New wife strangled in husband's house by Advocate Nigeria

Vol. 1 No. 25, Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

N150

Page 18

Homosexuals protest member’s trial in Anambra ·Page 2

New wife strangled in husband's house ·Allah will expose my wife's killers – Husband

Nigerians getting poorer under Jonathan – W/Bank Three Lebanese arraigned for keeping an illegal armoury in Kano coming out of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday

Page 28

Driver jailed for stealing master’s car ·Toyota Camry recovered ·Pleaded guilty Page 3

Page 18

Read Advocate online: www.theadvocatengr.com

THE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

ADVOCATE

New wife strangled in husband's house *Allah will expose my wife's killers – Husband

lhaji Inuwa Idris Yakasai, Director of Information in Kano State Ministry of Information, has bemoaned the cruel fate that befell his wife, Zainab, after unidentified assailants strangled her in their Kano home. According to him, “Allah shall expose them for killing my innocent wife in that gruesome manner. They have killed my joy, they have killed part of me; they have taken my heartthrob away from me just at the peak of our honey moon. We got married just 10 days ago, only for these people to strangle my dear Zainab for reasons none of them can offer. Allah will surely judge them.” Yakasai told P.M.NEWS Thursday that the murder of his wife has further given him insight on how wicked the world could be. Zainab, 20, was gruesomely killed by yet to be identified assassins who stormed their residence at Sabon Gandu area of Kano city at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. The assailants, P.M.NEWS gathered, monitored movement of residents of

The slain Zainab, wife of Kano State Director of Information the area and made sure no one was around when they invaded Idris' family house and silently killed his

wife by strangling her by the neck. “You see, I never envisaged this kind of calamity to befall my household at

this material time. We got married just 10 days ago and we have been very happy and fond of each other. “It is indeed very pathetic because that very morning, we were all in high spirits. We played and chatted like we always did. After breakfast, she prayed for me and wished me well for the day; and before bidding me good bye, she requested I bought her the prayer bead that carries the inscription of the 99 names of Allah; and that was her last request,” Yakasai stated in tears. According to him, the late Zainab was very religious. “She was very religious and spiritual. She did not play with the words of Allah and teachings of Prophet Mohammed. She was highly spiritual, kindhearted and easy-going. She used to attend Islamic school and was in the habit of memorizing the Qur'an often. I wonder why they decided to assassinate such a wonderful woman.” He also noted that Zainab before her tragic end was not a trouble-maker, “to my knowledge, I do not know her as a trouble-maker. She was a very

quiet and peace-loving woman. I am not myself a trouble-maker. I am not a politician, so I still wonder why anybody or group of people decided to make me a widower.” Idris, however, commended the police for way they are handling the investigation. “I am very convinced that at the end of the day, the police will get to the root of the murder. I have been giving them adequate cooperation. They have made arrests; and from what I learnt, they are already making headway in the investigation; with Allah on my side, the killers of my wife shall be exposed.” The Police Public Relations Office in Kano, Magaji Musa Majia told P.M.NEWS that the police are making progress in their investigation. “Our men have been working on it; we have made a number of arrests and at the point investigations are completed, I will let you know the outcome, but the bottom-line is that the killers must be made to face the wrath of the law,” he stated. The late Zainab was buried Wednesday according to Islamic rites. Yakasai has two other wives and nine children.

FCE Eha-Amufu: Parents to receive wards’ results online By Obianuju Nwankwo

rom the present semester onwards, parents or guardians o f s t u d e n t s o f the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, FCEE in Enugu state, are to receive the results of their wards online via their email addresses. Already, some students of the institutions have been accessing their semester results online through the college's portal. Provost of the college, Reverend Professor Ben Mbah, who made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on the activities of the institution, also stated that the college recently awarded four new contracts to the tune of over N635m to improve on the infrastructural challenges of the 32-year old college. The contracts cover two 750 and 350 sitter capacity lecture theatres, respectively, for Science, Arts and Social Science faculties. The contracts also include construction of N52 million convocation and matriculation arena. Prof. Mba stated that the funds would be mobilized from the statutory Federal government subvention as well as from the Tertiary Education Fund, TET-FUND. He added that even though the college has been suffering on account of low funding, it expects that in 2013, it will receive up to 90% funding to enable it achieve the set objectives. The provost also disclosed that the institution has increased students teaching practice duration from three to six months and pays the supervising lecturers from the TET enabled fund for the exercise, adding that his administration is making serious efforts to increase staff accommodation on campus just like it is striving to improve water supply to the campus.

Mbah further disclosed that the internal roads in the campus had been earmarked for asphalting just like it is rehabilitating dilapidated structures before the new ones would be put to use, noting however that assistance is needed from the private sector to argument the government's subventions. Said the Provost, “After a survey of what was on ground, I summed my mission in this citadel of learning thus: the horse, a prominent symbol of our College logo has been wounded badly and was at best limping hence I have come to make our horse gallop again! To achieve this would be a difficult job but not impossible. It would require giving a balanced attention to all aspect of the institution. It should include Staff Welfare and Development, Student We l f a r e , I n f r a s t r u c t u r a l Enhancement, Institutional Values, College Environment, Security, Academic Standard, ICT, Discipline, Alumni Development, Linkages and Friendship Development, Degree Awarding Status of our Programs, and Quality of our Graduates.” Mbah stated that staff welfare and development packages including salaries and allowances had been paid as and when due, as well as housing loans, upgraded vehicle refurbishing loans, academic staff benefit from TET-fund intervention and in pursuing higher degrees as PhD and MSc. “Promotions have been streamlined especially for academic staff. Some may not have welcomed the changes even though it is good for the system. I see myself as a change agent and not anything evil. I see challenge as an opportunity for manifestation of glory. I was awarded the labour-friendly provost SouthEast by the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union sometime last year,” said Mbah. On students' welfare, Mbah said his

administration has been very student friendly, adding that students are sponsored to academic and sports events. “All trips that are required for the various programs are sponsored. This year we have won laurels nationally in Mathematics competition among the Colleges of Education in Nigeria. One of our students won a bronze medal. We also hosted the Math zonal competition in this College earlier in the year. Our women soccer team in May became the zonal champions for the second year running, and will represent the Zone in the national competition later in the year. In the latest national assessment of the Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) our College was adjudged the best. We are about to complete the second tube well which is fully motorized to help take care of the students water need.” He enumerated other achievements to

include: completion of two additional wings of hostel, a new hostel building nearing completion, fully renovated one hostel, an old hostel currently being renovated, registration, payments, Hostel placement and more by e-transaction. He said that examination malpractice has been fought seriously in an organized and consistent manner in this college that the college now have in place about 30 trained and certified Exam ethics marshals among the staff of this college. Sale of handout and illegal sale of unauthorized text, he added, had been stamped out and culprits are punished, while there is a vibrant SERVICOM unit as well a ACTU that help to monitor what is going on in t e r m s o f s e r v i c e d e l i v e r y. Right now there is a Professor from a Canadian University who will be taking the academic staff in a 2-week workshop starting from June 10, 2013. He will share his experience

with teaching staff after 10 years of teaching English at University level in Canada. He had earlier taught in Nigerian Universities for over 30 years. “This is part of our working out the Professional Standards for Nigerian Teachers for our staff. Two of our deans have already been sponsored for training on putting in place these standards that have been set by the education authorities in Nigeria,” said Mbah He recited the challenges and way forwards to include Staff Housing, Staff Recruitment, Walling of College, Internal Road Net Work, Functional Borehole development and reticulation, Rehabilitation of old buildings. “We have done well with available funds. With more funding we will do more but we are not resting our oars. We are developing our friendship and linkages for support.”

THE

ADVOCATE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

Junk plane causes panic in Lagos F

ear gripped residents of Lagos on Thursday when a junk plane belonging to flamboyant preacher and founder of Bethel Ministries, the late Gabriel Oduyemi, was sighted on the ground far from the Lagos airport. May people thought that another plane had crashed in the city, a development that created serious panic among the residents as well as relations of those that travelled by air between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. The American registered aircraft, marked- N972TF, with inscription G O, Gabriel Oduyemi Crusades, was towed from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja area of Lagos and dumped near Dapsey petrol station in Igando area of the state. The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, Engineer Nnamdi Udoh said in a statement that the aircraft belonging to the late clergyman had long been parked at a NAMA facility up till Wednesday night when it was eventually removed. Udoh said the aircraft was released to Captain M.J. Ekeinde who will be using it for educational purposes in Badagry, Lagos. He said a cross section of the wings was removed to ease transportation to its new location. “This morning, we were inundated with phone calls and enquiries over a

crash involving a small aircraft but there is nothing like that It is a hoax because our system did not capture any missing plane,” Udoh said. Before Udoh's explanation, the social media were awash with millions of people making calls to friends and family members who were either at airports or on their way to board planes. Residents of Igando for instance were scared with many of them thinking that the jet had crashed in the night at the filling station. Many residents

gathered at the filling station wondering how the jet managed to get to the place. An official at the scene even claimed that the jet was being taken to Badagary area of Lagos before one of its tyres burst. Many residents who spoke on the development, said when they woke up this morning and saw the plane, panic gripped them. According to a resident who identified himself as Emmanuel John, nobody could explain how the plane

Driver jailed for stealing master’s car ·Toyota Camry recovered ·Pleaded guilty

The suspect, Edem Bassey Effiong Following media report on the incident last month, people in the suspect's village who claimed that they read the report, reported Bassey to the police. The police in Calabar further informed the police at Ikoyi Division, Lagos about the suspect's arrest, and the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Division SP Aisha Haruna dispatched a team to Calabar to fetch the suspect and the stolen car. During interrogation, Bassey confessed that he stole the car. The offences, the prosecutor

Gunmen kill phone parts dealer in Onitsha

driver, Edem Bassey Effiong, a native of Calabar, Cross River State, south South Nigeria, who disappeared in Lagos with his employer's Toyota car three days after he was employed, has been arrested by the police in Calabar. He was interrogated and later arraigned in court and jailed two years after he pleaded guilty to the crime. The police also recovered the stolen car from him and returned it to the owner. The suspect was jailed by Magistrate E. Kubeinje in charge of Court 15 sitting at the Igbosere Magistrates' Court, Lagos, after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of stealing preferred against him. The police at Ikoyi Division, Lagos, arrested him in Calabar following a tip off by people in Bassey's village who suspected him when he drove the car to his village. Bassey's problem started in May 2013 when he was sent by his employer, Mr. Bryant Oluwole to drop his wife at a Baptist Church in Ikoyi, Lagos. After the woman dropped off the car and went inside the church, Bassey drove the car straight to his village in Calabar where he tried to sell it. When all efforts by the couple to trace the driver and the car proved futile, they reported the matter to the police, who arrested the suspect's guarantor, Ossang Emmanuel. Emmanuel introduced the fleeing driver to the couple for employment. He was charged to court for conspiracy and stealing a Toyota car valued at N1,500,000.

got there. He said they immediately contacted the police. The security agents were trying to bring sanity at the scene and to control the passage of vehicles on LASU road in Igando. They placed notice board on the road explaining to the public that it was not a crashed plane. So widespread was the rumour that the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, issued a statement. The rumour circulating on social media Thursday morning about a plane crash in Lagos is one of the “evils of

Inspector, Clifford Ogu said, contravened section 409 and 285 (10) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011. In her ruling, Magistrate E. Kubeinje said, though the accused pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against him by the police without wasting time of the count, the law must take its course because the accused betrayed the trust reposed in him by his employer. She accordingly sentenced the accused to two years imprisonment without an option of fine.

social media,” the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, said Thursday. Social media was awash with unconfirmed reports of an aircraft crashing at Igando, a Lagos suburb; with a particular tweet saying that the “plane crashed breaking its two wings.” Ibrahim Farinloye, NEMA Spokesperson for South-West, debunked the rumour, saying that it was a scrap aeroplane being evacuated from the airport. “It was just the scrap of an aircraft that was being evacuated from the airport. The Federal Government had issued a directive that all scrap aircraft be evacuated from all airports, as well as scrap ships from our waterways,” Mr. Farinloye said Farinloye described the rumour as “one of the evils of social media.” “The evacuation is usually done at night to forestall this kind of public misinformation by mischief makers. We were there at 11.20 p.m. yesterday,” he added. Gabriel Oduyemi was a Nigerian pastor and the founder and general overseer of Bethel Ministries Inc. He was described as a flamboyant speaker who believed in financial prosperity for Christians. One of the peculiar events during his services was when he would instruct the people in attendance to wave white handkerchiefs above their heads, in order to realize their miracles of becoming millionaires.

are-devil gunmen suspected to be armed robbers Tuesday night shot and killed a yet-to-be identified business man based at Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, near the commercial city of Onitsha. The incident, according to eye-witnesses, occured at about 8.30 p.m. when the bandits allegedly stormed the phone accessories shop at the popular Nkpor Junction by Obosi Road. The identity of the victim remained unknown by press time. According to the source, on arrival at the shop, the robbers discovered that the iron rod protector at the victim's shop was locked up, while the victim and his sales girls were inside rounding off their business for the day. It was gathered that the robbers allegedly ordered him to open the iron protector to enable them gain entry into the shop or have himself to blame. It was further gathered that while the victim was still looking for an escape route, the men of the underworld numbering about six and who were said to have operated on three motorcycles, started shooting indiscriminately into the air ostensibly to scare people away as this also enabled them hacked the iron rod protector and allegedly pumped bullets into the victim's body before carting away unspecified sum of money from the shop. Sources said the sound of their gun caused stampede at Nkpor junction, the scene of the incident which served as a mini market, even as petty traders abandoned their wares and fled the scene. Some courageous passerby rush the victim to a nearby hospital where he was said to have died on the way before getting to the hospital, barely 30 minutes after the robbers had left. One of the eye-witnesses who spoke on the matter, declared: “I was among those who lost our personal effects during a stampede brought about by the robbery incident, as a result of the heavy shootings, adding, ironically, last night, there was no usual presence of the police or local vigilance groups that normally patrol the notorious junction to scare bandits from any robbery intention”. When newsmen visited the scene, the victim's shop and that of other shops along the same line were under lock and key and deserted for fear of possible police arrests. Efforts made by this reporter to get detailed report of the incident from the victim's neighbours hit the rock as they distanced themselves from the scene and declined to make any comment. Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka said it was a robbery incident and not assassination case, as speculated by some passersby, adding that the victim died on his way to the Crown Hospital, Nkpor-Uno. He however noted that investigation into the matter had begun in earnest, with a view to fishing out the fleeing perpetrators of the dastardly act and bringing them to book.

THE

ADVOCATE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

t e e M

PDP describes APC's agenda as empty shells

eoples' Democratic P a r t y, P D P, We d n e s d a y, reviewed the proposed agenda of All Progressives Congress, APC, and dismissed it as empty shells of lies articulated to deceive Nigerians. In its review, PDP took strong exception to APC's silence on the issues of corruption and terrorism, saying it was reflective of the tolerance of APC and its leaders for the two evils it claimed were at the top of the agenda of the PDP-led Federal Government. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, PDP faulted APC's democratic inclinations and proposals on education as it used strike actions in Action Congress of Nigeria, ACNcontrolled Ekiti and Osun states to scoff at the opposition's plans for quality education. The House of Commons' lecture The party's response followed Monday's lecture at the British House of Commons, where Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, national leader of ACN, unfolded the agenda of APC, which ACN and some other opposition

parties are forming. PDP said: “Members of the British parliament must have giggled and waited in vain for Mr. Tinubu to unveil the much-vaunted opposition agenda on antiterrorism and corruption. “Is it that APC has no answers to these or that Tinubu deliberately skipped them? Here, curious minds reflect on two things. “The PDP-led Federal Government has applied the master strategy that is already yielding results; thus leaving the opposition bereft of fresh, better dimension as an alternative or that the man who appeared in the British House of Commons is the least qualified to speak on corruption and terrorism before such a selfrespecting and wellmeaning assembly with an in-depth grip on happenings in Nigeria.” On security On the issue of National S o c i a l S e c u r i t y, P D P wondered why the states under the opposition have not been implementing it if it is such a laudable programme, knowing that under Nigeria's federalism, the states suffer no restriction over such

matters. PDP said: “Why is the opposition waiting to get to the centre before implementing this? Why did Tinubu not implement this as Lagos State Governor for eight years? “Why are the six ACN states over which Tinubu is lord not implementing this? “Promises are easily made. I f Ti n u b u a s L a g o s Governor denied workers wage increment and denied pensioners the benefits of decades of service, how could APC government, which he canvasses, take care of the aged and the vulnerable under the social security programme? Nigerians need eggs no doubt but not their empty shells! Faults feeding programme “Similarly, the school feeding programme, which APC paraded as one of its cardinal agenda, is in fact a programme under various stages of implementation since it was launched in September 2005 by former President, Olusegun Obasanjo. “In fact, some of the PDP states have gone beyond meal-a-day to other accompaniments that make learning easy for the Nigerian child.”

Driver in court for allegedly killing motor boy

t r u c k d r i v e r, Gbenga Oloja, 35, was on Thursday arraigned before an OmuAran Magistrates' Court in Kwara for allegedly causing the death of his motor boy through dangerous driving. Oloja, who lives in Amoyo area near Ilorin, is standing trial on one-count charge of causing death by dangerous driving. The accused, who was said to be in-charge of the vehicle marked XW 663 LSR, was on his way to Ilorin from

Name: Jane Okorie Name: Okoli Brenda Mob: December 17 and Acting Hobby: Modeling Hobby: Dancing and Reading Likes: Honesty Likes: Neatness and Boldness Dislike: Dishonesty Dislike: Dirtiness Email: brendyo417@yahoo.com Email: jannyangel15@gmail.com Source: st santos productions Source: St Santos Productions/07067899677 07067899677

Kaba, Kogi when the incident happened. The prosecutor, Sgt. Adeola Adeboye said that Oloja had on April 24 at about 6 a.m., driven the truck without due attention, causing the death of Omoniyi Morakinyo, his motor boy. Adeboye said that the deceased was taking a nap under the truck some few metres to Federal Government Girls College gate in Omu-Aran in the hope of continuing the journey to Ilorin.

The prosecutor said that Oloja, however, drove off without paying attention to Morakinyo, who was still under the truck, killing him in the process. He said that the offence contravened Section 23 of the Road Traffic Act of Kwara. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Magistrate, Mrs. I.O. Olawoyin, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case to June 24 for further hearing.

Delta North seeks 2015 gov

group, Campaign for Good Governance, has called for equity and fairness in future elections in Delta State. It also noted that the Delta North senatorial district should produce the governor of the state in 2015. This, according to the group, is the recipe for peace, equity, justice and good governance in the state.

The CGG National Coordinator, Mr. Obaro Unafe, stated this at a briefing on Wednesday in Asaba to mark this year's June 12 celebration. He said, “Depriving Delta North from producing the next governor in 2015 is an invitation to anarchy, crisis and unnecessary political competition. “As we mark June 12, Campaign for Good Governance calls on Deltans

and all political stakeholders to eschew bitterness and shun politics of godfatherism, selection of candidates and the practice of arm-twisting aspirants during primaries to favour a particular candidate. “Campaign for Good Governance advocates best democratic practices in governance, encourages all stakeholders to shun thuggery and snatching of ballot boxes.”

THE

ADVOCATE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

Why my community is divided over my son's killing - Pastor By Ted Peters

everend Pastor Charles C. Ejim of All Nations for Christ Bible Church, Akpugo, Nkanu West, Local Government Area of Enugu State is the father of the little four years old Marvelous Ugochukwu Ejim, who was kidnapped from his father's compound in Umuatugbuoma and brutally slaughtered by his captors who collected his blood in a bucket for rituals. Four young men, all natives of the community who were arrested over the gruesome murder of Marvelous has since been arraigned and remanded in Enugu prison custody awaiting trial. But Rev. Ejim has cried out to the Governor Sullivan Chime-led administration and the State Commissioner of Police, and other well-meaning citizens of the state to quickly intervene and rescue him from the “blood thirsty cult members who are threatening fire and thunder to hurt him or even set him up.” “Another rumour I am hearing everywhere in the village is that these people are also planning to set us up by killing somebody and dumping the corpse inside my compound, and then go to alert the police that I am responsible for the death of such person,” the pastor claimed in a chat with newsmen in Enugu. Since the killing of the nursery three pupil on Thursday, 25th April, 2013 at Umuatugbuoma, a remote autonomous community created out of the old AkaegbeUgwu , in the Nkanu West Council Area of the state, Rev. Ejim said the tragedy seems more painful and unbearable to him and his nuclear family because the elders and leaders of the community have decided to look the other way as if “it was a rat or dog that was killed”. He said neither the leadership of the town union of the community, nor the elders have “come to ask me how our son was killed by our kinsmen who collected his blood for ritual.” Aside the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Okechukwu Nwobodo, who has stood up to vehemently condemn the lad's murder, the rest of the elders and leaders of the community have developed lukewarm attitude to the matter, according to Ejim. He said his community members are ganging up against him for disclosing to the media the ordeal of the family since the death of Marvelous. “Then the town union executives who I thought would condemn the evil, and at least come to condole the parents of the boy that was killed, up till now, they did not do

anything about the matter. Rather, what they are doing is to ask; why should I go and speak to the press? They said that they will take me to court for going to the press. You can imagine that. So all these are the reasons why I am crying out that government should help me obtain justice in this case, because these people are dangerous and evil,” the bereaved Ejim told our reporter. More disturbing to the pastor, he claimed, is the fact that some parents of the 'cult members' who killed my son are now working day and night to set me up, and if possible, rope in all those who are helping me to fight for justice since my son's murder. The cleric alleged that the rumour making waves in the community is that members of the cult group of those who killed Marvelous are threatening to “set me up by killing somebody and dumping the corpse inside my compound or around the church of Rev James Eneh or near the house of those who are assisting me to get to the root of the matter or if possible hurt me in any other painful way.” Rev Ejim claimed that the murdered Marvelous was a “born priest of God”, and that is why his killers have been gradually exposed by God. According to him, the I-don't-care attitude of the elders and leaders of the community since the killing of his son, quite contradicted the communal life style of the people, especially when death of an indigene is involved. He recalled that when Barrister Sunday Ugwu, a native, was shot dead by

unknown gunmen some years ago, the entire community cried out against the murder. Sunday Ugwu was elder brother to Mr. Nwabueze Ugwu, who then represented former Governor Nnamani's constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly.

CURIOUS IRONY ? Rev Ejim said it is a curious irony that a mother of one of the suspects, who came to pray inside the Ejim's compound on Friday 26th April when Marvelous corpse was eventually found, said that God should expose the killers of the boy, not knowing that her own son was one of the real killers. Ejim said the same woman has been going round the community, “announcing that should anything happen to her son in prison custody, that the community should hold me and those assisting me responsible.” The pastor added that rather than show remorse and repentance after God heard her prayer by exposing those that killed my son, “she is going about threatening to deal with me and those helping me in the case Rev James Eneh and Ikechukwu, my in-law; can you imagine the impunity?” He re-stated, “So this same woman, the day my son's body was recovered, this same woman was in my house praying loudly that God should expose whoever did the wicked act. Now the son has been exposed, she picked offence against me. God has answered the prayer that she prayed in my house.” Ejim recalled other killings in his area that might give the

impression of “a community of blood”. According to him, “Some years back, one man called Atingwu from my community was killed. The whole community rallied round and by that time, the person that is now the chairman of the Elders Forum in my community was chairman of the community; the community rallied round and did everything possible to make sure that the killers were caught.” He further lamented, “When Sunday Ugwu was killed, the whole community rallied round the Ugwu family on the matter. Some weeks ago, a person that is not from my community killed somebody in my community; my community rallied round, called the police into the case; and is true that they did not catch the boy, but they knew that the boy ran away, abandoning his property because he is a tenant. But look at the murder of my child, a son of the soil, who was slaughtered like a goat; the leaders and elders of community did not say anything.”

TWO 'SINS' AGAINST MY TOWN: Rev Ejim who broke down and wept while speaking with newsmen, further recalled graphically the circumstances during which the community seemed to have decided to “stay away from him”, giving detail of the two 'sins' the natives accused him of having committed. “They said that some years ago, they caught people that they said stole yam; and these people were caught through dibia (native doctor) means at a village in Anambra state. It happened that on one of the occasions I was one of the persons that led the delegates that went there on behalf of my community. On coming back that was what led to my repentance I found out that it was a manipulation; the dibia did not catch them but they manipulated everything. In 1992, Akagbe-Ugwu told them to go and withdraw the case from the court, that they were about to settle the matter; we were about six that went. They said is there any person that could come out to testify whether those people were caught physically or through dibia means; the other people denied but because of God, because of my repentance, I came out, and told AkaegbeUgwu that the people were not actually caught but it was through dibia way. I told them everything.

Since that time my community saw me as somebody that should be done away with. “Again in the year 2005 or 2006, the chief priest of my community his son died in motor accident. They called me to come and minister to people during his burial. I told them that I would first go to God and ask Him for permission. When I consulted God, He (God) told me that it was the big idol that his father (Chief priest) worships that killed the boy; that they stopped giving it food (making sacrifices to the idol) some years ago; because they normally killed a cow for the idol, the deity. But since they stopped killing the cow for it, this demon (idol) started picking people in that family. “When I went for the boy's burial, I gave message (ministered to the people); after giving message, I told them what killed the boy; that the boy was not the first man that has died in that compound, he was killed by the deity. And that the lady that gave birth and after returning and staying four days, she died God told me that it was the deity that killed the lady, and I told them that, too; that God said that they should abandon that deity and worship Him, the true God. Then the elders of my community saw my sermon as a slap on the face. “And the man that is now the leader of the elders in my community is a traditionalist; so they all saw my speech as if I had slapped them. And since then, they had been doing one thing or another. So this thing that happened to me (the murder of my little son), they saw it as a time to take their own pound of flesh. And that is why since the killing of my child for ritual, the leaders and elders of my community have not said anything, about the slaughtering of their son, killed by people of the village. But in other cases, they would rally round and made sure that the killers were caught and punished.” He also said, “Really, is true that I made it open to everybody the principal suspect that accepted that he is involved in killing my son; I have forgiven him; I am a Christian. If the other four boys do the same thing; I am not ready to make case with anybody; I have handed everything to the hands of God. In the book of Genesis Chapter 9, verse 5 and 6, God said that I will require the blood of your life...It is in the hands of God to require the blood of my son. In the book of Psalm 94, God said that I am the Judge of the earth, that vengeance belongs to Him, and that is the God I am serving. The boy that was killed is a priest; is a servant of God. I have handed over everything to the hands of God. What I am trying to say is let Government help me so that these people will leave me alone.”

THE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

ADVOCATE

Oba, seven others remanded in prison

HE Oba of Egbin in Ikorodu, Oba Adeoriyomi Obateru, 48 and seven others were Friday arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ikeja, over an alleged murder of one inspector Ikpi Ikipi. The presiding Magistrate, Demi-Ajayi, ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kirikiri Maximum prisons. The other suspects are Oderinde Olawole 51, Saliu Bilinu 43, Hassan Otija 25, Yaya Olaiya 26, Kamolu Odunbanjo 30, Yusuf Sulaimon Alabi (alias Suddan) 33 and Adesina Ojo 32. The defendants who were docked before Chief Magistrate O.A Demi-Ajayi, are facing eleven-count charge of conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, robbery, terrorism and u n l a w f u l c o n f r a t e r n i t y, preferred against them by the police. The defendants and others at large, were said to have committed the alleged crime between 21 and 22 of May 2013, at Imowonla Village in Ikorodu area of Lagos. When the charge was read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty to the eleven count charge preferred against them by the police but their plea was not taken.

The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police Chukwu Agwu, told the court that Oba Obateru alongside others committed the alleged crime on May 22, 2013, at about 2.25am at Imowonla Villiage in Ikorodu area of Lagos. He said that the Oba unlawfully killed one Inspector Ikpi Ikpi, aged 45,who was attached to Mopol 22 Police Squadron in Ikeja, by shooting him with a

gun. Agwu, said that Obateru and the other defendants, attempted to murder one Corporal Iwaloye Olasunbo, with number F/NO 595875 and Corporal Daniel Amodu with NO 44541 attached to Mopol 22 Police Squardron Ikeja by inflicting cuts on their heads and all over their body with machetes, which caused them grievous harm. Counsel to the Oba and second and third defendants, O.

Fabunmi,told the court that the name of the first defendant is different from what is on the c h a rg e s h e e t , g i v i n g t h e supposedly right name as Akeem Adeoriyomi Oyebo, the Obateru of Egbin in Ikorodu via Ijede. He said that it is the wrong person that has been brought to court, adding that the charge preferred against the first defendant is a wrong charge because of the name.

Fabunmi, urged the court to grant the first defendant bail in a very liberal term but the Magistrate refused his bail application on the grounds that the case before her is unlawful killings and as such she won't grant him bail. However Magistrate DemiAjayi, ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kirikiri Maximum prisons pending the DPP's advice and adjourned to July, 29, 2013.

House Boy jailed 2 years for stealing

19-year-old house boy, Adebanjo Tosin, who took advantage of the disability of his master and stole his N150, 000, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment by an Evbuoriaria Magistrate's Court in Benin, Edo State, south-south Nigeria. The offence committed at 6, Osagioduwa Street, off Saint Saviour Road, Benin on 3 June, 2013, contravened Section 390 of the Criminal Code. According to Gogo Iguodala, he employed Tosin four months ago out of pity. Narrating how the money was stolen, victim of the theft, Mr. Gogo Ighuodala who came to the court in a wheel chair,

said: “Tosin took me into the the bathroom and after rubbing soap on my head and face, he locked me in the bathroom. “Tosin immediately entered into my bedroom, took my N150, 000 and ran away.” He further told the court how his disability renders him useless in many areas, adding that the only thing he succeeded in doing perfectly was reading and writing. He said he would have forgiven Tosin, but that the conviction would serve as deterrent for others who like to take advantage of physically challenged persons. Narrating how the accused was a r r e s t e d , t h e p r o s e c u t o r,

Corporal Kehinde Adebiyi, said that Tosin was set-up with a lady who pretended to have fallen in love with him on phone. “ To s i n t h e n b o o k e d a n appointment to meet with the lady at Saint Saviour Market. At this time, Mr. Iguodala's neighbours were already in a hideout. In the process of familiarization between Tosin and the lady, he was apprehended and arrested.” Seven pairs of knickers, a belt, a pair of socks, two polo shirts, handless top, face-cap, kito slippers, radio ear-phone, phonecharger, wrist-watch and three set of beads recovered from the house boy were tendered as

exhibit. Tosin who owned up to his crime, told the court that he had no mother, adding that he left his grandmother and grandfather in Ondo state in search of daily bread in Benin City. The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Precious Edogun, noted that Tosin not having parents in Benin is no excuse for him not being a good boy. Edogun said, “based on the facts before the court, the accused is found guilty as charged.” She thereafter sentenced him to two years imprisonment without option of fine.

Oditah advocates improved funding of legal education By Ted Peters

enowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Queen's Counsel, Professor Fidelis Oditah has advocated a joint public and private sector funding of legal education to bring it to the desired standard in Nigeria and the African continent. Delivering a keynote address at the 2 n d African Regional Conference of the International Association of Law Schools at the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus, Oditah stated, “Strengthening our legal education obviously requires putting more money into our legal education. Increased funding requires a partnership between the governments and other stakeholders and donors. “Law firms and lawyers have a big role to play. What is needed is a public-private partnership where the government provides the lion's share of funding supplemented by private money.” Prof. Oditah further challenged African lawyers to rise to the defence of democracy in their countries. He maintained that it was the responsibility of African lawyers to promote democratic ideas in their countries, provide

basic structure for economic growth of their nations, and position themselves as instruments of social engineering in their societies. According to him, “The extent to which Africa can attract business and foreign direct investment depends in part upon investor perception of the quality of our civil and criminal justice system. Like many other developing countries, Africa needs a strong, independent and effective legal profession and judiciary to trade itself out of poverty and into prosperity”. Oditah, a professor at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, spoke on “Legal Education in Africa in the 21st century and the challenge of globalisation” and bemoaned the insignificant involvement of African lawyers in top legal services involving African businesses and governments. He said that even when African lawyers are involved, their roles were often limited to offering advice on local regulations and licensing requirements that have to be complied with while African governments sought advice on the substance of transactions and investments from foreign lawyers. He insisted that the prevailing practice denied African lawyers

the opportunity to enrich their knowledge and experience as well as the financial benefit accruing from playing a significant role in high profile investments. Also, the Oxford Professor regretted that African lawyers, who had practised law in Africa, often find it difficult to find their feet in English and American legal practice, a development he blamed on the low quality legal education in Africa. Prof Oditah therefore suggested an improved content in the teaching of Law as a panacea to deficiencies of legal education in the African continent. He further suggested that legal education in Africa should be studentscentred, as opposed to the prevailing lecturer-dominated approach. He urged teachers of law in Africa to pattern their lectures in form of vocational training by ensuring that their students “learn by doing rather than being told what to do”. Explaining the essence of the conference, the President of the International Association of Law Schools, Prof Francis Wang, said that the forum was instituted to provide a platform for law teachers to exchange ideas and proffer solutions to problems affecting the practice of legal profession in their region. The Emeritus Dean of Law of Soochow University in China added that the choice of the

University of Nigeria for the conference was based on the tall reputation of the University and the active involvement of its Faculty of Law in advancing legal studies and practice. He stated that the conference would help strengthen the tie between his university and the University of Nigeria, as well as help participating faculties to make friends. Earlier in his opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Prof Bartho Okolo thanked the Association for choosing to host the conference at the University of Nigeria. He explained that the university had performed creditably in its mandate of providing future leaders for Nigeria and Africa, especially in the legal profession where the Institution had produced many judges and a good number of senior advocates. Prof Okolo, who spoke through the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof Malachy Okwueze, said that University Administration at UNN is working hard to reclaim the pride of the university and establish new benchmarks of excellence. According to him, the strategy included collaborations with other renowned universities in the world to enhance exchange of scholarly ideas. Okolo believed that the International Association of Law Schools conference

would open doors for further collaboration that would be mutually beneficial to the University of Nigeria and the partnering institutions. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, (Enugu Campus) and the supervising dean of Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Prof. Ifeoma Enemo, said that UNN Faculty of Law would continue to uphold its culture of excellence that had enabled it to produce leading lights in Nigerian legal profession. Also speaking, the Director General of Nigerian Law School, Dr Tahir Mamman said that the conference was important because it would help boost the opportunity of Nigeria and Africa to be relevant players in global legal practice. He commended the Faculty of Law of UNN for their contribution to legal profession, stating that his record showed that products of the faculty have been doing well in the legal profession The Law Faculty of the University of Nigeria is hosting deans of more than 35 Law Schools from across Africa and the world under the auspices of the International Association of Law Schools to examine new paradigms for legal education across Africa. The UNN Law Faculty, begun in 1960, is the oldest law faculty in West Africa.

THE

ADVOCATE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

Jonathan orders sack of top police officers ·It's a ploy to rig 2015 – Tsav

resident Goodluck J o n a t h a n We d n e s d a y directed the chairman of the Police Service Commission Mike Okiro to purge the Nigeria Police Force of top officers who do not merit their ranks. Jonathan gave the directive at the State House in Abuja after swearing in Okiro as the new chairman of the Police Service Commission and five other members including Yakubu Mohammed, Justice Olufunmilola Adekeye, Aisha Tukur, Comfort Obi and Tonye Anyim. Official figure of the Nigeria Police Force stands at 375, 000 but those to be affected by the presidential directive are those on the ranks of Assistant Commissioner and above. The president declared that it is preferable to have inadequate manpower in the police force than to have 'viruses and all kinds of characters' there. He noted that the performances of the police, military and paramilitary officers were abysmal because competence and merit were being compromised in promoting them. “And that is one area I believe you will go into. People who are promoted to assistant police commissioner and above must merit the rank. If you don't merit the rank you should be retired from the service because it is better for you not to have enough manpower than for you to have viruses and all kinds of characters in the police force,” the president said. President Jonathan disclosed that when the Force Headquarters was bombed in 2011, he was advised to sack all the police officers working there from the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police and above for ineptitude. The president said he did not heed the advice, but he believed that apart from indiscipline in the force, top police officers were being promoted undeservedly. “When the Police Headquarters was bombed, some people came to me and say Mr. President, sack all police officers working in that place from Assistant Commissioner of Police and above. I did not sack any because of that incident, but that was the advice I got,” he revealed. He said he was told that if he swept the force that way, subsequent officers that would be posted there would sit up. “How could the police allow their headquarters to be bombed by a very local group called Boko Haram?” the President querried. After the bombing of the headquarters, then Inspector General Hafiz Ringim and six DIGs were retired.

But reacting to Jonathan's directive, former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Tsav, said he believed it was a ploy to plant election riggers for 2015. The retired police commissioner said: “The president is targeting job slots for political thugs. This action will create vacancies for them to be planted in the force so

that they can be put in strategic positions to aid the snatching and stuffing of ballot boxes in 2015,” he said. Tsav also said the directive was targeted at discrediting Pari Osayande, the former chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC). “The outcome is obvious it is to discredit Osayande and make him

look like he is incompetent; it is to make him look like he was the problem of the police. The president is targeting Osayande, to destroy him,” he said, asking why this measure was not taken until now. But President Jonathan stressed his reasons thus: “I believe there are two things. One is the issue of discipline. So, one of the responsibilities of the Police Service Commission is to instil discipline. Another thing I believe is that people who have no merit to certain ranks are being promoted to those ranks. “One of your (PSC) responsibilities is to handle promotion. I believe with you (Okiro), only those who merit or deserve promotion should be promoted. Those who deserve to be disciplined or dismissed must be disciplined. Jonathan also disclosed that five of the six senior Immigration officers recently presented to him for appointment as Comptroller General were not qualified, and were even supposed to have been dismissed from the service. “Among them only one is qualified to even stay and serve. Others ordinarily are supposed to be dismissed from the records. I believe that the story of the Immigration is the same with most of our services. I believe that is why the performance of some of our military and paramilitary officers is abysmal, because the yardstick being used for

promotion is not based on competence, merit and performance,” he said. The president said the Federal Executive Council may in the next one or two weeks, look at the report on police reform in order to come up with a white paper. “We give you privilege to look at that document before we come out with a white paper. So that if there is a suggestion that you will bring, you bring it so that it will be part of the white paper since you are the one to manage the police,” he told the new commission chairman. Addressing State House correspondents after the swearing-in ceremony, Okiro said the Police Service Commission would look at the extant laws and see the areas where it is supposed to act to reform the police. On why the police perform better outside, Okiro said:“The reasons are far reaching. One, you can find out that the environment is different, the people are different and also the equipment and all of what to work with. “The Nigerian Police officers while rendering service outside this country under the United Nations they give them the wherewithal to do the work.” Okiro lamented that Nigeria police officers are not motivated to perform. “From ACP up they are not feeling very happy. Many of them have no houses, the morale of the police is quite low, they need to be motivated, and you have to look into what to make them perform optimally.”

... Jonathan didn't order dismissal of top police officers – Presidency

owever, the Presidency on Thursday refuted the report that President Jonathan had ordered the sacking of top police officers. A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said that the reports were “untrue and most misleading''. “The Presidency views the highly sensationalised reports as a deliberate attempt to cause anxiety and disaffection amongst the top hierarchy of the Police Force through the willful

misrepresentation of President Jonathan's remarks. “The swearing-in of the new chairman and members of the Police Service Commission at which the president spoke yesterday was directly covered by members of the State House Press Corps,'' Abati said. He said the thrust of the president's remarks was that the new chairman and members of the Police Service Commission should strive to effectively discharge their statutory function of enhancing discipline and efficiency in the service.

“President Jonathan was certainly not giving fresh orders or rewriting the rules when he said: `People who are promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police and above must merit the rank. If you don't merit the rank, you should be retired from the service.' “As all police officers and their counterparts in the Armed Forces and security agencies know, the president's words were fully in line with existing rules and regulations guiding career progression in the services,'' he said. Abati said the Administration of

Jonathan had granted access to all media organisations, who wished to report on its activities and had done everything possible to facilitate the performance of their duty of correctly informing the public. “In return, the Presidency expects a much higher standard of professionalism and accuracy than that being exhibited by sections of the media. “Those guilty of deliberately distorting or twisting the president's words to promote sectional agenda and fan the embers of discord in the polity should desist from doing so,'' he said.

'Indian hemp now grown in A'Ibom’

HE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Akwa Ibom State Command, has raised alarm at the cultivation of Cannabis Sativa popularly known as Indian hemp in the state, stating that the exercise is both unfortunate and unpleasant. The Acting State Commander, Administration and Logistics, Mr. Alfred Adewumi, told

journalists in his office in Uyo that in the past three weeks, the agency identified about three Cannabis Sativa farms across the state, and that the farms were not restricted to any particular location but cut across the state. “We identified one location at Oron, which we immediately destroyed and arrested the farmer, as well as one at Ikot Ekpene,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the Ikot Ekpene farm is operated by a woman who, as at the time of arrest, was carrying a threemonth old baby. “Around Eket, also, we were able to identify Cannabis Sativa farm and arrest the farmer. Even in Uyo area, we also identified a Cannabis Sativa farm, destroyed it and arrested the man who planted

it.” Adewumi noted that dealers in the illicit business have left their earlier practice of being end-users to becoming cultivators, stressing that such situation spelled ill for the society. He called on the communities to collaborate with the agency and other law enforcement bodies in the state to eradicate the menace.

THE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

ADVOCATE

World's oldest person dies at 116 in Japan

he world's oldest person and the oldest man ever to have lived has died of natural causes aged 116 years, news media reported Wednesday in Japan. Japan's Jiroemon Kimura, who was born in 1897, died in hospital early Wednesday morning, Kyodo News cited the local government as saying. Kimura, from Kyotango in Kyoto Prefecture, was recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living person in December 2012 when a woman from the United States died at the age of 115. On the 28th day of that month he broke another record, when he became the oldest man ever verified to have lived when he reached the age of 115 years and 253 days. However, he was well off the alltime record set by French woman

Jeanne Calment, who died in 1997 at the age of 122, making her the longest living person in history. Kimura, who was born the same year as American aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart, celebrated his 116th birthday in April, receiving a pre-recorded video greeting from Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The centenarian had seven children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grand children and 14 greatgreat grandchildren, and worked at a post office for about 40 years. After retiring he took up farming which he continued to do until the age of 90. Encouraged by Kimura and 94 other people in Kyotango's 60,000-strong population who will this year be 100 years old or more, the city has launched a research project to examine their diets and find the secrets of their longevity.

Prayers, hopes and resignation in Mandela's village Q

UNU In the rural South African village where he once roamed as a boy, the lowered flags at Nelson Mandela's homestead are a constant reminder of his absence. Ill health forced the 94-year-old, now battling a lung infection in hospital, to leave Qunu months ago, but his latest illness has sparked prayers, worry and resignation in his home town. “There is a change, because we can see that he is old now and there is no way that he can live many more years,” said Nozuko Mbokadi, a teacher at a school that bears the 94-year-old's name. Mandela used to walk through Qunu, telling children to go to school, giving his two cents on local life amid chats with villagers whom he would also invite into his home. “I am worried that his health is deteriorating and I know that we are not going to stay in this world forever,” said Mbokadi. “So maybe one day we'll wake up hearing some bad news that he is dead. So that is why I'm not happy with this in and out of hospital.” Mandela spent the heady years of his early boyhood in Qunu's rolling grassy hills. Home was a traditional mud hut and days were spent stickfighting, herding animals, drinking milk from a cow's udder, and swimming in streams. These times are what he credits for his love of “open spaces, the simple beauties of nature, the clean line of the horizon” and he finally returned to retire. Qunu is a place where meals are

still cooked on outdoor fires, where water is collected in buckets from communal pipes, and food grown in home plots. And while Mandela's hospitalisation early Saturday sparked an immediate massive social media frenzy, the news and details of his serious condition spread here via the radio or a neighbour. “We are so afraid about the sickness of Mr Mandela,” said

Nolulamo Gcwebe, 50, who works at a local branch of a government department. “I'm one of those people who don't want to lose him. Just because he's our father, he's our grandfather, our mother, our grandmother, you know.” But the combination of his great age, just weeks from his 95th birthday, and his repeated recent illnesses has hit home. “Anything can happen the way he

is,” said Gcwebe. It is said in the village that Mandela is like Jesus, a person who died for many others, because he offered himself for the nation, said Mkhuseli Gqabantshi. “They are very proud of him,” said the 74-year-old who lives next door to one of Mandela's close relatives. But he has no hope that he will see “the old man” again, saying it is likely that he will only “come back for the funeral”. “We'll never see him again now, I don't think so, really,” he said. Chasing goats out of a maize field,

Daliwe Bida, 46, said people were worried as they depended on Mandela. “We are praying non-stop because we don't know what can happen if he leaves us,” she said. Andiswa Msongelwa, 32, a distant relative, explained simply “we need him.” In a village full of the same Madiba clan that Mandela belongs to, Msongelwa's 97-year-old grandmother, a close relative of Mandela's, died last week. “Even last year, we buried a lot of Mandelas,” Msongelwa said. “The Mandelas, the old generation is just passing.”

… as Mandela's hometown becomes media village

rdinarily the rural South African village of Qunu is a slow-paced blend of livestock, locals on foot and the occasional car winding along the smattering of roads and dirt paths that link humble homesteads. But with Nelson Mandela again in hospital, his beloved village has become a magnet for the world's media, hoping to offer some insight into his life. Since he was hospitalised on Saturday, lensmen, television crews and scribes have made their way to the sleepy settlement where Mandela spent his boyhood and recent years, until ill health whisked him away. “I saw many many many journalists, all over,” said Jongikaya Ndzeki, 39, who is of the same Madiba clan as Mandela, saying it used to be quiet here. “When he's sick, they are coming here.”

Reporters wander the grassy landscape, interviewing locals, snapping pictures, and filing copy in hired cars under the shade of the few trees dotting the landscape. With a ring fence around Mandela in hospital, his neighbours offer a uniquely personal insight into the man they consider both a hero and

also a fellow villager. Here interviews are done villagestyle. Soundbytes are taken while locals strip maize from the cob and keep an eye on a cast-iron pot on an outdoor fire. A quick interview is done while a local pauses while passing by with a cattledrawn cart. “Its good to know that there are people who want to know more about Mr Mandela,” said Sibabalwe Mhelomane, 17, who goes to school in the nearest town Mthatha, some 30 kilometres away. “It's not a nuisance. I feel good about people who are concerned about what people think and what people say about the illness of Mr Mandela.” Some residents had not even heard about Mandela's latest hospitalisation, like a 67-year-old woman who did not want to give

her name and has no television or radio at home. “They are not so many,” she said about the journalists. But the area's most famous resident, who went from herding sheep to global icon, is the only subject on most people's lips as he battles a new lung infection. While Qunu lies along one of the country's main arterial roads, it is in one of South Africa's least developed regions in the Eastern Cape. There are no readily available electricity points to sit and write and edit. But as Mandela spent a fifth day in hospital, the media kept arriving at the village's rolling hills where the icon built his home once freed form 27 years in prison. “It's the most famous village in South Africa: Qunu,” said Ndzeki, who had already been interviewed by a television news channel before speaking to AFP. “Even overseas, they know Qunu.”

THE

ADVOCATE

CBN orders banks to disclose details of Boko Haram, Ansaru transactions

ollowing the recent proscription of the violent Islamic sects, Boko Haram and Ansaru, by the Federal Government, the Central Bank of Nigeria has ordered banks to check the activities of the terrorist groups. The central bank in a letter to all banks on Wednesday, directed them to check their database and report activities of the two sects to the regulator. The letter read, “The Federal Government of Nigeria, in its effort to stem terrorism in the country, has proscribed the activities of Jamaatu AhlisSunna Liddaawati Wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram, and Jama'atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan in any part of the country. Their

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi activities are consequently declared as terrorist and illegal. “All banks and other financial institutions are, by this letter, required to check their database

for the names: Jamaatu AhlisSunna Liddaawati Wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram, and Jama'atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan, as

well as their associates, and to report same to the CBN.” President Goodluck Jonathan had last week approved the proscription of the Islamic terrorist groups and authorised the gazetting of an order declaring the groups' activities illegal and acts of terrorism. The proscriptive order coincided with a statement by the United States government that Boko Haram's leader, Abubakar Shekau, could be tried in the US, when arrested. The order, which has been gazetted as the Terrorism (Prevention) (Proscription Order) Notice 2013, affects both Boko Haram and Ansaru, and was approved by Jonathan pursuant to Section 2 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011

(as amended). A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, explained that the Act “officially brings the activities of both groups within the purview of the Terrorism Prevention Act and any persons associated with the two groups can now be legally prosecuted and sentenced to penalties specified in the Act.” The proscription order warned the general public that any person “participating in any form of activities involving or concerning the collective intentions of the said groups will be violating the provisions of the Terrorism Prevention Act.” Accordingly, Section 5 (1) of the Act prescribes a term of imprisonment of not less than 20 years for any person who knowingly or indirectly solicits or renders support for the commission of an act of terrorism or to a terrorist group.

'More Nigerian females involved in internal migration’

IGERIAN females have migrated to various parts of the country over and above their male counterparts, a recent study carried out to, among other things provide baseline data on internal migration has shown. The Internal Migration Survey,

which was conducted by the National Population Commission (NPC) in conjunction with the International Organisation for Migration, was carried out in three main stages. The first stage, which was the design stage, began in the first quarter of 2008 and was completed in the fourth quarter of 2009. Subsequent stages commenced in 2010 and extended into 2012. According to the data exclusively obtained by The Guardian from the 67-page survey document, female migrants stood at 51.5 per cent while male migrants' ratio was 48.5 per cent. 47.2 per cent female migrants admitted that their spouses essentially

influenced their movements, while 32.5 per cent male migrants moved because relatives influenced them. Such movements, the survey showed, could be across local council boundaries of the same state or to another council in another state within the Nigerian border over the last 10 years. The study aimed to also identify causes and courses of internal migration, measure consequences of internal migration in the country and canvass best practices in the management of internal migration in the country on sustainable basis. However, the composition of migrants, the document revealed,

differed from state to state. For instance, the percentage composition of female vis-à-vis male migrants is higher in states like Sokoto, which has 64.8 per cent as opposed to 35.2 per cent for men. In Plateau, the story is similar with 62.2 per cent for females and 37.8 per cent for their male counterparts. In Adamawa, it was 62 per cent for female migrants, while 38.1 per cent was males. Also in Jigawa State, females maintained lead over men with 59.7 to 40.3 per cent. Consequently, states with lower female percentage have higher male migrant population. Examples of such states are Oyo, which has 43.3 per cent female to

56.7 per cent male migrants. Ogun State has 43.9 per cent female to 56.1 per cent male ratio. In Akwa Ibom State, the female is 44.0 per cent as against 56.0 per cent male, while in Enugu, the female ratio was lower with 44.4 per cent to 55.6 per cent male. On return migrants, who had to do with people returning to their original places of abode after retirement, there was the predominance of male return migrants (61.3 per cent) compared to a lower figure of 38.7 per cent entered for females. In Akwa Ibom, 93.3 per cent male returned while in Adamawa, it was 93.3 per cent, and Abuja, 75 per cent.

20 illegal private hospitals sealed in Delta Committee to publish names, as prominent

ver 20 illegal private hospitals and maternity centres have been shut down in different parts of Delta State in the ongoing clampdown on health facilities operating below standard and without due authorisation. The state Ministry of Health Task Force had been combing the nooks and crannies of the state in the past one week to ensure that the health facilities were operating under due process and manned with qualified personnel. But the team discovered that some of the health facilities were operating below the required standard hence the decision to sanction them. Those sealed were located in Asaba, the state capital; Ibusa, Okwe, Agbor which had so far been visited by the task force team led by Dr. Alfred Ebiakofa. The team went with an ambulance to evacuate some patients from one of the sealed private hospitals at Agbor to the Agbor central hospital for proper attention.

citizens default in flood relief pledge

IX months after the launch, many prominent Nigerians are yet to redeem their pledges at the special appeal fund for victims of the 2012 flood disaster. Interestingly, some of those who pledged but were yet to redeem their vows, have gone ahead to enjoy the tax incentives attached to their pledges. Against this background, the Presidential Flood Relief and Rehabilitation Committee, cochaired by business mogul, Aliko Dangote, and frontline lawyer, Olisa Agbakoba, which put the f u n d r a i s i n g t o g e t h e r, i s threatening to publish the names of the defaulters if they fail to redeem their pledges on or before June 30, 2013. In a statement in Lagos on Tuesday, the committee said it would publish the names of defaulters in newspapers and

other social media. Entitled: “Public Notice: Redemption of Pledges,” the statement expressed the committee's profound gratitude to all who answered the clarion call for help through their generous donations and pledges at its fund-raising dinner in November 2012 for the relief and

rehabilitation of flood victims in Nigeria. “As we proceed to the implementation stage of the planned rehabilitation projects, we hereby call on all those who have not redeemed their pledges to please do so on or before June 30, 2013, as a mark of honour and integrity, as names of defaulters

will be announced in all national dailies and social media blogs,” the statement read. The 34-man Presidential Committee targeting the sum of N100 billion held a fundraiser at the Presidential Villa, during which donations and pledges made by prominent Nigerians amounted to N11.35 billion.

'North has highest maternal mortality rate'

bout 7000 pregnant women die annually in Zamfara, Jigawa, Katsina and Yobe States, as Northern Nigeria has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world, a public health consultant, Abdullahi Maiwada, has said. Speaking at a workshop on “Saving Lives at Births”

organized for Islamic scholars by the Development Research and Projects Centre and Funded by Grand Challenges, Canada, Maiwada said the current use of modern family planning method among married women aged 1549 in Zamfara State is two per cent. “600,000 induced abortions occur annually which young

people accounting for 60 per cent of them”, he said. In his speech, deputy governor of the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Wakkala Muhammad, said the Nigerian recent demographic health survey shows that women in Northern states of Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina continue to deliver at home without skilled birth attendants, and that only five per cent of women in those states deliver with the aid of skilled health professionals.

THE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

ADVOCATE

Mass protest in Benin over Motorcycle ban

housands of operators of commercial motorcycles, popularly called Okada, took to the streets of Benin City, capital of Edo State Wednesday in protest against the ban on their activities by the state government. The State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole had in a statewide broadcast on television stations in the state Tuesday, announced the ban of the use of okada as a means of transportation in the three local government areas of Benin metropolis, citing security reasons. The protesters, who turned out in large numbers, elicited the sympathy of people as youths and others joined them in the protest at Ring Road. Human and vehicular traffic was disrupted by the protest, as all entrances to the ever busy Ring Road were barricaded with every available objects. Workers and other commuters who had planned to beat the early hour rush were, however, disappointed as they could not overcome the heavy traffic jam caused by the

protest. A team of security operatives comprising soldiers and anti-riot policemen later dispersed the protesters. One of the protesters, Emmanuel Okobia, told newsmen that the government erred in the ban of their activities without serving them notice early enough. “Oshiomhole got this one wrong this time. How can he announce a ban on Okada after just one week notice? We are all family men and bread winners, where does he want us to get our daily bread from? “Criminal activities in the state have gone down considerably. There is no more kidnapping and armed robbery, so his argument that it is because of armed robbery and kidnapping does not work,” Okobia said. The protesters further lamented losses they were made to incur, saying that just two months ago, they were forced to pay the sum of N2000 each for jackets that were never given to them. “Just two months ago, they forced us to pay N2000 for a jacket which

they claimed will identify real riders from hoodlums, which they did not even give us. At the end of the day, it was stickers that they gave to us. So who is deceiving who now? Oshiomhole should

think twice.” As at the time of filing this report, traffic around the Ring Road had eased as soldiers and anti riot policemen were everywhere around the area and adjoining

streets. The Okada riders, however, vowed to take their protest to the Government House to see Governor Oshiomole.

Bill on compulsory ICT education for secondary schools underway – Nnaji By Ted Peters

he Chairman, Senate C o m m i t t e e o n Communications, Senator Gilbert Nnaji, has announced the determination of the committee to push for legislation that would

provide for compulsory information and communications technology education in all the Nigerian secondary schools towards bridging the digital divide. He revealed this while addressing members of his Enugu-East

Senatorial District who came to receive him on his arrival in Enugu for the routine constituency visit yesterday. Nnaji stated that this would help produce efficient and skilled workforce and professionals that would drive the economy towards

making Nigeria an active participant in the global economy. He noted that in appreciation of ICT as an indispensable tool for a sustainable responsive parliament towards national development the committee is collaborating with National Information Technology Development Agency of Nigeria, NITDA. To effective perform the functions

Ikeja Electricity Company offers free pre-paid metres to debt-free consumers

keja Electricity Distribution Company said it would distribute pre-paid metres free to consumers who had settled their outstanding bills. The Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the company, Engr. Chris Akamnonu, said that the offer was part of strategies to encourage electricity consumers to settle their bills. A single phase metre costs N25, 000, while a three-phase metre costs N50, 000, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. “We have been given out free prepaid metres to our customers who had paid their outstanding bills to date. We have told our customers that they will get free metres if they settle all their outstanding bills and this is ongoing,” he said. Akamnonu expressed hope that the strategy would encourage other debtor-customers to follow suit. He disclosed that more than 134,000 pre-paid metres had been installed in houses in the zone. Akamnonu added: “We are

willing to install a metre for any willing customer who has paid up to date; such a customer should come up with his receipt. “We will not allow debtors to benefit from the services of PHCN if they continue to ignore the

appeals to settle their debts.” He said prompt payment of electricity bills would enable the company to meet the target of providing stable and efficient power in the zone. Akamnonu promised that prompt

attention would be given to customers' complaints by officials of the company. He, however, warned members of the public against patronising touts in their desperate bids to get pre-paid metres.

Abia communities protest destruction of farmland by cattle

BIA State government has declared that destruction of crops and farmlands as a result of cattle rearing in the state has become a problem difficult to tackle. The Deputy Governor, Sir Emeka Ananaba, who spoke on the issue while receiving the Akanu Ukwu Ohafia community representatives that carried their protest against the menace of cattle rearing and herdsmen in their lands to his

office, reiterated the government's determination to find lasting solution to the matter. He said unless the menace is addressed, farmers in the cattle ravaged areas who secured some loans for farming would find it difficult repaying it and may not continue farming as cattle further devastate their farmlands. In their petition which they read out to the deputy governor, the community leaders state that “we are compelled to bring this

petition to you sir as our last hope for a peaceful resolution of what has become a perennial, calculated and deliberate provocative activity by the Hausa/Fulani Cattle rearers.” Before arriving the Government House, the protesters, led by Chief Ochereome Okpanku, had carried out peaceful demonstration along major streets of Umuahia with placards expressing their anger over the menace which they claimed wrecked havoc on their farms and resulting in loss of lives and revenue.

of legislation, representation and inspection as well as enhance participatory democracy, Nnaji stressed that parliaments world over must seek to fully exploit the inherent advantages in information and communications technologies. He enumerated the achievements of his committee in the last two legislative years to include relative improvements in the telecommunications sector such as the mobile number portability which allows subscribers migrate from one network to another in the face of poor quality of service without losing one's number; continued deployment of broadband towards expanded network penetration; SIM card registration to fight terrorism; and re-launch of NIGCOMSAT technology for economic viability, professional and academic research. Others are Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, and Nigerian Postal Service, NIPOST, Amendment Acts for improved service delivery as well as nurturing the newly-created Ministry of Communications Technology into a very critical component of the economy. According to the lawmaker, all these would continue to translate into strategic economic reliefs to the masses. Senator Nnaji also used the occasion to announce his intention to present his account of stewardship for the first two years in office shortly as part of his social contract with the people of Enugu-East.

THE

ADVOCATE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

Varsity Administrator remanded in prison for diverting tuition fees ·Allegedly printed his own receipts

he administrator of Lagos State University, LASU, Onipanu Annex, Lagos State, Mr Olusesan Oduwole, has been charged before a court with stealing after he allegedly bolted with students' tuition fees. The 33-year old administrator allegedly stole N5 million after printing his own receipts and

collected the money from the students. Oduwole fled when the management eventually discovered what he was doing. Though Oduwole was later arrested by the police at Area 'D' Mushin, the school could not recover the money from him.

According to the school's management, Oduwole was employed as an administrator by the institution and was allocated some receipts to use to collect students' tuition fees. Instead of doing so, he secretly printed his own receipts and was diverting some of the money to

himself. This had been going on for a while, but unknown to him, the new receipts he was given were secretly marked. He was eventually caught when the management discovered that he issued his own receipts to students and when he was confronted, he allegedly owned up to the fraud. He said he did so to raise money to solve his personal problems. Oduwole was handed over to the police. He allegedly made confessional

statement to the police and said that he did not divert up to N5 million. H e w a s c h a rg e d t o I s o l o Magistrate's Court with stealing under the Criminal Code. When he was arraigned, he pleaded not guilty. The presiding Magistrate, Mrs Kayode, granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum. He was remanded in prison custody at Kirikiri pending the perfection of his bail. The matter was adjourned till 20 June.

Boro legacy remains ever green – Hon. Gbaranbiri …as Monarch HRM King Agara blast Northern leaders of marginalization in the past

h e c h a i r m a n o f Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, Hon. Iselema Gbaranbiri has given reasons why the people of Kaiama have continued to mark the death of Ijaw rights activist, Late Major Isaac Adaka Boro. Speaking to journalists at Kaiama d u r i n g t h e 2 0 1 3 B o r o D a y, Gbaranbiri said it was due to the sacrifice he made for the Ijaw people in the Niger Delta that the people of Kaiama remember him every year. He stated that the late freedom fighter left a legacy for the Ijaw people to continue the struggle which he started 45 years ago for the emancipation of the Niger Delta which though producing the crude oil and gas resources that service the nation remained the least developed region. The chairman also hailed the decision of Governor Seriake Dickson on marking Boro Day at home in Bayelsa State rather than overseas which used to be the practice in the past thereby dragging many dignitaries out of the state. Gbaranbiri described the laying of the foundation stone for Boro Town as a momentous occasion for the people of Kaiama and other lovers of the Ijaw people and stakeholders in the Ijaw struggle for emancipation. As someone who grew up in Kaiama, Gbaranbiri thanked God for his mercy and a successful celebration while assuring that his administration would add value to the lives of the people; of the entire local government area through the

prosecution of people oriented projects and programmes. In the same vein, the Ibedaowei of Kolokuma Clan, His Royal Majesty King Agara Onya Mozi, Kala-Okun III pointed out that there was marked difference in the marking of Boro day since Governor Seriake Dickson's assumption of office. King Agara

said that the marking of Boro Day in the state was a welcome development and urged youths to emulate the virtues of the late hero whose steadfast struggle led to the creation of Rivers State and now Bayelsa. He used the occasion to condemn the calls by the House of Representatives for the arrest of Presidential Adviser

on Niger Delta and chairman of Amnesty Implementation Committee, Hon. Kingsley Kuku and leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Alhaji Maujahid AsariDokubo. Saying northern presidents finished the resources of the country, he noted that President Goodluck Jonathan

Imoke re-states commitment for youth development By Edem Archibong, Calabar

he Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke has re-affirmed the administration's strong desire to ensure that grass root sports development is executed to the later till those with talents are discover and groomed as future champions that can represent the state and indeed Nigeria at international competition as the topmost legacy. Speaking during the 4th edition of the state's annual Primary/Secondary schools sports athletics/swimming competition which lasted for one week inside U.J. Esuene stadium in Calabar, Senator Imoke recalled his tender age as he grow up to maturity through participation in schools sport competition. He also laments that Nigeria's

name both in Africa and Europe became famous through sports when people like Mary Onyali, the former Commonwealth 400 meters champion was discovered during the school sports competition while the country population was between 6070million then, but wandered why we cannot boast of more

athletes now that our population is about 170millions. Senator Imoke expressed gratitude to the State's sport consultant who have actually surprise him by achieving more results beyond his expectations which has justified the reasons for his engagement and promise that it is his administration's responsibility to ensure that such performance cannot be left to waste without giving those talented children so far discovered greater opportunity to excel. Speaking earlier, the Cross River State Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Patrick Ugbe commended the initiative of the state Governor for initiating the concept of “Grass Root Sports Development Strategy” which has result into greater dividends as many athletes has been

Akwa Ibom vows to fish out sponsors of Nkari clan conflict By Christopher Okon, Uyo

he Akwa Ibom State government has vowed that it would fish out those behind the communal conflict in Nkari Clan of Ini local government area of the state saying perpetrators of the conflict would be brought to book. The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice,

was trying to rebuild the country before the Boko Haram sect started their violent agitation for an Islamist state. The chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Kaiama, Walson Gbeinpei Appah described this year's celebration as one of the best and that Boro would be happy in his grave.

Ekpenyong Ntekim stated this during the inauguration of the six-man commission of inquiry constituted by the state governor. Chief Godswill Akpabio to look into the conflict. Ekpenyong said that the government was mindful of its constitutional duty as clearly provided in section 14 to ensure the security of lives and property of its citizens.

He urged the people of Nkari clan to assist government by giving vital information about the crisis that happened in their domain advising them not to waste the opportunity given to them by the state government. He assured that government would positively handle the matter with care and ensure justice for all the parties. The commission which has six weeks to submit its reports has

justice John Udo Bassey (rtd) as chairman, Augusta Bassey as the secretary, while Barrister Nse Ekanem, Ekanem Inyang and Dr. Essien Edward are to serve as members. In his address, the chairman of the commission, Justice John Udo Bassey said Akwa Ibom is a peaceful environment for investors and cannot experience any crisis or terrorism that would tarnish the image of the state.

produce within the period. He recalled that the position of the state was very bleak as we were placed 17th on the medal table out of the 20 states which participated during the National Schools Sports competition four years ago but through the pragmatic approach of his Excellency, the story change when the state hosted the competition as we beat Lagos to took the first position. As a true test of superiority, the state also emerged third as Lagos hosted the championship a year later and subsequently emerged the first again when Edo state hosted it last year while the state contingent had recently won laurels when they represented Nigeria at international competition . He declared that the state's comprehensive sport programme will be further expanded as job at the Ogoja and Ikom utra modern stadium is at advance stage which is expected to be completed next year while the U. J. Esuene stadium will be close for major repairs and upgrading. Similarly, Mr. Ugbe also inform that work will commence next year at the multi-million indoor sports hall which the state Governor had earlier promise to make the state a home for leisure and sports development. Meanwhile, the Unicem Rovers football team is presently enjoying a comfortable lead on the second division of the national league table and hopes to consolidate the lead as to enable them gain promotion next year into the premier ship class and regain the lost glory of the state as the home of football in Nigeria.

THE

ADVOCATE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

I use human parts for Pepper Soup, confesses Native Doctor

ixty-year-old native doctor, Gazali Akwedola, has confessed that he not only trades in human parts, he indeed consumes them, by using sensitive organs for pepper soup delicacy. According to him, the taste in the human parts lies in washing it down with a hot drink, cold beer or wine. He also uses the human intestine, liver, heart, eyes, lips and tongues for pepper soup. He said: "I like eating human parts because it tastes so good and better than animal meat especially when taken with hot drink, or wine or beer.” Beside eating the parts for its said pleasure, he explained that eating the human flesh also notches up his trade before his clientele. As he put it, "But another important reason (for eating human flesh) is to assure my customers that it is eatable and sweet and comes to play especially in the spiritual and physical benefits. It can cure serious illness and can make one get rich quick.” Akwedola, was one of the three other suspects who were at large when the men of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) led by the Officer-in-Charge, SP Abba Kyari, raided the hideout of the ritualists last month. The suspect who had gone into hiding when some of his gang members were arrested, was however lured out by an accomplice on the pretext that he had another 'consignment'. The native doctor alongside 35-year-old Alfa Taofeek and 25-year-old Kazeem Sanni, are currently cooling their heels at SARS, pending the conclusion of investigations. The father of eight however said his dabbling into rituals was to cure people of ailments and help those who want to get rich quick achieve their aspirations. He said: "With the human parts, I prepare charms and concoctions for my clients. I buy the human parts from Kazeem Sanni especially the human head which he sells to me between the region of N8,000 to N 30,000." He further disclosed that he decided to buy the complete human body as it was a lot cheaper. He said: "After some time, I decided to buy the complete human body for N30,000 or N40,000 because it is cheaper especially a live human. "Asides that, you get a lot of parts, especially costly parts from it and it is more powerful because the efficacy of the charm or concoction you prepare with live parts cannot be compared with the ones you prepare with dead parts. "For instance, the full live human being will give you blood when you kill him. There is medicine or charm you prepare with it. The same body will give you hairs from private parts, head and some beards or moustache”. It was not certain how he preserves the human parts. "You can also cut out private parts. Each part of the human body is useful. Even the meat and intestine, liver, heart, eyes, lips, tongues can be used for pepper

The suspects soup. By the time I cut the parts I will end up getting N100,000 or more," he said. In an interview with journalists, Akwedola explained why he does not use his children or relations for rituals since the money he was acquiring was for them and their disappearance would arouse suspicion. "I prefer strangers that are from far away. It is a secret business so people in your vicinity should not get wind off, otherwise they would lynch you," he said. Akwedola's only regret in his dastardly venture is that he did not become rich after all, adding that despite his many criminal exploits, he found it difficult to feed his family. But another suspect, Taofeek, said he only buys human heads but does not kill anyone. He said: "I bought the human head and ground it and mixed it with gin drink to enable me to become rich. I have been making people rich and I wanted to attain that height too”. Folahan, an indigene of Owode Yewa in Ogun State, confessed that he was an Islamic teacher with his own Islamic school in Owode Yewa, before he delved into rituals. Another suspect, who also doubles as a rice seller, Sanni, said he delved into the business because his business was not moving well. The Lagos State Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the series of arrest began with one Jamiu Adeleke, who was arrested by SARS' operatives in Owode town in Ogun State with a human hand which he was trying to sell for N21,000.

RADIOGRAPHERS REGISTRATION BOARD OF NIGERIA Central Medical Library Compound Adjacent Psychiatric Hospital, Muritala Muhammed Way, Yaba. P.M.B 005 Ikoyi, Lagos Nigeria

Invitation To Bid Applications are hereby invited from reputable and qualified companies for the renovation and rehabilitation of the Enugu Zonal Office of the Board. Interested and competent companies/contractors are expected to forward to the Board the following documents along with the Technical and Financial bid documents:-

I. II. III. IV. V.

Certificate of Incorporation with Corporate Affairs Commission Evidence of VAT Registration Company Current Tax Clearance Certificate Evidence of Registration with the Board as a Contractor Evidence of Compliance with Section 16(6) of the Public Procurement Act 2007

Tender documents containing details of works can be obtained from the Technical Unit of the Board. All Technical and Financial Bid Documents are to be submitted in sealed envelope addressed to the Ag Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the above address not later than six weeks from the date of this advert. Late submission shall not be accepted. All tenders shall be opened on Wednesday 24th July, 2013 at 12.00 noon in the Seminar Hall of the above address. All Contractors are required to attend or send their representatives. Signed Management

THE

ADVOCATE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

2OTH ANNIVERSARY OF JUNE 12

How MKO Abiola was killed, by ASP Theodore Bethnel Zadok

e relieve the last moments of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola publicly by the man who should k n o w : A s s i s t a n t Superintendent of Police (ASP) Theodore Bethnel Zadok, who for the two years before the chief's death was in charge of his living and imprisonment under the military government. Zadok in his evidence-in-chief at the hearing of the petition by Abiola's first son, Kola and physician, Dr. Ore Falomo, related how he was apparently handed away from Chief Abiola, and by the time he returned to him, he had been offered tea, only to be dead a few minutes thereafter. Reading from a prepared text, the police officer said: "I was posted to head the detention base of Chief M. K. O. Abiola with about thirteen (13) body guards under me. and since the day I took over the duties of the detention camp of Chief M. K. O. Abiola I was responsible for collecting the sum of N800,000 (Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) quarterly from Major Hamza Al-Mustapha to the commissioner of police FCT command Abuja for his feeding. That is three times a day subject to what he wanted to eat. I also took care of his health by seeing the Doctor any time he complained of any illness. In view of this he never ate any food or drank any thing without me tasting it first before giving it to him to eat or drink. "I always collected some money from the Chief Security Officer Major Hamza Al-Mustapha to buy toiletries, fruit drinks, bedding and water. "The Chief Security Officer Major hamza Al-Mustapha ordered me to give Chief MKO Abiola Koran and Bible for reading and I used to collect some money from the Chief Security Officer to buy some newspapers and magazines for the chief to read, and also give the chief some plain sheets for anything he might wish to write. My lord, Chief MKO Abiola never believed that I was a Security man who came to guard him, but a son who came to take care of his father. I will like to support this statement with a written note, written to me by Chief MKO Abiola. "Before General Oladipo Diya's coup attempt, Major Hamza AlMustapha, on the 10th of December, 1997 ordered me to take Chief MKO Abiola to any safe place, preferably the commissioner of police guest house at Wuse. And after the said failed coup attempt Major Hamza Al-Mustapha ordered me to move Chief MKO Abiola from the

commissioner's guest house to Kado Housing Estate popularly known as Jeremiah Useni Housing Estate Kado. "On the 8th day of June 1998 the day the Head of State General Sani Abacha died the chief Security Officer Major Hamza Al-Mustapha ordered me along with Lt. Ikilama to move Chief MKO Abiola from Kado Housing Estate to Gado Nasko Barracks and from there all the 13 body guards attached to me were withdrawn except the driver and leaving the soldiers of the Guards Brigade to take over the guard. But I was still left behind to be bringing food to Chief MKO Abiola as usual from the police officers mess Wuse Zone 7. Chief MKO Abiola was informed of the d e a t h o f General Sani Abacha and t h e appointme n t o f General Abdulsa l a m i Abubak ar as the Head of State a n d Comma nder-inChief. He wrote letters to General Abdulsalami Abubakar and the Service Chiefs gave them to me to photostat them for him. He gave me some copies to give to Major Hamza AlMustapha and passed the rest to the respective owners. After the expiration of the second quarter allocation of N800,000 (Eight Hundred Thousand naira) I approached Major A. S. Aliyu Chief Security Officer to General Abdulsalami Abubakar to collect the money for the next quarter. He only told me he had heard me. "On the day in question, the 7th Day of July 1998 at about 11.30hrs, the Chief Security Officer to General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Major A. S. Aliyu called me on the radio set, asking me to see him in his office. I then proceeded to his office and he instructed me to bring Chief MKO Abiola to Aguda House for an interview to be held by 1300 hrs. "I then went back to the base and informed Chief MKO Abiola of the interview and he asked me whether Major Hamza Al-

Mustapha was aware of the said interview. I told him I didn't know because Major Hamza AlMustapha was busy handing and taking over but I would see if I could locate him to inform him. "He asked me to bring his dresses which he would wear and also asked me to give him 30 minutes to enable him get dressed. At about 1230hrs the Chief Security Officer to General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Major A. S. Aliyu came to the base. To the best of my knowledge, that was the first time he knew that place, wanting to know if we were ready and I

rep lied him almost ready. As we opened the door the Chief was already waiting for us. Together we went out and headed to Aguda House, venue of the Interview". "Before we all left the base, Chief MKO Abiola was in sound and healthy condition. He did not complain to me of any illness. About 100 metres from the door stand of the Aguda House, the controller from the control room called me on the radio set and said, I quote, "30 BRAVO your LOG I answered ALFA GOLF UNIFORM DELTA ALFA, HOTEL. And he said MAIG SYRIA GOLF from the OSCAR FOXTROT FOXTROT OF CHARLIE OSCAR GOLF SYRIA you should ROMEO PAPA TANGO to see the subject INDIA MIKE MIKE I answered RECEIVED."

Meaning 2i/c Prescort your present location. I answered Aguda House and he gave the message from the office of the Chief of General Staff and that you should see the Chief of General Staff Admiral Mike Akhigbe immediately please and I answered noted please. "As we arrived at the Aguda House door step, I led Chief MKO Abiola inside the house and I took permission from the Chief Security Officer to General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Major A. S. Aliyu in whose custody I left Chief MKO Abiola. "He asked me to use his vehicle, leaving my vehicle at the door step where it was parked. I then took his vehicle as entrusted and left to see the Chief of General Staff Admiral Mike Akhigbe at about 1310hrs and I came back from s e e i n g Admiral M i k e Akhigbe at about 1350hrs, only to discover that my vehicle was not there at t h e parking spot. On arrival, I saw one of my Body Guards Sunday Pada standing by the side of the door. I asked him where they had gone. He replied me they were inside and that the Chief Security Officer only sent my vehicle to Aso-Clinic and as I was about to enter the room, I met with the Chief Security Officer, Major A. S. Aliyu who told me that Chief MKO Abiola was not feeling fine and after taking a cup of tea he coughed and feel down. "I quickly went inside and I saw Chief MKO Abiola lying on the floor facing down. I called him. For the first time he answered, and I lifted him up and turned him upside and called him again for the second time he did not answer. At that time doctor Sadiq Sani Wali from Aso Clinic arrived and about examining the chief. I told him we should rush the Chief to the clinic for proper treatment. I, the Chief Security Officer, Major A. S. Aliyu, Doctor Sadiq Sani Wali and the two white men standing lifted Chief MKO Abiola into my vehicle outside for onward movement to Aso-clinic.

Before getting to Aso-Clinic I saw Dr. Sadiq Sani Wali pressing his (Abiola's) stomach up and down a kind of resuscitating him. As we arrived the clinic, Chief M.K.O. Abiola was rushed to the Emergency Room where I stood by with the doctors including the two white men and the Chief Security Officer Major Aliyu until when Dr. Sadiq Sani Wali later confirmed to us that Chief M.K.O Abiola was dead. "We came out of the Emergency Room and the Chief Security Officer Major A. S. Aliyu phoned the villa, I heard him saying to the ADC please, connect me to the Head of State I have an important message for him. For about three minutes they continued the discussion with the Head of State while he was moving towards his vehicle outside. So I didn't hear what he was discussing with the Head of State. After the phone call, we both left for the villa, "The questions to ask are: Who gave Chief M.K.O. Abiola tea in my absence? Who tasted the tea before giving it to him? And in whose presence was the tea tasted? "The questions are for the Chief Security Officer to General Abdulsalam Abubakar; Major Aliyu to answer. And I want to testify before this Honourable Commission that on the 6th day of July 1998 at about 2200hrs Kola Abiola the son to late Chief M.K.O. Abiola his step mother; and about three of his sisters were with their father at Aguda House until 0130hrs of 7th July, 1998. I want to say categorically here that his father Chief M.K.O. Abiola was in a sound and healthy condition. "Based on the statement made to the Commission by Femi Falana on the 5th day of July 2001 that Chief M.K.O Abiola was driven from Kano State to Abuja where he said that the Chief fell inside the Black Maria four times before arriving Abuja is totally false, because to the best of my knowledge Chief M.K.O Abiola was never detained out of Abuja. "On the 28th day of July 1998, I collected, from the Commander Brigade of Guards, Gado Nasko Barracks, the late Chief M.K.O Abiola's property and handed them over to Alhaji Babagana Kingibe on the 31st day of July, 1998 who ordered his orderly Sergeant Mustapha Gana to check, sign and collect the property from me and he, Babagana Kingibe, made a contact call to the family of Chief M.K.O. Abiola to come forward and collect the said property.

THE

ADVOCATE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

2OTH ANNIVERSARY OF JUNE 12

hief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (August 24, 1937 July 7, 1998), often referred to as M. K. O. Abiola, was a p o p u l a r N i g e r i a n Yo r u b a businessman, publisher, politician and aristocrat of the Yoruba Egba clan. He ran for the presidency in 1993, and is widely regarded as the presumed winner of the inconclusive election since no official final results were announced. He died in 1998, after being denied victory when the entire election results were dubiously annulled by the preceding military president Ibrahim Babangida because of alleged evidence that they were corrupt and unfair. Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State. His name, Kashimawo, means "Let us wait and see". ]Moshood Abiola was his father's twenty-third child but the first of his father's children to survive infancy, hence the name 'Kashimawo'. It was not until he was 15 years old that he was properly named Moshood, by his parents. MKO showed entrepreneurial talents at a very young age, at the age of nine he started his first business selling firewood. He would wake up at dawn to go to the forest and gather firewood, which he would then cart back to town and sell before going to school, in order to support his old father and his siblings. He later founded a band at age fifteen where he would perform at various ceremonies in exchange for food. He eventually became famous enough to start demanding payment for his performances and used the money to support his family and his secondary education at the Baptist Boys High School Abeokuta, where he excelled. He was the editor of the school magazine The Trumpeter, Olusegun Obasanjo was deputy editor. At the age of 19 he joined the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons ostensibly because of its stronger pan-Nigerian origin compared with the Obafemi Awolowo-led Action Group.

Career In 1956 Moshood Abiola started his professional life as bank clerk with Barclays Bank plc in Ibadan, SouthWest Nigeria. After two years he joined the Western Region Finance Corporation as an executive accounts officer before leaving for Glasgow, Scotland to pursue his higher education. From Glasgow University he received a first class degree in accountancy. He also received a distinction from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. On his return to Nigeria, he worked as a senior accountant at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital, then went on to Pfizer, before joining the ITT Corporation, where he later rose to the position of Vice President, Africa and Middle-East of the entire corporation, which was headquartered in the United States. As a result, Moshood Abiola spent a lot of his time and made most of his money in the United States, whilst retaining the post of chairman of the corporation's Nigerian subsidiary. In addition to his duties throughout the Middle-East and Africa, Moshood Abiola invested heavily in Nigeria and West Africa. He set up Abiola Farms, Abiola bookshops, Radio Communications Nigeria, Wonder bakeries, Concord Press, Concord Airlines, Summit oil international ltd,

12 remains a public holiday in Lagos and Ogun states. There are also remembrance events arranged across Nigeria. MKO Abiola was known for his charisma and for being a man of the people. As a prominent social activist, democratic freedom fighter, and successful business figure, the continuing support for MKO Abiola is part of his legacy. MKO Abiola Stadium was named in his honour. There were also calls for posthumous presidential recognition. Despite his popularity or because of it, MKO Abiola occasionally attracted criticism from political activists and detractors. Controversy was caused by a song by Nigerian musician, Fela Kuti. Kuti was a charismatic multiinstrumentalist musician, composer and human rights activist - famed for being the pioneer of Afrobeat music as well as a controversial figure, due to his unusual lifestyle and apparent drug use. It is believed that Kuti had entered into an acrimonious dispute relating to a contract with MKO Abiola's record label. He used the abbreviation of International Telephone & Telegraph (IT&T) in a song criticising big multinational corporations. The song, ITT accuses such companies of draining Africa's resources and makes specific reference to MKO Abiola ("they start to steal money Like Obasanjo and Abiola").

Awards and honours

Africa Ocean lines, Habib Bank, racism have each seen effects of the From 1972 until his death Moshood Decca W.A. ltd, and Abiola football valiant work of Chief Abiola. Abiola had been conferred with 197 club. In addition to these, he also Through him and others like him, traditional titles by 68 different managed to perform his duties as never again will freedom rest in the communities in Nigeria, in response Chairman of the G15 business domain of the few. We, the members to the fact that his financial assistance council, President of theNigerian of the Congressional Black Caucus resulted in the construction of 63 Stock Exchange, Patron of the salute him this day as a hero in the secondary schools, 121 mosques and Kwame Nkrumah Foundation, Patron global pursuit to preserve the history churches, 41 libraries, 21 water of the WEB Du Bois foundation, and the legacy of the African projects in 24 states of Nigeria, and was grand patron to 149 societies or trustee of the Martin Luther King diaspora. associations in foundation and d i r e c t o r o f Moshood Abiola's Hope '93 political manifesto Nigeria. In this way Abiola reached out theInternational and won admiration Press Institute. a c r o s s t h e Philanthropy multifarious ethnic Moshood Abiola and religious divides sprang to national in Nigeria. In and international addition to his work prominence as a in Nigeria, Moshood result of his Abiola was a philanthropic dedicated supporter activities. The of the Southern Congressional Black African Liberation Caucus of the United movements from the States of America 1970s and he issued the following sponsored the tribute to Moshood campaign to win Abiola. reparations for Because of this man, slavery and there is both cause for colonialism in Africa hope and certainty and the diaspora. that the agony and Chief Abiola, protests of those who personally rallied suffer injustice shall every African head of give way to peace and state, and every head human dignity. The of state in the black children of the world diaspora to ensure shall know the great that Africans would work of this speak with one voice extraordinary leader on the issues. and his fervent mission to right wrong, to do justice, and to serve mankind. The enemies which imperil the future of generations to come: poverty, ignorance, disease, hunger, and

Remembrance of M.K.O. Abiola

Chief MKO Abiola's memory is celebrated in Nigeria and internationally. June

Moshood Abiola was twice voted international businessman of the year and received numerous honorary doctorates from universities all over the world. In 1987 he was bestowed with the golden key to the city of Washington D.C., and he was bestowed with awards from the NAACP and the King center in the USA, as well as the International Committee on Education for Teaching in Paris, amongst many others. In Nigeria, the Oloye Abiola was made the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland. It is the highest chieftaincy title available to commoners amongst the Yoruba, and has only been conferred by the tribe 14 times in its history. This in effect rendered Abiola the ceremonial War Viceroy of all of his tribespeople. According to the folklore of the tribe as recounted by the Yoruba elders, the Aare Ona Kakanfo is expected to die a warrior in the defense of his nation in order to prove himself in the eyes of both the divine and the mortal as having been worthy of his title.

Involvement in politics Abiola's involvement in politics started early in life when he joined the NCNC at age 19. In 1979, the military government kept its word and handed over power to the civilian. As Abiola was already involved in politics, he joined the ruling national party of Nigeria in 1980 and was elected the chairman of his party. Re-election was done in 1983 and everything looked promising since the re-elected president was from Abiola's party and based on the true transition to power in 1979; Abiola was eligible to go for the post of presidential candidate after the tenure of the re-elected president. However, his hope to become the president was shortly dashed away for the first time in 1983 when a military coup d'ĂŠtat swept away the re-elected president of his party and ended civilian rule in the country. After a

Continues on page 27

THE

ADVOCATE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

FROM THE

COURT

Murder: S-Court sentences ex-Naval Chief to life imprisonment

motorcyclist identified as Peter Edeh after the deceased accidentally brushed his car. The convict was said to be travelling from the Lagos State Secretariat at Alausa in Ikeja to Apapa on July 25, 2005, when at the Allen Roundabout, the deceased hit his car from behind with his motorcycle. On realising that the owner of the car was military personnel, Edeh was said to have knelt down to beg Odunlami for forgiveness. However, Odunlami who was deeply infuriated, ignored Edeh's plea, reached for his pistol from its holster and shot the deceased in his mouth thereby resulting to his

order restraining further action against the governor. A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt on May 31 restrained the PDP from taking further action against Amaechi, pending the hearing of a substantive suit challenging his suspension from the party. Mr. Justice Emmanuel Ogbuji ordered the PDP to maintain the status quo on the matter. The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, who spoke with our correspondent, said: “ If there is a court order restricting us from going ahead with the disciplinary action against Governor Rotimi Amaechi, we will abide by it. “If a court order has been served on the party, I am not in a position to say; it is the responsibility of the National Legal Adviser. So far, no court order has been brought to our notice.” Responding to a question, Metuh said: “Well, the constitution of the PDP provides that within 30 days, we would have taken care of the issues involved. We have referred the matter to the Disciplinary Committee. But, note that we are not out to send the governor out of the party. We want to assert the supremacy of the party by promoting discipline.” But a highly placed source in Amaechi's camp said contrary to Metuh's claim, the court order was served on the party on June 3 by a court bailiff, Abdulwahab Musa, at about 12.50pm. “The court order was received by a secretary at the PDP National Secretariat,” the source said, pleading not to be named. “In any case, the High Court in

he Supreme Court, Friday, sentenced a former naval chief, Mr Felix Olanrewaju Odunlami to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of snuffing life out of a commercial motorcycle rider in Lagos State in 2005. The apex court, in a lead judgment prepared by Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, equally affirmed the dismissal of the convict from the Nigerian Navy as earlier decided by the General Court Martial and the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal. S p e c i f i c a l l y, L i e u t e n a n t Odunlami, with force number: NN 2121 was said to have killed the

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that it is ready to stay action on the ongoing trial of Governor Rotimi Amaechi by an 11-man Disciplinary Committee, if it gets a court order stopping the action. But, the Amaechi camp Sunday said it had served the party a court

Court docks man for biting off neighbour's ear

he police Friday arraigned a 32-year-old man, Ganiu Adeleke, before an Ibadan Chief Magistrates' Court for allegedly biting off the lower part of his neighbour's ear. The prosecutor, Sgt. Foluke Adedosu, said the accused in the company of another person now at large, committed the crime on April 26 at about 10 p.m. at Ashaka area of Ibadan. Adedosu alleged that the suspect committed the crime with intent to leave an indelible mark on his victim, Aminat Otunkoyka. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of conspiracy and assault. His lawyer, Tope Olayinka, thereafter applied to the court for bail on liberal terms. Chief Magistrate Adams Adeshina granted the accused bail in the sum of N20,000 with two reliable sureties in like sum. He subsequently, adjourned the matter to June 18 for further hearing.

instant death. Enraged by the hard-hearted action of the convict, passers-by were said to have pounced on him immediately and burnt his car. It took the quick intervention of the police to rescue him from the mob which insisted that he ought to die. Meantime, after an in-depth investigation into the circumstances that surrounded the case, Odunlami, was on January 27, 2006, arraigned before a General Court Martial on a threecount charge. He was charged with manslaughter, loss of service item (for not being able to convincingly account for four rounds of 9mm live ammunition)

and conduct to the prejudice of service discipline. His offences were said to have ran contrary and punishable under sections 68(1)(a), 103(i) AFA 105 and 106 of the Armed Forces Act Cap A 20 laws of Nigeria. He was subsequently found guilty and convicted on counts one and two, even as the court sentenced him to life imprisonment for manslaughter and dismissed him from service on count two. Dissatisfied with the verdict, the convicted naval officer went on appeal and lost. In its judgment delivered on January 31, 2011, the appellate court upheld the Court Martial's decision and dismissed

Odunlami's appeal, a decision that led him to approach the apex court. Meanwhile, upholding the decisions of the two lower courts yesterday, the Supreme Court, held that the appellant's defence of provocation could not avail him in view of the glaring facts of the case. The court equally held that the trial court could not exercise its discretion to give a lower sentence because under Section 105 of the Armed Forces Act, (under which he was charged) “the trial judge has no discretion, but to sentence the appellant to life imprisonment. “The confirming authority confirmed the sentence of life imprisonment and dismissal from service of the Nigerian Navy. It further stripped the appellant of his rank and directed that he was not entitled to his financial entitlements.

Port Harcourt gave Amaechi other option of pasting the order on the wall of the National Secretariat of PDP or on the wall of Rivers PDP secretariat. “The order grants “leave to serve the 1st and 2nd

defendants here in with the originating processes and orders made in this suit by substituted means to wit: by pasting on the wall of the 1st defendant(PDP Rivers State) and the wall of the

2nd defendant(PDP Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja).” In spite of the service of the court order, the 11-man Disciplinary Committee has continued to meet in defiance of the court.

Man sues Dantata and Sawoe for N50m over loss of eye

former employee of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company in Abuja, Mr Shedrack Ishiekweme, has sued the company, claiming N50 million for the loss of an eye in an industrial accident. Ishiekweme told the National Industrial Court, Abuja, on Tuesday that he lost of one of his

eyes following injuries sustained while serving the company. The claimant filed the suit in 2011 after he lost his right eye while working for the construction company. He argued that the sum of N650,000 paid by the defendant, purported to be compensation for the loss, was inadequate. Counsel to the claimant, Miss

Esther Ogiji, prayed the court to adjourn the matter to enable her to respond to the written address of the defendant (Dantata and Sawoe). She told the court that she had not been served the address before now. Justice Maureen Esowe adjourned the case to June 27 for adoption of written addresses following the application by Ogiji.

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

THE

ADVOCATE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

Gorgeous wears for women

So fasicinating

Women shoe

Sophisticated Broaches

THE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

he Ogun State Police Command, Sunday, said it has arrested one Dr. Babawale Joshua who owned Ajike Medical Centre located at 11, Adeyemi Street, Saka, Sango Ota, for suspected ritual activities and disrespect to the corpse of a 13-month-old baby who died in his hospital, Saturday. The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr Muyiwa Ogunjobi, the police discovered that the boy's corpse was mutilated. He said that the eyes, tongue, two lips, two ears, private part, nails and the left hand and veins were cut off at the hospital. Father's account In his account of what happened, the child's father, identified as Obinna Oleh, a 35-year-old auto spare part dealer at Ladipo market, from Umunze village in Anambra State, said: “On Friday the 7th of June, my child took ill, my wife joined me to rush him to the hospital. “The next day, being Saturday, I came to see them at the hospital in the morning before going to my shop while the child was actually getting better then. “It was with this hope that I left for my shop thinking that at least before the end of the day, the child would have recovered fully. “But in the afternoon, my wife called to inform me that the baby's health had deteriorated, that I should rush home. When I got here, I met my child in a very critical condition. “I asked if any medication had been administered on him and my

wife told me that the doctor gave him an injection that afternoon and that the child's stomach swelled after the injection. “The baby was practically abandoned by the hospital management in this condition until around 8p.m when he finally died. “As we attempted to carry the

corpse, the nurse in charge said we had to clear our bills before we could take the body away. She also said she needed to call the Medical Director for the full amount we were to balance before they could release the corpse to us. “Mind you, we were not owing them before the baby died. We

made some initial deposit prior to the baby's admission and treatment. So when the nurse came up with the balance payment issue, I was not in the mood to argue that with them. I took my wife and we left, with the intention of returning yesterday morning to clear what ever bill there was, and take our child for

40-year-old school proprietor in Ado Ekiti , the Ekiti State capital, Mr Tunde Ibitoye, has been nabbed by the police for allegedly having canal knowledge of 11-year-old pupil . Ibitoye, owner of God is Great Nursery and Primary School located in Kajola area of Ado Ekiti

was caught in the act at a location in Agric Olope, Ajilosun Area, Ado Ekiti by a mechanic, one Mr Kayode Ayeni. The Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Mr. Victor Babafemi, confirmed the arrest, saying the randy proprietor had taken the victim to bed on four different occasions.

The police image maker said the suspect was detained at the Criminal Investigation Department of the Police headquarters, to assist police in their investigation. According to the image maker, the suspect was a regular caller at the new market being constructed by Governor Kayode Fayemi

suspected gays standing trial for allegedly committing same sex offence. As early as 9 .00 a.m, a large number of men with feminist look started gathering at the court premises to the surprise of the people around and it was only

then that it became obvious that they came to identify with two of their members who were arrested by the police and charged to court for same sex violation. Members of the group, who chanted anti-police songs, said it was wrong for the police to interfere with their fundamental rights and freedom of association. They demanded unconditional release of the two persons

standing trial on a two-count charge of violating the law, insisting that they would continue to fight for their rights in Nigeria despite what they described as “the challenges the group was facing in the National Assembly.” Despite their protests, however, the court remanded the two suspects in prison custody on the ground that it had no jurisdiction over the matter.

Man arraigned for kidnapping, N30m ransom demand

Chief Magistrates Court sitting at Nteje in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State has arraigned one Okwudili Udechukwu for allegedly kidnapping a man and demanding N30 million ransom from his relations. Udechukwu, who claimed innocence of the offence, is standing trial in suit No MCN/

burial. “Also our pastor advised us to get a death certificate first before taking the corpse away for burial, so that we don't encounter any problems with the police. “We also needed to inform our kinsmen here about what happened. These were the reasons why we left the body of our baby at the hospital till the following morning. “But yesterday morning, I was having a meeting with my brothers on how to get a doctor's report on my child's death when the nurse called me to come over to the hospital, that it's like they used a spiritual arrow to kill my child. I asked her what she meant by that. And at same time, followed her to the room where the body was. “I was shocked to the bones to find my child's body in a gory state. His ears were cut off, his private part, his tongue, his lips, and his eyes were plucked out. I am yet to recover from the shock of that sight.The police was informed and they came and took the body away.” Meantime, the hospital has remained under lock and key, having been shut by the police who confirmed the development.

School proprietor nabbed for allegedly defiling 11-yr-old pupil

Homosexuals protest members trial in Anambra

here was a mild drama at the Atani Chief Magistrate Court in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, Wednesday, as some people who claimed to be homosexuals nearly disrupted court proceedings in solidarity with two

ADVOCATE

112c/2013. The prosecution said he was already communicating with family members of his victim before he was apprehended by the police. The presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Chioma Emejulu remanded the suspect in prison custody. Also in the same court in suit No MCN/113C/2013, a community

leader, Chief Francis Nwoye was arraigned by the police for allegedly committing various crimes at Nkwelle Ezunanka in Oyi Local Government Area. Counsel to the defendant, Mr.C.J Asiegbu, however, prayed the court to discontinue with the hearing on the ground that there was a substituting High Court order restraining the police and other security agencies from arresting his client.

According to Asiegbu, the continued hearing of the matter at the Chief Magistrates Court amounts to fragrant abuse of High Court rules and will also amount to disobedience to High Court order by a lower court. But in his argument, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Ben Onwuemekai, urged the court to go ahead with the matter because there was no court order served on the police.

administration, which had become a hideout for criminals in recent times. He further revealed that the suspect was conveying the victim and one other pupil to their respective homes, Monday, in his private car, and suddenly stopped at the new market on the pretext that he wanted to defecate, but with alleged intention to defile the girl. He said: “After five to 10 minutes in the bush, the proprietor called the pupil to bring tissue paper for him. But unfortunately for him, someone was watching. And out of curiosity, the man went there and met the two of them naked. He then raised alarm, which attracted people to the spot.” The girl, according to him, was taken to University Teaching Hospital for check-up, saying the outcome is being expected to guide them on the next line of action. The PPRO said further that; “The man had continually denied ever having canal knowledge of the pupil but we are not buying such from him.” He said the father of the victim confirmed that the pupil had come home several times with bloodstains, which he said was mistaken for monthly menstrual flow. “All other pupils in the school will be quizzed and critically examined to ascertain the level of sexual relationship between them and the suspect,” the police spokesman said.

THE

ADVOCATE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

Ogui Nike farmlands extends to Udi siding- Igwe Ojukwu There is no better person to talk about Enugu Urban and Ogui Nike, one of the largest autonomous community in Enugu than HRH Igwe Dr. Tony Ojukwu, (Chinenyeze of Ogui) the Igwe of Enugu Urban and the Traditional Ruler of Ogui Nike. A journalist by profession, custodian of tradition by calling and a renaissance man with in-depth knowledge of events of the past and present having been the Royal Father of the community for 16 years. The Peacemaker, motivator and a consistence member of the Traditional Rulers Council of Enugu State in an interview with THE ADVOCATE took the pleasure of discussing events in the community since his enthronement.

be chosen as the crux of the capital territory. According to His Highness “we extended a hand of fellowship to strangers who trooped in on daily basis for one business or the other, rather than harm a visitor our people will watch over him not minding our own internal wranglings.” Its dominance in Enugu started as far back as the time of the colonial masters. The community during this period had been autonomous; with Chief Mmadu Nwagbo was the first traditional ruler of Ogui Nike. In 1942 there was a land

By Patrick Okolie & Obianuju Nwankwo Background HRH Igwe Tony Ojukwu, the Igwe of Enugu Urban and the Traditional Ruler of Ogui Nike is the son of the soil of vast Ogui Nike community, Enugu state. He inherited the traditional staff of authority as the fifth Igwe Ogui Nike as had been from the ancient time. He was elected January 5, 1996 and assumed office in 1997 nine years after the demise of his predecessor, HRH Igwe Augustine Nnamani [Ohanyere Eze 1 of Ogui Nike 1978-1988]. His past predecessors were Chief Mmadu Nwagbo, HRH Igwe Nnaji Nwagbo, HRH Igwe Gabriel Agbo [1976]. Unlike some traditional rulers who leave far away from their people, Igwe's palace is positioned at the heart of the community where he could feel the heartbeat and yearning of his people. His Council of Chiefs is made up of 23 Chiefs drawn from their various families with four members being nominated by the Igwe. He is happily married to his wife from Ogwuashi Ukwu, Delta state, HRH Lolo Nneka Tony Ojukwu (nee Iwuobi) and the family was blessed with three children, two daughters and a boy (Adaeze, Chinaza and Chukwudalu).

Career Igwe Ojukwu had been a journalist and had worked in various media outfit. In 1973 while in school in Ghana he was the correspondent of the Renaissance newspaper which was later renamed Daily Star in 1975. After school in Ghana, he returned to Nigeria and was posted to Kaduna as editor for the northern region of same Newspaper. In 1978 he joined the News Agency of Nigeria [NAN] as a pioneer editor. It was during this period that he travelled to Wales in Great Britain for on-thefield training in Journalism at Thomson Foundation. On his return he was posted to Bauchi from Lagos as the Zonal Editor. In 1982 he left NAN to join the

now University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, through WTC to City College, NTA, ESBS and the area which was later called Independence lay out in 1960 to mark the independence celebration of Nigeria. Successive governments since then had acquired lands in Ogui for infrastructural development. Presently, there are many of such infrastructures such as the Prison, General Hospital now known as UNTH, Ogbete main market, Stadium, CBN eastern headquarters, the Secretariat and many others. Due to all this developments which nevertheless became an adverse encroachment on the community land area, the people were forced to rescind to their present secluded location. Ogui Nike is richly endowed with fertile farmlands thus the people were farmers. Their farmlands extend to Udi siding. In 1912 when the pioneers of Nigeria Coal Mining Corporation asked Chief Nwagbo to bring a quota of employable adults from his community the people of Ogui Nike allegedly turned down the offer because of a cultural phenomenon that mining involves going into the bowel of the earth which culture forbids and according to them man goes down to the earth's bowel once and that is, at death.

Leadership/Conflict resolution

Daily Star in Enugu. He was a key factor to the growth of the paper; he helped to reshape the image of the paper through his resilient contributions. In 1986 he revealed another great quality in his field of work when he explored his skill and creativity in sports writing which qualified him to cover the World Cup in Mexico. Igwe Tony continued as the first and only person to be named as Group Sports Editor for all the publication of the Star Group of Newspapers. His ability to decorate his sports stories with actionable verbs, discussing the game in a way that those who failed to watch it felt as though they were watching it live. Igwe left Daily Star Newspaper

in 1988 having been promoted to the rank of the General Manager, he went on to re-launch the 'Satellite Newspaper' a national newspaper owned by Chief Jim Nwobodo, the former Governor of Old Anambra State. He continued there until 1992 when he ventured into a private business called 'Documentary Nigeria' public relations media outfit in Enugu.

Community Profile Ogui Nike the major land owners in Enugu metropolis has been a center of concentration in the East due to its hospitality to strangers. The community hosts the highest number of immigrants to Enugu thereby raising the status of the community to become suitable to

dispute between the Nike people and Ngwo community and by the judgment of the colonial masters; the land was awarded to Ogui Nike. Since the ruling of the colonial court, there has been no appeal strong enough to overrule it. That was how Ogui got the most land mass in Enugu. The colonial government mapped out Ogui Urban as the Administrative headquarters of the statute area (province) . During the time of Chief Mmadu Nwagbo they paid him a courtesy visit in which they made known their intentions of making Ogui the capital territory. Through his consent and approval they acquired lands for educational purposes. These lands stretches from Institute of Technology

HRH Igwe Ojukwu said that in the area of conflicts the traditional institution has limits to cases they preside over. For cases with an element of criminality, the matter is taken to the police and the court but when the case or conflict is cultural or a minor demeanor then the Igwe in Council will have to resolve it. “When husband and wife come with a problem or when there is land dispute we try our possible best to achieve mutual harmony to peacefully settle contentious issue between the two parties concerned”. In some instances where the government and the traditional institution have conflicts, Dr. Tony Ojukwu noted that it may be due to lack of mutual understanding, saying that his kingdom had never been in conflict with the government. While extolling the performances of government at various levels, Igwe Ojukwu said that the governments do appoint sons and daughters from Ogui Nike Community who have distinguished themselves in various fields to occupy government offices adding “whatever are our community needs, we get through appeals to the government.”

THE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

ADVOCATE

Electricity workers fret over robbers as FG dangles N384Bn

orkers of power holding company of Nigeria (PHCN) have expressed concern about their safety and security of family members in the event of government announcement preceding payment of their severance package. The workers expression comes on the heels of government pronouncement that it would pay about N384 billion, part of their entitlements this June. They fear it would attract kidnappers, armed robbers and other social miscreants to their domains.

Segun Afolorunso, chairman, Nigeria Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Eko Electricity Distribution (Zone chapter), expressed the sentiment at close door session between the workers union and Power Minister in Lagos at the weekend. He noted that the electricity workers had met with various mishaps following previous government pronouncements on payment of disengagement entitlements. “ Some of our staff members were kidnapped by gunmen in Anambra state because of the money they were yet to collect,” Afolorunso

enthused. The workers union leader also stated that other workers who traveled from Lagos to Delta state were ambushed in their vehicle by robbers who demanded their share of the payments. “Also, the bus that conveyed (some of) our members to Sapele, Delta was attacked by robbers who demanded for their own share of the money. “The robbers collected the workers ATM cards. They told the workers that the aim was to enable them to collect their own share of the money when the workers are paid.” Consequently, he advised

the government to exercise some restrain in announcing payment of their final disengagement funds. “For the safety of the PHCN workers, I implore the government to keep the issue of our severance package secret so that we could plan how to invest the money,” he stated. Prof. Chinedu Nebo, minister of Power, assured the workers government would pay their package as agreed and directly into their account in batches. He however, advised the workers to invest the funds in their children's education so that it would not look as if their children

did not benefit from their suffering and hard labour. “I want to urge all of you to ensure that when the severance package is paid into your account, you should plan on it and spend it wisely. The money should be spent meticulous and avoid unnecessary flamboyant spending that will attract robbers and wastages,'' said the Power Minister. Government had announced last week that it would pay the N384 billion severance package for disengaged PHCN workers this June.

Nigeria 's external debt now $6.7bn – Okonjo Iweala

r. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, coordinating minister for the Economy and minister of Finance, has put the nation's external debt at $6.67 billion while the country spent some $8. billion to service debt in 2006 and $10. 1 billion in 2005. Okonjo-Iweala however said that the clarification became necessary in view of the various figures being quoted in the debate over the nation's indebtedness. “As at now, our external indebtedness is as low as $6.67 billion or about 3 percent of Gross Domestic Product, GDP.” She said According to her, “the

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala external debt is typically owed to foreign creditors such as multilateral agencies [like the Africa Development Bank, World Bank, the Islamic Development

Bank], as well as other bilateral sources [including the China Exim Bank, the French Development Bank or the Japanese Aid Agency], or to private creditors such as investors in our Eurobonds.” The Minister said that most external loans were contracted on concessional terms. “Many of the multilateral loans are at zero interests, 40 years maturity, and 10 years grace. Others are at less than three percent rate of interest.” Okonjo-Iweala assured that the Federal Government would continue to closely monitor the

nation's debt stock to keep it low. Her words, “we shall never be complacent about our national debt. We need to be constantly vigilant to limit the amount of debt and create room for the private sector instead to borrow. As such, we need to stay focused on three main priorities. ''We should continue to monitor our external borrowing and ensure that we do not slip back to our high indebtedness prior to the debt relief programme. As I mentioned earlier, the External Borrowing Plan, helps to address this concern by ensuring that we always have a comprehensive, transparent view of our foreign borrowing.

''We should closely continue to monitor and limit our domestic debt, and ensure that it stays within a prudent and conservative range. We should pay off debt that is due to the extent of our ability. We should also continue to closely monitor borrowing by states to ensure that the debt burdens of our state governments remain within manageable levels and that borrowings are applied to specific projects that yield results for citizens of the state. In that regard, we enjoin banks and other lenders to be careful and prudent when lending to ensure that this is done within the existing rules, regulations and guidelines.”

NAMA stops Oshiomhole from travelling, grounds aircraft

HE Nigeria Airspace Management Agency ( N A M A ) , F r i d a y, grounded the chartered helicopter which was meant to convey Governor Adams Oshiomhole to Anambra state for the burial ceremony of the wife of Senator Ben Obi,the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mrs Colette Obi. The development might not be unconnected with the prevailing political tension in the country on account of the factionalization of the Nigeria Governors' Forum, NGF. The drama started when the pilot, Captain James Manahash, who was already airborne with the governor and his entourage was ordered to fly back to the Benin airport five minutes after taking off over what they described as failure to pay aerodrome and landing fees. The pilot was threatened to fly back or the aircraft will be banned from flying. It was learnt that the governor who observed the argument between the pilot and the NAMA officials, prevailed on the pilot to come back and answer the call so as to sort out the issues raised. But to the chagrin of the Governor and the pilot, they were delayed for over one hour thirty minutes

even after the pilot paid the landing and aerodrome fees. After waiting for such hours, a visibly angry Oshiomhole entered his vehicle and zoomed off. It was learnt that the governor later headed to his village at Iyamho. He declined comment. When newsmen met with the pilot, Captain Manahash, he was shocked by the incident, asserting that, “I have been a pilot for 35 years out of which 7 years in Nigeria. So I was surprised when I was recalled back to the airport after we took off. The Governor prevailed on me to come back and answer them. When we got back I was told to pay landing and aerodrome fees which ordinarily we could pay later. “Even after completion of the process of payment, we were still delayed for one hour fifteen minutes with the governor still seated in the aircraft. Ordinarily payment of such fees doesn't take more then ten minutes. This is not the first time I have been flying the governor and we have never witnessed such a disappointment. It is really shocking” he stated. Sources said that Oshiomhole's ordeal might not be unconnected with the on-going onslaught against Governors who are perceived to be in support of Governor Amaechi's re-election

Gov, Adams Oshiomhole as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum. It was learnt that Oshiomhole was the one who insisted during the NGF election that the governors should see themselves as democrats by conducting election for the NGF chairmanship, rather than consensus candidate which the pro Jonathan people were pushing for. This it was learnt did not go down well with the anti Amaechi governors who had adopted Governor Jonah Jang as their

chairman. However, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Prince Kaseem Afegbua, who reacted to the incident, asserted that “ I think the government of the day is competing with too many crisis and it is disturbing that governors are no longer respected, or recognized even in their own domain or when it is known that they were duly elected by the people. “How else do you explain the role of NAMA clerk who grounded the

governor's aircraft and prevented him from keeping his appointment in Anambra state because he is acting out a script that has become the rule of engagement by a dictatorial PDP regime. We remain unprovoked because we are civilized people” he stated. When contacted on telephone, Mr Okolie of NAMA, said, “I don't have anything for you." The Managing Director of the OAS Helicopters, Mr Everest Nnaji, who was contacted, expressed disbelief over the incident, saying that, “I am still making calls to find out exactly why they did not allow the pilot fly the helicopter conveying the governor to Anambra state. I am really angry, I don't know why they did that and that is why I am still trying to make contacts because we have no problems with NAMA”. The NAMA authority later explained that the helicopter was grounded because of failure of the pilot to comply with laid down procedures. Mr. Yakubu Dati, NAMA Spokesman said the pilot should be blamed, explaining that the agency would not allow people to violate aviation rules especially at a time where terrorism had become a major security threat in the country and beyond.

THE

ADVOCATE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

Woman, 29, docked for selling babies in Lagos …Girls sold for N130,000, Boys N160,000

onders they say shall never end. What would make a woman get pregnant, go through the nine months pregnancy period, endure the discomforts and pain, only to deliver and sell off her babies? This question was on the lips of all seated during the arraignment of a 29 -year -old woman identified as Ijeoma Okafor, and her alleged accomplices, a couple identified as Prudent Nkechi Eke and Uche Benjamin Nmeribole at the Magistrate's Court Yaba, recently. The trio and others believed to be at large were apprehended as they tried to sell off Ijeoma's four days old baby boy at the mammy market, Navy Town-Ojo, on April 17, 2012. It was gathered that around May 2011, Ijeoma who owns a mini salon around Navy Town-Ojo, got pregnant and traveled out of Lagos when she was due for delivery. Her action was not suspected by her friends and neighbours who thought she had traveled home to put to bed, and also receive better post-natal care from her mother and would return to her base in Lagos. Ijeoma reportedly returned back to Lagos, but not with her baby. Apprehension was raised when shortly after her return, she allegedly repainted and restocked her salon and was not acting as a woman who had just put to bed. She also told two different versions of stories to those who asked about the welfare of the baby she traveled home to deliver. A version has it that she left the “few days” old baby in the care of her mother in the village; while the other version was that the baby had died shortly after birth due to complications. The neighbours decided to put the matter to rest, since there was no prove to buttress any suspicion. Sources further revealed that Ijeoma took in again in 2011 and disappeared around April 2012 when she was about to deliver. She reportedly put to bed on the 15th of April, and returned without any child. Luck, however, ran against her when her atrocities were exposed following a misunderstanding that arose as a result of the amount she was paid by her accomplices who besieged her r e s i d e n c e . T h e a rg u m e n t attracted her neighbours, who had mounted a surveillance on her following the circumstances that surrounded the previous birth. The NAPTIP arm of the Ojo Navy was invited to effect their arrest, from whence they were handed over to the Child development Act, under the

Lagos State Government for further prosecution, since as civilians, they cannot be tried

under the Naval law. On their arrest, Ijeoma confessed that she had given birth in 2011 to a baby girl, whom she sold off to a couple in Aba for N130,000, out of which she got N30,000, while the rest o f t h e syndicate shared the sum of N100,000. S h e h a d planned to sell the four-day o l d f o r N160,000 to another client who had been organized by 37 year-old Nkechi

and her alleged husband Uche, who introduced her into the business. She stated that she had told her baby buyers that she would sell the baby for same amount (N130,000), since the scan she did showed it was a baby girl. But increased her price to N160,000 when she was delivered of a baby boy instead. One of Ijeoma's neighbours at Ojo mammy market, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the incident. She further said that the syndicate has been in this business for some years now. “Our interest was aroused when Ijeoma traveled during her first pregnancy, we believed she had gone to put to bed in her parent's house since she is still single, although she has one boyfriend we know, but she returned without any baby, and the story she told those of us that asked

about the baby's welfare was questionable. “Also, she was not acting as a woman who just lost her child as she made some people believe instead she went on a spending spree, re-stocking her salon. This was when we started suspecting her. Even the other suspects, Uche is a business man who owns a business enterprise here in Ojo, he was married for years without any issues, leading to the annulment of that marriage. Consequently, he got married to Nkechi. “The couple had been together for some years now without issues as well. Why will they get themselves involved in such an act? Or are they making the lady put to bed while they arrange buyers who buy these babies on their behalf maybe because they wouldn't want the children traced back to them in the future?”

Man, 25, kills mother, two siblings in Zamfara

esidents of Gusau metropolis in Zamfara State were shocked recently after the swollen corpse of one of their neighbours and two of her daughters were found dumped inside a nearby dam in the area. More shocking was the suspicion that mother and daughters were killed by their on blood, 25-year-old Kamal Yusuf Aliyu. The suspect who is presently in police net has reportedly given reasons why he killed his mother and younger sisters. Narrating the circumstances that led to the ugly incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Zamfara State, DSP Lawal Abdullahi said that the command started by investigating a case of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide initially reported by a good Samaritan as a case of Sudden and Unnatural Death (SUD). According to him, “The good Samaritan, on May 29, 2013 had reported to the Police that a female corpse was sighted floating in the water Board Dam in Gusau metropolis, Zamfara State. When the corpse was removed to Federal Medical Center, Gusau for postmortem examination, deep cuts and injuries were discovered all over the body of the corpse. A case of Culpable Homicide was being established. In the afternoon of May 30 2013, relations of the deceased came to Gusau Central Police Station and reported a case of missing person. Their relation, Hajiya Hafsat, was not seen for the past 48 hours, and that her mobile phone was not going through. They were taken

Mother-daughters to the Public Mortuary where they identified the said corpse as their missing sister. A Police team led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) went to the house of the deceased but met it under lock and key. It was forced open and on entry, blood stains were seen all over the room. Her clothes, money and valuables were ransacked by the perpetrators. The deceased's car was not seen in the house, but her son's car was seen inside the compound with blood stains. The car booth was searched and pillow cases, bed sheets soaked with blood were recovered. The discovery reaffirmed Police's suspicion on a case of culpable homicide coupled with the testimony of the deceased relations that her son who is now the prime suspect has

been threatening to kill her if she fails to give him money. The relations also reported to the Police that, two of the deceased little daughters aged between 11 and 9 years, living together in the same house, were equally not seen. The Police now suspected that the assailants may have killed the two girls and dumped their bodies in the water where the mother's body was recovered. The Police then went to the river side where the first corpse was recovered. Fortunately, the two corpses were recovered, one with cuts all over her body while the other was slaughtered,” The police also said that the prime suspect, Kamal Yusuf Aliyu (25), who is the deceased biological son, has been out of school because of his bad habit and following Police

The suspect investigation, the prime suspect was arrested in Kaduna with his mother's (deceased) car. Some valuables and cash belonging to the deceased were also recovered. It was learnt that Kamal has confessed to the Police and has mentioned the names of his accomplices as Armaya'u Yusuf, 24, and Caleb Humphrey, 25. Both are in police custody. The Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Akilu Usman Gwary has assured members of the public that no stone would be left unturned to fish out the remaining culprits that were at large soonest. “The suspect's action is unfortunate and highly barbaric and definitely they will face the full wrath of the law,” the CP said.

THE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

ADVOCATE

Experts warn on rising kidney failure in kids Why milk

·Infections, diarrhoea, malaria, HIV, others major causes dialysis last week. This child ·Child needs N300,000 monthly for dialysis started has chronic kidney disease. The first

EDICAL experts have raised an alarm alerted to the rising cases of chronic kidney disease in the nation's children, which they blame on infections, diarrhoea, malaria, hepatitis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). They called for screening programmes, manpower training and improvement of diagnostic and therapeutic facilities to address the situation. In a recent study which has been accepted for publication by the Saudi Journal of Kidney Disease, the paediatricians from the Department of Paediatrics, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), IdiAraba, led by Prof. Afolabi Lesi and Dr. Taiwo Ladapo, noted that of all the children admitted over a fouryear period (2008 to 2011) in LUTH, kidney disease accounted for 8.9 per cent of paediatric admissions with prevalence of 22.3 admissions per 1,000 child-admissions per year; and that yearly incidence doubled over the study period. The study is titled “Paediatric kidney diseases in an African country: Prevalence, Spectrum and Outcome.” The researchers noted that nephrotic syndrome, acute kidney injury (AKI) and nephroblastoma accounted for almost 70 per cent of admissions; and that the overall mortality rate was 12.6 per cent with AKI being the leading cause. They observed that the prevalence of AKI was higher than that reported from other parts of the country; late presentation, inadequate diagnostic and therapeutic facilities and financial constraint negatively impacted outcome; and diseasespecific prevalence varied between geographic sections. Nephrotic syndrome is caused by different disorders that damage the kidneys. This damage leads to the release of too much protein in the urine. Nephroblastoma or Wilms' tumor is cancer of the kidneys that typically occurs in children, rarely in adults. The researchers in an earlier study published in the December 2012 edition of the journal PLOS ONE concluded: “Acute kidney injury is common in children admitted to hospitals. The common causes remain primary kidney diseases, sepsis and malaria but the contribution of sepsis is rising while malaria and gastroenteritis are declining. Acute kidney injuryrelated mortality remains high.” The results of the study titled “Paediatric Acute Kidney Injury in a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria: Prevalence, Causes and Mortality Rate” showed that of the 4,015 children admitted into LUTH between July 2010 and July 2012, 70 episodes of AKI were recorded, equalling 17.4 cases per 1,000 children. The researchers found, among other things, that: the median age of the children with AKI was 4.8 (range 0.114.4) years and 68.6 per cent were

males. Acute kidney injury was present in 58 (82.9 per cent) children at admission with 70 per cent in 'failure' category; primary kidney disease (38.6 per cent), sepsis (25.7 per cent) and malaria (11.4 per cent) were the commonest causes; the primary kidney diseases were acute g l o m e r u l o n e p h r i t i s ( 11 ) a n d nephrotic syndrome (eight); 19 (28.4 per cent) children with AKI died; need for dialysis was associated with death. Glomerulonephritis may be caused by problems with the body's immune system. Often, the exact cause of glomerulonephritis is unknown. Damage to the glomeruli causes blood and protein to be lost in the urine. The condition may develop quickly, and kidney function is lost within weeks or months (called rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis). Glomeruli (glomerulus is singular) are tiny tufts of capillaries, which carry and filter blood within the kidneys. A quarter of people with chronic glomerulonephritis have no history of kidney disease. Ladapo said the first dialysis section for children with chronic kidney disease costs about N40,000 to N50,000 for one and subsequently the child should have it three times a week at the cost of about N20,000 per session. Another study published in the January 2013 edition of the Saudi Journal of Kidney Disease and Transplantation concluded that the prevalence of renal disease in Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART)-treated Nigerian children is high and the majority of those with the disease, although asymptomatic, were at the advanced stages of HIV infection. The researchers from the Department of Child Health, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, wrote: “It is therefore important that early detection of renal damage, in the asymptomatic stage, is made in order to institute measures early, which may reverse or slow down the progression of kidney disease to End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). This may be the most significant preventive strategy, especially as facilities for renal replacement care are limited and expensive in resource-poor countries.” According to the President-elect, Nigerian Association of Nephrology and Chief Medical Director at St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, Dr. Ebun

Bamgboye, 36.8 million Nigerians (23 per cent) are suffering from various stages of kidney disease. With this figure, it means that one in seven Nigerians is suffering from some form of kidney disorder. Bamgboye, who disclosed this at an awareness programme organised by the hospital to mark this year's World Kidney Day in March 2013, regretted that despite the severity of the disease, Nigerian patients are faced with many challenges in terms of treatment. Bamgboye lamented the burden of the disease, noting that an estimated 15,000 new patients are diagnosed every year in the country. He said: “Chronic kidney disease prevalence is a problem in our environment. Estimates suggest that one out of every seven Nigerians has one stage of chronic kidney disease. Unfortunately, out of 50,000 patients who should ideally be on dialysis, less than 1,000 are currently on dialysis as at today. “Unfortunately, if you have kidney failure and you don't do dialysis or transplant within two weeks, you will die. You can imagine the number of people that are dying every day because of kidney disease.” Reacting to questions from The Guardian, Ladapo who is the joint leader of the team of researchers from LUTH said: “Kidney disease unlike what most people believe are real in children. Many people wonder whether kidney disease is also found in children? Does it affect children? Very much so. I am coming down from the ward now. I am late for this interview because of a child with kidney disease. We are beginning to see kidney disease more in children. “There is a paper I will send to you, which has been accepted for publication by the Saudi Journal of Kidney Disease this year. Kidney diseases are on the increase in children. Unfortunately, one of the conditions most expensive to treat are kidney diseases and there is nowhere in the world, very few countries in the world do people pay out of pocket. I cannot afford it. You have a lot of government support for children on dialysis, you have a lot of private sector support. “One of the things we are trying to do is to raise awareness about the increase in kidney disease in children and also raise support for children who need dialysis. When I leave here now, I am going to start dialysis in a child. There is another child that

dialysis section costs about N40,000 to N50,000 for one and subsequently this child should have it three times a week at the cost of about N20,000 per session and the mother is a trader and you know they are indigent.” On why more children are turning up with chronic kidney diseases, he said: “The reasons are many. Some children are born with abnormality of the kidney tract that is not detected on time and it affects the kidneys. For some, it is not known. Some infectious diseases affect kidney functions in children such as hepatitis. Also, other conditions like nephrotic syndrome, which if not well treated, can cause kidney disease. “You also have acute kidney injury that is acute renal failure, children coming down with malaria, infection, different kinds of infection such as bacteria infection, pneumococcal infection. Then you have diarrhoea, they come in, they have diarrhoea and have been passing stool and the body fluid is not being replaced, the kidney shuts down. “If the kidney is not getting enough fluid, it shuts down. Infections also affect the kidney. We are really trying to raise awareness and raise help for children with kidney disease. We have increased our dialysis services. The hospital has been very supportive and now we have two nephrologists on ground and we are trying to boost our services.” On adults having kidney diseases, he said: “One of the reasons why we are beginning to cry out is that there have been studies done in the developed world and they have found out that some of these diseases actually start in childhood but they are misdiagnosed. So, by the time they are young adults, they are already in chronic or end stage meanwhile the problem started long ago. “What is being done in developed world for example is that they do school screening. Simple checking of the urine of school children for protein can help detect some children with kidney disease. In developed world, there are screening programmes that pick up these diseases early. “We don't have such in Nigeria; nobody is screening anybody for anything. Nigeria is a country that has infectious disease as a main issue. So, you have infections that may affect the kidney then hypertension, diabetes are on the increase. But some have been shown to actually start from childhood.” On the statistics of children diagnosed with kidney disease at LUTH, he said: “The statistics vary widely even in Nigeria because the criteria used in different studies are not the same. It is difficult to do a synopsis of the studies. Some people look at only children that were seen at the emergency room, some look at those on admission, some look at everybody. So, it is difficult to say. For example, in a study we just published here, we found out that 8.9 per cent of children on admissions over a five-year period was due to kidney disease.”

is good for you

ilk is natures’ most complete food, it contains over 400 nutrients, with endless possibilities. Milk is not high in calories when it's low fat so, don't remove milk totally from your diet, but choose low fat milk since it contains all the nutrients found in full cream milk except for the fat. Even as an adult, you need to drink milk, bit it is important to know that not all milks are the same. Fortifying milk with vitamins and minerals is a very delicate process, and the quality and quantity of the added nutrients have a direct effect on health. Stating these facts, President Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Prof. Ngozi Nnam, recommends regular drinking of milk because of its richness in calcium and importance for the bones. “Milk contains more than nine essential nutrients necessary for good health, strong bones, energy and a stronger immune system,” she noted. She spoke on World Milk Day, at a forum by FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria, noting that the 2013 theme: “Do More with Milk” is a central idea to communicate milk as an essential nutritional beverage for a healthy life style. Mnam argued the importance of enabling Nigerians exchange knowledge on the various ways milk can be used. Nigerians are already versatile with conventional ways of using milk, hence the awareness is focused on the goodness of milk and education on other possible milk usages and their corresponding nutritional benefits. World Milk Day was created by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations to reflect on all the goodness that milk represents and its economic importance for rural areas and the food chain as a whole.

Our Error: In our last edition, we e r r o n e o u s l y published the picture of a woman, as the Wife of Ebonyi State governor; Mrs Josephine Elechi. We sincerely apologize to Her Excellency and our readers for the error – Editor.

THE

ADVOCATE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

IjeD'uru Foundation lifts 50 indigent Ukehe youths with bursary award =Rep of Igbo-Etiti/Uzo-Uwani Federal Constituency supports students

ifty undergraduates from Ukehe, near Nsukka in Enugu State have become the first beneficiaries of a bursary scheme initiated by philanthropic organization Ije'Duru Foundation in collaboration with the Catholic Women Organisation, Home and Abroad, of Ukehe Town. At a ceremony in Ukehe recently, Ije'Duru Foundation and the CWO said they initiated the scheme to give the youth the social priority they deserve and had lacked. The scheme was also a response to a clarion call for assistance to the youths of Ukehe b y t h e C a t h o l i c Wo m e n Organisation in order to solve pressing challenge of growing youth involvement in vices. , Hon. Princess Stella Ngwu, Member Representing Igbo-Etiti and Uzo-Uwani Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and her husband, Prof Pat Ngwu, a lecturer at the University of Nigeria Nsukka are the promoters of Ije'Duru Foundation. Dr.EvaristusAfiadigwe, Ear, Nose and Throat consultant with the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, eulogized the Foundation for the forthright initiative aimed at uplifting the youth. He appealed to the recipients and all youths to buckle up to their studies while shunning social vices. Dr

Afiadigwe further advised that recipients inform their parents/guardians about the bursary so that it can be properly channelled in solving the most pressing academic need they may be facing at the moment. Their role, he stressed is to dedicate their time and energy to their studies and the best way to appreciate the award is to extend a helping hand where and when it arises to those in need, imbibe the character of humility and uprightness, quoting the writer who said that “what one does for oneself may die but what we do for others remain immortal.” He encouraged all to do well by appreciating the provider of the Award. In her own address, Prof.Mrs. Lizzy Ngwu, President of the CWO, Home and Abroad, Ukehe thanked the presenters of the award Hon. Princess Stella Ngwu and her husband Prof. Pat Ngwu through their Ije'Duru Foundation for responding to the clarion call made recently in a workshop organized for the youths to all Ukehe people, politicians, philanthropists to support the cause for youths which she pointed out has become a major concern for the women who incidentally are the mothers of these youths. She thanked all the benefactors of the Catholic

FACT BOX Compiled by Patrick Okolie

Largest living tree [2,100 Years Old] The world's largest living tree believed to be 2, 100 years old is 'General Sherman' a giant sequoia [Sequoiadendron giganteum] growing in the Sequoia National Park, California, USA. It stands 82.6m [271ft] tall, has a diameter of 8.2m [27ft 2in] and a circumference of 25.9m [85ft]. The trunk had a volume of 1, 487m3 [52, 508ft3] in 1980 when it was last measured accurately, but is now thought to be almost 1, 500m3 [53, 000ft 3 ] the tree is estimated to contain the equivalent of 630, 096 board feet of timber-enough to make over five billion matches and its red-brown bark is up to 61cm [24in] thick in parts. The tree's weight, including its vast root system is estimated to be 2, 000 tonnes [4, 000,000 lb].

Longest Coma th

Elaine Esposito [USA] had been in coma 37 years 111 days. On the 6 of August 1941, at the age of six, Elaine underwent an appendectomy and never regained consciousness since then. She died at the age of 43 years 357 days.

Most waterlogged City Venice is the most frequently flooded city on earth. Early in the 20th century, Venice flooded four or five times a year; by 1989 this number had increased to 40. By 1998 the squares and streets were flooded one day in three. In the next 50 years it is estimated that the water level in Venice will rise by 20.3cm [8in]. e-mail: jesuskidallday@gmail.com Phone: 08132597886

The beneficiaries with the Donor Prof. Pat & Hon. Princess Mrs Stella Ngwu Women Organization as well as the Priests of the three Parishes in Ukehe and appealed to all sons and daughters of Ukehe to answer to the call in order to give the youths a sense of belonging and responsibility which will make Ukehe greater. Hon Stella Ngwu of the House of Representatives stated that the interest of Ije'Duru Foundation is to empower people through education, drawing on her background and endowment as a teacher and mother. She further described IjeD'uruFoundation as an outreach NGO through which her development initiatives will be powered, noting that the motto of the Foundation is “Touching Lives.” On his part, Prof. Pat Ngwu presented the Ije'Duru Newsletter which was titled “Letters to Ukehe Youths.” The Newsletter contained letters written by seven outstanding

Ukehe men and women to Ukehe youths aimedat encouraging them in their various life endeavours. Authors include SanthusAroh, founder and CEO of Visocom Limited, an ideas and innovation company based in Lagos, Rev. Fr. EmekaIsife a Catholic Priest and a school Principal, Barrister Bertran Ngwu an attorney-at-Law and the Executive Secretary, Enugu State Council on P r i v a t i s a t i o n a n d Commercialisation, Godwin Iloabuchi a writer and an Agricultural Economist, Hon. Princess Ngwu herself and her husband Prof. Pat as well as Mrs Amuche Nnabueze, a Graphic and Contemporary Artist. The seven letters wove into a resounding guide for the growing ones which if they followed will lead them to the greatness they all craved. Other guests, including Architect Obi Efungwu were full of praises

for the initiator and encouraged her to do more. Mr. Ifeanyi Otti student of Oko Polythechnic and Chinyere Ogbuele of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and the rest of the students who gave the vote of thanks through one of them expressed their joy and promised to do their best. The students were given a copy of the “Letter to Ukehe Youths”each, a certificate of award and a followup form that will help the foundation keep up with their progress. The undergraduates were drawn from all the villages that make up Ukehe and from different higher institutions of learning like UNN, NnamdiAzikiwe University, Awka, IMT, Enugu, Federal Polytechnic, Idah, College of Education, Eha-Amufu, Federal University of Technology, Owerri.

30m children out of school in Africa – Minister

he Minister for Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i, Wednesday in Zaria said about 30 million children that are of primary school age in Nigeria and other African countries are out of school, a situation that is hindering the success of Universal Basic Education programme. Professor Rufa'i made this known while speaking as a guest speaker in a 'Multicultural African Conference 2013' organised by the Faculty of Education of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. In a paper themed

'Resource Mobilisation, Management for Access and Quality Education in Africa, the minister said more needs to be done to address the problem. Represented by Professor Andrew Ekoji, visiting Professor, National Universities Commission, Professor Rufa'i described the rise of the out-of-school children as a bad news to education sector in Nigeria and Africa in general. The minister said Africa had the world's lowest secondary school enrolment rates, as only 28 per cent of youth are enrolled in secondary schools, leaving over

90 million teenagers struggling for employment in a low-paid informal sector jobs. In his remark, Vice-Chancellor of ABU, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, described the lecture as informative and lauded the efforts of the faculty of education in organising “such educative lecture.” Earlier, the Dean of the Faculty, Professor Tijjani Abubakar, said that the essence of the lecture was to proffer solution to poor educational standard not only in Nigeria but in the African continent.

THE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

ADVOCATE

Rice Mill: Court dismiss suit against Ebonyi Govt ·We will not fold our hands and watch our property being taken away – Chairman By Ngwuta Chinedu, Abakaliki

n Abakaliki High Court was on Thursday 6th June dismissed the suit filed against Ebonyi state government by the State Rice Mill Nigeria Company Limited challenging the state government plan to relocate the rice mill to the three rice mill clusters located at three senatorial zones of the state Delivering judgment on the suit Tuesday, the presiding Judge, Justice Obi Elechi adduced three reasons for the dismissal of the suit. He stated that the case with suit

No.NJCNABJ/157/2012 between the Abakaliki Rice Mill Company Nigeria Limited Vs Government of Ebonyi State and eight (8) others was an abuse of court process According to him, “Be that as it may, it must be found in the affidavit evidence that the respondent is going to acquire that property without due process of the law but they do not make evidence showing that the government of Ebonyi State wants to acquire their property, adding, those things are based on radio announcement and rumor” He said that there was no concrete evidence to go with such that the

application was based on speculation adding that it had no merit. He maintained further that the affidavit of application was filed in breach of order 6 Rule 5 of the fundamental right enforcement procedure rule 2009 thereby he struck out the suit on the ground that it lack merit and demands judicial discretion. Reacting to the judgment, Counsel to the respondent, Jacob Ibik expressed appreciation with the manner which the court entertained arguments to the matter. Ibik said, “It is an appreciation that the judge listened to the very long argument made by my

humble self and my learned colleague, a Senior Advocate from the other side. There were many hours of strenuous listening and was able to deliver his ruling on the date he said he will deliver it” The Counsel to the plaintiff, Kalu Onwuchekwa during an interview said, “the case was dismissed for abuse of court process. “Some judges would after hearing such lengthy argument keep postponing the date of delivering. The judgment as well considered ruling not just because in my favor, but I say that because it is quite right in the way he concluded. In my view, I am quite

CROSIEC scribe applauds Imoke on development By Edem Archibong, Calabar

he former gold medalist during the 1981 All West African University Games, Mr Vincent Bassey has commended the catch them young sports development programme initiated by Senator Liyel Imoke administration as the catalyst that would put Cross River State in the world chart within the shortest possible time. Speaking with the Advocate in exclusive interview in Calabar, Mr Bassey who is now Secretary of the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) recalled his emergence into lime light as an athlete started from during the Independence Day Anniversary in his home community of Agwuagunne in Abi Local Government Area. He said that the idea of targeting the would-be athletes at the tender age of between twelve to fifteen years and the further initiation of grooming while bringing them from village schools into special schools in the city as well as training them in their chosen areas of sports for exposure with the standard facilities right from inception is highly commendable. On the present backwardness of Cross River state in Football despite the fact that the game actually started in Calabar, Mr. Bassey also extols the concept of football academy which has help to bring the children who can play football together for training while continuing in their education pursuit. He recalled his secondary school days when there were many football competitions such as the famous Etesis and Chronicle cups which stimulated the youth

participation in football to produce the erstwhile Rovers players like Uwem Ekarika, James Etok Ebe, Friday Ekpo, Charles Bassey and Etta Egbe who had once donned shirts for the national team. On the future of Cross River State on sports development, the former 400 meters gold medalist expressed optimism that the state will soon boast of world betters in the field of athletics and football

as the first batch of athletes have started excelling especially given the last national sports festival hosted and won by Cross River State; a feat the state team also repeated in Lagos. Based on the quality of the players that Nigeria's Golden Eaglets have paraded this time to Morocco, Mr. Bassey can authoritatively vow that the Coach Manu's tutored boys will make the country proud by coming back with the cup into Nigeria. For the grumbling issue of why Nigeria Super Eagles were able to

level up score against their Kenyan counterpart during the first world cup qualifying match i n C a l a b a r , M r. B a s s e y condemned some of the Newspaper reports that described Calabar stadium as being hard for the Eagles team. He described them as being very unrealistic because despite when the Eagles were down with a lone goal, the Cross River State fans exhibited high level of patriotism by drumming strongly to raise the morale of the players to level up score before the referee's final whistle.

pleased. Speaking after judgment was delivered, the chairman Abakaliki Rice Mill Company Nigeria Limited Deacon Joseph Ununu said that the court had no cogent reason to dismiss the case, stating that due process was not followed; that a letter of revocation should have been served on the company. According to him, “If there is any reason that this type of judgment will be delivered today, what he ruled was not in order. There was no evidence that the Counsel to the Ebonyi State government brought to this honorable court a proof that the matter at Enugu is the same matter with the one at Abakaliki. “We actually have a case at the National Industrial Court which is different from the case we have here. The Industrial Court does not treat fundamental right matters and this case is a fundamental right matter” “As a Company, we will go back home and tell the members the outcome of the ruling at Abakaliki High Court. This court is the Governor's court and we know that is what they will do” He added that they would not fold their hands and watch their property being taken away from them while advising the members of the Abakaliki rice mill to remain law abiding and go about their normal businesses

Youths urged to imbibe peace and love of Christ.

ouths in Bayelsa State and Nigeria at large has been urged to live in peace, love and more so accept Christ always as their personal savior. Dr. Stephanie Oarhe, a renown Pastor and motivational speaker made the revelation at banquet Hall in Government House Ye n a g o a r e c e n t l y w h i l e addressing a congregation of

youths in a one day life enhancing “heart to heart programme”. Dr Oarhe who thrilled the audience with words of God stressed that God loves us genuinely; quoting from the bible 2 Corinthians chapter 6: 2, that we should love ourselves, and that women should give men enough time to concentrate and comply to their matrimonial obligations to be very compatible in love.

Dr. Oarhe further appealed to youths to deviate from anti-social ills such as stealing, raping, cultism among others. The one day event was organized and hosted by pastor (Hon.) Agatha Goma, a member Bayelsa States House of Assembly representing Ekeremor constituency one. Pastor Goma, while answering questions from newsmen soon after the event expressed thanks to God Almighty making the occasion a huge success.

Pastor Goma, highlighted the crucial nature of information dissemination which is a life wire to human existence, especially the right needed information adding that the society has been so shattered and there should be need to enlighten the people with the Gospel of God. He noted that one day was not actually enough, as the youths were hungry for the words of God adding that the event would be a yearly event to re-orientate our youths from societal ills.

Rape in Police Cell: Suspects' trial postponed

he much awaited arraignment of suspects in connection with the raping of a woman detained in a police cell, did not come up Thursday in the Federal High Court, Warri, as earlier scheduled. Newsmen who were in Warri to cover proceedings reliably gathered that all cases in the court were adjourned in

preparation for a valedictory court session for retired Justice Jonathan Shakaro holding in the court hall Friday. The victim, Mrs Esse Isaiah Ozegbe, who was detained overnight in the police cell at Abraka Police Division on 13 February this year, was allegedly raped by two male detainees, Enamuotor Akpevwe and Ugbede Obruche

throughout the night. Following the alleged rape, the victim petitioned the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (Zone 5) in Benin, which eventually resulted in the dismissal of the station's cell guard on duty on the fateful day, Oseji Daniel, while Inspector Erebi Akporunor (Mrs.) was demoted to the rank of sergeant after an orderly room trial carried out by the AIG. In the suit number

FHC/WR/CS/128/13, the victim is suing the InspectorGeneral of Police, the AIG (Zone 5), the Attorney-General of the federation, the Police Service Commission and 11 others, claiming N750 million as general damages for negligence of duty. Counsel to the victim, Barrister Ejowoafuvwe Junior Efe, who spoke with newsmen after the aborted court sitting said the case has been adjourned till 11 July for mention.

THE

ADVOCATE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

C'River health sector reforms on course – Commissioner By Edem Archibong, Calabar

he Cross River State Commissioner for health, Mrs Angela Oyo-Ita has stated that her Ministry is currently embarking on reforms of the health services provided to the people to ensure good health for all before the end of this administration. Speaking during the 32nd annual conference of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) with the theme: “Safe Medicines for Nigerians: Community Pharmacists' Perspective”, Mrs Oyo-Ita who was represented by Mr. Edem Ita Edem, the Director in charge of Pharmacy Department of the Ministry revealed that the state had long been on the fore front on introduction of Community Pharmacy practice. He also disclosed that the Ministry had spelt out standard requirements for would be community pharmacist practitioners and since it's inception in 2007 till now, the standard for those that had been trained is very high while those that had already been trained are now the 'Master trainers'. In attempt to effectively practice the safe medication in the rural communities where the Community Pharmacists function, the state Government have put in place, a Committee for the control of fake and unwholesome drugs within the state with all members of the relevant agencies co-opted, he said. In her inaugural address at the

occasion, the Acting Registrar for Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Abuja, Mrs Gloria Abumere explained that a Community pharmacists refers to one who have been appropriately trained in all areas of pharmacy practice but he/she may decide to major on community practice to render service.

She added that a Community pharmacist is mainly trained to be a bridge between a Doctor and the patients within the local community and is empowered to report any adverse reactions to medicines by patients to the appropriate health authorities. Mrs Abumere disclosed that, because of the significant role which the Community pharmacists are expected to play in the current global campaign for improving health care service

delivery, the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria has concluded plans in collaboration with Development partners to embark on intensive short training courses for the Community Pharmacists and the Hospital pharmacists across the country. In his remarks, the National Chairman for the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) Alhaji Adebayo Ismail Olufemi charged members of the association to be conscious

New Bayelsa CP stressed on synergy with public

he new commissioner of police in Bayelsa State, Mr. Tonye Ebitibituwa has stressed the need for all Bayelsans and other security agencies for collaboration in fighting crime to the lowest ebb. Ebitibituwa made assertion while interacting with the our correspondent in Yenagoa at the Police command headquarters where he commended the officers and men of the state police

command for their uprightness and courage in the reduction of

crime rate in Bayelsa state. The Commissioner, who stated that new strategies would be used in curbing the crime rate, appreciated the public for their cooperation while tasking them to always report dubious and uncompromising characters to law enforcement agencies for necessary action. In the same vein Ebitibituwa urged the media to always go for investigative journalism,

n indigenous business outfit in Yenagoa, Nelix Engineering has partnered with the giant Telecommunication outfit MTN for concrete service delivery. Speaking at the occasion as special guest of honour, the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, (rtd), represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on ICT, Chief Kuro Spiff, lauded Engr. Nelix Clement Osene, manager of the company for this great achievement. He, however, pledged government's commitment to partner with the management of the organization to better for the economy of the state. The Deputy Governor also charged the organization not to limit its entrepreneurial intervention to Yenagoa, the state capital, but to reach out to the rural

stressing that open door policy would be his priority, describing Bayelsa State as peace-loving and very friendly for other states in the federation to emulate. “We are warning youths in the state to abstain from criminalities or face the full wrath of the law as there would be no mercy for culprits, they would be squarely dealt with in compliance with the stipulation of the law,” he said

NGF CRISIS: NBA calls for resolution ... as Dickson tasks legal body on fiscal federalism

he Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) on Thursday asked the members of the crisis-torn Nigeria Governors Forum to resolve their crisis and focus on the delivery of the dividends of democracy. Expressing concern over the crisis rocking the boat of the N G F , t h e NBA president, Mr. Okey Wali warned the Forum against deviating from its objectives.

According to him, the recent activities of the NGF are an eloquent testimony to the primacy of politics over provision of good governance and development for Nigerians. He queried, 'if not, how can the 2015 elections be in the front burner of discourse at this point in time when the election date is still far? One cannot but wonder if election of our leaders is now about acquisition of political power or display of power or for

development.” The NBA President, therefore, advised members of the forum to concentrate on the business of governance so as not to incur the wrath of the electorate. He also called for adequate equipment and training for the Nigeria Police to enable it perform effectively. Speaking at the event, the State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson who, expressed concern over the way and manner resources were

Nelix Engineering Limited partners with MTN on service delivery By Philip Eke, Yenagoa

that 'it is our responsibility as the custodians of medicine to provide safe medicines to the public while it is also the fundamental human right of an average Nigerian to have access to safe medicines”. He also reminded them that the conference will afford members, the opportunity of looking at the pilot testing of the active participation of Community Pharmacists in improving maternal, newborn and child health in Nigeria.

areas of the state. Also speaking at the launching, representatives of MTN, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, sensitized the audience on the new era in telecommunication, noting that in the nearest future, mobile phones will be upgraded to offer more services, such as control of microwave ovens, television sets, banking etc. In line with these, the company's representative noted that MTN is putting in place structures that will ensure its relevance in the face of technological advancement: such structures include the data experience centre to test new devices, customer services, customer registration, tariff plan migration and bulk SMS etc. Dignitaries present at the occasion include Hon. Jonathan Obuebite, member representing Nembe Constituency I; Hon. Amalanyo Yousuo, Constituency II; Hon. Fekoweimo Ebipado, Yenagoa II, all of the Bayelsa

State House of Assembly; Chief Abel Ebifemowei, Executive Chairman of the Bayelsa State Sanitations Authority; commissioners, Special Advisers, representative of the Commissioner of Police, traditional rulers and heads of corporate organizations. Highlights of the occasion were the cutting of the cake and tape to launch the business centre, presentation of flowers by the MTN team to the deputy governor to signify fruitfulness of the venture in the state and the dressing of the MTN crew by the special guest of honour with the Bayelsa traditional regalia to signify acceptance in the state. In a related development, a member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Amalanyo Yousuo, said in an interview with our correspondent that the effort of Nelix Engineering is commendable. He added that such venture by an

indigene of the state will also boost the internally generated revenue. Hon. Yousuo called on government to assist enterprising Bayelsans so that they will contribute to the growth and development of the state. He enjoined other Bayelsans to emulate the enterprising zeal of Mr. Osene who, he said, has created room to employ Bayelsa youths thereby minimizing the rate of unemployment. Also (Brass) speaking, Mr. Clement Osene, managing Director of Nelix Engineering, said that Bayelsa youths are enterprising but added that the support needed to grow was lacking. He called on government and other well-meaning Bayelsans to support youths to be self-reliant so as to become employers of labour thereby reducing unemployment in the state. He thanked government for the peace and prayed for sustainable development in the state.

being expropriated in the country, decried the Capitalist economic philosophy describing it as the root cause of inequality and poverty in the country. Hon. Seriake Dickson tasked the legal body on true fiscal federalism, especially the issue of resource control. In his words: “You have a contradiction of a situation where land, which is one of the factors of production, is communalized by the state while all other factors of production remain in private hands. “I therefore call on the Bar to lead the fight for re-establishing the federal principles in line with our federal structure where federating units should also have the right to exercise control and seek greater participation of our people in the oil industry.” He stated. On security, he expressed regret that rather than political leaders coming together to resolve the current security problems some politicians capitalize on the situation with a view to achieving cheap political gains. Governor Dickson, who attributed the country's security challenges to inadequate investment in the education sector, however commended the NBA for supporting the Federal Government's efforts to combat terrorism. In her address the state Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri urged the NBA to take a holistic look at the Legal profession towards enhancing quick administration of justice in the country.

THE

ADVOCATE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

The Advocate Gospel This Week

RESPONSIBLE SUPPORT TEXT: 1 Timothy 5:17-18 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages." (NIV)

NARRATION When Paul preached in, what is now, Turkey, Cyprus, Greece and Italy, there were many travelling sophists (philosophers who spoke well in public); they commanded a good income. By contrast, Paul and his apostolic team did not ask for money; instead they worked as tent menders in local markets (Acts 20:34 , 2 Corinthians 11:9 ). When the church was established in Ephesus, Paul continued his 'tent-making' for about 3 years while he taught the church. As the Ephesian church grew, it became obvious that some elders were well able to teach and preach, and needed to be released from their 'day jobs' in order to serve in the ministry of the church. Paul then authorised Timothy to say that the 'tent-making' model may not be a sustainable way to support the ministry as it became a 'full-time job'. Therefore the elders should be properly supported financially. That support should not be mean or inadequate for the minister's needs. Some of the hardships Paul suffered voluntarily should not be the only model of ministry. Those who work hard in the gospel should receive enough to sustain a family. Although these verses have been used by some greedy ministers to extract more money for their churches, there are still many more poor pastors than rich ones. We should pray for those who labour as pastors, teachers and evangelists; but we should also ensure that they have sufficient means to fulfil their ministry and support their families. Of course, many churches simply do not have enough money, but perhaps that is one reason why the needs should be made known to all the church, so that these verses can be honoured through increased giving.

Prayer: Prayer: Almighty God. I know that You have all the resources in the universe at Your command. I am sorry when I have failed to give enough to support the work of the ministry. Please help me to understand that Your church can only grow a s p e o p l e w h o m Yo u appoint are free to work hard for You. Then give me the courage to release some of the money You have given me, to support Your servants. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

STEALING IN GOD'S HOUSE Christ Embassy Church arrests Amplifier thieves

WO youths alleged to have stolen an amplifier belonging to Christ Embassy Church, Amagu Ishiagu in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have been apprehended by some members of the church. Speaking at the church premises, the Pastor in charge, Kannon Uwenobong alleged that the suspected thieves broke into his church about two weeks ago and stole the amplifier. He said during one of the church's prayer sessions, he gave the suspects two weeks to return the item or face

serious problem. He noted: “We then sent out our members in search of the amplifier and they found it in the possession of one ThankGod who claimed to have bought it from the people who stole it. “He, (ThankGod) promised to bring those that sold the amplifier to him and today he brought these two boys.” ThankGod allegedly bought the stolen amplifier from one Mr. Ndubuisi Onyekwere and Dennis at the cost for N1,500 and that the suspects were demanding more money from him (ThankGod); so he told them that he would give

them more money when he gets receipt for the payment he made. According to ThankGod “Last Sunday I was in my church and our church Amplifier got spoilt; so I went and brought the one I bought from those two boys and as we were using it in Church, members of Christ Embassy Church came in disguise that they wanted to hire it; so I told them to wait till after the service.” This, however, led to the arrest of the two thieves who are now being quizzed by law enforcement agents.

The Catholic Church, its growth and impact on South-Eastern states By Okey Anyichie

he Catholic Church, a world wide Church with Headquarters in Rome. Italy came to this side of the country called SouthEastern states through Onitsha, a river-side town. th It was on 5 December, 1884 that a group of priests led by Monsignor Joseph Lutz who were on transit to Lokoja from Gabon stopped at Onitsha. However providence made it possible that they decide to stay at Onitsha and started their evangelical work among the people of Onitsha and environs. It did not take a long time after these men of God impelled by the apostolic zeal secured a peace of land from the Obi of Onitsha called Obi Anazonwu, who availed them a piece of land by the side of the River Nigeria where the Headquarters of the Onitsha Catholic Arch-Diocese stand today. It rose from lower Niger prefecture to Southern Vicariate until in 1950 when it became an Arch-diocese and metropolitan province of Eastern Region, with Archbishop Charles Heerey, the Irish Missionary whose apostolic zeal opened up the present area of Igboland called South-Eastern states of Nigeria. Initially after the first m i s s i o n a r y, M o n s i g n o r Joseph Lutz with his team started opening up the area from Onitsha, he was succeeded by one of the greatest Irish missionaries called Father Joseph Shanahan who came for his unique missionary work and accomplished a great

achievements in both areas of Health and education. This great missionary achiever came in 1902 and turned the whole of Igbo areas of the country into a new frontier of existence. Hence schools and Health institutions started to be established to take care of academic and health needs of the converts. From Onitsha, the Catholic church going in pari-pasu with the other Christian denomination called, Anglican church or church Missionary Society (CMS) which landed in Onitsha in 1857 led by a Yeruba Anglican priest called Rev Ajayi Crowther, moved into all corners of Igboland from 1902 when this Irish priest, Rev. Father Joseph Shanahan, later consecrated Bishop worked very hard to expand the Catholic Church especially through education. He was later assisted by another able Catholic priest who was later raised to Episcopal status in 1928 in Calabar, called Rev. (Dr) Charles Heerey. He worked first in Igbo land when he was appointed Rector of a Seminary to train indigenous priest in Igboland. It was from there he was made a Bishop as an assistant to Bishop Joseph Shanahan at Onitsha. With the retirement of Bis hop Shanahan in 1932, Bishop Heerey succeeded him and improved on what he took over. For in 1950, the Catholic Head-quarter at Onitsha became an Arch-Diocese and other Dioceses East of the Niger were created like Calabar Diocese, Owerri Diocese in 1949. Later Ogoja Diocese came into existence

in 1955. Other Dioceses like Umuabia in 1959, PortHarcourt in 1961, IkotEkpene in 1963, Enugu in 1962. After the civil-war, more were created like Awka in 1978, the same with Orlu, Okigwe Ahiara. Later in 1991, Nsukka diocese was carved out of Enugu and the first ordinary of the new diocese then was Rev (Dr) Francis Okobo. His retirement after over twenty years of building the diocese of Nsukka from a scratch has given way to the second ordinary of the diocese Monsignor Godfrey Onah. His enthronement on the 5th of July, 2013 will be another mile-stone in the history of Catholic church in Nsukka area of Enugu state. Already plans are on ground to make the ceremony a very successful one by the members of this second Catholic Diocese in Enugu state. It would be recalled that catholic church came into the area and grew and expanded like other areas of Igbo land with a Catholic secondary school called St Theresa's College Nsukka established in 1949. Equally a hospital was set up in Nsukka by Catholic Church authorities called Bishop Shanahan Hospital Nsukka in the early 50s . with those efforts of the Catholic Church in Nsukka diocese the new Bishop after the consecration next month will strive to improve on what he will meet as the second ordinary of the diocese. AdMultos Annos and best wishes on this onerous task of evangelism.

THE

ADVOCATE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

Slain Nwike, ex-Anambra deputy gov, buried By Our Reporter

ears flowed freely at the graveside of the slain former deputy governor of Anambra State and incumbent South East Zonal chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Dr. Chudi Nwike as his remains was committed to mother earth Friday at his country home, Ibollo Village, Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State. Dr. Nwike was kidnapped and killed by suspected kidnappers in Delta State after a ransom of N5 million was paid by his family. His corpse was lowered to the white tiled grave at about 1.30 p.m. inside his compound amidst grief, eulogies and sober reflections from sympathizers, friends, wellwishers and political associates. Among the dignitaries present to bid him fare well were the former Governor of the state, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife under whose administration the late Nwike served as his deputy; Senator Chris Ngige, Chief Chekwas Okorie, Hon. Ben Nwankwo representing Orumba North/South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives; Governor Peter Obi; the former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, among others. The funeral rites which began with Holy Mass at the St Vincent Catholic Church; Ogbunike, was officiated by a Catholic priest, Rev Fr. Vincent Ejembi from Aokpe, Benue state who in his homily, admonished Christians to always remain faithful in God while calling on those that killed the former Deputy Governor to repent from their evil ways. Rev Ejembi who started by saying that the perpetrators of the dastardly act could be in the church also called for repentance of those who indulge in all sorts of crime, adding that unless they repent and turn to Christ, the wrath of God will come upon them. In his tribute to the family of the deceased, the former governor of Anambra state under whom the deceased served as Deputy, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife said he was shocked by the death of his beloved obedient Deputy Governor, adding, :I know how to talk and I can talk but if I begin to talk now, I may collapse. So, may his soul rest in perfect peace”. He said the problem of the country has always been that of insecurity, adding “what I write is the loss of conscience in the country where human beings turn to beasts” and urged the family of the deceased to take solace in God and prayed God to grant him eternal rest. The former Governor of Imo state and chieftain of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Chief Achike Udenwa expressed sadness at the level of brutality in the country and called on the federal government to intensify efforts to combat increasing scourge of insecurity.

“It goes to show the problems we are having in this country where people are no more safe, the roads are not safe, houses are not safe. So I think we all should be more security conscious and the government should do more to make sure it contains the insecurity in this country” he said. Senator Chris Ngige representing Anambra Central senatorial zone on the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN also challenged the government to do more in the

area of security while calling on the people to always remain vigilant to make sure no one cuts their lives short. He described the late Dr. Chudi Nwike as a man who loved peace and a gentleman who always stood for the truth while calling on the family he left behind to follow the footprints of their late father. The Ebonyi state chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Dr. Sylvester Nwambe decried the increasing cases of violent crimes

in the country especially kidnapping in the South East and urged the various state governments to do more in the area of providing security to its citizenry. The member representing Oyi constituency in Anambra State House of Assembly, Mrs. Vivian Okadigbo described the death of the former deputy governor as a great loss to Oyi and Anambra state in general. “I wish the family the best and

appeal to them to take heart and bear the loss. They should know that God knows best why his death came at the time. “When a great man is lost, it creates a vacuum and in this area, a great vacuum has been created and his death has made great impact in politics of Oyi and Anambra state in general but we take solace in the fact that he lived a good life and God who rewards in secret will reward him by bringing him to His bosom”

Military rule has gone forever in Nigeria– Mark

ENATE President David Mark, Tuesday, vowed that everything will be done to sustain the nation's democracy which has come to stay, just as he stressed that military rule has gone forever in Nigeria. He also said that against the backdrop of efforts being made by the federal government to nip in the bud the security challenge, terrorism will soon become history in the country. Speaking in Prague, Czech Republic when he led a delegation of some Senators on an official visit, Senator Mark told the hierarchy of the Czech Republic Parliament that the visit was among others, designed to improve on the existing relationship between both countries. Senator Mark who met with the President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Mr. Milan Stech and other principal senators of the parliament, however explained that the operations against

militants in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states will bring terrorism to an end. He also told them that against the backdrop of the important and strategic role the Czech Republic was playing among the European countries, the visit then became imperative as that will bring them closer in the European Union, EU and the African Union, AU. Senator Mark said, “The operation is being handled well and sooner than later terrorism will soon become part of our history. “We are conscious that fighting terror is difficult because of factors that dwell on human rights and collateral damage. But the operators of emergency that has been introduced in the area will bring terrorism to its end. “We appreciate the commendation of the International Community on the 2011 elections as free and fair, we will continue to build on our democratic Institutions and with the success recorded and democracy in place, Military rule has gone forever in Nigeria.”

The Senate President who noted that Nigeria has played the role of ensuring stability in Africa, stressed that the country has always been a home to all Africans expressing regrets however that the nation came under attacks from misguided extremists. He said, “This trend became escalated by the situation in Mali, Niger, Libya and Chad but the Federal Government tried to curtail this through appeal and other carrot approaches but this did not quite succeed until the introduction of emergency rule.” He told the Czech parliamentarians that the National Assembly will continue to create legislative instruments that will deepen democracy. E a r l i e r, M r. S t e c h w h o sympathized with Nigerian government over the Boko Haram attacks, however promised that his country will partner with Nigeria in areas of education, economy and culture as well as problems of insecurity. Senator Mark and his team also

yesterday had talks with the Chairwoman of the Inter parliamentary Friendship group for Sub- Saharan African Countries, Ms Dana Vahalova; Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Pariament of the Czech Republic, Ms Miroslava Nemcova; Nigeria Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Ms Catherine Uyok Okon. The team also inspected the Exhibition hall of the Senate of the Parliament of Czech Republic , the Palace Chapel; Trcka's Gallery; the Cave; Sala Terrenaa, among others and were accompanied by the Secretary General of the Senate Chancery, Mr. Jiri Uklein. Also with Senate President Mark on the Visit are Senate Leader Vi c t o r N d o m a - E g b a ; Vi c e Chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Domingo Obende; Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Chris Anyanwu and Chairman, Senate Committee on Inter- Parliamentary Affairs, Senator Abdulaziz Usman.

2OTH ANNIVERSARY OF JUNE 12 Continued from page 14 decade of military rule, General Ibrahim Babanginda came under pressure to return democratic rule to Nigeria. After an aborted initial primary, Abiola stood for the presidential nomination of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and beat Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to secure the presidential nomination of the SDP ahead of the June 12th 1993 presidential elections. Abiola had managed to work his way out of poverty through hard work and symbolised the aspirations of many downtrodden Nigerians. His commitment to the plight of ordinary Nigerians included establishing Abiola bookshops to provide affordable, locally produced textbooks in the 1980s when imported textbooks became out of the reach of ordinary Nigerians as the naira was devalued. He also made available daily necessities such as rice and soap at affordable prices in the market.

Presidential elections For the 12 June 1993 presidential elections, Abiola's running mate was Baba Gana Kingibe. He overwhelmingly defeated his rival, Bashir Tofa of the National

Republican Convention. The election was declared Nigeria's freest and fairest presidential election by national and international observers, with Abiola even winning in his Northern opponent's home state.Abiola won at the national capital, Abuja, the military polling stations, and over two-thirds of Nigerian states. The reason why the election was so historic, was because men of Northern descent had largely dominated Nigeria's political landscape since independence. The fact that Moshood Abiola (a Southern Muslim) was able to secure a national mandate freely and fairly remains unprecedented in Nigeria's history. However, the election was annulled by Ibrahim Babangida, a political crisis that ensued which led to General Sani Abacha seizing power later that year.During preparations for the 2011 Nigerian Presidential elections there were calls from several quarters to remember MKO Abiola . The famed Nigerian Pastor Tunde Bakare is said to have predicted the annulment to Abiola and warned him against contesting.

Imprisonment In 1994 Moshood Abiola declared himself the lawful president of

Nigeria in the Epetedo area of Lagos island, an area mainly populated by impoverished Nigerians. He had recently returned from a trip to win the support of the international community for his mandate. After declaring himself president he was declared wanted and was accused of treason and arrested on the orders of military President GeneralSani Abacha, who sent 200 police vehicles to bring him into custody. MKO Abiola has been referred to as Nigeria's greatest statesman Moshood Abiola was detained for four years, largely in solitary confinement with a Bible, Qur'an, and fourteen guards as companions. During that time, Pope John Paul II, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and human rights activists from all over the world lobbied the Nigerian government for his release. The sole condition attached to the release of Chief Abiola was that he renounce his mandate, something that he refused to do, although the military government offered to compensate him and refund his extensive election expenses. For this reason Chief Abiola became extremely troubled when Kofi Annan and Emeka Anyaoku reported to the world that he had agreed to renounce his mandate after they met with him to

tell him that the world would not recognize a five year old election.

Death Abiola died under suspicious circumstances shortly after the death of General Abacha. Moshood Abiola died on the day that he was due to be released, on July 7, 1998.While the official autopsy stated that Abiola died of natural causes, Abacha's Chief Security Officer, Al-Mustapha has alleged that Moshood Abiola was in fact beaten to death. Al-Mustapha, who is still being detained by the Nigerian government, claims to have video and audiotapes showing how Abiola was beaten to death. The final autopsy report, which was produced by a group of international coroners has never been publicly released. Irrespective of the exact circumstances of his death, it is clear that Chief Abiola received insufficient medical attention for his existing health conditions. As recounted at the time in a BBC interview with special envoy Thomas R. Pickering, an American delegation, which included Susan Rice, visited Abiola and during their meeting with him, Abiola fell ill,with what was presumed to be a heart attack which caused his death.

THE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

ADVOCATE

Nigerians getting poorer under Jonathan – W/Bank

President Jonathan

World Bank report has indicated that there is significant increase in the number of Nigerians living in poverty. The “Nigeria Economic Report,” May, 2013 by the Bank noted that there is a “perplexing contrast” between the nation's economic statistics on rapid economic growth and minimal welfare improvements for much of the population. “Poverty rates remain high in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas,” the report said noting that, these rates declined between 2003-2004 and 2009- 2010. “While the officially reported growth rates of GDP well exceed population growth in the country, the pace of poverty reduction does not,” the report said, “implying that the number of

Okonjo Iweala

poor Nigerians living below the poverty line has grown measurably.” The World Bank said the first Nigeria Economic Report was designed to give some attention to longer term trends in the country, including the puzzle of why a decade of rapid GDP growth by official statistics, concentrated in the pro-poor areas of agriculture and trade did not bring stronger welfare and employment benefits to the population. Aside from the increase in poverty, the World Bank said progress towards a number of the other Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria had also been disappointing, as Nigeria was ranked 153 out of 186 countries in the 2013 United Nations

Human Development Index. The report explained further that unemployment rates have been on steady increase while younger Nigerians encounter increasing difficulty in finding gainful employment. The report said that, “Job creation in Nigeria has been inadequate to keep pace with the expanding working age population. “The official unemployment rate has steadily increased from 12 per cent of the working age population in 2006 to 24 per cent in 2011. “Preliminary indications are that this upward trend continued in 2012.” The report also noted that the official definition of employment in Nigeria (less than 40 hours worked in the past week) is

NDLEA arrests 32 drug suspects in Gombe

he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Gombe State said it arrested 32 drug suspects with 13 kilogrammes of hard drugs between April and May 2013. Mr. Aliyu Adole, NDLEA Commandant, made the disclosure in an interview in Gombe on Wednesday. Adole said 15 of the suspects were convicted, adding that his command at the moment had nine pending cases at the Federal High Court. He said the remaining suspects were at the rehabilitation unit of the agency. “We have actually intercepted 32 suspects, 15 have been convicted out of them and 13 kg of hard drugs, were recovered from them.

“We hope that by the end of the day, the court will be able to give us a successful prosecution,” he said. He warned members of the public against taking drugs without doctor's prescription, adding that whoever was found doing so would be arrested and made to face the law. According to him, as part of efforts to reduce such acts in the state, the agency has embarked on public enlightenment campaigns in some villages and local government areas on the dangers of taking hard drugs. He added that they were also liaising with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) secretariat to expand the scope of the campaigns.

unusual and is therefore not comparable to what is obtainable in most other countries. “The negative dynamic is very consistent however with perceptions of the population of increasing difficulties for finding gainful employment. “Going by this, the problem in Nigeria might best be interpreted as under-employment in contrast t o u n e m p l o y m e n t p r o p e r. “Nigeria's annual growth rates that average over seven per cent in official data during the last decade place the nation among the fastest growing economies in the world. “This growth has been concentrated particularly in trade and agriculture which would suggest substantial welfare benefits for many Nigerians. “Nevertheless, improvements in social welfare indicators have been mu “Poverty reduction and job creation have not kept pace with population growth, implying social distress for an increasing number of Nigerians. “Given the seeming inconsistencies between the national accounts data summarized above and statistics based on other surveys, it is imperative to conduct further investigations and statistical tests to uncover the true growth and development story in Nigeria. “In sum, statistics on poverty and unemployment in Nigeria, together with other direct indicators of welfare, suggest a story that is rather different from the national accounts data. “The GDP growth has not been sufficient to support levels of poverty reduction and job creation necessary to prevent a growing number of poor and unemployed (underemployed) Nigerians,” the World Bank said.

But the Federal Government has said Nigerians should stop heaping blames on it alone as all leaders at all levels of governance should be held liable for these seeming damning reports. According to the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, President Goodluck Jonathan's administration is committed to reinforcing democratic institutions in the country but regretted that Nigerians have failed to hold their local leaders accountable. Maku spoke Wednesday at a ceremony in Lagos marking the 20th anniversary of the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election, organized by the Save Nigeria Group. According to Maku, “the problem is that we have become so used to dictatorship that if people go to their village and their local public toilet is not there, it is the President. “If people go to their village and the local primary school is not working, it is the President. “The President must bear responsibility because he is the leader of Nigeria but the truth of the matter is that power is dispatched through institutions that must take responsibility. “And, if we must change Nigeria, we must hold every leader responsible.” According to Maku, Nigeria's challenges are no different from those experienced by advanced nations at various stages of their nationhood and insisted that, “the present administration is on the right track as we have put forward a new roadmap.” However, also speaking at the programme, Convener of the Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare, described the country as being on the precipice, waiting to crash any moment. According to Bakare, “our people are poor because their leaders make poor policy choices and they do so because of their apparent lack of capacity as Chief MKO Abiola succinctly put it in his Epetedo Declaration on June 11, 1994. “No one in his right senses can conclude that Nigerians are poor because our people do not work hard. “Indeed, they work hard but productivity is low and the cost of doing business is very high. “Neither can anyone blame the daunting poverty of the majority of our citizens on lack of natural resources in certain parts. “The resources are all overabundant but they have been used hitherto to enrich the elite.” He recalled that Abiola had promised during his presidential debate that a Nigerian child would not go to bed hungry again. “But now,” according to Bakare, “they not only go to bed hungry but also sit on bare floor in their various schools.”

THE

ADVOCATE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

Tributes as highlife maestro, Rolling Dollar, dies at 87 ·He will remain an enduring influence on African music – Jonathan

E was like a tiger. His body was always ready for action, even at 86. But Wednesday, Fatai Olayiwola Olagunju, a.k.a. Fatai Rolling Dollar, had the final action - he breathed his last at the Ahmadiyya Hospital, AgbadoIjaiye, Lagos. He was born on July 22, 1926 in Ede, Osun State. According to reports, the 86-yearold artiste had been ill for some time now. Days before he died, he had rubbished reports claiming he was in coma as a result of a protracted illness, saying he was never in coma. The report had said that the oldest artiste on the Nigerian music circuit was receiving treatment at a Lagos State hospital where he had been hospitalised for about three weeks. The octogenarian artiste was said to have been rushed to the hospital after performing at an event. A guitarist, singer and exponent of the native thumb piano (Agidigbo), the 86-year-old veteran of West African folk music was one of the greatest living influences on West African contemporary music. The ex-seaman was a walking encyclopedia of neo-traditional African music. Olagunju traversed the crest and trough of West Africa's musical landscape in an attempt to track the sub-continent's rhythmic genealogy. He started his musical career in 1953, and with over seven decades' career, he directly spawned and mentored some of the most successful musicians in West Africa's history such as Ebenezer Obey and who directly influenced others like King Sunny Ade, Fela Kuti, the late Dr. Orlando Owoh and Bob Aladeniyi. The son of an Ede chief, Olagunju grew up at Lagos Island, Isale- Eko, where he encountered the music of juju legend such as Tunde King and Irewole Denge. One of the popular players of the music was Tunde King. He once had a problem and went back to Freetown, Sierra Leone, from where he picked up another idea for the music. On getting back to Lagos, he modified the palm-wine music. But the originator of this music form was a band called the Jolly Orchestra, popularly known as Atari Ajanaku. A musician called Harbour Grant led it. In his band was another musician that left for London where he played in a hotel called Hotel Afrique - Ambrose Campbell. Olagunju's musical style was a fusion of native Agidigbo with broader highlife and Latin themes, The Latin influence being as a result of his birth and background in Lagos, with a large immigrant Brazilian and Hispanic population in the mid-19th century, up to the early 20th century. More lately, he experimented with Afro-Funk and Afrobeat. His music evolved from a sound called 'palm wine' music and it was played far back 1939. By then, it consisted of the palm wine guitar a box guitar, Yoruba vocals and the sekere.

blow, but younger artists like P-Square and many others are happily doing a revival form of highlife in contemporary form.” Chairman of O'jez Entertainment Limited, Joseph Odobeatu, owners of O'jez Music and chain of celebrity restaurants, said in a statement by his media company, Media Image Managers: “Well, it's very sad to hear the news of the demise of the legend Pa Fatai Rolling Dollar. The O'jez family is still in shock because Rolling Dollar has been very much part of the family in the past 12 years.”

Olagunju was known for his verve and dexterity on the guitar. His zest for life and energy, even in old age, was also a marvel to all that beheld him performing. Years back, it seemed Olagunju was in the nightfall of his career, but he took many by surprise and the Nigerian scene as he stormed back with his hit song. He got a new lease of life after years in the doldrums, through Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who revived his career and fortunes, after his performance at the World Music Day on June 21, 2000 at the Maison de France, Alliance Francais, then on Aromire Street, off Kingsway Road, Victoria Island. Between 2003 and 2004, he returned to Nigeria's music scene with three landmark albums and was finally recognised as a virtuoso exponent of neo-traditional highlife rhythms and a precursor to juju music. Some of his hit tracks include Won kere si number wa, Iyawo Iyawo, Eko

Akete (Agidigbo Blues), Morocco Special, Omolere Aiye, I'm Not A Banker, Saworo Maro, Feso Jaiye, Ori Wa Adara, Aduke and a whole lot of songs. The late artiste, who married the actress of Yoruba home movies, Bunmi Akinbo Gold, last year, had been involved with two other women apart from his very first wife who died in 1999, one is a German and the other from Ibadan. He sired 16 children. Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Edem Duke, lamented the death of the veteran musician. This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja, conveying his condolence. While reacting to the death of the musician, Orits Williki said Olagunju lived well and had gone to rest, noting: “Papa lived well and nobody can complain that an icon has gone home to rest. The way he lived in the last decade has been remarkable. Although his passing highlife music has suffered a

President Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday joined other Nigerians and music lovers across the world to mourn Pa Fatai Olagunju. A statement issued in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, described Rolling Dollar as an accomplished and multi-talented musician. “President Jonathan shares the grief of all lovers of music over the death of the illustrious entertainer, master singer, guitarist and exponent of the native thumb piano. “Fatai Rolling Dollar continued to perform and exhibit his unqualified love for the music profession at an age when most of his contemporaries had long retired. “The president believes that the late Fatai Rolling Dollar who enthralled his teeming followers throughout his career of over 64 years will, even in death, remain an enduring influence on African music. “And that the vacuum his death has created in the Nigerian entertainment industry will be hard to fill,'' Abati said. He said that the president extended heartfelt condolences to the late musician's family and prays that God almighty grant his soul eternal rest

NEWS Five NANS officials killed in auto crash

IVE executive members of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, were Thursday killed in a ghastly motor accident in Ikwuano area of Abia State on their way to Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital. Seven others who survived with serious injuries were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, where they are currently receiving treatment. Those killed in the accident included, NANS Senate P r e s i d e n t , M r. D o n a l d Onukaogu, said to be the leader of the students delegation to Uyo and a student of Federal University of Technology, Owerri.

Others who lost their lives were Assah Ejeita from Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri; Duru Jacob, Assistant Secretary General of NANS, Zone B; one Japheth and one other whose name could not be ascertained at press time. The accident occurred at Ariam in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State along the busy Umuahia -Ikot Ekpene road. The accident involved a Hiace bus conveying the students and a trailer from Akwa Ibom State which was said to have lost control before ramming into the bus. The students were said to be on their way to University of Uyo to initiative peace between the

students and the university following the riot which erupted there, Tuesday. Both the dead and the injured were taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia. Abia state Governor, Chief Theodore Orji visited the wounded at the hospital where they were receiving treatment when the report of the accident reached him. Conducting the Governor Orji round the casualty ward where the injured students were receiving treatment, Dr. Kalu in charge of the ward said that the accident victims and the dead were brought to the hospital in the morning. Dr. Kalu confirmed that their

vehicle was said to have been involved in a head-on collision with a lorry at Ikwuano on their way to Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. Governor Orji sympathized with Nigerian students over the death of five executives of their union. Orji described the incident as “a calamity and sympathetic” even as he cautioned drivers to be careful while driving, urging them to always maintain manageable speed limit. The Governor said that that the casualty level would have been minimal if the drivers were not on high speed. According to him, the incident was disheartening as the victims were the future leaders of the

THE

ADVOCATE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

Focus on Nigeria's pioneer football clubs (3) Rangers International football club of Enugu By Okey Anyichie

angers international football club of Enugu, a product of civil-war in 197, unknown to football fans dived into the world of football in Nigeria after being nurtured for twelve months and started shaking the arena with five-works and artistry in March, 1971. This football club that started its existence two weeks after the civil war in January 1970 changed the soccer landscape of the country and made other clubs to strive for harder competitions. It was a twelve months old football club formed in Enugu by a veteran sports administrator and organizer called Chief Jerry Enyeazu of blessed memory that not only surprised itself by numerous football teams clubs and administrators and organisers across the country in 1971. It was in March of that year that the second edition of the Amachree soccer championship took place at the Lagos city stadium, Onikan Lagos. Teams that took place in that second edition of the clubs' soccer competition in the country were WNDC now 3SC, stationery stores, he defending champion having won the maiden edition of the competition in 1970 after beating ECN later NEPA by 2-1, ECN, River Valley, Vipers Ports Authority, ACB, Rangers, Mighty Jets and Vasco Dagama and Army. After two weeks encounters among these clubs Ibadan, Lagos, Warri, Benin, Enugu and Jos, Rangers shot to victory in this 1971 clubs soccer competition in 1971. The victory journey in this clubs' soccer fiesta began for Rangers of Enugu with the first round victory over WNDC football club of Ibadan by 3-2, then in the second round ABC football club bowed to the Enugu club-side by 4-3. Rangers thus coasted for the semi-side by 4-3. Rangers thus coasted for the semifinal encounter against Army football club of Lagos and showed the Army football club of Lagos loaded with star players, who seven of them played for the Nigerian 'Green Eagles' the exit door of the competition. And with this victory Rangers shot into the final of the competition. And Ports Authority football club of Lagos with their veteran player, Bobo Mordi and Okonji, whom the Lagos press tagged 'Dangerman' for his striking power at the goal posts. But surprisingly, the final saw Rangers football club of Enugu, a twelve months old football club reduce the Lagos football club, the Ports Authority that was called Marine football club of Lagos and winners of Nigerian challenge cup now federation cup in 1945 to

ordinary football club by 3-0. Most soccer pundits at that time in Lagos started changing their minds on the standard of this 'dark horse' of a football club from Enugu. Even the Lagos press, the most vibrant and visible in the country then started standing on their roes, whenever the Enugu club was on 'parade' in Lagos and other places after this victorious outing in the 1971 edition of the Amachree cup soccer competition. And the score-card of Rangers football club from 1971 to 1984 shone like a precious jewel and its

appearance on the challenge cup now federation cup was incomparable. The club became the first club side in Nigeria to win the competition three times in a row (ie) 1974, 1975 and 1976. No Nigerian club side has broken this record set by the Enugu club-side since 1945, when the competition started. The Enugu club-side went on to win the cup again in 1981 and 1983. Then on the international scene, Rangers became the first clubside to qualify for the final of Africa cup of the champions now Africa league championship from

Nigeria. But Rangers lost to Hafia of Guinea in the final play-off in Lagos 2-1. However Rangers won for Nigeria the second continental soccer championship for clubs called cup winners cup, 3SC of Ibadan won the competition in 1976 but in 1977, Rangers won the cup after beating 3SC then known as IICC football club of Ibadan in the semi-final and in the final silenced the Camerounian clu-side, Canon Sportif of Yaounde by 5-2. Rangers when the league started on amateur basis in Nigeria in 1972 won the soccer

youth and sports development. The NNPC/Shell cup which received great support from the Nigerian Schools Sports Federation, [NSSF] and the Federal and State Ministries of Sports and Education has become one of Nigeria's leading age grade football tournament and a reference point for grass r o o t f o o t b a l l development and a permanent fixture in the national academic calendar. It had become an avenue to discover young talent for the Nigerian National team. Most recently, Ejike Uzoenyi, one of the numerous products of the NNPC/Shell cup won the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa with the Super Eagles of Nigeria. He had represented Global Secondary School, Onitsha and went on to play for Nigeria in the Ghana-Nigeria Academicals international football tournament sponsored by SPDC.

Matches

By Patrick Okolie & Obianuju Nwankwo

inners of the just concluded 2013 edition of the NNPC/Shell cup, Purple Krown College had received a grand cheque of N2.5m reward for emerging champions in the game that has in attendance over 2,500 secondary schools and 75, 000 students from the 36 states of the federation including the FCT. Purple Krown College had earlier this year eliminated Annunciation Secondary School, Rivers State by 1:0 and sailed to the Semi-final where they beat Government College, Ibadan by 4:0 and on March 24, 2013 defeated Government Secondary School, Wuse, Abuja in the final by a lone goal to win the NNPC/Shell cup and becoming the first school to lift the trophy in Enugu and would be travelling to England later this year for the world secondary school soccer competition. Presenting the cheque to the school proprietor, Mr. Adewale

championship in 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982 and 1984 and was the Nigeria's flag-bearers six times in the Africa cup of champions now Africa league soccer championship. 1990, when the professional league soccer championship started in the country, Rangers was among the Nigeria club-sides to debut at the professional soccer competition. However, it is sad that Rangers though debuted with other club-side in 1990 are yet to lift the trophy. It is even surprising that twice in 2001 and 2002, they almost made at the end of the seasons' championship, but the 'crown' shipped through their fingers. And since 1984 the Enugu club side is yet to win either the league or the FA Cup. However the hard antecedent of Rangers remain the fact that since 1972 when the amateur league started and in 1990 the professional league kicked off, Rangers is the only football club in Nigeria that had not been relegated both on amateur and professional league championship. It still stands like a rock of Gibraltar in the professional league soccer championship. A reference in the history of club-side football competition in Nigeria. Up Rangers up the galloping Antelope, still maintaining the club's motto of 'From Difficulties to Heights”. That is the spirit of the soccer VALIANTS.

Alao, the Communication Production Services Manager, Peter Ademu-Eteh said that it was there pleasure to have kept faith in their vision to get students engaged in developing both their education and football talent. He emphasized that they have proved “that it is possible to excel in education while playing football since the competition started 15 years ago”

The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Simon Ortuanya expressed his immense gratitude to NNPC/Shell cup organizers for their contribution to the development of grass root sports and urged other corporate organizations to emulate the giant stride taken by these oil companies pledging the readiness of the state government to partner with any organization that is into

THE

ADVOCATE

Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

FIFA Confederations Cup, Group B preview

io de Janeiro: Spain and Uruguay raise the Group B curtain at Recife`s Arena Pernambuco Sunday in a fixture laden with Europeanbased stars. The less-fancied Tahiti and Nigeria open their campaign the following day at Belo Horizonte`s Mineirao. Perhaps this is not the most evenly-matched group in Confederations Cup history, but players of the likes of Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Luis Suarez and John Obi Mikel ensure it won`t be short of quality. Spain, the reigning world and European champions finished third in their only previous Confederations Cup appearance in 2009 and Del Bosque Spain head coach says the competition w i l l b e t a k e n s e r i o u s l y. "There are four world champions but also three other teams that deserve a lot of respect: Japan, the Olympic champions Mexico and Nigeria, who won the African Cup of Nations," Del Bosque said. "There is also Tahiti, which is a little bit of an unknown entity for us.” As expected, Barcelona and Real Madrid have provided the bulk of the squad with 13 of the 26 players named by Del Bosque. The 62-year-old coach has recalled striker Fernando Torres after the 29-year-old scored an impressive 23 goals for Chelsea in 2012-13 while Bayern Munich midfielder Javi Martinez also returns. Both players were overlooked for Spain`s World Cup qualifiers against France and Finland in March. Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso will miss the tournament after undergoing surgery on an injured groin. Uruguay: The two-time World Cup winners have been in steady decline since winning the 2011 Copa America tournament in Argentina. La Celeste are in danger of missing the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after managing just two points from

their past six South American qualifiers and slumping to seventh, three spots below the automatic qualification cut-off. A

1-0 victory over F r a n c e i n Montevideo last week was the team`s first against Les Bleus since 1966 and went some way to p l a c a t i n g concerns about Tabarez`s team. Uruguay`s strength in recent years has been their attack and this tournament will be no exception. Tabarez will have the luxury of choosing between Luis Suarez (Liverpool), Edinson Cavani (Napoli), Diego Forlan (Internacional) and Abel

Hernandez (Palermo) to front his team. Juventus defender Martin Caceres has been included after a car accident forced him out of two World Cup qualifiers in March. Nigeria: The African champions have experienced something of a renaissance in the past two years under manager Stephen Keshi. Having achieved an all-time high world ranking of fifth in 1994, Nigeria missed the 2006 World Cup in Germany and failed to progress beyond the group stage in South Africa four years later. But Keshi`s men reinforced their resurgence as a regional force by winning the 2013 African Cup of Nations in February with a 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso in the final. They are also well-placed in their quest for a 2014 World Cup berth, heading Africa`s Group F with eight points from four matches in the second round of

qualifiers. Nigeria`s Confederations Cup squad includes Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel as well as Maccabi Tel Aviv goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama. The team will be without Mikel`s Blues teammate Victor Moses and former Almeria midfielder Kalu Uche due to injury. Tahiti: The tiny Pacific island-nation earned a ticket to Brazil with a 1-0 victory over New Caledonia in the 2012 Oceania Nations Cup. Steevy Chong Hue struck the winning goal and became a national hero overnight in a country renowned more for its idyllic beaches than football. Tahiti`s side is made up mostly of amateurs but coach Eddy Etaeta has insisted the team will be no walkovers for their Confederations Cup rivals.

W/C Qualifiers: Nigeria leads group F despite

drawing Namibia

igeria and Namibia drew 1-1 in Windhoek on Wednesday in their group F, fifth match day in the second round of the African qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Deon Hotto Kavendji scored for Namibia in the 77th minute while

Nigeria equalised six minutes later through Geofrey Oboabona. The result means Nigeria could not capitalise on closest rival Malawi's slip earlier in the day when it drew 2-2 with Kenya after conceding a late own goal. Victory for Nigeria should have given them an unassailable lead and

qualification to the final Africa zone round. Nigeria now has 9 points; Malawi has 7, Namibia 5 and Kenya 3. The September clash of Nigeria and Malawi becomes a group decider with the 'Eagles' needing a draw and the 'Flames' a win to finish on top. Malawi were held 2-2 by Kenya in Blantyre earlier Wednesday a result which opened the door for Nigeria to seal first place. The 'Flames' led twice at Kamuzu Stadium only for the 'Harambee Stars' to get a last-minute reprieve when Chimango Kayira scored an

Serena defeats Sharapova to win French Open crown

Neymar: We proved we can win the Confederation Cup

he 21-year-old insists his side are unfazed by recent criticism and believes the 3-0 win over France shows they are contenders for the trophy Neymar is confident Brazil have what it takes to win the Confederations Cup this month. The Selecao defied recent critics with a convincing 30 win over France on Sunday, and the Barcelona forward believes his side have shown they are strong enough to lift the trophy on

home soil “We weren't playing for the critics, we were playing for ourselves. We don't care what others are saying, the most important thing is what you demonstrate on the pitch,” he told reporters after the match. “We proved that we can win the competition.” Neymar has failed to score in his last seven outings after drawing a blank against les Bleus on Sunday, but Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari insists he is happy with the 21-year-old's recent displays. “I don't agree [with the criticism]. My analysis is that Neymar has done exactly what I asked of him. The way he played left me satisfied," Scolari added.

own goal. Striker Robin Ngalande put the home team ahead a minute into the second half on an artificial pitch and midfielder Jamal Mohamed levelled soon after. A goal from veteran midfielder Robert Ng'ambi 10 minutes before time offered Malawi hope of a rare home win only for substitute Kayira to blunder. The sole Malawian victory in five mini-league qualifiers was away to Namibia three months ago with all three home games drawn. Nigeria now switches attention to the Confederations Cup in Brazil they face Tahiti on June 17 in Group B followed by Uruguay and world champions Spain.

op-seeded Williams beat No. 2 Maria Sharapova 64, 6-4 to secure her second French Open title, 11 years to the day after she beat her older sister Venus to win her first in 2002."Eleven years, "I think it's unbelievable. Now I have 16 Grand Slam titles. It's difficult for me to speak because I'm so

excited."A year after crashing out of the French Open's opening round for the first time in her career, Williams returned to play one of her best wire-to-wire tournaments. She had won 16 Grand Slam titles and lost four. The 31-year-old American is sixth on the all-time Grand slam singles list, two majors behind Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. Since her firstround exit a year ago, Williams has captured three of the last four majors and a gold medal at the London Olympics. Sharapova, the defending French Open champion, dropped to 2-14 vs. Williams, including 13 in a row and four defeats this season. "I think she played probably the best she's played me," Williams said of Sharapova. "I think she really wanted it. I think she came out with a real plan, and she was really determined.”

Vol. 1 No. 25, Saturday, June 15 - Friday, June 21, 2013

Victor Ikpeba Back page comment

The challenges of parenting T By Tayo Demola

he issue of parenting could be tasking for many parents especially with the economic situations in Nigeria. Many parents find it difficult to exert much control and supervision over their children since they are busy chasing money. But then the family needs the money in order to be able to take care of its basic needs so that life will be meaningful. You need the money as a family but that should not be at the expense of catering for your children's other needs which go beyond financial needs. As for children, you should realize that your parents mean well for you and that is why you hardly see them at home. They are busy trying to make money for your upkeep, school fees and clothing. They know that staying at home will never give them the wherewithal to cater for the family. The fact is that money alone cannot take care of a child. Children n e e d b o t h f i n a n c i a l , emotional and as w e l l a s psychological care from parents and when any of these is lacking, there will be problem either now or later. Parents should realize that to successfully bring up children, it takes a whole lot of efforts and sacrifice. A lot of resources are required to bring up children and one very important resource is having quality time with the child. There is the need for parents to have time to constantly monitor the progress of their children and also impart positively into these children who are leaders of tomorrow. Parents should not just give birth to children for the sake of it, but should have a plan on how they intend to take care of these children and therefore make concerted efforts to accomplish such plan. Whatever a child will become in life is greatly determined by the parents. Parents can set the pace for the success or failure of their children by their actions or inactions as the case may be, the society will be better off today if parents live up to their responsibilities towards the upbringing of their children ,crime and other social vices would be greatly reduced if children are properly

nurtured in all ramifications by their parents who are their first teachers and first point of contact with the society. When a family decides that the wife should become a full time housewife, there is nothing wrong with this to an extent. As long as the man of the house earns as much income as to cater for the family needs, the woman would do well to take care of the home front which incidentally is the exclusive preserve of women. When one or both parents are working class, no matter their busy schedule, they should find time for their children once in a while to constantly monitor their progress and counsel them where need be. Can business or career success without a corresponding success

at the home front be justified? Should the home front be sacrificed for the sake of business or career and if one is to be preferred to the other which would it be? I think that parents would do better to set their priorities right and do the right thing at the right time. Although it is not easy but with efforts and prayers you will get there. There are times when a child would be confused about something and would turn to his parents to get clarifications and when the parent is not there, the child would have no option than to confide in a stranger who may end up misleading such child. For parents who work and live far away from their families, it is just not enough to send money to your family and think that because you always send them money then all is well with them. You have to create time to be with your children once in a while no matter how busy you may be in order to see to their emotional and psychological welfare which money can never take care of no matter how you dish out the money to them. Another issue is that for every landmark step a child undertakes such as being

offered scholarship to study abroad, being offered admission into the university, graduation and convocation, wedding, etc, there is the need for at least one of the parents to be available to play their role as parents no matter where they are or how choked up they are at work. They have to be available to offer counseling and words of advice. There is really no need for you to bring children into the world if you know you cannot play your role as a parent. The reason you got those children is for you to cater for them until they can stand on their own. Children that had good parental care are more likely to become better parents themselves. When they eventually get married and have their own children they will exhibit what they learnt from their parents. So the circle of good p a r e n t i n g continues like that. But if they were not properly brought up or catered for, you can imagine what will happen. Chances are that they will grow up with grudges, negative feelings and bad traits which they may likely transfer to their own families w h e n t h e y eventually marry and have children. As a parent, do you know the kind of friends your child keeps? Have you one day paid an unscheduled visit to his school to know what is really going on there? Any type of friend you think will negatively influence your child then cut him or her off from such relationship as much as you can. Many bad traits children learn are usually from their friends and acquaintances. Parents should monitor their children closely and ensure they do not associate with the wrong kind of people who will negatively influence them. Children are God's gift and parents should do everything possible to cater for their welfare without leaving anything to chance. Therefore no matter the constraints, parents should strive not only to provide for the financial and material needs of their children and families but should also ensure that their emotional and psychological needs are taken care of as well in order to enhance the children's developmental capabilities. Written By: Tayo Demola Director/CEO, Book Editors Nigeria. Lagos, Nigeria.

Victor Nosa Ikpeba (born 12 June 1973 in Benin City) is a former football forward from Nigeria. He has played thirty international matches and scored seven goals for Nigeria, and played at the FIFA World Cups in 1994 and 1998. He also helped win the 1994 African Nations Cup and the Olympic gold medal in 1996.

Career Ikpeba was discovered by Belgian club RFC LiĂŠgeois during the 1989 FIFA U-17 World Championship, and moved to play in Belgium together with teammate Sunday Oliseh. At the age of 20, after scoring 17 goals in 199293, Ikpeba was bought by French side AS Monaco then coached by ArsĂ¨ne Wenger, where he gradually became a success, albeit with a tough start. He showed outstanding form subsequent to the 1996 Olympics, scoring 13 league goals to help AS Monaco win the league title. His performances earned him the African Footballer of the Year award in 1997. Two successful seasons followed. While at Monaco, Ikpeba nearly signed for Italian club Reggina, but his wife, unwilling to give up life in France, locked him in their house on the day he was to sign his contract. Ikpeba teamed up with Sunday Oliseh at Borussia Dortmund in 1999, for a transfer fee of ÂŁ4.8m. Ikpeba scored only two goals in his first season in the Bundesliga and barely played in his second, after falling out with the coach Matthias Sammer. Looking for a move abroad, Ikpeba turned down Southampton, to join Real Betis on a season-long loan. Things went further downhill for the player in Spain as he was criticised for being overweight by the coach, after making just one appearance for the club. He didn't feature for Betis again up until the last two games of the season. Ikpeba then signed a season-long contract with Libyan Al-Ittihad, but only played out half of his contract with the club, as he quit the team over financial disagreements. After leaving Libya and spending almost a year without a club, Ikpeba returned to Belgium, where he joined his former Liege coach at Charleroi. After helping the club to avoid relegation, Ikpeba came very close to signing with the German Bundesliga side SC Freiburg, but the deal fell through when it was revealed that the player had no EU passport Ikpeba then had a short spell at AlSadd in Qatar, before retiring from professional football.