The Nation April 15, 2014

Newspaper of the Year

DAY OF HORROR

How it happened, by witnesses Abuja morgues overwhelmed AND MORE ON NLC: Boko Haram backers should face trial PAGES 2-6 & 58 APC calls for national summit 10-month old survives It’s indictment on Jonathan’s administration, says Tinubu PDP blames it all on opposition Mark, Tambuwal grieve

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 2819 TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

Bloody day in Abuja Suicide bombers kill 150 Minister: 72 died

Jonathan: we’ll get over it

•Vehicles burning on the scene of the explosion at Nyanya Motor Park in Abuja…yesterday

•The remains of the Golf car (XQ229LSD) allegedly used by the suicide bombers...yesterday

•Some of the victims in the hospital...yesterday

PHOTOS: ABAYOMI FAYESE AND NAN

saw a woman lying face down without limbs. One, who was sur‘Irounded by her children, struggled for life and gave up in their arms ’ •TRANSPORTATION P18 •SPORTS P24 •POLITICS P43 •PROPERTY P49 •ENERGY P50

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

2

NEWS DAY OF HORROR IN ABUJA

Blame game amid sadness as dign

•Fire fighters battling the inferno...yesterday

•The scene of the explosion... yesterday

PDP blames APC for Abuja blasts

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has blamed the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) for the bomb blasts that rocked Abuja yesterday in which over 71 persons were killed and 124 injured.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP condemned as barbaric, monstrous and extremely wicked, the blasts which occurred at Nyanya, on the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory. The party said the blasts could not be justified under any guise, maintaining the they are politically motivated and can be traced to the utterances and comments of desperate persons who seek to undermine and discredit the present administration and make the nation ungovernable for President Goodluck Jonathan by instituting a reign of terror against the people.

The statement said: “We stand by our earlier statements that these attacks on our people are politically motivated by unpatriotic persons, especially those in the All Progressives Congress (APC) who have been making utterances and comments, promoting violence and blood-letting as a means of achieving political control. Nigerians are also aware of utterances by certain APC governors which have been aimed at undermining our security forces and emboldening insurgents against the

It’s despicable, says APC

T

•Party calls for national security summit

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the atrocious bomb blast that left more than 71 people dead in Abuja yesterday and urged the Federal Government to urgently convene a national stakeholders’ security summit to help find a lasting solution to the spate of mindless killings in the country. In a statement by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party expressed its shock and sadness at the savagery of the attack, while condoling with the families of those killed and praying for a quick recovery for the injured.

It said it is now obvious that all efforts so far to tackle the insurgency in the country have not yielded much fruits, meaning that this PDP-led Federal Government lacks the capacity and has clearly run out of ideas on how to tackle the violence. ‘’It is time

for new thinking, new ideas, to stop this insurgency before it consumes all of us. The attack, right on the outskirts of Abuja, which has been spared this kind of spectacular strike since 2011, means those behind it are getting bolder and bolder, and it’s time to stop them,’’ it said. APC said, in the national interest and in the spirit of bipartisanship, it is willing and ready to be part of any positive efforts to end the daily loss of lives and the damage to property that seem to have hit a new high since the beginning of this year.

Meanwhile, the party has described as despicable the PDP’s attempt to trivialize a very serious issue and make the opposition the fall guy for its own egregious failure. “‘The PDP and the government it leads at the centre should realise that this issue is beyond politics and partisanship, and should reach out to other stakeholders to help find a way

to end the insurgency that has now defied all measures, including a state of emergency. Trying to blame the opposition for the attack, as the PDP has irresponsibly done, even when the bodies of the victims are still lying in the morgue, cannot advance a genuine push to end the insurgency,’’ the party said. The APC wondered whether the PDP’s ignoble accusation is part of a sinister motive to call the dog a bad name just to hang it. ‘’PDP is so desperate that it will stop at nothing to plunge Nigeria into chaos just to achieve its objective of clinging to power at all costs. Its baseless and infantile accusation, at a time of great national pain, may be a ploy to instigate a clampdown against the opposition.

We are therefore calling on all our members, and indeed all the good people of Nigeria, to be vigilant in the days ahead,’’ the party said.

people.

“Those who have been promoting violence through their utterances can now see the monster they have created. They can now see the end product of their comments; a country flowing daily with the blood of the innocent. The question is: how do they feel when they see the mangled and blood-soaked bodies of their victims? How do they feel when they hear the voices of the dying and the injured? Of course they feel nothing.

Their hearts have been hardened and they are embittered by the fact that

they have been rejected by the people. They are bitter because the people have chosen to rally round the government they love and voted for; but must they choose the path of violence and bloodletting as a response to the wishes and aspirations of the people?”

The ruling party said it was shocked and grief-stricken when it received the news of the gruesome attacks that led to killing of Nigerians pursuing their legitimate endeavors.

“The PDP weeps. We are indeed griefstricken. Our hearts go out to the be-

reaved, especially those who have been orphaned and widowed and those now deprived of their bread winners by this evil act. We share in their pain, their anguish and their loss and pray that those behind their grief must not escape justice”, the PDP added. The party urged well-meaning Nigerians to stand up and join President Jonathan in his efforts to check terrorism in the country. It also cautioned those allegedly fueling the attacks to retrace their steps, rid themselves of bitterness and desperation and seek forgiveness from God.

Atiku asks Jonathan to seek foreign assistance the sanctity of human life, Atiku said the latest bombings by insurgents should be a wake-up call to all Nigerians on the imperative of ending the blame game and working together to end this scourge. “As a country, we are not doing enough of focusing on and implementing solutions.

We are all guilty of expending endless energy on handwringing and the trading of blame, none of which is able to save lives •Atiku or change the status quo,” the former Vice ORMER Vice President, Atiku President said.

The former Vice President recalled Abubakar, has expressed anger and sadness at the bombings in that government had in February this the suburbs of Abuja that left scores year spoken about its successes in pushdead and many injured. In a statement ing Boko Haram to the “fringes” of the by his media office in Abuja, he said this Northeast, where a state of emergency needless bloodletting cannot continue currently exists in a number of states, unabated, adding that it requires new and where the Boko Haram terrorist strategies to nip it in the bud. While de- group has carried out many deadly atscribing those behind the bombings as tacks recently. He said the bombings, evil and callous with scant regard for which took place at a motor park in

F

Nyanya, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, cast doubts on the claims of containing the crisis to the fringes of the country. “There is an urgent need for the government of Nigeria to review its methods and strategies for dealing with terrorism,” Atiku said. He called for a step-up in intelligence, listening posts, picking up trends and conversations with a view to pre-empting terrorist attacks, adding that it is time for Nigeria to accept foreign assistance with fighting terrorism in the country. While expressing his condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones in the bombings, the former Vice President urged well-meaning Nigerians in and around the Federal Capital Territory to heed the call of National Blood Transfusion Centre (NBTC) by voluntarily donating blood at the National Hospital Abuja to save the lives of survivors.

PHOTO ABAYOM

Tambuwal grieves

H

OUSE of Representatives, Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal condemned yesterday’s explosion, which killed dozens of commuters and others in Abuja.

In a statement in Calabar by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal described the attack as cowardly and barbaric.

The Speaker said all Nigerians must join hands to end the spate of wanton killings.

According to him, considering the pattern of previous attacks, security agencies should strengthen surveillance around motorparks and related areas all over the federation. The Speaker further urged security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of the violent acts are brought to justice, adding that the gains recorded by the security agencies in their battle against terror should be consolidated in order to protect the citizens at all times. While condoling with the families of those who lost their loved ones in the blast, Tambuwal prayed for the quick recovery of those injured.

•Tambuwal

Lossoflivesheartbreaking,saysSaraki

T

HE loss of innocent lives to yesterday’s terrorist attack in Nyanya on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is heartbreaking, former governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki has said. The Senator, who is the chairman, Senate committee on Environment and Ecology, lamented that the nation was yet again faced with another great loss of innocent lives in the hands of terrorists. In a statement he signed, Saraki, representing Kwara central, said that the growing insecurity in the country has threatened the unity of the nation and weakened its socio-economic and political strength. He added: “It is unfortunate that in the face of these growing insurgencies, the federal government has been unable to overcome the challenge and provide adequate and holistic approach to security for the

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

lives and properties of Nigerians.

“Beyond usual promises and consolations to the masses, the federal government should improvise and adopt advanced security measures and counter terrorism strategies that can provide adequate security in the nation. There is an urgent need for political cooperation across the board.

I call on Mr. President to call a joint meeting of leaders from all political divides, religious and opinion leaders to deliberate on the nation’s security plight. Enough of rhetoric and workshop or summit on security matters.

What we need now is action and commitment. It is my belief that for the sake of the innocent lives our political resolve must be as strong as the military option.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

3

DAY OF HORROR IN ABUJA

n itaries reflect on suicide bombing

AYOMI FAYESE

•A woman weeping over her dead relation on the scene of the explosion

•Items belonging to victims of the explosion in Abuja ...yesterday

PHOTOS: NAN

It’s an indictment on Jonathan’s administration, says Tinubu

N

ATIONAL leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed his condolences and grief to the families who lost their loved ones to the deadly blasts in Abuja, saying the killing of innocent citizens must stop. In a statement by his media office, he said the shedding of blood has continued because the Jonathan administration has not devised a grand strategy against this menace, either locally or internationally. While commiserating with bereaved families, Tinubu urged the PDP-led administration to stop treating security of life and property of Nigerians with levity. “It is another gloomy chapter not only for families, but it reinforces the fear and vulnerability of Nigerians. I condemn in the strongest terms the Nyanya bombings and the violent attacks perpetrated by Boko Haram. The killings are detestable, especially those of students and other innocent Nigerians. All peace loving Nigerians must condemn this mindless slaughter in the strongest of terms. No religion, Islam or Christianity, condones the killings of innocent lives for which there can be no justification.

I call upon the law enforcement agencies and the President to spare no effort in bringing the perpetrators to book. The Jonathan Presidency must do all in its powers and within the ambit of the law to halt the Boko Haram nightmare,” he said. Lamenting that thousands of lives have been needlessly lost to the escalating violence, Tinubu said the tempo and consistency of attacks suggest that this government’s approach is not only wrong, but also wrongheaded. “For how long shall we cry over the failure

Be more proactive: Mark, Senate urge security agencies

‘

...the unending attacks suggest a failure of intelligence. Government must rethink its strategy now. On matters of security, the bulk stops at the President’s table.

Like in other countries, Jonathan is the Chief Security Officer. Just as Jonathan laps up praises, he must bear responsibility and accept blame over Boko Haram’s deadly attacks.

’

By Seun Akioye

of intelligence and misuse of military deployments? For how long shall we weep over the avoidable deaths, loss of talents and gloom in Nigerian homes? When the story of this generation is told, who shall escape responsibility for the mammoth human lives and resources lost to the slaughter?” he asked.

Reacting further on his twitter handle in the aftermath of the bloody violence that claimed scores of lives, Tinubu said that President Jonathan must be prepared to accept the blame over the deadly attacks by the Boko Haram. He said: “This morning’s bomb blast in Yanyan, Abuja, and the mindless deaths is dastardly. It is an

S

•Asiwaju Tinubu

indictment of the Jonathan government. My heart bleeds for our people and the country over the deaths in Yanyan. A government (that is) unable to protect its citizens deserves to be queried.” The opposition leader also said Nigerians must rise up to demand better security from the government, adding that “As a country, we are united in grief over the Nyanya attacks, but as a people, we must rise up to demand this government provides better security. Nigeria’s security outlook is depressing; the unending attacks suggest a failure of intelligence.

Government must rethink its strategy now. On matters of security, the bulk stops at the President’s table. Like in other countries, Jonathan is the Chief Security Officer. Just as Jonathan laps up praises, he must bear responsibility and accept blame over Boko Haram’s deadly attacks.” He upbraided the government for its attitude towards the death of its citizens, saying while too many lives are being shed, too many limbs severed, “this government carries on with its cavalier attitude.”

ENATE President David Mark yesterday condemned the bombing in Abuja that left scores of citizens dead. He urged the perpetrators to rethink “because this is a needless war,” adding that “It is hard to believe that this is happening to us. No matter the anger or grievances in anybody’s mind, this war on defenceless citizens is uncalled for.

This is inhuman and unarguably ungodly.” In a statement, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Senate President, Kola Ologbondiyan, noted that Mark who was already at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, enroute Ibadan, Oyo State, made a u-turn in honor of the victims on hearing of the sordid incident. It was gathered that Mark was on his way to attend the birthday of the Olubadan of Ibadan Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I on his 100 years and receive a Chieftaincy from the revered monarch. The President of the Senate sympathised with the victims and reminded Nigerians of the need to be their brothers’ keeper at all times. He also called on security operatives to collaborate with others, even as he counseled them to be more proactive in order to end the menace.

Also, the Senate decried the latest bomb blast, describing it as callous and wicked. Its spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the bomb blast, which claimed scores of lives, is one incident by the evil minds that should prick Nigeria’s collective consciousness. The Senate, he said, is worried at the dimension the orgy of terrorists attacks and its devilish activities is assuming. Abaribe said: “The Senate bleeds also on the very harrow-

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

ing fact that innocent lives of Nigerians, whose only sin is to go out to look for their daily bread, would be so slaughtered in this manner. The Senate is still bemoaning the unending massacre of our people in some states in the Northeast, the latest being the killings in Borno state on Sunday and now this one,” he said.

The Senate also called on the security agencies to step up their game and be more proactive. He said: “The blame game should be over, the security agencies must step up their game and be more proactive. The country is indeed bleeding of the blood of her innocent ones who are daily being cut down by the evil minds. The Senate therefore consoles with the families of the dead and wishes the wounded quick recovery, while also urging Nigerians to remain steadfast as the Government intensifies effort to tackle the ugly menace.”

•Mark

Sultan, CAN, others condemn killings

•Alhaji Abubakar III

T

HE Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has condemned the explosion at Nyanya park, Abuja and called for collective efforts toward addressing insecurity in the country. He made the remarks yesterday during the Central Council meeting of the

Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Kaduna. The Sultan condemned the act and commiserated with families of the bereaved and prayed to God to grant eternal rest to the departed souls. He said: “We never thought that such things will ever come to Nigeria some years back, but they are with us right now. It is left for us to wake up from our deep slumber and face the challenges. We condemn what happened this morning in Nyanya, Abuja, and we pray that almighty Allah will expose whoever is behind it and all other mayhems in this country fast.”

The Sultan urged Nigerians to discard ethno-religious sentiments and strive toward promoting peace-

ful coexistence and harmony. “All hands must be on deck to find a lasting solution to this problem. It is high time we put sentiments aside, sentiment of religion, sentiment of ethnicity and see how we can take our country out of these killings.’’

He, therefore, reiterated the commitment of religious and traditional leaders toward promoting peace, urging governments at all levels to put more efforts toward addressing the security challenges facing the nation.

Governor Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State also urged Nigerians to follow the tenets of their religion, which preached peace and sanctity of human lives. He

called for fervent prayers and urged citizens to shun vices. The governor urged religious organisations to assist government toward tackling poverty, insecurity, unemployment and high rate of illiteracy among the people by initiating programmes that would address the problems.

Similarly, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) also condemned the bomb blast, describing it as inhuman. Pastor Simon Dolly, National President of the Youth Wing of CAN, made the condemnation in Abuja. He urged the Federal Government to avoid a recurrence of such unfortunate incidence, saying “it is a threat to national unity.”

Dolly advised government to take

more proactive security measures to protect lives and property, adding that “such bomb blasts can only stop if the sponsors are exposed and adequately punished.”

He urged government to curtail the influx of illegal immigrants in and around Abuja, adding that efforts needed to be done for their arrest and speedy repatriation.

Also reacting to the blast, the Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Mike Omeri, said those behind the incident would forever be hunted by the repercussion of their action. He condoled with the bereaved families and those who were injured in the explosion.

4

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

NEWS DAY OF HORROR IN ABUJA

T

•Jonathan (middle) with Mark and AIG Abba…yesterday

We’ll soon get over insurgency, says Jonthan

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan vowed yesterday to do everything possible to end the insurgency that has shaken Nigeria to its roots.

He spoke after being conducted round the blast site in Nyanya on the outskirts of Abuja, where scores died in an early morning suicide bombing. Boko Haram is temporary and that Nigeria would overcome.

Dr. Jonathan, with whom was Senate President David Mark, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Adamu Muazu and National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki condoled with the families of those who died. He directed that the best medical services be given to the injured. He also ordered tight security around the city.

Jonathan visited some of the

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

victims at the Asokoro General Hospital, Abuja. He was conducted round the emergency wards by the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Abubakar Adamu.

At the scene of the attacks, the President said: “You can see that I’m here with the Senate President, David Mark and Chairman of PDP, ministers, CDS and service chiefs, and all other very senior government functionaries. Let us collectively express our condolences to the families of those who suffered directly on the incident.

“I am also commending security services for their prompt action. Though we lost quite a number of people, we condole with our countrymen and women. We will continue to

work very hard.”

He went on: “The issue of Boko Haram is temporary.

Government is doing everything to make sure that we move our country forward, in spite of all the distractions that want to take us backward. We promise that we will get over it.

“We also want to use this unique opportunity to plead with the media and our great men and women to come up with enlightenment programme for our people. Those countries that face terror, they have developed great awareness. If there are unusual movement of vehicles and bags, they call security and based on this a lot of incident are contained.

“So, we believe that if people will become observant and all of us become security con-

scious by the movement of people, we will be able to reduce some of these incident.”

“We will do our best; the security services will continue to work very hard. God willing, we will get over it. The issue of Boko Haram is temporary; surely we will get over it.” He stated The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, posted on his Twitter Account: “Jonathan saddened by loss of lives in Nyanya bombing. Ordered heightened security in Abuja following the incident. Jonathan extends his heartfelt condolences to bereaved families. Direct medical services to do their best to save lives.”

At the Asokoro General HosContinued on page 58

NEMA, police: 71 died

HE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the police confirmed yesterday that 71 people died in the Nyanya bomb blast; 124 were injured.

Inspector-General of Police M.D. Abubakar said security agencies were stepping up measures to uncover the planners of the crime and avoid a reoccurrence.

Abubakar urged Nigerians and the international community to remain calm and vigilant.

The release of the official figures was contained in separate statements by the two agencies.

A statement by the Senior Information Officer of NEMA, Mr. Sani Datti, said: “The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other response agencies have carried out the herculean task of evacuating dead bodies as well as injured victims of the early morning blasts at the Nyanya Motor Park to various hospitals in Abuja and the environs.

“Further to the evacuation and to ensure adequate care for the injured, the Director-General Mohammed Sani Sidi has visited some of the hospitals with directive that adequate and free medical treatments should be provided for all the victims.

“Meanwhile, the agency, in collaboration with other response agencies, has provided this detail of the casualty in various hospitals.”

A

Morgues overwhelmed after explosion at motor park

G

OVERNMENT hospitals in Abuja were overwhelmed yesterday by the sheer number of casualties from the blast.

An official of the Federal Ministry of Health who claimed to have visited all the general hospitals in Abuja said 124 persons were affected by the blast.

He said 71 persons had been confirmed dead as at 11.00am.

Fifteen bodies wrapped in black body bags were counted at the Wuse General Hospital.

Chief Medical Director Dr. Obiora Chibundu told Interior Minister Abba Moro that 58 casualties were rushed to the hospital, 38 of them men.

Senate Committee on Power Chairman Philip Aduda and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Commandant-General Ade Abolurin were also at the hospital.

Dr. Chibundu said while one victim had been treated and discharged, 11 others were stable but still undergoing treatFrom Yusuf Alli, Abuja

Hospital, Garki Hospital, Asokoro General Hospital, Wuse, General Hospital and Nyanya General Hospital, National Security Adviser Col. Sambo Dasuki held an emergency meeting with the Service Chiefs.

Although a preliminary probe of the incident by all security agencies was in progress as at

From Gbade Ogunwale, Sanni Onogu, Vincent Ikuomola, Gbenga Omokhunu, Faith Yahaya,Grace Obike and Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

ment.

He added that doctors were attending to other critically injured victims in the theatre.

The hospital’s mortuary could not accommodate 15 bodies. They were left lying in the sun at the premises.

Chibundu said the situation was the same at Maitama, Asokoro and the National Hospital.

An official of the Federal Ministry of Health said Garki General Hospital would take the bodies.

Chibundu said the hospital ambulances had been placed on standby to transfer the bodies to the alternative mortuary.

One of the victims on admission at the hospital, Mr. Cosmas Uguanyi, said he was on queue to board one of the buses

press time, it was learnt that the body of one of the suspected suicide bombers had been deposited at the Wuse General Hospital.

The incident happened between 6.30am and 6.55am at a bus terminal in Nyanya where a teeming crowd of commuters had converged to catch buses to work .

It was gathered that the blast

when the blast took place.

Besides a major cut to Uguanyi’s head, which was already stitched and bandaged, he said the loud explosions affected his ears.

Another victim, Mr. Nuhu Abdullahi, whose left hand and two legs were badly injured, said he was in a hurry to go to his workplace when the incident happened.

Moro told our correspondent that the perpetrators would be brought to book.

He said: “It is only unfortunate that at this time of nation building, this is happening as a setback to the whole process.

“Our primary duty now is to take care of the living and preserve those who have died rather than counting figures.

“The dead will be sent to the various morgues as arrangements are being made on that.”

Security was heavy in and around the Wuse General Hospital.

Policemen were diverting vehicles from the road leading to the hospital.

went off while some of the commuters had boarded about 10 of the luxury buses and others were scrambling for seats in 20 commercial vehicles.

The blast created a two feet deep, ten feet wide crater and threw objects as far as 200 metres.

A top security officer, who pleaded not to be named because he is not allowed to talk

Police Force Public Relations Officer CSP Frank Mba said: “In a swift reaction to the Monday morning, 14th April, 2014 blast at a motor park in Nyanya, a suburb of about 30 kilometres from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP MD Abubakar has visited the scene of the explosion where he assessed the extent of damage and the impact on the surrounding environment.

“He urged the citizens and the international community to remain calm and vigilant as the police and other security agencies are stepping up measures to uncover the authors of the crime and avoid a reoccurrence of this unfortunate incident.

“The IGP further noted that security agents have relentlessly worked round the clock with significant success to stave off such attacks on the Federal Capital and the entire country at large.

“He therefore reassured Nigerians and foreign nationals that security agencies will do anything possible to further strengthen the security within and beyond Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Consequently, the IGP has placed police operatives on red alert.

“He has equally ordered the police to intensify surveillance on all vulnerable targets within Abuja.

“Meanwhile, the police, supContinued on page 58

FIGURES OF HORROR AT THE HOSPITALS HOSPITAL INJURED DEATH •Abuja Clinic 4 •Nyanya General Hospital 11 •Customs Hospital, Karu 14 1 •Asokoro 25 27 •Maitama Hospital 27 14 •Wuse General Hospital 10 15 •National Hospital Abuja 25 14 •Garki hospital 1 •Medical Centre, Maraba 7 TOTAL 124 71 SOURCE: NEMA

Boko Haram kills over 150, injures 164 in Abuja

FTER a long while, suicide bombers made yesterday a bloody return to Abuja, striking in a packed motor park on the outskirts of the city.

The insurgent group, Boko Haram, is suspected to have carried out the attack in which 150 people died. The police said 71 died, 124 injured.

But last night Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu released an official figures of horror.

He said 72 people died, 164 injured.

Most of the victims were workers, artisans and unemployed people trying to board cheap SURE-P buses early in the morning.

About 40 vehicles were burnt during the blast, including 16 luxury buses and 24 other commercial vehicles. At the scene were women’s handbags, shoes and other personal effects.

Eight mortuaries were filled to the brim. Hospitals were pleading for blood donation to save lives.

British High Commissioner to Nigerian Andrew Pocock led other officials of the High Commission to the national blood transfusion centre in Abuja to donate blood for the treatment of the victims. Many Nigerians also donated blood.

Some of the clinics are National Hospital, Maitama General

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

to the media, said: “From preliminary findings, a Golf car, XQ 229LSD, was parked near the buses where commuters had converged.

“Report indicated that five insurgents came out of the car, pretending to be waiting to join a bus.

“But these insurgents had barely alighted when the remote controlled bomb went off.

FIGURES OF HORROR

72 164

•Number of the dead •Number of the injured

•Official figures released last night by Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu

“As a matter of fact, one of the suicide bombers was killed and his body was deposited at Wuse General Hospital. We saw all manner of charms or amulets on his chest.”

Another source said: “We learnt the Golf car rammed into the buses in what appeared a clear case of suicide mission.

Continued on page 58

CORRECTION The rider to our lead story in yesterday’s edition should read Governors grumble as President’s wife backs aspirants in Abia, Bayelsa, Delta, Bauchi, Kwara, Akwa Ibom, Rivers.

ADVERT HOTLINES 08023006969, 08052592524

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

5

NEWS DAY OF HORROR IN ABUJA

• A victim of the blast being carried into a waiting ambulance...yesterday

• Another victim on a stretcher

• A victim being assisted

• Another injured person being assisted

Jonathan’s aide calls for prayers

T

HE Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Students Matters, Comrade Jude Imagwe, has urged Nigerians to fast and pray for divine intervention in the nation’s security chaleenges.

Imagwe spoke yesterday in Abuja when he received leaders of the Initiative for Greater Nigeria (IGN) in his office.

The presidential aide said Nigerians should rise up against insecurity.

Imagwe, whose worker was injured in the attack, said: “We cannot start a Catholic holy week with such barbaric act of terrorism, meting bitterness on Nigerians and exposing them to threat and fear.

“I wish there would be a day Nigerians would declare a 24hour fasting and prayers and pray for this country as its citizens, not as Christians or Muslims. Let’s stand up and call on God in whatever language and beg Him to intervene in the sit-

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

uation we have found ourselves.

“The protection of this country should not be left in the hand of one person; it is a collective duty, because no one knows who these people are after. So, you can’t predict the next person who will be their target. So, we must stand up as a people who believe this is ours and must be protected.”

The presidential aide decried the rate of killings in the land, adding: “Our country is not at war. Yet, the number of people dying daily is more than those killed in a war. This goes beyond democracy; it is for the future of our country.”

He called for a minute silence for the dead.

The group’s National President, Alhaji Isa Muhammed, urged Nigerians to be vigilant and give information that can help security agents to secure the nation better.

TIMELINE OF BOKO HARAM ATTACKS IN ABUJA • 14/4/2014. More than 100 people were killed and many more maimed as an early morning bomb explosion rocked a motor park in an area of the Federal Capital Territory.

• 22/06/2012. A bomb exploded outside a nightclub popular with foreigners and wealthy Nigerians in the capital Abuja but no one was injured. The explosion was said to be the handiwork of Boko Haram.

• 25/04/2012. Bombers hit ThisDay office in Abuja. Some people were casualties.

• 26/08/2011. Boko Haram also struck in Abuja, destroying the United Nations House. No fewer than 30 people lost their lives, while over 100 hundred were badly injured.

• 16/06/2011. In a most audacious attack, terrorist bombers hit the Nigeria police headquarters. At the end of the attacks, more than 10 were dead and over forty wounded.

• 31/12/2010. A bomb exploded at Sani Abacha barracks where revelers had gathered to celebrate New Year’s Eve, killing more than 30 people and injuring scores of people.

I

Okorocha: more lives lost to Boko Haram than to Civil War

MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha regretted yesterday that the number of innocent Nigerians killed through Boko Haram insurgency is far more than the casualties of the three-year civil war.

He said: “With the rate innocent Nigerians are being slaughtered in recent time, more Nigerians could be killed

T

PHOTOS: ABAYOMI FAYESE

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

at a period the country is believed to be at peace than the number of people killed during the Civil War, if the situation is not brought under control.”

The governor was reacting to the Nyanya, Abuja bomb explosion in which over 70 people were killed yesterday

during the rush hour in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He called for a stop to the “senseless” killing of innocent Nigerians.

Okorocha said: “The time has come for a national summit on the security of the nation. It has to be held to find a lasting solution to these rampant killings of innocent Nigerians.”

The governor urged security

agencies to plan well to stop the killing of innocent Nigerians.

He added that the situation was becoming embarrassing to Nigerians.

Okorocha commiserated with the families of the victims.

The governor prayed God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss and grant the injured quick recovery.

‘Stop killing innocent Nigerians’

HE Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, urged terrorists yesterday to stop killing innocent citizens.

The senator representing Kogi Central made the plea in a statement by his media aide, Michael Jegede.

He condemned those responsible for the Nyanya, Abuja bomb explosion.

Abatemi-Usman described the incident, where over 70m people were killed and 124 injured, as barbaric and ruthless.

The senator wondered what the perpetrators intended to achieve with their heinous act.

He said: “I sympathise with the families of the victims of the ugly incident of bomb explosion that took place today (yesterday) at a motor park in Nyanya, Abuja. May God grant the families of the deceased the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and quick re-

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

covery to those who sustained varying degrees of injury.

“It is sad that we have continued to witness, daily, the unjustified massacre of innocent Nigerians from various parts of the country, particularly the North. I cannot imagine why some people do not have single regard for the sanc-

tity of human life but would, for whatever reason, resort to the wanton killing of their fellow human beings.

“The time has come for us to come together as a people regardless of tribe, ethnic groupings, religion and political affiliations - to assist the government and security agencies in tackling this men-

ace of terrorism that is hitting us in the face. The government, on its part, must intensify effort in dealing with the issue.

We cannot continue like this.

These killings must stop.

Those behind it must have a rethink, embrace dialogue and allow peace to reign supreme in our country. We cannot continue to live in fear and sleep with our eyes open.”

Group declares one-week fasting against killings

A

GROUP, the Goodluck Jonathan Solidarity Parliament, has urged Nigerians to observe a week of fasting against incessant killings in the country.

The group also appealed to Nigerians at home and abroad to pray for the success of the transformation agenda of the President.

It described Dr Jonathan as a humble, intelligent and detribalised leader who has a vision to transform and lead

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

the country to greater heights.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja, its leader Comrade Ikem Anthony Kalzeeni said there was need for the nation to embark on a week of “dry fasting”.

He said this was inspired by the killing of innocent Nigerians, particularly students, children and women who have become regular victims of ter-

rorists and enemies of Nigeria.

The Director of Media and Publicity of the group, Helen Udekwu, urged Nigerians to pray against false propaganda among enemies of the President.

“President Jonathan is a true leader and father to all Nigerians. He can relate to our every pain and is clearly taking our country’s issues personal and tackling them one by one,” she said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

6

NEWS DAY OF HORROR IN ABUJA

T

NLC urges prosecution of Boko Haram members

HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) urgedthe Federal Government yesterday to prosecute those who started the Boko Haram crisis.

The congress sought the full implementation of the reports of the two committees the Federal Government set up on the sect.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its President, Abdulwahed Omar, the NLC said: “We also call for the full and immediate implementation of the reports of the two committees set up by the Federal Government on Boko Haram.

They made profound recommendations, including the prosecution of those believed to have started the crisis.”

In the statement, titled: Terror Attacks in Abuja Unacceptable, the umbrella union advised the government to tackle terrorism by providing effective education and jobs for youths, who might be lured into terror groups.

It noted that Nigeria cannot live in a perpetual state of terror.

The government, NLC said, should do more to reassure Nigerians about their safety because it takes more than regular effort to confront an enemy as resourceful as Boko Haram.

The umbrella union recalled that in the last three years, a sizable percentage of the nation’s national budget

L

had been devoted to security.

It added: “This should translate into better infrastructure, training and incentive for our personnel and not slush funds for dark interests.”

The NLC noted that Nigerian security personnel were not finding it easy to apprehend terror suspects.

The union said security agents might not be sufficiently equipped to perform their tasks.

It said: “More often than not, it is guess work or application of psychology. Yet, the cold realities of our situation certainly require more than this.

“The bomb blasts early this morning (yesterday) at a Nyanya bus stop in Abuja, which left scores dead, especially workers, is as barbaric as it is condemnable. It is a sore reminder that the battle against terror is far from over.

It is also a reminder that there are no safe havens.

“While our hearts go to the victims and their families, we, as citizens, must be vigilant and resolute at all times. We must stand together as one family, united by grief and threat to our collective well-being.

“Every bomb that goes off takes something away from us. Yet, we will never surrender. We will defeat this enemy with our collective resolve and focus.”

Aturu calls for mass action against terrorism

AGOS lawyer Mr Bamidele Aturu has called for a mass action against Federal Government’s “incompetence” to handle terrorism and other security challenges in the country.

Reacting to the Nyanyan, Abuja bomb blast in a statement yesterday in Lagos, titled: War Against Terrorism: It Is Time for Mass Action, the lawyer said: “The labour movement and its allies must now consider a mass nation-

T

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

By Adebisi Onanuga

wide protest to indicate our revulsion at the unbelievable incompetence of government and security agencies in handling issues of security in this country.

“It is not only when government takes irresponsible economic decisions that we should protest.

“These ceaseless killings require mass protest and I will be willing to participate in organising it. Enough is enough.”

APGA to govt: sit up

HE All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has condemned yesterday’s bombing of innocent people at the Nyanya, Abuja motor park.

Over 70 Nigerians were killed and scores of others injured in the rush hour blast bomb blast.

APGA advised the Goodluck Jonathan government to live up to its responsibility and protect lives and property of Nigerians.

It urged security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the “cowardly act”.

A statement by Victor Eneh, the Senior Media Assistant to the National Chair-

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

man of the party, said: “The National Chairman, Chief Maxi Okwu, and members of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) received with shock the news of bomb blasts that killed many people and injured several others in Nyanya, Abuja.

“APGA condemns this dastardly act and calls on security agents to fish out the culprits and bring them to book to serve as a deterrent for those who will contemplate this cowardly act against fellow compatriots...”

North’s Christian elders seek end to violence

T

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

HE Northern States’ Christian Elders’ Forum (NOSCEF) has advised the Federal Government to respond well to the spate of killings in the land.

The forum was reacting yesterday to the killing of innocent Nigerians at Nyanya, Abuja.

In a joint statement in Kano by the Chairman and National Secretary of the forum, Olaiya Phillips and Emmanuel Subilim, the forum noted that the attacks lacked logic or justification.

“If the thousands of innocent civilians killed already this year were not enough evidence of Boko Haram’s immoral disregard for the sanctity of human life, then today’s (yesterday’s) atrocities would leave no room for doubt...”

•Some of the burnt luxury buses on the scene of the explosion in Nyanya, Abuja...yesterday.

G

PHOTO: NAN

APC governors urge Fed Govt to convene emergency meeting

OVERNORS on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), also called Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), urged the Federal Government yesterday to convene an emergency meeting of the National Council of State to discuss the recurrent killings of Nigerians.

In a statement titled: Abuja Blasts: Enough of the Killings, the forum chairman and Imo State Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha advised the government to put in place a new strategy to protect the lives and property of Nigerians from attacks.

He said: “The Progressive Governors’ Forum hereby calls on the Federal Govern-

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

ment to immediately convene an emergency meeting of the National Council of State to discuss the recurrent killings of Nigerians and to put in place new strategy to protect lives and property ...from such barbaric attacks.”

Okorocha said the forum was not making a political but a patriotic statement to save the nation from incessant killings of innocent people.

The governor stressed that it was glaring the government had run out of ideas in the fight against insurgency, ethnic and communal clashes as well as armed robbery and kidnappings across Nigeria.

He added: “It appears that

the Federal Government and security agencies need some new initiatives to boost their capacity to carry out the fundamental goal of government, which is the security of lifes and property of citizens.”

The statement reads: “The Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) hereby condemns the explosions in Nyanya, Abuja, and extends its sincere and heartfelt condolences to the families of commuters and all those who died or were injured in the carnage.

“It is regrettable that the deaths of innocent Nigerians have become a daily occurrence with little respite. In the last two weeks alone, about 1,000 Nigerians have perished.

“We also wish to commiser-

ate with the parents and families of the candidates who were killed over the weekend while trying to sit for the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) in Maiduguri, Borno State. The tragic deaths indicate major failure of government.

“As if failing to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency is not bad enough, the security situation has deteriorated to a level where so-called gunmen are now on the rampage across Nigeria, killing and maiming at will with no response from our poorly equipped and illinformed security operatives.

Is it too much for the government to, at the very least, identify the perpetuators of these terrible crimes?”

Editors to Confab delegates: prioritise security

T

HE Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has urged delegates at the ongoing National Conference in Abuja to give security of life and property of Nigerians utmost attention in their deliberations.

NGE President Femi Adesina spoke yesterday in Lagos when he reacted to the Nyanya, Abuja bomb blast where over 70 persons were killed.

Adesina, who said Nigeria is on the edge of the precipice, urged the delegates and other well-meaning Nigerians to salvage the nation from disintegration.

He said: "I believe the issue of security should be topmost in the agenda of the delegates because there is trouble in the country. If they sit there and they don't talk about security, what else will they be talking about?

"I think nobody needs to tell them that security should be a burning issue they should be discussing at the conference. Those who are there are very responsible people and I believe it is something they will take up."

The Sun former editor urged insurgents to stop their bloodletting.

Adesina said the Federal Government was probably doing its best to address the

•Govt urged to partner the West for improved security

By Adebisi Onanuga

situation, adding that it was obvious the government could not handle the situation alone.

"I believe the government is doing its best but the Yoruba have a saying that the water might sometimes be much more than the yam flour. So, in that situation, what can anybody do?

"But I will just want to appeal to anybody behind this insurgency and terrorism to have mercy on the country.

The country is on the edge of the precipice and we must do everything possible to salvage it," he said.

Also, frontline lawyer, Chief Ladi Rotimi-Williams (SAN), has urged the Federal Government to partner Western powers to fight terrorism and Boko Haram insurgency in the country.

The lawyer spoke in Ikeja, Lagos, following yesterday's bomb blast at Nyanya Motor Park in Abuja.

He said: "We need to take the offer of the Western powers, like the United States (U.S.), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Germany, even Russia, in fighting terrorism.

This is because it is clear from all indications that the Feder-

al Government cannot handle the situation alone.

"I think the President himsef realises that we don't have the equipment and personnel to do so. It is a global phenomenon."

Rotimi-Williams condemned the Nyanyan motor park blast on innocent Nigerians.

The lawyer noted that it was glaring that the government could not handle the situation alone.

He said Nigeria should accept a security partnership with Western powers so that acts of terrorism and Boko Haram activities could end.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said the Abuja blast and others in several parts of the country did not warrant the call for the removal of the security chiefs, who were recently appointed by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

According to him, the new security chiefs should be given enough time to perform their task.

Rotimi-Williams said: "I once suggested that the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Azubuike Ihejirika, be removed, and I was justified because he was subsequently removed. Now, giv-

en the latest attack, I think we need to give the new security chiefs more time to settle down."

Also, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has urged delegates at the ongoing National Conference in Abuja to give security of life and property of Nigerians utmost attention in their deliberations.

NGE President Femi Adesina spoke yesterday in Lagos when he reacted to the Nyanya, Abuja bomb blast where over 70 persons were killed.

Adesina, who said Nigeria is on the edge of the precipice, urged the delegates and other well-meaning Nigerians to salvage the nation from disintegration.

He said: "I believe the issue of security should be topmost in the agenda of the delegates because there is trouble in the country. If they sit there and they don't talk about security, what else will they be talking about?

"I think nobody needs to tell them that security should be a burning issue they should be discussing at the conference. Those who are there are very responsible people and I believe it is something they will take up."

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

7

NEWS Ikere College retirees protest non-payment of pension arrears From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

S

CORES of retirees of the College of Education, Ikere Ekiti, protested yesterday the non-payment of about 20 years’ pension arrears.

They regretted that the poverty of their situation caused the death of over 40 of their members.

The pensioners, under the aegis of the College of Education, Ikere Ekiti Pensioners Association, carried placards with various inscriptions.

They were angry that “the non-payment of the areas is a systematic way of killing us the pensioners.

Some of the placards read: “We are suffering, please, bail us out of this hardship”; “Save our lives from Starvation”; “We appeal to government to have mercy on us and pay our gratuity”, among several others.

The pensioners said: “At the moment, about 80 of our members have been suffering from one physical infirmity or the other.”

Addressing reporters during the protest, the chairman of the association Mr Elijah Familusi said he and his colleagues were owed over 15 years of pension arrears.

He said: “I want to say that members of this association were not being used by any politician or political group against the state government.

“Some of us were pushed out of the system since 1993 and, till now, we are still being owed gratuity and pension arrears. Some have died; in fact, we have buried some couples in a day. The situation is as bad as that.

“We are slowly but steadily being pushed out of existence.

We can no longer pay our children’s school fees or live well, after serving the college and retiringd.”

The Deputy Provost of the college, Mr Rotimi Omonijo said the pensioners’ demands were legitimate.

He said the college Provost, Prof Francisca Aladejana, had compiled the names of the affected retirees and the financial implications of their requests.

Omonijo said: “We have not just compiled the names, the

Fire razes PDP secretariat

T

HERE was a fire yesterday at the makeshift porter cabin located within the premises of the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja.

It started at 8.15 pm and was said to have affected some parts of the structure.

In a statement last night by its National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh, the party ruled out sabotage or any form of attack.

The statement said: “There has been a minor fire incident which affected some parts of the Press Center situated within the premises of the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja.

“The fire, which was caused by some electrical faults at about 8:15pm, was promptly put off by men of the Federal Fire Service.

“The PDP rules out any form of sabotage or attack and hereby wishes to inform all our members and teaming supporters that the matter has since been put under control.”

Aregbesola's education policy for children's benefit

N

OBEL Laureate, Prof.

Wole Soyinka, defended yesterday Osun State Government's education policy.

The literary icon said many aspects of the Rauf Aregbesola administration's reform in education would engender balanced view of life for the children.

The renowned writer spoke yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, at the opening of a three-day colloquium, titled: Fundamental Imperatives of Cohabitation: Faith and Secularism.

Soyinka, who is the Chairman of the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Osogbo, advised that rather than criticise the governor's education policy, it should be adopted by other states.

The globally acknowledged writer noted that children, at

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

their level, should not be made to believe that they were superior to one another.

He said avoiding such a mindset would enable the children to learn well in a class-free environment.

Soyinka said if Nigerians agreed that children should not be distinguished by affluence, it was fundamentally wrong to differentiate them by their religions.

The literary icon said it was wise that Aregbesola thought about this, in line with the philosophy of giving to the children a level-playing field to learn and exhibit their God given talents.

He said: "I have heard some arguments based on the fact that the school uniform will reduce the children's sense of individualism. I asked: who

says this is what these children need at this tender age? I think they will be able to decide that when they grow up.

"What they need now is an atmosphere where they can learn without distraction, not a situation where children of the rich will come to school in designer dress while some will be struggling to get the fairly used cloth. It is good to go through this uniform together. With this, all children are on the same level.

"The uniform thing will stem the tide of inequality among school children. It is a philosophy that should be adopted throughout the country."

The literary icon called for the introduction of subjects that would cover comparative religion in public schools so that children could understand the practice and philosophy of each religion.

Aregbesola said the views that would be expressed at the colloquium would be those inspired by structured thinking.

The governor said the thoughts to be shared - beginning from the maiden edition of the colloquium - would contribute to the ethical, spiritual, economic, political and social restructuring of the Nigerian soul.

He said: "Any faith, whose adherents are encouraged to maim and slaughter those who do not belong to it, cannot, in the true sense, be classified as faith. It is not good for any society. Any faith that exhorts otherwise should not be acceptable to any person.

"It is in this regard that the murderous activities of the renegade sect, Boko Haram, must be totally condemned.

Those who feed their hideous viper of death do not in any

way represent and serve the cause of Islam."

Aregbesola said Osun was on the path of religious tolerance, which its people and the Yoruba nation are known for.

He said: "Since we assumed office, our administration has been more committed to the deepening of this practice through equal, non-discriminating relationship with the various faith groups in the state.

"There is freedom for all religious groups to operate and fulfil the demands of their faith. Therefore, those who accuse us of either having Islamisation agenda or favours one faith above the others do so either out of ignorance or mischief, or both."

The colloquium was attended by top political office holders and civil servants, traditional rulers, market women and youth groups.

Seven PDP governorship aspirants seek to influence Kwara exco From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

S

•From right: Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) Rear Admiral Goddy Ayankpele, FOC, Western Naval Command (WNC) Rear Admiral Sanmi Alade, Commander, Fleet Support Group, WNC, Rear Admiral A. Johnson and Chief Staff Officer (CSO) WNC, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ofik at the Exercise Obangame briefing. PHOTO:

PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU

T

Navy hosts multinational sea exercise

HE Nigerian Navy (NN), for the second time, is hosting a multinational sea exercise, tagged: OBANGAME Express.

It is part of its efforts to ensure security in the nation’s maritime environment.

The exercise, which is being held simultaneously in Lagos, the Calabar-Cameroon axis and Gabon, began on April 10 with 23 countries participating.

They include the United States of America (U.S.), France, Italy, Spain and Germany.

Others are: Turkey, Brazil, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, Angola, Ghana, Cameroun, Equitorial Guinea, Benin Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and Tome.

South Africa is participating as an observer.

In a pre-exercise media briefing aboard the Nigerian Navy ship (NNS) Thunder, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) the Western Naval Command (WNC), Rear Admiral Sanmi Alade said 24 ships and three aircraft would participate in the Lagos area.

He said: “The exercise, Obangame Express 2014, started on April 10, with the arrival and in-land training at the Joint Maritime Security Training Centre in Ojo, Lagos.

“Fourteen foreign ships are expected to participate in the Lagos area. Nigerian Navy ships – NNS Thunder, Kyan-

•23 countries, 24 ships, three aircraft to participate

By Precious Igbonwelundu

wa, Zaria, Andoni, Ikot-Abasi, Benin, Ibusa, Dorina, Agede and Torie – will also participate.

“Two NN helicopters and Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR 42 aircraft will provide air surveillance, medical evacuation and search and rescue.

“Exercise Obangame Express is a maritime interdiction based on simulated scenarios of the most prevalent transnational crimes at sea. It is designed to improve cooperation among participating nations to increase maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea.

“It involves operations, such as visit, board, search and seizure techniques. It also focuses on improving interopera-

bility of communications and sharing of Maritime Domain Awareness information with a view to harnessing their collective efforts to combat crimes in the region.”

Highlighting the importance of the joint military exercise, Alade said it was doubtless the huge resources and potential in the Gulf of Guinea were being undermined by multifaceted domestic, regional and international threats.

He added: “Rather than contribute to the stability and economic prosperity for countries in this region, pervasive insecurity in this resource-laden maritime environment has resulted in an-

nual multi-billion dollar losses, significantly constrained investment and economic prospects, growing crimes and potentially adverse political consequences.

“Nigeria, like any other maritime nation, relies on the sea for harvesting of resources, commerce and international trade. For some years, effort has been intensified to tackle the security challenges of piracy, poaching, smuggling, oil theft, trafficking and other transnational crimes.

“The challenges posed by sea-based crimes are such that no single nation is capable of effectively combating them all alone. The situation thus calls for synergy of efforts amongst maritime nations towards ensuring a safe and secured maritime environment...”

Conference delegates urge Jonathan to end terrorism

D

ELEGATES to the ongoing National Conference have expressed concerns over the deteriorating security situation in the country.

Reacting to the bomb blast that killed several people yesterday morning in Nyanyan, Abuja, the delegates urged President Goodluck Jonathan to take drastic steps to arrest the perpetrators and end the insurgency.

They also urged the President to implement the recommendations of two panels which examined the security

From Dele Anofi, Abuja

challenges confronting the country.

The panels recommended the prosecution of some politicians indicted as masterminds and sponsors of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

Condemning the suicide bombing in Nyanyan, the delegates, who observed a minute silence in honour of the dead, called for the rehabilitation, reconsideration and reconstruction of all areas affected by Boko Haram insur-

gency.

The decision of the delegates followed the adoption of the prayers of a motion moved by Dan Nwanyanwu, Labour Party (LP) leader, and Ishaq Kawu, a media representative.

Nwanyanwu said: “I think there is conspiracy against Nigeria and Nigerians. But there must be an enemy within. I want this conference to call on security agencies to take more immediate and urgent steps to deal with these insurgents forthwith so that Nigerians will not be dying like chickens.”

EVEN governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are seeking to influence the composition of the new executive members in Kwara State, it was learnt yesterday.

They are: Prof. Oba Abdulraheem, Deacon John Dara, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, Mohammed Dele Belgore, Senator Simeon Ajibola, Senator Suleiman Ajadi and Mallam Isa Bio Ibrahim.

Leading this category is oil magnate, Hajia Muina Shagaya, who has reportedly committed huge funds to the party since a caretaker executive committee was assembled for it about three months ago.

It was learnt that the aspirants yesterday perfected the strategies to install their loyalists in key party offices, especially as the party’s chairman and secretary.

A source close to the state PDP said: “The Kwara State branch of PDP will elect a new executive committee on Tuesday (today) amid intense jostling for the soul of the party.

Several meetings were held in Ilorin, the state capital, yesterday (Sunday) to review the list of candidates and assess their chances in today’s contest which has pitched old members of the party against those who defected from other parties, especially from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC)...

“A few other political gladiators are also working behind the scene to determine the outcome of the congress, some to ensure that the party is not hijacked by those likely to create a hurdle for the aspiration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Although key political leaders have met severally to harmonise their interests, there is a tough battle to avoid direct confrontation and possibly elect candidates through a consensus. If this option sails through, a former Acting National Publicity Secretary and member of the GoodluckSambo Presidential Campaign Council, Bode Ojomu, may emerge the state chairman. “

THE NATION TUESDAY APRIL 15, 2014

8

NEWS

Ondo REC insists on supplementary poll

T

HE Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Akin Orebiyi, explained yesterday why the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has decided to conduct a supplementary poll in Ilaje/ Ese-Odo Federal Constituency.

Orebiyi said INEC rejected calls to declare Mr. Kolade Akinjo of the Labour Party (LP) winner of the by-election in the constituency, which was declared inconclusive, to dissuade politicians from using unacceptable means to “get results and win elections”.

Speaking on a Channels TV programme, “Sunrise”, he said INEC followed the Electoral Act’s guidelines in all its decisions on the by-election, adding that politicians have remained major obstacles to the conduct of free and fair elections.

Orebiyi said politicians often introduce criminal ideas during elections to cause chaos in areas where they are unpopular, so that elections would be cancelled there.

He said about 28,852 eligible voters could not vote, adding that the margin of votes between the candidate with the highest number of votes and the first runner up second is less that 1,300.

The REC said if 30 per cent of the electorate deprived from voting exercised their franchise, the overall result might have changed.

He explained that election materials meant for Arogbo Ward Two were not hijacked by militants as was widely re-

T

PDP: by-election devoid of irregularities

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has said the by-election in Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency, which was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was devoid of irregularities.

It was reacting to a statement by the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) candidate in the by-election, Chief Adewale Omojuwa, who called for the cancellation of the poll on grounds that it was marred by irregularities.

Omojuwa accused Labour Party (LP) and PDP leaders of turning the constituency into a battlefield and urged INEC to conduct a fresh by-election.

But the PDP, in a statement by its Publicity Director, Ayo Fadaka, described Omojuwa’s claim as false and “a dishonest account of developments in the area”.

PDP said: “Truly, Governor Olusegun Mimiko relocated to the area in the weeks leading to the election, but that is not true of From Damisi Ojo, Akure

ported, but the electoral officers were stopped from going to polling units by militants.

On single majority votes, Orebiyi said, the condition given by the Electoral Act for the declaration of a winner in a governorship election is different from that of the National or State Assembly poll.

He said the Electoral Act states that a winner can only be declared when results from all the polling units have been collated, adding that a clause in the Act says “where you could not conduct an election you are not expect to declare a winner, until election is conducted in that or those polling

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

the Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, who merely came to Ajapato to address a campaign rally in the same way any political leader will seek to help his party. He left on the same day, so where lies the battle in this effort?

“Special Adviser to the President on the Niger Delta Kingsley Kuku was around days preceding the election because he had a ballot to cast and also because as a PDP leader, it is normal to be in his constituency.

“As for Chief Olusola Oke, a leading light in the party to whom Omojuwa was an acolyte, he is a private citizen and, therefore, has is free to deploy his time to whatever venture he so desires.

“It is a known fact that the use of the military as security back up on election days predates Obanikoro’s appointment as minister, therefore, the lame mischief of Omojuwa in this regard is impotent. We condemn this dishonesty.”

units”.

Orebiyi said: “There is no particular problem when we say an election is inconclusive; it is just that we could not declare a winner because the margin of votes between the leading candidate and the next candidate is smaller than the total number of registered voters, who did not have the opportunity to cast their votes on the election day.

“What happened is that there were places where election could not hold because politicians went on board with violence. For example, if your ballot materials have been stolen, INEC is to cancel election there.

If thugs invade a polling station and polling officials were

disturbed from performing their functions, we will not record any result in such unit.

“As such, it was not possible to have results in units and wards where such things occurred. When you add the number of voters in such units and the number is more than the margin between the leading candidate and the second runner up, a winner cannot be declared.

“The number of voters who could not vote is 28,852 and the margin of votes between the leading and second candidate is less that 1,300. This implies that if 30 per cent of those who could not vote on that day had voted, the result might have been different.

“The intention of that particular guideline of INEC is to dissuade politicians who will want to employ an illegal means to get result and win election.

“There is nothing wrong with INEC, but politicians who involve in wrong doing. I have been in Ondo State for three years now. I conducted the 2011 elections, the 2012 governorship poll and this one. If we compare the three, this will be the best so far. We were at every polling unit before 8am.

“On logistics, INEC was on top of the situation. At Arugbo Two, for example, my men were about to move as early as 5am, but they were prevented from moving out of the registration camp by militants.

“I got an SOS and phoned security agencies. Many people came around to talk to the militants, who said they have not benefited from the amnesty programme. The materials were not hijacked. My men were not armed and there was nothing they could do. The militants said they had a grudge with the government and we ensured that the situation did not result into violence.

“When the election was over, they told my people to write that no election took place in the ward. They knew what they were doing. Their action was calculated.”

Orebiyi said he would meet with stakeholders on the supplementary poll and fix a day for it.

He hailed security operatives for doing “a good job” during the poll.

Woman ‘stabs’ driver to death in Ondo From Damisi Ojo, Akure

T

HE Deputy Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ikare branch, Ondo State, simply called Felix (31), has been allegedly stabbed to death by a woman suspected to be his girl friend, Fasilat.

Sources said the late Felix took Fasilat to a guest house, where they had a disagreement.

It was learnt that Felix phoned a friend and informed him that he was having problems with Fasilat.

He was said to have told his friend to meet him at a hospital close to the guest house.

When the friend got to the hospital, he met Felix dead.

It was learnt that the deceased was stabbed with a broken bottle and had bite marks on his body.

Police spokesman Wole Ogodo said he had not been properly briefed on the incident.

A source at the Ikare Police Division said Fasilat had been arrested and appeared to have been under the influence of drugs.

It was learnt that Fasilat claimed the late Felix wanted to rape her.

Why Olubadan has lived long, by Ajimobi

O

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has attributed the 100 years of existence of the Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana, Odugade 1, to “his pure heart, which is devoid of hatred”.

Ajimobi spoke yesterday during a service at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Aremo, Ibadan, to mark the monarch’s centenary birthday.

He said Oba Odulana harboured no bitterness against anyone, urging Nigerians to learn from him.

Ajimobi said: “Those who knew him, even pre-his ascendancy to the throne, speak eloquently about a man who typifies honour and nobility. He has an attachment to the place of humanity in the scheme of things. Perhaps in the fact that Kabiyesi constantly ventilates his heart from the consuming fire of bitterness towards his fellow man and his sworn avowal to always do good to everyone can be found the secret of his longevity. We all have one lesson or the other to learn from this purification of the heart from the cancer of hatred.”

Describing Oba Odulana as a

gentleman, he said the monarch typified the Yoruba classification of an honourable man.

Ajimobi said: “In the Olubadan is a demonstration of the elusive concept of Omoluabi.

The Omoluabi, for the purpose of clarification, is that man who carries nobility, human goodness and trust around him like a pouch. With Kabiyesi, you know where you stand.

“In him, you find the discipline of a trained soldier, the consummate nobility of a gentleman and the astuteness of a man of honour. His politics transcends the type found on the streets today; it was the politics of a statesman. To a statesman like him, politics cannot be worth its salt until it transforms the lives of the collective citizenry and repositions society on the path of transformation.”

The governor said the Olubadan was one of the first people to acknowledge his administration’s urban renewal initiative.

He said: “As a fitting demonstration of his acknowledgement of our effort in this regard, Kabiyesi bestowed on me the traditional title of Atunluse of Ibadanland (the remodeler/ beautifier of Ibadanland). This

•Olubadan

was at a time when our political opponents were throwing tantrums at us for taking away the dirt of Ibadan and regaining global respect.”

Ajimobi explained that President Goodluck Jonathan would have been at the service, but for the bomb blast at Nyanya Motor Park in Abuja.

The President was represented by six ministers Labaran Maku (Information); Ms. Jumoke Akinjide (Minister of State for the FCT); Akinwumi Adesina (Agriculture); Omobola Johnson (Communication and Technology); Jelili Adesiyan (Police Affairs) and Musiliu Obanikoro (Minister of State for Defence).

Alaafin urges govt to protect common heritage

T

HE Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has urged the government to include traditional history in the curriculum of schools.

He said this would protect the common heritage of Nigerians as brothers with a common destiny.

Oba Adeyemi said this

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

would help children understand the physical, as well as the spiritual properties of the society.

Speaking with reporters yesterday, the paramount ruler said if oral history and verbal art are not to be lost in time, they and the lan-

guages in which they are expressed must be safeguarded.

He said: ‘’It is a known fact that several languages of the world are endangered and threatened with extinction. The death of any language is the death of an invaluable cultural heritage. We need to vigorously promote the study of our history, languages and cultures.”

9

THE NATION TUESDAY APRIL 15, 2014

NEWS

Our prayers’ll give you victory, senior citizens assure Fayemi

S

ENIOR citizens in Ekiti West Local Government Area trooped out yesterday to the campaign grounds of the All Progressives Congress (APC), where they assured Governor Kayode Fayemi of their votes in the June 21 election.

The elders, all above 65 years, are beneficiaries of the Fayemi administration’s Social Security Scheme for the Elderly.

They pledged their votes for the governor, saying: “We have been more than protected by your large heart. While wishing you God’s protection, we pledge to vote for you and work for your victory in the election.”

Communities visited by the campaign train were Ipole-Iloro, Ikogosi and Erijiyan, where the governor urged the people to be vigilant on the election day and protect their votes from being stolen.

He expressed confidence that projects executed in the communities would motivate the electorate to re-elect him and ensure continuity of the development wit-

EKITI 2014

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

nessed across the state.

Fayemi said besides the transformation of the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort, his administration built the palace of the town’s monarch and its indigenes benefitted from job opportunities created by the government.

He said the community benefitted from the construction of five-kilometer roads in each council.

The governor said his administration was ready to commence work on the second phase of the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort, which would include a hotel, golf course and game reserve.

At Ipole-Iloro, Fayemi pledged to transform the Arinta Waterfall into an international tourist centre and begin the reconstruction of the Ipole-Ogotun road in six months.

He said the Ikogosi-Ipole road, which was abandoned by previous Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administrations, was fixed by his administration.

•Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi (second left) receiving royal blessings from the Olu of Ipole-Iloro, Oba Babatola Oladele.

With them are Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu (right) and All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) Interim National ViceChairman (Southwest) Otunba Niyi Adebayo (left)...yesterday.

According to him, a vote for the APC would ensure continuity of good policies, good governance and more dividends of democracy.

Fayemi pledged to reconstruct the AramokoErijiyan-Ikogosi road and roads leading to farmsteads.

He said soldiers would be brought to protect the people and tighten security at the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort, adding that a police station is being built at the resort.

Members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Ekiti West Local Government, under the chairmanship of Mr. Fatai Oluyede, said teachers were behind Fayemi because of the various incentives they have enjoyed under his administra-

tion.

Oluyede listed special allowances for teachers in rural areas and those teaching core subjects; distribution of laptops to teachers and regular payment of leave bonuses and salaries as some of the incentives.

He also hailed Fayemi for giving new cars to teachers.

At Ikogosi, Mrs. Beatrice Kolawole, who spoke for beneficiaries of the Social Security Scheme for the elderly, said: “It is only if Fayemi withdraws from the race that he will not come back to office because old people are praying for his success in the election.

“We shall all vote for you.

If the law of the land permits you, we want you to be there for as long as possible.

‘Police ready for Osun, Ekiti elections’

M

INISTER of Police Affairs Jelili Adesiyan has said the police are ready for the governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti states.

Adesiyan gave the assurance during an interview

with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

He said the police were ready for all elections, including the 2015 polls.

Adesiyan said as long as all political parties and other

stakeholders in the electoral process play the game according to the rules, there would be no need for interference in the polls.

He said: “The police are to maintain peace, law and order and we are going to stand

by that in all elections. As Police Affairs Minister, my allegiance is not to any party.

The police owe Nigerians a duty to protect and maintain peace and my appeal is to parties participating in the Ekiti and Osun elections not to foment trouble.”

Forget about winning, APC youths tell Fayose

T

HE National Youth Vanguard of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has told the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) flag bearer in the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State, former Governor Ayo Fayose, to forget about winning the poll.

The youths and the Director-General of

T

Governor Kayode Fayemi’s campaign organisation, Mr. Daramola Abimbola, were at Fayose’s stronghold in Ado-Ekiti Falegan Abekoko, which consists of three communities, on Sunday, to campaign for Fayemi.

Coordinator of the Youth Vanguard in Ekiti State Dare Ajayi said by coming out en masse, residents were telling Fayose to forget about

winning the election.

Southwest Coordinator of the Youth Vanguard Majeed Yahaya said: “Fayose should hands of, as the APC is ready to win Ekiti with an unprecedented margin in the history of elections in Nigeria. The APC National Youth Vanguard will put in place strategies to prevent rigging in the election.”

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

which lately affected the fortunes of the institution”.

Ajayi said: “What we used to know as UNAD has changed in many ways. We will bring its glory back by first changing the name the school has now.

“There shall be a downward review of school fees across various institutions and this will be in concurrence with students’ representatives, parents, the university’s authorities and the state government.

“We have also promised to establish an FM radio station on campus to improve the communication skills of stu-

dents and offer them jobs while in school.

“Another plan will be to industrialise Ekiti State through the establishment of agro-allied industries in each local government. Industries will be established across zones and districts of the state based on the prevailing agricultural products in such areas. In places where fruits are prevalent, we will establish juice-making industries.

Where you have tomatoes and other vegetables, there will be industries to absorb such.

“Another policy I am planning is the professionalism of the state civil service to enhance its capacity to deliver.

from the community, Mr. Oyetunde Ojo, said Ekiti is lucky to have Fayemi at the helm of affairs, noting that the governor has fulfilled his promises to the people.

The lawmaker, who represents Ekiti Central II, said Erijiyan is wearing a new look owing to various projects executed by the Fayemi administration and urged the people to vote for the governor on June 21.

Fayemi said the construction of the ErijiyanAramoko road has been incorporated in the 2014 Budget and work would soon start.

He said the Erijiyan water project would be commissioned soon and water would flow in every home, adding that the court complex in the community had been completed.

The governor warned the people against selling their voter cards to desperate politicians.

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHILDREN FOOTBALL TALENT DISCOVERY INITIATIVE The above named organization 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.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) Akande Alexander Oluwatayo 2) Darlene May Lee THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1) To discover and groom young children with football talent.

2) To encourage public awareness of children with football talent.

Any objection thereto should be addressed to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

•Fayose

Ajayi pledges to reduce education cost

HE candidate of the Accord in the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State, Mr. Kole Ajayi, has pledged to slash the cost of obtaining higher education, if elected.

He said Ekiti must pioneer “a genuine education-for-all policy”, if it must regain its status as the country’s knowledge zone.

Speaking yesterday at a meeting with Accord stakeholders in Ado-Ekiti, Ajayi said he would change the name of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) back to the University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD).

According to him, the name EKSU has a “negative import,

We appreciate you and pray that God will keep you there for us.”

A student leader in the community, Oluwatosin Ogunkuade, hailed Fayemi for transforming the Ikogosi Warm Spring into an international tourist centre, assuring him of not less than 90 per cent of votes in the community.

At Erijiyan, a student leader in the community, Damilare Bewaji, said Fayemi deserves to be reelected because he renovated the town’s secondary school, gave laptops to students and youths benefited from his administration’s empowerment schemes.

He warned the people to be wary of one of the governorship candidates, who brutalised students about 10 years ago, saying Fayemi has empowered students to be 21st Century compliant.

A member of the House of Representatives, who hails

We shall abolish ad-hoc agencies that were put in place to undermine the professional capacity of civil servants. Such agencies were meant to serve as conduit pipes to siphon money. Such agencies include the Bureau of Infrastructure and Corporate Communications Bureau, among others.”

Ajayi said campaigns have started in the 177 wards in the state, adding: “Later, we will hold campaigns in local governments. We are meeting with various interest groups and opinion leaders. Since INEC lifted the ban on campaigns, we have been pasting posters across the state and jingles are on in the media.”

Signed BARR. LIADY WAKEEL 08076807714

10

CITYBEATS

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014 CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Teenager raped, killed in hotel

H

ER parents advised her to live responsibly and learn a trade, but she rejected their words of wisdom.

Oluwatosin Ami (18) embrace prostitution. When she presumably thought she was enjoying the “vocation”, she was murdered in her room at the Happy Day Hotel, SariIganmu in Orile-Iganmu, Lagos State by two of her customers who also stole valuables.

Her father, Babatunde Ami and mother, Muyibat, wept at the Orile Police Station, where suspected members of the rapists’ gang which allegedly killed Oluwatosin were being held.

Mr Ami said: “My daughter dropped out of school and I told her to learn a trade; she refused and said she wanted to be a sales girl. We secured a job for her with one woman on Lagos Island. After some months, she said she could no longer work there. I was looking for money to start up a business for her when she ran away from home in December 2013 - a week before Christmas. We have been looking for her since then until one of our relations called us to inform us about her death.

“This was not the first time she would run away from home. The other time, we reported at Adeniji Adele Police Station and the police told us it was possible she had gone to stay with her boyfriend. She eventually returned home. We just hope that the police will bring the culprits to justice.”

Police sources told The Nation that the suspects had not been arrested, but that some members of their deadly gang were already in their net, as-

• Chukwuebuka (left) and Chimudi

‘...the gang specialised in operating in brothels where they trick their would-be victim to sleep with some of them.

If she agrees, while one of them is sleeping with her, she is tied up as others rob her of her belongings’

By Jude Isiguzo

sisting them in their investigations.

It was learnt that the gang specialised in operating in brothels where they trick their would-be victim to sleep with some of them. If she agrees, while one of them is sleeping with her, she is tied up as others rob her of her belongings.

The strategy, it was learnt, was used on the late Oluwatosin, leading to her death.

A suspected member of the gang, John-Paul Chukwuebuka (19) was arrested by members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) at CityPoint Hotel, where he had once robbed and raped a woman.

The suspect dispossessed his victim of her IPhone and

N10,000. Chukwuebuka was with Joshua and Victor at the hotel the day Oluwatosin was killed.

Though he claimed he was not with them in the room when the incident happened, he admitted that they had been doing the same thing together because they had no job.

Chukwuebuka’s confession led to the arrest of Ebuka Chimudi (22), who also confessed to the crime.

Chukwuebuka gave the names of his accomplices as Kojo and Williams, adding that they had operated at Nodwa, Boundary at Ajegunle; Pent House at Awodiora, Sunderland 1 and 2 at Coker, Orile, and Top Star at Kirikiri.

He said he had raped and robbed five girls, but none died.

The suspect said: “We had no cause to do what we did. It is just that we had no money; we played and stayed together and that was how we started thinking about it. We had gone to certain hotels and it did not work out. We operate only in hotels where there is loud music and plenty of rooms. We don’t operate in rooms close to the reception area so that even when our victims shout, nobody will hear.”

The suspects are now at the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba on the mainland, undergoing investigations.

Fear grips residents over fallen electricity cables

R

ESIDENTS of Power line community in Bariga, Somolu Local Government Area of Lagos State, are in fear.

They said some high-tension wires which fell on their road pose danger to the lives and property of residents. The Powerline stretches from Jagunmolu to Ilaje and Akoka.

A resident, Chief Julius Akinmodun, said: “We live in fear daily. Many don’t sleep well since they do not know when the wires would fall on their houses or roads. Many stay indoors for hours for fear of being electrocuted. Though no casualty has been recorded, we are in fear. Our woes are

By Akinola Ajibade

compounded by thunderstorms during raining season.”

“Whenever heavy storms occur,” Akinmodun further said, “they shake the buildings to their foundations. We had expected the government to site the power-line in the lagoon since it is a few metres to Ilaje Road; that would have been a better option. However, the powerline was erected with little or no consideration for the welfare of the people.

The margin between the wires and the roofs of some houses is little.

“We have written eminent Nigerians including the Sen-

ate President, David Mark; the state governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola and the Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo about our problems. But it is sad that nothing has been done.”

Another resident, Toyin Alade, said some of the residents had sold their houses for fear of living in danger. He urged appropriate authorities to urgently address the problem to avoid unpleasant experiences.

An electrical engineer, Mr Niyi Ojo, said the problem is becoming unbearable to residents. He urged the government to come to the rescue of the people.

Community protests against ‘land grabbers’

R

ESIDENTS of AbuleEgba in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State have urged the government to halt the activities of land grabbers.

They made the appeal yesterday during a protest to the Lagos State House of Assembly, Alausa in Ikeja.

In a release signed by Odunayo Oladejo, the youths lamented their ordeals in the hands of a family which they alleged, had been terrorising

By Oziegbe Okoeki

them.

The protesters alleged that the thugs who were standing for the family which claimed to have won a case over the disputed land. “They are acting under Carena family name with a court judgment passed by a high court in 1987 and confirmed in 2008 by the Supreme Court. We the youths of Abule Egba under Abule Egba Central Community Development Association (CDA), whose par-

ents have been living onn Arowolo, Segun Akinola and Abiodun Onitiri streets, have been under attacks by thugs since 2009,” the statement read in part.

A member of the House, Hon. Bisi Yusuf, lauded the protesters’ conduct, urging them not to allow mischief makers to hijack the protest.

The lawmaker assured that the House would intervene in the matter for peace to reign, adding that the parties involved would be invited.

BUSINESS

11

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

J

“Until recently, the Nigerian banking industry had not given much attention to sustainability beyond ticking off environmental impact assessment on checklist for credit risk assessment for evaluation of loan applications, other jurisdictions have for decades been engraving sustainability ethos in their financial system,” –CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

Defendant challenges court’s jurisdiction in N15.1b fraud case

USTICE Mohammed Yinusa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, will on May 5 deliver ruling on a preliminary objection by one of the defendants charged with alleged N15.1billion fraud at the defunct Gulf Bank Plc. The Federal Government, through the police, had arraigned a Briton, Gareth Mervyn Wilcox; the former director and majority shareholder of both Gulf Bank, Prince Johnson Adeyeba; Ibom Power Company; LYK Engineering Company Limited and a former Company Secretary and Legal Adviser at Gulf Bank, Uche Uwechia Uwechia’s lawyer, Mr Revel Ogunde (SAN), had informed the court of a motion

•From left: Alhaji Adebowale, Edwin and Alhaji Abegunde, at the Cement Stakeholders’Forum, in Lagos...yesterday

No going back on 42.5 cement grade, says Dangote D

ANGOTE Cement yesterday said there is no going back on its decision to elevate its cement production to the 42.5 grade, in spite of misinformation by some operators.

The company said its decision to upgrade to the world standard is in the interest of the country.

Its Group Managing Director, DVG Edwin, listed the advantages of the 42.5 above the 32.5 grade as its capacity for extra yielding and being able to prolong the life of buildings.

He spoke at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos attended by the end users who also endorsed the new cement grade.

Edwin said: “There is a lot of misinformation going on in the country. A lot of these unscrupulous operators try to state that a lower 32.5 cement grades give higher strength than the higher 42.5 grades.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$117.4/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,396.9/troy Sugar -$163/lb MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE -N11.4 trillion JSE -Z5.112trillion NYSE -$10.84 trillion LSE -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -7.9% Treasury Bills -10.58%(91d) Maximum lending -30% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -1% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $37.9b FOREX CFA -0.2958 EUR -206.9 £ -242.1 $ -157 ¥ -1.9179 SDR -238 RIYAL -40.472

• Block makers support firm

This is ridiculous and laughable. There is nowhere in the world where a higher quality and a higher grade product will perform less than a lower quality product.

“Reviewing the 32.5 and 42.5 grades of cement is a scientific issue and it can be quantitatively measured, leaving no room for doubts or confusion over which product gives more strength than the other.”

Edwin explained that extensive trials have been done with the 42.5 grade of cement and it has been found to give about 30 per cent higher strength than 32.5 grade. It also has 15 per cent higher yields than the lower grade product and further helps in making more dense concrete with very low porosity, which makes buildings much more durable.

He challenged competitors to produce evidence of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON’s) certification authoris-

ing them to produce the 32.5 grade.

“This clamour for 32.5 grade is daylight fraud. Let them show or produce evidence where SON has authorised them to produce 32.5 grade; obviously they have none.

“They simply took advantage of the system to produce 32.5 grade.” Edwin said.

National President, Nigerian Block Makers Association, Alhaji Rasheed Adebowale, said resistance to Dangote’s production of the new grade is fueled by greed and profiteering.

He said: “The insistence by some cement manufacturers to continue to produce lower grades of cement is driven by their desire to maximise their profits at the expense of the lives of Nigerians.”

While absolving the block makers of culpability for building collapse in the country, he urged cement manu-

facturers to upgrade the quality of cement they produce from the lower 32.5 cadre to 42.5 grade in the interest of safety of human lives.

Adebowale is a member of the technical committee of SON that reviews cement standards.

He urged the government and other stakeholders to move beyond rhetorics and unnecessary politicking by coming out with a definitive upgraded standard for cement in the country.

“42.5 cement grade has long been the accepted cement grade in the country. There should not be a drop in standard,“ he insisted.

Lagos State Chairman of the association, Alhaji Okunola Abegunde, said collapsed buildings should not be blamed on block makers.

He said a lot of technicalities are involved in the construction of building and in order to avoid building collapse, regulators should manage the quality of input from manufacturers all the way to the builders at construction sites.

Fed Govt shops for N200b to settle PHCN’s debts

T

HE Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO) yesterday said it is shopping for N200 billion seed fund. It said the fund will give it an edge during negotiation for discounts in the course of paying for liabilities to the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria’s (PHCN) creditors.

Its Managing Director, Mr. Sam Agbogun made this know at a briefing in Abuja.

He said: “The seed money here is to enable NELMCO take advantage of negotiated amount. I am hoping (that) if we have that, it will give us a strong bargaining power to tell our creditors to give us some discounts. For example, if someone is owed N100million, you can seek to pay him N80million. This is why we need the money

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

somewhere to pay instantly.”

Commenting on the challenges the company is grappling with, he said there is delay in the transfer of PHCN Supernnuation Fund to NELCOM by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

He said the Fund that was created to take care of PHCN pensioners as they migrate to this scheme.

Agbogun said: “Why we are concerned about this fund is that we are aware that there is about 2million euro of the funds in the account and that is a huge amount of money if it is converted to naira.”

Another challenge, according to him, is that of PHCN pensioners’ harmonisation exercise that will result in about 50 per cent increase in monthly pension obliga-

tions.

The liquidation of the PHCN Superannuation Fund going forward, he said, remains a big challenge.

Agbogun expressed concern over the influx of litigation against the company, stressing that over 3,500 cases have been transferred to NELCOM. He raised the alarm over the company’s challenges from inadequate budgetary provision to offset legacy debts, power purchasing agreement, unpaid bills and other obligations.

Asked to state the deficit between the budget for payment of pension and the actual amount required, he said N16 billion per annum is required for payment while there is only N14 billion in the 2014 Appropriation Act.

By Joseph Jibueze

challenging its jurisdiction.

He argued that the police had no constitutional right to prosecute financial crimes, without the authority of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ogunde stressed that the offence against the accused is a general offence which was embedded on the residual list, and so, can only be entertained by a state High Court.

He, therefore, urged the court to strike out the charge against his client.

Wilcox was the Managing Director of both Ibom Power Company and LYK Engineering.

12

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

BUSINESS NEWS

Summit: Ajimobi woos private sector

O

• From left: Company Secretary Kemi Oduntan of Jade and Stones; Tokosi and Chief Williams, all of Riggs Ventures West Africa Plc during the AGM in Lagos.

Sacks maker Riggs to expand production

D

ESPITE increasing its pro duction from nine million sacks to over 60 million last year, Riggs Ventures West Africa Plc, manufacturers of polypropylene sacks, is set to further expand its production capacity.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Mr. Yomi Tokosi broke the news at the company’s 2014 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos. He said the management planned to further expand the installed production capacity of the company’s plant.

Board of Directors Chairman Chief Rasheed Williams highlighted the company’s achievements in the last one year.

He said with assistance from African Export Import Bank and Nigerian Export Import Bank between 2012 and last year, the board and management achieved a major ex-

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

pansion.

The expansion includes the diversification of the firm’s production lines with the addition of cement and industrial sack to the agro sacks line, which existed before the expansion .

The company increased the installed production capacity of its plant from nine million sacks to over 60 million sacks per annum, with significant increase in man power after the expansion exercise.

Williams also told the firm’s shareholders that the company registered its issued shares with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), with a view to listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in the next few months.

Tokosi said having completed the first phase of the company’s expan-

sion, there was need to harness its potentials to meet the rising demands of its clients, including major cement manufacturing firms.

He also informed shareholders that the board and management of the company plan to dispose its unissued shares to reputable institutional investors. “This exercise will facilitate the commencement of the next phase of expansion, which will entail the acquisition of additional state-of-the-art machines from the company’s equipment suppliers and technical partners – Bags Solutions Worldwide of Austria,” Tokosi added.

The National Chairman, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Boniface Okezie, who spoke on behalf of the shareholders, lauded the efforts of the board and management in steering the ship of the company successfully through the expansion.

YO State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi yesterday sold the state to top players in the private sector, stressing that the state was ready to offer incentives and partnerships to investors willing to explore opportunities in the agriculture and industry sectors of the state.

He gave the commitment while declaring open the state’s economic summit in Ibadan, the state capital.

Reeling out verifiable data from both the private and public sectors, the governor unveiled the several opportunities that abound in various sectors of the state and efforts his administration has undertaken so far to make the state an investment destination of choice.

The governor identified infrastructural development, urban renewal, peace and security, training and retraining of civil servants and political appointees and accountability among others as areas the government has improved upon.

Ajimobi said his administration is continuously opening up investment opportunities in various sectors of the economy. He called on investors and private sector players to avail themselves of the opportunities. Ac-

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

cording to him, part of the attractions are large market, huge working population, peace and security, proximity to Lagos and good governance.

He said: “You have listened to where we were, where we are now and where we are going. We believe that we have restored and transformed Oyo State. We believe that with your support, we can reposition Oyo State to an economically vibrant state that will be investors’ destination.”

In his keynote address, the Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group and Executive Chairman, Philip Consulting, Mr Foluso Philips said the state already has a good leader in Governor Ajimobi.

He identified good leadership as the crucial factors required to make organisations and governance succeed.

But he urged the state to look inward by developing its people through trainings, focus on areas of comparative advantage, reduce risk, show ability to execute, make things happen, define competitive edge, identify and respond to opportunities and embrace global best practices.

Ohi Alegbe is NNPC’s spokesman

T

HE management of the Nige rian National Petroleum Cor poration (NNPC) has announced the appointment of Mr. Ohi Alegbe as its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division.

A statement signed by Mr. Bernard Otti, Group Executive Director, Finance and Accounts, said the appointment is with immediate effect.

An alumnus of the University of Benin, Alegbe comes to the job with three decades of experience, which has traversed broadcast, print, public relations and advertising fields of public communication.

• Alegbe

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

13

14

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

15

16

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

17

TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

18

THE NATION

BUSINESS

TRANSPORTATION

Expert canvasses use of electricity in transportation C AN electricity be used to boost transportation? Yes, says Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) Managing Director Dr. Dayo Mobereola who is canvassing its use in urban centres and mega cities like Lagos.

Mobereola made the suggestion in a paper titled: “Harnessing electricity to grow the transportation sector,” delivered at Ehingbeti 2014, an investment and economic talk shop organised by the Lagos State Government.

He said the deployment of electricity would reduce the dependence on petroleum products, cut down substantially on vehicular carbon dioxide CO2 emissions and

Stories by Adeyinka Aderibigbe

promote smarter transportation initiatives using Intelligent Transport System (ITS) powered by electricity.

He said: “In Nigeria, Lagos consumes the highest amount of petroleum products at a total of 547million litres in 2010. Out of this, Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) had a 58 per cent share of consumed products, while dieselthe most efficient fuel-only accounts for only 18 per cent.”

Mobereola observed that this distribution has led to inordinately high CO2 emissions, expensive operation of the public transportation network, and unsus-

tainable public transport system.

Mobereola listed the advantages inherent in the use of electricity in the transportation system to include energy security, fuel economy, infrastructure availability, cheap operating cost in the long run and lower emissions of Green House Gases (GHG).

He said the nation is richly blessed in conventional energy resources, which includes oil, natural gas, lignite and coal.

“We are also well endowed with renewable energy sources such as wood, solar, hydropower, and wind, all of which can be converted for electricity generation,”

he said.

He said the electricity so generated would be used by hybrids vehicles which have engines and electric motors, where the engines only serve as electricity generators for its mobility.

He, however, identified lack of political will, resistance to change, slow ramp up in the supply of electricity to meet demand, risk of investment in the sector and inadequate regulatory framework for power reform as major hindrances to the initiative.

Mobereola, whose agency supervises the transportation policy for the state, said a fully integrated mass rapid transit system which includes; six rail lines; one mono rail line, 16 BRT routes, a cable car project and over 20 water routes would be more efficiently run through a stable supply of electricity.

•Mobereola

He added that the implementation of this initiative would lead to a better managed traffic, an efficient public transport which would aid transport integration.

NURTW seeks more time on drivers’ documentation

T

•Rescue responders searching for victims of a boat mishap.

PHOTO: PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU

Commissioner vows to improve traffic flow

T

HE Lagos State government will continue to improve on the provision of motorable roads, Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa has said.

The government, which admitted that traffic situation along some routes had been difficult lately, said it remained committed to reducing man-hour loss in traffic across the state.

Some of the furniture already put in place by the government, he said, was the construction of over 20, 000 road signage, adding that no fewer than 230 kilometres of pavements have been marked, and pedestrian crossing has been provided in 250 locations in the state.

The commissioner said the state has adopted the practice of providing pedestrian walkways on every new road project being embarked

A

POLICY aimed at addressing the dearth of parking spaces in many parts of Lagos State, may soon be unveiled by the government.

The policy, it was learnt, is the outcome of a study which revealed that a major cause of traffic jam was insufficient parking spaces.

Sources said the study showed that no fewer than 10 vehicles vied for parking spaces every 10 seconds at every street corner in the state.

upon, while it is fixing existing roads with the feature.

Opeifa added that beside the pedestrian crossing, 119 new traffic signal lights have been installed at strategic points across the state.

“All these has helped in maximising existing road space, reduce vehicle operational cost and promote road safety consciousness.

They also ensure an efficient, safe, reliable, sustainable and continuous flow of traffic,” he said.

He said the government’s commitment to road transportation was borne out of the reality that it remains the most effective and largest means of facilitating the exchange of goods and services across the state and country.

“Lagos as the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria cannot do without good roads. As a result, great resources have been expended to

rebuild its road network,” he said.

A development where two million vehicles ply the 9,100 road network in the state, built on a 3, 577 square kilometres as well as the volume of traffic on these roads, Opeifa said, had provided a rich field of opportunities for the government to innovate and come up with policies aimed at keeping the state with 20 million people moving.

The commissioner sued for the understanding of all residents in making sure the safety consciousness being championed by the government takes a firm root.

He said the government would continue to promote safety and safe conducts while on the road, adding that the vision behind all the state’s transport related agencies is to ensure that the state’s roads are made safe for all road users.

HE Lagos State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, has called on the government to give drivers and conductors more time to comply with its directive on documentation.

Last week, the government described compliance to the directive as poor.

Under the exercise, commercial vehicle owners are to register at the 21 Vehicle Inspection Offices (VIO) and drivers and conductors are to go to the five Lagos State Drivers' Institute (LASDRI) offices.

As at the end of last month, Commissioner for Transportation Comrade Kayode Opeifa said 15,000 of the 50, 000 projected operators in the sector had complied with the law. The deadline was January 31.

Agbede told The Nation that NURTW was committed to ensuring the success of the directive. He added that the government should give his people more time.

He said: "The government must realise that we, the leaders, are working round the clock to ensure the success of this policy because we are convinced that it is for the good of the people of the state. Every week, we speak with our people and I must say we are achieving result. Even the data of vehicles that have been in mechanic workshops were being captured once they are successfully fixed, and our drivers have being going to LASDRI for verification of their data."

Agbede said he had called for a deadline extension in January, to enable his men comply with the regulation, adding that the status of compliance has tremendously improved from what it was in January.

He said though the government's assessment may still remain poor, this does not mean that the various bodies, especially the NURTW is not working hard at ensuring the success of the exercise.

Agbede said he regularly hold meeting with the unit leaders of the union, where he would still urge them to go back to their units and re-emphasise the need for the registration and documentation.

He said any driver or conductor who would not want to comply with the regulation should psck out of the state, just as he assured that the policy was not out to extort the drivers or any other operator in the sector.

"The government policy is to make the transportation sector safer and all of us should cooperate with the government in achieving this lofty dream and ensure that we flush out all those who have been giving us a bad name by using their vehicles to carry out crimes which hitherto have dented the good works of the union," Agbede said.

He urged the government not to embark on a rash action that would upturn the good rapport that it has forged with the leadership of the union, adding that what is needed is just a little more time to ensure the success of the initiative.

Lagos to unveil new parking policy “This has often left all streets clogged with motor vehicles, with many being parked at the roadside, or on the walkways, while others had to make do with double parking, blocking on-coming vehicles leading to traffic jams especially at the peak hours,” the source added.

The policy, which would be in line with global best practices it

was further learnt would make it mandatory for developers and property owners especially in the area of commercial premises to address the issue of parking.

"Providing adequate parking spaces, especially for all commercial buildings may henceforth be one of the conditions for a building approval," the source said.

The source said the policy is seen as a continuation of the transformation of the state's public sector transportation management system and would among others, include parking management, parking design standard, parking control, traffic management for land-use and land development as well as enforcement of edict and by-laws by

statutory agencies.

The Commissioner for Transportation Comrade Kayode Opeifa, could not be reached for his comment on the policy as all calls to his telephone number went unanswered.

It was, however, learnt that the policy would be formally presented to the motoring public in the state once the policy get the governor's consent.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

FROM OTHER LANDS

Crude oil swap

T

•It’s time to lift the veil on transactions

IME again for our lawmakers to go after ringworms when a more malignant disease of leprosy is indicated: At a time no discernable pathway to resolution of the alleged missing $20 billion is anywhere in sight, the House of Representatives, last week, gave approval for a $1.56 billion loan for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

We consider it bad enough that the details of the loan curiously described as “forward sale agreement” are at this time known only to both the NNPC and the joint committees of the House on Petroleum Resources (Upstream)/Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Loans and Debts/Justice. But worse is that the House opted to put the cart before the horse when it first handed the NNPC the carte blanche to burden Nigerians with the odious debts before requiring it to “develop the roadmap for offsetting its indebtedness”.

More tragic of course is that the House, which professes to share in the public indignation over the pervasive rot in the corporation, appears to have in equal measure, passed off the consideration of another simmering scandal – the controversial crude-oil-for refined products swap under which a huge chunk of the 445,000 barrels of crude meant for local consumption is exchanged for refined products in circumstances that lack transparency as they are baffling.

Last week, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Abdulmumin Jibrin, actually dismissed calls for the investigation of the Crude Oil Swap insisting that “the House can’t waste its precious time for another

round of exercise”.

His words: “Our House committee has been neck deep in querying and investigating NNPC, Department of Petroleum Resources, Accountant-General of the Federation and the Federal Inland Revenue Service on a frequent basis about several transactions that impact on the oil revenues paid into the Federation Account”.

He would claim rather dismissively that “a lot of information out there on the swap template is over-exaggerated”.

We do not agree. Indeed, the House, in failing to undertake an inquiry may actually be guilty of abdicating its responsibility.

The issues behind the call are hardly new. At the heart of the scandal is the national oil corporation whose four refineries with combined capacity to refine 445,000 barrels of crude per day, but which in more than a decade have operated only at a fraction of capacity, yet received and perhaps continues to receive, crude volumes equal to the said total capacity only to sell the latter at substantial discount, at humongous costs to the treasury.

The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) had in its audit report submitted to the National Assembly, accused four oil companies of under-delivering products worth $8 billion in 2011 under the crude-for-refined products swap. The companies are Trafigura (173,786,600 litres); Vitol (654,440.7 litres); Taleveras (152,308,878 litres); Aiteo Nigeria Limited (193,046,590 litres) and Ontario Oil and Gas

(180,278,732 litres).

Today, two of them, Taleveras and Aiteo – with absolutely no previous experience in running producing oil assets – have since emerged as owners of Shell Nigeria’s oil blocks – Oil Mining Lease (OML 29) with its 97-kilometre Nembe Creek oil pipeline sequel to their posting of the highest and unmatched bid of $2.85 billion for the assets.

Unlike the House, we do not find anything strange in the request to beam the searchlight on the oil-swap deal – something that is easily the engine room of the opaque economy of oil. The same goes for the demand to know about the operations of the two unknown quantities, given their past but troubling ties to the NNPC. That the House cannot appreciate this elementary demand for transparency is not only disappointing but tragic.

‘Unlike the House, we do not find anything strange in the request to beam the searchlight on the oil-swap deal – something that is easily the engine room of the opaque economy of oil. The same goes for the demand to know about the operations of the two unknown quantities, given their past but troubling ties to the NNPC’

Pension Reform Bill

•A welcome law, but we hope it will be enforced when finally assented to

O

VER the years, pensioners have suffered untold hardship and neglect, while many of them have died prematurely as a result of non-payment of their gratuities, pensions and arrears for years. Even the Senate President, David Mark, had at one time expressed concern over the horrible plight of pensioners when he not only lamented but pronounced a curse on pension thieves.

The ‘pension house’ has turned out to be a gold mine for pension officials from grade level 4 and above. The scam became so rampant that a certain Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina, Director of Pensions, was caught with over N21billion allegedly kept in his personal account and the account of one of his relatives.

The scam became a celebrated one that

‘It is now left for the judiciary and other relevant organs to revise all the existing laws that are outdated and therefore not in tune with the alarming rate of criminal activities in the country today. However, the bottom line, as we pointed out, is not about the lack of laws but lack of the political will to enforce them, irrespective of the status or ‘connection’ of the offenders’

led to an investigation and subsequent arrest. Unfortunately, the Federal Government failed to do anything about it until the culprit fled.

Against this pitiful background, it is heartwarming that, at last, the Senate, on April 8 passed the pension reform bill which, if concurred to by the House of Representatives and assented to by President Goodluck Jonathan, would punish anyone who misappropriates pension funds with a 10-year jail term. This is apart from refunding three times the amount embezzled. The bill also goes further to stipulate that anybody who attempts to misappropriate pension funds would, on conviction, be liable to the same punishment. In addition, a pension thief would forfeit any property, assets or money with interest on the stolen money, to the Federal Government.

Perhaps, the Senate ought to have included in the law a proviso that money owed to pensioners in form of arrears should equally attract accrued interests to the beneficiaries, as the stolen money fraudulently put in fixed accounts by the pension thieves belong to the pensioners.

There are other penalties, ranging from the 10-year imprisonment to a fine of N500,000 to be paid daily by any agency which fails to give proper information about actual or attempted stealing of pension funds.

It may be argued that this bill is rather late in coming, because hundreds of pen-

sioners have died as a result of the greed and wickedness of some pension officials. However, it is better late than never. But then, one cannot but wonder why the need for this special legislation against corruption in the ‘pension house’ when there are existing laws against corrupt practices in Nigeria.

It would appear however, that the new law is meant to revise the existing ones, particularly as the extant laws are out of tune with modern realities. But the problem of corruption in Nigeria is not about laws or legislations, which have always been there. Rather, it is the lack of political will to enforce these laws. Alhaji Maina, for instance, would not have got the opportunity to run away with over N21billion of pensioners’ funds if the extant law (in spite of its inadequacies) had been applied as appropriate. This is true of many other cases of embezzlement of public funds which are either being investigated or have been abandoned. This is an area where the prosecutors and the judiciary have failed the nation.

It is now left for the judiciary and other relevant organs to revise all the existing laws that are outdated and therefore not in tune with the alarming rate of criminal activities in the country today. However, the bottom line, as we pointed out, is not about the lack of laws but lack of the political will to enforce them, irrespective of the status or ‘connection’ of the offenders.

Africa must invest borrowings wisely

– Corruption and mismanagement remain major problems

S

OUTH of the Sahara desert economic growth has flourished over the past decade. It is a remarkable transformation. Back in the 1980s and 1990s, subSaharan Africa was mired in seemingly endless rounds of painful defaults and debt relief negotiations. Today it is a magnet for international investors.

Huge challenges remain. But despite the hurdles, strong growth on the back of high commodity prices, foreign investment, political stability and improved economic governance has allowed a rising number of countries to tap the sovereign bond market – unthinkable only a few years ago.

This trend is not limited to Africa – Central Asia and Latin America have seen a similar transformation – but it has benefited most. In 2010-2012 net private flows to sub-Saharan countries doubled compared with 20002007. In 2006 and 2007, the Seychelles and Ghana became the first countries in the region outside South Africa to issue bonds on the international markets. Since then a roll call of countries – from Nigeria to Rwanda; Zambia to Angola – have followed suit. In total, African countries raised last year a record $10bn from the global bond market, up from $1bn a decade ago.

This is a welcome development, a sign that investors see in Africa a new landscape of opportunities. And the continent badly needs the financing to close a huge infrastructure gap that international and regional development agencies would not be able to resolve alone.

Over time, the use of bonds should also bring muchneeded market discipline to the continent. The yield difference among countries is slowly becoming part of the domestic political debate in Africa; so too are the – sometimes imperfect – views of credit rating agencies. It is better that Africa relies on public capital markets than on shadowy deals with China.

Yet the bond-issuance spree also entails risks. First and foremost is the use of the money raised. After years of kleptocracy, democracy has arrived in large parts of sub-Saharan Africa. But corruption and mismanagement remain major problems. After nearly a decade of borrowing, some African countries have remarkably little to show for the money – too much has ended up financing fuel subsidies and higher civil servant salaries rather than necessary investment. Countries must be clearer about how they will use the funds – and deliver on their plans.

Second, the market has so far not enforced much discipline, partly thanks to the ultra-loose monetary policies of the world’s leading central banks. As interest rates in the industrialised world plunged to almost zero, investors sought higher yields in frontier markets such as Africa, driving interest rates there to artificially low levels. In late 2012 and early 2013 the market looked bubbly. Take Rwanda: Kigali tapped the market in April 2013 partly in response to the suspension of western aid in protest at the policies of President Paul Kagame.

The market should have imposed a penalty rate; yet Rwanda was able to raise a $400m 10-year bond paying interest rates of less than 7 per cent.

Third, the reliance on foreign investors leaves Africa exposed to the animal spirits of global markets. The region must remember that capital flows are like a bee that produces honey today but can sting tomorrow.

Governments should prepare for a reversal of easy financing conditions. As the International Monetary Fund has warned, deeper integration with international markets makes sub-Saharan Africa more vulnerable to global financial shocks.

As they seek to finance their future needs on international markets, the nations of Africa will face many challenges. But if they heed the warnings of the international community about the need to spend wisely and honestly, then African governments can forge a lasting relationship with investors.

– Financial Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh

• Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •General Manager (Abuja Press) Kehinde Olowu •AGM (PH Press) Tunde Olasogba

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness

•Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) •Press Manager Yomi Odunuga Udensi Chikaodi •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Legal Counsel John Unachukwu •Group Business Editor Simeon Ebulu • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye •Group Sports Editor Ade Ojeikere •Acting Manager (sales) •Editorial Page Editor Olaribigbe Bello Sanya Oni

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: What has now become a public issue is the sale of babies - menace which may have been going on for some time - as teenage girls become victims of unwanted pregnancies and the children produced are sold out for adoption to needy couples who badly want.

At the baby making factory, young girls are encouraged or forced to become pregnant and after they have given birth, the newborn babies are be sold out, usually between N500,000 or more, depending on the sex of the child.

Who are patrons of these factories?

The answer is simple - it is either those parents who badly need children, which they do not ordinarily have or the mischievous people that may require human parts for inhu-

S

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG

SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 800 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.net

Ending the baby factory menace man reasons.

In many African countries, a couple’s inability to give birth to children few years after marriage is often frowned at by family members and even the extended family members, culminating into family members trading blames and pointing accusing fingers to the wives for the inability to bear children. This

social problem will continue to fester unless drastic steps are taken to address the contending issues surrounding the spread of baby factories. To begin with, our adoption laws should be reviewed without further delay as this will give those who seek to have children - when they cannot produce biologically the clean option.

Apart from that, married people still have to contend with the challenge of covering up the tracks of the origin of the children who should necessarily be integrated into the family. Also, some of these establishments and government institutions reel-out age limits for the needy couples and for those that are more than 50 years, their applica-

Ogun APC Ward Congress: Beacon of hope

IR: Permit me to use this medium to congratulate the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for holding a successful Ward Congress on Saturday, April 5. That exercise, by all accounts, ranks among the best in the annals of party politics in Nigeria. It was not only peaceful but inclusive and the turn-out impressive.

Both the leader of the party, Chief Olusegun Osoba and the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, jointly monitored the exercise, thus giving the lie to the rumour of division within the state APC. Of course, no one expected a 100 per cent success in any election - without one or two hitches. And I believe the governor underscored the essence of sincerity after last Saturday’s Local Government Congress in explaining this human phenomenon.

Amosun was reported in the papers to have said thus: “Whatever minor hitches witnessed in the conduct of the poll could only be “because we are human, not angels.

The good thing is that there was no deliberate action on the part of the officials to disenfranchise anyone.

All tendencies in the party were fully represented. Either as winners or losers in the Congress of today, we are all one in APC. Our goal is one, so is our aspiration in Ogun APC.” It is however sad to read of deliberate distortion of the Ward Con-

gress in one or two papers. It is one thing to understate or exaggerate an event that happened but when some writers manufacture an event that never took place, then they act against public interest. Such amounts to gross misconduct and the public should be wary of accepting hook, line and sinker reports they themselves know could be improbable or fly in the face of realities and accounts of other sources.

Just like the governor, I was shocked to read in two papers “that parallel congresses were held in all the 236 wards in Ogun State.” This

S

IR: As 2015 elections beckon, my fear increases day in day out for what could be the fate of Nigerians and the INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega after the elections. There is no doubt that the atmosphere is going to be tense as some Nigerians and outsiders have already predicted 2015 to be a year of anxiety and violence for Nigeria.

Right from time, Nigerians are known to be flexible. They have the patience to endure and adapt to whatever situation that comes their way. Nigerians have compassion and are very religious. Owing to their long-suffering nature, they have endured the comatose state of the economy.

is comprehensive falsehood. It never happened. Not one parallel ward congress was held throughout Ogun on that fateful day.

Let me quote the reaction of Amosun to this lie: “How can this be true? We are all witnesses to what happened last Saturday. Except in a few wards where unavoidable change of venue led to some justifiable complaints, which were immediately redressed by our party leader, Chief Osoba, after which the exercise went on smoothly, where on earth did we witness parallel congresses, as reported in some papers?” the governor had asked rhe-

torically.

I declare that the APC Ward Congress held on Saturday, April 5, remains a landmark in the annals of Nigeria and is therefore a beacon of hope for all lovers of democracy.

The ward congress is the foundation of all other congresses. It is like the foundation of a house. Once the foundation is strong, the house will be strong.

Congratulations to Ogun APC, its leaders at the state and national levels and all lovers of democracy in Nigeria.

• Soyombo Opeyemi Abeokuta

2015: My fears for Jega

Nigerians have however lost hope and faith in the country’s leadership. They believe that the country’s problems will not abate soon.

Presently, the problem of insecurity has awakened the zeal of Nigerians into politics. Every Nigerian now seems to be calling for 2015.

The situation has become unbearable as people are being killed everyday. Thus, every Nigerian is already looking forward and counting down to 2015 election. The forthcoming general election would be a determinant of our living together as one nation because every region, religion, group wants to dominate others. That is why the unity of the country is shaky.

Meanwhile, the most attention is on Jega and his INEC. The bye-election recently conducted in Ondo State has further added to the doubt we have about Professor Jega’s INEC. If just a byeelection can be declared inconclusive because of misconduct, what then would happen in the general election?

Nigerians are craving for change and the belief is that change can only be achieved through a free, fair and credible election. Jega ought to know the magnitude and implication of not achieving this come 2015.

Nigerians would not hearken to excuses from INEC or Jega. He should go back to the drawing board and re-strategise or perhaps he should

tions may not be treated at all.

Another factor that still encourages the booming trade, is the huge cost required in seeking medical assistance to have children. The In Vitro Fertilization process is usually out of reach of the average couple. Going by the prevailing economic situation, it is a bitter truth that only a few could afford the cost, which is not less than N1million per attempt. Government should provide the leeway by comimg in to seek ways of helping couples.

Another point of concern is the need for effective monitoring of several organizations that engage in nefarious activities that are largely unknown to the government. The surprise is that virtually all the organizations involved in the baby factory saga claimed to be duly registered.

These ‘factories’ were found to have registered as non-governmental organizations, which allows them to carry out their unofficial activities through the back door. The government should tighten its registration and monitoring of NGOs. Finally, more access should be accorded the females to get sound education; baby factories would be starved of willing girls who readily donate their wombs at ridiculous fees. It is lack of self-worth, esteem and value for life caused by poor education that would want to make a girl to donate her womb to carry pregnancy and then sell the baby!

• Adewale Kupoluyi Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

return to the Jega of those days. We used to know Professor Jega to be a radical-intellectual, upright and sincere man who fought against the military government of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida while as a chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Again, Jega should know that many things are at stake; his reputation is at stake, the lives of innocent Nigerians are at stake, the desires of Nigerians to remain as one entity is at stake, infact, everything about Nigeria is at stake. Thus, we hope and pray that Jega’s INEC will not compromise.

• Suleiman Yusuf, IBB University Lapai, Niger State.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

COMMENTS

X

21

R

ENOPHOBIC Lagos — quite a to respect native rights, if eqmouthful, isn’t it? uity and justice are the issue.

But it sort of echoes Victorian No less misguided are Lagos Lagos, a book by ace poet and literary natives who harp so much on critic, Prof. Michael J. Echeruo, on the Lagos’s insularity — with their Lagos of new settlers: Europeans; and “gedegbe L’Eko wa” mentality. repatriated former slaves from Sierra Lagos is linguistically Yoruba, Leone and Brazil, from mid-19th cenand cannot, in all good contury; as against the aborigines of Eko. science and sound logic, be inThe inspiration for this piece came sulated from the Yoruba South Olakunle from Femi Macaulay, co-columnist of West. That is the whole essence The Nation, and scion of the Macaulay of South West integration lordbeek1@gmail.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) Abimbola family of Lagos, one of those 19th cenwhich The Nation continues to tury settlers. champion but to which, some In two straight offerings, “From short-sighted Lagos elite conmegacity to metacity” (March 31) and tinue to show discomfort.

“Fashola and fallacy of failure” (April In Lagos — and indeed, Johnson, a prominent Lagos Saro, was caught between the other parts of the country — therefore, respect for native rights 7), Femi beamed his searchlight on the 6th Herbert Macaulay crossfire of his Ijebu nativity and his Saro evolution. must be the starting point. Still, native rights do not translate Memorial Lecture and Merit Award, held on March 22 in Echeruo quoted the no-nonsense clergy as testifying to the to wilful denial of contributions of the so-called settlers.

Lagos. “stubborn dislike of my country men (the Jebus) to the GosTake the case of Lagos Television (LTV), which at its earliest Creeping xenophobia, by Lagos indigenes, oozed from pel and to English customs, particularly to long trousers, shoes stages, pioneered 24-hour TV, through its Lagos Weekend both pieces, like some bad blood from a painful boil. It all and socks; and to umbrellas, which last I suppose only RoyTelevision (LWTV). The brain behind that innovation would issued from alleged marginalisation of Lagos indigenes, who alty carried.” appear Taiwo Alimi, a journalism elder and Ogun native, who complain of being elbowed out of opportunities in their own So, as the present-day Lagos Olumegbons, Oluwas and Governor Lateef Jakande poached from NTA. But when the land.

Bajulaiyes, Macaulays, Johnsons and Leighs, Damacios, DaLTV brand found its feet, some Lagos elements suddenly disThe March 31 piece was a pan-Eko complaint of silvas and Perreiras rally in xenophobia, in an apparent ecocovered Alimi was not from Lagos! marginalisation. The April 7 piece was an intra-Lagos partinomic resentment of non-natives, let it be known that they Contrast LTV to the defunct Eko Today, formerly Lagos Horisan manoeuvre, hiding behind Lagos nationalism, to twist had not always been a happy and merry phalanx. zon, Lagos government-owned newspaper. The foundational Governor Babatunde Fashola’s rallying cry: “Eko o ni baje” If however, the Macaulays and Da-silvas have morphed editors, all ex-Daily Times, led by the late Tunde Odesanya, saw (Lagos won’t go to seeds) to “Eko o ni baje ju bayi lo” (Lagos from resented “parasites” of yore to earn the great Herbert the paper through its teething stages. But when a native with won’t degenerate beyond this point); suggesting the goverMacaulay the platform of the Association of Lagos State India sense of entitlement took over, the newspaper went under. nor has done nothing to improve Lagos. The absurdity of genes (ALSI) Memorial Lecture and Merit Award, it is besuch a claim is patent. But then, politicians must play poliThe impact of Rauf Aregbesola, now governor of the State of cause of the sheer quality they had, over the years, brought to tics!

Osun, on Lagos infrastructural renewal of the Bola Tinubu the table. That is the spirit of Lagos.

Still, the irony of xenophobic sentiments issuing from a years, is still there for all to see. He was no native. Yet, as Perhaps, at this stage, Ripples’ Lagos bona fides are imperaHerbert Macaulay merit award was clearly lost on the parWorks and Infrastructure commissioner, he left indelible tive. Born at Lagos Island Maternity, bred in the Lafiaji area ticipants — the key words being “Macaulay” and “merit”. marks. Contrast him to Adeseye Ogunlewe and now Musiliu of Lagos Island where he attended St. David’s Anglican School, This is because back then in Victorian Lagos, the mainly Obanikoro, natives who returned as federal ministers, to wage by parents of Mojoda stock in Eredo, Epe, he is as Lagosian as Anglican Saro stock of the Macaulays, Sierra Leone returnees, virtual partisan wars on their Lagos! anyone can be. who had their bastion at Olowogbowo; and the denizens of Fortunately, Governor Fashola has, by his stellar performSo, this is no “atohunrinwa” (Yoruba for settler) voice, tryPopo Aguda, the mainly Catholic repatriates from Brazil, in ance, shown native Lagosians can boast the highest quality. ing to claim Eko scalp as economic trophy. It is rather a voice the neighbourhood of Campos and Lafiaji, had a running So, this is not about demonising Lagosians and lionising nonfor merit and excellence: for merit has built Lagos; and if it battle with the aborigines of Isale Eko. Lagosians. hopes to excel as a megacity or even meta-city, merit must Indeed, literatures back then dismissed the Saro, notorious It is rather about the inherent danger of xenophobia: for continue to be its cornerstone. for copying British attitudes, as “parasites”. The Eko abobehind that patriotic fear hides blatant mediocrity, powered Still, some caveat. The claim that Lagos is a “no man’s rigines accused them of double parasitism: parasites on the by a sick sense of entitlement and the resultant irresponsibilland” is as patently idiotic as the claim that Mungo Park disBritish, for culture (names, speech, dress mode and attitude); ity. That is a one-way road to decline that Lagos would take at covered River Niger.

No matter how many settlers economic and parasites on the natives, for trade. And in that anti-Saro its peril. opportunities have drawn to Lagos, Lagos remains the jewel trade resentment, you could feel the Eko natives’ economic So, let native Lagosians, as of right, take the best of opportuof native Lagosians. xenophobia. nities of their land. But they must be the best men and women And those who, in the context of the United States, mistake Indeed, Holy Johnson, the inimitable Bishop James for the job. That is the Babatunde Fashola model.

Nigerian citizenship for ownership of Lagos, simply because The narrow road to this destination is conscious and deliberthey are long-time residents, wilfully miss the point. Whereas determination to train Lagosians to be the very best. Xeno‘What Lagos needs is merit to trump the United States is basically a settler country, Nigeria is ba- ate phobia, on the other hand, is primordial cry for lowering standa country of native communities. the rest, not xenophobia to block sically ards for those who cannot compete.

So inasmuch as Nigerian citizenship is to be treasured with Lagos needs is merit to trump the rest, not xenophobia their way. That is the spirit of Lagos’ all its rights and privileges, citizens have the responsibility toWhat block their way. That is the spirit of Lagos.

I

epublican ipples

F developments in the North-east in recent time are anything to go by, it seems unlikely that the emergency rule clamped on Borno, Yobe and Adamawa would be extended beyond April 19. With just days to the end of the second stanza of the emergency, the feelers are anything but in support of its extension.

First, it was a group under the aegis of Borno, Yobe People’s Forum asking the federal government not to consider renewing the emergency on the grounds that the emergency had failed to achieve its purpose.

Left to the group which included notable personalities like Air Vice Marshall Al-amin Dagash (retd.), former Minister of Finance, Malam Adamu Ciroma; former Secretary to Government of the Federation, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe; and Shetima Mustapha, the Northeast would brook no further extension of the emergency.

Their position appears to enjoy tacit support of the governors of the affected states. Only last week, the Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako, speaking through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Ahmad Sajoh, would equally affirm that an extension of the state of emergency would be counterproductive.

“What was required”, he said, “was a change of strategy, not an extension of the state of emergency”. To him, the emergency has brought more deaths of innocent citizens compared to when it was not in place.

His Borno State counterpart, Kashim Shettima, would echo the same line that “a review of strategy will not be out of place.” And if reports from Damaturu, the Yobe State capital are anything to go by, the same sentiments are no less shared by leaders accross the board on the need to end the current state of emergency.

As one who does not reside anywhere near the troubled North-east, the least one could do is show empathy to our compatriots forced to live not just under raging terror but in the difficult theatre of counter-insurgency that continues to take its toll in innocent civilian casualties. In the circumstance, the issue is not whether or not the innocent people of Nigeria’s North-east deserve some respite; rather, it is whether the federal government can afford a relaxation of the emergency at this point in time without putting even the marginal gains recorded at risk.

Admittedly, the emergency, at least as far as taming the insurgency, hasn’t exactly been an unqualified success in terms of taming the monster of insurgency. Inexcusably, we have seen quite a number of fatal misjudgments as well as operational lapses that have resulted in avoidable deaths both of servicemen and civilians. Too many

Xenophobic Lagos

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

Emergency: To end or not to end? lives – which a heightened intelligence could have averted – are still being lost on a daily basis. So also is the relative ease with which the insurgents are able to pick soft targets despite the garrison blanket thrown over the entire region. There are also discomfitting allegations of activities of fifth columnists and internal sabotage all of which are alleged to have contributed to prolonging the war.

Despite all of these, the nation is certainly a long way from the time when the terrorists hoisted their flag in 10 local governments in the North-east; a long shot from when Abubakar Shekau held court on the nation’s soil unchallenged.

Again, in all of these, the point that hasn’t been quite satisfactorily made is that the emergency actually made things worse. The evidence, quite to the contrary, is that modest gains are being recorded despite ocassional setbacks. Moreover, not that anyone ever expected that the emergency would become an end in itself anymore than the asymetrical war could be crushed overnight. There is certainly no question that the emergency came handy as a means, a necessary one at the time – although one out of many tools – with the goal of restoring the elusive peace to the troubled region. Only when one properly situates things this way does one come to an appreciation of its imperative both as a tool for the military and as means of societal stabilisation. There should be no confusion over its role as a mere enabler in the security mix.

So where do we go from here? The question, to me, is best directed at the elders in the North-east, who in the absence of a roadmap to peace, continue to push for pos-

sible scaling down of military operations. By the way, have these leaders truly pondered on the security implications of their proposal which for all practical purposes, is akin to yielding the grounds to the terrorists?

Is that what the leaders want?

It is a measure of the troubling times that leaders who have been practically AWOL; leaders who have long “ported” from their troubled homesteads, far beyond the reach of the terorists, would seek to push for solutions that are patently unhelpful.

I do not think that the options open to the federal government and by extension, the military, are unlimited.

The chief concern is to ensure that nothing is allowed to compromise the on-going military operations in the Northeast. The challenge is to find a way to address issues of civil liberties for the citizens in those places.

Moving on, I do not also believe that the parties have fully explored all possible options for peace. My assumption is that by now, the futility of the blame game should have become obvious. The time has come for all parties – federal, states, local governments right through to the level of community leaders – to eat the humble pie in a common resolve to fight and defeat a common enemy. In the current circumstances, the bickering over state of emergency should be the least of their worries.

And now this...

Although we are nation where bad news happen per second, yesterday’s carnage in Abuja, the federal capital territory, is not only profoundly troubling but deeply shocking. Two early morning bomb blasts in a high density motor park reportedly left scores dead. My condolences to the families of the dead and best wishes for speedy recovery of the injured.

‘In all of these, the point that hasn’t been quite satisfactorily made is that the emergency actually made things worse. The evidence, quite to the contrary, is that modest gains are being recorded despite ocassional setbacks’

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

22

COMMENTS

T

HE horror of yet another attack and killing of innocent and ordinary Nigerians by the terrorist group Boko Haram was brought closer to the seat of power Monday when an explosion believed to be bomb rocked a busy motor park at Nyanyan near Abuja leaving scores dead and many more wounded.

The early morning attack on the victims, most of whom were travelers either heading out of or coming into the Federal capital was coming on the heels of a travel advisory by the Department of State Security (DSS) to some prominent and high profile Nigerians not to travel to the north east region, the hot bed of the Boko Haram insurgency.

Former Heads of State Generals Mohammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Abdusalami Abubakar, second republic president Shehu Shagari, Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso and Shettima of Kano and Borno States respectively, former Governor of Borno, Ali Modu Sheriff, the Sultan, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar and Emir of Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero are among a host of other Very Important Personalities and high net worth individuals the DSS say are on the hit list of Boko Haram should they venture to visits any area in the north east. And if they must go there, they must get security clearance and be provided with adequate security to ward off any

‘This is the question we should be asking ourselves. We created a new division of the Nigerian Army for that region yet all we get is massacre of innocent and defenseless people by the terrorists and yet our security forces tell us they are on top of the situation; on top of which situation? Some students on the way to writing last Saturday university matriculation exams (JAMB) in Borno State were killed by insurgents; what are we talking about?’

S

How not to fight terror likely attack by the terrorists.

While recognizing the need to keep our leaders past and present away from harm, leaving the ordinary people open to such attacks as Boko Haram is capable of carrying out raises so many questions as to the ability and capability of our security agencies to protect life and property in this country.

If the DSS could, through its network of spies learn of the plot by Boko Haram to harm these eminent Nigerians, how did it fail to know that the terrorist group was going to strike at Nyanyan and as such warn the people, especially the hundreds of travelers that use the park on a daily basis to either stay away or be very careful?

Proving security anywhere in the world is not error proof, but one would have expected that Abuja being the federal capital and indeed all our major cities should be properly protected to such an extent that the kind of attack at Nyanyan would be impossible for anybody or group to not only contemplate but also carry out. We return to Nyanyan later.

The main point here is the travel advisory. Issuing it or even making it public looks to me like victory for Boko Haram.

Now the terror group knows that mere threat from it would be enough to send our security agencies running helter scepter, especially in the direction(s) it wanted. Who knows, the so called hit list could be a ploy by Boko Haram to divert attention from its intended targets giving it enough time wreck havoc and inflict pains on the largest number possible. The

ANUSI Lamido Sanusi understood the Nigerian psychology particularly their love to bay for blood. After alerting bank customers that banks were about to collapse and that they would lose their monies if nothing was urgently done, he ordered a stress test on banks. In the end, some bank CEOs were pronounced guilty of stealing depositors’ funds.

This was at a time of global financial crisis. Our stock market had crashed, and Nigerians were genuinely worried about their deposits in banks. Overnight, he became a cult hero of sorts, dealt with the banks as he pleased, and in the end, demonising the system he inherited.

Here is what a respected columnist in one of the nation’s leading daily newspapers wrote at the time: “But towards the end of Soludo’s tenure, rot and lethargy had set in, and horrible insider abuses held sway. Owners, directors, managers and operatives of banks started looting depositors’ funds unchecked.

When Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi arrived in June 2009 as the new CBN Governor, he showcased exploits of a two-edged sword. Coming from risk management background, he sacked a number of errant bank executives. He separated some banks from their founders who committed some of the most monumental acts of thievery on record at that time.

To save the banks from collapse he supported them with public funds and later sold them to new investors. But he also set up the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, (AMCON), to arrest the incidence of non-performing loans in our banks. In other words, he was able to provide the cure to the disease that had set into the banking industry under Soludo...”

How did this columnist come to this conclusion? Based on what Sanusi’s CBN said? Which Editor or Financial Journalist can stand up to say he/she saw the comprehensive report of the audit on banks as we did with the 13-page report of Financial Reporting Council on CBN’s 2012 Accounts? Where in the world (except in Sanusi’s CBN) do you do an external audit of a bank or quoted company and there is no audit query to respond to the examiner’s findings?

The attention of Nigerians should be drawn to a statement credited to the suspended CBN Governor, on November 6, 2009, at the Annual Bankers’ Dinner where he stated that there was no crisis in the nation’s banks since they were still all performing their obligations to customers. He further stated that it was the sacked bank CEOs that were in crisis.

Hard-hitting Renaissance Professionals, the combative group that took on Sanusi had reminded Nigerians that the CBN under Sanusi moved against the eight banks it took

hit list could be a diversion to clear the way for such attacks as we’ve just had at Nyanyan.

What lesson can we draw from here?

First we should learn from those that have traveled this route before. How has Israel been able to cope all these years in the face of relentless attacks or planned attack by the Palestinians and their allies?

Two decades ago or thereabout, I had cause to be part of a team of Foreign Affairs editors invited by the Israeli Embassy in Lagos to interview former Prime Minister Shimon Peres. The security arrangement was so tight that one was left wondering who would be after Israel or Israeli interest in Nigeria, but you never can tell. May be they had information about a threat of attack, yet Peres was still allowed to travel to Nigeria without any noise being made.

By that, if there was any planned attack, it was only known to the planner(s) and perhaps Israeli security. To the outside world, it was business as usual.

This, to me is perhaps one of the best ways to catch any would be terrorist; make them believe you have lowered your guard or even unperturbed by their threats and in the process, lure them into your trap.

Now that these people have been warned from going to the north east, Boko Haram would not only feel big, we might not be able to get whoever among them capable of carrying out such an attack on the life of any of these eminent Nigerians.

How do you think the world would react if President Barrack Obama or any of his predecessors or even Senators were to be advised publicly by the CIA not to travel

to let’s say Afghanistan, Iraq or even Syria because of the threat of Al Qaeda.? I am sure the reaction is better imagined. You don’t fight terror by running away from it or getting scared; far from it. You fight terror by confronting it. Yes, there is the need to take sensible precaution but not to the point of behaving cowardly. So if tomorrow the DSS gets credible intelligence that Boko Haram was planning to kill all head teachers in the north east, would the Service advise them not to go to work?

By the way why is Boko Haram still this powerful and seemingly unbeatable in spite of the resources both human and material deploy to the north east by government to fight the insurgents since the insurgency began? This is the question we should be asking ourselves. We created a new division of the Nigerian Army for that region yet all we get is massacre of innocent and defenseless people by the terrorists and yet our security forces tell us they are on top of the situation; on top of which situation? Some students on the way to writing last Saturday university matriculation exams (JAMB) in Borno State were killed by insurgents; what are we talking about?

It’s about time an audit of how the military and other security agencies have been fight this war on terror is carried out for us to know whether we are making progress or not. Millions of dollars are allocated to the security forces to fight Boko Haram yet the boys on ground complain of poor motivation and inadequate equipment; so, where have the money gone into? Some of our commanders and their bosses at HQ are alleged to be making money out of this misfortune called Boko Haram; we need to look into this and punish the culprit(s) if any severely. As long as this is going on, the boys out there will not be motivated to fight and Boko Haram would be encouraged to continue the killings.

For the Nyanyans of the world and other such soft targets, the people patronizing these places also need their own travel advisory and protection from our security agencies, after all we are all Nigerians and no Nigerian is more important than the other.

Banks’ 2009 stress test in retrospect

By Joseph Ehigiator over “on the basis of a financial stress test which it claimed to have carried out which showed that these banks were in a bad shape and would collapse if the CBN did not take over their management. The CBN did not make the result of this stress test public. The stress test was carried out by CBN-appointed examiners. No independent review of this stress test was done. What Nigerians know about this stress test and the result is what the CBN has told the public. The public has believed what the CBN says because it is assumed to be true.

However, the public should also note that the former CBN Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo recently wrote an extensive article and while defending his tenure in office, said that before he left office, he conducted a similar stress test on the banking system and the result showed that 65% of the banks in the system had a “satisfactory” rating. He said he stood by the result of this initial stress test of the Nigerian banking industry. We leave it to the public to decide who they want to believe, the current or former CBN Governor.”

They wrote the above piece in 2011.

In fact, on March 30, 2009, then CBN Governor, Professor Soludo gathered captains of industry, media owners and editors, and Bank CEOs, including Sanusi, then First Bank chief executive officer at Eko Hotels, and presented the picture of the nation’s banking industry, problem resolution plans, etc, but urged caution and restraint especially on the part of the media because of the sensitive nature of the industry.

The speech was significant because it was delivered at a time of intense global financial crisis. As the CBN governor at the time of the speech, it was important that he clarified how vulnerable Nigerian banks were to the emerging crisis.

In his speech, Soludo laid bare his evaluation of how exposed Nigerian banks were to the global economic crisis and what the CBN, under him was doing to counter it.

First, he emphasized the fact that “Nigeria cannot afford a bank crisis”. His reason was simple: “The non-deficit part of the FGN budget in 2009 is less than banks’ capital; hence the totality of FGN budget cannot recapitalize the banks if the system should collapse. With the drying up of global finance, and non-bank investing public still nascent, the scope for funding any bank bailout in Nigeria was slim— except by ‘printing money’!”

That was Soludo’s conclusion.

But Soludo did not deny that the Nigerian banking system was under pressure. He however listed the different measures that the CBN under him was taking to ensure that the global banking crisis did not affect Nigerian banks.

But just three months down the line, Sanusi came into office and clamped down on “eight bad Bank CEOs” and Nigerians clapped for him.

In his petition to President Goodluck Jonathan, as published in the media, the former chief executive officer of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola stated that “till today no report of the examination has been made available to me, the management, or the Board of the bank. We had no opportunity to learn how the CBN came to its decision, nor were we given an opportunity to respond to the examination report, as is the usual process.”

Akingbola made further allegation concerning how Intercontinental Bank after his removal wrote off a loans to the tune of N8.115 billion, in a bank that they were meant to be rescuing. He also alleged that the banks CBN, under Sanusi took over are yet to receive any examination report from the CBN to show areas of deficiency, and therefore requested that the allegations against him and other bank CEOs should be independently investigated because it is curious “to first send off all management staff before accusing them of wrong doing.”

In the light of the disputable actions during his tenure; his statements with respect to unremitted NNPC’s revenues, and the alleged sleaze in CBN under his tenure, isn’t it time to subject his stress test of banks in 2009 to proper scrutiny?

• Barrister Ehigiator is a Public Affairs Analyst

‘Soludo did not deny that the Nigerian banking system was under pressure. He however listed the different measures that the CBN under him was taking to ensure that the global banking crisis did not affect Nigerian banks’

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

23

TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

25

What is the value of say, fair hearing to the poor man who cannot pay a ’summons fees let alone afford the services of a counsel ’

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

?

See page 39

The National Judicial Council’s suspension of the Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice Peter Agumagu, has continued to generate heat. Some lawyers argue that the Council erred not to have heard from him before querying him; others do not think so. ADEBISI ONANUGA and ERIC IKHILAE report.

D

ID the National Judicial Council (NJC) err in law by suspending the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Peter Agumagu?

This is the question that has split the judiciary.

Some lawyers believe the NJC erred, others do not think so.

The NJC stirred up the hornet’s nest when it suspended Justice Agumagu because his appointment allegedly contravened Section 271 of the 1999 Constitution.

The Section vests the power to appoint a state’s Chief Judge on the governor.

It says: “The appointment of a person to the office of Chief Judge of a state shall be made by the Governor of the State on the recommendation of the NJC subject to the confirmation of the appointment by the House of Assembly of the state”.

This, in essence, means that the governor is expected to forward the name of persons nominated for the post to the NJC for consideration.

The NJC is expected to recommend one of those nominated to the governor to be sworn in as the Chief Judge.

The Third Schedule Part 1(i) paragraph 21(c), which deals with the relevant powers of the NJC, provides: “The NJC shall have the power to recommend to the Governor from among the list of persons submitted to it by the state Judicial Service Commissions.”

Section 271(4) says : ‘If the Office of Chief Judge of a State is vacant or if the person holding the office is for any reason unable to perform the functions of the office, then until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of that office, or until the person holding the office has resumed those functions, the Governor of the State shall appoint the most senior Judge of the High Court to perform those functions.”

Last August, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi appointed Justice Agumagu as Chief Judge following the retirement of Justice Iche Ndu. Justice Agumagu was the President of the Customary Court of Appeal before his appointment. Rivers State Judicial Service Commission forwarded Justice Agumagu’s name to the NJC as required by the Constitution for its recommendation to the governor.

A group, Kengena Unity Forum, challenged the propriety of Justice Agumagu’s appointment at a Federal High Court. His appointment was, however, voided in February, 2014 by a Federal High Court presided by Justice Lambo Akanbi.

Justice Akanbi ruled that by the provisions of the law, only the most senior judge in the state judiciary could be appointed as the Acting Chief Judge.

However, the NJC, in its response to the request by the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission, recommended Justice Daisy Okocha, whom it considered as the most senior judge in the state. The governor, however, rejected the NJC’s recommendation.

The state government then filed a suit at the Federal High Court to, among others, determine if the governor must do the bidding of the NJC in its choice of a chief judge.

In a judgment delivered on March 18, 2014, Justice Lambo ruled that the NJC’s recommendation was not binding on the governor. The judge further held that going by the interpretation of Section 271 of the Constitution, the governor was not a robot to accept the recommendation of the NJC. Justice Akanbi held that the president of the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal was eminently qualified to be appointed the Chief Judge. The court accused the NJC of inconsistency, having previously recommended judges of similar courts for appointment as Chief Judges twice.

“With greatest respect to the National Judicial Commission, who is my employer, I cannot allow the argument of the defence counsel, that the governor must accept the recommendation of the NJC,” the judge ruled, adding: ”the body that is most suitable to make recommendation of a nominee of a chief judge of the state is the state Judicial Service Commission, JSC, because they have local knowledge of the most suitable candidate, than the National Judicial Commission.”

Justice Akanbi, however, clarified that his judgment was not contradictory to his earlier one delivered in February, this year. He said

RIVERS CJ’S SUSPENSION: DID NJC ERR ‘

“There must be cooperation between the NJC and the governor, with the governor playing a leading role because in the end, they are the one’s who appoint; they are the appointing authority

‘

the law states different conditions for appointing an acting chief judge and for a chief judge of a state. He also held that, according to Nigerian law, it was not mandatory that the most senior judge be appointed a state’s Chief Judge. He said the judge to be considered must have spent at least 10 years on the Bench; a qualification Agumagu met.

Following the court’s ruling, Amaechi on March 18, 2014 swore in Justice Agumagu as the Chief Judge and jettisoned the recommendation of the NJC. The governor noted that Justice Agumagu was the most senior judge in the state judiciary. “His very sterling record and leadership abilities were the reason he was seconded to the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal in 2008 – as its President – to spearhead the establishment of that critical level of justice delivery in Rivers State.”

The court, the governor said, had already held that Justice Agumagu’s appointment was legal as it was in accordance with the provisions of Section 271 (3-5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the effect that: “A person shall not be qualified to hold office of a

‘

Since the NJC viewed the judge’s acceptance of the post of a Chief Judge, without recommendation by NJC, as a breach of the Constitution, it can rely on the provisions of the Public Service Rules.

‘

Judge of a High Court of a state unless he is qualified to practice as a legal practitioner in Nigeria and has been so qualified for a period of not less than 10 years”.

But reacting to the development, the NJC suspended Justice Agumagu from office without first giving him fair hearing to defend himself.

He was later issued a query and given four days to explain why he should not be recommended for removal from office. The judge was not accorded any form of fair hearing as stipulated in Section 36 of the Constitution.

The NJC, in a statement by its Acting Director of Information, Mr. Sola Oye, said: “At its 10th emergency meeting, which was held on the 26th March, 2014, the National Judicial Council under the Chairmanship of Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Aloma Mariam Muktar, considered the purported appointment, confirmation and swearing-in of Hon. Justice P. N. C. Agumagu as the substantive Chief Judge of Rivers State on the 18th day of March, 2014.

“In the course of deliberations on the matter, Council noted that it is expressly provided in Section 271 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal

Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) that the appointment of a person to the Office of the Chief Judge of a State shall be made by the Governor of the State on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, subject to the confirmation of the appointment by the House of Assembly of the State.

“The National Judicial Council did not at any time make any recommendation to the Governor of Rivers State that Hon. Justice P. N. C. Agumagu, President, Customary Court of Appeal, be appointed the substantive Chief Judge of Rivers State. Council therefore resolved as follows: That the National Judicial Council does not and will not recognise Hon. Justice P.N.C. Agumagu as the Chief Judge of Rivers State; “That the general public and all concerned in the matter, particularly the Governor of Rivers State, the Rivers State House of Assembly, the Judiciary in Rivers State, be notified and informed that the National Judicial Council will not deal with Hon. Justice P.N.C. Agumagu as the Chief Judge of Rivers State; “That a query be issued to Hon. Justice P. N. C. Agumagu to explain in writing within four days, why he should not be removed from office as a judicial officer for his failure to abide by his Oath of Office to uphold the Constitution and Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; “In the meantime, Council in exercise of its powers under paragraph 21 (d) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, has suspended Hon. Justice P. N. C. Agumagu from office as a judicial officer with immediate effect.”

The constitutional provisions, notwithstanding, pundits in the judicial sector, who have observed the situation in Rivers State, are worried about the subversion of the rule of law in the country by the NJC. They are also worried about what they called the double standards of the NJC in its dealings with judges at the various levels of the court.

Reactions Constitutional lawyers such as erudite Professor of Law Itsay Sagay (SAN); Chief Felix Fagbuhungbe (SAN); Femi Falana (SAN); Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, Mr. Monday Ubani; Ahmed Dadah; Sani Abdulmalik and Bamidele Aturu have berated the NJC for suspending Justice Agumagu.

To them, Agumagu’s suspension, without being given a fair hearing as stipulated in the Constitution is illegal.

Others such as Adebayo Sulaiman, Dr. Charles Chukwuka and Mohammed Abdulkadir view the suspension from a different perspective, arguing that the NJC acted in consonance with the law.

NJC erred in law Prof. Sagay said it is the governor who is to suggest a name to the NJC and, if the NJC agrees, he can then make a recommendation.

“The NJC, on its own cannot, from the air, all the way from Abuja, jump and land in Port Harcourt and say this is the person we are recommending. No! The recommendation must first come from the state. In fact, in practice, though the law does not say so in the Constitution, but what I am trying to say is that it is meant to be cooperation between the two; with the state government concerned playing the lead role because in the end, they are the one who appoints, they are the ones who hold approving authority. So, where the NJC decides to go against the wishes of the governor, there is bound to be crisis. That is what has happened. The NJC has its favorite candidate, which the governor doesn’t want. The governor has its own candidate that is presented, which NJC refused. When that happens there would be a stalemate.”

The professor of law said the NJC should cooperate with the governor. “There must be cooperation between the NJC and the governor, with the governor playing leading role because in the end, they are the one who appoint; they are the appointing authority. There is no reason for the NJC to now start competing with the state governor over the Chief Judge of the state.

The NJC is a foreign body. It doesn’t belong to the state. It is a federal structure,” Sagay said.

Chief Fagbohungbe argued that the provision in Section 271 of the Constitution is very clear “in the sense that if you want to appoint a Chief •Continued on page 26

26

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

LAW COVER CONT’D

Rivers CJ’s suspension: Did NJC err?

•Continued from page 25 Judge, the governor is the appointing authority, who should appoint a Chief Judge of the state. And the section of the constitution says the governor shall appoint “any person...any person”, which means it can be any judge in that state judiciary. It can even be a lawyer outside. So, it is not limited to and seniority does not come in when it comes to appointing Chief Judge of a state. The constitution is very clear about that. So, it can be “any person” and the appointing authority is the governor of that state,” he argued. e said the problem in Rivers State has been because the person appointed Chief Judge was the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, “but there is nothing that says he cannot be Chief Judge.

“What the constitution says is that the governor would appoint “a person ...any person”, as long as he is a lawyer; whether you are the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, whether you are a lawyer, whether you are a serving judge in the state judiciary. The constitution does not qualify that person. It only said “any person”. So, it is wrong for the NJC to now say that the President of the Customary Court of Appeal does not qualify to be the Chief Judge.

“If the NJC advises the governor, it is just an advice. The governor is not bound to take the advice. The constitution said the governor shall appoint any person. So if he is not the choice of the governor, of course, NJC cannot impose it on the governor because the appointing authority is the governor. I don’t see why NJC can go out of its way to say they want to suspend the Chief Judge because he came from the Customary Court of Appeal or so.

It is contrary to the commencement of that section. It can even be any lawyer; it can be a serving judge,” he argued, adding: “The query issued to Justice Agumagu is unnecessary and vindictive. I don’t see the basis for it.”

Lagos lawyer, Falana, also described the suspension as illegal stressing, “to the extent that the judge was not accorded any form of fair hearing as stipulated by Section 36 of the Constitution his suspension cannot be justified in law”.

Falana recalled that not too long ago Justice Ayo Isa Salami, the immediate past President of the Court of Appeal, was given fair hearing by the NJC before he was placed on suspension. Ditto for Justice Mohammed Talba of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. “Even the Justice of the Court of Appeal and the two High Court judges, who were recently indicted and warned by the NJC, were given fair hearing. It is, therefore, inexplicable why the NJC decided to suspend Justice Agumagu before asking him to explain the allegations of judicial misconduct leveled against him by a member of the NJC,” he noted. he lawyer cum activist regret ted that in exercise of its executive powers, the NJC proceeded to set aside the appointment of the Chief Judge on the ground that it did not comply with Section 171 of the Constitution. Curiously, the NJC practically overturned the judgment of the Federal High Court on which the appointment was predicated. ”The NJC ought to be berated for treating the judgment of the Federal High Court with brazen contempt.

Until that verdict is vacated by a higher court, all authorities and persons in the country are under compulsion to comply with it.

“When the NJC lost the legal battle at the Federal High Court, it took the right decision by challenging the judgment on appeal. It is, therefore, subversive of the rule of law on the part of the NJC to resort to administrative tactics to set aside a valid and subsisting judgment of a competent court. It is an invitation to anarchy,” Falana said, adding: ”The judgment

H

T

‘ ‘‘

NJC should appeal against the judgment and get it reversed if it feels so strong that there was an invalid appointment made by Governorv Amaechi.

•Agumagu

•Sagay

•Fagbohungbe

•Falana

•Ubani

•Aturu

may be wrong, but that remains the law until it is set aside. In the circumstance, the incendiary statement issued by the NJC after its emergency meeting last week in which the body purported to have set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court is the height of contempt.”

Falana pointed out that since the NJC is not an appointing authority, it lacks the power to suspend the Chief Judge of Rivers State or any judge in Nigeria for that matter. He argued that “Section 11 (1) of the Interpretation Act provides that where an enactment confers a power to appoint a person to an office or to exercise any functions, whether for a specified period or not, the power includes the power to remove or suspend him. In the case of Justice Salami, the NJC illegally suspended him from office. President Goodluck Jonathan approved the suspension and appointed an acting President for the Court. However, when the NJC decided to recommend his reinstatement, it was rejected by the appointing authority.

“In like manner, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has rejected the purported suspension of the Chief Judge by the NJC. Since the Chief Judge was not appointed by the NJC, the latter lacks the vires to suspend him. No doubt, the NJC is empowered to recommend the appointment, suspension or removal of a judge to the appointing authorities. As a recommending body, the NJC should desist from placing judges on suspension without the approval of the appointing authorities i.e. the President and state Governors.”

Falana recalled that under a military dictatorship, the Supreme Court held in the famous case of the Military Governor of Lagos State v Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu (1986) 2 NWLR (Pt 18) 621 that in a country where the rule of law operates, the government cannot be allowed to resort to self-help by engaging in executive lawlessness. The immutable principle of law was reiterated in the case of Attorney-General of Lagos State v Attorney-General of the Federation (2005) 2 WRN 1, where the apex court strongly condemned the seizure of the funds belonging to the Lagos State Local Governments on the directive of President Olusegun Obasanjo. Speaking for his colleagues, Tobi JSC (as he then was) said inter alia: “If the Federal Government felt aggrieved by Lagos State creating more local governments, the best solution is to seek redress in a court of law, without resorting to self-help. (In a society where the rule of law pre-

vails, self-help is not available to the executive or any arm of government. In view of the fact that such a conduct could breed anarchy and totalitarianism, and since anarchy and totalitarianism are antitheses to democracy, courts operating the rule of law, the life-blood of democracy, are under a constitutional duty to stand against such action.

The courts are available to accommodate all sorts of grievances that are justiciable in law and section 6 of the Constitution gives the courts power to adjudicate on matters between two or more competing parties. In our democracy all the governments of this country as well as organizations and individuals must kowtow to the due process of the law and this they can vindicate b resorting to the courts for redress in the event of any grievance”.

Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch Mr. Monday Ubani also argued that since Justice Agumagu was appointed based on a valid court order, which has not been set aside, it is illegal to suspend him. “I don’t think NJC has appealed against it and if they have appealed, I don’t think the court has ordered any stay of execution of that judgment. So, there is a valid court order saying that his appointment was normal. The judgment validated his appointment. So, if he is being punished now for accepting an appointment that is valid as said by the court that has not been set aside, I don’t think the NJC is acting right with respect to punishing him now for accepting an appointment,” he said. e argued that the appointment of a chief judge is rarely at the recommendation of the NJC. “According to the constitution, there is nothing that says a person that must be nominated or appointed by the governor must be of a High Court jurisdiction. If he is qualified to be a High Court judge, and according to the information at my disposal, Justice Agumagu himself was appointed a High Court judge in the first instance, but was seconded to the Customary Court of Appeal. And by records, he is the oldest by way of appointment into the bench. If that information is accurate, then something has to be straightened out here.

The constitution did not say specifically that the person to be appointed chief judge must be from the high court jurisdiction,” he said, adding: “But I think that the NJC must appeal against that judgment if it feels strongly that the Federal High Court was wrong in giving that judgment that validated the appointment of Jus-

tice Agumagu. e said by suspending Justice Agumagu because he took an appointment as chief judge, the NJC may be punishing an innocent man. “I don’t think that is the right thing to do,” he added.

Ahmed Dadah faulted NJC, arguing that the council denied the judge the right to fair hearing. He suggested a reversal of the suspension. He said since the NJC is not an appointing authority, it lacks the power to suspend the Rivers’ Chief Judge or any judge in the country. He relied on Section 11 (1) of the Interpretation Act, which provides that where an enactment confers a power to appoint a person to an office or to exercise any functions, whether for a specified period or not, the power includes the power to remove or suspend him.

He cited the case of Justice Salami, where President Goodluck Jonathan approved the suspension and appointed an acting President for the Court. But, when the NJC recommended his reinstatement, the appointing authority rejected.

“Governor Amaechi has rejected the supposed suspension of the Chief Judge by the NJC. Since the Chief Judge was not appointed by the NJC, the council lacks the vires to suspend him,” he said.

Sani Abdulmalik wondered why the NJC should determine the head of a state’s judiciary. He argued that under a functional federal system, who should be appointed a state’s chief judge should be the business of the governor, (who should appoint) and the House of Assembly (who should confirm).

Aturu toed the same line. He faulted the NJC. He said although it was wrong for the governor to have appointed Agumagu, a Customary Court of Appeal President as Chief Judge, the NJC should have appealed the order of the Federal High Court rather than suspending and issuuing a query to him. “I am fully in disagreement with the NJC. The NJC should not have suspended and queried him, but appealed the order of the Federal High Court,” he said.

H

H

NJC acted right Adebayo Sulaiman, justifying NJC’s suspension of Justice Agumagu before querying him, cited Rules No. 030406 of the Public Civil Service Rules (2008 Edition) as contained in the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No.57 of August 25, 2009 Volume 96 (Government Notice N0.278). It pro-

vides that: “Suspension shall apply where a prima facie case, the nature of which is serious, has been established against an officer and it is considered necessary in the public interest that he/she should forthwith be prohibited from carrying out his/her duties pending investigation into the misconduct.’’

He argued that since the NJC viewed the judge’s acceptance of the post of a Chief Judge, without recommendation by NJC, as a breach of the Constitution, it can rely on the provision of the Public Service Rules.

To him, “the swearing in of Agumagu by Governor Amaechi is a fait acompli. Since any action that offends the provisions of the Constitution is a nullity, the bye-products of the same action is also a nullity.

“I believe the NJC, which is chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and constituted by other justices of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, some Chief Judges of High Courts, retired judges and some senior members of the Bar, should be capable of estimating the collateral damage Agumagu’s assumption of office without due process could occasion on the judiciary.

“If Agumagu’s appointment as Chief Judge without the council’s recommendation is a nullity, whatever he does on the seat including cases he assigns to other judges, posting of judges to courts and the judgments he delivers while on that seat are null and void,” Sulaiman said.

Dr. Charles Chukwuka said as a judicial officer, Justice Agumagu should know that he cannot be sworn in as Rivers State Chief Judge in the absence of NJC’s recommendation.

He noted that, by the provision of the Constitution, three conditions must be fulfilled in the appointment of a Chief Judge. “First, NJC must recommend the judge; second, the governor must accept the recommendation; and third, the state’s House of Assembly must ratify. When any of these is missing, the appointment will be incomplete. Why did Governor Amaechi take Agumagu’s appointment to the Rivers State’s House of Assembly? He could as well have dispensed with the House just as he did with the NJC. NJC has by its action, maintained that the law and Constitution must guide our steps as a democratic society; else arbitrariness becomes the order of the day, which could occasion a state of anarchy.

“Perhaps, the drafters of the Constitution underestimated the extent the presidency and state governors would attempt to undermine the principles of separation of powers amongst three arms of government and autonomy of the judiciary when Section 271 of the Constitution was enacted.

“It is quite apparent that this section of the Constitution has to be reviewed to give the NJC absolute power to hire and fire judges in addition to the power to evaluate performances of the same judicial officers,” Chukwuka said.

Mohammed Abdulkadir cited past instances where NJC had suspended judges without attracting any criticism.

•Continued on page 27

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

27

LAW & SOCIETY Despite the criticism of its action by some lawyers, the National Judicial Council (NJC) insists that it took the right step by suspending Rivers State Chief Judge Justice Peter Agumagu. In this article, Mr. Ahuraka Isah, media aide to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and NJC Chair, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, defends the NJC’s action. He also calls for the review of Section 271 of the Constitution to give NJC the power to hire and fire judges.

The legality of Agumagu’s suspension

O

N March 18, this year, the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi swore in Justice Agumagu as the Chief Judge of the state.

On March 25, the National Judiciary Council (NJC) held an emergency meeting and took a decision suspending Agumagu. He was also queried to explain why he should not be removed from office as a judicial officer.

The council in taking these decisions found Agumagu’s action in accepting the offer of appointment as a chief judge to be unconstitutional. His action, the council said, amounted to a gross misconduct on the grounds that the swearing in contradicted Section 271 of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulated that the appointment of a substantive chief judge of any state mandatorily, required the recommendation of the council.

As a judicial officer vested with the responsibility to interpret the constitution and other statutes Agumagu should know that he cannot be sworn in as Rivers State Chief Judge in the absence of NJC’s recommendation.

In order to forestall anarchy, the council had to take preliminary step to stop the descent into judicial anarchy.

The question is, can Governor Amaechi suo moto or solely appoint a chief judge under any condition without the recommendation of the council? The answer is no.

While swearing in Agumagu, Amaechi praised a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt for declaring that the nomination of Agumagu for substantive chief judge’s appointment was in order when he stated that: “Today, we recognise and accept in totality, the judgment of the Federal High Court and we say to you, congratulations.’’

Taking the same question the other way round, can the court declaration become a substitute for NJC’s recommendation? The answer is in the negative.

In appointing a chief judge, three conditions must be fulfilled. First, ýNJC must recommend the judge, the governor must accept the recommendation and the state’s house of assembly must ratify. When any of these is missing, the appointment will be in complete.

Why did Governor Amaechi take Agumagu’s appointment to the Rivers State’s House of Assembly? He could as well have dispensed with the House just as he did with the NJC. Besides, the so-called Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt he relied upon didn’t make any consequen-

tial order, neither did the presiding judge, Justice Lambo Akanbi ordered the swearing in of Justice Agumagu as the chief judge.

According to an Abuja base legal practitioner, Alasa Ismail, the judge ought to know that the council’s input, call it a recommendation or whatever can’t be traded for anything. If it is not available, no judge worth his or her salt ought to agree to be sworn in by any state governor. ’’What a reasonable man ought to do after the court’s pronouncement and the subsequent resolution of the State House of Assembly rejecting the council’s recommendation is to advice the state governor and even insist to re-present him or her to the council.

Doing otherwise amounts to violation of the provision of the constitution and a gross misconduct of the highest order, especially coming from a judicial officer placed on the position to interpret and protect the same constitution’,’ Alasa said.

On whether the NJC is right when it placed Agumagu on suspension before issuing him a query to defend his action, we are of the view that the decision is legally sound on the authority of the Public Civil Service Rules.

Rules No. 030406 of the Public Civil Service Rules (2008 Edition) as contained in the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No.57 of August 25, 2009, vol.96 (Government Notice N0.278) states: ‘’Suspension shall apply where a prima facie case, the nature of which is serious, has been established against an officer and it is considered necessary in the public interest that he/she should forthwith be prohibited from carrying out his/ her duties pending investigation into the misconduct.’’

The NJC viewed the doing of an unconstitutional act (in the instant case, acceptance of the post of a chief judge without recommendation by NJC) as a serious breach of the constitution.

The council is also of the view that it is in the public interest to suspend him.

As a chief judge, he sits at the top of the state’s machinery for dispensing justice.

Great injustice will be done if he is allowed to illegally act as chief judge. ýAs the chief judge of a state, his responsibility includes posting judges to different divisions of the court and assigning cases to judges including himself, in other words, he will preside over some matters too.

But it is trite law that ‘’you can’t place something on nothing’’. It follows that any actions he takes while acting illegally ýare liable to be struck down as a nullity. What is at stake is more than a mere appointment. NJC had to

act to stop a catastrophe.

According to NJC, the appointment of Agumagu as chief judge runs contrary to the provisions of Section 271 of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates that a state governor must appoint a Chief Judge “on the recommendations of the NJC.” The swearing-in of Agumagu by Governor Amaechi is a fait acompli.

Since any action that offends the provisions of the constitution is a nullity, so the bye-products of the same action.

If Agumagu’s appointment as chief judge without the council’s recommendation is a nullity, whatever he does on the seat including cases he assigns to other judges, posting of judges to courts and the judgments he delivers while on that seat are null and void.

NJC, which is chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and constituted by other justices of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, some chief judges of High Courts, retired judges and some senior members of the bar should be capable of estimating the collateral damage Agumagu’s swearing is capable of causing the judiciary.

According to an Irish statesman and a former member of the House of Commons of Great Britain, Edmund Burke, who warned that ’’the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing’’.

It will amount to an abdication of its constitutional duty if the council sits by and allow the judiciary to be plunged into anarchy.

Invariably, Agumagu’s suspension was meant to arrest or prevent judicial anarchy.

The council also relied on its powers as provided by the constitution to suspend Agumagu when it stated in its press release dated March 26, 2014, signed by the acting director of NJC that, “In the meantime, Council in exercise of its powers under paragraph 21 (d) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, has suspended Justice P. N. C. Agumagu from office as a judicial officer with immediate effect.”

Until a competent court holds otherwise, the council rightly in our view believes that it has the power to suspend a judicial officer. The council relied on these powers when on August 18, 2010 it suspended a former Court of Appeal president, Justice Ayo Isa Salami (now retired) from office for alleged breach of his oath of office.

NJC fell back on the same laws to suspend Justice Abubakar Talba on April 26, 2013 following the findings by the council that he did not exercise

•Mukhtar

his discretion judicially and judiciously with regard to the sentences he passed on Mr. John Yakubu Yusuf who was on trial for embezzling N30 billion police pension.

The Supreme Court of Nigeria had in the case of Elelu Habeeb v. Attorney General of the Federation held that the removal of the then chief judge of Kwara state by the governor without the recommendation of NJC as illegal and unconstitutional.

Justice Mahmoud Mohammed (JSC) stated in the said case that ”As the say goes, power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. If the Governor alone is allowed to in exercise of his executive power appoint directly, and discipline judicial officers of his state, this may, no doubt, lead to avoidable corruption and prevent judicial officers from carrying out their functions freely and without any intimidation by the executive. Judicial officers may become stooges of the Governor of the State for fear of been removed from oft ice unceremoniously’’.

In 2010, stake holders in the judiciary took the view that NJC was wrong when it recommended Salami’s suspension to the President for his approval. They were of the view that the council needed not the President’s approval to suspend or recall a judicial officer from suspension. The council, under the leadership of the present CJN, rightly in our view believed that the council did not require the executive’s approval to suspend a judge.

Therefore, the council was right when it suspended Talba without seeking the President’s approval.

Today, the same stakeholders argued

that NJC was wrong for suspending Agumagu without recourse to Amaechi’s approval. What was good for Talba should be good for Agumagu, so the ageless African wisdom dictates.

It is inconceivable that those who appropriated the benefits of purposeful and independency of the judiciary would resort to some means with intent to undermine it. If NJC had been partisan in the past, and at present it would have been difficult if not impossible for Amaechi for example to become a governor talk more of sustaining his seat till date.

Perhaps, the drafters of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria underestimated the extent the presidency and state governors would attempt to undermine the principles of separation of power amongst three arms of government and autonomy of the judiciary when Section 271 of the Constitution was enacted.

It is quite apparent that this section of the constitution has to be reviewed to give the NJC absolute power to hire and fire judges in addition to the power to evaluate performances of the same judicial officers.

This also calls for proper protection and preservation of the much needed judicial autonomyandindependenceinthesystem by ensuring strict implementation of the first line charge to Federation Account for the judicial funding.

A situation, for example, where a state House of Assembly declares that certain judicial officers are not fit and proper for appointment to the position of chief judge of the state appears laughable because the legislatures are not in a position to assess which judicial officer is qualified for appointment.

Rivers CJ’s suspension: Did NJC err?

•Continued from page 26 He wondered what was different in Agumagu’s case.

He said the suspended judge, not being sacked, has an opportunity to present his own side of the story, which the query offers him. ”He sits at the top of the state’s machinery for dispensing justice, as a Chief Judge. Great injustice will be done if he is allowed to illegally act as chief judge. As the Chief Judge of a state, his responsibility includes posting judges to different divisions of the court and assigning cases to judges including himself, in other words, he will preside over some matters too.

“But it is trite law that ‘you can’t place something on nothing’. It follows that any actions he takes while acting illegally are liable to be struck down as a nullity. What is at stake is more than a mere appointment. NJC had to act to stop what could result in a wrong precedent. Else other governors, whose nominations are rejected in future, could simply bypass the NJC and make the House of Assembly confirm the appointment of his nominee.

“Until a competent court holds otherwise, the council rightly, in my view, has the powers to suspend a judicial officer.

The council relied on these powers when on August 18, 2010 it suspended then Court of Appeal President, Justice Ayo Isa Salami (now retired) from office for alleged breach of his oath of office. NJC relied on these laws to suspend Justice Abubakar Talba on April 26, 2013 following the findings by the council that he did not exercise his discretion judicially and judiciously with regard to the sentences he passed on John Yakubu Yusuf, who was convicted for embezzling N30 billion police pension funds,” he said.

Abdulkadir also relied on the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Elelu Habeeb v. Attorney General of the Federation, where it held that the removal of the then Chief Judge of Kwara State by the governor without the recommendation of NJC was illegal and unconstitutional.

“Justice Mahmoud Mohammed (JSC) stated in the said case that, “as the saying goes, power corrupts, ab-

solute power corrupts absolutely”. If the governor alone is allowed to, in the exercise of his executive power, appoint directly and discipline judicial officers of his state, this may no doubt, lead to avoidable corruption and prevent judicial officers from carrying out their functions freely and without any intimidation by the executive. Judicial officers may become stooges of the Governor of the State for fear of being removed from office unceremoniously’’.

He noted that incidentally, Amaechi, as a governor, is the product of judicial objectivity, arguing that while the PDP leadership in Abuja made all efforts to annihilate Amaechi’s governorship dream, the judiciary, insisted on due process.

Way forward

The way forward according to Prof.

Sagay for Agumagu to go to court and say NJC cannot suspend him.

Fagbohungbe on his own said the state would have to get somebody as acting Chief Judge until the matter is resolved. “I don’t see how the NJC

can insist on having its way on this matter because the state Chief Judge is for the state. It is not for the NJC to impose somebody on the state.

That would be very serious because the NJC is a federal body and Federal Government cannot take over the judiciary of a state. That would be a very great rape on our federalism,” he said.

Falana said since Agumagu’s suspension is illegal and unconstitutional, the NJC should reverse it without any delay. It should also withdraw the query issued since his (Agumagu’s) appointment was predicated on a judgment of the Federal High Court.

“Instead of exposing the judiciary to unwarranted ridicule the NJC is advised to pursue the appeal which it has filed against the judgment of the Federal High Court on the crisis.

The NJC under the able and incorruptible leadership of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Honourable Justice Aloma Maryam Mukhtar has done excellently well in repositioning the judiciary. As a body

constituted majorly by the cream of the legal profession, the NJC should not allow itself to be diverted from the ongoing progressive sanitisation of the judiciary,” Falana said.

Ubani, on the other hand, said the NJC should appeal against the judgment and get it reversed if it feels so strong that there was an invalid appointment made by Governorv Amaechi.

Abdulmalik suggested an urgent amendment to the Constitution to reflect its position on the need to allow the state the autonomy to appoint and exercise disciplinary measures on its judicial officers, as against the current practice.

With the argument still raging, it is however, expected that the court should be allowed to resolve the issue in the interest of justice. Since the suspended judge has tabled his grievance before the court in a suit now pending before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, it is hoped that the decision of the court in this case will lay the dispute to rest.

28

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

LAW PERSONALITY Prof Fidelis Oditah, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Queen’s Counsel (QC), who turned 50 on March 27, speaks on the justice system, politics, and sundry issues. JOSEPH JIBUEZE writes.

‘Our courts don’t understand cost concept ’

H

OW can court cases be de cided faster? There have been several suggestions on the way out, but the delays still remain.

A professor of law, Fidelis Oditah, has identified jurisdictional issues, and punitive costs that do not deter others, as contributing factors.

Oditah, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Queen’s Counsel (QC), who spoke in his office in Lagos, said widespread misuse of preliminary objection or jurisdictional challenges, which parties insist must be resolved before the merits of a case are considered, is a primary cause of delays.

The only exception (where jurisdiction is not determined first), he said, is where a case begins by Originating Summons. In that case a court can hear the jurisdiction objection along with the merit. But when cases begin by petitions or writ of summons, the jurisdiction is taken first and the ruling delivered before the main case is heard.

In most cases, the defendant, who usually challenges the court’s jurisdiction, goes on appeal when he loses. It may take close to 10 years before the appeal process is concluded up to the Supreme Court. This, Oditah said, should stop.

“It is only very few people dogged enough who would want to continue with the struggle after 10 years of delays and legal expenses. That is one

big aspect that needs to be looked at.

“Without this, I don’t think there will be any progress, no matter what rules we operate under unless we resolve this misuse of interlocutory skirmishes and the so-called jurisdictional objections. It would require the courts having to write new rules which say that jurisdictional objections should be taking alongside the merit.”

Oditah said justice is also delayed because punitive cost is not awarded against those whose actions or inactions waste judicial time.

“When I looked at the law report in the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s, Nigerian courts were awarding substantial costs. I saw case in the early 80’s where the courts awarded N120, 000 as cost. N120,000 in 1981 was more than 120, 000 British Pounds. It is a modern day equivalent of at least N30 million.

“I know of no court in Nigeria today that would award you N1million as a cost. Very often, you get cost of N50, 000 to N100, 000 at every level of decision making; not just only in the High Courts, but even in the Supreme Court. In doing that, they completely misunderstood the system of cost. Every regime that has a procedure for awarding cost does that on one or three basis.

“One is what we call standard taxation, where you recover 66 percent of your reasonably incurred cost. The

Japanese Prime Minister Abe to deliver IBA’s keynote address

T

HE International Bar Associa tion (IBA) has announced Japa nese Prime Minister, Shinzô Abe as the keynote speaker at its Annual Conference billed for Tokyo, Japan, between October 19 and 24.

According to a statement, by IBA, this is the first time the foremost annual gathering of the global legal profession of about 5,000 delegates, will hold in Tokyo.

The IBA, established in 1947, is the world’s leading organisation of international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies.

Through its global membership of individual lawyers, law firms, bar associations and law societies, it influences the development of international law reforms and shapes the future of the legal profession throughout the world.

IBA President Michael Reynolds said: “The International Bar Association is delighted that Japan’s Prime Minister Abe has agreed, in principle, to be the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony of the international legal profession’s main annual

NBA mourns ex-Law School Chief Jegede

gathering.

“At present, the Asia Pacific region is attracting huge interest from lawyers from many jurisdictions. Having such a distinguished guest at our flagship event will be a tremendous privilege for the thousands of lawyers from around the world interested in hearing about Japan’s new economic strategies and the views, on a number of important issues, of Japan’s most prominent politician.”

The IBA’s Immediate Past President and Chair of the Conference Host Committee, Akira Kawamura said: “Knowing IBA delegates as I do, His Excellency’s remarks and insights will be appreciated as part of the rich tapestry of cultural and intellectual exchange that they have come to expect from the IBA Annual Conference. I look forward to a most compelling evening.”

The opening ceremony, according to IBA, takes place on Sunday, October 19, from 18:00–19:30 at the Auditorium, Tokyo International Forum.

Delegates from 100 countries would debate various topics in the over 180 working sessions covering international law.

•Oditah

or 11 am; and you wonder how a public servant being paid by a public tax should turn up for work at 12 noon and in most cases they do not apologise to anyone for coming late. So there is need to discipline these judges for them to know that they are providing a public service for which they are being paid,” Oditah said.

Judges, he said, should improve in their diligence. “Some judges are very lazy. Many of them don’t believe that they can give ruling extempore. If someone applies to me to amend pleadings for example, I could decide whether to allow it or not immediately and give you reasons for doing so. I don’t have to adjourn for one month to give you reason why the

document would be admitted or not.

“Many judges are incapable of judging, they have no business in the bench. Also, the lawyers are culpable because they are the ones that make the frivolous applications and the judges accede to them to waste everybody’s time.”

On whether arbitration is the way out of the delats, Oditah said it is only part of the solution. “If the judgment debtor refuses to pay the award, you are then forced to return to the court system to enforce the award.

“Very often, you start the litigation all over. So arbitration provides a partial solution if the judgment debtor is willing to pay.“

•Head Judge, Justice Funmilayo Atilade (left) and Justice Yetunde Idowu of the Lagos State High Court at the inauguration of family court children’s lounge.

PHOTO: ISAAC AYODELE

T

HE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has expressed shock at the death of former DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian Law School, Chief John Kayode Jegede (SAN).

The association described the late Jegede was a seasoned educationist and administrator who did his best to uplift educational standards at the Nigerian Law School A statement signed by the President of NBA, Mr. Okey Wali (SAN) reads in part: “Mr. Kayode Jegede, SAN as a very good man, gentle, humble, soft spoken and very unassuming. He thought law of evidence at the Nigerian Law School as a lecturer/secretary of the Council of Legal Education.

“I also had the privilege of working closely with him as a representative of the Nigerian Bar Association during his tenure as the Director General of the Ni-

second is a cost on full indemnity basis where they pay you all your reasonably incurred cost and the third is the jurisdictional award wasted cost.

“And that is often against lawyers themselves because in many cases you find out that the delays and wasted cost in the civil justice system is caused by lawyers. And if you have delays caused by lawyers, it is right that those lawyers pay for the cost and sometimes, the courts in other jurisdictions award wasted costs against lawyers. But a system where you have no proper adverse cost and you have no power to award wasted cost is a recipe for irresponsible litigation,” Oditah said.

On the National Judicial Council (NJC) requirement that judges make a quarterly return of a minimum number of cases, the lawyer said it does not address the substance of the problem but is only a cosmetic solution.

“If I sit in Osogbo for example and I have between 50 and 100 cases allocated to me in a year and I can write rulings and judgments up to half of those cases, you will say that I am doing very well because I have done at least 50 percent of the cases.

“But if I sit in a jurisdiction where I have about 200 cases allocated to me, and I write the same 50, you will say that I have only done 25 percent of my job. So in percentage test, it looks like I have not done anything. The person who did 25 has done 20 percent of his 50. The system might reward the person who did 50 percent better than me,” Oditah said.

According to him, judges also contribute to delays. “With all due respect, some of them are extremely hard working – they sit on time, they dispose off their case quickly and get their work done that way. A number of them simply have no idea of what being a judge involves.

“Some of them come to court by 10

Court restrains Customs, police from arresting importers

A

•Jegede

gerian Law School. He was a quintessential administrator and the history of the Nigerian Law School and indeed the legal profession in Nigeria can never be complete without the name of Mr. Jegede (SAN).

I give the condolences of the Nigerian Bar Association to his family and may his gentle soul rest in peace. Amen.”

LAGOS High Court in Igbosere has restrained the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar from arresting two importers, Jude Obiora Iloka and Mrs Nneka Egbe.

Justice Kazeem Alogba also restrained Customs from selling the goods contained in eight 40-ft containers belonging to the applicants.

The applicants had filed the suit following alleged threat of arrest and illegal sale of the goods.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adbullahi Diko and Area Comptroller of Customs, Tin Can Port, Musa Audu Tahir are joined

By Joseph Jibueze

in the suit.

The applicants’ lawyer, Paschal Ukpaka, arguing the ex-parte motion, said after his clients paid necessary customs duties, shipping charges and terminal/warehousing charges in respect of the containers, the respondents were still making moves to arrest the applicants and confiscate the goods.

The lawyer recalled that the container exit attestation notes, which were under auction, were duly signed by the Customs Resident official, government agencies and Tahir, who was also Chairman of

Joint Allocation Committee.

Ukpaka added that despite the clearance, some officers of the defendants were making another move to arrest the containers and dispose the goods therein.

Ukpaka said one of the applicants’ associates was arrested about three weeks.

Justice Alogba ordered that hearing notice should be served on the defendants, and directed the applications to file an undertaking to pay damages to the defendants if it turns out that the order ought not to have been mane.

He also fixed April 16 for hearing.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON NORTHERN STATES TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

PAGE 29

Minister takes medicare to Plateau rural areas •PAGE 31

The pain of no fuel

•PAGE 33

•Yams burnt by invading herdsmen

Food scarcity looms as herdsmen, farmers clash

T

HE bloodletting and violence to the environment are horrible enough. Now add to that a looming food shortage.

The Fulani herdsmen clash with farmers has claimed many lives, wrecked homes and displaced hundreds of people in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba states. It has also wasted farmlands, crops and cattle, making food scarcity an imminent danger, except something is done urgently.

In Benue State, the clashes started four years ago when herdsmen attacked Tiv farmers in Gwer West Local Government Area.

Gradually, it spread to Makurdi and Guma local government areas.

Now, the conflict has engulfed Logo Local Government Area, the country home of Governor Gabriel Suswam; Kwande , Katsina Ala and Gwer local government areas.

This means the attacks have occurred in all the three senatorial

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

zones in the state.

In most of the cases, those at the receiving end of these crises have been Tiv farmers.

Their crops, land, houses and yam seedlings have been destroyed.

That is not all. The invaders are also said to occupy the homes of their fleeing victims. In some cases, the

invaders reportedly cook the locals’ abandoned raw food and settle down to meals. Thereafter, according to reports, the attackers sleep in their beds.

The victims are helpless, many forced from their homes. The security agencies seem helpless.

Over 200 people have been killed so far since the bloody crisis started.

For more than four years, there is no school in the affected areas. Some

‘The clashes started four years ago when herdsmen attacked Tiv farmers in Gwer West Local Government Area, then gradually spread to Makurdi and Guma local government areas’

local government councils like Agatu and Guma have been shut, while market activities are permanently closed.

According to State Emergency management Agency(SEMA), over 800 internally displaced persons are in various camps, taking refuge in primary schools and uncompleted buildings.

Recently, Fulani herdsmen and their militia shifted their attention to Tombo ward, near Anyiin.

They started their operation in a farming community called Ayibe, then moved to Tse Dzungwe (home of our Benue correspondent), then on to Tse Ibwar and Tse Gbeleve where they killed residents and set the settlement ablaze.

They continued their attack on Mbaya community in Adzegeh, Uzer up to Ayilamo, headquarters of Tombo ward.

•Continued on page 30

N360 tr to be spent on centenary city •PAGE 36

N18b water treatment plant launched •PAGE 31

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

30

THE NORTH REPORT

Food scarcity looms as herdsmen, farmers clash •Continued from page 29

The attackers are said to favour sophisticated weapons in some caces, and it was even alleged that they used substances believed to be chemical weapons.

The most disturbing part of the attacks is that the invaders also set tubers of yam and yam seedlings ablaze, including the planted crops.

Where they find it difficult to destroy the crops, their cattle, with some reported assistance, dig up and and eat the crops.

The implication of the attacks is that there is a likelihood of a massive famine next year.

The settlements destroyed are predominately peasant farmers and known for massive rice and yam production.

That Benue state is referred to as the “Food Basket of the Nation” is because of its massive food production.

The state is also blessed with a rich soil that produces cash crops. The state boasts two big rice mills.

Miva Rice Mill, located in Makurdi, Benue Northwest senatorial district, is owned by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minster of Justice, Chief Mike Aondoakaa, and Ashi Rice mill in Anyiin, in Benue Northeast managed by the Suswam family.

The raw materials for Miva rice mill, with a capacity to process 4.5 metric tonnes a year, is already threatened as most farmers are displaced from their homes, even as their crops are destroyed.

Chief Mike Aondoakaa told The Nation that he has lost millions of naira to the Tiv-Fulani crisis.

The paddy which is supposed to feed the rice mill has been destroyed.

“Our rice farmers are now taking refuge in various camps,”he said.

Aondoakaa appealed to Benue state government and prominent people in the state to come to together and tackle the crisis so that displaced persons, who are mostly farmers, can return to their homes before the rains set in.

He said there is a looming danger of famine if the farmers are allowed to remain in camp.

Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Chief Samuel Ortom lost 25 hectares of rice farm to the Funani invaders who reportedly used their cattle to destroy the farm.

He also had is 300 bags of rice and his houses destroyed in Guma Local Government Area of the state.

Also, 500 tubers of yam, belonging to the Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, Joseph Tsavsar, have been destroyed and his compound in Tse Gbeleve and Ayilamo set ablaze.

Tsavsar told The Nation that the attack on Tiv farmers is more than just crisis between the nomads and farmers.

Most of the settlements affected in the crisis are farming communities.

For examaple, in Gwer West Local Government Area where the Fulani herdsmen have sacked about three wards, the people are massive rice producers in addition to other cash crops.

In Guma Local Government Area, the farmers are known for soyabean, rice, millet and groundnut production In Tombo ward, Logo Local Government Area, the soil is good for yams, rice, corn, millet, fish, groundnut and sweet potatoes.

But now that the farmers have become displaced, who will till the land?

•A house burnt in the crisis

•Another wrecked house

•Displaced by the crisis

‘Jonathan will tackle security’

A

By Jude Isiguzo

N Abuja-based lawyer, Azubuko Joel Udah has urged Nigerians to be patient with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as he battles to free the country from the clutches of terrorists.

Udah, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), while speaking in Abuja, said there is no better way to address the Boko Haram conundrum than the carrot and stick approach the president adopted.

He said by setting up a committee to dialogue with members of the dreaded Islamist sect, the president is moving towards the amnesty direction, adding that this will be successful only if the insurgents are ready for dialogue and are prepared to lay down their arms.

“Those accusing the president over Boko Haram are those who want to destabilise this country. The president’s approach remains the best, as any other option would have led to chaos, anarchy, killing, maiming of innocent persons,” he said.

Udah who designed the Amnesty programme which brought peace to the Niger Delta, maintained that the president is on course and Nigerians should give him the opportunity to perform.

Udah said the proper thing the northan elders should have done was to meet with the president and proffer solutions on security, not giving him an ultimatum.

He said the president who is the Commander-in-Chief deserves some respect from all Nigerians.

“If they (the elders), who have distinguished themselves in various professional callings, had gone to the president for a closed-door meeting, the president would not only have listened to them; he would have tapped from their wealth of experience,” Udah said.

On the National Conference, he said it came at the right time when every group is agitating for one thing or the other.

He described the conference as a masterpiece which gives opportunity to all groups, be it religious, professional or ethnic, to talk.

On the security situation in Southeast, Udah who is contesting AbiaNorth Senatorial seat, said that the zone is now stable, especially Abia State, adding that this has been made possible because the Governor, Chief Theodore Orji is security-conscious.

“My governor is the best governor today in the area of security, because he takes professional advise. He is meticulous and well-organised when it comes to security matters. Because he takes advise, Abia State that was almost taken over by armed robbers, kidnappers and militants have since regained its lost glory.”

“The governor worked assiduously with stakeholders in security matters to ensure that the state is safe for indigenes, visitors, foreigners and investors. You can see the presence of security agents like policemen, soldiers and undercover operatives all over the state.”

It will be recalled that Udah, as the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG in change of Zone 6, with headquarters in Calabar, Cross River State, had sent a memo to the then Inspector-General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro, on the need to grant Amnesty to militants.

Okiro sent the memo to the late President, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, who later had series of meetings with leaders of the militants, and eventually granted them amnesty.

•Dr Jonathan

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

31

THE NORTH REPORT

Minister takes medicare to Plateau rural areas

T

HE Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe has provided free medical care to the people of Pankshin Local Government Area, Plateau State.

Ochekpe, at the opening of the exercise at the Federal College of Education, Pankshin, said that her effort to bring medical care to the grassroots was to complement the efforts of the Federal Government in providing health care facilities to the citizenry.

In a statement in Abuja, the minister said the free medical outreach in the state was dedicated to President Goodluck Jonathan for his efforts towards improving the health care of the people of Nigeria.

The minister maintained that despite Federal government’s efforts at improving Nigerians access to good quality health care, many people in the rural areas do not have access to good medical care.

According to her, the rural people are not able to access free medical care due to lack of finance and the inability to go to places to access the medical care.

“We are bringing the free medical care in order to get close to the grassroots where they are most needed,” she said.

The free medical outreach is sponsored by the minister in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, Soteria Afrique, Urban Frontiers Mission International, Associa-

‘Rural people are not able to access free medical care due to lack of finance and the inability to go to places to access the medical care.

We are bringing the free medical care in order to get close to the grassroots where they are most needed’

•A member, House of Reps, Hon. Emmanuel Goar; Minister of Water Resources Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe; Provost, Federal College of Education, Pankshin, Professor David L. Wonang, and the traditional ruler of Pankshin, Chief Nde Joshua Dimlong at the free medical outreach

Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

tion of Resident Doctors –Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and Afrique Foundation.

•Some of the medical equipment used to examine the people

N18b water treatment plant launched

R

ESIDENTS of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who never drank clean pipe-borne water have now been reassured that their ordeal is over.

The phase three and four of a multi-billion naira water treatment plant at the Lower Usman Dam is expected to treat an additional 20 million litres of water per hour, in addition to the already 10 million litres in the phase one and two.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who commissioned the project, described it as an important milestone in the countries journey to build an important Federal Capital for the people.

He said that his administration is centred on providing all the necessary utilities needed in the country so people will not have to sink boreholes in search of water or try to generate electricity.

His word, “”No matter the beautiful layouts, buildings or road networks in Abuja that facilitate our movements, we cannot say Abuja is a modern town if people have to have boreholes or generate their own electricity, so government must be committed and of course we are determined to provide adequate utilities to residents of this great city.

“This administration will ensure it provides facilities like power, transportation, housing, water resources and telecommunication amongst others.”

He also said, “With a capacity of 20 million litres per hour, this plant is amongst some of the largest in the world “I’m happy to note that the quality of water from this project con-

From Grace Obike

forms to global best practice and the commencement of the operation means the availability of portable drinking water, we expect that the project will drastically reduce and completely eradicate water born diseases, create employment opportunities for water related businesses and help to annex aquatic resources in areas around the dam.

“We will ensure that all residents have access to water and they don’t need to dig their boreholes.”

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed revealed that the Phases 1 and 2 Water treatment Plants which treats 10 million litters of water per hour was completed by 1987 and 2000 respectively.

He said that the contract was awarded in August 2005 but was stalled due to funding challenges, which was cleared under the leadership of President in keeping with his commitment to the principle that government business is a continuum as well as his aversion for abandonment of important projects.

His words, “the realization of this project represents a major landmark in our pursuit of the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan Administration as well as our vision to build a capital city that will rank among the top 20 cities in the world.

“The unwavering need to improve the living standard of the people by alleviating their suffering through projects that have direct bearing on their welfare.

“The Abuja water master plan is a big part of the Abuja master plan.

‘We will ensure that all residents have access to water and they don’t need to dig their boreholes...this project represents a major landmark in our pursuit of...our vision to build a capital city that will rank among the top 20 cities in the world’ The lower Usman dam shows off models of five litres capacity each, reservoirs of various heights

around the periphery of the city.

“The new ones commissioned today will treat additional 20 million

litters per hour, thereby making it 30 million litters per hour, thereby increasing the water treatment capacity by 200 percent.”

He added, “These treatment plants have been completed in line with the vision of the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.

These plants would greatly reduce water scarcity in the Federal Capital City and its environs. ”The FCT Administration is also making concerted efforts to commence the water distribution network to Phases 2 and 3 of the City covering such districts as Gwarinpa, Kafe, Katampe, Wuye, Jabi and Jahi,”.

•Catholic Faithful During Palm Sunday Procession In Abuja On Sunday (13/4/14).

2317/13/04/2014/Ice/Ch/Nan

32

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

3

33

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

Page 34

TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

•Each time the fuel dries up, it leaves the people devastated

I

The pain of no fuel

T started like a joke. When fuel scarcity resurfaced in the FCT, it was first noticed in some parts of the city but in no time, it spread everywhere, leaving residents with long faces.

Within a day or two many filling stations resorted to selling in trickles, while major distributors restricted their business to night hours when they are sure to make more money from black market vendors.

First, everyone was confused as to the appropriate time to get the commodity at any filling station.

Black marketers took over Abuja with containers, which according to findings, majorly contain diluted PMS. The situation was worse in the rural areas where filling stations are located.

In Kuje, when Abuja Review visited, the situation was tense. Out of five filling stations located in the area, only the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) sold, with long queues.

Findings also revealed that most filling stations especially in Kuje are not checked by the regulatory authority.

Motorists on the fuel queue had a raw deal because sometimes, after the attendants had sold to a few people, the station would announce that they had run out of fuel.

Many motorists without fuel in their car had to leave their vehicles at the station waiting and hoping to buy the next day.

Residents called on the Federal Government to tackle the scarcity

From Gbenga Omokhunu

which has caused serious hardship to all.

Some of them, who were lamenting outside Oando filling station where operators of the station refused to sell to motorists, explained that most petrol stations have refused to sell fuel to motorists because of the fear of prolonged fuel scarcity.

Mr. John Ona, one of the residents who spoke with Abuja Review, said he has been looking for fuel for the past two days without any headway, adding that any fuel station he visited from Kuje to town, the operators refused to sell fuel.

His words: “The truth is that nobody knows what is causing this scarcity in Abuja; almost all the filling stations have stopped selling fuel, without any genuine reason. If you ask the operators, they will tell you that they do not have fuel and even when you see filling station selling fuel, you will queue for hours before you buy the product.

“The situation is getting out of hands; people are suffering in the FCT because of some greedy petrol operators who are hoarding the fuel for no reason. The federal government should do something about it, because, it is spoiling the good report of ‘no fuel scarcity’ during this administration.”

Another resident, Mrs. Agnes Shekwo, said that the scarcity is seriously affecting the lives of the people, because, apart from using the product for vehicles, it is not avail-

‘All the meat I kept in my freezer to prepare food in my restaurant got spoilt because of power outage and no fuel to use in my generator.

The federal government should call whoever is involved in the fuel scarcity to order. The whole thing is getting out of hands’ able for residents to use to power the generator for businesses when there is power failure.

“We need fuel to power our generators for us to effectively do our businesses. But since the scarcity of petroleum product, I have not been able to get fuel to put on my generator, and we hardly have electricity light in my area.

“Last week, all the meat I kept in my freezer to prepare food in my restaurant got spoilt, because of power outage and no fuel to use in my generator. The federal government should call whoever is involved in the fuel scarcity to order.

Because, the whole thing is getting out of hands,” she appealed.

Abba Attahiru said: “We do not know what is causing the fuel scarcity but we just woke up one morning and started experiencing it. No-

body is giving us a true story of what is behind the scarcity. All the same as Nigerians we have been trying to cope. Suffering and smiling as usual.

For me I think it is connected to the political problems we are having in the country because with the trend of things that is happening now, insecurity, suspension of CBN governor, among other and you know a lot of bodies have been showing their grievances. I think we have putting our efforts into making Nigeria a better place as in we the populace. Government should look at the suffering of the masses. Because we made them to be where they are today, they should try to resolve the crisis of fuel scarcity.”

Mr. Patrick Odeh also lamented saying: “We were thinking that this type of thing will not surface again in Nigeria having experience free

flow of fuel for the past two years.

We just believe that it is artificial and then it will be dealt with appropriately. Government should do the needful. We have no reason suffering fuel scarcity in this country with all the refineries that are in place. I leave in Kuje.”

Authorities of the filling stations visited refused to speak with Abuja Review on the matter.

At the black market as at the time of filing this report, 10 liters was sold for N2,000 while two liters was sold for N400.

Most people buy it due to the fact that they must go to work to look for their daily bread.

Mrs. Lamid Adeniyi said: “We do not know where we are going in this Nigeria. Our leaders should help us, we are really suffering. Everything is politics.”

A petroleum marketer who pleaded anonymity told Abuja Review what could be responsible for the scarcity.

The source who owns a filling station in Port Harcourt said: “The issue of the scarcity is artificial because refineries are work. There are repairs going on. It is not peculiar to the north. Everywhere has it own problem because of short supply.

There will not be increase in pump price of petroleum product. You can see that people are now making sharp business and the marketers are now using the opportunity to make statements that there may be increase in pump price. And when you hear that, you will want to stock the product to last you for some time.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

35

ABUJA REVIEW

•President Goodluck Jonathan with the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abdul Jelili Adesiyan; Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar (right). With them is Chairman, House Committee on Police Affairs, Alhaji Usman Bello Kumo (left), at the inauguration of the Nigeria Police International Peace Centre and the Force Museum at Force Headquarters, Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

•From left: Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke; Minister of State, Trade and Investiment, Samuel Ortum; Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, and Minister of State for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Asabe Asmau Ahmed during the Federal Executive Council meeting at State House, Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

•From left: Vice President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Chidi Ajaegbu; ICAN President, Kabir Mohammed and Minister of Trade and Investments, Olusegun Aganga during the ICAN courtesy visit to Presidential Villa in Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

•Chairman, House of Reps committee on Media, Zakari Mohammed (middle); his deputy Victor Ogene (left) and a member, Lanre Odubote at a press briefing on the passage of 2014 PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE budget at the National Assembly.

•Deputy Chairman, House of Reps committee on Sport, Mrs Ayo Omidiran (middle); her Assistant, Emem Umoh (right) and Chairman, House of Reps Press Corps, Emman Ovuakporie at a press briefing on the activities of the House.

•From left: Vice President Namadi Sambo; Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Bubakar, and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, at the Jama'atu Nasril Islam, Golden Jubilee lecture in Kaduna

•Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu (middle), Ministry Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Sani Baba (left); Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission, Osita Chidoka, and Minister of State, Dr Khalid Al-Hassan, and Dr Mrs Bimpe Adebiyi during the inauguration of National Committee on Crash Information System in Abuja.

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•From left: Director, MacArthur Foundation, Kole Shettima; DIG, Research and Planning, Abdulraman Akano; ACP Chollon Gyang and Executive Director, Cleen Foundation, Kemi Okenyodo at the presentation of Third Security Threat Assessment Towards 2015 Election held in Abuja. PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

36

ABUJA REVIEW

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan often reiterates his administration’s commitment the rule of law.

Declaring his belief that law is an instrument for social engineering and political transformation, the President has pledged to ensure that all actions of his government will conform to the rule of law, including observation of human rights norms.

To sustain the confidence of the people in the rule of law, at a point, he challenged the managers of the nation's judiciary to constantly review the country's laws.

The President has also enjoined the judiciary to always give credible and well-reasoned judgments in order to enhance social justice and fairness.

Apart from declaring his commitments to the rule of law in Nigeria, the president has also taken the campaign to the world stage.

Speaking at the first-ever HighLevel Plenary Session on the Rule of Law at the 67th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York in 2012, he called for global order based on the rule of law.

Stressing that the rule of law at international level must be based on the core principles of the United Nations which were further reaffirmed in the 2005 World Summit Document, he promised that all pledges made by Nigeria to the international community would be met.

Pushing for nations to honour their international obligations, he specifically pointed out that nations have the obligations to refrain from threat or use of force, to settle disputes through peaceful means, to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and abide by international humanitarian law.

Still, the Presidency under him has been accused in some instances of interfering with the rule of law, while the administration has also been criticised for acting slowly in some burning issues, especially corruption.

A case in point was the belief in some quarters that the Presidency interfered with the rule of law in the case that culminated in the National Judicial Council (NJC's) suspension and eventual removal of the former President of Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, who was believed to have stood firm against the perversion of justice and the abuse of power.

On allegation of moving too

Jonathan and the rule of law ‘The Presidency under [Jonathan] has been accused in some instances of interfering with the rule of law, while the administration has also been criticised for acting slowly in some burning issues, especially corruption’ slow on some issues, it has been said that the President had to allow the rule of law to follow its rightful course in order not to be

Grassroots women urged to be self-reliant

D

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

O not sit back and wait for your husbands and others to help you earn more money; go ahead, seek to be self-reliant.

That was the message some grassroots women took home in Abuja at an empowerment conference organised for them.

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab Maina gave them the nudge at the Rural Rescue Outreach Foundation’s first grassroots women empowerment conference in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Empowering women, Hajia Maina said would contribute to the promotion of full and equal participation of women in nation building and bring the nation closer to eradicating poverty and promoting peace in Nigeria.

The minister who was represented by a Deputy Director at the ministry, Mr. Olowoofoyeku Olusoji said: “I commend Rural Rescue Outreach Foundation (RROF), who taught it wise to organize a conference of this nature that would unfold set of principles to offer guidance on how to advance and empower women in their workplace, market and rural communities thereby bringing about their rapid development.

“Your initiative correlates directly with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, that stipulates development and empowerment of all citizens especially women.

“Let me emphasise that it is part of my ministry’s mandate to ensure the well being of Nigerian women whom we have over the years engaged in various activities and programmes designed to boost their income at grassroots.

“Some of the programmes targeted at them include the establishment of Women Fund for Economic Empowerment (WOFEE), Business and Development Fund for Women (BUDFOW) and the Establishment of Skills Acquisition Centres (ESAC) all over the federation. Sincerely, these schemes were established to stimulate economic empowerment of women and further impel them to be self reliant.”

From the Villa

By Augustine Ehikioya

seen as a dictator.

The President, however, has said that sometimes he feels like moving faster than the rule of law to address some issues, especially bordering on corruption, but that he must wait for the law to take its course.

Speaking last week while receiving the outcome of the National Stakeholders Forum on Electoral Reform from the Chairman of Ken Nnamani Centre for Leadership and Development

and former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, the President recalled his encounter with the AuditorGeneral of the Federation on a particular corruption allegation.

He said: "Then, I called the Auditor-General and say 'Look, you must look into this and tell Nigerians' and you know what the man told me, he said 'Mr. President the law establishing the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation does not say you, President have to direct me. There

N360 tr to be spent on centenary city

I

T has been confirmed that the Abuja Centenary City will cost more than N360 trillion to build.

The city which is expected to be completed in 60 months will comprise five five-star hotels, apartment units, the best convention centre in Africa, apartment units and lots of other commercial structures which are hoped to provide more than 250,000 jobs.

The city will also be a unique landmark for the country to mark the country’s unity and 100 years of amalgamation.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Sen Bala Mohammed made the disclosure during the week at the signing agreement on the development of the centenary city, between the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Centenary City Plc. Mohammed who handed over the Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) to the private developers assured that the Original inhabitants are being duly compensated and will be relocated.

From Grace Obike

His words, “The land is going to be subjected to due diligence and nobody will be short-changed, it will be developed in a manner that will provide employment that will accelerate the development of the Federal Capital City (FCC) and the territory as per the concept of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) act.

“FCDA will be part of the project to ensure that everything conforms to the Abuja master plan.

“The portion of 1064 hectares is being seeded as a concession to the centenary PLC. The FCT is taking a

is a process and that process has to take its course.'

"So these are the issues. But that is the law and there is a reason for that. So, I agree with you totally for us as a nation to progress, irrespective of the challenges, irrespective of the pains, we must all obey the rule of law otherwise it will be an animal kingdom where somebody wakes up and do whatever he likes." He said He went on: "The rule of law, especially when the issue is about corruption. I told people that, yes, if you want the president to go outside the law to do things, as a president and executive president, I am a primary beneficiary. But, it is not too good for the society because one, I am also a politician."

"If I try to do things that way, then truly I may use it to help myself or help my party or so. So, whether the process is slow or not, we must obey our laws. We must obey the rule of law, and the society will be normal," he stated. small portion of equity of 5%, where our own premium and development control charges are going to be put as part of the equity contribution.

“This is not a project that has the problem of resettlement and compensation, when we started , we insisted that enumeration must be carried out, all with the economic trees and other compensation must be paid and the Centenary city PLC have paid fully a 100% into our account and we are doing the enumeration and payment as per the entitlement of all the people of the Centenary land, what is outstanding, is maybe the houses, that will be subjected to more diligence and enumeration and they have the resources to pay them, there is no any agitation or fear expressed by the settlers or people of these area.”

He also said, “Because they are very happy that for the first time, before a project is completed or done, their own resettlement, compensation and entitlements are being settled and we discuss with them in a bottle up approach in the way and manner that er are also doing the land swap but certainly, there are apprehensions because formerly, FCT have been developing without taking into cognisance the needs of the original inhabitants.

37

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

BOOK REVIEW

N

Nuclear Law and policy in Nigeria

UCLEAR law is the field of law related to peaceful use of science and technology for the benefit of people and its environment.

This cannot be over-emphasised because it affects our daily lives one way or another and poses severe risks if not properly managed. Nuclear law also seeks to prevent the use of non-peaceful uses of nuclear energy and the proliferation of nuclear weapons by providing safety mechanisms which are developed solely for that purpose. Apart from this, legal frameworks are implemented to provide control and regulate activities related to nuclear energy and ionizing radiation which would ultimately help in sustainable development of the environment and its people.

The International Atomic Energy Agency which is an international organisation helps to promote the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes while curbing its use for any military related activity. In Nigeria, the Federal Government is committed to harnessing nuclear technology for the various sectors and it aims to achieve these goals through the establishment of regulatory bodies for this purpose. For instance, The Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority is mandated to regulate radiological protection of nuclear safety in order to ensure protection of life and environment from these harmful substances. The Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) is another body which was established with the aim of developing and promoting nuclear technology in Nigeria.

The first chapter of this book is written by Prof.

Nwogugu, E.I and titled: General Introduction to Nuclear Law and International Framework for Nuclear Regulations: An Introduction to the International Atomic Energy Agency. The writer begins by giving a brief history of atomic energy which may be traced back to the significant scientific developments that took place during the Second World War by the United State and as a result of which a movement arose to turn the development of atomic power for peaceful and humanitarian purposes. He also goes on to discuss how the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) came to be which serves as the UN’s watch dog on atomic power matters and talks about the functions and objectives , members and the various organs of the Agency as provided for by the IAEA Act. The second chapter of this book is written by Peter Ademu Anyebe and titled: Review of the Mandate of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority and Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission’. Here, the writer reviews the mandate of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority which was established by former Nigerian president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as provided for by the Nuclear Safety and Regulatory Protection Act of 1995. He discusses the NNRA’s overall responsibilities for nuclear safety and radiological protection throughout the country.

He gives examples of the robust and rapid developments of nuclear power for peaceful purposes in the petroleum industry, health sector, manufacturing industry, mining industry, construction industry, agricultural and water resources, education sector and research. He then goes on to discuss the duty owed by the employer towards its employees on the management of radiation protection. Lastly, he discusses the mandate of the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission and explains the roles of some of the relevant regional and international organisations in the area of radiation protection.

In his conclusion, he opines that these legislations and regulations meet the IAEA minimum international standards on the requirements for the protection and safety on the use of radiation and radioactive materials in Nigeria.

Chapter 3 of this book is written by Omole Temitope and titled: An Examination of the Development of Nuclear Capacity for Peaceful Purposes.

The writer begins by expressing that even though nuclear energy can be catastrophic when used for an evil motive, nuclear material and technology plays a significant role in the growth of an economy when used for peaceful purposes. He goes on to list regulatory authorities in Nigeria and their role towards a safe, secure and peaceful environment through implementation of peaceful application of nuclear energy. The Federal Government also established two University-based nuclear research and training centre to develop safe applications for nuclear technology in medical and human health, food and agriculture, management of water resources and the energy sector. Lastly, he discusses the roles of the IAEA , NESREA, Ministry of Environment , NNRA and the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (which was established to stop proliferation of weapons and eliminate those in existence).

Chapter 4 of this book titled: Analysis of the Chemical Weapons Convention 1993 and Syria’s Use

BOOK REVIEW Title: Nuclear Law, Policy and Regulation Author: Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN) Book reviewer: Adejoke Adediran Pages: 283 Publishers: Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) of Chemical Weapons in 2012 and 2013: Implications for World Peace is written by Dr Lar. The writer discusses the continuous use of chemical and biological weapons by the Syria regime recently and Iraq in the 1980s which brought about grave consequences . There is an extensive collection of articles which dwells of the chemical weapons, 1993 in which State parties pledged to eliminate chemical weapons for the good of mankind and the writer seeks to analyse it in this chapter. The writer goes ahead to also analyse the use of chemical weapons by Syria and reactions of the International community. Most importantly, he discusses the chemical weapons, 1993 as well as the general obligations outlined in the convention as it relates to other international Agreements.

Chapter 5 is titled: Dealing With the Challenges of Nuclear Hazards: The Place of Law and Policy and is written by Vivian C. Madu. The writer pinpoints the risks associated with the use of nuclear materials to human health and safety to the environment and the need for protection in order to safeguard life and our environment. She then goes on to highlight the standards, guidelines and recommendations by the international and regional organisations as well as various domestic frameworks which are essential in assisting countries establish and maintain national standards for the management of nuclear waste and hazards. She outlines the different types of waste and hazards associated with use of nuclear energy. According to the writer, efforts to help regulate nuclear activities because of the high risks associated to it are not regulated. She further goes on to discuss the hazards associated with nuclear energy usage. The NNRA and its role in the formulation of Nigeria nuclear laws and regulations are discussed as well as the offence, penalties and liabilities of users of these radioactive sources. She concludes by stating that there is need for compliance with national and international laws for the work of these bodies to be fully actualized.

Chapter 6 is titled: ‘Nuclear Materials: Physical Protection and Emergency Preparedness and is written

by Francisca Nlerum Ph.D. The nature, uses and effects of nuclear materials as well as the need for protection is discussed by the writer. She goes on to state that the responsibility for physical protection against nuclear energy and weapons rests with the government. The different conventions, laws and institutions channeled towards the physical protection of nuclear materials which are established in order to provide safe and secure production and usage as well as in times of emergency are also discussed.

She makes it clear that even though most countries use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, there is need to be prepared at all times owing to the fact that potential risks are inevitable.

As a result, emergency preparedness is very essential to act as a support system in the safety of the utilisation of these nuclear materials in order to promote safety of life and environment. She then goes on to list various legislative, regulatory and competent authorities in aiding compliance of physical protection of nuclear materials both in and outside Nigeria and lists out some of their aims and functions.

Chapter 7 is written by Awolalu Damilola Odunayo and is titled: Is Nuclear Terrorism the Next Phase of International Terrorism? The writer seeks to explore the issue of nuclear terrorism and the ever present role it plays in international terrorism. The writer analyses these issues in different ways. Firstly, he gives an insight into what terrorism is as well as mentioning the different forms of nuclear terrorism. Secondly, he delves into nuclear weapons and explains how terrorists gain easy access to these weapons before highlighting the risks attributed to nuclear terrorism. He explains the route taken by international communities to help combat nuclear terrorism and the laws and policies used to protect people against nuclear weapons and the proliferation of nuclear weapons. He concludes by noting that although there is a commendable number of international Agreements and treaties geared towards the prohibition of terrorism, it is not sufficient enough to deal with the present day acts of terrorism.

Chapter 8, which is titled: National Interests, National Security Concerncs and their Implications on Nuclear Policy, is written by Shankyula, T.S. & Dr.

M.M. Dura. The writer begins by reiterating the fact that there are numerous benefits gotten from the development of nuclear energy when used positively. He goes on to discuss the policies that are put in place by government to monitor and control national security, safety, and public interests as it relates to nuclear energy. He outlines the implications of these policies as it relates to national security in Nigeria and discusses national institutional framework and government policies for nuclear power development. He concludes by listing his observations and recommendations on national security which according to him would be achieved through implementation of policies that are generally viewed as acceptable for the interests of the general public.

Chapter 9 is written by Morenike Ouwole Aguda and is titled: ‘Nigeria’s Quest for Nuclear Capacity and National Development’. The writer seeks to examine those plans which are currently ongoing aimed to providing more nuclear energy benefits with little adverse effects. He goes further to highlight these benefits and discusses the Nigerian regulating laws which he feels are not adequate enough to help minimise the risks involved in exploring nuclear energy as a power source in Nigeria while bearing in mind our level of environment coupled with the fact that our environment is different from that of developed nations.

Chapter 10 is written by Uzoma Prince-Oparaku and is titled: Nuclear Capacity Building and the Environment. The writer brings to bare the effective control and monitoring of nuclear technology acquisition for peaceful purposes ultimately ensuring a sustainable environment.

He also discusses the application of nuclear products as well as sets out effective ways of disposing hazardous nuclear wastes.

Chapter 11 is titled: The Use of Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Purposes: Issue and Challenges and is written

by Prof Nwogugu, E.I. Here the writer starts his paper by rightly stating how the use of nuclear power first came to light and because of the colossus destruction of life and property, there was need to devise means to ensure that nuclear power was solely used for peaceful purposes. He goes on to discuss the IAEA which was established to promote and foster the growth of atomic energy for peaceful use while trying to control its usage for military activities/purposes. The writer concludes by stating that even though the IAEA plays its role in providing assistance to developing countries through the application of nuclear techniques, it should desist from resting on its oars and do more in ensuring efficient performance of these functions in all areas of development.

Chapter 12 is written by Anele Kalu Kingsley and is titled: Rogue States with Nuclear Capacity: Challenges to World Peace and Stability. The writer begins by giving a brief definition of the word ‘rogue states’ and goes on to give a brief background of its concept. He emphasises the need to end the development of nuclear weapons permanently as well as ensure that existing weapons are destroyed. He goes on to state that more efforts should be put in place to persuade these rogue states and terrorist groups to accept peace and democracy. The paper is divided into 6 sub headings. The first sub heading introduces the topic of the paper. The second sub heading gives meaning and definition to certain words for easier comprehension. The third sub heading tries to form a link between the rogue states and these nuclear weapons for better understanding of how these terrorists perform their activities.

The fourth examines the legal framework for controlling arms and preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. In the fifth sub heading the writer discusses his recommendations on achieving world peace and stability. He ends on the sixth chapter where he concludes by stating that states should observe all their instruments which seek to curb terrorism and also be mindful to take drastic actions as it relates to foreign policy.

Chapter 13 is written by Oladeji Ifeoluwa and is titled: The Development of Nuclear Capacity for Non-Peaceful Purposes: Contentious Issues and Responses. In this chapter, the writer discusses the level of damage brought about by nuclear material usage. He concludes by pointing out that there is need for all treaties relating to nuclear developments to be reviewed as soon as possible.

He opines that these will help promote equality among all countries and in essence, ultimately help to combat atrocities carried out by terrorists through the use of nuclear weapons. The writer also adds that in the area of inspection, the IAEA needs to improve on its enforcement, monitoring and verification mechanisms.

Chapter 14, which is titled: Ensuring Nuclear Safety and Liability for Nuclear Damage, is written

by Dr M.M. Dura. The writer helps us to understand

that because of the greater risks associated with nuclear activities than with other form of activities; there was great need for the liability for nuclear damage to be subjected to a different legal process. Still the writer is doubting that many countries have embraced this idea and laid down adequate principles especially amongst developing countries who also engage in the usage of nuclear energy through the development of nuclear power plants for peaceful energy to ensure that the environment as well as its people is safe from all forms of danger attributed to nuclear sources.

The writer goes on to list the different types of liabilities as well as damages that can be awarded to the offended party. He discusses his observations as well as recommendations which includes taking preventive measures to ensure safety to individuals and the environment. He concludes by making it clear that even though the different conventions makes provisions for compensation of victims of nuclear disasters, in reality, these victims are hardly compensated and adds that States have a duty to ensure that these safety mechanisms are implemented and in cases where the offender is found guilty of causing harm to the victim, he should be held accountable.

Chapter 15 is titled: Compensation for Nuclear Damage: The Role of Insurance and is written by Fola Daniel and Talmiz Usman. The writer seeks to highlight the role of insurance as it relates to compensation for damages caused by or emanating from nuclear activities. He goes on to discuss the meaning, scope and the role of nuclear damage insurance. Insurance in general is very important in restoring losses caused by one activity or the other and it is certainly not an exemption when it comes to compensation for nuclear damage.

Comments

The 283-page book comprises 15 chapters contributed by renowned scholars and researchers from within and outside the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. It is edited by Prof Epiphany Azinge SAN, the Director-General of the institute and Mr. Shankyula Tersoo.

As the editor Azinge writes in the foreword, the book represents one of its kind in Nigeria and seeks to create awareness and stimulate further discussion on this all important aspect of scientific advancement.

The book in my opinion has blazed a trail and represents a major contribution to knowledge in this new area of law.

It is a commendable addition to the NIALS stated determination to advance the frontiers of knowledge in the field of law.

Observations

There were a few typographical errors as well as some editing errors which affected the flow of reading and some chapters failed to elaborately discuss the topic in view.

Recommendations

Overall, the book gives a good understanding of Nuclear Law. It discusses the legal framework for conducting nuclear energy and ionizing radiation activities. It gives an understanding on the characteristics of nuclear law, and seeks ways in which the development and safety of nuclear energy can be strengthened for the protection of its people and environment.

I feel that stakeholders to Nuclear policy and research should embrace this well researched work for more enlightenment on the subject matter.

38

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

LAW & SOCIETY

Law School ‘89 set elects officers

T

HE 1989 set of the Nigerian Law School has elected officers to run its affairs.

The election took place during their maiden reunion dinner, which was held 24 years after leaving the institution.

A member and one of the organisers, Mr. Emeka Albert, was elected chairman.

He said it was a thing of joy that what they dreamt of - forming an association that would take care of their interests - is beginning to take shape.

He said: “Last year at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA ) Annual General Conference in Calabar, I saw a younger set of about 10 years at the bar doing something great and it struck my mind that we have not been able to conclude arrangements to organise our set. Consequently, the sense of urgency was came in though there were initial hiccups and challenges along the way but thank God we were able to overcome them and here we are today, we have come to be.”

Albert reminded the class that with over 2000 of them at the Nigerian Law School then, they should now be able to do something meaningful in the country.

On the election, Albert said it was urgent because the interim executive which organised the dinner had been acting without authority.

By John Austin Unachukwu

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Mr. Ade Ipaye, who is a member of the class, commended the effort made to bring members of the class together, 24 years after graduation.

“Now among us you have big time lawyers, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, captains of the industry, directors, general managers , company secretaries, Attorneys-General, Judges and so on. In fact, members of the 89 set are playing great roles in the development of our country and going further, we will play greater roles.

“What is important is to make things to work,” while commending Albert for his efforts in putting the class together for the dinner.

“What is important is that he had an idea, he set out to deliver it and here we are,” Ipaye added Apart from Albert, other members of the interim co-ordinating committee include Mr. Osuala Emma Nwagbara and Mrs. Anaesthesia Gbem.

They are to co-ordinate the affairs of the class, mid wife national chapters in the six geo-political zones of the country, plan and organise the 25-year anniversary.

Removing the mystery in Law

• From left: Prof. Chris Ohurogu; Lagos State Attorney-General, Ade Ipaye and Dele Oye.

•From left: Dr. Andrea Ajibade and her husband Dr. Babatunde Ajibade (SAN) and Dr. Sina Fagbenro-Byron

By Adediwura Aderibigbe

•Aderibigbe

L

AW, no doubt, is one of the most re spected professions the world over.

It is a harbinger of clamour for a just society. It is held in high esteem and so are those in the profession.

Probably, this could be likened to the reason many see the understanding of how law works as the job of lawyers. This is right, but at the same time, it is pertinent that as an ordinary citizen one needs to know the basics and the modus operandi of law.

A renowned lawyer, T.A.O. Tugbiyile is also on the same page with the above submission. He lends his voice, borne out of years of experience in the legal profession, on the need for citizens to have an idea of the workings of the law. “The profession has been mystified so there is need for its demystification,” he told The Nation.

The learned man, who has written many books on law, deemed it fit to go with the trend by making his works available to more people through the Internet. When he said: “I have decided to take my works to the Internet so that more people will have access to it and get them at a cheaper price...,” It signified his readiness to make sure that Nigerians and people from different parts of the people enjoy his resourceful books in their digital version hence the birth of www.nigerialawdigest.com.

He said: “So far, I have written 14 law books and edited 18 volumes of Digest of Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court cases that’s over 17, 000 pages, but there is challenge of publishing. For the fact that people are moving away from print, one must move with the time. This and coupled with the need to demystify the perception of people about law informed creation of a website www.nigerialawdigest.com. It presents law, in clear terms, to a lay man and how he can apply its knowledge in his dealings.”

Evidently, this laudable project would give proper orientation to lay men, bridging the gap between citizens and the law.

Tugbiyile is a Law graduate of University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and former Nigerian Law School lecturer. He is one of the few Nigerians, who are in tune with the speed of change in the information dissemination. His law books, which cover different aspects of law, have come handy in their digital forms on the Internet.

The seasoned writer and publisher, who wrote an autobiography of one of the giants in legal profession, Chief F. R. A. Williams, is passionate about his efforts to teaching and presenting law in clear terms to all for easy comprehension.

He interestingly revealed that there are certain legal documentations that do not necessarily needed to be done by a lawyer. “People always believe that if you have to do a simple agreement or a Will, you have to go to a legal practitioner; you really don’t have to if you are fairly literate.

If you go to www.nigerialawdigest.com we have draft agreements.... The website is not only for legal practitioners, it is for the general public to know their rights.

Our campaign has been centred on demystification of the law. To remove the mystery in the law. To teach ordinary layman how to do his Will, do agreements himself. The website is also meant for people, who are inquisitive and want to know how law operates. If you go through some of the cases digested, you will know your rights and how to exercise them.”

He cited an example of landlord-tenant issues: “A landlord can tell you to get out of his house tomorrow and bring hired thugs; he doesn’t have such powers. He must follow the due process, he must follow the law. So, when you go through the website, you would have an idea of what your rights are and be able to exercise them.

•From left: Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), Godwin Uwazurike, Moyo Onigbanjo (SAN) and Dorothy Ufot (SAN)

•From left: Emeka Etiaba, his wife Joy and Emeka Brian Nwankwor.

•Members of the class in a group photograph.

39

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

LEGAL OPINION The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its presentation of bank chiefs is that of courts’ jurisdiction. Sadly, the agency is confronted by the issue of jurisdiction. To the bank chiefs, the court cannot try them, a claim which EFCC disputes, writes ADEBISI ONANUGA

Ex-bank chiefs, EFCC battle over jurisdiction

C

AN the Economic and Fi nancial Crimes Commission (EFCC) wriggle out the of issue of court jurisdiction in the various charges it brought against some bank chiefs?

This, remains a litmus test yet in the ongoing prosecution of the former bank chief executive officers by the commission However, it is this issue that a Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja will attempt to decide when judges resume from Easter vacation.

On May 2, Justice Lateef AkapoLawal will decide whether or not he has jurisdiction to hear a criminal suit filed against the former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Dr. Erastus Akingbola who is accused of stealing the bank’s money.

Similar theft charges brought by EFCC against former Managing Directors of defunct Bank PHB and Finbank, Francis Atuche and Okey Nwosu respectively had already been challenged on the grounds of jurisdictional authority.

The first test on issue of jurisdiction was Nwosu’s challenge which proved to be a defining one as the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal on November 21, 2013 struck out the theft charge against him for lack of jurisdiction on the part of the Lagos High Court. The Court of Appeal held that since the case was associated with capital market issues, it should be handled by the Federal High Court only.

The second test for the commission was in January 2014, when Francis Atuche challenged the jurisdiction of a Lagos High Court to try him on shares related issues.

He had cited the Court of Appeal decision as regards the case of Nwosu. It was as a result of the decision of the Appeal Court that made EFCC to appeal to the Supreme Court to over turn the lower court decision on Nwosu. On the strength of that Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo the presiding judge adjourned hearing of the charges brought against Atuche indefinitely and pending the Supreme Court decision.

In the case of Akingbola, another bank chief currently on trial for related offence, when his case came up for hearing last week before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, the former Managing Director of defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc and his co-defendant, Bayo Dada had filed two separate applications also challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the theft charge preferred against them by EFCC.

Akingbola’s challenge last week is the third test relying on the same grounds as the preceding ones. But EFCC in its counter affidavit argued that the court has the jurisdiction to entertain the case adding that the counts contained in the information do not relate in any way to banking transactions, shares or companies.

The lead counsel, Chief Godwin Obla explained that the counts contained in the information before the court did not in any way challenge Akingbola’s conduct as bank Chief Executive nor any of his functions as a Director. Obla concluded that the application was an abuse of court process and should be thrown out.

But Akingbola countered that it was misleading to describe the application as abuse of court process when its thrust relates to the fundamental and constitutional issue of section 251 of the constitution relating to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court. According to his lead counsel Chief Wole Olanipekun the issues relate to shares, stocks, capital market, banking and allied matters, functions of a Chief Executive of a bank which are incorporated under CAMA, among several others.

“It is submitted that only the Federal High Court has jurisdiction to entertain matters that are within the Exclusive Legislative List in Part 1 of the Second Schedule of the 1999 Constitution which by section 4 of the 1999 constitution only the National Assembly can legislate on,” argued Olanipekun.

Citing the applicability of the Court of Appeal decision on Nwosu and the Supreme Court decision on Olabode George vs FRN, Olanipekun contended that the decisions were binding on the court.

The fight for jurisdiction remains a recurring decimal in the dispensation of justice. It played itself out in two instances in suits filed in foreign courts. While the litigant won in foreign courts, they lost in the attempt to enforce the judgements in Nigeria as a judgement of the High Court of Lagos State.

In the first instance, Access bank had sued Capital Oil limited in a London court and came back to Nigeria to want to enforce the judgment, which was an order of injunction against the company before a Federal High court ordered the withdrawal of the case from London and for it to be heard in Nigeria. Only recently a long drawn battle on jurisdiction

involving Access Bank Plc had played out before Justice CandideJohnson of Lagos High Court over the Bank’s registration in Nigeria of the London Judgment and accompanying orders of Mr. Burton of the High Court of Justice, Queens Bench Divisions Commercial London.

The judgment arose from a civil suit filed in 2009 by Access Bank in London against Akingbola in the wake of his removal by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as Chief Executive Officer of defunct Intercontinental Bank.

In the judgment delivered in July, 2012, Akingbola was allegedly found liable of causing substantial loss to the defunct Bank to the tune of N212,294,089,160.15 when the stock market collapsed which it ordered him to pay. The judge said although there was no evidence that he participated personally in the share purchase as the CEO “on balance of probability” he must know about it.

Consequently Access Bank sought to execute the judgment in Nigeria and on July 4, 2013 was granted an exparte order to register and execute the judgment debt, a decision swiftly challenged

by Akingbola in September 2013 via a petition.

Ruling on the matter on February 18, Justice Candide-Johnson set aside the controversial London judgment, vacated the exparte order and subsequently struck out Access Bank’s application to register and enforce the judgment debt on the ground that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case in the first place being a matter exclusively for the Federal High Courts.

•EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde

•Continued on page 40

•Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire flanked by Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye (left) and Permanent Secretary/Solicitor-General, Ministry of Justice Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN) at a stakeholders’meeting on “Building a culture of Pro Bono in Nigeria”, at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

PHOTO: ISAAC AYODELE

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com 08033054939 (sms only)

T

Building a culture of pro bono in Nigeria

HE above title is paraphrased from an event organised by Lagos State, the Centre of Excellence, last week, under the auspices of The Lagos State Public Interest Law Partnership (LPILP).

According to a promotional leaflet shared to participants, the aim of the LPILP platform is “to provide pro bono legal services to indigent citizens in Lagos state”, and the goal “is to expand access to justice and further secure the right of every citizen to justice, irrespective of his or her financial means”. The sign-on meeting, which held at the MUSON Centre was sequel to a stakeholders’ meeting held on November 8, 2012, by Governor Babatunde R. Fashola. A rough estimate of attendees at the event is about 1000.

Interestingly, I had on this column on July 3, 2012, under the title: “Vote for Public interest litigation”, canvassed a more robust legal environment to help the less privileged members of our society, among other issues.

So, I was excited when one of my teachers in mediation practice, Mrs Omotola Rotimi, the Director of the Office of the Public Defender, who presented the opening remarks at the event, invited me to the sign-on meeting. Of course the ceremony was a show-stopper for any person who has an interest in ‘bridging the justice gap’ as was eloquently canvassed by the chief host, Mr. Ade Ipaye, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, of Lagos State. A major highlight of the event was the presentation by Prof Lanre Fagbohun, the Lead Consultant/Principal Investigator, to the Ministry of Justice and its partners, titled: “Defining the Justice Gap – A presentation of the Needs Assessment Study Preliminary Report”.

The presentation showed starkly the challenges of bridging the justice gap for a socio-economically backward country like Nigeria. Comments and observations by law firms and non-governmental organisations also indicated in clear details, experiences and challenges of pro bono practice.

One interesting presentation was by a young lawyer, and what I will call a pro-bono activist, Mr. Ahmed Adetola-Kazeem, who in his about five years of legal practice has impacted quite significantly, under the auspices of his NGO, “Prison Rights Advocacy Initiative”. As he shared his experience, I was enthused by his palpable excitement, at helping underaged persons gain freedom from incarceration, among other successes.

One commentator talked about his faith as the push for going to police and prison cells, under cover, to help free those under chains. That presenter asked participants to rise up to the challenge, for as he said, what is happening under the guise of our criminal justice system is mind boggling and un-imaginable.

Another participant, Mr. Kola Oluwadare, in his experience presentation, raised fundamental challenges facing practitioners, some caused by state actors. The challenges include delays in the judicial process by the courts, poor knowledge of the essential sacrifice of pro bono practitioners by officials of the lowers courts and many other challenges in the criminal justice system. However, one interesting worthy practice on the part of Lagos government which he pointed out, was that the cost of filling a document for a pro bono matter can be waived. Many other commentators noted the challenge posed by the police, especially as prosecutors at the lower courts. The consensus from the commentaries was the need for more training for those at the vanguard of our criminal justice system, including judicial officers.

Like in many other spheres of positive change, the Lagos state government is showing the way, to build a modern society. Excitingly, the Lagos state government is revolutionalising their judiciary. What started with the remodeling of the courts, enhanced remuneration and welfare for judges, among other indices, during the administration of the Asiwaju of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Governor of Lagos, has metamorphosed Governor Fashola into a total revamping of the process and philosophy of justice in the state. The Lagos Multi-Door Court (LMDC) and the Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism that have statutorily become integral parts of the judicial process in the state are further examples of this change for better. A training program as a Mediator, which I participated in, under the auspices of the LMDC, shows an impending convergence of social justice and legal justice.

Towards building a culture of pro bono in Nigeria, let me quote again the eloquent erudition of Justice P.N. Bhangwatti, former Chief Justice of India, which was also cited in my 2012, article, “Vote for public interest litigation”; who he said: “... the majority of people who are living in almost subhuman existence in conditions of abject poverty and for whom life is a long unbroken story of want and destitution, notion of individual freedom and liberty, though representing some of the most cherished values of free society would sound empty words bandied about in the drawing room of the rich and well-to-do, and the only solution for making these rights meaningful to them is to remake the material conditions and usher in a new social order where socio-economic justice will inform all institutions of public life so that the preconditions of fundamental liberties of all may be secured.”

The LPILP, among other initiatives of the Lagos government, hopefully will substantially answer to the rhetorical question of the eminent jurist, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, who said: “What is the value of say, fair hearing to the poor man who cannot pay a summons fees let alone afford the services of a counsel”. As one of the lead presenters, at LPILP, Prof Edwin Rekosh, the President of PILnet, (a global network for public interest law) said, the game plan is to spread this goodwill across Nigeria.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

40

NATIONAL BAR

T

Judge seeks hazard allowance for magistrates

HE Chief Judge of Anambra State, Jus tice Peter Umeadi, has called for the payment of hazard allowance to magistrates.

This, he said, is because “magistrates bear the brunt of the beginningof all criminal prosecution in our judicial system.”

He recommended that they be paid a minimum of N150,000 per month.

Justice Umeadi spoke in Awka, the Anambra State capital, during the third Chief Judge’s annual dinner.

He urged the government to improve the magistrates’ general conditions, including providing all of them with official cars.

He said: “There is need to pay a hazard, robbing and sitting allowance to all learned Magistrates in Anambra State in the minimum of N150,000 monthly. I repeat, His Excellency, that the learned Magistrates bear the brunt of the commencement of all criminal prosecution in our judicial system.

“Added to these are their civil jurisdictions which cater for the majority of the landlord and tenant cases and sundry civil cases which throng our courts on a daily basis. The Judiciary would be delighted if there is an announcement before this evening in over that the expected allowance of N150,000 monthly to the learned Magistrates would be paid with immediate effect. ‘’Recently, a law was passed in Anambra State wherein they have been put at par with Chief Magistrates in terms of emoluments and entitlements. It is sad that up till now they have not been issued with cars as their counterparts in the Magistracy.”

Governor Willie Obiano urged the judiciary to endeavor to speed up the dispensation of justice, adding that it would be in the best interest of everybody in the state.

He said his administration would work to ensure that adequate security and equipment to work with are provided for members of the bench.

Obiano further assured members of the bench that he believed in them and the good work they are doing for the country, adding •Continued from page 39 Said the judge: “In the final analysis, I hold that the High Court of Lagos State within the meaning of MADUKOLU V. NKEMDILIM lacks jurisdiction and competence to have entertained, heard and/or determined any aspect of the Registration and Enforcement proceedings in respect of the Foreign Judgment and Accompanying Enrolment Order of Honourable Justice Burton ...”

Prior to the ruling Akingbola and Access Bank had on January 16, this year exchanged legal arguments with the bank insisting on the enforcement of the judgment debt.

Counsel to the bank, Mr. Kanyinsola Ajayi (SAN), in his submission argued that the bank had satisfied all conditions for the registration and enforcement of the judgment. He said Akingbola was served with all the processes filed at the English court and that he submitted to the jurisdiction of the court and personally gave evidence along with other witnesses concluding that the court acted with jurisdiction when it gave judgment.

But Akingbola countered in his submission with his counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) arguing that both the English court trial and subsequent judgment were riddled with multiple illegalities.

By Emeka Odogwu

that he is in support of an independent Judiciar.

He assured that all that is due to the judges and magistrates would get to them.

Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip of the National Industrial Court Lagos Division lamented that the judiciary budget has been on the decline since 2010, adding that the experience of late has been anything but commendable.

Kanyip lamented at a situation where budgetary allocation to the Judiciary continues to drop while the general government budget continues to increase, describing it as the major impediment to the quick and effective dispensation of justice in Nigeria and on the whole a set back to the current effort at transforming the Judiciary.

He said: “For instance, in the 2013 fiscal year of the over N5trillion amended Federal Budget , while the National Assembly got N150billion, the National Judicial Council on the other hand got N67billion (the assumption here is that the balance of the budget went to the Executive arm of Government). The worrisome thing here is that while the overall Federal Budget from year to year had been on the increase, that of the judiciary has been on the decline.

“Over the years, funding of the courts has remained a challenge as evinced in the condition of many courts in Nigeria today. Statistics have shown that funding from Federal Government has witnessed a steady decline since 2010 , from N95billion in that year, to N85 billion in 2012 and dropped again in the 2013 budget to N67billion.

“Indeed, with this amount , if the amount allocated to the extra-judicial organisations within the judiciary is deducted , the courts are left with a paltry sum to operate. The simple implication is that our courts are increasingly finding it difficult to effectively perform their day to day constitutional roles.”

• Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano flanked by his wife Vicky and Justice Umeadi

•Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Peter Afuba

• Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip

•From left: Deputy Chief Registrars of Anambra State judiciary, Irene Ndigwe, Ngozi Oyeka and Chinyere Osy-Okoye.

Ex-bank chiefs battle EFCC over jurisdiction First, Olanipekun argued that the English court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case in the first instance. Quoting several decided cases both in United Kingdom and Nigeria including Supreme Court cases, to support his position, he advanced that a foreign court could not assume jurisdiction on a person who is transiently present within the jurisdiction in respect of assets outside the jurisdiction. According to him, it was the freezing order obtained by the bank in the United Kingdom against Akingbola that compelled his presence in London and stranded him there too.

Second, the counsel also argued that Lagos High Court lacked jurisdiction to register the judgment since it could not have entertained the claim leading up to the judgment in the first place. Only Federal High Courts, he further argued, could handle civil causes and matters arising from Companies and Allied Matters Act, which is the subject of the judgment.

Not done, Olanipekun contended that the procedure adopted by the High Court of England in arriving at the decision was in conflict with the Nigerian Constitution and Law of Evidence.

For instance the trial was conducted over video,

with the judge sitting in London while Akingbola and his witnesses were compelled to give evidence over video in a Lagos Hotel via video link. Also the British trial judge tried to seek the assistance of the Federal High Court to compel the witnesses to appear but the Federal High Court replied that the procedure being adopted was alien to Nigerian laws as witnesses could not be compelled in a civil case.

Not only was Akingbola denied his right to appeal the decision of Mr. Justice Burton of the High Court of England, the court also relied on hearsay testimonies of four claimant witnesses (Mr. Mahmoud Lai Alabi, Mr. Owolabi, Mrs. Folake Akingbade and Mr. Olusola Olayinka) to establish the truth of allegations made against Akingbola without producing them for cross examination he argued. All the Banks witnesses refused to come to court to testify on oath and be cross examined on their witness statements.

Consequently, Olanipekun concluded: “If likelihood of bias does not vitiate a judgment in other climes, it certainly does in Nigeria. If hearsay evidence can ground a judgment in the UK, same cannot ground a judgment in Nigeria; Furthermore, if fraud can be proven in UK on

•Atuche

the balance of probabilities, such procedure is expressly forbidden in Nigeria”.

NBA holds Business Law conference May 25 THE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Business Law (SBL) will hold the eighth edition of the Business Law Conference from May 25-27. It will hold at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island. It has the theme: “Exemplary Governance – Enhancing Economic Development in Nigeria.” Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee Mr. Seni Adio said the event promises to be the best.

On why the theme was chosen, he said: “As you all know, when the country is economically viable, it will be able to produce jobs at an appreciable level for those who are looking for jobs, provide the correct security and that kind of very important requirements that the citizenry requires. Then you will be able to encourage and attract economic traffic inwards.”

“We have committees such as the banking and finance, capital market, intellectual property, insurance, sports and entertainment, tourism, consumer protection and products liability, aviation and each committee typically has a very robust presentations populated by experienced practitioners and experts in their different fields.

“So this years conference promises to be the very best we have ever had so far because we have a lot of eminent legal practitioners, business leaders and government dignitaries who will be attending the conference both indigenous practitioners and those who will be attending from different parts of the globe,” Adio said.

•Adio

42

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

POLITICS

43

TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

DELTA POLITICS House of Representatives member Hon. Ndudi Elumelu (Aniocha/Oshimili Constituency) is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Delta State. He spoke with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE on his aspiration, zoning and his party’s chance at the polls.

Why I am running for Delta governorship, by Elumelu

W

HY do you want to run for governorship in Delta State?

I have passion for my people. I believe they deserve the best and I think I can represent them. One can look at what I have been doing in the House of Representatives. Going by the opinion of my constituents, I have represented them well for two terms now. It was based on my good representation in my first term that informed their voting me again for the second term. If we leave the issue of passion for the people, you look at those things that you can be able to do, if given the opportunity to be there.

I know there is a system in place at the moment which is, of course the existing government, I intend to continue from where the government would stop; to ensure that the projects embarked upon by the Uduaghan government are completed. I have a party on whose platform I be running. I will channel whatever I will do based on the manifesto of the party, by ensuring that we bring to bear those things that are enshrined in the party manifesto in administering the state.

You are from a senatorial district that is yet to produce the governor of Delta State. Is there any agreement that power will shift to Delta North?

I don’t want to talk about the issue of agreement, but about understanding. Understanding is natural and moral. If two senatorial zones have had an opportunity, it is also good to understand that the third should be considered on moral grounds, provided that it is not tribal; that it is for the unity of the state and that the intent is not based on bias. Morally, that scenario should be allowed to play and I support it.

What we want is to have peace and unity when the existing government will expire and a new one takes over. We want to continue building on the existing structure that the present government is putting in place and the only way we can do that is to have understanding from the three senatorial zones. Central, South and North senatorial zones, none can do it alone; they need one another to ensure that they have a unity government. If it is on the basis of understanding and moral aspect, I agree that what is good for the goose should also be for the gander. The senatorial zone that has never been represented should be given an opportunity, but bearing in mind that it must be a collective drive.

What do you want to achieve, which the present administration hasn’t been able to achieve?

There are two issues that are playing itself and they are being tackled by the present government; one is revenue base on oil and revenue base on non-oil. What you should be asking is how the next government will ensure that loopholes, if any, that are existing tighten up so that we can maximise revenue generation, either from the oil or non-oil. If you will recall, my dynamic governor set the pace by declaring that we should look at Delta beyond oil. What it means is that any non-oil area that can generate revenue to the state should be harnessed. Of course, our team will ensure we follow from

B

• Governor Kashim Shettima

where ever he’ll stop. If at last we contest and eventually emerge, we will strengthen our IGR that is non-oil based as well as fully capture oil base revenue and channel them into infrastructure that will make life meaningful to the people where they do not exist and where they exist and yet to be completed and ensure they are completed. In effect, there shouldn’t be any abandoned project.

Looking at your senatorial zone there are so many people showing interest. How do you handle that?

There is always a saying, ‘the more the merrier’. The constitution allows everybody that meets the requirement to contest and you cannot stop anybody. The fundamental human right makes provision for everybody to air his/her mind. So, if anyone is aspiring and hopes to govern his state, I don’t see anything wrong, but it’s left for the electorate to decide who will best serve them. From the senatorial district that I come from, I’m aware that there is a system that is being put in place to look at all the aspirants, antecedents, ask them questions and come up with a sizeable number that can represent their interest. In essence, whichever way it goes, the few number that will be presented, if any of them is chosen, the people will rally round him.

I’m aware that such arrangement is in place and I have submitted myself to process. Let me clearly say that ruling the state or having an ambition shouldn’t be a do or die affair. If the process completes and I don emerge from that process I will then support whoever that emerges from that process. What is important is to move the state forward. It is not about selfish interest, ethnic issue or self-empowerment. It’s about the unity, peace and progress of the state; about the peace loving Deltans, giving an opportunity to select through voting, a credible governor that can effectively run the state.

But, some aspirants have discredited the process...

I don’t think he kicked against it. People were trying to ascribe that process to the PDP process and he came to tell people that it was not the PDP process because PDP process does not isolate or discriminate. That PDP process will want everybody to come onboard. So, he was trying to distinguish between the PDP process and conventional process by the community that make up Anioma entity. The people believe they have so many children eligible to govern or to represent their interest in any position and they came together to say let us chose a process that we enable us ask all the people interested in the position of power from the entity to submit their CVs after which they will engage them to declare themselves. You cannot hide the light, if

• Elemelu

you had been a Federal Government appointee; they want to know what you have attracted, based on that position. I think that was what forms the criteria. Also, if you are an elected officer for seven years like me, they want to see your achievement with special regards to your immediate constituency. And also those who are not in any elected position, but are on private sector, they want to also know how you have bettered the life of the people and society, either by employment or whatever. Even, if it is not physical, fixed or tangible issue, they want to know how you have impacted or supported the cause of Anioma community. These are the things that will inform the basis of their consideration. I have made myself available before them and, like I said, it is not a do or die affair.

Before my position, I come from a humble home and can decide to go and do farming, if at the end they decide to say, my son, you meet up, but it’s not your turn at this point. They can also decide to say, ok return to the position you have been holding. In effect, I’m leaving it to my people to decide who they want to represent them without rancour.

Having been Chairman, House Committee on Health for some years now, what are you achievement?

We look at the fundamentals. When I came

‘I agree that what is good for the goose should also be for the gander. The senatorial zone that has never been represented should be given an opportunity’

onboard, we didn’t have a regulatory system to control and administer the conduct of health institutions. What I did was to bring up a bill, which was called the Health Bill, to ensure that it is passed into law to strengthen, promote and regulate the conduct of health institutions in Nigeria.

It has gone into the consideration stage. I understand my colleagues in the Senate have passed theirs and, once we finish our budget, we will also pass our own. Then we will go to conference to harmonise our differences and send it to Mr President for his assent. The second one is universal coverage. Every Nigerian, irrespective of who you are, should be covered. In effect, one is covered in a case that there is mishap in your health. The Federal Government is required through the NHIS to register every Nigeria and subsidised what they pay to get health services.

The existing law now doesn’t provide for that; it only make the NHIS a player instead of being a regulator. So, I sponsored a bill called National Health Insurance Commission, NHIC. NHIS is a scheme itself and shouldn’t be an organisation, so we have embodied that scheme into NHIC and the bill has been passed in the House of Rep and we have committed it to Senate for concurrence. The Senate have done their public hearing and have considered it, after the budget we will meet at conference to agree on differences that we may have in the provisions that is in the bill. These are the foundation that we have done to ensure that healthcare services are provided.

In terms of physical infrastructure, I have 42 wards in my federal constituency and there is no ward that does not have one thing or the other that has been done to them either by way of solar, grid extension of electricity, comprehensive health centre. As a matter of fact, at the moment, there is one of the biggest cottage hospitals under primary health care that’s being built in my federal constituency. The project is almost gulping N1.2billion. It’s the first time in the history and I believe that when it is completed the presence of Mr President and my governor will be required to see that something could happen in this place and that the government of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is working. Also, we have had town halls built across the 42 wards, empowered youths and women who are into petty trading. Most importantly, what has been causing crisis in the society that has led to the death of some people is the issue of employment. My constituency has been so employed in different agencies, not only in the health sector. I have also gone beyond my constituency in the distribution of the dividend of democracy. I did that because I believe that is not proper to be selfish.

It’s good to look at the generality of the people.

In my distributing things that come to the state I work hand in hand with my colleagues from Delta State; we have 10 Rep members and three Senators. The ten Rep members myself included, each time we are doing budget I work with them and ask them what they want for the federal constituencies and I have successively done that for almost seven years. You can imagine what it is in Delta State in terms of infrastructure.

‘Fed Govt has marginalised Borno’

ORNO StateAll Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Mohammed Bukar has decried the lack of federal projects in the state.

Bukar lamented that the insurgency has affected the infrastrutural development, adding that federal institutions in the state are now limited to the teaching hospital, the University of Maiduguri and the military formation.

He called on the Federal Government to provide security and social amenties for the people to alleviate their suffering.

Bukar, who is eyeing a seat in the House of Representatives, said that the indigenes looked forward to another era of peace and

From Bodunrin Kayode, Borno

transquility. He said the pains of terrorism are visible the Maiduguri metropolitan Constituency.

Bukar added: “Most of us have been on ground, since the inception of this insurgency. We cry and laugh with the people. We share what we have with them and still ensure that we are ready pillars for them to lean on.

However, it is worrisome that most of the grassroots people are not being carried along by the members of the House now. I am worried at the acute poverty affecting our people.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria recently classified Borno as an extremely poor state with a low development index. This is disturbing,

in spite of the fact that we have members in the National Assembly with so much instruments at their disposal to alleviate poverty by empowering these suffering people.

“These people in the House promised heaven and earth. Yet, they have not been able to fulfill most of their promises” Bukar said that he would abandon his job at the First City Monument Bank to answer the people call to duty, assuring that he would articulate their interest, if elected as a legislator.

He supported the suggestion by the Northeast governors that the state of emergency should end so that the electoral commission can conduct elections in the zone next year.

The politician submitted that elections can hold in the zone, if the commission is ready for the exercise.

He said that, if Yobe State could conduct council polls during the emergency, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can successfully conduct the general election in the area.

Bukar added: “What the Federal Government needs to do is to intensify its efforts to make sure that the insurgents are completely eliminated from the region so that normal life can resume.

“I do not believe that elections cannot hold because of insurgency. After all, Yobe did it successfully and their democratic structures are in place now.”

44

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

POLITICS Afenifere chieftain and National Secretary of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) Justice Adewale Thompson died 10 years ago. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU revisits the life and time of the Awoist and his contributions to the socio-political development of the country.

‘Throughout his political career, he never jumped ship. His devotion to principle was legendary.

Tributes were showered on him when he was buried in Lagos. The summary of the encomium was that Justice Thompson was a man of honour, integrity and credibility, who shunned avarice, primitive accumulation and pursuit of vanity’

Thompson: 10 years after

H

E grew up at Odaliki Street, Ebute-Metta, Lagos Mainland, where his illustrious father, the late Henry Gureje Thompson, lived and worked as a licensed surveyor. It is about two hundred kilometers away from Ilesa, Osun State, his ancestral home. His early experience shaped his world view as he climbed the ladder of life. When he died 10 years ago, Adewale Thompson did not leave without a memorial. The Yoruba nation mourned the passage of the celebrated adventurist, jurist, pan-Africanist, consummate politician, committed Awoist, philosopher, author, newspaper columnist, and elder statesman.

He was a chieftain of the defunct Action Group (AG), Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and Alliance for Democracy (AD). Throughout his political career, he never jumped ship. His devotion to principle was legendary. Tributes were showered on him when he was buried in Lagos. The summary of the encomium was that Justice Thompson was a man of honour, integrity and credibility, who shunned avarice, primitive accumulation and pursuit of vanity.

But, like his compatriots, he left behind a divided Yorubaland and a polarised Afenifere, whose vacuum the YCE, which he served as the secretary, could not fill. Thompson also left behind a country in pains, having being plundered by soldiers of fortune for many years and left to the care of uncaring political class endlessly pursuing private gains, instead of the common good.

In blissful retirement, the dogged fighter spent his twilight of life on reflections, whipping into line the deviant operators who were off the track by his blunt and corrective pronouncements. His weapons were his incisive wit, power of logic, persuasive talent and sense of objectivity, which endeared his analysis of topical issues to the stakeholders in Nigeria project, including the community of critics who held a contrary view. At 81, the colourful Yoruba leader was conquered by death.

But, like a thief in the night, death sneaked into the inner chamber of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), snathing away the elder statesman and colourful scribe who was on the fast lane to 82.

Thompson was a meticulous and charismatic political figure. He was an effective organiser, inspirer and mobiliser. He was a great debater.

He may have learned the rudiments of city politics at the feet of his illustrious father, Ajayi Gureje Thompson (1892-1964), the famous licensed surveyor. For 16 years, (1954-1960), the Ijesa-born Lagosian was a member of Lagos Town Council.

Like most youths of that period, Thompson was fascinated by the legendary Herbert Macaulay, Ejongboro, the father of Nigerian Nationalism, the Zikist Movement, inspired by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the eloquent speaker and great freedom fighter, who enlisted the younger generation in the battle against colonialism.

His father was happy that he had a son in his own image. He sent him to Hope High School, Lagos for his elementary education. From there, he proceeded to Baptist Academy, Lagos where he obtained the Cambridge School Certificate in 1940. One of his teachers was the wordsmith, Samuel Ladoke Akintola, who later left teaching for journalism before proceeding to England to study Law. Thompson was re-united with Akintola in the AG before the 1962 crisis which again drew a wedge between the former teacher and pupil.

Ajayi Gureje Thompson appreciated the dignity of labour. Thus, he was delighted when his son was employed as a Third Class Clerk at the Post and Telegraphs Department, Marina, Lagos. That was between 1941 and 1944. In the colonial service, Thompson worked as a telegraphist, a wireless operator, and an accounts clerk. But, the thirst for higher education drove him overseas where he was admitted for the Honours Course in Law at Trinity College, Dublin, graduating as a Moderator in Legal Science (B.A. MOD and holder of a LL.B in 1948) and M.A. (TCD) in 1952. In 1951, he

• The late Justice Thompson

was called to the English Bar, Grays Inn London Hilary before enrolling as solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria the same year.

Between 1951 and 1967, Thompson had an impressive career in the bar. He was a senior partner in the law firm of Thompson and Coker Solicitor, at 11, Abibu Oki Street, Lagos. Legal historians recall that the brilliant lawyer handled some celebrated cases at the bar. He was the leading counsel for the Nigerian Farmers and Commercial Bank in the case of ‘The official Receiver of Nigeria versus The Nigerian Farmers and Commercial Bank’. The case dragged on for over eight years. Although he lost at the High Court and Supreme Court in 1953, he later won the case at the Privy Council, London in 1956. In the famous Elegba Juju case of 1961, Thompson was also the leading counsel for the 19 accused persons.

They were all acquitted and discharged.

During the turbulent days, he was unwavering in his support for the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Remarkably, Thompson was the leading counsel for six accused person in the treasonable felony trial between 1962 and 1963 involving the AG leader and 26 members of his party.

The legal practitioner also pitched his tent with the Lagos Market Women Association when Awolowo and Kajola markets, Mushin fell under the hammer of the Akintola-led Nigeria National Democratic Party (NNDP) government of Western Nigeria. The proposed demolition of the market had a political undertone as the traders were rooting for AG. His legal intervention prevented the controversial demolition.

In 1960, the Balewa Government ran into troubled waters over its proposed defense pact with Britain. The AG opposed the controversial pact. The students of the University of Ibadan (UI), who believed that the agreement had the potential of eroding the independence recently won from Britain, stormed the National Parliament in Lagos to disperse the legislators. There was a clampdown on nine students, described by the government as ring leaders. They were charged to the Lagos Magistrate’s Court for conduct likely to cause a breach of peace. Again, Thompson stood as a leading counsel for the students in the Defense Pact Case (1960). After a serious legal battle, they were discharged. An innovative lawyer, Thompson was also the first counsel to canvass the doctrine of contemporaneous accident in the country. He also won the battle up to the Supreme Court.

However, fortune did not smile on his political career, despite his devotion to Awo. In 1964, Thompson had offered himself for a popularity test.

The coveted slot was the Lagos federal seat, considered crucial and strategic to AG. His opponent at the shadow poll was another loyal and committed party man, Sikiru Shitta-Bey, political scion of the legendary Seriki Shitta-Bey family of IsaleEko, and dynamic Secretary of Action Group Youth Association. Both Thompson and ShittaBey were blazing the trail in the legal profession.

They were Awo’s devotees. Neither of them was willing to step down. It was therefore, a nightmare for party leaders and elders to choose between the two brilliant and trust worthy party activists who enjoyed equal rating. The jostling for parliamentary power degenerated into crisis.

The supporters of Thompson and Shitta-Bey began to flex muscles. This prompted the party to set up a committee to make recommendation.

The panel headed by the late Bola Ige advised in its report that Shitta-Bey should contest the election. As a loyal party chieftain, Thompson accepted the verdict in good faith.

But, between 1960 and 1963, Thompson had served as a member of the Board of the Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (ECN), representing the Western Nigeria. This trailed his brief stint as Director and Chairman of G.L. Gaiser Nigeria Limited in 1960. Following the military take-over,

Thompson became a judge of the High Court of Western State of Nigeria between 1967 and 1975.

Following the ban on politics in 1978, he rediscovered his old constituency, which had metamorphosed into the UPN led by his idol, Awolowo. Under the Bola Ige Administration, he served as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. That was between 1979 and 1983.

His compatriots in the cabinet were Pa Emmanuel Alayande, Bola Ige’s former teacher (Special Adviser on Education). Chief Sunday Afolabi (deputy governor), Chief Bisi Akande, (Secretary to the Government, and later deputy governor) Chief Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, (Education Commissioner), Chief Busari Adelakun (Local Govenrment and Chieftaincy Affairs), and Chief Morakinyo.

As a commissioner, the late jurist brought his vast experience at the bar and bench to bear on debates at the council chambers. The cabinet tapped from his pool of wisdom.

Reminiscent of the 1962 AG crisis, another crisis led to a split in the UPN, ahead of the 1983 governorship primaries. This led to the exit of Afolabi, Adelakun and other top leaders of the party to the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). Thompson resisted the temptation to join a bad company. Instead, he rallied support for Ige, who nevertheless lost the election to Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo in controversial circumstances.

In 1999, although, he cast his lot with the AD, the Afenifere chieftain was already fed up with political partisanship. In his old age, he accorded priority to the unity of Yoruba race and capacity of its sons and daughters to re-create its destiny.

He was very humorous. Whenever he sighted the late Afenifere leader, Senator Abraham Adesanya, he would demand that he should give him the respect befitting an elder, because he was older than him by one day. In reply, Adesanya would say: “Welcome my brother by one day.”

But, as the crisis ravaged Afenifere, Thompson and Alayande concentrated efforts on the YCE. Thompson was a moral voice and social critic.

He often criticised former President Olusegun Obasanjo for reneging on his pre-election promise to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians. He decried the devaluation of progressive politicking and the lifestyle of new breed politicians, who lived in opulence and promoted corruption in high places. He also lent his voice to the agitation for true federalism. In his view, federalism was the bedrock of autonomy for the defunct regions, which were in healthy competition in the pre- and independence years. Thompson also advised that the country to return to a revenue sharing, based on the principles of derivation, need and national interest. Thompson also advocated for the convocation of Sovereign National Conference (SNC) to discuss the basis for peaceful co-existence.

Born on June, 1922 with a golden spoon in his

mouth, he studied and practiced law, his first love, with passion. In all the societies he belonged, he towered like a colossus. He was the Assistant Secretary, Baptist Academy Old Students Association (1941), member, Trinity College Historical Society and it’s Library Committee (1947) and first African Secretary of Dublin Society (1947).

As secretary of the Association of Student of African Descent of Great Britain and Ireland, Dublin (1945-1948), he was a delegate at the pan-African congress in Manchester, England in 1945. Back at home, he became the Assistant Secretary Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) (1952-1958). National Patron, Baptist Academy Old Students Association (1995) and Secretary, Yoruba Tennis Club, (19601963). He was also named “Central Figure”, the Trinity College Dublin Alumni Association, and member, Royal Commonwealth Society, London.

An Anglican, Thompson was Chorister, St. John Church, Aroloya, Lagos (1933-1938), first Chairman, Young Men Christian Union, St. Jude’s Church, Ebute-Metta, (1941), member Iloro Young Men Society, St. John Cathedral, Iloro, Ilesa, Patron of Boys and Girls Brigade, All Saints Church Jerico, Ibadan. His name was in the Roll of Honour for distinction service for the church in n1999.

A holder of traditional chieftaincy titles of Lotun Aiyegunle of Ilesa (1982), Thompson also bagged two other honorary chieftancy titles: Bagbimo of Owu Ijebu and Aare Bamofin of Ode-Remo.

A prolific writer of ‘Megaforce’ fame in the Nigeria Tribune and seasoned author, his publications include Philosophy of Freedom (1951), Invisible World (1966), Pound For Penny (1977), African Believes. Science or superstition 1978), Philosophical Exercise (1982), the State and the Constitution (1982) and Manual for Justices of the Peace (1982).

Others are: A Treatise on war (1982), Biography for Dr. J. C. Vaughan Reminiscence at the Bar (1991), Song of the Angel (1992), Favoured by the gods (1992), Black People of the world (1995), All Saints Sermons (1996) and Secrets of Secret Societies (1978).

Thompson was also an eloquent speaker at public forums and conferences. At the first pan-Africa Conference convened by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah at Ghana in December 1953, he was given a standing ovation by delegates from across the globe after proposing the toast of Africa.

He drew the same accolade in 1982, when he wrote on the role of the bench as the arbiter. There, in the book titled: “The Practice of the Nigerian Constitution”, he wrote on the imperishable qualities of a honest jurist, who, he said, should give judgment without fear, favour, intimidation and timidity.

Thompson stated: “The correct principle illustrated by the hypothetical case of a Spartan judge sitting at the Thermopylae, surrounded by Persian arms, and yet giving his judgment according to the laws of Sparta with the full knowledge that he was about to die.”

The judge was initiated into free masonry at a ceremony performed by his Father in Lodge Academic No. 1150 (SC) Lagos, soon he climbed the ladder, emerging the District Grand Master of Nigeria (Scottish Constitution) (1983-1988), District Grand Secretary (1963-1970), Substitute Grand Master (1970-1973), and Deputy District Grand Master (1973-1978).

He was also an Honorary Grand Server warden of the grand lodge of Scotland, Edinburgh and member, Grand Lodge of the Royal Order of Scotland, Edinburgh.

He also attained high ranks under the Irish and English Constitutions. Following the release of his Masonic publications, Secrets of Secret Society, President J. J. Rawlings of Ghana reportedly shelved his plan to be the Irish order in the country after reading the pamphlet.

Thompson’s death is a loss to the cause of enthronement of good governance in Nigeria where many of the crisis of development rocking the polity remained largely unsolved and where the tribe of principled leaders, genuinely committed to the unity, peace, prosperity and progress of the fatherland is going down the grave.

‘Aregbesola deserves second term’

L

AGOS State All Progressives Congress (APC) Hon. Kola Okesanjo has urged the people of Osun State to rally support for Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the August 9 election.

In a statement Lagos the politician said that the governor deserved a second term because of the impressive performance of the governor in office.

Okesanjo stressed the need for continuity to enable the governor to complete his laudable projects that Aregbesola had surpassed him predecessors both in policy and development, adding that his re-election would consolidate the rapid transformation of socio-economic development of the state.

He added: “The challenge before the people of Osun State in the forthcoming election is more

of pragmatism, which should clearly inform them on how best to use their votes to further enhance development collective well being.

They should be forward-looking indeed which should therefore influence their political decisions. And in a realistic sense, such appreciation of the issues should naturally guide their thoughts to vote en-mass for the re-election of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who has shown, without doubt that a good and able leadership can really alter the course of history in such significant ways through effective performance in office effectively, the election should be about issues that can improve on the socioeconomic development of Osun State rather than those primordial sentiments bothering on religion or such mundane orchestrations by the opposition in the state.”

45

HEALTH

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Reducing the risk of Ebola infection breaks have been recorded, by planning on deriving map data, should there be an outbreak. This is because, most international helping hands were working blind, going off of local knowledge and news where outbreaks were recorded.

According to WHO, Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals. In Africa, infection has been documented through the handling of infected chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines found ill or dead in the rainforest.

Ebola then spreads in the community through human-to-human transmission, with infection resulting from direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people and indirect contact with environments contaminated with such fluids. Burial ceremonies in which mourners have direct contact with the body of the deceased person can also play a role in its transmission. Men who have recovered from the disease can still transmit the virus through their semen for up to seven weeks after recovery from illness.

Health-care workers have frequently been infected while treating patients with suspected or confirmed EVD. This has occurred through close contact with patients when infection control precautions are not strictly observed.

Among workers in contact with monkeys or pigs infected with Reston Ebola virus, several infections have been documented in people who are clinically asymptomatic. Thus, RESTV appears less capable of causing disease in humans than other Ebola species.

According to WHO, the only available evidence available comes from healthy adult males. It would be premature to extrapolate the health effects of the virus to all population groups, such as immuno-compromised persons, persons with underlying medical conditions, pregnant women and children.

More studies of RESTV are needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn about the pathogenicity and virulence of this virus in humans.

How can infection and death from Ebola be contained? In the absence of an effective treatment and a human vaccine, it is by raising awareness about the deadly virus, say experts. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA and WALE ADEPOJU report.

E

BOLA haemorrhagic fever (EHF) is one of the most viral diseases known to humankind. There are five distinct species of the genus Ebola virus. They are: Bundibugyo virus, Ebola virus, Reston virus, Sudan virus and Taï Forest virus. Bundibugyo, Sudan and Ebola species have been associated with large outbreaks of Ebola virus disease in Africa, causing deaths in 25 to 90 per cent of all clinically ill cases, while Tai Forest and Reston have not.

The Ebola virus is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected persons. Transmission of the Ebola virus can also be by handling sick or dead infected wild animals (chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope and fruit bats), called bush meat in Nigeria. The predominant treatment is general supportive therapy.

If contracted, the condition is called Ebola hemorrhagic fever and it is often fatal in humans and non-human primates such as monkeys and chimpanzees.

Ebola first appeared in 1976 in two simultaneous outbreaks, in Nzara, Sudan and Yambuku, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The latter was in a village situated near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name.

The question begging for answer is: Is Nigeria susceptible to Ebola disease outbreak? The answer is yes. Already, neighbouring countries on the West African Coast have been reported as having confirmed cases of infection from the dreaded disease. Is the country proactive in preventing an outbreak? The reply is in the negative.

As the World Health Organisation (WHO) is blowing its whistle on the outbreak and reducing the risks of infection of the Ebola virus, which causes Ebola virus disease (EVD) in humans, with a fatality rate of up to 90 per cent, i.e nine out of 10 people dying, Nigerian government is yet to create awareness for its citizens.

Since the outbreak of the deadly strain of Zaire Ebola in Guinea in February, this year, about 90 people have died as the disease has travelled to neighbouring Sierra Leone, Liberia and Mali. The outbreak has sent shock waves to communities that know little about the disease or how it is transmitted. The cases in Mali have increased the fears that it is spreading through West Africa. Ghana was said to have first suspected the deadly disease, but it was debunked, after the dead was examined.

Reports from the Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research at the University of Ghana showed that there are no cases of Ebola in Ghana. This was as a result of examining a 12-year-old girl, who was admitted at the paediatric unit of the country’s second biggest hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), in Kumasi. She had symptoms of fever and bleeding. But after a postmortem on her body, it was detected that she had internal bleeding.

Opinions sampled by The Nation revealed that many Nigerians are yet to understand the disease, mode of transmission and its prevention.

According to WHO, EVD outbreak is best prevented as there is no cure for it now. It says in the absence of effective treatment and a human vaccine, raising awareness of the risk factors of the disease and the protective measures to be taken would reduce human infection and death.

According to a professor of public health, Prof Akin Osibogun, because of its nature, Ebola causes its victims to bleed from their ears and other orifices because blood vessels are being weakened so they easily burst.

Susceptibility/Unpreparedness

Signs and symptoms

‘More awareness is needed to enlighten the people on the disease. Neither anybody who sees people with obvious signs of the disease should keep quiet nor the affected person go to prayer houses or visit herbalists; rather, they should go to a health facility’ In Nigeria, should there be an outbreak, the reality is that there are little or no effort in place to contain same.

The state of most of the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and secondary healthcare centres across the country does not support the curtailment of an outbreak. The tertiary hospitals cannot be said to be well equipped for this too.

One of the ways to get ahead of it, is to make sure emergency response teams have the right information as soon as information flow allows. But that is, if citizens can understand the disease and report to health facilities promptly.

If medical staff are not aware of what the disease is, the risk to them and other patients is enormous, which is why the infection rates among medical staff has been so high, even

where there are confirmed cases in neigbouring countries.

Moreso, many clinics and hospitals in a developing country such as Nigeria, do not have the capacity to safely care for people with disease- they do not have gowns and gloves or disinfectants.

International collaboration is important.

This is where the likes of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and the International Federation of Red Cros come in. They can help identify the disease and ensure the local communities understand it and how it has spread and can further spread.

Explaining the disease and its spread are key in saving lives. It is important that Nigeria learn from other countries where out-

EVD is a severe viral illness often characterised by the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, while in some cases, it can be through both internal and external bleeding. Laboratory findings include low white blood cell and platelet counts and elevated liver enzymes.

People are infectious as long as their blood and secretions contain the virus. Ebola virus was isolated from semen 61 days after onset of illness in a man, who was infected in a laboratory, stated WHO. Prof Osibogun said the incubation period, that is, the interval from infection to onset of symptoms, is two to 21 days. And other symptoms according to him, include, “high fever, vomiting and muscle pain. The virus is transmitted through contact with body fluids (blood, saliva and sweat) of infected persons”.

Prevention The Director-General (DG), National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Prof Innocent Ujah has called for more awareness on the disease in order to increase Nigerians’ knowledge about the disease.

He said though the disease is not present in the country, but it could find its way into the country through its borders because Nigerians travel a lot and many people also migrate into the country. “The disease does not exist in the country, but there is the possibility of it finding its way as it be imported by travelers.

People should be vigilant and report any case of the disease to the nearest government health facility.

“More awareness is needed to enlighten the people on the disease. Neither anybody who sees people with obvious signs of the disease should keep quiet nor the affected person go to Continued on Page 46

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

46

HEALTH

Ebola disease: Symptoms, prevention trained staff and processed in suitably equipped laboratories.

Continued from Page 45 prayer houses or visit herbalists; rather; they should go to a health facility,” he said.

He encouraged people to cook their meat properly to kill any virus that may transmit the disease.

Prof Osibogun advised that since several cases have been reported in Guinea, Liberia and possibly Sierra Leone, there is a need for epidemic vigilance in all West African countries and beyond because of the ease of modern travel.

Prevention and treatment

Diagnosis Other diseases that should be ruled out before a diagnosis of EVD can be made include: malaria, typhoid fever, shigellosis, cholera, leptospirosis, plague, rickettsiosis, relapsing fever, meningitis, hepatitis and other viral haemorrhagic fevers.

According to a staff of Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), Yaba, Lagos, there is a standard procedure for the diagnosis of Ebola virus. The source said: “Ebola virus infections can be diagnosed definitively in a laboratory through several types of tests: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); antigen detection tests; serum neutralisation test; reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay and virus isolation by cell culture. Samples from patients are an extreme biohazard risk and testing should be conducted under maximum biological containment conditions. But I am afraid Nigeria is not fully prepared for all of the laid down diagnostic procedure.”

A member of West African College of Physicians, who wants her identity protected also said there is the fear that should there be confirmed cases in the country, health workers are at risk because “controlling infection in health-care settings is tasking.

Human-to-human transmission of the Ebola virus is primarily associated with direct or indirect contact with blood and body fluids. Its transmission to health-care workers has been reported when appropriate infection control measures were not observed.

“It is not always possible to identify patients with EBV early because initial symptoms may be non-specific.

For this reason, it is important that health-care workers

•The Registrar/CEO Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), Prof Anthony Emeribe presenting the African Society of Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) 5Star Certificate Awarded to the medical laboratory of 445 Airforce Hospital, Ikeja to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosun in Abuja

•Staying away from animals, such as monkeys, bats, snakes, pigeons, and handling of bush meat as shown above, can prevent contracting the disease.

•An Ebola virus victim bleeding in the mouth

apply standard precautions consistently with all patients regardless of their diagnosis in all work practices at all times. These include basic hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment (according to the risk of splashes or other contact with infected materials), safe injection practices and safe burial practices,” she said.

She continued: “The WHO recommendation for Healthcare workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed Ebola virus should apply, in addition to standard precautions. Other infection control measures include avoiding exposure to the patient’s blood and body fluids and direct unprotected

SOURCE: PT

contact with the possibly contaminated environment.

“When in close contact (within one metre) of patients with EBV, health-care workers should wear face protection (a face shield or a medical mask and goggles), a clean, non-sterile long-sleeved gown, and gloves (sterile gloves for some procedures). But the Federal Ministry of Health is yet to sensitise health workers across the Federation on this. It just took it for granted that the Universal precaution would be observed.”

Laboratory workers are also at risk. Samples taken from suspected human and animal Ebola cases for diagnosis should be handled by

According to Assistant Director-General, Health Security and Environment, Dr Keiji Fukuda and Medical Officer, WHO, Dr Stéphane Hugonnet, no vaccine for EVD is available. Several vaccines are being tested, but none are available for clinical use.

“Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. Patients are frequently dehydrated and require oral rehydration with solutions containing electrolytes or intravenous fluids. No specific treatment is available. New drug therapies are being evaluated,” they said.

Ebola viruses cause severe disease in humans because they can deactivate the innate immune system. Associate Professor of Microbiology at Mount Sinai, Christopher Basler, and his team have studied how Ebola viruses evade the immune system and discovered that a viral protein called VP35 is critical to deactivating the immune system.

They found out that when VP35 interacts with an important cellular protein called PACT, it blocks PACT from activating the immune system, allowing the virus to spread.

“Ebola viruses are extremely lethal and are a great threat to human health as a bioweapon,” said Dr. Basler, adding: “Currently, there is no approved vaccine or treatment. Our findings will hopefully pave the way for future antiviral treatments.”

With the help of collaborators at the University of Texas and access to special high containment facilities, Dr. Basler and his team infected healthy cells with Ebola virus cells that had mutated versions of VP35. The mutations disabled VP35’s ability to interact with PACT, therefore, allowing it to activate the immune system and prevent the virus from replicating.

The researchers then overexpressed PACT in healthy cells and infected them with Ebola virus cells. They found that overexpressing PACT also inhibited viral replication.

Armed with this discovery, Dr. Basler and his team hope to develop drugs that will disrupt the interaction of VP35 with PACT, or drugs that overexpress PACT.

DENTAL TALK with Dr Samuel Awosolu 08108155239 (SMS Only); email- samawosolu@yahoo.co.uk

The Tongue

T

HE tongue is a structure that occupies a sizeable portion of the oral cavity. It has some roles carried out solely and others, in conjunction with other structures in the oral cavity.

Chiefly amongst its roles are speech, taste deciding structures called taste buds and production of saliva.

There are salivary glands below and on the surface of the tongue. It is a tactile organ too. The tongue is mobile and attached in places such as the floor of the mouth and the sides by a fibrous structure known as the frenulum.

There are muscles attached within the tongue and to the sides and other locations of the tongue.

The tongue colour and pathology may be a sign of more localised or generalised conditions in the body.

A few conditions of the tongue will be discussed below.

Ankyloglossia This is also known as tongue tie mainly because it affects the mobility of the main body of the tongue. It is a developmental problem, that is, a defect in the process of development of the tongue. The frenulum or the cord attaching the tongue to the floor of the mouth is attached too close to the tip of the tongue. It could also lead to speech problems. A nursing mother may first notice this in the child when the tongue seems tied by a thick code or tissue to the floor of the mouth, hence the descriptive name- tongue tie.

The dentist may be able to offer relief using a pair of scissors or dental incisions to release the tie, a process called Frenectomy.

Macroglossia The prefix macro is a descriptive term to represent something large in this case; larger than normal, glossia is another term for tongue. Macroglossia will therefore, describe a large tongue than the average size tongue found in the population group. There are a lot of causes of macroglossia; it may be developmental or congenital; meaning, an individual could be born with the condition or due to a disease state and condition, or some conditions like Down's Syndrome, also called trisomy 21, which affects children.

There are conditions of excessive production of the human growth hormone by the body (acromegaly) or tumours producing the hormones.

In most cases it is compatible with life and not treated except where there are functional and aesthetic problems. In which case a maxillofacial surgeon can carry out resection/reduction of the tongue.

The tongue may likewise be smaller than usual (microglossia).

The physical surface of the tongue may present with an appearance of fissures and furrows. These fissures can harbour bacteria and lead to bad breath- Halitosis. It could also become infected and swollen.

Hairy tongue is an appearance; a descriptive appearance and the cause is unknown.

The tongue may also be hyper-pigmented. The dentist when consulted will offer treatment which may involve scraping the surface of the tongue.

De-papilation of the tongue is another condition of the tongue. The tongue is full of papillae and in this situation the papillae are lost. They are seen in some nutritional deficiencies of vitamins and micro nutrients.

Sore tongue (Glossodyna) The tongue may become sore sometimes and gives a semblance of burns . Some of the causes of this condition include iron deficiency, anaemia, pernicious anaemia, candidasis and vitamin B group deficiencies.

The treatment of the deficiencies causes the tongue to go back to its normal condition.

Ulcers and other swellings of the tongue Like every structure in the body the tongue is covered by epithelium, the loss of continuity on the surface of any structure or organ gives rise to an ulcer. Ulcers of the tongue are seen in some conditions like tuberculosis, syphilis, gonorrhoea infections, viral conditions, trauma from biting the tongue. Generally, lack of oxygen in the tissues of the body can manifest in the tongue, cyanosis or blueness seen in circulatory insufficiency. Loss of taste sensation in the tongue can also occur.

Nerve damage can occur and part of the tongue supplied by the damaged nerve becomes paralysed.

The practise of putting studs , rings, bars or any ornaments, piercings and tattoos on the tongue is to be frowned at due to the danger of infections and bleeding.

The tongue needs to be cleaned regularly like other parts of the mouth •See you next week

47

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS MARITIME

e-mail: maritime@thenationonlineng.net

• Transport Minister Senator Idris Umar (2nd left), Permanent Secretary Mr Emodi Nebolisa (left), NPA Managing Director Mallam Habibi Abdullahi and Senior Special Assistant to the PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI President on Maritime Services Mr Leke Oyewole during an intermodal conference in Lagos.

DAUDA

Customs generates N722m revenue

Jonathan probes NPA • Inefficiency, revenue leakages alleged

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has raised a five-man committee to probe the activities of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in the past two years.

His action followed a report of management inefficiency and revenue leakages at the ports by the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

NIMASA protects the territorial waters against pirates and keeps records of vessels entering and leaving the country to forestall the shipment of toxic goods.

NPA Managing Director (MD) Mallam Habib Abdullahi and two of his general managers were said to have appeared, last week, before the panel, which is headed by Vice President Namadi Sambo.

Members of the panel are Dr Jonathan’s Chief of Staff (CoS), BrigGen Jones Arogbofa, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, Minister of Transport Senator Idris Umar and the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Maritime Services, Mr Leke Oyewole.

The meeting, sources said, was tense as the panel expressed displeasure at the ports situation.

T

• Vice President Sambo Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda Maritime Correspondent

It wondered why NPA abdicated its core-job of monitoring the number of vessels that berths at the ports.

The panel also sought to know why there is no record of the over 500 vessels that reportedly berthed at the port and left.

The meeting is expected to continue this week.

Among other allegations in NIMASA’s report, are that NPA has abdicated its core-job of vessels’ monitoring and the berthing of vessels without records of revenue collected.

Besides these allegations, the president is said to be worried that NPA is not discharging its watchdog role at the ports following challenge from neighbouring countries’ ports.

Ghana and Benin, which are Nigeria’s neighbours, are said to have started building deep seaports.

The president felt that instead of guiding the government on the deep seaport policy, NPA is exposing Nigeria to danger by not keeping accurate records of vessels coming to the country and their cargoes despite the prevailing security challenges.

HE Seme Command of Ni-geria Cus toms Service (NCS), generated N722.1 million revenue last month.

The command’s spokesman, Ernest Olottah, told The Nation that the revenue was N94 million higher than the N628.5 million generated in February.

Olottah attributed the increase to higher business activities during the month.

“In the month of March, the command generated more revenue because trading activities were high. As the year goes on, our revenue generation will get higher and we will be able to surpass our monthly target on N1.1 billion,” he said.

He said the command generated N8.48 billion in 2013, adding that the figure was N4.5 billion lower than the N13 billion target set for the year.

Olottah assured that the command would realise the N13 billion revenue target set for it this year by the management.

He said the command made 63 seizures in March with Duty Paid Value (DPV)of N21.4 million.

According to him, the items seized include cars, hard drugs, rice, vegetable oil, second hand clothes, frozen poultry products and general goods.

Olottah said the command also arrested one person for alleged smuggling poultry products during the period, adding that he would be prosecuted after investigation.

He urged Nigerians to desist from smuggling due to its adverse effects on the economy.

“We need to realise that smuggling is not good for the economy, so we must work together to save our economy and embrace legitimate trades. In the course of importing and exporting any product, protocols must be observed by paying levies and duties to the Nigeria Customs Service,” he said.

Builddryports,Shippers’CouncilurgesINTELS

T

HE Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Hassan Bello, has urged INTELS Nigeria Limited to consider building dry ports in the country.

At a meeting with Intels management, Bello said as the country diversifies its economy, there would be need for dry ports that could be used for export.

He said a lot of cargoes were being lost to neighbouring landlocked countries with transit ports.

“We would like INTELS to look at its connection with inland facilities, especially the dry ports, because the nexus between the seaports and the dry ports is important, these are areas of investment that you will make in order to bring shipping to the door step of shippers, he said.

“I am sure that if there is the connection between INTELS and any of the dry ports, it will be fantastic, we will like you to look at this and see how you can further invest.

“We will also like INTELS to take into cognisance, Nigeria’s international obliga-

tion to transit trade. We have landlocked countries like Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, there are transit ports in Ghana now and Benin which should not be so, because Nigerian ports are efficient now and we will like INTELS to look at it, 300,000 tonnes of cargo from Niger per annum is huge,” stating that these are cargoes that should be of interest to the firm.

Bello said the Shippers Council is set to embark on a tour of all terminals and ports as part of his newly assigned obligation as a port regulator.

Responding, Intels Authorities Manager, Bamishebi Thomson, said the essence of the visit is to partner with the council and pledge its commitment to its goals, pointing out that INTELS enjoys good support of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and that it would like to extend same to Council.

“We have done a lot in the industry and this will be shown when the Executive Secretary visits us in Onne, how we have transformed it from what it was in 1982 till date,” he said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

48

THE NATION

BUSINESS AVIATION

Don’t merge NCAA, NAMA, NIMET, experts warn govt The battle line seems to have been drawn between the Federal Government and stakeholders over the merger of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency ( NAMA) and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) as the Federal Civil Aviation Authority (FCAA). They are asking the government to reverse a decision which it has raised a committee to implement. KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR reports.

B

ARRING any last-minute hitch, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency ( NAMA), and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency ( NIMET), will this week become the Federal Civil Aviation Authority (FCAA) following their merger.

The proposal to merge the three aviation agencies follows the white paper issued by government on the report of the Steven Oronsaye led presidential committee on the restructuring and rationalisation of public parastatals , commissions and agencies.

But as the committee set up by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, gets set to implement the policy, all is not well.

Stakeholders are asking the government to reverse the merger or face its wrath.

They say the merger negates the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which prescribed the separation of the operations of service providers from that of a regulatory agency.

In 1999, agencies under FCAA, were unbundled to create the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), NAMA, NCAA, and NIMET. According to experts, of the 197 member-states of ICAO, 110 have separated their agencies to avoid collision between service provision and regulation.

“Separation of provision from regulation is consistent with principles of good governance, the regulatory oversight function must be seen as independent and transparent,” ICAO said.

Over 110 have complied with this principle and have moved on with the separation.

Germany, United Kingdom (UK), France, Russia, Ireland, Canada, Ukraine to mention a few are some of the 110 countries that have implemented this resolution.

Autonomy for the air navigation services provider and its separation from the regulatory oversight function is well established in ICAO guidance material.

The Executive Chairman, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Captain Nogie Meggison, said the merger of the agencies is another attempt by the government to thwart the growth and development of the sector.

Meggison said the domestic airlines’ body is opposed to the merger because it is at variance with prescribed international regulations, part of which it is a signatory.

He said: “The airline operators under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) disagrees with the Federal Government on the plan to collapse three agencies (NAMA, NCAA and NIMET) into one.The decision is against the ICAO regulation in Section 8335.

“It is not right to have the NCAA as the referee and the player at the same time. NCAA has been established in compliance with ICAO set standards and practices .

“We believe information that was given to the committee set up in 2011 to make that decision is obviously obsolete as per ICAO regulation.

“It is baffling that countries, such

•Oronsaye

• Ojikutu

•Meggison

•Ore

as South Africa and Ghana, came to Nigeria to learn about our independent agencies and how they run as per ICAO regulations have gone back to their countries to implement what they came to learn from us.

Unfortunately, Nigeria is attempting to go back to the obsolete form.

“It will appear as if Nigeria was doing everything to fail the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) category one aviation inspection.

“We know that the government is trying to cut costs because of the recurrent expenditure, but these agencies could be self-sustaining without government funding for their operations.

“We, therefore, implore the government to take a second look at the recommendation because of the danger it portends to the industry at large.”

Aviation watchdog, Aviation Round Table (ART), has kicked against the merger of three agencies.

It said the plan was another wrong decision by the government.

ART noted that the planned merger should not be allowed to see the light of the day.

In a statement by Capt. Dele Ore, president and Sam OwolabiAkerele, ART said: “ The merging of NCAA, NIMET and NAMA to form an agency of aviation is another ridiculous state of affairs for the aviation sector .

“To avoid any further embarrassment, the contemplated merger should not materialise.

“Once again, we have retrogressed into the 1995 era. This is another wrong decision by the government and it should be rescinded immediately.

“Nigeria should not at this time, be seen to be working at cross-purposes to ICAO’s international standards.

“It would not matter what kind of amendment is anticipated into the establishment Acts of the affected parastatals, Nigeria will be in violation of international best practices.

This will be another ridicule to which this country will now be ex-

posed to.

“Section 30 of the Civil Aviation Act 2006 is explicit and no matter how we manipulate that Act. “The new FCAA will no longer be able to regulate air traffic control and meteorological services. The new FCAA cannot be a regulator as well as being a service provider.

“This exercise was done without wide consultation with the industry and the government was misinformed and misadvised by so-called professionals to serve the own selfish end.”

Also, Secretary-General, Nigerian Aviation Professionals Association ( NAPA), Comrade Adbulrasaq Siedu, described the merger as antidevelopment.

Rather than succumb to the proposal for the merger of agencies, Siedu called on the Federal Government to scrap the Ministry of Aviation.

He said the Ministry is not adding any value to the sector.

Siedu said any attempt by the government to implement the approval would erode the gains so far achieved in the sector.

Siedu continued: “We are part of the stakeholders and cannot fold our hands, close our mouths to allow the destabilisation of the past gains in the sector to be wished away unchecked.

“It will be suicidal for Nigeria to decide to go back to a system which was tried and failed due to lack of compliance with ICAO practices and set standard.

“We submit with all seriousness and act of patriotism, to strongly advise President Goodluck Jonathan to scrap the Ministry of Aviation and to allow NCAA to function without any hindrance as this shall be the solution to Aviation unabated logjams.

“The functions of the Ministry of Aviation do not add value to the parastatals rather, it compound problems.

“We call on President Goodluck Jonathan to stop the proposed merger as this is not the best way to sustain category one.”

He advised: “Do not merge NCAA, NAMA and NIMET together but let them statutorily function under the supervision and regulation of NCAA in terms of safety critical issues and the sustenance of category one .”

Besides, Managing Director, Finum Aviation Services, Kyari Sheri, said the merging was wrong, which must not be allowed to stand.

“I think it is one thing that the government should try as much as possible to reverse as quickly as possible. What is on ground is an international practice so Nigeria should not begin to drag us back to what we used to be in those days.

“In terms of safety, there is no way

‘The intended merger if sustained will return Nigeria to the era of self-regulation which portends danger to aviation safety and the healthy and orderly development of aviation in Nigeria. This is the stand of the aviation workers, unions and professional associations’

an organisation can regulate itself and it is not just possible.”

Meanwhile, some aviation unions and professionals association in a statement in Lagos last week said the merger of the agencies would not stand.

Speaking for the unions, Comrade Abdulkareem Motajo, general secretary, National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Comrade Captain Tarnongu, deputy general secretary, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and Comrade Ocheme Aba, general secretary, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers ( NAAPE), said the merger would fail.

The unions said: “Having critically considered this development, we have come to the conclusion that this decision is highly in error, retrogressive and devoid of wise counsel.

“We are, therefore, of the opinion that anyone involved with the aviation development in Nigeria will agree that the implementation of this merger plan would reverse all the progress made over the years and take Nigeria back more than two decades.

Surely, this cannot be the desire of government.

“As patriotic Nigerians, we believe that the government must have been misled into accepting the Oronsanye recommendation which would make Nigeria a laughing stock of the international community and bring her into disrepute on matters of maintenance of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) as well as international best practices.

“The intended merger of these agencies should, therefore, be stepped down immediately and allowed to remain as they are, which is in conformity with ICAO minimum standards.

“We wish to state most profoundly that if safety and security of the Nigerian airspace is uppermost in our minds, we should discard the merger exercise and allow the aviation agencies to function optimally in accordance with their enabling laws.

“The intended merger if sustained will return Nigeria to the era of self regulation which portends danger to Aviation Safety and the healthy and orderly development of Aviation in Nigeria.

“This is the stand of the aviation workers, unions and professional associations.”

Also, an aviation security expert, Group Captain John Ojikutu ( rtd), said the proposed merger is another disservice to the growth of the industry.

He said in Lagos: ”Oronsaye must have been wrongly briefed by some egg heads. How do you merge operators of the industry with the regulator? This merger completes what Oduah started – bring the industry under the jack boot of the government. Must the government drive the policy, regulate and operate the industry? We must be in a world of our own and out of the earth planet.”

Instead, Ojikutu added: “We should get the private operators to invest more on the industry or commercialise government operators, such as FAAN and NAMA as recommended in the privatisation and commercialisation Act of 2000, the government instead is appropriating the industry to itself alone.”

49

TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

* The Environment * Mortgage * Apartments * Security * Homes * Real Estate Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com 08062722507

property@thenationonlineng.net muyiwalucas2002@yahoo.com

Investors in property and real estate are flocking the Lekki-Epe corridor in anticipation of the opportunities from that area when the $9 billion Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical plant and other mega projects take off. The rush has triggered a sharp rise in the value of property on that axis, reports Assistant Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA

•Richmond Gate Estate developed by Haven Homes, Lekki.

Boom in Lekki-Epe property market

T

HE Lekki-Epe corridor of Lagos has become irresistible to property and real estate investors.

Attracted by the upcoming $9 billion Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical plant, the West Africa gas pipeline in Ibeju-Lekki, the deep seaport, and the East-West road, which passes through Lekki, among others, local and foreign investors are literarily falling over themselves to invest in the area.

The Nation learnt that since the Dangote Group awarded the project management consultancy, engineering and construction management for the 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) crude oil and 600,000 tonnes polypropylene plant, Lekki has become a beehive of construction.

Apart from the refinery, located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ), a large portion of land in the area has been earmarked for the construction of an international airport. Also, the Lagos State Government, as part of the urban renewal programme of the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola, has intensified its aggressive infrastructure development aimed at transforming Lagos into a mega city.

For instance, the state govern-

ment, and the Lekki Concession Company (LCC), constructed and expanded the Lekki–Epe Expressway, introduced the computerised tollgate, and also developed new alternative routes that made driving to and from Lekki less cumbersome. The Lekki link bridge between Lekki phase I and Ikoyi has also been opened, while the state government has proposed the construction of a fourth mainland bridge to link Lekki to Ikorodu.

Essentially, the partnership between the state government and LCC intensified construction in the Lekki Peninsula and also culminated into a 30-year concession programme, which is gradually transforming the area into a highly modernised and functional living and working environment.

Encouraged by these, LCC Chief Executive Officer, Opuiyo Oforiokuma, boasted that Lekki would be a world-class arena, both in terms of influx of businesses as well as in residential properties.

The area alone boasts of over 50 estates, gated residential developments, and commercial complexes.

Experts even say the number would double in the next few years as a result of on-going developments on the corridor. For inves-

•Adedeji

tors, the opportunities expected to open up in the area when these projects come on stream are too tempting to be ignored.

Already, property analysts and experts say the area looks good to play a major role as the new investment hub for real estate investors as Lagos gradually evolves to a mega city, a development, which perhaps, accounts for the sharp rise in the value of property in that axis.

The Managing Partner, Adrant Partners, a Lagos-based firm of real estate and property consultancy, Mr. Ranti Adedeji, confirmed that because of the influx of local and foreign investors to the area, the value of property has skyrocketed. He said, for instance, that rent for a

three-bedroom flat in Lekki Phase 1 has increased from N2.5 million to N6.5 million per year, while a duplex rose from N20 million to between N60 million and N75 million. Those willing to rent same apartment will have to part with between N8 million and N10 million per annum.

Adedeji added that a block of flats now go for between N60 million and N75 million outright sale, whereas to rent same property, a prospective client will have to pay between N3.5 million and N4.5 million per year. The real estate expert said apart from residential apartments, offices of banks, insurance companies, big corporate organisations as well as automobile dealers, eateries, and shopping plazas dot the Lekki-Epe landscape.

He said with the fast-paced developments in the area, more shopping plazas and commercial properties would soon spring up in the area.

A property consultant, Gbenga Owoeye, attributed the upsurge in property development in the area to non-availability of land in Ikoyi and Victoria Island. This, he said, encouraged many prospective homeowners to look towards the Lekki–Epe area in the hope of taking advantage of the numerous business opportunities that would come on the back of the siting of the refinery and other major infrastructure projects there.

He said investors in real estate are erecting fantastic structures comparable to those in Europe

and other advanced countries.

Lekki Phase I, Agungi, Chevron Drive, Lekki Peninsula Phase I, Wood Green Estate, Stillwaters Garden Estate and many more are replete with such exotic structures.

For instance, Wood Green Estate located behind Chevron Drive boasts solar power as a reliable and ecofriendly alternative to the erratic electricity supply in the state. The estate also boasts Olympic size swimming pool, 24 hour closed circuit camera (CCTV) surveillance, maximum security and a state-ofthe-art recreational park, among other facilities.

The Ikota Villa, another estate within the area is also a mix of grandeur and style. The walls of the properties in the estate are screened, that is, sanded and polished to allow a smooth and straight finish, creating a sharper appearance and textured finish; while the ceilings are Plaster of Paris, PoP coated, providing a smooth finish and a white effect.

In addition to this, the toilets and kitchens are of the highest standard with equipment imported from Britain.

However, as attractive as this axis has suddenly become to investors, only the super-rich can afford the high cost, which experts say is because of the swampy nature of the area. Property developers spend huge resources on pilling and raft foundation before proper construction begins, a situation that forces them to transfer the cost to property buyers. But this has not discouraged investors most of who are hopeful of bountiful returns on investment.

TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

50

THE NATION

BUSINESS ENERGY

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

Shell: we generated $44b for govt in four years

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

•Group Managing Director, Shell Worldwide Ben van Beurden

B

ETWEEN 1999 and 2013, oil giant Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) generated $44 billion in revenue for the Federal Government, the firm’s report has said.

The firm and its sister company, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), paid $4billion in taxes and royalties to the government last year. A breakdown shows SPDC paid $2.6 billion and SNEPCO, $1.4 billion.

These are contained in the report published by Shell in complaince with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) guidelines, which mandate oil firms to publish payments to the government.

In its 2013 Sustainability Report , Shell said the disclosures would help in entrenching transparency on how such revenues are disbursed.

The company said: “Our operations generate revenue through taxes and royalties for governments around the world. These funds can help support a country’s economy and contribute to local development. We believe greater transparency in payments to governments, and how they are used, is important for building trust between businesses such as ours and the communities we work alongside.

“We work openly with governments on matters of taxes and royalties. We are a founder and board member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

This initiative requires both governments and companies to disclose revenues received from oil and mineral activities.

“In 2003, Shell was the first company to publish the royalties, taxes and other payments made to the government, with its permission and support. Shell started to voluntarily publish an annual revenue transparency report in 2012.

“It provides an overview of the revenues we pay to host governments in certain key countries in respect of our activities, where such disclosure is not prohibited by the host government. We took this step to reinforce efforts to increase

Ikeja, Eko DISCOs ‘get only 26 per cent of power’

T

HE Ikeja and Eko Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) get 15 per cent and 11 per cent from the national grid, their new owners have said.

Chairman, Sahara Energy Group, Kola Adesina and Chairman, West Power and Gas Limited, Charles Momoh, owners of the two firms, said power supply had become so insignificant that it has worsened the “precarious situation” in Lagos.

They spoke to The Nation during the Lagos Economic Summit.

Adesina’s company plans about 230 megawatts (MW).

“We want to make available about 230 megawatts (MW) not captured by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) as part of the agenda to stabilise power supply. The two DSICOs in the state receive only 11 per cent and 15 per cent of generated power stock from the national grid,” he said, noting that the poor grid supply has worsened the precarious situation of consumers.

He also noted that a change of attitude would help in curbing or eliminating pipeline vandalism and other national assets used for power generation, which consequently, would help in achieving improved power supply.

Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial centre with a population of over 20 million needs about 20,000MW to meet its industrial and domestic power needs.

The utility chiefs said Ikeja

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

DISCO requires at least 950MW, but gets only 300MW, a deficit of 650MW. Eko DISCO gets only 240MW as against its 750MW requirement.

Eko DISCO is asking for the submission of bids from independent power generators and has received applications from at least 45 bidders.

Successful bidders are to supply the shortfall from the grid supply - in an initiative that was part of the agenda to generate over 500MW to meet the needs of consumers within the Eko network.

A Director in the company, Dr Tunji Olowolafe, said the company would invest N42 billion in power facilities in the next five years to reinforce electricity supply A Commissioner in Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Eyo Ekpo, advised the two DISCOs to collaborate with the private sector to boost power supply.

Ekpo added: “We must build foundation blocks to boost power supply in Lagos. The state has a population of over 20 million. If you look at the scenario, you will discover that 1000MW will meet the power needs of about one million people, multiply that by 20; therefore, Eko and Ikeja Discos have to embark on embedded power supply deal. This is one of the key enablers of achieving the dream of meeting the power demand of residents of Lagos.”

transparency on revenues to governments ahead of any mandatory requirements taking effect.”

Shell said to help improve accountability, it supports a global reporting rule for the industry, in line with EITI goals to achieve greater transparency, adding that it is monitoring the implementation of United States’ and European Union’s (EU) regulations and actively engaging with others to

find a workable and common global standard.

“In 2013, Shell paid globally $20.3 billion in corporate taxes, and $4.1 billion in royalties. We collected $80.9 billion in excise duties and sales taxes on our fuel and other products on behalf of governments,” the report added.

The report also noted other Shell’s contributions to the economy. They include SPDC and

SNEPCo contracts awarded to Nigerian companies last year worth $1.5 billion, 4,000 direct employees working at SPDC and SNEPCo, thousands of indirect jobs created, adding that about 95 per cent of employees at SPDC and SNEPCo are Nigerians.

It also said SPDC and SNEPCo’s contributions to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) last year was $180.6 million while $104.1 million was the contribution from SPDC and SNEPCo to community development projects.

•Addax Petroleum Deputy Managing Director, Corporate Services, Tunji Mayaki (3rd right) with beneficiaries of N27.6m grants given to 433 women drawn from seven of its host communities in Imo State to begin businesses of their own under a Micro-Credit Scheme.

Body warns against flouting SON’s policy coming to Nigeria, there HE Nigerian Liquiefied on cylinders inders is no control over the product.’’

Petroleum Gas Associa-

T

tion (NLPGA) has warned its over 200 members against flouting the policy of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria’s (SON) on gas cylinders. Such offenders are to be prosecuted.

Its President, Dayo Adesina, told The Nation that the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) would prosecute any marketer who frustrates SON’s policy of removing obsolete cooking gas cylinders from the market and replacing them with new ones in the next six months.

He said his members were aware of the powers of the DPR to prosecute defaulters, adding that the development became necessary to ensure compliance when the policy takes effect in June.

Adesina said: “The roles of the two regulatory bodies – the DPR and SON- are crucial on this issue. DPR is vested with the powers to regulate operators in the oil and gas industry. Its duty is to ensure that operators comply with policies formulated for the growth of the sector. By this, DPR has the powers to prosecute operators that refuse to comply with the new policy on cooking gas cylinders.

“Our members would also monitor users of cylinders to ensure compliance to the policy.

They know much about cylin-

By Akinola Ajibade

ders and are in a position to hold consumers who use defective cylinders responsible. ‘’You cannot be our members and at the same time, be involved in unsafe practices. We have a code of conduct that guides our operations. If there is any breach, DPR and SON have the rights to sanction erring aoperators to encourage the growth of the subsector.’’

He explained that his members know the intricacies of the LPG market, compositions and quality of cooking gas cylinders, and are, therefore, in a position to differentiate between the old and the new; sub-standard and quality cooking gas cylinders.

The body, Adesina said, has regulations, which members must comply with, or face sanctions. He said the association was working on modalities for the implementation of the policy.

“The document on cooking gas cylinders is in exhaustive. SON is yet to tell the public the direction it is taking on the issue. The scheme is long-term; the issue of retracting the old cylinders would take some time. At the moment, consumers own cylinders, coupled with the fact that there is no control over the use.

Though SON regulates the cyl-

He said a paradigm shift from the individual to institutional ownership of cooking gas cylinders would take place as a result of the policy. The idea, he said, would change the LPG’s market structure because marketers would own LPG cylinders, and not the consumers.

Efforts to get the DPR to comment on the issue proved abortive as calls made to the agency was not returned.

SON had planned to come out with guidelines on the quality of LPGs. The aim is to regulate cooking gas coming to Nigeria, and ensure that consumers use the right product.

•Adesina

51

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

BUSINESS

Nigeria unveils plans for Shell’s, Total’s Eni’s assets

T

•Power generating plant

A

Hope dims for ex-PHCN workers’entitlements

BOUT five months after their disengagement, some former Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) workers may still have to wait before they get their entitlements.

National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) Secretary Joe Ajaero said the delay is caused by the Federal Government.

He blamed what he called the non-challant attitude of the Federal Government for the development.

Ajaero said: ‘’We have enough evidence that many of the workers were excluded from the N385billion severance package paid to the workers of PHCN. The possibility of getting the entitlements paid to the workers soon is remote in a corrupt country like Nigeria. We understand that the

T

By Akinola Ajibade

money has been put in fixed and interest is being collected on it.

Based on this, it would be pretty difficult to get the money paid to the affected workers.”

According to him, the union has been making efforts to ensure payment of the money owed the workers, to no avail ‘’We have been pushing for the payment of the money. But it appears that the government is not willing to fulfil all the agreements reached with the workers during privatisation. We see it as a breach of contract, hence our resolve to fight for the welfare of our colleagues. Though we have not given up the struggle, the workers are not sure of get-

ting their money soon.’’ he added.

Ajaero noted the restiveness the unpaid benefits had caused in the sector, noting that the workers should not be blamed as they have not been paid since last January, when the government reached an agreement with them on the issue.

The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, convened a meeting on January 13, this year between the government and labour where a fresh agreement was reached.

The meeting followed the threat by the NUEE to cripple the sector over unpaid benefits to the former PHCN workers and victimisation of union leaders, among other agreements reached with them.

OPEC’s oil prices drop in March on economic, demand concerns

HE Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has said the prices of its grades of crude oil (OPEC Reference Basket) fell last month following concerns over China’s economic growth, lower refinery demand and ample availability, which outweighed supply outages and geopolitical tension.

In its April Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR), OPEC said its Reference Basket fell by $1.23 in March to average $104.15 per barrel.

The report said: “The OPEC Reference Basket (ORB) slipped below the $105/b level in March to around $104/b, as the global crude market lost momentum over the month, impacted by concerns over a slowdown in China’s economic growth, lower demand and ample supply availability, despite ongoing production outages in Libya and geopolitical tension in Ukraine.

“Crude prices fell in most regions, as northern hemisphere temperatures rose and refineries entered maintenance, while the situation between Russia and the Ukraine did not lead to any immediate energy supply losses. The Brent market reached its lowest outright prices in almost five months, as poor

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

refining margins weighed on light sweet crude in Europe.

Medium sour grades were also plentiful, as maintenance at Russian refineries frees up more crude for export.”

It said ICE Brent declined by one per cent monthly amid extremely weak market fundamentals, despite drawing support from Libyan supply outages and the situation in Ukraine. Nymex WTI also fell, though moderately, remaining above the $100/b mark, steadied by a continued drawdown in oil stocks at Cushing, Oklahoma.

On balance of supply and demand, the report noted that demand for OPEC crude in 2014 saw a downward revision of 0.1 million barrel per day (mb/d) to average 29.6 mb/d, representing a decline of 0.4 mb/d compared to last year.

It said in Asia-Pacific, demand was thin, weighing on Middle East crude values and causing many to lower their official selling price formulae. In the US Gulf Coast (USGC), the sale of sour crude from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) weighed temporarily on sour grades, while the inland

sour crude differential to WTI at Cushing widened significantly in the face of limited storage in Midland for rising crude output.

Meanwhile, Libya’s exports have been well below the country’s capacity of around 1.25 mb/d since July 2013, it added.

“On a monthly basis, the ORB dropped to an average of $104.15/b in March, down $1.23, or 1.17 percent, from the previous month. On a year-todate basis, the ORB was also lower compared with the same period a year ago. The ORB yearto-date value stood at $104.73/ b compared with an average of $109.48/b the previous year at the same period. On a quarterly basis, the ORB was $1.69 or 1.6 per cent lower than in the previous quarter,” it added.

The report also said world oil demand is forecast to grow by 1.14 mb/d in 2014, broadly unchanged from the previous report, to average 91.2 mb/d. In 2013, world oil demand grew by 1.05 mb/d to average 90.01 mb/ d, also in line with the prior assessment. The bulk of growth came from non-OECD, as most of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is still showing a contraction.

O ensure the viability of the six oil wells it acquired from the International Oil Companies (IOCs), the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) has adopted a new employment strategy.

The NPDC, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), took over some oil wells from Shell, Total and Eni, following their decision to sell their stakes because of what they called losses from crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

While unfolding plans to expand NPDC’s business, including spending $5.2billion in the next five years at a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, its Managing Director, Mr Victor Briggs, said human resources were vital to the companies’ growth.

He said NPDC was not following its traditional method of recruitment, in view of the huge assets at its disposal.

He said a paradigm shift from periodic to constant recruitment of experienced professionals was necessary, in view of the enormous challenges of growing the assets to an enviable height.

He said: “NNPC recruitment is subject to the rules of the government.

However, we have to look at other options to improve oil production in the industry. We look at the assets we took over from the IOCs operating in Nigeria, to see how best we can man-

By Akinola Ajibade

age them well. We do not have the time to train people; we employ whenever we see the opportunities.

We lay ambush when we hear that some people are trying to leave and employ them.

“We look for contractors to manage the assets. Sometimes, we train others at a short period to grow the assets. Upstream services sector of NNPC has been well developed. ‘’ According to him, crude oil production is complex and comes with its own attendant cost. ‘’The cost of sustaining increase in crude oil production is high. There is a lot of demand for crude oil globally.

People look at the sector from the point of volumes of barrels produced per day; without looking at the human resources required to grow it. When companies come into the industry, they need to ask themselves this question: What does it take to employ expatriates or local staff? That has become a challenge to many operators,’’ he added.

NPDC is hoping to in increase its output on Oil Mining Lease, OML, 42 by an additional 30,000 barrels per day(bpd), to bring total output from the asset to 60,000 bpd. Currently, the OML 42 licence produces 30,500 bpd.

The company took over the operatorship of the licence from SPDC in January 2012 when it was producing 25,000 bpd from 11 strings.

‘Needed: Infrastructure in oil, gas’

N

IGERIA requires infrastructure to achieve the muchneeded growth in its oil and gas industry, the Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Andrew Fawthrop, has said.

Fawthrop, who spoke at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos, said there are investment windows in the industry, adding that only consistent and solid infrastructural framework can help foster the sector’s growth.

He said the development of infrastructure would help in providing the needed energy support for the populace and further galvanise the tempo of economic activities. ‘’Development of infrastructure is required to get energy support in Nigeria to Nigerians, and Africa to Africans. Nigeria can develop its energy resources, as well as provide them

By Akinola Ajibade

commercially to bolster growth.

Though Africa contributes more to energy security in the world, the impacts are not being felt in economies of oil producing countries,” he said, adding that a stable framework is needed to increase Direct Foreign Investments (FDIs) in Nigeria and Africa.

He said immense opportunities are waiting to be tapped in the continent. ‘’To increase the inflow of foreign investment in energy resources in Nigeria and Africa in particular, government and private sector participation is needed. Chevron has for more than a century, been doing business in Africa. We are focusing on opportunities in Angola to boost investment prospects in Africa,” he added.

Schneider Electric inaugurates rewards programme

S

CHNEIDER Electric has launched the Schneider Electric Green Currents loyalty programme for electricians as part of its initiative to develop the electrical retail business in Nigeria.

At a special induction to welcome the first 250 members of the club in Lagos, Country President, Schneider Electric, Marcel Hochet, said: “The essence of the programme is to build a critical manpower base for the electrical retail sector by connecting and growing the electricians club members to a network of accredited distributors and resellers ensuring availability but more importantly safety and reliability of new or renovated electrical installations.”

Hochet noted that electrical installations are a strategic part of any building as the safety of lives and property depend on it.

Vice President, Retail Business, Schneider Electric, Tonye Briggs, said the programme was designed to reward loyal electricians and electrical contractors and encourage them to patronise only an accredited network of resellers.

He said: “Schneider Electric is a major player in the power sector today, partnering with the government, especially in ensuring stable and reliable distribution of

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

power at the grid level. Today, we have added another focus to our business, electrical retail. This is to ensure that the final consumer in his home or office receives the full benefit of the power privatisation which essentially is safe, clean and available power.”

Briggs noted that the club offers four levels of membership with discounts, training and rewards based on purchases.

“One of our goals with this loyalty programme is to structure our market so that everyone in the value chain benefits,” he said.

He added that the company plans to extend the programme to enrol about 6000 electricians across the country and create a network of no fewer than 300 resellers.

The Public Relations Officer of the Licensed Electrical Contractors of Nigeria (LECAN), Waheed Bada commended Schneider Electric for the initiative, reiterating the association’s commitment to support firms investing in developing the electrical and business skills of the sector.

He noted that training as one of the rewards of the club would help to improve the expertise of the sector and prevent accidents.

52

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

53

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

MONEYLINK

E-payment operator advises cardholders on banking security

I

Stories by Collins Nweze

NTERSWITCH, an electronic transaction switching and payment processing company, has called for an upgrade in the technology, processes and systems to proactively detect suspicious activities.

In response to emailed questions, the firm said cardholders also need to be constantly educated on keeping their banking details fully pro-

tected.

The firm said this has become important because fraudsters keep developing new fraud mechanisms to circumvent new security measures.

The firm claimed it holds certifications in the highest standards available in the payment card industry.

“In terms of card standards, we are EMV 4.0 certified and in terms of se-

curity, we are Card Industry Data Security Standard certification (PCIDSS) V3 certified. We have also attained ISO 9001:2000 for our processing services,” it said.

Continuing, it said aside such certifications, its Verve product has a unique feature for card-not-present transactions.

“A card-not-present transaction is a payment card transaction made

Director of Policy and Planning at the National Automotive Council, Mr. Luqman Mamudu, who represented the Director-General, outlined the investment opportunities in the automotive industry and expressed optimism that banks will actively support the Federal

Government’s efforts to revive and revolutionize the industry.

Mamudu said the Council has unveiled a regime of incentives to encourage investment in the sector. One of these includes the establishment of an Auto Development Fund to provide soft loan for companies that will produce auto parts in the country.

where the cardholder is not physically present with the card at the time that the payment is effected. In order to safe guard cardholders when conducting card-not-present, we have introduced SafeToken.

SafeToken is an online security technology that protects customers against unauthorised use of their cards via the web through the generation of One-time passwords (OTPs),” it said.

Interswitch also said as a second layer of defence, it has introduced Scorebridge, which is a fraud management system that enables Electronic Financial Transaction (EFT) messages to be processed through predefined Artificial Intelligence in order to determine the transaction’s risk and probability of a fraud. This enables the monitoring of card patterns and declines suspicious transactions.

Stanbic IBTC Bank reaffirms funding for AfDB chief to speak on financial logistics sector S inclusion at conference TANBIC IBTC Bank has renewed its pledge to aid the rapid transformation of the transportation and logistics industry in Nigeria by providing short, medium and long-term to boost the fortunes of the subsector.

Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Obinnia Abajue, made the pledge at a stakeholders’ forum organised by the bank to chart a new course for the industry.

The forum, Abajue said, was the first in the series to be organised on an ongoing basis, would assist stakeholders to network and provide a feedback mechanism. “By organising this forum, our aim is to demonstrate our preparedness to support the entire spectrum of the transportation and logistics sector through funding and provision of customised financial solutions, which includes financial plans, flexible payment schedules, and very competitive rates,” stated Abajue.

The goal of the forum, he stated, is in line with the bank’s objective of becoming Nigeria’s foremost end-to-end financial services institution, providing financial support to individuals and businesses, and building long-term relationships across board.

P

Bank supports grassroots banking

H

ERITAGE Bank is offering traders and artisans of the Gbagada plank market in Lagos agent banking services. In a statement, the bank said the customers now have the opportunity to enjoy financial services without visiting any physical branch location.

The lender had on Tuesday, launched its agent banking scheme with the opening of what it calls the ‘Corner Shop’ bank in the market. “The choice of the market as the first place to launch our agent banking is deliberate. We decided to launch our agent banking in this market because of the importance we attach to the business that you do”, said the bank’s Executive Director, Ivory Banking, Heritage Bank, Mary Akpobome.

Addressing members of the market

at the launching, she said, “Agent banking is about bringing banking services to the people and saving them the risks of walking long distances to bank branches. “If you look from the beginning of the road to this place, there is no bank around. I believe if you want to do banking business in this place, you have to cross the bridge to other side. So we have brought to you, our agent bank, what we call in Heritage Bank, the Corner Shop,” she said.

Managing Director/Chief Executive, Heritage Bank, Mr. Ifie Sekibo said, “Banking services is not only for some people, it is for everybody, and with the small bank we are opening in the market today, we are offering banking services to everybody in this market, irrespective of your educational background and what you do”.

DATA BANK

FGN BONDS Tenor

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year

35m 35m

11.039 12.23

19-05-2014 18-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 400m 400m 400m 400m 400m 400m

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33

NIDF

OBB Rate

Price Loss 2754.67

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day

Amount 30m 46.7m

Rate % 10.96 9.62

Date 28-04-2012 “

GAINERS AS AT 14-4-14

SYMBOL FO COURTVILLE INTENEGINS HONYFLOUR REDSTAREX DANGLOUR UAC-PROP SKYEBANK LIVESTOCK TRANSCORP

O/PRICE 135.27 0.61 0.62 3.54 4.18 8.10 25.00 3.49 3.00 3.84

C/PRICE

CHANGE

148.99 0.67 0.65 3.71 4.36 8.30 25.60 3.55 3.05 3.90

13.72 0.06 0.03 0.17 0.18 0.20 0.60 0.06 0.05 0.06

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD NGN GBP

147.6000 239.4810

149.7100 244.0123

150.7100 245.6422

-2.11 -2.57

NGN EUR 212.4997 NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) 149.7450 (S/N) Bureau de Change 152.0000 (S/N)

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

DISCOUNT WINDOWx Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00%

LOSERS AS AT 14-4-14

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

STERLNBANK FIDELITYBK CONOIL UNIONDICON NEIMETH UBA OANDO UBCAP PRESTIGE NPFMCRFBK

2.62 2.15 51.90 14.14 1.45 7.40 15.96 2.61 0.60 0.95

C/PRICE 2.40 2.00 49.31 13.44 1.38 7.05 15.30 2.52 0.58 0.92

CHANGE -0.22 -0.15 -2.59 -0.70 -0.07 -0.35 -0.66 -0.09 -0.02 -0.03

development, sustainability, corporate social responsibility, as well as the enhancement of a public-private synergy for the attainment of a credible business environment in Africa.

The statement read: ‘the correlation between financial inclusion and economic growth has long been widely recognized. However, despite broad consensus on the importance of access to finance as a powerful poverty alleviation tool and substantial financial sector reforms in Africa, it is estimated that nearly half the continent’s households continue to be excluded from the formal financial sector’. Financial inclusion, which advances universal access to appropriate and affordable financial services, is crucial to inclusive growth. At the basic level, financial inclusion is effectively a measure of the extent to which economic agents in an economy utilize the financial services apparatus at their disposal to effect the desired exchanges, and particularly, support the highest possible activity in the real economy.

RESIDENT, Africa Development Bank Group, Dr. Donald Kaberuka, will be speaking on financial inclusion at this year’s Africa CEO Roundtable and Conference on Corporate Sustainability & Responsibility.

A statement by the conveners, ThistlePraxis Consulting said this year’s event, the fourth in the series, is scheduled to take place from June 19 to 20, in Calabar.

The programme, it said, will focus on financial inclusion with the theme: “The Intersection: Financial Inclusion, Economic Sustainability & Social Benefit.”

Some of the expected speakers are Duncan Onyango of Acumen Africa, Kenya; Andrew Niven of PWc; Alex Otti, MD/CEO, Diamond Bank Plc; Ayo Teriba, Macro-Economic Expert from Nigeria; William Derban of Fidelity Bank, Ghana, and Henrietta Onwuegbuzie of Lagos Business School.

It said the platform remains relevant in discussing issues of sustainable corporate and economic

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96%

Amount Sold ($) 399.9m 399.9m 399.9m

Exchange Rate (N) 155.75 155.8 155.7

Date 2-5-14 2-3-14 1-29-14

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

NSE

6-2-14

28-10-11

% Change

CAP Index

N13.07tr 40,766.16

N6.617tr 20,903.16

-1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name Offer Price AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 154.22 ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH 9.17 BGL NUBIAN FUND 1.09 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.17 CANARY GROWTH FUND 0.71 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CORAL INCOME FUND 1,634.20 FBN FIXED INCOME FUND 1,061.91 FBN FIXED INCOME FUND 1,063.29 FBN HERITAGE FUND 114.62 FBN HERITAGE FUND 115.39 FBN MONEY MARKET FUND 1,087.30 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 INTERCONTINENTAL INTEGRITY FUND 1.05 KAKAWA GUARANTE ED INCOME FUND 143.11 LEGACY FUND 2.50 NIGERIA INTER DEBIT FUND 1,910.24 NIGERIA INTER DEBIT FUND

Bid Price 153.47 9.08 1.07 1.17 0.72 1.33 1,631.63 1,061.01 1,063.01 115.44 114.59 1,087.00 1.62 1.03 142.62 0.76 2.44 1,903.64

• UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

1.2524 1.2952 0.9090 1.1574

Movement

1.2636 1.2952 0.9261 1.1574

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000

8.5000

Movement

54

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 14-4-14

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 14-4-14

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

55

EQUITIES

I

Govt, NSE seek more upstream listings

T was a historic occasion with all the drippings of the oil and gas industry at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday with the listing of the first upstream company, SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company Plc, an indigenous independent oil and gas company, on the stock market.

The listing of Seplat activated the exploration and production subsector of the oil and gas sector and added N313 billion to the aggregate market value of quoted companies.

About 543.3 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each were listed at N576 per share.

The Federal Government and the NSE said they would build on the Seplat’s pioneering effort by providing incentives and supports for more indigenous upstream companies to achieve robust operations and list their shares on the stock market.

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke, said government has a deliberate policy to support Nigerians

G

•Seplat lists N313b shares Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

across the board to participate in the oil and gas sector.

According to her, government would provide all necessary supports and incentives to enhance the potential of well-focused indigenous upstream companies in order to ensure that they attain the level of success that will enable them to list their shares on the stock market.

“We do expect many more Nigerian companies in the oil and gas sector to step forward, operate on the higher corporate governance and list their shares on the NSE and other Exchanges,” Allison-Madueke said.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, said the huge success

of the initial public offering (IPO) of Seplat is a positive confirmation of the global view of the Nigerian economy.

He said the listing of Seplat has shown that it is a good investment decision to support indigenous upstream companies adding that government will continue to provide incentives for companies seeking to create values for Nigerians.

Chairman, SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company Plc, Dr. ABC Orjiako, said 48 per cent of the investors that invested in the company’s IPO were Nigerian investors assuring that the company will live up to expectations by growing its net value while simultaneously paying dividends to shareholders.

He said the company would continue to

GTBank promises better performance

UARANTY Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc will take advantage of all emerging opportunities and remain focused on improving its customer experiences and creativity to improve on its performance in the period ahead.

Chairman, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc, Mr. Egbert Imomoh, gave this assurance yesterday at the annual general meeting of the bank in Lagos. The assurance came on the heels of approval of a total dividend of N50 billion for the 2013 business year by shareholders at the general meeting.

Imomoh said 2014 will be another phase in the bank’s journey to be the foremost financial institution in Africa.

According to him, the bank would continue to seek innovative ways of growing its business while staying the course and working hard to maintain its reputation.

“We are poised to take advantage of all opportunities that will arise during g the course of the year and are committed to maintain our position as the bank of choice for discerning customers in all economies we

•Shareholders approve N50b dividend

operate in,” Imomoh said.

Managing director, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje said the commitment of the bank is to continue to grow its business in a manner that is beneficial to all stakeholders.

He noted that the bank made appreciable progress in 2013 in spite of the competitors, which were offering basically the same services as the bank and the peculiarities of the operating environment.

“With our performance, we will maintain our commitment to maximizing shareholder value with a dividend payout of N1.70 per share, an increase of 10 per cent over N1.55 paid in2012 and share price appreciation of 17 per cent in 2013,” Agbaje said.

Shareholders were unanimous in their commendation for the board and management of the bank.

National coordinator, Independent Share-

holders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir Sunny Nwosu, said the bank has continuously demonstrated that it can surpass previous performance.

National coordinator, Shareholders United Front (SUF), Mr. Gbenga Idowu, commended the staff of the bank for what he described as an excellent performance.

He urged the bank to sustain its culture of paying interim and final dividends, noting that the interim dividend provides shareholders with liquidity during the tight period of yuletide.

Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of GTBank for the year ended December 31, 2013 showed modest growths in the top-line and bottom-line. Gross earnings rose by 9.0 per cent from N223.06 billion in 2012 to N242.67 billion in 2013. Profit before tax inched up by 4.0 per cent from N103.03 billion to N107.09 billion in 2013. Profit after tax also rose marginally by 4.0 per cent from N86.69 billion to N90.02 billion in 2013. Earnings per share thus improved slightly from N3.06 to N3.17 per share.

uphold the highest level of corporate governance and ensure that it complies with all post-listing requirements at the NSE. According to him, the IPO affords Nigerians to be part of wealth creation engine that Seplat represents. , “We are delighted with the support shown and happy to welcome a range of blue chip investors to our share register. Despite a challenging market for oil and gas stocks, the response has been excellent and demonstrates strong demand in both London and at home for a leading Nigerian exploration and production player,” Orjiakor said.

He reiterated that the net proceeds of the global offer will primarily be used to acquire and develop new acquisitions, or pay down any additional debt raised in connection thereof.

Chief executive officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema, commended the board and management of Seplat for their determination to be identified as first and foremost a Nigerian success story.

According to him, the company chose to have its primary listing on the NSE and to maintain its Nigerian status by opting not to list on the premium board of the LSE, though it was qualified to do so.

He called on the petroleum ministry and regulators to recognize the NSE primary listing status of Seplat and other oil and gas companies for local content purposes.

“We are proud that Seplat has taken a strategic step to join the prestigious club of quoted companies in Nigeria and I once again commend them for this bold step. They become the first company in our exploration and production subsector of the oil and gas sector on the main board. It is against this backdrop that I wish to encourage exploration and production companies in the oil & gas sector and other unlisted companies in Nigeria, to take advantage of the benefits that exist in the capital market, which include continuity of the company after the founder has retired, lower cost of long term funding, visibility, enhanced branding, diversified risk of ownership, and enhanced corporate governance amongst others,” Onyema said.

56

THE NATION TUESDAY APRIL 15, 2014

NEWS

Kwankwaso: we won’t welcome Jonathan to Kano K ANO State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso said yesterday that residents will not welcome President Goodluck Jonathan today.

The governor, who spoke in Kano, said the President has done nothing to improve the standard of living, since he assumed office.

Kwankwaso said: “I regret voting for Jonathan in 2011. He has not done anything to move the nation forward.

“Only a few people are enjoying in Nigeria and this is at the expense of other citizens.

“We are still waiting to hear the truth about the alleged missing funds, which led to the suspension of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

“If someone alleges that N20 million is missing in one of our

ministries, I will investigate the matter and if I find the allegation to be true, I must praise the person for a job well done and then take appropriate action.”

He urged the electorate to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015, saying the APC is the most powerful party in Africa.

Kwankwaso accused the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of buying members over, saying the APC has taken measures to tackle the issue.

The governor appealed to APC supporters to be patient as the party has set up necessary machinery, which would ensure its victory in 2015.

He said those calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to conduct elections in the Northeast have lost focus.

T

HE management of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, Delta State, has sued its striking workers at the National Industrial Court, Akure, Ondo State.

The workers, under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), had on March 18 gone on strike to protest alleged shortfall in their February salaries and allowances.

The union’s spokesman, Davidson Akinlaya, said the

A

workers were not happy with the management. He said they would not resume, until their salaries are paid in full.

Akinlaya alleged that the management had refused to comply with the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), which should have forestall shortfall in salaries.

T

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

bor-Asaba expressway by Umunede in Ika North-East Local Government Area.

An eyewitness said the victim stopped to buy fruits at Umunede when a Toyota Camry with four armed men intercepted her vehicle and whisked her away.

Police spokesman Celestina Kalu said the victim’s ve-

hicle with registration number DTSJ 93 A has been recovered, adding that the police are on the hoodlums’ trail.

Delta State has experienced high profile kidnapping lately as lawmakers, businessmen, sportsmen and civil servants, doctors, judges were specially targeted.

The House of Assembly in December 2012 passed

into law the State Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Terrorism bill.

The law ran into hitches after Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan refused to assent the bill, necessitating vetoing by the lawmakers in April, last year.

The law prescribes death penalty for kidnap suspects and destruction of property of kidnappers.

Ogun community’s kingship suit gets April 17 date

N Ogun State High Court, Ijebu-Ode, will on April 17 deliver judgment in a suit by Prince Dali Adeyemisi Adetayo, who is challenging the selection of Prince Mobolaji Oludasi Mosuro as the Olomu of Omu Kingdom in Odogbolu Local Government.

Adetayo is seeking an order declaring that the nomination or appointment of Mosuro as the Olomu is unconstitutional, null and void.

Seeking a perpetual injunction restraining Mosuro from exercising authority as Olomu of Omu, Adetayo also prayed the court to restrain the defendants, including Ogun State Government, from recognising Mosuro.

Adetayo is seeking an order of court declaring that he was validly selected and appointed as the Olomu of Omu. He sought an order compelling the Ogun State Attorney-General and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to approve his appointment.

Adetayo recalled that upon the death of Oba Oguntin, the last Olomu of Omu in March, 2004, who was from Adekiyeri Ruling House of Omu, it

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

Gunmen attack Bauchi village

Customary court president abducted

T

T

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) holds its state congress in Ilorin, Kwara State, today.

At the party’s ward congress last week, three party members were reportedly killed in a violence that broke out at Sango, where the party‘s secretariat is located.

There are eight candidates jostling for the chairmanship position. They include interim Publicity Secretary Mariam Alhassan; AbdulKadir Manko; former chairman, Kaiama Local Government and Inuwa Musa Kallah; all from Kwara North Senatorial District.

Others are former chairmen of Offa and Ifelodun local governments, Segun Olawoyin and Rex Olawoye, former deputy governorship candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) Sunday Fagbemi and Bunmi Olusona.

A source said the chairmanship position has been zoned to Kwara South and the secretary zoned to Kwara Central.

Hospital sues striking workers

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola laying the foundation for the building of an abattoir in Iwo. With him are Deputy Governor Mrs Titi Laoye Tomori; Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security Wale Adedoyin (left); Managing Director, Hanfriqul Nigeria Limited Kolawole Aresa (third left) and SubConsultant, Hanfriqul Nigeria Limited, Dapo Ademosu.

HE President of a Customary Court in Delta State, Mrs. Loretta Omeze, has been kidnapped.

The kidnappers are demanding N20 million for her release.

Mrs. Omeze, who is the President of Ibusa Customary Court in Oshimili North Local Government Area, was abducted on Ag-

Kwara PDP state congress today

By Joseph Jibueze

became the turn of Ramuja Ruling House to present a candidate to fill the vacant stool of Olomu of Omu. He said only two ruling houses exist in Omu and they are Adekiyeri and Ramuja, adding that upon being called upon to present a candidate, the Ramuja began the nomination and selection processes.

He added that at the nomination meeting, four candidates emerged. They were Prince Jimoh Adesegun, Prince Mobolaji Mosuro, himself and one Suraju Law-

A

COMPANY, Megallus Nigeria Limited has sued a former Super Eagles star Mr Wilson Oruma at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja over a land measuring 57,739.633 square meters, located at Idasho Village, Elekan, in Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area, valued at N90million.

The claimant sought an order of specific performance compelling the defendant to immediately assign and endorse all documents or instruments transferring all his rights/title to the land to Meg-

al, who later withdrew from the race.

Prince Adesegun is the claimant in the suit. Prince Adetayo is the counter-claimant. Prince Mosuro is the first defendant in the suit.

The counter-claimant added that the three other candidates were later presented to the kingmakers on February 15, 2005 and at the end of the selection, he was selected as the Olomu-elect.

Adetayo said selection meeting was later annulled “for no just cause” by Odogbolu Local Government, Ogun State Atorney General

and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state.

As a result of the cancellation, Prince Adetayo said he filed a suit to challenge same wherein he sought an injunction to restrain the officers of the state government from conducting another selection process pending the determination of the said suit.

However, Prince Adetayo lamented that after the service of the said court processes on them, the parties in the matter “hurriedly” went ahead to install Prince Mosuro as the Olomu of Omu.

HE police in Bauchi State confirmed yesterday that gunmen injured one person in an attack in Wasasa, Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area.

Police spokesman Mohammed Haruna said a five-man gang attacked a house in the village, searching for two persons.

He said on sighting the attackers, the victim ran into a nearby house where the gunmen chased and shot him in the leg before setting the house ablaze.

Haruna added that the attack occurred at 5am, saying it was believed that the assailants were after the victim and another man, who escaped.

“Five gunmen attacked the village in pursuit of some persons, and one of them was shot in the leg.

“The victim ran from the first house into another one, where he was pursued and shot in the leg before the assailants set the house on fire,’’ he said.

According to him, the situation had been brought under control, adding that no arrest was made.

He said investigation was ongoing, adding that the victim was receiving treatment.

Emeritus Prof Taiwo for burial April 25

T

HE remains of Emeritus Professor Cornelius Olaleye Taiwo, the pioneer Provost of College of Education, University of Lagos will be laid to rest Friday next week.

Prof Taiwo died on Tuesday.

He was 103.

According to the funeral arrangements received from the university, a service of songs will be held at his No. 24, Oduduwa Street Ikeja, Lagos home on Tuesday. This will be followed by a commendation service at the All Saints’ Church, Montgomery Road, Yaba, the next day.

On Thursday, the lying-instate for Pa Taiwo, will hold during a commendation service to be held at the Education Faculty of the university, after which he would be taken to his country home in Oru Ijebu, Ogun State, where he will be buried after a funeral service at St. Luke’s Anglican Church

Firm sues ex-footballer over Lekki land

By Joseph Jibueze

allus “as previously contracted upon receiving value.”

Megallus also prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining Oruma or his agents from disturbing the claimant’s possession of the land, as well as N2million as cost incurred in the suit.

The company said sometimes in August last year, Oruma offered to sell to its Managing Director the parcel of land, an offer it accepted offer, and made a part payment of

N5million, with an agreement to pay the balance of N85million within four months based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with the defendant.

The claimant said in December last year, the claimant asked for a variation of the four months because it was too short for it to complete the payment.

Oruma allegedly agreed but insisted on at least a N15million part-payment.

Megallus said it paid the N15million to the former Su-

per Eagles star, after which they signed a new MoU, dated January 28, 2014.

By the new MoU, it was allegedly agreed that the balance of N70million would be paid in March this year. Based on the agreement, the claimant said it surveyed and fenced the land.

Problem arose on March 31 when Megallus claimed it presented eight managers cheques worth N70million to Oruma, which the defendant allegedly refused to collect.

The claimant said the land is

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

on Friday.

The UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Prof Rahamon A. Bello, led a delegation of the university’s management, including Dr Taiwo Ipaye (Registrar); Mr. Lateef Odekunle (Bursar); Dr Olukemi Fadehan (Librarian); Prof Mopelola Omoegun, Dean, Faculty of Education; Former Dean, Faculty of Education, Prof Duro Ajeyalemi; Former Dean, School of Post-graduate Studies, Prof Aloy Ejiogu and Principal Assistant Registrar (Information), Mr. Olalekan Adeyemo on a condolence visit to the family of the deceased in Lagos last Friday.

They were received by one of the deceased’s children, Dr. Bayo Taiwo.

Prof Bello said posterity would remain ever grateful for the contributions of the deceased to the university, Nigeria, and the international community. near the Free Trade Zone Project, adding that when it offered to pay N90million for the property, land in the area was selling for a fifth of the price it agreed to pay Oruma.

Oruma, it was learnt, has offered to refund the claimant’s N20million part-payment.

The court was told that Oruma “had received an offer double what the claimant wanted to pay and that he could not accept less when someone else was offering more already.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

57

NEWS 3000 persons displaced by rainstorm in Ogun

N

O fewer than 3000 persons were on Sunday displaced by the wind storm in a community in Ogun State, with about 500 school children stranded.

The rainstorm, which also affected several areas in Lagos including the headquarters of the Western Naval Command and several churches, was said to have wrecked about 600 houses at Idogo in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

According to the Southwest Spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, besides the 3,000 displaced persons and 600 destroyed houses in Idogo, three schools were also affected.

Farinloye said: “At Iweke Community in same LGA about 55 houses were destroyed while about 527 persons renered homeless.

“The vulnerable victims are being taken care of by the state and federal governments with the provisions of food and nonfood items while alternative

By Precious Igbonwelundu

study centres are going to be provided for the displaced school pupils before their resumption in two weeks time.

“It should be recalled that from February 2014 to March 2014, over 5,000 people have been affected by various wind/rainstorm disasters in Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Oyo states.

“NEMA has strongly advised Nigerians to embark on trees planting as precautionary measures as wind breakers against the devastating effects of climate related disasters that are daily evolving in d society.

“Other safety measures we can take is avoid taking refuge under temporary structures that can easily collapse under strong wind as well as exposing vulnerable people to the high risk like this.

“We should avoid sending children on errand when it’s risky. States and local governments should embark on extensive awareness campaigns against the new phase of evolving disaster in the country.”

Anambra APC holds congresses today

Truck driver kills two persons in Aba

T

WO persons died at the weekend in a road accident involving a beverage truck, registered as Lagos FST 796 XC and a tricycle registered as Imo KGE 920 QA, at Aba in Abia State.

The incident occurred on the Aba-Ikot Ekpene road, near Bata roundabout, on Sunday afternoon when residents were returning from church.

T

Eyewitnesses said the driver, Marizu Nwankpa, lost control while trying to turn into the Aba-Ikot Ekpene road from the AbaOwerri road.

It was learnt that he crushed a man reading a newspaper at a newsstand, near the junction, before colliding with a tricycle coming from the opposite direction.

Reports said a commuter in the tricycle died, leaving three others, including the operator, injured.

Our correspondent gathered that the bodies were badly damaged and could not be identified.

The bodies had been deposited at an undisclosed mortuary by policemen from the Eziama Division, while the injured were said to have been taken to a

hospital.

Police took the truck driver into their custody at Eziama.

Unconfirmed reports said one of the dead was a finalyear student of the state polytechnic at Aba. The Polytechnic’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Anyalewachi Chigozirim, said he was yet to a receive report from the police about their student being involved in a crash.

20 injured as PDP, APC members clash in Ibadan

N

O fewer than 20 people were injured yesterday when members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) engaged in a free-forall at the Ibadan Airport, while awaiting the arrival of President Goodluck Jonathan.

President Jonathan was billed to attend a church

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

service marking the centenary birthday of the Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana, Odugade 1.

According to an eye witness, the violence started around 9:30am when PPC members arrived at the airport to welcome the president, but PDP members asked them to go back. They

Imo youths hold talks on unemployment

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ananbra State will hold its local government congresses in the 21 council today, following its postponement on Saturday.

The congresses were shifted to Tuesday by the interim executive to allow pupils write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) at the centres designated for the congresses.

Five major contenders for the substantive chairman of the party has emerged.

They are former Southeast Financial Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Emeka Umeakuka and former State Secretary of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Emeka Ibe. Also in the race are one-time Orumba South Local Government Chairman Chief Ben Oranusi; Pastor Chukwuma Nnoli and Emma Chikaelo, among others.

The Nation gathered that the APC had zoned the chairmanship to the south senatorial zone.

But reacting yesterday in Awka, APC’s Interim Publicity Secretary in the state Mr. Chukwuma Agufugo said the party had not zoned the position .

“For now, we have not decided on zoning, but the party will harmonise on the matter, in APC everything is open, we do not hide anything.”

The congress for the chairmanship will be held on Saturday.

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

Y

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

OUTHS in Imo State are planning a youth conference to deliberate on the challenges of unemployment and proffer solutions to stem the trend.

At the conference, slated for April 24 and 25, youths will brainstorm on ways to tackle youth unemployment.

Conference Chairman Dr. Harold Onumuo said the last incident, resulting in the death of unemployed youths at the Nigeria Immigration Service recruitment was a wake up call.

He said: “The conerence shall give youths the opportunity to enter into a contract with potential candidates for elective positions on modalities for reducing youth unemployment.”

Onumuo said the conference became imperative as a platform to negotiate with whoever governs the state in 2015 on how to partner youths on to create jobs.

He said with 80 per cent youths unemployed in the state, which he said is the highest in the Southeast, a state of emergency should be declared on unemployment.

“The situation is an emergency. We need to enter into a contractual agreement with anyone who emerges to govern the state to declare an emergency on youth employment”, he said.

ended up pelting stones at each other.

The eye witness said: “I was there when they started fighting with stones and sticks that had nails on them.

The PDP members asked the APC members to leave the airport premises but they did not answer them. Instead, they started singing abusive songs. That was when they started exchanging blows and injuring one another.

Over 22 people were injured.”

Another eye witness, Mr. Basiru Ayinla, said: “The APC members were singing Governor Ajimobi’s praise at the airport and were also sweeping the floor with their brooms. This got the PDP members angry and they

confronted them before things went out of hands.

That led to the fight between them.”

It was gathered that if not for the quick intervention of the state’s joint security patrol team, ‘Operation Burst’ and other security, the clash would have escalated more.

Police spokes person Olabisi Ilobanafor said she was not aware of the incident.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHANGE OF NAME

ADENIYI

LOSS OF DOCUMENT: THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED OF THE LOSS OF ORIGINAL RECEIPT OF THE TWO PLOT OF LAND LOCATED AT IGBOJYA. THE SAID LAND BELONG TO VICTORIA IDONOR OKPAKO. ALL EFFORT TO RETRIVE IT PROVE ABORTIVE. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE. CHANGE OF NAME

NWANKPA

I, formerly known and addressed as Ms Adeniyi Elaine Omolola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okunoren Lola. All former documents remain valid.General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwankpa Julie Ozioma now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chibuzo Julie Ozioma. All former documents remain valid.General public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHANGE OF NAME

ADESEGUN

I, formerly known and addressed as Adesegun Joel Ololade now wish to be known and addressed as Okunoren Joel Ololade. All former documents remain valid.General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OLALERE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Olalere Florence Folasade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adeleke, Florence Folasade. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Your Sexual Health & You: Novelty Tips, Questions & Answers

D

ear sir, good day. I read online about how penis enlargement exercises are the most reliable form of enlargement but I don’t know which exercise they are talking about. Please do you know which one? David Hello David, yes I am aware of those claims about the exercises. The truth about penis enlargement is that there are many options out there. The ones we write about are the easiest options for people to obtain and put to use. The enlargement exercises you read about consist of a series of procedures compiled in a movie or an e book. When you pay for it, the tutorial gets sent to you. That is why the makers never release that information you need to enlarge your penis unless you buy the tutorial. We ourselves don’t have the right to download and distribute this knowledge because that would entail copyright violations. But there are other penis enlargement exercise you can do with a device known as the Penis Pump. We write about it all the time. So if you are interested, buy a pump like the Potent Enlargement Pump or the Bull Fighter Pump – Uche I am 57 and I have been on blood pressure medication for over ten years. Presently my libido is very low and so is my sex drive. I would describe my current condition as first level erectile dysfunction. I am otherwise a healthy person.

But my sex life has suffered severely due to weak erection and premature ejaculation. I thought I should ask for help and be guided on what therapy should apply in my case instead of simply making an order for your products. I await your professional counsel and guidance – Prince Dear Prince, writing us first is a good idea. Some of these supplements are blood pressure friendly while some are not. I suggest trying an arousal ointment first. Although they are not as effective as supplements, they are safest for people with health conditions. Max 4 Men Arousal Excite Gel has received very positive reviews from users and is the best of the arousal gels. However Exploding Thunder supplement is stronger and more effective. It is very good for arousal, gives hard erections and aids

performance at the highest level. Patients with high blood pressure favour it as well and have not had any complaints – Uche Hello Uche. My wife had a baby three weeks ago and it was caesarean operation so sex is off limits for now. Please what sex toy do you recommend to keep a nigga busy till madam is ready to play? Thanks – OJ Dear Oj, congratulations on the birth of your child. There are a variety of masturbators that can keep you relieved until intercourse can resume. I recommend the Noches Latinas UR3 masturbator. It is big but portable with a very realistic look and feel – Uche I am a mother of five and my vagina has slacked due to child birth. My husband is not happy and neither am I. please how can I repair it? Thanks – Mrs Ode You will need to commence your pelvic exercises to help repair the vaginal muscles. To achieve this, get a good set of Orgasm Balls, an example of which is the Leopard Duo Tone Balls. Do this your pelvic exercise for up to thirty minutes a day. Over time the muscles will be repaired. But to enable you have tighter intercourse with instant results, use a vagina tightening gel for sex. Tight Stuff Oriental Oil is very good – Uche Hello sir. I need a cure for premature ejaculation. My own is so bad that sometimes even before the sex, I have already wet my trousers – Lekan Lekan you will need to combine a delay ointment with a penis sleeve to get a better result. Get the Rock Hard Delay Cream and Stud Extension sleeve – Uche Thank you. That’s it for today. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08027901621 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

58

FOREIGN NEWS

UN Security Council meets on Ukraine crisis

T

HE U.N. Security Council met late Sunday in emergency session as violence escalated in eastern Ukraine, hours before a Monday morning deadline for pro-Russia protesters to lay down their arms or face Ukrainian troops.

Russia called the meeting

shortly after Ukrainian special forces exchanged gunfire Sunday with a pro-Russia militia in an eastern city, and at least one security officer was killed and five others wounded. Ukraine’s president accused its powerful neighbor of fomenting unrest, and announced that his govern-

ment would deploy armed forces Monday to quash an increasingly bold pro-Russian insurgency.

“At this moment, Ukraine teeters on the brink,” Assistant U.N. Secretary-General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco told Security Council members.

Ethnic Russians in Ukraine’s east fear that the country’s new pro-Western government will oppress them, and are demanding to have referendums on autonomy and possible annexation

by Russia.

Fernandez-Taranco said U.N. monitors in eastern Ukraine

LENTEN MESSAGE Theme : In God, I am unstoppable! Part 2

S

TONES also spoke when Simon after exploring all he knew as an experienced fisherman yet caught nothing. The unstoppable King stepped in, He woke all the sleeping and hiding fishes, His word nullified the laws that stipulated that fishes come to the surface only at night time. During the day time, Simon was awestruck by the number of fish he caught that made his net to break to the extent that their boats were filled with fish and their boats started to sink as a result of the exploit ( Luke 5:1-10).

The Unstoppable God also has power to suspend the law of austerity. During the time of severe austerity, He can set some people apart from economic hurts. Isaac for instance sowed during the time of famine and got a hundredfold returns such that he became an object of envy of a whole nation (Genesis 26:12). It was the same with the widow of Zarephath that there was always flour and olive oil left in her containers until when famine ended (1 Kings 17:8-14). It was so miraculous that each time they wake up, they found food in their kitchen all through the time of famine.

When God decides to do whatever, there is no man, power, political arrangement, church struc-

Text: “....... if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19:40

By The Revd. Henry O. Adelegan

ture or powers of darkness that can stop Him. Even when men are cast down, He has power to declare a lifting up for the humble that whatsoever the person does prospers (Job 22:29; Psalm 1:3).

The Unstoppable God who rode on a donkey to Jerusalem can open any closed doors. He had done it before and can always do it again because He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). When the Israelites were going to the Promised land, the Egyptians went after them to destroy them because they knew they had nowhere to escape to but the Unstoppable God opened the Red Sea, created an ‘expressway’ in a difficult terrain and did it in a split second ( Exodus 14:21-22). It was the same when Elijah was almost stranded and the sons of the prophet had gathered to ridicule him because of no passage through the River Jordan after Elijah had been taken up but He parted the river and the sons of the prophet bowed before him ( 2 Kings 2:13-15).

When Jesus Christ voiced it that

stones will rise up and talk, He introduced a new dimension to His ministry that with Him nothing is impossible. From biblical history, it is common knowledge that inanimate things have come out from another inanimate thing before like water coming from stone and fire coming out from stone but for a living voice to come from an inanimate thing will be bewildering - The Unstoppable God can make a stone to assume the personality of a human being.

During this Lenten period, the Unstoppable God who rode triumphantly to Jerusalem will visit wherever any of your loved ones, their destinies, marriage, education or business has been held captive as He did on His entry to Jerusalem. What you need to do to get maximum benefit of this season is to hearken to the voice of “I have need of you”, surrender to Him absolutely and your evil captors shall let go of you.

Thereafter, He will make a way for you where it has been established that there is none, He will compel your stones to talk, help shall come for you from unexpected quarters as it happened with

have described seeing pro-separatist protesters as being armed with machine guns and sniper rifles.

“The fact is that many of the armed units that we’ve seen were outfitted in bulletproof vests, camouflage uniforms with insignia removed,” U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power said.

“These armed units ... raised Russian and separatist flags over seized buildings and have called referendums and union with Russia. We know who is behind this.”

Russia has tens of thousands of troops massed along Ukraine’s eastern border, and

•Ban Ki-moon

there are fears that Moscow might use the violence in the mainly Russian-speaking region as a pretext for an invasion, in a repeat of events in Crimea weeks ago.

Egypt: El-Sissi braces for Presidency

•Revd Adelegan

Elijah (IKgs 17: 1-7), He will fight for you using unconventional methods as He did for Israel (Joshua 10:10-11), roasted meat shall come to make you filled up, He will quest your thirst by opening the rock, shall create an express road for you even in the waters, take the power of hurt and damage from rivers, fire and lions ( Isaiah 43:2-4), He will free you from captivity, break every road junction injunction against your life, frustrate all satanic judgment, deliver you from inherited problems, give you latitude to eat what you want and not what you see and make you a celebrity like the donkey, in Jesus’ name.

Prayers: Father, I surrender my life to you, let my life, family and work be an expression and demonstration of your unstoppable powers in Jesus’ name.

P

GYPT’s former military chief on Monday took the final formal step to run in next month’s presidential election, submitting to the election commission eight times the number of signatures required, his campaign said in a statement.

Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, a retired field marshal, did not deliver the 200,000 signatures in person. His campaign said a legal adviser, Mohammed Bahaa Abou Shaqah, delivered them.

Photos released by the campaign and footage aired on local TV networks showed security guards delivering white boxes with an image of the retired soldier plastered on the side along with the name of the province from which it said the signatures were obtained.

Officials from the election commission could not be reached to confirm the

campaign’s statement.

It is mandatory for any presidential hopeful to secure 25,000 signatures from at least 15 of the nation’s 27 provinces in order to run in the May 26-27 vote. El-Sissi, who led the ouster of President Mohammed Morsi last July, was the first hopeful to submit the signatures.

El-Sissi’s likely chief rival in the election is leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahi, who finished a strong third in the first round of the last presidential election, in June 2012. Morsi won the race in a runoff against secondplaced Ahmed Shafiq, the last prime minister to serve under ousted president Hosni Mubarak.

El-Sissi’s campaign says more signatures continue to pour into its Cairo headquarters, something it described as a “unique example of support and national backing” for the 59-year-old career soldier.

NEWS

We’ll soon get over insurgency, says Jonthan at scene of blast

Continued from page 4

pital, the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Amodu Abubakar, confirmed that close to 30 bodies were at the hospital’s mortuary while 25 injured were receiving treatment.

He said: “We have around 27 to 30 dead here and about 25 victims are receiving treatment here. We only have problem of population that are trying to check for their loved ones. However, we are coping with everything here.”

At the National Hospital, 16 of the victims were confirmed dead. 47 are being treated for injuries.

There were 14 bodies at Maitama Hospital, which had 27 seriously injured persons on admission. Three persons in critical conditions were referred to the National Hospital.

Among the three referred was a man who was bleeding profusely from around the neck. The doctors battled to

stop the bleeding to no avail.

At a point, some of the medical personnel attending to him raised their hands in hopelessness before he was wheeled away.

A ten-month-old girl survived the blast. The baby, whose mother died survered bruises on her right hand.

She was taken to the Asokoro Hospital.

At the Wuse Hospital, our reporters counted 15 bodies. Seven injured were on admission.

The bodies were burnt, some beyond recognition. They were packed in body bags, but their faces were opened for identification.

The bodies were laid at the entrance of the mortuary and opened for families and friends to identify.

Some of the bodies have been identified and properly packed while those yet to be identified were tagged with numbers.

Among them were a mechanic and a lady with a nine

months’ old baby who the hospital management referred to as Victoria.

According to the management, Victoria, along with two others, were rushed to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) department but they died.

Relatives were going round the hospitals in search of their loved ones.

Eyewitnesses gave various accounts of the incident.

A commercial motorcycle rider, who gave his name as Wahad, told NAN that a man threw a bag containing the bomb into the congested park.

“I was conveying a passenger to the park this morning when I saw a man throw a big black bag into the park; the next thing I saw was explosion,’’ Wahad said.

Another eyewitness, David Lukman, said that the bomb was planted in a car at the park.

“I am very sure the bomb was either planted at the park last night or a suicide bomber pos-

ing as a passenger entered one of the cars with it,’’ he said.

A stockbroker, Abbas Adamu, said four of his friends died in the explosion.

“I have never seen something like this in my entire life.

“My friends told me this morning that they were going to Kaduna and because I was also going to Kaduna in my car, I told them to wait for me at the park so that we go together.

“But I asked them to enter the park and not wait under the bridge because Road Safety and VIO (Vehicle Inspection Officers) officials usually disturb along the road under the bridge.

“Seconds later, I heard a loud explosion; in fact, I can’t explain because I felt something like electric shock inside the car, and as I speak to you now, my friends are all dead,’’ Adamu said.

Mr Romanus Ugwu, an Abuja journalist, resident at Nyanya, told NAN that he ran to the

Boko Haram kills over 150, injures 164 Continued from page 4

“Within the twinkle of an eye, about 10 luxury buses were in flame. Most of the victims were trapped inside the buses.

“The blast shook all buildings nearby, including another suburb in Karu.”

Responding to a question, the source said: “Boko Haram is likely to be responsible because that is the pattern of suicide mission of the sect.”

Security agencies have started investigation into the explosion, with the retrieval of number plate of the Golf Car. The car was smothered but some metals have been collected for forensic analysis, which

could guide our intelligence gathering on how the explosion occurred.

“Attempts are being made to identify the owner of the car as I am talking to you. The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has been mandated to get to the root of how the car was registered or how it has exchanged hands,” said the source.

The British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, has offered the country’s “deepest condolences” to the bereaved and those who are injured in the bomb blast. he also condemned the attack saying the perpetrators must be brought to “swift jus-

tice.”

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer (PRO), CSP Frank Mba, said: “After the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the scene of bomb explosion this morning in Nyanya District on the outskirts of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, security agencies have confirmed that 71 persons have so far lost their lives while 124 others have been conveyed to about eight hospitals for treatment.

“About 16 luxury buses were razed and 24 others were destroyed in the blast.

“Information centres would be opened at all the hospitals

where survivors were being attended to in order to provide information to their families.

“Experts from the Bomb Disposal Squad have combed the area. Security agencies have been placed on red alert throughout the Federal Capital Territory following the explosion that occurred at about 6.55 a.m.

“The agencies are already paying very close attention to all vulnerable points, including motor parks.

“Most of the affected passengers were workers and petty traders who were to be conveyed by commercial vehicles to the Abuja City Centre.”

scene on hearing the blast.

Ugwu said he saw a “gory sight” because many people were burning in some cars and were calling for help that never came to them. while others were on the ground, helpless, without limbs, he said.

“You have to be hard hearted to look at these things. I saw a woman lying face down without limbs. One, who was surrounded by her children, struggled for life and gave up in their arms.

“These attackers appear to be more proactive than our rescue organisations and security agencies because so many lives would have been saved if help had come in time.’’

Ugwu said he counted many bodies littered on the ground in the park, but could not say if all of them were dead.

He, however, praised the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel for their rescue efforts.

Mr Abdulrazak Haruna of

•Abubakar Continued from page 4

ported by other law enforcement agencies, have commenced a full-scale investigation into the incident with the deployment of the Police AntiBomb Squad and other detec-

the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Response Unit of NSCDC told NAN that he counted more than 100 bodies, including the injured, while evacuating victims.

“It is a sad experience. We counted 20 BRT buses, 14 cars, 24 commuter buses and 13 motorcycles.’’

Mr Femi Lawal, a survivor of the blast who could not contain his joy and gratitude to God for sparing him, said he had dropped from one of the green buses from One-man Village and was heading to the park when the blast went off.

Lawal said he fell and was dazed momentarily before realising what had happened.

He said he heard a loud bang, which nearly blinded him, and saw a thick smoke while people ran in confusion.

The 32-year-old man, who was wounded on the wrist and neck, said: “It is a day I will live to remember.”

‘ 71 died’

tives to the scene with the view to solving the crime.

“Regrettably, seventy-one (71) persons have been confirmed dead while one hundred and twenty-four (124) persons sustained various degrees of injuries.

“While commiserating with the families of the victims of the blast, the IGP called on the members of the public to go about their normal businesses without fear and to cooperate with the police by providing useful information in order to ensure that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are brought to book.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

59

60

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

61

62

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

63

SPORT EXTRA

NFF: Togo test good for Eaglets

N

IGERIA Football Federation (NFF) believes that the forth-coming WAFU B Under-17 Tournament slatedTogo is a test run for the Golden Eaglets ahead of the qualifiers for the 2015 CAN Championship.

The Golden Eaglets have recorded victories in their four previous matches and would round offtheirtune-upmatchforthetournament in Togo against Pepsi Football Academy at the Agege Stadium in Lagos on Tuesday at 4:00pm.

But that success notwithstanding, it is the conviction of Alhaji Yussuf Fresh, a board member of the NFF that the Golden Eaglets are not yet 'good-to-go.

"So far, so good because I have been following up on all the activities of the team right from the start of the screening though the momentum is coming up, " said Yussuf , "we are still expecting some good players to be integrated

Why I quit Giwa FC, by Biffo

•Lionel Messi in a move to outwit Super Eagles players

ARGENTINA COACH CONFESSES

We’ll rely on Messi against Eagles, others

A

RGENTINA coach Alejandro Sabella has explained that the South American country will heavily rely on the exceptional talent of Lionel Messi to defeat the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Bosnia and Iran when hostilities for the 2014 World Cup begins in Brazil.

Sabella said the Barcelona forward is ‘irreplaceable’ and will be the key to

their World Cup campaign this summer, especially against a high profile team like Nigeria.

The two-time world champions will be looking to end their 21-year long wait for a major international trophy with a game against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Maracana stadium June 15.

The South American side has been drawn against

Iran and Nigeria, and Bosnia, and the coach, who took over the reins of the national side in 2011, believes Messi is unparalleled and invaluable to the White and Sky Blues.

“We’ve played a few games without Leo, but the fact is that he’s irreplaceable”, he said in a recent interview.

“There’s no club or national team in the world that will play the same way with

or without Messi.

“We rely on him so much that when he’s not there, we notice it. The World Cup will not be an exception”, the 59-year-old added.

Messi has featured in 83 games for Argentina and has scored on 37 occasions, and was the second top scorer in the South American section with ten strikes to his name during the qualifiers.

Musa: CSKA on track for another double

A

HMED MUSA has declared CSKA Moscow are on course to repeat a league and cup double in Russia this season after he grabbed the winner against Ural.

Last season, the Russian army team clinched the double and they are now just

four points shy of leaders Zenit St.Petersburg with 49 points from 25 matches and with five rounds of matches to be played.

Nigeria international Ahmed Musa told AfricanFootball.com he is looking forward to score more goals in a bid to help CSKA

Moscow achieve their target of winning the league and cup double at the end of the season.

“I will keep working hard to get more goals so that our dream of winning the league and cup will come true. We will keep doing well," he said.

He has now scored seven goals in the league thus far.

"I always give my best to help my team do well in every match. I am happy to score the goal that gave us victory over Ural,” he said.

CSKA will be away to Kuban Krasnoder on Friday.

F

ORMER Giwa FC of Jos head coach, Abdullahi Abidemi Biffo has stated that he has no business with the newly promoted side even if persuaded to return.

Biffo told NationSport that he would not like to continue working in an environment he was never counted to be important despite all what he did towards the club's promotion.

Pointing out why he threw in the towel, Biffo said that his problem started with the proprietor of the club, Ambassador Chris Giwa after his team drew with Kano Pillars. He noted that before the game he wrote two letters to the club's proprietor seeking his release to attend a coaching course in Abuja and also to appeal for financial assistance.

According to Biffo:" I wanted to attend the coaching course to improve my certificate and I already told the owner of the club about it so as to give me permission. But after our home draw against Pillars, the owner was no longer

‘We’ve regained our confidence’ F H EAD coach of Confluence Queens FC Suleiman Adamu believes his side have regained their confidence following a 2-1 home win over Pelican Stars of Calabar in the Week 7 of the Nigeria Women Premier League in Lokoja.

Confluence Queens came from a goal down to beat the visitors in a keenly contested 90 minutes encounter at the Lokoja Confluence Stadium during the weekend.

Amarachi Ojinma put the visitors ahead in the 56th minutes before Nwogu Chinyere and Aishat Bello both scored in the 59th and 62nd minutes respectively to ensure a total victory for the Wada Queens.

Coach Adamu who expressed satisfaction with his girls' display noted that the confidence would give them the opportunity to play against Nasarawa Amazons next week. "I am very happy with the result, it was not an

easy match but with this result I am very sure our confidence is back, today's performance is enough for us to travel to Lafia where we will play Nasarawa Amazon, we know it will not be easy, but we will try our best", said Adamu.

Chairman of the Wada Queens, Mallam Abdul

Adama rued missed chances by his girls, but commended the spirited display of the players. He, however, reiterated his management's commitment to encourage the club to achieve greatness.

Head coach of Pelican Stars, Sanusi Olalekan who expressed dissatisfaction

about the result, noted that his side gave a good fight against Confluence Queens, but lost concentration to concede two goals in the spate of three minutes.

Confluence Queens have so far recorded 10pts from seven matches, and will next travel to Lafia to play Nasarawa Amazon.

Cricket lacks funding —Federation

T

HE Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) on Monday said the major challenge facing the federation was getting sponsors for its programmes.

Okon Ukpong, the NCF Team Manager, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on telephone that the federation had several of grassroots developmental programmes waiting to be

since this is a national team what I can say is that there is progress," While commending the coaching crew for the string of victories so far, Yussuf said matter-of-factly thatthetournamentinTogowould define the readiness of the team for CAN 2015 qualifiers. The Golden Eaglets have been drawn bye to the second round and will engagethewinnerofthefirstround fixture between Burundi and Congo in July and August.

"Sincerely, I don't think the teamisreadyyetdespitetheirgood performance in friendly matches but the tournament in Togo would show whether they have arrived or not," he said.

Yussuf, who will be leading the Golden Eaglets to the tournament in Togo, said his observation was borne out of the fact that the Golden Eaglets are the defending FIFA Under-17 World Cup champions as such; the technical must ensure that only the best players are included in their programme.

executed.

According to him, corporate bodies tend to give the impression that the federation is under the National Sports Commission (NSC) and as such, they find it difficult to sponsor their programmes.

"Generally, now we are trying to see that our programmes are executed.

We are having issues in getting sponsors for our

programmes, especially our grassroots programmes’’.

Ukpong said that the federation intended to organise an administrative course for its officials and also a National U-15 competition.

He said, however, that the federation was making some slow but steady progress in ensuring that its programmes were executed.

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri favourably disposed to my going because of the draw. I had to go without his consent and when I returned he issued me a query which I initially disregarded because I saw nothing wrong with what I did.

"He had wanted me suspended on my return from Abuja preparatory for our match with Abia Warriors but later told me to apologise through a text message. Which I did. I was already thinking about my exit when I was told I would still take charge of the visit of the Abia Warriors but after the goalless draw against Abia Warriors, so many things came to my mind and I decided it was time I lift the club because I believe that the club did not show enough respect to me. I will not like to go back while I wait for other interested clubs with ambition to come for discussions. I am through with my mission to Giwa FC."

Taraba coach blames defeat on keeper

C TARABA technical adviser, Ndubuisi Nduka has stated that he has no blame for the center referee who sent out his goal keeper, Richard Ocheayi during Sunday Premier League match against Kano Pillars, declaring that he will rather put the whole blame on his goal Keeper.

Speaking after watching his side go down by three goals to one in a match played at the Kano Pillars Stadium, Ndubuisi noted that much as he may have his reservation over the several calls made by the referee he noted that it was not an excuse for the players and particularly the goal keeper to challenge the referee's decision n such manner.

He argued that it was totally impossible for a new team like his that is just making its debut in the premier league to be able to play an experience side like Kano Pillars with one man down.

He maintained that his boys were in good control of the match until the goal keeper was shown the red card, stressing that his team would have been able to beat or have held Pillars to a draw at their home

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja ground.

"My boys were really in control of the match until the keeper was sent off. It would have been difficult for them to have beaten us if the keeper was not sent out and of course you would expect that an experienced side like Pillars would take full advantage of that kind of opportunity.

On the action of the goal keeper, coach Ndubuisi said the two yellow cards he got were avoidable, saying that when they got back to Jalingo the management would look into the attitude of the goal keeper with a view to deciding what action to take against him.

Meanwhile, Kano Pillars got their first goal through Ezekiel Mba in the 25th minutes while the second goal came through Gambo Mohammed in the 55th.

An own goal by Umar Zango reduced the tally for FC Taraba but Pillars restored the two goal advantage through Eneji Oktepa few minutes from time.

TODAY IN THE NATION

TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.9

‘What Lagos needs is merit to trump the rest, not xenophobia to block their way.

That is the spirit of Lagos’

NO. 2,819

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

I

T is amazing what great transformation a little recalibration – beg your pardon, rebasing – has wrought on the profile of the Nigerian economy.

For two full decades, we tormented ourselves with guilt that the economy was underperforming, what with a GDP that stood at a piddling $283 billion. Following the rebasing, we now know that the GDP actually stands at a roaring $510 billion, pushing South Africa to a distant second in Africa in that department and sending powerful warning signals to the world that the Nigerian juggernaut has finally arrived.

Our consuming desire, which seemed more an exorbitant declaration intent than a remote possibility, was to enter the ranks of the world’s largest economies, the so-called G20, by the year 2020. Every indication now is that Nigeria will hit that milestone several years ahead of projection. Our planners will now have to rebase Vision 20/20:20 itself.

Several decades ago, the per capita GDP was a paltry $1,500, which placed Nigeria in the same unproductive bracket as India and Ghana. As if that was not bad enough, some misguided Nigerians developed the pernicious habit of holding up the economies of those two countries as models of growth and stability.

Now we know that Nigeria’s per capital GDP stands at $2,989, places it well outside their league. The acronym BRIC once designated the rising global economic bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China. Then, it was enlarged to BRICS, to accommodate South Africa and, it would now seem in retrospect, to spite Nigeria.

With the galloping profile of Nigeria’s economy as revealed by the recent rebasing, global leaders of economic thought are set to drop South Africa from that league and replace it with Nigeria, which they consider more worthy of the distinction. With that change, and in the interest of euphony, I gather from the best authorities that the league will henceforth be known as BRINC. Good riddance, then, to South Africa, the upstart that was always thumbing its ungrateful post-apartheid nose at the Big Benefactor up North. Living well, it has been said, is the best revenge. So out with BRICS, and in with BRINC. For decades, the conventional wisdom was that the manufacturing sector in Nigeria was in great distress if not positively doomed, and that some industries were relocating to Ghana where the business climate was allegedly more friendly. Everyone blamed the epileptic power supply for the poor state of manufacturing The rebasing shows indeed that manufacturing has suffered a decline, but not to the extent of validating the conventional wisdom that the power supply, especially electricity, is a cardinal factor in the calculus of economic

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

Insights from a rebased economy

•Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

growth and development. .

In the United States where power supply is guaranteed round the clock except in the face of the direst disasters, Wall Street erupts in champagne-drenched celebration and the stock market index rises sharply if the economy manages to record a 2 percent growth.

But in Nigeria where power is severely rationed if and when it is available, the economy has been growing at a pace more than three time faster than that of the United States. And whereas manufacturing is in precipitous decline in the United States, in Nigeria it has taken only a 50 percent tumble.

Meanwhile, following the rebasing, it has come to light not merely that the economy has all the while been growing at a dizzying, superheated 7 percent a year.

It follows, then, that the importance of electricity has been vastly exaggerated.The ques-

RIPPLES

HOUSEWIFE BEATS ROYAL FATHER TO COMA FOR SLAPPING HER HUSBAND –News

With WIVES like this, you don’t need a BODYGUARD

tion must now be asked: Who needs a steady power supply when the economy is growing at such a furious gallop?

Conventional wisdom has also been upended in many other areas of the economy, following the rebasing. The rate of employment used to be considered an indication of the health of the economy. Employment increased as the economy grew, they said. But the Nigerian example shows conclusively that jobless rate can actually increase sharply or stay stagnant even as economy expands.

So, why make a fetish of job creation? Why take up all that trouble and expend so much imagination cooking numbers reflecting progress in job creation when the economy is doing just fine without it? Why the national lament that more than half a million persons subjected themselves to accidental death crippling exertions to fill 4,000 advertised positions – why bemoan this when the economy is growing at such a breath-taking pace?

Again, they used to claim that you cannot build a strong economy without a good road network and sound transportation system. But our rebased economy has just debunked that claim by building the world’s 26th largest

“M

T

economy without freight trains and without anything that can be called water transportation, propelled only by express passenger trains that take a whole day to travel the roughly 240km from Lagos to Ilorin?

Who really needs all that infrastructure?

Certainly not the economy.

Consider yet another factor that economists are always trumpeting as indispensable to growth and development: stability.

As far as I know, nobody has ever accused Nigeria of pursuing, much less attaining, stability. Everywhere you turn – in the neighbourhoods, on the highways, in the professions, in the universities, in the policy establishments, in the motor parks, in police stations and army barracks and even in the precincts of the Presidential Villa, instability reigns.

To cite practical examples from the policy establishment: One day they are banning rice imports to conserve foreign exchange and encourage local industry. The next day, they undo the ban, saying that only big-time smugglers are profiting from it.

Again, one day they ban wheat imports and declare that cassava bread will replace wheat bread as the favourite item on the nation’s breakfast table; the next day, they launch a national wheat-production programme.

But the really exciting thing is that, far from acting as a brake on economic growth, instability has actually been a spur.

There is no other way to explain the robust expansion the rebased economy has witnessed in two decades of acute instability. It will come as no surprises if it turned out on further rebasing that the North-east and the Plateau-Bauchi axis constitute the fastest-growing and most productive regions in Nigeria.

In light of these profound insights that rebasing the economy has yielded and many others that I cannot do justice to in this piece, economists will have to rework – beg your pardon one more time — rebase, recalibrate, readjust or re-whatever their old theories and revise the standard texts.

From Himself the Igodomigodo

Y Own Big Brother, “I called your line yesterday to show my cornucopious appreciation to you for your munificent words and the very nice things you said of me in your

hebdomadal pantagruelian and yet dialectical didactic (pardon my alliteration) column (“To Patrick Obahiagbon, from a kindred soul,” April 7, 2014).

“The panegyrics coming from a literary avatar and a sui generis lollapalloza that I have admired his inimitable,intrepid and polyvalent style for a period of aeon was an anodyne for me.

“I thank you for everything and may your utilitarian pen never suffer any hiatus or atrophy.

“Thanks my Senior Brother. I will keep in touch.”

Say it for the Hon Patrick Obahiagbon. He never disappoints.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

HARDBALL HE latest play from the stable of Prof.

Wole Soyinka, our own WS, is Alapata Apata. Unfortunately, Hardball has not read that play.

But its stunning pun of a butcher (Alapata , in Yoruba) doing his butchering in Apata (Yoruba for rock, though there is a rocky neighbourhood in Ibadan, Oyo State, which hosts the Government College, Ibadan, the secondary school the Nobel Laureate attended), is suggestive of some high drama.

That is why Hardball will most respectfully request our WS to craft another play, S’eruba S’erubawon, to capture the electoral theatre of the absurd, looming over Ekiti State and the State of Osun.

To put the records straight, S’erubawon is the formidable one that puts the fear of God into others. That was the moniker, on the hustings, of Isiaka Adeleke, who served as two-year governor of Osun State, in the Ibrahim Babangida diarchy, before Sani Abacha scrapped all the grand pretence. That was Adeleke’s first coming.

But his second coming, his much touted, eleventh-hour Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial bid for the State of Osun, has been less than rosy. The one who used to put the fear of God into others has become

OLAKUNLE ABIMBOLA

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

S’eruba S’erubawon one, in which others put the fear of God! That is the long and short of the pitiful collapse of Adeleke’s gubernatorial bid; and hence, the urgent request for the play, S’eruba S’erubawon.

The S’erubawon of yore, apparently thought nothing of the Biblical quip that the kingdom of God suffers violence — until, from news report, he got the sobering treatment.

The iconoclastic duo of Iyiola Omisore and Jelili Adesiyan, simply S’eruba S’erubawon (mortally scared the hitherto intrepid).

The combined forces of Omisore, Adeleke’s rival for the ticket, and Adesiyan, minister of Police Affairs and his armada of Police henchmen, reportedly did the trick. The pair and their uniformed enforcers allegedly gave Adeleke the beating of his life. That virtually excoriated from him any gubernatorial spirit! Now, from the safety of his Ede country home, S’erubawon is threatening court action.

The Osun travesty, where an opponent would allegedly manhandle another to scare him off the race, is the grim symbol of the

PDP-Jonathan Presidency’s conspiratorial tactics in the two crucial elections in Ekiti and Osun.

The PDP knows, from its records in the two states, and its parlous federal scorecard, the election would be a disaster.

Yet, it is bent on illicit and illegal tactics, euphemistically called federal might: Musiliu Obanikoro, minister of state for Defence, putting troops to illegal and partisan uses in Lagos; and Adesiyan making the Police no less than uniformed thugs in Osun.

Put in the pair of peculiar candidates in Ayo Fayose (Ekiti) and Omisore (Osun), and the picture is all too clear.

But all this is not new. Jonathan should find time to read Soyinka’s Ibadan: The Penkelemes Years (for what happened to the power rascals of the 1st Republic); and enjoy Unlimited Liability Company, the musical album that saw off the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) power bandits of the 2nd Republic.

Those who don’t learn from history are fated to end in its belly!

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos.

Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361. Editor Daily:08099365644, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14 Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790 WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO

TODAY IN THE NATION

TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.9

‘What Lagos needs is merit to trump the rest, not xenophobia to block their way.

That is the spirit of Lagos’

NO. 2,819

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

I

T is amazing what great transformation a little recalibration – beg your pardon, rebasing – has wrought on the profile of the Nigerian economy.

For two full decades, we tormented ourselves with guilt that the economy was underperforming, what with a GDP that stood at a piddling $283 billion. Following the rebasing, we now know that the GDP actually stands at a roaring $510 billion, pushing South Africa to a distant second in Africa in that department and sending powerful warning signals to the world that the Nigerian juggernaut has finally arrived.

Our consuming desire, which seemed more an exorbitant declaration intent than a remote possibility, was to enter the ranks of the world’s largest economies, the so-called G20, by the year 2020. Every indication now is that Nigeria will hit that milestone several years ahead of projection. Our planners will now have to rebase Vision 20/20:20 itself.

Several decades ago, the per capita GDP was a paltry $1,500, which placed Nigeria in the same unproductive bracket as India and Ghana. As if that was not bad enough, some misguided Nigerians developed the pernicious habit of holding up the economies of those two countries as models of growth and stability.

Now we know that Nigeria’s per capital GDP stands at $2,989, places it well outside their league. The acronym BRIC once designated the rising global economic bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China. Then, it was enlarged to BRICS, to accommodate South Africa and, it would now seem in retrospect, to spite Nigeria.

With the galloping profile of Nigeria’s economy as revealed by the recent rebasing, global leaders of economic thought are set to drop South Africa from that league and replace it with Nigeria, which they consider more worthy of the distinction. With that change, and in the interest of euphony, I gather from the best authorities that the league will henceforth be known as BRINC. Good riddance, then, to South Africa, the upstart that was always thumbing its ungrateful post-apartheid nose at the Big Benefactor up North. Living well, it has been said, is the best revenge. So out with BRICS, and in with BRINC. For decades, the conventional wisdom was that the manufacturing sector in Nigeria was in great distress if not positively doomed, and that some industries were relocating to Ghana where the business climate was allegedly more friendly. Everyone blamed the epileptic power supply for the poor state of manufacturing The rebasing shows indeed that manufacturing has suffered a decline, but not to the extent of validating the conventional wisdom that the power supply, especially electricity, is a cardinal factor in the calculus of economic

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

Insights from a rebased economy

•Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

growth and development. .

In the United States where power supply is guaranteed round the clock except in the face of the direst disasters, Wall Street erupts in champagne-drenched celebration and the stock market index rises sharply if the economy manages to record a 2 percent growth.

But in Nigeria where power is severely rationed if and when it is available, the economy has been growing at a pace more than three time faster than that of the United States. And whereas manufacturing is in precipitous decline in the United States, in Nigeria it has taken only a 50 percent tumble.

Meanwhile, following the rebasing, it has come to light not merely that the economy has all the while been growing at a dizzying, superheated 7 percent a year.

It follows, then, that the importance of electricity has been vastly exaggerated.The ques-

RIPPLES

HOUSEWIFE BEATS ROYAL FATHER TO COMA FOR SLAPPING HER HUSBAND –News

With WIVES like this, you don’t need a BODYGUARD

tion must now be asked: Who needs a steady power supply when the economy is growing at such a furious gallop?

Conventional wisdom has also been upended in many other areas of the economy, following the rebasing. The rate of employment used to be considered an indication of the health of the economy. Employment increased as the economy grew, they said. But the Nigerian example shows conclusively that jobless rate can actually increase sharply or stay stagnant even as economy expands.

So, why make a fetish of job creation? Why take up all that trouble and expend so much imagination cooking numbers reflecting progress in job creation when the economy is doing just fine without it? Why the national lament that more than half a million persons subjected themselves to accidental death crippling exertions to fill 4,000 advertised positions – why bemoan this when the economy is growing at such a breath-taking pace?

Again, they used to claim that you cannot build a strong economy without a good road network and sound transportation system. But our rebased economy has just debunked that claim by building the world’s 26th largest

“M

T

economy without freight trains and without anything that can be called water transportation, propelled only by express passenger trains that take a whole day to travel the roughly 240km from Lagos to Ilorin?

Who really needs all that infrastructure?

Certainly not the economy.

Consider yet another factor that economists are always trumpeting as indispensable to growth and development: stability.

As far as I know, nobody has ever accused Nigeria of pursuing, much less attaining, stability. Everywhere you turn – in the neighbourhoods, on the highways, in the professions, in the universities, in the policy establishments, in the motor parks, in police stations and army barracks and even in the precincts of the Presidential Villa, instability reigns.

To cite practical examples from the policy establishment: One day they are banning rice imports to conserve foreign exchange and encourage local industry. The next day, they undo the ban, saying that only big-time smugglers are profiting from it.

Again, one day they ban wheat imports and declare that cassava bread will replace wheat bread as the favourite item on the nation’s breakfast table; the next day, they launch a national wheat-production programme.

But the really exciting thing is that, far from acting as a brake on economic growth, instability has actually been a spur.

There is no other way to explain the robust expansion the rebased economy has witnessed in two decades of acute instability. It will come as no surprises if it turned out on further rebasing that the North-east and the Plateau-Bauchi axis constitute the fastest-growing and most productive regions in Nigeria.

In light of these profound insights that rebasing the economy has yielded and many others that I cannot do justice to in this piece, economists will have to rework – beg your pardon one more time — rebase, recalibrate, readjust or re-whatever their old theories and revise the standard texts.

From Himself the Igodomigodo

Y Own Big Brother, “I called your line yesterday to show my cornucopious appreciation to you for your munificent words and the very nice things you said of me in your

hebdomadal pantagruelian and yet dialectical didactic (pardon my alliteration) column (“To Patrick Obahiagbon, from a kindred soul,” April 7, 2014).

“The panegyrics coming from a literary avatar and a sui generis lollapalloza that I have admired his inimitable,intrepid and polyvalent style for a period of aeon was an anodyne for me.

“I thank you for everything and may your utilitarian pen never suffer any hiatus or atrophy.

“Thanks my Senior Brother. I will keep in touch.”

Say it for the Hon Patrick Obahiagbon. He never disappoints.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

HARDBALL HE latest play from the stable of Prof.

Wole Soyinka, our own WS, is Alapata Apata. Unfortunately, Hardball has not read that play.

But its stunning pun of a butcher (Alapata , in Yoruba) doing his butchering in Apata (Yoruba for rock, though there is a rocky neighbourhood in Ibadan, Oyo State, which hosts the Government College, Ibadan, the secondary school the Nobel Laureate attended), is suggestive of some high drama.

That is why Hardball will most respectfully request our WS to craft another play, S’eruba S’erubawon, to capture the electoral theatre of the absurd, looming over Ekiti State and the State of Osun.

To put the records straight, S’erubawon is the formidable one that puts the fear of God into others. That was the moniker, on the hustings, of Isiaka Adeleke, who served as two-year governor of Osun State, in the Ibrahim Babangida diarchy, before Sani Abacha scrapped all the grand pretence. That was Adeleke’s first coming.

But his second coming, his much touted, eleventh-hour Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial bid for the State of Osun, has been less than rosy. The one who used to put the fear of God into others has become

OLAKUNLE ABIMBOLA

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

S’eruba S’erubawon one, in which others put the fear of God! That is the long and short of the pitiful collapse of Adeleke’s gubernatorial bid; and hence, the urgent request for the play, S’eruba S’erubawon.

The S’erubawon of yore, apparently thought nothing of the Biblical quip that the kingdom of God suffers violence — until, from news report, he got the sobering treatment.

The iconoclastic duo of Iyiola Omisore and Jelili Adesiyan, simply S’eruba S’erubawon (mortally scared the hitherto intrepid).

The combined forces of Omisore, Adeleke’s rival for the ticket, and Adesiyan, minister of Police Affairs and his armada of Police henchmen, reportedly did the trick. The pair and their uniformed enforcers allegedly gave Adeleke the beating of his life. That virtually excoriated from him any gubernatorial spirit! Now, from the safety of his Ede country home, S’erubawon is threatening court action.

The Osun travesty, where an opponent would allegedly manhandle another to scare him off the race, is the grim symbol of the

PDP-Jonathan Presidency’s conspiratorial tactics in the two crucial elections in Ekiti and Osun.

The PDP knows, from its records in the two states, and its parlous federal scorecard, the election would be a disaster.

Yet, it is bent on illicit and illegal tactics, euphemistically called federal might: Musiliu Obanikoro, minister of state for Defence, putting troops to illegal and partisan uses in Lagos; and Adesiyan making the Police no less than uniformed thugs in Osun.

Put in the pair of peculiar candidates in Ayo Fayose (Ekiti) and Omisore (Osun), and the picture is all too clear.

But all this is not new. Jonathan should find time to read Soyinka’s Ibadan: The Penkelemes Years (for what happened to the power rascals of the 1st Republic); and enjoy Unlimited Liability Company, the musical album that saw off the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) power bandits of the 2nd Republic.

Those who don’t learn from history are fated to end in its belly!

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos.

Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361. Editor Daily:08099365644, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14 Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790 WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO