Wednesday, october 19, 2016 by Newtelegraphonline

ASUU to Buhari: Your economic policies killing Nigerians Yekeen Nurudeen

s the economic situation in the country bites harder, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)

yesterday came hard on President Muhammadu Buhari, criticising his welfare policies. It also decried the han-

dling of the current recession and Buhari’s alliance with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), among others.

The umbrella body of academics in Nigerian universities also lamented that the Federal Government was feigning igno-

Chinese scrambling for investments in Nigeria –Envoy }7

rance that its economic policies were pauperising Nigerians and, by implication, making them go through psychological torture. President of the union,

Biodun Ogunyemi, in a communique from its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, recently, said CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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Sheriff scuttles PDP's reconciliation }7

Sheriff

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Osinbajo: Corruption may consume Nigeria unless... }6

Osinbajo

13 soldiers injured, others missing as B’Haram overpowers troops }6

N150

Buratai

Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Abia governorship judgements:

Amaechi, APC attempted to bribe me –S’Court justice }5

Minister: Allegation, a concoction, figment of Okoro’s imagination

Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, Edaiken N'uselu, HRH Eheneden Erediauwa (middle), during the activities marking name choosing before tomorrow's coronation in Benin-City…yesterday.

PHOTOS: CAJETAN MMUTA.

Road crashes claim 143 nationwide

...in two weeks lTruck kills mother, her twins, nine others }5 & 8 Antibiotics linked with hospital bed infections }40

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Amaechi, APC attempted to bribe me –S’Court justice Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

ustice Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court has accused the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to compromise him for favourable judgements in the governorship appeals in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Abia states. He alleged that Amaechi promised that in the event he influenced the judgements in favour of APC, the governorship candidate of the party in Akwa Ibom during the 2015 election, Mr. Umana Umana, would put him (Justice Okoro) on monthly allowance of millions of naira. Justice Okoro, in a letter dated October 17, 2016 and addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), Justice Mahmud Moham-

med, alleged that his refusal to do the bidding of Amaechi and agents of the governing party was responsible for his arrest and humiliation over alleged corruption by the Department of State Services (DSS). The receipt of the letter, a copy of which was obtained by New Telegraph, was confirmed by an authoritative source in the office of the CJN last night. Amaechi has denied ever attempting to compromise Justice Okoro. The minister, according to his media office, described the allegation as concoction and figment of the justice’s imagination. “He (Justice Okoro) will hear from our lawyers. The letter as it relates to Amaechi is a concoction and figment of imagination of the justice. He will surely hear from us,” the minister’s media office told New Telegraph last night. The apex court justice was among the seven judges arrested by the DSS

between October 8 and 9. The judges affected are Justices Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court; Justices Nnamdi Dimgba and Adeniyi Ademola, both of the Federal High Court, Abuja; Muazu Pindiga of Gombe; Kabiru Auta of Kano High Court; Innocent Okoro, out-going Enugu State chief judge; as well as Mohammed Tsamiya, an appeal court judge in Ilorin. Giving details of what transpired between him and Amaechi, Okoro stated: “My Lord, I strongly believe that this my travail is not unconnected with the verbal report I made to you on 1st, February, 2016, about the visit to my official residence by H/E, Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor of Rivers State and now minister of transportation. “In that report, I told you, My Lord, that Mr. Amaechi said that the president of Nigeria and the All Progressives Congress (APC) mandated him to

inform me that they must win their election appeals in respect of Rivers State, Akwa Ibom State and Abia State at all costs. “For Akwa Ibom State, he alleged that he sponsored Mr. Umana Umana, the candidate of All Progressives Congress for that election and that if he lost Akwa Ibom appeal, he would have lost a fortune. Mr. Amaechi also said that he had already visited you and that you had agreed to make me a member of the panel that would hear the appeals. “He further told me that Mr. Umana would be paying me millions of naira monthly if I co-operated with them. My response, as I told you on that date, was that it does not lie within my power to grant his request and that I would do all within my power not to be in the panel for Akwa Ibom State. My Lord graciously left me out of the panel for Akwa Ibom State. That notwithstanding, the All Progressives Congress

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi (left) with the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, during Olubadan's visit to the Ooni in Ile Ife… yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Road crashes claim 143 nationwide T he Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has disclosed that 143 people died from 313 road crashes in two weeks nationwide. Statistics made available yesterday through the e-Dashboard Analysis showed that 76 people died in accidents that occurred in week 40 while 67 people lost their lives in week 41. The road crashes involved 502 people in weeks 40 and 41, 2016. According to the eDashboard Analysis of the FRSC, 899 people were injured in the crashes, while 1,044 people were rescued without injury. The analysis showed that 1,787,977 passengers travelled in week 40 while 2,402,458 people travelled in

week 41. Also, 368, 990 vehicles travelled across the country within the period. The report indicated that 20,578 traffic offenders were apprehended for 22,712 offences nationwide. In the process, 9,821 traffic offenders were educated and 591 persons were convicted in 27 mobile courts, while 83 were discharged and acquitted. “Within that same period of weeks 40 and 41, 995 special marshals were also on patrol and one special marshal lost his life,” Mr. Bisi Kazeem, Head, Media Relations and Strategy of the commission, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Kazeem said from the statistics, the number of crashes reduced by four

per cent and the number of people rescued without injury increased by 30 per cent. He said although deaths from road crashes reduced by 11 per cent as compared to the previous weeks, there was still need to be cautious on the road and obey traffic rules. Meanwhile, the FRSC has said that the drivers’ licence portal did not crash as alleged by some members of the public. “There is no such thing as a portal break down or crash; all our drivers’ licence service points are in order and there is no report of any challenge. “It is just a rumour and it is definitely not true, I can confidently tell you that,” Kazeem said.

He emphasised that both the Abuja and Lagos service centres were working perfectly. Mr. Kalu Emetu, Head of Public Relations and Enlightenment, Directorate of Road Traffic Service in Abuja, also refuted the rumour that the drivers’ licence portal had crashed. Emetu said that it was a rumour and urged the public to disregard it.

27.02

The average age of football players in England in the 2013-2014 season. Source: Football-observatory.com

138.53m

The total number of active mobile lines (GSM) of Nigeria in January 2015. Source: Ncc.gov.ng

in Akwa Ibom State, which lost the appeal at the Supreme Court, believe that my presence in the Supreme Court made them to lose the appeal. “Could I have resigned from the Supreme Court simply because people of Akwa Ibom State had a matter before it?” Okoro also recalled in the letter that he had earlier reported that Umana visited his residence before Amaechi’s visit and also made the same request of assistance to win his appeal at the Supreme Court. “Mr. Umana talked about ‘seeing’ the justices who would hear the appeal. Pastor (Dr) Ebebe Ukpong who led Mr. Umana Umana to my house intercepted and said that the issue of ‘seeing’ the justices was not part of their visit and that as a pastor, he would not be part of such a discussion. Mr. Umana apologised. I advised them to go and pray about the matter and get a good lawyer. That was how they left my house,” he stated. Giving a graphical picture of how his apartment was searched, Okoro stated that: “On Friday, the 7th day of October, 2016, at about 9p.m., I received a phone call from an unfamiliar caller. He introduced himself as an official from the Presidency. He told me he had a letter for me from Mr. President. I immediately left my study room and went to open the door. Upon the door being opened, I saw so many heavily armed men with an inscription ‘DSS’ on their uniform. One of them who was in mufti told me they were to search my house. I requested that I be allowed to inform the chief justice of Nigeria but they rebuffed, rather, they seized my phone from me. “My Lord, the operatives of the Department of State Security searched all the rooms in the house meticulously. They also searched the boy’s quarters and my official vehicles parked outside. At the end of the search, which lasted till about 1:30a.m. of 8th October, 2016, they took away the following items: (1) One IPad; (2) Three phones (only one active); (3) $38,800; (4) N3.5 million only and (5) Cheque books (four in number).” The judge noted that the listed items were documented on the back page of the search warrant they produced and was signed. He added that the DSS operatives informed him that their director-general wanted to see him that night. “I requested to visit their office upon the break of the day but they refused. In view of the presence of

the heavily armed men who accompanied them and who were pointing their gun at me from all angles. I had no choice than to follow them to their office that night. I was detained by them in their office till Sunday, 9 October, 2016 and upon your Lordship’s intervention that Sunday, they released me in the evening of that Sunday. “My Lord, I noticed that they also brought other judicial officers (serving and retired) to their office. So, before releasing us, they asked me to make a statement concerning the money found in my house. I told them that having received the sum of $24,000 and £10,000 a year for the past three years of my sojourn in this court as annual medical/vacation allowances and having not spent more than £5,000 on each of the three trips I have so far made abroad, I was entitled to have more than the amount recovered from me. “Put differently, My Lord, the money was the balance of my estacode received from this court for the past three years. This is quite outside the estacodes I have received for the international conferences I have so far attended since joining the bench of this court,” he submitted. He, however, noted that as at the time of writing his report, the DSS has not confronted him with any petition or complaint from any quarters whatsoever. “Rather, they have grilled me, asking questions on some none existing properties around the country. They have also doubted the age of my children, alleging that they are toddlers. This is sad and unbelievable,” he stated. Justice Okoro further submitted that up till now, he has not known his offense as over the years, from the Magistracy till date, he has done his best to eschew all forms of corrupt practices. “I have not received any bribe from anybody. My Lord is quite aware of my position as regards those who take bribe in the judiciary. I detest it and have no room for any adjustment. That is the truth,” he said. He urged the CJN and NJC to disregard all the lies and media campaign orchestrated by those who felt he purposely refused to help them win their election appeals in the Supreme Court. “I am confident that God will vindicate me at the end of this ordeal. I take it as a temporary setback. I remain loyal to my oath of office and the need to be just and fair in handling matters before me,” he stated.

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Osinbajo: Corruption may consume Nigeria unless... lSaraki, others list antidotes to graft

Onwuka Nzeshi, Chukwu David and Philip Nyam

ice-President Yemi Osinbajo, has warned that corruption may consume Nigeria and its people if practical steps were not taken to check the menace, using the existing legal framework. He said that Nigeria needed a coalition of reasonable men and women with strong commitment to do the right thing at all times, for the nation to win the on-going war against corruption. Osinbajo, who stated this yesterday in Abuja at the opening of the “National Conference on the Role of the Legislature in the Fight against Corruption,” said the coalition will serve as a springboard for government to leverage upon and achieve success. The conference was organised by National Assembly and the Presidential Ad-

visory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) in collaboration with the European Union (EU), United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) and the African Development Studies Centre (ADSC) in Abuja. Osinbajo noted that corruption has become the bane of development in Nigeria and has damaged the country’s socio-economic and political structures due to the lack of will by previous administrations to take the necessary actions against it. His words: “How do you explain a situation where funds meant to equip soldiers in a war that was consuming thousands and probably looking for all of us, was stolen by a few individuals and then people still find the justification for such behaviour? We don’t set out fighting corruption believing and acting as if we are the best there are by virtue of our positions as chief executives and thinking that we will do it alone without em-

ploying the other available human resources. That’s not what we need to win the war that’s threatening everybody. What we need is a coalition of reasonable men and women who would form the army of the willing in this fight. “We need to know that a corrupt executive will destroy all that’s meant for development, that a corrupt legislature will frustrate all effort to strengthen institutions via relevant legislation and that a corrupt judiciary will frustrate all attempts at punishing corrupt crimes and those involved in them. “We have an opportunity today to begin a national project which is not necessarily a finger-pointing exercise.” Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, commended

13 soldiers injured, others missing as B’Haram overpowers troops Emmanuel Onani Abuja

he Nigerian Army, yesterday, said its troops were overpowered by suspected Boko Haram elements, who had launched an attack on the former’s location in Northern Borno. Thirteen soldiers sustained varying degrees of injuries from the incident, while “some” were still missing in action. This was disclosed in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman. The statement reads: “On Monday at about 5:30p.m, suspected escaping remnants of Boko Haram terrorists attacked troops location at Gashigar, border area with Niger Republic, northern Borno State. “The troops did their best to defend the location in vain. In the process, 13 soldiers sustained injuries while some are still missing in action. “The temporary setback made the troops to with-

$0.05m

The capital importation of the Oil & Gas sector of Nigeria in Q4 2014. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

133

The sex ratio of women to 100 men (international migrants) in Georgia in 2010. Source: Un.org

draw from the location. “However, the wounded soldiers have been evacuated and receiving treatment, while efforts are on-going in search of those missing and clear the Boko Haram terrorists at the general area.” There were reports that suspected insurgents had killed about 20 soldiers, in a surprise attack.

the Muhammadu Buhariled administration for showing the political will to wage war against corruption. He observed that for over 40 years, the anti-corruption fight has remained a major policy thrust of successive administrations, but not much has been achieved in terms of preventing corruption in the polity. According to him, corruption has significantly impaired the growth and development of Nigeria as a nation, leaving the poor worse off on the socio- economic ladder. The Senate president said that for the anti-graft war to succeed, there must be institutional integrity and capacity and Nigerians must be convinced that these institutions and personalities who drive the process were sincere

in their actions. “Therefore, if we must make significant inroad against corruption, we must strive to protect our accountability institutions from the virus of political interference, no matter how well meaning they may be. “They must be enabled to operate in an atmosphere of political neutrality, efficiency and fairness as envisaged under the constitution. This, in my view, means that while these institutions work in collaborative form, there must be minimal intrusion in the operation, decisions and working of our apex institutions – like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Police Force – that are tasked with ensuring accountabil-

ity in our affairs,” he said. Head of the PACAC, Prof. Itse Sagay, described the legislature as the distinctive mark of a country’s sovereignty, without which there can be no democracy in a society. In a keynote address delivered by a Kenyan activist and anti-corruption crusader, Prof. Patrick Lumumba, said what has kept Nigeria and Africa down for decades has been the fact that official corruption has been condoned over the years. According to Lumumba, an erstwhile Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission in Kenya, corruption is a subject that is ever green in Africa, because it has undermined growth and development on the continent and has continued to pervert economic growth to the detriment of Africans.

L-R: Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Na’Allah; Chairman, House Committee on Anti- Corruption, Mr. Babajide Akinloye; Senate President Bukola Saraki and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, at a National Conference on corruption in Abuja… yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

ASUU to Buhari: Your economic policies killing Nigerians CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

rather than searching for homegrown solutions to Nigeria’s problems, government was busy hobnobbing with international financial institutions such as the IMF and World Bank, which, according to him, are the same institutions promoting capitalism in most parts of the world. He said it was apparent that the political class demonstrated its helplessness to meet the needs of Nigerians as they have taken it upon themselves to ensure Nigeria’s underdevelopment, misery, poverty, unemployment and illiteracy. “The fundamental direction for the development of an egalitarian society as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution has not only been negated, but also vigorously violated by the governing class for the interest of a very few minority. “Nigerian ruling class

has a faulty conception of the capitalist path to national development. Nigeria’s governing class does not understand the historical path of the capitalism it is embracing; it is a clear exercise in self-delusion. Nigerian people were never told the type of capitalism the dominant class is building in the country. “The inability of Nigeria’s political class to resolve the fundamental problems it has helped to create and nourish is noticeable in welfare problems, educational system, state of roads, access to health care, insecurity, national question, political disorder, economic mismanagement, unemployment and corruption,” the communique said. The ASUU president bemoaned the purchasing power of Nigerians, which he said had been reduced many times over, noting that it would be preposterous to extricate Buhari’s government of complicity

on the devaluation. He described the current recession as self-imposed, a situation that has made the economy cash strapped. According to ASUU, government could set up a process to revitalise the economy through massive investment in the citizenry. He said beyond infrastructural development, there should be conscious injection of funds into the economy, especially through channels that cannot be manipulated by state and local government administrators. The ASUU president said: “Government has failed to be an ally of the people and has handed over the economy to the neo-liberal agents with dire consequences for the country. “As fallout of the mismanagement of the Nigerian economy, the nonpayment of salaries or payment in part by the federal, state and local

governments has emerged as another affront on the country’s working class, who are finding it almost impossible to meet their obligations to family members and other concerns. “The economy would continue to bleed and our people would be driven further into perpetual state of need and slavery. “The manufacturing sector would become moribund and small and medium scale industries would then fizzle out. The economy would become uncontrollable import-oriented and the magnitude of descent into slavery would be unimaginable. “We are convinced that people must organise to reject the present policies that further pauperise the poor and consolidate the grip of an exploitative ruling class on the polity.” The academic union warned government not to hold it responsible if it mobilises its members nationwide to down tools

over reluctance to meet the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement. According to Ogunyemi, failure to periodically review the agreement is causing frustration within the academic community. “The 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement provides for a periodic review after every three years. In fact, all things being equal, this should have been undertaken in 2012 and another review in 2015. “However, government’s apparent reluctance to set up its renegotiation team for the review of the 2009 agreement, as consistently requested by the union since 2012, is getting our members increasingly worried and frustrated. “Government should move to douse the tension on our campuses, otherwise ASUU should not be blamed for the consequences of government’s failure to honour and renegotiate the 2009 agreement,” Ogunyemi noted.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sheriff scuttles PDP's reconciliation

Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he much-anticipated inauguration of committee for the reconciliation of factional members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled for yesterday failed to hold. The two factions, headed by Senators Ahmed Makarfi and Ali Modu Sheriff, had agreed to set up a 28-man peace committee, after series of meeting between them. Sheriff who has been at the centre of the crisis, had at a recent press conference said that the two factions agreed to find a lasting solution to the crisis. “We are going to set up a 28-man committee to prepare a way forward. The committee will be inaugurated on Tuesday (yesterday). “We are compiling the list. It is true that we have reached understanding, but there is no position paper from anywhere,” he said. PDP expanded caucus, which met about two weeks ago, also endorsed the peace move. The

meeting was attended by Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, the Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, as well members of the Board of Trustees (BoT), the National Assembly caucus and state chairmen. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, had told newsmen that “the peace move has

been finally endorsed and supported by members of caucus without any dissenting voice.” But the inauguration of the committee failed to hold on yesterday despite the presence of some state chairmen and other stakeholders of the party at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, venue of the event. Sheriff and members of

his faction, however, failed to show up. Those who showed up were restricted to the reception lobby as there was no hall booked for the event. It was gathered that Sheriff was the one who made the choice as he rejected the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre proposed by the National Caretaker Com-

Grand Nufti of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sheikh Mangala Luaba (left) and the Metropolitan Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, at a meeting in Abuja …yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

mittee, as venue for the inauguration. “Sheriff said he want a neutral venue not the Yar’Adua Centre because that was where the caretaker committee holds most of its meetings. “He is the one that supposed to book the hall,” a staff of the party disclosed. The factional chairman was also said to have refused to release names of nominees for the reconciliation committee. Each of the factions was expected to nominate 14 members who would make up the committee. It was also gathered that PDP governors were opposed to the proposed peace committee because Sheriff was “not sincere about it.” They were said to have cited last week’s ruling by the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, which was in favour of Sheriff’s candidate for the Ondo governorship election, as their reason. The governors were said to be meeting at Ondo Governor’s Lodge, but there was no sign of such meeting when New Telegraph left there about 4p.m., for the venue of the botched inauguration.

After spending about 45 minutes, waiting for the inauguration, newsmen were advised to return to their offices “instead of loitering around.” They were promised to be contacted if there is any development. Special Adviser to Sheriff on media, Inuwa Bwala, when contacted, said there were issues with the committee’s terms of reference. He, however, could not offer further explanation. Bwala disclosed that Sheriff would not attend the inauguration. Also, when contacted, Adeyeye said he was not in Abuja and could not know why the event did not hold. He expressed surprise that the inauguration failed to hold. “So, it did not hold? I am in Ekiti now. I will call to find out,” he added.

N100.83

The average price of Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) of Gombe State in March 2015. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

3.59m

The total volume of payment channels made by Mobile payments of Nigeria in March 2015. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

Judge withdraws from Dasuki’s trial over DSS’ harassment Chinese scrambling for lI didn’t bribe judge, says ex-NSA

Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

ne of the judges arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged corruption, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, yesterday withdrew from presiding over the case of a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd). Justice Ademola hinged his withdrawal from the case on the basis that it was one of the reasons why the secret service is ‘harassing’ him. At a resumed trial yesterday, Justice Ademola announced that he was constrained from going ahead with hearing of the criminal case in view of the recent clampdown on some judges in the country by the DSS. “I am sure the prosecution and defence counsel are conversant with what is going on in the last seven days in this country. “One of the allegations being made against me by the DSS is that I received certain sums of unspecified money from the defendant. “Of course, I have responded to that allegation of receiving an unspecified sums of money from the defendant, but it will be wise for him to answer

some questions.” The judge asked Dasuki: “Do you know me at all or have come in contact with me?” Dasuki, however, responded: “I don’t know you my Lord.” The judge further asked: “Did you at any time give me money in respect of the on-going trial?” The former NSA replied: “No, my Lord, I didn’t give you any money.” Again, Justice Ademola queried: “Did you send any money to me, to any member of my family or through any counsel?” But Dasuki answered: “No, my Lord, except the DSS agents who are reporting the allegation did.” Justice Ademola further stated that: “I am happy that you have answered these questions. In the interest of fair hearing, I am minded to return the case file to the chief judge of the Federal High Court for further action.” Reacting, the prosecution counsel, Dipo Okpeseyi (SAN), said that he will be guided by the court’s decision, even though the subject matter of the day was for a ruling and continuation of trial. Defense counsel, S.A Adedeji, however, acknowledged the recent happenings and said the

judge was right to take that step. Consequently, Okpeseyi requested for an adjournment so that the counsel and the Chief Judge would ruminate over the issue and take the next step rather than boxing the court into a tight corner. After listening to both counsels, Justice Ademola noted that: “This court is minded to transfer this case to the Chief Judge. The defendant has vehemently denied in open court today, the allegation made by the DSS. “Therefore, this case file has been returned to the CJ in line with principle of fair hearing. This criminal matter has been adjourned to another date as may be fixed by the new judge.” The Federal Government had arraigned Dasuki on September 1, 2015, over charges that bordered on unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering. However, due to intermittent interlocutory applications from both the prosecution and defence counsels, commencement of full-blown trial of the former NSA has been delayed. The DSS had, last weekend, arrested seven judges, including Justice Ademola, over alleged corruption. The secret service however released them on bail and asked them to be reporting at its headquarters

everyday. There have been different versions of reports why the secret service had swooped on Justice Ademola. One of the versions has it that the service was not been pleased with some of the pronouncements of the judge. The DSS however disclosed that the sum of N54 million cash, $171,779 and others were found in his residence, during his arrest. Giving his own position, Justice Ademola, in a letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, recounts the nightmarish attack on his home by the DSS operatives. Justice Ademola said he was informed that he was arrested based on “a petition by Hon. Jenkins Davies dated 4th of April, 2016 and addressed to the National Judicial Council; granting bail to Col. Sambo Dasuki and unconstitutional release of Nnamdi Kanu. Justice Ademola had appealed to the CJN to grant him leave to enable him pursue justice over alleged infringement of his fundamental human right by the DSS. He also accused the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, of being behind his travails.

investments in Nigeria –Envoy

Anule Emmanuel Abuja

ndication has emerged that Chinese investors were scrambling to explore business opportunities in Nigeria. Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Zhou Pingjian, disclosed this at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, when he met with President Muhammadu Buhari. Presenting his Letter of Credence, Pingjian told Buhari that he had been inundated with so many requests by investors from his country who had been “falling over one another” to explore business opportunities in Nigeria. The envoy said the investors had been attracted by the “remarkable and audacious” change process that the Buhari administration implemented in safeguarding security, fighting corruption and restoring integrity and sanctity in all public sector transactions. The president had assured that his government would provide counterpart funding to fast track the completion of all Chinese infrastructure projects in the country. Buhari explained that the idea was to close the infrastructure gap, which Nigeria continues to face. He commended the

readiness of the Chinese public and private sectors to invest in Nigeria, especially in areas that directly improve the livelihood of Nigerians. He said: “We really appreciate the efforts of the Chinese government and its people in supporting Nigeria’s development by always seeking to improve our bilateral relations. “We are also happy that China is working with Nigeria as partners in progress. We will work hard to always meet the counterpart funding for all the agreements reached during my visit to China in April, as we look forward to stronger ties.” The president also noted that the relationship between Nigerian and China had, over the years, bolstered the country’s economy through technology and skills transfer in areas like rail, road and energy constructions. He said Nigeria was ready to receive prospective investors from China who had signified interest in the country. Buhari also received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of the Republic of Austria, Mr. Warner Senfter; Ambassador of the State of Israel, Mr. Guy Feldman and Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, Mr. Jens-Petter Kjemprud.

wednesday, october 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

mother, her twins and nine others lost their lives in Ibadan, Oyo State, yesterday when a truck ran over them. The incident occurred about 7:45a.m. at Oja’ba Market area of the Ibadan South-West Local Government Area. The truck driver was said to have lost control of the vehicle and crushed 12 people to death. Several others were injured and were rushed to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, while bodies of the victims were deposited at the morgue of the Adeoyo State Hospital. People watched helplessly while the driver of the truck with registration number AGL883XQ was struggling with the vehicle, crossed to the other side of the road and rammed into cabs lined beside the road, as well as the tricycles, popularly called Keke NAPEP, picking passengers. The driver was said to have gone to Beere area to offload bags of cement. It was heading towards Molete through Oja’ba when it had a brake failure. When the vehicle got to Isale Ijebu, Kobomoje area, the driver swerved to the other side of the road and rammed into a shop. The accident caused a gridlock. Motorists going from Molete to Beere area were trapped in the gridlock for many hours. Officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) had a hectic time rescuing the wounded as well as evacuating bodies of the victims. They were assisted officials of the Red Cross and policemen from Mapo Police Station. Effort

City Briefs

ABIODUN BELLO abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

Truck kills mother, her twins, nine others

One of the damaged vehicles

was still being made at 9a.m. to tow the truck and other damaged vehicles from the road. There were conflicting re-

ports on the number of the victims, as some put it at eighteen, while others said it was 12. But a witness said he was able to

count five, including the mother and her twins. But the driver of the truck was said to have escaped immediately the truck ran into the shop and stopped. However, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adekunle Ajisebutu, disclosed that four persons died in the accident. Ajisebutu also said that the driver of the truck had been arrested while the cause of the accident was being investigated. A witness, Mr. Adeyemo Kehinde, blamed the accident on mechanical fault. He said: “The driver of the truck could no longer control the vehicle because of brake failure and in his effort to stop the truck; he killed the innocent people moving along the road and those in the Micra cabs.” Another witness, who identified herself as Alhaja Aminat, said the incident occurred at 7.45a.m. She said: “As I was about to enter my shop here, I heard people shouting. I first of all ran for my life. Later, I noticed that a driver of a truck was trying to put the truck to stop but he could not do that without running into some vehicles parked along the road. About seven Micra cabs fully loaded with passengers and six tricycles with passengers were crushed as the driver was swerving along the road to find a way to stop.

“The woman and her twin children were standing beside the road waiting for Okada (commercial motorcycle) to convey them to school when the truck ran over them.” On his part, Alhaji Adeyemi Ajimati described the accident as “unfortunate and saddening”. He said: “But for the intervention of the security operatives, some irate sympathisers would set the lorry on fire. But we thank God that it happened this early period of the day when many traders had not set their wares beside the road. More people could have been crushed to death.” One of those killed in the accident, according to a relative who refused to disclose his names, was an engineer with the Ibadan Properties, Mr. Monsur Ajedayo. “His boss was going somewhere so he dropped him at Mapo. He walked down to Oja Oba to take a taxi when he was crushed by the truck,” the relative said. The Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Ibadan South-West Local Government Area, Alhaji Rauf Folarin, who visited the scene, thanked God that the road had not been as busy as it used to be when the accident occurred. “The casualties recorded would have been more than what we have seen,” he added.

One dies in police, robbers’shootout Goldberg congratulates Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

fficials of the Counter Terrorism Unit of the Enugu State Command yesterday smashed a notorious armed robbery syndicate after a gun duel between them and the hoodlums who dressed in military camouflage. It was learnt that the policemen, who were on duty on Enugu-Markurdi Road, Nsukka axis, received a distress call that armed robbers had blocked Nsukka- Markurdi Road by Inyi in Igboeze North Local Government Area. The policemen raced to the scene and engaged the robbers in a gun duel during which

one of the hoodlums was fatally injured and later died. Another suspect, identified as Godwin Okpe from Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State, was also injured but was receiving medical attention. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebere Amaraizu, said other suspects escaped with bullet wounds. Items recovered from them include their heavy logs of wood used in blocking the highway, two double-barrelled guns fabricated as AK 47 rifles, cash believed to have been robbed from their victims, a pair of boots and a torch. Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ojukwu, has applauded the efforts of his men.

He said his command would continue to provide security for members of the public as well as motorists on the road.

Okpe

new Oba of Benin

oldberg Lager Beer, a brand from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc, has felicitated with the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, as the coronation rites for the new Oba of Benin continues in the ancient city. As part of his coronation ritual, Prince Eheneden Erediauwa trekked a distance of about 10 kilometres from his palace at Uselu to Eko-Ohae. Eheneden, who would be crowned the 39th Oba of Benin, left Uselu at 3:45p.m. accompanied by a large crowd, mainly indigenes of Uselu. He climbed a 500-year-old palm tree as part of the rites. Meanwhile, Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Brew-

eries Plc, Kufre Ekanem, said Goldberg was happy to identify with the-soon-to-be coronated Oba of Benin. According to Ekanem, the Oba of Benin is one of Nigeria’s most revered monarchs, and his coronation has to be befitting of such a high-standing ruler. He said: “As a brand that is rooted in the cultural ethos of the people, Goldberg felicitates with the in-coming monarch and the entire people of Benin Kingdom for this historic occasion in the ancient city.” Ekanem said the Goldberg team would soon pay an official visit to the palace of the Oba to register their unflinching loyalty to the Kingdom.

METRO

wednesday, october 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Two killed in Lagos bloody festival T Taiwo Jimoh

wo people have been killed while many were injured after masquerade festival turned bloody on the Lagos Island. According to residents, trouble started after a white cap chief, suspecting there would be outbreak of violence, ordered the masquerader to go back. Some youths in the community were said to have revolted against the order, arguing that they had spent money on clothes and drinks. Shortly after, the youth embarked on a free-for-all, maiming and injuring. Two men were said to have died in the fracas. The fight, which started on Friday, snowballed into a major conflict the following day. Yesterday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, was on ground to assess the situation. Police vans and Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) were positioned in strategic places. A resident said: “The fight started between groups of hoodlums on Saturday after a masquerader, Adakeja, was ordered by a white cap chief to go back into the temple after an intelligence report was received about a possible outbreak of violence.” It was learnt that some youths from Onala, Evans and Otaki streets, who were fully prepared for the festival, having bought drinks and clothes, immediately went on the rampage, protesting the order. They soon started destroying vehicles parked on the road and looted shops. The protest snowballed on Sunday, as Onala youths invaded Okepopo and Odunfa streets, where they continued

CP addressing the residents

with looting. Two persons allegedly died during the clash between the youth from Onala and Okepopo. “It was the authority concerned that halted the festival. Even my father’s house was not spared as the youth went on the rampage. I had to run away from home, to sleep in a friend’s house,” a witness said. Owoseni urged parents to tell their children and wards to shield their swords and embrace peace. The police commissioner appealed to the Community Development Association (CDA) to identify those causing trouble in the community. He also advised the community to write

the names and number of policemen taking side in any crisis, so that appropriate action could be taken against them. “I’m ready to put an end to the incessant crisis rocking the Island if only you, the residents, are ready to work with the police. Whenever we make arrest, you don’t come out to testify against such suspects. That alone is a drawback for us in trying to prosecute the person,” Owoseni said. Alhaji Wasiu Onibudo, a resident, said: “We cannot sleep with our eyes closed since the clash started on Saturday. We appreciate the presence of the commissioner of police, who came to have firsthand assessment of the situation.”

New Telegraph report: Police storm court, arrest 48

Owoseni

Camillus Nnaji

olicemen yesterday invaded the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos and arrested 48 people. Witnesses said there was apprehension when the policemen stormed the court in a commando style in four Hilux vans and arrested 48 persons who allegedly had no valid identifications. The policemen, who entered through the court’s back gate, swooped on people alleged to be loitering on the premises. It was also said that the move was a response to a petition from the Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, over the menace of illegal agents, touts and miscreants in the courts. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest. She said: “There was a complaint from the Chief Judge of the State, Justice O. Atilade. She said that some groups of people invaded the court

premises and started disturbing court proceedings. The command’s operatives, from Ikeja Police Station, were mobilised to the place. We arrested 48 people. At least 19 were able to prove their identities as court’s workers, while 29 could not. They were taken away by the Police Task Force from Alausa for prosecution.” The New Telegraph had earlier exclusively published a story on how touts and illegal agents became ‘lords of the court’, through illegal activities, with some of them involved in falsification of documents and fraud. It was learnt that touts, using the court premises as avenue for operation, engage in printing of illegal and falsified affidavits. They also charged surety and bail fee from unsuspecting Nigerians, whom they end up defrauding. Some of those arrested are typists and photocopy machine operators. A man who works with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), who identified himself simply as Mr. Ademola, said even some of their staff who were not in possession of their identity cards were arrested. He said: “We’re aware that the court premises had been infiltrated by touts and illegal agents. They end up defrauding the innocent public and produce false documents. We heard that the Chief Judge petitioned the Commissioner of Police on the menace of illegal agents, touts and miscreants in the courts. This morning, police arrived and arrested about 50 persons who could not identify themselves.” When contacted, the Head, Public Affairs of the court, Mrs. Grace Alor,

confirmed the arrest. Alor added that it was the New Telegraph newspaper which started the whole drama by reporting a story on the illegal activities on the court premises. She said: “It was your paper, the New Telegraph, which started it. The paper reported how touts had become lords in Lagos courts. I had to show my Chief Registrar that report. The action of the police is in line with that report.”

Man beats 10-year-old son to death Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

37-year-old man, Rasak Adekoya, has been arrested at Ijebu-Igbo in Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State for allegedly beating his son to death. Adekoya was said to have cultivated the habit of subjecting his 10-year-old son, Warees, to torture and excessive beating. It was learnt that the suspect committed the crime on Tuesday, last week, leading the police to arrest him. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed this in a statement, said members of the community reported the suspect to the police. Oyeyemi explained that preliminary investigation revealed several marks of torture on the body of the deceased boy. He said: “The suspect was arrested by policemen attached to Ago-Iwoye Division following a tip off from members of the community who accused the man of subjecting the deceased boy to excessive beating over an allegation of stealing. “Preliminary investigation revealed several marks on the body of the deceased boy as a result of a series of torture from the suspect.” The PPRO added that the body had been deposited at St. Joseph Catholic Hospital Mortuary, Oke-Agbo, IjebuIgbo for autopsy. Oyeyemi said the Police Commissioner, Ahmed Iliyasu, had ordered that the suspect be transferred to Homicide Section of Criminal Investigation and Intelligent Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta for further investigation. He said: “As soon as investigation is concluded, the suspect will be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.”

Adekoya

10 kidnappers arrested after gun duel Muhammad Kabir Kano

olice in Kano State have arrested 10 suspected kidnappers after a shootout, which lasted many hours, between the Anti-Kidnapping Squad and gunmen. The police also recovered weapons and ammunition from the suspects. The gun battle, according to the state Police Commissioner, Rabiu Yusuf, came at the instance of an intelligence report that kidnappers and other bandits were unleashing terror on the public in the southern part of the state. He said: “We, at the instance of an intelligent report that criminals, who specialised in kidnapping and other bandits, were constituting terror in the southern part, rejuvenated the Anti-Kidnapping Squad and ambushed them. “We, on October 11, about 0330 hours, launched a major offensive into the one of the biggest and notorious

criminal camps located inside Falgore Forest where a fierce gun battle lasted for over one hour at the first and second gates of the camp before we finally penetrated deep inside.” Yusuf said the police Anti-Kidnapping Squad overpowered the criminals and 10 were arrested with their weapons. One of those arrested, Bello Shani, the police boss said, was the ring leader. Yusuf said some kidnappers escaped with gun bullet wounds while Bello Sale and Muhammad Sani all of Rafin Kura village in Doguwa Local Government Area, who were kidnapped, were rescued. “Ten other victims that were taken hostage in the forest including a woman of 67 years and her son were rescued,” he added. The police boss disclosed that his men recovered one AK47 rifle, two fully-loaded magazines, 250 rounds of live 7.62mm ammunition, eight motorcycles and other items.

NEWS | national

Forex: No plan to hike bouquets prices –DStv Taiwo Hassan

espite the scarcity of dollar in circulation and dwindling Naira value, Multichoice Nigeria Limited, owners of DStv, has reaffirmed that it has no plan to hike prices of its bouquets. Instead, it said it would introduce about new 20 more additional channels to its DStv premium, compact plus, compact,

family and access bouquets starting from November 1. Managing Director of MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe, who disclosed this during the media briefing while unveiling the debut of new additional channels in Lagos, yesterday, admitted that the foreign exchange crisis bedevilling the Nigeria’s economic terrain was worrisome and challenging in all ramifications for private sector.

wednesday, october 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Senate wants Buhari to issue proclamation for 2018 census Chukwu David Abuja

n line with the requirement of the United Nations (UN), the Senate, yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to issue a proclamation for the conduct of a

Nigeria will blossom again, Muoka assures Tai Anyanwu

he General Overseer of Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Church, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, has enjoined Nigerians to be of good cheer saying, despite harsh political, economic atmosphere, depression and insecurity ravaging the nation, Nigeria will once again blossom. The cleric gave the counsel while announcing the Lord’s Chosen Church interdenominational crusade slated for Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd of October, at the National

Stadium, Abuja, (FCT). Muoka said that the crusade was designed to produce a spiritual rebirth and positive attitudinal change that will bring about restoration, salvation and Holy Ghost baptism, all of which will press a total man into the blessing of God. His words: “It is a common knowledge that our country is going through harsh political and economic times which have given rise to despondency in the mind of the citizenry. But amidst the insecurity and depression that have

pervaded the mind of the citizenry, God inspired this program to draw our attention to the fact that our success does not lie on our ability but on the measure of grace given to everyone, for He alone can offer enduring blessing vis-à-vis our supplication.” Pastor Muoka observed that “human problem exists because we do not recognize the fact that only God can bring blessing that add no sorrow and He alone has the ability to turn-around our situation no matter how bad it may seem to be.”

population and housing census in 2018. The Senate also confirmed the nominations of Justices Ejembi Eko and Amina A. Augie for elevation into the Supreme Court Bench. The confirmation was carried out by the Upper Chamber when it considered and approved a report by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, on the screening of the two Justices for appointment to the apex court. The Upper Chamber also implored the President to ensure that adequate funds were made available for the smooth and successful conduct of the exercise. One of the United Nations treaties provides that member nations should conduct censuses every ten years. The last census was conducted in Nigeria in 2006, during the administration of former President Olusegun

L-R: Senator Philip Ozouf; former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi and Chairman, Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, Lord Marland of Odstock, after Obi's induction/ meeting as a member of the Council's Advisory Board at Marlborough House, London… yesterday.

My account wasn't used to launder FG appoints directors for FAAN pointed directors are Mrs. Wole Shadare money - Fani-Kayode's wife Nike Aboderin, who was apOnyekachi Eze Abuja

he wife of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation, Precious Chikwendu, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), of peddling lies against her, ostensibly to get at her husband. Specifically, Chikwendu said that contrary to the claim by the EFCC that her Access Bank account had a balance of N2.4 million, she had only N295, 000 in the said account, as at the time it was placed on "post no debit" category. It would be recalled that Chikwendu and her 8-month old son, were held at the premises of Access

Bank in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, by operatives of the EFCC. Their rescue was facilitated by the intervention of the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose. Consequent upon the development, the antigraft agency had issued a late night statement, wherein it denied ever arresting or detaining mother and child. Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as reprehensible, the arrest and detention of Chikwendu.

$5.84m

The capital importation of the Electrical sector of Nigeria in Q3 2014. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

he Federal Government has appointed two new Directors for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to fill vacant positions in the aftermath of the sack and demotion of directors, Acting General Managers, Deputy General Managers and General Managers of the aviation agencies. The Federal Government had last week begun the restructuring exercise in FAAN with the demotion of some directors and 10 General Managers of the agency even as the Ministry of Transportation insisted that the new positions were the officials’ appropriate grade levels. Acting General Manager, FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, said the newly ap-

pointed Director of Finance and Accounts (DFA), and Mr. Sadiku Abdulkadir Rafindadi, appointed as Director of Commercial and Business Development (DCBD). Aboderin is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (FCIB). She holds an M.Sc degree in Banking and Finance of the University of Lagos. Her over 23 years’ experience in the financial services industry exposed her to both public and private exploits at different institutions including multinationals. She is an Advanced Management Programme (AMP) graduate of Lagos Business School, who also holds a post graduate certificate in Global Strategic Management (GSM) of the Harvard Business School, Boston, USA.

Obasanjo. The Senate made the call, following a motion brought to the floor of the Chamber by Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi (APC, Kaduna North) and cosponsored by four others. Leading debate on the motion, entitled, "A call for the Federal Government to expedite action on the planned 2018 National Census", Hunkuyi, observed that the delay in the issuance of a proclamation by President Buhari and the poor release of funds to the National Population Commission (NPC), would negatively affect the exercise. He stated that, in ac-

cordance with the best international practices, a well planned and executed population census should take a minimum of two years. "It is only pertinent that subsequent population census should be carried out within an adequate timing and an objective of conducting an acceptable exercise," he added. He also noted funds budgeted by the National Assembly in 2013, 2014 and 2015 for the preparation process towards the 2016 population census were inadequate. He said this was part of the reasons for the failure of the exercise in 2016.

How NIMASA’s N8.5bn fund was transferred to JTF account –Witness Akeem Nafiu

he trial of a former Commander of the Military Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe and three others over an alleged N8.5 billion fraud commenced yesterday before Justice Saliu Saidu of a Federal High Court in Lagos. A prosecution witness, Teslim Ajuwon, revealed how the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) transferred the sum of N8.5 billion, into the account of the Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield. The former JTF Commander was charged to court alongside the immediate past DirectorGeneral of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, Kime Engozu and Josephine Otuaga by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an 11-count of alleged N8.5billion fraud. While being led in evidence by the EFCC's lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness revealed that NIMASA made an in-flow of cash to the tune of N8.5 billion into the account of the Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield. According to the witness, between September 5 and September 16, 2014, a total of N1.8 billion was moved from the said account, into the accounts of Jaggan Ltd, Paper House Service Ltd, East point services Ltd and Al-nald Ltd. He said, "On September 3, 2014, there was a Nigeria Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT) of the sum of N2.4 billion to

the account of Joint Tax force, Operation Pulo Shield, and this was from NIMASA. "On Oct. 30, 2014, there was another transfer of the sum of N2.4 billion by NIMASA, into the same account of the Joint Task Force and on April, 30, 2015, there was also a transfer of N1 billion from NIMASA into the same account. "Again, on May 11, 2015, there was a transfer by NIMASA, of the sum of N1.7 billion into the same account of the Joint Task Force, while on the following day, May 12, 2015, there was another transfer of N1 billion by NIMASA into the same account". According to the witness, these amounts represented the in-flow of cash into the account of the JTF, between September 3, 2014 and May 12, 2015, by NIMASA. Speaking further, he said: "On September 5, there were several transactions involving monies going out of the account of the joint task force. "First, there was a withdrawal of the sum of N100 million which was transferred to one Jaggan Ltd with Diamond bank; a second transfer of N100 million was made again to Jaggan Ltd while N100 million was transferred to Paper House Ltd. "The sum of N100 million was also transferred to Paper house Ltd, another N200 million transferred to East point services Ltd, N100 million transferred to Al-nald Ltd while the sum of N50 million was again transferred to Jaggan Ltd."

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ondo Uncertainty over multiple flag bearers

Politics The recent application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, seeking a transfer of the case it instituted against former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, from Abuja to Lagos, has drawn the ire of lawyers, Onwuka Nzeshi and Tunde Oyesina report

Interview Buhari shouldn’t take Nigeria back to military era – Fasehun

12 14

Akuma, Ozekhome, Ahamba, others chide EFCC over Kalu's trial

...kick against plans to transfer case to Lagos

ontroversy has trailed the plot by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to move the trial of a former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu from the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to the Lagos Division of the court. Kalu had on Monday raised the alarm over plans by the commission to transfer his case, which Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Abuja Division of the court had adjourned for trial to Lagos. Kalu, through his counsel, Amobi Nzelu in a letter to the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, alleged that the commission appears bent on convicting him at all costs. Legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Solomon Akuma, who spoke on the issue, described the move by the EFCC as strange and suspicious. Akuma who made this assertion yesterday in an interview with New Telegraph, said that by its action, the EFCC had shown that it was desperate to obtain a pre-determined judgement on the matter and was engaging in "forum shopping" where its clandestine plot could be achieved with relative ease. Akuma, who is counsel to Slok Nigeria Limited, one of the defendants in the case, said that while the anti-corruption fight must be supported by every well meaning Nigerian, the fight must be done within the ambits of the rule of law. The EFCC had in 2007, insti-

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@newtelegraphonline.com

Kalu

tuted a case of alleged corruption against Kalu, but chose to prosecute the case at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. Although the defendants in the case initially argued that the matter ought to had been instituted in Abia State, where the alleged crime was said to have been committed, the court ruled against the preliminary objections of the defendants until the matter was settled at the Supreme Court. However, the EFCC recently applied to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court seeking a transfer of the case to Lagos. Akuma, accused the anti-corruption agency of failing to take into consideration the ruling of the Supreme Court on the issue of jurisdiction on the matter. He said that the EFCC appears to be riding on the crest of the recent clamp down on the judiciary by security agencies, to surreptitiously move the case to another location where a "kangaroo judge" must have been stationed to do its bidding. According to him, the application to move the case to Lagos did not follow the due process of law as there was no motion on notice at the last sitting on the case and counsels to the defendants were not brought into the picture. His words: "This is very strange. It has never happened in the annals of administration of criminal justice in this country.

Ibrahim Magu, EFCC boss

The application to move the case to Lagos did not follow the due process of law

What they are trying to do is what we call forum shopping; trying to find a venue where they can emasculate the judge who is handling a matter. In this particular case, the last time we were in court was on September 27 and plea was taken that day. EFCC was represented by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) and all the other counsels to the defendants were present in court and after the plea and granting of bail, the case was adjourned to 6, 7 and 8 of December for accelerated hearing of the matter. "So, when we heard that EFCC has done a letter to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, we felt that something wrong was being done. The counsels to the defendants were not copied with this letter. They did not bring any motion on notice to transfer this case to any other division of the Federal High Court. So, that shows that they want to do what the Yoruba people call "jankara" practice, which is purely an illegal way of doing things. "If they have any reason for transfer, why wouldn't they wait until we come to court on December 6, where all the parties will be present and now they will make the application and we will respond to it? If at all there should be any order of transfer, it should be a transfer back to Umuahia, but we are not calling for transfer. We must do this case here in

Abuja, because this is where the Supreme Court said we should do it," Akuma said. He urged the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court not to be swayed by the antics of the EFCC, warning that any attempt to transfer the matter to Lagos could portray the judiciary as an accomplice in a game of deceit and injustice. Also reacting to the issue, another Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, described EFCC's move as forum shopping and abuse of court process. He argued that the anti-graft agency cannot alone move a case from one judicial division to another except with reason and agreement between the parties. According to him, “prosecution cannot solely decide to move a case to another judicial division without the consent of the court. For the move to be in line with the constitution, there must be an application to that effect and it will be argued before the court decides. In the application, the prosecution must give reason for seeking to move the case to other judicial division because the issue of jurisdiction is not a sole right of the prosecution. The right of the defendant must not be violated in the name of trial. CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

POLITICS PLATFORM

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ondo: Uncertainty

Akuma

Ozekhome

Less than six weeks to the Ondo State governorship election, the cloud of crisis around some of the major political parties and their candidates appears thick. WALE ELEGBEDE reports on the development

A Ahamba

Adegboruwa

Kalu: Lawyers chide EFCC over plans to transfer trial to Lagos

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

“The idea of moving a case from one judicial division to another without the consent of the parties is called forum shopping and it is not prosecution again but persecution. It is an act of selecting a judge, dictating how the trial should go without considering the effect on the defendant.” He, however, noted that the only instance in which the prosecution can unilaterally move a case from one judicial division to another is when a trial judge voluntarily withdraws himself or herself from the case. He further noted that in the absence of such a situation, it will mean that the prosecution has an ulterior motive to move a case from one jurisdiction to another. Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ahamba, who spoke on the issue, kicked against the move. He submitted that the issue of forum shopping in criminal trial is a condemnable practice in the legal profession, adding that parties should not be allowed to choose a court or judge to hear their cases Another lawyer and rights activist, Kayode Ajulo, also aligned with Ozekhome and Ahamba to the effect that the EFCC lacks power to single handedly decide where it wants a case to be heard. He said: “The EFCC cannot do that alone without the consent of the defendant. Justice is a tripartite way and not for the prosecution alone. Justice should be for the prosecution, the defendant and the public that is watching how things unfold. “The responsibility of the anti-graft agency is to prosecute and not to persecute; going this extent shows that the commission is all out for persecution and not prosecution as expected. I think the commission can retrace its decision and allow the matter to be concluded where it started. Better still, if the commission has a good reason for the transfer, the ideal thing is to put the defendant on notice and leave it for the court to decide,” he stated.

In his own reaction, a Lagos based lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa, added a new dimension as he submitted that the place where the alleged offence was committed is very essential in determining the jurisdiction where the matter would be heard. According to him, “if the charge reads Abuja Division, the trial must be conducted in Abuja. But, if it is not, the law of jurisdiction has to be strictly followed. It is even a settled law, considering the verdict of Supreme Court in FRN vs James Ibori. The court ruled that the former Delta State governor could not be tried in Kaduna Division for an offence committed in Delta. It stated that the alleged offence was committed in Asaba, Delta State, therefore, the trial must be conducted in Asaba, based on jurisdiction. Besides, if all witnesses in the case are in a particular jurisdiction, it will be out of place to take the trial out of that jurisdiction.” Another Abuja based lawyer, John Ihedi, described the move by the antigraft agency as unconstitutional and strange to the nation’s jurisprudence. “There is nothing we will not see under this government. It is not in our law that an accused would be presumed guilty before a court of law pronounces so. What the law provides is that an accused is presumed innocent until a court of law pronounces otherwise. The EFCC by its action is acting a script which should be stopped before the judiciary becomes a total subject of ridicule. “The law is that you don’t spring surprise on the other party. The EFCC cannot come behind the defendant to seek the transfer of his trial to another jurisdiction. Such will amount to ‘shaving his head in his absence.’ The law is that the defendant must be put on notice, argument taken in court and the court will decide depending on the strength of argument of both parties. But to unilaterally decide where a matter would be heard by the prosecution is abnormal and strange to our jurisprudence. It is an abuse of court process,” he said.

fter the relative successful completion of the Edo State governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), attention has shifted to Ondo State where the commission seeks to replicate what it did at the Heartbeat State. Although the commission is conducting election into the Office of the Governor in Ondo State like it just did in Edo State, however, the parameters, interests and environment are not the same. Ondo, one of the six states in the South-West geo-political zone, has an estimated population of 3.4 million residents and 18 local governments. With five elected governors in its history since it was created in 1976, the incumbent governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, came in through a judicial pronouncement in 2009, two years after the election he contested and won election against his former boss, late Governor Olusegun Agagu. He contested the election on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) and got re-elected on the same platform in 2012 before he defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the wake of the 2015 general elections. Fast forward to 2016, the odds and stakes are on both hands for political parties and their candidates to either grab or get knocked. Perhaps, that informed the opinion of some political watchers when they opined that the outcome may go any way, arguing that party affiliations may make little or no difference in the race. Interestingly, while politicians are sweating and engaging in nocturnal meetings to outdo themselves for the November 26 election, the electorate appear confused on who will fly the flags of the respective parties at the election due to in-fighting and internal crisis within the parties. While some parties are having sleepless nights on how to unite after their primaries that left indelible mark of crisis, others are still either in the court rooms or boardroom to settle scores. Peoples Democratic Party The ruling party in Ondo State is going through the same path it went before

Jegede

the just concluded Edo State election. The factionalisation of the party along the Senators Ali Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi’s camps at the national level has trickled down to the various state chapters of the party. In the case of Ondo State, while Sheriff ’s faction produced businessman Jimoh Ibrahim as candidate from its primaries, the Makarfi faction has Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) as its candidate for the November 26 poll. All appeared to be going well for Jegede, who was the immediate past Attorney General for the state following INEC’s acceptance of his nomination as PDP’s candidate until last Friday, when a Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Okon Abang ordered INEC to recognise Ibrahim of the Sheriff ’s faction as PDP’s candidate. This, not only ruffled feathers within the PDP but also got many electorate confounded. Abang had in his ruling on an application filed by a faction of the Ondo State Executive Committee of PDP led by Ademola Genty and Biyi Poroye, ordered for the enforcement of his earlier ruling delivered on June 29 that INEC should only accept names of candidates sent by the Sheriff ’s faction. Expectedly, Jegede’s camp, whose arrowhead is Governor Mimiko, kicked against the development. It was gathered that the ruling made them to go back to the drawing table in order to see what they can salvage either by appealing the judgement, move to a new political party or seek a fresh and quick political solution. A statement by the publicity secretary of the PDP, Banji Okunomo, however urged party supporters to disre-

CROSSFIRE The leadership of the APC is working with some top officials of INEC to prevent the (Rivers rerun) election from taking place this month, because they know PDP is on ground in the state -Felix Obuah

The PDP under the leadership of Governor Nyesom Wike is using violence as a political tool, rather than allowing voters to decide the party to vote for -Davies Ikanya

POLITICS PLATFORM

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

over multiple flag bearers without a shepherd, the party’s supporters appear confused on what may become of the party in the coming days or weeks. The questions are: Will Mimiko and his anointed, Jegede, seek for another platform to actualize their ambition? Will LP, which the governor and his loyalists dumped for the PDP, come to their rescue? Will they give a try to political solutions or appeal the ruling? How long can the fortune of time smile on the party before the election catches up with them? Time will unravel all but it is clear that all is not well within the party.

Akeredolu

Oke

Ibrahim

gard the ruling saying the party will not produce a governorship candidate through the back door. “The Supreme Court has made it clear that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) of a party can nominate the governorship candidate of the party. “This was done in the nomination of Eyitayo Jegede (SAN). As such, no High Court can invalidate or alter this position which is clearly defined by the highest ruling court in Nigeria. “Such judgement or ruling, if it ever existed, is appealable with expedition and for want of legal justification shall never stand. More so, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, who took the case to court, is not a registered member of the PDP,” the statement said. Corroborating its state chapter, the PDP national caretaker committee through its spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said Abang’s ruling had no effect on Jegede’s candidacy. Adeyeye stated: “The ruling of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja does not in any way affect the matter of the PDP candidacy in the forthcoming Ondo State governorship election. The issue of Ondo

The Supreme Court has made it clear that only the NEC of a party can nominate the governorship candidate

governorship was not the matter before Justice Abang in the suit. The matter before his lordship was in relation to the 2019 general elections. “For the avoidance of doubt, Hon. Eyitayo Jegede remains the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party in the November 26, 2016 Ondo State governorship election. We, therefore, call on all our members, teeming supporters and the electorate in Ondo State not to allow this ruling to distract them; but should continue with the guber campaigns to ensure the victory of our flag bearer, Hon. Eyitayo Jegede, in the election.” Meanwhile, the PDP in the state said it has petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) over the ruling by Justice Abang, alleging that there is deliberate unholy alliance to subvert the will of the people of the state. The state chairman of the party, Mr. Clement Faboyede, said: “We have submitted petitions against Justice Abang and we are awaiting the outcome of the investigations.” For the PDP, its present ordeal is a familiar terrain, but the outcome is unpredictable. But like sheep

Alliance for Democracy The Alliance for Democracy (AD) is not among the two major parties in the country’s political system despite its influence in the South-West between 1999 and 2003. However, the platform usually appeals to politicians who lose out in primaries of other parties as they use it as a fall back to realise their ambitions. Upon losing out in the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries, a former Commissioner in the state, Chief Olusola Oke, moved to the AD in order to be able to participate in the election. Although the AD initially had a candidate in Dr. Akin Olowokere, it was gathered that he handed over the gubernatorial ticket voluntarily to Oke. However, the ‘easy cross-over’ of Oke met a brick wall last week after the party’s National Executive Council (NEC), rising from its meeting in Akure, said the party’s NEC, National Working Committee and Board of Trustees were not carried along in arriving at the choice of Oke. A communiqué signed by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Mr. Ibrahim Abdollah, said the party’s NEC was not aware of Oke’s candidature. The meeting was presided over by the party’s Deputy National Chairman, Malam Musa Loyi, and attended by all the state chairmen and some national officers. The communiqué read in part: “Chief Olusola Oke is hereby not adopted as the flag bearer of AD CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

POLITRICKS Some animals are more equal than others

“

All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” is a notable quote in Animal Farm, written by George Orwell. This quote is a reflection of the hypocrisy displayed by a prominent politician, while hosting two different groups of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members at her residence. The politician, a former public office holder in Lagos State proved during the meetings that though the party members are equal, their worth differs as she accorded different privileges to

the two groups. During a meeting with the first group, she served her visitors sachet of water and biscuits after deliberations that lasted for several hours. But few minutes later, the politician, who was expecting another set of PDP members for a meeting ordered one of her aides to go and buy meat pies that she will serve to her expected visitors. The treatment shows clearly that though all animals are equal, some animals are more equal than others.

Hard times for politicians

he economic recession in Nigeria is really getting tougher by the day. Apart from the less privileged, who are complaining over high price of food stuffs and products in the market, the rich, especially politicians and those in the corridors of power are also complaining about ‘blockage of resources’ from unusual quarters they have access to in the past. Against this backdrop, Politricks gathered from multiple sources that some public office

holders and politicians in their quest to stay afloat in the midst of the economic recession have started cutting cost and doing away with expensive lifestyles as a result of the economic reality. Some do not honour public events any more. Unlike before when politicians throw money at supporters and praise singers at public events, they hardly spend at the moment. The gimmick employed by this set of politicians is to tell people to text their account numbers, which on many occasions do not yield the expected result.

POLITICAL NOTES

LGs autonomy: Still long walk to freedom

he local administration is the closest tier of government to the people in Nigeria, yet the resident population in the 774 councils across the country is denied the benefits of their existence, especially in the area of service delivery, which in turn, has made the citizens to lose trust in the institution. This dereliction of duty explains the crave by many Nigerians for change in the local government system as presently constituted in order to bring it in conformity with present day realities and make it live up to the expectations of the people who have continued to yearn for grassroots development. The change, stakeholders, however agreed will require a constitutional amendment, as the joint account run by the various states and councils is to be blamed for the latter’s inability to meet the two primary objectives spelled out in the Local Governments’ Reform of 1976, which are: to promote participatory democracy, and ensure rapid socio-economic development at the local level. Section 7(1) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution 9as amended) guarantees a system of local government by democratically elected government councils. However, the second component of the section makes the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of the local governments dependent on state laws. Besides the guarantee, the constitution however, inadvertently makes it possible for state governments to “cripple” the local governments financially by routing funds standing to their credit in the Federation Account through the States/Local Governments’ Joint Accounts rather than directly to them. Whereas the Federal Government argued then that the operation of the joint account was meant to bring even development to all parts of the country as well as to forestall a situation where no single government official at the state or local level corruptly enriches himself from the commonwealth, the arrangement has over time, adversely affected the financial viability of the councils as some state governments have continued to make inexplicable deductions from the accounts. Section 162 (8) of the Constitution which explains how the amount standing in the joint account should be distributed to the local governments in each state, but rather than ensure fiscal responsibility, the law has provided a window for state governments which are constitutionally required to fund local government councils, to instead hold them (the local governments’) hostage and make them their appendages. In practice, the operation of the joint account has denied the local governments’ their financial autonomy.

FELIX NWANERI

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari shouldn’t take Nigeria back to military era – Fasehun Dr. Frederick Fasehun is the founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and National Chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). He speaks, in this interview, on the recent arrest of some judges by the Department of States Services (DSS) and the economic recession in the country, among other issues. WALE ELEGBEDE reports President Buhari recently constituted a 24-man committee on Constitution and Electoral Reforms headed by former Senate President Ken Nnamani. Do you think that is what we need to address the defects in our constitution? That is what we need now because these national conferences are not achieving the objectives of setting them up. We went to some national conferences and the reports of the conferences are gathering dust on the shelves and nobody is paying any attention to the reports. Unfortunately, the country is getting more and more divided and peace is eluding us. That means the national conferences and the constitutional conferences we agitated for have not achieved their objectives because their sole objective is to unify the nation but the big question to ask is: Is the country united? Are you worried about the state of the economy like some other Nigerians? I’m worried as well but I have said it before that President Muhammadu Buhari constituted a ‘mosquito economic team’ by leaving out people like Profs Charles Soludo and Pat Utomi, Okonjo-Iweala and some other renowned economists. Why would you ignore these eminent Nigerians who are available and instead go for a ‘mosquito economic team’ at this critical time of our nation? Revamping the economy should be non-partisan and everyone, who can do it should be invited to come o n

board. Are you saying that Buhari should rejig his economic team? Buhari’s current cabinet makeup is an insult to Nigerian economic wizards at home and in the Diaspora. This weakness became apparent with the mishandling of the 2016 budget. There is an urgent need for complete overhauling of the government’s economic team. This is no time to play politics with the national economy, which is the very lifeblood of our corporate existence. Buhari needs a super-team of economists to guide him through the present storm of economic problems. We must not wait until things break down like it happened i n

Greece. All these give cause for concern.

This is no time to play politics with the national economy, which is the very lifeblood of our corporate existence

Do you support rolling the tanks out against the militants bombing oil facilities in the Niger Delta? How can we do that? The militants are Nigerian citizens and the government cannot set the military after its own citizens, it is not done. Let us use persuasion, dialogue and civil engagement to settle crisis especially internal ones. I don’t think Niger Delta militants should be bombarded. What is your take on the raid on the homes of some judges’ by the Department of State Services (DSS)? How does the DSS explain that in order to arrest a Judge, it resorted to breaking down doors and windows? And this is happening in a democracy that is supposed to be the model for Africa and the Third World. I condemn this Gestapo-style invasion of the private homes of Nigerian judges. The invasion is invidious, infantile, illegal and unconstitutional; it smirks of a scripted and premeditated operation aimed specifically at intimidating the judiciary and giving judicial officers a bad name in order to devalue their reputation. Moreover, the invasion represents an unjust clampdown on the Judiciary, a clear violation of the rule of law, due process and commonsense, and it should never happen again. Since the Director-General of the DSS, Mr. Lawal Daura, was appointed in July last year, the DSS has gradually turned itself into a terror organisation. It is a relapse to the ignoble days of the National Security Organisation (NSO) under General Buhari. This unprecedented assault on the homes and families of the judicial officers should be the last straw. The DSS has failed in its statutory duty, which is to secure the country against security threats. And at a time when the insurgencies, shootings, bombings and kidnappings ravaging Nigeria are being blamed on the failure of intelligence, it is unbelievable that the DSS has the luxury of ease to break into peoples’ homes and peddle falsehood and propaganda

Fasehun

against its victims. Are you saying that it was an assault on the judiciary? In a democracy, the judiciary is the most stable arm of government for obvious reasons. While the two other arms of the government, the legislature and executive, have a ceiling on their tenure, the judiciary is careerdriven and enjoys tenure longevity. Those serving in the Judiciary are apolitical and the judiciary is the last hope of the common man. This is why it is disheartening, heartrending and troubling that the Judiciary has been placed under this brazen assault and it forebodes danger for the nation’s democracy. Today, it is rather unfortunate that President Buhari represents the worst threat on our nation’s democracy. How do you mean? These current events have vindicated my stand when I expressed skepticism on the Buhari presidential candidacy in 2015. When, in the build-up to the elections, his spin-doctors told the world that General Buhari was a born-again democrat, we warned Nigerians that this leopard cannot change his spots. Buhari has the trappings of an unrepentant bigot and dictator. First, he moved against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); after that he moved against the legislature, now it is the judiciary that has been placed under siege and attack. And today, Buhari has turned his attack dogs loose on the judiciary. From time immemorial, General Buhari appears to nurse an intrinsic hatred and distrust for the judiciary. Nigerians must recall that back in his first coming as military Head of State in 1983, General Buhari suspended the courts and established tribunals headed by military officers to try cases involving politicians. This despotic creation led to the bastardisation of the process and dispensation of justice by these judiciallyunlearned officers, and led to the handing down of tragically laughable verdicts. Lawyers boycotted the tribunals and refused to defend those arraigned under that draconian atmosphere. We urge the President not to take the country back to the madness of his first coming. Nigerians must be wary. Our country is today fast becoming the same banana republic that the Buhari/Idiagbon regime turned Nigeria into in the 1980s, with such draconian legislations as Decree No. 2 of 1984 (State Security (Detention of Persons) Decree of 1984) and Decree No. 4 of 1984 (Public Officers Protection Against False Accusation Decree).

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Are you saying that the President should not fight corruption? In as much as we recognise the harm that corruption has inflicted on our development, and we subscribe to the current war against corruption, however, in battling corruption, relevant institutions and agencies must follow due process and the rule of law. The invasion of the homes of the Judges is a gross and blatant violation of the rule of law, the Nigerian Constitution and commonsense. It is a resort to self-help that all civilized societies frown out. The DSS attack on the victims in the name of an anti-corruption war appears like a deliberate strategy to cow and make the Judiciary and judicial officers run under their beds. In this evil atmosphere, which judge will dare to rule against the government? The executive is intimidating the judiciary. Meanwhile, much of the time, shoddy half-baked investigation and prosecution carried out by government security agents and counsels are majorly to blame for judges’ having insufficient evidence to base convictions on. Invasion of Judges’ homes is the mother of all corruption. Buhari is using corruption to fight corruption. Recently, the government flew a kite to ask the legislature to grant the President emergency powers. God forbid, that will be total dictatorship of the Idi Amin type. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Don’t you think there is the need for a change of the old order as corruption is said to have eaten deep in the judiciary? Was this the change Nigerians voted for; to shut all opposition, including the judiciary that is the hope of the common man? If the judiciary can be attacked and silenced the same way as elite and legislators, what will be the fate of the commoner in Nigeria? It is unthinkable that some voices are supporting this brash display of impunity. It makes us lament the passing of Gani Fawehinimi, Alao-Aka Bashorun and Tunji Braithwaite. In the wisdom of our nation’s constitution makers, the constitution does not make the executive the watchdog of the judiciary. That responsibility, in Section 21 belongs to the National Judicial Council, mandated to make recommendations to the President and respective governors for the appointment, discipline and dismissal of Judges. The President must immediately call to order the Director General of the DSS. We also demand that the National Assembly, as part of its oversight functions, should summon the DSS DG for questioning and sanctioning. Under President Buhari, the DSS, police and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must regain and maintain their statutory responsibilities of intelligence gathering and security maintenance instead of turning into instruments for silencing the opposition. Do you support creation of grazing reserves for herdsmen? Categorically, OPC disagrees with the creation of grazing reserves in the South-West. Any suggestion of special grazing

Uncertainty over Ondo flag bearers

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

Fasehun

the revelations of alleged misappropriation of funds by the immediate past administration? Tell me any past government in this country that has not had its accusation of corruption? They have all been corrupt. If there was corruption since 1966 till now, it means that Nigerians have not learnt their lessons.

reserves being created for Fulani herdsmen will amount to promoting inequity and ethnic chauvinism. We say no to this evil suggestion. By the way, is creating grazing lands in every state a synonym for annexation of our fatherland? Ranches should be created in areas that occupationally and traditionally breed cattle with owners going to purchase grass and feeds for their animals in other zones. Don’t disturb the hornet’s nest. What way can the present administration positively affect the lives of Nigerians? You must listen to the voice of the opposition because they are like spectators in a football match. It is only those on the sidelines, the spectators, who see the mistakes of the players and even the referee. Listen to those who are close to your government. Do they have anything constructive to say about your government? The more any government constructively listens to the opposition, the more buoyant that government will be. Look at Utomi, who was around their party before they were sworn-in, why could anyone exclude such a veritable economists from the cabinet? Look at the globally recognised Okonjo-Iweala, why didn’t they absorb her? But Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala was part of the immediate past administration. Don’t you think if the economic team she coordinated had done things right, we would be where we are today? In a democracy, you don’t assess a government that way. I believe they performed within their abilities. Mind you, it is not easy to please the people. Have you asked yourself why Nigerians listened to the change mantra? It is natural for human beings to seek for change. Now, we have the change and we are not enjoying it. The recurring cry of hunger in the land is so alarming. What was your initial reaction to

What lessons should Nigerians have learnt? Let us put in leaders, who are clean and honest. We are a people of over 150 million people and there must be good people. Why are we leaving out these good people? Gani Fawehinmi didn’t hold any public office till he died. I’m the national chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and I know what they are doing to me. Is it that I’m corrupt? No! Corruption is far away from me. I always look to fish out decent people to contest for elections.

DSS attack on the victims in the name of an anti-corruption war appears like a deliberate strategy to cow and make the Judiciary

What is your advice to the President on how he can tackle the economic recession? I will ask him to sack his present cabinet and constitute another one immediately because this present cabinet is very incompetent. He should bring relevant people with innovative ideas on board. But what if they are actually doing well behind the scene and probably they are not getting the necessary political support of the President? Let them speak up and report him to the nation. The President is not a divine being that you can’t criticize. The more you criticize in democracy the more mature it becomes. They should tell the nation. It is not that you dislike him when you criticize him; you only want to make him succeed. Is your party, the UPN, taking part in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State? If the political field is fair, then we would. If the indices are right we will participate because we have our ears to the ground.

in the Nov. 26 gubernatorial election.” However, less than 48 hours after the vote-of-no confidence on the state executive of the party for ratifying Oke’s nomination without the NEC’s blessing, another set of the party’s leadership ratified the candidature of Oke, saying those who disqualified him do not have the mandate to do so. The National Vice Chairman (North-East) of the party, Alhaji Magaji Kwairanga; his North-West counterpart, Alhaji Sulaiman Aliyu and Deputy National Treasurer, Sagir Ahmed Ali among others, told newsmen during a press conference in Akure that “we believe the former national chairman, if he has any issue to settle with his South-West people, should not use AD as a platform. The party, AD, a national party, is now led by a national chairman, a northerner.” Interestingly, all the national officers, including the National Organising Secretary, Abdulahi, who were part of those who rejected Oke’s candidature and passed a vote of no confidence on the National Chairman, Chief Joseph Avazi, and other party chieftains, reneged on their decision. “Let us also state that the NEC has no issue and if there are issues relating to NEC meeting, which is internal affairs of the party, the issues will be handled internally. As we speak here, Oke’s name has been duly submitted to INEC as the candidate of our party,” they said. All Progressives Congress (APC) Although the APC has settled for Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as its candidate for the election, the dust that the primaries generated is however yet to be settled. The bickering came to a head when the party’s National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, publicly tore the party’s National Chairman, Chief John OdigieOyegun, apart by accusing him of taking sides in the primaries. Although Akeredolu has been appealing to aggrieved members of the party in order to brighten the APC’s chances in the poll, the dance steps of some of the party’s leaders still appear contradicting over the expected reconciliation. Speaking on the development, a community leader in Akure, who prefers anonymity, said: “We don’t even know what put our minds on any longer. Some of us are even worried that the election may not give the electorate good options at the poll. We hope all these parties will settle their issues and give us a final position on candidates.” As it stands, all is apparently not well with the leading political parties and their candidates ahead of the November 26 election. The options before the electorate appear limited and there is no doubt that INEC has a huge task on its sleeves. But whatever the outcome, it is quite clear that this might be a special election in the Sunshine State.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Fayose: Two years’ after TREASURES BOLA BOLAWOLE turnpot@gmail.com 0807-552-5533 (sms only)

ast week, I was asked by Mr. Idowu Oluwole Adelusi, Chief Press Secretary to Ekiti State Gov. Peter Ayodele Fayose, to be reviewer of a book he had just written titled “Trial, travails and triumphs of Ayo Fayose: A compendium of newspaper reports (2006 – 2014)” – if he got approval. He did get approval and I also did consent to perform the task. The book, launched last Saturday, was one of numerous activities that commemorated the second year of Fayose’s second coming. We all know Fayose; my first “meeting” with him was fortuitous. I had just finished Holy Communion service and was getting inside my car when the phone rang. The time was around 7.00pm. “Am I on to Bola Bolawole?” I said “Yes” and the caller immediately launched into a tirade against my column for that day titled “What again does Fayose want?” After speaking for about five minutes while I listened patiently at my own end wondering who could this be; the caller satisfied my curiosity when he asked, “You may be wondering ‘who is this?’” I answered “Yes”. And he said “My name is “Ayodele Fayose” And I responded, “No wonder!” The rest, as they say, is history. Reading through the compendium as well as speaking to people has enriched my knowledge not only of Fayose but also of Ekiti. Let me list seven factors that I found has worked in Fayose’s favour. One: He is connected to the people and not elitist. Ultimately, all politics is local. Two: He is not a captive of the people around him. He finds a way to get correct and not panel-beaten feedback. He ensures that what he asked to be done is done. Three: He has facts and figures on the issues he speaks on. Remember his

expose when they lied that an interview conducted for Buhari here in Nigeria was held in London? His warnings concerning the health status of the same man, which was regarded as scare-mongering, now stares everyone in the face. Four: In his party, PDP, the circumstances are perfect for him to step into a very unfortunate leadership void. Five: In society at large, the abandonment of the barricades, as it were, by prodemocracy groups has handed Fayose the “leader of opposition” laurel on a platter. Nature abhors a vacuum. Six: The economic depression and unprecedented suffering in the land make Fayose’s activism to resonate with the people. Seven: Whereas many others have been cowed by EFCC, DSS, CCT, etc. Fayose’s voice of dissent helps to keep the powers-that-be in check. Some have said it is because Fayose has constitutional immunity; yes, but is he the only one with immunity? Why are the others not also standing up to be counted like Fayose has done again and again, even at great personal cost? I dare to say it is because Fayose also has something that is more than immunity; he has what the Yoruba call “amuniti”. Literally interpreted, “amuniti” means an irrepressible spirit: cannot be gagged, cannot be caged, will not bow, will not bend, will not break, will not give up, will not kow-tow, will not compromise, will not surrender; will speak up, no matter what and regardless whose ox is gored. When a man combines constitutional immunity with “amuniti, it is a very dangerous combination. Now, there are three levels of “amuniti”: The first is recorded in Joshua 1: 9 where God told Joshua to be strong and of good courage and be not afraid. The second is recorded in Jeremiah 1: 17 where God told Jeremiah to “be not dismayed at (the) faces of his opponents; whether they are stern-looking; non-smiling or hiding behind dark goggles like Sani Abacha. The third, which is the final and highest stage, is described by the apostle Paul in Romans 3: 38 & 39 where nothing can separate us from

You need to dine with the devil in the interest of Ekiti

I am Dele Giwa

Yusuf Mohammed

he year 1986 reminds me of two events. The first is the assassination of Dele Giwa and secondly as a football lover, Mexico ‘86 comes to mind because of Diego Maradona’s performance. Although I was born the next year, as someone who loves history, I know about them very well. At a very young age, I was privileged to watch Maradona in USA ‘94 live on TV in the games he played against Nigeria and Greece.

However, I wasn’t able to see Dele Giwa or read any of his columns while he was live but I have read some of his columns and tried to imagine what it was like back then. Today makes it exactly 30 years since Nigeria lost Dele Giwa, co-founder of Newswatch magazine. He died as a result of injuries he sustained via a letter bomb on the 19th of October 1986 in his home at 25 Talabi Street, Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos. He died 12.27.pm in First Foundation hospital, Opebi, Ikeja. Seven months later, I was born in the same hospital Dele Giwa died. Today, I am a journalist writing about him. I call it fate. Who was Dele Giwa? Talking about

him in terms of journalism alone is like reducing him. Yes, Dele Giwa was among the crème de la crème of the profession. He was one of the finest journalists ever but above all, he had all the qualities that a leader should have. He was selfless, fearless, detribalized and so on. Today he is no more but we have to celebrate him. Speaking of Dele Giwa, it is almost impossible to leave out his colleagues. There were musical groups like the Beatles, Jackson Five, Cool and the Gang but here we had a group of young men who mesmerized us but not with music. They did it with the pen. According to Chief Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation magazine, “It was impossible not to be attracted to the writings of Dele Giwa, Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese and Yakubu Mohammed, the powerful quartet that founded Newswatch magazine around 1984, shortly after their dramatic exit from Concord newspapers. These were the authentic superstars who titillated us with beautiful prose that dripped with poetic and colourful words. And they lived up to their billing. Newswatch was an instant success and the hottest cake out of the oven. Every issue was a collector’s item.” They wrote the minds of the masses irrespective of whose ox was gored. That is the true essence of journalism. It is just as if the words integrity, detribal-

our purpose, vision and mission; where we are focused and consumed by what we believe in so much so that the perilous present cannot obfuscate the glorious future envisioned and ingrained firmly in our heart. Once a person crosses this Rubicon, the most despicable of dictators becomes powerless. Passions cannot die; goals are not killable; and visions cannot be arrested. But I offer Fayose a few unsolicited advices: One: Bend over backwards to pay salaries, pensions and subventions as at when due. Note that you, too, can no more play the blame game (against ex-Gov. Kayode Fayemi) than Buhari can do with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan; neither will the fact that many other governors are not paying salaries and pensions absolve you. Two: Listen to your critics even where you do not agree with them. Criticisms, when handled correctly, are beneficial; they either help you to avoid preventable mistakes or give you more conviction about the correctness of your chosen course of action. Three: Limit cracks within your political family. Very soon as people begin to jostle for the seat you will vacate in two years’ time, you will again see human beings in their true colour. Four: Begin to see and believe in the larger picture. Reach out for a long spoon; you need to dine with the devil in the interest of Ekiti, the Yoruba race, and your own political progression. Five: Play a leading role in ongoing or soon-tounfold political re-engineering. Many believe that someone like you will be better able to defend the interest of the Yoruba where the national cake is being shared. Six: Continue with your can-do spirit; the recently enacted herdsmen’s legislation by Ekiti is instructive here. Seven: Continue to hold on tenaciously to God, who has been your support (Genesis 15: 1). I for one never gave Fayose a chance. His own qualifications notwithstanding, he appears to me to be reaping where others had sowed. He is standing, as it were, on the shoulders of (spiritual) giants. His father, mother, and wife are all sold out unto God. That, I dare to say, is very instructive!-

ized, fairness, equity, doggedness and brilliance were invented specifically for the Newswatch men. They had it all. These men coming together to found Newswatch was like a match made in heaven. They came from different backgrounds but they had professionalism in common. They were pacesetters and trend setters. They made journalism attractive in Nigeria because they combined intellect with swagger. These men had ‘swag’ long before the word became popular. Unfortunately for Nigerians one of them was killed in his prime. Dele Giwa was assassinated at the peak of his powers. He was full of life when the angel of death came knocking. He had so much to offer Nigerians before his demise. He was only 39 years but today, everyone is talking about him. It isn’t easy to be a legend at that age. That was what he achieved with his colleagues, legendary status in their youth. It is 30 years now and people are still talking about how he died. As for me, I prefer to talk about his life and the things he stood for. What should we learn from the life and times of Dele Giwa? We should be objective and courageous. Without honesty and courage one has no business in journalism. Journalism should never be a cash and carry business. The less privileged

should be given an equal chance to air their views. Journalists should carry all Nigerians along irrespective of financial, ethnic or religious status. A journalist should be the voice of the voiceless. If you look at the rot in the judiciary, the executive and the legislative arms of government, it means there is more work to be done by the fourth estate. It would be catastrophic if journalists ignore the core principles of the job. In every institution there are bad eggs but we shouldn’t allow the bad eggs overshadow the good ones. If that happens, then what hope would the ordinary Nigerian have? Journalists are meant to be torch bearers. They should always shine the light. That is the best we can do for Dele Giwa. That is what he would want. Not partisanship. Not trying to be politically correct. I believe practitioners of this great profession should dedicate 19 of October to Dele Giwa. We should have public lectures or discourses on the professionalism of Dele Giwa because this job certainly requires that. I am saying the best way to keep Giwa’s legacy is to be him. There is no better way than that that. Let’s all be Dele Giwa. • Mohammed (yusad4life@yahoo.com) is a journalist in Lagos

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of it all. The new generation of Nigerian musicians must learn from this. The lewd lyrics that foul the mind of teenagers will lead them nowhere even if they are smiling all the way to the banks today. There must be something for the future. Dylan has been in music for about 50 years and his works have fetched him an award that smells sweeter than money. The kind of songs and dance steps that some of these musicians project has nothing to challenge the brain yet the young ones are high on empti-

nor Yoruba but he loved ‘Omo mi seun rere. It is instructive that the former Master Sergeant did not quite love Nigeria especially following President Shehu Shagari’s condemnation of his bloody overthrow of William Tolbert. Love for music eventually drew Doe closer to Nigeria and when he was threatened by rebels led by Charles Taylor, it was Dodan Barracks that raised troops to help him. However, ECOMOG was not an entirely Nigerian affair. Doe died in a very cruel manner in the hands of soldiers led by Yormie

ness. Words are abused, language is debased and everything is arranged in utter confusion. There must be measures to check this immorality before it becomes a national religion. In the past, our heroes and heroines were celebrated outside our shores. Ozzidi King, Sunny Okosun’s music was oxygen to the souls of Southern Africans during the Liberation Struggle. The track, ‘ Papa’s Land’ appealed to Zimbabwean guerilla fighters that when independence eventually came, many of them thought it could become the country’s national anthem. As brutal as Samuel Kanyon Doe was in Liberia, some of his best moments came anytime he listened to Christiana EssienIgbokwe’s voice. The Liberian dictator understood neither Ibibio

Johnson. Before Okosun and Essien – Igbokwe, men like Isaac Kehinde (I.K.) Dairo and Victor Efosa Uwaifo had made impressions. The latter was even honoured with an M.B.E. by Queen Elizabeth of England. The former went further to become the first Nigerian to hit a Platinum. Uwaifo hit it big with ‘Guitar Boy’ and ‘Joromi’. The single, ‘Guitar Boy’ appealed to lovers of music because it was a true life story of an encounter with a mermaid at the Bar Beach on Victoria Island. At that time ,the musician worked with the Nigeria Television Authority on Ahmadu Bello Way. Many of today’s musicians are not singing to educate, they are not telling a story. Most of what they sing is like vomit. Attention is paid to sex and parts of the

Nigerian musicians must learn from this

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Learning from Bob Dylan

here is something to learn from the rare honour bestowed on American musician, Bob Dylan (Robert Allen Zimmerman),who was recently announced as the Winner of the 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature. Nigerian musicians especially the new kids on the rise, must be looking up, instead of churning out tracks that are laced with obscenities. Music pays not just in cash, it goes beyond shaking the waists and jumping to the skies. It is a message, a movement that can change the fate of many and also affect society positively. It does not have to be a turn off even if a lot of cash flows with the vulgarity that tends to take control of some of the followers. Dylan, 75, is an all rounder who has moved from folk to blues, country music to rock and down to gospel. Above all, he has used his music for good as an activist, supporting Civil Rights and fighting against war. He has sold over 100 million records, making him one of the greatest artistes ever. With tracks like ‘Blowing in the wind’, ‘If not for you’ and ‘Hard Rain’, Dylan came on strong and became a leading figure in not just entertainment but the arts as well. He thus earned respect among not just lovers of good music, but also world leaders. President Barack Obama of the United States honoured him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Nobel Prize is probably going to be the height

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body that have to do with love making. And they are selling. The constitution guarantees freedom of speech. Sponsors are more interested in marketing their products and because these musicians are popular, business interest counts more than moral values. We urge government not to fold its arms and watch. There should be moderation in whatever these musicians are doing. There is a Regulatory Agency. The Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has had cause to ban some of these tracks on our airwaves. More needs to be done. The National Orientation Agency and religious organisations also have big roles to play. Every year, there is World Music Day. That should be an opportunity to sensitise the youth and also enlighten the musicians. Good enough, there are artistes who are willing to support this cause. Eedris Abdulkareem has come out to condemn vulgar music. Lil Presh has decided to move away from the raw past to something better because he observed that many young people are influenced by his music. We join in celebrating Bob Dylan. We also encourage our musicians to learn from those that are celebrated for the positive things they did for the society. Today, Yeni Kuti is a regular face on television, monitoring the polity and away from the stage where she was a dancer. That is change. Others should follow her worthy example.

POLITICS

Musa Simon Reef

e was born 15 days after Nigeria was granted political independence from British colonialists on October 1, 1960. At birth, the Heavens did not blaze the commencement of his earthly sojourn but the young child, who was later to be christened David Oluwafemi Adewunmi and born to the family of Chief Remilekun Adetokunboh FaniKayode, carried the genes of astounding scholarly and cerebral greatness often associated with the family. His great grandfather, Rev. Emmanuel Kayode, studied Theology at Durham University in the United Kingdom in the late 1800's and was one of the earliest and most distinguished Anglican priests in Nigeria. His grandfather, Justice Adedapo Kayode, studied Law at Selwyn College, Cambridge University and was called to the English Bar in 1923. He was a brilliant lawyer and was the third Nigerian to be appointed as a judge. His father, Chief Remi FaniKayode, was a distinguished and respected nationalist and elderstatesman and one of the most brilliant lawyers that Nigeria has ever known. He studied Law at Downing College, Cambridge University; was called to the English bar in 1943; was the second Nigerian lawyer to be appointed Queens Counsel (Q.C.) in the UK, was the third to be appointed Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was a member of the Federal Parliament from 1953 till 1958; was the MP that successfully moved the motion for Nigeria's independence in 1958; was leader of the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) opposition in the Western Regional House of Assembly from 1959 till 1963,was the Deputy Premier of the old Western Region and Minister of Local Government Area and Chieftaincy Affairs from 1963 till 1966; was the National Vice Chairman of President Shehu Shagari's National Party of Nigeria (NPN) from 1979 till 1983 and was a member of the elders caucus of the National Republican Convention (NRC) from 1991 till 1994. This is the lineage and heritage that Chief Femi Fani-Kayode comes from and bears. I first met with him in 2003 when reporting for The Punch Newspaper as the Chief Correspondent of its Sunday title at the Abuja Bureau. Before meeting him, like many journalists and members of the public, I saw in FFK the picture of “an arrogant fellow” whose upper class Brirish accent attracted more envy than admiration. As Special Assistant (Public Affairs) to then President Olusegun Obasanjo, he faced the arduous task of replying stone throwers of the government. Obasanjo, who was then seen a lackey of the North, had turned against those who arranged for his emergence on the throne. The consequence was a backlash from the angry core north, as the roof was almost brought down on the government. After granting an interview, where he explained the President’s views on some key issues, he later called to express gratitude when it was finally published. From then, he became a constant source of response on issues concerning the

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Salute to Fani-Kayode

Fani-kayode

government. Convinced that the public perception about his person was misplaced, I arranged with some colleagues from other media platforms to have an interaction with him. Further to that, I convinced him to be a guest at a forum organised by the Correspondent Chapel of the FCT Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in 2003, where he really proved his mettle. Unlike other government officials, FFK has an uncanny way of striking relationship with reporters. He does not allow the tight schedule of office to keep him away from media practitioners. As former SA to Obasanjo, he has learned the virtue of keeping the media at close quarters and influencing media perspectives on contemporary issues. Realising that information remains key in influencing people’s opinions, he reads a lot and seems to have answers to all questions on his fingertips. As the armour bearer of the Obasanjo administration, he came under fire from critics opposed to the brashness of the Ota farmer in undermining democratic institutions like the National Assembly. In the Nigerian society that places much premium on hypocritical respect for elders, FFK never shied away from speaking the facts and allow Nigerians make up their opinions. After serving as SA to Obasanjo for three years, he was nominated for a ministerial position. He scaled the hurdle despite protest from some senators, and he was later appointed Minister of Culture and Tourism. Few months later, incessant air crashes made the government to redeploy him to the Aviation Ministry where he returned safety to air transportation. Knowing FFK in the last 13

FFK I know believes in the greatness of the Nigerian state. But he also believes that such greatness cannot be achieved in an atmosphere of violence and intimidation

years has revealed to me the awesomeness of his character. When convinced of a course of action, he puts all his energy to achieving the set objectives. When he was convinced to join the Obasanjo regime, he worked so hard to ensure that he was not merely a number in the cabinet. Afraid of what I described as his then “blindfolded loyalty” for Obasanjo, I once cautioned him against following the Ota Farmer on all issues, but he responded, “I am loyal to President Obasanjo and shall do everything to discharge such loyalty for the interest of my country.” I was worried when his name came up on the N5.6 billion Aviation intervention fund scandal during the early months of the Umaru Yar’Adua government. When I finally met him, he dismissed my apprehension and said he was not guilty. Seven years or so later, the court would dismiss the charges and set him free. FaniKayode was later to part ways with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the All Progressives (APC) in a rainbow coalition against the then ruling party. His appointment as Director of the Jonathan Campaign Organisation and his roles in the campaigns are too well documented to warrant a repeat. As he celebrates 56 years on earth today, FFK is being accused of spending government funds for campaigns. His constant bashing of the Muhammadu Buhari government, which initially was considered as the trait of an irredeemable opposition figure, is slowly attracting a cult-like followership. He is certainly the only Nigerian politician that has, in almost equal measure, the oratorical and written prowess in advancing national discourse. With

these traits, his articles on social media and newspapers enjoy tremendous readership. My Muslims friends and brothers have had cause in the past to call my attention to his anti-Islam posturing in some of his writings. “Please tell your friend FFK that he is too much for this anti-Islam posturing. Please he should stop it. Advise him to speak and write on national issues,” a few advised me. When I later met him on the matter, he replied: “But Simon, you know that I am not opposed to Islam. I have friends among northerners and Muslims, and I believe they mean well for this country. No one can accuse me of being antiNorth or anti-Islam. I stand for the truth and state it as it is.” Having known and keep close tabs on the thinking of FFK in the last 13 years, the former Minister is pained that despite launching 1,000 troops to tackle cattle rustling in the North-west, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has refused to set up similar military operations to stop the genocide in some states of the North Central states and Middle Belt zone that are predominantly Christians. He is worried that the government has failed carrying all sections of the country in the affairs of the nation. He is upset of what he perceived as clear cases of marginalisation of certain sections and religion in advancing what he sees as clear signals for national dangers. The resurgence of Biafra and the return to the trenches by the Niger Delta militants are sign posts that all is not well with Nigeria. He sees the absence of national consensus in tackling these problems as a danger that should be avoided at all cost. Like many Nigerians, he feels anguished at the cascading poverty that has become the lots of our people and reducing the populace into fright victims. The frightening uncertainties and thick clouds of trouble in the nation’s skies keep him awake and he is always caught in apprehension over what the future holds for the people. As a father, he is clearly in agony over what a troubled country will mean for his son, Aragorn. His public views are distress calls for the nation’s leaders to put things back on track. Instead of faulting his style, FFK believes that government should look at the substance of his writings and discourse. Despite his writing sometimes laced in pessimism, the FFK I know believes in the greatness of the Nigerian state. But he also believes that such greatness cannot be achieved in an atmosphere of violence and intimidation. He believes that the restructuring of the nation seems to be the only viable option in order to ensure regional autonomy for fiscal federalism. As Chief FFK celebrates his 56th birthday, here is wishing him long life and continued struggle to ensure a free society where all voices count. May his cherished dream of justice to all not remain too long unfulfilled! Happy Birthday! •Reef, a media practitioner, writes from Abuja

WEDNESday, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Life in the city Talabi Street: Reminiscence of Dele Giwa

The Mega City

Life in Mega City What Lagosians think of kidnapping

...EXCLUSIVE LAGOS MAGAZINE

21 23

Some of the motorcycles impounded by the officials of Lagos State Task Force on Environment and Special Offence Unit. Inset: Task Force Chairman, SP Yinka Egbeyemi

Okada: Insanity returns on Lagos roads The return of commercial motorcycles popularly known as Okada on prohibited roads is gradually impeding on the sanity, safety and security earlier enjoyed in Lagos. MURITALA AYINLA inquires about what could have happened to the enforcement of Traffic Law 2012

unmi Shokoya, 45, was perplexed the day her bag containing money meant for a new business was snatched by two men on a moving motorcycle. According to her, she just withdrew the money from one of the new generation banks and it happened in a commando style as she was about to cross the road. “Before I could shout for help, the men had disappeared into one of

OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI CITY Editor

tosin.omoniyi@newtelegraphonline.com

the streets in Isolo-Aswani axis of the state and left with about N5million and other valuable items in the snatched bag,” she narrated. Shokoya, perhaps, was one of the latest of victim of return of menace of Okada riders on Lagos roads. She was lucky to tell her story while many of the victims who have been killed or maimed by reckless plying of prohibited routes in the state were not that lucky. New Telegraph’s investigations revealed, that cases of victims of okada accidents are on the rise in most public hospitals in Lagos while a host of them are undergoing treatment in the local orthopedic wards popularly known as 'bone menders'. Despite the Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode's warning, okada riders are now operating freely from Ojota to Ikorodu; Iyana-Isolo to Ikotun; Oshodi to Iyana-Ipaja; Apapa to

Motorcycles are still forbidden from plying the prohibited roads

Members of the task force during the enforcement of law

Oshodi; CMS to Victoria Island; Costain to Mushin; Pen Cinema to Fagba; Festac to Iyana-Iba and other areas in the state metropolis.

The motorcyclists are not only operating on the restricted roads but also ride against the CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

20 LIFE/MEGA CITY

WEDNESday, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

traffic on all the said roads. They carry children and pregnant women and more than two passengers without putting on crash helmet. Speaking on the enforcement of the law, Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce on Environment and Special Offence Unit, Yinka Egbeyemi, a Superintendent of the Police, said the law prohibiting the motorcycles in some areas of the state is still in force. According to him, motorcycles are still forbidden from plying the prohibited roads which include all the highways and bridges. He said that his agency impounded 2,330 motorcycles for contravening the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012 which restricted them from certain routes across the state. New Telegraph's investigation revealed that a total of 710 motorcycles were seized in January while 580 were confiscated in February, this year. In March, 205 motorcycles were seized for contravening the law while in April the task force arrested 360 motorcycles. In the month of May, a total of 240 motorcycles operated in the prohibited areas were seized. But the task force chairman, Egbeyeni, said that in June, 419 motorcycles were impounded while in July, those caught flouting the law, 270 were seized. It was also gathered that in August, 412 motorcyclists and their motorcycles were taken to the task force custody while 334 of such motorcycles were impounded last month, September. Why it appears, motorcyclist are back on the metropolis despite the constant arrest of the cyclists and seizure of their motorcycles, a senior police officer, who pleaded anonymity, said a lot of factors were responsible for the reappearance

Another impounded motorcycles

Impounded motorcycles

Insanity returns on Lagos roads of okada on highways, bridges and other prohibited roads. According to him, all the 107 Divisional Police Stations in the state seemed to have relaxed on the enforcement of the restricting operation of the cyclists. "If this administration is determined to truly enforce the law, the state governor can dem-

We can't afford to witness okada-induced robberies again

onstrate this by giving a marching order to the state Commissioner of Police, who, in turn, would charge other police officers under his leadership.” He said that was what happened in the Babatunde Fashola-led administration. “But what you see today is their operation everywhere despite the governor's repeated warnings,”

according to him. "Then, to also improve the security in the state, the governor must also encourage these officers with some incentives to boost their morale; something to show that he cares for them. Nobody has invested so much in the state security like him but he must also look beyond provision of equipment. For instance, during Fashola's era, there was what we call DPO of the month, where DPO of areas with less security challenges are personally rewarded by the Governor. I believe Governor Ambode can do better in this regard," the senior officer said. New Telegraph gathered that aside, the Lagos State Taskforce, some Divisional Police Officers, DPOs, in Ikoyi, Man Centre, Victoria Island, Pen Cinema are said to be making efforts on the enforcement of the law restricting motorcyclists. It was also gathered that most motorcycles, which operate on highways and prohibited routes are owned by senior police officers and other military personnel in the state. According to a motorcyclist, Chukwudi Kingsley, who was arrested by the Task force, they pay N1,500 daily to the polices officer in Isolo area to evade arrest, adding that some of them get their motorcycles through police officers. "All you need to say is "Ijoba". If you have paid, registered, you can be rest assured that nobody will challenge you again,” he revealed. Also lamenting the continued operation of motorcyclists on prohibited roads, Lanre Adewale, a motorist, appealed to the Lagos State government to urgently activate all the enforcement strategies, saying the motorcyclist are not only operating on the prohibited roads but they ply one-way and ride against the traffic. "For the restoration of sanity, security, safety must be done by the enforcement of Lagos Traffic Law. We can't afford to witness okada-induced robberies and security threats again,” he said.

LIFE/IN THE CITY 21

WEDNESday, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Yusuf Mohammed

or residents of Talabi Street, off Adeniyi Jones Ikeja and other streets of Lagos by extension, October 19 remains an indelible date in their memory. For, that was the day in 1986, Dele Giwa, co-founder of Newswatch Magazine was murdered. Giwa was killed via a letter bomb at 11.40 a.m. on Sunday, October 19 in his home at number 25 Talabi Street, Ikeja, Lagos, after receiving a parcel in a light-brown envelope from his 19-year-old son, Billy. The incident occurred while he was having breakfast with Kayode Soyinka, the magazine’s London bureau chief, in his study. That was the first case of letter bomb in this country and since then, no one has been killed in that manner. “Who brought this?” Giwa asked his son, as he looked at the parcel. According to reports, on top of it was written “From the Office of the C-in-C” (commander-in-chief). Also written on it was that nobody except the addressee should open it. Billy told his father that he received it from Musa Zibo, the security guard. Billy left the room and Giwa suspended his meal and said to Soyinka: “This must be from the president.” He put the parcel on his laps and tried to open it with his right hand and that was it. The man who co-founded Nigeria’s first weekly news Magazine alongside, Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Mohammed and Dan Agbese lost his life at the age of 39. A man, who identified himself as Ejiro, who lives a few blocks away from where it happened told New Telegraph that, “I was only 10 years old when it happened. I was

Talabi Street: Reminiscence of Dele Giwa

Dele Giwa

Mr Sule Aika The house where Dele Giwa was killed at Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja

outside my house when I heard the explosion. It threw me off balance literally. I ran inside without bothering to know what happened. I was watching from my bedroom window when a large crowd gathered in front of his house. That was when I summoned the courage to go out and found out that that the very handsome and jovial man had been bombed.” He added that, “many people in the area were scared to spend a night there because that was the first time we experienced it. You know, fear of the unknown. A few families left the area for a few days including mine. My dad took us away for a few days until the story

Flora Onwudiwe

s Nigerian Army ready to fight war ? The answer is yes, only if you had witnessed the 2016 General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 division inter-brigade Warrant Officers(WOs) and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers’(SNCO’s) competition. It is a yearly competition, which features the strength and the weather standing potency of officers and to see those who are actually combat ready. The winner however will go back to the division with a giant trophy. The 240 ever ready combatants, who chanted war songs to boost their morale in preparedness to go to war were drawn from four formations across the division- 9 Brigade, Ikeja; 35 Artillery Brigade Alamala barracks, Abeokuta in Ogun State; 45 Division Engineers, Obalende and 81 Division Garrison, Victoria Island, Lagos. After running one kilometre away from the enemy attack, a long distance into the enemy’s terrain and they came across different obstacles, until they came to a high wall, it was difficult for them to jump the fence, but they devised means of helping one another to jump to the other side of the wall. They aided one another to climb the fat rope tied to the Iron steel and they crossed to the other side. In fact, they ensured that no soldier was left behind. They carried along with stretchers, First Aid box, different sizes of weapons, Porches where they kept some things that would sustain them in the absence of food at war. The combatants, who thought that

Dele was a great man of humour... We were proud to be his neighbours

became clear.” In a similar vein, Mr. Wale Akinpetide, who lives on Talabi Street, said he was in primary school but remembers the incident like it was yesterday. “When we heard the explosion, we rushed out thinking our water tank had fallen only for us to find out that a bomb had gone off. I remember our security man then, Adamu, went there to assist in carrying Dele Giwa out of the house. When he came back, his clothes were drenched in blood. He also had cuts on his legs due to the broken glasses in the house.” According to Funmi, Giwa’s wife, immediately after the bomb

blast, she saw him crouched in a corner and groaned faintly: “Won ti pami (They have killed me).” Neighbours who heard the noise from the house came and helped in carrying Giwa into an open-backed Volkswagen Kombi bus owned by Mr. Sule Aika, a farmer, who had his farm behind Dele Giwa’s house. New Telegraph was able to find Mr. Sule Aika, who hails from Edo State, just like Dele Giwa to say it as it actually happened thirty years ago. He said, “I was working on the farm when I heard the explosion. I had to rush out because I didn’t know what it was. When I got there, people were already gathered. There was confusion. I had a bus back then and I helped in carrying his body into the back of it. I drove him to Opebi-Allen to one hospital. I can’t really remember the name but I know it very well. Giwa was in pains. He was with his wife and his first child at the back of my bus. I drove like a mad man that day because I knew that the life of a very important Nigerian was at stake”. New Telegraph gathered that Giwa was rushed to First Foundation Medical Centre, Opebi, Ikeja, where the Newswatch staff used. With his last breath, he spoke to Tosin Ajayi, the medical director, who was his friend. He said: “Tosin they’ve got me.” Then he gave up the ghost. The time was 12.27p.m. Giwa was generally described by residents of Talabi Street as a great man of humour. They said he was an amiable man, who was easy going, never had course to fight anyone. “We were proud to be his neighbours,” they chorused.

Preparing for war in peace time they had escaped all the hurdles in the jungle, came across water. In fact, they were exhausted but they were able to revived their energy with glucose they brought out from their porches. They also checked their weapons and every other things if they were all complete and they were all applauded at the end of the Obstacle Crossing for their brave performances. There were women among the participants but two of them were mothers who could not make their way in crossing of the water to the other side of the land. Angrily, they walked

Soldier chanting war songs

across to join other soldiers. The few other men that could not cross the water were men that had put in many years in service. Apparently, age was not on their side. So, they were excused. Eventually, an overall winner for this year’s tournament emerged in the person of the chief host of the event 9 Brigade, Ikeja who were presented with a giant trophy together with a small trophy followed by 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala barracks with three trophies and 81 division garrison one trophy and 45 Division Engineers

went back to their division with a long big spoon. The GOC 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Isidore Edet, spoke through the representative, Commander 81 Division garrison, Col. Sunday Igbinomwanhia. He explained that the aim of the competition was to achieve physically fit Warrant Officers and Senior- non – commissioned - officers that must have enhanced their leadership qualities through the competition exercise. “The significance of the competition is about leadership at the lowest level and is critical to success of the Nigerian army and indeed the Nigerian military in any operation. And so, we have commanders , at the junior level , the warrant officers and non- senior commissioned -officers , if they are physically fit and in the use of their weapons and leadership at that level and the leadership traits are well developed , it means we are on our way to victory in any battle we would have.” Elatedly, the 9 Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Sani Mohammed, said, “in all the events, I am very satisfied. It is a standard that the losing team need to go and work harder by training and re-train themselves again, preparing for the next year’s event.” The Commandant core belief is that, “training is the bedrock of professionalism and the harder you train in peace time, the lesser you bleed in war.”

22 LIFE/MEGA CITY

Acclaimed Osun worshipers begging for alms

WEDNESday, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

The beggars sitting beside their calabashes expecting alms

Traditionalists in begging business

There are too many forms and patterns of begging today in Lagos not excluding corporate begging as well as acclaimed traditionalists commonly called ‘Osun beggars’. EZURIKE UGOCHUKWU writes

he 'Osun beggers' are priestesses or servants of the Osun deity in Yorubaland. For many years, the women servants are often spotted around such major motor parks and busy junctions in Lagos such as, Berger, Agege, Oshodi, IyanaIpaja, Iyana-Iba, Ikotun, Mile 2 and many other places. They dress in white blouses, white wrappers and white headgear. Wearing white cowries bangles on their wrists and legs as well, scrounging on passers-by around the areas. Telling willing ears about his or her future or how herself (the priestess) have been called to the service of the Osun deity and how her personal businesses or endeavours have been characterised by misfortunes due to her turning deaf ear to the call to serve the deity. They are women of young and old age. Tolu Adeniyi, a corporate worker, lives in the Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos. She is one of the persons that have never cared to give attention or listening ear to the Osun beggars. On this particular day, one of the priestesses followed her at her pace, covering a distance of 50 metres, talking to her, foretelling her that she is indebted to the gods, if she pays the debt, her fortune will turn brighter. She specifically foretold her that the debt she has been for quite a long time now will be paid her without wasting time. Tolu ignored her on that day, until the message came to her again two weeks after as she passed through the place. She thought that she may have not been singled out going by the number of people they come in contact with on daily basis.

She squeezed into the palm of the priestess a N500 note, and she prayed for her. Four days after, the debt of N400, 000 she was being owed over a very long time was paid! She could not believe but it was real. She was in dilemma on whether it was the prayer of the priestess that influenced the payment or not. Some of the priestesses are always foraging around their location, outsmarting the regular beggars. Some others are stationary with their calabashes kept at their front for passersby who believe in them to offer them money. A peculiar thing about them is that they call the attention of people to themselves with their asking and predictions in exchange for money. Beggars waiting for passers-by for alms Ayola Olabisi, a retired civil servant in his late sixties, said What keeps them happy is they are not actual beggars. As the money they make on daily such, he can’t give them money. basis. Had it been they come out once in a while, we would All they do is to extort money have accommodated that but from people. They are nuisance they are on the streets daily, since they have no form of deeven at banks ATM ambushing formity or the other. They have Lagosians who intend to use the abused whatever they represent. ATM. They should be seen and Musa Ishaku, a furniture treated like other beggars.” maker, concurs that the priestJamiu Abdusalami, an Isesses who are regularly on the lamic student believes they are streets of Lagos begging for not ordinary beggars. That it’s alms are an abuse and an insult to the Orisha, (deity) they claim a call to serve the deity that has to serve. He wonders why the brought them into this. They special Taskforce against begare begging to find their daily gars would arrest only deformed bread since they don’t have any and regular beggars and spare other means of livelihood. them while they create more He also believes many of They're not nuisance than those ones. them could interpret fortunes supposed to be on and foretells the future. That “They are not supposed to be on the way. They are supposed the streets, rather some of them are herbalists to be at the shrine and wait for and the white they put on forat the shrine patrons of the shrine who will bids them from involving into give them money; not to come witchcraft or harmful medicines. out to the streets of Lagos and He said that the harmful be harassing and dragging Laherbalists are synonymous gosians to give them money in the name of serving a deity. No with wearing dirty cloths. “One of the Priestesses I just spoke beggar harasses you the way with lost her shop three times they do and the taskforce will to fire outbreak, until she reclose eyes over them. All they alised she has a call to serve the claim to foretell are lies, they Osun deity. What they collect is are 419ers. for them. If you want to see the real When they tell people about Osun Priestesses, you will see themselves, they in turn apprethem, very old women that will ciate them. Some of them see tell you a lot of things about you vision. It’s also through the and not on the streets as commoney they get from people that mon as these young ones. They they travel to Osun State during are not these young women that the Osun festival to partake in have explored this as an opporthe festival and pay homage. tunity to make money and better I encourage people to give to their lots.

them because most of them are really servants of Osun who do not have any other means of livelihood apart from serving Osun. From serving the deity, they devout themselves to praying for people and those in authority” A recharge card seller at Iyana-Ipaja, Esther Oloyiole, said the priestesses don’t serve God. Rather, they serve gods. They serve god of river. That though they pray for people, their prayers are not from true God. “They collect money while they pray for people. If they are serving true God, they will not ask for money in exchange for prayer like some fake clerics do. And they carry calabash. What does calabash and all the cowries inside them represent? They are from Osun, and they serve the Osun god. That is why they put on white. School children give them money on the assumption they will pass their exams, which is why I see them as nonsense. I can’t give them money. I will rather give deformed people. They are abusing whichever god they serve as poor and can’t provide for them unless they go public begging. I will not serve a god that will allow me to go begging.” She said. In his reaction, a beggar at the BRT bus stop Iyana-Ipaja, Ismaili Abubakar, frowned at the level at which the Osun beggars force themselves on people making it difficult for people to see them(real beggars) anymore. “They attract every passerby to themselves. Nobody sees us anymore. They force people into giving them unless very few that will not be ready to allow them or give them attention. I don’t know what they use on people to convince them into giving them money. Whenever they are around, people don’t give us money again. They don’t even look at us. Many listen with rapt attention, the sweet stories they tell them. The government is not fair to us. Why would they be after us handicapped persons and allow these women to move freely, not as if they come out once in a while?” he said.

LIFE/IN THE CITY 23

WEDNESday, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

What Lagosians think of kidnapping Like every other megacity across the world, Lagos has its ills. Gridlock, petty crimes and seedy slums, among others, are some of the ills synonymous with Lagos from time immemorial. But kidnapping was not one of them until recently. Now, the spate of kidnapping is on an alarming rate. This, understandably, is why residents of Nigeria’s most populous state, Lagos, now have sleepless nights and dreadful days. SANDRA DICKSON-OYETAYO sampled the opinion of Lagosians

Blame militants, says Ajayi

ersonally, I believe the rate of armed robbery is now considerably very minimal in Lagos while the issue of kidnapping is on the increase. This is because Lagos is densely populated and that has affected security in the state. More-so, the number of security personnel in Lagos is relatively low compared to the number of people they are supposed to be protecting, including their lives and properties. I notice our security personnel are lagging when it comes to intelligence issues. I think the militant boys are responsible for most of the kidnapping especially in the Lagos environs. The pattern of kidnapping shows that the kidnappers are good swimmers, because most of the kidnapping are routed through water-ways. It increased since the cleanup of militant boys in Arepo, Ogun State and some parts of

Ikorodu in Lagos State. The militant boys have been curbed from vandalism of oil pipelines. It will interest you to know that the militant boys have been living on this for a long time. This indicates that the boys do not have other means of livelihood except illegal oil sale. The vice is on the increase because there is great poverty in the land. Most people cannot afford good meal thrice a day. Prices of goods and services are growing at an alarming rate. Secondly, lack of youth empowerment programs is another major reason why the vice is on the increase. Unfortunately, leaders who are supposed to lead by example lack the good character that their followers can emulate. Corruption has eaten deep into our system. Unfortunately, the youth are aware of this lack of self-control exhibited by our leaders.

Ajayi

As such, they become rebellious going into kidnapping business and asking for mind blowing ransom figures before their victims are released. Folashade Ajayi, motivational speaker and sex coach

Dele: It’s terrorism

'We should be vigilant and observant'

idnapping students in exchange for money is an act of terrorism and militancy. But, I think it's the state of the nation that has caused all of these to be happening in our land. So, there is need for our security agencies to double their effort in putting these people in check. Economic situation is a major cause of this and lack of adequate security too. If their excesses have been curbed before now, they would have put a stop to it. I may want to believe that, it's likely some powers that be are benefiting from that act. For the vice to have been on the increase, it's likely some powerful people are bent on derailing the government of the day in achieving all the good projects promised to deliver to the citizens of the state. What can be done is simple. The government has to provide adequate security and other basic amenities of life most especially electricity for its citizens. The citizens too, as stakeholders, must support the government by reporting to appropriate authorities about any suspicious movement. They should also try as much as they can to cooperate with the

he rate at which kidnap and abduction is on the rise in Lagos is critically alarming and I believe it has to do with the clamp down of the federal and state government on the group of people involved in illegal bunkering and other illegitimate businesses which no longer thrive, who therefore have become desperate to keep up with their standard of living and survival, thereby turned to kidnapping as a means of livelihood. I don't think the incident of the school children kidnapping in Epe has anything to do with Boko Haram. Also I believe there are no Niger-delta militants here in Lagos. What is their business here? If they are here, they are out of their boundaries and actually over stepping. So, I believe it has nothing to do with them but the incident, I believe is just like the last case in Ikorodu which was traced to some oil thieves thrown out of business by the activities of the law enforcement which made it impossible to carry out their illegal activities. Well, first of all, our personal security is first our responsibility and we must be security conscious in all we do and how we conduct ourselves and do our activities.

government of the state by fulfilling their obligation in payment of taxes to be able to equip the security agencies. The people of the state should wilfully comply with the laws of state. Also, judicial system of the state must be revamped. Cases of this nature brought before them should not be dragged on too much and anyone found culpable of such an offence should be sentenced accordingly to serve as a deterrent to others.

Dele

Alonge Michael Dele, online media entrepreneur

Secondly we must avoid the extravagant and flamboyant lifestyles that could attract unnecessary attention to ourselves and our relatives. Then, the government should step up its game in the provision of security of lives and properties which is one of her primary and core functions. As individuals, we also should be more vigilant and observant as I believe such acts cannot be and are not carried out without surveillance and planning which could have been thwarted if we had strong intelligence gathering system in place.

Osungbesan

Temitayo Osungbesan – Bank worker

Security must be beefed up – Lawal

Adedoyin: Fire on the mountain

think the problem arose from the fact that there is hunger in the land. People find it hard to eat and feed their families. So, this has led to more people getting more involved in nefarious activities just to make ends meet. Again, people are getting hardened by the day. Lagos used to be devoid of kidnappers but now it is the order of the day. Some people now believe that armed robbery no longer pay but when you kidnap somebody; the family will be scared and would be willing to cough out a big amount of money just to rescue their loved ones. The security men are not well motivated too, all these compounded to bring us to the state of insecurity we are in, in Nigeria today. Lagos State government needs to beef up security in Lagos border towns especially because it has been noted that is where the attacks have been more prominent. I also think it’s time Lagos had its own state police. The ar-

moury need to be stepped up too because those militants always attack with sophisticated weapons which our military men are no match with most times. If all of these can be done, then we can rid Nigeria of these kidnap syndicates.

Lawal

Funmilayo Lawal – Business woman

t is shocking to know they can carry out such a magnitude of kidnap in Lagos successfully. The issue is the security provided in public schools in Lagos is nothing to write home about. Most people employed as security guards are old people who cannot even defend themselves let alone the multitudes of children in the public schools. Once it’s close to the festive period, the crime rate in Lagos increases, but for the kidnapping of dozens of students in Epe, we don’t even know if the militants or Boko Haram are now fully in Lagos. If they are, then, there is fire on the mountain. We just need to be more watchful and careful. We should further educate our children not talk to strangers and generally pray that God will watch over them for us. Lagos State government should beef up security generally. We heard they were going to install CCTV cameras in the entire Lagos metropolis; they should hurry up about that if they have not already done so. This and many more could help prevent the repeat of such an ugly scenario in the future. Opeyemi Adedoyin – Student

Adedoyin

24 LIFE/MEGA CITY

WEDNESday, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Welcome to ‘University of Suya’ Yusuf Mohammed

Preparing the suya

Customers queuing for Suya at University of Suya, Ikeja

unique my brother. Come and have some and be the judge. I used to eat suya very well but didn’t know suya could taste this good until I came here. A friend of mine talks about this place regularly and I used to think he was exaggerating until I tasted it. I think it is the way they grill and spice the meat. I know the taste is different from others but I don’t really know how they do it. As a customer, I’m not concerned about that. My own concern is that they should keep it up. It is good and neat.” Despite its high cost, people still fall over themselves to buy the Suya. The lowest amount for beef is N500 while Kidney and gizzard cost N200. New Telegraph learnt that the branding is also a major

Despite its high cost, people still fall over themselves to buy the Suya

Managing Director of University of Suya, Alhaji Umaru Abdullahi

factor in attracting customers. Other suya spots don’t have names. The few ones with names are not as catchy as ‘University of Suya’. This one has a unique name and its headquarters is located in a highbrow area of Lagos, Allen Avenue. Fortunately for University of Suya, there is new a bar by the side called Dubliner which also attracts customers. According to a guest at Dubliner, "I buy suya from here and then eat it in Dubliner with a chilled bottle of beer." After almost an hour of making observations and interviewing customers, the boss, Alhaji Umaru Abdullahi, who was looking simple in his white Jalabiya dress arrived with his entourage. Seeing the way his workers gathered around

him as soon as he arrived, it was clear that he was the one calling the shots. A minute later, he sat down and was given a piece of meat to eat before he was approached by this reporter. He said he came from Kano in 1980 and started the suya business immediately. “When I came to Lagos in 1980, I sold suya at Apapa for a few months before moving to Surulere. Suruele, I sold suya for almost two years. I then decided to expand. That was how University of Suya started in 1982. I named it University of Suya, so that it would attract people. I have four spots in Lagos and I am going to make it five Insha’Allah (by God’s grace). I have at, Air force base in Ikeja, Haco junction at Adeniyi Jones, Ogba and Allen Avenue. Yaba will make it the fifth,” he declared.

QUOTE

OF THE WEEK

This is why I have always advocated a Lagos-Ibadan megalopolis. Lagos-Ibadan is already megacity by virtue of its population, but a deliberate economic integration with other south west states can produce even better results,” Economist, Prof. Pat Utomi during a retreat for members of state Executive Council and lawmakers from the Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly

IN NUMBERS OC T.

uya (Hausa name for Kebab) is one of the most popular food items in Nigeria. It is a spicy ‘skish kebab’ which is traditionally prepared by the Hausas and eaten by all Nigerians. There is no day that passes in Lagos, that Lagosians don’t buy Suya. However, there is one spot that stands out from the crowd of Suya spots in Lagos which is called “University of Suya, department of meatology.” It is located in the heartbeat of Lagos- Allen Avenue opposite the Alade market, Ikeja. Although it runs 24 hours a day, its peak time is in the evening around 7pm. Unlike most suya spots in Lagos, it is well organised and neat. New Telegraph gathered that, apart from taste of the suya, cleanliness is one thing that attracts customers to the University of suya. Some people just pass without the intention of buying but they usually confess that the neatness of the place is what attracts them. Speaking of neatness, one Miss Gloria told New Telegraph that she was attracted to the spot when she noticed how thorough they clean their environment. “To be honest, on my way from work, as this is my route home; whenever I pass this place, I see people sweeping and cleaning their surroundings. I noticed that the surrounding is very neat. So, I decided to give their suya a try. I have been hearing that suya here beats any other Suya in Nigeria but I didn’t really believe until I tasted it for the first time. Since then, I branch here on my way home almost every day.” The story is the same for Hussein Mahmuda, a middle-aged Lagosian. “It is addictive, especially for people who live nearby. My house is just a stone’s throw from here. So, I hardly miss it. I stopped eating suya from other spots when I realised I used to have runny stomach. But I haven’t had that terrible experience with the suya here,” she said For Ebi Dabar James, University of Suya is special. “It is very

UNILAG expels 125, rusticates 198 students

WEDNESDAY, october 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FCT Business Watch

Business

Banks struggle amid dwindling foreign reserves

Money Naira gap narrows as BDCs’ dollar supply improves

27 28

What's new PZ Cussons Nigeria’s stock falls by N31bn

L-R: Head of Savings, Janet Nnabuko; Regional Bank Head, Apapa, Obaro Odeghe; Executive Director, Shared Services & Products, Chijioke Ugochukwu and Divisional Head, Retail Bank, Richard Madiebo, all of Fidelity Bank Plc., at the first draw of the Fidelity ‘Get Alert In Millions’ Savings Promo held at the bank’s corporate head office in Lagos, yesterday.

p.26

Nigeria, Angola consume $9.9bn US dairy, beer

Banks ignore CBN’s advice on contract staff

p.26

FRAUD Temporary and casual staff perpetrated 64 per cent of frauds and forgeries in 2014

Tony Chukwunyem

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

here are indications that Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) are paying no heed to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) warning that they should not give sensitive roles to contract or outsourced staff. Findings by New Telegraph reveal that in a bid to cut cost many banks have not only intensified their recruitment of contract staff but have gone further to entrust such workers with responsibilities that are usually reserved for their permanent staff. A source at a leading Tier 2 bank told this newspaper that the management’s recent decision that the operations unit in each of the lender’s branches must not have more than two permanent employees while the rest should be contract

staff was currently generating ripples among workers. The source said: “It (decision) is a major issue because it is not about the fact that most of the permanent staff have been deployed to marketing but the truth is that a lot of things that we do in operations are of a sensitive nature and most people feel that it is too risky to give such roles to contract staff.” CBN Director, Banking and Payments System Department, Mr. ‘Dipo Fatokun, had during the unveiling of the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF) report in Lagos last July, warned banks not to give sensitive banking roles to contract staff because such employees do not usually have a stake in the financial institution. He said: “A temporary staff may not have a stake in the bank so to say. So, it is encouraged that if they have staff that are not permanent, they should not give them responsibilities or roles that will expose them to critical functions of a bank. “If you are giving somebody an authority to approve transactions of high magnitude, and he

N2.2 billion Being the value of funds lost by commercial banks in Nigeria to fraud in 2015 according to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

does not have a stake in your bank, then you are already exposing yourself. So, this has been going on and I believe many banks understand the need to rely on their key staff for major duties. That is one of the reasons why the fraud attempts have been rising but the value lost declining.” Similarly, the Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, told Council Members of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), who paid him a visit late last year, that banks’ rush to recruit contract or outsourced staff was detrimental to the overall health of the industry. He revealed that bank examination reports had indicated that the high incidences of fraud and forgeries in the banking system had been linked to outsourced or contract staff. The NDIC boss said: “In as much as regulators appreciated the necessity for banks to cut costs, it is incumbent on all stakeholders to fashion capacity building and other strategies to motivate all CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Taiwo Hassan

Industry, Agric & Brands Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE Sept 2016 ..............................17.9% August 2016 ...........................17.6% July 2016...............................17.1%

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

EXCHANGE RATE (Parallel Market as at October 14)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N460 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N550 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N495

l Foreign Reserves – $24.187bn as at 13/10/2016

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at October 14)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N305 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N371 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N335

WEDNESDAY, october 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS |news

PZ Cussons Nigeria’s stock falls by N31bn WEAK DEMAND Utilisation of dollar dividend due to foreign investors for importation of raw materials portend good tidings

Chris Ugwu

tock price of PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc has recorded a 29.96 per cent drop in value in last the nine and half months, reducing the value of investors’ stake on the consumer goods company to about N30.573 billion (between January and October 14, 2016). Given headwinds such as weak demand on the back of a squeeze on household wallets, most consumer goods companies in Nigeria have continued to find it difficult to weather the storm. PZ Cussons Group UK, the parent company of PZ Cus-

sons Nigeria in a trading update it issued, which covers the period January 24, 2016 to 13 April 2016, said the group noted “increasingly difficult trading conditions in Africa, particularly in its main market Nigeria, wherein a lack of availability of the US dollar at the official exchange rate is resulting in the majority of purchases passing through (the parallel market, according to management of PZ Nigeria) at a premium of 50-70 per cent”. The group stated that though the resultant cost impact is being managed through changes to relative pricing, the persistent pressure on consumer disposable income remains a major challenge. Investigation by New Telegraph also showed that the PZ, which currently occupies the second position in terms of share price and market capitalisation among the personal/ household products quoted on the Exchange, closed last

Friday at N18.00 per share as against the opening share price of N25.70 at the beginning of trading last January, accounting for a drop of 29.96 per cent. Against the background of the development, overseas shareholders of PZ Cussons had asked Nigeria’s leading producer of consumable items to utilise dollar dividend due to them for importation of raw materials, as forex crisis bit harder on manufacturing firm. Chairman, PZ Cussons, Chief Kolawale Jamodu, stated this recently while addressing shareholders of the firm at their Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Abuja. He added that the overseas shareholders elected to forfeit their dividends expected to be paid in dollars, and have asked the board to utilise the forex to import raw materials to enable the company stay afloat with production. Aside of the substantial

number of Nigerians that hold equity stakes in PZ Cussons, some overseas shareholders are said to be part owner of the firm. Jamodu said: “The forex crisis is a major problem confronting the manufacturing industry. Due to forex scarcity, our overseas shareholders were magnanimous to say, whatever forex you have for us, use it to import your raw materials so that you can continue to be in operations”. Speaking on the firm’s 2015 business operations, Jamodu lamented that the challenging operating environment impacted negatively on the firm. The harsh operating environment and the deepening forex crisis led to an exchange loss of N2.9 billion, a development that impacted greatly on the fortunes of the firm. This caused a drop in group profit before taxation (PBT) by 52 per cent from N6.56 billion to N3.15 billion.

Banks ignore CBN’s advice on contract staff

L-R, Executive Director, Abuja/ Northern Region, Skye Bank, Abdullahi Mohammed; Managing Director, Interstreet Messenger Limited, Mr. Azuka Ijekeye; Group Managing Director/CEO, Skye Bank, Mr. Tokunbo Abiru and Head; Commercial Banking Africa, Standard Bank, Dr. Manessah Alagbaso during the 2019 three-day Nigeria Economic Summit in Abuja.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

employees to contribute positively rather than engaging in criminal acts that impact adversely on the entire banking system”. Indeed, NDIC data showthat temporary staff, clerks and tellers accounted for 64 per cent of the 10,612 frauds and forgeries recorded by banks in 2014. Although the CBN’s Director of Banking Supervision, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, had told journalists after the Bankers’ Committee meeting last Wednesday that banks in the country had reiterated their decision to stop mass sack of workers, industry watchers believe that the lenders are deploying most of their permanent staff to marketing as a ploy to ease them out. It will be recalled that the downturn in the economy coupled with the full implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy, fuelled a spate of mass lay-offs in the banking industry earlier this years triggering the lay off of over 4,000 employees in the first quarter of 2016 alone. In fact, it took a meeting with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, to get the banks to suspend the mass sack of their staff. At that meeting, Dr. Ngige stated that the Ministry of Labour and Employment would design a framework, which would regulate contract staffing in banks and financial institutions in the country. He said the move had become necessary because of the abuse of the practice in banks across the country.

Speaking in a chat with this newspaper, founder of Independent Shareholders Association (ISAN), Sir Sunny Nwosu, described the action of foreign investors as a welcome development that will boost the company’s chances to remain in business. He called on the Federal Government to grant palliatives to manufacturing firms as a way of easing current burden on them. “The kind of palliatives I’m talking about include serous tax relief because if you look at the company account, they have paid close to N1 billion in taxation. Such tax relief will enable money to be ploughed back into other areas such as research, expansion of business and to support the work force, because if there is no money, the government cannot stop them from retrenchment. The regulators too should also reduce penalties and encourage the company,” said Nwosu.

Nigeria, Angola consume $9.9bn US dairy, beer GAP Growing demand for consumer-oriented goods by some African countries has boosted the United States agriculture

Bayo Akomolafe

igeria and Angola are leading other African countries in importation of agricultural imports valued at $9.9 billion from United States. The imports consummated over a period of one year include dairy, frozen chicken, prepared foods, wine, beer, beef, condiments and sauces. While Nigeria imported $5.8billion goods, Angola’s imports were valued at $4.1 billion between 2015/16 sessions. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

said that imports to Nigeria had increased nearly twice as fast as South Africa’s over the last five years by 52 per cent. Consequently, it noted Nigeria had overtaken South Africa as the largest importer in subSaharan Africa, mainly due to its growing market for consumer-oriented goods. It said: “While Nigeria’s imports of bulk commodities, mainly wheat and rice, fluctuate greatly, the growing demand for consumer-oriented goods bodes well for U.S exporters. Dairy, prepared foods, wine and beer, condiments and sauces all have growth potential in Nigeria.” Also, data from the United States Department of Trade (USDT) revealed that the Nigeria had exported goods valued at $2.05 billion between January 2015 and January 2016. However, it said Nigeria recorded trade surplus last January with US, when it imported goods valued at $131 million and exported $178 million goods,

which led to a surplus of $47 million. Also in Angola, USDT noted that foreign agricultural products, totaling $4.1 billion were shipped from United States. It said that United States had become the largest poultry exporter to Angola since 2014, by controlling 55 per cent of its poultry market. The USDT added: “The majority of current U.S poultry exports are frozen cut chicken, leaving room for increased exports of frozen cut turkey, which could help offset decreasing demand in East Asia. In addition, there is potential for increased U.S exports of beef variety meats, wine and beer, prepared foods, dairy products, and pork products. The United States’ largest competitor is the EU, which accounts for 40 per cent of the Angolan import market.” Other markets for US agricultural products are Benin and Ghana. It was revealed that Benin serves as a strategic trans-shipment point to

Nigeria. The USDT said that Benin recorded $2.2 billion in agricultural imports from United States, noting that while Benin imports gulped $426 million, about $1.7 billion goods were trans-shipped to Nigeria and other landlocked countries. Besides, it explained that Ghana, which was a promising new market for its exports, accounted for only seven per cent or $1.8 billion in agricultural imports. The USDT said: “The United States is already the largest poultry exporter to Ghana, having wrested market share away from the EU and Brazil. “In 2014, U.S. poultry exports set a record at $68 million and accounted for 36 per cent of Brazil’s total $188 million poultry market. Ghana’s steady economic growth has fueled new demand among the rising middle class for consumer-oriented products, including poultry, beef, dairy, and prepared foods.”

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FCT BUSINESS WATCH

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been commended for its forex policy and resilient of the banking sector. But for how long can the apex bank continue to play its role if dollar accretion continues to fall? ABDULWAHAB ISA reports

he management of foreign exchange and reserves is the exclusivity of the central bank of every nation. This is, in addition to building and sustaining price stability and public confidence in the banking sector. In Nigeria, the banking watchdog performs these noble functions. While the apex bank is the custodian of foreign reserves, it lacks the capacity to determine the volume of forex that accrue therein. The robustness of forex reserves is a function of export and import, which is outside of apex banks’ control mechanism. To build reserves sufficient to sustain months of imports, there has to be a sustained variety of exports of commodities. A high level of exports will impact positively on the economy, leaving it with sufficient foreign exchange as well as strengthening the local currency. Single export commodity/forex crisis The Nigerian economy is driven by one major commodity export - crude oil. A rise in crude oil price at the international market naturally translates to robust forex reserve balances as had been witnessed in the recent past when crude oil price rose above $100 per barrel. Similarly, the crash in crude oil price, the current trending scenario, sign posts a dwindling acreage of forex into reserves. Data on merchandise trade (export and import) released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have been consistently indicating that the economy has been persistently weighed down by huge volume of imports and slight exports. CBN efforts at reversal To reverse the trend and entrench culture of building healthy reserves, a number of initiatives were put in place by the management of the apex bank last year. Precisely June last year, the banking watchdog announced daring measures considered unprecedented in the history of the bank policy issuance. The directive stopping some imported goods and services from the list of items valid for forex in the Nigerian foreign exchange markets jolted stakeholders. Before then, local manufacturers of goods had lamented uncontrollably about their disadvantaged position against all manner of imported goods, which had edged them out of business. Among the listed 41 items on forex prohibitive list are rice, ce-

Banks struggle amid dwindling foreign reserves

ment, margarine, palm kernel/ palm oil products/vegetables oils, meat and processed meat products, vegetables and processed vegetable products, poultry chicken, eggs, turkey, tomatoes/tomato pastes and many others. Essentially, the policy implies that those who import these items can no longer buy foreign currency from the official window to pay the overseas suppliers. Rather, they would have to source for forex from the parallel market or Bureau De Change (BDCs) to pay for their imports. The apex bank, in a statement that further clarified its position on this policy, said: “It’s important to emphasise that the importation of these items are not prohibited or banned. It only means that importers of these items are no longer qualified to get foreign exchange from the CBN or the official market to buy these items CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele from overseas.” The ban on forex for selected items received applauses from lobeing implemented by the CBN cal manufacturers. The umbrella had not stopped importers from body of manufacturers, the Manumaking profit from importation, facturers Association of Nigeria ( instead, it is the local industries MAN), endorsed CBN’s step. Notathat are recording losses. ble manufacturers such as ChairAccording to him, forex is not man of Erisco Foods Limited, the problem but establishing Chief Eric Umeofia, described the a policy that would restrict the CBN’s decision as the right step to importation of tomato. be taken. “We are not looking for forex. He said: “The government We are only saying that governneeds to ban the importation of ment should put up a policy tomato paste to help local producwhere we are producing tomato ers in the tomato industry. Erisco concentrate to those industries Foods now produces 45,000 metric that are into packaging; we are tonnes and the only company pronot into retail packaging,” he cessing dried tomatoes and consaid. verting same to paste. Tomatoes Similarly, Erisco Foods Limthat would have been wasted are ited threatened to shut down its A high level being dried and processed into plants over forex scarcity, an acpaste by Erisco Foods. This has tion that may lead to job losses. of exports created jobs for people that help in Addressing the media in Lawill impact drying fresh tomatoes to preserve gos, Umeofia attributed the comthem in some states. With what we pany’s predicament to scarcity of positively on are doing, we have impacted the foreign exchange. the economy, lives of rural farmers.” He said if at the end of 30 days, the situation did not improve, he leaving it with Threat to shut down factories would move his manufacturing sufficient In the face of insufficient forex firm out of Nigeria. at the disposal of the apex bank, “We cannot get forex to buy foreign some local producing firms said machinery. We run our big facexchange they may have no choice but to tory with forex sourced from the shut down their operations due to parallel market at the exchange insufficient forex allocation by the rate of N450/dollar. The compaapex bank. nies that get forex at the official In previous weeks, two reexchange rate are those that imnowned tomato paste producers port items included in the list of - Alhaji Sanni Dangote, Group items not valid for forex. Vice- Chairman of Dangote In“We cannot continue this busidustries Limited and Chairman, ness because we are running at a Erisco Foods Limited, Chief Eric loss while importers continue to Umeofia, threatened to shut down flood our markets with banned their tomato factories. tomato paste and prevent our Alhaji Dangote hinged plans to products from selling,” he said. stop tomato paste production on But those privy to the CBN and the harsh operating environment, the quantum of forex intervenwhich, he said, gave advantage to tion given to Erisco Foods Limimported production. ited said Umeofia was not correct Dangote, who spoke at the 2nd on his facts. He was said to have group meeting of the Zero Hunbeen given more allocation than ger Committee in Abuja, said: “We the rest of his colleaques, a fact have been talking for the past one he owned up to, when he featured year and up till now, there is no last week on a live television proclear cut direction where the govgramme. ernment is heading.” It was learnt that Erisco Foods He said that the forex policy Limited’s challenge is not forex.

Its problem may also be rooted in estranged financial relationships with its bankers over debt service issues. Investigations showed that the company had received about N2billion intervention fund of CBN. Umeofia confirmed this on the television programme. It was revealed that Erisco and other beneficiary firms between June 2014 and April 2016, received various sums for the importation and installation of tomato processing lines and the stockpiling of raw materials for operational efficiency. Protests galoree Two protests happened last week in the capital city of Abuja. One was against the economy and CBN forex policy and the other in support of CBN and tFederal Government economic policy. During the protest by women and youths, the group decried the prolonged spate of economic hardship occasioned by recession in the economy, a development the protesters laid on the shoulders of economic management team and mis-priority of forex policy. They sought the disbandment of Economic Management Team by the president. A day later, a more organised group staged a protest backing the Federal Government’s economic policy and CBN’s forex policy. Under the auspices of coalition of Civil Society Group, the group threw its weight behind policies of the CBN, including efforts by the Federal Government to revive the economy. Its convener, Etuk Bassey William, commended the policies of the CBN, particularly the blockage of leakages to the country’s foreign reserves as well as the injection of funds into the real sector, with a view to revamping the ailing economy. William, who noted that the current economic challenges and recession were the culmination of many years of financial imprudence on the part of government at different levels, noted that the CBN had shown leadership by daring to plug loopholes in Nigeria’s foreign reserves. “By restricting Forex allocation to 41 items in which Nigeria has comparative advantage, the CBN has given new lease of life to many companies that were hitherto suffering from strangulation brought about by the importation of items that can be produced in the country,” he noted. Conclusion With the economy facing its toughest time, what is required at this peril time is unconventional approaches in management of forex . This is what the management at CBN is doing – sustaining confidence in Nigerian banking sector.

WEDNESDAY, october 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS |MONEY

Prospects of closing the gap between the official and parallel markets rates brightened recently as dollar sales to Bureaux De Change (BDCs) by Travelex and First Bank of Nigeria Ltd strengthened the naira on the parallel market. TONY CHUKWUNYEM writes

Naira gap narrows as BDCs’ dollar supply improves

rom an all time low of N490 to the dollar on the parallel market a fortnight ago, the naira has staged a significant recovery in recent days, gaining N30 to close at N460 to the greenback on the unofficial market last weekend. The consensus among financial analysts and foreign exchange dealers last Friday was that the local currency’s appreciation on the parallel market was triggered by the commencement of dollar sales to Bureaux De Change (BDCs) by global forex dealer, Travelex. Although speculation had been rife since early last month that Travelex had received Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) permission to start selling dollars to BDCs, the process did not begin until October 7 when the global forex dealer sold the sum of $15,000 to each of the 3,000 licensed BDC operators in the country. In a statement, in which he commended the CBN for giving approval to Travelex to commence the sale of forex to BDCs, the President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Aminu Gwadabe, said that with each of the 3,000 BDC operators getting $15,000 each, $45million will flow into the system, thereby helping to ease the acute scarcity of forex that had led to a widening gap between the official and parallel markets’ rates. $21bn Diaspora remittances Prior to appointing Travelex as the supplier of forex to BDCs, the apex bank had given commercial banks the task of meeting BDCs’ forex demand. In a circular dated July 22, 2016, the regulator directed agent banks to approve International Money Transfer Organisations (IMTOs) to sell foreign currency accruing from inward money remittances to licensed BDCs. It directed that all international money transfer operators would be required to remit foreign currency to agent banks for disbursement in naira to beneficiaries. With Nigeria’s Diaspora remittances estimated at $21billion annually, industry watchers said the move was part of the banking watchdog’s efforts to ensure stability of the exchange rate of the naira. In fact, in a chat with

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

journalists, the Special Adviser, Financial Markets to the CBN Governor, Mr. Emmanuel Ukeje, said that the directive for banks to sell dollars received via remittances was aimed at achieving exchange rate convergence. He argued that the directive did not mean that the CBN had reversed the decision it announced last January to stop selling forex to BDCs. Ukeje explained: “Previously, we were allocating forex, but we decided that we were not going to be taking money from our reserves to be doing that. So it is those remittances that are going to banks that we want used to fund that market, so that rates can come down. That market is very dry, that was why we decided to open the window. “So it is not a policy somersault because you remember that even when we decided to stop funding them, we said they could get their money from autonomous sources, and that the central bank will not sell dollars to them”, he added. Ukeje emphasised that the banking watchdog was desirous of BDCs having access to funds that would enable them stay afloat, pointing out that this would help ease forex scarcity in the system. He said: “What happens is that if they are sure of more sources of forex, people would be calm. Now, if this other source, which is supposed to be supplementing the interbank market gets supply, no matter how small it is, we think it would reduce the panic in the system.” However, with the exception of a few big banks such as First Bank of Nigeria Limited and United Bank for Africa (UBA), most lenders did not comply with the CBN’s directive to sell forex to the BDCs despite the Bankers’ Committee’s pledge to ensure compliance and its rais-

ABCON president, Aminu Gwadabe

The banking watchdog was desirous of BDCs having access to funds that would enable them stay afloat

ing the maximum amount that banks could sell to BDC operators from $30,000 to $50,000 per week. The banks’ recalcitrance prompted protests from ABCON, which then complained to the CBN that led to the consideration of Travelex as a replacement for the banks. FirstBank as sole FX dealer to BDCs But not many industry watchers were surprised when reports emerged last week that the banking watchdog had suspended other banks and appointed FirstBank as the sole authorised dealer for foreign exchange proceeds to licensed BDCs in the country. A top CBN official who confirmed the development was quoted by a national newspaper as having said: “We discovered that all the banks were not selling to the BDCs, while a few that did so occasionally short-changed them by selling at higher margin. The only exception was First Bank, which had 500 BDCs and sold to them on regular basis. So we decided that since the bank was selling the dollars as directed, we would allow it to continue to do so. But we have stopped the other banks and directed them to give up 25 per cent of the dollars received through international money transfer services to us.” Similarly, in a message to registered BDCs, ABCON President, Gwadabe, said: “This is to inform members of the directive of CBN to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) with the exception of First Bank, to suspend the sales of the proceeds of international money transfer to BDCs till further notice. Please be guided when buying through the bank window. “Members should please note that the reason for the stoppage of other DMBs except First Bank in selling proceeds of IMTSOs is to mop-up the held dollar position by non-compliant banks and make it

available to all BDCs nationwide soon. Please we advise members to be patient and await ABCON’s further directives soon,” New Telegraph gathered that First Bank was not affected by the CBN’s action because apart from its full compliance with the apex bank’s directive to sell dollars to BDCs, the Tier one lender was also considered because of the national spread of its branch network. A BDC operator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “Compared to other banks, FirstBank is clearly the best in the area of dollar sales to BDCs. In addition, it has more branches in the hinterland than other banks.” According to information on the Tier one lender’s website, it has more than 10 million customer accounts and over 750 branches, which provide a comprehensive range of retail and corporate financial services. In a statement, the bank said the CBN’s pronouncement was a testament to its strong financial base and avowed support to the growth and development of a sustainable national economy. It pointed out that the announcement was coming on the heels of its strengthened money transfer services as well as its strict compliance to CBN’s rules and directives on the sale of foreign exchange. The statement said, FirstBank “remains committed to corporate governance principles and would continue to ensure that dollar sales to the BDCs continue in a seamless manner for ease of distribution to the end users.” The lender’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Mr. Patrick Iyamabo, noted that the financial institution would continue to strive to maintain its position as the safest and most respected banking franchise in the country. “We would continue to leverage our unique ability to grow and capitalise the institution – a testament to our solid track record. Our highest priority remains meeting the financing and banking needs of our customers, by providing world class services, knowledge and expertise to support them, even in very difficult times” he stated. Conclusion However, industry watchers told this newspaper that while BDCs’ access to forex may have improved due to the efficient services of FirstBank and Travelex, resulting in naira’s appreciation on the parallel market, it could still take a long time for the much desired convergence of the inter-bank and parallel market rates to be realised. An analyst noted: “Currently, forex inflow into the system is still far below demand. As long as this persists, there will continue to be a significant gap between the official and parallel markets’ rates.”

BUSINESS |MONEY

WEDNESDAY, october 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Analysts predict growth in Nigeria’s external reserves EXPECTATION Nigeria is set to benefit from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) deal

Tony Chukwunyem

gainst the background of growing uncertainty over the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) capacity to sustain its intervention in the interbank foreign exchange market, analysts at Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) Limited have predicted a boost for the country’s external reserves this month. In a note obtained by New Telegraph, the experts said the expected boost would come from the recent deal reached by OPEC to cut oil production but allow countries such as Nigeria and Iran to produce as much as they can. The analysts averred that as a result of this deal, Nigeria will enjoy higher oil revenue from higher oil prices, a development they said would bolster the country’s reserves and help reduce the pressure on prices occasioned by forex scarcity. The analysts stated: “Inflationary pressures are likely to reduce in October… OPEC came to the conclusion of cutting production to 32.5 -33 million bpd. However, countries like Nigeria and Iran were given allowances to produce

as much as possible. “Therefore, the country’s reserves are to receive a boost and as such pressure on prices from forex scarcity is to be elevated. This is because the country is to enjoy higher oil revenue from higher oil prices (from OPEC production cut) and production allowance.” They, however, pointed out that the expected positive impact of the deal would depend on Federal Government’s capacity to ensure that the current cease-fire with militants in the oil rich Niger Delta holds. Nigeria depends on oil for over 90 per cent of its foreign exchange earnings. But the country’s external reserves have been significantly impacted by the over two years

slump in oil prices coupled with the activities of pipeline vandals, which resulted in a sharp drop in oil production. Indeed, data obtained from the CBN’s website last Sunday showed that the external reserves had fallen to an 11-year low of $24.19billion. Analysts believe that if the OPEC deal does not lead to a sustained increase in the price of oil and the rapid pace of the external reserves depletion continues, the CBN would find it difficult to maintain its daily interventions at the interbank foreign exchange market. The apex bank had on June 20 lifted its 16-month-old currency controls and auctioned about $4billion on the spot and futures markets to clear a

“This important one-off exercise is dedicated to the clearance of the backlog of matured foreign exchange obligations,” the Ministry of Transportation said in a statement. The liquidity squeeze on the interbank market has led to many firms closing shop and sacking workers. Traders said there was no trade for more than four hours after the market opened last Friday, with the currency then offered at N311 to the dollar in a single trade of $500,000 at mid-day. The naira closed at 305 and 307.77 per dollar, according to CBN and FMDQ data respectively. The currency was sold at N460 per dollar on the parallel market.

L-R: NDIC MD/ CEO, Umaru Ibrahim explaining a point while the NDIC Executive Director Corporate Services, Hon. Mrs. Lola AbiolaEdewor with the Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, Senator Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim during the Committee’s oversight visit to the NDIC Head Office Abuja.

Sukuk issuance in 2016 to hit $70bn –Report he total issuance of sukuk in 2016 is expected to be in the range of $65-70 billion, continuing a similar pace witnessed in 2015, a report has shown. In 2015, sukuk issuance were at $65.9 billion, registering nearly a 50 per cent drop compared to 2014. The drop in sukuk, that is heavily dependent on government issues, mainly reflected the Malaysia’s decision to stop issuing shortterm paper, and to a lesser extent lower issuances from Saudi Arabia. But now the situation has changed. Most of the countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have been heavily dependent on sukuk and bonds as a means to finance budget deficits amid plunging prices of oil, from which the governments derive most of their revenues. “Countries need to diversify their source of income, and capital raising. Saudi is a good example and they were always in the bonds market, but they didn’t need to borrow that much, but now things have changed,” said Mohammad Qasim Al Ali, Chief Executive Of-

backlog of dollar demand and help boost interbank market trading. Also, on September 28, the CBN settled OTC FX futures contracts on the interbank market to the tune of $180 million. However, in a bid to defend the naira on the interbank market, the regulator has lately stepped up its interventions in that market. Last Friday, it auctioned two-month dollar forwards to clear a backlog of demand from airlines, manufacturers and other companies. Traders said that in Friday’s one-off special auction, the CBN debited customers’ naira accounts but will deliver the dollars in two months’ time.

ficer of National Bonds. Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest exporter of oil, was expected to meet international investors last week for a bond issue, as the country struggles to plug the deficit caused by plunging oil prices. The nation is expected to issue billions of dollars through bonds maturing in five, 10 and 30 years. Total sovereign issuances stood at $15 billion by the end of first half of 2016, of which $8 billion originated in Malaysia. Indonesia has also shown a revival in sukuk activity and issued $2.8 billion in the first half. As far as quasi sovereign sukuk is concerned, there was a pick up in first half issuances. In the first six months till June, $11.5 billion worth of semi government sukuks were issued, slightly above the total issuances in the first half of 2015. Malaysia remained the biggest and most liquid national sukuk market with a market share of around 50 per cent, totalling $34 billion of issuances by the end of 2015. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have been the second and the third largest issuers.

New strategies to meet the liquidity management and personal financing needs of Islamic banks and Islamic windows at conventional banks are being developed. These products address both the operational needs of Islamic banks and the preferences of their customers and external stakeholders. One of these products is the National Bonds Sukuk Trading Platform, which uses assets in the local economy to structure Sharia-compliant consumer financing. Its structure segregates the component transactions, which occur on a bilateral basis by the different parties, at different times, with no conditionality. It also provides this service with lower transaction costs than some of the alternatives in the market. “This highlights the benefits of the significant role of Sukuk Platform in ensuring that liquidity and financing fulfil their main role through incentivising economic growth and resolving financial challenges faced by SMEs and business leaders — while avoiding the risks that go hand in hand with conventional loans,” Al Ali said.

Fintech disruption threatens Islamic Banks, say experts

ike their conventional peers, Islamic banks have no choice but to embrace the next generation of computing and leverage on new generation digital technologies, financial experts have said. Speaking at a plenary session at the Global Islamic Economy Summit 2016, the experts noted that there was not much of a difference between the preferences of Muslims and non-Muslims with regards to digital financial services and direct banking channels. According to the World Islamic Banking Competitiveness Report 2016 by EY, Islamic banks still have a lower customer penetration in mobile banking compared to conventional banks and the digitisation efforts need to catch up. According to a recent World Bank statistics more than 2 billion people around the world are unbanked and about half of them are in the Muslim world. “It is embarrassing that such large numbers of Muslims

do not have any access to banking services. Fintech may be the answer to more inclusive banking. The new generation technologies break down economic and social barriers,” said Abdul Haseeb Basit, chief financial officer of Innovate Finance, UK. High cost and low yields have kept away banks from serving some segments of population. With the arrival of cost effective technologies, it is easier for banks to serve greater numbers at lower costs. Participants at the panel discussion shared the view that the digital solutions will improve the quality of services offered by both Islamic and conventional banks. “Fintech can help customers do financial planning with the help of technology tools enabling them to forecast and plan ahead. Technology is a great enabler. Fintech can enable small businesses in making and receiving payments,” said Abdullah Al Najran, Deputy CEO of Boubyan Bank Kuwait.

WEDNESDAY, october 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | Investor

Activities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has continued to slide, making Kenya to outperform Nigeria. CHRIS UGWU examines some of the factors liable for this drift

As Kenya overtakes Nigeria...

at 2016, you see that a couple of these will still be there, crude price has dropped the lowest in more than14 years. We still see environment of lack of clarity. We have seen a mixed command and control of economy as being juxtaposed with free market economy that has created some level of absence of clarity when it comes to policy environment.”

ollowing some militating factors, the Nigerian stock market has continued to witness a scenario where virtually all investors both foreign and local sell or are rushing to sell all their stocks as they plan to exit at all cost. Exit to fixed income market The sole motive is to get out of the market and seek shelter in investments in the fixed income (bonds, treasury bills etc.). The increased selling momentum shows that the bears have taken control. Worse still is the rush by foreign portfolio managers to exit the Nigerian equities market, as a buffer to augment their battered positions in the face of recessions in their home markets. Market apathy has also heightened as local investors also step up transfer of funds from stocks to safer investments, as the nation slipped into recession. The negative effect of sustained sell pressure has cast doubts in the ability of the local bourse to grow. Kenya beats Nigeria The doubts have become so rife among the market watchers following a report that Kenya had overtaken Nigeria in stock trading for the first time. According to a recent report, investors are investing more money into Kenyan stocks than Nigeria’s for the first time on record in September. According to Bloomberg chart obtained by New Telegraph, the value of shares traded on Nigeria’s exchange fell to $139 million, near the lowest since Bloomberg began compiling such data in 2009, as foreign investors shunned an economy battered by militant attacks on oil facilities and shortages of foreignexchange. In Kenya, with an economy an eighth the size of Nigeria’s but set to grow almost six per cent this year, the value rose 4.2 per cent from August to $152 million. Also earlier in the year, investigation had shown that Kenya’s stock market outperformed key competitors, Nigeria and Egypt, in the past year despite the ongoing bearish run, data on African stock exchanges had shown. According to an online medium, the Nairobi Securities Exchange All share index shed 10.6 per cent in value in 2015, compared to a 21.3 per cent of the Nigeria Stock Exchange All share Index and a 29 per cent decline in the Egypt Stock Exchange EGX 100 index. Among the six second-tier

SEC building

markets in Africa, Morocco and Tunisia recorded lower declines than Kenya, while Zimbabwe was the worst performing, falling by 30 per cent. The tier-one Johannesburg Stock Exchange was in the red as well, recording a fall of 3.5 per cent. “There has been broad-based weakness in emerging markets and frontier stock markets. When Nairobi is compared with Nigeria and Egypt, it has outperformed,” said Aly-Khan Satchu, chief executive of advisory and data vending firm Rich Management. According to analysts, the African markets are now competing for a smaller pot of foreign investor dollars. These investors are increasingly shifting their investment portfolios to cheaper and less risky markets such as the US, hurting both the African equity markets and currencies. Investment portfolios However, one of the major odds against the NSE is issue of investment portfolios following the low sentiment that had pervaded the nation’s bourse. For instance, total transactions at the nation’s bourse decreased by 42.13 per cent from N155.85 billion recorded in June 2016 to N90.19 billion (about $0.29 billion) in July 2016. Also, total transactions from January to July 2016 decreased by 44.38 per cent from N1, 284.82 billion recorded within the same period in 2015 to N714.60 billion in 2016. Domestic investors slightly outperformed their foreign counterparts by about 1.8 per cent. Domestic transactions decreased by 39.66 per cent from N76.08 billion in June 2016 to N45.91 billion in July 2016. FPI transactions decreased by 44.48 per cent from N79.76 billion in June 2016 to N44.28 billion in July 2016. In comparison to the same period in 2015, total FPI transactions decreased by 54.99 per cent

from N696.46 billion to N313.49, whilst the total domestic transactions decreased by 31.83 per cent from N588.36 billion to N401.10 billion.

African markets are now competing for a smaller pot of foreign investor dollars

Demutualisation With the reported progress being made by Nigeria’s regulators on demutualisation, market watchers had hoped that before now the demutualisation process would have been concluded. But due to the inability of various interests to agree on the way forward, since the plan was conceptualised, it has pitched key capital market operators against each other. Some critics of the process had argued that some clique in the leadership of the Exchange intended to hijack the demutualisation and called on the regulatory authorities to shelve its plan to commence the process. There was perception that the plan to demutualise NSE at a period when crisis of confidence was still rocking the stock market was a grand ploy to take the control of the Exchange by a certain clique. In order to reconcile all shades of opinion, the council of the Exchange at its 55th Annual General Meeting (AGM) this year agreed to put on hold vote on demutualisation to allow more consultations. Members of the Exchange, who are mostly stockbrokers, had urged the Council of the NSE to embark on more consultations before the demutualisation. They also said after the consultations, an extra-ordinary general meeting (EGM) should be convened where the council and management of the NSE would be authorised to commence the demutualisation process. Also, the Managing Director, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu, speaking to this newspaper on other odds against the nation’s stock market, said: “Given the factors that accounted for weak performance in 2015, looking

Way forward Some investment stakeholders have called on the market regulators to do more in area of investment education that will boost positive sentiment of domestic investors in the nation’s capital market. The investment experts, who spoke at the 2016 Triennial Delegates Conference and Gala Night tagged ‘Financial Turbulence & Regulatory Framework in a Recession Economy’ organised by Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN) in Lagos last week, noted that the NSE, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other stakeholders needed to do more to encourage domestic portfolio investment as against strong presence of foreign investors in the market. Former Chairman, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Elder Kalu Uke Kalu, who spoke at the conference, said regulators should pay more attention on how to bring back local investors who have gone through hard times in the last six years. He noted that the period saw most domestic investors losing the value of their investment coupled with other challenges, which include rising wave of unclaimed dividend and share reconstructions embarked upon by some quoted companies. Speaking in the same vein, a former Group Managing Director, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) Plc, Mr. Arnold Ekpe, noted that if the stock market must move forward, the regulators must encourage domestic investors. “We need to get the regulators and other stakeholders to come up with good approach to grow the stock market. The government needs to provide the leadership to achieve the objective of boosting the market participants at the local level,” Ekpe said. He noted that since Nigeria gained independence in 1960, the country had come a long way but that there were a lot of things, “we should have done, we have not moved as fast as others, we are number one in Africa during the last two years but we have ceded the position to South Africa, let us do something to build a viable economy to regain our position. We are at across road and if we don’t move fast, the rest of the world will abandon us.” Conclusion To stem the tide of sustainable bear run, the regulators should step up measures to attract more domestic flows into the market; implement a more competitive price structure and intensify its efforts towards developing a more sustainable market.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

MARITIME

Trucks laden with containers at Lagos Port complex, Apapa

Landing fee: Who blinks first, FG or Lagos? I n 2009, the Lagos State Government introduced wharf landing fees to shore up the revenue profile of host local governments with ports in its domain. It said under Wharf Landing Fees Law No. 5 of 2009 that the fees were introduced to take care of harmful consequences of trucking activities in the port areas. To this end, N1,000 was charged on 40 feet container, N500 on every 20 feet container and N300 on every vehicle imported through the ports. The collection of the fees was contracted to a consultant, M-TOF Consulting Services LLP, by the state government as soon as the law was promulgated. Criticism But the introduction of the fee by the state government was severely criticised by importers, especially the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN). The manufacturers and other importers had argued that the implementation of the act establishing the wharf landing fee would add to the rising cost of doing business in the country and would equally work against foreign investment inflow. They also noted that wharf landing fee was tantamount to double taxation. Seven years after, the Federal Government recently commenced moves to retrieve earnings by the state government in a suit referenced: SC/443/2010 and filed on behalf of the Federal Government by Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), using the name

There is a need for both the Federal Government and Lagos State to be cautious on the on-going tussle over Wharf landing fees. BAYO AKOMOLAFE reports

of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF). Already, it has filed a suit before the Supreme Court, urging the law to be declared as unconstitutional. It said that the court should order the state to refund all the proceeds earned through the law since its implementation. Also, the Federal Government wants the court to declare that the state lacks power to make laws on any maritime, shipping and navigation matters including wharf landing, exclusively reserved for it in item 36 of the Exclusive Legislative List, Part 1 of the Second Schedule of the 1999 Constitution.

Refund The Federal Government similarly asked for an order directing Lagos to account, refund and pay all the amount of money it had charged, received and collected in the course of implementing the Wharf Landing Fees Law, running into billions of naira. The plaintiff also urged the court to authorise it to deduct the fund from the statutory allocation due to state from the Federation Account. In its brief, the plaintiff argued that the motive behind the fees was clear from the nature of the law itself, which is to levy taxes and tariffs on goods and consignment imported through the seaports in Lagos state. It argued that the law encroached the powers of the Federal Government to collect import duties and customs duties.

We do not think N1,000 for 40 feet container and N500 for 20 feet container is too much for the owners to pay

Defence However, in a counter-affidavit deposed to by a former Senior Special Assistant to the state Governor on Justice Sector Reform, Olanrewaju Akinsola, the state government stated that it had the power to authorise relevant local government councils to collect the fees in areas outside the jurisdiction of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), pursuant to Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution. It said that the law was aimed at bringing to an end the incidence of multiple and illegal taxes in Lagos. According to the state government, before the enactment of the law, several local government areas engaged in indiscriminate imposition of levies on vehicles carrying goods and equipment in a bid to check the damage caused to their infrastructure by heavy traffic, especially those coming from the ports. However, some companies using the seaports have snubbed the Lagos State Wharf Landing Fees Collecting Authority (LSWLFCA). At a stakeholders’ meeting last August, out of the 240 invoices issued to the various companies, only 81 companies or 34 per cent responded in terms of payments, while 159 companies or 64 per cent declined to pay. Miffed by this, the Chairman of the authority, Engr Joe Igbokwe, who appealed to the stakeholders to pay their fees, said that if appeasement failed, force and coercion would become inevitable.

However, the chairman said that since state government took over fees collection this year, the state had been communicating to the affected stakeholders to pay the fees. Complaints Igbokwe said: “We have issued 240 invoices to the various companies and got only 81 responses in terms of payments, representing 34 per cent. “This is not a good advertisement of what is supposed to be a cordial and symbiotic relationship. Let us see ourselves as partners and we promise to fulfill our own side of the bargain. “We do not think N1,000 for 40 feet container and N500 for 20 feet container is too much for the owners to pay to the government. Again, cars are meant to pay just N300 while SUVs are to pay N500. But in most cases, the drivers in custody of these cars refuse to pay, especially at Port and Terminal Multi-services Limited (PTML) bonded terminal at Otto Wolf, Mile 2 and elsewhere. “We do not think that N1000 is too much to pay for 33,000 litres of wet products, which is about 3 kobo per litre. Yes, some wet cargo companies have been paying for AGO, DPK and others but have resisted that of PMS even when there is partial deregulation in place. Conclusion Indiscriminate imposition of levies on vehicles carrying goods and equipment outside the seaports, especially during recession, may further increase cost of commodities in the market.

BUSINESS \ MARITIME

ILLEGITIMATE

Smugglers have recently been flooding eastern part of the country with contraband goods

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Customs arrest 22 smugglers over N2bn contraband

Stories: Bayo Akomolafe

he anti-smuggling unit of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)’s Federal Operations Unit, Zone C in Owerri has arrested 22 smugglers over 231 seizures with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N2billion in the third quarter of 2016. In a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Onuigbo Ifeoma, the seizures include 121 vehicles, 3,082 bags of 50-kilogramme rice, 5,120 pieces of used foreign tyres, 625 cartons of fake medicaments and 2,600 pieces of imported school bags. Others are 63 containers of logs of wood, 97 pieces of 14 -stroke engine generator, 30,181 cartons imported frozen poultry products, 1,148 bales of second hand clothing as well as 2, 331 cartons of foreign detergents and creams. The list also includes 1,339 pairs of foot wears, 142 pieces of used refrigerators and compressors, 155 cartons of plastic and articles of plastics, 129 cartons of ceramics and articles of ceramics in addition to 803 bags of scrap metals. According to the

R-L: Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo in a chat with the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside at the signing of the African Charter on Maritime Security, Safety and Development forum in Lome, Togo.

Customs Area Controller of the unit, Haruna Mamudu, the seizures were less than the 379 seizures of contraband with a DPV of N2.2 billion recorded in the same period in 2015. He noted that the unit recorded an underpayment of N548.7million into the Federation Account within the period, amounting to an increase in the percentage of revenue generated by the NCS in 2016 as against the N105.2million underpayment recovered in the same period of year 2015. Haruna noted that the seizures were recorded on the Benin axis, Asaba-Agbor-Onitsha express way, Calabar, Enugu,

FG to implement oil pollution fund

he Federal Government would implement the 1992 International Civil Liability Convention and the 1992 International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Fund in Nigeria. Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, disclosed this at the seventh meeting of the National Standing Committee (NSC) on Implementation of the IOPC Fund and related conventions in in Abuja. The international compensation regime, which was developed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), according to a statement, comprised of two main conventions - the 1992 International Civil Liability convention and the 1992 IOPC Fund. Already, the country has ratified both conventions and therefore has the

obligation for its effective implementation. The director general, who was represented by the Director, Abuja Zonal office, Mr. Ali Indabawa, gave assurance to stakeholders that the agency was committed to adequate implementation of the fund and other related conventions for the benefit of coastal communities and the preservation of marine environment. Peterside said: “NIMASA is working hard to ensure that our marine environment is free from all sorts of pollution. This entails preventing and controlling pollution from all sources such as ship based and land based sources.” He added that IMO had developed the compensation regime, which helps victims of oil pollution damage to obtain compensation and for the governments to be reimbursed for cost of oil spill clean-up.

Owerri and Port-Harcourt axis of the South-south and South -East zones. Already, he said that 16 cases were pending in court. The comptroller maintained that the feat was accomplished as a result of the renewed determination of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd.), to rid the country of all forms of illegal importation. He expressed concern over the indulgence of some Nigerians in act of smuggling despite stiff penalty. The controller stressed that the NCS would not be deterred in its efforts to stamp out the

scourge in the country. He added that the NCS had been well equipped, mobilised and motivated to dislodge smugglers, their collaborators and agents whereever they hibernate. He appealed to members of the public with useful information about smugglers to always make such information available to his men or to other sister security agencies for necessary action, assuring that the identity of such informants would never be disclosed. Meanwhile, NCS’ Apapa Area 1 Command has collected N96 billion from Lagos Port Complex Apapa in the third

quarter of the year. The command collected N28billion in July, N35 billion in August and N33 billion in September. According to its Area Controller, Willy Egbudin, NCS surpassed its monthly target of N32billion in August and September with a collection of N35billion and N33billion respectively. Meanwhile, Ogun Area Command of the service has impounded 37 vehicles loaded with smuggled rice from Benin Republic. The smuggled goods were intercepted along Ipokia, Idiroko/ Owode and Alari axis.

Nigeria attains 79.3% ISPS code implementation –Minister

igeria has achieved 79.3 per cent compliance on the implementation of International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code, the Federal Government has said. The Minister of Transportation, Honourale Rotimi Amaechi, disclosed this in Washington DC when he led a delegation to the United States Coasts Guard (USCG)’s head office. In a statement, he noted that since the implementation of the code by Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) as the Designated Authority (DA), the country had performed creditably by moving the compliance level from nine per cent in 2013 to 79.3per cent in 2016. He gave assurance the United States Coasts Guard (USCG) that the code would be fully implemented in the country. The minister also gave assurance to the international shipping community that Ni-

geria was committed to the full implementation of the code to safe guard its maritime domain. The minister urged the US Government to revisit the Condition of Entry (COE) earlier placed on vessels that had called some port facilities in Nigeria, which were not compliant with the code. According to him, over 80 per cent of those facilities had complied with the code and needed to be removed for the COE list. He said: “Nigeria appreciates the efforts and support of the United States Government in encouraging a cordial bilateral relationship with Nigeria not only in the area of maritime security but also in other areas. “I want to assure the US Coast Guard and indeed the international shipping community of Nigeria’s commitment to the full implementation of the ISPS code to further insti-

tute a strict security regime in our maritime environment.” Receiving the delegation, the Assistant Commandant of the USCG, Rear Admiral Paul Thomas, expressed his country’s determination to support Nigeria in its goal of full implementation of the ISPS code. Thomas, who oversees the USCG directorates of Inspection and Compliance as well as Marine Transport Systems, commended Nigeria for its progress in the ISPS code implementation so far. He noted that the visit to the US was aimed at exposing the delegation to some of the strategies adopted by America to successfully implement the code. The visit, which was at the invitation of the USCG, was expected to serve as an exchange programme for the Nigerian delegation, expose them to the implementation strategies of the United States to enable them replicate it in Nigeria.

BUSINESS \ MARITIME

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Cotonou roro business drops •As liners shift to SIFAX Terminal TRADE Shipping lines want the Federal Government to reclaim its roll on roll off business from neighbouring port Bayo Akomolafe

he President of Auto Export Shipping (AES), Pete Bottino, has urged the Federal Government to take advantage of the decline in patronage currently experienced by the Cotonou ports to grow its

s the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council moves to reduce the cost of doing business in the country, the Federal Government has been urged to address corruption at borders and ports in other to reduce the cost of doing business. Africa Shipping & Oil Digest’s Editor, Mr. Lanre Badmus made this call in Lagos. He said that the country’s busiest trade route had become inefficient. Badmus noted that Seme border post was characterised by a poor working environment for border officials; primitive office accommodation, absence of basic social amenities, and a deplorable road network, which is unbefitting of an regional gateway. He said that the state of affairs at the border had created a supportive environment for corruption. He said: “There are two markets on either side of the border. While the market in Benin Republic (Krake) fed by the port in Cotonou continues to expand, that on the Nigerian side (Seme) has gradually lost its shine. “This has been attributed to the decision of succeeding Nigerian leaders to embrace an import substitution policy as against the open trade approach by Benin Republic, thus imports landed in Benin are relatively cheaper, an incentive to smuggle by Nigerians. “What you observe during the day are commercial buses, motorcycle riders and private vehicles moving through the various checkpoints mounted by the different agencies of the state on

Roll on Roll off business. Auto Export Shipping handles automobiles, trucks, and mobile industrial equipment via roll on/roll off vessel services from U.S. ports to various West African ports, In a statement by the company’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr. Muyiwa Akande, he noted that the Cotonou RoRo vehicle market, which previously was a booming market in the West Coast, had suffered a significant decline in patronage, a situation he described as a big opportunity for Nigeria to explore in order to grow its earnings. He said: “As a highlyrated carrier in the United

States, we used to export two large vessels to the Cotonou ports on a weekly basis, but I must tell you that this market had crashed now and we only manage to export a small fraction there now. “At present, our company would prefer to ship cargoes to Nigerian ports rather than Cotonou ports. This is an opportunity that Nigeria and its government must key into, if they want to grow their earnings.” Bottino urged the Federal Government to urgently address the challenge of foreign exchange that has negatively affected businesses in the country.

According to him, “right now, because of the foreign exchange problems in Nigeria, the business is down. I believe once the government gets that sorted out, more customers will be bringing in lot more cars, especially trucks and machine equipment. “This is what everybody wants, but because of the foreign exchange problems, people don’t buy cars and send to Nigeria anymore, they send them to other countries. Nigeria has to get the foreign exchange problems fixed. “For the first time in our business relations in Nigeria, my team and I in the United States can feel

and sense that people are trying their best to grow the RoRo vehicle industry in Nigeria and we feel highly confident with these gestures.” Also, the president commended SIFAX Group for the genuine commitment displayed so far in building a solid business relationship with his company as shown in its business acumen, problem-solving skill and excellent customer service shown in the vehicle importation service. He added that AES and SIFAX Group were jointly revolutionising the RoRo industry in Nigeria with the one-stop shop service that includes port termi-

nal services, stevedoring, ship agency and off-dock services. He said: “We started conversations with the company from 2012 and we simply had no choice than to choose them because the company’s vision of growth, forward movement and becoming a dominant force in the Nigerian shipping industry is in tandem with AES vision. “When you have a company whose vision is the same with yours, one has no choice than just to do business with them. I can assure all Nigerians and importers that the AES/ SIFAX Group partnership is here to stay.”

Stakeholder to FG: Address corruption at ports, borders

L-R: General Manager, SIFAX Offdock RoRO Terminals Okota, Saheed Lasisi, ; President, Auto Export Shipping (AES) Pete Bottino, Group Managing Director, SIFAX Group, John Jenkins and General Manager, SIFAX Shipping Henry Ajoh during the maiden courtesy visit of AES President to SIFAX Group recently.

either side of the border. Each checkpoint collects an unreceipted toll, and those who regularly ply the route know the amount to pay at each particular stop.” He explained that Nigerian law enforcement personnel in their uniforms either on motor bikes or using government vehicles were crossing from Krake (Benin Republic) to Seme (Nigeria) with bags of

rice, vegetable oil and other consumables, items already banned from being imported through land border. Badmus noted that corruption at borders and ports was also likely to facilitate a wide range of illegal activities such as smuggling of people and goods, tax-evasion and cross-border crimes involving drugs, illegal immigrants, contraband, fuelling insecurity, vio-

lence and in some cases insurgencies. According to him, corruption at the borders and ports was very difficult to tackle because almost all the trade parties were involved. He listed the chain as including the customs, police, immigration officers, port authority, terminal operators, inspection and quality control agents, customs brokers and even financial ser-

vices providers. Badmus added: “Two forms of corruption in the port/border have been identified - “collusive” corruption when public officials and private agents collude to reduce or evade tariffs and “coercive” corruption where port/border officials extract bribes from companies or clearing agents for performing routine processes, referred to as facilita-

tion or unreceipted payments, The situation in Nigeria is a hybrid of the two. “In 2013, a risk assessment study of the port industry in Nigeria carried out by the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN), UNDP and Nigerian anti-corruption agencies discovered cases where 142 signatures were required to process a cargo at the Lagos ports.”

Nigeria, others adopt piracy, illegal fishing convention

•’W’Africa loses $1.3bn’

igeria and 42 of the African Union’s 54 members, have adopted an agreement on piracy, illegal fishing and maritime security at a summit in Togo. The move is to curb illegalities on the coastlines of the 38 countries in the continent. Already, the coastal states of West Africa are losing about $1.3 billion each year, due to illegal fishing, according to a non-prof-

it organisation, Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF). According to the International Maritime Bureau, the Gulf of Guinea has become the epicenter of maritime piracy in Africa and Indian Ocean. The summit also frowned against maritime crimes, trafficking in drugs, arms and people. At the forum, Togo’s Foreign Minister, Robert Dussey,

stressed the need to join forces to combat an upsurge of piracy spreading from the Gulf of Aden, off Somalia to the Gulf of Guinea, which is now a hotspot for piracy. Dussey said maritime security was paramount for African development. Also, the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) of the African Union adopted the Lome Charter on Safety,

Security and Development in Africa. The group is expected to provide Africa with a mechanism to develop a legal and technical framework for prevention and fight against threats on African maritime spaces. It also includes such threats as armed robbery, assault, piracy, various illegal trafficking, illegal fishing, pollution and illegal migration.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Literature

Arts

Parable of democratic radicalism, extremism

Offo’s canvas of Freedom in splash paintings, sculptures Tony Okuyeme

“F

reedom is a wonderfully liberating word to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Wheatbaker. Freedom is power; it speaks of taking flight, of letting go, of moving out of a safe zone and setting forth with confidence to embrace new adventure. Freedom also tells me that something came before; paying one’s dues, learning the rules before breaking them, learning the discipline of excellence, before innovating and exploring and embracing new horizons,” notes Sandra Mbanefo Obiago curator of a solo exhibition body of work by celebrated artist, Gbenga Offo. She captures the essence of the show which opened last Saturday October 15, 2016, at the Wheatbaker and runs till January 15, 2017 as part of activities marking the 5th anniversary of Wheatbaker Hotel, Lagos. The exhibition is aptly titled Freedom. She noted that Freedom series comes at a perfect moment in the history of the Wheatbaker art programme, “when we look back on five years of amazing artistic conversations, experiences and showcases. We have had 16 carefully curated exhibitions since we started an exciting journey of art in 2011, and given each artist of the artists between eight to 12 weeks each to exhibit their works. It was a bold experiment to see if we could become an art destination and use our hospitality platform to nurture and showcase the best of creativity. And together with Offo’s amazing creations we have kind of reached ‘cruising altitude’ and are now truly stepping into our freedom phase.” She also notes: “Through our art and hospitality focus, we have inspired other hotels in Lagos to embrace art as a viable means of bringing local and international visitors closer to the Nigerian art and culture. Since 2011, the Wheatbaker has supported art,

TONY OKUYEME ARTS EDITOR

tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

Hope 1, bronze, 91.44cm, 2016

film, dance, poetry, fashion, music and yearly art auctions and so much more in an effort to build strong bridges between the creative industry and the local and international corporate and public sector. To celebrate the amazing partnership we have enjoyed with the visual arts, we are delighted to host Gbenga Offo’s Freedom series for our 5th anniversary celebration.” Offo is an acclaimed creative force who is arguably one of the best collected contemporary artists of his generation. Educated at the Yaba College of Technology, Offo grew up in Lagos and imbues the multi-cultural spirit that Eko is rooted in – the meeting point of east and west, north and south. Offo’s works “reflect the strength of our national character, its vitality, energetic resilience, its bold colours and its complex nature. Originally inspired by the iconic representation of human forms in Yoruba wooden sculptures, complete with bulging eyes, Offo’s art is soaked in the cubic tradition, from which he now soars to new heights of abstraction.” The exhibition of 39 paintings and sculptures touches on the various aspects of Offo’s artistic personality. His charcoal and pencil sketches on paper show his finely honed skill in creating powerful pieces in the realism style showing perfectly nuanced personality, movement and character. “Offo’s sketches are juxtaposed with his signature large colourful paintings that display his much admitted cubist style, which in turn are perfectly complemented by his abstract expressionist splash painting style with his deft and masterful use of colour.” The Freedon series traces Offo’s

People Power, acrylic on canvas, 153 x 156cm, 2016

Offo’s sketches are juxtaposed with his signature large colourful paintings that display his much admitted cubist style...

Offo

Seated figure 11, conte on paper, 56 x 77cm, 2015

artistic journey from his early ambitions to study music, which were never realized, to his fascination with musical symbolism that runs through many of his works. Offo says: “Music liberates, calms me. I started listening to jazz at the early age of 14 to 15 years, and I made up my mind that this was my type of music, you hear it, you feel it, and you simply love it. I can’t play music, so I draw it.” He also uses his art as a quiet form of protest. Through works such as People Power in which he reflects on the power of people to speak with one voice, demand change and overcome. The highlight of Freedom is the representation of his first collection of metal sculptures in bronze, wrought iron and stainless steel. Some of the works include “Flip” (bronze, 93cm, 2016); “Hope 1 and 11” (bronze, 91.44cm); Mutual Respect (Bronze, 76.2cm, 2016); “Sweet Conversation” (wrought iron and stainless steel); “Happy People” (wrought iron and stainless steel); “People

Power” (acrylic on canvas); “On the Move” (acrylic on canvas); and “Once Upon A Time” (acrylic on canvas). People Power, the artist explains, is about protest. “It’s an interpretation of ‘We shall overcome’. I believe you have the power to change things. We can’t afford to be docile. Your collective power to vote and protest and to disagree is very important. You can change things if you come together and speak with one voice. “I feel so free doing Splash Paintings which is Abstract Expressionism. I start with the splashes of paint and then I sketch around the splashes – colours speak to me and often change the topic.” The Director of The Wheatbaker, Mosun Ogunbanjo notes how the hotel has over the years helped in promoting art and hospitality. “The Wheatbaker opened its doors five years ago and welcomed Lagos to a unique expression of art in collaboration with hospitality. “In the intimacy of our space, we have donated our walls and hosted a wide range of artists from the young up and coming to the seasoned masters, allowing access to works which may have possibly been unseen by the general public. “The Wheatbaker is proud to host this latest in the series of important exhibitions reflecting the very best of Nigerian art. This is especially true as we celebrate our 5th anniversary and reaffirm our commitment to values of quality service and attention to detail.

ART

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEWS RCTB premieres Igodomigodo A

ll is set for the Royal Court Theatre of Benin Royal Dynasty Trust premiere Igodomigodo for the Oba and his guests on Friday October 21, 2016, at the ultramodern palace, Benin City. It catalogues the origin of the present day Edo people right from creation through her primitive struggles to subdue the land to her contemporary dynasty. Producer-Lancelot Oduwarene Imasuen, choreographed by Utete Omo Osagie and Josephine Abbey, with Eliel Otote A as Music Director, and Ossa Earliece as Artistic Director, the performance opens with graphic representation of the Edo creation story, how the earth was formed from the sands in the snail shell by Idu. The people rejoice, having found land from the mass of water they had been unable to dwell in. Idu is celebrated and deified which today is the guardian deity of Ubini, Erinmwin-Idu! The dance progresses to how humanity tilled the land, hunted and celebrated their fertility and procreation. The bravery of the people at wars, and their unparalleled political administration in relation to their spiritual experience are intensely portrayed. From Igodo, of the first dynasty known as the ‘ogiso era’ through to second dynasty (Oba era), the dancemusic portrays the social and tradocultural heritage of Edo people.

When Morountodun, Iredi War go on stage at NSUK

orountodun, a play written by Femi Osofisan, and Iredi War, a play written by Sam Ukala, were among the three plays staged at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), as Final Year Students of the Department of Theatre and Cultural Studies did their mandatory Production Workshop group presentations. The plays were staged after the presentation of Irene Salami’s “Sweet Revenge” by the students, who were 120 in number but grouped into three for the Production Workshop, a course handled by the Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma. The second group produced Femi Osofisan’s Morountodun, an exciting historical play that reflects the oppression of the poor by few individuals that control the means of production; it explores and addresses the plight of the downtrodden and the lower class of society, which has been of interest to scholars and students, especially those interested in contemporary African performance. The play features a Yoruba queen, Moremi, who in a celebrated act of heroism, offered herself to be captured by the Agbekoya’s who were said to be constantly attacking the Yoruba nation; to her, the only way to discover the secret behind the extraordinary power the Agbekoya’s had that made them practically invisible and invincible in battle was to infiltrate their ranks. In Iredi War, the students from the 3rd group captured the uprising of the people of Owa Kingdom against the oppressive rule of the British colonials.

Excellent Vision:

Breaking frontiers of art with sculptural pieces

Ogiamien

Moses Kadiri

rtist, Roland Udinyiwe Ogiamien has carved a nioche for himself as a master sculptor. His works will adore the exhibition hall of Quintessence Gallery, Parkview, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Saturday, October 22 in a show titled Excellent Vision. This exhibition is no doubt an avenue for art lovers, practitioners, collectors, critics to savour his creativity, and also create opportunity for young artists to tap from his knowledge of art. The beauty of the exhibition is the timing; Ogiamien had worked for 40 years before he relocated from Lagos to Benin City. This exhibition is therefore very important for him. “That is why I ensure that the product for the exhibition must be excellent,” he said. Periodically, the artist, who took three years apprenticeship course in wood carving under Mr. Akpamwinda Omoregie in 1962, changes his style to fit the current trend. The message in his works never change. His pieces reflect history and culture. He has enjoyed fame and fortune in the art with several commission works. The journey did not come without obstacle from his immediate family. “When I started my passion has been for art. My father made a certain comment because he was a teacher. He wanted me to follow his path. He was not happy that I went into carving. He described it as job for destitute; people that are handicap. But when he saw me growing in the art he developed interest and I became his best friend,” he disclosed. With 23 pieces of different shapes and sizes, Ogiamien proves the worth of wood that it is beauty

Erhonmwen

to behold when carved. “If you look at the Benin history it has two medium of art - the wood and the bronze. The wood is common and is for everybody, but the bronze is restricted to some family it is only now that is has been exposed to others,” he said. He has a way of arresting an individual’s mind with his work, such as the pieces, “Coronation of Benin Oba” and “Ekiokpaghan Treaty”, on the dining table. According to him, he started the piece in 1980 and finished in 1985. The work traces the coronation of Oba in the Benin Kingdom. The work contains activities and rituals that follow the coronation of Oba Erediauwa of Benin in 1979. “I decided to put that process to history in my own way, as an artist from Benin and again as member of the great Ogiamien Royal Family, my father was also a principal actor in the coronation of the Oba of Benin. “Viewing from pavilion from the palm tree section, the coronation journey from Uselu a village outside Benin City, he has to stop at a palm tree called Amameson Aimuwa meaning suffer before pleasure, so he has to climb the palm tree then moved to Benin and crossed the River Omi where he has to meet Chief Ogiamien and the army where a treaty to lease the Benin or Igodomigodo land to the Oba… Another work is Asekenroakpa (Dancer), which according to Ogiamien, who was sent to Jamaica in 2007 by the Federal Government of Nigeria to teach the Jamaicans the art of Nigeria wood carving, “is a Benin word for diviner, fortune teller or a prophet. In the Africa society, diviners are the fortune tellers, tomorrow and the past. They

are consulted to take care of their problem and any future disaster. Diviners are known as wise men.” This is what the work portrays. “Echo of the Forest” is a piece with deep spirituality. Ogiamien said: “This is another powerful spirt of the forest that can never be seen by any person no matter how powerful you are in spirt or physical world. But you can only hear its echo from distance if you drum or sing in the farm or by the river side or a lonely place you hear the same echo at a far distance the more you look for the sound maker the more it is far from you.” Describing the forthcoming exhibition, Professor Yusuf Grillo stated that Excellent Vision comes with deep creativity. “The return of Ogiamen after many years absence from the Lagos art scene testifies to his luxuriant deep fountain of creativeness and the endless search for his own self. It is nostalgia for me. Benin traditional art exemplified in Benin wood carvers’ romance with modern artistic concept of personal individual probe as against group or tribal philosophy, norms, form and style. We are here for an uncommon feast of exquisite, timeless Ogiamen sculptures.” From 1973 till date Ogiamien has had over 40 exhibitions, groups, and solos both in the country and abroad, with commissions and collections spread across prominent Nigerians, non-Nigerians, institutions and corporate bodies with exhibitions tours in the United States of America, workshops in Jamaica and recently contributing meaningfully back home to the practice and appreciation of wood sculpture at the Bruce Onabrakpeya Foundation yearly Haramattan Workshop in Agbarra-Otor, Delta state.

One of the works

LITERATURE

Parable of democratic radicalism, extremism

n Empty Kingdom presents politics that surrounds succession to the throne of Egweama as its subject matter. It is a dramatic edifice structured into three Acts accommodating nine scenes, with front and back matters. The play is logically connected to a stream of narration which maintains the classical or Aristotelian cause- effect continuum tradition of dramatic creativity. Within these acts and scenes, the playwright constructs a linear plot structure which initiates a change in the choice of the new king away from blood to soil of the land with the total support of the youth, elders, women and chiefs of Egweama. The play runs to a conflict when Daudogi, the only surviving blood of the Timi Royal lineage registers his incurable ambition and determination to ascend the throne against the popular will of the people. On the coronation day, upon the request of the people that the chosen king appears for coronation in the presence of the community and two other kings, Tuaton the popular choice of the people and Duadogi, the self-elected member of the royal family appear. This brings confusion. As the traditions demand, it is the responsibility of Koko, the chief King maker, to crown the chosen one. Against the popular and sacred expectation of the citizenry, Koko crowns Duadogi under duress, to cover up his earlier crime of raping and killing a young girl; a secret which can only be exposed by Duadogi. This not only astonishes the people but angers them to the decision of renouncing Duadogi as king and abandoning the Egweama Kingdom in pursuit of the chosen Tauton in the Rivers to honour him as king; thus, making Egweama Kingdom, an Empty Kingdom. The succession to the throne of Egweama by the royal house does not catch the fancy of the youth and people of the kingdom. Hence the old tradition is set aside and ablaze for the new tradition of making royalty outside royal boundaries. Thus the conflict is between conservatism versus change, between an old order and a new order, between royalty and the common man. Duadogi is like Kurumi the eponymous hero in Ola Rotimi’s Kurumi who for selfish reasons defends the old tradition for his personal benefit. This cultural reformation is an attempt at modernising the ancient customs and cultures of Egweama kingdom to get rid of obsolete traditions that vitiate humanity. This is a deliberate design of change that displaces previous lawful and relevant traditions and customs. What this implies is that kingdoms break and perish when the greed of individuals in power become increasingly alarming. The empty status of the kingdom is caused by greed

Title: An Empty Kingdom Author: Ebi Robert Publisher: Bulkybon Books, Lagos, Nigeria. Year of Publication: 2015 Pages: 89 Reviewer: Ben Binebai, PhD. Title: An Empty Kingdom

on the part of Duadogi and Koko and love for progress on the part of Sikigbo and the masses. Duadogi does not find favour in the heart of the people but Tuaton does. The playwright once again demonstrates that the world of man is a world that changes. From the primordial age of man to this era of scientific and technological sophistication the world of man has changed tremendously. A society that is not amenable to change is doomed for disintegration. Duadogi’s struggle is caused by his self-centeredness by appropriating the ideology of tradition to fight his personal battles. The author plots and weaves the best types of characters in a dramatic composition. The characters are true to life, rounded, naturalistic and three dimensional because they are psychologically propelled as they undergo changes, a true depiction of human life. Each character is distinctively created. The most interesting ones are Duadogi, Koko, Sikigbo

Book stand

and Tuaton. Sikigbo is a man of vision, an agent of change, consistent in his belief and support for a new order. He fights a battle in which he does not give up even when he seems defeated. Duadogi is another interesting character. He is strong willed, brutal, corrupt and stops at nothing to get what he wants. He is a merchant of blackmail and renounces the throne when reality dawns on him that he will be king over no one. Daudogi is a very powerful representation of ancient and contemporary power mongers who rate their personal collapse as a bigger evil than the evil of the entire society. Koko the chief King Maker is another attractive character. He strikes us as a man of honour and integrity but as events later unfolds, he is a dishonorable man who raped and killed a young girl. He is one of the key factors that drive Egweama in this dramatic universe to an empty Kingdom with his past evil he is pathologically determined to cover up at the peril of the kingdom he is the chief Kingmaker. He is faced between his personal disgrace and the progress of the Egweama kingdom but he chooses to ruin the kingdom to cover up his crime. The play has good syntactic structure. The brilliant appropriation of phonological pattern of language in the play through the choices of remarkable proverbs used is to make the flow of words appealing and captivating to the reader. These proverbs where native wisdom resides, give the play a local African colour and flavour. The playwright manipulates his language to appeal to the human senses and tease out emotions of the reader. His diction revolves between poetry and prose. The language is accessible and most times thought provoking. An Empty Kingdom is therefore a parable of democratic radicalism and extremism. This is a revolutionary drama in which the Youth of Egweama yearn for change. The leadership offered by royalty is an imposed one, imposed by the people’s culture inaugurated by the ancient folks of the land the subjects have to accept willy-nilly. This tradition has produced a succession of rulers who did not bring progress to the kingdom.

What we are reading

POETRIP EDGE OF KNOWLEDGE Oladipo Kehinde

The Split Image is a short novel written by Olabode Lucas, a retired Professor of Crop Physiology and Nutrition at the university of Ibadan Nigeria. The book is indeed an impressive outing for a first comer. Lucas has given us an exciting story, crafted in an easy, accessible language and style which make for a pleasurable reading experience. Lucas shows us how learning is not necessarily confined to one discipline; and that valuable works of art can come from an active, creative mind regardless of the author’s professional training.

Aké: The Years of Childhood is a memoir by Wole Soyinka that was first published in 1981. It tells the story of Soyinka’s boyhood before and during World War II in a Yoruba village in western Nigeria called Aké, where the author spent the first 12 years of his life, before moving in 1946 to the Government College in Ibadan.

Femi Osofisan

Dr. Kunle Filani

TONY OKUYEME ARTS EDITOR

tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

I am the teacher I am the student In the school of Life The voice of my words Beats the drums of my ears Voice of reason From the school of wisdom I gather words from the clouds The moon tides with starry dreams I welcome the wings of dawn With the voice of my lips With my eyes I cover the distance between times To the house of knowledge I am the teacher I am the student In the school of life We have come a long way dancing to the rhythm of hidden syllables

BUSINESS | Money Line

wedneSDAY, october 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NIBOR hits 150% as liquidity crisis worsens RISING

Banks wary of placing funds

Tony Chukwunyem

igeria’s overnight lending rate (NIBOR) was quoted at a record high of 150 per cent yesterday, two days after banks placed funds with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to participate in last Friday’s currency forward auction, traders said. They said few deals

were done yesterday due to a shortage of naira on the money market, with lenders reluctant to place funds among themselves until the result of last Friday’s currency auction was published. Last Friday, the banking watchdog held a two-month dollar forward auction to clear a backlog of demand from airlines, manufacturers and other companies, as the currency crisis deepened. It later directed lenders to resubmit bids again last Monday, traders said. Traders said rates spiked because lenders were barred from apex bank’s repo window before any currency auction and they had naira

funds locked away with the regulator on the day of the auction to pay for the dollars, which they expect to receive in two months’ time. The CBN was yet to announce result of the auction. “Most banks are not quoting rates because they are still waiting for the result of

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has amended guidelines on transaction switching in the country, modifying the section, which prevents the Nigeria Central Switch (NCS) from owning or promoting card business or retail products. In a circular posted on the apex bank’s website yesterday, the Director, Banking and Payments System Department, Mr. Dipo Fatokun, said that the guidelines were amended as part of efforts to attain the objective of payments system efficiency and financial inclusion. He said: “Section 2.6.3, which stipulates that ‘the NCS shall not own or promote any card business or retail products and shall run in accor-

Tony Chukwunyem

ourth quarter electronic banking revenue will be affected by lenders’ suspension of the usage of naira debit cards for international transactions, analysts at CardinalStone Research have said. In a note obtained by New Telegraph, the experts stated : “We expect a significant reduction in the contribution of card revenues to noninterest income in Q4 if the suspension of card transactions persist.” The worsening shortage of foreign exchange in the system last week forced

dance with international best practice,’ is hereby amended to read as follows: ‘The NCS shall be run in accordance with international best practice’”. He stated that as a result of this amendment, the NIBSS Plc will communicate: “The Application Programing Interface (API) and other specifications of all the its products to all banks and other licensed operators, including switches, mobile money operators and payments services providers immediately.” As part of its functions as the NCS, NIBSS is responsible for the interoperability between the various playersbanks, Mobile Payment Operators, non-Banking Financial Institutions, payment terminal providers, card acquirers and Government Institutions -in the financial system.

s the world celebrates Financial Inclusion Week, Sterling Bank Plc and Afrigrants Resources Limited have come up with an initiative called ‘Market Women Quick Cash’. The initiative, according to a statement from the lender, was designed to promote financial inclusion and empowerment especially among women micro entrepreneurs as well as facilitate a platform for them to build capacity for enhanced busi-

As at

MPR 91-day NTB Bonny Light Ext Res**

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

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 17.9

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 Sept, 2016

14 10.77 US$50.23 US$24,160,273,862

26/07/2016 Mar 2015 18/10/2016 14/10/2016 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds

TTM

1.07 3.24 3.87 5.82 7.95 9.81 14.31 18.29

Price 104.65 114.59 111.96 120.58 109.60 100.54 83.82 97.56

NIBOR

Rate (%) 4.4583 9.1071 11.0102 12.3790

Treasury Bills

Bid Yield 10.38 10.55 11.60 11.44 12.27 12.40 12.44 12.49

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

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

Price 104.80 114.89 112.26 120.88 109.90 100.84 84.12 97.86

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

several banks, including Stanbic IBTC, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria and Guaranty Trust Bank, to either announce a suspension of, or restriction on the use of naira debit cards for international transactions. The analysts stated that while the impact of the card suspension and restriction on banks’ FY revenue would be minimal since only Q4 card revenues would be affected, the development was still an issue because, according to them: “e-banking revenues from international card transactions have

provided strong support for the non-interest revenue of banks.” They said: “Cards/Ebanking revenue on average accounts for 7 per cent of total revenue. Card revenue for the banks in our coverage universe grew by an average of 88 per cent between FY’15 and H1’16 (annualized) respectively. “The significant jump between FY’15 and H1’16 as we gathered was partly as a result of an informal agreement between the CBN and banks to set card rate close to parallel market rate so as to discourage FX round tripping and speculations.”

Sterling Bank, Afrigrants launch ‘Market Women’s Quick Cash’

Economic Indicators M2* CPS* INF

Overnight rates closed at 128 per cent last Monday after they opened at 100 per cent, up from 14 percent on Thursday. The money market ended with no deals last Friday, as lenders held onto naira to be able to participate at the auction.

‘Naira debit card suspension’ll impact e-banking revenue’

CBN amends transaction switching guidelines Tony Chukwunyem

the FX auction,” one trader said. The regulator has been tightening liquidity and intervening directly with dollar sales to commercial lenders to support the ailing naira, hit by the fall in oil prices, Nigeria’s economic mainstay.

Offer Yield 10.24 10.45 11.51 11.38 12.22 12.34 12.39 12.44

NITTY

Rate (%) 6.9949 7.2368 8.0819 9.2061 9.5872 10.5042

Change (%) -0.02 ▼ -0.01 ▼ 0.00 ↔ 0.00 ↔ -0.07 ▼ -0.08 ▼ -0.03 ▼ 0.02 ▲ Change (%) 1.12 ▲ -0.27 ▼ -0.17 ▼ -0.11 ▼ 0.03 ▲ 0.42 ▲

Money Market

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

Change (%) -1.75 ▼ -2.08 ▼

ness growth. It would be recalled that the Market Women’s Quick Cash was officially launched in Kaduna last week with the goal of reaching 1 million women in three years working through diverse collaborations and partnerships. The initiative will also build the confidence of the women at the micro level and position them to access more financial services and mentorship. Ms. Thelma Ekiyor in an interview with reporters in Lagos, noted that the initiative would empower women, promote gender-equity and improve household well-being; and further reduce the number of the un-banked in the country. Her words: “Women are the most financially excluded in Nigeria. The situation is worse for petty traders, small-holder farmers and micro entrepreneurs. Afrigrants Resources designed Market Women’s

Quick Cash as an innovative solution that addresses the three main factors that contribute to women’s financial exclusion; collateral requirements; financial illiteracy and distance of financial services. Therefore, the Market Women’s Quick Cash product aims to bridge the financing gap that currently exists in the micro-enterprise sector in Nigeria, particularly for women’s enterprises that predominantly operate in the informal sector, she explained. She added that the solution brings banking to women where they conduct business, socialise, and network. It also provides access to financing to women through a ‘single digit interest rate, zero collateral’ informal financing scheme that operates on limited bureaucracy with user-friendly ‘quick’ application processes. A revolving fund has been created to enable more women participate in the scheme, the statement explained.

Fitch doubts FG’s ability to control debt

itch ratings agency has said it cut its growth forecast for Nigeria substantially to reflect continued pressures on the economy during the first half of the year. “We expect real gross domestic product to contract by 1 per cent in 2016, compared with our earlier forecast of a 1.5 per cent expansion,” the ratings agency said in a statement in its ratings action. “We expect a limited bounce back and forecast a recovery to 2.6 per cent next year.” During a recent meeting with officials from the World Bank and Inter national Monetary Fund (IMF), the

Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun said the country was ready to take its place alongside leading global economies. Oil, however, contributes about 10 per cent to the country’s GDP and, with oil prices still about 50 per cent below the recent peak, Nigeria’s economy has flirted with recession. Last week, Moody’s Investors Service said the number of non-performing loans, those for which the borrower is not making payments, is on pace to increase to around 12 per cent over the next year, compared with the 5 per cent on the books for Nigerian banks as recently as December.

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

wedneSDAY, october 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

wedneSDAY, october 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Stock market drops N28bn BEARISH Sell pressure dominates market activities, as bargain hunters retreat

Stories Chris Ugwu

he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday continued to witness sell pressure after it began the trading week the previous day on the negative note. Consequently, the overall performance measures, NSE ASI and market capitalisation, fell by 0.29 per cent. This was due to sustained profit taking by bargain hunters in the wake of cautious optimism that had pervaded the market following upset in the financial sector. Accordingly, the All-Share Index shed 79.68 basis points or 0.29 per cent to close at 27,555.31 index points as against 27,634.99 recorded the previous day, while mar-

ket capitalisation of equities depreciated by N28 billion or 0.29 per cent to close lower at N9.464 trillion as against N9.492 trillion. Meanwhile, a turnover of 154.2 million shares in 2,510 deals was recorded in the day’s trading. The banking sub-sector of the financial services sector was the most active (mea-

sured by turnover volume) with 108.7 million shares exchanged by investors in 755 deals. Volume in the sub-sector was largely driven by activities in the shares of Ecobank Plc and UBA Plc. Also, other premium subsector, boosted by the activities in the shares of FBNH Plc and Zenith Bank Plc followed

tional Plc followed with 4.88 per cent to close at 86 kobo per share. Livestock Feeds Plc gained 3.53 per cent to close at 88 kobo per share. On the flip side, AG Leventis Plc led the losers’ chart with a drop of 8.60 per cent to close at 85 kobo per share. Diamond Bank Plc and Seplat Petroleum Plc trailed with a loss of five per cent each to close at N1.14 and N361.00 per share respectively, while GSK Plc dropped by 4.98 per cent to close at N16.61 per share.

NSE to investors: Use market data for investments

he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has urged market operators to always avail themselves the use of market data, which would increase their awareness on the critical role in making sound investment decisions on both the buy and sell sides. The Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema made this call yesterday when the Exchange hosted its first market data workshop. The workshop was specifically designed for investors, market data aggregators, exchanges, regulators, government agencies, dealing members, telecommunication

companies and the capital market ecosystem at large. He said: “For Exchanges, delivery of market data to users is resource heavy and requires specialised technologies designed to handle the collection, processing and dissemination of massive data streams. At the NSE, this effort is underpinned by our ‘next generation’ trading engine, X-GEN, which was built in collaboration with Nasdaq in 2013. It is therefore very pleasant that this workshop is coinciding with the 3rd anniversary of X-GEN. “X-GEN is not only built to trade a wide range of securities, it is extendable to

Unity Kapital’s Q3 2016 PAT falls by 35%

nity Kapital Assurance Plc has recorded 35.44 per cent decrease in net earnings for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016. In a filing with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the assurance firm posted a profit after tax of N171.738 million as against N265.997 million recorded during the comparable period of 2015, representing a drop of 35.44 per cent. Similarly, profit before tax fell from N312.938 million posted the previous year to N215.382 million during the year under review, account-

with a turnover of 15.3 million shares in 392 deals. The number of gainers at the close of trading session was 13, while decliners closed at 27. Further analysis of the day’s trading showed that Total Nigeria Plc topped the gainers’ table with five per cent to close at N303.97 per share, while Neimeth Interna-

ing for a decrease of 31.17 per cent. The company’s premium written also dropped by 23.28 per cent to N1.760 billion in the review period of 2016 from N2.294 billion in the corresponding period of 2015 Unity Kapital Assurance recorded 142 per cent increase in net earnings for the financial year ended December 31, 2015. The assurance firm posted a profit after tax of N340.503 million as against N141.477 million recorded during the comparable period of 2014, representing a growth of 142 per cent.

Likewise, profit before tax grew from N175.024 million posted the previous year to N411.081 million during the year under review, accounting for an increase of 136 per cent. The company’s revenue however, dropped by 14 per cent to N2.684 billion in the review period of 2015 from N3.115 billion in the corresponding period of 2014. Unity Kapital Assurance recently restrategised for growth in a move to entrench efficiency in the use of resources - human and capital, increase knowledge base and achieve significant results in time.

multiple interfaces for the consumption of market data. Additionally, it is FIX protocol version 5 enabled, improving market transparency and providing wide market access. It is these systems that we rely on daily to deliver approximately 2.5GB worth of

data to our various domestic and global market data.” Onyema noted that in spite of the challenging economic conditions being experienced in Nigeria, the capital market still remains one of the main vehicles for economic development and wealth creation.

SEC warns of fresh illegal operator

he Securities & Exchange Commission has raised the alarm over an illegal operator in the capital market known as Ruby Gold Ventures (Crypto Currency investment). In a statement obtained from SEC’s website, the regulator noted that the Ruby Gold Ventures was not registered by the Commission to perform any function in the capital market. “Its operations/activities in the capital market are therefore illegal. In view of the above, the investing public is hereby warned to stop and desist from dealing with the company in any capital market related business. “Please note that any person who does capital market related business with the company and its promoters after this publication does so at his/her own risk,” SEC noted. SEC had recently cautioned the investing public on the activities of two illegal capital market operators in the country.

The commission in a notice obtained by this newspaper said its attention had been drawn to the activities of an online investment scheme tagged ‘MMM Federal Republic of Nigeria (nigeria.mmm. net). The regulator said the platform had embarked on an aggressive online media campaign to lure the investing public to participate in what it called ‘mutual aid financial network’ with a monthly investment return of 30 per cent. The SEC said: “The Commission hereby notifies the investing public that the operation of this investment scheme has no tangible business model hence it’s a PONZI SCHEME where returns are paid from other people’s invested sum. Also, the Commission does not register its operation. “The general public is hereby advised to distance themselves from this online scheme. Please note that anyone that subscribe to this illegal activity does so at his/her own risk.”

NEWS | national

Appolonia Adeyemi

cientists have raised the alarm over the spread of hospital bed infection, saying when a hospital patient is taking antibiotics, the next person to use the same bed may face an elevated risk of infection with the dangerous germ Clostridium difficile. To this end, doctors have suggested the need to improve sterilisation procedures in hospitals, a measure to reduce the spread of infections in hospital environment. This is the finding of a

Antibiotics linked with hospital bed infections

new report published online in the journal ‘JAMA Internal Medicine’. According to a Professor of Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, Dr. Marc Siegel, “This underscores the idea that hospitals are not being sanitised enough or they can't be sanitised enough. There is an increased need for increased sterilisation procedures between patients." C. difficile, a bacterium that causes inflammation

Emirates, Kenya Airways stop Abuja flights Wole Shadare

ore carriers are cutting flight services to Nigeria as part of measures to cut cost occasioned by dwindling traffic. Mega carrier, Emirates, yesterday cited a review of the airline’s operations to ensure the best utilization of its aircraft fleet for its overall business objectives as reason for suspending its Dubai-Abuja route. The airline would now concentrate on the lucrative DubaiLagos route which in itself

has witnessed a sharp drop in traffic occasioned by the recession which has seriously affected air travel. The management of Emirates Airlines, in a statement to New Telegraph late yesterday, said the carrier is suspending its four times weekly service between Abuja, Nigeria and Dubai with effect from October 22, 2016. The carrier, in a statement said the airline would continue to serve Nigeria with a daily flight to and from Lagos”.”

Arms cash: Obanikoro still in EFCC custody Emmanuel Onani Abuja

he interrogation of a former Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), continued yesterday. Investigation by New Telegraph revealed that the former Minister was still being quizzed by operatives, as at the time of

filing this report. Obanikoro's interrogation bothers on allegations that he used companies linked to his children to secure contracts from a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd). The contract sum, which is alleged to be about N4 billion, is suspected to be part of the $2.1 billion arms procurement scandal, that led to the arrest of Dasuki.

Oil traders pressure Nigeria to cut prices Adeola Yusuf

rude traders are pushing the Federal Government to lower the official price at which Nigeria sells some cargoes. The move, which is made through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), according to a report by Bloomberg, is the latest challenge to Africa’s biggest producer as it grapples with output that’s been restricted by militant attacks this year. Five companies that market the nation’s crude have raised the issue of high official selling prices, General Manager of the crude oil marketing division at NNPC, , Mele Kyari, said by phone. Buyers of Nigerian crude are concerned that uncertainty about supplies

wednesday, october 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

from the country are making the nation’s barrels harder to resell, two traders familiar with the West African market said. “We are aware,” Kyari said. “We have received several communications with our off-takers on this. We are assessing the comments to either validate or disprove it because sometimes you can’t be sure of the validity of these claims.” “Nigeria needs every dollar it can get as it contends with a militant campaign that means annual output is currently on course to be the lowest since 1989, just as a global glut means futures are trading at less than half where they were two years ago. The nation’s oil minister said Monday that certain export restrictions will soon be lifted,” Bloomberg reported.

of the colon and causes life-threatening diarrhoea, is found in United States, U.S. hospitals. Scientists have known that antibiotic use can contribute to the germ's spread, but a new report has shown that it is not just the patient taking the medication who's at risk. According to findings in the study, because the germ spores can persist, patients later assigned to

the same hospital bed may have increased odds of getting C. difficile. Lead Researcher, Dr. Daniel Freedberg, a gastroenterologist at Columbia University Medical Centre in New York City, said: "This study provides evidence that there is a herd effect with antibiotics. "In other words, antibiotics have the potential to affect the health of people who don't themselves re-

Oluwole

Madojemu

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Tolulope Esther Soboyejo now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Tolulope Esther Oluwole. The General Public should please take note of the change of name.

Mmanwoke

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Anyanwu Esther Chiehiura now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Mmanwoke Esther Chiehiura. The General Public should please take note of the change of name.

Uruakpa

I, formerly known and addressed as Ikechukwu Chinweuba Robinson now wish to be known and addressed as Uruakpa Ikechukwu Chinwe, that my date of birth is 11th November 1986. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

Etta

I, formerly known as Ettah Joseph now wish to be known and addressed as Etta Joseph Etta. All former documents remain valid. General Public, please take note.

Paulinus

This is to confirm that the name Paul Godwin is the same person as Paulinus Paul. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Paulinus Paul. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Okoro

I, formerly known and addressed as Ugwoke Kate Ngozi now wish to be known and addressed as Okoro Catherine Ngozi. All former documents remain valid. FCMB Plc and the general public should please take note.

Okechukwu

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Inya Chidimma Blessing now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okechukwu Chidimma Blessing. All former documents remain valid. Ecobank Plc, Ebonyi State University

Emerald

I, formerly known and addressed as Emerald Funakpo Collins now wish to be known and addressed as Emerald Confidence Collins. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Jaja

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Esther Ambrose Okpu now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Esther Dagogo Jaja. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Ibiam

I, formerly known and addressed as Umeh Blessing Ezinne now wish to be known and addressed as Ibiam Azu Blessing Ezinne. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Anjorin

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Idiogbe Blessing Eseohe now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Anjorin Blessing Eseohe. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

ceive antibiotics." According to the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, C. difficile causes nearly half a million infections a year in the United States and 29,000 deaths. Older adults are most at risk. In this study, researchers found that if the previous patient in the hospital bed was given antibiotics (not for C. difficile), the odds of C. difficile infec-

tion in the next patient were nearly one per cent, compared with less than half of one per cent if no antibiotics were given, the webMD reported. "Antibiotics encourage the spread of C. difficile from patients who asymptomatically carry C. difficile to patients who are C. difficile-free, even if the C. difficile-free patients do not receive any antibiotics," Freedberg said.

CONFIRMATION/change OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as Imadojemu Michael, now wish to be known and addressed as Madojemu Michael. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

UGWOKE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ugwoke Eucharia Ndidiamaka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Onyeke Eucharia Ndidiamaka. All former documents remain valid NYSC and general public should please take note.

Sanni

I, formerly known and addressed as Jacob Emmanuel now wish to be known and addressed as Jacob Emmanuel Sanni, that my correct date of birth is 2nd January 1980 instead of 19th May 1972. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

ANENE

I, formerly known, called and addressed as Miss Roseline Achoda now wish to be known, called and addressed Mrs. Roseline Chinedu Anene. Alldocuments bearing my former name remain valid. General public should please take note.

Ibiam

This is to notify the general public that the names Ibiam Iro Arua and Arua Isaac Ibiam refer to one and the same person. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Ibiam Iro Arua. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Badamasi

I, formerly known and addressed as Nafisa .A. Badamasi now wish to be known and addressed as Nafisa Abdulganiyu Badamasi. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and the general public should please take note.

Inengite

I, formerly known and addressed as Inengite Helen Congo now wish to be known and addressed as Inengite Helen. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Onyekaozuru

I, formerly known and addressed as Onyekachi Olu Linus now wish to be known and addressed as Onyekaozuru Olu Linus. All former documents remain valid. Ecobank Plc, First bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Chukwukaelo

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onyinye Chigbo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chukwukaelo Onyinye Angela. All former documents remain valid. Union bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Madubuchi

I, formerly known and addressed as Ukwuoma David .D. now wish to be known and addressed as Ukwuoma David Madubuchi. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Edeh

This is to notify the general public that the names Edeh Uchenna Anthony, Edeh Uchenna Igboke and Edeh Uchenna .I. refer to one and the same person. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Edeh Uchenna Anthony. All former documents remain valid. FCMB Plc and the general public should take note.

Julius

I, formerly known and addresses as Ogbonna Joy Kalu now to be known and addressed as Julius Favour Joy. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Sulaimon

I, formerly known and addressed as Abdul-Rafiu Anifat Damilola now wish to be known as Mrs. Sulaimon Anifat Damilola. All former documents remain valid, banks and general public take note.

OKEMINI

I, formerly known, called and addressed as Miss Felicia Chinwe Nwuzor, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Chinwe Felicia Steve-Okemini. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. NYSC and general public should note.

AYIRI

I, formerly known, called and addressed as Miss Elizabeth Achi now wish to be known, called and addressed Mrs. Andokie Elizabeth Ayiri. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. General public should please take note.

Nwokebirinwa

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Iwuji Cynthia Ogadimma now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nwokebirinwa Cynthia Ogadimma. All former documents remain valid. Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (N.E.R.D.C), Banks and the general public should please take note.

Oladipo

I, formerly known and addresses as Mojisola Adetoun Ogunnusi now to be known and addressed as Mojisola Adetoun Oladipo. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Salawudeen

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Bello Nurat Olaide now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Salawudeen Nurat Olaide. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

OKORIE

I, formerly known, called and addressed as Miss. Nnennaya Chuka, now wish to be known, called and addressed Mrs. Nnenna Okorie. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. NYSC and general public should take note.

Ugodebe

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eze Vivian Chinwe now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ugodebe Vivian. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Francis

I, formerly known and addressed as Kalu Ifeanyi Otah now wish to be known and addressed as Kalu Ifeanyi Francis. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

AFRICA 2000 CHARITY FOUNDATION

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR CHANGE OF THE REGISTERED TRUSTEES UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO.1 OF 1990. THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr Femi Renner - Retained 2. Mr Haruna Kazeem - Retained 3. Bolaji Okuyemi - Removed THE NEW TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr. Femi Renner - Existing 2. Mr. Haruna Kazeem - Existing 3. Mr. Samson Segun Oyejola- Newly Appointed 4. Rev. Olufemi Adeeko - Newly Appointed. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: SOLICITOR

BARR. PELUMI EMEM-NEWSONG

PUBLIC NOTICE

WOOD PROCESSING BUSINESS OWNERS ASSOCIATION

This is to inform the general public that the above named Association has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Company and Allied Matters Act LFN 2004. The Trustees are: 1. Mei, Xinchun 2. Xu, Jiangtao 3. Zhang, Jian AIM AND OBJECTIVE ARE: 1. To work together as a group for the common benefit of all members. 2. To assist members in dealing with Government, host communities and other persons. 3. To serve as a forum for networking among members. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: Akpomerha Akpomerha Esq

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ekiti Assembly alleges plans to kill members, petitions police Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

embers of the Ekiti State House of Assembly yesterday uncovered plans by unknown elements to assassinate at least five members of the Assembly. They are urging the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Etop John James to institute measures to counterbalance the suspected plans. Rising from a chat with journalists held yesterday at the Assembly Complex in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, the Speaker of the House, Kola Oluwawole, who made the allegation, listed himself and four others as having been trailed consistently by suspected assassin using a red Volkswagen Golf car. The four others included Dr. Samuel Omotoso, chairman of the Assembly’s Committee on Information; Mr. Dayo Akinleye, Mr. Samuel Jeje and Mr. Fajana

Lagos launches ‘operation kick out domestic violence’ Muritala Ayinla

agos State Government has called on husbands with violent wives to urgently report to the relevant authorities, vowing not to tolerate any form of domestic violence in the state. The government which also launched Ewuro project designed to tackle violence against women in the country, said that it will not rest on its oars until it eliminated all form of discrimination and violence against women. Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Lola Akande, who disclosed this, said government would collaborate with Ewuro project, using arts, drama, music and poetry to engage the audience and reawaken the minds of Nigerians to the true plight of the Nigerian women. Akande: “Cases of discrimination, persecution and violence against women in Nigeria is rampant to the point of becoming seen as norm. The gender in Nigeria report of 2012 records that most 15 to 24 years old women interviewed in rural Nigeria think it is reasonable for a husband to beat his wife if she burns the food, refuses sex or goes out without permission. “We know it exists, there are women who are violent and who mastermind domestic violence but men are not reporting them all we hear most is man beating woman.”

Ojoade. Oluwawole claimed that “the affected members are living in palpable fear. The red Volkswagen golf car with registration number ADK 167 EV, trailed Hon. Omotoso from Bank Road to Textile/Bashiri, road while the same car trailed me to School of Nursing/ Ori Apata area of Ado Ekiti.” A petition by the lawmakers dated October 18, 2016 and addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, said “from our findings, we have discovered that fresh onslaught is to be unleashed on the House of Assembly because of our refusal to cooperate with external forces that are desirous of removing our governor.” Oluwawole pointed accusing fingers at the All Progressives Congress members in the state, noting they were in collaboration with some disgruntled members of the PDP.”

News|south-west

10m Nigerian children out of school –UNICEF

Babatope Okeowo Akure

he United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) yesterday lamented upsurge in child abuse and violence against children in Nigeria Prof. Paii Obanya who disclosed this at a workshop yesterday blamed the development on poor child-sensitive budgeting of government at all levels in the country saying many children had dropped out of school and being enslaved across the country. Obanya who was speaking at an “Advocacy meeting organised by UNICEF on scaling up on mass communication training institutions, mainstreaming child rights report curriculum in Nigeria,” faulted the government policies on child rights act, describing them as mere

cosmetics. Obayan said: “It doesn’t pay to just say you have a policy on something without specifically putting resources aside for it. It relates to taking into account what the declaration says about right to life, protection, health nutrition and self-actualization. “Nigeria has a problem of, first of all, not ratifying enough and when it ratifies, it doesn’t really sensitize the populace to know what it is all about. And on the part of government, we have not fully implemented the international agreement we entered into on the child’s right.” The university don said over 10 million children are

out of school in Nigeria. He, however lamented the lackadaisical attitude of government at all levels to child education, and the increase of incidences of child trafficking and child labour in the country. The resource person submitted that boys outnumbered girls, “and in terms of logititudinal gender parity, when 100 per cent of people start in Primary One, how many people do get to Primary Six? It is the girls that are more likely to drop out.” He added that there was the “curriculum apartheid, how many girls are doing sciences? In most cases, it is girls who are not in sciences, technology, mathematical disciplines.”

The daily salary of Nigel de Jong of AC Milan in 2014/2015. Source: Paywizard.co.uk

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Israel in 2011. Source: Itu.int

£9,720

79.05%

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment, Engr. Adeyemi Abidemi; Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal; Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde and Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, during a press briefing on the state government’s position on the demolition of illegal structures under high tensions and river banks in the state… yesterday

Ambode: No going back on waterfront settlers’ eviction Muritala Ayinla

agos State government yesterday said that it would not shelve its plans to evict dwellers of waterfronts and shanties at the banks of the lagoon front, insisting that occupants of the areas must vacate the premises for safety and security reasons. The government said it was not ready to lose any life or property to ocean surge, electrocution and other impending threats or disasters associated with living on the waterfront as Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led adminsitration would remain committed to protecting lives and property in the state. Briefing journalists on the developments in the state, particularly on residents of waterfront and

shanties, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, his counterpart in Housing and Environment Ministries, Mr Gbolahan Lawal and Dr Babatunde Adejare said that there was a flagrant disobedience of Building Regulations in the State just as the government had resolved to ensure removal of all structure already in contravention of the law. Ayorinde described it as quite worrisome that ramshackle structures, sheds, canopies and shanties, especially along shorelines had turned to the abode of miscreants/ street urchins, kidnappers, touts, street traders and hawkers who vandalised public utilities and attacked innocent citizens. According to him, the state’s Urban and Regional Planning and Development

Law 2010, prohibited erecting structures within the Right of Ways and set backs of drainage Channels, centre-line of over-head electricity wires and also states in very clear terms specified distance to be observed between a property line and a public utility. Ayorinde, who was also joined in the briefing by Adejare added that the state would not allow anyone to risk his or her life by turning dangerous place such lagoon front to a place of abode. Harping on evicted residents of Ilubirin shanties, Adejare said the negative impact of climate change was real, adding that tragedy resulting from the global warming impact could strike at anytime. He said: “We are having torrential rainfall, climate change is real, water level is rising.”

Olubadan, others in historic visit to Ooni Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

he Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Adekunle Salau and three of his chiefs including his wives, Kudirat and Rashidat yesterday embarked on an historic visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. The Olubadan, who led Aseyin, Balogun of Ibadan, Chief Akinloye Olakuleyin and Ekerin Olubadan, Biodun Daisi, Agbaakin of Ibadan, Chief Lekan Alabi described the visit as historic. The monarchs said the visit was to felicitate with Oba Ogunwunsi on the recently celebrated Olojo festival and his birthday, affirming that Ile-Ife remained the source of the Yoruba race. They urged other Yoruba monarchs to support the Ooni in his efforts to unite the race. Ooni who was elated charged all traditional rulers in Yoruba land to rally round him as he was on the “throne in Ile-ife, the cradle of the race as their care-taker.” Oba Ogunwusi said: “Afuniso nimi nile Ife” meaning, “I am a caretaker on the throne in Ife” and If anything happens to Ife as the cradle of the Yorubas, other towns like Ekiti, Ibadan, ijebus, Ogbomosos,Oyos and and others will ask. “I am the caretaker for all other obas in the Yoruba land. All Yorubas should come back to Ife and re build it. Let us be one for the advancement of the Yorubas.”

Recession: Varsity teacher offers recipe for economic stability Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

hould President Muhammadu Buhari endorse a suggestion by a university teacher, Professor Ayoade Adesokan, Nigeria’s dwindling economy may bounce back especially if the Buhariled government employ a series of fiscal and monetary policies available in the country. According to Adesokan, there was also the need to save the Naira from further sliding as experimemntation of the fiscal and monetary policy would not only revive the dwindling economy but restore the country from total collapse. He said this in a lecture he delivered at the investiture of Chief Oyedeji Olajubu as the new President

of Ado Metropolitan Lions Club District 404B2. The investiture held at De Jewels Hotel, was preceded by foundation laying ceremony of two blocks of classrooms and furnishing of a library at Ado Grammar Nursery and Primary School. Commending the Club for pooling resources to construct the classrooms and library for the benefit of the people, Adesokan noted that the move came at a period Nigeria,was in recession while purchasing power of the Naira had equally grossly depleted, saying that the Naira which had been at the mercy of market forces of supply and demand was “totally unacceptable and clearly negates President Muhammadu Buhari’s avowed stand of not devaluing the naira.”

NEWS | south-east

wednesday, october 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Court sacks two Enugu lawmakers which emanated from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election held in December 2014, the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, held that the emergence of Ngwu and Agbo was unlawful. Justice Abang ordered the sacked legislators to refund to the coffers of the National Assembly forthwith all the money they collected by way of salaries, allowances since they took the seats in the House. The court, however, declared Dr. Gabriel A Okafor, as the rightful winner

of Igbo-Eze North/Udenu federal constituency elecAbuja tion, while Hon. Chijioke H. Ugwu, won the Egbo-Eze he Federal High North/Udenu federal conCourt sitting in stituency, Enugu State 2015. Abuja yesterday The PDP and its Nasacked two House of Reptional Working Commitresentatives’ members tee are the 1st and 2nd from Enugu State. defendants, while the InThe affected lawmakdependent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ers are Hon. Stella Ngwu from Igbo-Etiti/Uzois the 3rd defendant and Uwani federal constituNgwu and Agbo are 4th defendants in the two ency and Hon. Dennis Nnmachi Agbo, from Igboseparate suits. The court also declared Eze North/Udenu federal constituency. that the PDP and its NationDelivering judgment al Working Committee had in a pre-election matter no right and authority to use any delegate list for the election for its candidate for Igbo-Etiti/Uzo-Uwani and The capital importation of the Electrical sector of Nigeria in Q2 2014. Igbo-Eze North/Udenu fed-

Tunde Oyesina

$1.79m

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

eral constituencies, respectively, other than the list of delegates that emerged in its congresses held on November 1, 2014. "It is hereby declared that the 4th defendant did not emerge as winner from the primary election conducted for the purpose of electing the House of Representatives' candidate of the 1st defendant for Igbo-Etiti/Uzo-Uwani federal constituency for 2015 general elections since the primary election that purportedly produced her as winner was not conducted based on the list of delegates that emerged from ward congresses of the 1st defendant held on 1st November, 2014.

Umahi suspends two health workers for absenteeism Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

bonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, yesterday directed the indefinite suspension of two community health extension workers attached to Abakaliki Primary Healthcare Centre in Abakaliki Local Government Area of the state. The two health workers, Agwu Ngozi and Aneke Dorathy, were suspended for absenteeism. In a release issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Emma Anya, the governor said the suspension

followed their absence from duty at the weekend when the governor paid an unscheduled visit to the health facility located along Convent Road, Abakaliki. He said the visit was in continuation of his on-the-spot-assessment of public facilities in the state to ascertain the commitment of workers to the development and growth of the health sector. ‘’The affected health workers stayed away from their work contrary to this administration's zero-tolerance for absenteeism and lack of devotion to duty," the release said. L-R Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; Chief Edwin Clark; Sen. Femi Okurounmu; Chief Mbazuluike Amaechi and Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, during the Elders/ Management Committee meeting of Southern Peoples Assembly, at the Michael Okpara Auditorium in Umuahia… yesterday.

ABSIEC bows to pressure, reviews sale of forms, price Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

bia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) has bowed to the pressure of political parties in the state over the amount for the expression of interest form which it earlier pegged at N500, 000 for chairmanship and N200, 000 for councillorship candidates. The parties in their meeting with the electoral body insisted on the review which ABSIEC bowed to, reducing the fees to N400, 000 and N100, 000 respectively. Speaking earlier, Chairman of the commission, Hon. Justices Igbozurike Akomas (rtd), said the most critical issue to discuss in the meeting was the question of fees for the candidates, saying that aside from the nomination fees, the aspirants were expected to pay the commission administrative fees of 15,000 to enable the commission provide some relevant logistics for the election. According to him, “We have earlier pegged the

non-refundable fees for chairmanship candidates at N500, 000 and the councillorship at N200, 000. But after wide consultation and considering the fact that times are hard, we came to the conclusion that we should review the fees downward to N400, 000 and N100, 000 for chairmanship and councillorship position respectively.” The chairmen of the parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Donatus Nwamkpa, had described the fees by the commission as extortion of aspirants, noting that funds for the conduct of the election had been captured in this year’s budget. He said: “The commission is not an Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) agency for the state government, this is a state government event, if it’s not properly captured in the budget, the governor can submit a supplementary budget that will capture the local government election, my party rejects this amount because it is unacceptable and its subjecting our aspirants to untold hardship."

Kanu to FG: Stop harassing judicial officers Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

he detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, yesterday told the Federal Government to stop what he called the harassment of judicial officers handling his case. The IPOB leader, who has already initiated a contempt proceeding against the Federal Government following its refusal to obey the orders made by Justice Adetokunbo Ademola directing his unconditional

Ugwuanyi to contractors: Ensure projects are of high standard E nugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has charged contractors handling road construction and rehabilitation projects in the state to ensure that the standard of implementation is of high quality to justify the money his administration had spent on such projects. Represented by his Deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, the governor made the comment during the inspection of work done

by one of the indigenous contractors, Anbeez Services Limited, along the Enugu-Oji-River-Ugwuoba-Onitsha Old Road axis. The governor explained that his administration decided to rehabilitate failed portions of federal roads in the state to curb the adverse effect of such on the state's socio-economic fortune and give travellers a stressfree experience. Ugwuanyi also noted that the road, which he

described as "an important gateway into the South-East," would be delivered on schedule despite the grim economic situation in the country. The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Patrick Ikpenwa, urged the people to cultivate the habit of monitoring contractors handling road projects in their areas and inform the government of any shortcomings observed.

release, pointed out that the recent invasion of the judge's residence by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), was partly because he granted him (Kanu) bail. Speaking through his defence lawyer, Barrister Ifeanyi, in a statement issued in Abuja and obtained by New Telegraph, Kanu said the letter written by Justice Ademola to the National Judicial Council (NJC) in which he narrated his ordeals in the hands of DSS operatives was a pointer to the excesses of the executive lawlessness and interference in the judicial

process. He added that the action had shown desperate move by the Federal Government to intimidate the judicial officer that his case would be assigned to and refrain him or her from granting him bail in line with the direction expressed by President Muhammadu Buhari during his presidential media chat on December 30, 2015 that no court in Nigeria will grant Nnamdi Kanu bail. “We roundly condemn the government's interference with the judicial process in Nnamdi Kanu's cases and the executive

extra-judicial pronouncements. The executive should henceforth refrain from the harassment of judicial officers handling the matters and promptly take all reasonable steps to comply with the order of the court that directed Nnamdi Kanu's unconditional release. "This is a country that practices constitutional democracy, where the rule of law reigns supreme. On the contrary, what we are seeing in practice is flagrant disobedience to court orders and violation of same constitution they had sworn to uphold," he said.

Group charts way for Nigeria Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

he Elders Council and Management Committee of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA) have met in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, to deliberate on the way forward for the country. In their separate presentations, the zones, including representatives of the South-South, South-West and the SouthEast, said it was time for

Nigeria to take a second look at the present structure with a view to finding sustainable peace and progress. Declaring the forum open, Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, said so long as Nigeria continued to treat southern interest with disdain, the quest for unity would linger. Ikpeazu said it was time Nigeria looked critically at issues threatening the country’s corporate existence through dialogue and roundtable discussions than to allow

them escalate by pretending that they were not in existence. Presenting the SouthSouth position, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clarke, Coordinator for SouthSouth zone maintained that Nigeria “needs to be nurtured to grow under an equitable system, where no region or person dominates the other.” He maintained that a nation prospers only under an atmosphere of equity, justice and fair play, coupled with purposeful leadership.

south-south | news

wednesday, october 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Benin agog ahead of coronation of new Oba

Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

he Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Ehenden Erediauwa, yesterday followed the historic path of his forebears when he took a befitting royal name

at the ancient palace of Edigin of Use community in Egor Council Area of Edo State. This was as the entire city came agog ahead of the eventual coronation which holds tomorrow in the ancient city. The traditional rituals and cultural fiesta that followed the rich ceremony

Delta speaker escapes sack Dominic Adewole ASABA

acts have emerged about how the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Monday Igbuya, narrowly escaped being impeached yesterday by his colleagues over parliamentary misconducts. About 25 out of the 29 lawmakers in the House last week compiled the speaker's sins, including what they described as high-handedness since he assumed office last year and moved to unseat him. Besides, the speaker was accused of leaking sensitive parliamentary resolutions of the House to the executive arm of government in the state. Frantic efforts by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to safe the speaker allegedly failed before some prevailing circumstances played in his favour. As at 2pm yesterday, the House of Assembly caucuses collapsed into a close-door

meeting on how to save the speaker's head. Last week, the speaker was to be replaced with Hon. Eriatake Ibori, daughter of former Governor James Ibori, representing Ethiope West constituency, a senatorial district where the speakership seat was zoned to after the 2015 general elections, but the plot failed to materialise. Hon. Samuel Mariere, representing Ughelli North I constituency, who was permutated for 'Option B,' if 'Option A' (Eriatake) failed, had not been tested and proven, based on the fact that he hailed from the constituency of Olorogun Emerhon O'tega, the 2015 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. Ibori, New Telegraph gathered in Asaba yesterday, frowned at the development from his London prisons, wondering why the lawmakers did not weigh the implications by his detractors.

will expectedly lead to his emergence as the new Oba of the kingdom. Although, his royal title was not made public after taking the name as he stormed out of the inner chambers of Edigin N’Use, His Royal Highness, Ekpe Kelvin Edigin, at

about 5.30pm amid cheers by top chiefs, associates, members of the Erediauwa royal family, friends and well-wishers, guards and palace hands (Ifieto) security operatives and thousands of admirers, who accompanied him to the area for the colourful

ceremony. This was as the state government yesterday declared tomorrow, Thursday, October 20, as public holiday to allow guests and residents honour the new Oba during the ceremony. Ehenden had stormed the Edigin N’Use palace

here were indications late last night that Ken Saro Wiwa, Jnr.49, the son of slain Ogoni Human Rights activist, the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, has died. Multiple sources said that the son of the late environmental rights

Tony Anichebe Uyo

t least 50 teachers employed by the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, who were yet to be posted to schools by the current administration in the state, yesterday embarked on protest at the premises of the state House of Assembly. Expressing their grievances to newsmen, one of the teachers, who was a nursing mother, Mrs. Rose Akpan, said they were tired of staying at home after the state government had issued them appointment letters to start work but were yet to

be posted. They demanded immediate posting to ameliorate their sufferings. The Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Felicia Bassey, who received the aggrieved teachers, thanked them for a peaceful protest and promised to take the matter to the appropriate quarters. Meanwhile, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Onofiok Luke, said following the intervention of the House in the alleged wrongful sack/demotion of workers at the Akwa Ibom State University, the institution had made good concession that had saved the jobs of several workers of the university.

Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he Rivers State government yesterday warned churches and businesses operating in the state to regulate the use of their loudspeakers, especially in public places in order not to cause unnecessary noise pollution. The Special Adviser to Governor Nyesom Wike on Pollution Control, Mr. Nwuke Anucha, who issued the warning during a pollution control and religious matters meeting with members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Port Harcourt branch, said the noise churches produced during services was be-

activist, who resident in Abuja, died yesterday after a brief illness. The younger SaroWiwa was an international journalist and an author and l served in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Yenagoa

ayelsa State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Kala-Ama John Tonpre, said the union has decided to suspend its four weeks stay-at-home-order embarked upon by its members as a result of the inability of state government to pay their salaries in the last seven months. He stated this while speaking with newsmen after his assessment of compliance by school principals. He said the reports he received from various school principals

had confirmed compliance by the principals and teachers. According to him, they had only followed the Trade Union laws, which as allowed the union to suspend the action; and what has happened was that they have only suspended the strike to pave way for further negotiations. He said: "As provided by trade union laws, both parties have shifted grounds to suspend the strike action, some elders, parents, security agencies and parents intervened. “Negotiations are still ongoing, believing that the state governor will

coming alarming. He faulted the use of heavy loudspeakers by churches and businesses to convey messages that would be delivered with lower strength speakers, stressing that noise pollution had become a serious issue in the state. Anucha said no responsible government would sit back and relax in an atmosphere of noise pollution, adding that the government wants to address the issue so that residents of the state would go about their duties without being distracted. He said residents of the state had been complaining about noise pollution and that it was based on the need to address the issue that he invited CAN to the meeting. Former Commander, Military Joint Task Force, Puelo Shield in Niger Delta, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, leaving the Federal High Court Ikoyi premises shortly after the continuation of his trial and others over alleged N 8.5 Billion fraud, in Lagos … yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Why we suspended stay-at-home order, by Bayelsa NUT chair Chris Ejim

and shrine from his Uzama abode in a long convoy at about 4.06pm as security operatives fought hard to escort him through the milling crowd of subjects, market women, the elderly, school children and hundreds of palace chiefs who trooped out to honour him.

A’Ibom teachers protest non-posting Rivers warns churches, two years after employment businesses over noise pollution

Saro-Wiwa Jnr reported dead

not renege on his part, of course should he fail to pay the seven months we are being owed, a full strike will be declared. “The governor has paid January, paid two halves in February and later paid another half and when all these were put together it amounted to seven months that teachers in Bayelsa State are owed."

2.13m

The total number of active mobile (CDMA) lines of Nigeria in February 2015. Source: Ncc.gov.ng

JTF arrests militant leader, others in Delta

leader of the Urhobo/Isoko militant group, the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM), has been arrested by the operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF). The militant leader was apprehended on Sunday after days of surveillance by JTF operatives. The acting JTF spokesman, LieutenantCommander Thomas Otuji, confirmed the development. The suspect, said to have been arrested along

with four of his foot soldiers, allegedly masterminded attacks on oil and gas trunk-lines in Ughelli and its environs in Delta State. Soldiers of 222 Battalion, Ughelli had begun a massive manhunt for the members of NDGJM since last Saturday, after the group claimed it breached the Iwhremaro trunk-line in Ughelli North Local Government Area on Friday night. The group had, in a statement by Aldo Agbalaja last Friday, claimed responsibility for bombing an oil facility.

“At about 2100hours of Thursday, October 13, 2016, the Akuma Strike Team of the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate brought down the Iwhremaro to the Quality Control Centre (QCC) delivery line to signal the commencement of Operation Hammurabi Code,” it claimed. NDGJM warned of more attacks and also announced the launching of its ‘Operation Hammurabi Code’ in mockery of the army’s recent drill codenamed, ‘Operation Crocodile Smile.’

44 News|NORTH Muhammad Kabir KANO

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared that it has recovered more than N100 billion from various fraudulent groups and criminals in the last 10 months. This was even as the North West Zonal Office of the Commission comprising Kano,

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

EFCC recovers N100bn in 10 months Katsina, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kebbi and Zamfara states, noted that the agency had not received any for mal petitions against former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Speculations had had it that Senator Kwankwaso’s administration was under

investigations for allegedly squandering several billions of naira belonging to the state. In fact, the Commission was said to have recovered $622,200 and other property including eight houses; nine plots of land; three trucks and a car all from some criminals between

January and October. While addressing the media at a press conference at the Kano Zonal Office of the EFCC, the Zonal Head of the Commission, Mr. Nnaghe Obono Itam, said that within the period under review the agency secured 23 convictions out of 214 cases under prosecution.

L-R: Representative of Sheik Dahiru Bauchi, Ibrahim Sheikh Tahir Bauchi; Imam of Washington, Imam Majid; Emir of Damaturu, Alhaji Shehu Hashimi II Ibn Umar El-Kanemi and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, at the traditional and religious leaders conference in Abuja … yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Good governance: 10 northern govs in US for symposium

orno State Governor and Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Kashim Shettima, has tasked 10 northern governors currently attending a symposium in the United States to make impact on governance of their respective states. No fewer than 10 northern governors yesterday began a three-day symposium facilitated by the United States Institute of Peace and is being funded by the United States Government. The advice was con-

tained in a statement emailed from Washington by the Media Aide to the Governor, Isa Gusau, where he described the symposium as a follow up on an earlier one organised in March 2014 under the United States programme which invited the northern governors to a symposium on security. According to the statement, the symposium dwelt on how to find lasting solutions to the Boko Haram insurgency and its spread to every part in the north. In his address, Shet-

Kwara Assembly probes abandoned Judges’Quarters Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

awmakers in Kwara State yesterday agreed to investigate circumstances surrounding the abandonment of a multi-million naira official quarters built for judges by the administration of former Governor Bukola Saraki. The House took the decision in its resolutions after considering a Motion on Notice titled; “Putting the abandoned judges quarters into use,” sponsored by a member representing Kaiama/Kemanji/Wajibe constituency, Hon. Ahmed Ibn Mohammed. Reading the resolution, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Mathew Okedare, directed the House Committee on Land, Housing and Urban Development to investigate the abandoned quarters.

He said the committee would among other things, invite the state Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development and other stakeholders with a view to unraveling why the judges’ quarters were not put to use years after their completion and report to the House within two weeks. The House equally directed the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, to immediately clear the surroundings of the Judges Quarters so as to guide against bush burning during the coming dry season. Ibn Muhammed had while raising the motion, noted with displeasure that a colossal sum of tax payers’ money had been expended on the project by the government to construct 16 duplexes and boys’ quarters for the judges, pointing out that the affected houses were now dilapidated due to lack of use.

tima, who noted that going to Washington at this period of economic recession would likely attract wide condemnation from the people, charged the governors not to be deterred by the criticisms, but allow the benefits of the symposium rub on the welfare of the citizens and governance of their state. “We believe that our hosts, USIP and officials of the U.S Government will work with us with the utmost sincerity of purpose to guarantee quick benefits that will improve the living

conditions of our people,” Shettima stressed, saying: “As governors of the 19 northern states, we hope to secure tangible benefits that we can point to our people as proof that our visit here is not a jamboree as they would have thought. According to him, the symposium would create a platform and opportunity to re-engage their American partners on the most vital issues that could help in quickly making transition from volatility to a phase of peace and development in the northern states.

He added that 24 cases were still undergoing investigations in the zone, even as he explained that as part of its duty, the antigraft agency had also beamed searchlight on petroleum marketers, who were allocated with the products specifically during the last fuel scarcity, but refused to

pay the government. Nnaghe said that through investigation into the cyclical, bridging and retail scheme had yielded a refund of over N54 billion from the marketers, which it had already remitted to government. He added that the agency had now embarked on more proactive strategies in curbing crime by involving the NYSC Integrity Club, school campaigns and essay competitions.

Kebbi: 1,788 pregnant women tested positive to HIV Abubakar Abdul Birnin Kebbi

civil society organisation, the Management Science for Health (MSH) yesterday said no fewer than 1,788 pregnant women had tested positive to HIV in Kebbi State in a test carried out during the PEPFAR review period. The State Team Leader of the MSH, Mr. Okoye Bonaventure, while given the breakdown of the figure during the end of the project dissemination meeting held at the Peace Exclusive Hotel, Birnin Kebbi, said that 119,053 pregnant women were tested out of which 1,788 tested positive to HIV. He further said that the 1,788 HIV-positive pregnant women were identified and also treated, while 8,358 individuals were also tested for HIV during the PEPFAR reporting period which include PMTCT, TB/HIV and infants. He reiterated that the primary aim of the MSH was to save lives and improve the health of the world’s poorest

and most vulnerable people by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health. “As you can see, the MSH is the prevention and organisation of Systems-AIDs Care and Treatment (Pro-Act), which is being funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Management Science for Health in five states in the country including Kebbi State,” he added. He, however, commended the Kebbi State government for supporting the organisation throughout its seven years operations in the state, even as he assured the people of MSH’s commitment and capacity in promoting the health sector. In his remarks, the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Mr. Hassan Ibrahim expressed delighted over the performance of the MSH, while appealing to them that the government still require their services in order to curtail the menace in the health sector.

NLC, firm sign MoU to build 1,500 houses Kaduna killings: Legislator calls for state of emergency units of two-bedroom

Willie Danjuma GOMBE

he Gombe State wing of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a building construction firm to build 1,500 housing units for the state civil servants and Local Government Council workers. Speaking during the signing ceremony, the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Haruna Kamara stated that the project, which would gulp N8.4 billion, was being financed by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN). He said the houses will consist of 600 units of three bedroom flats; 600

flats and 300 units of one-bedroom flats in a 100-acre plot of land acquired by the NLC along Gombe-Bauchi Highway. He noted that the state civil servants ranked the first in total compliance with the 2.5 per cent contributions to the FMBN in the North-East and second after Abuja in the entire North, a feat he said, made it easy for the NLC to access the loans. While encouraging the building construction firm to purchase and hire artisans and labourers from Gombe in order to create jobs in the state, he added that the project was expected to be completed in 20 months immediately after construction commences.

IbraheemMusa Kaduna

member of the House of Representatives, Hon Sunday Marshall Katung, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to declare a state of emergency in southern Kaduna to stem the incessant killings going on in the area. Katung, who represents Zangon Kataf/Jaba federal constituency, also wants the Federal Government to establish a military formation in Jema’a Local Government Area of the state with the aim of stopping terrorists’ invasion of the communities. It will be recalled that gunmen had descended on Godogodo community in Jemaa Local Government Area,

killing 20 people last Sunday, which led to the imposition of curfew in the council area. Katung, who made the suggestion in a statement made available to newsmen in Kaduna yesterday, reminded the President of Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution which states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” He warned that if the Federal Government fails to act, the people will be left with no option than to resort to selfhelp which will further exacerbate an already inflamed situation. According to him, “Southern Kaduna people will no longer tolerate this deliberate plan to annihilate its people with both federal and state governments doing next to nothing to stop it.”

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sport Ajibade Olusesan

ome chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation are yet to forgive the English Premier League duo of Victor Moses and Isaac Success for pulling out of the World Cup qualifying match against Zambia and are impressing it on the Super Eagles Manager Gernot Rohr not to invite them for next month’s tie against Algeria Despite complaining about injuries before the Eagles’ 2-1 win over the Chipolopolo of Zambia in Ndola, Moses and Simon posted incredible performances for their respective clubs last weekend with the former scoring in Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Leicester and the later emerging man-of-the-match in Watford’s 1-0 victory at Middlesbrough. New Telegraph learnt that the NFF chiefs still believed the two players feigned injuries to deliberately pull out of the tie and were talking to Rohr to shelve the idea of inviting them for the Algeria game. “They are doing well for their clubs but we need players who are dedicated and committed to this course,” an influential member of the NFF board confirmed in an interview with our correspondent. “It is true some of us are not happy with the way those players skipped the game and we have to be careful not to set a bad precedent. Other players might want to do the same thing if we don’t treat this matter well and we are looking at the way of making the coach reason. with us” However, a member of the NFF’s Technical Committee Garba Lawal said he was not aware of such development but insisted it was wrong for anyone to moot the idea of shutting the Eagles door on the players simply because they skipped one match. He said the coach needed the best for the World Cup campaign and precluding anyone on flimsy excuses

Sport News

Did you know?

Russia 2018: Moses, Akpeyi return for Algeria

That in the Liverpool Man United match on Monday, Ander Herrera emerged the player with most interceptions (11) so far this season in the EPL

International Sport Man City not scared of Messi -Stones

46 47

Invitation of Moses, Sucess:

NFF, Rohr on collision course Leave players alone, Lawal cautions Eagles coach yet to submit list could be counter-productive. “Sucess said he had a knock and came out with proves and it was not surprising he played in his club’s game last weekend because it wasn’t a serious one like hamstring or ankle injury. At this moment, we need every one, we cannot say we have arrived just because we won a match, we still

Moses (left)

have five games to go, so we have to control our anger, Nigerians should learn about a positive way to react to issues like this,” he said. He confirmed Rohr was yet to submit the list of the players that will prosecute the match against Algeria and urged Nigerian football fans to disregard the list flying in the media.

“It is too early for him to bring the list for the Algeria game and I am surprised about where people are getting all the names they are brandishing around from. We Are expecting the list to come in any moment from now and I am sure it is something everyone will be happy about, we just have to let the coach do his job,” he said.

Ripples over Izu’s death Charles Ogundiya

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

onflicting reports have trailed the killing of Shooting Stars of Ibadan defender, Joseph Izu, even as more people condemned the murder of the player. The initial report started that the player went out to swim at the Okaki Jetty in Ahoada West Local Government Rivers State, when Joint Task Force men raided the area for some militants. But later, there was contradicting report from an officer from the Rivers State command of the JTF, Adewale Shokoya, who said the player was arrested with some miscreants and the force would release an

official statement soon on the case, which was yet to be done more than 24 hours after the promise. According to another source who claimed anonymity, late Izu was found amidst some miscreants who had earlier beaten up

Late Joseph Izu (left)

a woman. “The incident that led to the death of Izu started when three unidentified boys had misunderstanding with a woman around a black zone,” the source claimed. “The woman slapped one of the boys, who retaliated, but unknown to him the woman is a wife to one of the senior Army officers. “Immediately, the woman invited the military men to deal with the boys, unfortunately Izu was caught up in the scene after he was warned that the area was a black spot for bad boys. “The military men opened fire immediately on the boys and Izu was down by the bullet and one of the boys was killed and thrown into the river, while the other ran away with

bullet wounds. “Despite presenting his identity card as a professional footballer, they ignored him and shot him again on his leg, asking him to walk with the pains. They refused everyone from assisting him and only let him go when they realised he wouldn’t survive the gunshot.” When our correspondent contacted Shokoya again for the JTF reaction, sounding sober, he revealed that the issue was already in the public, and that their overall boss had given them the go ahead to speak, that they wanted to approach it from another angle, promising to release an official statement soon. He later said the Chief of Army Staff had stepped into the matter, so he could not say anything again.

SPORT NEWS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Russia 2018: Moses, Akpeyi return for Algeria

FIFA forces Porto to send Chukwueze back to Nigeria

ailed Arsenal target Samuel Chukwueze is back in Nigeria after spending time with Portuguese giants FC Porto, the team he will join when he clocks 18. Chukwueze one of the stars of the last Nigeria U-17 team to the FIFA World Cup in Chile, where they emerged champions trained with the U18s of the team before returning. His retur n, we lear nt, was due to FIFA regulations on the transfer of minors, which means he can’t be kept by

the team for now, as he is yet to be officially registered as their player. Although a transfer fee has been a g re e d w i t h h i s nursery team Diamond Academy for the 17-year-old forward, but payments will be made after the transfer is made official. However, Owngoalnigeria.com lear nt that even when he clocks 18, arrangements were already made to loan him to a team in the lower division before he makes the step up to Porto’s main team.

Ighalo, Success, Etebo also on the cards

Lagos Gov’s Cup: Enosoregbe, others face tough opposition Ajibade Olusesan

igerian players face tough oppositions in their second round matches as they aim for the top prize of the second leg (Futures 6) of the ongoing Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship. Clifford Enosoregbe will battle Tunisian Moez Echargui in one of the matches at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan on Wednesday. Sylvester Emmanuel will have his hands full in his match against the tournament number one seed in the men’s singles, Enrique Lopez-Perez from Spain. Thomas Otu will play against number 8 seed, Polish Maciej Smola, while Joseph Imeh Ubon will face Boy Westerhof from the The Netherlands, who is the tournament number 6 seed. Mohammed Mohammed will slug it out against Sasi Kumar Mukund of India. In other fixtures of the men’s singles in the second round, Gi-

anni Mina of France will battle Fokina Davidovich from Spain. In the women’s singles, top seed, Greek Valetini Grammatikopoulou, will play against Fanny Ostlund from Sweden, runner up in the first leg final, Conny Perrin faces Alexandra Riley, Rosalie Van Der Hoek of The Netherlands will battle Andrianjaftrimo Tessah from France. Lyra Shroff of India will fight against Ukraine’s Valeriya Strakhova, while Harmony Tan of France will battle Fatma Al-Nabhani from Omar. Slovakia’s Tadeja Majeric will face Akilah James of Grenada Meanwhile, the concluding first round matches decided on Tuesday saw Nigerian players failing to meet up to expectations. Henry Atseye lost to Calvin Hemery in straight set of 0-6,3-6,Edward Christopher Anefu was beaten 2-6,4-6 by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain, while Christian Paul lost 2-6,4-6 to Gianni Mina of France.

Akpeyi

Emmanuel Tobi

s part of strategies to fortify the team for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Super Eagles Manager, Gernot Rohr, has concluded plans to recall Chelsea winger Victor Moses, South Africa-based goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi, and other top players for the game against Algeria billed for November 12 in Uyo. New Telegraph lear nt that Watford of England striker Isaac Success and Feirense of Portugal midfielder, Oghenekaro Etebo, were also in contention for invitation into the team. Akpeyi who was at the Rio Olympics as one of the over-aged players

has been playing regularly for his South African club Chippa United and is seen by the German-born coach as a formidable deputy for top choice Carl Ikeme. Similarly, all the five players invited from the Nigeria Professional Football League may be ruled out of the Algerian game following the end of the league. Rohr is not favourably disposed to inviting the players whom he said would be match rusty before the game next month. The five players include goalkeepers Emmanuel Daniel and Ikechukwu Ezenwa, defender Jamiu Alimi as well as strikers Godwin Obaje and Chisom Egbuchulam.

Pay your players or LMC condoles with Izu’s family, Shooting Stars lose CAF slot Ogunjobi, Prime, Osun FA mourn player NANF tells Rangers, others

Charles Ogundiya

he National Association of Nigerian Professional Footballers has made it clear to clubs that have qualified to play on the continent to pay up all the outstanding debts owed their players and coaches, or face expulsion from the competitions. According to a release signed by the union’s National Public Relations Officer, Ogidi Mutairu, the clubs: Rangers International of Enugu, Rivers United of Port Harcourt and Wikki Tourists FC of Bauchi face debarment from CAF competitions. “In the light of the above, we as the recognised labour union passionately championing the cause of profes-

sional footballers insisted that this culture of clubs depriving players and coaches of their livelihood must stop,” the statement read. “We are concerned that in the midst of the jamboree and fanfare that followed the achievement of these clubs, the purported cash gifts and allocations, to these clubs following their success, they seem to have sworn to starve players and coaches of their salaries, as usual disobeying the NFF Arbitration Committee decisions.” NANF threatens to invoke Article 3.1 of the CAF Club Licensing Regulations, which disqualifies clubs on ground of no breach of contract by not paying its players and coaches their entitlements.

hairman of the League Management Company, Shehu Dikko, on Monday spoke to the grieving Pa Reuben Izu, father of late Joseph, a Shooting Stars defender. Dikko commiserated with Pa Izu assuring the family that the LMC will support them and also spoke to Rasheed Balogun, the General Manager of the club. “This is quite a shocking development. On behalf of the entire NPFL family, please accept our heartfelt condolence and kindly extend our expression of sympathy to the family of the late Izu”, concluded the LMC Chairman on a philosophical note. Similarly, Chairman Osun State Football As-

sociation, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, on Monday expressed deep sorrow at the news of the death of Izu. Ogunjobi, who is also the Chairman of Prime Football Club in a statement signed by his media aide, Tunde Shamsudeen, described the player’s demise as sad, shocking, unfortunate and a huge loss to football in the Nigeria Professional Football League. “I am shocked upon hearing the sad news of the passing on of Izu Joseph. I sympathize with Shooting Stars family, the Oyo State Government, and I am praying God to give his family the fortitude to bear the loss,” the Osun Pillar of Sports said.

Klitschko-Joshua fight hits a snag P

romoter Eddie Hearn has suggested that sanctioning of the vacant WBA ‘super’ title is all that stands between a clash between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko being set up. A deal for the two heavyweights was expected to be completed early this week with the Manchester Arena likely to stage the bout on December 10, but the plans could be scuppered should the WBA not allow the pair to fight for its version of the world crown.

Tyson Fury has vacated both that belt and the WBO title and while there appears to be no specific demand for the WBO strap to be on the line, Hearn has revealed that former unified champion Klitschko is keen to compete for WBA honours. Hearn told Sky Sports News: “The deal is there but we are awaiting sanctioning from the WBA. “Both teams have written to the WBA to request sanctioning of our fight, but Wladimir wants

the WBA belt to be on the line so until that is approved we cannot move forward. “We expect news in the next few days, but in the meantime I believe both sides will look at alternative options for December 10 while we hope to get the news we need to make the fight happen.” Joshua currently holds the IBF title, which would also be on the line should a deal be completed for the mega-fight to take place in the final month of 2016.

Klitschko (right)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Man City not scared of Messi – Stones

Arsenal defender, Laurent Koscielny

Arsenal target 7th consecutive win against Ludogorets

rsenal will be in seventh heaven if they record a Champions League win over Ludogorets on Wednesday. Arsene Wenger’s Gunners will claim their seventh consecutive victory if they defeat the European minnows at the Emirates. Wenger and his coaching staff put Arsenal’s first-team stars through their paces on Tuesday as they geared up for the visit of the Bulgarian outfit. A nervy home crowd saw Arsenal concede two goals to Swansea, however a Theo Walcott double and a strike from Mesut Ozil saw their side claim three points. Walcott, speaking ahead of Wednesday’s match, said of his side’s recent form: ‘The Burnley game, they were very well organised and we found it very difficult. But we all stuck in, showed patience and in time we got the win which was really important. ‘Again against Swansea, we had to be diligent, be patient at times but we still got the win even if it would have been nice to take the ball home on a personal note. But that’s not the case.”

Messi (left)

US election: 'Stop whining,' Obama tells Trump

anchester City defender John Stones has said, facing Lionel Messi as the best player in the world but insists he’s not scared of the Barcelona forward. “It will be great to come faceto-face with them,” he said “It doesn’t scare me, no. I think you have to play against the best to see how you can deal with it and it always brings the best out in you as well. “I see it as an exciting challenge and one I’m looking forward to -- if I’m picked to play of course”. The 28 year old city defender feels messi is the best, and sees it as an honor to play against him. “For me, Messi’s the best player in the world, easily. He’s one of a kind. I think we, as footballers, appreciate it even more when you come up against him and see what he can really do.”

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S President Barack Obama has told Donald Trump to "stop whining" following his claims that next month's election will be rigged. He said Mr Trump's attempt to discredit a poll before it has even taken place is "unprecedented" for a US presidential candidate. Also "unprecedented", said Mr Obama, was the Republican candidate's "flattery" of Russia's president. Mr. Trump is facing sinking poll numbers and accusations of sexual as-

sault. The businessmanturned-politician has repeatedly claimed that the 8 November election will be stolen for Hillary Clinton. But in a White House Rose Garden news conference alongside visiting Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Tuesday, Mr Obama said: "I'd advise Mr Trump to stop whining and try to make his case to get votes." "By the way," he added, "doesn't really show the kind of leadership and toughness that you want out of a president, if you

start whining before the game's even over. "If whenever things are going badly for you and you lose, you start blaming somebody else, then you don't have what it takes to be in this job." Mr. Obama also addressed the Republican candidate's admiring remarks about Vladimir Putin. "Mr. Trump's continued flattery of Mr Putin and the degree to which he appears to model much of his policies and approach to politics on Mr Putin is unprecedented," he said.

Show respect, Costa warned after clash with Conte

helsea striker Diego Costa has been told to show more respect after reacting angrily to manager Antonio Conte on Saturday, according to reports. Costa, who has scored seven goals in eight appearances for Chelsea this season, gestured to be substituted during the 3-0 victory over Leicester City at Stamford Bridge. According to the Daily Mail, the Spaniard was tired of Conte’s continuous instructions from the sideline, as he interpreted them as criticism of his performance. Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge, London, October 15. Conte is always a very animated figure on the touchline at Chelsea but top striker Costa reacted badly to his interventions on Saturday. Shaun Botterill/Getty Costa is believed to have been saying if his play was that bad, then he should be removed from the pitch. Despite playing the incident down in his post-match press conference, Conte is said to have made it clear to his star striker that his behavior was unacceptable and that he should show more respect.

Wolfsburg fire Hecking

olfsburg have confirmed that head coach Dieter Hecking has left his post by mutual consent after a disappointing start to the season. A run of six matches without a win - which included a 5-1 home thrashing by Borussia Dortmund - undermined a promising Hecking opening Bundesliga victory away to Augsburg in August. The club sporting director “Klaus Allofs”, said that they had to change the technical crew due to it disappointing start in the league. “After the last few disappointing results we took the decision to give the team new impulses through a change of coaching staff.” “On a personal level I feel sorry for this decision. In these intense almost four years we worked very successfully together.”

Mosul battle EU should prepare for returning jihadists

Mosul battle: EU 'should prepare for returning jihadists'

he EU should be prepared for returning jihadists if the so-called Islamic State (IS) is driven out of its Iraqi stronghold, Mosul, an official warns. Security Commissioner Julian King said even a small number of militants would pose "a serious threat that we must prepare ourselves for". Iraqi forces say they have captured 10 villages near Mosul since beginning their long-awaited offensive Monday. As many as 5,000 IS fighters are believed to remain in the city. Government troops, moving in from

the south, are currently some 40km (24 miles) from the city, while Kurdish fighters are some 30km to the east. The International Committee of the Red Cross has appealed to all sides to show their humanity as aid agencies brace for what they say could be the largest manmade humanitarian crisis of recent times. Julian King, a British diplomat recently made the EU's security commissioner, told Die Welt newspaper (in German) the threat of IS fighters returning to Europe after the fall of Mosul was

"very serious". There were currently about 2,500 fighters from EU countries in the combat zones, he said. However, he stressed it was "very unlikely that there would be a mass exodus of IS fighters to Europe". Similar cases in the past had shown, he said, that "only a few fighters come back". But he added: "I don't want to talk the risk down. Even a small number constitutes a threat." Some of the militants involved in the deadly IS attack on Paris last November had recently returned from Syria.

Geneva prosecutor probes Equatorial Guinea president's son

eneva prosecutor's office has begun a preliminary investigation into Teodorin Obiang, the son of Equatorial Guinea's president, the prosecutor's spokesman said yesterday. The investigation was first reported in the Swiss 24heures newspaper, which said the Swiss authorities were responding to a request from their French counterparts.

Obiang, vice president of the small central African state, is to face trial in France for suspected money laundering, France's financial prosecutor said last month. "A preliminary investigation is under way. That means that we are right at the start of the inquiry. We are not making any other comment for the moment," the prosecutor's spokesman, Henri Della Casa,

said by email. Contacted by Reuters, Emmanuel Marsigny, Obiang's French lawyer, said he did not wish to comment. Obiang has denied wrongdoing and has said his wealth, which has allowed him to buy luxury real estate in Paris, a private jet and a stable of exotic sports cars, was amassed legitimately through successful business dealings.

On Marble

“No one was above the law, and no one was below its protection.”

–Mona Hodgson

Sanctity of Truth

Fayose: Two years’ after

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

Bola Bolawole }16

N150

Profiling the Bar and the Bench

lthough the storm over the “Gestapo” arrest of serving and retired Judges of Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria is still raging, there is no doubt that after the storm, members of the legal profession coalesced under the Nigerian Bar Association and Judicial Officers of inferior and Superior Courts of Record will sit down and reflect on the issues thrown up by the raid and their consequent arrest. There will be soul searching on the apparent gulf and perception between the Bar and the Bench and a large number of members of the public on the reasons for the raid and the arrests. Debates will continue relating to the procedure adopted by the Department of State Services (DSS) in arresting the judicial officers and the perception of a large number of Nigerians on “judicial corruption”. Possibly, based on the reflection and soul searching, clarifications will be made and the Bar and the Bench may in the process design and fashion out processes and procedures of more transparency, professionalism and better ethical conduct amongst their members. Reflecting and auditing the professionalism and ethical conduct of the members of Bar and the Bench will respond to the prevailing view and perception that members of the Bar and the Bench are blinded and enmeshed in illicit corruption web and have in the process become insensitive to the general concerns of the public about their conduct in the “the perversion of justice”. Reflecting and genuinely addressing the concerns of the members of the public will no doubt show that large number of members of the Bar and the Bench are doing honest work and earning legitimate income. It will show that there are so many members of the Bar and the Bench that are core professionals and conduct their cases and businesses in the best traditions of the Bar and the Bench. Such an audit will also show that there are “rogue lawyers and rogue judges” that have no business being in the Bar and in the Bench. The audit will enable the Bar and the Bench to embark on a genuine process of mass education of the Nigerian people on legal processes and procedures and the need to remain on the path of the rule of law and due process in a democratic society. I say this because at the aftermath of the midnight raid by the Department of State Services (DSS) of the homes of serving Judges and Justices of the various grades of our superior courts of record, some members of the public insisted that what the Department of State Services did was right and that members of the Bar and the Bench are engaged in a cover up by raising technical and procedural issues to obfuscate what they call deep rooted corruption in the judiciary. Others insisted that the procedure and method adopted by the DSS might be wrong but that the Judges are guilty based on the quantum of money found in their houses and the number of properties the DSS claimed they own. Others insist that some members of

Hard Choices FESTUS OKOYE festokoye2003@yahoo.com 0805-448-0565 (sms only)

NBA President, Abubakar Mahmoud

the legal profession are accomplices in the corruption in the judiciary by serving as couriers and conduits through which the monies meant for Judges are transmitted. Others have insisted that if the Judges are not guilty, they should explain the source(s) of the monies found in their possession and whether their houses are commercial banks or Bureau de Change. The truth of the matter is that some Nigerians are not just responding to the midnight raid in the houses of judicial officers but activating their perception and view of the Bar and the Bench held over a period of time. In the main, most Nigerians seem to be frustrated and at variance with the adversarial system of criminal jurisprudence in Nigeria. Some doubt the continued relevance of the adversarial system of criminal jurisprudence in the face of the pillage of the commonwealth of the country by rapacious ruling elite insensitive to the plight of the ordinary people. Some see the adversarial system as a shield to protect the strong and the powerful and do not appreciate its continued relevance in Nigeria. Yet, others do not seem to appreciate the entire concept and wonder what the fuss is all about. This is really where the Bar and the Bench must step in to clarify and educate. The Bar and the Bench must fashion a process of education and enlightenment on the core principles of the adversarial system of criminal jurisprudence in Nigeria. The public must be made to understand that our criminal justice system is anchored on the presumption of innocence and guided and guarded by the concept of due process and fair hearing. In this case, anyone accused of criminal

DG, DSS, Lawal Daura

infraction is presumed innocent until the contrary is proved. In the same vein, the burden of proof rests with the prosecution that must make out a prima facie case against anyone accused of a criminal offence. It also rests on the fact that suspicion no matter how grave, cannot ground a conviction. It also rests on the fact that Judges that preside over such cases are supposed to be impartial arbiters and are not permitted to help or assist the prosecution even if the prosecution is bungling a matter. It also rests on the fact that only concrete, cogent and admissible evidence will be used in making a determination relating to the guilt of an accused person. Hence, bungling of investigation, shoddy investigation and breach of procedures in investigation and arraignment may be fatal to the case of the prosecution. Conversely, some Nigerians seem to prefer a system where persons suspected of criminal infraction are presumed guilty until they prove their innocence. In other words, you have a duty to explain or prove your innocence if monies or properties in excess of what ordinarily should be your legitimate earning are found in your possession. Maybe, Nigerians want a combination or a hybrid of the adversarial and inquisitorial system of criminal jurisprudence. Furthermore, the Bar must continuously monitor and audit the conduct of its members in private legal practice and those holding office in the public and private sectors of the Nigerian society. The Bar must fashion clear mechanisms of holding them accountable for their actions. Some in the private and public

sectors behave like outsiders and sometimes assist in profiling members of the profession and aid and abet those insistent on bringing the profession to disrepute. The leadership of the Bar must not lose sight of the fact that there is a nexus between some members of the public and some “rogue lawyers”. Some Nigerians prefer the “rogue lawyer” that will assist them cut corners. Some members of the public will refuse to pay lawyers their professional fees but are quick to provide money for the “settlement of Judicial Officers”. Some “rogue lawyers” will also suggest the collection of such funds and some end up pocketing such funds and claim to have settled the judicial officers. A few judicial officers also set up scams for the collection of such monies. While the legal profession finds the balance between the processes and procedures of the courts and the concerns of the Nigerian public regarding corruption in the Bar and the Bench, the Nigerian Bar Association must on no account compromise the independence of the Bar and the Bench and its ability to act as a bulwark against dictatorship. The Bar Association is rooted in the rule of law and due process and the society will be in danger the moment members of the Bench are cowed and afraid to adjudicate truthfully and honestly. The Bar must protect honest members of the Bench doing honest work. Conversely, the Bar must distance itself from those judicial officers that pervert justice. The only insistence here is that such individuals must be dealt with in accordance with the rule of law and due process. The government and its agencies must realize that there is no substitute for the judiciary. If the judiciary is destroyed and or brought to disrepute and odium, there will be anarchy in the society. Humiliation of the judiciary and the use of unorthodox tactics in the fight against corruption may be fashionable in the interim but in the main it will not endure or help the development of the legal system and our institutions.

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