15th January 2016 by Nigerian Tribune

nigeria’s most informative newspaper no 16,415

FRIDAY, 15 JANUARY, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Court orders Tompolo's arrest

•Over failure to appear in court •EFCC slams 7-count charge on Metuh •Ex-NIMASA DG appears in court in crutch —Pgs6,7,33

2016 budget

Nigerian Tribune

@nigeriantribune

Nigerian Tribune

n150

NSE loses $30bn to global oil price crash •Nigerians groan over dollar/naira rates •CBN releases 31 circulars to monitor forex management •Senate summons CBN gov —Pgs10,11&12

Presidency submitted two versions—Senate

—P3,6

•Alleges document submitted by Ita Enang different from that of Mr President •I won't join issues with them —Ita Enang •PDP wants NASS to impeach Buhari

Doctor dies of Lassa fever in Rivers, 15 under surveillance in Abuja —Pgs37,38

1966 coup must not repeat itself, Emir of Kano warns

Buhari orders fresh probe into Chibok girls abduction —P33

Parents of abducted Chibok girls at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday. photo: Sunday Osunrayi

—P6

30 killed, houses burnt as Fulani/farmers clash again in Nasarawa —P36

news

Friday, 15 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, flanked by Chief Ayo Adebanjo (fifth right); Sir Olaniwun Ajayi (sixth left) and the Tribune management team, led by Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Edward Dickson (fourth right), during a courtesy visit to the royal father by the Tribune management, on Thursday. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE.

Unity among Yorubas will engender development —Ooni As Tribune management pays homage Oluwole Ige - Osogbo

HE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja 11), on Thursday, said there was need to promote unity among all the Yorubas, irrespective of religion and political divides, saying healthy development can only be achieved through genuine peace and unity. He made this known in Ile-Ife, when he received the management of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publisher of the Tribune titles, led by the Editor-In-Chief (EIC)

and Managing Director, Mr Edward Dickson, during a courtesy visit to his palace. Oba Ogunwusi, who described Ile-Ife and Awolowo dynasty as inseparable entity, said it was incumbent on all Nigerians to imbibe patriotism, sense of unity and love for the nation exhibited by the founder of the Nigerian Tribune, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. According to him, “if there is unity and cohesion among our people, the struggle to attain enviable development in all facets of life as far as Nigeria is concerned would be an easy task.”

He urged the management of the ANN Plc to continue to uphold the ideals and virtues of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in forging ahead as the oldest surviving private newspaper in the country. In his remark, the MD/ EIC of the ANN Plc, Mr Edward Dickson, assured the monarch that the Tribune titles would continue to support the revered stool of the Ooni of Ife by promoting and protecting the cultural heritage of the Yorubaland. He stated, “We are here to pay homage and also pledge our support to you on the

throne of your forefathers. The relationship between the Nigerian Tribune and the palace of the Ooni of Ife had spanned decades and we would continue to nurture it to the benefit of not only Ile-Ife, but also the entire Yoruba race.” Dickson later presented about 16 books written by Chief Obafemi Awolowo and other souvenirs of the ANN Plc to Oba Ogunwusi. Among the entourage of the MD/EIC are the Editor, Nigerian Tribune, Mr Debo Abdulahi; Editor, Saturday Tribune, Mr Lasisi Olagunju; Editor, Sunday Tribune,

Accord Party suspends national secretary for admitting it received N100m through Ladoja Christian Okeke - Abuja

THE Accord Party has suspended its National Secretary, Nureni Adisa, over a confessional letter allegedly written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the alleged N100 million given to him by the office of the embattled former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki. The alleged money was said to have been received from the former chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, by Senator Rashidi Ladoja on behalf of the party. However, the party has said it did not at any time mandated Senator Ladoja or any other person to collect the sum of N100 million or any sum of money on its behalf. It said it did not receive N100 million or any sum of money from Senator

Ladoja or any other person as alleged. Accord, after an emergency meeting of its National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja, said it was not a party to the confessional letter allegedly written to EFCC by the suspended national secretary. “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies should disregard the confessional letter as it did not emanate from the leadership of the party,” the party said in its communique obtained by the Nigerian Tribune. The communique was signed by the party’s National Chairman, Muhammad Nalado and 12 other national officers. “Honourable Nureni Adisa has been suspended as National Secretary of the party forthwith while a seven-man disciplinary committee has been set up

by the party to determine the issues surrounding the publication,” the communique reads. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Tribune gathered that in its statement, the now suspended national secretary admitted that the N100 million Ladoja got from Anenih was for the party to mobilise support for re-election of the former President Goodluck Jonathan, given that Accord did not field a presidential candidate for the election. The statement entitled; ‘Release of One Hundred Million by Chief Tony Anenih,’ reads in part: “Our attention has been drawn to a newspaper report that the sum of N100million was released to the Accord leader, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, by Chief Tony Anenih, the (former) Chairman, BoT of the PDP.” “We confirm that the

sum of N100million was given to the party through our leader after series of meetings between the leadership of Accord and Chief Tony Anenih in preparation for the 2015 general election. “Part of the issues discussed at the meeting was how to support the presidential candidate of the PDP, which was Jonathan, the need to ensure that peace is maintained to enhance peaceful movement during periods of campaign, elections and after the elections and the need for the PDP to support Accord’s campaign effort. “Accordingly, the PDP (former) BoT Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, released the sum of N100million for these purposes through our leader, Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja. “The money released was accordingly used for the purposes as stated above.”

Mr Sina Oladehinde; Sales Manager, Dr Omotayo Lewis; Senior Manager (Advertisement), Mr Kayode Titiloye; Controller (Business Development), Mr Fola Oke and the Chief Accountant, Mrs Oluremi Olufisayo. Meanwhile, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, on Thursday, said the history of the Yorubaland would be incomplete without underscoring the immense contributions of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his wife, Chief (Mrs) H.I.D Awolowo. He said the passionate love and commitment to Yoruba cause displayed by Awolowo and his developmental strides in the SouthWest would forever remain indelible in the history of the Yoruba ethnic group. Oba Ogunwusi made this assertion while playing host to the members of the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) led by its Vice Chairman, Reverend Emmanuel Bolanle Gbonigi, who paid him courtesy visit at his palace in Ile-Ife. While emphasising the need to foster unity and love among the Yoruba race, the monarch said “Yoruba history would be incomplete without adequate mentioning of the enviable contributions of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his wife, Yeye Oodua, late Chief (Mrs) H.I.D Awolowo.” According to Oba Ogunwusi, “Yorubaland is dear to God. God is not happy because of disunity and supremacy battle among us. There is critical need for love and unity among us to enhance development. If there is unity in Yorubaland, there would be unity and peace in the whole world. “I am passionate about Yoruba’s interest. The work for Yoruba unity has com-

menced because it is ordained by God and our ancestors. Traditional rulers are closer to the people than government. With unity of purpose, we would record resounding success in all our activities. I have been closer to Yoruba Obas since my days as a prince and after becoming the king, I have extended hands of fellowship to them and we have been building bridge of unity across seeming barriers,” he remarked. Earlier in his remark, the vice chairman of YUF, Reverend Gbonigi said “by the virtue of the royal throne you occupy, we are conscious of the fact that one of your most sacred duties is the protection, preservation and sustenance of Yoruba unity and culture and see this duty as being perfectly aligned with the objectives of the Yoruba Unity Forum.” Declaring Oba Ogunwusi as the patron of YUF, the clergy recalled that his immediate past predecessor, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, gave full backing and support to the group in realising its objectives, just as he served as its patron. Gbonigi further observed that Yoruba unity would remain elusive as long as Yoruba Obas continue to harbour animosities against one another, prompted in part by the needless struggle for supremacy. Members of the YUF on the entourage of Reverend Gbonigi included Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Professor Muibi Opeloye, Professor Opeoluwa Adekunle, Chief (Mrs) Bola Doherty, Chief Toye Ogunsuyi, Honourable Tunde Oladapo, Senator Anthony Adefuye, Chief (Mrs) Kofoworola Bucknor Akerele, Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu and Dr Kunle Olajide.

news

Friday, 15 January, 2016

2016 budget: Presidency submitted two versions —Senate I won’t join issues with them —Ita Enang Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja

HE Senate, on Thursday, declared that the 2016 budget meant for deliberation by its members has two versions, adding that the one submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari was different from that made available to them by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang. Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, who spoke at the Senate plenary and the chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, who addressed Senate correspondents after the Thursday’s sitting, confirmed that the budget copy in the Senate had two versions and put the blame for the development on Enang. Saraki had, on Wednesday, announced that the senators would be given copies of the budget on Thursday, so that debate on the appropriation bill could start on January 19. But the Senate failed to

circulate copies of the budget on Thursday. It only came with further revelations, sinking the budget document into more controversy. The Senate had, also on Tuesday, mandated its committee on Ethics, Privildges and Public Petitions, headed by Senator Sam Anyanwu, to investigate the issue of missing budget which emanated from the chamber on January 12. Having received the report of the committee on Thursday, Saraki said “we have received the report of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on investigations surrounding 2016 Appropriation Bill. “Our finding is that Senator Ita Enang, the SSA to the President on NASS Matters, printed copies on the 2016 Appropriation Bill and brought to the Senate. We have discovered that what he brought is different from the version presented by Mr President. “We have resolved to consider only the version presented by Mr President as soon as we receive soft

Budget: PDP wants NASS to commence impeachment process against Buhari Wants finance, budget ministers, CBN Gov to resign Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel - Abuja THE National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday, called on the National Assembly to commence impeachment process against President Muhammadu Buhari, for the various constitutional breaches he had committed since his assumption of office, especially the submission of two versions of the 2016 appropriation Bill before the National Assembly. This was contained in a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja, by the party’s acting national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, after an emergency meeting of the NWC on Thursday night. The party said the National Assembly should thoroughly investigate the shameful act, including the

distortion and banding of figures and ensure appropriate sanctions. The party also asked the ministers of Finance, Budget and National Planning to resign, having failed to provide the much needed capacity in the management of the nation’s economy, resulting in the embarrassing crashing of the nation’s currency to as low as N305 to a dollar. Also, the party asked the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to resign, for plunging the country’s currency policy into chaos. It lamented that the APC government, rather than address grievous national issues, had, instead, resorted to violation of peoples rights in the name of fighting corruption.” It noted in particular, the continued detention of its spokesperson, Chief Olisa Metuh, for nearly 10 days in clear breach of his fundamental human rights.

copy of the original document from the Executive,” he said. But the Senate President did not brief his colleagues on the outcome of his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on the matter. It was gathered that the Senate committee was able to get to the roots of the missing budget saga, as the lawmakers interrogated some officials of the Senate and Enang. It was gathered that the committee discovered that

it was Senator Enang who withdrew the copy of the budget submitted to the Senate and the House of Representatives at a Joint sitting on December 22, 2015 and that the copies were collected from the clerk to the Senate and House Committees on Appropriation, after which another set of copies were given to the clerks.. The senators later went into an executive session which lasted more than two hours to discuss the report

of the committee. It was gathered that a sharply divided Senate debated the matter, as many of the senators were said to have broken ranks and took adversarial positions. Sources in the Senate said the division among the lawmakers went beyond party lines as, according to them, lawmakers were angry that the document was tampered with behind them. Senate spokesperson, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, who also addressed jour-

nalists after the plenary, in company with the vice chairman of his committee, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, also said the Senate was awaiting the original version of the budget from the Presidency. “The report about a missing budget is not true. We don’t have a budget that is missing. But you recalled that the Senate President did inform Nigerians that there is an issue that a committee was asked to investigate. continues pg5

Friday, 15 January, 2016

news

Friday, 15 January, 2016

2016 budget: Presidency submitted two versions —Senate continued from pg3

“The investigation by the committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has been submitted in the executive session. It was a decision we took at the last executive session. “Our findings are these: That Mr President did lay the budget before the joint session of the National Assembly and, thereafter, the Senate went on recess and upon resumption, copies of the document were produced by Senator Ita Enang, who is the SSA to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) and the copies were submitted to Senate and House of Representatives. “What we found out is that the document submitted by Senator Enang, upon our resumption, has some differences, discrepancies with what was originally laid by Mr president in the joint sitting of the National Assembly. “However, the Senate, in defence of its own integrity, honour, will not work with

what has not been laid on the floor of the National Assembly. We are constitutionally mandated and duty bound to consider only that budget that had been so laid by Mr President. “Right now, for reproduction, we are awaiting the soft copy of the originally submitted budget so that the National Assembly can reproduce the copy itself. That is the only time we can have confidence in the document we want to work with. “The budget submitted by the president is not missing, we already have copies of it but what we are saying is that for us to reproduce for our members, it is easier, based on the quantum of document that has to be produced, that we get the soft copy of that original version so that we can reproduce it. “By next week, we want to go down to business; senators had picked dates to speak during the three days set aside for debate on the 2016 budget. “The Senate leadership

was mandated to speak with all those concerned with the document, that was why the Senate President was in touch with Mr President,” he said. The senator, however, refused to comment on the claims by the House of Representatives that it had its own original version of the document. “I am not in the position to say the differences between the document submitted by the president and the one brought by Ita Enang. The committee that investigated the issue did not include that in their report,” he said. Reacting, Enang told Senate correspondents that he would not join issues with the Senate on the matter. When accosted by newsmen on the matter, he simply said “I will not join issues with them.” It was gathered that Enang had been grilled at the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, which investigated the issue of missing budget.

news Budget: PDP wants NASS to commence impeachment process against Buhari 6

Friday, 15 January, 2016

Wants finance, budget ministers, CBN Gov to resign Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel -Abuja

HE National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday, called on the National Assembly to commence impeachment process against President Muhammadu Buhari, for the various constitutional breaches he had committed since his assumption of office, especially the submission of two versions of the 2016 appropriation

Bill before the National Assembly. This was contained in a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja, by the party’s acting national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, after an emergency meeting of the NWC on Thursday night. The party said the National Assembly should thoroughly investigate the shameful act, including the distortion and banding of figures and ensure appropriate sanctions. The party also asked the ministers of Finance, Bud-

get and National Planning to resign, having failed to provide the much needed capacity in the management of the nation’s economy, resulting in the embarrassing crashing of the nation’s currency to as low as N305 to a dollar.

Also, the party asked the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to resign, for plunging the country’s currency policy into chaos. It lamented that the APC government, rather than address grievous national issues, had, instead, re-

sorted to violation of peoples rights in the name of fighting corruption.” It noted in particular, the continued detention of its spokesperson, Chief Olisa Metuh, for nearly 10 days in clear breach of his fundamental human rights.

We’ll uphold rule of law in appointment of acting CJ —Wike DapoFalade-PortHarcourt GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has pledged that his administration would continue to uphold the rule of law to appoint an acting chief judge for the state. He made the pledge while speaking at a special valedictory court session held in honour of the the state Chief Judge, Justice Daisy Okocha, who retired from the state judiciary service on Thursday. The governor noted that the judiciary in the state would never be dragged into unnecessary crisis under his leadership, adding that succession in the judiciary would only follow due process. “Never again will the state courts be closed as a result of avoidable crisis of

succession. Like I pledged, I will always respect due process in the appointment of the acting chief judge,” he said. Wike commended Justice Okocha for her uprightness, saying she had uplifted the state judiciary during her short stay in office and prayed God to continue to bless her in her future endeavours. In his remarks, the state Attorney General, Emmanuel Aguma, said the emergence of Justice Okocha as the state chief judge was a victory for the rule of law.

Former Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (nimasa), Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi (with crutch), being assisted by one of his lawyers, at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, where he was arraigned by efcc for alleged fraud and money laundering, on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN

Muhammad Sabiu -Kaduna THE Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has warned against repeat of what happened in 1966, causing the

assassination of the Premier of Northern Nigeria, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello. In message read at the 50th anniversary of the

death of the Sardauna, held at Arewa House, Kaduna, he said “Nigerians have moved over the history of 1966 coup, but today, history is being repeated, as those

•Commission seals off Badeh’s son’s house in Abuja

CONTRARY to widely circulated report that he was going to honour the invitation extended to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to shed light on certain areas in his eight-year administration in the state, former Plateau State governor, Senator Jonah Jang, on Thursday, failed to show up at the commission. The state government had petitioned the anti-corruption body over certain grey areas of the Jang-led administration, leading to the invitation extended to him by EFCC. The legislative aide to the ex-governor Jang, who is the senator representing

Ex-NIMASA DG, Akpobolokemi, shows up in court in crutch IN a manner similar to that of Mohammed Bello, former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was wheeled into the Federal High Court in Abuja, Patrick Akpobolokemi, ex-Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), on Thursday, walked into the premises of the Federal High Court in Lagos with the aid of a walking stick. Akpobolokemi, who was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged fraudulent land contract of the Nigerian Maritime University, had been in custody of the anti-graft agency since December. His arrest created a scene, as operatives of the commission bundled him into a waiting bus after he refused to follow them voluntarily. However, speaking after his appearance in court on Thursday, Nwabikwe Joseph, his counsel, expressed optimism that Akpobolokemi would not spend the night in detention. “I am satisfied with the process in court today. My client will go home, but according to EFFC, he will go home through EFCC. He has to get to EFCC, then from EFCC he will probably go home,” he said. “The EFCC has filed different charges against Akpobolokemi,” he further told journalists.

1966 coup must not repeat itself, Emir of Kano warns

Jang fails to honour EFCC’s invitation Saliu Gbadamosi -Abuja

Nigerian Tribune

Plateau North Senatorial District of the state in the National Assembly, Mr Olivia Dayzem, had, in a statement issued to newsmen on Wednesday, insisted that the senator would appear before the commission in Abuja. He stated that having served as governor for eight years, Jang needed to clear any grey areas that might need clarification in the course of his stewardship. “Let no one, therefore, misinform the public and especially the people of northern Plateau with contrived stories; the truth remains that Senator Jang has received an invitation from EFCC to give further explanations to some perceived grey areas; an invitation he is going to

honour on Thursday, January 14, 2016,” Dayzem had stated in the statement. When asked if senator gave any reason for his failure to honour the invitation, Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, told the Nigerian Tribune that he did not know why the senator refuse to show up. Meanwhile, contrary to report that EFCC sealed off the house of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, the Nigerian Tribune learnt that the sealed house really belonged to Badeh’s son, who is a commercial pilot. When the Nigerian Tribune visited the house, located on 19, Kumasi Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, the

place was deserted with “EFCC KEEP OFF HOUSE UNDER INVESTIGATION” boldly written on the wall. A source informed that the son of the former defence chief, who was said to own the house, was living there as of the time of its being sealed off. EFCC operative, it was learnt, did not allow anyone to enter the house. No official of the anti-graft commission was ready to comment on the issue when the Nigerian Tribune sought to know whether the commission got a court order to seal off the house, but a source informed that the former Chief of Defence Staff was under investigation alongside other top military officers.

signs that terminated the First Republic are visible, but we must not allow history to repeat itself.” The first class monarch implored Nigerians fanning ember of violence and disunity in the country to desist, saying that “people must not add salt to injury.” He pointed out that every section of the country had, at one time, tasted power and, as well, produced bad or good leader. “We cannot get back to religious and ethnic divides, we are calling for tolerance, peace, but we will not be allowed to be disrespected,” he added. Speaking on the occasion, President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, said the nation’s leaders at all levels must emulate the incorruptible virtues of Sardauna to move the country to greater height. He said the fact that Ahmadu Bello lived and died a poor man was an indication that the Premier was committed to the development

of the North and unity of the country. In his address, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar called on northerners to stop hiding under the shadow of Sarduana, but to work and behave like him to move the region forward. “Our northern governors must do something about this unemployment issue, it is a time bomb and the governors must see how they can provide jobs for the teeming unemployed youth,” he said. The Sultan called for the revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company and agricultural development as some of the means to engage the unemployed youth in the North. In his keynote address, entitled: “The North, 50 Years After Sir Ahmadu Bello,” Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Sule lamented the arrays of problems confronting the North, saying that things were in disarray in the region because the values left behind by Sardauna and his colleagues were thrown overboard.

news

Friday, 15 January, 2016

EFCC slams 7-count charge on Metuh •As he seeks court’s nod for release Sunday Ejike - Abuja

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it had already filed a seven-count criminal charge bordering on corruption against Metuh before the Federal High Court in Abuja, adding that he would soon be arraigned in court. The charge, signed by the Assistant Director, Legal and Prosecution Department of the EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir and filed on Thursday, had not been assigned to any judge. Jacobs told the court that the EFCC was only served with Metuh’s enforcement of his fundamental rights suit on Wednesday and that he needed time within which to respond, just as he added that the law permitted the anti-graft agency to detain a suspect, having obtained a court order to that respect. Jacobs explained further that under the new administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, EFCC had powers to hold a suspect in line with a court order. The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, adjourned till January 20 for hearing of the substantive suit and said the court would not entertain frivolous interlocutory applications that would delay proceedings in the matter. It will be recalled that operatives of the EFCC arrested Metuh from at his Abuja residence at No 14, Drive 1, Prince and Princess Estate, near the Abuja Games Village on January 5, for allegedly collecting N 400 million from the $2.1 billion arms funds diverted to several politicians by former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki. The charge indicated that Metuh, in November 2014, obtained N400 million through Destra Investment Limited from the office of the then National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd) on

behalf of the PDP for campaign activities. He was accused of converting part of the money to $1million and diverted it for his personal use, while another sum of N21.7 million was transferred to another chieftain of PDP, Chief Tony Anenih. The charge read in part: “That you, Olisa Metuh and Destra Investment Limited, on or about the 24th November, 2014, in Abuja, took possession of the sum of N400 million paid into the account of Destra Investments Limited with Diamond Bank Plc Account No: 0040437573 from the account of the office of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria without contract award, when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Colonel

Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (retd) the then National Security Adviser (To Wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2), (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act. “That you, Olisa Metuh and Destra Investments Limited on or about the 24th November, 2014 in Abuja, did retain the sum of N400 million on behalf of the Peoples Democratic Party for its campaign activities by concealing the said sum in your account with Diamond Bank Plc, when you reasonably ought to have known that such fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), the then National Security Adviser, (to wit: criminal breach of

LAGOS-based lawyer and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, on Thursday, withdrew the suit he filed against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, asking for the enforcement of the fundamental human

through your agent one Nneka Nicole Ararume to one Sie Iyenome of Capital Field Investment, to the tune of $1,000,000.00 USD only and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 16(2) (b) of the same Act. “That you, Olisa Metuh and Destra Investments Limited on or about the 4th Dec. 2014 in Abuja, did transfer the sum of N21,776,000.00 being part of the sum of N400million which directly represented the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (Rtd), the then National Security Adviser (to wit: Criminal Breach of Trust and corruption) to Chief Anthony Anenih and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 amended

in 2012 and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.” Meanwhile, Chief Metuh, on Thursday, approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, with a suit seeking an order for his release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In the suit for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights filed on his behalf by his counsel, Ifedayo Adedikpe, the PDP spokesman told the court that his continuous detention by the anti-graft agency amounted to violation of his fundamental rights. He then asked the court to order the EFCC to release him or charge him to court. Rotimi Jacobs, counsel for the EFCC, told the court that the commission had a valid court order to detain the PDP spokesman over corruption-related crimes.

PDP NASS caucus to meet over continued detention of Metuh —Minority leader •As Reps’ caucus 48 hours ultimatum to EFCC expires Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel -Abuja AS the 48 hours ultimatum given to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives within which to release the detained National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, the caucus on Thursday resolved to meet with its Senate counterpart on the next line of action. Leader of the caucus, who is also the Minority Leader of the House, Honourable Leo Ogor, disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja, saying the high-handedness of the anti-graft agency was “tyrannical and total usurpation of the powers of the courts to adjudicate and punish offenders.” According to him, “we are

watching the leadership of the EFCC, expecting them to be law-abiding citizens of our great nation, expecting them to be people who have respect for constitutionalism and the rule of law, but as far as we can see, nothing of that nature has taken place, so the PDP caucus of the House of Representatives vis-a-vis that of the Senate will be meeting to discuss this subject matter and forge the next line of action.” Ogor lamented what he described “the intolerable disposition” of the All Progressives Congress (APC)led Federal Government by going after members of the opposition PDP, particularly its spokesman, Chief Metuh, for his outspokenness against the APC-led administration even when the PDP-led government ignored lots of lies and propaganda peddled against it by then APC spokesman, Alhaji

Adegboruwa withdraws from Metuh’s case By Yejide GbengaOgundare

trust and corruption), and you thereby, committed an offence contrary to Section 17(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 17(b) of the same Act. “That you, Olisa Metuh and Destra Investments Limited on or about the 2nd December 2014 in Abuja did make a cash payment through your agent one Nneka Nicole Ararume to one Kabiru Ibrahim, a non financial initiation to the tune of $1,000,000.00 only and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 16(2) (b) of the same Act. “That you, Olisa Metuh and Destra Investments Limited on or about the 2nd Dec. 2014 in Abuja, did make a cash payment

rights of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Spokesperson, Olisa Metuh, from the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos. The activist, while explaining reasons for the withdrawal of the suit, stated that he was not briefed by Metuh to file the suit and he now has information that the PDP spokesperson had personally filed a similar suit before the

Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. Adegboruwa first shared the news on his Facebook page before issuing a release to back up the information. He explained that he filed the case not because he wanted any financial compensation, but to satisfy his conscience that every individual’s right should not be violated. continues pg33

Lai Mohammed. He said: “It is so unfortunate that during our regime, upon all the blatant lies Mohammed raised against our party, he was never arrested due to freedom of opinion. Unfortunately, the voice of the PDP, who is our Publicity Secretary today has been put in limbo just for nothing but for the fact that he has been there, speaking for the opposition. “We will continue to explore all democratic principles and ethics to fight for our rights and that of the citizens of this country. Like I said previously, we will not in any way encourage corruption, but the laws of our land are there to be obeyed so that if anybody is tried by it and proven guilty by a competent court of jurisdiction, nobody, I repeat, nobody, can usurp the powers of the court, no matter how highly placed he or she is,” he stated. According to him, “the scenario or a situation where somebody is being usurped or rather deprived of his fundamental rights is totally unacceptable; it offends the spirit of our constitution, it violates the fundamental rights clearly stipulated in our constitution, it negates the rule of law and purpose of all democratic principles. “We will explore the provisions of our laws detail by details until the necessary steps are taken or the nation will hear from us,” he

declared. On what will be the action of the PDP when it was alleged that its spokesman had admitted that he actually collected the said money, Ogor said: “First and foremost, I think we need to get one thing clear. Metuh did not deny the fact that he collected money; he said he collected money because he was sent on an errand by then president and carried out the assignment very well, as directed.” According to him, “somebody is asking him to return what he was given, he didn’t collect money from the National Security Adviser like they said. And if somebody is not satisfied, I think the right thing to do is that when you asked him and he said, no I was asked to do a specific assignment with this fund. And if you are not satisfied with his explanations, you take him to court. “However, what this means is that the EFCC lacks the competence to pronounce Metuh guilty. So, if they are not satisfied with his explanation, what they need to do is take him to a competent court of jurisdiction and not locking him up until only God knows,” he stated. According to the lawmaker, “one thing we need to understand in this country is that the EFCC is an institution. The concept of the ideology of individualising this institution is military. It

is a totally military concept and we must avoid it. The law is very clear on this and we must be ruled by the provisions of the law. Does the law give them the powers to detain somebody if the man said no, I was sent on an errand and he said I have used the money? “Where do they want him to recover the money from? If you are not satisfied with his explanations, charge him to court. And if you charge him to court and the court say, look, you must refund the money and when he cannot refund it, then the court would sentence him to imprisonment. But for them to just detain and deny him of his freedom is injurious to our democratic system. You are indirectly introducing dictatorship or some kind of authoritarianism. “This is what we must all fight against and say no! Two wrongs do not make a right. Even if the man collected money and said he was sent on an errand, you are also at the end of the day committing an offence by holding him without sending him to an appropriate court which under the provision of section 6 of the constitution have the right to ask that he be detained or tried. “So they are usurping the powers of the court. These are the things we are against and we are saying please, let there be respect for the rule of law,” he said.

Nigerian Tribune

Friday, 15 January, 2016

Lagosmetro Lekki residents accuse RRS, Task Force of invasion •It’s not true — RRS Bola Badmus

Residents of Abraham Adesanya Housing Estate in Lekki, on Thursday, cried out to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, over what they called invasion of the estate by men of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and Task Force in the state. The residents said the combined team of security officials laid siege to the estate as early as 4: 00 a.m., leading to panic among them, saying no reason was offered for the invasion as there was no initial notice on the operation. Spokesman for the Estate, Lekan Balogun, told newsmen that three officials of the estate, including the Chairman, Resident Association, Reverend Akintunde Coker, had been whisked away to Task Force office in Alausa. He alleged through investigation by the residents, they discovered that one Patrick Osewa influenced the security officials to in-

vade the Estate in order to allegedly extort innocent and law-abiding residents. Balogun also noted that it was through resistance that school children were allowed to leave the estate for school, saying the security men locked the main entrance for several hours. The commander in charge of RRS Olatunji Disu denied that operatives of the RRS invaded any estate in Lekki. He also stated that the unit has a duty to give back up to the Lagos State Task Force, whenever they require for it at anytime.

agos State government has disclosed the plans for 24-hour operation of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Scheme in the state, adding that it was intensifying efforts on the state’s ‘Light Up Lagos’ Project, to provide functioning streetlights in every nook and

A bad section of Creek road, Apapa, on Wednesday. PHOTO: NAN

Edited By

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647 Agbado/Oke Odo council boss denies deal with ‘Agbero’

Cleaners sweeping the Third Mainland Bridge, on Wednesday. PHOTO: NAN

BRT to commence 24-hour service

Bola Badmus

Nigerian Tribune

Friday, 15 January, 2016

•As govt intensifies ‘Light Up Lagos’ Project

cranny of the state. To this end, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has urged individuals and corporate bodies to light up their streets and neighbourhood, with a promise that such gestures would be duly rewarded and recognised by the state.

Already, most major highways and streets, such as Berger to Lekki, Ikorodu to Lagos Island, the entire Ikeja axis, Victoria Island and so on, have been lightened up by the state government, while massive repair of street lights is being carried out in other strategic places

in the state. Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Wale Oluwo, while speaking on the plan, said it was the wish of the state government to ensure that BRT buses work at night, once the target on ‘Light Up Lagos’ Project had been met. According to him, plans to make BRT buses operate for 24 hours and provide streetlights everywhere in the state were in line with the campaign promise of Governor Ambode. “The intention of government is to light up all highways in the state. In fact, the 114 road-reconstruction in the 57 councils in the state will be with walkways and streetlights. “The ‘Light Up Lagos’ Project is complimentary to the security equipment recently donated to the police. The ultimate goal is that when all the streetlights are on, we will start having BRT buses work at night. “You will recall that the governor also promised to make Lagos city a 24-hour economy, this exactly is the change that the people voted for. We are assuring

Lagosians that the process of lighting up every corner of the state has begun in earnest and we are not going to stop until we achieve our aim,” Oluwo said. It will be recalled that Governor Ambode recently set up an Advisory Council headed by the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule to make electricity available in Lagos. The council, with membership drawn from the public and private sector, is charged to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Power to actualise the dream.

The Executive Secretary, Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, David Famuyiwa, has denied media report accusing his officials of involvement in the mayhem at Ile Epo Oke Odo Market, near Abule Egba, last Thursday, while he also stated that the LCDA never employed men of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) or touts called ‘Agbero’ to collect revenue. Addressing a press conference at the council secretariat, Abule Egba, Famuyiwa blamed unscrupulous people who were collecting money illegally from market men and women for last Thursday’s fracas that saw a number of traders severely injured. The LCDA boss said only council officials with receipts were authorised to collect revenue for the Council in all the 23 markets in the LCDA. “But some people forcefully collected money from

traders and we reported them to the police. We even petitioned Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and the Police arrested 11 of them on Thursday. They were arraigned in court and admitted to bail but, on Friday, they returned to the market to continue their illegal collection,” he said. Famuyiwa added that market men and women were jubilating for their liberation from multiple taxes when, with members of the Lagos State House of Assembly fact-finding team, council officials visited the market on Tuesday.

Protesters clash at assembly complex over Buhari Chukwuma Okparaocha Pandemonium was Thursday averted in Lagos when two groups clashed in Lagos over President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption stance. The two ‘human rights’ groups; the Human Rights Defenders and Advocacy

Policemen from Igbogbo police station on Thursday dispersed a group of armed men, suspected to be cult members in Ikorodu area of the state. Items recovered from the suspects by the police include three axes and the motorbike which the gang uses for it operations. The cult members, it was reported, allegedly killed five people on Wednesday.

Centre and Lagos Stand With Buhari Rally clashed in front of Lagos State House of Assembly, where they displayed various placards which bore different messages regarding the president’s anti-corruption stance. While the former protested to the Assembly that Buhari

should be impeached by the National Assembly, the latter campaigned that the President was doing a good job and should be encouraged. Members of the Human Rights Defenders and Advocacy Centre used the opportunity of the protest to call on the National Assembly

to commence impeachment proceeding against Buhari for alleged flagrant disobedience to court orders and impunity. According to them, the call has become necessary following the President’s position during his first presidential media chat where he alluded that some accused

Driver beats, strips female police officer We’ve not been served demolition AyomideOwonibi-Odekanyin A driver, Olakunle Adetunde, has been arrested and charged to court for allegedly beating up a female police officer and stripping her half naked. Adekunle, who is 25 years old and lives at 1 Adeyemi Close, off Oke Aro Bus-Stop, Ogun, allegedly committed the offence at Pen Cinema Roundabout, Agege. It was gathered that Adekunle beat up Sergeant Alonge Bridget, when he was arrested for disobeying

traffic rules. He allegedly tore the woman’s uniform and left her half naked. Adekunle was subsequently arrested and arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrate court on a three-count charge of assault, breach of peace and unlawfully obstructing duty. Adekunle however pleaded not guilty. The Magistrate, Miss A.R Onilogbo, granted bail of N20, 000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case till February 8.

Police foil cult clash in Igbogbo Olalekan Olabulo

Human Rights Defenders and Advocacy Centre, protesting against President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption fight that did not follow rule of law at Lagos House of Assembly, Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA

The image maker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmus said that the police had begun investigations into the bloody clash. The image maker stated that the divisional police officer in charge of Igbogbo Divisional Police Station received a distress call that some cult members were converging for an operation. She added that the police boss quickly mobilised his men to the scene.

“The armed men on sighting the police escaped but we recovered three axes and their operational motorcycle,” she said. She also stated that the police are on the heels of the members of the two cult groups, who clashed in Odongunyan in the early hours of Wednesday. She also assured residents of Odongunyan and Igbogbo that the police were determined to protect their lives and properties.

notice — Alaba market leader

The President-General of Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos, Mr Paul Okenwa, has said no demolition notice had been served traders in the market. Based on this, he said he was sure there was no plan by the government to demolish any section of the market. Okenwa, who spoke to Lagos Metro on Wednesday, described as untrue the rumours making the rounds that Alaba would soon be demolished and converted to shopping malls and parks by the Lagos State Government. “If there were any such plans, the government would have written us to notify us,” Okenwa said. Asked what he thought about the demolition at Oshodi, he said: “I have not studied the case adequately, because I have been busy since that time. Before we jump into conclusion, we have to ask the reason for

the demolition. You have to find out if and when the traders were informed of the government’s decision.” The Lagos State government had, last Tuesday, demolished Owonifari Market

at Oshodi citing security and environmental concerns. A statement issued by the government indicated that the space would be used to build an “ultra-modern” bus terminal.

2 robbery suspects, 81 miscreants arrested in Oshodi BolaBadmusandOlalekan Olabulo miscreSuspected ants numbering 80 have been arrested in some parts of Oshodi by operatives of the Lagos State Task Force on the Environment and other offences. This was contained in a press statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Unit, Adebayo Taofeek and made available to Lagos Metro. According to the statement, two suspected armed robbers, who had reportedly in the past

terrorised residents of Lekki area of the state, were also caught in the act. The arrested miscreants included 61 males and 20 females, who were found at different criminal hideouts around Oshodi. The arrested suspected armed robbers were identified as Ismaila Obajimi and Sheriff Ibrahim while a locally-made pistol and charms were recovered from them. According to the police, the suspects were responsible for some of the robbery operations around Eleko area of Lekki.

persons, who were granted bail by the court, would not be released. The group frowned at the President’s comment that he would not let go of the offenders based on his personal conviction of the gravity of the offence, without considering the rule of law. Spokesman for the group, Mr Innocent Agbo described the continued detention of some of the accused people by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and Department of State Security (DSS) despite court orders, as a call for anarchy. “We in collaboration with other Civil Society Organisations demand commencement of impeachment proceeding against the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for flagrant disobedience to court. “The President has taken over the duty of the prosecutor, the judge, the witness and the jury in his own matter,” he said. Addressing the protesters, the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Mr Olumuyiwa Jimoh said that the President was not interfering in the judicial process, adding that a lot was involved in legal matters which might not be open to everybody. He however, assured them their message would be delivered to the leadership of the House when it resumed plenary on February 4.

businessnews

Nigerians groan, as naira keeps falling By Our Reporters

UREAU De Change operators have continued to complain on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s discontinued sales of dollars to them, saying that the Monday decision has put “enormous” pressure on the market. The CBN, on Monday, lifted restrictions on deposit of foreign exchange, and subsequently stopped the sale of foreign currencies to the BDCs due to limited foreign exchange. In Ibadan, Oyo State, Alhaji Aminu Babangana, a BDC operator told the Nigerian Tribune on Thursday that the policy has put pressure on them to buy from autonomous markets, which he said was not good for the market. Babangana, who said he had been in the business for close to 20 years, said it appeared the CBN’s policy was not “thoroughly thought out.” According to him, the CBN’s lack of provision for where the BDCs would access funds going forward would put “great pressure on the market” as they are unsure of how to move forward. “As I speak to you right now, we do not understand what the central bank means by autonomous market, so how and where are we going to get funds from?” he asked. Garba Aliyu, on his part, said the policy was an attempt to “kill our business.” He said the pressure on the naira was not good for their business, adding that “if this continues, we will not be in business for very long.” Abdulahi Mustapha said he hoped that naira would pick up very soon “because this is causing the naira to fall badly and we are not happy about this. Our prayer is that things will come around soon and we can all buy and sell in peace. Everything has become so expensive and this is not good for Nigeria.” Nigerian Tribune investigation revealed that the change rate at parallel in Warri, Delta State on Thursday, included N270 to dollar, N280 to euro and N350 to N380 to a pound sterling. One of the agents, identified as Habibu, said: “the change rate is high, buy everything is moving well. Market is okay. No problem in the business.” Investigations in Lokoja, Kogi State capital showed that a dollar is being sold for between N290 and N295. The operators in the town said they were short of supply of dollar because of the latest policy of the CBN, while prices were not stable among the sellers.

They said they could buy the currency at N275 to one dollar. BDC operators in Kano city, Kano have also lamented that the recent CBN ban on sales of foreign exchange to operators across the country has “a serious negative impact on their livelihood” by rendering them jobless. The operators also said the dollar will continue to rise against the naira until the CBN relaxes its new policy. The Auditor General of Kano Bureau de change, Abdulhamid Kabir Abdulhamid, said this on Thursday, in an interview with journalists. The association also attributed the development to the lingering increase exchange rate of dollar to the naira at both local and international markets. Abdulhamid added that when the demand for dollar was higher in the country, the currency would eventually fall in the exchange market. In Lagos, dealers said their hope lies solely on autonomous sources of dollar supply. This is even as the Association of Bureau De Change operators (ABCON) have scheduled a meeting today to deliberate on the way forward for the embattled sector. Mohammed Yusuf, a BDCoperator at the Hadji Camp area of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, said operators now look out for travelers and multinational companies who wish to sell dollars in order to remain in business. “When we buy from them, we then continue our retail forex sells to other end users. It is difficult to get dollars now, that is why you see prices of the greenback going up every day,” Yusuf told the Nigerian Tribune. Other BDC sources, who confirmed the development to the Nigeria Tribune, said though the naira exchanged for N300 in the morning, it increased to N305 in the afternoon, adding that the exchange rate situation is uncertain as the rate changes from time to time. Similarly, ABCON has alleged that the CBN is proposing to position Travelex, a global foreign exchange (forex) dealer, to replace Bureaux De Change operators to retail forex for end users. Travelex is the world’s largest foreign exchange bureau specialising in international payments, bureau de change operation and issuing prepaid credit cards for travelers. Continues on pg11

Friday, 15 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

CBN issues 31 circulars on Forex management The table below shows that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a total of

31 circulars aimed at managing Nigeria’s foreign exchange and controlling the

Bureau De Change segment of the money market. CBN circulars on BDCs and

Foreign Exchange management between January 2015 and January 2016.

Reference

Date Published

Title of Circular/Directive

TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/001

January 11,2016

Cash deposit into domiciliary accounts

FPR/DIR/GEN/CIR/05/019

December 31,2015

Confirmed BDC in compliance with the new requirement

FPR/DIR/CIR/GEN/01/030

December 11,2015

Revised operational guideline for Bureau De Change

TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/021

October 23,2015

Re-inclusion of imported Goods in the list of items not valid for foreign exchange

FPR/DIR/CIR/GEN/05/013

October 21, 2015

Circular to all banks and licensed BDCs on the use of Bank Verification Number

FPR/DIR/BDC/GEN/05/017

October 14, 2015

Updated list of BDCs in compliance with new requirements

FPR/DIR/BDC/GEN/05/013

October 8,2015

Guideline on the management of Dormant Account by banks and other financial institutions

FPR/DIR/BDC/GEN/05/016

9/11/2015

Updated List of Confirmed BDCs in Compliance with New Requirement

TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/015

8/5/2015

Developments in the Foreign Exchange Market, Re: Cash Deposit into Domiciliary Accounts

FPR/DIR/CIR/GEN/05/008

7/16/2015

Inclusion of BVN in every transaction and returns to CBN

FPR/DIR/BDC/GEN/05/012

7/8/2015

Updated List of Confirmed BDCs in Compliance with New Requirement

BPSD/DIR/GEN/CIR/02/005

7/6/2015

Circular on the Implementation of Controls on Naira Denominated Card Transactions Consumated Overseas

TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/012

7/1/2015

Re-Inclusion Of Some Imported Goods and Services on The List of Items not Valid for Foreign Exchange In Nigerian Foreign Exchange Markets

TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/011

6/30/2015

Re-Inclusion Of Some Imported Goods and Services on The List of Items not Valid for Foreign Exchange In Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market

TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/010

6/26/2015

Inclusion of Some Imported Goods and Services on the List of Items Not Valid for Foreign Exchange in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market - UPDATED

TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/010

6/24/2015

Inclusion of Some Imported Goods and Services on the List of Items Not Valid for Foreign Exchange in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market - UPDATED

TED/FEM/FPC/01/010

6/23/2015

Inclusion of Some Imported Goods and Services on the List of Items Not Valid for Foreign Exchange in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market

FPR/DIR/BDC/GEN/05/011

6/10/2015

Updated List of Confirmed Bureaux De Change in Compliance with New Requirement

FPR/DIR/BDC/GEN/05/007

5/6/2015

Updated List of Confirmed Bureaux De Change in Compliance with New Requirement

TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/008

4/22/2015

Clarification on Circular Ref:TED/FEM/ FPC/GEN/01/007 of April 13, 2015, Re: Usage of Naira Denominated Cards overseas

BSD/DIR/GEN/LAB/08/013

April 17, 2015

Ban on collection of foreign currencies for payment of domestic transactions

TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/007

4/13/2015

Usage of Naira Denominated Cards Overseas

FPR/DIR/BDC/GEN/05/006

3/27/2015

Updated List of Confirmed Bureaux De Change in Compliance with New Requirement

FPR/DIR/BDC/GEN/05/003

2/27/2015

Updated List of Confirmed Bureaux De Change in Compliance with New Requirement

FPR/DIR/CIR/GEN/05/002

2/6/2015

Updated List of Confirmed Bureaux De Change in Compliance with New Requirement

TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/004

2/3/2015

Special Intervention in The Bureau De Change (BDC) Segment Of The Foreign Exchange Market

BSD/DIR/GEN/LAB/08/006

1/28/2015

Daily Rendition of Net Open Position

TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/003

1/23/2015

Review of Weekly Foreign Exchange Cash Sales to Bureau De Change (BDC) Operators

TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/002

1/21/2015

Utilization of rDAS and Interbank Funds/ Review of the Foreign Exchange Trading Positions of Banks

TED/FEMFPC/GEN/01/001

1/12/2015

Daily Foreign Currency trading Positions of Banks and Period for Utilisation of Funds

FPR/DIR/BDC/GEN/01/001

1/9/2015

Updated List of Confirmed Bureaux De Change in Compliance with New Requirement

businessnews

Friday, 15 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

CBN policy on forex sales to BDCs: Nigerians groan •Naira now N380 to Sterling •Operators meet today on CBN dollar policy •Traders lament high price in food items Continued from page 10

It bought Thomas Cook’s worldwide forex business in 2000 and has been alleged to be positioned to receive about £440 million weekly from CBN in order to expand its operations in Nigeria. Meanwhile, Aminu Gwadabe, Chief Executive Officer, SABIL Bureau De Change Limited, said CBN’s desperation to meet dollar demands from banks, government agencies and importers prompted it to give dollar import licence to Travelex. In Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the dollar/naira crisis has affected business activities. Most of the respondents, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune admitted that the exchange rate had forced them to jerk up the prices of their goods. Khadijat Amuwo, an importer of lace materials, said this is not the best of time for her business. She submitted that there had been low patronage from customers since the naira to dollar exchange rate increased. Also, Mojeeb Alabi, a car dealer at Oke-Ilewo area of Abeokuta, described the situation as pathetic, saying the development had forced them not to buy cars from abroad. “I think government should address this issue before it paralyses our economy. This is too on the high side. Many people are not willing to buy anything now. I can imagine buying a naira as high as N280 per dollar,” he said. An Old Girls Association planning a retreat at Dubai to celebrate 40 years of entering secondary school lamented that the fall of the naira has adversely affected their plans. Members of the association had begun paying at installments for the vacation when the naira was exchanging for N234 to a dollar. Set to pay the second installment, the exchange rate has caused the amount payable to rise by about 18 percent. Some of the “girls” who spoke anonymously to the Nigerian Tribune said the situation “is disheartening” and prayed that the naira slide will not continue. In Osogbo, capital of Osun State, the rise in the exchange rate of dollar to

naira had affected the prices of goods and commodities in the market. The recent rise in the price of dollar in the black market, with staggering rates of about N300 to a dollar, has also upped the prices of food stuff and provisions within November 2015 and January 2016. Market survey of prices conducted by our correspondent in major markets such as Alekuwodo and Igbonna markets indicated a sharp increase in the prices of food items. Some of the traders who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune lamented that increase in the prices of all items, including foodstuffs had affected sales, thereby discouraging some customers to buy food items or affecting their purchasing power. According a trader at Alekuwodo market, Aina Ajeigbe,

“a measure of Gaari (Cassava flower), which hitherto goes N100 is now sold for N160, while a measure (Kongo) of rice, which was sold for N280 now attracts N400. “A measure (Kongo) of beans which was selling for N250 is now being sold for N400, just as a bottle of groundnut oil which usually attracted N200 now goes for N300.” Similarly, the prices of clothes and other wearing apparels have been increased following the rise in the exchange rate of dollars in the market. While some people are attributing the sharp increase in food stuffs to the December 2015 festive season and the January period of recovering from the heat of the season, others tied it to the high rate of dollar to naira. At the Bodija market in

Ibadan, Oyo State, the Nigerian Tribune, which spoke with a number of food stuffs vendors and provision traders, gathered that the high prices of food items has forced them to also increase the selling price from their end in order to make profits. According to a wholesale dealer in rice and beans, Oluwakemi Adekunle, “for the rice, the price has remain static since December last year, with a bag of Carprice brand going for N10,000. But for the Bag of beans, while the brawn remain normal, the white beans has increased from N10,000 to N15,000, a 50 per cent upshot. She added that the white brand of beans also increase from N200 to N250 per measure, adding that the way things are going, it may go up to N300. Another seller, who re-

fused to disclose her identity, described the situation as ridiculous, saying that the speculation of dollar rate to the naira has influenced the upward trend of different food stuff in the market. “The price of Oat in the market has skyrocketed, for instance, we use to buy three packs of Oat for N1,050 at N350 each, but at present it now go for N1,450. “For a package of Semovite which sold for N2,050 has increased N2,500, while spaghetti pasta is now sold at N2,150 as against N2,050 it was a few weeks ago. Also, the price of Conflakes, which goes for N450 before now sold for N470 and N500,” she added. At the Agbeni market, the same lamentation was in the air with prices of food stuff wearing the same cos-

Senate summons CBN gov over naira’s fall against dollar Taiwo Adisa And Ayodele Adesanmi-Abuja

THE Senate, on Thursday, summoned the governor of a central Bank of Nigeria

(CBN), Dr Godwin Emefiele, over the continuous fall of the naira against the dollar at the foreign exchange market. The summon was sequel

to a point of order raised by senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume, who asked his colleagues to intervene and save the naira. The governor is to ap-

Breach of contract: Court seals 4 Skye Bank branches in Osun •Bank flays action of customer Oluwole Ige-Osogbo

THERE was mild drama on Thursday, in Osogbo, capital of Osun State, when financial transactions were abruptly brought to a halt at four Skye Bank branches by officials of the state High Court. Nigerian Tribune gathered that the court officials were acting on court order, which directed the sealing off of the bank branches for breaching over N3 billion contract with a Tuns Farms Nigeria Limited. Court officials stormed the four branches of the bank around 8.20 a.m, when the bank was set to receive customers, preventing transactions and other activities. The staffers were sent out while cars, generators, and other movable properties of the banks were moved away by the court officials. The Honda Accord with registration number Lagos KTU 373 AY, belonging to the regional manager of the bank in Fagbewesa Street, Osogbo was also towed away. Pleading with court of-

ficials, regional manager (names withheld) who was perplexed over the situation, said his second car at the Alekuwodo branch had been towed away, urging the court officials to leave one for him to enable him move around. Our correspondent learnt that the bank had entered into agreement with Tuns Farm in 2005, with the purpose of granting a credit facility of N414,000,000 to Tuns Farms and the money was obtained to develop the Abuja property projected to earn Tuns a net income of N1.152 billion. It was gathered that Skye Bank only released N150 million, thus frustrating the company’s project, culminating in huge loss of investment. According to the judgment signed on January 12, 2016 and obtained by our correspondent, the court is to seize any money, bank notes, cheques, bills of exchange, promissory notes, bonds or securities for money, found within the Osogbo Judicial Divi-

sion of the bank. The bank, in a reaction, described as an abuse of the judicial process the illegal action of a customer, Tuns Farms Limited which acted illegally by disrupting its operations despite a notice of appeal and stay of execution order filed by the bank against an OSOGBO High Cour judgement in favor of the customer. According to a statement issued by the bank, Tuns Farm abused the judicial process by approaching the same court whose judgement has been appealed for an enforcement order on the bank. Curiously, the bank said the High Court granted the plaintiff’s request when it no longer had jurisdiction on the matter. The bank explained that both the stay of execution order and notice appeal were duly served on the plaintiff. Skye Bank said the case was on appeal at the Supreme Court and another at the Court of Appeal with both parties waiting for a date to argue their cases.

pear before the Senate during the plenary next week Tuesday by 11:00 a.m. to explain the continuous weakening of naira against the dollar. Ndume told his colleagues that it was expedient for the red chamber to intervene by inviting the CBN governor to brief them on what the apex bank was doing on the sliding Naira which he said was worrisome “As of today, naira is exchanged for N305 to one dollar. In view of this worrisome situation and the fact that we all know that this country depends so much on imported materials and even food. “There is a need for this senate to as a matter of urgency call, invite or summon the governor of CBN to explain this situation and to provide the necessary solution to this situation,” he said. The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, subsequently directed Ndume to convey senate’s resolution to the CBN governor. “The leader, in line with our rules, 42:1 did mention this and in line with our rules also we must get the views of the senators that we should stand this down till Tuesday next week. “Leader, you convey and invite the Central Bank Governor to come on Tuesday by 11 to present this before the senate,” he said.

metic increase occasioned by the rate of a dollar to the naira. Mosoobalje Rasheed, who did not hide her feeling, said that the sharp increase in provisions was attributed to the high in the rate of dollar to naira, calling on the government to proffer solution to the growing situation before it escalate. According to Rasheed, “the prices of pasta and provisions are unstable and there is nothing we can do about it. We now buy a carton of Indomie noodle for N1,660 against N1,550. For Golden Penny Spaghetti, which used to sell for N2,030 per pack now sells for N2,300. Motor dealers have lamented the continued rise of naira against the dollar which they said has drastically affected their auto businesses negatively. Some of them, while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in Ibadan, on Thursday, said if the situation continues, it may force many of them out of business in no time soon. An auto dealer, Kola Amusan said: “It has not been easy in the last few months. Auto business today is not what it used to be, my weekly transaction which on a good day is $50,000 has reduced to $15,000 and you know what that means. “I think the government of the day should as a matter of urgency do something about this issue which has negatively affected the economy of the country because the problem cut across every sector of the economy. “I won’t deceive you; if things continue this way, one will be left with no choice other than relocate abroad because it will get to a stage where this financial problem will become unbearable.” Another auto dealer, Tobi Somorin, noted that if government fails in its duty to regulate the naira, Nigeria will continue to face economic crisis which will have adverse affect on all aspect of the economy. “The rise of naira against the dollar has negatively affected my business. I hope the government will rise to the occasion by finding a lasting solution to this financial crisis which has brought us aback in the international business world,” he said.

businessnews

Friday, 15 January, 2016

NSE loses $30bn to global oil price crash —CEO KehindeAkinseinde-JayeobaLagos

he Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Oscar Onyema, on Thursday, disclosed that capital market has lost a total of $30 billion following dwindling global oil prices. Onyema, while addressing journalists on the 2015 market performance and 2016 outlook of the Nigerian Bourse in Lagos, explained that the nation’s capital market was not operate isolation as 60 per cent foreign investors dominate the market, adding that the results posted at the exchange was a reflection of the state of the nation’s economy which is dependent on Oil revenue. Global oil prices have tumbled to $25.76 a barrel on Tuesday as a result of raising US energy stockpiles and China’s weakening currency. Huge profit-taking has continued to drag the equities market, which is now below 25,000.00 basis points as of Thursday, January 13, 2016. Most listed multinational companies and banks share that rely heavily on oil revenues have been suffering as a result. Speaking further, the NSE boss confirmed that the market indicator, All Share Index (ASI), declined by 17.4 per cent in 2015, closing the year 2015 at 28,642 points after starting the year relatively flat. The decline, Onyema disclosed, was due to a combination of aforementioned factors including political risk, currency volatility, and uncertainty in global crude oil prices. Onyema said the Banking Index was the worst hit during the year under review, plunging by 23.6 per cent, followed closely by the NSE 30 Index and NSE Main Board Index, both down 17.6 per cent, adding that all the NSE market indices performed poorly, relative to their 2014 performance, except for NSE Industrial Index which saw an uptick of 1.3 per cent. According to him: “The market for new equity listings was flat for the year, with only four new equity listings, one on the main board, and three Equity Traded Funds (ETFs). In contrast, five companies were delisted in 2015, bringing the number of listed companies and number of listed equities to 184 and 190, respectively. “Turnover velocity declined through 2015 by 17.0

per cent, with equity turnover declining by 28.8 per cent to N952.8 billion ($4.8 billion), and a foreign and local participation rate of 54.24 percent and 45.76 percent, respectively, in

total value traded. Average daily turnover was also down 28.5 per cent. In the NSE bond market, the NSE Boss explained that the Market Capitalisation jumped by 32.7

per cent to N7.14 trillion ($35.82 billion) “as corporates took to the debt market to raise a total of N112.0 billion ($562.0 million) in seven new listings; majority from financial services

sector. The Federal and State Governments raised N76.5 billion ($383.7 million) and N35.8 billion ($179.6 million) in debt capital, respectively,” he said.

Head, Marketing and Development Department, Securities And Exchange Commission (SEC), Henry Rowland; Head, Business Process Outsourcing, Nigeria Inter Bank Settlement System, Samuel Oluyemi; Executive Commissioner, Corporate Services, SEC, Zakawanu Garuba; Director-General, SEC, Mounir Gwarzo, and Executive Commissioner, Legal And Enforcement, Sa’adatu Bello, at a town hall interactive meeting on e-Dividend registration, in Abuja, on Thursday.

NSE ASI dipped 3.44% further KehindeAkinseinde-JayeobaLagos

The equities market at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), on Thursday, closed on a bearish note, as All Share Index and market capitalisation of all equities depreciated by 3.44 per cent to continue the year bearish trend. ASI closed at 24,239.98 basis points, compared with the 3.58 per cent depreciation recorded on Wednesday, leaving its Year-to-Date (YTD) re-

turns currently standing at -15.37 per cent. Market capitalisation further lost N302 billion as it closed at N8.336 trillion against N8.633 trillion recorded on Wednesday. Market breadth closed negative as five gainers were recorded against 31 losers, though an improved performance when compared with previous day outlook of three gainers against 34 losers. Market turnover closed negative as volume de-

clined by 28.90 per cent against 65.37 per cent upsurge recorded in on Wednesday. Ikeja Hotel Plc led the five quoted companies on the gainers table as it’s share price appreciated by 4.73 per cent or 14 kobo to close at N3.10 kobo per share. Honeywell Flour Mills Plc followed closely with 4.65 per cent increase as it added N0.08 kobo to N1.72 kobo per share it opened the day trade with. Fidelity Bank Plc, the only

Maritime expert calls for creation of national strategy planning unit Chief Executive Officer, Maritime Platforms, Taofik Adegbite, has called on the federal government to create a vibrant policy and strategy planning unit for policy making and robust economy. Adegbite said such unit should consist an assemblage of non-partisan but core professionals to harmonise and integrate government’s policies and strategies effectively. He said that the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari had shown a clear intention, integrity and mental discipline, which if coupled with the change mantra would build a foundation for economic stability. “We don’t take time to plan but hit the ground running in a rush. Thank God Buhari is not in a hur-

ry to impress anyone. This is the best because it will allow the administration to set a foundation for a stable future,” he said. The maritime expert said that the only difference between developed and developing nation was consequence management (Reward and Penalty system), adding that Nigerians must adhere to rules and obey laws. Speaking on the maritime industry, Adegbite said that the industry only needed to galvanize a maritime policy that would wake up the cabotage law. “The national budget is not going to address maritime. All we need is an effervescent maritime policy. I have read about a fishing troyller arrested in Australia. It was discovered that the troyller traverses the

sea coast of West Africa raking all the fisheries in the water,” he said. The maritime expert said that the nation needed nothing less than 200 locally owned vessels to service only the oil and gas sector of the Nigerian economy but could at present not boast of 30 per cent of such locally owned. “Assuming a vessel earns like a $100,000 or $50,000, it means 70 per cent of the revenue accrued, apart from tax is being repatriated out of the country into a foreign economy. If 50 per cent of the vessels is locally owned, then Nigeria can retain serious amount of money in its economy. Internalising the ownership would stimulate revenue and create employment,” he said.

quoted company under the Banking Index that added to its share value, closed at N1.35 kobo having gained N0.05 to its share price. A.G. Leventis Nigeria Plc also joined the gainers league as it closed at 61 kobo per share as against 59 kobo it traded, while Custodian and Allied Plc had 1.19 per cent appreciation of stock value to close at N4.25 kobo incontrast to N4.20 per share it started the day trade. On the flip side, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Ltd took the lead as it depreciated by 9.75 per cent having shed N19.11 kobo off the N196.07 kobo per share it traded. Oando Plc also followed suit with 9.64 peer cent or 45 kobo decrease to close at N4.19 kobo per share. Guaranty Trust Bank Plc lost N1.58 kobo or 9.64 per cent from its share price leaving it at N14.81 kobo, while First Bank of Nigeria Holding Plc followed closely with 9.52 per cent loss to close at N3.61 kobo as against N3.99 kobo per share. First City Monument Bank Plc’s share price also declined by 8.82 per cent of 12 kobo, closing at N1.24 kobo. Investors traded a total of 262,522,985 shares worth N2.4 billion in 2,579 deals.

Olam Nigeria invests $275m in wheat milling, pasta Olam Nigeria has announced that its Singaporebased holding company, Olam International Limited, has acquired Amber Foods Limited, which through its 100 per cent owned subsidiary, Quintessential Foods Nigeria Limited owns the wheat milling and pasta manufacturing assets of the BUA Group in Nigeria, for a total enterprise value of $275 million. The BUA Group, a diversified foods and infrastructure business group in Nigeria, is among the top five wheat millers in the country with wheat milling and pasta manufacturing capacities of 3,760 and 700 metric tonnes per day (TPD) respectively. The assets to be acquired include two wheat mills and a pasta manufacturing facility in Lagos, a mill in Kano, and a wheat mill and a pasta manufacturing plant under construction in Port Harcourt.

Make the revival of steel sector a priority, TSCBAN tells Buhari By Gbenga Olumide

The Federal Government has been called upon to make the revival of steel sector a priority so as to create job for Nigerians. The Trailer and Steel Construction Builders Association of Nigeria (TSCBAN), said this in a communiqué issued at the monthly meeting and signed by its National Chairman, Alhaji Kasco Yusuf, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Ibadan, on Thursday. The communiqué stated that it was time for President Muhammadu Buhari to find a lasting solution to the importation of fabricated petroleum tanks. According to the communiqué, “the importation of fabricated tanks does not allow us to produce locally made tanks for petroleum companies both the multinational and indigenous and this has contributed to the poor state of our economy. “In spite of the fact that we Nigerians can do better, the moribund of our metal and steel companies like Ajaokuta and Osogbo rolling mills has encouraged petroleum transporters not to patronize our indigenous technologists, while undergraduates of technology are wasting away.”

Friday, 15 January, 2016

news

Friday, 15 January, 2016

Police recruitment: We need N8.6bn —Service Commission •As Reps grill IGP over extra judicial killings Jacob Segun Olatunji And Kolawole Daniel-Abuja

HE Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Sir Mike Okiro, on Thursday, revealed that the commission would need a whopping sum of N8.6 billion for the recruitment of 10, 000 personnel into the Nigeria Police as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari. Okiro, a one-time Inspector General of Police (IGP), disclosed this in Abuja yesterday, at a public hearing on four referrals to the committee by the House that raised concerns on general insecurity in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the need to adhere to some provisions of the constitution in the implementation of Presidential directives of recruitment of 10,000 officers and men into the Nigeria Police. According to him, a breakdown of the financial implication for the recruitment exercise showed that N339,473,092.50 will be for overhead, N1,892,891.25 for advertisement and N1,167,000.00 will be for technical resources. “N179,000,000.00 will be for the renovation of training institutions, N3,489,750,000.00 for feeding, N2,835,441,000.00 for allowances and salaries, N1,013,550,000.00 for accoutrements and N118,290,000.00 for teaching aids.” The rest are, “Arms and ammunition for shooting range N450,000,000.00, teaching allowance N61,266,281.00 and N117,958,719.00 for monitoring and evaluation,” thus putting the total cost at N8,607,788,983.75. He explained that the commission, in carrying out the Presidential directive, would recruit 7,500 personnel as Police Constables, 500 as Cadet Inspectors, 500 as Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police and 1,500 various ranks under professionals’ cadre. Okiro, who was accompanied to the Public Hearing by other members of the commission and top police officers however, pointed out that the recruitment exercise would be partly dependent upon the readiness of the Police Training School and Colleges across the country. According to him, “as at today, the institutions are undergoing renovations and they are about 65 per

cent completed,” said that the Police Authorities had assured the commission that by the end of June 2016, they would be 100 per cent completed and ready to commence training. He assured that the selection of the most suitable and qualified candidates for recruitment into the various ranks and cadres shall be completed by June 30, 2016. “The training of selected candidates is expected to commence in the first week of July 2016,’’ he added. The committee also grilled the top echelon of

the police command over the increasing cases of extra-judicial killings and rising cases of kidnapping that is rampant in many parts of the country in recent times. The IGP Solomon Arase, who was represented by Mr Dan’ Azumi Job, a Deputy-Inspector General (DIG) in-charge of Finance and Administration, said that most extra-judicial and high profile killing cases handled by the police had been investigated and the culprits charged to various courts. While declaring the public hearing open, the

Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, had assured that the parliament would provide legislative backing toward measures aimed at addressing the security challenges facing the country. Hon Dogara said that the proposed recruitment of more qualified police personnel was aimed at curbing the perennial insecurity in the country. The Speaker, who advised that the Nigerian people “are demanding for transparent process in the recruitment of the men and officers and ad-

herence to the principles of federal character, which is enshrined in the 1999 constitution as amended,” urged the commission to be diligent in carrying out the exercise so as not to let the people down. Earlier, the chairman of the committee, Hon Halliru Dauda, had said that the Public Hearing was geared towards “finding lasting solution to the nagging problem of insecurity in the country and proving legislative platform to strengthen existing legislation to nip in the bud the ugly insecurity situation in the country.

Sokoto govt begins implementation of TSA —Commissioner THE Sokoto State Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Saidu Umar, said on Thursday, that the government had begun the full implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA). Umar told newsmen in Sokoto, that the ministry had issued a circular to all ministries, agencies and parastatals on the need to close all dormant accounts operated before now. He said that the measure was aimed at blocking all loopholes of siphoning public funds and other revenues due to the state government. The commissioner explained that with the new implementation policy, government would have full control over its internally generated revenue and ensure the checks and balances of its finances.

Oyo SDP holds congress Saturday From right, former chairman, Transition Committee, Dr Ahmed Joda; President Muhammadu Buhari; Chief Philip Asiodu and the former National Planning Minister, Alhaji Shamsudeen Usman, during an audience with the President, at the State House, in Abuja.

FG invites UN experts to assess women, children freed from Boko Haram THE Federal Government has invited three UN human rights experts to assess the conditions of women and children freed from Boko Haram insurgents, from Monday, January 18 to Friday, 22. This is contained in a statement made available by Oluseyi Soremekun,

National Information Office, UN Information Centre, Lagos, to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, on Thursday. According to the statement, the experts are the UN Special Rapporteurs on Sale of Children, Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, on

Slavery, Urmila Boola, and on Right to Health, Dainus Puras. ``The Special Rapporteurs, who are visiting Nigeria at the invitation of the Federal Government, will be meeting representatives from various Ministries, civil society and relevant UN agencies.

Oyo State partners investor to give Bowers Tower facelift vestors to develop tourist

THE Oyo State government says that soon, Bowers Tower, a tourist site in Oke-Are, Ibadan, will get a face-lift as an investor has developed interest to rehabilitate the site. The General Manager, Oyo State Tourism Board, Mr Gabriel Asaolu, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan, on Thursday. Asaolu said the government and the investor had shown interest to put the site in proper shape and make it more attractive. “The investor is ready to

work with the government as she has presented her proposal which has been forwarded to the state government. “Their partnerships are in progress, in few months’ time and by God’s grace, if the MOU between the investor and the government is favourable, the place will certainly wear a new look. “The site will be developed, there will be good access road, steady water supply, an escalator, etc,” he said. The manager said that the government was ready to welcome and partner in-

sites in the state. “We really need Public Private Partnership, wonderful tourist sites, such as the Cultural centre, Irefin Palace, Mapo Hall, etc, in Oyo State, need to be developed because it (development) will create more revenue and employment. “The work cannot be left for the government alone,” he said. Asaolu also said that the government was interested in tourism development and was working to ensure that tourist sites in the state were in good condition.

``They also are expected to visit detention centres,” the statement said. During their visit, the experts would examine the measures to assist in the rehabilitation and reintegration of the women and children who escaped or were liberated from Boko Haram captivity. It quoted the trio as pledging to engage all parties in the rehabilitation and reintegration of the children and women to ensure that all measures taken complied with international standards. “In that regard, we look forward to engaging with all parties and put our expertise at their disposal,” they said. The three independent experts were mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to promote comprehensive strategies to prevent and protect the rights of women and children who were subjected to heinous forms of exploitation amounting to sale and slavery.

THE Oyo State Social Democratic Party (SDP) has concluded arrangement to conduct its congress this Saturday, at Olubadan Stadium, Iyaganku, Ibadan. In a release signed by the congress organising committee chairman, Hon Wasiu Adeleke, said that all necessary precautionary measures have been taken to have a hitch-free congress. He disclosed that security agencies have been notified and invited. Hon Adeleke said that the congress will provide opportunity for the elections of state offices where new set of people will be elected and saddled with the responsibility of steering the ship of the party and work for the repositioning of the party to increase the number of its members. He thanked the major stakeholders and members of the party on the manner in which they conducted themselves during the last ward and local government congresses, adding that they should come to the venue at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Friday, 15 January, 2016

eyesof islam

Saheed Salawu yinkadejavu@yahoo.com 0811 695 4643

number of European countries are instigating laws to ban or restrict the wearing of the Muslim headscarf. Such legislation questions the foundations of tolerance and equality in societies that champion pluralism and freedom of religion. France is currently considering an outright ban on the wearing of veils in schools, while in Germany, two states have proposed legislation which would also bar the scarf from educational institutions. The hijab and veil Some in the West consider the modesty of head covering practised by Muslim women as the greatest symbol of women’s oppression and servitude. Is it true that there is no similar custom in the Judaeo-Christian tradition? Let us set the record straight. According to Rabbi Dr Menachem M. Brayer (Professor of Biblical Literature at Yeshiva University) in his book, “The Jewish Woman in Rabbinic Literature,” it was the custom of Jewish women to go out in public with a head covering which, sometimes, even covered the whole face, leaving one eye free. He quotes some famous ancient Rabbis saying,” It is not like the daughters of Israel to walk out with heads uncovered” and “Cursed be the man who lets the hair of his wife be seen…a woman who exposes her hair for self-adornment brings poverty.” Rabbinic law forbids the recitation of blessings or prayers in the presence of a bareheaded married woman since uncovering the woman’s hair is considered “nudity.” Dr Brayer also mentions that “During the Tannaitic period, the Jewish woman’s failure to cover her head was considered an affront to her modesty. When her head was uncovered, she might be fined four hundred zuzim for this offence.” Dr Brayer also explains that veil of the Jewish woman was not always considered a sign of modesty. Sometimes, the veil symbolised a state of distinction and luxury rather than modesty. The veil personified the dignity and superiority of noble women. It also represented a woman’s inaccessibility as a sanctified possession of her husband. The veil signified a woman’s self-respect and social status. Women of lower classes would often wear the veil to give the impression of a higher standing. The fact that the veil was the sign of nobility was the reason why prostitutes were not permitted to cover their hair in the old Jewish society. However, prostitutes often wore a special headscarf in order to look respectable. Jewish women in Europe continued to wear veils until the 19th century when their lives became more intermingled with the surrounding secular culture. The external pressures of the European life in the 19th century forced many of them to go out bare-headed. Some Jewish women found it more convenient to replace their traditional veil with a wig as another form of hair covering. Today, most pious Jewish women do not cover their hair except in the synagogue. Some of them, such as the Hasidic sects, still use

Head covering and the

freedom

of religion

the wig. What about the Christian tradition? It is well known that Catholic nuns have been covering their heads for hundreds of years, but that is not all. St. Paul in the New Testament made some very interesting statements about the veil: “Now, I want you to realise that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonours his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonours her head – it is just as though her head were shaved. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or shaved off, she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head” (I Corinthians 11:3-10). St. Paul’s rationale for veiling women is that the veil represents a sign of the author-

Islam did not invent the head cover. However, Islam did endorse it. The Qur’an urges the believing men and women to lower their gaze and guard their modesty and then urges the believing women to extend their head covers to cover the neck and the bosom.

ity of the man, who is the image and glory of God over the woman who was created from and for man. St. Tertullian, in his famous treatise on “The Veiling of Virgins,” wrote: “Young women, you wear your veils out on the streets, so you should wear them in the church, you wear them when you are among strangers, then wear them among your brothers…” Among the Canon laws of the Catholic church today, there is a law that requires women to cover their heads in church. Some Christian denominations, such as the Amish and the Mennonites, for example, keep their women veiled to the present day. The reason for the veil, as offered by their church leaders, is that “the head covering is a symbol of woman’s subjection to the man and to God,” which is the same logic introduced by St. Paul in the New Testament. From all the above evidence, it is obvious that Islam did not invent the head cover. However, Islam did endorse it. The Qur’an urges the believing men and women to lower their gaze and guard their modesty and then urges the believing women to extend their head covers to cover the neck and the bosom: “Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty… And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms…” (Quran 24:30,31). The Qur’an is quite clear that the veil is essential for modesty, but why is modesty important? The Qur’an is still clear: “O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their bodies (when abroad) so that they should be known

and not molested” (Qur’an 33:59). This is the whole point, modesty is prescribed to protect women from molestation or simply, modesty is protection. Thus, the only purpose of the hijab in Islam is protection. The hijab, unlike the veil of the Christian tradition, is not a sign of man’s authority over woman nor is it a sign of woman’s subjection to man. The hijab, unlike the veil in the Jewish tradition, is not a sign of luxury and distinction of some noble married women. In Islam, the hijab is a sign of modesty which safeguards the personal integrity of women. The Qur’an strongly emphasises the protection of women’s reputation and condemns men to be severely punished if they falsely accuse a woman of unchastity: “And those who launch a charge against chaste women, and produce not four witnesses (to support their allegations) - Flog them with eighty stripes; and reject their evidence ever after: for such men are wicked transgressors” (Quran 24:4). To combat the violation of women, a radical change in the society’s lifestyle and culture is absolutely necessary. A culture of modesty is desperately needed - modesty in dress, in speech and in manners of both men and women. A society like France which expels young women from schools because of their modest dress is, in the end, simply harming itself. This article is adapted from “Women in Islam Versus Women in the Judaeo-Christian Tradition – The Myth and The Reality” by Dr Sherif Abdel Azim of Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Source: IslamiCity

islamicnews

Friday, 15 January, 2016

We didn’t have it so smooth learning the Qur’an — Arabic college proprietor

Shaykh Jubril Sahban, the proprietor Muyideen College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Ilorin, speaks with BIOLA AZEEZ on education and governance. Excerpts:

A former Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Oyo State, Alhaji Umar Farouk Arisekola-Alao, being decorated as the Basorun Musulumi of the Young Islamic Renascent of Nigeria, at a ceremony held at Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, recently. PHOTO: OLAWALE OLANIYAN

Hijab: Group alleges harassment of

Muslim women, appeals to Buhari Biola Azeez -Ilorin

n Islamic organisation, the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take measures to stop harassment of women in hijab. In a statement in Ilorin, Kwara State, the coordinator of the group, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulahi, alleged that harassment of women wearing hijab had been spreading across states of the federation. “Following President Muhammad Buhari’s comment on wearing of hijab during the presidential media chat recently, some unpatriotic Nigerians have started harassing Muslim women in some parts of the country,” the statement said. It said there were reports of soldiers stripping women of their hijab in Lagos and denial of Muslim nurses

and patients at a hospital in the city the right to dress modestly and Islamically. In Ibadan, Oyo State, the statement added, there were reports also of a Federal Government agency forcing Muslim women wanting to

Muslim body kicks as govt rules out jobs for teachers with two wives AN Uttar Pradesh government order making a person with two wives ineligible for recruitment as Urdu teachers in schools has drawn flak from Muslim Personal Law Board, which said these riders were tantamount to violation of rights of Muslims. Uttar Pradesh is a state in northern India. The state government recently issued a notice for appointment of 3,500 Urdu teachers in primary schools before the beginning of the new session. The government order states that candidates applying for the post must reveal their marital status and that all those who have two wives, both living, would be considered non-eligible for the post. Also, female candidates who are married to a man who has two wives, both

Stop waiting for white-collar jobs, Okoya advises youths By Seyi Sokoya industrialRENOWNED ist, Chief Razak Okoya, has advised youths to become technically-inclined rather than wait for white-collar jobs before they can earn a living. Chief Okoya gave the advice, last week, in an interview, in Lagos, after attending the Jum’at service where a special prayer was said for him as he clocked 76. The service was also attended by family members, friends and associates. “Not many youths today

obtain its services to remove their hijab before they could be allowed into its offices. The MMWG, therefore, called on the president to warn the general public to desist from threatening the public peace.

want to become carpenters and builders. They all want white collar jobs and these jobs are not there. The youths should learn to be enterprising and not depend on white-collar jobs,” he said. Chief Okoya, alongside his wife, Dr (Mrs) Sade Okoya, donated cash gifts and items to the underprivileged who came in their numbers to his residence to celebrate with him. “I am a Muslim and I came from a humble background. My father was a tailor, so I know how it feels to be underprivileged. I mix with different people and so I share the feelings of the needy. I am 76 this year and I pray for the grace of God to witness more years in good health,” he said.

living, would also be considered noneligible. UP Basic Education Minister, Ahmad Hasan, said the condition had been imposed to prevent confusion over who should get pension in the event of the employee’s death. “This has been done to remove confusion as to who should be the beneficiary in the case of the employee’s death,” he said. The Muslim Personal Law Board, however, said these riders violated the rights of Muslims. “Government cannot impose such conditions when it comes to recruitment of staff. There is a provision for four marriages in Islam, even though just about one per cent of Muslim men have two wives. Even so, such conditions should not become part of the job application process,” Imam of Lucknow’s Eidgah and member of the Muslim Personal Law Board, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, said. He said if the man leaves behind two wives, the government can divide the pension between the two. “If the government has other issues, we can think of solutions,” he said. An Education department official said the provision was not meant for Urdu teachers alone, but for all teachers in the government system. Filing of applications will start on January 19 for posts announced through government orders of January 5 and 8. The official said the order applied equally to all staff, whether they are teachers of Urdu or another subject. The reason for this is to avoid confusion in the distribution of pension.

HOW would you describe fanaticism or terrorism that has been linked to some Muslims, particularly in Nigeria? Islam is all about peace. It has nothing to do with terrorism, violence or fanaticism. Those engaging in violence are no Muslims. Everyone knows that these people are being used. They don’t have knowledge. The ability to speak Arabic language does not necessarily qualify one as a Muslim. In many countries where they speak Arabic language, there are nonMuslims there. Even they wear turban. A Muslim would not engage in killing or violence. Islam is all about peace. I urge everyone to have a good understanding of the religion they practise so that there won’t be problem. Go to Egypt, Muslims and Christians co-exist well. What should be the role of the government here? The government is trying. They only need to do more to ensure peace. They should ensure impartiality in their dealings. Development should be spread evenly to all parts of the country. They should be just in the distribution of dividends of democracy. Why did you establish an Arabic college? We learned Arabic and the Qur’an with difficulty. If one wanted to learn the Qur’an, one had to go to Sokoto or Katsina. But later, our fathers started building colleges. Shaykh Adam El-Ilory founded one in Agege. There are others in other places. Now, we thought of how knowledge acquisition could be easier for our own children. In our time, they saw those attending Arabic classes as lazy, so we set out to correct that notion among the people and prove to them that undertaking Arabic and Islamic education requires hard work. We also adopted Western education to help the cause of Islam and the Arabic language. On 8 April, 1974, we added Western education. In Saudi Arabia, you could study engineering, medicine, accounting and other disciplines in Arabic. So, we thought of complementing the education with studies relevant with us here in Nigeria. If there is a mechanical problem or sick persons, the mechanics and the doctors around should be able to handle the situation. Islam encompasses all these disciplines. In the past, things were not easy, even feeding. You couldn’t combine any other task with Arabic education. There were very few teachers even as there was no syllabus, unlike today, for proper teaching. Do you think there are now adequate teachers of Arabic and Islamic Studies in Nigeria? Qualified teachers are insuffi-

Shaykh Sahban cient. How do you compare someone who began studying Arabic since childhood and had primary, secondary and tertiary education in Arabic with a fellow who studied a course other than Arabic and Islamic education? The level of quality is not the same. People do not really attach importance to Arabic education, and Arabic language has special notations and emphasis. Arabic is different from all other languages. If you want to pray or perform certain obligations, you must use Arabic language. Where are you taking the college? We are set to get affiliated to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, for our degree courses as we have the facilities on ground for the takeoff. We also hope to upgrade to a university status in due course. What is your advice for newlyweds, especially as regards child upbringing? If they follow the teachings of the Holy Qur’an, they will lead a fruitful life. God says we should not marry solely because of beauty but because of piety, good character and good family. There is the story of a man, whose children plan to do something great to appreciate him for the quality education he gave to them. They build a house for him. When the children come to thank him, he tells them that their gratitude should start from what he did for them before marrying their mother. They ask what that could be. He tells them that he married their mother from a good, religious home so that they (the children) could be decent human beings. If a marriage is based on faith in God, the family prospers. I urge young people not to be afraid of getting married because of poverty or want. If you marry because of God, all things will be bestowed on you. There are blessings of God on couples who married because of His commandment. It may be rough in the beginning, but it will surely turn bright and you’ll wonder where the blessings are coming from.

Friday, 15 January, 2016

was a Biafran supporter. I have never regretted my holding that position in the national history of Nigeria. Forty-six years ago, the Biafran secessionist bid was brought to an end after then Colonel Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo had accepted the Biafran surrender from the then Acting Head of State of Biafra, General Philip Effiong. Now we have the Biafran bid with us again. The current Biafra agitators who were only a few years old when the Biafran experience started and ended in Nigeria have been so consistent and loud in their struggles that we all now agree that serious points are being made about the continued relevance of the Biafran struggle. It will be madness of immeasurable proportions if anyone should attempt to dismiss with a wave of the hand the current Biafran agitations. It is so intelligently handled and managed that anyone willing to dismiss the struggle will only end up making a huge mockery of such standpoints. We now know that Biafra again exists and its collapse will only lead to further exposures of the weakness of Nigeria as a nation state. We have the Boko Haram insurgency now aimlessly killing and maiming Nigerians in murderous activities that cannot be explained by rational minds. You just cannot explain the philosophy behind the Boko Haram revolts. While Muslims have continued to murder Muslims (though the Boko Haram insurgents claim they are fighting a religious war), those murdered by the Boko Haram sect do not even know why they are being murdered left, right and centre. Biafran “freedom-fighters” are not marketing deaths unlimited in their struggles. They are protesting and the taste of their demonstrations may not be “sweet” in the mouths. Definitely, the Biafran agitators are more intellectual and more persuasive in their campaigns. This should not come as a surprise to anyone. The books written on the Biafran experience have enabled citizens to know how and why Biafra came into being and how the ill-fated republic collapsed. I still have in my library, Alexander Madiebo’s book “The Nigerian Revolution and the Biafran War”. Also in my library are Arthur Nwankwo’s “NIGERIA – THE CHALLENGE OF BIAFRA”, SUNSET IN BIAFRA, AND SEVERAL OTHERS. All these books have explained in detail why Biafra had to come into existence and have equally explained the socio-political forces at play at that time of Biafran existence. Of course we all know the role of the international oil barons in the then Biafran crisis. Any attempt to toy with the current Biafran struggle will only succeed in bringing about the worse intellectual injustices and motivation of a Biafran struggle at the control of intelligent men and women. And this could be very dangerous to the cause of peace in our country. The Biafran agitators must however know that President Muhammadu Buhari has no ill-feelings about the whys of the struggle. Unleashing bloody hardships on the country being currently governed by Buhari will not be socially and morally acceptable. The young men leading this struggle must give peace a chance and make the platform even for reasonable dialogues between Buhari’s regime and the Biafran crusaders. Odumegwu Ojukwu’s Biafra did prove the point that a people’s will to survive cannot be mocked or endangered by a crude hold on power. The Biafrans, despite all the odds against them at that time of the Nigerian-Biafran war, still managed to give a great defence of what they had wanted to present about their resilience in fighting the cause of those Nigerians that were murdered during those tragic years. The then Biafrans produced their own arms to prosecute the war. We called their arms Ogbunigwe and yet the arms were killing their opponents. The then Biafrans made their own local refineries to fight the battles. They were bold and courageous men and women who used every available opportunity to defend themselves. Posterity will remember them. This is one of the reasons why the Buhari regime must dialogue with the Biafran agitators. The agitators must equally on their own down their arms and engage the federal authorities in dialogues that will bring amicable solutions to the agitations. It will be disastrous to allow the current Biafran agitations to get added up to the Boko Haram insurgencies. General Yakubu Theophilus Danjuma warned us many years ago that Nigeria can no longer afford to fight another civil war. We must not forget the General’s wise counsel. The propaganda machinery of Ojukwu’s Biafra was strong and effective. The late Senator Uche Chukwumeri-

With

Ebenezer Babatope

0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE)

I was a Biafran supporter - 2

Ikemba Ojukwu

Odumegwu Ojukwu’s Biafra did prove the point that a people’s will to survive cannot be mocked or endangered by a crude hold on power je was a Master of propaganda. Odumegwu Ojukwu was General of Propaganda. Nothing must be done by anyone to undermine the propaganda machinery of the new Biafran agitators. The Igbo are a proud people. They were never a defeated people. We must respect and honour them. Therein lies the victory of Nigeria over petty tribal jealousies and differences. I say it again that President Buhari has no grievances

with the Biafran agitators. Any attack on him (Buhari) will eventually collapse and fizzle out. The Biafran agitators must give peace a chance. They must be ready to talk and engage government in dialogues and discussions that will end the current misunderstanding. The Federal Authorities must not only dialogue with these young men, they must release all their leaders in various confinements now. Finally, no one must attempt to work on a Northern Agenda that will again rekindle the political feuds of old. I remember what veteran journalist, Peter Enahoro (Peter Pan) wrote in the then Eastern Nigeria Outlook in the days of the Biafran struggle against Nigeria about sixty years ago. Peter Pan had written inter-alia:“Ojukwu must not surrender! Eastern Nigeria must not capitulate!! Let us for the first time have in Nigeria, a power strong enough to challenge the feudal North!!!” We must at all times remember this in Nigeria. It is in the best interest of all Nigerians and we must let a new Nigeria guide our forward movement as a people. Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria! EBINO TOPSY – 0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE) NEXT WEEK Reflections on my birthday

18 LETTERS TO THE

Friday, 15 January, 2016

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letterstribune@yahoo.com or by sms to 08055001747 or 08054005323. It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

Nigeria’s unity is non-negotiable

FTER the deadly civil war between 1967 and 1970, I think we have come to see ourselves as brothers and sisters from the same country, but the current Biafra agitation is one that should be taken seriously by the government. Nigerians from other parts of the country feel that politicians who lost out in the last general election are currently behind the secession drive. It is so unfortunate that the protesters have also not given it a thought that the new agitation for an independent Biafran country will set the Igbo people backward politically. Firstly, we have been talking about when we will have an Igbo president in the country, but this agitation will make Nigerians from other ethnic groups

weary of voting for a Igbo president. And I don’t think any secession threat can happen without war in Africa. It may be possible in Western countries, but no African nation will ever allow its land to be divided easily. Another problem we are having here is that members of the political class in the South East are not saying anything about the secession. Before anything of that nature happens, members of the state Houses of Assembly in the South East, members of the National Assembly and the governors must first come together to forge a common front. It is when this happens that they can present their vision to the Federal Government. However, instead of fighting for secession, I think it is better to fight for a Confederalism, where

the regions are more powerful than the central government. With Confederalism, the different geo-political zones will be responsible for their natural resources, while they contribute money into federal coffers. This will bring about the struggle for development among the six geo-political zones in the country. A good example of a country practising this system of government is United Arab Emirates; the country has seven emirates, among which are Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Each emirate is responsible for its own resources and development. While Dubai and Abu Dhabi used oil wealth, tourism and open port/ free trade zone operations to generate revenue, the other emirates focus only

on oil. That is why Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the most popular emirates in the UAE among foreign travellers. We can also replicate

this in Nigeria, and this is a better option for us than the current agitation for a Biafran state. I am, therefore, urging the Biafran agitators to

look at how to make Nigeria greater with a new system of government. •Anumudu Ezeh, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Re-community appeals to Ajimobi over return of Saki West cartaker chairman WE the concerned APC members of Saki West Local Government wish to state clearly that the publications made in the Nigerian Tribune and The Nation newspapers of January 5 and 6, 2016 respectively as regard an appeal by one Mr. Adekola Olanipade to the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi on the reappointment of the immediate past council caretaker chairman, Mr. Yusuf Gbadamosi, is unfounded. There was nowhere that the residents of Saki West Local Government made

such recommendation of the said person and the name, Mr. Adekola Olanipade, as quoted by the said newspapers is fictitious, with no recognised vote to voice on behalf of residents of saki West Local Government Area. The unrecognised and faceless Olanipade was even economical with facts. He did not even know that Mr. Gbadamosi was sworn in on Monday 15 2014 and his tenure lasted till May 28, 2015 that made his stay a year in office instead of the six-month tenure he attributed to him. The vacant chairmanship

seat of Saki West Local Government is a public office that could be administered by any indigene regardless of profession, religion or gender. It is not therefore a perogative of a particular individual to feel he must be reappointed as canvassed by the faceless Mr. Adekola Olanipade. Above all, the party leadership had already submitted some names among which the governor can use his discretion to choose for any available appointment be it atlocalorstatelevel. Lawal Adejumo, Chairman APCConcernedcitizens, Apinnite,Saki.

Refugees: Europe should stop Syrian war REFUGEES will not stop crossing into Europe unless the war in Syria and Iraq ends, and as such, the European Union should focus on ending the war in these two countries if it is to secure its own borders. Last year, more than a million refugees, majority of them from Syria, entered Europe; many also died in a bid to cross the sea from Turkey into Greece, the starting point of their journeys into mainland Europe. Many EU countries are now beginning to see that they have no solution to the crisis, as allowing more people to enter could pose security problems for them. It was claimed that some terrorists entered France from Syria to carry out the recent attacks in Paris, which killed about 130 people. In curbing the influx of refugees, EU made a deal with Turkey, but it is unlikely that the latter will adhere to the arrangement. Many Turkish citizens are even angry with the migrants in their coun-

try, with some claiming the Syrians are stealing their jobs due to the low wages they charge. As a result, Turkey is not even keen in keeping the refugees on its shores, and that is why it is not doing anything to curb their movement to EU countries. If the EU is serious about stemming the flow of the migrants, it should simply work towards making Syria safe again. This may be a herculean task since the war is raging at the moment, and the Islamic State is controlling large swathes of Syrian land. However, with more international cooperation, a solution might be found sooner than later. Blocking access to Europe by the refugees is inhuman; these are people fleeing from war, but allowing uncontrolled access is also dangerous for Europe as terrorists may capitalise on it to enter into mainland Europe. So the war in Syria and Iraq must end now. •Idayat Kassim, Id_kassim@yahoo. com

editorial

Friday, 15 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Democracy and Africa’s sit-tight leaders

he spectacle of a sit-tight President in Burundi without consideration for the enormous dislocation and crisis in its wake should be an appropriate backdrop to examine the place of leadership in the disruption of the processes and growth of democracy in Africa. President Pierre Nkurunziza’s unpopular and undemocratic action which provoked massive reactions from the citizenry of Burundi has unfortunately almost become a defining characteristic of the African political scene, particularly in Central Africa. This is because there has been a long-term campaign for the enthronement of democracy in Africa as part of the strategy of addressing the problems of development in the continent, such that with democracy would come good governance and with good governance, the chance of addressing the continent’s developmental problems. Unfortunately, even after more than a decade of the spread of democracy in Africa, the continent continues to wallow in lack of development with the people not seeing any positive change in their existential living. Just as President Pierre Nkurunziza has done in Burundi, African leaders have perfected the art of using democratic avenues to perpetuate themselves in office against the spirit of democracy. As far as they are concerned, what is important is to pretend to be democratic and continue to show off the visible signs of democracy such as elections, while engaging in acts that would eventually bring about the end of democracy. In the particular case of President Nkurunziza, he does not see anything wrong with changing the Constitution of Burundi to permit himself a third term in the Presidency, even when more than half of the population were against such move. He would go on to defend his undemocratic action by arguing that he followed the dictates of the constitution in effecting the change. Democracy in Africa has thus turned into the rule of the leader against the normal position of being the rule of the people. In spite of the formal acceptance of democracy, it would seem that the leadership in Africa is so enamoured of its anti-democratic notions that it would do anything to continue in that mould. And the situation is not helped by the international community’s obsession with elections in its definition of democracy such that African leaders have learnt to stick to such elections while continuing with their

old ways. From Zimbabwe to Uganda and from Rwanda to Egypt, Africa is characterised by long-serving leaders who insist that they are the choices of their people through socalled democratic elections. Nothing is said about the fact that the elections are rigged even before the votes are cast due to the deliberate efforts of the leaders to ensure that the votes do not count. There is therefore no conscious internalisation of democratic ethos and norms as leaders in power see themselves as the beginning and end for their different countries, becoming even under democracy, maximum and totalitarian leaders. It is not an accident as such that there is no incentive towards real democracy in Africa as the current leaders mostly exist in opposition to democracy. There is no rule of law and elections in Africa are so predictable that they could as well not hold, given that it would not matter what the people want. It is not surprising that even the dictator in Burundi would not listen to the intervention of the United Nations as he would be wondering why the international system is focused on him when it has not voiced any opposition to others in neighbouring Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. In any case, he is not playing any new card, but simply following in the footsteps of others such as President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. The international system must therefore come to terms with the reality that the problem in Africa today is not just the sit-tight President in Burundi, but all the other sit-tight rulers across the continent who are providing the platform and justification for the rise of others like them. It is time for the international community to go beyond election in its conception of democracy in Africa, as equating election with democracy has for long been a disservice to democracy in Africa. There is also the need for a holistic approach to the problem of democracy and leadership in the continent such that it would be saved from the cankerworm of sit-tight rulers who are hiding under the cover of elections, no matter how stage-managed it is. In the final analysis, democracy is always the first casualty in the struggle for power anywhere on the continent. Democracy is really about accountable governance where the people’s interest and welfare are paramount. Leaders in Africa must be pressured to abide by the spirit of democracy and not just the letters, if the democratic expansion is to have meaningful impact on the living conditions of the people.

AFRICAN NEWSPAPERS OF NIGERIA PLC Founders: Chief Obafemi Awolowo GCFR, SAN (1909 - 1987)

Chief (Dr) H.I.D Awolowo CON (1915 - 2015)

Chairman Rev. (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran Co-Chairman Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Edward Dickson Controller (Business Development) Fola Oke Chief Accountant Oluremi Olufisayo, ACA

Ibadan Office (Advert Hot Lines): 08077227269; 08034135733 Lagos Office (Advert Hot Lines): 08055333067; 08033013177 South South Regional Office: No. 50 Ikwerre Rd., Mile 1, Diobu, P/Harcourt, Rivers State

Snr. Manager (Advertisements) Kayode Titiloye Sales Manager Omotayo Lewis, Ph.D Consultant/Director Segun Olatunji, Ph.D

GOT NEWS?

Abuja Office: Suites G2. 05-07, PEB04 Plaza, Plot 2027, Dalaba Street, Beside NAPTIP Headquarters, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja Advert Hot Lines: 08033199716; 08078891797 Kaduna Office: AN 20, Lagos Street, by Keffi Rd., Kaduna. Ikeja Marketing Office. Block C, First Floor, Motorways centre, Opp., 7up Alausa, Ikeja.

Contact: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com or call:08055069471, 08116954630

opinion

Friday, 15 January, 2016

As Lagos light-up project reaches top gear...

By Niyi Anibaba

HE Victorian Society of London in the late 19th Century witnessed a series of murders committed in the East End slums by a man the media called Jack the Ripper. He did it in the ill-lit corners and alleys of the city, suggesting that lack of flood light was a strong factor aiding the commission of serious crimes including robberies and killings. Taking a cue from the studies that followed the operations of Jack the Ripper under the cover of darkness, successive city administrators of the colonial capital rapidly started work on lighting up inner London and most parts of this highly industrialised capital. Now nearly 130 years after, here in Lagos, Nigeria, before our very eyes, we are witnessing the strategic deployment of the lessons of lighting up a city to erect enduring security architecture. This is one of the dividends of democracy the government of Akinwunmi Ambode is dropping in its path as it seeks to fulfill the governor’s campaign promises. He did pledge barely few days into his administration that he will burden himself with the gigantic task of lighting up Lagos in his tenure. In less than 200 days of his stay in Government House, Ambode went on to set up the Lagos Power Advisory Committee, which he asked to liaise with the Ministry of Power for the implementation of his plan. The eventual goal is to flood Lagos with light all day, all week in the next two years. Ambode’s dream isn’t only for the major urban centres. He has spoken of feeding all the highways in this mega city that used to be the nation’s capital. Needless to say, the state hasn’t lost its prestigious status as the financial hub of Nigeria, the country considered as the economic power house of Africa. By early January of 2016, the administration had succeeded in fulfilling its promise at key points of the state. A nocturnal check from Berger to Lekki, Ikorodu to Lagos Island and the entire Ikeja axis as well as Victoria Island and Ikoyi reveals the citizens of the Ambode era savouring more efficient street lights than the preceding generations did. The point to note also is that Ambode does not believe that there are enough roads yet to match his promise to

turn Lagos into Africa’s New York: a 24-hour economy. How to do that? The Governor wants to add modern roads. It is belabouring the point to ask if he would also kit the streets to come with lights. It has become a sacred duty for Ambode to ensure electricity is available in every street under his watch. Such is this solemn vow that he is planning to start having BRT operations at night. Indeed he can’t have a 24-7 economy without a road transportation system in tandem. New York that was famously described by legendary singer, Frank Sinatra as a city that never sleeps, and such other big world cities derived their popular appellation partly from having a ceaseless public and private transit profile. These cities don’t go to sleep because their cab, bus, air, sea and rail operations don’t go to sleep. We must also refer to another idea of Ambode to live out his dream. He is pleading with individuals and corporate bodies to light up their streets and neighbourhood. He says the state will work out a plan to duly recognise “such gestures in due course.” This is the sincere invitation of a humble governor to involve fellow citizens in the noble business of governance. Observers are quick and discerning enough to note that these seeming aesthetics of lighting up Lagos and beautifying its landscape are in the main, a part of the objective to secure Lagos and prevent murderous and criminal

Jack the Rippers from wreaking havoc in the state. The security equipment worth N4.8b in the form of helicopters, power bikes, marine patrol facilities, vehicles etc the governor recently gave the Police would amount to little if the streets and alleys remain unlit. These places would serve as the black spot and dens of hiding for fleeing criminals if they are left the way they are: in complete darkness. That is what miscreants feed on at dusk and deep into the dark night. When Ambode talked of a plan to have BRT function all day and far into the night, he added a condition: it would be so when all the street lights are fully operational. He underscored the complementarities of fully functioning flood lit streets to the presence of equally well equipped security personnel. It was the same quest for sanity in the polity and a good life for the people that led the governor last week to demolish the home of criminals that went by the name Owonifari Market at Oshodi. The goal is to create an enabling environment undergirded by security, safety of lives and the prosperity of the citizens. I believe that is what Ambode meant when on May 29, 2015 he presented his inaugural speech to those who elected him as their governor. As he concluded his short but vision-laden paper, he spoke of creating an “iconic infrastructure for the benefit of all.” What does an “iconic infrastructure” mean? At the academic level, it may suggest an idealistic craving by society for the translation of its dream about what the society values, wants or desires for its sustenance. For me, it is the totality of what a government should offer as its irrevocable duty to the people. It means offering the ultimate in development in all its ramifications: compassionate governance, security, prosperity, dream fulfilment, sense of participation in governance, capacity building for each individual. This is iconic infrastructure. And just like any other projects he has ventured into since May 29, 2015, Ambode has left no one in doubt of his determination to make sure that all streets and corners in the state are light up. Anibaba, an economist, wrote from Gbagada, Lagos.

Lasun Yussuf: A political icon without borders By Lekan Olawoyin

Although his emergence and that of the Honourable Speaker Hon. Yakubu Dogara, had generated hiccups among some leaders and co-House members within the ruling broom party, it didn’t take long for the crisis to be nipped in the bud

of legislative matters. Having served as Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Water Resources between 2011 and 2015, as well as holding membership of some other key committees like Appropriations, Public Service Matters, Population and Science and Technology, in his capacity as the Deputy Speaker, he is the Chairman, Committee of the Whole, which makes him to preside over the consideration of all Committee Reports in the House. As the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Lasun is also the Chairman, House Committee on Constitution Review, which is saddled with the key responsibility of leading the efforts of the House in reviewing and amending the provisions of the Constitution to ensure that they meet the yearnings of the Nigerian masses. In addition to this, the erudite politician is the Chairman of the National Institute of Legislative Studies, the capacity-building arm of the National Assembly. When talking about philanthropy, the Ikolaba and Agbaakin of Ilobu has never been found wanting. Apart from various forms of humanitarian gestures rendered to constituents, he has been one national political leader who has a caring heart. For example, part of the activities marking his 55th birthday last year was his visit to the Internally Displaced people Camp in Abuja, where he donated relief materials to the citizens who are mostly women and children, rendered homeless by the Boko Haram crisis. Indeed, in years to come, more and much more contributions towards the welfare and socio-political emancipation of the citizenry will be witnessed from the political acumen of Hon. Yusuff in his capacity as the Deputy Speaker of the honourable Green Chamber of the National Assembly.

FOR certain, anytime there’s a roll call of political juggernauts who have made positive impact in the business of legislation at the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, there is no way the immeasurable and prudent contributions of Hon. Lasun Sulaimon Yusuff, the Deputy Speaker of the incumbent 8th House of Representatives will not feature prominently among the best of the bests. Of course, it wouldn’t be inappropriate to conclude that the amiable services the distinguished number-two man in the Green Chamber had been rendering to the nation must have sprung up from his recognition of the fact that he shares his birthday with his beloved country. Born on October 4, 1960 in Ilobu, a calm and peaceful town in Osun state just three days after Nigeria attained Sovereignty from the British colonial masters, Hon. Lasun, as he is fondly called, began his steadfast contributions toward a brighter and better society in 1999 within the progressive clan in the South West geopolitical zone of the country, as the Publicity Secretary of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the his state. In 2007, the Master’s degree holder in Technological Management, from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), the institution he graduated from in 1987 with B.Sc Honours in Mechanical Engineering, had his first shot at the House of Representatives seat, then on the platform of the Action Congress (AC), to represent his people in Irepodun/ Olorunda/Oshogbo/Orolu Federal constituency. As fate would have it, he didn’t achieve his aspiration then. But in 2011, four years after joining in the political re-engineering of the AC to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) across the Oduduwa clan and beyond, he was overwhelmingly elected, and in 2015 based on his dynamic representation of his constitu-

ency, with active roles played in his state and in the Green Chamber towards the actualisation of the broom revolution of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he was re-elected. Subsequently on Tuesday, 9th of June, 2015, the political status of Hon. Lasun was gloriously stepped up when he emerged as the Deputy Speaker of the House. Although his emergence and that of the Honourable Speaker Hon. Yakubu Dogara, had generated hiccups among some leaders and co-House members within the ruling broom party, it didn’t take long for the crisis to be nipped in the bud. Many had attributed the statesmanship as well as diplomatic skills being exhibited by him and the Speaker across the geopolitical divides of the country ever since both were elected, as part of the factors that had paved the way for the crisis to be quickly resolved. In the discharge of duties, Hon. Lasun can be said to have attained a position which has given him the opportunity of almost seeing and knowing it all in terms

•Lekan Olawoyin is a Legislative Aide to the Deputy Speaker

Friday, 15 January, 2016

fridaytreat

Yoruba actraendsthse es ‘instagram awakening’ Sarkodie becomes African first rapper to headline indigo concert GLO CAF awards: Top

musical talents bond for African unity GNI, Sen Solomon Adeola, Paseda, others for Ogun top magazine anniversary

UNARGUABLY the biggest persona of Ghanaian music and one of Africa’s greatest, Sarkodie, will become the first African rapper to headline his own Concert at indigo at the O2. The multiple BET winner and Mobo award nominee, who recently joined Fuse ODG on the last leg of his UK tour is one of the major proponents of the Azonto genre and dance made popular by Fuse ODG internationally. Sarkodie will be taking his brand to the next level as he has enlisted the

support of UK’s most sought after live band, The Compozers to rock the crowd and UK’s Afrobeats Pioneer, Abrantee to host the event. The audience are in for a mega treat with Sarkodie’s skilful 50-syllables-per-second flow, countless hits from a career spanning 15 years and a flux of surprise guest performers including his personal DJ Mensah to ensure a show-stopper. This concert will surely establish Sarkodie as one of the worlds most iconic African artists.

Nigerian Tribune

Rotimi Ige rotimiige@yahoo.com 0811 695 4636

fridaytreat

Friday, 15 January, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

MUSIC BUSINESS 101

The responsibility of growth and success on the artiste’s music career

Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.” – William Pollard. By Toyin Adeniji

S a general principle, growth and success in life or business always come with demands and responsibilities. Success in the music business for all artistes/musicians comes with new responsibilities, challenges and demands that are different from what the artiste/musician was used to before success. Many artistes/musicians struggle and work very hard to succeed only to discover that their idea of success is different from what success is in reality. For some artistes/ musicians, their greatest regrets have been their success which they have found difficult to sustain. Most artistes often fail to realise that success breeds complacency and complacency breeds failure. Attaining the success height in the music business can sometimes lead those artistes/musicians that are not prepared for success down a slippery slope that takes them into mediocrity and oblivion. As a matter of fact, the greatest risk to the career of any artiste/musician is success – especially when the artiste/musician is not prepared for its sustainability. Preparing ahead for growth and adjusting to growth is fundamental for success. Growth comes with demands and responsibilities. When you attain a level of growth in your music business as an artiste/musician, you must make conscious effort to strategically adjust to the demands and responsibilities that growth brings. Sometimes, success can become a burden or problem for artistes/musicians who have attained some level of growth because they lack the realisation that in order to maintain success there is a conscious need to make adjustments to the demands that growth and success place on the artiste’s music career. The success that an artiste/musician attained through sheer determination and street sense will require a methodical, organised and strategic approach to sustain. Operating on the LEADING African artistes wowed the audience on Thursday night at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, as they teamed up in pairs to perform at the gala night of the 2015 Glo-CAF Awards, thus bringing to life the theme of the event, “Win as One”. The musicians showcased both African unity and diversity, doing musical collabos that blended the past with the present and flaunted popular African dance moves in their assorted varieties. The enchanting evening began with the performance of the Nigerian national anthem by velvet-voiced Ego Ogbaru. She was backed-up by the guitar artistry of King Sunny Ade and Bez Idakula. The first main act of the evening was a fusion of Ghana’s sensational Shatta Wale and Nigeria’s Korede Bello which gave the gala a super start. The duet ofBlack Mambazo and Ego serenaded the event with a sublime acapella,while the guests relished the richdinner served at the event. Further into the event, Morocco’s Ahmed Soultan teamed up with

same level of artistic, musical and creative skill-sets that launched the career of the artiste in a “hit-driven” music industry will not be sufficient to sustain the artiste’s career in the music business at a higher level with new expectations and demands. William Pollard warns that “learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.” The pressure of success in the music business on the career of successful artistes/ musicians can be very tough and difficult especially when the artiste/musician is faced with the challenge of sustaining relevance in the music market. The artiste/musician is often confronted with the challenge of balancing the need for creating new music against the demands and rigour of promotional tasks on a consistent basis while also attending to the demands of fans and audience. It is at this stage of managing the demands and complexities of the artiste’s music career, that most artistes/musicians often get stuck and overwhelmed with attaining success, and therefore fizzles out of relevance by sacrificing musical creativity on the altar of maintaining success demands. Often, artistes/musicians gets too preoccupied with the hunger for success so much that they hardly ever realised that success is an edge which requires mastering the art of balancing in order to maintain the position. When you succeed, your potential to fail becomes greater than when you started out. For instance, some artistes/musicians have experienced sudden music career success but could not sustain it because it met them unprepared. This is one aspect of artistes’ music career in Nigeria that I have observed and have discovered that eight out of ten artistes/musicians are often surprised at their own success; in other words, they were not prepared for the success they so much craved, hence their inability to sustain it. The strategy, planning and energy invested in

breaking an artiste/musician into the music industry must be fundamentally aimed also at preparing the artiste/musician for the demands and responsibilities of success in order to ensure its sustainability. Success in the music business often comes with power and influence. Power comes with responsibility. Successful and popular artistes/musicians are social influencers whether they are conscious of the fact or not. Music has the power to influence and shape mass behavior in human societies because what people hear and think about frequently will ultimately affect how they behave hence music’s use historically as a tool and means of social control. Music can promote peace or incite war; it can encourage corruption or discourage it etc. Research has shown that music contributes to certain kinds of social ills in the society by emotionally/psychologically influencing the perpetrators of those vices. Every successful artiste/musician is either contributing positively or negatively to the well-being of the society with their music directly or indirectly. Part of the responsibilities that success in the music business brings on artistes/musicians is the need to become socially aware and conscious of the kind of music they produce. For instance, one of the many pressures that success brings into the music career of artistes/musicians is the challenge of managing the newly found “celebrity” status that comes with attention from fans, audience and media etc. For most artiste/musician, it is a great temptation that cannot be overcome making them to develop over-bloated egos and a deluded over-sized sense of importance. Because of their lack of preparation to manage the demands and responsibilities of success, this category of artistes/musicians often overemphasize the importance of the “artiste as a personality” at the expense or detriment of the “artiste as a business”. However, for the few artistes/musicians who laid a solid foun-

dation of preparedness for their music career success, they never make the mistake of underestimating the supremacy of the “artiste as a business” over the “artiste as a personality”. Every serious minded and truly professional artiste/musician in the music business understands that they are primarily a business entity providing music products and services for an identified market/audience and as such must conduct their affairs in a business-like manner. Every strategy and objective must advance the status of the artiste as a business entity while all actions, behavior and involvements of the artiste’s personality must work in agreement and in alignment with those objectives of the artiste as a business. Another aspect of the responsibility brought about by growth/success in the music business is that of organisation. At some point, every artiste/musician who desires to succeed or want to sustain their music career success must learn the discipline of getting organized as a business. The music business is too dynamic and demanding to be operated individually, it requires team work for success to be achieved and sustained. The success that an artiste/musician achieved individually can only be sustained by the presence of a dynamic and committed management team. The sustainability of the career of a successful artiste/musician can only be maintained by the presence of a team that is truly organized and committed to the success of the artiste/musician. In order to manage the demands and responsibilities that growth/success brings on the music career of artistes/musicians, it is important to be prepared ahead from the onset of the artiste’s career by having a well thought-out and well written music business plan that will guide the artiste/musician through every stage of his/her music career. It is also important to have a professional music business consultant to help the artiste work through the details of his/her music career plan/goals.

GLO CAF awards:

Top musical talents bond for African unity

Di’ja Blell from Nigeria to the delight of the audience, followed by the electrifying performance of Bez and King Sunny Ade in a jazzyversion of “Stupid song.” The musical collaborations continued with the Afro pop performance by the legendary Salif Keita from Mali supported by Nigeria’s Omawumi Megbele in an invocation to Africa,

“Africa o!” . The duo of Kach and D’Bang pushed the fun to the next levelwith their performance of “Top of the World” and his brand new song,’Emergency’, which he premiered at the show. Ageless Awilo Longomba and Flavour took the event to its climax as they evoked some African spiritualism. The wonderful event was wrapped

up with the performance of Globacom’s new anthem by all the artistes while the winners all came on stage to demonstrate the oneness canvassed by the theme. Guests described the Glo CAF awards as world-class in scope, dimension and attendance. A sports journalist, Mr. Segun Ogunjimi popularly called “Obey Ibadan” marveled at the beautiful fu-

sion of music and football across the African continent and the harmonious way the performances were combined. President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr. Amadu Pinnick, commended Globacom for hosting the Glo-CAF Awards again in Abuja. According to him,it afforded guests the opportunity to witness first hand the beauty of Nigeria’s capital city, thus boosting tourism in the country. Also, Senator and former minister, Sanusi Dagash, said Globacom’s Chairman, Dr Mike Adenuga Jr., had not only supported sports in the country but had also helped in putting Nigeria on the developmental pedestal. He noted that Globacom’s Glo 1 international submarine cable was a feat capable of providing much needed internet bandwidth for economic prosperity in West Africa.

society

Friday, 15 January, 2016

...celebrating the people

Nigerian Tribune

For Booking, contact Alaba Igbaroola alabaadewale01@gmail.com 08155975474

Onyinyechi and Ike’s wedding extravaganza

Bride’s parents, Mr and Mrs Viginus Lebechi.

The couple cutting their wedding cake.

Groom’s parents, Ezinna and Ezinne Emeka Ekenobi

From left; St. John Catholic Church Resident Priest, Reverend Father Magnus Onyeulor; the couple and Associate Priest, Reverend Father (Dr ) Cornelius Azo, at the church service.

Ichie and Lolo Martin Azudie. Sponsor, Mr and Mrs Vincent Nnadi and the couple receiving the marriage certificate from the Resident Priest, Reverend Father Magnus Onyeulor at the church service held at St. John Catholic Church, Igando, Lagos.

From left, Francis Nnorom, Chairman of the occasion and Vincent Nnadi at the reception held at Boris Event Place, Igando, Lagos.

National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) staff: Bakari Salmon; Director Administration, Tunde Oyeyode; Omobola Showunmi and another staff.

By Rotimi Ige

OLLYWOOD, Nigeria's booming film industry, is the world's third largest producer of feature films. It is one which has become respected in Africa and has attained incredible feats on world stage. And so, in just 13 years, Nollywood has grown from nothing into a $250 million dollar-a-year industry that employs thousands of people. The Nollywood phenomenon was made possible by two main ingredients: Nigerian entrepreneurship and digital technology. The appeal stretches far beyond Nigeria. Nollywood films are proving popular all over English-speaking Africa and have become a staple on M-NET, the South African based satellite television network. Around Africa, made-in-Nigeria films have become the delight of millions in countries such as Zimbabwe, Uganda, Malawi, Ghana, Ivory Coast, etc. Infact, a Zimbabwean, Suluwenkosi Mathutu, told Friday Treat that it was a normal thing to see home owners argue with house maids over who changed the pre-set channels to the ones showing Nigerian movies while they were out. “Our people watch a lot of Nollywood movies, especially our house maids. We love the culture and the stories so much. Nigerian movies, especially the new English and Igbo ones are our favourite”, she said. And so, in just 13 years, Nollywood has grown from nothing into a $250 million dollar-a-year industry that employs thousands of people. The Nollywood phenomenon was made possible by two main ingredients: Nigerian entrepreneurship and digital technology. The last few years have seen the growing popularity of Nollywood films among African diaspora in both Europe and America. And so, names like Olu Jacobs, Patience Ozorkwo, Nkem Owoh, Jim Iyke, Ramsey Nouah, Genevieve Nnaji, among others are popular abroad. Consequently, these artistes enjoy the benefits accrued to such popularity; more movie roles and income, increased face time on satellite television and ultimately, corporate endorsements. While the English speaking movie actors have reaped majorly from the largesse that Nollywood has come to offer, the indigenous speaking actors have not had such a sweet tale of success, save a few. The Yoruba speaking genre of Nollywood, though allegedly acclaimed to be the highest contributor of weekly movies to the industry, has not enjoyed the benefits, unlike its English speaking counterpart. According to an entertainment critic, Shola Oloyede, the Yoruba industry, till date, suffers from a lot of issues even though it

Friday, 15 January, 2016

Rotimi Ige rotimiige@yahoo.com 0811 695 4636 twitter: @rotifizzle twitter: @fridaytreat

fridaytreat

Yoruba actresses and the ‘instagram awakening’ is getting better. “Many Yoruba actors and actresses are still not well educated. Education is not just knowing how to speak a certain language; it is the training of one’s mental and physical composure. Look at Lagbaja, for instance, though an indigenous artiste, he has re-defined his craft such that it is world class. Ayuba, Tunde Kelani etc are also masters of the class. “Yoruba movie people also lack in the area of organisation and story interpretation. Most movies border around same stories of infidelity, child (ren) outside wedlock, money rituals etc and as such are very predictable. Recently, most Yoruba actors/actresses delved into making comedy movies. That was after Funke Akindele released her widely successful ‘Jenifa’ movie. So, there are many issues bedevilling the Yoruba movie sector”, he said. Another critic, in her opinion, said, “A large number of the Yoruba actors and movie makers do not have quality pictures online, let alone personal websites or Wikipedia pages. Only a few are on IMDb, while those present on social media hardly engage their fans on the respective platforms. If and when they do interact, they do so with lots of blunders, caused by carelessness and impatience. Worse still, is the habit of shying away from interviews, with their usual excuse being ‘I’m on location’. But being visible isn’t restricted to social media. It extends to physical presence at gatherings and functions where they can meet and build relationships with colleagues, fans and other industry players”. Godson Ihenacho, a civil servant and ardent lover of Yoruba movies, blamed ‘caucus’ mentality that, he says, has limited the industry. “You hear of the Odunfa caucus, the Dele Odule caucus, the Oga Bello caucus, Yinka Quadri etc. How will the industry grow when everyone is in a particular clique? When I see an actor like ‘Ogogo’ in a movie, I can immediately guess the other actors that would be part of the movie. And most times, I am right. This is not too good”, he said. Other movie lovers claim that the diabolism by its industry participants is also largely responsible. Tope Sowemimo, in his submission, said, “I don’t feel that there is real love amongst most of these people. We have heard of situations where an actor or actor falls sick or is killed in his /her prime. Also, the tussle and smear cam-

“While the English speaking ones may have held sway over the years, the ‘instagram’ battle has evened out such that Yoruba actresses now have hundreds of thousands of followers, where they interact with their fans. ”

“Some post pictures of hotel rooms, when they buy perfume etc but these are normal things in anyone’s life. I feel they should show us pictures of locations and at least try to market their movies to us.”- Fan

paign during their association’s elections are quite disturbing”. For such reasons as mention by both respondents, the Yoruba movie genre has remained at best, second rated, for decades and if these are not addressed head long, may be the bane of the industry. However, it is not all doom for the micro industry as many respondents laud the giant strides made by some of the practitioners in the Yoruba movie industry such as Tunde Kelani, Kunle Afolayan, Funke Akindele, Bukky Wright, Wemimo films productions, Corporate pictures and some others who they claimed had, against all odds, carved a niche for themselves by producing films which have captivating story lines and cast that are world standard. Perhaps to change this general disadvantage posed to Yoruba movie practitioners, some have decided to take their fate into their hands and are headlining a revolution of sorts...on social media. Today, especially on instagram, Yoruba actresses particularly, are stepping up. While the English speaking ones may have held sway over the years, the ‘instagram’ battle has evened out such that Yoruba actresses now have hundreds of thousands of followers, where they interact with their fans. For now, Funke Akindele (@funkejenifaakindele) seems to be leading the pack with 905,000 followers. Other top actresses leading the instagram chase are Mercy Aigbe Gentry (@mercyaigbegentry) has 457,000 followers, Toyin Aimakhu (@aimakhutoyin) with 278,000 followers, Iyabo Ojo (@iyaboojofespris) with 198,000 followers, Dayo Amusa (@dayoamusa) with 195,000 followers, Eniola Badmus (@Eniola_Badmus) with 187,000 followers, Mide Martins (@mydemartins) with 149,000 followers, Bimbo Thomas (@Iambimbothomas) with 131,000 followers, Ayo Adesanya (@ayoadesanya) with 123,000 followers and Doris Simeon (doriskere) with 108,000 followers. While many fans have commended this move, especially as it allows them to get up, close and personal with their favourite female stars off screen, it has exposed them to criticisms as there have been complaints that some actresses post larger than life pictures just to give the impression that they are doing ‘well’. Antonia Okolo, in a chat with Friday Treat, asked why most Yoruba actresses engage in skin ‘whitening’ and weight adding in order to show off. “Nowadays, you see our favour-

ite actresses adding weight so as to have bigger endowments while also bleaching their skins so that their tattoos can show. Why? To what end? I love Funke Akindele because she has remained dark skinned. This goes to prove that you don’t need to change your appearance to gain more popularity”, she said. Another fan, who pleaded anonymity stressed that the posting of pictures like where they are having breakfast, shopping, bathing, tired, pets, flashy cars etc were generally uncalled for. “Our people don’t need to lie to us. The Yoruba movie industry is growing but not as rosy as these people want us to believe, that is unless they have other ways of making money. Their male counterparts aren’t as showy and these show that our actresses aren’t all millionaires and driving the latest cars or travelling to tasteful destinations as posted on instagram. I was on the same flight with an actress once from Lagos to Benin but imagine my shock when I saw her update minutes later saying she was en route Dubai! “Some post pictures of hotel rooms, when they buy perfume etc but these are normal things in anyone’s life. I feel they should show us pictures of locations and at least try to market their movies to us”, he said. Friday Treat contacted an actress (names withheld) in order to get their side of the story and she said that they needed to ‘boost’ their images in order to meet present day challenges. “The industry is so competitive these days and we have to project ourselves especially to the corporate world and other investors so they see our potentials and endorse us. Though many live fake lives, some are real and do not ‘show off’ as claimed. But we are rightly ambassadors and we have been saddled with the task of always looking good, no matter the situation. This is our cross, whether movie practitioner in English, Yoruba or Hollywood, musician or artist”, she said.

“We are saddled with the task of always looking good, no matter the situation. This is our cross, whether movie practitioner in English, Yoruba or Hollywood, musician or artist.”Actress

GNI, Sen Solomon Adeola, Paseda, others for Ogun top magazine anniversary GNI, Sen Solomon Adeola, Paseda, others for Ogun top magazine anniversary The 4th edition of the Ogun celebrity magazine, Ijebu News Xtra lecture series has been slated for Sunday, January 31, 2016 at the upscale Equity Resort Hotel, Ijebu Ode. Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, the Ogun PDP Governorship candidate in the 2015 general elections has been picked to deliver the 4th anniversary lecture titled “Fast-tracking Development in Ogun State, Using Inherent Human and Natural Endowments of Each Zone.” Apart from his sojourn in politics, Isiaka, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria is a thoroughbred economist who has also carved a niche for himself in community development. Other prominent stakeholders in Ogun political development that will be speaking at the event include Sen Olalekan Solomon Adeola (Yayi), The Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Communication, Prince Rotimi Paseda, a chieftain of the Unity Party of Nigeria, Barr, Adewale Osinubi, the CEO Wesco Pools and Lottery and Alh Bidemi Rufai, Founder, Omo Mayodele Educational Foundation. A prominent Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress in Ogun East and former Deputy Speaker of the Ogun state House of Assemby, Hon Tokunbo Oshin will chair the event, while the erstwhile Chief Press Secretary to former Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Mr Wale Adedayo will serve as the event Compere. Previous guest speakers at the lecture series include Otunba Kunle Kalejaiye (SAN), a boardroom guru, Otunba Seyi Oduntan and former governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. Meanwhile, speaking on the magazine’s feat over the years, the Publisher, Baaroyin Dayo Rufai, argued that while a good number of such community based tabloids and magazines in the state have gone extinct following the increasing harsh climate of publishing, dwindling sales figure, threat from web based publishing, low advert patronage among others, a few of others keep trudging on.

Friday, 15 January, 2016

travelpulse&m.i.c.e

’Wale Olapade 08161235359 wale11g3@gmail.com Winner, NMMA, Tourism Reporter Of The Year

Tourism as a game changer in growing Nigerian economy By ’Wale Olapade

HE Nigerian tourism industry, in the last two years, has suffered unthinkable setback in the hands of the drivers of the industry, who have not been able to digest reality of tourism trends as it relates to content development, products identification, market segment and promotion. On the other hand, the different private stakeholders’ bodies, who are supposed to be the drivers of the industry, are feebly using their platform to fight individual causes and those who are not, are sitting on the fence. This situation has become a trend that has made the tourism industry in Nigeria stagnant, with little or nothing to celebrate except for some ardent stakeholders and state governments, whose passionate approaches create seasonal events in the country. But for how long will a country with multi-million naira tourism sector wait and suffer economic hardship, when we have a globally booming industry that can change the country’s story? If government could only focus and add to the tourism industry through innovative investments, things will take shape in no time. Subsequently, the President Muhammadu Buhari ledadministration came on board with the slogan; ‘change,’ which positively raised the hope of the players who were tired of the ‘no-money syndrome’ painted by different heads of government tourism agencies in the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation. According to some stakeholders, President Buhari’s ideology of change took time to come, and when it came, it was a change, still unexpected by the stakeholders, as it came with the tucking in of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism into a new Ministry of Information and Culture, headed by Alhaji Lai Mohammed. Could this new wine in the old bottle be likened to the biblical second wine at the wedding of Cana, which was sweeter than the first, when Jesus changed water into wine? Time will tell. Again, can Lai Mohammed, as the new Minister of Information and Culture, bring the desired change? Or rather, could he be a game changer, who will bring sustainable development to the Nigeria tourism industry? For anyone to succeed as a game changer, right model, workable policy, statistics and marketing trends are factors that will make it a reality. These factors must be religiously planned, developed and implemented with recourse to the public and private sector partnership, to jointly grow the industry, which is the success story of different tourism countries. According to an online publication, the growth of global tourism has occurred for a number of reasons: the fall of barriers to global mobility and accessibility; the rise in number of people wanting to see the world for themselves, the deepening of understanding of the value of the sector to uplift nations; the spread of invitation for visitation, among others. Studies from countries and regions across the globe demonstrate how the creation and promotion of a tourism sector enables nations to stand up, stand tall, and step forward. For Nigeria which is faced by unstable economy, occasioned by unemployment, epileptic power supply and insurgence, developing practical tourism with human face, is one of the best things that will transform the country, if only the Federal Government could invest time, money, expertise and infrastructure in growing the sector. A model from India, according to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India revealed that rapid growth of the tourism sector in India from 2011 onwards would result in the country’s tourism sector becoming the second largest employer in the world, employing more than 40,037,000 people by 2019. As a result, India is committed to spreading tourism into both

President Buhari urban and rural areas, enabling dramatic growth in the overall economy through revenues and employment from tourism. Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of the UNWTO makes clear the responsibility that the tourism sector has beyond the tourism industry itself. “Tourism can make a significant contribution to address economic, climate and poverty imperatives. Tourism represents up to 45 per cent of the exports of services of developing countries, and is often one of the few entry possibilities into the job market. It is also one of the most viable and sustainable economic development options given its significant impact on related areas of economic activity,” he said. Governments across the globe, especially those in developing nations, are looking at tourism as a way of transforming not just the economy, but the lives of its people, within and outside the sector. Transformation in these nations are not purely about growth of arrivals, growth of GDP, growth of investment and trade, and growth of jobs within the existing industry framework. The spirit of transformation goes so much wider. It is about creating opportunities, through tourism, for each and every individual of the destination to play a direct role. As a result, real transformation requires embracing the need for the sector to ensure, at all levels, resources (time, funding and know-how) are committed, ongoing, towards: Skills development Creating opportunities for people to be able to learn and apply new skills, turning ability into direct productivity, and unlocking the opportunity for employment and advancement. Ownership Going beyond employment to creating opportunities for people to become small business owners (and therefore employers themselves), actively and meaningfully playing a leadership role in industry development and able to influence the direction of growth. Participation This ensures that each and every role-player in the industry, regardless of size and structure understands and feels that they are a part of something bigger, something

Lai Muhammed, Minister of Information and Culture shared, and something that generates immense pride for the sector and the destination as a whole. There is no question that transformation is the right way to ensure growth of the destination, and therefore, the nation’s economy and society. The challenge, however, comes in bringing these good intentions to life, and keeping them alive, through purpose, patience and partnership. Taking a model of Beulah Mosupye, a former Chief Director, Sector Transformation in South Africa’s National Department of Tourism, who was acutely aware of the importance of investing time, funds and expertise into transformation of tourism, with a long-term, industry wide view, and yet the practical challenges of making it happen. This is especially true when it comes to government and the private sector working as partners. According to Mosupye, “transformation does not take place in a vacuum. Whether transformation happens or not, there will be a prize to pay, and as a country we need to understand what cost are we prepared to pay, as citizens, as businesses, and as beneficiaries. “Doing nothing is always an option. But that too has its consequences, at many levels. The gap between the haves and have-nots will only grow, eroding the fibre and spirit of the destination, which can and will be felt by both locals and visitors. For genuine growth to occur, all role players need to play their part. “From government, we need to ensure all our policies for the creation of an inclusive economy are aligned in order to ensure that all government levels are used effectively to incentivise the desired behaviour from industry.” But, she maintains, “it is not only up to government to drive the transformation agenda. “Private sector needs to awaken to the reality that an inclusive economy increases the number of economically active people, and therefore opens new consumer markets, for the products and services they produce.” However, for a game changer this time around to succeed, Alhaji Mohammed must assess the state of the tourism industry (to know the problem, and area of need in the industry), meet practical stakeholders, revisit the tourism master plan and liaise with agencies, state governors, private sectors and investors, and the legislative arms of the government to position the tourism industry for outright and sustainable development and benefits.

27 politics&policy

Friday, 15 January, 2016 Group Politics Editor Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 tai_adis@yahoo.com

We will go after corrupt politicians however close to Buhari —EFCC boss

Acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu was in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Wednesday, on a familiarisation tour of the commission’s newly established zonal office in Ibadan city. He also visited the Tribune House to seek media support for the commission’s drive to fight corruption to a standstill. In this brief interview with KUNLE ODEREMI and DARE ADEKANMBI, Magu promises the emergence of a new EFCC from the reforms currently ongoing in the commission, as well as a renewed vigour in the diligent prosecution of graft cases, among other issues. Excerpts:

N view of the harvest of corruption cases carried over by the EFCC since its establishment in 2003, does the commission have the capacity to diligently handle these cases? We try as much as possible to conduct preliminary investigations and we are very thorough and diligent. Before we ever invite somebody, we will have conducted some background checks not only of the person but also the company he or she uses. We generate some facts from our investigations and analyse those facts and after such analysis, we then invite the person or persons involved. We look at the highs and the lows in the analysis. Immediately we receive complaints, we don’t go straight to invite people. We do very serious background checks and investigations before inviting people. It takes time for us to invite people who have been complained against. Yes, we don’t have the capacity to take all the cases at a go and no law enforcement agency has such capacity. What we do is prioritise. I can assure that we will only invite people who have issues of corrupt practices. Once there is a revelation that there are some corrupt practices, we get the work done. Like I always say, it is not about the EFCC; it is not about me or about you. It is about Nigeria. We will go after anybody. There is no sacred cow. There is no political affiliation. If you are corrupt, we will go after you wherever you are. Even in the EFCC,

If we just rush somebody to court and we get him convicted without taking the proceeds of corruption from him, it is not right. Some people are in jail and yet they are controlling events outside from the prisons. We don’t want that kind of thing.

Magu

continues pg28

28 politics&policy

Friday, 15 January, 2016

Magu

‘Public funds are laundered under the guise of tuition fee abroad’ continued from pg27

there are corrupt people and we will boot them out. We want to bring in new thinking into the EFCC. We want to re-structure the EFCC. That is why we are open to new ideas on how we can improve on what we are doing and be more effective. The restructuring of the EFCC is a continuous exercise, and it is ongoing at the moment. Cleansing is going on in the commission. We are bringing in new ideas and are going to be more pro-active. We are open to criticisms, whether they are constructive or not. We are ready and we want to do the correct thing and we do not have monopoly of knowledge. This is why I said we are open to new ideas of doing things. This is why I am in Tribune House to seek the support of the newspaper. I can’t claim that we are always doing the right thing. But we will try as much as possible to do the right thing. Where there is correction, we will effect correction. There are issues of renewal of charges, and we are working on all these. We are working hard to re-structure the EFCC and you will see this by June this year. In six months, the EFCC will take a different course and a new dimension altogether. But the important thing is that we must get back the proceeds of corruption from those who steal our money. If we just rush somebody to court and we get him convicted without taking the proceeds of corruption from him, it is not right. Some people are in jail and yet they are controlling events outside from the prisons. We don’t want that kind of thing. We will diligently investigate corruption cases and get the people involved convicted and also take the stolen money from them. The recovered funds will be returned to government coffers so

that they will be used for the development of the country. The impunity is too much. We must work together. Walahi, we will have to work together. Like the President has said, if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. This fight is not about me or the president. It is about Nigeria. So, all hands must be on deck. Those of you who work in Tribune as journalists and those working in the EFCC have the same responsibility for a better Nigeria, so that when our children become adults, they will know that, for their tomorrow, we have given our today. We are not leaving any stone unturned. I will also address the judges wherever I go and I did same in Ibadan today (Wednesday). Some of the corruption cases against politically exposed persons, I coordinated and supervised them. I know them on my fingertips. Some of these cases we started as far back as 2005/2006 and they are still hanging. For some of the cases, arraignment has not taken place. We must ensure that lawyers are not used to derail corruption cases. I will hold discussion with the heads of the judiciary. You have talked about building a synergy against graft. How pressing is it in your agenda as the new EFCC

boss to collaborate with agencies of foreign governments, particularly in the United Arab Emirate, which is believed to be the new haven where public funds from Nigeria are stashed? We are working with almost all the law enforcement agencies all over the world. We have access to them and whenever we make our request known to them, they are willing to partner with us. Sometimes, they contact us for one thing or the other because Nigerians stash money all over the world. The synergy I am talking about has to go down to the grass roots, to include school children, who must be taught that there is evil in corruption. One of the problems is that some people do not think corruption is even wrong. So, we have a duty to reach the grass roots. Let the small boys in the grass roots know that there is evil in corruption and let him know the consequences. This is why I said, from head to toe, everybody has a role to play. Let us make the school children realise that corruption is responsible for their not having roofs over their heads in schools; for their not having desks and chairs and books. Everybody must partner with the EFCC because it affects all of us. Every day, directly or indirectly, corruption affects Nigerians. We therefore have a duty

As far as President Buhari is concerned, if it his relations that are involved, we must arrest such people and prosecute them.

to fight corruption and stand up to it. My strength, walahi, is your support. I don’t have monopoly of knowledge. We are very few in the EFCC. So, the support of Nigerians is very important. We are lucky in this country that, by divine intervention, President Muhammadu Buhari is in charge of the country. Look at the president and his vice president, they are people you can’t compromise. I realise that, if it comes to goodwill, we have it because we have support everywhere. So, it is now left for the EFCC operatives or anybody fighting corruption to explain. Before, there used to be complaints of lack of goodwill and that the body language is not there. But now, we have gone beyond body language. We have a mandate to do the right thing. As far as President Buhari is concerned, if it his relations that are involved, we must arrest such people and prosecute them. Anybody who has stolen public funds, we will prosecute. The support for this fight in the National Assembly and the judiciary is fantastic. So, we have the support everywhere. So, this is the time. I know that corruption is a vice that we can’t eliminate. This year, if we are able to check it by 60 per cent, there will be no need for children to go and struggle in the filling stations to buy kerosene; there will be electricity; factories will be working optimally; new ideas will be coming. Every problem we have today has corruption at its roots. Where will I get the money to take my children to school abroad? I am not interested because I don’t’ want to have that kind of money. Some of us went to public schools in Nigeria. Why should our children go and study abroad? It is deliberate. Some people just divert the money meant for tuition (fee) abroad and take such funds elsewhere. If you see the kind of money they take, one person took money worth N500 billion. Such amount of money is sufficient to build many quality hospitals, universities, secondary and primary schools. If they give you N500 billion, you will use the direct labour approach to build hospitals and schools, and other enduring infrastructure in almost every village in Oyo State for instance. How much more $2.1 billion? That is a lot of money. If there is a prudent use of that kind of money, it will solve many of our infrastructure problems. Corruption is real. This is why I said you will have to support Nigeria to fight this cause so that there will be a better Nigeria tomorrow. You were reported to have advocated a law to spell out the timeframe for corruption cases and that the National Assembly needs to look towards that direction, taking cognizance of the legal technicalities that often crop up… No, I didn’t say that. But, I supported the idea. It is better for us to have a timeframe. Is it not reasonable to have a timeframe within which cases should be started and concluded? Does life itself not have a timeframe? If you do not give a timeframe and the accused dies or witnesses die, there is what is called lethargy in human affairs and people may lose interest. Assuming somebody steals N1million now and the case drags on interminably, what happens to be the value of the money? In Tribune, I am sure you have a timeframe for your affairs. Do people, for instance, resume work at 1p.m? So, you can see it is logical to have a timeframe. Besides, the whole question has become academic. We now have an Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 which will soon be domiciled in Oyo State. The Act provides for a day-to-day prosecution of corruption cases. Once an accused pleads not guilty, his trial begins on a day-today basis and he can’t have more than five adjournments at any point in time.

politics&policy

Friday, 15 January, 2016

The drama of a ‘missing budget’ Last week, news broke that the Federal Government was planning to withdraw the National Budget from the National Assembly for fine-tuning. It didn’t go far but on Tuesday, the news resurfaced again, this time wearing some toga of certainty. A back and forth soon took the stage as the Executive and the National Assembly play out a strange drama. Group Politics Editor, TAIWO ADISA, reports.

Saraki

HEN news broke out earlier in the month to the effect that the Federal Government was planning to withdraw the 2016 Budget submitted to the National Assembly on December 22, it looked to some stakeholders as tales by the moonlight. One of the sources contacted while checking the veracity of the story asked whether there has ever been such an instance when the President would write the lawmakers to withdraw the Budget document. The source insisted that once the document is handed over to the Joint session of the Assembly, it becomes a property of the National Assembly. But, investigations would reveal that what was said was in principle. Budget documents were said to have been withdrawn from the National Assembly on several occasions in the past. Perhaps, the difference has been the decision of the incumbent government not to play the behind-the-scene games with the lawmakers, thereby placing itself in what has been described as a sort of tight corner. Background issues There was concern as to when President Muhammadu Buhari would submit the 2016 proposed estimates to the National Assembly. The concerns grew as the days of December 2015 wound down. When the lawmakers fixed Thursday December 17 as the last sitting of the year, the President’s men, knowing the implication of failing to present the budget before the end of December got in touch with the Assembly to consider shifting the date. Sources had hinted that debates ensued before a final date was arrived at. The National Assembly was said to have proposed Friday, December 18, but the President’s men were said to have plead-

ed for another date. Eventually, December 22 was fixed and newsmen soon blew up the date for the presentation of the budget. Ahead of the D-Day, the lawmakers moved to make the date a memorable one for Buhari, who would be visiting the chamber for the first time. Senators decided to storm the House of Representatives with national Flags, which they waved at intervals as the President made his speech. All done and dusted, the President presented an ambitious N6.08 trillion budget, notwithstanding the continuous slide in the price at the global market. The Government proposed to borrow some N2 trillion to fund the deficit in the budget, while it expects to rake in a gross revenue of a little over N3 trillion. The crude benchmark was put at $38 per barrel and production quota stands at 2.2 million barrels per day. Signals of the controversy Signs that the Budget document would runs into some turbulent waters emerged early in the day. The budget document could not follow the pattern it has been taken through all the past years. Unlike in the past, when the document so submitted are immediately followed up with soft cop-

Ndume ies to the Appropriation Committees, the single copy submitted to the Joint Session was the only thing made available to the Assembly. Besides, the National Assembly closed for the year as soon as the President left the chamber, thus making it difficult for the respective Committees to liaise with the Budget Office for copies that would be circulated to the members. In the past, the executive could print some copies of the document while the Assembly would go ahead and print the remaining needed copies for use of its officials, and the lawmakers. It was also gathered that the removal of the Budget Office of the Federation from the Ministry of Finance created some confusion among staff of the Assembly. Rather than make the required number of the documents available to the Assembly, it was learnt that the Ministry of Budget and National planning also closed shop after the budget presentation. By the time the offices reopened for business I January, the media had been awash with details of the budget. The government was said to have been embarrassed by some of the contents. It was gathered that while President Muhammadu Buhari had announced his decision to oppose the planned

In the past, the executive could print some copies of the document while the Assembly would go ahead and print the remaining needed copies for use of its officials, and the lawmakers.

purchase of official cars for Senators and members of the House of Representatives, a sum of N3.7 billion was equally provided in the budget for the purchase of vehicles in the Presidency. The revelation was that the budget of the Presidency under an austerity government was actually bigger than what was budgeted under the immediate past administration. Some newspapers actually questioned the President’s claim to frugality, in view of the emerging details of the budget. Thus, when the news of the planned withdrawal of the budget document broke, it did not come as a surprise to watchers of the National Assembly. But the manner by which the assignment would be carried out remains the issue. The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara had spoken on the planned withdrawal in the media, while some lawmakers had also insisted that the budget could not be withdrawn, since it had become the property of the National Assembly. Senate Majority Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume told Senate Correspondents on January 5 that the issue of budget withdrawal was not on the table. He said: “It is impossible to withdraw the budget; it is not a document that you can just write and say you are withdrawing it. “The budget proposal that has been laid at a joint session of the National Assembly cannot just be withdrawn like that. Budget proposal is not a document that is sacrosanct, you can adjust it and this is why it is before us. During the budget defence, it can be adjusted if need be. The same day, Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang told newsmen that the Budget may not be withdrawn but that amendments can be effected at the committee stage. He stated: “To my knowledge, the budget as laid by Mr President on the 22nd of December 2015, is still with the National Assembly and has not be withdrawn. There is always communication and budget is not a sensitive thing that it cannot be dealt with behind the scene. It can be worked on behind the scene after second reading; after the second reading by the different committees but it has not been read a second time.” But, Senator Kabiru Gaya gave insights into what could be happening when he told newsmen on January 5 that the planned withdrawal could be due to the need for fundamental changes. He said in an interview: “I don’t think it has been withdrawn but whatever the case is, the figure of the entire budget will not change. Mostly it is adjustment of priority projects. During the media chat recently, the president specifically mentioned some few projects especially some important roads in the country. It is possible that some of the roads may not have been reflected in the budget. “There is no way if the president speaks on something, that may be part of his campaign promises and I think, he will try and do it. He also spoke about the railway and that there is a counterpart funding to be put in to the project. So if the figure under the subhead is not defined, then he has the right to readjust it and bring it back to us. “The adjustment can also be done even while we are still discussing the budget. Once the main figure did not change it is possible to make the adjustment. Both chambers of the National Assembly will for instance, tinker with the figures especially continues pg30

politics&policy

Friday, 15 January, 2016

The discordant tunes among lawmakers continued from pg29

as it affects overheads, if we are cutting 30 percent from the National Assembly budget, then it has to be done, pro rata.” But the Presidency refused to admit the withdrawal of the budget. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity stated that the said withdrawal was not to his knowledge. On Tuesday however, the story was not just a rumour. News emanating from the chamber of the Senate indicated that the Budget document was mission. The lawmakers, after holding an executive session that lasted nearly three hours could not reach a consensus on the location of the Budget document. Sources at the meeting indicated that the budget document was missing. It was a huge blitz for the online and traditional media outfits who celebrated the story. Perhaps, the way it was celebrated by the online outfits forced some interjections by stakeholders which created a divergence of views on the matter on Wednesday. Though reports emanating from the executive session in the Senate had quoted the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume as declaring the Budget document missing, the man later in the day granted a short interview where he was quoted as saying that the document was not missing. It all contributed to the abracadabra on the budget document, which has also drawn out the Presidency. Investigations after the revelation of the mission document emerged in the Senate indicated that some top security operatives might have withdrawn the original budget document handed over to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari. It was learnt that the withdrawal was to enable the Budget Office and the Ministry of Finance to remove certain overheads considered as offensive in view of media exposures. But, no one was ready to actually own up. While some media outfits quoted the Special Adviser to the President on Media, Femi Adesina as saying that the budget document was withdrawn for fine-tuning, others quoted him as saying that only Senator Ita Enang was competent to speak on the matter. But the revelation from the Senate was constant and unwavering. The 2016 budget could not be located. The Senators at the executive session were said to have tinkered with options including raising a motion to alert Nigerians of the missing document; asking Senate President Bukola Saraki to liaise with the Presidency on the matter and setting up a committee to investigate the matter. Two of the above were adopted including the decision to ask Saraki to meet Buhari on the matter and secondly to set up a committee on Appropriation to look into the matter and report on Thursday. On Wednesday however, further drama unfolded as Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia) raised a point of order to call attention to a matter of Urgent Public importance. He stated that the issue was already known to Nigerians that the budget was missing, asking Saraki to clear the air. Abaribe said: “The matter that I refer to is what is in every newspaper today, everywhere in all the talk shows, on the radio; of a missing budget and therefore Mr. President, I want to bring to your attention and all my colleagues that yesterday in our closed session, this matter also came up and some of us who are worried, who have been inundated with messages from our constituents; who are really worried about what their fate

Dogara

We have agreed that we should work hard to make sure that by the end of February, the budget is ready for approval or assent by the President. will be in 2016, and are asking us, where is our budget. That is why Mr President, I think is definite and it is urgent that we look into this matter.” In his explanation, Saraki stated that the closed session of Tuesday had already debated the matter, adding that Abaribe was also part of the decision setting up a committee to look into the matter. He said: “You know we are all part of the decision at the closed session yesterday (Tuesday) and part of that decision we are still waiting for those we have referred to carry out the assignment to come back to us. I think they will come back to us by tomorrow (Thursday), I think they will come back to us by tomorrow and we will go into a closed session and finish up the report and we will be able to debate it properly.” He admitted that the Committee on Appropriation was looking into the issue of missing budget and would report to the senate on Thursday. Besides, it also appears as if the riddle was being resolved as Saraki also told the Senate that debate on the general Principles of the Budget would begin on Tuesday January 19. He said copies of the budget estimates would be made available to lawmakers on Thursday to enable them go through before the debate. He further said that lawmakers who intended to make contributions to the budget debate should indicate interest. But to further showcase the unique nature of the missing budget saga, the House of Representatives declared it was in possession of the document. Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Honourable Abdumumin Jibril had said on Thursday that the document was not missing. At the plenary on Wednesday, Speaker Yakubu Dogara debunked the claims that the budget copy was missing, and directed Clerk of the House, Mr. Sani Omolori to display a copy of the budget.

Dogara said: “All members should send their staff with valid identification to the appropriation committee office to pick up copies of the 2016 budget. People should not give information that is not clear but look for clarification on such matters,” Despite participating in the closed session where the issue of the missing budget was debated, Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Abdullahi Sabi however denied the missing document in a media report. He said that the closed session talked about how to assiduously work and pass the budget. He stated: “To the best of my knowledge, I am not aware of any missing budget. What we discussed today is how we are going to work assiduously, as Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to consider the budget as submitted by the president. “Added to this, we have agreed that we should work hard to make sure that by the end of February the budget is ready for approval or assent by the President.” But the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, had said in another interview that he had copies of the budget document. “As far as I am concerned, that story does not hold water. We were expecting copies to be printed and sent to the National Assembly but there was a bit of delay. “As at yesterday (Monday), I can confirm to you that the Appropriation Committee in the House received a lot of copies of the budget. By the time the Clerk counted it today, it was not sufficient to go round members. I spoke with the Minister of Planning earlier today [Tuesday] and he assured me that before the end of today he will deliver the remaining copies. “For the soft copy, I also reminded him and he sent it to me and I handed it over to the House.” Honourable Jibrin noted that the rumour of missing budget may have

Abaribe been triggered by the delay in the production of more copies of the budget. “You should realise that we have a new government in place and I think that there is little issue of communication gap and they are trying to get themselves settled. We should be able to excuse them and support the President wherever there is a bit of limitation from his own side.” Whereas the House of Representatives, which did not list the budget, debate on its order paper for the week has categorically announced it was in possession of the document, the Senate, which intended to commence debate on Wednesday, has sustained the missing budget story. Response by Senate President to Senator Abaribe’s point of order further affirmed that the chamber was probing the issue of missing budget. On Wednesday, a number of Senators also corroborated the fact that the Budget document had issues. Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Pubic Petitions, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (PDP lmo West) agreed that the budget is dogged by controversy adding: “There was a controversy surrounding the 2016 budget, but we are trying to resolve the controversy. I assure you everything would be resolved before Thursday.” Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP Delta North) also spoke in the same vein stating that “in a matter of hours, the issue of the missing budget will be resolved.” A further show of the unfolding abracadabra emerged in the evening of Wednesday as the Senate came up to deny the missing budget story. Senate spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi said in a statement on Wednesday that the 2016 budget document was not missing, adding that the statement credited to Senator Abaribe at the plenary could be interpreted to mean an admission that the 2016 budget was missing. He said: “We have reeled out our time table for working on the budget. So, how can the same budget be missing? The Senate President never said or admitted that the budget is missing and there was nothing that he said while presiding over the plenary that could be logically interpreted to mean am admission that the budget is missing.” The back and forth notwithstanding, the 2016 Budget document has certainly stirred a seemingly unending controversy, as reports in the Assembly indicated on Wednesday that some persons are already being interrogated over the saga.

Friday, 15 January, 2016

hers

Editor: Yemisi Aofolaju yemiaofolaju@yahoo.com 08055001741

What would you

want done better

? r a e y this

ion OWU FAJI samples opin ID , us io ev pr e th an th ar ipate having a better ye As many Nigerians antic ne better this year. Excerpts: do on what they will want Olabisi Adekola ast year, I wasn’t really serious with my service to God, so this year I would love to serve Him more and better. So help me God.

friend and this year it is not going to repeat itself. Also, last year, I had only 10 per cent of African print in my wardrobe, which is not too good for an African like me. It is going to change this year too.

Bolanle Ogunderu I procrastinated a lot last year, and it really held a lot back from me. This year, I intend to make decisions as soon as possible, and take actions towards that. Although not in a hurry, it will be at the appropriate time.

Idris Wonderful Last year, I drank, gossiped, cursed and fought with people. This year, I want to be a changed person and also take my life serious because age is no longer on my side. I want to make hay while the sun still shines.

Ayoola Olamide I wasn’t really close to God and serious with my life last year. This year, I want to be more hardworking, serious and faithful to God and people around me. Lastly, I want to be fruitful.

Bose Fagoroye I moved with people that didn’t add value to my life and went into an undefined relationship. This year 2016, I want to be serious with my life and career.

Tola Odumosu Last year, I didn’t take my life, career and service to God serious, so this year I am changing for good by God’s grace. Emiyah Faith Last year, I trusted some people so much that I believed they cannot fail me. So I told them all about my life only for me to know that no one can be trusted. This year, I am putting my trust only in God because humans fail, but God doesn’t.

Ayomide Akinyele Throughout last year, I didn’t attend church service. This year, I want to be serious with my service to God as I give Him my totality by surrendering my life to God. Seyi Bankole Last year, my husband and I had a lot of disagreements and we fought a lot, this year all I want and pray for is a peaceful home and happy family.

Bowale Ajibowale Last year, I smoked a lot, so this year, I want to stop smoking. I Yewande Oyeniran I couldn’t achieve all my goals last have stopped, but I am still prayyear, so this year I want to work to- ing to God to help me so I can stop wards achieving them and with the completely. help of God I will achieve them. Dare Osilaja Last year, I had several girl Ayo Akindein friends, so this year, I want to I ate too much last year, took a stick to only one because age is no lot of things for granted and was lazy. This year, I am changing, and longer on my side. changing for good. I want to be hard working this year and also reduce my food intake.

Ogala Nana Last year, I was impulsive in taking decisions and I slacked a bit in serving God but this year Christian Isoh I spent a whole lot of time looking I am sitting up and praying for for a pay job last year, which didn’t more grace to be very effective in materialise. So this year I want to God’s vineyard. become a good entrepreneur and I Gbolaga Omotayo want to venture into food business. Last year, I usually left the office late. Even when I was through Ronke Idowu Last year, procrastination was my with my work , I would still stay

doing nothing and that didn’t give me the opportunity to think about other things. I lat- Uwem er thought about it and realised that if I continue this way, it won’t help my life. This year, everything has to be in place. No time for idle things.

Yewande Dare

Nneka

Ronke Bisi

Nneka Oka This year, I will learn not to judge people based on Christian what I hear about them, but love them as they are. Akintola Olawale Last year, I did a lot of gambling. This year, I want to stop gambling and with the help of God, I believe I will stop. I want to work hard this year so as to be a better person.

Wonderful Bolanle

Umem Okpo Ayo Putting people’s needs first before mine or throwing myself to desperately help people. So, I have come to realise that many of them can’t go an inch for me. Bukola Adewumi Last year, I wasn’t serious with my service to God and wasn’t prayerful. This year, I want to move closer to God, be faithful to Him and be more prayerful. Ogechukwu Muodiaju I don’t think there is anything I did wrong last year. I think I want to improve, than I did last year this year. God help me. Joel Adamu I look forward to a healthy re-

Emiyah Omotola

Gbolaga

lationship with God this year, and I intend to place myself on quarterly target on things I must achieve this year. Bright Adekunle My performance at my place of work last year was not that good enough as it affected my promotion. I intend to improve this year

as I desire promotion. Also, I wanted to try hard in order to pass my professional examination this year. Bayo Bankole This year, I am looking forward to settling down. I couldn’t make it last year due to financial constraint and this year by God’s grace, I must achieve this.

32 hersay

Friday, 15 January, 2016

Parenting

Continued from last week

Begin by removing the television from your kid’s room. He will throw a fit, but he will get over it. Be a parent and do the right thing without giving in to your child’s whining. Don’t park your baby or toddler in front of the television to do your babysiting for you. The paediatrics say that children under two should have no screen time at all. It can hurt their physical, mental and social development. At the age of three and older, kids should watch no more than one to two hours per day and smaller amounts are better.

If a TV show can’t teach you any more than how not to behave, then you need to be watching something different.

The host of Straight Talk! With Olufunke Adetuberu cryonmenow@yahoo.com 08023242389

Technology(2)

Utilize parental controls that are available on most televisions these days. Let me say something about parental guardian movies in Nigeria or Africa, do you observe in your homes that parents do not guide the kids while in front of the screen they both laugh when vulgar, abusive, x-rated statements or actions are viewed. Parents and children laugh and play over such powerful tool that will eventually destroy the mind of and the emotional future of the kids! The V-chip is there for your use—figure out how to use it and control what your kid

watches. Control the programming. Watch educational programming and don’t fall victim to the mindless programming that is taking over most networks. If a TV show can’t teach you any more than how not to behave, then you need to be watching something different. There is plenty of good television programmes being aired today. Find it. Watch it with your kids and talk about what you have seen. Utilize your TiVo or DVR to record programming ahead of time so you will always

have a selection of good programming to watch and won’t fall victim to watching whatever happens to be on. The best part of prerecording your shows is that you can fastforward through the commercials. Limit the amount of time your kid gets to spend in front of the television. Two hours a day is a good number to keep in mind. The argument from them will be “But you watch more than that!” Good argument. You should pay attention to that argument. Which means you should turn the television off, too. Try a book instead or maybe a little exercise. With older children, communicate with them to establish some workable guidelines for television watching in your household. Kids should only watch television programmes that you approve of during hours you approve of and only after their homework and chores are finished. What a novel idea, huh? Get your work done and then you get to be entertained. If you decide that two hours of television watching per day is acceptable, work out a schedule with your kids that will allow them to watch within the twohour limit you’ve set.

‘Selfie’ addict who spends 23 hours online, develops postural disorder

woman who became so obsessed with technology she took 200 selfies a day and used her phone in the shower, has warned others of the dangers after developing a rare medical condition. Michelle Gore, graphic designer, from Bracknell, Berkshire, spent up to 23 hours online every day and was thrilled to receive the latest gadgets at Christmas 2014. However after spending hours hunched over a selection of devices including a tablet, phone and laptop, the 21-year-old was diagnosed with Tietze disease in January last year. Her GP said her addiction had put a strain on her rib cartilage, causing the inflammatory disorder - which is characterised by chest pain and swelling between the upper ribs. Now the graphic designer is warning others about the dangers of getting too hooked on technology. Recovered Michelle said: ‘‘I realised I had a problem when I woke up on Boxing Day 2014 tangled up in cables from different gadgets. ‘‘I had the laptop wire round my leg, my headphones around my neck, my mobile under my pillow, my tablet charging on my bedside table and my Xbox and PlayStation controls at the foot of the bed. I thought, “this isn’t normal”.’ And when Michelle began experiencing shooting pains in her back and chest, she knew something was seriously wrong. She said: ‘’I was in pain every day and I was worried there was something up with my heart so I went to see my GP in January last year. ‘‘I was at breaking point so I confessed how long I’d been spending on my gadgets. She said I’d strained my costal cartilage from being in the same position for so long staring at my phone or hunching over my laptop. ‘‘It came as a real shock but luckily it was the wake-up call I needed to sort myself out.’’ While her friends were doing ‘dry’ January last year to recover from the excesses of the festive period – Michelle had to take the extreme step of going cold turkey from her electrical devices. She said her problem started when she innocently asked for gadgets as gifts every Christmas. ‘‘Every Christmas I would receive the latest gadget. Last year, it was an iPhone and the year before that I got a haul including a laptop, iPad and a Mac and the year before that I received an Xbox and four games,’’ she said. ‘‘I would end up spending the entire

Michelle holidays glued to a screen of some sort – whether it was watching a YouTube tutorial to work out how to use my new phone, or trawling an internet forum for tips.’’ Michelle’s addiction was so severe that when the internet was down for three days early last year, she struggled to cope. She says: ‘‘It was my worst nightmare. Since I spent most of my time online, it suddenly felt like life had stopped. ‘’I was never without my phone or some other device because I couldn’t bear to miss out on updates from apps like Snapchat, Instagram or WhatsApp. ‘‘I’d be taking selfies all day – as many as 200 – just to get the perfect shot that I could post online. ‘‘And before I went to bed, I’d play games on my PlayStation or Xbox or watch Netflix, but just so I didn’t miss out, I’d leave my phone on all night in case a message came through. ‘‘I even specially requested a waterproof phone for Christmas last year, just so I could stay online in the shower. ‘‘When the internet went down I suddenly found myself with so much free time, I just didn’t know what to do with myself.’ Michelle, who graduated from the University of Bath in July 2015, became so depressed she kept a diary as she grappled with her emotions. She wrote: ‘‘Dear diary, the worst thing

has happened, I woke up and there was no internet. I thought it was temporary but after calling my landlord, the broadband company can only check it on Monday… what am I going to do the next three days!? I guess since I have nothing to do you are stuck with me.’’ On the second day, the internet disconnected again and Michelle’s distress escalated. She writes: ‘’I don’t know how long I can keep this up. I got the shakes I am sweating and unstable... and I am bored out my mind. ‘‘I look in the mirror and I am a mess...My hair is a tangled mess... the colour from my face is gone... my once so lively eyes never looked so lifeless.... it’s like staring at a zombie version of myself.’’ Reflecting on the diary posts, Michelle said: ‘‘I just had to get back online; it was an urge I couldn’t ignore. I was worried that I was missing out and concerned that my internet friends would wonder where I was. ‘‘I had a boyfriend I met online and since we’d never met in person or spoken over the phone, I was worried he’d think something had happened to me. ‘‘I was so anxious, I started feeling shooting pains in my chest - it was awful.’’ Michelle’s health wasn’t the only thing to suffer. She says: ‘‘Sometimes I was getting just one hour of sleep a night and that meant I

struggled to focus during the day. ‘‘I’d take my phone to lectures with me and found it hard to concentrate. As a result, my grades suffered and while I got a degree, I didn’t get the result I wanted.’’ After waking up tangled in cables and with the medical diagnosis ringing in her ears, Michelle knew she needed to get help and contacted Britain’s first clinic to treat technology addiction, the Nightingale Hospital in Marylebone, London. But the fees, which she discovered started at approximately £350 for a 90-minute assessment, were too high, so Michelle turned to her family for support rather than paying for treatment. She says: ‘‘Mum and dad would always tell me to put my gadgets away, but I’d put my foot down and give them a hard time. ‘‘I think they were relieved when they realised I was seeking help, because they knew I was ready to tackle the addiction.’’ Michelle’s mum Nokutula, 39, a nurse, and her dad Erwin, 48, a support worker, agreed set times when technology would be banned from the family home. Nokutula says:’ ‘‘We couldn’t afford private health care, so we supported Michelle as a family by creating set times when noone was allowed to use technology, such as during dinner or before bed. ‘‘I’d always worried that Michelle was using technology too much. I didn’t want to buy her any new gadgets for Christmas, but I didn’t want to see her desperately unhappy either. ‘‘Last year, we compromised by just buying the phone to keep the peace.” Dr Richard Graham, consultant adolescent psychiatrist and technology addiction lead at the Nightingale Clinic, said the addiction is complex to treat. ‘Unlike with alcohol or drugs, a patient cannot simply decide never to use a technology again. Instead, they must learn to establish a healthy relationship with technology and that is the crux of the treatment; sleep and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy are peripheral treatments that treat conditions that can sometimes coexist with technology addiction.’ He added: ‘We need technology in our lives and it brings a host of benefits. It can however, drain us of our time as we spend more and more time online. This can become a compulsion to constantly be plugged in so that we don’t ever risk feeling that we are missing out, or stepping off a ladder. The by-product of this is that we are seeing an increasing number of young people addicted to technology.’ (dailymail.co.uk)’

33 news

Friday, 15 January, 2016

Court orders arrest of Tompolo Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin - Lagos

OLLOWING the refusal of ex-Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo to appear in court on Thursday after court summons, Justice Ibrahim Buba, has ordered his arrest. Tompolo had been summoned by the court to give his own account in the fraudulent land contract for the construction of Nigerian Maritime University, but failed to show up. During court proceedings on Thursday, Festus Keyamo, counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told the court that Tompolo was only served on Wednesday, after the commission went to Warri to meet him. Keyamo showed a photograph to the judge as evidence of summons. Not satisfied with the development, Justice Bubab, however, issued a warrant of arrest for the ex-militant. “The court is in position to use its discretion to order for the arrest of Government Ekpemupolo to compel his attendance to answer the allegation before the court through Section 131 of the Administration of Justice Act. “The court, hereby, orders the warrant of arrest of Government aka Tompolo to be issued forwardly, ” the judge ruled. Keyamo, agreeing with the judge, said “the court has the power to issue a warrant of arrest against him,

and that is why they issued the warrant of arrest against Tompolo. “Even during investigation, we consistently invited him to come and answer charges and to come and make statement and he bluntly refused to come and make statement.

“In fact, at a point, he even took out an advertorial in the newspaper, saying they should not push him to war. Imagine a person just invited to come and make statement and you are talking about war, so that’s why I told the court that nobody could be an outlaw within

the society and that is why the court decided to issue a warrant of arrest. “We will give them the warrant of arrest. I will give the warrant to the relevant authority. One individual cannot be bigger than the federal republic of Nigeria; it is for them to prove that

“On Monday, January 11, I had filed an application before the Federal High Court, Lagos, challenging the continued detention of Chief Metuh, the spokesperson of the PDP, the leading opposition party in Nigeria. Subsequently on Tuesday, January 12, I filed an application to compel the EFCC to produce Chief Metuh in court. However, I had, on January 13, filed a notice of discontinuance of the said suit. “Since filing this suit, I have received several telephone calls from colleagues, friends and well wishers, some congratulating me for the ‘fat’ brief, some criticising me, some seeking explanations and some others commending and encouraging me. The truth is that I have never met Chief Metuh

Charged alongside Tompolo is Patrick Akpobolokemi, Global West Vessels Specialist Limited, Odimiri Electrical Limited, Kime Enzogu, Bolobere Property and Estate, Rex Elem, Destre Consult Limited, Gregory Mbonu and Captain Warredi Enisuoh.

Buhari orders fresh probe into Chibok girls’ abduction Meets BringBackOurGirls movement after initial stand-off Leon Usigbe and Adetola Bademosi - Abuja FOLLOWING a meeting with members of the BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) movement agitating for the rescue of 219 Chibok, Borno State schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram about 640 days ago, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a fresh investigation into the circumstances surrounding the abduction. According to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in Abuja, the panel to investigate the 2014 incident would soon to be named by the National Security Adviser (NSA), General Babagana Munguno. It said the investigation would seek to, among other things, unravel the remote and immediate circumstances leading to the kidnap of the girls by Boko Haram terrorists, as well the other events, actions and inactions that followed the incident. Recalling the meeting the president had with BBOG, who was accompanied by

many of the parents of the girls to the meeting at the Presidential Villa, on Thursday, it noted that Buhari had assured parents of the Chibok girls that he had been doing his best and would continue to do everything possible to rescue them and reunite them with their families. Stressing the president’s commitment to rescuing the girls, the statement quoted him as saying: “I assure you that I go to bed and wake up everyday with the Chibok girls on my mind. “The unfortunate incident happened before this government came into being. “What have we done since we assumed office? We reorganised the military, removed all the service chiefs and ordered the succeeding service chiefs to deal decisively with the Boko Haram insurgency. “In spite of the terrible economic condition we found ourselves in, we tried to get some resources to give to the military to reorganise and equip, retrain, deploy more troops and move more forcefully against Boko Haram.

“And you all know the progress we have made. When we came in Boko Haram was in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno. Boko Haram has now been reduced to areas around Lake Chad. “Securing the Chibok girls is my responsibility. The service chiefs and heads of our security agencies will tell you that in spite of the dire financial straits that we found the country in, I continue to do my best to support their efforts in that regard. “This is a Nigeria where we were exporting average of two million barrels per day at over 140 dollars per barrel. Now, it is down to about 27 to 30 dollars. “You have been reading in the press how they took public funds, our funds, your funds and shared it, instead of buying weapons. That was the kind of leadership I succeeded. That was the kind of economy I inherited. “God knows I have done my best and I will continue to do my best.” Meanwhile, President Buhari had to abandon his scheduled engagements in order to meet with members

Adegboruwa withdraws from Metuh’s case continued from pg7

they are in charge of law enforcement in the country,” he said. Tompolo was in December last year invited by the EFCC for questioning, but refused to honour their invitation. Tompolo had his bank accounts frozen by the EFCC.

before and I did not receive a dime from him or from anyone else, to file the suit. I did so based on my conviction that it was wrong to arrest a citizen of Nigeria, lock him up in custody and be boasting that he will not be released or charged to court. “My intervention on behalf of Chief Metuh is not to shield him from trial, if found wanting, but rather that as the voice of the opposition in Nigeria, he should not be cowed or silenced without following due process. Through Chief Metuh, Nigerians have had the benefit of hearing the other side of the sweet stories of change the Buhari regime had been feeding us with. “I filed this case with my resources, based on my conviction that Chief Metuh was being unfairly treated in the circumstances leading to his arrest and detention.

“ It had since come to my notice, however, that Chief Metuh had filed a similar application, before the Federal High Court, Abuja, late last week, but same was not made public. Furthermore, it would seem now that Chief Metuh is finding a common ground with the EFCC, in the light of the revelations coming forth, in relation to his case and the promise to arraign him in court. I support the anti-corruption war of this administration, when it is done in accordance with the rule of law. “My intervention in securing reprieve for victims of human rights abuses is not novel to Chief Metuh’s case. For decades now, I have been partnering with civil society organisations, especially the Civil Liberties Organisation, the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights, etc, for the release of

suspects in police or prison custody.” Adegboruwa added that his interest was not informed by the personality of the person involved, adding that he had been known to support the cause of Nigerians without consideration to status or position. “I have equally represented widows, students, retirees, fishermen, mechanics and other classes or indigent people in court for one redress or the other. These are not matters that I should ordinarily seek public notice or commendation, as the ultimate glory goes to God only. The point is that I represent all interests, where there is a need for redress. So, if General Buhari leaves office tomorrow and is similarly unfairly treated, as is being done to Chief Metuh now, I will intervene by the grace of God,” he said.

of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) movement, who had protested his absence at a meeting organised in the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, on Thursday. Early on Thursday, the BringBackOurGirls group, alongside parents of abducted Chibok girls, as planned, led a protest to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, for a meeting with the President Buhari. The protesters, who started the march from the group’s popular meeting point, Unity Fountain in Abuja, bombarded the entrance to the Presidential Villa, demanding a meeting with the President Buhari to discuss the promises he made to them on July 8, 2015. The group had written to the president about their intention to march to his office to learn from him what efforts had been made to locate the girls and secure their release as earlier promised by him. When they were ferried into the venue, they had been under the impression that the president would receive and brief them, but were disappointed when they were met only by a government delegation consisting of Minister of Women Affair, Hajia Aisha Alhassan; Minister of Defence, Brigadier- General Mansur Dan Ali, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babangana Monguno and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonishakin. Alhassan gave her opening remark, where she announced that the president was unable to come because he had other engagements. She explained some of the initiatives in her ministry towards the welfare of the Chibok girls’ parents and requested the leader of the movement, Dr Oby Ezekwesili to brief the gathering on their mission to the Presidential Villa. However, the former Minister of Education politely declined, explaining that having met with the president in July, he had promised to do everything to res-

cue the girls and that they had come to hear from him what had been done so far and were willing to wait until the president was available. She, therefore, announced that members of the movement had nothing to say until they have heard from the president. After various explanations from each member of the government’s delegation, the NSA announced that he would make attempt to get the president to come and address the group. Ezekwesili, however, expressed displeasure over Minister of Woman Affairs’ apparent scolding of the group for not giving enough notice before coming to the Presidential Villa. A visibly angered Ezekwesili responsed: “You have been very unfair to the movement and Nigerians. When the Minister, NSA, Chief of Defence Staff spoke, their tones connected with the parents. I do not understand how you can chide these parents. “When we visited July 8, we said we had implicit confidence in this administration and the president urged us to cooperate with government. “We wrote to government, stating that we will embark on this march. It was acknowledged. The president is the father of the nation and they want to listen to him...” She was interrupted by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, who explained that there were procedures to be observed. However, the president was later led into the hall by the NSA and journalists were thereafter ordered out for a closed-door session with the group. At the end of the meeting, Ezekwesili spoke to State House reporters, revealing that Buhari had assured that despite the impression created by his statement during the last Presidential Media chat about lack of credible intelligence on the whereabouts of the girls, he was working hard on their rescue. continues pg34

34 news

Friday, 15 January, 2016

We’re under military/police siege in Rivers —Govt

•Such allegation is expected —Army •Senator Abe washes hands off MOSOP crisis, military raids Dapo Falade - Port Harcourt

IVERS State government has said the people and residents of the state are now under a threat, alleging that the military and police have laid siege on some parts of the state. It further alleged that the siege was politically motivated ahead the rerun of national and state assemblies elections in designated constituencies in the state. The government made the allegation in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Thursday, by Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, the Special Assistant (electronic media) to Governor Nyesom Wike. According to him, the affected constituencies in three local government areas in the state had been under vicious attacks by the military, leaving in their trail tales of deaths, blood, destruction and open intimidation. It will be recalled that men of the 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Bori, Rivers State, had, last Sunday and Monday, conducted two raids on the residences of some persons believed to be loyalists of Governor Wike. Justifying the raids, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of the 2 Brigade, Captain Eli Lazarus, in a two-paragraph statement, on Monday, said they were conducted following “a credible intelligence report that the affected persons were allegedly involved in gun-running and kidnapping. “However, the state government claimed that the joint military/police invasions took place in three local government areas of the state, including Gokana, Asari-Toru and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA). “On January 13, the soldiers and mobile policemen were at ONELGA, where they unleashed mayhem on lives and property. The residents of the area are still counting their losses,” Nwakaudu said. The governor’s aide further alleged that the a Major (names witheld) was always accompanied in the raid operations by some people suspected to be APC political thugs and militants, allegedly acting as security operatives. “These APC agents, who were embedded in these illegal operations, were kitted with security uniforms. Despite these security cos-

tumes, they were identified by locals. “This level of political desperation is unknown to the nation’s democratic history. No authority had in the past handed security platforms to political thugs and associates to unleash untold mayhem and deaths on lawabiding citizens. “But one thing is clear; this resort to intimidation and destruction will not improve the lack lustre fortune of Rivers APC. If anything, it has further depleted the party’s miserable five per cent,” he added.

Reacting however, the 2 Brigade Assistant Director of Public Relations said he was not surprised by the allegation from the Rivers governor’s aide. Captain Lazarus, in a short sms sent to the Nigerian Tribune, said: “We are quite aware that operations of this nature will elicit such reactions from a section of the public. “However, we are determined to sustain the ongoing operation to mop up arms in the areas mentioned and ensure that criminal activities do not thrive.”

In a related development, Senator Magnus Abe has denied any complicity in the leadership crisis rocking the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP). As reported by the Nigerian Tribune, on Thursday, the apex Ogoni group is engulfed in crisis, following the emergence of two presidents and two executive councils for the body. Some top members of the group attributed the crisis to politics and pointed fingers at Abe, who formerly represented Rivers South-East and some other prominent

leaders of APC in the state as the masterminds. Reacting, Abe, who was the former Senate Committee Chairman on Petroleum (Downstream), denied the allegation, saying it was “a devilish plan by some desperate politicians to launch a smear campaign against candidates of APC in order to deceive the Ogoni people and steal their votes in the forthcoming rerun.” Abe, in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt, on Thursday, alleged that the des-

perate politicians were led by a serving commissioner in the state and a senatorial candidate of a political party in the anticipated senatorial rerun election in the state. He said the sum of N50 million had been released to actualise the plot, of which he claimed that N10 million had been given to each of the four Ogoni local government areas and another N10 million naira to a central organising committee to mobilise and incite Ogoni youths against APC, particularly against himself.

Boko Haram now hide IEDs among vegetables Chris Agbambu - Abuja IN continuation of the sensitisation of Nigerians on the devilish strategies of the Boko Haram terrorists, the Nigerian Military authorities have discovered that the terrorists are determined to continue letting off bombs and have resorted to be masquerading as fruits and vegetable vendors wheeling Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) as groceries into crowded areas. Acting Director Defence Information, BrigadierGeneral Rabe Abubakar, in a statement, on Thursday, in Abuja, said the terrorists now hide IEDs under vegetable wares in carts and wheelbarrows and move to crowded places, where they detonate them for maximum casualties. According to him, the recent terrorists’ attack on the North-East was a case on point.

He noted that having being effectively dislodged and decimated, the terror group had begun some systematic isolated attacks mainly on soft targets in their desperation to remain relevant.

Defence spokesman, added that the Defence Headquarters, hereby, advises the general public to constantly be alert to this latest terrorist tactics and to report promptly any

suspicious persons or objects to the nearest security agency. While commending the general public and the media for their continuous support so far, he said all

citizens were once again reminded that security was everybody’s concern; therefore, they should join hands with the security agencies to eliminate the remnant of the terrorists.

Police arrest 150 suspected Boko Haram members in Ondo Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure ABOUT 150 men suspected to be members of the dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram, were on Thursday arrested by men of the state police command in Ondo town, Ondo West Local Government Area of the state. The suspected men, who were intercepted by the security agents, were said to be heading towards Ore town, in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state in a truck with registration number KANO NSR 97 XZ. Nigerian Tribune learnt that some dangerous items

were found and recovered from the suspects which included 18 locally-made guns, two knives, 22 cutlasses, as well as several torches. It was gathered that the operation was led the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Funbi Fagun Police station, Mr OluOjo Ogunmoyole, with some men of the Special Ant-robbery Squad from the police headquarters in Akure. The arrested men were taken to Funbi-Fagun police station before being transferred to the police headquarters in Akure in their truck. Speaking on behalf of the suspects, Abdulahi Sheriff,

explained that they took off from Birirnin-Kebbi to seek greener pasture in the state, saying they were farmers and not members of the Boko Haram sect. He said they decided to move from the North because of the prolonged dry season in the area, which had affected farming adversely. DPO of Funbi Fagun Police Station, Mr Olu-Ojo Ogunmoyole told journalists that the suspects were intercepted during a surveillance operation carried out by the ant-robbery squad attached to the division. He explained that the suspects have been transfer to

Akure for further investigation, but urged the people of the community to remain calm and go about their lawful business. However, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Femi Joseph, confirmed the arrest of the men, but said investigation revealed that they were not members of Boko Haram group. He said it had been established that they were coming from Kebbi to work as farmers in the state, but said his men were investigating the items recovered from them and promised to make the result of the investigation public soon.

Buhari orders fresh probe into Chibok girls’ abduction continued from p33

She also said that the president scolded the group for not appreciating the efforts of government, as he said he was deeply troubled by the plight of the girls and their parents. She said: “President subsequently came to join this meeting and what the president essentially said is that his statement during the media chat that they do not have credible intelligence that he was being truthful in the way that he knows how to be and that he was not prepared to tell any lies. “That they do not have the kind of reliable intelligence that would enable them rescue the girls as immediately

as we are demanding and that therefore, we would continue to try to bear with him and that based on the fact that the government has recorded considerable success in decimating Boko Haram and its hold over the North-East zone and that what remains is the matter of rescuing our Chibok girls and other affected citizens that are in abduction.” She said the group had demanded a new investigation into the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the girls, as well as the release of the General Sabo report on the previous investigation instituted by former President Goodluck Jonathan. She stated: “A number of the members of that com-

munity are insisting that the investigations that were not concluded by the previous administration in order to unearth some of the things that happened before our Chibok girls were taken captive. “It is consistent with our movement demand that the General Sabo report, that is the Presidential factfinding committee report on our Chibok girls, which was conducted and delivered during the previous administration, it needs to be disclosed, it needs to be transparently open so that everyone would read what it was that the committee found during the course of the investigation. “So we are demanding that this administration

will quickly agree with the demands of these parents that new investigation be made even as General Sabo report is being disclosed.” In the statement she read to the president during the closed-door session, Ezekwesili had blasted the Federal Government for declaring victory over Boko Haram without first rescuing the Chibok girls. She said: “Our Chibok girls are neither rescued nor have the measures the Federal Government pledged been instituted. Our disappointment was worse recently, when Mr President shocked the parents into a deeper throes of agony when you publicly gave the excuse ‘that there is no credible information

about the girls’ whereabouts’ as the reason our Chibok girls had not been rescued. On her Twitter handle, @obyezeks, Ezekwesili lamented President Buhari’s unfatherly attitude to the family of the missing Chibok girls. According to her, “our president missed the opportunity of emotionally connecting with the grieving parents. She posted on her Twitter handle that: “What the president needed to do after speaking was walk up to those mothers and dads and speak as a dad. “Of all that happened today, my pain was his failure to connect to the parents’ agony.”

Friday, 15 January, 2016

arewa

Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08158610216

Isaac Shobayo - Jos

T is not possible to have demonstrable relationship between cat and rat and have the two cohabit without the latter being a causality. From all indications, residents of Plateau have started employing the reality of this to fight Lassa fever. To ward off rats believed to be carriers of this pandemic, quite a number of people now keep cats instead of other conventional means of killing rats Following the discovery of Lassa fever in the state which led to the death of a woman last week and leaving few others hospitalised, residence of the state, especially Jos, the state capital, have become apprehensive of the deadly disease and are taking various precautionary measures to ward off rats considered to be carriers of the disease. A cross section of residents of Jos, who spoke with Arewa, revealed that it was better for them to keep cats than to apply rat poison and trap which might not be effective like cats whose presence is enough of scare away every unwanted rodents including rats. Going round the state capital, Arewa findings revealed that heap of refuse and horrible gutters which serve as hide out for rats still dotted some parts of the city despite campaign by the State Ministry of Health that people should maintain hygienic environment to prevent the spread of Lassa fever. The state Commissioner of Health, Dr Kuden Kamshak, who recently confirmed that Lassa fever had claimed one life in the state, said the state government had placed a team of medical experts on alert to prevent its spread. According to him, the deadly disease is noticed in five local governments of the state namely; Jos North, Mangu, Langtang South, Pankshin and Shendam LGA respectively, adding that the state with the support of the World Health Organisation (WHO) was working round the clock to contain the spread of the virus. “The state government has established Disease Survellance and Notification Officers (DSNO) in each of the 17 local governments in the state to monitor and manage the health challenge. “As you are all aware, the Federal Ministry of Health has confirmed that the country has been experiencing Lassa fever outbreak in the past few weeks in some states including Bauchi, Nassarawa, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Edo and Oyo States respectively. He said Lassa fever is a Zoonotic disease, which means that human beings became infected by contact with infected animals, adding that animal host of the virus is rodent (rat) and the animal sheds the virus through its urine and faeces. “Human beings can become infected with the virus when they are exposed to urine and faeces of the carrier animal. Person to person transmission occurs both in communities where people live in clusters and spread faster in such crowded environment especially under poor sanitary conditions. The commissioner, who said health officer could be at risk if they do not employ proper barrier nursing and infection con-

A cat feasting on a rat

Lassa fever: Plateau residents go for cats trol practices as expected of them added that fever is always difficult to distinguish from other viral hemorrhagic fevers like

Ebola virus and other diseases that causefever. “The symptom is usually gradual, start-

ing from fever, general body weakness and malaise. After a few days of headache, sore throat, chest pain, muscle pain, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cough may follow. When it became severe, facial swelling, bleeding through mouth, nose, ear, anus, genital will occur.” He urged indigenes not to panic, but remain calm and vigilant and report promptly to the nearest health care facility just as he also warned residents to clear their homes and surroundings of rats, maintain good sanitary habit and also keep cats at home to keep off rats.

Crew Sabiu Mohammed - Kaduna 08067698878 mohsabiu@yahoo.com Isaac Shobayo - Jos 08037032359 shobayo.isaac@gmail.com

A laboratory experiment on a supposedly infected rat

NGO introduces Arabic classes to IDPs’ children

—Pg.36

Senator pays hospital bills of 40 patients in Kaduna —Pg.36

Biola Azeez – Kwara State 08034276889 biolababes@gmail.com James Bwala – Borno / Yobe 08069596659 jamesbwala97@gmail.com Adamu Amadu - Dutse Kola Oyelere - Kano

news 30 killed, houses burnt, as Fulani herdsmen, farmers clash again in Nasarawa 36

Ademola Adegbite - Lafia

VER 30 persons were said to have been killed in a renew hostility between Fulani herdsmen and Agatu farmers at Odeni

Friday, 15 January, 2016

Magaji Village in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that the bone of contention was not unconnected with the killing of one of the Fulani

herdsmen, while the latter was rustling the cattle through Agatu‘s farm, thereby, destroying farm produce. Reports monitored from Odeni Magaji Village, on Thursday evening, revealed

that two other Fulani herdsmen were kidnapped after the killing, which later led to a reprisal by Fulanis. It was gathered further that 23 cows were also killed by suspected farmers. Credible sources said Fu-

lanis invaded the community and started shooting at sight, killing scores and set many houses ablaze. According to one of the sources, who preferred anonymity, “the number of casualties could not be ascertained now, but many people were killed by Fulani militants, while several houses were razed. It was so unfortunate.” When contacted on phone, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ismaila Numan, confirmed the communal clash, saying only seven persons were killed, while many houses were set ablaze. With this present attack, Fulani pastoralists have unleashed terror for three consecutive times on Odeni Magaji and its environs in less than one month.

Tribunal dismisses ex parte to stop Bello’s inauguration Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja

Bayelsa State governor, Honourable Seriake Dickson (right), receiving his certificate of return, shortly after winning the state’s governorship election from the INEC National Commissioner, South-South, Dr Mustapha Lekky, at the INEC office in Yenagoa.

Dickson receives certificate of return as gov-elect

Why Bayelsa people defied intimidation to re-elect him —Haliru Bello By Bola Badmus and Austin Ebipade

GOVERNOR Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, on Thursday, received his Certificate of Return as governor-elect for second term from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). INEC’s Supervising National Commissioner, South-South, Mr Mustapha Leki, presented the certificate to the governor at the state’s INEC office in Yenagoa. The event was attended by Dickson, his wife, Rachel; his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd.); acting state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff; top officials of the government; Resident Electoral Commissioner, Baritor Kpagih, among others. Upon collection of his Certificate of Return, Dickson commended INEC, security operatives and all stakeholders for seeing to the success of the elections in the state. The excited Dickson, who

sang three short praise songs to the admiration of the congregation, told the audience that his victory at the election did not come easy. Dickson dedicated his victory to God and the people of the state, saying without whom, the victory would not have been achieved. “I am delighted to be elected your governor once again. We give God the

glory of the victory. If God was not with us, you can imagine what would have happened,” Dickson said. Presenting the certificate of return to Dickson and his deputy, Leki said the instrument was handed over to them following their victories at the governorship election. He said the presentation was carried out in conformity with Section 68 (1) and Section 75 (1) of the

Electoral Act. Meanwhile, the Acting Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP, Dr Haliru Bello Mohammed, said that Bayelsa State people defied the chaos, murder and intimidation during the recent governorship rerun election in the state to re-elect Governor Seriake Dickson because they believed the PDP remains the party of choice that has no alternative in the country.

Elite have failed Nigeria —Osinbajo Leon Usigbe- Abuja

VICE President Yemi Osinbajo has observed that the Nigeria elite have failed the nation, hence the arms procurement scandal of the past administration was able to occur. He made the observation while delivering a paper at the National Defence College, Abuja, for Course 24 participants, on Thursday. According to him, “grand corruption, rent-seeking, promotion of ethnic and religious differences for personal gains appear to have been the prevailing

behavior of the elite.’’ He wondered why money meant for arms procurement could be diverted to private pockets and why the actors failed to bother that their avarice and greed led to loss of lives of ill-equipped federal troops. The vice president said the solution was on the revitalisation and revival of the nation’s defence industries as well as linkages to the economy. According to him, the country should reduce dependence on other nations as well as learn from the experiences

of some. He said: “We should not allow situation to arise again in which we as a nation are unable to source the arms, even the most basic arms, with which to prosecute a war,’’ he said. “For our nation to survive, we must insist that the Nigerian elite accept responsibility to make the sacrifice necessary. We must ensure that there are consequences for corruption; that we insist on integrity in the conduct of public and private business.”

THE Kogi Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, on Thursday, dismissed a motion ex parte filed by the Labour Party (LP) that sought to stop the inauguration of the governor-elect of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. The tribunal, headed by Justice Halima Mohammed, dismissed the ex parte seeking to hear the motion on notice in an interlocutory injunction to halt the January 27 inauguration, saying that the application was incompetent. According to the tribunal at its resumed sitting on Thursday, the application, which would make the matter to be heard outside the pre-hearing session, should have been brought through motion on notice. Counsel to the LP, Mr Reuben Egwuaba, had approached the tribunal through the ex parte motion, to hear the motion on notice restraining Bello from presenting himself before the Chief Judge of the state for inauguration on January 27. The party argued that Bello did not have a validly elected deputy governorship candidate when the supplementary election was conducted on December 5. “Consequent upon nomination of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as replacement for Audu, Honourable James Faleke who was Audu’s running mate withdrew and dissociated himself from participating in supplementary election as Bello’s running mate.”

Nigerian Tribune

Ooni donates land to NAWOJ, pledges to ensure peace between Ife, Modakeke THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has donated land to the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) for the building of “Women Journalists Estate.” The traditional ruler announced the donation when the association, led by its National President, Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole, visited him in Ile-Ife on Thursday. He commended the women for the role they played when he received staff of office, as well as his official coronation. According to him, without women there cannot be any existence, women are valuable and indispensable companion. The royal father also advised them to always fight for their rights and continue to be a voice for the voiceless. The monarch promised to ensure and promote peaceful co-existence between Ife and Modakeke, saying there would never be “any war or turbulence again between Ife and Modakeke.” “There shall never be war again; I shall use this stool to unify the entire Yoruba race.” Earlier, Omowole congratulated Ogunwusi on his ascension to the stool of his forefathers and requested for land to build houses for women journalists.

Ganduje laments falling oil price, promises to construct skills acquisition centre Kola Oyelere - Kano

KANO State governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has observed that the falling oil prices have led to the crumbling of the nation’s economy, leading to mass unemployment. According to him, government would construct a skills acquisition centre to train its teeming youths to be productive and self reliant. The governor, who disclosed this shortly after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of MAFITA, a DFID-funded programme which main objective is to create jobs, said contract for the project would be awarded soon. “We are conscious of the number of jobless youths we have and the signing of the MoU is a step in the right direction,” the governor stated.

37 news

Friday, 15 January, 2016

Lassa: 15 under surveillance in Abuja

•FG warns against hoarding information, patients •Adewole appears before senate committee Ayodele Adesanmi with agency report

equel to the outbreak of the deadly Lassa fever in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, the Federal Government has placed 15 people under surveillance. The nation’s capital recorded its first death from Lassa fever on Wednesday, at the National Hospital, Abuja. This now brings the total deaths across 10 other states to 43. Also, as part of immediate measures to curb the spread, no fewer than 35 persons that the victim might have come in contact with are now being traced in Abuja. The Coordinator of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Professor Abdulsalam Nasidi, confirmed the number under surveillance and those being traced. Nasidi, however, said that the number of people under surveillance might increase before the end of the day as the contact tracing was still on. In another development, the National Hospital has set up an Isolation Centre for the treatment of Lassa fever in FCT. The spokesperson of the National Hospital, Tayo Haastrup, disclosed this on Thursday. Haastrup told FCT residents not to panic as the hospital workers had been prepared for such cases should there be any reoccurrence. He said the test conducted on the other suspected patients came out negative. Also, the Federal Government, on Thursday, warned medical and health facilities to stop hoarding information on Lassa fever to curb further spread of the disease. The government also warned medical and health workers against shielding victims of the disease or treating them of other ailments other than Lassa fever in quest for money. It also advised relatives of persons who contacted the disease and affected communities to report suspicious signs to health authorities for prompt action. The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole issued the warning and advice while fielding questions from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Lassa fever control measures adopted by the government in Abuja, on Thursday. On the latest case recorded at the National Hospital,

Abuja, Adewole confirmed the death of a 33-year-old newly married man from Jos, Plateau State. According to him, the death of the young man brought to 43 the total number of deaths recorded in 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT). The minister also advised bereaved family members to report at the nearest hospital if anyone had fever for more than two days. Adewole called on residents of affected states not to panic, but to maintain high

level vigilance and present themselves for test if they noticed symptoms of Lassa fever. Meanwhile, the Medical Director, National Hospital, Abuja, Dr Jack Momoh, has explained that the deceased was brought to the hospital when he became unconscious at a private hospital in Kubwa, FCT. Also, the Minister of Health, Professor Adewole on Thursday appeared before the Senate Committee on Health, describing as a national embarrassment the

outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria, which had in the last one week, claimed 10 lives across four states Also, the minister, who was summoned by the Senate on Tuesday, to appear before the committee, informed the Senate of efforts being made by his ministry at curtailing the outbreak. He said the disease being a native of west Africa, to have been rendered impotent over the years. He said “Unlike Ebola, which took the nation by surprise last year, after being

imported from Liberia by an infected person, Lassa fever which has over the years registered its presence in the country, supposed not to have taken us by surprise, had infected people reported promptly.” Adewole insisted that the current outbreak started in August last year, in Foka village in Niger State, but has now spread across nine states of the federation, due to non-reportage of its infection and death of victims to the appropriate authorities.

From left, Permanent Secretary, Plateau Ministry of Health, Mr Abel Habila; Director, National Orientation Agency, Mr Bulus Dabit and the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Kuden Kamshak, during a sensitisation on Lassa fever outbreak, in Jos, on Thursday. Nan

Bayelsa sets up 15-man emergency response committee The Bayelsa State Executive Council has approved the 2016 fiscal estimate tagged: “Budget of Transition”, with emphasis on the completion of ongoing developmental projects across the three senatorial districts. This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday night by the Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson to Governor Henry Seriake Dickson. The council said that the

15-man emergency response team constituted during the Ebola outbreak in the country had been put on alert, in case of any possible outbreak of Lassa fever in the state. It, however, said that priority attention would be given to the tower and four star hotels, as well as the development of tourism, agriculture and industrialisation. Speaking with journalists alongside other members of

The Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria (EHOAN), Lagos State branch, on Thursday, said that plans were underway to rid markets in the state of rodents, to forestall the spread of Lassa fever. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the disease, which affected 10 states and the FCT, Abuja, had so far claimed 43 lives. EHOAN’s chairman, Mr Samuel Akingbehin, told NAN in Lagos that the exercise, based on one local government or council development area markets per day, would start on

January 16. According to the official, Lassa fever has the Mastomy rats as vectors. He said that the association was collaborating with security agencies, executive members of the various markets and all the health officers in the state to ensure its effectiveness. “The Lagos State professional health bodies have decided to tackle this Lassa fever because of its serious nature. “As such, we have decided to take the fight to the markets, hospitals, schools and homes in the state. “We know by inspection and evaluation of our society

the State Executive Council in Yenagoa, the state Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr

Ambrose Akierite said this was one of the major resolutions taken at the 55th Executive Council meeting.

Nigerian Tribune

Ganduje inaugurates task force KOLA OYELERE - Kano

Worried over the reported death of two persons in Kano State, and about 39 others in 11 states across the country as a result of Lassa fever, the state government has constituted a 22- man task force on Lassa Fever Response. The state Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who inaugurated the task force on Thursday, said it is imperative for residents of the state to pay more attention to personal hygiene and environmental sanitation, as the disease is spread by rodents because of poor hygienic practices. The Governor then called on the people not to allow rodents to have any contact with their foods, saying there is “the need for families to properly dispose food remnants and ensure that their kitchen utensils are kept clean always.” Governor Ganduje also urged the people to be on the watchout for symptoms of the disease and to report any suspected Lassa fever case to the nearest health facility. He said government would place emphasis on advocacy and public enlightenment to ensure that the state is Lassa fever-free. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabir Ibrahim Getso, who disclosed that the two patients who died from Lassa fever in the state, were officially recorded in November, 2015 adding that both died on December 4 of the same year.

C’River moves to prevent spread Anthony Ubong - Calabar

Following reported cases of deaths caused by Lassa fever in the country, Cross River State government has taken drastic steps to prevent the outbreak of the dis-

Lagos health officers comb markets that one of the heaviest average of rodents in their various species like rats and the specie spreading Lassa fever, we decided to take the fight where they are heavily populated. “We have them in markets, schools, hospitals and individual homes. “All these are serious problems and the professional bodies have decided to target all these places so enumerated on daily basis,” said the official. He said that the association had scheduled and organised themselves to de-rat one market per local government per day.

ease in the state. State Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong made the disclosure at a meeting with stakeholders in the health sector, on Thursday, adding that the state government would partner with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other relevant agencies to ensure distribution of adequate quantities of ribavrin the anti-viral drug for Lassa fever to health posts across the state. “With reported cases of Lassa fever in 10 states and with a death toll of about 43, we are not resting on our oars as we have embarked on preventive measures which include sensitisation of members of the public in order to stop the spread of the disease in the state. Meanwhile, the state government said it has taken the campaign against the spread of Lassa fever to 1500 communities in the state. Special Adviser to Governor Ben Ayade on Commu-

nity and Primary Health, Dr Betta Edu, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Calabar, on Thursday, said the sensitisation campaign was aimed at educating and informing members of the public as part of measures to prevent the spread of the disease in the state. Edu, who said that all the 18 local government areas of the state would be reached, added that the public would be sensitised on the signs, symptoms and mode of transmission of the virus. He stated further that and that the state government had already distributed antiviral drugs to all the 1,013 community health centres across the state. She urged members of the public to promote good community and personal hygiene by keeping their environment clean, cover their food and other consumables, as well as wash their hands regularly with soap and water.

38 news Medical doctor dies of Lassa fever in Rivers

•Health personnel, 50 others under surveillance •Govt to fumigate densely populated areas Dapo Falade-Port Harcourt

HE dreaded Lassa Fever disease recorded its third casualty in Rivers State, claiming the life of a medical doctor with the state-owned Braithwaite Memorial Specialised Hospital (BMHS), Livy Ijamala, on Wednesday night. The late medical doctor was said to have contracted the fever from patients that were being treated for the virus at the hospital. The death of Ijamala brought to three the number of persons who had died from the virus of Lasser fever in the state, as a nursing mother and her two-weekold baby died from the virus about two weeks ago. Chairman of the Rivers State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Furo Green, confirmed the death at a news conference in Port Harcourt, on Thursday. The conference was held to shed light on the three-day warning strike embarked upon by medical doctors in public hospitals and primary healthcare facilities in the state, to protest the spate of abductions of their colleagues by unknown gunmen. The Rivers NMA chairman, who said 21 medical doctors were kidnapped in 2015, disclosed that two others were abducted within 24 hours on Sunday and Monday by unknown gunmen, including Dr Isaac Opurum (male) and Dr Ib Aprioku (female). Speaking on the death of Ijamala, Dr Green said 50 per cent of those inflicted by the dreaded virus, in most cases, lost their lives, adding, “medical doctors who have direct contact with such patients are usually those who primarily become victims of such contagious diseases. “While we are not happy to go on strike, the strike now appears to be a blessing in disguise because fewer doctors and patients came to the hospital today, thereby, reducing the rate of personal contacts among medical doctors and patients.”

Green, a consultant at BMSH, confirmed that Ijamala, who worked at the Disease Control Unit at BMHS, contacted the virus while treating patients inflicted with Lassa fever. He disclosed that officials of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the state had visited the hospital to access the situation, adding that the remains of Ijamala had been buried in accordance with WHO Protocols for victims of contagious diseases. “The hospital is being decontaminated as we speak. All medical doctors and healthcare personnel that had primary contact with the late medical doctor have been placed under observation. “For Doubting Thomases, Lassa Fever is with us. And during epidemics like this, the mortality rate are usually very high; up to 50 per cent. The current outbreak of highly infectious diseases usually gravitates towards the hospital, exposing doctors and their families to heavy risk. “Last night (Wednesday), one of our hardworking doctors in the Department of Obstetrics Gynaecologist, Dr Livy Ijamala, lost his life following infection with Lassa Fever. This is the price medical doctors and health personnel pay for offering health services to the public,” he said. FOLLOWING reported cases of Lassa fever in some parts of the country, Rivers State government said it will soon fumigate densely populated settlements in Port Harcourt, the state capital. Head, Public Enlightenment Department, Ministry of Health, Dr Nnanna Onyekwere said the move was to rid such areas of rats which are the vectors for transmitting the fever. Onyekwere, who spoke on Thursday, in Port Harcourt, said the state government would take steps to check the spread of the fever in the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that Lassa fever re-emerged in some parts of the country, including Rivers, where it claimed two lives.

Friday, January, 2016 Friday, 15 15 January, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Joy Chinelo Eriobu now MRS JOY CHINELO IFEDIORA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

Nigerian Tribune

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Blessing Francis Rose now MRS BLESSING ROSE OYEWOLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Bamidele Abiola Opeyemi now MRS BALOGUN ABIOLA OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olatundun Victoria Doherty now MRS OLATUNDUN VICTORIA RAHEEM. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Hamzat Kafayat Oyefunke now MRS OLABISI KAFAYAT OYEFUNKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Folarin Temilola am the same person bearing Akinyisola Temilola Dupe. Now I wish to be known and addressed as AKINYISOLA TEMILOLA DUPE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Lagelu Local Government and general public take note.

I, Tessy Tony am the same person bearing Anthony Aishatu Joy. All documents bearing these names remain valid. UBA Bank, Heritage Bank Ltd and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Omoniyi Stella Adenike now MRS OGUNLEYE STELLA ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Komolafe Abigael Olukemi now KOMOLAFE ABIGAEL OLUKEMI FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Komolafe Oluwatosin Elizabeth now MRS. ADEWOLE OLUWATOSIN ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Omoloye Roseline Bosede now MRS OLOFIN ROSELINE BOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Mr Fatai Yekini Simon now MR. FATAI-ADENUGA YEKINI SIMON. All former documents remain valid. Olashore International School and general public take note.

I, formerly Patience Ojowhomu Omare now BENJAMIN DAVID PATIENCE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Odukeye Elizabeth Bukola now MRS MORAKINYO ELIZABETH BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, NYSC, Wema Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Dekunle Ariyo Ayinla now MUSE LUKUMAN ADEKUNLE ARIYO AYINLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Emiola Sekinat Kehinde now EMIOLA GBEMISOLA KEHINDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Salisu Olawumi Modupeola now AKANDE DUPE OLAWUMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Abimbola Muritala Adeniyi now OMOWAYE MURITALA ADENIYI. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Onasanya Oluwabukanla Adetoun now MRS BAKARE O LU WA B U K A N L A ADETOUN. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Yusuff Mary Bosede now MRS. IDOWU MARY OLUBUNMI. All former documents remain valid. First Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Sunday Joseph Mautin now GBESOEVI JOSEPH MAUTIN. All former documents remain valid. Diamond Bank Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ojo Victoria Feyikemi now DR. (MRS) ADEPOJU VICTORIA FEYIKEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ogunsiji Kehinde Adisa now OLADOSU KEHINDE ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid. Diamond Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Okunloye Temitope Mary now MRS YUSUF TEMITOPE MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Nwachukwu Helen Ebele now MRS DANIEL EMMANUEL HELEN EBELE. All former documents remain valid. The Federal Polytechnic, Ede, WHYTECLEON Ltd and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Gbenga Rasheed now AKINSOLUGBA AKINWUMI RASHEED. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CORRECTION OF NAME

I, formerly Fatai Risikatu Omotunde now ISHOLA RISIKATU OMOTUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Adeagbo Johnson Adekanmi, my name was erroneously spelt as Adeagbo Johnson Adekanmibi. Now I wish to be known and addressed as ADEAGBO JOHNSON ADEKANMI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ajayi Yetunde Oluwatosin now MRS TAIWO YETUNDE OLUWATOSIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Akinwande Olajumoke Olayinka now MRS ADESINA OLAJUMOKE OLAYINKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Bashirat Omobolanle Giwa now BASHIRAT OMOBOLANLE GIWA-SUNMOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Jinadu Ibrahim Olanrewaju am the same person as Junaid Olanrewaju. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as JINADU IBRAHIM OLANREWAJU. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank Plc, GTBank, Access Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oladosu Temitope Deborah now MRS FESOMADE TEMITOPE DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank, UBA, GTBank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olabusuyi Tolulope Elizabeth now MRS ADESUJO TOLULOPE ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

39 CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, IYANDA ABIMBOLA MUTIATU am the same person as IYANDA MUTIATU ABIMBOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Friday, 15 January, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr Abubakar Samaila now MR FASEUN MUSILIU AREMU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Tijani Omotunde Mulikat now OLANREWAJU OMOTUNDE FAITH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Kentomahun Morenikeji now MRS TIAMIYU MORENIKEJI OMOTANWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Adekanbi Joshua Olajire now ADEKANBI JIMOH. All former documents remain valid. Sterling Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Muibi Aminat Adeyinka now GIWA AMINAT ADEYINKA. All former documents remain valid. The Polytechnic, Ibadan and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Olanrewaju elizabeth am the same person bearing OJO OLANREWAJU ELIZABETH. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Yinusa Mutiat now MRS. YUSUF MUTIAT MUNBO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Olagunju Adesina Akeem now OLAGUNJU HAKEEM ADEMOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adigun Jelilat Bolaji now MRS. HASSAN JELILAT BOLAJI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeniji Blessing Funmilola now MRS AKEJU BLESSING FUNMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. UBA Bank, Skye Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Abayomi Ige Olufemi Olusola now ABAYOMI OLUSOLA EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ogunbekun Olaide Bilikis now MRS ISIJOLA OLAIDE ANN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Salawu Nofisat Funke now MRS SULAIMAN NOFISAT FUNKE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Shoremi Temitope Victoria now MRS. KOLAWOLE TEMITOPE ABIMBOLA VICTORIA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Dele Tijani now MRS. TAIBAT BAMIDELE SANUSI. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olamide Opeoluwa Roseline now MRS. OLAMIDE OLANIYI ADENIYI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Haruna Rashidat Funmi now MRS. OMOTOSHO RASHIDAT FUNMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Jimoh Kola Sumaila now MR. RAJI KOLAWOLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oyedeji Opeyemi Balikis now MRS. AZEEZ OPEYEMI BALIKIS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ijibadejo Bukola Bisoye now MRS BUKOLA BISOYE AJAKAYE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Odelusi Jumoke Ebun now FOLORUNSHO JUMOKE EBUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Oyetola Adeola Serifat am the same person bearing Mrs. Oyetola Adeola Ajoke. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as MRS. OYETOLA ADEOLA SERIFAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Yisau Quadri Abimbola now ISAU QUADRI ADISA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Obuseh Alex Augustine am the same person bearing ALEX GODFREY CHRISTIAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Ajayi Omobola now AYANFUNSO SUNDAY. All former documents remain valid. Africa Steel, Ikorodu, Lagos and general public take note.

I, formerly Olatoye Nimotali Abolore now BELLO NIMOTALAI AYINKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Raufu Kareem now AYEGBAJEJE RAUFU IYANDA. All former documents remain valid. Stanbic Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Abisola Ojo now MRS AKINLABI ABISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Aremo Olusegun Emmanuel now DANIEL OLUSEGUN EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeoye Titilola Nafisat now MRS ABDAZEEZ NAFISAT TITILOLA. All former documents remain valid. Oyo SUBEB, Saki West Local Government and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Kehinde Mojirade Taiwo now MRS. OLADIPO MOJIRADE TAIWO. All former documents remain valid. Osogbo Local Government and general public take note.

I, Aderibigbe Olaide Alice am the same person as Owolabi Olaide Alirat. Henceforth, I want to be called and addressed as ADERIBIGBE OLAIDE ALICE. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

I, Oyebanji Iyabo Oluwatoyin am the same person as Oyebanji Iyabo and Oyebanji Iyabo Basirat. Henceforth, I want to be called and addressed as OYEBANJI IYABO OLUWATOYIN. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

I, formerly Micheal Adeola Brown now FASAKIN ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ibiwumi Oluwatoyin Tope now MRS. BABAJIDE OLUWATOYIN TOPE. All former documents remain valid. Staff of TEMPO, Osun State, and general public take note.

I, formerly Kareem Abdulbasit Olarewaju now KAREEM TAOFEEK ABOLAJI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Kareem Dolapo Basirat now MRS. AYINDE DOLAPO BASIRAT. All former documents remain valid. TESCOM, Oyo State and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Alimi Yinka Morufat now MRS. ASHAMU YINKA MORUFAT. All former documents remain valid. Seed of Life Nursery & Primary School, Poly Road, Ibadan and general public take note.

I, formerly John Kingsley Gbenga now KINGSLEY EHIMEH GBENGA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oludele Felicia Remilekun now MRS. ONI FELICIA REMILEKUN. All former documents remain valid. University College Hospital, Ibadan (UCH) and general public take note.

I, formerly Idowu Foluke Sade now KUBE FOLUKE SADE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Akeju Modupe Racheal now MRS. LABAEKA MODUPE RACHEAL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Azeez Hammed Akanmu now LAMIDI LASISI. Born 13 April, 1948. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Osaite Oluremilekun Dorothy now OSHADUMO O L U R E M I L E K U N DOROTHY. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oladimeji Bolanle Sadiat now MRS. OYEKALE BOLANLE SADIAT. All former documents remain valid. University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general public take note.

I, Dominic Ogunmoroti Gbenga Augustine am the same person as Dominic Austine Oluwagbenga. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

I, olawepo Yekini Atanda am the same person as Ayati Moses. Henceforth, I want to be called and addressed as OLAWEPO YEKINI ATANDA. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Agbaje Folayemi Sileola now MRS. OSENI FOLAYEMI SILEOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogunleye Temitope Grace now MRS. BANUSO TEMITOPE GRACE. All former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank Plc., Diamond Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Suberu Bisi Oluwambe now BABATUNDE BISI OLUWAMBE. All former documents remain valid. UBA, Skye Bank, Access Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Taiwo Jumoke Kafayat Ajoke now MRS. ADETUNJI KAFAYAT AJOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Aderinto Segun Oluseyi now ADERINTO OLUSEGUN ADEDAYO. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank, First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Lawrence Martha Loreen now ISIORO ENATARE LOREEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Obongha Patience Ayomide now JOHN PATIENCE AYOMIDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Kolawole Adebayo Sakirudeen am the same person as Kolawole Adebayo Alabi. Henceforth, I wish to be known and called KOLAWOLE ADEBAYO SAKIRUDEEN. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ileboh Vivian Chikodiri now MRS OKUMAH VIVIAN CHIKODIRI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Bisola Dorcas Olaleye now MRS. BISOLA DORCAS OGEDENGBE. All former documents remain valid. UNILAG, EcoBank and general public take note.

I, formerly Ariwa Chidindu Micheal now ANORUBA CHIDINDU MICHEAL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Isa Raimi Ojo now YISSA RAIMI OJO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Abubakar Sidiku Adamu now ABUBAKA BANI. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Olajire Olumide now OYATOWO OLUDAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeleye Abosede Temitope now MRS. ADELEYE ABOSEDE TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Ilyas Fatai Babatunde now MR. LIASU FATAI BABATUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeogun Olufunke Adeola now MRS. ADEWOYE OLUFUNKE ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olorunfemi Bolade Ruth now MRS. ONAFUSI BOLADE RUTH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Olufela Afolabi now MR. OLUWADAMILARE AFOLABI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Kelly Zikebi now KELLY MONDAY NAMANEE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Babatunde Oyebola Elizabeth now MRS. ADETIFA OYEBOLA ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Akinola Bolanle Abibat now MRS. OLADOSU BOLANLE ABIBAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adams Indiat Bidemi now MRS. BABAGBEMI INDIAT BIDEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Emmanuel Owu now EMMANUEL IWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Olufemi Ayodele Fidelis now FAMIWOLE AYODELE FIDELIS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Daramola Lekan Akindele now DARAMOLA KUNLE EBENEZER. All former documents remain valid. Diamond Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Kolawole Abimbola Monsurat now MRS. LAWAL ABIMBOLA MONSURAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Odeniwe Bukola Florence now MRS. ADIO BUKOLA FLORENCE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ofurie Julie Ufuoma now MRS. OLADIMEJI JULIE UFUOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Isiaka Ayokunle Oladiran now RUFAI ISIAKA AYOKUNLE. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc., Sterling Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Anyamele Uloma Kate now MRS. IHEDIMMA ULOMA KATE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Eno Oluwatoyin Uno now MRS. ENO OLUWATOYIN ADEGBITE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Yusuff Omobolanle Risqot now MRS. FOLARANMI OMOBOLANLE R. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Akagbisa Oyinmiebi Alex now ATIE EZOUKUMOR WILKINS. All former documents remain valid. Presidential Amnesty Programme and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Anifowose Elizabeth Olubunmi now MRS. OMOOSUMI ELIZABETH OLUBUNMI. All former documents remain valid. Heritage Bank, Pension Board, Ministry of Education, TESCOM, Oyo State and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Iperepolu Abiodun Olusola now MRS. RAWA ABIODUN OLUSOLA. All former documents remain valid. Ondo State University of Science and Technology and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeogun Olufunke Adeola now MRS. ADEWOYE OLUFUNKE ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Friday, 15 January, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Odutayo Busola Abiola now MRS. ADENUGA BUSOLA ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Afolayan Victoria Oyebola now MRS OYETUNJI VICTORIA OYEBOLA. All former documents remain valid. Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. Amoo Oladehinde Simon now MR AMOO ONIDUNDU OLADEHINDE SIMON. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Adedeji Alice Mojisola now MRS ADEKEYE ALICE MOJISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Sunmola Ramota Adenike now Rasheed Ramota Adenike. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Afolabi Omolara and Mrs Oladipo Omolara now MRS OLADIPOOLALEKAN OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Fadiora Moyosore Temitope now MRS ADEKEYE MOYONINUOLUWA TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid. OAUTHC, Ile-Ife, N&MCN and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Akande Rukayat Odunola now MRS BELLO RUKAYAT ODUNOLA. All former documents remain valid. Osun State SUBEB and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olanike Mosunmola Olaleye now MRS. OLANIKE MOSUNMOLA OJEDIRAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ojo Funmilayo Comfort now MRS OLUTOBA FUNMILAYO COMFORT. All former documents remain valid. LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo and general public take note.

I, formerly Alabi Olaide T. now LASISI TAOFEEK OLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

THIS BOX IS FOR SALE CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Afolabi Modupe Iyabo now MRS KOFOWORADE MODUPE IYABO. All former documents remain valid. Oyo SUBEB and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeyemi Alice Oluwatoyin now MRS. OPAKUNLE ADIJAT TOYIN. All former documents remain valid. Authorities of First Bank Plc., Wema Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adedosu Rebecca now MRS. ADELEKE VICTORIA BOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. Authorities of First Bank Plc., Wema Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Abdillahi Kamorudeen now ABDULLAHI KAMALDEEN. All former documents remain valid. Lubcon Nigeria Limited and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogundiran Rukayat Folake now MRS. JAMIU RUKAYAT FOLAKE (NEE OGUNDIRAN). All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ezeh Gladys Chidiogo now MRS. OKAFOR GLADYS CHIDIOGO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Iboje Vivian now MRS IDOGHOR VIVIAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Doki Ebiororo am the same person bearing Doki Esau. Henceforth, I want to be called and addressed as DOKI EBIORORO ESAU. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. EcoBank Plc., and general public take note.

I, Olagbegi Iromidayo am the same person bearing Olagbegi Dayo. Henceforth, I want to be called and addressed as OLAGBEGI IROMIDAYO. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Heritage Bank, First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Bello Olanrewaju Ezekiel now OLANREWAJU FORTUNE EZEKIEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Bello Adedoyin Khafilat now MRS ADEKALE ADEDOYIN KHAFIAT. All former documents remain valid. Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Akinnawonu Bosede Abiola now MRS. ASHAOLU BOSEDE ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Zenabdeen Zeenat Bisola now MRS. OYEKANMI ZEENAT BISOLA. All former documents remain valid. TASUED, NYSC and general public take note. RECONCILIATION OF NAME I, Uyadongha Ebiarede Samuel, am the same person as MINOR ARISIBE, but now known as UYADONGHA EBIAREDE SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc, and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adewumi Oluwaseun Grace now MRS FAKUNLE OLUWASEUN GRACE. All former documents remain valid. OAUTHC, Ile-Ife, Federal Polytechnic, Ede, GTBank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Asafa Yusirat Olarinre now MRS YUSUFF YUSRA OLARINRE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Chioma Onyinye Goodness Ekulide now MRS CHIOMA ONYINYE GOODNESS EGHWRUDJAKPOR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Owoborode Christiana Oluwabukola now MRS ADEBISI CHRISTIANA OLUWABUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. Osun State Civil Service Commission and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adesanmi Temitope Esther now LADY EVANGELIST (MRS.) ARAPASOPO TEMITOPE ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Tiamiyu Isiaka Ajani now IYIOLA AJANI OLANREWAJU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Onasanya Titilayo Oluwatoyin now MISS ADEBAYO TITILAYO OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Abdulwaheed Nafisat Omoshalewa am the same person as Abdulwahii Nafisat O. and Abdulwaheed Nafisat Omosalewa. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ABDULWAHEED NAFISAT OMOSHALEWA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ayoola Ayizat Moronranti now MRS. AZIZ AYIZAT MORONRANTI. All former documents remain valid. Oyo SUBEB and general public take note.

This is to confirm that the bearer of these names: Awosanya Taiwo Olatunji and Awosanya Taiwo Olamitunji refer to the same person. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AWOSANYA TAIWO OLATUNJI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olaiya Grace Oluwatoyin now MRS. ODUYEMI GRACE OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid. OAUTHC, Ile-Ife and general public take note.

I, formerly Omoniyi Taye Oseni now OMONIYI TAIWO OSENI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeyanju Mutiat Jumoke now MRS AMOO ONIDUNDU MUTIAT JUMOKE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Jimoh Odunola Elizabeth now MRS. ODEWOYE ODUNOLA ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Lookman Badmus Adebayo now LOOKMAN BADMUS BOLARINWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Nurat Olubode now AISHAT FUNMILAYO OLUBODE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Adeniyi Ibraheem Adio now ADENIYI IBRAHIM ADIO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ogunsola Oluwatoyin Blessing now MRS OLUWAFUNMILAYO OLUWATOYIN BLESSING. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Sisanmiweworitse Peace Ayomike now SIS AN MIW EWORI T SE PEACE JOE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Orimolade Helen Omolade now MRS. MATTHEW HELEN. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Prison Service and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Rebecca Oluwayemisi Ige now MRS. REBECCA OLUWAYEMISI SHORUNKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Dairo Kolawole Oladayo am the same person bearing Oladayo Olamide Oluwaseun. Now I wish to be known and addressed as DAIRO KOLAWOLE OLADAYO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Oluwafiropo Felix Fasanmi now ADEROPO FELIX FASANMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Osadebe Ngozi Constance now MRS NGOZI CONSTANCE MAFIANA. All former documents remain valid. Ministry of Defence and general public take note.

I, formerly Tayo Ibrahim now OLUWAFEMI TAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. Ogbile Godwin now MR. ACHI GODWIN BAMIDELE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Bello Kaosarat Mojisola am the same person as Hakeebu Kausarat Mojisola. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS HUSSEIN KAOSARAT MOJISOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. NYSC, UBA, Union Bank, BVN and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Oyewole Comfort Solabomi now MISS LODI COMFORT SOLABOMI. All former documents remain valid. GTBank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Chibuzor Chinyere Geradine now MRS OZOUDE GERADINE CHINYERE CHIBUZOR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Solomon Remilekun Fatima now MRS HAMZAT REMILEKUN FATIMA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Tawakalitu Olasunbo Olubajo now MRS TAWAKALITU OLASUNBO OLUBAJO DEHINBO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Abiola Makinde David now AKUBIOJO DAVID TAJUDEEN. All former documents remain valid. SEAP, FCMB and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ronke Fatimoh Suara now MRS RONKE FATIMOH ADELEKE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Civil Service Commission, Office of the Accountant-General and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Akanji Abiola Idowu now Awoyale Idowu Oluwatosin. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Abimbade Ifeoluwa Elizabeth Moradeke now MRS ISHOLA IFEOLUWA ELIZABETH MORADEKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Obafemi Adekemi Esther now MRS OKUNOLA ADEKEMI ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Dauda Adijat now MRS YEKEEN OLANREWAJU ADIJAT. All former documents remain valid. University of Ibadan and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adelokun Abosede Rachael now MRS ADETUNJI ABOSEDE RACHAEL. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, GTBank, Diamond Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Oghenevwaire Odudu Idowu am the same person bearing Oghenevwaire Odudu Edith. Henceforth, I want to be called and addressed as OGHENEVWAIRE ODUDU IDOWU. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Isiaka Abibat Olasunnbo now MRS. AKANDE ABIBAT OLASUNNBO. All former documents remain valid. Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Plantation, Apata, Ibadan, NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ajisafe Oluwafunke Thereza now MRS ARINDE OLUWAFUNKE THEREZA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ofuonyeadi Salome Ifeadikanwa now MRS JAMES-OKORO IFEADIKANWA SALOME. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Okoro Ogagaoghene Emmanuel now MR. JAMESOKORO OGAGAOGHENE EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

This is to notify the general public, especially WAEC that my Correct name is Raifu Rasheedat as against Rafiu Rasheedat written on my WAEC Certificate with Examination number 5142001151. Authority (ies) concerned to take note.

I, formerly Abraham Ayaigu Innocent now GUWOR INNOCENT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Tene Blessing Omagbitse, that in my OND/WAEC certificate my name was wrongly written as Tenneh Blessing Omagbitse. I now wish to be known as TENE BLESSING OMAGBITSE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Kolade Racheal Oluwaseyi now MRS LAWAL RACHEAL OLUWASEYI. All former documents remain valid. Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) and General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ayansiji Rafiat Bayonle now MRS OMOTOSHO RAFIAT BAYONLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Adebiyi Olasegun Joseph now ADEBIYI OLUWASEGUN SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adesemowo Adebimpe Anuoluwapo now MRS OJO ADEBIMPE ANUOLUWAPO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

THIS BOX IS FOR SALE

I, formerly Fagbemi Morakinyo Ayoade now O L U WA G B E M I G A MORAKINYO AYOADE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Gbadamosi Adeola Mujidat now MRS ADEAGA ADEOLA MUJIDAT AINA. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Mr Babatunde Oluwagbemiga Dada of Isemo Street, Ijesha-Isu-Ekiti now MR BABATUNDE OLUWAGBEMIGA INIOLUWA DADA. All former documents remain valid. GTBank, Access Bank, First Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Salawu Morolake Yemisi now MRS AYOKOMI MOROLAKE YEMISI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Akinbobola Funke Abigail now MRS ARIYO FUNKE ABIGAIL. All former documents remain valid. Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Plantation, NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Famurewa Tomilola Kikelomo now MRS OKOYE-MICHIKECH TOMILOLA KIKELOMO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

news

Friday, 15 January, 2016

Reps seek further deregulation of broadcast industry JacobSegunOlatunjiand Kolawole Daniel - Abuja

he House of Representatives is on its way to further liberalise the Nigeria broadcasting industry, with a view to facilitating a level playing field for wider participation of new entrants in the industry and at the same time, guarantee viewers’ alternative choices and boost economic development. This followed Thursday’s second reading of a Bill for an Act to amend the National Broadcasting Com-

mission (NBC) Act, Cap. N11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to provide for competition, promote efficiency and expand opportunities for Nigerians’ participation in the world markets, while at the same time, recognise the role of foreign competition in Nigeria.” The bill is being sponsored by Honourable Nnenna Elendu Ukejeh. Ukejeh, while leading debate on the general principles of the bill ,stated that there was a systematic deprivation of local investors and content consumers with the cur-

rent arrangement of giving exclusive rights to certain designated broadcast organisations with respect to the acquisition and distribution of contents as contained in the existing Act. “The reason for making laws is to correct an anomaly, justified by the hitherto status of government monopoly in certain enterprises and as our government seeks to diversify, there is the need to put in place amendments that opens up the market for competition,” she said, According to Ukejeh, Fourth schedule, section 39(1) of the constitution

states expressly that every person shall be entitled to own, establish and operate any medium for the dissemination of information. Section 16 (2c) also states that “the state shall direct its policy towards ensuring that the economic system is not operated in such a manner as to permit the concentration of wealth or the means of production and exchange in the hands of a few individuals or group”. “The intents of these two provisions is that by liberalising communication and media, that the sector be competitive in line with

our economic policies,” she said. The foreign affairs committee chairperson also explained further that the industry is one sector that does not suffer from customer ignorance as it has been subject of motions and petitions on the floor of parliament and litigations in the law court.

Court issues arrest warrant against Edo fed lawmaker Banji Aluko - Benin City

Wife of the Ekiti State governor, Mrs Feyisetan Fayose, distributing gifts to children, at the Erelu Adebayo Children Home, Iyin-Ekiti.

College students protest sack of lecturers in Osun Oluwole Ige - Osogbo

Students of Osun State College of Technology, Ilesa, on Thursday, stormed major streets in the town to protest against mass sack of the teaching and non-teaching staff of the institution by the state government. The students had converged on their campus around 8:00am before trooping out to demonstrate their grievances. Osun State government had sacked over 200 lecturers and other workers of Osun State Polytechnic (OSPOLY), Iree, Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke, Osun State College of Education, Ilesa and Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun, to pave way for its measures to restructure the four state-owned tertiary institutions. Irked by the development, lecturers of the four institutions, under the umbrella of Council of Academic Staff Unions of Osun State Owned Tertiary Institutions (CASUOSTI) ,have embarked on an in-

definite strike. However, the protesting students, who were armed with placards and leaves, caused traffic gridlock around Roundabout area of Ilesa, while chanting abusive songs,condemning Governor Rauf Aregbesola -led administration in the state. The students led by the Student Union Government (SUG) President, Mr

Felix Alalade, marched from their campus to the palace of the OwaObokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, where they expressed displeasure over the ongoing strike action occasioned by the sack of the workers. They, however, urged the traditional ruler to prevail on Governor Aregbesola

to recall the sacked workers, saying that they would do everything within their power to stop the state government from merging the four institutions. Responding, Oba Aromolaran, appealed to the students to be calm, assuring them that he would intervene in the matter and ensure the resolution of the crisis.

Ibrahim Alhaji (Water Resources); Alhaji Magaji Uba Muhd (Health); Adamu Mu’azu (Local Government); Alhaji Abdulhamid Ali (Special Service); Hajiya Furera Baffa (Information); Jamilu Abubakar (Economic empowerment). Others are: Bako Muhd Gangare (Local Government Service Commission); Hussaini Magama (Justice), Muhd Nasir Sani (Land and Regional Planning); Garba Alhassan (Religious and Chieftaincy Affairs), Usman Abdu (REPA).

Bashir Ado Kazaure (Salary and Pension); Ahmed Dauda Abubakar (Manpower Development and Training) and Muhd Idris Danzomo (Agric and Natural Resources. The statement also directed all the affected permanent secretaries to hand over to the most senior officer in their respective ministries. Meanwhile, the governor has approved the appointment of Alhaji Hussaini Ali Kila, as the clerk for the State House of Assembly.

Jigawa gov approves retirement of 14 perm secs Adamu Amadu - Dutse

Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar, has approved the retirement of 14 permanent secretaries in the state. This was contained in a press statement issued, signed and made available to news men by the state Head of Service (HoS), Alhaji Muhammed Tahir, in Dutse, on Thursday. According to the statement,the affected permanent secretaries are: Alhaji

Justice Esther Ikponmwen of a Benin High Court, Edo State, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the member representing Etsako Federal Constituency of the state in the National Assembly, Hon ourablePhilip Shauibu. The judge said the warrant became imperative after Shauibu again, failed to appear in the court on Thursday, in a suit filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Shauibu is facing a sixcount charge bordering on alleged false declaration of his income tax clearance, while claiming to be a staff of Zaknote Ventures Nigeria Limited, in November, 2006. In a charge sheet before the court and signed by Assistant Chief Legal Officer, ICPC, Mr Dennis Idoko, Mr Shauibu was alleged to have in July 2010, in Abuja, knowingly made false statement to officers of ICPC by writing that he was an employee of Zaknote Ventures Nigeria Limited, between 2003 and 2006. He was alleged to have made the same false statement to officers of the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue contrary to Section 25 (1) (a) and punishable under the same section of the ICPC Act, 2000. The lawmaker, who was a former majority leader of Edo State House of Assembly, was also alleged to have in November, 2006, furnished false statement to officers of the Board of Internal Revenue, Edo State, writing in the forms he submitted for application for Income Tax Clearance Certificate, that he was an employee of Zaknote Ventures Nigeria Limited.

Nigerian Tribune

Ezekwesili, Ofeimun for Gani Fawehinmi’s annual lecture

A former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, will today deliver, a paper at the 12th Annual Gani Fawehinmi lecture, organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch. The theme of the lecture is, “The collapse of public education and the past, present and future prospects of the Nigerian state.” The venue of the lecture is Lagos Airport Hotel. A literary giant, Odia Ofeimun, will also deliver a paper at the occasion, while Mr Lanre Arogundade, the Director, International Press Centre, Lagos, will moderate. The chairman of NBA, Ikeja branch, Mr Yinka Farounbi, told a media briefing on Wednesday, in Ikeja, that the lecture ,which was inaugurated in 2005, was part of activities lined up to honour the late legal icon, great advocate and defender of the masses. The occasion will be used to distribute free copies of Fawehinmi’s book titled, “People’s right to free education (At All Levels)’’ which was first published in 1974.

Fake letterheads: Senator Adeola raises the alarm

Senator representing Lagos West senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Solomon Adeola, has raised the alarm over attempt by fraudsters using forged/ fake letterheads to solicit for favour and preferential treatment from MDAs in Abuja. The senator had gone to a federal ministry in Abuja (names withheld to facilitate investigations), to inquire about the status of intervention projects sited in the senatorial district, only to discover a letterhead bearing his name and signature without any resemblance to his letterhead and signature in the official file of the ministry with actions already in process for the award of a contract. But for his visit, the ministry would have awarded a multi-million naira contract to a fraudster purporting to be acting on behalf of the senator with the fake contact in the office of the senator in the fake letterhead.

communitynews Electricity to be restored in 20 Delta communities after 6 years 42

Alphonsus Agborh-Asaba

ajor communities in Aniocha and Oshimili axis of Delta North have been assured that electricity would be restored in the area in no distant time to end the over six years blackout. The state Commissioner for Power and Energy, Barrister Newworld Safugha, who disclosed this in Asaba while briefing newsmen, appreciated the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for reconnecting Ibusa Community to the national grid

Friday, 15 January, 2016

before Christmas, after years of darkness. Apart from Asaba and Issele-Uku, over 20 other communities in the area celebrated the Yuletide in darkness which prompted agitations for improved services. Safugha said BEDC had assured the government that communities around the state capital, particularly Ogwashi-Uku, the former colonial headquarters, are to enjoy electricity after the enumeration exercise by BEDC to capture all customers. On Bomadi and Patani electricity lines which went

off a long time ago, the commissioner attributed the fault to human error which he said were being

addressed to restore power to the two local government areas in the creeks. According to him, street

lights have also been restored to Asaba, the state capital, as the state government collaborates with

BEDC to power the street lights at the cost of N10 million monthly.

Bello emerges new Ohi Adavi Alhaji Bello Mohammed Oreyi has been appointed the new Ohi of Adavi in Kogi State. Bello emerged the new Ohi on Tuesday, after beating nine other contestants in an election conducted by the council of kingmakers in the community. He succeeds the late Ohi, Dr. Bello Ibrahim, who died on October 14, 2015 at the age of 78 years. One of the kingmakers, Mallam Yakubu Beida, while announcing Bello as the new Ohi-elect, said that Bello polled eight out of the 13 votes, while four other contestants scored one vote each. He said that five other contestants had no vote. “Having scored the highest votes which was eight out of the total votes cast of 13, Alhaji Bello Mohammed Ireyi is hereby declared the winner and returned elected as Ohi of Adavi, “he said. Beida said the election of the new Ohi was in accordance with Section 6 sub-section 7, page 5 and Section 9 Sub-Section 1, Page 6 of the Legal Notice, Law No. 2 , 2006 for the creation /establishment and procedure for the ascension of the stool of Ohi of Adavi. In his reaction, the Ohielect described his selection as a call to duty, saying that he would carry other contestants and stakeholders along for the progress and development of Adavi. The regent of the town, Alhaji Muhammed Tenuche, advised Bello to follow the footsteps of the late Ohi, who he described as a committed ruler. He also advised him to

ensure unity among the people so that the town would progress. He commended the kingmakers for the strict adherence to the rule of law and for creating a level playing ground for all the contestants.

Chief Executive Officer, Male Integrated Services, Michael Ale (right), with interns from various tertiary institutions in Nigeria, during the formal launching of the Water Safety Device by Male Integrated Services, in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Monday. PHOTO: TUNDE OGUNESAN

Firm seeks govt partnership in provision of quality water By Tunde Ogunesan

A borehole drilling and water services firm, Male Integrated Services, has offered to partner with

government at all levels in providing quality water to the generality of Nigerians, through a new water testing device the firm has just acquired. This was disclosed on

Monday by the Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Mr Michael Ale, during the launching of the device at the company’s headquarters in Oluyole, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Speaking with journalists after the public operation of the device, Ale said Male Integrated Services had just “acquired a new digital device that can be used to test the quality of

Edo monarch commends Oshiomhole for opening up community abiodun jimoh-benin city

Enogie of Useh, His Royal Highness Olomuza Otamere Eweka, has commended Governor Adams Oshiomhole for the road project constructed by the state government in his community. He made the commendation in his palace at Useh, while enumerating the development projects that had taken place in his community since the construction of the Siluko road and other roads within Egor Local Government Area. HRH Olomuza said not only did the road open up the community to development, it also increased the population whereby many abandoned houses were renovated therefore, economic activities took an upward swing. HRH Olomuza urged the comrade-governor to remain focused and ensure he gets a credible candidate to succeed

him to ensure that the good works he has started will go on. He advised the governor not to listen to side talk and rumour mongers who might want to distract him. “I want to use this medium to thank our comrade-governor for doing wonderfully well in the area of road construction in Edo State. He has performed creditably when compared with other administrations in the past. My community has benefited from such projects with the completion of Siluko road that links the community with various others. “Before he started constructing this road, many landlords and school proprietors abandoned their houses and schools because of persistent flooding in the area. It was difficult for the people in my community to transport their farm produce to the market, but now the story has changed. People are

now returning to renovate their houses while schools have resumed. Farmers now easily convey their produce to the market hereby boosting the community’s economy. “Not only the road, Oshiomhole government built new classrooms at

Useh Secondary School and the water project has eased the tension of erosion and flooding in the community. The people can now sleep with two eyes closed during rainy season, all to the glory of Almighty God. With all these, he deserves our commendation.”

Osinbajo distributes food items to underprivileged in Ogun Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, has distributed food items to orphans, widows and other underprivileged in Ogun State. The gift was presented to beneficiaries during the New Year festivities through a group, Buhari/ Osinbajo Support Organisation (Boso). In a release jointly signed by the groups coordinators in Ogun State and the South-West, Dr. Femi Olufunmilade and Alhaja Bisi Adenuga, the

donations were presented to SOS Village, Owu–Ikija; Eru-Obodo Home of Special Children, Ijebu-Ode. Others were Ade-Okunbanjo Visual/Physically Challenged Centre, IjebuIgbo; Widows of Life Care; Model Assembly of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Ijebu-Ode and others. The coordinators reiterated that the vice president’s gestures would be a continuous exercise because of his belief in giving back to the society.

water and make the result of the test available on the spot.” He said: “It is only when the citizens of a country are healthy that they can pay taxes and be responsible.” According to him, the device will also help in reducing the money used by government to fight water borne diseases. He further said: “Government can utilise this latest device with Male Integrated Services and become more socially responsible to its citizens. We believe all tiers of government should assist citizens in water testing because most boreholes are drilled by non-professionals in this country coupled with the fact that we also have a lot of water pollution activities across the country. “We have invested and trained young geologists from different institutions in the country on how to make use of the device and to drill without any risk,” Ale said. Commenting on the new marketing strategy of the firm, Ale said nobody can live without water because everything in life revolves around it, adding that the firm is keen on providing quality water to the public. “Our firm will drill for the public and get payment only after the people have taken their time to certify that we did a good job,” he said.

Friday, 15 January, 2016

foreign affairs with seyi

08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com

Islamic State militants attack Jakarta, 7 killed

ttackers set off suicide bombs and exchanged gunfire outside a Starbucks cafe in Indonesia’s capital in a brazen assault on Thursday that police said “imitated” the recent Paris attacks. Backers of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility, The Associated Press reported. All five attackers and two bystanders a Canadian and an Indonesian died in the midmorning explosions and gunfire that were watched by office workers from high-rise buildings on Thamrin Street in Jakarta,

not far from the presidential palace and the U.S. Embassy, police said. Twenty people were injured. When the area was finally secured a few hours later, bodies were sprawled on sidewalks. But given the firepower the attackers carried handguns, grenades and homemade bombs — and the soft targets they picked in a bustling, crowded area, the casualties were relatively few compared to the mayhem and carnage caused by the Paris attacks. “We have identified all at-

tackers ... we can say that the attackers were affiliated with the ISIS group,” national police spokesman

Maj. Gen. Anton Charilyan told reporters, referring to the Islamic State group. Islamic State group back-

ers circulated a claim of responsibility for the attacks resembling the extremist group’s previous messages.

otherNEWS

Alan Rickman, Snape in Harry Potter films, dies at 69 Alan Rickman, the British actor with the unforgettable voice who played the brooding Professor Severus Snape in the “Harry Potter” films as well as “Die Hard” villain Hans Gruber, has died after a short battle with cancer, a source familiar with his career said Thursday. He was 69, CNN reported. “There are no words to express how shocked and devastated I am to hear of Alan Rickman’s death,” “Potter” author J.K. Rowling tweeted Thursday. Fans had last “a great talent,” she said, and his family “have lost a part of their hearts.” Jason Isaacs, who played Lucius Malfoy in the “Potter” films, tweeted, “Heartbreaking news about lovely Alan. Nobody else could be

as hilarious, tragic, terrifying & truthful all at the same time.” A smooth-voiced London native, Rickman worked on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company and in UK television projects before earning his first film role as German terrorist Gruber, opposite Bruce Willis’ John McClane, in 1988’s “Die Hard.”

Rickman played the mysterious Professor Snape in all eight Harry Potter films. PHOTO: BBC.

Jailed Lebanese ex-minister, Samaha, released on bail

Former Lebanese Information Minister Michel Samaha, who was in jail for smuggling explosives into the country, has been granted bail, sources have told Al Jazeera. Samaha has been under arrest since August 2012 over allegations that he and Ali Mamluk, the head of the Syrian security services, transported explosives and planned attacks and assassinations of political and religious figures in Lebanon. His trial has been postponed many times because of the absence of Mamluk, who remains in Syria, but after a judge separated the cases against the two men, a first

session in Samaha’s trial began in April 2015. He was sentenced in a military tribunal to four-and-ahalf years in prison, after undercover videos were leaked showing Samaha speaking about smuggling the explosives from Syria.

Michel Samaha

People, including unarmed police officers, flee from the scene after a gun battle broke out following an explosion in Jakarta, Indonesia on Thursday. PHOTO: AP.

WHO declares Liberia Ebola-free, end to transmission in West African The World Health Organisation on Thursday declared an end to the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa after no new cases emerged in Liberia, while cautioning that the world cannot yet be fully declared free of the disease that claimed more than 11,300 lives during a twoyear outbreak. The Associated Press said Liberia, which along with Sierra Leone and Guinea was an epicenter of the latest outbreak, was first declared free of the disease last May, but new cases emerged two times forcing officials there to restart the clock. “While this is an important milestone and a very important step forward, we have to say that the job is still not done,” said Rick Brennan, WHO director of emergency risk assessment and humanitarian response, at a news conference in Geneva. “That’s because there is still ongoing risk of re-emergence of the disease because of persistence of the virus in a proportion of survivors.” Dr. Bruce Aylward, WHO’s special representative for the Ebola Response, said in a statement: “The risk of re-introduction of infection is diminishing as the virus gradually clears from the survivor population, but we still anticipate more flare-ups and must be pre-

pared for them.” Brennan said the virus can persist in the body fluids of some survivors — and importantly, in the semen of male survivors for a

period of up to 12 months. He said WHO estimates that there are about 1,200 survivors in Guinea, 5,000 in Sierra Leone and 4,000 in Liberia.

World Health Organisation President Margaret Chan

Hatton Garden heist: 3 convicted of ‘biggest raid in English history’ The biggest burglary in English legal history that’s what prosecutors called the Hatton Garden raid, where more than $20 million worth of jewelry and valuables were stolen from a vault in London’s jewelry quarter in April last year. On Thursday, CNN reported that three men were convicted of involvement, joining four others who pleaded guilty in September. Many of the criminals were well past retirement age, but they carried out an incredibly ambitious robbery, cutting through metal bars and boring through a 50-centimeter (20-inch) reinforced concrete wall to climb into a vault. The caper took place during the long Easter weekend. As Londoners prepared to enjoy a couple of days off, the gang was setting into motion the audacious heist that had been three years in the planning. Their target was the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Co., in the heart of the city’s diamond district. The family-owned vault in the basement of the building had been used by jewelers since the 1940s to store gold, precious stones and cash. The looters posed as gas repairmen, complete with high visibility vests and hard hats which not only made them look innocuous, but also helped to conceal their identities from the countless security cameras in the area.

3 ticket holders win $1.6bn US lottery A Powerball lottery of nearly $1.6bn, the largest in United States history, was won with at least three winners from California, Florida and Tennessee, officials said. Lottery officers confirmed to Reuters news agency that the California winning ticket was purchased at a 7-Eleven store in a Los Angeles suburb. The identity of the winners was not yet known. The $1.586bn jackpot will be split between the lucky lottery drawers. Officials have said it will take several hours before more winners can be confirmed. The odds of picking a win-

ning combination were one in 292 million. Powerball is a lottery game played in 44 American states as well as the District of Columbia, the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The six winning numbers were 08, 27, 34, 04 and 19,

with the Powerball number being 10. The lucky Los Angeles 7-Eleven store was crowded with people snapping pictures with the shop staff. Dozens of people from TV news crews to gawkers flocked to the store and spilled into its car park.

The Los Angeles 7-Eleven store that sold the winning lottery ticket celebrates as fans cheer. PHOTO: AP.

Friday, 15 January, 2016 Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featuresdesk@yahoo.com 081 118 450 48

features

Mall fracas

Before Warri goes down again Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri

arri, in the past, was well known for economic and social boom, much thanks to the heavy presence of oil multinationals like Chevron and Shell. If there was a city where money was in constant flow and jobs were readily available for all, academic status notwithstanding, it was Warri. But then came intertribal war between the Itsekiris and the Ijaws in the late 90s, which led to bloodshed, with many foreign nationals and even indigenes fleeing the metropolis for

dear life. Coupled with youth restiveness, militancy and the like, several engineering and oil companies, led by oil giant, Shell, packed their baggage and left the oil-rich city when the situation became unbearable. The government of Chief James Odili began a reconstruction of the wasteland while that of immediate past governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan consolidated on it, bringing peace and tranquility to the war-torn area in an attempt to lure back, as it were, Shell and others who found the climate unfriendly for their business. One of the efforts made by Dr Uduaghan to bring back life to Warri was the siting of the

Various sections of the damaged Delta Shopping Mall multimillion worth Delta Shopping Mall in the area to boost commerce. The inauguration of the mall, which harbours ShopRite and other businesses, brought a new life to Warri with the expectation that it would provide jobs and it did. Much razmatazz greeted the inauguration of the Delta Shopping Mall as officials of the Shoprite were said to have confirmed that the sales they made within a month of its inauguration was the highest from any part of the country where Shoprite operates. Residents of Warri and environments constantly and enthusiastically trooped to the mall to make purchases of goods believed to be relatively affordable and unwind as it were. But the enthusiasm waned last week Friday January 8 when some hoodlums, said to be loyal to the suspended chairman of the Uvwie Local Government Area of the state, Mr Henry Baro, invaded the mall to avenge the alleged ill-treatment meted out on their boss by some naval ratings providing security at the mall. By the time the hoodlums were through with their mayhem, Shoprite and other stores in the mall where heavy electronic and GSM gadgets worth millions of naira are sold, were either so cruelly looted or heinously damaged.

There were instances of how customers had been waylaid by armed bandits who dispossessed their victims of their hard reaped money and wares bought from the stalls. The complaints got to the high heavens hence the deployment of naval ratings and other security agents to the mall to provide security for callers. One of the managers of an electronic shop in the mall, simply identified as Emmanuel, lamented the development, saying they now open 9:00a.m and close 6:00p.m instead of 9:00a.m to 9:00a.m due to security concerns. According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really know what caused the problem. I was inside when I heard a noise, so I closed my shop quickly. I and my members of staff came out, but unfortunately about 30 minutes later, some boys entered the mall and my shop was damaged; they took away laptops and many other items. In fact, one of my staff members was wounded in the head by the hoodlums.â&#x20AC;? Emmanuel, who decried low patronage after the invasion last Friday, appealed to the government to provide adequate security at the mall as well as compensate victims for their Continues on pg45

features

Friday, 15 January, 2016

We need better security — Shoppers

Other properties damaged Continued from pg44

damaged and stolen goods. A regular customer, Aghedo Japhepth, in his reaction, wondered how a laudable development such as the mall that has brought so much succor to jobless youths, could be so vandalised to steal political scores. “It is rubbish. I think we should be happy and grateful to have a place like this in Delta State. Such act of vandalism could discourage companies from coming to establish businesses in this town because of such ugly incidents like this,” he lamented. According to him, “we just have to be security conscious; more security personnel should be engaged in this place to stop such act not to come up again. I believe such won’t happen again; the incident can’t deprive me of enjoying myself; we just have to be security conscious.” As of last Monday, three days after the mayhem, scores of loyal customers from far and near were seen trooping to the mall to catch some fun and do some transactions. A youth corps member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, in his reaction, called for caution and maturity among residents of the area.

“Well, I was far from Warri when I was told about the issue. I do come here sometimes for shopping, but I was not satisfied about the whole matter. I think maturity should be applied in anything carried out here. I have heard about Warri and its ways, so there should be security, more security so the lives of people coming here would be protected. I am really not glad about the damages,” he lamented. A security personnel (names withheld) said in spite of the Friday mayhem, “business is going well as normal, customers still patronise as usual; the public should not be scared of anything, their lives are secured henceforth; such won’t happen because more security would be fixed sooner.” Meanwhile, speaking on the invasion, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Celestina Kalu, in a statement made available to journalists, said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspended chairman of Uvwie Local Government Area, Mr Henry Baro was responsible for the invasion. DSP Kalu said in the statement that: “At about 1100hrs, Akumeh Terngu informed the DPO Ekpan Division on phone that some persons invaded the Delta Mall, beat,

robbed and injured customers and sales personnel.” In his defence, the alleged mastermind of the incident, Mr Baro, said that he was assaulted by two power-drunk naval ratings after he attempted to accost an articulated truck driver who bashed his car and wanted to make away. He claimed that a naval officer, one Mr. Rex Bogoadjera, attached to the Delta Shopping Mall as security agent, came after him while he was settling the issue with the hitand-run truck driver who was eventually held up in a gridlock. He said the truck driver and his assistant were already pleading for clemency when the naval rating, said to be under the influence of alcohol, left his duty post at the mall demanding what the matter was. Baro, who spoke to journalists at Tegaton hotels through his social media communication aide, Felix A. Otiti, quoted his boss as saying that, “I didn’t go to the mall. A trailer had an accident with my car and made away. Unluckily for them, traffic got them stuck near the roundabout. So at least I bothered to understand why they didn’t bother to check with me; the driver came down and was beg-

Amid joy, Busola weds Babatunde

1 1. 2. 3. 4.

It was a joyous day for the families of Abiola and Ajayi when their children, Olayinka Babatunde and Oluwadamilare Busola tied the knot on December 19, 2015. Held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Oyo Province 1 Headquarters, Bolumole, Ibadan, the families and friends converged on the Genesis Hotel and Suites, Challenge, Ibadan for a grand reception. Dignitaries from all walks of life graced the event, especially colleagues of the groom’s father, Dr Bankole Abiola, who is a lecturer at the Department of Actuarial Science and Insurance, University of Lagos (UNILAG), and those from the Nigerian postal service (NIPOST), where the bride’s mother, Mrs T.T. Ajayi, is an Area Postal Manager, Oyo territory. Chairing the occasion, Postmaster General of the federation, Architect Enoch Ade Ogun, who was represented by the Deputy Postmaster General (Finance and Investment), Mr Joseph A. Ariyo, urged the couple to remain each other’s friend and always cherish one another. Others at the event include Mallam Y.B.K Wambai, Deputy Postmaster General (Mail Operations); Mr F.R Gbadamosi, Southwest Zonal Manager, Nigerian Railway Corporation; Mrs Omolara Esan, Oyo State Director, Federal Ministry of Information; Mrs B.T Idowu, Deputy Director, Administration and Human Resources Management, National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Oyo State chapter and Professor Olubunmi Alo, Department of Demography and Social Statistics, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.

The couple, Mr and Mrs Abiola Groom’s father, Dr Bankole Abiola; bride’s mother, Mrs T.T. Ajayi; Mr Joseph Ajayi; groom’s mother, Mrs Abiola and the bride’s father, Elder O.O. Ajayi. Bride’s mother, Mrs T.T. Ajayi; Dr Bankole Abiola; the couple; groom’s mother, Mrs Abiola and the bride’s father, Elder O.O. Ajayi. The couple and the bridal train.

ging that it was his assistant motor boy. I was all alone and didn’t even want to further the case; thereabout a naval personnel in mufti attached to Shoprite came across the road to meet us and asked what the matter was. “I simply asked to know his identity and he flared up asking me if I was mad and warned me not to ask him again; frankly, I told him it was important he introduced himself. Next, he held my T-shirt against my neck so tightly like a thief and brought out a dagger; he then beckoned on his colleague who crossed over the road to meet us with a gun and they forcefully dragged me to their duty post. “My simple crime was that I asked for his identity; the colleague used his gun to destroy my Toyota Venza’s side mirrors and drove it to their yard. While all these were going on, some of my supporters trooped in to rescue me and on seeing the mammoth crowd, the naval ratings fled and hid in the mall. “The boys went after him, but at some point, some criminal elements hijacked the protest and it became riotous.” Baro, has, however, apologised to the public and management of the mall for the damage caused the stores, including Shoprite.

news N1bn pool reward: Forecaster drags Dollars Pools to court 46

Yejide Gbenga - Ogundare and John Umoh

graphic artist and pool forecaster and staker, Donald Akagbusi, has dragged a registered Private Limited Liability Company, Dollars Pools Limited, before a state high court sitting at Ring Road, Ibadan over the refusal to pay him the sum of one billion, eighty one million and eighty thousand naira (N1, 081, 080, 000.00) being the total sums of his winning in week 8, 9, and 14 in year 2007 which he alleged had been unjustly denied him. Akagbusi, who trades under the names Aloy Ahmadi Manuwa, Him and Her and O Bola, joined as defendant in the suit Mr Ayo Enikanoshelu, the Managing Director of Dollars Pools, who he alleged had refused to pay him the winning sum for personal aggrandizement. Akagbusi, in his statement of claim stated that he scored the maximum

Friday, 15 January, 2016

24 points, having obtained eight draws from 15 selections being the requirement to earn maximum dividend (PERM 8 from 15=6435 lines at five kobo each equaling 321.75k), adding that his coupon with Nos 8765254, 3347239 and 5591667 gave him the total winnings of over a billion naira. He alleged that Dollars Pools and Enikanoshelu have converted the alleged sums into their own use for their unjust enrichment to the detriment of his business and family life, reiterating that Dollars Pools agent, Ire Akari Pools, had acknowledged collecting the original client’s copy of the winning coupon, but has up till date not effected payment of the winning sum. Consequently, he is asking Justice Muntar Abimbola of High Court 1, Ring road to give a declaration that the defendant’s act of declaring a dividend after the publication of results of winnings by the British Broadcasting Corporation is irregular, un-

ACJA 2015 will reduce length of litigation, decongest prison —Lawyers Yejide Gbenga - Ogundare

Lawyers have described the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 as a revolution in the Nigerian justice sector, adding that if well implemented, delays in the justice administration process will become a thing of the past. This was as they expressed belief that unacceptable delays in adjudication of criminal cases would be eradicated and the justice system would be more effective. They stated that the ACJA 2015 would not only promote speedy dispensation of cases filed in courts, but would also enhance efficient management of criminal justice institutions, as well as protect the rights and the interest of both defendant and the victim, by removing the emphasis on punishment as the theme in criminal cases and shifting attention to restorative justice that encapsulates the interest of the victim, the society and every citizen. According to them, the fact that the act stated that there would be a ban on application for stay of proceedings until judgment, Section 306 would ensure speedy trial and was in line with the best practices across the world. The legal practitioners stated that the Act which consisted of 495 sections was a welcome development to the Nigerian justice sector and would restore the confidence reposed

in the judiciary by the citizenry, which would end up being the real hope of the common man. Speaking on the advantages of the ACJA, Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa said the advantages were many, but highlighted the abolition of interlocutory applications as a major advantage. “Abolition of Interlocutory Applications for stay of proceedings pending interlocutory appeals which causes the main trial of a case to be suspended pending the determination of the appeal is an advantage,” Adegboruwa said. Mr Dave Ajetomobi, former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja branch, also listed as an advantage, the provision for daily hearing of cases. “One of them is that it seeks to eliminate cases being prolonged in court by providing that cases shall be heard from day to day and that stay of proceedings are no longer allowed,” he said. Mr Gbenga Makinde believes that the advantage is the empowerment of the police in investigations and prosecution and confirmation of plea bargaining as a tool in justice administration. “It is an Act of Law that has improved on our Criminal Procedure. It has given it more flesh and added new dimensions which weren’t fully provided for in our criminal procedure law.

conventional and a device to expropriate a successful staker for their unjust enrichment. He also asked for a court declaration that Dollars Pools cannot fix a dividend rate that is below the universal acceptable standard within the pools industry or its well publicised dividend rate voluntarily advertised by it in a national daily and a declaration that having emerged winner of Week 8, 9 and 14 respectively with coupons issued by the pool house, he is entitled to the winning sum assessed at not less than N40, 000 for each 5 kobo into 6435 lines on each amount he staked on the respective winning coupons. He finally asked for an order compelling Dollars Pools to pay him the sum of N1, 081, 080, 000.00 and an order that he will be paid 21 per cent interest on the said amount or in the alternative, an order compelling that he is paid the sum of one hundred million naira instead of the 21 per cent interest. In its statement of de-

fence, Dollars Pools denied refusing to pay Akagbusi or any of their customers their pool winnings as all genuine winning sums of their customers had been paid without any complaint from any of them, adding that in view of large number of winners who won maximum 24 points for that week among its customers, they could only declare a dividend of N125. The company further stat-

ed that the method adopted by Akagbusi in arriving at his winning is not only strange and understood only by him but is also not in accordance with established principles in the pool betting business and approved by the Pools Betting Commission of Oyo State. Further, Dollars Pools said it is not liable wither jointly or severally in any manner to Akagbusi and is willing to raise a pre-

liminary objection that the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the suit on the ground that all transactions in pool betting business are binding in honour only and further asked the court to dismiss the suit in its entirety for being frivolous and an exercise in gold digging, which is an abuse of court process. Justice Abimbola adjourned the matter till February 16, 2016 for hearing.

Igp orders psychological evaluation of Police officers bearing firearms Exercise to ensure safety of members of the public Chris Agbambu – Abuja

In a show of concern for the recent extrajudicial killings by some policemen in some parts of the country, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase, has ordered that all police officers bearing firearms in the performance of official duties be subjected to psychological test and evaluation, to ensure that they are mentally and emotionally fit to perform their duties.

He noted that the exercise was aimed at eliminating cases of irregularities in handling of weapons by policemen, as well as protecting the public whom the police has the constitutional duty to serve, and not to continue killing innocent and law-abiding citizens. The IGP disclosed that the central purpose of this exercise was to offer mental health recommendations that can help restore an officer to job fitness and deploy

such policeman to appropriate section he/she is fit to work. IGP Arase directed all police medical doctors across the nation to conduct psychological test on all policemen bearing firearms in their respective commands, every three months, noting that if any police officer has a psychological condition or impairment unattended, will impact negatively on the overall performance of the Nigeria Police.

Friday, 15 January, 2016 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

W-Cup star, Babatunde joins Raja T

Ozil named Germany Player of the Year MESUT Ozil has been named the German player of the year for the fourth time in the last five years. The Arsenal playmaker lost the crown he had won three times in a row to Toni Kroos in 2014, but has reclaimed the award following a sensational return to form. More than 51,000 fans voted for Ozil, giving him 45.9 per cent of the vote and a comfortable margin of victory ahead of Thomas Muller (15.9%) and Jonas Hector (13.6%). Ozil started in all eight of Germany’s internationals in 2015 and enjoyed five victories before the November friendly against France, for which he was rested. At club level, his 16 assists and 87 chances created are the best totals of any player in Europe’s top-five leagues this season.

Ozil

Keshi’s wife burial holds today

THE funeral of Mrs Kate Keshi, the late wife of the former Super Eagles coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi is scheduled to hold today in Benin City, Edo State. Kate passed on at the family’s home in the United States of America last December. According to information made available by the family to thenff. com, service of songs for the deceased had been held yesterday at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Benin. Friends and families of the late Mrs Keshi will also hold a farewell programme for her also today before the interment.

Babatunde

HREE-TIME CAF Champions League champions, Moroccan Raja Casablanca have completed the signing of Nigeria international, Michael Babatunde from Ukrainian side FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk on a three-and-half year deal. The left winger had joined the 2014/2015 Europa League runners-up from FC Volyn Lutsk, but was unable to get regular player time as he featured only twice under manager Myron Markevych.

Michael who was on parade for the Super Eagles at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, would hope to revive his fading career with a move to the Stade Mohamed V and has been handed the no. 10 jersey. He will compete with Mahmoud Benhalib, Mohammed Yakubu, Yassine Faqhaoui and compatriot Christian Osaguona for a regular place under coach Rachid Taoussi. Raja occupies 10th on the Botola Pro log with 18 points from 15 games.

CHAN 2016: I’m battle-ready —Ibenegbu SUPER Eagles B midfielder, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu has said he is wholly focused on the fourth African Nations Championship (CHAN) which kicks off tomorrow in Kigali, Rwanda. “Right now I’m not thinking of any other thing else than the coming African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Kigali, Rwanda, thereafter I can now give other things including my club’s future some attentions. “So I’m not thinking of Warri Wolves, league or any other thing at the moment but the CHAN. “I want to give my all to the team to ensure we do not miss the podium dance when the CHAN curtain falls on February 7. “We came close to winning the title the last time in South Africa but ended up with a bronze so, we want to win the title for the first time for Nigeria. “Our preparations both at home and South Africa have been excellent we hope to take the winning mentality to Kigali. “The first match against neigh-

bours, Niger is quite crucial as a win will put us on good stand going forward in the next two matches to Tunisia and Guinea,” Ibenegbu told supersport. com. Meanwhile, Nigeria defender, Juwon Oshaniwa has expressed optimism about the team’s ability to shine at Rwanda 2016. “I am wishing the team a victorious outing at CHAN. They

should just go all out and do what they know how to do best on the pitch with determination and enthusiasm collectively,” Oshaniwa who plays for Scottish side, Hearts said. .Nigeria’s first match will be on Monday against neighbours, Niger Republic at the Stade Regional Nyamirambo, Kigali with other group C opponents as Tunisia and Guinea.

...As Glo charges Eagles to go for glory The Super Eagles’ B Team have been urged to make Nigeria proud at the 2016 Africa Nations Cup Championship (CHAN) scheduled to kick off tomorrow in Rwanda. The home-based Eagles, who are grouped alongside Niger Republic, Tunisia and Guinea, will hope to improve on their third place finish at the 2014 edition in South Africa. “We believe the Super Eagles will key in to the new dawn in Nigerian football at international

competitions by surpassing their previous record in the CHAN and emerging as the ultimate winners this time,” Globacom said in a statement in Lagos on Thursday. “We have also noted the plethora of talented individuals in the squad during preparations for the competition and we hope they would pool their skills to make Nigeria shine,” the statement added. Globacom also admonished coach Sunday Oliseh to tap into his ingenuity and evolve the right

Moses returns from injury layoff NIGERIA international, Victor Moses is thrilled to be back in training for his English Premier League side West Ham United after injury laid him off for more than a month. The forward suffered a ham-

Ibenegbu

string injury on December 5 while in action against Manchester United where he lasted just 37 minutes. “Great training session with the lads today (Thursday), happy to be back,” Victor Moses

tweeted. The Chelsea loanee has played 10 games for ‘The Hammers’ this season with a goal to his credit. He has played for Crystal Palace, Wigan Athletic, Liverpool and Stoke City.

strategy that can make Nigeria rule Africa again in football. “We are consistent in our belief in the quality of the Eagles’ coaching crew to develop a winning team in time for the championship. “We urge the Nigeria Football Federation to continue to give the team all the necessary support to aid their outing in Rwanda. We urge the NFF under the dynamic leadership of Mr Amaju Pinnick not to relent in its effort at helping the team to overcome all odds while also urging Nigerians not to waver in their support for the team,” it added. Globacom also advised the players to be committed and avoid complacency in their quest for glory adding “Focus is vital in this task and we ask the Eagles to be wary of the opposition, especially as competition for the CHAN trophy has become stiffer”.

SIDELINES

FRIDAY, 15 JANUARY, 2016

NO 16,415

Newly-recruited police officers and those already serving will henceforth undergo psychiatric tests says the police IG. Very good. Security officers who run away from criminals and gun down defenceless citizens surely need some mental health examination.

N150

Lahm slams Ballon d’Or

Members of Team Nigeria on parade at the 2015 All Africa Games in Brazaville.

Nigeria stripped of 2 gold, 5 silver over doping Brazzaville 2015: Saliu Gbadamosi-Abuja

EAM NIGERIA contingent to the 2015 All Africa Games held in Congo Brazzaville has been stripped of seven medals won at the African version of the Olympics. This was revealed on Thursday by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, while addressing sports journalists at the National Stadium, Abuja. Nigeria finished second on the final medals table behind Egypt with 47 gold, 55 silver and 42 bronze medals ahead of South Africa. According to Dalung, the medals were withdrawn following the affected athletes’ failure of dope test. Following the orders by Dalung to the National Sports Commission to immediately release the names of the affected athletes to the public, the NSC later through a release signed by its Director-General, Alhassan Yakmut, named the affected athletes as Deborah Odeyemi, who won gold medal in athletics and tested positive of Metenolone. She was banned for four years and her gold medal withdrawn. Chinazom Amadi (athletics), also tested positive to the same banned and had Metenolone her gold medal withdrawn with a four-year ban as sanction. Samson Idiata (athletics) tested positive to banned Clenbuterol and was banned for four years. Sunday Ezeh (para athletics) was banned for four years for testing positive to Hydrochlorothiazide and its degradation product ACB(SS Diuretics), while Thomas Kure (para powerlifting), who won

silver medal at the Games had the medal withdrawn and he was banned for four years for testing positive to 19-Norandrosterone, among others. Elizabeth Onuah (weightlifting), a silver medallist was banned for eight years for testing positive

to Amiloride and had her medal withdrawn, while Patience Opuene (wrestling) tested positive to Hydrochlorothiazide and banned for four years. Ebi James Igbadiwei (wrestling) was banned for four year and her silver medal was withdrawn.

Meanwhile, the withdrawal of medals, according to Yakmut, would not affect Nigeria’s final position on the Brazzaville 2015 medals table, saying that there was a difference of seven gold medals between the country and South Africa, which came third.

FORMER Germany captain, Philipp Lahm has slammed FIFA’s Ballon d’Or award for the world player of the year as nothing more than a “marketing prize”. The Bayern Munich defender said the award favoured “the most popular players” over more deserving ones. Barcelona star, Lionel Messi was handed the award for a record fifth time at a ceremony in Zurich on Monday. He and Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo have shared the last eight Ballon d’Or awards between them. “I think if FIFA wants to attribute a reward, it mustn’t be a marketing prize that only honours the most celebrity individuals in the world of football,” Lahm said. Lahm said the vote might as well be had on social media site Facebook, before complaining about favouritism shown to forwards, describing the Ballon d’Or as an award for “attacker of the year”. “It’s not my perspective as a bitter defender but the intangible voice of the statistics,” he moaned. “Maybe in a team sport there shouldn’t be only one player (the forward) who is rewarded.” The 32-year-old said he would favour separate awards for the best goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward.

CHAN: Eagles head

for Rwanda today •To get $2,000 as win bonus •As Musa tips team for glory By Adebayo Taoreed With Agency Report NIGERIA’S Super Eagles team B will fly out of Johannesburg, South Africa, this morning for Rwanda for the fourth Afri-

Chisom Chikatara, set for CHAN 2016.

can Nations Championship (CHAN) billed to begin tomorrow. The Nigerian team which had been in Pretoria since January 2 on a training tour

ahead of CHAN 2016 will depart 8am local time and officials said flying time to Kigali is estimated to be three hours. Nigeria it will be recalled finished third on its debut at the 2014 CHAN in South Africa. The home-based Eagles will on Monday begin their campaign in the tournament against the Menas of Niger Republic, with Tunisia and Guinea as other group C opponents. A source however, disclosed that the Sunday Oliseh’s men would receive $2,000 for a win at the tourney and $1000 for a draw, while the technical crew will earn $4,000 for a win, and $2,000 for a draw.

The Eagles will be lodged at the four-star Hill View Hotel in Kigali during the group stages of the competition. Meanwhile, Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa has said the Nigerian team B has what it takes to lift the trophy in Rwanda. The former Kano Pillars forward stated the team will not be lacking in quality because he has trained with several of the players on the CHAN squad. “I know the team have all the qualities to win CHAN in Rwanda,” said the CSKA Moscow star, who also featured for Nigeria’s ‘B’ team in 2009. “I have trained with some of the players in the team and I know what they are capable of doing. I also watched the team train. I just wish them good luck and success at CHAN,” the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner said.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 15/1/2016.