22nd June 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,529

WEDNESDAY, 22 JUNE, 2016 www.tribuneonlineng.com

Nigerian Tribune

FG orders sack Ibrahim Idris steps in as acting of striking —P10 —P8 resident doctors IGP

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N86bn deposit: AMCON deceiving Nigerians —Jimoh —P8 Ibrahim

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Kidnapping: Army to deploy special forces in Kogi —COAS

Senate summons AGF over Saraki, deputy's forgery case —P36

•Says if rule book was forged, screening of ministers, passage of 2016 budget were fake •Summons posted on NASS notice boards, 15 witnesses lined up —P2 Aisha Buhari

Fayose confused, needs prayers —Presidency —P4

•Aisha in Halliburton case not president's wife —Lamorde •PDP govs ask Buhari to call EFCC to order •Mixed reactions trail freezing of Ekiti gov's account

Drama over mystery woman in Ibadan

•She is a cat-turned-woman —Residents •No, she has mental illness —Police —P32

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Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

Senate summons AGF over Saraki, Ekweremadu’s forgery case AyodeleAdesanmi,JacobSegun Olatunji,KolawoleDanieland SundayEjike-Abuja

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HE Senate, on Tuesday, directed its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, to immediately summon the Minister of Justice and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mallam Abubakar Malami, to appear before it over the planned move to have the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu arraigned before the Federal High Court over the alleged forgery offence.

Also involved in the case are Efeture Ben, the present Clerk of the Senate and the retired Clerk of the National Assembly, Maikasuwa Salisu.

The Attorney-General is to come, explain and justify with evidence, the basis for his action and “why such does not constitute gross misconduct, incompetence, contempt of court and abuse of office.”

However, the Senate agreed that the Senate Standing Rule 2015, used for the inauguration of the eighth Senate on June 9, 2015 was not forged, but authentic in all its ramifications, adding “if it is considered as a forged document, then all legislative actions taken so far with the document are forged, like the 2016 budget approval, confirmation of ministerial nominees, screening and confirmation of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, among others.”

This followed a motion moved by Senator Dino Melaye (APC Kogi West), entitled: “Imminent threat to our democracy as it relates to the alleged invitation of our presiding officers by a court of law in Abuja” and condemned in all its entirety, surreptitious attempts being made by the executive arm of government under President Muhammadu Buhari, to erode the independence of the parliament by forcing on them a leadership change through the backdoor.

According to him, “this is without a pending appeal by the police and the Attorney-General on the same matter, which the Federal High Court had decided.

“To file charges against the leadership of the National Assembly is a gross violation of the AttorneyGeneral’s calling and an attempt to overthrow the legislative arm of government and force autocracy on the Senate.

“The current attempt to arraign the leadership of the Senate over an internal matter of the Senate is an attempt to overthrow the

legislative arm.

“The judiciary has through several rulings, in a recent case suit number 88C/ABJ/CS/646/2015 on the same issue, warned the executive arm from criminalising or interferring in the running of the internal affairs of the Senate.

“This Senate notes also the lack of respect for judicial decisions and the resolutions of the National Assembly by the executive, which is beginning to arrogate itself the unified powers of the federation.

“The Senate acknowledges the great implication of this emerging trend poses to the security, continued existence and survival of our dear country,’’ he said.

The lawmaker said the National Assembly was empowered by Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution as amended to regulate its procedures.

Melaye expressed concern that the recent development over the alleged forgery of the Standing Orders was a threat to democracy.

Seconding the motion, the chairman, Senate Committee on Gas, Senator Bassey Akpan, said he was handed over a copy of the constitution and 2015 Standing Orders during accreditation.

He expressed concern that the leadership of the Senate was accused of forging it when they had not been elected as presiding officers as at then.

“When I came for accreditation, I was given a copy of the constitution and this Standing Rule to guide my conduct in the chamber.

“This constitution recognises the doctrine of separation of powers and this is the first time we are having a National Assembly of this nature, an assembly, where there is no clearcut majority and that is built on simple understanding and consensus.

“What makes democracy what it is today is the existence of the National Assembly and as such, should not be truncated. We owe this country a duty to reflect the content of this oath.

“I second this motion and challenge every member of this chamber to speak their minds.

“It is time that we rise and speak and defend democracy because if democracy is under threat then the existence of this country is under threat,’’ he said.

Supporting the motion, chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta Commission (NDDC) Senator Peter Nwoboshi, informed that there was laid down procedure for correcting anything in the Senate Order.

According to him, “if anyone has anything against any section of the rule, what to do is to apply the

amendment clause and it is done among the lawmakers not with interference from outside.

“You don’t amend what you are not part of. We should rise and tell ourselves the truth and tell the world that there is an attempt to strangulate the legislature and we must not allow it,’’ he said.

Senator Isah Misau (APCBauchi Central) described the current development as injustice being done to the judiciary.

He insisted that it was on the basis of the standing orders that he was given the privilege by the Senate to ask Malami to take a bow and go when he came to the Senate for confirmation as minister.

He said “the interference is a deliberate attempt to bring down the integrity of the Senate President.

“We are the hope of the ordinary people. We must stand for justice and fairness.’’

Senator Ibrahim Gobir, in his view, said he was completely in support of the motion, adding that the standing orders was authentic and should not be used as a move to destabilise the Senate.

Gobir said “there are three arms of government and they are totally independent. So, nobody can change anything without changing the constitution.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session, warned those presently in public office and using it to persecute others to know that “no condition is permanent.”

Presidency wants to cripple NASS, Reps allege The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, alleged that there are ongoing plots by the executive arm of government to cripple the activities of the National Assembly.

Consequently, the House urged President Muhammadu Buhari, who it said had sworn to defend and protect the constitution of Nigeria, to desist from taking steps that would cripple the National Assembly, including prosecuting the presiding officers of the Senate, over alleged “forgery” of Senate Rules, which a competent court of law had also recognised as strictly the “internal affairs of the National Assembly” and which judgment had not been set aside by any superior court.

The House resolution was sequel to a motion moved

by Honourable Yusuf Ayo Tajudeen, entitled: “Urgent need to safeguard the nation’s democracy and

protect the integrity and independence of the National Assembly.”

According to the lawmaker, “the independence of the National Assembly was unprecedented, severe, and sustained attack by the executive arm of government.”

He noted that the 1999 Constitution guaranteed the independence of the legislature with powers to regulate its own proceedings, stressing that this Fourth Republic had endured uninterrupted since 1999 with five general election, having been held since then.

He equally denounced the recent move by the executive to cripple the National Assembly by filing charges and seeking to assign the presiding officers of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in relation to matters that were wholly the internal affairs of the Senate.

On the forgery allegation, he recalled that the Federal High Court in Abuja, issued a ruling on July 27, 2015, and another one on August 4, 2015, to the effect that even the allegation of “forgery” of the standing order was an internal affair of the National Assembly, which should not be pried into by the Inspector-General of Police or the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation or even the judiciary.

If the current move is allowed, he contended that “a dangerous precedent is being set for the eighth National Assembly to have its internal proceedings being regulated, perhaps supervised, by other arms of government.”

He expressed worry that if this ugly trend continued unabated, it would be detrimental to good governance and highly damaging to the nation’s democracy.

When the motion was put to vote by Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara it was unanimously supported by majority of the members.

Any attempt to remove Saraki, Ekweremadu will fail— PDP Reps

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, vowed that any attempt by the Federal Government to illegally remove the two presiding officers of the Senate, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu from office, would fail woefully.

Briefing newsmen on Tuesday, in Abuja, spokesman for the caucus, who is also the Minority Leader of the House, Honourable Leo Ogor, condemned, in strong terms, the current

onslaught on the leadership of the eighth Senate.

Ogor, citing from a ruling by Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court in suit No. FHC/ ABJ/CS/646/2015 between Senator Gilbert Nnaji, Palintiff/Applicant and the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney General of the Federation, who were Defendant/Respondents respectively, to back up the caucus’ position, declared that the action was an attempt by the executive to erode the independence of the legislature against the principles of separation of powers, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The lawmakers challenged the executive to provide instances where the presiding officers had hands in the amendment of the Senate Standing Rules.

The caucus said: “Democracy thrives on mutual respect and cooperation among the three arms of government.

Therefore, the executive arm of government has no business whatsoever meddling in the internal affairs of the legislature. Each of the Houses of the National Assembly since 1999, had always had its own rule produced by the management of the National Assembly, hence, Senate Standing Orders 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 in the instance of the Senate.”

The opposition lawmakers also pointed out that Senator Ekweremadu ceased being a senator since June 4, 2015, when the seventh Senate adjourned sine dine, until he was inaugurated alongside other members of the eighth Senate on June 9, 2015.

The caucus, therefore, wondered how the production of Senate Order issued for the inauguration of the Senate would be any business of his, adding that the duo were never accused by any panel of inquiry or the purported petition to the police.

They said the National Assembly should not be taken for granted for the understanding and coorperation it had accorded the executive in the last one year, adding that they had bent backwards to accommodate the excesses of this current administration in the interest of peace.

Court Summons Saraki, Ekweremadu

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, summoned the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki; his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, former clerk to the National Assembly , Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa and Deputy Clerk, Ben Efeturi, over

their alleged involvement in the forgery of Senate Standing Order.

The summon was effected through a substituted service which was pasted at the corridor along the Senate President’s office.

Parts of the summons read: “By oral application, dated June 21, 2016, moved by D.E Kaswe, Principal State Counsel, Federal Ministry of Justices in this case praying the court for: An order of this Honourable Court granting leave to the complainant/ applicant to serve the criminal summon on the defendants by substituted means to wit by pasting it at the Notice Board of the National Assembly Three Arms Zone, Abuja.

“And after hearing D.E Kaswe with A.A Kaltingo Esq, counsel for the complainant/Applicant moved the court orally for the above relief.”

Also included in the summon were statement already volunteered by the former Clerk to the National Assembly, Maikasuwa and the outgoing Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, Ben Efeturi on their alleged involvement in the forgery .

Maikasuwa in his own statement said: “The Senate Standing Orders used in seventh Senate was not known to me. The Clerk of the Senate is in position to know. I was not aware of the amendment that was made to the Standing Rules.”

15 witnesses lined up against Saraki, Ekweremadu, others

No fewer than 15 witnesses have been lined up by the Federal Government in the forgery case brought against the Senate President, Dr Saraki and his deputy, Senator Ekweremadu.

Others due to appear before the court on Monday for allegedly forging the Senate Standing Rules 2015 are a former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa and the acting Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, Benedict Efeturi.

In the court summons pasted on the notice board of the National Assembly on Tuesday, about 15 witnesses were listed by the Federal Government to testify against the defendants.

Among the witnesses are Senator Solomon Ewuga, Senator Ita Enag, Senator Ajayi Borrofice, Senator Kabiru Marafa, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Senator Abu Ibrahim, Senator Ahmad Lawan and David Igbodo, an Assistant Superintendent of Police.

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Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Oluwo visits Tribune, declares titles unbiased Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Mr Edward Dickson (right), presenting a copy of Tribune maiden edition to Oba Akanbi. With them is Olori Adewale Akanbi.

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Mr Edward Dickson, welcoming the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul Rasheed Akanbi, to the Tribune House, on Tuesday.

Oba Adewale Akanbi (middle), cutting his birthday cake. With him from left are the Eketa of Iwoland, Chief (Dr) Oluremi Atanda, the Olori, Chief Fatai Olaoye, the Onto of Iwoland, Mr Dickson and the Molasin of Iwoland, Prince (Alhaji) Adebola Asafa.

By Tunde Busari

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HE Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul Rasheed Akanbi, has declared Nigerian Tribune titles as unbiased and an enduring legacy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Oba Akanbi, who was on a courtesy visit to the Tribune headquarters, Ibadan, on Tuesday, expressed his delight in identifying with the paper.

The monarch said he grew up to appreciate Tribune as a strong political newspaper which consistently sets agenda for the nation.

He, therefore, declared that he will continue to identify with the paper because of its history and effort at liberating the masses from ignorance.

“I am happy with the reception the management gave me. It speaks volume of the strong team you have. And I want you to see your paper also as our collective project. It is my project because Yoruba affair is my project,” he stated.

Part of his effort to reposition in contemporary world, he said, was his Telu Jeans, a trendy wear he recently conceptualised and designed.

The monarch, in company of his wife, told his hosts how he wanted to use Yoruba age-old fabrics to design suits and through it sell the race to the world.

Oba Akanbi clarified that his concept of Empire is not an attempt to use arms to capture the world, stating that the world was ruled by ideas, hence his strong determination to sell Yoruba rich items to the world.

“Top rated artistes like Olamide will be part of it because of his appeal to the youths who are the target of the innovation. It is late to insist that the youth go back to Agbada in our old fabric. We are invading the invaders by making sure the white too wear our jeans made with our fabrics,” he said.

The Oluwo also acknowledged the supremacy of God over all kings and urged his fellow traditional rulers not to denigrate their position before lesser gods and others not ordained by God. Welcoming the monarch, the Managing Director and Editor-In-Chief of Tribune titles, Edward Dickson, described the Oluwo’s visit as God’s design, a reference to Oba Akanbi’s birthday which coincided with his visit.

Dickson said the management was more excited because of historical significance of the visit being the first monarch to have visited the Tribune House in recent time.

He said the management appreciated his coming and promised to use the medium to partner with him in his drive, especially on his Telu Jeans.

Dickson who drew a similarity between the monarch’s philosophy and

The management and members of staff of ANN Plc cutting the birthday cake with Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwoland at the Tribune House, Ibadan. that of Chief Awolowo in the area of promotion of education said, “we are happy that you visited all schools in your domain when you became an Oba. The managing director stressed that Chief Awolowo did not believe in sourcing for solution to his peoples’ challenges from outside.

According to him, Awolowo, rather preferred home grown solution to problem, hence, his insistence in mass literacy to liberate the people from the shackles of ignorance and poverty, adding that Awolowo lived for and died for the masses and bequeathed a legacy that has outlived him.

“We are the only newspaper that predates Nigeria’s independence and we are going to partner with you in encouraging the youths in your domain to embrace education. And God will help you to achieve your goals.

“Although some people will not believe because they don’t believe in doing things the unusual way, your consistency will vindicate you,” he remarked.

Dickson used the occasion to challenge Yoruba traditional rulers on the need to reflect on the state of the geo-political zone with a view to restoring its lost glory in education as well as commerce.

He, however, expressed optimism in the philosophy of the likes of Oluwo and the Ooni who, according to him, were coming up with innovative ideas aimed at empowering Yoruba youths.

“We are comfortable to key into your lofty ideas. If you can reclaim the Telu title, reclaiming Yoruba lost glory is also a task we must jointly do”, he said.

The visit witnessed the cutting of the Oluwo’s birthday cake presented by the management. Also the Managing director presented the first edition of the Tribune published on November 16, 1949 to the monarch.

In the entourage of Oba Akanbi were Iwo High Chiefs led by the Eketa of Iwoland, Chief Oluremi Atanda; Balogun, Rauf Muraina; Onto, Fatai Oloye and Molasin, Prince Adebola Asafa.

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Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

Fayose confused, needs prayers, says Presidency Call EFCC to order, PDP govs forum tells Buhari Leon Usigbe -Abuja

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HE Presidency, on Tuesday, dismissed as laughable, what it observed as the desperate attempt by the Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayo Fayose to link President Muhammadu Buhari’s wife, Aisha, to the United States (US) Congressman, William Jefferson’s bribery scandal, for which the American lawmaker was convicted in 2009.

According to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in Abuja, on Tuesday, the Presidency would have ignored Fayose because “he is a man childishly obsessed with the desire to grab the headlines and insulting people at will because of his incurably boorish instincts.”

It explained that the Presidency chose to respond on this occasion for the sake of innocent Nigerians, who might be misled by Fayose’s “shameless and blatant distortion of facts.”

The statement said ignoring Fayose carried the risk of giving traction and credibility to “outright and brazen falsehoods inconsistent with the status of anybody that calls himself a governor or leader.”

The statement said Mrs Buhari had no direct, indirect or the remotest connection with Jefferson’s corruption scandal in the US. The presidential aide challenged the Ekiti State governor to tell Nigerians if the so-called Aisha, whose pictures “he proudly, but ignorantly shared, was the same Aisha married to President Buhari or if the Aisha of his idle imagination had any relationship by blood or any relationship in whatever form with President Buhari’s wife.”

Shehu also challenged Fayose to produce evidence from the records of investigation and subsequent trial of Jefferson to prove that Buhari’s wife was in anyway linked to that scandal.

He explained that common names alone were not enough to automatically link innocent people to crimes or scandals, especially in an era of identity thieves.

He further challenged Fayose to show proof when and where Aisha Buhari was invited for interrogation in connection with Congressman’s bribery scandal, let alone indicted for a crime locally or abroad.

According to Shehu, “free speech does not entitle Governor Fayose to falsely accuse innocent people of crimes they knew nothing

about.”

He, therefore, warned Fayose that Aisha Buhari was entitled to protect her reputation from being recklessly maligned, adding that political opposition was not a licence to attack people’s reputation brazenly without legal consequences.

PDP govs forum wants Buhari to call EFCC to order Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governor’s Forum and governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has urged

President Mohammadu Buhari to call the anti graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to order and immediately intervene to rescue the country from what he described as the current gross abuse of the constitution.

Reacting to the freezing of the Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose’s account by the EFCC, the governor, in a statement made available to newsmen in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Tuesday, said the action of the anti graft agency had

portrayed the nation as one in crisis .

Registering the danger in the decision of the EFCC to freeze Fayose’s account, Mimiko said the EFCC could not interfere with the account of a sitting governor, adding that, that would not find comfort with the position of Section 308 of the Nigerian Constitution.

According to him, if the intention was to suggest any criminal infraction or fraud against the governor, the agency should have sheath its sword until he vacated office.

“What has happened is a blatant and violent infraction on the provision of the Constitution and our democracy.

Governor Mimiko said the essence of Section 308 of the Constitution of the country was to save governors in the country from distractions, submitting that “what they have done now is to distract the governor of Ekiti and this is not good for our democracy.”

Submitting that immunity was part of the constitution “which must be respected whether anybody likes it

or not,” the governor’s forum chairman further mentioned that the EFCC’s action violated Section 96 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which confered on every individual right of fair hearing.

He warned that the country was beginning to manifest the signs of totalitarianism, adding that the account of any individual could only be frozen after a court of competent jurisdiction as so ruled or an interim order by a court of competent jurisdiction was granted to the anti graft agent.

Reactions trail EFCC’s freezing of Fayose’s account EFCC acted beyond its powers —Ekiti Assembly From Sam Nwaoko and Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin THERE have been reactions to the announcement by the Ekiti State government, on Monday evening, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had frozen the account of the state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose.

The governor had announced, on Monday, that his account with a new generation bank had been suspended by the EFCC and declared that the action was illegal, as it infringed on his constitutional right and the immunity conferred on him by the constitution, as a governor.

Fayose had also announced that he would legally challenge the action by the EFCC.

Elders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, in a statement on Tuesday, described the action of the EFCC as a “harassment” of Governor Fayose and charged the commission to desist from the action.

The Ekiti PDP Elders Forum, in the statement by a former deputy governor of the state, Chief Paul Alabi, said the Federal Government should not “harassing or intimidate Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose and top officials of the state government.

Meanwhile, the Ekiti State House of Assembly has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately defreeze the bank account of Governor ayose, describing the action of the commission as ultra vires.

Maintaining that a

citizen’s account could not be frozen without a court order and since a sitting governor could not be listed in a case before a court of law on account of his immunity, the action was null and void, the House said the order formed part of the resolution of the House, which also witnessed passing of a vote of confidence on Governor Fayose, at its plenary on Tuesday, at the Assembly complex in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Speaker of the House, Right Honourable (Pastor) Kola Oluwawole, and Leader of Business, Honourable Tunji Akinyele, at plenary, recalled how the election of Governor Fayose on June 21, 2014 was acclaimed as free, fair, creadible and a model for the then coming presidential election in the country.

EFCC chairman until he was removed in December 2015 by President Buhari, is currently on course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).

PREMIUM TIMES contacted him for clarification, following the claim by the Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Monday, that the Aisha Buhari mentioned in court documents to have transferred $170,000 to the convicted American politician is President Buhari’s wife.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, Fayose had accused President Buhari of being corrupt.

“Even the president cannot claim to be an angel,” the governor said, in a reaction to the freezing of his Zenith

Bank account by the EFCC. “The estate he built in Abuja is known to us. His wife was indicted over the Halliburton scandal (sic).

When that American, Jefferson, was being sentenced, the president’s wife was mentioned as having wired $170,000 to Jefferson. Her name was on page 25 of the sentencing of Jefferson. We can serialise the judgment for people to see and read.”

The governor’s Special Assistant on New Media, Lere Olayinka, later circulated copies of the court document which named one Aisha Buhari as being involved in the Jefferson scandal.

The documents showed that in some of the exhibits tendered in convicting Mr Jefferson of bribery, the Aisha Buhari was mentioned as transferring $170,000 to

They opined that, yesterday (Tuesday), being the second anniversary of the election, it was a sad commentary on the nation’s democracy.

The EFCC, while defending its action, said Fayose’s immunity did not extend to any suspicious account he runs. The spokesman of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, made the position known in an interview.

Uwujaren said the EFCC had the right to investigate any governor whose account was being used to move funds, adding that “Immunity does not prevent the EFCC from investigating suspicious accounts of those enjoying immunity and Fayose cannot be an exception.”

Also, some lawyers have decried the move while another has decribed the

Aisha in Halliburton case not president’s wife —Lamorde

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HE Aisha Buhari named in the bribery scandal involving a United States (U.S.) Congressman, Williams Jefferson, is not the Aisha that is President Muhammadu Buhari’s wife, a former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde, has told PREMIUM TIMES. “I can tell you authoritatively that the Aisha Buhari named in that case is not President Buhari’s wife,” Lamorde said when contacted Tuesday morning. “It is another Aisha Buhari entirely,” he added.

“I was the director of operations at the EFCC at the time, so I know about the case very well. I can tell you that it is not her (President Buhari’s wife). That much we established.”

Lamorde, who was the

the American politician using a firm as proxy.

“Government Exhibits 3687 (6/26/02 $170,000 wire transfer from account in Nigeria in the name of Aisha Buhari to an account in the name of The ANJ Group, LLC, identifying “William Jefferson” as Beneficiary),” the U.S. Government Sentencing Memorandum said on page 22.

The U.S. had at the time requested Nigeria to help it investigate the Nigerians named in the scandal, and Mr Lamorde, as director of operations at the EFCC at the time, coordinated that investigation.

“It is unfair to link the president’s wife with that case,” he said. “She was definitely not the one involved, and Fayose and other Nigerians should know this.

anti graft agency’s as right.

Speaking with THE Nigerian Tribune, Mr Monday Ubani, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA) Ikeja branch, pointed out that the EFCC was in line.

“I believe that the EFCC is in line by freezing Fayose’s account. He can always sue EFCC and then explain how he got the money in his account.

“Looking at the issue holistically from the point of law, taking a cue from the Supreme Court’s judgment in Gani Fawehinmi Vs IG, there is an immunity that prevents serving governors from being arrested, but it does not prevent them from being investigated.

Also speaking on the issue, human rights lawyer and social commentator, Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa, pointed out that the move was illegal.

“There is no controversy in this matter. EFCC should de-freeze the account, pile up its investigations and wait for Fayose to complete his tenure. Pure and simple,” Adegboruwa said.

“By the provision of Section 308(1)(a) of our Constitution as amended, no suit can be instituted against Ayodele Fayose and/or any Nigerian governor in any court in Nigeria,” he added.

Also lending his voice, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN), Chief Ladi Williams, pointed out that the EFCC needed to trace the source of the money to be sure of its source.

“The EFCC cannot just freeze his account without a court order. Besides, if they trace the money and discover that it is meant for Ekiti state, then there is a problem for him there,” he said.

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Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

6 news Sheriff declares Edo guber primaries illegal Names new acting NWC members Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji -Abuja

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LAIMANT to the office of the national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has declared Monday’s governorship primaries in Edo State illegal.

He is, therefore, set to conduct a fresh exercise.

In a letter addressed to the chairman of Independent National Electoral Com-

mission (INEC), signed by himself and his group’s national secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo, he urged the electoral body not to give legitimacy to the exercise as, according to him, it was a product of an illegal caretaker committee.

In a separate statement, the Sheriff group released a scheduled congress in Edo State to start from tomorrow to June 29, with the inauguration of congress committee scheduled for tomorrow.

In yet another statement, Sheriff warned state chairmen and officers of the party to desist from meeting or having anything with the illegal caretaker committee and warned that anybody dealing with them is on his own.

He also announced the appointment of some deputy national Officers as members of the National Working Committee in acting capacity.

According to him, “this is in pursuance to a resig-

nation of five members of NWC and in accordance with the provisions of sections 39(2), 42(2), 43(2), 44(2) and 47(6) of the constitution of the party 2012, as amended.”

The newly appointed officers are Mr Okey Nnadozie, acting national organising secretary; Mr Alonge-Niyi Dennis, acting national youth leader; Mrs Hannatu Ullam, acting national women leader and Bashir Maidugu, acting national legal adviser.

No ceasefire agreement with FG —Avengers Ebenezer Adurokiya -Warri NIGER Delta Avengers (NDA) has denied any ceasefire agreement with the Federal Government.

It will be recalled that a two-week ceasefire that

was to usher in dialogue between the militants and the Federal Government to end destruction of oil and gas installations was reported to have been agreed upon.

It will also be recalled

that the Avengers had sustained their rejection and misgivings concerning the proposed dialogue, calling interested parties from the region political jobbers.

In response to the ceasefire muted by the Federal

Dogara meets with striking doctors, asks them to show leadership Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel -Abuja SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, on Tuesday, urged all doctors and other stakeholders in the health sector to demonstrate the spirit of leadership, by focusing on how to come up with solutions to the issues that led to their strike, rather than dwell on the problems that led to it.

In a reconciliatory meeting called at the instance of the Speaker, with stakeholders from the Ministry of Health, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Ministry of Labour and Employment in attendance, Honourable Dogara implored them not to allow their decisions to be defined by issues that brought them to the table, but rather, to find solutions to the issues involved.

Present at the meeting which held at the National Assembly were the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole; representative of the minister of Labour and Employment and permanent secretary of the ministry, the Executive Chairman of Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Committees, chief medical directors of Federal Medical Centres and other stakeholders.

Chairmen of the relevant House committees were also present.

The Speaker, in his address, said “I want to appeal to us to show leadership because leadership is essential in solving any prob-

lem. Leadership, therefore, means that your eyes are always on the solution and not the problems, because I believe that if we are leaders, in whatever situation we find ourselves, we should be able to invent a solution.”

Earlier, chairman of NARD had expressed gratitude for the intervention of the speaker in finding a solution to the issues.

Professor Adewole, in his remarks, assured the Speaker that the ministry was committed to respecting all agreements, not settle-

ments, entered into by the relevant parties.

On his part, the Labour minister informed the speaker that they had come up with the causative factors of the strike as well as ways they could be addressed.

The chairman of RMAFC, Engr Elias Mbam, urged the stakeholders to be guided in addressing the pending issues in order not to create fresh ones, while adding that the agency would continue to facilitate whatever would bring calm to the health sector.

Government, the presence of soldiers in the creeks were scaled down while search for the suspected militants also abated.

The two weeks ceasefire by government expired Tuesday, prompting followers of the Niger Delta Avengers to raise questions on reported renewal of the agreement.

NDA, in a tweet last night, said “The NDA high command never remember having any agreement on ceasefire with the Nigeria government.”

Speculation has been on since last week’s visit by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, to the Niger Delta to talk to some critical stakeholders on way out of the renewed militancy in the region.

After the visit of the minister to liaise with various stakeholders in the region, there has been no bombing of oil and gas facilities.

Niger Delta: Barkindo backs negotiation with militants Leon Usigbe -Abuja INCOMING Secretary General of the Organisation of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mohammed Barkindo, a Nigerian, has observed that the carrot and stick approach adopted by the Federal Government was the best way to resolve the Niger Delta crisis.

Speaking to State House corespondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Thursday, he observed that the ongoing negotiations were already yielding results, as crude oil production had started to rise again.

Asked how the crisis could be resolved, he said “well, I don’t think it will be appropriate for me to comment on this issue because we have heard what the minister of state has said that negotiations are ongoing.

“For me, based on my own experience here, the option

of carrot and stick as they call it, I think is the way forward.

“Government, I understand, is negotiating, discussing and we are beginning to see positive results.

So I don’t think it will be proper to preempt this discussions that are being handled by Dr Kachukwu (Minister of State, Petroleum).

“But I remain confident that through this negotiations, stable and permanent solutions will be found to this problem because the Niger Delta region is a very important part of our country and whatever we can do to address the challenges of development, I think is the way forward.

“I have been told that production is beginning to rise again. So, for us in OPEC, this is the first thing we look at, how much is a member country is producing.

“When we saw that production was falling in Ni-

geria as a result of recent challenges, the international community, the market, also took note of that.

But now, I think things are beginning to come back to nomalcy and I have seen some of your reports that are also very positive.”

Barkindo noted the challenges in the crude oil market, stressing the need for more cooperation among nations as well as structural reforms in the oil industry.

“We have seen the industry over the past years skyrocketing in prices not only of crude oil products and other derivatives but also in the cost of production which runs with prices. We have also seen the sharp correction from 2014 to couple of months ago when the prices hit the 20s.

“Now, this structural changes swept across the entire industry. Member countries of OPEC will have to remain united to confront these challenges,” he added.

Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

CCT boss to decide over Saraki’s trial July 13 Sunday Ejike -Abuja CHAIRMAN of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Yakubu Umar, will, on July 13, decide on whether or not to disqualify himself from presiding over the trial of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.

Saraki is being prosecuted by the Federal Government at the tribunal over allegations of false declaration of assets and money laundering.

After listening to the submissions of both the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs and the defence counsel Paul Erokoro, on Saraki’s application, wherein he asked Umar to disqualify himself from presiding over his (Saraki) trial, the CCT chairman fixed July 13 to deliver ruling on the application.

The CCT chairman had, on June 7, during the last proceedings, threatened Saraki that the delayed tactics employed by his lawyers would not reduce the consequences he would face at the end of the trial.

Following the said comments, Saraki asked the CCT chairman to disqualify himself from further participating in the trial because of his bias disposition.

Erokoro, while moving Saraki’s application on Tuesday, claimed that the comment by the CCT chairman was prejudicial to his

client and that he could no longer get fair trial from the tribunal, in line with the provisions of Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

He told the tribunal that neither the chairman, who was personally served with the motion informing him of the prejudicial statement made in the open court, nor the prosecution, had denied the statement.

Erokoro further submitted that the independent and impartiality of the chairman as ennvisaged in Section 36 of the constitution could no longer be guaranteed and that a good reason for the CCT chairman to disqualify himself had already been established.

“Once a judge by word or action show that he cannot hold the scale of justice, he should disqualify himself,” he told the tribunal.

When asked on what happens to the tribunal should the chairman disqualify himself, Erokoro said there is a statutory provisions for the establishment of the tribunal with a full complement of three members and that the appointing authority could do the needful by appointing more.

On his part, the prosecuting counsel, Jacobs, who vehemently opposed the motion, said the application was frivolous, abuse of court process and a deliberate attempt to delay the trial.

Fire guts Maiduguri specialist hospital Bodunrin Kayode -Maiduguri A strange fire, on Tuesday, gutted the emergency pediatric unit of the Maiduguri specialist hospital destroying properties worth thousands of naira.

The fire, which started about mid-day, was believed to have been ignited by an electric fault from a refrigerator used to preserve drugs in the ward.

Other eyewitnesses in the building claimed it came from

one of the air conditioners in the doctors’ room, a reason both the matron office, mini pharmacy where money is kept and doctor’s offices were affected by the inferno.

Medical Director, Dr Laraba Ahmed, who spoke to newsmen, said efforts made by the staff to quench the fire failed initially.

The medical director said that about 20 patients were inside the ward when the incident, adding, however, that none was hurt.

Court grants Oronsaye permission to travel abroad for medical check-up Sunday Ejike -Abuja JUSTICE Gabriel Kolawole of a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, granted former Head of Service (HoS), Stephen Oronsaye, leave to travel abroad for medical check-up and to treat an undisclosed ailment.

Justice Kolawole gave the permission while ruling on an application brought by counsel for the first defendant, Kola Okeaya-Inneh, which sought the release of Oronsaye’s international passport to enable him to travel abroad for medical attention.

At the resumed hearing on

Tuesday, Justice Kolawole, before ruling on the application, noted that the first defendant was granted bail on self recognition and, as such, the court would need something to rely on before the release of his international passport.

Kolawole later ordered that Oronsaye’s international passport be released to his lead counsel, adding that the first defendant should take advantage of the 2015/2016 summer recess which starts from July 12 to September 12 to attend to his medical needs.

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Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

N86bn deposit: AMCON deceiving Nigerians —Jimoh Ibrahim Yejide Gbenga - Ogundare

President Muhammadu Buhari congratulating the new acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, during his visit to the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday. With them is the outgoing IGP, Mr Solomon Arase.

Buhari appoints Ibrahim Idris acting IGP Hosts service chiefs, outgoing IGP Arase to Ramadan dinner Leon Usigbe and Chris Agbambu with Agency Report

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Ibrahim Kpotum Idris as the acting Inspector General of Police.

The new police boss was decorated on his visit to the presidential villa, Abuja on Tuesday.

Idris, who hails from Niger State (North-Central), was until his appointment AIG in charge of Federal Operations, Force Headquarters.

He holds an LLB (Honours) in Law from the Uni-

versity of Maiduguri, and was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a cadet assistant supritendent of police (ASP) in 1984.

Speaking to State House correspondents after meeting with the President, Idris assured the audience of collective leadership, stating that the Nigerian police, was going to be governed by internationally recognised core values applicable to policing everywhere in the world.

He said: “this is issue of integrity, accountability, compassion, respect for diversity and ensuring that our communities remain safe.

“We are going to do everything possible to ensure that

Release outstanding voter cards, lawmaker tells INEC Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja WORRIED by the manner the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) handled the distribution of voter cards during the 2015 general election, a lawmaker, Honourable Shadimu Mutiu has called on the electoral body to release outstanding voters’ cards that were not released before the last general elections.

The member, who made this call, recalled what happened in the last general election when many eligible voters were disenfranchised adding that such scenario should be prevented by releasing the voter cards far ahead of the next election.

Mutiu, who is representing Oshodi/Isolo federal constituency of Lagos State at the National Assembly stated that before the last general election, “states like Lagos with higher number of voters got fewer voter cards. This culminated in the disen-

franchising of many eligible voters” The lawmaker who had moved a motion to support the call added that “distribution of voter cards may in some cases produce unpopular candidates resulting in triumph of the minority over the majority which is antithetical to all known democratic tenets.”

we provide the best service to this country”.

Outgoing Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase who accompanied his successor to the villa, appealed to Nigerians to give the acting (AIGP), the same cooperation he enjoyed while in the saddle, saying he is fully equipped with modern techniques of policing.

He said, “I want to formally introduce my successor, AIG Idris Kpotum, he is going to be in acting capacity until the Police Council confirmed the appointment. Arase thanked Nigerians for the cooperation given him while he served as Inspector General of Police, Acting IGP Idris, was in the United Nations peace keeping centre in New York for over 10 years.

On his return to Nigeria was made the Director Peace Keeping at force Headquarters, from where he was promoted to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), and later become Kano State Commissioner of Police (CP). He went for the one year course at the National Institute for Policy and Stra-

tegic Studies (NIPSS).

He was also CP Mobile Police Force (MPF) and later AIG Zone 1 Kano.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday evening hosted Service Chiefs and the outgoing Inspector General of Police, Arase to a Ramadan breaking of fast (Iftar) dinner at the presidential villa, Abuja.

Businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim, has described all information being put in the public domain by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), over a deposit of N86 billion or £172 million and his involvement as lies, adding that nobody in Nigeria can seize his properties.

The businessman, in a release on Tuesday, described that every information about an interim order of injunction collected from a Federal High Court as lies, saying the company only collected the order using false information.

“My attention has been directed to lies being spread around by an institution called AMCON over an interim order of injunction she had lied to collect before an innocent Federal High Court in Lagos.

“AMCON is aware that we keep a deposit of N86 billion or £172 million with Union Bank and AMCON is aware that application

to collect the money from Union Bank is pending before an Ikeja High Court.

All these facts it has not disclosed to an innocent Federal High Court,” Jimoh Ibrahim stated.

According to him, AMCON deceived Nigerians to believe that they got a judgment against him when there was nothing like that, adding that an interim order of any court last for 14 days and AMCON is executing the interim order even when the judge had not signed the execution writ.

He added that he had since filed an application to discharge the interim order as he was not in the category of people that could be intimidated by AMCON or any other person.

“It is laughable and a wide ambition to say anyone in Nigeria can seize my property. We shall abide with the law and any interim order of the court even when they are made in error as we are not far away from justice,” Jimoh Ibrahim concluded.

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Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

FG sacks striking doctors •Directs CMDs and MDs to replace them Soji-Eze Fagbemi -Abuja

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HE Federal Government has taken a swift decision to sack all the striking resident doctors, for “voluntarily withdrawing their services without authorisation.”

Already, the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, has directed the Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) and Medical Director (MDs) of Federal Government Tertiary Health institutions to replace them.

A statement from the Director, Media and Public Relations Ministry of Health, Mrs Boade Akinola, said the minister had directed the CMDs and the MDs of the institution “to fill the vacancies created by resident doctors, who have abandoned their training programme by refusing to report for work.”

The directive was contained in a circular signed by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Amina Shamaki and sent to the CMDs and MDs of the Federal Tertiary Health Institutions.

The circular read: “It has

come to the notice of the management of the ministry that some resident doctors in your establishment have voluntarily withdrawn from the Residency Training Programme by refusing to report for training without authorisation.

“Public Service Rule, PSR 030402 (e) is relevant. This is in spite of the ongoing negotiations on their demands put forward by the representatives of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) under the auspices of the Nigerian Medical Association.

“In view of this development, you are hereby directed to replace all the doctors that have withdrawn their services, with others from the pool of applicants for the training programmes in the various disciplines in order not to create ominous gap in training with attendant disruption of health care delivery in your facility.

“Please, ensure immediate compliance.”

Meanwhile, the ministry is working with the panel on the review of the Residency Training Programme in Nigeria, led by

Professor Wole Atoyebi, the Registrar of the Na-

THE House of Representatives, on Tuesday, formally mandated its Committee on Foreign Affairs and Ethics & Privileges to investigate alleged sexual misconduct levelled against three of its members, who attended an International Visitor Leadership Programme in the United States, recently.

Ambassador of the United States to Nigeria, Mr James Entwistle, had, in a correspondence to the Speaker of the House, Honourable

Rivers, Ogun lawmakers grant govs’ permission to access N14.16bn FG fund Dapo Falade -Port Harcourt THE request by the Rivers State governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, to access a N14.16 billion Federal Government budget support loan facility received legislative nod from, on Tuesday.

Also, his Ogun State counterpart, Ibikunle Amosun was granted approval to obtain same.

The approval followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader of the state assembly, Honourable Mafe Adeyinka, seconded by a member representing Yewa

North II State Constituency, Honourable Rasaq Oduntan and supported by other members.

Wike had, in a letter dated June 16, 2016, written to the House, through the Speaker, said the authorisation would enable the state government sustain payment of salaries to civil servants and pensioners in the state.

This was as the governor made it clear in the letter that the state government was yet to access the N10 billion salaries bailout fund earlier approved by the state House of Assembly.

postgraduate training of doctors in the country.

N36bn budget allocation for Housing inadequate, Fashola tells Reps Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel -Abuja THE Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola on Tuesday lamented that the N36 billion appropriated in 2016

As accused lawmakers deny allegation, insist on proof Yakubu Dogara, levelled an allegation of sexual misconduct against three members of the House, namely Honourable Mohammed Garba Gololo, Honourable Samuel Ikon and Honourable Mark Gbillah.

However, raising matter of privilege, one of the lawmakers, Honourable Gbillah said the allegation was a calculated attempt to tarnish the image of the lawmakers and the hallowed chamber.

He said no such incident occurred as reported by the ambassador, insisting that the envoy should provide

the development of a comprehensive blueprint for

From left, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola; Permanent Secretary, Housing, Mr Abubakar Magaji and the Director, Engineering Services, Esther Okugha, during a meeting with the House of Representatives’ Committee on Housing, at the National Assembly, Abuja, on Tuesday. PHOTO: NAN.

Sexual allegation: Dogara names committees to probe members Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel -Abuja

tional Postgraduate Medical College, to fast-track

proof to support his allegation.

He, however, challenged the US ambassador to show proof that they actually committed what he alleged.

Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Honourable Nnenna Ukeje-Elendu, cautioned that the matter should be taken with utmost seriousness, so as not to jeopardise Nigeria-US relationship, adding that the investigation should be done in public and report made public.

Before naming the two committees that would probe the allegation, the Speaker said “the case is not about the three members alone. It is about all of us.”

In his remarks, the Speaker of the House, Mr Yakubu Dogara, urged Nigerians to tread with caution on the matter, until the persons involved were proven guilty.

He, therefore, referred the matter to the relevant committees “to be handled in line with international best practice’’ He also enjoined anyone who has anything that would help in the investigation to approach the committees with evidence.

budget for the housing sector is grossly inadequate to address the nation’s housing needs.

Speaking in Abuja, on Tuesday, at an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Housing, Fashola rolled out steps being taken by the ministry towards the implementation of the budget based on the available resources.

The minister, who revealed that the ministry under him had initiated a 360mass housing scheme in three states, which would be executed with Public Private Partnership (PPP), stated that the ministry inherited a 2012 housing plan, which had no details of how a housing programme would be implemented.

According to him, “we look at the N36 billion as the fund with which we can build the concept and if the concept is successful, then we can role it out more massively, because it is not going to solve our housing problems. We can rush out and get some results, but we are desirous to have a lasting housing intervention.”

Fashola further disclosed that the last administration started 21,008 mass housing project, out of which only 2,750, about 13 per cent, was executed.

He disclosed that the former housing interventions were largely unimplementable, as the project design was too bogus and many did not take people’s geography and culture into consideration, while some were unaffordable to the target segment of the population which were supposed to be the most vulnerable in the society— taxi drivers, market women and low income earners.

He said a prototype which was an energy-efficiency model, designed by Gtz, a Germany company, was being considered for adoption.

He pointed out that the housing need of each state varies due to urban migration, hence states should access the housing project on the basis of willingness, while suggesting that federal character and spread should be de-emphasised, but allocations given to states according to need.

According to him, “we have consulted widely and from our feedback, we are building according to culture. Our one-bedroom is 60square metres different from the normal one-bedroom which is on the average of 20- 30 square metres.

It is a very big one-bedroom.

Affordability lies at the heart of what we are doing.”

He also pointed out that the take-off of the housing project was further limited by procurement act, which compels government to make 15 per cent advance payment to contractors, to enable local and poor contractors to participate, adding that the 15 per cent was

not enough for materials to be stockpiled, which affects the speed of delivery and early completion, as the contractors waste more time sourcing for funds.

In his submission, Director of Architecture and Design in the ministry, Sani Gidadi, disclosed that letters had been written to states for the housing programme, but only 19 states had responded positively.

He disclosed that over 480 designs had been produced for various housing models in various specifications, but was later trimmed down to four, bearing in mind the geography, culture and weather conditions of the people.

Chairman of the committee, Honourable Tobi Okechukwu, expressed his displeasure with the ministry, over their inability to backup their budgetary allocation with tangible project, six months after the budget approval.

He lamented that the ministry was yet to approve the project design and called for tender, which was supposed to be rolled out as soon as the budget was approved.

RAMADAN MESSAGE And Allah created you from dust, then from a spermdrop; then He made you mates. And no female conceives nor does she give birth except with His knowledge. And no aged person is granted [additional] life nor is his lifespan lessened but that it is in a register. Indeed, that for Allah is easy. And not alike are the two bodies of water. One is fresh and sweet, palatable for drinking, and one is salty and bitter. And from each you eat tender meat and extract ornaments which you wear, and you see the ships plowing through [them] that you might seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful.

He causes the night to enter the day, and He causes the day to enter the night and has subjected the sun and the moon - each running [its course] for a specified term.

That is Allah , your Lord; to Him belongs sovereignty.

And those whom you invoke other than Him do not possess [as much as] the membrane of a date seed.

—Surat Fatir verses 11-13

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Naira exchanges for N286 to dollar on second day of floating Chima Nwokoji-Lagos

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HE Naira opened weaker at N286 to the dollar on Tuesday, with $2 million traded.

This is even as traders remained hopeful that the new foreign exchange (forex) policy would continue to narrow the gulf between the rates available on the official and black markets.

The unofficial traders still offered the currency at N345 to the dollar on Tuesday, the same level it traded on Monday.

Traders said they were holding off, waiting for either fresh central bank intervention or dollar sales from oil companies.

Market participants said fifteen trades worth a total of $50 million had been made by 1220 GMT,at N284 to the dollar settling at the new levels.

Reuters reported one trader as saying, “We are waiting for liquidity to come in through whatever means so that trading can continue.”

The central bank caved in to months of pressure to effectively devalue the naira in response to falling prices for oil, the country’s main export, announcing last week that it would abandon its 16-month-old peg at N197 to the dollar.

The central bank did not inform the market whether it was settling demand with spot or forward trades, creating uncertainty especially for hard currency users who require the dollar immediately.

The bank sold $697 million in one-month forward, $1.22 billion in two-month contract and $1.57 billion due in three months, in

order to clear a backlog of $4.02 billion of demand, market operator FMDQ

Securities Exchange said.

In non-deliverable forward markets, the one-

year Naira-dollar forward were quoted at N349. The nine-month contract fell

Kehinde Akinseinde-JayeobaLagos

President Muhammadu Buhari flanked by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachukwu (left) and the New Secretary General of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Dr Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, during a visit of new OPEC scribe to the State House, Abuja.

Glo expresses faith in arbitration GLOBACOM has expressed faith in arbitration as a way of resolving business disputes among parties.

The company’s position was stated by Mr. Ike Oraekwuotu, Coordinator, Commercial, Globacom, at an investment roundtable, held during the first International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Africa Regional Conference on arbitration, sponsored by Globacom in Lagos.

Mr. Oraekwuotu, who represented the Chairman of Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga, Jr., at the event, said the company was committed to promoting arbitration in Africa because of its inherent benefits. He said the company was also promoting the use

of local arbitrators as a way of building local capacity in the field.

“In all the countries where we have operations on the West African coast, whenever any dispute arises between us and our broad spectrum of partners, as is it is wont to happen in a business environment, it is our policy to engage local arbitrators in the respective countries to help achieve a resolution agreeable to all parties. These are the people who know the terrain and understand the distinct nuances of the environment and its people. We may have a team of Nigerian experts to provide us advice internally at the head office, but basically the local arbitrators handle the issues on site,” he said.

The conference also emphasized the need to institute arbitration processes and judicial policies to encourage investors to choose arbitration instead of going through the long and winding route of legal actions.

The president of the International Court of Arbitration, Mr. Alexis Mourre, described the First Africa Regional Arbitration Conference of the International Chamber of Commerce as the most successful of all such conferences on five continents, especially considering the level of participation.

He said the conference would now be held annually, even as he called for more diversity in the global community of ar-

needed infrastructure in place that will improve the standard of living of citizens.

Adeosun gave the assurance that despite global economic challenges, the Federal Government was determined to make life easier for citizens through the successful execution of policies, projects and programmes enshrined in the 2016 budget to create massive jobs, provide security, eliminate or reduce poverty as well as face poor standards of living.

Economically, IPSAS she said “will ensure a holistic reporting of government financial transactions and positions; improve service delivery through value for money, enhance publicprivate partnership, build confidence in donor and

lending agencies, improve competitiveness in the global market place and increase cross-border trade and foreign direct investment.”

Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) Mr. Idris Ahmed had earlier informed participants that the government has taken all necessary steps to ensure successful implementation of IPSAS Accrual Basis of Accounting.

In this regard, he stated that, “the budgeting and accounting module for Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) software is IPSAS Accrual basis compliant to enable the 2016 annual financial statements of the federal government to be prepared on IPSAS Accrual Basis.”

FG to publish full account of earnings Sanya Adejokun-Abuja

THE Federal Government will henceforth abide by the principle of full disclosure while publishing details of its earning from now on.

Part of the conditions the Federal Government gave to states willing to take part of the N90 billion loan it obtained for on lending to sub-regional governments to help them settle arrears of workers’ salaries recently was full periodic publication of their statements of account.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day workshop on International Public Sector Accounting System (IPSAS), which opened in Abuja on Tuesday, Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun said “the financial statements of government will henceforth provide full

as low as N337 per dollar while the six-month contract traded at N327.

Blue chip stocks rebound equities by 2.27%

information and absolute disclosure of material elements in public expenditure.”

Represented by her Director of Special Projects, who is in charge of the continuous audit exercise, Mr. Mohammed Dikwa, the minister noted that “the commencement of IPSAS Accrual Basis of Accounting will place Nigeria amongst the comity of nations that institutionalize transparency and accountability in finance.

She lamented the present situation whereby “about 70% of the monthly revenue inflow into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CFR) is being spent on recurrent expenditure” saying the trend will not free the much needed resources to put

bitrators. He added that over 70 percent of all arbitrators were of Western Europe or North American origins.

“Africa is the future of arbitration”, Mr. Mourre declared, and called for more Africans to get involved in the practice.

Also speaking at the conference, the President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN), said arbitration could help Nigeria to decongest the courts as many cases ought not to go to litigation if arbitration was given its due recognition. He expressed confidence that the conference would help expand the frontiers of knowledge on arbitration in Africa.

The Chairperson of the Planning Committee of the conference, Mrs. Dorothy Udeme Ufot (SAN), expressed gratitude to Globacom and other sponsors of the arbitration conference, saying their support would help boost the profile of Nigeria in the global community of arbitrators.

Addressing delegates at the Gala Night held later, Executive Director, Legal Services, Globacom, Mrs. Gladys Talabi, said the company was delighted to sponsor the conference as part of its contribution to growing expertise in arbitration on the African continent.

She restated the company’s commitment to promoting local capacity in all aspects of the economy.

The three-day conference was organised by ICC’s International Court of Arbitration in conjunction with the International Chamber of Commerce, Nigeria.

THE equities market took a positive turn on Tuesday as trading rebound to close 2.27 per cent higher.

Specifically, All Share Index (ASI) closedNSE ASI closed at 29,422.71 basis points, a great leap when compared with the 1.63 per cent depreciation recorded on Monday, thus leaving its Year-to-Date (YTD) at +2.72 per cent.

Also market capitalisation gained strength, returning to the N10 trillion mark with N224.21 billion to close at N10.11 trillion.

Market turnover closed positive as volume moved up by 28.00 per cent against 33.72 per cent decline recorded in the previous session.

Market breadth also closed positive as Glaxo Smithkline Nigeria Plc led 37 gainers against 10 losers.

Further analysis of price movement showed that Nestlé Nigeria Plc, following the previous day pattern, led the gainers chart, measured by value, having added N21.12 kobo to its share value to close at N816 per share, representing 2.66 per cent increase, complementing per cent recorded on Monday.

CBN appoints Sterling Bank as primary dealer in FXEIM THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has appointed Sterling Bank Plc as a Primary Dealer in the foreign Exchange Interbank Market.

The appointment was conveyed via a letter addressed to the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Bank, Yemi Adeola dated June 20, 2016 and signed by Head of Financial Markets Department, E.U. Ukeje.

“We are pleased to inform you that the Management of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has appointed you as a Primary Dealer in the Nigeria Foreign Exchange Interbank Market,” the letter read in part.

The Primary Dealer status confers on the bank the authority to deal in minimum sizes of $10 million for spot transactions and at least $5 million for forwards, forex swaps and futures, buy and sell foreign exchange to individuals and corporate bodies at a price agreed by both parties and positions the one-customer-bank to deal with the CBN in wholesale foreign exchange transactions on a two-way quote basis.

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editorial

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Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Shaibu Amodu (1958-2016)

HORTLY after former Super Eagles’ skipper Stephen Okechukwu Keshi’s sudden death in Benin City on June 7, 2016, Shaibu Amodu, under whose competent wings Keshi had cut his managerial teeth, was among the first Nigerian football luminaries to mourn him and extoll his virtues. Keshi, born in January 1962, was 54 at the time of his death. But little did Amodu know what fate had in store for him: in the early hours of June 10, he also drew his last breath, aged 58. And so it was that within a space of three days, in a bizarre twist of fate, the bodies of two of the most important figures in Nigerian, indeed African, football over the past three decades both lay in the mortuary of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital, Benin City.

Shaibu Amodu’s death marks the end of an era in Nigerian football. Close followers of the game and of Amodu’s stellar coaching career will remember a deeply religious man, a patriot who shot from the hip, a studious follower of changes in the game, a socially conservative man and, above all, a genuine lover of football.

Football in Nigeria is played by heroically committed young men and women. Sadly, the same cannot be said of those who administer it. It was the lot of Shaibu Amodu to have had to fashion some excellence from the moral and bureaucratic morass that is the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). That he excelled notwithstanding is testimony to his vision, personal discipline, and uncommon forbearance.

Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation at the time of his untimely death, Amodu managed the Super Eagles on four different occasions. Always relieved of his position each time in the untidy and amateurish manner typical of the NFF, a lesser man would have rejected the offer of return. But Amodu loved Nigeria more than he loved football. And so, on three different occasions, long

after any sane person would have walked away, he answered Nigeria’s call.

Amodu qualified the Super Eagles to the World Cup, twice, first in 2002, and then in 2010. On both occasions, the powers that be callously denied him the ultimate dream of every manager-to coach a team at the World Cup. Despite these disappointments, Amodu remained faithful and loyal to the cause of Nigerian football. Perhaps he figured that after everything that the authorities had done to him, he had nothing else to lose. After all, he had survived finding out about his own sack in the newspapers, being owed salaries totaling several months, and having his appointment confirmed long after he had been in the saddle.

The depth of Shaibu Amodu’s affection for Nigerian football and the crisis facing the same can be gauged from his last interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in March 2016.

Lamented Amodu: “I must confess that all is not well with Nigerian football in terms of structure and funding. We really need to rejig the whole aspect of our football if we have to be serious and sustain development at a high level.” He then concluded: “I’ve been taking notes and these are some of the things I will bring up when I meet with the NFF.” No one knows whether that meeting ever took place, or if it did, what Amodu told his chronically ungrateful employers. What we do know is that Amodu left us with an unflattering picture of the state of Nigerian football. It would amount to a gratuitous insult to the man and all that he stood for if the nation were to jettison his words. It is the reform of Nigeria’s football that, henceforth, should obsess those who genuinely mourn Amodu. There is no other way to honor the memory of the departed.

Good night, good coach.

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14 LETTERS TO THE

Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

editor

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

On the fall in oil price

I

T is a good thing that Nigerians finally allowed President Muhammadu Buhari to go ahead with the deregulation of the oil sector; Nigerians’ support for the president in this area was evident by the manner in which the majority of the people shunned the strike action called by the

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to protest the rise in fuel price.

Before now, former President Goodluck Jonathan tried his best to enlighten Nigerians on the need to deregulate the downstream sector.

He even went on a series of town hall meetings so as to connect with Nigerians

on the issue, but we did not see reason in what he was saying.

Now, with the fall in the price of oil in the international market, and the subsequent negative effect on our economy, we had no choice than to allow the Buhari administration to go ahead with the deregulation.

No to use of cement for road construction FOR decades, engineering companies in the country have been using bitumen for road construction and rehabilitation, but for some time now, we have been hearing about the possibility of using cement for the same purpose.

In fact, Aliko Dangote is using cement to rehabilitate a road in Ogun State to prove that cement lasts more than bitumen. He said that bitumen deteriorates faster than cement, and that is why our roads need rehabilitation everytime.

However, I want to disagree with this; bitumen is still the best when it comes to road construction and rehabilitation.

Why some people are saying that bitumen-made roads deteriorate faster is because our civil engineers are either not well trained, or they don’t use the right quantity of bitumen for their reconstruction works.

In road construction, the base of the road ought to be filled with gravel first before bitumen is applied to the surface, and to make the road last, the bitumen must be several millimeters thick. However, to gain more financially, today’s civil engineers don’t apply gravel, and they just touch the surface lightly with bitumen.

We should just look at the Owo-Akure Road and Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road as examples of how much bitumen roads can last if well constructed. These two roads were constructed several decades ago, and they are still more durable than the ones being constructed by today’s engineers.

It is, therefore, important that the Federal Government jettison the idea of using cement for road reconstruction, as this will push up the price of cement. Cement also has other uses, but if bitumen

Hijab crisis: Osun should tread carefully HAVING looked at the crisis in Osun State public schools over the court judgment on the use of Hijab by female Muslim students, it is important that the governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, realises the sensitivity of religion, and he should do everything in his power to douse the tension being generated, particularly at Baptist High School, Iwo, where Christian students have also started wearing choir robes and boys and girls’ brigade uniforms to school. It is necessary that the state government takes

a stance that will bring development to the state, while uniting the different religious groups.

Of more importance is the need for the revival of the economy of the state, instead of the current imbroglio which the Hijab crisis is generating.

As a former student of the Baptist High School, Iwo, I hope the government can maintain a status quo if that will bring about peace in the state.

•Asifat Oyewale Omotayo, Iwo, Osun State.

is abandoned, then what will be the fate of the billions of bitumen reserves that we have across the country?

What we should do is just to call on the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) to warn its members who do shoddy jobs when they get road reconstruction contracts.

•Lateef Alayande, Owo, Ondo State.

Immediately the Federal Government stopped paying the subsidy fees to oil marketers, it placed a ceiling of N145 on a litre of fuel.

Then, some Nigerians were skeptical, thinking that in a couple of months, fuel would be sold for over N300.

Today, the good news is that we are benefiting from that deregulation, as some filling stations are now selling for N143. It is even being reported that a filling station is selling for N139 in Cross River State.

The is just the beginning of the price war among oil marketers in the country, and with the way things are going now, fuel will soon be sold for N100 per litre.

If Nigerians had accepted the proposal of former President Jonathan to deregulate in 2012, we would by now have several invest-

ments in the oil sector.

I believe very soon, foreign investors will begin to jostle to be part of Nigeria’s oil sector development; apart from the fact that more refineries will be built, the ones owned by the Federal Government will begin to function optimally, because they will make more money refining crude oil into Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). In the past, oil importers made sure that our refineries did not work so that they could continue to import, while also getting subsidy funds from the government.

As it is now, success in the oil business will be down to hardwork, and how cheap marketers can sell their fuel to consumers.

As a result of this, we are just beginning to witness the price war among the oil marketers in the coun-

try. We have the population, and Nigeria is a beautiful destination for business. It is, therefore, a good thing that President Buhari has removed the clog in the wheel of our economic progress.

Now that the issue of subsidy fraud is out of the way, the next thing for government to do is to look at policies that will help in the creation of businesses, which will then help reduce unemployment. I believe this government has economic experts who can change things for the better in its fold.

Having said this, I want to urge Nigerians to continue to give President Buhari the support he needs to take Nigeria to its rightful position in the comity of nations.

•Faith Etudor, Surulere, Lagos.

opinion The courts and injustice to MKO Abiola 15

Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

By Afe Babalola

J

USTICE is the will of the strong and while the strong does what he likes, the weak suffers what he must. This is the most appropriate way to describe the case of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, under the military. The military, the strong, did what it liked while MKO Abiola and, indeed, those who voted for him, the weak, suffered what they must.

What seems to have escaped the attention of many in the political impasse that followed June 12, 1993 Presidential election is the role the courts played in the annulment of the election by the then Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, and how the courts were manipulated to deny Abiola justice in the electoral matters before them shortly before and immediately after the annulment.

Abiola, the Aare Ona Kakanfo: Before the 1993 presidential election, Nigerians would recall that there was a sensational case which involved the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, and the immediate past Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, over the announcement by the Alaafin to install Abiola as the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland. The announcement was given the widest of publicity. A day was fixed for Abiola’s installation. Because Abiola was a popular international businessman, guests from all over the world had started arriving for the installation.

But just two days before the installation, the late Ooni filed an action at an Oyo High Court, claiming that the Alaafin had no right whatsoever to install Abiola as the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland. He (Ooni) coupled it with a motion ex-parte asking the court to restrain the Alaafin from installing Abiola as the Aare Ona Kakanfo.

In law, an ex-parte motion is one in which one can get an order without the knowledge of the other party. Somehow, Oba Adeyemi got wind of the fact that a motion ex-parte had been filed. Hitherto, I have been Oba Adeyemi’s lawyer in the supremacy tussle between Oba Adeyemi and Oba Sijuade. So, the Alaafin contacted me. I proceeded to the court, filed a formal application to search the court’s file from where I obtained a copy of the paper filed by the Ooni and thereafter filed a counter affidavit. This was a novel one because it has never happened like that before.

The case came up a day before the installation. It was the case of the year. The court rejected Ooni’s prayers and so Abiola was installed as the Aare OnaKakanfo the following day with pomp and pageantry.

June 12, 1993 Election: It is a notorious fact that the June 12, 1993 election has been adjudged as the freest, fairest and most credible election in the annals of elections in this country. All the same, it is now a well-known fact that Abiola’s electoral victory did not go down well with the military. This naturally led to many court cases filed on the matter, which ended up at the Court of Ap-

peal in Kaduna.

It is important to note that two days to the election, Hon. Justice Bassey Ikpeme of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a rather bizarre manner, had delivered a nocturnal ruling around 9.15 pm to the effect that the election could no longer continue, one of the reasons that emboldened former Military President Ibrahim Babangida to annul the election.

Abiola appealed Justice Ikpeme’s decision: Before going into the nitty-gritty of the Appeal at the Kaduna Division of the Court of Appeal, it is apposite to note that Justice Ikpeme’s ruling was patently wrong on all fronts, particularly as the enabling law had provided that only the Chairman of the National Electoral Commission, Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, was the only one empowered by law, to stop the election. This was the beginning of a series of acts of omission or commission using the courts to manipulate the duplicitous annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election to the consternation of many locally and internationally.

Abiola had briefed the late Chief Roimi Williams, SAN and my humble self, to fight the case for him. Both on points of law and facts available, we were sure to win.

Immediately the case came up at the Court of Appeal, Kaduna, the then President of the Court of Appeal, the incorruptible Hon. Justice Mustapha Adebayo Akanbi, because of the peculiar circumstances of the matter, did not want anyone to know who among the Justices of the Appellate Court would sit to hear the Appeal. And so, he empanelled 10 of his best Justices of the Court of Appeal and gave all of them the records, even when it was only five that would sit to hear the Appeal. He simply did not want anybody to interfere in the matter because of the importance and the sensitivity of the matter. Justice Akanbi remains one of the most diligent men of integrity that have ever adorned the Bench in this country. No wonder, he was the first Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

On hearing date: On the day of the trial, Chief Williams was not in court and so, I led a team of 30 lawyers. To me, based on the law and on the facts of the matter, we believed we would win the case for Abiola. We went to court with several relevant authorities (law books). But before the Judge sat, Chief Phillip Umeadi, SAN, representing the Federal Government, came in late. When he saw the formidable team of lawyers I brought to court as well as the volumes of authority that we brought, he asked rather derisively that: “Afe, what are you doing with all these lawyers and volumes

of authorities.” I replied that: “But you know that hearing in this case has been fixed for today and we are here to do justice to the matter at hand.”

But he replied that the case could not go on as there was no lis before the court to which I answered, let us wait and see!

At the mention of the case, I announced my appearance for Abiola, while Umeadi announced his appearance for the Federal Government, and he told the court that he wanted to make a preliminary objection. The court allowed him and he said: “My Lord, there is no lis before this court because the election had been annulled”.

In my reply, I summited to the court that such a pronouncement cannot be through oral statement but that it should be through a Government Gazette. After all, all the Decrees by the Military Government were always gazette.

At this point, Umeadi applied for a short adjournment. It is important to note that up to this point in time, there was no Gazette.

The court granted his oral application for a short adjournment.

When he came back few minutes later, he was armed with a Gazette and so he renewed his application which he supported with the Gazette which he was flashing with relish.

The court had no choice than to admit the gazette in evidence.

The court then asked for my opinion now that the Gazette had been tendered.

I instantly became disturbed when I saw the Gazette because I was alarmed that a Gazette could be procured in a matter of minutes. I had no choice than to admit to the fact that there was no lis before the court. In my reply, with tears in my eyes, I said, rather courageously that “this is the saddest day for the judiciary in this country and the beginning of a journey the end of which no one knows.”

The over-crowded court dispersed in audible murmurings!

What happened that day has continued to hunt us to this day. The court was denied the opportunity of hearing the case. Abiola, his lawyers and his teaming supporters became helpless before the court of law.

Twenty-three years after I made that statement, we are still on that journey. Today, we have to contend with all manners of contentious issues like the problem of Boko Haram, which has been getting worse with the incursion of herdsmen into the polity and the attendant blood bath they have consistently inflicted on the country, as well as militancy in the South-South part of the country because we allowed ourselves to miss that golden opportunity in 1993.

At the international level, the price of oil, the only source of our national income, has fallen drastically. Many of the states of the federation have not been able to pay salaries since the beginning of the year, have resorted to petty larceny, including stealing of pots of amala and eating it with palm oil! A ludicrous situation indeed!

•Chief Babalola (SAN) is an elderstateman.

Osun Hijab brouhaha: Matters arising

By Oluremi Omowaye

THE media space has been unabatedly washed with the news of the latest controversy surrounding the use of Hijab by Muslim girls in Osun schools, and I am particularly pained that our glowing Osun State has again been put in a bad perception as a result of the brouhaha caused by some students who appeared in school in choir robes and other church garments, leading to undue media attention! For crying out loud, the disturbance was carried out by less than 10 students of the over 600,000 students in Osun public schools, and it is important that we set the record straight. This divisive act only happened in just one school, Baptist High School, Iwo of the over 2,500 public schools in the state. We should not forget that it was in this same Baptist High School, Iwo that a similar incident happened about two years ago.

For us to be empirical, it is very important that I stress the fact that 10 out of 600,000 students is very insignificant. I also think I need to reiterate the fact that Article 8 of the 2004 directives of the state government says “there are no public mission schools presently in Osun State as all schools have been taken over by government in 1975.”

It is a must at this point that I give a background information on the latest Hijab furore — the Osun government, at a time, banned the use of Hijab in public schools across the state, and the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) felt it was an abuse of their rights, so they decided, in collaboration with the Osun State Muslims Community, to approach the High Court in 2013 to challenge the state government’s decision, and in the process, the Osun Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) was joined in the suit; after about three years of legal battle, it was ruled that the state government erred in her decision to stop the wearing of Hijab in public schools. The court held that wearing Hijab was part of the fundamental rights of Muslim girls. The court further ruled that any act of molestation, harassment, torture or humiliation against Muslim female students using Hijab constitute a clear infringement on their fundamental human rights as contained in Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria. However, this didn’t go down well with Osun CAN, who, instead of accepting the verdict of the court,

or simply proceed to the appellate court to seek redress, threw caution to the wind with a directive that Christian students should start putting on choir robes and other church garments to school.

Why was it difficult for Osun CAN to challenge the ruling at an appellate court instead of instigating the students?

The Lagos Muslim Community got a judgment that didn’t favour them at a lower court on the same matter, and they simply proceeded to court to appeal the judgment of the Lagos High Court, so why can’t Osun CAN take similar step?

I understand Hijab is part of the decency and modesty of a female Muslim, in line with Quranic injunction, which implies that those wearing Hijab believe it is liberating and preventing harassment. Good enough, the court verdict is only for concerned Muslims; it’s not being imposed on any student, so I would have expected CAN to display high level of tolerance as preached by our Lord Jesus Christ.

I schooled at the Baptist Secondary School, Oke-Ado, Ibadan over two decades ago, and Islamic Religious Knowledge (IRK) was compulsory for all students, as well as Bible Knowledge (BK), irrespective of students’ faith; we had no problem with anyone wearing Hijab. Even, MSSN had a praying ground within the school compound, and the then Oyo CAN never for once raised eyebrow.

I have repeatedly asked why this unnecessary friction on Hijab?

Both public and private sector workers, including bankers and medical practitioners, students of tertiary institutions, even Corp members in their Ajuwaya khaki, are allowed to put on Hijab.

For the records, Muslim women wear Hijab at home, to bed, to market, to school, to work, to everywhere they go, and it’s a way of life for them. Even schools in the Western world, the origin of Christianity, Hijab is allowed. The renowned US Basketball kid star, Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir, is always decked with Hijab playing

Basketball. Muslim ladies who are police officers in Scotland Yard, and those with the US marine are allowed to wear Hijab on their uniform. However, Osun CAN leadership will not continue to disobey constituted authority; the Osun government is a constituted authority; the Osun State High Court is a constituted authority.

The Holy Bible speaks very clearly about the relationship between the Christian and the government. We are to obey governmental authorities, and even when the government does not live up to its responsibilities, we are still to live up to ours.

Two of the highly respected Apostles in the Bible made this point in their letters. We must remember that God created the authorities ruling over us, just as He created us. As Paul wrote to the Romans, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves” (Romans 13:1-2).

Therefore, whenever a government violates biblical teachings, Christians are not obligated to disobey that government, but how does putting on of Hijab violate the scripture? Does Hijab pose any danger, or how does the fight against the use of Hijab affect the assignment of soul-winning that our pastors are commissioned to do? We are to love and tolerate our neighbours, and wearing of Hijab only collaborate a portion of the scripture that preaches against nudity. I must advice our leaders under the auspices of Osun CAN to give this issue a thought, retrace their steps and go and ask God for forgiveness for faulting His instruction by disobeying constituted authorities as contained in the Holy Scripture.

I am just bothered that the Osun governor is being put in bad light by some media cohorts for no reason. It is quite unfortunate that Governor Aregbesola, who was busy finalising agreement for the construction a 20MW hydro power plant at Kajola by CBC Energy while the crisis was raging, is being blamed by some uninformed minds. His case is sincerely the case of ‘uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.’

•Omowaye is a public affairs analyst.

16

Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

tribune cartoons

Adeeko Olusegun adeeko.olusegun@yahoo.com 0811 695 4638

GIANT IN THE TROPIC OF AFRICA

SEGELUULU

CHURCH BOY

FUNOLOGY

Stephen Okechukwu Keshi (The Big Boss) •

Born on 23 January 1962.

•

He was a Nigerian football defender.

He was also a football manager of the Nigerian national team.

He became coach of the Nigerian national team in 2011.

•

He was one of only two people, along with Egypt’s Mahmoud El-Gohary, to have won the Africa Cup of Nations as both a player and a coach.

•

Between 2004 and 2006 Keshi coached the Togo national football team, surprisingly bringing them to their first World Cup tournament, Germany 2006.

•

Keshi was married to his wife Kate, for 30 years. She died on 10 December 2015, after battling cancer for three years. They had four children.

•

Keshi had a heart attack and died en route to hospital on 7 June 2016 in Benin City, aged 54.

THERE ARE 10 DIFFERENCES IN THE CARTOONS BELOW. THE DIFFERENCES SHOULD BE MARKED IN B

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

A

B

17

Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

inside

nigerdelta

Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08158610216

Cost of bread goes up in Delta, as bakers end strike Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri

P

RICES of bread in oil-rich Delta State have been jacked up to reflect the present economic realities in the state.

This came as members of the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN), Delta chapter, ended their one-week strike to sensitise the public on an impending new regime of prices.

It was gathered that the association declared the strike last week Monday following recent increase in the prices of baking materials and ingredients.

The strike made loaves of bread to be out of stalls and on streets of major cities and towns in the state.

The Delta State chairman of AMBCN,

Mr Kelly Orien, while speaking to journalists, stated that a new price regime had been introduced to enable its members cope with the increase in prices of baking ingredients which include flour, yeast, butter and sugar, among others.

Orien lamented the situation, explaining that the recent strike was necessary to sensitise prospective customers that it was introducing a price regime to the market.

He explained that the 50kg bag of flour, which they usually purchased for N9, 500

had been increased to between N11,000 and N12,000 per bag.

He added that a bag of sugar which was previously sold for N8, 000 now goes for N11,000.

The chairman averred that his members had no choice than to jack up prices of loaves of bread since the cost of production has gone up too.

“We went on strike to enable us effect the new price template for bread. This is the only way we can sensitise our custom-

ers that prices of materials have gone up.

“If we don’t go on strike, it will be difficult to deal with our buyers. We are now back on stream,” Orien noted.

He gave the breakdown of the new prices, adding they would be reviewed in line with the realities on ground from time to time.

According to him, an “extra-extra large” size of loaves which previously sold for N300 is now N450.

The normal “extra large” loaves, he said, now sells for N380 as against N250.

NDDC empowers 100 widows in C’River Anthony Ubong-Calabar IN its continuous efforts at bringing succour to the less privileged, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has empowered 100 widows with sewing machines in Cross River State, under its skills Acquisition Programme.

The widows, drawn from the 18 local government areas of the state, underwent basic training in fashion designing under the NDDC Development Programme for rural women before they were issued with certificates and sewing machines.

Speaking with InsideNigerDelta shortly after the donation ceremony, Commissioner for NDDC, Cross River State, Alexander Okenwa, said the gesture was in tandem with the Federal Government’s commitment to develop the Niger Delta region by empowering its women through skill acquisition.

“We want every community in the Niger Delta region to benefit, especially communities where the crude is taken from, we want to be able to empower them to stand on their feet and be independent because of the new skills they have acquired” According to Okenwa, the donation of the sewing machines is one of the numerous programmes and projects aimed at facilitating the rapid, and sustainable development of the Niger Delta into a peaceful, prosperous and stable region.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Henrietta Cobham, told InsideNigerDelta that the kind gesture of the commission could not be quantified in monetary terms, adding she could now employ more hands to assist her in her shop.

She said: “Before now, I have been struggling ever since I lost my husband, but their gesture has put a smile on my face because I can now engage one more person. The skills I have acquired can also be passed to more people than just having two apprentices, but I can accommodate one more person and I feel great about it” she said.

Another beneficiary, Miss Grace Odey, described the NDDC as a life saver, adding “I have been unable to start up my business but this sewing machine has boosted my morale. At least, I can now start from the house because I have been idle since I graduated from school.”

Sliced bread

Bad roads: We’re suffering, tanker drivers lament •Hold training

Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri DRIVERS of articulated trucks, otherwise known as tanker drivers, have lamented the poor state of roads across the country, calling on the Federal Government to urgently do the needful.

The tanker drivers, under the aegis of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), made the plea at the weekend in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.

National Chairman of PTD, Mr Soliman Akanni Oladiti, said poor roads, especially on federal highways, were responsible for the incessant road crashes involving tanker drivers.

Represented by his vice, Lucky Ossesua, at a one-day safety training for tanker drivers in Oghara unit of PTD, Oladiti disclosed that his association had written several appeal letters to the government to fix the roads.

He said the poor state of roads might force members of the association to embark on industrial action throughout the country to press home its demands.

“Our roads are very bad. We are all witnesses to it. We have written to government to fix the roads on our highways for safe driving.

“We’re still in the state of appeal, a time will come when we would be forced to shutdown our services. But the solution to this menace is to be patient whenever we are on wheel,” Oladiti noted.

He lamented that many of its drivers had died through the bad roads while billions of naira had been lost to fire from avoidable road crashes.

The PTD boss noted that over 5,000 tanker drivers were being targeted in the first phase of the training which started in Lagos to senitise members to drive with care in order to prevent further road crashes of its members.

“We all travel out of this country, but over here, the negligence of our drivers calls for concern. If you recall, early this year, many fatal accidents have happened.

“This is what prompted our national chairman to initiate this kind of training for tanker drivers across the country.

“Like the popular adage, an army major, who retired safely is better than a Brigadier General who died in service. Besides, these drivers have families.

“So, the whole essence of this training is to senitise tanker drivers on the need to drive safely and return home to meet their families,” the national boss of tanker drivers averred.

Oladiti, however, reiterated that night driving among members of the association remained banned.

According to him, “There’s an existing law that by 6:30p.m or latest 7:00p.m, you park and at 6:00a.m the following day, you move.

“Don’t forget our roads in this country are not good and there have been cases of vandals or armed robbers hijacking tankers on the highways.

CREW

Dapo Falade -Rivers 08078891924 lasep09@gmail.com Ebenezer Adurokiya -Delta 08060113609 ebenezeradurokiya@gmail.com Banji Aluko - Edo 08067030572 adebanjialuko@yahoo.com Austin Ebipade - Bayelsa 08065400743 austinebipade@gmail.com Alphonsus Agborh 08035838703 Ajayi Joseph 08107754190 syntacticjoe@yahoo.com

18

Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

By Wale Ojo-Lanre 0803 349 0986 waleojolanre@gmail.com

2016 Ogidi Ela Day festival of honour, award •French Ambassador lauds Ogidi community •Tunde Ipinmisho, Gani Adams, Faleke, Omotosho, Diana Cheng bag awards

Mr and Mrs Tunde Ipinmisho

Otunba Gani Adams, Chief Okundaiye and Mr Denis Guaer, French Ambassador to Nigeria By wale Ojo Lanre

T

HE grand finale of the 2016 Ogidi – Ela Day held on Saturday 18 June at the Community hall ground Agegbe, Ogidi Ijumu, Kogi State will remain evergreen in the memories of those who witnessed and participated actively in the spectacular celebration of communal revival for development.

This year’s celebration assumed a distinctive identification not only because it was packaged with extra cultural tonic and a special night out for the youths who were entertained by 9ice, but most specifically the community giant act of bestowing honour on Mr Tunde Ipinmisho, Fellow, Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), one of its products who has distinguished himself exceptionally in unalloyed commitment and selfless service to the community.

It was in the spirit of making a generational statement to all and sundry that Ogidi is the only town in Nigeria which holds Nigeria’s biggest cultural event in the month of June which motivated the Ogidi Community in packaging a weeklong event which commenced on Sunday June 12 with a church service that was seconded on Monday by the kicking off of Ogidi Day inter – quarter’s novelty match which was consummated with the appearance of New Yam on Wednesday, for final of the Inter Quarter’s Match held on Thursday with events loaded for Friday which started with a medical outreach for the people, sponsored by Ogidi Development Union and Ripples Foundation Medical Outreach, Jumat service at Ogidi Central Mosque, expedition to Oroke Oda Mountain, Ahunko (Bonfire) at Oju Ala, with prayer and thanksgiving night at the residence of Mr Ibrahim Allah, President,

Abuja branch, Ogidi Development Union.

Thus, the souls, spirit, minds and the psyche of the community were lubricated, polished, ignited and set burning with passion for the grand finale on Saturday 18 June, 2016.

According to Mr Shuaib Ipinmisho, “This is a great day in the history of this town. As you can see, by 11am; almost all our invited guests are here at this beautiful venue for this great occasion. It is the handiwork of God and the love for our town” And the list of invited guests who travelled from different parts of the country to associate with the people of Ogidi was endless. Although Honourable James Abiodun Faleke, Chairman, House Committee on Customs who is the chairman of the day was not physically present, he sent a powerful delegation, comprising Otunba Gani Adams, Global convener, Oodua Progressive Union, (OPU); Mr Eniola Bello, Managing Director, Thisday Newspapers; Engineer Oluseyi Omotosho, CEO, New Moon Nigeria Limited; Prince Olushola Akanmode, former Deputy Chief of Staff to the President; Chief Benjamin Olowodola, CEO, Goshen Printmedia Limited.

A prominent Nigerian and daughter of the town, Chief Nike Okundaiye of Nike Art Gallery, came with a powerful delegation which include the French Ambassador, Mr Denis Guaer, a popular folklore musician, three cultural groups and media practitioners and also hosted an art exhibition which was declared opened by the French Ambassador .

The excitement of the visitors, guests and the people was ignited by the colourful and ceremonious entry of the Ologidi, Rabiu Oladimeji Sule, to the venue with cultural groups displaying gymnastic feat accompanied by loud blasting of tradi-

tional music and songs.

The spectacular event commenced as the different groups paid homage and pledged loyalty to the king in their own unique dance and styles which elicited applause from the excited guests.

In his welcome address, Mr Eniolorunda Kayode Ralph, President Ogidi Development Union, described the 2016 Ogidi Day and New Yam festival as “another cultural statement made by the people of Ogidi for not only the progress and development of Ogidi Ela people, but for the advancement of cultural tourism heritage of Nigeria.’

Mr Eniolorunda, who appreciated the guests for the their show of love to the community commended the king and the people for their resolved commitment to

the progress and development of the town “Ogidi Ela and New Yam festival Day has remained a watershed of development and advancement for our community. And this year is so special and unique as we are honouring one of the most prominent indigenes of this town, Mr Tunde Ipinmisho, who has served this town, as the President of Ogidi Development Union, for good nine memorable, meritorious, remarkable, wonderful and enviable years. We are proud of him. Also, we are going to bestow chieftaincy titles on those who have contributed immensely to the development of this town and give awards to deserving personalities for their interest and support for this town and the festival.”

Mr Eniolorun, specially commended Chief Nike Okundaiye for her passionate commitment to the development of the town, advancement of the people and enhancement of the Ogidi Ela day and New Yam Festival adding that “ she is our pride. She is Ogidi glory and we are grateContinues on pg19

Goldberg strengthens Yoruba GOLDBERG the lager Beer, a product from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc, has deepened its support for the culture and tradition of the Yoruba people living in the western part of Nigeria. The brand gathered the lovers and enthusiasts of Fuji music at the first of its kind Fuji Roundtable, a forum organised for intellectual discussions on how to take the genre of music to the next level.

Goldberg first threw its weight behind the socio-cultural life of the Yorubas living in the South-West and beyond four years ago when it inaugurated the talent hunt scheme for promising Fuji musicians, Fuji t’o Bam. Welcoming participants to the Fuji Roundtable, held in Lagos recently, Patrick Olowokere, Corporate Media & Brand PR Manager, Nigerian Breweries disclosed that at Nigerian Breweries, the development of the company’s host communities is taken seriously. He said Nigerian Breweries does not play with the socio-cultural life of its host communities.

His words: “As part of our efforts towards

community development anywhere we operate, Goldberg, in 2012, inaugurated its initiative of Fuji t’o Bam. We respect people’s cultures and values. Our gathering here today is a testament of our resolute determination to contribute to the sociocultural development of the people in the western part of our nation.”

In his keynote address at the Fuji Roundtable, Olawale Obadeyi, a Fuji analyst, traced the origin of this genre of music to the period when Were, the local brand of music was in vogue among the Muslim faithful.

He acknowledged that the music has grown astronomically over the years featuring different artistes who have contributed in different dimensions to its development.

He said the innovations brought in Fuji by these artistes have deepened ties across boundaries in the region. “Each Fuji artiste, evidently, is pushing the limits of creativity. The horizon of Fuji music has been astoundingly widened”, he stated.

Obadeyi identified Fuji music as a unifying force that easily bonds Yoruba together.

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tourism Continued from pg18

ful to God for her life’.

The President of Ogidi Development Union noted that “Though, our special guest of the day, Honourable James Abiodun Faleke, is not here in person, but all of us who were here during Ogidi Day 2015 would notice that the road to Ogidi from the junction is not only passable, but motorable. This is the effort and what Honourable Faleke has done in adding value to the people of Ogidi and today’s event. We are grateful to him and his family and we all pray that his dreams will come true.”

Guests were buffeted with exciting and fanciful display of dances, songs, and music by over 16 groups which included Ogidi based and outside the state, Adunni and Nefertiti, Ayo Ewebiyi from Lagos, Ekiti cultural group, fro Ado Ekiti, Epa from Iyah Gbedde, Urhu – Edo entertainer from Benin City, Nike Okundaiye from Osogbo.

The Ologidi of Ogidi, Oba Oladimeji Sule commended and appreciated the people of the town for their sense of unity, brotherhood and collective vision for the town calling on Kogi State government to remember the town in amenities upgrading and renewal.

In showing its appreciation, the community bestowed chieftaincy titles on, Chief Oluseyo Henry Omotosho, and his wife, as Otunba and Yeye Anifowose, Chief (Ms ) Diana Chen, Yeye Gbeluro, Otunba Gani Adams, Are Akinjagunla and Hon Faleke as Are Jagunmolu.

The community also remembered the dead who had served the community in its awards dispensation; late Chief Zacheus Elewonnubi Oloruntobi, Mallam Lawani Kesinrin and Chief Prince Olaniyi Bamidele, Seven Seven. All bagged posthumous awards for selfless service to the community.

Capping the award category was the Community Life Time Service Award bestowed on Mr Tunde Ipinmisho, who was described as “an asset of indispensible value to Ogidi Community. A gift to all of us here. A pride of Ogidi. A shining example of what a son of the soil should be. A rare motivator and organiser par excellence.

Here is a man who led this community as the President of Ogidi Development Union for nine and generously progressive years.

His achievements in these years cannot be estimated. The community is happy and heartily in confirming on this noble son of ours , Mr Tunde Ipinmisho, the Community Life Time Service Award which he meritoriously deserved and eminently qualified for”.

In his response, Mr Ipinmisho gave all

Wednesday, 22 June, 2016 praises to the Lord and commended the people of the town for their cooperation “without which nothing could have done”.

He promised to dedicate his life time to the service of God almighty and the community.

The French Ambassador, Mr Denis Guaer, who addressed the community and who cut the tape to declare open the Art Exhibition put on by Nike Art Gallery at the Museum built by Chief Okundaiye, lauded the people of Ogidi for being culturally minded like the French.

“I am excited by your cultural display here today.

I am fascinated by the different groups of dancers which tell the world that Ogidi is not only a town, but one which has cultural heritage to

show the world”.

Otunba Adams, bagged Are Akinjagunla of Ogidi commended the Ogidi Community “I must publicly acknowledge Ogidi Community uniqueness at showcasing the culture of their forefathers. I am bold to say that no other festival is being held in this grand style around this area of the state. I promise not only to contribute to this community, but to add value and enhance Ogidi Ela day and New Yam Festival via the Olokun Festival foundation next year”.

As the event rolled in to close around 5 pm with showers of blessing which nonetheless had no negative impact on the event, the youth gathered and prepared for the Youth Connect where 9ice played the songs for the old and the young till the early hours of Sunday 19 June 2016.

And in the words of 9ice, “Apart from being a star on the platform, I enjoyed the cultural package of the Ogidi day and Yam festival which I witnessed on Saturday and I am bold to say also that 2016 Ogidi day rocks, ko kan agidi”.

Mr Eniola Olorunda Kayode Ralph, President, Ogidi Development Union

A magical display

Oba Oladimeji Sule and wives

culture through Fuji round-table His words: “Goldberg had appropriated Fuji music as a veritable platform through which cultural values could be used to validate the essence of Yoruba living in the region and beyond.”

Sikiru Ayinde Agboola (a.k.a SK Sensation), Chairman, National Project Committee of the Fuji Musicians Association of Nigeria, who corroborated him, advised Fuji musicians and other stakeholders in the country to take the music to the next level.

According to him, it is the only surviving genre of music that has its origin in Nigeria and deserves concerted efforts by stakeholders to proffer possible ways through which it could be developed. His words: “It is the duty of all stakeholders to take the music to the next level.”

He therefore, commended Goldberg Lager Beer for the support it gives to the music. Agboola said the support by Goldberg is second to none and should be emulated by other companies in the country.

In his opening remarks at the programme, Emmanuel Agu, Portfolio Manager, Main-

stream Lager and Stout brands, Nigerian Breweries Plc; said the importance of music to any country cannot be over-emphasised.

According to him, the role of music in nation building is monumental as it fuels the mind and the creativity of listeners.

His words: “Music transcends all boundaries of communication. Music and its rhythm define our humanity considering the universality and essentiality beyond language barrier. I believe it is important for one to have an open mind in order to be in touch with that sense of understanding. Music cannot be separated from our socio-cultural life and as such it is a social connector which has the power to suggest circumstances, moods, and moments. It has general appeal to human senses.”

Agu said that Fuji music exerts a strong influence on the social life of the Yorubas.

He stated that through the music foreigners can easily feel and connect with the culture of the Yoruba people. The influence that Fuji music exerts on the social life of the Yoruba is therefore very strong irrespective of

their locations.

Giving the rationale for the event, the Portfolio Manager said the company always strives to champion, promote and associate with the culture of its host communities.

His words: “This is what Goldberg has been doing with its initiative of Fuji t’o Bam since 2012 when it inaugurated the concept. We respect people’s cultures and values.”

He stated that the Goldberg Fuji t’o Bam initiative has successfully brought to life the twin socio-cultural tradition of companionship and celebration. “The initiative readily identifies and celebrates the rich musical tradition of sustaining the cultural values of the people in the region.

The indigenous musical platform, which is currently in its fourth edition, had in the last three editions led to the discovery of budding Fuji talents and artists. “I have strong conviction that our gathering here today would in no small way help in contributing ideas to the development of the Fuji music and the culture of the Yoruba people,” he stated.

Israeli ambassador promises to enhance existing co-operation between Nigeria, Israel THE Acting Israeli ambassador to Nigeria Mr Nadav Goren, has said that he would leverage on the existing co-operation between Nigeria and the State of Israel.

He said this in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims commission, Reverend Tor Uja. He explained that the two countries had close co-operation which he assured would continue. His words,’’ I worked with the former ambassador, there is need to hit the ground running.’’

The diplomat informed his host that the reason for his visit was to have an introductory meeting with him and strengthen the co-operation existing between the commission and the Israeli government.

He promised to have an enlarged meeting with all the consular officers of NCPC and the Israeli embassy on how to fast -track visa issuance for pilgrimage leaders and pilgrims.

He thanked the executive secretary for the visionary interest he shared with him on how to have better working relationship. The acting Ambassador also welcomed the agricultural initiatives being canvassed by NCPC in which youths on pilgrimage would have the opportunity of learning from the rich agricultural experience of Israel and come back home to replicate it.

He assured the NCPC helmsman that the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with the State of Israel would be given accelerated push through the legal department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Aviation.

In his response, the executive secretary informed his guest that he recently had fruitful discussions with officials of the Israeli ministry of Foreign Affairs and would be going back to further intensify discussion on the issues raised.

He explained that there were challenges faced by the commission in the course of pilgrimage to Israel which the issue of visa for a short duration was one of them. According to him: “we have the leaders of the pilgrimage movement In Nigeria and they should be given one year visa”. He posited that this would help in the organisation of pilgrimage if visas are issued to last for at least one year.

Reverend Tor Uja intimated the acting Ambassador that the commission targets about 20,000 to 25,000 pilgrims in this year’s pilgrimage exercise.

He equally stated that the commission is challenged by the Israeli agricultural capacity which he would want Nigerian youths to leverage on as they formed 65 per cent of the nation’s population.

The NCPC boss also called on the Israeli authorities to step up the issue of direct flight from Nigeria to Israel. His words,” we believe that if the BASA agreement is activated, it will reduce the long hours on board.’’ According to the NCPC boss,” we will love to reduce the cost of pilgrimage so that more people can go on pilgrimage.’’

Reverend Tor Uja decorating Mr Nadav Goren, acting Israeli ambassador with a cap

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Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

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Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

with Tunde Dodondawa m:08029370304 e:mrdodondawa@yahoo.com

Shell committed to Nigerian

oil and gas sector despite challenges —Okunbor

Nigeria’s oil and gas sector remains the fulcrum of its survival because of its reliance for the much needed foreign exchange earnings through crude exports and domestic energy consumption. However, being in Nigeria for the past 80 years, the Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN), Mr Osagie Okunbor, reiterates the company’s commitment to the future of Nigeria. OLATUNDE DODONDAWA reports.

IN 1936, the Royal Dutch/Shell Group founded Shell D’Arcy, the first Shell company in Nigeria, and in November 1938, Shell D’Arcy was granted Exploration licence to prospect for oil throughout Nigeria.

However, not until January 1956 when the first oil discovery was made at a well drilled at Oloibiri by Shell D’Arcy, but in April 1956, the company changed its name to Shell-BP Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited.

First crude oil shipment was made from Nigeria by Shell in February 1958, while it also commissioned the Bonny Terminal in April 1961. Ten years after the commissioning of Shell’s Bonny Terminal, in September 1971, Shell’s Forcados Terminal was also commissioned.

The first participation agreement was signed in April 1973 with the Federal Government with government acquiring 35 per cent shares in the companies.

In April 1974, the Second Participation Agreement was when the Federal Government increased its equity to 55 per cent; in July 1979, the Third Participation Agreement, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and it increased its equity to 60 per cent. But in August 1979, the Fourth Participation Agreement resulted into BP’s share-holding to be nationalised and NNPC acquired 80 per cent while Shell had 20 per cent.

Shell’s role in Nigeria’s energy mix Shell remains the Nigeria’s oldest energy company, and has a long term and continuing commitment to the country, its people and the economy.

Shell companies in Nigeria produce oil and gas from land and swamps in the Niger Delta and from deep-water reserves some 120 kilometres off the coast. It also operates Nigeria’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant, which it exports all over the world.

The largest contribution by Shell companies in Nigeria is through the taxes and royalties they pay, the energy they produce as well as their commitment to support and finance community development initiatives in the Niger Delta.

According to the Country Chair of SCiN and the Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mr Osagie Okunbor, “Nigerians do not appreciate the importance of our companies to the country.

The company that pays 95 per cent of its profit to the federation account after the necessary cost deduction is a company that is working for the country.

“We are important in terms of revenue generation, domestic gas, employment and community development. For instance, we paid $43 billion to the federation account between 2011-2015.”

The company stated in its ‘Briefing Notes for 2015’ that $145.1 million was paid to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as required by law while another $50.4 million was directly expended in social investment projects by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Limited, operator of SPDC JV and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo).

Mr Okunbor stated that “these spend levels have not come about by accident. Shell and its partners believe that they can make a real difference in the lives of Nigerians and we have targeted our investments at community and enterprise development, education and health.

“Of course, we cannot take the place of government but we are keen to play our part in the development of a country we have been part of for more than 50 years.”

SCiN also continue with their contributions to developing the country’s human capital and contracting capacity, by spending some $900 million on local contracting and procurement.

Ownership of key assets such as rigs, helicopters and marine vessels was a key focus of these efforts to support Nigerian and community contractors.

Okunbor further stressed that SCiN are also actively involved in the development and utilisation of natural gas, pioneering its production and delivery to domestic consumers and export markets.

“Although, the SPDC JV’s market share of domestic gas has reduced through a series of divestments since 2010, which enables Nigerian companies to play a more strategic role, Shell still remains a crucial part of the national gas energy mix. For example, our Afam VI power plant alone contributed 14 per cent of the Nigeria’s grid-connected electricity in 2015, consolidating its achievements since first power in August 2008. Another entity, Shell Nigeria Gas supplies natural gas to 87 industrial customers.

“We are constantly monitoring the security situation in our operating areas in the Niger

Mr Osagie Okunbor

Delta and are taking all possible steps to ensure the safety of staff and contractors,” he stated.

The company also adopted as a strategy, deliberate promotion of indigenous participation in the oil and gas sector by divesting some onshore blocks and sell to indigenous companies. “We have been onshore in Nigeria for over 50 years and today, we have 13 indigenous companies that are operating onshore.

We believe there is nothing more to prove onshore but to enable indigenous participation in the oil and gas sector,” Okunbor stated.

Impact of low crude price regime on Shell’s operations Shell, like its counterparts, is not immune from the current global decline in crude oil price regime. This has resulted into suspension of Bonga South West project. “Bonga South West project was a flagship project for us. We really wanted to do it, but as it was when we tendered and got bids, the reality was that oil prices were above $100 per barrel. But by the time we began to analyse the bids we received, the new reality of low oil price was not working. We tried to renegotiate with our contractors but to no avail. This also affects our copartners including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Rather than just spend the state money like that and find it difficult to recover the cost, we took a decision that we have to re-scope the whole thing and re-tender in a more realistic price.

“I have to be clear that it is still our intention to do the Bonga South West project. We didn’t cancel it, we just stepped it down. We will rescope it and be back in near future with the project,” Okunbor said.

Okunbor further assured that the company wasn’t thinking of divesting its Nigeria’s operations despite the global crude oil price challenges. According to him, “the reality is that our presence in Nigeria is pretty substantial.

Exiting Nigeria is not on the card for Shell. It is a heartland for Shell which we have a lot regards for.”

In October 2003, Shell achieved 1million barrels per day production from its operations across Nigeria. In 2015 Shell-operated

ventures in Nigeria produced an average of 688,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (bpd), with 496,000 bpd from the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited operated Joint Venture (SPDC JV) and 192,000 barrels of oil per day from the Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo).

Shell Nigeria Gas Limited (SNG) supplies natural gas to 87 industrial customers and the SPDC JV is the major supplier of gas to Nigeria LNG. The SPDC JV Afam VI power plant, which has a 650 megawatt generating capability, supplied approximately 14 per cent of the nation’s grid-connected electricity in 2015 and has delivered 20 million Megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity into the Nigerian grid between its inauguration in 2008 and June 2015.

In 2015 the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) issued approximately 542,000 Certified Emission Reductions (CER) credits to the Afam VI power plant. This makes the plant the first energy efficiency project on power generation registered from Nigeria and also the first UN registered Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) initiative in the Shell Group.

Security and other challenges confronting Shell’s operation Security in the Niger Delta remains a major concern with persisting incidents of criminality, threats from militant elements, violent host community agitations and most recently, offshore piracy. Crude oil theft and related damage to oil and gas facilities in particular continue to present significant security concerns. Oil and Gas operations in parts of the region are severely impacted by these criminal activities. Armed robbery and kidnapping for ransom are also ongoing threats.

The safety of staff and contractors in Nigeria remains a top priority.

Shell Nigeria closely monitors the security situation and continues to take all necessary measures to ensure safety and continues to actively implement the Voluntary Principles of Security and Human Rights (VPSHR).

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Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Nigerdock commissions OFON phase 2 Platforms Stories by Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos

A

leading indigenous fabrication company, Nigerdock Nigeia Plc FZE, has commissioned and sailed-away a 25,000 barrels per day (bpd) OFON Platforms which is expected to bring Production at OFON field to 65,000 bpd.

Speaking at the Commissioning and the Sail-Away ceremony, the Chairman of Nigerdock, Mr Anwar Jarmakani, stated that the OFON Platform projects is the first Engineering, procurement, Construction and Onshore Commission (EPC) contract awarded to an indigenous Contractor.

According to him, “Following the start of this project, it has being a celebration of one milestone after another, culminating into the full completion and delivering of the project work scope. The project will bring about additional oil and gas production from 25,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (bpd) to 65,000 bpd. It also helps to stop gas flaring on Ofon and deliver gas to Bonny LNG plant via Amenam fields.

“This injection of gas feedstock will significantly boost the domestic gas market and provide critical power for Nigeria’s domestic and industrial needs in line with the Federal Government’s power sector objectives. Nigerdock is the west Africa’s leading indigenous company with expertise in Oil and Gas construction, Shipyard and Marine Services, Logistics Support and industrial training.

“We have trained over 6000 personnel in our training facility recently and we have developed world class systems and processes for Nigerdock driven by competent and professional Nigerian workforce.

In this high risk and HSE-critical work systems and environment, Nigerdock has executed over. Five million man hours of productivity and achieved over three million Man hours without a lost Time Incident.”

He re-echoed the position of the Federal Government by arguing that “during this period that we are witnessing a dwindling of oil fortunes, the focus from the presidency has been on efficient and full utilisation of local resources. The same theme is echoed by Dr Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of the NNPC. The honourable minister has come up with strategies to reduce waste and stop leakages, ensure end to end transparency, push for beat practice efficiency in operations, drive delivery and excitation and ultimately restore profitability.

“Nigerdock is an indeginous Company that fully embodies this principle. As a leading indigenous company in our industry, we train and use highly trained local and re-invested in our businesses. There

is a serious lack of effective and efficient engineering service in-country which causes escalating costs when work has to be outsourced overseas.

Nigerdock currently provides Engineer-

From left, Partner Vice President, Schneider Electric, Ahmed Fateen; Winner of the Trip to France; CEO, E.E Obilly Wise International Company, Obiora Ekedum; CEO, Bolamark Engineering Limited, Alhaji Bola Azeez; Grand prize winner of the Trip to Paris and semi final match ticket to the UEFA Euro 2016; CEO, Ortho Chibuzz International Limited, Anazodo Chibunna; Schneider Electric, Country President, Walid Sheta, during a media chat in Lagos recently.

The politics of electricity tariffs

By Sony Anaeto IT would seem from the deliberate efforts of the Nigerian trade unions to lump the issue of new electricity tariffs approved for Nigerian electricity distribution companies called discos, with the recent increase of fuel price to N145, that the unions have something to hide after all.

This is because Nigerians are not as daft as the Unions think. Indeed, they now know better, especially with the daily news of sabotage of oil and gas pipelines that the problem of irregular or zero electricity supply lie not with the discos. Instead they lie clearly with those that are to generate and transmit the electricity to the discos for onward delivery to the anxiously waiting and expectant Nigerian electricity consumers.

It is therefore patently unfortunate and mischievous of the unions in the power sector to vent their spleen on the discos as the culprit for poor electricity supply. The facts as the public now knows is that while the discos can be taken to task on slow metering and use of estimates the same

cannot be done on the main issue of lack of electricity and the existing poor power supply. The obvious reason is that the discos do not exist in a vacuum,but are at the receiving end of a value chain in electricity generation and transmission.

It follows therefore and there from that if the discos do not have kilowatts of electricity transmitted to them for distribution their distribution capacity is denuded if not nonexistent . So how come the power industry trade unions, the protector of workers’ rights are deliberately portraying the discos as exploiting the Nigerian masses with the new tariffs and equating that with the highly explosive fuel price increase that the workers union have called Nigerians out on strike, albeit unsuccessfully? The answer is obvious and it is that Nigerians as I said before now know better and will not be led by the nose again by mischievous trade unions in any industry.

Nigerians know that the discos are owned

by Nigerian investors who bought them at privatisation with their hard earned money and that the distribution function in electricity is capital intensive and highly expen-

IOCs to divest small refineries as crude prices rebound INTERNATIONAL Oil Companies (IOCs) are set to further trim lower-margin assets in the face of headwinds from rising crude oil prices by putting small refineries on the auction block.

Chevron, the second largest U.S. oil company, is soliciting interest in its Burnaby, British Columbia, refinery and gasoline stations, the company told Reuters. Shell is looking for buyers for its Martinez, California, refinery, two people familiar with the situation told Reuters. Shell declined to comment.

These two companies, along with peers Exxon Mobil Corp and BP Plc, have sold more than a million barrels per day of U.S. refining capacity in the past three years, according to Stratas Advisors, a Houstonbased consultancy.

The world’s five largest oil majors together still have enough U.S. capacity to refine about 4.7 million barrels per day.

Refining profit margins have declined from highs seen in 2015, and the fear is that as crude prices recover from a twoyear rout, refiners will be squeezed as the cost of oil rises but the price of gasoline

ing Services and engineering management as demonstrated by the performance on this EPC contact and will be a major enabler of improving the current in-country deficiencies.

does not keep pace. Selling the plants while margins are still reasonably high allows the majors to exit without a hit to their balance sheets.

Chevron also told Reuters it has retained Rothschild & Co to market its 75 per cent stake in a South Africa refinery. The fifth oil major, Paris-based Total SA, retained Lazard to sell a 50 per cent stake in its sole U.S. refinery, but was unable to secure the price it desired, according to sources.

Refining has remained a profitable sector during a two-year oil price rout, so these plants can fetch a relatively higher price than exploration and production assets.

Chevron and Shell have the highest cashflow deficits, said Lysle Brinker, director of equity research at IHS Energy, and so have the most motivation to sell.

The two companies have been investing in other areas of their business - Shell plunked down $53 billion to buy BG Group earlier this year, while Chevron has spent heavily on large-scale liquefied natural gas projects.

“They’re much more strapped for cash, and they’re accelerating the sale of assets that will get pretty decent prices,” said

Brinker. “A lot of the asset sales that the big guys have been selling are downstream and midstream, because those have been sought-after by private equity and others because there’s more steady cash flow.”

These assets may prove to be a better fit for smaller buyers that focus on particular regions, such as the North American West Coast, or companies that concentrate on global storage and trading, but not oil production.

While the majors plan to continue to operate large, profitable refineries that are well integrated with their oil production assets, refineries outside of that footprint are likely to be sold, Brinker said.

Chevron’s downstream strategy has focused on running large scale refineries that can serve markets in the United States and Asia and on operating petrochemical plants that produce very profitable products.

The refinery in British Columbia, however, refines light oil, rather than heavy crude from Canada’s oil sands, and its products are distributed in a smaller region around British Columbia and down through Washington State.

sive to deliver. They know that if the discos deliver then our economy will rise from its present dormant and comatose state and Nigerians will have a better life. Nigerians also know that electricity distribution is highly technological and it will take some time for those who have invested in it which are the discos to make any profit. We also know that as with the high prices which ushered in telecommunications when gsm phones came in, the high tariffs in electricity already approved for the discos by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the power regulator controlling the discos, will also come down for our overall enjoyment and general satisfactory consumption of electricity.

It is therefore unnecessary for the power trade unions, in agitating for workers rights and benefits to make the discos and the tariffs approved for them the scape goats for poor electricity supply when Nigerians know the source of that. That is definitely misleading and more unpatriotic than the misleading picture of exploitation that the unions have painted the discos on the new tariffs. It is like giving the dog a bad name in order to hang it and that is not what the discos or the Nigerian electricity consumers deserve.

Especially now that Nigerians are calling on government to stop vandalisation of pipelines and tackle those involved like BokoHaram and terrorists generally.

To salvage its reputation from the failed strike on the new fuel price increase, the trade unions should refrain from lumping the protests on that score with the new electricity tariffs that NERC has approved for discos.

This is because Nigerians know that better days are ahead if the discos are allowed to function according to their legitimate mandate to deliver electricity to Nigerians and lift us out of perpetual darkness.

The unions should channel their efforts at making Nigerians have electricity by asking government to galvanise its power generation and transmission capabilities to make the discos perform and deliver.

That way, Nigerians will rally round when trade unions call them out on strike because they will see that the Unions know what they are saying especially on new electricity tariffs as well as the real reasons for poor electricity supply.

25

politics&policy

The question of leadership

Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

Continued from pg24

citizenry is indispensable to the maintenance of the good state.

Awolowo was prophetic on the dire consequences of inept leadership in a federation many say remains defective in structure and governance till date. “While the masses of the people must be given time to cultivate mental magnitude, those who aspire to lead Nigeria are expected to be equipped with this great attribute before they venture to embark on the great and onerous assignment. Otherwise, in the Nigerian context, it would be a case of the blind leading the blind. Let us not make a mistake about it. A defective and inadequate leadership would only bring curses rather than blessings on the Nigerian peoples,” he stressed.

In his quest for a workable and resilient federation, Awolowo completed the trilogy he had initiated while in prison on the predicament of Nigeria, when he published The Strategy and Tactics of the People’s Republic of Nigeria in 1970. The first of the trilogy was My March Through Prison and second, For the Good of My People. All the three had the collective title of Adventures in Power. Remarkably, each of them dissected knotty issues bordering on a constitutional framework premised on federalism in Nigeria.

In the candid view of Olúfémi Taiwo of the Africana Studies and Research Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY U.S.A, Awo, shares that special quality of all great thinkers and writers. “My fundamental and abiding interest in Awolowo is that of a scholar. I am fascinated by the originality, depth, and audacity of his thinking in many areas, the richness and complexity of his expostulations, the sophistication and thoroughness of his policy formulations; in short, in his status as one of the preeminent thinkers of the world.”

In his autobiography entitled, Awo, published in 1960, Awolowo unequivocally stated his position on the issue of federalism. His words; “In 1951, when the controversy on the form of Nigeria’s constitution began, I had already been, for more than eighteen years, a convinced federalist. This position is further corroborated by a professor of literature and African studies at Carlton University Ottawa Canada, and winner of the prestigious the 2013 Prize

In 1951, when the controversy on the form of Nigeria’s constitution began, I had already been, for more than eighteen years, a convinced federalist.

Chief Obafemi Awolowo

for African Writing, Pius Adesanmi. Quoting chapter 12 of the autobiography, he stated: “In 1951 when the controversy on the form of Nigeria’s constitution began, I had already been for more than 18 years a convinced federalist, “ and that the conviction started in 1928.

“When one looks at Chief Awolowo’s extensive oeuvre, one is struck by the recurrence of certain registers, themes, and concepts. He has hardly a book in which a

chapter is not dedicated to reiterating the importance of getting Nigeria’s constitutional framework right. The 1947 book, Path to Nigerian Freedom, written in 1945, contains a chapter, Towards Federal Union, which, as usual, makes the case for a federal constitution. In 1968, The People’s Republic, offers two significant constitutional chapters. Chapter 5 is entitled “constitutional basis” and Chapter 10 is entitled “suitable constitution.”

“This is not counting the volume of essays and speeches in which these keywords and registers appear. Indeed, wherever the word, “constitution” appears in the Awolowo opus, you can almost always count on encountering the qualifiers, “suitable”, or, even more frequently, “federal”, which the thinker always poses in a binary opposition to unitary.

“After all, given the condition of Nigeria today, given our report card after fifty-three years (2014) of this experiment, it should by now be visible to the blind and audible to the deaf (apologies to my good friend, Patrick Obahiagbon) that the author of Thoughts on Nigerian Constitution was right on the money about the factors he identified as weighing heavily in favour of true federalism. Those factors are: ethnic divergence, geographical separateness and diversity, different economic visions and divergent resources, religious differences and, above all, linguistic differences. Identifying these factors which compel federalism is the easy part. “

Plateau Assembly not driven by party affiliation —Gagdi Honourable Yusuf Gagdi, Deputy Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, is also the Chairman, Conference of State Legislatures of Nigeria. He speaks with ISAAC SHOBAYO on his relationship with the speaker, proposed grazing reserves in the state, among other issues. Excerpts:

Y

OU were recently elected chairman, Conference of State Legislatures of Nigeria, what informed your choice?

It is a miraculous thing because I did not go to Obudu, Cross River State, to become chairman of the conference. This has further added to my challenges and responsibilities. After the conference in Obudu, I did not come back to Jos, I had to start working immediately. I have YOU were recently elected chairman, Conference of State Legislatures of Nigeria, what informed your choice?

It is a miraculous thing because I did not go to Obudu, Cross River State, to become chairman of the conference. This has further added to my challenges and responsibilities. After the conference in Obudu, I did not come back to Jos, I had to start working immediately. I have to draw the lines so that the official responsibility that is vested on me as the chairman of the conference involving 36 State Houses of Assembly will not affect my representation in terms of the people that voted for me, and will not negate my primary responsibility as the deputy speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly.

You are a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House and also the deputy speaker. What is your relationship with the Speaker and other members of the ruling All Progressives Conference (APC) in the assembly?

The relationship is cordial in the sense that, in the House of Assembly, it is not political ideology that matters; we are representing the people and are also an independent section of government. We understand that, from the day we were elected and inaugurated, we are no longer representing our political party but our constituencies and the entire state irrespective of weather they voted for you or not.

With this understanding, we try to keep our political differences aside and the interest of the state on the front burner. That is how we are able to manage ourselves as true presiding Officers of the Plateau State House of Assembly from inauguration to date. We keep preaching to members that our priority is to ensure that we don’t talk politics but we discuss the interest of Plateau irrespective of wether it affects APC or PDP. What has changed, in terms of legislation, from the 7th Assembly?

The 8th Assembly is unique and quite different from the previous ones. If you look at the past activities of the assembly, there’s no assembly that has put the state first like the eighth assembly, in terms of peace.

When we can came on board, we noticed the dissension that existed among the people of the state. When a motion was moved regarding attacks and counter attacks in some parts of the state, we paid adequate attention to it and faced it head on, unlike in the past where legislators hardly put up a strong committee in terms of the peace process.

controversy over grazing reserves for Fulani herdsmen, what is your take on this?

This is a matter that any legislature will not want to talk about. Well, the House of Assembly operates based on the cries of the people. You operate based on the yearning or the petition sent to you by your people. You operate within the need of the people. We have not received a briefing from the government regarding grazing reserves, but a lot of people have been casting aspersions on members of the assembly in respect of grazing reserves.

Until I am officially communicated as a member of assembly that this is a policy of government which requires legislation, you don’t expect me as a member to start talking on grazing area or grazing reserves.

We set up a strong committee headed by myGagdiand we went round the state. We did our self best by visiting all the crisis-ridden communities to ensure that people live in peace with one another. By visiting these people, you are giving them confidence that they have a government that cares for them.

We noticed that there was mistrust among the people, we tried to educate them to ensure that they understand the situation and have confidence in the law enforcement agencies. The communities at loggerheads were not sitting at a roundtable but we were able to bring them together. That led to mutual understanding and trust and gave us to the peace we are enjoying today. And the committee made some good recommendations which have gone a long way to address the pathetic situation.

The state is presently enmeshed in

Why is the House elongating the tenure of management committees in the 17 local government areas of the state?

My position on this is very clear. I have severally condemned the management committees at the local government level. They all came into power through the doctrine of necessity, because Plateau has the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) law that does not tolerate a vacuum in the administration of local governments, and the assembly also has a law that gives power to the government to take action if there is a case of embezzlement in the local government.

I am the deputy ; there was never a time that local government chairmen wrote the assembly about the projects they wanted to execute. It is expected that the law guiding the day-to -day activities of local governments should be put in place by the assembly. In the past nine months, I have never seen a request intimating the assembly about what they want to do.

27

fortherecord

Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

Judgment of Hon Justice S.O. Falola on use of Hijab in Osun public schools Continued from yesterday

JUDGMENT

The Applicants, by their Amended Originating Summons brought pursuant to Order 1 Rule 2 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedures) Rules 2009, as preserved by S.315 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) applied to this court for the enforcement of their rights as guaranteed under S.38 and S.42 of the Constitution.

The Originating Summons was supported with a 44 paragraph Affidavit, Statement, Written Address of Counsel and a number of exhibits, including a copy of the document titled “Guidelines on Administration And Discipline in Osun State Public Schools” published by Ministry of Education, Osogbo Osun State in 2004; which is the subject of dispute in this case.

The Applicants captured the essence of their grievances under Grounds Upon Which The Reliefs Are Brought thus: “1. The use of Hijab or head cover is compulsory in Islam on every Muslim Female Students.

2. By virtue of Section 38 of 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, everybody is entitled to the right to freedom of religion, conscienc and thought.

3. The 1st – 3rd Respondents issued what it calls “Guidelines on Administration and Discipline in Public Schools in Osun State.

Article 8.2(v) of which forbids the use of Hijab in some Public Schools.

4. Pursuant to the said “Guidelines on Administration and Discipline in Public Schools in Osun State,” the 4th and 5th Respondents deny the Muslim female students the use of Hijab in the Public Schools in Osun State and the Muslim female students who use Hijab in some Public Schools are beaten, embarrassed and tortured by the agents of the Respondents”.

Consequently, the Applicants are seeking the following reliefs from this Honourable Court; “1. An Order for the Applicants to enforce and secure the enforcement of the Fundamental rights of the Muslim Female Students in Public Secondary Schools in Osun State under Sections 38 and Section 42 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.

2. Declaration that the use of Islamically prescribed head-cover called Hijab by the Muslim Female Students in all Primary and Secondary Schools in Osun State forms part of their fundamental rights to freedom of religion, conscience and thought as contained in Section 38 of 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) 3. Declaration that Article 8.2(v) of the “Guidelines on Administration and Discipline in Osun State Public Schools “ issued by the Ministry of Education under the 3rd Respondent, acting on the instruction of the 1st Respondent is not only discriminatory against Muslim female students but also uncalled for, inconsistent with Section 38 of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a clear violation of the fundamental rights of Muslim female students in Public Schools in Osun State to freedom of religion and therefore null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

4. Declaration that molestation, harassment, torture, embarrassment and humiliation which Muslim female students in Osun State Public Schools are subjected to in the hands of the agents of the 1st – 3rd Respondents especially the 4th and 5th Respondents constitute a clear infringement on the fundamental right of the said Muslim female students to religion, conscience and thought as well as their fundamental right to dignity of human person and right against torture, inhuman and degrading treatments.

5. An Order of this Honourable court restraining the Respondents, their servants, agents, privies or whatsoever called from disallowing the Muslim female students in Public Primary and Secondary Schools in Osun State the use of Islamically prescribed Hijab in their various Schools, during and after the School hours”.

Review of Facts And Arguments of Counsel

In their Counsel’s Written Address, K.B. Odedeji Esq. of Counsel donated two issues for determination, that is; 1. Whether the use of Islamically prescribed head cover called Hijab is not part of the fundamental right of the Muslim Female students in Public Schools in Osun State to the freedom of religion in view of S.38 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

2. Whether in view of S.38 of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which guarantees fundamental right to freedom of religion Article 8 2(V) of the “Guideline On Administration and Discipline in Public Schools in Osun State” is not null, void and of no effect whatsoever”.

Arguing the application beginning with issue 1, Learned Counsel drew my attention to S.38 (1) Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and Chapter 24 verses 30 – 31 of the Glorious Qur’an.

Learned Counsel also drew my attention to the decision of the Court of Appeal Ilorin Division in THE PROVOST, KWARA STATE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ILORIN & 2 ORS VS BASHIRAT SALIU & ORS IN THE UNREPORTED SUIT NO. CA/IL/49/2006, delivered on Thursday 18th June, 2009 which according to him has decided the issue of usage of Hijab by Muslim female students, as part of the fundamental right of Muslim students to the freedom of religion. Counsel quoted pages 15 – 16 of the lead judgement and page 2 of the consenting judgment of Hon. Justice Massoud AbdulRahaman Oredola, JCA in extenso. It was argued that the use of Hijab and veil is a fundamental right of the female students in Public Primary and Secondary Schools in Osun State, but that regrettably these rights are being curtailed illegally by the Respondents. It was argued that, the law empowers this court to determine the Applicants’ reliefs under Order 2 Rule 1 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules. The case of FAJEMIROKUN V COMMERCIAL BANK NIG. LTD. (2009) 2 MJC (PART II) PAGE 114, 136 – 137 and AMALE V SOKOTO LOCAL GOVERNMENT & 2 ORS (2012) VOL, 1 – 2 MJSC page 1 at 1-6 PARAG E – F were sited in support of the assertion. It was further argued that female applicants are entitled to those rights in Public Schools in Osun State which is being jointly financed by the 1st – 3rd Respondents. Counsel therefore urged me to uphold the first issue in favour of the Applicants.

On issue 2, Learned Counsel analysed Article 8.2(V) of the Guideline in dispute to mean: a) Hijab is allowed for Muslim students in “Muslim Public Schools” b) Hijab is disallowed for Muslim students in other Schools apart from “Muslim Public Schools” It was argued that irrespective of names, public Schools in Osun State are owned, financed and controlled by government of Osun State under the 1st – 3rd Respondents. Counsel emphasized that this discrimination cannot stand in view of S.38 of the Constitution. And that for the fact that the Guideline is contradictory to S.38 of the Constitution, it (the Guideline) should give way. Counsel finally urged me to hold the two issues in favour of the Applicants.

The 1st – 5th Respondents later filed a 21 paragraph Counter Affidavit and Counsel’s Written Address. The 1st – 5th Respondents further raised Preliminary Objection to the Suit. In the Counter Affidavit deposed to by Mr. Jacob Ayanyemi a Principal State Counsel in the Ministry of Justice, Osogbo, the 1st – 5th Respondents stated that some paragraphs in the Affidavit in Support of the application are true, while others are not. It was deposed that, the head teachers and Principals of Public Schools have statutory power to enforce discipline in Schools and government policy, including discouragement of the use of Hijab in Public Schools in Osun State. That only School beret and face cap are known to be part of School Uniform, and that school uniforms are distributed free of charge in Osun State without Hijab. That the Muslim Female students and their parents are fully aware that the use of Hijab by Muslim students is restricted in Public Schools in Osun State.

In order to deal with the issues thrown up by the parties in this case, it is necessary to take a brief look at the history and policy of education in Nigeria.

In the Counsel’s Written Address signed by Jide Obisakin, a Director in the Ministry of Justice, one issue was nominated for determination, to wit; “Whether the suit of the Applicants can be competently maintained as Fundamental Rights to warrant the adjudicatory power of the court in entertaining same”.

It was argued that the action discloses no reasonable cause because the Applicants are challenging the policy of the State Government which portrays the secular nature of the State. The case of EGBE V ADEFARASIN (1987) NWLR (pt 47) 1 at 20 was sited, to canvass that the case should be struck out. It was further argued that S.38 (1) of the Constitution which the Applicants rely upon is not helpful to their cause, and sited the case of MEDICAL and DENTAL PRACTITIONERS DISCIPLINARY TRIBUNAL V OKONKWO (2001) 19 WRN at page 1, to the effect that, the Guideline of 2004 was made in the overriding public interest. It was argued that the Constitution does not confer absolute right on citizens of Nigeria, and that the claims of the Applicants are not within the confines of Fundamental Human Rights as envisaged

by Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution. It was argued further that Section 42 of the Constitution permits derogation from citizen’s rights.

Arguing further, Learned Counsel contended that the Guidelines provides for two categories of Public Schools to wit; 1. Muslim Public Schools and 2. The General Public Schools which can be attended by any person whether a) Muslim b) Christian c) Animists That it is an act of benevolence on the part of government to have accommodated Muslim female students wearing Hijab in any of the Schools. That the State government has by the provision of the Guideline over indulged the Applicants’ faith, a step which might back fire and provoke litigation by other faiths. That by combination of S.4 (7) and Item 30 of the concurrent Legislative list, of the Constitution, government has jurisdictional competence to establish Schools and design policies that would guarantee peace therein. That this policy cannot be questioned by court.

It was further canvassed that the Applicants are not the victims, that is, neither the female students whose rights have allegedly been violated nor the biological parents of those children. Counsel referred to certain paragraphs of the Affidavit in Support of the Application and contended that while the Applicants have no Legal rights to come to court, they have no cause to place before the court as envisaged by Sections 38(1) and 45(1) of 1999 Constitution.

On the Court of Appeal decision in No. CA/IL/49/2006 it was argued that, while female pupils and students in Osun State Public Schools have prescribed uniform, those of Kwara State College of Education over which the case was decided are more mature, and have no prescribed uniform except code of dressing, hence this court should depart from the Court of Appeal decision. The 1st – 5th Respondents therefore urged me to refuse the application.

Continues page 28

fortherecord Court decision on use of Hijab in Osun public schools

28

Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

Continued from page27

The 1st – 5th Respondents also raised Preliminary Objection to the Suit. The grounds of the Preliminary Objection are that: 1. The action of the Applicants/Respondents does not disclose any cause of action at all.

2. That the Applicants/Respondents lack the requisite locus standi to institute the action.

The 1st – 5th Respondents thereafter submitted one issue for determination, to wit; “Whether in the circumstances of this case and particularly in the light of the grounds in the Respondents/ Applicants Preliminary Objection, the Applicants/Respondents have a maintainable action”.

The issues and argument canvassed in support of this Preliminary Objection are substantially a repetition of the submission of Counsel to the 1st 5th Respondents in aid of their Counter Affidavit, hence I do not think it is necessary to review them all over again.

The Applicants filed a 21 paragraphs Further and Better Affidavit on 5th November 2013 to oppose the Counter Affidavit of the 1st – 5th Respondents.

There, it was averred that Osun State is a multi religious one and that government should accommodate all interests. That it is compulsory for Muslim female students to use Hijab, and this does not offend religious interest of other faiths. That there are no Muslim or Christian Public Schools in Osun State because all such Schools are owned, financed and controlled

by Osun State Government. That when the letter of complaint – ‘Exhibit B’ – was served on the 1st – 5th Respondents, there was no reply or call for dialogue, consequent upon which the Muslim female students started to wear Hijab to School. And that in reaction, head teachers and overzealous School Principals started to embarrass such female pupils and students.

That distribution of free School uniform does not debar Muslim female students from wearing Hijab. That the 1st – 5th Respondents are solely responsible for placing students in Schools even against the choice of such pupils and students. That the situation is made worse by merger of many public Schools in Osun State in which pupils and students no longer have choice as to which school to attend.

The Learned Counsel to the Applicants filed Written argument in support of the Further and Better Affidavit. It was submitted that the fact that the state government is solely responsible for finance and administration of Public Schools and overzealous School administrators discriminate and punish Muslim female students have not been denied by the Respondent. That even the Constitution recognizes Sharia Law and establishment of Sharia Court for Muslims both at Federal and State levels. That Muslim female women who wear Hijab mingle with non Muslim women in market and other work places without any security threat. That by a recent publication of the 1st – 5th Respondents titled, “Frequently Asked Questions on the new School System in the State of Osun” the 3rd Respondents at page 25 disclosed that there are no Public mission Schools in Osun State because all such Schools were taken over as far back as 1975, and that the former owners have since been paid off.

Learned Counsel insisted that the Applicants have sustainable cause of action, have locus standi and that the Court of Appeal decision is a locus classicus which this court cannot derogate from, especially the holding of Hussein Mukartar, JCA at page 16, to the effect that it is fundamental right of Muslim female students to observe and practice their religious injunction in any part of Nigeria. Counsel to the Applicants urged the court to sustain the application.

And in their reaction to the Preliminary Objection raised by the 1st – 5th Respondents, the Applicants, through their Counsel raised two issues for determination, to wit; 1. Whether the Applicants have not disclosed cause of action in their application before the court.

2. Whether the Applicants do not have locus standi to institute this action in view of the relevant provisions of the Fundamental rights (enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009.

On issue 1 Counsel submitted that it is the reliefs of the Applicants that determine the cause of action as he drew the attention of the court to the case of SEHIN-

DEMI V GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE (2006) ALL FWLR (part 311) page 1858, 1884 – 1885 parag. A – E. That the complaint of the Applicants bother on discrimination on account of religious beliefs, assault and by necessary implication, infringement of fundamental rights of Muslim female students who are their members in Public Primary and Secondary Schools to use the Hijab. It was canvassed that, so long as the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 is made pursuant to Section 46(3) of the Constitution (as amended), it has the same force of law as the Constitution itself. Counsel drew my attention to the case of NWAOGUGU V PFRN (2007) 12 WRN 24 at 54 lines 15 – 48. It was further contended that the combine effect of Section 3 (e) of the preamble as well as Order 1 Rule 2 Fundamental Right (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009, the intention of the law makers is not to allow cases of enforcement of Fundamental rights to be frustrated by argument on lack of locus standi.

In their process titled REACTION TO REPLY OF THE APPLICANTS ON THE PRELIMINARY OBJECTION RAISED BY THE 1ST – 5TH RESPONDENTS, the 1st to 5th Respondents submitted that, by disallowing the wearing of Hijab by female students in Public Schools as provided in the Guidelines is to enforce discipline.

That Muslim female students are being pampered by government. That the rights of the students as enshrined in the Constitution is not absolute but should be subsumed to the general interest of the State.

Counsel referred to the case of DR. SOFOLAHAN & ANOR V CHIEF (MRS) FOWLER (2002) 34 NWLR pt 788 664 – 665 and submitted finally that failure to include the names of the female students among parties to the case is fatal to the case of the Applicants.

After service of the Originating Processes on the 1st – 5th Respondents, the 6th – 9th Respondents brought application to join the suit. The application was granted without objection. And before even the 1st – 5th Respondents filed their reply processes, the 6th – 9th Respondents quickly filed their objection and other processes. Apparently, it was the intervention of the 6th – 9th Respondents and the processes they filed which introduced heavy religious dose into a case that was a straight confrontation between the Applicants and the 1st – 5th Respondents. Incidentally, when the 1st – 5th Respondents filed their reply through their Learned Counsel, Jide Obisakin, they virtually chorused all that the 6th – 9th Respondents put in their Affidavit and Counsel’s argument. In response to this fresh challenge, the court in its wisdom formally invited Christian Lawyers Association of Nigeria (CLASFON) Osun State Chapter and their counterpart, Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN) as Amici curiea, to appear in court and advise the court on the issues in contention. Both groups obtained the service of Lawyers who prepared briefs for them and also participated actively in the proceedings. This court is grateful to them for offering wise counsel.

As I held above, the 6th to 9th Respondents filed a 17 paragraph Counter Affidavit deposed to by one Reverend Kunle Adeyemo who described himself as the 1st vice Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Osun State Chapter and the 8th Respondent. In the said Counter Affidavit, the 6th – 9th Respondents stated that paragraphs 5,6,7,8,9,10,16 and 17 of the Affidavit in support of the Application “are correct” but that

Whether the Applicants are right to have capitalized on the provision of Glorious Qur’an to insist that Muslim female students are entitled to wear Hijab in all Public Primary and Secondary Schools in Osun State.

other paragraphs “are not correct”. That there are some public Primary and Secondary Schools in Osun State that are founded as Christian heritage, traditions and practices but have been taken over by the government although they still retain Christian heritage, values and ethos. That the religious practice in such Schools cannot accommodate wearing of Hijab by any female student. That some of these Schools still have Church buildings within their compound.

That the 6th – 9th Respondents do not want their children to attend Schools in an environment full of practices alien to the Christian faith, such as wearing Hijab in Schools founded upon Christian heritage and ethos. That the presence of Muslim students wearing Hijab in such Schools like Baptist High School Iwo, Methodist School, Isale Aro, Osogbo, St Benedicts Catholic School, Isale Aro Osogbo among others would offend Christian faith. That the nature of uniform prescribed by government for female students in Public Schools is shorter than those permitted by Christian faith, but Christians are not complaining.

A three page Counsel’s Written Address signed by Femi Ayandokun Esq. was attached to the Counter Affidavit of the 6th – 9th Respondents. In it, the 6th – 9th Respondents raised three issues for determination viz 1. Whether the judgement of the Court of Appeal sitting at Ilorin in Suit No. CA/IL/49/2006 is applicable in this present suit 2. Whether S.38 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) can avail the Applicants in view of S.38 (2) and S.42 (1) (b) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended).

3. Whether the Fundamental rights of the Applicants are absolute in the face of S.32 (2) S.42(1)(b) and S.45 (1) (a) and (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) On issue 1, it was submitted that the court of Appeal decision (supra) is inapplicable in that whereas the State government prescribes School Uniform in Public Schools in Osun State (but) in the Kwara State College of Education, students are free to wear any dress of their choice.

On issue 2, it was argued that the Wards of the 6th – 9th Respondents are incapable of suing, and of impressionable age should not be compelled to attend educational institution where religious practices alien to their own are allowed.

Counsel referred to certain paragraphs of the Counter Affidavit and submitted that allowing the application would mean that Muslim female students would enjoy comparative favour over their counterparts who do not have that privilege.

On issue 3, Counsel drew my attention to the relevant Constitutional provisions and certain paragraphs of the Counter Affidavit of the 6th – 9th Respondents and submitted that the reliefs being claimed by the Applicants are injurious to the rights and freedom of the 6th – 9th Respondents who should equally enjoy the protection embedded in sections 38 (2), S.42(1) (b) and sections 45 (1) (a) and (b) of the Constitution.

The case of MEDICAL AND DENTAL PRACTITIONERS DISCIPLINARY TRIBUNAL V OKONKWO (2001) FWLR (pt 44) 542 was sited and relied upon.

Counsel therefore urged the court to dismiss the application.

Again, the 6th – 9th Respondents filed a Preliminary Objection to the effect that, “That the action of the Applicants/Respondents is incompetent”.

The Objection was on point of law, (devoid of Affidavit in support relating to facts relied upon). Learned Counsel highlighted the prerequisite for a court to assume jurisdiction over a matter as reflected in the case of MADUKOLU V NKEMDILIMI (1962) 2 SCNLR 341 and AJAGUNGBADE III VS ADEYELU II (2001) 16 NWLR (pt 738) 126 at 179. It was submitted that the Muslim female students who are the victims and direct beneficiary of the reliefs are not made parties to the case. Learned Counsel drew my attention to Order II (1) and Order VII (1) of Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 to reinforce his submission. It was submitted that the Rules specifically provided that parties Continues

tomorrow

29 news How I ended sexual harassment in OAU with technology —Outgoing VC Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

•Slams FG on Post-UTME cancellation •Denies imposing successor Lanre Adewole -Lagos

O

UTGOING Vice Chancellor (VC) of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Professor Bamitale Omole, on Tuesday, gave an interesting insight into how he ended illicit romance between lecturers and students in the institution, using Information Communication Technology (ICT).

He was sharing his stewardship account with select journalists in Lagos.

His tenure of five years ends tomorrow.

There is a bill before the National Assembly to criminalize such dalliance.

He was also unsparing of the Federal Government’s decision to cancel the controversial post-UTM examination, tagging it a political disservice to education in the country.

Spacing his achievements into five broad outlines, he noted that his unforgettable acts would be the unprecedented mileage in ICT, academic and infrastructural developments.

He was particularly enamoured of both technological and relational breakthroughs in ICT, which saw the institution’s bandwidth being moved from 39Mbps as of October 2011 to 940Mbps as he was bowing out, making it the reference point for the National Universities Commission (NUC).

He explained that as of today, the upgraded bandwidth had made realtime academic interactions possible, with students being able to conduct almost all academic administrative exercises like course registration, payment of fees and checking of results, online, straight from the confines of their rooms.

He pointed out that his original motivation was to use the massive availability of information technology to curb the illicit activities of randy lecturers preying on hapless young girls.

“When I came in, June 23, 2011, I sought the reason for the prevalence of sexual harassment and we discovered that when a young girl of about 17, 18 years wanted to check her result, a lecturer with bad intention would keep her waiting for hours, and at the end of the day, ask her to check the next day.

After days of deliberately disappointing her, he would start giving night appointments, just to check ordinary result. From there, it would move to go and buy me something, then sexual harassment would follow.

“So I said, why can’t

we have a system that would limit interactions between lecturers and students. Many thought it was impossible, that it was Western world idea.

But today, it is on ground.

You can use own internet anywhere on campus. With serious physical interaction greatly reduced, sexual harassment was ended.”

He was also unable to contain his indignation at the cancellation of postUTME. “The cancellation is a monumental error. It is an inimical step to the progress of education by this government. During our own time, before the advent JAMB, concessional examination was always

being conducted by the universities to admit applicants to the schools.

JAMB now conducts a blanket examination with universities using the postUTME to pick the best from those pushed forward by JAMB. The cancellation was the most serious mistake by this government. It is totally political like many issues in Nigeria. They said certain universities were exploiting students through it. How many are doing that?

“This cancellation does even mean that universities would admit more than usual. Take for instance, about one million students applied to OAU. How do you now pick the best from the one million that applied to

Ife? In OAU, we don’t take less than 200 score, now they said it is 180. Students that come in with this reduced marks are always the ones causing problems in the institutions.

“No matter what anyone does, OAU can’t take more than 5,000 new students.

So the cancellation won’t even help admission. It is a disservice to the quality of education in the tertiary institution. But I don’t think JAMB should be abolished, because they will end up with the same mistake they made with UTME. UTME is about quality control, abolishing it is a monumental error,” he submitted.

Speaking on the controversy trailing the appointment of

his successor, Professor Dipo Salami, Faborode denied imposing him as being speculated.

According to him, “Vice Chancellor’s appointment is guided by the university’s statutes and laws. The issue is always with the short listing. Appointment of VC is high politics, though academic. Those who should not even apply as principal of secondary schools would apply to cause trouble. I am not part of the screening panel.

I’m not foisting anyone on them. He is my Deputy Vice Chancellor(DVC) for five years. If other professors who are Heads of Departments (HODs) showed interest, why not

From left, Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode; Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem; Chief Executive Officer, Smart City Dubai LLC, Mr Jabber Bin Hafez and the Deputy Prime Minister, United Arab Emirate (UAE) and Chairman, Dubai Holdings, Mr Ahmad Bin Byat, during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) on Smart City Lagos between the City of Dubai and Lagos State Government, at the Emirate Towers, Dubai, on Monday.

Lagos signs historic smart city deal with Dubai

Pact will attract multi-billion dollar investment to state —Ambode Bola Badmus -Lagos LAGOS State government and the City of Dubai, on Monday, entered into a historic partnership that would see Lagos emerge as the first Smart City in Africa, with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode assuring that the city would bring multibillion-dollar investments, create thousands of jobs and transform the Ibeju-Lekki axis in particular and the entire state in general.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Lagos Smart City was signed at the Emirate Towers, Dubai, by the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Smart City, Dubai LLC, Mr Jabber Bin Hafez.

The signing of the MOU, which would make Lagos the home of the very first Smart City in Africa, was witnessed by the Chairman

of Dubai Holdings, Ahmad Bin Byat, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister and the Lagos State Governor, Mr Ambode.

A Smart City is a growing concept that draws from the success of Dubai’s

innovative knowledgebased industry clusters to empower business growth for companies and enhance knowledge of workers all over the world.

Governor Ambode, in a statement signed

on Tuesday, by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, said the Smart City (Lagos) was expected to bring multibillion-dollar investments to the state.

Ambassadorial, perm sec appointments: Bayelsa APC storms NASS over exclusion Adetola Bademosi -Abuja THE Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), under the aegis of Concerned Bayelsa State Indigenes, on Tuesday, stormed the National Assembly (NASS) in Abuja, over alleged exclusion of the state in ambassadorial and permanent secretaries’ appointments by the Federal Government.

The aggrieved protesters, who defied the heavy showers, said the state was being marginalised despite its support for the President, Muhammadu Buhari during

the 2015 campaigns.

Mr Bodi Arerebo, an APC chieftain, who led the protest, in Abuja, maintained that the current administration appointed federal permanent secretaries from each of the states of the federation, but noted that Bayelsa State was excluded for reasons, he said, were unknown.

Also, he pointed out that in the current list of career ambassadorial nominees from the Presidency to Senate for confirmation, the state was also excluded.

“President Buhari does not consider Bayelsa State in all his appointments into

ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in the past.”

“He should please include Bayelsa people in the scheme of things in the country. It is important for the president to know that Bayelsans also have his supporters,” he added.

While pressing home their demands, he urged the Federal Government to consider appointment of Bayelsans as permanent secretary, ambassadorial nominees and to also consider FG appointments for his supporters in the state.

a man that served for five years.

There are 356 professors in the senate, how could a single man rail road them into picking a certain candidate? The council also has 16 people. I’m not neither part of the council nor senate selection board. I didn’t impose him. But I feel the appointment process should be sustained, so the entire thing won’t become completely political. The non-academic staff have their ways of contributing to the appointment process but they now want to take everything over and dictate an exercise that should be mainly, purely academic.

Check the resume of the new VC, whether he is qualified or not. Well, the whole thing is almost settled now.”

The professor of International Relations also pointed out that during his tenure, the institution moved from being number six in Nigeria to number one and number 79 in Africa to number five.

Explaining how he managed the students to ensure that in 15 years, it was only during his tenure that no session was lost, Omole said when he came on board, he went to their hall of residence to interact with them.

He added that though he could not wait to eat of the beans they tried to prepare for him because of time, he sat on the lower bed of a bunker for close to an hour, with the students rushing around him to take photographs.

According to him, “Students live in a world not too real, but a lot of the students in Ife are lawabiding while a few are recalcitrant.

He said he would be waiting on God to order his next step.

He also disagreed that the standard of education had fallen, pointing out that ICT had provided huge educational opportunities to the new generation of students which weren’t there before now.

“I don’t think the standard of education has fallen. What has fallen is the attitude of our students today to education. The standard has increased, given the ICT aid. But standard of English has fallen abysmally low in universities and secondary schools. ICT is contributing to that because students now abbreviate everything.

But in the area of science, the standard had improved tremendously,” he stated.

While explaining that the tenure had now been pegged at single term of five years, the Ekiti-born academic said even if there was a legal window for another term, he would never consider it.

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news

Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

Edo APC primaries a sham —Oshiomhole’s aide Banji Aluko - Benin City

A

N aide to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Mrs Evelyn Igbafe, has described the last Saturday’s governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state that produced Mr Godwin Obaseki as its candidate, as a sham.

Igbafe, who is an Executive Director of Poverty Alleviation in the state, called for immediate cancellation of the primaries in the interest of justice and fairplay, describing Obaseki as an “unripe mango and tomato” and unsellable.

She tasked APC leaders and members to take a cue from the PDP primaries that she said was free and fair, adding that the APC governorship candidate is a disaster waiting to consume the party in the September 10 governorship election.

She said, “If the party continues with the choice of Obaseki as its standard bearer, I pity the APC at the governorship polls because the defeat will be a landslide victory for the PDP. I know that APC will fail with Obaseki. The reason we are not accepting

Obaseki is because APC manipulated the primaries.

“I am so happy with the PDP because they brought out a sellable candidate in the person of Pastor Osagie- Ize-Iyamu. APC

is moving from house to house begging aspirants.

Let us not waste our time on Obaseki because he cannot go anywhere.

“APC has disappointed Edo people. I have never

seen a situation where primaries will be conducted at night after delegates were accredited during the day and election at night.

“Let us not waste time with Obaseki because he

cannot go anywhere. A great injustice was inflicted on Chris Ogiemwonyi and Ken Imansuangbon and they are going to fight to the last of their blood to redress this injustice.”

Nigerian Tribune

Mrs Igbafe insisted that Edo people were not happy with the conduct of the primaries, saying “in any environment where injustice thrives, silence is a crime.”

PDP governors’ forum ex-boss picks APGA form APGA will liberate Edo —Party boss Leon Usigbe - Abuja DIRECTOR General of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum (PDPGF), Earl Osaro Onaiwu, has resigned from his position to pick the nomination form of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), to contest the forthcoming Edo State governorship election.

He was at the APGA national secretariat in Abuja, on Tuesday, barely 24 hours after his resignation, to collect the form.

Onaiwu was received at the party office by its National Chairman, Dr Victor Ike Oye; National Secretary, Labaran Maku and other members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

Speaking at the ceremony, Onaiwu, who was a governorship aspirant under the PDP, said he chose APGA because it was the only political party in the race with-

out any baggage.

He promised to industrialise the state by drawing from the experience of Anambra State, the only state governed by the party at the moment.

According to him, APGA was leading Anambra into prosperity, something he would replicate in Edo if elected.

He said he was entering into the governorship race without any scandal, assuring that APGA would win the September 10 election.

Speaking earlier, the National Chairman of the party observed that Edo State was in bondage, noting that APGA was out to liberate it.

He said APGA would take Edo by storm with the entering into the governorship race by Onaiwu.

Oye asserted that APGA was the only political party with clear cut ideology as he observed that “the PDP is haemorrhaging and APC is asphyxiating.”

He added: “Both APC and PDP got candidates that are not acceptable to the people.

We don’t do that.”

Oye added: “What we

have in Edo State is dwarfed sectional development in the last eight years. APGA wants to change that.”

The party boss described

Onaiwu as “a man of intellect, who has proved his mettle and has successfully steered the affairs of governors’ forum.”

Ize-Iyamu laments state of education in Edo Banji Aluko - Benin City PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, on Tuesday, appraised the state of education in the state and concluded that people-centred government should, as matter of necessity, make educational development number one priority.

The former Secretary to Edo State Government stated this in a public lecture he delivered at the University of Benin, entitled: “Education in Edo State: The Way Forward.”

Ize-Iyamu, who recognised that every society is as developed as its educational programme, praised what he described as a solid edu-

cation foundation laid by the founding fathers of Edo State such as Dr Samuel Ogbemudia and the late Professor Ambrose Ali. He said many were not surprised that the products of that educational system dominated the public services, political, academic, corporate, legal, medical, military and paramilitary landscape of Nigeria for a very long time.

Picking hole in Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s education policy, Ize-Iyamu said the administration’s effort on education had been centred “largely or exclusively on re-roofing some selected urban and sub-urban schools for political sloganeering and propaganda.”

“The aluminium red roofs for these schools are not bad, but it is good to put the effort into a correct trajectory in the sense that it is State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) money and a joint effort of the federal and state governments where the former pays the lion share of the money.

“The question is: is building or roofing the only component of educational development? What about adequate number of teachers, facilities, the environment, security, motivation to learn?”

He said if elected in the September 10 governorship election, his administration would ensure that no Edo child is left behind.

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Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

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south-westnews

Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Drama over mystery woman in Ibadan

•She is a cat-turned-woman –Residents •No, she has mental illness –Police

By Tunde Ogunesan

T

HERE was drama in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday, over an incident of a black cat which allegedly transformed into a middle-

aged woman.

Residents of the town woke up to the news as broadcasted by a private radio station during the newspaper review.

Nigerian Tribune, however, gathered that the

woman, who was alleged to have transformed to human being from a cat, was found inside the store of a four-bedroom flat, painted lemon green and located at No 2, Akinlolu Avenue, off Ring Road, Ibadan, around

6.45 a.m.

The discovery generated reactions from occupants of the building, which also house a supermarket and office of an estate agent.

The state police command, in a statement by

The alleged cat-turned-woman, on Tuesday. PHOTO: TUNDE OGUNESAN.

S/West labour leaders plead with OBJ over unpaid salaries, allowances Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta THE leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), in the South West, on Tuesday, pleaded with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to intervene in the failure of the governors of the geo-political zone to pay outstanding salaries and allowances of workers.

The labour leaders, who visited the Abeokuta home of Obasanjo, said their visit became necessary in view of the position of the former president whom they

described as “father of the nation.”

The leaders included Comrade Akinyemi Olatunji (Osun), Francis Ogunremi (Lagos), Andrew Emelieze (Oyo), Clement Fatunase (Ondo Secretary), Adebisi Adebayo (Ekiti Secretary), Gbenga Ekundayo (Lagos), Bola Fajulugbe (Ekiti Women Leader) and Olaniyi Okewole (Ogun Secretary) and led by the zone coordinator, Comrade Bunmi Fajobi.

Fajobi, while addressing newsmen after a closed

door meeting with Obasanjo said, they believed that the former president’s intervention would go a long way in ameliorating the plight of workers in the South West.

The TUC boss, who doubles as the state chairman of the union, noted that the former president was a man to be reckoned with and that he is revered by the governors as a voice that must be respected.

Some of the demands of the union included nonpayment of workers’ salaries running into about 13

months, unremitted contributory pensions’ deductions running to 19 months as well as unremitted cooperative deductions among others.

Fajobi said, “As labour leaders, we are particularly disturbed about the issue of unpaid salaries in our states and we mobilise that the sweat of workers must not be in vain. We know that Obasanjo has the ears of these governors and that is why we are seeking his assistance to intervene in the matter.”

Yoruba in US kick against grazing bill

By Aramide Shanu YORUBA resident in the United States have warned against what they perceive as the grave implications of the Grazing Reserve Bill before the National Assembly becoming law for the country.

Rather than coming up with such enactment, they said the stakeholders in the Nigerian project should concern themselves with how to ensure herdsmen adopted best standards in cattle ranching as obtained in other parts of the world.

In a statement by the president of Egbe Omo Yoruba of North America (National Association of Yoruba Descendants in North America), Chief Bolu Omodele, the compatriots condemned the increasing violent at-

tacks and destruction of lives and properties by suspected Fulani herdsmen in parts of the country.

“We believe that passing any grazing bill will be nothing short of a cosmetic and futile attempt to disguise the real problems while continuing to perpetuate the ignorance of the mostly uneducated herdsmen. It will be a case of putting lipstick on a pig.

“We believe that our country should make a move towards worldwide best practices in cattle ranching. The modern day, common sense approach of establishing cattle ranches nationwide will improve the livelihood of the herdsmen, combat environmental degradation such as soil erosion caused by overgrazing and will forever bring an end to the growing clashes between

the herdsmen and indigenous farmers,” he stated.

While advising the Federal Government to provide seed funding for the herdsmen to establish ranches in a programme to be monitored by the state governments as a part of the cattle ranching initiative, they noted that the current havoc herdsmen wreak on locals posed a serious threat to national stability.

However, the compatriots urged Yoruba leaders to encourage Yoruba men and women to invest in modernised cattle farming to help secure the food basket of the Yoruba and the country at large.

Part of the statement read: “We observe the deception of some of Nigeria’s lawmakers to institute an unpopular and an anti-people bill while

pretending to be solving the problem. We also note the angst of the Nigerian people towards the so-called Grazing Reserve Bill which has been adversely described as deceitful, self-serving and discriminatory.

“The preponderance of opinion among Nigerians is that any bill addressing the issue of incessant attacks on farmlands by the herdsmen now or in the future should be debated in the full light of day with the full participation of all stakeholders.

“But, what we hear most Nigerians saying is that they do not want any grazing bill.

We therefore call on the Nigerian Congress to focus its attention on mandating cattle ranching rather than centering attention on the archaic practice of transhumance which is fraught with inherent conflicts.”

the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adekunle Ajisebutu, however, denied that the woman transformed from a cat to a human being.

Ajisebutu said preliminary result on the victim confirmed that “she is a triplet, whose other siblings are also suffering from mental illness.”

But contrary to the police report, one of the occupants of the house informed the Nigerian Tribune that the woman was discovered inside the store thereof the house as a cat when a young girl went early in the morning.”

She added that the young girl, who could not believe her eyes, rushed outside to inform other residents of the strange discovery, adding that before they could get back into the store, the “cat” had transformed to the woman.

The occupants who stayed afar as a result of the development were said to have put a call through to a pastor, who came to the scene, prayed and sprinkled anointing oil on the “strange” discovery.

As a result of the early broadcast of the incident on radio, a crowd of people had gathered at the scene

of the incident to catch a glimpse of the “mysterious discovery.”

The recordings of interaction with the woman by some people were recorded on mobile phones and other technological devices and had since gone viral in the state capital.

Before the crowd could get uncontrollable, policemen from Orita Police Station arrived at the scene of the incident, interrogated the woman who had already defecated at the spot where she sat and later took her to the station.

From the video made by people at the scene, the “woman,” whose words were incoherent, mentioned her name as “Adi Eta.” She was also said to have listed her dad’s name as Eleta.

When contacted, Ajisebutu denied the transformation story, adding that “it is not verifiable.”

He, however, said the suspect had been taken into a protective custody, adding that insanity was suspected as preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is one of a set of triplet.

“Family members confirmed this. All the three suffer mental illness,” he said.

Hijab judgment: MURIC urges Osun Muslims, Christians to work for peace Oluwole Ige - Osogbo A group, Muslim Rights Campaign (MURIC), on Tuesday, urged Muslim and Christian leaders in Osun State to work together for peace in resolving the controversy over the recent Hijab judgment, which allowed the wearing of hijab in public schools.

The appeal was contained in a statement by the director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, made available to journalists in Osogbo.

Akintola implored adherents of both religions to act in accordance with their doctrines by shunning rancour and action capable of precipitating crisis in the state.

According to him, “there is little or no difference between the Muslim hijab and the Catholic nun’s veil.

Instead of this rancour, we advise synergy between Christian and Muslim doctrinal teachings.

“The root of religious

crisis can be traced to the lacuna between scriptural teachings and the practice among adherents of Christianity and Islam.

Although both religions teach love and peaceful coexistence, the practitioners do the opposite,” Akintola asserted.

While warning faithful of both religions against the aftermath of crisis, he tasked Osun State Police Command to be on alert, stressing that “the police must not abdicate its responsibility. MURIC warned not too long ago that the so-called peaceful coexistence that exists in the South West is a very thin veneer.

“Nigeria has experienced enough religious crises.

We have lost thousands of our compatriots including properties worth billions of dollars. Neither economic growth nor political stability can be achieved without peace”, Akintola added.

South-west news

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Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

Oyo’s new education policy may not introduce school fees – Adesina

BY NURUDEEN ALIMI

T

HE new education policy by the Oyo State government has been said may

not require payment of tuition fees in public schools.

An Ibadan-based publisher, Olawuwo Adesina, made this known in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune in

Ibadan. Adesina, noted that Chief Obafemi Awolowo and late Chief Bola Ige got missionaries and other individuals to partner with government on education during their re-

gimes.

“The records are there.

Both Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who pioneered free education programme and Chief Bola Ige, got the missionaries and

From right; Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko; Head of Service, Toyin Akinkuotu; Secretary to the State Government, Dr Rotimi Adelola and the Commissioner for Finance, Yele Ogundipe, at the meeting between the governor and Ondo State workers to resolve the ongoing industrial action in the state, at the International Events centre (The Dome), in Akure, on Tuesday.

Academic activities resume at UI after six-week closure ACADEMIC activities resumed on Tuesday at the University of Ibadan after a six-week closure over students’ protest.

The students had protested what they called erratic power supply in the institution.

Authorities of the 68-year-old institution had closed it down in April to prevent further escalation of the crisis.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who visited the university, observed that many students in the various faculties and departments had reported at the lecture halls as early as 7.00 a.m.

Mr Olatunji Oladejo, the Director of Communications in the university,

confirmed the resumption of academic activities.

He said some measures had been introduced by the management to address the contentious issue of power supply.

According to Oladejo, the management would soon increase the number of hours of power supply provided by generators. ‘‘As soon as the situation gets better, the students will get more hours of power supply,’’ he told NAN. A student in the Faculty of Arts, Olawale Akeem, said he was happy to be back in school. ‘‘Staying at home was already boring after six weeks; I am happy to be back to receive lectures.’’

He said he never thought that the closure would be long.

Some students, who spoke with NAN, also commended the management’s decision to introduce some palliatives. ‘‘Four hours of stable electricity daily will help the students and that is better than total dark-

THE new policy of the Lagos State government mandating the teaching of Yoruba in all schools in the state has been described as a step worthy of emulation by other South-West states.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in Ibadan, on Tuesday, elder statesman and Publicity Secretary of the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), Dr Kunle Olajide, commended Governor Akinwumi Ambode and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, for the initiative, saying that it was a bold step towards reclaiming the state from external forces.

Olajide, who doubles as

a chieftain of the pan-Yoruba sociocultural group, Afenifere, also lauded the state House of Assembly for adopting the use of Yoruba as a language of lawmaking, following the longneglected constitutional recommendation that the majority national languages be used in the parliament, in addition to English.

It will be recalled that the Lagos Assembly under the speakership of Olorunnimbe Mamora had rejected the use of Yoruba on the floor of the House on December 9, 1999, on the strength of the arguments that Lagos was a cosmopolitan city and that using Yoruba “would reduce the intellectual capacity of the

legislators.’’

According to the YUF scribe, the bold steps of the Lagos State government would correct the notion that Lagos is a no man’s land where every Nigerian should enjoy equal privileges.

He said: “I want to sincerely congratulate the governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwumi Ambode and the speaker of the state House of Assembly for restoring the teaching of Yoruba in all schools, as well as the teaching of history. I commend the assembly for accommodating the use of Yoruba as the official language, apart from English in the state legislature. This is an action worthy of commendation.

Hakeem Gbadamosi -Akure

ness,’’ a student said.

NAN learnt that the university has worked out an arrangement where generators would run for four hours daily from 7.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. at the various halls of residence.

spirited individuals to partner government on education. Ige, the then governor of old Oyo State, for instance on May 7, 1982, at the commissioning of four science laboratories and a library built by individuals at Kutayi Grammar School, paid glowing tributes to prominent members of the community for their contributions.

“So, Governor Ajimobi is conscious of his historical responsibility to reposition education ahead of the next generation. And that is what he seeks to do. The governor’s gaze is on the long term. It was the military government in 1976 that took over schools in the name of Universal Primary Education (UPE).

But it has since been realised that it was a policy error, and a good number of states have since returned the schools to the former

NASU/SSANU Protest: OAU management issues ‘no work, no pay’ threat Oluwole Ige, Osogbo

Authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, on Tuesday, said it would implement “no work, no pay” rule against the protesting members of the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU)

Workers’ strike: Mimiko calls for understanding, negotiation As the industrial action embarked upon by the workers in Ondo State entered its third week, the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, on Tuesday, called on the striking workers to show understanding by coming to negotiating table with the state government.

Mimiko made this appeal in Akure, Ondo State capital, during a meeting with

the Grade level 1- 17 workers in the government establishment at the International Event Centre (Dome), said the state would continue to weather the storm despite the economic hardship facing states in the country.

The governor, who expressed displeasure over the strike action, noted that the strike action had cost the state millions of Naira which the state would have

New policy on Yoruba: YUF scribe lauds Ambode, Lagos speaker “The Yoruba Council of Elders and other Yoruba organisations had been championing this cause since the return to democracy in 1999, so I think the Lagos State government is to be specially congratulated for its courage in blazing the trail out of all the Yoruba states. I sincerely urge all Yoruba state legislatures and governments to emulate this.

“If the people do not know where they are coming from, they cannot know where they are going. Identity is very critical to the success of any human endeavour; it is the realisation of identity and living up to the expectations of identity that brings success.

owners.”

He further continued that:”Immediate profit in cash will not be the motive for private sector to invest in government schools. Hence, fears such as introduction of school fees or education getting out of the reach of the masses do not arise at all. I am sure that is Governor Ajimobi’s state of mind.

These investors, particularly corporate organisations can invest in schools for public relations purposes. The investment can be part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.”

Adesina, further held that it was former Governor Bola Tinubu who returned schools to missionaries in Lagos State and teachers, parents and other stakeholders have had no cause to complain in that state and others where that had been done.

generated through Internally Generated Revenue.

He said, “We have lost over 40 per cent of our monthly IGR to the strike, I feel the pain, our hospitals are shut and many accident victims would have died as a result of this strike.”

“I want you to bear with me at this period, I can never take your welfare for granted, we are ready to have creative dialogue with you. I appeal to you to go back to work and let us have creative dialogue.”

He also reiterated that his administration’s decision not to retrench workers in the state sought the cooperation of the workers in moving the state forward.

The governor, who explained to the workers the detailed account of accruals from the federation account and internally generated revenue, appealed to the striking workers to return to work, stressing that government was striving to ensure that their five-month salaries were paid.

He urged them to be optimistic of better days ahead, noting that his administration would find a creative solution to the problem, which he said was a nationwide challenge.

and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).

Members of NASU and SSANU had last week embarked on protests to kick against the appointment of the new Vice Chancellor for OAU, Professor Ayobami Salami and other issues.

The protest, which is ongoing, took a new dimension on Tuesday, when the protesting workers appeared in red and black dresses, singing solidarity songs, just as they vowed to stop the newly appointed VC from assuming duty on Friday.

The workers had begun their protest and strike action since June 6, after taking the university authorities to court.

However, the OAU management in a directive signed by its registrar, Mr Dotun Awoyemi and dated June 20, threatened not to pay the salaries of the protesting workers.

The directive reads in part, “The University has viewed with grave concern the continued absence of some members of staff of SSANU and NASU and allied institutions from their duty post without any declaration of trade dispute since June 7, 2016.

“The university administration hereby directs all such members of staff to immediately report to their respective duty posts; otherwise; the university administration may not be in a better position to guarantee the payment of June 2016 salaries to this categories of workers.”

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Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oladiran Omolola Elizabeth (E.O.) now MRS IGE ELIZABETH OMOLOLA (E.O.).

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Emomotimi Ezekiel now EZETU EMOMOTIMI CLAKSON. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oyedokun Adijat Olaide now MRS ODUGBEMI ADIJAT OLAIDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Alhaji Jamiyu Wahab Gbadegesin now ALHAJI JAMIU WAHEEB ADISA. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank of Nigeria and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, formerly Miss Shittu Risikat am the same person as Miss Shittu Risikat Titilayo. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS AMINU RISIKAT TITILAYO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Roseline Inumidun Safiriyu now MRS ROSELINE INUMIDUN AYELERO. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, EcoBank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Omole Oluwakemi Janet now BELLO OLUWAKEMI JANET. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Lawal Akeem Akande am the same person as Jimoh Akeem Adewale. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as LAWAL AKEEM AKANDE and my correct date of birth is 23 January, 1967. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oyebamiji Mojisola Ruth now MRS SOLOMON MOJISOLA RUTH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Araba Olubukonla R. now MRS BALOGUN-ARABA OLUBUKONLA R. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Alice Bolaji now JONATHAN YEMISI ESTHER. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I hereby declare that my correct names are Olabamiji Ajani Omoniyi not Olabaniyi Ajani Omoniyi and my correct date of birth is 13th July, 1947 not 1st January, 1947. All former documents remain. General public take note.

I, formerly Samuel Adeleke Bamigbade now SAMUEL ADELEKE ADEPOJU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Iyiola Deborah Semilore am the same person bearing Damilola Monilola Iyinola. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as IYIOLA MONILOLA DAMILOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Ayodele Opeyemi Olubukola now ADEDOJA OPEYEMI OLUBUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Emmanuel Shoremi Alabi Sho-Silva now MR DUNSTAN EMMANUEL SHOREMI ALABI SHO-SILVA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Idowu OnaAra now ADEBAYO ADEKUNLE FELIX. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Oladapo Saliu Bello now STEPHEN OLADAPO BELLO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Sadiq Aminat Olajumoke am the same person bearing Azeez Aminat Olajumoke. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AZEEZ AMINAT OLAJUMOKE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public take note

CORRECTION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ogundile Bukunola Moniola now MRS OMOKEMI BUKONLA MONIOLA. All former documents remain valid.

Ogun State Local Government Service Commission and general public take note.

I, formerly Agbaje Riliwan Adewale now AGBAJE RIDWAN ADEWALE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Elegbede Opeyemi Adepeju now MRS ADEBOYE OPEYEMI ADEPEJU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Chioma Faustina Sylvia Nwazuoke now MRS CHIOMA FAUSTINA SYLVIA CHUKWURAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Kazeem Makanjuola Adewale now KAZEEM MAKANJUOLA AKANNI. All former documents remain valid.

United Bank for Africa Plc., Dugbe, Ibadan and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Bridget Oyinkansola Orisadare now MRS BRIDGET OYINKANSOLA SENJIRIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adeoye Bowofola Oluwafemi now ADEDAYO BOWOFOLA OLUWAFEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Tijani Afeez Olalekan now TAJUDEEN AFEEZ OLALEKAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Umoh Joseph am the same person bearing Umoh Paul Joseph.

Now, I wish to be known and addressed as UMOH JOSEPH. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

I, Kadiri Funmilola Omolara also known as Alatise Funmilayo Idowu now ALATISE FUNMILAYO IDOWU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oladoyin Oyeyemi Oyelami now MRS OLADOYIN OYEYEMI OYELAMI-FESOBI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Aroge Oluwagbemiga Oluwamayowa, my name was erroneously written as Aroge Oluwagbemiga Mayowa instead of Aroge Oluwagbemiga Oluwamayowa. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as AROGE OLUWAGBEMIGA OLUWAMAYOWA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Yinusa Raji Aminat Abiodun now KOLAWOLE AMINAT ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Omoniyi Bolanle Oluwatoyin now OMONIYI BOLANLE HANNAH. All former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank Plc, First Bank Plc Registrar and general public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE WARNING This is to show to the whole world that the land situate lying and being along IFE-EDE Road, ILE-IFE measuring 6.236 acres and registered as No 38 at page 38 in Volume 1542 of the land registry at IBADAN now OSUN State is the property of Prince Engineer ADEGBOYEGA SIJUWADE now in America. This property was subject of litigation in the High Court of ILE-IFE in Suit HIF/16/82. Any attempt to lay claim to this land by anybody or person no matter how highly placed will be sanctioned with the contempt of COURT proceedings.

Signed: CHIEF B.O OMIREFA. SOLICITOR TO PRINCE ADEGBOYEGA SIJUWADE 1, TOWN PLANNING ROAD, ILE-IFE

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ibrahim Afolake Falilat now ONANUGA AFOLAKE FALILAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Titilayo Victoria Adekola now MRS TITILAYO VICTORIA AYODELE. All former documents remain. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ibrahim Yinusa now EKKA SULEIMAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Salihu Tafida now ABBAS SALIHU TAFIDA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adeagbo Oluwapelumi Favour now BALOGUN OLUWAPELUMI FAVOUR. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olumilua Oluwayemi Jane now MRS ABEJIDE OLUWAYEMI JANE. All former documents remain valid. University of Ibadan P.G School and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Qudus Hammenah now KUDUS AMINAT MOTUNRAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Olojo Precious Atinuke now AKINWUMI PRECIOUS ATINUKE. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Lateef Hamed Ademola now LATEEF HAMMED ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Akinwale Abiodun Sunday now ADEWUMI ADEOLA STEPHEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Aliu Kola now JOSEPH OLUWAPELUMI OGUNGBAYIBI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Fasina Maria Anuoluwapo now MRS OSADAHUN MARIA ANUOLUWAPO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ireti Modupeola Molake now IRETI MODUPEOLA ADEOYE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ike-Innocent Ebere now IKE-INNOCENT CHIDIEBERE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Akanmu Oluwabunmi Oyefunke now MRS POPOOLA O L U W A B U N M I OYEFUNKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Odebiyi Tunrayo Rafiat now MRS ADEBOWALE TUNRAYO RAFIAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Salami Tajudeen Adeshina am the same person as Salami Adeshina Olanre. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as SALAMI TAJUDEEN ADESHINA. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Fakoya Taoreed Oladipo am the same person as, FAKOYA TAOREED OLADAPO. I wish to be known and addressed as FAKOYA TAOREED OLADAPO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Daniel Oludele Oladiran Faniran now DANIEL OLUDELE OLADIRAN OLADUNJOYE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Ijaluwoye Olubukola Olufunke now MUSTAPHA OLUBUKOLA OLUFUNKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeteju Rebecca Bunmi now MRS OGUNLADE REBECCA BUNMI. All former documents remain valid. Oyo TESCOM and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME/CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

I, formerly Lekan Olaoye now Lekan Biodun. My correct date of birth is 19th January, 1992 and not 19th January 1991. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Michael SojiOloruntuyi now OLUWASOJI AYOMIPO-OLORUNTUYI. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Abimbola Faith Adebayo now MRS ABIMBOLA ADEBAYO ALAO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ayebo Opeyemi Christana now MRS AKINOLA OPEYEMI CHRISTANA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Agboola Oluyemisi Olanike now MRS EMMANUEL OLUYEMISI OLANIKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Akande Omolara Adunola now MRS BERNARD OMOLARA ADUNOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Idoko Peter Sunday now ELIAS PETER IDOKO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Able Ihuoma Nwuju now MRS ABLE IHUOMA ONAJOBI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Badmus Waliyat Bisola now OLANIHUN WALIYAT BISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Yusuf Motunrayo Bilikis now MRS ABDULSALAM MOTUNRAYO BILIKIS. All former documents remain valid.

Abdu Gusa Polytechnic, Talata Mafara, Zamfara State, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ogundolie Esther Oluwatoba and Ogundolie Agnes now OGUNDOLIE AGNES ESTHER OLUWATOBA. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank Plc, FCMB Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Alimi Ganiyat Idowu now MRS ADEROJU GANIYAT IDOWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Viatonu Mosunmola Esther now MRS ERINFOLAMI MOSUNMOLA ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Abimbola Olugbenga Oyelami now ABIMBOLA OLUGBENGA AKINTOMIDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Ojukotimi Olumuyiwa Jenny now OJUKOTIMI OLUMUYIWA SUNDAY. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank Plc, FCMB Plc, Stanbic Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Moyosore Adeniji now MRS MOYOSORE SADIQ. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Osunkojo Soji Adedeji now OSUNKOJO SOJI AKEEM. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ogunjimi Isaac now OGUNKANMI ISAAC OLUGBENGA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Molomo Bosede Elizabeth now MOLOMO MARY BIMPE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Bakare Ramota Romoke am the same person as Ogunyemi Ramota Romoke. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as BAKARE RAMOTA ROMOKE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Dina Isa Supatkya am the same person bearing Dina Lucky. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as DINA ISA SUPATKYA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ayodeji Tinuola Solape now MRS TINUOLA SOLAPE OYETUNDE. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc, Royal Heritage Health Foundation and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Lawal Ibukunoluwa Oluwatosin now MRS ONI IBUKUNOLUWA OLUWATOSIN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr Johnson Akinola O. now MR OJATULA JOHNSON AKINOLA. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc, Stanbic Bank Plc and general public take note.

35 CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Abdusalaam Sikirat Iyabo now MRS AJIFOWOWE SIKIRAT IYABO. All former documents remain valid. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Ilesanmi-Ibijola Theophilos Sunday am the same person bearing Theophilos Sunday Ibijola. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ILESANMIIBIJOLA THEOPHILOS SUNDAY. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ameho Elizabeth Folashade now MRS ADEGBORO ELIZABETH FOLASHADE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Jackson Bose Alahdum now MRS SOBULO ALAHDUM NAOMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Wednesday, 22 June, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adewoye Funmilola Ayinke now ADEWOYE O L U WA F U N M I L O L A AMOKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Oloyede Bosede Janet now MISS ABIRI BOSEDE JANET. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public take note.

I, Ayeni Florence Oyebukola am the same person as Akinwumi Florence O. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS BENJAMIN FLORENCE OYEBUKOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. NYSC, PEDI Ilesa and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adenaike Ajoke Abosede now MRS OSILOJO AJOKE ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid.

Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Bammeke Victoria Ayodele now MRS OTOLORIN VICTORIA AYODELE. All former documents remain valid.

NSCDC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ovuwonye Uyouyou Ruth now MRS ODIA RUTH UYOUYOU. All former documents remain valid. Sword Sweet Confectionery Nig. Ltd. and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Onuchi Joy Member now ONUCHI JOY MARY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Kareem Olalekan now KAREEM OLALEKAN OLAKANMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mr Adejinmi Ajasa Aderemi now MR ADEJINMI AJASA MUSILIYU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Daramola Felicia Funmilayo now MRS OGUNYEYE FUNMILAYO FELICIA. All former documents remain valid.

Heritage Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ibiyemi Adeyeye now IBIYEMI OLAYIWOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I formerly Miss Oyedotun Tolulope Margaret now MRS AGBOIRE TOLULOPE MARGARET. All former documents remain valid. Osun State Civil Service Commission, Osun State Hospitals Management Board and general public take note.

I, Shokunbi Abel Olugbenga am the same person as Shokunbi Olugbega Abel. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as SHOKUNBI ABEL OLUGBENGA. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

I, Shobitan Adeola Mary am the same person as Oshobitan Adeola Mariam.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as SHOBITAN ADEOLA MARY. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

I formerly Adiatu Kamoru Iyanda now ADIATU KAMORU OLADOSU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Abdulwaheed Olagunju Sherifat am the same person as Abdulwaheed Sherifat. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ABDULWAHEED OLAGUNJU SHERIFAT. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Oluwabi Kemi Deborah am the same person as Oluwabi Kemi.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OLUWABI KEMI DEBORAH. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Olubuse Morufat Tomiwa now BANKOLE ORIYOMI MORUFAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Miss Adebo Adebukola now MRS ADU ADEBUKOLA AYONI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Miss Simeon Nike Elizabeth now MRS. OLANIYAN NIKE ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. Oyo SUBEB and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME My name was wrongly written as Funmilayo Oladapo. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as JANET FUNMILAYO OLADAPO. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Ojo Oluwasegun Emmanuel am the same person as Ojo Olusegun.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OJO OLUWASEGUN EMMANUEL. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Akinwumi Adetutu Olubunmi now MRS BETIKU ADETUTU OLUBUNMI. All former documents remain valid. CODIX Pharma Ltd and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Lasebe Lamidi Isola now ISHOLA LAMIDI. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Pension Board, Ministry of Finance, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Raimi Alabi now ALABI RAIMI. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank Plc and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME & CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Rufus Kindness am the same person as Chinedum Kindness.

My correct date of birth is 02/02/82 and not 05/06/79. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Alikpoma Joseph am the same person as Alikpoma Joseph Urutagbajumi. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Bridget Ajimi Ameh now MRS BRIDGET AJIMI NEGEDU. All former documents remain valid.

Authorities concerned and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Mr Raji Rasaki Abiodun now MR RAJI RASAKI. All former documents remain valid.

Wema Bank Plc, Stanbic Bank Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I formerly Miss Hammed Omobonike Ayoola now MISS LAMIDI KAFAYAT AYOKA. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Kemebo Sunday now KOKEME SUNDAY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Otogbene Godspower now OTOGBENE GODDAY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Alao Opeyemi Akande now ALAO OPEYEMI MAKINDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Aladetan Adedeji Goodluck now ALADETAN EBIMERE ADEDEJI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Obiri Elaye now STEPHEN ELAYE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Miss Ndifreke Donatus Asuquo now MRS. NDIFREKE KINGSLEY BYRON EKPENYONG. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Tunde Olatunbosun now OLATUNBOSUN BADMUS TUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Mrs Ojetola Olubunmi Bilikis now MRS OLUBUNMI OSENI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME I, Abdulraheem Abdulrasaq that my name was wrongly written as Abdulrasaq Oniyeni Ogunleke. That my correct name is ABDULRAHEEM ABDULRASAQ. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Animasahaun Kafayat Opeyemi now AZEEZ KAFAYAT OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Alli Islamiyah Olaide now ADIO ISLAMIYAH OLAIDE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Akinola Folake Esther Margaret now AKINOLA ESTHER MARGARET. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Ibrahim Afolake Falilat now ONANUGA AFOLAKE FALILAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I formerly Folake Benjamin now OGUNKANMBI VICTORIA FOLAKE. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank and general public take note.

I formerly Mustapha Anuoluwapo henceforth wish to be known and addressed as RAFIU WOSILAT DASOLA. All former documents remain valid. EcoBank Plc and general public take note.

I formerly Sobaloji Ifamubode henceforth wish to be known and addressed as ADEDOKUN SOBALOJU. All documents bearing these names remain valid. EcoBank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss George Felicia Olajumoke now MRS AJIBI FELICIA OLAJUMOKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Aderogba Ishola Afeez now ISHOLA AFEEZ. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Queen Edeki Ogiogio am the same person bearing Queen Edeki, Queen Olawuyi, Queen Odaferioka Olawuyi.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OLAWUYI ODAFENIOKA QUEEN. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Sakirat Adedeji now MRS A D A M O L E K U N SAKIRAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Oyedeji Sofiyat Odunola now MRS OYEDEJI SOFOYAT TOYESE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Okeke Chinelo Henrietta now MRS EFOBI CHINELO HENRIETTA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Nwamadi Alexander Onyedikachukwu am the same person as Amadi Alex Onyedikachukwu. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Mrs. Efe Blessing now MRS. UBRONE BLESSING VAKPO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Edem Byron Ekpenyong now KINGSLEY E. BYRON EKPENYONG. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Akande Funke Grace now MRS ALABI FUNKE GRACE. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Oporopor Victor now OGUGU VICTOR. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ekundayo Susan Modupelowojah now EKUNDAYO SUSANNE MODUPEOLUWA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Osuolale Oluranti Deborah now OSUOLALE OLURANTI FAVOUR. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Falade Simeon Akinpelumi now FALADE ABDULATIF AKINPELUMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Bosede Toyin Oshapinla now MRS BOSEDE TOYIN MICAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Diribe Friday Eboniwe now DIRIBE FRIDAY MARK EBONIWE. All former documents remain valid. Diamond Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Koloh Favour Endurance now KOLOH ENDURANCE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Erebugha Sunday Tam now EBIAGBAGHA CYNTHIA EYOROKPOEBIMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Olaitan Folashade Ejigboye now MRS ADEWALE OLAITAN FOLASHADE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Odekeye Iyabode Afolake now MRS FASANYA IYABODE AFOLAKE. All former documents remain valid.

OAUTHC, Ile-Ife and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Amoo Beatrice Funmilayo now MRS OLAYIWOLA BEATRICE FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid.

Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adaraniwon Sunday Samuel and Adaraniwon Sunday Success I am the same person bearing both names above.

Now, I want to be bearing ADARANIWON SUNDAY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME & CORRECTION OF DATE

I, Bankole Sarafa Akinkunmi am the same person as Bankole Akinkunmi. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as BANKOLE SARAFA AKINKUNMI and my correct date of birth is 17/05/1984.

All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. First Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Alabi Rokibat am the same person bearing Alabi Rokibat Adebukola. All documents bearing these names remain valid. WAEC, NECO, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Uche Sochima Amanda now UCHEAGWU SOCHIMA CHIDIMMA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I,Muhammed Ibrahim Abas am the same person bearing Muhammed Ibrahim as shown in my National Diploma Certificate.

Henceforth,I wish to be known,called and addressed as MUHAMMED IBRAHIM ABAS.All documents bearing these names remain valid. Kogi State Polytechnic, Skye Bank Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Alabi Bosede Rachel now MRS ASHIRU BOSEDE RACHEL. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Sunday Idowu Jumoke now MRS LAWAL TAIWO OMONIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Ameh Mary Ele Ojo now AMEH MARY GIFT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Famuyide Aduke Idowu now ENIKUOMEHIN BUKOLA ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Okoro Brenda Egaresiri now MRS. AMRAKETA O. BRENDA EGARESIRI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Samuel T. Mayoh, Samul Temewedeimyea Mayam now SAMUEL TEMEWEDEIMYEA MAYAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Tawakaltu Omolabake Ademola now MRS TAWAKALTU ADEMOLA SHITTU. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, GTBank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Adesiyan Tobi now ADESIYAN TOBILOBA AYODEJI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

36

news

Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

FG may concession railways after completion —Amaechi Christian Okeke - Abuja

M

INISTER of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, on Tuesday, in Abuja, said that the Federal Government would complete work on the ongoing rail projects across the country and possibly concession them as a way of making the system efficient and drive the much-needed development of the country.

He said that government

was committed to revamping the sector to fully harness the abundant potentials of the agricultural and solid minerals sectors.

The minister spoke at an Agri-Produce and Solid Minerals Rail Conference, held in Abuja, where he stated that unbundling of the railway through the Railway Bill, currently before the National Assembly, remains a vehicle to end public monopoly of the sector.

The event, which has as its theme, “Rail Transport as Catalyst for Agriculture and Solid Minerals Expansion in Nigeria to boost job creation, food security and diversified non-oil earnings”, was used by the ministry to defend the choice of China in the development of the rail sector, as against countries like United Kingdom and Japan.

Represented by the Acting Managing Director of Nige-

rian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr Freeborn Okhiria, Amaechi disclosed that the ministry was working on ways to maximise the rail system in boosting agricultural produce and expressed his support for private sector participation in the sector.

Also speaking, the Director in charge of rail in the ministry, Mr Mohammed Babakobi, said that China was chosen for develop-

ment of Nigeria’s rail sector as it has sound capacity and track records to execute the projects.

He disclosed that China develops 1,000 tracks every year which meets Nigeria’s demands.

“They are in consonance with what we want; they are competitive in terms of cost,” he said.

According to him, China also has funds for such development which Nigeria does not get from other countries.

In his words, “China offers us immediate functional option that meets our demands.”

Speaking also, the Chief Executive Officer of Connect Rail Services, Edeme Kelikume, noted that now that more rail projects are

due for commissioning, it is expected that stakeholders begin to develop roadmap on how to key into it to reduce or eliminate current post harvest agricultural losses.

He said although the country’s rail system is not yet developed up to what it should, the current status was significant enough to assist in reducing food losses.

Kelikume lamented the amount of money lost by farmers who have limited incentives while struggling to move their farm produce to the various markets scattered across the country.

The chief executive officer described rail system as the most effective land transport system available.

My parents’, sisters’ gruesome death led me into drugs — ­ Borno IDP

Outgoing Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase (second left), presenting a cheque of N500,000 to John Otame, winner in the Police Cooperative CUG Promo powered by Globacom, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Monday. With them are Globacom’s coordinator, Enterprise Sales, Folu Aderibigbe (second right); Acting National Coordinator, Public Sector Sales, Mansur Opakunle (left) and the Police AIG in charge of Cooperative and Investment, Dorothy Dongna’an.

I will continue to offer useful advice to govts —IBB Adelowo Oladipo - Minna FORMER military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has promised to continue to offer words of advice to both the federal and state governments in the country to assist them in taking decisions that will benefit the entire citizenry as a whole.

“I am ready and willing to continuously offer beneficial advice to the federal and state governments,” General Babangida said in Minna on Tuesday when he received the chairman and members of the Niger State Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The PDP working committee, led by the state chairman, Tanko Beji, paid a felicitation visit to the former military president at his uphill residence over his return to the country after a successful medical treatment abroad.

Babangida, who confirmed that he was hale and hearty, said he was committed to the project Nigeria because “I have no other country that I can call my own.”

He, therefore, solicited for the cooperation and support of all Nigerians to the government at all lev-

els in the country, saying that “without our support, the governments cannot achieve their plans for the nation and the states.”

The former military ruler expressed gratitude to the delegation for finding time to visit him and assured them that he would always be available for them when called upon.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation and chairman of the party in the state, Tanko Beji, said they were satisfied with the state of health of the former Nigerian leader and prayed that God would continue to strengthen him so that

he would serve Niger State, the nation and humanity for a longer period.

Beji urged General Babangida not to relent in his advisory role as an elder statesman, saying that “the

younger generations are happy that they are tapping from your wealth of experience.”

Prayers were also offered to God to further strengthen the former military ruler.

FOLLOWING the unabated cases of kidnapping in Kogi State, the Federal Government said it had concluded arrangements to deploy special military force in the state to end kidnapping and other related crimes.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, who said this in Lokoja during an official visit to the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, noted that the Federal Government was worried over the increase in kidnapping and other

gents had left, he found the remains of his parents and sisters in bad shape.

“I was not a drug addict before; I had a flourishing business in Gamboru where I make good money to carter for my parents.

“Unfortunately, everything was taken away from me, including all my family.

“What do you expect me to be doing; how do you think I can forget this memories; to me, life means nothing.

“I need to forget the memory of the sad event and that is only possible through the taking of drugs.

“I love to be like this (drug addict) because it makes me forget all those madness,” said Mala.

Nigeria loses $2.2bn to foreign ships annually —Ministerial committee Sanya Adejokun - Abuja NIGERIA loses $2.2 billion annually to foreign ship owners and seafarers due to failure by the government to provide fleets that can adequately cater for the country’s sea transportation.

This was disclosed in

Abuja by Mr Olu Akinsoji, Chairman, Ministerial Committee on the Modalities for the Establishment of a Nigerian Shipping Line.

Akinsoji, who led members of his committee to submit the team’s report to the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi,

FG deploys special military force in Kogi over kidnapping Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja

AN Internally Displaced Person at Dalori camp in Maidugui on Tuesday said he took to drugs to erase memory of the slaughter of his father, mother and four sisters by Boko Haram insurgents.

Narrating his ordeal to a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), 30-year-old Abubakar Mala from Gamboru-Ngala in Borno, said his parents and sisters were brutally killed during an attack on their town.

Mala said the insurgents had stormed the town, forcing him and other residents to take to their heels.

He said when he returned days later, after the insur-

crimes in the state.

He said he was in the state on a working visit to the military formations to see the challenges facing them and proffer solutions.

He, however, maintained that the issue of incessant kidnapping and other security problems in the state had become sources of concern to the Federal Government.

Buratai, however, lauded the state government for providing logistics and other necessary support to the security agencies in the state to help combat

crimes.

“We are worried about the frequent kidnapping and robbery incidences in the state and we therefore felt that attention should be shifted to the state in order to curtail the raising wave of criminal activities so that it will not degenerate into a worst situation,” he stated.

Thanking the Chief of Army Staff for the visit, Governor Bello said due to mountainous nature of some parts of the state, it has become near impossible to root out the criminals from their hideouts.

on Tuesday, emphasised the need for the country to own its own fleets.

According him, “If 50 per cent of the over 5,000 ships that came to Nigeria in 2014 were Nigerian ships, crewed by Nigerians, say even 20 ships and the crew earning $3,000 per person, they would have earned $2.2 billion.

This is beside the freight accruable by carrying Nigerian cargo.

“The human element, the seafarers, would have earned $2.2 billion. Imagine the benefits to their families and even to the government in taxes,” he wondered, adding “all the international cargo we generate is carried by foreign ship. We don’t have Nigerian ship in international waters carrying dry cargo.”

Responding, Amechi said “the report clearly provides three categories of maritime transportation areas where Nigeria can estab-

lish a shipping company (Nigerian fleet): wet cargo – crude, finished products, high and low pour premium fuel oils: dry cargo, general bulk, container, ro-ro, barge carrier and the coastal, off-shore support services and facilities, such as cable laying, workboats, tugs, house boat, FPSO, jack-ups among others.”

He revealed that the committee examined various structural scenario and made recommendations for three optional structures namely a large holding company with technical management for subsidiaries in all the areas of maritime transportation; an independent company in each of the identified areas of shipping and; for existing companies to organise themselves to form a Nigerian fleet company.

“I will give the committee the necessary instrument to implement the report.”

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Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

Navy raids Ogbe-Ijoh community, destroys illegal refinery Chris Agbambu - Abuja

T

HE Nigerian Navy has destroyed an illegal refinery site and a Cotonou boat containing about 50MT stolen crude oil and 6 X 15 metal tanks containing illegal refined kerosene, during a raid at Ogbe-Ijoh community in Warri, Delta State.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that no suspect was apprehended in the raid as the pirates fled the site before the arrival of the Nigerian Navy patrol team.

This came as the Navy said its attention had been drawn to reports which suggested that syndicates purportedly operating in the name of the Nigerian Navy

are defrauding prospective candidates, by directing them to pay N40,000 for placement in the 2016 recruitment exercise.

It said reports available to the Service suggested that the criminal elements were operating in various loca-

tions across the country.

The service, therefore, through this medium, caution parents, guardians, candidates and the general public to avoid being defrauded, saying nobody was mandated, directed or authorised to collect money

from any candidate in the course of the 2016 recruitment exercise.

“The Nigerian Navy thereby reiterates that, as directed by the Federal Government, participation in the recruitment exercise remains free.

No candidate is expected to

make any form of payment for placement in the Nigerian Navy. However, the list of successful candidates which is being compiled will soon be released to the general public through appropriate channels of communication,” it stated.

Fuel tanker explosion kills one in Kano Destroys 10 vehicles, goods ONE person was reportedly killed while two others were injured when a tanker conveying fuel exploded at Dakatsalle Village in Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State, on Sunday night.

An eyewitness disclosed that the fire which started around 7:30p.m destroyed 10 vehicles with goods kept in several shops in the area also lost to the fire.

A statement by the spokesperson for the Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, Salihu Yakasai, said the incident happened shortly after the driver of the vehicle parked at the village to break his Ramadan fast.

“There was pandemonium in the village as the residents, including men, women and children hurried out of their homes and scampered for safety in adjoining farms,” he said.

Reacting to the incident, the state acting governor, Hafiz Abubakar, described the incident as regrettable.

He urged drivers conveying petroleum products to be cautious at all times to avoid loss of lives and destruction of property.

The acting governor commended the state fire service for “promptly containing the situation”, noting that it would have resulted in a grave calamity but for their dexterity.

From left, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) chairman, Nasarawa State, Bishop Dr Joseph Masin; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Reverend Tor Uja; Bishop Dr Edward Williams and Pastor Clement Agbu, during the visit of Nasarawa State chapter CAN officials to the Executive Secretary, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

Synagogue auditorium does not have building approval —Ex-commissioner Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin Lagos

A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of two engineers, Akinbela Fatiregun and Olawale Ogundeji, and the Synagogue Church of All Nations, on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 told an Ikeja High Court that the church auditorium does not have a valid building permit.

The witness a former Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Olutoyin Ayinde, is the second witness to be called in the trial.

Ayinde made this revelation while being led in evidence by Mrs Idowu Alakija, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the ongoing trial of defendants who are facing manslaughter charges in the deaths of 116 persons in the collapsed seven-storey guest house of SCOAN. “The building collapse occurred on a Friday, I got in touch with the District Officer of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) to confirm if the Synagogue Church had any building approval in the system.

“The Electronic Docu-

ment Management System was searched and the only building approval for the church did not cover the site of the collapse building.

“The document, a fivestorey building approval was meant for the church auditorium but as at the

time of the collapse, the church auditorium had gone from five floors to eight floors.

“By the Ministry’s definition, the approval the church had for the auditorium is no longer valid and there was no application for approval registered for

the collapsed building.

“The Building Control Agency pasted their sticker on the auditorium which had surpassed the approved five-storey but there was no need for sanctions on the other building because it had already collapsed,” Ayinde said.

NUPENG suspends 2-week strike in Rivers Dapo Falade-Port Harcourt

THE National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Port Harcourt Zone, on Tuesday, suspended its strike, after two harrowing weeks of high price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petroleum, in Rivers State.

The suspension of the industrial action was due to the intervention of Governor Nyesom Wike, as the union, comprising Rivers and Bayelsa chapters, went on strike because of the sack of 100 workers by two oil-servicing companies in the two states.

Acting chairman of NUPENG, Port Harcourt zone, Mr Charles Eleto,

announced the suspension of the industrial action at a news conference in Port Harcourt.

He said the union went on strike because of an alleged anti-labour practices of the two companies, adding that they would meet with Governor Wike tomorrow (Wednesday) to formalise the process and chart the way forward.

“We, therefore, advise all members of the union to go back to work and thank the public for their patience and understanding during the strike,” he added.

Also speaking, the National Industrial Relations Officer, NUPENG, Mr Bassey Harry, commended the Rivers State government for its intervention to end the strike.

He called on members to resume work and start loading immediately, adding, “We want to urge all the depots to allow only trucks from Rivers to load products. Only those trucks from Rivers should load within 72 hours because of the suspension of the strike.”

On his part, the state Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Mr Shedrack Ogbogu, said the governor’s intervention was intended to stop the misunderstanding between the union and oil servicing companies.

He also called on all stakeholders in the crisis to attend a meeting convened by the governor on Wednesday to formally end the strike.

New Rivers CP appeals for support to enhance security Dapo Falade-Port Harcourt

THE new Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Mr Foluso Adebanjo, has called for the support of the people in his bid to enhance security in the state.

He resumed office as the 36th Commissioner of Police, after taking over from the erstwhile holder of the office, Mr Musa Kimo, who had been redeployed to the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The new Rivers police boss, in a statement issued by the spokesman of the state police command, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, urged the people to trust in his ability to dutifully discharge his constitutional mandate of ensuring public peace and security.

The new Rivers police boss joined the Nigeria Police in 1984 as Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police and rose through the ranks to his present rank of Commissioner of Police in 2012.

He is a holder of bachelor and master’s degrees in Criminology/Criminal Justice Administration and Management obtained from the University of Central Oklahoma, United States of America.

Reps want FG to subsidise sickle cell treatment Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel-Abuja

THE House of Representatives, on Tuesday, urged the Federal Government to introduce a policy for subsidising the costs of treating patients with sickle cell anaemia.

The House equally mandated its Committee on Health Care Services to interface with relevant government agencies to engage in continuous campaigns and education of the public on the sickle cell anaemia.

The House resolution was sequel to a motion moved by Honourable Saheed Akinade-Fijabi, titled: “Urgent Need to Develop a National Plan on Sickle Cell”.

While moving the motion, the lawmaker noted that sickle cell (disease) is a disorder of the blood caused by inherited abnormal hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying protein within the red blood cells) with Nigeria reportedly having five million sickle cell patients.

Speaking further, he said that, “a successful treatment of the disease was carried out at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan through bone marrow transplant and the process was said to be less risky.”

news N50bn Sylva debt bond, reason Bayelsa is owing salaries — Dickson 38

Austin Ebipade, Yenagoa

W

ORRIED over the debt profile of the state, the Bayelsa State governor, Honourable Seriake Dickson, has attributed the difficulty in paying workers’ salaries to the N50 billion bond debt that former Governor Timipre Sylva plunged the state into, with little or nothing to show in terms of development of the state.”

Governor Dickson said this during the official inauguration of the Bayelsa Transparency Watch website, at the 50th edition of the monthly transparency briefing at Diepreye Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall, Yenagoa, the state capital.

The governor, who decried the lopsided distribution of funds in the country, averred that the published N95 billion that the state got in the last one year of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, was not without huge deductions, particularly, the bond collected by former Governor Sylva and the excess crude deductions at source.

Dickson noted that in the face of the dwindling finances, government has

Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

been transparent and prudent in managing available resources, even as he gave a breakdown that made it difficult to pay workers salaries in January to March, adding that allocation to the state was N7 billion in January, while N3 billion bond loan was deducted and government was faced

with a challenge of paying civil servants and political appointees whose wage bill stands at N4.5 billion.

He said left with no option, government borrowed to augment the N4billion balance to pay workers and political appointees in January that were not paid in December 2015, while

government was left with a deficit of N1.7billion.

He said that the allocation dropped to N6billion in February , yet bond loan of N3billion was deducted and in March, allocation to the state was N5billion and N3.3billion bond loan was deducted; adding that salaries were not paid in

February and March because the balance was grossly inadequate to pay civil servants.

Dickson, however, lauded some people in the state ,who were wise enough not to allow politicians to incite them to rebel against government policies and programmes.

Chief Accountant, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles, Mrs Oluremi Olufisayo, presenting a copy of the maiden edition of the Nigerian Tribune to the unit coordinator, Traditional Medicine and Belief System, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, Dr Obafemi Jegede, during a visit to the Tribune House, Imalefalafia, Ibadan, on Tuesday. PHOTO: D’ TOYIN

Lalong inaugurates committee to investigate purchase of vehicles It is diversionary tactics —Jang Isaac Shobayo, Jos

PLATEAU State governor, Simon Lalong, has constituted a committee to investigate the purchase and distribution of vehicles on loan to members of the public under the programme tagged ‘Tackling poverty together’ by the administration of former Governor Jonah Jang Even as the former governor described the investigation as a diversionary tactics and deliberate plan to turn the people of Plateau State attention away from the burning issues affecting the state.

Speaking shortly before the inauguration of the com-

mittee, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Honourable Rufus Bature, said under the programme, millions of naira were expended by the state government to purchase assorted vechiles for distribution on loan to members of the pub-

lic.

According to him, the information on the contract, mode of distribution among others, were not contained in the handing over note and therefore, need to be investigated.

In a swift reaction, the for-

ELDERS in Benue State have called on Governor Samuel Ortom to stop lamenting his government’s inability to meet the yearnings of the citizenry but to look for ways of proffering solutions to problems facing the state.

Governor Ortom, had lamented the challenges confronting his administration due to the economic crunch at a Town Hall meeting with elders and stakeholders

into disrepute.

He said Lalong- led administration and his handlers should by now, realise that the last administration did it’s best in delivering dividends of democracy ,following laid down procedures meticulously.

Absence of judge stalls arraignment of Fani -Kayode, 2 others Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin Lagos

THE proposed arraignment of a former Minister for Aviation, Femi Fani -Kayode, was on Tuesday, stalled due to the absence of Justice Sule Hassan of a Federal High Court in Lagos.

Fani-Kayode ,who was also a Director of Media and Publicity in the campaign committee of former President Goodluck Jonathan, is facing money laundering charges alongside Nenandi Usman, Danjuma Yusuf and a company, Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited

Stop lamenting, pay workers’ salaries, Benue elders tell Ortom Johnson Babajide, Makurdi

mer governor through his aide, Mr Clinton Garuba ,described the investigation as a diversionary tactics after a year of searching for perceived wrong doing of the last administration aimed at bringing the hard -earned reputation of Senator Jang

across the state.

The governor said that the economic recession in the country had caused untold hardship, leading to his government inability to pay workers’ salaries and deliver on his campaign promises.

Some of the elders ,who spoke during the town hall meeting at Katsina Ala, on Tuesday,include; state deputy elders’ forum of the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP), Chief Abu King Shuluwa, Augustime Avam and

Fabian Biam.

Shuluwa decried the continuous lamentation of the governor, urging him to source funds and pay workers’ salaries, submitting that the governor’s continuous cry will not solve the problem.

‘There is money, it is your responsibility as governor to look for ways to source for funds to meet your obligations not lamentation, the people of the state deserve better living’.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), preferred a 17 - count charge against the accused persons bordering on unlawful retention, use and payment of money in the tune of N4.9 billion.

The case, which was fixed for arraignment of the accused persons, was stalled following the absence of the trial judge, who is said to be attending an official function.

The accused, were however, present in court but had to be taken back to EFCC’s custody, following the judge’s absence.

A new adjourned date, it was gathered, would be communicated to parties.

In the charge, the accused were alleged to have committed the offences between January and March 2015.

In counts one to seven, they were alleged to have

unlawfully retained over N3.8 billion ,which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of stealing and corruption.

In counts eight to 14, the accused were alleged to have unlawfully used over N970 million ,which they reasonbly ought to have known formed part of an unlawful act of corruption.

Also in counts 15 to 17, Fani-Kayode, together with one Olubode Oke ,who is said to now be at large, were alleged to have made cash payments of about N30 million, in excess of the amount allowed by law, without going through a financial institution.

Fani-Kayode was alleged to have made payments to one Paste Poster Co (PPC) of No 125 Lewis St., Lagos, in excess of amounts allowed by law.

Traditional Medicine will create jobs — Institute of African Studies, UI

By Emmanuel George

TRADITIONAL Medicine and Belief System, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, has said that African medicine is a form of economy diversification with a huge view of job creation in Nigeria.

The institute, which has done many researches on the natural ways of healing all forms of ailments, such diabetes, fibroid, insomnia and sickle cells, without orthodox medicine, has given its stand on restructuring traditional medicine in Africa to enable Nigeria emulate the pathways of China in advancement of human health.

Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune, the unit coordinator of the institute, Dr Obafemi Jegede, said the institute wouid continue in training students practically and expose them to traditional healing medicine, so that they would be able to cure about four aliments before they finish their programme.

“With this, we will be able to bring up a cohort of practitioners who will be able to bring a new meaning and be constructive to practice,”he said.

He averred that the the major challenge of traditional medicine is education, “we found out that those who practice it are not properly educated; they are not epically and ethically brought up, that’s why we are thinking on how to train people who would be sound in traditional medicine and make them effective practitioners.

Also, Christians Olapade, corroborated the fact that the institute, through the unit, is capable of creating job for the unemployed in the country; “we will try to solve the problem of unemployment in our own way”.

“Even now, institutions are turning out graduates, who are looking for jobs but we are looking out to turn out individuals who would be job creators. This is an existing programme that can help to develop our indigenous industries. We are talking about multibillion-dollar industry, just wasting away”, she said.

She said her project would focus on the issue of dosage and toxicity, being a major issue in traditional medicine in Nigeria, to showcase to the world that traditional medicine works in reality.

39

Wednesday, 22 June, 2016

corporatesport

With Niyi Alebiosu adeniyi70@yahoo.com 08116954642

Senator Buhari tasks sports writers on developmental journalism Congratulates Oyo SWAN exco

By Nurudeen Alimi

Victor Ikpeba, Ex-International footballer and Ibrahim Mohammed, President, Nigerian School Sports Federation at the 2016 COPA Coca-Cola coaching clinic held in Abuja recently

2016 Copa Coca-Cola

NSSF, Coca-Cola raise educational standards of children through football

…As Victor Ikpeba coaches secondary school students in Abuja

C

OCA-COLA has Contributed its own quota towards raising the educational standards of teenagers in Nigeria through its COPA Coca-Cola U-15 Schools Competition.

The National President of the Nigerian Schools Sports Federation (NSSF), Mallam Ibrahim Muhammed expressed this opinion during the 2016 COPA Coca-Cola coaching clinics held in Abuja.

According to Muhammed, President Muhammadu Buhari’s goal for the development of grassroots sports in secondary schools is further supported by competitions such as COPA Coca-Cola.

In his words, “The Copa Coca-Cola preliminaries

have recently been concluded and the finals in the 32 participating states churned out an impressive turnout of Nigerian dignitaries ranging from elders, royalists, and government officials all coming together to cheer these teens on to victory.

The mandate of President Buhari’s administration to encourages the marriage of education and grassroots sports in Nigeria to make learning experience more meaningful. Coca-Cola has obeyed this clarion call to support this mandate through its COPA CocaCola coaching clinics.”

Chaired by ex-international footballer, Victor Ikpeba, the North Western coaching clinic which held at Junior Secondary School Jabi in Abuja com-

Osogbo Tennis Club recently won the maiden inter state competition hosted by the club .At the presentation of the trophy are from (L-R) the President Ibadan Tennis Club,the host Captain, Mr Biola Oni,Mr Niyi Oguntunde and the Osogbo Club’ Secretary,Mr Kayode Oladeji.

prised Government Secondary School, Chindit, Kaduna; Nagari College, Kebbi; Government Model School, Suleja, Niger; and Government Secondary School, Dange, Sokoto.

Ikpeba fondly called ‘Prince of Monaco’ trained the U-15 students from the various schools ahead of the three-day regional finals where Government Model School, Suleja, Niger, emerged as the victors in the North Western region.

Ikpeba used the occasion to highlight his belief in the teens and commended Coca-Cola for its continued support to initiatives geared towards youth development in the country.

“I commend Coca-Cola and the Nigerian School Sports Federation in joining forces to offer these U-15 teens a means of sharpening their skills, competencies, and sensibilities through Grassroots Sports initiative, COPA Coca-Cola. The importance of sports in the upbringing of teens cannot be over-emphasized. As such, the infusion of sports in the lives of these teens provides them an avenue to grow their skills and competences while using the secondary school system to

reach out to them.”

Shedding more light on the coaching clinic, the Prince of Monaco said “From coaching clinics and initiatives such as Copa Coca-Cola, rising football stars are identified.

SENATOR representing Oyo North senatorial district in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Fatai Buhari, has called on sports writers in the country to be partners in progress in the quest to develop sports in Nigeria.

Senator Buhari, who is the chairman senate committee on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) made the call in a congratulatory message sent to the newly-elected executives of the Sports Writers Assocaition of Nigeria (SWAN) Oyo State chapter.

He posited that sports journalists should not only see themselves as critics of sports policies, but also base their reportage on the success of sports development in the country.

“As sports writers, please do not let your personal grouse result into writing against clubs and individuals rather, you should ensure objecvtivity in your report. Covering sports requires special attention

and technicalities and it is on this note that I want to appeal to you to ensure training and retraining of yourselves so as to meet up with the demands of the profession”. He said.

Buhari, a sport enuthiast, politician and former chairman of Crown Football Club of Ogbomoso, however, congratulated the Niyi Alebiosu-led executives of Oyo SWAN and tasked them on the need for acountability and transparency in their admnistration.

Buhari

Keeping fit is a way of insuring one’s life —CIIN boss

By Olawale Olaniyan

THE President Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) Oyo State chapter, Falade Olugbenga Adedayo has charged members of the institute to ensure they keep fit by exercising their body, noting that such is even a certificate to insure one’s life.

Falade stated this at the weekend during the annual Insurance fitness walk which took place in Ibadan. The road walk kicked off around 8:25am, with members of the isntitute passing through Mokola round about, Queen Cinema, Dugbe, J.Allen, Oke-Ado,

and ends around 10:14am at the CIIN, Oke-Ado, Molete, with aerobics.

CIIN boss said the institute do organise the fitness walk for its members once in a year to ensure that they are fitter, “as helath is wealth they say.”

According to him, “we do this once in a year and we replicate exactly what the headquarters of CIIN is doing. Insurance is full of activities, ups and down, running after businesses on the road and always busy.

That is why we deem it very important once in a year

to bring our members out to exercise and relax and strecth our body system.

“It is good to allow our body and system experience such warm walk, especially for some of us who might not have the experience of going to gyms but have been busy throughout the year.

“The result of exercise is that any time you go out, you’re loosing all the stiff bones and in return you are healthier.

So we are telling our people that aside from running after businesses all the time, there is time to look after one’s health,” Falade said.

Members of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) Oyo State Chapter, during their annual fitness walk in Ibadan.

SIDELINES

NO 16,529

WEDNESDAY, 22 JUNE, 2016

N150

“Whatever you reap you shall sow” is a saying in English. Imole Emmanuel should have been wiser by sowing a ‘pleasant’ seed to be certain of reaping good fruit (consequence). But now that he has allegedly decided to pour hot soup on a police corporal in Ado-Ekiti, he does not have a choice but to face the real ‘hot soup’- if he is found guilty.

Too much money ruining Nigerian football — Dalung N IGERIA’s sports minister, Solomon Dalung has said the leadership crisis in the country’s football has continued to fester because “there’s more money involved than in the oil industry.”

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have been embroiled in a leadership tussle for the past two years since elections to the executive committee in Warri.

Dalung has now traced the crisis to the money in the game and the many selfish interests chasing this money, which he said is more than what is obtainable in the oil sector where Nigeria is one of the leading players in Africa.

“There’s more cash in football than in the oil sector and there is so much selfish interests and as a result we have this crisis,” Dalung said on a Hausa interview programme broadcast by Freedom Radio

Kano Tuesday morning.

“There is someone who wants to force his way as the NFF president and that is why I have had to order full police presence at the NFF secretariat, if not work will not be going on there.”

Dalung also spoke on a committee headed by former NFF president Ibrahim Galadima he set up to chart a fresh path for the country’s football, saying among other things he has been encouraged by FIFA officials to implement the recommendations of this advisory committee.

“FIFA officials have told me that the members of this committee are straightforward and trust worthy. They have finished their work and will soon submit it to me and I hope to work with their recommendations because they will move our football forward,” he promised.

NFF confirms U23, Mexico friendly NIGERIA has confirmed there will be a friendly match between its Olympic team and the U23 National Team of Mexico in Mexico on Saturday, 2nd July.

NFF’s FIFA match agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sport stated on Tuesday that the match will take place at the Aguascalientes Stadium, home ground of newly promoted top tier club, Necaxa FC. The match is scheduled to start at 8.30pm Mexican time.

The NFF announced that after the friendly, the Nige-

ria U23 squad will continue its training camp in the United States of America and will play Charleston Battery FC in Atlanta on Saturday, 16th July.

A game against the Honduras U23 team is also being con-

summated for 27th July.

1996 champions Nigeria will play Sweden, Colombia and Japan in the group stage of the men’s football tournament of this year’s Olympic Games in Brazil.

Rio Olympics: Russians, Kenyans to face dope test ANY competitor from Russia or Kenya wishing to take part in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics will need to be individually evaluated against doping and declared eligible by their sport’s international federation, Olym-

2018 World Cup qualifier draw holds Friday THE draw for the qualifying tournament for the 2018 World Cup in Russia will be staged on Friday by 4pm Nigerian time at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.

Twenty teams will be drawn into five groups of four teams each to play on home and away basis from October 2016 to November 2017 with the overall winners advancing to the

Alex Iwobi, Super Eagles player

World Cup. The qualifiers include Algeria,Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, Tunisia, Egypt, South Africa, Mali, Guinea, Cape Verde and Cameroon.

Nigeria have qualified for five World Cups previously – 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014.

They reached the Round of 16 in 1994, 1998 and 2014.

pic chief Thomas Bach said on Tuesday.

The special measure is being introduced because of the unsatisfactory state of anti-doping bodies in the two countries, which Bach said put “very serious doubts on the presumption of innocence.”

Russian track and field athletes remain suspended from Rio after the IOC offered “respect, approval and support” for a blanket ban on them – extended on Friday by world athletics’ governing body – for systemic doping.

But Bach, speaking at the end of a doping summit, gave a limited number of the Russian athletes a chance to race for their country in Brazil despite a ban.

He said any Russian athlete cleared by the world athletics

body IAAF or the Court of Arbitration for Sport as clean and eligible would compete under the Russian flag.

Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) chief Aleksander Zhukov, meanwhile, said clean Russian athletes would appeal the “legally indefensible” ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Any athletes who succeed in their appeal would compete under the Russian flag, Bach said, not an Olympic or neutral one.

“The position is very clear: we respect this (IAAF) decision.

We advised today that athletes and/or the ROC may appeal,” Bach said. “This is the good right of everybody. We expect the results of these potential court cases.”

“If there are (Russian) athletes qualified then they will com-

pete as members of the Russian Olympic Committee team,” Bach told reporters at the end of an extraordinary summit.

The decision is expected to somewhat appease the Russians, who were unhappy with the ban of their track and field athletes by the IAAF from the world’s biggest multi-sport event.

Bach also said the summit, including sports federations and Olympic committees, had decided to fully review the anti-doping system, calling on World Anti-doping Agency to hold a global conference next year.

The IAAF suspended Russia last year over concerns its athletes were guilty of systematic doping and upheld the ban last week.

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