Thursday, may 14, 2015 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

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NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Vol. 2 No. 449

Thursday, May 14, 2015

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@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

N150

We have confidence in Buhari, says ex-British PM, Tony Blair }8

Fireworks as Reps consider PIB Philip Nyam Abuja

embers of the House of Representatives were sharply divided yesterday as they began con-

sidering the report of the House Ad hoc Committee on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). Their disag reement stemmed from a series of observations raised on legal

technicalities of some clauses in the bill. The House leadership had earlier met behind closed doors before the commencement of the plenary to soften the ground for the easy pas-

sage of the bill. However, when the consideration of the bill eventually commenced, out of the 368-page document, comprising 312 sections, only seven CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

NEW TELEGR

APH THURSD AY, mAY 14,

Interview

2015

Mahmud: We must abide days rule for by election petitio 180 ns

22&25

Law

News

Widow, lawyer Metropolitan plot showdown over College

Days after Presid Goodluck Jonat ent han indicated his desire to handover to the President-e lect, General Moha mmadu Buhari on May 28 as against May 29, some states execu tives also dismissed have the significance of May 29. They insist ed that they would hando ver to the SSG before May 29. What is the signifi cance of May 29 in relatio n to Sectio n 135(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitutio n? TUNDE OYESINA and AKEEM NAFIU seek lawyers’ views

May 29 han }21 d six pages polarises la over date wyers of THE law A

lthough President Abayomi Goodluck had made Jonathan a detour on his powers to plan to handover the Presid General Moham ent-elect, madu Buhar on May 28, i to the expiratwenty-four hours it is not so tion of his tenure , with some states execut outgoing ives. To them, ing on themMay 29 is not bindpredecessors as none of their handed over them when to they assum some eight years ago. ed office the symbo President lized May 29. May 29 office as the Jonathan assumed inaugurated as Democracy was since 1999 elected presid in the 2011 general electio ent General especially as it endedDay lost to Genera Abdusalami the ns but ly contested l Buhari in a keen- military dictatorship Abubakar’s presidential shered in tion held the democ era and urelecon March ratically electhis ruling 28. While ed government spearh Peoples Democ Chief Oluseg eaded by Party suffere ratic un 16 years on, Obasanjo in 1999. governorshipd defeat both at the May Assembly’s and the National Nigeria’s symbo 29 has become l nors were elections, its gover- hence it has becom of democracy; worst hit e the and beginn end by the loss. of tenure However, ing by, some of as the May 29 draws public office holderfor the elected s since the nors have the outgoing gover- ginning of the Fourth bevowed not Republic. However, to abide by preted differeMay 29 is being interholders since ntly by public office ‘fall’ of the the beginning of the queried the PDP. First to tactica lly President symbolized May 29 was Jonathan nounced when he that he would anpowers to handover the Presid ent-ele Although FOLUSO OGUN he had made ct. his PDP govern MODEDE a JUDICIARY ors at the detour, announced EDIToR weekend foluso.ogunmoded not bindin that the May 29 was newtelegraphonlin e@ g power to as they may hando e.com © Daily Telegrap the in-com ver h Publishin tration in ing g Company their respec adminisLimited before May tive states 29. For instan ce, the Jigawa outgo-

Hon

Jonathan's senator, Rep defect to APC ing Gover nor, become emphaSule Lamido has

Let me emphasise that the whole idea of handover is strange to the Constitution

cessor tic that he not hand-o may symbos took oath of office ver to the on the All Progre lic date. ssives Congrin-coming Hon said: administrati ess (APC) on priate thing “The best and approLamido said: on May 29. Jonathan to do is for President “I will over to my to hand over successor not hand of the at 12:01am predecessor becaus morning did not hand e my “If he hands of May 29, 2015. me. I will over to go on leave over before nine days on May 20, 29, it means he is May to the no longer president. “I will handohandover day. the He should by 12:01am hand over ver retary to of May the State to the Sec- usual Government (SSG) and practice by 29 or do as the the to the next SSG will handover It will not be late 7am in the past. if it is done 7am on was done administration as to me it forme the morning of May by r presidents 29 as But lawyer in 2007’’. s disagreed took over the morni governor. on with the ng of To To the Presid May 29”. May 29 datethem, the traditional ent must of Public terest be although Inthey silent respected Abdul Lawyers League (PILL), aspect of on the legal Mahmud the hand there ing impro over date. May 29 has priety about was nothbeen the traditi on May 28. hand over al date of onhandin He said: country return g over since the “Actual transf powers happen ed to democ in 1999, one er of racy ry said. prescriptionss when mandatoA Senior of Section and (2) of Sebastine Advocate of Nigeri the 1999 Consti 135(1) Hon said that a, are fulfille tution Jonathan’s tenure will President or transf d. In effect, hando end on May statutorily ver er of power happe elect should29 and the President- when the oaths of allegia ns and office fice like the take the Oath of nce are admin ofsame way istered by his predeCoNTIN UED

oN PAGE 23

Quick Read

Editorial

Buhari and diversification of Economy }19 Senate rescinds plan to override Jonathan's veto }7

President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, with a delegation of Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) members during a visit to Buhari in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: Elijah Olaluyi

S e n at e P resi d e n c y

Saraki, Lawan woo Ekweremadu as deputy lAPC NWC backs ex-Kwara gov as Buhari prefers Yobe senator lI'm ready to work with anybody, says president-elect }2

News

THURSDAY, May 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Jonathan's senator, Rep defect to APC Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he senator and House of Repre s e n t at ive s member representing President Goodluck Jonathan at the National Assembly, Senator Clever Marcus Ikisikpo

and Hon. Nadu Karibo, have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Bayelsa State House of Assembly member representing Ogbia Constituency 1, Hon. Azibola Omekwe, was also among Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains from the state

that dumped the outgoing ruling party for the APC. The defectors were yesterday led to the party's national secretariat, Abuja, by a former Governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, to be presented to the APC national leaders. Ikisikpo, who spoke

for the defectors, told reporters that they believed that Bayelsa would be better represented and developed under the APC. While berating the PDP for under developing the state, Ikisikpo said the APC would work hard to win the governorship election in the state,

slated for this year. According to him, they would have left PDP before now, but for sentiment arising from the fact that their kinsman is the president on the party's platform and their defection could have weakened his second term bid. But he added that with

L-R: Director, African Studies, Georgetown University, Mr. Scott Taylor; Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Prof. Ade Adefuye; Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu and Dean, Georgetown Business School, Mr. David Thomas, at a lecture in Washington DC...on Tuesday.

Jonathan's defeat, they were free from the sentiments that have prevented them from moving to the APC. "We express our readiness today to work with the APC at the local, state and national levels. We are convinced that APC will best represent the future for Ogbia, for Bayelsa and for Nigeria. Together, we hereby join the movement for change in Nigeria," Ikisikpo stated. Sylva said Bayelsa people had realized that they needed change and the time was ripe for the state to embrace change. He regretted that the party worked hard in the just-concluded election to deliver the state to the APC, but PDP chiefs bent at rigging the election frustrated their efforts. The former governor assured the party leaders that APC would clinch the governorship seat in the next election. Receiving the defectors on behalf of the national leadership, APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Segun Oni, commended the new members for coming to the APC fold while charging them to work hard for the success of the party in the next governorship election. Oni said: "A new Bayelsa is about to emerge as we are flagging off the real change in Bayelsa."

Saraki, Lawan woo Ekweremadu as deputy Senate president Donald Ojogo and Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

spirants to National Assembly leadership positions have intensified efforts at lobbying various stakeholders to back their ambitions. New Telegraph learnt yesterday that two of the frontline aspirants for the Senate presidency, Senators Bukola Saraki and Ahmed Lawan, had reached out to Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu for support. A source said both offered to retain him in the Eighth National Assembly in his present position, if either of them wins the race. But it was not clear yesterday if the duo had the backing of the party, especially given the fact that no Igbo will get any top leadership position in the legislature as the South-East voted over-

whelmingly for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the general elections. The source, however, said Ekweremadu, elected on the platform of the PDP, had not given a commitment to either of the two leading aspirants. He said Ekweremadu had decided to watch as events unfold before he could make any decision, adding that he had also told those who approached him that he would need time to consult with others on the matter. On whether Ekweremadu would be willing to defect to APC to retain the position, the source stated that he had ruled out doing so. It was also learnt yesterday that the APC National Working Committee (NWC) had recommended Saraki to the President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, as the next Senate president. However, the party

gave Buhari, who was said to have preferred Lawan, a free hand to choose whom to work it. Notwithstanding his secret support for Lawan, Buhari yesterday promised not to interfere in how leaders of the legislature emerge. He said he was willing to work with any leader of the Senate and House speaker, irrespective of what part of the country the person hails from. In a statement in Abuja by his Director of Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, Buhari described as false, insinuations in the media that he was in support of any aspirant. "I am prepared to work with any leaders that the House or Senate selects. It doesn't matter who the person is or where he or she is from," he stated. He said these insinuations were probably borne out of people's expectations based on the way things had happened in the past, adding

that such a situation will not persist as change has truly come. "There is due process for the selection of leaders of the National Assembly and I will not interfere in that process. "Nigeria has, indeed, entered a new dispensation. My administration does not intend to repeat the same mistakes made by previous governments," he added. Meanwhile, in a bid to stem a possible backlash as the jostling for the Senate presidency heightens, APC yesterday commenced moves to ensure a hitch-free emergence of the chairman of the Eighth National Assembly. A source said the party would not pronounce a formal statement on the controversial issue of zoning as the leadership of the party would "gauge and sample opinions of senators and come up with an objective conclusion." "We will not play into

the dangerous trap of voting to heighten tension," he said. The party had earlier zoned the slot to the North-Central before it cleared the air that a decision was yet to be taken. The development has fuelled a series of intrigues and speculations with cleavages and blocs re-emerging in the party. The former Kwara governor's support base, however, swelled with two Senate-bound governors, Aliyu Wamakko and Godswill Akpabio of Sokoto and Akwa Ibom states respectively throwing their weight behind him. They attended a meeting of the Saraki group at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja alongside Senators Ali Ndume, Danjuma Goje, Binta Garba, Andy Ubah, Sam Egwu and Shehu Sani, among others. A senator-elect from Kogi State, Dino Melaye who chaired the meeting, told New Telegraph that

the senators resolved "to produce a Senate president that is made by senators and no matter how one looks at it, Saraki has the capacity and capability to stabilise and hold the Senate together." Former Governor of Lagos State and APC national leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, had thrown his weight behind Senator George Akume before switching to Lawan for the Senate president's job. But the source said it was obvious that the party was likely going to have a crisis to manage the outcome of an outright election on the floor of the Senate. According to him, even though the party can claim that nothing has been done in respect of the zoning of principal offices, it has become a subject of controversy due to "a slip" three weeks ago. "Yes, we can claim that we have not zoned; yet it CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, May 14, 2015

SPECIALonREPORT The 8th Senate’s Fresh Generation Godswill Akpabio

Aliyu Wamakko

Jonah David Jang

Stella Adaeze Oduah

Samuel Egwu

Rabiu Kwankwaso

Theodore Orji

Mao Ohuabunwa

Uche Lilian Ekwunife

Buruji Kashamu

Jeremiah Useni

Abubakar Kyari

Ben Murray Bruce

Peter Nwaoboshi

Biodun Olujimi

Dino Melaye

Monsurat Sunmonu

Bayero Usman Nafada

Bala ibn Na’Allah

Isiaka A. Adeleke

Abubakar Danladi

Adeola Olamilekan

Binta Masi Garba

Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim

Mustapha Bukar

Duro Samuel Faseyi

Fatimat O. Raji-Rasaki

Shehu Sani

Mustapha Bukar

Philip Aruwa I Gyunka

Buhari Abdulfatai

Suleiman O. Hunkuyi

Osinakachukwu Ideozu

Danjuma La’ah

Bassey Albert Akpan

Olanrewaju Tejuoso

Mohammed A. Ohiare

Nelson Asuquo Effiong

Achonu A. Nneji

Sabo Mohammed

David Umaru

Umaru Ibrahim Kurfi

Barau I Jibrin

Nnaemeka Anyanwu

Clifford A. Ordia

John Enoh Owan

Mathew A. Urhoghide

Utazi Godfrey Chukwuka

Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi

Gbolahan Dada

Abdul-Aziz M. Nyako

Francis A. Alimikhena

Olaka Johnson Nwogu

Ogba Joseph Obinna

Tijjani Yahaya Kaura

Donald Alasoadura

Rose Okoji Oko

Yele Omogunwa

Ogola Foster

Gershom H. Bassey

Suleiman M. Nazif

Malam Ali Wakili

Abdullahi A. Gumel

Marafa Bashir Abba

Yahaya Abdullahi

Abdulrahman Abubakar

Salihu Hussain Egye

Mohammed Garba

Ighoyota Amori

Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi

Ahmadu Abubakar

Mohammed Hasan

Isah Hamma Misau

Ibrahim Abdullahi

Muhammad Ubali Shitu

On June 4, 2015, the eighth Senate of the National Assembly will be inaugurated. Of the 109 Senators who will be taking their seats, 75, representing 68 per cent will be fresh in the upper chamber. Who are these fresh Senators? What are their backgrounds and antecedents? What quality of debate and contributions are we likely to see from them? These and more will be the kernel of a special report by New Telegraph on that day. The report presents a unique opportunity for family, friends and associates of these fresh Senators to felicitate with them. For enquiries and participation: Call Biodun: 0802-301-5582, Taiwo: 0803-304-2915, Onwuka: 0803-733-9843, David: 0810-759-1663

Travel Advisory

THURSDAY, May 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

International Flight Schedule Air France

Destination Abuja- Paris Paris-Lagos Paris-PHC PHC-Paris Paris –Abuja Lagos –Paris

Flight No. AF 513 AF 3822 AF514 AF513 AF514 AF3849

Departure 23.55hrs 10.55hrs 11:00hrs 21:20hrs 11:00hrs 23:55hrs

Arrival 6:05hrs 17:15hrs 19:15hrs 6:05hrs 17:00hrs 6:20hrs

Amsterdam-Lagos Lagos-Amsterdam

KL587 KL588

13:15hrs 23:05hrs

20:00hrs 05:50hrs

KLM

ARIK AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos Lagos-New York

W3 101 W3 102 W3 107 (Mon, Wed , Fri) New York-Lagos W3 108 (Tues,Thurs, Fri) Lagos-Johannesburg W3 103 Johannesburg-Lagos W3 104 Lagos-Douala - (Tues, Wed ,Thur) Douala-Lagos - (Tues, Wed, Thur) Lagos-Accra Accra-Lagos

Abuja-Accra Accra-Abuja Lagos-Freetown Freetown-Lagos Lagos-Banjul Banjul-Lagos Lagos-Dakar Dakar-Lagos

-(Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun) -(Mon, Wed, Fri) -(Daily) - (Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri,Sat) -(Tue,Wed, Fri,Sat,Sun)

BRITISH AIRWAYS

London-Lagos Lagos-London Abuja-London Abuja-London

07:00hrs 20:05hrs 20:10hrs 11:45hrs

Lagos-Cairo Cairo-Lagos

MS 876 MS 875

14:25hrs 08:30hrs

22:20hrs 13:30hrs

EGYPT AIR

KENYA AIRWAYS

16:00hrs

Lagos-Kigali

11:15hrs

16:45hrs

10:45hrs 09:35hrs 11:10hrs 13:25hrs 07:20hrs 17:00hrs 08:05hrs 13:35hrs 18:00hrs

hrs 14:44hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

AWB 201 (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun) AWB 202 (Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun)

14:00hrs

17:30hrs

22:35hrs 15:10hrs

06:00hrs 21:20hrs

17:00hrs 06:00hrs 08:00hrs 17:00hrs 08:00hrs 15:20hrs 21:00hrs

hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

01:00hrs

hrs

3:00hrs 14:00hrs

8:00hrs 19:00hrs

EK 7821 (Sun-Sat) EK 7822 EK 7831 EK 7811 EK 761

21:30hrs 14:40hrs 07:35hrs 14:20hrs 23:55hrs

07:40hrs 01:05hrs 12:50hrs 19:45hrs 10:30hrs

Lagos-Doha Flight Doha-Lagos Flight

QR 1414 (daily) QR 1415

14:55hrs 07:20hrs

23:45hrs 13:35hrs

Lagos-Atlanta Atlanta-Lagos

DL053 DL 054

22:15hrs 5:15hrs

05:32hrs 16:15hrs

Lagos-Houston Houston-Lagos

UA 143 UA 142

10:10hrs 19:10hrs

6:05hrs 15.15hrs

Lagos - Addis Ababa ET900 Addis Ababa - Lagos ET901 Abuja - Addis Ababa ET910 Addis Ababa - Abuja ET911 Enugu - Addis Ababa ET930 Addis Ababa - Enugu ET931 Kano - Addis Ababa ET930 Addis Ababa - Kano ET931

13:15hrs 09:00hrs 13:40hrs 09:40hrs 12:00hrs 09:20hrs 14:05hrs 09:20hrs

20:25hrs 12:15hr 20:10hrs 12:20hrs 20:50hrs 11:15hrs 20:50hrs 13:20hrs

Lagos-Madrid Madrid-Lagos

IB 3337 IB 3336

22:55hrs 16:00hrs

5:25+1hrs 20:20hrs

Lagos-Casablanca Casablanca-Lagos

AT738 AT 737

06:25hrs 02:15hrs

09:55hrs 6:00hrs

air maroc

20.45hrs 09:50hrs 09.20 hrs 06:30hrs

12:30hrs

Lagos-Dubai Lagos-Dubai Dubai-Lagos Dubai-Lagos Abuja-Dubai

IBERIA

Abu Dhabi-Lagos

EY 0672 (Sunday) (Monday) (Saturday) EY 955

19:35hrs 23:45hrs

MEA 571 MEA 572

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES

Lagos- Abu Dhabi

ETIHAD AIRWAYS

12:30hrs 18:00hrs

to Lagos)

UNITED AIRLINES

17:00hrs 4:40hrs

KQ 533 KQ 534

11:55hrs 5:50hrs 14:35hrs 06:00hrs

DELTA AIRLINES

11:00hrs 22:40hrs

Lagos-Nairobi Nairobi-Lagos

17:55hrs 00:00hrs 09:00hrs 22:40hrs

QATAR AIRWAYS

VS 652 VS 651

18:30hrs 05:15hrs 05:30hrs

BA075 BA074 BA 082 BA 083

EMIRATES AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos

12:00hrs 21:30hrs 23:50hrs

Middle East Airlines (Two flights weekly (Tues & Friday)

Lebanon-Lagos Lagos-Lebanon

VIRGIN ATLANTIC

RwandAir

Kigali-Lagos

Turkish Airlines

Lagos-Istanbul Nairobi-Lagos

332 333

Air Côte d'Ivoire Lagos to Abidjan Abidjan to Lagos

HF 851 (Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun) HF 852 (Mon,Wed, Thurs, Sat)

ASKY AIRLINES

Destination Lome to Abuja Abuja-Lome- Kinshasa Kinshasa-Abuja Abuja-Lome Lome-Lagos Lagos-Libreville Libreville-Kinshasa Kinshasa-Libreville Libreville-Lagos Lagos-Lome Lome-Lagos Lagos-Libreville Libreville-Brazaville Brazaville-Libreville Brazzaville-Lagos Lagos-Lome

10:10hrs

10:50hrs

19:20hrs

21.50hrs

Flight No. KP 032 (Tue-Fri) KP 032 ( Tue-Fri)

Departure Arrival 14:00hrs 15:55hrs 16:30hrs 18:15hrs

KP 033 (Wed-Sat) KP O33 (Wed-Sat) KP O40 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP O44 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP O45 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat)

8:20hrs 10:35hrs 13:00hr 14:40hrs 17:00hrs 7:15hrs 9:35hrs 11:55hrs 13:10hrs 14:50hrs 17:10hrs 07:00hrs 09:20hrs 11:40hrs

10:00hrs 12:20hrs 14:00hrs 16:30hrs 18:45hrs 08:55hrs 11:25hrs 12:45hrs 14:10hrs 16:40hrs 18:50hrs 08:40hrs 11:10hrs 12:30hrs

Local FLIGHT SCHEDULE ARIK AIR

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:00; 09:00; 11:00 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00; 20:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 09:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 (SAT) 07:00; 11:00; 15:00 (SUN) 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 09:00; 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 (SAT) 07:30; 11:30; 09:00; 13:00; 17:00 (SUN) 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 ABUJA-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30; 16:50 (SAT/SUN) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30 PORT-HARCOURT-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10; 18:30 (SAT/SUN) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10

AZMAN FLIGHT SCHEDULE

WEEKLY SCHEDULE Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 12:40pm

Lagos-Abuja/Kano 4:00pm Abuja-Kano 5:45pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kan 10:10am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 12:40pm Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm WEEKEND SCHEDULE SATURDAY Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Sunday Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 10:30am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 1:20pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm

FIRST NATION AIRWAYS

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06.50; 09:30; 11:45; 16:00 (SAT) 06:50; 11:45 (SUN) 11:45; 16:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 11:30; 13:40;18:30 (SAT) 09:00; 13:40 (SUN) 13:40; 18:30 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 14:45

(SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50

AEROCONTRACTORS

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30

MEDVIEW AIRLINES

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30

OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS-ILORIN (MON-FRI) 07:15 LAGOS-IBADAN (MON-FRI) 7:00 IBADAN-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:00 IBADAN-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:30 ILORIN –ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30 ILORIN –LAGOS (MON-FRI) 17:00 ABUJA-ASABA (MON-FRI) 10:00 ASABA-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 14:15 ASABA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 11:30 LAGOS-ASABA (MON-FRI) 13:00 ABUJA-ILORIN 16:00 ABUJA-IBADAN 15:00

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, May 14, 2015

DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE NIGERIA

NDIC Building (1st Floor), Plot 447/448 Constitution Avenue, Central Business District, P.M.B. 532, Garki, Abuja Website: www.dmo.gov.ng, E-mail: enquires@dmo.gov.ng

REJOINDER DAILY TRUST ANALYSIS OF DEBT PROFILE MISLEADING The Debt Management Office routinely briefs stakeholders and the general public on pertinent issues relating to public debt management. In this context, we have noted some newspaper publications such as the one on the front page of Daily Trust of May 11, 2015 titled, “Nigeria’s debt rises by $18bn in 4 years”. The connotation of the headline could wrongly suggest that there was something peculiar with the growth of public borrowing during that period. This is misleading the public. Accordingly, it is necessary to: (a) compare the growth rate of public debt during 2011-2014 with those of previous periods: 2004-2007 and, 2008-2011. (b) Understand the relative contexts of the three periods being compared.

Indeed, on a more comparative basis, 2011 – 2014 happens to be the 4-year period among the three, which has the lowest increase in public borrowing. This is in spite of the fact that it was subjected to the impact of the high level of domestic borrowing caused by two special domestic and global developments in the previous period – the 2010 wage increase and the 2008-2010 global economic and financial crisis, which the period 2004 – 2007, in particular, was free from. The Claim in the Publication that “Current debt profile higher than it was before Nigeria secured debt relief from Paris Club”

While the Federal Government’s debt stock has grown, a comparison with the figures before the exit from the Paris Club should not be on absolute figures alone. The size of the GDP and the structure of the debt must also be taken into consideration. The GDP was N11.8 trillion in 2004 but N89.0 trillion in 2014; relatively, in net present value terms, the Debt-GDP ratio was 51.6% in 2004 but 12.6% in 2014, which indicates a much better sustainability condition. While external debt accounted for 77% of the debt stock, the domestic debt represented 23% of the stock in 2004. The comparative ratios as at the end of March 2015 were external: 18% and domestic: 82%. The reduction in the proportion of external debt has reduced the It is evident, that contrary to the insinuation of the media, 2011-2014 experienced the lowest Government’s currency risk, which should be appreciated at this time when the Naira has growth in public debt among the three periods. been depreciating against major currencies. The Government has also, through domestic (b) Moreover, it is necessary to understand the context of the three periods being compared: borrowing, developed the domestic capital market to create an avenue for the private sector i. A most important observation is that unlike the other two periods, 2011 – 2014 to access long-term finance. includes the domestic debts of States and the FCT. The domestic debt data of States were not included in 2004-2007 and 2008-2011 because they were not The Daily Trust quoted an anonymous Harvard trained economist making remarks on high then available. It is a credit to the Government during the period that the long- interest rate paid on government securities, the high yields earned by banks in the securities standing problem of lack of accurate knowledge and records of what States owed market, use of borrowed funds to fund salary and overheads and the assertion that “No serious country gives such high interest rate on securities except Nigeria”. domestically was solved. ii. The period, 2008 – 2011 was impacted by two major developments: It is necessary to clarify that interest rates are not given out by government: they are a. In 2010 there was a general wage increase (53.7% average increase) for all determined by market realities. It is not useful to remark on interest rates on securities categories of public servants, including political appointees. The funding of without linking them to the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) and the rate of inflation. Such a this depended largely on increased domestic borrowing. fragmented analysis by the Harvard expert is misleading and dangerous. A comparison b. The global economic and financial crisis (2008-2010) occurred within the of interest rates should be based on economies with similar characteristics and level of same period. All economies engaged in counter-cyclical public spending, development. Comparing interest rates in Nigeria with rates in countries such as the United using what was popularly referred to as stimulus package. In Nigeria, States or the United Kingdom would be inappropriate. A sampling of the current rates on the the Government was able to effectively play this role by borrowing from a 10-year Bonds of the following countries shows: Nigeria – 13.72%; South Africa – 8.09%; domestic bond market, which to the country’s credit, had been developed Brazil – 12.69% Kenya – 12.59%; and, Uganda -17.190. Ghana does not presently have a as an alternative source of funding after the exit from the Paris and London 10-year local currency bond, its 5 and 7 years Government bonds have coupons with rates Clubs debts in 2005 to 2006. as high as 18% and 26%. The impact of the spike in the domestic debt stock resulting from the two developments described above has remained a major factor in the high level of public domestic debt stock, The increase in the domestic debt stock was due principally to the financing of the deficits as appropriated in the annual budgets. The budgets include both capital and recurrent not only of that period but also of the later period, 2011 – 2014. In view of the above, it is worthy of commendation that during 2011-2014, in spite of the expenditure, thus, the deficit cannot be attributed to a single item in the budget. The exceptional pressures, the growth rate of the debt stock was even lower than during the Government’s borrowing also increased due to the need for additional spending by the Government to provide a stimulus package for the economy between 2008 and 2010 other periods. as a countercyclical measure at the time of the global economic and financial crisis. This Further, to make 2011 – 2014 more comparable with the other periods, it is necessary to use intervention limited the effect of the crisis on the Nigerian economy and prevented a recession. data that excludes States and FCT domestic debt data, since the data were not even available Moreover, the criticism of reliance on borrowing to fund the wage bill should be tied to the size of the public sector wage bill resulting from the 2010 general wage increase of more than 53%. during the other two periods. This is the essence of Table II.

(a) The comparative debt stock growth rate is shown Table I TABLE I Period Growth of Public Debt Stock 2004-2007 USD24.0 billion 2008-2011 USD20.1 billion 2011-2014 USD18.3 billion

The resulting comparative public debt growth data are as follows: TABLE II Period Growth of Public Debt Stock 2004-2007 USD24.0 billion 2008-2011 USD20.1 billion 2011-2014 USD15.2 billion

In the case of external borrowing, which are mostly from the multilateral financial institutions, the utilization of the proceeds are tied to projects – in power, agriculture, health, education – and other infrastructure and human development projects. In view of the foregoing, the expert economist’s blame on the “Finance Ministry’s Poor Planning and reliance on bonds………” is misplaced and mischievous. For the avoidance of doubt, all public sector borrowings are done in accordance with the mandate of the National Assembly via the Appropriation Act.

News

THURSDAY, May 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari to take over petroleum ministry Donald Ojogo Abuja

arring any last minute change in plans, the President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, will personally oversee the Ministry of Petroleum, as he is considering not appointing a minister to supervise the ministry. Rather than having a Petroleum Minister, sources told New Telegraph that the former military head of state who once supervised the Ministry of Petroleum Resources as well as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in the 1970s, will appoint a special adviser on power and energy, who will report to him. It could not be immediately confirmed if the incoming president was also considering same option for the beleaguered power sector. If he sees through his plan, Buhari will be following in the footstep of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who directly supervised the Ministry of Petroleum Resources for about seven years. He relinquished the

position in January 2007 when, in a cabinet reshuffle, he elevated the then Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Edmund Daukoru, to head the newly-created Ministry of Energy, formed from the merger of Ministry of Petroleum Resources as well as Ministry of Power and Steel. One of the sources said Buhari was considering the idea of not appointing a minister for the Ministry of Petroleum as part of efforts to clean the rot in the ministry. The source said: ''This is part of the immediate plans General Buhari has mapped out to tackle the rot in the oil sector and it is likely to remain as long as the industry remains mysterious and shrouded in secrecy." The source said the incoming president met with experts in the petroleum industry shortly after his victory at the poll with a view to forming a holistic approach to tackle the industry, especially

in the face of dwindling oil prices in the international market. “There are obviously going to be very drastic changes, especially in the oil sector where its dealings and operations, particularly earnings, have been shrouded in secrecy for many years. “From what is on the ground, the latest thinking is that the Presidentelect is most likely going to personally supervise the Petroleum Ministry; that means that there might not be a substantive petroleum minister, but a presidential adviser on energy and power who will report to directly to the president. “You know this was the case at a point in the life of the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo until towards the end of that government; and I think that will go a long way in sanitizing that sector, especially with the man (Buhari) in charge and not the minister," the

source added. Another source, a member of the President-elect’s various team towards the May 29 takeover of government, said it could not be ruled out. “That cannot be ruled out. You know the President-elect is passionate about the oil sector because of the way it is being run. I know he said severally that he would not take chances in the petroleum sector. “I remember a time he said he would not play games with the oil sector and that he should be held responsible if the sector remains the same way it is six months after May 29. I would not know whether his plans are in the direction of what you are asking,” he said. Regardless, New Telegraph gathered that immediately after his victory, Buhari held a series of meetings with experts in the industry with a view to having further insight into the sector. The President-elect

was said to have first met with Obasanjo, then former Minister of Petroleum, Professor Tam David-West as well as Daukoru, now the traditional ruler of Nembe Kingdom. Daukoru is the political godfather of former Governor of the Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, who is co-chairman of the Inauguration Committee on the side of Buhari. According to findings, the aggregate of the views expressed by those he consulted might have informed Buhari’s decision not to appoint a substantive minister for the petroleum sector. “I think in the course of his consultations, there was a consensus that the powers given to the minister under the Petroleum Act were too enormous and could be abused if not checked. You know, apart from the president of Nigeria, the powers vested in the Minister of Petroleum are

so much that a minister with bad intentions, can cripple the economy of this country,” one of the sources stated. The Petroleum Act vests the minister with the powers to co-ordinate the activities of the petroleum industry and exercise general supervision over all operations and all institutions in the industry. The minister, among others, is also responsible for the formulation, determination and monitoring of government policy for the petroleum industry in Nigeria; negotiate and execute international petroleum treaties and agreements with other sovereign countries, international organisations and other similar bodies on behalf of the government and upon the advice of the inspectorate, grant, amend, renew, extend or revoke upstream petroleum licences and leases pursuant to the provisions of the Act.

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

ABUJA

PORT HARCOURT

KANO

ENUGU

IBADAN

CALABAR

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

30oC 26oC Storm

35o C 25oC Thunder Storms

23oC 19oC Storm

38oC 27oC Partially Cloudy

30oC 24oC Storm

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22oC 17oC Heavy Rain

31oC 24oC Storm

L-R: Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc, Mr. Ekanem Kufre; Managing Director, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde; Chairman, Chief Kolawole Jamodu and Company/Legal Adviser, Mr. Uaboi Agbebaku, at the company’s 69th Annual General Meeting in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Fireworks as Reps consider Petroleum Industry Bill CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

clauses from section 1 were taken as members questioned the validity of some clauses relative to provisions of the constitution. First to raise objection to the report was Deputy House Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor, who faulted clause 2, which deals with ownership of resources. He said: ''An Act of the National Assembly must not be subjected to addition or subtraction from the view expressed by the constitution regarding protection of terri-

torial waters of Nigeria and mineral resources therein.'' He added that the provision of the clause was a duplication of the constitution and should be deleted. This was upheld by Deputy Speaker in chair, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, who called on Chairman of the Rules and Business Committee, Hon. Albert Sam-Tsokwa (PDP, Taraba), for a second opinion. Sam-Tsokwa held that the clause could not stand due to its inconsistency with a provision of the

constitution, which he said had already taken care of the subject matter. But House Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, who took his originally allotted seat in the chamber to participate in the proceedings, countered the views expressed by both Ogor and SamTsokwa. Tambuwal said: "I was expecting Sam-Tsokwa to show the contradiction as to where and how the clause runs contrary to the constitution; but he did not do that which confirms that it does not

in any way contradict the constitution." In his contribution, Chairman, House Committee on Justice, Hon. Ali Ahmad (APC, Kwara), said ownership with respect to mineral resources could not be said to be a blanket under which petroleum resources found in certain communities with attendant negative effects should be classified since it is not only in deep sea that the resources are explored. The clause was suspended following Ihedioha's advice that com-

mittee members meet with those who have issues with the clause and straighten out areas of disagreement in consultation with the constitutional provision. Another fault line was Clause 6, which deals with the powers of the Petroleum Minister to chair boards of agencies under the ministry and make recommendations to the president on issues of appointments, as well as perform inspectorate functions. While some members CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

News

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, May 14, 2015

Constitution amendment: Senate drops bid to override Jonathan's veto lGoes to court to challenge Supreme Court order

Chukwu David Abuja

he Senate yesterday rose from a two-hour closed door session to back out of its earlier plan to override President Goodluck Jonathan's veto on the Fourth Alteration Bill 2015 to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). The Senate, however, after rescinding its decision, warned the executive not to take the legislative arm of government for granted by doing things that would undermine the independence, integrity and constitutional powers and responsibilities of the

lawmaking body. The upper chamber also said that it would challenge the ex parte order granted by the Supreme Court, restraining the National Assembly from carrying out further action on the constitution amendment until the determination of the case filed by the Federal Government. The Senate had planned to commence a process of overriding the President's veto on Tuesday May 12, by enlisting the Bill in the Senate's Order Paper but later stood it down to be taken on another legislative day. No explanation was given for the action. However, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu,

while presiding over the session on Tuesday, announced that the Senate would hold an executive session at the National Assembly yesterday to deliberate on the issue of constitution amendment to be able to make informed decision on the matter. Speaking after the closed door session yesterday, Senate President David Mark said that the lawmakers would abide by the Supreme Court order on the amendments to the constitution. Mark noted that the Senate, being a reputable legislative house, resolved not to do anything that would impact negatively on the democracy and the people of Nigeria. Therefore, he said, He,

however, cautioned the executive not to take the National Assembly for granted in the process of governance. Mark said: "As we finished our discussion, I think it is proper for me because of the importance of the issue, make a very simple, straight forward, unambiguous statement. We are lawmakers and we will not be lawbreakers. We are not just lawmakers, we are very senior responsible citizens and very senior lawmakers and this is the apex of lawmaking in this country. "Therefore, on the issue of the current constitution review that is before the Supreme Court, we want to assure Nigerians that we will not break any law

APC NWC backs ex-Kwara gov as Buhari prefers Yobe senator CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

is now an issue that has generated controversy because there was a slip from somewhere three weeks ago that the Senate presidency has been zoned to the North-Central. Since then, a lot has changed to the extent that intrigues have started creeping in. "Whether we like it or not, things are beginning to unfold and we are already seeing who is most likely to emerge if it is zoned in a particular way; but again, what if it is not zoned in a particular way, where we think it should go? "But by and large, election of the Senate president is the business of the senators and the party, even though is su-

preme, must at this point be careful in its intervention, particularly having in mind what the PDP experienced in 2011. "So we have decided to lie low on the issue of zoning. We will merely adopt a strategy whereby a careful assessment of the entire situation will be done to know who among the senators has the majority so that we can engage in a consensus arrangement whereby no election will take place on the floor of the Senate. "By so doing, we would have avoided a situation whereby egos are deflated, feathers ruffled and acrimony coming in. We can't manage such a situation till 2019 if that happens. We want to en-

sure that all leaders are carried along in the process so no one will claim he or she puts someone there as Senate president or someone has been demystified. I can assure you that such a situation will not happen in our party," he said. It could not be confirmed if the latest move by the party leadership followed last week's meeting of the APC governors and the President-elect; but a governor who attended the meeting told reporters that the decision of the party was in the right direction. "Whether or not we like it, the most popular candidate in the race is from the North-Central. I may not know who, but that was what we told the

Fireworks as Reps consider PIB CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

argued that the powers of the minister are too enormous under the provision and must be cut down, others said the powers should remain to enable the minister to exercise inspectorate oversight over the industry since the president, as a politician, may not be conversant with the technicalities of the sector and should not be burdened with responsibilities he can delegate. It was at this point that Ihedioha said: "Allowing the president to assume the inspectorate role of the ministry is whittling down his status and reducing him to

performing the role of appointees, which will not be justifiable." The clause was eventually passed following a question for voice votes, which adopted its provision upon an amendment. Another contentious area was Clause 7 which also came under question given its alleged contradiction of Section 305 of the constitution because it deals with matters of state of emergency in the oil sector with powers vested in the minister to suggest or advise the president on the need to declare same in the event of an industrial crisis. Deputy Minority

Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and Hon. Ayo Omidiran also questioned the rationale behind a law that would take the powers of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to counsel the president on emergency issue of security implication and vest same on a cabinet minister, saying that emergency is devoid of all connotations except national security. With that, the session ended as Sam-Tsokwa called for an adjournment to allow the ad hoc committee remedy contentious areas identified. The motion was carried by a voice vote with further consideration adjourned till today.

President-elect last week that he should support the Senate president to go to the North-Central zone," the governor said.

in this country. We will take appropriate action that will ensure that democracy survives but I will also want to warn that we should not be taken for granted by the executive; but once more let me assure Nigerians that as lawmakers, we will not be lawbreakers." Briefing newsmen after plenary, the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, said that the action of the executive on the amendments to the constitution was done in bad faith. He noted that the National Assembly would challenge the matter in court as quickly as possible. "We have legal option and the legal option is to vigorously challenge the order of the court which was made ex parte; it was made without us being put on notice. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I believe we can get the court to quickly determine that and we intend to pursue that option. We should expect this legal challenge as soon as possible."

He expressed concern that the executive had all the opportunities to raise observations or make contributions to the amendments at the level of public hearings conducted in the six geo-political zones of the country, lamenting that the National Assembly was practically ambushed on the matter. "The hearings were open to the public at large including members of the executive; the executive was very strongly represented. It is at those hearings that you are supposed to highlight your reservations or your concerns about each of the amendments. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They did not use any of those opportunities provided by each of these public hearings only for us at this point when the Houses of Assembly had passed the amendments and we are to conclude that we are suddenly confronted with this ambush. We think it is in bad faith and it is regrettable.â&#x20AC;?

WANTED URGENTLY Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited, publishers of New Telegraph, Saturday Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, requires the services of: Copy Editors: Must be graduates of English Language with a minimum of Bachelor's Degree (Second Class Upper). Applicants must have calm personality; be good writers with eyes for details and must be able to infuse life into 'dead' copies. He/she must have at least eight years post-qualification experience either in the media or the publishing industry. Legal Officer: with LLB (minimum of Second Class Lower). Should possess at least 4 years post-call experience. Must be able to provide assistance in preparing, drafting and vetting all agreements as well as rendering accurate legal opinion. Eligible applicants should submit their applications within two weeks to: Head, Administration Department, 1A, Ajimobi Street, off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos or newjobstoday2015@gmail.com

News

thursday, may 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

national

Court evicts Nwobodo from Abuja home Tunde Oyesina Abuja

L-R: Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil; Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Taminu Turaki and Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, during the Federal Executive Council meeting, in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

We have confidence in Buhari —Blair

Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

or mer Prime Minister of Britain, Tony Blair, yesterday stated that the international community has confidence in the PresidentElect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and his vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. Blair, who visited Buhari at the Defence House in Abuja, also stated that Nigeria would be better if she confronted her challenges the way she confronted the general elections. Speaking to journalists after his meeting with the President-elect,

Blair praised Nigeria, stating that she has earned world respect with the success of the elections. He said, "In the last few weeks, Nigeria has earned respect throughout the whole world. "There is enormous support for Nigeria now in the international community. The support takes into consideration the challenges that lie ahead and there is great confidence in the country. This is an election which took place in a way which the country showed the majority of democracies the spirit and character of its people and in the President-elect and Vice President-elect. It is a

Court summons DMO boss, Nwankwo, others over contempt Akeem Nafiu

ustice Mohammed Yunusa of a Federal High in Lagos has summoned the Director General of the Debt Management Office, Abraham Nwankwo, to appear in court on Monday. He is to appear over a contempt proceeding brought against him by Ecobank Nigeria Limited for alleged disobedience to court's order. The bank had accused him of frustrating its effort to recover an alleged debt of about N12bn from an oil marketing firm, First Deepwater Discovery Limited. Also cited for contempt and summoned by the court is the DMO's officer directly in charge of processing fuel subsidy claims by oil marketers, Umaru Abubakar. The judge made the

summon order on the duo at yesterday's proceedings after questioning their representation in court by a private lawyer, S.E. Omoraghon. Justice Yunusa noted that for any private legal practitioner to represent an official of a public parastatal like the DMO, the fiat of the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), must first be obtained. Yunusa, consequently, ordered that an officer from the office of the AGF must also appear in court on May 18. During yesterday's proceedings, Ecobank's lawyer, Kunle Ogunba (SAN), noted that DMO was again not represented in court, just as it was during the previous hearing.

leadership that I know is determined to do its best for the country. Obviously, the future and destiny of Nigeria lies in the hand of its people. I just want to say to the President-elect that there is tremendous support for you and the country at this moment and all of us, in whatever way we can, stand ready to support you and help you. It is a moment of great challenges which bothers on the life of the people, as well as their security and so on. If the same spirit and character that define the election can be taken through these coming

years to address the challenges, I think we can all have great confidence in the times ahead. Buhari, in his response thanked the International community for their assistance during the elections. He said: "We had a meeting and discussed how Britain and the United States were helping us in making sure that we conducted ourselves according to our constitution. "The fact that it has been so successful is a major relief for us and to all people of conscience throughout the world. "I thank the former British Prime Minister for his concern for Nigeria and Nigerians, in what he is prepared to do by continuing to help us as a country and as a people".

Kalu, Mark, Obiano mourn Azikiwe

ormer Governor of Abia State and businessman, Dr. Orji Kalu and Senate President, Senator David mark, yesterday condoled with the family of Nigeria’s first President, Dr, Nnamdi Azikiwe, over the demise of Owelle of Onitsha and first son of the late President, Chief Chukwuma Bamidele Azikiwe, who died on May 10. While the former governor said the deceased was a strong advocate of justice, fairness and equity irrespective of tribe, religion, political and economic divides, the Senate President said the deceased was a distinguished diplomat, who served his country with dignity. Also yesterday, the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, commiserated with the Azikiwe family, saying he was shocked when

he learnt of the demise of Azikiwe, who he described as a political leader in his own right. Kalu, in a condolence message signed by his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi, yesterday, said: “It is with a heavy heart and pain that I write to sympathise with the entire Zik family over the demise of Chief Chukwuma Azikiwe." “Above all, he institutionalised a good legacy worthy of emulation. It is my prayer that God Almighty will give the Zik family the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss and grant the deceased eternal rest.” Condoling with the Azikiwe family, the government and people of Anambra State, Mark said the late Chukwuma lived exemplarily by sustaining the legacies of his late father through selfless services.

n Abuja High Court has ordered a former Governor of Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo to vacate a mansion he is living in highbrow Maitama District in Abuja and relinquish the property to the owner, Adin-Miles International Limited. The eviction order was sequel to the refusal of Nwobodo to pay his rent and deliver vacant possession at the expiration of his tenancy. The said property is a six bedroom mansion with one bedroom guest chalet and two rooms’ boys quarters situate at 24 Ona Crescent, Plot 768 Cadastral Zone A5, Maitama Abuja. The trial judge, Justice

S.B. Belgore, in a judgement delivered on March 3, a copy of which was obtained by New Telegraph yesterday, also ordered Nwobodo to pay N11 million as arrears of the rent on the premises from June 1, 2009 to May 31, 2011. In the course of the trial, the court found as a fact that the plaintiff company sometime in 2008 bought the property from one Alhaji Al-Mustapha Abubakar, who had earlier leased the property to Nwobodo. At the trial, Nwobodo counter claimed that while the property was on offer for sale, he expressed intention to purchase it, but did not make any payment because the Plaintiff induced his landlord to sell the property to it and consequently, the landlord sold the house to the plaintiff.

Fashola vows to reclaim Lagos' land sold by FG Muritala Ayinla

arely 14 days to the expiration of his administration, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, yesterday vowed to take over all the state's lands allegedly sold by the Federal Government to some individuals. Fashola said it was unfortunate that the apex government illegally ventured into lands matters and sold all the lands acquired for public use in the state to private individuals, saying that he would ensure all the lands are reclaimed as long as he lives. He said: "I think that we have received the short end of the stick as a people (residents of Lagos). La-

gos is one of the many few states that are bounded by lagoon and ocean on the side. But yet that is the place (Lagos) that I think that we have been most treated unfairly by the central government. "The central government took over Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS in Lagos Island axis of the state, of which it is a manager and not landlord. It belongs to Lagos. It was originally crown land. It was given to the central government to manage. And it is alarming that the manager has started selling the land left in its care. "And I have told all those that they sold them to that they bought nothing. The seller has no document to offer."

FEC okays N31bn road projects for Niger Delta Anule Emmanuel

he Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved road contracts worth N30.8billion for different states of the Niger Delta region. Minister of Information, Patricia Akwashiki, who was joined by the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro; Minister of State Industry Trade and Investment, Kenneth Kobani; Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Steve Oru, disclosed this while briefing state house correspondents on the outcome of FEC meeting. The contracts include

the construction of ZaraOkodia-Iseni road in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. It also covers the construction of AgadagbaAkotokpo-Isaya-Ovia river and bridge in Irele Local Government of Ondo State; the construction of Ofagbe UdezeOzoro road with a spur from Ovwie to Aba road in Isoko North, Isoko South Local Government areas of Delta State and the construction of Amasoma-Egbedi road in Okolouma Okpokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State."

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, May 14, 2015

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro GOD’S FACE A suspected robber says because of the gravity of his crime, he may not be able to see the face of the Lord

Suspects: How we killed policemen, stole N15m in FCMB raid

Taiwo Jimoh and Kemi Oloruntola

suspected armed robber yesterday disclosed how his gang raided First City Monument Bank (FCMB) on Admiralty Way, Lekki, Lagos, on March 12, killing three policemen, a man and a 15-yearold-girl selling fish in the process. The suspect, Ekelemo Kuete, a father of three, said that they 15 of them went for the operation, adding that they accessed Island on water, using speedboats. This is just as another member of the gang said that because his offences were so grievous he could not receive divine forgiveness. But Kuete, who was into oil pipeline vandalism before he took to bank robbery, claimed that he was invited by some of his friends to teach them vandalism, only to be told of the bank robbery. But according to him, he accepted to participate in the robbery because he did not want his children to suffer financially. He said: “It was when I got there that I was told that I would help them to drive the speedboat to the Island. I was promised N50,000. I decided to drive them to the bank. I actually declined, but they threatened to kill me. I did not want to die. I knew they were robbers when they contracted me to use speedboat to convey them through the waterways

DominicAdewole Asaba

he National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended one Tekula Ndor, 19, for being in possession of three pistols. The suspect was ferrying the

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

The suspects

to Lekki. “We were 15 men who went for that operation. We used two speedboats. Five of us stayed back in the boat at Lekki, while 10 went inside the bank.” Kuete recalled that when his members met with them, he and others learnt they had killed policemen and civilians. They were not happy and queried the needless killings. “But they shouted at me. They asked me to sit down and stop querying them. I regretted my action. I only went with them out of fear of being killed. I also did not want my children

to suffer,” he said. Aside from Kuete, other members of the gang presently in police custody are Duke Odogbo, Lawrence Kinsley and Ebi Tosan. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Aderanti, said the robbers went on the rampage immediately they gained access into the banking hall. He said: “They dispossessed members of the staff and customers of their valuables. After the operation, they left five people dead. They killed two civilians and three policemen. The

policemen had engaged them in a gun duel.” The police boss identified the slain policemen as Inspector Bethel Agbobu, Odehohwo George and Imoisiu Ikechukwu. “The two civilians were Sowemimo Kabiru and Sarah Ibikunle. The late 15-year-old Sarah was selling fish around the bank vicinity when the robber stormed the bank. She was hit by a stray bullet,” he added. Aderanti explained that after the incident, he visited the scene and called an emergency meeting. He ordered the

officer in charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos State Police Command, led by Abba Kyari, with a six-man decoy team to begin trailing the bandits. They were trailed to Delta, Ogun and Ondo states. They were also hunted at Ikorodu in Lagos State. According to him, Odogbo, who led the robbery operation, was arrested through the deployment of technological tools. The kingpin was arrested on March 20, at Warri, Delta State. Kuete was picked at Majidun, a suburb of Lagos metropolis, while the other two were arrested at different locations. Odogbo said: “I fired the shot that broke the door into the banking hall. Before we set out for the operation, I was told by our leaders that whenever we got to the bank, I should be the one to lead and open the door for the rest of us to enter into the banking hall. “I was the first person that entered the banking hall. We ordered everybody to lie-face down. We made away with N15 million kept in a ‘Ghana-mustgo’ bag in the vault of the bank. On our way out of the bank, we saw some police officers who were in traffic. We believed they would attack us, so we opened fire on them.” Odogbo said that it was after the gang had left the scene that they heard on the radio that three police officers and two civilians were killed. “We never meant to kill anybody. I regretted my action. God cannot forgive me because I don’t think I can ever see the face of the Lord.”

NDLEA arrests man with three pistols guns from Delta State to his village in Benue State to continuethefesteringcommunal crisis in the locality before nemesis caught up with him. The state NDLEA Commander, Mr Frank Hanachor, who paraded him with five other suspects at the state headquarters of the agency in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area, said the suspect would behandedovertotherelevant security agency for prosecution. The commander said the suspect was caught while his

men were conducting stopand-search to apprehend peddlers of illicit drugs on Asaba-Onitsha Expressway. According to Hanachor, the suspect boarded a commercial vehicle, after hiding the guns inside his bag, and was trying to escape through Onitsha, Anambra State, when his men swooped on him. Tekula, who confessed to the crime but refused to disclose the name of his village, the local government and where he got the weapons from, said he was taking the

exhibits to his village to complete the fight. He denied being a member of the Boko Haram sect and an armed robber. But the suspect described himself as a “freedom fighter” in his village. Hanachor regretted how the activities of hard drug dealers had posed serious danger to the society and condemned female participation in the crime. He said: “We have prosecuted over 20 suspects, including women, in the first quarter of this year.”

Ndor

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015

Fake Tinubu dupes job seekers on Facebook Taiwo Jimoh and Kemi Oloruntola

19-year-old suspected fraudster said he decided to impersonate the former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, on Facebook because he could not get a job after graduation. The suspect, Emmanuel Eto, was arrested after the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Aderanti, received a complaint from one Gbenga Adeyemi, that the man was posing as the former governor on Facebook. Before his arrest, Eto promised some unsuspected people, jobs with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and some other companies. Aderanti said that he directed the officer in-charge of the State Criminal Investigation Bureau (SCIB), to go after the suspect. The officer in-charge of SCIB, Mrs Veronica Amehakpa, led a team of policemen and got the suspect. He was arrested in Warri, Delta State. The suspect said: “When I graduated from the Delta State Polytechnic, Oghara, I could not secure a job. I decided to

Eto

use some influential names in Nigeria to dupe the people through Facebook accounts. I knew many graduates like me were in dire need of jobs. I created a Facebook account of the former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu to dupe people. I gave them my United Bank of Africa (UBA) account number where they paid for application forms and processing fee of N26,850.” Eto confessed to have defrauded three persons since he started the scam. He said that he was about to dupe the

fourth person when nemesis caught up with him. The police said that the fourth person, Adeyemi, said his uncle, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Alhaji Rahmam Akao, called him that somebody had created an account with the name Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Adeyemi said: “My uncle asked me to send a friend request to the impostor. I did and the impostor accepted. Immediately he accepted my friend request. We became friends. We communicated regularly.

Man commits suicide in Ebonyi Uchenna Inya Abakaliki

he residents of Isuokoma Street at the back of Abakaliki High School, Old Enugu Road, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, were shocked yesterday to discover a decomposing body of a middle-aged man dangling on a rope tied to a tree.

The body of the yet-to-beidentified man was found in a busy empty plot which attracted the attention of passers-by and students of Abakaliki High School who gathered in groups to discuss the development. One of them, Kingsley Okeh, said he was attracted to the scene by the crowd which gathered following the discov-

ery of the body. He said: “I was passing and saw a crowd gathered here and saw a decomposing body of a man hanging on a tree with a rope on his neck. It is first of its kind in this area. “Even though the odour is very offensive, people are still trooping into the area to catch a glimpse of the body. I wonder what will make a man to waste

“He sent me a message on Facebook, asking me if I was a graduate or undergraduate. I told him I was a graduate of Accounting. He asked me if I would love to work with NNPC. I said yes. He promised to introduce me to one Emmanuel, who was in charge of the human resource in NNPC.” Adeyemi added that Eto sent him one Emmanuel’s phone number. Eto asked him to call in respect of the NNPC recruitment. When he called the said Emmanuel, the impostor asked him to give him his email address, so that he could send him the recruitment form. The supposed Emmanuel also sent Adeyemi an account number to pay in N26,850 for the form and processing fee. Adeyemi said: “I played along. I told him I was trying to withdraw the money from the Automated Teller Machine (ATM), that my card got stuck in the process. He was finally arrested.” Items recovered from the suspect include six SIM cards of different networks, 13 empty SIM card packs, six photographs of foreigners and one Ipad 3 phone. his life like this.” Another passer-by, Mr Nwankwo Ogbonnaya, expressed shock over the development and called on relevant authorities to investigate the incident. He said: “This type of thing calls for serious investigation. There must be something behind the mysterious death of this man. It is only investigation by the police or any other relevant authority that can prove it is suicide or murder.”

Fuel scarcity entices me to vandalism –Suspect Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

35-year-old man, Aiki Ademola, yesterday told the police in Ibadan, Oyo State he had scooped petroleum product from a vandalised pipeline twice which sold to make money. Ademola said he was caught on his third attempt on Tuesday evening. The suspect was arrested along with two other suspects by the police with 24 drums of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise called fuel loaded in two buses. They were caught at Oluyide village, a boundary community between Ogun and Oyo states. The suspects were apprehended at Oluyide Junction on Odeda-Ogunmakin Road Ogun State. Ademola said he was introduced to the illegal business by an ‘engineer’ simply identified as ‘Koste.’ He was arrested with two drivers of the two buses, Olalekan Omolayo, 36, and Abass Yekini, 40.

The drivers, however, claimed that Ademola contracted them to carry the goods for him. Each of the two buses with registration numbers, OSUN WWD-16XA and LAGOS EKY01XM, was loaded with 12 drums of petrol. Ademola, who claimed to be selling engine oil at Ojoo in Ibadansaid he had on the two previous occasions successfully sold 34 kegs of petrol to the engineer. The suspect said he started selling petrol at the black market because of the fuel scarcity. The man added that he bought each of the kegs for N1,800 from Kotse and resold for N2,500 at the black market. Speaking with journalists, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Katsina, said his men had to move to the scene to take care of the situation owing to the sensitivity of the case. He said: “We have to act on our reliable intelligence to go beyond our boundary in order to take care of the situation. It

City Briefs Foundation empowers 500 people Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Omoba Nbo Foundation, has given cash to about 500 people, among them the physically-challenged, market women, artisans and students in Ogun State. The organisation was founded by a former Chairman of Abeokuta South Local Government Area, Prince Yanju Lipede. At the foundation’s corporate head office in Abeokuta, where the beneficiaries converged, an 18-seater bus was also presented to the state branch of National Youth Council. In his remarks, Lipede said the gesture was in continuation of his humanitarian efforts. The former chairman said the cash gift was to boost the businesses of the traders to be more self-reliant. He noted that many Nigerians were living in abject poverty, hence the need for the organisation to contribute its quota towards the well-being of the downtrodden in the state. Lipede disclosed that the foundation, which would mark its first anniversary next month, had already assisted over 5,000 people, including scholarship awards to indigent students in various tertiary institutions. The prince appealed to the beneficiaries of the empowerment scheme to utilise the funds judiciously. He said: “This empowerment programme is not put in place for political reason. It is all about developing the people. Our country is being confronted with many societal ills as a result of poverty. “At Omoba Nbo Foundation, we believe that this problem can be addressed if we can rise up to the occasion by sharing what we have with the people.”

Fraudster dupes pastors Uchenna Inya Abakaliki

File picture of queue at an NNPC Mega Station in Lagos.

is coordinated effort of my Ambush Squad, the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, Skynet Squad as well as officers and men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). “You may describe these suspects as unrepentant economic sabotage, but I will add one adjective to describe them as glutinous vultures scavenging on our national pride. “You are all aware of the situ-

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

ation we are facing today due to fuel scarcity; this is one of the many areas being punctured by these miscreants to deny members of the public and by extension the Federal Government’s efforts to providing enough fuel for the citizens of this country.” The police chief promised that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) would be contacted to repair all the leaking points.

ne Dr Sabestine Udeh of Ozizza community in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State is now telling the police how his gang duped more than four clerics of millions of naira. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Chris Anyanwu, who confirmed the arrest, said it was made possible following a tip-off from those who had fallen victims to his antics. The PPRO said the police also recovered from the suspect part of the money he fraudulently obtained from his victims. He said: “This suspect operates in a syndicate and he is the kingpin. In the course of our investigation, he took us to Delta State where he committed some part of the money he defrauded from one of the victims, Pastor Kinsley Nnachi. “After full investigation, he will be charged to court.” According to Nnachi, a pastor with the Assemblies of God Church, located at number 5, Onunukwe Street, Abakaliki, Udeh usually operates on the pretence that he was a minister of the church based in Lagos.

12 News

thursday, may 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

national

Lagos goes tough with tanker drivers Muritala Ayinla

he Lagos State Government yesterday issued a 48hour ultimatum to tanker drivers who parked their vehicles within 300 meters to fuel depots in the state to leave Lagos for now pending the availability of fuel for loading. New Telegraph learnt that the order, aimed to ease the pains being inflicted on motorists and commuters, would affect about 6,000 tankers that are parking indiscriminately on major roads leading to Apapa. The government vowed that it would not condone illegal and indiscriminate parking by the drivers, which has led to the loss of man-hour and resources. It ordered the drivers to vacate the roads or face the consequences. The directive was fallout of an emergency meeting between the Lagos State Government, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Petroleum Tankers Drivers, (PTD), NARTO and other unions, held in Ikeja. Speaking after the meeting with all the stakeholders whose activities are directly or indirectly contributing to the gridlock on the axis, Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, said such

l Give 48-hour deadline to vacate roads

indiscriminate parking violated the Lagos Traffic Law. The commissioner, who described the parking of hundreds of tankers, mostly on the bridges, highways and inner city roads as unbearable, said residents now spend about six hours for a journey of 25 minutes. He said: "You can imagine that those who live in Lekki and other areas in the state now spend between six to seven hours before getting to Apapa.

Abuja

n Abuja High Court will today hear an application filed by eight Nigerian women, seeking to restrain Dame Patience Jonathan from holding an emergency meeting of African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) in Abuja tomorrow, May 15. The plaintiffs; Nana Module Onwodi, Ekemma Ugborough Arisa, Louisa Ono Eikhomun and Deborah Oboh, alleged that the said emergency meeting called by Dame Jonathan was called in "bad faith" as it is aimed at scuttling any chance of Aisha Buhari becoming the President of AFLPM. Other plaintiffs in the suit are; Juliet Mene, Juliet Pearce, Sonia Adolf and Kate Duru. When the matter was called yesterday, hearing could not go on because the procedure for proof

fore Coconut on Apapa Expressway. Anytime from now, tanker owners must make one lane available for motorists to be plying pending the expiration of the ultimatum for enforcement to begin. " The enforcement would be done by the various unions in the axis with the support of the state government, police and Federal Road Safety Corps. Therefore, any tanker that did not comply would be fined and would not be released until such fines had

L-R: Former Minister for External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi; Senator Daisy Danjuma and former Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Danjuma, during a funeral service in honour of late Chief Caroline Abosede Adenowo, at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos… yesterday

Court hears suit against First Lady today Tunde Oyesina

I have heard about a person who lives and works in Apapa and spent four hours before getting to his work place. We can all imagine the harrowing experience some residents are going through." He said the information available from fuel marketers revealed that there was no fuel in the depots to be lifted by the tankers and as such, some of the tankers should leave Lagos. "No tanker should be seen on Eko Bridge down to Liverpool or from be-

been paid," Opeifa added. He appealed to NUPENG, PTD and NARTO to ensure that the agreement reached was not breached, saying that by tomorrow, government will move in to enforce the order. To address the needless queue for unavailable fuel at the depot, the commissioner stated that the marketers and major operators in the area had agreed to come out with a programming and ticketing method to ensure that only tanker meant to lift fuel at a particular point in time were allowed within the axis.

of service had not been completed. The trial judge, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, however, adjourned the matter till today to enable counsel to the plaintiffs, Mohammed Ahmed, file an affidavit of service and attach the Proof of Service to the said affidavit showing that the service had been effected on the defendant - Dame Jonathan. "You should have filed an affidavit of service and annex the Proof of Service. The document does not speak for itself. Normally, if it is service on a party directly, you file the copy endorsed by recipient party. But if it is service by substituted means, you file an affidavit to say pursuant to the order of substituted means, we have effected service. I will adjourn to tomorrow, May 14 to enable you file the affidavit of service. You application will be taken tomorrow", Justice Baba-Yusuf ruled.

Gunshots, explosions as military intercept Boko Haram in Maiduguiri

elative peace was shattered yesterday in Maiduguri, Borno State. That was following attempts by some Boko Haram insurgents to attack the Giwa Baracks in the town. They were repelled by soldiers, leading to sporadic gunshots,

sounds of explosion and panic among residents. Sources said the incident started at about 5pm, forcing many residents at the outskirts of Giwa Military Barracks, University of Maiduguri community, 202 and 303 housing estates, Dalori

Nigeria, 10 others mull single African air transport by 2017 Wole Shadare Johannesburg

frican Ministers of Transport/Aviation have reiterated their support for the African Union Commission’s proposal for the establishment of a single African air transport market by 2017. Establishing a single air transport market will create an additional 155, 000 job opportunities in the key markets of Nigeria, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, Guinea, Namibia, Tunisia, Chad, Kenya, Senegal and Angola.

Speaking yesterday at the Air Finance for Africa Summit 2015 in Johannesburg, South Africa’s Transport Minister, Dipuo Peters, who spoke on “Open Skies Africa-New Alliance Strategies and Funding Solution,” harped on the necessity of the single African carrier. Peters, who was represented by Chief Director for Civil Aviation in the National Department of Transport, Pule Selepe, said South Africa recently hosted the meeting of the African ministerial working group on the establishment of a single air transport market in Africa.

quarters, Molai to flee for safety. But many could not leave the town as some major roads were barricaded by the military. As at the time of writing the report, details of the casualties were not known.

Court can't stop panel on killings from sitting, says Amaechi’s lawyer Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he lawyer representing Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi at the ongoing judicial panel of inquiry into politicallymotivated killings in the state, Beluolisa Nwofor, SAN, yesterday faulted the court injunction secured by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to stop the panel from sitting. Nwofor argued that the court erred on the points of law, because the PDP did not make the commission a party to the suit, and for that reason, the court cannot compel the panel to stop sitting. It will be recalled that the PDP had gone to court challenging the panel investigating politically motivated killings and other violent matters in the state, and secured an injunction restraining it from sitting. He pointed out that the error was fundamental, since the commission was a legal entity and distinct from the members of the panel. The SAN also noted that the injunction was not served by the bailiff who was supposed to carry out the assignment, and that the commission was not bound by law to obey the injunction. He said: “The party to a suit is the person whose name is designated on record as either plaintiff or defendant; hence since the commission’s name was not so designated, it therefore commits no court contempt by continuance.

FG owes GIS interns eight months allowances Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

aucity of funds currently being experienced in government circles is taking a toll on government's skills acquisition schemes as interns of Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) are owed eight months arrears of unpaid allowances. Unable to bear the hardship of continuous learning without allowances, GIS participants yesterday staged a protest in Abuja . Speaking on behalf scheme beneficiaries ,

Fidelis Edokpa, attached to FirstCom Network Limited and on a monthly stipend of N30, 000, said he has not been paid his allowance in the last eight by the government. An Engineering graduate of University of Benin, Edokpa said his other colleagues that enrolled in GIS scheme program across the country are facing similar backlog of unpaid allowances. He said that even after their employer had submitted their timesheet and submitted to the programme implementation unit, the government is still holding on to their pay.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, May 14, 2015

Endorsement

Rivers polls

Power tussle

Presidential poll 17

I didn’t collect money for adopting Jonathan – MPPP chair

We’ll deal with sponsors of violence, says Buhari

Ekiti PDP splits, state chairman removed

PDP campaign team messed up Jonathan – Bassey

Politics Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State is at loggerheads with members of the state House of Assembly. In this interview, the governor accuses the lawmakers of demanding for bribe to do their job. He speaks on the crisis. UWAKWE ABUGU reports

You have insisted that the disagreement between you and the lawmakers was due to pecuniary interest over the N11 billion loan request. What was your response when the lawmakers demanded for money as a condition for approving the loan? I laughed and laughed and laughed and the emissary was looking at me like a fool. I said oh, few days to leave office, as an old lawyer, you want to drag me into an illegality. Whoever that sent you, just tell him you didn’t see me; tell him that I had gone before you came. The following day, the Speaker Eugene Odo came with some members and confirmed the demand. Of course, my position was clear. How could you come here to involve me in this kind of racket in respect of something that has been approved? I wasn’t going to be part of it. I called a meeting, I insisted and they invited members of the House of Assembly. By then, when I said no to their request, it started becoming clear why those things were happening. Even the same Majority Leader of the House, Ude-Okoye, at a stage had the courage to even speak against what he was championing. At that time, I knew there was a problem. So, they invited the whole members of the House and I addressed them and being myself, I shielded them from

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Chime: Enugu lawmakers lazy, incompetent

Chime

that aspect. I didn’t mention it to them. And the Speaker shamelessly again when he spoke, made reference to his suggestion. He didn’t go into details. He said, well, I have made suggestions on how to settle this thing but we are not taking it seriously. He didn’t go into what the suggestions were. I said, the issue was taken care of and I just left them completely. That was when all these nonsense started. When it became clear that they could not get me to give money outside their entitlements, they started making trouble. Did the House really approve the loan earlier as you claimed? Yes, they did. And they did it in a resolution. The resolution entitled: “Resolution of the honourable House authorising the state government to obtain loans of N1 billion and N10 billion respectively from the United Bank

He (Odo) has been looking for ways to recoup what he spent on his campaign. Unfortunately, coming to me, he is coming to the wrong person

for Africa Plc to re-finance facility from GT Bank and fund infrastructural development,” dated November 13, 2014, showed that the House authorised the state to obtain the loan. In the resolution, the House urged that the loan is used for the purpose for which it was obtained as well as to comply with the conditions of the facility including timely repayment. They have approved it and we have drawn on it yet they are still talking about this loan; maybe as I said before they did not accuse me of forging this resolution, maybe they just woke up from their slumber to find out that they had approved this, or maybe looking for a way to reverse it. You will be wondering what went wrong and I will tell you what went wrong. What went wrong was somewhere along the line after passing this resolution, the bank, UBA, said we are expected to give them Standing Payment

Order (ISO). We issued it to them but they said they needed the House of Assembly to endorse that also, so we quickly went to the House of Assembly for that. At the same time, I personally engaged the bank that you have a resolution authorising us to borrow money from you, why do you want to involve the House in the ISO; it is the executive and the executive will pay you back. Somewhere along the line it was resolved, but these people thought it was still an issue. The lawmakers thought it was time to now make money out of it. They felt that the administration was coming to an end and it was time for them to make money out of it. Unfortunately for them that issue was resolved and I never went back to them. I have been trying to protect the House. The Majority Leader CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Politics

THURSDAY, May 4, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Chime: My traducers are after money in this document, they lack the capacity; so asking them to go and read it was a punishment. So, they couldn’t read it, they just continued blabbing. Why didn’t they add that in their allegations to impeach me? That should have been one of their allegations that I committed act of gross misconduct by concessioning water project; but they saw the document and became confused, they couldn’t read it. The summary of it is that before AG Gold came, we have spent so much with other companies without achieving our objective. So, there was a problem and from the blues someone in his magnanimity sent AG Gold to us. AG Gold came and said we are going to pay up your debts, all those people you are owing we are going to pay them, you are not going to pay us a kobo, just allow us to come and do this thing, Water Corporation will still be there, we will work with Water Corporation, but allow us to manage your water from production to distribution; that they believe they will raise enough money to pay themselves. We thought it was a joke; we investigated and they are genuine

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

of the House, Ude-Okoye, shamelessly asked me to give the lawmakers money, saying that was the only thing that will assuage the House members. He said he had spoken with the Speaker of the House, that they are three and I should give them money and they will come up with a resolution without involving other members of the House. I didn’t quite understand what he was saying, so I asked him to repeat himself and he said it again. I said so if I give you money and the Speaker that will solve the issue. The House Leader said yes; I laughed and laughed and laughed and he was looking at me. There are also insinuations that the failed ambition of the Speaker and Majority Leader was also part of the reason they are fighting you. What really happened? The Speaker ran for the office of the governor with the hope of making Ude-Okoye his deputy. Two of them, it was meant to be a ticket of Eugene Odo and UdeOkoye, but it wasn’t to be. The Speaker came to me and told me of his intention of running for the Office of Governor after he had put up his posters everywhere. Quite late in the day, he came to me and my advice to him was: ‘please you know how we behave in this our family of PDP. It is not for me to endorse you. Go and lobby your people. If they endorse you, it will be automatic, I will endorse you. But, I want to give you my word that whoever the people endorse, I will also endorse. If that is the spirit you are in, please go ahead with your pursuit.’ And he left. All these things are now history and you saw how our governor-elect sailed through overwhelmingly. I invited him and reminded him what I told him earlier. He wept in my residence. He cried oh. I tried to console him, saying ‘I am not telling you to drop your ambition; I am talking to you as a member of the family.’ Of course, he ignored me. He left and it is now part of history that he continued with his campaign and on the last day he came for the primaries and, of course, he lost and I think that ended it. So, he has been looking for ways to recoup what he spent on his campaign. Unfortunately, coming to me, he is coming to the wrong person. We just came out of elections. We are still smarting from it. And you want me to give you money for involving yourself in a failed bid to be governor. I advised you, that you were taking the wrong steps. Even if I have the money, I won’t give it to you. So, the whole thing bothers on money. I know after saying these, they will start denying; if I’m not properly informed I will say come and see what will happen and I will call them and give them money and this thing will stop. But I won’t give them money, it is public fund, I cannot account for it. Besides UBA that asked you to go back to the House, was there any

Chime

regulatory agency that queried your taking the N11 billion loan on the grounds that your administration is winding down? If there was any regulatory agency, it was not to my knowledge, there was no official communication from anybody to say stop; there was no communication whatsoever to the state government from anybody apart from the UBA on this matter. You said you were not in the country when the 2012 Supplementary Budget was passed, you are accused by the House of forging the bill. Could it be that your aides tampered with it without your knowledge? To ensure such doesn’t happen we publish our estimates every year and distribute them; it is not a hidden thing in Enugu State, I don’t know of other states. Go to the House of Assembly and ask them of this document and they will give it to you. So, they have this document before they treated our 2013 budget. I have shown you what was sent to them and what was approved. In the 2013 budget, it was clearly stated that there was a revision, so I don’t know what they are alleging; whether it was forged, whatever forgery I have shown you it is the same figure, no kobo was added, no kobo was subtracted; it was a case of reallocating funds for the purpose of fully implementing the budget. I have shown you my own document; let them show you the forged one. One of the allegations of the House against you was also on the Water Corporation concessioning. The lawmakers said for water supply to be concessioned, there must be an enabling law. What did you do on this matter? Enugu State Government has not concessioned water supply

These people are lazy, they don’t even have the competence to understand what is written in this document

or Water Corporation. There is no such thing. Nothing will stop us, forget all these noise people make. I will tell you about this water to show you how ridiculous and funny these people can be. The first day, they talked about this water thing without seeing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) document, the agreement between the state government and this company. They chose to believe just like you have believed that there was a concession. They invited the commissioner, made all sorts of allegations, all sorts of noise about it and I invited them because I have always believed that we are a family. If you observe that something is going wrong and you are sincere about it, at least the executive arm should be the first authority you should approach to say please your people are doing something wrong. And I said how could you have invited the press and invite my commissioner to embarrass him with all your allegations, I said were you trying to embarrass the state government or what, or are you trying to solve problems? They said the commissioner failed to give them the documents and I said no problem. There and then I ordered the commissioner that by Monday give them the document, it is quite bulky, I said give it to these people let them study it and invite you. They were given the document as I instructed, but without reading it again they were still making the allegations. They asked the commissioner to go and make 24 copies of the document and he said that he was asked to give them a copy that they can make as much copies as they chose to make and distribute among themselves. But these people are lazy, they don’t even have the competence to understand what is written

We understand that you have already spent N3 billion from the N11 billion loan. You know I was Attorney General for five years and I have a very able Attorney General working with me, so we cannot do anything illegal. When we started the secretariat, so many stories were told, they said we were not planning to do anything. You see human beings, especially the crooked one once he sees figures, what he will be thinking is, what is the possible profit this man will be making? When they saw N13 billion initially they screamed because they have not seen budget of that magnitude, but the secretariat is there for you to see. Take your own estate valuers and see what they will tell you. It is now standing, we no longer have the prototype model of it; it is now standing ready to be inaugurated. So, I owe nobody any apology. No such place exists in the South-East. And we don’t have money, that project was exclusively built from what we got from IGR (Internally Generated Revenue). Before I came, nobody knew about IGR; IGR will come and they will just do it anyhow, but we dedicated our IGR account just to fund that project. And until this issue of raising money to tidy up a few projects, we did not owe a kobo, we did not borrow a kobo and we have paid up to N11 billion on that project; it is something we should be beating our chest. So, let them criticize on what they want to criticize. Their problem like I told you is about money. But you people should ask them why they are just acting when I am already on my way to my Udi country home. Some of these allegations they are making are transactions made during my first term. So, ask them why now. They are the ones who are the criminals.

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, May 14, 2015

There are reports that you have been removed as the national chairman of the Mega Progressives Peoples Party (MPPP). What is the true situation? Removed by who and when? What did they give as the reasons for my removal and where was the decision taken? That is news to me just as it is news to you too. So, whoever is behind such report should be disregarded. There is nothing close to it. But there is a statement credited to the party’s National Treasurer, Mr. Olayinka Akanni, claiming that he is the new chairman and that 26 members of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party met to remove you and appointed him as your replacement? Does any party appoint its officers on the pages of newspapers? The ideal thing is that you hold a NEC meeting of a party to take such serious decisions. Have we held any in the recent time? Who called for the meeting? There are ways and manner things are done in a political party and all these are stipulated in our constitution. I understand some hoodlums went to the party’s headquarters in Abuja and caused confusion by vandalizing properties worth millions of naira. They were led by the National Treasurer and the National Youth Leader, Olayinka Akanni and Alhaji Akinola Harding, who I learnt, accused me of spending the party’s money. And I ask them; which money? But you are alleged of single-handedly endorsing President Goodluck Jonathan as MPPP’s presidential candidate in the just-concluded elections and that you were offered money, which they claimed you spent alone. How true is this? I will begin by digging deep into the activities of the party within the last few months and the public can judge me if I ever spent a kobo belonging to the party. I am sad at this moment that politics of principle is no longer being played in Nigeria. Every time people talk about party politics, what comes to people’s mind is money. Where did President Jonathan give me the money and who did he send to me? We can understand that failure is an orphan and success, they say, has many fathers. Before now, nobody spoke about the party and no one wanted to associate with us. And even since our convention held and I had battled with court actions against my leadership, nobody came over to know what we were doing, but between December and now that we have repositioned the party and offered it national relevance, everyone is trying to relate with us. I want to tell you that no such money is in my custody and that all I have offered the party is my years of political experience and the support of the networks of my friends who have helped to build the party from nothing to something. No one knew how we got the national secretariat in Abuja and they never asked, but now that things seem to be moving fast, they are around to destabilise the system. You cannot reap from where you did not sow. Are you saying you just assumed

Falade

I didn’t collect money for adopting Jonathan – MPPP chair Since the conclusion of the 2015 general elections, the Mega Progressives Peoples Party (MPPP) has been enmeshed in leadership tussle. In this interview with Mojeed Alabi, the party’s National Chairman, Mr. Dare Falade, clears the air on his purported removal, why the party adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate in the March 28 poll. Excerpts: the leadership position of the party last December? We held our convention on February 4, 2014, but some members challenged my election in court but there was a ruling of the Federal High Court, which confirmed my chairmanship on December 10, 2014. So, by December 17, I resumed office while still resolving some other matters in court. So, you can see the turnaround has only come within a very short time. But rather than lending their support they want to destabilise me. I can assure you that I am very unruffled by their antics and I remain focused as the party’s national chairman. How soon will this crisis be over? Which crisis for God’s sake? I have just told you there is no crisis within our party. Whoever has any allegation against me should follow the due process within the party. Let them come on board and challenge me appropriately. If the party legally sets up a committee to try me over whatever, I am available for whatever questions they have. But I can assure you that we will continue to reposition this party and the required opposition this new government coming on board deserves would be met in the MPPP.

Adopting President Jonathan was the outcome of a deep appraisal of the party’s policies and programmes

Why did your party choose to adopt President Jonathan as its presidential candidate? The choice of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a party to support during the campaign was not a decision we rushed to reach. That was the party that gave room for weaker parties to operate and they gave us the opportunity to debate some ideas and policies and we felt that with its humility it deserved our support. Remember our party did not have a presidential candidate and so adopting President Jonathan was the outcome of a deep appraisal of the party’s policies and programmes. And those who are now talking about collecting money, were they not in the room where the decision was taken? In fact, the two key figures were on the podium during the announcement of the endorsement and if they said I collected money, then we did together. How do you feel with the loss of your endorsed candidate at the poll? First we need to remember that it was a contest. And in contest you can either win or lose. You cannot be a winner all the time and because democracy is a

game of choice, the people have by the result of the election chosen who they want. Our efforts could not be said to have gone in vain because that does not mean we cannot continue to contribute our quota to the development of the country. We will keep up with the spirit of providing the deserving opposition to the new government. What are your expectations from the new government? We do hope that the yearnings and aspirations of ordinary Nigerians will be met by the new government. But with my experience in governance, Nigeria requires some years to stabilise because the new leadership is coming in from the other side of the game and has to study the hand-over notes and compare what is on ground with the contents of its manifesto, and how to actualise them. Everything will have to rest on budget and the aspirations may be far from the reality on the ground. You might be a very principled person, but when it comes to governance, it is a serious business. So, we are expecting to have a smooth transition and we are expecting the new government to deliver on its promises to the people.

16 Politics

THURSDAY, May 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Rivers polls: We’ll deal with sponsors of violence, says Buhari Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he Presidentelect, General Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday assured members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Rivers State that his administration would not forget and forgive the violence that rocked the state during the March 28 and April 11 general elections. Buhari gave the assurance when a delegation of the Rivers State APC led by former Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Gabriel Tobby, visited him at the Defence House in Abuja. At the closed-door

meeting, Buhari reportedly said: “We will confront them with facts and figures. We will not forgive and we will not forget those who perpetrated killings and arson in Rivers State during the elections. At least, this is the much we owe Nigerians.” He also assured Nigerians that they will surely get the respect they deserve from government, adding that there will be no any army within the army or police within the police. Speaking to journalists after the closed-door meeting, Tobby stated that what happened during the presidential and governorship elections did not reflect the wishes of the people.

He described the election as a coup, saying the delegation to Buhari has shown that Rivers people were behind the President-elect before, during and after the election. He stated that Rivers State will fully support the incoming government. The former deputy governor, however, asked the President-elect not to forget the persecution and sacrifices made by their son, Governor Rotimi Ameachi, to the success of APC. Also, addressing the APC Delta State delegation, Buhari said: “I thank you for mobilising yourselves to come and congratulate me for emerging as the winner of the presi-

dential election this year. I am very much in touch with your governorship candidate and he has kept me abreast with the running battle and I express my condolence to you for the people murdered. I assure you that my objective of remaining consistent in partisan politics is to make sure that Nigerians are given their inherent right as citizens of Nigerians to choose whoever they want to lead them. “I will not support anybody who will undermine the rights of Nigerians by whatever means. To use the military and other law enforcement agencies and worse still to give drugs and weapons to unemployed youths and send them to kill their

own people is the worst thing anybody aspiring to leadership can do to his country. “I assure you that in my first term in office, what I will concentrate on is that Nigerians will be proud to be Nigerians wherever they are. They will be respected, whoever they favour to be chosen as a representative or as a leader should go and submit himself to them. If they like, let them vote for you, if they don’t like, you will try again and again and again. “It hasn’t been easy. The field work is not easy and because it is not easy you get a lawyer to put it in proper terms. Going through the court is not easy both materially and physically and I maintained that consistency because my view about my country is that Nigeria should be truly free. I have it so often and I don’t

mind reminding myself here. “I assure you that the APC’s first objective is security and what destroy the economy is lack of security and unemployment. I understand why many of the youths were denied the opportunity to choose those you wanted to represent and lead you. You are taking the line I took in the last 12 years which is in line with our constitution. Whether you get it or not, the most important thing is that you believe in the system and you should continue to try until the system is perfect. I appeal to you.” Speaking with journalists, the leader of the Delta APC and governorship candidate, Otega Emerhor said no proper election took place in South-South and SouthEast. “Result sheets were confiscated and results fabricated,” he said.

PDP to APC: Desist from fabricating lies Onyekachi Eze Abuja

T L-R: Former Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Wale Edun; Prof. Pat Utomi; National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu; a member of the APC Transition Committee, Mr. Doyin Salami; Mrs Nike Aboderin and APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, during the presentation of memo to the members of the Transition Committee in Abuja… yesterday.

Ekiti PDP splits, state chairman removed Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

he Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been hit by leadership crisis, as a faction of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party has removed the State Chairman, Chief Idowu Faleye, replacing him with Mr. Olatunde Olatunde. Briefing journalists in Ado-Ekiti, Olatunde, in company of the Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joseph Adaraniwon, said Faleye was removed on Tuesday at a meeting of the SWC. According to Olatunde, the appointment of Faleye, in the first instance, was fraught with errors. He said while the state congress of the party was held in March 2012, which ushered in the Makanjuola Ogundipeled SWC, Faleye was then

lI’m still chairman - Faleye in the Labour Party (LP). “Also, Faleye and the State Youth Leader hail from the same constituency and even in the same ward in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of the state. This is against the provisions of the constitution of our party. “Moreover, the State Executive Committee of the party has not ratified the appointment of Faleye. He has not been calling meetings of the SWC and he has not shown competence. “He was at the meeting yesterday when all these issues were brought to the fore from beginning to the end and Faleye voluntarily resigned his position and the SWC graciously approved my appointment as the acting state chairman of the party,” Olatunde said. He said the action had been transmitted to the Alhaji Adamu Muazu-led National Working Com-

mittee (NWC) of the party in Abuja via the zonal party apparatus led by Ogundipe. However, Faleye, who also spoke to the press in company of former Deputy Governor, Chief Paul Alabi, Senator Clement Awoyelu, and the State Legal Adviser, Kolapo Kolade among others, said he remained the authentic state chairman of the party. “It is not true that my appointment as state chairman was not ratified. It was ratified by the national leadership of the party in Abuja. The state secretary, Tope Aluko, wrote the letter to Abuja in that regard and the leadership replied in the affirmative. “The crux of the matter is that these people want to force me to sign cheques to clear the backlog of their entitlements. That amounts to N11 million and I told them we do

not have such money now and that I need to get to the leaders of the party. “I am more than competent in the handling of the affairs of the party. I have held a number of positions at various times and have not been found wanting,” he said. Corroborating Faleye’s claims, Awoyelu, who is a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, said there was no way the state chairman could be removed without the knowledge of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party. There has been unease in the party since the last few weeks over issues relating to money. Only last week, the rumour made the round that the state secretary had an altercation with Faleye. However, both men later made up and dismissed the insinuation.

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised the spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to desist from fabricating lies that could be injurious to democracy and peaceful co-existence in the country. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement yesterday noted that “but for the maturity of President Goodluck Jonathan and the head of the APC’s Transition Committee, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, who cleared the air, the country would have been thrown into crisis over the false alert by Lai Mohammed that the Presidency was frustrating the transition process.” PDP said it expected Mohammed to apologise to the nation after APC transition committee denied his false statement. He recalled that the APC spokesperson had in a press statement last Thursday alleged that the Presidency and the PDP had ‘bluntly refused to cooperate’ with the APC to ensure a successful transition and that the Transition Committee of the Federal Government had refused to hold any meeting with that of the APC.’ “Even after the PDP through a statement last Friday debunked the false allegation with

facts showing that the committees of the two parties have been holding fruitful meetings, Lai Mohammed vehemently stuck to his position, only for the head of the APC’s Transition Committee, Alhaji Joda,to confirm on Tuesday that the two panels have been meeting and operating on the same page and that at no time did his team complain to anybody that there was no cooperation. “The APC spokesman must realise that his style which is anchored on lies has negatively impacted the polity, especially hundreds of young Nigerians who now engage in insults and fabrications in the media thinking that such is what party publicity is all about. “Lai Mohammed should know that the campaigns with its attendant propaganda are over and that Nigerians expect a more mature and patriotic behaviour from the political class. He should therefore learn to get his facts right and be truthful in his statements at all times,” the PDP said. The party called on Nigerians to be wary of actions that are capable of causing disunity in the land and reiterated its resolve to focus only on purposeful criticism while presenting credible alternatives to the policies and programmes of the in-coming administration in a manner that will promote democracy, unity and the well-being of Nigerians.

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, May 14, 2015

Pastor James Bassey, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation, is hopeful that the in-coming administration of Mr. Udom Emmanuel in Akwa Ibom State will improve upon the infrastructural platform built by Governor Godswill Akpabio. DOMINIK UMOSEN reports

Do you see the switch from ruling party to opposition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as posing any challenge for the incoming administration of Mr. Emmanuel Udom in Akwa Ibom? First of all, let me say that I have no doubt in mind that the administration of Mr. Udom Emmanuel will be a success, just like the one that he is going to succeed. If you consider his background as a successful banker who has been well-tutored and well-versed in the dynamics of financial management, I think he has a lot to offer Akwa Ibom State. For us in Akpabioism – one of the pro-support groups working for Governor Godswill Akpabio – who worked extensively with the out-going administration, we also hope to continue to extend the same support to his administration; we have to continue to be supportive of the new administration which will hopefully consolidate the uncommon transformation in the state. And as a businessman, we are collaborating to invite private participation which is the engine of real growth in any economy. There should be a shift in the thinking that only the government can provide jobs. Studies have shown that the right environment which is the ultimate responsibility of government can and does inspire robust public-private collaboration to grow the economy. The Akpabioism Centre for Leadership Development has volunteered to offer certain logistics support, including ware-housing facilities, to complement the effort of manufacturers and other entrepreneurs who may wish to tap into the business opportunities available in the state. We have had a very successful administration in the state in the last eight years, ably led by Obong Godswill Akpabio. The administration will bequeath an unprecedented level of infrastructural development in the state which should prove irresistible, even attracting investors. My thinking is that Akwa Ibom State must begin to make profit for itself from the huge

PDP campaign team messed up Jonathan – Bassey en over government and we are talking about opposition. What we need is vibrancy, we need economic managers and we need men and women of great vision. Nobody is stopping money coming to Akwa Ibom. What we used to get, we will still get. Political change will not stop economic development coming to Akwa Ibom. If PDP could not do that to APC states, I do not think anybody can do that to us. So opposition is not an issue in Nigeria. All we need is a focused leader.

Bassey

is also there. The free and compulsory education policy of the state government has assured an influx of non-indigenes from all parts of the country, so we should be able to make it a business hub. There are more Chinese in Akwa Ibom, for instance, than in Lagos.

infrastructural platform that has been laid. The uncommon change and thinking that has been achieved should be built upon, consolidated and even improved upon by the succeeding administration. Since the foundation for success, as you said, has already been laid, what specific areas would you recommend for the in-coming administration to concentrate on? I would recommend that the in-coming administration should focus extensively on delivering massively on housing. From my experience with the housing projects that we have been involved in in Akpabioism, we discover that an average construction site has an instant multiplier effect on the economy. In addition, the new administration might also need to reengineer the consciousness of the people and invest more in human capacity development. Udom, as a banker, knows the importance of capacity building in economic development. There is already security in Akwa Ibom because that issue was tackled by the Akpabio administration. So, the Udom administration will build on those issues. The airport is there to support as incentive and the independent power plant

The most painful moment in my life was becoming a member of the presidential campaign organisation

Do you foresee the governor-elect having challenges because of his party, the PDP, being in the opposition at the centre? I do not understand what people mean when they say opposition because for instance, there was a time the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, was the moving force behind the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). States like Osun and some others were also PDP. And most of the players who contested and won elections were PDP members. The issue of opposition does not even cross my mind because what we need is a good thinker, a good strategist who should be able to understand the practice of politics. Former Governor Peter Obi was the only All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governor during his tenure but he was able to manage Anambra State successfully. APC has not even tak-

How do you react to insinuations that the PDP presidential campaign organisation performed below expectation, which led to the party’s defeat? I think the most painful moment in my life was becoming a member of the presidential campaign organisation. I do not know who suggested my name. No doubt, I feel honoured to have been considered for that office. I always knew that we were headed for the rocks. For one thing, there was no coordination. No cohesion in activities. Everybody was working on his own. To justify my membership of the committee, I came out with a magazine, made possible by my own efforts. I became angry and pained following the glaring absence of issues in the campaigns. The entire output of advertisements and messages was becoming an eyesore. There was an unnatural and even offensive emphasis on abuses than on issues. I did not want to embarrass the president and those who put me there by making an issue of this. General Muhammadu Buhari is a highly-respected Nigerian. To have concentrated on inanities, rather than issues of development, was tragic, to say the least. Under President Jonathan, the economy attained huge heights which we ought to have dramatized and taken maximum advantage of. Instead of showcasing the achievements of President Jonathan, we were busy casting aspersions that Nigerians were not even interested in. They did this basically to destroy President Jonathan, more or less enemies within. Those of us from the minority South-South in the committee were more than embarrassed by this approach which might have been tactical because some of the people who perpetrated this were already against President Jonathan and for them to have been given strategic roles in the campaign was so painful. This might sound like medicine after death. But thank God, Buhari has become the president but the real greatness of Jonathan will be seen in his unprecedented statesmanship. It is better for us to go back to the drawing board. And for the APC, I would advise that the focus on what they will do, not on distractions, including what they met on ground.

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Buhari’s ministers and a crisis foretold

or the first time since the advent of our current democracy, power is changing hands from one set of leaders to another set who are not much different, except for their rallying persona, the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari. With this imminent change of power comes the opportunity to do things differently and get better results than we have gotten in the last 16 years. Buhari has given several indications that he would do things differently. One the most recent of such is the rejection of ministerial list from governors elected on the platform of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). It was the usual practice in the last 16 years under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for governors of the ruling party or the most prominent PDP politician in a state not governed by the party to nominate those to be appointed as Ministers. Each of the 36 states of the federation is expected to produce a minister, while a few extra slots are filled on the basis of geo-political zones or at the discretion of the President The major deficiency of this practice is that those who superintend over our Ministries and our civil service are usually cronies of the state governors or leading PDP politicians in states not governed by the party and often may not be the best candidates for those positions. But, politics is not for the good of all. While party politics has been described as the madness of many for the benefit of a few, politics at the national level is seen by some political scientists as the means of sharing national resources without resorting to violence. The PDP probably came up with this ‘formula’ of appointing Ministers to ensure some form of stability in the polity. This was one of the practices that made PDP governors very powerful and major de-

Leaders et al BIODUN DUROJAIYE

biodundurojaiye@gmail.com, Twitter: @itweekonline 08111813092 (sms only)

terminants of who gets what in the party, including its presidential ticket and ambassadorial positions. However, according to a report, APC governors, many of whom were once members of the PDP, were shocked last week Tuesday when an attempt by them to present a ministerial nominees list to Buhari, in line with existing tradition, was rejected by the President-elect. According to the report, the APC governors, led by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State visited Buhari in Abuja to pledge loyalty and make demands some of which were placed on the table openly, while the request to drop the list of possible ministers came up for discussion behind the closed door. Quoting sources close to the meeting between the governors and Buhari, the report claimed the President-elect rejected the proposal and declared that the Constitution does not mandate him to take a list of ministerial nominees from them. The APC governors got a second shocker when the president-elect also reportedly rejected the call for a bailout to enable them pay months of salaries owed civil servants. According to the report, Buhari flatly rejected the proposal, saying he was aware the Federal Government was not owing the states their allocations. Buhari further told the governors that those of them in their second terms could not complain about the state

of government finances, as they had been collecting allocations from the Federal Government all along. The following quotes, contained in the report and attributed to the source close to the meeting, summed up all that happened. “The governors practically went out of the visit with their tails between their legs. The general first threw aside the request that he grant bailout to the states. He told them that the governors going for second term in office cannot complain about the state of the economy, having collected all their allocations to date from the Federal Government. He ruled out the possibility of bailout. “The General was also very unequivocal when he was told that the governors want to submit a ministerial list to him. He clearly said he cannot go into that discussion. He insisted that the Constitution does not mandate him to collect such list from the governors and that the state chief executives should concentrate on sourcing good materials that would help them run the states adequately.” If the report is true, the implications of Buhari’s rejection of two ‘important’ requests from governors of his party, the APC, are two-fold. One, he wants to do things differently, and perhaps get better results, and bring about positive changes in the lives of the ordinary people. The second implication is that his understanding of the forces at play in our kind of democracy is still a bit low. If Buhari keeps putting the interest of the populace over and above those of the bigwigs of his party, who rightly or wrongly believe they helped to get him to the position, he risks a revolt. His ability to manage the egos and govern the appetites of powerful forces within his party may largely determine his level of success. Something tells me he is too much rigid to be able to do these well.

The imperatives of jungle justice Mike Arayuwa Wilkie

ll through history, several punishments had been meted out to men who, for one reason or the other, had put up conduct and behaviour which are at variance with societal norms and values. In this piece, certain instances would be x-rayed inorder to justify the above assertion. Blasphemy, for instance, means speaking evil of sacred matters and where organized religion exists, it is a complete taboo. Anaxagoras (500-428 B.C.) was the first philosopher to reside in Athens and perhaps the first freethinker to be punished for his beliefs. He was of the view that superior intellect had imposed a purposeful order on the physical world. He also regarded the conventional gods as mythic abstractions. Pericles, the preeminent Athenian Statesman who had been a pupil of Anaxagoras, defended the frail old philosopher. The Periclean powerful oratory saved his former teacher from being sentenced to death. Anaxagoras was compelled to pay a fine and banished from Athens. He spent his remaining years in exile until death. Socrates, 399 B.C. was equally tried for blasphemy over his consistent attack on Democracy. His prosecutors would have been satisfied with his exile from Athens, but he preferred death instead. Aristotle was indicted for impiety. He fled Athens in 323 B.C. His offence was the inscription which he wrote for the statue of a political patron whom he compared with the immortals, thus in-

sulting religion. The Athenian character of impiety, mixing religion with politics at the expense of intellectual liberty, was not radically different from that of blasphemy under Christendom. That the Athens of the 5th century could drive Socrates, Phidias and Protagoras to their deaths and banish Anaxagoras until he died in exile proved rather early in the history of the West that religion, if supported by the state, can be hostile to enlightenment, personal and intellectual liberty. Inpsite of the harsh and deadly punishments imposed on those philosophers who were alleged to have blasphemed in Athens and part of the West, it becomes imperative to stress that it is yet to dissuade some other intellectual radicals from attacking the relevant authorities and speak their in-depth minds on religion including democratic reforms. For instance, in 1988, Salman Rushdie wrote his “Satanic Verses” which sparked-off series of protests in the Moslem world, conducted on an international scale, a disruption of diplomatic relations, book burning and book banning. A price was put on the head of Rushdie dead or alive by the Ayatollah of Iran. He was accused as a blasphemer of Islam including some other unprintable remarks about Prophet Mohammed and the Holy place in Mecca. In 1930’s Europe, witches and wizards were indentified and seen as constituting nuisance in that continent. The relevant authorities decreed that all those who practiced the art of witchcraft should be put to death and accordingly, they were massacred in cold blood. Despite this

inhuman treatment imposed on practitioners of witchcraft, even as at today, they still exist in Europe. During the Nigerian Civil war (19671970), two army officers were found guilty of armed robbery by the Armed Robbery Tribunal in Benin City. I, personally, was an eye witness of their execution at the Ring Road in Benin City. Omo-Oke and his gang members were duly executed amongst others. Thereafter, big time robbers such as the Ishola Oyenuis of Lagos, Lawrence Anini of Benin who seized the defunct Bendel State from the IBB’s Military Regime, were all guilty of armed robbery and shot to death publicly. Yet, armed robbery and the re-emergence of the little Oyenusis. Anini’s, including other sophisticated daring gangs flourished within the Nigeria State. In contemporary Warri and catchment areas, roasting was a tool of vengeance of Jungle Justice. According to the Oxford Advanced Leaner’s dictionary, the word involves the roasting of meal, fish, vegetable etc. so hot that anybody would feel uncomfortable. The concept of roasting in dealing with some misguided criminals such as goldnecklaces and other jewelries snatchers, armed robbers, kidnappers and so forth became a non-negotiable weapon for dealing with the aforementioned miscreants. Anyone who belongs to this class of gang, and when caught would be dispatched to hell via burning to ashes without regret. In India and a few other countries, dead people are burnt as part of a funeral ceremony known as crema-

tion. Cremation therefore constitutes the culture and tradition of these people and is seen as no offence. The burning alive of such criminals is at variance with any modern law and of course, due process of the law is relegated to the background in order to achieve the aims and objectives of instant Jungle Justice. The modus operandi of the gangs has no sympathy whatsoever for their victims whose lives are deleted from the face of the earth through the use of deadly weapons. The more reason why majority of people are in support of the crude formula adopted to deal with these misfortune creations. However, the concept of Jungle Justice is unacceptable in the face of this century. It is certainly not an option capable of dissuading the unrefined rascals from their dangerous part to criminality. The ugly scenario generated by the burning of a fellow human being is ungodly and contrary to the laws of nature. It is my sincere opinion at this stage that due process of the law should be allowed to take its course in the fundamental interest of fairness, equity and justice. At the moment, it would appear that this weapon of jungle justice has reduced drastically the frequency at which these deadly characters descend on their victims. What has, however, not reduced is outright kidnapping which the various criminal gangs have regarded as their resource control. Security agencies should evolve new tactics with which to combat these miscreants who behave like the bourbons. • Wilkie can be reached at pmikky1950@yahoo.com (08023097251)

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015

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Buhari and diversification of economy

hose disgusted, and rightly so, with sensational allegations of mindboggling practices in the money-spinning petroleum industry and how these have denied ordinary folks the opportunity of deriving maximum benefit from the country’s God-given resources, must have reacted, with justifiable excitement, to the pledge by the president-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari to diversify the economy to free the country from avoidable shocks traceable to its reliance on oil as economic mainstay. This shift in economic focus became imperative given the extremely high volatility of crude oil prices in the global market and the corresponding pressures that oil-dependent economies like Nigeria have been subjected to, including distortions in fiscal plans. Evidence of such distortions include backlog of unpaid salaries by states and the Federal Government. Declining revenue available to governments which constitute the highest employer has been blamed for this situation. Receiving a delegation of Northern Leaders led by the country’s former permanent representative at the United Nations, Alhaji Maitama Sule, who visited him in Abuja over the weekend, the presidentelect promised to do whatever

it would take to de-emphasize the country’s dependence on oil; a situation which he said opens the economy to all manner of shocks and intrigues exerted by the highly-volatile industry. The president-elect told the delegation that he would shift attention from oil to agricultural and mining sectors to create jobs for millions of unemployed Nigerians who have been trapped in economic despondency, no thanks to lack of creativity and the political will by government to free itself from this avoidable cul de sac. Citing unemployment as one of the biggest challenges facing the nation, he promised to explore sustained and radical effort to redress the situation. A country like Israel, for instance, which is predominantly arid, has been cultivated and made to support local consumption and for export, made possible by a creative policy that has since transformed that country agriculturally. “The biggest message is to try and persuade the people that it is not possible to change the state of affairs now. “It took 16 years and those 16 years, most of you know it, better than myself, Nigeria earned revenue more than what it earned from 1914 till then. “In the economy, we have to quickly turn to agriculture and mining because that is where

you can do the quickest work and earn results. “In other areas, you need to study them and dust all the books and studies and get people, experienced people, committed people, technocrats to come and help the government. Gen. Buhari’s promise to diversify the economy and move it away from dependence on oil which is struggling to find its balance in the international market, is simply exhilarating. Additionally, it vindicates economic experts who have shouted themselves hoarse, trying desperately to draw government’s attention to the dangers and precariousness of pinning hopes of its economic well-being on a product whose appeal has steadily depreciated over the years. In addition to steadily-depreciating appeal, the discovery of viable alternatives, including fossil oil, invariably signaled bad news for economies like ours which failed to overcome their reliance on oil for sustenance. As we have noted before, what even made this country’s case worse is the fact that in addition to progressively upgrading oil to the status of almost single-handedly supporting the economy, this classic economic irresponsibility was complemented by total neglect of alternative sources of income, particularly agriculture.

Visitors to this country, who may have had the opportunity of traversing its length and breadth, always wonder why a country that is so blessed with arable land should be complaining about budgetary distortions arising from unemployment and allied cash-flow challenges. Economic diversification may just be what the floundering economy required to reassert itself to carry increasing responsibilities of government and the expectations of citizen. If tackled with vision and requisite creativity, mechanized agriculture will not only guarantee self-sufficiency in food production for local consumption and export, it will also provide the ultimate antidote for unemployment which is stalking like a ticking time-bomb. And for these and more reasons, Gen Buhari requires every support and encouragement to achieve diversification for the economy which desperately requires to break the deadly strangle-hold exercised by unstable crude oil as economic mainstay. Apart from the Federal Government which is defaulting on the payment of staff salaries, most states are also owing workers backlog of unpaid salaries which workers insist should be paid before May 29 when the in-coming administration takes over. This scenario further justifies the clamour for economic diversification.

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20 Politics

THURSDAY, May 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Nigerians shouldn’t expect miracle from Buhari’ Adejare Adegbenro, the grandson of the late Premier of the Western Region, Dauda Adegbero, speaks on the outcome of the general elections and the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari. WALE ELEGBEDE reports What lessons are to be learnt from the general elections? It teaches us to always be flexible because nothing is cast in gold. Today, I have learnt that Nigerians have a voice. The election has shown that, whoever misbehaves in office would

be kicked out through the ballot box. What do you think was responsible for the change of government? I believe we should look at ourselves as Nigerians and not as Muslims, Chris-

tians, Hausa, Yoruba Igbo, northerner, South-South or whatever. Religion and ethnicity caused most of the problems. The second problem was lack of discipline that led to corruption. That was why Nigerians got up and said, President Goodluck Jonathan has done his best and that it was time to move and try somebody else. It is an open fact that majority of the voters in this country are the masses. And once their welfare is not guaranteed, there will be problem. If they don’t have jobs, if they don’t have shelter, if

they don’t have power supply that would drive their business, if they don’t have even the business to be driven, then it is high time they kicked out whoever is in power and say, enough is enough. Nigerians are now so politically sophisticated that in the last election, they even collected money and voted against those who gave the money. What are the challenges that will confront the incoming government? First and foremost, the incoming President, General Muhammadu Buhari

will need all Nigerians’ support to succeed. It is God and not Buhari that can solve the mirage of problems plaguing the country. Therefore, we should all come together the way we did during the elections to assist him in the onerous task of nation building. We should not expect miracle overnight. People should not make Buhari’s work more difficult by expecting instant miracle from him. The man that has been aspiring to lead this country as a democraticallyelected president for a long

Adegbenro

time must have a master plan for the country. We should give him a chance and rally round him to implement his master plan and see what he has for the Nigerian people. Discipline must be maintained because it is the bane of the nation. I believe that discipline must be maintained because lack of it breeds corruption. And corruption has eaten deep into our fabric and we just have to fight it together as one. Second, we have to look into the challenges of the power sector because without constant supply of electricity, nothing can work because nothing can be done. So much money has been spent on electricity, yet nothing positive has happened. How can we manufacture without power? That is why manufacturing in Nigeria is more expensive than anywhere in the world. There are no infrastructures on ground. How soon do you expect the ‘Change’ Buhari and his party promised us? We are yet to see what the incoming government has in stock for us and how the people, especially the opposition would accept it. That is why I said we should organise and harmonize ourselves to assist the incoming administration to be effective. And as I said earlier, it is about discipline. With discipline, you will realise that Nigerians are easy people to lead. For me, it is a collective responsibility and people should give advice that will have positive impact for today and for our future. That is why we should rally round Buhari and forget about which side of the country we come from. Thank God the General is a disciplined man. So, let us toe his line and regain our lost glory as the giant of Africa. We can do it. General Buhari will do all what is humanly possible to fix Nigeria, if he doesn’t, then, he is not the Buhari we all voted for. Nigeria needs surgical operation and General Buhari has to be a fantastic surgeon to carry it out because Nigeria is rotten the way I look at it.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, may 14, 2015

Interview

News

Mahmud: We must abide by 180 days rule for election petitions

Widow, lawyer plot showdown over Metropolitan College

22&25

Law Days after President Goodluck Jonathan indicated his desire to handover to the President-elect, General Mohammadu Buhari on May 28 as against May 29, some states executives have also dismissed the significance of May 29. They insisted that they would handover to the SSG before May 29. What is the significance of May 29 in relation to Section 135(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution? TUNDE OYESINA and AKEEM NAFIU seek lawyers’ views

lthough President Goodluck Jonathan had made a detour on his plan to handover powers to the President-elect, General Mohammadu Buhari on May 28, twenty-four hours to the expiration of his tenure, it is not so with some outgoing states executives. To them, May 29 is not binding on them as none of their predecessors handed over to them when they assumed office some eight years ago. President Jonathan assumed office as the elected president in the 2011 general elections but lost to General Buhari in a keenly contested presidential election held on March 28. While his ruling Peoples Democratic Party suffered defeat both at the governorship and the National Assembly’s elections, its governors were worst hit by the loss. However, as the May 29 draws by, some of the outgoing governors have vowed not to abide by

FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE JUDICIARY Editor

foluso.ogunmodede@ newtelegraphonline.com

Abayomi

Hon

the symbolized May 29. May 29 was inaugurated as Democracy Day since 1999 especially as it ended the General Abdusalami Abubakar’s military dictatorship era and urshered in the democratically elected government spearheaded by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999. 16 years on, May 29 has become Nigeria’s symbol of democracy; hence it has become the beginning and end of tenure for the elected public office holders since the beginning of the Fourth Republic. However, May 29 is being interpreted differently by public office holders since the beginning of the ‘fall’ of the PDP. First to tactically queried the symbolized May 29 was President Jonathan when he announced that he would handover powers to the President-elect. Although he had made a detour, his PDP governors at the weekend announced that the May 29 was not binding as they may handover power to the in-coming administration in their respective states before May 29. For instance, the Jigawa outgo-

ing Governor, Sule Lamido has become emphatic that he may not hand-over to the in-coming All Progressives Congress (APC) administration on May 29. Lamido said: “I will not hand over to my successor because my predecessor did not hand over to me. I will go on leave on May 20, nine days to the handover day. “I will handover to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and the SSG will handover to the next administration as it was done to me in 2007’’. But lawyers disagreed with the governor. To them, the traditional May 29 date must be respected although they silent on the legal aspect of the hand over date. May 29 has been the traditional date of handing over since the country returned to democracy in 1999, one said. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Sebastine Hon said that President Jonathan’s tenure will statutorily end on May 29 and the Presidentelect should take the Oath of office like the same way his prede-

May 29 handover date polarises lawyers Let me emphasise that the whole idea of handover is strange to the Constitution

cessors took oath of office on the symbolic date. Hon said: “The best and appropriate thing to do is for President Jonathan to hand over at 12:01am of the morning of May 29, 2015. “If he hands over before May 29, it means he is no longer the president. He should hand over by 12:01am of May 29 or do as the usual practice by 7am in the past. It will not be late if it is done by 7am on the morning of May 29 as former presidents took over on the morning of May 29”. To the President of Public Interest Lawyers League (PILL), Abdul Mahmud there was nothing impropriety about hand over on May 28. He said: “Actual transfer of powers happens when mandatory prescriptions of Section 135(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution are fulfilled. In effect, handover or transfer of power happens when the oaths of allegiance and office are administered by CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

22 Law | Interview

THURSDAY, may 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Mahmud: We must abide by 180 days rule for election petitions ture of the politics of our country. If there are allegations against the Nigerian Army, it should be investigated and bring offenders to book.

In this interview with TUNDE OYESINA, Abdul Mahmud, President, Public Interest Lawyers League, bares his mind on a series of cases against President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari and concluded that the cases would not see the light of the day moments after President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure expires. Elections have come and gone, how would you appraise the 2015 general elections? For me as a Nigerian, the elections came and gone, predictions of doomsayers who predicted that Nigeria will collapse after those elections have not come pass. We have remained as one indivisible country. In spite of the fact that the elections are peaceful, we have some couple of violence everywhere- South - South, South-East, in the North, where there are cases of ballot hijack, particularly in Gombe and Bauchi states. The elections also highlighted the desires of Nigerians to have a truly democratic transition. Don’t forget that whichever way the elections of April 11 had gone, the President would still have emerged either from the PDP or the APC. But today, we have an APC President. For the first time we have a successful political transition, from a ruling party to an opposition party though there were reports of failure of card readers across our country. We have been told by Jega that less than 0.25 percent of the card reader failed. I don’t know how true it is. In all, for the fact that we remained as a country and indivisible, I give kudos to INEC and also to those politicians who saw reasons beyond the rational for us to have a peaceful country. It makes no sense if we had collapse into violence with contesting claimants to the office to the President, with no country for them to rule over. Politicians had for the first time in our Nigeria’s history accept that Nigeria is bigger than them. In view of some irregularities, a section of Nigerians believe in INEC’s power to cancel controversial results rather than going to the tribunal. Does INEC have powers to cancel election results? INEC does not have power to cancel elections. Once an election has been conducted and results announced, the next battle ground will be the tribunal, it is not for INEC Ubanito cancel because as at that time when the results have been

What about the contentious 180 days the law allows for the hearing and conclusion of elections matter? I don’t think the 180 days is too small. The problem we have here is the agencies of state trying to duplicate the law. Take for example, the National Assembly elections, some people who lost out of the elections and shown willingness to challenge the result released by INEC, it took them three weeks for them to get important electoral document from INEC. If we take three weeks from 180 days, the days provided would have reduced. The days provided is from the tribunal to the Supreme Court. For some lawyers, who know that the 180 days rule is there will throw up all sort of legal issues, just to grind the wheel of justice. I think it is important that some of these procedures used in civil trials should not be made applicable in election cases. By doing this, we will help to remove that clog that lawyers usually throw at the wheel of justice. What is the role assigned by law to INEC at the tribunal? I find it very ridiculous when INEC appears before a tribunal, either to tell the court that it is neutral as agency of government or an umpire. At times they even tell the court that they are adopting the pleadings of one party as against the other. As the umpire, it should be in a position to extricate over what happened in any election before a tribunal. I think it is derogation of the responsibilities of INEC and as we are moving forward, INEC should help us deepen our democracy by helping the tribunal or the court for speedy decision of electoral cases.

Mahmud

announced, it does not fall under the purview of INEC’s power again but that of the court to determine on the grounds of evidence placed before it; to determine if the irregularities were caused by whoever appearing before the tribunal. I have seen and heard politicians calling for the cancellation of the elections. I say to them, for us to deepen our democracy, they should go to court to explore the legal frame work available. What now happens to numerous cases against Buhari, the Presidentelect? Cases against Buhari will surely die a natural death. If the kernel of the case is that Buhari has no certificate, an agency of government has come out to say that he has a certificate only that they did not see it when they were looking for it. Don’t also forget that most of the cases instituted in court are purely political actions. How would you look at the apex court’s verdict on the use of military for elections?

For the first time we have a successful political transition, from a ruling party to an opposition party

I salute the Supreme Court for setting aside the obiter made by the Court of Appeal. But obiter is what it is; it does not carry the force of law. But the Nigerian politics as it is arranged today, people enlarge such obiter and try to promote it into law. Whether we accept or not, it was strange to me, when I read that remarks made by the Court of Appeal to the extent that armed forces have no role to play in the conduct of elections. Nigerian Army does not conduct elections, it is the INEC that conduct elections, but we are talking of securing the public peace, properties and lives and if that role cannot be given and left alone to the Nigeria police, I see nothing wrong for the army to occupy the public space to secure the lives of Nigerians during elections. If you look at elections we have had so far, Nigerian Army have been involved to the extent that they don’t take charge of polling booth but they secure lives and properties. Of course, Nigerian politics for what it is, institutions and government agencies have compromised because of the na-

The tenure of the Ekiti lawmakers expires on May 29, what then do you make of the ongoing crisis between them and Govern Fayose especially as the House has produced two parallel Speakers? The Ekiti issue is very funny. It is just a common sense that the party who has the majority of members in the house produces the speaker. If APC has greater majority than the PDP, I will presume that the proper speaker is that who was elected by the majority members of the house. If that speaker is a member of APC and a representative of a party who has the majority members in the house, he is the legal and proper speaker of Ekiti Assembly, but we do know in country that sometimes, politics surplants law. Any agenda for the in-coming President? Well, over the weekend, I was in Edo state and met with a few of our members in Benin city, we have been trying to get some clear CONTINUED ON PAGE25

Law

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, may 14, 2015

NBC manager faces trial for stealing N68.7million trial

Court will, on June 24, hear an NBC manager who allegedly defrauded the company of N68.7m

Akeem Nafiu

hief Magistrate O. I. Adelaja of a Lagos Magistrate’s Court, has fixed the trial of a manager with the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Plc, Olubusoye Abayomi, who allegedly

stole N68.7million from the company for June 24. Olubusoye, the NBC Plant/Logistics Manager, was charged before the court by men of the Criminal Investigation Department of Lagos state Police Command, Panti-Yaba, on a two count-charge, bordering on conspiracy and stealing. The offence, according to the police prosecutor, Inspector Richard Odigie, contravenes Sections 409 and 285(7) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011. The accused and oth-

ers now at large, was said to have committed the offence between June 2011 and June 2014, at Nigerian Bottling Company, in Iddo House, Lagos. The heinous act was discovered following a forensic audit that was conducted on the company’s account upon which the accused was handed over to the police by the company’s management for prosecution. At the resumed proceedings on Monday, the prosecution lawyer told the court that the matter was slated for mention.

He later asked the court for a trial date. Defence lawyer, Tunji Adeyemi, did not oppose the police prosecutor’s request for a trial date. Consequently, Chief Magistrate Adelaja, adjourned the matter till June 24, for the trial of the accused person. Count one of the charges leveled against the accused reads; “that you Olubusoye Abayomi Ayodeji, 40, and others now at large, between the month of June 2011, and June 2014, at Nigerian Bottling Company, Iddo

House, Lagos, in the Lagos magisterial district, did conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit; stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 409 of the criminal laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2012.” Count two of the charge reads; “that you Olubusoye Abayomi Ayodeji, on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid magisterial district, while in the employment of NBC limited as Acting Plant Manager/Logistic Manager, at

Apapa, did steal and conspired to steal the sum of N68, 703, 480 million, property of NBC Limited, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 285 (7) of the criminal laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2012.” The accused had already pleaded not guilty to the charges and he has been admitted to bail in the sum of N2 million, with one surety. The surety according to Chief Magistrate Adelaja, must present evidence of three years tax payment.

Why May 29 is sacrosanct, by lawyers C O N TI N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 1

the CJN”. In his view, a Constitutional Lawyer, Dr. Tunji Abayomi said the president or governors cannot hand over constitutionally until their successors take oath of office. Besides, Abayomi said the Constitution did not mention any particular date, but only emphasised that the president can stay in office for four years until a successor takes oath. He said: “What it means is that since a successor will not take oath on May 28, the president cannot hand over. He can only hand over after a successor has taken oath of office. “In the same manner, the presidentelect cannot also take over until he has become president. “The Constitution does not allow the glory, burden or badge of the office of the president to be shared with anybody, at any time, therefore hand over before May 29 does not arise. “Let me emphasise that the whole idea of hand over is strange to the Constitution. Government through the Ministers has hand over note. I think we are making too much of it. There is nothing like a hand over by the president. “The president’s tenure begins and ends, and the tenure of another person begins with taking oath of office.” An external examiner to the Nigerian Law School, Olusoji Toki said that no hand over could take place before May 29, the date which serves as the traditional hand over date. He said: “Whatever that is done, all executives to be sworn in should make sure it is on the 29th that the CJN or CJ as the case may be swear them in. They should not take the oath of office until May 29. You remember Obama was sworn in twice during his first tenure. The reason was that the CJN made a mistake when he was administering the oath. A Few days after, he called Obama and re- sworn him”. To a human rights activist, Kayode Ajulo, the nation’s Constitution was clear on the term of office of the President, which is four years. Ajulo said: “It should not be a day less or a day more, by law, practice and convention, the extant President became President at noon of 29th May and if another one must take over it must be on the 29th May. “It’s crystal clear that President Jonathan is in a hurry to leave and he can’t wait. I did not see anything

Ajulo

wrong in his handing over reign of power to his deputy, Vice President Namadi Sambo. “Major General Buhari must be cautioned on this as anything that makes him to take over power on 28th May must inform him that he will leave on 28 not 29 May. “Our law must be followed and Nigeria is a Republic, governed by our law not the fancies, whims and caprices of some individuals”. Another lawyer, John Akintewe said there was nothing wrong or illegal in the plans to hand over on May 28, saying that handing over was a process that will end with the inauguration of the president-elect on May 29. Destiny Obun Takon said “along with that, I want to liken the date to a new-year eve and the first day of January of the new-year. No matter the situation the country might be facing, it is a sense of hope for change for the better from one administration to the other or one regime to the other.

“As a matter of fact, government for me is supposed to be progressive. Even if the government is doing well, Nigerians deserve nothing less than the best and so, there should be an improvement from one administration to another. So, May 29, is a time of the year for us that has come to signify change and a hope for continuity in areas where the government has been doing well and a hope for an improvement where the government has not been doing well. That is essentially what it is. Also, it is the day legally speaking, when the government that is in-coming receives legitimacy to take over the reign of governance and administer the sovereignty of the people over the territory of Nigeria for the next four years, given that it has a four-year tenure in the first instance.” Wale Ogunade said “of course, the Constitution, I think, in Section 132, has stated that the tenure of the President shall be for 4 years from the date he took oath of office. The key and op-

erating word is “four years from the date he took oath of office”. So, that is what makes May 29 sacrosanct. The first President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the Constitution in 1999 was Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. He took oath of office on the 29th of May, 1999. So, the May 29 handover date is backed up by the Constitution”. Monday Ubani said “the 29th of May, was chosen during Obasanjo’s regime as the hand-over date. Since 1999 up till now, the date has become when hand-over to a new government is done. So, the significance of the date is that the four-year tenure of a government expires on May 28 and a new one starts on May 29 of every four years. So, everything we are doing must look towards May 29. If we are conducting elections, even the Electoral Act prescribes when elections should end, taking into cognisance the May 29, handing over date. So, May 29, has become a significant date in Nigeria because in everything we do, we must be mindful of the date and ensure that everything falls in line in accordance with the law”. Executive Director of the Social Economic Rights and Accountability Projects (SERAP), Adetokunbo Mumuni, said “the Constitution says government must have a four-year tenure to start from May 29 and four year down the line on another May 29, a new government has to be in place. I don’t see anything significant in it because that is what the Constitution provides for. “As far as I am concerned, what should be important to us is not about the ceremony of May 29 handover date. At least, we have seen May 29 on four occasions now. Let’s ask ourselves, what positive impact has it made in the lives of Nigerians? That is my major concerns. We have witnessed this May 29 four times now, are Nigerians better off now than they were on the 29th of May, 1999? Are Nigerians better off than they were on the 29th of May, 2003? Are Nigerians better off than they were on the 29th of May, 2007? Are Nigerians better off than they were on the 29th of May, 2011? So, that is the way I am looking at the whole issue. I don’t attach any serious significant to the May 29 date. What is significant to me is seen the lives of Nigerians improved economically, socially and in every other human performance index”.

Law | News

fireworks

Ogun-East Senatorelect locks horns over extradition plot with NDLEA, EFCC, ICPC Akeem Nafiu

ustice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Lagos will on May 27, rule on a fundamental rights enforcement suit initiated by the Ogun-East Peoples’ Democratic Party’s (PDP) Senator-elect, Prince Buruji Kashamu. Kashamu is seeking the court’s protection against the plot to extradite him to the United States of America over alleged drug-related offences. Sued are the chairman, Nigerian Drug Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Director General, Department of State Security (DSS), Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) and the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation. Others include the Clerk of the National Assembly, National Security

THURSDAY, may 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Court to decide Kashamu’s extradition suit May 27 Adviser to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Nigeria Custom Services, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. Kashamu’s lawyer, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), said his client had rushed to court to seek protection because he had seen the danger coming just as he didn’t have to wait until it was unleashed on him especially as the law allows an applicant to seek the court’s protection when he sees that a danger “has been, is being or is likely to be” unleashed on him”. This, according to him has made Kashamu to fall within the perimeter of “likely to be.” Besides, Izinyon argued that none of the 12 respondents sued had controverted the alleged plot to abduct his client.

Akeem Nafiu

91-year-old woman, Madam Roseline Ololo has given the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola a seven-day ultimatum within which to return the Metropolitan College and the Isolo Secondary School to her or be prepared to receive her as she would permanently occupy the governor’s office. Madam Ololo, through her lawyer, Malcolm Omirhobo, threatened to permanently occupy the governor’s office until her demands were met. Madam Ololo and her late husband, Chief Michael Ololo had, through their company, Akaix West Africa Limited, established Metropolitan College in 1955 with the first batch of 19 students in Surulere area of Lagos. For expansion purposes and to move away from the thickly populated residential area of Surulere, the owners acquired the present site at Ire-Akari, Isolo in 1966 and eventually moved there in 1974. In 1976, via the Education (Private Secondary Institutions Special Provisions) Law, the Military Government of Lagos State took over 48 Private Secondary Schools from their owners, including Metropolitan College. In the process, Isolo Secondary School was carved out of Metropolitan College on the same expanse of land hosting the college. However, in 2001, the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu repealed the law and returned the said 48 private schools to their owners, but Metropolitan College was curiously not returned, a development that brought about a law suit. In the suit, Akaix West Africa

Kashamu

However, in opposition, lawyer to the Inspector General of police and the Interpol National Central Bureau, David Igbodo, said Kashamu failed to show any proof of the alleged move to abduct and extradite him.

Igbodo, while describing Kashamu’s action as speculative, urged the court to dismiss the suit. He said: “My Lord, what the 1st and 5th respondents are simply saying is that this application is speculative. The 1st and

5th respondents have not made, are not making and are not likely to make any attempt to abduct the applicant, as alleged by the applicant.” Igbodo insisted that there was no plan to abduct the Senator-elect even though abduction remains a criminal offence, the IGP will never condone such in the slightest form of it. Earlier, Justice Abang had refused an application by the lawyer for the Clerk of the National Assembly, Joshua Okah, to join Obasanjo as a respondent in the suit. “My Lord, we have perused the affidavit in support of the applicant’s originating summons and we observed that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo featured prominently and serious allegations were leveled against him; we have brought this application that he be joined as a necessary respondent for the complete and ef-

fective determination of this matter,” Okah said. But Izinyon, who described the application as an abuse of court processes, said it was an aberration for a respondent in a suit to seek to join another respondent. Ruling on the arguments, Abang upheld Izinyon’s argument and dismissed the application to join Obasanjo as a respondent in Kashumu’s suit. Kashamu is seeking, among other reliefs, an order of the court directing the police IG to “provide a security detail of at least six armed police officers to protect the applicant at all times of the day and to prevent (him from) any attack or abduction.” He also prayed for a court order directing the clerk of the National Assembly “to accord the applicant every facility, right and privileges due to a Senator-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Widow, lawyer plot showdown over Metropolitan College

Fashola

had sued the state government before the Lagos High Court to challenge the refusal of government to hand over the school to it. The government, however, indicated willingness to settle the dispute out of court, a development which led to the matter being

referred to the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC) for arbitration. At the arbitral sitting, the issues were narrowed down by parties as follows: “That the Metropolitan College comprising of Isolo Secondary School belongs to Akaix West Africa Limited. “That Metropolitan College will be released to Akaix West Africa Limited. “That the Lagos State Ministry of Education is insisting on retaining part of the property hosting Isolo Secondary School. “That Akaix West Africa Limited shall comply with the terms and conditions of the return of Private Secondary Schools. “That Lagos State Government, from time to time, will monitor the Akaix West Africa Limited’s compliance.” However, another trouble started due to the insistence of the Lagos State Ministry of Education to retain the Isolo Secondary School. Akaix West Africa had contended that the retention of part of the school was against government’s restructuring of the educational system of divesting and allowing the private sector to invest in the educational system so as to provide the conditions in which students can learn to the highest standard and prepare themselves to meet their future needs. Omirhobo had earlier written a letter to Fashola, urging him to put on his wig and gown as a sea-

soned and erudite Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to call for the file, study it and advise the Lagos State Ministry of Education on the need to return the whole school and not part to the owners. The lawyer had specially urged the governor to frog leap the exercise of the return of the school by ensuring that the case is presented and deliberated at the next Lagos State Executive Council Meeting with a view that the matter could be put to an end on or before May 29. However, the lawyer explained that since the governor had failed to speedily act on the letter, his client (Mama Ololo) decided to take her destiny in her own hands by lawfully occupying the governor’s office in protest against the undue delay in the return of her school. “My client desperately wants her school to be given to her in her lifetime because the school is the family legacy. Mama and her late husband worked hard to build the school and they cannot sit back and watch when the other schools have since been returned to their owners. “We don’t have any problem in terms of running the school effectively and efficiently. We are capable and we have agreed that we should be sanctioned if we don’t run the school properly. So, there is really no reason for the delay in returning everything to us,” the lawyer stressed.

Law | News

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, may 14, 2015

Oil theft: Court sentences four to 36 years in prison Akeem Nafiu

“N

o b o d y should commit an offence and expect the court to show mercy. They have no sympathy for this country and the citizens. In spite of all the efforts made by the Federal Government to protect the petroleum pipelines and make petrol to get to everybody with ease, the convicts and their cohorts have made consistent efforts to sabotage and frustrate the effort of the Federal Government”. With these words,

a Lagos Federal High Court Judge, Justice Okon Abang sentenced four middle-aged men to 36 years in prison for stealing 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PSM) valued at N3.2m. The convicts: Yama Abass, Adeleke Adetoro, Olaniyi Tope and Beliya Abegunde, were found guilty by a Lagos Federal High Court Judge, Justice Okon Abang for stealing the product. The PSM, belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) were stolen by the quartet. They were arraigned

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

positions on what we think should be Buhari’s agenda. We don’t want to veer off from the agenda he has set for himself which of course is to protect the health of our country through the abolition of corruption. For us, we encourage Buhari to pursue this agenda because we believe that corruption is a scourge in the country. Also, for us we think the first test Buhari must pass is to appoint those to become ministers of the federal republic. We in PILL, we will take him to task, to scrutinise, every individual he presents as ministers. We are not saying that ministers must be saint but because Buhari has told us that the greatest scourge in our country today is corruption, must seek to present those he thinks are saints, those who he thinks will take our country from the level we are to the level he assumes our country to be. We will look at the anti-corruption programme of Buhari and put him to task. More importantly, we also think, it is important for the President-elect to look at the reform of the Nigeria judiciary. He should look at the court structures, how we can take serious criminal matters before the High Court and leave them at the level of the magistrate’s court so that we can free up our courts. Is it possible to create a new constitutional court charged with the responsibility of looking at any matter related to the Constitution? We are also particular about the security of the office of our judges and also the magistrate’s court. They should be well taken of, well funded, the executive should respect the judgement of the court. These are some of the issues Buhari should bear his mind to. They are not going to be easy or child’s play. With his force of personality, his commitment to our country as a patriot, I believe he is capable of doing those things he had promised he would do. Finally, we will take him to task on corruption, we are worried, having listened and read his speeches so far, he has not highlighted the procedures he intends to fight corruption with. It is beyond ministers declaring assets. It is even an offence to someone to be a minister and declaring assets. The point Nigeria has agitated over is for public servants to make public assets that they have declared. No matter the good intention of Buhari, our laws must be modified. Until our legal environment is modified, fight against corruption will be a fluke.

Auta

before the judge last year August alongside Alabi Olayinka, an accountant in a petrol station in Lagos. However, even though, Abass, Adetoro, Tope and Abegunde, were convicted

on counts three and four of the charge, Justice Abang discharged and acquitted Olayinka on the premise that the evidence before the court did not link him to the crime. He described Olayinka’s arrest, detention and prosecution as malicious. Each of the four convicts was sentenced to three years in prison on count three and six years on count four. The sentence, according to the judge would begin from July 13, last year and run concurrently. Justice Abang described the convicts’ conduct as shameful saying

that the nation had suffered from fuel scarcity on account of their illicit activities. However, the judge in his judgment, ordered the petrol stations that bought the stolen products to make restitution in the sum of N3.2m to the Federal Government within seven days of the judgment. The court also ordered the sale of the tanker used in conveying the stolen product by auction within 14 days of the judgment. According to the charge marked FHC/L/220c/2014, the convicts with some persons still being sought

for, conspired and damaged oil pipelines and stole 33,000 litres of PMS belonging to the NNPC on July 13 along Epe/Ikorodu road in Lagos. They were said to have been apprehended while selling the stolen products to filling stations in the city. The offence, according to the prosecution contravened Sections 390 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 7 (a) and (b) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act Cap M 17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

‘We must abide by election petitions rules’ Assembly why he will not accent. He has given them about the 13 to 15 reasons. The only serious ground I see in the President’s refusal is the issue of Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution which invariably removed the right to accent of the President. For such an important arm of the legislature, I think the President is correct that a vote should have been taken and not the votes of National Assembly alone but votes of all 36 states House of Assembly. For every other ground especially the separation of power, I don’t see how they alter the 1999 Constitution will go against the doctrine of separation of power as preserved by Sections 4, 5,6 of the Constitution. Don’t forget that constitutions are organic documents; they are subject to change from time to time. The powers of the different levels of government are limited by the powers of those who draft the Constitution at every point in time. The powers of the president are inherent in the Constitution. I don’t see the basis of this complaint. There is nothing unnatural about the refusal to accent the reviewed Constitution. The provision of Section 180(5) grants the National Assembly powers to override the veto of the President if they have gotten the will to do it. Nothing stops them to pass that Bill into an Act without the accent of the President.

Mahmud

President Jonathan and the National Assembly are on each other’s jugular over non-refusal to sign the amended Constitution. What is the way out? I find it very strange. At certain level, it is within the power of the President to accept or refuse ac-

cent. The refusal of accent is in two forms. Regular veto where you must give reason for vetoing the bill of the National Assembly, the second is the pack up veto where you take no steps to give accent as a result of inaction. Here he has clearly told that National

What is your take on the national conference’s resolution? This is a very tricky one. At the surface level, I will say the resolution becomes the property of the Nigerian state irrespective of the party in power because government is a continuum. We should not also forget that a lot of politics went into the confab. Clearly, APC as a party refused to send delegates to the then national conference. Social political forces took part in drafting the resolutions. How will Buhari contend with these political forces, who have put their beliefs together. Neglecting it will not mean well. It is not a good politics to play. What the government can do is to look at the resolutions and take as part of his responsibilities some of them that are relevant.

26 Law | News

THURSDAY, may 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Firearm: CJ takes over case file of accused brothers Akeem Nafiu

T Atilade

he Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Oluwafunmilayo Atilade has taken over the case file of two brothers, Sulaiman Sanusi and Kehinde Sanusi, who are standing trial over alleged possession of firearm. The Chief Judge tookover the casefile, following an alleged threat to the life of Magistrate

Adeola Adedayo, who presided over the matter. Magistrate Adedayo had at the last hearing of the matter raised the alarm that she had received threat letters delivered to her residence from the defendants who were yet to be arraigned. The magistrate said she was disturbed that the defendants knew her house and had detailed her personal life in the letter. Adedayo said: “I feel

very threatened. Let the world know about it so that if anything happens to me and any member of my family the whole world will know who to hold. “I don’t know why a defendant should know my house. My life is at risk”. At the resumed hearing of the matter on Monday, before Magistrate Adedayo, the defendants and their lawyers were absent. Meanwhile, a lawyer

from the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), S. Dawudu, drew the court’s attention to a legal advice from DPP. The matter could however not go on as the Magistrate said she was not in possession of the case file and that she had no information with regard to the DPP’s advice. It was gathered that the first defendant (Sulaiman Sanusi) was asked to face trial as the DPP, insisted that he had a case to answer over the illegal possession of firearm, while his younger brother Kehinde Sanusi was asked to go, as there was no evidence that linked him with the offence. The two defendants who are the children of the late Lagos business mogul, Chief AbdulRasak Sanusi, are being prosecuted by the police. In the charge marked A/143/2014 instituted by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Suleimon, was accused of unlawful possession of firearm. The police stated that the accused had acted contrary to Section 104 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011 and Section 4 of the Nigerian Firearm Act. It was further gathered that the charge, was as a result of suit that was instituted in 2002 by Suleimon and two of his siblings against three of their siblings, who were appointed by their late father as the executors of his estate. The suit marked ID/904M/2002 had as its plaintiffs Suleimon, Risikat Olusanya and Ganiyat Sanusi. Sued were the appointed executors of the estate, Abdul-Mojeed Sanusi, Falilat Sanusi-Lawal, and Bilikisu Sanusi. In the said suit, the claimants had accused the respondents of mismanaging their late father’s estate. But ruling on the suit, Justice Williams-Dawodu had held that “the first applicant (Suleimon) should produce or surrender all documents in his custody to the estate.” The court also ordered the executors (respondents) to resume joint management of the estate in line with the will of their late father executed by the late F.R.A. Williams (SAN). The executors were ordered to return to the court to submit a report of stewardship on the estate. But they are now alleging that since the court order was given in 2006, the first applicant, had not complied by surrendering all the documents in relation to the estate, as directed by the court.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015

27 Health Living

Tackle piles with right diet

Health

Health Features

LASODA boosts healthcare access for people with hearing disability

Nature Power

Getting used to colours

Cancer: Early

detection as life saver The International Agency for Research on Cancer has predicted that by 2030, there will be more than 21 million new cases of cancers with 13 million cancer deaths every year. With majority of the deaths being recorded in developing countries, including Nigeria, preventing cancer and addressing late presentation will tackle the scourge, writes APPOLONIA ADEYEMI

ith over 80 percent of cancer patients in the country presenting at stage 111 and 1V when little or nothing can be done to save the situation, medical experts have blamed the trend on negative attitude to screening. To this end, Nigerians with high risk of developing breast cancer have been advised to screen routinely to enable them detect cancer early and treat it effectively. A Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Omolola Salako who made the appeal in Lagos last week, said in addressing high rate advanced breast cancers, citizens must adopt the culture of screening. Ignorance and stigma contribute largely to the present situation, resulting in rising cancer and preventable deaths, said Salako who is also the founder of Sebeccly Cancer Care and Support Centre, a charity dedicated to promoting early detection, treatment and improvement of breast and cervical cancers. She spoke at the media flagoff of Sebeccly’s 2015 Light Lagos Pink (LLP) campaign, an annual programme to ensure that the right information on breast and cervical cancers is disseminated. According to Salako, cancer is killing more people in developing world than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria combined.

Appolonia Adeyemi Health Editor

appolonia.adeyemi@newtelegraphonline.com

“Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the principal cause of cancer deaths among women in Nigeria. Breast cancer accounts for 27,304 new cases and 13,960 deaths annually in Nigeria.” The founder of Sebeccly Cancer Care and Support Centre said one third of cancers are preventable, and an additional one third of cancers can be detected and treated if presented early. Salako said women above 40 and women with family history of breast cancer should screen regularly. It will be recalled that On May 14, 2013, Oscar winning Hollywood actress, Angelina Jolie, 39 disclosed she underwent a preventive double mastectomy after learning through cancer screening that she carries a mutation of the BRCA1 gene, which sharply increases her risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers. BRCA stands for breast cancer susceptibility genes. Going by the result of her screening, Jolie wrote, “My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer. “Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimise the risk as much I could.” The good news is that with the mastectomy, removal of two breasts, Jolie’s chances of developing breast cancer dropped from 87 percent to under five percent. Jolie’s mother, actress and producer Marcheline Bertrand, died of ovarian cancer in 2007 at the age of 56. Since Jolie went public with the double mastectomy story, breast cancer charities abroad reported a four-fold surge in women enquiring about having their breasts removed. Figures from Cancer Research UK show that the numbers of calls to its helpline increased four-fold while there has been a similar rise in visits to its

Breast prosthesis are now available for survivors who did mastectomy

After double mastectomy, Jolie’s chances of developing breast cancer dropped PHOTO: www.hitfix.com

Women with family history of breast cancer should screen regularly

Dr. Salako

website. However, back in Nigeria where advanced breast cancers are fuelling deaths, Salako said women are presenting late because of lack of information, ignorance, and exorbitant cost of care, stigmatisation, fear of treatment as well as fear of treatment side effects. Other reasons for late presentations are survivorship message not promoted, cost of care which is largely out-

PHOTO: www.walgreens.com

of-pocket payment, lack of family support and employment benefits. Salako said there was an urgent need to promote breast cancer awareness, initiate action among women to attend breast screening and to increase access to cancer care to indigent patients. “The `Light Lagos Pink Cancer Campaign` is an annual programme to ensure that proper information on breast cancer is being circulated. “The significant part of the campaign which will be coming up in October during the Breast Cancer Awareness Month is fund raising to support cancer patients who cannot afford the cost of treatment. “We are also appealing for N250 million to build the first Cancer Survivorship Centre in Nigeria to cater and treat 500 indigent patients as well as provide resources and aid for survivors. “This centre will also provide cancer survivorship services, access to cancer care, support group meetings, counseling, recovery care products, breast navigation services, research and advocacy.’’ A Patron of Sebeccly, Prof. Josbert T. Kofi Duncan, a consultant radiologist and oncologist, while dismissing claims that cancer is a death sentence admitted that cancer remain the number one killer of mankind. CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

Health News

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Healing plants inspire hope for psychiatric drugs

Healthy Living Dr. Ihuoma Uko-Ndukwe ada.ndukwe@yahoo.com

Tackle piles with right diet

Herbs for mental health medications

reatments used by traditional healers in Nigeria have inspired scientists at Northwestern University to synthesise four new chemical compounds that could one day lead to better therapies for people with psychiatric disorders. In a paper published online in the journal ‘Angewandte Chemie’ International Edition, the scientists detail how they created these natural compounds by completing the first total syntheses of two indole alkaloids -- alstonine and serpentine. These alkaloids, found in various plant species used by healers in Nigeria to treat people with conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, have antipsychotic properties that have potential to improve mental disorder treatments. The current drugs used for schizophrenia effectively treat delusions and hallucinations but are only partially effective for cognitive impairment. Early experimental research of these new compounds in animal models shows promise in improving cognitive impairment, the Northwestern scientists said. “After billions of years of evolution, nature has given us a great starting point for generating new types of molecules that could end up being used as innovative drugs,” said Karl Scheidt, lead author of the paper. “We’ve learned how to make these natural products in the laboratory and can now evaluate what are the most effective parts of these natural products for potential therapies.” Scheidt is a professor of chemistry at Northwestern University’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and professor of pharmacology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He collaborated on this study with Dr. Herbert Meltzer, professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences, pharmacology and physiology at Feinberg. They are both members of Northwestern’s Chemistry of Life Processes Institute (CLP), which helps foster collaboration between schools and lowers the barriers to scientific discovery. Meltzer, who has spent much of his career researching drug therapies now in use for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, approached Scheidt about the possibility of

PHOTO: www.mentalhealthy.co.uk

creating these compounds. Meltzer’s longtime research goal is to improve treatment outcomes and develop knowledge of brain mechanisms in mental disorders. Scheidt’s expertise is in designing novel methods and strategies for the construction of complex natural products with important biological attributes. “The synthesis of these alkaloids, which we have now just achieved, was exceedingly difficult,” said Meltzer, second author of the paper and an attending physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. “Karl Scheidt’s expertise in the synthesis of natural products was crucial to the success of this project and is the first step in getting a new drug ready for clinical trials.” Traditional healers boil these special plants and produce an extract that they administer to people with symptoms of mental illness. However, this extract isn’t pure, and it contains other compounds and materials that may not be beneficial to people with mental disorders. “Nature did not intend this plant to produce an antipsychotic drug on its own,” Meltzer said. The collaborative work to create the compounds took place in the Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery (CMIDD) at Northwestern, using high-level purification resources and state-of-the-art research instrumentation and equipment. Scheidt is the director of CMIDD. Through an efficient and stereo-selective synthesis, Scheidt and his team created four separate but related natural products. Now a template exists to continue making these compounds as needed for future studies and ultimately for use in clinical drug trials. “We can make multi-gram quantities of any of the compounds we want,” Scheidt said. “We built the assembly line and are now uniquely positioned to explore their potential.” Meltzer is already using these compounds in animal studies in his laboratory to better understand how they affect brain biology and chemistry in the schizophrenia disease model. Early results from his lab show that the compounds may increase the ability of other antipsychotic drugs to improve cognitive impairment.

Bananas are also rich in fibre

PHOTO: en.wikipedia.org

Dear doctor,

saw your column in the New Telegraph dated May 7, 2015 and it was quite educative and interesting. I suffered from this form of piles for some years now. Your article did not state much on the cure. But I really appreciate it. Could give an extensive list of high fibre diets and a lot more. God bless you for sharing this topic. Thank you, Oluwasijibomi Akinsoyinu, legal attorney. Answer: One of the biggest causes of diarrhea, constipation and haemorrhoids also known as piles, is a diet lacking in sufficient fibre. Fibres are of two types, soluble and insoluble kinds, which are necessary for proper digestion and excretion. Today’s prevalent diet and lifestyle habits do not incorporate enough of these types of food. Dietary fibre improves stool bulk and the amount of time it takes for food to pass through the intestine. It also lowers cholesterol. Fibre along with adequate fluid intake moves quickly and relatively easily through your digestive tract and helps reduce the risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes by lowering need for insulin, risk of colon cancer, reduce LDL--the “bad cholesterol. Fats and carbohydrates are absorbed in the bloodstream more slowly. Soluble fibres prevent free radicals that cause cancer from forming in the body. The recommended total fiber intake in a day is 12 to 25grams with 1/2 of that amount in soluble form. Women should eat at least 21 to 25 grams of fiber a day while men should aim for 30 to 38 grams, which is much higher. Adding fibre diet can help haemorrhoids in a number of ways: consti-

Brown rice is rich in fibre

PHOTO: cook2jhoom.wordpress.com

pation (when stools become dry and hard to pass) which is a major cause of hemorrhoids leading to straining during bowel movements, the pressure can cause veins around the anus and rectal to swell up and become haemorroids. The other way fiber helps haemorroids is to prevent aggravation of already formed haemorriods. Soluble fibre diet softens stools. In addition, stools that are difficult to pass can aggravate an already inflamed haemorriods. Dietary sources of fibre: Whole grain cereals or bread like wheaties, shredded wheat, spaghetti--whole wheat cooked, oatmeal, popcorn, airpopped brown rice, among others. Fresh fruits like oranges, peach, strawberries, banana, dried figs raisins are rich in fibres, while legumes nuts and seeds are very good too. Similarly, black eye beans, almonds and lentil beans are useful. Vegetable rich in fibre are cabbage, raw carrots, corn, green beans, baked potatoes, green broccoli, tomato paste, among others. Foods with negligible fiber source are grapefruit and apple juice. One of the side effects of high fiber is in extreme case is bloating, when taken with inadequate water.

Health News 29

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015

Half of women of reproductive age anaemic – NSN N

L-R: Animashaun; Dr. Oshinyimika; and Dr. Awelenje in a group photograph with some of the participants at the sign language workshop held in Lagos recently

Ibijola Medical Group champions free health screening

ver 500 citizens have accessed two-day free medical screening put together by the Ibijola Medical Centre at the Salvation Primary School, Ibiye in Olorunda Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) and and Ibijola Medical Centre premises, Unity Estate in Badagry Local Government Council. Also, to mark the one year anniversary of Ibijola Medical Centre, Ibiye Branch in June 2015, management of the hospital has unveiled plans to conduct free antenatal screening/registration on a particular day for pregnant women, including free obstetric scan as well as family planning counseling. Apart from using the free medical screening to reduce the burden of health challenges confronting citizens in the targeted areas, Ibijola Group Medical Director/CEO, Dr. Adeyeye Arigbabuwo said, the “gathering was meant to serve as part of our social responsibility. This is a token of our quota of giving back to the society.” However the screening which held recently included free blood pressure check, HIV screening, diabetes mellitus, urinalysis, malaria parasitaemia and body

mass index check. Also, the health facility gave out free medication to those who accessed care during the programmes. Arigbabuwo said, “Our mission and vision is to effect reduction in morbidity and mortality arising amongst our people, especially Lagosians, and Nigerians in general.” According to him, the personnel recruited/mobilised on ground for these two-day even include doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists, and social workers, including administrative officers, and other support staff.

While activities on the first day took place at the Salvation Primary School building, the second day, the programme held at the Ibiye branch of Ibijola Hospital premises, Lagos State. Relating the story of the Agbara Branch where the health facility started from, Arigbabuwo said the Ibijola Medical Centre at first inception is now over 25 years. Similarly, “the Appleyard Group , Olorunda LCDA, Ibiye, Lagos, started well over 11 years ago,” he said, adding, “the Ibijola Medical Centre, Ibiye, Olorunda LCDA, Badagry LGA, Lagos, is less than one year old.”

Arigbabuwo (3rd from left, back row) flanked by other management staff of the Ibijola Medical Group touring activities during the free health mission held in Badagry LGC recently

igeria faces one of the largest burdens of micro-nutrient deficiencies, with anaemia the most common with a big impact on health of women and children, the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) have disclosed. Specifically, 49 per cent of women of reproductive age have anaemia, 24.3 per cent have low iron stores and 12.7 per cent of them are iron deficient. These figures indicate that majority of the adolescent girls and women did not meet the iron requirements of 20 milligrams per day as recommended by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Iron deficiency anaemia is a condition in which the red blood cells or their oxygen-carrying capacity is insufficient to meet physiological needs of the body. The symptoms of anaemic condition includes, fatigue, dizziness, weakness, drowsiness, shortages of breath and all these militate against active living and human productivity as iron is critical to learning process and energy for day to day activities. This has raised serious concerns among relevant stakeholders led by the NSN, which said that iron is one of the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies globally, with almost one of every two women of reproductive age being anemic in Nigeria. Speaking at a press conference in Lagos organised by Unilever Nigeria in partnership with the NSN on the impact of Iron deficiency anaemia in Nigeria, Prof. Ngozi Nnam, President, NSN said that the causes of anaemia vary but that approximately fifty percent of the cases are due to iron deficiency. Speaking on a survey findings commissioned by Unilever Nigeria focusing on iron deficiency anaemia among women in Nigeria, Dr. Folake Samuel, said that the preliminary research findings show that although many Nigerian women are aware that we have rich iron sources of food in our environment and its benefits as well as the consequences of iron deficiencies, and a lot of them consume iron rich food, but the consumption of iron rich food is still low and this calls for action and intervention.

As such, a significant proportion of the women frequently experience various symptoms of iron deficiency, said Folake, quoting the report. The survey sampled 615 women aged 20- 45 years in Lagos to access their level of awareness on iron deficiencies, iron rich food and consequences of iron deficiencies. “Looking at the awareness level of symptoms of iron deficiency, 55 per cent of the women rated tiredness and fatigue as part of daily life and know that when you suddenly become dizzy out of the blues, it is the consequences of not eating enough iron rich food; pale complexion, being another symptom of anaemia is also common in our society. Some people mistake a woman being pale as a sign of pregnancy, not knowing that it is an indicator of being anaemic,” she said. Nnam added that adolescent girls and pregnant women are the populations requiring the highest amount of iron intake and are, therefore, most susceptible to iron deficiency, adding that the typical Nigerian diet is low in iron-rich foods, while cassava and cereals (high in phytates which decreases iron absorption) are commonly eaten staples. “Pregnant women, teenage girls and women of reproductive age are among the most vulnerable to iron deficiency anaemia because of high iron requirements. Increasing iron intake during adolescence to prepare for pregnancy is crucial to decreasing the risk of iron deficiency anaemia and negative birth outcomes. “The commonly consumed traditional dishes may not provide sufficient iron to meet the requirements and it may be a challenge to manipulate these recipes as they are passed down from generation to generation. In Nigeria, mothers are the kitchen ‘gatekeepers’ and their adolescent daughters learn cooking behaviors from them,” she said. Myriam Sidibe, Hygiene and Nutrition Social Mission Director, Africa, Unilever said the aim of the programme was to provide more sensitisation to the general public on the importance of iron nutrients to the health of individuals.

Cancer incidents, deaths projected to rise by 2030 CO NTINUED F RO M PAG E 27

However, he said, “Women must also adopt the culture of self-breast examination for early detection of lumps and present cases early at hospitals for prompt diagnosis and treatment. His advice for survivors who are unhappy for losing their either one or both breasts to mastectomy is to count blessings especially in the area of being alive and sane. Breast prosthesis is

available to fill that gap, he added. According to him, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has predicted that by 2030, there will be more than 21 million new cases of cancer with 13 million cancer deaths every year. Similarly, Duncan said the government, non governmental organisations (NGOs) and stakeholders must collaborate to save the situation.

On her part, a Board Member of Sebeccly, Mrs Adetoro Omojole encouraged cancer survivors to deploy strategies they acquired in their various support group, to further prolong their lives. “You must prevent being unhappy and being unnecessarily moody,” she added. Some breast cancer screening tests Mammogramme Mammography is the most common screening test

for breast cancer. A mammogramme is an x-ray of the breast. This test may find tumors that are too small to feel. It is recommended to be conducted annually from age 40 In mammography, the breast is pressed between two plates. X-rays are used to take pictures of breast tissue. Clinical breast exam (CBE) A clinical breast exam is an examination of the breast by a doctor or other health

professional. The doctor will carefully feel the breasts and under the arms for lumps or anything else that seems unusual. Breast self-examination (BSE) Breast self-examination may be done by women or men to check their breasts for lumps or other changes. It is important to know how your breasts usually look and feel. If you feel any lumps or notice any other changes, talk to your doctor.

Health News

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

LASODA boosts healthcare access for people with hearing disability Appolonia Adeyemi

T L-R: Animashaun; Dr. Oshinyimika; and Dr. Awelenje in a group photograph with some of the participants at the sign language workshop held in Lagos recently

KHF, First Group supports free heart surgery for four beneficiaries Camillus Nnaji

anu Heart Foundation has announced a partnership arrangement with Dubai based First Group PLC which will benefit four indigent children with heart crisis. Coordinator of the foundation, Pastor OnyebuchAbia said that The First Group has done it

again. This time with a $59,900 donation for sponsoring four children for heart surgery to India and Dubai respectively. Abia noted that the property and estate company based in Dubai, United Arab Emirate last year donated $30,000 for sponsoring some children abroad for heart operations. The beneficiaries include: ChuchuOnyeji(17), AgboEyitayo(3), Chukwu

miracle(6) and OkohChidebere(9) “They help to sponsor patients who have heart defects basically because Kanu Nwankwo is their brand ambassador and they freely use his image. Kanu decided to use the endorsement deal to attract sponsorships for heart patients in the foundation” Abia disclosed that the four children have been selected based on their

emergency condition and position on the over 350 names on the waiting list. The Coordinator regretted the ever growing number of patients knocking on its doors. “Every day, the waiting list is becoming longer. We have over 350 registered names on the list. Sometimes, we appeal to individuals for money to treat these children in pitiable condition.

Nestlé media workshop focuses on nutrition, water Esther Albert

n a bid to improve the understanding and reporting skills of media practitioners, Nestlé Nigeria , the leading Nutrition, Health and Wellness Company is set to organise the fourth edition of Creating Shared Value (CSV) Media Workshop. According to Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Dr. Samuel

Adenekan, the workshop which will be declared open by the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Nestlé Nigeria, Chief Dharnesh Gordhon, will focus on mainstreaming Nutrition, Water and Agriculture/Rural Development reporting in the media. Dr Chris Isokpunwu, Head of Nutrition for the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria will speak on “Addressing the multiple burden of malnutrition through micronutrient fortification.”

Dr Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, Head of Department of Mass Communication, University of Ibadan will discuss “Improving water access, sanitation and hygiene practices in Nigeria: The role of the media” while Dr. Omo Ohiokpehai, Technical Advisor, Processing, Products and Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nigeria will examine “Promoting planting and consumption of conventionally bred

biofortified staple crops in Nigeria.” Nestlé’s Creating Shared Value approach focuses the business on the long term, where the success of society and economic activity are intertwined and mutually reinforcing. In Nigeria, the company has launched several initiatives including the Nestlé Healthy Kids Programme which provides nutrition education to primary school age children.

he Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs (LASODA) has unveiled plans to increase the number of sign language specialists in the state with a view to properly integrate people with hearing impairment. The General Manager of LASODA, Dr. Babatunde Awelenje said the move will pave way for availability of sign language experts in all sectors of the economy. Awelenje who spoke at the opening of a Two-day Sign Language Training Workshop organised by LASODA for staff of Lagos State Government ministries, departments and agencies, said would facilitate accessing care for people with hearing challenges in hospitals. Over the years, many people with hearing impairment are known to shun hospital services due to problems of communicating their health challenges with health care providers. The lack of sign language experts in hospitals has been of serious concern considering that communication barrier between people with hearing defects and care providers is a stumbling block. Against this background, some hearing impaired persons often keep away from hospitals even when they are

ill and need attention of medical personnel. Ultimately, it has been shown that the health needs of many persons with hearing disability are not met. This situation is what LASODA aims to change, he added. According to Awenlenje, the major challenge of accessibility for persons with hearing impairment or deafness is communication barrier and “to reduce this communication barrier, “we now came up with a sign language workshop so that if any person living with deafness comes to our general hospitals, at least someone with sign language skill will translate verbal communication to the hospital staff.” Earlier in his remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Dr, Adesegun Oshiyimika, said the main aim of government is to provide enabling environment so that people even those with disabilities are fully be integrated into the society and do what they want to do to the fullest of their capabilities. “Also, we notice that many people who attend government functions have problems of being understood and the doctor also has problem understanding the person with non verbal communication skill.

Getting used to colours (5) CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

lue is the colour for musicians, artists, poets and preachers. Blue radiates peace, health and tranquility. Sound, music, and water are often linked with the colour blue. Sound is linked to creation. The world came into being when God uttered the creative word. Words go a long way to shape people’s feelings and sense of identity. Music and poems are advanced forms of speech. Why are they so powerful? It is because they open us to a deeper level where healing can take place; a level beyond the material level of competition, greed and materialism. In times of sickness, learn to sing a meaningful song. Utter positive words while bathing, for blue is the colour of water. To sing some positive songs or recite positive affirmations while bathing is very useful. It brings calmness and peace. It also helps to hold a

Nature Power Fr. Anselm Adodo, OSB

naturepower@paxherbals.net; twitter: @anselmadodo glass of water in your hand and say some words like: ‘May the river of life flow through me’, or ‘may the healing rays of God radiate through me’; ‘Christ my light, wash me clean’, etc. Blue is the colour for the treatment of fevers, insomnia, and appendicitis, allergic reactions, diabetes, cancer and other viruses like the notorious HIV virus. In families where there is tension, disagreement, blue is desirable. Wives whose husbands get easily irritated should try to create a blue environment. ORANGE Orange colour is derived from a combination of red and yellow. In other words,

it is a combination of intellectual and reproductive energies. Orange is directly related to the large intestine and the Orange coloured herbs are useful for physical health reproductive organs. Orange PHOTO: herbs-hands-healing.co.uk helps in proper metabolism without which constipation and toxicity would result. It of absolving poisons and toxins is an active ray. It puts emfrom the system. Orange colour increases oxphasis on health and wellbeygen, helps lungs and menstruing through proper physical, al cramp, encourages interests healthy lifestyle, e.g. physical and activities, releases gas, exercises, balanced diet, vegedraws boils, helps in abscesstarian diet. Orange is the colour Orange helps es, depresses the parathyroid for vegetarians. In life, it is good in proper and stimulates the thyroid. It to learn to do something physiincreases flow of milk in mothcally positive. Faith without metabolism ers and flow of sperm in men works is nothing. Orange-cowith scanty menses. It also loured oils, lotions and herbs helps in impotence and frigidare very useful for physical ity in women. health. Fruit fast is capable

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015

Industry

ICT

Drug producers, health ministry at daggers drawn over N1bn debt

Tackling monsters in telecoms sector

Business What's news

Nigeria, others to lose N8.7trn to drop in maize demand Nigeria, United States, China, Brazil, South Africa and some other countries are to lose $8,567,270,000 (about N1.706 trillion) next year from maize, as global production is expected to decline by 49 million metric tons.

p.32

Housing: Zero budget allocation impedes N166bn urban Efforts to reorder the growth of Nigerian cities through the adoption of a robust urban planning actions at an estimated cost of $83.2 million (N166.4 billion) seems to have suffered a major setback due to lack of financial commitment to the housing and urban development sector in the recently approved 2015 budget, New Telegraph has learnt.

p.32

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa

L-R: Member, Board of Trustees, SPAN, Mr. Nidal Elkhalil; founder, Mrs. Sarah Boulos and Marketing Manager, 7up Bottling Company, Mr. Norden Thurston, during the presentation of awards at the Society Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN) 10th Anniversary Gala Night in Lagos... recently

DECEIT Operators deliberately delay the release of upto-date subscriber data on their networks

elecoms penetration in Nigeria grew by 9.5 per cent in the last 12 months into February this year, New Telegraphâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s analysis of mobile subscriptions in the country has shown. According to official data from the telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), teledensity, which simply refers to telephone penetration, increased from 92.14 per cent to 101.85 per cent from February 2014 and February 2015. Though, the growth repre-

sents additional uptake points of 9.71, the actual percentage growth is 9.5 per cent, a 12-month upsurge in mobile subscriptions by Nigerians. The latest industry data released by the NCC was for the month of February this year, which also put the total active mobile subscriptions at 142.5 million. According to the progression of the teledensity growth, from 92.14 per cent penetration in February last year, the figure dramatically fell to 90.78 per cent in March but picked up again to reach 92.42 per cent at the end of April. Teledensity also rose to

INFLATION RATE March 2015.............................8.5% February 2015.........................8.4% January 2015...........................8.2%

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

Kunle Azeez

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

Telephone penetration grows 9.5% in one year 93.70 per cent in May; 94.84 per cent in June; but fell slightly to 94.42 per cent in July while in August, September, October, November and December, the figures increased to 95.20 per cent; 96.08 per cent; 96.87 per cent; 97.60 per cent and 99.39 per cent. This year, teledensity continued its upward swing by

142.5m The total active mobile subscriptions as at last February

moving to 100.59 per cent and 101.85 per cent in January and February respectively. During the 12 months period, spanning February 2014 and February 2015, active mobile subscriptions increased from 129 million to 142.5 million. However, telecoms operators appear to be ignoring a directive by the NCC, asking them to always submit their monthly subscriber data early for official publication by the regulator in a bid to provide up-to-date information for the industry. While the latest industry CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Rates Dashboard EXCHANGE RATE (BDC as at May 8)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N222 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N338 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N248

l Foreign Reserves â&#x20AC;&#x201C; $29.677bn as at 7/05/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at May 8)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N200 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N301 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N214

Business | News

DEFICIT Commodity’s shortfall to affect global demand Bayo Akomolafe

igeria, United States, China, Brazil, South Africa and some other countries are to lose $8.5 billion (about N1.706 trillion) next year from maize, as global production is expected to decline by 49 million metric tons. A ton of corn is sold at the global market at $174. 23. According to the International Grain Council (IGC) forecast, global corn output was forecast to fall to 941 million metric tons, down from 990 million metric tons, reflecting a retreat in yields from the high levels of the preceding year. It estimated that Nigeria, which according to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), is the largest producer of maize in Africa, would produce 7.5 million metric tons; the United States of America that is the largest producer in the world would produce 346.8 million metric tons; China - 215,5 million metric tons; Brazil - 75 million metric tons and EU - 27

Telephone penetration grows 9.5% CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 3 1

data released by the NCC was for the month of February this year, industry stakeholders said the industry ought to have gotten the data for March and April. According to them, the fact that the subscriber data for March and April had not been released smacks of seeming non-compliance of the operators with the NCC’s directive on need for early release of their subscriber data to the regulator. It would be recalled that in a directive titled, ‘Notification of Revised Timelines for Submissions of Statistical Data,’ issued last December, NCC had charged telecoms service providers on early submission of their statistical data. In the notice by the NCC Director, Public Affairs, Mr Tony Ojobo, the regulatory body said that the request for the submission of data was in furtherance of its commitment to provide up to date statistics on the telecommunications industry.

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria, others to lose N8.7trn to drop in maize demand 74.5 million metric tons. Others are Ukraine 28.45 million metric tons; Mexico - 24 million metric tons; Argentina - 24 million metric tons; India 22.5 million metric tons;

Canada -11.5 million metric tons; Russian Federation - 11.3 million metric tons and South Africa - 11.3 million metric tons. Also included in the list are Indonesia - 9.4 million

metric tons and South Africa - 11.3 million metric tons. In the European Union, the product is forecast to decline to 68 million metric tons; Ukraine to 23 million metric tons and

in China at 227 million metric tons. The IGC said: “The corn stocks at the end of the 2015-16 were projected to fall to 171 million tons, down from 191 million a

year earlier. “A retreat in stocks is anticipated led by major exporters where corn inventories are seen dropping by almost onequarter.”

L-R: Chief executive Officer, SOFUNIX Investment and Communications, Mr. Sola Oni; Managing Director/CEO, Ashaka Cement Plc, Mr. Kwairange Umaru and Second Vice President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Dapo Adekoje, during the election of Umaru to CIS Council in Lagos.

DEVELOPMENT Less than 40 percent of Nigerian cities have master plans Dayo Ayeyemi

fforts to reorder the growth of Nigerian cities through the adoption of a robust urban planning actions at an estimated cost of $83.2 million (N166.4 billion) seems to have suffered a major setback due to lack of financial commitment to the housing and urban development sector in the recently approved 2015 budget, New Telegraph has learnt. It was gathered that despite the enthusiasm exhibited by the built environment, professionals and stakeholders during and after the draft of the roadmap for the Housing and Urban Development Sector late last year, no activity has taken off in the sector at the moment, no thanks to the alleged zero allocation to the industry in the 2015 budget. The education sector got the lion share of the budget proposal in 2015 with N392.3billion, followed by N338.7billion for the military, while health and works sectors got N237billion and N25.1billion respectively. The housing sector got a meager allocation of N6.2 billion out of which N5.705 billion was meant for recurrent and

Housing: Zero budget allocation impedes N166bn urban planning N500 million for capital development. The Federal Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development (FMLHUD) in the roadmap had estimated a budget of $83.2 million as the amount required to put in place the master and regional plans in the next 30 years to make Nigerian cities and human settlement inclusive, productive, safe, livable, resilient and sustainable. According to the breakdown, $64 million would be required to make housing’s goal of developing master plan for a national constellation of cities including new towns designed to complement each other a reality. $19.2 million was also estimated as budget required to prepare and adopt regional development plans for 36 states and FCT. As at April 2015, less than 40 per cent of Nigerian cities had a comprehensive master plan to order their growth. Speaking with New Telegraph last Tuesday, President of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Mr. Tunde Lasabi, expressed shock over the zero allocation to the housing sector. He said, “ It means that government has no plan for the sector. It shows that gov-

ernment is not planning anything at all not to talk of looking at the roadmap.” Similarly, President of the Association of Town Planners’ Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON), Mr. Moses Ogunleye, said that the near-zero allocation to housing was not the best thing for the country. He insisted that even if the Federal Government had to divest from housing, there should be allocation to create new cities and low-cost housing. Ogunleye said: “It is retrogressive not to allocate money for the sector; housing is key and if we are talking about 17 million deficit, government must make money available to ameliorate the challenges. We know that cities and towns are under the state government, but the Federal Government needs to intervene for robust urban planning to reorder the growth of the cities in a sustainable manner.” Vice President of International Real Estate Federation, Nigeria Chapter, Chief Kola Akomolede, also urged the incoming government to make budgetary allocations to the housing sector the way it was currently being done to education, health, agriculture and works. The revised National Urban

Development Policy had emphasised the need to plan existing towns to enable them cope with rapid population growth and to eradicate slums. Unfortunately, Nigeria continues to fall behind with respect to urban planning and development, resulting in rapid growth of slum settlements in and around most major cities. Similar to this is the emergence of urban agglomeration in several parts of Nigeria including Lagos-Ibadan, Lagos-Ota, Lagos-Epe, Kano megacity, Karu-Keffi axes and Onitsha-Ogbaru-Awka corridors, among others. Experts have described the low priority accorded planning of towns and cities in the country, as ‘deplorable’ given the fact that the development of Abuja has already shown the huge growth leverage, which may be gained through the development of well-planned urban settlements. To remedy this situation, experts emphasised the need to drive new town expansion through the development and adoption of master plans, arguing that the new towns would act as key growth poles harnessing the unabated rural-urban drift, which has continued to affect Nigerian cities, while engendering growth.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015

NACCIMA sets agenda for incoming govt p.34 Nigerian pharmaceutical manufacturing firms face extinction arising from debt owed by the Federal Ministry of Health, DELE ALAO writes

Industry

Drug producers, health ministry at daggers drawn over N1bn debt grammes for flood victims during 2012/2013.

ver the years, pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria have recorded great landmarks culminating in recognition from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to manufacture some drugs. Last October, the body certified three additional Nigerian pharmaceutical manufacturing firms to produce drugs locally in accordance with WHO Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) after the audits and inspections by WHO Pre-qualification team. The three drug manufacturing companies are Evans Pharmaceutical Ltd, May & Baker Pharmaceutical Ltd and Chi Pharmaceutical Ltd. Potential Nigeria is one of the most promising and rapidly growing pharmaceutical markets in West Africa with more than 150 pharma formulation manufacturing facilities. Checks showed that the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector of Nigeria contributes to nation building with aggregate investments in excess of N300 billion, paying taxes and other tariffs and employing over 600,000 persons. Available statistics also showed that about 60 per cent of drug manufacturing in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) subregion takes place in Nigeria, underlining the huge sub-regional market.

Jonathan

Minister of Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan

Threat A strategic sector, employing more than 600,000 persons, contributing to national development, policies and programmes of the government, the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria, which is also aspiring to achieve self-sufficiency in essential medicines, is now burdened by N1 billion debt allegedly owed by the Federal Ministry of Health. The debt, according to the

PMG is now burdened by N1 billion debt allegedly owed by the Ministry of Health

umbrella body of the pharmaceutical manufacturers, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group (PMG) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), arose from the supply of essential medicines such as anti-retroviral product of HIV/ AIDS, anti-malaria medicines and other critical commodities for mothers, newborn and children. It also includes medicines/ commodities for emergency pro-

Implication According to stakeholders, the alleged debt has accrued substantial bank interests, crippling the operations of many pharmaceutical manufacturers. The delay in the payment of the debts, the manufacturers claimed, has also damaged their reputations with bankers and compelled them to retrench employees, close factories as well as caused disruption in HIV/AIDS treatment. They also claimed the non-payment of the debts had caused unrest among people living with HIV/AIDS, poor healthcare outcome for the nation, worsened health index such as maternal and infants mortality in Nigeria and halted the progress towards international certification and WHO pre-qualification for Nigerian pharmaceutical manufacturers. PMG noted: “Since year 2012, the pharmaceutical industry has made several representations to government including: The Presidency, the Secretary to Government of Federation, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Bureau of Public Procurement with promises of payments not fulfilled.” Meanwhile, the group has said that it was ready to institute a legal action against the ministry. Ministry’s reaction Contacted on the development, a spokesperson for the ministry, Mrs. Ayo Adesigba, promised to react officially but never did as at the time of filing in this report.

Substandard products reduced to 45%, says SON Deborah Olayode

he Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) said it has reduced the level of substandard products in the country from 85 per cent to 45 per cent between March 2011 and November 2015. Director General, SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, said this at the 2nd Lagos Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) stakeholders’ conference held in Lagos. The conference, which had the theme: ‘The Nigerian Consumer Right and Obligations,’ welcomed the merger of the Enforcement, Ports and Border Operation Units into a full directorate now called Inspectorate and

Compliance Directorate (ICD). Odumodu was represented by the Head of Department, ICD, Engr. Bede E. Obayi. In a paper titled, ‘Checking the Rate of Substandard Product in Nigeria’, Odumodu said that the merger of the bodies was to achieve the overall objectives of SON particularly in its “Zero Tolerance to substandard products” initiative in the country. He said: “The ICD’s aim is to take proactive response to complaints sent to the department of market survey to identify substandard products; consumer compliant mediation in conjunction with consumer

feedback and collaboration unit. It is also expected to issue red alert to the public on defective injurious products as approved by management; generate data on defective products/ fraudulent importers; rectify defective products in collaboration with relevant department; intercept, evacuate and destroy substandard products.” The SON boss described substandard or adulterated products as those that did not meet the criteria specified in the respective standards for such products. He said: “Fake products are those that deliberately set out to misrepresent or pass-off other products and

are presented in such manners capable of misleading the consumers or users as to their sources, countries of origin, contents and performance. Substandard products has also resulted to loss of valuable revenues for our economy and the non-performance of products in the various economic spheres where they are applied, leading to reduction and stagnated economic performance; dumping of rejected products on a nation’s territory and poor technological/economic development. It has also led to dangerous and hazardous consequences for her citizenry and bad consequences on the industry.”

Odumodu

Business | Industry

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NACCIMA sets agenda for incoming govt TRAINING There is need for training and retraining of armed forces Dele Alao

he Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has called on the incoming government to overhaul the existing refineries and encourage building of new ones. Addressing the media in Lagos, the Acting National Presi-

dent, NACCIMA, Chief Bassey Edem, also said that the chamber had passionately appealled the National Assembly and Federal Government to hasten up the process of passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) as earlier promised. “Government should overhaul the existing refineries and encourage building of new ones, most especially modular ones all around the country to enable the country increase her refining capacity for local consumption. This will support export of refined products, thereby maintaining local employment and saving the nation of foreign exchange used in the importation of re-

fined products,” he said. The NACCIMA helmsman, who called for more concerted efforts to stem the tide of insecurity especially in the North Eastern part of the country, said that the incoming administration must ensure that advanced technologies in checking the activities of these miscreants causing insecurity must be entrenched on security agents. He said: “There is also need for training and retraining of our armed forces to better equip them with modern sophisticated techniques that will guarantee the security of all Nigerians.” Edem said that with the

R-L: A member of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Grace Ayoola, presenting samples of the 280 general interest books to the Vice-Principal (Administration), Government Secondary School, Kubwa, Abuja, Mr. Sule Momoh Lawal, donated to the school by the construction firm.

Openshopen claims capacity to support 100 SMEs EXPOSURE The platform provides tech-driven avenue for products and services Kunle Azeez

n electronic commerce infrastructure support company, Openshopen, said it had the technological capacity to support 100 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country. Openshopen, which started operation about a year ago, is the e-commerce platform of Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) Plc, a fast-growing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) conglomerate in the country. Openshopen, according to a statement, was named the e-commerce Platform of the Year at the Beacon of Information and Communication Technology (BoICT) Awards

ceremony held in Lagos recently. On the significance of the award, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CWG Plc, Mr. Austin Okere, said, “Winning the award of the e-commerce platform of the year in just less than one year of introducing our solution to the Nigerian market speaks volume of the unique value Openshopen offers to SMEs and how they have come to appreciate it. “Our e-commerce platform has the capacity to support over 100 million stores. It offers businesses the advantage of building and promoting their own brands rather than just dumping their goods and their fates in the hands of third parties, whose brands they are invariably promoting.” He said that by displaying their goods online, entrepreneurs significantly increased their sales on Openshopen, thereby creating jobs and en-

suring inclusive growth for the economy. Okere said: “Openshopen is an e-commerce platform that enables SMEs sell their products online by opening an online store on Openshopen platform. It differs from other online shopping platforms, in that it allows merchants sell directly to buyers and have the privilege of promoting their brands, unlike other platforms that require merchants to submit their wares for sale. “With Openshopen, store owners can sell their products and receive payments from any location and are guaranteed uninterrupted uptime.” Six years since inception, the BoICT awards ceremony has been an annual convergence of key players in the ICT industry and a platform to review the strides of the industry in the preceding year and set a benchmark for recognising and validating achievements in the year ahead.

successful conclusion of the electioneering process in the country, which slowed down the economic activities of the country in the first quarter of 2015, government needed to go back to business so as to put the economy in the right direction. He said: “As the country

inches nearer to the hand-over date to a new administration, we wish to reiterate the need for the governments at all levels to keep a very close watch on the economy and to sustain the ongoing economic development process in order to have a smooth transition to a new government.”

SMEDAN eyes MSME sector-specific needs mall and Medium De- initiative for MSMEs canS velopment Agency of not be over emphasised. Nigeria (SMEDAN) has He said: “While taking expressed plans to collaborate with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in addressing sector-specific needs of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country. The Director General, SMEDAN, Bature Masari, represented by Engr. Abu Ozigi, Director (Technology, Innovation & Infrastructure), said this in Lagos while inaugurating the Joint Working Group (JWG) of the Organised Private Sector (OPS). The SMEDAN boss said it was with great delight that he accepted the invitation to attend the programme of sensitisation on Conformity Assessment Bodies (CAB) and to inaugurate the Joint Working Group (JWG) of the OPS, which is of obvious interest to SMEDAN, considering the fact that the potential impact of this trade enhancement

cognisance of the fact that conformity assessment service providers shall necessarily base their activities on international standards and guidelines and shall pay attention to national needs, be transparent, be non-discriminatory and avoid unnecessary barriers to trade; SMEDAN shall in the near future work with UNIDO to explore the possibility of promoting the establishment of CABs that will focus on the specific needs on MSMEs across sectors.” He added that by its mandate, SMEDAN was responsible for stimulating, monitoring and coordinating the development of the MSMEs sub-sector in Nigeria; in addition to working in contact with other institutions in both public and private sectors to create a good enabling environment for business in general and MSME activities in particular.

Three Crowns excites consumers with Dubai Trip

hree Crowns Milk, from the stables of FrieslandCampina WAMCO, has rewarded its consumers in the Mother’s Day Activation campaign. According to a statement, the grand prize winner, Mrs. Olamide Olaleye, who emerged as the ‘Mum of the Year’, won an allexpense paid trip to Dubai alongside a companion of her choice while 29 other mothers were also rewarded with N50,000.00 shopping voucher each. The Three Crowns Milk Mother’s Day Activation, is a Facebook-based campaign in which consumers were expected to write on the Three Crown’s Facebook wall why their mum is the best mum in the world. The Marketing Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Mr. Tarang Gupta, said thst the Three Crowns Milk Mother’s Day campaign is in line with the brand’s new

theme campaign, which is deeply rooted in recognising the key role of mothers in the family. He noted that Three Crowns Milk as a low cholesterol milk brand that cares for the health and well-being of its consumers, is joining the rest of the world to put a smile on the faces of mothers for their love and care for the family. “The Mother’s Day campaign is another way Three Crowns Milk is reaching out to all mother’s especially in Nigeria at this year’s occasion of the Mother’s Day celebration for their significant role in the family ’’ he said. Also, the Senior Brand Manager, Three Crowns Milk, Maureen Ifada, said that celebrating mothers especially on the occasion of Mother’s Day was staying true to the brand’s tagline ‘Healthy Mums, Happy Families, while also further entrenching the brand affinity with the consumers.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015

ICT

Telecoms firms, others connect to IXPN p.36

Tackling monsters in telecoms The country’s telecoms regulator is worried that a number of factors continues to encumber quality of service (QoS) delivery in the sector, KUNLE AZEEZ reports

estimated cost of running two generators in each of the over 25,000 base stations sites in Nigeria then at about N5 billion monthly. Today, the number of base stations has moved up to 27,000. The then ATCON President, Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu, had also said that while Nigeria’s service provider spent 80 per cent operating expenses (OPEX) on power generation, in Malawi, it was just some five per cent. Industry observers say this captured the explanation, as service providers would have been in a position to channel more resources to tackling the issues of QoS.

igeria is today the fastest telecoms market in Africa and one of the fastest-growing in the world with over 142 million active voice subscribers and over 80 million mobile Internet users. However, the regulator said it was not yet Uhuru as the sector was still bedeviled with a number of ‘monsters.’ In spite of the over $32 billion local and Foreign Direct Investment so far attracted by the sector between 2001, when the investment stood at about $500,000 and now, the monsters such as power issue, vandalism, RoW denial as well as multiple taxation still reared their ugly heads with capability to impede faster investment outlay. Consequently, the need to tackle these monsters, which had been identified as banes of poor quality service delivery in the telecoms sector, formed the fulcrum of a presentation by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) at a recent forum in Lagos. Dissatisfaction Speaking at the second yearly stakeholders conference on consumer rights organised by the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) at the University of Lagos, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, admitted that the quality of service currently being experienced in telecoms sector was not acceptable. He said, having gone through the rigours of several meetings with operators, it was proper to let the public know that the regulator was still below expectation and that the service delivery was abysmal. “Only the elimination of some

global Information and Communication Technology (ICT) company, Ericsson, has opened a network operations centre (NOC) in Nigeria to service its large base of customers in the African continent. Africa is one of the world’s fastest-growing mobile telephony markets, contributing 23 million of the 105 million new mobile subscriptions. The new figures were measured globally by Ericsson in the fourth quarter of 2014 and reported in the February 2015 Ericsson Mobility Report. To better serve both opera-

Multiple taxation, regulations On multiple taxation and regulation, Juwah said the sector had a very nagging issue of regulations and taxes awaiting the telecom operators at different levels of government, stressing that some of the regulations were made outside the purview of the telecom regulator. “There are states and local governments where telecom infrastructure is seen as fertile ground for improving internally generated revenue as these infrastructures must be available to make services possible. “In some areas, state governments, local governments, or even some federal government agencies have had to force a close down of base stations with the implication of disconnecting many localities from the network, thereby adding to the QoS challenge,” he said.

Telecom base station

or all of these will provide the critical success factors in finally eradicating quality of service challenges”, Juwah, who was represented by NCC Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo, said. Power According to the Commission, the greatest challenge to quality of service delivery by operators has been that of power problem, as Juwah recalled that at a public hearing held by the National Assembly in 2008, power was considered to have contributed more than 40 per cent to QoS issues. Without doubt, telecommunications depend on power for a roundthe clock operation, just as individuals in Nigeria generate their power, so have telecommunications services operators been generating much of the power they utilise. Few years ago, the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) put the

Telecom infrastructure is seen as fertile ground for improving internally generated revenue

RoW Right of Way issues, where governments at various levels, individuals or communities, prevent the service providers from installation of equipment without which there will not be good quality of services in those areas, constitute another monster in telecoms service delivery. Discussing the problem of RoW denial in a place like Abuja, Juwah said: “Some of us may not have had a situation, where, for almost five years, the Federal Capital Territory administration stopped issuance of permits to telecom service providers to build base stations on

account of fear of defacing the city. Yet, residents would expect services to be of high quality. Vandalism Vandalism of equipment has also become common where criminals destroy expensive transmission lines laid with fibre optics or where road constructions or similar situation results in cutting off huge transmission cables with multiple negative effects on QoS. However, many commentators are quick to make comparisons with developed parts of the world on QoS without reflecting on the level of infrastructure deficit in the sector. While monopolies in the developed parts of the world made enormous investments in infrastructure to sustain their markets, Nigeria was not as lucky, as dearth of fixed landline services brought about enormous pressure on mobile services, which affected quality given the rate of subscription. Consequently, the Nigerian situation resulted in mobile services providing the triple role of office, home and mobility services. Also, while some countries such as the United Kingdom and others with less geographical spread, have more than 50,000 base stations, Nigeria has about 25,000. So, the issue of infrastructure deficit in a country like Nigeria is bound to affect quality of service. Conclusion While the industry players continued to contend with these albatrosses to the provision of quality service, the regulator had also, at different times, imposed heavy sanction on operators that failed to meet the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) on QoS set for them by the NCC. However, a telecoms analyst, Mr. Akin Akinbo, said while sanctions imposed by the NCC had not really resulted in improvement in quality of services, tackling the long-standing challenges in the sector such as power issue, vandalism, RoW denial as well as multiple taxation would go a long way in significantly improving QoS delivery in the sector.

Ericsson opens network centre in Nigeria tors and end users across the continent, Ericsson said it was building a new network operations centre in Lagos, Nigeria, and expanding the capabilities of its existing facility in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The capabilities, according to the report, provided by the network operations centre, will include engineering, operations and customer experience management. Ultimately, it said the facilities in Nigeria and Ivory Coast would help Ericsson’s custom-

ers in Africa make the transition from managing network performance to managing the quality of end-user services such as voice, web browsing and video streaming. Lagos and Abidjan, according to the report, were selected as the sites for the network operations centres due to the availability of talent, infrastructure and connectivity, and will act as hubs used to manage networks across the rest of Africa. Head of Region, Sub-Saha-

ran Africa at Ericsson, Mr. Fredrik Jejdling, said, “As the country in Africa with both the largest population and the largest economy, Nigeria was the logical choice as the host country for our newest network operations centre. “Together with the expanded facility in Ivory Coast, this centre will allow us to continue a proud tradition of more than 100 years working with our customers in Africa.” Expected to be operational by third quarter of this year,

the network operations centres will help operators keep pace with rapid socio-economic and technological changes in subSaharan Africa, a region that had 635 million subscriptions in 2014 and is expected to have 930 million subscriptions by the end of 2019. Ericsson is one of the global leaders in telecommunications managed services, handling networks for multiple operators worldwide via a combination of global and local network operations centers.

Business | ICT

COST-CUTTING Connection of ICT layers and other firms to the Exchange reduce cost Stories by Kunle Azeez

hirty-five players in the nation’s telecoms sector have connected to the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), New Telegraph has learnt. The move was borne out of the advocacy and government’s local content policy, which requires players in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry to host their Internet contents locally. By hosting their Internet contents locally within the infrastructure of IXPN, the over 80 million Internet users are able to quickly and efficiently access Internet materials locally without having to navigate, while browsing, to other countries, where some contents are hosted before accessing them. “We currently have about 35 companies connected to IXPN and this will ensure unnecessary capital flight as well as making the Internet materi-

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Telecoms firms, others connect to IXPN als being searched for by the users within close range and this ultimately saves cost,” said Chief Executive Officer, IXPN, Mr. Muhammed Rudman, in an interview in Lagos. According to Muhammad, who was recently elected as the Vice President of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), Vodacom Business is the latest player on the Exchange. He said more players were being expected to connect. Leading the pack of telecoms companies and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) already hooked to IXPN are the four leading telecoms operators in the country including, MTN, Etisalat, Glo and Airtel. Others are Google, MainOne, Linkserve, iXPN, Cobranet, 21st Century Technologies, Internet Solutions, Simbanet, VDT Communications, Broadbased Communications, KKontech, Layer3, Tara, Medallion Communications and CoolLink. Also included are Vodacom, NGCom, Phase3, SubUrban Telecom, Netcom, Cyberspace, EK-Konnect, InternetConnect and Swift Network.

They also comprise University of Lagos, Pan-Atlantic University, NiRA and Google University Access Programme (GUAP). Established in 2006, IXPN has the mandate “to provide a national core infrastructure that facilitates Internet operations in Nigeria and to localise traffic as well as reduce local Internet routing cost.” An Internet exchange point (IXP) is a physical infrastructure that allows several Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and network operators to exchange traffic between their

networks, generally referred to as autonomous systems, by means of mutual peering agreements, which allow traffic to be exchanged at no cost. Speaking on the impact of connecting to an IXP, Rudman explained, “Organisations that connect their networks to an IXP benefits from reduced reliance on expensive international transit for exchanging local traffic between themselves, and improved efficiency of their operations and communications.” He said not only would this reduce transport costs and

network latency, it will also ensure faster access to local content because local traffic is exchanged locally, rather than through one or more third party networks including international links. This exchange of traffic between networks at an IXP is known as ‘peering’. Consequently, Rudman said the IXPN is expected to facilitate immediate drop in connectivity costs as well as cost savings in millions of dollars in offshore Internet bandwidth payments as well as ensuring improved security profile of Nigerian Internet traffic.

Why firms need alternative power solution, by Omatek

n Information and Communication Technology (ICT) firm and solar power solutions in Nigeria, Omatek Ventures Plc, has underscored the importance of deploying alternative power solutions by businesses, schools and government institutions in the country. Group Managing Director of Omatek Ventures Plc, Mrs. Florence Seriki, in a statement, said with cost-efficient solar-powered solutions in a country as Nigeria, where public electricity is erratic and yet people pay for what they do not consume, schools, small businesses and big organisations could benefit greatly from alternative solarpowered solutions. “The use of the solar/ LED solution can result in provision of power and in significant operational and maintenance cost savings for factories, schools, public of-

fices, hospitals, hotels and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country,” she said. Already, the company has commissioned its 50KVA 3-phase off-grid solar solution factory that will represent the solar solution for factories, banks, telecommunications firms, government and other organisations that require big power installations. Seriki said: “Off-grid solutions, on-grid solutions as well as LED bulbs are available for customers at affordable prices. Omatek Solar Solution is a hybrid solution that provides 24 hours lighting/power solution, while providing 70 – 90 per cent cut/deduction in power consumption and drastically reducing power consumption by an average of 90 per cent on the overall grid, thus enhancing growth in the real sector and general economic development.”

MTN rewards retailers with N15m house igeria’s largest telecoms support since inception of the N firm, MTN, has unveiled business. a reward with a N15 million MTN said retailers were house as the star prize. Tagged ‘MTN TruTalk Wina-Home’, the promo, according to a statement, is targeted at MTN bizlift retailers who sell physical and virtual airtime pan Nigeria. The MTN TruTalk Win-ahome promo according to the statement, is borne out of the need to reward over half a million retail vendors across the country for their loyalty and

also expected to get a minimum of 20 customers every month to migrate and register their own first 11 on the TruTalk platform. They can then confirm registration. Speaking at the launch, Sales and Distribution Executive, MTN, Omatsola Barrow, said it was time the company did something special for the vendors in appreciation of support received over the years.

L-R: Senior Manager, Network Engineering, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mr. Olumide Idowu; Special Guest of Honour, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem; and Director, Legal and Regulatory Services, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mrs. Nkechi Newton-Denila, during the presentation of ICT Infrastructure Provider of the Year award to Vodacom at the 2015 Beacon of Information and Communication Technology Awards Ceremony in Lagos.

Samsung Galaxy S6 brings beauty, purpose

he latest smartphone devices from the stable of Samsung Electronic West Africa have been described as embodiment of beauty and purpose for mobile devices users in Nigeria. The new devices - Galaxy S6 Duos and Galaxy S6 Edge, were unveiled in Nigeria recently with improved features that make communication experience more delightful for users. Mobile devices, perhaps, do not require fashion shows to highlight their trendiness and style. Original equipment manufacturers, according to information, have long realised the importance of fashion in the contemporary world and have fused it into mobile devices, which are improved upon every year in tandem with trends. Every aspect of the mobile device is regarded as fashionable, including accessories, which come in different shades and colours. To the uninitiated, fashion is limited to clothes, footwear, wristwatches and

automobiles. To modern, upwardly mobile people, fashion and style transcend clothes and reflect every aspect of their lives. To analysts, to be termed fashionable means being in touch with current trends as well as having a taste and refinement that is unique and classy. For organisations such as Samsung, style is the new Galaxy S6 Duos and Galaxy S6 Edge, the latest trendy, pace-setting mobile devices in the Galaxy S range of smartphones tagged Next is Now. With the conviction that the new device will meet current trends, the company, according to information, availed its customers the opportunity of pre-ordering the devices, which gave them the chance of becoming trend-setters as the phones were launched publicly in Nigeria. Suffice to say that Samsung’s customers were elated when the Galaxy S6 Duos and S6 Edge first made their debut at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona,

Spain recently; even now, the phones wow people. Introduced to the Nigerian market via a classy launch event befitting a phone with so much style, the S6 Duos and S6 Edge met and exceeded the expectations of consumers and more. Crafted like a fine piece of jewellery and aptly called the ‘sexy ladies’, both devices, according to information, are a blend of premium components manufactured with the most advanced Samsung technology. Not just a step ahead of its predecessor; the Galaxy S5, the Galaxy S6 Duos and S6 Edge are imbued with incredibly intelligent cameras that require only 0.7 seconds to launch, setting new industry standard for design, craftsmanship and performance. Interestingly, the cameras both have the ability of capturing images and displaying them in a 360 degree manner, without necessarily having to capture all aspect of the image, in 3D.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSday, MAY 14, 2015

Photo | News

L-R: Outgoing Governor of Benue State, Dr. Gabriel Suswam; Vice-President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; his wife, Dolapo and Suswam’s wife, Dooshima, during their visit to the Osinbajos.

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

L-R: President, National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), Comrade Oladele Hunsu; Kaduna State Governor-elect, Malam Nasir El-Rufai and General-Secretary of the union, Comrade Issa Aremu, at the union’s visit to El-Rufai in Kaduna. PHOTO: NAN

L-R: Managing Director, Nigeria Film Corporation and Chairman, National Film Institute, Dr. Danjuma Dadu; Minister of Information, Mrs. Patricia Akwashiki and Vice-Chancellor, University of Jos, Prof. Hayward Mafuyai, at the matriculation of the National Film Institute in Jos. PHOTO: NAN Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Gu Xian Jie (left), with Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Mohammed Kwankwaso, during the commissioning of the Kano–China Bilingual College at Kwankwaso town, Kano State.

L-R: Former Minister of Health, Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu; Minister of State for Health, Mr. Fidelis Nwankwo and Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, Prof. Anthony Emeribe, at the inauguration of MLSCN office in Abuja.

L-R: President, Miners’ Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Sani Shehu; Representative of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Samuel Oluwole and Minister, Mr. Musa Sada, at the Stakeholders’ Forum on review of the Draft Explosives Act and Regulations in Abuja.

L-R: States Assembly members-elect, Mohammed Bazam of Damaturu Constituency, Yobe State; Muktar Adoke of Adavi Constituency, Kogi State and an aide to Adoke, Ismaila Isah Otaru, during the Day 2 of Induction Certificate Course for the newly elected members of states assembly legislatures in Abuja. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Co-Founder, Women4Africa, Mrs. Tola Onigbanjo (left), with Group CEO of United Capital Plc and recipient of the 2015 International Recognition award, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sanni, at the 4th Annual Women4Africa awards in London.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015

Mom&Parenting

Bullied for studying ‘ladies’ course

Oluwatosin Omoniyi

eers describe Raheem Olakunle, an undergraduate studying art and cultural studies, as the happiest young man they have ever met. But beneath that smile was pain that led the 22-year-old Olakunle to quit his course at the University. He changed to international relations, but he didn’t quite like it. Though it is unclear why he really left that course to another, many believe it was because of the bullying he endured for studying a course titled Eku Iyawo, mostly dominated by women. While attending that faculty, Olakunle was tormented by several classmates because of his choice in extracurricular activities. “I was mostly tormented emotionally and psychologically by my mates for being in a field believed to be women’s. Anytime, we were asked to display our dancing step on the title, I always outsmarted them and this inf2eeuriated them most the more,” he said. According to his project supervisor, “the bullying became so brutal that he had to stay without concluding his performance on stage which was part of his project.” The supervisor described Olakunle as a young man mostly driven by emotion and who couldn’t stand open critique. He adjudged Olakunle to be outstanding in that course but because he couldn’t stand the taunting and bullying, ”he left knew because he didn’t want to be bullied again. But changing course wasn’t necessary because whether he likes it or not, bullying continues. It is part of learning and process of being strong,” he said. Olakunle is just one out of many suffering bullying. Truth according to experts and just as the lecturer above stated, there will always be bullies. In fact, every school has one. But Lisa Horten, associate editor of POPSUGAR Moms advised on how to help kids combat bullying Connect With Your Child — Know what’s going on at your child’s school, who their friends are, and what they’re doing after school. Have an open dialogue, and push meaningful conversation each and every day. It may be necessary to ask very specific, guided questions to ensure that this happens, but know that it’s worth the

Mom&Parenting

Oluwatosin Omoniyi City Editor

Boys bullying themselves.

extra effort. Connect With Your Child’s Educators — In addition to having an ongoing and open dialogue with your child, make sure that there’s someone at their school who you have a relationship with and feel comfortable going to if you need to. Keep in Mind All Elements of the Bullying Triad: The Bully, the Victim, and the Bystander — Statistically speaking, your child is more likely to be the bully or a bystander than a victim. According to Dr. David Walsh of Mind Positive Parenting, most bullying happens with an audience. Bystanders have a very important role, and having a conversation about how kids treat one another is a good place to start. It also arms your child — should they find themselves in the bystander role with the tools to act appropriately and report any misconduct that they’ve witnessed. Kids Can Play Multiple Roles — According to recent research, the same child is likely to both be bullied, and bully other kids, Nathan Belyeu of The Trevor Project said. They’re also like to engage in and witness in bullying at school, then go home and be involved in cyber bullying in some capacity. On Online Activity: Educate Your Kids on the Importance of Digital Citizenship — Have an ongoing, open-ended conversation about how critical it is to be respectful online. Know Their Social Circles (Both Digital and Actual) — Ensure that your child has a web of healthy relationships when it comes to friends at school and friends on the internet. Monitor their activity, and consider introducing them to a safe social space like TrevorSpace, which caters to members of the LGBTQ com-

Photo: www.id.co.za

A boy pulling the hair of his classmate.

PHOTO: galleryhip.com

Most bullying happens with an audience

Bullying in Middle School.

photo: image.frompo.com

munity, their friends, and allies between ages 13-24. Be Aware of Your Kids’ School’s Policies — Educate yourself on what’s being done at school, and allow yourself to serve as an extension of their services. Signs Your Son May Be a Bully The kid who teases everyone in the classroom. The one who pushes others around — literally and figuratively. The boy who the students say is a bully. We all pray that our son won’t become a victim, but what if your little guy is the one doing the attacking? You may think, “no, not my son,” but it’s possible that love makes you blind to his bad behavior. So how can you tell if he is a bully? Leah

Rocketto rounded up seven classic signs that your son is the boy all his classmates fear. He Gets Frustrated Easily: Every kid gets upset when they aren’t given something they want. If, however, your little guy throws a massive tantrum when things don’t go his way, there may be a bigger problem. 2 He Is Overly Competitive: It’s OK for kids to be competitive, but a “win at all costs” attitude is not acceptable. If your child feels he has to resort to verbal, emotional, or physical attacks to be the best, then you two need to have a serious talk. 3 He Is Exclusive With His CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

40 Mom&Parenting

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Signs your child may be gifted

MOM’S ALERT with

Grace Essen

grace.essen@gmail.com

Mom of the year

T Helping the kids out photo: www.independent.ie

arents often wonder at one point or another whether their child is gifted. The term “giftedness” is used by different schools, organizations, and cultures in different ways, with some using the term strictly to indicate people with well-above average intelligence as measured by IQ scores, and others embracing a broader range of criteria. The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) offers the following definition: “Gifted individuals are those who demonstrate outstanding levels of aptitude (defined as an exceptional ability to reason and learn) or competence (documented performance or achievement in top 10 percent or rarer) in one or more domains. Austega also provides lists of giftedness characteristics in other categories such as specific academic aptitude, creative thinking and production, leadership, psychomotor ability, and visual and performing arts.

Bullied for studying female course CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 4 0

Friendships: Is your tot selective about who he invites over for a play date? Does he refer to certain classmates as “losers” or “nerds?” This may be a sign that he makes popularity a priority and will do anything to be the top dog. He Blames Others For His Problems: When he gets a bad grade, he blames the teacher. When he’s involved in a fight, it’s the other kid’s fault. If your son refuses to accept responsibility for his actions, it could mean that he thinks he is better than others, which makes him treat his “inferiors” poorly. 5 His Friends Aren’t So Nice: We are always told to beware of the company we keep. When you spend a lot of time with someone, you begin to inherit their traits, especially when you’re an impressionable child. So if your son is gravitating toward the school’s bad boys, it may be time to intervene. 6 He Shows Aggressive Behavior: Your son may see this as a sign of dominance, but we see it as a sign of bullying. Whether he’s screaming at an adult or hitting his little brother, any type of assault needs to be dealt with. 7 He Has Trouble at School: This has less to do with grades and more to do with behavior. You should be concerned if you receive constant calls from the school principal to talk about your child acting out toward teachers and other students.

20 Signs of Giftedness While IQ tests and other assessments can help identify giftedness in schoolage children, kids are also commonly identified as gifted by the observations of families, teachers, and friends. Below are some of the characteristic traits of children gifted in terms of general intellectual ability, adapted from a detailed checklist from Austega, an online note: no one gifted child exhibits all the traits. • Learns rapidly, easily, and efficiently • Has exceptionally large vocabulary for their age • Demonstrates unusual reasoning power • Has an unusually strong memory, but is bored with memorization and recitation •Needs little outside control — applies self discipline • Has a liking for structure, order, and consistency • Is flexible in thinking patterns; makes unusual associations between remote ideas • Displays a great curiosity about objects, situations, or events; asks provocative questions • Makes good grades in most subjects • Has a power of concentration, an intense attention that excludes all else • Provides very alert, rapid answers to questions • Is resourceful, solving problems by ingenious methods • Has avid interest in science or literature • Reveals originality in oral and written expression • Has a power of abstraction, conceptualization and synthesis • Is secure emotionally • Tends to dominate peers or situations • Uses a lot of commonsense • Displays a willingness to accept complexity • Is perceptually open to his or her environment

he alarming rate at which little children are being abducted for ransom or for whatever reasons has become a cause for concer ted from their homes by their nannies both employed from OLX online sales platform. It’s Mother’s Day in the United States and I couldn’t help but imagine how so different this year’s Mother’s Day celebration would be for the single mom of six recently hailed “Mom of the year” and for some others, “Mom of the century.” Miss Toya Graham’s actions have drawn praise from moms across the United States and obviously beyond. Her actions saw her grabbing headlines across the U.S. She was even trending on Twitter with the hashtag, #momoftheyear, and social media users even asked how to send her gifts ahead of Mother’s Day. Riots broke out in Baltimore in the US following the death of a 25-year-old man named Freddie Gray who died of a spinal cord injury after being taken into custody by Baltimore police. A lot of high school students planned to meet up at Mondawmin Mall on the day of Freddie Gray’s funeral, and Toya had warned her son not to go to the mall. Toya was at a doctor’s appointment with her eldest daughter when she heard that schools had been let out early that day and people were gathering at the mall, which is also a main transportation hub in the area. She left the doctor’s office immediately to go find her son. At the mall, there was a mass of police and helicopters and the students were throwing bricks at the police. She recognized her son even though he was wearing a black ski mask over much of his face. He was also carrying a rock. When he saw her coming, his first instinct was to run away. He knew he was in trouble. The boy immediately lost his tough-guy swagger as his mother pulled the ski mask from his head, clipped him around the ears and yelled: ‘’Are you for real? Really? This is what you want to do? ‘I told you I’d come down here. Didn’t I? Didn’t I?’ Toya Graham was caught on camera whacking her 16-yearold son Michael, pulling off his ski mask and chasing him down the street until they got home. And I checked again to be sure this is happening in a country where it is generally believed parents should not smack their children. Now let’s say only one child, Michael was pulled away from the riot, what about mothers of the multitude that continued the clashed with police, looted stores and burned down build-

ings and cars? May be they were at work, home, the gym or just couldn’t care. Toya, granting interviews after being identified said, “That’s my only son and at the end of the day, I don’t want him to be a Freddie Gray. I don’t feel like a hero. My intention was to get my son and have him be safe. I knew the whole thing was not safe. Is he a perfect boy? No he’s not. But he’s mine.” One woman said: “Baltimore doesn’t need the National Guard - they need more parents like this one!” Also the Baltimore Police Commissioner speaking at a press conference said: “In one scene you had a mother who grabbed a child who had a hood on his head and started smacking him on the head because she was so embarrassed. I wish there were more parents out there who took charge of their kids tonight.” He then added: “Take control of your kids. This is our city, let’s make a difference.” This goes to every mom today, in Baltimore, in London or in Lagos. What if the same scenario played out and it was you and your son, would you have had the guts to go fish him out? Would he have pushed you aside and continue hurling bricks at the police? Would you have ‘called his daddy for him’? If we all took charge of our children, I doubt if there will be any youth available for acts of violence during elections and for other selfish purposes. If we all took charge of our children I do not think there will be anyone left for Boko Haram and other terrorist groups to recruit for their wicked purpose. If we all took charge of our children there would be no one tapping our car windows in traffic, showing us a gun and asking for our possessions. Maybe we are worried that our children will not ‘like us’ if we do. Well, let’s see how that played out in Toya’s case: Report has it that as Toya’s family watched the event on TV, Michael’s Facebook feed began to fill up with people who had seen the video of his mom reeling him in. Many people wrote that Michael shouldn’t be mad at his mom, but rather ‘give her a hug’. So, what do you think? Toya Graham didn’t do what she did because she wanted to make headlines or hailed “Mom of the year,” or even receive a hug from her boy. She only showed the world (without meaning to) that she is ‘in charge’. And we all should ask ourselves: “Am I still in charge?” Happy Mother’s Day! (In arrears now). Grace Essen is the author of Successful Working Mom, president and founder Mum To Mum Support Initiative

Business | Money Line 41

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015

FIFTH SPIKE

The forecast will be the 5th consecutive spike in the price level since December 2014 Tony Chukwunyem

he ongoing fuel scarcity and poor power supply in most parts of the country will likely push inflation higher this month, Bismark Rewane, Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Ltd (FDC)

Rewane: Fuel, electricity crises may raise inflation has predicted. The financial advisory firm stated this in the latest edition of its “Economic Bulletin” made available to the New Telegraph. The FDC said, “Inflation in May is likely to be more pronounced than in April. This is because of the fuel scarcity, unreliable power supply and the increased cost of transportation.” It also predicted that

inflation for the month of April will increase by 0.14 per cent to 8.64 per cent from the 8 .5 per cent recorded for March, adding that the expected rise will be driven by the two rounds of devaluation of the naira carried out by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the last seven months. As the firm put it, “After an extended period of price stability and con-

sumer resistance, Nigerian inflation is now yielding to the impact of two bouts of naira devaluation. The first in October 2014 and the other in February this year. We are projecting that inflation for the month of April will increase by 0.14 per cent to 8.64 per cent, when the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announces its data later this week. If this forecast becomes a

reality, then it will be the 5th consecutive spike in the price level since December 2014.” However, the FDC pointed out that the full effect of the devaluation had been blunted by the decline in global commodity prices. “Nigerian inflation has tended to be more in

‘Africa’s becoming engine of global economic growth’

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Air Peace Airline, Mrs Olutoyin Olajide; Flight Officer Ademulegun Jonathan and Chairman, Air Peace Airline, Mr Allen Onyema, at the decoration of Jonathan as Captain in Lagos. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

‘External debt decline’ll boost Nigeria’s credit ratings’ Tony Chukwunyem

nalysts at FBN Capital Research have said that the decline in the nation’s external debt stock as reflected in the latest figures released by the Debt Management Office (DMO) will boost its sovereign external credit ratings. In a note made available to the New Telegraph, the analysts stated,“The quarterly data release from the DMO shows public external debt at end-March at US$9.46bn, equivalent to 1.7 per cent of estimated 2014 Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Unusually, the stock decreased by US$250million over

the quarter, and across all creditor categories. These positive data help to underpin Nigeria’s sovereign external credit ratings (BB- from Fitch and B+ from S&P).” They further noted that although the DMO in May 2013 set a medium-term target of 60/40 for the optimum mix of the FGN’s domestic and external debt obligations, their estimates suggest that the blend was 82/18 in March. “ The analysts noted, “The target was driven by its calculation of relative servicing costs, for which it used the rates for market borrowing. In reality, loans on concessional terms from multilateral agencies accounted for 69 per cent of external debt in March. From an

aggregate perspective, Nigeria is not submerged under a mountain of private-sector external debt. The nominal value of all corporate Eurobonds, for example, stands at US$3.65billion.” However, they pointed out that the stock of public external debt at end-December included $3.27billion borrowed by state governments and guaranteed by the Federal Government. “Lagos State was by far the largest debtor with outstanding of US$1.09billion. All state government debt was multilateral other than $120million supplied by the Agence française de développement (AFD, the French state development house),” the analysts stated.

he African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved $50 million investment in CEC Africa Investments Limited, a multinational power company headquartered in Nigeria and Zambia. In a press statement, the bank explained that CEC Africa (CECA) seeks to acquire and develop distribution and transmission assets and complementary greenfield generation projects throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. By investing across the energy value chain (generation, transmission, and distribution), CECA aims to reduce electricity losses while improving the overall economics in Africa’s power sector. According to the statement, “CECA has invested in two operating companies in Nigeria: Abuja Electricity Distribution Company and North South Power, which holds a 30-year concession on the 600 MW Shi-

the non-food items rather than the food basket. Imported inflation has been muted because of a general decline in global commodities including major imports in Nigeria. Nigeria imports significant amounts of wheat, rice, sugar and dairy products. The Bloomberg commodity index in 2015 is down 13.5 per cent so far, with wheat prices declining by 18 per cent. This means that the price of flour or bread could increase by 6 per cent after deducting the price decline of 18 per cent from the devaluation,” the firm stated.

hairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA)Plc and Founder Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Tony Elumelu, has said that Africa is on the verge of becoming the engine of global economic growth, He said this while delivering a keynote address titled topic ‘Entrepreneur-Led Development: A New Model for Africa,’ at Georgetown University in the United States. Elumelu, according to a statement, had earlier delivered a speech at the White house in Warshington DC at an event hosted by United States President Barack Obama on May 11, 2015 to celebrate emerging entrepreneurs around the globe. He said Africa is offering investors one of the highest returns on capital in the world, which has made the continent one

of the best places to be an entrepreneur globally attracting significant foreign direct investments (FDI) from both Africans and foreign investors. Citing UBA as an example of African owned business doing great on the continent, Mr. Elumelu said, “the United Bank for Africa, which I chair, employs about 12,000 people and provides banking and financial services to eight million Africans and businesses in 19 African countries, with a presence in Paris, London, and New York. “The platform provided by UBA across Africa and the globe enables individuals to save and carry out seamless transactions across the world, UBA supports businesses to secure the capital they require to grow, and drives intra-African trade and investment on scales previously unheard of “

AfDB invests $50m in African power firm roro Hydro Power Plant, both acquired during the recent Nigerian Power Sector Privatisation Programme. In addition, CECA has a number of greenfield power projects under active development in Southern and Western Africa, as well as a reserve pipeline spanning Eastern and Central Africa.” The statement said that through its investment, the African Development Bank is acting as anchor investor and strategic partner, helping to shape CECA’s policies and strategies, while catalysing additional private sector funding into Africa’s power sector. It said the operation is aligned with the Bank’s 10 Year Strategy, as it promotes: infrastructure development, regional economic integration, private sector develop-

ment, governance and accountability, as well as skills and technology development. “By supporting an indigenous power developer (CECA), the Bank is helping create a pool of pan-African investors besides assisting in mobilising the necessary capital to increase access to energy in Africa,” said AfDB President, Donald Kaberuka,” the statement said. CECA represents AfDB’s first equity investment into a power company with interests across Africa. The investment has been structured as part direct equity and part convertible debt, which demonstrates the ongoing financial innovation undertaken by the AfDB when it comes to supporting infrastructure development in Africa.

Business | Financial Market News

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

13-May-15

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up to date. We do not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information.

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 15.54 13-FEB-2020 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

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

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

581.39 476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 98.31 600.00 524.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 279.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,582.44

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,277.12

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

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

1.26 1.96 2.21 2.30 3.05 4.13 4.45 4.75 6.71 8.84 13.55 14.03 14.52 15.20 19.18

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

13.57 13.69 13.64 13.63 13.60 13.59 13.55 13.54 13.56 13.41 17.27 17.93 18.71 15.52 13.73

13.44 13.60 13.55 13.55 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.46 13.50 13.35 17.21 17.85 18.61 15.45 13.68

99.36 102.33 92.95 91.75 92.94 107.39 78.65 106.77 112.14 103.97 88.21 72.37 49.48 68.06 89.34

99.51 102.48 93.10 91.90 93.24 107.69 78.95 107.07 112.44 104.27 88.51 72.67 49.78 68.36 89.64

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.03 1.01 1.57 1.94 2.15

2.63 2.27 2.00 2.66 2.85

13.91 16.81 15.56 16.29 16.49

99.53 100.45 100.56 101.38 97.68

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.38

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

322.97

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.30

4.44

16.20

98.83

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.38

3.23

16.31

98.75

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.66

4.46

19.26

96.91

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.66

3.48

18.28

98.32

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.94

1.00

14.63

92.42

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.20

1.00

15.16

98.50

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.64

1.79

15.41

96.99

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

2.02

1.80

15.44

97.61

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.03

1.00

14.64

98.88

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.01

1.00

14.64

99.74

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.01

4.78

18.42

93.14

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.20

1.00

14.64

101.45

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

*GOMBE LAGOS

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

BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

15.09 80.00 25.70

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

2.64 4.53 2.60

1.00 1.00 1.00

14.62 14.54 14.62

101.73 99.84 100.25

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

10.78

10-Oct-20

3.14

1.00

14.60

100.35

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.54

1.00

14.54

96.12

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.64

1.00

14.54

101.69

‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

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

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.55

31-Dec-20

3.29

1.44

15.03

98.68

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.32

1.00

14.59

100.95

99.40

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

452.88 442.78

Corporate Bonds BBB+/Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

17-Aug-15

0.27

1.00

12.22

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

18.75

09-Dec-15

0.32

1.00

13.14

99.63

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.41

2.63

16.06

99.23

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.38

1.00

14.79

97.80

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.45

1.34

14.98

99.05

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.38

1.00

14.63

96.78

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.40

1.88

15.62

103.61

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

5.40

09-Apr-18

1.66

1.00

14.57

101.96

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.54

09-Sep-18

1.83

1.00

14.61

105.02

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.70

09-Sep-18

1.83

1.00

14.61

102.03

A+/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.36

3.00

16.59

93.48

BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.10

18-Oct-18

1.93

2.29

15.92

99.68

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

17-Feb-19

2.01

6.11

19.75

97.30

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.64

2.16

15.78

100.40

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.51

2.76

16.30

96.28

A/GCR

UBA

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

30-Dec-21

6.63

2.14

15.66

103.12

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.38

1.00

14.63

86.40

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.38

1.00

14.63

93.04

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

161.53

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

158.19

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.75

1.00

14.61

90.25

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.75

1.00

14.54

86.64

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 22.05

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.38

5.18

106.65

107.66

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.32

4.04

102.34

103.17

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.61

5.46

104.98

105.94

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,569.82

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

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

6.43

4.06

101.02

103.34

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.34

99.80

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

10.30

9.26

91.41

93.91

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.17

6.74

96.46

97.74

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

7.08

97.18

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

10.43

9.96

94.61

96.06

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

FIRST BANK PLC ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

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

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

8.25 9.25 8.00

300.00 400.00 450.00

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

8.74 10.37 9.00

8.74 10.02 9.00

97.21 95.12 94.48

97.21 96.66 94.48

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.13

9.45

92.88

95.88

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,650.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,519.06

**Treasury Bills^ DTM 8 22 29 43 50 57 64 71

FIXINGS Maturity 21-May-15 4-Jun-15 11-Jun-15 25-Jun-15 2-Jul-15 9-Jul-15 16-Jul-15 23-Jul-15

Bid Discount (%) 11.02 9.74 10.87 10.48 10.47 10.30 10.85 10.81

Offer Discount (%) 10.77 9.49 10.62 10.23 10.22 10.05 10.60 10.56

Bid Yield (%) 11.05 9.80 10.96 10.61 10.62 10.47 11.06 11.04

Money Market Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 11.8750 14.1230 15.4964 16.6006

Rate (%)

OBB

11.33

O/N

11.71

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 11.75 12.00

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

197.64 201.81 202.13 202.87 204.24 205.60

197.74 201.93 202.28 203.37 205.31 207.21

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.03 1.01 1.57 1.94 2.15

2.63 2.27 2.00 2.66 2.85

13.91 16.81 15.56 16.29 16.49

99.53 100.45 100.56 101.38 97.68

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.38

Business | Financial Market News

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION A/Agusto

KADUNA

A-/Agusto

CONFIDENCE

*EBONYI

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR Equities market ‡ /Agusto ‡ /Agusto gains N32bn ‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

‡ /Agusto

*IMO LAGOS

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.30

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.38

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.66

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.66

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.94

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.20

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.64

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

2.02

Stock market rebounds

*BAYELSA EDO *DELTA

the lowing profit by 34,115.49 recorded04-Oct-11 14.00taking NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR NIGER 09-Dec-11 ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR† *EKITI 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 previous day, while the market speculators. 12-Dec-13 Bb-/Agusto by Chris Ugwu *NIGER NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 Stories Analysts 14.00 said the re- market capitalisation of 14-Feb-12 ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR *ONDO 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 theGOMBE bulls to equities appreciated by 02-Oct-12 BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR *GOMBE surgence of 15.50 02-OCT-2019 Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR in the NigeLAGOS 14.50rally LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 per sustain market after N32 billion or 0.2722-Nov-12 nvestors 12-Dec-12 BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *OSUN 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 seven-day streak of loss, cent. rian equity market 10-Oct-13 BBB-/Agusto *OSUN 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 that Meanwhile, a turnover got respite yesterday , was an indication 27-Nov-13 Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 31-Dec-13 A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI 15.00returning KOGI 31-DEC-2020 of 350.7 billion shares confidence is as the jinx of market 31-Dec-13 ‡ /Agusto *EKITI 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 to market. worth N3.3 billion in 4,146 depression that had per06-Jan-14 A-/GCR *NASARAWA 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 The key market perfordeals was recorded in the sisted for seven consecuTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE tive days was broken fol- mance measures, the NSE day’s trading. TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION All Share Index and marBanking sub-sector lowing the resurgence of Corporate Bonds ket capitalisation, rose by of the financial services the bulls. 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 17-Aug-10 BBB+/Agusto *UPDC sector was the most active Trading activities*FLOURMILLS on 0.27 per cent.12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 BBB-/Agusto 09-Dec-10 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 BB/GCR 06-Jan-11 *CHELLARAMS Consequently, the All(measured by turnover the floor of the Nigerian 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 29-Sep-11 NAHCO Share Index gained 92.81 volume); with 179.2 billion Stock Exchange (NSE) 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 A-/Agusto 25-Oct-13 FSDH had to UBA the basis points13.00 orUBA 0.27 per shares worth N1.13 billion 30-SEP-2017 A/GCR returned 30-Sep-10 LEASING 30-NOV-2017 BBB-/GCR 30-Nov-12 *C & I LEASING trenches after the bears cent to close18.00 atC&I 34,208.30 exchanged by investors in MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 09-Apr-11 Nil *DANA index points, as against 1,262 deals. regained dominance folMPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR *TOWER

#{r}

Volume 14.00 in the sub-sec9.00 14.50 13.73 by tor was largely driven 14.00 10.20 activities in the shares of 15.50 27.00 UBA Plc and Access Bank 15.50 15.09 80.00 Plc. 14.50 14.75 25.70 Also, other finan14.75 10.78 cial services sub-sector 13.50 87.50 15.00 5.00the boosted by activity in 14.50 4.55 shares15.00 of FBNH Plc fol4.56 lowed with a turnover 452.88of 98.8 million shares 442.78 valued at N784.5 million in 704 deals. 10.00 2.50 The12.00 number of gainers 18.75 14.00 0.42 at the close of trading ses13.00 15.00 sion was 20, while declin14.25 5.53 ers closed 13.00 at 27. 20.00 18.00Glass Nigeria 0.64 Beta 16.00 5.40 Plc led18.00 the gainers’2.54 table

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

Senate confirms Gwarzo as DG SEC

0.70

A+/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

UBA chamhe upper legislative Thereafter, some members of 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 STANBIC IBTC including the three senaber of the Nigerian Na- senate13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 STANBIC IBTC tional Assembly (NASS), tors from Kano State (Gwarzo’s TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE the Senate yesterday at its plena- state of origin), Senators Bello TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION ry unanimously confirmed the Dalhatu Gwarzo, Kabiru Gaya Supranational Bond nomination of Mallam Mounir and Bashir Garba Lado, also 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC Haliru Gwarzo as theAfDB Director spoke 11.25 in favour of confirmation AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P of the new DG of SEC. General of the Securities and TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Senate Leader Senator Victor Exchange Commission (SEC). TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION The confirmation by unani- Ndoma-Egba and a former ChairDescription Rating/Agencyfollowed considIssuer mous decision, man of the Senate Committee on eration of the screening report Capital Market, Senator Ganiyu FGN Eurobonds of the Senate Committee on Solomon from Lagos, also openly 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P Capital Market headed by Sena- supported Gwazo’s nomination BB-/Fitch; tor Ayo Adeseun, which affirmed before the Senate5.13 President, FGN JUL 12, 2018 SenBB-/S&P Gwarzo as the best candidate for ator David Mark put the motion BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 BB-/S&P the position. for his confirmation before his TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE A statement made available to colleagues. TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION newsmen by the SEC’s manageThe motion according to the ment, said the Committee had statement, was then unanimousCorporate Eurobonds earlier screened Gwarzo and ly supported without a single op7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I expressed its satisfaction with position. 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC his nomination. Consequently In his comments, senator 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 DaB/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK ,PLC 6.00 Gwarzo NOV 08, 2018 as ‘’a B+/Fitch; B+/S&P the group according GTBANK to thePLCre- vid Mark described 6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC lease, called on the whole house round peg in a round hole’’ and 8.75 May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC toB-/Fitch; confirm Gwarzo’s nomination expressed the hope that he would 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC byB-/Fitch; President Goodluck Ebele to bear on 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II bring his experience B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK LTD Jonathan. the job. 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

#{r}

Nil

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.10

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

*DANA

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

14-Aug-14

8.75

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

A/GCR A/GCR A/GCR

B-/S&P

322.97

Sub-National Bonds

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4.50

A fellow of Chartered Institute 30-Sep-14 11.93 0.10 of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mounir 15.44 30-Sep-14 13.25 Gwarzo was born 52 years ago 161.53 in Kano and attended Bayero 158.19 University, Kano where he graduated with Bachelors Degree in 11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 Economics in 1987. He11.25 later went 12.95 10-Jul-14 to the University of Birmingham 24.95 in United Kingdom where he did 22.05 his post-graduate course in DeOutstanding Value Issue Date (%) velopment FinanceCoupon in 1991. He ($mm) was trained as a stockbroker and qualified as an associate member, 07-Oct-11 Chartered Institute of 6.75 Stockbro- 500.00 kers (CIS) and in 20055.13 became a 500.00 12-Jul-13 fellow of the Institute. 12-Jul-13 6.38 His working career spans a pe- 500.00 riod of Twenty 25 years in vari- 1,500.00 ous organisations namely; Min- 1,569.82 istry of Trade, Kano State, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), 500.00 19-May-11 7.50 Century Merchant Bank Limit- 350.00 25-Jul-12 7.25 ed, Empire Limited, 300.00 09-May-13Securities 6.88 08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 The Securities and Exchange 22-Apr-14 Commission, Federal 6.25 Mortgage 500.00 21-May-14 8.75 200.00 Bank of Nigeria and MTL Glob- 300.00 07-Aug-13 8.25 al Investment Limited, 24-Jun-14 9.25prior to 400.00 8.00 450.00 joining23-Jul-14 the Board of SEC. 250.00

16.20

98.83

16.31 share respectively .98.75 19.26 On the other 96.91 hand, 3.48 18.28 98.32 Mills 1.00Honeywell 14.63 Flour92.42 1.00led the price 15.16 98.50 losers’ table, 1.79 15.41 96.99 dropping five per cent 1.80 15.44 97.61 close at98.88 N3.80 1.00each to14.64 1.00per share, 14.64while Premier 99.74 4.78 18.42 93.14 Breweries Plc followed 1.00 14.64 101.45 with a loss of 4.99 per 1.00 14.62 101.73cent 1.00to close at 14.54 N3.43 per99.84 share. 1.00 14.62 100.25 Jos Breweries Plc100.35 closed 1.00 14.60 of 4.95 per 1.00with dip 14.54 96.12cent 1.00to close at 14.54 N1.92 per101.69 share. 3.23 4.46

with a gain of2.0310 per 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 2.01N33.00 cent to close at 2.01 per12-Dec-18 share, while 7up Bot14-Feb-19 2.20 tling Company Plc and 02-Oct-19 2.64 22-Nov-19 Healthcare 4.53 Neimeth Plc 12-Dec-19 2.60 followed with a3.14 gain of 10-Oct-20 five27-Nov-20 per cent each to close 5.54 31-Dec-20 5.64 at N170.10 and N1.05 per 31-Dec-20

3.29

1.44

15.03

98.68

06-Jan-21

3.32

1.00

14.59

100.95

0.27

1.00

12.22

99.40

10.13

9.45

92.88

95.88

Airline Service’s pre-tax profit rises by 285%

17-Aug-15

irline Services According to the com0.32 1.00 13.14 99.63 0.41 16.06 after tax 99.23 and Logistics Plc 2.63pany, profit stood 29-Sep-16 1.38 1.00 14.79 97.80 has recorded 285 1.34 at N22.788 million99.05 for the 25-Oct-16 1.45 14.98 per30-Sep-17 cent growth 2.38 in pretax 1.00half-year ended June 14.63 96.78 30, 30-Nov-17 1.40 quar- 1.882014, as15.62 103.61 against N69.571 profit for the first 09-Apr-18 1.00 14.57 101.96 million during the comter09-Sep-18 ended March1.66 31, 2015. 1.83 1.00 14.61 105.02 The group, in a filing parable period of 2013. 09-Sep-18 1.83 1.00 14.61 102.03 22-Sep-18 3.36 Stock 3.00This indicated 16.59 93.48 with the Nigerian a drop of 18-Oct-18 1.93 15.92 99.68 Exchange (NSE) posted 2.2967 per cent. 17-Feb-19 2.01 6.11 19.75 97.30 a profit before2.64tax of 2.16 Similarly , the 100.40 firm’s 01-Apr-19 15.78 N97.514 million for the revenue dropped by 7 per 14-Nov-20 5.51 2.76 16.30 96.28 30-Dec-21 6.63 15.66 N1.756103.12 first quarter, in contrast to 2.14cent from billion 30-Sep-24 in 2014 14.63 to N1.628 86.40 billion N25.302 million 9.38 reported 1.00 30-Sep-24 9.38 1.00 14.63 93.04 same period in 2014. This during the period under represented a growth of review. 285 per cent. The trend continued Its revenue also firmed in third quarter of the 11-Feb-18 2.75 1.00 14.61 90.25 up 01-Feb-21 to N971.9124.75million 1.00current14.54 year, as the com86.64 from N804.993 million. pany’s net earnings also The group had began dip by 36 per cent. the 2014 financial year In a notice to NSE, profMaturity Date Bid Yieldrecord(%) Offer Yield with bad numbers, it(%) after Bid taxPrice duringOffer thePrice nine ing a profit before tax of months ended September Prices & Yields N25.302 million for the 30, 2014 stood at N50.877 28-Jan-21 5.38 107.66 in contrast to first quarter ended March 5.18million106.65 30, 2014, million posted 12-Jul-18as against 4.32N95.757 4.04N79.295102.34 103.17 in million during the compa- 2013. This depicted a drop 12-Jul-23 5.61 104.98 105.94 rable period of 2013. This 5.46of 36 per cent. Revenue translated to a drop of 74 also dropped by 4 per cent, per cent. from N2.658 billion in to Turnover also fall by N2.555 billion. 8 per cent from 6.43 N873.154 4.06 Chairman, Airline Ser19-May-16 101.02 103.34 million in 2014 to7.34 N804.993 7.34vices & 99.80 Logistics 99.80 Plc, Dr 25-Jul-17 million during the Dele Cole,93.91 had at 02-May-18 10.30period 9.26Patrick 91.41 08-Nov-18 6.74the company’s 96.46 97.74 Anunder review. 7.17 18th 22-Apr-19 7.08 97.18 97.18 The poor showing con- 7.08nual General Meeting 21-May-19 10.43 9.96 94.61 96.06 tinued in the second quar(AGM), said that 2013 was 07-Aug-20 8.74 8.74 97.21 97.21 year for the comter24-Jun-21 with a 67 per10.37 cent de- 10.02a tough 95.12 96.66 23-Jul-21 9.00 94.48 crease in profit after tax. 9.00pany. 94.48 09-Dec-15 06-Jan-16

14-Aug-21

3,650.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4.44

13-May-15

3,519.06

The DQL contains and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute **Treasury Bills^ data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities FIXINGS Money Market Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) professional,DTM financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information isOffer accurate; however, theBid Information basis and may Rate not be Maturity Bid Discount (%) Discount (%) Yield (%) is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE”Tenor (%) accurate or up to date. We do not guarantee NIBOR 8 21-May-15 11.02 10.77 11.05 the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis Bid ($/N) Offer ($/N) OBB 11.33of the Information. Tenor

22 29 43 FGN Bonds 50 57 64 Rating/Agency 71 78 85 92 106 113 120 134 141 155 169 NA 204 218 239 246 253 260 267 274 281 288 TOTAL OUTSTANDING 295

VALUE

309 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4-Jun-15 11-Jun-15 25-Jun-15 2-Jul-15 9-Jul-15 16-Jul-15 Issuer 23-Jul-15 30-Jul-15 6-Aug-15 13-Aug-15 27-Aug-15 3-Sep-15 10-Sep-15 24-Sep-15 1-Oct-15 15-Oct-15 29-Oct-15 NA 3-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 7-Jan-16 14-Jan-16 21-Jan-16 28-Jan-16 4-Feb-16 11-Feb-16 18-Feb-16 25-Feb-16 3-Mar-16 17-Mar-16

9.74 10.87 10.48 10.47 10.30 10.85 Description 10.81 10.77 10.36 ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 10.55 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 10.64 9.85 27-JUL-2017 11.65 9.35 31-AUG-2017 12.13 10.70 30-MAY-2018 12.06 12.62 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 12.35 7.00 23-OCT-2019 13.93 15.54 13-FEB-2020 12.97 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 13.00 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.99 13.99 15.00 28-NOV-2028 13.38 12.49 22-MAY-2029 14.06 8.50 20-NOV-2029 13.60 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 13.97 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 13.40 13.95 13.66

9.49 10.62 10.23 10.22 10.05 10.60 Issue Date 10.56 10.52 10.11 16-Aug-13 10.30 27-Apr-12 10.39 27-Jul-07 11.40 31-Aug-07 11.88 30-May-08 11.81 12.37 29-Jun-12 12.10 23-Oct-09 13.68 13-Feb-15 12.72 27-Jan-12 12.75 14-Mar-14 12.74 13.74 28-Nov-08 13.13 22-May-09 13.81 20-Nov-09 13.35 23-Jul-10 13.72 18-Jul-14 13.15 13.70 13.41

9.80 10.96 10.61 10.62 10.47 11.06 Coupon 11.04 (%) 11.02 10.61 13.05 10.83 15.10 10.97 9.85 12.09 9.35 12.63 10.70 12.62 13.26 16.00 13.04 7.00 14.88 15.54 13.99 16.39 14.09 14.20 14.19 15.45 15.00 14.75 12.49 15.63 8.50 15.10 10.00 15.61 12.1493 14.94 15.67 15.35

13.09

12.84

14.72

24-Mar-16

13.48

13.23

15.25

330

7-Apr-16

13.54

13.29

15.43

344

21-Apr-16

13.43

13.18

Issue Date

Issuer

358 5-May-16 13.20 *for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

Description

12.95

***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Modified Duration Buckets TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Porfolio Market Value(Bn)

TTM 1M(Yrs) 3M 6M 1.26

Rate (%) 11.75

Bid12.00 Yield (%) 12.25

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2MYield Offer 3M (%) 6M 1Y 13.44

12.50 13.57 1.96 13.69 13.60 NOTE: 2.21 13.64 13.55 2.30 13.63 13.55 :Benchmarks 3.05 Bond 13.60 13.47 * :Amortising µ :Convertible 4.13 Bond 13.59 13.49 AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 4.45 Management Corporation 13.55 13.44 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 4.75 13.54 13.46 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 6.71 13.56 13.50 IFC: International Finance Corporation 8.84Contractors Receivables 13.41 13.35 LCRM: Local Management NAHCO: Nigerian 13.55 Aviation Handling 17.27 Company17.21 O/N: Overnight 14.03 17.93 17.85 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company 14.52 18.71 18.61 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company 15.20 15.52 15.45 19.18 13.73 13.68

197.64 197.74 201.81 201.93 202.13 Price 202.28 202.87 203.37 204.24 205.31 Bid Price Offer Price 205.60 207.21 206.28 213.47 220.29 226.27 99.36 99.51

102.33 102.48 92.95 93.10 91.90 NA :Not91.75 Applicable 92.94 93.24 ^ : Market Prices # : Floating Rate Bond 107.69 107.39 ***: Deferred 78.65 coupon bonds 78.95 106.77 107.07 ‡ : Bond rating under review 112.14 †: Bond rating expired 112.44 103.97 104.27 N/A :Not Available {r} :Issuer in receivership88.51 88.21 72.37 72.67 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 49.48 49.78 UBA: United Bank for Africa 68.06 68.36 89.34 89.64

Coupon (%)

Weighting by Outstanding Vol

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 FGN BOND 0.00/16.50

Weighting by Mkt Value

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

24.56 2.40 112.22 116.70 INDEX66.49

322.38 Bucket Weighting

322.97

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.03 1.01 1.57 1.94 2.15

2.63 2.27 2.00 2.66 2.85

13.91 16.81 15.56 16.29 16.49

99.53 100.45 100.56 101.38 97.68

% Exposure_ Mod_Duration

Implied Yield

Implied Portfolio Price

INDEX

YTD Return (%)

41.39

1,124.68

33.03 31-Aug-10 25.58 30-Sep-10 100.00 30-Jun-11

19.69 13.00 100.00 14.00

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.66

3.48

18.28

98.32

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.94

1.00

14.63

92.42

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.20

1.00

15.16

98.50

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.64

1.79

15.41

96.99

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

2.02

1.80

15.44

97.61

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.03

1.00

14.64

98.88

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.01

1.00

14.64

99.74

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.01

4.78

18.42

93.14

KADUNA

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

3<5 >5 Market

1,218.29 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 652.31 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 3,313.38 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

871.07 3,405.23

43.54

Maturity Date

1,409.48

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

1,442.77

Tenor Call

11.71

REPO

4,582.44

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

Total Outstanding Volume(Bn)

16-Aug-16

Rate (%) 27-Apr-17 9.8641 27-Jul-17 10.6721 31-Aug-17 10.7191 30-May-18 13.9439 14.7005 29-Jun-19 14.9793 23-Oct-19

98.31 13-Feb-20 600.00 27-Jan-22 NIFEX 524.68 14-Mar-24 Current Price ($/N) 75.00 28-Nov-28 BID($/N)150.00 199.0000 22-May-29 OFFER ($/N) 199.1000 200.00 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30 279.50 18-Jul-34

15.17

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

O/N

Maturity Date

NITTY

581.39

Tenor 476.80 1M 20.00 2M 100.00 3M 300.00 6M 9M 351.30 12M 233.90

15.37

# Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums Agency Bonds **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015

FMBN

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Rate (%) 11.8750 14.1230 15.4964 16.6006

4,277.12

316

Rating/Agency

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Bonds

12.50

36.77

8.50 2.16 4.86

0.41

19.16

13.62

105.0197

1,176.64

6.2090

0.33

38.75 31-Aug-15 42.09 30-Sep-15 100.00 30-Jun-16

13.49 0.30 14.80 0.38 14.06 0.66

111.0157 4.44 77.7702 3.23 100.0296 4.46

1,107.72 16.20 1,093.07 16.31 1,130.33 19.26

9.3973 98.83 8.5451 98.75 7.1213 96.91

0.26 1.00

Daily Summary as of 13/05/2015 Printed 13/05/2015 15:01:29.029

Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary as of 13/05/2015

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Printed 13/05/2015 15:01:29.029

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

Business | Capital Market

Daily Summary (Bonds)

No Debt Trading Activity

Symbol NEIMETH NIG-GERMAN

Current Price Quantity Traded Value Traded THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015681,004 NEW TELEGRAPH 1.05 672,398.06

No. of Deals 18 4 99

HEALTHCARE Totals

6.32

102

304 1,875,616

1,827.04 48,493,827.14

1,880,479

48,502,240.13

Symbol COURTVILLE

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 11,111 11,111

Value Traded 5,555.50 5,555.50

IT Services NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals

Symbol NCR TRIPPLEG

No. of Deals 3 3 6

Current Price 12.19 1.69

Quantity Traded 3,927 177 4,104

Value Traded 47,870.13 284.97 48,155.10

Processing Systems

Symbol CHAMS ETRANZACT

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 0.50 3.39

Quantity Traded 1,000 10 1,010

Value Traded 500.00 35.50 535.50

16,225

54,246.10

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at May 13, 2015 ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol LIVESTOCK

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES

Daily Summary as of 13/05/2015 Diversified Industries Printed 13/05/2015 15:01:29.029

A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY

No. of Deals 1 30 28 59

Current Price 0.50 28.44 28.91

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 2.40

69 Symbol No. of Deals AGLEVENT 5 JOHNHOLT 3 SCOA 4 TRANSCORP 117 Daily Summary (Equities) UACN 65 194

CONGLOMERATES CONGLOMERATES Totals

194

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. G CAPPA PLC Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Current Price 1.62 0.90 4.44 3.24 40.00

Quantity Traded 4,000 279,197 18,256,171 18,539,368

Value Traded 2,000.00 7,874,006.52 484,706,802.11 492,582,808.63

Quantity Traded 219,981 219,981

Value Traded 527,366.92 527,366.92

18,759,349

493,110,175.55

Quantity Traded 24,204 219 3,275 5,697,941 291,499 6,017,138

Value Traded 37,274.16 197.10 13,820.50 18,302,375.88 11,667,112.88 30,020,780.52

6,017,138 Page

No. of Deals 8 3 11

Current Price 0.81 14.46

Quantity Traded 297,122 207 297,329

Value Traded 235,177.60 2,844.18 238,021.78

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

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 51.70

Quantity Traded 32,702 32,702

Value Traded 1,667,189.41 1,667,189.41

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

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 20 20

Current Price 10.25

Quantity Traded 107,119 107,119

Value Traded 1,116,936.68 1,116,936.68

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 10.00

Quantity Traded 251 251

Value Traded 2,510.00 2,510.00

437,401

3,024,657.87

Quantity Traded 419,799 419,799

Value Traded 209,899.50 209,899.50

CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals

Symbol UPDCREIT

48 Symbol No. of Deals Daily Summary (Equities) DUNLOP

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

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. Daily Summary as of 13/05/2015 HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC Printed 13/05/2015 15:01:29.029 N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. UNION DICON SALT PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC.

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Current Price 0.50

6 6

No. of Deals 13 44 9 6 92 2 166

Current Price 6.79 160.00 20.00 1.92 153.80 3.43

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 170.10

Quantity Traded 296,279 296,279

Value Traded 50,397,057.90 50,397,057.90

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM UNIONDICON

No. of Deals 31 31 102 52 71 4 3 294

Current Price 4.64 6.40 35.00 3.80 8.17 18.05 11.84

Quantity Traded 85,447 254,435 1,081,367 1,291,228 1,883,412 35,153 21 4,631,063

Value Traded 397,949.30 1,637,756.24 37,978,908.17 4,984,550.28 15,804,931.31 666,149.35 236.25 61,470,480.90

Current Price 39.90 900.00

Quantity Traded 125,802 161,953

Value Traded 4,920,250.90 147,351,179.58

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals CADBURY NESTLE

29 40

Page

Symbol

No. of Deals 69

Current Price

Quantity Traded 287,755

Value Traded 152,271,430.48

Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 82 1 83

Current Price 6.49 0.98

Quantity Traded 1,731,096 5,000 1,736,096

Value Traded 11,078,815.55 4,700.00 11,083,515.55

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 72 42 114

Current Price 28.01 45.00

Quantity Traded 4,523,038 1,021,370 5,544,408

Value Traded 130,849,597.28 45,749,858.02 176,599,455.30

14,074,943

556,089,804.45

Current Price 6.20 4.55 21.50 1.85 29.70

Quantity Traded 26,291,555 3,947,116 822,520 2,362,407 7,960,974

Value Traded 163,718,725.79 17,663,026.42 17,424,373.77 4,425,198.94 235,892,589.40

Current Price 2.38 2.13 5.15 10.50 2.24 1.00 21.50

Quantity Traded 20,992,727 858,246 100,885,439 Page 271,161 8,977,166 1,224,204 4,614,548 179,208,063

CONSUMER GOODS Totals Daily Summary as of 13/05/2015 FINANCIAL SERVICES Printed 13/05/2015 15:01:29.029

Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY BANK PLC. Activity SummaryTRUST on Board EQTY

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANKStock NIG.PLC. Published by The Nigerian Exchange © UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC Daily Summary as of 13/05/2015 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC Printed 13/05/2015 15:01:29.029 LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

FINANCIAL SERVICES Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK©PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange Micro-Finance Banks Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

747 Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 172 DIAMONDBNK 61 Daily ETISummary (Equities) 62 FIDELITYBK 65 GUARANTY 251 Symbol SKYEBANK STERLNBANK UBA UBN UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST GNI HMARKINS INTENEGINS LAWUNION LINKASSURE MANSARD NEMSummary Daily NIGERINS WAPIC

HEALTHCARE

Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC.

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

HEALTHCARE Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Pharmaceuticals NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

Current Price 1.00 0.99 0.50 0.52 0.50 0.53 0.50 0.50 3.00 0.68 0.50 0.54

Quantity Traded 3,260,714 3,782,179 1,015 510,000 300 816,839 1,000 800 929,225 378,578 10,000 2,149,888 11,840,538

Tools and Machinery NIGERIAN ROPES PLC

ActivityTools Summary on Board EQTY and Machinery Totals

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

Current Price 1.99 3.11 56.00 1.70

Quantity Traded 26,866 241,300 845,207 80,935

Value Traded 51,045.40 753,167.00 46,877,800.14 137,589.50 6 of 13 Value Traded 672,398.06 1,827.04 48,493,827.14

1,880,479

48,502,240.13

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 11,111 11,111

Value Traded 5,555.50 5,555.50

IT Services NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals

Symbol NCR TRIPPLEG

No. of Deals 3 3 6

Current Price 12.19 1.69

Quantity Traded 3,927 177 4,104

Value Traded 47,870.13 284.97 48,155.10

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC Processing Systems Totals

Symbol CHAMS ETRANZACT

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 0.50 3.39

Quantity Traded 1,000 10 1,010

Value Traded 500.00 35.50 535.50

16,225

54,246.10

Current Price 20.47

Quantity Traded 117,771 Page

Current Price 33.00

Quantity Traded 69,628 69,628

Value Traded 2,297,199.00 2,297,199.00

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 7.46

Quantity Traded 213 213

Value Traded 1,510.17 1,510.17

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol NIGROPES

181

1,303,816 Page

107,672,301.33 8 of 13

Symbol BOCGAS

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 5.21

Quantity Traded 3,554 3,554

Value Traded 17,592.30 17,592.30

Symbol ALEX ALUMACO

No. of Deals 3 3 6

Current Price 10.43 7.75

Quantity Traded 36 9 45

Value Traded 356.76 66.33 423.09

3,599

18,015.39

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 20,000 20,000

Value Traded 10,000.00 10,000.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 220 220

Current Price 17.40

Quantity Traded 5,384,642 5,384,642

Value Traded 94,007,064.30 94,007,064.30

Symbol

No. of Deals 44 9 59

Current Price 39.92 2.70 152.00

Quantity Traded 153,383 44,400 140,135

Value Traded 6,430,391.69 120,681.00 21,310,509.49

Daily Summary (Equities) CONOIL ETERNA FO

Page

Quantity Traded 11,189 11,189

Value Traded 4,347,290.25 4,347,290.25

6,049,809

170,988,642.70

433 Symbol AFROMEDIA

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 500.00 500.00

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.96

Quantity Traded 2,038 2,038

Value Traded 1,876.16 1,876.16

Symbol

No. of Deals 22 4 26

Current Price 4.92 1.16

Quantity Traded 192,386 35,635 228,021

Value Traded 913,314.77 39,554.85 952,869.62

Daily Summary (Equities) REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 107 107

Current Price 0.70

Quantity Traded Page 10,959,092

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 3.96

Quantity Traded 10,000 10,000

Value Traded 37,700.00 37,700.00

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 1 4 8 13

Current Price 0.96 1.15 5.75

Quantity Traded 900 47,005 53,662 101,567

Value Traded 828.00 54,055.95 304,311.24 359,195.19

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.57

Quantity Traded 23,100 23,100

Value Traded 12,705.00 12,705.00

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 4 40 44

Current Price 2.01 6.70

Quantity Traded 4,378 410,667 415,045

Value Traded 9,669.38 2,752,720.16 2,762,389.54

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 3.70

Quantity Traded 48,574 48,574

Value Traded 170,980.48 170,980.48

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol CAVERTON

Daily Summary (Equities)

10,959,092

Page

Value Traded 10 of 13 7,540,416.82 7,540,416.82

206

11,788,437

11,838,632.81

4,146

350,712,524

3,352,894,746.23

Quantity Traded 105,975 105,975

Value Traded 153,685.50 153,685.50

105,975

153,685.50

Activity Summary on Board ASeM CONSUMER GOODS Daily Summary of 13/05/2015 Food as Products Printed 13/05/2015 15:01:29.029 MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals

CONSUMER GOODS Totals OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors

Activity Summary on Board ASeM

OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CAPITAL OIL PLC Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Symbol MCNICHOLS

No. of Deals 6 6

Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 1.50

Symbol

No. of Deals

Current Price

Quantity Traded

Value Traded

Symbol CAPOIL

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 10,000 10,000

Value Traded 5,000.00 5,000.00

10,000

5,000.00

115,975

158,685.50

OIL AND GAS Totals

ASeM Board Totals

Page 3,353,053,431.73 12 of 13 350,828,499

4,154

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

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

Symbol LOTUSHAL15 NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 2 6 9

Current Price 10.86 2,286.00 15.92

Quantity Traded 5 20 6,450 6,475

Value Traded 54.30 45,731.00 101,952.50 147,737.80

ETF Board Totals

6,475

147,737.80

ETP Activity Totals

6,475

147,737.80

Value Traded 2,364,092.98 7

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 387.00

EQTY Board Totals

Symbol No. of Deals EVANSMED 7 FIDSON 8 Daily Summary (Equities) GLAXOSMITH 56 MAYBAKER 6

No. of Deals 21

Symbol BETAGLAS

SERVICES SERVICES Totals

Value Traded 8,412.99 8,412.99

Symbol ASHAKACEM

Value Traded 98,920.00 12.00 98,932.00

Quantity Traded 4,863 4,863

No. of Deals 1 1

Quantity Traded 62,000 24 62,024

No. of Deals 31 31

Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC

Current Price 1.82

Current Price 1.66 0.50

Symbol SEPLAT

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Support and Logistics Totals

674,475.00

Symbol COURTVILLE

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC

No. of Deals 4 3 7

Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

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

No. of Deals 3 3

ICT Totals

Symbol CUTIX NIWICABLE

Value Traded 33,247,499.47 649,462.16 10,865,744.34 72,624,288.15

Daily Summary as of 13/05/2015 Transport-Related Services Printed 13/05/2015 15:01:29.029

1,931,575,249.38

102

Current Price 10.00 43.00 10.50 177.50 0.83 0.50 0.50 1.27 3.64 98.50

Quantity Traded 210,749 14,068 71,243 633,978

290,381,328

Page Quantity Traded 681,004 304 1,875,616

No. of Deals 18 13 13 44 3 3 3 1 1 42 162

Current Price 151.30 50.54 155.00

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Value Traded 3,993,368.89 11,543,422.05 659,144,308.42 36,042,651.56 267,737.50 66,127,051.27 7,454,486.08 784,573,025.77

7 of 13 Value Traded 2,264,221.85 1,628,281.04 547,435.92 61,071,223.99 4,045.50 1,603.50 631.50 3,724.00 3,828.00 37,385,571.88 105,274,660.16

No. of Deals 29 14 25 180

Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Quantity Traded 1,333,707 2,849,740 74,834,629 12,088,093 535,475 2,196,939 4,973,814 98,812,397

Value Traded 2,364,092.98

Page Quantity Traded 226,618 39,860 51,885 341,815 4,650 3,207 1,263 2,800 1,100 380,982 1,171,951

Symbol MOBIL MRS TOTAL

Daily Summary as of 13/05/2015 Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Printed 13/05/2015 15:01:29.029 R T BRISCOE PLC.

Value Traded 3,269,926.20 3,741,917.21 507.50 265,000.00 150.00 434,667.96 500.00 400.00 2,806,097.50 261,597.40 5,000.00 1,144,039.18 11,929,802.95

Quantity Traded 117,771

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

SERVICES Advertising AFROMEDIA PLC Advertising Totals

Value Traded 50,367,777.02 1,847,646.73 519,438,977.83 4 2,855,648.07 of 13 20,142,699.78 1,217,888.83 99,403,393.08 1,134,397,945.66

Current Price 20.47

Symbol BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER FIRSTALUM IPWA PAINTCOM PORTPAINT WAPCO

OIL AND GAS Totals

Current Price 3.00 4.06 8.75 3.00 0.50 30.00 1.50

Current Price 1.05 6.32

Daily Summary as of 13/05/2015 Integrated Oil and Gas Services Printed 13/05/2015 15:01:29.029 OANDO PLC

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

No. of Deals 55 10 411 100 16 40 72 704

No. of Deals 18 4 99

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

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

Symbol NEIMETH NIG-GERMAN

No. of Deals 21

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC.

Value Traded 5 of 13 674,475.00

Symbol MORISON

Metals ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. ALUMINIUM MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Metals Totals

Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Quantity Traded Page 520,330

2,147

Symbol ASHAKACEM

INDUSTRIAL GOODS

Current Price 1.29

520,330

Daily Summary (Equities)

No. of Deals 14 14

HEALTHCARE Totals ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

No. of Deals 42 26 4 2 2 9 1 2 20 16 (Equities) 1 42 167

Published byINDUSTRIAL The NigerianGOODS Stock Exchange © Building Materials BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC IPWA PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Daily Summary as of 13/05/2015 Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Printed 13/05/2015 15:01:29.029 Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals Medical Supplies Daily Summary as of 13/05/2015 MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. Printed 13/05/2015 Medical15:01:29.029 Supplies Totals

No. of Deals 81 21 170 38 124 35 182 1,262

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials Activity Summary on Board EQTY ASHAKA CEM PLC

2 of 13 Value Traded 948,823.16 39,355,572.56 856,575.73 401,740.80 62,080,798.81 414,453.76 104,057,964.82

Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW JOSBREW NB PREMBREW

CONSUMER GOODS Food Products--Diversified Food Products--Diversified Totals

Page Quantity Traded 139,059 248,028 41,104 209,240 401,280 120,832 1,159,543

ICT Totals

30,020,780.52 1 of 13

Symbol COSTAIN GCAPPA

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Daily Summary as of 13/05/2015 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals Printed 13/05/2015 15:01:29.029 CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

CHAMS PLC Daily Summary as of 13/05/2015 E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC Printed 13/05/2015 15:01:29.029 Processing Systems Totals

Page

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015

Features

Turning to South African mercenaries for help Mercenaries from South Africa have proved quietly decisive in helping the Nigerian military turn around its campaign against Boko Haram, writes COLIN FREEMAN in Abuja

ith their roots in South Africa apartheid-era security forces, they do not fit the standard image of an army of liberation. But after just three months on the ground, a squad of grizzled, ageing white mercenaries have helped to end Boko Haram’s six-long year reign of terror in northern Nigeria. Run by 62-year-old Colonel Eeben Barlow, a former commander in the South African Defence Force, the group of bush warfare experts were recruited in top secrecy in January to train an elite strike group within Nigeria’s ‘disorganised, demoralised army’. Some of the guns-for-hire cut their teeth in South Africa’s border wars 30 years ago. But their formidable fighting skills – back by their own helicopter pilots flying combat missions – have proved decisive in helping the military turn around its campaign against Boko Haram in its north-eastern strongholds. The Islamists have now fled many of the towns they once controlled, leading to the freeing of hundreds of girls and women last week who were used by Boko Haram as slaves and bush wives. The role of Barlow’s firm in turning around one of the most vicious African insurgencies of modern times has been kept largely quiet by Nigeria’s outgoing President, Goodluck Jonathan, who lost elections six weeks ago to General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). But recently, Barlow discussed his company’s role in a seminar at the Royal Danish Defence College, and in a separate interview with a Sofrep.com, a special force’s website, he described in detail the “aggressive” strike force that was created to push Boko Haram onto the back foot. He said: “The campaign gathered good momentum and wrested much of the initiative from the enemy. It was not uncommon for the strike force to be met by thousands of cheering locals once the enemy had been driven from

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Nigerian military in Chibok

Barlow

an area. “Yes, many of us are no longer 20-year-olds. But with our age has come knowledge of conflicts and wars in Africa that our younger generation employees have yet to learn, and a steady hand when things get rough.” During apartheid, Barlow served with the South African Defence Force, a mainly white military unit that defended the regime against insurrection and fought border wars in neighbouring Angola and what is now Namibia. In 1989, as apartheid was beginning to crumble, he co-founded Executive Outcomes, a private military company made up of many former members of South Africa’s security forces. One of the first modern “private armies,” in 1995 it successfully helped the government of Sierra Leone defend itself against the rebels of the Revolutionary United Front, notorious for chopping off the arms of their enemies. Another co-founder of Executive Outcomes, which dissolved in 2000, was Simon Mann, the Old Etonian later jailed in Equatorial Guinea over his attempts to plot a coup there. Barlow’s new company is known as STTEP, which stands for Specialised Tasks, Training, Equipment and Protection. It is thought to have sent around 100 men to Nigeria, including black troopers who previously served in elite South African units. Others

even fought as communist guerrillas against the South African Defence Force. It is not known how much the Nigerian military has paid for STTEP’s services. But the fact that the Nigerian government felt it necessary to bring them in raises questions about the level of help that it was receiving from the British and US militaries, who offered mentoring packages in the wake of Boko Haram’s kidnapping last year of more than 200 schoolgirls from the north-eastern town of Chibok. Describing Boko Haram as “a bunch of armed thugs who have used religion as the glue to hold their followers,” Barlow said the initial plan was for his men to train up a team to help free the schoolgirls. However, as Boko Haram continued to run amok across northern Nigeria, massacring hundreds at a time in village raids, the plan turned to schooling Nigeria’s ‘largely traditional army’ in “unconventional mobile warfare”. Key to this was a tactic known as “relentless pursuit,” which involved mimicking Boko Haram’s hit-and-run tactics with non-stop assaults. Once the insurgents were on the run and their likely route established, members of the strike force would be helicoptered into land ahead of them to cut off their likely escape routes, gradually exhausting them. The South Africans even used bush trackers to work out where their enemies were going, an old-fashioned art that proved vital in Boko Haram’s forest hideouts. “Good trackers can tell the age of a track as well as indicate if the enemy is carrying heavy loads, the types of weapons he has, if the enemy is moving hurriedly, what he is eating, and so forth,” Barlow added. While the Nigerian government has insisted the South Africans’ role was mainly as “technical advisers,” Barlow suggested his men had been involved in direct combat. His air power unit was “given ‘kill blocks’ to the front and flanks of the strike force and could conduct missions in those areas,” he said.

His forces also helped with intelligence gathering, troop transportation and evacuation of casualties. Jonathan’s decision to hire STTEP came just ahead of March’s elections, when his government’s failure to either tackle Boko Haram or free the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls was a major issue. He has promised that when Buhari takes over at the end of this month, Boko Haram will be a spent force, although it is not yet clear whether the Buhari government will renew STTEP’s contract. Barlow warned that while the Nigerians had done well within three months that he had been contracted to mentor them, “the enemy was able to flee the battlefield with some of their forces intact, and will no doubt regroup and continue their acts of terror”. The involvement of STTEP in Nigeria will inevitably reignite the debate over whether private military companies should be used in conflicts. Human rights groups question whether they are publicly accountable, and in South Africa especially, their background in the apartheid-era makes some uneasy. However, Barlow, whose firm has a code of conduct for behaving “in a legal, moral, and ethical manner,” said that private companies were often better than United Nations (UN) or Western trainers of African armies. The latter were often hamstrung by political baggage and a failure to understand how either African armies or their enemies worked, he said. The advisers that Britain and America have sent to Nigeria are also not permitted to take part in operations on the ground, partly because of the Nigerian army’s poor human rights record. Noting that even the US military appeared to regard his firm with distrust, Barlow added: “Some like to refer to us as ‘racists’ or ‘apartheid soldiers’ with little knowledge of our organisation. We are primarily white, black, and brown Africans who reside on this continent and are accepted as such by African governments”. • Courtesy The Telegraph

46 News

thursday, may 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

national

NIMC DG denies N30bn fraud allegation Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

L-R: National Chairperson, Society of Women in Taxation (SWIT); Justina Okoror, Vice-President, The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Teju Somorin; President, Mark Anthony Dike and his wife, Ifeyinwa, at the 17th Annual Tax Conference in Abuja.

Wole Shadare

ll may not be well with Nigeria’s oldest airline, Aero contractors, as the firm has sacked its Managing Director, Hugh Fraser and Chief Finance Officer, Tunde Pampam. New Telegraph learnt that the duo was fired last week following a battle of interest between legacy owners, the Ibru family and the government owned Asset Management Company (AMCON). Sources said Hugh was

Aero MD, CFO quit allegedly taking decisions against the wishes of AMCON who’s overseeing the running of the airline at the moment over alleged debt of N20-30 billion owed by Aero. He was also said to be frustrated by the inaction of AMCON and the confusion associated with the board. Hugh, who was appointed by AMCON nearly two years ago, sources said, went on leave without the

board’s approval, while there are allegations of questionable decisions and allegiances. Following his appointment, two top experts said that he was not a suitable candidate to run the airline, as Aero needed a turn-around specialist not a commercially driven expert. The surprise for observers though is Tunde Pampam, an AMCON appointed personnel, who was

very strict in maintaining financial discipline in the airline’s finances. It is not clear what infraction he may have committed leading to his sack. A source at AMCON however said that the twoyear tenure of the two officials has elapsed. The source said the duo were on a contract of two years, which expired recently. The source added that AMCON’s business in AERO is for five years, but that

he Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Barrister Chris Onyemenam has described as untrue the allegation against the management of the Commission that it embezzled N30 billion meant for the production of the National Identity card. He also stated the 406 disengaged staff of the Commission would face criminal charges as required by the constitution,

may be cut short, by the desire of the Ibru family to pay off the debt owned the government agency. Aero is one of Nigeria’s legacy private carriers with solid foundation until the financial crisis of the late 2000s swept it off, leading to AMCON’s take over. Although AMCON is currently managing the airline, there are fears that it’s problems are far from over, especially due to unstable management, and heavy staff influence and the unwillingness of the management settle staff issues.

stressing that their case has been handed over to the appropriate authority. He said those staff were disengaged for falsifying their service records. Members of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, (ASCSN) had on Tuesday picketed the Commission's headquarters in Abuja over claims that management of the Commission planned to ‘sack over 1,000 staff’ who are members of the ASCSN. But speaking at a press conference yesterday in Abuja, the NIMC DG said the allegations and claims were false and an unfortunate misrepresentation of facts, stressing that the allegations were malicious and calculated to discredit the board, top management and his person, over the handling of disciplinary cases of some staff found to have falsified their service records. “Embezzlement of N30 billion again is misunderstanding of the facts that have been interpreted to suit the presenter's purpose. In September 2011 government approved N30.066 billion from the procurement of cards and the accelerated expansion of the back end.

Agents kick as NAHCO raises cargo tariff by 30% FG builds 10mw wind power plant Wole Shadare

he Nigerian Aviation Handling Company, NAHCO, Plc yesterday reviewed its cargo tariff upward by additional 30 per cent. With the new regime, a kilo of cargo, which hitherto went for N40 per kilogram, would now be offered at N52 per kilogram. Spokesman for Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL, Mr. Basil Agboarumi was not forthcoming in his response to enquiries made to him on the review of cargo rate, said the com-

pany was yet to review upward its cargo rate. He said SAHOCL still charges N38 per kilo on each cargo, but noted that the cost of operations had gone high in recent time. The new tariff shows that a kilo of cargo goes for N40 per kilo; N38 for ground handlers while the leadership of the clearing agents; ANLCA and National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF, get N2 per kilo. This is apart from the 5 per cent Value Added Tax, VAT. But, the introduction of the new tariff by the

ground handling company did not go down well with clearing agents as the leadership of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, said it would resist the new rate. The association had immediately ordered its members to stay action pending when the issue would be resolved by both parties. A source close to the clearing agents told our correspondent in Lagos that NAHCO had reviewed upward its tariff without adequate consultations with the stakeholders. The source who doesn’t want to

be named said that rather than review upward its tariff on cargo, the clearing gents expected a downward review especially at this critical period. He maintained that a downward review would further encourage exportation and boost exportation of agricultural products. He decried that the high cost of doing business in the sector had led to most business organisations to fold up abruptly, stressing that with reduced cost of business, it would create more room for diversification in the system.

Abuja bomb blast victims protest Gunmen snatch Channels’Tv vehicle NAN-H-45

he Abuja bomb blast victims on Wednesday car ried out a peaceful protest at the National Assembly to urge the Federal Government to fulfill its promises to them. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that government had promised to foot the medical bills of the blasts which killed more than 100 people in Abuja.

The victims, who converged on the premises of the National Assembly, carried placards with different inscriptions expressing their anger, some of which read: “It has been 10 months and nothing has been done for us”; “Most of us still have medical challenges” and “We are dying slowly, we need government support.” Some of the victims said that they could not do follow up treatments in the hospitals.

nknown gunmen on Tuesday snatched a 14-seat staff vehicle belonging to Channels Television in Benin, the Edo State capital. The white Toyota Hiace bus, with number plate APP 98 DC, was snatched at gunpoint at about 9pm at Omoruyi Street, off Lucky Way, in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state. The gunmen, numbering about four were said to have trailed the vehicle

with a black Sports Utility Vehicle and seized it shortly after it was used to convey the Station Manager to his residence. The driver of the bus was said to have been tied up and beaten by the attackers before he was dumped at Ogbemudia Farm, along Benin-Lagos road, at about 10.30pm. The driver was able to make contact with the management of the station, through the assistance of some local vigilantes in the area.

Segun Edwards

he Federal Government said yesterday that it was completing a 10MW capacity wind farm power plant, which has already begun functioning on trial basis. The plant, situated in the North-western state of Katsina, is the first wind-based energy development in the country and the largest in West Africa. The wind power project can provide power for over 2,200 homes, according to industry calculations. The farm is situated in Rimi village, 25 km south of Katsina City. It is made up of 37 turbines, each with a capacity of 275kW. The state government first envisioned the project, inspired by the high wind velocity in Katsina, and gained the support of the federal government. The project was funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and developed by French company Vergnet S.A. Speaking on the project, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of

power, Godknows Igali, said the plant was 98 percent complete. He stated that five of the turbines in the wind farm have been successfully tested, adding that the transmission line was ready. Igali also said that wind energy is an integral part of the National Policy on Sustainable Energy and Energy Efficiency, and described the wind farm as part of several other clean energy projects being planned or executed in the country. About 80 million people in Nigeria lack access to electricity; it is one of the key hindrances to human and economic development in Africa’s largest population and biggest economy. However, the present government has initiated several measures to remedy the energy crises. Among them is the liberalization of the power industry to inspire public private partnership in the sector. The country has also been attracting interest in the harnessing of its renewable energy sources, particularly solar energy.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015

News 47

SOUTH-WEST

APC lawmakers link new security step to abduction plot Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

he security measures adopted by the Ekiti State Government to stem the recent spate of abductions in the state has been alleged by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) as a ploy aimed at the 19 members House of Assembly members. The lawmakers, in a statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, signed by Wole Olujobi, alleged that the stop

lYou are insensitive -Fayose and search measure by security agents was meant to fish out the legislators and kidnap them. He added that the step was to stall moves by the legislators to impeach the Governor Ayo Fayose. The lawmakers described the measure as an unwarranted assault, particularly as the cars targeted for stop and search operation would be mainly dark grey Toyota Camry cars, which is the brand

and colour of the lawmakers’ official cars. “We are in possession of a report that the governor is seeking to establish cases of kidnap in the state against the 19 APC lawmakers to break the nation-wide ban on roadblock ordered by the Inspector General of Police to raise some teams of security men working in the Government House to be on our trail to take us out of circulation,” he said.

In the response of Fayose, through an aide, Lere Olayinka, he described the allegation as “evil, wicked and insensitive.” The government said such unwarranted allegation coming from the runaway APC lawmakers was a clear exposure of the culpability of the party in the kidnapping of residents of Ekiti State, adding, “they have betrayed their guilt by simply telling Nigerians that they want the kidnap-

Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun (right), presenting a plaque to the District Governor, District 9110, Rotary International, Dr. Dele Balogun, when members of the organisation paid the governor a courtesy visit in Abeokuta...yesterday.

PDP, Aregbesola’s aide bicker over money laundering claim

Tribunal grants senatorial candidate prayer to inspect poll materials

Adeolu Adeyemo

he Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to probe the alleged involvement of the son of the state governor, Mr. Kabiru Aregbesola, in a $1 million scam. Chairman of the PDP in the state, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, stated this in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday. He stated that Kabiru was allegedly arrested at the departure wing of the Muritala Muhammed Airport with the lump sum of money that was not cleared but stocked in his luggage, despite his father owing workers over six months salaries. “We charge the EFCC and other security agencies to ensure that the matter is not swept under the carpet but allow Kabiru to face the music for he has been serving as a conduit pipe for the governor to siphon Osun State’s resources.” “The world would recall that Kabiru got the contract for the failed ‘Opon Imo’ (the computer device), among others. We wonder how a

governor can be so insensitive to the plight of his workers while his son is busy with money laundering business. Is this the change the APC is advocating?” In his quick response, the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu okanlawon, described the claim as untrue. He said, “Governor Aregbesola’s son was not arrested for money laundering.” “It has become pertinent to inform Nigerians and others generally that there is no iota of truth in the story being peddled around by some misguided elements claiming that a son of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Kabir Aregbesola, was arrested at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos today Tuesday May 12, 2015 with a huge sum of money in foreign currencies.” “We have discovered the authors of the wicked and malicious lie are doggedly pursuing their agenda by engaging in an aggressive push for the falsehood to reach a larger population especially using the social media”.

Osogbo

he Osun State election petition tribunal sitting in Osogbo, yesterday granted the prayers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), candidate in the March 28, National Assembly election for Osun East Senatorial District, Prince Francis Fadahunshi, to inspect materials used in the conduct of the National Assembly election, as the tribunal commenced sitting. The PDP, is challenging the victory of the All Progressives Candidate candidate, Hon. Jide Omoworare, at the poll. Speaking with news-

men on the development, Barrister Edmund Biriomoni, who led Fadahunshi’s team, said, “we started with the inspection of ballot papers used for the poll in Oriade local government area.” “Counterfoil of the ballot papers, used and unused ones were inspected. Card readers used for polls in the local government were also to be checked.” He said “the inspection would last for 5 days, and two local government areas will be inspected daily”. It can be recalled that Omoworare, of APC was declared winner in nine local government areas out of 10 in the senatorial district.

ping of Ekiti residents to continue.” Olayinka, who said the APC in Ekiti State was living up to its real identity as a congregation of evil minded people, asked; “Isn’t it interesting that elements like Kehinde Boluwade and Folorunso Gabriel Ogundele, who are standing trial for alleged murder are among the APC lawmakers they claimed Governor Fayose planned to kidnap? “Our attention has been drawn to a reckless, wicked, insensitive and evil press statement issued on behalf of the APC lawmakers by a certain Wole Olujobi, who has been impersonating as media aide of the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, insinuating that the ‘stop and search’ operation ordered by the State Security Council to stem kidnapping in the state was meant to track the APC lawmakers down for kidnap,” he said. Meanwhile, a member of the Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State, Chief Ojo Falegan, has advised parties in the lingering political crisis in the state to embrace peace, saying without peace there would not be economic development of the state. Speaking in Ado-Ekiti, the retired educationist urged the parties to also note that the corporate interest of the state was far greater than any individu-

al or personal interest. The octogenarian noted that there was no alternative to peace, describing peace as the catalyst to economic transformation of any society. He was commenting on the face-off between 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the House of Assembly and Governor Ayo Fayose. “There is no alternative to peace and for any society to witness reasonable and the much-needed economic transformation, peace must be allowed to reign. Peace is no doubt a great catalyst that cannot be swept under the carpet in any society that is striving to attain greatness, therefore, all parties to the political instability in the state must as a matter of necessity see reason why they must all embrace peace.” “Since two wrongs as the say can never make a right, both the governor and the state legislators should come together now and stop any further action or actions that can put the future of the state in jeopardy and backwardness. There is no other time to allow permanent peace to reign in Ekiti State than now, because the state had witnessed what can be best described as “undeserved and needless political crisis” in recent times as a result of actions or inactions of certain individuals in and outside the state.

UI to screen students over health status –VC Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

he authority of the University of Ibadan said yesterday that it has commenced an annual screening of all the students of the institution to determine their of health status in order to prevent a recurrence of last week Wednesday’s ugly incident of the death of a student on the campus. Muyiwa Alaran, a 200 level student of Health Education and Kinetics, while watching football in one of the institution’s Commom Room of the Independence students’ hos-

tel, slumped and before getting to the Jaja Clinic within the campus died, prompting last week’s Thursday’s protest which paralysed activities within the university community. Mayowa, was alleged not to have been promptly attended to by the doctors. Addressing the press yesterday on the report of the Professor Isaac Emilolorun-led committee set up to look into the remote and immediate causes of Mayowa’s death, the VC Isaac Adewole, sympathized with the parents of deceased, calling for memoranda on how to forestall any future occurrence.

Confab report implementation, new phase of struggle, says Adams

he National Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress, Otunba Gani Adams, has said the next phase of the struggle in Nigeria would be the implementation of the report of the National Conference held last year. Adams, who is also the convener of the Oodua Progressive Union, an association of the Yoruba and

people who bear the Yoruba cause in the Diaspora, said this in Dubai, United Arab Emirate on Tuesday. Adams, said the report of the conference, convened by outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan, contained far reaching decisions that are capable of turning around the fortunes of the country if genuinely and sincerely

implemented. He said despite the fact that Jonathan who convened the conference was leaving office, it would be uncharitable for the report to be thrown away. He said:,”Throwing the report away will amount to throwing away the baby with the bath water. “We have a report put together by men and women

from diverse backgrounds but with sincerity of purpose and will to move the country forward. “My observation throughout the conference was that once we entered into the venue, we put our differences, nuances and biases behind us and discuss as people who truly have the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians and heart.”

News

SOUTH-EAST

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Land dispute: Communities send SOS to Anambra CP Pamela Eboh Awka

wo villages of Akuzor and Amafor villages in Nkpor, Idemili North local government area of Anambra State, have sent a save our souls (SOS) to the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hosea Karma and the state Boundary Commission, to intervene in an alleged harassment and

invasion of their land by their neighbour, the Oze Nkwele Ezunaka, community of Oyi local government area of the state. The two villages have also written to the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, who is the Chairman of the state Boundary Adjustment Committee, pleading for the state government to demarcate their boundaries with Oze, to end the lingering land dispute which they fear

may lead to a serious crisis. This came on the heels of the arrest of three people from the area by the special antirobbery squad, for entering into the said land. The three people have been remanded in police custody in the last three months without bail while three others arrested with them were granted bail on Monday. The disputed large expanse of land lying across the Nkisi River

New Telegraph gathered, was allegedly inherited by the Nkpor people who used it for farming until the recent invasion by the Oze people. Chairman of Akuzor village committee, Mr. Chuma Chukwurah, in the letter to the Deputy Governor appealed for proper placement of monuments on the respective boundaries so as to quickly end the existing conflict between the communities.

He pointed out that the invasion on the land by Oze village, was slowing down his people’s plan to start the construction of a secondary school on the land, noting that the community had already applied to the government for the approval of the school. Also in the SOS to the police commissioner, Counsel to Nkpor community, Mr. S.O. Chukwukelu, said that from time immemorial, Akuzor and Amafor villages

had never been in dispute until the recent incident, which, he noted was propagated by land grabbers and speculators. Chukwukelu said, “The problem started when land speculators from Oze came into the scene and started distorting the ancient and long maintained boundary between these two communities as evidenced in the Idemili local government map of December, 1976.

Enugu APC oppose Nnaji, Nwobodo, others’ defection bids Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

he decision of the former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji and the former Governor of Anambra State and a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Jim Nwobodo along their supporters to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suffered a setback as the Enugu State chapter of the party has barred them from joining the party. The State Publicity Secretary of the party Mrs. Kate Offor, made the position of the par-

ty known yesterday in Enugu, while briefing journalists on the outcome of APC’s enlarged State Executive Committee meeting on the issue. The position of the party was said to be informed by intrigues over ministerial slots that has splitted the leadership of the party into factions. This was said to have prompted Offor’s position that the Enugu APC SEC frowned at some elements within Enugu APC, who she alleged to have held secret meetings with some big wigs from other political parties over their defection to the APC.

Obiano’s wife acquires land for old people’s home Pamela Eboh Awka

n her bid to touch the lives of the young and old people through her pet project, Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ) the wife of the governor of Anambra State, Chief Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, has acquired sizeable hectares of land for the establishment of Old People’s Homes in the three Senatorial zones of Anambra State. Speaking in an interactive session with Journalists in Awka, Mrs. Obiano, explained that her passion

for taking care of the aged over the years had subsequently tutored her to know that the only vital thing in the lives of the aged is attention and care. She said, “You would agree with me that the social safety-net imbued by our practice of the extended family system is not as strong as it used to be. “Today you find the older folks not getting the necessary attention they deserve because the younger ones are busy struggling to build their own life. Even where it exists, you find out that what the elderly desire most is the company of others.”

L-R: Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka; Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Dr. Nwanneka, during Ekweremadu’s 53rd birthday anniversary in Abuja

Ebonyi workers threaten to resume strike over unpaid salaries Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

rganised labour comprising the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC), in Ebonyi State, have threatened to resume the suspended strike they embarked on over the non-implementation of the full

minimum wage salary structure and payment of the September 2011 salary by the state government. Briefing newsmen in Abakaliki, the factional Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Ikechukwu Nwafor, accused the government of reneging on the agreement reached in September 2011 on salary payment, which was part of the agitation by the organized labour.

He said the government has not demonstrated the will on the payment of the March 2015 salary to all workers in the state. He added that the resolve to resume the strike was in line with the agreement reached with the government when it was suspended. Nwafor who expressed dissatisfaction with government’s inability to completely meet its part of agree-

ment it reached with labour leaders, accused government of spending N20 billion on the new Secretariat complex it inaugurated recently and the N100 million spent on the international market. It would be recalled that labour leaders in the state shunned the inauguration of the new Secretariat complex which was performed by Governor Martin Elechi.

promises insurance scheme Speakership tussle set to implode Abia PDP NUJ presidential aspirant the country, if elected. fulfill their obligations in

fresh crisis is likely to rock the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, over who emerges as the next speaker in the state House of Assembly with the battle line said to have been drawn between the incumbent governorTheodore Orji and Governor elect, Ikechi Ikpeazu. The development is said to be imminent as the ambition of the Orji’s son,

Chinedu Orji, as the next Speaker in the state may not be unconnected to the current political tussle in the state. According to reliable sources from the state, the governor’s son is hell bent on becoming the next speaker of the Assembly despite his naivety in the legislative arm of the government. Sources who reveal this to our reporter said

that the move for Orji to emerge the speaker was to checkmate the incoming government of Ikpeazu, in the event that, he may renege on his promise to his godfather, the incumbent governor. Apart from the fact that he was not qualified to be Speaker according to some political actors, he is not even the anointed candidate of the PDP for the position.

Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

he Deputy National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and one of the leading contenders in the race for the presidency of the union in next month’s election, Chief Rotimi Obamunagun, has promised to institute a free insurance scheme for all practicing journalists in

Obamunagun made the promise yesterday in Abakaliki, when his campaign train visited Ebonyi State Council of the union, to solicit for votes as he promised that he would ensure that media organization in the country pay workers promptly. He frowned at the way journalists were treated by media owners who fail

terms of salary payment despite the tough environment in which journalists work in the country. “Many media outfits generate enough revenues through adverts placements yet they don’t pay their workers regularly, some don’t even pay at all and I’m saying that if elected I will meet with owners of these media outfits to that this trend was stopped”.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015

News 49

SOUTH-SOUTH

APC accuses Wike of evading service of court process

Tribunal orders Ogboru, Emerhor, to serve Okowa, INEC

Tunde Oyesina

DominicAdewole

Abuja

he Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja was yesterday told at its inaugural sitting that the Governor-elect, Nyesom Wike, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been evading service of court process in the petition challenging his election. The tribunal was also told that all attempts by the bailiff of the court to effect service on Wike have been futile, due to alleged noncooperative attitude of the people in the house of the Governor-elect. The petitioner, Dakuku Peterside of the All Progressives Congress, through his counsel, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, had approached the tribunal, challenging the election of the PDP candidate on grounds of irregularities and massive rigging. At the inaugural sitting yesterday, Akeredolu brought a motion ex-parte, praying the tribunal to grant an order for substituted service on the defendant. He claimed that the court bailiff had, on several occasions, visited the house of Wike to effect service, but was on all the occasions turned back at the gate upon discovery that he is a court bailiff. In an affidavit deposed to by the bailiff and tendered by the petitioner, the tribunal was told that neither the Governor-elect nor his agent was ready to receive any court process from anybody.

ASABA

L-R: Rivers State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Ngozi Nwatarali; Chairman, National Governing Board, Mr. Gordon Bozimo and Vice-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Joseph Ajineka, during the corps’ board visit to the NYSC Orientation Camp in Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State

IGP dispatches crack team to Edo to tackle cultism Emmanuel Onani Abuja

orried by the rising spate of cultism in Edo State, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase, has dispatched a special squad to arrest the situation. The squad, which will be headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, will comprise of offi-

Cross River election tribunal begins sitting Clement James Calabar

he Cross River State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal headed by Justice Aliyu Mohammed Mayaki, has commenced sitting in Calabar. At its inaugural sitting yesterday at the Federal High Court complex, Justice Mayaki recalled that the tribunal was constituted by the President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Z. Bulkachuwa, pursuant to section 285 of the Nigerian Constitution. According to him, the case before the tribunal is against the Governorelect, Ben Ayade of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) filed by the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in the just-concluded election,

Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo and Sylvester Nsa, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. Other members of the tribunal are Justice Muniya Olusegun Olagunji and Khadi Musa Babayo. At the inaugural sitting, Justice Mayaki said: “Having regard to the complaints of the electoral malpractices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act and election guidelines made by the petitioners against the respondents allegedly committed at numerous polling units and collation centers, it cannot be over emphasised that both parties and their counsel should be time-conscious and eschew delay in taking any step to avoid/ or at least minimise selfinduced applications for adjournment.”

cers from Police Mobile Force (PMF), Explosives Ordinance Department (EOD), State Anti-Robbery Section (SARS), as well as Criminal Intelligence and Investigative Department (CIID). Other crimes to be tackled by the team include kidnappings and armed robbery. Arase, who was confirmed substantive IGP on Tuesday, by the Police Council, charged the squad to be professional, disciplined and courageous throughout

the period of the assignment. A statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, an Acting Commissioner of Police reads: “The Inspector-General of Police, Solomon E. Arase, is concerned about unabated activities of cultists and other violent criminals in Edo State and has, therefore, dispatched a special crack squad to stem the spate of cultism, kidnapping, robberies and other re-

lated vices in the state. “The squad is headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad and comprises units from Police Mobile Force, Explosives Ordinance Department (EOD), State Anti-Robbery Section (SARS), Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (CIID). Members of the Squad were charged to employ professionalism, discipline and courage in carrying out the assignment.”

he Delta State Elections Petitions Tribunal in Asaba, Delta State, yesterday ordered the governorship candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Chief Great Ogboru and his counterpart in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, to serve the Governor-elect in the state, Ifeanyi Okowa, with writ of summon by pasting. Also, the tribunal granted Mr. Paul Isamde of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), the leave to serve the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by same means for unlawfully excluding him from participating in the election. Ogboru and Emerhor dragged Okowa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to court over the fraud, which they claimed, characterised the April 11 governorship election in the state. In their motion ex-parte, dated 05/5/2015, 06/05/2015 and 11/05/2015 and marked EPT/DT/Gov/23/15, EPT/ DT/Gov/32/15 and EPT/ DT/Gov/09/15 respectively, they sought to upturn the mandate that produced Okowa. In their separate arguments at the inaugural sitting of the tribunal in High Court 3, in Asaba yesterday, Ogboru’s counsel, Ediri Diejomooh, supported by J. A. Omolose (counsel to Emerhor) and Kehinde Edun (counsel to Isamade), averred that Okowa had been elusive, even as INEC had been hard to pin down.

Court okays suspension of Bayelsa PDP chair Chris Ejim Yenagoa

ustice Valentine Ashi of the FCT High Court in Abuja, yesterday ordered the embattled former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, Sam Inokoba, to stop parading himself as the chairman, pending the determination of the motion on notice,

which is before the court. Reports said the verdict has since put the camp of the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan and her loyalists in disarray. Inokoba was suspended by the Bayelsa State Working Committee (SWC) of the PDP over allegations of incompetence and ineptitude, including acts of financial impropriety in the alleged diversion of N70 million donated to the

party by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke for the Bayelsa presidential rally. He was alleged to have pocketed N40 million, but only presented N30 million to the party’s State Working Committee. But Inokoba described his suspension as a ruse, claiming that only the PDP National Working Committee and its Chairman, Al-

haji Adamu Muazu, could suspend him. Seven members of the Bayelsa SWC of the PDP, therefore went to court seeking, among other reliefs, an order of interim injunction restraining Inokoba, his agents, privies, or appointees from either parading himself as Bayelsa State PDP chairman, pending the determination of the motion on notice now pending before the court.

Amnesty programme hijacked, says ex-militant Joe Obende Warri

former Niger Delta militant and environmentalist, Sheriff Molade, has said that the amnesty programme put in place for youths of the region has been hijacked by top government officials to enrich themselves. He said the region’s

youths had stayed away from the creeks, allowing peace to reign because one of their own, President Goodluck Jonathan is in charge and not because the amnesty programme was working. He, however, added that Jonathan had failed the youths, but that they just agreed that since “he is one of our own, we should

let him be.” Molade recalled that the amnesty granted the youths of the Niger Delta region for their years of militancy to draw global attention to the marginalisation, deprivation, degradation and non-development of their homelands had not addressed the issues. All the same, the Coor-

dinator of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), would not subscribe to the scrapping of the programme as it had been largely responsible for the prevailing peace in the region. The programme, he pointed out, had remained the only source of employment for the teeming youths of the region.

50 News Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

he Kaduna State Gover nor-elect, Malam Nasir ElRufai, has said that not all the 23 local government areas will produce a commissioner each, as it has been the practice in the past. Speaking on an Hausa political programme on Liberty Radio, “Turbar Dimokradiyya,” El-Rufai said he intends to constitute a slim cabinet. According to him, people will be given political appointments based on merit and not allocation as has been the practice in the state. He said that some local governments can even produce more than one commissioner. “Where ever we find competent people, who are also committed to the cause of change in Kaduna State, we will bring them on board. It doesn’t matter if most of them are from one particular local government. What matters is to serve the people diligently,” he added.

Tribunal grants PDP's application Idris Salisu Gusau

he Zamfara State Governorship Election Tribunal yesterday at the end of its sitting, ruled that a ‘substituted service’ for a writ of summon be served on Governor Yari Abubakar. The tribunal chaired by Justice Grace Onyebo, received a petition filed by the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Mamuda Shinkafi, challenging the validity of the conduct of governorship election in the state. Briefing newsmen after the tribunal's sitting, counsel to the petitioner, Ahmed Yunusa Abdullahi said all efforts to get the first respondent, Governor Yari Abubakar in person to serve him with the writ of summon proved abortive. He added that since the governor could not be seen in person to be served, the next alternative is the substituted means of serving the respondent by pasting the writ of summon on strategic locations, where the respondent is most likely to see it. Abdullahi further explains that as counsel to the petitioner, “We prayed the tribunal to rule for the adoption of the substitute means,” saying that the tribunal has granted the prayers.

south NORTH - south

thursday, may 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

El-Rufai: Not every council area’ll produce commissioner El-Rufai said that notwithstanding, political appointments will reflect

state character. He added that framers of the constitution did not contemplate

the ridiculous interpretation that the principle of federal character is be-

ing given to mean every state of the federation or every local government

in a state must produce either a minister of commissioner. The governor-elect also said: “It is this blind adherence to zoning or federal character or what have you that has thrown up incompetent leaders like President Goodluck Jonathan.” There have been speculations that ElRufai may appoint only 13 commissioners as against the present 26 in the state. Sources said that he intends to merge some ministries in order to remove duplication of duties. He neither confirmed nor denied the speculation in the interview.

Onoja: Buhari, Ortom’s emergence, divine L-R: Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Sunusi; Kaduna State Governor, Muktar Yero and Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, at the inauguration of Jigawa Broadcasting House in Dutse …yesterday

Benue elections tribunal inaugurated Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

he National and State Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal was yesterday inaugurated in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, with its Chairman, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, warning lawyers and litigants to desist from acts that could distract panel members from discharging their duties. Justice Dipeolu, accompanied by two other panel chairmen, Justices Umar Abubakar and Rayyanu Ibn Adamu, stated this

while addressing lawyers and litigants at the tribunal venue at the High Court Six in Makurdi. The tribunal chairman, who charged lawyers and litigants to uphold the virtues of the rule of law and ethics of the profession, also urged them to advise their clients against any move to influence the tribunal members or staff or championing smear campaign and peddling of rumours against the panel. She assured the people of the readiness of the panel to dispose off the 25 petitions before it within 180 days from the dates they were filed and indicated the panel’s readi-

COCIN decries killing of pastors in Plateau Musa Pam Jos

he President, Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Rev. Dachollom Datiri, yesterday lamented the recent attacks in parts of Plateau State that had claimed the lives of two of the church's pastors and many of its members, urging the security agencies to rise to the occasion and bring an end to criminality in the state. Datiri, who spoke yesterday at COCIN headquarters in Jos, during its 88th General Church Council, also urged the Presidentelect, General Muhamma-

du Buhari, to keep to his promise of stamping out corruption in the country. While congratulating Buhari and others who were elected in the justconcluded general elections, he tasked the incoming administration not the discard the recommendations made at the recently held national conference. Speaking with participants at the meeting, he urged the church not to overlook the place of mentoring of pastors for effective discharge of their duties and charged pastors to imbibe the culture of Will writing so that they don't leave their families stranded in the case of death.

ness to work hard and give the cases accelerated hearing to avoid any of the petitions lapsing. According to her, disposing of the cases does not depend on the tribunal alone, but more on the lawyers, stressing that in view of the limited time within which to dispose of the cases before the panel, sitting outside the official hours like Saturdays and public holidays will not be unusual. While soliciting for the cooperation of lawyers involved in the election petition cases to ensure success, the tribunal helmsman warned that any delay in any form

or manner would not be condoned, and announced Monday, May 18, as date to commence hearings, noting that cases deemed abandoned by the petitioners will be dismissed in accordance with paragraph 18 (4) and (3) of the First Schedule to the Electiral Act 2010, as amended. Responding on behalf of the lawyers, Sebastian Jon, SAN, who expressed confidence in the panel, assured them that they would do their best so as not to make their work laborious, adding that they would cooperate with the administrative staff to ensure the success of the panel.

Red Cross trains 20 immigration services personnel Abubakari Abdul Birnin Kebbi

he Chairman of the Kebbi State chapter of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Alhaji Abubakari Sadiq Yelwa, has expressed dismay over the poor support received by the organisation from the state government even as he said that the society has trained 20 officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service in the state. Yelwa spoke while addressing newsmen on activities outlined by the society to celebrate the World Red Cross Day, adding that despite the lack of support from the Kebbi State government, the Red Cross was

able to carry out so many activities. The chairman said the body also trained officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Arugungu Zonal Office and also carried out series of first aid training for batch three of the NYSC at the orientation camp. He added that the society trained community representatives and grass root volunteers corps across the state even while providing relief materials to victims of disaster in Bagulmawa and Mera communities of Augie Local Government after the needs of assessment was conducted jointly with SEMA and other stakeholders.

Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

he former Military Administrator of Katsina and Plateau States and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, MajorGeneral Lawrence Onoja, yesterday attributed the electoral victories of the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari and the Benue State Governor-elect, Dr. Samuel Ortom, as an act of God. Speaking in an interview, Onoja said the victories of the two were indicative of God’s concern for the people. “I had the opportunity of serving in Buhari’s home state, Katsina, and all I can tell you is that, he is the kind of man that Nigerians need now, owing to his zerotolerance for corruption. “I am very sure he would purge the country of the corruption that has eaten deep into her body polity.” The chieftain of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) also said that God purposely brought Ortom to Benue State to liberate the state. He said: “Imagine how civil servants die cheaply because of non-payment of their salaries and also how students can’t graduate regularly due to incessant strike actions. “I have confidence in Ortom and Abounu to put an end to the sufferings of Benue workers and also industrialise the state,” he added.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY MAY 14, 2015

Tennis

International Sport

Track and Field

Interview

CBN senior tennis players to share N14m

Buffon mocks Ferguson over Pogba

Athletes in dilemma over preparations for meet

Sport

Yekini’s family still fighting over properties – Lawyer

Did you know? That Michael Jordan holds the NBA record for the most free throws made in a half when he scored 20 against the Miami Heat on December 30, 1992.

Yakmut’s success depends on quality minister – Ekeji

Charles Ogundiya

for mer Director General of National Sports Commission, Patrick Ekeji, has stressed the importance of a knowledgeable sports minister to the success of acting DG of the NSC, Al-Hassan Yakmut. Speaking with New Telegraph on the appointment of Yakmut, as Ekeji said he prayed for a listening minister. “Yakmut is a professional, and I believe he wants to succeed,” he said. But he can only succeed if he has a minister that listens and understand where the DG is coming from. “One thing I want people to understand is that a DG is not the minister and he can only do so much if the minister allows him. “The DG cannot take a final policy decision, he can only advice his head which is the minister, and it is now left for

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sport

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sport Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

the head to take such advice or leave it,” he added. Talking about his experience over the years as an administrator, Ekeji, who was in charge when Nigeria won the All Africa Games for the first time in 2003, said the major challenge of sports development in the country had been leadership. He said: “I worked with some ministers that are politicians and at the time they came on board, they have already form an impression of those of us that are civil servants in sports and so that distorted their sense of reasoning. “All they do is to start fighting the staff, when there is a good idea from the staff, they don’t accept it and before they know it, it becomes a problem. “Very soon, we are going to have new set of politicians becoming ministers in various sectors, I dont know who the minister of sports will be, but I just pray he will be someone that will come with an open mind to be able to listen to the professionals.” Three weeks ago, Yakmut was named as a replacement to the former DG, Gbenga Elegbeleye.

Table Tennis star, Aruna Quadri

Wrestler, Odunayo Adekuruoye

Triple Jumper, Ese Brume

Retirement is near, says Pacquiao

anny Pacquiao says he is close to making a decision on whether to retire from boxing. The Filipino, 36, returned to his home country on Wednesday following defeat by Floyd Mayweather in their world welterweight superfight on May 2. “I will focus on healing my shoulder. After that, I will announce continuing my career or retirement,” he said. “I’m not saying I am going to retire, but it’s near. I’m already 36, turning 37 this December.”

Despite a unanimous points defeat in Las Vegas, Pacquiao, a six-weight world champion, was welcomed back to the Philippines by fans as he paraded through the streets of capital city Manila on the back of a truck. Pacquiao, who is also a congressman in his home country, had his arm supported by a sling following surgery on his injured shoulder - a problem he said had hampered him during the fight with Mayweather, the most lucrative in boxing history. New figures released by

American networks Showtime and HBO said the fight shattered the previous record for total pay-per-view buys with 4.4m purchases of the fight in the United States alone. That generated $400m (£254m) in domestic sales while total revenue is expected to exceed $500m (£318m). Following the fight, Mayweather, 38, called Pacquiao a “sore loser” and has ruled out a rematch. But Pacquiao, who is the subject of a Nevada law suit after being accused of failing to declare his injury prior to

the bout, said he would consider fighting the undefeated American again. “I [would] like that. I want that. But my focus right now is my shoulder, my work as a congressman and my family,” he said. Pacquiao also said he had accepted his defeat by Mayweather, but that after reviewing the fight on video he still believed he won by a slim margin. “I reviewed the fight and kept score. I won by two points, but a decision has been made and we have to accept it,” he added.

Sport

THURSDAY MAY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Between blue skies and boxing’s rip-off (2) Co ntinued from last we e k

hief Adebajo’s daughter, Gloria, became the club chairperson as “Mr Anonymous” confirmed his interest in making the team have the sight of its founder and owner while he remained the financier because of the passion for the crowdpulling soccer side whose Supporters returned to the training ground at Baptist Academy in Obanikoro area of Lagos and held meetings on how to return to the days of exodus, the hit song by Bob Marley, the Jamaican music legend whose passage was 34 ago on Monday and a befitting tribute was given on Radio Continental same day as music buffs also marked the eighth year passage of one of the country’s music icons, Chief Osita Osadebe. Stores in that 1991 season was a sight to behold as the team never travelled by road beyond the first and only game it lost to Bendel Insurance at the Ogbe Stadium and the fixtures in Ibadan against IICC “Shooting Stars” and Leventis United plus the one that pitched it with Abiola Babes at the Asero Stadium in Abeokuta. It was always a sight to behold as Stores players moved into choice hotels at the Murtala Mohammed Airport Road in classy uniforms.

Muyiwa Daniel on Thursday

md_muyiwa@yahoo.com 08023525087 (sms only) From there the team rode in its bus to the old domestic wing of the Airport to catch flights to other cities in the country for its away games, where on arrival another branded bus was waiting off the tarmac. I was on reportorial duties during those league period and Stores was always on the radar as it notched home and away wins with sprinkling of draws and “Poku Lowo E”(cheap is it) was re-writing the history of the Nigerian League. With Ranchers Bees of Kaduna as the next opponent, it got more interesting. If Stores won the match at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, it was as good as claiming the season’s title with three matches to spare. The delegation met me at the Airport while checking-in for the Chachangi flight to Kaduna. The flight was delayed by an hour to allow clearance for the C130 flight that was to fly middle ranking Nigerian Army, Navy and Airforce officers to their exclusive Defence

Academy in Jaji. As the reporter in me engaged Tijjani Babangida, keeper Ike Shorunmu and coach Abdullahi Bebe in their thoughts for history if they won the Kaduna tie, one of the club’s supporters and Navy’s Commander, Yinka Taiwo, arrived from the Airforce base! As the Chachangi plane was given clearance to board by the control tower, it was “mission-possible” from the interviews I had got from players and officials. On arrival in Kaduna an hour later the news broke that the C130 flight had crashed at the Ejigbo area of Lagos barely after takeoff-killing all on board-with Taiwo being spared by that discussion with the Stores delegation. Taiwo who later rose to become a redneck(Naval Captain) before he was retired and later became the general manager of the Lagos State Marine Services under the governor

Bola Tinubu administration was at the celebration bash at the Constitutional Road Phina White House Hotel. Stores with goals by Babangida had beaten Ranchers 2-0. That was part of the stunner. The team had arrived the stadium in a different warm-up kit played the first half with long-sleeved jersies and returned for the second half with short-sleeved shirts that so enthralled former defender and national icon, Segun Olumodeji, who had driven from Zaria to watch the game and mocked his colleagues who were backers of the Senator Mohammed Aruwa-sponsored side that metamorphosed from the Defence Industries (DIC) soccer side that later produced Eagles assistant coach, Daniel Amokachi. As the celebration wore into the early morning of Sunday, the delegation had the opportunity of watching a world title fight that had Marvin Hagler battle to a unanimous win at Ceaser’s Palace but the fight was so competitive that it was spared the post-bout analysis that has tainted the sport after Manny Pacqaoi’s corner forced those who paid for pay-per-view to threaten

lawsuit following the revelation that the Phillipino had a ruptured right shoulder that needed surgery after the slugfest. With boxing leading to Stores departure and arrival in Lagos to be received by its teeming fans who had driven all night from Kaduna after the match that ensured the League title back to Lagos the reminder was the blue skies in London as Roman Abramovic’s Stamford Bridge side,Chelsea, took the EPL title with three matches to spare and enjoyed the “guard-of-honour” provided by Liverpool whose saving goal by captain Stephen Gerrard cancelling out the lead by John Terry was not enough to ensure “never-walk-alone” a party in UEFA Champions League next season. Whether Jose Morinho’s side had been boring or packing the bus, the title is in the bag once again. But is the EPL good enough? The statistics from Barcelona and Real Madrid (Spain), Juventus, Bayern Munich in the last two seasons have proven that it is not. The skies however, remain BLUE! CONCLUDED

CBN senior tennis players to share N14m Ifeanyi Ibeh

L-R: Amaechi Okobi, Group Head, Strategic Brand Management, Access Bank Plc; Jean Gough, UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria; Victor Etuokwu, Executive Director, Personal Banking, Access Bank; Terri Brennan, Director, Business Development Fifth Chukker Polo Club and Olubusola Osilaja, Head Corporate Communications, Access Bank, at the press briefing on Access Bank/UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Tournament in Lagos on Wednesday

articipants at this year’s Central Bank of Nigeria Senior Open Tennis Championship will be jostling for a share of the N14.4 million set aside by the Central Bank of Nigeria as prize money for the championship. The CBN Senior Tennis Championship is the biggest and longest-running tennis tournament in the country. The maiden edition took place in 1979 and this year’s edition, the 37th since its inception, will run from May 14 to 23 at the Main Tennis Court of the National Stadium, Lagos. And for the first time in the history of the championship, there will be no gender-based

Access Bank-UNICEF Charity Polo gallops off May 21 Emmanuel Tobi

rganisers of the annual Access BankUNICEF Charity Shield Polo tournament on Wednesday said that the 2015 edition has been scheduled to take place in Kangimi Resort, Kaduna, from May 20 to May 31, with 15 teams vying for honours in three categories. The event, which is in its eighth year of Access Bank sponsorship, is a reaffirmation of the importance of

the lives of the orphaned and vulnerable children in northern Nigeria according to the organisers. Speaking during the press briefing in Lagos, Executive Director, Personal Banking, Access Bank, Victor Etuokwu, said, “We have been working in Kaduna, in collaboration with UNICEF to elevate quality of lives. We need to do a lot more in support of these orphans and vulnerable children to enable them take tomorrow. UNICEF Representative in

Nigeria, Jean Gough, added that, “We are hoping to get more children needing support for instance, children orphaned by HIV/AIDS - especially the girl child into schools. We have no doubt created the space for a lot of them to enjoy their rights to education through this partnership, but we aim to seek more community participation to achieve greater results.” Babangida Hassan, Fifth Chukker Polo Captain, said they are proud to continue the development of the es-

tablished partnership with Access Bank and UNICEF. He listed the participating teams to include Deebee Farms, Akasma, Titans, Trappco Liberty, Fas Agro Sacks and, Meridian teams. Others teams seeking to win a major prize at this year’s Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield tournament are Susplan, Maigari Farms, Sublime, Sultana, Huawei , Max Air, Keffi Ponys, Lintex-Titans and title holders, Fifth Chukker Access Bank team.

prize money disparity as participants in both the male and female events will go home with similar cash prizes. The winners of both the men’s and women’s singles will, in addition to trophies, go home with N700,000 respectively, with the first runners-up in both events winning N500,000 each. Competitors in the wheelchair tennis event, which made its debut at the CBN Senior Tennis Championship in 2013, are also not left out as the winners of both the men’s and women’s singles will go home with the sum of N250,000. The CBN Senior Tennis Championship has since its inception in 1979 served as a breeding ground for some of the country’s tennis icons such as Francis Kehinde Ajayi, who won the inaugural edition, Sadiq Abdullahi, David Imonite, Sunday Maku, Veronica Oyibokia, Margaret Olagundoye and Clara Udofa. And speaking on Wednesday, in Lagos, at a press conference heralding the championship, CBN’s Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mr Ibrahim Mu’azu, who was represented by Mr James Iyare, said this year’s edition would unearth a new generation of stars. “The tournament, as you are aware, has become a selection ground for the country in preparation for major competitions,” he said.

Intertional Sport 53

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY MAY 14, 2015

W’Cup: Pinnick promises Falcons $250,000

Buffon mocks Ferguson over Pogba J uventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has mocked Sir Alex Ferguson over his decision to allow Paul Pogba to leave Manchester United. Pogba has developed into one of football’s brightest talents in his three years at Juventus, whom he joined after being allowed to quit Old Trafford on a free transfer. Buffon told the Daily Express: “I have been in football many years but the decision of Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United to not play Pogba

and let him leave is one of the strangest I have ever seen. “After just a few training sessions, we saw how good he was. It cannot have been the same player they saw in Manchester - we thought maybe they needed glasses. “I have never seen a player who is so good at his age. He is so strong, so technically gifted and has exceptional all-round play. “Pogba can do things only Pogba can, similar to Messi and Ronaldo. United let one of the top players in the world leave

Adeolu Johnson Abuja

igeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick, has urged the Super Falcons to do well at the forthcoming FIFA Women World Cup, promising them impressive cash rewards. Pinnick who arrived Abuja on Wednesday from his medical trip abroad visited the Falcons camp and announced cash rewards for the team ahead of

A Buffon

but that has been only good news for us.” Manchester City are one of a number of clubs linked with a move for Pogba, but Buffon feels only a world record transfer fee would tempt Juventus into selling. “Of course he will be linked with the teams with big money like Chelsea, Real Madrid, PSG and City, but at the moment he is achieving his dreams at Juventus,” Buffon added. “If any team wanted to buy him, I would feel sure they would have to break the world record fee.”

nor malisation committee is to be set up by the Nigeria Football Federation to plan towards the election of members to run the Akwa Ibom State Football Association. Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, Board member of the NFF and Chairman of chairmen, said in Uyo on Tuesday that “As far as the NFF is concerned, elections did not hold in Akwa Ibom, so a normalisation committee will be put in place in the next 48 hours to work towards holding a free and fair election in the state.” Alhaji Gusau who was in the company with Mr Paul Bassey had earlier addressed

Sunshine, Giwa out of Federation Cup

Pinnick

NFF sets up normalisitation committee for Akwa Ibom

stakeholders in the state on the anomaly that led to the illegal election that was purported to have been held. He said on the receipt of protests and petitions, the NFF addressed the matter and asked that the election be postponed until all the pending cases were resolved, consequent upon which no member of the NFF electoral committee was in the state to supervise the elections. Representatives of the coaches, players, sports writers, referees

and clubs spoke, expressing dissatisfaction with the way the elections were conducted in a clandestine manner. In his comment the Special Adviser to the Governor on sports, Mr. Isong Isang, said the meeting should chart a way forward because there was no doubt that all was not well with the elections. In his defense, the immediate past chairman of the state FA, Mr Effiong Johnson, claimed the elections were free and fair and that he was a victim of politics.

TRACK & FIELD WITH CHARLES OGUNDIYA

Charles Ogundiya

unshine Stars of Akure and Giwa FC of Jos were on Wednesday dumped out of the 2015 Nigeria Federation Cup. Sunshine Stars currently top of the Nigeria Professional Football League were defeated 3-1 by Nigeria National League side, J Atete from Delta State while NPFL second placed team, Giwa FC of Jos lost 5-4 on penalties to non-league side, Kukuruku Dragons, despite coming back from two goals down to end the regulation time 2-2. Defending champions, Enyimba of Aba, progressed to the next round without kicking a ball after their opponent, Nasarawa Feeders, failed to show up for their game, allowing Enyimba to walk over the team. Ibadan based Shooting Stars mirrored their indifferent start to the league, losing 1-0 to NNL side, Plateau United of Jos. In other matches, Lobi Stars won their first game in 2015 albeit in the Federation Cup after defeating Junior Spotlight 4-1 while Rangers won 7-6 on penalties against Kaduna United. Prime FC defeated Christ Ambassadors of Lagos 2-1, Bayelsa won the battle of brothers, thrashing Nembe City 3-0. Kano Pillars walked over Zara FC while Dolphins defeated Inter FC 1-0 to qualify for Round of 32 of the Federation Cup.

their trip to Canada, the venue of the competition. Pinnick said that the team would get $50,000 if they reach the quarterfinal of the tournament and the amount will be doubled if they reach the semifinal. The NFF boss added that the team would get $200,000 if they get to the final of the competition. “We urge you to go to the World Cup and do well. As a federation, we will support you to achieve great results in Canada,” he said.

Okpekpe Race: Rookie targets winning debut

K Athletes competing during the AFN All-Comers competition earlier in the year

Athletes in dilemma over preparations for meet

igerian athletes are currently in a dilemma over preparations for the World Championship and All Africa Games later in the year. Preparations for the two major competitions have suffered several setbacks due to lack of funds and the general elections which took place in March and April. An athlete who spoke with our correspondent but doesn’t want his name in print said they don’t know their fate because nothing has been said about preparations. “We have been training without any competitions to look forward to,” the athlete who is based in Lagos said. “There are different aspects of training but our coaches don’t even know the next line of action especially with the latest postponement

of the Golden League.” Going by the schedule of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria released at the beginning of the year, some meets were to be held monthly. First to be postponed till further notice was the National Sports Festival, due to the national elections in the country with a new date yet to be announced. The 1st Golden League scheduled for May 9, in Port Harcourt was also recently postponed with a new date yet to be announced. No reason was given for the postponement, but investigations by our correspondent revealed that the AFN had no money to prosecute any meets for now. The president of the AFN, Solomon Ogba, had in recent time complained of lack of funds and support from corporate bodies.

ogi-bor n long distance runner, Abdulrahaman Abdulmalik, has set a personal target to make a bronze-winning at the upcoming third edition of Okpekpe 10km road race. Abdulmalik told newsmen in Lokoja that he was fully ready for the challenges at Okpekpe having trained very hard for the race. “I am fully prepared after rigorous training for weeks,” he said. “My target is to finish within the top three positions. I know it will not be easy bearing in mind the number of top foreigners that will be participating. But I am ready to take the challenge to them and show the stuff I am made of.” Abdulmalik who said he started the marathon when he was eight years old revealed that the only competition he ever participated in was during

his secondary school days. He added: “Even at the tertiary institution, we had no opportunity to attend marathon competitions. “I continued to train on my own, looking forward to competitions that come my way to give me the needed exposure.” No Nigerian runner has won the Okpekpe 10km race in the previous two editions.

Abdulmalik

54 Interview Jubril Mohamed the lawyer of legendary Nigerian striker, Rashidi Yekini, in this interview with Premium Times, reveals that the family of the late football star is still bickering over sundry issues three years after his death. Excerpts... How has the task of maintaining Yekini’s estate? It has been a challenging time in the sense that I’ve had to ensure that the estate he left is not taken away from the beneficiaries he left behind, that is, his two children. They are grown up children, and to ensure that they are psychologically stable has been challenging.

THURSDAY MAY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Yekini’s family still fighting over properties – Lawyer

There are talks that Yekini had more than two children. Has there been any claim from anywhere else? Rashidi Yekini celebrating his first World Cup goal at USA ’94 A Togolese lady came with a three-year old girl eight days after back to Ye- him tea because he was tied down as but someone of the status of Rasheed his death claiming kini’s estate they felt he would escape if they did Yekini was taken to a native doctor that Yekini was the after her not tie him up. She said Yekini begged forcefully and he died there and yet father of the child. d e m i s e to be released to see me and that he we did not know the cause of his death. The mother (Yeand ac- was being smoldered where he was. It kini’s mum) and c o r d i n g was after he took a cup of tea which he Do you think you could have done more to other members to our requested for that he became restless avert Yekini’s death? of the family act r a d i - and started gasping for breathe. That Yes, I wish I did more to keep him cepted. Yekini tions, no was when they took him to a nearby safe. I thought the police order was actually admitted e l d e r l y hospital, Al-Amin Hospital in Apete, good enough but may be stationing that there was a rep e r s o n in Ibadan. a policeman in his house would have lationship but one According to the doctor who attend- been better. I was disappointed that wants to be and half years after left behind ed to him, Yekini was virtually dead the police failed to make any arrest the relationship ended while their when he was brought in because the and ended up calling it a family affair she came back saying child or grand- pulse was actually very feeble. Before and saying no one had come to declare she was pregnant. It even child dies, so the rent the doctor could do anything the man their grievances. I asked them if there Mohamed caused misunderstanding bethat accrues after her was gone. So I wanted to see those guys was a corpse lying in the street would tween Yekini and his mum because demise becomes that of who took him away and ask them what they leave it there because no one came he refused to accept the child, but his Yekini’s children. his treatment plan was because you to report? They however were waiting mother accepted saying the more the can’t die in such circumstances and it for me to write a petition and I did not merrier. We asked her to do a DNA afYou mentioned foul play in the death of would not raise suspicions. By the laws do that because I expected the police to ter she came back but up till now we Yekini, do you still maintain such stance? in Lagos state, there would have been bring up the coroner law and find out haven’t ascertained the authenticity of an inquest into his death; the coroner the cause of death of a man who was I maintain that stance because of the child’s paternity. the circumstances surrounding his should have been brought in to verify kidnapped from his house and later death. He did not die naturally and I the cause of his death. That was what found dead despite an order restrainSo what is the situation with regard to asked some questions on the circum- I was asking for. The family members ing some people. Yekini’s estate? stances leading to his death and they might have had genuine reasons for doThe family called a number of times have not been able to provide me with ing what they did and I was not out to How are Yekini’s children faring? asking that the properties be sold and Yemisi is close to 20 and the other is persecute them. I just wanted to know answers. According to the report of shared among them. I however told his younger sister, who died shortly the cause of Yekini’s death. Just like 15. The 20-year-old is studying performthem their suggestion was unlawful, after Yekini died, and who was the what happened to Michael Jackson, ing arts at the University of Leicester. even in Islamic terms because he had mastermind of his abduction, that there was an inquest. If it were a-no- The second one is in Osogbo, she will children and a mother. He (Yekini) gave morning of May 4, she said they gave body we could just overlook such things be writing her final year exams soon. his mother a property and it would be wrong of me to take it away from her. Also, with regard to the rest of his property, he gave no instructions on how to do deal with it. His mansion in Ibadan is still being maintained and we have contacted an estate manager to get someone who is interested in the propmoney to fund our programmes, erty to lease it because the money you Ajibade Olusesan training, equipment, kitting and would get from it would be substantial. At the moment the respective mothers resident of the Nigeria Table attending to the needs of the playare the ones taking care of their chilTennis Federation, Wahid ers, participating in tournaments dren with a little input from me. Yekini Oshodi, has identified in- abroad. The Lagos State Sports Comowned a boys’ quarter apartment, the adequate funding, players’ indisfive flats of three bedrooms at Ijagbo cipline and lack of commitment missioner also added that the and the mansion. as challenges slowing down the federation had long term goals Right now however, they (the childevelopment of the game in the but the immediate one was to win all the gold medals in table tennis dren) get nothing from the estate as country. we are still waiting on the lease of the Oshodi said that table tennis event of the 2015 All Africa Games mansion since the mother takes all the had made appreciable progress in slated for Congo Brazzaville. “Quadri’s achievement last proceeds from the other properties. The the past three years but the game family members feel they are entitled would have developed at a much year and our team medal at the to whatever comes from the leasing but faster pace if those challenges 2014 Commonwealth Games are now history. We need to move on I have said no, that these two children were not perceptible. are the primary beneficiaries of that “For me I see that we have major from that as our next major test as Oshodi estate. They can meet their mother for problems in two critical areas and a nation is at the Africa Games in part of what she is getting from the this includes inadequate funding, Congo Brazzaville. the nearest future aim to be num“We need to fight hard for the ber one in Africa and the ComIjagbo property which is massive, but indiscipline and lack of commitas for this one, no way. ment on the part of some of our seven gold medals at stake. If we monwealth as well as a top 10 naMy jurisdiction is limited to this one players,” the administrator who is can take all seven gold medals as tion in the world. It is achievable mansion because I do not want to stop also a member of the Nomination we used to do many years ago, it but we must set about doing our what Yekini did not stop in his lifetime. Committee of International Table might satisfy my hunger for suc- work properly both players and The property would naturally revert Tennis Federation said. “We need cess for a short period. We must in officials,” Oshodi said.

Oshodi targets seven gold medals at AAG

• Rues insufficient funding for Table Tennis

WORLD | News 55

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015

North Korea executes Defence Minister

orth Korea’s defence minister was reportedly executed for disloyalty and showing disrespect to leader Kim Jongun, according to South Korea’s intelligence agency. The move underscores the young ruler’s drive to consolidate power, analysts say, but could also be a sign of instability in Pyongyang. The People’s Armed Forces Minister Hyon Yong-chol was killed in front of hundreds of spectators at a shooting range on the Kanggon Military Training Area in late April, according to reports from a South Korean National Intelligence Service briefing. Intelligence reports on North

Korea’s activities always have to be treated with a degree of skepticism due to the nation’s secretive and closed-off nature. A recent report from the US-based Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, however, stated that satellite imagery of the area, just outside Pyongyang, appeared to corroborate the account. Military leadership has been in flux since Mr. Kim rose to power in 2011 after his father’s death. Mr. Hyon was the fourth person to hold the defense portfolio in 2-1/2 years, according to The Wall Street Journal. During the two-decade tenure of Kim Jong-il, Kim’s father, the military chief changed only three times. Experts suggest the re-

shuffling could reflect Kim’s increasing demands on officials who are strapped for resources and come up short. “The common assumption is that it’s bad for stability, but I’m not so sure,” Andrei Lankov, a North Korea expert at Kookmin University in Seoul, told Reuters. Instead, the motivation may be to encourage loyalty from others. But such changes in leadership have not been confined to military chiefs – nor have highprofile executions. Kim has changed the director of military operations, a position that controls conventional military forces, six times since coming to power. He allegedly executed his uncle in 2013 for treason, and last month, South Korean intel-

Slain North Korean Defence Minister Hyon yong chol.

Coup attempt ‘foiled’ in Burundi

mid mounting fears of ethnic violence, a Burundian African Union official told CNN yesterday that a military coup attempt is underway in Burundi. The government denied it was under threat. But a Western diplomat told CNN that gunfire could be heard in Bujumbura, the capital of the African nation. President Pierre Nkurunziza is out of the country, attending a crisis summit with other East African leaders in Tanzania. When contacted by CNN, Burundian government spokesman Willy Nyamitwe said reports of a coup were “a joke.” A statement from the President’s office said some soldiers had mutinied and declared an “imaginary”

coup. The statement appealed for calm, said the coup attempt had been foiled, and added that those responsible “are being sought by defense and security forces so that they are brought to justice.” According to Reuters, Army Gen. Godefroid Niyombareh announced on radio earlier in the day that Nkurunziza has been “dismissed” and that a national salvation committee had been set up to run the country. CNN has not been able to independently confirm whether the coup attempt has been successful of has been foiled. Niyombareh is the former head of Burundian intelligence. He was fired by the President in February. The news that Nku-

runziza might have been deposed is being greeted with jubiliation, Nsengiyumva Pierre Claver, a former member of an EU electoral monitoring team, told CNN by phone from Bujumbura. “We have observed many people just shouting of joy and dancing in the streets,” Claver said. People had come from areas in the hills surrounding the capital to join in the celebrations, he said. And soldiers had been able to reopen two private radio stations that had been closed by the government, he said. But Claver, too, had heard reports of gunfire near the national radio and TV stations, he said and he warned it was too soon to conclude that the coup attempt had been successful.

US aid helicopter missing after second Nepal quake

day long search failed to find a missing US Marine helicopter yesterday, a day after the second Nepal earthquake in less than three weeks killed scores and triggered landslides across the Himalayan nation. Nepal is still reeling from last month’s devastating quake that killed more than 8,000 people and injured close to 20,000. The US helicopter was de-

livering aid in Dolakha, one of the districts hit hardest by both quakes, on Tuesday when it went missing with six Marines and two Nepali soldiers on board. Six Nepali helicopters and about 400 soldiers found no sign of the Marine Corps UH-1Y “Huey” in forested and rugged terrain. “There is no positive confirmation of any sighting of the aircraft and we have no communication with

them at this moment,” said Marines spokeswoman Captain Cassandra Gesecki. She said there was no evidence to indicate a crash. Roads in Dolakha were cracked and littered with large boulders, a Reuters witness said. In Suspa Kshamawati village 80 percent of the houses were completely destroyed. Krishna Budhathoki, 40, now lives in his cattle pen.

ligence reported that 15 senior North Korean officials accused of challenging Kim’s authority were also executed, reports the Associated Press. Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korea expert at Dongguk University in Seoul, said Kim appears to be using purges to check the military old guard, which may pose the only plausible threat to his rule. Koh said Kim could be pushing a “reign of terror” to solidify his leadership, but those efforts would fail if he doesn’t improve

the country’s shattered economy. “This is indicative of Kim Jong-un’s impulsive decisionmaking and a sign that he is not feeling secure. Ultimately, this is not the sign of a man confident in his job,” Michael Madden, an expert on the North Korean leadership and contributor to the 38 North Think Tank, told the BBC. If Kim’s purges continue, the regime could “reach its limit,” Mr. Koh told Reuters. “But it’s still too early to tell.”

Brussels clashes with Britain over Med migrant plan

he European Union clashed with Britain yesterday over a plan to save thousands of migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean, which includes controversial resettlement quotas for refugees. British interior minister Theresa May called for economic migrants to be sent back, saying the EU’s manner of dealing with asylum claims of people rescued at sea encouraged more to risk their lives by attempting the journey. The most controversial elements of the plan are a mandatory redistribution of asylum seekers across the 28-member bloc and the use of European military force against smugglers in Libyan waters. Britain, Ireland and Denmark have the ability to opt out of the plan, which comes amid an unprecedented wave of migrants fleeing conflict and poverty in North Africa and the Middle East. “I wonder how anyone could maintain that this could make the situation worse,” European Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans told a press conference in response to May’s comments. “If we then do

nothing, we make the situation worse for people in trouble and lose credibility in the eyes of our citizens who have demanded that we do something about the tragedies in the Mediterranean.” Timmermans, the right-hand man to European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, called on EU states to show “solidarity” with countries such as Italy, Greece and Malta, which bear the burden of most migrant arrivals. More than 5,000 migrants, many escaping civil war in Syria, have died over the past 18 months while trying to cross the Mediterranean, often on flimsy rubber dinghies or fishing boats. Writing in The Times newspaper, May confirmed that Britain would take no part in the Commission’s quota plan and said the EU should be pushing back economic migrants. “I disagree with the suggestion by the EU’s high representative, Federica Mogherini, that ‘no migrants’ intercepted at sea should be ‘sent back against their will’,” she wrote. “Such an approach would only act as an increased pull factor across the Mediterranean and encourage more people to put their lives at risk.”

Benin minister quits over Dutch water aid fraud claims

enin’s minister for energy and water has resigned following allegations from the Netherlands of massive fraud in drinking water projects, the government confirmed yesterday. Dutch deputy development minister Liliane Ploumen last week announced an immediate suspension in “developmental relations” with the tiny West African nation following an audit into aid spending. The review claimed that some four million euros ($4.5 million) had disappeared from Benin’s coffers and that bilateral aid would be stopped until Benin’s government took steps to tackle the issue. “The minister for energy and water resigned on (Tuesday) May 12,” the government’s general-secretary Alassani Tigri told AFP.

According to Benin’s presidency, an investigation would be launched into The Hague’s allegations. “With a view to allowing the international audit to take place without any influence on his part, (Kassa) decided to submit his resignation to the president, who accepted it”, a statement said.” All staff of the (drinking water) project and some senior managers of the ministry have been made available to economic and financial investigators,” it added. The Netherlands is Benin’s largest donor for water development projects and has pumped an estimated 50 million euros into the impoverished country, which neighbours Nigeria. The European Union has contributed a further 20 million euros to supply clean drinking water.

On Marble

Friendship is a plant of slow growth and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.

World Record

Sanctity of Truth

Melvin Feizel Boothe of Pontiac, Michigan, was the official Guinness World Record ‘longest fingernails’ holder in 2010. His nails measured 9.85 m (32 ft 3.8 in).

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

– George Washington

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015

N150

Ndigbo and the issue of stomach politics

hough the 2015 general election has come and gone, it appears to have thrown up some salient albeit worrisome issues in our nation’s body polity.

One of them is the recent bashing of Ndigbo over how they voted in the presidential election that returned APC Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari as President-elect. This ugly and unwarranted branding has continued provocatively for reasons best known to characters promoting it. Though voting in specific direction characterized the attitude of all geo-political zones in the country, it is curious that only the South East has been receiving knocks for the electoral preference of the majority of its voting population to the extent that many well-meaning Nigerians are now at a loss at to what warrants the increasing hate against Ndigbo in Nigeria lately. The latest of such needless attacks on the Ndigbo was a make-believe story by some persons in the United States of America coalescing with their likes in Nigeria to paint and abuse Ndigbo as money driven voters who only consider their stomach and nothing else in casting their votes. Ostensibly to give prominence to this uncharitable agenda of ensuring it gets the widest reach, they slung their fabricated story on the personality of the Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka. The garrulous professor of literature in his defence for supporting Gen. Muhammadu Buhari against President Goodluck Jonathan at a public lecture at the Harvard University Hutchins Centre for African And African American Research, was said to have made the derogatory remark about the Igbos over their voting pattern in the March 28 presidential election. The Nobel Laureate however quickly distanced himself from such publication and described anybody who could believe that he made the derogatory statement against the Igbo as a “moron”. Prof. Soyinka’s timely denial came as a relief to many especially yours sincerely who had always admired him for his unique role in favour of Ndigbo during the civil war. He was said to have been incarcerated by the military during the war for challenging the injustice against the people of Biafra. The hauler of the deregulatory story to Nigeria, an online medium called The Cable has also apologized to both Prof Soyinka and Ndigbo. According their statement “The management of Cable Newspaper Ltd, publishers of The Cable, would like to make the following statement concerning our report on the lecture by Professor Wole Soyinka at the Harvard University Hutchins Centre for African & African American Research. Soyinka was quoted to have made derogatory remarks about the Igbo over their voting pattern in the March 28 presidential election. He has since denied the offensive quotes attributed to him. After an in-house investigation, we have come to the conclusion that the story misrepresented the views expressed by Soyinka in the question-and-answer session after his lecture. We take full responsibility for the inaccuracy and promise that we will continue to strive to improve our standards. Also, we wish to reiterate that we take our professional responsibilities very seriously, as our readers can attest to. We hereby offer an unreserved apology to Soyinka, Ndigbo and our readers. The remorse and apology taken but something is still unexplained. Was it another person’s remark that was erroneously attributed to Prof Soyinka or what? As a journalist, I am aware that The Cable Newspaper can hide under protection of source to deny the public of the correct situation but Ndigbo would have loved to know from where and how such

Political Musings IKE ABONYI

igwebuike2001@yahoo.com 08024024029 (sms only)

Odumegwu Ojukwu

Soyinka wicked remark came about. Since it has been dubiously made public and since some Nigerians hold some negative views about Ndigbo and money, it has become necessary to once and for all address this issue of Ndigbo and money. There are some suppressed truth about Ndigbo and money that has been held on for long apparently to give way for the continued erroneous feeling of some Igbophobia. It has become clear in this country that if you are hardworking and have some verve in you, your competitors who cannot stand you would look for a label to cover up their deficiency. It is a general society thing. In Yoruba land for instance, the Ijebu whose business acumen excel ahead of others in the area are often labelled in derogatory terms by the others who could not cope with their ingenuity, ditto in the north where Kano people are seen as too money conscious by people who are unable to compete with them. Asides, the richest man in Nigeria and Africa is from Kano. Ndigbo have taken their aggressive business skill to all nooks and crannies of West Africa, taking business risks, opening up and

Enwo Igariwey, Ohanaeze leader transforming hitherto abandoned villages to commercial hubs. Unfortunately, rather than appreciate them for their economic dexterity, some ill-mannered persons chose to be maligning them. In Lagos state, notwithstanding that the contributions of the Igbo to the development of the state remains outstanding, Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration “deported” some Igbo to Onitsha in Anambra state last year. In the same vein, the Oba of Lagos Rilwan Akiolu followed it up with his infamous threat against the Igbo during the last general election. In Abuja, the nation’s capital a one-time Minister of FCT lamented the inexorable progress of Ndigbo in the city despite snags put on their way to halt them. People are forgetting memories of how nobody wanted to come to Abuja except Igbo businessmen and women who risked their lives and resources to break the grounds. Today, certain sections of the country try to give impression that the FCT Minister must come from their region forgetting those who opened up Abuja. If Mungo Park and early missionaries had not braced mosquito bites and other risks to open up Nigeria and indeed Africa where would today’s arrogant leaders anchor to exercise undue dominion? Those who fly into Abuja today to lay claim to a number of things fail to appreciate those who made it habitable, not to talk of the source of resources that built the city. Even in the spiritual sector, all over Nigeria, Ndigbo are contributing over 65 per cent of church developments in other land and 100 per cent in their own area because nobody helps them - Catholics, Anglicans or Pentecostal alike. As Ndigbo go on developing villages and making meaningful contributions, people rather than appreciate prefer instead to look for derogatory angle against them. In the previous republics in this country, the South East has been severally bashed for being politically incoherent as they are accused of lacking in unity as everybody wanted to the President. Some political watchers may argue in support of other ethnic nationalities that this is peculiar to Ndigbo but we have seen such divisions in other groups especially when they are out of power.

The truth is that when you are not in control of political instrument you are subject to the whims and caprices of the persons with power. We saw in this country how all the big three tribes, the Hausa/Fulani, Yourba and Igbo all lined up genuflecting sycophantically before an Ijaw minority in the last six years to get his attention. Who says there is pride or ego in Nigeria for the man without power? In the outgoing 7th National Assembly, the nation watched how Asiwaju Bola Tinubu-led defunct ACN used their number in the green chamber to deny the South West zone from getting the Speakership zoned to them by the ruling PDP, not because it did not favour the Yoruba general political interest but because it was against the interest of the few. If such had happened in the South East, one can only imagine the extent of knocks they would have received. Until in the last election, the South West never voted for the party at the center. Even when their son General Olusegun Obasanjo was the leading candidate in 1999 they still rejected him at the polls and heaven did not fall. When Kano people rejected their own son, Alhaji Bashir Tofa and voted for late Chief M.K.O Abiola in the later annulled 1993 Presidential election, they were not accused of following their stomach even as the late politician in his well known philanthropy was known to have doled out a lot of money during the campaigns. In the last Presidential election, it is a known fact that the large chunk of money spent by the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan were spent in the South West and the Northern geopolitical zones. If Ndigbo were after money, Jonathan and PDP would have lost woefully in the region. Perhaps it might be necessary to educate Nigerians on why Ndigbo voted for Jonathan. They did so not because of his money or any identifiable project he gave the people, not at all. Apart from party loyalty, one of the major factors is that he won the heart of the people when he honoured their hero Eze Igbo Gburugburu, Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu by giving him a national burial. So what is this increasing hate against Ndigbo. Is it the civil war that ended 44 years ago or what? I dare say that the truth is that it is all about suppressing the innate qualities of the Igbo man that rather than being appreciated is attracting for them unnecessary envy. It is not for nothing that the United Nations poverty index in Nigeria rates South East the least. It is a product of hard work from an industrious group who don’t believe in carrying portfolio about following and waiting for crumbs. Even in the area of corruption, the fact remains that when the true index in this country is released, Ndigbo would not be the worst. It is a known fact that after Ndigbo cleared the bush and opened up Abuja, they became the least beneficiaries when the lands were allocated. However, through their ingenuity and drive, they got back their dues buying from original allottees, who apparently did not need them. Nigerians should appreciate the Igbo in their midst to be able to maximize their potentials. The truth is that an appreciated Igbo would be a big asset to the country. If Biafra had been allowed to stay, perhaps today, Nnewi would have since produced cars and machines. Aba would have flooded the continent with textiles and other domestic products. These potentials of Ndigbo should fascinate and draw respect for Ndigbo not envy or bashing. As I conclude this humble expression, I recommend to our leaders this advice given by an American author, Thomas Sowell to Americans during their racial and ethnic challenges. According to him, “the time is long overdue to stop looking for progress through racial or ethnic leaders. Such leaders have too many incentives to promote polarizing attitudes and actions that are counterproductive for minorities and disastrous for the country”. God bless Nigeria.

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotlines: (Lagos 0902 928 1425), (Abuja 0805 5118488) Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: YEMI AJAYI.