Prostitutes flood Enugu

ONLINE Vol. 2 No. 109, November, 2015

NIGERIA

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N150

Traffic Taskforces should not return - Enugu residents ·Narrate ordeals in hands of 'touts'

Prostitutes flood Enugu

By Chikodili Okoro & Peace Soronnadi

I

t is the euphoria of freedom that makes the fish think that it can be freed from the frying pan only to discover that his landing destination is fire, more like the man who proposes to remain toothless in a bid to avoid ache.

These two proverbial sayings relate to the recent difficult decision by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State to suspend the disturbing activities of traffic regulators in the capital city.

Residents who applauded the governor's intervention, are however, apprehensive of the troubles awaiting them should the government lifts the temporal ban that has

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It's a lucrative business in Enugu – Sex Workers Why we patronize them – Customers Popular Obollo-Afor Prostitute dies after sleeping with three men See Page 19

By Rex Arum, Blessing Nnadi & Sylvester Orji

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rostitution is an age-long trade which has continued to thrive despite the numerous hazards associated with the unholy act. However recent influx of commercial sex workers into the Enugu capital city has become a source of concern to the residents who have called for an urgent measures to stem the tide.

In ancient civilizations prostitution was recorded as a thriving business. The Bible and other books recorded prominently the likes of Rahab; the prostitute at Jericho who saved the Israelites spies, as well as Mary Magdalene who was to be stoned to death for prostitution during the ministry of Jesus Christ on earth.

The educated christen the practitioners, commercial sex workers, they are simply termed Prostitutes, while in the local parlance they are called "Ashawo". Those who don't feel comfortable with such names refer to them as “Good Evening Girls”.

It is a profession of generous male and female who willingly or by compulsion auction their bodies for economic gains or for pleasure.

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Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (left) congratulates the newly sworn-in Acting President of the Enugu State Customary Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice George Nnamani, shortly after his inauguration at the Government House, Enugu

I will fight for S-East, S-South, Middle-Belt UNTH doctors disown Biafra again if.... Group demands probe of ARD President, fault 24

– Bishop Onubuogu Page 16

federal road contracts

Page 4

incessant strikes Page

TORTURE: CLO threatens to drag Enugu to Int'l Human right body pg 8

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COVER STORY COVER STORY

Prostitutes flood Enugu Continued from front page The articles of trade should not be mistaken for material or immaterial goods rather it is a natural unique endowment that qualify an individual as either a man or a woman or both in the case of hermaphrodite.

The physical manifestation of these endowments is the bosom and the buttocks. Each of the two fleshy halves of the posterior part of the body simply known as the buttocks and the breasts consistently serves as the means of survival for those involved in this business.

Some society abhors prostitution and consequently makes stringent laws to prohibit it while some others give it legal protection, such that allow the practice to flourish.

Whichever way, prostitution regarded as one of the social vices by many, is a subject of great controversy that is becoming an underrated issue of grave consequences .This is likely because of the many moral, legal, religious, spiritual and traditional questions associated with it.

These questions perhaps stem from divergent lines of thought by the people on why people go into prostitution despite the inherent negative consequences like unwanted pregnancy, abortion, incurable disease among other health challenges that often lead to death? While some societies seem to be docile on the issue, others either encourage or ban it? Like the controversial issue of whether to legalize abortion or not, some have argued in favour of legalizing the illicit practice and the practitioners have lately engaged in public campaigns to drum support for the government recognition for their trade. Some members of the public that patronize the prostitutes usually see nothing wrong with their habit as they believe that the prostitutes are solving social problems and would want the Nigerian government to give it a legal backup so that the trade could be officially regulated and the practitioners protected under the relevant human rights laws.

Prostitution as a business most often is blamed on a number of factors ranging from poor parenting, poverty, decline in moral standards, poor value system, corruption, materialism, greed to decline in character moulding by some religious o rg a n i z a t i o n s . I t i s m o s t surprising to observe that the prostitutes attend churches and give offerings and pay tithes on their earnings.

In Nigeria, religion, tradition and morality abhor prostitution, yet it is practiced prominently as if it has become a way of life and those involved no longer carry out their trade in secret or under the cover of darkness as they proudly hang around major roads and streets,

bus stops and brothels waiting for customers.

The usual convention where prostitutes stay in brothels or rented apartments where willing customers visit to do business with them is gradually being phased out as prostitution has assumed different shapes and styles in recent time.

How Prostitutes explore ICT With the development of ICT prostitutes now ply their trade on the internet using various dating sites. Some of such sites include 2go, Twoo, Badoo, Instagram, Facebook, Whatsapp, to mention but just a few. The ICT compliant “Ashawos' upload different pictures in various poses and styles on the internet to attract patronage. Many others place their pictures in high profile hotels where interested persons through the hotel workers that serve as their agents, would contact them whenever the need arises.

Though the traditional Igbo society held its wall against moral invasion and parades a decent record of moral adherence, chastity and abstinence from such reprehensible acts like prostitution, the recent activities of prostitutes in Enugu state surely diminished that record.

In Enugu State and the Coal City, which is the state capital in particular, there appears to be an upsurge of commercial sex workers lately. Some say the influx of these prostitutes is as a result of the many higher institutions of learning in Enugu.

It is believed in some quarters that most students from these schools are involved in what they commonly refer to as 'runs'. These

Sex Hawkers on rampage girls or ladies see nothing wrong in commercializing their bodies.

They don't see themselves as engaging in prostitution but some kind of 'runs' that will help them to make ends meet. Some claim that they have no sponsors hence they have to utilize whatever opportunities available to eke a living and train themselves in tertiary institutions.

Danger of hawking sex The influx of prostitutes is believed to have placed the state at high risk of HIV/AIDS which high prevalence had become a source of concern to medical experts and stakeholders.

Some places in the city that cannot go unnoticed in this regard includes, Ogui junction, Otigba New haven junction to the famous Bisalla road, Presidential road, Abakpa area, which

accommodates hundreds of 'runs' babes most of who claim to be students.

A visit to these places on weekends depicts a bevy of halfnaked women in their numbers hanging along the obscure sides of the roads seeking for patronage.

The style is quite embarrassing and obscene but still they don't seem to really care whose ox is gored while in the arena.

How we operate – Sex Hawker A D V O C AT E N I G E R I A gathered from a former commercial sex worker who belongs to the group of 'runs' girls and wishes not to be named, that they refer to their patronisers as guests, who are willing to pay the sex workers for the night or shorttime services.

According to her, the price varies

depending on how buoyant the customers are. She said that short time for commercial sex workers are called quickies or sharp-sharp (pidgin) and are usually very cheap and affordable by most guys. She revealed that shorttime was usually the best for them as they come back after each round to get more customers in the night.

This anonymous former sex worker narrated how the quickies can be done anywhere, at the dark corners, on the street, hotel rooms, in cars and other apartments but that they often refuse to go with most customers to their apartment for fear of rape, kidnapping and being used for rituals. “This is always why we insist on the use a hotel, inside the vehicles or dark

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Enugu State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy reconstituted

By Blessing Nnadi

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overnor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has reconstituted the state Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy with a charge to its members to approach their assignment with due diligence, commitment and transparency.

The council has as its Chairman, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of the state, Chief Miletus Eze, and the State Director of Civil Litigation as Secretary.

Other members are Dr. Cletus Ozordiulu Eze, ACP, Suleiman Isa Ketare and Abba Benedicta Chinyere. Other members are Hon. Sylvanus Chukwuma Anioke, Mrs. Cordelia C. Onah and Godwin Ike. Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony at the Government House, Enugu, Governor Ugwuanyi noted that the

Governor Ugwuanyi reconstitution of the council was in keeping with the power conferred on him by the constitution of Nigeria.

In his words, “By Virtues of

Section 212 SubSection 1 of the 1999 Constitution as amended a Governor of the state has power to pardon, grant respite, substitute severe punishment or revert any punishment for any person committed of an offence.”

He however added that the powers of the governor under the aforesaid section of the constitution can be exercised after consultation with the advisory council of the state on Prerogative of mercy.

He said that the law establishing the council indicated that members of the council shall hold office for 4 years, adding that the present members of the council had been in office since

2010, hence the need for the reconstitution of the new members.

In his words, “by section (4) of the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy Law, a member of the council shall hold office for four years.”

In a speech, the chairman of the council, Chief Eze thanked Governor Ugwuanyi for given the members of the council the opportunity to serve.

In his words, “I thank your Excellency immensely for giving us the opportunity to serve.”

He added that with the caliber of members of the Advisory Council that they would deliver.

The event was witnessed by state top government officials including the deputy governor of the state, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, the speaker Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Edward Ubosi and the Vice Chancellor, Enugu State University of Science and Technology Prof. Luke Anike among others.

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COVER STORY It's a lucrative business in Enugu – Sex Workers Continued from page 2 corners instead homes.

“Our prices”, she continued, “varies for the quickies, we collect from N500 to N3,000 which is actually the highest we can charge for that category but for the long time run we demand for N5,000 and above, when there is an occasion where we are specially invited, then it is a jackpot as we will make big money from there.”

“Most of us go into prostitution to support ourselves, either because we do not have money to pay our school fees, nothing to do and nobody to support us financially, so we just opt to prostitution.

Many people don't understand why we go into these things; however I am not trying to justify my actions. A time will come when they would eventually realize that prostitution is not the way out instead it brings your spirit down. Along the way it gets to a point where we sell our conscience and do not care anymore as long as we are making money out of it. We are contented with the life we find ourselves in”

'Prostitution a lucrative business in Enugu' “Enugu has a high number of patronages from men, there is no prostitute who comes there and goes back without having a guest for that day and men troop in from every part of Nigeria. The business is well promoted in Enugu because we have had situations where some of our colleagues migrate into Enugu due to the bad business in their states” “But the business has so many implications; most of the time some of us are infected with HIV and AIDs. Sometimes you can meet a customer who is willing to pay you N50,000 for a night to have sex with you without condom and sometimes we are tempted to take the offer and along the way you get infected

while sleeping with them without condoms. Also sometimes you get pregnant and you keep aborting and in the process you may develop complications in your womb.

“There have been cases where some prostitutes have been reportedly missing and were found dead some days after with their bodies mutilated and private parts missing, and above all you live with guilt all the rest of your life in addition to the negative image your family members will suffer”.

“I know it is not easy to leave that lifestyle, it was not easy for me because at that time you feel that leaving would not change anything, that you have to live with the stigma for the rest of your life and there would be no place for you to get financial assistance but it is not late”.

“When you come out, you would discover that God has better things for you, favour would find you and his grace would carry you through. Never think you are too dirty I bore this guilt for long until I met Christ and I discovered that life is better in him and he will make your burden light for you”.

Commercial sex workers should be banned – Law graduate Chidimma Udegbunam a law graduate from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria has this to say: “Yes, I have actually observed that we have increase regarding people that are into prostitution in Enugu, personally, in my opinion I'm against it, because it is not morally good.

“I am of the opinion that prostitution should be banned because the consequence of banning it is more profitable than legalising it. If the government puts a ban on prostitution it is going to remove all the brothels that we have, it is not that the government is going to completely stop prostitution but it should put a control on it.

“But placing a ban on it would reduce its publicity, putting a ban on it limits the advertisement of prostitution which promotes moral decadence in the society. It also serves as a form of control because allowing the prostitutes operate without control means doom. The restrictions are applied in the northern Nigeria.

“There is no law banning prostitutes but the penal code forbids illicit sexual activities with someone you are not married to in the North. You don't have brothels around there, though people run the operation secretly but there is a serious control on it.

And that is exactly what I want the government to do, especially in Southern Nigeria “It is morally bad and for me I believe that every legal duty has a moral obligation, so if you expunge morality from law it can make the society to go into moral decay; so law and morality have a relationship.

“The essence of law is to regulate the society and for the administration of justice in the society. Justice is a two way thing; it is either justice for the oppressed or justice for the oppressor. That is how justice works. When someone commits a crime you actually weigh the reason; what made that person commit that crime determines the kind of punishment you give to that person.

“Though people normally say that if you ban prostitution completely there would be increase in rape, those people who patronize these prostitutes would look for an alternative to ease their sexual urge, they might start raping small children and that is what the law should be used to do on this issue.

“The consequence is moral decadence. You can see that we have these virus problems like HIV/AIDS and all that, you can see that the government is doing it's very best to control the increase in both infected and affected. So when the law

Chidimma Udegbunam ‘Commercial

sex workers should be banned’

legalizes prostitution it is actually going to bring about increase in the people with HIV, AIDS and other STDs which is not good for the society on one hand, and on the other hand you find out that prostitution causes increase in adultery and fornication which is morally wrong.

“When it comes to law and morality I am not saying that legislation is going to expunge the evil completely from the society because human beings naturally have some instinct in them, they have some feelings and some desires in them. We find out no matter what you do, people can never stop stealing completely in the society because there are poor ones as well as people that can't control their urge.

“Government actually should reorientate the public, create jobs that will help to close the loopholes. Those things people lack that push them to go into things that are not morally good; the government should help by providing for the people. The point I am trying to make here is that legislation cannot completely remove such things that are morally bad, it can only try to control it but at least the government can balance it”.

Why we patronize commercial sex workers – Customers

L-R: Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state and the newly appointed Acting President of Enugu State Customary Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice George Nnamani sign some documents, during his inauguration ceremony, at the Government House, Enugu

A man who claims to be an ardent customer of commercial sex workers and who simply identified himself as Chubby while chatting with our correspondent insisted that there are lots of factors responsible for patronizing these girls.

In his words: “Those who are not married due to the high cost of getting a wife around here, when

they have an urge, they can conveniently run into a brothel or move into one of those sex workers' center, pick one of them, agree on a price and satisfy their urge.

“That is why a lot of us 'men' go for prostitutes. At least you are sure that if you pay your money, you would get the service. Some others go for prostitute not just because of sex but some men after paying these girls they keep them company especially when they are in transit. They keep them company in their rooms. Some men do not have the ability to have sex; they just keep girls, smooch with them for a while and give them money for their time.

“Considering the complexities associated with toasting a girl on the street, some are not even brave enough to “chase” a woman on the street; to say hi and begin to speak all the grammar or vernacular makes the whole thing difficult. The ordinary girl on the street may not want to do things with you as a stranger but the prostitutes would because they are commercially driven, so they know you have come to pay and they will be with you, this is the difference.

“There are people who have never said hi to a woman before, there are grown men who are shysters, they don't even know how to toast a woman and that is why whenever they feel an urge, they go for the commercial sex worker who they will pay and get their services.

“So that is part of the reason why we go there. Besides some of these girls on the street that you may want to go to are very timid, they don't know how to take care of themselves, they can get

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NEWS THE

MeetChic

Advocate

S-East, S-South, Middle-Belt Group demands probe of federal road contracts

By Blessing Nnadi

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pressure group, Forum of South East, South-South and Middle-Belt Advocates for Better Nigeria, FOSESSMBA, has called on President Mohammadu Buhari to urgently constitute a panel to investigate the abandoned and poorly executed federal road contracts within the three zones.

The group made the call after an interactive session held in Enugu where participants from the three geopolitical zones reviewed the plights of the people on account of the deplorable condition of federal roads and the near collapse of basic infrastructure in the area.

The group noted that apart from the over 70 kilometer Enugu – Abakaliki single-carriage Federal Highway build under Trans-Sahara highway project during the last year of President Goodluck Jonathan's administration, all other federal roads in the area have totally collapsed and now impassable.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Bon Onwubualili and Secretary, Tony Edike, the group observed that almost all the federal highways in the three zones, including those purportedly rehabilitated by the immediate past administration, were no longer motorable as they have been taken over by deep potholes and gullies.

The FOSESSMBA said: “As a result of the poor state of affairs, many lives and goods worth several billions of naira have been lost to frequent auto crashes while inland roads built by various state governments have been over-

stretched due to diversion of heavy traffic to such roads. “ We are aware that most of the federal roads in these regions like the Makurdi – 9th Mile Road, Enugu-Onitsha highway, Enugu-Port Harcourt highway, Owerri-Port Harcourt, IdahOnyedega-Otuocha Road, AnkpaLokoja Road, Arochukwu-Ohafia Road, Owerri-Okigwe, OdoluNsukka-Adani-Onitsha Road had been awarded to various contractors and huge funds released to them without any appreciable job done on these roads. And where some jobs were done, they were substandard and could not last beyond the year they were constructed, making them even worse than they were and exposing motorist to avoidable deaths.

“It is even more disheartening that some members of the National Assembly from the affected geopolitical zones had in recent past occupied key positions as Chairmen Senate and House of Representatives Committees for Works and Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA yet the federal highways which oversight they supervised are today impassable and deathtraps. “ We h e r e b y c a l l on these representatives some of who are currently holding public offices to give account of their stewardship to those they represented and who are now suffering on account of deplorable infrastructure.”

The group, however, urged the president to declare a state of emergency on roads in the three geopolitical zones to save the suffering people of the area from further hardship.

Give us cattle market, Dealers tell Enugu govt

By Sylvester Orji

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he chairman of cattle market Awkunanaw Enugu Alhaji Baba Ali has pleaded with the government of Enugu state to provide a permanent site for the cattle dealers while explaining that the land it currently occupies belongs to Amaechi and Amagu Akegbe-Ugwu communities both int Enugu south and Nkanu west local government areas of the state.

He made the call during an interview with the Advocate newspaper in his office at Garriki. In his words: “we want the government to provide us with a permanent site so that we cattle dealers will sustain ourselves in the state. Since we are all Nigerians, I plead with the government to provide us with a land for grazing as this will facilitate our business."

Alhaji Ali identified lack of efficient water supply and grazing field as the major challenge facing the cattle

daelers within the state. On this Baba said: "we lack a sustainable water supply and grazing field for our cattle" Reacting to complaint from some parts of the state that the cattle rearers deliberately destroy people's farm lands, Baba said that: "whenever we have problems with the communities, especially as regards the destruction of crops and farmlands, we immediately move to resolve it amicably" H o w e v e r, h e c o m m e n d e d t h e government for creating an atmosphere that guarantees peaceful co-existence between the Enugu people and the northerners resident in the state.

According to him, "we have enjoyed a peaceful co-existence with the people of Enugu state. The relationship has been very cordial" He therefore urged the Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi's led administration to continue to do the needful in order to maintain the peaceful atmosphere it inherited from the previous administration in the state.

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NEWS

Gov. Obiano, please repair our only road, Okija community pleads state and beyond.

Described as a very important road to the indigenes who are chiefly farmers, the p e o p l e appealed to Governor Obiano to quickly come to their rescue b y rehabilitating the road in o r d e r t o alleviate the plights of the people and give the area a sense Governor Willie Obiano of belonging.

The 210-kilometre-long Umuhu-Ozaagu earth road he people of Okija in leading to Ubahu Ezike Okija I h i a l a L o c a l community, the abode of the Government Area of controversial Ogwugwu Akpu Anambra State have sent a – the Okija Shrine - is the “Save Our Soul” (S.O.S) worst road in that part of the message to the state Governor, state, although it is also the Chief Willie Obiano over the busiest, according to the deplorable condition of the people who spoke through only main road linking the few of the stakeholders in the community with the rest of the community, Chief Ozoemena

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Eze, who heads the community Vigilante and Chief Akudinfe Olisama Azubugwu,62, younger brother to the 120-year-old Chief Akubuike Okorie Azubugwu, the Chief Priest of Okija deity.

In an exclusive interview with our correspondent who visited the community, Eze and Azubugwu called upon the Anambra State government to provide the area with essential amenities such as good access road network to enable the indigenes who are mainly farmers convey their farm produce to the Nkwo market, Okija and beyond.

“Our urgent need now is having access road; Okija is a large place such that it's an uphill task if you want to move round the whole Okija in a day,” Chief Eze said.

“If you had come to this area on a rainy day, you wouldn't see where to put your vehicle tyres because the entire road is usually submerged. You can't try riding or driving on the road when it rains,” he said while Azubugwu added: “We are appealing to the

government to come to our rescue. We need help from the government. Our road is very bad. We have only one bank which is Diamond Bank in the entire Okija.”

Okija is a peaceful community made up of 31 villages but lacks some basic amenities that make life worthwhile, though it is also the location of some institutions of higher learning including the Okija campus of Madonna University, founded by the respected Rev. Fr. Prof.

Emmanuel Edeh, our reporter was informed.

“Okija is a large place and if you want to move round the entire area in one day, it's not possible,” Azubugwu remarked.

Eze told our reporter that the best way to get a better description of the terrible state of the road is for anyone in doubt to pass through it and feel its roughness and total neglect.

“If one should describe the road as hell on earth, it may sound too alarming to some people and if the condition of the road is put as simply bad, it

probably will look like an understatement,” Eze said.

H o w e v e r, t h e y p r a i s e d Governor Obiano for the decisive manner his administration had tackled the problem of security, making the state too hot for criminals, especially armed robbers and kidnappers, and pledged their continued support and commitment to the state government.

But they regretted that some of their own people who are close to the corridors of power usually pocketed whatever was given to the community by the government.

“Some of our people who are close to the corridors of power; when they are given something to benefit the community, they usually pocket such thing and that's why things are this way,” Eze claimed.

“Our urgent need now is having access road; Okija is a large place such that it's an uphill task if you want to move round the whole Okija in a day,” he re-stated.

Blackout looms in S-East as TUC threatens to shut down EEDC

By Chikodili Okoro

E

lectricity supply in the South East may be disrupted following the threat by workers to shut down facilities of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) in the zone with effect from September 1.

Rising from their meeting in Enugu on Tuesday, the workers under the aegis of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) drawn from the five south east states accused the management of the EEDC of victimization of workers, stressing that the industrial relations practice as far as the company was concerned was zero.

But efforts to get management of the EEDC react to the development proved abortive as several calls and text message placed on the mobile line of the Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Eugene Aniowo were not responded to.

Addressing Journalists at the end of their meeting, Southeast Coordinator of the TUC, Comrade Chukwuma Igbokwe said that the EEDC has refused to attend to the litany of letters and

dialogue over the situation of workers in the company.

He said: “Union activities in EEDC are almost going dead. In standard labour practice, workers are allowed to participate in the union but at EEDC through a circular instructed that workers should only meet after close of work and they should give them two weeks' notice before holding their meetings. That is against standard labour practice.

“Workers should be allowed at all times to discuss their matter, workers should be allowed to meet with management and workers are being given option to opt out of union through asking them to fill forms that they will not belong to any union.

“Secondly, the last disengagement was targeted at all the union officials and we have written and tried to meet with them to air our own side of the story that the action looks like victimization because if you think that the only way you can flush out union is by disengaging their officers, it is not very fair at all.

“We are saying that these people should reengage disengaged labour leaders in EEDC. Again, there are so many arrears of statutory claims ranging from

leave allowance from 2013, transfer claims etc. People are t r a n s f e r r e d indiscriminately and we are saying that these things are not fair. EEDC should immediately effect these payments because you don't transfer somebody without paying the person allowance”.

Chukwuma, who is also the Chairman of the TUC in Enugu State condemned the casaulization and indiscriminate remuneration of workers at EEDC. “Up till now we have not come up with what we call scheme of service for EEDC workers. Those workers are treated as slaves and we are saying this is a company that benefitted from workers in the south east. We cannot be patronizing this organization and workers there are treated like slaves. We also met over incessant harassment.

People are being arrested, accused unnecessary. Somebody

Robert Dickerman will make an allegation that somebody cloned a meter and without evidence, the person will be stripped to his pants in collaboration with security agents with handcuff”, he alleged.

He called on the management of the EEDC to address the issues within the next three weeks or face serious industrial action by the joint labour unions from the

five southeast states.

Responding to the allegations, the EEDC said they have harmonious working relationship with her workers, adding that they don't believe in fighting with labour unions.

EEDC's Public Affairs O f f i c e r, M r. E u g e n e Aniowo said that the Company has maintained cordial relationship with organized labour and had not taken issues concerning it for granted.

He said that the company had continued to pay workers and was not indebted to any staff, adding that there was no truth in the statement that the retrenchment carried out recently was targeted at union leaders.

“We have several union leaders presently working in the company and they have continued to hold their activities unmolested. We pay the check off dues and have not in any way been found wanting in our responsibilities to our staff.

He said that the company has as its core mandate integrity and would not compromise in any standard and would always reward workers adequately.

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NEWS Ebonyi, Cross River communal war victims get relief materials from NEMA

By Nnamdi Akpa, Abakaliki.

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he five villages Akahufu, Ebussike, Obeagu, Ochienyim and Obelebe of Amagu community in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi that were affected by communal war between Ebonyi state and Cross Rivers weekend received relief materials worth millions of naira f r o m N a t i o n a l E m e rg e n c y Management Agency, NEMA. Distributing the materials, the South East Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Mr. Major Eze said that 2,892 persons were displaced during the crisis that ravaged the Amagu community.

The people of Amagu community in Ikwo Local Government Area in

Ebonyi State and the people of Adadama in Cross River State have been in a boundary dispute for decades now leading to the death of hundreds of persons while properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed.

Some of the items distributed by the Agency include; 300 bags of rice, 100 bags of Beans, 100 bags of Garri, 50 bags of Sugar, 50 bags of salt, 80 gallons of Palm Oil, 200 cartons of Indomie, 80 gallons of vegetable Oil and 100 cartons of Omo detergent.

Others are 0.36 tons of Bath Soap, 100 Mosquito Tents, 500 pieces of Blankets, 300 bags of Cements, 6000 Corrugated Iron Sheets, 150 cartons of zinc nails, 150 cartons of roofing nails, 600 pieces of Wax prints, 400 pieces of Nylon Mats, 370 Pieces of Foam Mattresses,

500 pieces of Plastic Cups and 500 pieces of Plastic Spoons.

Mr. Eze said that the terrorist attack and kidnapping in Ochianyim Amagu by marauders alleged to be from Adadama in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River on 4th and 6th of June, 2015 was brought to the attention of NEMA. He stated that following the attack, the people of Ochianyim had to relocate from the war zone.

According to him; "there was a joint assessment team of NEMA South East Zone and Ebonyi SEMA on Tuesday 23rd June 2015 to assess the extent of damage to lives and properties. The assessment conducted revealed that lives were lost, property and environment were destroyed leading to internal displacement of

residents".

"Consequently, residents lost their means of livelihood as they no longer have access to their farms.

School children were no longer going to school for fear of their safety".

The NEMA Coordinator emphasized the need for Ebonyi State and Cross River State Government to invite the National Boundary Commission and reignite negotiations between the two communities on the disputed land.

He further pointed out that the boundaries need to be delineated for peace to reign because there cannot be any development without peace, adding that an impregnable buffer zone should be established between the two communities to restore law and

order.

Eze said that the relief materials brought was not to replace what was lost during the communal violence but to cushion the effect of the unfortunate incident pointing out the materials would be jointly distributed to the affected persons by staff of NEMA, SEMA and representative of the community. The Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi represented by the Commissioner for Border, Peace and Conflict Resolution, Deacon Obinna Nwachukwu commended the Agency for the gesture and assured of equitable distribution of the materials.

He regretted the continuous killing of innocent Ebonyi People by the people of Adadama noting that with the recent meeting between Ebonyi, Abia and Cross River, the boundary problems would be resolved.

Prostitutes flood Enugu Continued from page 3 pregnant along the way and you might not be ready for anything like that. Because these other ones are prostitutes, you just pay them, when the services are over, whatever happens to them is not your business. But in the case of these other ones, they can frame you up and get you into a lot of trouble in the case of pregnancy.

“The commercial sex workers in recent times have been trained on sexually transmitted diseases through seminars organized for them by various NGOs. They are better improved in terms of sex education, in having sex with men and have better mindset and idea.

They posses great orientation on HIV/AIDS and have been taught about the use of condom, therefore you cannot compare them with timid local women on the street who would look beautiful but does not know exactly what it is to really have sex. “I am not really encouraging prostitution, it has a moral question. Prostitution has been there from the beginning of the world. If you remember or go back to the Bible, we had Sodom and Gomorrah which was full of sexual immorality.

“Prostitutes have been there all along, if there are no sex workers, psychologically it will spell doom for the society; the cases of rape would be more on the increase than it is presently. You see what happens where there are no commercial sex workers; rape cases such as gang rape, are so many, little children are abused by of these people who do not have alternative means of taking care of themselves sexually.

“So I am not saying that prostitution should be legalized or not. Prostitution has always been there and no law has ever exterminated prostitution. No level of rigidity of law in any part

of the world has ever stopped prostitution. People still do it in secret even when there are laws banning them publicly. It is a moral issue, if one chooses to go for a prostitute, so be it, but the natural law says whatever a man sow so shall he reap. If patronising prostitutes will get you into trouble, then abstain.

“But for those of us who patronize them we do not condemn them because we know that we go for one thing, to attain orgasmic ecstasy and I get that. So if they are no longer there, I wonder what would happen”, he said.

A journalist with a national daily while answering questions on this subject matter stated that it won't be possible for him to say yes or no because there is no statistics supporting the claim that there is an influx of commercial sex workers into the Coal City.

He said that Increase in activities of sex workers could be a yes or no.

According to the journalist the answer is 'Yes' based on “what we have seen from the security agencies around.” He said that the police have paraded up to five to six times various ladies who are into this business, likewise the Civil Defense Corps has on several occasion paraded young girls that were caught in hotels or in some of these homes where they have gone to deliver babies from unwanted pregnancies.

Said he: “I also would like to admit that a situation where there are young girls and unemployed youth roaming the street, that such vices as prostitution will thrive. So you can say yes, there is an increase in the activity of sex workers.

“We have seen young girls being paraded, so the number is high compared with the male sex workers, there are some guys who are also into this kind of activity but what we know is that girls are

always on the high number in the business.

“Biblically speaking it is condemnable but if I should talk like a lay man I would say I condemn the system not those into it because the system has provided an opportunity for them to go into such activity. I also want to believe that if you have interacted with them they are not doing it because they want to do it, but because they don't have choice. Most of them are students and they will tell you that their parents cannot afford to pay their school fees. Some would say let me just do it for a while. “It is condemnable no doubt but I think society should find a way to engage them with various jobs, but without that I find it difficult to blame anybody that has said this is how I want to live my life”.

Our tradition condemns prostitution – Royal Father The traditional ruler of Ogui Nike Enugu, His Royal Highness Igwe Tony Ojukwu did not mince words in condemning outright prostitution in whatever guise.

Speaking to ADVOCATE

NIGERIA on the issue, the custodian of culture and tradition said “Our tradition condemns prostitution in whatever way no matter the cause, no matter the merit that seems alright. Some people go into prostitution because they say they have nobody to help them. It's not only women that do not have people to help them, men don't have, but some boys grew up scratching their backs to get something to lie on, to grow up people carry blocks, engage in weeding, pushing barrows and things to make ends meet; to scratch out some money.

“That's alright, so it will also be atrocious to say their poor state pushed them into stealing, into hooliganism, into kidnapping, just because they want to make ends meet. It's not proper. For any woman, prostitution is immoral and also she is debased before man and God. So we should discourage it, people shouldn't go into it. Ladies should look for any kind of labour, and use it to support themselves as they go on praying that tomorrow will always be better than today, that's

what we pray for. But to surrender into prostitution, you move from this city to another city where people don't know you to continue practicing it, that is debasement and debauchery, it's not supposed to be.

“I condemn it, in the culture there is no provision for it at all.

There's is no part of our culture that encourages people to prostitute it's a foreign idea, its imported, its alien and we should try as much as possible to scratch it off our body.

Government should also go and stampede their locations and fish them out and discourage it totally.

Sometime ago the government of Enugu state clamped down on prostitution especially those that parade the streets at night and the situation seemed have been brought under control but recent development has shown nonchalance on the part of government.

Even the churches could no longer help the ugly situation now eating deep into the fabrics of the society as these young women still perform the weekly ritual of church attendance.

Others who bared their minds on the disturbing practice, called on the State Government to urgently take steps to halt the menace of commercial sex workers by providing alternative means of livelihood for the practitioners in order to save the image of the state.

But the question on the lips of many concerned Nigerians now begging for answer is what should be the way out of this quagmire if religion, tradition and morality fail to stem the tide?

NIGERIA

November, 2015

7

UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA TEACHING HOSPITAL ITUKU/OZALLA P.M.B 01129, ENUGU

PUBLIC NOTICE CONCERNED MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF RESIDENT DOCTORS (ARD) UNTH, ENUGU - DISSOCIATION FROM DR. UGWUOKE-LED RECKLESS ACTIONS AND CAMPAGIN OF CALUMNY AGAINST THE UNTH MANAGEMENT. WE THE CONCERNED MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF RESIDENT DOCTORS (ARD) University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla Enugu, wish to inform the general public that the publication entitled “UNTH performs surgeries with candles, touch-lights, -ARD president; Pediatric Dept loses accreditation, Docs embark on strike” on page 15 of Vanguard of Monday, October 19, 2015 by one Dr. Ifedinso Ugwuoke and his sponsored group is highly political, parochial, misconceived, paranoid and unreasonable.

The malicious, vicious and one-sided publication was purely geared towards destabilizing, creating anarchy, inciting the UNTH population and tarnishing the self-evident good performances of the Chief Medical Director (CMD) Dr. Christopher C. Amah.

It is quite disheartening that soon after calling off an industrial action which lasted for almost three months, some politically-minded hatchet-men commenced another strike without sympathy for the helpless patients who should be protected by the Hippocratic Oath that we all took as medical doctors and who attend the hospital as their last hope.

We have therefore decided to completely dissociate our humble selves from these tales of lies and ungodly action by this group as we have now realized that a cabal is using some of our members to destabilize the progress in the hospital in order to discredit the UNTH Management led by Dr. C. C. Amah. We believe that criticisms should be positive and issue-based and not vicious and vague attacks on personality and good performance.

While we agree with the fact that a majority of our members are not happy that the “Skipping” promised by UNTH Management has not been paid to us (on the grounds that it was unauthorized and unfunded) the congress at no time directed the Executive Committee or the President of ARD UNTH, to embark on a campaign of calumny, name-calling and outright falsehood against the person and office of the CMD in particular and the Hospital Management in general.

It is pertinent to note that the ARD President misinformed the congress so as to enable him to embark on his premeditated strike as concocted with his cabal. He told us lies that the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Budget Office of the Federation (BOF) budgeted for and released funds to the CMD for the payment of “skipping” to Resident Doctors. This false claim has been countered by a circular from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMH) with reference number C.2262/T/111 addressed to the Chief Medical Directors of all Federal-owned Hospitals, wherein it was clearly stated that “Skipping “ was not budgeted for in 2015. Thus the CMD in trying to convince the Executive Committee of ARD opened up the financial records of the hospital for their perusal. The President of ARD while addressing the congress on 16th October 2015 lied that he did not see the said financial records. The congress rejected the strike option due to poor and inadequate information from the Executive Committee, but the President went ahead to declare a strike with effect from Monday October 19th 2015 to please his sponsors.

Some of us have been Resident Doctors in UNTH for upwards of five years and we can boldly and honestly say that UNTH has moved forward in leaps and bounds in the last four years. The Management of UNTH under Dr. C. C. Amah has reactivated the National Cardio-Thoracic Centre of Excellence to a world-class status. The Centre has performed well over one hundred Open-Heart Surgeries since march 2013 when it was reactivated after ten years of inactivity. Last week alone eight patients successfully had Open-Heart Surgeries in the centre. Such successes could not have happened in a hospital that is “dead” using Dr. Ugwuoke's word.

The Dr. C.C Amah led administration apart from ensuring a dedicated line to the hospital from the public power supply (which has remarkably improved power supply to the hospital), Management has equally provided many functional power generating sets to boost power supply to various departments in the hospital including a 1000KVA CAT generating set solely dedicated to the main operating theatre complex and the adjoining Radiology Department. The UNTH Management has in addition provided solar powered electricity supply in various parts of the hospital to further ensure steady power supply to all parts of the hospital. The above highlighted achievements are just to mention but a few. It is therefore amazing that

the hospital is now said to be in total darkness to the extent of using candles and touch-lights to perform surgeries as claimed by Dr. Ugwuoke and his cabal. This public dance of shame by this group is also laughable as President Buhari's administration has pushed Power Distribution Companies to provide about twenty hours of electricity daily.

Many Resident Doctors have been sponsored abroad for skills acquisition in modern medical practice. The chronic challenge of water supply in the hospital has also been positively addressed with the sinking of boreholes in the hospital, something that was hitherto believed to be impossible.

In addition, under Dr. C .C. Amah's management of UNTH, an up-to-date Neurosurgical Ward and a Private (VIP) Ward (never in existence before) were provided. The Radiotherapy facility (the only one in the entire South-East and South-South geo-political zones) which his administration met in a moribund and vandalized state was promptly reactivated and put to use.

The Dr. C. C. Amah led administration in UNTH, through many robust collaborations with overseas partners from United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK) has attracted to UNTH (especially the Cardio-Thoracic Centre of Excellence) Seven 40-ft containers load of medical equipment and consumables worth billions of naira as free donations to the hospital. The Dr. C. C. Amah led administration has recently by the downwards review of out-sourced services contracts in the hospital saved UNTH over N120,000,000.00 (One Hundred And Twenty Million Naira) annually.

Dr. C. C. Amah led administration in UNTH Enugu has dramatically and rather unbelievably reduced the cost of clearing grasses in the hospital premises from over N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) per month to a mere N380,000.00 (Three Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira) per month! This was achieved by deploying slashing machines operated by local but trained casual workers.

Resident Doctors' call duty rooms have never received as much attention and upgrade as they have under Dr. C. C. Amah's administration. New television sets, micro-wave, air conditioners, refrigerators and wardrobes have been provided and general repairs effected in all Doctors' call duty rooms.

The House Officers were not left out of the largesse. Their residential Quarters (HOQ) are being renovated, and the dilapidated road network around the HOQ are also receiving desired face-lift.

While we all agree that no Management can solve all problems/challenges thrown at her, we also use this medium to appeal to our amiable CMD not to take to heart the insensitive, insulting, provocative, reckless and perfidious actions of Dr. Ugwuoke and his cabal.

We, as non-parochial, integrity and equity-driven concerned Resident Doctors will want to maintain the good relationship we have always enjoyed with the Dr. C. C. Amah led administration which is befitting our professional call and the Hippocratic Oath we all swore to. We also appeal that he uses his vintage and vantage position and good offices to get our “Skipping” captured in the 2016 budget as we assure him of our unalloyed support in his already impressive efforts to uplift the enviable standard and status of UNTH. We therefore, unequivocally condemn the reckless actions of Dr. Ifedinso Ugwuoke and his cohorts both in the above-stated article and the Social Media in their entirety as they are myopic, inordinate, misconceived, treacherous, partisan, insular and esoteric as they all tend to remove a fly on the face of UNTH and her Management with a sledge hammer. The cabal is merely singing the voice of their masters who are behind the veil and not that of the majority of the law-abiding members of ARD, UNTH.

SIGNED:

FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE CONCERNED RESIDENT DOCTORS

8

November, 2015

NIGERIA

NEWS

TORTURE: CLO threatens to drag Enugu to Int'l Human right body

Haruna with two of his legs broken by ESWAMA officials

By Chikodili Okoro & Peace Soronnadi

A

human right group, Civil Liberties Organisation has threatened to drag Enugu state government to both national and international human right bodies if urgent steps were not taken to address cases of human right abuses in the state.

In a report on the Human Right situation forwarded to Governor of Enugu state, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu Abubakar, the CLO alleged that there had been persistent abuse of the fundamental rights of the innocent citizens of the state by men of Enugu State Waste M a n a g e m e n t A u t h o r i t y, ESWAMA. According to the report, right abuse in the state reached its' peak Friday the 23rd October 2015, when the dreaded ESWAMA fees collectors for Enugu state government caught up with two citizens in the course of their revenue enforcement drive and used shovel and heavy iron rods to break and shatter the ankles and knee cap bone of Mohammed Koma and Haruna Koma, who are gatemen at No. 23, Mbaukwu

Street, Independence Layout, Enugu.

The action according to the report is “reminiscent of the precivilization era of barbarity as well as the worst human right abuse we ever recorded in modern day Nigerian history”.

The report had it that the officials of the agency on Friday, 23rd October 2015, went on revenue drive to No. 23, Mbaukwu Street, Independence Layout, Enugu and “on arrival at the entrance of the estate they met Messrs Mohammed Koma and Haruna Koma, gatemen at the estate, who they asked for evidence of payment of sanitation fees but the two gatemen told them that their boss, who happened to be the owner of the estate was not around but told them to enter the estate and ask occupants in the apartments.

“They then asked Mohammed Koma to give them phone number of their boss and as he came out to pick his phone from where he had plugged it outside the security house, they rushed him and attempted to forcefully carry him into their waiting bus but he resisted and they left.

“Mohammed locked the gate and went into the estate to his boss apartment to take his bath but unknown to the two gatemen, the ESWAMA officials had gone for

CHANGE OF NAME AGU – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Agu Jane Amuche, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ugwu Jane Amuche All former documents remain valid. The general public, please take note

ESTHER – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogubuike Ozioma Esther. now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Ogubuike Ozioma Alex/Alexandra All former documents remain valid. The general public, please take note

reinforcement.

“They came back in two buses, jumped over the gate of the estate went inside and jumped over the fence to Mohammed's boss apartment where they met the two gatemen. They gave them the beating of their lives and thereafter used shovel and heavy iron rods on them which resulted in the breaking of their bones.

“Mohammed's ankle bone was broken while Haruna was unlucky as knee cap of one of his legs was broken. The two are presently being taken care of in a local bone setter's clinic.

“The state is not new to this f o r m o f dehumanizati on because this situation is a recurring decimal in the lives of E n u g u residents.

Sometime ago, precisely in 2013, a 17 year old that resides at Abakpa met his death in the hands of t h e enforcement task force from the same agency. There are other occasions where “women and men are at times dragged naked to the ESWAMA premises and kept in the unlawful barbed wired detention center within the premises.”

However, the CLO demanded the immediate removal of the Managing Director ESWAMA and Mr. Prosper Nnamani, the head of operations of ESWAMA, in addition to an immediate prosecution of the perpetrators of the act including the leader of the team that carried out the act, Nnamdi Ugborgu and the police that accompanied and supervised the thugs during the dastardly act.

The group further demanded that the state government should “immediately disband its' (alleged) killer squad known as ESWAMA task force.”

Before the present incident, a Federal High Court sitting in Enugu in 2012 in the case UKONU V. OGAUKWU, SUIT NO: FHC/EN/M/ 133/2012; presided by D.V. Agishi had ruled that the activities of the group such as the illegal detention, torture, humiliation and dehumanization amounted to the violation of the fundamental human rights of the citizens of the state.

The judge further held that the position of the group as an agency of the state cannot justify the indiscriminate arrest, slapping, dragging and kicking of the citizens of the state as such activities violate the rights of Nigerians as enshrined in section(4) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

H o w e v e r, A D V O C AT E NIGERIA confirmed that the Police have commenced investigation into the matter while assuring the affected persons that the perpetrators would face the full weight of the law.

But by press time we could not confirm from the police if any arrest has been made.

Make August 27 WAWA DAY, CNPP tells Enugu Govt

By Sylvester Orji

& Blessing Nnadi

T

he conference of Nigeria political parties, CNPP, Enugu chapter has called on the government of Enugu state to mark off August 27th of every year as ''WAWA'' day in honor of the heroes and founding fathers of the state who fought relentlessly to make Enugu state a dream state; While at the same time calling on those holding political positions not to allow the vision of the founding fathers to die.

In a press release signed by its chairman and Secretary Adonys Igwe and John Nwobodo

respectively, the group acknowledged the contributions of the founding fathers to the development of the state under the umbrella of E n u g u S t a t e D e v e l o p m e n t Association, ESDA. It hailed the contributions of the likes of senator ken Nnamani, GCON, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, CFR, late Chief C.C. Onoh and others who held the banner and light of the state up at national service The group called on the government of the state to immortalize Chief Onoh by naming the Nike road after him. In their words: “we call on the Enugu state government to name

the Nike road after late Chief Onoh in recognition of his daring efforts in the achievement of creation of the state.''

Enugu state was created in August 27, 1991 by General Ibrahim Babangida which also served as the capital of the former eastern region that constituted of the then old Anambra.

The group urged the government of Enugu state to begin preparation for next year's celebration. It therefore advised the government to constitute a committee that would prepare the state for her silver jubilee celebration which comes up on August 27th, 2016.

9

November, 2015

NIGERIA

POLITICS

UNRS-Nigeria inducts 170 members in Enugu

General Klehan Kings Degaya

A

gainst the backdrop of the increasing wars across the globe and current challenges of insurgence and terrorism that have devastated North-east of Nigeria, the United Nation Peace and Rescue Service, under aegis of United Noble Rescue Service (UNRS), has concluded its 2015 annual

conference in Enugu state with the induction of 170 officers and men into the noble service.

The theme of the conference, 'security-tips and humanitarian services' was organized mainly for the induction of officers and men into UNRS in Enugu state.

Addressing the new inductee's weekend, during the conference

held at 11 Nwangene Close, Ogwugor Abakpa-Nike, Enugu, the Rescue Superintendent, General Klehan Kings Degaya (RSG) charged the new members to be law abiding and show exemplary style the service has been known for over the years.

RSG Degaya represented by the National Secretary General, Prof. Hillary Okorie urged the new members to shun all kind of evil practices always complained about by Nigerians against security agencies, noting that though UNRS is a non-profit, nonreligious and nongovernmental organisation which its sole aim is embedded on the countries rescue missions, it is not without reward when discharge creditably.

He drew the attention of the members that it was the financial misappropriation, undermined by impunity and recklessness by Universal Peace Federation (UPF-PC Nigeria) that gave birth to UNRS which is registered both in UN and Nigeria, stressing that by this new initiate, every member is addressed to carry on rescue operations and peace activities in nobility.

He said though the aims and objectives of UPF international are incorporated in UNRS,

Obiano actualizes $150m Richbon automobile assembly plant

By Uche Chukwu, Awka through its equity contribution in people of the State and Nigeria.

T

he industrialization drive of the governor Willie Obiano came to fruition following the go-ahead order given by Ozubulu community for the establishment of a $150 million automobile assembly plant

by Richbon Group in partnership with the Anambra State Government.

The agreement for the immediate commencement of work on the project site at Ozubulu-Eziora boundary in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the State was reached during the stakeholders meeting held at the palace of the traditional ruler of Ozubulu, Igwe Fidelis Nnamdi Oruche on Wednesday, 23rd September 2015.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Town Planning, Barrister Stella Onuora, appreciated members of the community for the keenness to provide land for development, stressing that the project will benefit the youths immensely.

Barrister Onuora disclosed that the State government did not collect any money for the project, but encouraged partnering investors

form of the free Certificate of Occupancy granted in respect of the land and creation of access road to the project site.

Earlier, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), Chief Joe-Billy Ekwunife said the team visited on the direction of the State governor to urge the community especially its youths to cooperate with the investors to commence work on the $150million scalable automobile project for production of caterpillar soonest.

Chief Ekwunife pointed out that the community will get 5 percent of the investment cost, in addition to 35 percent out of 70 percent of direct and indirect job opportunities that will be created therefrom.

Contributing, the Chairman of Ekwusigo Local Government council, Chief Jude Mbaegbu, expressed gladness that the actualization of the project is being witnessed under the honest and purposeful leadership of governor Obiano, adding that the project has long term infrastructural, economic and job benefits for the

In his speech, the traditional ruler of Ozubulu, Igwe Oruche said his community has always been desirous of providing land for infrastructural and human development, but lamented that failure of the past administrations to actualize such projects has made t h e y o u t h s s u ff e r d u e t o joblessness.

Igwe Orunche expressed optimism that the commitment and secured atmosphere provided by governor Obiano and the proactive disposition of ANSIPPA will go a long way in bringing immediate positive result and jobs for the youths and pledged the support and cooperation of members of his community with the investors.

Contributing, the Obi of Eziora, Chief Nnamdi Ezeani assured the support of his people towards actualization of the project.

Also speaking, the PresidentGeneral of Ozubulu Town Union, Ichie Engr. Nobert Anigbogu thanked the government for its interest in the community and assured that the entire people of the community are solidly behind the government and investors to achieve the lofty objective.

presently, there have been scuffles in some states; hence we wait patiently for it to be resolved before the uniforms are disposed.

UNRS is different from other voluntary agencies, RSG Degaya said while they do not go beyond the C.A.C for approval, UNRS undergone scrutiny, with the approval of the attorney – general of the federation, via the president. “We have to be at rescue mission and work in cooperation with National Emergency Relief Agency (NERMA), Road Safety, and Red Cross among others; we therefore require a lot of training and expertise.

“The bye-laws of UNRS reflect the principle of nobility, dignity, good morals, and service to humanity which includes the MDG's.

In trouble areas, “we go in to rescue the victims as the RedCross or NERMA. It is not like any other voluntary service or Para-military agencies. UNRS members must therefore learn to endure and have ability to accommodate others, and provide credible and community service”.

He disclosed that the UNRS academy where officers and men of various command would be trained is on board but however, warned that anybody applying for membership with fake certificate would be proscribed like some officers were proscribed in Kaduna state for such offences.

General Degaya told the initiates that the code of conduct of UNRS is embedded on absolute obedience and discipline.

Some services of UNRS according the RSG include; “creating awareness on the UN Millennium development Goals, carrying out rescue in emergency

situations and giving first aid to accident victims.

It services the society and supports the government and the citizens of Nigeria in keeping the environment clean, through its Youth Relief Cadets (YRC), also to initiate national and international conference on youth restiveness, danger of drug abuse, pre-marital pregnancy, under age driving, drunkenness, thuggery, child trafficking, child labour, national and international prostitution, and general antisocial vices.

“UNRS provide free medical service and equipment to hospitals, health centres and communication. Provide skill acquisition and youth empowerment to orphans, the motherless, widows and widowers”.

The Noble service he further explained provide medium shelters to the homeless, indigents and handicapped. It also provides public enlightenments on antiterrorism, vandalism, kidnapping, anti-slavery and all other forms of anti-social vices.

Earlier, the host Commander, Enugu commandant Emma Okoye, aka Power, while thanking the new members for seriousness and dexterity they exhibited during their training urged them to remain committed to the noble service.

The conference was attended by all the regional commandants of the UNRS; Mr. Augustine Anagwu, South West zonal commandant; North Central zonal c o m m a n d e r, C o m m a n d a n t G e r m a n s A b u b a k a r, a n d Commandant Blessing O. Chikadibia of South-east commander.

PUBLIC NOTICE GLOBAL HEALTH EMPOWERMENT AND COUNSELING INITIATIVE (GHECI) This is to inform the general public that the above-named NGO has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration in accordance with the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990 part C. The trustees are: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Mrs.Orji-Okafor, Cheta Mr. Uche Okafor Ms. Agu Amarachi Dr. Mike Iroezindu Barr. Chinwuba Onah

- Chairman - Secretary - Treasurer - Member - Legal adviser

6. Rev. Fr. Christopher Ossi - Member 7. Lady Vero Ilika - Member 8. Mrs. Ebere Okenwa - Member 9. Mr. A. T. Mozie Esq. - Member 10. Mrs. Ngozi Iyiegbu - Matron 11. Hon. Ekee Obele - Patron

AIMS: GHECI aims at promoting and restoring human health.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: 1. To inform, educate and create awareness on health issues.

2. To promote and restore human health through health counseling and appropriate referrals.

3. To disseminate information on HIV/AIDS and other STIs prevention and positive living.

4. To match HIV-positive single persons to form marriage relationship.

5. To encourage safe motherhood and reproductive health/rights of youth and women.

6. To empower the PLHIV, childbearing women, youths, OVC and the elderly.

7. To organize conferences, seminars, workshops and meeting on topical issues of concern to PLHIV, Childbearing women, youths, OVC and the elderly 8. To conduct researches in the program areas.

Any objection to the above registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General of Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris crescents, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Mr. Uche Okafor Secretary Tel.: 08034390593,07037178282

10

November, 2015

NIGERIA

NEWS Igboeze South/Nsukka Rep Seat:

Police recommend Hon. Asadu's prosecution

T

he State Intelligence Bureau of Enugu State Police Command says it has established a case of forgery reported against the member representing Igboeze South/Nsukka Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Patrick Asadu and has forwarded its finding to the Department of Public Prosecution for appropriate legal advice.

This was contained in the Police Investigation Report with r e f e r e n c e n u m b e r C B : 4 0 9 9 / E N S / S I B / V. 1 / 1 4 3 dated October 19, 2015 copy of which was obtained by Advocate Nigeria in Enugu. The report was signed by DSP Iwara Ibiang, Officer in-charge of Special Intelligence Bureau, SIB. According to the report, the case of forgery was reported through a written petition dated 11th May 2015, and addressed to the Commissioner of Police Enugu State by one Engr. Ikechukwu Ugwuegede “m” of No. 7 Ogbolu Street GRA Enugu against one Hon. Patrick Asadu of No 26 Dennis Osadeber Crescent, Apo Abuja and the matter was referred to SIB for investigation.

In the petition, Engr. Ugwuegede who was the Peoples Democratic

P a r t y, P D P H o u s e o f Representatives candidate for Igboeze South/Nsukka federal constituency, alleged that on the 6th December 2014, he contested the PDP primaries for Igboeze South/Nsukka Federal Constituency with Hon. Patrick Asadu.

The petitioner said “he was declared winner after the primary election at Igboeze South/Nsukka Federal Constituency having scored the highest number of votes cast and was issued a result sheet form with serial number 0000324. That Hon Pat Asadu (allegedly) forged the same result sheet form with the same serial Number 0000324 and tendered it at the Federal High Court Abuja claiming it was issued to him by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Headquarters Abuja.”

The police officer said that in the course of the investigation, they were able to confirm from the evidence of the Returning Officer of PDP produced by the petitioner “the authenticity of the result sheet Number 0000324 presented

by Peoples Democratic Party National Headquarters declaring him (Ugwuegede) as the winner.

The investigators also said that the “affidavit deposed to by Adewale Oladipo the National Secretary of Peoples Democratic

Ugwuegede Party refuting the result presented

by Hon. Patrick Asadu, further shows the questionability of the result sheet presented by Hon. Patrick Asadu.”

According to the investigation report which was copied to both Ugwuegede and Asadu, “The Forensic analysis shows that there was discrepancies on the signatures of Professor Adewale Oladipo the National Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, Ahmadu Adamu Mu'azu, the National Secretary PDP(sic) (Chairman), Uchenna Ogbodo

Asadu and Oluedo Ephraim the, electoral and returning officers of PDP primary election.”

In their conclusion/ recommendation, the investigators said: “From the available facts in conjunction with the findings of the Forensic/Handwriting analysis, they were clear indications that the document in question, that is the result sheet presented by Hon. Patrick Asadu is a subject of Forgery. However, in view of involvement of a public officer, a member of the Federal House of

Representatives, INEC and party officials, the case file was forwarded to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for appropriate legal advice, please.”

It would be recalled that INEC had issued certificate of return to Asadu based on the alleged forged election result and was subsequently sworn in as member of the House of Representatives while Asadu who contested the election on the platform of PDP had engaged in legal battle to recover his mandate since May this year.

The Police investigation Report is reproduced below: STATE INTELLIGENCE BUREAU Address: The Nigeria Police State Headquarters Enugu Ref: CB:4099/ENS/SIB/V.1/143 Enugu State The Conimissioner of Police, The Nigeria Police Force, .

State Headquarters, Enugu.

Sir, POLICE INVESTIGATION REPORT RE: CASE OF FORGERY COMPLAINANT: HON. IKECHUKWU UGWUGEDE “M” 54 YRS SUSPECT: HON. PATRICK ASADU 'M' 51 YRS INTRQDUCTION: This is a case of Forgery reported through a written petition dated 11th May 2015, and addressed to the Commissioner of Police Enugu State by one Engr. Ikechukwu Ugwuegede “m” of No. 7 Ogbolu Street GRA Enugu against one Hon. Patrick Asadu of No 26 Dennis Osadeber Crescent, Apo Abuja and the matter was referred to investigation.

FACTS OF THE CASE: The complainant alleged that on the 6th December 2014, he contested the Peoples Democratic Party primaries for Igboeze South/Nsukka Federal Constituency with Hon. Patrick Asadu. He further disclosed that, he was declared winner after the primary election at Igboeze South/Nsukka Federal Constituency having scored the highest number of votes cast and was issued a result sheet form with serial number 0000324.

That Hon Pat Asadu forged the same result sheet form with the same serial Number 0000324 and tendered it at the Federal High Court Abuja claiming it was issued to him by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Headquarters Abuja. Hence his petition.

INVESTIGATION: On the receipt of the petition, the complainant was invited and he volunteered his statement.

On the 31st May 2015, the opponent Hon. Patrick Asadu was Invited to the office where he volunteered statement under caution, however denied the allegations. The officers that conducted the party primaries for Peoples Democratic Party that produced HON Ikechukwu Ugwuegede as The Peoples Democratic Party flag bearer for Nsukka/Igboeze-South Federal Constituency, Uchenna Ogbodo and Oluedo Ephraim the electoral and the returning officers were invited and they all came and volunteered their statements freely.

Investigation was further extended to Peoples Democratic Party secretariat, both state, and National Headquarters Enugu and Abuja respectively, relevant documents were obtained, while Professor Adewale Oladipo tendered an oath from Federal High Court Abuja disassociating himself from the result sheet tendered by Hon. Patrick Asadu. That he never signed or endorsed the result sheet Number 0000324, code PDOO4/NA/2014 declaring Hon. Dr. Patrick Asadu winner of PDP primaries of 6th December 2014, into the House of Representatives for Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal Constituency with 88 votes. He further declared that the said purported result' sheet never emanated from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat”. To balance the investigation Hon. Patrick Asadu was also asked to produce the electoral and returning officers that conducted the primaries that produced him as the winner, Everistus Anibueze and Ibe Calistus for statement taking, which he never did. All the sample signatures of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officers that signed a result sheet Number 0000324 were sought for and those of Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha the National Organizing Secretary, Professor Adewale Oladipo, the National Secretary, that of Uchenna Obodo and Oluedo Ephraim electoral and returning officers were all produced and was sent to Forensic and Crime Data,

Force Criminal/Investigation and intelligence Department, Nigeria Police for analysis and authentication of hand writing signatures. However, up till the time of the report, Hon. Patrick Asadu has not produced Everistus Anibueze the electoral officer and Ibe Calistus the returning officer that conducted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries that produced him as the winner of Igboeze South/Nsukka Federal Constituency in 6th D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4 .

Meanwhile, the excerpts of the statement is as follows: 1) Engr Ikechukwu Ugwuege: He is the petitioner, 54 years old, a native of Ibeku-Opi in Nsukka Local Government area of Enugu State. He contested for the House of Representative seat for Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal Constituency under Peoples Democratic Party and was declared the winner of the primary with 83 votes and was issued with the result sheet serial number 0000324 on the 06/12/2014 and signed by all the Peoples Democratic Party officials that conducted the primary election.

However, on the 28th March 2015 he was challenged by the suspect Hon. Patrick Asadu who is currently occupying the seat from the same constituency. He alleged that the suspect presented a forged result sheet with same serial number and signatories from the PDP officials that conducted the primary election.

2) Hon (Dr.) Patrick Asadu: He is the political opponent of the complainant in this case, a native of Amasa Village Ovoko in Igbo Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State. A parliamentarian and currently the seating member House of Representing Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal Constituency He denied the allegation of Forgery against him rather he contended that he won the primary election of Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal Constituency that was conducted on the 6th December 2014 with highest number of votes cast in the primary election. He concluded

Continues on page 13

11

November, 2015

NIGERIA

NEWS

‘How West invaded Africa with Bioterrorism’ S

takeholders, Environmentalists and food safety activists have warned African countries particularly Kenya and Uganda that they were being used for field trials of mutant cassava virus developed by biotechnology companies.

According to Adrian Milliken of the ADP Press, the warning was given by a network of organizations involved in food safety issues in the continent, Consortium for Food Safety in Africa, during its biannual conference held in Nairobi the capital of Kenya.

The conference which was mainly held by webcast and podcast discussed issues related to the Cassava Mosaic Disease and Cassava Brown Streak Disease claimed that there's a dangerous plan to introduce mutant cassava viruses to attack natural cassava strains in Africa and also to develop strains resistant to it as genetically modified (GMOs) cassava.

The conference alleged that the project is being funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Monsanto through a proxy company called Genetics Technologies International Limited; a development that “will put at risk the food security of 800 million Africans and also millions in South America and China”.

Delegates who sort the protection of their names against exposure because of the cartel involved in the project pointed out that some countries which include Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda were being used as test ground for release of the very virulent cassava viruses to attack the crops.

They expressed dismay that the governments of these countries have accepted the offer by Monsanto owned by Bill Gates to provide them GMOs cassava which would mean that the GMOs cassava planted in Africa would now come from Monsanto who would in turn successfully hijack the food security of African countries.

United States delegates from Wisconsin and New York told the conference that the GMOs strains purported to be virus resistant which were developed at the Danforth Institute in Missouri, USA, has lost its credibility following several highprofile scandals of scientific falsifications of research data under funding by Bill Gates.

Delegates from Mozambique informed the forum that there is an on-going Seed Certification Program tied to agricredit scheme advocated by the President of the Africa Development Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina; another plot to ensure that small farmers plant only the GMOs cassava, across Africa.

Those from South Africa and East Africa criticized their governments for allowing the Bill Gates and Monsanto's devised scheme to force-feed Africa with toxic GMOs cassava strains while killing the natural cassava using the mutant cassava viruses.

Report from the conference further stated that European delegates from Holland, Norway and Denmark also blamed the African countries for allowing the program to go on through the network of International Institutes of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and various Root Crops Institutes in Africa.

They said that upon realization of the

Adrian Milliken negative consequences, European Union authorities quickly and correctly banned agriproducts from Africa because of high toxicity and have gone further to raise alarm that these products are dangerous foods for Africans too.

“A delegate from Finland recounted a personal experience while travelling on research in the Great Lakes region, where

he witnessed that farmers were given the infected cassava strains to plant by foreign scientists working in the area”, the report stated.

Consequently, delegates from France qualified the current situation as bioterrorism and should be brought to the UN Security Council despite the fact that the United States and Britain would definitely object adding that the world attention would be drawn to the matter.

Activists from London advised that the matter should be made a major political issue as they have engaged Prime Minister David Cameron and other European leaders on the Migration Policies while promising to implement an information dissemination network that will involve the people on the matter across Europe inorder to transform it into a politically explosive scandal!

The Western African delegates from Nigeria, Togo and Burkina Faso warned their governments that the target is Nigeria, the world biggest grower of cassava.

A Nigerian human rights lawyer who pledged anonymity to the media informed the forum that the major interest of the biotechnology companies has been to capture the food security of Nigeria alleging that Bill Gates funded the so-called

Boko Haram insurgency to attack the northeast of Nigeria where 80% of the tuber crops are grown.

He said that about 5 million small farmers has been displaced and now allowed to be resettled and given GMOs crops to plant through the so-called multilateral donor agencies also funded by Bill Gates.

The lawyer opined that it is part of the grand proposal made to the Nigerian government to have large GMOs companies like Monsanto take over the agricultural sector in Nigeria, insisting that it would render over 40 million Nigerians engaged as small farmers jobless and cause widespread malnutrition and poverty in Southwest and Southeast regions where natural cassava is grown mainly.

“Now, the focus of Monsanto and Bill Gates has shifted to introduce the cassava virus into the Southeast and Southwest Nigeria”, he said.

“They through corrupt government agencies in collaboration of the IITA, Root Crop Institutes, and Religious Charities hope to get the GMOs cassava stem distributed after the covert introduction of the cassava virus in the natural fields.

“The new Nigerian government would be unprepared to offer alternative solutions at this time. The agribusiness lobby in Nigeria is powerful with major billionaires and former heads of states working to actualize the plan to the detriment of their country and fellow poor compatriots. It is estimated that, the mainly agricultural Northern Nigeria would be totally decimated if the Bill Gates plan becomes fully realized”.

Activists from Jordan, Dubai and Saudi Arabia lamented the lack of action by Arab governments despite the overwhelming evidence that, there is culpability of Western powers and Bill Gates in the ongoing ISIS crisis in the Middle East.

The conference ended with a note to reassess the issues within the next 6 months in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

MTN subscribers lament over SIM blockage

By Blessing Nnadi , Chikodili Okoro & Sylvester Orji

T

housands of MTN subscribers across Nigeria have expressed their grieve over the recent blockage of subscriber identity modules (SIM) card which affected those who registered previously and those who did not register at all.

This has resulted to a large number of people trooping in and out to get their SIM registered in various parts of the country.

However the case in Enugu seems different as subscribers who were affected wake up as early as 4: am to ensure they get to the nearest MTN office on time and stand in the queue to enable them get their SIM card registered in order to start using their mobile phones.

Advocate correspondents who went to one of the MTN offices located at Zik Avenue in Enugu metropolis reported that most people abandoned their jobs, businesses and homes to register their blocked SIM. The Zik avenue office visited had a large number of subscribers in the company's hall with an overflow of people sitting on the floor and on the road side which according to a source who pledged anonymity, “was frustrating and does not speak well of the

telecommunication company”.

A staff of the network provider told Advocate reporter, “that most people were in this condition because they refused to register their SIM when they were told to do so, he also said that any one whose SIM card was blocked was warned before hand to register their SIM and nobody's SIM was blocked without proper information that includes a text message that was sent out to subscribers.

A young lady, aged 20 who introduced herself as Amarachi said she bought her SIM three months ago and registered it in an MTN office and a month later they sent her

a text informing her that if she doesn't register her SIM, her line would be blocked.

According to her, “I went back but was told to go that I have registered my SIM and three days later my line was blocked and since then I have been coming to register but to no avail due to the large number of people waiting to get their SIM cards registered.

Another subscriber named Timothy lamented how the activity has interrupted his business transactions, narrating how he can't make or receive calls anymore as a result of the blockage.

He lamented that he is incurring a huge loss in his business as the situation has made him stay more than five hours from his business yet he is no where to his turn to be registered.

“If not for the inconveniences it would cost me and my business partners I would never use the SIM card again”, he threatened.

In the same manner, those affected have expressed dissatisfaction in the way the matter is being handled by the company, stressing that most of them come around 4 am only for them to attend to only a few people per day, which is actually stressful and another hopeless situation for them.

12

November, 2015

NIGERIA

Appeal Court panel disagree over Saraki's trial

J

ustices of the Court of Appeal were sharply divided Friday over the propriety of the 13count criminal charge filed against the Senate President, Dr. Olubukola Saraki before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Whereas Justice Moore Adumein dismissed the appeal that was lodged by Saraki as lacking in merit, another member of the p a n e l , J u s t i c e J .E . E k a n e m upheld the appeal, declaring the charge before the CCT as incompetent.

Justice Ekanem specifically quashed the charge and discharged Saraki on the basis that the Deputy Director at the Ministry of Justice, M. M. S. Hassan who signed the charge, did not specify who authorised him to initiate the criminal proceeding.

“A look at the charge showed that Mr. Hassan instituted the action pursuant to section 24 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, 2004 which permits only the Attorney General of the Federation to initiate criminal

proceedings”.

Justice Ekanem stressed that though the constitution permits the Solicitor-General of the Federation, SGF, to commence criminal action in the absence of the AGF, he said that Hassan failed to produce any document showing that he was properly authorised by the SGF. “The opening paragraph of the letter Hassan sent to the CCT on September 11, wherein he applied to commence trial against the appellant is very instructive.

“He merely said 'I am authorised to file this action' but did not say that he was authorised by the Solicitor-General. He went short of identifying who authorised him.

“It is therefore my view that the charge before the tribunal is incompetent. It is for this view that I hold that this appeal has

Dr. Olubukola Saraki succeeded and I hereby set-aside t h e c h a rg e a n d d i s c h a rg e t h e accused person”, Justice Ekanem held.

However, the third member of the panel, Justice M. Mustapha, concurred with the lead verdict

which declined to quash the charge against Saraki.

Earlier, leader of the panel, Justice Adumein dismissed Saraki's appeal, saying he should go to the tribunal to answer the charge against him.

He held that Justice Danladi Umar-led tribunal was properly constituted to try the offences against Saraki, noting that he was not charged in his official c a p a c i t y, b u t a s a n individual.

J ustice Adumein placed reliance on paragraph 15)1( of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 C o n s t i t u t i o n a n d section 20)2( of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, 2004, a nd held that the two-man panel of Justices at the tribunal formed a quorum to entertain the charge.

“The above provisions are very clear and unambiguous and should be given their ordinary meaning.

This is in line with the golden rule of interpretation. There is no

Hemp suspect urinates blood after alleged NDLEA torture *Two other drug suspects pleaded guilty, remanded in Ebonyi Prison

By Nnamdi Akpa, Abakaliki

A

middle aged man, Emmanuel Oko Uwa has told the Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital how he was tortured by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) which led to his frequent passing out of blood while urinating.

Uwa, a native of Agboride village, Amaizu community, Afikpo North local government area of Ebonyi State, was arrested and arraigned in court last Thursday

by NDLEA in 2012 for being in possession of 1kg of Indian hemp.

He said that he suffered serious humiliation in the hands of the Agency.

Addressing the court, Uwa said men of the NDLEA numbering 21 invaded his compound at 3am of 15th February, 2012 and started ransacking his rooms after asking the whereabouts of one Sunday Ogbonnia who resides in the compound.

Uwa said he had told the NDLEA officials that Ogbonnia was not in the compound and that they started forcing him to follow them to their office in Afikpo North.

Narrating his ordeal, Uwa said: “Because I refused to follow them, they started beating me mercilessly.

“They later bundled me inside their car and left. They broke my legs and inflicted injuries on my face as can be seen even till now.

“When they got to their office, they continued the torture to the extent that I started urinating blood each time I want to urinate and it is still happening to me.

“They said I should admit that I am a drug dealer to free myself which I refused because I am a trader; trade on palm oil not hard drugs. “They later forced me to sign a prepared statement which I did to save my life because I was seriously down.'’

He said his step-brother framed him up because of struggle for his late father's assets which he said had polarized the family. While interrogating him, the prosecution counsel M.C Onyia told the suspect that he was found with a polythene bag of Indian hemp when officials of the NDLEA surrounded his compound.

He further told the suspect that no official of NDLEA tortured him and that he voluntarily wrote statement where he admitted committing the crime.

Similarly, the Agency has also arraigned two persons, Inya Samuel Ali and Okorie Onyekachi Kingsley before an Ebonyi State federal high court sitting in Abakaliki, the state capital for being in possession of hard drugs.

Ali, an indigene of Ezi-Uzu village, Ugwuegu community in Afikpo North local government area of the state and Kingsley, who resides at No. 47b Umunze Street, Abakaliki pleaded guilty to the crime.

Ali was accused of possessing

400grams of cocaine, heroin, cannabis and other drugs while Kingsley was accused of being in possession of 110kg of cannabis sativa, cocaine and heroin.

The two suspects who were arraigned separately committed offence punishable by section 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

When the charges were read to them by a clerk in the court, they admitted that they committed the crime.

The trial Judge, Maureen Ada Onyetenu (Miss) ordered that they be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the matter to 3rd of December for facts.

provision on minimum number of members which the tribunal must have before it can sit to hear cases”.

Justice Adumein held that the charge was competently instituted, saying the tribunal had the requisite powers to issue bench warrant against Saraki.

He dismissed all five grounds of appeal that Saraki filed before the court for want of merit.

Saraki had gone before the appellate court to query the legality of the charge against him.

He was among other offences, alleged to have owned and operated foreign bank accounts while being a public officer.

However, aside challenging the charge, Saraki also queried the constitutionality of the warrant of arrest that was initially issued against him by Chairman of the CCT, Justice Umar.

Besides, the embattled Senate President, through his team of lawyers led by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. J.B. Daudu, SAN, wants the higher court to ascertain whether the Justice Umar-led panel subscribed to the appropriate legal procedure when i t ordered him to mount the dock and enter his plea to the charge despite preliminary objections against his trial.

He described the criminal proceeding that was initiated against him by the Federal M i n i s t r y o f J u s t i c e a s “a politically motivated witch-hunt”.

He begged the appellate court to quash the proceeding of the tribunal and discharge him, a request that was refused by two members of the appeal court panel today.

FOI Act:

Court adjourns petition against FETHA over employee list

T

he Federal High Court in Abakaliki Thursday adjourned to November 10, 2015 a case demanding the list of employees engaged between 2011 and 2013 by the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA).

The case was brought by Barr.

Luke Nkwegu (plaintiff) against FETHA and the then Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr. Paul Ezeonu.

The judge, Maureen Ada Onyetenu, adjourned the matter to November 10 for definite adoption following oral application by defence counsel, Mrs. E. W. Chaka Nweze, who pleaded that she was not ready for the adoption.

The judge, who awarded N10,000 cost against the defendants to be paid to the plaintiff for the unnecessary request for adjournment, warned that the court would adopt the briefs of both sides on the new adjourned date whether they are ready or not.

"I'm giving the defence counsel one last chance," the judge stated after rejecting the application by the plaintiff's counsel, Mr. Hosea Nwofe that the judge was at liberty to rule for definite adoption and fix date for judgement since the matter had been delayed through "deliberate delay tactics".

Hosea had argued that his client had in 2014, under the Freedom of Information Act applied for the list of employees engaged in FETHA from 2011 to 2013.

He said that the information was supposed to be provided to his client within seven days, but that the management of the hospital had insisted they will do so after a meeting of the governing board.

He said that the hospital has refused to provide the record since 2014 till date.

Speaking with journalists after the court sitting, Hosea said: "Under Freedom of information Act they have seven days to grant us our request, we applied for the list of

the employees between 2011 to 2013. We said that the list should contain the names of the employees, local government and state of origin. They told us they want to hold meeting first and since 2014 till date they have not been able to hold the meeting so as to furnish us with the relevant document.

"That's why we came to court. The matter has been going on very well, the court has been diligent but the defense council adopted delay tactics. Just that we are almost running out of patience because they ought to have furnished us with the information.

"Every citizen of this country has right to demand for any public record he wants to have and that is why we applied. We want to see the record, it is for our own consumption. "Besides the Freedom of Information Act is still a new law, we want to test it to know whether it is workable or not, that is why we are in court," he said.

13

November, 2015

NIGERIA

NEWS

Obiano's wife, extols SSDO skill training of physically challenged

Chief Mrs Ebelechukweu Obiano

By Uche Chukwu, Awka could not hide her feeling of

T

he wife of the governor of Anambra State, Chief Mrs Ebelechukweu Obiano

excitement as she poured encomiums on the South Saharan Africa Social Development O rg a n i z a t i o n ( S S D O ) f o r

embarking on skill acquisition programme for 50 persons with disability who graduated after a three-month free Mobile Phone Repair and software installation Training at Umuleri, Anambra East Local Government Area on Friday, October 23, 2015.

The wife of the governor also commissioned the CAFE Cares Vocational and Welfare Centre at Umuleri which houses computer laboratory, hair dressing, sewing and bead making classrooms as well as male and female hostels, in addition to donating N500,000 to procure generating sets to source light for the business.

Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour at the Graduation and commissioning ceremonies, Chief Mrs. Obiano thanked the Country Director of SSDO, Mrs. Grace Chinegwundoh Nwobodo for bringing the training programme to Anambra State, stressing that the training for persons with disabilities is in line with the mission of her pet project, the Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ).

Chief Mrs. Obiano who was accompanied by the wife of the Anambra East Local Government Council, Mrs. Jennifer Udeano and the representative of the traditional ruler of Aguleri, Igwe Idigo 1V, Chief Emma Ike,

among other top government officials, noted that the event is an encouragement to the little efforts her pet project is making to make life more meaningful for the physically challenged.

According to her, she is disposed to identifying with people who share her charitable ideals, and expressed the readiness of her pet Project, CAFÉ to partner with the SSDO, in the spirit of brotherhood, to expand the scope of the empowerment programme across the State.

The First Lady congratulated the graduands of the training programme and urged them to utilize the knowledge they have gained for their own economic emancipation, hoping that they will serve as resource persons to transfer the knowledge they gained to others when called upon.

“My pet project will continue to partner with the Anambra State Government to ensure that we put smiles on the faces of the physically challenged. CAFÉ has already provided assistive devices like wheel chairs and walking aids to some physically challenged in the state. We have also provided prosthetic legs and arms to hundreds of physically challenged in the State. Our hope is that we will continue until we

have touched as many physically challenged persons as God's providence will allow us to touch.”

She commended her husband, governor Obiano Willie for his support and love to the physically challenged which, she said, is evident from his approval for the renovation of the abandoned party house to serve as a vocational and skill acquisition centre for the physically challenged, while thanking all others who contributed in various ways to get the place ready for the take-off of the training programme as well as the training facilitators.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Victoria Chikwelu who thanked SSDO for the training programme, noted with thanks that the success of the event would not have been possible if not for the special intervention of the wife of the governor of the State, Chief Mrs Obiano who, according to her, ensured the completion of the building to accommodate the trainees of the programme and followed it up with the provision of food stuff and other nutritional requirements to ensure the

Continues on page 22

The Police investigation Report, cont...

Continued from page10 that, his result sheet with serial No. 0000324 from the Peoples Democratic Party is the authentic result sheet that returned him to the National Assembly through the Peoples Democratic Party primary election 3) Professor AdewaIe Oladipo: In his oath he declared that he is Christian, male, adult, a Nigerian of Wadata Plaza plot 1970, Michael Okpara Street, zone 5 Wuse Abuja, he is National Secretary Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), He declared that he never signed or endorsed the result sheet. Number 0000324, Code PDOO4/MN2014 declaring Hon. Patrick Asadu winner of Peoples Democratic Party primaries of 6th December, 2014 into the House of Representative for Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal constituency with 88 votes, and that the said purported result sheet never emanated from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was either scanned, cloned or otherwise produced. That he also believed that the purported signature on the said purported result sheet Number 0000324, code P0004/frlA,'2014 declaring Hon. Dr. Patrick Asadu winner of the Peoples Democratic Party of 6th December 2014 into the House of Representative for Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal Constituency with 88 votes was either lifted, copied, scanned or otherwise transferred from previous documen sign by him and .superimpose and pasted on the said document. That he deposed to this affidavit in good faith and in accordance with Oath Acts.

4) Mr. OIu Ephraim: He is 42 years old, a native of Achi in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State. He is an Accountant by profession, and also Assistant Secretary Peoples Democratic Party, Enugu State. He was the returning officer for the December 6th 2014 primaries for Igboeze South/Nsukka Federal constituency where the petitioner Engr. Ikechukwu Ugwuegede was declared the winner with 83 votes and the result was communicated to PDP National Headquarters Abuja.

5) Prince Uchenna Opbodo: He was the Electoral

Officer of the Peoples Democratic Party primaries on the 6 December 2014 for the Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal constituency that produced Engr. Ikechukwu Ugwuegede. He also tendered a copy of the result sheet signed by him.

FINDINGS: Based on the investigation l carried out, the following facts emerged 1. That on 6th December 2014, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held its primaries election for the National Assembly Aspirants for Igboeze South/Nsukka Federal Constituency at the Party House Nsukka.

2 That Engr. Ikechukwu Ugwuegede and Hon. Patrick Asadu, contested for parallel primary elections of Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal Constituency under the People Democratic Party.

3.

That Uçhenna Ogbodo and Oluedo Ephraim are the electoral and returning officers that conducted the election which declared Hon Ikechukwu Ugwuegede the winner of the primary while Everistus Anibueze and Ibe Calistus are the electoral and returning officers that declared Hon. Patrick Asadu the winner in the other side.

4.

That the Peoples Democratic Party National Assembly primary election result sheet No. 0000324 and code Number PDOO4/MA/2014 was issued to both candidates, but from different electoral and returning officers.

5. That whereas in the result sheets, one had a, questionable characteristics, that is the one presented by Hon. Patrick Asadu.

5.

That while the Peoples Democratic Party, relied on the result sheet that declared Engr. Ikechukwu Ugwuegede as the winner of the primary election to sponsor him for Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal Constituency Election of 28th March 2015, which he contested and won, Hon. Patrick Asadu on his own relied on the questionable result sheet Number 0000324 to obtain judgment at the Federal High court Abuja as the candidate that won the PDP primary election for Nsukka/lgboeze South Federal Constituency and was

accordingly issued with INEC Certificate of Return and sworn in as elected member of the House of Representative.

6.

That Engr. Ikechukwu Ugwugede produced the electoral and returning officers of Peoples Democratic Party who conducted his primary election and who also announced him the winner in the primary, while Hon. Patrick Asadu was unable to do same.

7.

That the electoral and returning officers of Peoples Democratic Party whom Engr. Ikechukwu Ugwuegede produce confirm the authenticity of the result sheet Number 0000324 presented by Peoples Democratic Party National Headquarters declaring him as the winner.

8.

That affidavit deposed to by Adewale Oladipo the National Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party refuting the result presented by Hon. Patrick Asadu, further shows the questionability of the result sheet presented by Hon. Patrick Asadu 9.

That the Forensic analysis shows that there was discrepancies on the signatures of Professor Adewale Olpdipo the National Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, Ahmadu Aclamu Mu'azu, the National Secretary PDP, Uchenna Ogboclo and Oluedo Ephraim the, electoral and returning officers of PDP primary election.

CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION: From the available facts in conjunction with the findings of the Forensic/Handwriting analysis, they were clear indications that the document in question, that is the result sheet presented by Hon. Patrick Asadu is a subject of Forgery. However, in view of involvement of a public officer, a member of the Federal House of Representatives, INEC and party officials, the case file was forwarded to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for appropriate legal advice, please.

DSP IWARA IBIANG OFFICER IN-CHARGE SIB ENUGU STATE cc Engr. ikechukwu Ugwuegede Hon. Patrick Asadu

16

November, 2015

NIGERIA

INTERVIEW

I will fight for Biafra again if....

– Bishop Onubuogu Bishop Obi Onubuogu, former ADC to the late Biafran leader, late General Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in this interview with Advocate Nigeria says that the marginalisation of the Igbos has gotten to an embarrassing level such that they make the people feel that they are not part of this whole entity called Nigeria.

By Blessing Nnadi & Sylvester Orji There has been this vexed issue about same sex marriage where some catholic bishops are beginning to clamour for reconsideration on the position of the law on the affected, what is your view?

In the first place I would like u to explain more on what the catholic bishops are doing.

They said people should consider the gays and know that it is not their fault and their positions should also be considered.

I will take on from the first line.

In the first place we ministers are called of God, our constitution comes from the bible; what we preach and the life we live. God made it quite clear in the scriptures that marriage is between man and woman; not between woman and woman, man and animals as we even see today, man and dog, man and cat. The instruction is very very clear and the church position is to adhere to the instruction of God. “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and be united to the wife. I d o n ' t k n o w, b u t recently I have heard in the news that a catholic priest somewhere in Europe has been relieved of his job because he is a homosexual and not only that, he is married to a man. The pictures are all there in the internet. Then what are we talking about?

These are human beings. We have human beings who break the law in the church and we correct them but we do not approve what they do. I think that the Catholics might be saying that they are human beings, we should consider their emotions.

You see, when in the church, you deal with a sinner, you are angry about the sin he commits, that is true. Homosexuals and lesbians are humans, yes, but they are living a life that is contrary to what we teach and that is what

we condemn totally and we demand a change from it. We cannot compromise on it and anybody who lives the clear direction of the scriptures to live his life against the word of God, we cannot find accommodation for them either by being so sympathetic that you refuse to see the wrongs they are doing.

There is nothing that would make the church triumphant and make the church of Jesus Christ stand if not by absolute obedience. Thank God the Pope himself had to relieve that priest of his duties because as we are here today the Catholic Church does not support same sex marriage that's what is all over the news now.

Nigeria at fifty five, what hope?

Nigeria at fifty five is very interesting. Number one, we did not calculate neither did we arrange but it has come on the very beginning or inception of a

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Bishop Obi Onubuogu government that is in charge of affairs in our nation Nigeria. The important thing is this, which I wanted to point out is that the inception of the government this year coincided with the fifty fifth anniversary of Nigeria as a nation. I want to look at it scripturally. May I inform you that numbers in the scriptures, in the bible have great significance; number one for example is the number of unity, number three is the number for perfection and fellowship, number seven is the number of completion and also the number of perfection, number five talks about grace; grace is enablement of God to go, do things that ordinarily you could not do. God empowers you to do things, you receive the favour of God, you receive the help of God, you are in a situation where you know that it is only God that is sustaining you, your faith is being sustained by God and you do not deserve it, which is the key thing. When grace comes upon you, you begin to receive the things you do not qualify to

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new government, a government that clearly God has allowed, orchestrated by Him at this time, to bring in a government to change the old government. No government comes to power over a people, over a nation, without God knowing about it.

God knows about this

receive, so I think the occasion is to give thanks to God for what he has done. Number five stands for grace. Number fifty five is grace and grace; look at it as double grace, in other words, this is the time in this space of one year that Nigeria will find its feat and I am talking about the destiny of God. The things we will do, the spirit of God would help us to even achieve double; all these time of condemnation and talking ill about the destruction and so on.

The space between now and the coming year in year fifty sixth is a time for laying foundation for moving into a new level of leadership, new level of accountability, new level of integrity. This celebration offers a chance spiritually. I think it is an opportunity to go forward even if we don't qualify. We have been very cruel, wicked, corrupt, nasty, called names, destroyed ourselves, been bombing ourselves, castigating ourselves and lying. God wants to help us even though we don't deserve it and we don't deserve it doubly but he brought us to this being, he created our nation, he selected us to be together and that same God wants to do something. This is the way I see it and it's important to know that if God wants to do it, everybody should let God do it. What will save Nigeria from further crises is doing Gods agenda. I just spelt out for Nigeria, if the

leadership goes with that, then we will go to the next level but if we go against God's agenda and continue like old, I know a saying that says you don't get new things by carrying on the old way; there is no way.

From your perspective do you believe in an assertion that Nigerians have been leaning in ethic cleavages and that it is part of the problem in the country?

The reason why you mentioned is this. The election has been held, the result announced, a new government has been confirmed. As far as fair minded people are concerned, the bickering, struggling, competition, electioneering is over. If I win election as the leader of my little village, I immediately begin to see myself as the one appointed to take care of all the people. Your question is really pointing to appointments and except for the recent rumours, Ndigbo has been, clearly, terribly and boldly marginalized and were kept out of the biggest appointments and everybody knows that. It is not only the Igbo people that are saying it, the northerners have seen it, those who are honest, the westerners are seeing it, those who are honest, the southerners too are seeing it, those who are honest and the thing has become

Continues on page 17

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NIGERIA

INTERVIEW

I will fight for Biafra again if....

Continued from page 16 so embarrassing that the Igbos are feeling that they are not part of these whole entity called Nigeria. If you deny them a voice in the affairs of the nation, you are simply telling them they don't belong here and if you want to keep it to the last minutes then you have already created a problem from the beginning. But I won't hesitate to say that the attitude of Ndigbo should be patience as we have not come to the end of the game.

Those who are favoured to be in charge, maybe have plans for you and we need to wait and see.

What I love about Ndigbo and I am one of them, is that events in the nation has pushed us to the point of being honest and speaking about national issues without fear. Yes, we are not a group of people you could ignore or can be simply marginalized; we are a force to reckon within the industrial sector, human resources, in academics and even outside the nation; in Diaspora. One ought to be very very careful, infact I call on the government and

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“ those in a position to readjust things, to do that quickly.

Ndigbo have a part to play in Nigeria. Nigeria should accommodate and not push Ndigbo away. Think back a few years ago, those of you who are old enough, will understand what I am saying and those of you of Nigeria and any other part who have any grudges and

don't want you and you are told face to face that you can go because they will be able to do without you; you are nothing here, you are told face to face all around the nation. From the north they chase them, from the south they chase them, from Lagos they attack them; they close their businesses, they seize their things, they even speak that it is better that you go and get drown in the Lagoon. What do you expect us to do, what? We have no voice, you have nobody to talk, nobody in the rulership of the government and other places.

Where you go, they show clearly that you are not welcomed and you are not wanted. Just imagine if any of the tribes of Nigeria are treated like the Igbos in this extreme way. I have a friend from the north, my bosom friend till today. This is what he told me; he called me a few weeks ago and said, “do you remember that thing I told you a few years ago” he called me and I said yes and, he said “listen if they do to me and my people what they did to you and your people, I and my people will react the same way you reacted with your people”.

complains about not getting correctly what is due to them should then imagine a whole geographical area of the nation with five state not being part of what is happening in our nation.

You fought in Biafra and if peradventure the circumstances which you fought repeat, will you fight again? And in all these agitations for actualizing the Biafra's as a sovereign entity, will you be part of it?

I'm not God; I'm only a servant of God. I love Nigeria with my whole heart and I want to tell you this, if you ever read these over the media network, I was a police officer, I served the country with the best of my knowledge and strength as a young man. That's the very first job I had out of school. I grew from cadet sub inspector to assistant superintendent of police. I was the second in command of MOPOL 3 in Enugu. When the war broke out, we were drafted to Lagos, our camp was at Obalende, we helped at a very great risk to arrest the coup plotters and those who were involved; military officers that were armed w i t h b i g weapons, we had barraters and small guns yet we rounded them up by the instruction of the commander and took them to Apapa naval base detention.

I was acting with others on defence of the country that we loved but things went out of hand as days went by and we found ourselves pushed back to the hinterland of the Igbos and during that time I was attached as the police ADC and Chief security officer o f t h e government house of Biafra on post because I did not choose to be there, I never applied for it but mere stroke of faith landed me in being around when Biafra was declared. After all I was on duty on the other side and that is it. So I served, I followed the Head of state and the rulers, the military and everybody, round the fronts, I followed to international conference in Niger. I didn't go to Ghana, Addis Ababa and all that.

We came back and the war

Bishop Obi Onubuogu continued. I witnessed the war from the report of government house and visit to the fronts. I witnessed the air raids, the starvation, kwashiorkor children, I escaped myself bombing and starving; the lord had mercy on me. Then the war suddenly ended and I was offered the chance to go on exile, I took it and went with Odumegwu Ojukwu, lived in exile in the Ivory Coast, picked up French in the street there, but it was a terrific condition where you live your family, parent, the people you love and you are in a strange country. Though they gave us food and made us to feel comfortable, we were not, because we were thinking of our land. Then event orchestrated it and I came back to Nigeria unannounced and luckily I slipped through the immigration reported myself to the securities authorities. I was immediately arrested and detained. I went through a period of questioning, interrogation and at the end of it; I was released to go home. I was sacked from the police force. I came home to leave with my people. It was while I was living my life I felt best for me that the good Lord arrested me and called me into the ministry. I have become more matured, I became more experienced, more knowledgeable, I thought things over and “your question is will you fight again if the same situation that was there occurs now? War is a terrible thing I lost my brothers, I lost my friends, God speared my life, I saw my aged father and mother at a very bad stage in the bush and you ask me that if that situation that caused the war..., you know what

caused the first one, pogrom, if situation arises again I fear. My own fear is this, nobody would be able to control the reaction of the people, there are young people who are completely eager, if you discuss it them and tell them what happened, they wonder why they should even be in this arrangement called Nigeria. For us older people we would be the one to tell them that war is terrible, it was terrible! Don't do anything hasty instead try and negotiate dialogue, talk it over.

Your question is would I fight?

Oh! Yes, I will but not with gun anymore but spiritual warfare. I will fight with my whole strength; anything fighting against peace of Nigeria, I will fight with my whole power and strength. I am not sure everybody is going to do it like me, I am sure some people think that it is through the barrel of gun but for me as a Bishop, for me as a spiritual leader, I will have to first of all know the mind of God in what we are doing . If finally that I am convinced that it is the will of GOD for us to be pushed out and be treated like we don't belong here, then I will fight. I am seventy six but what can a old man do?

Is the agitation for a sovereign state Biafra a worthwhile project?

The agitation for Biafra is as a result of the conditions that has originated that agitation. If the condition disappears the agitation would disappear. If the condition does not exist there will be no need but if you live in a condition where everything around you is saying they don't need you, they

As a custodian of values what do you think are the major causes of erosion of our value system?

There is too much hurry in our people, people are in a hurry to be something, people are in a hurry to be at the top of everybody in politics, hurry to be rich, to make money, in a hurry to make it in their academics, and they are in a hurry. They are not taking their time to follow the normal process to get in line through due process in what they are doing. Children want to forge certificate to get into the universities, young people want to do drugs business to get money, they see other people riding good cars; they want to be like them. They are just living false life and so the parents also see this and they don't give them corrections. You see a young lady brought up in the family nicely but as soon as she lives to go to the university, she becomes a prostitute. You haven't caught her red handed but the things she brings into the house shows you that she is earning a lot of money and you don't ask. She brings in a car, she is on holiday i Dubai, you know you didn't buy and you don't say anything. So it looks as if the thing is go get it, no matter how.

What are our values, what we used to know before about our family background and where we come from are the things that are not worth doing because we used to have such persons from these families and these groups are no more there?

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BUSINESS EEDC raises alarm over incessant vandalism of electricity installations in S-East *50 cases of equipment vandalism recorded this year

By Blessing Nnadi

T

he management of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, has raised an alarm over the increasing activities of vandals who have continued to wreck havoc on electricity installations like transformers, meters, poles, injection substations, cables and

electricity blackout,” Mr. Eugene Aniowo, EEDC's Public Affairs Manager, made this known in a statement issued in Enugu on Sunday.

According to him, the distribution company has recorded over 50 cases of vandalism in 2015 leading to loss of hundreds of millions of naira worth of equipment and loss of customer

The statement said: “Several EEDC substations and distribution transformers of different capacities ranging from 200KVA to 500KVA have been vandalized. OnApril 23, 2014, Oluebube Njoku, Osita Ezeugo and Ndidi Ohanwe were arrested for vandalising EEDC equipment.

Armoured cables were vandalised in Amakpu Agbani, Nkanu West,

arrested for transformer vandalism.

“In Abaomege, Ebonyi State, Uduma Ama-Iro was arrested on September 2, 2014. Also in September, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Okoye was apprehended in Ndieze Inyimagu Loko, Izzi, Ebonyi State for same offenses of transformer vandalism. On the 23rd day of December, 2014, Mr.

“In March 2015, Salif Samaila and Muhktari Salihu were arrested at Ariaria, Aba District, Abia State. Mr. Friday Ogboji was captured at Ndufu Amuzu on April 3, 2015, as Mr. Akpu Sunday and Odinaka Nwafor were also arrested on June, 24, 2015 at Agbaja Ebia, Izzi, Ebonyi State for transformer vandalism.

“There was also another ugly incident from Ukwunangwu, Uturu, Abia State, where Mr. Bartholomew Alem Echeozor was arrested vandalising a 5 0 0 K VA – 1 1 / 0 . 4 1 5 K V Substation on July 31, 2015. Mr. Chidozie Ejiele and Uzondu were arrested at Omukwu, Onicha Nweafor, Ezinihite, Mbaise, Imo State for damaging 24 installations of armoured cables on August 3, 2015.

“Also, the 2.5 MVA, 33/11KV Injection Substation transformer oil was again drained at Uruagu, Nnewi, Anambra State on August 4, 2015. The vandals had earlier in the year and also in 2014, drained over 18 drums of oil from the same injection substation,leaving the transformer feeding about 50 other distribution transformers burnt-out.

“However, while some suspected vandals have been electrocuted to death, some surviving culprits are currently under investigation, while others had bagged different years of jail terms of 2, 5, and possibilities of 15 and 21 years imprisonment, as the Nigeria Police partners with community leaders and other law enforcement agencies to ensure the immediate prosecution and delivery of justice, and also to bring an end to this menace.

conductors within the South East States.

satisfaction due to the outages caused by the vandals.

“The Management of the company is alarmed at the rate at which these vandals destroy the company's assets and condemn homes, businesses, institutions and communities into total

He stated that EEDC had expended substantial sums of money on the repairs and replacement of the damaged equipment and on the prosecution of arrested vandals.

Enugu State, on May 7, 2014 by Mr. Cyprian Nwachukwu. On July 20, 2014, Mr. Kingsley Precious was apprehended at Orlu Stadium committing same offence. At Eke Obinagu, Emene, Enugu State on August 13, 2014, Mr. Ifeanyi Okoye was also

Ifeanyi Nwankwo was arrested at New Market Road, Enugu, Enugu State. OnFebruary 1, 2015, Aminu Musa, Musa Yusuf, Aminu Yakubu and Ani Sunday were arrested at Independence Layout, Enugu, Enugu State for vandalising armoured cables.

Relatives of Agip's pipeline explosion lament neglect, insensitivity

By Peace Soronnadi

R

elatives of the victims of the pipeline explosion at Agip' s oil field at Azuzuama community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa have decried the neglect and insensitivity of the oil firm.

A pipeline explosion on July 9, 2015 killed 14 people including a regulatory official of Bayelsa Ministry of Environment and National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and 12 others.

Officials of Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), representatives of the host community and Bayelsa

Ministry of Environment were investigating the cause of a recent oil spill in the area when the blast occurred.

Mr Karibi MacDonald , Spokesman of the bereaved families in Yenagoa on Sunday that Agip had neither shown remorse nor commiserated with the families of the victims.

“It is very unfortunate that Agip is so insensitive to the needless death of 14 Nigerians due to the poor safety records in their oil fields, there has been no contact with the families of the bereaved.

“The stance of Agip since this incident occurred has been regrettable they have not bothered to contact any of the families even during the burial of

the victims, my own brother was buried three weeks ago and we did not see Agip.

“It is very sad that a foreign company can be this arrogant and be shying away from its liability and could not even commiserate with the bereaved families.

“We are calling on the federal government who are their joint venture partners to call them to order to avert incurring the wrath of the dead, the total lack of remorse by Agip is unacceptable.

“So far, preliminary investigations show that no effort was made to prevent the explosion as flammable materials were not cleared from the site before repair work, neither was the pipeline shut.

“What happened was not an accident, it was preventable, Agip killed our brothers and they are not sorry about what has happened,” MacDonald said..

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria had on September 16 demanded $28 million compensation for 14 victims, amounting to $2 million for each victim.

According to a statement issued by an Eni Spokesman, Mr Filipo Cotalini , the parent company of NAOC, the cause of the explosion is being investigated.

Both Eni and NAOC officials however declined several requests to comment on the allegations of neglect by the relatives of the dead victims of the blast.

“The Management of EEDC hereby use this opportunity to advise the general public to desist from activities, such as building or trading under the electricity transmission or distribution lines, transformers, substations and other utility properties, to avoid possible electrocutions, while also soliciting the support and partnership of all the good people of ABIA, ANAMBRA, EBONYI, ENUGU and IMO States in rooting out vandals and vandalism in the South East.

“Our customers are industrious and hospitable people with rich moral values,enjoining all to join the campaign against vandalism, by sending verifiable reports, via texts, calls or emails of suspected vandals, illegal energy users and accomplices to 08182502588 or info@enugudisco.com. All reports are anonymously treated and handled promptly.

“EEDC hereby extends her special thanks to all Local, State and Federal Security Agencies, Traditional Rulers, Town Union Presidents, Youth Leaders and other Opinion Leadersfor their unrelenting support towards eradicating this menace.

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ODD WORLD

Popular Obollo-Afor Prostitute dies after sleeping with three men *Last customer in police net

By Blessing Nnadi

C

ommercial sex workers popularly called Prostitutes or Ashawos may not know the high risk involved in that business due to the quick money they realise from selling their bodies.

But for Roseline, a popular sex worker based at Obollo-Afor in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, her trade came to a halt last Sunday as she could not be alive to enjoy the proceeds from the bumper sales she made that fateful day.

She had marathon sex with three men in her room in a brothel at the commercial town of Obollo-Afor and made quick money to the envy of her colleagues in the ungodly business, but she did not enjoy the money.

Roseline reportedly dropped dead after sleeping with the third customer apparently due to exhaustion or cardiac arrest.

Detectives from Enugu State Police Command have commenced investigations with a view to determining the

actual cause of her death but the last customer is now in hot soup for indulging in fornication.

The State Police spokesman, DSP Ebere Amaraizu confirmed to ADVOCATE NIGERIA that the last customer identified as Ikechukwu Oga has been arrested in connection with the death of the sex worker.

Ikechukwu whose age could not be immediately ascertained had gone into Roseline's room to have his turn, after two other customers had taken their turns but the lady passed out in the process.

According to Amaraizu, Ikechukwu, who is now the suspect “had gone to a brothel where he met with the commercial sex worker identified as Roseline in a brothel at Obollo-Afor in Udenu Local government Area of Enugu state and agreed for a sex deal.”

He further disclosed that the suspect bargained with Roseline and was asked to come back later as someone was already on the line. When he came back, he discovered

that she was still having a sex deal with another customer; Roseline told him to exercise patience as both were going to sleep till day break.”

After allegedly concluding with

the second customer, she now invited the suspect into the room for his turn.

However, Ikechukwu denied any wrong doing, maintaining that “I did not conclude my first round of the deal before she complained that she was tired and that was in the midnight of

today (Sunday); I had to come down and that was the last. I cannot say what led to her death.”

Meanwhile, Roseline's corpse had been recovered and deposited in a nearby hospital while police investigations are in progress.

Woman gives birth to 17 babies at once * Breaks world record of most babies born from a lone pregnancy…. *Had over 29 hours of pushing...

I

t was incredible” explains Dr. Jack Morrow who assisted the woman through the whole operation.” The babies kept coming and coming and coming

and coming… Man! I think I'm gonna have nightmares about this day for a long time! This was my last delivery!” he adds in disgust.

Catherine Bridges and her

husband had been trying to have a child for many years and had decided last year to use medical assistance from a fertility clinic in Rhodes Island. The insemination process was definitely successful, as the couple got an entire litter of seventeen beautiful and identical boys.

The couple has already chosen the names for the boys with an obvious continuity of thought: James, Jacob, Jarod, Jarvis, Jason, Jeffrey, Jeremy, Jerome, Jesse, Jimmy, Joachim, Jonathan, Jonas, Joseph, Julian, Jimbo and surprisingly, Darth Porkinus.

Baby born without a nose

4 week old Eli.

H

e was born March 4 in Alabama. As doctors handed him to his m o t h e r, B r a n d i M c Glathery, she quickly

realized he had no nose.

EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL, BUT …

Eli was taken to USA Children's and Women's Hospital in Mobile, Alabama to see doctors

who were more equipped to deal with his condition.

He was able to breath fairly normally right away, but doctors still performed a tracheotomy when he was just 5 days

old to make things even easier for him.

I T ' S EXTREMEL Y RARE. O n l y 4 3 recorded cases o f E l i ' s condition congenital arhinia exist since it was first reported in 1931. While i t c a n potentially be l i f e threatening because of breathing and feeding problems, there are also many cases of people surviving into adulthood with the condition.

W H AT T H E Y ' R E DOING ABOUT IT.

His mother has been working with doctors and lactation specialists to make sure she and the rest of the family know how to properly feed and take care of Eli. And Brandi McGlathery has already been in touch with parents who have had children born without a nose and other patients who have grown up with the malformation.

“He's perfect the way he is.”

While there are plastic surgery options available to give Eli the appearance of a nose, his mother is opting to wait for now.

She wants him to be able to decide on his own as an adult. “Until the day he wants to have a nose, we don't want to touch him.

We have to take it day by day.”

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NIGERIA

RELIGION EMBEZZLEMENT: Assemblies of God Church drags factional group to EFCC

The Advocate THE BEST IS YET T TO COME Gospel This Week

TEXT: 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 So it is written: 'The first man Adam became a living being'; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. (NIVUK) NARRATION Naturally we get used to life as it is. Without clear teaching and Holy Spirit inspired faith, we assume that there will be no change, except further spoiling or decay.

It is Satan's lie. The glorious truth is that the first man (Adam) and the second Man (Christ) are radically different.

Adam, who was a part of God's creation, sinned; and death entered the world. But Christ took responsibility for the sin of every human being and died to pay its punishment. Adam was created from dust, but Christ came down from heaven - in order to lift repentant sinners into the presence of God. All those who reject Christ remain shackled to the earth, like prisoners on a sinking ship. They share the future of the corrupt world and cannot see above its horizon. But those who welcome Christ and receive His new life are like Him in seeing the world with all its weariness as temporary; they look forward to heaven and receiving a resurrection body which can never change or decay.

The best is yet to come! That is why believers have hope and joy; that is why our temporary difficulties are far outweighed by the prospect of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).

And our hope is not just a dream or fantasy. We know it is true because Jesus has risen from the dead and has promised that we shall share in His glory (John 17:22).

So when we are burdened by the weariness which belongs to the 'earthly man', remember that we now belong to the 'heavenly Man'. One day the best will be revealed … and for that we wait with joy.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father. Thank You that Jesus Christ came from heaven to bring all those who trust Him back home to His heaven, in glory. Forgive me when I have allowed the shackles of earth to hold me too closely to this world with its sin and pain. Please help me to be confident in the 'heavenly Man' and keep looking to Him, expecting His presence, His guidance and His strength now, and His glory when He returns. In His Name. Amen.

*Accuses Okoroafor faction of spending N100 billion illegally he factional General Superintendent of Assemblies of God C h u r c h , R e v. C h i d i Okoroafor and six of his officials are in for another trouble, as some members of the crisis-ridden church have dragged them before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), over alleged embezzlement of church funds to the tune of over N100 billion.

The petition against Okoroafor and his men was submitted to the anti-graft agency by a lawyer, Barrister Eli Ugwu on behalf of the aggrieved members of the church.

The petition dated September 31, 2015 copies of which were made available to newsmen on Monday, was authored by the factional Assistant General Superintendent, Rev. Ramsey Ogagaoghene, Pastors and other concerned members of the church.

The petitioners asked the commission to investigate Rev. Vincent Alaje, Rev. Femi Adegoke, Mr. Dickson Ukpai, Mr. Michael Ugbor, Elder Mike Okoro and Tony Ewelike.

Rev. Vincent Alaje, was the former General treasurer of the church until August 6, 2014, but currently he is the treasurer of Rev. Chidi Okoroafor-led faction of the church.

According to the petition, “Alaje unilaterally spent about one hundred and fifteen million (N115, 000,000) belonging to the church illegally on unauthorized business without approval from the General Superintendent.

“He personally negotiated and concluded payments for three lands and has started erecting a building thereupon without the consent and authority of the General Superintendent and other officers of the church.

“Alaje is fond of commandeering money to himself, approving them by himself, and authorizing payments without seeking the consent of the General Superintendent.

“This is evidence by his requisition of 5/4/2013 for the sum of N1, 500,000.00,

Rev. Paul Emeka which he tagged; “Trip to Ibadan with the family “The above unilateral stashing of fund is after the officers had magnanimously approved N2m to him as gift towards the same purpose.

“The requisition will be presented on demand”.

The petition further indicted Alaje of illegally collecting twenty eight million, five hundreds and eight thousand, eight hundred naira (N28, 5 0 8 , 8 0 0 . 0 0 ) a s S t a ff Investment Premium without any authorization which according to the petition, is against the General Council Accounts procedures.

“Again, Rev. Alaje contrary to the General Council Accounts procedures and without authorization instructed the deposition of specific amounts of money which he tagged “Staff Investment Premium” into a specific Diamond Bank Account and from records a total sum of N28, 508,800.00 was deposited into this account from 24/4/13 to 27/7/14.

The petition also sought for probing of Mr. Tony Ewelike over the N1.4b Assemblies of God Ministers Benefit Scheme, AGMBS, under him which he has been unable to account for.

According to the petition, Rev. Femi Adegoke, former medial director of Assemblies of God should also be investigated for defrauding the church of over N50m.

Also, the petition called on the commission to investigate the co-coordinator Easter yearly retreat, Elder Mike Okoro, whom it claimed defrauded the church of over N4.4b realized for the purpose of retreats.

It also called for the investigation of Mr. Dickson Ukpai and Mr. Michael Ugbor both general managers of Assemblies of God Bookshop and Assemblies of God Press for embezzling over N2.1b of the establishments.

The petition which contains attachments of receipts of monies collected by some of the accused informed the anti-graft agency that, “Due to the current crises in the church the fraudulent activities of the people mentioned above with the connivance of Rev. Dr. Chidi Okoroafor has continued unabated.

“It is our instruction that Rev. Chidi Okoroafor, the leader of a faction of the church and his cohorts named above has before 6th March 2014 been fraudulently embezzling Billions of Naira belonging to the church.

“We urge you sir, to carefully investigate this report in the interest of justice and in the spirit of the present administration which has zero tolerance for corruption.

“Your outfit is well known for fighting of corruption and reposing life on the downtrodden.”

21

November, 2015

NIGERIA

Continued from back page organizations in the Southwest (Lagos State). 26.

Total exclusion of the Southeast zone in non ministerial top federal public office appointments.

President Muhammadu Buhari scientific manipulation of the 2015 presidential poll as opposed to all inclusive polls befitting a pluralistic and multicultural democratic society like Nigeria.

8. Resurgence through deliberate official (INEC) policies and actions of ethnic, religious and political divisions in the 2015 presidential poll and deepening of same through policies and actions by the Buhari's Presidency.

Manipulation and bastardization of the concept of corruption whereby only members of the opposition are labeled corrupt or charged for corruption whereas morally dirty and indicted members of the ruling party are shielded or protected or have their court cases withdrawn or stampeded (i.e. cases involving Abubakar Audu of Kogi State and Timipere Sylva of Bayelsa State).

B. Political Sins & Breaches:

17. Using corruption to fight corruption and parroting corruption for the purpose of confusing Nigerians and the international community with intent to earn mechanical legitimacy or legitimacy of the graveyard. 18. Promotion and encouragement of all dimensions of corruption: morality corruption, political corruption, economic corruption, institutional or bureaucratic corruption and criminal corruption. 19. Gross violation of constitutional provisions of fair and equitable distribution of public office appointments and resources. 20. Leprous treatment and exclusion of the people of the Southeast zone in federal governance policies and actions in the past 150 days. 21.

Concentration of over 70% federal public office appointments in the north. 22.

Steadily threatening of the secular and pluralistic composition of Nigeria through segregated and exclusionary policies, actions and utterances.

23. Steady suppression of uniting elements or forces and promotion of divisive forces in Nigeria. 24.

Promotion of triggers of constitutional dictatorship and muzzling of opposition forces.

25. Quieting, shutting up and shutting down of hitherto mainstream, independent and credible rights based civil society

9. Emergence of someone perceived by many as an age-long sympathizer of ethno-religious divisions and animosity as Nigeria's President. 10.

Resurgence and deepening of ethno-religious divisions and animosities, no thanks to the President's divisive and segregated policies and actions since assumption of office. 11.

Disregard with reckless abandon and abuse of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as well as the principles of the rule of law by the Buhari's Presidency. 12. Massive deployment and reckless use of State coercive establishments particularly the DSS to hound, haunt, hurt and harm vocal citizens and members of the opposition contrary to their constitutional rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, personal liberty and movement.

13. Promotion and Institutionalization of government of vendetta or vindictiveness in the past 150 days. 14. Running and promotion of governance policies of exclusion and segregation. 15.

Promotion through nepotism and favoritism of corruption and abuse of office contrary to Section 15 (5) of the 1999 Constitution (abolition of corrupt practices and abuse of office). 16.

27. Domination of top federal political appointments by northern zone (Muslims). 28.

Running of the federal government without a Federal Executive Council or Government or Council of Ministers in the past 150 days or five months. 29. Grounding of major government activities or businesses to a halt in the past 150 days owing to absence of Federal Executive Council. 30. Gross intolerance to opposition politics and sustained efforts to make Nigeria a one party State, which is a major trigger of constitutional dictatorship.

31. Making appointments into constitutionally and statutorily created offices in manners clearly incoherent with and unknown to the 1999 Constitution and the Civil Service Rules of the Federation (i.e. appointments of DG of DSS, Custom CG, and former INEC interim Boss). 32. Running an oligarchic and compensatorygovernment as opposed to all inclusive, pluralistic and common interest centered government. 33.

Proposing a government or governance cabinet dominated by wearers of glasses without lenses or bodily spent and mentally exhausted cabinet members clad with immoral kaftans and suites.

C. Economic Policy Sins & Blunders: 34. Grounding of Nigerian economy to a total halt following 150 days without government or ministers. 35. Grounding to a halt in the past 150 days major activities of all federal educational institutions including all federal universities, colleges of education, polytechnics, special schools as well as newly established federal universities, owing to none release of statutory funds in the past 150 days. While the existing universities and their likes have managed to survive through their internally generated revenues, the newly established federal universities are virtually grounded to a halt. 36. None awards of public interest projects in the areas of roads, education, health, rail, aviation, water, agriculture, etc following the absence of government or ministers in the past 150 days. 37.

Suspension or stalling of public interest projects awarded by the past administration (i.e. 2nd Niger Bridge Project).

38. Abandonment in the past 150 days of maintenance policy implementation on key public infrastructures like roads, etc leading to their gross decay resulting in untold hardships being borne by the masses. 39.

Collection from the Federation Account of at least N900Billion ($4.5 Billion) as the Federal Government share of the federal

revenues in the past 150 days or five months with little or nothing channeled into public oriented projects. 40. Absence of clearly defined economic policy direction for Nigeria tailored in international best standards as well as continued leprous reliance on crude oil or petrol dollar economy. 41. Introduction of deliberate and harmful fiscal policy aimed at crashing and crushing trade and commerce in which the Igbos who control at least 60% of same are the sole t a rg e t . 4 2 . P r o m o t i o n o f proliferation of hard currency black markets and hard currency smuggling cartels following ban placed on international currency exchanges. 43. Resurgence and proliferation of illicit or black market mobile hard currency trade dominated by Hausa couriers as was the case in 80s and 90s during the military era dominated by northern hegemony. 44. Proposing for Nigeria a governance cabinet of bread and butter in place of a government of soil and oil. 45.

Retention of reckless public borrowing and high public governance cost policies that darkened the administration of the Goodluck Jonathan and grossly impoverished Nigeria and Nigerians.

D. Judicial Sins & Interferences: 46. Domination of federal judiciary by northern Muslims (I.e. Chief Justice of Nigeria, President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, etc). 47. Gross executive interference in the affairs of the judiciary particularly by the President's use of DSS to invite, quiz, intimidate, harass and threaten judges handling high profile cases including election petition cases (i.e. Hon Justice Pindigi's latest revelation in the media over his travail in the hands of DSS over the Rivers State Governorship matter). 48. Gross and reckless executive interference using DSS and Police in the judicial proceedings and non criminal administrative conducts (i.e. recent ordeal of some INEC officials in the hands of the DSS in Akwa Ibom State gubernatorial poll matter). 49.

Executive interference and influencing of electoral court proceedings and judgments using DSS (i.e. See online Hon Justice Pindigi's public account on how he was threatened, intimidated, harassed and invited for a nocturnal meeting in Kaduna State by the DSS with intent to be bribed).

50. Use of judiciary by the executive as an instrument of vendetta and intimidation against members of the opposition and dissenting community. 51. Use of judiciary to perpetrate and perpetuate unconstitutional and extra judicial detention of vocal and un-convicted citizens (i.e. continued detention of Citizen Nnamdi Kanu of the Indigenous People of Biafra after he has fulfilled all his hash bail

conditions imposed by a Magistrate Court). 52. Use of constitutionally incoherent penal laws to judicially threaten and intimidate dissenting citizens for the purpose of their custodial arrest, detention, torture and dumping in awaiting trial or criminal judicial incarceration.

53. Re-introduction through backdoor of Decrees No. 2 and No. 4 of 1984 by presidentially detaining citizens outside the provisions and processes of the 1999 Constitution (i.e. continued detention for eight days of Citizen Nnamdi Kanu under circumstances unknown to the 1999 Constitution and its subsidiary laws recognized by Section 315 of the same Constitution).

E. Security & Safety Policy Sins & Blunders: 54. Death of at least 1,900 citizens in the hands of Islamist Boko Haram and Fulani insurgency and terror activities in the past 150 days. That is to say that between May 29th and September 29th, at least 1,700 citizens mostly civilians were killed and between 29th September and 29th October 2015, at least 200 citizens have been killed. 55. Continued adoption of counter terror and insurgency measures that are incoherent with modern intra State counter violence methods leading to gross breaches of human rights and the Geneva Conventions. 56. Retention of the out-fashioned and out-dated national policy on security adopted in 1979 (36 years). 57.

Continued disappearance of the abducted Chibok Girls despite pre election and post election assurances by the Buhari's Presidency to rescue them in a matter of immediacy.

58. Continued use of AK-47 riffles to pursue bomb detonators-a clear case of failed security and failed intelligence.

58. Gross failure of the Nigeria Police with its large numerical strength and huge public costs to effectively take charge of the country's internal security owing to obsolete policing and rapacious corruption. 59.

Concentration of the country's security policy planners and executors on gun culture and militancy approaches and their blatant refusal to loosen their grips andcivilianize security policy through the all inclusive concept of human security formulated by UN for municipal use in 1994. 60. Total exclusion of the Southeast zone from the membership of Service Chiefs and steady promotion of triggers of a divided society and laying landmines of sectional animosities capable of snowballing into regional tensions and violent conflicts of unquenchable magnitudes.

Signed: Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board Chairman International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law

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November, 2015

NIGERIA

SPECIAL REPORT Enugu Traffic Taskforces should not return Enugu roads, others Continued from front page firmly disagree, brought great relief to vehicle owners in Enugu metropolis who had previously swallowed bitter pills from the brigandage and extortionist activities of the traffic regulators.

Except for the ignorant, Enugu residents are fully aware of the recent decision by the state government to recall the traffic regulators presumably because they exceeded their mandate. But what has become a source of concern, however, is the promise by the government to recall them after a month, during which the operators would have been given a new orientation.

As the one month grace period runs out, the pulse rate of most primary road users beats heavily for or against the return of these traffic regulators. Like every decision, the government's conclusive action in this matter holds a lot of implications for the state.

While most people argue that the absence of the group on the road in recent times has restored the much sort sanity, security and serenity to

expressing fears that the planned recalled or return would rubbish the temporal relief given by the government.

The people of the state like a kingdom divided against itself disagree on the proposed return of the group with the majority wishing that traffic control and regulation should be left in hands of Federal Government agencies like the Police and Federal Road Safety Commission.

They argued that if the state regulatory agencies must continue with their activities, their powers must be whittled down while fines charged for t r a ff i c o ff e n c e s

Gov. Ugwuanyi

Obiano's wife, extols SSDO skill training of physically challenged Continued from page 13 comfort of the trainees.

Mrs Chikwelu who thanked SSDO for partnering with the M i n i s t r y t o o rg a n i z e t h e programme congratulated the trainees, urged them to use the knowledge they have acquired these months to help themselves and thereafter pass the acquired knowledge in addition to becoming great employers themselves while assuring that her Ministry under the Governor Obiano administration will continue to embark on programmes to alleviate the plight of the physically challenged in the State.

She stated that the commissioning of the centre is part of the Obiano administration to ensure that skill acquisition centres are brought closer to the people, adding that the Café Cares Vocational and Welfare Centre is among the best centres for the physically challenged persons in the South East zone with facilities well planned to enhance the free mobility of the persons with special needs.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Country Director of SSDO, Mrs Nwobodo said “we are gathered here … to celebrate hard work, commitment and excellence, all of which have been made possible by the generous support of Oxfam Novib, which enabled SSDO to embark on this project, aimed at providing training to 100 physically disabled women and men in Anambra State and Enugu States, in the repair and maintenance of mobile phones.”

Mrs Nwobodo who cited United Nations statistics which projects over 20 million Nigerians as persons with disabilities, stated that of this number, the Federal Office of Statistics puts 70 percent as being without gainful employment, while bemoaning a situation in Nigeria where 80 percent of the persons with disabilities live in low and middle income parts of the society and make a living from begging on the streets or support from family members.

While thanking Obiano's wife for her support, care and motherly love towards the course participants, she appreciated the gracious gift of the centre, the training venue and home for the trainees throughout the duration of the course, and appreciated the care from the Council Chairmen of Anambra East and West local government Councils and Women Affairs and Social Development Ministry.

She observed that the intervention

by SSDO is in recognition that the many problems faced by PWDs can be addressed through employment and income generation, stressing that, if empowered, the beneficiaries can live full productive lives for the overall benefit of the society.

The Country Director pointed out that from the feedback, the participants were excited while the women expressed surprise that they could cope with the technical aspects of the training often times regarded as an exclusive preserve of the men, adding that the success story of the event proves beyond all reasonable doubt that there is

ability in disability.

In an interview with newsmen, the wife of the Anambra East Local Government Council Chairman, Mrs. Udeano thanked governor Obiano's wife and Country Director of SSDO for bonding to make the empowerment programme possible for the benefit of the physically challenged who she said are often neglected and discriminated a g a i n s t i n t h e s o c i e t y.

Mrs. Udeano called on some other well meaning individuals and corporate bodies to emulate the good works of charity by CAFÉ and SSDO in order to improve the lots of the less privileged members of the society, stressing that the people of Anambra East Council Area will ever remain grateful to governor Obiano and his wife for the facelift given to the area in all sectors of life..

In his remark, the President of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke thanked the governor's wife and Country Director of SSDO for teaming up to make the training programme a huge success, adding that the physically challenged persons have benefitted from the governor Obiano administration more than all other governments in the past.

Each of the 50 graduands received a laptop, repair kits and seed fund to enable them support their business and eke out a living.

The beneficiaries include Kingsley Ezeadi, Paul Chioke, Okwudili Ume Okafor, Uchenna Ezu, Okonkwo Chukwudubem, Offor Nonso, Ngozi Obi, Doris Nwakwenyi and Ebere Aniekie.

should be reviewed to m a k e t h e m affordable. Besides, the residents emphasized that the agencies should embrace corrective measures rather than punishing the vehicle owners in the course of their duties.

F o r a l e g a l practitioner Barr.John Onah, “the idea behind the traffic regulators was a very fine one because human being needs to be regulated, he needs to know that he is under the watchful eyes of some persons and any breach of set down rules attract a commensurate punishment.”

The learned gentleman is of the view that the government's action in the first instance was a demonstration of responsibility. He puts it this way “I think that the government was being responsive to the wishes of the people when it decided to recall the group so as to correct the anomalies found in the system.”

On their recall, Onah said, “being the humans we are, I think it will be in the best interest of the citizens for them to return because if they don't return, you will see that gradually people will start to violate traffic rules and might go back to where we used to be.”

“Albeit the actions of the traffic regulators to some unreasonable extent was on infringement on the rights of the people but it is equally true that Nigerians, especially primary road users are not a bunch of saints or keenly disciplined individuals. In the peak of the operation of the traffic regulators, you still find the supposedly indiscipline on the roads such as violating traffic injunctions, reckless driving, parking at undesignated roadsides, making calls while driving, uninformed overtaking and speeding and others.

“The same species of madness attracted Chinua Achebe's generous suggestion that 'there is no better place to observe the thrusting indiscipline of Nigeria than on the roads'. Therefore, relieving this group of their duty might allow the suppressed inordinate behaviours to lame to life again. And I think that the bulk of the problems manifesting on the roads is a general indication that there is a massive decline in discipline and order which is famously very popular among the elite and leaders.

“Nigerians in diaspora, especially in countries like USA are fundamentally law abiding not because there are no law enforcement agencies rather, it is inalienably associated with the principle of rule of law that has permeated the fabrics of the society

for the positive reasons. Hence, aliens watchfully without distinct orientation understand the system as one that generally upholds obedience to existing rules including traffic rules and he/she conducts himself to conform to the standard notwithstanding the prevalent situation from his homeland,” the legal practitioner submitted.

Contrary to the suggestion by the first speaker, His Royal Highness Igwe Tony Ojukwu believes that the roads are better off in the absence of the traffic regulators.

In his words, “at least now, traffic flows better without the interruption of those commissioned to control it. The traffic controllers should desist from using their position to maltreat people on the roads and chase after them like dogs. Most of them are so manner-less and heartless; they seem not to have human sympathy at all.”

Also speaking on the issue, Chinaza Prince suggested that the government should reinstate the group after proper orientation to avoid a backward slide to the indiscipline for which Enugu roads were famous in the past.

According to him, “since the regulators were removed from the roads, we discovered that a lot of unusual activities are gradually returning to the streets. Then people don't park indiscriminately or drive carelessly.” He was quick to point out that “the initial fear of the people has always not been with the importance of the service rendered by the group rather it is with the manner they go about carrying out this commission.”

“The worry for some of us was because some of them didn't undergo proper orientation and they handle people unjustly especially at the junctions where you have the traffic lights,” he said.

It will be recalled that the Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration was confronted with numerous complaints from residents of Enugu over the illicit activities of the traffic regulators drawn from the State Ministry of Transport.

The traffic regulators were recruited by the immediate past regime of Sullivan Chime which closed its ears to the public outcries by the residents on account of the anti-people posture by the operators.

The government had empowered the agency with the intention of sanitizing roads within the state capital just as it intended to generate revenue from fines imposed on motorists but the operators went beyond their mandate charging as high as N50,000 fine for a traffic offence, impounding vehicles of offenders that could not pay the fines as well as constituting nuisance and terror for road users.

Worried by the development., Governor Ugwuanyi ordered the agency to withdraw its services more so when there was no prove that huge finds collected from offenders were paid into the government's coffers.

23

November, 2015

NIGERIA

SPECIAL REPORT

Enugu commuters cry foul over task-force harassment The establishment of a new MOT special taskforce or simply put traffic regulators is a clear indication that the new government of Enugu state and the ministry of transportation is committed to providing sustainable development to the transportation sector. The taskforce alongside other agencies of similar function are expected to ensure the safety and security of the roads for primary road users amongst other functions. However, the activities of the group has not gone down well with most road users in the state, viz : the drivers, private individuals and traders.

Advocate newspaper visited some parts of the state to survey the effects of this development on Enugu people; we gathered the following reactions on separate interviews with randomly selected primary road users.

By Sylvester Orji & Chikodili Okoro

Mr. Sunday Ogalu

Mr. Ejike Udeh

OCCUPATION: Taxi driver Comment: of course the government has a good motive for establishing the group but they seem to abandon the government directive and take a more violent approach.

In fact I call them fault finders. Most times they demand N25, 000. Who knows whether this money actually get to the appropriate office? If you demand to go to the office with them they will corner you to a place and ask you to settle them. I plead w i t h t h e government to h e l p u s , especially giving these "task forces “appropriate orientation.

Again they are too many groups on uniforms on Enugu roads.

OCCUPATION: Táxi driver Comment: yesterday, they collected N2, 600 from me for a mere N50 ticket. They also seized my tricycle for the whole day because a passenger alighted at her home which they described as the wrong bus top. In short, this new taskforce are turning the state into a den of robbers.

Mr. Nwandu Joel OCCUPATION: Taxi driver Comment: we don't know the number of traffic regulators in Enugu state. Recently the new task force group collected N2, 600 from me for a reason that remains unclear to me. The government should help us.

The group easily turns violent.

Mr. Ogbonna Patrick OCCUPATION: tricycle driver Comment: in a bid to avoid the duplication of functions the government should unite these task forces.

A.B.C OCCUPATION: tricycle driver Comment: the new taskforce are terrorizing innocent and helpless drivers.

Most Keke drivers face untold humiliation from this group known as MOT special taskforce.

It is more difficult for the drivers because most of us have to pay certain amount of our returns to the owners of the Keke.

OCCUPATION: tricycle driver Comment: Whenever and wherever you are caught. The price tag for all offenses is #25000 but if you insist on getting to the office, they may seize your tricycle and dump it in their office as long as possible.

But if you agree to bribe them you will easily find your way with #500 or less.

OCCUPATION: Taxi driver Comment: they are too many groups on different uniforms. It is advised that you don't take calls while driving but whenever you stop by the roadside to attend to important call, you are immediately surrounded by members of this new task force group. Initially, they demand N25,000 but after some bargain the group could accept something less.

Mr R. M. Orji OCCUPATION: tricycle driver Comment: someone like me is a graduate but lack of jobs has pushed me into driving tricycle. But it is difficult to understand the activities of these touts (sic) on uniforms.

Most times they corner you to a place and ask for" pure water "money, or they seize your t r i c y c l e .

Sometimes these things happen before the watchful eyes of the police.

Mr. Benedict Okorie OCCUPATION: tricycle driver Comment: this taskforce is a source of sorrow to most of us 'the last time they visited our park, it almost resulted in a fight.

The reason was because they introduced three new tickets different from the one originally known to us. Most times without clear reasons they seize your tricycle. At least you will spend up to your three days earning to reclaim the tricycle.

Mr. Raphael Ike Edeh Okechukwu

Mr. Gentle Jacob

OCCUPATION: Bus driver Comment: Whenever you pick a passenger at the so-called wrong terminal. The taskforce forcefully make their way into your vehicle and demand N25, 000.

Sometimes you are arrested for no genuine reason.

We have decided to engage in legitimate business but the group is tempting us into turning criminals

Mr John Ada OCCUPATION: Commercial bus driver Comment: the taskforces are source of worry for most of us who are drivers. If you have to move from Garriki to Abakpa, you have to buy three tickets. Enugu South, Enugu North and what have you. Without either of these tickets, the groups usually demand thousands of naira. We thank the present government for its efforts but we need an urgent intervention in this case.

Innocent Michael OCCUPATION: Taxi driver

Comment: they seized my vehicle this afternoon and demanded N25,000 but I insisted on getting to the office. On our way to the office, they took me to a corner and asked me to settle them and avail myself the stress of going to the office. But as we got to Holy Ghost, they told me to find them "pure water" money. In fact, drivers can't survive in ENUGU state unless the government intervenes.

The uniforms are simply too many.

Anonymous OCCUPATION: Bus driver C o m m e n t : We s u f f e r harassment from this new taskforce. However, I think the government's attitude towards this kind of hooliganism will go a long way in putting an end to the problem. It is the government's attitude towards the poor that influence the change we desire. If the governor loves the poor, as I believe he does, he will intervene in the situation.

Mr. Israel Ani OCCUPATION: tricycle driver

Comment: most times they seize your tricycle for no genuine reason Mr. Nwafor crescent OCCUPATION: bus driver and start making demands in Comment: at Emene route, we are not thousands of naira. This experience facing any is making problems from Enugu state a the group for now. more difficult And I think the taskforce seize place to stay. your vehicle Sometimes it whenever they r e s u l t s feel you stopped offenses that at the wrong are purely nonplace. existent’

24

November, 2015

NIGERIA

HEALTH

UNTH doctors disown ARD President, fault incessant strikes

Dr. Christopher Amah CMD UNTH Report by Tony Edike

S

ome resident doctors at the University of Nigeria Te a c h i n g H o s p i t a l , Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu, have backed out of the ongoing strike action declared by the Association of Resident Doctors, ARD in the hospital, saying the strike was unnecessary and against the interest of the patients.

The resident doctors said it was quite disheartening that “soon after calling off an industrial action which lasted for almost three months, some politicallyminded hatchet-men commenced another strike without sympathy for the helpless patients who should be protected by the Hippocratic Oath that we all took as medical doctors and who attend the hospital as their last hope.”

A statement signed by two members of ARD UNTH ch apter, D r. M ax w ell N .

Egbugara and Dr Ihechiluru Oyebuchi, on behalf of Concerned members of the ARD and made available to ADVOCATE NIGERIA In Enugu at the weekend, also condemned the publication made in a national daily by one Dr. Ifedinso Ugwuoke entitled “UNTH performs surgeries with candles, torch-lights, -ARD president; Pediatric Dept loses accreditation, Docs embark on strike”. They decried the publication by Ugwuoke and his cohorts, which they alleged, as highly political, parochial, misconceived, paranoid and unreasonable.”

“The malicious, vicious and onesided publication was purely geared towards destabilizing,

creating anarchy, inciting the UNTH population and tarnishing the self-evident good performances of the Chief Medical Director (CMD) Dr. Christopher C. Amah.

“We have therefore decided to completely dissociate our humble selves from these tales of lies and ungodly action by this group as we have now realized that a cabal is using some of our members to destabilize the progress in the hospital in order to discredit the UNTH Management led by Dr. C. C. Amah. We believe that criticisms should be positive and issuebased and not vicious and vague attacks on personality and good performance,” the statement said.

Continuing, the ARD members said, “while we agree with the fact that a majority of our members are not happy that the “Skipping” promised by UNTH Management has not been paid to us (on the grounds that it was unauthorized and unfunded) the congress at no time directed the Executive Committee or the President of ARD UNTH, to embark on a campaign of calumny, name-calling and outright falsehood against the person and office of the CMD in particular and the Hospital Management in general.

“It is pertinent to note that the ARD President misinformed the congress so as to enable him to embark on his premeditated strike as concocted with his cabal.

“He told us lies that the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Budget Office of the Federation (BOF) budgeted for and released funds to the CMD for the

payment of “skipping” to Resident Doctors. This false claim has been countered by a circular from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMH) with reference number C.2262/T/111 addressed to the Chief Medical Directors of all Federal-owned Hospitals, wherein it was clearly stated that “Skipping” was not budgeted for in 2015. Thus the CMD in trying to convince the Executive Committee of ARD opened up the financial records of the hospital for their perusal.

“The President of ARD while addressing the congress on 16th October 2015 lied that he did not see the said financial records.

The congress rejected the strike option due to poor and inadequate information from the Executive Committee, but the President went ahead to declare a strike with effect from Monday October 19th 2015 to please his sponsors.

“Some of us have been Resident Doctors in UNTH for upwards of five years and we can boldly and honestly say that UNTH has moved forward in leaps and bounds in the last four years. The Management of UNTH under Dr. C. C. Amah has reactivated the National Cardio-Thoracic Centre of Excellence to a world-class status. The Centre has performed well over one hundred OpenHeart Surgeries since march 2013 when it was reactivated after ten years of inactivity. Last week alone eight patients successfully had Open-Heart Surgeries in the centre.” The doctors noted that such successes could not have happened in a hospital that is “dead” using Dr. Ugwuoke's word. “ T h e D r. C . C A m a h l e d administration apart from ensuring a dedicated line to the hospital from the public power supply (which has remarkably improved power supply to the hospital), Management has equally provided many functional power generating sets to boost power supply to various departments in the hospital including a 1000KVA CAT generating set solely dedicated to the main operating theatre complex and the adjoining Radiology Department.

“The UNTH Management has in addition provided solar powered electricity supply in various parts of the hospital to further ensure steady power supply to all parts of the hospital. The above highlighted achievements are just to mention but a few. It is therefore amazing that the hospital is now said to be in total darkness to the extent of using candles and touch-lights to perform surgeries as claimed by Dr. Ugwuoke and his cabal. This public dance of shame by this group is also laughable as President Buhari's

administration has pushed Power Distribution Companies to provide about twenty hours of electricity daily.”

According to the ARD members, many Resident Doctors had been sponsored abroad for skills acquisition in modern medical practice, explaining that “the chronic challenge of water supply in the hospital has also been positively addressed with the sinking of boreholes in the hospital, something that was hitherto believed to be impossible.”

The doctors further pointed out that under Dr. C .C. Amah's management, an up-to-date Neurosurgical Ward and a Private (VIP) Ward (never in existence before) were provided while the Radiotherapy facility (the only one in the entire SouthEast and South-South geopolitical zones) which his administration met in a moribund and vandalized state, was promptly reactivated and put to use.

“The Dr. C. C. Amah led adminis tration in U N TH , through many robust collaboration with overseas partners from United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK) has attracted to UNTH (especially the CardioThoracic Centre of Excellence) Seven 40-ft containers load of medical equipment and consumables worth billions of naira as free donations to the hospital.

“The Dr. C. C. Amah led administration has recently by the downwards review of outsourced services contracts in the hospital saved UNTH over N120,000,000.00 (One Hundred And Twenty Million Naira) annually. “ D r. C . C . A m a h l e d administration in UNTH Enugu has dramatically and rather unbelievably reduced the cost of clearing grasses in the hospital premises from over N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) per month to a mere N380,000.00 (Three Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira) per month! This was achieved by deploying slashing machines operated by local but trained casual workers,” they further

observed.

As part of its welfare programme for the medical personnel, the Resident Doctors' call duty rooms have never received as much attention and upgrade as they have under Dr. C. C. Amah's administration. “New television sets, micro-wave, air conditioners, refrigerators and wardrobes have been provided and general repairs effected in all Doctors' call duty rooms.

“The House Officers were not left out of the largesse. Their residential Quarters (HOQ) are being renovated, and the dilapidated road network around the HOQ are also receiving desired face-lift,” the statement said.

While admitting that no management could solve all problems/challenges thrown at her at the same time, the ARD members, however, appealed to the CMD not to take to heart the insensitive, insulting, provocative, reckless and perfidious actions of the cabal.

“We, as non-parochial, integrity and equity-driven concerned Resident Doctors will want to maintain the good relationship we have always enjoyed with the Dr. C. C. Amah led administration which is befitting our professional call and the Hippocratic Oath we all swore to.

“We also appeal that he uses his vintage and vantage position and g o o d o ff i c e s t o g e t o u r “Skipping” captured in the 2016 budget as we assure him of our unalloyed support in his already impressive efforts to uplift the enviable standard and status of UNTH.” “We therefore, unequivocally condemn the reckless actions of Dr. Ifedinso Ugwuoke and his cohorts both in the above-stated article and the Social Media in their entirety as they are myopic, inordinate, misconceived, treacherous, partisan, insular and esoteric as they all tend to remove a fly on the face of UNTH and her Management with a sledge hammer. The cabal is merely singing the voice of their masters who are behind the veil and not that of the majority of the lawabiding members of ARD, UNTH,” the statement added.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT The General Public and the Ministry of Lands, Enugu State are hereby notified that the title document in respect of Plot 15(65A), Royal District Layout Enugu registered as File Number LEN 9714 allocated to two brothers, Ikechukwu Nnamani and Francis Okolie Nnamani by the old Anambra State Government is missing. The said plot now in dispute was formerly known as Plot 15 and later changed to Plot 56A Royal District. I have therefore applied to the Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Enugu State for issuance of Certified True Copies of the documents from File No. LEN 9714 to enable me ascertain the original owner of the said Plot.

Signed: Chief Sunday Nnamani Anikechukwu

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November, 2015

NIGERIA

Entertainment plus

With Chukwudi Anosike & Chiaka Opara

Ramsey Noah to star in the remake of epic movie,

Living in Bondage T

By Blessing Nnadi

wenty-three years after the release of Nollywood hit epic movie 'Living in Bondage', award winning Nollywood Star Ramsey Noah in partnership with entertainment entrepreneur Charles Okpaleke are set to produce the sequel to the flick that was the forerunner of the Nollywood phenomenon.

Okpaleke, CEO of Play Ent. Network, it was learnt, has already bought the rights from Kenneth Nnebue, the original producer and writer of the movie that changed the architecture of the home video industry in Nigeria.

Speaking on the remaking of the movie, Ramsey, who is an ardent advocate for New Nollywood, explained the need for a sequel of the movie.

“There is no way you will mention Nollywood without talking about Living in Bondage. It is the kick starter for the

industry I work in today. Its ability to appeal to everyone irrespective of their religious, cultural and social beliefs made it a huge success. The movie addressed issues that we couldn't talk about then,” the actor said.

According to him, the movie living in Bondage's beauty lies in the language used which is understood by a certain part of the country, yet was watched by many.

“So why not bring back this great movie in our contemporary world? The film is a delight any day.

People still talk about the way Kenneth Okonkwo killed his wife for money rituals and how he was tormented. Don't forget the likes of Kanayo O. Kanayo and Bob Manuel Udokwu who intrigued us with their roles. All these made the movie a great hit and we are sure that the sequel will do better,” he assured.

Ramsey Noah

“It's not often that we visit our roots and bring the story in our present situation.

Living in Bondage may have its flaws then but bringing those characters back to our present situation is really interesting and I'm sure it will spark up public discourse that will perhaps engineer growth and development in the industry,”

Okpaleke stated Preparations are already in full swing to ensure that the production of the remake is not only smooth but also to record huge sales in the box office.

The movie is estimated to gulp millions of naira and will feature a robust cast that will bring magic to the screens.

Genevieve Nnaji's Road to Yesterday Nigerian movie hits Nigerian cinemas on friday november 27 memories and secrets from the past are revealed, a lot more is at stake than their relationship.

Star actress and producer of the flick, Genevieve Nnaji plays the role of Victoria Izu, the conflicted wife and mother.

She talks about her role in the movie.

“It was very challenging. I played the role of Victoria, a lady who is in an estranged relationship and she had to fight. As a woman, it is her responsibility to fight to keep her marriage together. All of this happened on a road trip because they embarked on a journey to the village.

By Chikodili Okoro

A

fter weeks of planning, The Entertainment Network (TEN), producers of one of Nigeria's most anticipated flick, Road to Yesterday have announced that the movie will be released in all Nigerian cinemas on Friday, November 27.

Directed by Ishaya Bako, Road to Yesterday stars the Award-winning actress, Genevieve Nnaji and introduces Nigerian-British actor, Oris Erhuerho. Majid Michel, Chioma 'Chigul' Omeruah and veteran Ebele Okaro lead the supporting cast.

Set in Lagos Nigeria, the movie is has been described as an epic love story. It tells the story of a couple desperate to mend its marriage on a road trip to a relative's funeral. However when

Just being in that little space with her husband, they are both confronted with answers and questions that they had to face. This forces them to go back in time to unearth where the problem started and the genesis of where they were and why they were where they were as a couple, considering they were only five years old in the marriage. Victoria had to undergo series of emotions,” Genevieve said.

The Nigerian premiere of the flick is set for Wednesday, November 18 in Lagos, Nigeria.

“All Gay Actors In Nollywood Will Go To Hell” - Mr Ibu (John Okafor)

By Blessing Nnadi

I

n a recent chat with Vanguard, Nollywood comic actor, John Okafor popularly called Mr. Ibu, blasted homosexuals in the Nigerian movie industry. The actor made his stand on the issue of homosexuality known by saying that those involved in the unholy act will surely end up in hell.

In his words: “There is no harassment in Nollywood as I speak to you; the harassment is within same sexes.

Men harass themselves, and women harass themselves, so t h e y a re w o n d e r f u l l y preparing themselves for the devil, and I tell you, they will all go to hell,” “The gay man that approached me will never come close to me again in his life because I humiliated him publicly. I called him out, and shouted his name everywhere. Besides, if it was by looks, nobody would approach me because I'm not fine.”

John Okafor

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SPORTS

November, 2015

NIGERIA

By Okey Anyichie

Brendan Rodgers now Chelsea's stopgap for Jose Mourinho

B

rendan Rodgers has catapulted from candidate for the Aston Villa manager's job to possible stand-in for his former mentor Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.

Carnlough man Rodgers is in the frame as the Premier League champions look for a stopgap manager to take charge, with owner Roman Abramovich running out of patience with Mourinho's failure to halt the worst run by a defending title winning team.

Rodgers' stock remains high at Chelsea where he served as youth and reserve team manager in Mourinho's first reign at Stamford Bridge.

That has led to his odds of

becoming the next Chelsea boss slashed from 20/1 to just 7/1.

Since his sacking by Liverpool earlier this month, Rodgers has also been linked with Aston Villa, but an interim role at Chelsea could be a more likely option, favourable to both parties.

Chelsea are in the Premiership bottom six and Tuesday's Capital One Cup exit at Stoke added to the pressure on Mourninho.

The Portuguese manager will be fighting to save his job if his team is beaten in their next Premier League game, at home against Liverpool on Sunday.

The biggest question for Abramovich would be who could take over immediately from Mourinho, with realistic caretaker options limited, as he

pursues new No1 target Diego Simeone, under contract at Atletico Madrid until the summer, shifting the focus onto Rodgers.

Chelsea have a rich history of appointing interim managers who have gone on to produce success, most notably Roberto di Matteo, winner of the Champions

League and FA Cup in 2012, Guus Hiddinck (2009 FA Cup) and Rafa Benitez (Europa League 2013).

Fifa confirms candidates presidential election *Michel Platini, 60, is Uefa president and Fifa vice-president

S

*Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim alKhalifa, 49, is Asian Football Confederation president

even candidates will stand in Fifa's presidential election on 26 February.

*Tokyo Sexwale, 62, is a South African former government minister

The candidates are: Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, Musa Bility, Jerome Champagne, Gianni Infantino, Michel Platini, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa and Tokyo Sexwale.

Platini, the head of European football's governing body, is also suspended, but Fifa's electoral committee says it may allow him to stand if his ban ends before the election date.

Trinidadian ex-footballer David Nakhid was not included on the list despite saying he had submitted his candidacy.

The election is to find a successor for the suspended Sepp Blatter, who is under criminal investigation.

The 79-year-old Swiss announced he would be stepping down in June, as the president of the world football governing body amidst corruption scandal.

THE CONTENDERS AND

Fifa and Swiss prosecutors are investigating reports that a ÂŁ1.35m payment was made in 2011 for work Platini did as Blatter's adviser.

Pictured, clockwise left to right Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, Tokyo Sexwale, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, Gianni Infantino, Michel Platini, Musa Bility & Jerome Champagne PRETENDERS IN THE FIFA RACE *Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, 39, is president of the Jordan Football

Association *Musa Bility, 48, is president of the Liberian Football Association

*Jerome Champagne, 57, is a former Fifa executive *Gianni Infantino, 45, is Uefa's general secretary

Both men deny any wrongdoing and are appealing against their 90-day bans.

All candidates had to obtain the written backing of five football a s s o c i a t i o n s u n d e r F I FA electoral rules.

Obafemi Martins returns to Super eagles

N

igeria have recalled Obafemi Martins for next month's World Cup eliminator against Swaziland, but Manchester City starlet Kelechi Iheanacho has again been overlooked by coach Sunday Oliseh.

Martins has been on superb form for Seattle sounders in the MLS, scoring 15 goals in the regular season, but he last played for Nigeria in November 2012 in a friendly against Venezuela.

Speculations were rife 18year-old Iheanacho would also be considered for the Swaziland qualifiers after his recent exploits at EPL outfit Manchester City.

Ezenwa, Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars), Kalu orji (Enugu Rangers), Austin Oboroakpo (Abia Warriors), Chima Akas (Sharks) and Ezekiel Bassey (Enyimba).

The bulk of the squad are from the country's selection for recent friendlies against DR Congo and Cameroon in Belgium.

The first leg of the World Cup eliminator will be played on November 13 in Lobambo.

However, several players from the team who qualified the country for next year's CHAN have been picked – Ikechukwu

The full squad: Goalkeepers: Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wa n d e r e r s , E n g l a n d ) ; Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars); Dele Alampasu (Club de Sportivo Feirense, Portugal)

Defenders: Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Kalu Orji (Enugu Rangers FC); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France); Chima Akas (Sharks FC); Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz, Germany); Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur R i z e s p o r, Tu r k e y ) ; E f e Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Austin Oboroakpo (Abia Warriors) Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars); John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England);

Rabiu Ibrahim (AS Trencin, Slovakia); Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium); Sylvester Igbonu (FC UFA, Russia) Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Ezekiel Bassey (Enyimba FC); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Obafemi Martins (Seattle Sounders, USA) Compiled by Sylvester Orji

November, 2015

NIGERIA

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SPORTS

Taribo West confesses using voodoo in football

By Okoro Chikodili & Peace Soronnadi

F

ormer Super Eagles defence strongman, Taribo West made a shocking confession recently. He revealed that during his football career days he used juju to play on the field.

The ex-footballer turned pastor said he had a manager from Senegal who took him to several native doctors in Senegal where they will cut his tongue, hands and legs and then cook it.

“I spend most of my time at home meditating. All I want to do is to keep spreading the gospel. In my own little way, I have been into evangelisation visiting places like Ughelli and within the Orile community, Ajegunle and so on. God has been kind during these visits to preach the gospel to people who are yet to receive Christ. We believe He will take us global very soon,” Taribo said.

It will be recalled that Super Eagles attacker, Brown Ideye came out and advised African players to stop using juju to enhance their playing prowess.

“Your background experience counts. We turn to God to give us direction. I'm happy how far He has taken us.

“The gospel is for the poor, rich and noble.

Part of the gift God gave me is to reach out to the downtrodden. It is good if you can reach out to the downtrodden, preach the gospel to them and try to meet some of their needs through humanitarian services. I'm grateful to God for using me to spread the gospel across to these people,” he said.

On getting to Europe, Taribo would find himself entangled in another life of charms and superstitious beliefs. A move from Auxerre to Milan saw him playing for rivals AC and Inter — one of few players to achieve the feat — in a three-year stint in Italy.

With a new-found life of affluence, the big defender paid huge sums of money for him to be supplied charms to win games, protect him from career-threatening injuries and also to be foretold the results of matches before they were played. The 1998 UEFA Cup winner used to burn candles and hold a magical stone from Israel before games but he is bewildered that people are reluctant to publicly identify themselves with the practice, saying players and officials are deeply involved in the act. Taribo said, “Of course yes (I was involved). I don't know why people decline to talk about their involvement with charms. Football has to do with a lot of powers. When there are big events, you look at the stadium, you see people, fans invoking all kinds of things; magicians are there, voodooists are there.

“In my playing days, when I was ignorant, I used to get some mallams and babalawos (traditional doctors) to make charms for us, which we took to (national) camp.

Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.

“In some clubs, before every game, the president or leader of the club will give you a lucky charm to play with. They will tell you to put it in your boots or socks and play.

It's their superstitious belief; that it can help them win matches.

“There are some coaches who are connected to African magicians and soothsayers from Senegal, Burkina Faso, Zaire or even Nigeria. These people are

consulted to give these coaches results of games even before the matches are played.

“These people see strange things and they can tell you with their magic and charms, what the outcome of a match will be. People believe and use it. It works for those who believe in it. I saw it, I experienced it, I was with players that used it and I used it. So, why are people denying it? There are charms and rituals in football. It still exists.”

When Patience Ikemefuna, an evangelist who lives in America paid Taribo a visit in

biologically related, he refers to Ikemefuna as “my sister.” “God used her to change my life and ever since, my life has never been the same. I'm grateful to her. When I had an encounter with God and I became born again, I discovered that these powers were powerless. It was an avenue to collect money from us. There are lots of voodoo practices in football. If you are not with God, you have to be with the devil; with the devil they come with everything,” he added.

What is the difference between life in Christ

Milan, it marked a new phase in the 1996 Olympic Games gold medalists' life.

Ikemefuna was perplexed when she discovered that Taribo was deeply involved in occultism. There were charms in his wardrobe and other parts of his apartment.

Even though her host resisted initially, she convinced him and after several praying sessions, Taribo gave his life to Christ.

Today, even though they are not

and one filled with charms?

“You can't compare,” he said. “When I was living that ignorant life, I was in darkness.

In the darkness, the devil can give you what God can also give you, but he will give you without joy and peace. Eventually, you will end up in sorrow. But when you experience the joy of Christ, it adds no sorrow.

“The joy of the Lord is not only my strength; it gives me everything I need in life. The

love of Christ comes with freedom, success, favour, expansion and a better life. When you have all these, you have everlasting peace. That is why I am comfortable today and I'm happy how God has seen me thus f a r . ” But being a pastor doesn't mean he is free from temptations. In fact he realises that there are even tougher battles to fight as a cleric. “Temptation is permanent; it's there every hour, every day but if you begin to study the Bible, there are principles that God has laid down for us. If you follow this, the devil will not keep you.

“From my house to the bus stop, I may see a young girl not properly brought up, dressed half- Unclad walking on the streets. You will see temptation right there. But you have to pray for God's grace to overcome the temptation.” After a career that has seen him play football in Nigeria, France, Italy, England, Germany, Yugoslavia, UAE and Iran, Taribo has seen it all and aptly names his church a shelter.

He added, “We told ourselves to fast and ask God for a name for the ministry. In the process, a sister came up and said a voice told her that we should call the ministry Shelter in The Storm Miracle Ministries.

That's how we got the name. “During my journeys, God created a shelter for me and transferred me into that fold. There are lots of natural disasters everywhere in the world in these last days. There are crisis in Asia; there is terrorism and sectarian groups springing up. People are migrating from all over the world to Europe because of fear. In the midst of all these, God has created for everyone a shelter, where everything in your life will be restored again.” Even though he is no longer actively involved in the game, which gave him the good life and saw him resident in some of the world's biggest cities, the Super Eagles — with whom he played two World Cups and two Africa Cup of Nations — is still very dear to Pastor Taribo West.

“We need to pray for the team and I have taken it as an assignment to pray for the team. The national team is part of my body, it's my family.”

Culled from Real World of Sport

Nigerian stars shines again at west ham

T

he winger hadn't played since August prior to Tuesday's outing and was satisfied with his performance for his new club Victor Moses admitted he has settled quickly after making his West Ham United debut in Tuesday's 2-0 defeat of Newcastle United.

The winger- who joined the club from Chelsea on a season loan was on start from till the 88th minutes when he came off for Andy Caroll.

The Nigeria international though was not on the scorers' sheet, he said the Hammers deserved to win.

"I thought all the lads did really well out there. We knew what to expect, the manager said 'Go out and express yourself, make sure you enjoy the game',” Moses told club website.

"I thought we worked hard together as a team, we deserved the game and we dominated really. We created a lot of chances really.

"I think I've settled in quickly. I just wanted to go out there and enjoy it. Everything fell into place and it felt good out there.

"You can see that we've got a lot of quality.

Going forward we were all enjoying

ourselves.Payet and Sakho were excellent and Lanzini as well. Our full-backs pushed on well which also helped, we just enjoyed ourselves really.”

He has set his sights on their next game at the Etihad against leaders Manchester City.

"Now the most important thing is the game on Saturday and trying to get three points at City,” he continued.

“ It'll be tough, Manchester City have been the best team so far, playing there is always difficult anyway. We need to go there and be positive, try and upset them and win the game.

“Hopefully we'll get at least a draw but I believe in the quality of the players we've got.

If we play to our best, it's going to be a very hard game for City,” he concluded.

Vol. 2 No. 109, November, 2015

SPORTS STAR ONLINE

**

NIGERIA

Yaya Toure

Back Page Comment

60 Constitutional Sins & Breaches of Buhari's Presidency *150 Days in office without Cabinet

By Emeka Umeagbalasi

O

ctober 29th 2015 marks 150 days in office of the Buhari's Presidency as Nigeria's sixth civilian instituted Presidency, having been constitutionally sworn in and administered withoaths of office and allegiance on 29th May 2015. It is also observed by the Intersociety that Nigeria has in the past 150 days (29th May 2015 till date) been run and administered without a functional federal cabinet or government by Buhari's Presidency. In furtherance of our firm promise five months ago to keep the Buhari's Presidency on its toes by providing constructive assessment of all his policies and actions and steadily raise alarms over destructive and retrogressive or likelihood of destructive and retrogressive policies and actions; we wish to inform Nigerians and members of the international community that we have empirically identified at least 60 constitutional sins and breaches in the past 150 days of the Buhari's Presidency and the sins and breaches have continued to increase as we write.

These 60 constitutional sins and breaches are divided into Electoral Sins & Breaches, Political Sins & Breaches, Judicial Sins & Interferences, Economic Policy Sins & Blunders and Security & Safety Policy Sins & Blunders. They are all contrary to or in gross breaches of the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and its subsidiary laws of the Federation including relevant international rights treaties entered into by Nigeria through the instruments ofratification or domestication. They are referred to as constitutional sins because they violate the spirit of the Constitution and constitutional breaches because they violate the letters of the Constitution.

The aspect of Electoral Sins & Breaches is included because the process through which a leader emerges in a constitutional electoral democracy is far more important than what he does or his achievements in office. Constitutional

electoral democracy is further composed of input and output legitimacies in positive or meritorious aspect and input and output illegitimacies or demerit in negative aspect. Input legitimacy is the popularity or high rating or acceptance associated with his or her emergence as a democratic leader through popular, pluralistic and all inclusive general polls, whereas output legitimacy is popularity or high rating earned following his or her towering achievements in office.

These explain why the process that brought Buhari's Presidency to power was revisited and added to its

breaches are also triggers of structural injustices powered by political backwardness and ethno-religious primordialism. It is also an incontestable fact that the emergence of Buhari's Presidency as Nigeria's octogenarian presidency is re-opening of generational wounds and afflictions experienced during the civil war and dozens of ethnoreligious killings that gripped Nigeria in the past four decades. The situation is compounded by the fact that Buhari's Presidency has continued to be seen by many as wounding Presidency in place of being a healing Presidency

A. Electoral Sins & Breaches:

President Muhammadu Buhari constitutional sins and breaches in accordance with the Principles of Vicarious Liability. Our decision to carefully identify the namedconstitutional sins and breaches is to bring them to the immediate attention of Nigerians, the international community as well as the Buhari's Presidency so that they can be clearly understood as triggers capable of plunging the country into social, political, economic and ethno-religious comatose. When further aggregated and c o n g r e g a t e d , t h e referencedconstitutional sins and

1. Gross manipulation (i.e. hoarding, defacing, diversion, destruction and non-production) of issuance and distribution of permanent voters cards with gross numerical disparity designed to favour north against the south leading to highly divisive presidential poll that brought Buhari's Presidency to power. 2.

Deliberate and scientific exclusion from voting of 12 million registered voters dominated by southern and northern minority populations designed to produce Buhari's Presidency at all costs, leading to its highly divisive emergence.3.

Creation of mobile voting centers for Muslim IDPs unknown to Electoral Act and refusal to make same or similar arrangements for IDPs of Southeast and minority nationalities' extraction such as through voters' cards' transfer provided in the Electoral Act of 2010. 4. Exclusion through stringent voter registration conditions during voters' registration exercises of at least 20 million Nigerians of voting age dominated by southerners and other minority nationalities.

5. Introduction of mal-functional card readers contrary to the Electoral Act of 2010 designed to further shut out and weaken southern voting population. 6.

Massive deployment and use of millions of under-age voters in the north designed to shore up northern Muslim voting population during the referenced controversial polls. 7. Demographic and

G

négnéri Yaya Touré (born 13 May 1983), known as Yaya Touré, is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Manchester City and the Ivory Coast national team.

Touré aspired to be a striker during his youth and has played centre back, including for FC Barcelona in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final. He frequently plays as a box-tobox midfielder for club and country and often switches from defensive and attacking positions throughout matches. Touré began his playing career at Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas, where he made his debut aged 18.

He was voted African Footballer of the Year for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

His performances attracted attention from Europe, playing for clubs in various European leagues. Touré played for Beveren in Belgium, Metalurh Donetsk in Ukraine, Olympiacos in Greece, and AS Monaco in France. In 2007, Touré moved to Barcelona, playing over 100 matches for the club and was part of the historic 2009 Barcelona team which won six trophies in one calendar year.

Early career Touré joined the ASEC Mimosas youth academy in 1996 on the recommendation of his long-time mentor Patrick van Reijendam.

A prominent figure in the ASEC academy was Jean-Marc Guillou. In 2001 Guillou invested heavily in a Belgian club, Beveren, with the aim of using the team to showcase Ivorian players in a European league. Touré moved to Beveren in 2001, one of many ASEC players to do so in this period; by 2003 he was one of 14 Ivorians in the Beveren squad.

In the summer of 2003, Touré had a trial with Arsenal. He started a pre-season friendly against Barnet on 19 July, playing as a second striker and then moving up front in the second half. Manager Arsène Wenger recognised his talent but could not decide on his best position and described his performance against Barnet as "completely average." The game finished 00 and the BBC Sport website said that he "blotted his copy book by missing Arsenal's clearest chance of the game, heading a cross from Quincy Owusu-Abeyie wide." Wenger was still keen to sign the then-20-year old but Touré had difficulties in getting a work permit. Ultimately, Touré grew impatient and opted to sign for Ukrainian side Metalurh Donetsk instead, where he spent one-and-ahalf years.

Awards and nominations Touré was nominated in the Personality of the Year category at the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards. In July 2014, Touré was nominated for Prize in Entertainment at the 2014 The Future Africa Awards. He is the African best player award 2015

Continues on page 21

Published by ADVOCATE Newspapers Ltd, Corporate Office: No. 30 Edinburgh Road, Ogui New Layout, Enugu. Phone: 08087631127. Publisher: Tony Edike 08033218180 Editor: Rex Arum 07066097362. website: www.theadvocatengr.com ADVOCATE NIGERIA (ISSN 2408-4824) e-mail: editoradvocate@ymail.com