which was led by its Chairman in the state, Sheik Yusuf Sambo Rigachukun, donated some cash to the victim to assist in offsetting his medical bills, describing the attack on him as unIslamic. Speaking with journalists shortly after the visit, Secretary of the council in the state, Malam AbdurRahaman Hassan, said those who attacked Emmanuel do not represent Islam. AbdurRahman said even a Muslim cannot force a fellow Muslim to fast, adding that the only

€44.8m

The estimated transfer value of Nemanja Matic of Chelsea in 2016. Source: 101greatgoals.com

thing that he can do is to take the matter to a Sharia court. "We heard about this unfortunate incident and we decided to visit the victim. What they did to him was un-Islamic. Those who attacked him are not representing Islam. The victim receiving treatment is a Christian and he has nothing to do with fasting during Ramadan. Even if a Muslim noticed that his fellow Muslim is not fasting during Ramadan, the only thing he can do is to take him to Shariah court. You can't assault a fellow Muslim for not fasting talk less of a nonMuslim,” he added. The secretary appealed to the public not to take the law into their hands. “We appeal to all to respect human dignity irrespective of one’s religion," Hassan added.

MONday, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

WORLD \ NEWS

MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

50 people killed, 53 injured in US gay club shooting

gunman killed 50 people and injured 53 in a crowded gay nightclub in the tourist hub of Orlando, Florida, early yesterday before being shot dead by police, authorities said, in what appeared the deadliest mass shooting in American history. The shooter was identified as Omar S. Mateen, a man that a senior FBI official said might have had leanings toward Islamic State militants. Officials described the attack as a “terrorism incident” though cautioned that the suspected Islamist connection required further investigation. The death toll given by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and police to reporters made the attack the deadliest single shooting incident in US history, eclipsing the 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech University, which left 32 dead. “Today we’re dealing with something that we never imagined and is unimaginable,” Dyer said. Recalling earlier estimates that 20 people had been killed, he added, “It is with great sadness I

share that we not have 20 but 50 casualties (dead), in addition to the shooter. There are another 53 people hospitalised.” A police officer working as a security guard inside the Pulse nightclub, which has operated in downtown Orlando since 2004, exchanged fire with the suspect at about 2 a.m. EDT, police officials said. A hostage situation quickly developed, and three hours later a squad of officers stormed the club and shot dead the gunman. It was unclear when the gunman shot the victims. “Do we consider this an act of terrorism? Absolutely, we are investigating this from all parties’ perspective as an act of terrorism,” said Danny Banks, special agent in charge of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. “Whether that is domestic terrorist activity or an international one, that is something we will certainly get to the bottom of.” When asked if the FBI suspected the gunman might have had inclinations toward militant Islam, including a possible sympathy for Islamic State, Ronald Hopper, an

assistant FBI agent in charge, told reporters: “We do have suggestions that the individual may have leanings toward that particular ideology. But right now we can’t say definitively.” The FBI said it was still trying to pin down whether the mass shooting was a hate crime against gays or a terrorist act. President Barack Obama ordered the federal government to provide any assistance needed to Florida police investigating the shooting, the White House said in a statement. The attacker was carrying an assault rifle and a handgun, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said. He was also carrying an unidentified “device”, Orlando Police Chief John Mina said earlier. Javer Antonetti, 53, told the Orlando Sentinel newspaper that he was near the back of the dance club when he heard gunfire. “There were so many (shots), at least 40,” he said. “I saw two guys and it was constant, like ‘pow, pow, pow,’.” Video footage showed police officers and civilians carrying in-

Friends and family members embrace outside the Orlando Police Headquarters during the investigation of a shooting at the Pulse Night Club, in Orlando, Florida, US yesterday.

Thousands take part in street party for Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday

en thousand guests braved rain took part in a giant street party in front of Buckingham Palace yesterday to celebrate the official 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longestreigning monarch. Hundreds of tables lined the Mall, the grand avenue leading to the palace, for the Patron’s Lunch which saw representatives of the more than 600 charities and other organizations of which Elizabeth is patron enjoying food from wicker picnic hampers. Organized by her grandson, Peter Phillips, the lunch was the final event in a

A period to at least 1,700. One of those expelled, a young man who did not wish to be named for fear he might be targeted, told Reuters Rwandan officials accused some of them of spying for Burundi. “We were accused of being envoys of Burundi government and sent there to spy on Rwanda,” he said. Renée Mukandori, a Burundi local government official, confirmed the expulsion

to Reuters and said it occurred on Thursday and Friday. Those deported mostly came from the Bugabira district of northern Burundi. Burundi has accused Rwanda of interfering in its political crisis - which has seen Burundian government forces clash with protesters and rebels who say the president violated the constitution by standing for a third term last year.

11 German MPs under police protection in ‘genocide’ row leven German MPs of Turkish origin have been put under police protection. They received death threats after supporting a move to describe the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as genocide. Germany’s foreign ministry has warned MPs of Turkish origin against travelling to Turkey, saying their security there could not be guaranteed. The German parliament’s move outraged the Turkish government, which does not

the only safe gathering place and this horrific act strikes directly at our sense of safety,” the group said. “We will await the details in tears of sadness and anger.” It was the second deadly shooting at an Orlando night spot in as many nights. Late Friday, a man thought to be a deranged fan fatally shot Christina Grimmie, a rising singing star and a former contestant on “The Voice”, as she was signing autographs after a concert in the central Florida city. Orlando has a population of 270,930 and is the home of the famed Disney World amusement park and many other tourist attractions that attracted 62 million visitors in 2014.

weekend of celebrations which has included a church service at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral and a traditional Trooping the Colour parade of soldiers in ceremonial uniforms. Elizabeth turned 90 in April but in keeping with tradition also has an official birthday to ensure celebrations take place in the summer. That did not guarantee good weather, however. Guests were handed plastic ponchos to protect them from rain which got progressively heavier ahead of the lunch, while others brought along Union Jack emblazoned umbrellas.

Looting and riots rock Venezuela daily

Rwanda expels Burundians accused of spying wanda has expelled about 400 Burundians back to their country accusing some of them of espionage and fuelling tensions between the two small neighbors whose relations have been strained by Burundi’s political crisis, an official said yesterday. It’s the second such expulsion in about a month and brings the total number of Burundians deported over the

jured people away from the club and bending over others who were lying on the ground. Dozens of police cruisers, ambulances and other emergency vehicles could be seen in the area. Pulse is described on its website as more than “just another gay club.” One of the club’s founders and owners, Barbara Poma, opened it in 2004 in an effort to keep alive the spirit of her brother, who died after battling HIV. The choice of target was especially heart-wrenching for members of the US lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, LGBT advocacy group Equality Florida said in a statement. “Gay clubs hold a significant place in LGBTQ history. They were often

recognise the killings as genocide. Germany’s genocide vote inflames tensions with Turkey The 11 MPs of Turkish origin who voted for the resolution have faced a backlash of negative opinion from the Turkish government and from within Germany’s sizable Turkish community. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan castigated them, saying: “What sort of Turks are they?” Ankara’s mayor showed the 11 MPs in a tweet, saying they

had “stabbed us in the back”. According to German media, it was retweeted by many Turkish nationalists, some of whom made death threats. And a group of Turkish lawyers has reportedly filed a complaint accusing the MPs of “insulting Turkishness and the Turkish state”. Earlier this month, Turkey recalled its ambassador from Berlin in fury after the German parliament voted overwhelmingly for the Armenian “genocide” resolution.

young woman faints in the heat as hundreds fight for pasta, screaming they are hungry. Slumdwellers and armed gangs wait for nightfall to hijack food trucks or ransack stores. A mother is shot dead fleeing police after hundreds storm warehouses. Food riots and violent looting have become a daily occurrence across scarcity-struck Venezuela and a major problem for the struggling leftist government of President Nicolas Maduro. Despite hours in lines, Venezuelans increasingly find that coveted supplies of subsidized flour and rice run out before they can buy them. Many are skipping meals, getting by on mangoes stripped

from trees - or taking matters into their own hands. On a recent morning in the rundown, garbage-strewn Caracas district of El Valle, some 200 people pushed up against police guarding a supermarket as they chanted, “We want food!” and “Loot it!” A few at the front were allowed in for two bags of pasta each. “We’re not eating. People are desperate for a looting,” saidmother-of-three Miza Colmenares, 55, who had spent the night in line and not eaten since the previous day when she had eggs for breakfast. One young woman fainted in the heat, an elderly lady cried uncontrollably on the sidewalk and the seething crowd chased away a government supporter.

Egypt appoints new anti-corruption chief as predecessor faces trial

gypt’s parliament approved yesterday the appointment of a former prosecutor as the new anticorruption chief, state news agency MENA said, less than a week after his predecessor went on trial accused of making up lies about the scale of the problem. Parliament approved the appointment of Hisham Badawi as head of the Central Auditing Authority, Egypt’s main anti-corruption agency, with 329 of Egypt’s 596 deputies voting in his favor.

Badawi’s predecessor, Hisham Geneina, was sacked by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in March after he stirred controversy in a raft of interviews at the end of last year in which he claimed that government corruption had cost 600 billion Egyptian pounds ($67.6 billion)over a four-year period. Sisi appointed a fact-finding commission that quickly concluded Geneina, a former judge, had misled the public. Geneina was charged this month with spreading false news about the cost of corruption.

I am ready to lead Super Eagles – Salisu Yusuf 43

MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sport

That the late Shaibu Amodu lost none of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers as the Super Eagles Coach. Played 15, won 12 and drew three

The man Amodu

t just 32-year-old Shaibu Amodu shocked Africa when he led BCC Lions of Gboko to lift the Cup Winners Cup and it was suprising when he took charge of the Super Eagles for the first time in 1994 at the age of 36, and would go ahead to manage the team in 1999, 2001-2002 and 2008-2010. He qualified the Super Eagles for the FIFA World Cup in 2002 and 2010, but did not lead the team to the finals. He also qualified the Beach Soccer National Team, Supersand Eagles, for the 2006 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, but did not lead the team at the finals as he refused to travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was also the first Nigerian to qualify the Super Eagles for the FIFA World Cup when alongside Stephen Keshi, who died on June 8, and Joe Erico, he rescued the Eagles’ flagging ship to win the last three matches of the campaign and reach the finals in Korea/Japan 2002, following the departure of Dutchman Johannes Bonfrere. When he led BCC Lions of Gboko to win the Nigeria FA Cup in 1989, it was the first time a team from northern Nigeria would triumph in the competition in 36 years. The following year, he led BCC Lions to win the now-defunct Africa Cup Winners Cup. The team reached the final of the same competition in 1991. When he left BCC Lions, Amodu steered El-Kanemi Warriors to win the FA Cup. He is the most decorated coach in Nigeria’s FA Cup history, having won it in 1989, 1992, 1993 and 1994. He won the Nigeria League and Cup double in 1994 and won the Super Cup in 1989, 1993 and 1994. In his four stints with the Super Eagles, the Okpella, Edo State born tactician won 26 of a total of 53 matches, drawing 15 and losing 12.

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Amodu

Obiku: Keshi, Amodu's death scary 'Big Boss was a team leader' Charles Ogundiya

x-inter national, Michael Obiku, has described the recent deaths of two of the country’s top coaches, Stephen Keshi and Shaibu Amodu, as scary. Obiku said the two coaches were looking healthy the last time he saw them for the diuo to

Obiku

have died within three days calls for serious concern. “Heard about the death of Keshi came to me as a big shock,” he said. “To hear that Amodu also died few days later was something I couldn’t understand. We are still trying to mourn Keshi when the news of Amodu came. “I knew Keshi to be

African Championships:

Okagbare leads Team Nigeria to South Africa Charles Ogundiya

Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

frica’s fastest woman and Commonwealth champion, Blessing Okagbare will lead a strong Nigeria’s team to 20th edition of the African Senior Athletic Championships in Durban, South Africa. The country finished second behind South Africa at the last competition in Marrakech, Morocco and the Athletic Federation of Nigeria has made a big statement with the naming of a strong team for this year’s edition. Top stars like Gloria Asumnu, Chioma Agwunobi, Jennifer Madu, Regina George, Margaret Bamgbose, Chinwe Okoro, Okwologu Nneke, Naomi Osasuwa, Augustus Toyin and Claire Uke are also part of the squad. Adekunle Fasasi, who has improved tremendously in the 400m is in the team, Paul

Dedewo, Chidi Okezie, Doreen Amata, Stephen Mozia, Miles Ukaoma, and Olamide Olagoke, with some local athletes including Agnes Osasuwa, Patience Okon George, Yinka Ajayi, Omolara Omotosho, Peace Uko, Brume Ese, Ogho Egwero, Divine Oduduru, Obina Metu, Orukpe Erayokan and Adams Samuel Kure, are also going to wear Team Nigeria colour in Durban. Meanwhile, the AFN has warned athletes attempting to disrupt the peace enjoyed by the athletics family by organising election for an athlete representative on the board of the federation without authorisation by the sport governing body in Nigeria to desist from doing so. In a statement signed by AFN spokesperson, Olukayode Thomas, the federation said Falilat Ogunkoya was still the athlete representative on the board and her tenure had not expired.

No bonus for Flying Eagles

International Russia draw feels like defeat, says Rooney

44 45

Keshi

very healthy, a good sportsman; his death was a big loss to the country. He has done well for Nigerian football and we are going to miss him. And for Amodu, I saw him last year in Benin, he was healthy too and to just drop dead, I think something must be very wrong somewhere.” The head coach of Feyenoord Rotterdam's Soccer Schools described Keshi as a perfect example of a leader. He said Keshi’s teammates respected him in their active days. Obiku said: “He brought in a lot to Nigerian football. He was a defender that scores goals, his main job was to protect the goalkeeper, but you will see him scoring at the opposing end, which made him very special. “He always take people along, a good leader, that’s why we call him Big Boss, we all respected him because of his leadership quality. He leads by example and not someone that will tell you to do something and he will be lagging behind, he will be ahead doing it.” He however said the two fallen heroes should be immortalised by the Nigeria Football Federation and the country as a whole because of their immense contribution to the country’s football. According to him, they both deserved every accolade given to them. “Keshi won the AFCON as player and coach; he also qualified the country for the World Cup. Amodu has been there every time we are in crisis; he has qualified the country twice for the World Cup and participated in several AFCONs as coach.”

SPORT NEWS

MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

No bonus for Flying Eagles

layers and officials of Nigeria's U-20 men's team left Calabar for Abuja on Sunday without being paid their bonuses for a win over Burundi, AfricanFootball.com can confirm. The Flying Eagles defeated the Young Swallows of Burundi 2-1 on Saturday and 3-1 on aggregate to progress to the last qualifying round of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. But just as it was in the

first leg when they won 1-0 in Bujumbura, the players and officials didn't receive their bonuses from the cashstrapped Nigeria Football Federation. The NFF has struggled to offset the bonuses of national teams in recent times, with the issue also affecting the Super Eagles. "We haven't received our bonuses yet, even from the first leg," a source within the team informed.

Zamalek coach expects tough Enyimba game Emmanuel Tobi

amalek Football Club of Egypt coach, Mohamed Helmy, has warned his players to expect a tough game when they battle Enyimba Football Club of Aba in the group stage CAF Champions League. The Cairo giants are scheduled to launch their CAF Champions’ League group stage campaign when they face Enyimba on 19 June. Speaking after the Zamalek’s 3-2 victory over Ittihad El-Shorta in the Egyptian Premier League Saturday, blamed his players for conceding two late goals. "Players have to learn from conceding two goals during the El-Shorta game as they were ours to lose,"

Helmy told the club's official website. "El-Shorta game is a good lesson for the players ahead of the CAF Champions League game against Enyimba," he added. "Enyimba are expected to be very difficult so we have to concentrate on the game," the Zamalek coach said.

U-23 Eagles resume camping Wednesday

igeria U-23 Eagles will resume training in Abuja on Wednesday, officials have disclosed. The team went on a short recess after the Suwon International Tournament in South

Korea, where they lost to hosts Korea and Denmark, before they defeated Honduras. The U-23 team is scheduled to apply for entry visas to the United States and United Kingdom on their return to camp

after an initial arrangement to do so earlier this month was shelved. The team will train in both the United States of America and England prior to the Rio Olympics in August.

SAM OCHEO HANDBALL:

Lagos Seasiders, Grasshoppers secure victories Emmanuel Tobi

L Helmy

Dairy Farm, Ikotun Girls win GTBank-Lagos Principals’ Cup airy Farm Senior Secondary School, Agege, and Ikotun Secondary School have emerged as champions of the Season 7 of the GTBank-Lagos Principals’ Cup. Dairy Farm who lifted the trophy in 2012, whitewashed Ejigbo Senior Secondary School 5-1 to win the boys’ category while defending champions Ikotun Secondary School defeated perennial finalists CMS Grammar School 2-1 to win the female category. Sanya Senior Secondary School, Surulere, emerged third place winners in the female category, while Ikeme Balogun Senior College, Ikorodu, emerged third in the male category. Also Favour Chukwu from Ikotun High School was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the female category, while Eniayewu Hammed won that of the male. The Principal Cup is aimed at developing grass-

U-23 Eagles defender, Musa Mohammed (right)

roots football and discovering young football talents among secondary school students. Cash prizes of N1 million, N750,000, N500,000 and N250,000 were presented to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place winners in both the male and female categories.

agos Seasiders and Imo Grasshoppers began the campaign at the Sam Ocheo Invitational Handball Championship on a winning note thereby boosting their chances of claiming the title. Lagos Seasiders beat Flowers of Benin Republic 27-21 in the female category, while Defence Babes inflicted the second defeat on Edo Dynamos, winning 25-23. In the male category, Idah Pillars and Civil Defenders games ended in a draw with both sides scoring 28 goals apiece. It was a keenly contested tie, but both teams could not be separated at the end of the game. Similarly, in some of the game decided in the male category on the opening day, Idah Lions defeated Delta Force 29-27, Lagos Seasiders beat Rima of Sokoto

30-20, while ASPAC OF Benin Republic beat Eko United 32-21. In matches played in the female category on the opening day, Imo Grasshoppers defeated Delta Force 33-23, Edo Dynamos lost to Flowers of Benin 21-22, while ASPAC defeated Lagos Seasiders 29-23.

LMC Chairman, Shehu Dikko (right) and iProsport Managing Director Thomas Garrad

LMC seals sportdrink supplier deal Charles Ogundiya

L-R: Mr Segun Agbaje, MD/CEO, GTBank; Sheriff Sholola, Dairy farm School captain; Dr. (Mrs.) Idiat Oluranti Adebule, Lagos Deputy Governor; Mr Fela Bank-Olemoh, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Education and Mr Deji Tinubu, Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission after the final at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos on Friday.

Sponsors of the tournament Innjoo Mobile Technology has called on the fans to come out in large numbers to cheer their darling teams to victory. Innjoo’s Country Manager, Rakesh Rocque, who made this call, stated that the presence of the fans would boost the performance of the teams.

igeria Professional Football League broke into the international sponsorship market with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the League Management Company and United Kingdom’s leading global sport drinks maker, iPro Sport International Limited. Isotonic drinks replace nutrients and fluids quickly, helping to prevent exercise-related injuries and illness that may arise from loss of important minerals, dehydration and heat stroke due to sweating during physical exercises. The MoU, which is subject to

sign off of national distributors agreements and other regulatory approvals was executed in London on Wednesday, June 7 with the LMC represented by the Chairman, Shehu Dikko and iProsport represented by the Managing Director, Mr. Thomas Garrad. As the Official Supplier of isotonic sport drinks to the NPFL, the 20 NPFL Clubs will earn a fee of £1.5 pounds paid to NPPL for every pack (consisting of 12 bottles) of iProsport drink supplied to the Nigerian Market with a target to commence with a shipment of minimum of 213,333 packs which guarantees NPFL a fee of £320, 000 British Pounds (about N165.4m) when fully activated.

INTERNATIONAL SPORT

MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Casillas: I will retire when Buffon does

S Russia Fans

ayne Rooney described England's draw against Russia as "feeling like a defeat" following Vasili Berezutsky's injury-time equaliser. Rooney was arguably England's standout player in a deeper, midfield role, before being taken off by Roy Hodgson after 77 minutes. At that stage, England were 1-0 up thanks to Eric Dier's stunning free-kick but Berezutsky's last-gasp header denied the Three Lions a win that would have been deserved on the balance of play. Rooney said: "[I am] disappointed not to win it obviously. I thought we played some really good stuff, created chances and controlled the game. "We had our chances but that's football, you've got to take them. We got the goal and had the game in our hands. It's really disappointing not to win but there were a lot of positives and if we play like that we'll be okay. "The way we controlled the game, for such a young squad, was excellent. We had a 15-minute period where we had to settle down a bit at the start of the second half but we got through that and got the goal. The negative was the goal we conceded. It's disappointing, it feels like a defeat at the minute but we have to take it and move on. "Hopefully we'll play a similar game against Wales and if we do we'll be fine."

Russia draw feels like defeat, says Rooney Rooney

Bolt stumbles to 100m win

lympic champion Usain Bolt recorded the second fastest time of the year in winning a 100m race in Jamaica despite stumbling out of his starting blocks. Bolt ran 9.88 seconds at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston. Only Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut (9.86) has gone quicker. After a poor start, Bolt caught fellow Jamaicans Yohan Blake, the London 2012 silver medallist, and Asafa Powell by 60m before easing over the line. "I'm happy I got a season

best. It was not a perfect race but I won," he said. "I was trying to control the start but it's just one of those things. It comes, it goes. "I think I dragged my

RESULTS Bolt

EURO 2016 Poland

1-0

N.Ireland

Turkey

0-1

Croatia

COPA AMERICA USA

1-0

Paraguay

Colombia

2-3

Costa Rica

NPFL Shooting

1-0

Enyimba

Plateau Utd

2-0

Rangers

Nasarawa

4-2

IfeanyiUbah

Rivers Utd

4-1

MFM

Sunshine

1-0

Lobi

Ikorodu Utd

1-1

Akwa Utd

Heartland

0-0

Wikki

Kano Pillars

2-2

Warri Wolves

El-Kanemi

2-0

Abia Warriors

foot too hard so it kind of propelled me forward and then I just tried to correct myself, not try to panic and just make my way through." Bolt, the 100m world record holder, added that he was "in good nick" ahead of Jamaica's Olympic trials which start on 30 June. "The more I run, the smoother my running will become and the faster I'll get," he said. Nickel Ashmeade finished second in 9.94secs, with Blake third and Powell fourth. Kingston-born two-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won the women's race in 11.09secs, narrowly beating world indoor champion Barbara Pierre of the United States.

Klinsmann tasks players to 'go for' Copa glory

urgen Klinsmann says he is sick of United States being labelled underdogs and has challenged his side to chase glory on home turf at the Copa America Centenario. Clint Dempsey's 27th minute strike was enough for USA to defeat Paraguay in Philadelphia despite DeAndre Yedlin's red card early in the second half. That was enough for the hosts to finish top of Group A as Costa Rica defeated a much-changed Colombia side

3-2, and that could see USA avoid a tough quarter-final against Brazil who play Peru in their final group game on Sunday. But Klinsmann insisted there can be no excuses for USA no matter who they play, and no longer wants his players to buy into the notion that they are underdogs at the tour nament. "The old story is the underdog story, and I cannot hear that story anymore," Klinsmann said.

pain goalkeeper Iker Casillas says he will not retire until Italy counterpart Gianluigi Buffon calls time on his illustrious career. Juventus legend Buffon signed an extension to his contract in May, ensuring he will remain with the Serie A champions until the end of the 2017-18 season. The 38-year-old could subsequently keep playing for the Italian giants beyond his 40th birthday. Casillas, three years Buffon's junior, has an option to extend his Porto contract through to 2018 and has no plans to hang up his gloves before his counterpart. "When he retires, I will

Casillas

too," Casillas, who has won two European Championship medals and a World Cup with Spain, told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "He just signed a new deal and that makes me happy because that means I will too. "When we call it quits we'll set up a nice match between my friends and his friends."

Hamilton beats Rosberg to take pole in Canada

eigning world champion Lewis Hamilton has secured pole position for this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix after edging past his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg in a closefought qualifying round. Hamilton, who won his first race of the season at Monaco Grand Prix, clocked his best lap in one minute and 12.812 seconds to finish 0.062 seconds quicker than the German driver. With the win in the qualifying round, Hamilton has grabbed his 53rd pole of his

career, Sport24 reported. Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel finished third in his Ferrari ahead of Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo and Dutch teenager Max Verstappen. Meanwhile, Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen clocked sixth fastest followed by the two Williams cars of Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa in the seventh and eighth place respectively. Rosberg currently holds a 24-point lead over Hamilton in the championship table after winning first four races of the season.

Hamilton

UEFA may sanction Russia over fan trouble

he governing body has launched an investigation after crowd disturbances and racist behaviour inside the Stade Velodrome after Saturday's draw with England UEFA have confirmed they will open disciplinary proceedings against the Russian Football Union after the fan unrest that marred the end of their Euro 2016 clash with England. The European football governing body has labelled three charges against the country - crowd disturbances, racist behaviour and setting off fireworks.

Violent scenes overshadowed the 1-1 draw in Group B as Russian fans appeared to force their way through security barriers in the Stade Veldrome's south stand and proceed to attack England supporters on the full time whistle. The clashes - which also included flares and firecrackers - followed three days of trouble in Marseille between a mixture of French police and supporters of various nations. Local media quoting Marseille police say a total of 35 people were injured in Saturday's violence.

Shaibu Amodu 1958-2016

SPORTS

MONDAY, JUNE 13 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Wails, tears as Amodu is buried in Okpella

he funeral of Shuaibu Amodu, the only man to have qualified Nigeria for two World Cup finals, took place in the southern town of Okpella, Edo State on Saturday evening. Amodu, who passed away in his sleep in the Nigerian city of Benin, was tucked in the traditional white shroud (kafan) used to wrap bodies, and was buried in a wooden coffin in line with Islamic burial custom. Islamic prayers were read as he was laid to rest in his home village in accordance with his last wishes. The burial was attended by his friends and family, as well as Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) official Mohammed Sanusi, dignitaries from the state government and by traditional leaders from Okpella itself. Mr Adams Oshiomhole, Edo State governor, also attended, representing Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari. Ahmed Shehu, the Islamic cleric who led prayers, paid tribute to Amodu and described him as a "great son" of Okpella. "Shuaibu [Amodu] was only here on earth for a short time but made a great impact," Shehu said. "His journey ends here but not his memories because he died a great son of Okpella. The NFF General Secretary Sanusi said the football authority would forever be grateful to Amodu for his amazing service to Nigerian and African football. "He lived for his family and football, Amodu gave his heart and soul to Nigerian football and we can never thank him enough," Sanusi told BBC Sport. "We pray Almighty Allah grants him a place in Jannat-ul-Firdaus [paradise]."

Last respect to Amodu

Shuaibu Amodu died in his sleep just three days after the death of another former Nigeria coach, Stephen Keshi The NFF technical director before his death, Amodu, who first took charge of Nigeria at the age of 36, coached Nigeria on four different occasions. He helped the country to qualify for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea and led them to a thirdplace finish in the 2002 Nations Cup. Under his stewardship, Nigeria qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa but Amodu was sacked despite the team's third-place finish

Dalung laments coach's exit

he Minister for Youth and Sports Barrister Solomon Dalung has described the death of former Super Eagles coach and Nigeria Football Federation Technical Director Shuaibu Amodu as devastating. Coming just two days after the demise of his former colleague and assistant coach Stephen Keshi, the Minister said it was one death too many. "This is terrible and shocking. On April 18, 2016, Shaibu Amodu was in my ofDalung fice and we discussed many issues affecting Nigerian coaches and their welfare including ways of moving Nigeria's football forward. He personally presented to me, a booklet he had published which contained ways of improving the country's football and its administration. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were already charting a course in this direction when the news of his sudden death came to me". The Minister noted that the sudden death of the two Nigerian coaches within few days was sorrowful and called for prayers. "I am short of words over this tragic news. Shaibu was one of the very intelligent coaches Nigeria had. He qualified the Super Eagles for the World Cup twice. He was also one of those who brought glamour to the local league back in the days of BCC Lions of Gboko and Elkanemi War-

riors of Borno. We had just met to fashion out ways of bringing back our national teams to what it used to be when death snatched him away. We pray we don't experience this again. Amodu will be sorely missed in Nigerian football. On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, I send my heartfelt condolence to his wife, children, the Nigeria Football Federation and the entire football family. We pray for the repose of his soul and that his family will be strengthened at this period of mourning", the Minister prayed. Amodu 58, was confirmed

at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. It was the second time he had been removed from his post ahead of a World Cup finals tournament - Amodu was also fired ahead of the 2002 edition after Nigeria finished third at the 2002 Nations Cup in Mali. News of Amodu's death came just three days after the death of another former Nigeria coach, Stephen Keshi.

Late Amodu

Dogara: Football facing trials Philip Nyam ABUJA

he Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has condoled with the nation over the sudden death of another former coach of the Nigerian Super Eagles, Shuaibu Amodu. Amodu who was, until his death, the Technical Director of Nigeria Football Federation, died early on Saturday. A statement issued by his spokesman, Turaki Hassan, in Abuja, Dogara described the late former Super Eagles coach as a true nationalist who dedicated his lifetime to serving his country.

He lamented that Nigerian football was under trial as a result of sudden death of Amodu as he died when the country was still reeling from the demise of his colleague, Stephen Keshi. Amodu, during his time as coach of the national team, qualified the Super Ea gles for the World Cup in 2002 and 2010. He said Amodu's demise would forever remain painful as it came when the nation's football was in dire need of his experience to reform it. The Speaker then prayed that God grant the nation and his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

He developed our local talents â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Benue Gov From: Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

overnor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has on behalf of the government and people of the state, commiserates with the family of the late former coach of the Super Eagles, Shuaibu Amodu, the government and people of Edo State and all soccer loving Nigerians over the demise of the renowned tactician. The Governor while reacting to the death of the former Super Eagles coach, expressed shock over the sad loss, saying that coach Amodu will be deeply missed by

millions of those who follow the game of football in the state and the country at large. He said the football history of Benue State will not be complete without the name of the late Shuaibu Amodu whose time as coach of BCC Lions Football Club, Gboko brought numerous honours to the state and led to the discovery of many home-grown talents for the national teams. Governor Ortom said coach Amodu would particularly be remembered in Benue for guiding BCC Lions to win the 1990 African Cup Winners Cup, now known as CAF Confederation Cup and guided the club to lift the country's FA Cup.

He said the late Amodu contributed greatly to the development of football in Nigeria including leading the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2002 and 2010 World Cup in Korea/ Japan and South Africa respectively. The Governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Terver Akase, described as a big blow to the nation's football, the passage of coach Amodu only three days after the death of another former Super Eagles handler, Stephen Keshi, and prayed that God would prevent further loss of the country's sports personalities.

SPORT

MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Pat Ekeji’s Corner patrick.ekeji@yahoo.com 08159364282 (sms only)

NNPC/Shell Cup: Top two players for Holland training Semifinalists know opponents

First it was Keshi, T now Amodu

Charles Ogundiya

read online in the morning of Wednesday, June 8, 2016 in Atlanta where I am spending some time, of the demise of Stephen Keshi, MFR. As I write this column I am still in shock and asking no one in particular, why? I woke up this morning, Saturday, 11th to see missed calls and text messages from home informing me of yet another death, this time of Coach Shaibu Amodu. This is overwhelming. Two of Nigeria’s frontline coaches dead, three days apart. It is speculated it may have been cardiac issues. Between 1949 and today (2016), there have been a total of 49 football coaches for the national teams at different periods out of which 25 Nigerians have been in charge at different times. Shaibu Amodu was at the helm of technical affairs five different times/periods. The role-call ; Peter 'Eto' Amaechina (1969–1970), Festus Onigbinde(1983–1984), Amodu Chris Udemezue (1984– 1986), Patrick Ekeji (1985), Paul Hamilton (1987–1989), Shaibu Amodu (1994–1995), Shaibu Amodu (1996–1997), Monday Sinclair (1997– 1998), Shaibu Amodu (2001– 2002), Festus Onigbinde (2002), Christian Chukwu (2002–2005), Augustine Eguavoen (2005–2007), James Peters (2008), Shaibu Amodu (2008–2010), Augustine Keshi Eguavoen (2010), Samson Siasia (2010–2011), Stephen Keshi (2011–2014), Shaibu Amodu (2014), Stephen Keshi (2014), Daniel Amokachi (2014–2015), Stephen Keshi (2015), Shaibu Amodu (2015), Sunday Oliseh (2015–2016), Samson Siasia (2016),Yusuf Salisu(2016). These are tragedies certainly too heavy for their families to bear and this for Keshi, is on the heel of the passage of his wife just six months ago! What now happens to his children? Who takes care of them? It was for this kind of situations that I conceptualized ‘TEAM NIGERIA’ way back in 2002 in which I had the welfare of our ELITE ATHLETES as core, aside from it being a major vehicle to fund sports. In its total unfolding, an insurance scheme was to evolve wherein contributing athletes would be guaranteed better “life after sports”. Sadly that concept was truncated in 2005 as it was negotiating the bend into its second level. How shall the NFF honor Keshi ? He was the most successful local Nigerian football Coach. He won the AFCON Cup of Nations as a player and as a Coach. He was also the first Nigerian Coach to lead the SUPER EAGLES to the finals of the FIFA World Cup in the year 2012 in Brazil by successfully emerging as one of the five teams from Africa after an excruciating qualifying series. Indeed it was in recognition of

and their coaches will be rewarded with a total cash of N3.4m while their schools get a total of N4.8m in cash for the development of facilities and infrastructure in their respective schools.” Former international, Mike Obiku, who was a member of the visiting Feyenoord Academy team to the country applauded NNPC/Shell for their decision to send two students to the academy. He said some of the things lacking in most players in the country were their level of intelligence which has to do more about coaching. Meanwhile, the semifinal games will take place on Tuesday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, with FOSLA Academy, Abuja taking on Asegun Comprehensive High School, Ibadan, in the first semifinal by 2pm while the second semifinal between Government Science Secondary School, Bauchi and Excel Education Centre, Port Harcourt, will come up by 4pm, same day. The final will however take place on Thursday June 16 also at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

wo outstanding players of the 18th edition of the annual NNPC/Shell Cup football competition organised for secondary schools in the 36 states of the country will have the opportunity of visiting Feyenoord Rotterdam's Football Academy for further training. The Communication Manager of these that the Presidential Task Force, Shell Petroleum, Sola Abulu, who honored him by selecting his name as represented the General Manager of one of those considered for honor role- the company, Igo Weli, made this deccall of football persons in the Sunday laration during a media briefing ahead Dankaro House. For the records, Late of the semifinal of the competition in President Musa Yar’Adua, GCFR, in Lagos on Sunday. 2009 set up the PTF for the purpose of “We are happy to announce the assisting and ensuring that the Super introduction of a new reward for the Eagles qualified for the finals of the two most outstanding players in the FIFA World Cup hosted for the first tournament,” Abulu said. time in Africa by South Africa in 2010. “The best two players in this year ediKeshi’s bold attempt at pro football in tion would be sponsored to Feyenoord Ivory Coast in 1984 opened the doors Football Academy for a short further for our players in our national league. practical sessions and exposure. Amodu was one of the four top fin“Scholarship rewards will also be ishers of students given to some other outstanding stuthat went through dents while the semifinalists players me at the National Institute of Sports L-R: Ex-Eagles in 1979; others were striker and Head Charles Bassey, Zach- Coach, Feyenoord ary Baraje, and Ayo Academy Rotterdam, Mike Obiku; Ogulana. He signaled Communications his emergence when Manager, SPDC, he won the Challenge Mrs. Sola Abulu, Cup in 1989 with BCC Manager InternaLions of Gboko, then tional Relation, Elkanemi,1992 and Feyenoord Acad1993 and again with emy Rotterdam, BCC in 1994.He be- Gido Vader, during came an instant toast the NNPC/Shell Cup and Feyin the landscape of enoord Academy football thereafter. Partnership in Between 1994 and 2016 Lagos…yesterday. he ‘walked’ in and out of the national team PHOTO: TONY five different times. EGUAYE He had his challenges as coach of the national team but he kept being re-engaged by the NFF obviously to clinch the bronze for because the NFF found him useful to- Ajibade Olusesan Nigeria. wards the achievement of their goals. eam Nigeria at the The outcome was a With the passage of time, he got more weekend defeated sweet revenge for Osexperienced and less fiery. As the DirecSeychelles 3-0 to ewa, who was beaten tor Technical Department of the NFF, finish third at the ITF to the African Junior I believe Amodu would have scripted World Team Cup Junior Championship title in the pathway for football development Qualifying Champion- Pretoria in March by especially for our coaches, I urge the ship in Tunis, Tunisia. his rival from the Indian NFF to build on that, at least, for his Michael Osewa was Ocean Island. Hosts Tumemory. the hero for the three-man nisia took gold to qualify Keshi and Amodu have passed on, U-14 team as he defeated for the World Team Cup they can no longer hurt anyone, the Damien Laporte of the billed for Czech Repubservices they rendered to Nigeria in Seychelles in straight sets lic in August. football must always be remembered. Death is a route all of us still living will pass through sooner or later. Keshi was nick-named the “BIG BOSS” by his colleagues because, according to them, he was seen as a Captain who ‘’fought’’ the management for their rights. Amodu and Keshi were two of a kind; as I understood them, they were never afraid of ‘’standing their ground’’ if they felt they had to but they also did not hold back to redress if and when they became convinced they had to. Shaibu and Steve, you played your part on the “stage” of life, you earned yourself more than a paragraph in the narrations of the L-R: Osinachi Obi, Naetochukwu Abuchi-Awaji, Kenechukwu Eze, Mmaduhistory of the development of the abuchi Anichukwu (front row); and Chinemerem Ozomgbachi and Olymbeautiful game in our country. Good pic Bronze Medalist and Taekwondo Instructor, Chika Chukwumerije at Brickhall School, Games Village, Abuja, at the weekend bye Amodu, good bye Keshi.

World tennis cup: Nigeria grabs bronze in Tunisia

"We had a decent performance as we won four of our nine matches in the World Team Cup," Nigeria's coach, Mohammed Ubale, said on arrival in Abuja Saturday. He added that the team had a good chance to bag qualification next year stressing that the 'Fulani Boys' Saminu Abubakar and Musa Sani showed lots of promises. "Despite the fact that they were playing their first international tournament outside Nigeria, they played very well. They have the talent and what they need is more exposure because the matches they lost were due to inexperience." Abubakar and Sani, in separate interviews, relished their experience vowing to put up better performances for Nigeria next time. They also thanked Prof Amina Mohammed, the Ministerof Environmentand Prof. Jubril Ibrahim for supporting their tennis careers.

On Marble

When the clothes a person is wearing luckily ushers him into a noble gathering; he must rely on his utterances not to usher him out.

World Record

Sanctity of Truth

Emory Malick was the first African American to receive a pilot’s license in the United States. He received his pilot’s license in March, 1912.

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

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Legitimate grievances, impulses and selfish ethnic interests Dele Awogbeoba

cursory look at the Niger Delta and the damage done to its environment as a result of the huge cross the area has had to carry over the last 40 years as the bread basket of the nation compels most Nigerians to take a long hard look at themselves. Though the Niger Delta have in recent times been granted extra revenue from resources extracted from their areas under the 13 per cent derivation principle, very little had been done to address the ecological damage done to the environment by the joint ventures between successive governments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the international oil companies. The recent attempt at the Ogoni clean up is a step in the right direction, albeit belated. International oil companies have recklessly polluted the local environment and in some cases have refused to clean up the mess that their activities have given rise to. In some cases, the Federal Government had agreed on behalf of the affected communities ridiculously low compensatory payments. The biggest irony here was the the most recent example of such incompetence can be traced to the government of the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. The resentment built up over the years as a result of such ecological damage, relatively low share of accrued oil revenues obtained by the Niger Delta as a result of the exportation of oil and the 100 per cent cross it carries vis a vis the health, damage to local fishing industry and environmental implications of such extraction have in recent times given rise to the birth of militant activities. The Muhammadu Buhari Government came to power and pursued the policy of cancelling oil pipeline contracts given to militants, reducing amounts dedicated to the Amnesty programme and increasing the amounts dedicated to the reconstruction of the North East of Nigeria before the war with Boko Haram had even been won was nothing short of incompetence, lack of thought and lack of wisdom on the part of the Buhari regime. In many respects, this is one of the manifestations of having a very sectional composition of the key kitchen cabinet advisers within Aso Rock. The Buhari led Aso Rock (in this case I am referring to the President, his chief of staff, his secretary to the federal government and his key Northern advisers) has been denied the wisdom and exposure to plurality of views that comes from a pan Nigerian composition. The jaundiced and ill-thought out views of this narrow sect is coming back to haunt the present Federal Government and the Nigerian nation. The Buhari decision boils down to penny wise and pound foolish. It saved millions of Naira in pipeline contracts and reduction in amnesty payments and lost billions of Dollars in oil revenues and ecological damage.

Nnamdi Kani, IPOB leader

All this is happening at a time secessionist impulses have been growing in a devastating manner within Nigeria. Boko Haram had for years tried to create its on Caliphate from within Nigerian territory. It had marginal effect on the Nigerian economy because the North East contributes less than five per cent to Nigeria’s current GDP. It however managed to kill thousands of people and helped to create significant psychological insecurity amongst Nigerians that a change of government was facilitated in order to have a more competent government face down that challenge. The change of government and the relative reduction in influence at the federal government level of the Igbo has now given rise to a more coordinated bid for secession by the Igbo (who have long resented their fall from political and bureaucratic power in the early 1960’s). The Igbo quest for a “Biafran” state was fundamentally weak because the Igbo SE contribute less than five per cent to the GDP of Nigeria and it lacked the barbarity of the Boko Haram secessionist attempt. It concentrated on peaceful marches and the incitement of the far away pirate Radio Biafra station. The Niger Delta Avengers have become the latest addition to Nigeria’s expanding secessionist movement. The

The Buhari decision boils down to penny wise and pound foolish

Niger Delta have foregone the barbarity of the Boko Haram elements but the Niger Delta area accounts for over 35 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP and accounts for almost 86 per cent of its foreign currency receipts. The Niger Delta Avengers (at the current time) appears to be an Ijaw centric rebellion and it appears borne out of the GEJ’s loss at the polls and the cancellation of lucrative contracts and amnesty payouts. The Niger Delta Avengers have now indicated its resolve to establish a Niger Delta Republic. The two recent yet different Igbo and Ijaw led secessionists movements appear to have borrowed a leaf from the more politically successful Nigerian Fulani. The Fulani are known to successfully mask their selfish group interests under “Northern” and “Muslim” interests toga. The Nigerian people seem to have psychologically bought into this brainwashing that almost every Northern leader elected President on the back of Northern and Muslim power within Nigeria through the democratic process since 1960 has been a Nigerian from the minority Fulani tribe. The Hausa majority tribe in the North has been the most marginalized group in Nigeria for decades. The Igbo led IPOB/MOSSOB and BIM have attempted to use this same Fulani template. Those groups (99 per cent of whom are Igbo) have sat amongst themselves and have attempted to carve out a “Biafran” identity and have identified those places were all oil deposits are located and have called it “Biafraland”. The Igbo are thus trying to ride on the back of the people and assets of the non Igbo populace of the SS and parts of North central to return to its lost glory of the pre civil war era. The explicit rejection of Biafra by the people of Rivers and Delta have gone ignored by the Igbo led IPOB/ MOSSOB and BIM whose main complaint, ironically, about Nigeria is that they were forced into Nigeria without their permission. The Igbo has been less successful in this attempt despite the consistent and endless brain washing by Radio Biafra. The Ijaw dominated Niger Delta Avengers are making its own attempt at leadership of the Niger Delta. It is flouting a dream of a “Niger Delta Republic” where the Ijaw will be top dog and the undisputed leader. Its proposed currency with the head of Isaac Borro as its face is a subtle attempt at regional leadership of the Niger Delta. Thus quests narrow ethnic dominance masked as genuine attempts at regional liberation and the rejection of regional injustice have arisen to take advantage of credible cases of injustice. There is a great need for the Nigerian Political establishment at the National Assembly level and as true representatives of the Nigerian people to make an attempt to address fiscal federalism. All states in Nigeria have abundant assets and mineral resources that they cannot harness because they are controlled by an inefficient Federal Government. That

condemns most “rich states” to poor state status especially if they are rich in assets other than oil and gas. Devolving power to exploit all resources to the relevant local state and or Local government allows each state to develop all assets within their domain and ensure that all states are able to become developing economies in their own right though not all will be centered around oil and gas or the ports or the financial industry. It may also help to ensure that when states control the exploitation of their own assets, the Local Government from which those assets are extracted must be given a significant proportion of the revenue derived from the extraction of those assets. The Abubakar Atiku suggestion (which he had suggested in the past) seems to me to be reasonable. The Federal Government has too many responsibilities and is inefficient in carrying them out. The National assembly needs to significantly reduce the areas controlled by the Federal government and increase areas under the control of state and local government areas. Personally, I believe the political structure is somewhat fair. It reflects as much as possible the diversity of Nigeria. Nigeria has to address the underlying neglect of the Niger Delta and the damage to their environment. It must also address the inefficient fiscal structure of the Nigerian state which handicaps most states (unless such a state happens to be an oil producing state or a state that is either Lagos or relatively close to Lagos). These issues will need to be addressed sooner than later before power hungry ethnic groups take advantage of genuine regional grievances in order to advance selfish ethnic interests in the manner successfully executed by the Northern Fulani. Awogbeoba (Dele.Awogbeoba@gmail.com) wrote in from Lagos.

HIGH CHIEF

THINGS ARE BAD, HARD IN NIGERIA – Odigie-Oyegun

- Well, I guess the President can hear you!

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