Gov. Elechi, Going, Going...

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Vol. 2 No. 109, March 18, 2015 Pg

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Police intercept MASSOB insists Jega must bus-load of fake Army uniform go now

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EBONYI IMPEACHMENT SAGA

Gov. Elechi Going, Going‌ Why lawmakers are after him He betrayed his vow to hand over to me – Umahi Court suspends impeachment proceeding

By Ted Peters & Rex Arum

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he political crisis rocking Ebonyi State, the Salt of the Nation, has escalated with the current move by a faction of the State House of Assembly led by Hon. Chukwuma Nwazunku to remove the state governor, Chief Martins Elechi from office over allegations of gross misconduct.

The love lost between the governor and his deputy, Engr. Dave Umahi, who is the governorship candidate of the ruling People's Democratic Party, PDP, for the April 11 election in the state, is regarded as the central issue in the lingering political crisis.

While Engr. Umahi, who had been a longstanding political ally of Governor Elechi was nursing the ambition to succeed the governor having worked with him harmoniously for several years, the governor had a different agenda which later manifested in the hurried endorsement of former Health Minister, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu as the consensus gubernatorial candidate of the party.

But the unilateral endorsement, which generated much tension in the state chapter of the party, was shortlived as the aggrieved

Elechi

Nwazunku

Umahi

Anyim

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Pastor arrested for impregnating =Claims Holy Spirit 20 worshippers told him to do it Pg

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EBONYI IMPEACHMENT SAGA

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stakeholders who accused the governor of trying to impose a candidate on the party, insisted that the party's flag bearer must emerge through the primary election.

The party primary, however, favoured Engr. Umahi, who became the PDP governorship candidate without the governor's support.

While Engr. Umahi is favoured by PDP leaders described as the “Ebonyi power brokers” including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, former Governor Sam Egwu and a host of other party stakeholders to replace the incumbent governor, Governor Elechi and his preferred candidate (Onyebuchi) were rejected at the primaries and this forced the governor to look at a different direction.

Though he has repeatedly denied fielding another candidate in another political party, Elechi is generally believed to be the major sponsor and financier of the Labour Party governorship candidate and his in-law, Chief Edward Nkwegu, who hails from Ebonyi North against his earlier promise that his successor would come from Ebonyi South.

The governor had denied working against the interest of PDP but he has neither participated in the party's gubernatorial campaigns nor committed resources towards to the success of the party in the coming elections. Rather, he has continued to blame his face-off with the state lawmakers which led to the impeachment motion on external influence, fingering both Anyim, Egwu and some members of the PDP National Working Committee, NWC, as masterminds.

But Engr. Umahi, in a swift reaction to the governor's allegation, rose in defence of Anyim, Egwu, Anyim and others accused by the embattled governor of fueling the Ebonyi crisis, saying the political crisis in the state was caused by the refusal of his boss (Elechi) to fulfill the promise of handing over to him at the end of his tenure in office.

While the governor and his deputy as well as their supporters engaged in war of words, respite, however, came the way of the governor on Wednesday when an Ebonyi State High Court presided over by Justice John Igboji granted an interim injunction restraining the House Speaker, Hon. Nwazunku, Chief Whip of the Assembly, Mr. Kingsley Ikoro, the State House of Assembly and four others from continuing with the impeachment proceeding against him.

How the

impeachment process began: Elechi served impeachment notice On February 27, 2015 the State House of Assembly resolved to serve impeachment notice on Governor Elechi for alleged gross misconduct. The assembly at its sitting presided by the Speaker, Mr Chukwuma Nwazunku, adopted the motion earlier moved by Hon. Obasi Odefa (PDP-Onicha East) calling for the removal of the governor.

The acting House Whip, Mr. Ogbonna Nwifuru, read out a list of the impeachable offences committed by the governor, which the members adopted. Nwifuru listed the offences to include the appointment of 13 local

directly or through the media.

However, 11 out of the 24 members of the House attended the sitting.

Elechi reacts: Anyim, Metuh, Secondus induced lawmakers to impeach me” Elechi alleges Governor Martin Elechi, reacted to the impeachment notice that same day pointing accusing finger at the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus and National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh as the masterminds of the

saw last during expanded national executive council meeting of PDP before he was impeached, asserted that it was Anyim and his likes, through their divisive activities, that were diminishing the President Jonathan's campaign effort in the state.

“I mentioned this one of Anyim's motion (at PDP caucus meeting) because it has come to the public domain. I was to be in that meeting but the notice came less than 24 hours and I had billed myself for other things, so I didn't attend. I'm relying now on the publications of various papers and other things I hear about Anyim. I didn't exhaust all of them like his effort to stop the bond which we are eminently qualified for, he tried that but he failed.

“It is interesting for Nigerians to know that the decision to impeach the Governor preceded the finding of justifiable reasons to do so. It is simply the case of giving a dog a

surrounding the PDP primaries in November/December 2014, which he said led to large number of PDP members moving en mass to the Labour Party (LP), even as he reiterated his earlier stand that nobody can beat a child and stop him from crying.

He said that the SGF has been using the federal power to terrorise his administration with EFCC and ICPC, who arrest and detain government officials and his son and eventually froze the account of Ebonyi State/Local Government Joint Account, even before the conclusion of their investigation.

Elechi said that he was supposed to be the chairman of Presidential Campaign committee of President Jonathan in the state but he was denied campaign materials including TAN rice and N80 million which was paid into the personal account of former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Amb Frank Ogbuewu. He said that already the development is generating bad blood in the state as some individuals are asking for account of the money.

Deputy Governor, Umahi fires back: Accuses Elechi of betrayal

Egwu government caretaker chairmen and inauguration of 28 persons as Development Centre Coordinators without prior screening and confirmation of the House.

The alleged offences, according to the lawmakers, breached Sections 7 and 8 of the Ebonyi Local Government Councils and Development Centres (Amendment) Law No. 007 of 2007. The governor was also accused of violating Section 197 of the Constitution by appointing boards of agencies of government without the approval of the assembly. Elechi was further accused by the House of financial misappropriation through some “bogus companies.”

After deliberations, members of the assembly resolved to serve the governor with the impeachment notice, immediately. The Speaker therefore directed the Clerk of the Assembly to serve the governor with clean copies of the impeachment notice either

Nkwegu impeachment plot against him.

The governor who addressed journalists at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House Abakaliki, about the same time the impeachment motion was being moved at the House of Assembly, alleged that Anyim, Secondus, Metuh and others within and outside the state offered financial inducement to the lawmakers to impeach him.

He said that the SGF, Anyim had earlier during a national caucus meeting of PDP at Abuja moved a motion for his impeachment on the allegation that he, Elechi, was working against the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, and that he had been meeting with former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and former Governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako to work against President Jonathan.

Elechi while denying ever meeting with Chief Obasanjo, whom he described as an in-law of Ebonyi state, or Nyako, whom he said he

bad name in order to hang it.

“The legislator must be convinced that an impeachment is justifiable before he or she can consent to it.

But because there have been no justifiable reasons, many honourable members of Ebonyi State House of Assembly received threat messages to either append their signatures or risk assassination and/or a kidnap of their family members.

“Others are coerced from the National Headquarters of the PDP to give their bank particulars so that (inducement) money will be paid into them. The accused agents in this regard are, respectively, Uche Secondus (Deputy National Chairman) and Olisa Metuh (National Publicity Secretary). In consequence of the foregoing many Hon. Members of Ebonyi State House of Assembly have either fled the state or are in hiding,” Elechi alleged.

The embattled governor blamed his ordeal on the controversy

The Deputy Governor and Governorship Candidate of the PDP, Engr Dave Umahi responding to Elechi's accusation, swiftly blamed the political crisis in the state on the refusal of his boss Governor Martin Elechi to fulfill the promise of handing over to him (Umahi) at the end of his tenure in office.

Umahi also asked the governor to leave out Chief Anyim, the ministerial nominee from the state, Engr Fidelis Nwankwo and former Minister of Culture and To u r i s m , A m b F r a n k Ogbuewu from his current political travails.

Although Elechi did not mention Umahi as one of his traducers, the Deputy Governor said he was compelled to respond because of twisted facts as they pertain the PDP and failed efforts at destroying three of their illustrious sons, Anyim, Nwankwo and Ogbuewu.

Umahi dismissed allegations that he was disobedient and disrespectful to his boss, who had anointed another person, former Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu to succeed him as against him (Umahi), insisting that his decision to run for governorship was anchored on two main pillars the supreme pillar, Divine and the other pillar, the word of honour given to him by his boss.

He said that having made enormous sacrifice to the party and Elechi's administration it will be

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MASSOB insists Jega must go now * Says no election in the South if Jega refuses to quit

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he Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra,MASSOB, has said that it would resist election in the South if the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega refuses to go.

The MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike who disclosed this Wednesday while briefing journalists at the MASSOB headquarters annex, New Owerri, Imo State, said the resolve of his group stemmed from the various allegations of bias leveled against the INEC boss.

In his address entitled Jega Must Go, Uwazuruike known as the Ijele Ndigbo said “it has become increasingly worrisome that despite strong allegations of bias

against the INEC boss, Attahiru Jega, he ,Jega,is still preparing to conduct the forth coming general elections.

He said that the worry stemmed from the fact that the election conducted by the INEC boss would lack credibility and would unavoidably put the nation into serious crisis.

“In such crisis as usual the safety of live and property of Ndigbo in the North and other parts of Nigeria will be targets for destruction.

“From the onset, Jega was not prepared for free and fair elections. He demonstrated that

Uwazuruike by his infamous 30,000 polling units, where he allotted more than two-third of the polling units to the North. Despite public outcry,

Jega the Senate also passed a resolution stating that the polling units should not be used. Still Jega went ahead and converted

Police intercept bus-load of Kaduna-bound Army uniform

By Our Reporter

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olicemen attached to the N a t i o n a l Ta s k F o r c e , NATFORCE, at Amalla in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State have intercepted several dozens of army uniforms and camouflage being conveyed from Aba to Kaduna State.

The items were concealed in a luxury bus registered under Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, as a Federal Government-Assisted Mass Transit, with number plate KUJ 745 XA. The bus had a few passengers on board, but was stopped by

policemen on a stop-and-search duty at the Enugu-Makurdi Expressway.

The policemen had to shatter one of the windows to compel the fleeing driver to stop and then searched the vehicle to make the discovery.

It was discovered that army camouflage were mixed up with regular ones worn by officers from second lieutenant to generals on peace keeping missions.

The driver of the vehicle, who identified himself as Philip Tsaku, aged 42, from Nassarawa State, on interrogation said he was not

aware of the uniform.

He said he returned from Lagos the previous night, only to be asked to proceed to Kaduna after the goods had been loaded without his knowledge.

He said the waybill note was given to the conductor with phone numbers and names of the owners in Kaduna.

The conductor, who was identified as Boka Adamu,37, said he was only given the waybill and was not told the content.

Adamu said: “My duty is only that when we reach Kaduna, I will call numbers on the way bill and they

will come and collect the goods.

The owners of the goods paid for them at our Aba office.”

He also noted that they usually dropped goods in Kaduna, Zaria, Abuja and finally Kano, without knowing the contents of the goods.

He explained that names in the waybill included Ngozi, Kaduna; Festus Ibag, Kaduna; Sanni Zaria, Zaria; Paul, Kaduna, and Yahaya, Kano.

It would be recalled that sometime last year, such military uniforms were intercepted at the same point with 21 persons suspected to be members of Boko Haram.

Ohanaeze factionalized over Jonathan's endorsement

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he Chief Ralph Obiohaled Caretaker Committee of apex Igbo sociocultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has faulted the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for the March 28 presidential election.

The committee had alleged that the tenure of the President General, Chief Enwo Igariwey, and its executives had expired in January in line with the Ohanaeze constitution which stipulates two years tenure in office for its executives.

Secretary to the Caretaker Committee, Mr. Zed Chukwujama, disclosed this in a statement he issued in Enugu at the weekend.

The statement reads: “We have salt deposits in Ebonyi State, a broken down cement factory at

Nkalagu, the Enugu Coal Mines closed down, the Oji-River Thermal Station not functioning, the river dock at Onitsha a mirage, the Enugu Onitsha Road as well as the Enugu-Port Harcourt roads as death traps.

“The Aba dry dock is a mirage.

Why should the Igbo not discuss these problems with President Jonathan? He is our President.

“The Federal Government's Midterm Assessment of their development investment has these figures: total investment in North Central zone-N495 billion, N o r t h We s t z o n e - N 2 9 7 billion,South-West zone-N215 billion,South-South zone-N114 billion while in the South-East zone-N74 billion.

“Several billions of Naira were paid to the people of Zaki Biam and Odi as reparation for Injustices meted out to their

people. It is highly believed by Ndigbo that Dr. Nwaorgu and Chief Igariweh are Campaigning against the reparation for the Igbo at the presidency for atrocities and injustices against Ndigbo.

“This is because Chief Amaechi and Chief Ralph Obioha are the Chairman and Secretary r e s p e c t i v e l y a n d D r. Z e d Chukwujama the Chairman of the outreach sub committees of the Reparation Committee. Both of you(Igariwey and Nworgu) will explain your roles before the Igbo “What offence have we committed for seeking to negotiate with the Arewa Consultative Forum about the life of Igbo all over the North? Do Dr. Joe Nwaorgu have the statistics of Internally Displaced Igbo,IDPs,in Nigeria as of today as a consequence of the 2015 general elections?

“The children of those who are back are not enrolled in schools in the South East, the Igbo businesses in the North are closed, all the Igbo property in Abuja could be lost if there is mayhem in Nigeria. A small push and the almajiris will pounce on the Igbo who are easy prey.”

Meanwhile, the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Joe Nworgu, dismissed claims from the caretaker committee of the expiration of their tenure in office.

He said: “The constitution was amended in 2010 to pave way for a four year duration of the executives instead of two. The evidence of the meeting where the amendment took place is available for Ndigbo to know that the caretaker committee leadership and its members are on a self serving mission.”

the polling units to voting centres in the North,” he said.

The MASSOB leader also pointed out that Prof Jega was able to distribute more than 90 per cent of the Permanent Voters' Cards,PVCs, in the North, including Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states were there are raging insurgency while he failed to distribute 50 per cent of the same in the South before the elections were shifted.

He, therefore, said that even when the elections were shifted, there is an avalanche of allegations that Jega would be biased in the conduct of the March and April elections.

“The Governor of Plateau State, Mr Jonah Jang has taken INEC to court based on the fact that the PVCs meant for distribution in his state were yet to arrive.

Besides, other states governors are still complaining that PVCs meant for their states are yet to be printed.

“Jega wants to organise a kangaroo election where he intends to pronounce his preferred candidate the winner of the election.

“This much has been stated by the leaders of the South-East, SouthSouth Leaders Forum led by Chief Edwim Clark. The Forum also exhibited evidences of the minutes of meetings by Jega and members of Northern Elders Forum. Till date Jega is yet to refute the allegations,” he said.

Uwazuruike said that his group was disturbed by the catastrophe his agenda might provoke, saying that the impending calamity could be avoided by Jega quitting.

His words: “Inasmuch as many believe that Jega has compromised, the only option left for him is to quit. He is not the only person that can conduct election in Nigeria. Any national commissioner of the INEC can do so.”

He disclosed that the people of the South-East, South-South and South-West have passed a vote of no confidence on Jega.

“If Jega so insists in conducting the elections he may well conduct the forthcoming elections only in the North. Jega cannot conduct a pre-determined election for the South,” vowing that there would not be any election in the South if Jega insists on remaining to conduct the polls.

The MASSOB leader warned that if the upcoming election is not well managed it would snowball into crisis, which he said would see the Igbo as major casualty.

He insisted that Jega has a moral obligation to quit now because of the many allegations against him on bias, pointing out that former electoral umpires like Abel Guobadia and Prof Maurice Iwu had in the past quit three months before their terminal date and elections still held as scheduled.

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Elections: Over 10 million Igbos may be disenfranchised *Alleges Jega deliberately denying S-East PVCs – Akobundu

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ational Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), South East zone, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd) has challenged the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to show clear evidence of neutrality by ensuring the effective and unrestrained distribution of permanent voters cards (PVCs) in PDP control states and strongholds.

Akobundu, in a statement in Enugu on Tuesday said that a situation whereby a supposedly electoral umpire displays signs of bias in the conduct of its constitutional assignment cannot be accepted by the PDP in particular, Ndigbo and indeed every right thinking Nigerian; accusing Prof Attahiru Jega-led INEC of deliberately frustrating the distribution of PVCs in PDP strongholds.

“In the last couple of days, Prof.

Jega's lack of neutrality in the exercise of his constitutional

assignment has manifested exceedingly. From the published list of states that have collected their PVCs so far, it is apparent that only the APC control states have had greater percentage of the PVCs collection.

“For instance, how can Jega and his INEC justify a situation whereby the South East, South South, South West and North Central which are relatively PDP strongholds are yet to get substantial number of PVCs when zones like north west and north east where some of its part is the theatre of war? Both zones have so far had over 75percent collection.

“Besides, areas considered as PDP strongholds have been denied the collection of PVCs. It is worrying that in states like Lagos, which has a large population of PDP members and sympathizers, areas considered as PDP districts have been denied the receipt of their PVCs when

Prof Attahiru Jega areas seen as APC dominated have all had their PVCs even before the postponed February 14, elections.

“Can Prof. Jega evidently explain

why the South East geopolitical zone and indeed all areas where the Igbo inhabit across the country have not received up to 60percent of their PVCs as against other areas and zones?

S u r p r i s i n g l y, J e g a pranced about claiming to be ready to conduct February 14 and February 28 elections.

“For now over 10million Igbos are yet to collect their PVCs and if Prof Jega and his INEC continue to show the present high degree of apathy and bias, this large number would be disenfranchised on March 28 and April 11.

“I therefore challenge Prof Jega and INEC to show evidence of neutrality and live up to national and international expectations in

the conduct of the 2015 elections by distributing PVCs to areas where Ndigbo are found in large numbers like south east, Lagos and some parts of the north.

“Ndigbo have suffered enough marginalization. We cannot afford another dangerous phase of denial; the denial of our right to vote and be voted for which Jega and his INEC are trying to foist on us.

“I will therefore use this opportunity to commend President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for his maturity in handling the antics of the opposition including the various attacks on his campaign train during the PDP campaign rallies in some parts of the north. It shows the high level of tolerance of Mr. President and the PDP leadership.

“I assure you that Ndigbo will vote massively for the PDP and Mr. President in March 28 and April 11, 2015 polls”.

Shun undemocratic pre-election activities, group tells politicians

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he South East Governance Network (SEGON), a nongovernmental group based in South East zone, has raised an alarm over what it described as unwholesome pre-election activities being perpetrated by some political stakeholders in the zone.

SEGON made this known in a statement signed by Hope Okoye and Ogechukwu Enwelum, Acting President and Acting Secretary of the group respectively.

The group listed such illegal activities to include the destruction of party/candidate's posters, billboards, vehicles and offices in Owerri (Imo state) and Aba (Abia state); and the dumping of large numbers of Permanent Voter's Cards in ESWAMA refuse dumpster in Enugu East, Enugu state.

Others are marketing of party candidates' campaign materials like wristbands, etc in Secondary schools in Owerri under the guise supporting free Education and attacks on party faithful and property by suspected thugs of opposing parties in Abia State.

The group said: “Our attention has been drawn to the recent unwholesome pre-election activities among key stakeholders in the South East zone. This ugly trend as seen and reported recently in the media has contributed to the upsurge of certain undemocratic practices.

“SEGON having taken cognizance of all these unethical

acts believes that they are not good for our democracy and therefore condemns in strong terms all undemocratic and violencerelated acts and urges the appropriate authorities to urgently fish out the perpetrators and bring them to book.”

It urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to

ensure that its personnel do not sabotage the Permanent Voters Card, PVC distribution or disenfranchise any registered voter in the South East just as it called on political parties not to involve under aged children or interrupt the peace in the secondary schools.

While advising registered voters

in the South East to collect their PVCs and vote wisely during election as their civic responsibility to uphold democracy in Nigeria; SEGON also admonished all political parties and actors in the South East to respect the electoral code of conduct elaborated by the INEC. “SEGON reiterates its call for immediate beef-up of security personnel in the South East by the Nigerian Police Force and other

relevant stakeholders' before, during and after elections for the safety of citizens' lives and property for which the Federal Government of Nigeria bears the primary responsibility.

“SEGON thereby urges the good people of South East and Nigerians in general to remain peaceful during elections and faithful to the National unity of our great country,” the statement said.

Enugu Gov's aide to be prosecuted for allegedly impregnating student

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middle-aged man narrowly escaped death in the hands of angry teachers and students in Enugu last Wednesday for allegedly impregnating a secondary school girl .

The man identified as a Personal Assistant to the Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime (names withheld), was reportedly stripped naked and given the beating of his life by teachers of Metropolitan Girls Secondary School , Ogui New Layout, Enugu where the incident occurred.

The SS 1 student said to be about 16 years old, slumped at Assembly Ground following the alleged abortion of her pregnancy, and in an effort to rescue her she was asked to give details of her parent to enable them take her to the hospital for medication.

It was gathered that the girl rather than supplying the phone number of her parent, gave the teachers the name and phone number of the governor's aide, whom she described as her guardian.

Sources said the student had confessed to the teachers that she was impregnated by the man who took her to a clinic where the pregnancy was terminated the previous day leading to bleeding.

The man was lured on phone to rush to the school to take the girl to the hospital but when he arrived at the school the teachers and students descended on him.

It was gathered that the true identity of the middle-aged man was found in his Kia car impounded by the angry teachers.

The car was still lying at the premises of Metropolitan Girls

Secondary School as at the time of this report along with his Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and other documents found in the car.

Unconfirmed sources said that the powers that-be have intervened and directed the officials of National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) presently handling the investigation to soft pedal to make way for peaceful resolution of the embarrassing development.

When our reporter visited the Enugu zonal office of NAPTIP located at GRA in Enugu , a top female official of the command who refused to disclose her identity said, “we don't comment on cases being investigated, so no comment”.

The suspect who was earlier mistaken for a local contractor was beaten to pulp and stripped

naked for allegedly impregnating the SS 1 student.

The cat was let out of the bag when the victim suddenly slumped on the ground during morning assembly on that fateful Wednesday bleeding profusely and when interrogated she opened up to the teachers and revealed what put her in such condition.

State Commissioner for Education, Professor Uche Okolo who earlier confirmed the incident told reporters that “a man was apprehended.”

“The man defiled a girl. The girl got pregnant. The child was bleeding and rushed to hospital.

The school made a report to NAPTIP. The man came to the school to take the girl and he was arrested. The good thing is that he has been apprehended. He should go and face the law”, he added.

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Electricity tariff review not for Enugu DISCO alone – EEDC

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he Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, Wednesday, explained that the new increase in electricity tariffs was approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, for all Distribution Companies in the country saying the review in tariff was not meant for only customers under the Enugu DISCO. The EEDC in a statement by its Public Affairs Manager, Mr. Eugene Aniowo, pointed out that one of the objectives of the revised tariffs was to enable electricity consumers to receive better service and more reliable power supply by encouraging power generation companies, distribution companies and the Transmission Company of Nigeria to make required investments.

The statement reads: “The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) recently approved a tariff review for EEDC and all other Distribution Companies in Nigeria. The tariff review was the product of a painstaking study and public consultations that started early in 2014 and led by NERC. The tariff review affected all customer classes, and the new tariffs came into effect on 1st

January, 2015. However, the new tariffs for residential customers will not come into effect until 1st July 2015.

“One of the objectives of the revised tariffs is to enable electricity consumers to receive better service and more reliable power supply by encouraging power generation companies, distribution companies and the Transmission Company of Nigeria to make required investments.

“NERC has a duty to ensure that tariffs paid by the customers are cost reflective and adequate to support large scale investment required in the sector. NERC also ensures that the privatized generation and distribution companies do not make abnormal profits with the new tariffs.

“EEDC implores its esteemed customers to continue to pay their bills on time so that EEDC can pay for electricity received in a timely manner.

We appreciate their apprehension regarding the tariff increase but this is only a reflection of the cost EEDC is paying for the power delivered to the customers. EEDC is obligated to pay for its energy in full and on time with bank guarantees.

“EEDC appreciates the support it is receiving from the Nigeria Police Force and the Judiciary

in prosecuting criminals who by-pass EEDC meters, consume electricity without paying and vandalise EEDC transformers and cables.

“It is the actions of such

criminals and vandals that frustrate NERC and EEDC from ensuring that electricity customers receive reliable electricity supply at reduced tariffs.

“Some vandals have been sentenced to multi-year jail sentences without option of fine. EEDC will continue to

work with the Nigeria Police Force and the Judiciary to arrest and prosecute all such criminals.

“EEDC invites its esteemed customers to call its customer service centres on the following numbers for more details on its new tariffs and service pledge:

Enugu Prison inmate bags Second Class Upper Degree from NOUN

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prison inmate, Mr. Theophilus Okechukwu Adeyi,, has received a second class upper degree in peace studies and conflict resolution from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

Adeyi, an awaiting trial inmate and pioneer student of NOUN at its Enugu Prison study centre, was on Tuesdaypresented the certificate by the ControllerGeneral of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), Dr Peter Ekpendu, at the first convocation of the centre.

Ekpendu commended Adeniyi for making the NPS proud and promised to continue to encourage inmates to reach their potentials in whatever trade they chose.

“I heard a number of you

registered for Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.

We shall do our best to ensure that you are comfortable to the best of our ability,” he said.

He said the intensity of academic activities by the inmates was a clear testimony that the future of the country was bright.

Ekpendu said that the healthy condition of the inmates was an indication that the authorities were actualising their mandate, which was to keep prisoners safe, sound and in good condition.

In a citation, the Deputy Controller of Prisons, Enugu State Command, Mr Felix Lawrence, said that the graduand made a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.36.

Lawrence said that Adeyi was a final year political science

student at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) when he was arrested and charged to court over a communal crisis.

The Coordinator of the study centre, Prof. Ladan Babankodong, extolled

Adeniyi's virtues, saying that he was a shining example.

In a remark, the graduate said that he was elated to have completed his university education in spite of obvious challenges.

“I promise that I shall at all times uphold the legacies of NOUN

and also be a good ambassador.

“Just few months to my final degree examination in ESUT, I was set up and roped into the matter that I am currently facing trial for, but today I thank God I am a graduate,” Adeniyi said.

Adeyi, who was one of the 54 students in the centre, bagged three awards from NOUN, including N50,000 cash award as the best student.

CHANGE OF NAME ILECHUKWU – I formally known as Miss Ilechukwu Martha Obiageli now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Nnamani Martha Obiageli. All former documents remains valid. The General public please take note.

OKENWA– I formally known as Miss Okenwa Success Chinenye now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Nosike Success Chinenye. All former documents remains valid, NYSC and The General public please take note.

OKOROAFOR– I formally known as Miss Okoroafor Chioma Stella now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Onoh Chioma Stella. All former documents remains valid. The General public please take note.

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Enugu Community urges government’s intervention in traditional stool crisis * Vows to resist imposition of Monarch

Umuabi Natives in peaceful protest and solidarity rally for the Igwe-elect Chief Dr, Cyril Ifeanyi Agu at the community’s square.

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he people of Umuabi community in Udi local government area of Enugu state have called on the state government to fast-track the process of enthroning a traditional ruler for the community which has been without monarch since the past ten years.

At a rally organized by Umuabi General Assembly; the apex socio-cultural body for the community, the natives vowed that they would resist any attempt by anybody or group to imposition a traditional ruler on the community.

They urged the state government to urgently intervene in the matter and conduct the verification exercise

without further delay to enable them install the new monarch for the community.

The rally which had thousands of Umuabi indigenes from home and Diaspora in attendance condemned the incessant court actions which has restrained the community from installing another monarch long after the demise of the former Monarch, Igwe E. N. Agu. They pointed accusing fingers at a retired judge from the area (names withheld) who they said had used his connection in the judiciary to frustrate the community from having another leader since the demise of the former Monarch ostensibly because of his personal interest.

Irked by the incessant litigations that has threatened the peace and

progress of the community, the natives who spoke through Architect Mike Enempu, immediate past President General of Umuabi General Assembly, made a passionate appeal to the state government to intervene and save the community from further crisis.

Enempu said: “The Enugu State High Court has restrained us from conducting any form of verification but unfortunately messages had been sent to all out people across the country and overseas inviting our people to come for the exercise and our people came en masse for this event because we have been in the dark for a very long time, “A lot of things are eluding us and we are not getting our fair

NLC election:

S'East, S'South workers protest election by all the delegates from alleged harassment South-East and South-South

By Our Reporter

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he Coalition of the SouthEast/South-South Industrial Unions on Thursdaystaged a protest in Enugu over the alleged “intimidation, victimisation, h a r a s s m e n t a n d disenfranchisement” of delegates from the two zones during the inconclusive Nigerian Labour Congress election.

They specifically accused the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria and the Nigeria Civil Service Union of the alleged unfair practices.

The protesters, numbering about a hundred, marched through the major streets of Enugu metropolis with placards, chanting solidarity songs.

Some of the placards read, “There is no tribalism in labour union,” “We oppose disenfranchisement of South-East delegates in the NLC election,” and “We oppose rigging in the NLC election.”

In a statement made available to journalists containing the position of the coalition, the group called on the NLC to ensure vthat there was no intimidation in the rescheduled election.

They equally asked the NLC to ensure that all those that were disenfranchised restored to the delegates list and to also allow workers to vote according to their conscience.

The coalition warned that “any attempt to repeat the ugly incidence of what happened during the inconclusive election will result in total boycott of the

zones.”

Addressing journalists in the course of the protest, the Chairman of the coalition, E. O. Osagie, stressed that the NLC constitution must be implemented to the letter.

He said, “Today, Thursday, is another great day in the history of trade union movement when the South-East and South-South labour leaders and workers are strongly demanding that the provisions of our great union's constitution and regulations should be implemented.

“Our agitation and position are drawn from the provisions of our union's constitution and regulations as amended in 2007.”

Osagie wondered whether the constitution was not binding on some members of the national leadership of the NLC.

share from the government of Nigeria. How can we be tied down without representation?

That was the battle cry of the French revolution. We are asking the government of Enugu State to liberate us because a group of people is holding us to ransom.

“We want peace and you know the situation of things now, government should be proactive. Government should come into this matter now that things are in order because our youths are so bitter and agitated.

We are pleading that the government of Enugu State should intervene as they did in Abia, Umuaga, Udi and so many other communities. “ Continuing, Arch Enempu said: “The situation on ground is that Abiaha kindred had governed this community since its inception. No other kindred group has ever governed this community apart from Abiaha kindred group - ranging from Timothy Udeh from Abiaha to Ijeoma (Abiaha), to Udeh Aneke (Abiaha), and two others from that same kindred group and lately Igwe E.N. Agu who died in 2005 and since then no Igwe and the community has been in disarray, confusion and quarrel, this is not good.

“The two parties were present

today for the verification exercise which was agreed by all and unfortunately what we saw was a court order stopping the exercise. It is unfortunate.

Government should do something about this issue.

Whoever is interested in the igweship stool, and believes he is popular, should present himself for election and whoever wins should be crowned. Government should save our soul here because the people of Umuabi are suffering.”

Speaking to journalists during the rally, the traditional Prime Minister of the community, Chief Ezeaku Sylvester said “we gathered for election of new Traditional ruler, as February 28, was scheduled for that but to our greatest consternation, court injunction was served on us restraining the conduct of the election.

Chief Ezeaku regretted that the retired judge despite the fact that he was trained by the community, he has continued to threaten the peace of the community. “It is interesting to note that immediately after the demise of the former traditional ruler in 2005, he took the elders of the community to court to stop every step to get another traditional ruler,” he lamented.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT The general public is hereby notified of the loss of the Agricultural Certificate of Occupancy, Survey Plan, Agreement of the host Communities from the Land Lease, the Receipt of Payment belonging to Agro and Hydrotech Ltd of No. 26 Nike Road, Abakpa, Enugu.

The said landed property Registered as No. 23 at Page 23 in Volume 1229 of Enugu Land Registry was acquired from the Omasi and Adani Communities by the Company, Agro and Hydrotech Ltd as a farm land for the sole Purpose of farming.

All effort by the company and staff to trace/find the documents to the land proved abortive hence the sworn court affidavit at the Enugu State High Court and the need for this publication.

If found please return the document to the undersigned.

Signed: Anthony Alintah Managing Director/CEO, Agro and Hydrotech Ltd, No. 11 Odo River Street, Housing Estate, Abakpa Nike, Enugu

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March 18, 2015

NIGERIA

EBONYI IMPEACHMENT SAGA Continued from page 2 wrong to push him out when it is time to “chop”. Umahi contended that it was not true that the crisis of confidence started the moment former state chairman of the party, Prince Ugorji Ama Oti “resigned” his position on October 20, 2014 as alleged by the governor.

Umahi alleged that the genesis of the crisis was that at some point in 2013, Governor Elechi started reneging on his promise to hand over to him (Umahi) as successor hence everybody deemed to be close to him were hounded, including former PDP chairman, Ama Oti who was allegedly forced to resign T h e P D P governorship candidate said that Governor Elechi deliberately allowed some of his c o n f i d a n t s including his wife, son, the PDP youth leader, Chinedu Ogah and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Celestine Nwali to run the show including the affairs of the party, hence they single handedly appointed Dr. Ben Akpa as Acting Chairman of the party instead of the deputy chairman, Joseph Onwe.

He further disclosed that the crisis of confidence c o n t i n u e d throughout the PDP primaries where Governor Elechi allegedly tried but failed to manipulate delegate list and eventually the primaries did not favour him and his supporters, leading to their decamping to the Labour Party (LP).

Umahi also accused Governor Elechi of using the Commissioner for Economic Empowerment, Chief James Aroh Nweke to make Anyim uncomfortable in his Ivo local government area of the state, noting that when the National Working Committee of the party saw what was happening in the state, they advised Gov Elechi to toe the path of peace, consultation and constitutionality.

Nine pro-Elechi lawmakers fault impeachment notice The nine members of the State Assembly loyal to Governor Martin Elechi, in their formal reaction to the impeachment notice, dismissed moves by their

colleagues to remove the governor from office.

The nine legislators said that the House did not constitute two-third majority as required by the constitution to impeach the governor.

They said that 15 members out of 24 members of the House that signed the impeachment notice against the governor was not twothird of the House insisting that only 16 members that can constitute two-third majority of the House. The spokesperson of the nine Assembly members in support of Governor Elechi, Hon Eni Uduma Chima while briefing journalists in Abakaliki, said that

Elechi whatever move the 15 members had made over the purported impeachment of the governor was unconstitutional and will not yield any fruit.

According to him, “our attention has been drawn to the business of the 'House' of Friday, 27th day of February 2015 wherein a motion for a resolution that a notice of allegations of gross misconduct purportedly made against the governor by fifteen members of the twenty-four member House”.

“That the said resolution was purportedly passed in clear contravention of Section 188 (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As amended) which provides that; a motion of the House of Assembly that the allegation be investigated shall not be declared as having been passed unless it is supported by the votes of not less than twothirds majority of all the members of the House of Assembly.

“That fifteen members cannot be the “two-thirds majority of all the members of a twenty-four

group championing Arch Nkwegu's guber campaign, Dr. Chike Onwe, urged supporters of member House,” he stated.

Labour Party and the entire Eni alleged that every desperate Ebonyi citizens not to panic over attempt and overtures were being the development. made to induce and intimidate the Dr. Onwe said that although nine lawmakers into yielding, Governor Elechi is a member of against the demand of justice and the PDP, Labour Party believes good conscience, to the plot for that the attempt to impeach him the impeachment of the Governor, was politically motivated and stressing that they resolved that instigated by extraneous forces. none of the nine members “shall He wondered why the lawmakers, attempt to go to the House of especially the leadership who Assembly complex to forestall until recently was singing the breakdown of law and order and to praises Governor Elechi suddenly ensure the security of the lives of realized he is a bad man. our people.”

“Nobody should panic over the He also alleged that the Speaker, impeachment plot because it will Nwazunku and his cohorts had fail, anything placed on nothing taken the attendance register of will not stand. We see politics and the House of Assembly to their ambition in between; we want to p r i n c i p a l s i n what has transpired between the Abuja for the time they were shouting Hosanna p u r p o s e o f and now that the shout of crucify c l o n i n g t h e him has taken over the air,” he s i g n a t u r e s o f said. members of their Insisting that the awaited victory faction. of LP at the polls cannot be “We cannot, in affected by impeachment or t h i s l i f e a n d otherwise of Governor Elechi, Dr. forever, sign or Onwe said the party and her guber attempt to sign candidate worked so had and have any document won the heart of Ebonyians. He s e e k i n g t o described Labour Party in Ebonyi remove from the State as mass movement for the o f f i c e t h e redemption of the state from Governor. We “mercantile politicians struggling shall not even to buy the state”. attend any sitting A c c o r d i n g t o h i m , l a t e s t of the House for frustration and desperation by now, to avoid some elements in the PDP was being forced at based on intelligence report that gun point to sign L P w o u l d h a v e w o n t h e a n y t h i n g . We governorship election in the state know as a matter if it had held on the earlier date, of indestructible February 28. He vowed that fact that “nearly nothing will change as the latest does not kill a antics of impeachment gambit by b i r d ” e v e n PDP has further exposed the though the hunter party's weakness and reinforced may claim that it the peoples determination to chase m a k e s h i m PDP out.

The organisation happy,” he noted. insisted that Governor Elechi is On the vacation known for his prudence in fiscal of six lawmaker's matters and that the plot to seats, he said that impeach him will not succeed. the matter was before the Federal High Court in Abakaliki instituted by ten lawmakers who defected last year to the labour Party, wherein they are seeking among What could be regarded as a other reliefs for an injunction reprieve came the way of the restraining the defendants, the embattled Governor Elechi on Speaker from declaring their seats Wednesday when an Ebonyi State High Court presided over by vacant.

Justice John Igboji granted an interim injunction restraining the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Chukwuma Nwazunku, Chief Whip of the Assembly, Mr. Kingsley Ikoro and the State House of Assembly from The campaign organisation of continuing with the impeachment L a b o u r P a r t y ( L P ) g u b e r proceeding against the State candidate in the state, Arch. Governor, Chief Martin Elechi.

Edward Nkwegu also reacting to The respondents were ordered not the impeachment motion against t o s e r v e t h e n o t i c e o f t h e g o v e r n o r , d i s m i s s e d impeachment on the governor insinuations that the fortunes of until the determination of the the party and its candidates would substantive application made by be negatively affected if the State the embattled governor in suit House of Assembly succeeds in number HAB/1mc/2015.

The impeaching the State Governor, court also restrained the State Chief Elechi.

Chief Judge from constituting a T h e D i r e c t o r o f H e r i t a g e panel of seven persons to Campaign Organisation, the investigate the allegations of

Court stops impeachment

Labour Party calls for calm, says legislators on illegal mission

improprieties leveled against the governor pending the determination of the substantive application.

Justice Igboji, who made the order after hearing counsels to the governor, Chief Tagbo Ike and Miss Chioma Okoromba, further granted the applicant leave to serve the 1st to 3rd defendants application for enforcement of fundamental rights and other processes connected with the suit through the office of the Clerk of the State Assembly.

He also ordered that the Chief Judge, the State Commissioner of Police and the Inspector General of Police listed as 5th and 6th defendants should be served through the O/C Legal, State CID, Abakaliki while the 7th defendant, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of Nigeria should be served through DHL Courier Service or Red Star Courier Service.

Justice Igboji, however, adjourned hearing of the substantive matter to Tuesday, March 10, 2015.

In a 22-paragraph affidavit deposed to Ebele Ibegbuna in support of the motion ex-parte, she informed the court that the second respondent, Mr. Ikoro (Chief Whip) had on January 9, 2015 made a notice of impeachment containing allegations of diverse improprieties leveled against Governor Elechi as a prelude towards his removal from office as Governor of Ebonyi State.

According to her, the said notice of impeachment was forwarded to the 1st Respondent (Speaker) and circulated to both electronic and print media without availing any copy to the applicant (the governor), adding that the “copy of the said notice of impeachment obtained from the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria is herein attached and marked exhibit “A”.

“The 1st Respondent on receipt of exhibit “A” is enjoined by Section 188(2) (b) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to cause the said notice of impeachment to be served on the Applicant.

1st Respondent failed, neglected and/or refused to perform his constitutional duty of causing the notice of impeachment to be served on the Applicant, and rather shockingly preferred to embark on media propaganda blitz of disclosing plans to sack the Applicant from office,” she said.

The deponent stated that the governor needed to be served with the notice of impeachment in order to react to same and avail to the honourable members of the State Assembly the opportunity of appreciating that the governor did not do any wrong and change their stance against him.

She pointed out that “the denial of service of notice of impeachment on the Applicant has adversely impacted on his right to fair hearing and will lead to the

Continues on page 14

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Couples have their wedding inside a coffin on Valentine's Day

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en different couples lay inside a pink coffin for their wedding today at Wat Takien temple in Nonthaburi province, on the

outskirts of Bangkok. The couples believe that laying briefly in the coffin will get rid of bad luck and usher happiness into their lives.

Participants made offerings to the monks before taking their places side-by-side in the large pink coffin with floral bouquets held to their

chests. The monks then draped a large white sheet across them representing their death and performed chants usually reserved for funerals. The prayers ended with blessings for a new life.

According to Bangkok Post, Abbot Phra Kru Samu Sangob Kittkayo said the ceremony meant the bride and groom would start their life anew after coming out of the coffin with all bad luck banished. The temple held the event for the first time last year, when Valentine's Day fell on the same day as Makha Bucha Day, so the couples could marry and have a religious ceremony on the same day. The abbot said he originally had no plan to repeat the event as Makha Bucha is in March this year, but that many brides and grooms had contacted the temple asking for a repeat performance

Nigerian woman gangraped by four men in Indian

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olice in Delhi arrested four men on Friday in connection with the alleged gangrape of a Nigerian woman in a moving car, the latest in a series of sex attacks in the Indian capital.

The 35-year-old, who has been staying in India on a tourist visa, told police the men kidnapped her after midnight on Friday morning outside a popular shopping mall in New Delhi's Saket area before bundling her into a car.

They then drove for around half an hour, during which time the alleged gangrape took place, before pushing her out of the vehicle.

The woman, who cannot be named, was finally rescued after a passerby spotted her on the side of the road in Mayur Vihar, around 20 kilometres (12 miles) away in East Delhi.

“We have received a complaint from the woman and investigations are ongoing,” Delhi police spokesman Rajan Bhagat told AFP.

“We have filed a case under relevant sections.”

Bhagat said the four men arrested were Indians, and the car allegedly used had been impounded.

Local media, quoting police sources, said the victim was in an inebriated condition at the time of her rescue and had suffered minor injuries but was released from hospital by Friday afternoon.

Nigerian embassy officials in New Delhi were not available for comment.

The city sealed its reputation as

India's “rape capital” two years ago when a medical student died after being gang-raped on a moving bus, prompting mass protests and triggering a series of policing and legal reforms.

Last year, a driver for US-based online taxi service Uber allegedly sexually assaulted a woman passenger in New Delhi while driving her home from a dinner.

Police figures released earlier this year said 2,069 rape cases were registered in New Delhi during 2014, a 31 percent jump compared to the previous year.

I beat her whenever she grabs my scrotum – hubby tells court

A

31-year-old woman, Omoronike Ishola, on Friday prayed an Alakuko Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve her six-year old marriage over alleged battery and threat to life.

The petitioner, an hair dresser, who lives at 29, Ifalokun Owode St., Ajegunle, a suburb of Lagos told the court that her husband, Wasiu Ishola, is not responsible.

Ishola, however, denied being irresponsible, adding, “I don't strangle her; I only beat her whenever she grabs my scrotum.

Omoronike had narrated her ordeal in the hands of her Arabic teacher before she met Wasiu.

“I was barely 16 years old when my Arabic teacher raped me; my parents had to relocate me to

Lagos because I was no longer comfortable among my peers.

“Eventually, I had a daughter for him but he has never asked after her well-being and she is now 11- year-old.

“It was then I vowed that anyone who was ready to marry me will adopt my child.

“When I met my husband, he promised me heaven on earth and accepted to take my child,; but when we got married, his mother disagreed. So, I left my daughter in my mother's care,” she said.

She said that her husband beats her at every slightest provocation and always try to strangle her in the process.

“Indeed my husband is an example of a beast, because he beats me without having any

human feeling; whenever I sighted him on the street, I ran home because he mustn't get home before me.

“He does not provide for me and the children and he had stopped sleeping in the room with me,” said the mother of two.

She begged the court to dissolve the union and help her summon the man that raped her, so that he can take the responsibility of the child she had for him.

“Living with Wasiu is living in hell fire, I want the court to dissolve our union and summon the man that raped me so that he can take responsibility of his child,” she added.

Ishola, 35, denied the allegations.

“She is very stubborn and fights with neighbours, whenever she

starts her troubles, I leave the house; also, I don't strangle her, I only beat her whenever she grabs my scrotum.

“I provide for her and my children, I opened a well stocked shop for her, I still love her, I do not support the dissolution,” he said.

Ishola also told the court he stopped sleeping in the room with his wife because he cannot contain her attitude any more.

The Court President, Chief Awos Awosola, ordered the bailiff to summon the man that raped Omoronike.

He also gave Ishola a seven-day community service for beating his wife.

The case was adjourned till Feb. 3 for further hearing. (NAN)

Man Sets Wife ablaze in Imo State On Valentine's Day

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he Imo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Andrew Enwerem, has confirmed that a 45-year-old man, Uche Ubanwa, a native of Umuahiami Afara in Mbaitoli local government area of Imo State did the unthinkable by setting his wife, Ugochi, on fire after a domestic quarrel.

Reports of the ugly incident states that Ugochi was sleeping when her husband poured petrol on her and set her ablaze before handing himself to the police. The couple were said to have been having issues and had engaged in a heated argument following a disagreement on Valentine's Day. Mr Ubanwa accused his wife of going out to have sex with her boy friend on Valentines day. A family source was quoted as saying: “The woman was sleeping when the husband set her ablaze having poured fuel on her.

Even though everybody knows that Ugochi has been sleeping around, Uche should have just sent her back to her parents instead of burning her alive That action incensed the deceased kinsmen from the nearby from Ekwe autonomous community in Isu Njaba local government area, who stormed Ubanwa's village on revenge mission.

The angry youths destroyed property and houses which are reported to be worth millions of naira and it took the intervention of the police to quell the violence that ensued. The suspect is in police custody, while investigation is currently ongoing

Indian bride dumps epileptic groom for a guest

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wo wedding guests were briefly detained in Northern India, police said Wednesday, after the bride reportedly rejected her groom who had a seizure, in favour of a guest.

During one of the preliminary ceremonies of the Hindu wedding the exchange of garlands Jugal Kishore, 25, had an epileptic fit.

The groom fell to the floor at the wedding venue in the northern Indian town of Rampur,India newspaper reported.

Indira, the 23-year-old bride, apparently angered that she did not know about Kishore's condition, said she would instead marry a relative of her brother-in-law who was a guest at the wedding.

The guest agreed and the garlanding ceremony continued.

Reports said the marriage rituals were then completed, including a key section which involved the couple walking round a holy fire seven times, according to the report late Tuesday.

Kishore, who had been taken to a doctor, came back to find he no longer had a bride.

The disagreement which followed reportedly turned violent, and police were called.

A complaint was filed with the local police but was later withdrawn after elders of both families intervened, the newspaper reported, quoting local police official RP Solanki.

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March 18, 2015

NIGERIA

Include private Universities in TETFUND intervention – Renaissance VC Professor Charles C. Onochie, an Environmental Microbiology and Vice Chancellor of Renaissance University, Ugbawka, Enugu State spoke to Advocate Editor, Rex Arum on his mission and the need for the federal government to encourage privately-owned universities in the country through TETFUND financial intervention. Excerpts: How has it been since you A z i k i w e U n i v e r s i t y. A s a assumed office as the VC of professor, you have to mentor not t h i s u n i v e r s i t y ? only students from your It has been full of challenges. But we must not run away from challenges. It is through challenges that you know men from men.

One should be ready for any challenges that can come by. If you are afraid of challenges, that means, you are not a man. But when I assumed responsibility, incidentally, I have to take the bull by the horn. There was nothing like formal hand over, but it is one of those things you should expect if you are well groomed both in academics and administration. If you check back in my past life, I started from somewhere in the tertiary institution, When I came back from abroad, having passed through the polytechnic level. I served as the secretary general of my association for almost 12 years. It is a good grooming.

Man by nature is a political animal and through interaction, you know what is what. We learn from experience through problems and that's the motto of this school. Ut Omnia Potestis, meaning. You will be what you want to be. So through that, whether you are somebody or nobody, the motto of the school is there to encourage you to be what you want to be. My own motto from college till now is “do not despair�.

How have you been able to blend taking into consideration where you're coming from?

Incidentally, I am a p r o f e s s o r o f Environmental Microbiology. It is the university that made me a professor. We were pioneer lecturers at the Institute of Management Te c h n o l o g y, I M T, Enugu when we came back from abroad. We were recruited by Professor Mark Chijioke, the pioneer rector of the institute and a renowned professor of electronics engineering.

It was after the creation of the new Anambra state and the introduction of indigenization policy, which required nonindigenes to move, that moved us out of the system. It was an opportunity for some of us from Anambra state to move to Nnamdi

that we are partaking in the sharing of the national cake.

Those of us in the private universities cannot continue to be onlookers when others are enjoying the national cake. If such revenue is shared among private universities, it will be a boost.

Those that started their own universities should be seen as partners in progress in the development of education in the country. I lived abroad, and I know that most of those universities abroad are privately owned. The state universities are not many. If we continue to put our education only in the hands of government, we are going nowhere. We must involve kind-hearted Nigerians or foreigners to help in the development of the education sector. If we are all educated, politics will be played better and not a situation where some illiterates will not campaign, but wait for the last minute to buy votes. If we are educated, we will know the importance or essence of permanent voter card, PVC and guide jealously.

university, but also others from other universities. I have supervised Master of Science, MSc and doctor of Philosophy, PhD students. I am also an adjunct professor in Enugu state university of science and technology, ESUT, and Ebonyi state university, even as the vice chancellor of this university. The present registrar of Enugu state college of education, Technical is my product. To produce a PhD candidate who became a registrar and student professors in other universities is a credit to me.

Having studied the pedigree of other vice chancellors before you, is there anything different you would like to do here?

We have different ways of doing things, though we may be aiming at the same point. Renaissance University's focus is exclusively on academic, technical and ethical excellence and we set out to change the face of University education in Nigeria through a carefully structured and efficiently executed curriculum aimed at producing the total man who will always be preferred in the job market than the other graduates. I like challenges. I like to do things that people will know that really a Daniel has come judgment. If you look around the school, you will see a uniqu

To what extent will federal government assistance help to reduce television or radio station to I will be doing my first admission school fees charged by broadcast to the people during my this academic year and I am private universities? tenure as the vice chancellor. It putting things in motion to that Professor Charles C. Onochie

will be an advantage. I will also like to produce the first professor of this university. It's also a credit to my administration because what we pray for in life is for our children to be bigger and better than us. From the first day I assumed responsibility, I started operating an open door policy.

There are certain things I would like to do differently. There will be no bureaucratic bottleneck, no protocol. My people say that a slave does not look for another slave for service. Do what you can do, don't wait for people to do it for you; there is no need to procrastinate.

Yo u t a l k e d a b o u t challenges, what do you think is the greatest challenge facing you here? e mast which I constructed for my e-library, internet services and will also help the department of Mass Communication. It may interest you to know that we have a license for broadcasting but not yet in operation. I would love to have my

You know this is a private university unlike those of the federal or state universities where the enrollment is quite easy. The vice chancellors just sit back and the students will come in, but in private universities, it is different.

effect. If I can increase my students population, that will be a great achievement. I have not attended any meeting of vice chancellors. We have been talking of education all the time as if education is all about federal and state universities alone. The children in the private universities are also Nigerians. So if there is any discussion concerning their welfare, those in private universities should be accommodated. When the revenue for tertiary institutions is only channeled to federal and state universities, it does not do anyone any good. Those students in the private universities are they not Nigerians? There must be a sharing formula for all the universities in Nigeria.

For instance, if 50 percent is given to federal universities, 30 percent to state universities, the remaining 20 percent should be given to private universities. It will assist them to develop and promote university education in Nigeria the more. By so doing, we will know

The fee paid in private universities is there because there is no intervention fund from the federal government. The federal government should as a matter of necessity, extend the hand of help to private universities through TETFUND. It is called tertiary education trust fund. Private universities are they not part of tertiary education? There was an announcement sometime ago by the federal government about its plan to reduce school fees paid in federal universities. If that happens, that will also make privately-owned universities to look at reducing cost and to help privately owned universities to maintain their locus, there must be external assistance from the government. We need to partake in the TETFUND intervention.

Education is not an easy assignment. It requires money that is why private universities find it difficult to establish faculties of engineering and medicine. They must be assisted to move forward.

NIGERIA

13

March 18, 2015

The Advocate Pastor arrested Gospel This Week

for impregnating 20 worshippers *Claims Holy Spirit told him to do it

TEXT: Matthew 27:15-18 Now it was the governor's custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, 'Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?' For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him. (NIVUK)

NARRATION Pilate, the Roman Governor, had a poor reputation among the people in Israel. His violence against the people was savage and unpredictable: they did not trust him. So, more in the interests of politics than justice, Pilate offered a 'prisoner swap' once a year to appease the people who thought someone was being treated unfairly. It was a way for Pilate to win popularity At the time Jesus was put on trial, a notorious criminal, robber, and bandit called Jesus Barabbas was due to be crucified. Pilate thought that nobody would want Barabbas to be saved and so Jesus of Nazareth could be released by a popular vote. After all, Pilate knew that He had done nothing wrong and that the Chief Priests were proud men who were envious of Christ's authority.

The accusations against Him were false: Pilate knew the real motive was that Jesus got in the way of their religious and social ambitions.

The two accused men shared the name Jesus (which means Saviour). They were also the 'son of the father'. The name Barabbas comes from 'bar' meaning 'son of' and 'abba' meaning 'father'. Jesus Christ was the Son of Father God. Barabbas was offered up to die a substitute death in the place of Jesus Christ ‌ but as the story goes on we will see that the Messiah was the substitute sin-offering for everybody (1 Peter 2:24).

The Passover story, which was being celebrated at the time, was all about one lamb whose life was taken instead of the life of the oldest child in the Israelite homes in Egypt 1,500 years previously (Exodus 12:12-13). Then, John the Baptist spoke about Jesus, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world" (John 1:29). There is no substitute for Jesus. He is the only sin-bearer; the scapegoat (Leviticus 16:5-10) who takes our sins far away. Jesus chose to be our substitute (Isaiah 53:6). So don't take Jesus for granted; don't ignore Him and don't adopt petty saviours who can never rescue you from the punishment of the power of sin. It is time to take Jesus seriously again.

Seriously thank Him, love Him, worship Him and serve Him. Choose Him as your sin-substitute and never substitute anybody in place of Him.

Prayer: Father God. Thank You for allowing Your Son to become my substitute, to be punished instead of me. Forgive me when I have not taken Him seriously in my life, loving and worshipping and serving other people, and ignoring what He has done for me.

Please help me to wake up; to reject substitute saviours and love the Lord Jesus Christ with all my heart and soul and mind and strength. In His Name. Amen.

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self-styled 53-year-old pastor from Nigeria who impregnated more than 20 members of his congregation, including several married women and young girls, claiming that the Holy Spirit told him to have sex with them has been arrested for sexual abuse.

Ebere Amaraizu, DSP, a spokesman for the Enugu State Police Command said that general overseer of Vineyard Ministry of the Holy Trinity, Pastor Timothy Ngwu, was arrested for abusing his female members.

"The pastor claims to be obeying prophetic/spiritual injunction to do the will of God, which is to impregnate any one chosen and revealed by the Holy Spirit, irrespective of whether the woman is married or not," said Amaraizu.

"When the woman is delivered of the baby, the child remains in the ministry with the mother for life," he added.

Ngwu was reported to the police by his estranged wife, Veronica Ngwu, who got tired of his lascivious behavior after he impregnated her young niece.

A brother of the pastor, who did not want to be identified, said that he had been warning Ngwu and his family about his behavior for a long time but he refused to listen. The arrest, he said, was God's wrath falling on his brother.

"Let me tell you, God's anger has befallen my brother, we have severally appealed to him to stop what he was doing but he refused. He has colonized our compound, bearing children with recklessness. He accused us of being jealous of him because he is doing the will of God," the brother said.

"Look at these buildings here," he said pointing to the church compound, "He (pastor) has converted all of them to himself in the name of vineyard. I can't say exactly what informed his spirit to the devilish act in the name of God. He sacked his betrothed wife who has three children for him and embarked on impregnating married women and young girls.

Look at the whole compound littered with children of different sex and age," he lamented.

"How can an educated man of his status reason like an unrefined man? All members of the vineyard are fools, how can a woman abandon her husband for another man in the name of worshiping God and practice adultery? I cannot get myself involved in this matter; Vero has opened the vessel of worms in the vineyard. Let them sort themselves out with the police but I want the ministry to be shut down completely," he added.

Ngwu confessed that he has approximately five wives with 13 children along with concubines he acquired by the prophetic will of God. He said he never had sex with any of the married women unless their husbands agreed with the request of the Holy Spirit.

Calista Omeje and Assumpta Odo, two of the women who left their husbands to live with the pastor said they did so based on the pastor's prophetic anointing.

Calista, who has 10 children with her husband, said Ngwu had impregnated her but the baby died. She also revealed that she gave her daughter to him.

Odo, a mother of eight, said Ngwu impregnated her and her daughter.

10 feared dead in Enugu auto crash

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o fewer than 10 persons were feared dead in a multiple auto crashes at Abakpa Nike, a surburb of Enugu metropolis, on Saturday.

ADVOCATE NIGERIA gathered that most of the victims were street traders, who were at their makeshift shops by the roadside.

Two saloon cars, a bus and two tricycles, also known as Keke NAPEP, were involved in the accident at Isieke Street in Abakpa, which has a large concentration of street traders.

It was learnt that the accident occurred around 1:30 pm, when buying and selling was at its peak along the street.

Eye witnesses disclosed that the tragic incident occurred when a black coloured Mercedes Benz car with number plate LR917AAA suddenly lost control, overran some street traders and their wares, and collided with two oncoming Keke NAPEPs and a Mazda 626 car with number plate DJ 235AKJ, before running into a bus coming

from the other end of the street.

Residents of the area, other traders as well as passers-by, reportedly embarked on a rescue operation as victims littered the street in pools of blood.

Apart from those that lost their lives, it was gathered that about some other persons who were rescued from the wreckage of the Keke NAPEP were in critical condition.

However interestingly -the drivers of the Mercedes Benz, Mazda and bus were not hurt in the accident, according to the eye witnesses.

A street trader who witnessed the rescue operation said about 10 persons lost their lives, while several others sustained injuries The victims were said to have been rushed to undisclosed hospitals for medical attention.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Command, Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the incident, however, said the police is yet to determine the exact number of casualties.

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March 18, 2015

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The Nigerian Nationalists

Chike Obi C

hike Obi (April 17, 1921 March 13, 2008) was a Nigerian politician, mathematician and professor.

The African Mathematics Union suggests that he was the first sub-Saharan Africans to hold a doctorate in mathematics. Dr. Obi's early research dealt mainly with the question of the existence of periodic solutions of non-linear ordinary differential equations. He successfully used the perturbation technique and several of his publications greatly helped to stimulate research interest in this subject throughout the world and have become classics in the literature.

Obi is the author of several books and journals on mathematics and Nigerian politics.

Early life and education Obi was educated in various parts of Nigeria before reading mathematics as an external student of the University of London. Immediately after his first degree, he won a scholarship to do research study at Pembroke College, Cambridge, followed by doctoral studies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, becoming in 1950, the first Nigerian to receive a PhD in mathematics.

activities. After the war, he returned to lecture in 1970 at the University of Lagos where he quickly rose to the senior academic role of a professor.

Career as mathematician He left Lagos to return to his root in the Obi returned to lecture at the premier city of Onitsha, establishing the Nanna Nigerian University of Ibadan. He was Institute for Scientific Studies. soon diverted from this by political Obi had won the Sigvard Ecklund Prize for original work in differential equation

COVER STORY Continued from page 9 determination of his civic right and obligation without being accorded the constitutional right of fair hearing.”

Noting that there had been increased presence and deployment of policemen at the precinct of the governor's office and abode, Government House , Abakaliki since February 28, which is indicative of likely preparedness for removal of the governor from office, the deponent said she believes that with the support of the 5th to 7th respondents, the lawmakers were bent on continuing with the impeachment proceeding without serving the governor the notice of impeachment , which he is entitled to under the constitution.

“It is in the interest of justice to restrain the 1st to 3rd respondents from determining the civic right and obligation of the applicant without being heard; that unless 1st to 3rd respondents are restrained, they will go ahead with the impeachment proceedings against the applicant,” the deponent told the court.

Protests trail impeachment move

from the International Centre for Theoretical Physics. He was a university teacher until his retirement as an Emeritus Professor in 1985.

In 1997, Obi claimed to have found an elementary proof to Fermat's Last Theorem. This work was carried out at his Nanna Institute for Scientific Studies in Onitsha,Eastern Nigeria and published in Algebras, Groups and Geometries. A review of this proof published in Mathematical Reviews claims that Obi's proof is a previouslyknown false proof. Fermat's Last Theorem had already been solved in 1994

by Andrew Wiles and Richard Taylor.

1958.

After Nigeria's independence from Britain in 1960, Obi was elected a legislator in the Eastern House of Assembly in 1960, he refused to vacate his seat in the national legislature in Lagos, the Speaker of the regional house ordered that Obi be physically removed by security agents. This order was obeyed and Obi decided to commit himself to regional affairs.

In 1962, Obi was arrested and charged with treason in a closed trial organized by the then national civilian government, who accused him and others, including the main opposition leader at the time, Obafemi Awolowo, of plotting to overthrow the government. He was later released for “want of evidence.”

When the Nigerian Civil War broke out in 1966, Obi sided with Biafra, working for the rebel leader Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. For a brief period in the 1970s when he served in the National Revenue Mobilization Commission.

Obi derided religion and ethnic extremism, and the culture of corruption pervading the Nigerian political class. He was a national newspaper columnist in the 1980s, writing under the title, "I speak For the People.”

Awards

Career in A visiting professor to the University of Rhode Island, USA, the University of Jos, p o l i t i c s Nigeria, and the Chinese Academy of Science, Obi was a recipient of the and activism national honour of Commander of the Obi helped form the Dynamic Party of Order of the Niger (CON) and a Fellow of Nigeria, of which he served as its first secretary-general. After the party merged the Nigerian Academy of Science. with the larger National Council of Personal life Nigerian and Cameroon, Obi was elected Obi's wife Melinda died in late 2009, a as part of the Nigerian delegation that fellow mathematician, and they are negotiated the country's path to self-rule survived by their four children. at two London conferences in 1957 and

EBONYI IMPEACHMENT SAGA by lawmakers Youths and women in Ebonyi State who were angered by the impeachment move against the governor took to the streets of Abakaliki during the week to protest the action of the lawmakers.

A group of women numbering over 5,000 and armed with placards, converged on the Abakaliki township stadium where they took off through the old Enugu Road to Ogoja Road to Government House gate.

Government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Boniface Chima, received them.

Some of the placards read: “Ebonyi women want peace; Ebonyi women condemn our governor's impeachment; Goodluck Jonathan is our candidate and we want peace; we reject thuggery, stop it; Ebonyi State is not for sale; Ebonyi women say no to political violence.”

Policemen followed the protesters closely to ensure peace and order, while vehicular and human movements were brought to a halt for about an hour. The women chanted songs of support for governor Elechi and President Goodluck Jonathan.

Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Marry Joy Umoke, while presenting the women's position on the need for peaceful

state, called on members of the state House of Assembly not to carry out the impeachment, describing it as an attempt to smear the image of the governor and put the state into chaos and anarchy, saying it would have adverse effect on the forthcoming general elections.

Jonathan wades in, sets up 5-man governors' committee Worried by the crisis rocking Ebonyi State, President Goodluck Jonathan has raised a five-man committee made up of governors to resolve the political crisis in Ebonyi State. The committee members are Governors Gabriel Suswam )Benue(; Sule Lamido )Jigawa(; Saidu Dakingari )Kebbi(; Sullivan Chime )Enugu) and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom).

The committee was mandated to help resolve the face-off between Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi state and his deputy, Engr. Umahi, who is the PDP flag bearer in the state. Already a reconciliatory meeting had been held at the State House, Abuja and Vice President Namadi

Sambo and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, were present.

At the end of over five hours reconciliatory meeting, Elechi left the State House with Umahi but they refused to answer the questions posed by State House correspondents who tried to find out the outcome of the meeting.

The Benue Governor, Gabriel Suswam, announced to State House correspondents that a resolution is at hand, even as he explained that Elechi did not storm out of the meeting but left at the end of the meeting to hurry off and catch a flight back home. According to Suswam: “I don't think he )Elechi( stormed out of the meeting. We ended the meeting properly, and I believe he had a flight to catch so he was rushing. “Yes, Ebonyi problem was one of the issues discussed at the meeting, but we are almost at the solution to that problem. The meeting ended amicably.”

Meanwhile, tension has heightened in the state as members of the two camps are at now daggers drawn and unless the feud is amicably resolved before the coming elections, it could degenerate to a violent dimension.

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March 18, 2015

NIGERIA

I'd say yes to Arsenal job – Henry

Thierry Henry

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he striker has no previous coaching experience and is currently working as a TV pundit, but would not hesitate if asked to return to his former club

Thierry Henry has reiterated his desire to become Arsenal manager and admits he would jump at the chance to succeed Arsene Wenger at the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger has come in for criticism in recent seasons,

with Wednesday's humbling 3-1 defeat to Monaco in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie again bringing the Frenchman's future into the spotlight.

The majority of Goal

readers believe this season should be Wenger's last at the in north London, and Henry has once again spoken of his "dream" of managing the Gunners in future.

"The thing that I will say is, I don't know what Arsene wants to do and how long he will stay, I just want to be equipped to be in the position one day maybe to be a manager," Henry, who is currently coaching youngsters at Arsenal, told The Jonathan Ross Show.

"Being the manager of Arsenal Football Club will be a dream, but let's all be honest, I need to learn first, that's the most important thing.

"It's not because you know the game that you can teach it and I just want to learn.”

Asked what his response would be if offered the job

by Wenger, Henry - who is working towards his coaching badges - replied: "I can't say no to Arsenal, so I would say yes.”

Golden Eaglets on course in 2015 under-17 African Soccer Championship

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he Nigerian under-17 age-grade team otherwise known as the 'Golden Eaglets' the defending global cadet soccer championship are set to defend the championship they won in United Arab Emirates two years ago. The Nigerian Cadet team beat Mexico to lift the Under-17 global soccer trophy for a record four times. Nigerian lads had won the competition in 1985 in China, 1993 in Japan, 2007 in South Korea.

Now they are on course in the Africa qualifying series going on in Niger republic.

Last Saturday in Niamey, the capital city of Niger republic, the Nigerian lads overwhelmed their hostteam by 2-0. Last We d n e s d a y N i g e r i a

encountered the West African country of Guinea and held their opponents to a 1-1 draw. With this two encounters with Niger republic and Guinea, there is a glimmer of hope that the Nigerian lads would surely shoot to Chile, where this years global soccer encounter in this age-grade soccer fiesta would take place. With the last match against Zambia the Nigerian Lads need just a draw to qualify as they are leading their group involving Zambia, Guinea and host country Niger Republic. If this happens then the global competition will see Nigeria Lads trying to win the competition back to back and a record of five times, thereby setting the record in this juvenile competition that started in 1985 in China.

Opportunity missed for Mikel in Chelsea cup final

Mikel Obi

Bonus for Arsenal? Lukaku limps out of Everton – Young Boys clash

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verton have potentially suffered an injury blow ahead of Sunday's clash with Arsenal after RomeluLukakulimped off at the start of the second half in Thursday's Europa League meeting with Young Boys.

Lukaku, who scored twice in an impressive first half, left the field clutching his hamstring just four minutes after the break to be replaced by ArounaKone.

The extent of the Belgian's injury is not yet known but his early withdrawal constitutes a significant headache for Roberto Martinez as he prepares to face the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium.

Despite enduring criticism for his performances Lukaku is Everton's top scorer this season with 15 goals in 35 appearances in all competitions.

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emanjaMatic's suspension means that the Nigerian could have taken a key role for Jose Mourinho's side in their upcoming League Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur Ashley Barnes's high foot on Nemanja Matic may well have reverberations across London when the first silverware of the season is dished out following the League Cup final on Sunday.

Initially, it looked like the Burnley man's over-the-top

foot had caused serious injury to the Serbian. Matic fell to the ground in a heap, clutching his leg and screaming into the turf.

A moment later he was back on his feet, and ran at Barnes, shoving his aggressor to the ground with a hefty push. Referee Martin Atkinson had little choice but to send the Serb for an early bath.

Barnes licked his wounds and got back to his business of being a nuisance, while Jose Mourinho fumed on the touchline.

Chelsea, the league leaders, could only manage a 1-1 d r a w a g a i n s t Burnleyalmost everyone's favourite for relegation when the season began.

Mourinho would go on to infer, predictably, that the official's decision to dismiss Matic for his retaliation was instrumental in his side's dropping points, and promptly appeared on British television on Sunday morning to vent his frustrations.

The Pensioners will appeal Matic's three-match ban but

t h e FA , r e s i l i e n t t o Mourinho's menace, are unlikely to relent. Imagine how many wrong messages that would send out!

While feweven Mourinho himselfcan deny that Matic's influence has waned in recent weeks, the t o w e r i n g midfielder remains one of Chelsea's most important men and a key cog in their previouslyrelentless machine.

He brings presence to the heart of the park, and while his astute positioning and intelligent defensive play take the pressure of the Blues' backline, he must also be commended for his smart use of the ball.

So far this season, Matic has averaged 3.8 tackles-pergame (the joint-second best in the division), registered an average of 2.2 interceptions-per-game and has a pass-success rate of 87.1 percent.

He will be sorely missed against Tottenham Hotspur in this weekend's League Cup final.

Vol. 2 No. 109, March 18, 2015

ONLINE

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NIGERIA

Nduka Ugbade

Back page comment

OUR COMMITMENT TO IMPROVED SERVICE B

ack when the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) was dominated by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), which operated as one entity responsible for generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in Nigeria, the quality of service received by electricity customers across the nation was considered unsatisfactory. Investment in power infrastructure was minimal, as was customer service.

Ultimately, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) commenced a process of unbundling and privatizing most of the power industry. This process included separating PHCN into 17successor companies; 5 generation companies, 11 distribution companies, and 1 transmission company, thenawarded control of all generation and distribution companies to core investors who were assessed and determined to have demonstrated the best capacity to improve the performance of the sector.

In a landmark moment the FGN handed over the privatized companies to the winning bidders on November 1, 2013 and it became easier for electricity consumers in Nigeria to hold someone accountable for the quality of service they received in their homes, businesses and communities..The electricity distribution companies instantly became the face of the NESI for all consumers and, by default, the entity responsible for the shortcomings of the entire industry.

If the gas suppliers to the generation companies fail to supply enough gas to generate sufficient electricity for the nation and some consumers have to go without electricity supply, the distribution company is held accountable. If the electricity generation capacity in Nigeria is inadequate to generate enough electricity for all consumers and some consumers have to go without electricity supply, the distribution company is held accountable. If the transmission company is unable to deliver all the electricity required into a license area and some consumers have to go without power, the distribution company is held accountable.

If a vandal steals equipment from the distribution company's network and this leads to loss of electricity supply to its customers, the distribution company is held accountable. If the distribution company is unable to convert its distribution network, which has suffered

from bad maintenance, poor design and corruption for decades, into a world class distribution network with enough meters and transformers within18 months, the distribution company is held accountable.

If the regulator approves an increase to the prevailing electricity tariffs, the distribution company is held accountable, even if the tariff increase will go to cover costs incurred by gas suppliers, generation companies, transmission company and the regulator.

Enugu Electricity Distribution Plc (EEDC), the distribution company with a license area that covers Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo State, was handed over to Interstate Electrics Limited on November 1, 2013. IEL's bid was selected as the winning bid for EEDC because it presented the best turnaround plan and

installed. Procurement practices are all competitively bid with awards only going to qualified companies who win on the basis of price and quality. The company is in the final stages of planning a comprehensive meter deployment that will give all its customers reliable prepaid meters, with most of them having two way communications capability.

It is unfortunate that a losing bidder in the EEDC privatization transaction has refused to accept its fate but has resorted to court action and public slander to derail the new management's efforts. This same bidder also lost the bid for Afam Generation Company for reasons bordering on conflict of interest and has remained obsessed with its loss of EEDC. This obsession drives its unrestrained propaganda and media attacks aimed at

loss reduction commitment in accordance with the established terms of reference based on the assessment of the responsible agencies and constituted authorities. IEL promptly reinforced the management of EEDC and immediately embarked on its turnaround plan to address all the issues that it is being held accountable for. Under IEL's ownership and the new management team, EEDC has made significant improvement in the electricity distribution network and business for the benefit of all customers in the Southeast.

It has dramatically improved the quality of staff, implemented a rigorous training program, and enforced its #1 policy of INTEGRITY strictly. As a result, performance is now being measured closely and continuously improved.

Outages are less frequent and fault clearance is attended to more quickly.

Over 400 new transformers have been

derailing the objectives of the new management. While this matter is being addressed in the court of law, certain critics have also commenced unfair public harassment over IEL's ownership and acquisition of EEDC without regard to the improvements the new management has made in the performance of the company and its demonstrated ability to improve the company.

Nevertheless, EEDC assures its customers that as it moves further in the implementation of its turnaround plan, under the supervision of the Bureau of Public Enterprises and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, they will enjoy improved service and more reliable electricity supply in their homes, businesses and communities.

Eugene Aniowo Head, Communications, EEDC

Nduka Ugbade (born 6 September 1969) is an assistant coach of the Nigeria under-17 national football teamand a former football player.

As a youth player, fresh from St. Finbarrs College Akoka-Lagos, Ugbade was captain of the Nigeria U-16 male soccer team that w o n t h e 1 9 8 5 F I FA U - 1 6 Wo r l d Championship (later referred to as JVC/FIFA at the following edition after which it metamorphosed to its current name and status -Coca Cola/FIFA U-17 WC). The event was held in China and brought Ugbade into prominence after Jonathan Akpoborie(5mns) and Victor Igbinoba (80+mns)scored unreplied goals for Nigeria against West Germany, securing what was Nigeria's and Africa's first major win in football on the global stage.

Four years later in the U-20 category, he was also part of Nigeria national under-20 football team at the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship that placed second and won silver medals in Saudi Arabia. Nigeria lost to Portugal in the final match, but Ugbade and his teammates were the toast of the spectators after posting spectacular wins over hosts Saudi Arabia, highly favoured United States, and the USSR. Against the USSR the Nigerian team recovered from a 4-0 deficit to level 4-4 with Ugbade scoring the fourth before Nigeria won on penalties. This win is fondly referred to in Nigerian football history as the "Damman Miracle".

After his immensely successful youth football career, Ugbade featured in the Nigerian national team for some years, but was plagued by injuries and poor form in the later years of his career which denied him of the opportunity of starring at the 1994 World Cup.

Coaching career In August 2011 he was appointed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to be one of the two assistant coaches for the Golden Eaglets (Nigeria under-17 national football team). In 2013, the team won the silver medal in the CAF U-17 tournament in Algeria and won the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the UAE. In 2013, Ugbade was named head coach of Lagos club MFM FC.

Published by ADVOCATE Newspapers Ltd, Corporate Office: No. 30 Edinburgh Road, Ogui New Layout, Enugu. Phone: 08087631127. Editor: Rex Arum 07066097362. website: www.theadvocatengr.com ADVOCATE NIGERIA (ISSN 2408-4824) e-mail: editoradvocate@ymail.com